A/N: Here's the sequel in my Deveraux series. I hope you like this story like the first one. For those who haven't read "Day of the Deverauxs", it may help to start with that as things may make more sense in some parts.
Disclaimer: I don't own DOOL, but I should own the love story TIIC f***ed up.
Shawn and Belle's engagement party along with the St. Patrick's Day celebration at Brady's Pub. Everyone was relaxing, laughing, and dancing their cares away to the Irish cheer and Celtic music playing. The women attending were wearing green St. Patrick's Day shirts from Belle's new line from Basic Black, fearing the slogan Kiss my Blarney Stone.
With Brady and John's blessing, Shawn asked Belle to marry him two weeks earlier, giving her grandmother Addie's engagement ring from Doug, a one carat ruby with a platinum setting.
Shawn and Belle decided on a short engagement since they didn't want their wedding to overshadow the birth of his new sister, due on June 23rd, so they chose to get married May 28th, Memorial Day weekend. There would be no honeymoon as Shawn was joining Belle when she attended her eight week design program in Paris, with lodging thanks to Victor at one of his properties with plans to return to Salem University for the fall semester.
Grandpa Shawn made his way to the middle of the Pub and yelled to get everyone's attention. "Shawn, Belle, can you come up please?"
When they stood in front of him, Shawn began his speech. "Okay all we are here to pay heed to the greatest of all holidays...St Patrick's Day!"
After everyone laughed, he continued speaking. "We are also here to celebrate the coming together, in the eyes of God, of my grandson Shawn Douglas with the fair maiden Isabella Black. When I look at them, I see me and my beloved"
He looked at his wife with love in his eyes and Caroline responded in kind. Victor momentarily winced, unnoticed by anyone as the Irishman continued to speak.
"Our road hasn't always been easy, but in the end, she's been by my side for over fifty years. I know Shawn and his Belle will forge a road of their own, with a love that's strong and true. So with that, a toast to Shawn and Belle"
"TO SHAWN AND BELLE!" Everyone repeated back. A few seconds later, all began hooting and hollering as Shawn suddenly swooped Belle in his arms, dipped her, and gave her a kiss that could melt glass before they started dancing to Keith Urban's Your Everything
Jennifer and Jack watched them, each thinking about Shawn's words and the words to the song playing. She remembered a time when Jack and she did the same thing the newly engaged couple did right before he went to do battle with Hawk.
All of a sudden, Jennifer got the chills. She then looked at her husband, noting that Jack was even more handsome than he was the day she walked into Diana's office. He didn't know it, but she had a St. Patrick's Day surprise planned for him at home later. Her eyes lit up just thinking about it.
Meanwhile, Jack thought about his 'trial' at the penthouse, when he brought forth witnesses to prove Hawk was a con artist and he poured his heart to Jennifer, eventually leading to one of their many reconciliations. Jack smiled, took his wife's hand and led her to the dance floor where they began to move to the music.
The first time you touched my face I felt I want to be the wind that fill your sails,
What I never felt with anyone else
I want to give back what you've given to me
I want to witness all of your dreams.
Now that you've shown me who I am really am
I want to more than just a man
Be the hand that lifts your veil,
Be the moon that moves your tide,
The sun coming up in your eyes,
Be the wheel that never rusts,
And be the spark that lights you up,
All you've been dreaming of and more,
So much more,
I want to be your everything
When the song ended, Celtic music returned. Jack and Jennifer went back to their table, where Steve and Kayla were cuddling.
Kayla was only nine weeks pregnant, but to Steve, she was nine months, and he acted like it. When Kayla got up to get some more ginger ale, Steve grabbed his cane and beat her to it as he began to get up. "Baby, you need to rest...you're having a baby"
Since that night at the Alamain's mansion, Steve had surgery as his hip was broken from his fall from the window. Some of the damage was permanent as they had to contend also old injuries sustained in Russia that were not properly healed and damaged again. Thanks to his stubbornness and extensive physical therapy, however, he regained most of the use of his hip and leg.
"Steve, I can get up and myself some ginger ale" Kayla replied in an exasperated tone
Steve gently pushed her back down. "Baby, it's too crowded" he said before he walked to the bar.
Kayla watched him with an irritated face and muttered "I'm the frigging head nurse at University Hospital, Steve"
Almost immediately after her comment, she let her irritation go by the wayside. She couldn't stay mad at him long as for several years, she thought him lost to her forever until they were reunited over a year ago. As she finished her thought, her table companions began laughing.
"Kayla, Jack wasn't much better….in between sympathetic morning sickness, that is" Jennifer said with a laugh.
Jack's face turned crimson red. "Jennifer, I did NOT have sympathetic morning sickness"
Abigail, sitting by her father, continued to laugh. "Daddy, Great-Gran Alice said you passed out in front of Great-Grandpa Tom!"
Jack turned to his daughter. "I DID NOT pass out" which the only response he had was a chorus of his wife and daughter retorted with "YOU DID!"
