When Hate Turns to Love- Part 2

Ch. 2

The backyard was full of screaming children. The bouncy house was a huge hit as was the tree house Nini had consented to, albeit reluctantly.

"Miss Nini." said a little girl from Charlotte and Connor's kindergarten class, "Why is there a giant in the bouncy house?"

Nini looked up to see Red jumping up and down in the castle-shaped bouncy house, little kids rolling around uncontrollably because of it. Oh, God. She had already told him to get out. Several times. It was time to bring in the big guns before the she had to bring in the paramedics. Sorry officer, he bounced them to death.

"I'll take care of it sweetie." Nini said to the little girl.

Nini stomped over to Kourtney, who was busy shaking Charlotte and Connor's gifts.

"Kourt, could you please get Red out of the bouncy house? Whenever I yell at him, it looks like I kicked a puppy and I can't deal with that right now." Nini said.

Kourt sighed and set down the present she was currently shaking the crap out of.

"RED! GET YOUR A- BUTT OUT OF THE BOUNCY HOUSE!"

Nini unplugged her ears. Everyone was staring at Kourt, but Red got out of the bouncy house, looking like a kicked puppy, anyways.

"Thank you." Nini said, "Will you please stop shaking the presents? They're not even yours."

Kourt shrugged and smiled.

"Habit." Kourt looked around, "Where's Blondie?"

That's what Kourt called Brookelynn. It was an affectionate nickname, for Kourt.

"She's helping the decorators." Nini answered, "Thanks for taking the twins tonight. We're gonna finish whatever the decorators don't."

"Me and my twinions will have the best sleepover ever!" Kourtney said.

"Just please don't over fill them with sugar!" Nini begged.

"Yeah, yeah. I know the rules, Nins. No fun!" Kourt chuckled but Nini just glared at her.

"That young man with the red hair is a peculiar one." Alice Jacobs said, walking up to Nini and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Oh you're here!" Nini hugged the friendly grandmother, "Yes, peculiar is a good word. I'm so glad Parker and Avery could come."

Said kids had spotted Charlotte and Connor, so there were shrieks of glee all around.

"I didn't have much of a choice seeing as it was their, and I quote, 'best friends' birthday'." Alice said, eyes smiling.

The adults chatted until cake time. Brookelynn came downstairs to join them. Red brought out his video camera. Mike and Lynne were smiling happily. They loved being grandparents.

"Time to blow out the candles!" Ricky yelled, carefully maneuvering the cake through the small mass of five and six year olds, "Make some room!"

The cake was large with chocolate frosting. Written on it in blue and pink frosting was 'Happy Birthday Charlotte and Connor'. On one side were six blue candles and six pink on the other. Charlotte went on the pink side, Connor went on the blue.

"All right kids, let's do this rock and roll style!" Ricky yelled, plugging his electric guitar into a nearby amp.

Nini laughed in surprise. They all sang happy birthday to the loud music.

"Make a wish and blow out the candles!" she exclaimed.

The twins squeezed their eyes tightly for a second then blew out the candles together.

"Yay!" Nini cheered along with the others.

Charlotte and Connor hugged each other.

"Happy birthday Con!" Charlotte squealed.

"Happy birthday Char!" Connor responded.

Nini took a picture fast as momma C started cutting the cake. Ricky came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She tilted her head back until it hit shoulder, showing quite a bit of skin.

"Ricky!" she hissed, face burning as he tried to kiss her neck.

He just laughed and kissed her.

"We are in the presence of children!" she exclaimed when he pulled away.

"I'm just kissing my wife." he said unapologetically.

"Honestly." Nini said, blushing when Brookelynn snickered.

Soon the guests started leaving. Nini handed Kourt the twins bags for the night and the twins were off.

"Oh, look at this mess." Nini said.

"We'll clean it up tomorrow." Lynne said, "We have to finish their rooms."

Nini hated to leave a mess, but her mother-in-law was right. They split up. Ricky, Mike and Red finished up Connor's room and Nini, her moms and Brookelynn finished up Charlotte's. It was five in the morning before they were done. They all gathered in the living room.

"The twins will be so happy you two." Lynne said tiredly from the couch.

"Thank you for helpin, Lynne. You too Mike." Nini said, yawning from her place in her husband's lap in the easy chair.

"Anything for my grandkids." Mike said from beside his wife.

"That was fun." Red said, sitting upside-down in the other chair, his face red from the blood rush.

"I'm gonna make breakfast." Brookelynn said, getting up off the floor.

"You don't have to do that." Nini said.

"I want too." she said.

Nini wasn't going to argue anymore, she was exhausted. She must have fallen asleep, because when she opened her eyes, she was the only one in the living room. She went into the kitchen where everyone was eating and sat at the table.

"Here." Brooke said, putting food in front of her sleepy friend.

"Thanks." Nini said.

About an hour later, two kids who were obviously stuffed full of sugar (because let's be honest, her best friend was never going to listen) burst into the house.

"Where's our present?" Connor yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Indoor voice." Nini reminded him.

Connor just jumped up and down. Charlotte joined him.

"I don't know. I think we should wait another day, Nins." Ricky said mock-seriously.

"No daddy!" they yelled together.

"Alright then...go check out your rooms!" he yelled.

Charlotte and Connor bounded up the stairs, deaf to their mothers command to walk. The adults followed.

"Oh my gosh!" Connor shouted, "No way! A dinosaur bed! And walls!"

"Paints!" Charlotte's voice overlapped her brothers, "Cool!"

Nini felt her children's joy in her heart. Charlotte and Connor ran around in their rooms, examining everything.

"Say thank you to your mommy and daddy." Brooke said.

"Thank you mommy and daddy!" the twins hugged their parents.

"You're very welcome Princess." Ricky said, lifting the little girl in his arms.

"I'm glad you like it Con." Nini said, hugging her son tightly, "But your Aunt Brooke and Uncle Red helped too."

The twins hugged their aunt and uncle.

"Don't forget your grandpa and grandma's!" Nini reminded them.

More hugs all around.

"I love our home!" Charlotte said, her smile bright.

"I love it too." Nini said, looking over at her husband fondly.

Her future and the future of her family looked bright. She couldn't wait to see what came next.