Best Laid Plans

Epilogue: August 2003

A/N: Just a fun switch to a reader's insert to wrap up the story and tie up all the loose ends.

"AMANDA!" Jake yells with his chin pointed up towards the ceiling so that she could hear him through the floor of the second story. "What the hell is this?"

He's looking directly at you - all of you huddled in his living room. There's a few shuffled feet, a few nervous giggles as he looks at you expectantly like any one of you has answers as to why you are in his home. The house is large with a huge array of toys, books and instruments for little kids, big kids, teens that are everywhere. The home is comfortable, in that large family kind of way where things are squished down on the couch and carpeting, and the pictures are so cluttered that one has to walk directly up to them to be able to see what the hell is being featured. The air is filled with life and the smell of cookies and dinner in the oven. You find a spot on the heavy rug to sit down, waiting for the 'talk' that is to come.

"OH!" Mandy gasps out as her feet are carrying her down the stairs. "Jake - don't you remember - I told you about this."

"You said 'book club', I stopped listening," he huffs, eyes drifting over the whole crowd with apprehension. "I thought you meant Mrs. Warner and her interesting takes on romance novels."

"No. Not exactly," she sighs as she drifts back into the kitchen to retrieve a tray that is filled with cookies and goodies. "Grab the big pitchers will you?"

"Why do we have eight pitchers of - whatever this stuff is?" Jake calls out from the depth of the kitchen.

"So we have a variety - mojitos, margaritas, and sangria," Mandy says with a cheeky smile and a wink. "And for anyone who just wants a beer, I do have that. Or there's water, ice tea and coffee is brewing as we speak."

Jake comes in with the first pitchers. "Jesus - are you planning on sending everyone home toasted?"

There's a collective laugh that ripples through the room. You feel your cheeks warm just a bit as Jake reacts to hearing the laughter, his eyes glinting and mischievous smirk tugging at his lips. He shifts around the hem of his shirt as he turns to head back to the kitchen. Mandy reappears with a whole host of glasses, napkins and cutlery on another tray. Her smile is huge and full of anticipation. It's hard not to be caught up in her energy. A few of the other participants pop up and start helping to pass out preferred beverages. You find yourself walking around with bags of popcorn and other goodies to share. There's a shared atmosphere of happiness that can not be hidden. Mandy, very graciously, accepts the aid and starts bringing in the huge coffee percolator and Jake follows with Styrofoam cups, cream and sugar. He turns his eyes to the wall as if he could see and hear what is going on outside. You realize his Dad radar has been activated as he quickly heads back to the kitchen and you hear an exterior door open and close.

For the briefest of moments, you hear Dad Jake unleash the power of his dad voice. There are a few of you that side eye each other with a bit of a rub between the knees. You know who you are. Once everyone is settled back with treats and libations, Mandy returns to move around a few chairs, notably to have her and Jake in the fore so as to best answer your most pressing questions. Jake returns to find his wife just beaming with a glass of sangria balancing on the ridge of her denim clad thigh. He pauses for a beat before disappearing back to the kitchen with a grumble about 'don't worry - I can get my own damn beer'. You join in the soft laughter that bubbles up from the group.

"All right," he huffs as he sits and gets comfortable before cracking open his beer. "What am I here for?"

"Well, all of these lovely people have taken the time to write down some questions for us to answer -"