nyc prep continued

"Yeah," paige said nodding. "You're right."


"Yes, I don't thin I'll survive if I have to go by myself." She said. "I'll buy lunch," she offered. "And any drinks we may need after the shopping is done."

"Jaimie sent you?" She asked.

"Good." Brooklynn nodded. "So I'll see you at 6? Does that still work?"

jeff laughed, " planning on getting drunk to forget?" he asked

Nikki didn't say anything for a moment, "so how did things work out?" she asked

"No I asked," he corrected sitting on the bed next to her, "so...whats going on?"

"yes, that works great." he said looking at the time...still 4 more hours...thsi was going to be a long day

"Mama is coming. And I don't want her to." Sasha was clearly not happy.

"Okay well. Uhm I should make sure my mom isn't burning down the house. So I'll see you then?"

"I'll talk to you then beautiful." he said then hung up. she was great

"Why not?" he asked knowing the answer but he wanted to let her explain

Brooklynn blushed and hung up, going to make sure her mother wasn't burning the house down.

"She's hardly my mother!" Sasha replied. "Jaimie is more of a mom to me!"

"That's fair." he nodded, "I'm sorry you have to deal with this Sasha...realy."

"She's been even worse since I got sick," Sasha continued.

"why do you think that is?" he asked honestly

"Because now i'm a full freak. Before she could ignore it but now she can't. Now she needs to acknowledge it."

"And its her loss." he signed his face stern," Sasha you are a great girl and your mother is an idiot for not seeing past the fact that you can't hear." his eyebrows pulled together a little, "I am sorry ...so very sorry that you got stuck with her as a mom but try to see past that. she is a high society designer who cares mostly about herself and that is sad. the best thing in the world is to care for others. remember that Jaime loves you and I care about you...who care about that other women."

That put a small smile on her face. "Thank you," she signed before leaning in and hugging him tightly.

he wrapped her up in a tight embrace resting his cheek on the top of her head. she was like a little sister to him and he was glad he could help...even just a little

She pulled back. "Will you be here when she comes?" she had to know. She didn't want it to just be her and Jaimie.

"Only if you want me to be." he said with a smile

Sam shrugged. "It is an option. You might need to get drunk to block out the experance."


"I'm not sure," paige said. "I'm so confused."

Jeff laughed turning the open sign off, " ok well lets go do this thing then."

Nikki smiled then looked at the girl, " you were having a rough day that time at school...the day we met. did it all work out?"

~MJ~ wrote:

"Only if you want me to be." he said with a smile

"I do," she answered.

Sam grinned, "thank you. You will regret this, we probably both will."


Paige thought for a minute. "There's this guy, Jarid. He's...well he's amazing. And I thought we might become more than friends but I think I messed everything up."

"then I'm not going anywhere." Braden said then hugged her again

Jeff smiled taking her hand and putting it into the crook of his bent arm, " well then lets go and get the regret started as soon as possible."

Nikki tried hard not to roll her eyes, " and why is that?"

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Sam hailed a cab and twenty minutes later they stoped outside one of the nicest bridal shops in the city. "The plus side to this," sam said as she got out, " is that they give you champagne and strwaberries."



"I told him about my brother. I thought him knowing more about me would help but he acted differnt after." She sighed. "Maybe I just have to much baggage."

"Good," Sasha smiled. "Thank you."

"oh boy," jeff sighed as he go out "that's definitely a plus." he was going to need some drinks

Nikki shrugged, " Guys are not worth it."

Braden smiled and stood up, " so how about we go ruin our supper with some ice cream?"

Sasha grinned. "Yes please!" she signed before standing from the bed.

Sam grinned she walked in. They were greated by the owner who told Sam the dresses her mother requested had already been pulled and were in th dressing room. "Behave while I'm gone," sam said as the champange and strawberries were bought out and she headed to the dressing room.


"You're right," paige said. "I guess I just wanted this to be a fresh start but I don't need a guy for it to be."

Braden chuckled and followed her out of the room

Jeff took a glass and a strawberry sitting down on the couch. this wasn't so bad

Nikki gave one solid nod. men were worthless...well most of them any way. Upper east side men were at any rate.

Jaimie was scooping the ice cream into a bowl and immediately passed it over to Sasha. "How are you?" she signed to her sister.
"Better. Braden's gonna be here when mom comes."
Jaimie gave Braden a smile, while signing "Thank you."

"I'm going to kill her," Sam said as she came out. She was wearing a hot pink dress. It dipped low in the front and was fitted to the waist then it flared out and went to the floor. "You better not laugh."


Paige smiled, "thanks. I needed that, someone to bring me to my scenes."

Jeff bit his upper lip and forced a funky smile, "Hum." he grunted

"Glad I could help." Nikki said taking a deep breath

Braden smiled at her taking a bowl of the frozen desert. this was...family. He knew he was letting himself go too far way too fast but he couldn't help it. he was clean, thinking clearly and Jaime still made him week at the knees. Sasha was the best kid ever and he wanted to be there for her...family. he took a spoon full of the ice cream.

Jaimie made herself a bowl and sat down at the table. "What do you want for dinner?" she asked Sasha.
Sasha only lifted the bowl and Jaimie smiled.
"Okay. But I spoil you." Her sister just grinned even wider. Then Jaimie turned to Braden. "What would you like?"

Braden grinned and mimicked Sasha's movements raising he bowl up joking

Jaimie laughed. "Why am I not surprised?" she teased.

he chuckled then replied around a spoonful of ice cream, "Chinese sounds good."

"Good choice," Jaimie smiled, standing. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before carrying her bowl to the sink.

Braden smiled after her. she was...he loved her

Sasha took her bowl over to Jaimie, then turned around and told Braden to "Stop it with the googly eyes. I'm standing right here."

"Sorry," he retorted bringing over the bowl, " I can't help it."

"It's making me want to vomit," Sasha teased. "It's really gross."

"Really?" he asked an eyebrow going up, " what about this?" he leaned over gently pushing back Jaime's hair and kissing her neck

Jaimie turned to look at him. "What are you doing?"
Sasha made a face, then laughed as her sister gave him a confused look.