{One Month Later}

It had been exactly one month since her mother had been arrested, one month since her little brother had been taken into custody. Her aunt had called her constantly for the week after she had been arrested, but she had ignored her calls and texts. While Nat had still been in town her and Cara had kept her busy that week. They kept her mind off of what was happening and she was forever greatful to them. The next week the phone calls and texts still came, but just not as frequently. Sadly she had to say goodbye to Nat that week, she had to go back to Boston for school. Nat had become a good friend to her in the week she had been there visiting Cam.

Her and Jack had also seen her little brother Levi several times, since he had been in the foster home. Sometimes she felt like she was forcing Jack to go and be there with her. At first she just hadn't been sure if she could handle it by herself. But than it became that she needed him there for the support when they left. Jack had told her he didn't mind being there for her, that he wanted to be there for her. She was glad he was there especially with how much Levi seemed to admire Jack. Her and Jack had taken all the necessary steps to see her brother.

They had even gotten signed up and taken the classes to become guardians of Levi. But after several long discussions and a couple of fights, her and Jack decided not to become his guardians. It wasn't that she didn't want to or had doubts about her and Jack. Ok who was she joking, of course she had doubts about their relationship. But even though they had still been going strong after being together for a year. She wasn't sure if they were ready to test their relationship by bringing her brother into the equation.

It wasn't that she thought Jack wouldn't like her brother, because she could tell the several they had seen each other that they had formed a bond. But the fact of the matter was she herself wasn't sure if she were ready for the responsibilities of being a guardian to her younger brother. Her and Jack were still both young. She still had things she wanted to do with her life. And she wasn't sure if she could do those things being a guardian to her brother.

Another thing she had heard from one of her older brothers she had been talking to. She had learned that their mother had gotten bail and was now out and about. She really didn't care as long as the woman stayed away from her and didn't try and contact her.

And now well now she was panning Thanksgiving. Jack's family was coming in from Michigan. Carson had invited her brothers and sisters. She knew that two of her older brothers and their families, and one of her older and one younger sister and their families were coming. For the other three she wasn't sure yet what they were doing, she hadn't heard back from them yet.

Carson was more concerned about getting this thanksgiving diner together more than anything. It's wasn't her first holiday's with his family. But it was more the fact she could careless about Thanksgiving. She just didn't care about the holiday and didn't celebrate anymore. It brang the best of memories and the worst of memories.

Thanksgiving was when everything in her, her brothers, her sisters, and their mothers lives came crashing down and changed forever. It was the holiday that had claimed her fathers life. Even though it had been over thirteen years. It still felt like yesterday to Carson.
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{THANKSGIVING DAY}

Turkey thawed? Check......Apron? Check..... Pots and Pans? Check..... Gloves? Check...... Make sure the neck and gizzards and heart are out of turkey. Carson screwed up her face as she reached her arm into the turkey. It was too damn early to be up and doing this shit. But she had promised Jack, his family, and her own a home cooked meal. But she didn't realize that meant being up at the crack of dawn and starting everything. While Jack slept away peacefully upstairs in their nice warm bed. But she couldn't pull out of it now. Plus she had too much to do.

A few hours later she started to hear movement around the house. She didn't even realize how hungry she was until a cup of coffee and a small bag was placed in front of her, and her stomach growled loudly.

"Mmmmmm thanks babe," she murmured.

"Thought you may want that," Jack replied, placing a kiss on the side of her head.

"Wait...... When did you get this?" She asked confusedly.

"God Carson you really were out of it, weren't you?" He asked laughing, and stopped when she shot him a look. "We just got back. It's your favorite holiday latte and a pumpkin muffin. Plus we left because we were all hungry and we didn't want to bug you. You looked busy. Plus mom was starting to hover," he answered.

"Oh..... Well thanks...... Now shoo," Carson laughed, turning and making a shooing motion with her hands.

Two hours later she had most of the main dishes done. The turkey was about to be finished in another twenty minutes. She could see Jacks mom once again hovering at the kitchen doorway. But thankfully for Carson that's where she stayed and didn't come barging in the kitchen and taking over. She was starting to mix the filling for the pie, when she felt a pair of arms slide around her waist.

"Don't You Dare Mister," Carson said in a warning tone, taking the wooden spoon in her hand and smacking Jacks hand with it.

"Owie..... I just wanted a taste," he pouted.

"Not on my watch buddy," she replied, turning in his arms and trying to give him a stern look.

"You look tired babe," he murmured, brushing some hair off her face.

"I am.... I've been up since...." She trailed off looking around at the clock on he microwave. Than looking back at Jack. "I've been up since four thirty this morning and its now two. I've been working non-stop and I'm exhausted," she sighed.

"Than go rest for awhile Cars," he replied.

"I can't," she replied, shaking her head. "The food is almost done. But there's still a few things that need to be done. Than everyone should be arriving shortly."

"Tell me what needs to be finished. I'm sure mom would be more than willing to help. Than you go rest for a bit before everyone gets here," he told her.

"Really? You wouldn't mind?" She asked.

"Nope," he said.

"Why are you so good to me?" She asked.

"Because I love you," he answered with a cheeky smile, than leaned down and pecked her lips.

Carson explained everything that needed to be finished. After being reassured that his mom would be able to handle it. She slowly trudged up to their bedroom. As soon as her head hit the pillow she was asleep.

