30 - Once Upon Another Time

[Meg]

Eight Years Later
March
"Tyler, you ready to go?" Grace called to her son as she carried her bag through the house. They were going away for the night for him to play his basketball game the following day in a town south.
"Yes, mum. I was ready half an hour ago." Tyler complained as he put his bag in the car, "Dad do we have to take her?" He asked playfully and Grace tapped his nose as she packed her bag.

Breanna looked on as her family got ready to go. She chose to stay, having Jacob stay with her the night. Grace had gone through with her earlier the lovely chat of the birds and the bees and it had embarrassed her senseless. Bree ran a hand through her hair. She'd finished another lot of chemo a year before it was nice to have most of her hair back again. People always said she looked exactly like her mother did.
-
Alek walked through the house, "Jake, come here and have a chat before I drop you over there okay?" He asked, leading Jacob into the office.
-
Meg watched from the sidelines as Zander scored another goal in the soccer game. She cheered and grinned brightly at her son who celebrated the winning goal. He was looking at going for his first international game later that month with the team. Riley and Lucy stood next to her, grinning brightly and cheering on their brother.
-
Josh looked over at Abby, "Hey Abby, you want me to take you to the stable tomorrow to go riding?" He asked and walked over to his daughter.
-
Kara stepped into the apartment with some groceries after working for most of the day. She looked around and tilted her head slightly, "Where have the children gone?" She asked lightly and pet Harley's head gently, "Do you know buddy?" She asked, forgetting they were at a friends birthday party that night.
-
Jeff wrote a few things down in his office before getting up and walking out of it, glancing around slightly. His new promotion at work saw him getting more busy and he was in line to take over the position of commanding officer within the next five years if Alex retired.
-
Ryan ran back into the house after going for a long run and wiped his face slightly and glanced at his reflection in the window grumbling slightly, "Getting too old." He muttered to himself.
-
Matt finished cleaning up their house and started on dinner. He had a lot of the week off after finishing a three month deployment in the med on the week before. His career had progressed quickly and he soon found himself away for most parts of the year.
-
Chloe looked at Liam and ruffled his hair from where he was playing on the x-box, "You ready for your game tomorrow?" She asked.
"Yes." Liam said still focusing on the game.
Chloe muttered slightly and walked back into the kitchen.

[April]

"'Fraid so pal," Dec said playfully and walked over to Bree, kissing her forehead gently.
-
"Oh man," Jacob muttered and put the bag down, following his father.
-
Alex watched his son from behind his family, he glanced around the area then then back at his son, putting a hand on Meg's back gently.
Belle watched her best friend and giggled, having been invited by Alex, she glanced at the family then back at Zander.
-
Abby looked up then nodded and smiled lightly, "please."
-
"They ran away with any luck," Ben said lightly as he stepped into the apartment, looking over at her.
-
"Where's dad?" Holly asked.
"Working," Rhiann said as she cooked.
Holly grumbled and sat on the sofa.
-
Roxy walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, "still sexy." She said playfully and kissed the back of his shoulder.
-
Conner ran through the apartment as Zoe let him in. Zoe grumbled lightly and closed the door, dumping her bag aside.
-
Harrison looked over as he leaned against the counter, "he come off that thing yet?"

[Meg]

Tyler grumbled slightly and grinned innocently at his mother before jumping into the car. Grace smiled and looked up at Breanna, offering a wave having already said her goodbyes.
Bree smiled, "I'll be fine dad." Breanna said, knowing the look on her fathers face.
-
Alek smiled and turned back after closing the door and holding out some condoms, "Jake, I know what tonight means for you and you should use these." He sad.
-
Meg grinned up at him, "He's doing so well." She said and stood next to him, kissing his cheek gently.
Zander waved to his family as he ran past to go back for the game debrief.
-
Josh smiled and kissed the top of her head gently before walking back into the kitchen.
-
Kara grinned, "A night of peace?" She said lightly.
-
Jeff walked in and looked around, "Honey, I'm home." He said playfully.
-
Ryan blinked and grinned, gently taking her hands.
-
Matt looked over and chuckled lightly.
-
Chloe shook her head, "Nope." She said lightly, "We need to get another TV somewhere so he can play away from where we have to watch it. I've seen enough war without looking at that crap." She complained. Two years earlier she had been sent back to the middle east where she performed an eight month deployment and it was a very difficult one.

