AN: I'm back! I quite enjoyed the little details and moments of this chapter, I hope you do. Hello to the new readers, and the regular readers!


"I don't know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be."- Abraham Lincoln


Chapter 26

"It's my birthday, and I'm here, and my family isn't," Ollie sulked to Aurora.

It was the first Saturday in December. The evening before, Caroline and Aubrey had cheered at their last football game of the season.

"Well, at least you're with us, and not with strangers," Aurora pointed out. "And it's not like it's an important birthday."

"Every birthday is important, even eleven," Ollie retorted. "In Harry Potter eleven is one of the most important birthdays."

Caroline was standing in the doorway, listening to Oliver and Aurora. She had a gentle, natural smile on her lips, as she enjoyed their interaction. Often, she had an exaggerated, or flirtatious smile on her lips, to maintain that 'life of the party vibe.' Yes, she liked to have fun, but there were times where she just liked to take it easy, and enjoy life.

She walked up behind the disgruntled Ollie and gave him a quick hug, dropping a kiss on his head.

"Cheer up, birthday boy," she said merrily. "I know you were hoping for some wonderful family gathering or something today, but why don't you just have fun with us while you're here? I'm sure the rest of your family hasn't actually deserted you."

"They're probably just planning a surprise," Aurora suggested.

Caroline frowned at her little sister, silently trying to remind her not to give away that there was actually a surprise party being planned. She just wanted to cheer Ollie up without spoiling the surprise.

Ollie was duly surprised that afternoon, when Caroline, accompanied by James and Aurora, took him home, to a house filled with family and friends – all there for his birthday.

Veronica and Logan had put together a Harry Potter party for Ollie, as he had been reading the books, and was particularly sorry that he would never receive his own Hogwarts letter, or get to be a part of the wizarding world.

They had hired a specialist party planner, who had turned their home into a mini magical world. There was a Diagon Ally area, with lots of the shops, Gringotts, the Leaky Cauldron. There were stylised Hogwarts rooms and a Hogsmeade village area.

All guests were dressed in accordance with the Harry Potter theme and all the food was themed too.

By the evening, when Veronica tucked Ollie in bed, his very own, authentic 'Hogwarts Letter' perched on his bedside table, he had long forgotten how upset he'd been earlier that day.

The next day found, being Sunday, found Aubrey and Caroline shopping for dresses for the Winter Formal.

"There's something wrong with us!" Caroline exclaimed.

"There's a lot of things wrong with us," Aubrey giggled. "What are you referring to this time?"

"That we're shopping for a dress, and the dance is in six days," Caroline said, her tone and expression conveying that 'duh' feeling.

"At least you're still not shopping for a date," Aubrey retorted impishly.

"Just because you have a guaranteed date to every dance," Caroline grumble good-naturedly.

"And you know you love seeing how many guys will ask you to each dance, and picking the best one," Aubrey pointed out.

"Oh, you know I do," Caroline replied. "I think I picked a good one this time. At least I know he'll be worth making out with during the dance."

"You're terrible! You didn't tell me you'd already made out with Josh?" Aubrey scolded playfully.

Caroline had eventually agreed to go to the Winter Formal with the long suffering, very attractive Josh Andrews.

"Friday night, after the game," Caroline said, with a pleased smile. "I couldn't very well tell you yesterday, not with all of Ollie's birthday stuff going on."

"Such a sense of decorum," Aubrey teased. "Well, I'm glad you like him. Maybe you'll even let him stick around after the dance?"

"Maybe," Caroline said with a thoughtful smile. "He is rather nice."

"You mean nice looking," Aubrey retorted.

"Well, I mean both," Caroline replied. "I think I do like him."

"Well, let's find you a killer dress then," Aubrey said decisively. "I wouldn't mind finding a dress too, some time today!"

Caroline laughed, and they continued their shopping.

At the Fennel's, Wallace and Amanda were enjoying a rare moment of peace and quiet. Keith and Alicia had taken Justin, Dakota and the twins to Orange County Zoo for Jasmine and Tyler's birthday. Jas and Tyler were turning twelve the next week, and their trip was part of their birthday celebrations.

