Laying on the grass watching the stars in the back yard of Laceys house with her, I was in what I'd heard referred to as 7th heaven. Since my first date at fifteen, I'd never had a nite like this with anyone else. We had danced and laughed and after Tay and Jess left, we had danced more. She looked amazing in that dress, clinging to every curve, and there were alot. We left Ike and Kate swaying together on the dance floor and headed for the car.

"Put the top down Zac" she begged me.
"It'll mess your hair up..." I looked at her and laughed knowing that probably wouldn't matter to Lacey, one of the reasons she and Jess always got along so well was they both were girls who fun came before girl stuff.
"And...?" I took the top down. It was November in Oaklahoma and she wanted the top down.....Backing out of the space, she asked for music.
"What do you want, you didn't have enough?" She was in a mood I hadn't seen too many times before. If I hadn't been with her all nite, I'd think she had a few too many.
"Middle of Nowhere" she laughed and looked at me...little did she know. Grabbing the CD case from the back seat, I flipped to the back and pulled out the orange disc.
"You actually have it?" she was astounded.
The rest of the nite just flew by...I tried singing for her along with the songs, she was singing too, at the top of our voices, in the middle of the the night.

We found ourselves back at her house, I parked at home and walked her back across the street.
"Come and watch the stars with me....." she kicked off the heels that brought her a few inches closer to my height. She was small for her age, height wise, but didn't show it anywhere else. Her velvet dress now dragged behind her as she headed for the back yard.

"Tonight was great, I hope Kate had as much fun as I did.."her voice and mood had quieted substantially.
"Yeah it was, and by the looks of them when we left, I think she did too." The night sky was crystal clear. The quietness of the night was a perfect end to an already perfect evening. it was time for me to broach the subject, not wanting to break the mood, I just cleared my throat. She looked over at me and leaned up on an elbow, matching my position.
"We need to do this again..........." my voice almost sounded shaky.
"Yeah we need to, but with all our schedules and............" I interupted her.
"No, I mean we need to do this again" motioning to just her and I. She looked confused for a moment , then a small smile.
"Well, Zac Hanson, I would have killed for this moment 5 years ago......" her laughter filled the back yard, making me all the more nervous she was about to turn me down flat.
"Yeah, well at 10 and 13, we really wouldn't have had much in common..........." Thinking back to those days, I would have rather done a whole lot of things other than spend them with a girl.
"So what do we have in common now, beside a brother and sister who are in love with each other and deny it every day" she was going to make this hard.
"Don't make this so hard, can we go out or what..." I tried to act exasperated, but couldn't hold back the burgeoning smile.
"You really think I'd turn you down?-Just breath my direction Zac, you should know that." I wasn't sure what that comment was supposed to mean. I guess she saw my look of confusion.
"My schoolgirl crush may have been dashed at 10 or 11, but I'll tell you a secret- I still buy every album, every video................... and I still have a Hanson poster on the back of my closet door."--She was blushing furiously, with this admission. She looked so beautiful at that moment it was all I could do to keep from leaning over and and kissing her. I wanted to wait though, make it special. It wouldn't have been our first kiss though.....

*************************

A few days after my 16th birthday, I sat in my room writiing those inane thank you notes
mom insists I send friends and family, I said thank you at the party........I heard the
doorbell ring and Laceys voice and the door, darn, no one to help me escape. A knock
at my bedroom door startled me.
"Zac, it's Lacey, can I come in?" she had a mischevious tone to her voice.
"Enter-" she walked in with a friend behind her, I had met her before, somewhere.
Sitting down on the edge of my bed next to me, she was having a hard time keeping
from laughing, but at the same time she seemed nervous.
"Well?" I laughed to just from the weirdness of the situation. Before I knew it she
leaned over and kissed me full on the mouth. Not just a peck either, sliding her tongue
in my mouth she placed her hand on my cheek, then stopped as quickly as she started.
"Thanks, Zac" and she got up and left. I wonder where she learned to kiss like that at
thirteen. I stared blankly at the door, hearing laughter in the hall and the front door
shutting. The thought of that kiss kept popping into my head for days after, until I found
out several days later that it was a dare, during a sleepover, and I had been the lucky
recipient.

**************************************

At that moment I heard the front door open, and Ike and Kate's voices in the house. I was glad I was still around, I wanted to talk to Ike after we left. We went back to looking at the stars.
"Zac, show me Albertane" her laughter was infectious and we continued to talk into the night.

Chapter 12

We danced together till the band, dj, and pianist had all stopped for the night. I never wanted to leave that place. She was mine for that short nite, and now we had to go back to reality.

