Carrie grabbed the phone when it rang.

"Stokes residence." She answered. "Hey Mags… No Mom and Dad aren't back but come over anyway. Heather is here and Em obviously… No… Nick let Sara ride Stardust… I know….See you in ten minutes… Bye." She hung up "Maggie and co are on their way over."

"We would have never guessed." Nick rolled his eyes.

"Remember I could be beat you up when you were a kid, I can still do it now." Carrie told him.

"The karate classes we've been taking would help." Heather added.

"You've been taking self defence classes?" Nick questioned.

"Of course." Heather replied. "We've sort of turned it into a family event."

"How much of a family event?" Nick asked.

"Me and the kids, Erin, Lara-Jo, Stacey, Becky, Amy, Grace, Justin and Robbie and Maggie. Mom or Gib watch Lily and Matt." Carrie said.

"It's good exercise." Heather added. "We've all been going for about eight months."

"It's a good idea." Sara said.

"Hey Nicky why don't you out and check on Jack and the kids." Emily suggested.

"Why would I want to do that?" Nick asked.

"So you won't get embarrassed when we talk about you." Heather supplied.

"Maybe you could avoid talking about me then neither of us have a problem." Nick countered.

"Hey Carrie, where did Mom put Nicky's baby pictures?" Emily asked.

"This is wish I had more brothers." Nick stated. "Andrew wouldn't threaten to show my baby pictures to anyone."

"But Erin would." Heather winked at him.

"Now where are the ones of him in the bath?" Carrie got up.

"Fine I'm going. Sara, run if they get too much." Nick told her.

"I'll be fine." Sara assured him.

"Would y'all get going." Emily suggested.

Nick sighed and left.

"Get kicked out?" Jack asked when he got outside.

"They were threatening to show Sara my baby pictures."

"They probably will anyway." Jack pointed out.

"I know." Nick rolled his eyes.

"Uncle Nicky." Justin ran over. "Come and play with us."

"Okay." Nick agreed and joined in their game.

Ten minutes later he was jumped on by four other kids.

"Good tackle kids." Nick heard another familiar voice.

"Thanks Clint." Nick replied. "Hey Becky. Maggie, Gibson."

"Hey Nick." Becky stuffed her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

"Got banished?" Gibson guessed.

"Of course. Hey Amy, Grace, Lily and Matthew." Nick tickled Matthew's stomach sending the three year old into a fit of giggles.

"The others inside?" Becky asked.

"Tell Sara tales about Nick." Jack added.

"We have a few to add don't we Becks." Maggie said. "Guys stay out here and help with the kids." She told her husband. "We'll take the coolers inside."

"Have fun." Becky winked at her husband and headed inside.

"That's not gonna turn out well." Clint muttered.

"At least the heat is off us for today." Gibson stated.

"Someone ask for food?" Becky asked when she walked in followed by Maggie.

"Hey Becks, Maggie." Carrie said.

"Becky this is Sara. Sara, Becky." Emily made introductions as they all bustled around making sure that everything was prepared for dinner. They'd all brought something to help contribute but there were other things that needed a little prep work that Jillian and Bill were supply.

"Nice to meet you." Becky said

"You too." Sara said. "Nice to see you again Maggie."

"Sara, we'll introduce you to the husbands and the kids later." Maggie told her.

"Sara already met Clint yesterday." Becky told her and pitched in. "Where's Leland and the kids Carrie?"

"Tom and Annabelle didn't want to get out of bed, but I told them they wouldn't get to eat dinner if they weren't here in about another fifteen minutes so they should be here soon." Carrie replied.

"Anyone spoken to Erin or Andy?" Emily asked.

"Jillian told Erin that she should come over around 12." Sara supplied still slightly in awe of how the sisters worked together.

"I'll call her and see if they want to come over now." Becky said grabbing the phone. "We might as well get things started."

"Sara can you grab me that bowl behind you?" Heather asked.

Sara handed it to her.

TBC