Baby Fin's Big Birthday Bash...Part 2

Hi everyone just want to thank y'all for all your patience and your support. It encourages me to keep going forward even when life is busy and it seems like I will never get back to the blog, but here I am! So here we go, picking up where we left off with Baby Fin's birthday back in mid February.

If you want to read a few episodes before to catch up then here is a few links to get you there.

Baby Blues

Lunch with the Guys

Never Gonna Dance Again

  Baby Fin's Big Birthday Bash...Part 1 

We begin at Luke and Laura's house, the Cooper clan is waiting on party goers to arrive for Fin's first birthday. Laura is last minute dusting while they wait for people to show. Luke meanwhile is watching the boys and snacking on the food Laura has just laid out for the party. 

Almost as if she has eyes in the back of her head, what mom doesn't?

She senses Luke may be snacking on more 

food than she can set out again in time for the party.

The silence begins to make her wonder, it's no secret that Luke and the boys love her home cooking, they flock to it when it's time for dinner. That same silence always fills the room when they are all eating.

*Laura* "It's awfully quiet back there, you better not be eating all the food..."

Luke stops and looks up across the expanse of the two rooms, their house has again gone under renovations to bring it more up to date and to accommodate their growing family. Laura loves her new open concept living space, hehe... 

Luke replies to her realizing but never admitting, he could have easily devoured the whole plate had she not said anything.

*Luke* "Just getting a little snack, babe...."

*Laura* "Uh, huh....If you're that hungry then make a sandwich to hold you over. 

 People should be arriving anytime now, my mom said she's already 

on her way...So they should be here soon."

Luke reaches down again, to grab another. It's all so yummy, which in  turn makes it so hard to stop! Then on top that, it's all displayed so wonderfully one can't help but gravitate to it...

*Luke* "Okay, just grabbing one more, then I'm done..."

He proceeds to walk over into the living room, with 

Baby Fin slung across his right arm, while chewing on the that last tender morsel he swiped off the serving tray. Phoenix 

follows Dad's lead, with his carton of milk in hand.

*Luke* "Babe, the house looks good you don't need to re-clean every single surface."

*Laura* "Doesn't hurt though...Plus after all the remodeling dust 

is still constantly settling in the house...."

*Luke* "The kids will just dirty it up again today...Just take a break for 5 minutes..."

Men will never, ever get it, a mother's job is never done. Five minutes? Are you kidding me? I can do five things in those five minutes...
 Then the doorbell chimes letting them know they 
have guests at the door.

*Laura* "That's probably my parents...."

*Luke* "Yeah it is..."

Then Luke heads to the front door greeting his in-laws. They are very punctual people. Laura is a lot like her Mom in some ways, 

but punctual is not always one, especially now with two small boys. You know how it goes when you are almost out the door then it is change a diaper or find that other shoe!!

*Laura* "Go say hi to Nana and Pawpaw..."

*Phoenix* "Nana?!..."
He peers cautiously waiting to see who it is 
that comes through the door.

*Phoenix* "Mama!...I see Nana!

*Laura* "Go say hello Pumpkin..."

They shuffle in after Luke opens the door, Scott immediately greets the man of the house and Krystal comes in brightly beaming

 with a smile and large gifts bags hanging from her wrist.

*Laura* "Hey mom..."
*Krystal* "Hi, sweetie..."
*Phoenix* "Hi, Nana!!!"

*Krystal* "Hello, my sweet angel...How have you been? 

I've got something for you."

*Phoenix* "Prweasants?!..."

*Laura* "Mom, you didn't have to..."

*Krystal* "It's just a little something. Here let's sit down and I will show you."

Laura moves on to grab Fin from Luke while he chats with her Father.

Scott inspects the work done on the house he helped

redesign the floor plan some, with Laura's approval and input first.

*Scott* "Looking good, always nice to see it go from draft into
 reality...You use the new fireplace yet?" 
*Luke* "Yeah we used it the other week, last weekend, right babe?"
*Laura* "Yeah, it was last weekend..." 
Meanwhile Nana is talking with Phoenix....

