Doyle looked in the mirror. Sometimes her mind could still see the bruising. She pressed her lips together and kissed the air to smooth her lipstick.

"Aren't you ready yet?"

Doyle smiled when she turned toward her room, Kasper looked nice in his casual outfit. She reached up and straightened his collar. "Monty is going to be jealous."

He shook his head. "They're solid. She would never take a hall pass."

Doyle chuckled. "You are so conceited."

"No, I'm not."

"Are too."

"No."

The bickering continued down the stairs. Percy shook his head. "Some things never change in this house."

"But a lot have Perce," Kasper reminded him.

"McIntyre has picked up your brother and will be here momentarily."

"Why were we invited to this dinner?"

Doyle smiled. "Because Sofia has the hots for you."

"And you're cool with being at their house? What if you..."

She cut him off before he insulted Gray. "It's totally fine." She didn't tell anyone about California and for reasons of their own, Jimmy and Philip were keeping it quiet.

Doyle had taken extra care to look nice. It was the first time she and Gray would be together with her siblings. As soon as the car arrived, she climbed into the back while Kasper sat up front. The familiar ride from Beacon Hill to Back Bay wasn't long at all.

Kasper said, "The last time I was here was to bring Doyle home."

Ivy looked up at the house. "I thought it might be bigger."

Baxter laughed. "Who are you?"

Doyle said, "It's large inside."

Georgie stood next to Jimmy's car which was parked in the driveway. Sofia greeted them at the door with a big smile. As Doyle stepped in, her eyes immediately found Ana in Gray's arms. The baby was shy with all the unfamiliar faces.

Doyle walked over and smiled. "Hi Ana." Her heart swelled when Ana reached out her arms. She took her from Gray. "See that's my brother, and my other brother and silly Jimmy."

"Hey." Jimmy complained. "It's nice to see you happy."

"I am happy."

She knew Gray was behind her before she felt his hand on her waist. Baxter almost stepped forward, but Ivy squeezed his hand. Knowing Jimmy, he brought Ivy in on the conspiracy.

She looked at Kasper. "I'm happy because Gray and I are together for good."

"What?" Baxter asked.

"Why?" Tate asked.

"When?" Kasper asked, looking hurt.

"Gray was in LA and the thing is I didn't realize something important. The night of my attack, I had a lot of nightmares and dreams. During one of them, I kissed Gray. In the morning, I was glad to feel the chain around my neck. Dad would have killed me if Gio stole it."

"Seriously?" Shocked Jimmy broke the stunned silence, but he quickly laughed. "I didn't see that coming."

Baxter looked at her. "You're making that up so we'll concede."

"Concede, what?"

Baxter frowned. "That you should be with him."

Jimmy said, "Bax, let them be together. He's an excellent influence. Doyle, when was the last time you smoked?"

She blushed. "In the garden the night I found out about you and Tate. Even though it's legal, I promised Gray no drugs."

"I've been worried about you. You pick the wrong crowd."

"Not anymore. Don't worry Bax. I already told Dad, and he met Gray."

"When did dad meet him?" Tate looked confused.

"We went sailing. He didn't scare Gray off when he told him I have no money."

Jimmy laughed. "Sounds like what my uncle did. It was justified in his case."

Monty said, "Gray doesn't care. I pay him well. He's invaluable to many of my endeavors."

Doyle hadn't expected that. Gray said, "I have my own projects too."

Sofia said, "Our Gray is not lazy."

Kasper looked lost. Doyle passed Ana to Gray. "I'll be back." She took Kasper's hand and led him to the back hall with the stairs to Gray's place.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You haven't been home and I know you don't approve of Gray."

Kasper shook his head. "He hurt you."

"I know, but he apologized. He did it so I wouldn't leave you, our family. Hopefully, you'll accept us together. I love you, but I want to be with him. Please accept Gray."

"You really wore the cross?"

She nodded. "Yes, I felt it right away, but didn't understand it. Those days after I came home, a lot of what I felt was missing Gray. I couldn't sort out all my emotions."

"He saved you and took care of you."

