Carrying on the Torch

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 44 (Teddy's First Birthday)

The following months went by quietly, at best. The Dooley's won their case against Eric, and thanks to one of the girls who testified against him, he was put away for nearly sixty years. He'd be eligible for parole after thirty years. Dee and Kevin had become a couple, making all the cheerleaders at the school jealous. Spencer was managing to clean up his act, he'd even proposed to Alice, she accepted. Alice and Regina would change their last name to Walsh whenever the wedding took place, which they'd set for some time in July, a month before the due date of their unborn son. Emmett and PJ were becoming close again, which was great. They were finally beginning to accept and cope with the tragedies that happened.

The only thing that wasn't getting any better was Mason, he was still in his coma. He wasn't here today, for Teddy's first birthday, June 4th, 2024. Charlotte was handling it to the best of her ability, but it was difficult. She didn't want to bring it up in Teddy's birthday video diary, but she hadn't been able to help herself.

They were all at the park, the entire family had gathered together to celebrate Teddy's first birthday, and the girl was loving the attention. Charlotte was out by the lake with Regina, Dee, and even Brittany. She didn't hang with them very often, because Dee and Regina were still a little wary of her, but they were starting to come around. Brittany held onto the camera, recording the girls. Charlotte had her arms around the shoulders of her two best friends. She flashed her pearly whites and Dee quickly covered her mouth.

"Girl, your niece doesn't want to see your mildly yellow teeth!" She joked. Charlotte laughed while Regina shook her head.

"All right, I'm starting now, so hush." The girls smirked at her, sending her the signal that they were not about to follow her advice. She could already see the gears turning in their heads. Whatever it was they were planning, she didn't know, but she did know she'd probably wind up having to run. She looked to the camera. "Hey Teddy, happy birthday! You're turning one today, and you still drive us all up the walls, but we love you nonetheless. Anyway, Mason's still in his coma…" She frowned and felt a wave of sadness coming over her. She pushed it back and forced a smile. "We're hoping he'll pull through." The doctors were saying they were seeing no signs that he'd be waking anytime soon. She paused for a second, trying to decide what to say next. Seeing opportunity, Regina jumped in.

"Mom's getting married! For the first time." She looked to her friend with a smile, thankful that she stepped in before she started getting too depressive. "They're getting married July 10th. It's going to be exciting!"

"Yeah, and Teddy, your mom's going to be her Matron of Honor! Mrs. Dooley's going to be a bridesmaid." It had been easy to determine that for her, but Spencer was a bit difficult. He hadn't had many friends growing up. Their whole wedding was tricky. The person giving Alice away at the wedding would be her only surviving grandparent, Troy. Her other grandparent, Denise, passed just a month prior at seventy-one years of age. It wasn't entirely traumatic, but it was still sad to think about. Unfortunately, the last of Alice's older relatives left, her mother, was gravely ill. When she passed on, it would mean the only surviving relatives would be her sister Taylor, Taylor's husband, and her sister-in-law Jenny, plus their children. So Alice was very happy to be getting married, as there was a whole new branch of family coming into hers. Spencer cleaning up his act meant his parents came back around, and they had accepted Regina and Alice. It would be Spencer's cousin, Daniel, who would be his best man. His groomsman was Daniel's son, David, who was only a year older than Charlotte.

"I can't contain my excitement." Regina stepped back and spun around, laughing excitedly as the others watched her. "I thought my cousins and I would be the last members of my family left, but Dad's family is really great!"

"True." Regina had introduced Charlotte and Dee to them once before when Alice and Spencer went to announce the proposal. The entire clan had been relatively accepting of Alice and Regina, finally happy that Spencer was learning some responsibility. They'd been hassling him for many years to clean up his act, to be a father to his daughter, and to bring some meaning to his and their lives. So yes, they were ecstatic to hear the two were getting married and having a son.

Charlotte tried to recall the relatives in her mind, it wasn't hard, as Spencer didn't have that many relatives. Unfortunately each of his grandparents had passed away, oddly one year after another, starting with his mother's father in 2017, ending with his father's dad in 2020. They never met their great granddaughter, but Charlotte did recall hearing Spencer's father, Paul, tell him the grandparents were likely smiling down upon his family. Paul and Linda were about sixty-five, and both of them had an older brother.

