The quaint dining room stood next to the kitchen. The table was already set and there were numerous dishes on it.
Brenna was the first one in there. She sat down next to her mother on the left side. Her parents sitting on either end of the table. "Momma, Allie's worried. She's never had a mother."
Jaye heard that just as they were entering and turned to walk out, a little embarrassed.
Logan gasped when he heard. "Oh dear."
"Oh, honey!" Jean got up from the table and gently pulled Jaye in her arms before the counter intelligent woman had a chance to escape. "I'm sorry you didn't have a Mother, I never knew my own mother either, my two aunts raised both me and my brother."
"Mom, you are squishing Allie." Flint's voice came from behind them. "Can you wait until after we eat, to squish her?" he joked, ducking from Jean's hand.
Suddenly, Rowdy came bouncing into the room, wearing a very familiar beret.
"Rowdy! Get back here!" Flint yelled, chasing the dog into the family room.
Jaye and Jean watched Flint walk slowly towards the animal. But it was Jaye who watched Nancy, who was sitting next to her sister, give a hand signal towards the dog.
Just as Flint's hand neared his treasured beret, the dog began to growl.
"Fine!" He said, throwing his hands in the air, defeated. "Wear the beret, for now."
Jaye smirked. Then, as when Jean let go of her, smiled down at the shorter woman. "I feel better knowing you understand how this is a little awkward for me."
Logan stifled a chuckle.
"Don't feel awkward dear, we are all family here." Jean gave a smile. "Dashiell!" she scolded towards her son, "Leave Rowdy alone and come to eat."
Jaye heard Nancy giggle from the table.
Flint gave another scwol towards the dog, "I'll be back for that!" He then walked towards the other two women, "Mom? Don't you have a recipe for Fried Cocker Spaniel?"
"Hey!" came Nancy's voice. "How about Boiled Beret?"
"Now, now-- both of you stop this. Dashiell, make sure Alison sits to my right, so I can properly take care of her." His mother said, while heading for the kitchen.
Flint chuckled, "You're doomed now." he whispered in her ear.
"Why do I feel a sudden dread overcoming me?" Jaye whispered back.
"You'll be fine, she's just going to fuss over you." He smiled. "Come on." He lead her to the table and seated her next to his mother's chair, then seated himself next to her, across from Nancy.
"Your dog better not eat my beret," Flint threatened his sister, "Otherwise some certain evil plastic things will be used as target practice."
Nancy frowned, then a cunning smile appeared on her features, "Do that, and I'll tell Allie here all about Charlie." she said, folding her arms and leaning back in her chair in triumph.
"Charlie?" Jaye asked interest piqued.
Brenna started to chuckle. "What about Sammie?"
"Oww!" Nancy cried out, "Dash!" She gave him an evil stare across from the table, as she bent over to rub her leg.
Flint smiled, "Serves you right. Hey!" his eyes shot open, rubbing her counterattack.
His sister bit her lip, "Charlie is Dashie's little doll puppet. He's been in the family for years. Ugly thing too-- scarier than that Chuckie doll-- but Dash for some odd reason liked him, and they were inseparable."
"You're dead." Flint scowled, embarrassed.
"And Sammie was his doll he carried around everywhere. It's still up in his room. I'll show you later." Brenna grinned.
Jaye started to laugh, feeling more at home with Flint's family.
Flint lowered his head, and covered it with his hands, "Sisters!" he mumbled.
His mother's voice came from the kitchen, "Nancy! Can you come here and help me bring out the food?"
"Yes, Mom!" Nancy answered, getting up from the table and walking into the kitchen.
"I'll help too, Momma." Brenna said and got up.
Jaye just kept smirking at Flint, staying quiet.
Flint turned to her, "The base finds out about this, and you're going to join Nancy." he teased her.
Suddenly something solid hit him on the back of his head, "Hey!" He turned around to face Nancy, who was holding a large bowl, "Sorry, Dashie, was that your head my hand accidentally smashed into?" she asked him innocently, setting the bowl of roasted potatoes near him.