[April]

"Hey, I'm allowed to worry," Dec said softly and took her hands.
-
Jacob blinked a few times, blushing brightly, "dad!"
-
Alex chuckled and nodded, glancing at Belle, "you alright?"
Belle smiled and nodded, "I'm fine Mr Brooks." She said politely
-
Abby turned back to the book in her hands, biting her lip as Katie wandered out her bedroom, bickering with Chase.
-
"Yup," Ben said lightly and walked over.
-
"I think I reconise that voice," Rhiann said lightly and looked over.
-
Roxy giggled and kissed his shoulder a few times playfully, "hey you." She said lightly.
-
Zoe smiled and walked over to him, kissing his cheek gently.
-
Harrison chuckled, "I'll see what we can do." He said and pulled her into a hug gently.

[Meg]

Breanna smiled, "Dad, I'll be fine and I'm only a phone call away." She said lightly and hugged her father, "I love you."
-
Alek smiled, "Jake, it's fine. Just...be safe." He said.
-
Meg smiled at Belle and watched as Zander ran back over to them.
-
Josh sighed softly and looked over at them.
-
Kara grinned, "Cool." She said lightly.
-
Jeff grinned and walked over, kissing her quickly.
-
Ryan turned in her arms and grinned, "Hi."
-
Matt smiled and touched her cheek.
-
Chloe smiled softly and kissed his shoulder a few times.

[April]

Dec hugged her gently, "I love you too honey. Be good."
-
Jacob grumbled, awkwardly taking the condoms and shoving them into his back pocket.
-
Belle watched her best friend and smiled.
Alex grinned and watched Zander.
-
"Shut up, both of you."
"Not my fault he's being a brat," Katie complained.
April looked up from her paperwork, "Katie." She warned.
-
Ben grinned and kissed her quickly.
-
Rhiann smiled, "have fun at work?" She asked lightly.
-
Roxy grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck gently, "you're all sweaty." She complained lightly.
-
Zoe grinned brightly at him.
-
Harrison smiled and rubbed her back gently, glancing out at Liam.

[Meg]

Breanna smiled, "I will." She said softly and looked at him, "Go on. You'll be late." She said lightly.
-
Alek smiled and ruffled his hair before heading out, "Come on, I'll drop you off."
-
Zander grinned and walked up to Belle, giving her a quick hug.
Meg pouted, "I remember the day I used to get hugs." She complained lightly to Alex.
-
Josh walked over and kissed the top of April's head quickly before looking at his kids, "What's up?"
-
Kara grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck gently.
-
Jeff smiled, "Something like that."
-
Ryan grinned, "That's so I keep my sexy body for you." He said playfully.
-
Matt grinned and hugged her gently, "Dinner will be ready in an hour." He said softly.
-
Liam looked over and made a face lightly.
Chloe smiled softly

[April]

Dec looked at her for a moment then kissed her forehead again then walked back to the car, getting in.
-
Jacob followed, "thanks dad."
-
Belle giggled and hugged him, "you were awesome." She said lightly.
Alex grinned and patted her head, "been rejected now."
-
"Katie's just being a bitch."
"Don't talk about your sister like that," April complained and looked up.
Abby looked back at her siblings then got up and took her books into her room silently.
-
Ben wrapped his arms around her waist gently.
-
Rhiann smiled and touched his cheek gently.
-
Roxy grinned, "I do appreciate it, honey." She said playfully.
-
Zoe nodded as she hugged him, "okay." She said softly.
-
Harrison rolled his eyes lightly and held Chloe gently, still unable to believe he held a marriage for so long and was still so happy in it.

