––––––––

IT WAS THE FINAL FITTING of her dress.  Damn, they were going to have to take it in a bit.  She really had overdone it and worked herself into a frazzle. 

“You look beautiful.”  Piper sighed.

She heard a muffled sound and looked up.  Her mom had a Kleenex shoved against her mouth.

“Ahh, Mom.”

“You look exquisite.  I’d hug you, but I’d get the dress wet.” 

“Hold on, let me just get two more pins in, then I’ll get you out of this, and the hugging can commence.”  The seamstress smiled.  Karen was so happy she had chosen this bridal shop, everyone was so nice.

“My brother is going to lose his shit.”  Evie grinned.

“I like you.”  Wilma Eastman wrapped her arm around Evie’s waist.  “Karen did good choosing Drake, and I inherited six more daughters.”  Karen watched the look that Evie and Piper shared.  Her mom was good for the Avery sisters after the hell their biological mother had put them through.  Evie leaned in just a tad.  Not too much, because that wouldn’t be Evie.  But just a little.  Yep, her mom rocked.

“Do any of you need to try on your bridesmaid dresses while you’re here?” the seamstress asked.

“Nope,” Evie said.  “Everything is covered.”

“Except for our shoes.”  Piper sighed.

“What are you talking about?” Karen and Wilma asked simultaneously.

“Drake,” Piper said.  “I mentioned that the color didn’t exactly match the dresses, and that we’d decided to go with black patent leather to match the burgundy dresses.  Mister Control Freak arranged for shoes to be dyed up in Los Angeles.  God knows if they’ll get here in time.”

“Please say you bought the black shoes,” Karen begged.

“Of course,” Evie assured her.

“He was all proud of himself that he found a DJ, but then he got so picky about the songs, that the DJ quit.  Then he had to find a back-up for the back-up.  At the rate we’re going, we’ll be stuck with a Karaoke machine.” 

Wilma giggled.

“It’s not funny, Mom.”

“Yes, it is.”

“He’s gone full SEAL,” Evie said.

“Aiden wouldn’t have done this,” Karen said.

Evie smirked.  “You’re right, he wouldn’t have.  My brother is special,” she said using air quotes around the word special.  Wilma giggled again.

“Mom, quit laughing.”

“I can’t help it.”  Even the seamstress was biting her lip.  She sighed.  Something needed to be done. 

“This is my fault.  I made a promise to ask for help if I needed it, so I told him about the caterers and the band falling through.  He immediately went into Mr. Fix-It mode.”

“Well that explains it.”

“He called to ask if there were any flowers that your dad and your brothers were allergic to.  Apparently, he didn’t want them sneezing during the ceremony.  Leif wanted me to ask you if you knew you were marrying someone with obsessive compulsive tendencies.”  Now her mother was wiping her eyes for a totally different reason.

“God grant me patience,” Karen said with a deep sigh.

“An intervention is in order,” Piper said.

“To hell with that.  Tequila is in order,” Evie said.

“I can’t,” Karen wailed.  “I’m breastfeeding.”

“Honey, it’s not that bad,” Wilma said, trying to keep a straight face. 

Karen glared at her mother.  “Don’t even.  You don’t mean it.”

Her mother dissolved into giggles.  “You’re right, I don’t.  This is fucking funny.” 

“Oh God, you’re throwing down the F-Bomb.” 

Evie leaned into Wilma.  “I’m adopting your Mom.”

“You can have her.  She’s a traitor.”

“I am not.  I love my new son-in-law.  He’s just a bit over-the-top.”

“We need an intervention,” Piper said again.  “And tequila.”

“You’re not old enough to drink,” Karen reminded the young woman.

“Fine, you and I will have milkshakes, while the rest of my sister’s drink alcohol and we’ll all plan the best way to tell big brother that he needs to pull his head out of his ass.”

Karen looked at Piper and realized that she was a little more vehement than normal.  This was just Drake being Drake.  But even after ten days, there was still something off between the two of them.  She needed to have a talk with her before this intervention took place. 

“So, it’s decided.  When we pick up the Avery Avalanche tomorrow, we plan.  After all, we don’t want him telling the preacher how to hold the bible,” Evie said.

Karen winced, and Wilma laughed...again.

***

HER MOM WAS HOLDING court with the Avery girls in the living room.  Drake was over at Clint’s house figuring out how to build a moat around their townhome.  She’d watched Piper go off down the hall to check on Andrew and she followed.

“Everything okay?”

“Nothing fourteen baby wipes couldn’t take care of.”  Piper grinned.

Karen went to the baby dresser and pulled out a new sleeper for her son.  “He’s powerful,” she commiserated.

