Stephanie and the girls were joined by Lauren, who had flown in for the party and they had a Karaoke night Thursday night at a local place. All of the children were with visiting family members in town for the celebration. Hector and Brian joined them. Hector sang a Ricky Martin ballad, Vuelve:

Algo me dice que ya no volverás
Estoy seguro que esta vez
No habrá marcha atrás
Después de todo fui yo a decirte que no
Sabes bien que no es cierto
Estoy muriendo por dentro

Y ahora es que me doy cuenta que sin ti no soy nada
He perdido las fuerzas
He perdido las ganas
He intentado encontrarte en otras personas
No es igual, no es lo mismo
Nos separa un abismo

Vuelve
Que sin ti la vida se me va
Oh, vuelve
Que me falta el aire si tú no estás
Oh, vuelve
Nadie ocupará tu lugar

Sobra tanto espacio si no estás
No paso un minuto sin pensar
Sin ti la vida lentamente se me va

Algo me dice ya no sirve de nada
Tantas noches en vela
Aferrado a mi almohada
Si pudiera tan solo regresar un momento
Ahora es que te comprendo
Ahora es cuando te pierdo

Vuelve
Que sin ti la vida se me va
Oh, vuelve
Que me falta el aire si tú no estás
Oh, vuelve
Nadie ocupará tu lugar

Sobra tanto espacio si no estás
No paso un minuto sin pensar
Sin ti la vida lentamente se me va

Y a pesar que fui yo
A decirte que no
Sin embargo aqui sigo insistiéndote

Brian told us the words as Hector brought the house down- clearly everyone else knew the song well. Brian told us later that he and Hector had been coming for a while. Stephanie thought there might be something going on there.

Then Brian got up and sang "My Way" by old Blue Eyes, and then it was Lauren and Val on stage and when they sang "Respect" everyone was on their feet! Boy Lauren had some set of lungs! She was incredible!

Then Mary Lou, Lula and Stephanie channeled their inner Pointer Sisters and belted out "I'm So Excited" and the girls really were!

The night was full of laughs and joy as the girls celebrated how amazing life was with good friends.

The next day was "Mani/Pedi Friday" after which the girls headed to South Beach, to soak up the rays before the chaos of the Engagement party weekend really got underway. Once on the beach, all of the girls ordered a Tequila Sunrise- because nobody was breastfeeding this weekend and it was after noon somewhere.

"God, this is heaven," Val said after her first swallow. "Lula, you were a genius to think about storing extra milk so we could really celebrate this weekend.

Mary Lou nodded. "So, what do you think the boys are up to?"

"I have a strict Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy in place for this weekend as far as me and Tank are concerned." Lula took a long sip. "But he is such a righteous man, I am sure that it will be gambling and guilty pleasure stage shows."

Val's eyes grew large. "Like strippers?"

Lula laughed out loud. "No. I am pretty sure Tank got tickets for them to see Siegfried & Roy- you know how he has a thing for cats."

Stephanie snorted her drink. "God, I would pay to see that! Here, kitty kitty…"

The girls laughed.

It was the perfect beach day.

Friday night, Brian took all the girls to the hottest dance club in South Miami Beach, and the girls, in dresses that would knock the air out of a dead man, with pumps so high they defied gravity, had all eyes on them. They danced and drank for free all night, and the music was amazing.

"Pump up the jam, pump it up, pump it up," Lula sang as the five women moved in rhythm with the music. "God, I love to dance!"

Brian, the assigned DD, got them all home safe and sound. He made sure they all drank gallons of water and meds to ward of the hangovers they had earned.

It was a good night had by all. At least in Miami.

Early Saturday morning, Stephanie called and left Ric a message, "Love you, and remember, you can't see me until we meet at the alter and tell everyone what is really happening. Stay safe. I will see you soon."

After disconnected, she called and confirmed all the flight details with Brian- he was getting the guys from the airport, stopping at RangeMan so they could change, and then bringing them to the Hotel for the party. Brian was the only one Ric and Stephanie had told about the wedding tonight, as he was an ordained minister and would preform the ceremony. Stephanie looked at her simple white gown, tea length lace mermaid with cap sleeves and a V-neckline that was conservative. It was perfect. Today would be perfect. And tomorrow she would be Stephanie Manoso. She just hoped she could keep their secret from her friends for a little while longer. She hid the dress away before heading down to the family breakfast. She had an odd feeling, worry, no more like unease. Pre-wedding nerve? She shook her head. She had no doubts about today. Everything would be perfect.

Brian caught sight of Lester as Les came through the airport gate and waved him over. "Are the rest of the guys far behind you?"

Lester looked unwell and Brian suspected he might be drunk- but, no, that wasn't it. There was something off. He indicated he had no luggage.

"I travelled alone… Ram and Junior took a skip to D.C. Thursday night and after that, it was…" He rubbed his forehead. "I need to call Val but don't have my phone…"

Brian dialed for Les and handed over his own phone when it was ringing.

"Brian, what's up? Are you on your way back?"

"Sweetheart, it's Les, I lost my phone…"

"No wonder you haven't picked up. I have been dying to know how things went, I told Lula…" Les swayed a little and couldn't follow what Val was saying. Brian got him in the car and drove toward the ER closest to the airport. That Lester needed a doctor was clear.

"Sweetheart, I need to have Brian take me to the ER. I got a concussion and I feel really strange."

"Les, what does Bobby say? Is he going to stay with you at the hospital?"

"Bobby didn't come back with me. He is waiting for Tank and Ric."

"Ric, Tank and Bobby are STILL in Vegas?!"

"Bobby said the soonest he thought they would be released was tomorrow morning."

At which point in the conversation, Val lost her shit at high volume and Les couldn't get a word in. Fucking stupid men. Untrustworthy idiots. What on GODS GREEN EARTH… Lester closed his eyes and rubbed his aching head.

Finally, as she wound down, Les asked, "Sweetheart, I need to get checked out at the hospital and I really need to talk to Stephanie. Is she there?"

"She isn't here- she is getting her hair done… you know, for her engagement party. And you're telling me her fiancé didn't come home? Getting released from where exactly? What kind of fucked up shit did you guys do in Vegas?"

Lester didn't answer, mostly because he had absolutely no idea what they did and really did not want to say that Ric and Tank were in jail. That was something he would not say unless directly asked. Even then he would consider lying if the odds were good the girls would never find out. Fuck, his head ached.

"Sweetheart, I need you to have Stephanie call us." Lester pleaded with his wife.

"Wait, you said you have a concussion, are the other guys hurt too?" Now Val sounded less angry and a lot more worried.

"We all got a piece of it, but don't worry, we will all be fine."

"Be fine… that means you aren't fine right now. Make sure to tell the doctor you had another concussion not so long ago."

"I will, I promise. Brian will make sure I do. But Val, please make sure you tell Steph…"

"I will, call me when you know how you are."

Author's Note: Vuelve- a more of less translation- it is a beautiful song.

Something tells me that you won't come back

I'm sure this time

there will be no going back

After all, I told you no

You know well that it is not true

I am dying inside

And now I realize that without you, I am nothing

I have lost my strength

I have lost the desire

I've tried to find you in other people

It's not equal, it's not the same

An abyss separates us

Comes back

Without you, life is leaving me

oh come back

I'm short of breath if you're not here

oh come back

No one will take your place

There's so much space left if you're not here

No minute passes without thinking of you

Without you, life is slowly leaving me

Something tells me it's useless

So many sleepless nights

clinging to my pillow

If I could just go back for a moment

Now I understand you

Now that I lost you

Comes back