"Sorry. What did you say?" Lucas inquired, giving his mother an apologetic smile. He had been watching his son dart from one game to the next, his cousins not far behind. When Dillon had suggested Chuck E. Cheese's, it had been to the children's delight. The place was packed and the funniest part was that only his family and friends were presently in the building.

"I said I thought the doctor's orders were something quiet and peaceful."

"Lance begged to come here. Besides, he's been stuck in a hospital bed forever. I wasn't about to tell him no."

"I think Dillon would call you a pushover."

"Whatever shoe fits. Look at how happy he is." Lucas reasoned, nodding in Lance's direction. He was currently standing on top of one of the toys, beating his chest with his fists and making grunting noises.

"That's true." Bobbie ruffled Lucas's hair before walking off to pull her grandson off the toy.

"Grandma, I was being a gorilla." Lance protested.

"Be a gorilla on the floor please."

"Okay." Lance rolled his eyes and hurried toward the ball pit where Cameron was letting Morgan and Kristina bury him in colored plastic balls.

Elizabeth walked over to where Robin was sitting. She was happy she had at least been able to help Dillon and Lucas out this much. Pulling strings for a private party was the least she could do for Lance. "Hey there stranger." She smiled as she sat down next to her best friends.

"Hi!" Robin answered brightly.

"We finally found a new meeting place."

"And if we're good, maybe the giant mouse will come out and dance for us."

"Note to you. That would be the worst bachelorette party ever."

"No kidding. How are you? I heard about Lulu."

"Still in shock. I still can't believe this is how it all turned out you know? Talk about an awkward wedding party."

"Now don't say that. It'll be fine by the time you get married. I know. I know. Being the optimist is not something I'm used to either."

"For real. I was about to check you for being a pod." Elizabeth smiled. "I hope you're right. I just want everyone to be happy."

"That's not your job. You need only to be happy and enjoy what you've got. Trust me; nothing in this life is forever." Robin pointed out. "And that's the end of my optimism streak. Sorry. It's so weird to be back here."

"I know. The last time I was here, I was still setting rules for Lucky. And you were in total denial that you liked Patrick."

"I wasn't in denial. I can't stand him." Robin giggled.

"So your marriage is what? An experiment in masochism?"

Robin glanced over at her aforementioned husband who had Nathan tucked under one arm and a camera in his free hand. He asked the kids to smile and they decided to throw a few balls at him. "I guess he's not so bad."

"Well as long as he's not so bad."

"Laura tells me you refuse to pick out a dress for your own wedding. You want to explain that one to me?"

"I'm not refusing. I was just waiting for my fashion consultant to be available. As we no longer have custody cases and major surgery ahead of us....maybe it can get done."

"That sounds like a plan. I have to make an appearance at the bakery tomorrow, but I should be free on Sunday. I have to give my poor new hire a break and probably a raise. I always took the term working mother for granted. It's not as easy as it looks."

"Amen to that. And Sunday should be a good time."

"I've been such an absent friend. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I don't know. I'll think about it." Elizabeth teased. "You may have to make it up to me though."

"Chocolate Cherry Cheesecake?" Robin offered with a gleam in her eye.

"Evil woman."

"We could make a night of it; give our guys bonding time with the kids."

"The only problem with that is there would be no one there to run interference when they started trying to teach them something. I suppose we could train Cam to interrupt."

"We totally could." Robin beamed. "What do you say? Half my movies don't get watched because Patrick says they're too girly for the kids."

"I say they just signed up for baby-sitting."

*****

"I'm not going in." Lulu shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, sinking back into the seat cushions of Evan's car. "This was a mistake. A horrible idea. Just turn around and take me home."

"Forget it." Evan countered with an eye roll. "This is a celebration and you're going in there if I have to pick you up and carry you."

"They don't want me there. I'll just bring everyone down and make everyone tense. Lance and Morgan don't need that after everything else they've been through."

"Lance and Morgan won't notice and you need to see your family."

Lulu shook her head. Evan had somehow overheard about the party. How she wasn't even going to pretend to guess. It was his bright idea to come today and now he wasn't listening to reason. She wasn't ready for this.

She had barely been able to deal with seeing the looks of disappointment and guilt on her parents' faces. To see the same look on the face of her brother? Patrick? Almost her entire family? Didn't he understand how much it would kill her? Not to mention the fact Elizabeth was going to be there. How was she supposed to face her after what she had done? "I'm the last thing anyone in that party needs to see right now."

"Well they're just going to have to get over it." He disengaged the keys from the ignition and dropped them into his pocket before holding out his hand. "I promise I won't leave your side."

"Evan I can't handle this. Please."

"No. You have to try. They need you as much as you need them. Don't you want to see Lance? He's been sick for a long time hasn't he? And what about Cameron?"

"No fair."

"I never said I played fair." Evan pointed out, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Come on Spencer. You aren't chicken are you?"

"If I say yes do I get to go home?"

"Nope. You only get to go home after you've initiated one conversation with every single family member you've got in there."

"What's in it for me?" Lulu asked, reluctantly stepping out of the car.

"What do you want?"

"I need a time limit. If this goes bad like I know it will, you need to promise to get me out of there in less than thirty minutes."

"Deal. If it doesn't go bad, we're staying an hour."

"Forty-five minutes."

"Forty-seven."

"Forty-six."

"Forty-six and two slices of pizza."

"Forty-six, two slices of pizza, and I win at Skeeball."

"Planning on being there a while?"

"No. We'll come back and I'll kick your ass."

"You wish. I happen to be a pro."

Lulu took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Alright let's get going. The clock has started."

