The Family Collage ^^

Aspen's P.O.V.

"All the guests are coming in thirty minutes," I said to Mylie as we quickly put the last of the balloons up against the wall. We had decorated the inside of the house and the backyard as the kids were mostly going to be playing outside since the temperature was so hot today. 

Mylie nodded, "Is the birthday girl ready yet?"

"Yeah, she is. Saber was just helping her do her hair."

Mylie chuckle, "Saber is always around her...it's funny isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I kind of guilty at times because I feel as if I'm taking his childhood away, you know he has to watch out for her at school sometimes watch her at home. He's just a kid too you know. Being 12 doesn't make you an adult right away you know?"

She shook her head, "Don't be. He loves it, Penny. He says this is dad training for when he has kids."

I giggled, "Oh my gosh, he's already thinking about having kids?"

"I know I couldn't believe it when he said it either. But he's like her older brother rather than Uncle."

"I know right?"

"Mommy, mommy look how pretty I look!" Nyzie said running outside in her romper.

"You look so pretty baby," I said smiling down at her picking her up. "You are making mommy feel old. You're growing up so fast."

Nyzie kissed my cheek, "You're still pretty Mommy, don't worry."

Mylie laughed walking over to us and kissed Nyzie on the cheek, "Happy Birthday Nyzie."

"Thank you, Aunt Mylie." Taking Nyzie from me Mylie took her inside so I could continue working on the family collage. They were just pictures of Rhett, Nyzaia, and I. I know she would love it. I had already wrapped the necklace Rhett had given me...I wonder how she would react to that. Sighing I finish gluing the last photo on the board before putting it up on the wall outside of the house. I kissed the necklace I was wearing before walking inside to change my clothes, the guests would be over any minute now. 

Changing into a white dress I did light makeup since it was so hot outside I didn't want my makeup to melt off of my face. Anyway it wasn't my birthday it was my little babies.

Coming down the stairs I see Mylie already welcoming in Aunt Rosey and Uncle Clay along with everyone else. 

"Hello," I said hugging all of them, Nova handed me Nyzie's present before letting Nini run outside to play with Saber and Nyzie. "Thank you for coming."

I stood in front of the door for a while until I saw a really big car pull up, "Sorry Penny, I told Noah to come with us but he insisted on bringing Damon along with Jax and him."

Confused I just shrug it off not letting her stress about it the three boys step out of the car...is he trying to attract the neighbor's attention? Why did he bring Damon along?

Talon smirked as soon as he saw me, "Hey Navy,"

Squinting my eyes at him I step aside letting him inside the house, "Hey Aspen," Damon said, 

"Hey,"

"Hey Penny," Jax said handing me a gift, "This is for Nyzie I didn't exactly know what to bring her so I brought the three best toys I could find."

Smiling at Jax I wave him inside, "Thank you."

Shutting the door as the last of Nyzie's friends came in I helped Mylie and Mom hand out drinks to everyone and snacks to the kids. The party went on for a while until I saw Nyzie running over to me, "Mommy why is Talon here?" She said crossing her arms 

I didn't have an answer for her, "Um...Nyzie, he's here because it's your birthday."

"I don't like him, Mommy!" I didn't like him either

Giving Nyzie a stern look, "Nyzie we don't say things like that. That day he was mad...Talon didn't know what he was saying, Sweetie."

"But Mommy!" She whined, "It's my birthday today, tell him to leave."

Sighing I look around and say, "Damon is here."  

"He's Aunt Mylie's friend. Talon isn't my friend or yours."

"He's Nina's brother."

"Mommy!" She said stomping her feet

"Nyzai-"

"I'm sorry." A voice said cutting through our discrete argument. 

Nyzie turned around crossing her arms as I stood up straight pulling her towards me a little, she had my attitude and Rhett's anger. Talon was standing there with a small gift in his hand with a sorry look on his face. Talon walked over to us stopping a little away from us leaning down he put his gift down on the floor he brought his hands up to his ears, "I'm sorry Nyzaia."

Nyzaia looked at him with attitude keeping my hand on her shoulder I watched Talon carefully, "I shouldn't have said those things about you that day. I wasn't thinking straight at all. You Nyzaia, are not a mistake. No one should have to listen to that. I know my apology is a little late but your mommy can be really stubborn at times. She wasn't letting me meet you." Nyzie's posture changed a little. "I know you liked my music a lot and my movies...I don't know you that well but I brought you a small gift hopefully it'll make up for what I said the other day. Hopefully, we can be friends?"

Nyzie looked up at me confused...I didn't know what to do either...I wasn't expecting him to apologize to her either...Looking down at Nyzie I smiled gesturing her to take the gift from him. Talon's face lit up, "So apology accepted?"

Nyzie pulled away from me hugging Talon, "Accepted."

Talon looked up at me as she said that winking at me he pulled away, "Can I stay at your awesome party now?"

She giggled playing with the gift a little, "Yes,"

Talon put his hand out, "I know I'm asking for a lot but do you think we could be friends too?"

Nyzie put her hand in his...this old feeling came into my heart, "Friends, but don't hurt my feelings or my mommy's feelings again."

"Never again." He said standing up

"He can stay Mommy," She said handing me the gift, "I'm going to play now."

"Go on honey," I said as she ran off into the backyard again. Talon got off of his knees brushing them off quickly he stood tall in front of me. "Thank you." 

He looked at me confused, "For what?"

Sighing I looked into his eyes, "Thank you for apologizing to her. Mylie, Saber, and I had tried a lot to get her to forget about what you had said but it was like it was imprinted in her mind. So thank you for lifting that weight off of her shoulders."

Talon looked away, "You don't need to say thank you for that. It was my fault, I needed to get it off of my chest. I don't know what I was thinking."

"Yeah..."

"Was that Rhett?" He asked pointing at his photo on the family collage I had made. I had made two on for the inside decorations and the outside too.

"Yeah, that was Rhett," I confirmed, 

"You two look really happy." Talon continued, "Especially with Nyzaia."

Looking over at our family photo tears welled up in my eyes, "We were, but you know life and its mysterious ways. Sometimes it gives you everything and sometimes it decides to take everything away."

"If you don't mind me asking when did he pass?"

"Three years ago...Just before her birthday," I whispered keeping my gaze down I didn't want to cry in front of him. "But...we've made it pretty well so far. Rhett's watching over the two of us."

"Right." He said in a weird tone.

Wanting to stop the conversation I look up at him with a light smile, "Let's cut the cake shall we?"