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It was udder chaos in the parking lot. "I need a ride." Mike announced. "I have to take the car home so my sister can use it." Charlie added. "No, no, no. Me Nomi." Zoe screamed as Diana tried to put her in her car seat. "Me too. Mom paleeease." Jessie said dramatically. "I rode with Charlie so I need a ride." Bob added. "Pretty girl. Me ride with you okay?" Mackie asked pulling on Naomi's sleeve. "Sure Mackie. You want to set in the middle of the way back?" Namoi asked taking his hand. "You know it's okay if she rides with us. Isaac can you get the car seat?" she suggested taking Zoe to calm her screams. "You sure. She's not the best passenger lately." Diana shared. "If she screams, we'll just have to scream louder." Naomi teased lifting her in the air. They talked over how to get everyone to the right place. "We take the little kids and you get the big ones. Sounds fair to me." Naomi teased. "Nah babe, we got the better part of the deal." Isaac teased heading to his Expedition, loading Jessie, Avie, and Mackie. "Diaper bag?" Naomi asked. "Zachary you had it last, where is it?" Diana asked. "Under the back seat." Zac answered. "Great. See you all at my place. We'll leave the gate open." Naomi said grabbing the diaper bag and heading after Isaac, loading up Zoe then the headed out. The minute they pulled onto the street it started. "Isaac, Jessie said I'll never skate like Naomi because I'm a klutz. What's a klutz?" Avie asked. "Me hunry." Zoe screamed. "No scream." Mackie screamed. "Isaac are we there yet?" Jessie hollered. The volume grew as Naomi began to wonder if it was always like this, looking over at Isaac who seemed to be unphased by it all. "Babe there's crackers in the glove compartment. That will take care of Zoe. Anyone else want a cracker? he asked and soon everyone answered yes as Naomi found the package and passed them out. "Jessie we are about halfway there. I disagree with you, Avie is not a klutz and it was plain mean of you to say so don't you?" he asked. "I guess. Avie I'm sorry you're not a klutz. I bet Naomi can teach you to skate." Jessie apologized restoring the peace. "Remember babe, you promised to give us a chance." Isaac reminded, noticing the look on her face. "What? No it's okay. That's not what I was thinking." Naomi replied, adding, "It's not them or you, it's me." "What about you?" Isaac asked concerned about the fear in her eyes. "Isaac it's a given. I mean you're a natural already. You'll be a great dad, but how could you fail with your examples. I haven't got a chance. What if I turn out like them. I can't do this. Nobody deserves to be treated that way." Naomi said her voice trailing off as she stared out the window. "Treated what way?" Isaac asked. "Unwanted, unloved." Naomi answered still staring out the window. "That's not true anymore babe." Isaac replied stroking her leg with such tenderness before taking her hand and lifting it to his lips, kissing it with such love. "I know Isaac. I understand we just met, but I feel it too. You are someone special. I'm just scared I'll turn out like them. Our poor baby." Naomi shared as the tears began to fall. "Babe don't do this. There is no way you'll be anything like them. If anything it'll make you a better parent then me. Think about it. You know everything not to do already but most of all you know how it feels. I think that makes you the last person who'd ever treat our kids that way." Isaac insisted. "God Isaac we're talking about our kids. You and me having babies. This is so unreal. Hun thanks for doing the right thing last night. I didn't think so last night but afer this revelation, I still have so much to work through yet. It wouldn't have been fair to us or the baby if we had." Naomi shared leaning his way kissing him deeply as Isaac stopped at a traffic light. "Nomi me tersdy." Zoe pouted. "Poor baby thirsty. How about this?" Naomi answered pulling from Isaac's lips, grabbing her bag, reaching for the small bottled water she'd gotten on her last plane trip. "Here you go just your size." Naomi said opening it and handing it to her. "I think there's one moe in there. I flew back home so there should be one." she offered to Mackie's disappointed look. "Oh please." Mackie answered so excited. "Yep here it is." Naomia announced finding one more and handing it to him. "There it is girls. Looks cool doesn't it." Isaac announced pulling up to the gate pressing the remote. "Leave it open for the folks." Naomi shared as he pulled up out front this time and they unloaded and headed inside. "Hun I'm heading to the kitchen with Zoe. Why don't you show them the bathrooms and we'll meet in the gameroom. Naomi loaded the dumbwaiter with all the snacks and drinks before taking a passageway to the others making sure they were looking the other way. "Where'd you come from?" Avie asked puzzled. "How'd you get there?" Jessie