[a few hours later]
        "HA! I can't believe we actually kicked your ass!" Sarah laughed, collapsing onto the couch. Six boys trudged in after her, their heads hanging.
        "YEAH, bay-bee!" Cathy jumped onto the couch, dragging Howie down with her.
        "Chin was right on target!" Hannah chuckled as she fell into the couch, next to Jenny. Lance sat on the arm of the couch and Hannah rested her head in his lap.
        "I know... I know... I'm good," Chin grinned as she patted Kevin's back.
        "Maybe next time," Jenny innocently pouted at them. The guys glared at her.
        "What were you right about?" Nick asked, eyebrows knitted in confusion.
        "That you guys wouldn't lay a finger on us..." Julie sang as she bypassed by Nick and headed for the couch.
        "Who knew you girls were actually aiming to knock the air out from us?" AJ grumbled
        "Is li'l AJ in pain?" Chin cooed. He pretended to ignore her and made exaggerated motions of pain as he settled down on the floor.
        "Well, I certainly didn't think you girls had that much in you..." Brian settled down next to Jenny. She leaned back and rested herself on him. Nick raised his eyebrows when he saw Brian and Jenny being friendly, but shrugged it off when he saw a small smile creep onto his buddy's face.
        "I know! Jenny and Chin took you OUT!" AJ laughed. He had been sitting on the floor next to Chin and Howie. Chin rolled her eyes.
        "Yea, good job yourself. Weakling Julie tackled you and in the blink of an eye... you were down and out COLD," she said, rubbing it in. AJ pouted and sprawled out on the floor. Howie grinned at the two as he leaned back, Cathy falling asleep in his lap.
        "Well... I am proud to say I tackled all of you," Hannah grinned.
        "Yeah, even ME!" Sarah pointed out. Everyone laughed and Hannah blushed.
        "Sorry about that..."
        "So when you girls gonna start cooking?" Nick tried.
        "HA!" Jenny snorted. "Fat chance of us forgetting that deal, buddy."
        "Can't you at least help us?" Kevin pleaded sweetly.
        "We will help you taste the food," Chin declared. The girls snickered.
        "Aw, poor boys..." Julie sympathized.
        "Well can you at least take care of the turkey?" Brian asked. The girls glanced at each other. They had forgotten that Sarah was the only one who really knew what to do with the bird.
        "Fine..." Sarah sighed.
        "Like I said before... I'll help..." Hannah spoke up. Suddenly they could hear yelling upstairs. Zach. Chin sighed.
        "I'll get him..." She ran up the stairs before Zach could wake up his younger siblings.
        "Well... even if things are going to go as originally planned..." Julie began.
        "We have the pleasure of knowing we can kick your asses in football!" Cathy yelled and ran off as six boys chased her around the bottom floor of the house.
        "Do you guys need to be tackled again?!" Jenny threatened.
        "Is that a promise?" Brian leaned in as he had just ran back into the room, "Or a threat?" he smiled. Jenny squinted at Brian.
        "What do you think?" she replied, a smile playing at her lips.
        "Jenny!" Cathy zoomed by and grabbed her to take her along...but Jenny was never one to run. She stopped dead in her tracks when Cathy let her go and tackled the next boy she saw...Nick. Sarah cracked up from the sight of little Jenny on top of Nick.
        "Something funny?" Kevin had stopped chasing Cathy and was looming over Sarah.
        "No... Nothing at all..." Sarah sat still for a second, glancing around for a good escape route. Then just as Kevin reached out to grab her, she shot out from the couch and took off after Cathy. Suddenly, Kevin was pinned to the ground.
        "Trying to start something, Richardson?" Julie growled.
        "Hey!" Howie pried Julie off of his band-mate. Kevin got up and heard some giggling. Chin was at the bottom of the stairs, a twinkle in her eye.
        "Zach?" she said to the two-year-old who popped up at his name. "I think Kevin needs a little lesson for trying to hurt poor Sarah..." she said in a singsong voice. Kevin backed up and ran into the couch. Zach jumped out further into view; his legs spread apart, knees slightly bent, and his hands out, ready for anything.
        "Kevin..." the little voice said, "No hurt Sarie..." Before Kevin knew it, there was a little boy clinging onto his body, trying to tackle him. Chin walked up with an innocent smile.
        "Kevin, be a good guy. Let the two-year-old win!" she exclaimed and lightly pushed Kevin backwards onto the couch. Sarah stood nearby laughing.
        "See this Kevy Kev? This is funny!" Sarah explained, answering his previous question.  Everyone in the house had stopped what they had been doing and were watching Kevin and Zach now. Brian was howling. Nick and Jenny in fits of laughter. Howie busy capturing the moment with Kevin's always-present camcorder.
        Everyone just plain old happy... but how long would it stay like that?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[Thanksgiving morning]
        "C'mon, Lily, you KNOW you like bubble baths, right?" Nick struggled with the little baby girl. Why had he been assigned to take care of her? He could cook; the others just wouldn't let him...Lily splashed him, not wanting to be put in the water. Why did HE have to give her a bath?
        Nick sighed and finally placed the squirmy youngster in the tub, his eye darting around to bathroom, looking for something to distract her. His eyes fell on her bag that he had taken in with them because it held her clothes...something yellow was sticking out of one of the pockets. A light bulb went off in Nick's head as he grabbed for it.
        Brian walked towards the guest-bathroom door with Ethan in his arms, ready to give the little boy his bath. He placed his free hand on the handle to open it, but stopped when he heard Nick singing. Brian looked at Ethan and raised an eyebrow. The little boy stared back at him with a clueless expression. Brian shrugged and smiled before opening the door as quietly as possible.
        Nick's back was to them, and Brian could see a grinning little baby girl in the bathtub. Nick's head was actually bobbing to the tune that was playing in his mind. Brian cracked a smile. Where was a camera when he needed it?
        "Rubber Ducky, you're the one... You make bath time lots of fun... Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you." Nick picked up the yellow duck and  gave it a little squeeze. Lily gave a happy squeal at the noise it made.
        "Who woh, bee doh," Brian sang. Nick whirled around.
        "Man, you scared me half to death!"
        Brian smiled and continued the song. "Rubber ducky, joy of joys... When I squeeze you, you make noise."
        Nick squeezed the toy on cue. Squeak, squeak. "Rubber Ducky, you're my very best friend, it's true," he sang.
        "Every day when...I make my way to the tubby--" Brian continued, walking Ethan towards the bathtub.
        "I find a little fella who's...cute and yellow and chubby--"  Nick smiled.
        "...Rub-a-dub-a-dubby!" Brian placed Ethan in the tub beside his sister.
        "Rubber Ducky, you're so fine...and I'm lucky that you're mine--" Both men whirled around as Lance entered, singing in his low voice. They looked at him. "What? I can't sing a kids' song too? Hannah kicked me out of the kitchen, I thought I'd help bathe the munchkins," he smiled.       
        "Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you," Nick crooned, dropping the yellow toy in between the twins. They giggled with happiness from the splash it made. Brian leaned over and grabbed the duck, making it zoom past the kids' heads, squeezing it as it went along. By now, all three men were leaning beside the tub, singing to the twins.
        "Every day when I...make my way to the tubby--" Lance grinned
        "I find a little fella who's...cute and yellow and chubby--" Nick splashed some water
        "Rub-a-dub-a-dubby!" Brian made a goofy face for the twins.
        "Rubber Ducky, you're so fine," Nick sang, reaching for the toy, "...and I'm lucky that you're mine." Squeak, squeak.
        Time for the grand finale. All three sang together, making a harmony. "Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of...Rubber Ducky, I'd like a whole pond of...Rubby Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you!...doo-doo, bee-do!"
        The three threw their hands up in the air. The twins clapped and giggled. A flash went off. 
        "HANNAH!!" all three turned and shouted as they saw her standing in the doorway with her camera.

