Friday, the best day of the week, no boring school, no feeling exhausted from feigning interest, Rylan lived for the weekends. He would storm upstairs ditching his bag in the hallway, ignoring the family pleasantries, sleeping until called for dinner. Any friends that came back with him ended up working on science projects with Ziva. Saturday was the best day of the week with his club meeting up, homework, space adventures, pirates, cowboys and mischief. Jose lit the barbecue, a selection of meats were placed over sizzling coals, drenched in his homemade sauce; the smells distracting the boys, their mouths watering. The boys were suddenly quiet, mouths full of food, munching on burgers and Strawberry gateaux, arguing over who has the bigger piece or the most strawberries, Aria aimed for the latter. Laying on the ground, cloud gazing with full stomachs, Rylan liked to contemplate the future, he might be a child, but he wished school was over and be able to do whatever, whenever.

Ziva’s weekends were for learning skills, beating Jose at Chess and reading. Unlike Rylan, Ziva was eyeing up high school and the possibilities it opened up for her future. Her focus was science, she spent all her savings on a chemistry set, Aria worried she would set herself or the garden alight, but Ziva proved herself capable, loving the experimenting. Aria and Jose were guinea pigs for her chemical formulas, nodding, smiling and pretending the green goop was appealing. Most of the time they pretended to sip the concoctions, noses cringing at the foul stench. Those rare successes offered, these delicious blends gave them a warm feeling, Aria imagined her daughter being award a Nobel prize for Science, it was hard to have the same dreams for her son, a lack of interest in anything other than causing trouble.

This weekend was unlike any other, a shockwave of grief hit the twins. Aria was busy with clients, Rylan his club when it happened. Jose putting the finishing touches to the sleeping cat, the blue echoing its serene nature. Each breath past easier than the last, leaving his body overwhelmed, fatigued. Ziva came skipping over, he turned towards her, a deep sadness in his eyes. The conical flask fell from her hands the blue liquid, splashing against her legs as the glass shattered. Ziva screamed running over to her father, followed by a few of the boys, sorrow replacing their joyous voices. Rylan playing as a space ranger, afraid to look at would be all he remembered of his father, he continued with his adventures, gritting the bars of his rocket tighter, grinding his teeth, holding back tears.

Moments passed slowly, a haze of comings and goings, blurring into one as the family got to grips with the loss. Rylan barely stepped foot out of his room, his silence echoed through the house, he trudged out for food, grunting when spoken to. Ziva kept her mind busy, fetching cups of tea for Aria, rereading her father’s books and keeping up with her studies. At night she could hear her mother crying, so she would sneak in and curl up in bed with her, allowing herself to cry with her, softly, so her mother didn’t have to worry. Ziva wanted to reassure Aria everything would be alright.

With Jose no longer there to enforce Rylan in his studies, his grades slipped. He faced his teens with the same contempt, blaming his mother and sister, a mean streak that made the household unbearable. Arguments with Aria over everything became a regular occurrence, schoolwork, friends, his late nights at the bowling alley, where, when and what dinner was ever the battle. The presence of the Major Chords group increased his agitation, angry that Aria was trying to keep going with her life, that she dared to laugh at their stories when he was missing his father. Pranks played included dips overloaded with chillies, salting the dessert and being rude during conversations, the members were reluctant to spend much time at the house and their meetings moved. Finding common ground with him was difficult, Rylan demanded independence, hating the idea there would be a curfew, he wanted to quit school and get a job.

When Jose died, Aria couldn’t breathe, he was everything, her world. Heart aching, she stared in the mirror, the loss ageing her significantly. Her enthusiasm waned, but in front of the twin’s Aria knew she needed to remain strong, despite her strained relationship with Rylan, they both needed her. Each morning Aria let herself lay in bed for a few minutes, stroking the pillow where Jose’s head had rested, his scent fading from this space. Taking a deep breath, she pulled herself together and readied for the day. Routine helped stay focused, leaving her restless nights and grief in private.

Aria’s energy kept her family motivated, furthered her career and reminded Jose of romance, slowing down was for retirement. Her thick black hair was now grey, bobbed curls framing her face, fine lines appeared around her eyes and mouth, stealing nothing from her beauty. While Jose tired easily, Aria kept busy in the kitchen, improving her cooking skills through baking cakes, buns and pies, worrying Jose as he loosened another notch on his belt. The twins rushed their homework at the weekend, tantalising smells tempting them. As the guests arrived, the conversation and the disappearing chocolate cake was frustrating, the desperation to complete their work reached panic mode.

