Title: Preparing for Yet Another Round of New Forevers.

Rating: M (Language & Situations)

A/N: Dick Wolf Owns LOCI characters, all others are mine. NO LINKS BETWEEN REALITY AND THIS CHAPTER ARE INTENDED.


After essentially playing catch up with all the business that stemmed from their legal name changes, Jenni's household joined Tynie's family, in having a fairly peaceful life. Traffic battles, occasional sickness, and periodic doctor visits were the main intrusions. Upon recovering from the last one, Tyler asked for a mass meeting, and promised everyone would learn why, when they arrived at Jenni's house. Obliging his wish, they all witnessed him propose to Damian, whom said yes, almost immediately. What they didn't expect was, for it to spurn a chain reaction amongst the couples who live with them. Enjoying the happiness it infused, Tynie surprised them all, by volunteering to bartend and pay for the licenses needed for those events. "How can she legally do the last one?" Leah pondered. "It's easy, sis. I'd have to ask you guys to set them in a rotation, so I can sign a sworn affidavit claiming the timing was due to card issues on your end. Considering the fact my family's bank sent us new ATM/Debit ones last week, because they discovered a defective batch went out, it wouldn't exactly be a lie. Hell, if any of you get mailers like that, we can use them as evidence." Tynie regarded. "Sis, there might be another way. We could cut a deal right now, that uses your evidence idea, to back making two rotations out of the marriages. We've already heard one, but the other would be, for who covers the licenses." DaJuan defied. "Sis, I'm more comfortable asking other people around us, to act on his idea. You didn't know yet, but it's because you've already given us the Goddamned world." Russ rebelled. "Russ, am I right to assume your reaction was a code? If so, did it translate to you guys getting mailers like ours?" Kiki interrogated. "Sis, yes, on both. I have mine on me, if you want to see it, too." Russ verified. "I'd prefer you secure it, until we deal with the marriage license office. You weren't sure, but it's so I can tie in a claim, you weren't comfortable using your ATM/Debit card until our bank's system caught up from why we all got ones." Ted intervened. "You wouldn't be lying, brother. If you'll excuse me, I have a batch of bank mailers to secure." Russ recuses.

Simply nodding, Ted became one of several people, who saw him enact that promise. As soon as he returns, Kiki amended "Russ, I just realized, my baby wasn't clear a bit ago. He wants us to pay for your marriage license, but he also wants our family's elders kept out of the rotation. In his view, it's a matter of safety, because we don't know how the ATM/Debit card angles will be warped, when, or by what kind of people." "We'll need witnesses." Keisha murmurs. "That's easy to settle, sis. We can use how Ted's decision came out, as grounds to have men pay for the licenses, and have their wives as witnesses. At least that way, we could claim it was needed because of recent bank issues, and use the mailers to prove that, too." Felicia conveyed. "How does that cover Tynie not bartending?" JT prodded. "I'm fine with it being a condition to our newest deal, brother." Tynie alluded. "Guys, my advice: We shelve the business end of this, for a few days, and claim it was so our bank got catch up time. If anyone bitches, we use Tynie's lawsuit style on their ass, and call it a day." Alicia counseled. "I'd make it two weeks, if I were you, guys. The ATM/Debit card issue affected a lot of people, so that timeframe should give our bank more leeway to get everything resituated." Dean altered. "Financial defender's directives, ain't they a bitch?!" Terry vindicated.

Answering in a chorus, nearly everyone by him said "Yup!" "Bill, I just realized. Dean's advice, technically cuts this house's chances to do restocks, in half. I don't feel right, leaving them to risk going without, when there's a possible alternative. I'd need emergency favors from you and Ted, to pull it off, though. On your end, you'd be my armed guard, while I do the restock, and load Ted's Expedition to capacity. On Ted's, if he gives me the keys, I'll take full liability for the next tankup and damages." Tynie appealed. "Bill, I know she means well. She just didn't know, we restocked yesterday. If we need any more during Dean's time frame, we can use our Visa card on them. Should their people bitch, we'll use her lawsuit style on them, and have you guys updated. So, you three can stand down." Leah declined. "Alright." Bill quipped. Allowing that to stall their conversations, the couples in Jenni's house, cuddle up. Enveloped in a new peace, they all blend sharing short affections in with basking in it, which brings today's events current.


