A Reunion 25 Years in the Making

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

Anxious wasn't the word to properly explain the way Maureen felt. Maxi had talked her into meeting some old friends that were practically family. Boys, no less. In a way she was sort of glad that it was two guys and no girls since girls tended to be more emotional and she was comfortable around guys because of TJ. She had grown up hanging around her brothers friends so it was practically second nature, but still it was terrifying to be introduced to people who knew you but not the other way around. Maureen tried to remind herself that these guys didn't really know her, they knew Maureen McManus, who wasn't who she was. That Maureen died a long time ago and had been replaced with Maureen Aberdeen and they would have to get to know her for her. Besides, even if she were the other girl still, twenty five years has a way of changing anyone.

The game plan was to meet at the restaurant in the hotel. Maureen wasn't comfortable driving around the city and meeting someplace too public. This way if things got intimate with talking about the past and all they could slip up to her room. It also offered her a quick, easy get away if things went awry. She wasn't expecting them to, but she didn't know what to expect anymore. She had just found out that she wasn't human and was actually nine years older than she thought she was despite looking twenty plus years younger than she actually was. She was learning now to expect the unexpected.

She dressed nice but casual, wearing a warm ivory cable knit sweater that was short but a little baggy with three quarter length sleeves. She wore dark, tight jeans that were tucked into thick knit ivory boots. Her hair lay straight cascading down her back and over her shoulders. She wore a light layer of makeup, enough to look nice but not so much that the guys might not recognize her. She had to remember she had been just a bug when they'd last seen her, looking no older than twelve or so though Maureen had since learned she had actually been twenty one at the time. It was still a lot to swallow, but she was doing her best. She had left out some of the more strange details when she had echoed the story to her family at home. Her mother was so happy she had found a sister and insisted that Maureen bring her up for a visit and soon. Daddy knew how nervous she had been and had talked her down. He had a sixth sense when it came to his little girl who was not blood related to him. Maureen thought maybe in some ways it had strengthened his bond with her that he had found her. In a way he had chosen her. Sure, he had found her by chance, but he never had to bring her home. He had seen her at her most vulnerable, broken and nearly dead and he had revived her and brought her up to be the woman she was. For all intents and purposes he was her true father and they shared a very close kinship.

TJ was excited for her but skeptical. He feared that she would be taken advantage of and that maybe this girl wasn't her sister at all, but after she had explained the entire story and saw the picture she texted him, even he couldn't deny that Maxi was probably the real deal. Her family was happy for her, and that was what was important. Still Maureen was terrified about meeting this extended family today. Drew and James, boys who had once been almost like brothers to her, and who still were to Maxi. What would they think of her? Would they be angry she never came back? Would they make her feel more guilty than she already did? She had no idea but she sat in the lobby just outside of the restaurant waiting. It was five on the dot. No one was supposed to be there for another fifteen minutes, but there she sat, alone, waiting, hoping her nerve would find her before Maxi and the boys.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

“Okay, I’m serious you two. She can’t remember anything and I think she’s kind of sensitive about it. Don’t rush into too much with her. Have no expectations.” Maxi knew she was being a worry-wart. She didn’t want to be, but she couldn’t help it! Her big sister was vulnerable right now and she didn’t want her to get uncomfortable. Both of the guys had heard this about a hundred times already, but she needed to drive the point home. “We got it, Max.” Drew sounded exasperated, but he had a smile on his face and she rolled her eyes. He was in the passenger seat of her car while Jamie was in the back. The two of them had actually played rock, paper, scissors for shotgun and Drew obviously won the fight. Maxi had the Beatles playing on a CD in the background, but they were all talking about Maureen. The guys were stoked to see her; it had been 25 years! Why shouldn’t they be stoked? But Maxi had to make sure it didn’t get out of hand. She didn’t want to scare Maureen all the way back to Friday Harbor!

When she’d told the guys that Maureen was alive, they didn’t believe her. “Are you sure it wasn’t one of your dreams, Max?” Drew had asked, but when she sent the picture from her phone, both of them were forced to admit that she was alive and back in Scriptor Bay. Then the questions started: “Where had she been? Why didn’t she come home? What’s she doing now? Why did she come back now?” Maxi had done her best to explain everything, but there were questions she still couldn’t answer. All three of them had met with the Periwinkles to tell them the news, all of which were just as excited as everyone else. They had just left a few minutes ago to come to dinner. Maxi promised to bring Maureen by when she felt up to it, but it had taken a lot of convincing just to get her to agree to dinner with just Jamie and Drew. She honestly couldn’t say which one of them was more excited to see Maureen again. Both of them had been devastated when Maureen “died” and they had both seen how Maxi fell apart in the aftermath. They’d also noted that she was never quite the same after becoming an orphan. Now that Maureen was back from the dead, I think they all hoped that Maxi’s and their own lives would become a little brighter.

At the hotel, all three piled out into the chilly parking lot, snow still lining the pavement. Maxi was dressed in tight, dark jeans and knee-high riding boots with a dark gray cowl necked sweater that reached down to the top of her thighs. It was dressy enough, but still pretty casual, perfect for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Maxi led the way to the restaurant, the guys following close behind and moving quickly since they were all anxious to see her. Even after a couple times of meeting with her, Maxi was still having a hard time believing this was real. In a way, Drew and Jamie seeing Maureen would confirm that this wasn’t just another dream. When her eyes fell on her sister at a table, she beamed and hurried towards her. “Hi!” she greeted cheerfully, giving Maureen a hug. She was comfortable hugging her now. When she released her, she stepped to the side and pointed to each of the boys as she introduced them. “Maureen, this is Jamie and Drew.”

