Holiday Hockey Tale: The Icebreaker’s Impasse By Ivory Row

118 : A Real Family Part 2 Hunter Hayes- Wanted Bruno Mars- Count On Me Lee Ann Womack- I Hope You Dance Luci Easton kisses me hard after examining his ring . " Think we can sneak out and start our honeymoon early ? Leave for the airport now . " I laugh . " They would notice . These people want cake ." " They can cut it . " He grins . The wedding party and our family join us for pictures . Cole runs to me and Easton scoops him up . " Let me hold you buddy until we take pictures .

Can't mess up Mommy's dress ." " Doesn't matter . " I wrap my arms around them . After pictures , we head over to the reception area . The tables have flameless candles and simple small bunches of daisies , sunflowers and greenery . Strings of lights are all over the nearby trees and the overhead roof . Easton whispers something in Cole's ear before he takes off with Grandpappy . " Time for our bride and groom's first dance . I heard this is their song .

" The familiar song begins as I wrap my hands behind Easton's neck . " I reused it but it is our song ." I explain . " First time I danced with you on ice and at home . " He agrees . " You acted like I was going to bite you as you offered me your hand. " I laugh . " Maybe I wanted you to bite me . " He jokes . " I was trying to avoid how you made me feel ." " Stuck with me now . " I answer softly . * f ***** g perfect . " He whispers . He holds me in place when the music fades .

Cole races out as Easton beckons him . He lifts Cole up . " Family dance sweetness . " Bruno begins singing and we slowly spin together . As it ends , Cole hugs Easton . " My turn , Mommy . " Easton sets him down . I slowly twirl him 1/6 118 : A Real Family Part 2 +15 Point " around . " Mommy Coco dance . Daddy said it was important ." " It is sweetie . A special way to celebrate being a real family . " Once it's over , we walk to the tables .

Sadly , there would be no father daughter dance or mother son dance tonight . Until Mr. Logan taps me on the shoulder . " Luci Lou , I believe you owe a few of us a dance . " I hope you danceeee … echoes in my ears as we dance . " You became my other daughter not long after Syd brought you home , Luci Lou . It's not an official father daughter dance so you aren't taking anything away from Syd . " His eyes meet mine with understanding . " I love you Mr. Logan . You were always good to me .

" I hug him tight . " I know sweet girl . I love you too . You have a terrific family of your own now . But you'll always be part of ours ." Moments later , Baker taps him on the shoulder . " May I ? " I take his hand and we begin to dance . " We thought we'd step in because we've all adopted you Luci . You changed this family . Gave them something to strive for . Hope that they could be happy together. " " Baker , you always helped and supported me . You're one of the best dads out there .

" He smiles softly . " It's been truly my pleasure . " Jason taps his shoulder . " Saved the best for last . Or the one who was most suspicious of you . He winks and I laugh . " You were protecting your family . " " I was . I should have trusted Cole earlier than I did . His people intuition is spot on . Now we protect you too. You gave our family its heart and soul back Luci . Reminded us how people could care and love unconditionally .

I'll forever be grateful to you for healing my son ." He smiles proudly down at me . " And I'll be grateful for how you accepted me and all the lengths you've gone to helping me . I love you . " " Love you too , Luci girl . " Easton attempts to reclaim me as the song ends . Jackson however , swoops in first . " Sorry East . Need to borrow your wife ." He laughs at Easton's annoyed expression . A smile peeks out beneath it however .

2/6 * 15 Points 118 : A Real Family Part 2 " Thought we'd mess with him somewhat . Mostly though we wanted to talk to you. You made him whole again . Gave us back our brother and helped Cole more than we ever could . You're important to our family . Don't forget it . " " I won't . You get to be happy too . Never forget that . " His silvery eyes shine . " I won't . " Kingston grabs my hand for the following song . " My turn . Think he'll make it through Becker stealing you ?

" I shake my head and he grins . " He'll grumble but won't mean it . You cracked that icy shell around his heart . You're part of us now . That reporter this morning … no one treats you that way anymore . I know you're tougher than anyone gives you credit for . Don't hesitate to lean on us though . " " I won't . " I hold back my tears . As the song ends , I simply turn toward Becker who grins widely before dancing me around the floor . " Had to let you dance with the best footed Reed .

" He teases . " Easton always took care of us . Bore the brunt of anything thrown our way . Reassured us when Dad started being gone a lot and Mom began pushing us away . It's good he has you to take care of him now . To calm the volcano when it erupts . Our own Luci sacrifice . " I push his shoulder playfully . " I see what this was about . Needing a human sacrifice to save the Puck Kings . " " Well yeah … " he deadpans . " You know what else calms the volcano ?

" His lips twitch and those eyes are full of mischief . " Baby brothers for Cole . " " What if I said baby cousins would work the same ? Start the romance rascals on a new plan ." I counter . " Bring it . Lay down that gauntlet , Classy Claws ." He laughs as the song ends and Banning takes my hand . " Think I can still dance Luci Lou ? " " My feet are counting on it ." I fire back . " Feisty little sister , but happy . I'm always here for you if you ever need me . " " I know .

