First Everything (Hailey, Damien)

[Lovely]

PIC HERE Name: Damien Resher Alias Dam, Stratosphere Age/DOB Anniversary: to Hailey Laurentiu POWERS:aerokinesis Played by: Tripp created:2007 likeness used:Jared Padelecki	---------------	Name: Hailey Anne Laurentiu Resher Aliases: Hail, Tempest DOB: Jan 6, 1988 Anniversary: Feb 21, 2007 to Damien POWERS: Meteological Manipulation Storms & Hail; Static electric charge Played by: Lovely created: 2004 likeness used: Syd Wilder
Code Name: Stratosphere Rank: Recruit Joined: GoE/The Rising 2007 Level: Black		Code Name: Tempest Rank: Recruit Joined: GoE/The Rising 2007 Level: Brown

[Lovely]

May 21, 2007
11am

She stood in the pristine and empty kitchen, smiling in an almost giddy way as she turned in a slow circle. Her hands clasped and her fingertips resting under her chin, her eyes alight with joy and shimmering with happy tears, Hailey imagined what their house would be like once they had filled and decorated it more. Their house! It was so hard to believe and she was so incredibly happy.. she and Damien had their first home.. a house.. their own house! No, she wasn't going to cry, she told herself as she blinked back the happy tears. Neither of them had much in the way of possesions so together they would have to decide what they would furnish their house with, unless Dam decided to leave it all up to her. What they did have had been packed into his car, which she'd gotten running pretty well. She had not had alot to start with, years of moving and shuffling had taught her to keep it light, and then the damage to the school.. well now she had even less but was happier than she'd ever been before.

What better house warming gift than family, especially one of the littlest members.. and one of the biggest? Kaz didn't have much of anything to bring them yet other than that, stopping by Hail's new house to check it out and stamp his approval. He still wasn't too sure about Damien but recent events let him know he could trust him with Hailey's every breath and he'd have to. He had a new family of his own to watch out for. When Hailey opened the door, the ribbing began, although the digs were light with him being upstaged by tiny coos and gurgles from the stuffed jumper in his arms. "This... is a kid. You used to be one of these, you know," he reminded her. Even if she wasn't a baby herself, she was still his littlest sister. He looked over.. and up... at Damien - that was something in itself. "I think he might have been one of these once..."

Damien gave the man a grin - the Resher trademark nod and nearly stoic agreement so much like Mike's. "Maybe. I'll be right back. Just one more thing in the car."

Kaz moved out of the way as Damien passed, showing Hailey the tiny tot's little chubby face and wiggling fists. "Just in case... you know... if you ever.." He sniffled, choked up over something. "Man... d**n allergies."

Wendy wandered in behind her big humk of muscley brother, giggling at him and leaning to kiss his cheek as she cooed at the baby. She saw Kaz's allergies and shook her head slightly at what a softy he was.

"Shush you. I used to change your diapers, too, once. I'm not above doing that right here and now," he grumbled at Wendy, still demonstrating how the child 'worked' and thinking about Hailey being all grown up to have a family of her own now. He sniffled a little again.

"I don't wear diapers Kaz." Wendy stuck her tongue out at him and moved away to lean on the counter, looking around her little sister's place with a smile.

Dusty came in next, because well he was following Kaz and Wendy.. the three musketeers all over again. He grinned and gave Hailey a look and then one to Kaz. "Oh gimme.. you're doing it all wrong.." He lamented reaching out to take the baby.

"What? Doubt that, but okay," he grumped back, surprised at Dusty coming near the baby. "Not hapless like you seem to think. Mostly raised all of you. How soon they forget," he sighed, though trying not to smile.

Dusty just grinned and waved his fingers in a 'gimme' motione. "I just want to hold the baby." He heard both his sisters giggle.

"Yeah? Well you coulda said so... punk," he ribbed back quietly, reluctant to let go, but did, watching carefully. Dusty was sober at least, so he eased up some... some.

Dusty cuddled the baby up close, he was all smiles and adoring the little bundle. He started making faces and cooing. "you like uncle Dusty huh.. yeah thats right I'm prettier than your daddy.. it's okay your mom is pretty and you look more like her..yes.. there.. "

"You suck...," Kaz grumbled more, coming over to hug Hailey. "So, you gonna be okay in this big place without all of us?"

"You guys can visit.. and yes.. we'll be fine.. even if we have no furniture or dishes." Hailey alternated between giggles, tearing up and hugging Kaz tightly.

"Wouldn't go sayin' all that, na... You is part o this ol big famdamily, non? Julien, he's got somethin right up in there for y'all," Jeff poked in, pulling a box behind him on rollers.

Julien gave his brother a look and pulled the box off the rollers to carry in. "Dishes, y'got na. Just the right kind - broken in, but not broken. Hope y'like 'em, chere."

"Awwww." Hailey turned and smiled sweetly at Julien and Jeff, looking to Wendy as her hands came up to cover her cheeks. "Oh my.. that's so nice of you guys.. thank you so much." She reluctantly let go of Kaz to give Julien a hug.

"He's just saying he wants y'all to whip up some cookin' for him, that's all that is," Jeff teased, nudging Julien, but being quick to grapple the box before he dropped it. "Course, while you're at all that, petite... mind invitin' us all in for a bite, na?"

Damien came in behind the welcoming party in time to drop down the remaining satchel of personal items. "Um... I'd say you're all here already. What's all this?"

"Visitors, with dishes.. though I don't know what we'll feed them and we have to sit on the floor!" She was smiling brightly as she ushered them the rest of the way in and moved to hug her husband instead. They had nothing more than each other really, but it was obvious it didn't matter to her because she was undeniably and enormously happy.

"Dishes? Okay then. Thanks, guys," he smiled, looking around the gathering and feeling a little cornered into a sudden social scene he wasn't expecting. Damien pulled Hailey closer to anchor himself and his wits. This wasn't a ploy, it wasn't a coup.. it was family, he reminded himself. Her family and he needed to get used to friendly folks. The scent of baby powder couldn't be ignored and his attention honed in on the bundle in Hailey's brother's arms. The hug around Hailey was warmer and his smile softer. "Okay, I guess we can pull up a patch of carpet and manage something."

"Carpet?" Mike strolled in with a few boxes floating behind him, he surveyed the group, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm looks like we're just in time.." He motioned to the boxes which was a dining set and to the now dark auburn haired Colena who bounced in carrying a box of pans.

Bianca strolled in behind them and grinned. "Don't worry I didn't bring you sh*t.. I don't do the touchy feely stuff."

Colena laughed and ducked in to set the pans on the counter. "She's lying.. She got you a bed set.. and a biiiiiiiig bed."

Bianca glared lightly at Col. "What.. you're newlyweds.. the bed is the most important thing.. the rest of this won't get used unless your annoying family stops over to bug the crap out of you." She folded her arms with a big grin.

Hailey hugged tighter around Damien as they were 'invaded' by more family bearing gifts and well wishes. "Just think.. between my family and yours.. we may not even need to buy anything for the house."

Damien's attention seered into Bianca as she teased about the private things. A spiral of air flipped her hair into a tumble as if he'd ruffled his hand through it. "If the family bugs the crap out of us to often, that won't get used either," he muttered in Hailey's ear, apprehensive with everyone here at once, but dealing. He kissed her cheek. "Where do you want to put it all? I'm about as good with decorating as I am with cars?"

"Don't worry I'm not staying long, I have my own tiny little apartment to go decorate.." Bianca teased with a smile after sticking her tongue out at him and smoothing her hair back into place. "I just wanted to give you the important stuff and a hug.. then I'll be on my way." She was still getting used to being around her family again and though she was doing well it was hard to do it for too long at once. She moved toward Dam and Hailey to give them each a hug and kiss on the cheek. She'd come back sometime when there were fewer people around.