Putting a pouty face on, he looked to Steven, sitting on his lap. "At least I have you" he said in a mock hurt tone. Just then, Steven began to get fussy and cry. "Great, I'm a man alone"
He let his thoughts wander to Jennifer and he perked up. She had promised him a 'St. Patrick's Day" surprise' and he let his mind wander to more pleasurable thoughts. If it was like anything like last weekend's game of 'Strip Checkers' when Abby was at a friend's house and Steven went to sleep, he knew it would be good. The game took until dawn because they couldn't keep their hands off each other after being in various states of undress. The game concluded with torrid lovemaking on the stairs, being unable to contain themselves until they reached their bedroom. They did...eventually.
Bo and Hope were laughing, too. "Fancy Face, if I had a camera for each of Jack's...actions during Jenn's pregnancy, Carly and I could have made a fortune..."
Bo trailed off when he realized his faux pas. Jack snapped back to reality at the mention of Doctor Manning. Everyone noticed the color slightly drain from Jennifer's face. "Jenn, I'm sorry. I didn't think..."
Jennifer knew it wasn't intentional and let it go. "Bo, don't worry about it. Carly chose her path and I wish her all the happiness in the world" Jennifer said. Her last few letters and calls were seem to tell a different story, but she didn't want to discuss it with Hope nearby.
Bo put his arm around Hope. "Me, too. Because I might have missed out on the best thing in my life" he said with love in his eyes.
"Good save, Brady" Hope replied. She was confident in his love for her, but hearing Carly's name still bugged her. With her pregnancy hormones in overdrive, she was capable of getting emotional over anything.
She also recognized her cousin's need to end the subject. "I'm going to go freshen up" She said before getting up. "I'll join you, Hope" Jennifer said before following her to the ladies room.
Bo, sensing Hope's upset, began to get up, but Jack put his hand on Bo's. "Bo, she'll be fine. Jennifer will talk to her" Bo looked at Jack for a moment before he sat back down.
At the next table, Chloe and Brady were sitting with Victor and a very pale Nicole, who was quiet almost the entire evening. Chloe decided enough was enough. "Nicole, are you feeling all right?"
Nicole paled even more. "I-I-I'm fine, Chloe".
She looked at Victor, who looked back with a knowing glance. Even though she was committed to Victor, she still felt weird around Brady and Chloe. Not jealous, but awkward as she also still resented Chloe a bit for taking off after her accident and faking her death. She knew Victor did, too, but kept it to himself for Brady's sake.
She then heard what sounded like nails on a chalkboard. She then looked over to the source, Sami and Lucas at the next table. Feeling nauseous, she got up quickly. "I need some fresh air".
Victor, concerned, attempted to get up, but Nicole stopped him. "I'm fine, Victor". She then walked out the door of the pub.
Hope and Jennifer returned from the ladies room about ten minutes later and sat down. Hope's eyes were slightly red and swollen. Just then, Hope yelped out an "OOOHHH!"
She put her hand on her stomach, then grabbed Bo's and put it on her stomach, the business with Carly forgotten. "I think we have another soccer slash volleyball player in our midst" Hope said as she looked at Abby, who began to turn red with a face not unlike her father's a few minutes earlier.
Abigail became a starter for Salem High's volleyball team a few weeks ago. The Deverauxs were also making plans to do some college scouting in late June, after Hope had her baby. She was offered full ride scholarships in soccer and/or volleyball at University of Minnesota, Michigan's Alma College, Nebraska, University of Maryland, and Columbia. Each also had excellent journalism programs, which was Abby's intended major.
"Jack, I need the keys. I have to get Steven's teething ring out of the car". When received, Jennifer went outside without her coat as it was an unseasonably warm forty degrees.
Over at Sami and Lucas's table, Lucas and Will alternated between disgust and awe at Sami as she was eating a bowl of her grandmother's clam chowder with cherries. "Lucas, you have to try this. It's so good!"
Lucas was trying to keep a straight face as he still was trying to get used to six month pregnant wife's eating habits of late. "No, no, that's okay".
Just then, Sami stopped eating. "Lucas, you know what sounds really good, right now...peanut butter! Can you get me some, please?" Will began to laugh as Lucas got up and headed for the Brady kitchen.
In the kitchen, Lucas found the peanut butter. He stopped to think about the thought that consumed him all day, his job interview at Titan Publishing. Sami was still at Basic Black, but starting maternity leave in a few weeks. He knew Roman and Kate would help, but he was determined to make it on his own and to have nothing to do with his mother. Her scheming to use Brandon to break him and Sami up was the last straw.
Lucas pushed these thoughts aside. He hoped to be the man that his grandfather Dr. Tom Horton was someday. "I'll do whatever I have to do to make my family proud of me" he said as he walked back into the pub with the peanut butter. He noticed Sami left the table. "Will, where's your mother?"
Will looked at his dad and began to laugh. "She ran to the car to get her cherry Twizzlers to go with her peanut butter. Dad, will Mom always be this nuts?"
Lucas looked straight at his son and replied the only way he knew how.
"Yes"
Outside, the fog made visibility difficult, even with sidewalk lights. A car saw a blonde woman with a green shirt walking to the parking lot. A hand put the car into drive and hit the gas, leaving tire tracks in the lot. After the car plowed its victim down, it kept going, leaving the woman in a crumpled heap on the ground with the sounds of Celtic music blasting out of Brady's Pub.