This chapter's a bit all over the place, but I wanted to get as much in as possible. Does it bother anyone else that they barely address Maggie's feelings about Tuscany? I had to include it.

Happy people shuffled around outside Alice's and gradually made their way inside. Groups were laughing and dancing to the blaring country music. She could see it all through the doors, but couldn't force herself to actually go through. Maggie felt the sting of tears in her eyes as she looked at what had become of her beautiful, elegant Tuscany.

Normally she avoided this wretched place as if it simply didn't exist. She could forget the horrendous changes to her lovely restaurant, not willing to admit that she would have thought the bar was incredible fun when she was a young farm girl.

Tonight she had no such luck since Bonnie was throwing a New Year's Eve celebration for the whole town. Mickey had already gone in, but it was taking Maggie a little longer. Still, she was determined not to let Bonnie win this round.

Technically, Mickey had already made a choice so it wasn't a competition, but Bonnie wasn't letting go. She seemed to like Bart though. Maggie couldn't help noticing them on Christmas Eve. If she didn't know better she would have thought that Lucas and Sami arranged it somehow.

"Aunt Maggie?" Lucas questioned as he stepped forward with an arm around Sami's shoulders, "Why are you standing out here?"

Maggie looked down, slightly ashamed of the irrational plan forming in her mind of setting the stupid cowboy bar on fire, though she knew she'd never do it, "I'm not quite ready to go in yet."

"You've been here before, it's not that bad."

"I know, I just… it's hard to explain."

"Don't worry Maggie," Sami spoke up as she slipped out from under Lucas's arm and slid her own around the older woman's shoulders, "I get it. This used to be your Tuscany, it's the sentiment," gently she started steering her to the door and Lucas pulled it open, "But you can't let Bonnie get you down."

Maggie chuckled a little and suddenly felt a little stronger with them by her side. It was nice having them around.

………………………………..

"You were great with Aunt Maggie back there."

"I guess I just have the touch."

"Yes, you do," teasingly he traced a line across her wrist that left her skin tingling and dropped his voice to a playfully sexy low.

"Lucas," Sami admonished while failing to hold back her giggles.

"Are we interrupting?"

"No, not at all. I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

With an over-exaggerated plop, Jack dropped into the seat across from Sami, "I'm all ears."

"I meant Jen. Sorry."

With mock sadness Jack sighed dramatically, "I see how it is. I'm not even home for a whole week and I'm already being dismissed."

"Come on, Jack. We'll go get our women something to drink."

"Now I'm a slave, too."

The girls laughed while Lucas and Jack went over to the bar then turned back to each other for some gossip.

"He's so happy. More than I can ever remember him being before."

"I know. I think we're both in permanent good moods. I love having him home."

"So you've told me, every time you managed to drag yourself away from each other."

"I can't stop smiling. It's the best feeling in the world. I never got to ask you, how are Roman and Marlena?"

"They're great. They're alive. They're still with people who're completely wrong for them."

"Sami…"

"I know, I just have to be grateful they're alive. If I keep thinking about this I'm going to get too angry to think about anything else. I have something very important I wanted to ask you."

"Okay, but let me just remind you that I'm already married and you're engaged to my brother."

"A different important question. I was wondering if you'd consider being my Matron of Honor. I know Belle was supposed to be, but you know what's happened. And we've become pretty good friends, so… what do you say?"

"Of course I'll be your Matron of Honor."

Sami and Jen were about to get up and hug in celebration of their deepening friendship when a shrill and very unwelcome voice broke in, "But what about me!"

…………………………………..

"Sami and Jen have really bonded since I've been gone."

"Yeah, it's amazing. Every one of the Horton's has been so great to her."

"I can't believe how much has changed. You and Sami are getting married. I've always liked her, but you guys were still fighting like cats and dogs when I died. Well not died, but… you know."

"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me. She's so great, and now some other people are starting to see that, too. And judging by those smiles, Jen is now Sami's Matron of Honor."

"And who's the best man? Now, I don't want to pressure you or anything, but I think I should point out that you were mine. Hint, hint," Jack joked, knowing full well that Will already had the job.

"Sorry, position's already been filled."

"That's disappointing. In fact, I don't think I want to talk to you anymore."

"I know what you mean. I was sure he was going to pick me," Philip joined the conversation, "I really hate to put a damper on New Year's Eve, but I've come to say goodbye. I'm being shipped out."

"But you told me that wasn't going to happen until late January," Lucas reminded in shock. His little brother was actually going to war.

"They moved it up. I'm leaving tomorrow," he went forward to hug Lucas, "Take care of Mom for me."

Lucas joined in the back-clapping guy hug, "I will. Be careful, okay. Don't die or anything."

