Family Time (Geoff/Montgomeries)

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine forced a smile on her face, it wasn't that she wasn't happy to be spending time with her family, no she loved them all dearly, but there was so much going on in her mind that she wasn't really there with them.

The relationship this affected most was with her brother who was also going through quite a few things himself.

All in all things just hadn't been the same since the attack even though it had been a long time ago, she was still having nightmares, Sam was still skittish but putting on a brave face, Geoff was still dealing with Roland and Riley, no one had escaped unscathed and those wounds were still bothering them all. This dinner was hopefully a way to begin mending those wounds.

Christine was the first one there and as she arrived she was taken to their usual table. She sat down and sighed waiting for the rest of her family to arrive before taking a sip of her water.

[Christopher Montgomery]

Things with Andrea had finally smoothed out for the most part. He spent every moment he could making it up to her for how things happened. For once in his life Christopher fought fiercely for something other than just business.

On top of patching things up with Andrea, there was the incident that occurred. He hadn't left port in awhile because he knew that his duty was currently with his family. The others in the shipping business could take care of things at sea. He was needed at home.

Arriving at Le Repas Cher, Chris greeted the hostess and headed straight to the usual table. As usual Christine was the first one there. He broke into a grin when he saw her. "Christine," he said doing what he could to make sure things were light. He kissed her on her forehead.

[Andrea Fairchild]

Things indeed had smoothed out between Chris and her, in fact they smoothed out a little too well. She had been staying with the Montgomeries for so long now it was as if she had finally found home. She couldn't forget her past, but for the first time in a long time she saw a future.

She felt so blessed that the family accepted her, inded over the time she spent there she felt as if she truly belonged, she had simply become another part of their family.

Even though things had smoothed out that didn't mean that they didn't fight. They fought like cats and dogs most days, but that too had become quite normal. Still they weren't fighting for a whole hour now...that must have been a record.

"Hey love." she smiled and hugged Christine after Christopher. They were relatively close in age all things considered.

[Christine Montgomery]

She stood to greet her uncle who really felt like a big brother, and Drea. "Hey guys." she acknowleded them both with a smile.

"Did you see any of the others on their way?" before she finished her sentence she motioned behind them and gestured to Samantha and Caleb who were making their way toward the table.

She noticed Andrea fidgeting slightly and winked at her. For all they had grown up together and in these circles it had been a long time since Andrea was around such luxury.

[Christopher Montgomery]

"We didn't see any of the others just yet," Chris replied. "We left a little earlier to make a stop." He pulled out a bracelet box and offered it to Christine. "Andrea saw it in a shop. She mentioned that you would probably love it." The bracelet happened to be a charm bracelet with ships on it. Of course Christopher spoiled Christine when he could, even if she didn't want him too. Now, he and Andrea to spoil as well, but he still liked to spoil his niece when he could.

"As for the others, I'm positive they won't be too far behind."

[Samantha Montgomery]

Sam practically glided toward her family with Caleb on her heels, some habits were hard to break and gliding was one of them. When she caught up with the rest of her family she bestowed a beautiful smile for all of them. Sam really loved her family, and more than that she felt like she finally had a family.

"I'm starving." she said with a grin.

[Andrea Fairchild]

It was a very un-Sam like comment and Andrea laughed and then she realized that was the purpose of the comment. Sam was an intimidating child to be around, and truly she wasn't a child at all but there was something about her that was startling that made you hold your breath. Perhaps it was the training at her previous school.

Andrea smiled proudly at the gift that Chris gave Christine, she knew the bracelet was perfect for the girl. Feeling at ease again she agreed with Sam, "As am I...thank goodness I'm not the only one."

[Christopher Montgomery]

"Sam," Christopher greeted her with open arms and a smile. He hugged her and then shook hands with Caleb. "I also have a gift for you m'dear." Sam was newer to the family, but that didn't mean Christopher wasn't going to spoil her either. He didn't have any children of his own, so he thought he should spoil three of the girls in his life. Of course the three wouldn't really be considered girls, rather women.

Reaching in his jacket pocket he pulled out another long box. This time it was a necklace. "We also saw this one in the shop as well and thought that it would be perfect for you. It was a beautiful sliver locket.

[Samantha Montgomery]

"It's beautiful..." she said delicately fingering the item. Though she was rich and beautiful, gifts were a rare treasure for her and this one almost brought her to tears, at least her eyes misted over slightly giving them a glossy sheen that made them even more vibrant.

"Thank you so much."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey tried to slip in as quietly as possible. Maybe he could just blend in and no one would notice him. How sad was it that he wanted to disappear, even with his own family? But the Montgomery family seemed to be growing each day. Christopher was back, and he'd brought Angela to stay. Sam had rejoined them at last, and Caleb visited frequently. Jarred had come from seemingly out of nowhere, and he'd brought his little girl with him. It was getting to the point where Geoff wondered just how many family members were still out there that he didn't even know. Would someone else be introduced at this little party?

