Aspen's P.O.V.

"We have to go meet the Quest Family today Penny," Mylie said packing Saber and Nyzie's lunch bags as I collected their homework while they ate the breakfast mom made for them. 

Rolling my eyes I grabbed the bags from her shoving them in their school bags, "What time?"

"Auntie Rosey said whenever we had time today, so I was thinking we would just go after the bus comes and picks the kids up."

"Sounds good." I said blankly, "Nyzie, Bear hurry the bus will be here in a few minutes."

Both of them nodded, Nyzie took the news of Rhett pretty well actually, I mean I was expecting way worse...but she did cry a lot last night after eating, I had to bring her to my room, we talked to the moon for a long time. Talked to Rhett for a long time.  Quickly finishing up our breakfast the four of us waited for the bus, "You're okay right baby?" I asked Nyzie, and she nodded. "You don't have to go to school today if you're not."

"I'm fine Mommy." She said quietly.

Looking over at Bear I traded places with Mylie, "Hey, can I add one more thing to your Uncle Duties today Bear?"

Saber looked at me confused but nodded, "You know Rhett's gone to a better place right?"

"Yeah...did you tell Nyzie?"

"Yeah...I didn't want to send her to school today but she was being really stubborn this morning, so just watch out for her today okay? Drop her off at her classroom and check on her at lunch okay?"

"Okay, Penny," 

Gently smiling at him I kiss his forehead, "And don't forget to watch out for yourself too."

"Bus is here," Mylie said walking away with Nyzie,

"Have fun." Giving me one last smile he ran off grabbing Nyzie's hand before getting on the bus. Sighing I brush off my pants and walk towards the car with Mylie,  "Ready?" She asked

"Let's just get this shit over with." I mumbled, "Do you have the designs printed out?"

"I have everything, just please smile when we get there." She said putting the car in drive.

"Get off my dick Mylie, I'm fine. But I'm warning you if you try to get me to talk to him I'll kill you. I don't have a problem with anyone else other than him and you know that."Mylie sighed turning on the radio and avoiding a fight between us. 

"And starting off the day with a little Talon Quest special has never killed anyone has it?" The Radio host said "No Syra, no it hasn't. Let's begin the day with Talon Quest new so-" I slam the radio off leaving the car silent.

"I was listening to that." Mylie snapped

"Don't worry you're going to see him in five minutes anyways then get him to perform for you."

"You are unbelievable Aspen."

"Shut up and drive Mylah." 

Pulling up to the gate ten minutes later the gatekeeper let us through after talking to Mylah quickly, as we got out of the car, old memories flashed through my mind. Our families were  really good friends. Talon, Mylah, Nova, Jax, and I grew up together, and went on family trips together...now Nina and Saber are best friends. Everything would be fine if Talon hadn't... Taking a deep breath I followed Mylie up the stairs waiting for the door to open.

"Please be nice," Mylie whispered to me.

"I will," I reassured her. Mylie still came around here but I stopped since Nyzaia was born, I had a lot of stuff going on around that time. 

"Mylie!" Nova said smiling as she opened the doors she looked over at me, "Aspen?"

Forcing a smile on my face I nodded, "Hey Nova,"

She lunged for a hug suddenly pulling me in tightly, "It's been so long since I saw you."

Hugging her back, "I know, it's just- I've been a little busy."

Letting go of me she welcomes both of us in, "Everyone will be so happy to see you both and Tal" She cut herself off quickly looking back at me. 

Shaking my head I smiled at her, "I'm fine, don't worry. Where is everyone?"

A smile made its way back onto her face tugging the both of us towards the living room, "Everyone is waiting for you guys here, they are so excited. You know Talon came back after so long and now you are back...everything is kind of falling in place again." Nothing will be the same again. Entering the living room everyone looked up at us immediately, "Aspen?" Auntie Rosey whispered as I said, I hadn't come back here after the birth of Nyzie. I was busy but Mylie and Saber came here mostly every week. 

"Yeah," I whispered back, she stood up quickly hugging me really tight,

"I missed you, sweetie, I haven't seen you in forever."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just got really busy and I didn't get time to come over that much." 

