So this is the last chapter everyone I hope you enjoy it.

Ch. 4 All Those Years Ago

(MAX)

"Hey there's Aspen," I grin when the girl's and I walk into school Monday morning.

"Maxie has a crush," they tease me in unison and then giggle in unison before skipping off. I make sure they're gone before I go up to Aspen.

"Hi Aspen," I greet her with a smile.

"Hey Max," she grins, "Jay, I mean my dad, is getting me registered I start today. I'm glad I met you and the twins, Nick and Kairi so that I know some people."

"I can show you around school when your dad is done," I offer.

"Thanks that would be great," she smiles then Simpson's office door opens and he comes out with Jay.

"You're all set Aspen here's your class list," Simpson says handing her a piece of paper with the class list.

"I have to get to work are you going to be okay?" Jay asks Aspen.

"I'll be fine, Max offered to show me around," she assures her dad.

"Good, take care of her Max," Jay says to me.

"I will," I assure him. Jay hugs Aspen and tousles my hair before he walks out. "Let's see your classes," I say and she shows me the paper. "Hey you have art with me second period, Amethyst has that class too. Your homeroom is science we'll pass the art classroom on the way," I tell her and she smiles. I take Aspen to her locker first and help her open it, then I take her to the tenth grade science class showing her the art classroom on the way.

"Thanks Max I guess I'll see you next period," she grins going into the classroom.

"See you next period," I grin back before going to homeroom where Emy and Ame are waiting.

"Aspen has art with us next period," I tell Amethyst.

"Have you asked her out yet?" Emy asks.

"Yeah we saw you two flirting at Mom and Daddies wedding. Maybe me and Doug and you and Aspen can all double, we'll tell the parents we're doing a project for art and then they can't freak out that it's a date," Amethyst grins and I just shake my head.

"Why don't you start by asking to show Aspen around," Emerald suggests.

I think that's a better idea but I can already see the wheels turning in Amethyst's mind. The teacher comes in and begins class, we watch a presentation and then we each have to write an essay on it. The girls are good writers like their mom but I hate writing essays. When first period lets out Emy leaves us to go to her second period while Ame and I walk to art. Doug is already in here and so is Aspen.

"Hi Aspen," I grin at her and she smiles back, "Aspen this is Doug."

"Hi it's nice to meet you," Aspen smiles at him and Doug waves.

"We should go out tonight, show Aspen around Queen Street. I'm sure we can meet up after football and yearbook, Dad can drop us downtown and Jay or Daddy Dallas can pick us up," Amethyst suggests.

"Yeah that would be great I haven't seen anything yet besides your house at the party and my dad's place," Aspen comments.

"I'll have to ask my parents," Doug says.

"Just tell them it's for art class and we're going as a group," Amethyst insists.

"That should work," Doug grins.

"I'll ask Dad at lunch if he can drop us off after practice," Amethyst tells us before we're called to attention for the class. After showing us examples of a few modern artists we're supposed to work on our own oil painting.

"Do you want to eat lunch with us? I always eat with Amethyst and Emerald unless they have practice and yearbook at lunch," I comment to Aspen as we leave art for lunch.

"Yeah thanks," she grins.

"Doug you want to eat with us?" Amethyst asks.

"Sure," he smiles.

"Emy wants to eat outside," Amethyst tells us.

"How does she know that?" Aspen questions.

"It's a twin thing," I reply.

We go out to the picnic tables and Emerald is already here and she's not alone Dillion, from the football team, is with her. We sit down, pull out our lunches and begin eating.

"The four of us are going to Queen Street after football practice and yearbook," Amethyst tells Emerald and Dillion.

"Are you going?" Dillion asks Emerald.

"It's the first I've heard of it but no I'll probably just go home with Daddy Owen," Emerald replies.

"You could come to our place and see our volleyball court," he offers.

"Your dads will never agree to that," I comment realizing Dillion likes her and Owen will probably flip, so will Dallas. They have always been overprotective.

