A/N: So this chapter sees the last part before I go back to doing one Ryder/one Marley per chapter - and essentially this is more or less getting Marley back to South Carolina; and how that then starts to play into the future story line I have planned for this.
There is also going to be, two other stories that interconnect with this one; as there are bits that I couldn't write here that really don't have anything to do with the journey Marley is facing, or Ryder; so those parts will be in "Not Alone" and "Here Comes Forever" shortly, when I do get around to the point they will be in those stories in a few chapters to come.
So once again as always, thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Love,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Chapter 13 –
A week after finishing up at a teacher at San Francisco School of the Arts , and also being the day after a bridesmaid for Hannah, at her wedding to Blaine; Marley was waiting at the baggage terminal just before one o'clock in the afternoon, the following Sunday, where she told Mikki and Sebastian, who were flying over from South Carolina along with Amelia, to drive back to South Carolina with her and also make it some sort of a holiday for them as well, since they hadn't been on one since their daughter had been born just over a year ago now.
Starting to see that people were disembarking from the flight from she started to look for her oldest sister and brother in law to exit from the gangway. Spotting Sebastian first, since he was the taller of him and Mikki; she waved trying to get his attention; and spotting his sister in law waving to him, he waved back and Marley could just make out then her older sister, as the two of them headed over to her with Amelia in Sebastian's arms, and Mikki carrying the bags that they had taken on to the flight with them.
"Hey Leesy" said Mikki, as she walked over to her sister and put down the bags, that were more obviously Amelia's; and hugged her.
"Hey Keeks" replied Marley, with a smile as she returned the hug from her older sister. "Flight okay"
"Yeah, it was fine" said Mikki, giving her a smile as well, as Marley nodded and looked to Sebastian.
"Hey Seb" she said, giving her brother in law a hug also. "Thanks for doing this for me, and the whole driving back thing"
"It's not a problem" replied Sebastian, shaking his head. "When Mik finally told me honestly" he said, looking to his wife; who in turn laughed. "How many hours and also how many coffees, she consumed on the way back from here. I knew we had to come over and help you get back home; because to do it on your own is insane"
"Are you calling me insane?" asked Mikki, looking to Sebastian with a frown; and he turned to her nodding.
"Yeah, I am" he replied with a nod. "But I still love you"
"Well that's a good thing" said Mikki, with a laugh, "because otherwise you'd be sleeping on the floor of the hotel room tonight" as Marley laughed also; and then looked to her niece who was holding out her arms towards her.
"Sorry, did I not say hello to my favorite niece" said Marley with a laugh as Sebastian passed Amelia over to his sister in law. "Look at you, huh. Getting so big" laughed Marley, and placed a kiss to the little girl's cheek.
"And she's been getting a lot more confident as well" said Mikki.
"Yeah, I can see that" replied Marley, looking to her sister and nodded. "I know when I saw you only a few months ago, she was so shy with me at first"
"Hmm, well probably the last month or so, she's gotten heaps of confidence" said Sebastian, with a smile and tickling his daughter in his sister in law's arms. "Ain't that right, miss cheeky" as Amelia laughed and looked to her father.
"Well, I will get to see you all the time now" said Marley, looking to Amelia with a smile. "Do you like the sound of that Millie?"
"I think so, huh?" replied Mikki, with a nod and looking to her daughter. "We're going to love having Auntie Leesy around more aren't we"; as Amelia looked to her mother and nodded also.
"So how about we grab our bags and Millie's stroller, and then go and get something to eat?" asked Sebastian, looking to Mikki and also Marley. "Because what they gave us on the plane, we shared between us; as the cost of those meals are crazy"
"That and they are always made so far in advance" said Mikki, looking to Sebastian. "That they don't always taste the best"
"We can go to Ernie's" said Marley, looking to them; as Mikki gave a nod.
"Yeah, I remember that place" she said. "Awesome hamburgers and fries; at least in Californian standard that is"
"Uh huh" said Marley. "So we'll grab your stuff and go there"
"Sounds good" said Sebastian, as he headed over towards the bag carousel to collect their bags and Amelia's stroller, that he and Mikki had checked in before boarding in South Carolina.
"So sister to sister" said Mikki, looking to her younger one; as they waited for Sebastian to collect the bags. "How are you doing with everything?"
