Title: The More Things Change

Author: Michelle

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See Part 1

Part 30: Brunch and Shopping

Note: This is my favorite chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Terri walked around her house smiling. For the first time in months she felt settled; she knew what she wanted. She walked in the living room and picked up the large frame on the mantle. Inside was a picture of her and Stiles on their wedding day. She looked so happy in an embrace with her new husband. She looked at the date engraved in the porcelain frame. In just a few weeks she would have been married for a year the most important two weeks of which she didn't remember.

After staring at the photo for several minutes, Terri went to the shelf and pulled out the video of the event; she'd never finished watching it. She had to smile when the song played for their first dance: now she fully understood Stiles' reaction when she chose Always for their second song the previous evening. She watched herself glide across the dance floor in his arms. She looked so content. She wanted to remember how that felt. She wanted to feel that in love again.

Terri rewound the video to the wedding as though if she watched it enough times the memory would resurface. She was reciting her vows for the third time when the doorbell rang.

"Hi! What are you guys doing here? Come in!" She opened the door so Bailey, Liz and Helen could enter.

"Can't a mother visit her daughter?" Helen smiled mischievously.

"And what abut you two?"

"We're taking you to brunch at mom's club then we're going shopping. Grab your purse."

Terri laughed. "What's really going on?"

"I want to hear all about last night."

"And so do we." Helen chimed in.

"Come on, it'll be fun, just the girls. Chance is at work and Daddy and Evan are going to the game."

Terri turned off the TV and dutifully got her things. It was turning out to be a very interesting day.

They weren't even off her street when Helen started pumping her for information. "So, are you staying married or not?"

"Mother."

"Don't mother me; are you or aren't you?"

"As of right now, we are." Terri said with zero expression on her face. She was having a little fun with her mother.

Helen sighed. "What kind of answer is that—as of right now?"

Bailey laughed. "Oh Terri, tell her what she wants to hear; I already told her you two had a good time together last night."

Now she smiled. "No, we had a great time."

Liz chimed in with her opinion. "Oh, I'm so glad; he's such a doll. You two belong together."

"Enough about what happened at the party, what happened after the party?"

If Bailey hadn't been driving, Terri would havepunched her arm. As it was, she just gave her a stern look and kept quiet. Helen wasn't about to let it go at that.

"Well Theresa? What about it, what happened after the party?"

The three women were like teenagers at a slumber party. "Come on girl, spill it!"

Terri looked over her shoulder and frowned. "Not you too Liz; I thought you were the one sensible one in the car."

"Ha Ha, not today my dear. I talked to him last night and I'm pretty sure going home and watching TV wasn't what was on his mind."

"Liz!"

"Mom!"

"I'm mature not ancient, girls!"

After another round of laughter and a short pause, Terri gave them what they wanted.

"Well, on the way home we talked about how lovely the party was. When we got in, we said good night. Stiles had to pack for his trip and we had an early morning. That's about it."

Helen and Liz were disappointed. "That's it?"

"Uh-huh, that's it." But Bailey could see her face—she knew there was more to the story and she wasn't about to let her off the hook—not yet.

"Sorry missy, I don't believe you for one minute. You haven't stopped grinning since we got in the car. Don't make me start telling secrets to get you to talk."

Terri looked at Bailey and tried to look upset, but she couldn't; Bailey was right there was more and she was grinning because she was happy.

"Well, we slept together and it was magnificent."

Bailey smiled. Liz covered her mouth as she grinned. Helen wasn't amused. "Well, I could have gone the rest of the afternoon without that much detail."

"See what happens when you pry?"

It was less than thirty seconds before Terri burst out laughing.

"What on earth is so funny? Are you laughing at me Theresa?"

"Yes! Mother, I love you but I you are nosey. I couldn't resist. When I said we slept together, that's exactly what I meant. We slept together and it was wonderful. I had such a good time last night that I didn't want to it to be over. He was a perfect gentleman, by the way." There was no way she would have ever told Helen the details of her sex life or in this case her lack thereof.

Helen pouted while the others continued talking. Bailey was delighted; Terri was practically on cloud nine.

"Awww, how sweet."

"He let you sleep in the same bed with him and that's it? Poor boy hasn't had sex in almost a year; it must have been driving him crazy." Liz amused herself with her little joke and Helen surprised even herself by laughing.

Terri knew it was driving him crazy but she kept that detail to herself.

While they were eating, Terri really opened up. "Liz, I told Stiles I'm not going to see Matt anymore."

"Good. He's been rotten about the whole thing anyway. Though like I said, I wouldn't mind having you for a daughter-in-law."

Terri smiled at Liz and mouthed, "Thank you."

