Hi Mum it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 11)

My personal fire alarm and fire engine. It's an odd thing to have around the house, to say the least. But at least I can stay home unless there is an emergency. Sunny will be able to go back to work and I'll be to care for the kids more.

Assuming we don't suffer more earthquakes. That caused so much damage across town it wasn't funny.

Poor Sunny still ended up being the one getting up for Merry when the baby started crying far too early in the morning. I have yet to catch up on sleep.

Babies need so much time and attention. It's a good thing it's nearly Merry's birthday already. Of course, toddler need attention to but at least they can play and keep themselves occupied.

Sunny went back for some more sleep after feeding Merry. Poor Charlie, he had to get his own meal.

Mind you, his favourite is spaghetti and he loves being outdoors. So eating his favourite outside suits our son to a tee. If we let him, he'd happily stay outside all the time.

As for me, Saturday is a good day for a nice leisurely bath. Something relaxing after one simofabitch week.

"Sunny, are you ok in there?"

"Just making the bed."

"But didn't you start that ten minutes ago?"

"Sammy, you have to do it just so. The maid never gets it right."

Life with a perfectionist is a bit of a trial. I don't see the point of making the bed in the first place. Spending 10 minutes doing it is just...weird.

I think I really needed a bit of me time. No emergencies, no one needed my time.

Big party later today, Merry and Charlie are both having birthdays. I know it will be good but our boy will be a teen? I really don't know where the time has all gone.

Oh wait, I was at the station for a lot of it. There are times when I wish I could just walk away from the job and just be a writer or something. Though every profession probably has pitfalls.

"Why, oh why can't we get a decent maid? I thought someone else would be making the bed now."

"Sunny?"

"No matter how many times I tell them how to do it, it's never ever done right."

"Dear, about how many times would that be?"

"Five or six."

"Since they were hired?"

"Yesterday."

"Ok, dear, I'll sort something out." Hmm, but what? The current maid is probably a complete write off as far as being cooperative. Sunny can be, intense, about such things. I better have a chat to the agency, get them to send their most meticulous maid. That's going to cost a pretty penny, I'm sure.

After breakfast, Sunny and Merry went for a stroll around the block.

"Hey Dad."

"Yes Donna?"

"Can I go over to school?"

"Kiddo, it's Saturday. I'd think your biggest ambition would be to stay as far as possible from school."

"They have a painting class today. Can I go?"

"What time? The party starts at 4 for your brother and sister."

"The class is this morning but I was hoping to go over to the museum after."

"Ok sweetheart but keep an eye on the time. The museum is a long bicycle ride from here."

Donna actually made it home a few hours before the party. She put her toy in the middle of the lawn and left it there while she went off to start her first painting.

Note to self, toy must be returned to owner by the end of the day. Donna will never remember it on her own. I don't want it to get damaged from being outside for days.

Charlie still loves nothing better than that sandbox.  I predict that fascination will end the moment he starts noticing the girls in his classes.

Donna's doing quite well for a first painting. She may have found her calling in life already.

People finally starting arriving for the big party.

"Hey guys, sorry to be so early but I've got a game later. I'll have to split."

"Travis, what's this I hear about me being an aunt?"

"It's true, Aunt Amelia." Travis said with a chuckle. "You have a niece named Ruby."

"So, are you going to marry Sophie, now that you two have a baby together?"

"We haven't decided. It never comes up in conversation."

Moe, Sophie and Sunny's boss AJ arrived soon after Travis.

The kids were playing in the yard still. Donna was looking worried about the party. I'm not sure why, it's Charlie's birthday and not hers.

First up, it was Charlie. It took him an age and a half to finally make a wish before blowing out the candles.

Then it was over, our boy was officially a teenager.

I have a feeling it is not going to take long at all for him to find out about girls now. They are going to be after him in flocks.

"Sam?"

"Yes, Tom?"

"Do you mind if I do the honours?"

"What?"

"I'd love to take the baby to the cake."

"Does it mean that much to you?"

"Our youngest is a teen and the oldest hasn't made us into grandparents yet so Marta and I don't get to be around babies as much as we'd like." Thomas already had Merry cradled in his arms. Merry was all smiles for him.

"Where is your lovely wife?"