 *Krystal* "I got you something you wanted in the store the last time we went shopping together...And I promised you if you're good at school that I'd get it.
You remember that?.."
 *Phoenix nods* "Uh, huh!!!"
Krystal reaches down in the bag and pulls out a
 big blue bear, it's Grumpy Bear!

 *Phoenix* "Gumpy bearor!!!!"

Back to the other three,  they continue to talk
 about the remodel on the house.

*Scott* "So did they finish everything in time for the party?"
*Laura* "No, my kitchen still needs upper cabinets and counters...they didn't have the 
cabinets in yet and since they had to go work on another job they will be back 
to finish once the rest comes in..."

*Scott* "Okay, just make sure you stay on top of their asses and don't let them
forget about you..."
*Luke* "I'll keep track of it, heard too many horror stories already..."
 *Scott* "Yeah, you used the company I recommended?..."
*Luke* "No, they were booked solid. So we went with a company
they recommended to us."

*Scott* "Okay yeah those guys get busy....Is the product shipping
 here or to the contractor?"
 *Laura* "Um, the cabinets are coming here I believe...."
 Phoenix is so excited about his new Care Bear! He turns 
and runs with it so he can show it to Mom and Dad.

 Krystal just loves spoiling her grandkids, they are such a joy in her life. Now if only Michelle and Ben would get on the ball and 
start a little family as well, hehe.

*Phoenix* "Mama, wook, wook!! Gumpy Bearor!"
 *Laura* "Oh, my is that what Nana brought you?..."
*Phoenix nods with a huge grin* "Uh,huh!!"
*Laura* "Did you tell Nana, thank you."
Phoenix rushes up and with extreme enthusiasm
 and thanks his Nana.

*Phoenix* "Thank you, Nana!!"
*Krystal* "You're welcome sweetheart..."
Laura steps in closer to her mother, she needs 
someone to watch Fin so she can go and 
check on things in the kitchen.

*Laura* "Momma, can you take him while I go finish up in the kitchen?..."

*Kryatal* "Of course sweetheart! I was gonna ask to see that birthday

 boy anyways...C'mere my little angel! Is he walking yet?"
*Laura* "Almost...any day now probably..."

*Luke* "Hey you want a beer?..."

*Scott* "Yeah, sure..."

So Luke and Scott follow Laura into the kitchen 

while Krystal watches the grandkids.

*Scott* "The kitchen is looking amazing, even though it ain't done..."

*Luke* "Well I know Laura is ready for it to be finished...She's tired of packing 

away her kitchen  every time."

Luke turns around and hands Scott a beer while 

they continue to chat and catch up.

*Scott* "So how's work going?..."

*Luke* "Good. Business is steady. Keeping busy..."

*Scott* "Yeah, that's good....Laura told me your band is still struggling?"

Luke huffs out a sigh and steps in

 towards the kitchen island.

*Luke* "Eh, I dunno...more like an unspoken hiatus, I guess. Things just
haven't been the same since Shaun left...Peter can't seem to get past shit that happened 10 years ago. So I wash my hands of it, I've got plenty on my plate with my family and my business."
Laura turns around as she dries her hands. This is news to her, she is so surprised to hear Luke say their friendship is over. I mean Laura of all people, you would think, would be jumping for joy at this news. Lord knows she has always stressed about his friendship with Peter since the day she met him, but she loves her husband and she knows Peter is like a brother to him. He could never just completely cut ties, could he?!

*Scott* "I'm sorry to hear that it's hard to loose a life long friendship but sometimes moving on is best. Life is always changing, you have to keep moving forward..."
*Luke* "Yeah I thought he'd call and apologize but he hasn't. So I'm leaving it at that."

Laura can't stay silent any longer, knowing full well Peter 

may show up with Willow to the party. 

She invited both of them.

 *Laura* "You know I invited him and Willow for today's get together. I think he may
 be coming with Willow, she RSVP'd with a plus one..."
 *Luke snaps* "What?! Why would you do that?!"
 *Laura* "Because he's always invited and he's still your best friend despite all this!"
Laura steps in closer, she can see Luke is about to
 blow his top on the matter. She knew they were in a tiff but Luke 
never stressed to her he was done with their friendship.