[DREW SOLOMON]

It was a weird and exhilarating thing when someone you thought was dead was suddenly back in your life. When Maureen and the McManuses had gone missing, Drew had been devastated—not as devastated as Maxi, of course, but Maureen had been like a little sister to him. To think that her bright smile was gone from this world forever broke his heart. It was a lucky thing Maxi was sick that weekend, otherwise he would have lost two sisters. Now he had two again because by some miracle, Maureen was found and adopted by a nice sailor and his family and she’d been treated well for the last 25 years. When Maxi had told him and shown him the picture, he’d actually broken down in tears and Maxi cried with him. It was truly a miracle. He’d immediately insisted on seeing her, and Maxi had to hold him back from going to the hotel right then and catching Maureen in a big bear hug. She explained that Maureen was really nervous about meeting people she used to know. “She’s not really Maureen anymore, Drew. She’s a new person with only a couple memories that she used to think were dreams. You have to treat her like she’s anyone else that you’re just now meeting.” Drew had agreed, but he didn’t know if he could go along with that. Even in her beat up truck she had to talk him and Jamie down from getting too excited. That was another little surprise; it had been too damn long since he’d seen Jamie, though he kept up with him on Facebook and e-mail. His little brother was back too! He had to be on Cloud Nine and he enjoyed catching up with Jamie, or as Maxi called him, Strawberry Jam. It was heartwarming that Drew could still remember when she’d come up with that nickname for their adopted brother. With Maureen back, why couldn’t they be as thick as thieves again?

He was dressed semi-casually tonight with jeans, some red-brown suede low-rise boots and a plain white button down shirt. To keep out the chill, he had on his beat up brown leather jacket that Maxi had actually bought for him several years back for Christmas. She was always generous with her Christmas presents and it was honestly one of the most useful and beloved gifts he’d ever gotten. Even as she led the way into the restaurant, Drew was picking up their pace by walking faster. Maxi looked like she was struggling to stay ahead, bouncing as she walked quicker. There was no mistaking who Maureen was; it was a slightly more petite version of Maxi with straight auburn hair instead of the waves and tendrils of red her sister kept hers in. She looked older, but almost exactly the same. His green eyes were wide, his jaw a little slack as he looked at her. It had to be a ghost…right? Did people really come back from the dead? All these years…all these years he’d thought about her from time to time, wishing she’d had a chance to grow up, and here she was! Maxi gave her sister a hug, but Drew was frozen at the moment. “Maureen, this is Jamie and Drew.” When the redhead pointed her finger at Drew, it reanimated him, but he didn’t have control of himself.

The man stepped forward, his smile huge as he quickly grabbed Maureen in a bear hug and picked up her little frame with ease. “I can’t believe this!” he gushed, holding her a good six inches off the ground, hugging her tightly. He didn’t know if he could ever let go; he never thought he’d be able to do this again. Without invitation, there were actual tears in his eyes and he didn’t try to stop them. If she was squirming, he couldn’t notice in his state of pure bliss, but he could hear Maxi’s laughter. “Drew, put her down! You’re going to break her!” Well, he was holding pretty tight and when he set her down there was a tear that had dropped onto his cheek despite his ecstatic expression. He cupped her beautiful face in his hands, hardly noticing the bewilderment there as he stared at her wide-eyed and grinning like a fool. “You’re alive! You’re really alive!” Drew was so happy he could have kissed her! Good thing he caught himself because Maxi looked like she was about to pounce on him for going against what she said. He released Maureen, stepping back and wiping his eyes. “Okay! I’m done my overly familiar bit. I’m sorry, Max, I just couldn’t help it. I got too happy.” He was still grinning and Maxi just rolled her eyes and smiled in return, shaking her head lightly. As soon as he was certain she wasn’t going to scold him, he looked back to Maureen, trying to memorize her face…just in case this really was a dream.

[JAMES MILLER]

“Okay, I’m serious you two. She can’t remember anything and I think she’s kind of sensitive about it. Don’t rush into too much with her. Have no expectations.” James was sitting in the back between the two seats, his elbows resting on either front seat, his fingers laced together in the middle and his chin resting on top. His smile was wide as he turned to look at the redhead, chuckling softly. “We got it, Max.” Drew said which only made him laugh harder and slouch back. "How many times yeh gonna remind us?" He asked in his cool accent, his laughs still making his chest heave gently as he turned to look out the window. He still couldn't believe Maureen was alive!

Jamie had thought back to when they had gotten the news about the McManus family. He had never been so glad for Maxi to be sick before. It was terrible to lose Sean and Margot and Maureen but to have lost Maxi as well.. Jamie wasn't sure he would have been able to function. He had been very close to the other girl. When Maxi came over his uncles house with the news he had insisted she was mad, but after seeing the picture on the phone there was simply no denying the hard facts. Weenie Maureenie was back and she looked very much like her little sister. it was definitely weird.

When they got to the hotel Jamie was the first out of the car, reaching his arms up way over his head and stretching. He wasn't even stoned for this! The boys hair lay a little shaggy, his face scruffy with a thick five o'clock shadow. He wore jeans, a white t-shirt and a blue and gray striped cardigan over top along with an old pair of converse sneakers. "It's bloody cold out here." He told the others, jumping in place a little as his breath fogged in front of him. He was nervous and excited, not sure what he would even say to the girl once he saw her.

When they got inside Jamie looked around frantically for her, but it was McMaximus who saw her first. She ran to the girl and hugged her and Jamie watched, stunned. "You seein this?" He muttered to Drew as the moved closer, his dark eyes wide with wonder. “Maureen, this is Jamie and Drew.” That's when Drew moved forward and scooped the girl into his arms and hugged her tight. Jamie grinned and stifled a laugh, his hand coming to his lips and covering them slightly. "Smooth." He teased softly remembering Maxi's warning to be cool, that she was nervous. “Drew, put her down! You’re going to break her!”