asked. "Peek A Boo." Mackie screamed then giggled causing Zoe to scream so Namia screamed. "Isaac that's probably your folks. Why don't you go check and I'll get the snacks ready." Naomi suggested as she opened the dumbwaiter, revealing all the snacks and drinks. They all helped set things up, "Isaac? Hun was it your folks?" Naomi buzzed the main entry intercom. "Yeah babe. I'm headed your way." Isaac replied. "Hun wait there, we'll join you and we can tour the house." Naomi suggested, adding, "Come on guys we'll take the short cut." With that Naomi turned a piece of molding and the wall opened. "Cool." Jessie said. "Is that how you got here?" Avie asked. "Yeah sweetie, the house is full of them. There's even three hidden rooms.Cool huh?" Naomi shared as they made their way to the front entry. "Here look through here." Naomi said sliding the peep hole open, adding, "Who do you see?" "Mommy. Mommy it's me." Mackie squealed. "Mackie? Where are you dear? I hear you." Diana said. "We're in the picture Mom." Jessie hollered. "Hey look, the eyes are moving and it talks." Zac said pointing at the picture hanging on the end wall. "How did you get in there?" Walker asked as Isaac walked over to the wall looking for the molding piece that opened the wall. "A litle higher hun." Naomi called out a he found the right one and the wall opened. "Mommy, Daddy." Mackie called out racing to them. "Passageways huh?" Walker asked poking his head in. "Yeah and hidden rooms too." Jessie shared. they toured the house including the inside, ending in the game room. They snacked, played games, got to know each other over the next few hours. The kids had a blast playing hide n seek in the passeways, especially the big ones. "Now where did Walker go this time?" Diana asked looking around. "Through the wall again. They're still trying to find the hidden rooms. Come on I'll show you, then you'll have somthing to hold over him." Naomi suggested. "I like the way you think." Diana replied and they grabbed Zoe and headed out. "Ssssh." Naomi said listening, adding, "Coast is clear. Here's the first one." Naomi pushed on a wall and it popped open, revealing a small room. After entering she pulled a lever and the wall shut, "This is wonderful." Diana said looking at the wine bottles. "Care for a glass? I have a great Zinfadel open that I've been working on." Naomi offered getting two glasses down then some crackers and cheese. She opened a cupboard grabbing some paper cups for Zoe to play with while they enjoyed their wine. "Where's that lead?" Diana asked, adding, "No let me guess. Hmm wine cellar to, to, kitchen?" "Good job. Leads to the pantry off the kitchen." Naomi answered. When they finished and cleaned up, they headed to the kitchen, making sure they weren't spotted. "Now the next hidden room houses my Hanson collection. Has a great sound system, television, Vcr, and magazines. You guess what room it's off of." Naomi challenged and on the third try, "Setting room?" Diana guessed and they headed that way. They sat chatting as Diana searched the room for the secret entry. "Hey babe what's up?" Isaac asked followed by his friends and brothers. "Hey hun. Where's the girls? And your Dad?" Naomi asked leaning back in her chair as he bent down to kiss her. "Dad is determined to find the secret rooms. We give up." Isaac announced as he lifted her, sat in her chair, placing her in his lap while the other guys all took a seat. "Quitters huh?" Diana teased. "What if there aren't any hidden rooms." Taylor suggested. "But there are, I've been in one of them. We had wine and cheese and we visited for a while. I like your girlfriend son." Diana shared. "Hun I like your Mom. She's way cool." Naomi said kissing him sweetly. "So you two hit it off huh?" Isaac asked. "Yeah. At least I think so. We were headed up to my room for a little true confessons. I thought I'd share my past wth her and see if that's where you got all your understanding and compassion." Naomi shared as Diana rose and walked to the far wall. "Way to go Mom." Naomi cheered. "What?" Isaac asked confused. "Your Mom is hot on the trail of another hidden room." Naomi answered. "Way to go Mom." Zac cheered as they all gathered around her. "Go ahead." Naomi said getting off of his lap. "I'll see them some day." Isaac said pulling her back to him. "True. But I think I'll be here again some day too." Naomi teased caressing his face before kissing him deeply. "True." Isaac sighed. "Go help her." Naomi insisted, rising from his lap. As he headed towards his mother, Naomi slipped through a passageway door. "Babe. Now where did she go?" Isaac asked staring at the wall. "Mom remember the last exit we used." Naomi said from the other side of the wall. Diana thought for a moment, then reached and slid a piece of molding and the wall popped open, revealing the passageway. Diana immediately notice the same shaped wall as with the other hidden room