His attempt to lighten the situation didn't work very well. It was beyond terrifying to think of Philip, little Philip his baby brother, overseas. He was going to be shot at and risking his life. Anything could happen.

………………………….

"You were my Maid of Honor, Belle, but then you stole my wedding. I thought it'd be pretty obvious that you weren't going to be keeping that title."

"B-but I'm your sister. Jennifer isn't anybody important."

"She's Lucas's sister…"

"…and Sami's friend," Jen added promptly.

"You're going to regret this. I'll make sure of it. You didn't come to my wedding, so… so I'm not coming to yours."

Sami tried to hold it back as long as she could, but finally she couldn't take it any longer and burst into laughter, "That's it? That's how you're going to get back at me?"

Belle simply could not understand how she could laugh at something like this. Sami's boycott had completely ruined her wedding. Now Philip was avoiding her and somehow it had to be Sami's fault. Belle was just as smart as her older sister; she could do the same thing.

"It's not going to be just me. I can get other people to join in, just like you did."

"Yeah, okay," Sami responded, although the sarcasm was lost on Belle, "Good luck with that."

……………………………….

Sami and Jen went to reunite with their respective men to get the drinks tat never quite made it to their table.

"You guys forget something?" Sami joked and took a sip of her now watered down soda.

"Sorry," he answered back half-heartedly.

"What's the matter?" He had been in such a good mood earlier.

"Phil's shipping out tomorrow," he said it in barely more than a whisper, but she caught every horrifying word.

"Oh my God," Sami pulled Lucas into a comforting hug, "I'm so sorry."

"He'll be fine. Right?" It was so wrong to think of little Philip out in war. The one sibling he grew up with was going to be in war.

"We'll pray for him every night. He's doing a brave thing, Lucas. Your brother's a hero."

"Yeah, he is. I really don't want to think about this anymore. Please distract me."

"I think the perfect distraction just walked in and he's headed straight for Bonnie."

……………………………….

"Howdy, little lady. Might a fine woman such as yourself be willin' to fix me a nice drink?"

At least, that's what he wanted to say. Instead of being cool and charming, with a little bit of a country twist, Bart's opener went something like, "Bonnie. H-hey, umm…you feel like fixin' me a drink?"

His spirit dropped a little, as he couldn't quite pull off a southern accent. Bart didn't seem to realize that Bonnie found his awkward nervousness cute and sometimes endearing.

"What're you looking for, Sugar?"

Bart was taken aback by the flirtatious lilt of her voice and the way she utilized her cleavage. It gave him much-needed boost of confidence, "What do you suggest?"

"Surprise?"

"Sure," hopefully it wasn't too strong. He never could quite hold his liquor.

In true cowboy/bartender fashion, Bonnie slid the small glass down the surface of the bar and, in a rare form of good luck, he caught it. Hoping to impress Bonnie further, Bart lifted the glass and downed it, or tried to anyway. Not even a forth had made it past his lips before he started coughing from the strength of the drink.

In a flash, Bonnie was around the counter and patting his back, "I'm sorry, honey. Maybe that was too strong for a guy like you. You okay?"

Clearing his throat, Bart nodded desperately hoping that he wasn't turning too red. He seemed to do that a lot around her. Bonnie went back around the bar still chuckling and poured him something lighter, but she stopped short when she spotted Mickey and Maggie acting very husband and wife-y.

It wasn't that she was hurt that the man she loved was in love with another woman. Bonnie didn't love Mickey like that, but it was slowly starting to sink in that she was going to loose. She hated to loose. For once she wanted the good guy to choose her. She was terrified by the prospect of never finding her own sweet, dependable guy.

Bart followed her gaze and saw what was causing the hurt in her eyes. For some reason it was his natural instinct to comfort her. It overcame the paralyzing nerves he felt around her, "He doesn't know what he's missing. You're a-a real nice lady. A-amazing, really. Ol' Mickey's an idiot if he d-doesn't appreciate it."

Bonnie studied the man before her carefully for the first time. He was sweeter than any guy that had ever shown interest in her. Really adorable, in his own way. She liked talking to him, and when Bonnie Lockhart, or Horton depending on her mood, liked something or someone she took charge.

"Thanks. You know, the countdown's gonna start any second. You got a special lady to kiss?"

"N-no, not exactly," he could feel his cheeks getting red just talking about kissing with her.

"You looking?"

"Uh… only if you're offering." Bart wanted to jump up and down, he'd actually managed to say something somewhat smooth.

"You've got yourself a New Year's kiss."

Down the bar, Sami pointed out Bart's shy, goofy grin as the countdown started. Lucas would have watched their plan unfold further, but it was midnight and he had a certain blonde to kiss.