#caldodger

[rodney-dodger]

Don't you cry // Angel Dodger (feat. Lainey & Landon Welch, Cal Dodger, & Carmen Welch)

"So you're the miracle kid, huh?"

Then, she began to talk, "you know, little Carmen, us Greaser women, we're a tough lot, so I know you may be small now. One day, you're gonna be big and strong and the world's got so, so much to give you. You're Lainey's miracle...and Lainey's mine. You got the best mother in the whole wide universe, ya know. Of course, you already know that. She was so boss, you got impatient to meet her face-to-face. We've talked about you for a very long time, and guess what? You're even better than I could have imagined, Carmen Elaine." She stood and looked down as the child squirmed a little with a soft cry.

"Go ahead, you won't break her," she gave herself a pep talk as she reached down and pulled back. "Angel..." She spun around at the sound of her sister's voice. A soft smile that was forever imprinted on Angel's mind lit her glowing face. Lainey was meant to be a mother, it filled every ounce of her soul. She had been Angel's rock through this chaotic life, the comings and goings, the rough fights, and the emotional pregnancies. With a reassuring nod, she turned back to the baby, "alright, I'm new at this, so please don't cry." Lifting the tiny infant who weighed a lot less than she originally anticipated, she cradled her, being careful of her head. That's what they said on television and movies, 'watch the head.'

As she gently rocked Carmen, a smile spread slowly across her face. She turned around to show Lainey and was met with the sight of all her best friends together. Cal and Landon had joined Lainey as they watched Angel overcome her fear to hold the child. "She didn't cry," she joked with tearful eyes and choked out a laugh. Angel had wanted a girl so badly that she couldn't bear it, but here she was holding little Carmen Welch and it was enough. She had her girl, even if God never gave her one of her own.

Just then, the infant began to stir a little in her arms as a soft cry started to filter through the air. "Oh!" Angel exclaimed suddenly with a look of shock that carried over to her husband and her friends. "Angel baby, what's 'a matter?" Cal stepped up with concern covering his usually stoic expression.

Slowly a smile crept on her lips as she shifted her gaze to Carmen, "Rodney says hello, little one. He's your protector already."

[sherri--voxing-rp-blog]

With All My Love, Dad || Isaac&Cal

“Are ya comin’ or not? They’ll be home from school soon. If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the bus.” Maria’s irritated voice floated into Sherri’s bedroom where Isaac stood, taking it in for the last time. “Just a minute, darlin’.” He called back, pressing the black inked pen back into the paper to sign his name; Isaac Voxing. He had been working on the letter since Maria convinced him to leave. Part of him still wondered why he had agreed. He was sure it was fear. Fear of being left to raise his two children, and not knowing what to do. Fear of cracking under the pressure and not being able to take care of his own kids. His own creations. It was all fear. Goddamned, crippling fear. He hated be spineless enough to leave, but that was the only other option. The one thing he could do, is explain. Maybe not in person, but in a letter.

Isaac put the folded paper in an envelope along with one for Ryan. It was addressed to Sherri, though. He knew she wouldn’t get it if Ryan got his hands on it first. Isaac walked into the living room, where Maria sat checking the door every five seconds, two suitcases at her feet. She looked up when she saw Isaac walk out of the room. “We’re finally getting out of this town, Isaac. Finally.”

He smiled almost painfully at his wife and nodded. “Finally.” He loved Maria. He loved no one more than Maria. There was no doubt after all the years they had spent together that she was his soul mate, but he didn’t always understand the things she did. Like with leaving. Ryan was almost old enough to fend for himself, and Sherri too. Why not ride out the last few years and move when they were both out of the house? But he didn’t bother to question her logic. It was a poor choice to do so. But he would make one request he knew she wouldn’t refuse of him.

“Baby, before leave, can I see Cal one last time? Just…please?” It was more desperate than he meant it to be, but Cal was one of his best friends. He stood next to him in every rumble and followed him through every attack and prank. He egged houses and was one of the wolf pack members. He had gone to visit Angel and Cal in the hospital after the birth of their soon, Rodney who was one of Sherri’s new friends and Ryan’s closest.

Maria stared at her husband sympathy shining in her eyes. “Alright, I don’t see why not.” She replied, knowing it would be the one thing she couldn’t talk Isaac out of. “Just not too many details, alright baby?”

Isaac nodded, grabbing the bags and heading out the door. Before he knew it, he was standing at the doorstep of the Dodgers door. Rodney shouldn’t have been home from school. He at least hoped that the boy hadn’t picked that day to skip, though that was far from his control. He lifted his fist to the door, knocking a couple times, shifting awkwardly on the balls of his feet waiting for the door to creak open.

[rodney-dodger]

How is your relationship with your father now?

It’s better. He’s back to his old self again, and we’re mendin’ fences.

[rodney-dodger]

How are your parents?

They’re fine. Thanks…

[rodney-dodger]

Does your father's opinion of you affect who you are and want to be?

Yeah. I wanna make ‘im proud, o’ course.

[rodney-dodger]

Give Us Life Again // Codney

True to her word, Mama Greaser had shown up to check on the Dodgers. The moment Angel saw the blonde approaching, her whole demeanor changed. Spinning around to Cal with the brightest smile, a weight seemed lifted off her shoulders that had burdened her since she first heard the news of Cal's heart attack. Carmen's presence in the Dodger house held a calming effect. In actuality, Angel loved her more than any of the girls in Rodney's Wolf Pack, but she'd never say it aloud, not wishing to show favoritism. "Look who's stoppin' by, Cal darling," Angel said softly, as she turned back to the window. "I knew she would. It's about time, I haven't seen her much since the night of that party...she took such good care of Rod." Her tone began towards the one that made her son cringe. It was the dreamy sort of one that usually came about when either Carmen or Marie was mentioned in passing conversation. Not missing a beat, she never did, adding, "she'd be so good for you, Rodney. You two would make such a good..." He rolled his eyes with a sigh, glad Carmen hadn't made it to the door yet to catch such embarrassing conversation, "Momma, don't start." He groaned as Cal nodded in amusement as he teased, "yeah, Rod and I are stagin' an intervention for ya to stop frettin' all the damn time. Let him get his head back into business before he starts thinkin' about goin' steady again." Angel smiled fondly at her boys, throwing her hands up in outnumbered defeat, "Oh, hush now. He's perfectly ready for either of those girls, they'll keep him on track, but that's the last I'll say on the matter." Rod met his father's eyes as they shared a knowing grin, that was never the last she'd say on the matter.

Opening the door, Angel pulled her into an embrace immediately. "Carmen, you get more beautiful every time I see you. Come in, sweetheart." She led her into their small living area where Rod sat on the couch. Cal stood from his place at the kitchen table and walked over to greet the blonde. Angel was right, Carmen was growing more radiant every day. It made him wonder how Landon could have ever missed out on this, seeing her grow up. The kids would both be twenty this year, and wherever he'd run off to, he'd miss it.