TONY JACKSON-Part of the Family

When they arrived at the Van Russell Estates, Ciara was in awe. Tony acted like it did not phase him, but he was still in awe of the place. Who wouldn't be?

All the youngsters were fussing in the lower level game room playing video games.

"Tony! Ciara! Come on in, play with us," Chrissy said.

"I'm finished," Ejay said and stormed away.

"Ejay!" Ethan called after him.

"No, I got this," Tony said, running after Ejay.

He did not get a chance to talk to Ejay since the news broke. He did not know what to say to the kid, but he knew he had to say something.

"Ejay, it's me," Tony said after he made it to Ejay's room.

"Go away."

"I'm not going away. We need to talk."

"Go away!"

Tony leaned against the door frame.

"You know, I never grew up with a father. I would ask my mom why couldn't I have a dad. Wasn't I a good kid, didn't I deserve a dad? Sure, I had my uncles, but it wasn't the same. I always felt different, like I was missing out on something. I thought having a father would make me have a happy home I saw others have."

"But just having a father, knowing you have a father is not enough, right Ejay? You've had yours all your life and it's not been that great, right?"

Ejay opened the door.

"He's a dick!"

"I guess he's made some mistakes, huh?"

"He doesn't care about anything I do! Or hangs out with me or anything. Now he has you and what does he need me for."

"Ejay, he's trying to do better. I believe he is trying. We both have to just give him that chance. He is, after all, our dad."

"Tony, you're cool. I just don't know if I want to share my dad...our dad."

"Okay, I get it. But can we get to know each other? I never had a brother."

"Me either," Ejay said.

Tony ruffled his hair.

"I'm the big brother."

"I get picked on enough by Chrissy, now you?" Ejay grinned and pushed him away, patting his hair down. "Who was that cute girl with you?"

"Aaw! You do like girls. Chrissy was worried about you," Tony said.

"Shut up."

ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-All in the Family

He was ready to face the music with his father. He did not know if he would react like Marty or what. He knew no matter what it would not break him.

He walked around the house with Donna looking for his father. He saw Doreen, Marty, and Jennifer in the parlor at the bar having drinks.

"Where's father?"

"Off to find the bastard son," Marty said.

Ethan charged Marty and they fell to the floor. Ethan punched him in the face before Donna and Doreen pulled him off.

"I told you ever disrespect my son. I'm getting tired of your bullshit!"

"Ethan, I don't care what the fuck he says about my son," Donna said. "He's an asshole."

"And you're a whore," Marty said to her.

Ethan charged Marty again, but Donna and Doreen held him back.

"I'll kill you!" Ethan yelled.

"Dear, dear brother, you couldn't if you tried. You're weak. You're a loser. Always a fuck-up. I'm always cleaning up your fuckups. This is just another one."

"What does dear old Sasha think of this...thing?" Jennifer added.

"Stay out of this!" Ethan spat at her. "You don't want to drag your drunk ass into this."

"Ethan, come on, let's just calm down." Doreen pulled him further back from his brother.

"I didn't come here to have Donna or my son disrespected. We'll just leave."

"No, stay," he heard his father say. He turned to see his father walk in.

Ethan had total respect for his father. More than he had for Marty. He had a slight fear of his father which he would never admit. His father could take away everything if he chose to. Could he bear giving it all up for Donna?

Ethan walked over to Donna and put his arm around her waist.

"Father, you remember Donna, right?"

His father stood there silently, watching them.

"Of course I do. My goddaughter, all grown up." Martin walked over to Donna and kissed both her cheeks. "I would like to meet your son."

"Our son," Ethan corrected.

"Yes," he said.

MARTIN VAN RUSSELL, SR.-Mending Fences

He was not so old and set in his ways as his sons believed he was. He was getting too old for the drama. He was seventy years old. Time to mend some fences.

He went down to the game room where all the kids were screaming and shouting over some dance game they were playing.

"Hey granddad," Ejay said, not stopping the moves he was doing. He pushed the tall Black kid next to him. "Watch me bust a move!"

"Man, you can't beat me. I'm telling you, I got the moves like Michael Jackson."

"OMG! Did he really say that?" Chrissy said, hiding her face with her hand.

"Aw, but he's so cute," a young pretty girl said beside her.

Chrissy stuck her finger in her mouth to fake gag.

"Can an old man play?" he found himself saying.

Everyone stopped to look at him.

"It's complicated granddad," Ejay said, restarting the game.

"I'm up for the challenge."

He stepped in Ejay's spot with the controller.

"Granddad, let me help you," Elayne said standing by him.

"I guess I need some help," he said, then turned to Tony. "You won't hurt this old man, will you?"

"I'll take it easy."

They played through one song with Elayne helping him. It wore him out.

"Do you need a nap now?" Ejay asked.

"Come on, let me help you sit down," Tony said, a hand on his shoulder. "Hey guys, move."

Chrissy, the girl, and Daphne scooted away as he sat on the sofa.

"Actually, can I have a moment alone with you," he said to Tony.

"Uh..."

"Sure, sure, we're leaving. Come on Ciara, I'll show you my room," Chrissy said.

The girls all left. Ejay stood back.

"Good luck, bro," he said then left.

"Sit," Martin said to him.

Tony sat beside him.

