"Thanks for helping Mom. I appreciate it." Jessy said as Diana joined her in the kitchen. "Sweetie the majority of the 'I'm hungry" mob out there are mine." Diana replied, laughingly adding, "What am I saying? They're all mine." "Well there mine now too." Jessy said joining her laughter, adding, "Mom?" "Yes sweetie." Diana replied. "Mom when Daddy said "Make sure you duck when she throws things at you".. Did you really?" Jessy asked, stopping what she was doing to turn and watch her answer. "I certainly did." Diana answered proudly, explaining, "It was so similar to tonight. You know me at home waiting. I had slaved all afternoon preparing the perfect meal, his favorites. I had p;inched pennies to buy this beautiful pale pink dress and matching sweater. I mean I looked hot as you kids put it. I definitely was hot by the end of the evening. I waited and waited. I watched the roast dry up and shrivel into a piece of leather while the vegetable turned rock hard. By the time your father made it home, I was livid. He no more than stepped foot in the house and I launched that dried up leathery roast at him. Then I pelted him with the dried out green beans. I screamed and threw things practically all night long." "I can't imagine you screaming and throwing things. You are so laid back now." Jessy shared. "Children will mellow you out." Diana replied, chuckling. "What's so funny?" Jessy asked giggling along. "I was just thinking. You know I bet you anything I will get at least a dozen roses tomorrow." Diana shared laughing harder. "Roses? From Daddy?" Jessy questioned. "Poor Walker. He apologized over and over, buying gifts, sending flowers, anything to make up for being late that night." Diana shared with a big sigh, adding, "I wager you will be on the receiving end for a long, long time." "Why? What good would it do? It can't make up for his not coming Mom. He didn't come for a reason, not to be mean, not to hurt me..." Jessy replied the hurt written all over her face again. "But it did hurt you sweetie. I know my son and he adores you more than anything or anyone and the fact that he hurt you is eating him alive. He will do anything to make that go away." Diana insisted, adding in a whisper, "Jessy I think he'd rather had you throw things at him then tell him you were hurt and disappointed in him." "What's that suppose to mean? I should lie to him? Great." Jessy snapped, turning away grumbling, "What have I gotten myself into?" "No sweetie. I'm so proud of you for standing up for yourself." Diana insisted, teasing, "At first I thought you were letting him off the hook, telling him how you understood and all. My how difficult that would make life with your father." "Oh Mom." Jessy moaned, rolling her eyes before turning her attention to the task of feeding the hungry masses. "Zac. Zac. I need help please?" Jessy called out the window. "What babe?" Zac asked rushing into the house. "My that must be some sort of speed record." Diana teased. "Do you think you could grill some chicken for me? I was thinking of making frajitas. That wouldn't be too heavy before bedtime would it?" Jessy asked. "Oh my favorite." Diana squealed, adding, "It would be just perfect." "I agree. Mmmmm." Zac moaned. "Frajitas it is then. Here's the chicken." Jessy replied pulling some marinating chicken from the fridge. "So you planned on us eating again?" Diana teased. "Well yes and no. It was for tomorrow. I think it has been in the marinade long enough though." Jessy answered starting some rice. "Anything else need doing?" Diana asked finishing another task. "I think we have it all done now." Jessy answered. adding, "Let's set it up on the front porch instead of taking it down to the campfire." "Good idea. Saves us bringing everything back." Diana chuckled loading a tray and heading to the front porch, followed by Jessy. "Perfect timing. I'm done too." Zac said clearing the grill of chicken. "Great you made room for the frypan." Jessy said placing it on the grill as Zac added the chicken to the pan. "Food is ready. We're eating on the front porch." Diana called out bringing them all rushing their way. "Delicious meal sweetie." Walker moaned making his way to the grill with an emptied plate. "Thanks Daddy. I think I have a cake for dessert." Jessy replied. "You have a cake for dessert. I was really tempted. It smells delicious." Zac shared heading into the house returning with the chocolate layer cake. "Me please." Zoe squealed as he cleared the doorway and came into view. "Me too please." Grampa Lawyer added with a chuckle, leaning to kiss Zoe, adding, "Looks good huh?" "Mmmmm" Zoe moaned staring at the cake. "Mom look at her." Jessy whispered pointing at Zoe. "Her? Look at him." Diana replied pointing at her father. "I think you need to cut this babe or the two of them will just share it." Zac teased. "Good idea." Jessy said making her way to the table, cutting and serving the cake. "Mmmmm." Grampa Lawyer moaned. "Me mmmmm too." Zoe