Abby watched King smile, not his usual smirk but his full blown smile. Her heart melted. She looked around the group that had been eagerly awaiting him. When she looked at each face she saw Hannibal. They each embraced King and then looked at Abby with curiosity. A woman in her fifties came up to Abby. "You must be Abagail. Hanny's told me so much about you. Thank you for taking care of my boy." She hugged Abby. Abby smirked at King mouthing, "Hanny?" "I'm Stacey King and this is my husband James. You'll meet all the brood through out today." Stacey linked arms with Abby leading her out to the back patio. King followed Abby listening as his brothers talked around him. Scanning the family he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning he looked to see his oldest brother, Julian. Julian was 35 and King had to admit good looking for his age. His once bleach blond hair had darkened. His warm blue eyes had crinkles around them. His build was that of a man who worked out religously. "She's not here. Maybe she'll be here later." Julian said. "I can't believe she's not here." King said. "He must be talking about Annie." Austin said coming up to the two. Austin was Julian's opposite, at 31 the oncologist was the shortest of the three brothers at an even 6' and where Julian thought exercise was a religion all on it's own, Austin idea of exercise was reaching for the remote. "Paradise finish cullanary school finally?" King asked. "Hey I see death all the time. Just cause you two are pshycos and have to kill yourselves at a gym." Austin said. The three brothers laughed. king glanced across the yard and the sight he found warmed his heart. Abby sat with his mom, his sister Elizabeth, and his sister-in-law Paradise. On her lap sat his newest niece Mary Anne. "She's beautiful Junior where'd you meet her?" Julian said to King using his nickname. "You could say she just fell out of the sky." He admired her in her white tank top, jeweled jean jacket, and hip huggers.
Abby smiled at the infant on her lap. "Junior must think alot of you. He's never brought someone home with him." "Junior?" Abby asked. She tried not to laugh. This family had so many nicknames for King. "He didn't tell you? What do you call him?" Elizabeth asked. "King. I've never really thought about it." Abby answered. "Yea that's my little brother. An ego the size of Texas. His full name is Hannibal James King. After my dad. We've called him Junior since he was born. 'Cept mom course." Elizabeth explained. "So your Elizabeth, and your Paradise." The blond nodded next to her. She could see why Hannibal had, had a crush on her when they were younger. She looked like she belong in a magazine. " The tallest one is Julian, then Austin, but I don't see Annie." Abigail said. "She's not here." Hannibal's mom said sadly. "I tried to call her mom, but you know her." Elizabeth said. Abby watch King as he joked with his brothers. She'd never seen him look so free. She smiled, "Yup Junior's worked his charm." Paradise said. "Oh we're not like that." Abby said blushing at being caught. She was getting soft. A thumping had started to get louder. "Looks like Annie got my message after all." Elizabeth said. The gate for the back door opened and in walked a leggy red head. Her jeans hung low on her thin hips her baby tee showing her belly button ring. Pulling her dark shades on her head she looked around.
King looked at the woman standing in the gateway. "Annie!" Julian smiled walking over hugging her. "Hey big bro." she said hugging him back. She walked over to Austin, "Bella more!" he smiled hugging her. "Hey county." She smiled hugging him. She stopped and looked a King. He wasn't sure how to handle this woman. This wasn't the shy girl he'd left eight years ago. "Hey King." She said hugging him. "Glad to see your not dead." She said. "Glad to not be." He said watching as she walked over to their mom.
"WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPEN TO MY LITTLE SISTER!" he looked at Julian and Austin. "We don't know, she didn't call us or talk to us for about six months after you disappeared. Then suddenly she was back. Like that, and let me tell you our little sister is different." Austin said. King watch fuming.
Abby watched the approach of the red head. "Hi momma." Annie kissed her mother's check. "Lizzie. Paradise." She nodded to both the women and then looked at Abby. "You must be Abigail Whistler." She held out her hand. "I'm Annabelle King. Belle or if you want to be like the rest Annie. I hear it's your fault he's back." Abigail was taken back. Annabelle made it sound like King being back was a bad thing. "Yeah." Abigail took her hand noticing the girl's hand was a lot like her own. Rough and callused. "Are you staying for dinner Annie?" Annabelle looked at her mom. "Sorry mom, can't. have things to do tonight." She shrugged. "Oh Annie, your brother's home though." Her mother said. "Yea, I see that." Annabelle said, "Lizzie where's daddy?" "In the house finishing the burgers." Elizabeth said. Abigail could tell there was tension between the two. She watched as Annabelle walked in the house.
Abigail sat on the bed flipping threw channels. She and King had decided to share a room at a near by hotel. King was taking a shower trying to work the knots out of his neck. Walking out he grabbed his hunting gear out his bag. "Where are you going?" she asked. "Hunting." He said shortly. "Um King..." Abby looked at him. "I'm gonna go hunt my twin down and shake some sense into her." King said. He looked at her. "Are you coming or not Whistler?" With that Abby grabbed her gear as they exited the door.