Justin and Dakota had accompanied them, under mild protest. They had spent plenty of enjoyable time at the Irvine Regional Park when they were younger, but felt they were getting too old for such an outing.

"I'm glad your mom and Keith are doing this with the twins, and the older two," Amanda commented happily, as she and Wallace sat, drinking coffee. "Quality time is something that can't be bought."

"And if it was, we couldn't buy it," Wallace commented wryly.

"Why Wallace, you sound almost bitter," Amanda exclaimed, honestly surprised. Wallace had stayed as he was in high school, consistently positive and good natured, rarely expressing anything negative.

"I know, and I know it's stupid, getting hung up on material things," Wallace replied. "We taught the children that."

"I know, it was very important to us, especially most of their friends, particularly your friends' families, are very wealthy," Amanda agreed.

"That's just it. That party Veronica and Logan threw yesterday, we could never throw something like that for Jas and Ty, and just because it would be fun," Wallace responded. "I know Logan and Veronica don't make a fuss about their money, especially Veronica."

"I sense a 'but' there," Amanda said gently.

"But they still have it, they don't flaunt it, but they have it, and it's a part of their world, and Mac and Dick's, and Duncan and Eva's," Wallace answered. "Part of me has always been bothered that I, we, can't keep up. I mean, I've worked hard, I make good money, so do you, and we have a very comfortably life. But we're not 09ers."

"Why does that matter now? You've never been an 09er, and I doubt an eleven year old's birthday party is what really set this off," Amanda queried.

"Well, maybe it has something to do with Justin starting high school at Neptune High," Wallace revealed with a sheepish grin. "I've been thinking about it for a few months, really, about that world he's immersed in, and the crowd. He'll always been an honorary 09ers, thanks to Aubrey and Caroline, but he'll only ever be honorary. He's in that world, but he'll never belong in it. That's the same for all our kids."

"Do you think they mind?" Amanda questioned softly. "I think we've got four, happy, healthy, smart, special children Wallace. I don't think they mind at all. To tell you the truth, I think you should get this worry out of your system now, because they might pick up on your worries, and then we'd be in a mess. We've worked hard to create a good life, and we should work hard to keep it."

"God, I know, I'm an idiot. I just, you know, had a moment, or a month of moments. You're right, I needed to get it all out, and it seems stupid now, especially after what you've said, and even more so because of what V and Logan are going through with Aubrey," Wallace said regretfully. "That really puts things in perspective."

"It does, doesn't it?" Amanda said rhetorically.

"I'd throw a party like that too, if it meant that I could ease my kids' worry for even a minute," Wallace said, suddenly understanding part of the reason for the extravagant party.

"I know you would," Amanda said, squeezing his hand lovingly. "That's why I married you."

"I thought you married me for my killer charm and good looks?" Wallace asked with a grin, back in his usual good form.

Amanda chuckled, shaking her head, then moved in and kissed him lovingly.

Across town, Logan was sitting on their deck, looking out over the ocean, a favourite way of his to think and relax. A novel lay discarded on his lap, and he appeared to be deep in thought.

Veronica, walking up behind him, from the house, could tell from his posture that he was thinking, and quietly, moved up to him, and slipped her arms around his neck.

"Sugarpus," Logan said softly. "Come here."

He moved around and pulled Veronica down to sit on his lap.

He shook his head in wonder.

"What?" Veronica demanded curiously.

"I'm just wondering where you put it all," Logan said, sounding completely complexed.

"What?" Veronica repeated, starting to become exasperated.

"All that ice-cream, I swear a saw you eat several gallons of it last night," Logan teased.

"Just be glad I still have such a wonderful metabolism," Veronica retorted tartly.

"I wonder what startling creation Aubrey will come home with for the dance," Logan said glumly, apparently done teasing Veronica, and being scolded in turn.

"She's not too bad, all things considered," Veronica said reasonably.

"Well, you know I'll never be happy, unless she brings home a nun's habit," Logan joked.

Veronica snorted, and ran her hands through Logan's hair.