squealed leaning toward her Grampa. "You think I'm going to kiss that face. Ewwwie." Grampa Lawyer squealed shaking his head no and laughing. "I'll get a washcloth." Jessy said but before she could rise, "I got it babe." Zac interrupted racing back into the house. "Can I rethink that wager." Diana whispered, leaning towards Jessy. "What no gifts?" Jessy teasingly whispered. "I do believe that young man is going to be at your beckon call for a long, long time. Sweetie I know this will drive you crazy..." Diana whispered, taking her hand, adding, "Zac has always needed to attone for his bad behavior. I remember the time he lied to me and I caught him at it. That poor boy, sweept, dusted, washed dishes, did anything to make my life easier. All without being asked. Now that I think of it, he has that same look in his eyes." "What look?" Jessy asked finding her answer as Zac returned with the washcloth. "You see it don't you." Diana whispered rising, stepping in front of her while handing her a napkin to wipe her eyes, "Don't cave into him yet." "What?" Jessy gasped. "I can see how much you love him but don't let him see it quite yet. He must pay for what he did." Diana whispered. "All clean." Zac declared cleaning his sister's face before turning their way. "I'm chilled suddenly. I think I'll go change." Jessy mumbled making her way inside before Zac could see her face. "Babe the matching pants are right down here." Zac called out racing after her. "Oh I see." Jessy replied quickly wiping her face again before she turned, making her way back down the stairs. "I don't know why I grabbed them before." Zac shared, not taking his eyes off of her, adding, "Guess I figured you'd need to change." "It's been awhile since I wore a dress. I forgot how breezy they are." Jessy whispered making her way to him. "You are absolutely beautiful in it Jessy. Here." Zac said holding the pants for her to slip into. "Thanks." Jessy said stepping into them, sighing as he pulled them into place. "Did you bring me a top?" Jessy asked looking around for it. "Oops." Zac replied. "So you want me topless huh?" Jessy teased. "Always." Zac moaned wrapping his arms around her, whispering as he held her tighter, "I'm so sorry." "I know you are Zac. I know you didn't do it on purpose but you still did it." Jessy whispered pushing away, heading up the stairs, adding, "I need a top. I'm not going topless in front of the family." "We've cleaned things up sweetie and thought we'd head back to the campsite. You ready?" Diana called out making her way upstairs. "Almost Mom. Come on in." Jessy replied, making her way to the door and opening it. "Good choice. All covered up." Diana said commenting on her clothes. "Actually Zac picked them out." Jessy said putting on her shoes, adding, "Ready." "I saw the two of you hugging in the hallway and thought maybe you had given in." Diana shared. "Almost." Jessy sighed, adding, "He looks so sad Mom. I don't think I can do this. All I want to do is hold him and make it all better." "He should look sad. He left you hanging. Just hung out with his brother not giving one thought to you and all the trouble you had gone through to prepare something to eat, looking drop dead gorgeous. And for what?" Diana reminded. "I guess." Jessy sighed so confused. "Just remember how you felt when you realized he wasn't coming." Diana suggested. "Huh? I guess I decided once again something came up and he'll be here as soon as he's done. He doesn't do it on purpose Mom. I guess I was upset this time because of the dress mostly." Jessy replied, adding, "Like I said this is my problem." "Your problem?" Diana questioned. "Yeah Mom. He doesn't do it on purpose. He doesn't do it to hurt me. It's just Zac and the way he is. It's my problem if it's going to upset me." Jessy explained. "My. My. Are you sure you are the daughter and I am the mother." Diana gasped, adding, "So wise at such a young age." "You should be proud. It's all because of you and Daddy." Jessy replied hugging her before they made their way outside. They sang, told stories, "I got you bud." Zac said catching Mackie before he fell asleep and tumbled over, adding, "Want a ride to your tent?" "Me tired." Mackie mumbled. "I'll get the flaps." Jessy said making her way to the tent. "Me too. I think I'll go to bed now too." Avery shared, followed by Jessie. "I'm done in too." Grampa Lawyer shared with a yawn. "Me too Grampa." Isaac said putting away his guitar. "I'll go put it in the house." Zac said picking up the case and heading to the house. "I think I'll turn in too." Jessy yawned, rising and making her way to their pup tent, crawling inside, closing the flaps after her. "Where's Jessy? Did you let her leave?" Zac gasped staring down the driveway as he returned. "Whoa son. Chill. She was tired. She's in your tent waiting for you." Walker answered, adding, "I suggest you sit a minute. Relax a bit before you face her. You look a little edgy." "A little edgy! I thought