Walking in the house with her, I saw Lacey and Zac's shoes tossed on the living room floor and the door to the back yard ajar. Kate tossed hers in the same place, and turned to face me where I was standing with my hands shoved in my pockets.
"You've been quiet since we left, you okay?---I couldn't have asked for a better nite, Ike, thank you."
I wanted to go back to the restaurant and put my arms around her again and stay that way. I wanted to answer, but couldn't, I nodded, feeling like I was going to cry, or burst if I opened my mouth.
I was making sure to stay across the room from her. This was a dangerous situation, I was glad Zac and Lacey were in the backyard. I could hear their laughter and something about Albertane, then more laughter. Sitting in a chair in the corner, I tried to get my mind on anything but Kate.
She thought I wasn't looking and wiggled out of her hose underneath her dress. God, did she know what she was doing to me?
She walked over to the back door and looked out, raising her arms she piled her hair on top of her head and secured it with a clip, exposing her bare neck. This was the limit of my self control. I went to stand behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist, I kissed her neck. She didn't move.
"Kate," -I muttered in her hair. Turning to face me, she raised on her tip toes and put her arms around my neck as well. It felt good just to be this way again for a moment. Leaning back against the arm of the sofa, brought me down to her height so we could pull closer. Her heart was beating as fast as mine, I could feel it. Her hands brushed my hair back and her face rested in the crook of my neck. I wasn't sure I heard it at first.
"I love you, Ike" almost a whisper, then she kissed my neck. Alarms were going off in my head, I was glad I had leaned against the arm of the couch since my legs had turned to jelly at that point. Realization finally flooded through me like a river, and I was as serious as a heart attack when I gently kissed her lips, and looked her straight in the eye.
"I love you too, Kate Ketterman" She looked like she was about to cry herself. Zac and Lacey sure have impeccable timing.
"You guys stayed late enough" Lacey brushed past us with Zac following. Sitting down to put his shoes back on, they looked over at us and we let go of each other.
"Ready to go?" he stood and headed for the door.
" Nite guys, I 'm heading to bed" Lacey looked at Zac and winked, then was gone.
"I'll be there in a few, Go on ahead." I told Zac, I needed to be with Kate alone for a few.
"Uh-- how about I get a drink of water , then we go...." Tay told him, that was our pact....he headed in the kitchen.
"We'll talk about this in the morning" I gave her one last peck and went to get the spoiler from the kitchen.

My stride was hard going back across the street, I tried to act like I was mad but , I guess it was a good thing Zac was there, or our annual slip would have been right on schedule. Crossing through the kitchen mom looked up and smiled.
"how was your.........." her phrase was cut off as I passed through to the living room and threw myself into the couch. Dad would have to be here. It was past midnight, what were they all doing up?
"You mad at someone?" he questioned-
"No horney" -- I can't believe that came out of my mouth-- he laughed a hearty laugh and patted my back hard several times.
"Shhh, your mother is still up.." He couldn't stop chuckling. Great he thought I was joking.
"Just..." I started to get up and pushed his hand away.
"Ike, your a 23 year old , unmarried guy, you're allowed to be." He was serious now, that's better. "I assume your evening went well?" Just then mom walked in.
"You coming to bed, Walk?" she smiled at me with a hint of curiosity. "How was your evening, Mr Grumpy, you okay?"
"We had a great time mom, Tay and Jess didn't tell you?" I got up to head to bed, watching my mom and dad sitting on the couch snuggled up with each other. I had that familiar ache in my heart again.

Chapter 13

We had stayed up late to make sure all the kids got in safe, and now sitting on the couch with Walker, I watched my oldest head off to bed, troubled by something.
"What happened with him tonight?" I hoped that he and Kate hadn't had a squabble, tonight of all nights. "They didn't have a disagreement did they?" Zac seemed to be nearly flying when he came through just before him.
"Uh, I think just the opposite..." Walkers chuckle signalled something more. " They just need to fall in love and put themselves out of their misery."
"They are in love, they just won't admit it." A warm feeling rushed through my body as I said that. My son in love with a woman.......

For being up so late the night before, I had awoken early this morning, enjoying the peace and quiet of the house before everyone else woke. Looking out across the neighborhood, I watched Kate sitting out on her front porch swing, wrapped in a blanket. She was up early too. My thoughts drifted , thinking of my son and her. There was no doubt in my mind that these two loved each other. Ike had a picture of a loving relationship from his father and I, but she raised herself, she had no role model. It must be confusing and scarey for her to feel like this. Sensing someone behind me, I turned.
"Ike- " His eyes looked sunken, and he had dark circles." You look like you didn't sleep"
"Nah, I need a showe........" he stopped as he looked out the window and saw Kate on her porch.
" I need a shower and I have something to do..." he headed out of the kitchen. It wasn't long before the house was buzzing, the first to appear was Zac, being the ray of sunshine he never ceased to be.
"Mornin', mom" towering over me, he kissed my cheek, and smiled. My heart swelled at that point, my children were my greatest source of pride.

