Ok, so it's been a while, I'm sorry about that but I've had unbelievable writers block, and I've been trying to write this for what feels like years, but here it is, I really don't think it's that good and it's a bit nothingey again I'm afraid! Well that was a good advert so read away….K

Ch 50

"Hi." Emma, Jasper's sister greeted them at the door. "Sorry." She pulled the door open wider as she pulled a sweater over her head and they moved inside.

"We're getting a house." Imogen told her looking up excitedly, a grin on her face.

"Really." Emma nodded down at her "That's cool." She added smiling as Imogen took off through to the yard.

"Hi Em." Nick laughed, leaning over giving her a peck on the cheek. "Jesus Em, you look almost native." He grinned, looking at her deep tan, short denim skirt and grey v-neck.

"Jesus Nick, you look almost like a yuppie." She retorted smiling at him, laughter in her voice. "Hi, how're you doing?" She added looking over at Abby and Maggie.

"Good, thank you, how's it been around here today?" Abby asked smiling at her, she'd met her last night, briefly, and she'd liked her.

"Hectic and hungover I think sums it up pretty well." She laughed. "Did you get the stuff I left from Holly?" She asked looking over at Nick as Amelia appeared in the house, greeting Abby and Maggie with a smile instantly asking Abby about the house Imogen was talking about.

"Yeah, I did, thanks, there's actually a few things that I brought to show you're father." Nick smiled as he headed outside with Emma.

"Oh, god, from that photo album she sent?" Emma asked.

"Yup." Nick nodded with a wicked grin on his face. "How's she doing?" He asked as they headed through to the yard, Emma was about to tell him about his sister when a voice interrupted them. 

"Nick, we need you down here." Tom yelled as they appeared on the deck.

"What's going on?" Nick asked looking from where he was being called to and back to Amelia who'd appeared outside with Abby and Maggie. 

"Cricket match." Amelia said patting his back as she scooted past him.

"God Nick I know you're an American but I didn't think they'd beaten all the Brit out of you yet." Emma said laughing at him.

"I just didn't recognise it with out the pimms and picnic baskets." He grinned back at her, pulling his sweater over his head, dumping it on a chair and jogging off down the steps. He was handed a beer as he headed past Jasper acting as wicketkeeper, otherwise just guarding a crate of beer.

Maggie took a seat next to Birdie as Abby took one next to Emma.

"It looks amazingly clean given what was going on here yesterday." Maggie noted, looking over at Amelia.

"You should have seen it this morning, it looked like a bomb site." Amelia rolled her eyes, laughing slightly as she sat down. "Birdie and Ed are experts in making parties look like they never happened." Amelia smiled.

"Are we not sitting in something of an exposed position here?" Abby asked laughing slightly as she watched Jasper's younger brother tare up the garden and hurl a ball at his father and towards them.

"They were playing the other way round but it became clear that this was the safest way." Emma laughed, picking up her glass from beside her chair.

"The ball goes a hell of a lot faster after they hit it." Amelia laughed, pointing up at the top window, which had clearly had an altercation with a ball. Abby nodded once pouting. Cries came from all the men standing out on the grass as arms flew up in the air. They all turned to Eddie who was acting as umpire he nodded quietly and the cheers started again, and Dan began to taunt his father light heartedly having bowled him out.

"Luke, you're up." Dan yelled as Luke jogged in and Nick took over the bowling.

"Oh god here we go." Emma said rolling her eyes.

"What?" Amelia asked looking over at her.

"Watch." Emma said tipping her head towards the make shift pitch. Abby and Amelia both turned to watch Nick run up and bowl. Luke swung at the ball and smacked it; no one even attempted to catch it as it flew up and over the back wall.

"Bloody hell, he can hit them things." Birdie noted, nodding at Emma, as Jasper ran up grabbing another ball from the box sitting at the top of the deck steps.

"Jesus Em, what's he trying to prove?" Jasper asked her as he grinned over at his little sister.

"If you stop throwing the world cup in his face he might stop." Emma told him.

