Author's Note: Alright here's the contiuation as promised. Julie sees her mother, which will be fun. It's a good chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Chapter 21: Moms

"I have something for you," Scooter said, sneaking up behind Kelly, who was now changed into her gown and supervising some last minute decorating, "To wear tonight."

"A corsage, yes that's pretty typical," She laughed. He shook his head, and pulled a small box out of his tux pocket. "Scooter!"

"I wanted to give the most beautiful girl, the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," He lifted it open, "Besides her of course." Her eyes widened. Sitting in the box was a gorgeous double banded diamond bracelet. He gently lifted it and put it around her wrist.

"It's beautiful," She said, "It must have cost a fortune!"

"It's the first of many," He kissed her, "I was thinking a ring for a while, but I thought that might be rushing it." She laughed. "But I was thinking about it. I'm so in love with you Kelly." She kissed him.

"I love you," she said, "It's beautiful, but I," she sighed, "I can't wear it tonight, someone will notice that it's new and then,"

"Tell them it's your mom's," Scooter said, "And you just found it or something." Kelly smiled. "I want tonight to be perfect for you, baby." He kissed her again. "I'm gonna talk to Rick now OK?"

"OK," she said, "Be nice about it though, he's totally depressed about Allie."

"Sure thing," He smiled and kissed her. The thing is these kisses weren't quick pecks but long open mouth kisses where his arms were entirely wrapped around her.

"You really want to make sure you get some tonight," Kelly laughed. He smiled and kissed her again. "Let you in on a secret? It's a sure thing." She whispered and he smiled. "Go!" He laughed.

"I love you so much!" He said, as he left the large hall, she pointed. He walked around for a minute taking a deep breath. He walked upstairs and found Rick lying perfectly still on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his jacket on the chair, and his bow tie untied. "Hey man, how's it going?"

"How much would Kelly kill me if I bailed tonight?" He said quietly. "We lose the game, turns out Allie's been screwing a Duck, the only possible way today could be worse is if I had to sit down through a boring formal function. Oh wait," he sighed, "I do have to do that."

"Dude," Scooter said, "You know she'd freak if you didn't show, tonight's way important to her."

"Yeah," Rick sighed, and sat up and looked at Scooter, "Whoa, you broke out the good tux, and you smell good. All this for Kelly?"

"Yeah," Scooter said, "I need to talk to you about Kelly."

"Oh God," Rick said, "I've been an idiot!" Scooter looked at him, had he really figured it out? "You like her?" Scooter just stared at him. "Look, its cool, I mean, she's my sister, so don't like press too hard, but if she's into it, that could be cool."

"Huh," Scooter nodded, "Thanks man. You're sure, you're cool with it?"

"Definitely," Rick said, "I mean, you're kinda queer and everything, but she could do worse."

"Um, awesome," Scooter said, "So, I'm gonna go, um, do something else." He walked back down.

"So," Kelly smiled, seeing him reemerge in the hall, "What happened?"

"He seems really cool with it." He said, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, "But maybe we should cool it a little, be sensitive to the Allie thing,"

"I'm just excited that I get to kiss you in public." She giggled. "And for tonight," she smiled at him. He put his hands on her waist and they kissed each other slowly. So it was a little white lie. Technically, Rick knew about them.

"Dad!" Julie ran and hugged him after the game. He smiled and held her close.

"God, I missed you Cat." He said softly. "So, this is Eden Hall?"

"This is Eden Hall," She said, "What do you think?"

"Fancy," He laughed, "They treat you good?"

"They treat me good," She said. "Hi Elyse!" Julie gave her a hug.

"Hi Julie," Elyse said. "Good game."

"Could you follow?" She said excitedly, "I mean, when I left you were still having major hockey issues."

"You're dad's been helping me." Elyse laughed. "But I can tell you did very well."

"Julie!" Jimmy ran over to her.

"Jimmy!" She laughed as he hugged her, picking her up. "Dad, this is my boyfriend Jimmy."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Gaffney." Jimmy extended his hand. Julie, Elyse and Cal all laughed, as Cal shook his hand. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No," Cal said, "But no need to be so formal. Call me Cal, everyone does, or you could call me,"

"Papa G!" A few of the Ducks, lead by Portman came running over. "Came all the way from Maine for us?"

"Something like that," He winked at Julie. "Jules, listen, we're meeting your mom in like an hour."

"Just let me grab a shower," she said, and whacked the guys in the shoulders.

"And Jimmy," Elyse said, "You're welcome to join us too, of course, the more people, the less Julie has to worry about being alone with her mom."

