Chapter 13

Don sighed as he pulled his car into the garage and finally turned his engine off. After a long day, he was glad to be home, finally. He grabbed his coat and wallet, took the keys from the ignition, and headed into the house. The minute he did, he was hit with the smell of a pot roast in the oven and he smiled when he heard laughter coming from the den.

Sheila smiled as he walked into the kitchen. "Hi hon. How was your day?"

He kissed her cheek. "It was very long. I am just glad to be home." he paused. "What's going on in the den?"

Sheila chuckled. "Sarah's friend, Dustin, is here. He's staying for dinner tonight. They are watching a movie."

Don nodded. "We're going to have a full house. The guys wanted to come for dinner as well, and I am assuming Abby is joining us." he smiled.

"Just as well. It's a good thing I made a lot." She sighed. "I'm going to go warn the kids."

She left the embrace with her husband, and headed towards the den. However, she stood in the doorway, watching the interaction between her daughter and friend. She smirked as Sarah threw popcorn in Dustin's face.

"No! You are crazy!" She shouted. "Blane is so much better for Andy."

Dustin rolled his eyes. "Are you kidding? Tell me that you're kidding. Duckie is more than just her best friend…he is in love with her! They belong together."

She sighed. "You have a lot to learn, dude."

Sheila smiled again and cleared her throat. Sarah looked at her and smiled.

"It seems your brothers and sister decided that they wanted to have dinner here tonight." She grinned. "So we will have a full house."

Sarah looked at Dustin. "You going to be okay with my huge family being here?"

He shrugged. "Sure?" he laughed. "I'll manage."

She looked up at Sheila. "I guess that's settled. If you need help let us know. I will send Dustin right in." She chuckled at his shocked face.

"Oh sure…put Dustin to work while you just sit there." he muttered, but smirked a little.

She nodded. "Yeah basically."

Sheila just smiled and shook her head. "Oh how I have missed having teenagers in this house."

Sarah laughed at Dustin as they helped set the table. "Dustin calm down. Just be glad you aren't Conrad. My brothers will eat him alive. You are my friend…they are going to go really easy on you, since they are horrible afraid that my past will keep me from having any." She paused. "They just won't admit it."

He grinned. "You better be right, Sarah. Or you know the consequences."

She cocked and eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What are you going to do?"

"Oh you'll know when it happens." he grinned.

They were going back and forth when the front door opened. "Hey guys."

Sarah smiled when Dustin turned and stared wide-eyed. They laughed. "Who are you?"

She rolled her eyes. "This is Dustin. He is afraid that y'all are going to shoot him, just because he's a guy."

Donnie grinned and nodded. "Oh so you're Dustin. We've heard a lot about you."

He looked at Sarah. "You have?"

As the boys made sure Sheila wasn't in the room, Richie snuck some food from the pan. Sarah sighed. "You know she is going to know that you did that." She looked at Dustin. "And yes Dustin. I talk to my siblings a lot, and sometimes it is about you."

"Yeah. Either she's talking you or she's talking about Conrad. Or on the rare days…both of you at the same time." Steve added handing her a water bottle.

She glared at him. "Shut up." She whacked him upside the head. "I do not spend every waking minute talking about you and Conrad." She paused. "Just some of it. You know I can see you, Richie."

Richie, who had been making faces behind her back stopped. "What do you have eyes in the back of your head?"

Donnie shook his head. "She probably has powers that came with her black belt."

She rolled her eyes. "It's called a window. Right there. And it reflects whatever you are doing behind me."

Steve grinned. "How do you put up with her at school, Dustin? She must really get on people's nerves."

Dustin laughed and shrugged, relaxing a little. "It's tough. But the only one she really annoys is Shelly, because she wouldn't ditch me and go with her. But she the sarcasm tends to keep people from bothering me like they used to. So that's a plus."

Steve nodded but didn't say anything as Sheila walked into the room. "I thought I heard you guys in here."

"Is Abby coming?" Sarah asked quickly.

"Yes she is." Abby said as she walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. "Dustin."

He smiled. "It's nice to meet you."

"Come on, kids. Let's sit down." Sheila smiled and Dustin sat down next to Sarah, and next to Sheila.

Don joined them a few minutes later, and dinner started up just like any other family dinner. Dustin and Sarah listened as her brothers and father complained about something, and Sarah was smirking.

