Christmas Wedding Part 10- Celebration free porn video

December 22nd, last day of school before Christmas vacation John Finn was in the midst of a test in class and was lost in thought. It was just three day away from his son Michael's wedding to Courtney Bollinger. John had just turned 38 and couldn't believe that in just a couple of months he would become a grandfather as well a father-in-law to two amazing people as his beloved daughter Jaimie would marry her fiance Rick Samuels and take Rick's newborn daughter as her own child via a claim of surrogate pregnancy. His concentration was broken by his nieces giggling at his expression, indicating that the test was over. He sighed and told the class to talk quietly for the rest of class while he graded their exams. This was what they had hoped he would do and for the next 20 minutes he enjoyed the quiet as he concentrated. Class ended as did school. John walked out to observe the college football team practicing outside the school while giving his nieces time to gather their things and join him for the drive home. They were happy to get home, it was date night and John needed the break to help him think about other things. John was met by his enthusiastic younger kids with Cat Finn all but jumping into his arms as she celebrated having her dad home for the next 10 days. Her twin JD was blase about it, he just wanted to play with his best buddy/cousin Julio Lopez while his elder brother Logan and sister Ella went off with their cousins and friends. John just smiled at all four of them, they had made plans for themselves and were going to enjoy their own things even if their plans weren't entirely doable. The kids enjoyed a fun-filled day with the other kids the next day as Cat and Ella got dressed in their dresses for the wedding while the boys enjoyed learning to play football from some great players and one jerk. John ended up helping babysit his nephews while their mothers and fathers enjoyed a day off giving him a chance to calm down as the boys all gave him a fun morning before tiring out for a nap. When they returned, the boys did the same as they simply played video games while the adults watched the football game and talked in the living room. Miles Finn was on TV as the dads watched the game causing John to know that the family was in the spotlight again and it was going to be a long week for them as they remained in the news due to the wedding after Miles' sudden fame receded temporarily. Miles was able to handle it, but John was still concerned about him. John was just afraid that he would be put on display as something that you should aspire to even if Miles never wanted to play again. He had the shock of his life as he saw for the first time what his future daughter-in-law looked like in her dress, which was followed by pictures of his nieces and Jaimie in theirs. John shed a tear at his kids becoming men and a woman, his little boy was no long a boy and his daughter was no longer the little girl he had grown to love more than any other person in the world. He fought back feelings of being old but it was tough not to think back to seven and a half years before. Back then, Michael was a short, skinny, lonely boy who wanted his mother to find a man who would love her and him. If it hadn't been for a blown engine and Michael calling out to a complete stranger the family would never have come together over time, that little boy was now a man and about to marry the woman of his dreams and have a child with her while John was married to his mother and given her and Michael six brothers and sisters to know and love. That night, he hugged and kissed the four kids goodnight with Logan sensing that his father needed to show his affection even though he knew that Logan was growing too old for it. Logan hugged him back and kissed his cheek, offering his father a somber, "He's a big man now dad, you need to let him go." John kept silent and moved on to the others, knowing that Logan knew exactly what was affecting him. Ella just hugged and kissed him on the cheek, turning away to let John continue on, she wasn't the best at helping others with their feelings. JD hugged him and turned away as well, knowing it was not his job to console John. Cat, though, hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek and told him happily, "We all love you, daddy," which calmed him down, she always did that for him. John struggled to fall asleep. His wife Valerie was struggling to find the right words to comfort him as she herself was feeling the gravity of her son marrying the girl who won his heart six years before on the day they met in school. Courtney Bollinger was the second girl he ever had a crush on but the first girl whom he had gotten close to and by all accounts it was love at first sight. John fell asleep after being rocked to sleep by Valerie who herself fell asleep late. Logan had his three siblings up and fed when the couple entered, telling them, "We are going out with Aunt Leslie so you don't have to worry about us. Cat isn't feeling well though." Valerie just smiled and nodded, Cat was a bit sick because she snuck in a few pieces of candy overnight and that morning and would be fine in time for John's meeting. Ella and Logan walked around the corner to their cousins Neil and Faith Jones' house while JD walked next door to Julio's house. Cat stayed downstairs, curled up in her mother's lap while John got together some paperwork for the upcoming meeting with a man by the name of Trent Valenz. John was dreading this meeting as the man's boss was a hard lady to please but had a soft spot for kids and people with issues such as gender identity, sexuality, and special yet underappreciated talents. Valerie informed John that Sylvia Roberts and her fiance Mitch Gibson would be coming by as well as they had a meeting with Trent that John would be able to help with. John nodded, while Cat perked up at hearing about Sylvia. The little girl loved Sylvia like another cousin, but was more interested in keeping her safe and happy as it would make her little niece healthy making everyone happy. Sylvia and Mitch arrived with Jaimie Finn dropping them off. She opted to go next door and allow the couple to talk with Trent without her being there to make things awkward for all. Sylvia gave her a hug while Mitch told her, "His boss is a great woman, she's not in any trouble or she'd be here herself." Trent Valenz arrived a few minutes after Jaimie left and was shown into the dining room where John was sitting with Mitch and Sylvia. "Good afternoon, Mr. Finn, Mrs. Finn, Ms. Roberts, Mr. Gibson. Thank you all for making time for me." Trent sat down and offered John several packages of papers which Valerie took to read over. "Take your time Mrs. Finn. You'll find everything in order." John waited until she had read through them and nodded in approval, signing off on them before handing them to John who signed them himself. Valerie smiled to Trent and added a stoic, "Very nice Mr. Valenz. Everything is as expected but you understand why I had to be careful." Trent nodded then began saying, "Ms. Tessa Frost offers her thanks, on behalf of Little Ones Found, for the kind donation and gives your Finn Foundation a donation for the furthering of education to those in need. Especially those like herself." Cat asked what he meant, getting a soft, "She's like your sister, she's a special woman who was born wrong and became who she really is inside." Cat smiled and was satisfied with the answer, she knew everything else from listening to others talk about it. Trent asked. "We are curious, why the Finns took interested in and sent a donation to Little Ones Found?", "We recently gained experience with people who have suffered like those whom Little Ones Found helps. Two of the newest members of our extended family are victims of the same kind of case that her charity helps. I believe several of the kids helped by their shutting down of the pedophile ring are even receiving direct help from it. It's all well and good to give to scholarships, but sometimes it's a lot better to give to those who need it for longer than just four years, which those kids will need." John replied sadly, showing great emotion but also verifying what Trent had already discovered discretely. Trent had to agree with him about that as some of the kids suffered greatly from betrayal by parents and close relatives and could not trust anyone without others being around. He had seen it himself as he and his boss visited a hospital that was treating several victims. It was a tough situation for everyone and made worse by the kids' expressions of hopelessness and despair. Trent sighed. "Unfortunately, you are correct Mr. Finn." The two thought best to turn the discussion around to other things and addressed Sylvia. Trent handed her a letter from her benefactor, complete with letterhead of her amusement park. She read it over and cried, forcing Mitch to read it and hug her tightly. Valerie read it after Mitch and gave a sly grin, then asked, "So she really isn't upset that one of her recipients has sullied her scholarship fund's image?" Trent shook his head. "Sullied? Not in the slightest. Sylvia fell victim and that is how she sees it and won't hear otherwise. If she was upset she would have personally delivered a notice of termination of her scholarship. She doesn't blame her for what happened and had it not been for your support, she would have come herself and insisted on Sylvia staying at the park as a year-round resident until she graduated from a local college while she also received proper health aid for her and her little one." He then addressed Sylvia in an authoritative voice, proclaiming, "Queen Tessa takes care of her people, which you are and has decreed that you are to continue with your studies. This is not negotiable. While working this summer, you are to stay with your fiance's family. She had a long talk with them about you two and she is pleased that they are treating you like the future daughter-in-law that you are. They want you to remain healthy and happy so you will be required to meet with a psychologist to ensure that you have neither postpartum depression nor PTSD. Queen Tessa also has made it clear to everyone who will be working with you that you have done the bravest and most selfless thing any person could do in choosing to allow your daughter to live with her father and his wife and that anyone who feels otherwise can enjoy unemployment." Trent was serious, with Valerie adding, "She understands you, Sylvia, and has people who have dealt with what you will experience firsthand. I take it that several of the staff are mothers and aunts so they are familiar with how you will be feeling after the baby is born. It's not singling you out, it's trying to help." Cat was intrigued and asked, "Why does she understand?" Trent saw the concern in her eyes and offered her a simple, "Again, she's like your sister. She's unable to be a mother and understands what becoming one means to your sister. She wants Sylvia to not suffer alone, she will need to talk to someone about it to ensure that Sylvia is truly healthy and thrives after doing something so bold and tough on her mind." Cat was happy with that answer then asked, "Why do you call her Queen Tessa? Is she royalty?" Trent smiled and offered her the normal VentureRealm explanation of, "She's the owner of the park so she is the Queen of the land. She has three princesses who oversee different parts of the park. Everyone who is employed and many in the town of Baylston have taken to calling her 'Queen Tessa' even outside of the park out of respect and admiration for what she has built and done. The park is really like its own little city and she runs it smoothly and with great authority." Cat was thrilled and begged, "Can