Breakfast at the Needleman's

"See, that's why we're having this little brush up chat about curfew, guys."

"Look, I just lost track of time."

"And I don't even track time! There's no way I'm getting punished because he was out with Valleians."

"Oh yeah, rag on me 'cause you don't have a life of your own, dork."

"C'mon on, boys…this is already set. One hour earlier curfew."

Carver could hear the sounds of various Needleman family members' voices as he approached the kitchen. For the first time in awhile he had had a good night sleep. Maybe because of the two hundred thread count sheets he was sleeping on. He had found himself up late though he was already dressed. It didn't take him long to get ready. He had never had much to get ready in. Sweatshirt, jeans, he was on his way. He slowly entered the kitchen to find all three Needleman men looking up at him. He stopped in his tracks for a moment, feeling like he had been caught though he'd done nothing at all. Aaron was the first to speak.

"Morning. How'd you sleep?"

Carver smiled slightly, replying at once, "Good. Really good." Aaron gave him a sly smile and beckoned him to come towards the dining table where Cameron and Jake were already sitting. Jake gave him a friendly smile while Cameron avoided his glance.

"See, father of mine, we need this extra hour or two because we're going to Lauren James's birthday party. See, it's an introduction to Sherman Oaks for Carver here and everyone knows the party doesn't really start until ten," Jake chimed in with an earnest look to his father.

"You're going to crash Lauren's party?" Cameron questioned.

"No. We're guests. See, there's this thing called an invitation. Someone gives it to you and you're welcome to come to the party."

Aaron kept his eyes on Carver as his sons argued. They had always been that way. It was a Needleman trait, the arguing that is. Despite the constant arguing and sarcasm, the Needleman were a pretty close family and Aaron knew that was extremely true. He pulled out a seat for Carver and Carver slowly sat down. "One extra hour. That's it. And no breaking curfew," he replied finally to his sons who both smiled to themselves. He leaned his elbow on the table and took a sip of his coffee which was getting colder by the second. Sneaking a glance at his watch, he realized he had to get going soon.

"Hey, why don't you guys show Carver around town today? Maybe head down to the beach? You a surfer, Carver?" Aaron asked the boy as he rose from his seat and brought his coffee cup over to the sink.

"Uh…no…surfing's not exactly a big thing in Fresno."

Aaron nodded and washed his cup out quickly before turning the sink off. "Hey, Dad, did you know they actually call Fresno 'Death Row'?" Jake added in with a look over at Carver and shook his head. Cameron ignored the comment only replying that he was taking Lauren out today. Aaron noticed that Cameron didn't exactly seem to be warming up to Carver, but he shrugged it off. Jake was already treating the boy like his partner in crime and that made Aaron more than happy.

"If you like records, I can take you to this little place down on the pier where they have these really old copies of hard to get ones. Once got my mom an autographed Go Go's album," Jake said, looking over at Carver. Jake's comment reminded Aaron of his wife who was none to thrilled about the family's new development. She hadn't talked to him all night and she'd even left early this morning. It wasn't a good sign. Aaron just had to keep hoping she'd warm up to Carver. He didn't want the family divided. The kid had just lost his mom, he didn't need to wonder if he was welcome or not in the Needleman's home.

"Yeah, pick me up a copy of that band you told me about. What was it? Septembers?"

Jake rolled his eyes and shook his head, exchanging a look with Carver who was as oblivious to the indie music scene as he was to the indie film scene. "Decemberists, Dad. And no, I'm not going to do that. We have to draw the line at father and son. No listening to the same music. It freaks me out," Jake replied as Aaron grabbed his suitcase. The footsteps of another disturbed all four men. Before them stood Lauren James, looking perfect in a white sundress with strappy sandals. Carver met her glance and she smiled slightly.

"Hey."

Aaron smiled to the girl. He had known her since Georgie moved next door to the Needlemans when Lauren was seven. She was a sweet girl and both Aaron and Kristina had approved when Cameron had started dating her last year. You couldn't ask for a better girlfriend for your son. "Hey there, Lauren. Happy birthday by the way. Seems like you have my whole household as guests," he responded with a smirk. She laughed slightly, her eyes landing on Carver but only for a split second. So he had decided to come. She felt instantly more confident. She always did when guys were interested in her. Cameron shot his father a look when he mentioned the word 'guests'. Apparently his father didn't understand the concept of a surprise party. But Lauren didn't seem to notice the comment as she didn't say anything else about it.

"Thanks Mr. Needleman," she replied as Aaron scurried around the hall, grabbing a few papers he needed for before he left for the office. "Well then, I should probably get going. I'm already five minutes late. So I'll see you boys later…and remember what we uh, talked about, ok?" Aaron announced as he shot his two sons serious glances. The two boys nodded and he headed towards the front door. Cameron was next to rise from the kitchen table, walking towards Lauren who stood by the kitchen counter and dropping off his plate on the way. He kissed the top of her head and quietly spoke to her so the others in the room could barely hear him. "Hey, why don't you go wait in the car. I gotta get something before we leave." Lauren's face lit her, her eyes shining back at him.

"Ooh. What could it be? Possibly a birthday present for me?" she replied with a cheeky grin on her face. It was what Cameron had always loved about her. Yes, even though they had only been going out for a little less than a year, Cameron had always had some sort of thing for her. That wasn't to say he had been pining because he wasn't the kind of boy to pine. That was more his younger brother's style. Cameron had never had a lack of ladies and he didn't expect it would happen anytime soon. "It's called a birthday surprise," he told her as pushed her towards the hall. She allowed him to and turned to look over at Jake and Carver who were doing their best to listen but not make it especially obvious.

"See ya."

Wit that, Lauren was gone, making her way outside to wait for Cameron. All three boys watched her go. You didn't have to love the girl to watch her go. It was more like a reflex. Cameron turned to face the two younger boys who were still sitting at the kitchen table, his eyes landing on Carver. They hadn't gotten off to the best start, but his parents had said something about making the guy feel at home and though Cameron wasn't planning to go out of his way to do anything, he didn't have to be a jackass to Carver.

"Hey, uh, look…I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know anything about this whole thing so I'm sorry that I was a jackass."

Carver was surprised by the comments. Not only because Cameron had been so unfriendly to him before but because the guy didn't look completely earnest with his apology. There's was no need to create a rift there though and Carver wasn't looking for trouble…or at least he was trying not to look for it. He offered a small smile to Cameron only replying, "It's cool. No big deal." Apparently, this was enough for Cameron who turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Jake and Carver alone, the last two breakfasting members of the household. Jake turned to Carver who grabbed a bagel from the few on the kitchen table. Without another moment of thought, he spoke, ready to play tour guide to the new kid.

"Let's hit the boardwalk."