Jaye burst out in colorful laughter. "Nancy...you didn't hit him hard enough."
Brenna chuckled slightly, and for the first time Flint noticed she was wearing an oversized shirt.
"Brenna! looks likes Mom's cooking is working overboard." He loved teasing his sisters about their eating habits.
Nancy turned to Jaye after Flint's comment, asking, "Allie, how about this then?" hitting Flint in the head harder.
He pivoted, grabbing hold of Nancy's hand, just as she was going for another blow, "Hey! What did you do that for?" but Nancy ignored his face, she was glancing towards Brenna, her features showing only worry.
"Alright, you two, stop fighting." came the voice of Jean Faireborn, returning from the kitchen, carrying a large roasted turkey and setting it on the table. "I already lived through your teenage years once, do not want a repeat. Are you ten year olds? Or adults?"
"Are not!" Both Flint and Nancy cried out at the same instant, making the room burst into laughter.
Brenna sat down, with her head bowed slightly, and took the plate that her mother had prepared for her. A plate full of food was then placed in front of Jaye, which made her eyes widen.
"This is only the first course." Flint whispered to Jaye, and another plate, full of food, was set in front of him.
Nancy went to the cabinet and took out the red wine. She then began to fill the wine glasses in front of them, but passed Brenna's glass. Flint caught sight of that, but said nothing.
"I'll get your sparkling water, Bren." Nancy said, when she filled her own wine glass. "Papa, would you like some wine?" She asked, knowing sometimes he did not drink.
"No sweetie, I'll just take some of Bren's sparkling water." Logan said, sending a wink to his oldest daughter.
Brenna smiled at him but then turned back to bowing her head in what seemed like shame.
Nancy walked by Brenna and patted her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. She then walked back into the kitchen to get the sparkling water.
Flint looked from his father, to his sister and then to his mother. They were keeping something from him, and he wondered what.
The youngest Faireborn came back from the kitchen with two glasses of sparkling water, set one in front of her father and then set the other in front of her sister, before she returned to her own chair.
"Brenna, make sure you eat plenty of those vegetables." Jean's voice enforced. Flint gave a curious glance to his sister, but said nothing. Brenna always never liked many vegetables, even as a child. He wondered why his mother was forcing her to eat some.
"Mom, this is delicious." He praised. Jaye nodded in agreement, staring at her now overflowing plate.
The conversations changed from the family farm, to embarrassing moments in Flint's childhood, to life on the base. Their plates were never empty, for Mrs. Faireborn kept adding food to them. Finally, after for what it seemed like an eternity, their plates looked empty, and from their stuffed faces and bellies, Jean was pleased.
"Logan, can you help me with the cleaning? And let these four go to the family room." Jean asked her husband who nodded and began to help his wife.
Flint helped Jaye from her chair, "Wait til you have breakfast." he teased, laughing at her panicked face. They followed Nancy and Brenna into the family room. Rowdy still slept in his bed and was still wearing Flint's beret.
Brenna sat on the oversized cushioned chair, rubbing her back lightly.
"Here, Bren." Nancy walked to her and gave her a pillow. "For your back."
Flint watched once more-- what was going on? He was now one hundred percent positive something was going on that they had not told him. "Alright. What the hell is going on here?" He growled, making both sisters freeze still. Rowdy barked at his outburst.
Brenna was silent for a little while but the stern look from her older brother made her bow her head, she had not yet sat back down after being handed the pillow. "I'M PREGNANT, ALRIGHT!!!" She yelled at the top of her lungs and rushed out of the room.
"Bren! Wait!" Nancy called out to her sister. She began to follow Brenna's departure but stopped and looked at Flint's shocked face, "Dash, I'm sorry you had to learn about it this way." she said quietly before turning and following Brenna's trail.
Flint was stunned, his mouth hung. He shakily sat on the couch. He felt Jaye's hand on his shoulder. Just as he was there for her, she was there now for him.
