bang goes my heart

Gala squealed and licked his face when she was in his arms.

Tavros giggled happily.

Dave giggled at them. "She really likes you."

"I really like animals, and they always seem to like me" Tavros admitted.

Jade was humming as she returned with three trays. "Teas sandwiches, celery logs with cream cheese, and lemonade. This should hold us over until dinner." She set the trays on the coffee table. "Is he alright?"

Dave nodded at her. "Tired. A bit clingy. Big D is like this when he's drunk though, so I can handle it."

"He, uh, wants to watch Avatar. Is that okay?" Tavros asked

"I'll put it on in a minute."

Tavros nodded. "Okay, good"

Jade looked to Dave. "He's not bothering you?"

The blonde shook his head. "I'm fine. He's just sleeping. No big deal."

She looked back to Tavros. "Do you need anything else?"

Tavros shook his head, "I'm fine"

Jade was humming as she got up to put the movie in.

Tavros pet Gala as he smiled and watched Jade.

Jo was silent as she entered the house. The whole car ride home Dick had done nothing but bitch about Ginger. If she heard his former assistant's name one more time she was going to scream. The younger Strider twin quickly went to hide in her room before her big brother could follow her.

Cal came out of the bedroom when he heard the front door. "Dirk?" he questioned, hoping the younger had returned with his car. "That you?"

Dick looked up from his phone. "Nope. Just me and Jojo."

"Oh. How was your flight?" Cal asked, moving closer with a small smile.

Dick shrugged at him. "Same boring shit as usual. I think I'm gonna take a nap."

"We're having dinner with the neighbors in a little bit, do you think you have time?" Cal asked "I mean, as it is, Dirk is probably going to be late and I'm not particularly a fan of going, but I think Jeff was really looking forward to you going too"

Dick nodded at him. "I'll be up in time to go. I just need to lay down for a bit. Jo looked pretty tired too. Where am I staying this summer?"

"Probably in with Jo or one of the boys. Dirk may try and offer you his room as an excuse to sleep in his 'workshop'" Cal replied "Jeff still has the curfew enforced so he doesn't lock himself in there for days at a time" He paused a moment. "You remember Robbie Egbert don't you?" he asked "He, um, moved back with Mr. Harley, and they're the new neighbors"

Dick yawned as he flopped down on the couch. "Robbie is your new neighbor? How's he?"

Cal shook his head "No, Egbert is across the street from us, Harley is our neighbor. You, uh, you would probably remember his daughter, Ruby I think? Pretty sure her name had something to do with a gemstone. Anyway, I wouldn't really know, I haven't interacted with either of them. I never interacted with him in school or anything either. That was always you guys, Beatrice scares the fuck out of me." He leaned on the couch so he could look down at Dick. "Jeff's mad at me because I don't want to go to their place for dinner."

Dick grinned at him. "Josh? Yeah, I remember him. Ruby too. Shame what happened to her and her husband. Does Harley still have her kids?"

"Yeah. Jeff took them to the vet earlier after a mishap hurt the boy's cat." Cal admitted. "I think he's got someone else's kid too, there was a boy in a wheelchair that looked like he could be related to them"

Dick shrugged slightly. "When's dinner?"