 *Luke*  "I invited Shaun!...I can't fucking have them both here creating drama. It's bad enough  trying to mediate what is going on between Mari and him..."
*Laura* "I didn't know that. So you just assume Peter won't show?!
*Luke* "Yeah I am..."
*Laura* "That's ridiculous..."
 Scott can clearly see these two need to chat without him standing there. He's been married long enough to know...

*Scott* "Er, I...uh, I'm just gonna go check on things in
 the living room. Let y'all be."
 *Laura continues* "Well, I invited them long before Shaun was in the picture again and was still away in LA. You and Peter were still talking. I can't just say 'Oh by the way Peter is univited!'. You know I can't do that! It's rude and besides, the three of you need to get past all
this macho crap and move on!"

The two are so focused on each other that they 

do not even notice Scott's exit.

 *Luke* "I am not fucking attempting to play mediator between these two again, Babe...and at my son's first birthday party no less! You could have nicely told Willow that Peter is uninvited..."

*Laura* "Well I didn't....And you could have told me you invited Shaun. I didn't know. I just assumed you and Peter would go back to acting like everything is normal like you two always do!"

 *Luke* "It's different this time...."

Laura is still a bit shocked she just assumed that they would 

move on and be best buds again. Especially since Peter and Willow are back together now, she enjoys their double dates...

 *Laura* "Different how?...You two always fight and make up. 

Peter is like a brother to you."

Luke never went into detail about his fight with Peter and Laura has been so busy she just assumed they would get over it and get back to normal eventually. Luke attempts to explain it now...

 *Luke* "We both said some shit that could have been laid out a very long time ago, 

but now the wounds have festered too long. I don't think he wants 

to forgive me and I'm not fucking sure if I can either...."

Luke then turns to walk away and head upstairs.

 *Luke continues* ",,,,but I don't want to get into that right now...I need to make some 

calls, do damage control."

*Laura* "You're not gonna uninvite Shaun are you?!..."

Luke bites off a short response to her 
plea and continues walking for the stairs.

 *Laura* "Luke, please don't uninvite Shaun! He needs to see Leila..."

*Luke* "Just let me handle it...

 Laura then follows him into the living room...

 *Krystal* "Is everything okay?..."

*Luke* "No, it's fine...I just need to get a hold of Shaun, make a call. 

I'll be back down in a bit."

 *Krystal* "oh...."

Luke begins to climb the stairs

 and Laura stops him.

*Laura* "Luke, please...."
*Luke* "I got it handled, Babe. Just worry about the party..."
Then he heads up the stairway and out of sight only the 
thumping of his boots can be heard as he enters the third 
 level of their house and closes the door behind him.

*Scott* "Careful now someone has found Nana's necklace..."

Krystal turns and looks down to find Fin is finding

 her necklace to be an excellent and very 
satisfying sensory toy

*Krystal* "Uh, oh....I don't think I want you playing with that..."
But Fin don't care he's a baby everything goes 
straight to his mouth, lol! Granny gonna have pull it 
from his tiny grip before he lets it go!

Cuteness overload! Who can say no to that face?! hehe...

Laura walks over and sighs, she too is a bit fed up now 

with this whole Luke, Shaun, and Peter business. It's been a lot of ups and downs since Amari found out she was pregnant.

 *Krystal* "What's going on sweetie?..."

 *Laura* "Oh nothing new really, just Luke, Peter, and Shaun are still at

 odds with each other...."

*Laura continues*"....And somehow they both got invited to the party but Luke and Shaun are not on speaking terms with Peter now. I invited him and Willow over a month ago, well not formally but you know. So I sent willow a reminder they were invited and she RSVP'd for both of them"

 *Krystal* "Are things really that tense between all of them?..."

 *Laura* "Yes! Well according to Luke it all is...ugh, men and their egos!"

