This morning Mrs. Shaw comes to my room to wake me up. "Star, you need to be getting up and get dressed. It's a beautiful day and Mr. Shaw and I want to eat at the park today."

"Alright, give me a second." I sit up in bed as she is walking out of the room. I drag myself out of bed and put on a pair of jean shorts with a mint green top. Since we are going to the park, I pick out a pair of mint green socks to go with my converses. I forgot to write River a note to go with his present so I sit down at the desk and start writing. I just had to let him know that I was still here for him even though we are so far apart. I fold it up and leave it on my desk while I brush out my hair and then throw it up into a messy bun.

We drive to the park listening to music. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of Hayden looking over at me. He keeps acting like he wants to say something but he doesn't and continues smiling as if he knows a secret and refuses to tell me.

When we get to the park, I help take out the bags and carry them to a nearby table. Mr. Shaw heats up the grill and is planning on cooking hotdogs. While gets that going, Mrs. Shaw starts sitting up the table. Hayden throws a ball at my face catching me off guard.

"Hey you wanna go play kickball or something while they are getting everything ready?"

"Sure why not." I smil at him and toss the ball back to him.

We are playing a good ten minutes before I hear someone calling out my name. The voice sounds so familiar and I feel the tears before I even turn around to see him. River is in the process of running towards me and by the time I reach out for him he is already in my arms and knocking me over. I fall to my bottom with a hard thud with his arms wrapped around me.

"Oh my God, Oh my God, Star is it really you!" he screeches.

"Yes." I hug him so tight to me.

"It's me River, it's me. I've missed you so much. I want to be with you. Please tell them to let me stay with you, please."

"Hey...hey!" I strok his head, trying to calm him down just like I use to do. "Not much longer kido, I promise."

"It's already been longer Star. I don't want to go back."

"Hey it can't be that bad, can it?" He starts to worry me. If I find out it is bad I just know I will pick a fight and protest for us to be together.

"No, they are nice and all, but it's not the same. I want to be home with you and Storm and Dawn."

"I know me to."

Then I hear another scream and River and I both jump up and look at the cutest little girl in a yellow sundress running up to us, Dawn is getting so big or so it seems even though it has only been a little over a month now. She is laughing with excitement to see us. She hugs me so freaking tight and  for a split second lets me go just long enough to hug River.

Mr. Shaw yells for us all to come over and eat. I introduce River and Dawn to the Shaws and then to Hayden. We sit and talk for a good hour. We talk about what we have been doing. We did not talk about momma or Jackson.

After lunch, the Shaws and Mr. Dawson start cleaning up, as we all go and played kickball. It was so nice to be able to play with them. I had hoped Storm would be here too but maybe they would not let him, I don't know. For the time being I was having fun. It feels so good to see them and to know that they are doing alright, things were going to be ok.

Mr. Dawson calls us back over to the picnic table and places a box on the table. He opens it and takes out a chocolate cake with chocolate icing and written in blue is written, 'Happy Birthday River!"

He reaches over on the table and grabs not one but then candles and sticks them into the cake. He takes out a lighter and lights the candles one by one. "Shall we all sing now," asks Mr. Dawson.

We all start to sing. When the song is over I put my arm around River and whisper, "Make a wish...go ahead blow out the candles."

"What you wish for, River?" Asks Dawn.

"Shh!" I look at her and place my finger in front of my lips, "He can't tell us what he wished for or it might not come true." I smile and then wink at her.

"Really, River you better listen to her, if you tell it won't happen."

We all turn at the same time and there stands Storm. He is just a tad taller than me, when the heck did that happen. He is even letting his hair grow out some.

The three of us jump up and down and immediately embracing him.

"Well part of it came true," says River with a big smile.

"Well now that we are all here, maybe we should open up presents."

"Me first, me first" rattles Dawn.

She had drawn him a picture of the four of us and holding hands. Stick figures with our names above our heads floating in mid air.

"Nice picture Dawn. I really like it." He hugs her and then let go to open the next present.

Storm hands him a box and says, "Bro when we get back together I want to play with you. He opens the box and yells, "Cool...A glove and a baseball. I always wanted one of these dude."

"Glad you like it, Bro." He rubs the top of his head, messing up his hair.

I then hand him my present. "I hope you like it; Hayden helped me pick it out.

He takes the present and unwraps it so fast, paper was flying everywhere in pieces. "Holy cow, a scooter. No way you gotta be kidding me."

"I take it you like it." I smile.

"Like it, I love it...this is the best day ever."

I look over at Hayden and mouth, 'Thank you!"

He mouthes back, "Your welcome!"

Storm must have seen the interaction between the two of us and he blurts out, "So who is this Star?"

"This is Hayden; he lives at the house where I am staying with the Shaws."

"Oh I see, so you like my sister do you?" he smirks giving him the stare down.

"Storm!" I interject.

Hayden speaks up, "Yes I like your sister, she is nice girl." He winks at me with a smile.

"You better not hurt her or break her heart dude or I'll..."

"Storm...it's not like that, were just friends." I shot back at him.

I look over at Hayden and the expression on his face looks like I slapped him, he looks hurt in a way and I so didn't mean to hurt him in any way or form. "Hayden, I didn't mean..."

"No it's alright...we are just friends. Your sister and I are just friends and I promise I will never hurt her in any way." He turns and throws the ball at me.

This time I catch it and say, "Oh you wanna play do you."

The five of us playbball until it is time to go our separate ways.

It is torture pulling Dawn off of me and forcing her to get into the car. I reach up and wipe her tears with my hand. "It's gonna be alright, not much longer I promise." I kiss her on her forehead before shutting the door.

River is easier to deal with even though he did not want to leave either, "Till next time...hey Star."

"Yeah what is it River?"

"Thanks for today, I know you did this. You always manage to make sure we have a special day."

"No big deal...anything for my little brother." He hugs me again and walks around the car and got on the opposite side of Dawn. Mr. Dawson gets in the car and honks the horn to tell us bye.

After they drive off, Storm looks at me and I tell him to come to me.

"Hey sis." He wraps his arms around me.

I hold on tight and whisper in his ear, "I know we aren't allowed to talk about it, but did you tell them. Did you tell them the truth about what happened?"

"Star I can explain." I hear it in his voice and I know he feels really bad about it.

"Its alright I just need to know the truth, Storm."

"Yes I did....Look Star I want this to be over with. I'm tired of waiting; I'm tired of us not being able to be with each other."

"I know...I know it will all be over soon."

"Hey well look, I gotta go my ride is here." I know that look in his eye, and I don't say a word, because I have those same feelings.

"I know." I hug him even tighter to me. "I love you Storm, thank you for saving me that night."

He pushes back a little and looks at me in the eyes without saying a word.

"I know what happened that night; I remember it so clearly. Thank you Storm, Thank you." A few tears escape again. I keep blinking trying to fight back the tears.

"I would do anything to protect you Star. I always have and always will. We take care of each other regardless right, no matter the consequence; we take care of each other." Now he tries to hold back the tears.

He hurries and pulls away, then jumps in the back seat of the car. He glances back over me for a split second and throws his hand up in a wave bye. And then he is gone.

I stand there crying. My family is split up, everyone going their separate ways, again; it's not supposed to be like this we are supposed to be together the four of us. I feel Hayden come up beside me and he reaches for my hand to pull me into his embrace. "It's all gonna work itself out, I promise, give it some time."

"I know...one day this will be all over and we will be together the four of us. Hayden thanks for today I know for a fact this was all you, you were behind all of this."

"Well maybe a little and your welcome."