"He will if I tell him it's for volleyball," Emerald grins.

"You know considering what I know of your dads when they were our age I'm surprised they don't realize how sneaky you two are," I remark.

"That's because we also got Mom's intelligence," Amethyst replies and I shake my head.

"Where's Kaleb?" I question knowing that much like Amethyst and Emerald Dillion and Kaleb do a lot together including eating lunch.

"He's eating with Kairi, she can come over to see the volleyball court too and then it will be for sports," Dillion grins.

When we finish lunch I go with Emerald and Amethyst to talk to Owen, both to watch and to help. We find Owen in his office where he usually is at lunch, he doesn't often eat in the teacher's lounge.

"Daddy," the girls chime together when they come into Owen's office.

"What do you want?" He asks with a suspicious tone.

"Well Emerald and Kairi want to go to Dillion and Kaleb's after their practices to see the guy's volleyball court. She can go home with them and I'm sure Kairi can bring her home or Daddy Dallas can pick her up after work," Amethyst tells him.

"And Amethyst wants to go with Max, Aspen and Doug down to Queen Street for an art project. If you can drop them off we're pretty sure Jay can pick them up and bring them home," Emerald informs their father. Owen looks considerate for a minute, probably deciding if the girls are up to something or if it's just a couple of group activities.

"Alright I'll call Jay and Dallas and see if they can pick you up. What about the other parents did they give permission?"

"Aspen is talking to Jay now," I tell Owen.

"Dillion said his parents won't care," Emerald replies.

"Doug's calling his parents too but he's sure it will be okay since it's for school."

Owen calls Dallas and he says he can pick Emerald up. Then Owen calls Jay who says he's alright with it and he can pick the rest of us up from Queen Street when he's done at the garage.

"Guess it's just me and Clare for dinner tonight," Owen grins carnally and the girls roll their eyes.

"Just make sure your clothes are on by the time we get home," Amethyst retorts as we leave Owen's office.

The girls and I walk to our lockers to get our books for English class. We see Doug on the way and he says his parents are fine with him coming to Queen Street this afternoon. We read in English and then write short stories using vocabulary words. My last class is healthy active living which Owen teaches and I like this class. Football practice goes by pretty quickly and after practice Owen calls Dillion over after telling the rest of us to hit the showers.

"What did Coach want?" I ask Dillion when he comes into the locker room. I always call him Coach during practice and in class, everyone knows he's like another father to me but it shows respect and he calls me Hollingsworth in practice so no one thinks he's playing favorites.

"Told me if I touched his daughter he'd break my hand," Dillion says and I snicker.

"You don't know over protective fathers until you meet them both."

(CLARE)

"Doug's here are they here yet?" Amethyst asks me anxiously as she paces near the front doors of DeGrassi.

"Honey you know they're not," I reply. I think she's more nervous than I am.

It's Saturday, and Thanksgiving weekend, and the whole family is at the school. Actually, a lot of people are. It all began a month ago when I found out Doug was none other than Tyson and he wanted to get in touch with his parents. I hadn't been in touch with either Jenna or K.C. for years, neither ever comes back to Toronto they have no family in Toronto or anywhere close any longer. I was able to track them both down but Doug was worried about getting in touch with them out of the blue. So, with some help from Simpson, and scheming with my daughters, we came up with a rouse. We are honoring Simpson with a lifetime achievement award. It sounds like a lot of work just to get K.C. and Jenna out here but It's also a reunion of sorts, I managed to send invitations to everyone that has attended DeGrassi in the last twenty years. I knew that K.C. and Jenna were coming, so was Alli, Jake and Katie, Connor, Ashley's brother Toby and his wife, Sav and Holly J, Fiona, Declan and their spouses, and of course everyone in the area was coming. I knew that they might not come back for a reunion but everyone was pretty fond of Simpson so I was sure they'd come back to honor him, after all he'd helped most of us in one way or another over the years.