“Yep.  Are you sure you’re not feeding him broccoli and asparagus?” Piper asked.

“Hell, I don’t even eat that stuff myself.”  Karen laughed.  “I’m a peas and carrots kind of gal.”

“Drake must be slipping him some of his wheat grass protein shake.”

“Speaking of Drake, he’s really upset about the rift between the two of you.”

Piper’s head shot up.  “He’s talked to you about it?”

“Of course.”

“I’m surprised.”

“He feels terrible.  He didn’t mean to be mean.”

Piper stared at her, confusion obvious on her face.  “What are you talking about?” she finally asked.

“He said he was short with you the day we moved into the townhome.”

“Yeah, he’s mad at me.  I understand.  I’m mad at me.  I let everyone down.”

Karen handed her the yellow sleeper with giraffes on it, and considered her words.  There was a lot more to this than Drake thought.  “Honey, what are you talking about?”

“I should never have spent the weekend at my friend’s house.  I should have been here for you.  I should have taken better care of you and Andrew.”  Tears swam in Piper’s dark eyes as she picked up her nephew.

“Give him to me.”  Karen swiftly put her son into his crib and pulled Piper into her arms.  “You did nothing wrong.” 

Piper burst into tears.  Karen was dumbfounded.  “Piper, Honey, in no way shape or form is anyone holding you to blame for my stupidity.”

Piper just shook harder.

Karen tried to get her to look up at her, but she just kept her chin down.  “Piper, please look at me.”  The girl shook her head.  “Please, Honey.”

“Drake hates me, I know it.”

Now it all made sense.  “You need to talk to him.  He thinks you’re mad at him.”

She continued to shake her head.

“Yes, it’s true.  Listen to me.”

“I let him down.  You ended up in the hospital.  What would have happened if I hadn’t come home?”

Karen didn’t want to think about it.  She’d been an idiot and it was on her.  She felt terrible that Piper had shouldered this on herself.  She heard the light knock on the door.  She looked up and saw Trenda standing in the doorway.  She cocked her eyebrow in question.  Karen motioned her inside.

“Trenda, stay with Piper, I’m getting my phone. I’m calling Drake home.”

“Don’t do that,” Piper begged.

Andrew whimpered. 

Karen loved the fact that Trenda didn’t ask any questions, she just put her arms around her little sister.  “Let’s just let Karen do what she thinks is best.”

“But―”

“Trust me Piper.  This is all a big misunderstanding.  In no way does Drake hold you responsible for a damn thing.  He’s grateful that you were there to take care of me and Andrew.”

Hope shone in Piper’s eyes.  Karen picked up Andrew and met Trenda’s eyes.  “I’m going to call Drake.  You two wait here.  Okay?  He’s just across the complex.”

Karen hustled down the hall to the master bedroom.  She could still hear the laughter from the living room.  Evie had the margaritas flowing.  Aiden would be coming to pick up the girls around midnight.  She grabbed her cell phone off the nightstand and called Drake.

“Hi, Honey.  How’s everything going?  Are you having fun?”

“Can you come home?”

“Why?  What’s wrong?  Is Evie misbehaving?”

“Piper’s having a meltdown.  She’s positive that you’re mad at her.  She believes that she let you down by not taking better care of me when you were away.  Jeez, it’s like an Avery trait.”

“What?”

“She’s crying so hard, I can’t stand it.  Can you come?”

“I’m already out the door.”

Karen let out a sigh of relief.

***

“THERE HE IS.  JUST the man we were looking for,” Zoe said as she blocked his way into the living room with an evil gleam in her eye.

“Not now.  Where’s Piper?”

God love her, Zoe immediately caught on and backed off. 

“Is something wrong?” Maddie asked.

He looked around the room and didn’t see Piper, Trenda or Karen.  “I think she might be in the nursery,” Wilma said.

He gave a curt nod and headed down the hallway.  Karen met him at the door, she put her arms around him.  “It’s going to be okay, Love.”

“How could she think I’m mad at her?”

“She won’t for much longer, that’s the important thing.”  He took the kiss that she offered then went into the nursery.

“Tinkerbell?”  Her wet eyes killed him.  She didn’t answer.  Trenda guided Piper towards him, and then left the room. 

“I’m not mad,” he said baldly. 

“You have to be.”  Her tone was anguished.  “You told me to take care of them right before you left.”  Had he?  He didn’t remember.  Hell, he might have. He’d told everyone the same thing.

He cupped the back of her head, and pulled her to his chest.  She grabbed the front of his T-Shirt and buried her face in it.  He felt her hot breath as she tried to get her breathing under control.  “Not only am I not mad, I’m fucking grateful to you.”

He felt her still.  Finally.  “You are?” she asked in a high voice.

