Happy Memorial Day everyone!

Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service ... God Bless them!

THE END: The Cookout

The Family Arrives

Alex falls asleep on the couch while Bobby finishes cleaning the house. He wonders what it will be like with six children all under the age of two. He starts to get a migraine. He checks the time and realizes that he needs to leave to pick up his sister and her family at the airport … he has to wake up Alex.

"Al … baby … wake up, you have to watch the kids … honey … you need to wake up … I have to leave."

"Okay … I'm awake … go ahead." She falls back to sleep.

The only one close enough with the time he had left was Lewis. Fortunately, Lewis and his new girlfriend Rhonda were available to come baby-sit. Tracy was crazy about Lewis and Haley and John also found him to be quite amusing.

Bobby carried Alex up to their bedroom, sat beside her for a few minutes and prayed that she wasn't sick … that if she wasn't pregnant that this was just a little bug that hit her and it would run a quick course. He ran his hand through her hair and looked straight up.

I know we never talk … and I know you know that I really don't believe. I've seen too much bad in my life. But please … please keep Alex and my babies safe and healthy. Do what you want to me, but please … not my Alex and not my babies.

He wipes a tear away from his eye, leans over and kisses Alex. He leaves for the airport.

LaGuardia Airport

He spots Molly first or Molly spots him … at the baggage claim.

"Uncle Robert!" She comes running and leaps into his arms.

"Hey Molly … welcome to New York."

He picks her up and swings her around. She squeals with happiness.

"Hello Robert." He hears from behind him as he's swinging Molly.

"Hi Mia … where's Timothy and Hank?"

"They're getting our bags."

Mia hugs Bobby awkwardly … brother and sister are still finding their way with each other.

"What do you say Molly, should we go help your dad and brother?"

Mia touches his arm … "It's okay Robert … let them … we have a lot of catching up to do. I hope you and Alex don't mind our visit."

"No, of course not. Alex is a little under the weather, but she'll rise to the occasion I'm sure."

"Nothing serious, I hope."

"No … just a stomach bug. Come on lets go find Tim and Hank."

Bobby took them all out to Sal's for dinner. Molly was very impressed with the fact that Sal knew Bobby and almost everybody in his life.

"Hey Roberto … where's Alexandra? Are you keeping her locked up with little John, beautiful Miss Tracy and Princess Haley?"

"Yeah, Sal … she's handcuffed to the rocking chair."

"Ha … you're a very funny man, Roberto. Are you going to introduce me to your friends or what? Who is this beautiful little creature?"

"This is my niece, Molly … my sister Mia, her husband Tim and my nephew, Hank."

"Welcome, welcome … Roberto's family. I'll make sure you get the best seat in the house."

After a pleasant evening at Sal's, Bobby drops his sister and her family off at their hotel and heads home to Alex.

Lewis was not only a hit with the Trips … he had Alex and Rhonda on the couch in stitches, as well. It was a very welcome sight for Bobby. The entire time he was out with his new family, he was worrying about Alex. He should have known that he could count on Lewis to brighten up the Goren household … he has that effect.

They all turn to look as he came through the door … all nervous knowing that he had just spent another evening with this family he barely knew. Secretly, they thought he was becoming too emotionally invested in this relationship … Alex promised Lewis and Lewis promised Alex that they would keep an eye on the situation. They were both happy that they would get the opportunity to interrogate … get to know … them at the cookout.

"Hey … you're finally home."

"Yup … and I see Lewis has worked his magic. You look better."

Alex rises up on her toes and kisses him.

"I feel great. I think I just needed some sleep."

"So, Bobby G … how was the family?"

"They were good. I took them to Sal's. We talked … it's still awkward but Molly isn't shy at all and that helps to break the ice. They're all looking forward to the cookout."

"We'll all make them feel welcome."

"I appreciate that Lewis. Too bad Mike and Carolyn can't make it."

"Yeah, what's up with that? What happened down in D.C.?"

Alex drops her head and covers her eyes with her hands.

"Aw, come on Alex, tell them … it was your idea."

"Shut it, Bobby."

Bobby starts to chuckle … although, it's not really funny. He's really teasing Alex and she feels really bad.

"What … what was Alex's idea?"

"Mike wanted a novel way of proposing to Carolyn … so he asked Alex."

"Hey, hey … in my defense … he asked for you, but you were in the men's room."

"Sorry if I had to relieve myself. May I continue?"

"I'm not stopping you."

They glance at each other and Lewis and Rhonda smile at each other.

"So … anyway … Alex told Mike …"

"Suggested."

Heavy sigh … "made the suggestion, to put the ring in …"

"On top!"

"I told you to tell the story!"

"Fine … I tol… suggested to Mike to place the ring on top of her dessert … she didn't see it and choked on it. Mike gave her the Heimlich and fractured her ribs. End of story."

