Family Dinner(Everyone Related)

[Samantha Montgomery]

(People who should show up are as followed: Montgomeries and Riley, Andrea, and Jarred, there just wasn't enough room to put down all the names. Also Anyone else who might realistically be invited)

Samantha's family was in pieces. Confusion, betrayal, and pain ran amok.

Her father was both overjoyed over the discovery of his prodigal son and torn to pieces that he had been denied his rightful parenting.

Christine was running the family ragged with first her long solitary confinement and brooding, and now the aura of unpredictability and irrevocable loss hung around her ever since Roland's death.

Her aunt Lillian was crushed as well by the death of her nephew and subsequent "loss" of her daughter, that even her son's appearance, though helpful and heartwarming, wasn't enough to banish the purple hues beneath her eyes.

Geoffrey seemed at a loss with both his sister and Riley dealing with the loss, not to mention his own grief over Roland's death.

Was it any wonder also that all the Montgomery men, fiercely protective, would feel heartbroken and helpless to see the tragedy that none of them could prevent nor simply heal. The Montgomeries were a powerful set all on their own, but the men of the group were a sight to behold in their own right. All dynamically powerful in their own ways, none of them would be comfortable feeling that their power wasn't good enough to stop the hurt.

So it was up to Samantha...well at least she appointed herself to the task. She arranged this dinner, both to welcome Riley to their brood, and also..hopefully...selfishly, get to know her brother better, but most importantly to reestablish their unity. They all needed one another the most right now and Samantha was going to do her damndest to see that it happened, and what Samantha Montgomery wanted, Samantha Montgomery received.

By the looks of her when she gave orders in her sweet honey laced voice, yet managed to not only direct, but seemingly orcheastrate the running of the house with aplomb, no one would even remember how close she came to death's door not so long ago. Well actually she had crossed the threshold of death's door, but of course like a Montgomery she had survived. And she was glad she had done so. She had a new brother now, while she was still adjusting to life with a family, it didn't matter, the fact that she had a family was a thought happy enough to make her determined. She was determined to bring them all together, and she was starting tonight.

[Christopher Montgomery]

Christopher was glad that he had remained on land. There was no sense in running to his ship and setting sail. He told Andrea that he was going to remain there for however long she was going to be there and he wanted to make sure that Christine got better. It broke his heart to see Christine the way she was. She had even turned down the offer of going out to sea with him. Christopher wasn't even sure what he was supposed to do to attempt to bring her back.

Right now, any shipments that needed to be made some one else could do it. Christopher had a responsibility and it was time that he attempt to take it on. He needed to be there for his nieces and Andrea especially.

Hearing Samantha was organizing dinner, Christopher made his way downstairs, not quite sure where Andrea was at the moment. He knew she wouldn't be too far behind him. Seeing that he was the first one there, he gave a smile to Samantha. "Evening sweetheart."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Christopher was part of the younger set, and while James was "Uncle James" Christopher and Anthony were simply too young to be considered Uncle anything. Her smile brightened the room, "Chris." she nodded to him excitement running through her fingertips, she was good at this sort of thing. Oh her mother made her practice anything and everything to be "good at everything" but really, when it came to parties, intimate affairs such as dinners, and being the supreme social lite, she was really quite comfortable.

"What do you think?" she asked of the dining setting. It wasn't necessarily formal, Samantha didn't want anything to feel stiff or awkward, but it was still gorgeous. They had enough people in the family now to eat at one of the larger tables, but the way it was set up the table was circular meaning no one at the head and no one at the foot, it'd be easier to involve everyone in the conversation that way. In the center was a large lazy Susan where Sam had arranged the appetizers, through out the meal the center of the table would disappear and reappear with different entrees on it, and it rotated so everyone could serve themselves.

She thought this would be better for Jarred, and even Riley, though Riley would still be used to formal dinners since she had visited in the past. Still she thought this would be preferable, rather than having servants serving them this meal or that constantly throughout the dinner. She also went over the menu to make sure that things that were being served would be appropriate. Delicious of course, but nothing too refined or stiff, it wasn't the atmosphere she wanted. She knew she could arrange a meal to impress kings and queens, but tonight that wasn't her goal, instead she wanted to create something of harmony, something that put everyone on the same level with one another.

The place settings were of course of the best quality, but it all tied in perfectly. Then the room itself had been decorated slightly. She didn't want anything too blatant, which is why it didn't say welcome Riley or Jarred anywhere. After what Riley had been through Sam didn't think she'd deal well with a huge party or affair, but it still looked as if every effort was being taken to make sure the guests of the castle would feel welcome.

[Christopher Montgomery]

Samantha was definitely a Montgomery. Chris looked around at the dinner table, a smile spread across his lips. "It's perfect," he said putting an arm around Sam. "You've really out done yourself, you know that?"

