A little while later the limo pulls into the parking lot of Francesca's; Franco named the salon after his daughter. They all get out and head to the entrance of the salon. Luke holds the door while everyone trails inside. "Thank you Uncle Lukie" Maya says as she's the last to enter the salon holding Grace's hand. "You are very welcome little Miss Maya" He pats her on top of her head. "Anastasia darling how wonderful to see you!" Franco gushes while making his way to the receptions desk in front of the salon. He kisses her on both cheeks and then turns to Kate to do the same. "Franco it's always a pleasure seeing you too, you remember my mother Carla and my mother-in-law Grace"
Ana gestures toward where Grace and Carla are standing. "Yes, yes darling how could I forget!" He walks over and kisses their cheeks as well and surveys the rest of the group. "And look at all these beautiful young ladies they sure have grown! How can Franco help you today?"
"Well…" Kate pipes up. "Michelle and I need a quick trim but the real reason we came is because…" Chloe makes her way to the front of the group and removes her hat. "Of her!" Kate finishes her sentence. Franco makes a pouty face and holds out his hand to Chloe. "Come love I make you look marvelous!" Franco guides her to washing area; after Chloe removes her coat Franco preps her so he can wash her hair. The salon was big with top of the line equipment and mildly busy this particular weekend. "Sasha, Gigi will you two take Kate and Michelle while I see to Miss Chloe after all the birthday girl deserves to be taken care of my owner himself" Chloe grins.
Meanwhile back at Grey manor…. "Match point" The game system announcer says. "You ready for this serves Christian, I don't want you calling me a cheater because you weren't ready" Elliot taunts his brother. "Just serve the damn thing LLiott!" Elliot serves a fast ball and Christian is just able to return it, Elliot volleys it back with another fast and hard serve, Christian misses. "Player one wins" "Yeah baby! And that's how it's done youngsters" Elliot buffs his nails on his shirt. "Damn it now I'm never gonna hear the end of it" Christian flops down on the couch. "Oh think you're such a hot shot Elliot?!, Play me in a game that requires the use of actual brain cells… like chess and then we'll see who's better" "It's okay Uncle Christian you tired your best and that's all that matters" Little Kyle soothes while patting Christian on the knee. Christian chuckles and ruffles Kyle's hair "Thanks buddy"
"Ok the next sets of brothers are up; Teddy and Liam pick your game" Carrick says keeping score of who wins. "Checkmate" Teddy announces as he gets up from the table where he and Cary were playing a game of chess. "Damm-" Christian glares over at Cary. Cary smiles at his father sheepishly "I mean darn it! You get me with that same move every time Teddy" Teddy laughs "And yet you fall for the set up every time, but don't worry dad use to do the same thing to me until I got wise to him and out smarted him" "One of the proudest moments of my life" Christian gloats with a beaming smile. Teddy and Liam step in front of the TV right in the line of the games motion detector camera. "Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who picks?" Liam suggests. Teddy shakes his head "No need you can pick, I'm cool with whatever" Liam then swipes his hand in front of the TV going through the game selection and once he has selected one on the screen he shouts xbox play selected and the game begin it's opening sequence.
"Oh boxing! I see somebody's feeling lucky" Teddy goads his younger brother with a playful elbow to his ribs. Liam flips his shaggy hair away from his line of sight. "Whatever... pick your character and lets do this" He retorts with a sly grin. After they each pick their characters and adjust the settings they begin to play. Right out the gate Liam lands a few quick jabs followed by a swift and critical uppercut to Teddy's character leaving him in a dizzy disoriented state and Liam takes full advantage of it by throwing a few more jabs followed by a mean right hook. The next few rounds the boys continue to bob and weave in the family room blocking and throwing punches and for a time it looked like Teddy was going to win but in the last round Liam hit him with two knockouts and won the game. Liam pumps his fist in the air then leap onto Teddy's back and starts to given him a nuggie "Not so tough now are you? Huh? Huh?" Teddy wrestles with Liam for a little while on the loveseat before Christian interjects. "Boys…..take it easy"
"When's it gonna be our turn?" Bentley protests "Yeah can we play something that we all can play like… Mario Karts" Kyle suggests "Ow yeah or Mario Party…. please can we play one of those" Bentley pleads hands clasped together and eyes shut tight. "But… what about the tournament?" Elliot questions. "Ok let's take a vote all in favor for continuing with the tournament raise your hand." Carrick says and Elliot is the only to raise his hand. "All in favor of playing Mario Party raise your hand" He continues and everyone else in the family room raises their hand, Carrick chuckles "Well son it looks like you've been out numbered" Elliot sighs in defeat but then rallies opting to just play Mario Party. Everyone had their Wii remote in hand waiting for the computer to randomly pick the next mini game when Christian's phone buzzes in his pocket with an incoming text. The mini game is selected and played with the winner be Kyle to everyone's surprise, while waiting for his turn to come Christian takes the time to check his phone, it's a text from Ana.
Ana: Sir how is the male bonding going?
Christian: The bonding is going well, how goes the primping?
Ana: We are all in heaven. We've been manicured and had facials even Maya she says she feels like a queen lol. Bunny is almost done and after we are going to shopping for her outfit. Do you need anything?
Christian: Good I'm glad you're enjoying everything, get yourself something too as well as queen Maya lol and to answer your other question all I need is you in my arms baby.