Really it was sweet seeing Drew with her. Jamie just wasn't like that. Sure, he would have loved to scoop her up as he had Maxi when he saw her, but he knew Maureen didn't know him like Max did. “Okay! I’m done my overly familiar bit. I’m sorry, Max, I just couldn’t help it. I got too happy.” Drew said and Jamie reached a hand out and smacked Drew's thick, muscular arm. "I'm offended." he teased with mock hurt. "Yeh didn't hug me like that when yah saw me." He teased before smiling at Maureen, really taking her image in now that Drew was done his emotional attack. "It's real good to see you, Maury." He said gently, reaching a hand out to shake hers with a friendly smile. "Real, real good.."

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

Maureen continued waiting with bated breath for Maxi to arrive with the guys. Finally her eyes caught her sisters, still finding it odd that she had a sister at all. She let the nervous smile slide over her face. “Hi!” Maxi greeted, and Maureen came to her feet, hugging her sister back and looking bashfully at the beautiful men she had in tow. Both were crazy adorable, but in different ways. When Maxi pulled away she introduced each of the boys; Jamie and Drew. She smiled bashfully and both and was a little intimidated as the bigger of the two came at her, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her into a tight hug.

Maureen stood still, frozen and unsure what to do. She couldn't wrap her arms around him back and all she could think was that he smelled so good and his body was rock hard! He was practically a human Adonis! She gulped, wide eyed and unsure how to react, or what to say. "I can’t believe this!” he gushed and she could hear the emotion in his voice. Immediately the guilt came back. She didn't even know this guy but he was so happy that she was there, safe and alive. It was unfair. Why didn't she miss him this much? “Drew, put her down! You’re going to break her!” She was glad for her sisters intervention, her cheeks as scarlet as Maxi's hair as Drew finally put her down. She was able to really look up into his beautiful face them making her heart stop at the emotion there. “You’re alive! You’re really alive!” She gave a nervous sort of smile and nodded. "I am. Very much so." She agreed in a soft, bashful voice, biting her lower lips and glad when he finally stepped back. God was he beautiful.. Her eyes darted to Maxi briefly as if to convey her thoughts, but the other boy caught her eye and she looked over at him.

"Yeh didn't hug me like that when yah saw me." She instantly liked this guy, too. More laid back, playful, an accent to kill for.. she was cute, but in that puppy dog way, not in the Adonis way that Drew was. "It's real good to see you, Maury." He said gently, reaching a hand out to her and she took it, still feeling Drew's eyes on her. "Real, real good.." She smiled back softly.

"It's, uh.. it's nice to meet you guys." She said nervously, not wanting to hurt their feelings, but really she felt like she was meeting them for the first time. She had no recollection of playing with them as children. Even in her dreams these two didn't seem familiar.

Maureen took a seat, tucking her hair behind her ears and waiting for the others to do the same. Maxi sat beside her and she could see the other two boys were trying for the other seat beside her, Drew winning in the end. Jamie moved to sit across from her and she gave him a soft smile before looking at Drew and blushing again. He was incredible! Why wasn't Maxi dating him? "I'm sorry I don't remember you guys.." She said in a soft voice, knowing Maxi would have warned them ahead of time, but feeling the need to say it herself. "But it's really very nice that you're so excited to see me. I never expected a reunion like this. Or... one at all I guess." She looked around and then back at her lap. "Um.. so, uh... so what have you guys been up to?" Maureen had no idea what to even say to them but she didn't want this to be all about her though she knew it would be. You don't return from the dead and not get asked a million questions.

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Seeing how emotional Drew got over seeing Maureen again was sweet. It made Maxi almost start crying again too, and she might have if she weren’t still calming down from her state of panic. He was going to scare Maureen away if he kept that up! She didn’t know him! How many times had she reminded Drew and Jamie to stay calm with her? Honestly, they had to treat this like they were hunting deer, and one does not simply run up to the deer and hug them! Even so, Drew apologized for it, and Maxi couldn’t stay mad. She’d practically done the same thing when she’d seen her sister again. Of course, she was far more hysterical…but he had done some crying when she sat down with him and told him that Maureen was alive. Maybe that’s why he wasn’t crying more now. Drew was a really emotional guy and when it was a happy emotion, he didn’t mind showing it in the least. It was surprising for such a macho looking guy, but Maxi had always found it endearing. Drew was really just a big teddy bear. When he finally let her sister go, she noticed that Maureen was bright red and looking at her. Maxi was confused by the color of her sister’s face, but she figured she was just nervous. To her, she’d never met these two before!

“Yeh didn’t hug me like that when yah saw me.” Maxi giggled at the two and Drew turned to him with his arms open wide. “You want me to?” Jamie seemed to ignore the offer which made both her and Drew laugh. Instead, Jamie turned to Maureen and put his hand out for a shake which relieved Maxi. That was a more acceptable greeting to her. “It’s real good to see you, Maury…Real, real good.” Maxi almost got choked up by the way Maureen smiled at him and it seemed like they were meeting for the first, when in reality they’d gone through these formalities about forty-two years ago. Then it was probably more Maureen coming over to coo over the baby that was the same age as her sister. Obviously, Maxi didn’t remember the first time she’d met Jamie—they’d practically met in the womb. Even so, Maureen was meeting a couple of the most important people in her life and was good to be back to that again. Why did she keep looking at Drew like she was feeling shy? He must have scared her with that greeting.

