Like always Mikki belongs to KikiJuanita along with that of the Smythe family; Seb being the only exception there. There's a character being talked about that hasn't been named, that belongs to her as well and you do need to be asking her for permission to use any of her characters. Onyx is mine along with Jade and Lydia who if you wish to use need to be given permission by me.
Enjoy!
"I figured Clint would have been with you," her mother commented, helping her get her bags into the trunk of her car. "Can he not make the wedding?" She asked her daughter.
"Yes, he can make it," she assured her mom. " He has things to do before he can come," Onyx informed her, shutting the trunk and walking around the car to get into the passenger seat, reaching for the seat belt to buckle up.
"You had fun, right?" She asked, wanting to know that her daughter enjoyed her time on the island. "Did you catch the bouquet?" Her mother asked her while starting to the car, wanting to know the details of the trip her daughter took.
"Fun, yes," Onyx nodded. "Thankfully, no," she said, not really how sure she how her catching the bouquet would have went down with just starting to date to Clint. Not that it really meant she would be the next one to get married. "A bridesmaid caught the bouquet," she said. "Mason was there," she tossed out, casually.
"Oh really?" Her mom asked, refusing to question her daughter further on that topic. A tactic she has come to master over the years.
"Yep. He married Jane. As much as I hated that woman when she was the other women, she makes him happy," Onyx nodded, finding it harder than it should be to remain quiet about the whole situation.
"Is that so?" Jade asked her daughter, coming to a stop at a red light. "You didn't kill her or anything of the sort did you?"
"Thanks for the faith, Mom," Onyx laughed. "And for the record no, I didn't kill her. She is now on her way back home with her husband," she stated. "But I don't know if I made the right decision as I have agreed to be his friend again. Do you think that it was stupid of me?" She asked, chewing her lip. At the time it felt right but the hours she sat on the plane to head to her childhood home she started to second guess if she had made the right choice.
"Sweetie, that isn't my place to say," Jade told her daughter. "I don't know Mason these days. Obviously, you knew that you wanted that friendship back in your life. I can't say if it was a good idea or not," she explained. She wanted to tell her daughter the right thing to do, but she couldn't do that.
"That doesn't help me, I really need my best friend," she sighed. "I am thankfully for what advice you gave me, but it doesn't help as I am lost on if I did the right thing or not," she explained, not wanting to hurt her mom's feelings.
"I know that Onyx, like I told you I can't say for sure on what the right move is, only you know that," her mom stated, taking a left instead of a right.
"Uh where are we going?" She asked with a frown. "The last I checked we lived in the opposite direction," she commented, looking at her mom.
"Did you forget where the Smythe's live?" Her mom asked with a smirk.
"No," Onyx replied. "What I don't understand is why are we going there?"
"Seb came to town yesterday, bringing his lovely girlfriend with him. Do you really get along with her?" Her mom asked, pulling up to the curb outside of the Smythe resident.
"I do. She is awesome," Onyx smiled. "It is nice to know that he introduced her to his parents sooner than planned," she nodded. "But I don't need to be here mom. I can talk to Seb tomorrow," she stated.
"Nonsense, tomorrow we gotta get you a dress for the wedding. Tonight I am having dinner with Lydia, so it's fine really," her mom assured her.
"Don't be twisting my arm," Onyx laughed. "But I don't know if I really want to be intruding," she sighed.
"Onyx Sage, when have you ever cared about intruding when it comes them?" Her mom asked holding her laughter in.
"Never," Onyx laughed, pushing the car door open. "I'll see you back at home later," she told her mom.
Walking into the Smythe resident had been something she has done for years as they insisted as they all grew rather retired of opening the door for her every time she came over and she had blended right in becoming family to them, telling her she was welcomed anytime. They had went as far as giving her a key.
"Don't you have parents?" Dylan teased, spotting her first, getting up to greet her.
"Oddly enough she kicked me out of the car, saying you can deal with me for the night," she remarked, hugging him back.
"We'd like our money back," Jeremy remarked.
"Is that what your parents tell you?" She asked sweetly. "Where are your parents?" She asked seeing that it was just Jeremy and Dylan in the living room.
"Our dear little brother brought his girlfriend home so they're out back getting to know her," Dylan commented, something she already knew. She just didn't know why the two older brothers were sitting by themselves. "You can go on through if you want, but be warned," he laughed.
"You guys got into trouble and are now hiding out in the living room after a good stern warning from your dad, right?" She asked with a laugh seeing the matching looks on the brother's faces.
"We tease, it's what we do. Not our fault that they couldn't take a joke," Jeremy sighed. "And you're wrong it was mom," he stated dejectedly. "You are free to stay here where the life of the party is," he offered.
"As much fun as sulking looks to be, I'll pass," she nodded. "We can catch up later," she stated, making her way through the living room, stopping in the kitchen to get a drink, before stepping outside. "Hey," she said, stepping onto the porch, getting the attention of the four out there.