"I'm doing okay" replied Marley, with a nod. "I have everything packed up now; and it's just a case of getting the trailer tomorrow as booked and loading it all up"
"Then come Wednesday morning" said Mikki, with a smile to her sister as Sebastian headed over to them with the two bags that they had bought and stroller, with them for the trip. "We head to Disneyland"
"Can't wait" said Marley, with a laugh. "I remember how much fun we had when we were younger and we went to Florida, and to Disney World"
"Yeah, that was definitely fun" replied Mikki, with a nod. "Well except for Roddy puking after going on that ride"
"That wasn't nice, no" said Marley shaking her head. "Because then we weren't able to go on any more rides, as it wasn't fair to him"
"Kitty, Kenzie and I snuck off though, and we did" replied Mikki with a laugh.
"And you got into so much trouble with Mom and Dad, and also Auntie Shelz and Uncle Dusty" said Marley with a laugh.
"Oh I remember" replied Mikki, with a nod. "And they made such a huge deal out of it; but it was like I'm almost a senior in high school. I can look after myself and my slightly younger sister and cousin"
"Still it was funny to see them try and ground you at Disney World" said Marley with a laugh; as Mikki looked to her younger sister, shaking her head; as Sebastian headed back over to them.
"So we ready to head out?" asked Sebastian, as he neared them and Mikki took one of the three bags that he had to carry, along with the stroller. "Go get something to eat?"
"Yeah, lets" replied Mikki, looking to her husband with a nod; and the three of them started walking out towards Marley's car that was parked in the parking lot.
"I have the car seat" said Marley, as the headed towards the doors of the parking area. "I got it the other day from Walmart; and have got one that will work from birth to five years, so I will be able also as well to use it for Kitty and Artie's little one when they're born"
"Safety First brand?" asked Mikki, looking to her younger sister as they walked. "The grow and go?"
"Yeah the one you recommended" replied Marley, with a nod; as they went over to the parking pay station and she took the ticket out from her shorts pocket, with Amelia still in her arms; "Even though the young girl tried to recommend another one to me, that was more expensive" and went to get money out of her purse to pay, but Mikki quickly paid for the parking before she got the chance.
"Mikki" said Marley, looking to her older sister and shaking her head.
"What?" asked Mikki, with a laugh and looked to her younger sister.
"You didn't have to pay" she replied, shaking her head. "You're already doing so much for me by coming over and driving back home with me"
"It's no problems Marls" said Sebastian, as the started to walk towards Marley's car. "You wouldn't take any money for the car seat from us, that you have just bought; so at least let Mikki and I pay for parking here"
"Well it's going to be getting a lot of use I am sure of that" replied Marley, with a nod as they neared her car and with her keys unlocked her Ford Focus; as Sebastian opened up the trunk of the car to put in his and Mikki's bags and Amelia's stroller, as well as taking the two from Mikki that she had for Amelia; and Marley opened the back door behind the passenger seat to put her niece in the newly purchased car seat.
"The seat is all connected up okay?" asked Mikki, opening the door behind the driver's seat of her younger sister's car and getting into the back seat.
"Yeah" replied Marley with a nod as Amelia, looked to her and then Mikki and tried to move out of the car seat over to her mom; and Marley looked to her older sister. "Did I put it in the wrong way?"
"No, rear facing is correct" replied Mikki, with a nod; as she buckled up the straps in the seat. "Just got to be quick with this one and getting her strapped in, before she tries and Houdini out of the chair"
"Oh okay" replied Marley with a nod and looked to her niece with a smile. "You definitely are a cheeky little miss, aren't you" she continued tapping Amelia on the nose, who looked to her with a smile.
"I'm sitting in the front, right babe?" asked Sebastian, coming up to the back door Mikki was at; and she looked to him with a nod.
"Yeah" she replied with a nod; and Sebastian, quickly kissed her before going around to the front of the car and passenger side; and Mikki put on her own seat belt in the back and closed the door.
"Millie is all good there?" asked Marley, looking to her older sister and Sebastian, as he got in the front passenger seat of the car.
"All good and ready to go" replied Mikki, with a nod.
"Okay, well let's go and get something to eat then" said Marley, with a smile to her sister; and closing up the back passenger door, headed to the drivers and then left the San Francisco Airport with her sister, brother in law and niece; to firstly go and get some lunch together and then take them to the hotel that they would be staying at for the next couple of days whilst they were in California to help her make the move back to South Carolina.