Simpson's whole family would be here, they did know the ceremony was pretty much just to get Jenna and K.C. here however we really did get him a lifetime achievement award. Besides which they were excited to see everyone that was coming in for this. Thankfully one of my husbands and Drew have an event business and they took care of decorations and most of the planning, food, tables and chairs. Christine, Archie's wife, supplied us with lots of pictures. Hopefully if everything goes right tonight Tyson will reunite with his birth parents and open the lines of communication and the rest of us will reunite with friends and make new ones, enjoy the night and honoring Simpson which is well deserved, even if it's sort of fake.

"Hi Doug," Amethyst grins at him as soon as he comes in.

"Hi Amethyst, hi Clare," Doug smiles.

"Why don't you kids go into the auditorium and see if they need any help," I suggest to them. Amethyst smiles taking Doug's hand and they walk into the auditorium.

"You know if you're standing out here anxiously waiting for K.C. and Jenna it's going to look suspicious," Mike comments coming up behind me and putting his arms around me.

"I know but we went through all this work, I know it's not solely for them but it's mostly for them," I reply putting my hands on his arms.

"Let's go in and admire our kids, and mine and Drew's handiwork," Mike grins and I giggle. He spins me out of his arms and looks at me with an admiring smile. "You know you look amazing," Mike grins putting his arm around me and I smile.

I put my hair partially up, I chose a scarlet dress with a halter top and empire waist. It goes to my ankles and I have wedge sling back heels. Owen and Mike both wear suits, Owen has a blue tie and Mike a purple one. Amethyst is wearing a sleeveless deep blue dress that goes to her knees and has a black waistband, she has strappy heels and straightened her hair which she wears down with blue rose clip pulling the right side back just a bit. Emerald chose a deep purple dress with spaghetti straps that comes to her mid-calf, she wears the Emerald necklace we gave her for her tenth birthday and low black heels.

"You look amazing too husband, alright let's go in I'm sure they'll be here soon."

Mike smiles and we walk to the auditorium, passing Emerald and Dillion at the check-in table at the entrance. Mike stiffens up slightly when he sees how they're flirting but I pull him into the auditorium.

"Oh I see how it is you leave me to do all the work while you go kiss our wife," Owen teases when we come in. I smile and kiss Owen before I go up to the stage to make sure the equipment is set up, Connor is doing it so I'm sure it is.

Music begins playing, the lights dim a little and Connor starts the slideshow of Simpson through the years. People that haven't been here helping begin showing up. Maya, Max and Miles are first, Bianca, Adam and Grace are next, Audra and Omar are watching the kids tonight. Kaleb and Kairi have also been here helping out but Ashely, Craig, Paige and Lexi arrive along with Nick. I hug them all but I'm very excited to see Alli when she arrives. I hug her tightly and pull her over to a table where we can catch up. While I'm catching up with Alli the auditorium fills with other guests.

"Look there's Jenna," Alli exclaims cutting herself off as she talks about her husband. I look over my shoulder to see Jenna walk in. She wears a white dress with yellow heels and her hair is dyed dark but it's Jenna. I look over at Doug sitting with Amethyst and he's looking at Jenna too but with her hair dyed he doesn't seem to know if it's really her. "Let's go say hi," Alli insists jumping up and taking me with her.

"Clare, Alli," Jenna squeals happily when she sees us.

We all hug tightly and spend the next few minutes exchanging pleasantries. Owen, Mike, Drew, Adam and Bianca come over and say hi although most walk away after the initial greeting, then we see K.C. come in. Doug does recognize him I see it in his face.

"I think we better get started," Mike whispers to me while people are still saying hello.

"Yeah looks like we're pretty full guess I should go on stage and get this started," I comment and Mike nods. I excuse myself from the others and walk to the stage stopping by Amethyst and Doug on the way. "I'll take you over to your parents after the award," I tell Doug and he nods. Before going on stage I stop to talk to Owen. "After I present the award to Simpson can you and Mike grab K.C. and Jenna please? Take them out to the hall or a classroom so we can introduce them to Doug."