[noon]
        "I'm so sick of food. How can everyone be eating?" Sarah sighed, talking to herself, swinging in the hammock.
        "We're growing boys," she heard a chuckle behind her.
        "Hey, Kev."
        "Hey." He pulled up a lawn chair and sat down across from her, a plate of food in his hands. This was perfect...everyone else was busy. He could finally talk to her--
        "Ew." She made a face and looked at the food.
        "What?" he grinned, shoving a forkful into his mouth. "Not hungry?" he munched, "After all that work?"
         Sarah rolled her eyes. "If your stomach's full for Thanksgiving dinner because of your massive lunch, don't blame anyone but yourself, my dear."
        "It'll be fine, don’t worry." Kevin's voice turned a bit serious, noting that Sarah was afraid of what the next few hours held. Would everyone be able to get along for the rest of the day? What about the rest of the week?
        "I hope so. I mean, everyone working together, peacefully, so far...that's a good sign, right?" she weakly smiled.
        "Yeah," he assured her. He took a deep breath and let silence settle for awhile. Sarah was looking out across the pool, watching the three dogs sleeping on the edge of the backyard. Kevin was fiddling with his food. He needed to talk to her. "Sarah--" he began, but was interrupted by Cathy bursting through the doors.
        "Sarah! Where's the turkey!?" she screamed. Sarah closed her eyes and pointed towards the grill that was covered, sitting on the side of the lawn, smoke slowly wafting from it. "Oh...ok. Sorry. Hannah scared me when she mentioned something about not having seen it yet..." Cathy retreated back inside.
        "Where was I?" Kevin laughed. Sarah shrugged. "Well--" AJ burst through the doors.
        "Sarah, tell me you guys are NOT out of butter." A spoon was in one hand, a potato-masher in the other, and he was wearing an apron.
        "I think you'd better change your glasses, Age," Kevin chuckled. "...they don’t really match your--"
        "Kevin, hush," Sarah warned him, seeing AJ throw a menacing glance towards the older man. "AJ, look in the fridge in the garage. There's extra milk in there, too."
        "Thanks." AJ disappeared back into the house.
        "So--" Kevin tried to salvage the conversation. But before the doors could even close, Howie popped outside.
        "We've run out of canned pumpkin," he stated. Sarah shook her head. "And Julie mentioned she's not the only one who'd like pumpkin pie AND pumpkin bread."
        "All the extra canned food is in the cupboards in the garage," Sarah informed him. He nodded and left. Kevin smiled.
        "Is everything in your garage?"
        "Not everything...just a lot of stuff. Less clutter in the house," Sarah shrugged. Before Kevin could open his mouth again, Jenny showed up.
        "AJ left the potatoes to boil for too long. The freak disappeared for butter and forgot to tell me. Please tell me we have some more."
        Sarah nodded. Kevin answered for her. "Garage." Jenny gave a thumbs-up and left.
        "Good call, Richardson," she grinned at him. Kevin beamed.
       "Anyway--"
        "Turkey's gotta be checked," Sarah stated, getting up, interrupting Kevin. "Don't you have some stuffing to work on?" She raised an eyebrow at him as she headed towards the grill. Kevin sighed.
        "Yeah...we're not gonna talk, are we?"
        "Sorry to burst your bubble...if you really want to talk--though I'm not sure what about--we can later, okay?" Sarah assured him, her back to him.
        "Ok," he replied, getting up to go inside. Would he ever be able to tell her?
        Little did he know that "later" wouldn't be for almost a year...