"What are you doing here?" Seb asked, shaking his head at the way his question came out. "Shouldn't you be hanging out with your mom?" He asked instead, not sure if that was better or not.
"Date night with Lydia," she nodded. "And I didn't think you guys would mind, but I can hang out in the living room and sulk like the oafs in there," she shrugged.
"Nonsense, you're always welcomed to join us, you're a daughter to us," Abby told her. She always wanted a daughter, only given boys, so having Onyx around, it has been nice. "I assume you have met Mikki?"
"I have," she nodded, taking up an empty seat, sending Mikki a smile.
"Seb told us that you were in Hawaii for a wedding. How was that?" Henry questioned.
"Fun," she nodded, chewing her lip. "Interesting, as I came home with a friend that happened to be an ex," she tossed out, looking at Seb. She really wanted to talk to him, but she wasn't about ready to pull him away from his parents while they got to know his girlfriend.
"What ex did that happen to be?" Seb asked intrigued. "How do you even run into an ex at a wedding where you only know a couple of people?" He asked with a chuckle. Because leave it to Onyx to find herself in that spot.
"His wife is friends with the bride," she explained. "You remember Mason, right?" She asked, glancing to the drink in her hands. "But uh, that doesn't matter right now," she waved it off. "It's not about me, you guys were clearly in the middle of something when I came out here," she stated, not needing the time to be taken away from Mikki. She could find time later to talk to her best friend about her personal problems.
"I remember him clearly," Seb said, annoyed with that name. "And Mikki was telling us about her parents place. Did you know that they help out troubled teens and that is how Artie meet his wife?" He asked her.
"I haven't meet Artie so I didn't know that. I knew Mikki grew up on a ranch, but that was the extent of it," she nodded.
"Kitty, was terrible, and I don't think she really changed. The only difference is that now we have gotten a chance to know her, and it was a lot of misunderstanding as she can be really brash all of the time," Mikki explained.
"I am sure your brother has a good choice in the women he dates and marries, so I don't think she can be all that terrible," Onyx nodded. "Is there horses on the ranch?" She asked. Mikki nodding to confirm that yes they did have horses. "Do me a favor and when Seb goes home with you to meet your parents, that you get him on a horse and record it for me," she laughed, looking over at her best friend.
"Why?" Mikki asked, looking around at the table seeing the amused looks around the the table except for Seb who happened to be shaking his head.
"You can go join my brothers," Seb stated. "They'd like the company."
"When Seb was growing up he rode a horse for the first time and he somehow ended up in the creek. He refuses to go near them," Henry explained to the young women with a soft chuckle recalling that memory fondly.
"I told you guys the horse laid down," Seb sighed. "And I haven't had the need to ride a horse around town. The kids at school would love to see their teacher ride a horse to teach them," he sarcastically told them.
"It would make for an interesting day of gossip," Onyx laughed. "And I told you when the horse laid down to stay on her and not get off," she sighed.
"That was your mistake. You should have stayed on her," Mikki told him. "You wouldn't have ended up in the creek. You need to listen more often," Mikki told him with a sweet smile. "Does he never listen?" She asked the table.
"Only when it benefits him," Jeremy stated, walking back out. "We promise no more crude jokes at the expensive of your little brother. That's what we have Onyx for," he teased.
"Jeremy, I would have loved to see you with a little sister. It would make you all sorts of uncomfortable," she smiled at him.
"I doubt it," Jeremy shrugged. "I do just fine with my niece," he pointed out.
"Yeah but she doesn't force you to play Barbie's and have tea parties. A little sister would have done that," Dylan stated, having done both with his daughter.
"Oddly enough I could see Jeremy wearing a pink sparkly tiara with a matching princess sash," Mikki teased.
"That would have been Seb, as she would have been closer to his age," Jeremy said shaking his head. "And I hate you," he smirked at his brothers girlfriend.
"Feelings mutual then," she remarked.
"She would've had Seb but you as well. Nothing is better than having two big brother's to play with or even three for that matter. Ask Jeff how having a little sister worked for him growing up," Onyx stated.
"To be fair he had to deal with you," Jeremy commented.
"So did you," Seb laughed. "You saw her more than Jeff did after we became friends. And wasn't it you that pleaded with us to go on your blind date with your now girlfriend?" Seb smartly asked his brother.
"I forgot about that," Dylan laughed.
"I didn't. I am still scarred over seeing Jeremy being all sweet and flirty," Onyx shivered, recalling that night. "But I don't think Mikki really wants to listen to us bicker," she stated.
"Oh I don't mind," Mikki said shaking her head. "Reminds me of my family," she smiled. "We've taken in a stray now and then," she teased, hoping she didn't over step.
"Even Mikki agrees that you need to go home, Onyx," Jeremy smirked.