Chris had no problem welcoming Samantha into the house. She was family. As for Jarred, Chris welcomed him too. It was the same thing as far as he saw it. Adding Riley into the mix, that was perfectly fine with him. Chris remembered Riley from awhile back. Of course, she had been younger. He counted them all as family. To a Montgomery, family was important.

"I'm proud of you."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha smiled relieved to hear the praise. She didn't realize that she was seeking praise. With her mother she knew better than to hope. Nothing she did was good enough, and there was always something Samantha didn't manage to do. She had given up pleasing her mother long ago, but coming to this house, it never ceased to amaze her, that her family was amazed with her, that her family could actually be proud of her. It was something that took getting used to.

"Thank you." she said smiling now, she rested her cheek on his shoulder and nodded once more at her work, "I hope they like it." Yes she was hoping that they all liked it of course...but Jarred especially...merlin to find out that you had a brother after so long it was a lot of pressure, she wanted him to like her.

[Christopher Montgomery]

"Don't sweat it," Chris tried to reassure her. "I'm sure that they will love it. Trust me." He kissed her forehead. "It doesn't take that much to impress the rest of them I don't think. Although this, this might blow them all away." Chris looked down at her and grinned widely.

Looking back over the dinner table, he was impressed and amazed. Samantha did all of it on her own and he was just amazed. Usually Chris wasn't easily amazed, but this past the test by far. "Take a deep breath and relax Sam. Dinner will be the best we've had in awhile, I can feel it."

[Samantha Montgomery]

She did as he asked then nodded confidently, " I just want them to feel welcomed." she said and looking around again, she believed she had done right.

Edward stood in the doorway, he was guilty of course of eavesdropping, but then again it was his house and he knew everything that happened in it, the walls were his eyes and ears. He listened to his daughter, and had watched her set up the room, he couldn't have been prouder of her, but then he had said that before with everything she did. She was constantly amazing him, and yet part of him was worried, it was unnatural for someone so young to have such a good hand at things...he wondered if she had any fun like a child should. He wondered what punishments her mother devised to form his daughter like this.

If half the things Nicolas said were to be true he'd have killed Marrion all over again, and of course Nicolas held things back from him for that very reason he believed. Finally he sighed and made his appearance known.

"It certainly will young lady." he said entering the room.

"Oh, papa." she smiled then stood back for his opinion even though he had already given it.

He nodded at her and kissed her forehead, then smiled at his brother, "Isn't she a gem?"

[Christopher Montgomery]

"That she is Edward, that she is." Chris smiled to his brother then back at Sam. From what Chris noticed, it seemed that Samantha just wanted to be able to please everyone. It was an honorable trait that was for sure. He liked to see her face light up when someone gave her praise for such tries.

"After all, she is your daughter. I do believe she takes after you fairly well."

[Edward Montgomery]

Edward's heart constricted at his brother's words. Then the look in Samantha's eyes was nearly his undoing, she seemed to puff with pride at being called his daughter and told that she took after him. Was it possible for a grown man to die of the ache in his chest?

These moments were too dear to him for words, and when he thought of how close he came to losing her his breath held again.

He nodded to Christopher, "Thank you son.." he said and it was true, Christopher was more like a son to him than a brother thanks to the age gap and the fact that Edward had to be the man of the house at such a young age. "Where's Andrea?" he asked changing the topic, he admitted to himself that he liked the young lady, she kept his brother home, and she seemed very proper.

[Christopher Montgomery]

He was used to be treated like a son by Edward but he didn't mention it to him. If it wasn't for Edward, Chris wasn't sure how he'd really turn out.

At the mention of Andrea's name Chris' face brightened a little more without him knowing. Andrea was his anchor and he didn't mind it one bit. Used to he believed that he didn't ever want to be tied down by just one woman, although now that belief changed completely. He liked the idea of having Andrea as the one woman he was with. She was all he would ever need.

"She's just exploring the house," he said. "I thought I'd just meet her in here for dinner." Even a light smile was on his face as he spoke of her.

[Andrea Fairchild]

Andrea had been exploring indeed, the place was huge and Chris wasn't there to lead her around, she got lost somewhere in the east wing for a bit before she recognized a hallway and then another servant showed her to her chambers. She dressed quickly then without further ado went down to dinner, she didn't want to get lost anymore and was relieved to see Chris and other Montgomeries, "Mr. Montgomery your home is...very...vast." she said then blushed and went to Chris' side.

[Jarred Donnelly]

Jarred was nervous, too. Since coming to London, he hadn't really seen too much of this family. It was large and overwhelming, and mainly, he didn't want his daughter to be overwhelmed. But he ached to get to know them, a family that he missed out on for twenty something years.

