Happy Monday! (I remembered!)
SPOILERS - this week - the boat is launched, Wedding planning continues and David's research is interrupted.
...
The Montgomery-Tasker-Chandler clan arrived early at Erica's penthouse in order to set up for the party. AJ had awakened eager and excited at the thought of the day ahead. He'd even tried to dress like a sailor with a striped navy t-shirt that really belonged to Bianca and navy pants. Even Gabby woke up happy despite her later than usual night.
Erica welcomed them all warmly although she looked sad at the sight of her daughter still in a wheelchair.
"I'm almost there." Bianca said, on seeing her look. "I'll be walking down the aisle before you know it!"
Jackson had dressed for the occasion and was sporting a nautical blazer and his captain's cap.
AJ gave him a salute and a wide grin.
"I should be saluting you." Jackson said, "It's your boat we're launching today so you'll be the captain."
"Yeah, but if it's in a fleet with your boat, you'll be the admiral so I have to salute you still."
"The admiral, hey?" said Jack with a raise eyebrow, he liked the sound of that. He gave AJ a salute back just the same.
"I did buy you a little something extra for the occasion." he added and handed AJ a captain's cap of his own to wear.
AJ grinned and pulled in firmly down on his head.
"How do I look?" he asked eagerly.
"Like you are all ready for an adventure of the high seas." said Jackson smiling, "Although today we'll just be starting with the harbour."
…
"Okay," Marissa muttered to herself, bringing her bags of food through to Erica's little-used kitchen, "I've got coffee, hot chocolate, a variety of chips. That should keep everyone going until dinner." She made a start in organising the glasses and mugs for drinks. "Then we just have to wait for the guests to arrive."
"Can I help?" Miranda asked, following Marissa into the kitchen.
Marissa gave the girl a grin.
"Could you take some bowls and distribute the chips… and don't let AJ snack on them all while we're waiting."
"I won't." said Miranda, and then stopped "… I mean I'll help with the chips and I won't let AJ eat them all"
"Thank you." said Marissa as she watched Miranda hurrying off to be useful. "You're an angel."
Bianca rolled in to with Erica and Gabby.
"What can we do?"
"Um…" said Marissa as she looked at all the supplies she had. "Erica, could you put the champagne on ice?"
"Of course."
"Gabby, why don't you help Miranda with the chips…"
Gabby dutifully ran after her big sister.
"And me?" Bianca asked.
Marissa checked to see if the coast was clear and then leaned in close to Bianca.
"You can give me a kiss!" she said seductively.
…
The Chandler's were the first to arrive; Adam, Brooke, Stuart, Marion, Holly and Scott. Adam's champagne was added to the ice bucket. Adam, like Jackson, had dressed in a navy blazer and cap for the occasion.
He too took AJ to one side.
"I am very much looking forward to seeing your boat." he said. He presented AJ with a small parcel. "This was mine as a boy. You might find it useful."
AJ pulled apart the paper to reveal an old and well used sailing book.
"Was it really yours?" he asked. "I'll take real good care of it." He was already flicking through the pages.
Adam ruffled his grandson's hair.
"I know you will."
Kendall arrived next with Griffin and the boys; then Reggie, Camila and Ayesha along with Reese and Maggie; and then finally Krystal arrived with Kathy and Jenny.
"Are we all here?" Bianca asked, she really wanted to get the boat out on the water as soon as possible so the kids could make the most of the morning taking it for a sail.
"I do have a guest staying a few days." said Erica "I invited him… He's on vacation right now. I hope you don't mind."
Erica's guest walked down the stairs into the party, moments later. It was Flynn, Erica's choreographer friend. Spike was certainly delighted to see him.
…
The harbour had transformed from the last time Marissa had taken the kids to see the boat. The snow was gone. There was still a nip in the air but the sun was warm where it burst through the clouds.
Jackson had got the ship builders to set up AJ's sail boat on the slipway all ready for its launch. The sign writers had done a beautiful job of hand-painting the boat's name on the bow in green curling letters.
Everyone gathered round, not too sure how this should go.
"Are there speeches?" Miranda asked.
Bianca licked her lips.
"Well I did prepare a little something." she said. "If I could stand for it?"
That question was directed to Griffin, the only doctor present. He nodded and together with Reggie the two men helped Bianca to her feet and supported her.
"Okay!" Bianca exclaimed once she was steady. She unfolded a small sheet of paper. "Well first I'd like to welcome you all here for this historic launching of AJ's first boat - I'm sure the first of many, as AJ has already informed me of his plans to someday sail around the world. Here is hoping this boat is just the start of many thrilling, enjoyable, but ultimately safe adventures AJ has ahead of him… the next, somewhat larger adventure being that he is soon to become an official member of my family." she gave AJ a grin at that.
"Very scary adventure..." Jackson muttered as a joke only to he propped by Kendall.
"I am very honoured that my buddy here has chosen to name this fine vessel after me." Bianca continued. "I hope the name will do her proud…"
There was a smattering of applause.
Bianca however was looking to the group.
"…who's got the bottle?" she asked.
"It's on the chair." said Marissa rushing forward to retrieve the champagne from the bag at the back of the wheelchair. She handed it over along with a gardening glove to protect against broken glass.
"A minor technical hitch." said Jackson with a laugh.
Once the champagne was in her gloved hand Bianca looked to Reggie and Griffin.
"I need to get closer." she said quietly.
The two men helped her walk the five paces to the side the boat.
Bianca grinned at the group again.
"Okay, where was I?"
She cleared her throat.
"It is my honour and privilege to name this boat The Binks, God blesses all who sail on her!"
Bianca aimed the bottle at the metal fitting on the tiller so as not to damage the wood and paintwork. The glass smashed spectacularly, covering her and Griffin and Reggie in fizzing champagne.
Everyone applauded.
"Can we launch her now?" AJ exclaimed excitedly.
"We can." said Marissa giving her son a hug.
Bianca returned to her wheelchair and then watched as Scott, Reggie and Griffin helped push the small sailing dingy into the water.
"It's a very fine ship." Adam said discretely to his grandson and AJ beamed with pride.
AJ raised the sails with a little help from Jackson, and Uncle Jack, Marissa and Miranda were then the first passengers on the Binks as it set off on its maiden voyage around the harbour. AJ took the main sheet and the tiller, although he did so under Jackson's direction, and Miranda was allowed to take the Jib sail. It was the first of many trips that day.
By the end of the morning everyone had at least sat in AJ's new boat; the only exception being Bianca.
"When I'm back on my feet…" she said when AJ looked so sad at her missing out. "You can take me on a voyage then."
Reese and Maggie came on board together and AJ let them both have ago in the tiller to make up for upsetting them the day before at the grocery store, which he still felt bad about. He let Spike steer too because he was his best friend. Things had got a little funny between them for a while but AJ felt safer in his friendship with Spike when they were sharing something cool like boats… he just still wasn't all that sure about the dancing…
Even Gabby had a sit in the boat with Erica and AJ was very consciences about making sure the boat didn't rock and make her sea sick. Gabby had to agree it really was a wonderful boat when it wasn't moving.
…
Soon the cold got too much even for AJ and after carefully stowing the sails he said goodbye to his boat for the day and let Jack and Reggie take him back to warm up at the penthouse.
His mom supplied him with a hot chocolate which he took out onto the balcony. From there he could still see his perfect little boat docked in the harbour.
AJ had to believe right at this moment he was the happiest boy in the world!
…