Dallas' Apartment

[Dallas Kennedy]

Lives in the same building as Esme Phelps.
Has a 4 month on Lemon Beagle named Gibby.
Stopped having parties since Blake moved in.
Has a house maid. /isnotananny

Dallas' room is upstairs where the office used to be.
Blake's room in on the first floor along with the bathroom.
The rest of the house is pretty explanatory.

[Esme Russel]

Dallas's text wouldn't have been concerning if Esme hadn't almost lost Hudson to suicide earlier that year. She was always worried about him as it was because he lived alone and didn't have any children and she was pretty much convinced that his girlfriend was a no good gold digging tramp even if she had never met him. She felt like it was her obligation to talk him out of suicide so she was thinking about that as she walked down the long hallway to Dallas's apartment.

Why was this such a long walk? Or was it the fact that the baby was currently pressing against her lungs? Either way. She had just raced out of her apartment in her sports bra and work out shorts because suicidal people don't typically wait for their friends to get dressed. "Dallas James Kennedy! Open this damn door before I have a heart attack."

What if she was too late?

What if he was already gone?

She had finally caught her breath! She felt like there was someone was squeezing her heart! She didn't love Dallas in any way shape of form but she didn't want him to die! She wanted him to one day have children who would be friends with her's who were at their father's house for the weekend fortunately. She didn't want them to be around like this if fun uncle Dallas was dead. Well Livvie probably wouldn't care much since she and Dallas had never actually met before but Cici would be absolutely heartbroken! "Life is worth it, Kennedy! Put down that knife or gun or whatever it is that you're thinking about using because things will get better!' She needed to stop talking about this through the freaking door. What if someone heard?

She was practically a celebrity with the show! What would her agent think of this?

[Dallas Kennedy]

God, what a day it had been and it wasn't even noon! The workers had taken Blake with them, but they would be back in the morning to move him into his new home. Dallas was scared, excited, confused and sad all at the same time, but he already felt a pull towards this new addition to his non-existent family. He was telling Esme before anyone else. Before his parents (who he hadn't spoken to in months), before James, even before Michelle.

He had a bad feeling about the turn out when he told Michelle about this whole situation. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew something was going to happen and he felt that he wasn't going to like the outcome. He sat on the couch, looking over all of the papers they had left for him. Was this some kind of dream that he couldn't wake up from?

No, Esme was pounding on the door, yelling something about life or whatever. Wow, she was seriously confused. Dallas couldn't help with laugh to himself at her as he pulled himself up from the couch to answer the door. At first he didn't say anything, but he smiled and gestured for her to come inside. "Yeah, Es, I'm obviously killing myself." He joked. He knew he shouldn't joke about things like that, especially since Hudson, but her reaction was just too much. He went back to the sofa and sat down on one end. How was he going to tell her?

"So. I got some news today.." Dallas started. "Do you remember Rebecca?" He asked, not sure if Esme would remember her or not. They weren't even together but maybe two weeks. "She died in a car accident." It hurt him to know that, and even worse to say it, but he tried to lighten the mood and not dwell on it. "But uhm.. why I asked you here isn't because of that.. There's something else..."

[Esme Russel]

Had he really just made a joke about suicide? She wasn't the type to get offended over jokes usually but that sparked something inside of Esme. "Dallas, how dare you? How could you say something like that? It's not funny! It's just offensive to someone who almost lost their husband to suicide. I came rushing over here when I'm twenty weeks pregnant because I was scared that you were in some sort of danger." She knew that she was overreacting to this but it cut deeper than she could ever imagine. How could he be so insensitive? She reached a hand up to slap him but she resisted the urge.

She wanted to yell at him until he understood what a jerk that he was but she figured that finding out a fling was dead was hard enough for one day and he probably wasn't really thinking when he said his comment. She sat down on the couch and raised a brow before making a joke of her own. "What did she do? Have a baby and hide it?" She laughed at the very unlikely chance that he would ever have a child that he didn't know about. She laid down after saying that and had her head on his lap. She just wanted to get comfortable! And she knew that he was just a friend and Hudson knew that, too well hopefully.

