Chapter 3: Reunions

~ March 31, 2034 ~

It was now one week after Jackson Fuller's return from Fallujah, Iraq, and things were not only running smoothly but they had never been better between himself and his fiance. With no more secrets between Jackson, Chloe, and with Jackson's family now in the picture the wedding planning was on track and full speed ahead. The moment his family returned to San Francisco the word went out that Jackson was not only alive but they knew where he was living and that he was getting married. The invitations to said wedding were sent out to their family before the phone calls were made. Jackson's contact information was given to each of them with a picture of the happy couple so they knew what Jackson's future wife looked like. Of course, during their phone calls, they were told that the two things that were off-limits were Jackson's occupation and what he was up to for the past nine years.

After returning from Las Vegas Jackson passed his polygraph with flying colors as the person giving him the test was a woman that was enamored with Jackson's story. As a woman, she always felt bad for the men that had to keep this life a secret from the women they loved all because they were not married to said women. It was actually far easier for women to keep their men placated, especially government-trained women versed in the art of seduction. Once she asked the question if he divulged his identity or secrets to anyone Jackson answered yes truthfully. The woman (Amber) made the note after Jackson provided the marriage certificate and ended the session.

Claire, Chloe, and DJ were now either on the phone or video chatting constantly over the details of the wedding. While most of these details have been in place for some time (as the wedding has been delayed twice) Chloe showed Jackson's mother photos of locations, decorations, designs, dresses, the works. As it was DJ would be flying out the following Friday to help Jackson's beloved and her mother with a few suggestions. Jackson knew that part of the reason she was coming was she wanted to see her son's house.

"So Jackson... are you going to ask them?" Chloe asks her beloved.

The pair have taken to referring to one another as beloved because Jackson was in the process of annulling their Las Vegas marriage. Luckily what happens in Vegas indeed stays there. Jackson and Chloe aren't the first couples to get married and change their minds in the morning. The reasons are vast but now that his monthly polygraph is done he doesn't have to worry about it as the next time he takes the polygraph test the box for his wife will already be checked and he is not obligated to report his annulled status.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jackson replies even though he knows good and well that Chloe is referring to DJ wanting Jackson to make his brothers groomsmen. This was definitely one part of the separation that Jackson didn't mind. He didn't have to consult with his mother about his wedding plans. His family had only been back in California for a few hours and his mother sent him the text saying it might be nice if Jackson would ask his brothers to be in his wedding party as groomsmen.

"The last time I checked you only had Charlie on your groomsmen list." Chloe reminded her fiance.

Jackson considered how best to answer this challenge without turning it into a full-fledged fight. The last thing he needed was a battle he couldn't win. Then he remembered something, yeah that would even out the playing field.

"Ok, I will ask my brothers to be groomsmen... however you have to put one of my family members into your wedding party." Jackson declares.

"Jackson, the wedding is in a matter of months. If you want one of your family members in this wedding they need to show up next week to be fitted for their dress." Chloe informs her tricky lover.

"Oh, I'm sure I can arrange that. In fact, the person I have in mind will literally race here." Jackson informs Chloe.

~ April 7, 2034 ~

The trip from the airport was long as it was Friday evening and passengers were either coming in or heading out for the weekend but despite the hectic traffic Jackson Fuller now had his passenger loaded and the two were driving towards Jackson's home sweet home. The irony of the matter was that Jackson's mother was flying in as well and was due in an hour but Claire volunteered to pick her up and house DJ for the weekend as the two mothers were still bonding (they were quickly becoming fast friends). Jackson was surprised to learn that Ramona still had her same cell number so when he called her from his original cell phone he was surprised she answered the phone so quickly. That conversation was entertaining from Jackson's end, less for Ramona as she was trying to sleep but forgave him. Jackson knew she was busy but asked her to fly to Phoenix, Arizona as he had a special request for her.

Ramona was surprised as it was rather audacious for Jackson to call her out of the blue after nine years and ask her to first fly out on a whim and then request a favor. However, the sheer curiosity of the situation got the better of her and she agreed to fly out and hear him out. Ramona quickly made the time to come see him and sent him her flight information as soon as it was finalized. The flight from Catalunya was long and the time zone change was playing with her a bit but Ramona slept the second half of her flight so that when the Captain came over the intercom and announced they were preparing to land she was very rested.

