"Knock knock." Clay announced as he walked in to Misty's bedroom through the door she left wide open.

"No. Go away." Misty quickly threw the blankets over Clay's anniversary gifts sitting on her bed that she was trying to wrap. "I'm tryin' to wrap your gifts, and I don't want you to see them." She chuckled, using her body as a wall so Clay couldn't see what was on her bed. "Hey, Lindsey, I gotta go, I'll call you back later. Love you." Misty said to her sister, who had called her to wish her a happy birthday. Misty wished that her sister didn't live so far away, but hearing her voice over the phone certainly helped a lot.

"I'm too busy starin' at my beautiful girlfriend to see what she is tryin' to hide from me." Clay smiled, sauntering over to Misty, ignoring the fact that she was on the phone with her sister. With one hand behind his back, and the other reaching out, Clay spun Misty around in a circle, wrapping his arm around her waist, giving her a quick peck on the lips.

"Well, aren't you sweet? But, I'm still not givin' you your anniversary gift until later." Misty teased.

"Speakin' of anniversaries, I got you something to say happy six months." With that, Clay brought his hand in front of him, revealing a thin, long, white jewelry box. He smiled, handing it to Misty.

Opening the box, Misty was wide eyed when she saw what the gift was. A silver chained necklace was in the slim white box. Lifting it up, Misty saw two pendants hanging down. One was a small horseshoe with a cross on it, and the other pendant was a capital "C." On the "C" pendant, tiny, fake diamonds outlined the letter. "Clay, this is absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much. Now I will have a piece of you everywhere I go."

Clay grinned. "I figured the horse shoe shows your love for horses, the cross shows your love for Christ, and the C shows your love for Casper."

"Well, I like to think of the C standing for Clay, but I like it standing for Casper, as well." Misty thumbed over the beautiful necklace in her hand.

"I never thought about the C being for my name, but I love that idea. Do you like it? I had it custom made for you." He still had both his arms around Misty's waist, smiling down at her like a love sick teenager.

"I don't like it, Clay, I love it." Misty grinned, leaning forward, with the necklace still in her hand, grabbed Clay's face in both of hers. "Thank you so much."

After a short kiss, Clay pulled back, reaching for the necklace. "Here, I will help you put it on."

Misty turned around, handing Clay the necklace. Smiling as he carefully moved her hair out of the way, setting the necklace around her neck, clasping it in the back, Misty said, "This must have cost you a fortune, Clay, thank you."

"Nothing is too expensive for my girl." He wrapped her up in his arms again, kissing his lips softly against Misty's neck, sending chills through her whole body. Resting his chin on her shoulder, Clay smiled. "I can't wait to give you your birthday gift. I think it's much better than the necklace."

Misty spun around, facing Clay. "What can be better than this beautiful, thought out necklace?" Misty ran a finger up the buttons on Clay's shirt. "A diamond ring?" The corner of Misty's lips tugged upward in a grin as she grew her eyes up to Clay's, only to see him smiling like crazy, too.

"Maybe for next year's anniversary." Clay replied, the love evident in his eyes.

"I guess I might be able to wait that long." Misty played, inviting Clay to kiss her.

"Man, I love you." Clay jerked his head to the side before bending down, passionately kissing Misty's lips.

Before Misty could say it back, Misty's stepmom knocked on her bedroom door. Quickly pulling apart, Misty turned to look at Darlene. "Hi." She said, sheepishly, feeling the embarassed blush rising on her cheek.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Bill and I need your help downstairs getting things ready for the party." Darlene announced before exiting the room, closing the door when she left.

"Well that was awkward." Misty chuckled, turning back to Clay.

"Why are you still so opposed for her to see us kissing?" Clay chuckled, taking a seat at the foot of Misty's bed.

"Because...she's my stepmom, and I don't even know her that well. But what I do know about her, I don't like."

"Because no one will ever compare to your mom, right?" Clay asked in understanding of her situation.

"Exactly. But I do know that she will not like it if we don't get downstairs and help up, so get up, cowboy." Misty motioned for Clay to stand up so he didn't accidentally sit on his gift that she was just about finished wrapping.