"I don't care, he's just going to have to buy me a whole box of tennis balls." Jasper shrugged, grabbing the box, taking it with him.

"What World cup?" Amelia asked looking over at her quizzically.

"The Rugby world cup, you must have had that with Jas." Emma looked over at her.

"Ohhh, yeah." Amelia nodded. "Jasper was up for about three weeks straight." Amelia smiled nodding at her.

"Bloody hell, we had to get a big screen in the bar for that, we had the entire British population of New York come in." Birdie grinned.

Abby watched as Emma, Amelia, Birdie and Maggie all engaged in a good humoured conversation, she watched as one of Jasper's brothers' hurled himself to catch a flying ball, grimacing slightly as he missed and landed fully on his ribs and stood up, a grin on his face, she laughed inwardly as she surveyed her surroundings, she would have this soon, or something that resembled it vaguely, she couldn't quite figure out where it lay between 'white picket fence' and 'lets try to revisit our youth', but wherever it was it was definitely a good place to be. The majority of the people in Amelia's yard had something about them, it was something that drew you towards them, it was what had drawn her to Nick, what had drawn her to Amelia even, she could see it in Jasper's sister as she glanced briefly at her as she moved to engaged Maggie in conversation, Jasper's father had it, Jasper had it, it was something unidentifiable. She'd seen it in people before now but she couldn't figure it out, in some ways it was intimidating, people who everyone wanted to be around, the people who the world would always revolve around; in some ways it was confidence, self assurance, but it wasn't something fake, it wasn't something that you could put on to endear people to you, it was something completely different, it was something inbuilt, it wasn't something you couldn't acquire as hard as you tried. They all had it but in slightly different ways, Amelia had a quiet self assurance, something that let you know that she was defiant, she was eminently approachable, but she had the kind of poise that let you know that she'd been through it, that she'd worked through it and she was happy with what she had, maybe it was a satisfaction thing, but Emma had it in the same sort of way as Amelia, it was a uniqueness that Abby was sure could be categorised, but she wasn't quite sure what it should be put under, Nick had it in abundance, something that emanated from him that told people he was the man to be around, she'd seen it even when he'd just been sitting in front of the TV, or been sat at his kitchen table working on a case, frowning down at the papers in front of him, she'd seen it when he'd been telling her something, or trying to explain something. Jasper had it in a slightly more outgoing way, it was almost a comfort, a notion that none of them ever really took anything that seriously, they all looked, well, happy, undeniably happy, Jasper maybe more so than the others, he had what she saw in his father, he resembled something in this untouchable assured word but it wasn't approachability, she laughed slightly as she saw him throw his hands up in the air as Luke was bowled out, Nick just chuckled and smiled, James let out a small cheer, Eddie just nodded, but Jasper threw his hands up in celebration, he cheered, in some ways he was more open, he had the obviously outgoing side, it was funny because she'd seen him worried, she'd seen him wanting everything for Amelia and Lauren, she'd seen his willingness to give everything up for them, she'd seen his uncertainty, but if you looked at him now playing in his back yard with his father and brothers, it was as if he was invincible, focussed on one thing and one thing only, he cared for her sister and her niece beyond everything else they were his world. Her new brother in law was a ten. It was almost like the people in Amelia's back yard were the people, who'd been in the 'cool' group at school, but they weren't, they were the people who'd gotten on with their lives, the people who'd achieved, or were on their way to achieving some semblance of satisfaction. She surveyed the faces surrounding her and she didn't see one that wasn't caught up in the moment, she couldn't see anyone worried about where they should be, what they were missing, what they should be doing instead of playing a ball game in the back yard or having a chat in the afternoon sunshine on the deck, she couldn't see anyone who wasn't fully involved in what they were doing, and it was weird, it was good, but it was weird, rarely had she experienced an atmosphere like this.

"How long have Tom and Ian been together?" Amelia questioned Emma. Abby tore her eyes away from the cricket playing men and focussed her attention back on the others.

"God…" Emma started frowning trying to remember.

