**For authors notes, summary etc see chapter 1**

Changes

Chapter 50- What's in a name – Free for all

"To dad, Sandra and the babies." Emily has just proposed a toast as we all sit round the table eating the largest selection of takeaway I've ever seen in one place! It's 7.30 and the house is finished and while Gerry and Brian went and got the takeaway Jack and Emily took all the empty boxes to the recycling centre. We're completely settled there's not a single thing left to unpack and it already feels like we've lived her for years instead of 24 hours.

"Why do you keep calling them the babies why not call them by their names?" Trust the six year old at the table to point out the one thing everyone else was thinking but didn't want to say.

"Because we haven't decided what their names are going to be yet GJ what do you think we should call them?" Yes I know I'm opening that can or worms again but as Gerry pointed out it's 72, well 71 days now until they get here so we need to be thinking about it again now.

"I like Ben and jimmy." Paula has just choked on her beer she's laughing so much.

"You mean like Ben 10 and Jimmy Neutron? They are his two favourite cartoon characters." Ah ok it makes sense they seemed like strange choices for a child to make.

"They're good mate but let us put them on the maybe list ok?" Nicely done Gerry I love how great he is at handling any situation tactfully when it comes to his grandson.

"I'm still casting a vote for Jack and Brian." Oh he just refuses to give up on that and he still thinks he should have the casting vote because he guessed right that they would be two boys but sorry Jack it's just not happening.

"Like you and Mr Lane? But you two are old they're going to be babies!" Now the whole table is laughing and again the six year goes right to the point you've got to love it.

"GJ that's not a nice thing to say!" Paula's gone all strict mummy on him aw give him a break he's right!

"You can't fault the child for telling the truth." Aw Jack tries to pretend he's a grumpy old man but he's winking at GJ now and grinning back at him. "And as I was going to say I've already been shot down on that one so what about Alexander? That way one of them would be named after you Sandra even though he's a boy."

"Tried that Jack and she's said a definite no to either of them being named after us, I thought it was a great idea." Well we know Gerry thought it was a good idea but if we were having a girl and I suggested calling her Geraldine he'd have vetoed it too!

"Well if you don't want to call him after you but dad likes Alexander what about Xander, it's nice and it's modern and it's short for Alexander." Umm I've heard worse, actually I've heard worse from her so it's nice to get a reasonably acceptable name from Catlin for once!

"Oh yeah that's lovely little sis and what about Oliver? Xander and Oliver that sounds great I thought about Oliver for GJ." Ah sorry Paula but I can't hear the name Oliver without thinking about Dickensian orphans.

"I hate Oliver…." Ok well Gerry can be the bad guy on this one then. "My first Guvnor's surname was Oliver ad he was a right bas…unpleasant person."

"Nice save dad!" Emily finds it hard to moderate her language at times around GJ too it's the copper in us all so she's sympathetic and I'm trying not to laugh. "I like Eric."

"Emily are you trying to name a baby or a dog!" Brian looks appalled while I agree with him on the name I that is a slight over reaction. "You need something strong and manly like Hamish"

"Oh Brian I despair of you at times I really do." Esther is shaking her head sadly she really does look at him at times like she wonders what the hell he's thinking and it's reassuring that she's still doing that after 40 years just like the rest of us are after only 10! "That really is the sort name you give to a dog. What about Simon? I liked Simon for Mark but then the woman across the street had her baby first and called him that so I had to go for Mark."

"I don't mind Simon what do you think Sandra?" Simon, Simon Standing I like the name but….. "On second thoughts sorry Esther we're ruling out any names beginning with S because of the SS initials thing it was a nice idea though."

"What about James? It's a good strong boy's name." Well that's definitely a more sensible suggestion from Jack but my first boyfriend was called James so it's out for me I'm not going to say that's the reason around this table though.

"Boring!" Oh Emily that's mature for an intelligent woman you can be very childish at times. "You want something more memorable what about Dayton?"

"Excuse me?" it's my turn to choke she can't be serious. "Emily did you bang your head or something when you were emptying boxes earlier, is that even a name?"

She's pouting at me now and the rest of the table are laughing too, I mean Dayton? What the hell?

"Em you are mad it's so pop culture American. Walk about Walker Dad it's nice." Ok I've decided both of my older stepdaughters have had enough to drink, they are now just getting silly.

"Walker Standing? Paula no more beer for you!" Gerry is clearly thinking the same thing as me and Emily has just smiled smugly at Paula I swear she is doing everything but sticking her tongue out and going nah, nah, nah, nah, nah.

"David, after David Beckham, he's hot and he's about as manly as it gets."

"Auntie Catlin you can't name one of them after someone who played for Manchester United tell her Granddad!"

"The boy's right I couldn't have said it better myself." Gerry and GJ have just high-fived it's so cute and Catlin is rolling her eyes.

"Zach? I like that and it's modern but different too." Oh Esther now you might be on to something and Gerry and I have exchanged "now that's possible" eyebrow raises but before we get to comment Brian's in again.

"What about Cary as in Cary Grant? Great man Cary Grant and a great actor too."

Before me and Gerry have had time to react the table has dissolved into anarchy as they all start shouting over each other defending their own choices. Well that didn't go as well as I'd hoped but it wasn't a disaster either there was definitely one or two possibilities there and we may finally be getting somewhere.