he was about to run after her on foot." Taylor teased. "She'll forgive you Zac. She loves you so much." Natalie shared reaching and patting his hand as he sat next to her. "Hope you're right." Zac mumbled gazing at the fire. "Such lousy timing. We just spoke this morning about how the family and house has consumed your time. How little time the two of you have had for each other." Diana shared. "You talked about it?" Zac questioned looking her way. "Of course we talk. She just seemed concerned about something so I asked. She shared her concerns is all." Diana answered. "Like what?" Zac asked. "Son you need to talk to Jessy." Diana suggested. "Guaranteed to fix anything. Good old conversation. Such a miracle worker it is." Walker added. "I think I'll head to bed then." Zac said slowly making his way to their tent, crawling inside. "You asleep babe?" Zac asked laying beside her. "No. Not yet. Still trying to unwind." Jessy whispered. "I'm so sor...." Zac tried to say. "Stop apologizing for something you wouldn't change. Something you couldn't change Zac. Your brother needed you Zac, where else would you be?" Jessy interrupted. "No I should have been with you." Zac argued. "Really? Whoa who are you?" Jessy teased. "That's not funny." Zac argued. "Don't touch me Mr, Mr.... who are you?" Jessy teased again. "Jessy it's not funny." Zac grumbled. "Well you are not Zac because there is no way Zac would have left his troubled brother. No way. Not even for me. It was obvious to both of us that there was something definitely troubling Isaac." Jessy insisted, adding, "What was wrong?" "He is so bummed. I can't believe I hadn't picked up on it before now." Zac started to shared. "He feels left out. You have me and Tay has Natalie." Jessy shared. "You knew? Did he tell you?" Zac gasped. "No he didn't tell me. I've just had this feeling is all. It started at Tay and Nat's wedding and has grown over the time." Jessy replied finally turning to face him. "You picked up on it and I didn't. I had no idea what he was talking about. He kept saying nothing was wrong but then would talk about you, you and me." Zac shared gazing at her. "Remember a couple months back, he kept seeing that girl, what was her name.." Jessy started to shared. "Julie. It was Julie." Zac interrupted, asking, "What about Julie?" "Well I think he had decided she was the one because of the rest of us. You remember it was like a week or two after Tay and Nat got married. Everything was Julie this and Julie that. I'm going she's butt ugly and dumber than a rock, what on earth do you see in her? Thank God he came to his senses. I was so ready to kidnap him and take him to one of those people that breaks the spell one person holds over another." Jessy explained. "Mind control? You are so funny." Zac chuckled. "I'm serious. I figured if I could just get him to open his eyes, snap out of it, he'd see the real Julie. Ewwww." Jessy added joining his laughter. "You are so beautiful." Zac whispered pulling her hair away from her face. "And smarter than a rock." Jessy teased gazing at him. "Definitely smarter than a rock." Zac whispered caressing her face, fighting the tears adding, "I love you so much." "I know you do Zac. I never doubted that. I never once thought Zac isn't here because he doesn't love me." Jessy whispered leaning to kiss the tear making its way down his cheek. "I'm so sorry you felt hiurt." Zac pleaded clutching her to him, adding, "i didn't mean to disappoint you." "I know you didn't mean to. I know you would never hurt me." Jessy whispered rolling back over pulling him on top of herself, looking up at him adding, "I know you love me. I never doubted that." "I do love you." Zac moaned kissing her passionately. "I love you too." Jessy moaned into their kissing, wrapping her legs around him as his tongue plunged deeper and deeper into her mouth. "I want you so bad." Zac moaned into her ear before kissing her neck over and over. "For such a sucky fighter.. you sure are good at making up." Jessy moaned pushing at him until he rolled them over. "Hot. Hot. Hot. I can't take this." Jessy moaned straddling him before fanning herself with her unzipped sweatshirt while taking it off. "You sure were hot in that dress." Zac moaned his hands all over her. "The dress was from your mother. So you liked it huh?" Jessy teased tickling him with her hair. "Uh huh." Zac moaned. "Well what was under the dress was from me. Wanna see?" Jessy teased placing her forehead to his. "Under here?" Zac moaned his hands pulling her tee shirt from her sweatpants before making their way up her body. "Yep that's part of it." Jessy whispered. "You got me more?" Zac moaned as his hands found their way down her body, slipping inside her sweatpants and caressing her butt. "Wanna see." Jessy whispered pulling her tee shirt up over her head before laying beside him. "Let me." Zac whispered turning towards her, leaving on an elbow before pulling her sweatpants down then gazing at