Just then, the final matches were beginning. The last four had already played the first of their matches. Karol and Miss Little had won their match. Laura and Todd had lost. Now Karol would play Miss Little to determine who was first and who was second while Laura played Todd to determine who was third and who was fourth.

Drew, Trina and Buck walked over to watch.

"Come on Mouse! You can do it!" Buck winked to Karol and held up his beer.

Drew watched hoping that Laura and Karol would both win their matches.

Trina wasn't sure who to root for, both women were friends. But she knew she didn't want Todd to beat Laura. The man was a nuisance.

The games were over in ten minutes, and so were the drinks Buck had bought. Karol easily beat the teacher, but Trina was disappointed that the troublemaker beat Laura. Dwayne presented each of them with their own "Grille Champ 2002" tshirt, and gave Karol her certificate for a free pizza.

Buck led the ladies over to a table.

Kyle Rawlings, Todd´s younger brother, and Julio walked by the table and smiled to Drew. Buck shot them both a glare.

Julio nodded his head, “hola chica. Glad you´re back.” He would have stayed and talked more but the look on Drew´s husband´s face told him he better not push it.

“Thanks Julio, hey Kyle.” Drew smiled to them.

“Hey to you too Drew.” Kyle grinned then walked off with Julio.

Buck turned to Drew.

Drew held out her arms, “what? They´re my friends. Have been since we had community service together at Organ Pipe.”

Buck squinted his eyes but said nothing. He didn´t like those boys and was well aware Julio had a crush on Drew. He still thought he could possibly be her stalker.

Drew moved over to his lap kissing his cheek. “I love you.” She reached up and touched his face smiling to him.

Buck sighed. The look she had in her eyes when she looked to him made him turn into a puddle of goo. “I love you too, Sunshine.”

They turned to Dwayne as he announced that horseshoes would be starting in just a few minutes.

“Well Sunshine let´s go throw some horseshoes.” He set her down and stood up taking her hand.

Drew smiled to Trina, “you coming?”

“Yeah Red let´s see how you do with those horseshoes.” Buck winked to Trina.

Trina nodded then followed Drew and Buck outside. Buck and Drew each had another beer, but Drew looked very determined to get her own t-shirt.

Trina tossed a few shoes, but she didn't really get the point of the activity. Drew kept frowning after the tosses. Buck landed several really good ones, but Josiah shocked them all when he got a couple of ringers. In the end, Josiah had won.

Tim Johnson came in close behind him, followed by Buck, Carl, and Joe Jeffers. Dwayne gave them all a t-shirt. Josiah got the free pizza this time.

"I didn't know you knew how to throw horseshoes?" JD asked Josiah.

Josiah grinned, "You never asked."
 

"All right! Now, I'm gonna do some shots, who's with me?" Buck asked.

"Oh I'm there!" Drew shouted.

"Come on Red. Peppermint schnapps?"

"I've never tried it."

"Ooooo it is real good," Drew said with a grin. Buck just shot her a look and laughed. The three went into the Grille and sat down.

The poker game was still in full swing. All of the players looked like they were concentrating intensely.

Buck went and got a bottle of schnapps from Dwayne and five shot glasses. Right now, it was just Trina, himself and Drew, but maybe someone else would join them.

Drew smiled to Ridley as she walked over to join them. “Hey Rid.”

“Sit right down here and join us for some shots.” Buck nodded to her and looked to one of the open chairs.

“All right,” Ridley smiled and took a seat next to Trina.

Buck poured the first round. He raised the glass and smiled to Drew. "To the love of my life."

Drew blushed, and all four of them downed their shots.

Trina's eyes widened. "This is verra good!"

As the strong liquor burned its way down Ridley's throat, she began to cough. "My God, that will take the rust off of a bumper."

 
Trina and Drew giggled, pushing their shot glasses toward Buck.

Buck looked surprised. “Suppose to taste good. You must be a light-weight if you can´t handle Peppermint Schnapps. I guess you don't want another shot then, do ya Rid?" Buck asked, filling their glasses. He chose the Peppermint Schnapps for the taste and was surprised at Ridley´s reaction.

Ridley shook her head. "Heck yeah I do. Fill that baby up," she said with a smile.

"I thought you didn't like it," Drew asked, enjoying the look on the faces of her two friends.

Ridley pushed her glass over. "I never said that. I said it was strong." A wide grin spread across her face. "Damn good, but strong."

“Tastes like a Peppermint Stick,” Drew leaned over and kissed Buck.

Buck murmured softly after the kiss, “sure does. But you always taste good Sunshine.” He waggled his eyebrows as his eyes and hands roamed over her body.

Drew blushed and bit her lip.
 

Buck just grinned then poured another round. It didn't take long before Trina was rather drunk. Her Scottish accent was thicker than normal, making it very hard for everyone to understand her.

The poker table erupted into clapping, and Ezra stood up to take a bow. Dwayne made the presentations and Trina started laughing at Ezra's statement when he looked at the "Grille Champ 2002" t-shirt.

Dwayne announced the winners. "In first place. Ezra Standish. Ladies and gentlemen, watch your money around him." Dwayne handed Ezra a pizza certificate.

Ezra shot Dwayne a look, which he softened with a smile.

Trina stood up and shouted, "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Trina jumped around excitedly,

then she promptly fell back down. Trina was still smiling and staring at Ezra.

Drew laughed then was pulled to Buck´s lap. She turned and straddled him kissing him fiercely. The alcohol taking it´s effect.