"Who's Ian?" Abby asked Amelia quietly, having just joined in the conversation.

"Tom's boyfriend, blonde hair, glasses." Amelia told her leaning over, pointing the individual in question out as she spoke quietly as well.

"Since before Mum and Izzy died, god, so almost, I'd say pushing eight years maybe." Emma told Amelia, looking over at her, a smiling, quizzical expression on her face, trying to remember how long they'd been together.

"So your Mom knew him?" Amelia asked looking back to Emma.

"Yeah, I think so, Izzy was all about her new gay friend, and I remember dancing with him at the wake, so he was definitely around by then." Emma laughed slightly, "Bollocks I can't believe I don't remember." She added frowning a comedic smile, shaking her head at herself. "Give me a second and I'll come up with the story." She assured Amelia looking over scratching her forehead as if it would help as she continued to frown.

"Eight years though." Amelia said breaking what could potentially have become an awkward silence, she almost grimaced at the commitment.

"Almost nine, I think yeah, impressive hunh." Emma smiled over at Amelia.

"Yeah I think so."  Amelia said raising her eyebrows, she'd met Jasper's youngest sister for the first time when she came to visit Jas at the age of eighteen and liked her from day one, Emma was as Nick had put it, and as Abby had figured out for herself 'Awesome'.

"They're great together." Emma smiled over at Amelia, who nodded her head, a smile on her face as they looked out at Tom and Ian in the yard.

Eddie and James climbed the steps, having given up on the match, which was getting somewhat competitive now, they each took seats on the deck. James frowned at his smoking daughter, who rolled her eyes at him. Jasper headed up the steps and made his way into the house as the game dispersed and Dan, Tom, Ian, Nick and Luke all headed for seats on the deck. Imogen and Lauren headed out from the house as well, heading down into the yard as Music began to filter through from the house.

"Meals where are the fire lighters?" Jasper asked poking his out from the house. Amelia looked up from her conversation with Abby and over to him.

"Unless you bought some I don't think there are any." She shrugged at him.

"I didn't buy any." He shook his head at her.

"Well then there aren't any." She shook her head back, adding a shrug.

"How are we starting the barbeque then?" He asked, they had enough burgers, steaks, chicken legs, corn and kebabs left in their fridge to feed the five thousand.

"I don't know, just stick the oven on." She shrugged again. She looked over as she noticed Emma pushing Luke's shoulder.

"Go." Emma said forcefully to Luke as she managed to make him relent and he stood up.

"How much do you value your grass?" He asked as he made his way inside with Jasper.

"What are they doing?" Amelia asked looking over at Emma as conversations rumbled around them.

"If you need a fire started, he's your man." Emma nodded at her. Amelia watched as Jasper and Luke re-emerged carrying a bundle of newspaper and headed down the steps. They gathered a bunch of redundant 2x4's that had been lying in a pile round the side of the house since they moved in and Amelia had never figured out a use for, Luke began inexplicably breaking them over his knee.

"Is this a macho African Jungle man display?" Tom asked with laughter in his voice as he looked over at his sister.

"Undoubtedly." Emma nodded at him smiling.

"What are they doing?" Maggie asked Amelia as Nick took the seat beside Abby.

"Starting a fire apparently." Amelia asserted as she looked at her mother, a smile on her face.

"Bird, go in that bag for me." Nick said pointing at the bag he'd dumped by Birdie's chair. Birdie lent over and pulled the bag Nick indicated open.

"What d'you want luv?" Birdie asked looking up.

"There's a photo album in there grab it for me." Nick said, Birdie instantly pulled the big book out and handed it to Nick, heading back to her conversation with Maggie. "Check out some of these." Nick smiled handing the book over to James.

"What's this?" James asked, putting his drink down, taking the thick file from Nick.

"Hol sent it with Emma, you're daughter does some fairly risky things." He smiled at James. 

"Oh, god is this proof of them, I was enjoying living in blissful ignorance." James said rolling his eyes.

