Hey all. Thanks once again for all the reviews and comments. Finally a little happiness for Macy, which will hopefully make you happy as well!

Disclaimer: characters not mine

Chapter 10: Family Time

It was the first time in her life that Macy almost felt bad for not being picky.

The Lucas family was trying so hard to accommodate her in everything she wanted and was trying to be so kind to her, that Macy almost felt bad that she kept answering that everything was fine and that they didn't have to change anything for her. The declaration was almost fire to their questions and while Kevin was doing a good job of pulling her away from the family when he could see that Macy simply couldn't handle any more, their generosity and the nightly emotional calls from her mother were starting to take a toll.

The boys tried to distract her, offering her sports and food and books and everything else that fell under their hands, but mostly Macy stayed quiet. She smiled when she could and she played along when she could. She just moved with the family, trying to keep up and trying to hide how horrible she really felt in the uncertainty of her grandmother's condition.

This went on for five days. Mrs. Lucas then insisted that Macy remain where she was when Stella's fashion week was extended to another. Though at least then, the attention had drifted away from Macy during the time it took to console Joe that his best friend would be absent for another seven days.

Macy didn't know whether to jump, dance or scream when she got off the phone one afternoon a little over a week into her stay at the Lucas household. She knew better than to sing after her last musical experience around the boys. She did skip in place and clapped her hands quickly as any girl would.

"What's up?" Kevin asked as he walked by. Macy smiled at him. He'd been only a few feet away every time her mother had called, ready in case the news was bad and she needed a shoulder to cry on, or if she felt home sick at the sound of a familiar voice and would need a hug.

"She's better."

"What?"

"My gammy; she's better! I mean, she'll need a few days to adjust to all the new health changes they told her to make in her lifestyle, but other than that, she's going to be completely fine."

"Macy!" Kevin yelled as he ran to sweep her up in a hug that lifted her off the ground and spun her around. "That's terrific!"

"I know."

"What's going on?" Joe asked as he rounded the corner, closely followed by the rest of the Lucas family.

"Macy's grandmother is going to be fine," Kevin announced for her, too excited to let her deliver her own news. All members of the Lucas family let out their own cries of happiness for her, Joe adding a dance that made Macy wonder how it was that they let him be in front during most of the performances.

"We have to celebrate," Mrs. Lucas said as she moved away from her family to give Macy a hug.

"Definitely," Kevin agreed.

"We have to celebrate just the girls," Mrs. Lucas corrected, holding her hand up to keep her sons' protests away. "And then we can celebrate the entire family."

Macy wasn't sure why, but suddenly, there were butterflies in her stomach.

"So we should find you a dress."

"Why?" Macy asked carefully as she walked between the racks of clothes with Mrs. Lucas.

"For the celebration."

"We don't have to celebrate. Really mom of Jonas, you've all been so nice to me while my parents and Stella were out of town. I don't need to go out and celebrate as well."

"Of course you do. Besides, don't think that we haven't loved having you there. Look at all you've done for my boys during your visit."

Macy shook her head as she looked through hangers of dresses despite her protests. "What do you mean?"

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how much Joe would be whining about Stella being away if you weren't there to distract him? And Nicholas has someone to distract his brothers, which makes him happy. Frankie has someone who doesn't forget about him when he wants to play hide and seek. And Kevin literally shines around you. I don't think he's ever met anyone who can match his good humour as much as you do."

Macy shrugged though she couldn't help the wide grin that came to her lips. "I just... Well, they're just great boys."

"And you're a great girl, Macy. Mr. Lucas and I are really happy that they have you as a friend."

Macy shrugged again, feeling the blush on her cheeks.

"So," she asked as she flipped through a few more dresses, "what kind of celebration are we talking about?"

The celebration, it turned out, was dinner out and an evening of bowling. Though Nick swore this was how they celebrated most things in the family, Macy couldn't help but notice how well the activities fell in with her personality. She loved food, and it was no mystery to anyone that she loved her sports as well. So she was surprised when she found herself sitting on the Lucas sofa that night in the dark, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Macy?"

Her head shot up at the sound of the voice and she quickly lifted a hand to dry her tears.

"Yeah?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"Are you okay? Did your mother call? Did something happen?"

"I'm okay." She offered Kevin what she hoped was a convincing nod, but had a feeling that the quiver in her voice and the tear stains on her cheek were stronger evidence than anything she could possibly say.

"Then why are you crying?"

"It's just been a big week." She shrugged.

"Too much to take in at once?"

She nodded, hoping that a gesture would be more convincing than words.

"I understand." He sat next to her on the sofa and looped his arm around her shoulder to pull her against him. "Sometimes, you just got to let it out."

"You are very wise, Kevin of Jonas."

"Well, you don't get to be a big brother by being just another pretty face."

"No, you get to be a big brother by being born first."

He frowned down at her, and Macy couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her lips at his attempt to look stern.

"I'm happy you're laughing again. It wasn't the same when you were sad all the time."

"I'm happy I'm laughing again, too. And I'm happy you guys were around when I needed you. It meant a lot. I mean, you were always around when I needed you, but this time it wasn't just a voice from the speakers. That was nice."

"Anytime, Mace. Anytime," Kevin said as he pulled her against him. And for the second time in less than two weeks, Macy slowly found herself sleeping against her friend, Kevin.