Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) It's getting late have you seen my mates Ma tell me when the boys get here It's seven o'clock and I want to rock Want to get a belly full of beer My old man's drunker than a barrel full of monkeys And my old lady she don't care My sister looks cute in her braces and boots A handful of grease in her hair Don't give us none of your aggravation We had it with your discipline Saturday night's alright for fighting Get a little action in Get about as oiled as a diesel train Gonna set this dance alight `Cause Saturday night's the night I like Saturday night's alright alright alright

Get a little action in

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to witness the joining of this man and this woman. Cleo and Taylor have chosen this day to begin their lives together..." the deep voice intoned. I looked to my right and smiled at Taylor, he looked spectacular in his black cashmere coat. Snow had begun to fall softly, sticking in his hair and eyelashes. He smiled and I knew that this was so right. "If there is anyone who can show just cause why this man and this woman can't be married, speak now or forever hold your peace."

I turned to face the gathered masses of people we knew. I smiled at the familiar faces, expecting them to be smiling and happy, showering us with the love any bride and groom deserved. But there wasn't a smile to be found.

The first person to stand was Mrs. Teller, the leader of the anti-Cleo brigade from church. "I have an objection! There is no way that Hell cat is good enough for an angel like Taylor."

"Yeah!" Mrs. Maynes said leaping to her feet. "He was meant to marry Marci!"

"No, he always had an affinity for my daughter!" Another woman whose name I couldn't remember said as she leapt from her seat. Her horrid frumpy daughter sat next to her chewing on her fingernails. It was true this girl had always had a crush on Taylor and he had always been nice to her, but then again, he was usually nice.

Suddenly, there was a throng of girls standing and yelling. They were fans, the fan from Dallas who had pulled my hair, the girls with the signs that said bad things about me, the girls with the water balloon filled with a sticky blood like substance. They were all here and all screaming. Soon, the packets of birdseed we'd given to everyone so they would have something to throw as we walked back down the aisle Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Hanson were being chucked at me. And hard.

"Stop! Stop!" I yelled. "You're ruining my wedding! Tay, tell them to stop."

"I'm sorry," Taylor said shrugging. "But I guess we can't do this, everyone objects."

"Are you kidding?" I asked throwing my bouquet of two-dozen perfect red roses at him. "I have not been through this hell to have you back out!"

"Cleo, it can't be helped." He said shrugging as I was pelted with water balloons filled with bright red Karo syrup.

I sat straight up in bed, my sudden movement causing Taylor to sigh and roll over. This was the third night in a row I'd had this same nightmare. I didn't bother waking Taylor this time, since the last couple of times he'd just said I was silly and to quit worrying. No one and nothing would stop our wedding he assured me before he rolled over and fell promptly back to sleep. I sighed as I settled back next to Taylor, my fingertips moving softly over the plane of his shoulder blade. A rash of Goosebumps sprang up.

I sighed softly, feeling totally content despite the upsetting dream. These weeks following our trip to New York had been quiet and uneventful. Taylor and Isaac had fallen into an easy routine of only talking about non-inflammatory issues. Fame (and the nature thereof) had been completely abandoned as a topic of conversation. The work of finishing up all the loose ends regarding the wedding and the impending record release pretty much took up everyone's time and energy. Most days were so filled with work and craziness that by the time I finally fell into bed, I was exhausted. And I had made the startling discovery that I slept much, much better with Taylor lying next to me. Actually, it wasn't all that startling if I were completely honest. Having him here with me was just as I expected it would be: perfect.

That was the one good thing about Taylor and Isaac's feud, suddenly Diana and Walker didn't object to Taylor staying overnight at my apartment. Of course, this was allowed because Taylor and I both agreed that Taylor would sleep on the couch.

Partially this was allowed because Isaac's house was finished, but something had happened with the roof. During the first rainstorm after completion, part of the roof over the living room and master bedroom started to leak. This required a lot of repairs and new flooring in parts of the house. Thus causing everyone loads of stress and worry, since a minor army of Emory's relatives were supposed to be staying there. Luckily, the contractor had put the finishing touches on the house this very afternoon.

But that is all beside the point; Taylor and Ike were getting along, but there was still tension at the strangest times and over the most bizarre things. And most of these disagreements happened at night as they lay in their individual beds chatting. It usually boiled down to a screaming match and one of them sleeping on the couch in the family room.

As a result, I was able to watch Taylor as he slept. I was fascinated by the way his ribs would expand and contract with his breathing, the subtle muscles just under his skin flexing as he settled deeper into sleep. Each evening, I fell into bed next to him loving the way the mattress settled with his added weight. He snuffled lightly as he snuggled into his pillow. He was a wild sleeper, but the movement was just another reminder he was here with me. He turned back towards me, his face slack in sleep. I leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose.

"Stop," he mumbled. Probably somewhere deep in sleep he thought I was Zac bent on irritating him.

I smiled. The most amazing thing to me was that in the almost eight weeks since his birthday, I had gotten to know him better and love him more. We had been pretty close to inseparable since our return from New York. It was so strange the things I learned about someone I thought I knew completely while laying in bed. And really, I was shocked at the things he didn't know about me. I was now wide-awake, so I just gave in and climbed out of bed. I dug through the pile of clothing lying on the floor and found my robe. Another interesting thing is how much of a mess one person can create, but then again, I should have been expecting it. Taylor really was just a fabulous disaster.

I padded down the hall trying to be quiet so I didn't disturb Emory. The living room was piled with gift boxes and moving crates Emory had prepared for the move into her house. In fact, the plan was to move all of her incidentals over there in the morning since we'd managed most of the furniture the night before. For a while, Emory had been living some sort of half-life between Bixby and out apartment. This day was destined to be another in a series of crazy days. But, today was the last day my apartment would look like a bomb went off in it. And I was glad that was about to change, sort of. Anywhere Taylor lived would always have a touch of chaos. I sighed.

