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Jasper followed Cadie through the house to the dining room and dropped the presents gently next to the others in the space she had made. He looked her over after getting the presents out of his arms. A hand moved through his growing hair.
"Yea, Sure that would be nice. Did you do the cooking?"Truthfully he didn't know what to do with her yet.
He had feelings for her still. Knew those weren't ever going to leave him.They hadn't since he was a boy, they wouldn't now as a man.But did he dare try this whole charade again?

'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
Feel weak, and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up

~Cadence Jaycey Sinclair-Caine~

Sunshine

Cadence had literally just got in her car when she noticed the two cars pull up and the people getting out of them. She sighed and mentally swore. It looked like her nap wasn't going to be happening after all. Though she had to admit that she was pretty damn excited. She had gotten through to Elias, and he in turn got through to Landon.

Cadie slipped out of her car and waved to her brother and called out to him. She moved toward him and he gave her a small smile.
"Is the party over....?" He asked and looked toward her car.
"No. I was just going to go home....shower and change. I feel....under dressed." She said quickly as she saw what the two couples were wearing. They all had that preppy designer clothing look to them. Definitely not her look, and definitely not the look of the others inside but there was nothing she could do.
"I can lead you guys inside..." She offered as she stuck her thumbs through the belt loops in the front of her shorts.
"Hello Daphne, nice to see you again." She said to the pretty redhead that was married to her brother Elias. She turned to Landon and his wife.
"Landon....Cheyenne...I am glad you guys could make it." Landon scoffed and Cheyenne forced a smile. Cadie turned back toward the house, trying to ignore her cousin's reaction.
"Like I said when I went to visit you guys...family means everything to Grace and Orion. I know it would mean a lot to our parents and Orion, though he will never admit it. If we could all try to be a family. The kids should be allowed to get to know their cousins and extended family. I know you guys don't understand Orion's decisions, but...his hobby and lifestyle are his one vice in life. He would never ask any of you to do anything you were uncomfortable with...He is the same Orion you guys knew growing up." Her eyes met Elias' because she knew if she could get through to him, he would take care of Landon. Elias had always looked up to Orion, and Orion had been a pretty cool big brother to him. Cadie just wanted them to be close like before. Wanted the family to try to be a real family for once.
"You didn't bring any of the kids..." Cadence said a bit disappointed. Elias and his wife Daphne had two children. Two girls, the oldest named Violet and the younger named Lily. Vilolet was has just turned three, and Lily was going on one. Landon and Cheyenne had three children. Their oldest was a boy named Ezra, the middle child a girl named Ella and their newest another boy name Emmett. Ezra was six, Ella was three and Emmett was almost two.

"We thought it best we learn the lay of the land before we brought the kids." Daphne said quickly and Cadence nodded. In other words they were afraid of what they would be exposing their children to. Cadence could read between the lines.

Cadence opened the front door and stepped inside. The others followed her in. The woman sticking close to their husbands. Cadence lead them to Grace and Orion, she slowed when she spotted them with Dereck and Lyn. As if sensing someone nearby Orion turned and spotted his family. He turned back to Dereck and Lyn.
"Erm...excuse me...." He turned and walked toward the group, stopping in front of Cadence who was leading the group.
"Elias....Landon..." He said awkwardly.
"Hey...." Landon said clearly unsure of what to say.
"Cadence convinced us to come. Said it was time we all started acting like a real family instead of acting like our parents. I actually agree with her. We should all put our differences aside." Elias said and waited for Orion's reaction. Finally he smiled and pulled his brother into a rough manly hug that included a few thumps on the back.
"Glad you will finally get to meet your sister-in-law and nephew. Come on over and I will start introducing you. Landon, want a beer?" Cadie had stepped aside so she wasn't crushed during the bro hug.
"Where's Cadie? Cadie!"Orion said as he looked around a moment.
'I'm here!" She said with a little wave.
"Get the guys some beers, and see what the ladies want." Cadence nodded and moved toward the kitchen.

Orion began to introduce the couples to a bunch of the other guests. Finally he lead the couples over to his wife. He looked very excited and wrapped his arms around Grace from behind. He laid a kiss on her cheek.
"And....this...this lovely woman is my wife Grace. She keeps me in check." He said and chuckled. He moved his one hand over her belly. The other arm was still wrapped protectively about her.
"That is her brother Dereck, and his old lady Maralyn. They are expecting twins very soon." Orion introduced the other couple. By now Cadence was returning with an armful of drinks. Beers for the men, and water for the ladies. This included drinks for Lyn and Dereck.

