Caitlyn opened her eyes and jumped at the sight of a giant inflatable teddy bear. "Mitchie! What the f-"
"Happy Birthday!"
"It's nearly 12 AM!" Caitlyn groaned.
Shane chuckled from Mitchie's bed and stood up, giving her a large bowed box. "From Nate, to wear at your midnight birthday party."
Caitlyn's mood suddenly went from 0 to 100 as she threw open the box and blushed at the hot red two piece swimsuit. "When did he get this?"
"Came in a couple of hours ago. Our aunt owns a... Anyway, put that on and I'll see you girls in ten." Shane said, giving them a thumbs up before dashing out of their room.
Mitchie sat beside Caitlyn and gave her a tight hug. "I got you something better than that inflatable bear which we are going to ruin in the lake," she chuckled, reaching beside her.
"Wait! Give it to me in front of Shane's face so you can totally win your bet." Her friend said.
Mitchie smiled and nodded before standing up. "Well, let's get dressed. Don't want to keep everyone waiting, do we?"
"Honey, I can be fashionably late." Caitlyn giggled.
...
Nate paced, his favourite guitar firmly held in his arms.
"Dude, you're making Kelly dizzy!" Jason said, bouncing his daughter up and down on his knee.
Nate stopped and his face softened at Kelly's grin. "Give her here."
Jason laughed and happily gave his child to his brother to fret on. "You're lucky that she's normally awake around this time."
Shane jogged over to them and kissed his niece's head. "They'll be here soon. Everything set up?"
Nate nodded. "I spotted your gift earlier on. Mara's cousin set you up?"
"Something like that," Shane smirked. "Hey, do you think Mitch and I can get along? Now that everything's out?"
Jason shrugged. "I think it's best to give her time. Mitchie and Caitlyn are still fragile at the moment."
His brother sighed, sitting beside him. "Are you sure?"
"Trust Jay, he's sure," Nate assured him, smiling as his son ran up to him.
"Mommy can't come. Uncle Brown took me instead." The child said, grinning a gap tooth smile.
His uncles laughed, Shane wrestling the child onto his lap. "It's way past your bedtime!"
Brayden rolled his eyes. "But it's Daddy's girlfriend's birthday and I have my first lesson today," he whined.
Jason bumped his shoulder lightly. "Hey, in my Junior Rockers class, how about you make a card for her?"
The child nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Oh, can I?"
"Of course," Jason winked.
"She's coming!" Lola called out, taking her over shirt off to reveal a maroon swimsuit.
Ella fretted with her own suit, fixing her hair. "How do I look? Will pictures be taken?" she asked, revealing her hot pink suit.
Tess chuckled, smoothing down her light blue swimsuit. "Relax, Ells. This is the one place we can drop our perfection."
Her friend nodded. "Yeah, you're right." She turned to smile at Peggy. "You look great!"
Peggy looked cautiously down at her sunset orange one piece and flushed. "Thanks," she mumbled. "Not as great as Mara."
Mara chuckled. "Yellow's the best colour to go with." She revealed her two-piece swimsuit and nodded to Nat who wore a black swimsuit.
"Not as great as the birthday girl and her best friend heading our way!" Nat announced.
Caitlyn and Mitchie giggled at each other.
"Do you think everyone will stare?" Caitlyn asked, adjusting her bikini strap.
Mitchie nodded. "It's your birthday. Of course, they will. Plus, you look gorgeous."
Her friend blushed, twirling her red hair between her fingers. "Not as good as you look in that lime green one piece."
"Oh, this? I deliberately wore my most unattractive suit so you can shine brighter. This is your day."
"Thanks. I think they're going to die if we're not there."
They jogged up to the camp fire and joined their friends, everyone taking the time to hug Caitlyn and wish her well on her birthday celebrations.
"Thank you all for coming out here and sharing this day, this moment, with me," Caitlyn said, holding Nate's hand tightly as his other hand found his son's.
"It's five past!" Shane announced. "Jason and I will go first!"
Jason whistled and they heard the patter of numerous feet come through the dark.
"Here, girl!" Jason called out.
Suddenly, a small brown terrier dashed through the log benches and breathlessly sat in front of the two brothers.
"A dog!" Caitlyn gasped, standing up.
"Yes! A dog! For you!" Shane said proudly.
Caitlyn awed. "You got me a dog? But, Mitch-"
"You can have a dog." Mitchie sighed before grinning widely.