"It's a mess, isn't it?" Emory asked from where she sat on the windowsill. Emory's family was supposed to arrive on Saturday with the huge family barbeque on Sunday, but plans had changed. Emory's family was now arriving on Sunday, just a few short hours before the planned blow out.

"Oh man, you scared me!" I exclaimed my hand over my heart. I could see that she had a pot of tea resting on the table out on the fire escape. With the windows open wide, it was our own private balcony.

"So sorry," she said sipping from the teacup in her hand. "I just can't sleep. Apparently, you can't either."

"Why can't you sleep?" I asked settling on the windowsill next to her. From this vantage point, I could see the moon setting in the western sky and the subtle glow of the mostly full moon in the mighty, muddy Arkansas.

"I wonder?" She asked a laugh just below the surface. "I just can't wait till this is over."

"You make it sound like the flu." I said sighing. "Or a death sentence."

"It kind of is..." She said her giggle punctuating her words. "Right now, I have an acute case of wedding-itis. And once I'm over that, part of my life is essentially over."

"Wow that sounds just plain awful, deadly even," I said sighing.

"It's the worst, filled with doubts and second guessing." She said matching my sigh. "It would be horrible if I didn't know this was absolutely right."

"It is so right," I said quietly. "I don't think I've ever seen Ike so happy."

"I keep thinking that something's going to break soon." Emory said looking off towards the hill that stood just the other side of the Arkansas River. "Something's gotta give."

"Nine days and it will." I said gratefully accepting the cup of tea she'd prepared for me. Emory believed the only proper way to prepare tea was in a teapot with loose tea. Her tea service was beautiful and well used. She had poured me a cup of fragrant tea, adding two cubes of sugar and just a touch of cream. It felt so elegant and sophisticated. "Wow, only nine days. That's just crazy!"

"Tell me about it," she said shivering slightly as a breeze blew through the open window. "Why couldn't you sleep?"

"Basically the same reason," I said turning and putting my feet on the fire escape. The cool night air smelled faintly of dogwood. I could see the water tower standing atop the hill in Jenks. I had the sudden urge to wake Taylor so we could go and climb it to watch the sun rise. "So, you're finally getting nervous?"

"I think the fact my family is arriving today is what has finally made my poor heart flutter." She leaned her head back and watched the light clouds move slowly across the dark sky. "Once my Mum is here, it's really on."

"How will she react to the party tonight?" I asked.

"With shock and horror," Emory said her voice light. "Probably much the same way I reacted the first time I met their entire family. You're an only child, well sort of, doesn't it freak you out too?"

"No, cause I was always invited. In fact, I'm sure that there are more than just a few of their relatives who already think I'm a cousin." I said sighing. All my life, I had been invited to every Hanson family party, wedding, and barbeque. The size and breadth of their family wasn't really shocking to me anymore. But the first time Emory was exposed to the hordes was on Thanksgiving. I don't think she was rethinking her choice to marry Isaac, but I do think she was very shocked. Now her family was on their way to Tulsa from Dublin even as we spoke. "I hope everyone behaves."

"I'm sure they will," Emory murmured. "Cleo, why can't you sleep?"

"It's the strangest thing, but ever since I'd made the reservations in Utah for the wedding party, I've started having these very intense nightmares about everything going wrong." I answered wrapping the robe a little more tightly around me; mid-May was still fairly chilly at night.

"You had the nightmare again?" A voice asked from behind me. I turned to see Taylor standing in the hallway in nothing but boxers.

"Damn it Taylor! Make some noise when you come out of the room!" I scolded. I had jumped and spilled the remainder of the tea down my front. Emory being a much calmer individual hadn't even flinched.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Emory asked Taylor. He walked over to where we sat. His pale skin glowed in the soft moonlight.

"No thanks, I just came to find my errant love." He said reaching out and smoothing his hand over my hair. "The bed was so cold without you. Come to bed, we'll make happy dreams for you."

"Okay," I said reaching out and grabbing his offered hand. "Night Em."

"Sweet dreams," she called after us.

I fell back asleep quickly wrapped tightly in Taylor's arms. He whispered softly in my ear that everything would go smoothly, everything would work out, there was nothing in this world to fear. I sighed softly an almost silent agreement. Somewhere in the distance, I heard a train blast its whistle and a dog barking. The crickets seemed to echo Taylor's soft humming, beautiful music gently lulling me to the land of nod.

There was no gentle awakening; my day began with hysteria and madness. Zac leapt onto my bed landing across Taylor and me. So much for being eased awake. He arrived at my apartment with Walker's new enormous pick-up, after being coerced into service by Isaac. Apparently Isaac used the specter of his constant haranguing until the day of his wedding as ammunition. Nothing spurred Zac to action quite like the prospect of hearing whining and lots of it.

So, Taylor and I threw on some clothes and began the insanity of moving boxes into the back of said massive pickup and into the back of every available vehicle. Seriously, my apartment isn't very big, but somehow Emory had fit tons of stuff in it. By the time we arrived at Isaac and Emory's house in Bixby, the larger portion of the furniture had been moved in and was set up in an orderly fashion. We all worked hard and got tons done rather quickly. But all too soon, it was time for Isaac and Emory to go and pick up her parents at the airport. So, it was left to Taylor, Zac, Anne and I to try and put things in the correct place since the rest of the Hanson clan were over at the main house getting ready for the barbeque.

Of course, asking any member of the band Hanson to do any serious work that doesn't include musical instruments precipitates a lot of whining and a fair portion of complaining. Anne and I spent a lot of our time telling them to get up off the couch they had just moved or to stop laying their skanky bodies on top of the freshly made beds. We were moving so fast Anne and I were able to get most of the kitchen stuff stored. It really was amazing what we were able to do in that short hour.