her. "I thought you'd like it." Jessy teased reaching a finger up, tracing the smile on his face. "I like a lot." Zac moaned rolling on top of her again. "I like you a lot too." Jessy whispered, caressing his face before rising to kiss him. "I'm glad you still do." Zac said kissing the fingertip that was tracing his lips. "Oh Zac." Jessy sighed, gazing at him, adding, "I think we need a do over. So when we going to try this meet on the back porch again?" "Huh? You'd try again? I mean you'd trust me enough?" Zac asked totally shocked by her suggestion. "Well let's see? I can't do it by muself so yeah I guess I do trust you enough to try again." Jessy replied, shivering as she was suddenly chilled. "Cold babe?" Zac asked reaching for a blanket, pulling it over her. "I'll be okay here." Jessy whispered cuddling against him. "Maybe I should dress you." Zac said sitting up tall, hitting the top of the tent hard enough to pop the ropes. "I hope you did a better job on the house." Jessy choked out as the poles came out, causing the tent to tumble down on them. "Darn I was hoping they were asleep." Zac mumbled hearing the laughter from the campfire. "You two okay?" Taylor chuckled. "Jessy you okay?" Natalie asked. "Umm if you send your husband away. I could use your help. Just your help." Jessy answered. "Huh?" Natalie asked, gasping, "Oh. Ohhhh. Taylor I don't think she's dressed so I'll help them." "Way to go bro." Taylor chuckled heading back to the others, explaining loudly, "They don't want my help. My wife is the tent expert." "Zac where's my clothes?" Jessy whispered. "Uh I took off your pants.. here they are. Here your sweatshirth too." Zac answered. "I took off my shirt. I think I put it over there somewhere." Jessy said reaching past him. "Hold still and let me dress you." Zac grumbled trying to move the blanket and pull on her sweatpants. "You have both feet in one leg." Jessy giggled. "I told you to hold still." Zac chuckled. "Zac you are too tall." Natalie grumbled trying to put the tent back up. "Hun lay back down." Jessy said pulling him onto her again, adding, "Besides I'm cold again." "Let me pull up your pants then." Zac whispered. "I got them." Jessy said wiggling them into place, adding, "I can't find my shirt though. "Let's just get your sweatshirt on then." Zac suggested, helping her on with it. "I got it." Natalie squealed getting the tent back up. "I knew you could. Thanks Nat." Jessy squealed crawling out. "I did it." Natalie squealed. "Way to go girl." Jessy cheered high fiving her. "So what was that about?" Natalie whispered as Zac crawled out. "Uh he's just too tall for a pup tent." Jessy answered as Zac wrapped her in his arms. "Man I didn't realize he was that much taller than you.. than us." Natalie shared looking up at Zac, adding, "You're taller than your brother." "Nah." Zac replied. "Uh huh. I come up to here on Tay." Natalie shared putting a hand at Zac's shoulder. "You do not." Jessy squealed. "Taylor can you come here please?" Natalie called out. "What you need baby? Did good on the tent." Taylor said making his way to her, plucking the tent rope. "I did didn't I." Natalie squealed, adding, "Hun come here. See I come to his shoulders." "You do." Jessy squealed turning to Zac, adding, "You are taller than Tay. Mom did you know Zac was taller than Tay?" "He is?" Diana said making the way to the group. "Well I'll be. When did you grow more?" Walker asked following his wife over. "I didn't know I had." Zac answered shrugging his shoulders. "All the hard work you've been doing. I thought you were just getting... well I appreciate what you have been getting let's say." Jessy shared her hand caressing his bicep, then his pecks, his abs, finally coming to rest on his butt. "I had noticed you were getting buff." Natalie shared. "You look at my brother huh?" Taylor asked glaring at her. "Well it's hard to not notice. I mean when he's working..." Natalie replied turning herself red faced thinking about it. "He is definitely a hottie." Jessy added with a big smile. "That's my baby you're smiling about." Diana teased and the three giggled together. "If he's a hottie then you were blazing in that dress earlier." Taylor insisted. "Don't you be looking at me." Jessy grumbled. "Yeah. You keep your eyes off of my friend." Natalie complained, adding, "That's for your brother to look at, not you." "Well she came out here for all of us to see." Taylor complained. "Sorry babe." Zac whispered resting his head on top of her. "So. I can go anywhere I want, looking any way I want. So you just keep your dirty looks to yourself." Jessy grumbled, glaring at him. "Gees I'm sorry." Taylor replied. "You sure are. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry." Jessy teased. "Well I think it's time we all turned in. You want to bunk with us tall son?" Walker said to diffuse the situation. "No thanks Dad. I think I know if I sit up I knock down the tent now." Zac answered saying their goodnights.