"Unfortunately, she had a prior engagement. Otherwise she would have come, she hates missing a good party."

"Thomas, if you would be so kind as to take the baby to the cake."

Our little Merry. She's not looking terribly merry at the moment though. I'm sure it's only having so many people she doesn't know in the house. Little ones rarely love being around people they don't know.

I went to look for Donna's toy, she must have picked it up during the party. I couldn't find it.

Donna did seem very excited about something. I wasn't sure what it was, something came alive for her? No clue what she was on about.

The end of a very long day, time to put Merry in a crib.

"Sleep well little angel. You and I are going to have a big day tomorrow."

---

Charlie, there is a lot of Kane in his genetics. Certainly not a Sammy clone, even when I give him the right hair colour.

Charlie's if is doomed to permanent toydom. I failed to know what to do for that one and he now has no association with it. That's ok. We have one, possibly two ifs in this family without his.

Hi Mum it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 10)

“Sammy, the baby is kicking so much.”

“Did I ever tell you how lovely you are pregnant?”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do, Sunny. You are gorgeous.”

“Oh Sammy, I don’t think you are serious.”

“I am, sweetheart. Very serious. You are the love of my life, and you look particularly lovely when you happen to be pregnant.”

“Are you already angling for another baby Mister? Cause I can tell you…”

“No, no, three seems like plenty for me.”

“That’s a good thing because I’m so over feeling like a hippo.”

Is there a safe thing to say after that? Well, I failed to think of one so I kissed Sunny instead.

Charlie’s school mates arrived by 8. Charlie was pretty even about the invitations. He asked two boys and two girls to the slumber party.

Hi Mum, it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 9)

Well Mum, take a look at my three fellow firefighters. Maxius, Sophie and Ryan. A more worthless set of coworkers would be hard to find.

They work out frequently and hang out a lot but have yet to stir a finger when it comes to an actual emergency. Oh no, emergencies are left for me.

I was working on the alarm system when two things happened. First the ground was shaking under my feet. An earthquake? That can't be good.

Hi Mum, it's Sammy (Clone 59 - Part 8)

Charlie was good to his little sister in the morning. He noticed that Donna was feeling a bit alone and wandered into her room.

Sunny is a night owl because of her work. I've been sleeping late because there's always an emergency last thing in the day. So I'm late getting home, late getting everything done for the evening and late to bed.

So when Charlie noticed that little Donna was getting very hungry, he brought her a bottle.

Hi Mum, it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 7)

This post has an excessive amount of warm fuzziness attached to it. You have been warned.

"Night night, my little princess. You sleep well, it was a big day today."

I swear, that little munchkin has already grown more. Why don't they stay small and adorable?

Charlie discovered that we bought several new things for him. First that he decided to try was the new sand pit.

"Charlie, you have to come in. Your first day of school is tomorrow. You better start getting ready for bed."

Hi Mum, it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 6)

"Sammy, this is the best spaghetti ever."

"Thanks Sunny.  How was your day?"

"Kept an eye on Donna. Tried to teach Charlie to talk but he's too fond of that blasted toy of his. He doesn't concentrate. How was your day, dear?"

"Same old. Maintenance around the station. A workout. Small kitchen fire."

"Another fire? People are so careless."

"Hey, they might have had a reason. Like the birth of a baby." I grinned at Sunny. "Those babies are mighty distracting. We were lucky that sitter took care of the fire so fast. By the way, Sunny, can I ask you," I paused for a breath.

"The answer is no, Sam."

"But?"

"No more babies. I want to get back to the theatre before they forget me."

"No one ever forgets you, Sunshine."

"No Sam. No more babies." Hmm, I'll have to work on this.

"And then the terrible claw rose out of the pit."

"It came to do one thing."

"It came to...It came to...tickle Charlie." Charlie loves the claw story. Well, he loves the end of the claw story.

Hi Mum, it's Sammy (clone 59 - part 5)

Poor Sunny. I wish we could afford a maid so someone else was responsible for keeping the house clean. But we haven't that kind of money to throw around. If we did happen into some cash, we should look at moving first. Something a bit nicer than this little place.

The least I could do was make sure that her efforts were properly rewarded.

Charlie may not have a room of his own, but he has all the love he needs. Because someone is there when he needs attention.