Anywhere But Here - (open)

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"Please daddy?" Phoebe asked when she looked over to Jason. "Why not" Jason replied, making Phoebe smile and hug him. Jason smiled and returned the hug, picking Phoebe up at the at the same time. Shani smiled as she watched them while Ice walked over and joined them. Shani pet Ice behind his head, then looked back to everyone. "Well, looks we are going to have a great time next week." Jason and Rachel's mom said as she watched them.

Jason glanced over to his mom when she said that, then nodded a bit. "That we will" he replied while holding Phoebe close to him. He looked back to his daughter and playfully ruffled her hair. Phoebe giggled when he did that. "Daddy, your messings up my hair" she said while giggling. "Sorry lass" Jason replied as he held her. Jason and Rachel's mom smiled a bit as she watched her son and granddaughter interact with each other.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel smiled and agreed with what her mum had said, family was the only thing that mattered to her and it was times like those moments which were golden. To see people happy and looking forward to something that was coming up. Watching Jason and Phoebe made her wonder what Savannah was up to with her husband, a day away and she was as lost as they came. She liked her own space and time but she missed her family but then again she knew they would be back before she knew what had hit her.

Rachel looked toward her mum for a moment, “He’s a great dad even if he is an annoying brother.” She stated smirking, “And he’s lucky to have such a great family.” She added watching them both. She could only hope to be so lucky in life as her brother but if there was ever a better example of how to do things right she didn’t know what it was.

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"That he is" Shani replied while watching them. "Thank you Rachel....by the way: remember the shaving cream prank I pulled on you?" Jason said to her in reply, holding back a grin as he said that to her. Shani knew what he was talking about and giggled softly while Ms. McGuire sighed a little. Her husband shook his head and grinned a little, remembering that day as well. While he was a bit upset with Jason that day, it was a funny moment for the family. "Whats daddy talking about Aunt Rachel?" Phoebe asked while looking at her dad and aunt. Jason looked at her, then at Rachel after she said that.

Jason thought back to that day, remembering how their dad was both mad and laughing at the same time. Oddly, Jason was punished that much for what he did....though he really didn't know who was more upset about it: his mom or his dad. no one really got hurt he said to himself as he stood there and held Phoebe in his arms.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel winced as she remembered every detail of the shaving cream prank. “Yeah I remember that day well.” She said with a slight glare before she smirked. She had to hand it to her brother that he knew his pranks and carried them out well, if there was ever someone to learn from it was him and she learned the hard way that day which was good and bad. Rachel grinned as she looked toward Phoebe, “Your dad had a mean streak when he found shaving cream but why don’t we let your dad tell this one.” She said smirking as she gave a ‘lets hear it’ look toward Jason.

“But I’ve still got to get my own back for that.” She said chuckling as she wondered when a good time would be or what it was she could do. Rachel thought about telling Phoebe that Jason wanted to play princess but then she wasn’t sure if that would get her into trouble given their mum and dad were there or if she would get another prank before she managed to get Jason back for the shaving cream incident that was a serious thing to her.

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Jason told Phoebe the story while holding to her. "Daddy, that wasn'ts nice" Phoebe said to her dad. "I know, but we laugh about it now." Jason replied before glancing over to his sister, knowing that she would get him back at some point. Their mom and dad both shook their heads a little when they heard Phoebe say that to Jason. True Jason and Rachel's dad wasn't happy with Jason when he did that, but in a way he laughed about now along with Jason, though his wife still wasn't thrilled that Jason had done that.

Jason noticed the look on his mom's face as he held Phoebe. It wasn't lost on him that she was still not happy with him over that. He didn't say anything to her, knowing full well what would happen if he did, thinking back to the one and only time he had done that to her and the trouble it got him in.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel laughed as Phoebe told her father it wasn’t nice. She completely agreed with her niece it truly wasn’t a nice thing but like he said. They could laugh about it now, or at least he could until she figured out a way to get him back for it. “You see we forgive people for what they do.” Rachel stated smirking though given the look on their parents face she wasn’t about to tell Phoebe never to forget. Then again she owed a lot to her brother so although payback would be nice it was maybe too late for that now.

Okay maybe not but still she had forgiven him for it but it had taken a while. “See your dad when he was ... a lot younger.” She teased grinning, “He did a not very nice thing and he got shouted at by grandma and grandpa. So now i’m going to have to think of a way to annoy your dad without them knowing.” She joked, there were plenty of ways to do that but then again it was maybe worth a few years wait she thought as she smirked toward Jason.

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"Guilty" Jason replied as he listened to his sister as she spoke to Phoebe. Phoebe looked over to him when he said that and giggled a bit as she sat with her aunt. It wasn't lost on Jason that Rachel would get him back at some point and that he had to be on his toes. For now, he didn't focus on that and just enjoyed the time he was having with his family.

A while later, Jason and Shani were bringing the dessert to the table. Jason's mom looked at what they had, then at Shani when they returned. "Looks amazing" she said honestly. Shani nodded a bit when Mrs. McGuire said that to her. "Thank you, it's Rugelach....a Jewish pastry of Ashkenazic origin made in the form of a crescent by rolling a triangle of dough around a filling. An alternative form is constructed much like a strudel or nut roll, but unlike those, the rolled dough and filling are cut into slices before baking." she said in reply as Jason listened to her.