“It’s, uh…it’s nice to meet you guys.” Yeah, it was a meeting for her, wasn’t it? Maxi’s eyes fluttered to the guys and while Drew looked maybe a little deflated, it was so subtle Maureen wouldn’t even notice it. Maxi just knew him too well. His smile was permanent…well, all of theirs were except for Maureen’s, which was understandable. Her sister took her seat, leading Maxi to do the same next to Maureen. When she looked up the guys were laughing and fighting over the chair next to Maureen, making Maxi giggle and shake her head. Were they going to do this all night? Fight over seats next to the girls? Drew finally got his butt in the chair before Jamie did, causing him to both get sit on and win, which made him laugh. That made Maureen uncomfortable, Maxi could see from the color of her face. Should she suggest Drew switch? No, it was better to leave it. Drew would find some way to make Maureen feel comfortable.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember you guys…” As expected, the guys waved off the remark, knowing there was nothing for her to be sorry for. “But it’s really very nice that you’re so excited to see me. I never expected a reunion like this. Or…one at all, I guess…Um…so, uh…so what have you guys been up to?” Her eyes were on her lap and Maxi felt a little bad for her. She wanted to reach out and put an arm around her, but she knew it wouldn’t do much good. Maureen was a big girl and she would ease into this more as the evening passed. That was one great thing about having these two guys of all the guys to reunite Maureen with: they were both so laid back and had a way of calming those around them. Maxi looked to Drew as he spoke first.

[DREW SOLOMON]

Drew was still having a hard time getting over the fact that Maureen was alive and standing in front of him. She was pretty as a picture too, but he always knew she would grow up lovely. He’d known that about Maxi as well. But he was noticing something different about Maureen the more he watched her. He couldn’t remember the last time Maxi had blushed around him, except maybe when she was telling him about her boyfriend. Right now, Maureen was as red as her sister’s hair and it would only get darker every time she looked at him. He thought maybe he had scared the poor thing and that’s why she was blushing. A lot of the girls in his classes at the high school would blush when they talked to him, but that was because they had crushes on him. He honestly didn’t see what they saw in him when he looked in the mirror and it was easy to shrug off. They were children, after all. He always blamed it on raging teenage hormones, and Maureen wasn’t a hormonal teenage girl, so it had to be something else. Yeah, he’d scared her into being shy with that hug. He was just going to have to make up for it by making her laugh.

Maureen went to sit down and when Maxi took one seat next to her, his eyes darted to Jamie. There was only one more seat next to Maureen and he was determined to make it his. With a grin, he raced Jamie to the chair and then grabbed hold of it, laughing and playfully shoving the smaller guy with his shoulder. Jamie didn’t give up and they both went to sit in the chair at the same time. Drew was quicker and when Jamie’s butt landed on his thigh, he laughed, patting the kid on the back. “Better luck next time Strawberry Jam.” He grinned as Jamie took the other seat, hearing Maxi giggling. His eyes turned to the girls and he found both of them looking at him. Again Maureen was blushing as he smiled at her and he hoped that could be corrected by the end of the evening. Maury wasn’t allowed to be scared of him! “I’m sorry I don’t remember you guys…” Drew waved his hand, shaking his head. She had nothing to apologize for; it was a miracle she was alive, even if she had lost her memory. There would be plenty of time to catch up! “But it’s really very nice that you’re so excited to see me. I never expected a reunion like this. Or…one at all, I guess… The smile on his face was permanent as she looked to her lap and spoke in a soft voice. She and Maxi had always had naturally soft voices, but he was well aware that they could get loud. When they were younger, it had reached ear-splitting levels at times…

“Um…so, uh…so what have you guys been up to?” Drew took a deep breath, considering the question: what had he been up to in the last twenty-five years? “Well, I became a teacher.” That seemed to catch her attention and Maxi smiled at him and he gave a smile in return. “I teach history over at the high school. Sometimes Maxi and I combine class projects if we happen to be teaching the same grade level.” His green eyes came back to Maureen’s smiling warmly. “You and Max had a lot to do with that. And Jamie and his cousin Gus.” He looked over to the other guy and grinned before looking back to Maureen. “Gus’s mom, Mrs. Periwinkle, she used to teach all of us. I was a few years ahead of you in school, and you started out in public school, but then all four of you ended up being homeschooled by Mrs. Periwinkle along with me. I used to tutor you guys and I loved it. I loved seeing you guys learn. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t really want to teach little kids again, though. I swear you and Max could scream at a pitch only bats and dogs would be able to hear.” Laughter shot up from the table, and Maxi shook her head. “We were not that loud!” Drew’s head dropped and he looked over his eyebrows at her. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure Mrs. Periwinkle has some videos to prove it.” Maxi rolled her eyes, making Drew grin before he looked over to Jamie, gesturing with his hand. “And this guy got so tired of us he ran all the way to England to get away from us.” He turned back and leaned in toward Maureen as if he had a secret to tell her, but he spoke in a normal pitch. “Personally? I think he still dreams of being the fifth Beatle. Look, he even dresses like them and everything.” He sat back from Maureen again, smiling wide at her before he looked back to Jamie and laughed at his teasing. It was all in good fun and he really had missed being together like this.

[JAMES MILLER]

"It’s, uh…it’s nice to meet you guys.” Jamie tried really hard to keep in mind that she didn't remember them, but it still hurt a little. He wasn't mad or anything, he understood, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. He smiled, though. Not his usual big, goofy, playful smile but a softer one, gentle and a little warm. There was a mild sadness in his big, brown eyes.

When Maxi took the seat next to Maureen he wanted to grab the other one, but it seemed Drew had the same idea. He rushed for it, but Drew shoulder blocked him and Jamie being a significantly smaller guy, both in height and muscle, lost the battle despite his best efforts and ended up sitting on Drew's lap for a second. He scowled but laughed anyway as Drew patted him on the back. “Better luck next time Strawberry Jam.” The boy got up and slumped into the other chair, waving his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Wait till I bulk up Androol.. see who's laughin' then." He teased knowing he would never be as big as Drew no matter how much he worked out.

When Maureen apologized for not remembering them, Jamie, like the others, waved it off as no big deal. They understood it wasn't her fault. He was surprised she asked what they were up to, though. It was as if she knew what they had been doing prior to her disappearance and he smiled, opening his mouth to talk but naturally Drew took the lead. He was the leader type.