"Yeah no problem, if you're going to start I'm going to get Emerald and Dillion from the check-in table," Owen says.

"Good idea," I grin before going on stage. "Welcome everyone and thank you all for coming. Most of you here attended DeGrassi or are currently attending DeGrassi and in some way your life has been touched Archie Simpson. Teacher, principal, friend, husband and father, he's always fought hard for his students. Tonight, we honor him with a lifetime achievement award for all he's done for his students, school and community."

Everyone claps and Simpson comes on stage taking the award. He begins his speech and I get off the stage. I see Owen and Mike getting K.C. and Jenna and I take Doug with me through the back exit. I see Owen, Mike, K.C. and Jenna going into a classroom so we follow.

"What's going on? Shouldn't we be listening to Simpson's speech?" Jenna asks.

"Actually there's someone we want you to meet first," I tell them as Doug comes in behind me.

"Tyson!" Jenna exclaims as soon as she sees him.

"Ty! My son," K.C. says with tears in his eyes.

"We'll leave you guys to talk," Owen comments although I don't think they notice.

We leave the room but from the corner of my eyes I see the joy on all their faces and it makes me happy. I take my husband's hands and we go back to the auditorium. We find our seats and sit down to watch the rest of Simpson's speech. Everyone claps when he's done and music begins as the slideshow plays, this second slide show isn't just of Simpson it's of all of us, every class and teacher that's been at DeGrassi in the last twenty years, that we could find pictures of anyway. Some people begin dancing others begin eating, my husbands and I decide to eat first. We sit back and watch the slideshow and everyone in the auditorium along with Maya and Max who are also eating at our table.

Jenna and K.C. come back in with Doug and they're smiling, not just smiling they're beaming. They look lighter and I can see even from here how being reunited has lifted a weight from them. It makes all of this worth it and I'm happy to see their beaming smiles.

Doug goes over to Amethyst while Jenna and K.C. get some food before coming over to our table. Jay soon joins us with a plate of food and then Paige, Lexi, Ashely and Craig come and sit down pulling some chairs over. I look at Drew and Bianca, Adam and Grace, Emma and Spinner dancing on the dance floor. Then I look over at our kids, Amethyst and Doug sitting on the edge of the stage eating and flirting. Aspen and Max dancing together and laughing, Emerald and Dillion talking at a table where Kairi and Kaleb are kissing. And I look around at all our friends sitting with us.

"You know we all went here and now all our kids, a new generation of DeGrassi students, are flirting or dating," I comment to the table.

"It's the circle of life," Paige smiles.

"I feel like we should break into song," Jenna remarks.

"Let's not but I think it's great, it just makes all of our connections that much stronger," I reply.

"So, you and Tyson going to get together while you're in town?" Owen asks K.C. and Jenna.

"Yes, we're all going to breakfast tomorrow. It's amazing to see him again, he wants to learn about us and we want to know all about him. Although it looks like Amethyst can keep us informed when we go home," Jenna remarks looking at them.

"Yeah, I think they'll be dating before long," I reply.

"Can we sing Circle of Life now?" Jenna asks.

"How about we dance," Jay replies offering Jenna his hand and they go out to the dance floor.

"All those years ago when I slept with each of you did you think we'd end up here? Married, at DeGrassi, reuniting Jenna and K.C. with their son, watching our kids flirt with our friend's kids?" I ask my husbands.

"Never but I'm glad we did, I couldn't picture my life any other way," Owen replies.

"Ditto," Mike echoes and I giggle.

I give each of my husbands a passionate kiss and then take their hands as we watch our girls on the dance floor. It's funny in a wonderful way how life comes around.

That does it for this one, replacing this will be the continuing chapters of Once Was a Pirate. I may do a Christmas chapter for this one at some point though.

Posted next will be the last chapter of A Fine Line Between Hope and Faith not sure when with the holidays approaching fast (what happened to the month of December? I feel like it was Thanksgiving last week!) but I'll get it up ASAP.