[afternoon]
        "Zachary! Put that down! ZACHARY!!!" Chin yelled as she ran after the two-year-old who was holding her picture frame. "ZACHARY! PLEASE!"
Both zoomed around the house until AJ swooped in and grabbed the little boy.
        "Whatcha got there, huh, little man?" he grinned and tickled Zach. The little boy gave in and handed over the frame. AJ put him down and the youngster zoomed off in a random direction. AJ studied the picture in his hands. His finger traced over the faces in memory...
        "Now I know why they call it 'the terrible two's'," Chin sighed in exhaustion, looking after the little boy as he scampered away, ready to wreak havoc in the living room where Jenny had taken a break from the food and was sitting quietly, reading a book. "I think it's Jen's turn to deal with him...I dunno how Marie handles--" Chin stopped speaking as she turned around and saw AJ still holding the picture. She had almost forgotten about it.
        AJ looked up and met Chin's eyes. How had Zach gotten this picture? It was one of the 1st ones taken of them as a couple. Both were asleep, cuddled up on one of the couches in the house, complete with both Sprite and Coke sitting on them. Hannah had taken it with black and white film, and Sarah had framed it for Chin's 21st birthday.
        "You wanted this," he spoke softly and averted his eyes as he handed it to her.
        "Thanks," she almost whispered. She held it to her chest with both of her arms. One hand fiddled with her necklace as an awkward silence settled between them.
        "AJ! CHIN! ZACH HAS MY BOOK!!!!!" Jenny screamed. Chin and AJ snapped out of the moment as a blur of Zach whipped by them. A second later, Jenny passed, screaming empty threats and bribes at the little boy.