Drew went on and on about his being a teacher and Jamie looked playfully bored, rolling his eyes and how proud the other boy was. Since he was a kid he had been a thorn in Drew's side, always being the silly little one of the group. Hell, he'd been the baby till Gus showed up, and he was happy to relinquish his crown to the younger boy. He waited semi patiently for Drew to continue talking about his aunt and cousin and tutoring and blah blah blah. Maureen looked interested, but how could she be? Drew was being so boring.

"I loved seeing you guys learn. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t really want to teach little kids again, though. I swear you and Max could scream at a pitch only bats and dogs would be able to hear.” Jamie actually laughed, recalling the girls and their irritating habit of screeching. Loudly. “We were not that loud!” Jamie scoffed. "I beg to differ!" “Really? Because I’m pretty sure Mrs. Periwinkle has some videos to prove it.” Jamie nodded, having obviously caught Drew's attention. “And this guy got so tired of us he ran all the way to England to get away from us.” Jamie smiled and gave a deep nod. "'t's true." He agreed trying to hide his smile unsuccessfully. "Yer lucky you don't remember him." He teased unsure if it was rude or not, but deciding they were all being silly anyway. “Personally? I think he still dreams of being the fifth Beatle. Look, he even dresses like them and everything.” Jamie looked affronted though he wasn't really. "I'll have you know this is very fashionable!" He argued and leaned on the table closer to Maureen though there was still a distance between them. "Drew's always been jealous of my talents. I'm a singer, yah know. Me and your sister used to jam all the time back in the day." He looked at Maxi with a little smile and wink. "But mostly I draw an' paint. Strugglin' artist type. You know.." He shrugged. "Fell in love with England. 't's been my home for ages now. Just got in cause uncle Gert asked me to." He explained. "Looks like I got here at just the right time."

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“Well, I became a teacher.” Maureen's eyes widened a little. Another teacher? She couldn't believe they were all teachers! Was Jamie one, too? He spoke about how he and Maxi worked together sometimes and she wondered briefly if this was her boyfriend. No, she would have mentioned that, and her boyfriends name wasn't Drew. She forgot what it was. Greg? Aaron? Something like that.. “You and Max had a lot to do with that. And Jamie and his cousin Gus.” She had something to do with him being a teacher? "..I used to tutor you guys and I loved it. I loved seeing you guys learn. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I didn’t really want to teach little kids again, though. I swear you and Max could scream at a pitch only bats and dogs would be able to hear.” She let out a soft laugh and blushed fiercely. Her dad always said she had a good pair of lungs in her. She looked over at Maxi who insisted they weren't that loud, the boys both agreeing they had been.

Maureen pushed a smile on her face, but it wasn't real. Her heart sank low in her chest as the depression hit again. They all remembered these amazing, amusing times that she was a part of and she just couldn't. It was like being in a group of people who had seen a movie she hadn't and she had to pretend to follow along. She swallowed the tears the threatened, glad they had moved on and were talking about Jamie now.

“And this guy got so tired of us he ran all the way to England to get away from us.” "'t's true. Yer lucky you don't remember him." Again the fake smile slid over her lips. Oh, but how she wanted to remember him! “Personally? I think he still dreams of being the fifth Beatle. Look, he even dresses like them and everything.” Jamie looked almost offended and her smile turned a little more genuine as she cheered up just a bit at their playfulness. "I'll have you know this is very fashionable! Drew's always been jealous of my talents. I'm a singer, yah know. Me and your sister used to jam all the time back in the day. But mostly I draw an' paint. Strugglin' artist type. You know.. Fell in love with England. 't's been my home for ages now. Just got in cause uncle Gert asked me to. Looks like I got here at just the right time." Maureen blushed again at his light compliment of sorts.

"You guys all seem really close." She commented softly as the waitress came around with waters. She asked if they needed another minute to order and they all agreed they did. Maureen was glad for the distraction, grabbing her water and taking a sip before setting it down. "Crazy how you both became teachers." She noted also. "I don't know if Maxi told you, but I teach too. Mostly English but I'm certified to teach elementary math and social studies. I work in a hospital, though." She rested her hands in her lap, wringing them as she tended to do. "How many of us were there? Like.. how many kids did she teach?"

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maxi laughed loud at Drew teasing her and Maureen for shrieking so much when they were kids. “We were not that loud!” she insisted, but both of the guys gave her looks. “I beg to differ!” “Really? Because I’m pretty sure Mrs. Periwinkle has some videos to prove it.” Maxi rolled her eyes and shook her head at them, laughing a little more. “Well all little girls are screechy…” she defended softly before her eyes came back to Maureen. If she wasn’t mistaken, Maureen looked upset. Maxi’s smile faded a bit and she wanted to reach out and touch her sister’s shoulder. It must have been all this talk of the years she couldn’t remember. Maxi was going to change the subject, but she was glad Drew went ahead and did it for her. “And this guy got so tired of us he went all the way to England to get away from us.” “’t’s true.” The redhead giggled some, loving to watch these two go at each other in their lighthearted and funny way. “Yer lucky you don’t remember him.” Her eyes shot to her sister, seeing the uneasy smile, and she almost gave Jamie a warning look to avoid the topic of remembering. She knew Maureen wanted to remember, but she didn’t want her to feel pressured to do so. Maybe it would come back to her, maybe it wouldn’t, and she wanted Maureen to be okay with that.

“Personally? I think he still dreams of being the fifth Beatle. Look, he even dresses like them and everything.” Maxi laughed at the way Jamie looked offended, knowing he wasn’t being serious, and she liked that Maureen’s smile grew too. “I’ll have you know this is very fashionable! Drew’s always been jealous of my talents. I’m a singer you know. Me and your sister used to jam all the time back in the day.” Maxi laughed at Jamie’s insistence that Drew was jealous of him and the way Drew scoffed, and she returned Jamie’s smile, remembering those days fondly too. She still played guitar from time to time, though that was something she still had yet to share with August. “But mostly I draw an’ paint. Strugglin’ artist type. You know…Fell in love with England. ‘t’s been my home for ages now. Just got in ‘cause Uncle Gert asked me to. Looks like I got here at just the right time.” Maxi grinned at the compliment he gave Maureen and she got a little flushed by it, making Maxi reach out and rub her shoulder a little. It was both a gesture of affection and comfort. They were just happy to see her; they didn’t have any expectations of her. She hoped that was the message Maureen was getting too.