"Thanks. Love you, okay?" He hugged Bianca back, but not tight or too long. "I'm kidding - come by any time," he reassured his sister. They'd been apart too long for him to ever tell her to stay away.

Kaz was swept up in the emotions from everyone and he wasn't even that gifted on the compassion scale. For the third time his sleeve swept past his eyes and he seemed to blink hard. "Alright, alright. The man's got furniture here. Where do you want it?" He sniffled and tried to focus on doing something other than burbling.

"Big softy." Dusty teased in a whisper as he brushed gentle kisses over the baby's head. He wore a big proud smile as he held the little one, loving every second of 'uncle duty'.

Wendy moved around to snuggle into Julien's side, smiling adoringly at him for the thought of the gift and just for being him.

Hailey returned the brief hug to Bia and kissed her warm cheek. "Thank you.. come by anytime." She knew what Bia meant to Damien and the woman would always be welcome. Hailey wrapped one arm around Damien and turned toward Kaz and Mike. "Right behind you actually." She motioned to the dining area behind where Kaz was standing.

Julien snuggled Wendy closer and returned the smile. "Reminds me, chere... some things I need to get you too, non? Want you to pick 'em out though," he mentioned, ready to make an exit if she didn't want to stay.

Kaz turned to view the space behind him and motioned to help with the set=up. "Well alright then," he nodded, reaching to help guide the items into place and put together whatever needed assembling as soon as he stepped out of the way.

Mike nodded to Kaz. "I'll give you a hand in a minute.. Dam.. where's the bedroom, I'm floating a king size set up just outside the door." He grinned at his brother, while he let Kaz handle the dining set once it was in the area.

Colena gave a slightly sad smile and stepped toward Hail and Dam, to catch him before Mike got him off too far. "I have to go too.. Andy and I still have to get our place set up and all.. I just wanted to drop off our gift.. I'll see you soon though.." She held out her arms to offer hugs.

Wendy sighed softly and watched the others before tipping her head back to smile at Julien again. She hugged him a little tighter and leaned her head to his shoulder. "We should probably go work on our setting up and picking out and..." She kissed his cheek and let the thoughts go where they would.

"You better," Dam warned, taking Colena's hug. "Don't let him slack off and make you do all the work. We'll be by sometime soon to return the favor, okay?"

"Hm... pickin' and grinnin', chere. Give 'em a hug and kiss for the road," Julien hummed back, all smiles and ideas churning. The dishes were left for them to rifle through and put where they wanted.

Jeff gave a wave from the door, not one to say more than he needed when a warm smile said enough, letting the bed float on by him.

[Lovely]

"Wow..." Ysa grinned at all the people moving in and out of the house as she stepped in through the front door, carrying a box as well. "I guess I wasn't the only one to have this idea." She grinned at her sister and Dam as she set the box on the counter...a box containing a very nice toaster.

Hailey shifted closer to Dam as another well wisher arrived, her arms tightened around him a bit. She smiled at Ysa and glanced to the box she set down. "Thank you." A toaster! Awesome, she was great at slightly burnt toast, it was like her specialty. She chuckled at the thought, though she didn't share it.

"Ooo I like that toaster.. hint hint." She teased Ysa as her older sister set the box down near where they were standing. Wendy kissed Julien's cheek and shifted away to give her little sister a hug, she offered one to Damien as well as a kiss on the cheek for both of them. "I wish we could stay longer but we have to get our own place set up. Hailey, sweety we'll go shopping.. we can do what wives do .. spend all our husband's money." She chuckled and winked, kidding of course. She and Hailey both had their own money they could spend though for household things she figured that she and Julien would share that expense.

"Why, whatever could you be hinting at?" Ysa blinked innocently a moment before smiling right back. "Funny thing is it looks just like the one sitting on your front porch. What a coincidence huh?" She shrugged. "Must have been the toaster fairy or something."

Shaking her head, she made her way over to Dusty. "Okay, quit hogging the baby."

"Yeah, quit hogging and get over here and lend me a hand with this, would ya?" Kaz was elbow deep in dining set pieces and the runny nose wasn't doing him any favors. Xen was likely to start missing them both soon, too since it was nearly suppertime for the bub. He wanted to get done and not leave Hail and Damien in a heap of unassembled mess. Mike would help, but that wasn't the point. Kaz was distracted by the family, mostly by Dusty holding the baby.

"Wow! Like everyone's here. Hi guys! Oh, you weren't leaving already, were you? I never see any of you guys anymore!" Reigna pouted as she came to the open door just as Wendy, Julien and his brother were leaving. She'd seen Mike's sisters on the way in, but didn't know them really to stop and talk. "Guess I just shoulda come sooner, huh? I brought something too. Well, kinda stupid, but I thought you could use it." The small box she had wasn't wrapped or fancy, holding a fire extinguisher and some first aid things. "One thing I've learned in my family, anyway... can't ever be too careful, you know?"

As they head out the door, Wendy couldn't resist one last tease. "Is the toaster fairy related to the microwave fairy?" Her laughter trailed behind them as she wrapped her arms around Julien.

Dusty mocked Ysa with a toss of his sandy and shaggy hair. "Get your own. psssh." He curled the baby up and himself down over it as if guarding it from Ysa. "Don't worry, uncle Dusty won't let that icky Ysa touch you. That's right.. uncle Dusty is your favorite, you only want me to hold you." He cooed, eyeing Ysa playfully like she was going to snatch the baby from him. Though to his credit he held the baby firmly, yet gently and supported.

Hailey shook her head a little at her family and their antics, she was quite used to it though Damien wasn't. "Honey.. we might be living off toast for awhile.. you do like my toast don't you?" She teased, Damien, tugging his shirt a little to 'steal' his attention for herself for a moment. "Rei.. my cooking is not that bad.. is it honey?" She teased her sister and tugged at her husband again, smiling happily at them both.

"Hailey's almost as good at partially burnt toast as I am." Ysa put in with a chuckle, stepping closer to Dusty. "And if you won't give up the baby you're just going to have to stand there and deal with it while I get a little mushy. Oh you're so adorable..." This last was directed at the baby as she came closer, letting one of her fingers be grabbed in a tiny fist. "Good thing you take after your mom, huh?" She shot Kaz a grin, though he'd been known to say the same himself.

[Lovely]

"Trust me, it's a great gift, Rei, thank you. Just don't let me near that toaster or we may have to use it." Damien was sure she meant well and didn't want to see her upset, or Hailey thinking it was an insult to her either. Seeing any of them turn a mood could be bad, especially since he didn't know if they had a mop - or that many bandaids in the case Reigna brought them. In any case, a fire extinguisher put him at ease given past events and the last real home he'd ever known. He'd just have to put it where Bianca wouldn't see it right off. All that aside, his attention was gathered with his shirt into Hailey's fist and he rolled her away from the others for a private moment. "Although, given a few minutes alone with you when they all go home... I might need it anyway," he muttered, reaching down to steal a kiss before Mike came back in to join them all.

"Sirocco.. earth to Sirocco...Dusty, c'mon, let her hold the kid and lend me a hand here. I can't hold the leg and screw at the same time," Kaz said, trying to manage the pieces of the table and the tools. He was too focused to hear what he'd said while trying not to mar the polished wood.

Dusty busted out laughing -queitly- at Kaz's comment. "Oh little buddy, I'm sorry you're going to be an only child. You're daddy is challenged. With issues like that you're lucky to be here." He looked over at Kaz with a big ass grin on his face. "Makes me wonder why Xen puts up with you, she must be a very understanding woman.. but you know.. I can't ignore a cry for help, you need me to come by your place tonight? Demonstrate how it's done.. maybe just give you a hand till you can do it on your own?" It was probably good that he was holding the baby, because Kaz might have hit him with a table leg. Dusty was only teasing of course and since Kaz had opened himself up for it.. Dusty sighed and pouted, slowly uncurling his nephew and holding the baby out to Ysa.