Pulling away she shook her head, "No worries Honey, after having a child life does get busy."

My heart skipped a beat, I didn't want Talon to know looking around the room I didn't spot him anywhere. Weird it was his party and he's not here. "Yeah, Nyzaia is a handful."

"You were always a handful too." Uncle Clay said chuckling

Giggling, "I wasn't that bad,"

Pulling me onto the couch beside her Auntie Rosey said, "Nyzaia, that's a beautiful name."

"Thank you, it was actually Rhett's idea. He always loved that name."

"But you were always so stubborn about names," Nova said chuckling,

I shrugged, "I wanted to name her Blair but he said she didn't look like a Blair, it took us a week to finalize her name so we ended up with Nyzaia Blair Flynn-Davidson."

Auntie grabbed my hand comfortingly, "Your mom had told me about Rhett, I'm sorry Penny."

Clenching my jaw I took my hand out of hers, "It's been a couple of years now, I'm okay."

Mylie realized I was getting uncomfortable so she tried to change the topic, "Well if you guys are done giving Penny all the attention, can we finalize some designs."

Uncle Clay shook his head, "Yes Ma'am."

Clearing my throat I nodded taking out the designs we had come up with, "Is this going to be a surprise party?"

Nova shook her head, "No, Talon is just changing He will be down in a minute along with Jax."

"No need to wait, we are here." Jax said from behind us, my heartbeat picked up. . . Aspen, not again. 

Taking a deep breath I turned around smiling, "Hey Jax."

"Aspen?" He said.

"Yep, it's me," I pointed towards Mylie, "Mylah."

"Oh my god," Jax took a step towards us before pulling the both of us into a hug, "It's been so long."

Feeling uncomfortable I pulled away, "Yeah,"

My gaze left his only to meet the only person I dreaded to meet today, Talon Quest. Did he stare at me in awe? In pity? I couldn't make out the emotions in his eyes...actually, I didn't want to make out the emotions in his eyes. The room had gone completely silent waiting for me to explode, waiting for us to say something to each other. Talon took a step towards me but I immediately took one back causing him to stop in his tracks. My heart was racing, putting my hand out in front of him I forced a smile, "Welcome back Talon."

His gaze fell to my hand before he looked back up at me raising his eyebrow he took my hand in his to shake, "Thank you, Aspen."

Taking my hand away from his quickly I turned around to face away from him, "Let's talk about the party designs shall we?" Everyone looked away from us as Mylie pulled out the designs I sat down on the ground 

"So this is one of the designs we had chosen because the information that you had provided us with had different colors to it, we thought that this blue-themed party would be perfect with the silver accessories, like the table cloths, the chairs, etc."

"This would be good with the budget you have provided us with also," Mylie added on

"This is a little more elegant than the other...this will also go over the budget provided too. This is personally my favorite because of the gold accents everywhere." Mylie said, "This will be easy to set up around the house also."

"Lastly, this is more of an outdoor setup, it will be right in the budget. It has a nice color combo and it will be perfect for tomorrow night because it's supposed to be nice out."

"So what does everyone think?" Mylie asked.

"These designs are amazing..." Aunite Rosey said, "I think the outdoor setup will be better though."

"I like the Second one," Nova said, "It's very clean and sophisticated."

"Well, it comes down to Jax and Noah." Mylie said, "Since it is their party."

"I agree with Auntie Rosey, I like the outdoor setup." Jax said, "Talon?"

He was quiet the whole time staring down at the floor, "Outdoor."

Clenching my jaw I stood up from the ground collecting the designs, "Well it's decided then outdoor it is. My team will be over first thing tomorrow morning. Mylie and I will come around an hour before to check all the arrangements."

Mylie stood up as well. "We should get going otherwise Mr.Fox will be mad."

Nodding I got everything ready, "It was nice seeing all of you again but we have to go, see you tomorrow afternoon."

Everyone walked us out of the house, "Bye." Auntie said 

"Bye." We both said before getting into the car and driving away.I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible, away from Talon.