 Laura throws her hand up and sighs one more time....Both 

her parents try to assure her that it will be okay these
 things usually do work themselves out.

 

*Scott* "Darlin' I'm sure they will figure it out, if not then maybe 

going their separate ways is for the best..."

*Krystal* "Yes, just be patient and communicate with Luke that you are here 

for him no matter what. I'm sure things will settle

 into a comfortable rhythm again."

 *Scott* "There is always drama in families and with close friends. Hell, your mom and I went through it too, but look where we are at now! Your sister married the son 

of her ex fiance...So just relax, Darlin'..."

*Laura* "I know...It's just. It's different this time. Luke seems to really not 

want to work it out with Peter..."

Then the doorbell sings it's little ascending chime song announcing 

new guests are at the door....

And that signals the end of our episode! 

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

So stay tuned y'all!

Thanks so much again for being so patient and as always I am overjoyed my stories are enjoyed by so many. 

You guys make it special for me...
Also I may have to keep these episodes a bit shorter than usual. Just so I can keep my weekly routine for posting and my sanity, lol!

^_^

Baby Fin's Big Birthday Bash!...Part 1

Hi everyone! Life has again made it a challenge to stay on top of my day to day tasks and keeping up with my dolls lives, lol! So we are picking up right where we left off. Baby Fin's Bday would have actually been on Monday Feb 12th...So this particular set of stories will take place the Saturday after...I am having to break them up into smaller pieces because I just don't have the time right now for longer episodes. 
So here we go!

It has been almost a month now since Shaun made his presence known that he is back in town and the guys had that very unsuccessful lunch together. They all went their separate ways since that day and now the silence is taking it's toll on Peter. Especially when it comes to Luke, neither one has bothered to call, text, or contact each other in any way. Luke is usually the one to breakdown first and will try to mend things between the two old friends but not this time. 
 Peter comes home early Saturday morning tired from a long night of work at the nightclub. Too mentally and physically exhausted to do anything else he strips down his clothes and just wants to climb into bed with Willow. Without her he'd be a even bigger mess right now, she is the only one keeping him grounded in all of it. 

*Willow* "How was your night?..."

*Peter* "Fine, same shit, different night...oh, well we did have a 

pretty good new band play tonight..."

 *Willow* "Oh, yeah?...The one that took your band's time slot?"

*Peter*  "Fuck...yeeeeah...but the crowd liked them so that's good."
Peter sighs and enjoys Willow's delicate fingers as they 
comb through his hair. She looks down at him with a
concerned look upon her face.

*Willow* "You still haven't seen or heard from Luke?..."

*Peter sighs* "No...and at this point. I guess our band is on ice for good now."

*Willow* "Well you don't know that for sure. Peter just call him! Stop being so stubborn."
Peter turns on his side. His mind goes back to that day at the bar 
when he finally told Luke how hurt he was about him leaving 
Rock Candy and never telling him where he went.

*Willow* "Peter, c'mon don't just give up on a friendship that has lasted this long.
You two are like brothers...."

*Peter* "Yeah well he fucking started this shit when he chose to side with Shaun..."
*Willow* "So you expect Luke to choose sides? The three of you are all good friends.
You need to get past that. Everyone makes mistakes..."
Peter  just stares straight ahead. He is trying to forgive Shaun,
 he really is, but it is Rufus he cannot get past, cannot let it
go that he chose her over everything else. And who can blame him? I mean Shaun has made some very questionable decisions but then again so has Peter he has made plenty of mistakes in his past.

*Peter* "I'm trying, babe...but I can't, I just can't...not with Rufus

 being the root all of this. You've never met her, you've never had to deal

 with her, that woman is just plain evil..."

*Willow* "Okay I get you don't like Rufus but can you just put her out of your mind for now?
 She's not the reason Shaun chose to leave, he made that choice all on his own. Just as you are making the choice to not let things go and move on...Peter all that negativity is gonna eat away at you. I 

can see it already is. Please just call Luke and patch things up with him at least..."

*Peter* "You know Fin's birthday was on Monday..."