"Nick, please don't." Emma frowned at him, her face pained as she looked at her father opening the book.

"This is payback for the yuppie comment and for turning my sister and her boyfriend into Tarzan and Jane." Nick laughed at her as he looked over.

"At least they're not Dr and Mrs Dolittle like her and Luke." Tom added raising his eyebrows at his sister.

"Do one." Emma said mock irritated as she smiled at her brother. Amelia smiled as Emma bantered with her brothers, she looked out as Imogen shrieked and giggled, she saw Luke holding her upside down shaking her playfully, she'd missed exactly when it had happened but there was now a neat circular campfire in the yard beside the barbeque, Jasper was looking down at it rather proudly. Amelia pushed herself up, making her way out from the group as the phone began to ring in the house.

"Hey, yeah….thank you….yeah we had a good time… your brother's here, d'you want to talk to him" Amelia's half of the conversation was audible. "Yeah, no I don't blame you." She laughed, "Yeah, they're both here, which of them do you want to talk to?" Amelia asked as she headed back out to the deck. "Yep, ok, thank you…" She smiled, "She's right here." Amelia said holding the phone out to Emma. "It's Holly." Amelia said as she headed back to her seat. Emma frowned and took the phone, standing up as Amelia sat back down.

"Hey Hol." Emma started as she made her way out from the group, across to the other side of the deck. Emma started to explain something as the others fell back into conversation and Jasper, Luke and the girls headed back up the steps. Lauren and Imogen headed back into the house as Luke stole Emma's seat and Jasper began to harass her silently. "Fuck off." Emma told him, grabbing his arm as he prodded her ribs. "No, not you sorry, Jasper's pretending he's twelve again." Emma said to Holly as Jasper walked away laughing.

"Who's she talking to?" Jasper asked pointing his thumb over his shoulder at Emma as he headed for the last spare seat.

"Holly." Amelia told him.

"Luke, d'you know how many we've got in camp in two weeks off the top of your head?" Emma asked turning to him.

"Twelve tents I think." Luke told her in his thick accent.

"Can we fit another fifty five bodies in for three days?" Emma asked him.

"No, that pushes it up to seventy nine, the place'd be bedlam." He shook his head. 

"They want bar Brai evenings, that's a hell of a lot of money Luke." Emma told him her eyebrows raised.

"They have guides?" Luke questioned, pushing himself out of his seat and making his way over to her as she nodded at him and they struck up a conversation in Afrikaans, Tom, Dan, Jasper and James all looked over at her slightly puzzled.

"Yeah, Hol, book them in, it's just going to be a very busy week…yeah." she laughed, "Sure he's right here." Emma added, holding the phone out to Nick. "Your sister would like a word." She smiled as he took the phone.

"When the hell did you learn Afrikaans?" Jasper asked as Luke sat on the seat and Emma took a place on the floor.

"A while ago." She shrugged. 

"Mommy." Lauren said making her way to Amelia, tripping over Emma who caught her as she did, Amelia looked expectantly at her as she arrived. "When's dinner, I'm hungry." She told her mother looking up, her hands lying on Amelia's leg.

"I don't know Daddy and Luke are in charge." Amelia told her.

"That means it's going to be ages hunh?" She questioned pulling a face at Amelia.

"It might be yeah." Amelia laughed slightly at her, picking some grass out of Lauren's hair as she did. Lauren huffed slightly as she turned, bumping into Emma again, who caught her again.

"Em, can you come and play with us again?" Lauren asked pulling at Emma's arm. Emma smiled at her and began to stand up.

"Hey Lo, leave her alone for a bit ok." Amelia frowned slightly at Lauren who'd been systematically harassing Emma all day.

"No, it's fine." Emma shook her head, smiling over at Amelia; Amelia shot her an apologetic look as Lauren grabbed her hand, leading her away and Imogen joined in bouncing around her.

"She's got about as much maturity as the pair of them put together anyway." Jasper grinned at his sister as she headed away, she flipped him the bird as she headed round the door and into the house.

