A/N: Thanks as always for the reviews, keep them coming!

Disclaimer: I own nothing


Chapter 50: What are you thankful for?

Tammy stood quietly at the mirror in the bathroom finishing her makeup. She swallowed.

"You sleep OK?" Dave said walking in. "Or did the ghosts keep you up?"

"Do you believe in knocking?" She asked. He smiled.

"Not really," he said, sat down on a chair in the corner. "You didn't answer my question."

"I slept fine," she said. "Although the ghosts," he nodded. "Fulton's wife is pregnant."

"Whoa, that was quick," he said. She nodded. "You're freaked?" She nodded

"I wasted so much goddamn time," she said throwing an compact on the counter. "I pushed Steve away when I should have held on, I put everything on pause thinking that someday he'd," she closed her eyes. "And he was actually moving on, and building a life, and now he's married, and they're having a baby."

"Tammy," Dave said softly putting his arms around her from behind. "You didn't waste time. Look at what you built in that time!"

"It's not the same," she said. He kissed her neck. "Don't," she said softly.

"I won't let you feel sorry for yourself," he said. "You are amazing." His hands slid onto her waist. She shuddered. "I wouldn't have fallen for you otherwise."

"Dave," she whispered.

"Dinner's not for a good two hours," he whispered. "I think we can do some damage before that." He ran one finger up her side and then turned her chin and kissed her.

"You're a very bad habit Dave," she whispered and kissed him.

"I've always been a big a believer in indulging vices." He smirked. She giggled.

"Aunt Tammy?" Eva knocked on the door and called. Tammy sighed.

"Sorry," she said, pushing Dave away. "It's open Evie." Eva walked in. "What's up sweetheart?"

"I wanted to show you something," she said. "What's he doing in here?"

"Dave was just, um, asking me about something for my company," Tammy said. "Since we're done with that now, he was leaving." Dave nodded and walked out. "What is on Eva's mind today?"

"I wanted to show you this yesterday, but Mom said you were in a bad mood." Eva said. Tammy looked at her.

"What did you want to show me?" Tammy said softly. Eva handed her a piece of paper. Tammy looked at it. "This is a still life?"

"We had to do them in class," Eva explained, "my teacher said it was good, and I thought."

"Eva," Tammy whispered and looked at it. "This is very good."

"Really?" The little girl said. Tammy nodded. Eva smiled. She'd always wanted to be like her Aunt Tammy. Maybe she could be an artist too.

"Here," Tammy said going into her bag and taking out a sketch pad and some pencils.

"What are we doing?" Eva asked.

"I'm seeing if you're actually good or if this was a fluke," Tammy said and walked over to the vanity when Eva picked up the sketch pad. She set up some hairbrushes and a mirror. "Draw that, I'll be back in a little while." Eva nodded. "And Eva, thank you, you saved me from making a very big mistake." She kissed her softly on the forehead and walked out.

"Grown ups are so weird," Eva shook her head.


Dave walked into the study and plopped down in an arm chair.

"I told you she wouldn't go for it," Scooter laughed and went to take a sip of the glass of scotch he'd just poured when Logan took it away. "Hey," he said.

"You're not drinking today," Logan said. "Claire will kill both of us if you do your whole angry drunk writer bit in front of her parents. Again."

"I picked the wrong time to quit smoking pot," Dave grumbled.

"Am I the only one in this family who doesn't have a substance abuse problem?" Logan shook his head.

"Hi," Brad waved from the corner. "I can handle

"Yeah, but your fiancée is a pill popper," Scooter said. Brad glared at him. "Anyway, as I was saying, I told you, you're not going to talk Tammy into getting back with you."

"Why not?" Dave said. "She got back with Steve Callins."

"Yeah," Logan said, "because her relationship with Steve was a relationship where as being with you was an exercise in bad self esteem." Dave looked at him.

"That's what Kelly said," Scooter frowned.

"Yeah," Logan nodded. "Claire liked it."

"Glad you guys are behind me," Dave nodded. Brad rolled his eyes. "You have a comment?"

"Look, I mean, you get like this," Brad shrugged. "Do you remember the first time Janet was gay?"

"Oh Holly," Logan laughed. "She was a winner." They laughed.

"Wow," Rick said walking over. "You actually have this room?" The guys laughed. "I mean the room where the men sit around drinking scotch and smoking cigars?"