"Darling, have you remembered anything else?"

"Just little things, some of which I don't even realize are memories. I made chicken parmesan forStiles a few nights ago after I had to cancel lunch. He told me it is his favorite and that I always made it for a peace offering. I didn't consciously remember that. Then last night he promised to dance with me and let me pick the songs. The second song I chose was the first song from the reception—but I didn't' know it. He thinks I'm remembering."

"Yeah, I told you it would happen. Terri, you have to tell them what you told me last night."

"Bailey!"

"Oh come on, it was sweet."

Helen couldn't stand it as Bailey and Terri bantered back and forth she wanted to know. "Well?"

Terri looked at Bailey and nodded.

"She's falling in love with her husband. Isn't that great? She doesn't really remember him, but she's falling in love with him again."

Liz gave Terri an "I told you so look" and gave her a hug. Helen wanted more information.

"What did he say when you told him this?"

"I haven't told him, but I did tell him I'm not going to see Matt." There was a pregnant pause. "And I told him I want to work on our marriage."

"Finally," Helen breathed a sigh of relief. She did not want to go through another divorce.

Terri leaned on the palm of her hand and looked at the three women at the table with a smile on her face. "Tell me about him—about us."

"What do you mean?"

Terri was beaming. "I want to know everything!"

Bailey, Liz and Helen spent the rest of the afternoon telling stories about Terri and Stiles relationship. Occasionally Bailey would wink at Terri to let her know the details would have to wait until they were alone.

Terri decided she would have to do something special for Bailey to thank her for getting the four of them together. Everything Terri heard that afternoon proved to her that she was making the right decision; she could see that she and Stiles really did belong together.

The ladies shopping spree was no less eventful. Terri knew she was in trouble when Bailey insisted on going into a lingerie store. Asit turned out, she should have been more concerned with their mothers.

"Liz, what do you think about this?" Helen asked holding up a long ivory gown and robe.

Liz walked over and examined the garment. "It's beautiful.Evan will love it too," she added winking at Helen.

Helen handed the set to her daughter who was also admiring it. "Honey this is for Terri. This…" she paused and pulled out a matching red and black teddy and bikini, "is for me!"

Terri gasped trying not to picture her mother in that outfit and Bailey and Liz laughed when they realized Helen might be serious.

"What, you think just because you two are the newlyweds you get to have all the fun?" Liz asked. I may have to find a little something for myself!"

The four women were having a great (and for Terri somewhat embarrassing) afternoon. Terri had to suffer one more indignity before she could drag them out.

She was in the dressing room trying on bras when two negligees appeared over the door. "Try these on. When he comes home you've got to knock his socks off. "

"Liz?" Terri asked a bit surprised.

"And Bailey"

She should have known Bailey had something to do with this latest development.

"I'll be back. I'm going to see if your mother found anything else, but don't you dare take those off until your mother and I come back!"

Terri pulled the garments over the door and held them up—there was a long, pink and floral print silk flyaway gown with a matching lace panty and a short, black mesh baby doll and matching thong. The tag said it was 'sheer, sweet, and sexy." It was definitely sheer. Except for the thin, strategically placed satin trim at the top, there would be little left to the imagination.

Terri opened the door and stuck her head out, knowing Bailey would still be there. "I can't believe you let them do this! I'm not letting them see me in either of these! I'll get you for this Bailey Callan-Chancellor!"

Bailey just smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, it was either you or me and it's your turn!"

No sooner than she'd closed the door Liz and Helen returned with more things. Terri was shaking her head as somehow the three of them convinced her to let them see her in each of the outfits. She was beyond embarrassed when her mother made her turn around so they could see the back of the first outfit and made comments about how much skin she should show. Bailey did her best to keep quiet for fear she would be next.

"Liz what to you think? I'm getting her the pretty ivory one, but when he comes home I think she needs to be showing a little skin."

"Oh, of course"

"Then again, like you said, the poor boy is no doubt starving for a little attention; whatever she wears won't be on her very long!"

Terri rolled her eyes as she walked over to Bailey and whispered. "I can't believe the two of them. Two hours ago she thought I was sharing too much when I told her we slept together, now listen to her!"

"Oh Terri, she's just having fun, and she's right ya know, he won't be able to keep his hands off of you if he sees you in either of those."

"Okay, that's enough. You three have had your fun. Can we get out of here—please!"

Terri looked so pitiful that Helen felt a little sorry for her. "Alright honey, you're right, but we're just trying to help; we don't want you messing up your first night together since—what, before the accident?"

"Mom!"

"We're going, we're going" Helen did care deeply about her daughter and she was ecstatic that she seemed happy again. So happy, in fact, that she bought Terri all three of the outfits.