"Any thing to report from your call with the FBI? I know they rang earlier, judging from the way you looked at your phone like you had an incoming call from outer space," Logan remarked. "And I'm guessing the FBI doesn't just call for fun on a Sunday."

"They did call, and it wasn't for fun," Veronica replied. "But it wasn't to report a breakthrough, either. Quite the opposite. At this stage, we've got close to no leads, and hundreds of crazy theories, and it's just getting ridiculous. No one is this good at covering at their tracks, so clearly, we're missing something. I'm sure it's something so obvious that I'll want to give up my P.I. license when I figure it out, just for being such an idiot."

"Really?" Logan said hopefully. "I mean, if we have to go through this, that could be a nice light at the end of the tunnel, once you've caught this bastard. You can finally follow me around with food and drink, and do lots of knitting, and sit on lots of committees and cater to my every whim."

"Yes, sounds good. I'll tell you what. I'll even wear cute little 1950s housewife outfits," Veronica replied with an easy smile.

"Awesome," Logan replied cheerfully. "Let's get that in writing, then we're in business."

"Okay. Logan, wake up. Wake up, time to go to school," Veronica said playfully.

"Very funny," Logan said.

"See you say that, but I feel like you don't really mean it," Veronica said with a pout.

Logan laughed at her antics, and said, "I love you, Veronica."

"I love you too," Veronica returned sincerely.

Early the next week, it was the lunch break at Spring View Elementary.

James walked out into the lunch area, headed for the lunch tables that he, and the other 09ers, frequented.

As had been common over the last few weeks, Violet was pointed sitting at a different table to Dakota. Usually, the two could be found sitting together, laughing and generally enjoying themselves with their friends. Since their fight from a few weeks before, their friendship however hadn't been the same.

James set his lunch tray down next to Violet, and then sat down next to her.

"Remember that chat we had the other week, Vi?" James asked in a neutral tone.

"The one about basketball?" Violet asked, playing dumb.

"Not that one," James replied. "Do you want to be cute and try to avoid the topic, and have me talk about it in front of everyone away, or do you want to just listen to me?"

Violet grimaced, James had a way of backing her into a corner.

"You seem to be on some quest to save me from myself," she grumbled in a low tone.

"Someone's got to, now that Aubrey isn't here to keep an eye out for you," James replied teasingly. He had actually taken it upon himself to look out for the typically hot-headed, emotional Violet. Aubrey had done it during their middle school days together, and James had unofficially taken over from her.

Violet gave him a small smile in reply, she missed Aubrey, and appreciated James obviously caring about her. He teased her awfully at times, and they fought, but he always protected her, and they had a great deal of affection for one another.

"Vi," James said softly. "I know you've got a lot going on now, and it might make it hard to think clearly about everything, but I think that's why it is important for you to think properly about this thing with Dakota. She's one of your best friends, and whatever you've been fighting over couldn't be worth losing a friendship over."

"I don't know, Jamie," Violet protested, her eyes darting to Dakota a couple of tables away.

"Maybe you don't have to be as close as you were, spend time with other friends, but don't destroy your friendship," James advised.

"I'll think about it, I promise," Violet replied. "Especially if you give me some of your fries."

James chuckled, and passed her his fries, and the two of them joined in the conversation going on with the others at their table.

Towards the end of that week, Logan returned home from a trip to the city, he had gone for a meeting with his publishing company.

He and Duncan had travelled up together, for Duncan had had a meeting as well.

"How was your meeting?" Duncan asked, as they headed home, down the I-5.

"Yeah, fine, fine. I was just talking promotion for my next novel with Bruce," Logan answered. "I'm more pleased with the present I picked up for Aubrey."

"Guilt shopping," Duncan said understandingly. "Anything that can serve as a distraction from the pain always seems like a good idea."

"Yeah," Logan responded. "This present though has a little more purpose. I may or may not have taken a leaf out of Ronnie's book, and LoJacked what I bought her."

Duncan chuckled heartily, and the two continued their journey home.

AN: Thanks for reading, more to come soon :) As always, I love to hear your thoughts in a review.