"That idiot pulled a gun! Like he didn't have enough on his record." Donnie commented.

"Well at least you guys got him." Don stated.

"Yeah but this has been happening more lately. We need better gun control." Richie shrugged.

"You know…we have enough gun control."

Everyone stared at Sarah like she was crazy.

"Are you kidding me?" Donnie exclaimed.

She smirked. "No really, we have enough gun control. What we need is idiot control."

Richie was about to say something, but closed his mouth. He looked at Steve. "She has a good point." he muttered.

"It is true though. Many people say that guns don't kill people; people do." Don nodded.

"But there again." Sarah jumped in. "I think guns help. I mean if you stood there and yelled 'BANG!', I don't think you'd kill too many people."

Sheila smiled at her husband. It certainly seemed like Sarah already felt like she was a part of their family. They just hoped they were right, and she wasn't hiding anything. Social Services had warned them that while she might start fitting in, they should watch out for any signs of depression or rage.

"So Dustin," Abby smiled at him from Sarah's other side. "What is your family like?"

He sighed. "Um…my mom is a teacher at an elementary school and my dad works at a recording studio."

"Does he really?" Don asked quickly.

Dustin smiled and glanced at his friend. "Sarah didn't tell you?"

"Tell us what?" Sheila looked at her daughter.

She sighed. "When I was at Dustin's house the other day, his dad let us go into the studio and record a song I wrote."

Of course, everyone was interested. She sighed again and smiled. "I have the cd with the background track on it if you want me to sing it."

They were immediately interested, and she rolled her eyes. "Come on, Dustin."

A few minutes later, everyone was gathered in the living room again, waiting for them to perform. It seemed like it became habit, but they liked hearing her sing.

Sarah grabbed a cd and put it in the stereo. "This is the background track, and Dustin is going to play the piano."

Storybook endings, fairy tales coming true
Deep down inside we want to believe they still do
In our secretest heart, it's our favourite part of the story
Let's just admit we all want to make it too

Ever ever after
If we just don't get it our own way
Ever ever after
It may only be a wish away

Start a new fashion, wear your heart on your sleeve
Sometimes you reach what's real just by making believe
Unafraid, unashamed
There is joy to be claimed in this world
You even might wind up being glad to be you

Ever ever after
Though the world will tell you it's not smart
Ever ever after
The world can be yours if you let your heart
Believe in ever after

No wonder your heart feels it's flying
Your head feels it's spinning
Each happy ending's a brand new beginning
Let yourself be enchanted, you just might break through

To ever ever after
Forever could even start today
Ever ever after
Maybe it's just one wish away
Your ever ever after

Ever ever ever after

(I've been dreaming of a true love's kiss)

Oh, for ever ever after

She let the last notes ring out and then smiled as the music ended. She loved that song, because she was able to hold the notes longer than any song she had shown them. She glanced at Dustin and nodded. She fit in. And she couldn't be happier.

Hey guys! I hope you like this chapter. I already know what I am going to do with the rest of this story, so more will come soon! I promise! Whoever can guess the movie Dustin and Sarah were watching gets a shout out. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the song, "Ever Ever After". It belongs to Carrie Underwood.

Also, I have some ideas for possible stories and one-shots. I will give you basic summaries and let me know which ones you want to read after I finish this one (or maybe while I am still writing it).

A Bullet Never Lies: one-shot An alternate ending to episode 8, "Memories We Fear". What would have happened if the bullet didn't go through the window when Abby charged Lucas.

Confrontations & Recordings: one-shot After episode 3, "We Have A Cop In Trouble". Donnie goes to pick a fight with Abby at her apartment after dinner and it doesn't turn out like he thought it would. Some sibling fluff.

Birthday Chats: one-shot Richie joins Abby for a chat on the stairs during her surprise party. Sibling fluff!

Why Me?: two or three chapters A month after Abby and Brody sleep together, Abby thinks she might be pregnant. What does she do?
*(If you want me to do this one, let me know if you want her to be pregnant or not.)*

Abby's Secret: multi-chapter Abby and Lina wrap up a case, and the next day Abby is acting odd-even for her. She is avoiding her family and friends. However, this secret keeps her locked up tight and threatens to soon make her fall harder than she ever has before. Can the guys and Lina help her before it's too late?

Let me know what you want to read!