Information

Jaela has a minion!

Iceberg the Diamus

Jaela
Legacy Name: Jaela

The

Glacier Popoko
Owner:

Thundercracker

Age: 17 years, 2 months, 3 weeks

Born: December 23rd, 2008

Adopted: 1 year, 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Adopted: May 22nd, 2024

Pet Spotlight Winner
September 2nd, 2019

Statistics

Level: 130
Strength: 197
Defense: 10
Speed: 56
Health: 10
HP: 10/10
Intelligence: 740
Books Read: 722
Food Eaten: 0
Job: Couture Designer

Jaela

Social services stepped up to the door and frowned at the stack of mail and newspapers spewing out of the small boxes beside the door. The curtains drawn, the pair looked to each other with trepidation. One knocking firmly.
It took several minutes and some muffled shouting and stomping before the door was wretched open far more forcibly than it should have. "WHAT!?" the male answered had both stepping back.
"Social Service, Mister Kovac?" The female said, although her voice wavered.
The male, a month’s beard growth starting to salt against the dark, unkempt black hair also starting to gray around the edges wearing rumpled clothing glared at them with bloodshot eyes. He huffed irritably and stepped in. "Make it quick." he grumbled.
The smell got them first. Unwashed bodies, laundry and general human lived in home.
The laundry wasn't visible, but the disorganized shoes, the dishes that were piled dirty on the counter, papers and what could be artwork scattered in the den, while the other held more paperwork and a stale coffee that looked like it had been abandoned at the start of the summer.
"Sit." The gruff voice croaked waved into the Livingroom. The carpet had not been cleaned for some time. Spots of white could be seen under the chairs showing the actual color amongst the traffic gray.
"How have you been coping since the loss of your wife?" the woman asked quietly sitting on a chair by the off tv set.
"I'm alive." he huffed.
"And the children?" The male asked.
"Who are you?" Xander snarled.
"Aiden Johannson and this is Jaela Bell. We're from social services." Aiden stated.
"You mentioned that, social services of what?" Xander growled.
"Welfare, child welfare." Jaela sighed softly. "Where are the children?"
"Four of them are at camp for the summer, they come back a week before school. Eldest has moved out and in with his cousins. The middle one fucked up royally." Xander growled. "He's taking parenting classes between early years twice a week, CAS's Fostering program and tending to his pregnant girlfriend." Xander narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, you don't have any kids home?" Aiden suddenly brightened, getting a better idea.
"Just the one and he hardly is here." Xander grumbled. "I'm allowed to say fuck it and not do a damn thing once in a while."
"I absolutely agree." Aiden smiled. "In that case, how are you doing?"
Xander leveled his eyes at the male. "I'm seeing a therapist once a week. It isn't doing a damn thing."
Jaela sighed looking at him. "I'm sorry, Mister Kovac, I know this is hard on you. We're trying to establish Kaden’s Welfare being here with you."
"Ah, he's at camp, with the other three. They write ... sometimes... I should check the mail.... " He shrugged at the afterthought. "His room is upstairs, go ahead. See for yourselves." He stood, ushering them to the stairs. "Ignore my room." he grumbled.
"Are you getting any help?" Aiden asked as Jaela took the lead up.
"We lost two wives and my brother this year, whatever help there is, isn't going to help." he grumbled. "The oldest boys are starting up a business, Ones in Medical school or something, they're getting guidance and help and all that. My eldest and my brothers’ oldest boys are now living in ... that house... my mother is in a nursing home. Feisty as ever - she can't help. she's frail." he sighed running his hand through his messy hair as they reached the landing. Only one door was open, his. "Open the other doors." he practically ordered the two. Pushing Aiden aside to shut his door.
"I was meaning in home, are you getting any help in-home with the children?" Jaela asked opening one door and looking at the nursery. Clean and pristine, set up for one newborn - eventually. A single bed shoved at the side of the wall. Some girl clothing folded and a dresser tucked inside clothes.
"Not during the summer." Xander muttered. "When the baby comes there's going to be a few visitors the mid-wives to start, early years has a home visitor program, they'll be coming. That's on top of the maid service I hired to come in once a week. Two tutors come in after school to help Sky and Kade.... Thomas has after school writing club and Shamus." Xander smirked. "Is usually galivanting until dinner time when he comes home."
"I see, you have the girlfriend living here?" Aiden asked.
"It was that or let her rot in the group home. Yes, she and the baby are moving in." Xander growled. "She is not sharing a room with my sons. and has a lock on the inside of her door. She's coming to live here in her last month."
"Kaden’s room." He opened a door. "It's the smallest room in the house; he only sleeps in here and reads his comics." He smirked darkly. The bed was made, the floor clean, curtains open, the dresser and a stack of comics on top of the dresser. "He chose the room."
"The other two rooms are here." He opened the last two doors, showing the two rooms with two single beds. "Sky and Tom share one, Swave and Shay share the other."
"How have they adjusted to that?" Jaela asked noting how clean both rooms were and the one bed had a more recent use then the other.
"Shamus is more vocal about losing his own room - he's adjusting. Sky and Tom are used to sharing a room. They're fine." Xander stated.
"Has any of them objected to the baby and girlfriend?" Aiden asked curiously satisfied at the rooms compared to the rest of the house.
"They are all excited." Xander stated. "It's her I am more worried about." he admitted. "She is 19, thus older and in a home with a bunch of boys." He frowned. "And me."
"I understand your concerns; however, she is of age and seen as an adult in the eyes of the courts." Jaela stated.
He gave a rueful smile and nodded. "We'll deal with that bridge when we get there." He turned and headed downstairs.
The two looked at each other and nodded, following him. "We'll come by a week after school starts." Jaela stated. "To talk with Kaden on how he is adjusting."
"Fine." Xander opened the door for them. "Don't book an appointment. Easier that way." he grunted making sure they were both on the stoop. "Bye." Then slammed the door behind them.