"So... nine years." Ramona began. The pair of surrogate siblings had not talked since the few sentences at the airport. Ramona had almost tackled Jackson, she was so happy to actually see him alive and in one piece. Jackson squeezed her very hard (but didn't break anything) and kissed her cheek.

"Time flies," Jackson stated.

"That's it, that's all I get... time flies?" Ramona rhetorically asks.

"Let me just say that I am contractually obligated not to go into further details. However, there is someone that can, you just have to have patience and wait." Jackson smugly replies.

"Ok, So... why Phoenix?" Ramona asks. They were both born in California and until she reached adulthood had never left the state, much less the country.

"My company moved my team here three years ago after a prolonged overseas tour," Jackson explained.

"Did you get to pick where you were going or was it chosen for you?" Ramona inquired.

"We didn't get a choice, but fate has a way of looking out for you sometimes," Jackson says as he turns his Honda Pilot to the right and Ramona notes that he is starting to slow down. Ramona whistled when Jackson turned into his driveway. "Very nice Jackson."

Ramona stepped out of Jackson's gunmetal gray Honda Pilot that Jackson parked in the driveway so his surrogate sister could take a look at his home. Jackson collected Ramona's bags and the two made their way to the front door. Upon unlocking the house the pair walked through the door and Jackson points to the left room.

"This is your room for the duration of your stay," Jackson informs Ramona.

Ramona looked around and said, "Something tells me you didn't decorate this room."

"Well, I wouldn't say I didn't decorate it, I would say I didn't pick the décor," Jackson replied.

"So what's the story?" Ramona asks as she tosses her bags on the bed that Jackson acquired for his sister's stay. The futon was adequate for Chloe when she wasn't living here full time as she rarely slept on it. Now however with his family coming here more often it was decided to get a queen-sized bed.

"I let my girlfriend pick the color after I bought this house. She had an apartment of her own at the time and as her workplace was very close to this house it made sense that she kept what she wanted here." Jackson tells his sister.

"Are you still dating this girl Jackson?" Ramona inquires.

Jackson simply answered, "No, I'm not dating her anymore. Now, let me show you around the place before you unpack. I'm sure you'll want to get cleaned up so we'll get that part of the tour out of the way."

Ramona loved how spacious Jackson's house was. It didn't have a ton of rooms but the rooms it had were a very nice size. On the other side of her room was Jackson's office. Jackson explained he had moved the futon into it after purchasing the queen-sized bed for her room. The garage entrance was to the right as was the laundry area. Stepping into the main section of the house Ramona's jaw dropped at how much room was given to the kitchen, dining, and living room (Jackson said it was called a Great Room but to each their own). Jackson's Master bedroom and bath were, in a word, huge. As she took everything in Ramona realized this was the kind of house she wanted for herself. Sure with her money she could buy something larger but she didn't need a mansion, she wanted a nice sized house for the family she hoped to have one day.

"I love your home Jackson," Ramona says as the pair walk back into the house from the covered patio.

"Thanks. I lucked out when I found this place. It had been recently flipped after foreclosure so I got it at a steal." Explained Jackson.

"I"m going to go get cleaned up and changed if you don't mind," Ramona informs her sibling.

"There is a clean robe as well as soaps and shampoo in there so enjoy."

"Stocked and ready for your mother's eventual visit?" Ramona inquires as she heads for her room to undress...

"Oh yes."

It was 7 PM when Chloe, Claire, and Charlie Donovan walked through the front door of the Fuller residence with DJ Hale. The trio had traveled to the airport as a family to collect DJ and bring her to Claire's residence where she would be staying for the weekend. DJ made herself comfortable in the Donovan family home. It was a nice sized single floor three-bedroom house which was all Claire needed as she was its sole occupant since Chloe moved out. Once DJ was settled and changed the group drove to Jackson's home. Chloe had sent DJ a few pictures of the house (featuring Jackson and herself as well) but as far as DJ was concerned they did not do the home justice. While DJ loved her family home she had to admit that it could be a bit cramped aesthetically speaking. Jackson's home was a single floor but it was spaced out nicely. The quartet entered the main foyer and Chloe noted that the guest bathroom had been used and that the door to her old room was closed.

"This is the hall to my old room where I kept my belongings before Jackson and I were engaged." Chloe tells DJ. "there is a full bathroom to the right that someone has used."