“You guys all seem really close.” Maxi smiled around the table, nodding. “We are,” she agreed. Even with the years apart from Jamie, it still felt like they hadn’t missed a day of seeing each other. When the waitress brought their water, Maxi drank deeply, finding that her throat was dry from the laughing and talking. “Crazy how you both became teachers. I don’t know if Maxi told you, but I teach too. Mostly English but I’m certified to teach elementary math and social studies. I work in a hospital, though.” Drew was obviously intrigued, turning to face her a little. “Really? That’s awesome! What a coincidence we all ended up teachers.” Maxi looked at Jamie with a grin. “Hey, now it’s your turn to start teaching!” The look she got made her laugh. “How many of us were there? Like…how many kids did she teach?” Maxi turned a little bit more towards her. “Well, she taught the five of us plus Jamie’s five older brothers and sisters, so there were ten of us total. All of us kids were pretty close, but the five of us were the closest in terms of friends. Jamie’s oldest brother was the oldest and Gus was the youngest in the class. The Periwinkles and Millers, Jamie’s family, all want to see you again, but you don’t have to until you’re ready.” She smiled reassuringly. Drew was nodding his head in agreement and there was no one at that table who wanted to make Maureen feel pressured or forced.

[DREW SOLOMON]

Drew laughed at how utterly offended Jamie looked at his comment about his clothes. “I’ll have you know this is very fashionable! Drew’s always been jealous of my talents. I’m a singer you know. Me and your sister used to jam all the time back in the day.” The older guy scoffed at Jamie’s teasing, shaking his head as he did so. Drew had always liked listening to Jamie and Maxi sing and they learned guitar together with Maureen. All three of them used to jam actually, but Maxi had said they shouldn’t focus too much on the past. It might upset Maureen, and her smiles had looked wan enough already. He decided he would just remember the sounds of their singing and their dueling guitars silently. But he did want to ask if Maureen still sang…Jamie explained what he really did for a living, his art, and Drew watched him as he spoke. He definitely had that look about him. Jamie had always been a free spirit and even when they were young, he knew the boy would end up living paycheck to paycheck and loving every minute of it, seeing the world and expressing what he saw of it. “Fell in love with England. ‘t’s been my home for ages now. Just got in ‘cause Uncle Gert asked me to. Looks like I got here at just the right time.” Drew’s smile grew and he looked back to Maureen. Yeah, it really had been just the right time. It was so good to see her face again.

“You guys all seem really close.” Maxi agreed and Drew nodded his agreement as well. They were the only family he had. Even at the high school when the girls asked, “Mr. Solomon, is Ms. McManus your girlfriend?” he would laugh and shake his head with an incredulous look as he told them she was like a sister to him or a cousin. Jamie had always given him a hard time, but he loved the little bugger just as much, like a pesky little brother you can’t help but adore. “Crazy how you both became teachers. I don’t know if Maxi told you, but I teach too. Mostly English but I’m certified to teach elementary math and social studies. I work in a hospital, though.” Why hadn’t Maxi said anything? Drew was taken aback by this news and his jaw dropped open a little with a big smile. “Really? That’s awesome! What a coincidence we all ended up teachers.” What were the chances of that happening? And she taught English like her sister, too! It was funny and sweet at the same time. They’d always been so alike, and apparently that was true even when one of them couldn’t remember the other. “Hey, now it’s your turn to start teaching!” Maxi’s comment and the look she got in return made Drew laugh too. Jamie a teacher? It would be interesting, and he’d probably be fun, but there would definitely be no lesson plans. “How many of us were there? Like…how many kids did she teach?” Maxi explained Mrs. Periwinkle’s class as Drew nodded in agreement. He’d always liked how small their class was. It helped with their lessons because they were all learning different things at all of the different ages. Mrs. Periwinkle was flexible and she always made sure they had something to work on while she was teaching the other kids new lessons.

Of course the Periwinkles and the Millers wanted to see Maureen, but he was reminded of how new all of this was for her when Maxi said she could take her time with the reunion. Drew smiled and jumped in. “Yeah, they’ve waited twenty-five years. I think they can handle a little more time to see you.” He smiled warmly at Maureen, trying to be just as supportive as her sister. Besides, they would certainly bombard himself and Jamie with questions about her, so they would have some bits of information to satisfy them until Maureen was comfortable seeing everyone again. “So what do you do in your free time nowadays, Maury?” he asked, wanting to open up discussion on Maureen here and now, not Maureen twenty five years ago. “Do you still sing like you used to? Or have you taken up extreme sports as a hobby?” Maxi giggled at his joke, and even he grinned at the picture of the tiny little thing next to him jumping from planes or bungee jumping off the world’s tallest bridges.

[JAMES MILLER]

“Crazy how you both became teachers. I don’t know if Maxi told you, but I teach too." Another teacher? Was it the Blurr way? His aunt, Maxi, Drew, even one of his sisters taught! It was disgusting and he rolled his eyes waiting for the inevitable question. It was Maxi who threw it out towards him. “Hey, now it’s your turn to start teaching!” He narrowed his eyes playfully. "Hey, I've been known to give a guitar lesson or two. Doesn't that count?" He teased back before Maureen asked more questions.

“Well, she taught the five of us plus Jamie’s five older brothers and sisters, so there were ten of us total. All of us kids were pretty close, but the five of us were the closest in terms of friends." He wasn't sure who the fifth person she was referring to was. Maybe Gus? Or Lizzy? The girls had been close to Lizzy for her laid back nature and her knack for making the most, intricate hairdos. Jamie had his hair twisted in all sorts of ways before because of those stupid girls, but not since he was a lad. Jamie grinned at the incredulous look Maureen got when she heard he had five older siblings, though. He got that look a lot. He couldn't help it if his parents had been real busy!

