First Day Of School: Kate/Jagger/Kayley/Wes

[Jagger St. Croix]

Kayley was out of the car and in the house before Jagger could even answer but he just smiled wistfully for a moment watching her, before he turned back at Kate. "No problem. Thanks for coming." He told her, flashing her a quick grin. "I'm glad we can actually do this without, you know, killing each other."

for a long time, they could barely get through drop offs without getting into an argument, so this was definitely a compliment to them both. "I think it was great for Kayley, you know? I just wish Andy had been around.  I should have made him come." 

[Kate Roberts]

Kate found herself grinning at him, "Well we both know we're better off getting along." she replied, then added with a tease, "I get free meals out of it."

She frowned when he mentioned their son. "You shouldn't have to make him do anything. He's gotta remove that stick out of his ass and face the fact that we aren't together anymore.

[Jagger St. Croix]

"I know I should have to, but the kid is getting fucking rude about it." Jagger declared. "I mean, you're his mother and he needs to respect that, even if he is pissed off."

Jagger never let Andy disrespect in front of Kate, even in the middle of everything when Jagger couldn't even stand to be in the same room as her. Th one time Andy has done it, Jagger had quickly put him in his place. Above all else, Jagger respected his own mother and there was no way in hell he was going to let his son not respect his own. Hell no.

"listen, I'm sure you already know this, but those boys he's been hanging out with...Jax and Colin. They're bad news. They are the same boys I hung out with when I was a kid and believe me, I was doing a lot of shit."

[Kate Roberts]

With a nod, Kate had to agree. "Yes, I know. I was just seriously hoping that he would just be the 'good kid' of the bunch and I wouldn't have to worry so much." She knew she was lying to herself. The truth of the matter was, Kate was beginning to feel as though she was losing control over her teenage son. "If I say something, he's only going to spend more time with them. You know how it goes." She'd already found a cigarette butt smashed into the ground by the back door. Of course, there were way worse things than cigarettes... but Kate knew it was only the beginning.

[Jagger St. Croix]

"Oh I know how it goes." Jagger said with a groan. "I was him when I was 15 and that scares the shit out of me." Jagger hadn't been a bad kid, but he had been headstrong and strong willed. He had also been angry and thankfully, he had found music to put that anger into, but it hasn't stopped him from getting into trouble completely and as far as he could tell, Andy hadn't yet found something to channel the anger too, and that worried him.

"I guess I should try talking him to about it," he said, half in thought. "Maybe I can get it through to him...and if nothing else, I csn just enforce it if I have to." Jagger had never raised a hand to Andy, but when he got out of line, Jagger wasn't someone Andy wanted to mess with, Jagger could lay one hell of a verbal smackdown when he wanted too.

[Kate Roberts]

Shaking her head, Kate replied "Andy is a good kid." she stated,"I just think...right now...he's just rebelling. It hurt him what happened to us. I get it." She let out a heavy sigh as she continued to try to convince herself that it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Besides all that, Kate was a protecting mother and would always find a way to defend her kids. ALWAYS.

She looked up at the house and noticed the light turn on in Kayley's bedroom. She was most likely on the phone already with one of her 'best friends'. Atleast Kayley seemed to do alright. Sure, it was rough for a while, especially when her dad started packing his things and moved out. She cried for him at bedtime every night for weeks. But eventually, things went back to normal for her. Kayley loved her dad but it helped that Kate kept her busy with things, like girl scouts and sports.

Kate glanced at the clock on the dashboard. If she was going to make it for ice cream, she'd better get a move on. However, still to this day, after everything that had happened, Kate still lacked the willpower to be the first to leave when it came to Jagger.

"You taking the kids Friday after school?" she asked, changing the subject a little.

[Jagger St. Croix]

Jagger went quiet for a moment when Kate started talking about Andy being mad about what happened between them. Yeah, he got it too. Hell, it was 5 years ago and still, just thinking about it pissed him off too. They were supposed to be married for God's sake and deep down, Jagger felt like Kate had just thrown it all away. Yes, Jagger had been the one to ultimately end things but who could live their lives with someone who was obviously never going to trust him? It would have been far more painful for everyone involved had they gone through with the wedding and everything blew up all over again.

he looked at Kate and nodded his head to her question about Friday night, forcing himself to clear his head. He could feel his shoulders already tensing just at the memories. He moved his head and neck from side to side, a give away to how he was feeling, wincing at the knots in his neck that suddenly appeared. "Yeah, I'll pick them up here around 4," he answered. "I'm at the studio until then."