*Willow* "Yes, I know....Laura sent me an invi....oh!..Oh Peter...."

Willow leans over more so she can see his face. 

He really is taking this hard, but she is surprised too that he remembered that Fin's birthday at all!...

*Willow* "Peter...You know Laura invited both of us to the party.
And it's actually later today around noontime..."
*Peter* "You sure about that?..."
*Willow* "Yes, silly....your name is on the invite with mine.
So you gonna come with me?"

Peter rolls back over and looks up at Willow. She is beaming with 
a loving smile across her face. And the warmth of that love fills 
Peter up and gives him some reassurance...She really does ground him.

*Peter* "What about Luke? What if he doesn't want me there..."

*Willow* "Peter that is just bullshit and you know it. You're his best friend 

I'm sure he is hoping you'll be there."

*Peter* "It's just I thought he would have called me by now to invite me or something, 

 maybe say he was sorry..."

Willow shifts around in the bed so her body is 

laying in line with Peter's.

*Willow* "So then come with me later to the party and you two can kiss and makeup..."

*Peter* "The only one I want to kiss is you babe..."

 *Willow smiles* "Peter, I'm being serious... Luke is just as busy as you with work and his personal life probably a little busier since he has a family, so don't read into it so much..."

*Peter* "Luke hardly ever looses his shit like that with me. He was fuckin' pissed, babe."

*Willow* "Yeah but you know he was just as upset about Shaun too, I think he 

just holds it in longer where as you just let it out immediately...So I think you two

 just need to talk it out and see that....So you gonna come with me?"

*Peter* "Ugh...I dunno..."
Peter sighs yet again. He has been extra antsy this past month, Willow has been insisting he cut back on the pot smoking. He thinks maybe I'll just stay here and get baked...Then he sees her face beaming with life and light, waiting for a final answer.

*Willow* "So?..."
*Peter* "Yeah, yeah I'll go..."
*Willow* "Really?!..."
*Peter* "Yeah...you're right I need to make it right even if I don't agree with all of it."
*Willow* "Good. I'm glad. Hey, how did you actually remember that is was Fin's birthday?"

*Peter smiles* "Uh, well because Fat Tuesday this year was the day after Fin's birthday

 and last year it was at the end of the month remember?..."

Peter slides his fingers back and forth across Willow's thigh.

 She smiles at him sweetly and recalls that night perfectly well. That was the night her Peter slept together again after she had gotten back together with Nathan.

Fat Tuesday at Bull Tavern 

*Willow smiles* "Oh yes, I remember...that night really changed everything, didn't it?"

*Peter* "Yeah it did. I'm just fucking thankful you're here with me. I love

 you so much, Babe you have no idea..."

*Willow* "I know you do, I love you too, now get some sleep. I'll wake you up 

when it's time to leave."

So Willow gets up to get her day started and Peter finally lays his head on the pillow to get some much needed rest which never seems to be enough anymore...Then some hours later they get ready to stroll out the door. Peter stops and notices the wine bottle in the
 bag along with Fin's birthday present.

*Peter* "Why are you bringing wine to a children's party?..."
*Willow* "It's not for the party. It's just a new wine I found
that I thought Laura might like."
*Peter* "Oh, okay...for a second I thought it was like B.Y.O.B. or something..."

Willow laughs and they walk out of the apartment. Peter
 begins to close the door and lock it with his keys.

*Peter* "Hey maybe I should bring that pack of beer as a peace offering to Luke..."
*Willow* "To a kid's party?..."
*Peter* "But you're bringing the wine...."
*Willow* "Yeah, because I told Laura I was bringing it since I'm gonna see her today."

*Peter* "Oh...."

*Willow* "Peter I'm sure Luke will be happy to see you no matter what. Just shake it off baby..."
Peter tries to do as she suggests but he still feels weird, him and Luke have not gone this long without talking since he moved to town. Even if they were mad they still kept in touch.
And with that they take off and make their way to
 Luke and Laura's house. 

Thanks so much for tuning in 

and hopefully I can stay on track, haha!

^_^