Chapter Eight: And The Years Flew By

He couldn't afford to waste another minute of his life hoping things would get better. He was going to take a stand. 

He was going to make things right.

Over the next few years, Cooper did just that. He furnished his new home with nice things. He spent more evenings home with his boys. He took Elenna out to fancy dinners. He got promoted to a musical talent scout, so he was able to spend more time at home, and more money on his wife. Elenna seemed back to her old, happy self, and if she was happy, Cooper was happy.

Well, mostly. 

She seemed to be a little more on the... well, diva side lately.

She spent his money on designer clothes and worked out a lot more. She seemed to be very concerned with her personal appearance, but at least the boys were being taken care of.

Was this how it was supposed to be?

Again, Cooper was happy that she was happy. But some part of him, some little piece of him, was raising the red flag. The two spent more time together, which Cooper enjoyed. Their sex life was back, and long mornings in bed while the kids were at school seemed to be keeping their relationship afloat.

Cooper made sure to give just as much attention to Stephen as he did Edison. He was proud and happy to be the father figure in Stephen's life. He was a hard working and thoughtful little boy. Cooper couldn't have asked for a more considerate and happy son.

Edison, now a wild and curious toddler, was keeping his parents constantly on their toes. He was into everything he saw, and, as a result of the neglect from his baby years, was incredibly insane. Cooper didn't know that Elenna was the cause of this, however. He just believed Edison was... exuberant. Yeah, that's the word.

Though Cooper and Elenna already had their hands full with the boys, they couldn't help but feel a void. They wanted a daughter, and decided to adopt. Cooper was thrilled to give an unwanted child unconditional love and a happy home. It reminded him of his own childhood... he felt like he was meant to do this. The two were happy with their decision, and filed papers to adopt a young girl from the local adoption agency.

However, as a few months passed by and the adoption was being finalized, Elenna once again came down with morning sickness. With a twist of fate and a change in the cards, another Baron baby was on the way.

Stephen, the neat and thoughtful boy he was, tended to his mother's every whim. He even cleaned up after her when she was sick, and took over some of her homely duties without being asked.

Four children? It seemed like a lot, and Cooper was unsure of how they could handle two school-agers, a toddler, and a new baby... but he wanted this more than anything. He loved being a dad. He loved loving someone else unconditionally. Though having four children was unexpected, he was ready to embrace the challenge.

Though he refused to pick favorites, it was always clear that Edison was Cooper's pride and joy. Though Edison had a few behavior issues, he truly was a sweet and intelligent young boy.

Edison was Cooper's first child. There was no denying the bond the two shared.

It was also somewhat of a relief to look at his son and only see himself and Elenna. It may have been egotistical, but Edison was a good looking boy. After all these years, Stephen seemed to be an exact copy of Arlo. To look at Edison and see no trace of another man was somewhat comforting to Cooper. Edison was his. All his.

Late into Elenna's pregnancy with their soon to be 3rd child, the adoption was finalized, and a social worker brought their new daughter home.

She was a sweet tempered, quiet girl that loved the outdoors and was thankful for her new family. She spoke with Cooper about what she had been through... the neglect, the hardship, and the court rulings that put her into foster care.

But more than anything, she was happy to be in a new home, especially with Cooper. The two had an instant bond from the start, and little Lucy was clearly happy to be in a welcoming home with her new brothers.

Edison, a growing boy, was quite playful and mischievous. 

He loved hiding in his toybox and scaring people as they walked by.

Cooper was thrilled for the new baby, and spent his time pampering Elenna and listening to her belly.

Stephen spent most of his time with his younger brother.

They were the best of friends, and had a bond like none other.

Cooper hired a construction crew to build a new room for Lucy. He painted it pink and applied little flowers to all of the walls, installed wooden flower art, and hung up pictures of giraffes, her favorite animal.

She felt like a princess, and she was: She was Cooper's little girl, and wanted her to feel nothing less than royal after such a rough childhood. Lucy took none of it for granted.

He also had the boys' room expanded, making more room for when the two of them would reach their teenage years.

When he needed some time away from home, Cooper went and performed free shows with his guitar in the local park.

Passersby often threw tips into his guitar case, stunned at his performances, asking for encore after encore.

With the tips he accumulated, he bought new things for his kids. After all, they were his priority. He wanted to make sure they had a good, comfortable life. He didn't spoil them, but he definitely provided for them what he could, when he could.

Days before their new child's birth, Elenna began to wear a sour face. The feel of the new house had worn after a few years. The designer clothes, she knew they'd only provide temporary happiness. Reality began to set in once more. A fourth child would really take a toll on their income. She could no longer put herself first. 

She wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

As a result of her new way in thinking, her relationship with Cooper began to slip. She was more argumentative. Less talkative. Less loving. She was finally beginning to realize once more that she wanted out of this relationship, and she wanted out fast.

A bubbly baby girl was born soon enough. Cooper picked the name Ava Simone, and his little angel weighed 7 pounds even. She had lighter hair and icy blue eyes. She was beautiful in every way.

Leaving the hospital, Cooper took notice in Elenna's nonchalant attitude. She wasn't overjoyed. She wasn't nurturing. Her face looked worn and tired, and though that was common after labor, he could tell she just wasn't interested in their newborn.

Cooper shook his head. How could she be like this? This was the final straw. He couldn't take it anymore. If she didn't say something about this soon, he'd confront her.

This was his angel. He couldn't do to her what he was sure she did with Edison. Not on his watch.

Every time he tried to talk with her, she'd turn and walk away. He went part-time at work and spent more time home than he ever had, trying to fix things again. Trying to make things work. 

But she wanted nothing to do with him. It got to the point where she was literally disowning Edison, Lucy, and Ava right before Cooper's eyes. He couldn't take it anymore. As he tucked Ava into her crib each night, he knew it was getting down to the final straw. If Elenna wasn't taking care of the children, if she wasn't talking to him, if she wasn't bringing in any income... it hurt for Cooper to think about, but really, did she have a reason to even be there?

The frigid environment with his mother began to take it's toll on Stephen, too. He could tell she was unhappy. He could tell that she would neglect Lucy and Edison when Cooper wasn't around. He could tell that he was being favorited by his mother, and he didn't care for that... but there wasn't anything he could do.

Soon enough, he was a teenager. Cooper and Elenna were clearly falling out of love, and tensions were high... he suspected they were in the process of getting a divorce, or maybe going through counseling. He began to look after Lucy, Edison, and Ava when his mother would not, and took on a leading role in the household when Cooper was away at work.

He attempted to make meals. He let Lucy eat ice cream for breakfast now and then, because he wanted to be the "cool" older brother. He helped Lucy and Edison with homework, and changed and fed Ava when he needed to. He was a good multi-tasker with a strong business sense; he maintained not only his home life, but an honor roll record at school and a decent part-time job as well.

He became very protective over his younger siblings. He shielded them from the arguments between their parents, comforted them when needed, and encouraged them any moment he could. He knew Cooper was making a big effort to always be there for them, and he appreciated it. It wasn't like the kids were taking a back seat through this whole ordeal. Stephen could sense his mother was the cause of most of this hostility. He wasn't sure when it would end, but he knew that, as any older brother should, he'd take the brunt of the discomfort as he could in order to keep his siblings happy.