During the most recent birthday party Jose noticed how different Tara and Aria had become over the years, Tara’s grey locks were thin, her slender frame fragile as he hugged her. A distance held in her sunken eyes, Tara confessed that she thought she would find what she wanted in life, but everything remained uncertain. Unable to commit to anything, Tara struggled to see her sister so happy, their relationship, the two children, so much regret, it swelled in her throat as tears flowed. Oasis Springs seemed empty after Wesley died, Tara was alone, no longer the wild party girl, she spent most of her time looking back on her life. Aria comforted her, begging her to reconsider their offer, but still, she refused to move, sighting old age as a reason. Why should she uproot and move halfway across the country, she could manage without their pity. Taken aback, the couple reworded the invite, they intended to bring the family closer, but Tara was adamant everything would be fine.

Rylan settled, his group of friends having had a positive effect on both his mood and school grades. The regular voluntary work influenced Ziva, her previous timid personality changed, she learnt to relax, becoming a bright bubbly girl. It helped her make a few close friends in school, so she no longer hovered near Rylan hoping for attention. This meant Jose and Aria were at a loose end, the twins had their own things going on, no longer dependant. Aria seized the moment, private couple time had been sparse since their family grew from two to four.

Leaving a neighbour in charge to make sure the children didn’t burn the house down, they made a date, their first proper outing alone since having the twins. Sneaking from the house, giggling like teenagers meeting for a secret rendezvous. Aria planed numerous activities, cramming everything in case they didn’t get another chance like this. Jose was happy to relax, his ears recovering from the screaming children. Being able to take his time and for the most part, watching the over-enthusiasm of his beloved. She made light work of the bowling pins, making several strikes and despite a few gutter balls, Aria took the win. Her prize, a rare cooked steak, Jose cringed as she devoured it and half his potatoes along with her own, he preferred his without so much blood.

Blushing, Aria bit her bottom lip, Jose had a way with words, a cheeky smile and sparkling eyes, those first date flutters echoed as he took her hand for a walk through the park. Sitting on the park bench overlooking the pond, Jose pulled her closer, the cooler evenings making her shudder. Jose lifted her face, meeting with a kiss, he asked would she do it all again, marry him? Throwing her arms in the air, Aria squealed, embracing him they both tumbled from the bench, he guessed that was a, yes. Aria pulled back brushing a stray curl from her face, Jose rubbed his back, glad the grass gave them a soft landing, looking in those eyes, Jose saw the shy girl next door he fell for and the vibrant woman she had become.

Over the next few months, Rylan struggled academically, at the weekends however he hosted his exclusive club hangout; no girls allowed. They fought scary monsters, rescued distant lands from invading aliens. Ziva hovered on the side-lines when she tried to join in, the boys ran off to do something else. It wasn’t all games, Rylan’s group studied together, they copied each other’s work into their own words, Aria disapproved but there was a massive improvement in her son’s behaviour. The relief for the household alone was worth it, Jose had been worried that the plaster would crack or the doors would fall off.

Aria trained hard both her clients and herself for the next competition, her absence from the house had a significant effect on Ziva. As a toddler, she charmed everyone, their attention saw her flourish. As a child, Ziva buried herself in her books and at school, this thirst for knowledge made her unpopular with her peer group. It was rare Ziva misbehaved, but the rejection by Rylan and his friends influenced her growing defiance. Entering her parent’s bedroom, throwing paint on the floor, stomping her feet into the mess she created. Pounding upstairs. she captured her father’s attention as he dozed on the sofa. Jose was firm with this behaviour, rather than being able to play or study, Ziva found her Saturday doing chores. Ziva used this time to consider her future, on their last birthday she received a doctors play-set, it sounded fun, she could heal people, discover new illnesses or work in science, the potential was that she would find a cure. The young girl journeyed deeper into her imagination and with every chore, she elaborated on her vision of the future.

The family was living separate lives, Rylan had his group, Ziva her books, Jose spent his days creating style and Aria spent most of her time at work, unable to appreciate the mundane. Sunday was competition day and Jose couldn’t face another day lost in yelling boys and a moody daughter locked in her bedroom. Today would be for the family, he woke the children early, with a hearty breakfast, pancakes, bacon, and lashing of maple syrup. The excitement grew as they walked towards the bowling alley, and on to the train station, it was 7 am as they boarded the train bound for the coast. Images of ice cream sundaes, sandcastles and swimming in the sea filled their thoughts, a conversation whispered, excited as to what secret adventure Jose had planned. Their destination was near Brindleton Bay, the stretch of the ocean looked grey, pebbles scattered across the sand and the small group of people with wellies and bin bags. Jose had signed them all up to help clean up the beach, the twins stared hard at the ground, reluctant to take another step

Ziva noticed an older gentleman struggling with a bag, watching as he got it caught on the brambles as they inched their way towards the beach. The bag split, its contents spilling onto the sand, the man grumbling to himself as he tried to gather up the additional mess. Her anxious expression, shaking legs, refusal to open her mouth to offer help made her feel six inches tall. Staring at the pretty raven-haired girl, the man paused, smiling he offered her a spare bag. As they worked he told her of the days when Brindleton was famous for fishing hauls, and every ship had a cat, every house a dog. Relieved at the man’s pleasant nature, Ziva found herself relaxing, enjoying the gentle breeze as they gathered up plastic bottles and crisp packets.