and moved to it, pressing against it and the wall popped open revealing the hidden room. "Wooo Hooo." Zac squealed. "Dad we found one." Taylor hollered. "Where are you?" Walker called out. "Where are you Dad?" Naomi called. "Sweetie I'm not sure." Walker said. "Dad move to your left and describe the next corner." Naomi instructed. His reply sent her in their direction and she returned with them. "Hun, I'm stealing your folks for a while. We'll be in my room if you need us." Naomi said leading Walker, Diana and Zoe off and up the small flight of stairs. They entered her room, "Sweetie why didn't you take the master bedroom?" Walker asked. "Can't really explain it, there was something about this room. I feel comfortable in here is all." Naomi explained then pulled out the scrapbook. "Just try not to judge me to harshly. I still can't deal with them. Just thinking about them. Them, that's what they are to me, thems." Naomi shared shaking her head no, her eyes filled with tears but nothing more heading into the bathroom. She returned as quiet as possible, not to disturb them. Naomi sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room, imagine the worst comments they could make to her, preparing herself for the worst. "This is appalling. Stay away from our son." she imagined Walker saying as Diana cried. That thought brought her so much pain, she curled into a ball and rocked slowly. "Sweetie don't cry. So much pain. I'm so sorry this all happened to you. It's inexcusable. I wish I could meet them and let them know what fools they are. I'd let them know what they've missed out on, what they are missing out on." Walker said kneeling in front of her, adding, "Can you look at me?" As the tears broke free, she sat there shaking her head no, her eyes tightly closed as the tears broke through anyway. "Can I hold you?" Walker offered and she shook her head no. "Baby I'm so sorry. You know you're loved now don't you? I see it in his eyes. He'll make it up to you, if you'll just let him." Diana shared kneeling next to her husband. "Yeah if I just let him." Naomi whimpered wiping at her tears. "There's something I have to know. Do you think that this will hurt the band when the press gets hold of it. I can see it now 'Good guy falls for Bad gal.' they're going to have a blast with this." Naomi asked finally looking up with such fear in her eyes. "How do you feel about it? You're right they'll have a field day with this." Walker answered. "How do I feel... Well I usually answer that was me, unwanted and unloved trying to survive, and survive I did. I'm proud of who I am today, in spite of it all, I'm an intelligent, compassionate young adult and I'm going to make a difference in this world." Naomi explained her head raised and her voice strengthening with each word spoken. "There's your answer, I say we take them by surprise and when Isaac introduces you to the world we lead off with that declaration and skim the surface, something like, "As an unwanted, unloved child the barrage of school suspensions, expulsions were just the beginning of her attempt to hurt back at what was hurting her. In spite of all her antics over her younger years, she's turned into a fine young adult who is making a difference in the lives of our future, the children of Tulsa. Then we share your philanthropy, preserving this house for one, the skating lessons, fund raising, volunteer work." Walker shared. "Yeah and we announce your revitalization plan for Downtown. That'll really make them sit up and take notice." Isaac said entering the room. "Isaac." Naomi squealed racing to his arms. "You okay baby." Isaac asked holding her close, kissing the top of her head. "Uh huh. Now I'm okay." Naomi sighed, looking up at him, adding, "Isaac. Isaac they're okay with it. With what I did." "That's good. I was prepared though, had my speech all ready. The old Mom and Dad, I'm sorry you feel that way but this is my life and I love with my heart and soul. She's my life, my future so I hope you change your minds because I plan on asking her to marry me." Isaac shared then kissing her tenderly. "I love you too Isaac and I plan on saying yes when you ask." Naomi replied, adding, "If you ask." "Baby don't do this." "I'm sorry I've been doing this for years just to survive." Naomi answered cuddling back into his chest. "Baby you deserve to have good things happen to you, you deserve to be happy." Isaac insisted with such sorrow in his eyes, kissing the top of her head over and over. "Why don't we leave them alone. Just love her son." Walker said patting him on the back. "He's right sweetie, you deserve good things to happen to you, you're a good thing." Diana shared as hugged them. "Thanks Mom." Isaac replied hugging her back. "Excuse me.Yoo Hoo. In the middle here. Is this one of those good things you were talking about." Naomi teased pretending not to be able to breathe. "Mom can you hear this. Zoe is being