"The Periwinkles and Millers, Jamie’s family, all want to see you again, but you don’t have to until you’re ready.” He could see the skepticism in Maureen's eyes and he started to talk but Drew beat him to the punch. “Yeah, they’ve waited twenty-five years. I think they can handle a little more time to see you.” Jamie nodded. "Plus, only half the Miller's are even in this country! So yeh lucked out." He grinned, not sure if that would ease her any. There were only a handful of people around who would want to see her, but Jamie wouldn't be all that surprised if his parents caught a flight home for a visit. They had been devastated over the loss of the McManus family and asked Jamie often about Maxine.

“So what do you do in your free time nowadays, Maury? Do you still sing like you used to? Or have you taken up extreme sports as a hobby?” Maxi giggled and he had to laugh, too. "You used to be the best jump roper I knew." He added, his smile gentle.

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“Well, she taught the five of us plus Jamie’s five older brothers and sisters, so there were ten of us total." Her eyes widened. Ten? That was a lot of kids. Maureen looked to Jamie when Maxi mentioned he had five older siblings. She would love to have so many kids, and it seemed sort of strange to think of him as the baby, but with his playful disposition she supposed it wasn't hard to see. Youngest children, in her experience, rarely took anything seriously. Parents were often more lax with them since they had already gone through the trial and error of raising the older siblings. She would have put money on that being the reason Jamie was such a little goofball.

"The Periwinkles and Millers, Jamie’s family, all want to see you again, but you don’t have to until you’re ready.” Maxi smiled reassuringly and it seemed to be the general consensus around the table; everyone wanted to see her but they could wait until she was more comfortable. It had been difficult agreeing to this get together. The thought of being surrounded by a dozen or so unfamiliar faces all dying to see her made her more than anxious. She didn't like to be gushed over and she didn't want any awkward questions and she wasn't entirely sure she could trust them all not to make her uncomfortable. This needed to be a good experience she decided, otherwise it was worthless. She shouldn't be afraid of the life she was supposed to have lived. "Plus, only half the Miller's are even in the country! So yeh lucked out." Well that was certainly reassuring!

“So what do you do in your free time nowadays, Maury? Do you still sing like you used to? Or have you taken up extreme sports as a hobby?” "You used to be the best jump roper I knew."

The attention was back on her and she smiled weakly, shifting in her seat. She didn't know how much she used to sing, but she did a little now. "I sing in my churches choir." She told them honestly and then laughed a little. "I don't do any extreme sports, but I was a cheerleader in high school? That was a long time ago, though. I still run.. I don't know if I used to but I have for as long as I can remember. Umm.. I volunteer a lot in the community, mostly with the children's hospital. I teach, but I also sing there as well, play guitar and a little piano for the kids. Most of my free time is spent with my parents, though." She blushed a little trying not to look into anyone's eyes. She knew that her parents weren't really her parents, but they were the only one's she remembered having and if they had a problem with it, well.. that was their problem she decided. She didn't want to feel guilty for loving them. "They're in their seventies and need a hand now and then. I look after their finances and help take care of their dog, Jenson. I spend a lot of time with my niece and nephew, too. I'm the fun aunt.." She was the only aunt, but that was beside the point. She shrugged, "I'm sort of boring." She laughed chancing a look at the group. "I'm sure you guys do far more interesting things."

[MAXINE MCMANUS]

Maureen seemed to be getting more comfortable, if only a little bit, and Maxi was glad for it. She knew these two would be good for her to meet again first! “So what do you do in your free time nowadays, Maury? Do you still sing like you used to? Or have you taken up extreme sports as a hobby?” Maxi laughed at Drew’s lighthearted question. “You used to be the best jump roper I ever knew.” She smiled wide at Jamie, remembering how she and her sister knew all the games one could possibly play with a jump rope and yet Maureen always bested her at it. “I sing in my church’s choir.” Her soft answer got smiles all around the table. She knew her sister was now pretty religious and it fit her sweet, wholesome image. “I don’t do any extreme sports, but I was a cheerleader in high school? That was a long time ago, though. I still run…I don’t know if I used to but I have for as long as I can remember. Umm…I volunteer a lot in the community, mostly with the children’s hospital. I teach, but I also sing there as well, play guitar and a little piano for the kids. Most of my free time is spent with my parents, though.” Drew gave Maxi a brief confused look, which she caught, but it disappeared as quickly as it had shown up. Maxi was still adjusting to Maureen referencing the Aberdeens as her parents, but she hardly noticed it anymore whereas the guys were just now hearing it. Maureen seemed to take note that it might sound odd and looked around briefly before continuing about how she took care of the aging couple and their dog and spent a lot of time with her brother’s family. “I’m the fun aunt…” From what Maxi knew, she was the only aunt, but the statement still made her smile wider.

“I’m sort of boring.” Though she laughed, there were mostly scoffs around the table. Maxi wasn’t sure if Jamie’s was just a formality, but she knew hers and Drew’s were legitimate. Of course she wasn’t boring! Then again, everything she did was right up her and Drew’s alley. “I’m sure you guys do far more interesting things.” Maxi knew Jamie did more “interesting” things, always having a pretty choice selection of pot on him, but pot didn’t do much to motivate a person to do interesting things. The last time she got high with Jamie, she ended up practically comatose and laughing at the stupidest things on TV while they chilled in Jamie’s flat in England. That was ages ago, but she still remembered the way the TV screen seemed to swirl as she munched on potato chips. Maureen had probably never even tried pot…Maxi always thought she was a good girl, but she sounded like a hooligan compared to Maureen. “You and me learned how to play guitar when we were young. I know you don’t remember, but Dad taught us. I think it’s pretty cool that you went back to doing that, even though you didn’t know you did it.” Maxi’s smile was wide and genuine. “And you picked up piano! I always wanted to learn but I just haven’t found the time.” Drew nodded with agreement. “I think it would be pretty neat to play and sing for kids in my spare time. Would I ever torture a child with my voice? No, but it would still be cool.” Maxi touched Maureen’s arm and gave her a serious look. “No, you really don’t want to hear him sing.” She gave Drew a grin, letting him know she was teasing before looking over at Jamie. “But Jamie! He’s really good! We should all play together some time!” The dark eyed boy seemed genuinely excited at the prospect and Maxi got excited about it too.