Hailey returned the kiss to Damien as they hid in the hall for their private moment. She didn't let him go right away, looking up at him with a slightly wicked smile. "Maybe you're going to need it right now..." She tugged him back down for what was meant to be 'one hot kiss'.

Ysa tried to stifle a giggle and failed, shaking her head as she reached out to gently take the baby from Dusty. "You're sure we're related to him, right?" She asked Kaz, glancing over at Dusty. "I was always a big fan of the 'left on our doorstep by monkeys' theory."

Even as she spoke she smiled at the baby, making faces at him. "Is that right? Was Uncle Dusty left here by monkeys?"

"I wonder myself, sometimes," Kaz groaned, feeling the boomerang effect of the commentary and almost wishing he'd stayed home. "No, you're not demonstrating anything with Xen, thanks. Just get over here and hold this, would ya? Hey!" He couldn't help it, seeing the merged lip-locked shadow of Damien and Hailey... Could they wait until the place cleared out at least? They had all the time in the world after that.

"I didn't hear that, did you?" Damien chuckled quietly as he slowly moved back from the heated kiss. He peeked around the corner briefly... everything was fine. He laughed a little and turned back for a little more attention from Hailey, ignoring Kaz's discomfort. They both had to get used to this. "Nope, not a thing...," he murmured back, letting the airflow carry the murmurs and teases from the other room away from their private moment.

Hailey was afraid Kaz's comment to them would draw Damien away from her in an uncomfortable moment, but instead he stayed close and leaned in for more kisses, even teasing about it a little. She really couldn't be happier in that moment, wrapping her arms around Damien and giving him a small smile. "Nope.. I don't hear or see anything but you." She lifted up on tip toe to kiss him some more, something she didn't think she'd ever get tired of doing.

Dusty laughed softly at both Kaz and Ysa, first making some monkey sounds and scratching himself, dragging his hands down as he shuffled over to help with the dining set. "Lighten up.. you are way too tense.. Hey! Maybe you and Xen need a night together.. you know so you practice the leg holding move? I would totally babysit for you guys anytime you want some couple time." He looked at Kaz, almost with a puppydog expression, he was serious about the offer even if it was made with some teasing to it.

"You just want an excuse to hog the baby some more." Ysa accused, holding the baby in question close and breathing deep. She'd always loved that soft baby scent.

[Lovely]

"Like any of you need any more excuses for anything?" Kaz was thankful he had an 'out' from talking about his homelife with Xen for a minute. He somehow felt safer having Ysa holding Kenzie now. "Babysitting is welcome anytime, thanks. Kenzie's too young to know what kind of freaks you are right now, anyway," he teased, giving Dusty a look that he really didn't mean that - he was sincere that the offer was really welcomed. "If you're serious, we may take you up on it. Now hold that like that, thanks," he said, deciding not to mention any more parts out loud as Dusty helped with the table leg and he worked the wrench to tighten it in place.

"I'm so pursecuted.." He mumbled under his breath, shaking his head and looking up at Ysa. "At least I didn't bully my way into holding him. Your arms getting tired yet?" He knocked Kaz's arm lightly and grinned. "Hush you." He held the leg the way Kaz needed it and let him crank his wrench for a few minutes without commentary. "Oh, yeah I was serious about the offer. I'd love to, anytime.. I used to love having Hailey around. Not that I don't love having her around now.. How could you let me say that?" He teased to Kaz, as if his brother could stop him from saying anything.

"Nope." Ysa flashed Dusty a smile, most of her attention still on Kenzie. "Hey Kaz, ditto on the babysitting thing. You know...in case monkeyboy isn't available." One of the nice things about holding the baby was that it meant you were relatively safe from retaliation.

They were both safe only as long as Kenzie was within reach. Paybacks could happen, and probably would, when they least expected it. "Great. We'll draw straws or something. Poor kid being fought over by a circus," Kaz said, wincing as he struck a knuckle on the hardware. He mostly ignored it and the monkeying around, though he glanced up toward Hailey and Damien occasionally and kept an eye out for Mike. The table was about ready to set up and he'd rather have Mike's help with that part.

"Nah, no need for that. Really I wasn't trying to start a competition or anything over it. I was just making an offer to be nice and help out.. no big. Ysa can watch Kenzie." Dusty said with none of his usual teasing in his voice. It wasn't often that he actually stopped kidding around or made a genuine show of caring for his siblings, Dusty was the clown. The wise ass, the one none of them took seriously, the screw up.. but with eight siblings it was easy to get lost and just stay in the role they saw you as. "You about set with this Kaz? I think I'll take off once you are."

Mike came down the stairs and through the hall, voicing a low. "Get a room.." to Hailey and Dam as he chuckled his way past them. He'd just set up an important piece of their room.. which by the looks of how close annd cuddly they were, they were going to need it.

This time Damien did hear the poking comments and chuckled, slipping out of Hailey's embrace just little as Mike walked by. He cleared his throat a little. "Maybe we should play host just a little longer, then we can get settled in, okay?" He smiled and tossed her another kiss before sliding back around the corner into the main room with his in-laws. Thank god Mike was still here.

The change in Dusty's tone wasn't lost on his brother. "How about a couple hours tomorrow night? I think Xen and me could both use a little downtime," Kaz mentioned to Dusty without sarcasm or smirks as he stood to test the table legs to be sure they'd hold. It was true he hadn't spent a lot of time with Dusty or Zeph lately as a brother and not the crazed manic General trying to keep everyone in line, not that that ever worked anyway. Here he'd tried to keep Hailey from even dating and now she had a husband! So much had happened around him that he'd let slip away it seemed. He didn't want his family to suffer through that any more than it had already over the years. It was only right Kenzie should be part of his sibling's lives and they should be part of his... and Kaz's own. He scratched his head with the tip of the wrench. "Good to go. Get this set up, maybe I'll head out with you."

[Lovely]

Dusty didn't realize at first that Kaz was talking to him, he figured he was asking Ysa to do it. He blinked at his brother, seeming confused for a moment and then he slowly nodded his head. "Sure, I mean if you want me to.. yeah, I'd love to.." He was kind of shocked into being quiet again, watching his brother.

Mike folded his arms and looked at Kaz and Dusty and the table. "Do you need a hand setting it upright?" He offered, turning over his shoulder to give Dam a small smile as he came back into the room after uncoupling from Hailey.

Hailey pouted just slightly as Damien slipped away, but he was right -they did need to pay more attention to their family which had come to visit. She straightened herself out, out of habit and followed him back into the other room a couple moments later. She had a bright smile for everyone and bit her lip as she looked at Ysa holding the baby. "Kaz.." She started softly, looking to see that she had his attention. "..would.. it be alright.. if I held Kenzie for a little bit before you go?" She'd heard him say he was going and it sounded like it might be soon. She looked at him a bit pleadingly, fearful he might actually say no.

Something in Hailey's soft tone made Ysa notice even through the baby-haze. She moved over towards her sister, watching with delight as Kenzie reached out a little hand towards Hailey. Still, Hailey sounded reluctant so she waited for Kaz's word instead of just handing the baby over.

Rather than rupture anything, Kaz opted for Mike's help turning the table up where it would live. "All yours..," he nodded to the man, getting out of the way and turning to nod to his sisters, though those 'allergies' weren't quitting just yet. "Brought him by hoping you would, Hail. Think you'll make a proud mama when the time comes. Want to make sure you know what you need to know since I ... you know... haven't really talked much about..," he said, trying not to sniffle though he couldn't help himself, quickly darting his sleeve over his eyes.