Orion looked toward his sister again before he spoke. "Can you go get Dad and Thomas? I want then to meet Thomas. I know Dad will be excited to see Elias." Cadence nodded again and once more went to do as she was told.
"Where is Violet?' Orion asked as he looked from Elias to Daphne. Violet was the name of his oldest niece, and his only God child. She was actually about 4 months older then his daughter Isabelle.

When Cadence returned this time she was carrying Thomas. Joshua was following behind her. When he spotted Elias his face lit up. He looked from one of his children to the next, completely happy.
"I would like a picture at some point today of all my children together. Then all my children and my Godson. There are so many pictures I want to take. Last picture I have with all four of you....wow...Cadence was probably two. Landon was crying, Elias had a black eye. Orion was the only one smiling, and it was that crazy I am up to no good smile." Landon seemed to be thinking and shook his head.
"No. Very last picture is of all of us crying on the porch after we got sprayed by a skunk and Mom locked us out until you could get back with the tomato juice." Elias' eyes widened.
"I remember that! Cadence with her giant glasses!"

Cadence made a disgusted face. Clearly she remembered that to. She shot her cousin a dirty look as he brought up her glasses. She hated those things! She switched to contacts as soon as she could convince her parents to allow it. She switched at 13, and that was the same year boys started to notice her. Coincidence? She thought not! Orion laughed out loud as he remembered that trip. The only time they had ever taken Cadence camping with them. Her Mother was furious about the skunking, as was his Mother.

Cadence handed Thomas to Grace, and excused herself. She went to go sit in the kitchen for a few minutes. Her Mother was out back with Tyson and Archie. She could see her mother sitting on the bench out back. Archie's arm about her shoulders. Cadence really liked Archie. At first she had thought the situation was weird. A little to keeping it in the family for her but she was over it now. Archie was nice, and she adored Grace. So now she was even more accepting of the whole situation, but besides that....Archie was a good man who cared about Lena. Why would Cadence not like a man who cared about her Mother, and accepted her little brother?

She sat at the counter sipping a drink. Just allowing her mind to wander. She people watched briefly, and was glad to see everyone seemed to be having a good time. Everyone seemed to be getting along. She spotted Elena with the rest of the family and for once even that witch looked happy. Though Joshua was now doing his best to be as far a way from her as possible.

Cadie saw her chance and seized the moment. She hurried home and set her alarm. She passed out when she woke two hours later her head was pounding. She needed more sleep but she forced herself to take some Excedrin and shower. She felt a bit more human but not by much.

She grumpily went through her clothing and threw on whatever. She was sure everyone would be leaving soon anyway. Besides no one was paying attention to her. it was Grace's day. She brushed her hair and threw on a headband sunglasses, to try to cover up how exhausted she looked. She switched purses, and dug out her yellow flats and was on her way. Driving and sipping her Starbucks creation with the double shot of espresso.

She felt like she was vibrating out of her skin, and parked her car. She moved quickly toward the house. Sunglasses still on and the dregs of her drink in hand. She wouldn't drink it, it was cold and she hated reheated coffee. She moved around to the back of the party and made a bee line for the dessert table. Sugar and coffee would fuel her!

Now wearing!

~Candie~

After Jasper finished the food that was on the plate that Cadence had given him, he excused himself politely from the table. After throwing the paper plate away, Jasper grabbed himself a beer and moved to the outside party where some other guys were playing cornhole and such games. To which Jasper joined in.

His blue eyes looked over sometime later to the dessert table and found Cadie leaning over it in tight red pants that made her a** look great. Jasper left the game with his beer lifted to his lips. Quickly he made his way to the table and the brunette. Scanning the table before letting his blue eyes fall to her, he said, "This all looks great Cadie. You made it, no?"He was still nervous, unsure what to really say. He had thought he had even ground with her after everything as just kinda-friends that saw each other because of the circles they ran in.
But now after that confession of her's. It seemed the scales had tipped again. He knew the ball was in his court and he had to do something whether she expected it or not. Jasper wasn't one to just sit on the side.
He picked up a cookie and put it in his mouth before asking,"Hey you got some free time to talk?" Perhaps now wasn't the time. But the last time he had seen her she had left for weeks without giving him much of a chance to digest the information and reply.