Evan threw his arm around her tiny frame. "The clock doesn't start until your mother spots us." He half-turned her and kissed her lightly.

"Knowing my mother, she's already memorized your car."

*****

"Any words of encouragement for your caveman?" Patrick whispered to his wife as they stood beside a basketball game. Most of the family had materialized around this particular game over the last couple of minutes because it was something Bobbie, Elizabeth, and Robin never thought they would get to see: the little boys against the big ones. Luke had already started taking bets and Laura was snapping away with her camera even though the game had yet to start.

"Watch out for Cameron. He snuck an extra soda that Laura doesn't know about." Robin teased before joining her friends in the "fans" section of the group.

"Thanks." Patrick tossed over his shoulder. "Alright, we don't really need a game plan. Try not to hit the other customers." He made sure to look in Cruz's direction.

"That was one time!" Cruz bellowed.

"Once was enough." Lucky pointed out.

"Alright Lance, you're up first." Laura handed him one of the numerous basketballs. "Good luck sweetie."

"I don't need luck. I got skills." Lance announced.

Laura and Bobbie both glanced in Lucas and Dillon's direction, but the couple bit back similar smiles and started making shouting noises of praise for their son. Of the nine shots, Lance made eight of them. Cruz was next. He did a silly little dance to prepare himself for the start buzzer and then reached for a ball. He was on a roll until he lost the third ball in the crowd. The collective family searched the surrounding areas, none of them venturing out to find the wayward ball, and Cruz threw as many balls as he could at the basket before the second buzzer caught him up. He groaned, having only made three shots.

"See this is why we almost went with Dillon." Lucky pointed out as Cruz made way for Morgan to step up. Morgan winked in Robin and Elizabeth's direction and bowed as they cheered for him. Standing on his tip toes, he grabbed at the first ball and tossed it into the basket. As he set up to make his final shot, all the previous ones successful, a rouge ball jumped through the hoop and everyone turned to see Evan and Lulu walk up.

"Hi." Lulu offered meekly, waving her hand.

"Aunt Lulu!" Cameron screamed and ran for her at full speed. "You came! You came!"

"Hey buddy." Lulu smiled as she ruffled Cameron's curls.

"Come watch us play. It's Daddy's turn."

"You should." Luke agreed, maneuvering her away from Evan's protective hold. "Considering his predecessor's skill, this should be interesting."

Lucky shook his head. "Just keep talking." He lined up and waited for the buzzer to indicate the start of his time. Once it did, he let the balls fly, shooting the next before the first one met the net. More than once he hit his own ball out of the net. When his time was up, he had made five of his shots.

"I knew I chose the right team." Robin murmured to Elizabeth.

"Oh but I'm sure we'll hear how they let the little boys win." Elizabeth whispered. "As if."

"My turn!" Cameron insisted, walking up to the game. "Aunt Lulu, watch me!"

"Yeah, Aunt Lulu. Watch." Evan whispered to Lulu, snaking an arm around her when Luke finally let her go.

"I'm watching Cameron." Lulu assured him as Cameron started to take his shots. So far no one had been outright hostile toward her, but she still couldn't relax. Her father and her nephew would be happy to see her.

Sneaking up behind them, Patrick tapped on Evan's shoulder. "If you think you're sneaking her out the back, you're going to have to get past all of us."

"And don't think you've missed out on the intentions discussion with us." Lucky added quietly.

"I have parents you know." Lulu pointed out, clapping when Cameron hit yet another basket.

"Mom's a pushover and Dad's Dad." Lucky dismissed. "Clearly you need someone looking out for you."

"I couldn't agree more." Evan replied.

"Don't agree with us." Cruz warned. "We don't know you yet."

"I knew betting on you was the way to go." Luke told Cameron, bending down to give him two high-fives.

"I thought you were just the bookie." Patrick rolled his eyes as he stepped up.

"That's what you get for thinking." Luke drawled, putting Cameron on his shoulders.

"Come on Patty. Your turn!" Cameron announced happily.

"You can't rush these things Cam." Patrick told him. Taking a ball, he closed his eyes and waited for the first buzzer. Releasing the ball, he opened his eyes and watched it fall into the basket. Hurriedly, he reached for the remaining eight but he soon realized he couldn't do it with his eyes open. With three balls left, he repeated his original technique and heard the satisfying swish of three baskets. The buzzer sounded again and he did a little victory dance.

Luke scribbled the final score and showed it to both teams. "Alright, people pay up." He ordered, holding out his hand. Laura, Bobbie, and Lucas each handed him five bucks and he tucked them in his front shirt pocket with a grin on his face. "Next time save yourself a trip to the ATM and just bet on the little boys." He suggested.

"They really bet on the outcome of game?" Evan asked.

"Of course." Lulu answered. "Why wouldn't they?"

"We let them win." Lucky pointed out as he moved closer to Robin and Elizabeth.

"Told you. Pay up." Elizabeth smiled at her friend.

"Couldn't have said that after I left." Robin huffed, handing over a ten and wrapping her arms around Patrick's waist. "You didn't suck nearly as bad as Cruz." She added, ignoring her friend's outburst.

"Hey!" Cruz protested. "I was distracted!"

"You do an ego good honey." Patrick smirked, tickling Robin's sides. "That's for not betting on me."

"If I bet on you anymore than I already do, I'd be going to the boys' college fund for more money." Robin teased, rubbing his stomach playfully.

"I'm sure the kids will let you have a rematch later if you need one." Bobbie taunted her husband.

"That miss was on purpose." Cruz huffed.

"The woman in the wheelchair thanks you for that." Evan didn't miss the glare the older man sent his way but just smiled in return.