WELCOME HOME, KAYLEE AND TAYLOR! Maple Grove Manor has been festively decked out for the party, filled with balloons in cheery colors, a brightly-colored banner hanging in the doorway to greet the guests of honor with a happy "Welcome Home!"

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A buffet table is set up and full of all kinds of food and refreshments for the invited guests, which consists of family and a few close personal friends.

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There's even a kids' buffet table full of various finger foods and scrumptious treats to make the younger set happy.

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A table has been set up in case anyone's brought gifts for the newlyweds, who have just arrived home from a wedding and honeymoon in New Orleans.

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And of course, there's cake because it wouldn't be a party without one!

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((This thread will be open for a few weeks to accommodate posts before it's closed. Anyone who plays a family member or close friend is welcome to post. Any questions, drop me or Kaylee's player a PM. Thanks and have fun!))

The first to arrive at the proper time were Bethany and Jason, carting their twins around in the multiverse's largest double stroller. As Lyneth descended on Brody and Evelyn, the adults had a chance to say hello without mishap, sharing hugs and warm words.

They were a unique little knot among the Grangers - Rufus and Miranda, their daughter Bethany; her husband, Jason, who was almost a brother to Des, who was married to Piper; all happily attending a party thrown in honor of Taylor, Rufus' nephew, and Kaylee, Miranda's cousin. One small branch of the Old Man's sprawling clan that had come together definitively just a little over a year before, and were promising to keep things interesting into the next generation as well.

Bethany embraced her mother and father warmly, exclaiming over the decorations. "This place looks amazing," she complimented them. "So when are we expecting the love birds?"

Taylor had hoped for a quiet return home from New Orleans, but it seemed quiet was not in Miranda's dictionary.

He had reluctantly agreed to a party, more for Kaylee's sake than his own. He couldn't deny that he'd robbed her of a proper wedding and reception, though she had wanted to elope as much as he had. He thought it would do her good to have family around her, to let them see how happy she was, how far she'd come, and to give them an opportunity to welcome her home and congratulate her on their wedding.

He was hoping to let her have the limelight and remain somewhat inconspicuous, so it was a little disconcerting to find a small child wrapped around his legs, hugging him tightly. "Well, hello," he said, smiling down at the small girl doing the hugging. "You must be Lyneth. I'm ..."

He lifted his gaze suddenly to find a small crowd of people looking expectantly at the newly-wedded couple, and his smile wavered nervously. "I'm Taylor," he introduced himself. "It's nice to meet you all."

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It was at that very moment that the hostess of the party swept in to greet (read that, rescue) the guests of honor from such an enthusiastic and quite possibly overwhelming welcome. It only proved how much Kaylee was adored and missed by her family that so many of them had come out to welcome her home. It wasn't so much those in attendance that was interesting to Miranda as those who were missed, and yet, she wasted little time pondering that, sweeping in the way she was wont to do to make everyone present feel comfortable and welcome, whether they were family or not.

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" she asked with a grin at the small cluster of Grangers and Bennetts. "Kaylee, darling!" she exclaimed, wrapping her younger cousin up in a maternal hug. Of course, she was the only other Granger who had actually witnessed the exchange of vows, but few present needed to know that. "Welcome home, dear," she said, adding in a soft whisper, "See how you were missed?" As was evidenced by the turn out of family and friends, though there were a few people missing. She knew Johnny and Liv were away, visiting their own families in New York, but she wasn't so sure about the others.

"And you!" Miranda exclaimed with a laugh, seeing Lyneth with her arms wrapped snugly around Taylor's legs, trapping him in place near the door. "Lyneth, darling, let the poor man go before you cut off his circulation!" she warned with another laugh.

"But he's my new cousin! And I want cake ....what?s circle nation?" Lyneth asked, not budging from Taylor, until Desmond stepped in to pry her away with a mumbled apology at the newlyweds.

"Not circle nation, Lynnie. Circ-u-la-tion," Desmond replied, enunciating the word slowly, one syllable at a time. He smiled as he tucked her tiny hand in his much bigger one. "Come on, let's get you some cake before you starve to death!" He turned to Kaylee and Taylor and offered them both a warm smile, "Welcome home and congratulations!"

Emily interrupted, tugging at her father's pants to get his attention. "Cake, Papa!" Whether she really wanted a treat or just wanted whatever it was Lyneth wanted was hard to say, but Jon laughed and rolled his eyes knowingly at Vicki before scooping his daughter up off the floor. "Sorry," he apologized to the newlyweds. "We'll catch up later. Welcome home, Kay!" he offered brightly. Whatever had happened between them in the past to make things awkward was forgotten, at least as far as he was concerned. "Welcome to the chaos that's the Granger Family, Taylor," he added before following Desmond in search of sweets.

"RUFIO!" Miranda's voice called across the room for her husband, who had been hiding behind the small cluster of Bennetts not far away. "Stop playing wallflower and come say hello to your nephew and niece, for goodness sake!"

At last, Taylor chuckled as Miranda summoned her husband - his late mother's brother - by the nickname she'd stuck the man with and that he hated. "I can see being part of the Granger Family is going to be interesting."

"Interesting?" Vicki spluttered a laugh. "That's putting it mildly."

"Come along now, children," Miranda lovingly scolded. "It's time to get this party started."