We had the bedrooms set up with the beds made, boxes moved into the rooms the labels said they belonged in, the carpets vacuumed, dishes stacked neatly, pots and pans hung from their hooks, floor swept and mopped and order generally reigned. Basically all Emory and Ike had left to do was to hang the artwork on the walls. It's amazing what we were able to do in a short time. I was grateful Emory had walked me through the house just the week before and told me where she wanted almost everything. When Emory called to tell me that she was at the grocery store picking up essentials, the house looked pretty good.

Finally, all that was left was the final touches and Emory and Isaac would have to do that. I sent everyone off to the main house so they could clean up for the party while I did the last of the last minute touch ups. I was wiping off the kitchen counters when they walked through the door. The introductions were quick and fairly perfunctory since her family was pretty much focused on taking showers. I smiled and nodded at all of them. They all smiled and were just as gracious as Emory with accents so thick you could cut them with a knife.

Still, there was one who didn't seem to like me much, Eve Mahan. She was sending looks replete with daggers towards me the entire time. It started the moment Emory introduced me as the Maid of Honor. I had the distinct feeling that was a position she thought she deserved.

Soon, Isaac and Emory had those who were staying in this house settled in. I was stowing away the groceries when I heard Isaac and Emory coming down the stairs. "Isaac, you do have to say something to my family sometime," Emory said softly. "They aren't scary at all."

"I know," he said shrugging. He leaned up against the counter. He looked up at her sideways. His eye squinting at her in intensity, I knew that look. I knew that he was nervous. "It's just so important that they like me."

"Isaac, they love you because I love you." Emory said stepping right in front of him. She gently placed her hand on his cheek. He turned and kissed her palm.

"But you heard what your dad said," Isaac said wrapping his arms around her. He pulled her in close and snuffled into her curly red hair. In that moment, I saw what I'd never seen before between Isaac and Emory: deep, true love. I watched as his eyes slid closed, a sigh of true contentment escaping him. I could see in this moment that they had what Taylor and I did. I guess I never really believed that Isaac would fall for anyone besides me. And yet, here he stood in front of me, totally in love with someone else. "He sounded so serious."

"I did hear." She said. I watched as her arms snaked around his waist. She was just the right height for him. In her bare feet, she came to just below his chin. She leaned forward, her head resting in the crook of his neck.

"He doesn't seem to think that we know each other well enough." Isaac said his hands smoothing over her back.

"Isaac, I don't think I could know you any better." Emory said softly. "I may not know when you got your first bike or how old you were when you had your first kiss or what the first thing you hit with your car is…"

"I had a used green BMX. I got it from Thad when he got an even better one." Isaac said softly. "I was 13 when I first kissed a girl, Emily Wells. She was blonde, perky and very naughty. And I think the first thing I ever hit was Cleo's mailbox."

"Hmm…" Emory hummed softly. "But, I do know the important things, like where we were when I first realized I loved you. The way the sun looked the first time you said you loved me. The way the wind smelled the first night we spent together."

"All very important firsts," he whispered. They just stood there holding each other as I poured the flour, sugar, rice into the fantastic vintage canisters we had picked up last week at an antique shop.

"Hey," Emory said quietly. "Isn't Emily Wells invited to the wedding?"

"Yes," Isaac said tipping her head back so they were basically nose-to-nose. "But I never really liked her. She just had a tight little body and the most amazing lips." Emory let out a squeak of disgust. "Stop... You have nothing to be jealous of. She was truly sleazy and extremely vapid. Anyway, she is married and has three very cute, very blonde boys."

"Another Hanson?" Emory asked her fingers tracing over Isaac's eyebrows.

"Well, considering her last name is Turnblatt, probably not." He said smiling. Suddenly, I felt really uncomfortable. It occurred to me that this was the sort of soft, whispered conversation Taylor and I would have in bed.

"But you wrote Wells on the list…" Emory said confusion in her voice.

"I know, but I'm sure that Cleo got the correct name on the invitation." Isaac said laughing. "She knows Emily very well. She was obsessed with Thad… I think Thad lost his virginity to her."

"Interesting," Emory said quietly. "You know, my dad likes you a lot. He just worries that I'm being wooed by your fabulous lifestyle."

"My lifestyle is only fabulous with you around," he whispered. "I love you baby."

"I love you too." She sighed. "Even if you're all funky… Ike you really need to shower."

"So do you," he said. He grabbed her hand, kissing it softly before he started towards the back door. "Okay, I'm gonna head up to my parents house to clean up. See you soon?"

"Very, very soon." She said kissing him quickly. "I will miss you."

"Miss you more," he said as the door closed behind him.

She stood at the door watching Isaac walking up the driveway. "You know, I love him more than I ever thought it possible to love anyone. Know what I mean?"

"Actually, I think I do." I said putting the final can of soup in the cupboard.

"Of course you do," Emory said smiling as she sank down onto one of the stools in front of the bar. "You and Taylor are so in love with one another and you show it so easily. Isaac and I have talked about how free you are around others… Maybe one day, Isaac and I will be like that too."

"Perhaps," I said shrugging. "But everyone loves in their own way. Tay and I are more physical."

"True that. So, how do you like my family?" Emory asked as I stowed the cases of Guinness under the bar.

"They're very nice." I said standing back up. I was tired, really, really tired. But I didn't want her to feel bad thinking she was the reason, so I stifled my yawn. "Or seemed so."

"Eve didn't seem to take a liking to you though." Emory said shaking her head. In the short time she had been with her family her accent had somehow gotten a little bit thicker. "She's a little bitter."

"Why?" I asked stretching. Emory winced as the bones in my back cracked back into place.

"Well, as my oldest friend, I guess she thinks she should be the Maid of Honor," Emory said shrugging as she opened the cupboards to check out where everything was exactly.

"Well, she can be Maid of Honor if you want," I said shrugging. Honestly, at this point I almost wished she would be. We were pretty close to the same size; it would take minimal alterations for the buttery soft satin dress to fit Eve.