Once Kaz gave his okay, Hailey reached to take the baby from Ysa, curling him up to her chest with one arm around and under him for support and the other reaching to stroke his soft cheeks and tiny fingers. "Wow... he's just beautiful.." She sighed with a smile that showed she'd fallen instantly in love with the little person she held. Thinking about what Kaz had just said and how she felt right now made her blush a little... was she actually thinking that she wanted a baby?

Damien agreed, watching Hailey light up and simply beam as she held her nephew so tenderly it nearly took his breath away. "Awww, yeah he is. Hey tiger, how ya doin', huh?" He muttered at the little bundle, offering a finger for the boy to clench hold of. He looked up at Kaz who was hovering nearby and saw the wibble of his lip. He'd figured out what was wrong with the man. "You know Hail, we could go try to make our own now," he said enough for them both to hear. He was saying it only partly to tease Kazuki. Seeing how much more beautiful and happy Hailey was with the boy, he couldn't help but think it out loud.

"Hey. Not in front of the children," Kaz said, reaching to cover Hailey's ears but stopping and reaching for Kenzie instead.

"Really?" Hailey replied softly, glancing up at Damien with awe, excitement, joy, and hope in her eyes. She blushed and then giggled as Kaz first started to cover her ears then reached down to cover the baby's. "Awww.. how sweet.." She teased her brother, looking between Kaz, Damien, and Kenzie and trying not to get all misty eyed at her beautiful nephew and the thought of her and Damien having one of their own.

[Lovely]

"That does it. You... behave... at least until I can't hear either one of you." He kissed Hailey on the cheek as he tried to gently wrestle Kenzie free to take the boy home to Xenova. Kaz had to get over being protective big brother and start being supportive big brother. Approving of Damien helped a great deal though he wasn't going to hug the man or anything. He had feared she was going to end up with Rod or even worse.

"Well I should get going too." Ysa leaned in to hug Hailey, lowering her voice just a bit. "For what it's worth, I think you'd make an awesome mom." She said, smiling as she pulled back again. It was clear that she and Damien were very much in love, and although they were young she knew they'd make a good home for any children they had.

Damien laughed at both of Hail's siblings. "C'mon, you don't have to leave too, just because spoilsport here can't handle anyone talking about sex in front of him." He counted a few seconds, waiting for Kaz to cringe.

"Um.. okay.." Hailey said softly, pouting a little as Kaz took the baby away so quickly, she couldn't help thinking she'd said or done something wrong.

She just blushed deeply at Ysa's comment, she'd almost forgotten her sister was there as she got wrapped up in the baby and thoughts of her own. "Uh.. thanks." She managed to whisper feeling totally on the spot and embarrassed. Kaz teasing her and being there for more personal things was one thing, she was totally close to him. She was not as close with Ysa to not feel slightly awkward about the openly discussed topic of her having a baby of her own. Then there was Damien's comment and she felt even more embarrassed... Talk about an awkward moment. "How about we just not talk about se.. that subject right now.. please."

Damien started to laugh and stepped outside their little clutch. "Ysa, you don't have to go, seriously.If the girls want to talk about babies and where they come from, that's fine by me. If Kaz just doesn't want to learn, hey, that's not my problem. Us big boys, we can handle it. Just don't overdo the talk about the stretchmarks and the bra size. Wouldn't want to make him more uncomfortable or anything."

"Ysa... could you do me a favor and freeze his tongue?" She teased and blushed, giving Damien a look for all the enjoyment he was getting out of teasing them all. "You wait mister.. when they leave.. you are sooooo in for it!" She warned him playfully.

The snort Kaz uttered was like a badger being poked with a stick, somewhere between a snarl of disgust and a desire to join in the play, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it in front of Hailey. She would always be the baby sister, despite the wedding... and the new home... and the bed... oh good god enough already! "That's it! Okay. C'mon Kenzie. Say goodnight to your crazy aunts and the uncle I'll get even with later," he grumbled, trying to smile and not let his building ionic charge tempt him to use it on Dam.

"I probably could." Ysa considered, tilting her head to look at Damien with a wicked grin. "But then I sorta think you'll be needing that." Of course, she made sure she was far enough away from Kaz before teasing that way. He wasn't altogether comfortable with the idea of Hailey...well, being a grownup.

"Hmm... you can bet she will," Damien agreed about his tongue, kissing Hailey's cheek and expecting her to slug him.. hard. "It's been an absolute pleasure, so sorry you both reaaaally need to go now." He smiled, hinting that it was all going to get much much worse in a matter of moments and he'd rather tease Hailey alone and ... well, get some really good use from their new gifts.

She didn't slug him but rather blushed and giggled, curling around him to hide her face in his neck while she took a moment to recover. Hailey snuck in a little nibble while hiding there and whispered. "You're so going to be in trouble when they leave."

[Lovely]

August 10, 2007 - 4 p.m.

The afternoon had been uneventful and hot. There wasn't a stray cloud or even a hint of a breeze enough to blow the bees around. It wasn't the kind of day that Stephen got a report like this across his desk. It wasn't even his kind of report, or so he thought until he looked further down to the contact information next to the words that always iced his spine. The location was one he knew well. The bottom dropped from his chest.

Procedure was to call first, though the reaction was almost always the same and he never knew what to say. He sat back in his chair, rocking away from the phone, looking at it like a viper on a box, daring him to pick it up and dial. The time on the wall told him he had to make the call quickly and probably arrange a trip before office hours ended, though. He sighed and inched forward. There were few things he hated more about his job than right now, pressing the numbers and hearing the ringing on the line and in his ears, this time waiting for one Miss Hailey Laurentiu to answer the phone...

Hailey was busy cleaning their kitchen which was really a fully stocked kitchen, complete with appliances and food. They kept the dishes that Julien, his brother, and Wendy had given them even if they were second hand. They worked just fine and Hailey actually liked that they weren't all brand new. She was in a good mood and humming as she loaded the dishwasher, hearing the phone ring as she closed the door and set the cycle. She bit her lip wondering who would be calling and walked over to pick up the extention that was on the wall between the kitchen and the living room. "Hello." She spoke in a friendly tone, reflective of her bright mood.

"Afternoon miss. Officer Warner, Denver police calling. May I speak with.. Hailey.. Laurentiu, please?" He was kind, but direct, hoping he hadn't butchered the name too badly. He was going to know it like his own by the time he was done with his own reports.

She was silent and scared in an instant, just having the police call her was unnerving, nevermind what they might actually want her for. "Um.. hello.. this.. It's Resher now, my last name.. I'm married.. but this is.. Hailey." She stumbled over her words, realizing for all she thought she had herself together it crashed in a moment and she was back to feeling insecure and uncertain.

"Thank you, Misses Resher, I'll make note of that. I'm calling to confirm some information in relation to an investigation please. Are you, Hailey, the sister of a Miss Kristil Laurentiu...," he asked, including the address of a downtown apartment. "We.. may need you to come downtown, Misses Resher. There's been an accident."

"What!? Oh my god.. is she okay.. oh no.. I .. yes, yes.. I'm her sister.. where.." She stumbled over her words yet flew through the broken statements so fast. She felt herself shaking, Kristil was hurt, she had to be or she would have called herself, b*tching about whatever had happened. "What.. what kind of accident? Is she in the hospital?" Hailey leaned against the wall, wishing for once one of her many other siblings was there.

Stephen's long silence said more than stating it clearly and bluntly might have. There was no humor, nor was there any bite to his words, just a coating of empathy and understanding. He hated this part the most. "I'm sorry, Misses Resher. Should I send a cab for you?"

