AN: Ah Hah! Second chapter today. By the way, Greg's family and family gatherings are based off my own family memorial day parties.

Thanksgiving was an amazing thing. They had to serve all the food in the barn because there wasn't any other place big enough. Not that everyone could eat there, that's just where they had to hand out the food.

Warrick's grandmother warmed right up to the older relatives in charge of the cooking. It didn't matter that most of them spoke limited English, they were cooking and having a great time. Warrick could tell his grandmother was really enjoying herself and he loved that.

Most of the people hung out around the tents in the yard. It was the only space where there actually was space. They talked and chatted and caught up on their lives. It was amazing.

Fredy watched his brother, Ty, closely. He seemed a bit out of his element with all these people around. But then a young woman, maybe 20 or 22, right about his brother's age, walked up to Ty. Fredy watched from a safe distance with a huge smile on his face. The two really hit it off and Fredy was thrilled for his older brother.

The tents apparently made for excellent games of hide and seek. The younger kids loved this and there were squeeling kids running all over the place, ducking into tents to hide. Kiley actually joined in a few of these games and so did the rest of the Nerd Squad as well as most of the other kids. It was apparently a past time that didn't discriminate against age. It was a family tradition.

Cousin number 29, a five year old boy named Eric, got really attached to Sara for some reason. Sara couldn't shake the little boy off. He followed her every where. Sara actually enjoyed the little boy. He listened to her and acted like a loyal little puppy. As an added bonus, Greg seemed to get jealous. Jealous of a five year old. It was such a Greg thing.

The kids got food first and they ate their fill. There were several turkeys, the exact number wasn't reveled, and plenty for everyone. The kids were spread all over the yard, in their little groups, eating all they could.

After dinner, right before it got dark, there was a gathering of the smaller kids. This apparently was a tradition too. And it was Greg's tradition. He was the center of the group and the appointed story teller.

"Okay, this years story is called The Tortoise and the Hare." Greg said. This was meet by several loud groans.

"I know that story," a little kid complained.

"Hush," Greg ordered.

"Okay, so there was this Tortoise, which is like a giant turtle. And this hare, which is like a rabbit with really, really long ears." Greg was very animated when he told stories and he demonstrated everything with his hands.

"So this hippo sets up a race and he want the hare to run in the race. A fox, who's really clever, bets money that the hare will win. The Tortoise also enters the race because his friend told him too. So on race day, the Tortoise and the hare are lined up and they are ready to race. The hippo fires his gun and they run. Well the hare runs, the Tortoise goes really really slowly. The hare decided he wants to nap, so he does. The Tortoise keeps going really really slowly."

"So who wins," came the voice of another little kid.

"Thehare does of course."

Laughs erupted among the kids.

"And the moral of this story is: Always bet on the hare!"

"My grandmother had a great time," Warrick said to Greg.

A bunch of kids were all spread out in the barn. Of course it hadn't been used as a barn in several decades. There was a large lamp in the middle of the sea of sleeping bags. Greg and Sara were sitting next to each other. Nick was there as well as the rest of the nerd squad. A total of 13 of Greg's cousins were also there. And of course Greg's two older sisters. This came to a grand total of 22 kids between the ages of 12 (Kiley) and 17 (Cousin number 14 A.K.A. Logan).

Every 20 minutes or so, an adult would come in to the barn and make sure the kids weren't doing anything "inappropriate". The older kids found this checking up annoying. Sara found it highly amusing. Especially since many of the adults spoke little English.

"Good," Greg said.

"My brother enjoyed himself too," Fredy said. "Especially meeting...uh..cousin number...24, that it," Fredy asked. A girl near them nodded.

"Yep, my sister Alva ," she said. "She's seems real taken with your brother too."

There was lots of talking, lots off laughing. Just plain, good fun. Cassy loved it. She loved Greg's huge family where all the kids were numbered. She loved the happiness and exuberance and insanity that seemed to run in the family. She liked meeting these new people and would most defiantly be staying with Greg at this house until the holiday week was over. And she'd be back for Christmas.

"My brother needs a girlfriend," Fredy said and the girl nodded.

"So does my sister. By the way, I'm Katchie, Kat. A.K.A. cousin number 23," she said with a smile.

"I'm Fredy and I don't have a number," he said with a laugh. People have been reintroduced all day. At the beginning, everyone lined up, all the kids anyway, and shouted out their numbers. Most of them knew each others numbers anyway.

"So what happened to you," cousin number nine (A.K.A. Henrik) said to Sara.

"What are you talking about," Sara asked. She was still sitting next to Greg, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Hon," the older boy said. "You are dating Greg. Something must be crossed in your head," he said grinning.

Greg scowled at his cousin and stuck his tongue out at his offending cousin.

"Did he brainwash you so something," Henrik continued. Greg leapt at his older cousin and began to beat him furiously with a pillow. Henrik started to laugh as he pushed Greg off of him.

"Hey, chill out Greggo, I was only kidding," he said.

"Greggo," Sara said with a wicked grin on her face. Henrik nodded.

"Yeah, Greggo, rhymes with Eggo, like the waffle. Leggo my Eggo, Leggo my Greggo," Henrik explained.

"Leggo my Greggo? I like it," Sara declared. Greg groaned. His cheeks were bright red.

"You just had to tell her didn't you," Greg spat at Henrik. He nodded.

"Of course," he said. The three of them started to laugh.

"Greggo," Sara repeated, trying out the new nickname. "I think this is the beginning of a legacy," she said happily.

When all Greg's family had to go back home, there was a lot of goodbyes and hugs and tears. They seemed to forget that they would be reconvening in less then a month. Sara had bonded with a few of the younger kids and hugged them tightly before they were ushered off to their rental cars.

Fredy talked quite a bit with Kat, and got her sister's number to give to his own brother.

Kiley also seemed quite upset at the prospect of everyone leaving. She had meet a very cute cousin of Greg's who was only a year older then her. She exchanged phone numbers with him and seemed Especially sad to see him go. Sara was greatly amused by this.

"I'll see you at Christmas right," Henrik asked Sara. Sara nodded.

"Oh course," she said. Henrik smiled.

"Good. Maybe then we can truly find out how he brain washed you," Henrik said, indicating Greg. Greg glared at his cousin.

"Easy Greggo," Sara said, making Greg blush. Sara laughed.

"You're brilliant," she said to Henrik. Greg looked at Sara then Henrik then back to Sara. Then he put on a pouty face to rival any two year old's.

"I see how it is," he said and started to walk away scuffing his feet. Sara sighed and rolled her eyes. She caught up to Greg and spun him around.

"Stop being so paranoid," she said and kissed him.

"He's not paranoid," Henrik informed her. "He know's full well that girl's aren't my thing."

Greg had a wicked grin on his face as he looked at Sara. Sara dropped her jaw and punched Greg playfully on the arm. Well, half playfully, half as hard as she could.

"I am not that predicable," she said firmly. "I am not so easily manipulated." But she had a smile on her face anyway. Greg slung an arm around her shoulder.

"Sure Sara," he said.