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Having picked up the U-Haul trailer, Monday afternoon from the hire company; and taking Tuesday to pack Marley's boxes of things from what was now Ryder's apartment into it, leaving the trailer at the apartment block for one more evening that she was going to be there; with it all now ready to go, Marley looked to Sebastian, who'd been helping her with the packing whilst Mikki looked after Amelia up in the apartment.
"So that's the last of it" said Marley, with a sigh, as she closed one side of the trailer, and then the other door also and making sure to lock it up, so all her belongings were safe inside.
"Yeah" replied Sebastian, looking to his sister in law with a nod. "Doing okay?"
"I am yeah" replied Marley, with a nod and smile to him. "This is what I want"
"Well you know like we've all said" said Sebastian, as they headed back into the apartment block and up to the floor where the apartment was. "We're all here for you"
"Thanks Seb" said Marley, with a smile as they got to the second floor on which the apartment was located and headed back towards what for the last night was also going to be hers and opened the front door. "So what time did we plan to leave tomorrow morning?"
"It's about a five hour drive, so we can leave about ten; and still make it in good time" replied Sebastian, as he walked over to where Mikki was sitting on the floor of the apartment with Amelia, and the Leap Frog Puppy that had been one of the presents from Brooke and Dylan for her first birthday.
"All packed up and ready?" asked Mikki, looking to her sister as Sebastian quickly kissed; and Amelia moved over to her father as he sat on the ground also, and climbed into his lap and continuing to play with her toy that was singing one of the songs it came programmed with.
"I am, yeah" replied Marley, with a nod to her. "And again thank you"
"You don't have to thank us Leesy" said Mikki, looking to her with a smile. "We're more than happy to do this, and make sure you get back home safely"
"And at least you were smart and got your car checked out before embarking on this journey" said Sebastian, with a laugh; as Mikki poked her husband in the ribs. "Unlike someone who is going to remain nameless"
"She knows who you're talking about" replied Mikki, with a laugh as Sebastian looked to her with a smile and quickly kissed her.
"Yeah" he replied with a nod. "And you were super lucky that something didn't happen halfway back home. I'm not sure how you'd be explaining that to everyone, that you're stuck somewhere across America, because surprise I'm moving back home"
"Oh that's an easy explanation" said Mikki, looking to him with a smile. "I would have just called you and told you what I was doing, and begged you to come and get me"
"And if I'd not agree to those demands?" asked Sebastian, with a smile also as Mikki gave a laugh along with Marley.
"Seb" said Marley, shaking her head. "We all know you'd do anything for Mikki" she continued with a smile. "So if she had called you and said anything like that, you would have left your apartment faster than well Superman could fly around the world"
"True, yeah" replied Sebastian, with a nod.
"So we want to go and do something?" asked Mikki, looking to her sister in law. "Take Seb and show him some of the sights of San Francisco"
"We can yeah" replied Marley, looking to her sister with a nod. "But I did also tell Puck and Sam, that I'd go around and say bye to them today"
"Oh, well that's fine" said Mikki, with a nod. "If Seb doesn't mind doing that first and then we can go down the wharf after that and get something for dinner down there"
"Don't mind at all" said Sebastian, looking to his wife and then to Mikki. "Be nice to see what all the fuss is about that place"
"Sure, we can do that" replied Marley, with a smile; the three of them leaving the apartment along with Amelia, and heading to the Puckerman residence; and Marley not telling her sister and brother in law the plans for dinner which weren't going to be anywhere near the wharf, but that of somewhere else; where fireworks were going to most likely ensure.
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Tuesday morning, after hooking the trailer up to her car again; after having unhooked it to pack up and then also use the car afterwards; Marley did one final check what was now her former apartment, and when she was sure there was nothing left there that was hers or that she needed to be taking; was then ready to leave San Francisco and that part of her life behind.
"If I find anything" said Ryder, who had taken the morning off from his work; to see Marley off, and looked to his now ex wife. "I'll send it over for you"
"Thanks" replied Marley, looking to him with a nod. "But I think I have everything"
"Yeah" said Ryder, with a nod. "Going to be strange living on my own again"
"It's going to be even stranger living with my parents again" replied Marley, with a laugh.