"No, she's just being ridiculous." Emory said shrugging. We continued to stow away the groceries in silence. That was one of my favorite things about Emory, she was articulate and fun to talk to, but she didn't ever talk just to hear her own voice. "Anyway, she would look wretched in that shade of yellow. And she is Irish, it would take more than nine days for her to get a tan." Emory said laughing. Suddenly, her face sobered completely and she took on a distinctly green tinge. "Wow, it's so close."

"Are you starting to second guess yourself?" I asked leaning against the counter. I was definitely stinky and in dire need of a shower. But I didn't want to abandon Emory mid-conversation.

"No," she said smiling. She grabbed the bags remaining on the counter and set them on the floor in front of her empty, enormous glass front Sub-Zero refrigerator. "You were so right last night, this is right... In fact, this is perfect. Almost too much so."

"It is, but never too much so. There is no such thing as too perfect." I said smiling back. "So, are you going to be staying here now?"

"No, my parents are in mine and Ike's room." She answered as she loaded her brand new fridge with all of the essentials. "I'm gonna stay at our apartment until we get back from our honeymoon." I stepped over and started handing her vegetables and fruit to put in the crisper. She looked up at me as I handed her some lettuce. "My Lord, you're filthy!"

"Well, I've been working hard." I said shrugging. "Perhaps that is why none of your family would get close to me."

"I somehow doubt that, anyway you need to go and get cleaned up," she said leading me towards the backdoor. "I can finish here and the party starts soon."

"Okay, I'm going, but you call up to the house if you need anything..." I started, but just then, the speaker next to the back door crackled to life.

"Hey! Is Cleo still down there?" A tinny sounding Zac basically screamed through the speaker.

"Yes, I am," I said pressing the button that connected them to the main house.

"I was told to page you for my mom," Zac said.

"Why are you paging me instead of Taylor?"

"Cause I was the one closest to my mom when she decided she needed you immediately." Zac said laughing. "I love this intercom, it's like an extension of the umbilical cord."

"You didn't think that Ike could make that complete a break did you?" I said dryly. "Everyone says Tay is the Momma's boy, but have you ever checked out Ike's cell phone bill?"

"Too true," Zac said laughing. "Anyway, my mom needs you."

"Okay, I'm on my way," I mumbled back. There went my plans for a shower. I turned to Emory and sighed sending her into peals of laughter. She hugged me despite my serious state of filthiness. "See you in a few."

"Go and take a shower before you help," Emory said as I walked to where my car was parked.

"You aren't upset about what we said about Ike are you?" I asked.

"Heavens no! He is a momma's boy, But I like the idea of that," She said grinning.

"Good, cause you are definitely within mothering distance here," I said leaning against my car.

"I know and that's fine." Emory replied stretching. "You know, there are so many cars parked up at the house maybe you should just leave yours."

"Okay," I said. The walk wasn't long, but it was dusty road and surprisingly hot for mid-May. The heat must have been what made the half-mile between the two homes feel much, much longer. I was tired to begin with, then all of the hard work made it worse. Still, everything was going pretty good, much better than I ever could have hoped. Taylor and Isaac had spent the morning working side by side. They had not only gotten along, but they had fallen back into familiar, comfortable patterns. They were themselves and normal.

I turned the corner at the bottom of the driveway and looked up at the house standing in front of me. Emory was right the driveway was totally full. There wasn't one more spot to park. I wandered in and out of the cars with the many different license plates, ranging from Kansas to Texas, Oklahoma to Louisiana. I stopped astounded to see cars from New Jersey and North Carolina. Isaac getting married was a really big deal.

"Mom!" I heard Mac yell as I started up the front steps. "Cleo is finally here!"

"Thank heavens," she called from up in the kitchen. "Cleo, I've been beside myself without you! I can't believe how insane this party is."

"What can I do for you?" I asked amazed at the quantity of food piled on the various counters.

"Well, the food has to be kept separate. The kosher food can't be served with the non-kosher food..." Diana began as she handed me an enormous tray filled with cut vegetables. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Rabbi who does house calls? Well, let me tell you it's very, very difficult!" Diana said at top speed as she grabbed her own tray loaded with cut fruit. She ushered me out the door in front of her. There on the back lawn and surrounding the swimming pool was every person Isaac had ever met. "This is really turning into a much more stressful event than I had thought it would be." She said setting down her tray before taking mine and settling it next to it. She then grabbed my hand and pulled me back towards the house for what I supposed was more food. "And really, I want to make such a good impression on the Blonsteins. You met them, right? Oh dear, how were they? Did they seem nice? Of course, they had just flown in from Ireland, so they were probably a little shell shocked and more than a little tired…" She stopped short, as she was about to pile more food in my arms. "Oh no, maybe I should have scheduled this party another day, given them more time to acclimate… It's just that the wedding is so soon and there is something happening everyday… It's going to be too much. I just know it." She continued as she again led me out to the tables of food. "Do you think it's too soon?" I opened my mouth to answer. "The thing is that there was no other day I could have done this… I'm just worried that it is all too soon. I hope everyone behaves," she set her enormous bowl of salad down before taking the tray of condiments and dressings from me. "I would hate for this party to leave them with an impression that our friends and family are the quintessential "ugly Americans." But really, we aren't." She sighed as she stepped back into the house again. "Cleo, you're very quiet."

"Well, I wasn't sure I was needed for this conversation." I said smiling.

"Oh poor baby, I'm so sorry. I think Walker disappeared because he was sick to death of listening to me." She stopped and looked at me. "You are filthy."

"I know, I moved Emory into her house." I said swiping my hand over my face. I cringed at the grit I felt there. "I am in serious need of a shower."

"Okay, you go up and send the boys down to help." She said as we stepped back into the house. "Taylor and Zachary have taken more than enough time to make themselves beautiful."