She was about to say something when Logan Faireborn walked in. "Son, that man you met last year when you came home for Mother's Day got your sister pregnant after promising to marry her. As soon as he found out she was with child he took off and no one has seen or heard from him since. We found out a couple of months later he was already a married man."
Flint started to shake with anger. "I'm going to find him and kill him." His eyes flared, his breathing became uneven. He was livid.
Jaye put her hand on his shoulder to try and calm him.
"Son, let it be." Logan said.
"LET IT BE?" He yelled, causing Rowdy to howl, "Pa, how the hell can I let this be! She has to go through with this alone? He hurt her! Got her pregnant and then the bloody coward left her alone to deal with this! Didn't he care that he destroyed her life?"
"And did you see how upset she already is, Dash." Jaye said calmly. "She's so ashamed… and this outburst probably hurt her even more."
"You've got a smart woman there son. You should listen to her." Logan Faireborn stated, leaving the room.
Flint turned towards Jaye, "You're right. Right now she needs me, and not my stubbornness."
His youngest sister came back into the room, "Dash? Bren wants to talk to you." She gave him a hug. "I'll keep Allie company, Ok?" she said, looking into his face.
He nodded, "Alright, but don't make her want to retreat by showing her all those evil plastic things."
"Alright, I'll show her then some of your old pictures, especially those naked baby ones." Nancy teased him.
Flint's eyes widened, "On second thought, maybe you should show her the evil plastic things." making both Jaye and Nancy laugh. "I'll be back." He bent over to kiss Jaye.
He heard Nancy giggle, "Allie, you need to introduce her to Virgin Beer." he said, winking at his sister's shocked face before leaving the room.
Walking up the stairs, he stopped to compose himself. He did not know what to say. Of course he would be there for his sister, through the good times and the bad. With a deep breath, he began climbing up the stairs again. On the second floor, he stopped just outside Brenna's door. He could hear muffled cries coming from inside. Slowly, he pushed the door open, his eyes turning soft towards his sister's shaking form on the bed.
He strode quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed, and laid a hand on her back, gently rubbing like he used to do when one of them was upset. "Hey." he whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" Brenna asked. "You're not the idiot that got pregnant."
Flint looked at her teary face, "I'm sorry for making you upset. I shouldn't have lost my temper back there." He softly chuckled, "I always do that, don't I?"
"He was married, Dashie." Brenna cried. "How could I have not figured that out."
"He was a sleaze-ball, nothing else. He lied to you, and that is the worst thing anyone could do to another person." He gently rubbed her back. "Bren, I want to help in this. I want you to know that you're not alone, you have Mom, Dad, Nancy, Allie and one great big brother who will be there for you, always."
Brenna quickly rolled over and hugged her brother. "You see that wrapped box over on my dresser? That's for you."
He smiled, "Bren, you shouldn't have gotten me anything. Just to see you and everyone else is the best gift I could receive. But.. it isn't that gun I wanted-- is it?" His eyes were shining, teasing her with his joke.
"Oh, you." Brenna said and playfully smacked his arm, laughing.
Flint chuckled, "What is it with you women, hitting me all the time? I got some bruises from Nancy, not to mention the headache," rubbing the back of his head, "then Allie and now you." he teased, "It's getting too dangerous here. I'd rather face Cobra,"
He stood up and walked to where a nicely wrapped gift lay for him, He gently picked it up and sent his sister a grin. He unwrapped the box, and lift the lid; his eyes became all teary, "Bren, this is the best present I've ever received." He took out the white shirt which had the words, World Greatest Uncle. "Thank you." He went back to her and gave her a tight hug.
She hugged him back. "I wish I could find someone like you. Allie is a very lucky woman."
"Sorry, but they only make one of me… unless you are Cobra and you start creating Synthoids." he joked, "Come on, shall we go back to the others? Before Nancy shows Allie every naked baby picture of me," he gulped. "Or worse, gets her interested in those evil plastic things!"
"I want to show you something first." Brenna said.
Flint gave her another worried look, "Sure. Everything is alright? right?" He put a hand on her shoulder.
She lifted half of the oversized shirt and revealed her swollen belly. "Yeah everything is fine. I'm six months now."