"Yeah, I think you win there" said Ryder, with a laugh also as Marley gave a nod.
"So we'll still talk from time to time" said Marley, looking to him with a small smile. "Let one another know how we're going"
"Of course" replied Ryder, with a nod. "We're still friends here; it's just we couldn't make a marriage work that's all"
"Exactly" said Marley, with a nod. "So I should get downstairs and go. Don't want to keep Miks and Seb waiting too long"
"I'll walk down with you" said Ryder, as Marley headed over to the door and opened it.
"Sure" replied Marley, with a nod as the two of them exited the apartment and Ryder closed the door behind himself. "Before I forget" she said, looking to him and opening up her handbag and grabbing some keys out from it. "These I don't need now"
"Right, apartment keys" said Ryder, with a laugh as he took them. "Thanks"
"Yeah" said Marley, as they headed down the stairs. "I'm sorry we couldn't make this work with us Ryder"
"Yeah me too Marls" he replied as they walked. "I do still care for you; but we want such different things that it wouldn't be fair to hold on to one another"
"I know" replied Marley, with a nod. "And I will always care for you, just more so as a friend who I really love; rather than that of a husband"
"Same" said Ryder, with a smile to her as he opened the front door of the apartment complex and they headed over to where Marley's car was now ready to go out front; with Sebastian and Mikki waiting, leaning against the Ford Focus.
"All ready Marls?" asked Sebastian, looking to his sister in law; and she nodded.
"All ready" she said, as she walked to the back of the car and opened the trunk, putting in her last remaining bag along with that of the bags of Mikki and Sebastian's that were in there, with also Amelia's stroller and bags as well.
"Let's hit the road then" said Mikki, as she walked over to Ryder and held out her hand to her former brother in law. "See you Ryder"
"Yeah, see you Mikki" he replied, with a smile as he shook Mikki's hand. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep true on my promise to never hurt Marley"
"It's fine" replied Mikki, with a small smile to him. "I think in the end staying together would have hurt far more"
"It would have" said Ryder, with a nod and looked to Sebastian. "Look after the Kapowski girls for me"
"Always have" replied Sebastian, with a smile as he walked over to where Mikki was and slipped his arm around her waist. "And will continue to do so"
"Yeah, you were always the big brother I never really wanted" said Marley, looking to him with a laugh. "But ended up getting anyway"
"Why are you complaining?" asked Mikki, with a laugh and looking to her sister. "I have to put up with Jeremy and Dylan as brother in laws; that is so much worse"
"You're right" said Marley, with a laugh. "I lucked out, with Seb and Artie as my brother in laws"
"I'm sure you all love one another regardless" said Ryder, with his own laugh. "That was one thing that I always saw; and I just never felt I fitted in with the closeness you all had, and maybe that was my own doing and us being here in California. I just never felt I fitted well, with you all"
"You fitted fine Ryder" said Mikki, looking to him with a smile. "It just wasn't meant to be, that's all"
"Well all things happen for a reason" said Ryder, looking to the three of them.
"That they do" replied Sebastian, with a nod and held his hand out to him. "Take care, huh"
"I will" said Ryder. "Have a safe trip back home"
"With three of us driving" said Mikki, with a small laugh. "I'm sure if will be fine"
"I'm sure we'll talk soon" said Marley, looking to Ryder with a smile; and he nodded giving her a quick hug.
"We will" he replied. "Bye Marls"
"See you Ryder" she replied, moving out of the hug and opening the back door of her car; since she had already told Mikki and Sebastian, that she would sit in the back on the way to Disneyland next to her niece.
"Bye" said Mikki as she also opened the passenger door, and Sebastian giving Ryder a quick smile went around to the drivers side of the car.
"Yeah bye" replied Ryder, with a nod; as the three of them got into the car; and Sebastian started up the engine; and with one final wave goodbye to the now ending part of his life, watched his former wife drive away and head back home; and heading back into what was now solely that of his own apartment, he wondered what his life would now hold and what stuff there was out there for him that he just didn't know yet.
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Having spent the last two and a half days at Disneyland; including the fourth of July holiday, exploring the park, with her sister, brother in law and niece; the time had come to spend the next six days on the road, travelling that of anywhere between six and eight hours a day, for them to get back to South Carolina, with some small stops along the way to see what that of greater America had to offer, and figuring if they had the chance now, they might as well take the opportunity.
