*AUTHORS NOTE : Up to this point, the story has basically revolved around Donna, and has been completely from her point of view. So I'm going to try giving each character a life, you know what I mean? I mean, I'm sure you are getting kinda bored with Donna's life, so allow me to bring the Isaac and Zac into the picture too. Hopefully you'll figure out what I'm saying soon.*
2 weeks later: (it is now mid-January)
"Isaac!" Diana called from downstairs.
Isaac, who had been trying to take a nap, sat up in his bed.
"What?!" he yelled back.
"Come here please!" Diana replied.
Isaac sighed in exasperation, and slowly got out of his bed. He trudged down the stairs and into the living room, where his very pregnant mother was sitting on the couch.
"Yeah mom?" he asked.
"Isaac, I need you to drive me to the hospital," Diana said calmly.
"Are you having the baby?!" Isaac exclaimed.
Diana nodded. "It's time," she said. "We have to go now. Find Taylor and tell him to watch the kids."
Isaac nodded. "I'll be right back," he said. "Don't move."
Isaac ran out of the living room, and tried to remember the last time he had seen Taylor.
"Tay?" he called.
"What?" a voice coming from the direction of the basement answered.
Isaac ran over to the stairs leading to the basement and pounded down them. He spotted Taylor sprawled on the couch, watching TV.
"Tay, you have to watch the kids for a few hours," Isaac said
"Why?" Taylor asked.
"Because I have to drive mom to the hospital," Isaac said, walking over to Taylor and grabbing his arm.
"Why?!" Taylor exclaimed. "What happened?"
"Mom's having the baby," Isaac explained.
"NOW?!" Taylor asked.
"No Tay," Isaac said sarcastically. "I'm telling you all this for my health. Come on!"
Taylor followed Ike up the stairs and into the living room.
"Let me go get my keys," Isaac said, heading for the stairs.
"Ike, could you grab my suitcase too?" Diana called. "It's in my closet."
Isaac nodded as he ran up the stairs.
"You okay mom?" Taylor asked.
"I'll be okay as long as I get to the hospital soon," Diana replied. "ISAAC!"
Isaac ran back down the stairs, holding his mother's suitcase.
"I'm here," he said. "Let's go!"
He walked over to his mother and helped her up.
"Now Tay," Diana began, as she allowed Isaac to help her with her coat. "Mackie is napping, and Jess and Avery are in their room. The emergency numbers are on the fridge. Your dad should be home in an hour or so. When he gets home, tell him to go to the hospital, understand?"
Taylor nodded, and watched as his mother and Isaac ran out the front door. "Ummm...bye," he said, shutting the door behind them.
Taylor wandered through the house, looking for something to do. Suddenly, the phone rang. He ran over and picked it up.
"Hello?" he said.
"Tay? Is that you?"
"Donna!" Taylor exclaimed. "I was wondering when you were going to call!"
"Sorry it took so long," Donna said, her voice barely overpowering the static crackling that was coming from the phone.
"So, are you having a good time?" Taylor asked.
"I'm having a GREAT time!" Donna exclaimed. "New Jersey hasn't changed at all. And it's really great to see my dad again."
"I bet," Taylor replied.
"So how's everything back home?" Donna asked. "I really miss you guys!"
"We miss you too!" Taylor exclaimed. "Everything's all right. Oh! Guess what?"
"What?" Donna asked.
"Mom and Ike just left for the hospital," Taylor replied.
"She's having the baby?!" Donna exclaimed.
"Yep!" Taylor said proudly.
"That's terrific!" Donna said. "Let me know how everything turns out, ok?"
"I will," Taylor assured her.
"Well, I better go," Donna said. "Dad's taking me out to eat tonight, and I have to get ready."
"Okay," Taylor said. "I'll see you in a few weeks."
"Love you Tay," Donna said.
"Love you too," Taylor said with a smile. "Bye."
"TAY!!!!!!!!!" a voice yelled from upstairs.
"WHAT?????!!!!" he yelled back.
"Mackie's up!"
"So?!" Taylor replied.
Zac came running up the basement steps.
"Jeez," he said. "What's with all the yelling?"
"Just having a pleasant conversation with my darling sister Jessica," Taylor said, as he began to ascend the stairs.
"Hey Tay," Zac said.
"What?"
"Where's mom?"
"Having the baby," Taylor replied, as he continued up the steps.
"NOW?" Zac exclaimed. "In the house??"
"Of course not," Taylor said. "She and Ike went to the hospital."
He finally made it to the top of the stairs. He could hear Mackenzie talking to himself in his bedroom.
