Christen's POV

"Shh Moe!" giggles someone from downstairs. I roll over in my bed and squint as I read the bright red numbers on my alarm clock. I make out a blurry 2:27 A.M. and groan. "Don't drop it!"  What are they doing down there? I throw my blankets off of me and step onto the cold hardwood floor. Mama keeps it like a freezer in here! It's not bad when we're coming in from the beach but it's horrible when we've been here for awhile. I tiptoe down the stairs trying not to make anymore noise than what's already being made. 

"What are y'all doing?" I wonder letting my mouth drop open. There's ice cream sitting open on the island, some kind of syrup turned over, whipped cream squirted out on the counter and the one and only Tobin Heath and Morgan Brian scarfing down Pringles. "My Mom is going to kill you guys." 

"Oh Press don't be a party pooper." pouts Tobin looking up from the can of chips to me. I burst out into laughter but quickly clamp my hand over my mouth to muffle the sound. She has a curly mustache drawn above her lip in whipped cream. "What you laughin' at?" she smiles walking over to me and wrapping me in a hug. "Do you like my new look?" She wiggles her eyebrows making me giggle even more. 

"Hmm I don't know..." I trail of making her playfully frown. I take my finger and wipe it off before popping it in my mouth. "Delicious." She smirks at me while letting me go. "Do you guys by any chance know what time it is?"

"Of course we do," says Moe in a duh tone pointing her spoon at the clock, "the clock's right there Pressy"

I roll my eyes, "Thanks. I didn't see it." She sticks out her tongue to me before eating a big spoonful of ice cream. The basement door squeaks open so I turn my attention to the smaller figure standing behind it. "Mally," I sigh wiping my face and the give Tobin an annoyed look before continuing with, "baby it's late. You need to go bed." She comes out and attaches to me like a lech. "Sweetie you need to go back downstairs. It's way past your bedtime."

"But Mami and MoMo are up." she argues with tiredness evident in her voice. She lays her head on my shoulder, letting her eyes droop closed. I death glare at Tobin to what she puts her hands up in mock surrender. Sometimes I swear I have two children instead of one. 

"Hey Mal you want some ice cream?" offers Morgan already getting down another bowl. "It's your favorite." Mallory turns her face from my neck to meet her mischievous grin.

"No it's-"

"Oh lighten up Chris." says Tobin taking Mallory's hand and leading her to the sugary treat. "A little won't hurt will it Princess?" Mal shakes her head no excitedly and takes the bowl Moe hands her. 

"Tobin it's late." I state crossing my arms upset. She knows that she should be sleeping right now not eating all that. Morgan gave her two big scoops, covered in caramel sauce, and piled high with whipped topping. I walk over and take the bowl from Mallory.

"Hey!" she protest reaching for it. I put it down in the sink and give her a look that says cut it out. "I was going to eat that." I raise one of my eyebrows challengingly at the teen in front of me. She did not just sass me. "What?"

"Alright time for bed." I say spinning her around and popping her butt to get her moving. "All of you."

"CP you're being ridiculous." says Tobin. "We're having some fun. Mal's a big girl. She can join in too."

"No Tobin she may not." Why is everyone arguing with me tonight? Geez. "It's," I pause to check the time, "two-forty in the morning. She should be in bed and so should you," I point at her,"and you." I point at Moe. "What would Lauren say if she knew you were up this late eating all this sugar?" Her eyes widen a bit before going back to normal. She puts her spoon down and puts her ice cream in the sink.

"I'm just um going to go to bed." she sputers nervously. "Please don't tell Cheney."

"Oh I wasn't." I assure her. A wave of relief rushes over her face. "I was going to tell Jrue." Her eyes get as big as quarters. 

"N-No Christen. Daddy will kill me. I'm not kidding. Please don't tell on me." she begs starting to tear up. 

"Then go to bed." I narrow my eyes at her and nod over at the door. "Now." She nods and scoots around me hurrying out of the room. I feel a glare so I look up to meet Tobin's hard eyes. 