“Absolutely.  Your quick thinking helped save the day.”

She stayed silent, so he continued.  “You kept your head and got an ambulance, you stayed with Andrew and made sure he got well.  I couldn’t have asked for a better person watching over Karen and Andrew.”

She looked up at him, a tremulous smile on her face.  “I never want to let you down.”

“Ah Honey, we’re all going to let one another down from time to time, but it’s the way we recover that matters.”

She hugged him tightly and it felt wonderful.

“Do you know how important you are to me?  You and Karen and Andrew?”

“Ahhh, Tink.  You were my first baby.  I absolutely adore you.”

She beamed.

“Shall we go out and join the others?” he asked.

Piper giggled.  Drake looked down at her.  Not that he didn’t like the fact that she was giggling after such a breakdown, but he could tell something was up. 

“Piper, you better spill it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  Let’s go out to the living room.  You can have a margarita or a milkshake.”  She smiled mischievously.

“I choose beer.”

She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him down the hallway.  When he reached the living room he tried to catch Karen’s eye, but she avoided looking at him by concentrating on her drink.  Despite the fact that something was obviously up, seeing Karen sucking on a straw had a marked effect on his body.  That was the moment she chose to look up and wink at him.  Minx.

“Drake, there’s room on the couch between us,” Zoe said.  She patted a spot between her and her twin Chloe.  Well that was good news, he could always depend on Chloe to be a good sport.  Zoe and Evie both were evil.

“Hey Chloe,” he said as he sat down next to his newly married little sister.  “Howya doing?”

“Not good.  The shoes you got me turned my feet red,” she snarled at him.  She lifted up the hem of her jeans and kicked off her ballet flat.  Sure enough, her foot was red.  “I only wore the damn things for a half hour while I had my dress fitting.  Trenda says I have to soak my foot in vinegar and lemon juice, I’m sure Zarek is going to love sleeping with that.”

The bad news was, Chloe was well and truly pissed.  The good news was, she was well and truly out of her depression.  He let out a big laugh, absolutely thrilled about the good news.

“Dammit Drake, this is nothing to laugh about.”

“It’s just so fucking great that you’re raking me over the coals, Sissy.  I totally deserve it.”

“Yeah, she’s fired up, that’s for damn sure.”  Zoe smirked. 

He looked over at his other sister, then opened his arms wide and pulled them in close to his sides.  “I’ve missed you girls.”

“Don’t start mingling with the enemy,” Evie called over to them from the loveseat.  Drake eyed his middle sister.  She had obviously had one too many margaritas and was feeling no pain.

“Why am I the enemy?” Drake asked reasonably.

“I want you all to call me Mom,” Wilma said.  “I told you, I’m adopting every last one of you cantankerous Averys.”

“He can’t call you Mom.  At least not yet.”  Maddie stabbed a finger his way.

What the hell?

“What’d I do?”

“I’ve heard Dare sing, it’s not good,” Evie lamented.  “You can’t have us do Karaoke.”

He turned to Chloe who was now giggling.  “What is she talking about?”

Chloe kept giggling.  He turned to Zoe.  “Well?”

“You’re being overbearing.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You know.”  She got up and went over to the pitcher of margaritas on the dining room table.

“Karen, help me out.”  She just continued to play with her straw.  She was so not a help.

“Trenda, you’re usually a voice of reason.  Tell me why everybody’s acting crazy.”

Zoe jumped up off the couch and rounded on him.  She shoved her finger into his chest.  “Don’t you dare call us crazy.  You’re the crazy one.  Did you or did you not tell the caterer that there had to be Denny’s like options for some of the people.”

“Well yeah.  One of my buddies said that sometimes wedding food got too fancy, and he wished that the food was more like Denny’s.  I just wanted some Denny’s options, but it’s not like all the food will be like Denny’s,” Drake defended himself.

“What the hell were they going to do, have a short order cook, serve up a damn Grand Slam breakfast?” Zoe growled.

“How’d you find out about that anyway?” he asked Zoe suspiciously.

“Don’t forget about the florist,” Trenda called out helpfully.

Drake winced when Chloe hit him in the arm that had almost finished healing.  “What was that for?”

“Did you really ask for them to add in magnolias?  Five days before the wedding?”

“Why are you poking me?”

“Because nobody does that.  You ask the bride what she wants.  Flowers are sacred to the bride.  What’s more magnolias are out of season, you big dolt.”

Drake stood.  “Look, I can deal with Neanderthal.  But I draw the line at oaf and dolt.  Got it?”  He heard Wilma giggle behind him.

“If the clown shoe fits,” Evie quipped.

Piper slipped in front of him and wrapped her arms around him.  Then she turned to her other sisters.  “You need to back off.  You know his intentions are good.”