we go daddy? Please? Can we meet the Queen? Michael got to meet the queen over in England, can we meet the Queen of the park?" John had to smile at her pleading and the looks she was giving were ones of longing. He looked at Valerie who nodded, so John offered her a hearty, "We will see. If Willie has the time off we can make it a family trip. Your uncles and aunts are busy with work so they won't be able to go, but I think he has a week marked off for a family vacation." A call was made to Willie Pena and his wife Kennedy with both having a week off in July. Michael, Miles and Jaimie were busy with work or their kids so they weren't able to go making it just the six of them making the trip with the five Penas. Trent jotted down the information. "Queen Tessa will ensure passes for the group are sent. She'll even set aside time to meet with you all personally. With done, I believe my work here is finished." Trent showed himself out and left to catch his private plane back home. Tessa met him at the airport and drove in with him, listening to the plans. She nodded in agreement, it was within reason and expectations of the Finns. Jaimie entered with her cousins to seek out Sylvia and ask about the meeting. Sylvia hugged her tightly and explained, "It was the best thing that could have happened. She is like you, she understood what I was doing for you and Rick. She's keeping me as a recipient and making me see a psychologist while I work this summer. She even got Mitch's parents to let me stay with them." Jaimie smiled at hearing that, Sylvia kept hugging her until she calmed down then kissed Mitch for keeping quiet the whole time about the internship. Jaimie teased him, "She's spending all summer with your parents while you only get a month." He just smiled and teased, "They get to meet your parents too. I know my parents will find a way of meeting little Sylvia's grandfather." That piqued her interest which caused Mitch to go, "Oops" as he revealed the trip without thinking. Jaimie just nodded and added, "I figured that would happen. He comes all the way here to do some business and Cat is just siting there listening. There's no way she could let dad get out of taking them to the park, and she knew we are going to be busy with Sylvia and Johnny that we can't go with them. The little weasel wanted to do something and found the perfect thing to do." Iris and Rachel Sylvester looked at Jaimie with grins to which she countered, "I miss out on the trip but Sylvia comes first and I don't think she's going to be big enough to go on a long trip. Dad may get a nice van or motorhome to accommodate all of us but she's still going to be crying all night and pooping every few hours making things uncomfortable for everyone. I'd rather wait until she's bigger to take her anywhere. She'd be able to enjoy the trip and we'd have some more time sleeping then." The two just smiled brightly as the mother in Jaimie shone through while Valerie added, "You are doing a great thing for her. She won't be ready yet to see Little Sylvia, she is going to be distracted and trying hard to keep up with her work. Seeing Sylvia will only cause her to suffer depression, it's best that she takes her time and only see her when she's ready. She will see her, it's unavoidable." The two looked over at Sylvia who was shedding tears over them caring so much about her feelings to keep from enjoying a trip with family. Jaimie hugged her again, while Valerie gave Mitch a happy grin as he wisely kept quiet about everything. He knew what his parents were going to ensure that Sylvia was well fed, went to her appointments, and didn't overwork herself during the summer. Iris and Rachel asked about the rehearsal dinner that night, Valerie gave them a bored, "Same as the others. Knowing your cousins it'll be a bunch of baby pictures and attempts to make Courtney and Michael uncomfortable." The two groaned at that, it was what they always did at the dinners only this time they were actually fully involved in the fun. Iris asked if everything was set for the honeymoon. Valerie blushed but Jaimie explained, "They have a trip to Washington to meet with the President then spend some time with Uncle Walter. He's probably going to also be forced to visit the British embassy and eat with the ambassador. Other than that it's up to them so hopefully they go outside of the hotel suite for more than a meal." Iris and Rachel shook their heads at Valerie's dirty mind. Jaimie groaned and proclaimed, "You act like the two never had sex before. Geeze, you know most of us have. The only ones who haven't are Reed, Jessie, Eric, George, Jenna, Jessica, Will, and Claire. Even Thomas and Rebecca have done a few little things. Don't you dare tell Uncle Dan I told you that, but it's true. His angel is no angel." Iris and Rachel blushed deeply and tried to get away while Valerie demanded, "Just what have you two been doing with Sam and Reyna and how much time should I tell your mother you need to spend apart?" Both said a somber, "It was after the last dance, we didn't go straight home. Mom knows already, she told us to be careful and not to overdo things because Marcus might ask about it." Valerie grinned widely while Jaimie groaned at the two confessing to her what they hadn't wanted to tell her. Jaimie complained, "Do you have to get us to tell you everything? You knew already didn't you?" Valerie nodded, adding, "Leslie wanted me to make them squirm about it. She's fine with it. They are almost 17, they can enjoy their sex lives so long as they don't go overboard and end up in legal trouble for doing things in public." The girls still blushed deeply while Jaimie led them out of hearing range of the giggling Cat and Ella. Ella followed behind them, keeping close to Jaimie and listening to the girls talk about their mothers trying hard to trick them into telling everything about their sex lives. Ella listened quietly while they talked about their girlfriends making plans for the holiday away from everyone so they could finally give each other their greatest gift- sexual pleasure. The two noticed Ella who didn't say anything about it. Jaimie had them just act normally, she was not trying to be nosy and was more curious about sex than anything. It was better to just have her hear it from them than have her asking questions Valerie wasn't ready to answer. Ella just listened as Jaimie complained about her fiance Rick getting her lingerie that she didn't ask for while Rachel complained that Reyna was looking for some scented, edible lotions. Iris blushed as she told them, "Sam got me a vibrator. It's supposed to be realistic but it looked huge." Ella gasped as the ladies looked at her in shame. Jaimie sighed and explained, "It's no different than you having to use your dilator after your surgery, only they know how to make it feel nice. You wanted to be an older girl, well we talk about these things too. Are you done pretending or do we need to get into some more graphic detail that you might have nightmares over?" Ella thanked her for letting her hear and left blushing. Jaimie shook her head and when Ella was gone she asked, "What did they really get you?" Iris blushed deeply while Rachel gasped in shock, Jaimie grinned and added, "It figures, you told the truth. It does seem like something she'd get you though." Rachel sighed and grumbled, "Reyna got me Midol and tampons because she was sick of me forgetting mine at home. She then gave me a necklace with a raven on it, matching the crown I got her." Iris gave her a happy smile while Jaimie complained, "Next year it'll be matching engagement rings, watch." Downstairs, John asked Ella what the girls were talking about. Ella confessed, "Rachel got some kind of lotion that Reyna licks off and Iris got something she puts in her privates." John nearly choked on his soda while Valerie laughed at the girls treating her like she was a big girl that she thought she was. When he recovered John asked if it was true. Valerie just smirked while John shook his head over the two girls being so mature yet so immature with their two lovers. He loved them but sometimes they were the most immature among their group of 10 especially when it came to pranks. Valerie was texting Leslie Sylvester, their mother, and got the truth and snickered at the girls having fun and ensuring they weren't treated like kids anymore. They were mature enough to accept sex and what it entailed, they were also mature enough to keep their parents in stitches. Leslie had been preparing for when her daughters popped the question to Reyna and Sam, knowing it would be coming soon and knowing that they were the ones who were closest despite not having been together the longest. John calmed down after a bit and had Cat sitting in his lap for much of the afternoon as they killed time before the big rehearsal dinner. Cat was doing what she did best, when John would get anxious Cat was usually the one to calm him down as things calmed down around him. Cat was a daddy's girl, but she was also the one who knew best how to get into John's head and manipulate him to her needs. Logan and JD came looking for their father so they could get dressed up for the evening. John thought they'd fight him over it but it was something all of the boys were doing with JD actually initiating it as he saw his big brothers preparing their suits for the wedding. Logan wore what his father was wearing as per his unofficial tradition as he had picked up a lot of habits from John that made sense to him. John saw what Logan was wearing, a polo shirt and tan slacks, and shook his head; explaining, "You don't have to look like me. You are your own man, you don't have to always act like me to try to make me impressed." Logan countered with an upset, "I liked this and picked it out because it's nice." John hugged him tightly, quelling his tears and understanding his reasons. John sighed and offered a solemn, "I don't want you to think that you have to think that you are less of a son because you are new. You are my son and I love you no matter what you choose to wear and how you act." Logan hugged him and kissed his cheek, going off on his own to think while settling down. Valerie saw the outfit and hugged Logan, happy that he was doing his own thing as his friends were going to wear something different. Ironically Neil Jones and Junior Kelly were often dressed the same but in different colors while Ethan Smith wore similar clothes as Logan, but due to habit. He was his own man and just happened to closely match his father like the others matched theirs. Ella came down dressed in a blouse and skirt that matched Jaimie's outfit while Cat wore a dress that was similar to the one her best friend Willow Reagan was wearing. The girls purposely coordinated to give themselves some fun but also because Logan was feeling bad about matching John. JD was the only one to not match anyone, he wore whatever Valerie set out which was a pair of black slacks and blue sweatshirt. John drove over with the boys while Valerie delayed driving to take care of some last minute things. She had a big grin to which John muttered, "Better not be any of mine in there." She smiled and nodded but had no intention of embarrassing him again. It was all for Michael and Courtney's fun. John was forced to set up the tables for everyone and greet people as they arrived. Logan all but ran him over when Piper Stoner arrived, giving him the much needed affection and distraction while JD helped John with the centerpiece placements. Piper gave John a big kiss for letting them have time to themselves and not freaking out about her kissing his cheek, he blushed deeply which she blushed at. Justin Stoner came in with his nieces Aggy, Tabby, and Melinda while his wife Savannah carefully and slowly came in and was forced to sit down