Gazing up from his fiance's left shoulder, Tyler inquires "How do you guys suggest we do the wedding rotation?" "I'm thinking of having you and Damian go first, since you're the first gay couple who's let us witness snippets of how your relationship's evolved. Then, I was going to ask mom and JT to have theirs, then Leah and Russ, then me and Terry." Angela replies. "I'm fine with it, if the others are, guys." Leah pardons. "That makes two of us." Russ corrects. "He meant three, but I know he wasn't sure I'd be OK with it being claimed that way, because of the ATM/Debit card angle." Terry adheres. "What do you say, babe?" JT challenges. "If we can come up with a rotation for the venue, so we don't risk too many problems with the fire marshal's office, I'll go with that." Jenni obstructs. "Burt, how much…" Anita initiates. "I won't take your money, sis. We'll just need to find out, if Jeremiah will mind making the rotation, a three way split. If so, I'll pay Bill's fines, for having us meet at his house, to arrange the honeymoons." Burt finishes. "As long as he realizes, I'm taking that as an emergency loan because of the angle JT used, it'll be fine by me." Flo interjects. "Beyond it, we almost have a deal. I'll need texted, with at least a day's notice, so I can get my living room situated. You guys can blame it on us never knowing when the weather will turn to shit, too." Jeremiah intrudes. "Liza, Alicia, and Alice can cuss me out while kickin' my ass for this, if they want, brother. You ain't doing that alone, because trying to move heavyass furniture that way, skyrockets your risks of an ER visit. I'd much rather be stuck buying La'Tario, Bobby, and Mack half-cases of Sake Kings until hell freezes over, in exchange for sending them over to back you up." Tynie objects. "Why should I cuss you out or kick your ass, when all you did was beat me to announcing the same decision?" Alicia asks. "You know how she feels about coming off as controlling, sis. I know why she wants it to be debt worthy, too. In her mind, it beats Markus violating his lifelong weight restrictions, but I'm refusing her offer. She didn't know yet, but the ER visit prevention angle, makes it not sit right with me." Mack interrupts. "Same here, sis." La'Tario concurs. "Would you guys be OK with having Sake Kings at our house, during a few meetups?" Bobby queries. "Like a rotation?" Alice probes. "Yeah. You can blame it on our family's luck with packaging conditions issues, too." Bobby reaffirms. "I'll go with that." La'Tario accedes. "So will I." Mack reiterates. "Tynie, they missed a step. It's OK, because you're learning now, I don't want you to step in with ConEd during this round of weddings. If it means, I use Bobby's last deal with other people here later, so be it." Liza prohibits. "Jack, would you and Davin mind helping me take over on that?" DaJuan wonders. "I'd prefer it, actually. Burt's finding out now, it means his end of this, is on me. We've had issues with some ConEd staffers lately, and although we've gotten them fired, we can't predict how far their sympathizers may go to retaliate. I'd rather not risk you intervening for your father in law being considered a kicked open door for that, when I can just as easily do it, and have you cover Jeremiah." Davin expounds. "If Jack's OK with covering this house, it'll be settled." DaJuan submits. "Sounds like it just got settled, guys." Jack presumes. "Actually, it sounds like all we need to do is, set dates and a meeting at Dad's." Kiki contradicts. "Sis, we'd be better off reversing your idea. You know what federal shutdowns, back my saying so, too." Frank reprimands. "I see no reason why we can't meet up tomorrow, at around noon to cover that. Of course, it'd mean the rest of you would be called with updates, so we can set smaller meetings to resolve the other particulars." Flo remarks. "Can we make it eleven, so I can cook us brunch first?" Damian inquires. "If we do, I'm your backup. Pardon my tone on that, but it beats risking us having to call the others out to St. Lucia's over you getting hurt." Kiki chides. "Babe, I'd feel better if we made it a three way split. You just explained why, but I know Damian would prefer Dad act as the intermediary, so Mom can relax. We've all seen the proof, when we've met up before." Ted disclaims. "Speaking of alternatives, I have one. We all know traffic's horrid during lunch hours, so I'd rather we met at ten." Bill adds. "Thanks for giving me perfect grounds to order us all some HiroHama's, guys." Anita gratifies. "Our tip's on me, guys. We'll need help getting it in here, and getting the coffee table ready, though." Frank warns. "Dean, Annalise, will you share that with me?" Alice frets. "Sure." Dean and Annalise reply as one. "Jack, are you and Lori OK with splitting getting drinks?" Davin ponders. "Yeah." Jack verifies, his wife nodding to back it. "Bobby, will you help Frank?" Clint asks. "If you, Tia, and Tianna will split cleanup, sure." Bobby impedes. "We need a report in crew for the insurance." La'Tario discovers. "I'll do the coffee table setup one, if you do the drink one, brother." DaJuan offers. "The cleanup one's on me, guys." Mack insists. "DaJuan, now that's settled, we have a deal." La'Tario attests. "Bill, on a halfway related note, I need a favor. Promise me, you'll call me out on a tech based code red if you have any issues with tomorrow's meeting. You may hate how broadly I'm redefinining that, but it's due to a combination of our bank's ATM/Debit card issue, the federal shutdowns, and the fact what you're doing technically involves people's main identifiers. Please tell me, you know what I mean, and understand my phrasing was meant to respect all our privacy." Tynie requisitions. "Bill, if you would, add me to the favor list, on a financial code red." Dean appeals. "Forgive me, Bill. I just, think it'd be better if they met you when the engaged couples do. If it means, I'm texted bills for them renting spots in your garage for their Harleys, so be it." Keisha hopes. "Why do that, when I can send Dean to get Tynie on my Harley, by nine thirty?" Alice queries.

