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Chapter 16: Back Again

Claire and Connie wandered into the suite and Claire collapsed on the couch. It had been a long few days. Connie flitted perkily into the bedroom that had been reserved for her. She loved traveling. She knew that she lived like a princess most of the time, her grandpa told her that she was as close to being one as Americans could be, but she especially felt like one in fancy hotels, where her daddy made sure that their family always had the best rooms. Eva Riley talked about how she didn't like staying in hotels because it meant she had to share a bed with her little brother. Connie wondered if because she was an only child and 'dopted that was why she got her own bedroom in the hotel.

"Mommy," Connie walked back out.

"Yes baby," Claire said.

"Can I ask you something?" Connie crawled up on the couch and curled up into her mother's chest.

"Anything baby," Claie whispered. "You know that."

"Eva said that when they go away and stay in hotels she has to share a bed with TJ," Connie said. Claire nodded. "And they all share one room, the five of them. Why don't we all stay in one room? Why do we stay in a pen-house and Eva doesn't?"

"Well," Claire sighed, she'd almost rather Connie asked about her birth parents again. That answer was at least rehearsed. Having to explain that they had more money than Rick and Cassie was not so easy. "See, a long time ago, Daddy's family made a lot of money from trains."

"From trains?" Connie said disbelieving.

"Yes," Claire tickled her, "and don't interrupt. See, back then trains were new, so Daddy's great great great grandpa decided to buy a lot of them, and build even more, and sell lots of tickets so that people could use them. And he made lots and lots of money. And then his sons and grandson and great grandsons, took that money and made it into more money. So our family has a lot of it, but Daddy also works very hard so that we can keep it."

"Oh," Connie said, slightly satisfied. She frowned as a thought occurred to her. "But Eva's Daddy is Aunt Kelly's brother."

"Yes," Claire said, "that's right." She wasn't sure where her daughter's logic was heading.

"So then he's in our family too and he should have some of the train money!" Connie said. "And Gammy and Poppa too!"

"No, see baby," Claire sighed, "it doesn't work that way. Eva's Daddy isn't really in our family that way. And Gammy and Poppy have their farm and their own money."

"That doesn't seem fair," Connie frowned.

"It isn't really." Claire whispered. "It used to bother me too, when Daddy and I were boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Is that part of how he was a big jerk so you wouldn't marry him?" Connie said. "Did Daddy not understand that it wasn't fair?

"Yes it was," Claire laughed. "And Daddy understood that it wasn't fair. He just didn't care much."

"What didn't Daddy care about?" Logan walked in.

"Daddy!" Connie ran and hugged him. He picked her up. "I missed you."

"I missed you too baby," he kissed her. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes," Connie yawned. "I was about to go to sleep."

"OK, go get in your pjs, and brush your teeth and come back out and say goodnight." They kissed and Connie ran back into her room. Claire smiled as he plopped down next to her. "You look bushed Fitz."

"It's been a tough few days," Claire sighed. "I'm glad you're here."

"Did she wear you down that much?" Logan frowned.

"Oh no," she laughed, "Connie's been wonderful. Diane is," she sighed. Logan looked at her. "When she was two, she was diagnosed with leukemia. It was the best kind you can get, I don't remember what kind exactly, but she went into remission after like a year, and she stayed that way, until apparently a few months ago."

"Wow," Logan said. "Does Beth know? Or your parents?"

"No, just me," she sighed, "and Tommy." Logan nodded. "And then we ran into Charlie Conway, and,"

"Whoa," Logan said. "You saw him?" Claire nodded. "Connie saw him?" She nodded. "Is she OK? Are you OK?"

"We're both fine," Claire said. "I doubt it did any long term damage, really."

"Are you sure?" He said. She nodded and kissed him. "Well, I missed you."

"I missed you too." She smiled. "Oh, she also is starting to notice the difference between us and the middle class. So that's going to be fun." Logan laughed.

"I'll handle that," he said. "I noticed when I was about her age too."

Julie sighed getting off the plane and pulling her hair into a messy bun as she left the gate.

"Hey, blondie," she turned hearing a whistle. "Fancy seeing you here."

"Hi Portman," she laughed as he walked over and hugged her. "It's good to see you."

"You too," he said. Lisa cleared her throat. "Have you met my sister?"

"No, but I've heard a lot about you," Julie said and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"You too," Lisa said. She looked at Dean.

"It's not like that Lee," Dean said.

"Too bad," Lisa said. "I'll go wait on our bags while you two catch up." She walked away waving.

"What's not like that?" Julie raised her eyebrows.

"She wants me to date you," he shrugged. Julie laughed. "She and Tanya are obsessed with my love life at the moment."

"Sure," Julie nodded. "As Tammy and Steve are with mine." They walked in. "You had a great season."

"I had a quasi decent season," he grimaced. "Great, not so much." She laughed. "You were in Taiwan or something right?"

"Tokyo," she said. "It was amazing."

