Finally, time to be normal for a while.

The holiday season was upon them, though she was never one to go all in for the holidays. She would not do any holiday if it wasn't for her sisters always wanting to go all out. She did not cook, so unless it was healthy baked chicken, steamed veggies, and only a serving size of carbs, no one wanted to eat her food.

Thanksgiving was going to be at the Kelly house, and since she was the only one living there at the moment, it was up to her to have everything ready. She was not the best housekeeper, so she hired a service to thoroughly clean the four-bedroom three-bathroom house that she was born and raised in.

Then she hired someone else to decorate it and make the house more festive-looking. She had an area for the kids, well the pre-teen/teens, Brandy, Monica, and Atiya, who Sarena had for the holiday, and then there was an area for the babies, IceeJay, Kayley, and Kaycee. Krystle was still not traveling with Kerrie so she stayed in Italy with her husband.

She wanted to hire caterers for the food but Sarena nixed that idea. Sarena cooked most of it, with Kitty bringing some vegetarian dishes. Tennille was in charge of desserts so she was sure they would be store-bought. Krystle had refreshments and shipped over some of her husband's best wine. CJ and she would be on the cleanup crew.

She asked her sisters if it was okay for her to have a date, and they said why not.

"I feel honored you asked me to come to meet your family," Ronan said to her when she picked him up at his house. This was a big step for her, letting him know where she lived. She still liked to keep things private, not trusting anyone. This was her first time inviting him to her place, and she knew him since the beginning of the school year.

"No big deal, it's not like you don't know them already. Just follow the media obsessed with them. Kitty and Icee are always on the news. Kryssy marrying a billionaire made big headlines. Tennille is on the top of the music charts with a possibility of several nominations for Grammys. And Sarena is even a big deal now with the newfound solo success of Ginger Hollands and Tone."

She was still under most people's radar and that is how she liked to keep it.

"I don't listen to the media gossip," he said. "I like to get to know the person as I have with you."

"But do you really know me," she said with a side grin at him. "I mean, really know me?"

"I think so. Besides being smart and beautiful...you care for people a lot. You have this tough exterior where you result to...ahem...unnecessary violence sometimes, you do it for protection, not to bring harm to anyone. Because of your family, how close you all are, and what you all went through, you keep this barrier around you and don't want to get close to anyone."

"Hmmm, go on."

"You trust no one, and you bottle up all your feelings inside."

That was a pretty fair assessment, and she did not deny any of it. It was nice hanging with Ronan and Drew but she had yet to have any deep conversations with either of them. They knew what she wanted them to know, which was not a lot. She was having fun with them and there was nothing wrong with that.

"I don't want you to act weird or anything around my family. They may be celebrities but to me, I don't see them that way."

"I won't embarrass you, Nola." He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Besides, I'm just here for you, that's all that matters."

Of course, before she brought anyone around her family, she had Victor run several security checks on him. Nothing there, he was just a regular student like everyone else. Still, in the back of her head, no one was ever totally a hundred percent clear.

She pulled up and parked in the small one-car garage. Kryssy and Tennille were already there at the house.

"Remember, just act cool around them...and don't let them intimidate you."

"Why would they-" he stopped his statement soon as she opened the door and Tennille in all her extraness rushed over to them.

"Oh, he ca-yute! Heeeey Mr. Hot Guy! What's your name? You're fine as hell! You have a brother...or a sister?"

"NiNi, can you not." Nola rolled her eye. "This is Ronan, my friend."

"Friend?" Tennille scoffed at that. "If you don't want to fuck him, I will."

She covered her face with embarrassment. This was a bad idea.

"Don't mind her...Ronan," Krystle said, walking over to them, taking his arm and pulling him away. "How old are you? You look way older than my baby sis. Do you have kids or something? They age you, let me tell you that."

Ronan chuckled, shot her a look and she shrugged at him. "I'm twenty-two, I don't have kids." He looked over at himself. "And I look old? Should I moisturize more? I have gray hairs or something?"

She smiled, happy he was able to at least not be offended by her sister's behavior.

"Girllllll!" Tennille pulled her away into the kitchen. "Please tell me you fucking or sucking that."

"NiNi! It's not always about sex you know."

"It ain't?"

"No! We're classmates, we talk and hang out, that's it."

Tennille looked her over. "Liar, liar, pants on fire. You want to get in his pants."

She smiled because she had been thinking about it more. She kept asking herself, what was she waiting for? Why was she still a twenty-one-year-old virgin? She should just get it over with.

"I like him NiNi, but...I'm not rushing into anything with him, or anyone else."

"Hmmm, there is someone else."

"How did you know that?"

"You're not the only one who knows how to read people Ms. Smarty Pants. And that's fine, date, have fun because that's what I do. Life is too short, we could leave this world any day like..."

Neither of them wanted to say Ashley's name.

"At least she lived her life to the fullest! Like that girl knew she would only be here for a short time."

Nola nodded.

