Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, everyone gets more Sue! Enjoy!

?-?

Mya sighed before she started. "Just so you know, this is hard for me." She started as she looked around. "I'm not OK with you guys being here, but I have to be, for the days sake. So if I act weird or moody for the next few weeks, that's why. I just wanted you to know. I'm trying to learn to accept it, but it's hard." With that, she quickly walked away into the hallway that led to the bedrooms.

"That was very good!" Josh whispered, following her.

"You think?" She asked, also whispering.

He nodded. "You let everyone know your feelings. Letting yourself feel all those feelings is the best thing you can do. You can't just hide it all away."

She sighed. "I wish I could."

"But you understand why you can't." He prodded.

She regretfully nodded. "Yes. If I do, it will eat at me the rest of my life."

"Good." He replied, slightly smiling. "Now, you think you're ready to face them again?"

Mya took a deep breath, then nodded. Hand in hand, they walked back to the living room.

?-?

"Hello!" Sue exclaimed as she let in Jack, Bob, Connie, Bill, Hailey, John, Emily and Barky, who went straight to Sunny. "Welcome!"

"Hello! It's so nice to see you again! Thank you so much for inviting us to dinner today." Hailey said.

"Of course!" Sue replied, leading them to the living room, where Carla was waiting for them.

"Hi, honey." Bob said, walking over to his fiancé.

Hi." She replied, widely smiling.

He suspiciously looked at her, knowing something was up. "Something you'd like to tell me?"

"Mmhmm." She replied, shaking her head. "It's bad luck.

"Ah!" He replied, knowing it was something wedding related. "Speaking of bad luck, isn't it bad luck for the groom to see the bride so close to the wedding?"

"That's on the wedding day, silly!" Carla replied, lightly slapping him.

"Well, I don't know! I have always been a bachelor, remember?"

She nodded. "I know." She replied quietly.

"They are so perfect together." Connie whispered to her husband, smiling at the scene taking place in front of her. "And to think they were at each other like cats and dogs, not a year and a half ago."

"Time sure changes people for the better." Bill replied, also watching and smiling.

She nodded in reply. "Yes, it sure does."

"Alright, everyone!" Sue announced, getting everyone's attention. "Who wants to eat?" Everyone happily responded. "It's in the kitchen. First person to help me bring it to the dining room gets the first portion!"

"I'll help!" Everyone, particularly Jack, Bob, Bill, John and Emily, exclaimed, everyone crowding into the kitchen. Sue and Carla laughed, standing still as they waited for the people to disperse.

"Men and kids. The two hungriest people in the world!" Carla exclaimed. The other women laughed as well.

?-?

Mya slightly smiled as Josh's and her families intermingled that evening.

"Feeling better?" Josh asked quietly, seeing the smile, which was the most she had done that day as of yet.

She nodded. "Yeah. Thank you."

He smiled back. "I will always be here for you."

"And I think I just might take you up on that every so often." She said, putting her hand over his, which was sitting on his knee.

Josh flipped his hand so their hands interlocked. "Always."

The couple smiled, drowning out all the sights and sounds around them.

?-?

Sue laughed as the stories about a young Jack were being told during dinner.

"Ah! That reminds me of the time when Sue decided she was going to start a petition to make everyone learn sign language!" Carla started, the previous story regarding Jack prompting the memory.

Sue's smile disappeared. "Oh no you don't!

Jack waved for her attention. "What, you can listen to embarrassing stories about me, but I can't hear embarrassing stories about you?"

"That's right!" She replied, nodding. Everyone laughed, then Carla proceeded with the story.

"Well. She was 13 when she got her friend Josie to help. They typed up a petition on the typewriter, then went door to door to ask if they would sign their petition." Carla explained. "The neighbors surrounding us all did, since they knew and wanted to support her, or maybe they just had compassion for her. But soon they were a few blocks away from the house, where no one knew Sue. Then the doors started slamming in her face. Did she give up? No! She continued on, until my husband had to pick her up in the car, because they were still petitioning for signatures at 9 at night!" She finished, chuckling at the memory. Everyone else did as well.

"I got about 100 signatures that day. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to convince the powers that be, but it was a fun experience!" Sue explained.

Jack smiled at her. "I see where you got your persistence at."

Sue laughed. "Yes. And also that was when I learned to selectively read people. People were saying some nasty things before they closed their doors!" She exclaimed.

Jack laughed. "I would've loved knowing you back then."

"ME-TOO." She replied.

"Oh!" Hailey exclaimed waving her hands for everyone's attention. "Did Jack ever tell you of the time when he and I decided to sled down the snow hill in summer?"

"What!" Sue exclaimed, laughing.

Hailey nodded, proceeding to tell the story, telling similar stories the whole night through.