"I.. I.." Her voice was faint as she felt herself slide down the wall to crumple on the floor, shocked silence hung in the air while she held the phone -barely- to her ear. "No." The word came quietly as she stared ahead, seeing nothing. "I'll get someone to drive me... " Her voice felt like it belonged to someone else, belonged somewhere else, this wasn't really happening was it? If Kris was in the hospital he would of just said yes, or said no she's not injured, which only really left one conclusion... "Kaz!" It felt like she screamed but her voice was a soft squeak. "Damien!" She needed him, them, both.. the two most important people to her.. Kris may have been b*tchy and distant and cold at times but she was the closest thing Hailey had to a mother... the phone fell from her hand, clattering against the tile of the floor.

"Miss Laur-... Resher? Misses Resher are you there? Hello? Hailey, I'm sorry. I understand. Look, the office closes at 6. Are you there?" Stephen heard the clunk of the handset and assumed that even if she was there, she wasn't hearing him anymore. Maybe she heard what he said about the time. If they looked it up, information would tell them the same. He hung up the phone and called a deputy over to relay a message that someone would be down for identification. He'd wait for them since the doors would be locked. He would stay for a while by the phone in case she called back, in case anyone called. He needed to call Daegan, too. This was her turf, her issue all over, another mutant dead by mysteriously 'normal' circumstances. Whatever the reason, however it happened, it happened. Despite that, any way he could he needed to keep the mutant part out of the media's hands. Grieving families had enough to muddle through. Mutant families had their own. Put the two together and sure it made for a great headline, but the last thing he needed or wanted was either... any... side of a mutant cause breathing down the precinct's neck for answers and propaganda. "A media circus," he sighed, looking over Kristil's file realizing the media had it already - she was part of it. Perhaps they didn't know her background, but he found that unlikely. Her brother was known and registered which only convinced him more that this could get really messy - at warp speed. He pulled the phone around and dialed Daegan. She had to get in on this right away.

"Damien.." She said it a little louder now, the dam of tears bursting and the sobs taking over as she curled on the floor, rolling herself up in a tight ball. She didn't hear the man on the phone anymore.

[Lovely]

"Yeah?! What? What's wrong?" He couldn't even begin to estimate the scope of 'wrong' at the moment. Damien came around the corner then saw her. He put the tape measure down, missing the counter and it plummeted to the floor. He didn't care if it broke. He dove to where Hailey was propped on the floor, hands out and looking for injuries and blood. Did she cut herself? Did she fall? Worse thoughts, still. Was she attacked? Was someone scoping her telepathically? His brow knotted as he gave her the instantaneous once-over and held his arms open for her to crawl into. His jaw worked over questions he was still forming and the phone started squawking beside her, alerting them that the line was off the hook. "What is it? Who was that?"

"Son of a... XEN! Where's the bandaids?" The hand he sliced when the screwdriver slipped and the whole of the shelf he was putting up for the DVDs arced and glowed in an eerie bright blue, lighthing up him and the wall despite the warm ray of sunshine that brightened the room already. "A disturbance in the force, my ass," Kaz grumbled, looking at the shelf for scorch marks and warping as he sucked on the scratch on his hand. More sparks buzzed around his fingers and lips as he put the tools and pieces down then went off in search of something for the bleeding. "Xen? Did you feel that?" If she didn't feel it, she and most of the school would hear it, the thunder rolling in the distance and getting louder.

Hailey's head was shaking a slow dazed 'no' as she tried to find words to tell him what had happened. When Damien held his arms open it took her a moment to move forward, that's how lost she felt. "Damien.." That was as far as she got before she started to cry harder, curling into his embrace. "That.. was.. police.. Detective.. Denver.. Kristil.. an accident.. She's.. she's.." Hailey stammered and choked on her words between sobs, trying to tell him that she was sure her sister was dead. "Kaz... I need.. have to.. tell.. please.. "

Xen came out of the other room followed by the noise of their son fussing softly. "He was almost asleep.. I think the whole state heard you.." She smiled though and came toward him, seeing how he held his hand. "Ohh what did you do? Are you alright?" She went into fussing over him mode, easily switching from doting on the baby to doting on Kaz, even if he was a big tough man.

Her hair had grown quite long and instead of cutting it short again she'd left it, the waves spilling loosely over her shoulders and down her back. Xen tucked a few strands behind her ear then held her hands out for his so she could see the damage.

"Hailey, slow down. It's okay," Damien said, hugging her to him and feeling the puffs of her sobs against his shoulder. No, it wasn't okay and didn't sound like it was going to turn out okay. The police calling was never a good thing. They used to come to the door, didn't they? Not enough staff, probably, or not enough to care. He tried not to get angry about it. There would be time for that later. Right now Hailey needed him and her brother. He picked up the phone and tested it for the tone. It wasn't broken, thankfully. He dialed Kazuki's number and held the phone with his shoulder so he could hold her better. "I'm calling him right now, okay? Just..." What? Hold on and keep holding. He was there for her like he'd promised her and wasn't going anywhere.


Kaz grumped another moment as a pouting puppy before giving over the wounded hand for a bit of TLC. "It's fine. It doesn't even hurt that much. It was a weird twinge, though. You didn't feel it? Maybe it's just a plain summer storm... somethin'." It had been something he couldn't place. The day felt normal until a few moments before he'd felt the twinge. The ions hadn't surged like that since the cat kids showed up and usually only stirred up that much around him when he'd tied Kristil in knots over some dumb argument... or Rei or Dusty or Hailey. The phone rang just then and a chill went down his back. He stared at it then at his hand. "Can you grab that? Let me get this wrapped up."

Hailey clung to Damien, gripping his shirt in one hand and his arm with the other. Her sobs shook her and she didn't try to explain anything more for the moment, just held onto him and let some of the anguish pour out.

Xen didn't have much time to fuss over Kaz before the phone rang and she sighed softly. "Okay, I got it.. go take care of your hand. I'll be there in a minute if you need a ha.. if you need help." She laughed softly and went to answer the phone. "Hello." She spoke into the reciever as she brought it to her ear.

His voice stung in his throat as he tried not to lose it, himself. The friends he'd lost... his own family being torn apart.. he understood enough to know the empty painful place Hailey was in at the moment. "Xen, hey.. it's... it's Damien. Um, listen, is Kaz around? We kinda need him to come over. Now. You might want to come, too. It's... something's come up. Something bad."

[Lovely]

"Um.... hang on, I'll get Kaz on the phone." Xen didn't know what to say or anything with given only 'something bad happened' for a reason. That could be any number of things and going into a panic without knowing what 'bad' was, wouldn't do any good. She was used to 'bad' with her aunt for the years she'd taken care of her and knew how wide open the word bad could be. She walked back down the hall. "Kaz, Damien's on the phone.. here." She held it out as she walked into the other room.

Hailey continued to cry and cling to Damien, somewhat curling into a ball, unable to speak or do anything more.

"Yeah..?" Kaz was listening, but distracted by trying to get Snoopy to stay put on the part of his hand where bandaids just never wanted to stick. A wadded cotton ball and a strip of gauze tape had been wound around his hand on top of it leaving only Snoopy's dancing feet showing. "Eh, it'll do," he sighed, giving up on the injury that had at least stopped bleeding. "What's up. Hailey okay?"

"No. No, she's not. We just got a call about Kristil and the police want us down in Denver right away. I don't know all of it yet, but it sounds like there was an accident. The police don't call, you know... not if..," he didn't want to say any more with Hailey already sobbing in his lap. Kaz could figure it out. "You better come on over. I'll try to get a hold of the others, but Hailey really needs you."

"Damnit," Kaz muttered, getting the same feeling Damien was, but hoping there was a mistake. The surge made sense now. "On our way, just stay with her Damien." Kaz hung up. He couldn't see for a moment, but couldn't lose it completely though he went from wounded puppy to snarling hound on a mission for information. He left the phone on the counter and went to the other room to wrap himself around Xen for any feeling of something real. "Hey, wrap up Kenz. We gotta go to Hailey's and round up the troops. There's been an accident, maybe worse."