or else she would have helped John. Justin was adamant that she not do anything and had the girls keep her occupied, while he went off to keep Piper and Logan from being too friendly with one another. John shook his head, he was in full dad mode that evening. Logan and Piper sat at a private table and held hands with Logan putting his head on her shoulder. She asked why he was dressed like John, getting a meek, "I didn't mean to, I just found something I liked and put it on. I didn't know what dad was going to wear, I thought he'd wear a suit." She hugged him and let him calm down, kissing his cheek as he slumped in his chair. Justin had to hold off saying something, noticing how she was making him feel a lot better and calming him. John offered a solemn, "They can't stay kids forever, they are on the cusp of finding themselves. He likes her, she likes him, and they are making the boys and your nieces become more mature towards one another." Justin smirked and added, "It helps that he has someone who is just like him. I may not have known you but I can see he is you. She's either his Melanie or his Valerie. Either way, they are going to be close." Aggie, Tabby, and Melinda were fighting the urge to say something about their cousin and Logan but stopped when they saw Ethan Smith, Neil Jones, and Junior Kelly enter. The three were now all smiles and once the boys reached their table they were all hugs and kisses with the girls forgetting anything they were going to say to Piper. The boys didn't know what spurred their sudden affection and didn't care so long as the girls were giving them kisses and hugs. Justin shook his head in shame at the trio's sudden change to which John smiled and explained, "They are maturing just as fast as Piper but have a little more catching up to do. Be glad that they are being so close to them without the sexual pressure, I damn near had a heart attack earlier thanks to Iris and Rachel talking about it with Valerie and Jaimie. I really don't want to think about them that way." Justin let it go as the girls and boys had hands held and heads on shoulders as they sat together. Karen Smith, Sarah Jones, and Amanda Kelly had to fight saying something while Nigel Smith, William Kelly, and Mick Jones were fighting the urge to cheer at their sons' big step into manhood. John gave them a happy smile and pointed toward Logan and Piper who were even closer, with Logan embracing Piper in a hug and kissing her cheek as they sat alone. The kids were left alone when the older and younger kids entered. The three future Kings caught the attention of the girls and boys with Jordan getting dragged off by Piper and the girls while Jacob and Joshua were grabbed by the boys. Neither of the three had a chance to refuse as the eight were insistent. The girls tried hard to find the right thing to say to her but Piper was the boldest, asking, "Are you going to let your hair grow out?" Jordan blushed but the girls were eager to hear her answer. Jordan nodded, saying, "I don't want to cut my hair short again. I hate short hair, it itches and it doesn't look good." The girls giggled at that which was what Jordan hoped for. Piper looked up at her with anticipation, she was seeing Jordan as another big cousin but one who understood her more than the others. She heard from Ethan and Logan about her and understood what she was going through more than anyone else. Jordan was just happy that someone outside her circle of friends and her girlfriend had seen her as a girl and wanted to talk with her. She wasn't sure how she should react to the others but Piper was hard to refuse and see as anything other than a girl like her. They were both former foster kids, but she had the trouble of people trying to get at her while Jordan simply had a gender issue that was solved. Justin shook his head and smiled at his younger daughter unintentionally helping the anxious Jordan. He told Jordan's mother and father, Yvette and Ivan, that she was idolizing Jordan since she knew life like she had even if there were others who were former foster kids around. Yvette was happy to have the two getting along and the more she was around Jordan the more Piper made her relax. Joshua and Jacob fared better as the boys wanted someone to talk with who wouldn't make mention of the girls hanging off of them. It helped immensely that the two knew Ethan well and were told to just consider him as their cousin because Yvette and Karen were so close. The fact that Nichole Smith and Joshua were close enough to be joined at the hip at times helped a lot as well even if they wouldn't say. Joshua asked what they were doing after the wedding, getting Ethan and Neil to complain about them just playing video games all day while their sisters went off some place fun. The two were happy to do that, it was something they hadn't been able to do before. The two saw the look in the older boys' eyes and were left to feel bad but Junior added a happy, "You at least get to come over to play too!" Karen watched as the boys started to plot what they would do and where they'd go. She had to keep from laughing as the boys were deep in thought and going back and forth while Joshua and Jacob kept quiet. Karen happily told Yvette, "You had better have ear plugs for tomorrow morning, and expect the six boys to come by once word gets around that they have the newest system." Yvette gave her a happy grin while Ivan groaned at the implications. Karen nodded, telling him, "Did you really think he'd let them do without? I actually got the system and the twins got the games, but you know by now that John will not let anyone do without and they aren't the only ones to get them." She looked over at the talkative Piper who was going to get a gift from the family that she would be cherished for the next few years along with the traditional pendants all of the kids got to show they were part of the family. It was almost tradition that the kids got a laptop and iPad for school but it was also a sign that they were trusted to keep their grades up and mature to be able to get online and talk with their friends when they couldn't leave home. She had done without for so long that it was a sign that she was no longer the girl who couldn't afford new clothes nor decent food. The boys talked animatedly while the girls talked with the blushing Jordan. She had never had this kind of talk with girls before, they talked about stuff that she understood like TV and videos but it was also a lot of talk about boys and their intricacies. Since she had a unique perspective they were hanging on her every word as she talked about them. Being the only one with an old brother who cared about her it was tough to not respect her views. Both Tabby and Aggy had brothers but they ignored their sisters while Melinda's had been thrown out for assaulting his aunt when his cousins stayed over. The girls saw Jordan as a girl who understood them, the other girls were still distant but given that she was new to the family too Jordan shared the same understanding as them and could empathize. The girls were soon joined by Nichole then her other friends as the rest of the sixth graders arrived. Seeing Joshua with the boys she gave a happy smile to Jordan who shrugged her shoulders. Kylie Pena gave her a hug and kiss as the four fifth graders giggled at Jordan's blush. Off to the side, Kennedy and Willie Pena let out a sigh as their daughter had all but shown that the new girls were perfect fits with the girls and with their accepting of Jordan's relationship they were much more mature than their older brothers. It was tough to accept that their little girl was starting to become a woman but seeing her helping the younger girls accept life showed Kylie was growing up fast. She had found love with a young lady who needed love and had the younger girls seeing her as a person whom deserved to be cared about despite her differences and intricacies. Willie walked over to John to ask about the family's trip out west to the amusement park, with John telling them that he was going to take the short route due to four kids. Willie felt like it was too good of a trip to not enjoy the scenery so he opted to drive the 1,500 miles and if they timed it right they could stop in major cities to catch some of the sights across a couple of days. Kennedy gave him a glare but John heartily agreed, but added, "Don't take your car, rent one so you could join us on the flight back if you want to. It's a long drive, trust me when I say it's best to just drive one way and fly back." The kids sensed something was going on which none of them liked. Kylie snickered and explained, "We are going to visit the park Sylvia is going to work at. The owner invited Uncle John and he's paying for mom and dad to go. Dad wants to drive there but Uncle John is going to fly because it's too hard to drive all six of them to the park especially with Cat and JD." The kids looked at her in shock while Nichole added, "It figures, Uncle John is getting away so Jaimie and Rick and Michael and Courtney can get used to being parents without their help. I think he wants to get away from my nieces and nephews too. Hannah and Bryan have been getting cranky and are threatening to send their twins to him to watch especially with full diapers in retaliation for laughing at them." The others laughed as they knew it was true too. The kids barely noticed the next to arrive, Arthur, Charles, and Grace Evans, and the elder Smiths, Bradford and Ophelia. The five saw the kids and asked who the newcomers were, having not had the chance yet to meet any of them as they were busy with their own planned activities while the newcomers had kept close to their new parents and relatives. Arthur explained, "I think those are the new King and Stoner children. The others told me that they were just adopted." It was tough for Charles and Grace to see children like those whom they wanted to foster and adopt being happy with the other kids but it wasn't their fault that the two had troubles with social services. They saw the kids as being close and felt a jab of jealousy while also seeing Arthur smile at what was to come for the family in the near future. Their resolve was at a low but Arthur's smile and nod to them showed that he hadn't given up hope that he would be a brother to other kids even if it took a while. Off to the side, Mark Sylvester was typing away on his phone then sending off an angry email to the head of social services for the Evans' borough. He copied it to his boss Anne Connors who added her own email, one that explained exactly what they were doing wrong and why and that she would be in contact with their supervisors to have them explain why a family who was eligible, loving, and had a proper support network in place were ignored while multiple rotten families were allowed to host kids. Mark walked over and introduced himself to Charles and Grace and explained, "Your son had told a few people about what is going on with your family and I have asked my boss to look into things on your behalf. You would not accept our help but you need it. We have glowing reports about you and I have seen just how much Arthur has been acting like a proper big brother to kids especially ones in the age range that you were hoping to house. Anne will get her way and have the ears of people who can force a change, they have tangled with her before and lost badly so she is not one to be taken lightly." He had a shark-like smile that gave the couple cause to shudder but it was one meant for others. They saw his determination and were appreciative of the support even if they didn't expect anyone to do a thing about it. It was one thing to have people like the Smiths support you, it was another to have a few people from an entirely different country to do the same for