She glanced up at him with a weak smile. "I know that it sucks when someone dies but why is her death relevant to me? I always thought that she was kind of slutty and I mean she was obviously just a desperate rebound to show that you were over that Katie girl." She couldn't remember her name but it was alright.

She wasn't relevant to their lives anymore!

[Dallas Kennedy]

Dallas instantly regretted his comment, and flinched when she rose her hand. He'd been smacked by her on countless occasions and it always stung. It was like she went to a class for that shit and she was you the Queen Bee Professional. "I'm sorry." He said quietly as she sat down.

He didn't make anything out of her laying her head on his lap. They were pretty much like family if you exclude their history at Foxhurst. "Actually.. Uhm." Fuck, why couldn't he find the words to tell her about Blake? Why was is that difficult? Then he blurted out, "Esme, I have a son."

Wow, that was a shock even for him to say. It sounded so alien. "I met him today for the first time." He pictured the little blonde boy and felt that same pull he felt earlier. That was his son and he was determined t raise him right, even if that meant making life changing sacrifices. He looked down to Esme, waiting for her reply. He pictured it being something like a jaw drop and more smacking, but figured that was probably wrong and she was going to do something else.

[Esme Russel]

Esme wasn't expecting to hear that! She didn't know if she was suppose to tell him that he needed to raise his son or if it would be better if he was raised by someone else. So, she didn't say anything at first. She just sat up and hugged Dallas. She figured that he might need it. How could he not? His life was possibly changing in so many ways.


She finally pulled away from him.after what felt like ten minutes of just hugging him and cleared her throat. "Oh Dallas... you poor poor thing." That was all she could say? No motherly advice on how to handle a child? Just oh Dallas? "Dallas .. a kid is a big responsibly and it's hard to do it alone... I almost broke down when I was doing it alone for a couple of months without Hudson and I got weekend help from Jonathan. It's exhausting to run around after a toddler all day and you can't get drunk ."

Despite what it sounded like, she wasn't trying to talk him out of taking his son. He just needed to be informed that it wouldn't be so easy. "Dallas... I'm going to hug you again, okay?" She nodded slowly as she reached over to hug him once him. She felt like it was more for her than him at this point though.

[Dallas Kennedy]

He looked at her and smiled. Even just knowing about Blake and seeing his face and now remembering the way he was looking at him, Dallas already loved him. It was like some little fire deep inside him was lit and warming his heart with emotions and feelings that he hadn't felt since Raine told him she was pregnant.

Now thinking back on that, he hugged Esme back. He was glad that he told her before anyone else because he truly needed her. Raine's miscarriage still haunted him every now and again, especially when he would see a young dad walking with his son of daughter. Maybe the time wasn't right and that's why it had happened.

Dallas listened to her, already knowing that things were going to have to change. He knew a child would take up everything in his life, maybe even his car. An old school muscle car wasn't really something that a toddler should be riding in. Would he be willing to give that up for his new son? Probably not, but he would definitely be investing in a second vehicle. One with four doors and better air bags and by far better gas mileage.

She went to hug him again and he swallowed before speaking. "Esme, he needs me. And, it's weird and I've never really felt this before, but I feel so pulled to him. Like.. I don't even know how to express it but.." He paused and pulled away from her. "I need him." Dallas admitted with a pleading expression. He quickly smiled and looked to her. "His name is Blake. He's four." His chest fluttered when he talked about him, mostly from excitement.

[Esme Russel]

"Dallas ... a child is going to change everything… You'll need a new car... where is he going to sleep? He needs a bed and toys and clothes. You will need to buy food for him! Foods that he can eat because a four year old can't have the same things you can and he can't watch the shows you like." Oh television. She almost wasn't sure if she should throw in what this meant for television. Should she mention that she knew the lyrics to the theme songs of almost every show Cici and Livvie watched? "You are going to learn the words to so many popular children's shows that you will randomly hum them because some of them are actually a little catchy."