As a result of all this madness, Geoffrey felt almost like he didn't fit in anymore. He didn't know what his place was. Once, not so long ago, he'd have been in the center of things, mixing and mingling, trying to talk to everyone and making sure that everyone had enough food or drink. Now he just wanted to blend in with the wallpaper.

He'd become an observer in his own life. How had this happened?

[Samantha Montgomery]

Samantha understood better than most what tragedy could do to a family but she was determined to kep hers together, it was afterall the first time she really had what you could call a family, and it was a pretty decent one at that.

She spied her cousin sneaking up toward the table as they were all mingling and gave him a small smile.

She wondered if Jarred would make it, being a father he had his own responsibilities but Merlin was it strange to have not one but two brothers, and a baby to boot. If Sam had a weakness it would be her family, her mother would be appalled.

Caleb pulled her seat out for her and she sat down. "We really are getting to be quite a large bunch."

[Caleb Renneau]

There had been so many changes for all of them that was true, but they were alive, and they were together, and that made them one hell of a family.

Caleb had been especially attentive to Samantha, whether they were blood related or not she was his little sister in every sense of the word. It was hard having a little sister like Sam, sometimes she was exactly what he would expect a little sister to be, other times she was more woman than he had ever met.

He still tried to treat her as if she were precious and pulled her seat out for her.

He noticed Geoffrey make his way to the table and gave him a firm nod. He knew that all of this was hard on the man, but he was a Montgomery and if his step father's stories were to be believed then they would all be just fine. Montgomeries had a knack for coming out on top.

[Anthony Montgomery]

Anthony had skipped out on the last family dinner, and he knew his brothers had not been happy about it, Edward and James in particular. It had been a rough day though, and he was an adult- he was allowed to make those decisions. Even still, he thought it wise not to miss this one, as well.

Nor did he want to. Like all of the Montgomeries, family was important and precious to him. It was actually a family matter that kept him from the last get together. It didn't matter, though, he was here now, not playing his usual elusive self.

When he came in and happened on the table, he made sure to give both Christine and Samantha a hug, then Andrea as well, before nodding at his brother and again at Caleb. He was wearing a bright smile, and still very much looked like the baby of his brothers.

[James Montgomery]

James was usually side by side with Edward when it came to family dinners. The two of them were often so wrapped up in talk of business and current family affairs that it was up to their respective wives to come get them and remind them where they were needed.

Tonight, however, he had his beautiful wife on his arm, and wasn't entirely sure where Edward was, though he had his suspicions. He smiled coming towards the table they always had (one of the largest in the restaurant, of course- their family kept growing) and noted that both of his children were already there. He ached for them, knowing they'd been hurt the worst during everything that had gone on recently, and he felt like something of a failure for not being able to make this easier on them.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey was still standing back, unusually quiet and withdrawn. Sooner or later, he was going to have to snap out of this. He had, reluctantly, agreed to leave the house to come to this party, and so far, the ceiling hadn't caved in. He almost expected disaster to occur any time he left the house any more, even though he knew perfectly well that this wasn't rational. But what could happen at a party full of his own family?

Still, when he saw his parents join the gathering, Geoffrey found himself edging closer to them. Maybe now was the time to talk to his father. In recent years, Geoffrey's desire for independence had caused him to drift away from his father, but he wasn't feeling so independent any more. Maybe it was time to admit that he still needed his father.

"Hey, Dad."

[James Montgomery]

It was perhaps one of the most bittersweet things for a parent, a father in particular, to have their grown children realize they still needed their parents. This tidbit hadn't yet been offered to James, but the desire for a child to be independent and successful, and that for them to still come home for help, often battled each other, and James was no different.

He was keenly aware of Geoffrey and Christine, and how they seemed to react to things in such a similar manner, and he was quick to give Geoffrey a warm smile. "Hey to you, Geoff," he replied, making sure his wife was seated before taking that greeting as an opportunity to take the spot next to Geoffrey. "Feeling all right?"

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey gave his father a knowing look. No, he was not feeling all right, and they both knew it. Probably everyone there knew it to some extent. Usually at an event like this, he'd be right in the middle of it all, checking that everyone else was doing all right. He'd be trying to introduce the ones that hadn't yet met, offering to get drinks for people, or seeing if anyone needed to sit down. Instead, he was here on the fringe of things, not entirely sure where he fit in anymore.

He sighed lightly, then met his father's eyes with a look that clearly said "help me" without ever speaking the words.

This used to be so much easier for him. Maybe then he'd lacked direction, but he'd been willing to try things, and to experience life until he knew what he wanted to do with it. Now he wanted to hide from it... but he also knew that wasn't the right answer. He had hidden away for a while, but he couldn't keep it up much longer. It wasn't helping.

"I'm lost," he admitted simply, shrugging.

[Christine Montgomery]

Unlike Geoffrey Christine was not seeking answers from her parents, for some reason she doubted they would understand, she didn't know much about her parents history in her mind they were always this happy, she hadn't the slightest clue that they were no strangers to suffering.

Everyone was arriving and for the first time in her life she felt awkward around her family, not sure where she fit in anymore so instead she sat quietly fiddling with her water. Yes she was happy to see everyone and she wore a smile, but it was frayed at the edges.