"That might have been enough for my feelings, but I know the cross helped. Without it when he pushed me away, I would have moved on. Gray wasn't looking for love, but the cross didn't give him a choice."

"You're really happy?"

She nodded. "More than I've ever been."

"Okay. Then I'm happy."

Doyle threw her arms around him. "You'll love him. He's traveled around the world."

When they returned to the others, Gray raised his eyebrows, and she nodded. Kasper walked over to Gray. "I heard you travel."

He nodded. "Not like you, but Monty and I have been all over."

"We have. I'm a risk taker and I've dragged Gray with me."

"Bungee jumping. Safari."

Kasper looked confused. "Safari isn't risky, is it?"

Monty laughed. "When you get ill."

"Dios mío! I thought they were dead when they came home. He." Sofia pointed to Gray. "Looked so thin."

"Do you have pictures?" Doyle thought they could go with the pictures of her face.

Monty shook his head. "I don't think so. We recovered right, baby."

"Si." Sofia kissed his cheek.

Gray pulled Doyle into his side. Jimmy stepped over to them. "I'm glad you worked it out. Was it safe backstage with the bands?"

Gray nodded. "As long as lusty glares aren't dangerous."

Doyle put her hand on her hip. "I would have been fine."

Jimmy raised his voice. "It's a good thing Gray was there when you ran into the psycho guy from Unhung Rager."

"It's Unhinged Rage." Doyle laughed.

Jimmy winked. "Whatever."

Baxter frowned. "Where did you see him?"

"He was at the same hotel. Believe me, I was shocked to see him."

Gray smiled. "You were more shocked to see me."

"Why were you in LA?" Baxter asked.

"He was with me. I hated Doyle being backstage again, so I asked him to watch out for her."

Tate frowned. "You did? So you encouraged them?"

"Honey, they didn't need any encouragement. The cross took care of it."

Monty said, "Let's go to the dining room."

Doyle had always eaten in their large kitchen, the heart of Monty and Sofia's home. The dining room was more formal with an elegantly set table.

"Your table is beautiful?" Ivy smiled.

"Thank you." Sofia beamed.

The food was delicious. On the other end of the table, Baxter and Monty talked about different dishes and recipes.

Ivy asked Sofia about Ana and her pregnancy. Doyle smiled at Tate who leaned in. "It's just a matter of time."

"Maybe Mother will come around."

"She'll change her focus to you. Did dad really like Gray?"

"You'll have to ask him. He made Gray promise to wait a year."

"A year for what?"

"Before we get engaged. Dad will give his blessing if Gray can support us."

"Support you." Tate giggles.

Doyle frowned. "My life will not be the same as yours but we'll both be in love."

"I had hoped you would like the guy Mother has been talking about nonstop."

"Eli is nice, but he's not Gray." Doyle squeezed Gray's hand. He had been talking with Jimmy and Kasper.

Jimmy smiled, "Tate, you should know I invited Gray to the wedding."

"As Doyle's plus one?"

"No, as my guest. Doyle was still giving him the cold shoulder when I invited him. So Baxter and Ivy's wedding had long lost loves, and ours will have fireworks from Amelia Kane."

"Never. Appearances." Kasper laughed.

Baxter said, "She may never acknowledge Gray."

"It's better than her passive aggressive comments. My mother-in-law doesn't like me."

Baxter sighed. "Gray, my wife has just reminded me I'm acting like my mother. Doyle is still my little sister, but if you hurt her you have to deal with me."

"And me. Even though I helped you get together. First Baxter and Ivy and now Doyle and Gray. Kasper, who do you like? I'll help things happen?"

"No, thanks, Jimmy. I'm set to compete for a bride in October, but I took a job for the summer."

"A job! You have a job at Kane Properties." Baxter used a tone that could only make Ivy smile.

"Dad said when I'm thirty."

Monty smiled. "I'm still fighting my responsibilities to Whitby."

"See. Monty travels. I'm going to work on a large sailboat in the Caribbean."

Baxter groaned. "You're never going to settle down."

Kasper shrugged. "Where's the fun in that?"

Doyle smiled. She loved her sibling and Gray, so having them laugh together was bliss.

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