Not Expecting to Collide (COMPLETE) - ABP Fanfiction

Chapter 119 - Sugar

The fight for Rainy turned out to be no fight at all. Once Bam and October did everything that John Harrington suggested they do, there was no fight left to be had. Billy must have finally realized that he couldn't win. He didn't have a legal leg to stand on and if he did push it to a fight, no judge in Alaska would grant him access to his youngest child.

He did make a statement in the media announcing that he and Ami had decided to allow Rainy to remain with her siblings in Browntown instead of forcing her to travel to the 'lower forty-eight' with them - like it was all his idea. Bam knew that Billy was just trying to salvage what he could of his fifteen minutes of fame and perhaps drag it out a little longer by trying to keep himself looking like a good guy. It was all bullshit. Billy Brown had seen the writing on the wall and knew that there was no way he was going to win. Right or wrong, Ami simply signed away her rights to her youngest child in order to stand by her husband. The news came as a welcome surprise for the entire family, especially Bam and October. Rainy was right where she belonged and no one would ever be able to break them apart again.

After the instability and turmoil of the past several months, the new direction that their lives had taken certainly deserved a celebration. Matt and Amber decided there was no better time to get married than right then, so after only a few days of quick preparations, the fete took place in a small banquet room in the back of one of the local hotels in Hoonah.

"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." Rainy recited as she and October waited with the bride in a room off to the side of where the ceremony was due to take place in a matter of minutes. "Do you have one of each?" Rainy asked.

Amber shrugged. "Do I really need all four of them?"

Rainy turned sharply to her. "Of course you do! It's tradition." Horrified that Amber would suggest otherwise.

October laughed at the young girl. "We are not exactly a traditional family, Rainy."

"Well, maybe not but you need to do this." Rainy retorted.

"Okay, if you insist." Amber smiled. "Matt's eyes - they can be my blue."

Rainy jumped off her chair, excited to be contributing to the wedding in her own special way. "Do you have anything that is borrowed?"

Amber thought for a moment then pulled the smooth bone pendant that hung around her neck out of the front of her top. "This is borrowed from Bam."

"Okay." Rainy nodded, mentally checking another item off the list. "Something old..." her eyes drifted around the room. When she didn't come up with something right away, she shrugged.

Birdie, who had just arrived in Hoonah that morning, piped up. "Well, Matt is kind of old."

October and Amber exploded into giggles. "Your brother is not old." October playfully admonished.

Birdie looked slightly apologetic. "Well, he is the old...est."

Amber stifled her giggles. "That should do then. What's left?"

"Something new." Birdie reminded as her eyes scanned the room again, looking for another item of a different description from the last.

Amber's mouth curled up into a soft smile as she brushed her palms down her stomach and replied. "Matt's already given me that."

A knock at the door signaled that the officiant had arrived. October, Birdie and Rainy embraced Amber at the same time. "Welcome to the family." Rainy cheered.

~*~

The wedding had been a beautiful and quiet affair. Only those most important to the bride and groom had been present and, more importantly, no uninvited guests had shown up to put a damper on their merry-making.

"Didn't we agree that you couldn't wear that dress in public?" Bam asked as their bodies swayed together to the music coming from the jukebox in the corner of the room. A wide-eyed Isabella was held gently between Bam and October. She playfully tugged at Bam's silver curls while enjoying the gentle motion of her parents' dancing. October shook her head and smiled.
"No, you warned me not to wear it in public. I ignored your warning."
Bam laughed loudly, eliciting a tiny giggle from Isabella.
"Damn woman! What am I going to do with you?"
October shrugged and flashed him a wicked smirk. "I don't know. You could spank me."
Bam's eyes clouded over with desire. "You really are a minx." He ducked his head to run press his warm lips behind her ear. October gave him a playful shove.
"Bam! Your family will see!" He lifted his head abruptly to look across the room at his siblings. Matt and Amber were slow-dancing on the other end of the dance floor, oblivious to anyone else but themselves. Birdie was leaned in close, talking quietly with the 'friend' she brought home with her for the weekend. (Not that Bam believed they were just 'friends'. Maybe he needed to take said 'friend' out into the bush for a 'friendly' chat.) Rainy and Bear were telling jokes at the table across from Noah, trying to get him to laugh. Noah, being Noah, was meditating with his eyes closed. Gabe was dancing in front of the jukebox with some chick he picked up in the bar in the hotel lobby. It appeared she was trying, and failing, to teach him to two-step. Bam shook his head slowly. "No one is even looking over here." He whispered. "Come on baby, gimme some sugar." He winked lightheartedly.
"Did I ever tell you about the time Matt said that to me?"
Bam's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline. "My brother?" October nodded. "When?" He asked in disbelief.
October shrugged. "About four days into my first contract."
Bam narrowed his eyes across the room at his older brother. "What did you do?"
October giggled at his unwarranted jealousy. "I threw a few sugar packets at his head and pretty much told him to get lost. I didn't know it yet but I was already in love with you."
Bam growled right before he closed the space between them and pressed his mouth against hers. October moaned softly as his tongue sought entrance.
"Oh gross!" Bear called from across the room. October pulled away and pressed her face into the front of Bam's shirt as her cheeks tinged pink. Bam looked at Isabella, who yawned and then cooed happily up at him.
"Take us home, baby." October whispered in a way that promised good things to come.
Bam wrapped his arms tighter around his wife and daughter. He kissed Isabella on her head and pressed his cheek against October's temple. "Yes, let's go home."
And for the first time in his life, he truly understood what home meant.

~*~*~*~