Growing up
Before they knew it the day of Charlie's second birthday had come and was in full swing. With everyone and anyone that they knew making a visit and it turning in a more eventful day than they had already anticipated. Of course all their mini-members were there to join the celebration along with their parents but even all the grandparents had come along this year to join the fun. Among which there were two veteran grandparents who had also had grandchildren from their other children. Those were of course the parents of Nick and Harry. Though in Harry's case, they were still in the middle of the anxious times as they were waiting for the birth of the grandchild from their second son.
Another first time attendee was the new wife, who had just returned from her honeymoon with Jenny's oldest brother. The poor woman had not yet unpacked her suitcase when she had to leave for the airport again to come to this party. Though she had been a bit awkward and nervous at first, she quickly became more comfortable with her brother's help and in no time she was laughing and talking like she had been here since the beginning of it all. Even little James had made an appearance along with his beloved Anne. He was growing up rapidly, turning more and more into a proper gentleman and leaving his little boy days behind. Whenever Jenny saw him, she couldn't believe this was the same small boy that wanted to marry her and 'rescue' her from Jason.
Some other people who had grown, though in a different way from the youngsters, were a few of the people on Jason's side of the family. Aside from the people who had been restored to glory after Jason and Stephen's takeover of the empire that had found their own happy person and had come to visit with them, there were also a few with other intentions. Some of the family members that had come to visit, were people who had been exiled before and were the ones that had apparently grown the most. Intending to use this event to bury the hatchet and let their past actions remain where it belonged, the past, they had arrived as uninvited and most likely felt as unwanted guests. But feeling that their chance at forgiveness was highest on a day that supposed to be a happy occasion for those that they sought forgiveness from, they decided to come anyway.
As it was such a joyous day for both Jenny and Jason, they were welcoming to whoever decided to show up and were indeed willing to let bygones be bygones. Though they certainly hadn't expected this particular couple to be the ones to show up, testing that resolve tremendously. This couple being the now heavily pregnant wife of Jason's previous competitor, the one who had caused a very painful period in their history as a couple, along with her husband.
With a flabbergasted look on her face, Jenny stepped aside to let the both of them inside as she processed her initial surprise. Though she was surprised to see the two of them and she was particularly happy to see them, she could tell it took great courage to show up like this, knowing you might receive a door slammed shut in your face as the only reward for your bravery. So, if they could muster up that bravery, she could create the willingness to listen to what they had to say. She was just thinking of how to let Jason know who had arrived, when he as the devil that he was approached her from behind in order to ask who came by the door. Having his question answered before the words could leave his mouth.
The smile he had on his face when came to the hall immediately disappeared when he saw who it was. These two were the last to make amends with Jason and were the last who Jason was willing to receive. All the others had done it over the past few years during Christmas but these two had apparently always avoided that confrontational situation by visiting before anyone got there or after everyone had returned to their own homes. Even though they felt bad about their past actions, even though they knew they were the ones in the wrong back then, admitting that to themselves was already so hard that they simply needed some time in order to be able to admit it to others and gather the strength to admit their wrongdoings to the one they had done wrong.
Back then they were being too absorbed in winning, too hell bent on not losing, that they were willing to sacrifice anyone and anything. They just couldn't see that they were losing something much more valuable than the position of CEO. Now that they had the time to reflect and their own lives were on a good track after reaching rock bottom, they wanted to make amends and be able to attend the next family gathering with their heads held high. In the tension filled hallway, under the heavy pressure of Jason's cold stare and tightly clenched jaw, they did what they came to do. With stammering voices the wife started off the apology after which she encouraged the husband to do the same. With hopeful looks they lifted their eyes off the ground and met with Jason's cold ones. With trembling hands they waited for their fates to be sealed, when Jenny came to their aid.
Grabbing the clenched hand of the person who had caused them nightmares, she managed to make that cold look of his thaw and give them a chance at seeing spring. It only took an exchange of a few looks and a short whisper, before Jason let out a sigh and walked away. The both of them turned their eyes to Jenny who gave them a thumbs up with a smile. With her encouragement they came in and joined the celebration. So, while their hearts were hurting from receiving so much kindness from the person they had probably hurt the most, they enjoyed finally being included again.