Waking up in the queen size bed, and now after a few months of sleeping along being use to having not anyone in the bed with her; Marley awoke and grabbing her phone from the bedside table, looked at the time and saw it was just a little after seven o'clock in the morning.
Throwing the bed clothes of herself, with a small sigh; she stood and quietly moved as to not wake that of anyone else in the room; but saw that Amelia who was in a crib between the two queen size beds, was standing up and smiling at her; holding her arms up to her aunt, and Marley smiled as she went over to her niece and picked her up out of the crib.
"Hi, my sweet girl" she said, placing a kiss to the young girls cheek; who in turn was pointing to where Mikki and Sebastian, were curled up together in the other bed in the room; both still fast asleep. "Are they still sleeping, huh?" asked Marley, with a smile to her niece; seeing unlike how she was quite able to not be in a bed with someone, it was that of vastly different for her sister and brother in law; whose desire to be close to one another ensured even when they were asleep. "Could you not get their attention?" and seeing her niece shake her head, she gave a laugh and walked over to where Amelia's diaper bag was and getting out what she needed to change her niece, laid her down on the bed she had slept in and started to change her diaper.
"How about we get you all changed and ready to go" said Marley, smiling to her niece as she unbuttoned the onesie she was wearing. "And then you can go wake up your Mommy and Daddy, huh"
Amelia just looked at her at her aunt, and entertaining her niece as she put a clean diaper on her, and then dressed her in one of the dresses that she had seen when they'd been in one of the many stores in Disneyland, and insisted on buying her; got her dressed and ready for the day ahead of them.
"Very pretty" said Marley, with a smile as she picked her niece up from the bed and placed a kiss to the young girls forehead. "Want to wake them up now?" she asked, as Amelia pointed again to where Sebastian and Mikki still were asleep, having not stirred or even moved away from one another at all during the whole entire time that she'd been dealing with Amelia.
Walking over quietly to where her sister and brother in law were still asleep, and placing her niece down; she smiled as Amelia climbed onto Mikki first and then looked to both her parents, touching them on the face.
"Hmm, Seb don't" muttered Mikki as she squatted Amelia's hand away; and Marley couldn't help but quietly laugh, her sister not realizing that it was her daughter and not husband that was doing it.
"Not me" replied Sebastian, seemingly being the more aware of them two of them and opening one of his eyes looked to his daughter with a laugh. "Boo"
Amelia delighted by the fact that she'd gotten at least one of them to wake up, clapped her hands together and smiled; as Sebastian, laughed pulling his daughter down towards himself and kissing her.
"Look at you, all dressed and ready to go" said Sebastian, with a smile. "Did you manage all this on your own, huh? Do you not need me and Mommy now?"
Looking at her father, and then pointing to Marley, who was trying not to laugh; Sebastian looked to his sister in law also.
"I hope you don't mind, I got her ready?" asked Marley, looking to her brother in law also. "Just when I woke she was already awake, and figured it would save us all a little time"
"It's fine, Marls" replied Sebastian, with a smile to her. "Really"
"Okay, well I am going to go and have a shower" said Marley, with a smile to him also. "And then it will only leave you and Mikki to get ready"
"Thanks" replied Sebastian. "I will wake up my wife, or at least Millie can wake her up"; and looking to where Mikki was still curled up against him with arms around him and head near his shoulder, he saw Amelia tapping her on the face again.
"Mommy is already" said Mikki, not opening her eyes. "Because people are talking and daughter hitting me; and that means there is going to be a dead little sister who woke me up"
"I didn't do it at all" replied Marley, with a laugh. "It was my niece, your daughter. She is the one who wanted to do that"
"Sure, sure" said Mikki, having opened her eyes and looking to her sister. "You're a bad influence on my daughter. I'm beginning to rethink this whole helping you move back home thing"
"How can you not love this cute face though" said Sebastian, looking to his wife and Amelia moved more away from him to hug her mom. "Waking you up in the morning"
"Are you talking about yourself there?" asked Mikki with a laugh and smile to her husband. "Or our daughter?"
"Well both of us" replied Sebastian, with a smile to her also. "We're both pretty cute, right"
"Hmm maybe, you" said Mikki, with a laugh quickly looking to Sebastian as she peppered kisses over Amelia's face. "But this one definitely cute and all ready for us to head off on our adventure"
"Yeah, that was me" said Marley, with a smile; and Mikki turned to her sister nodding.