them. Arthur looked at his parents' forlorn longing and shook his head. He was aware of what Mark was trying to do and why but he didn't think it would help much. The family was going to have to face them head-on and with their own supporters helping directly as they held the real power in the borough. The Smiths watched Mark work and had a big smile on their faces as Charles was in for a big treat if Mark was offering his support. Bradford had his own solicitor adding pressure and had him ready to file suit against the borough on behalf of the family to ensure that their names were cleared and the reason why was made public. Grace was his friend and he helped his friends in every way possible. Ophelia was deep in thought and smiled as she made a quick phone call to someone in the UK, a person who had the ear of the media and whom was ready to tear down those who needed a kick in the rear end. She was happy to help out and the story was one she had been seeking for a while. Charles and Grace were two people she admired for their unwavering support for Arthur's transition and were more than just victims in her eyes- they were targets for wrongdoing. Ophelia looked to her husband who nodded back to her. It was a full- frontal assault that would include a council questioning, a legal investigation, and a press inquiry. Social services were about to go face to face with people who were angry and not willing to back off no matter what was threatened by them. The next to arrive at the rehearsal dinner were Poppy and Dora Walker and Sienna Smith. As soon as they were spotted by the girls the couple were dragged over to where they were sitting while Dora was swept over to where the adults were congregating. Dora wasn't sure if she should be offended or happy that she was pushed away so easily, Nichole just gave her a big smile while the other girls looked up at her with a pleading look that showed they were trying to get some girl-time with the couple first. Dora was forced to walk over to where Karen was holed up and sat down next to her while Yvette offered a hearty, "The novelty of the couple will wear off as soon as their older cousins arrive." Dora nodded as she could understand the anxiety and boredom they were suffering from as the ladies were trying to be fashionably late. Karen added, "They are trying to let the kids settle down first, obviously they aren't going to until they get here especially with the six pregnant ladies getting their attention." Austin Woods arrived next with Sean and Danielle Kelly. Dora offered him a seat and tried to move off but Austin refused, Sean and he were setting up shop in their own area while the ladies sat close. It was their own way of having a "Guy's area" as they fully expected the grandparents to stay close while the "Kids" and grandchildren were in their own areas. It made sense to her and she understood why he was trying to keep a low profile after his own dramatic week. She may not have been involved n any of it but she understood the man's need to keep away from the rest. If it was up to her, she'd be at the hotel but her niece would never allow that. Karen offered Dora a drink and hug, knowing that she was feeling a bit out of place. Dora was only related to one person there, but Karen wouldn't let her back away especially not when she could use the comradery that only single mothers could know. Karen gave her a happy smile while adding, "You know that the kids will be telling everyone about your designs and trying to get you to open up an online shop so you can do more business. I think Gabby Bollinger will be giving you a good set of designs for your site for helping the girls achieve their dream dress designs." That was surprising to Dora but Karen added, "First it was Courtney's wedding dress then it was Jessie's prom dress. There's no way she would ever let you have someone else create the website. Think about it carefully, she would be happy to talk about it and knowing her she has sketches already created." It was a blessing for Dora as it had been talked about before by Sienna and Poppy. It would allow them to do some of their easiest business while allowing the hiring of someone to help put orders together. It would give another girl a chance to work while also allowing Dora more time for her design work. Karen gave her mother-in-law a nod which showed it was actually a joint idea that the savvy Ophelia had thought up but Karen got put into production. Gabby had been thinking up designs for the Walker Clothing and Designs business but Karen's suggestion sealed the deal. Everyone had a vested interest in the shop thriving with Ophelia's own monetary interest being one of several. Lilly Peterson was the next to arrive, bringing with her Ella, Faith Jones, and her own rambunctious daughter Daisy. It was a long day so far for Lilly but it was also something she had loved doing. She handed out Christmas bonuses to all employees of her family's company much to their excitement. Daisy made her way for her cousins but stopped short when she saw Poppy and Sienna there. She then made her way for the adults' area and gave John hugs, knowing he'd need them. She looked up at him with a big smile which he took to mean that she was expecting him to say something about her caring behavior but he played along and didn't give in to her. Daisy stayed on John's lap for a bit until she got bored and sought out the girls, giving both Poppy and Sienna hugs as they said hello to them. The girls didn't react to her, Nichole gave them a nod that she needed to do that for her own personal reasons. They understood, knowing it was a tough time due to the family business issues that they had seen on the news and heard about from Emma Peterson. Lilly sat down with John and relaxed while he offered her a caring, "You made a lot of people's week. It is one thing to say things are changing, you showed them that you are in charge and care about them as people. You did what Acme would never do, you gave back to the workers. When Acme is finally done with their shares next month I suggest offering a percentage to the employees as incentive for staying." Lilly offered him a deep hug, he understood her like nobody else did. He offered a solemn, "You are the sister that I wish I had growing up. I love Karen and Leslie but you are closer to me than they were and you understand me. I hope you can find love again, but it's impossible to replace Jerry." Valerie hugged her sister tightly so she didn't burst into tears while giving John a bright smile. She gave him a happy, "You do know that you did meet him before. Karen said you and he talked a few times when you were waiting for Hannah and Bryan at school. It was during a slow time at the factory so he was able to spend time with Claire and the boys but you did meet him." Lilly gasped at the memories while John just nodded, it was something that would have happened as they had interacted indirectly in the past before their kids became classmates. Lilly gave him a smile that melted John's heart, telling him happily, "You guys are the best brother and sister ever. You are a couple of angels, you know how to make someone's day by accident." John had to get up to hide his blush while Lilly gave Valerie a loving look. John barely made it outside before being stopped by the incoming eighth graders as well as a grumpy Sydney Stoner. She asked if they were late but got a smile and calm, "You are early. The ladies are purposely delaying things so everyone could be here together. Your cousins and sister are awaiting you." The girls walked inside but Al Samuels made a diversion for Austin. She gave him a big hug and kiss, causing the elderly man to become speechless as she said, "Hi grandpa." Austin wasn't used to anybody calling him that let alone his youngest grandchild, he still found it hard to believe that he had family. Al left him to his pondering while Sean offered him a hearty, "She's not one to beat around the bush, she knows you are her grandfather and is not going to let you say otherwise. Besides, she's a little vixen at times and wanted to stake her claim to you as her grandfather in front of everybody." Austin nodded in agreement, she was feisty and from what he could gather she was not one to take any sort of time to make up her mind about things. Danielle just smile and offered a happy, "Rick and Thomas are just has thrilled as she is but are too old to show their affection. Thankfully that girl is just young enough to still need affection but not too old to give it. She's her father's daughter." Austin's smile was interrupted by Walter and Lillian Gorman coming to the table to sit. Walter gave Austin a big grin while Lillian gave him a teasing, "The novelty of being called grandpa will wear off. I still have to poke Walter whenever he gets nostalgic about being called uncle by the kids." Austin nodded in agreement while Walter gave her a glare. Sean burst into laughter and asked, "Do you think it'll wear off in a week or will it last until he moves in with his son's family?" Lillian happily told him, "It'll be a month, the three will not let him get out of being grandpa until then." The next to arrive were the Reagans followed closely by Jorge and Victoria Castillo and the combined Porter and Vincent families. Jorge had the food while Louis Reagan had the drinks. Their wives carried the plates, cups, and cutlery which only caused the two to complain about them using them as pack mules. Tamara Reagan had to swiftly give Victoria a warning glare before she called them a couple of jackasses which would have been overheard by the throng of kids nearby. Louis looked over at Austin then Walter and casually asked, "How is it that you retire only to get a new job that pays better and comes with some nice perks?" Walter glared at him while Austin added, "You could have had that anytime you wanted, no need to be jealous that he was asked and you weren't." Walter had to hold off laughing but Tamara, Lillian, and Danielle lost it and laughed hard at him. Louis knew he was outsmarted and offered a toothy grin followed by swift, "Just make sure to always check your bed for snakes and rats. The folks down there are nothing like the ones up here, they take dirty politics to a new level and made it an art from." Walter agreed, adding, "You act as if I haven't been to the White House before. It's alright, maybe I'll get you a ticket or you can join Michael and Courtney when they speak with the President and President-Elect in a couple of days." Louis was about to counter but he knew he was beaten. He offered a humble, "The three of us- you, me, and Michael, would make that witch burst into flames at knowing we had met the most powerful person not named Finn." Austin laughed now, adding, "Hell there's a few of your old buddies who would have heart attacks if they knew Michael was Brent's grandson. You should do it just for fun!" The old buddies left it at that, letting the bad memories go for a night as they remembered good times with a man who died years before. They looked over at John and saw their old friend in the flesh but as a man who had done what Brent could never do- overcome his demons. He was what they had wanted their friend to become but he had never been able to, not after his heart was torn out and stomped on. There was a steady calm as the elders settled down while the Reagan kids enjoyed some playtime with the Finns. Little Bailey and Hunter Eliza were loving the affection from John and Dora while their big sister Trinity played with Cat and Ella. Trinity stayed away from the Stoners and the three future Kings as she didn't want them to do something in case they didn't like the fact that she was transgender even if everyone there didn't have a problem with her. Daisy, Faith, and Ella dragged her over to meet the new