"Coming Mackie!" Taylor exclaimed. He peeked in Jessica and Avery's room before continuing down the hall. The two girls were having a tea party with their stuffed animals.
"Tay!" Avery exclaimed. "Will you join our tea party?"
"Ummm...," Taylor tried to think of an excuse for passing up the chance of drinking an invisible liquid with his younger sisters and a bunch of stuffed bears. "Not today Avie," he said. "I have to go...put Mackie back to bed. Maybe next time."
Taylor continued down the hall and into his youngest brother's bedroom.
"Hey Mac," he said upon entering the room. "What's up?"
"I want to watch Hercules," Mackenzie said, climbing out of his bed.
Taylor groaned inwardly. Mackenzie loved Hercules, and insisted on watching it at least 5 times a day. He took Mackenzie's hand and pulled him out of his room. He led him downstairs and set him in front of the TV. Taylor grabbed the video case and pulled the video out. After getting the tape into the VCR and pressing the play button, Taylor settled on the couch.
“ISAAC HANSON!” Diana yelled as her oldest son swerved from lane to lane.
“What?!” Isaac exclaimed, screeching to a stop at a red light.
“You are going to get us in an accident!”
“Mom, I’m just trying to get you to the hospital before you have the baby in the car!” Isaac said as he made a sharp right turn.
“I would like to get there in one piece,” Diana said.
Suddenly, Isaac heard sirens in the distance. He glanced in the rearview mirror.
“Oh shit!” he exclaimed when he saw the police car that was following him.
“Isaac watch your mouth,” Diana said sternly. She turned around and saw the flashing lights.
“Damnit Ike!” she said. “I told you to stop driving like a maniac! Pull over.”
Isaac coasted to the side of the road and came to a stop. He waited patiently for the cop to come over.
“Now Isaac,” Diana said. “Keep both hands on the wheel, don’t make any sudden moves, and let me do all the talking.”
Isaac nodded, and keeping both hands on the steering wheel, stared straight ahead. He didn’t move until he heard the police officer rap on the car window.
“Can I move?” Isaac hissed.
“Of course,” Diana said. “Roll down the window.”
Isaac did so, and smiled at the officer.
“Good afternoon officer,” he said. “What seems to be the problem?”
“Do you have any idea how fast you were going young man?” the officer asked.
“Ummm....well....” Isaac began.
“Officer, please let us go,” Diana pleaded. “I’m in labor. My son was just trying to get us to the hospital. And I admit he was going a little fast, and I’ll be sure to.....”
Suddenly Diana leaned over and started breathing heavily. Isaac threw the officer a look, and the cop nodded.
“Just don’t let it happen again,” he said. “I hope everything works out ma’am.”
“DRIVE NOW!” Diana commanded.
“Thankshaveaniceday,” Issac said quickly as he drove away.
Meanwhile, back at the Hanson house...Taylor slowly opened his eyes and looked around the empty living room.
“Hello?” he called.
After being greeted with silence, Taylor stood up and stretched.. He wandered into the kitchen and found a piece of paper on the counter. He walked over to it and picked it up.
“Oh that’s nice,” he said aloud after reading the note. “Figures they would all go to the hospital and leave me here.”
Suddenly, the phone rang. Taylor walked over to it and picked it up.
“Hello?”
“Taylor, it’s Dad,” Walker said.
“Oh hey dad,” Taylor said. “How’s mom?”
“She’s doing fine. You have a new baby sister.”
“Really?” Taylor tried his best to sound excited. “That’s great! What’s her name?”
“Zoe,” Walker replied. “Zoe Genevive Hanson.”
“Nice,” Taylor said.
“Anyway,” Walker said. “Your mom and Zoe are doing fine. Isaac is going to be home soon with the rest of the kids. You think you and Ike can handle watching them all until tomorrow?”
“I guess so,” Taylor said.
“Thanks Tay. Ike will be home soon.”
“Okay dad. Tell mom I said congratulations,” Taylor said.
“I will. Good-bye Tay.”
“Bye dad.”
Taylor hung up the phone and thought for a few seconds about how things would be with a new baby in the house. He shrugged his shoulders and decided with six other kids in the house, another one wouldn’t make much of a difference. He walked back into the living room and fell onto the couch. He fished in between the cushions until he found the remote, and turned the TV on.
“Jessica! Avery!” Isaac yelled, his patience wearing thin. “Sit down!”
Isaac, given the tedious task of driving four of his younger siblings home, had left the hospital a mere five minutes ago.
“Ike!” Avery screamed. “Zac is looking at me!!”
“Zac leave Avie alone,” Isaac said.
“ZAC STOP IT!!!!”
“SHUT UP AVERY!”
