Hello Again (Dixie)

[Krystal Carey]

Krystal had just picked Jenny up from school and ever since they had been back the little girl had been begging to see her father and Kathy. Today Krystal finally agreed and although she could not get in touch with Tad she decided to drop by the house just in case he was home. When she and Jenny got to the door she knocked and looked around. She missed her old home sometimes but she knew it was for the best that Dixie and Tad were back together. They had been through a lot and even though it hurt Krystal it also helped her realize that Tad was just not the one for her.

"Oh! Hi Dixie! I hope you don't mind us just dropping by but Jenny has been begging to see Tad and Kathy since we made it back to Pine Valley. Are you busy? Is Tad home?"

Krystal looked at Jenny with a smile. "Do you remember Dixie? Kathy's mom? She is Tara and Nolan's mom too? Your little brother and sister?" Jenny nodded and gave Dixie a smile and a shy wave.

[Dix C. Martin]

While the twins were napping, curled up on the couch Dixie was catching up on emails on her laptop, looking up once in awhile at Kathy working on her homework.
"Momma are fractions important?"
"Well..somewhat..why?"
"I don't like them. You think there's a chance I won't have to use them ever again?"
At this Dixie chuckled.
"I wouldn't count on it, baby."

Hearing someone at the door, she closed her laptop and headed to the front, spotting Krystal and Jenny to her surprise. Greeting Krystal politely she heard her ask if Tad was around.
"Oh..well Tad's still at the office but you're more than welcome to come in and visit for awhile. We're not too busy."
She said, before Jenny waved at her and Dixie couldn't help but smile.
"Hi sweetheart, it's so good to see you again!"
Stepping aside she let the two of them come in the foyer.
"Well Nolan and Tara are still taking a nap, but, Kathy's just in the next room if you wanna go on and surprise her."

Hearing this the little girl got a big smile and ran over to the living room, while the older women walked.
"She's just adorable Krystal, and she's growing up so fast!"
Dixie said, shaking her head.
"Anyways..would you like something to eat, drink? Or would Jenny? I could put out some snacks or something if you like?"
She offered, trying to be a good hostess.

[Krystal Carey]

"Jenny had a snack on the way over and I had a big lunch at work today but thanks so much!" Krystal walked with Dixie into her old sitting room. It was kind of sad in a way remembering how it used to be but she was also happy that she had let go of the past.

"Thanks for inviting me in..it is nice to see you and you look great!" She saw Jenny and Kathy already catching up and smiled. "I should not have kept her away from her family for so long..she talks about you guys all the time..but I think we all needed the space."

"Listen for what it's worth I am sorry about everything that happened before I left town. I never meant to come between you and Tad. I know how much you guys love each other and I was not myself. But I am now and sincerely I am so sorry. I am not trying to get you to forgive or forget what happened but I am trying to make peace and maybe even eventually a friendship with you and Tad because Jenny is part of your family and I do not want there to be any frayed ties between any of the members of her family."

[Dix C. Martin]

"Aw..it's nice to see you too. And you look pretty great yourself."
Dixie said with a friendly smile, and while the girls started chatting amongst themselves she and Krystal took a seat on the sofa.
When she mentioned needing the space Dixie nodded in understanding. A lot had happened and in this case, the old saying time healed all wounds seemed to fit.
Hearing the heartfelt apology, Dixie was taken aback for a second but heard her out. And tried to think of how to best respond.

"I don't want any frayed ties either, Krystal. Family's important to me too and I don't want to see anyone estranged because of things that happened in the past. And I'd be a hypocrite if I tried to hold anything against you. Not when I feel just as responsible for what happened then."
The blond sighed. She knew that when she'd come back to town Tad and Krystal were happily married, and she'd basically pulled the rug out from underneath them.
"I mean when I came back I had..tunnel vision when it came to Tad. I just wanted to recapture what we had so badly and..he got swept up in the whole thing with me. We didn't stop to think about, how much we were disrupting your life..or Jenny's. Truth is we didn't stop to think much at all. And, to be, totally honest it cost us a lot. Tad and I have had a lot of bumps in the road that, I know could've been avoided had we not..rushed so much. But we did and, it caused a lot more harm than good. For everyone involved."
She admitted guiltily.
"Luckily he and I are..starting to work things through. But, working things out with you's been..long overdue. Especially with our kids smack in the middle of everything, you know?"
Dixie said. Between J.R and Marissa and Kathy and Jenny, there was a lot of ties between the Carey and the Chandler/Martin clans, and Dixie knew for all their sakes they should keep them intact.
"I'll accept your apology on one condition, Krystal. Can you accept mine? Can we...put the past in the past and, leave it there?"
She asked, hoping that would be the case.

[Krystal Carey]

"Well what happened has already happened and I would love to just leave the past where it belongs. Of course I can accept your apology and I am glad that you can do the same for me." Krystal smiled warmly at the woman.

