A/n: Thanks for all thekind reviews!

"Family Ties" chapter 4

A few weeks went by that Avery had come back home. She and Rebecca fell right back into their usual routine practically attached at the hip. She loved all three of her siblings equally, she and Horace had the typical brother/sister relationship, he did his job of annoying her when they were younger and he protected her when he felt she needed it... when Rebecca was little she used to coerce her into helping her play tricks on Horace, she loved having a little sister and a partner in crime. Mackenzie and Rod used to joke that when the two of them were old enough to drive and date they were in for it... Then came Amy , Avery was almost fifteen when she was born and not as thrilled at the prospect of a new baby in the family , but over time she saw how precious it was to be able to see her grow into the little person she was becoming . She sometimes felt like a second mom to her.

Becca walks into Avery's room, making herself comfortable on her bed. It was the afternoon of their Memorial Day barbeque and they were all getting ready to head down to the garden.

"So tell me the real reason you're moving back here."

Avery, confused . "What are you talking about?"

" "Well you can't really expect me to believe that you miss us all that much. You said you loved London, no one really followed you around like they did here. You got to have a normal life... well as normal as our lives get. You even have a boy friend."

"Yeah well sometimes things just don't work out. You realize that it can get lonely all alone." She scrunches her nose. "How much perfume did you put on, I can smell it across the hall."

"I didn't put on much... Maybe you just have a sensitive nose." She jokes mimicking her expression.

Avery laughs "Maybe ." she stands up from her vanity chair and takes a hold of the table getting light headed.

Rebecca rushes to her, helping her steady herself. "Woah , you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine... just got up to fast." she nods. "Come on we have to get down stairs."

They join their family downstairs. Rod and Mac made their entrance and began greeting guests while the kids stood off doing their own thing.

"You look sick." Amy says looking at Avery funny.

Caught off guard. "What?"

"Well you just look like you're gonna puke."

Avery a bit annoyed. "Amy I'm fine. Go run and play with the Keaton's grand son."

Amy shrugs. "Okay but if you're gonna puke aim for the bushes." She says before running off.

"Having fun?" Kelly walks up next to Avery.

"Oh yeah I just live for this stuff." She grins

"Well it can't be that bad, you seem to be a hit."

She raises her brow." What do you mean by that?"

"Well see that guy over there, he hasn't taken his eyes off you since you came in."

Avery looks over across the lawn , spotting a tall guy with brown hair who smiles at her.

"The Speaker's son?" her face pales.

" You know him? Yeah seems he just came back from working abroad... he's kinda cute too."

" Uh will you excuse me Kelly? I need a drink." She nervously walks off and over to the table with refreshments. Before she can grab her own a cup is brought in front of her.

" Let me guess ginger ale?"

She looks up to see Joshua Templeton standing beside her.

"Didn't expect to see you here Josh. I thought you were back in England"

"Yeah it came as a bit of a shock to me too. I got a job offer back here and well... I couldn't turn it down." He scopes out the area surrounding them making sure no one is in ear shot, leaning into her whispering... "Have you told them yet?"

She shakes her head. "Not yet, I just don't know how . It's not as easy as I thought it would be. They still see me as that little kid who can do no wrong... you haven't told your parents have you?"

" No , God no. My father would use this against your mother without blinking an eye."

Avery nods, gratefully. " Thank you for keeping this between us, there aren't many people I can trust."

"Don't worry, no one will know about the baby until you're ready to tell them"