The promise of ice cream was all it took to get Rylan interested in the clean-up operation. Enthusiasm waned the second he stepped in his wellies, but his mouth watered at the thought, tasting the cold sweet chocolate ice cream, the crunch of coloured sprinkles, with each wrapper and tin can he collected brought him closer to heaven. Progress was slow, to win the ultimate Sundae he required a plan, or at least, sabotage. Targeting the older boys seemed foolish, but he slipped into their group, holding the bag as they filled. Taking the full bag, Rylan ran with it and a couple of other partial filled bags to a quiet part of the beach, emptying the latter collection into one. No-one noticed for an hour as Rylan stole other people’s clean up efforts. Grabbing his arm, an older boy caught him taking a bag, Rylan shrugged, begrudging the stern comments, irritated the boy told Jose, his sweet prize lost.

Their tiny home was perfect for raising toddlers, nestled in their nursery the twins were close and played together without incident. Flash forward into childhood and nothing could be further from the truth. Rylan was wild, he had been active as a tot, now he was a rambunctious scamp, when he couldn’t get to the park he was tormenting his sister or driving his parents crazy running around the house, trampling mud throughout. His latest pleasure when he was sent to their still shared bedroom was shaking paints all over the floor. Jose warned him several times about this, but it fell on deaf ears with tantrums and complaints.

Ziva they believed would be a social butterfly, surrounded by friends, a child they would worry less about getting into trouble. Although it was true Ziva made friends easily, she preferred those who liked to play chess, read, and study. Academically Ziva excelled from day one, unlike the creative nature of her parents and brother, she was bound by numbers, logic and a desire to learn in a more structured way.

Jose could feel the years no longer creeping but catapulting him into old age with all the typical signs, grey hair, aching back and trousers that seemed to fit yesterday, having suddenly shrunk by an inch or two around the waist. Blowing out candles on yet another birthday cake made him wonder more about the future, he imaged Ziva being a politician or in public relations, with Rylan either joining the military, police or even following in Aria’s footsteps, as long as it kept him out of trouble, besides he could use the discipline. Jose was the go-to guy for all the random, often silly questions the children came up with/ When Rylan was miffed about a birthday present he received, Jose told him to be grateful, since it was the thought that counted. Rylan shrugged, threw it on the table and went off to watch some TV. Ziva excelled in debating everything including the benefits and the lack of nutrition found in dirt, in the end, it was a question of whether she should eat it because a girl at school had done. It was all urgent, Aria rarely got these, she was their go-to for homework assistance.

Packing up their home took ages with Rylan unpacking things, his bad temper putting a bigger strain on his already stressed parents. They had found a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, with a large kitchen diner, perfect for hosting and keeping Aria’s weight machine. The garden was large enough to buy a spaceship for the children to play on and Jose insisted on buying a barbecue for those summer parties. All the excitement of the move was overshadowed by the death of Wesley, having passed silently in the night leaving Tara alone in Oasis Springs. Aria tried to persuade her to move to Newcrest, but she insisted everything was fine and that she was fine on her own.

Rylan it seemed was hitting the moody teens early, coming home from school he slammed his bedroom door, refusing to come downstairs. They looked to Ziva who dropped her head muttering about needing to do her homework. Over the next few weeks, Jose tried to get Rylan to open up about what was happening at school, but Rylan lashed out, calling his father names, at the weekend this rage was targeted at his sister. Things got worse when Rylan found a love letter Ziva had written to their teacher Mr Sargent. She was doing so well in his class, her books were covered in equations and hearts with his name in it. Whilst inappropriate, Jose didn’t see the harm, he confiscated it and gave her a new book to work from

All this quality time as at home had enhanced Jose cooking skills; experimenting with new flavours and textures. It wasn’t easy, every meal was being criticised by two toddlers with very discernible taste buds. For some reason, it made Jose nervous when his brother-in-law visited. Wesley, although retired was still serious about food, although he never complained, Jose felt his dishes were still under scrutiny, making him almost too afraid to ask if it was enjoyable. Aria thought he was being silly, the Major Chords would not continue to meet here if the food on offer was poor. Besides, surely his children’s opinion was all that mattered.

For Ziva, the abundance of guests was exhilarating, Aria and Jose struggled to put her to bed, she wanted to stay up, talking to everyone about princesses, mummy’s plants and Rylan playing in the potty, the latter making Jose cringe. Rylan was less keen on the number of people, however, he loved listening to music, he would bop along for hours, for what he lacked in communication skills he made up for in boundless energy no matter how much sleep he had. They had to surrender letting them both stay up past bedtime, Ziva would fall asleep first curled up on a chair or in Wesley’s arms, Rylan would bounce until the guests started leaving, then out like a light when his head hit the pillow.

