?Are you nervous?,? the Irish girl asked her companion as they walked side by side down the long stretch of walkway. They were only a couple of blocks from her family?s house, three at the most, and she could only guess that Toby was maybe starting to second guess his agreement to come with her over the weekend to meet the rest of the O?Connors crew. Lord knew she was starting to feel nervous herself, even though she had been very glad that he had decided to come. She wanted everyone to meet him, for them to finally meet the man that had been so kind and caring toward her, helping her more than anyone and protecting her from everything that came their way. But most of all, she wanted them to see how happy she was when she was with him and how important he was to her, how he made her feel.

She turned them down the next street on the left, hoisting up the bag strap that was slung over one shoulder. Walking this way reminded her of the many nights since that one in August where she first met Toby and, every night right up until she started staying with him at the church, he walked her home. It made her smile.

?I think Donovan and Laura are goin? to be there with the kids, too,? she said while glancing up at him, wearing a small grin. ?Maybe this can be a test on how we handle them. For babysitting.? Smooth cover, Kings. Now don't blush or you'll blow it! ?You don?t mind kids, right?? She had forgotten to ask him the last time the subject came up. Not very surprising since the rest of that conversation had been a bit more... serious.

She chuckled quietly as they continued on, lowering her gaze to the sidewalk that was quickly being swallowed up beneath their gait. They weren?t speed-walking or anything but over the many months that the two had spent together, and with much of that walking from place to place, it was only natural that they had found a good mutual ground as a shared pace.

?Doni?s the fifth of us and the only one other than Quill to get hitched. He and Laura have been married for about three years. I really like her, she?s really sweet. They?ve got a cute little girl, Sally, who?s six and an adorable little boy, Jacob, who just turned three. They were adopted about two years ago.?

She lifted her head, tucking a hunk of chestnut behind an ear as she turned a grin up at him. She had noticed the shoes, the clean clothes and the gentle smell of soap. The fact that he had gone through so much trouble to look nice when first meeting her family meant a lot to her.

?You look really nice, by the way,? she said, that grin spreading wider. But before he could catch her eyes in a hold, she was back looking at the ground, chuckling softly.

?Maybe a little. But it?s not because of you. I?ve just never brought anyone home before, so.. it?s all really new. And I?m sure it?s goin? to be a lot to take in with everyone there but, like you said, it?ll just be like meetin? anyone else you don?t know, even though it always seems like you know just about everyone.?

Another turn, this one to the right, and after crossing the street, Kingsley could see the top of the old Victorian-styled house peeking up over the roofs of the other smaller houses that surrounded it. It was coming up fast, faster than she had thought. She drew in a deep, steadying breath.

?We?re almost there,? she said, watching the house creep closer and closer. ?Anythin' else you want to know before we head in??