Rooftops and ballrooms

8 am.

Anne had made breakfast. She could smell the pancakes.

She could hear Hunter arguing with Aliyah who was refusing to let him wake her up.

She smiled. She couldn't remember a better morning in the last years. She noticed she wasn't feeling anxious, and she hoped it would last, but she knew it wouldn't .

But she didn't care, she just wanted to enjoy a morning she's not sitting in her bathroom trying to catch her breath or laying in the darkness of her room.

She put on her denim overalls and stripped T-shirt.

- Good morning everyone

She said stepping into the tiny green colored kitchen.

- Glad you woke up on your own, I couldn't hold Hunter any longer.

She smiled and sat down near Connor.

- Everything smells delicious Anne, thanks.

- Your egg omelet is there too.

Anne who was now washing dishes, replied.

- What weirdo doesn't like pancakes?

Hunter joked. Now more than ever he wanted to make her laugh.

- Well this weirdo I guess.

She said, her eyes still puffy and her hair in a messy bun.

- So any idea why Jack wants you all together?

- Not sure, dad only said it had to do with Mr.P

They were all too invested on the pancakes to think about anything else.

- Then you all better hurry

Rose kept trying to eat now that she didn't feel sick, but she was always on alert. She felt like it wouldn't be long before the terrible feeling was back so she kept playing with her plate only to try and distract herself.

- Let's get going.

Hunter said, getting up to wash his hands.

Morning at the Alden mansion was the same as usual. Quiet.

Irene Alden kept making calls for the Ball she was organizing for Rose. She hadn't talked to her yet but as always she had complete faith in herself. She knew she would find a way to force Rose.

So she was making sure everything else was perfect.

Then she got a call.

- Hello, am I speaking to Irene Alden?

- This is she.

Look darling, I don't know what she's gotten herself into this time, but whatever she did, she can handle it on her own.

She listened to the nurse describe the situation. Deep down she had always expected such a call, but yet again her daughter had failed at something. She didn't really want to see her daughter, didn't care to help her but she would most probably go and see her just so she could once more see she did the right thing throwing her out all those years ago. If only her father was here to see this. He had never said but she knew he regretted doing so but he never did anything to make it up either.

- Well , I will be able to see her later in the afternoon. Until then I wish to not be bothered with anymore calls.

She said and hung up the phone.

Once more she had to clean up after her daughter.

Jack had already arrived at Mr.P's house.

- Hey boys !

He smiled as they entered the living room.

- Hey dad.

They smiled and sat down beside him, Aleyah and Connor greeted him and sat down on the couch.

- Hey kiddo.

He hadn't seen Rose since the day he filed the court order for Irene. He was her lawyer too, although not very fond of her.

- Hi Jack. Been a while .

- Quite. You look better.How's it going with your grandmother?

- Oh lovely. She's one lovely grandma.

He smiled, knowing exactly what she meant.

- So, I've sent all of you a copy of his will. But I am here if you have any questions.

Noah and Rose, you two get the house and..

- What? Wait.. what? He left us the house? Us? But …why?

It was the first time Noah heard Rose referring to them as "us" and he couldn't help but smile.

- Well, that's what he wanted. And he left his car to you Hunter, you and Aliyah.

- Whoa he left me his car?! But..why me and her?

- Don't look at me, I'm just as confused as you.

Aliyah felt weird. Why would he leave something to the two of them. She could understand Noah and Rose, she knew Mr.P always though those two would end up together, and by leaving the house to them he was giving them another bond they couldn't get rid of.

But her and Hunter. That she couldn't understand.

- Wow, you do have so many questions, but that was his decision, at the time he said he knew best, and that you all would understand.

- We don't understand shit!

Connor was confused too. He couldn't imagine what was going through Mr.P head when writing this will.

- Well Connor, you and Allison will get the lake house. I've sent her a copy of the will too. I can only explain the formalities but why he did what he did its up to you to find out. After all you knew him best.

Connor wanted to call Allison, he wanted to know what she thought of all of this.

But he knew she was probably upset about Noah and Rose getting the house and he didn't feel like trying to convince her there was nothing going on between the two because one day there might be and they both knew. And he knew when the day came he would be happy for the two of them, but it would break her heart.

- So that's about it. He had no other relative s so all his savings he left to different charities.Half the books he left to the local Library so they'll be picked up in the upcoming days.

Nothing else concerning you guys. You can call if you have any more questions. I'll be in town for a few more days. I guess you two will be here.

- Yeah but we're fine here dad don't worry.

Noah smiled.

- All right then. It was nice to see you all again. You know what? He would be damn happy to see you all here again.

- Yeah we're getting that a lot.

Rose said and gave a faint smile.

- Well, I'll see you kids soon, you little lady, I'll see you at the Ball tomorrow,

- Who? Me? What Ball?

- Your Ball?

- Uh.. I am not throwing any Ball any soon.. or participating in any..?!!

- That's certainly not what your grandmother thinks. She is throwing a Ball in your honor tomorrow night.I got my invitation today.

- What, that cannot be right. She knows I would never go to such a thing.

- Huh, yeah that sounds more like you I guess.

He smiled, he felt silly having believed she was aware of such a thing and willingly participating. Fancy events, fancy dresses, in general anything fancy wasn't really Rose's preference.

- Well, excuse me I have to make a call.

She said and went outside.

She was pissed. She knew she should have answered her call last night .

She heard the phone ring a few times. Than her grandmother picked up.

- Finally her majesty has found time to call back

- I am not going to any stupid Ball. Whatever you've got planned, cancel!

- Well now, see I am not in any mood for a Ball either, especially not one for you. I am just doing what your grandfather wished. Its up to you to attend or not, but he asked I throw one for you as we had done for your mother years ago.

- I am not my mother. I do not want one. I will not attend one.

- Look its your grandfathers last wish. I will take care of everything; all you have to do is be there.

Just this once, for him.

- I do not like it. I will only show up for a little bit.

- Ah perfect ! You will only need a date. You can bring one of those friends of yours. That lawyer's son perhaps.

- Bye!

Rose said and hung up the phone. She knew what her grandmother was trying to do, she hated it. But she remembered how her grandfather had asked for her forgiveness. She wanted him to know she had forgiven him.

She returned inside.

- So, by your face I'm getting a Ball is being thrown in your honor and you have somehow been convinced to attend?

Noah smiled noticing her anger.

- Oh that must be so much fun.

- No Aliyah it isn't . I will only show up for a little bit, apparently it was my Grandfathers request.

- Helmet head all dolled up. That I can't imagine.

- Well, you will when you see it, because you are all going.

She said and gave an evil smile. If she had to spend a few hours with her grandmother and her stuck up friends at her stupid club then she sure as hell wasn't gonna do it alone.

- So what you're saying "If I go down I'm taking everybody with me "

Hunter said and she shook her head.