Parties and Good Times
"Food! Glorious food!" Carlos shouted as he and Adeline, (now happily married and approaching two months since the wedding) walked into Kendall and Juliet's house, the aroma of the Christmas Eve 'feast' already making everyone's mouths water.
Juliet came out of the bedroom holding Benjamin, who was wailing at being disturbed from what had been a peaceful nap.
Kendall held Elizabeth as he worked back and forth between the kitchen and the dining room, setting things here and there.
"You want help?" Adeline offered, looking at the somewhat messy house the two were living in, but it was expected as the twins were only just over a year old.
"Sure. Adeline, you want to hold him for a bit? At least until Lena and James come over? They should be here any minute..."
Just then the front door opened, and everyone turned.
"We're not late, are we? Took a little bit to get this one ready," James said as he adjusted the baby girl in his arms, Lena smiling at her husband before turning to look at Juliet, "Something sure smells wonderful..."
"It would be better if I could help in the kitchen...I'm rather afraid Kendall is going to burn everything."
"I would never do such a thing!" Kendall called, before the sound of a pan hitting the floor made everyone jump before sighing, James handing Caroline to Lena before rushing into the kitchen to help Kendall, as one person could not do all the cooking and table-setting alone.
As the groups sat to eat, Ben in Kendall's lap and Elizabeth in her mother's, the group's attention suddenly snapped to the little boy when they heard, "CARLOS!"
Kendall and Juliet looked at each other before looking at Ben. Elizabeth giggled and said, "Carlos!"
The twins, unable to say anything else continued to yell the Latino's name, who was laughing gleefully looking at the adorable twins.
"Oh... My... God... Who would've guessed the twins' first word... Or name in this instance would be... Carlos." Adeline said, laughing a little of the thoughts and the actions.
"Well...at least they're talking. As soon as they can walk though, we're dead." Tori added laughing.
"And why is that?" Logan asked.
"As soon as little kids learn to use their fine motor skills, they're impossible to stop. Just ask Juliet about all the trouble I got into when I was little..."
"That wasn't trouble Tori. That was a death wish."
"What was a death wish?" Logan wondered, now truly interested in the turn oh the conversation, now that it was about his fiancee.
"When we were four, Tori wanted to go swimming. Long, long story short, our father pulled her out of the river behind our house. That's what Tori got for having a poor sense of equilibrium."
"As I recall it, Juliet, you pushed me."
"But that's not how it happened."
"Well that's how I remember it."
"Then Tori, you remember it incorrectly."
"Right, because I was the one that broke mom's favorite vase when we were seven."
"... Tori? That was you."
"Hey...let's all not argue now, that was the past, and you two have grown up into beautiful women that know how to stay out of trouble." Kendall cut in with a smile, laughing as Logan added, "And I agree."
"... I don't know how accurate that statement is."
"And why is that?"
"Because as I recall, Juliet just went through the WONDROUS experience of childbirth... I think she would've like to waited-"
"HEY! I resent that! You try giving birth to twins and not scream bloody murder!"
With the two sisters bickering over childhood memories, the dinner seemed to pass quickly, and then the group started talking about their hopes for the coming year, eventually all unanimously agreeing they wished the war would be over soon, and America united once and for all.
Later that night, in order to calm her wound out twins, Juliet began to sing.
"Deep in the meadow, under the willow, a bed of grass, a soft green pillow,
lay down your head, and close you eyes, and when again they open the sun will rise
Here it's safe, and here it's warm, Here the daises guard you from every harm,
here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true, here is the place, where I love you
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away, a cloak of leaves, a mood beam ray, forget your woes, and let your troubles lay,and when again it's morning they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm, here the daises guard you from every harm, here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true, here is the place, where I love you. Here is the place, where I love you."
And as her twins finally settled into a deep a restful sleep, she walked over to her and Kendall's bed, laying down beside him, feeling his arms wrap around her.
"You okay?" he asked softly, sensing there was something wrong.
Juliet sighed, thoughts still heavy despite the party and time spent with friends.
"I'm fine. I just wish this war would end. So many lives are still being lost, and although I'm grateful its not yours or any of our friends, I'd still prefer to see everyone getting along, and innocent blood not being spilt." she explained.
She smiled as she felt Kendall kiss her hair, turning to curl into him as he said, "I know love, but you just have to remember, that no matter what happens, nothing will change as long as I'm by your side."