"Ever think she's talking about you?" Onyx laughed. "I don't mind being the stray, at least I know everyone loves me for me and not because they have too," she remarked. "Can you say the same Jere?" She teased.
"And here I thought we could have a civilized dinner meeting our youngest son's girlfriend," Henry sighed, a smile gracing his lips.
"We've never had a civilized dinner since Dylan was born," Abby stated.
"Here that Dyl, it's been you all along," Jeremy laughed.
"If you and Seb ever have kids, if you make it that far, this is your life if you have one boy," Onyx commented.
"Girls it is," Mikki laughed.
"That isn't much of a guarantee either. They could turn out worse," Seb pointed out.
"Don't say that," Mikki groaned, dropping her head to the table.
"Nice going, you broke your girl," Onyx commented.
"Sweetie, Seb told us what happened with Hunter, we're sorry," Abby told her.
"Thank you, but what happened was for the best and I am over it," Onyx smiled.
"What exactly happened with Clint in Hawaii?" Seb asked, eyeing his best friend up.
"Mikki tell us more about this ranch you grew up on," she said looking to Mikki, not wanting to tell them she is now dating Clint, as didn't know what their reactions were going to be. That and she liked that no one else knew.
Mikki went on to explain the ranch and all of things that Seb could expect when she took him home. Everyone wanting pictures and videos as Seb hasn't always been good around barnyard animals of any kind.
As fun as it had been to hang out with that of the Smythe family, she did need to be getting back to her mom's place.
"How'd you get out without your better half?" Onyx questioned as Seb drove.
"She wanted to shower and read a bit from her book, before calling it a night. It's been a long day for us," he nodded. "Onyx, about the way we left things, I didn't start to date Mikki for any other reason than I like her," he started to explain having a whole speech planned out.
"I know that," Onyx nodded. "I was the one to overreact about it. If I ever find myself in the place you were in, I would have done the same thing. You were making sure that you had a place after I moved out, even if we never talked about it. But to be fair you thought I would be engaged to Hunter right now. I can't be mad at you over that, it isn't fair of me. I was in the wrong. Forgive me?" She asked, tossing his speech right out the window.
"Always," he smiled. "I need a bit more information on this thing of being friends with Mason," he commented.
"We talked," she shrugged. "He apologized for cheating and really our relationship was over with before he ever cheated on me. We just didn't take the time we needed to sit down and talk about things or make that call to break up," she told him. "We missed the friendship we had and decided to be friends again. Nothing to scandalous went on between us," she laughed. "Though I've been wondering if it was the right thing to do," she sighed.
"Being friends with an ex can be tricky especially if they cheated on you. Who is his wife?" Seb asked, putting a hold on the advice he wanted to give her. He needed to be knowing all of the facts.
"Jane," she told him. "And they make a lovely couple," she told him taking his defense in the situation. Who Mason married hadn't been up to her and she is happy for him. No bitter feelings about the relationship he has with his wife.
"Obviously you didn't feel bad or guilty about being his friend, why now?" Seb asked, taking a different approach.
"I got to thinking on the flight," she shrugged, not able to offer up any more info than that.
"And you let yourself get the best of you, making you think that you shouldn't be friends with Mason because he hurt you. But Onyx he can't hurt you. You're not going to start up an affair to get back at Jane are you?" He asked. He knew she wouldn't do anything of the sort but he had to make sure.
"No. Why can't you have a bit more faith in me?" She asked him. "I know how crumby it is to be cheated on, I won't ever be in that situation," she stated. "I know he can't hurt me. As we have both moved on," she smiled. "After thinking it was the wrong thing to do, it is nice to hear that I didn't screw things up by being his friend," she smiled.
"I have all the faith in the world in you," he responded. "Being friends with an ex isn't that big of a deal. Like at you and Rory," he said as an example. "Now tell me what happened in Hawaii to put that big ol' grin on your face," he laughed, parking the car by the curb of her Jade and Lydia's house.
"I've got myself a boyfriend," she smiled. The need to tell someone to big to keep to herself. Seb raised an eyebrow, Onyx not letting him question her. "I told Mason that Clint was my boyfriend when he wasn't and after talking with Clint later in the night, we decide to move forward in a fully working dating relationship," she explained.
"I am happy for you, Onyx. I know how happy he makes you and from what I have seen and gotten to know, you make him as equally happy," Seb smiled.
"Thanks, Seb," Onyx smiled, leaning across the middle of the car to hug him. "Looks like I gotta go, Jeff is getting restless," she laughed, seeing her brother come out of the house. Looking all sorts of uneasy. "I am not in high school and he really is only a friend," she teased, getting many déjà vu moments with Jeff standing on the porch waiting on her.
"I'm not worried," Jeff sighed, taking a seat on the steps, Onyx sitting next to him.