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Carson woke with a start, she had a feeling that something was going to happen. She hated having that feeling today. That's why she would much rather sleep through today, than be awake and go through the memories today brang. She heard the sound of playful yelling and laughter coming from downstairs. Looking over at the bedside clock she realized she had been asleep for an hour and that everyone should start arriving soon.

Getting out of bed she went to the closet and pulled out her dress and than got out a matching set of panties and bra. Walking into the bathroom she set everything down on he counter. She did her business, hoped into the shower quickly, got cleaned up. After getting out and dried off, she got dressed, and put her hair up into a ponytail. Than brushed her teeth and putting on some makeup.

Feeling much more refreshed and awake. She decided to forego shoes and made her way downstairs. When she got to the bottom of the sound of yelling and laughter came from the living room. She made her way over to the living room doorway. She found Jack, his dad and brother Kenny, Cam, RJ, and her brothers all sitting there watching a football game. With the kids playing over in the corner. Her breath caught in her throat looking at her brothers, they looked so much like their father it was scary.

She moved away from the doorway before anyone caught her staring. She towards the kitchen to see if Jacks mom Tina needed any help. Again she stopped at the doorway, finding Tina, Cara, and her sisters in the kitchen. She felt her eyes fill with tears, this is what it was supposed to be like. She hadn't felt this happy in a long time, not that she was unhappy with Jack. But having her family there made everything right. The only one missing was Levi.

Carson jumped slightly when she felt an arm come around her shoulders. She turned her head and looked up into her oldest brothers eyes.

"Everything will be ok, Carson." Her brother Camedon told her.

"How can you be so sure?" She sniffed.

"Because everything is how it's supposed to be. Everything that has happened to us, has happened because it was supposed to. We know that better than anybody. Is it fair? No. The things that have happened to us aren't fair and I don't wish that on anybody. Not even my worse enemy. With losing our father today many years ago, to having 'her' not give a rats ass about all of us anymore, to the way we had to survive. We made it through it. And even though I don't see you enough or talk to you enough. As a big brother I'm so proud of you Carson. You've become an incredible young woman," Camedon stated proudly, than engulfed her in a bear hug.

"Yeah and if that guy in there wants to marry you at any point. Well you have our blessings," she heard her brother Chris add, coming and sandwiching her between both of them.

"Ok let's not go that far yet," she laughed, pulling away from them after they released her.

"Hey no more tears. Today is going to be a happy day and we're going to make new memories," Chris said, wiping away her tears.

"Ok," she laughed.

After her brothers touching speech. They went back into the living room and she went into the kitchen to help finish everything. Once they all sat down at the dining room table and even had a table for the kids. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. She realized that Camedon was right everything was as it was supposed to be and even though her other siblings couldn't make it, everything was right.

There was talking and laughing all around the table. When the doorbell rang no one thought any better when RJ got up to answer the door. But Carson got that bad feeling in the pit of her stomach again.

"Errrrr...... Excuse me but where do you think your going?" They all heard RJ saying to someone.

They all looked at each other with confused looks. Until the person who RJ was talking to rounded the corner. Carson felt the smile fall from her face and her stomach turn.

"Well....... Well..... Well don't we all look nice and cozy. Having nice family reunion are we?" The woman standing in the dining room doorway sneered.

Carson could see RJ standing behind the woman who she used to call her mother with a 'What The Fuck' face. Out of the corner of her eye she could see her siblings looking down at the table. Everybody else looked either confused or uncomfortable. Carson felt utterly disgusted and ashamed that Jacks family was seeing her 'mother' like this. Because the person standing in front of them wasn't the person who had half-way raised them. This person was extremely skinny, obviously from the years of drug use. She also looked like she hadn't had a proper shower in weeks. This woman was also missing some teeth. Carson knew one thing in that moment though she wasn't going to let this woman who used to be her 'mother' disrupt her life anymore.

"What are you doing here Lorianne?" Carson snapped.

Lorianne's head snapped in her direction. "Why you ungrateful little snot. I came to see my children and this is how you treat your mother? I wasn't even invited to this little shindig," Lorianne sneered, glaring at Carson.

"Who do you think you are coming into my sons house and talking to him and his girlfriend like that?" Jacks dad Jack asked, standing up and placing his hands on the table.

"Jack it's ok really," Carson said soothingly, trying to ease some of the tension in the room. Than turned her attention back to Lorianne who now had a disgusted look on her face.

"Well I always knew you would be a gold digger but I never expected you to go for a man that old. I thought you would have more taste than that," Lorianne said, looking at Carson.

"Not that it's any of your business, but that's Jacks dad Jack. Now first of all You didn't know about this get together because You weren't invited. Second of all You gave up the right to ever address us as Your children when You told all of us You never wanted us in the first place. Third of all I. Want. You. To. Get. The. Fuck. Out. Now," Carson practically growled, breathing heavily at the end.

"Your still a spoiled bitch Carson," Lorianne said, looking unfazed by Carsons speech.

"And your still a...... Never mind I can't say what I want with the little ears around here. But I want you out of my house and life right now," Carson stated firmly, and pointed towards the door.

She wasn't going to give in. She knew that that's what Lorianne wanted, but Carson was stronger than that now.

"I believe Carson said she wanted you to leave and I think the rest of us would like that too," Jack said, finally speaking up.

Finally Jack and RJ escorted Lorianne out of the house. Everyone was still in shock and didn't quite know what to say or do. Jack came back in the dining room and engulfed Carson's small frame in his arms and kissing the top of her head.

"I'm proud of you baby," Jack whispered, in her ear.

Once again Carson felt a smile form on her face.