girls, who struggled to believe that she was not born with the same equipment that they have. Trinity wasn't sure if she should be upset or happy to which she was hugged by Melinda to stop her from crying. She,Tabby, and Aggy were starting to get used to girls like Trinity especially as they had to be around their cousin Sydney frequently and saw their aunt Savannah as being normal. The girls talked with Trinity, getting used to the energetic girl who was surprisingly bright and more like them than the other girls despite a three year age difference. Piper Stoner had to smile as Trinity was like another cousin to her, especially as she was from the same background in foster care and tragedy. The girls felt bad about Trinity's past but could see that she was just like Piper in that she was thriving with people who needed her in their life like Savannah needed Piper. Trinity revealed the truth about her mom since the others neglected to tell them, with the girls gasping at hearing it. They looked over at Katie Eliza and couldn't believe it especially when Trinity told them that her brother and sister were Katie's biological kids. The twins were quiet and stuck close to their moms while looking over at Trinity to see if she was still around, they looked a lot like Katie with their mother Alison's blond hair and blue eyes giving them a handsome look for nine month old kids. The twins wanted to walk around and forced Katie and Alison to take them around, stopping only to get kisses from their grandparents before going on to the other adults and kids. The two were the ones to get the celebration started as they were the center of attention from everyone especially the blushing Dora and John. They loved the attention from Dora, trying hard to win over her heart and calming her. They moved on to the Smiths and Evans family, giving them a taste of how difficult two kids can be especially ones so young. Charles and Grace Evans gave their son Arthur a loving smile as he rolled his eyes and complained, "Not for a decade, I love Isla but we are only 14!" The two nodded to one another and saw that he was serious about her continuing her life and studies but didn't close the door on the chance of fatherhood yet. Bradford and Ophelia Smith were grinning at the twins which only caused Alison Eliza to snicker at Bryan and Hannah Smith needing to take their future children over to England multiple times so their grandparents could spoil their soon to be four new great-grandchildren. Ophelia felt a pang of age as she realized she wasn't going to see the kids grow into adults and maybe produce the couple's great-great grandchildren before she passed on. Bradford knew what she was thinking and gave her a loving smile. She was fit as a horse but still she was getting up there in years and she would be in her 90s when the next generation was set to marry. She hoped to live long enough to see their weddings but it was a long ways off and there was always the chance that something might happen to them before then. Karen and Nigel Smith were most affected by the twins. They were going to be grandparents again, only this time to Karen's biological grandchildren while Nigel realized it was only a matter of time before his own son and daughter wed and had offspring, albeit Nichole Smith would adopt rather than have children biologically. Ethan Smith was going to likely marry in nine years time, it was simply unavoidable and if fate had anything to do with it then Ethan would be marrying the girl who had won over his heart and showed others he was a man- Melinda Stoner. The twins moved on to the Stoners and Kings, letting Ivan King get a taste of fatherhood the hard way as the twins grabbed onto him and wouldn't let go. Justin had to hold his tongue at the cute scene while their wives smiled brightly at him. Ivan was a toy to them, and he played the part well. The twins eventually grew tired of Ivan and sought out Savannah, giving her hugs and kisses and happy looks. Justin was stuck feeling weird but Savannah offered him a loving look as she knew what he was thinking. They may adopt a baby in the future, possibly one that was of her own creation as she had saved her semen at Justin's request, so it was possible through donor eggs and surrogacy. The twins were winding down and wanted to move on but stopped to give their sister hugs and kisses while the Stoner girls and the other boys and girls got to see them and meet them for the first time. The biggest impact they had was on Jordan, who was trying her hardest to keep aloof as she had never been around kids so young before. The twins caught on to her anxiety and gave her hugs and kisses and sat in her lap refusing to leave until she was calmed down and enjoyed herself. Jordan did calm down and saw the girls giving her a big smile while the twins finally gave in and were led away to sleep in their carriage. Jordan was hugged and kissed by Kylie as she gave her a smile and happy, "They knew you needed that. They are nice to everyone and want to make you happy so you play with them again. It's likely you will, you could use some playtime with them and Trinity." The kids didn't tease her as it was clear that she needed that bit of attention. Jordan liked it, it felt right and she did want to become a mother one day. She hoped that it was with Kylie but it was too early in their relationship to think of things like that and too far off to have a baby anyway. Hunter and Bailey were like their mother Alison, they had great empathy for others and could sense when you needed some affection and attention and when you needed to be left alone. They rarely gave their big sister that kind of attention as she was getting it from their parents and she had friends over a lot. The twins were also smart like their mother Katie so knew how to take advantage of a situation to either diffuse it or turn it to their advantage, which they had just done with Jordan. The twins fell asleep while more people entered. The Nelsons came in with Flora and Fiona Nelson hanging off their brother Scott's arms. Flora had kept close to him ever since he met them and showed that he was not going to let his new siblings get away from him, especially as he just got to meet them. Scott finally managed to get Flora to go with her friends while Fiona drifted over to where her friends were as well. She was a little down that her best friend and her girlfriend weren't there yet but the girls had a surprise for her. She turned to see Maisie Campbell dressed in a beautiful dress while Mia Flynn dressed in a loose skirt and blouse matching what Fiona was wearing, showing that their parents had planned that big reveal to both calm her anxiety and give her a little bit of ribbing from her friends. Scott grinned at the parents being so sneaky while keeping a close eye on Jacob nearly drooling over seeing Maisie's dress. He had to shake his head at the girls pulling that stunt on the two, it was going to be hard to get them to separate later with the way the girls were hanging off them. He did love that Fiona was almost another person around Maisie and Mia, she had found her two counterparts in them. Scott sat with Austin and the elders. None said a word about him sitting there as it was to be expected as he would give up his seat to the Johnsons when they came with Scott's friends and the two guests of honor. He was simply biding his time, not wanting to do anything lest he get roped in by the younger kids and endure an awkward talk with them about him not being around much lately. Scott's eyes were glued to the door and within minutes he saw who he wanted to see, Stacy Lopez and her parents and brothers. She made her way over to Scott and plopped into his lap causing the elders to grin while Scott blushed. The two got up to sit on their own while Stacy smirked to them, giving them a nod at him being kept calm until she got there. Austin shook his head at the girl having Scott wrapped around her finger like the younger girls. She was a great woman who knew what she wanted and that was Scott. The two were brilliant in their chosen fields of study and if they wanted they could be the next great Nobel and Pritzker Prize winners. Dan Lopez felt like he was losing his little girl as he watched the two together. His wife Melanie just hugged him and told him, "She's a grown woman who knows what she wants. Give it a few weeks, our little girl will announce her marriage to Scott. He isn't going to let her get away from him." He gave her a nasty look as she nodded. He suppressed his anger as he realized she was old enough to make her own choices and she chose to become a mother. The two were ready for a family, they had a lot of money saved up, had trust funds that would pay for a home, and all the support they would ever want from siblings, cousins, and parents. He looked over at Melanie who read his mind, adding, "She's not our little girl. She hasn't been for years but she is now stepping out into the world on her own. Rebecca will be joining her in 18 months, she is going a lot of places with Thomas going alongside her. It's their lives, we can only be there for them when they need our guidance. We still have DJ and Julio so you get to be daddy for another 14 years." Dan was saved from further dwelling as the Campbells arrived. Callum and Lucy Campbell kissed Maisie then went off to the side with the parents while Angus Campbell stayed on the periphery of the room, watching the kids talk with Maisie. Stacy seized him and brought him over to where the teens were all going to sit and kept him company while Scott kept a close eye on him. He still owed Angus a few hard tackles making Angus squirm under his gaze. Stacy kept him from getting too anxious by asking about his girlfriends, enjoying his squirm as Angus tried to figure out a way of saying he didn't have one without making himself look bad. She knew he didn't have one because of the four families that ruled his former hometown of Pullen Point sullying his good name with ladies and just wanted to see if he was going to be honest, she finally told him, "It's a shame, Reed was going to set you up with his teammate's sister. She's a great girl, she's a senior too." Angus listened closely while Stacy reeled him in. She had him itching for more information while Scott kept from laughing. She was being honest, she was looking for a boy who was different than the boys in Winnisimmet High and turned to Reed for help as he was a good judge of character. Reed Pena was off with his girlfriend at the time but Stacy's clearing of Angus would be enough to set up a blind date between the two. He was having trouble finding someone himself so Stacy doing that for him was a godsend. She was a greats judge of character and for her to approve of Angus went a long way towards the two getting together even if it wasn't entirely expected to last. She texted Reed who complained about her setting up a blind date for someone she barely knew. She just grinned and told him, "It's a double date. Either take Jessie with you to give him support or I'll have Rebecca go. Either way, he won't be going alone yet." Reed gave his approval, Rebecca would skin Angus alive if he got out of line while Jessie would never let him live it down and ensure Angus ran off to another state for safety. They may not know his date but they were going to protect her, just as they will do the same for Angus if she was out of line. Angus was told the news and accepted it in stride. She walked over to Callum and Lucy and told them that Angus had a date with a girl from her sister's school and when it would be occurring. The two looked at her in shock while Angus tried to hide his shame, showing it to be the truth. Angus thankfully was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of the bulk of the young adults