“Zac said shut up!!! I’m telling!”
“Mind your own business Jess!”
“I’m hungry!!!!!”
“EVERYONE SHUT THE HELL UP!!!!!” Isaac screamed.
Everyone stopped arguing and stared at Isaac.
“I’m TELLING!”
“Ike said a bad word!!”
“ZAC STOP IT!!!!!!!”
Isaac took a deep breath and attempted to drive without killing any of his siblings.
15 minutes later, Isaac pulled the car into the Hanson’s driveway. He got out, rounded up Zac, Jess, Avery, and Mackenzie, and walked up to the front door. He pushed it open, went inside, and fell onto the couch beside Taylor.
“How was the drive home?” Taylor asked.
“I hate kids,” Isaac commented.
“And just think ; another one will be living here by the end of this week.,” Taylor said.
Isaac groaned and closed his eyes.
“Why do mom and dad insist on torturing us?” he asked.
The phone suddenly rang, and Taylor reached over and picked it up.
“Hello, you have reached hell. Taylor speaking,” he said.
After a few seconds, Taylor handed Isaac the phone. “It’s Jess,” he said.
Isaac took the phone. “Hey Jess. What’s up?......Yeah....Well, I don’t know.....Okay.....What?! Why?....Who?.....JOSH?!....What the hell are you thinking? Don’t you remember how he treated Donna?.....I don’t care! I don’t want you to get hurt!....Jess, please, can’t we talk about this?....No forget it.....I hope you and Josh are very happy together.....Yeah I guess we’re still friends....Okay....Talk to you later.”
Isaac threw the phone to the floor. Taylor watched him, amused by his behavior.
“Let me guess,” Taylor said. “She just wants to be friends.”
“I can’t believe her. First she says that she thinks I’m a really great guy. Then she says she just wants to be friends. And get this : she’s been going out with that asshole Josh for the past week! What the hell is wrong with her?! That guy is such an....”
“Asshole?” Taylor supplied.
“Yes!” Isaac said.
“Well that sucks Ike,” Taylor said, standing up.
“Gee thanks for the sympathy,” Isaac said sarcastically.
“Well what do you want me to say?” Taylor asked.
Isaac threw his arms up in the air.
“How the hell should I know?!” he exclaimed.
Taylor shrugged his shoulders, and left the room. He ran up the stairs and down the hall in the direction of his room. He paused when he heard the sound of water running in the bathroom. Taylor rapped on the bathroom door.
“Who’s in there?” he asked.
The bathroom door opened, and Taylor looked down at his sister.
“Avery, why are your hands blue?” he asked suspiciously.
“Well, see I thought Mackie might look really cool if his hair was a different color, and I...”
Taylor pushed past Avery, and gasped when he saw his youngest brother sitting in the bathtub, his clothes, face and hair now a bright blue.
“AVERY!” Taylor yelled.
Zac appeared at the doorway and surveyed the scene. He spotted Mackenzie sitting in the bathtub and started laughing hysterically.
“Shut up Zac,” Taylor said threateningly as he walked over to Mackenzie. Mackenzie looked up at Taylor innocently. Taylor turned to Avery.
“What did you use to make him blue Ave?” he asked.
Avery picked up a box of hair dye off the floor and handed it to Taylor.
“Oh shit,” Taylor muttered when he saw the word “permanent” in big letters.
“Mom and dad aren’t going to like this,” Zac commented.
“No shit sherlock!” Taylor exclaimed. He turned the water on and began to scrub.
A few hours later, Mac was dressed in fresh clothes, but his skin and hair still had a bluish tint. Taylor, Isaac, and Zac stood in front of their brother, observing him.
“Do you think mom and dad will notice?” Taylor asked thoughtfully.
“Let’s hope not,” Isaac said. “With six other kids around, I think our chances of not getting caught are pretty good.”
“How long did the box say it would last?” Zac asked.
“I guess with enough scrubbing it will come off his skin, but his hair is going to be blue until it grows out. The dye was permanent,” Taylor replied.
“Guys,” Mackenzie said. “Can I go to bed now?”
“Sure Mac,” Isaac said. “Let’s go.”
Isaac took Mackenzie’s hand and headed down the hall towards Mac’s room. Taylor and Zac walked into their bedroom.
“Well that was fun,” Taylor commented as he fell onto his bed.
Zac stood in the doorway and looked over at Taylor.
“You know what Tay?” he said.
“What?” Taylor asked.
“You’re a pretty sucky babysitter,” Zac said, and then left the doorway before Taylor could say anything.
Taylor rolled over to face the wall.
“Another normal day in the Hanson household,” he muttered.