“I refuse to have to soak my feet in vinegar for two days because he has misplaced good intentions,” Chloe stated firmly.

“Drake, Honey, did the florist get back to you on the cost of the magnolias?” Wilma asked.

“No.”

“Check your phone, you and Karen were both copied on the cost.”

Drake pulled out his phone and scrolled through his e-mails.  He blanched.  “Is this a joke?”

“They’re out of season and have to be shipped in from a hothouse.  It’s not a joke,” Karen finally spoke up. 

“You had a magnolia tree in your yard back in Tennessee, I know you liked it.”

“I want red and cream roses in my bouquet,” she said quietly.

Fuck, he was a dolt.  And an oaf.

He walked over to her, and pulled the empty glass out of her hands.  “I’m so sorry.  I think I might have gone a little overboard.”  He ignored the laughter behind him.

She sighed.  Shit, she wasn’t even giving him the pass of, ‘you were just trying to help’.  He was totally in trouble.

“What can I do to make this better?”

“Nothing!” at least four of his sisters shouted simultaneously.

“I want you to have the flowers you want,” he whispered quietly.

“I don’t want Grand Slam breakfasts either.”

“Or Dare singing Karaoke,” Evie called out.

Drake threw up his hands.  “I’m tapping out.”

“Thank Jesus,” Trenda said.

“Now that he’s ousht of it.  I haf something to tell you.”  Drake winced.  Thank God Aiden was going to be the one to handle the hammered Evie. 

“What?” Karen asked.

“We, the SEAL Sisters...” Evie waved her hand, “not the Avery Sisters, have a couple of things up our sleeves.  Your flowers, without magnolias, have been taken care of.  As a matter of fax, fax, fact all decorations are taken care of.  And...” Evie waved her hand again with a flourish, “...there is a place for a band, dancing, and no place for a short order cook.  Sophia is managing the caterers and the wait staff.”

“We don’t have a band,” Drake protested.  “I found a good DJ.  He mostly does Bar Mitzvahs, but he’s done a couple of weddings.  I gave him a playlist.”

The women groaned.

“What?”

“Did you provide him with anything but classic rock and country music?” Zoe demanded.

“What else is there?”

“The SEAL sisters have it covered.  Billy Anderson, Sophia’s brother was able to get a really good band to come and play.  They do gigs from LA to San Diego.  What cinched it was the two days they could spend on Catalina scuba diving after the wedding reception.”

Drake saw Karen’s eyes light up and he relaxed. That’s all he’d wanted when he got involved.  Karen happy.  He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.

“Are we good?” she asked.

“I don’t know, are we?”

“I want to marry you with all my heart,” she said softly.  Could he be any luckier?

“I love you more.”  He pressed his lips to hers.  “Mmmm, chocolate.”  She laughed.

He sauntered out the door to go back to Clint’s house.  He still had one surprise left.

***

HE SLIPPED BEHIND KAREN as she stood at the sink and kissed the back of her neck.  “Little Man is out like a light.”

“That’s what happens when you keep him fat and happy,” she said warmly as she handed him a pot to put into the dishwasher.

“Are we okay?”

“Why wouldn’t we be?” she asked in surprise.

“Because I screwed up.” 

“I think we can agree that in the screw-up department we’ve both earned points in the last few weeks,” she said wryly.  “Hand me those glasses, will you?”  Drake picked up the two wine glasses from the island and she dunked them in the sudsy water.  He rested his chin on her shoulder, and watched her wash the goblets. 

“Yeah, but if we are completely honest, mine was kind of normal for me.  I might could do it again.”

“Yeah, you might could,” she teased.  “Are you fixin’ to?” she asked with a drawl.

“I love it when you talk southern.” He blew in her ear.  “And no, I’m not fixin’ too.  But I do love to fix things, especially where you’re concerned.”

Karen rinsed her hands and dried them.  She turned to look at Drake.  “I know you do.  I find that trait endearing, but you know you don’t have to, don’t you?”

“I don’t know if I can stop.”  He thought about his conversation with Finn.  His friend had needed to be confronted, not just because it was the elephant in the room, but he knew deep in his heart it was that last little bit that would make him totally welcome.  The fact that someone wouldn’t tip-toe around the subject.  Yep, he needed to fix things.  Granted, sometimes he fucked up...

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

“That Piper is over at Evie’s.  That your mom and Andrew are asleep, and we have some time to practice creative sex time.”

“First we have to finish the dishes.”

“Two people will make this go faster,” he said.  He gazed down at her full lower lip and then took a gentle bite.  She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“The dishes can wait,” she said softly.

“I was hoping you might see things my way.”