𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙆𝙔 𝙄𝙎 𝙉𝙊 𝙈𝙊𝙍𝙀 - 𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙮

Back to Normal?

"Well it's about time." Lucy greeted her daughter and her ex, raising up from her seat at the table to hug Emma. Kate stood anxiously behind Lucy, waiting for her turn to hug her sibling and her father. She hugged each of them briefly, thankful that they both were here and she didn't have to listen to Lucy scorn her about their absence. Emma sat down across the table from her sister a stressed out look was placed upon her face, her eyes looked sunken in from the sleep deprivation. "I'm sorry. It's my fault we're late. I took a nap and-" Her hands began to twitch nervously, Kate quickly reached across the table and held them.

"Oh my god, Em, you're okay. Calm down, it was a joke." Kate sympathized with her older sister, earning a considerate look from her father as he sat down next to Emma by the window. "Yes dear, you're going to have to lighten up. It's been some time since you've gotten back." Lucy projected as she waved a hand in front of her face, fanning herself from the heat. "Lucy, it's been a week." Alan hissed at her from across the table. Emma turned her attention towards Kate who seemed to be the most normal at the table. "I-I'm sorry. It's just with everything-"

"There's no need to explain yourself. You need to relax. Remember what Claire said? Stress is bad for the baby. Don't make me call her here, she'll nag you worse than I can." Kate lectured wagging her finger at Emma in a teasing manner. Emma sheepishly smiled at her sibling. "Oh please, Claire can't compare to mom's nagging." Emma half heartedly stated while throwing a small defiant glance towards Lucy. She returned the glance back with a sour look on her face. "Don't test me. It's hot." Lucy warned, causing Emma to shrug her shoulders in defeat. "Can't believe this thing is still here." Alan stated as he looked over the brightly colored Margaritaville menu.

Emma felt a tingling feeling in her stomach as she thought of this place. She wondered if Emmett's blood was still on the floor somewhere.

"Dude, I know right, it's like it's meant to be. Like Jimmy Buffet had this protective forcefield around all Margaritaville's because this place wasn't destroyed last time too." Kate piped up as she forced a gleeful smile on her face. "I like Jimmy Buffet. Emma was conceived at one of his concerts-"

"That's gross dad." Emma hummed out.

Emma wasn't the only one who remembered this place horribly. Kate looked a bit distracted by this place as well. The thought Vivian sauntering over to her with her gun pointed at her made her sick. She gazed outside to Main Street, glancing at all of the rubble and debris that workers in orange vests and yellow hard hats were working hurriedly to get rid of. Just a few feet away was the spot where she watched Vivian get mauled. An unpleasant memory. She shuddered at the thought.

"I'm just glad it's open. They really don't have to be." Alan conversed as he looked around the restaurant. They were the only patrons in it besides two park employees at the bar watching television. "It's a shame that Winston's had to be shut down. Would've enjoyed that a lot more than here. They have nothing but cheap wine." Lucy piped up as she glanced over the beverage menu placed at the front of the table. "It's a cheap chain restaurant. What do you expect?" Alan asked not taking his eyes off the menu as the words slipped out. "The decency of an array of good wine." Lucy fought back.

"It's called Margaritaville for a reason. Get one of those."

Lucy opened her mouth to protest her ex's statement but a server wearing a black shirt with bright letters that read "Margaritaville" across the upper right part of her chest appear at the table with a perky smile set on her face. Lucy knew she had to be on her best behavior in front of people she didn't know. No snide remarks, no judgmental looks while said person was there. It was something the family was never used to. The server spilled out her usual drab of welcoming them and if they had been there before.