"You know it is really good to see her smile like that." She looked over at the girls and saw the smile that was spread across Jenny's tiny face. "She has just missed her sister so much and all of you..it is really good to be back here especially for her."

[Dix C. Martin]

"Oh yeah I'm sure. It's just as good for Kathy too. I know that she missed her sister, and you too."
Dixie said sincerely. She was glad to see the girls were reunited but also knew that Krystal had been there for Kathy during some of the toughest moments in her young life, and had helped raise her. Something she never forgot.
"You know when Jamie and J.R were little, I thought it was gonna be impossible for Adam and Brooke and Tad and I to, come together for the boys. We'd stirred up so much drama with Brooke and, well of course Adam kept bringing his own into the mix."
Rolling her eyes she continued.
"But we did the best we could to make sure no matter what happened with us, our boys would be as close as brothers. Our girls are closer than that but, I want the same thing for the two of them. It's the only way, you know? I wasn't close with either of my sisters til I was an adult and, it always bothered me. Looking back I know I could've used them both growing up."
She admitted with a shrug.
"Anyways..you know these days it's looking like these two aren't our only children that are growing closer. Lately J.R's been speaking with me about Marissa quite a bit."
Dixie hinted with a smile. But it faded some when she remembered what had happened with Babe and her son in the past, and looked at Krystal nervously. Wondering what she was thinking about this.
"What are..your thoughts on the two of them, Krystal? And, be honest."

[Krystal Carey]

"I agree completely. I want them to spend as much time together as possible. And when your little ones get a little older I want them to be close with Jenny too. If that means she spends time with you and Tad a lot I can handle that but it also means that if you want me to take them to the park or to the beach or to see a movie I will do that too. Or with you and Tad if that is okay too. I want to make sure they are close because Marissa and Jamie are too old for them to have that special bond she can have with Kathy and Nolan and Tara."

Krystal's face changed a bit hearing JR and Marissa were getting closer. "I..I have not seen Marissa since I have been back in town but honestly if he makes her happy then I want them to be together. I do not want to see her get hurt but she is a grown woman now and if she loves him and wants to be with him then I want the same thing for her. As long as she is happy so am I."

"How are the twins doing? The last time I saw them I don't think they were even walking!"

[Dix C. Martin]

"Yeah I know what you mean. And don't forget A.J too. I mean I know he's technically a nephew in the bunch but he's in the same age group. Strange as it sounds."
Dixie chuckled. It wasn't hard for her to wrap her mind around having a grandchild, but the thought of her daughters and baby boy being his aunts and uncle..was just mind boggling in a way.
When Krystal spoke about Marissa, Dixie nodded feeling the same way.
"I agree. J.R seems to care about her so much and, she is a lovely girl Krystal. I just want them to be happy, that's top priority always.
And, yeah you're probably right about that..uh..the twins are fine. Climbing out of their cribs, making Kathy crazy. Alls as it should be."
The blond smiled.
"I just can't get over how different they are from eachother though. Nolan is so shy and, Tara's just a little spitfire. They balance eachother out though, it works."

[Krystal Carey]

"Goodness yes AJ! He was still calling himself Little A last time I saw him." Krystal smiled to herself. "I guess that if JR and Marissa really think they can make it work they will have to. AJ has been devastated once after losing Babe and I know he will not be able to lose Marissa too."

"That is how it usually goes. Look at Tad and Ted..and Babe and Marissa for that matter. I know they never really met but Babe was just such a spirit to be reckoned with and Marissa is not like that at all. It is funny how it works out sometimes!"

[Dix C. Martin]

"Oh gosh, Ted! There's a name I haven't heard in awhile."
Dixie weakly chuckled. Even decades later though thinking of what happened in Canada freaked her out.
"And yeah I agree. I didn't know Babe incredibly well but, she definitely had a certain flair. Of course Marissa does in her own way too."
Then all of a sudden Dixie heard whimpering coming from the nursery and frowned. Excusing herself she headed to the back and saw Nolan looking shaken up and on the verge of tears. Without a second thought she scooped him up and held him close, rubbing his little back.
"Ohh, shh.shh, I'm here tiger. It's okay..it's okay I gotcha.."
Seeing as Tara was still out like a light, leaving the door open a crack she brought Nolan to the living room and sat back on the sofa.
"Sorry about that, I think someone had a bad dream.."
Dixie cooed, as Nolan snuggled into her shoulder shyly.

[Krystal Carey]

When Dixie got up Krystal smiled at the girls. "You guys having a good time over there?"

"Yeah Mama! Look what Kathy has!" Jenny ran over with a tiny silver crown on her head. "She has princess stuff!"

"That is beautiful baby. Just make sure she gets that back when you're done okay?"

Jenny ran back over to her sister just as Dixie came out with the little boy. "Wow have you gotten big!" Krystal gave the little boy a smile and shook her head. "I cannot believe how big he is! You look just like your mama! And your papa for that matter!"