Paul's brother, Robert, was two years older, had a full head of hair just like him, and a thin grey mustache. Linda's brother, also two years older, was starting to bald, had a bigger sized belly, and was completely clean-shaven. Robert Walsh had a son, Daniel, who was a personal trainer with a military style haircut. His wife, Helen, was a kind looking woman with long, straight hair that fell to her waist. Linda's brother had a daughter, born three years after Daniel, in 1990. Lacey was thirty-four, and still single and childless. She enjoyed that lifestyle, and had become quick friends with Alice. They made a good pair, considering she was a stern, sharp seeming woman, with a piercing 'no funny business' glare.

Then there was Daniel's son, David. He had a slightly shaggy hairstyle, a slight muscular build, and actually played the guitar. When they visited, he sang them all a song at request, one he'd recently learned. His voice had been deep and smooth, lulling them into a peaceful state of mind. Spencer and Alice wanted him to sing at the wedding.

She cleared her throat and folded her arms, still smiling at the camera. "So Teddy, someone else I want to introduce you to. She's holding the camera right now." Brittany lifted her eyebrows and chuckled carefully. "Come on Brittany, show yourself to her." Brittany turned the camera around and waved. "That's Brittany, we're renewing our friendship."

"Hi there," Brittany chimed. "Would you tell your Aunt that Charlie is such a better name than Charlotte is?" Charlotte laughed and the other girls quickly stated that they, themselves had tried in vain to tell her that. "Since you can talk now, I think you should tell her, cause she's not listening to any of us." Charlotte sighed and looked to the canopy where Teddy was in a high chair next to a picnic table. PJ and Skyler were surrounded by family, and motioning for the girls to go over. On the middle of the table was cake, and a large number 1 candle.

"Okay, okay, let's go get some cake. I think the celebration's underway." The others quickly glanced over and gasped. As if racing one another, they broke out into a run, with Regina arriving at the canopy first, then Dee, and then Charlotte, who was still miffed that she wasn't that great of a runner. "Hey Britt, let me see the camera."

"All right." Brittany handed over the camera and rushed with the other girls behind Teddy.

"Thanks." Teddy looked up and giggled once the camera was upon her. "Hello baby!" She turned the camera to the cake and grinned, it was a small, round, yellow cake with chocolate frosting. "Look at that cake, your first birthday cake, you're going to enjoy that!" She shifted the camera over to PJ and Skyler. "Look, it's the proud parents!" Skyler grinned and waved her hand at the camera. PJ moved his arm around Skyler's shoulders while Emmett reached over to light the number candle. Once lit, he glanced up and with drew.

"All right everyone, time to sing the birthday song."

"Uh oh, Teddy. Trust me, you will get annoyed of this song after ten years." She laughed as everyone began singing. She loathed this song, so she opted to simply hum it while everyone else sang. Funny how it remained the same year after year, the lyrics never changed.

Teddy giggled and smacked the board on the high chair with her hands, so Charlie felt it was necessary to capture this act on camera. When the song was done, Nana put out the candle and removed it. Skyler started cutting slices for everyone, giving the first square slice to Teddy.

"Cake!" Teddy squealed.

"Yes Teddy, it's cake. Yummy cake!"

"Yum!" Teddy grabbed the cake with her fingers and pulled off a chunk of chocolate. Charlotte kept filming, chuckling to herself as she imagined Teddy years and years into the future, watching this video. Teddy laughed and splattered the cake all over her high chair, she had chocolate frosting all over her face, hands, and bib. Skyler rushed over with a napkin and proceeded to cleanse her. She looked over to Teddy and raised an eyebrow.

"You're filming her making a mess?"

"Oh yes. Is it evil of me?" Skyler laughed and shook her head before returning to the cleaning. Once done, she moved back to the cake and continued handing out the slices. Grace walked up beside Charlotte with a plate in her hands.

"Aren't you going to have some cake?"

"Maybe…I'm not much of a cake person." She preferred cookie cake or ice cream cake as to the breaded stuff, which was essentially, bread with frosting. She returned her attention to Teddy, who once again, was already smeared with chocolate. Grace raised an eyebrow and cleared her throat.

"You uh…enjoying filming Teddy making a mess?"

"Yep." She laughed and Grace gently shook her head, chuckling to herself. "Just think of how she'll react when she sees this in another ten years or so."

"Oh my…" Grace laughed and lifted her eyes skyward. She folded her arms over and gave Teddy a look of pity, smiling with amusement. She reached forward and pat Teddy on the head. "I'm sorry your Aunt's deciding to be evil today." Charlotte laughed as Grace leaned forward and smirked. "So I guess she intends to show you this one day. Good luck, Teddy."

"Hey, that's my line."

Yay,, what a celebration, and you just have to love evil Charlotte XD.