"Thanks Leesy" she replied and Marley also nodded.
"I'll just go and have a quick shower and then the bathroom will be free for both of you" said Marley, as she walked over to near her bed and grabbed her toiletries bag and also clothes she was planning to wear that day.
"Okay, I guess it's get a move on time" said Mikki, as she went to move Amelia over to Sebastian again and get out of their bed.
"Five more minutes" replied Sebastian, grabbing his wife's arm pulling her back towards himself; and as she headed into the bathroom to shower and get ready, Marley quickly looked back to see them happily lying in bed with their daughter, and she smiled to herself; hoping that one day she would find that love, the one that she thought she had already had, again; the one her sister and brother in law clearly had with each other and had had for so long; and knowing that this time she wouldn't go into a relationship heart first instead of also head, she got ready for the day ahead.
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Having spent the last six days on the road; travelling from California to Arizona, then on to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Alabama; before finally making the last leg to South Carolina; Marley smiled as she sat in the back of her car with her niece beside her, who was contently asleep in the car seat; looking at the familiar comforting scenes of her home town, whilst heading towards that of her parents house.
"So what's the first thing you want to do when back home, Marls?" asked Sebastian, as Mikki continued to drive towards the Kapowski family residence.
"Hmm, not sure" replied Marley, shaking her head and looking to her brother in law who was in the front passenger seat; and where he had sat whenever not driving, since he was taller than both her and Mikki and therefore more comfortable for him to be there rather than in the back. "I think, just being back here; that will be enough for me"
"Yep, I know that feeling well" said Mikki, with a small laugh. "When I got back home here to South Carolina, just being where I really knew I wanted to be; that was enough for me"
"And what I was just an afterthought?" asked Sebastian, looking to his wife with a smile; and Mikki quickly glanced to him as well.
"You know you weren't" replied Mikki, with a smile to him also. "You are the whole reason why I came back home"
"That's much better" said Sebastian, with a laugh; as Mikki turned on to her parent's street and let out a sigh.
"But I know also what Marley means about just being back" said Mikki. "It's like this comfort, that you can only get from a certain place; and right here South Carolina is my that" she continued as she turned into the driveway of her Midge and Eric's house. "And I know that even more now, after being in California for a few days again; it would never be my home"
"But right here is" said Marley, with a smile and looking at her family home; as Mikki turned off the engine of the Ford Focus, and leaned on the car horn.
"Just let the whole neighborhood hear that we're are here" said Sebastian, with a laugh; and Mikki turned to him with a nod as they got out of the car.
"Who do the other two cars belong too?" asked Marley, as she stretched her arms over her head, and seeing that there were two cars also in the driveway; that weren't that of any of her families.
"You'll see" said Mikki with a laugh, and seeing that her little horn blast had indeed worked like she had intended it to, the front door of the Kapowski residence opened, with Eric, Midge, Kitty, Artie, Roderick and Olivia; along with that of Lizzie, Burt and Kurt Hummel, as well as Dave Karosfsky coming out from inside.
"Oh my gorgeous girl" said Midge, going over to Marley and hugging her. "How are you doing?"
"Hi Mom" replied Marley, with a smile as she returned the hug. "I'm doing okay; it's been a good few days"
"Well that's good" said Eric, as he too went and hugged his youngest daughter. "Because there was no way in the world we were going to let you do what Mikayla did a few years ago, and travel all that distant on your own"
"Hmm, yes Mikayla did it twice" said Mikki, with a laugh; having got Amelia, who was now awake out from the car seat.
"Crazy woman" said Sebastian, with a laugh as Mikki walked over to Kurt and passed her daughter and her best friend's goddaughter over to him; and then enabling Sebastian to wrap his arms around his wife.
"And what is with the welcome party?" asked Marley, looking to the others with a laugh. "I kind of expected that Mom and Dad would be here, but not everyone else"
"Well it's not like we didn't know you'd be coming home" said Artie, with a smile to her and then quickly looked to Mikki, with a laugh. "Unlike some people here"
"Hey, it was a nice surprise" replied Mikki, with a frown.
"The best one ever" said Sebastian, with a nod; and quickly kissed her to the cheek.