[Rachel Murphy]

So she hadn’t quite come up with something in the last few years but the longer she waited she figured she would find something fitting. When Phoebe giggled she smirked, Jason was one very lucky guy she thought and sure she might tell him that a thousand times over but it still was true as he glanced around. Family time was the best time anyone could spend and like most families they were not perfect but days like that and she was sure it felt that way.

Rachel glanced toward the dessert, she was brought up in a Catholic family and Jewish food and religion was all learned through Shani and Jason. It was fun to try different foods and despite the fact she had no idea what was in it she was glad for the strudel or nut roll likeness as it gave her a base to work from. “Mum’s right it looks amazing, Jason really did manage to find a treasure in you Shani.” She said meaning every word as she stuck her tongue out at Jason teasing him a little.

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Jason shook his head a bit when Rachel did that to him while taking Shani's hand after dishing out the desert for everyone. Connor and Phoebe noticed what Rachel did and they each giggled a bit. Jason looked over to them, then smiled a bit before starting to eat. Connor and Phoebe did the same as they sat there while Ice was sitting off the side of the table.

Mrs. McGuire looked over to Ice and nodded to him as she sat there with her family. Ice looked over to her and tilted his head to the side at the same time, then wagged his tail, which Phoebe noticed, making her giggle a little as she sat there and watched him.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel grinned as Jason shook his head, honestly maybe it was because she was younger than he was but she almost wanted to lean over and shake some fun back into him. When the kids giggled she did too as she did the exact same again. “Okay Jason, had to be blackmail right? I mean really, are you sure that you are both married.” She teased eyeing them suspiciously, oh she knew they were and she had no issues with it because they both seemed very happy.

“See even Ice agrees.” She said pointing to him wagging his tail as she chuckled. “Now man’s best friend tells no lies.” She stated, “But you’re both lucky and I’m envious, amazing kids, great dog. I mean how’d you manage all this?” She asked slightly in awe as she often struggled to figure out a husband and a baby but as usual Jason seemed to just be a natural at it all. Then again being her older brother, he was the bench mark to meet and he never made it easy.

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"That he does and agreed" Jason replied as he pet the big dog. But you’re both lucky and I’m envious, amazing kids, great dog. I mean how’d you manage all this? Jason looked over when his sister said that. "No need to be envious" he replied while petting Ice. "We work together, support each other....help out so no one has to do it all." Jason added.

That was his military side coming out after he said that. Jason was all about teamwork, knowing it was what got people through difficult situations. Jason and Rachel's parents looked at him when he said that, knowing where he was coming from and why Rachel felt the way she did.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel sat back in her chair as she listened to Jason speak. It was his military side that was coming out, the team work and helping one another. It was what she liked and of course sure she wanted to be exactly like her big brother even if she did tease him and annoy him every chance she got. She still appreciated him and made sure that no matter what if she could help him then she was there no matter what was going on.

“You’re one very lucky man Jason. A pretty good example to the rest of us.” She said smiling, “If I can be half as lucky as you then i’m happy. Also if I can come around here for Shani’s cooking too then life is amazing.” She said with a grin, there was no sarcasm in what she said at all and she was happy for her brother. The guy deserved it for putting up with her for all her life and her sister, her dad was great but Jason was the one she wanted to follow in the footsteps of even if she’d never say it out loud to him.

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“You’re one very lucky man Jason. A pretty good example to the rest of us....If I can be half as lucky as you then i’m happy....Also if I can come around here for Shani’s cooking too then life is amazing.

Jason looked over when Rachel said that to him. "Thank you Rachel" he said to her with a slight nod in reply while Connor and Phoebe watched him. He noticed that her remark was genuine as he sat there. Phoebe smiled a little at the same time. "Don't worry Aunt Rachel, you'll find a prince." the little girl said to her. Jason and Rachel's mom looked over when she said that and smiled a bit at her granddaughter. Jason glanced over to Rachel when she said that, then looked back to Rachel.

[Rachel Murphy]

Rachel laughed and nodded, “Well my prince will have to get your approval first Phoebe, you’re the expert on that sort of thing.” She said knowing that she had Sam but then again it was about time he came around to meet the family again. That way she could get the run down on princes from Phoebe. She could hardly wait until Savannah was old enough to do that sort of thing and yet it seemed like yesterday when Jason said Phoebe was even going to be around.

Rachel simply smiled toward Jason, “You okay?” She asked him as she furrowed her brow wondering if she had just overstepped and she would get a talking to later. With their parents it wasn’t a case of your an adult now it was more a case of you’re never too old to take a talking to. Twenty or sixty, it didnt matter.

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Jason nodded when she said that. "I am sis" he replied honestly while sitting there as Phoebe smiled and giggled in reply to Rachel's comment. At the same time, he though back to when the kids were born, then to when he first met Shani. Jason would never forget those days. At the same time, he was thankful everyday that he was married and had two kids of his own.

Mrs. McGuire noticed it when she looked over to her son. She knew that look, remembering it from the day of his wedding and when Connor was born. Ms. McGuire knew how happy and thankful her son was for everything that he had been blessed with.