She hated that she was being so negative with him when he looked like he wanted to be the father that she had always known he could be. Raine's miscarriage had been horrible back at Foxhurst! It was so strange thinking that Raine had almost died from her miscarriage and now she was having twins and Dallas had a four year old and a gold digging tramp. Both of their lives had gone the way that they were meant to all because her miscarriage.

She couldn't imagine how horrible it would have turned out if the baby had been born. She could see Raine and Elliot breaking up because Raine felt obligated to be with Dallas for the baby and Dallas would resent her because he lost Katie or Kathy. Whatever. And Raine would always pin for her first love who she assumed would commit suicide because the pain of losing Raine to Dallas was too much. It took her a second to realize that she had kind of zoned out for a couple of minutes.


"Look... I am not trying to make this seem like a horrible thing because I know that you can handle this. You can and will be a wonderful father who takes care of his son." She didn't want him feeling bad about his parenting skills or like this was a mistake. "I'm here to help, Dallas and I hope you know that. I can help you with whatever it takes to make your new life with Blake as easy as possible. I could probably get Jon to pay you child support." She was obviously kidding but they both had to know that she probably could.

[Dallas Kennedy]

Change everything? He was ready for that right? "Well, I was thinking that I'd get rid of the office upstairs, and that could be my room because I mean.. how awesome would that be? And Blake could have my room." Then he got the idea of decorating. "Esme, would you want to help me decorate it once he's here?" Dallas asked, knowing she would probably jump at the idea.

He could get rid of his car.. or just buy a new one seeing as he knew he wouldn't be able to part with it. (even thought the Chevelle's miles were close to putting it in the auto grave yard anyways) "I was thinking about buying a new car too. Mine's just about ready to be retired." Retired? It was a fucking car, not a race horse or and old person.

Dallas could handle the cartoons, the healthier eating, and the energy that Blake would possess. He felt ready, apart from the list the social workers had left him. "I do need to get rid of a few things though.." He said, getting off the couch and walking into the kitchen. "Like this." He held a bottle of vodka in his hand and threw it away. Maybe this was a good thing for him. "And this." And that.. and those.. and maybe that magazine. Before he knew it, thirty minutes had passed and he has two bags full of shit that he was throwing away. Most of it was alcohol and dirty magazines.

"That's a start, right? I'm going grocery shopping tonight. What do four-year-olds eat? Do they still have to have their food cut up?" He genuinely asked. Esme would be the best to ask, wasn't she? Cici seemed to be turning out wonderfully, so he would listen to her advice.

[Esme Russel]

Esme nearly squealed with joy when he asked if she would want to help him decorate Blake's bedroom. "Oh my God! Yes! I would love to!" She was surprised that he was actually handling this so well! The old Dallas back in high school wouldn't have taken this with such stride, the old Dallas had wanted Raine to get an abortion for their baby and now this wonderful guy was stepping up to help a child that he didn't even know existed before today. It was nice to watch him as he put various bottles of alcohol and dirty magazines in bags. Where was all of this even coming from? He was a wonderful uncle but it's easy to be a great uncle.

Uncles come in and bring presents and hand the kid back when they were crying, was he ready for that? She stood up to search through the kitchen and see what all he had just to make sure that he hadn't left anything in there that looked like it was a possible danger to a four year old. "Okay... I'm not trying to sound mean or anything because he is your son and it's your parenting choices and you feel comfortable with more things than I feel comfortable with and all that sort of stuff......" She was going to mention that she would have a panic attack if she saw Cici on those stairs without any railing but she pursed her lips and just shook her head.

She didn't want to upset him! "Never mind, you're doing great already and yes sometimes you do need to cut up their food but only if it's something like steak that they wouldn't be able to cut themselves and Cici got really picky when she was around four so be careful about that. She only wanted macaroni, the shaped kind, and dinosaur chicken nuggets and hot dogs but no bun and the hot dog had to be cut like an octopus or she wouldn't touch it and she still doesn't like her food to touch so you might want to be on the safe side and buy those plastic divided plates but you'll want plastic anyway because he might be a dropper which is fine. Cici dropped a couple of bowls when she was younger and glasses of juice and plates." She laughed weakly as she adjusted her shorts.