including Rebecca and Reed. The throng of guys and girls in their teens and early 20s made for controlled chaos but they were calmly entering as they knew their parents were already there waiting for them. Sure enough as soon as they entered all eyes turned to them and they walked over to where they would sit without saying a word. The last to enter were the Bollingers along with Michael. The future bride and groom were the last to physically enter, with all eyes turning to them as everyone cheered at the happy couple causing them to blush at all of the attention. The two were escorted to their table in the front, with everyone gathered in enclaves around them so they could get the festivities over with. The actual wedding rehearsal was quick and painless as JD Finn led Marcus Sylvester down the aisle with the rings while Cat Finn helped Sophia Peterson spread flowers ahead of the bride. Cat mumbled a complaining, "Too old to be a flower girl," which JD shot back, "I'm too old to be the ring bearer" which got the others laughing at their little back and forth. They were right in complaining, they had done the whole bit multiple times before with previous weddings and only acted like they wanted to do it. The couple struggled to keep themselves together as the gravity of the two about to become husband and wife sank in. Michael was shaking while Courtney had tears constantly welling-up in her eyes. They were able to hold together for the rehearsal and sat down to a quiet meal together before the show started once everyone had their fill of Jorge Castillo's food. John looked over at Michael and saw the concern in his eyes as he knew someone would spring a joke on him. John was concerned that he'd get targeted too, he had been for Bryan and Hannah Smith's rehearsal as well as his sisters Karen and Leslie's own weddings. He was an easy target, but it still hurt. Hannah got up in front of everyone and acted as the de-facto emcee for the event. She told the kids that if they didn't want to hear a few swears to go take a nap which led to the youngest kids, Hunter, Bailey, Sophia and Antonio Peterson, Marcus, Brent Jones, Nigel Smith Jr. Billy Pena, Jack and Walter Bollinger, Jasmine Flynn, Louis York, Jose Reagan, and Benny Herman being put down for naps so the others could enjoy the fun without their acting up. Surprising to the newcomers, the kids listened to Hannah as she suggested they take a nap which was done more out of fear of her than respect. Hannah waited for their parents to return then started the little show, getting Jaimie, Jessica Nelson, Rick, and Claire Peterson to help with some of the commentary as they started the picture show. All of them gave her a glare but her smile showed it wasn't anything serious, only fun. The couple held back smiles as they saw themselves as babies and toddlers, with Michael trying hard to figure out who the others were. When the picture zoomed out he gasped as he saw Greta Nelson with her twin sister Tiffany Myers, Jessica's mother and aunt and Scott's biological mother. Jaimie shed a tear at the sight, Michael looked closer and she was the fourth kid in the picture- her. The four looked at Hannah who did it to show they were always close even if they weren't close yet. It was a sign that even from birth the four shared a common bond thanks to their parents. It was a sad thought that it took John's coming west for the real people inside to burst forth. Hannah showed more pictures of the kids as toddlers and young school kids. When they were about JD and Cat's age they were clearly three boys and a girl based on their clothes but Jaimie's long hair hinted at the girl inside of her that was trying to come out. It was painful for Jaimie to remember those dark days but seeing the pictures of her not even trying to be a girl yet looking like one gave her warmth that she was whom she always should have been 12 years later. The next pictures were of the kids in elementary school with the kids cleaning out Greta's attic. The odd thing was they didn't know that those pictures existed and what surprised them the most was their mothers had caught the image of Jaimie trying to kiss Scott but accidentally kissing Jessica followed by Jessica grabbing Michael and kissing him. It was both funny and sweet, the two looked at Courtney who was thinking about them maybe getting together had the families not come East years before. Hannah reserved commentary while Jaimie muttered a happy, "You just had to find those pictures. We joked about that before but we didn't know they took pictures." Jessica added, "He wasn't that good of a kisser anyway, Jaimie kissed better." That caused a big laugh as Michael blushed towards Courtney. Next up were pictures of them in sixth grade then straight on through high school. The oddest picture was the first day of school picture which Hannah had to stop and zoom in on then point out, "You two really took 'love at first sight' to a whole new level. She's checking out his butt without knowing it." Courtney blushed deeply while her friends gasped at the picture. Will Bollinger offered his usual joke, saying, "Are you sure she wasn't looking at me? I was right next to him." Courtney countered with a humiliating, "I'm blushing, not gagging. Sorry but he looked much better than you even back then." Will took his lumps while their friends laughed. Miles Finn and his fiance Christina Connors wisely kept silent as they were in the picture too and were looking at one another in the background. Neither were friends with the group at the time so it was awkward seeing their isolation back then. Hannah added fuel by saying, "She wasn't the only one doing that discrete staring, Check out Christina and Miles looking over one another in the background." Both blushed deeply while Courtney countered, "We knew they had the hots for one another long before any of us did, only you and Pete had the hots longer. Don't be jealous of their being just as close as you were with him." Hannah got the reaction she wanted, Courtney was taking it in stride and letting the others know that it was all of them back then even if they weren't together as friends yet. She moved on to later pictures and had the infamous kiss at Jessica's 13th birthday party that showed just how much Michael really appreciated Courtney after he begged for forgiveness for kissing Jessica. Jessica teased, "He wasn't as good as Eric" which Michael countered, "She wasn't as good as Courtney" getting laughs from everyone while their fiances gave them knowing smirks. Courtney knew her photos were coming up so Hannah proceeded to showcase them. Claire had to hold off tears as she saw her father with Courtney and her at Claire's birthday parties followed by him with Courtney's mother Gabby at their elementary school. It was tough to see the third grade pictures as Jerry Peterson would die several months later in an unfortunate car accident. Courtney held Claire and kissed her cheek calming her down then perked up as she saw the girls all together in fifth then sixth grade. The surprise were pictures of Rick and Courtney getting close while the others gave them space, with one showing him kissing her cheek. Rick cringed while Jaimie offered a smile to him over his old crush being shown for all to see. Rick nearly fainted when a picture of Courtney kissing Rick full on the lips outside school appeared, with Courtney telling him, "They dared me to do it!" Claire countered with a hearty, "We didn't think you would, Jenna still owes me $5 for getting you to do that." The girls turned to Jenna who gave Claire the money followed by a hearty, "Thank goodness she didn't go through on the dare to kiss Will." The girls lost it in laughter as Will all but shouted, "Why not?" Rick countered with a flat, "She has standards. She can't help but going for the prime meat instead of the hamburger." That caused the whole of the adults to laugh uncontrollably as Will had no way to counter that without getting himself into trouble with the girls and he had walked directly into that insult. He did the only thing he could think of, he stuck out his tongue while Claire kissed his cheek. He had to admit it was a great comeback, one of Rick's finest and one he'd have gone to himself. The pictures started to show the kids growing older with the younger boys practically drooling over the girls' bikini pictures. Hannah had done that just to set up the pictures of the boys following Courtney around at the summer jobs program then at the beach getting them to blush at being caught looking. The boys weren't leering too much so it wasn't that big of comeback, but it still stung them. The picture show started to wind down as they got to graduation and finally pictures of the couple in England with the pictures of Michael being knighted by the queen causing all to let out an, "Aw" as he was so stoic and determined while her majesty had a smile on her face. The last picture was of the first sonogram for their baby, followed by the one that said, "It's a boy!" The couple happily said, "John Patrick Finn" as they staked a claim to the name John for their first child. Patrick Peterson beamed with pride until Jessie Bollinger groaned and proclaimed, "He's not naming him after you, he's naming him after our grandpa." He smirked, he knew that already and just wanted her to say it so everyone knew the story. He would rather his namesake be his own child, it just didn't seem right to name the baby after his cousin instead of a closer family member. The girls hugged Courtney then Michael, with the couple then hugging their parents as they sat down to let things settle before everyone broke up for the evening. Michael was asked where they were going on their honeymoon, getting a meek, "We have to make a trip down to the White House then visit the UK embassy to see the ambassador. I wanted to spend some time down in New York as well. We have a suite overlooking Times Square so we can watch the ball drop from there." John nodded then told them to make out a plan and he'd make the arrangements. Courtney tried in vain to dissuade him but in true John fashion he was not hearing it especially as it was for his son and new daughter-in-law and it was his money. They gave in, it wasn't worth the fight and Michael wasn't about to let his father and wife have an argument over money. The youngest kids finally woke up and sought out their parents ending the evening's festivities. The full group of kids from the youngest infants to the third graders were eager to get home before Santa came, unaware that the teens had already taken care of things for them by putting out their presents while they were in the function hall. When they arrived home, the kids were in tears with the youngest hugging and kissing their parents over Santa knowing they'd be gone. The ones who were the most impacted were the Kings and Stoners. Jordan, Jacob, and their brother Joshua were in tears as they saw multiple gifts with their names on them while Piper couldn't believe that someone cared about her enough to buy her presents let alone hide them until she was gone. She didn't believe in Santa Claus anymore, but she did believe that her family loved her deeply and they showed it that night. The three Stoner cousins had gifts awaiting them at home as well, only theirs were less numerous as they had all of what Piper and the others were receiving already. Still, it was the thought that mattered to them and they saw several large packages with their names on them from people that they had barely known but who had taken a liking to them for what they were doing for the boys and Piper. Their gifts were heartfelt, they may have been simple laptops but the colors were striking and each different than the others making it personal to them. Over in the Finn home, JD and Cat were