Xen tried to hug Kaz back as he came in and wrapped around her but it was brief and he was telling her they had to go. "Okay." She said softly. "I'll go get him ready." She let her hand rest on his arm for a moment, not saying anything but trying to let him know she was there for him.

Damien heard the line disconnect but the phone was slow to move down from his ear. Who did he need to call and what else did he need to do? "Hailey? He'll be here. I'm here." What else could he say right now? He curled around her and held her while he warred with it all - rage, pain, that strange empty feeling that wasn't going away. He wanted to lash out, he wanted to find whoever had hurt her family, he needed to turn back time and change this moment, but there was nothing in his power at the moment he could do except remind her he loved her and would help her ride through this pain somehow. They needed to leave as soon as Kaz arrived, though.

Her fingers dug into him, clutching at his arm which was wrapped around her. Hailey nodded to his words as another sob curled her tighter in his lap. She needed him, she needed Kaz.. she needed this not to be happening. "Damien.." She whispered softly, begging him to make it better somehow, to take away the pain.

It's okay... those words were the natural rebuttal to anything and everything and they wanted to slip out so easily, but he couldn't make them ring true, no matter how hard he wanted to. He hugged her tight a moment and looked at the phone again. Ysa, Misty, the twins, Dusty... "Hailey, I'm sorry, but I need to call, okay? I'm not going anywhere and Kaz is on his way. Everyone will be here that can be and we'll go. Just a couple calls left, almost done," Damien said, dialing Ysa first. Hopefully she could grab Rei and maybe get a hold of one or two of the others for him.

"What?" Hailey lifted her head, stunned, shocked, confused and her head spinning through a thick fog. "No!" She nearly screamed it and her hand swiped at the phone, a loud crackling sound followed and the phone began to smoke as her discharge fried the reciever. "Calls? You're friggin making phone calls?" She was crawling backward away from him, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe it. Kaz.. she'd only asked for Kaz.. Damien and Kaz were all she had wanted and needed. Of course now she was moving away from Damien, not understanding how he could want to call other people at a time like this! "I don't need everyone.. I don't want everyone here! They don't need to be called.. they don't need to come and make it worse than it already is!" She was crying and yelling and scooting back along the floor, trying to use the wall to get to her feet.

"Oo-kay. I guess I'm not," Damien said, his hand suspended in air, somewhat shocked by that response. His own guard was up and he was warring with it, reminding himself she wasn't attacking him, just responding to a whacked situation. "I thought maybe the family might want to know, Hail, that's all. I'm sorry," he explained carefully, watching her move away like she was trying not to drown in whatever emotion held on tightest in each passing moment. His palm turned toward the damaged receiver and the smoke stood still then dissolved, the circuits deprived of any more air to spark into flames. "Kaz will be here, he's on his way, okay? No calls, just you, me, Kaz... though.." He wasn't sure if Xen was coming with him and he was less sure that mentioning that was a good idea right now.

"Know what? They don't need to know until we have something to tell them! Haven't you met them? You want them all to rush here in a panic? .. oh yeah.. that will be just frickin great.. that will help me calm down.." Her hands raked back into her hair and smeared tears over her cheeks. "We're not calling them until we know for sure what to tell them. Calling them before we go to the police station will only cause a frigging riot!" Arcs of blue like those which were seen when her powers had that major leap back in January started to spark off her fingers.

"Hail... I hear what you're saying, okay? I'm not calling anyone now," he showed her, like he was in an arrest and being asked to put a loaded weapon down.. although what he'd been holding was already down in a heap of melted wires and plastic and the loaded weapon was the one disarming him. The sparks building from her anxiety were large and the air was beginning to smell sweet with the ozone charge collecting around them. Damien held his hands out to her, inviting her back into the safety of his embrace, but right now he wondered how safe it would be if she touched him. A willing participant in this experiment, he rose and came closer. "Just us, alright?"

[Lovely]

August 24, 2007
4:30pm
Mike Resher's Home

She'd stopped the car near the end of the street and sat there for several minutes questioning herself and what she was doing, asking if this was a bad idea and if she'd be making things worse for her children by showing up here. Where else did she have to go, where else did she want to go? The answer was nowhere, she'd already spent far too much time being estranged from them due to circumstance rather than choice. With the question answered, Sari drove the car to the house whose number matched the one on the last letter she had recieved from Mike and parked in the small driveway.

She approached the door nervously, though Colena wrote to her fairly regularly and Keith and Mike did once in awhile, she hadn't heard from any of the others since they had left. Colena's letters kept her informed about the progress in finding the others and she was relieved each time news came that one of their siblings had been reunited with them. She'd stayed away, kept her distance, telling herself she had no right to be a part of their lives and that she should just be grateful that she had what little contact she did have.

She rang the bell, chewing her lip as she waited to see if Mike was home and if he'd answer, her nerves were on edge as she waited what felt like an eternity for the door to open. When it finally did, she mustered up a smile and held her hands clasped together in front of her. "Hello Michael.." She spoke softly, staring at the tall man in the doorway who looked completely shocked to see her.

"M-m.. mo.. mom.. wha.. what are.. " Mike had expected it to be Col or Dam or even Keith or Bia coming to bug him for something or just visit and tease him. The person who stood on the small porch totally threw him for a loop. He was shocked beyond words and thought and just stared at her for a long moment. His cell phone rose out of his pocket and dialed Damien, floating up to his ear as he continued to stare at his mother.

He was certain they both jumped when the phone rang. Damien was closer this time. He was pretty sure Hailey had had enough surprises anyway. He put his puzzle game on pause and went to answer it. There was a moment of hesitation... training... blank your thoughts, flatten your tone... nothing is going on in the background, ever. "Hello?" He sought out sounds on the other end... cell phone?... land line?... was there traffic or other background noise? He couldn't tell much at the moment as he listened and watched Hailey. What kind of news was this going to be this time, he wondered.

The woman standing in front of him gave him a nervous smile, though it shone with her warmth and her sadness and her regret. Mike was surprised by how much that expression affected him. "Dam.." His voice was a little hoarse sounding, for once mister unemotional couldn't keep it under control. "Get over here.. now.. right now."

Something was wrong. Dam heard it but couldn't figure it out, yet. "Mike? What... what is it?" He straightened up and listened harder, looking for something to write with in case there was only time for a message. He glanced over at Hailey, relaying his concern in his expression. God, not another call like this, he sighed quietly, hoping it wasn't more bad news. Whatever it was, Mike was shaken... and he never shook. "Go on... tell me."

"Just.. get over here now." He had tried to clear his throat but it didn't help his voice to be steady. He hung up the phone, staring at the woman in his doorway with a dumbfounded expression on his face. He'd never expected her to show up on his doorstep unannounced.. or even announced.

"Mike?! Hello? Hel-... Damnit." The phone went silent and he slammed it down. He was breathing roughly, nervous, anxious... something made the air stir strangely and he never got feelings like that. "We gotta go," he said quietly, sternly, putting the pen down and going off to find his boots.

Hailey looked up from the book she was reading as Damien answered the phone and had gently set it aside, watching him with growing concern. She had no idea really why he was upset but he was and it upset her. She nearly tripped herself in her hurry to get up and get her shoes on, feeling all frazzled and worried.

"Something's definitely up," Damien said, tugging the lace of his boot tighter as Hailey came up behind him. "I don't get it. Nothing, just 'get over here'? It didn't sound like he was hurt. It didn't sound like a trap or anything ... Mike wouldn't put up with that blackmail crap anyway. Are you ready?" He wasn't seeing beyond his nose, reading in his mind anything that made sense why Mike would have sounded like that and not said anything else. He glanced at Hailey and started off.

