Confusion reigns (Fuzzytimed back to midterm) As her sister-in-law put the boys to bed, Peyton sat on the couch next to Ryan. She'd had a fun day playing games with her nephews even if she did need a rest after trying to keep up with Stanley in particular, who had enough energy for himself and Wally both.
Right now the rest of their siblings were at a party....with their other newly discovered half-siblings who weren't Peyton's or Ryan's siblings so they were spending some one on one sibling time, just the two of them. Well, now that her nephews were going to bed anyway.
"Are you all right?" Ryan asked full of concern for his youngest sibling. Peyton was looking awfully pensive about something.
She nodded. "I guess." There had been a bit of upheaval over the past year what with her other siblings' biological father dying and his other children coming out of the woodwork. Mom and Jake were different now too, changed in some way that Peyton couldn't put her finger on.
Then Peyton looked up at her big brother. "Do you think they're going to replace us?" She asked. Sally, Arnold and Jake now had two sisters and a brother besides them. Peyton didn't really care about the older girl replacing Carrie, because Carrie was a monster who was long gone from their lives but she didn't want to be replaced by Eden-with her siblings or with Ivy-and she didn't want Ryan replaced by Asher either because she didn't want Ryan to be hurt. He might not let on that that would hurt him, he'd pretend everything was okay, but it would. Ryan's biological mom had treated him really badly and now he was very insecure. Asher replacing Ryan bothered her even more than the thought of Eden replacing her. "What if they like them better than us?"
Ryan looked surprised."Well, I mean, you've always been closest to me." He began. "Those things just happen. But I'm sure they'll still love us."
"We weren't invited to their party." Peyton pointed out.
"I think their sister was throwing it and she doesn't know us. And you didn't feel this way when the boys were born. Like you were going to lose me and I was going to love you less. You were excited to be an aunt. "
"Yes but its different." Peyton replied "They're your kids not your siblings, so it's a different relationship." She paused "Do you have other siblings too? Besides her I mean." The thought made her kind of nervous. She didn't want more confusing changes and she didn't want other siblings coming and taking away her favorite big brother. Peyton was already feeling left out and confused and maybe just a tad jealous of Eden.
Ryan couldn't suppress a quick look of pure horror fast enough. "I...really hope not." Merlin help any other children his biological mother possibly could have had. She'd treat any boy the way she'd treated him, as would Carrie. As for a girl, while Mother might love a girl-in whatever twisted way she felt that-Carrie would be supremely jealous and make the poor girl just as miserable as she would any boy. She'd been rotten enough to Peyton and Peyton hadn't been someone whom their biological mother would potentially spoil and lavish attention like she did Carrie.
He supposed his dad could have another child somewhere born while he was still married to Ryan's mother, but Ryan didn't really want that either. Things were complicated enough.
Ryan gave Peyton a hug. "Don't worry. I'm sure it's all going to be okay. Why don't we play a game of Exploding Snap?"