Haunted

Impossible is Nothing - UNEDITED

Disclaimer: This chapter has not been edited from the original as posted on JBFF. There will be mistakes, typos, continuity problems and other issues. 

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"Is it too much?" Maddox asked when Eli and Hunter walked into the house that afternoon.

"It's, um," Eli looked around. "Well."

"If this is one year, what is it going to look like when she turns 16?" Hunter asked.

"I knew it was too much," Maddox sighed. "It was just so hard to say no," he admitted looking at all the party decorations again. He and Brent had tried not to go overboard with everything but every time Maddox turned around Brent had ordered something else.

"There she is!" Eli cheered and bent down as Hannah came walking in, Brent holding each of her hands. "Happy Birthday, Princess!"

"Hi," Hannah said, a big smile on her face. "Up?"

"Of course!" Eli scooped her up. Hannah's massive tulle skirt almost swallowed her as Eli tucked her on his hip.

"You're all grown up now," Hunter said. Hannah's eyes got wider as she looked at him and she hid most of her face in Eli's shoulder. "Aww, she doesn't remember me."

"I'm sorry, she's just getting so shy," Maddox said.

"It's okay, I haven't been here that much," Hunter shrugged. "She still has those big blue eyes, and all that hair!"

"Yeah, she's gonna be a real heartbreaker when she grows up," Justin had just walked in the door. "Start building a tower now, Dads, and lose the key."

"Holy shit, did the cotton candy machine explode?" Clara asked as she took her sunglasses off. "You could insulate an entire small country with all this....pink," she shuddered, gesturing to the decorations.

"Whoa," Aiden looked just as disgusted as Clara.

"It's beautiful," Scarlett pronounced, looking around in awe. "Is it all over the house?"

"Well the theme is cotton candy," Maddox explained. "So yes, it's all over," he added for Scarlett.

"I have to see," Scarlett ran off. Aiden followed her.

"Brent, you're so clever," Clara smiled but she looked like she was in serious pain.

"How did you know it was my idea?" Brent asked.

"Have you met my son?" Clara laughed. "Is there alcohol somewhere? Tell me there's alcohol."

"Just beer and wine, but I think Adam is behind the garage smoking," Maddox said.

"Thank Jesus," Clara said.

"Mama, you promised," Justin gave her a look.

"Sorry. Thank Buddha," Clara joked. Justin didn't smile. "Just a few hits, I promise," she said and kissed Justin's cheek before she slipped away.

"Guess that means I'm driving home," Justin sighed.

"Go go," Hannah said.

"She wants to get down," Maddox translated for Eli. Eli set her down but kept holding her hands and she tried to start walking. "She probably wants to follow my mom, let's see if we can distract her."

"I can play with her," Scarlett reappeared. "Look, Hannah, look at my bells," she held out her wrist and shook the bracelet she was wearing so all the little bells jingled.