'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
Feel weak, and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up

~Cadence Jaycey Sinclair-Caine~

Now wearing!

Cadence looked up upon hearing her name. She knew that voice. She would know it anywhere. She nodded her head. She gave him a little smile.
"Yes, baking is one of the things I can do. So....I baked all of this. People need choices." She pointed to the cupcakes.
"I didn't bake those. I think Gracie made those." She piled a few of the sweet treats on her plate, then looked around to make sure her Mother wasn't around.

She had no desire to be on the receiving end of another one of Lena's lectures about Cadence's sugar intake. Especially not when she had been really taking care of herself. This was a party and she wanted to enjoy herself. She took a bite of the chocolate cake. Damn! She forgot how much she loved chocolate cake! It was almost good as sex in her opinion, hell....it was better then sex sometimes. At least better then sex with her ex Alex.

She looked up when Jasper asked her if she had a moment to talk. She nodded her head slowly. Suddenly she felt nervous, but she was ready to face this head on. Better to face it and deal with it, regardless of the outcome. She glanced around for a semi private area.
"Uh...out front. Away from the kiddies, otherwise we will probably get hit with a Frisbee." She started around the house, guarding her sweets. She very well might be gorging on sweets tonight in her jammies and watching a chick flick

~Candie~

Grace had finished off her plate of food Orion had gotten for her, and was now munching on her second plate of baked goods and potato salad when a few more people showed up -- one of them looking almost identical to her husband. Minus all the tattoos and being a little younger, anyway. Grace hurried and swallowed whatever food she had in her mouth and gave the two couples a smile, shaking their hands. "It's nice to meet you all." Cadie ended up handing Thomas over and the toddler immediately laid his head down on Grace's shoulder once he was in her arms, very obviously tired from all the running around he was doing outside. The boy was like a little blonde version of his dad, that's for sure. "I'm going to go and--" As she was speaking the doorbell rang, and almost out of instinct one of the guests opened it, only to see Mendez standing there in the doorway.

The sight alone caused Grace to drop the plate of food she was holding, and reach her hand around to grab onto Orion's. When some of the other MC members saw who it was, the inside of the house grew eerily silent. "Oh, what? I'm just here to bring a gift for my baby." He winked at Grace and motioned down to her stomach before setting his gaze on the other faces at the party. "I think I'm going to be sick.." This was the absolute worst thing that ever could have happened. Ever. After everything that man had done to her, she couldn't help but fear him.

Mahiru Zion

"Hey doll!" Killian said and straightened up immediately. He moved to Di and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead. He glanced back at Alyvia.
"She was an Angel Mama Bear." He motioned to his seat.
"Sit, I will get you some food. catch up with your offspring." He ruffled Lyv's hair as he walked pass her.

Alyvia was always good. That was one think Dianna never had to worry about. She had raised a good girl, she was smart, funny and well mannered. She behaved and had her own opinions on good and bad. He returned with food a few minutes later and stood beside Lyv.
"You good hun? Still hungry?" He was never sure if he was feeding her enough. Her portions looked so measly in comparison to his own portions. He tried to keep in mind she was little, but he was sure he ate more than that when he was her age.
"How was work?" He asked and turned his attention to his baby Mama. He was glad Di had showed up. He felt like it was a big step for them all. His MC family and his little outside family.

Jesse stepped directly in front of Mendez. "LEAVE NOW!" He barked angerily, he slapped the present from Mendez' hand.
"This is a private affair, and is in someone's home. You have now been asked to leave. If you do not comply, REAL police will be called and charges will be brought up against you." Jesse did not back away. He stayed right there in Mendez' face.

He was not about to let their President go back to prison for beating the ******** out of Mendez. He also would not allow this man to ruin Grace's party. She deserved something nice. Something for her, and to celebrate her. She had been through so much already.
"LEAVE RAPIST. The baby isn't yours, you sick pathetic b*****d." Jesse glared at Mendez, he wanted this man to take a shot. He wanted to hurt this man, but he tried to remember this was Grace's day.

By now Orion was trying to get to Mendez. Lincoln and Wolf were trying to drag him away. They knew exactly how things would end if Orion got his hands on Mendez. Orion would surely kill the man this time. He had already made it perfectly clear if Mendez showed his face around Grace again he would kill the man.