"Give me a hand up?" Clay reached a hand out, a mischievous grin on his lips.

Misty rolled her eyes playfully, connecting her hand with his. Before she could tug on him to get up, Clay surprised her by pulling her onto the bed next to him. Misty's gasp of surprise turned into giggles when Clay began to terrorize her sides with his fingers, tickling her. He somehow ended up laying on top of her. He grabbed both of her wrists in one of his hands, in order for him to tickle her more.

Taking her other hand in his, so each of his hands were holding one of hers, Clay silenced Misty's giggles with a long, deep kiss. Still laying over top of her, he smiled, only love in his eyes. "Happy birthday, Misty McAdams."

"Thank you, Clay Montgomery." Misty didn't even try to hide the blush that she knew was evident. She tilted her head up, inviting Clay to kiss her, but he didn't kiss her. Misty made a pouty face, followed by, "But I want to kiss you...please...it's our anniversary...and my birthday."

"Only because you asked so nicely...and because it's our anniversary, and your birthday." Clay played, kissing Misty again. He let go of her hands that he was holding above her head to wrap one around her waist, and used the other to hold himself up. Deepening the kiss made Misty wrap both of her arms around Clay's neck, pulling him closer to her. She was intoxicated by his kisses. It had been a long while since they had kissed like this, and she had certainly missed it. Kissing him now was different than it used to be because now she knew she was kissing a man she loved; before, she was just kissing a guy she had a crush on. It's crazy to think what six months could change.

Clay pulled back from their kissing to say, "We better go help Darlene before she comes up and sees us kissing and you get all flustered again."

Misty groaned when Clay hopped off the bed, offering her a hand up. "Sometimes I wish that I can stay in your arms forever." It was a true comment, but not one that she had meant to let slip.

"You only wish that sometimes?" Clay teased, letting go of Misty's hand.

"Oh you stop." Misty slugged Clay, then turned back to her bed, grabbing the gift bag off it. "Well, I might as well give you your anniversary gift now since you probably already saw it during our tickling wrestling match." She handed Clay over the blue plaid bag. "I didn't get to finish wrapping it, so don't judge."

Clay grinned, pulling out the first thing in the bag. Misty had gotten him two new pair of dark wash Wrangler jeans. "Thank you, babe. I really needed more jeans and you know how bad I am at picking out my own clothes."

"There's something else in there for you." Misty smiled; this was the gift she was excited for him to open.

Clay reached in, pulling out the rectangular yellow, Leatherman box. "Is this really what is in here?" He asked, excitedly, like a little kid at his first rodeo.

Misty nodded. "Take it out of the box and look at it."

Clay pulled the handy tool out of it's box, opening it, along with every one of it's accessories. "Thank you so much, Misty. I have always wanted one. They're so nice to have on the ranch."

"You're very welcome. I was fixin' to get you a pair of Oakleys, but I reckon that that will be our one year anniversary gift, if you feel like stickin' around that long." She teased, giving him a wink.

"Ehh, I don't think that will be a problem." He smiled, tucking the Leatherman into his pocket. "I can't wait to try on those Wranglers tonight, either."

"I think you will like them." Misty smiled. "Let's head downstairs before Darlene gets upset." She changed the subject.

Clay followed obediently behind Misty as they walked downstairs. Just when they got to the bottom, the doorbell rang, welcoming a visitor. It was at that moment when Clay realized that this would be the first time that he would meet Misty's extended family. Birthdays were a huge deal for the McAdams family; it was one of the few times that the tight knit family got to see each other. Butterflies began to swarm in Clay's stomach as he thought about all the new people he would have to meet tonight, starting with whomever was at the door. He was not good with meeting new people; for whatever reason, it always made him nervous.

"Misty, dear, can you please get that?" Darlene called out in a rushed voice, passing through the entryway with a veggie tray.

Clay, bound with nerves, and unsure what else to do, followed Misty to the front door. Opening it, Misty practically squealed with excitement when she saw who it was. "Auntie Tee!"

The brunette woman, in her mid twenties, was nearly jumping as she reached out to hug Misty, squealing. "Mmm my M&M, man have I missed you!" She pulled back to look Misty up and down. "Man, I can't believe it has been two years since I saw you last! I haven't seen you since my wedding. Look how you have grown! Such a beautiful young lady." She complimented.