"Six months!" His eyes were glued to the swollen stomach. "Is everything else alright? Do you want me to do anything? Buy anything? Go to the hospital with you?" He asked, still looking at her tummy.
Brenna chuckled. "Dashie, I still have three months to go. Come here." She took him by the hand and led him to the room next to hers and opened the door and showed him the Nursery in progress.
He stood there, stunned, "Wow!" He then turned to her, "Why didn't you tell me before." Walking to the new crib and gently touching it, he looked downwards thinking that in three months a little bundle would be sleeping there.
Brenna looked down. "I was embarrassed and ashamed. I didn't want you to be disappointed and I didn't want you to try and go after him."
"You should have given me more trust, Bren." He said, turning around to look at her. "I'm never disappointed in you. You must know that." then embraced her in a tight hug. "It's going to be a boy, right? 'Cause if it's a girl, Nancy will conquer this room with more of those evil plastic things," he chuckled.
"Actually we don't know yet. The baby wouldn't show us." Brenna giggled. "Stubborn, just like you."
Flint smiled, "Glad he takes from his Uncle and not his Aunt."
"Hey." Brenna said with a chuckle. "Nancy's gonna kick your butt, you know."
Flint laughed, "Maybe I should take her back to base with me and have her kick some of the men in place." His features then changed, thinking, "On second thought, maybe not. Too much damage."
"Besides she would bring her dolls with her." Brenna added with a laugh as they headed out the door.
"Yeah, between her dolls and Allie's bear, I don't think the base could handle it." He shook his head.
They walked downstairs and back into the family room. Voices and laughter could be heard. He spotted his fiancé and sister on the couch with a certain album, which he dreaded to see.
"And this is where we had gone to the Kansas Zoo and the camel spit on him! Just look at his face!" Nancy spoke with glee in her voice.
"Just you wait til you bring a man into this house, I'll do the same to you." he teased.
Nancy and Jaye looked up as he walked into the room, with Brenna. His sister smiled, "Well, if you ever fix me up with one of those cute GIJOE men, then we have a deal."
"Hmm?" He tapped his finger on his chin, "How about Bazooka?"
Nancy tilted her head, "What's a Bazooka? The gun? or the gum?"
"Not Bazooka!" Jaye laughed.
Flint laughed, "No Nancy, I'm not going to introduce you to someone who chews gum all the time, wears only baseball shirts, and collects baseball cards." laughing more at his shocked sister's face.
"But they have something in common." Brenna smirked. "He collects baseball cards and Nancy collects plastic brats."
Jaye about died trying to hold in her laughter.
Nancy shook her head, "I… think I am going to bed now." Then stood up. "Goodnight Allie." She gave her a hug and then walked over to her sister, "If you need anything during the night, wake me up. Ok?" she said, hugging her. Then turned to Dash. "Sweet dreams, alright? Glad you are home," She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Night, sleep tight, and don't let those evil plastic things bite." He replied.
Nancy shook her head, mumbling something about shooting him as she left the room.
"Mom and Dad have already retired, and I think I'm going to too." Brenna said, and hugged Jaye. "It was wonderful to meet the woman that has finally settled my brother down."
"Night, Bren." Flint said, hugging his sister. "We're going to go to bed too; finally getting that jet lag."
They watched Brenna walk up the stairs, but before they had a chance to head upstairs themselves, Flint turned to Allie, "See, told you they don't bite much. Everything alright now?" He looked at her with concern.
"No." Jaye said. "I've got a tummy ache." She pouted playfully.
He laughed, "From the butterflies or my Mom stuffing you like a turkey?"
"Your mom stuffing me." Jaye said. "I've never eaten so much food in my life."
"Just wait til tomorrow's breakfast!" He teased, switching off the lights as they walked up the stairs, "Wait a min Allie, I forgot something." She looked at him confused, watching him sneak towards Rowdy, who was fast asleep and grabbed his beret. "Aha! got it!"
He then came back to Jaye as they walked up the stairs together, hand in hand.