impossible." Taylor broadcasted over the intercom. In the background they heard Zoe crying, "Nomi me Nomi." "Break. Let me out of here." Naomi said disappearing into the wall and heading to the third hidden room. "Hun wait for us or we'll get lost." Isaac called out. "Oh you would not, at least not for long." Naomi teased laughing as she waited for them to catch up. "Like downstairs." Diana said running her hand on the wall. "Push Mom." Naomi suggested. Diana pushed and the wall popped open revealing the last hidden room. Naomi entered, moving to the far wall, pulling a switch causing the floor to rise at a fireman's pole "Watch out below." Naomi called as she slid down, adding, "What's the matter Zoe?" "Nomi." Zoe squealed as her mother slid down the pole. "Mommy." Zoe squealed as her father, than oldt brother followed. "Me do?" Mackie asked as Naomi picked up Zoe. "Sure sweetie. Hun there's spiral stairs in that closet that lead upstairs. Would you take Mackie for me and teach him how." "So you want to slide like a fireman huh little bud?" Isaac asked. "Wait for me, I'll join you son." Walker said chasing after Mackie. "She looks tired Mom?" Naomi suggested. "This is past her bedtime maybe we better go." Diana answered. "I know, one of the spare bedrooms has a trundle bed. I mean she'd only be a mattress width away from the floor. I think I could persuade her sisters to stay too." Naomi shared. "I'll stay." Jessie offered. "No me, I'll stay." Avie offered. "You can both stay there's another bed in the room. And I think I have skating outfits that will fit both of you and even Zoe. You can all borrow jammies from me. I mean if it's okay with Mom." Naomi said turning to Diana. "Of course it's all right. Thanks sweetie. Let's go see about getting this one to bed." Diana said and they headed out. "She's beat, I'll bathe her in the morning." Naomi said stopping in her room pulling out jammies for the girls, changing Zoe. "Low on diapers, I'll send Isaac." Naomi giggled. "What?" Diana asked. "It's just, can't you see it in the magazines a picture of Isaac at the check out lane with diapers." Naomi teased. "Well I think he ought to buy som tampax to go along with his diaprs. That'll give them something to talk about." Diana teased. 'Oh I like the way you think." Naomi giggled carrying Zoe to the spare room across the hall. "This is the best part, she'll be right across from me so I'll hear if they stir in the night." Naomi whispered as Diana pulled out the trundle. "This is perfect." she said pulling the covers back and Naomi slipped her into the bed. Before leaving Naomi turned on the intercom so Zoe would be heard throughout the house. "Mom is Mackie going to feel left out, you know my keeping the girls?" Naomi asked. "Most likely." Diana answered. "Let's make up another room, in case he wants to stay." Naomi suggested showing Diana the other room. They made up enough rooms for all the boys and Isaac's friends too. "Are you sure sweetie, maybe Walker and I should stay too." Diana suggested. "Listen to yourself. Your children will be staying somewhere other than their own beds for the night and you feel you should stay too? Hello. Something is wrong with this picture. Have you two even been alone in the new house? Totally alone. You know run around naked if you want alone. Make love in every room of the house alone." Naomi asked. "No sweetie we haven't. It sounds like heaven. Are you sure?" Diana asked. "Mom unless I've really judged Isaac wrong, he'd do anything for me. If the two of you can do it then the two of us should be able to not let anyone die in the next sixteen or so hours. I have to skate tomorrow at two in the afternoon. I didn't realize the Bar was open Saturday afternoons." Naomi shared as the two joined the others. "Hun cn you run to he store on the corner, Zoe's almost out of diapers and I'm going to keep her overnight. Actually I'm keeping all of you." Naomi asked. "What? All of us. Oh. Wow. It's been a long time since the two of you were alone huh?" Isaac asked turning to his parents who were wrapped in each others arms, whispering. "Mom why don't you show him the wine cellar and take your pick. There's a couple of really nice bottles I received as house warming gifts. Can't legally drink but I have a stocked wine cellar." Naomi shared. "Oh sweetie thanks. Walker let me show you." Diana said leading him to the passageway. Isaac ran to the corner store returning in time to say goodbye to his parents. He helped her get Mackie and the girls to bed and they showed the guys their rooms. "I'm going to head to bed. Let me show you guys the laundry room, you can wash your clothes for tomorrow. Everything should be done before you go to bed." Naomi suggeted, adding, "I'll see you later." "I'll be up when the laundry is done babe." Isaac said kissing her deeply before walking her to her room.
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