"You know who I am?" Tony asked.

"Of course. You're the spitting image of your grandfather Bishop."

"Really? I never knew him. What was he like?"

"He was a great man. A good friend."

"What happened?"

"I don't want you to think I'm this horrible bad person. I'm not. But it was all my fault. Bishop was doing great with his business. Our families got along, we vacationed together, and spent holidays together. I thought of your uncles as my sons as well."

"Then I got greedy. I helped your grandfather start the business. I loaned him money, which he was paying back, but I doubled up the payments. Demanded more. He paid everything I asked, and I asked for more. He wasn't going to pay it, called me a crook, which I guess I was."

"I let my greed ruin the best friendship I had. And my friend died before I got a chance to ask forgiveness."

He patted Tony's knee.

"I feel like you're my chance to make things right."

"I don't want to be in the middle of family drama."

"You can't help it. You are a Jackson and a Van Russell. A part of me and a part of Bishop."

"I was named after my granddad. My real name is Bishop. Antonio is my middle name, but everyone calls me Tony."

"Well, you're named after a good man," Martin said. "I hope you can look up to me the same way."

"I never had a grandfather."

"I know Ethan's going to try and make up for lost time, but my goal is to make up for family time. You're the one that can help with that."

"How?"

"Get the Jacksons and Van Russells back together."

"No way! My uncles hate my dad and Marty. And vice versa."

"That's why we will work together to mend this. You in, grandson?"

"Sure, granddad."

CIARA MARIE-The Princess

She pulled her long locks of hair into a ponytail. She looked silly. She pulled the ponytail out and shook out her hair.

"Mom!"

Her mother, Danita-Jo, walked in.

"What's wrong?"

"My hair is a mess and Tony and I have a date."

"Your hair looks fine."

"I want to look perfect! I've been going out with Tony awhile now and he just thinks of me as a friend."

"I'm sure he doesn't." Her mother smoothed her hair down. "And if he does, he's not the boy for you."

"But I really like him! He's so cool. Did you know his dad is...I mean, uh, nothing."

Tony was not telling everyone he was a Van Russell and she respected that. If it were her, she would shout it from the rooftops. She may be semi-famous locally because of who her parents were, but Van Russells were famous worldwide. Having Tony by her side was the biggest catch of the school.

The doorbell rang.

"That's him!" She darted out of her room as fast as she could.

"Calm down girlfriend, he's just a boy," her mother said with a chuckle.

Ciara calmed herself and took a breath before she opened the door. Tony stood there looking as handsome as ever.

"Hey, gorgeous."

Ciara blushed. Well, she was too brown for it to show, but she could still blush.

"Um, you remember my mom."

"Hey, Mrs. Marie."

"You two have fun."

"We will," Ciara said walking out with Tony.

They went to the Midtown Heights Mall, or as everyone called it, The Heights. It was a giant four-level mall, the biggest mall in the small city. A plus for the mall was that the anchor store included a Van Russells department store. The Heights had a ten-screen cinema plex so that's where they went, to see a romantic comedy that they both loved.

After the movies, they headed to the food court to eat. It was cool being a normal kid and not the mayor's daughter.

"I had a nice time, Tony," she said when he took her back home.

"Me too."

"So uh, I was wondering. When can we move out of the just friends' stage to something more?" She had to be bold and let him know what she wanted. If not, some other girl would see what a great catch he was and steal him away from her.

"I like you a lot."

"I like you too."

"I don't know if I'm ready for a girlfriend, but..."

"But?"

"I would love for you to be my girlfriend."

Ciara smiled. "I'd love that too!" She hugged him.

"Hey," he said, pulling her away slightly. "You're in good hands."

He tilted her head toward his and kissed her. Ciara was in heaven.

CHRISSY VAN RUSSELL-Study or Netflix and Chill

They were supposed to be studying but they were in Xavier's room making out. His kisses were so divine. She liked being close to him. He was incredible.

"Come on shorty, let's finish this work so we can watch some Netflix." Xavier moved away from her and grabbed his tablet.

"No, I just want to study you," she said, kissing his neck.

"Mmm," he said, kissing her back. "Girl, stop for real, before you start something you can't stop."

"Maybe I don't wanna."

"Maybe you should." Xavier pulled away. "Homework. Do it."

"Okay, bossman," Chrissy said, grabbing her laptop. She typed a few things and then looked over at Xavier who was busy reading on his tablet. "Sooo...how many girls have you been with?"

"What? We're not having this discussion."

"Why not?"

"Because I like you enough to respect you."

"I just want to know how many."

"Two. Only two girls."

That was not so bad, considering he was eighteen. She was only seventeen and that was a big fat zero. Maybe X would be her first.

"They weren't special. Girls that have sex just to please the guy, well...it never works out. Let's not have that kind of relationship."

"Sure X."

"Now finish your homework girl!"

Hey readers!

Thanksgiving went pretty well, but can the Jacksons and Van Russells really get along? There is actually more to their beef than the Martin Sr. and Bishop issues.

I really did not want to put that much focus on teen relationships, BUT, they are critical to some of the storylines, and this is life! The teens will have sex. They will behave as if they are grown. I will be introducing more teens into the storylines.

Xavier...as sweet as pie...right now, but just you wait.

XOXO

Kimberly