"Say does my nose detect a wafting of bangers

"Say does my nose detect a wafting of bangers?" Called out Nigel as he sniffed over Claudia's shoulder.

Claudia grimaced as she tried to blow some stray hairs out of her eyes as she reached in the oven to pull out a tray of mini-quiches. She stepped backwards with the tray, stepping on Nigel's foot in the process.

"Dammit Nigel!" She cried. "You are driving me batty! Batty, Bonkers, Bananas all of them, take your pick. Every time I turn around I step on you. You are worse than the cats. And what in the hell are bangers? Better yet, I'm in no mood to hear one of your sick perverted jokes."

"Wow, somebody woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning." commented Stacey dryly as she mixed together a pitcher of mimosas.

"I'm sorry, it's just there are going to be like 45 people in my house and my backyard and I want the food to taste perfect. I spent all morning on the cakes including individual cakes for all the kids and I just sometimes feel like no one understands the mind of a chef." Claudia sighed.

"Really love." said Nigel as he kissed her cheek. "Everything just smells delightful and I was hoping to have a taste before it got crazy in here. No need to yell at me. I think you're top notch."

Kristy laughed as she shoved a mini-quiche in his mouth. She pushed him out of Claudia's way and shuddered as he poured himself a glass of tomato juice.

"Just so you know, bangers are sausage, rashers are bacon and-" She gagged as she watched Nigel crack a raw egg into his tomato juice. "That is a Red Eye, his famous hangover cure. It makes me vomit instantly but to each his own."

Claudia & Stacey shuddered inwardly as they watched him drink his concoction in 2 swallows. They continued to busy themselves around the kitchen slicing ham, arranging bagels and rolls on plates, lighting chafing dishes filled with breakfast meats, eggs, and potatoes. As Stacey & Kristy continued to arrange food around the tables, Claudia ran upstairs to change. She put her hair up in twist, and put on a pair of tight fighting black pants and a red, white and black patterned shirt. She quickly applied eye makeup and lip gloss and was downstairs by the time the first official guests had arrived.

In about half hours time, everyone had arrived and Claudia barely had time to breathe. She ran into the kitchen to look for napkins and nearly screamed when a hand pulled her into her pantry. She hit Sam lightly on the chest as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.

"I missed not waking up next to you." He whispered huskily in her ear.

Claudia felt herself grow warm as her fingers twirled through his hair. She began to kiss him more passionately as he quickly unbuttoned her shirt. She tugged at his belt trying to loosen it when suddenly the door opened and they toppled out into the kitchen much to the amusement of Shannon, Stacey, Nigel, Jason, Abby, and Logan.

"I didn't know that was on the menu today…" bellowed out Nigel grabbing Sam in a headlock giving him noogies as they walked out the door wall.

"We were just, um looking for napkins and the door got stuck." Murmured Claudia trying to control the blush that was taking over her face.

"I understand that Claud." Piped in Abby. "Usually when I go to find napkins I fall out of the pantry with my shirt wide open-cute bra by the way."

Claudia flushed and turned quickly trying to fix her shirt while her friends chuckled. Ok Kishi, you can either make a big deal about this or make it a joke. As she walked out of the kitchen with her head held high she turned around and stuck her tongue out at the group gathered in the kitchen while she backed out her side door.

Suddenly, she tripped backwards and flailed her arms trying to catch her balance. She landed in the lap of an extremely good looking man with deep blue eyes. He grinned at her showing a mega watt smile and dimples.

"Well hello Claudia." He said in a sexy mellow voice. "How nice of you to drop in and say hi."

Mallory stood up quickly and helped Claudia to her feet. "Claud, I hope it's ok that I invited him. He was moping around and I thought a party might cheer him up. You remember my brother Adam right?"

"My God Adam!" exclaimed Claudia not even able to hide her surprise. "What's it been like 10 years?"

"Twelve actually." He replied as he winked at her. "But who's counting?"

Claudia couldn't help but smile back at him. She was distracted by a little girl who tugged on Claudia's shirt and asked, "Have you seen my mommy? I want to show her my new boyfriend. I forgot which aunt you are."

"I'm your Aunt Claudia." She said as she picked up Sutton and gave her a hug. "Let's see if we can't find your mommy." She quickly found Mary Anne as the two of them were introduced to Sutton's boyfriend.

"This is Lyman Bruno Jr. My boyfriend." Announced Sutton as she pointed to a young boy about her age.

"Wouldn't that be something Mary Anne?" commented Logan as he joined the girls. "Our kids getting married?"

"You know it is kind of weird that out of our whole group, no one from Stoneybrook ended up with anyone else from Stoneybrook." Commented Anna aloud.

"Never say never!" cried out Mallory & Stacey simultaneously before giggling and hooking pinkies and yelling "jinx."

Sometime later as Stacey sat with Kristy, Nigel, Jason, and Abby she watched Sam slowly walk across the backyard carrying Anna's son Stephen on his shoulders.

"Never say never." She repeated herself happily as she watched Sam's eyes light up when he saw Claudia while making Stephen blow kisses at her.

Across the yard as Mallory sat with Roger, Jessi, Terrance, Anna, Elliott, Mary Anne, Julie & Logan she watched Adam's eyes follow Claudia's every move.

"So Mallory?" asked Mary Anne. "Is Adam seeing anyone or is he the epitome of a bachelor? Never going to settle down?"

Mallory thought about this for awhile. Her brother was forever waiting for the right girl to come along. He was a head chef for Stamfords only 5 star Steakhouse yet could never seem to find a girl who understood his passion for his job. Mallory's eyes lit up as she watched Adam showing off with some of the little boys tossing a football to them. She liked how he pretended to tackle Claudia but instead spun her around as all the kids tried to tackle him.

"Never say never…" repeated Mallory as she watched Claudia toss Sutton onto the pile of boys.