Lewis and Rhonda sat there with their mouths wide open. Bobby pointed at Lewis.

"Look at that Al … you made Lewis speechless … amazing."

Rhonda turns and looks at Lewis … up to this point, she had been as quiet as a church mouse … "Lewis, if you ever decide to ask me to marry you … please don't ask Alex for advice."

For some reason, John began laughing like he understood the whole conversation. This starts off a chain reaction of laughter. Alex went over and sat on Bobby's lap and whispered in his ear …

"I love to see your smile and when I hear your laugh I feel like we can really erase your past. Do you ever feel that way … I need to know."

He looks her in the eyes … "I have those memories, Alex but they don't hurt anymore … they can't hurt me anymore. I'm not afraid of them. I used to think my life would always be, he whispers so very quietly, fucking miserable, but that part has been erased … because of you." He kisses her … very tenderly.

Rhonda smacks Lewis' arm … "You said they always fight!"

"I said they always fight … then, they always make up … I think that's our cue to leave."

"No, no, no, you promised to help me with the new grill."

"I already put it together, brother. We're leaving."

The Cookout

The Goren household was a flurry of activity from the sound of the bell … or The Goren Baby Alert Intercom System. The Trips were wide awake and full of pep. They were all starting to pull up at this point and John was walking pretty good with a few minor falls. Alex was feeling much better and running after the children while Bobby was starting the prep work for the cookout. He was making his famous Bobby burgers and barbeque sauce. As he was prepping all the veggies, John sauntered in … he grabbed his daddy's leg just as he was cutting and onion. What would a Goren holiday be without a trip to the ER? Bobby screamed, John wailed and Alex came running.

"Oh my God … that looks bad."

Bobby looks at his gushing finger.

"Yup, gonna need stitches. Most everything is done … just let the barbeque sauce simmer. Hopefully the ER isn't too busy. I'm sure they're expecting one of us … it is a holiday."

"How are you gonna get there?"

He has the first aide kit out and he's wrapping his finger.

"I'm going to drive."

"Yourself?"

"I'll be fine … call Lizzy and have her come early to help with the little stuff … okay."

"Okay … are you sure you can drive yourself?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

He kisses her and he leaves for the ER and he was right … they were waiting for him.

Eight stitches later and he was back home to a huge First Annual Goren Memorial Day Cookout.

The first thing that he spotted was Molly and Nate running around in the yard having a blast with each other. Then he saw Lewis at the grill with his brother-in-laws from now, both sides and Alex her sisters Liz and Mary were laughing with his sister Mia … Rhonda, Lewis girlfriend was also there. The only one not having a good time was his nephew Hank … he was off by himself.

"Hey Hank."

"Hi Uncle Bobby."

"Nice to hear someone in your family call me Bobby."

"That's all I've been hearing around here … where's Bobby. They all think it's funny that you had to go to the hospital. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah … just a few stitches. No big deal. It is funny though. See, I get so caught up in doing stuff … I get a little careless, shall we say. It wouldn't be a Goren holiday if one of us didn't make a quick trip to the ER."

"They must see you coming."

"Oh yeah … they do. I swear they have my forms already filled out."

Hank starts to laugh.

"You have a big family."

"You're my family, Hank. Come on, lets get something to eat … I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself. Do you like butter beans?"

"No way."

"How about ribs … do you like ribs?"

"I love ribs."

"Good man … lets go eat some ribs."

Bobby puts his arm around Hank and they walk toward the crowd of people. They all stop and finally notice that Bobby's back. His sister sees Hank smiling for the first time since they got off the plane. Alex sees the Bobby that she knows and loves. The Trips see their daddy and squeal with delight. Molly sees her new Uncle and big brother walking side by side and grabs her camera, then runs and hugs them both.

As they walk, Bobby sees Jimmy, Angie and the girls … they stop and exchanges hugs. The Eames clan, also delighted to see Bobby, also crowd around him and welcome him home … making sure that the cut on his finger was nothing serious. Alex approaches and welcomes him with a kiss … so doesn't Lewis … or at least he tried … Bobby pushes him away and then pulls him back into a bear hug.

After all was said and done and another Goren holiday was successfully executed, Bobby holds up the pregnancy test kit to Alex.

"Okay … time to take the test. Everyone is gone … lets do this."

Alex reads the directions.

"You know … I really like your sister and her family … and you were right about Molly, she is precious. Did you see how great she and Nate got along?"

"I did."

"And she was wonderful with the Trips … she loves her little cousins."

"Yes … she does. Stop stalling, Eames."

"Eames … is it?"

"Go … go pee on the stick damn it!"

"Okay, okay … I'm going already … geesh."

Alex takes the kit and goes into their master bathroom. She sets the stick down on the sink and opens the door. Bobby enters and they both look down at the window that tells them the fate of their future.

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TBC on or around the Fourth of July! thanks for reading ... Judy