"I'd love to," Jimmy said, looking over at Julie, who was looking nervously at her father. "But I'm afraid there's this big gala thing for the alumni, and my sister planned it, and if I am late she will kill me. I'll see you after though right?"

"Right," Julie said and they hugged. "Guys," she looked at the team mates, who were just standing.

"Sorry," Goldberg mumbled. "Good to see you Papa G." They walked away. Julie smiled.

"I'll be right back," Julie said, "Um, feel free to wander, it's a huge campus, plenty to see."

"Jules," Cal said, stopping her before she walked away, "I want to talk to you about something, before you go." Elyse smiled. Here it was. "Can we sit?" He asked, Julie nodded.

"Dad, what's going on?" She said as they sat down.

"Kiddo, um, you know you're getting older now," he took a deep breath, "and, things are really great, and as much as I love when it's just me and you,"

"Dad," Julie said, her eyes getting big, "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

"Elyse and I," he took Elyse's hand, "We're going to get married." Elyse smiled.

"You're what?" Julie said.

"Cat," He looked at her.

"Just like that," She said, "You're just going to get married." She stood up. "You know this day was supposed to totally rock." She walked off.

"Julie," He stood, Elyse touched his arm.

"Cal," she said, "Let me OK?" She followed after her. "Julie," she called after her Julie turned around. "Julie, I know this is hard OK?"

"Do you know?" Julie crossed her arms.

"Yeah," Elyse said, "I do. You're not the only one who's getting something that they weren't counting on right?"

"You don't want me?" Julie asked.

"No," Elyse said softly, "I definitely want you. I've always wanted a daughter." She hugged Julie, "And now, I get to skip right to the good part. No need for dirty diapers, or potty training, right into the late night talks, and the boys, and the planning a Sweet 16." Julie pulled away and smiled. "What, is that like not your thing?"

"No," She said excitedly, "It's just, that's the kind of thing Dad would never think of."

"We are going to have to get him used to it," She said putting her arm around her, Julie laughed. "He's going to be out numbered."

"That he is most certainly not used to." Julie smiled. "I'm sorry I freaked."

"'S OK," Elyse laughed. "Let you in on a secret. When I found out about you, on our first date, I freaked a little too. But now I can't imagine my life without Julie The Cat."

Julie stared in the window of a restaurant, her dad and Elyse on either side of her. The woman who was standing waiting for them was nothing like the Jaime Gaffney she had remembered. This wasn't the soft quiet mother who had sung her to sleep when she was little. This woman look hard, and tough. She was a tall beauty and her blonde hair (the same shade as Julie's), and she was wearing a gorgeous grey pantsuit. This couldn't be Jaime Bloom; she couldn't possibly have any of this woman in her.

"You ready for this kid?" Cal said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.

"She's different than I remember," She whispered.

"Eight year's will do that," He smiled. "You're different than she'll remember too."

"At least she's had pictures." Julie sighed. "I'm going to go in there."

"Alright," he said, squeezing her hand and Julie walked in the door. He turned to Elyse who's eyes were closed and was pure white. "Are you alright?"

"You have the most intimidating ex wife in the history of ex wives." Elyse shook her head. Cal laughed and kissed her. "Don't laugh at me Cal."

"I'm not," He said. "Come on, let's rescue the kid." Elyse nodded at the tiny squeeze he gave to her waist.

"Mom?" Julie said softly. Jaime turned. "Hi."

"Julie?" She whispered.

"Unless you have another daughter that you didn't tell me about," she giggled. She walked over and hugged her. For a minute Julie felt six years old again in her mother's arms.

"Where's your father?" Jaime finally asked, breaking out of the hug.

"I'm right here Jaim," Cal smiled, she laughed and walked over giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Why did you only send me pictures of her in her hockey gear?" She whacked him in the shoulders, "I was not expecting this beautiful young lady to walk in!" Julie laughed uncomfortably. "And you must be Elyse?"

"Yes, it's nice to meet you," Elyse smiled and took the hand that Jaime was offering. Then she winked at Julie, who couldn't stop smiling. So this was her family.

"So Julie," Jaime said, putting her arm around her, "Tell me about school, and your friends, your team, everything."

"Um, school's good I guess," Julie said, "It's hard, but I'm a pretty good student."

"Straight A's since kindergarten is not pretty good," Jaime smiled, "It's outstanding." Julie beamed.

