Cole grinned, "Alright boys, game plan. So I was thinking, we head to the grocery store, maybe a place where we can like, rent some movies or games or something – and you both might as well not even bother to try defeating me because I, am the KING of video games… just ask Victor, I made that boy cry when I slaughtered him in that racing game we played." He told them with pride.

Garfield gave Garth an apologetic smile, hoping that this wouldn't be too bad tonight. If Cole behaved himself hat was.

Garth smoothed down his nice button-down shirt. "Game on, Cole." He answered, feeling a little more comfortable around him. "Whatever you decide is fine with us."

The blond male cleared his throat, "Are you sure you want to take us? We could like, take the public transit, far away from… y'know, damaging social status."

Cole face palmed, "I am totally cool Gar, y'know what? I am SO damn hip, I'm gonna need a new one soon. Anyway! So… Emma is having her own sleepover tonight; she won't be arriving until later so we have time to bring Emma with us."

Garth nudged Gar. "Just go along with it. You aren't talking him out of it."

Garfield may have growled – some kind of noise that was obviously a not so happy one. "Fine, whatever, let's go."

Just then little Emma came out and hugged Garfield's leg, "Thank you Gar! I want to come too! Daddy wouldn't tell me what big kids do. Everytime I ask him, he says they're cool like him but shh, daddy's lame."

Cole's bottom lip dramatically quivered. "I'm… I'm lame?"

The little girl rushed back over to her father. "It's okay daddy, it's not your fault that you're socially inept."

Cole narrowed his eyes, "You've been talking to your mother again haven't you?"

Emma beamed, "Yes I have!"

Cole sighed, "Knew it. Get into the car you little brat." He joked with her, kissing her cheek.

Emma giggled, "And what you tell mommy all the time that's a lie," she cleared her little throat, "I got this!"

Garth smiled and followed the small child. Though he acted as though he agreed with Gar about being with his lame dad, he was actually quite thrilled. Spending time with Gar's family, it's going somewhere. Getting serious in some sort of way. Not to mention he didn't have much of a family to spend time with at home. "Come on, Gar. Don't lag."

Garfield chuckled, "You're actually looking forward to this outing?" as he slid in the front seat while Garth was left to take the back seat, with Emma. Figuring it'd be best if he sat up at the front with Cole.

"No. But there's no point in dragging it out." He shrugged, biting back a smile. Oh family bonding.

(T~T)

Young Annabelle shifted in her seat, she felt the excitement bubbling, she couldn't wait to see her best friend again. "Emma's really nice Roy, and her family is really, really nice. Her daddy's funny and her mommy makes fun of her daddy and Emma's big brother is nice too!" She had the habit of talking very fast, like her brother.

Roy smiled. "Good. I'm glad you made a new friend... Did I have to wear this tutu though? It seems a little much. I'm just dropping you off." He couldn't help but smile no matter how ridiculous he felt. Annabelle was his joy.

She nodded her head, "Oh yes, of course you do! You have to come in and have a spot of tea with Miss Hillary and I. And make sure you're on your best behavior, manners are in check and oh – use the pinky." She beamed, her red hair – despite being in a pony tail, flowed along with her movements.

Roy just chuckled. "Oh but of course, Princess. We've only had about a hundred tea-parties." Roy thought to this new princess dress they had in at the toy store. Maybe he'd stop by and pick it up before he went home? "Does Emma's brother let you girls dress him up and what not?"

Just after that, Annabelle giggled. "Yes! And her daddy too, it's so funny. Last time we let them do a fashion show and we took pictures!"

Roy nodded, just what he needed. "Lovely." He pulled up to a green house. "Is this it?"

He could tell by how Annabelle already had her seatbelt unhooked and was ready to hop out of the vehicle while it was still in motion. "Yes! Yes this is it! YAY!"

Roy got out of the car, sparkly pink tutu over his jeans and all. He slung her purse filled with dresses and tea party stuff over his shoulder. "Alright, alright." He followed her to the door and watched as she attacked the doorbell, pressing it a good thirty times. He waited with her for someone to answer the door.

Just then the door opened to reveal a tall, slender woman, curves in check, her dirty blond hair in a quick, effortless ponytail. "Why hey there Annabelle! Oh and hey to you too." She greeted Roy with a smile. "I… love your outfit," She added with a chuckle. "C'mon in, welcome to my humble abode."

Roy gave a courteous smile, "Thank you, I picked it out myself." He then tried to hand the purse to Annabelle, who ignored him. He just slung it back over his shoulder. "Well, she seems to be in good hands. She's very excited for a tea party." He gave his usual lopsided smile. "What time should I pick her up?"

Hillary shrugged, "No specific time dear, whenever you want to or… you could even stay yourself for awhile. Emma and the boys are out so whatever they manage to get at the grocery store, I find a way to whip it together to make something edible." She told him with a smile.

He bit his lip; he didn't want to leave without maybe meeting Annabelle's friend. He especially didn't want her to be bored waiting. "Maybe I'll just stick around until they show up." He smiled. "By the way, I'm Roy Harper." He held out a hand politely.

Hillary gave a smile, "Hello Roy, I'm Hillary. They'll be here soon, then you can scope us all out to see if she's alright to stay here. You're such a protective older brother, that's great. I'm glad to see that."

He smirked. He loved to have his ego boasted even more. "But of course. Oh!" He reached into his insanely big man-purse and pulled out a container of cupcakes. "These are for the tea party."

Hillary grinned, "Roy! These are adorable! I may just have to smack my husband away from them. You're such a sweetheart! So while we wait," She told him, as Annabelle trailed to the spacious living room where a toy box was out and waiting, Hillary and Roy followed the little one.

Annabelle handed Hillary a doll to dress. "This is what we do, if we have to wait for Emma, her daddy and her brother." She told Roy informatively.

Hillary took a pair of doll sized pants and slid them on the legs of the doll. They seemed quite tight. "Oh come on honey, you're plastic, you shouldn't be having this problem!" She told the doll, "Suck it in girl." She mumbled, finally getting the pants over the thighs of the doll. "Aha, the story of my life." She said aloud with a chuckle.

Roy openly laughed and shook his head, "That's too funny. Just for the record, the pants look great on her." He took one of the dolls and put a floral dress on her with a pair of matching pumps. "There." He said chipper, handing the doll to Annabelle - who usually would yell at him and tell him he had no sense of style. She was quite pleased with the doll.

Hillary chuckled, "Well, big brother's got style, does he now?" She slipped a shirt on the doll, "Oh come on now honey, you don't have to catch the guy, you've got the dream house, why is this shirt cut so low?"

Annabelle giggled, "Cole said it was to deceive her husband and take the dream house and half of everything in it."

Hillary inwardly sighed, "Of course he did."

mrtutus23: Oh thank you! Thank you so much xD I guess this chapter's kinda for you then, since you adore Roy so much. :)

daggerdeath: Why thank you! There's more to come for sure, so stay tuned! :)

A huge massive thank you to everyone who's looked at, read, reviewed, favorited, alerted this story! Hope you continue to do so! :D