"She's a bloody site more mature than the rest of you." James said looking at Jasper.

All three of his sons protested the comment instantly. Amelia watched them laughing, particularly at Dan and Jasper who looked incensed.

"Go barbeque." Amelia told Jasper pushing him slightly still laughing as the Carmichael males began to protest their brilliance. Jasper headed off followed by Luke to start the dinner.

"Jesus Amelia you've got him trained haven't you?" Tom laughed as Amelia stood up, ready to head into the house. "He's never done anything I asked him to." Tom smiled up at her.

"I think he may be slightly more susceptible to my charms than he ever has been to yours." Amelia smiled at him, patting him on the back as she passed by.

"Probably a good thing." Tom nodded at her, as she chucked and smiled down at him.

"D'you need a hand?" Abby offered as Amelia headed obviously to prepare what ever else needed doing.

"Sure." Amelia nodded at her and she stood up, heading after Amelia and into the house.

They made their way inside to be greeted with the site of Lauren, Imogen and Emma all sitting on the living room floor creating some kind of huge marble run tower, all of Lauren's birthday presents were scattered all over the room, in various stages of being played with.

"No, no, Emma you cant do it yet." Lauren told her, as she was about to drop a marble onto the contraption. Lauren took it off her decisively.

"Why?" Emma asked, laughing slightly at Lauren's seriousness.

"Because we put all the marbles in together." Imogen told her standing up brandishing a bag containing numerous small silver ball bearings. Emma looked slightly sceptically at her.

"If you put them all in they're going to go everywhere." Emma said, mildly amused.

"Yeah it's more fun." Lauren told her excitedly, nodding as she stood up as well.

"Oh, ok." Emma humoured her. "Well then you guys do that and I'll go and help your Mum." Emma said standing up.

"Ok, and then we'll call you when they're going." Lauren nodded at her smiling.

"Ok." Emma nodded back standing up with a smile on her face, heading for the kitchen.

"You all played out?" Amelia asked smiling as Emma approached, pulling a bowl of salad from the fridge.

"Not yet, she has awesome toys." Emma said looking over at Imogen and Lauren.

"Yeah, she's got enough of them as well." Amelia said raising her eyebrows. "Emma's been playing with an etch-a-sketch all day." Amelia told Abby.

"Really? Sounds productive." Abby nodded at Emma, smiling.

"It was very." Emma smiled back in mocking agreement. "I had to take it off Jasper who spent most of the morning drawing comedy penis' on it." She laughed.

"He's very mature your brother." Amelia told her with a smile and an eye roll.

"So are you the youngest?" Abby asked looking over at Emma as she pulled cling wrap off the top of all the bowls Amelia was pulling out of the fridge.

"Yup." Emma nodded as she grabbed a bowl as well.

"God with three older brothers." Abby smiled raising her eyebrows.

"And an older sister." Emma smiled raising her eyebrows slightly.

"So were you babied or bullied?" Abby asked laughing slightly.

"A happy mixture." Emma told her with a smile.

"You might know this actually, you've known Nick your whole life right?" Abby asked grabbing another bowl looking over at Emma, squinting a little. Emma nodded picking up a knife as Amelia slid a few tomatoes towards her. "Do you know how he got his scar?" Abby asked her. Emma paused and laughed. "What?" Abby laughed back at her, she got the impression this might be a good story.

"I've heard two versions." Emma told her. Abby shook her head indicating that she should go on, she had a smile on her face as she looked at Emma.

"I think he was like, seventeen, Tom was definitely there so he knows for sure, I've heard Tom's version and Nick's Dad's version which are two very different stories." Emma smiled.

"Ok, tell me both." Abby smiled at her leaning conspiratorially in…

So let me know, I'm still trying to come up with plans for this again because I really don't want it to just fizzle out but we'll see, so let me know what you think, thanks for all the continued reviews they are all very much appreciated, and I know I keep saying that I will do review responses and I will….at some point! Once again though you'll have to just put up with my lame appreciation, so thank you and keep the reviews coming!!! Kay x x x