OKAY GUYS, I KNOW IT'S TAKING A LITTLE LONGER TO POST BUT THINGS ARE GOIN ON, LIFE IS GOING ON LOL!

MY DAUGHTER IS OUT OF SCHOOL AND WANTS MOMMY TIME NOW, I WANT THAT TIME WITH HER AND IT'S HARD TO FIND A TIME WHEN I'M NOT EXHAUSTED TO WRITE. PLEASE KEEP ALL THE REVIEWS COMING THOUGH! THEY INSPIRE ME TO WANT TO WRITE AN TO GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD AND ON HERE! IT'S EASIER TO GET TO THE NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR STORY WHEN I GET THE FEEDBACK!

SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL! Be Patient and I promise you that it will come!

Chapt. 22

October ended and November came in with a breath of cold air. Claire and Matt were still dating if you could call it that. They were really friends who just happened to kiss a lot. Before they knew it Thanksgiving was a week away and they were busy working out a menu for the day.

"Matt, I think I should invite Sadie. She has no family that I know of and I hate to think that anyone spends the day alone. Thanksgiving is a day that should be spent with someone."

"Then invite her over, if you think you have room. Oh, and mom said that she will definitely be here but my brother isn't going to be able to make it."

"That's too bad, but at least your mom is coming. My mom will be here on Monday, so she will help with the food preparation. Can you think of anyone who you might like to invite? Anyone who will be spending it alone," Claire asked.

"Actually, yes there is but you won't be happy with it."

"Who," she said looking at him wearily.

"Stephen. All of his family is in Ireland still. He has no one here and spends all of his holidays alone."

Claire hadn't spoken to the man since the day in her office. She swallowed hard and said, "Well, no matter who it is, no one deserves to spend the day alone. Invite him over."

"You're sure?"

"Of course I am. Invite him over and tell him he doesn't need to bring a thing, just himself."

Nodding, Matt got back to searching out recipes on the computer as Claire got back to jotting down meal ideas.

The next day Claire went to work and smiled when Sadie greeted her. "Hey Sade, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

Tossing her apron onto the counter Sadie shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I'll have a grilled chicken breast and watch old black and white movies at home, why?"

"Don't do that; come spend the day with all of us. My mom and Matt's will be there, and we would love having you join us."

"I couldn't do that, Thanksgiving is a day for family."

"No, Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for all the wonderful things in our lives, to be with family and friends. We would love it if you came."

"Well, okay, but only if you guys are all sure about it," Claire's boss said reluctantly. "What can I bring?"

"You and your beautiful smile, nothing more," Claire said as she grabbed the apron and slid it over her head. Clocking in she smiled to herself. Thanksgiving and all of the people she held dear would be there together. It couldn't get any better than that.

Across town Matt was knocking on Stephen's door. "Hey man, what's going on?" Stephen asked as he opened the door for Matt to enter.

"Thought I would stop by, and I have an invitation for you."

With an eyebrow raised his friend looked at him questioningly.

"Claire and I thought it would be nice to have you join us and our moms for Thanksgiving. Her boss might be there too. I know all your family is in Ireland, and really no one should be alone on Thanksgiving."

"I take it you and Claire are officially together now huh?"

Matt looked at the big man, caught off guard by his question. Matt felt the heat creeping into his cheeks. Taking a seat in the living room and accepting the water that he was offered he said, "I guess so, but I mean it's not what you're thinking at all, it's more of a test run, to see how we both adjust to a relationship after we've been hurt so badly in the past by love."

Stephen looked at his friend and shook his head. "I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. I mean, I've known all along that there was something between you two, more than you said."

"Dude, are you alright?"

With a shrug the red headed Irishman looked at Matt. "Of course I am. Why on earth wouldn't I be? Oh, wait, I know. Because there's this woman that I can't get out of my mind, yet she won't give me the time of day just because of how I'm built. It's okay though because knowing her past, I get it, really I do. I just wish I could get her out of my mind and stop seeing her face when I close my eyes. If not that, then I want to why she's got me so hooked on her, like a bad fekking drug."