screaming at Santa visiting without them there. Logan and Ella were blase about it, they didn't really care about presents so long as they had their parents there. The two were happy to get what they wanted most, loving parents and a family who cared about them. Logan and Ella kissed their parents good night which prompted JD and Cat to do the same. Cat hugged John tightly, apologizing to him for being greedy. JD didn't have to say anything, his expression said it all and his parents knew he was feeling terrible about acting out in front of Ella and Logan. Across town, Courtney settled into her old bedroom for the night and endured her baby brother Walter's giggle at seeing the newly placed presents left out for him, his brother, and sisters. The 11-month-old had seen his mother's smile and knew it was a good thing even if he didn't know why. In his mind, it was a pile of fun that he wanted to get at quickly the next morning. Not to be outdone, Sophia went right for the presents and handed them off instead of trying to open them like Nigel Jr. was doing. She didn't care about the presents, she just wanted to hand things out. It caused all of the adults to give her a big smile as she was acting more like her grandfather Jerry than father David Peterson. Arthur Evans only saw the fake presents under the hotel's Christmas tree. He had what he wanted, a trip to see the people he cared about and a girlfriend who was going to call him at 7 AM Boston time. His parents were quiet as they thought about the kids who wouldn't be receiving a Christmas due to being in a foster home, it saddened them that they were missing out on something special because of bigotry. Julio Lopez struggled to calm himself when he saw the presents under the Lopez family's tree. It was an even split between him and his brother DJ but it was more than he ever had before. He was lucky to get one present, often just a cheap toy from the dollar store down the street and only bought as an after thought by his grandparents as their friends complained that he had nothing under his tree. Dan was hugged tightly by Julio who then hugged his mother. Rebecca had to stifle a laugh but it was tough to joke about her brother's reaction knowing he had nothing and had been given everything he ever wanted in the past year. Seeing the presents was the biggest gift yet, after his parents being given full custody of then adopting him as their own son. Flora and Fiona burst into tears as they saw their presents under the tree. They hugged their parents tightly then thanked Jessica and Scott for putting them out for them. It was actually their aunt and uncle who did it but the thought mattered more than facts especially as the same was done at the Jones home. Fiona kept hugging Scott, crying into his shoulder while Flora latched onto her father Quentin. The two had to be carried upstairs to their bedrooms to be put to sleep, only releasing their grips when they were put under their blankets. Both offered a somber, tearful, "You are the best parents" as they fell asleep. The next morning, the kids of Winnisimmet awoke to snow on the ground as a fast moving storm had dumped a solid 4 inches of snow. John and the dads had to work hard to clear their sidewalks and clear the snow from their cars. Their sons helped them out, especially the anxious Michael. Logan and JD kept close to John to ensure he didn't hurt himself shoveling. They took turns digging out the minivan while John reached the tough spots. It was a great father/son bonding moment as JD was now old enough to actually help and Logan was all too happy to help his father do anything. The work took most of the morning with the guys having to stop and drink cocoa and tea to warm up while the girls happily taunted them. The mothers were no better, giving them directions on what to do next and ensure that they cleared everything to their specifications. It was all a big game to them, but they were doing it because the three guys would have dwelt on the impending ceremony later on. The ones who had it best were the Kings. Ivan awoke to his driveway and street shoveled by Miles, Eric, and George. They also brought him another gift, telling him it was non-returnable and that if he didn't like it they'd get a better model that suited him. Yvette walked outside to the trio ripping off a tarp and showing the couple a used minivan, one that was good enough for the family to get around without Jordan, Jacob, and Joshua fighting over space in the rear. Yvette started to cry while Ivan complained, "He just can't stop spoiling his friends, can he?" All three gave a happy, "Nope!" Miles added, "You two are different than everyone else. Aunt Yvette has known dad and Aunts Leslie and Karen longer than anyone else and Uncle Ivan has had half of us as students. Well everyone who was in third grade here that is. You are family to dad even if you don't see us that way." The two knew not to argue about John's spoiling of them, it was a gift that they needed and saved them money. The kids looked out a the new minivan and asked about it, being told warmly, "It's a gift from John to us. Now you aren't going to be crammed into the backseat whenever we go somewhere. I'm sure you three will appreciate not being crunched especially as your friends come over." The trio walked back inside while the elder trio left for home. The kids went right at the presents and handed them off to one another while Yvette and Ivan observed. They were going to ask why they kept getting video games but held off as they didn't want to upset their new parents. The gift of iPhones, iPads, and laptops caused all three to nearly faint but the notes from John gave them all a sense that it was conditional and not to be taken lightly. They were going to have to continue to be on their best behaviors in school and at home and be good to their girlfriends if they wanted to retain their new gifts. Yvette added, "All of the kids have this same condition applied to them, even John's own kids. The only ones who don't are the ones who owned their own laptops and iPads before they came into the family." Finally Yvette handed them more presents that included a pink controller, a red controller, and a blue controller for a game system they didn't have. The trio looked that them funny but didn't say anything. They began to suspect something was going on but rationalized it as their girlfriends or the girls' boyfriends Steven Pierce and Dante Kelly having a game system that they would play at their houses. Finally after several presents filled with clothes including ones that Jordan blushed at receiving especially as they came from her brothers they opened the last present together. They gasped at what was inside: a brand new, top of the line X-Station game system. It made sense now, it was going to be used by all three of them as they now had their own controllers and games. Ivan added a firm, "It has other things like Netflix and Amazon, but you won't use those without our consent as they could lead you to watch some movies that aren't age appropriate." The three thanked them, tearfully hugging them and kissing them. It was the best present that they could have received, after Ivan and Yvette that is. They received a knock on the door followed by a quick talk with someone who rushed off before the kids could see. Yvette handed Ivan three envelopes which caused him to wince as he read them. The kids looked at them but didn't react, only waited for the two to speak about what was inside the letters. Yvette handed them to the kids then prepared for the inevitable screaming. They spent a while reading over the notices, trying hard to grasp what they said. After several minutes Jacob asked, "Is it true?" Yvette tearfully hugged them while Ivan stated, "You are now Jordan, Jacob, and Joshua King. You are our sons and daughter. Judge Perez didn't try to hold off, she wanted you to have a good Christmas. She ignored our request to let this be a normal adoption, she prefers to not beat around the bush with kids." The trio hugged their father and mother, crying into their shoulders as they no longer had to explain their different names nor what happened to their mothers. They had a loving mother and father. They were a family in full, they were the Kings through and through. Yvette immediately called Karen to tell her what happened. Karen nearly fainted while Nigel told her a happy, "She is a great person. She won't delay what is needed most to help a kid. She's going to be one of the best judges ever seen in this or any other state." Nichole asked what was going on so Karen explained, "Your aunt and uncle got a special present from Judge Perez." Nichole gasped while Ethan asked what she meant. Nichole blurted out, "The three got adopted! Aunt Yvette and Uncle Ivan are their mother and father in full!" Ethan shrugged then walked off. He didn't care about that, he knew that his sister was going to fuss over Joshua but it didn't matter. It was just a formality, they filed the paperwork two weeks before so it was just waiting around until they received a hearing date. Several blocks away at Jaimie and Rick's house, Sylvia was awakening to the couple making breakfast. She tried to help but was stopped by both, with the two insisting that she sit down and eat. She didn't have the heart nor the energy to fight them. Of all of the things that irked her about being pregnant, the lack of coffee to start her day was the biggest especially as she drank four cups a day on average with more drunk during midterms and finals. The two waited for Mitch to wake up but the smell of food caused him to hurry to the kitchen. The four ate in silence then cleared the table before going over to the living room to enjoy a rest before they had to leave for the wedding. Rick and Jaimie smirked as the two asked about the presents under the tree, with Rick shrugging and having Mitch reach under for them. Mitch looked at the names and gave them an odd look. Sylvia was in tears, it was the last thing she expected. When both opened them they gasped at the gifts, with Jaimie explaining, "It's tradition. All of us have them, it's a sign of friendship and that you are one of us now. And you are, the both of you." The two kissed each other then hugged Jaimie and Rick. The couple calmed down but cringed when Mitch's phone range. He sighed and told them, "It's my parents." Mitch got up to leave but Rick had him sit down. Mitch answered it, with his mother Mary happily saying, "I hope you two are enjoying your time together." Mitch cringed while Sylvia smiled and then explained, "We are, ma'am." Mary told her firmly, "Please, call me mom. If those two who raised you can't accept what happened to their daughter then they lose the right to be called that. Besides, it makes me happy to know that my little boy has met a wonderful girl who is making an honest man out of him." Jaimie asked if they had a laptop or tablet so they could Skype, getting a yes to which she told them to get on it so they could see one another in person. It was a special holiday, they should see their son face to face that day. Mitch reluctantly signed in and his parents gasped at the sight of Sylvia and Mitch. Mary was nearly in tears, Sylvia was beautiful and looked like the daughter she always wanted. Her husband Les had trouble trying to keep his eyes off of his future daughter-in-law, she was "the girl next door" in looks and personality. Mitch knew what they were thinking and tried to fight it but blurted out, "I can't believe she let me date her especially given she could have any guy on campus. She's just so beautiful and smart." Looking at Rick and Jaimie the Gibsons were pleased that Sylvia's child was going to be in good hands. They knew about Jaimie's past and were aware of Rick being someone that was the kind