Quickly turning to face her, Tynie mopes "You just got that Monday." "Sis, his is in the shop because it didn't sound right, when he used it last. Burt insisted, fearing it'd leave him stranded, which is half the reason I stand by my baby's decision. The other half is split between us knowing you'd leap to make the same offer, if the tables were turned, and knowing you'll keep us posted on it's status. We're aware you'll wait until it's safe to text us, too. All I ask is, you only take liability for tankups or damages, if you hear Dean has more card issues or God forbid, gets in a wreck. Either way, the damages angle will be considered an urgent loan, because you've already given us the fucking world." Mack repudiates. "Would you go through Bobby on the loan, so we don't risk bank issues over it?" Tynie inquires. "Sure." Mack cites. "Alright. Now, I hope Alice and Dean are OK with my suggesting we use that, and Bill's concern on traffic, to back moving her plan up to nine." Tynie wishes. "I am." Alice cites, Dean repeating it. "What's this mean for Keisha's offer?" Tia probes. "It's been denied, because Tynie was right, in a respect she wasn't entirely clear on. We don't need to risk account related issues we can avoid, especially in light of the latest situation with our bank." Bill signifies. Flipping her bangs out of her eyes, Tia nods, Anita deeming it a quiet cue to grab her phone. Doing so, she kicks off a chain of activity, which surrounds awaiting their meal.

Off the call twenty minutes later, Anita regrets "Sorry it took so long, guys. HiroHama's manager Chrissy, just had to fire someone for behaving like they're under te influence. She caught them, during my call, so our average wait time's been extended by ten minutes. I was offered a discount for the delay, but I refused, because she's had to give others today." "Hell, I'd have denied it, too." Flo admits. "I believe we all would have, sis." Clint rebuts. Verifying that with nods, almost all the other people by him, resume their cuddled up poses. Anita's excluded, just long enough to put her phone away, yet she doesn't mind it. Spending nearly an hour like that, the men in charge of dealing with the delivery, free their women from the embraces, and head for the front door. Hustling to lock up after the meeting, Damian sees it happen, then helps distribute everyone's shares. True to their norms, the meal's enjoyed and cleared from, without an interruption.

Assembled as they've been since the call out, every couple in Jenni's house, resumes relaxing together. That is, until Lori unwittingly restarts their trend for restroom use. Ending it, Jeremiah stuns Tynie, by walking up on her. "What's up, brother?" She worries. "Just got concerned, so I came by to rule why, out." Jeremiah replies. Shortly nodding, she feels him check her heartrate. Exhaling a relieved breath, he's greeted by her, and given a couple quick kisses to the left cheek. "She did that, to thank you, from us both. I'm fine with it, especially since how I'd do it, would mean this house loses a Sake King. Considering the fact, I don't know if they could restock those yesterday, I don't feel right taking from their current ones." Bobby translates. "We couldn't. If Kelleharn's trucks would've been on time, it'd be different. You didn't know, but you must have forgotten. We're fine with you guys taking from our stashes, as long as what's taken is noted on the restock log we keep pinned to the fridge." Jenni renounces. "Brother, I took that as a half assed code. Roughly translated, you're to sit back, while I get backup on drinks, and clear Bobby's thank you." Tynie insists.