Matt ran his hands through his hair and let out a deep breath. "Man, I didn't realize how she had affected you. I'm sorry. Just give her some time. Show her that you aren't so bad, and let her see that a friendship is safe with you. Beyond that I don't know what to tell you. I guess if you don't want to join us all I understand and I totally respect that. I just hope that you will at least consider it."

Getting up and walking to look out his window Stephen said, "No, I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it. No offense to you, but any chance to be close to her I'll take. Maybe it will get her out of my system if I get shot down enough."

"She doesn't mean anything by her jabs and barbs ya know? It's her defense against the world."

Stephen laughed. "It's that Irish blood pumping through her veins is what it is. I guess that's why it doesn't hit the mark that she wants it too with me. Anyway, what do I need to bring?"

Matt stood and shook his head. "Nothing at all, just you," he said. "I guess I'm going to run. I haven't been to the gym in a few days. I need to get there today."

A week later and Claire was busy getting the house ready for everyone to arrive. Her mom was busy helping her and they were just enjoying their time together, time they had been missing out on. Matt and his mom were scheduled to be there within a half hour and Sadie and Stephen were going to be there in an hour. Claire had the house almost the way that she wanted it, with her fall decorations, complete with gourds and straw made centerpieces.

Finally ten minutes before people were scheduled to start arriving she took a step back and smiled. "I think its perfect mom."

Wrapping her arm around her daughters shoulders Darcy smiled. "It definitely is dear. I'm so very proud of you, of the way you've picked up and made a life for yourself. You're dad would have been so proud of you that he would be bursting at the seams."

"I know. I can't believe that after all the mess I let my life become I'm here."

Before her mom could answer Matt's voice rang out from the living room. "Hey there ladies, we're here!"

"We're in the kitchen," Claire called out. "Come on in!"

All week Claire's mom had adjusted to the semi-relationship between her and Matt, and Claire had filled her in on how Matt's family felt about his life and why he wanted to make this work. It was something her mom respected and understood. Introductions were made between the parents and small talk was made until the doorbell rang again. With a glance at Claire, Matt told her he would answer it. He knew that even though she had agreed to Stephen coming for the dinner, she wasn't thrilled and if he could ease her mind about it by getting the door then he would.

Before long everyone was there and they were all gathered around the table sharing what they were thankful for. Dinner past with happy chatter and Claire wasn't surprised to see that her mom and Stephen got along wonderfully. They spent the day sharing tales of Ireland and talking about the land that they loved so much. Claire smiled as she took it all in and wondered again if she was being to fast and harsh in her judgment of Stephen. She shook the thought off as she told him goodbye that night after the sun had set. Before long it was just her and her mom in the house. Both were so tired that they fell asleep with barely a word to each other.

When their parents had gone and life was back to normal, or as normal as it got, Claire and Matt fell back into an easy and familiar way of doing things. Work on the weekends was becoming more and more fun for Claire and Matt was glad for that. She was learning the ins and outs of his work and she was learning that it wasn't so bad. The people who wrestled were merely playing a role in the ring, and not all of them were so incredibly mean and hateful outside of it. Claire was just proud that she was growing in herself and in her confidence.

One Friday night, two weeks after Thanksgiving, a new client entered her office. He was tall, but then again everyone was tall beside her. His six foot one height dwarfed her it seemed. He had a dark caramel colored complexion almost, with jet black hair and amazing eyes. She found herself lost in his eyes and when he spoke there was a hint of accent that she couldn't place, no matter how hard she tried.

"Hi, I'm PJ, but the ring name is Justin." He extended his hand and smiled at her warmly. His smile was just as infectious as Matt's was and she smiled back."

"Hi PJ, come on in and have a seat. Let's see what we have going and we can take it from there, okay?"

Closing the door behind them she took her seat at the desk and they began to go over the file that would help to build on his in ring character.