Always (Always & Forever 1)

"We don't care about that. Right, Autumn?" Robert said, cocking his head forward to peer around Kane so he could look at his sister.

"It'll be different than anything you've experienced before," Avery said.

"It's okay, Dad. We're different, but not wrong, no matter what anyone says. Right, Daddy?" Autumn asked.

Robert didn't wait for Kane to answer before he continued, "So, if you win, when would we have to change schools? I want to play school basketball next year." Kane glanced between the two and then looked up at Avery who had a sly smile on his face. It sure seemed he'd be running for office. Neither Autumn nor Robert cared one lick about anything other than their school activities. They seemed a little self-absorbed to Kane, but he also reconciled that to mean they must be raising normal, well-balanced kids and that filled his heart with pride.

"We'll time it where everyone is where they need to be for tryouts. You can play ball, Son. And Autumn, if want to cheer, that's fine too. None of that changes. If I make it, and that's a big if, then we'll move you during off season," Avery clarified to the relief of both children. Robert nodded, but now that things seemed normal again, Autumn got up and wormed her way into the small place beside Avery, sliding under his arm, so she could sit next to him. He wrapped his arm around her as her big blue eyes focused on Kane.

"I thought you never would change your vote. Nonnie says you're wrong, but you won't ever give. You have to give this time, Daddy. We support each other all the time, remember?" Autumn was most likely to follow in Avery's footsteps. It was just very undecided where her political beliefs were headed. She was all over the place, picking and choosing so her views were based on the issue, not the side. Avery just hugged her tightly as they both stared at Kane. Avery grinned bigger and nodded at him.

"You will have to vote for me. And no opposing candidates' signs in the yard this year," Avery said.

"No, Daddy! You can't put up signs for another candidate, that would be wrong," Autumn exclaimed.

"He already said he'd vote for Dad," Robert jumped in on Kane's defense. This was something new. While they'd not had sibling fights much before, that had changed as they entered this school year. The fights were coming faster and they were becoming more argumentative with each passing day.

"So we're moving forward. I can let them know we're running for office?" Avery asked before Kane could. He was an expert at diverting their attention where Kane stumbled a bit sometimes. Funny how that worked. He'd come from a large family, Avery an only child. It should have been the other way around.

"You'll have to be gone a lot, I bet. I'm gonna miss you," Autumn said, laying her head on Avery's shoulder.

"You guys can come with me as much as possible, and when I'm not home, I'll call." Autumn nodded. Robert came to sit by them, sliding under his other arm.

"What about La Bella Luna?" Robert asked.

"The expansion's changing everyone's role. Kane can do more on the road now," Avery said.

"And Daddy has his portable computer," Autumn said, as if that solved everything.

"Paulie, Rodney, and I will work everything out. It'll be okay," Kane reassured Robert.

"Granddaddy Paulie won't move with us?" Autumn asked, a little alarmed.

"He hasn't decided yet, but I'm working on him, I promise. So what's the vote?" Avery asked.

"I vote go for it, as long as I get to play basketball," Robert said.

"I'm fine with it. I think it's up to you. You have to do all the work," Autumn agreed.

"We'll all have to help him," Kane said, and Autumn's eyes lit up.

"Do we get to help in the campaign? I love when Nonnie tells us about working on Great-Granddaddy's campaign." She was all smiles and eyes on Avery. She so knew exactly how to work him. She couldn't have said anything better.

"Absolutely! You can do it all," Avery said, kissing her forehead.

"Yay!" Autumn jumped up and bounded up the stairs. "I have to call April and tell her!"

"Hang on! You can't tell anyone yet. Not until I announce it," Avery called out after her.

"Okay," Autumn yelled back, but she was already in her room, the door shutting loudly behind her.

"So that's it, then. You freaked me out a little, you looked so serious. I thought someone died," Robert said. He rose, stretching out his back as he followed his sister upstairs. "I'll make sure she doesn't tell. I'll listen on the phone."

"No listening to her on the other phone, Robert. She needs her privacy," Kane called out as his son walked up the steps.

"I just pretend to listen. It makes her crazy," Robert said from the top of the stairs.

"And you wonder why you two fight," Kane said. All Robert did was laugh as his door slammed shut behind him.

"Well, I guess that's it then. I'm running," Avery said, moving from the coffee table to the sofa, wrapping an arm around Kane's back.

"I guess you are," Kane nodded. He let Avery draw him into a small snuggle.

"So, are you changing your vote for me?" Avery teased, sliding his hand under Kane's sweater, letting his fingertips graze the bare skin of his stomach.

"I don't know. You'll have to work for it. Convince me." Kane leaned in to capture Avery's lips with his. There was only a small swipe of tongue before he pulled away, conscious of the kids being home.

"Oh, I'll work for it. Come upstairs and we'll start now," Avery suggested, waggling his eyebrows.

"Tonight," Kane said. He moved away from the hold, and it cost him to do so, but he pulled Avery up with him. "I think it's a pizza kind of night, and we need to call your mom and Paulie. They'll play a huge part in this. We need to tell them the big news."

"Kane…" There was a distinct whine to Avery's voice. "Babe, I like my idea so much better…"