"Yes well, I think you'd be crazy to think that we would miss seeing you the moment you got home" said Kitty, with a smile to her sister and quickly hugging her.
"I guess that's true; and it's nice" replied Marley, with a laugh. "And also you look amazing"
"Please, I feel like a huge gigantic whale" replied Kitty, with a frown. "And after this no more kids"
"You say that now Kitty Kat" said Kurt, with a laugh. "But why would you not want more of these" he continued, making a face at Amelia, who in turn laughed and pulled a face too.
"I still can't believe though that you all came over to see me back home" said Marley, as Roderick hugged her and then Olivia.
"Like Kitty, said" said Roderick looking to the youngest of his older sisters with a smile. "We would not let you come home, without being here?"
"Yeah" replied Marley, with a nod. "And it's also really nice that you came along as well" she said, with a smile and looking to Burt, Lizzie, Kurt and Dave. "I didn't expect that at all; especially when Kurt and Dave live so far away"
"Well I guess Columbia is a little far away" said Dave, with a smile to her as he gave her a quick hug; having known the Kapowski family since he and Kurt began dating a few years ago. "But a little closer than that of Ohio"
"Wait, you're living here now?" asked Marley, looking to Kurt and Dave, with a smile. "Since when?"
"Well we don't move into our place in Columbia for another few weeks; but it's been kind of official since the end of the school year" replied Kurt, with a smile to her; as Amelia got bored being in his arms and held her arms out to Midge; who took her granddaughter with a laugh, and then Kurt was able to hug the youngest Kapowski girl. "So I hope you don't mind seeing more of me again, little Rosie"
"Definitely not" replied Marley, shaking her head and smiling at the nickname that Kurt had given her when they were younger, derived from that of her middle name 'Rose'. "I've really missed being around people who I love spending time with"
"Well, we're going to spending lots of time with you" said Olivia, with a smile to her and going linking her arm through that of Marley's. "And since you and I are the childless ones out of all the others, with the exception of Kurt; that means we are so doing girl weekends"
"Umm excuse me?" asked Kitty. "Just because I am literally about to pop this baby out; does not mean I am going to be wanting to miss out on stuff"
"And you better think wisely before you ignore me and the others as well" said Mikki, with a smile to her youngest sister.
"Okay fine, I guess we can include them" said Marley, with a laugh; as Olivia nodded. "Leave the men with the kids and we can go to the spas for the day"
"You're including me in on this as well, aren't you?" asked Kurt, looking to her and Marley nodded with a smile.
"As if we don't know how much you love the spas" she replied with a laugh.
"Yeah, count me out of that" said Dave, with a laugh. "I'll go play ball or something with Seb and Robbie"
"Oh definitely yeah" replied Sebastian, with a nod. "Much more fun, than sitting around gossiping in water"
"Well instead of gossiping out here" said Midge, with a laugh. "Why don't we head on inside, and I can make some coffee, so we can all talk"
"And Lizzie bought gingerbread as well" said Roderick, with a smile.
"Knowing how you lot devour it" replied Lizzie, with a smile. "How could I not bring it along to welcome Marley back home"
"That means more for me, if that's the case; right?" she asked, with a smile; as they all started walking back towards the house.
"Honey, anytime you want gingerbread" said Lizzie, with a laugh. "You call me up, and you got it"
"Okay yeah" replied Marley, with a nod. "I think I'm really going to love being back here"; and with that being said they all entered into the Kapowski house, to continue talking with Marley who they all did believe was finally back home where she really belonged.
End Note: Thoughts on this chapter? I wanted to establish why Marley felt the need to move back, rather than stay in California, where she had a good job; and that is she really, much like Mikki wants to be around her family and those who she cares for so much.
And I wanted to add the last bit with Kurt and Dave saying that they are moving back, because firstly means more of Kurt and Mikki as friends in other stories; but also is going to lead into a story I plan on starting (yes, glutton for punishment I am) about how Kurt and Dave came to be in this verse.
Next chapter, I am going to be taking from Ryder's point of view; and how he is dealing with the whole divorce thing and I will tell you now it's going to be the start of some interesting connections to other stories, that you might not realize at first are going to be kind of connected in that; but ultimately will be.
So once again, thanks for reading and I will catch you all again soon.
Love always,
KJ xoxoxoxoxoxox