He'd gotten an invitation to tonight's dinner from Samantha, and it made him smile. He couldn't say no. In fact, he rather suspected that she had that affect on many people. So he sent a note with her owl promising that both he and his little girl would be there.

Running a few minutes early, Jarred stood hesitantly outside the door to the impossibly large house, a quiet and subdued one year old in his arms. Finally, taking a deep breath, he knocked.

He was let in and lead to the dining room, where he stepped tentatively inside to see a small group, Edward and Samantha among them, gathered.

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha welcomed Andrea into the room and gave the girl a nod. Standing between her father and her uncle she was a picture of elegant content, that was at least until the door rang. Then something subtle in her appearance changed. She was anxious, nervous perhaps. Her first impression with her brother was her yelling at him...certainly not the best start. She was happy to receive his letter saying that he would come back, and even happier to note that he was bringing his daughter.

She knew instantly that it was him at the door and counted the seconds till he was shown into the dining room that they were using. When she saw him again that tensing began until she caught his eyes, and then the curly haired imp in his arms and all her nerves disappeared. It was as if she had known him for years.

"Jarred!" she said her voice rising a bit above what her mother would consider appropriate for a lady. She left her Uncle and her father talking as her excitement carried her over to where he stood, "And Evie!" she smiled at them both then tilted her head. "I'm glad you could come." she said warmly.

[Riley Neves]

Riley had been told about the dinner, and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to attend. There would be so many people, and she just didn't have the will or the energy to pretend like she was fine in front of all of them.

It was her first day here, and she knew that Geoffrey already saw how tired she really was. What would he do in a couple of days when he realized she wasn't sleeping well and couldn't keep anything down? That was another thing. She didn't want the whole family staring at her and telling her to eat.

But she couldn't really say no. She thought it would be rude, and, well... Geoffrey would want to go, and she knew he wouldn't without her. So she cleaned herself up as best she could and waited in her room for Geoffrey. She knew he would come get her.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

The family dinner was inevitable. Geofffrey wished he could save Riley from it, but he knew he couldn't. This was just one of those things she'd have to put up with if she was going to stay here. And maybe it would do her some good. She'd be forced to interact with people, and hopefully, she'd be motivated to eat. Merlin knew she needed to keep up her strength. She was so pale and thin.

He didn't really have to worry too much about how he looked, but he did put on a nicer shirt and brush his hair before he went to Riley's room and knocked on the door. "Riley?"

[Riley Neves]

Riley sighed and opened her door, also dressed well, considering. She was tired of everything and just wanted to curl up and never deal with people again. Unfortunately, she had to. Her friends, and Roland's family, deserved better from her.

"Hi," Riley said. "Dinner, right? I'm ready."

She looked at him for a moment, knowing he was looking at her, assessing her, and she smiled. It was okay. She would just be quiet during dinner, but at least she would be there. "See? I remember what your place is like."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He had been assessing her with his eyes, trying to decide whether she was up for this or not. The smile helped, but didn't entirely convince him. Still, it was a start...

"Yeah, you know how my family is about their dinners. It's been even more formal lately, since Sam's back with us. You don't know to do this if you don't want to. They'll understand..."

[Riley Neves]

"No," Riley said. "They won't. The dinners are important to them. We both know that. I'm fine, Geoffrey. I'm not going to break."

Merlin, how many times had she said that since New Years? The ironic part was that she wasn't sure there was much left of herself to break... she felt shattered inside.

Keeping the smile, she took his hand. "I haven't met Samantha yet, anyway, and I'd like to."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey nodded, even though from his experience, the more times Riley insisted that she wasn't going to break, the closer she was to breaking. "OK, then," he said. "But if it gets to be too much, don't be afraid to take your leave. We've got a full house right now, and it's going to be a little crazy. You remember my uncles, Anthony and Christopher, right? They'll be here, and I think Christopher's got a guest with him. And you'll like Sam, I think. And then there's Jarred..."

Actually, there were getting to be so many that he was even beginning to lose track of them all. But maybe a crowded table would be good for Riley. She wouldn't feel too pressured to talk, so she'd be able to interact on a smaller level.

He held out his hand to her. "Well, here goes nothing, right?"

[Riley Neves]

Just the thought of all those people was a little overwhelming, but they were being kind enough to let her stay without too many questions... she could manage to eat dinner with them.

She remembered Christopher and Anthony well. She practically grew up with them, too. In fact, Anthony was their age, wasn't he?

"Wait, whose Jarred?" She asked, not recognizing that name. "Never mind. I'll find out," she added, taking his hand and nodded to let him know that she was ready to do this.