"I.. I don't know.." Hailey stammered quietly, following behind Damien as quickly as she could. He really wasn't going to wait for her if she wasn't ready and he was totally focused.. he kind of scared her a little when he got all intense like that. "Dam.." She said his name as she came up beside him, reaching for his hand. she didn't want the touch to startle him but wanted to be supportive.

"Huh?" He turned and even smiled a little as her hand wrapped in his. "Sorry. I just have no idea either. I'm not sure we're up for bad surprises but... well you know your sibs pretty well enough to know how they say things without really saying something? This was... kinda like awe or ... like he wasn't able to say anything because he couldn't... you know, like he just couldn't find the words? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it is bad. But, what kinda bad is bad enough to call about but not say anything about, right?"

Hailey gave a supportive smile, trying to be reassuring, her hand tightening around his just a little to let him know she was there for him whatever it was. She knew it must be quite nerve wrecking for him not to know and be called over mysteriously and for Mike to be upset enough to show it.. she did know him enough to know he didn't show emotions much. Hailey swallowed and took a deep breath. "Whatever it is, he needs us and we'll figure it out together."

*****************************************

Damien didn't want to let go. He'd been afraid for her and for Colena when he'd left. He did let go and stepped back to an easier space, taking Hailey's hand again. "I'm sorry too. So where is he? You left him... that means that sonufab*tch is still alive then," he said coldly, directing his anger where it should have gone.

"I don't want to let go." Sari murmured to Damien's ear, saying it for them both as she slowly pulled back, she wiped her eyes and squared her shoulders up a bit, glancing to Hailey with a small warm smile as Damien took her hand again. Sari looked back to Damien and dried her cheeks. "Probably at the bottom of a bottle, that's where he's spent alot of his time in the past few years. It took me a long time to feel strong and brave enough to leave him, even after I sent Colena to live with Mike... I'm not making excuses or asking you to forgive me or understand.. but he was my husband for thirty years. When I found out that he'd lied about what had happened to you all.. I was devastated, I felt like.. I did fail you.. and I thought I was no better than he was for that.. I thought I deserved to be there with him, to be miserable and live with the choice I'd made.. and the mistakes.. I was just.. very lost." She looked to her son, her eyes just taking in the man he was now, though she could still see the boy she'd loved so much.

Damien nodded after a moment. Forgive, maybe, but forget, never. He would do his best not to be angry for now. He looked up at Mike. "Sooo... what's for dinner?" He cracked a bit of a smile. "And I am sooo not washing dishes."

Sari shook her head a bit, wrapping her arms around herself. "You don't have to stay and pretend.. I think your brother just wanted you to know I was here. I understand.." It hurt, more than she'd ever be able to say but she felt like she deserved to hurt, she deserved to be hated by him, by them all.

Mike wasn't thinking about food or eating or dinner and stared blankly at Damien for a moment, thrown way more than he should have been by the question. "I don't know.. I.. um.. I have to call Col, she'll never forgive me if I don't.." He swallowed, still trying to get himself back to normal, having is mother in his living room was far from normal.

Hailey tugged on Damien's hand a little as if to remind him that she was standing there next to him. Of course she'd never met his mother before and she felt awkward standing there, not feeling like she could say anything and not wanting to get into the middle of what they needed to say to each other.

Damien shrugged, looking back at Mom. "Growing boys, you know? Your grandson? Maybe another grandson or grand daughter sometime soon? I shouldn't put her on the spot like that. This... this is my wife, Hailey," he said quietly, smiling warmly for the girl by his side. He was more choked up than he wanted to admit and his voice crackled with the pride of something he never thought he'd have the pleasure to say. It wasn't going away as he returned the introduction for the woman. His lip quivered again and he almost couldn't get the words out. "Hail... this is my mom."

"I haven't met any of the grand children yet.." Sari answered quietly, feeling flushed and awkward as she was put on the spot as well as the young woman beside Damien. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Hailey. I'm so happy I got the chance to.. " For a long time she hadn't thought she'd ever get to see her children again, never mind meeting their children and spouses. "She's beautiful Damien.. just beautiful.." Her voice was quiet as she turned her words back to him and her gaze, her smile warm and her eyes shining with pride. It wasn't really her place to judge any decision they made but she felt full of joy and so proud that he'd found someone who made him happy.

Hailey took the woman's hand gently though she held it firmly and she smiled back, finding she had a warm smile like Damien did when he was happy. "It's nice to meet you too." She blushed on top of a blush, on top of a blush -her cheeks were very warm, between Damien's comment and the way he looked at her when he introduced her and his mother telling him she was beautiful.

He'd really put them all on the spot... and here it was Mike's cryptic call that had put him on the edge. Damien chuckled, his head shaking a little. "You know, even together we have a hard time keeping it together. Um... I wouldn't exactly expect to see Bianca, but we should really tell her too, don't you think?"

Mike looked at him funny, it wasn't as if he wasn't going to tell the others, it was just that Col had been in contact with their mother and if he didn't at least call to tell her.. well little sisters could be fussy. "I planned to and to call Keith and Kat as well... hadn't exactly planned on a big family dinner but... I guess we have reason enough for one now, don't we?" He smiled, looking between Damien and their mother with an expression of awe on his face. He shook his head as if trying to shake himself out of it and moved to grab the house phone. "Um.. Mikey's in his room playing.. if you want to go get him and bring him out to meet mom."

Hailey chewed at her lip, feeling a little lost in all of this but with her recent loss she was only just starting to get back to a normal routine herself. Thankfully her family was big and chaotic so she was used to dealing with sudden crowds and surprises and things that threw you for a loop.

As much as it was overwhelming for them it was for her as well, Sari hadn't really known what to expect by coming here but she'd known she couldn't stay away either. She took in a deep breath smiling at her two boys and Hailey, she wondered how Mike was doing. He'd told her in a previous letter about losing another fiance and her heart had ached for him.

"You want to come get Mikey with me?" Damien offered as he took a step toward the boy's room. He didn't feel right leaving either one of them alone at the moment. This was too weird... a wonderful weird and he didn't know what to think. "Unless... Hailey... do you want to do the honor?"

Hailey loved babies and really did want one with Damien but with everything going on they hadn't really done any family planning, his comment earlier had her thinking they needed to have a talk.. that soon might be sooner than he realized. She just hoped he meant what he'd said and that things might settle down so they could talk about it. She smiled at Damien her adoring gaze probably telling more than she realized, but whether or not he'd see it was a different story. "Sure.. I'd love to.. I'll be back in a couple minutes.. " She leaned up to kiss Dam's cheek and slipped around him to head toward Mikey's room.

Sari watched Hailey and Damien though she tried not to be too obvious about it, it was a motherly instinct to do so even if she hadn't been around him for a long time. They were left alone as Hailey went to get Mikey and Mike went to make the phone calls, Sarah twisted her hands together a little and chuckled nervously. "I really did it, didn't I? Put you all on the spot and... I'm sorry.. just showing up like this.. I probably should have called or something.. I just started driving and.. ended up here."

"Believe it or not, we're kinda used to that," Damien grinned. The way he'd waltzed in and how Bianca had grown up to show her true colors, there was little about the family itself or its ways that shocked him anymore. "Just proves you're really mom. I kinda did the same thing to Mike and Bianca, so... I guess it really does run in the family. So... uh... here we are. Home, sweet refuge away from home. What do you think so far?" He was really curious to know her reactions to her boys being all grown up.