"Okay," I said starting up the steps. I don't think I ever realized how many steps there were up the garret room before this grimy, stinky trek up the stairs. I pushed their door open to find Taylor and Zac sitting at their desks each lost in whatever site they were surfing. "Hey, your mom wants you downstairs to help."

"She does?" Taylor asked looking up at me.

"Yes, I'm supposed to shower and you're supposed to go and help her get stuff outside." I said stretching.

"Dude, I can smell you from there!" Zac said plugging his nose. "I hope you brought a change of clothes."

"No, I didn't." I said sighing. "Tay can I wear some of your clothes?"

"Of course baby, do you need boxers too?" He asked moving slowly over to the closet. He had on a pair of perfectly broken in Levis with a gorgeous white cotton shirt on over a white t-shirt.

"Yeah, I could use some clean underwear." I said standing and walking over to their shared bathroom. "But I'm pretty sure I don't have a bra here."

"What about one of my mom's?" Taylor asked as he rifled through his clothes.

"You're kidding right?" I said kicking off my shoes.

"No, why?" He asked shrugging.

"Taylor you are so clueless," I said shaking my head as I stepped into the bathroom. As I pulled off my clothes, I heard Diana scream up the stairs for her sons to get down to help. I turned on the shower and stepped in. The warm water felt like heaven. I tipped my head back and felt the grime running off me. Showering may just be my favorite thing ever.

"Here," Taylor said as he came in the door. He set a pile of clothes on the sink. "I'll just leave these here for you."

"Thanks baby," I said smirking at him. I ran my hands down my body knowing he was watching me.

"Damn, you are such a tease." He said shutting the door behind him. It's true, I had just done that for dramatic effect, but I loved that I had that effect on him. My sweet sexy boy.

It had already been a crazy busy morning, but I was so happy. Everything had been so close to perfect. Things were moving on a very even keel. Isaac and Taylor had been talking and joking, even breaking into one of their favorite joke songs. Zac and I kept catching each other's eye and smiling. We had managed to get beyond the ugliness, all of us. I was rinsing the conditioner out of my hair when the bathroom door opened. "Tay, aren't you supposed to be help…" I leaned my head up and saw Zac standing at the toilet. Really, this wouldn't bug me so badly if their shower wasn't a completely glass cube. "ZAC! Naked!!"

"Cleo, peeing." He said not turning his head towards me at all. His voice sounded strained and forced. I watched as he rubbed his hand over his face. He sniffed loudly before swiping at his cheeks.

"Are you okay?" I asked as he turned to the sinks and washed his hands.

"Yeah," he answered. "I was just checking my email."

"As long as you're okay," I said snapping off the water and grabbing the towel.

"I am," he said smiling at me. His eyes were definitely red rimmed. "Sometimes shitty things just happen."

"What's up?" I asked as he grabbed the door.

"Nothing…" he said shrugging. "We'll talk about it after the party."

"Okay," I said staring at the door long after he shut it. Something was up and I wanted to know what. I pulled on a pair of Taylor's boxer/briefs, finding a bikini top underneath it. Well, it wasn't a bra, but it was clean and somewhat supportive. Then, there was a wifebeater. It was tight, so it added another level of support. I pulled on the jeans he'd left out for me. I had a sneaking suspicion that they were Isaac's cause they were pretty roomy in the butt and thighs, but they fit pretty well. I threaded the belt through the loops and then picked up the deep red shirt. It was a lovely silk shirt, one he'd bought when he was in New York City last. I put it up to my nose and breathed deeply. Pure essence of boy.

The final effect wasn't completely objectionable. I didn't look great, but I have looked a lot worse. I rummaged through the drawers in the bathroom amazed at the detritus that sloughs off from boys. Finally settled among the Chapstick, disposable razors, spools of dental floss, nail clippers, Neosporin, surgical tape, etc. Finally, I found what I was looking for: a rubber band for my hair. I pulled a comb through my hair and wove a quick braid before heading outside. I bounced down the stairs into the kitchen, happy to see that almost all of the food had made it's way outside. I stopped and grabbed a couple of carrots before joining the masses.

Before I even got to Taylor, my feeling of well-being was evaporating. All wasn't well in Hansonland. Isaac was standing at the food table with a beer in his hand, his back pointedly turned towards Taylor. It was next to impossible to put my finger on exactly what it was that indicated things weren't right, but… Let's just say I've put in enough time with my boys to know that there was something just left of center. "What's up?" I asked as I walked up to Taylor.

"Nothing," he said hugging me quickly.

"Are you sure?" I asked breathing in his scent. He already smelled slightly of beer. "Have you been drinking?"

"I've had one beer," he said shrugging. "Ike is on his fourth."

"Are you serious?" I asked looking over to where Isaac stood chatting with Emory's cousin Declan, a Guinness in his hand. "That is not just your regular 3.2 beer."

"No, it's not," Taylor said smoothing his hands over my hair. "When I came down, he was sitting in the kitchen clutching a beer and telling mom something about how he feels so inadequate to the enormous task of making Emory happy."

"He makes her happy," I said reaching down into the cooler and pulling out a Dr. Pepper.

"Yeah, but he said that all of this is really making him feel insecure." Taylor said as I loaded a plate with finger food.

"Dang, that mean he's going to be in a bad mood till after he gets married," I said through a mouthful of carrots.

"You know it," Taylor said stealing a couple shrimp off my plate. "You look good in red."

"Thanks, I can't wait till this shirt lives with me." I said laughing.

"Hello Cleo," I heard from behind me. "How are you?"

"Grandma Bea!" I said handing my plate to Taylor before hugging her. "I am so glad to see you."

"You look beautiful. I would say radiant even." She said patting my cheek. "But honey, where are your shoes?"

"I left them upstairs in the bathroom," I said shrugging.

"Well, you know how these parties can get, maybe you should go and get them." She said. "I'd hate to see Zac chase you into the woods barefoot."