"Yeah," she said, "And um, my team are my friends, they're the best," she stopped. "And I have a boyfriend." Jaime looked over at Cal, who took a large sip of the water in front of him and whose face was bright red and started laughing. Julie noted that Jaime's laugh was almost identical to her own.

"What's his name?" Jaime asked. "Is he one of your team mates?"

"No," Cal said, "I'd never let her date one of them!"

"His name's Jimmy," Julie glared at her father, "And he plays soccer. And his father hates me, as does his older brother." She blinked, "It's sort of complicated."

"Sounds it," Jaime smiled. Julie smiled back. Dinner went smoothly, with small talk and catching up. But something in Julie was itching to ask a serious question.

"Cal," Elyse said, seeing the disquieted look on Julie's face. "We should head back to the hotel."

"You're right," he said, "Julie, are you ready to," Elyse elbowed him, "Oh, yeah, I'll see you in the morning kid!" He kissed her.

"Night Dad," She said, "Bye Elyse."

"Bye Julie." She smiled and waved pushing Cal out the door.

"Alright," Jaime said, as the waiter brought them some coffee, "So I guess you have questions."

"Um a few," Julie said quietly, "Was I not enough for you?"

"I want you to understand," Jaime said quietly, "You meant so much to me Julie, but I was so young when I had you, and,"

"Dad was young too!" She said, "He managed to stick around."

"I know," Jaime sighed, "I've always regretted not having you in my life."

"Yeah," Julie crossed her arms. "Was it worth it?"

"Partly," Jaime looked at her, "I wanted more Julie." She said sadly, "If I could have had that and had you and your dad I would have, but I had to make choices. You made choices too. I recall sending a lot of letters."

"I was angry," Julie whispered, "You left us."

"I know," Jaime said, "I'm sorry. I've talked to your dad though, and I want to be a part of your life."

"No mom to two moms," Julie shook her head. "It's been a crazy day."

"So, your Pub couldn't make it huh?" Rick said, sitting next to a melancholy Cassie, who just sighed. "What's wrong Cass?"

"It's over," she said, "He, it wasn't working anymore."

"I'm sorry," Rick said, she shrugged, "So we're a fun pair tonight."

"Where is Allie?" Cassie looked around.

"Um, well," Rick said, "Turns out, Allie's been sleeping with Luis Mendoza." Cassie nodded, "Cass, don't tell me you knew!"

"Not exactly," Cass said quietly, "I mean, I found them once, but she insisted he was just her Spanish tutor."

"Mm," Rick nodded, "I think I could have loved her." Cass looked at her plate. "Hey, wanna dance?" He offered her his hand. She smiled.

"I'd like that." She said softly, taking it.

"You know something?" Allie said softly, laying out on the football field next to Luis, "I'm supposed to be at that Gala right now, and I don't even care."

"Really?" He asked her.

"I'd rather be here with you," She whispered and they kissed. "Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything," He said softly.

"I just want you to understand who I am," She sighed, "I'm no angel Luis."

"You don't have to justify anything you've ever done to me Allie," He shook his head and they kissed.

"I know," She smiled, "That's why I love you. But I want to." He nodded. "I started coming here when I was sophomore. Um, I'm from California, Beverly Hills actually, and freshman year, I went a little nuts."

"Nuts?" Luis looked at her, "Nuts how?"

"Drugs, drinking," She sighed, "Sex, lots of sex. And um, my father caught me." She sighed, "I don't remember that night much, just a twenty two year old friend of my brother's and an empty bottle of Grey Goose and a bong next to the bed, anyway he sent me here, he figured as far away from all of that as I could get. But it got worse, not better. Um, before, you heard Scooter call me Knee Pads?" He nodded. "That's the nickname that the hockey guys gave me sophomore year, when I went down on six guys in one night." He blinked at her. "I'm not proud of it, of any it, and until I found you, I would have probably kept going down that road, and I would have ended up like my mother," She kissed him. "So thank you."

"I love you," He whispered. She closed her eyes and smiled. "I think you're incredible."

"I love you too," She said softly.

"So," Charlie said, walking hand in hand with Linda, she had slipped away from the gala early to be with him, "Can I start by saying you look amazing?"

"That's a pretty good start," She smiled and kissed him. Kelly had been right, once he kissed her she knew. This was it.

"So, aren't you glad you came around," He smiled confidently. She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm glad you came back," She said softly, sitting on a bench. "I'm glad you're here." He sat down next to her and they kissed again.

"I'm glad I came back too," He said softly. "And I'm very glad I found you." They weaved their fingers together holding hands quietly.

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