"Do you want me to come shopping with you? I'll need to get dressed obviously but I can help you! I don't know what he likes obviously but I know what Cici and Livvie like and what their friends like." She was trying to make sure that he was prepared for life with a four year old albeit most of her fears were unfounded. She would be doing the same exact thing if it was anyone else. It was important to her that he didn't feel overwhelmed at any point.

She could remember being so overwhelmed when Cici was first born and feeling like she couldn't do it and she'd had nine months to prepare and newborns were a heck of a lot less mobile and easier to understand than four year olds! Newborns really need to be bathed, changed, fed and comforted.

[Dallas Kennedy]

Dallas loved that she was so full of useful tips. She was definitely the best candidate to ask about all of this. He rested against the counter as she spoke, listing off everything and this and that. He took serious mental notes and watched as she went through his things. He was okay with it though, it wasn't like this was the first time she inspected his place.

Gibby came trotting down the stairs and sat next to his feet. "Ah, hey boy!" He said as he bent down to pet his puppy. "Have you two met yet?" He asked Esme. Ever since that one date with Kat, Dallas had always wanted a Lemon Beagle of his own. He never was able to get one due to the dorm rules, but now that he was stable and financially secure, he adopted one. He was like a child to him, which wouldn't change when Blake got here. He would just have to have two kids.. just one would be a little hairier than the other.

"I would love for you to go with me. You know, if you have time. I don't want you to feel like.. you know, like you have to or anything." Dallas returned. He had a general idea of what to get, but there were always the little things. And Dallas wasn't a picky eater like most in his family, so whatever Blake wouldn't eat or drink, he would. "What time is it? Ten something?" He asked, pulling his phone from his pocket and checking. Almost eleven.

He walked to the fridge to pull a piece of paper from the small notepad magnet. A list was needed. He began jotting down things from the top of his mind. Toys. Food. Drinks. Bandaids. Toothpaste. Bathsoap. He continued the list with better details, trying to think of everything that he could before he had Esme look over and add too it. When it was done, he handed it to her. "What do you think?"

[Esme Russel]

Esme glanced down at the list and tried to think if there was anything that he had forgotten or wouldn't know to put. "Oh, Dallas... A night light." She was the mother of two daughters who were terrified of the dark so she knew about this kind of thing though she supposed that Blake might be different but it was kind of that age, she thought because she was scared at that time as well hell she still was and she was in her twenties! "But dude... I am so so unbelievably proud of you right now... It's so wonderful of you to take all of this on when you don't have to. You might not realize this but a lot of men wouldn't be doing this. Do you know how many guys would just pretend that Blake didn't exist and go on like life was before?"

She didn't want to cry but she could feel a fresh batch of crazy hormonal tears building in her eyes. It was just so beautiful! She wiped her eyes and handed him back his list. She had only added a couple of things that she thought that Blake would enjoy and a couple of books that she thought Dallas would find helpful. "I know he had a mommy and she died and I definitely do not want to step on her role because she is gone but at the same time I know that sometimes kids want mommies and if you feel like you need me to come over to help you at any point then I can do that no matter what time or where I am or even where you are! I don't want to ruin her memory by replacing her. I just want you to know that if he needs someone..,.. I don't know how to say this without sounding bad."

She laughed a little awkwardly and crossed her arms over her chest. "I have two girls and I'm having a boy soon so I know a thing or two about the maternal side of things. I know that you can do this one hundred percent on your own without any problems, Dallas but I want you to know that you don't have to. I mean I'm married so I can't be here all the time but I can help. I can make you dinners and you can freeze them and just reheat them or something or come over if he gets sick so you don't call 911 for a fever like I did the first time that Cici got one." She was thinking back to all of the mistakes that she'd made as a new parent.

She glanced at her cellphone to see what time it was and her eyes bugged out, where had the time gone?