"We do," Scooter said. "Where have you been?"

"Bella got sick last night," he said.

"Is she OK?" Logan asked.

"Oh yeah," Rick nodded. "She's fine. Just you know, baby puke every where, it's kind of Exorcisty."

"Yeah," Logan nodded. "Does she have a milk allergy? Because when Connie was that age we had to feed her soy milk or else it was like all kinds of colors that I am very sorry I've seen."

"That's disgusting," Scooter said.

"Whatever dude," Rick shook his head, "you're next. Kelly wants a baby like yesterday."

"I don't get it," Dave said. "I mean they get fat, and then the kid just screams and yells and pukes, everywhere. Why do women need to have babies?"

"Oh, right," Rick nodded. "That's why Tammy dumped you right? Yeah, she's exceptional, because she's big on the 'not right now, but someday.'" Dave nodded. "Drove Steve totally bonkers, especially because Dad held it as his fault that he and Tammy were still living in sin."

"That doesn't make any sense," Brad shook his head. "Kelly and Scooter lived together way longer than Tammy and Steve did."

"Yeah, but Kelly was in school," Scooter said. Rick nodded. "Same with Jimmy and Julie, Jimmy was in school."

"Why do you think Tommy still lives at the house?" Rick said.

"Because Diane's crazy," Brad said.

"Well that's true," Logan nodded.


Jimmy walked past the pool where Mikey was sitting by himself; he took a deep breath and walked outside.

"Mike, you want to come in buddy?" He asked. "We've got the game on, the Vikings are playing the Patriots, Julie and Steve and ganging up on me." Mikey looked at him. "We're taking bets if you want in."

"I'm good," he said softly. Jimmy sat down next to him.

"Are you OK?" He said. Mikey shrugged. "You miss your parents."

"Yeah," Mikey said softly. They were quiet for a few minutes. "Are you going to marry Julie?"

"Someday," Jimmy nodded. "She doesn't want to get married without your dad, so it might take her a while. I'll ask you first though."

"Me?" Mikey said. Jimmy nodded.

"Sure," he said. "You're the guy now, Mike," Mikey looked at him. "That's how it works."

"I don't think Julie will like that that's how it works," Mikey frowned. Jimmy laughed.

"I don't think she will either," Jimmy said. "And it is ultimately up to her, but still, I wouldn't ask if you didn't want it."

"I think it would make her happy." Mikey said quietly. "As long as you don't try to be my dad." Jimmy laughed.

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jimmy said. "I've got a condition too though," Mikey nodded. "You've gotta lighten up on her, she's giving everything she's got and you're not making it easy."

"I like having a dog," Mikey said.

"Then the dog stays," Jimmy nodded.

"Guys," Jaime walked out, "dinner's ready." They stood up and walked in and sat down. After everyone was settled in they started to reach for their food.

"Wait," Stephanie said. "Don't we have to say what we're thankful for?"

"Good point baby," Josh said. She smiled. "I'll go first. I'm grateful for Jaime." Jaime smiled. "That's she's healthy and we're happy again. Jaim?"

"Um, well I'm grateful for Julie, and especially for all of the cooking she did," Jaime said. They all laughed.

"I'm grateful for having a job that I love," Casey said. Stephanie smiled at him.

"I'm thankful for the pie," Steve said.

"Steve!" Stephanie sighed. He looked at her and laughed.

"OK Stephie," he said. "I'm thankful for good friends, the best, like the ones I have here, better?"

"Yes," she said. "Jimmy what are you thankful for?"

"I'm thankful for you," he said. "And for Julie, and all of my family." Julie smiled.

"I'm also grateful for the pie," Julie said. They looked at her. "I am, specifically I'm thankful that Carolee took the time to bring the pie from a bakery so I didn't have to bake one on top of making the whole meal." Stephanie nodded. "What about you Bug? What are you thankful for?"

"I'm thankful that even though Mommy and Daddy are gone, they left us with people who love us a lot," Stephanie said. Mikey smiled at her. "And I'm thankful that my big brother loves me, and takes care of me, and that Julie and Jimmy want to take care of us and that they let us stay in Bangor even though they didn't live there." Everyone smiled. "But I also think that it really stinks that Mommy and Daddy are gone."

"Yeah," Jaime whispered and nodded. "We all think that Steph."


Please Review!