"What's wrong?" She asked, resting her head against his shoulder. "Where's Sugar?"
"Texas," Jeff nodded.
"And why is she there and not here as your plus one?" She asked her brother. As the wedding was only that of family as they didn't want a wedding any bigger than that.
"We're taking a break," Jeff told her hanging his head. "I messed up and I don't know what I want anymore," he cryptically told her.
"I need to know more than that," she told him. Her faith in him slowly fading away. "How did you mess up?"
"There's this music director and she's great. Easy to get along with," he explained with a smile. "And she's a flirty person naturally and I've been flirting with her," he said.
"Did you tell her that you had a girlfriend?" Onyx asked her brother.
"I mentioned it once, but I didn't put a stop to her flirting as she would have stopped," Jeff informed her.
"Instead you encouraged her," Onyx filled that blank in. Jeff nodded, not wanting to voice his agreement. "And you feel guilty and you told Sugar and she's giving you the space that you need to figure out your feelings," Onyx guessed.
"You'd be right," Jeff again agreed with her assessment of the situation. "I just don't know what I want to do. I thought I loved Sugar, but here I am thinking I have feelings for someone else. What do I do, Onyx?" He pleaded.
"Give it a couple of days, for starters," Onyx told him. "And then go to lunch with the coworker of yours and see what could be there outside of work. After all it could be nothing and something that you are overreacting about."
"What about Sugar?" He asked. "I care about her. I don't want to hurt her."
"You might not get a say in that, Jeff," Onyx sighed, feeling for her brother in that moment. "I don't know this co-worker of yours so I can't say what the right thing is for you. You really do need to sort out your feelings," Onyx stated.
"I know," Jeff told her. "What's new with you?" He asked.
"I made the stupid or maybe the not so stupid choice to be friends with Mason again," she said.
"Hard to say," Jeff told her. "Misery loves company," he muttered, resting his head atop hers.
She sat at the airport waiting on her boyfriend to arrive. As it was with his plane being delayed had made them late for dinner. Her mom was going to be mad that she had to keep pushing the time back, but it wasn't as if she was at fault and she kept her family updated on the situation. Clint's plane should have been in over a hour and half ago having been delayed in Texas. Making his four hour flight into one of being over six and half hours long.
"Been here long?" He asked, stepping up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, placing a kiss to her neck, as she wrapped up the call to her mom letting them know that Clint's flight finally landed.
"A few hours," she replied, turning in his arms, locking hers behind his neck to share an overdue kiss. "Any other bags?" She asked.
"Nope," he replied, removing her arms to lace is free hand with hers so they could leave the crowded airport and make the drive back to her moms house.
"Alright, let's go before they push back dinner any later," she told him, walking through the crowd of people, leading him straight to where she parked her mom's car at as she quickly explained to him what she meant.
The car drive was spent catching up over what they had missed out on while apart. Clint telling her how his club is coming along and that it would be ready to open a week and half before the opening. She informed him that she had made up with Seb and all was good there.
"I didn't know you two were dating," Jeff commented, watching the way his sister and Clint were always touching over the last 24 hours. Spending time with them he knew they didn't act like that when they had whatever the deal was.
"We talked in Hawaii," she shrugged. "I need to move on and not stay hung up on Hunter and I really like Clint," she smiled, kissing his cheek.
"As I really like your sister," Clint replied. "We're not going to have a problem now that I am dating your sister are we?" Clint asked.
"Nope, as long as you treat her right," Jeff respond. "You saw the bar filled with guys that have known Hunter since grade school ready to pummel him for hurting your girl, I think you can work out what will happen to you if you hurt her," Jeff smirked, drinking his coffee.
"Not much imagination needed there," Clint responded. "Not that I have any desire to hurt her," he informed Jeff, sitting across from him at the kitchen table.
"Ya know what, you guys can keep up this little guys talk, while I get ready for a wedding that takes place in a little less than two hours," she shared, taking her cup of coffee with her to get ready for her mom's wedding.
Between getting ready for the wedding and watching her mom get married to her best friend, Onyx was rather happy her makeup was water proof with the tears that spilled over and the ones that wanted to do so but she was able to hold back from falling over the brink.
"You look beautiful," Clint told her, as he held her closer as they lightly swayed to the music being played.
"Even though I've been nothing short of a crying mess today?" She asked, pulling away slightly to look at him.
"You look your best when you're a mess," he stated, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"That's a lie and you know it," she told him raising an eyebrow.
"No it's not," he argued. "You were a mess when we became friends, and you were a mess over Mason when we became a couple. I rather like it when you're a mess," he chuckled, pecking her nose lightly.
"I guess you know the mess you're walking in to," she remarked, playing with what little hair he had on the back of his neck. "But I am not always a mess," she informed him.
"I do know that," he laughed. "And I am okay with it and I do know what I am walking into," he informed her.