AN: Olivia (Livi) isn't Porsha's biological aunt. She calls everyone on the board either aunt or uncle. Her parents had no surviving relatives.

Also, warning, remember I said in an earlier author's note that I would be trying to represent all kinds. We already have a few traditional families, including Johnny and Ryan. In my book, traditional simply two consenting adults who go through the traditional marriage route. I also want to represent non-traditional families.

A Union Party is a non-traditional wedding, without the ceremony and certificates. I can see Eddie and Gunter ultimately having a Common Law marriage but at least having a party to celebrate their commitment to each other. I'm not sure what else to call it.

Part 89

Porsha heard her parents arguing and felt horrible as she got out her homework. Nooshy was sitting at her own desk.

"What's going on?" She asked. "Are they fighting?"

She sighed. "Yeah and it's all my fault. I guess my father planned all of my birthday parties way in advance and he had already planned my 18th before he died. And the board wants to make me go. Big Mama thinks I should go to be polite, Big Daddy promised I didn't have to." She flopped down on her bed. "I don't know what to do. Maybe I'm just being selfish… as usual…"

"You're not being selfish. You've just been put on the spot and that's not fair on you." The cat got up and joined her. "Look… I wouldn't know, I've never had a birthday party before…. And I'm not saying you have to go but…." She thought about how to phrase it. "This is the LAST birthday party your dad will ever plan for you. There will never be another one. Are you sure you won't regret not going?"

"I don't know!" Porsha rolled over so her face was in the mattress and screamed. "Daddy always planned these parties so everyone would know how great a dad he was… it was always about making him look good!" Her lip shook. "He wanted everyone to know… how much he loved me…"

"In his own way, I guess maybe he was trying to say he loved you… it's weird…" Nooshy nodded. "Maybe… maybe you should go… Look… what if I went with you?"

The wolf looked up at her. "You'd do that?"

She nodded. "Yeah, of course. I've never been to a birthday party before. Unless you count the piglets' group party at the pizza place but I have a feeling that's not quite the same. Besides, you're my sister."

Porsha laughed. "Well, they're only 12 and we've outgrown the ball pits."

Nooshy gaped at her. "Excuse me, no one ever outgrows the ball pits, thank you." She said in mock offense. "Look, we don't even have to stay long. Twenty, thirty minutes, take home a slice of cake, although I doubt they can do a cake as good as Meena."

Porsha hugged her. "You're the best little sister ever!" A knock at the door got their attention. "Come in."

Suki brought in a couple sandwiches. "I brought you girls some lunch," she said meekly.

Porsha accepted her sandwich. She wasn't sure how she felt about Suki at the moment though. She sighed. "I'll go to the party. But only if Nooshy can come too and we only stay an hour at most."

The Saluki smiled at her. "Of course, sweetheart. That's great. I'll let Livi know."

————————

At their home, Rosita took on the task of preparing dinner while Norman talked with their children about Nana and why Hobbs would be staying with them.

"Hobbs, really, you should be resting. I can handle dinner," she told him. He had done so much work for Nana over the years.

"Ma'am, please, I need to work. It's relaxing to me," he explained as he set the table. "It helps."

She sighed. "I guess I can understand. Housework is how I process too. But look, you've done so much for so many years. No matter what, we will take care of you. You only need to do what you want to do," she reassured him. "You could retire if you wanted."

He laughed. "Me? Retire? I would be bored out of my mind. Thank you, ma'am, but I will work for as long as I can. It's not work for me."

Rosita smiled at him. "Well, then I'm glad we can give you a place to do that work." Together, they finished getting the dinner ready.

——————————

That night, Eddie and Gunter asked Jerry to join them back at the theater. Jerry scratched his head. "Are you sure? Wouldn't I just be in the way?"

Eddie shook his head. "Not at all. We can make a bed for you on the couch. It folds out. And we can all stay up late and talk about Nana."

The cat couldn't refuse. Hobbs was going home with Rosita's family. He didn't want to be alone in the manor. "Thanks."

Sarah met them at the doors. "Onkel Gunter, you are home. Are you okay? Oma told me about Nana." She sniffed.

"Yeah, Sarah, we are okay. But hey, Nana wouldn't want any tears," he hugged her gently. "Oh, this is Jerry, another uncle. He's going to be staying with us from now on. Is that okay?"

She nodded. "Are we still moving into the apartment?"

"Actually… Nana gave us her house to live in. We were going to wait a few days before moving in though," he said. "You'll like it. There's a huge garden, simply beautiful. We could get a swing set and a slide to play on and Neo could come play with you."