"Why are you being such a buzz kill tonight?" she asks annoyed. I feel my nostrils flare in anger and my face heat up. She's supposed to be an adult here. I know she's a "New Kid" but she's not a new kid. "And don't talk to Moe like that." Oh so protective Aunt Toby's coming out but not smart Mami T? I swear she makes me so freaking mad sometimes!

"I am not being a buzz kill!" I whisper harshly. "It is almost three in the morning and you are down here having a mini party with Morgan!"

"A 'mini party'?" she snorts. "You're nuts."

"I am not!" I argue frustrated. She is driving me insane! "My mothers are right there," I point down the hallway to their door, "trying to sleep. I'm telling you right now if they wake up they are going to flip. We're supposed to be going to that water park thing tomorrow so we need to go to bed! First you better clean this kitchen up because if Mom sees it like this she will have a heart attack!" I take a shaky breath in through my nose to try to calm myself down. "Mallory Diane if you roll your eyes at me one more time I'm going to knock your eyeballs out of your head. Stop it."

"Christen!" gasps Tobin dramatically pulling Mal to her chest. "Don't worry Mally girl I'll protect you!" I'm so happy Mom taught me her signature face for times like this. 

"You're such a child." I sneer. I'm exhausted and I just want to go back to bed, but I can't until this idiot does. "Mallory Diane I may not be able to make your Mami go to bed but I can make you. I know you don't want a spanking tonight." I eye her hard and she shakes her head no.

"I'm sorry Mama." she says softly. She removes Tobin's arms from around her after standing on her tiptoes to kiss her cheek. She comes to me and does the same thing. "C-can you tuck me back in?" she shyly asks looking down. "Please Mama?" I sigh and look at her sweet innocent face. I tuck a few of her stray hairs behind her ear then lean down and kiss her forehead. 

"Why don't you just go get in my bed for tonight?" I offer giving her a soft smile. "Go upstairs and I'll be up in a few minutes. I've just got to get your Mami to behave now." I give Tobin another stern look as Mal goes off to my room. Once I'm for sure she's out of earshot before addressing the obnoxious slightly older girl in front of me, "I may not be able to make you go to sleep but I promise if one of my parents wake up and you're down here, or this kitchen is still messed up, they will punish you just like they punish me or Jules. Mama wasn't kidding when we were coming from the airport. I can tell you first hand much you do not want that to happen. She's already torn me up twice in two days and believe me my butt hurts." 

She blushes a rosy red color before hesitantly nodding, "I'll clean it up, don't worry." She moves towards me and lazily put her arms around my waist. I roll my eyes as she smirks at me. "I'm sorry I argued with you like I did in front of the kid." 

"Mhm sure you are."

She smiles sheepishly and scratches the back of her neck nervously, "I wasn't being very 'Mami' like was I?" 

"No not really." I agree with a short nod. She frowns sadly making me feel bad so I lean in and kiss her cheek before adding, "I wasn't very 'Mama' like either. I did tell her I was going to knock her eyeballs out of her head." Tobin chuckles and tucks some of my hair behind my ear. 

"Yeah I'm pretty sure that's child abuse." she jokes still laughing. I playfully slap her on the chest making her break her hold on my hips. "I'm just kidding CP. Now go to bed, our princess is waiting for you." 

"Alright." I whisper smiling. She pecks my forehead and smiles stupidly down at me. I shake my head and go upstairs to find our beautiful Sleeping Beauty passed out right in the middle of my bed. Oh Mally. I gently move her over before crawling in next to her. I put my arms around her and hold her close to me probably taking all the warmth from her but to be honest I don't care because you do what you have to do to survive in the Arctic. 

What feels like moments later a faint, "Mami?", wakes me up.

"Yeah baby it's Mami." coos Tobin softly. I keep my eyes squeezed closed so she doesn't know I'm awake. I feel the covers being lifted and the bed dip down. "Go back to sleep Mals. I love you pretty girl."

"I love you too." slurs Mallory already basically asleep. I hear Tobin's lips leave her skin before she gets herself settled down. I smile happily to myself. Tobs and I may not be the perfect parents, but I think we're doing a pretty good job. I wouldn't change my little family for the world.