"If the truth be told, I have the uneasy feeling that I may end up in the pool," I whispered into her ear. "It's so clean and clear, I'm sure Zac has the idea of muddying it up with me."

"Oh, you are a pip!" Grandma Bea said taking my hand in hers. "I always knew that one day you'd be my granddaughter. Your wedding can't come soon enough!"

"Just seven more months," Taylor said slinging his arm around my waist and pulling me in tight. "Then she will be the newest Mrs. Hanson."

"That is if I take your last name..." I said teasing.

"You have to baby, you're a Hanson already." Grandma Bea said grabbing my hand. "Oh, Aimee!! I want to see your baby. Tay, my angel, I'm going to go and see Aimee's new baby."

"Okay Gran," Taylor said kissing her cheek.

"Man, I love that woman." I said as we wended our way through the quickly thickening crowd of people we knew.

"Be careful, you never know what's going to happen at one of these parties..." Taylor growled as he tickled me.

"Nothing is going to happen or else," I said pushing at him. He stumbled a little and accidentally bumped into Isaac.

"Yeah, Cleo, you know how these parties can get," Isaac said a really strange look on his face. Isaac has never been a very graceful drunk, probably one of the main reasons why he doesn't do it very often. "Things could get crazy."

"Okay, Ike," I said wondering what he meant exactly. "I'll watch out for the crazy."

"Come on," Taylor said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me over by the pool house.

"What's up?" I asked looking at him suspiciously.

"Nothing, let's just hang over here. Don't look at me like that, it makes me feel like I'm being naughty." Taylor said pulling me down next to him on a lounge chair. "I'm tired, let's just have a quiet afternoon."

"Tay, what is going on?" I said as I settled into his arms.

"Well, it's Ike's day," Taylor said quietly. "I just want him to have all of the attention."

"Did he say something?" I asked sitting back up.

"No, not really," he sighed heavily.

"What did he say?" I asked again.

"Nothing really, just hints of what happened in New York," Taylor said softly. "Let me just put it this way: I think it's better to keep a low profile."

"Oh okay," I said sighing. "Things have been going so well; it's probably best not to mess with it."

"Mmhmm..." Taylor sighed wrapping his arms tightly around me. "I like it better just the two of us anyway."

"So do I." I said softly. I closed my eyes leaning my head against his shoulder letting the late spring warm me almost to sleeping. I'm not sure how long we'd been relaxing there, but it didn't feel long enough. I felt a shadow fall across my face.

"What do you think you're doing?" Isaac asked tightly.

"We're just sitting over here, chilling." Taylor said trying very hard to sound completely nonchalant.

"Whatever," Isaac mumbled. "You know that everyone is over there asking what's wrong and why aren't you socializing."

“Really?” Taylor said shading his eyes as he looked up at Isaac.

“Oh yeah,” Isaac said swinging his arm behind him and almost toppling backwards. “I’ve had no less than 15 people ask me what’s wrong with you.”

"Cleo and I are tired, we just wanted time alone," Taylor said pushing on my shoulder. I stood up, followed closely by Taylor.

"No, you just knew that today was finally a day for the attention to be all on me and you couldn't take it so you are over here pouting." Ike said stepping closer. I could smell the odor of beer coming off of Isaac in waves.

"Isaac, we were just over here chilling, we worked hard this morning and we just want to relax." Taylor said slowly.

"We all worked hard," Isaac said stepping closer to Taylor. "You are just so jealous cause for once all of the focus is on me."

"Whatever," Taylor said taking a step back and leaning over to pick up his drink off the ground. "It's all good. I'm happy for you. I'm glad that we can have this party for you."

"You are? Then why are you hiding over here?" Isaac asked.

"To be perfectly honest, so that something like this wouldn't happen." Taylor said shrugging. "I didn't want you accusing me of trying to horn in on your attention."

"You are such a calculating prick," Isaac said not allowing Taylor to shrug off anything. I could tell he wanted to fight. I looked around hoping I could see Emory. She would definitely be able to calm Isaac, but she was caught up in a conversation with Grandma Bea.

"Come on, you don't want to do this here," Taylor said under his breath. "This is not the time or the place for this shit."

"I don't think you get to name the time or the place," Isaac said sneering. "I am the one who gets to end this, not you."

"Ike," I said quietly, "can't we all just calm down?"

"Shut up," Isaac snapped at me. "You need to just stay out of this."

"Fine," I said putting my hands up. "But really, of all the people here, I think I would be the one who understands what you are going through."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Isaac demanded. His voice was still relatively low, but not low enough. I noticed Walker watching us carefully from over by the barbeque.

"It's just I spent my life in the shadow of not just Thad, but of all of you..." I started trying to sound calm and reasonable.

"You know nothing," Ike said sneering at me. "You really are just a hooker going to the highest bidder. Of course, who knew your price was a couple of mini-bottles in a cheesy two-bit hotel."

"Take that back," Taylor said in very careful modulated tones. "This is between you and I, don't drag Cleo into it."

"Whatever," Isaac replied, his voice dropping. "The only reason why she's marrying you is because you got there first. Isn't that right?"

"Stop, now." Taylor said drawing himself up to his full height. Suddenly the gravity of the situation struck me, hard. I looked around madly trying to find Zac. He was standing on the sport court chatting with Wade. I motioned for him to come over and join us. He said something to Wade who laughed and started over towards us.

"Well, sometimes the truth hur…" before Isaac could finish that sentence, Taylor's hand shot out and pushed Isaac hard. "You ass!"

"Ike stop now!" Taylor said louder. When Zac saw physical contact, his speed picked up.

"Fuck you!" Isaac yelled back.

"Hey, what's going on here?" Zac asked. He had jogged over, but he slowed to a gentle stroll when he got to where we stood.

"Zac, stay out of this." Isaac warned.

"Seriously, you guys need to chill out." Zac said quietly, smilingly. He seemed to be all sorts of affable, but in all honesty, he was deadly serious.