"Thank you! I'll name her... Nella!" Caitlyn announced, happily picking up the dog and sitting beside Nate.
Shane winked at Mitchie. "Beat that."
Mitchie only shook her head, a small smile evident on her face.
Lola had gotten the birthday girl blue hair dye, Barron and Sander had written and rapped a rap about her hair, Ella had gotten her a signed poster of Beyonce, Tess had given her an exclusive wardrobe access pass for her modelling line, Nat had given her a pair of new boots and Mara had given her the gift she had told Shane and Jason she was giving her.
That had left Nate and Mitchie.
Mitchie gave her a charm bracelet with three charms. The mic for her and two others, a SEAL badge as Caitlyn's older sister had worked for the Navy SEALS before she died and a pair of shoes, for Jesse, as he had ran marathons in his short but full life.
"Thank you..." Caitlyn whispered, tears threatening to fall as she hugged her best friend tightly.
"The badge was hard to get but, I asked your brother-in-law and he was happy to help."
"I guess that leaves... Nate." Shane said, wiping his own tears. "What? I'm a sucker for a family death," he mumbled.
Nate smiled and reached behind him, grabbing his guitar and a large box.
"Here."
"Another gift?" Caitlyn asked, blushing.
Nate nodded. "Here,"
She took the box and lifted the lid, gasping at the sight of a pure white guitar staring back at her. "It's gorgeous!"
"And it's also the guitar that you're going to perform with your first ever single. I found this, with Mitchie's help."
He gave her, her songbook and opened up a page, tapping on it.
"I knew this was missing!"
Her boyfriend and best friend chuckled. "Well, go on. I've worked out a melody for you so just get on the wheel when you can." Nate said.
Caitlyn nodded and placed her new guitar firmly on her lap and wrapped her arms around it lovingly as Nate started the chords to her song.
"Wrapped up, so consumed by all this hurt
If you ask me, don't know where to start
Anger, love, confusion
Roads that go nowhere
I know that somewhere better
'Cause you always take me there
Came to you with a broken faith
Gave me more than a hand to hold
Caught before I hit the ground
Tell me I'm safe, you've got me now
Would you take the wheel
If I lose control?
If I'm lying here
Will you take me home?
Could you take care of a broken soul?
Will you hold me now?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Hold the gun to my head, count 1, 2, 3
If it helps me walk away then it's what I need
Every minute gets easier
The more you talk to me
You rationalize my darkest thoughts
Yeah, you set them free
Came to you with a broken faith
Gave me more than a hand to hold
Caught before I hit the ground
Tell me I'm safe, you've got me now
Would you take the wheel
If I lose control?
If I'm lying here
Will you take me home?
Could you take care of a broken soul?
Oh, will you hold me now?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
[3x]
You say space will make it better
And time will make it heal
I won't be lost forever
And soon I wouldn't feel
Like I'm haunted, oh, falling
Would you take the wheel
If I lose control?
If I'm lying here
Will you take me home?
Could you take care of a broken soul?
Oh, will you hold me now?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home, home?
Oh, will you take me home?
Oh, will you take me home?"
There was silence as Caitlyn sang the last note and Nate took her hand in his.
"That was so beautiful," Ella whispered.
"Who knew Gellar had a good pair of pipes?" Barron asked, sniffing. "What? I get emotional at beautiful songs!"
Sander laughed. "Same here. That was great, Cait."
Caitlyn blushed, looking down at hers and Nate's entwined hands. "Thanks," she mumbled.
"Well... Who won?" Shane asked, stroking Nella's fur.
The redhead rolled her eyes playfully with a grin. "I think Nate won. But out of you and Mitchie... Definitely Mitchie."
"In your face, Gray!" Mitchie grinned.
Shane laughed. "Damn! I really was hoping to win."
"If it helps, you came a close tenth." Caitlyn joked, hugging him. "And I forgive you."
"Did you hear that? She forgives me!"
"Pipe down, Shane." Tess rolled her eyes.
Brayden yawned. "I think Caitlyn has made me sleepy, Daddy." He yawned again.
Nate chuckled. "I guess it is bedtime for you. And for everyone else."
"Indeed. Lessons start bright and early, campers!" Brown announced.
Lola scoffed. "Campers? Please!"
"Fine. Instructors!" Brown corrected himself with a chuckle. "Either way, get your butts to sleep."