Chuckling, Jeremiah grants her wish, as Felicia and Annalise leave their seats. Heading to enact the latest plan, those ladies don't rejoin their suitors for several minutes. Lifting her glass, Liza spurns a chain reaction in the room, that's ended by Damian. "Guys, I'd like to make this one in celebration of our family's latest round of new forevers, being started. I know, we still have some work to do, but I felt it was only right to commemorate our progress." Replying as a group, all the newly engaged couples say "Thank you." Seconds later, the others by them mutually resound "It's our honor." Drinking together, everyone shares a smile, until Tynie waves Damian back. Curiously smirking, he complies, and sees Bobby and Frank get up to help her clean up. Tapping her brother in law on the shoulder, Tynie witnesses him lean down, then whispers through her teeth "I need a last minute favor, brother. You know I'm booked tomorrow, so I need you to use my Mazda on a drink restock for these guys, and text me the bill. If any of them ask, tell them my insistence came out because we don't know if I'll have to back Dean on raising hell." Deftly realigning himself, so his lips are by her right ear, Frank mutters "I'm not billing you, for giving me consent to use your car on an idea we shared. You didn't know yet, but I know how to work it from here." "Ok." Tynie gasps.

Retreating to their spots, Frank rephrases "Damian, I found out why you were given an unspoken stand down request. Tynie and I realized, it wouldn't be safe to leave you guys stuck going from your plan for tomorrow, straight into doing any restocks, even partial ones. We believe, us not knowing if she or Dean will have to go full J.Y.D. on someone, or if they'll have to collaborate on it: makes it better for me to use her car and my urgent access key, on what you need around here. She offered to make an emergency loan between us for it, but I refused, because I'm more comfortable making it a gift. So now, I need to find out if you guys mind me taking your restock list home with me, and being here when you aren't." "Can we reverse the favor sometime?" Terry frets. "As long as Bobby or I are told, even by text, yeah." Anita imposes. "Frank, I'm free tomorrow, so I'll pick you up in my Explorer around ten. That way, there's more room for your plan, and Tynie's car is free, in case Bobby and Anita need it to do any shopping for your house." Mack reconsiders. "Thanks, brother." Bobby ingratiates. "No problem, brother. You may want to make your next car upgrade an Expedition or Explorer, in case any of ours shit out, though." Mack contends. "My Gladiator's on it's last legs, brother. We've taken it into the shop a lot this year, so Bobby can use your advice with me. If it means, my honey defends his power of attorney on our insurance being used, so be it." Anita contends. "Frank, you just found out why I'm coming to housesit by nine thirty tomorrow." La'Tario cautions. "Alright." Frank dubs. "Anita, if I'd have known you needed to do a car replacement…" Tyler starts. "We won't do those, or defend the power of attorney angles for them, on Sundays, brother. You must have forgotten, but it's because it clashes with the operating hours of our bank and Tom's office." Bobby states. "Besides, Frank, my baby, and Anita know, all they have to do to get access to my Mazda is: promise to put forty bucks in the tank, keep me posted on it's status, and do their best to get home safe. I know they're good for it, and the main reasons it'd be delayed are traffic related, so everything's cool." Tynie discerns. "Ok." Tyler sighs. "Frank, you guys settled all that before I got a chance to say your plan's fine by me." Jenni allows. "They did it intentionally, sis. I knew, the minute Mack changed the plan, he was setting up a reminder on how we handle those situations. He might not have realized I caught on, but I stand by it's turnout. Even though he didn't say much, Jeremiah made a damn good point, when he checked on Tynie, too. You guys are about to start new lives, so it isn't right to crush that happiness by spiking your risks of worrying, unless we absolutely have no choice. I doubt he knew that's how I took what he did, but still." Alicia intercedes.

Gazing Mack's way, Jeremiah compels "She read my message perfectly. How about yours?" "Yep." Mack cites. Shrugging, Alicia sees Frank nod, as the surrounding area goes quiet. Kicking back, Tynie's recently expanded family relaxes for a while longer, before enacting their trends for ending a gathering. Securing the house behind most of them, Tyler joins his housemates in waiting on word everyone's at home safe. An hour and a half later, it arrives, along with an explanation that traffic caused the delay. Sending understanding and a good night wish to them all, Tyler gets the latter regard in kind. Once it's saved, he puts his phone up, and begins a chain of people exchanging hugs. Closing it out, Jenni's lead across the house by her fiance, who has the other newly engaged couples trail him. As a bit of unknown irony would allow, they disperse and seclude, in near perfect time with their soul-based kin. Winding down today in the same luck, everybody from JT to Russ eventually snuggles up to awair slumber. Conceding to it, they all secretly discover one thing:

A day grounded in preparing for another round of new forevers, ended without complications.