of man that they hoped Mitch would be friends with especially as he didn't run from responsibility. Rick didn't run away, he ran towards it by supporting Sylvia and agreeing to be the father to their child. Sylvia thanked them for letting her stay during the summer, getting a happy, "It wouldn't be right to not let you stay with us. Your boss is too nice of a person to refuse a request from her. You need our support and as much as he tries to think he is mature, Mitch could use time with us and you too." Sylvia and Mitch were relieved especially as the Gibsons told them that they were the talk of town. Mitch knew that Baylston was going to treat him like a king but how they reacted to Sylvia was another story. There were still a few hardliner zealots, an unwed mother who gave up her rape baby was going to cause more than a few to try to take down Mitch just for the brief bit of local fame. The Gibsons signed off with a hearty, "You two look great together" followed by a sympathetic, "And you two are two of the best people we have ever met. You will do a lot of good in this world. Thank you for being what our son needed to show him he was more man than he thought." Nearby, Austin and the Kellys awoke to the doorbell ringing wildly. Austin asked who the heck that was, getting a happy, "Benny. The little man is a bundle of energy but is well behaved most of the time. Just don't let him trick you into giving him sweets, he loves his candy." Benny Herman entered followed by his tired sister Francesca. She looked up at Danielle and Sean and offered a timid, "Sorry grandma, grandpa. He was told only ring it once." Sean gave her a nod to show it was alright while her father and mother entered with the gifts for them. Austin didn't have anything but he was fine with that, he was spending the holiday with his best friend and his family which was enough for him. Danielle wouldn't let him stay in his room no matter how much he wanted to avoid being a third wheel with the Kellys. The doorbell rang again and the Penas entered, with Kennedy hugging her uncle while Billy went for Benny as Kylie and Reed walked in looking upset at Billy's energy. Willie entered and complained that the boy was into the cookies and chocolate already but Danielle said it was just Christmas energy. It was true, the boy loved to receive presents and the holiday was his favorite of the year especially as it brought so much junk food and treats from his family. The last to arrive were Sean's son William and his wife Amanda and sons Junior and Dante. The kids didn't say anything until given the all clear from Sean, they were ready for Billy and Benny's energy but didn't want to deal with it if it was overwhelming the adults. Dante didn't let on that he was eager to dive into his presents, the boy had never had a real Christmas thanks to greedy foster parents who spent all the money received for fostering him on themselves making him another first timer. The kids started to open their presents while the adults looked on. Dante was slow in opening his which caused Austin to ask what was going on. Sean shook his head and admitted, "The boy never received any gifts before. Everything he got was taken away by his foster parents. He's a great young man but he is still in the honeymoon phase of being adopted by Amanda and William." Once the kids opened theirs the adults opened theirs with each being happy to receive the gifts while Austin stood back and enjoyed the sight. Sean grinned and told him they had to take a ride, which he knew to mean he was going to see his son Richard Samuels. Austin nodded, getting his coat and hat. At the Samuels home Al grabbed Austin and dragged him to living room and sat him down. Sean tried to give them privacy but Al's glare kept him planted in place. Austin enjoyed Al's enthusiasm especially towards getting her way with him and was in a state of happiness when she handed him a present, causing him to snap out of his euphoria. Austin opened the present and gasped in shock at what he received. Al grinned and nodded while Thomas Samuels told him, "Dad found that among the things that great-grandpa Ezra had hidden away. He tried to hide it but dad knew it was in there and found it for you." Austin shed a tear at the picture of his wife and him in front of the town clerk after they had gotten married. In their hands was a copy of their marriage license, one that showed that Richard was the legitimate grandchild of Ezra Heath and thus his mother was illegally locked away in a mental hospital. He needed a few minutes so Richard told the kids to give them space. Austin explained to him, "I know she's dead but we know he hid the reasons. The man had her killed when she threatened to topple him, he killed his only child to protect his house of cards. It's why he didn't go after you when you ran away, you are the one person who could destroy his life. He made a huge mistake, he should have been able to find out all about you but he was too lazy or arrogant to check. This should have ended years ago, but I am glad that the chance meeting of your son and the Finns changed our history." The two kept quiet for a while, there was nothing more to be said but plenty to be shared between them. Austin finally got up to go but Richard asked him to stay with the family, it was his home too if he wanted. He needed to think about it, he didn't want to abandon Sean and Danielle so suddenly. Across town Piper awoke to Sydney shaking her. The two started to cook breakfast for their parents then got dressed. When Savannah and Justin awoke they were met with the smells of eggs, pancakes, sausages, bacon, and coffee along with the girls trying to make tea from loose leaves. The couple sat down and dug in as soon as the girls finished cooking, knowing the girls wouldn't move an inch until they had eaten. They then started to eat and finished before their parents, getting hugs and kisses as they left. Savannah was happy to have gotten the meal, especially the tea which the girls went through a lot of trouble to make properly instead of opting for the teabags as Justin did sometimes. The kids did a great job and Piper made her especially happy with the tea. She took great care to steep the tea and found the right strainer for it, something Savannah struggled to do at times. It was one of her few addictions, she loved her tea and was proud of Piper for noticing it. They awaited Justin's sisters-in-law and their daughters and sons. It was going to be a tough fit but he hoped that the boys would be on their best behavior while the girls would be acting like ladies or they would not be allowed to attend the wedding. Piper just hoped her male cousins were nice to Sydney. Melinda, Melissa, Aggy, Tabby, Beatrice, and Naomi Stoner entered first with Beatrice and Naomi's sons, dubbed, "Moe, Larry, and Curly" by Aggy and Tabby much to their annoyance and their mothers' enjoyment, following behind them. The way they acted it was like the famous trio, only less comical. The boys stood while the girls dug into the pile of gifts. They looked up at Justin and Savannah in awe as they saw their new iPhones along with notes from John about the usage. The boys were jealous, but they were told that they had tried their hardest to keep away from their cousins while the girls had done everything possible to get to know them thus earned John's gifts to them. The boys were given official looking envelopes from Savannah and Justin. Inside was something that caused the three to ask, "You are joking" but Sydney countered, "They are serious. I gave it to all eight of you but dumb and dumber chose to hurt Aunt Beatrice and try to hurt Piper and me. Their shares went to the six of you, it's why it's an odd number." The girls opened their own and nearly cried at the amount given. It was roughly $1.333 million, a gift from Sydney to her cousins in the form of trust funds that were not to be touched until they turned 21, had a child, or married. Savannah explained, "It's your uncle Jackson's legacy to all of you. He left it to Sydney's mom on her behalf as he believed she was his daughter but she is giving it to you along with her own money because it should have been yours all along. You are millionaires, now act like it." The boys tried to think about what was going on but it was tough to do. Their little cousin had given them more money than they'd ever see in their lives on their own, the same cousin they shunned and tried to stay away from every time she was around their sisters. It was mind boggling to them. The boys needed a chance to let it sink in so Sydney handed packages to the four girls to open. Inside were necklaces with stylized "A", "M", "T", and, "P" pendants. Savannah handed Sydney her own "S" pendant then explained to the girls, "It's tradition from your boyfriends' family that close friends and family receive those. You aren't the only ones to get them, Fiona, Flora, Jordan, Joshua, Jacob, Arthur, Poppy, Sienna, Sylvia, Angus, Maisie, and Mitch received theirs today too." The spouting of names caused the boys to stare in disbelief but the girls' reaction was one of happiness. Savannah casually told the boys, "Before you think about going after them, all of them are taken. The only kids not dating or close to dating are the third graders and below." The boys gave a glare but she started spouting off names left and right and who they were dating and for how long. The boys were badly beaten before they could even start. Sydney did add a happy, "They are the top people in the high school, if you are good to the girls maybe their boyfriends' cousins will start to get girls to go your way so you aren't stuck all alone." They gave her an odd look to which Piper grumbled, "Logan Finn and I are close. His cousins got to school with you. You know Rebecca Lopez, Iris and Rachel Sylvester, Reed Pena, and Raul Porter." The trio cringed while Sydney added, "Dad kept out of what you are doing in school but they won't. If you want girls you have to start acting like gentlemen to Aunts Beatrice and Naomi. They aren't afraid to cut down any boys who aren't good to girls especially Piper and me." The line was drawn. The boys would either smarten up and act mature or never get a date in the city. It was taking all of their might but Naomi and Beatrice held themselves together until they couldn't hold back and hugged their sons who didn't fight back for once, the girls' impact was already taking affect. The boys walked home and quietly thought about their futures. It took everything to keep from yelling at the top of their lungs about being setup like that. They quietly pondered their fates as their mothers returned, with one silently slipping into his mother's room to confess that he was sorry to her. Beatrice calmly sat her son Julius down and hugged him, telling him affectionately, "You don't have to hide who you are anymore. They are gone from our lives. Your cousins are going to be handling things better now that they know what's on the line but you need to be honest with yourself." Julius cried, telling her, "I'm gay. I'm sorry mom. I'm gay. I can't help being that way, but I am." Beatrice hugged Julius tightly and explained, "I know, I saw it a long time ago. When your four cousins started to get larger you started to act differently. I caught the glances at them at the pool and the beach. You are gay, but you are still my son and I love you. Your sister will support you. If your cousins don't like it then it's them who will miss out on you. You have a future in biology, I know you will do well." The two left it alone while they prepared Christmas dinner. Their condo was chosen so it would be all 13 Stoners gathered together. It was smaller than the gatherings the were used to, but it was still family gathered together with the bad times behind them.