Soon Kitty and her brood were at the door. Icee carried the twins each in a separate carrier and little IceeJay was walking good. He ran into the house and jumped right on Kryssy's lap who was still talking with Ronan.

"Mama!" he said to her.

"Now you know I look nothing like your mom." Kryssy hugged and cuddled him. "You better learn the difference between us two."

"Because he doesn't see you often," Kitty said, noticing Ronan and looking him over. "And who are you?"

She jumped into the conversation. "That's Ronan, Kitty, I told you about him."

"I don't remember," Kitty lied, she had a great memory. "Tell me about yourself, Mr. Man. How old are you? You look old."

She groaned at that and thought maybe she needed to have a drink. She grabbed one of Kryssy's husband's expensive wines and grabbed the bottle opened.

"Ronan, can you help me please."

He jumped up from the couch to come over and help her. "Sure."

Once opened she poured him and herself a glass. Just as they took a sip, Sarena, Victor, and the girls came into the house, loaded with trays of food.

"Somebody going to help me?"

"Better go give my sister a hand or she would get on your head," she told Ronan.

Once everyone was settled in the living room, drinking libations, eating refreshments before the big meal, and watching TV, Sarena and Kitty sat the tables in what would be a pretty tight dining room. She grew up in the house with six girls plus her mother, but now that number was more than doubled. The dining room table held eight, there was another smaller table that held four. Iceejay was in a highchair between Kitty and Icee.

Brandy, Monica, and Atiya sat at the smaller table and were talking nonstop the whole time.

"Anyone wants to volunteer and start saying what they are thankful for this year?" Sarena asked. "It has been a hell of a year."

She did not feel she had anything to be thankful for, not when someone was missing from their table.

"I will." She was shocked to see CJ stand up from the table. "I know I'm new to the family and all, but I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful I have my sisters after all these years. I am thankful for you all bringing me into the fold, loving me, and not blaming me for what our...that man did to us. Kept us apart. I wish I had more time with you all. I wished I would have gotten to know Ashley and...I just, I'm so thankful for you all, more than you will ever know."

She was not going to cry today, she told herself.

"I'll go next then," Tennille said and stood up. "Lord Jesus this been a year! Hell, the last two years feel like a lifetime, but here I stand for you God, and you still keep blessing me and my family. Our family keeps growing and growing, and I can't wait to spoil all my nee-nees and phews."

She raised an eyebrow at Tennille. Was someone else expecting? What was she talking about? Her eyes diverted to the twins.

"Don't look at us that way!" they both said and everyone laughed.

"Let me go and say what I am thankful for," Krystle stood. "I love all my sisters. I love my brothers-in-law, y'all both the truth! I love my husband, he is heaven-sent, really he is. My little baby, she's an angel. I swear she is a mixture of Mommy and Ashley so I know they sent her to me for a reason. Lord, didn't think I would see her pretty face at one point..."

Krystle looked as if she was about to cry thinking of all she went through to have Kerrie healthy six weeks early.

Kitty grabbed her sister's hand and stood with her. "Yes, I agree with her on that. I feel Ashley's spirit when I hold those babies. We didn't get to say goodbye to her, but I didn't need to, she is with me every day. I am thankful this family is strong enough to sustain what we have and we are still standing. We will continue to lift each other up and be there for each other, no matter if there is a whole ocean and country between us."

"Got that right!" Kryssy said as they both sat back down.

Icee stood. "Well, y'all know how I feel about all of y'all. The family I always wanted. I'm blessed to be a part of this family, part of the Kellys, that's why my girls have that Kelly name. Strong, beautiful Black women that can do whatever they want." Icee seemed to stare right at her. "Even when they think they are finding themselves, they know I got them whenever."

Next was Victor. "I'm thankful for my wife, our marriage is stronger than ever. I'm thankful for my two girls and Atiya, I love y'all forever and a day." Then he sat back down. Victor was always a man of not many words.

Sarena stood. "I am not going to get mushy and make anyone cry but I am thankful we made it through this year, and ready to take on the world for the rest of this year. We came out stronger and no one else will ever test us again."

That was quick as well, and now she was next. "Uh, so, um...I am thankful for my sisters, all so different and that is what I love about us. My brothers-in-law, who I look at as brothers, are my family. My new brother CJ, glad you are here, we needed you. And for friends, for being patient with me."

Ronan sat there, not sure if he was supposed to jump in as well. All eyes were on him, so he finally stood up.

"This has been beautiful. Nice big family. Lots of good things being said. I know I don't know any of you, and what you have all been through, but I have to say, I have never felt so much love in one room. I am thankful to be in this presence. You have a lovely family and it's real love, I can tell. We don't all have that. So thanks for letting me be a part of this today."

Aw, he was sweet. He might be a keeper after all.

A/N: The Kelly sisters have been through a lot! Just sit back and think about all the things since book one, and even before that. They lost their mom young. Their father was never around.

And that's just all we know so far.