I'm writing this trying to not be a Carnival Grinch because I can't leave my house because these fools have been set up since before 9am blocking me in. Okay, so many hours later and perhaps a few cocktails later, my Carnival spirit has returned. There will be a part 2 as soon as I can write it!
Carnival Time 2022
Gus took in Stella's face over the screen and her heart sunk, "what is it Stella? Is it Mac? The kids? Oh my god, did they cancel the parades?" She grabbed her phone, pulling up the NOLA website.
Despite Billy Brook's insistence, Stella knew she should have listened to Mac and not try to fool Gus; despite years of everything working out Mac's niece still held the weight of the world on her shoulders. Stella cleared her throat, shaking her head, her curls bouncing around her, briefly blocking out the busy NOPD crime lab behind her. "No, no, everything is fine...except I do need you to cancel your flights."
"If everything is fine, why would I do that? What aren't you telling me?" Gus' phone started buzzing with alerts. Simultaneously. A call from Don, a text from Lindsay, a FaceTime from Adam. "What on earth is going on Stella Bonasera Taylor? You better spill, right this hot second!"
Stella cleared her throat, moving slightly so Billy could be seen standing next to her. "I'm sorry, sugar, it is all my fault. I thought it would be just precious to try and surprise y'all since I thought you had let all that voodoo stuff go since you decided to run off and be a permanent Yankee," Billy said, feeling terrible as he took in his dear friend's stricken expression.
Stella quickly filled in the blanks. "It seems the Mayor wanted to do something to honor frontline and essential workers with having them ride on floats in a bunch of different parades. A lot of the Krewes got on board and the support has been overwhelming." Billy cut her off, practically shoving her out of frame with his excitement. "Well of course it has, as it should be, this darn pandemic and all y'all not even taking a breath, anyway good ol' Harry wanted to represent, but not just his home town, his adopted town too, so he apparently called the commissioner and asked for permission to bring down some workers from the Big Apple and of course your name somehow came up and I may have made a few calls because despite just being a lowly bar and club owner, I mean mind you my bar was heavily featured on that NCIS show..."
"William Brooks. What. The. Hell. Are. You. Getting. At?" Gus' eyes flashed with anger as she kept one eye on the clock, knowing she was supposed to be giving a training soon.
"Y'all are riding in Orpheus! Well some of y'all. You and your burning hunk of a borough chief, of course, but anyone else still involved the the NYPD, so Danny, Sheldon and that adorable Adam who I was so happy to hear got engaged to that Christopher..." he trailed off, clapping his hands in excitement.
Gus tried to process what her friend was saying, butting in with, "Stella, I have three minutes before I have to go talk to a bunch of brass about how my team can stop officers from eating their service weapon, so could you please help me wrap my head around this?"
Stella moved in front of Billy. "The five of you are riding on a float, apparently the same one I am, but everyone is getting flown down, partners, kids, all of you. Billy is putting everyone up. Jo is coming over from Fairhope to help out with arrangements and childcare. I know you wanted to be here right after the twins' birthday, but they will have to wait a week. I think they will do better at the delay than Holly is."
"Did we land in the right city?" Gus remarked as they entered the new airport terminal, adjusting Will's toddler carrier without him waking up from his nap.
"Did we land on the right planet?" Danny remarked, looking around in amazement, wishing he could stick Rueben in a carrier and risking the wrath of Lucy as he yanked her phone from her hands. "Hey!" she protested, but then looked around in amazement.
"I see it took a completely free trip to get you to come for Mardi Gras, Messer," Mac remarked, greeting the entire chaotic gang at baggage claim.
Danny scoffed, "I still can't believe we are exposing our children to this."
Lindsay shook her head, having been a few years prior on a girls' weekend and knowing that what both Stella and Gus had told them about the family atmosphere uptown was true. "Danny, it's fine," she protested, tugging gently on Rueben's safety harness as he tried to climb on the baggage carousal.
"Don't even think about it," Sheldon said to his daughter, seeing the glint in her eye and giving Camille a look, her adventurous streak had definitely come from her mother.
Jess launched herself at Mac, Lydia, her shadow following suit. Aiden held back, sticking close to his father's side, Don ruffling his hair and saying, "it's okay, buddy. I know it's been a while since you saw him. Hug, handshake or high-five?" Aiden wrinkled his nose, looking exactly like his mother before he nodded with decision and followed his sister and accepted a hug from his surrogate grandfather.
Adam and Chris brought up the rear, Louie Messer between the pair, talking Adam's ear off about a video game they both loved, Chris looking on bemusedly.
"Where's your krewe?" Gus asked, looking around for Stella and the kids.
"Zaria and Zalea are marching tonight, dance team, luckily Jo and Ellie are helping with that coordination. Stella should be picking up Zavier and Holly from early dismissal, shortly," Mac said, "and Billy is trying to park the passenger van he rented since, and I am quoting him here, 'y'all can't seem to stop breeding'."
"I mean, he isn't entirely wrong," Gus quipped, looking around at the 16 of them.
"Glad you are all here, Gussie," Mac said, giving his niece a sideways hug.
"Me too, Uncle Mac, me too," she said, leaning into him.
