Chapter 4: Think For Yourself

Maya and Nancy exchange views on how much of an asshole Foster is.

Foster wasn't trying to get another child, but since he's got one, he's glad this one is a girl Foster likes girls.

Carey and Roslyn are on babysitting duty.

"Do you hear crying?"

Two diapers need changing.

"How do you tell which one is ours?" Roslyn asks.

"Honestly, I have no clue," Carey answers, "Hopefully it will be sorted out before they're in school."

The boys become toddlers, making it easier to tell them apart. Parker has his father's deep purple hair and bright blue eyes. Gibson is blond like his mother, and has her smoky blue eyes.

Fatherhood is much more work than Carey and Foster had anticipated. They have to teach their sons to walk and talk, and potty train them.

Warm Gun gets another gig at the Red Shed. Again, no one shows up for the afternoon show, but the band gets paid anyway.

It may not be the life Carey had dreamed of, but despite the difficulties and small heartbreaks, it's been pretty damn good.

Foster's little princess becomes a toddler.

Foster's idea of babysitting is to play loud rock at them. If they cry, he can't hear it, and all is good.

Foster has climbed his way up the music industry ladder to become a lyricist. The girl he's been writing songs (or, as Carey puts it, crappy pop product) for is Sandra Roth, the heiress of the wealthy and influential Roth family, and wannabe pop star. She's recently lost her grandmother and has broken up with  her long time boyfriend Jacob Martin, and turns to Foster for consolation.

Foster consoles her the only way he knows.

"I have to get to the theater for rehearsal. No one can know about what happened here," Sandra says as she slips out of Foster's bed, "I still have a chance to fix things with Jacob, and I don't want this fling screwing that up."

"My lips are sealed," Foster promises, believing that she's just playing hard to get. There's no way any girl would be wanting to get back with her ex once she's been with Foster.

Warm Gun gets a gig at the Reserve Tavern, which pays way more than Red Shed. Rory has a fan.

The buzz his band has been generating has been attracting attention from the paparazzi.

"Are you checking out my ass?" Roslyn asks as Carey pushes her on the swing.

"Absolutely," Carey answers.

"Have you given any more thought to our future?" Carey asks, "Our son is getting older. We're getting older..."

"I like things the way they are," Roslyn answers, 'I'm not ready to grow up yet."

Carey sighs. Pressuring her would only push her away, so he drops the subject yet again.

Parker becomes a child.

As does Gibson.

The unconventional family situation confuses the boys. Gibson is aware that Roslyn is his mother, but she doesn't live with them. Instead he and his father live with another man and his two children. He and Parker haven't figured out who Parker's mother might be, or where Jasmin came from.

With all the money the band has been bringing in, Carey has been able to afford a better bed.

It's been some time since Carey tried to cook anything after the last time he burned the waffles. But the kids can't live on cereal and bar food as he and Foster have been doing, so Carey makes another attempt at waffles for breakfast.

He's mastered guitar, but waffles still elude him.

The boys spend Sunday in the park while Carey plays for tips there. Gibson loves the outdoors and takes to fishing immediately.

Parker hangs out on the swings, hoping to meet girls.

Determined to feed the kids properly, Carey makes a stab at dinner. He's even bought a new stove, hoping to improve food quality.

Yes! Unburned Mac'n'Cheese! The kids will get a proper meal for dinner.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with parking your amp right next to your toddler. Might as well get used to the tinnitus early.

Foster's consolation session with Sandra Roth resulted in another son for Foster. Sandra dumped little Dante on Foster, making him promise to never reveal who the mother of the  child is. "I've been seeing Jacob again," she explains, "And I don't want him to know about this."

Carey does his best to help Gibson with his homework, even though school was never Carey's strong suit.

"Dad, I was reading 'Heather has Two Mommies' at school. Do I have two daddies?"

"No, I'm your only father," Carey explains, "And Foster is Parker, Jasmin and Dante's father. We all just live together. But not like Heather's two mommies live together."

"All the other kids live with their mommy and daddy. Unless they're divorced. Are you and Mom divorced?"

"Your mother and I were never married," Carey answers, hoping he's keeping bitterness out of his tone. He'd love to be married to Roslyn and have a more conventional family. But he can't let Gibson know his father is dissatisfied with the life they're living, or put any blame on his mother. "Most people do whatever everyone else does, but some people prefer to live differently. It's okay to not do what everyone else expects. You have to decide for yourself how you want to live your life."

Later that night Carey tells Foster about his conversation with Gibson.

"Your son thinks we're gay?" Foster chokes.

"He's just confused about our living arrangements. It is kind of weird, after all."

Jasmin becomes a child.

Jasmin and Gibson are particularly close, and like to play dollhouse together.

"My guy is going on a date with his girlfriend," Gibson says, "So your guy and his girlfriend have to stay home with the kids tonight."

"No way, my guy wants to hire a babysitter and go on a date, too."

Challenge Notes:

Four kids achieved, all with different mothers.

For generation 2, Jasmin is heir and I'm leaning heavily toward having Gibson be the help. Because I like the idea of Carey's kid and Foster's kid continuing their fathers' unconventional lifestyle.