Birthdays were coming around so quickly, they had checked out the local school, even taking the twins to have a look around at where they would spend the next few years. The twin’s bond would certainly be tested, Ziva they felt would be fine since she was vocal and outgoing, but Rylan hid behind Jose as they toured the classrooms, not keen on the idea of the bigger children

The Newcrest Bowling Alley had finally opened its doors, the timing couldn’t be better. Jose remembered playing there as a teen, it was a fair few years ago, he hoped he still had some moves to show off. Taking the lead, he lined up with the right-hand side pin of the second row, he dropped to a curtsy as he swung the ball back, stepping forward as he launched the ball down the alley. The bowling ball veered off to the left falling into the gutter. Jose rolled his shoulders and stretched out, it was a bad shot, but he needed to brush it off as a practice shot.

Aria was up next, she had been observing the lane on the other side, she took a few strides towards the lane swinging her arm back then dropping into the throw, it shot down the alley taking out a few pins, she wasn’t able to clear any more with that turn, but it was a technique that worked for her most of the time.

Rylan started with relative confidence, the ball, however, was heavier than he thought, he tried desperately to hold it, then as he moved forward, the silly gripless shoes slid on the smooth wooden surface, the ball bounced off the bumpers and down the lane taking out a couple of pins. Rylan landed on his bottom, falling back and staring up at the ceiling. He cringed with embarrassment, knowing there were a few children around who would be at the school on Monday. It was Ziva who took the win for their first night out, by copying her mother’s technique, and with the help of the bumpers knocked down most of the pins each turn. She was very proud of herself, excited about school and figured life was pretty awesome

Jose made the most of every second he had with his twins, they would not be this small and cute for long. Aria preferred it when they were asleep, she would sit and watch them for the few hours they were quiet. Taking time for themselves and each other remained important, Wesley was away travelling a lot, gathering recipes for his new restaurant, leaving Auntie Tara gushing over them when Jose and Aria needed their alone time.

As toddlers, Rylan showed himself to be very independent. He was fascinated by the world around him, everything around the house needed to be handled, tested and if his parents were not watching, dropped on the floor to see if it would break. Getting out of the house meant more excitement such as inspecting Aria’s poor quality vegetables and attempting to eat worms; all perfectly normal in Rylan’s mind. Ziva was his opposite, she was angelic, certainly the one the Major Chords enjoyed meeting the most. What she hated more than anything was when her mother left for work, she would run out the front door, along the path, her eyes filled with tears, Jose following carrying Rylan, trying to stop her.

The bond between Rylan and Ziva was growing stronger with each day, there was no squabbling over toys or hair pulling, they each had their interests. Rylan liked solid tangible objects, his building blocks and toy box. Ziva, although she enjoyed her dolls house she preferred the tablet; given the chance she would never put it down, pouting whenever the battery died or she was told it was time for bed. Their similarities evolved around their love of food, particularly fish, with the TV on the twins preferred the sofa to their high chairs, enjoying their dinner, babbling about bananas.

When it came to learning their manners, Ziva acted up, rhyming her name to Diva, stomping her foot and running off, back to the games and videos on her tablet. Jose was forced to confiscate the device, her screams and tears giving him a headache; he let her pout, arms folded on the sofa whilst he played the same game with Rylan. The curious nature of his son meant he seemed interested in the concept of games, his head tilting side to side, in reality, Rylan just loved listening to his father’s voice. Jose could be telling him about the contents of the bin, Rylan didn’t care, as long as dad was talking he would focus on that sound when the lesson ended, he toddled off looking for mischief.

Their personalities were starting to assert themselves, as were their skills, despite her love for the digital, Ziva excelled in communication, imagination and movement, being the first to be independent with the potty. Rylan was slower in his skill-building, although he was always thinking about the world around him, it was clear it was more focused on what trouble he could get into or cause. He flourished creatively and loved bopping along to the stereo. He wasn’t much for talking, his silence worried Aria as it generally meant mischief. There was often flour or paints being thrown about or something broken. Afterwards, he would run into the lounge staring at his parents, giggle, then run off to hide.

Whilst Jose chose to let his career take a back seat to his family, his progression remained steady. The interest in trends waned as Jose’s joy was painting and spending his time with his family. Aria felt supported to keep driving hers forward. Having had two babies did not make her life easier to maintain her shape, there was often a lot of snacking, treats and munching on leftovers, but as the competition got closer her efforts to get fitter and more toned were tripled. Aria wanted to show her daughter a strong, positive role model, and being finally placing first in the amateur bikini comp was all she needed to take her position with the pros.