The rest of dinner passed with good-natured jokes and good food to go with it. They told stories and found out more about Maureen’s quiet life in her sleepy town, even getting to hear some stories about her time working in the hospital. Some were touching stories, and others were funny stories, and they all shared stories of their own from their lives. It moved away from the past where they were together to the past when they weren’t and the time was spent rediscovering each other. Drew and Maxi both shared horror stories of working in a high school and Jamie shared some of his best experiences in England and the other places he’d gone. Once again Maxi’s and Jamie’s trip to Limerick came up and Maxi actually ended up canceling an order of bread pudding for dessert, opting instead for cheesecake—anything to get her mind off black pudding. There was plenty of laughter and reacquainting and even Maxi felt like her bonds of friendship with Drew and Jamie were renewed somehow by the end of the two and a half hour meal. She glanced at her watch and noted how late it was; August would probably have called her at this point, but her phone was on silent. Sure enough when she checked it, she had a missed call from him. He wasn’t going to be happy with her not picking up, but it was only fifteen minutes ago that he called. She would call him back while she dropped the guys off. The bill was paid, each putting in an equal share for their meal and she sighed heavily, looking around at the servers cleaning up tables and looking at them anxiously as if to tell them to go away already. “Well, we should probably get going. I’m missed at home and I guess we should let the staff go home.” There was a general consensus and when she stood, she felt heavy with food. “Man, I’ve got a food baby!” she teased, rubbing her belly. There was general laughter before she turned to the guys. “Hey, do you guys mind giving me a minute with Maury?” “No, that’s fine. Jam and I will head towards the car.” Drew turned to Maureen and put his arms up as if to ask permission this time before he hugged her much more gently this time. “It was good meeting you again, Maureen.” He was such a genuine guy and very open too; he was a very touchy-feely kind of guy and Maxi couldn’t help but smile at how comfortable he seemed around her but how anxious Maureen seemed in return.

When Jamie had said his goodbyes, the guys walked off towards the doors of the hotel, talking animatedly. They were obviously teasing each other, as brothers would do, and Drew was nudging Jamie playfully. Maxi turned back to her sister, smiling wide. “So, what did you think of them? I hope you had a good time.” That was the most important thing. She knew Maureen had been uncomfortable at times, but she hoped that despite that, she had enjoyed herself.

((OoC: We can just have it be Maureen and Maxi from here on out. It might just be easier that way. XDD))

[MAUREEN ABERDEEN]

“You and me learned how to play guitar when we were young. I know you don’t remember, but Dad taught us. I think it’s pretty cool that you went back to doing that, even though you didn’t know you did it.” It was funny Maxi had mentioned that. Maureen clearly remembered when she had wanted to learn to play guitar. She had seen someone doing it and had been drawn to it immediately. She asked if she could learn and when she was being taught it had come to her very naturally. It didn't take long for her to pick up on the chords and learn how to manipulate the strings. She had been a true natural, or so it had seemed. Perhaps her brain had remembered a little of that, after all.

“I think it would be pretty neat to play and sing for kids in my spare time. Would I ever torture a child with my voice? No, but it would still be cool.” Was his voice that bad? Maxi leaned over and placed a hand on her, answering her silent question. “No, you really don’t want to hear him sing.” She laughed, finding herself becoming a little more comfortable with the group.

They ordered their food and continued talking, catching up but not in a way that made her feel like they were probing for answers about anything. They genuinely wanted to know what she had done with her life, and in a way it was endearing. She liked these people, and she wanted to get to know them. Even if they shared an unremembered past, there was no reason they couldn't build a future of friendship together. She saw why Maxi stayed in touch with them. Plus their friendship through the years had been something to envy. She laughed as they shared storied and was thoroughly enjoying her time with them.

The night ticked by and she was sad as it all started to come to an end. “Well, we should probably get going. I’m missed at home and I guess we should let the staff go home.” She nodded reluctantly, and she could see the others were a little sad that it was time to end things. It was getting late anyway and she wanted to call her parents before they hit the sack. She promised she would. “Hey, do you guys mind giving me a minute with Maury?” “No, that’s fine. Jam and I will head towards the car.” Drew turned to her and put his arms out, asking for another hug and though she was still a little bashful about it, she let him wrap his large arms around her anyway.

“It was good meeting you again, Maureen.” She smiled up at the beautiful Adonis and nodded, blushing slightly. "Same with you." She said softly before turning to Jamie who had a playful sort of look on his face. He didn't bother asking as Drew had just done, putting his arms around her. "It was good seein' yah." He told her and she smiled back, enjoying his easy going personality. "You too, Jaime." She watched the boys go and turned to her sister, biting her lower lip. “So, what did you think of them? I hope you had a good time.” She nodded, a warm, content smile on her face. "I had a wonderful time." She insisted, her tone gentle and kind. "They're wonderful, Maxi. It's obvious why you stay in touch." Her eyes moved to where the boys had just left and she blushed again. "Drew is very sweet.. I didn't expect that." She said honestly. "He just looks so.. well, he's very good looking. I'm surprised you didn't try and date him." She laughed, blushing again. She wasn't one to talk about boys much. "And Jaime's a riot. I would definitely hang around both of them again. Has he always been so silly?"