there for me (shourtney)

xxxvi.

courtney's pov -

Olivia and Sam got to the house early to help us set up. Shayne and Sam got to work on the coolers, filling the red tubs with ice, and bringing them out to the decks. 

Olivia and I stayed inside, moving chairs around the main floor and setting out plates and silverware on the table. 

"This good?" She asked. Pointing to the collection of wooden spoons on the kitchen counter. "Figured when people get here they could just stick one in their dish."

"Buffet style! That's perfect." I said as I tied the curtains open on the hooks. "Thank you both for helping out, Liv, it means a lot." I looked over at her.

"Of course, dude, we're excited for you two!" Olivia smiled. She opened her mouth, but held her words, looking toward the staircase. "And speaking of which, I think people are here." 

"Oh my god, this is real. Okay. I'll go greet them." I nervously smoothed my hands over my jeans. 

"You got it." She encouraged me. "I'll go let them know." She pointed toward the deck.

-

The constant flow of people in and out of the house was overwhelming, but it's what we're all used to, so a strange sense of normalcy settled in my head.

Both mine and Shayne's parents dropped by in the beginning, gifting us with bottles of wine and cheese respectively. I smiled and thanked them as they excitedly hugged Shayne and I. Gripping us like we were still small children. 

I walked to the fridge, popping the gifts in their proper places. A few minutes passed and they had gone home, promising to visit soon, and our friends had taken their place. Monica and her wife dropped in, then Ian, Tommy, Tayler, Kevin. 

I glanced at the couch and saw Keith, Noah, Olivia, Damien, and Shayne all talking. My friends. In my home. I smiled and headed to them. Stopped for a moment by Garrett, and Nancy, who gave me tiny gift bags. I suspiciously eyed Garrett, but he laughed, swearing it wasn't some awful food. 

Shayne scooted closer to Noah on the couch, making room for me to sit, when Jax and Sam came through the door from the deck.

"You guys made it!" I said. Walking over to hug them. Kora and Jude hung behind them. "Hi." I cooed to them as I bent down to hug them. Kora instantly latched herself around my neck, while Jude headed to the couch to sit next to Shayne. 

"Of course! We weren't going to miss this one." Jax smiled. "Can we grab some grub?" He pointed to the kitchen.

"Take as much as you want. There's plenty." Shayne said from the couch. I eagerly nodded. 

"You must be Jude!" Damien said as he moved off the couch to sit on the floor near him. He nodded. 

"I am! What's your name?" Jude asked him. His clammy hands on Shayne's knee prevented himself from falling as he edged closer to the end of the couch. 

"I'm Damien. Nice to meet you." He touched a hand to his chest then offered it out for Jude to high five. Which he promptly did. 

"Do you want to meet them?" I asked Kora. She wiggled on my hip and thrashed her head around. I took the hint. "Okay. Okay." I said quietly, placing her back on the ground. She instantly ran over to her parents.

I headed over to the living area and sat with Damien on the floor, catching Sam and Olivia in the corner of my eye.

"Oh, Sam, there's another Sam that we have to introduce you to." I chuckled and looked over at Shayne.

"Oh! Yeah! We gotta make that happen. Sam is Jax's wife." He smiled as he ran his hands along Jude's hair.

"That's funny." Sam laughed. "I'm game." He looked over his shoulder toward the kitchen.

"Are you guys having a good time?" Noah asked. "It's nice that not everyone is here at once, you know?"

I nodded. "Oh yeah that's great. I couldn't have asked for anything better -" I squeezed my eyes shut as Jude tugged on my hair. Not meaning to be as rough as he was. 

"Woah, buddy." Damien said. Gently pulling Jude's hands out of my hair. He laughed as I looked at him gratefully. 

"Little monster!" Shayne said playfully, giving him a noogie, and lifting Jude to place him behind his neck. A sitting piggyback. Shayne held on to Jude's legs casually. "Anyway." He went on again, as if he didn't have a child clambering on him, "I'm happy with the turnout. All the support is incredible. I never would have imagined." 

"It means so, so much." I reiterated.

Olivia smiled and leaned against Sam. Words came out of her mouth, but they sounded staticky. A child's yelp caught my attention. I looked up at Shayne, his eyes scanning the room. You heard it, too. The cry sounded again and I stood up, excusing myself.

"Mommy!" I heard Kora yell, her voice echoey. Staircase. 

"Kora?" I asked. Searching for her figure as I walked down the steps.

"Mommy?" She yelled. Her footsteps got louder as she ran over to me. 

"Not mommy. Courtney." I said, crouching on the floor, letting her climb into my arms. She gently pulled on my necklaces. I prayed she wouldn't break them as I slipped an arm beneath her thighs and the other flat on her back. How did you get down here so fast?

"Okay. Let's go back up." I said to her. She nodded. Her nose brushing my neck. We climbed the stairs, and I quickly met Shayne's eyes. It's okay, she just got spooked. Scanning the room for Sam, I didn't find her, so I headed to the couch area. Jude now on the floor with Damien, I sat next to Shayne. Kora still pressed against me, her hands gripped my shirt. 

"Sam around?" I asked him. 

"Maybe on the beach." He said quietly. Looking at Kora, he got the message. Before we could get up to find her, Olivia murmured to Kora. 

"Are you Kora?" She rubbed Kora's back. Kora nodded, her grip on me loosening just a bit. "How old are you?" 

Kora didn't respond, but she twisted herself around to face Olivia. Her tiny palms flattened against my upper chest. She looked around at everyone on the couches, then back at Shayne and I, as if asking for permission. My heart fluttered.

She slid out of my lap and walked over to Noah. Staring at him. He looked up at me, fear in his eyes. 

"Am I being mind-melded?" 

"It's the hair." I laughed.  Gesturing at the wild colors. Olivia chuckled and scooted closer to Kora. She steadied her as Kora took an unstable step toward Keith. Reaching up to him, she opened and closed her fists. 

"Hat dude." Shayne said. Without words, Keith sighed and placed his hat on Kora's small head. Way too big for her. But she laughed wildly and fell down to sit. The hat covering her face.

I felt Shayne hug me closer. 

-

courtney saves the day. i love picturing the squad sitting around jude and kora:)