Time had passed, many months, Four exactly. Most things stayed the same, except that Weasel and his crime family ,for some reason were near off the map and not bothering anyone! It was almost thanksgiving, on top of it all, so tension was high and people were on the move, hoping no one would be planning any 'surprises visits' .
Jack and Viper were planning on going to family (and friends) thanksgiving down in Key West, Florida for family thanksgiving, Caroline was with them as well. They Finally got down after a two hour flight, and drove down to the oldest, yet still nice part of town, it had brick roads and houses that were maybe built in 1890.
" Was this your house when you were growing up?" She asked
" Yes, it was, it holds too many sad memories though." He sighed as she held his hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She sighed
"It's fine, honestly our house isn't much better,"
"What all has happened there?" Caroline asked in all curiosity
Jack's eye twitched in pain, knowing that he has had to kill many people there ,and that many times he has had punched holes in the walls from having bad PTSD episodes."Nothing I can tell you,." He sighed as he pulled into the driveway of a white house where an old woman was sitting on the porch working on sewing a quilt.
She got up and smiled and went to go hug her son, so happy he returned " Oh Jack-Jack! I've Missed you! you're so handsome!" She smiled as hugged him but then saw Caroline.
"Mom, I'm 38, not two." He sighed,
" Who's this little lady?" She smiled as she looked at her.
" I'm Caroline, Miss." She smiled,
"Jack, when did you get dumped with a kid?" His mother scolded, think that Caroline was his biological daughter.
"About five months ago, a social worker brought her to me, she's a friends kid who passed a bit ago." He explained quietly.
his mother slowed down completely, " Jim's kid? I thought y'all stopped talking year ago.." She whispered,
" We did..but I'm the only person she has left." he insisted
"Alright.." She sighed as she let them in
" Nancy? Where in hell is the damn cheese- Oh Hi Jack! and, Jack's Child?"An Older man Smiled
" Hi, Dad." Jack smiled " This is Caroline, She's a friends kiddo who's staying with me for the time being." He explained.
" Well, Hello, Caroline, I'm William." He smiled
" Hello!" She smiled
" Caroline, dear, would you like to help me make supper?" Nancy offered
"No thank you, miss." Caroline sighed
"But women are supposed to stay in the kitchen.-" Nancy said
"Mom! She can do what she pleases with her time." Jack sighed
"Jack. I am her elder, I can tell her what I please." She said sternly, causing Jack to back off.
" Alright, but she has her own will and she can choose what she does."
Nancy nodded reluctantly, as Jack winked at Caroline, " Jacky? Are Penny, Holly, and Penny's friend coming this year?" Nancy smiled excitedly, as her face lit up.
"Yes they are! now this year the twins weren't able to make it, is that okay?" He smiled
" Of course! I know they're so busy all the time!" She smiled
" Alright. Gray told me to tell you 'hi!'" Jack sighed before he remember that his mother wasn't the biggest fan of his youngest cousin.
" Tell the Fag, I said hi as well." She muttered.
" Mom. You can't say that, it's not okay." Jack cringed, knowing that Caroline heard her loud and clear.
" I can say what ever the hell I want!" She hissed
"Alright ,Mom, but I still don't want you talking like that in front of Caroline or Holly when she gets here." Jack sighed, liked any good dad.
" Alright dear." She sighed
" I'm sorry you had to hear her say that." He whispered
" It's okay." Caroline sighed, knowing she grew up where the slurs were thrown around oh so casually.
" Thanks kiddo." He whispered back as he ruffled her hair.
The sound of a car pulling in their driveway and stopping was heard throughout the small renovated kitchen, " That should be Penny and them-" Jack smiled as he went outside to greet them.
Robin was ecstatic to see her best friend and 'grandparents', granted they weren't her real grandparents but they were the closest thing she had.
The three ladies kicked their shoes off at the doorway, " are we supposed to do that?" Caroline whispered to Jack
" Yeah.."he muttered as he slipped his off as well.
" thanks."
"Now ,Holly? How has school been going?" Nancy Smiled
"Really good ,Nonnie!" Robin smiled
" And how about you Miss Caroline?"
" Really good, Mrs.Nancy." She smiles
" I glad to hear that for both of you!" Nancy smiled
" What grades are Y'all in?"
" I'm in my Junior year." Caroline lied
" I'm in my Senior year!" Robin smiled; as Jack's smile faded, knowing she would never get to graduate or see her senior prom.