Chapter 14

After not sleeping a wink in the night, I decided to enjoy the morning. I slipped out onto the porch, wrapped in a blanket to take in the smell and the noises of the morning. Lacey would sleep till noon, at least, knowing her. I heard the stereo on last nite in her room for at least and hour after the guys had left.
"We'll talk about this in the morning"--those words echoed in my head the whole nite. Talk about what? We had said it, it was out in the open, now we had to deal with it. Taking the safest path, I decided to get dressed and head to his house, there was enough people there, it would be a safe place to talk, without taking any chances.

Feeling as nervous as the first time I had made the walk across the street, I even jumped at the security system. I knocked and bent down to tie my shoe. The door was opened by Ike. My mouth dropped literally. There he stood, dressed only in sweatpants, hanging low on his hips, revealing the golden hair around his navel. his chest was bare , his hair wet, hanging in ringlets, dripping down his chest. Standing paralyzed for a moment, I resisted the urge to run my hand over his chest. Boy am I glad there are nine people at home!
Kate you're up early" his smile spread slowly, as did mine.
"You say that like you think I actually slept..." He looked a bit tired "Did you?"
"Not a wink" His smile brightened and he pulled me inside with a gentle hug.
He smelled fresh from the shower, but he hadn't shaved yet, I could see his blond stubble around his chin. leaning in, I whispered to him.
"You're going to have to put some clothes on if you want to talk..." I gave him a mischevious smile.

Chapter 15

Zac had given me the warning to get dressed before heading upstairs, that Kate was here. I rounded the corner into the kitchen to find Zac, Jess, mom and dad all huddled around the far end of the counter talking in discreet whispers. I wanted in on the secret......
Grabbing the OJ from the fridge I glanced through the counter divide to see Ike on the sofa, and Kate directly in front of him on the coffee table. They were holding hands, not unusual for them, but their faces were drop dead serious.
"Whats that all about?" I quietly prompted the congregation at the other end of the counter.
"Your the one that was with him last nite after he came home, you tell us" Zac answered before anyone else.
"All I know is he didn't sleep...tossed and turned and paced all nite, kept me awake half of it" It wasn't like Ike to not talk to me, especially when it came to Kate.
"Last I knew, he was calling me a spoiler for dragging him out of Kate's last nite, he came home, talked to dad for a few and then went to the room." Zac continued- I saw dad smile incriminatingly.
"Ok, dad fess up...." I smiled back at him. Ike didn't get his coy attitude from anywhere unfamiliar, Dad had perfected it to a fine art, and Zac wasn't far behind, I guess I missed that gene. Mom ambled over to peer into the living room again, then came back.
"I believe we have love blossoming before our eyes....." her eyes had a sparkle to them as well.

Within minutes the rest of the clan was in the kitchen, dressed in their Sunday finest, I hadn't even remembered it was Sunday.
"You coming to church with us Tay?" Dad questioned.
"You all going?" Looking at Zac, I couldn't tell by the way he was dressed, but that wasn't unusual.
"Yeah, Kate asked us to take Lacey with us, she wasn't going this morning, neither is Ike." I thought for a moment, that would leave them alone..........
"I think I'll skip, maybe go tonight. I'm not ready anyhow" looking down at the fact I wasn't showered and still in sweats. Everyone but Zac slowly headed out the door. He lagged behind for a moment-
"Make sure you stay in view, and, hey, get a few juicy tidbits for us if you can!" He guffawed and took off down the drive, predictably to get Lacey.

Hearing the car leave the drive, I stood in the same place feeling awkward, not knowing if they knew I was still here. Bending down, I peered through the counter divide again to see if the were still talking. They were not, nonetheless it was very innocent and sweet, just holding hands and gently kissing. Watching this, I had this sudden wave of dejavu, as if I was seeing my parents 25 years prior.
Guess I had better make my presence known. I opened the fridge again and dropped something. That ought to do it. Within moments Ike was in the kitchen, getting some juice, Ha! Looking at him, funny enough, he appeared nervous.
"Sorry, didn't know if you knew I was here..." I half smiled at him. He returned it, but it was tight.
"You guys, okay? I mean, I can see your okay-okay, but are you okay?" I was trying to pry without the appearance of doing so.
"Yes, we and I are, we're just trying to work some stuff out..." he wasn't going to let on.
"I'm going to take a shower...and...I don't know when I'll be back" I purposely gave him a big goofy grin trying to lighten the heavy air in the room. I turned to leave--
"Tay, you busy later?" His mood had lightened considerably "Can we spend the afternoon together?" I could see now that it really was alright.
"Yeah, Ike, how about some pool?" That was our place to go and talk. I turned and hopped up the stairs to take a shower.