"I'm going inside," Taylor mumbled grabbing my hand. "I'm not feeling very well."

Taylor and I got about five steps away from them when suddenly I was knocked on the back with something hard and was very, very wet. "Ouch! What was that?"

"God damnit!" Taylor said whipping around. "You threw a beer at Cleo?"

"No, I threw it at you, she's just collateral damage." Isaac said.

Taylor walked towards Isaac fists balled at his side. "You need to stop!" Taylor said through clenched teeth before giving Isaac a mighty shove. Isaac staggered back several steps. When he recovered his balance, he took his fist and slammed it into Taylor's chest as hard as he could, Taylor doubled over trying desperately to catch his breath. Before he could recover, Isaac raised his fist to hit Taylor again.

"Ike stop," Zac said getting between Isaac and Taylor just in time for Isaac's fist to connect solidly with Zac's lip. "Fuck!"

"What is going on here?" Walker demanded.

"I'm not sure," Taylor gasped out.

"You are an ass." Zac said as he spit blood out on the ground.

"What in God’s name is wrong with you?" Walker said grabbing Isaac and Taylor by their arms. "We’re going inside, you too Zac."

I followed them closely not very happy that Taylor's lovely new red silk shirt was ruined. As I wended my way across the lawn, I noticed Emory hurrying towards me. "What's going on?"

"Tay and Ike got into another fight." I answered shrugging.

"You're all wet." Emory said putting her hand on my back.

"That happens when you get hit by a beer bottle." I said sighing. We walked into the family room to a scene I couldn't believe I was seeing again after all these years; Walker had all three of his sons sitting on bar stools and was lecturing them.

"I don't know what your problem is but I want it figured out, NOW." Walker said slamming his fist down on the table. All three of them jumped. Walker was truly angry and that was something we spent our lives trying to avoid. "This is just totally unacceptable behavior. And really, I don't care how old you are or that you have careers, I swear to you, I will put you over my knee…"

"Dad, I didn't do anything," Zac began wiping the blood off of his chin. "I was trying to prevent this from happening."

"Is that true?" Walker demanded.

"Yes," Taylor mumbled wincing as he shifted.

“Then why is it that Zac is bleeding?” Walker asked.

"It's between Ike and I." Taylor said softly. “He just got in the way.”

"Fine, then I want you two to finish this. Now." Walker said pointing at Taylor and Isaac. "I don't know what this is about or what started it, but this is ridiculous. You complain that you are still treated like children, but do you see the way you are acting?"

"Sorry," Isaac mumbled. He was flexing his hand; I could see where his knuckles were split from slugging Zac.

"Well, sorry doesn't cut it." Walker said shaking his head. "I'm going out to cook the food and to entertain your two hundred guests. I suggest that you fix this now." Walker stalked from the room, slamming the sliding glass door closed behind him. The door was pulled open quickly, Walker stuck his head back in. “And Zac, I don’t ever want to hear you use that sort of language again… Is that clear?”

“Ye…yes sir.” Zac said softly, as the sliding glass door slammed closed again.

The silence following Walker's retreat was complete and overwhelming. The only sounds in the room were the subtle sounds of the party outside, the steady drip of the tap in the kitchen, the soft chiming of Diana's clock in her office. I watched Isaac, Taylor and Zac. They all three were very interested in their hands, their feet, a painting hanging over the stairs anything but each other. After a few moments, Taylor's eyes lifted and met mine. I tried to smile, but I just couldn't force my lips to move. He looked defeated; finally in all of the hate and ugliness Isaac had won./font>

Zac winced as he opened his mouth to speak. "Ouch."

I walked around the bar and got a paper towel and filled it with ice. "Here, put this on your lip." I said handing him the ice. "Really, that lip is big enough without added swelling."

"Thanks," Zac said wincing.

"Ike, I'm sorry," Taylor began his voice thick with emotion. I put my hands on his shoulders and began to knead softly, feeling the stiff knots just below the surface of the skin. "I'm so, so sorry for everything. Anything really."

"Shut up," Isaac sneered.

"I'm serious, I am so sorry for anything I've ever done." Taylor's voice wavered as if he was about to cry, but he somehow kept it together. I snaked my arm around his waist and leaned my head against the back of his shoulder. "I don't know..."

"No, you don't know," Isaac snapped. "God, you are such a smarmy bastard always sucking up... Even to me! You make me want to puke."

"Isaac, be nice." Emory said sharply.

"I'm not," Taylor said shaking his head. "I don't do this on purpose. I'm not even sure what I've done."

"Tay, you aren't this dumb," Isaac said crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not sure when you started believing your own press, but it's really disgusting."

“I don’t believe the press anymore than you do,” Taylor said shrugging.

“Oh please!” Isaac said throwing his hands up in frustration. “You are so fake and condescending.”

“What?” Taylor demanded.

“It’s no secret that you think you’re the only one with a worthwhile opinion.” Isaac said crossing his arms over his chest.

"You know what?" Taylor asked. I could physically feel him tighten up. This was not going the way Walker envisioned. Actually, I don't think he cared if his sons killed each other, as long as they didn't do it in front of the entire family. "I'm not sorry. I just thought if maybe I said the words it would make everything better, but I didn't mean it, not a word."

"You're such an asshole." Isaac said standing up.

"Whatever," Taylor said rolling his eyes.

"Oh, nice comeback," Isaac said laughing at him. "You must have stayed up nights thinking of it."

"No, Ike, I didn't." Taylor said turning toward me. "I wouldn't waste any of my good comebacks on your drunk ass."

"Come on guys, calm down." Zac said sighing. "Dad said to figure it out..."

"Zac when did you become such a kiss ass?" Isaac asked swaying dangerously.

"What?" Zac asked.

"You heard me, you're turning into Taylor." Isaac said Taylor's name as if it tasted bad.

