T: Hey Kwest, Sadie

K,S: Hey… where is jude?

Me: right here

S: Jude I was so scared

Me: sadie I'm fine and I guess your plot kind of worked… probably took longer than you well planned

K: what do you mean?

Z: I explained to her why our twommy left her

I laugh: Come on in guys

Tommy closes the door as they walk in.

I put Zoë down on a chair.

K: so little Miss Zoë filled you in

Me: a little and then Tom told me the rest

S: are you still mad about what we all kinda plotted?

I lead them out to the balcony where tom and I had been sitting earlier: A little I guess.

K: why?

Me: because I felt/feel like everyone plotted against me and didn't consider me and my feelings… I mean don't get me wrong I'm very thankful that I have family and friends that were there for me when I needed them… but you guys went behind my back… I felt so betrayed that my own family would do such a thing to me

They all suddenly seemed very interested in the detail of their shoes.

Me: Guys I'm sorry I ran off but you gotta understand I mean so much had happened that night. I mean mason sprung on me that I was opening for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw and then singing a duet with one of my idols. Then Tommy shows up and throws me off my game and then tells me he loves me which gotta say really shook me up.

K: you told her you loved her?

S: I knew it

T: yeah well… its true

Me: back to me… and then I come home and find out that one of my best friends and my family plotted against me. GOD! Do you guys know how betrayed I felt?

S, K, and T: sorry

Z: I'm sorry too

Me: come here munchkin

She runs over to me and I scoop her in my arms.

Me: you have nothing to be sorry about got it?

Z: but I told Twommy about you being next door

T: she only told me because I showed her a picture of you and she said she saw you next door so don't hate her

Me: you have a picture of me Quincy?

He stutters and mumbles. Kwest and Sadie start to get up.

Me: where are you guys going?

S: we need to be getting back to the house before everyone thinks we ran away too

Me: ok… talk later?

S: sure baby sister

She kisses me on the top of my head. Tom walks them out and Zoë stays on my lap.

Me: Now little one… why would you think I hate you?

Z: because you werwe so mad at everyone about pwotting against you

Me: but I could never be mad at you munchkin you know that?

I kiss her on the top of her head.

Me: how could I be mad at you? You are my mini me.

She looks up at me with her beautiful big eyes.

Z: really?

Me: yeah I mean no one else loves Tinkerbell and loves Peter Pan…

Just before I finish Tommy walks out,

T: hey we need to get going

Me: you can go I can take her home

T: no offense Jude but I really don't trust you driving my niece

Me: excuse me?

T: you heard me

Z: you two are cute togetor

We give each other a weird look

T: Jude you aren't driving her end of story

Z: but we didn't finish Peter Pan

Me: Yeah we didn't finish Peter Pan

Z: she cant be dat bad of a dwiver

T: ha

Me: HEY!

Z: no ones as bad as Mikey

T: I beg to differ

Me: Fine Tom be stubborn

T: Me, stubborn? Maybe you should be looking in a mirror when you say that next time Harrison.

Me: whatever

He rolls his eyes and I get up from the chair with Zoë in my arms.

Me: Well munchkin you can come over and watch it with me since your uncle is being a dorkbrain

Z: haha dorkbrain

T: HEY still here

Me and Z: we know

Me: Well I guess I should check out and get back to the house

T: yeah…

Me: … hey Zoë you should go get your stuff ok?

Z: ok

She walks back inside.

T: So… see you later?

Me: well considering you're right next door… I guess I have no choice

T: wow the enthusiasm is just oozing

Me: hey ever heard of sarcasm?

Zoë comes running out: ready!

I look down and see her shoes are on the wrong feet.

Me: come here

I pick her up and sit her in a chair and take her shoes off

Z: HEY!

Me: hey what silly? Your shoes are on the wrong feet and aren't tied

T: I try to show her but she doesn't listen

Me: See this shoe (I hold up her left shoe) goes on this foot (I slide the left shoe on her left foot) and this shoe (I hold up her right shoe) goes on this foot (I slide the right shoe on her right foot).

I start explaining how to tie her shoes via bunny rabbit ears and Tommy chuckles.

Me: something funny Quincy

T: nope nothing at all

Me: all done

I stand up

Me: come on I'll walk down with you guys

We go inside and I grab my guitar and stuff and we go downstairs to the lobby. As I check out and they stand right beside me.

Worker: you are such a lovely family

My jaw drops: uh no we aren't a family… nope

I shake my head and I hear a little whisper

Z: not yet

I turn and look at her in disbelief. The woman behind the desk hands me a receipt. I thank her and we start to head out to our respective cars. They walk me to Des's car.

Me: You guys didn't have to walk me to my car you know

Z: I told him it would be nice

Me: well it was a very polite thing to do. Thank you.

I lean down and give her a kiss on the forehead and whisper in her ear: I heard what you said back there

She gives me one of those "I have no clue what you're talking about but I secretly do" looks. I stand up and look at Tommy. I stand on my tip toes and give tommy a kiss on the cheek and he leans in and then kisses me on my cheek and I pull back afterwards.

Me: well I guess I'll see you two later

I get into Des' car and sit there as I watch them drive off. Wow I haven't been this happy since before he left. I start up the car and drive back to the house. I pull into see a black stretch limo in the driveway. I get out and walk in the front door.

Me: Guys whose limo is ou…

I stop dead in my tracks as I walk in the family room seeing everyone. Everyone being Si, Liz, Molly, Mike, Des, Mason, Sadie, Kwest, Tommy, Zoë, and 2 surprise guests…