"That would be your newest bridesmaid... not that I've told her why she's here yet," Jackson says approaching the group. He hugs Chloe and kisses her before moving down the line to his mother, then Claire. He and Charlie just shake hands and laugh.

"So, as soon as our guest is ready we can go out to eat," Jackson says.

"Not to Arby's right?" DJ asks her son.

"No, not to Arby's," Jackson answers his mother's private joke.

Before anyone else can ask the meaning of DJ's statement the door to Chloe's old room opens and a young Latina appears. She has shoulder-length dark brown hair and matching dark brown eyes. She is wearing a black front button-down midi dress and black strappy sandals.

"Ramona..."

Chloe did not recognize the woman standing before her until her name was spoken. The funny thing was, it was neither Jackson nor DJ that said her name. Claire was not familiar with the younger woman but from the look on her nephew's face, he looked like he had just seen a ghost from his past.

"Oh my god... Ramona." Chloe says and hugs the perplexed woman.

When the girl hugging her pulls back Ramona takes a good long look at her and then something within her memory clicks. "Ch... Chloe? Chloe Donovan?" Ramona says in disbelief. Chloe's emotions got the best of her and all she could do was nod her head yes. Ramona pulls her friend back in for another hug.

"What... what are you doing here?" Ramona asks the girl mid-hug.

"I live here silly. Didn't Jackson tell you?" Chloe asks.

"No, he failed to mention that little fact." A near sobbing Ramona replies.

The pair look to Jackson and see that he is off to the side recording the moment with his Cellphone. "If you thought I was going to miss recording this moment you were mistaken," Jackson explained to the pair of friends.

"Charlie, your jaw is on the floor." Claire Donovan informs her stupefied nephew.

"Uhhh h... hi Ramona," Charlie says in disbelief.

Ramona quickly realizes that the young man that was beside Chloe was her cousin Charlie Donovan. She does recall that there were three Donovan boys but the older two were muscle-bound neanderthals. Charlie was lean, babyfaced and at times made Ramona's heart flutter back in the day. In the past thirteen years, the once babyfaced Charlie had grown into a handsome man. He still had the same cute features but he was now as tall as Jackson and had filled out with musculature. Chloe released Ramona and the young Latina moved and hugged her other friend. Charlie slowly wrapped his arms around Ramona and didn't realize he was breathing in her scent until after he had done so. It had been thirteen long years since he last saw her in person and held her in his arms. He had almost forgotten how warm, soft, and sweet she was. He lost contact with Ramona after she finished college as she went into dancing but she stopped that career and while he did not know why soon learned that she had become the world's first women's Formula 1 racer. From that moment on Charlie followed her career and recorded every race she partook in.

"Charlie Donovan... you grew up." Ramona playfully states. It's only when Ramona kind of squirms to loosen herself that Charlie releases her. Ramona notes his face is red when he does so.

"Ramona Gibbler, you're prettier than ever." Charlie manages to say looking her in the face.

"Ramona this is my mother, Claire Donovan," Chloe says introducing the two.

"Ramona is my goddaughter," DJ tells Claire.

"And she's like a sister to Jackson." Charlie and Chloe say in unison, something they haven't done in ages.

"Wait... Jackson, I thought you said you weren't dating the girl whose room that was," Ramona says not understanding the situation.

"That's because I'm not dating Chloe any longer," Jackson says matter-of-factually as Ramona looks at him perplexed.

"What Jackson means Ramona..." Chloe says pausing for effect. "we're getting married this September." Chloe says showing off her engagement ring.

Ramona squeals and hugs both Jackson and Chloe. While they were in high school Ramona always thought Jackson would marry Rocki. The two loved one another so deeply that they seemed destined to be together. However, after their bad breakup, she suspected any chance of that was long since gone. It was painfully obvious to the three teen girls while in Cancun, Mexico that Chloe was smitten with Jackson. If not for him being a one-woman guy and the fact Rocki would have killed the pair if anything had happened, she could have easily seen the two together.

"Speaking of which, I think you have something to ask my sister," Jackson tells his beloved.

"Ramona, the reason Jackson surprised us both and had you fly out here was that I need another bridesmaid. I was hoping you would b..."

"Yes, yes, yes, YES!" Ramona says almost jumping for joy before Chloe can even finish asking her question.

"I know someone is going to be tired when she gets on a plane in a few days," Jackson states as he and Charlie follow the four women out the front door to go have a very animated dinner Jackson suspects.

To Be Continued