[that night]
        "That was one of the best Thanksgiving meals I have ever had...if I do say so myself," Lance stated, patting his stomach as he settled down a couch with Hannah. The babies had just been put to sleep and everyone was congregating in the family room--Julie had stayed upstairs to read Zach a bedtime story.
        "Much agreed." Howie smiled.
        “An’ we didn’t burn a THING,” Brian noted, proudly.
        “The house is still standing. Do you girls have anything to say to us?” AJ questioned.
        “Um...You still have to clean up the kitchen, my dears,” Sarah laughed. The six beaming faces slowly faded.
        “Guys! Stop pouting! We’re VERY proud of all of you for pulling it off,” Chin reassured them.
        “Yeah...and boys, those mashed potatoes...Mmmm!” Jenny laughed.
        “The pumpkin pie...superb,” Cathy winked.
        “Did we mention the stuffing yet? I mean, wow,” Hannah added with a smile.
        “But it wouldn’t have been a meal with out Sarah’s wonderfully smoked turkey,” Kevin pointed out. Sarah grinned and looked at her feet.
        “Ok, I think we’re done with all these compliments...anyone up for a nice cozy evening movie?” Brian suggested.
        There was a brief discussion to decide on which movie to watch, but it was interrupted by Nick.
        "What was that?" he asked.
        "What?" Cathy asked, snuggling into Howie's arms.
        "I just saw something brown whiz by in front of the doorway..."
        "You’re seeing things, man," Brian laughed.
        "Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please," Julie walked into the room.
        "Wha?" a sleepy AJ looked up from his sprawled out position on the couch.
        "Presenting... our Thanksgiving Mascot." She stepped aside to reveal Zach in a small little turkey costume.
        "AH!" Brian yelled, "The turkey ate Zach!"
        The turkey giggled.
        "That's what I saw!" Nick jumped up.
        "That is a pretty cute turkey..." Hannah smiled to Zach who bowed at her words.
        "A pretty yummy looking turkey..." Brian smiled devilishly.
        "I hope we have stuffing leftover..." Nick added edging closer to Zach.
        "Guys, wait--you thinking what I'm thinking?" Jenny asked with an evil smile.
        Nick and Brian both turned to the turkey at once.
        The turkey paled.
        "I think we should get the turkey and tickle it because it ate our little Zach!" Brian announced.
        "Exactly what I was thinking!" Nick grinned evilly.
        "AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! No! Nicky, B-Rok! It's me, Zach!" The little turkey wobbled off with Nick and Brian at his heels.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[Saturday]
        "Where's Lily?" Brian yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
        "You know what, Brian?" Sarah yelled from her room.
        "What?"
        "You need to work on your searching skills!" Nick interrupted.
        "Nick! Shut up!" Brian frowned.
        "Actually... I was going to say that..." Sarah laughed. Brian threw up his hands in frustration and turned to head for the kitchen.
        "Why do I bother..." he muttered. His eyes caught sight of a familiar figure.
        Jenny.
        She was sitting outside on the hammock, her back to the house.
        How long had she been sitting there?
        "Jenny?" Brian asked softly as he opened the back door. Her body was still. "Jenny?" he asked a little louder, stepping closer. A smile spread across his face at the scene. Lily was laying perfectly still in Jenny's arms; both of them were fast asleep. Brian put his hands in his pockets and smiled, standing in front of two girls, as if trying to etch the picture-perfect scene into his memory forever.
        And for a while, he stood there watching both of them...mostly Jenny.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
[Monday]
        “Hey, little man,” Howie said, picking up the little twin boy carefully. “Your mommy’s coming to pick you up today.” He smiled down at the little face and was met with a toothless grin.

DING-DONG
        “I’LL GET IT!” everyone in the house heard Sarah yell. She ran to the front door and opened it to find Marie. The two talked a bit while the others ran around gathering up the kids’s things.

        “AJ, is mommy here?” Zach whispered into AJ’s ear. He was having a piggy back ride.
        “Yup...you wanna say goodbye to the animals before you gotta go, dude?”
        “YEAH!” Zach agreed as AJ zoomed around the yard, trying to find the pets, Zach still on his back, giggling.

        “Well, little one, it looks like someone’s here to get you back,” Nick cooed as he bounced Lily on his knees. Both were in the family room. Julie was standing where she couldn’t be seen, watching Nick play with the baby girl. It was so sweet...

        “Where’s the formula?” Kevin asked, ransacking the kitchen cupboards.
        “I don’t know, I didn’t feed the babies last,” Cathy exclaimed, heading towards the living room.
   
        “I got Lily’s bag...where’s Ethan’s?” Jenny inquired, making sure nothing was left in the guestroom.
        “You don’t have it? I thought you had it!” Chin exclaimed, running into the hallway to search the other upstairs rooms.
        “Are you looking for this?” Brian grinned, showing up with two baby carriers.
        “No, but thank you,” Hannah stated, taking them from him. Lance appeared with a bag.
        “Okay, this is Ethan’s...no...It’s Zach’s...Damn...I mean...good...no...well, I found one, but we’re  bag short,” Lance stated. “ARGH!”

        About twenty minutes after Marie arrived, she was presented with her three kids, complete with all their belongings (well, some people were crossing their fingers on that one)...She thanked everyone profusely. Goodbye’s were given, Zach tried not to cry, and the Boys promised that he could visit them when they were in town. The front door was shut and it was silent for a moment; everyone just stood there. The week had turned out pretty well...there hadn’t been any more fights...it was amazing how well everyone had gotten along...but had that been only for the kids?
        “Well, I’d better go start packing,” Jenny mumbled, heading up the stairs. The silence was broken.
        Lance and Hannah mentioned their flight was in a few hours too, and both left to deal with their stuff. One by one, everyone scattered to do their own things.
        The ‘reunion’ was basically over...and only time would tell if everyone was finally getting along again...or if it had all been only an act for the kids...