[Kate Roberts]

Kate watched him, her eyes taking in his every move. She loved this man. Pretty much always had. Ever since she met Jagger, there had been a special connection between them. At first, she just assumed it was that thing called 'lust'. But the more she spent time with him, the more she fell in love with him. When they finally decided to give it a real shot, Kate had seen a side of him that she never knew existed. He was more than a gorgeous bad boy with amazing bedroom skills. He could be sensitive and even romantic when he really wanted to be. However, Kate just couldn't let a good thing just be. She ruined it. She was about to marry this man and she allowed her insecurities and crazies to come out. It was her one regret in life.

Now as she watched him, she could tell he was thinking hard about something. "What's the matter?"

[Jagger St. Croix]

"Nothing." He answered, a little shortly. He hated when the memories started to pop up again. It made him feel vulnerable and he hated that. When it had come to Kate, Jagger had really put himself on the line. He had let down his walls and opened himself up to the possibility of having a real little family...and despite his bad boy persona, he had really wanted that. The day he found out about this pictures...he could still see her face. The hurt, the bewilderment, the anger. She hadn't listened to a word he said and no matter what, she refused to believe him. Yeah, he had screwed up that time with Beth and he knew that Kate had never fully gotten over that, but they hadn't been together and he certainly hadn't cheated...so for her to assume he had done so this time? It killed him. It had literally killed him and truth be told, he had refused to open himself up to anyone else ever since. No way was he going to get fucked over like that again.

[Kate Roberts]

She watched him fidget for another moment before letting it go. She wouldn't force him to tell her. She lost that privilege a long time ago. Clearing her throat, Kate grabbed her purse and reached for the door. "Well, thanks again. I better get inside so I can go through Kay's backpack. I'm sure there's a ton of paperwork waiting for me." She climbed out and closed the door, but peered inside the car from the open window. "If you talk to Andy, remind him that he needs to be home by ten."

[Jagger St. Croix]

"Yeah, I'll tell him." It wouldn't shock him if Andy showed up at his place wanting to stay the night, he had been doing that more and more often lately which was fine with him, he lived having Andy with him, but he knew it bothered Kate At the same time.

Try as he might, he had never fully been able to shake his ex. Sure, there had been other women but no one serious. He couldnt be bothered after everything that had gone down. In many ways, he was still like the Jagger of yesteryears, hard and closed off, but in many others he was different. He had really wanted his family and it had been hard for him to admit that to himself, so the fact that it had blown up in his face and exposed his true feelings had really caused him to retreat even further into himself in many ways. When it came to the kids though, well that was the only time he was truly open.

Kate climbed out of the car and Jagger looked out of his window at her. She really was still so beautiful. Kayley was going to look just like her, he decided with a soft, wistful smile.

[Wes Ellis]

"Hey! Mister! You lookin' for a date?!?" Wes shouted from the other side of the street after seeing Kate leaning into the car window like Julia Roberts trying to score with Richard Gere in "Pretty Woman." He couldn't resist. Hell, he could never resist giving his "baby mama" a hard time and the fact that her other baby daddy was right there to hear it just made it all the better.

Wes had seen the photos of Kayley leaving for his first day of the school year on Facebook and, after finishing up drafting subpoenas for a child custody case, he decided to stop over on his way home to check in on the little girl who was undoubtedly the only good thing his brother Brett had to offer, and Kate had got it.

After waiting for a car to pass by, Wes trotted across the street and joined Kate and Jagger at the car, stopping at Jagger's window to shake his hand and say hello.

"Bringing her home kinda early, aren't ya?" he joked, glancing at his watch. "She don't turn back into a hag until midnight, so you got at least six more hours...."

[Kate Roberts]

Kate was about to say something when she was interrupted by her best friend/ex roommate/daughter's uncle. Playfully rolling her eyes at his ridiculous commenting, Kate shook her head, "And here I thought this neighborhood didn't allow the likes of you around here." she teased, "Wasn't that why you paid so much money, Jagger?"

[Wes Ellis]

"Pfft! You kidding? Gays raise property values," Wes scoffed. "We're better for the market prices than a backyard pool, a lagoon tub and a brand new kitchen combined."

[Jagger St. Croix]

Jagger's attention was caught by the sound of Wes's voice and he couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. Over the years, Jsgger had developed an amused fondness for the guy. Once you started to get his humor, he was pretty ducking hilarious.

"yeah, but I get bored easily," Jagger quipped. "So I thought I'd trade her in early." He rescued out and shook the other man's hand, figurijg correctly he was there to see Kayley after her first day of school. "We've got a pretty happy kid up there. All full of sushi and rice."

he he turned when Kate spoke and he smirked at her. "Nah. I paid all this money so you could run around in little skirts trying to steal Timberlake from his wife over there," he teased, nodding in the direction of their famous neighbours.