"You know what?" Zac began shaking his head. He stood and walked towards the stairs. He was headed upstairs. "I'm done with this. All of this has gotten so out of control. And Cleo was right, we are the worlds most self involved little Hitler's..."

"Napoleons," I said knowing exactly what he was referring to. "I called you self important little Napoleons."

"Whatever," Zac said shrugging. "The important part of this analogy is that she was right… Somewhere, somehow, we have started to believe the hype."

"So not true, the only one who believes it is Taylor..." Isaac spat.

"My God Isaac, would you just listen to yourself for one minute!" Zac yelled. "You are so selfish and so concerned about yourself that you can't for one moment see that all of this is just something you've made up! Taylor does not now, nor has he ever tried to get all of the attention. I'm not sure what is going on, but really, it's ridiculous."

"It's true," Taylor mumbled. "I would rather the attention be on all of us."

"That is all fine for you to say, but you aren't the one on the outside." Isaac said a note of frustration in his voice. "You aren't the one the photographer tells to move a little to the left and back to get out of your light."

“Tay, maybe you need to be more aware of what is going on during interviews and photo shoots.” Zac said shaking his head. This was all too much for me and apparently for Zac too. “It just often does seem to be focused on you.”

“That isn't fair," Taylor answered moving away. “I have no control over that.”

"It’s true.” Zac said shrugging. "Ike, I’m like you, I am on the outside. I'm not Taylor, nor am I you. The photographer's do want Tay in the middle all the time, but who cares... Think about how I feel that you and Tay are always being asked the questions about the music. What? Am I an idiot? Do I not contribute to this band?"

"Then you need to say more," Isaac said.

"Oh, okay, that works," Zac said sinking down on the step. "It's not as if I can get either of you to shut up. And really, I don't care. You can get all the respect as a musician and Taylor can be the most photographed face in the band... I don't care."

Taylor sighed. "You have to know that isn't me. Hell, either one of you can be front and center! I'm tallest, I'll move to the back."

"It's not that simple." Isaac said shaking his head.

"Then what is it?" Taylor asked, practically begging. "Tell me and I'll fix it."

"I don't know," Isaac answered his voice cracking. His eyes shining with unshed tears. "I just don't know… I feel like I work so hard and no one ever notices. I don't know how to make you understand how important this is to me. I love this… I love what we do."

"So do I," Taylor interjected.

"But, the thing is that I need this." Isaac said his voice hitching in his chest. "Music is my entire life. It is what defines me and makes me who I am… I am a musician. I'm not some cast off supermodel who would be brilliant at anything he tried. Do you know how hard it is to watch you?"

"Watch me do what?" Taylor asked.

“Jesus, everything!” Isaac said frustration in his voice. “You watch John Popper play the harmonica and decide that you can do that. And I’ll be damned if you aren’t really good at it. You decide that you want to write a song on the guitar and suddenly you’re better than me.”

“I am not!” Taylor protested.

“Maybe not better, but just as good.” Isaac said quietly. “I practice and practice and yet, you come in and are as good as me in a few short weeks.”

“That is not right.” Taylor said shaking his head. “You are so much better than I will ever be. I practice, but I don’t have the commitment or the abilities that you have! You have an amazingly light touch. I’m just a hack. I know enough chords to write a song. You can add the amazing nuance that make a song great.”

“But no one sees that.” Isaac said frustrated. “It’s like your looks set you apart, make you better somehow.”

“That isn’t my fault.” Taylor said again. “I honestly don’t see it. I look in the mirror and all I see is lips and eyes and a nose covered with freckles and a bunch of scars. I think I’m the farthest thing from good looking.”

“I hate that,” Isaac said rolling his eyes. “You’re just like the prom queen who knows she gorgeous complaining cause she has a tiny zit.”

"But seriously, what do you want me to do?" Taylor said sighing again.

“I have no clue,” Isaac said quietly. “Maybe we could come up with sort of plan of attack.”

“Maybe we could do more solo interviews and that sort of thing.” Taylor suggested.

“Yeah, maybe that would work…” Isaac said shrugging. “Get both Zac and I more press time.”

"My God, do you hear yourself?" Zac asked exasperated. I couldn't figure out why he was attacking when it felt like Taylor and Isaac were finally talking to each other, finally hearing each other. "Do you hear yourself? Do you even have a clue what it's like to REALLY suffer?"

"What?" Isaac asked totally thrown by Zac's attack.

"Oh, yeah, you're an expert at suffering now..." Taylor said rolling his eyes. I watched as Taylor and Isaac moved closer to one another almost as if Zac's attack was uniting them.

"No, I would NEVER claim to be any sort of expert in anything. I leave that to you." Zac said turning away from them. He was about halfway up the stair when he stopped and turned. "Do either of you remember Mindy?"

"Mindy?" Taylor and Isaac asked in unison.

"God, you are both so self-involved." Zac said disgusted. "You know, the girl we met in Dallas? The girl with leukemia?"

"Oh, yeah... haven't you stayed in touch with her?" Taylor asked.

"I did, I emailed her almost every day." Zac said a peculiar shine to his eyes. "Now, she knew about suffering. She knew about how unfair life can be…"

"Knew?" I asked stepping away from Taylor. I could see Zac fighting for control of his emotions. I knew he had been crying when I was in the shower.

"Yeah," he answered his chin quivering. "Her mom emailed me today. I hadn't heard from her for a couple of days, I was getting worried. She… she died last night..."

"Oh man," I said enveloping him in a hug. "I am so sorry."

"She had been doing so good." Zac said his shoulders shaking. He cried quietly into my shoulder for a minute. "The thing is that I promised her that we would sing at her funeral…"

"Oh man, of course." Isaac said immediately. "When is her funeral?"

"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow for her funeral..." Zac answered as he sat down on the step. "I was gonna ask you to come with me to sing but after today's performance, I don't want to be in a car with you for 5 minutes let alone 4 hours."

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