Ana: I love you
Christian: I love you too Anastasia :*
Once the women had finished at Franco's salon they said their goodbyes and made their way back to the limo en route to Caroline's boutique.
"So Chloe do you know what you're gonna wear or an idea at least?" Ava queries with raised brow looking over her compact to where Chloe is seated as she reapplies her lip gloss. Chloe thinks for a couple of minutes and then starts to answer when the limo comes to an abrupt stop jerking everyone in their seats.
"What the – ?" Luke shouts hitting the breaks. "Is everything ok Luke?" Ana asks concern etched in her voice. "Yeah everything is fine it's just a dog" Luke says. "Did we hit it?" Lindsay asks horror evident in her face and voice. "No… no we didn't hit it he just ran out in front of the limo" Luke reassures Lindsay. Seconds later a guy comes running behind the dog in front of the limo mouthing 'I'm so sorry' and continues to chase after the dog. The limo soon starts again and continues to their destination.
"Now back to what I was saying Chloe, any ideas?"
"Well… I was thinking graphic tee, jeans and my uggs but…. I'm leaning more toward a skirt with leggings. Before the break this girl in my math class Anais was wearing the most adorable skirt I've ever seen"
"You mean the red one with the zipper pockets? Michelle questions. "No not that one, even though that one was super cute too but I'm talking about the black one with the gold studs like 3 inches for the hem. She wore it with those god awful cowboy boots."
"Oh I remember that skirt, your right it is super cute" Michelle adds excitedly. "I'm hoping Caroline's will have something similar"
"How short is this skirt in question?" Ana inquires brow raised. Chloe slowly reaches up and begins to swirl a lock of her hair. Ana notices immediately and knows whatever Chloe is about to say next will be a lie. "Chloe Joyce Grey and don't you dare lie to me" Chloe sighs letting the lock of hair fall from her fingers "I think it's within the skirt code but I'm not sure but like I said I want something similar plus I would wear leggings" She adds sheepishly.
A few minutes later they have arrive at the boutique. Ryan gets out and holds the limo door so the everyone can exit while Luke go's and opens the door to the boutique to let them in. Ava and Chloe are the first to enter followed by the rest of the group. "Hello and welcome to Clique, My name is Vicky if there's anything I can do for you please like me know" "Thank you Vicky will let you know" Ana says, Ava and Chloe walk straight past as Vicky as she introduced herself. "Ana darling Grace and I are going to just wait for you guys over in the waiting area while you shop ok?"
"Oh ok mom will try not to be too long." Grace smile "Nonsense you take your time, we're in no rush besides Chloe need to find the perfect outfit and that takes time" She giggles and they head to the waiting area. The girls wonder around throughout the store shifting through the racks and racks of clothing. "Are you getting anything Peanut?" Ana asks Phoebe walking up beside her as she slowly looks through a selection of long sleeve sweaters. "Yea I think I just want a new sweater everything else I wanna wear today is at home" Phoebe continues to look through the sweaters. "Ah-ha! Found it!" She holds up a long sleeved cream colored thick cable knit sweater. "Very cute" Ana remarks. "Well I'm done, I'm just gonna wait over there with Grandma Carla and Grandma Grace til everyone else is done" Phoebe points to the waiting area where Grace and Carla are chatting animatedly. "Ok love, I'll see how close your sisters are to being done" Phoebe nods and the walks toward the waiting area. Ana peers up to see where the girls are when she finds them. Michelle, Ava, Lindsay and Chloe are in mid pose for a selfie.
"Ladies let's not be all day about this! We do have other things to do today besides shop!" Ana says loudly enough so the girls can hear her, they scatter in different directions to get the last bit of things they need to complete their outfits. Ana continues to browse the racks when Maya come running toward her full speed and shouting. "AUNTIE ANA….. AUNTIE ANA!" Kate is behind Maya walking at a leisurely pace. "I told you there's no need to neither run nor shout she isn't going anywhere Babycakes" "I'm sorry, I'm just really excited" Maya explains. "And what's got you so excited?" Even though Maya isn't biologically Mia's daughter she is almost and exact replica. Same bubbly and excitable personality with the my-way-or-highway attitude. Mia often says that she was made just for her; she may have not pushed her out but that she was always supposed to be her daughter. "Auntie Ana can I please, please, pretty please get this dress!" It is an adorable little white dress with little cherries all over it with a red sash around the waist that ties into a bow at the back. Ana makes a face of intense contemplation and looks at Maya.
"Hmmmm…. I don't know.."
"Pretty please with gummy bears and cotton candy on top!" She pouts with big doe like eyes. Ana face splits into a wide smile. "Of course you can get it sweetie pie" "Yes!" Maya hops up and down in place. From behind Ava, Michelle, Chloe and Lindsay approach. "Look you guys! Look at my pretty new dress Auntie Ana's gonna buy for me!" Maya holds it up to her body and swirls around. The older girls oow and aww at the dress and complement her on her very pretty dress. "Did you girls find everything you wanted?" They nod. "Chloe?" "Yup mom I put together the cutest yet age appropriate outfit" "Ok then let's pay for this stuff and then we can head home for a light lunch before it's time to get ready for the party." They all walk to the cash register with their purchases, the sales girl Vicky rings it all up and Ana pays with her Amex. They head to the limo while Ryan puts the bags in the limo.