Aiden looked to Jaela. "No kids for a month, only one that clearly is hardly there.... he's doing the bachelor thing."
"Grieving Widower." Jaela sighed. "I'm making a note that the home needs a tidy, but it isn't horrible compared to some. I want to see what it looks like when the kids are home." she frowned heading to the car.
"That will be the deciding point. He did mention a maid service." Aiden stated.
"Thank fully. That is one small house for... what is it... 4 young teenagers, 2 older teenagers with an infant and a father..... " She looked at the home.
"There is ample space. Kade is not sharing a room as is part of the requirements." Aiden stated.
"There isn't anything I can complain about." Jaela admitted. "Other than I think someone needs more sleep."
Aiden started the car. "No argument there." he chuckled dryly.

*******

September rolled around to beautiful weather, pulling to the curb, the two gapped at the three cars and one minivan in the driveway, the basketball in the hedge and the scattering of toys all over the lawn. "I do believe the kids are home." Aiden laughed.
"Oh my." Jaela got out of the car and could hear the screaming of males from the back yard. "Is that fighting?"
Aiden frowned. "I don't know..." He admitted walking up to the door and seeing the mail and papers gone. He knocked firmly.
"Hold on! Hold on!" A voice called followed by a laugh and then the door popped open to a shirtless boy in swim trunks. "Hey!" the excitement drained and the smile fell into a horrified frown. "Aww no." He backed up and screamed. "DAD!!!!!" Running out the back door. "Hide Kade!"
Jaela laughed. "Oh boy."
Aiden frowned. "That isn't a good sign."
"Oh, you two again." Xander grumbled from behind them.
Aiden jumped turning. The shaved, face combed hair and sun-tanned face was far different compared to the one month ago man they visited. He ignored the fact that the man was in shorts and sweaty. Jaela however was flushed soaking in the maleness.
"Go ahead in, don't worry about your shoes." Xander waved them ahead of him.
The two slipped into the house and smiled.
"They've been home a week. Just a week." Xander laughed. "And I already want to move out."
"Is it that bad?" Jaela asked.
"No, it's normal." He sighed "never realized how much Sadie did." He admitted. "Laundry is in the closet." he thumped the door; it popped open to show the large washer and dryer under the stairs. "Bathroom in there." he knocked on the door across from it. "Go away!" Came a muffled voice.
Xander paused. "Thomas?"
"Yes, leave me alone! I'm crapping!" the muffled voice shouted.
Xander laughed. "Got it." he moved past to the now white carpet living room. "They are ... around." Xander looked out the open patio door to the swarm of boys being boys in the pool and on the grass. "What one did you want to talk to again?" he asked trying to recall.
Jaela gawked in amazement at the one jumping on the trampoline doing flips. The pool had four teens in it playing water volley ball. "What ones are yours?" she asked.
"It's Kaden we're looking for." Aiden answered.
Xander hummed. "Shamus is the one bouncing, Sark, Ravic, Swave and Skylar are in the pool... tommy is in the bathroom." His eyes scanned the back. "Kade?" He shouted.
hands pointed to the back shed.
"I'm NOT LEAVING!" Came an angry shout.
Xander rumbled amused. "It's your assessment interview! They'll take you over my dead body!" He shouted out.
A dark head, dripping wet peered around the shed. "Really?!" He shouted back.
"GET in the House Kaden!" Xander shouted.
The dark-skinned kid hurried across the lawn, around the pool and taking the steps up to the deck in a single bound, he grinned at Xander. "I'm staying?"
"Unless they want broken bones, you are." Xander assured. Looking at the wet boy. "Get your towel and get in here." He mutters.
Grabbing a black and white towel, the lanky teen wrapped himself in the fluffy large towel and paused at the door. He looked the two social workers carefully then at his father. "I want you to stay." He muttered.
Xanders face softened. "I'll stay in the den, but you need to sit in the library. I can't influence."
Kade huffed. "Bunch of bullshit." he muttered.
"Kade." The deep warning tone was not missed.
Kade sighed. "Sorry father." shoulders slumping as he headed to the front of the house and the library.