[Dix C. Martin]

"I know..heartbreaking isn't it."
Dixie sighed with a smile, holding Nolan close and remembering when she'd first brought him home from the hospital. In a little over a month he'd be two years old and just the idea of it broke her heart. If she had it her way he'd stay this small forever.
"He's definitely a growing boy...and getting to be more and more like his daddy everyday. I catch him acting silly and he gets this shy smile on his face..I swear Tad must've taught him some tricks when I wasn't looking."
She chuckled, before Nolan started squirming and seemed to be perking up.
Then all of a sudden Kathy came running up grumbling to herself and trying to pull something from her hair.
"Sunshine what hap-"
"My tiara's stuck! Jenny and I were braiding eachother's hair and then she put the crown on me but it got caught and now..oww!"
Kathy yelped.
"Alright Kath c'mere.."
Dixie coaxed, but sighed when Nolan kept fidgeting in her arms.
"Okay tiger here...you wanna see Krystal, huh?"
She smiled, as Nolan shifted in the other woman's direction, while she turned her attention to her frustrated daughter. Meanwhile Jenny came walking up, looking nervous.

"It's okay honey, your sister here just has a little too much hair for her own good."
"Momma!"
Kathy whined.
"Kathy it's true...you've got thick hair just like your dad. Actually you're pretty overdue for a trim."
"Not now though right?"
"No..not now, unless this thing gets any more stuck in there.."
Dixie muttered, and bit her lip as she struggled to free the crown from her daughter's head.
"Momma..."
"Just be patient Kath..I got this.."
She sighed with a slight smile, shaking her head a bit at Krystal.

[Krystal Carey]

Krystal took the little boy into her arms with a smile. "I know you do not remember me buddy but I remember you..and these little toes!" Krystal tickled his feet gently getting a laugh from him. "Oh my goodness! Are you ticklish down there? Huh?"

Krystal realized how much she missed Jenny being that little right then and sadly sighed as she watched Dixie work with her daughter's hair. "You know Kathy I bet your Mama could do a wonderful braid in your hair without getting your crown stuck. I think Jenny needs a little more practice styling hair..and maybe if she watched your mother do it she could learn."

"Yes I could watch you Miss Dixie!" Jenny said now excited.

[Dix C. Martin]

Laughing herself seeing Krystal tickling Nolan and him having the time of his life, Dixie turned her attention back to the knot before Krystal spoke up with a suggestion.
"Yeah she is okay at it I guess."
Kathy shrugged as Dixie pouted.
"Just okay?"
She asked, and pulled out a particularly stuck part of the knot. Luckily it did the trick and the tiara was almost out.
"Hey! I'm just kidding!"
"Yeah okay.."
Dixie teased, before Jenny gave her an excited grin and made an offer she couldn't refuse.
"Alright it's a plan..c'mere."
She said, patting the space to the right of her on the couch for Jenny to come and sit.
"Say could you pass me that brush over there, and..those hairties too?"

After Jenny handed the items over, Dixie brushed out a stray tangle or two before putting Kathy's hair into pigtails.
"There, now you work on one side and I'll work on the other. Sound good?"
"Okay!"
Jenny smiled.
"Alright now first thing is you split the ponytail up into three parts like this.."
"Uh huh.."
"Good..okay now take the part on the left and fold it over the part in the middle."
"Left over middle..like this?"
"Exactly. And now take the part on the right..and put that over the middle."
"Okay...ooh, this right?"
"Yeah, good job. Now just keep doing that til you get to the end and, then..finish it off with the hair tie."
"Like this?!"
"Yes! See look, your side looks even better than mine."
Dixie smiled, as Kathy frowned.
"Hey they better both look good!"
"You look fine sunshine..say why don't you go practice some hairstyling on your barbies?"
"Okay...can we give them highlights too?"
Kathy asked, eying some markers from her pencil pouch.
"Well, nothing crazy. I don't want to see any jet black or purple streaks.."
"Don't worry you won't."
Kathy giggled, before she and Jenny ran off to get the dolls. As Dixie slumped back on the sofa with a smile.
"Well..at least braiding and barbies is more my speed then, creepy crawlies and keeping soccer balls out of the street. Hopefully I got a few years yet before I'm doing that again."
She chuckled, tickling Nolan a little bit.

[Krystal Carey]

Krystal smiled watching her daughter learn how to braid hair. She was glad that she was back with the other part of her family and she knew that despite any problems she and Dixie or she and Tad had in the past Jenny would always be welcome into their family just like she would always have a special place in her heart for Dixie's and Tad's other kids.

"Soccer..gosh I remember those days! Jenny is already curious about that and basketball. And cheerleading..oh boy. She likes the outfits but I am not sure she is quite coordinated enough for that yet. Girl is like a bull in a china closet I tell ya!" Krystal giggled and then looked back at Nolan giving his feet another tickle and getting another laugh. She missed that sound sometimes but she knew another child was both physically and logically impossible.

"What about Kathy? What is she into for activities? And how long before the twins catch on and want to join her?"