Misty brushed off the compliment, like usual, by blowing a raspberry, and waving a hand in front of her face. Clay shifted awkwardly, making Misty's Aunt's gaze turn to him. "Well well well, and who is this dashingly handsome young man?" She turned to look at Clay.

Misty, smiling like crazy, turned and wrapped an arm around Clay's waist. "This is my boyfriend, Clay. Clay, this is my Aunt Tia."

Clay, being the gentleman he is, shook Misty's Aunt's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs..." He waited for her to say her married name, just to be polite.

"Oh, such a gentleman. But, please, call me Tia. Or Tee, whichever you prefer." That ear to ear grin never falling from her face. She dropped her hand from Clay's, turning back to Misty. "Happy birthday, sweetheart. Here, I got you a present." Tia turned, picking up three gift bags that she had set down on the floor, handing them to Misty.

"Thank you, auntie. You didn't have to do that." Misty smiled, taking the bags from Tia. "Where is Jerry? He not come with you?" Misty asked, leading Tia into the living room, where Misty set the bags down on a table Darlene had set aside.

"Oh, Jer-bear is busy at home workin' like crazy. He really wanted to make it out, but since he got his big promotion, he is havin' to pick up even more hours at work, so he was unable to make it. But, he told me to send his best regards." Tia gave Misty and Clay one more look before changing the subject. "Now, where is your father? I want to say hi to my big brother. Bill?" Just like that, Tia was off on her mission to find Misty's dad.

Misty, able to take her first deep breath all morning, turned to Clay. "Well, that's my Aunt Tia. She's my dad's littlest sister, and she is always so hyper, but she's my favorite. She's only six years older than me, so we get along really really well. Her husband, Jerry, and her have been together since high school, but for whatever reason, they just got married two years ago. They went on a missions trip to Haiti last year, so I haven't gotten to see either of them since their wedding." Misty explained to Clay, while transporting the appetizers and hors d'oeuvres from the kitchen to the dining room. "She's always the first person to arrive to any family function, and the last person to leave."

"She seems fun." Clay grinned, the nerves only slightly subsiding. "So, just curious, how many more of your family members are comin' tonight?" He set down a tray of fruit dip on the table.

"Umm...only about twenty more, I believe. Not everyone could make it. Some of my farming family members are still getting in their harvest, even though it's getting late for that. But this year a lot of folks are busy, so I think it's only about twenty more people coming." Misty turned to Clay when he didn't reply at first. Seeing his face turn pale, Misty chuckled, pulling him away from the commotion in the kitchen. Grabbing both of his hands, Misty grinned. "Are you nervous to meet my family?"

"To be honest, yeah. It didn't really hit me until now that I would actually be meetin' everyone." Clay said, keeping his voice quiet, even though the living room was far enough from the kitchen that no one could hear their conversation.

"Well, my dear," Misty reached up to run a finger over Clay's lips. "You have nothin' to worry about. Everyone in my family is goin' to love you. They might not love you as much as I do, but they will love you."

With a huge smile, Clay closed the gap between them, whispering out, "I love you," before their lips could meet. It was crazy how just one touch, one look in Misty's eyes could make all of Clay's nerves go away, just like that. Hearing a voice behind them made Misty and Clay pull away from each other.

"Sorry to interrupt y'all, I just forgot to put your card in with your gift." Aunt Tia said, her cheeks a little red, making Misty wonder how long she had been standing at the doorway.

"It's alright. I apologize. It's me and Clay's six month anniversary today, so he keeps tryin' to kiss me." Misty laughed, wrapping her arms around Clay, resting her head on his chest as she looked up at him, all starry eyed.

"Oh, that's alright. I remember when Jerry and I were y'alls age. So young and in love. You two are adorable." Tia said before leaving the living room.

As quickly as they went away, Clay's nerves returned. This time, however, it wasn't because he was anxious about meeting the rest of Misty's family. No, it was because he now knew he would have a large crowd he had to present in front of when he gave Misty her birthday present.