Bestest big brother ever . " I say softly . I hug him as the song ends. Easton wraps me in his arms . " Mine . " He jokes . " Cole has declared it's time for cake ." I move around the white cake decorated with sunflowers and icing designs . On top is a brunette Alice in Wonderland . Or the top half of her . It's like she fell into a hole and a blonde 3/6 +15 Points 118 : A Real Family Part 2 figure is pulling her out using a hockey stick . " Where did that come from ? " Easton touches it .

" I had it made . Seemed fitting . Kinda like what you put on mine ." He points to the groom's cake . It was a chocolate cake filled with tart raspberry cake filling and covered in chocolate mousse frosting . The top has a white sugar layer like an ice rink with a skate wearing Darth Vader figurine wielding a hockey stick . Opposite him is a brown rabbit also holding a hockey stick . " They're both perfect . " Jason I sit observing Luci and Easton dancing .

My son hasn't let her out of his sight all night even if he did let her dance with her family . Memories of my own wedding return . How we were so happy and sure of our future together . All things considered , though I gave up a lot to marry Imogen ; Luci and Easton have had to overcome and contend with much more . I don't see them falling apart . Every adversity they've faced has merely strengthened their relationship . " Grandpappy ! " Cole leaps into my lap , making me chuckle .

" You seem happy ." He nods vehemently . " Mommy has the same name as me now . We match ." I hug him tight . " You know you were a real family even without Mommy's name matching yours . A real family isn't tied together by names . It's tied together by real love . Like your shoelaces . " " Mommy said almost the same thing when a lady was mean to her at the preschool . She said she couldn't be my mommy because she was my nanny and she wasn't married to Daddy .

Said love is like a bow on a present . It ties it up and makes it perfect . " Easton must not have heard that story because no one at the school has been maimed to my knowledge . Cole would have been happy to retell that . " Your mommy explains things better than anyone I've ever met . She's perfect for you and your daddy ." She is . She's made sure Easton knows that she sees all the little pieces of him he hides . Like how protective he is of his brothers . His caring heart he keeps hidden .

" I'm gonna go dance with Aunt Syd . I'll be back later Grandpappy . " He hops down , running to Sydney who's dancing with Barrett . The last 10 months have brought big changes . I see Imogen sitting at a table with Mrs. Hutchins and a few other guests . I acknowledged her presence earlier which is all I can handle 4/6 +15 Points 118 : A Real Family Part 2 today . Easton and Luci move to the side as the song ends . Time to present my gift. Easton catches my eye as I near them .

I hold my arms out to embrace them both . " I haven't given you my wedding present yet . " I reach into my jacket , removing the thin envelope . Easton opens it curiously . He begins reading and it isn't long before his head whips up to meet my eyes . " Dad … " Luci touches his arm . " What is it ? " " It's a house . The one that borders our back yard . " He adds softly . Luci gasps and I nod . " It went on the market last week and I bought it before you saw it . It needs to be updated .

Or you could tear it down and build what you want . It's on the smaller side . You can live with me until it's ready . The yard is huge and I thought we could make Cole a path with a gate between the two houses . He can come visit whenever . All of you can . Yard is wide enough that we can make another gate from the former ditch pig's lot through yours too . " I know Easton's been house hunting but was reluctant to pull the trigger .

He wanted to have his own space with his family and yet he wanted to stay with us too . This would be the closest compromise . " This will make Baker happy too ." Easton embraces me first . " You knew I was struggling with moving away , didn't you? " He whispers . " Yes . You're worried about your old man . And don't want to uproot Cole from us either . I'll be ok . I have a few of your brothers to keep me company and might adopt another dog . This way Cole can come over every day .

Luci can too especially if she needs help once Cole's baby brother becomes reality . " I add laughing . " Thank you Dad . I don't want to leave you yet . I worry about you . " He adds quietly . I draw back to place my hand on the side of his head . Easton has always had the biggest heart , but he started hiding it away after Lorelei hurt him . And our family drama didn't help . " As long as I get to see you often I'll be ok . And maybe it'll take a while for the build … " I add meaningfully .

I draw Luci closer . " Luci turned our house back into a real home . I hope to keep that fire going . She can always unleash those claws if we fall to the wayside again . " Cole " Barrett , did you see Dark Vader on top of Daddy's cake? He said I can have him later on . I told him you need a Batman one . " 5/6 +15 Points 118 : A Real Family Part 2 " Yes . He was on skates . I told Dad I want one . " He has cake now . " You think you'll get your baby brother soon since they got married ?

" " I have a plan . Nanna said ladies get baby fever . " I look around . " Grampy said that means they love cute baby pictures and stuff . I asked Baker to see all my pictures when I was a baby . " Barrett's face gets all excited . " You'll show Luci and she'll get that fever . " " Yeah . I need to get some baby stuff. Mrs. Hutchins said stuffies and baby clothes are cute ." I frown . " How I get that ? " " We can get it from Alexa. Nanna has one . I'll tell her to order baby clothes .

Boy stuff ." " Thanks Barrett . I get a sister later . Brother first . Cause Skittles is a girl . " " Yep . I want a brother too . " " Real babies . Like real mommies ." Ivory Row Haha . How fast will Nanna be locking Alexa down to password ordering ? Credit for the Pink song in last chapter goes to Charlie for suggesting that . It fit how Easton sees our Luci . We're almost done now . What do you want to see happen besides the baby brother ? 27