[Meg]

Grace smiled and leaned over, kissing his cheek quickly, "Long enough goodbye?" She teased lightly.
Breanna smiled and waved goodbye before stepping back inside.
-
Alek smiled softly and walked down to the car, getting in.
-
Zander grinned and pulled back after a moment, "Thanks for coming, Belle. It means a lot." He said softly.
Meg pouted and then grinned at Riley and Lucy, "Still have these two." She said and kissed the top of their heads.
Riley pouted "Mom."
-
"Both of you need to watch your language or you wont be going out for a week."
-
Kara grinned and touched his cheek gently.
-
Jeff smiled and kissed her forehead gently.
-
Ryan grinned, "In bed."
-
Matt smiled softly and rubbed her back gently.
-
Chloe smiled and rested her head against his chest gently, rubbing his back.

[April]

"What?" Dec pouted playfully, "I don't like leaving my baby girl behind."
-
Jacob waved to his mother and got into the car.
-
Belle smiled, "anything for you." She said playfully.
Alex chuckled and ruffled Riley's hair playfully.
-
April sighed and rubbed her forehead, "can't you two be quiet?"
Chase shrugged and walked into the kitchen.
-
Ben grinned and kissed her gently.
-
"Ew," Holly complained lightly as she passed them, getting a drink of water.
-
"Or where ever else I can get it," Roxy said playfully.
-
Zoe snuggled into him lightly.
"I'm hungry," Connor complained as he walked through the kitchen.
-
Harrison smiled and kissed the top of her head gently.

[Meg]

Grace smiled, "She'll be fine, Dec." She said softly. She too was amazed at her daughters efforts. She'd beaten the cancer once again and though she always needed to take medication at the moment hopes were once again rising.
-
Alek smiled and drove over to the house, "You know what you're doing, right Jake?" He asked and glanced at his son.
-
Josh sat down next to her and took her hand gently.
-
Kara returned the kiss gently.
-
Jeff grinned lightly at her.
-
Ryan kissed her a few times quickly.
-
Matt smiled, "Here." He said, handing Connor some chips, "Dinner will be ready in an hour."
-
Chloe smiled up at him, "I love you."

[April]

Dec nodded slightly as he started to drive, "I know." He said softly.
-
"Yes dad," Jacob complained and looked out the window.
-
"Who's idea was it to have kids again?" April complained softly.
-
Ben touched her cheek gently.
-
Rhiann giggled and looked at Holly, "shouldn't you be working?"
"I'm taking a break," Holly complained. "Gosh."
-
Roxy giggled and touched his cheek gently.
-
Connor smiled and wandered out, "thanks dad."
Zoe smiled and shook her head lightly.
-
"I love you too," Harrison said softly.

[Meg]

Bree waited on the sofa flicking through a few channels.
-
Alek smiled and pulled up, "Make sure she takes her medication." He said softly, knowing Bree still wasn't well.
-
Josh grinned, "Yours."
-
Zander walked over to his parents after a while.
"We're going to go out and have pizza now." Meg said softly.
Zander smiled, "Okay. Can Belle come?"
Meg nodded softly.
-
Jeff grinned lightly, "It's a Friday night, Holly. Don't you have some bar to go bring to its knees?" He said lightly.
-
Ryan smiled softly and looked inside, "Jessica home yet?"
-
Matt smiled softly and kissed her forehead.
-
Chloe smiled and kissed him quickly.
Liam looked over, "When's Sophie coming to visit again?"

[April]

"Yes dad," Jacob complained and got out the car. "Thanks. See you later."
-
April grumbled, "you should have said no."
-
"I don't want to intrude," Belle said, biting her lip.
-
Holly nodded innocently, "yeah." She said, "getting picked up soon. Just wanted to finish some work off before I went."
-
"Sulking in her room," Roxy said lightly.
-
"I still can't believe we had him," Zoe said softly.
-
"I don't know," Harrison said and glanced over. "You're always free to call her and ask her over. Or you can go to her if you want."

[Meg]

Breanna looked around the empty house for a few moments and bit her lip slightly.
Alek shook his head and drove home again.
-
Josh pouted lightly.
-
Meg smiled, "It's fine, Belle. We're more the happy to have you with us."
Zander grinned and took her hand gently, "It'll be fun."
-
Jeff grinned, "Be safe." He said lightly.
-
Ryan bit his lip, "Why now?"
-
Matt grinned, "Me too."
-
Liam shrugged lightly and walked into his room.
Chloe sighed, "Teenagers."