The little girl hugged him. "That sounds great, Onkel. I'm going to bed…" she yawned. "I'm tired."

Gunter nodded. "I'm going to tuck her in. Why don't you and Jerry get started without me…" He kissed Eddie tenderly.

Eddie popped open the first bottle and poured three shots. "You know, I never got to thank you for helping Nana at the end. I know she appreciated your companionship." He handed Jerry one of the shots.

Jerry's lip trembled. "She saved my life. You saved my life. I wanted to repay you both. Working just comes naturally to me."

The sheep nodded. "You know, you helped me too. You are a really great friend."

The cat smiled. "Thank you for being my friend. I never really knew what it felt like to have a real friend before."

Gunter returned a few minutes later and took his drink. "Let's start by drinking a toast to Nana. Thank you so much for everything, Nana. You will always be in our hearts and in our minds." The three males threw back their shots. Gunter refilled the glasses.

——————————

After feeding the twins and getting them to bed, Tyler and Ash flopped onto the couch. "I would give anything to have the energy those two have." Tyler laughed.

Ash groaned. "You and me both. Their resilience is amazing." She sighed. "I can't believe we're going through this again."

Tyler nodded. "I know. I'll miss Nana. You know, she was a frequent customer at the truck after we came here." He took her hand.

"Can you stop taking the people we love please!" Ash all but shouted. "At least space them out better!"

He laughed despite himself. "Seriously." He hugged her comfortingly. Neither of them knew quite how it happened but with Tyler there everyday, they just formed a bond that made sense. Neither knew what kind of relationship they had but he wasn't going anywhere. "At least… at least she didn't suffer… and she had a long, rich life. You can tell she had no regrets."

She nodded as she wept into his soft shoulder. "Yeah. At least as we know she was ready for it. And you know Buster could probably use her help up there." She had recently decided she did believe. Because she needed to believe that Buster and Lance were somewhere great, enjoying the fruits of their efforts. The thought that they might just cease to exist was unbearable. And their shared values of dreams at least supported the existence of spirits. So the belief in an eternal paradise was just comforting and it was a comfort that she desperately needed.

He just held her and patted her back consolingly. "It's okay. You can cry as much as you need." He reassured her.

—————————

Jerry sipped his beer while they talked into the late night. "I did everything he asked! I even slept in my office to make sure I was ready whenever he needed me. There was never any question. I supported him no matter what." He'd already had several shots and was feeling very talkative.

"And he not only didn't return your affections, he regularly berated and abused you," Gunter said sadly.

The cat nodded. "I hear you guys talk about Mr. Moon. Nana talked about him a lot too. I wish I'd known him better. I wish I had someone like that. Someone who cared and appreciated the things I did for him." He sniffed and took another shot. He laid his head back on the couch. He looked out the window. "I wish I had what you guys have. Ehhh, I'm just being stupid."

Hog and sheep shared a look. Gunter nodded and Eddie touched his shoulder. "You're not stupid. You want what everyone wants. Companionship you can trust." He pet his soft orange-brown fur. "You want someone you can talk to, share things with…"

"Mmmm, that feels good…" Jerry admitted as the sheep pet him.

Gunter nodded. "You want someone who understands you. Someone maybe a little older… who can show you the affection you deserve." He leaned in closer, getting a nice whiff of the cat's musk.

Eddie played with Jerry's ears and he purred audibly, his entire body shivering with pleasure. "What… what… do you… mean?" he asked. His foot began to flop on the floor until he felt a hand on his inner thigh. "What's happening?"

"We were thinking… if Buster were here… we'd be three…" Gunter began. "Because I'd never ask him to give up Eddie and I'd never stop loving him."

The sheep smiled. "And I would never ask Buster to give up Gunter when he did so much for him. And I'd never ask it of Gunter." He sighed.

"But… I'm not Buster…" Jerry's purring got more intense when Gunter started nuzzling his neck.

Eddie shook his head. "No… we know that. You are Jerry. You are your own person. You're hardworking and devoted. We thought… you might like to be our third…" He kissed the little cat gently. "Of course, if you don't want this, you just need to say stop."

He shook his head. "No, no, I do…" He was so lonely. He wanted to feel something. He wanted companions. He wanted love. He wanted this. He didn't know if it was right or not. He didn't care.

AN: Finally! I've been trying to build to this forever! We're still not done, really not as close as I thought… we still have a few plot points. Porsha's party, selling the company, Meeting Ryan's grandparents, the final performance of Out Of This World and the anniversary of Buster's death, and the epilogue. Please review.