This is the sequel story to Far Away.
*~o~*
After a delicious, but tense dinner, Joe announced he was walking his girlfriend Megan home. "I don't think that's a good idea," Todd said as he shook his head.
"Why not, Dad?" Joe asked.
"You... alone with a girl... I don't think so. I think you need a chaperone."
"Don't look at me!" Marissa spoke up quickly.
Just then, Starr walked in. "Shortie!" Todd said as he stood up and hugged his youngest daughter. "I need you to do your dear old dad a favor."
"What, Dad?" asked Starr, looking nervous. She hoped her dad didn't know it was her that had saved Brendan's butt earlier. She wanted to stay on her Dad's good-side.
"Well, your little brother Joe here got himself a girlfriend... and I need you to walk the two of them over to the Buchanan residence and act as their chaperone. There will be no kissing or funny business," Todd said as he looked at Joe. "Is that understood?"
"Totally understood," Joe said with annoyance. "And Dad, Marissa's right- Your rules SUCK!"
Todd only grinned. He didn't care that the kids were annoyed. In fact, he hoped to annoy them so much that they decided not to date again until they were both well into their 30's.
"Come on, Starr... Megan, let's go," Joe said to his sister and girlfriend.
"Thanks for dinner," Megan said politely to Marty. "It was really good."
"You're welcome, Megan," Marty responded with a smile.
Her smile faded as soon as the kids had left. "We're going to have a little talk," Marty said to Todd.
"What did I do?" Todd asked with feigned innocence.
*~o~*
After their first child Matthew had passed away as an infant, Bo and Nora Buchanan had been very protective of their twins, Marcus and Megan. When Megan arrived home with Todd Manning's son, Nora began freaking out. "Megan, what- what are you \doing with him?" she demanded when her daughter walked up to the door, holding Joe Manning's hand in hers.
"He's my boyfriend, Mom. We're dating," Megan explained.
"Over my dead body!" Nora said in a gasp.
"What's going on here?" Bo asked as he too came to the door.
"Daddy, meet my boyfriend... Joe Manning," Megan stated.
"Good Lord," was all Bo could utter. He couldn't believe it- his baby girl was seeing Todd Manning's troublemaking son!
*~o~*
In the meantime, Starr had started walking back home. She didn't get far when she was approached by Marcus Buchanan. "Hey, Starr," he said as he gave her a smile. "What are you doing over here in my neighborhood?"
"My little brother is dating your twin sister," Starr explained. "Joe and I walked Megan home."
"My parents aren't going to be pleased," Marcus stated. "But enough about them... Would you like to come see my tree-house?"
"Sure," Starr said with a smile. "That sounds like a lot of fun."
"Great. Come with me," Marcus said as he lead her away.
*~o~*
Marissa had stormed off to her room after dinner, and she refused to come out. Marty's attempts to talk to her daughter had failed. She thought perhaps she could talk some sense into Todd... or at least she could try. "Todd, you're going to have to relent and let the kids date," Marty said to him.
"No," Todd said flatly.
"Why not, Todd? Marissa's nearly 17. And you know Joe and Megan looked really cute together tonight. I think Joe cares about her. She could be good for him."
"No," Todd said again.
"Why not? You're being totally unreasonable."
"I said NO!" Todd bellowed.
Marty glared at him. "You're going to regret that," she warned him.