" Are y'all going to prom this year?" Nancy asked
" Nah, I don't really know anyone at my school." Caroline sighed, she had been asked to prom but it was as a joke.
" Robin, how about you?" Nancy smiled
" I probably will since I didn't go last year." Robin sighed
" I glad to hear that!" Nancy grinned
Caroline wandered into the living room where a picture of Jack and a boy with strawberry blonde hair was sitting on a table. Caroline looked at it more, Jack seemed to only be 14 in the picture, and his brother was in military uniform. " That was my last picture of him here." Jack sighed
" I cant believe it's been almost 24 years since he was drafted.."
" Damn you're old..." She chuckled
" You think I'm old, you should meet my great grandmother, who is somehow still alive.." He chuckled, muttering the last part under his breath
" How old is she?" Caroline smiled
"102.She turns 103 next month." He sighed
"Damn..Is she coming to-"
" Absolutely not." Jack cringed " Mom, realized it was a bad idea last year: Ask Robin for more details, I'm sure she'll be willing to tell you."
Robin poked her head into the living room " I heard my name? "
" Yeah, explain to Caroline why Great Grandma Ethel doesn't come to Family Thanksgiving anymore."
" Because she cussed out Gray for being non binary and called them a freak of nature,because they were dating Art as well." She explained
" yeah that's not good." Caroline sighed
" That's also why Gray isn't coming this year." Jack sighed
" Oh Damn.." Caroline commented.
" Yeah! So,Uncle Jack, do you know what we're doing for dinner?" Robin asked
" I think we're going to get pizza..." He muttered as he stuck his head in the kitchen, " Hey Mom! What are we doing for dinner? " Jack asked
" I was thinking we go to Olive Garden... What were y'all thinking?" Nancy Shared
Somehow, everyone but Nancy was on the same page, " Pizza!" they all suggested at once.
" Alright then..that's what we'll do."
" Good deal." Viper sighed, as she looked at Jack who was having fun talking with Caroline and Robin.
" hey Jack what room am I in?" Viper asked quietly
" Third room to the right upstairs ." He muttered back as she took their suitcases back to their room and went to take a nap.
She woke up two hours later at ten, for dinner. " Babe, its ten, you need to get up..." Amelia sighed
Viper looked at her with an evil stare, " Is the food ready?"
" It has been for an hour." Amelia chuckled
Viper was up in a heartbeat and was making her way downstairs for pizza.
Caroline and Robin were talking with Nancy, hearing funny stories about things Jack used to do when he was their age.
" He did not!" Caroline giggle in shock, not knowing that Jack used to be a scoundrel.
" He did! At Church it got so bad once the pastor said ' Lord save us from the unholy demons known as the Kingston children...'" She laughed as her smile faded away, remembering all the good times she had when both her sons were around.
" Nancy?" William called out as Nancy gripped the hem of her dress.
" I'm fine, William, give me a second." She sniffled as she fought back tears, it was very clear that she never got over his death, even after 16 years.
" But yes, it is true me, my brother, and a few friends put a fake alligator in the baptism pool." Jack chuckled as he tried to distract himself from memories of grief.
Caroline finished her pizza and thanked the elders for it and went to the bathroom to wash her hands and changed into her sleep clothes.
She sighed when she looked at the grandfather clock in the living room, it was only seven.
" That clock is broken, it's 10." Jack sighed,
" Well its still right twice a day!"
" That's a good way to think about it ." Jack chuckled as he shook his head " You're a goofwad."
" I know!"She smiled
He smiled and sighed "So your room is second to the left upstairs and you have a room with Robin." He told her.
" that's great!" She smiled.
" Now go to bed, silly, it's late." Jack sighed as he went to change into something comfortable.
She nodded and went to their room, where Robin was already changed and in bed.
Caroline fell asleep almost as soon as she hit the bed, but woke up around three in the morning.
Caroline waddled downstairs as quietly as she could to get some water, She saw Jack was having a bad dream so she looked down and made sure he was okay.
He was talking in his sleep, "Momma, I don't want him to leave." He muttered as he gripped Caroline's hand and squeezed it, it was hard enough to pop the joints.
" Ow!" She squeaked.
He started to drift in and out of sleep
" Liney? The Hell are you doing?" he asked as he stretched.
" I was coming down to get water and you were talking in your sleep, I was makin' sure you're okay."
" Go back to bed dumbass."
" Alright, Dad." She sighed as she went back to her room, only to come out in the morning when she knew people were up.