"So is Jimmy picking you up or what?" He asked.

"Uh no," she shook her head. "We broke up, right after I left."

"God, I'm sorry," he said. "If I'd known we could have come together, you know like prom."

"I'm not sure showing up with me would make Elena jealous anymore," she winked. He laughed. "It's good to see you." She hugged him. "Really good."

"You too," he said. "So this is going to be weird right? It's weird?"

"Very weird," Julie said, "at least I have a reason to be invited, I mean, Kelly's my business partner, why were you invited?"

"Kelly and I happen to be extremely close in a way that you just wouldn't understand," he shrugged. "We're eternally connected." He laced his fingers together.

"You cheated on your girlfriend with her when you were seventeen," Julie said.

"Hey, I had broken up with Elena," Portman pointed at her. She laughed. "I've never cheated on anyone, that would be you."

Bonnie quietly got dressed for the wedding in Jimmy's room. She slid her pantyhose on. The week had been incredibly pleasant. He walked in and sat down next to her.

"You look beautiful," he said.

"Thanks," she smiled. "Can you get this?" She held up a necklace.

"Sure," he fastened it around her neck. "This has been good."

"What has?" She asked and looked at him.

"Being here, like this," he said. She smiled.

"Yeah it has," she nodded. "I mean, I don't think I could ever like live here or anything."

"Oh," he said. "Yeah, I mean, after New York," he sighed.

"What's wrong?" She looked at him. "Oh," she said quietly. "Right, the plan. I'm sorry, I wasn't exactly," he shook his head.

"No," he sighed, "no, I mean, the plan's been kind of out the window for a while." He kissed her for a minute.

"I love you," she said. "And I love your home, but I'm an east coast girl." He nodded. She stood up and twirled around. "Am I OK?"

"You're perfect," he said and kissed her again. She smiled and looked past him.

"What's this?" She said and saw the gold bracelet sitting on the night stand.

"Oh," he said and picked it up. "It was my mom's, I um," he looked down, "I found it recently." She nodded and he slid it onto her wrist. "I thought you might like it."

"Wow," she whispered and kissed him. "Thanks." He smiled. "James, this means so much to me." He pushed her hair off of her face. "Do you think that she would have," she stopped.

"She would have loved you," Jimmy whispered and kissed her on the forehead. "Absolutely she would have."

Elena giggled as Brad rolled on top of her a kissed her.

"We should really get dressed Brad," she whispered. He nodded and kissed her again. "Mmm, I still have to do my hair and my makeup." They kissed again. "I really don't have time for another round of sex. Besides the fact we did it three times this morning already." He smiled ruefully. "Now get off me."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," he said. "See, being in your bed like this, reminds me of senior year, after we got together." She blushed. "And I don't think we left this room." She laughed.

"Except when we were supposed to be in class and we were in your dorm room," she said. He laughed. "I do have to go though." He rolled off of her.

"Is your Mom around?" He asked.

"Nope," she shook her head, "she and Devon have some sun worship drum circle in the Arizona desert this weekend." Brad laughed. He knew Elena liked teasing about her mother and step father, but she did appreciate that the new agey crap they believed in, mostly because it kept them sober. She stood up and pulled her underwear on. She jogged over to the closet and pulled out her simple pink bridesmaid's dress and pulled it over her head. "Zip me?" She whispered. He laughed and pulled the zipper up. She bounced into the bathroom and threw her curls up into an updo with a hair tie and some bobby pins. She walked back out. "Well?" She said. Brad held his breath. Nearly ten years later he still couldn't believe how beautiful she was.

"You better be careful," he said. She cocked her head. "You are clearly going to be the most beautiful woman at this wedding." She blushed and he kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered. A tiny voice in the back of her head came to the front. Dean is going to eat his heart out.

Kelly sat quietly putting the last touches on her makeup. She looked at her reflection. She'd told everyone she needed a minute alone. It was true, she'd needed to cry for a minute. She'd read the letter that her mother had written her for the day and she could barely believe it. She closed her eyes and redid her mascara. She should be nothing but happy today. She's waited forever for this moment.

"So are you sure about this Riley?" She turned around and stood up. "I've got a car out front for a quick get away."

"Liam," she exhaled and ran and hugged him. He smiled holding her close. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

"I had to make one last plea," he teased. She rolled her eyes. "Don't marry Scott Vanderbilt tonight. I'm serious about us running away together."

"I know you are and that's what scares me," she laughed. "I'm glad you're here."

"I am too," he said. "You were crying weren't you? You shouldn't marry a guy who makes you cry."

"Liam," she groaned. He kissed her softly. She pulled back alarmed. "You crossed a line."

"I'm sorry, I thought," he sighed. "I just wanted to one last time," she nodded. "I'll go now. Be happy Kel, huh?"

"Sure," she whispered. She sat back down and frowned. That was why she always stayed away from Liam Nichols. Things like that always happened when she saw him.

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