"I think this is home for you all.. not some refuge.. or at least you shouldn't think of it that way. The home we once had broke a long time ago and.. it's not home anymore. Not for any of us anyway.." She looked down, biting her lip and then brought her gaze up to his face again. "I've been here a half hour and I can tell your brother is a mess.. he hides it well. The letters I got from him now and then.. the one time he came to see us.. and I feel like I'm a hypocrite for worrying about him or that I have no right to do so after everything.. Your wife seems like a very sweet young woman.. and you really love each other.. I'm so happy you found someone that makes you happy." She rambled a little, still nervous and not knowing how to act, a part of her just wanted to be their mother again and part of her felt like it wasn't her place anymore.

"You have a right, mom," he groaned a little, not believing the words were coming out of his mouth considering his own trouble-making past. "Mike is a mess though. Me, not so much. Taffy took care of him about as much as she helped him take care of little Mikey. It's just kinda been rough on him, but... I stay out of it. I'm no matchmaker. I'm just damned lucky. Hailey is sweet... and smart-shot, too. I plan on keeping her, so don't try talking me out of it," he said, not that she'd said anything to the contrary.

"I guess.. I don't know.. I got a very different impression about Taffy from Mike and Colena's letters.. . but I wasn't here so.. " She simply shrugged, dropping the subject, the poor girl was dead, what would it do now for her and Damien to debate whether she was as close to Mike as Damien seemed to think. Sari had definitely gotten the impression the girl was wonderful with Mikey but not that she'd taken care of Mike the way Damien indicated. But then again like she'd said, Sari hadn't been there to see or know and Damien had. "I think he feels very guilty about things.." Sarah found a smile thinking of what Damien said about his wife though, there didn't seem to be any question about their feelings for each other.

"Hey, at least you got any impression. Guilt, angst, mid-life-crisis... Whatever it is, like I said, I'm staying out of it. I made the mistake of saying something once. I learn fast. Besides, I've got plenty to keep me busy anyway," he said, still smiling as he felt the scuttle of boy feet and Hailey shifting the air around in the hall.

"He feels guilty that he didn't love her enough when she was here, that he ignored her, didn't spend time with her, took her for granted and thought of her more as a care taker to Mikey while he took care of and kept to himself. That's the impression I got from Colena and his letters.. I'm sure feeling like that is hard to deal with or explain to anyone else when you're the one feeling it." She sighed heavily and shook her head a little. "But.. that issue is one to tackle another time, can't fix him in one day.. but you on the other hand.. mister busy.. Mmm that you have been.. and will be.." Sari murmured the last under her breath chuckling softly as she looked him over again, that proud expression coming back to her face as she tried to hide the smile behind her hand.

Hailey came down the hall, holding little Mikey's hand as he smiled up at her, kind of scuffing his feet while he walked, he had his favorite truck in his other hand, not wanting to leave it behind in his room. Hailey was smiling, mostly watching the little boy as they came down the hall and into the living room. Mikey saw Damien and broke free from Hailey, smiling happily as he charged toward his uncle.

Damien didn't at all seem to mind suddenly having a lap full of truck and boy, hugging him and helping him settle in. "Hey, tiger, whatcha got there huh? Let's put that down right here a sec. This lady is somebody really special, did you know that? This is your daddy's mommy. That makes her..." He left it for the tike to put together. Mikey was a smart kid and probably would figure it out even while Dam tried to pull the truck out of his hands.

Hailey came in close, almost joining the hug with Damien and Mikey but stopped just shy, watching both with eyes that lit up and adored the whole touching little scene. She glanced to Sari and shared a smile with her and then looked back to the boys.

Mikey frowned as Damien tried to take his truck which he held onto and pouted. "Special!" He piped up in a cheery voice, a smile replacing his frown as he looked to the woman in front of them. "Hi."

"Well hello sweetie.." Sari smiled brightly at the little boy Damien held. "My goodness you're a big boy, huh.. That's a nice truck you have.. You're daddy and your uncle Damien used to love playing trucks together when they were little."

Damien laughed. "Ahh, here we go with the kid stories. Mikey, this is your gramma. Did you know you had one of those? Grammas are super special, so yes, she is special. Can you give her a hug, huh?" He tried to change the subject before they got to baseball and garage fires. He sighed and looked up at Hailey, wondering why she was smiling like that. He offered her part of his lap to join them.

"Oh hush you.. it's what grammas and moms do.. we tell stories.. and if you don't be nice to me, I do have bare bottom baby pictures of you I can start showing your wife." Sari teased Damien while wiggling a finger to tickle Mikey here and there. The little boy reached out to hug her and Sari just about melted as she scooped him up. "Gramma.. I'm Mikey." He introduced himself and she laughed softly. "Oh my, you're a heavy boy.. so big!" He didn't feel heavy to her, but 'should have'.

Hailey giggled as she slid into Damien's lap, hearing the comment his mother made about the baby pictures. "Uh oh.. I'd love to see those.. even if he's nice!" She piped up helpfully. "Bet you were a cute baby.."

Without missing a beat, Damien shot back. "You've already seen my bare bottom... and everything else. Yours ain't too bad, either," he said now that she was his 'hostage' and he wanted to see her blush too if he was going to have to. "I was cute. Really cute. Cuter than Mike!"

Hailey's face went so red and her eyes widened as he said that in front of HIS MOTHER! She looked almost mortified for a moment and then wondered if he'd dare say such a thing in front of Kaz. She squirmed in his lap, slapping his arm playfully. "I can't believe you just said that!" She whispered in a tiny almost squeaking voice.

Sari gave Damien a look of teasing shock that he'd said it and then laughed softly. "I have lots of embarrassing stories too.. don't wory honey, I'll tell them all to you and next time he gets sassy you can just remind him of some of them."

"LIAR!" Came Mike's voice from the other room. "You were not cuter than me.. " He was still making calls, having to explain to five different siblings wasn't a quick process.

"That's me, a sassy, cute liar," he admitted, daring to kiss Hailey in front of mom too, though he expected one, if not both of them, would slap him, and maybe Mike might too. "If we start on any of those other stories, though, Mikey's gonna have an early bedtime. I might angle for one too," he teased Hailey a little more.

"Well you get the sassy and cute from me.." Sari teased him back with a slight tap on his arm. "..and Mikey is staying right here with gramma.. you'll just have to behave yourself."

Hailey didn't mind the kiss but Damien made her blush again with his comments and she wiggled as if to get away though he held her in his lap. "Stoooooooooop." She protested softly with a slight pout at him being so mean to her, yet her arms wrapped around his shoulders.

Mike came back out a short time later, all the calls made and feeling a bit stressed from it all, though it didn't really show. He hoped the others would arrive fairly quickly, though not all at the same time. "Sooo is everyone playing nice out here?" He asked with a slight grin and a look to Damien which was followed by a wink, he got as much enjoyment out of ribbing Damien as Damien did in doing so to him.

"If we are, then we're not really related," Damien chuckled. Hailey's deepening embarrassment made him smile more than he had in weeks.

Sari was sitting in the chair with Mikey now and was making 'vroom vroom' noises as they played with his cherished truck. He was telling her all about the cool things it did and of course she was facinated by it, at least she pretended to be. She laughed at the teasing banter between Damien and Mike, happy to see them getting along so well after all the time that had passed and what they had been through. Sari couldn't help the nervous feeling at the knock on the door and she glanced to Mike then Damien and Hailey.. She was afraid whoever it was would be angry with and lash out at her as or worse than Damien had.

"Haha.." Mike made a motion in the air as if smacking Damien in the back of the head, though he was nowhere near him to even touch him. "You're a real comedian.. just for that, I think you should help me in the kitchen with all the domestic stuff. Get your apron Suzie.." He was interupted by the knock and sighed, turning to jog to the door and answer it.

Bia had gotten off the phone with her brother and sort of fell heavily into a chair, she was shocked. Before she could stop it, the tears welled in her eyes and started to spill down her cheeks. Her hand lifted to press against her mouth as she really cried for the first time in ten years.