The next few weeks are fairly quiet for everyone. Alice and Math enjoy another couple of dates. Lux and Jones are splitting their time between organising everything for Tasha's return to studying. They have decided to wait until the end of their exams before introducing Lux to his family. She has the feeling he's putting it off, but she has to admit that she has a lot of her mind at the moment, so it's probably a good idea.
The main event that happens is Matthew's Naming Ceremony. It was a lovely occasion, and Cate and Lux got to see just how close Ryan and Matthew are. Cate also witnesses how close he and Julia have become. She knows there is nothing going on between them, but she still feels a little uneasy watching her husband being so friendly with his ex.
Cate, Ryan, Jones and Lux drive over to the juvenile detention centre to pick up Tasha. Lux is practically vibrating she's so happy.
"So is Baze finishing up the last few preparations for the party tonight?" asks Ryan.
"Yeah. Everything is pretty much done, he's just waiting for the soda delivery this morning."
"Does Tasha know about the party?" asks Cate. She hates to think of the poor girl being side swiped by it all.
"Oh yeah, she knows. I told her about it the last time I talked to her. She's really excited for it. She's never been the star of her own party before," replies Lux sadly.
"She never had a birthday party when she was a kid?"
"No. She was lucky if her mother remembered her birthday. We had a few parties for her, but it wasn't the same."
Jones smiles at his girlfriend. He knows that the 'we' she's speaking about is her and Bug, but he doesn't want to go into it.
"It's going to be brilliant to have her back!" he grins.
Lux paces the waiting room. She has never been known for her patience, but today it's even worse. She looks at the main door every three seconds, huffing and puffing each time as the door remains closed.
"What's keeping them?"
"Maybe she has to pack?" asks Ryan.
"No, she'll have been packed for days. Come on will you!" she says loudly.
The door shakes open. Tasha bounds out of the room, dashing up to Lux.
"I'm free!" she says excitedly. They throw their arms around one another, unwilling their happiness to see one another again. Even though they saw each other a few short weeks ago, it isn't the same.
"Come on. We're going to get you settled at home, and then there's the party tonight. Everyone is looking forward to seeing you again," says Cate, leading the two young women to the door.
Tasha looks around her apartment, her face breaking into a massive smile at everything she sees. It feels like an eternity since she was here.
"We wanted the apartment to be perfect for your return. The place has been cleaned from top to bottom, and the fridge and cupboards and loaded up with your favourite foods. I hope you like it," beams Cate. She's very proud of how it all turned out. She can't help feeling very maternal towards Tasha. Granted, she is a lovely young woman, but there's more to it than that. She has been the one friend Lux could always count on throughout her life. Who knows what could have happened if she hadn't hit Lux's ex-foster father when she did. For that, she will always be eternally grateful.
"Thank you guys," she says, throwing her arms around Cate and Ryan.
"You're very welcome. I think we'll go and give you the chance to unpack and relax. Lux, Jones, come on. Let's give her some peace," she says, practically dragging her daughter away. "Come on, you'll see her again in a few hours. Tasha, we'll pick you up at about six, all right?" she says. Tasha nods happily.
When she's alone, she throws herself on her blue and purple bedding. She can't take her eyes off her things. Her possessions aren't fancy, or expensive, but they make her happy. The majority of them carry happy memories. She still has the little sweater she wore when she first moved to Sunnyvale. That was far from a happy time for her, but it also represents her first meeting with Lux.
She looks over at the ticket stub stuck into the mirror on her closet door. It's the ticket stub from the concert that K100 had organised, featuring Ben Lee and Hayley James Scott. It was a fantastic day, and she would never forget it, even if she did get into a fight with Lux. She remembers standing at the front of the stage, singing with her hands in the air with Lux's auntie Paige. Good times.
She glances over at the clock. She's getting picked up in just over an hour. She dashes from her bed and looks through her wardrobe, trying to pick something to wear.
Tasha eventually picks a pair of her favourite skinny jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Lux is a little late picking her up. She was getting worried that she had been forgotten about.
"Sorry we're late, but Cate was baking cupcakes, and she got a little carried away with the icing and decoration. Hope they taste as good as they look."
"Cate is baking? Is this a good thing, or should I avoid them at all costs?"
"No, actually her cooking is improving. I think she's sneakily watching Nigella Lawson when she gets up," laughs Lux. "Come on, we better go. Cate and Ryan are waiting for us downstairs."
The party is just starting when they arrive. Baze and Lux have decorated the loft with balloons which say 'Welcome Home'. When Tasha walks into the loft, she has to fight back tears. She can't believe that they have gone to so much trouble for her. Lux is standing beside her. She puts her arm around her waist, gently squeezing her.
"Are you all right?" she asks.
"Yeah, I just can't believe everyone went to so much trouble," says Tasha, looking at each detail in turn.
"Hey, you're worth it!" grins Lux, swooshing her hair.
Tasha fights the urge to make fun of that comment, but she's too enraptured with everything and everyone. She smiles as Ryan and Cate raise their glasses to her, Jones is grinning at her, and Math and Alice are standing in the kitchen, chatting away. She makes a mental note to ask about that, as she doesn't recognise her.
"All right, before the party really gets going, I have to make a speech," begins Baze. Always the host. "Tasha, we are glad to have you back. You're a part of this insane family, and we wanted to celebrate your return in the only way we know how, and that's to party. Food is cooking outside, drinks are in ice buckets, and everyone, have a great time. To Tasha!" he says, raising his glass. Everyone does the same.
"To Tasha!"
People quickly scatter around the loft. Some people head outside to get something to eat, while others stay inside to enjoy some chat and drinks. Music is blasting outside, and so it's much easier to have conversations inside. Baze is in and out of the party. The bar is pretty busy, and so he's keeping a close eye on the situation to check if Jamie needs some help.
Tasha is feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. She sits on the couch, just watching everyone milling around. Cate and Ryan are standing at the far side of the loft, deep in conversation. Math and Alice are standing at the barbecue outside, and Jones is chatting with Lux in the kitchen. She watches as Lux reaches into her pocket, lifts out her phone and glares at the screen for a few moments before putting it back into her pocket, a look of intense trepidation on her face. She raises her eyes to look over at Tasha, smiling and coming over to her.
"Are you having a good time?" she asks, crashing down on the couch beside her.
"Yeah, I am, it's just a little overwhelming. I'm not really sure what to do with myself. It's strange what being locked away can do for a person," she says quietly. "Who was calling you just now? You didn't look very happy about the call?"
Lux's eyes fall to the ground.
"No one important. Do you want some food, or something to drink?" she offers.
"No, I'm fine. Who's the woman with Math? I thought he was always single."
"I'm not sure what's going on with them. They've been on a few dates, but I don't think they're actually dating."
"Who is she?"
"She's Alice, Cate and Ryan's boss at the radio station."
"Oh, right. They are really cute together."
Lux looks closely at the two of them, really for the first time. She has never noticed it before, but they are sweet together.
"Yeah, they are actually. Hope they can work it out."
