Not Enough Time

17. I Want Something That I Want

Ah, halloween. The one holiday the entire Lanes-Epoch family must participate in. Must.
"Come on, you look so good!" Jinx was forcing Ekko to come out of their room, but he wouldn't budge.
"Why couldn't I have been anything else?"
"Because this is funny. Now quit whining and show Isha your costume."
Isha was a fit of giggles sitting on the couch. She was dressed as 'Pascal' from Tangled, while Jinx was Rapunzel, and Gemma was one of the lanterns.
"I look ridiculous."
When Isha caught sight of her dad, she completely lost it.
"You couldn't have gotten me a Flynn Rider costume? I just had to be Mother Gothel of all people?"
"Yes. Now if you wouldn't have been complaining so much, I actually did get you a Flynn costume. But because you're so pushy and persistent, this is what you get, Time boy."
Ekko then walked out and more into sight, dressed in a long, red velvet dress, with a black curly wig on.
"See? Doesn't this look so good?" Jinx said through laughter. She was using her fake frying pan to try and cover her smile, but just gave up and started dying laughing.
What a pretty princess Isha signed.
"You got her to gang up on me? That's a new low."
"At least Gemma thinks you look good, right Gem?"
Gemma stared blankly at her dad, and smiled.
"See? She's all smiles," Jinx said, holding her up.
"I'm going to change," Ekko replied, walking away.
"Wait! I need just one picture. Please?" she asked, giving him puppy eyes.
"Fine. One picture."

............

"Alright, we ready?" Jinx asked, looking down at Isha. They were all walking to another complex, since not a lot of people gave out candy in their current apartment building. Isha nodded at Jinx, and walked up to the first house she saw.
"Well look at you! Aren't you just the cutest little Pascal?" The lady who opened the door said. Isha smiled, and held out her trick or treat bucket.
"Happy Halloween, sweetie!"
"Where do you wanna go next, Ish?" Ekko asked, holding Isha's hand.
That one she said, pointing at a nicely decorated house.
"Alright then, go on up."
"Oh my goodness, what an adorable little chameleon! Here, take as much as you want!" The woman said. Isha had such a big smile on her face, she thought it might fall off.
"Happy halloween, hun!"
"This makes me so happy," Jinx said, leaning her head on Ekko's shoulder.
"What does?"
"This. Just having the four of us, not having to worry about anything else, just a nice, relaxing, carefree Halloween."
"I second that," Ekko replied, laughing softly.
After just a few hours, Isha had fallen asleep while Ekko was carrying her.
"Awh, our little lantern and our little lizard fell asleep," Jinx said, smiling.
"Well, she was trick or treating for two hours, that would take energy out of anyone." Ekko shrugged.
"Remember when Vander and Benzo took us all trick or treating?"
"Yeah, very vividly actually. You were dressed as a mouse, Vi was a boxer, and Mylo and Claggor were Beavis and Butthead," Ekko said, recalling that Halloween.
"Yes! I don't even remember half of it. Only that you were dressed as a mad scientist. Benzo got you the goggles and everything," Jinx said. "Do you ever think about him?"
"All the time. Sometimes I reach for my phone to call him, just to remember I can't."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything I just-"
"No no, Powder, it's okay. I don't mind talking about him with you. It's just other people that sometimes strike a nerve, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah, no I get that. Like how sometimes Vi will bring up my parents and it just makes me feel weird, but when I look at Isha, I remember that my moms memory will always be alive."
Just as they were approaching their apartment, Ekko had a thought. "If we ever had a son, what would we name him?"
Jinx shrugged. "I'm not thinking that far into the future, but probably something cool, like Rocky or something."
"Rocky?" Ekko laughed.
"Yeah, Rocky's pretty cool," she replied.
"Well already have Gemma, she's as close to 'Rocky' as I'll let you get."
"Worth a try."

............

The next morning was full of crying, mainly because Jinx wouldn't let Isha have her candy for breakfast, but also because Gemma hadn't slept at all the night before due to sleeping earlier on in the night.
"Bug please stop crying, I can't cradle you all day- Isha! no candy," Jinx used her mom voice, bouncing Gemma up and down, and trying to get Isha away from the skittles.
"Woah, didn't know we paid for a circus," Ekko said when he walked into the kitchen.
"Will you please tell Isha no candy? This one is already crying and I can not deal with another crying kid."
"Bunny, why don't we save the candy for after lunch? It's gonna feel yucky later," Ekko said, holding out his hand for Isha to give him the candy. She complied, handing over the chocolate bar.
"Thank you. Now, what should we have for breakfast?"
Lucky Charms. she signed.
"Alright, one bowl of lucky charms coming up!"

"She all good?" Ekko asked when he got home from dropping Isha off at school.
"Yeah, I finally just put her down and turned on the noise machine. Out like a light," Jinx replied.
"That's good. Hey, I've been meaning to ask. You know my buddy Scar, the one in real estate?"
"Yeah, what about him?"
"He said he had a few listings closer to PCA.. would you want to check them out?"
Jinx just looked at him with a blank expression. "I mean, it couldn't hurt? But also, we're supposed to be saving. For the wedding?"
"We have separate savings for that. Is Viktor still giving you pay?"
"Yeah, I think like fifty a week," she replied.
"Then we're fine. Firelights make enough money, and the bar tips me well. We can arrange for stuff soon. It doesn't have to be right now, Blue."

............

"I can't believe I let you con me into this," Jinx huffed.
"You were the one who said you'd come with me to look at the houses. Don't try and pin this on me," Ekko replied, laughing in a sarcastic manner.
"Yeah, yeah. Where's the first one?"
"Uh, right here. 347 Ocean View Drive."
"This is.. wow." Jinx was absolutely stunned. A light blue house, with white shutters, and a huge wrap-around front porch stared back at her.
"You like it, huh?" Ekko asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
"I think like is an understatement."
"I remember you mentioning a blue house, so I made sure Scar hooked us up."
Once they walked inside, Jinx had to refrain from crying.
"You okay?"
"This is the most beautiful house I think I've ever seen," she said, breathless.
"Do we have a winner?"
"Hell yeah we do."

Later that night, Jinx and Ekko decided to tell Isha about their house move.
"Pish, mama and daddy wanna tell you something," Jinx began. Isha looked up with interest.
"We're going to a new house soon!" Ekko announced. Isha looked back at him with confusion.
"Mama and daddy got a new house, closer to your school! We'll be closer to auntie Vi, aunt Cait, Lavvy, Cassie, and everyone else!" Jinx said, trying to make this more positive for Isha.
Do I get my own room? Isha asked.
"Yes, baby. You have your own room."
Okay she signed, smiling wide.

............

Once everything was sorted out house wise, Ekko and Jinx finally put a down payment on their new house. They were set to move in Thanksgiving weekend, which couldn't come and faster.
"Did you pack up the kitchen stuff yet, Ekko?" Jinx asked.
"Yes. It was all loaded into the truck. So was Gemma and Isha's furniture. The only things left are the bags we're putting in the car. I say we load up and get this show on the road before we have three restless people," Ekko replied, crossing his arms casually.
"Whose the third?"
Ekko cocked an eyebrow.
"Alright, ya'know what?" she started.
"What?" he asked, playing into it.
"Ugh. Nevermind. Just put the damn bags in the car, would ya?"
Ekko walked out, carrying suitcases and duffels, and Jinx just stood there, taking in her surroundings for the last time.
"Thanks for everything, but it's time for a fresh start."