Buck sighed after the kiss, “wow.” He waggled his eyebrows at her, “another shot?”

Dwayne announced the others. "Chris Larabee in second, Chanu Jones in third, Sean Fitzpatrick in fourth, and Vin Tanner in fifth. Congratulations to you all."

"WoooHooo," Ridley shouted, jumping from her chair and waving her hand in a big circle over her head. To Vin, she almost looked as if she were trying to rope something. "All right Vin." Turning to the people around her, she shook her head. "My baby won. My baby won."

Trina looked over at Ridley grinning, "EZRA won. And he's got the pizza to prove it." She giggled and downed another shot. She grinned and started singing "My Guy."

Drew, who was still straddled and kissing on Buck looked up, “well my STUD was a finalist twice.”

“Sure was Sunshine. That´s only because you´re my good luck charm. Got a t-shirt for myself and one for you.”

“Oooooo Buck,” Drew cooed as she placed soft kisses along his neck.

Laura walked over to her father with a grin. "Congratulations, Daddy," she said.

"Thank you lass," Sean said kissing his daughter's cheek. "How'd ya do?"

Laura shrugged. "Got beat by Todd Rawlings, but I did well," she said. "Where are the boys?"

"Made an early night of it," Sean said as he walked with Laura over to some of the others. Nathan was waiting for Laura to join him. "I think I am going to join them. Congratulations to you all, I'll see you at home, Laura." Sean kissed Laura's cheek again and waved at them. The tall, broad red haired man glanced one last time at his daughter and Nathan before leaving the Grille and headed to his truck.
 

Trina was bouncing happily and waving at Ezra. Ezra walked over and looked to her, shaking his head.

"Buck, was this your doing?"
 

"I didn't make her drink."

Drew heard her big brothers voice and turned around to face everyone, “congratulations bro! Always the card shark.” She giggled.

Ezra chuckled and sat down next to Trina, who happily grinned back up at him. "I stuth"

He raised an eyebrow and looked at Buck and Drew. Both of them just shrugged.

Trina scooted closer to Ezra, who draped his arm over her shoulder. Trina leaned against him. She looked up to him then kissed his cheek and smiled. Ezra smiled to her and kissed her cheek.

 
Chris, Vin, JD, Karol, and Josiah walked over to join them.

Ridley threw herself in Vin's arms. "My hero," she slurred, blowing hot peppermint flavored breath in his face. She kissed him roughly, her lips not quite landing on his as much as they seemed to crash into his.

Chris smiled, “pour me a few of those shots too Buck.” He sat down and smiled. He had already had a few beers during the poker tournament and was feeling pretty good.
 

Buck poured out another round of shots and was soon all over Drew again. The Wilmington´s making out and groping each other oblivious to the others around them.

“Hey! Get a room!” JD laughed.

Chris shook his head, “some things will never change. I for one am glad she´s back. Buck is back to being his old self again and I really missed her.”

Drew and Buck came up for air and glanced to Chris. Drew smiled, “even you missed me Chris?”

“I sure did Little Bit.” He used the nick he had heard Dwayne call her on occasion. It suited her too considering she looked up to everyone in their extended family. Trina was technically an inch and a half taller then Drew but Chris liked to tease her for being the shortest, as did Dwayne.

“Hey!” Drew laughed nearly falling off of Buck´s lap. “The name´s Drew.”

Chris poured himself another shot and started humming the munchkin theme from The Wizard of Oz.

“Cowboy?” Buck gave him a look. “Don´t make me kick your ass.” He winked to Chris knowing the man was just playing with his wife. It was good to see him get along so well with her. When Drew first came to town the two didn´t care much for each other.

Chris laughed again.

JD looked to Drew, “ain´t nothing wrong with being short.”

Buck snorted then yelped after Drew slugged him softly in the gut. “Hey now that´s getting a little low there darlin.” He winked to her.

Trina giggled. "He isna so bad when he isna being Mr. Thunderclod." Her accent was as thick as they'd ever heard it, and most in the room had to struggle to understand her.

Chris looked at her in shock. Drew laughed.

"Thunderclod?"

"Gloom an Doom?" Trina provided more helpfully. "Tall dark an growlin?" She started giggling uncontrollably.

Chris tried. But he finally started laughing along.

Trina reached out to her shot glass, and Ezra deftly moved it away. "I believe you've had enough."

"Ye've jes no had enough."

"She's got you there, Pard," Buck said.

A half-hour later Eric Clapton´s ‘Tears in Heaven´ came over the jukebox. Drew who had been making out with Buck again stopped. She knew this was the song Clapton had written for his son after he was killed. Her son too had been killed and she had been carrying on all evening long as though he never existed.

“Sunshine?” Buck looked to Drew not understanding at first. “Oh Sunshine,” He pulled her down to his chest after a few seconds finally realizing what was upsetting her.

“Why did we lose Brandon? What kind of person am I?” She sobbed.

Buck fought tears of his own and realized a few good laughs could not make them forget or make up for what they had lost. He stood up cradling Drew to him as he did. He looked to everyone.

“Will she be all right?” Chris asked.

JD watched his face full of concern.

Ezra was surprised that Trina had not reacted to Drew's sudden mood shift. He would have expected her to be the first to notice. Trina had been fairly quiet for several minutes though, and had been leaning on him. He moved his shoulder to look to her, and Trina slumped to the side and nearly landed in his lap. Ezra frowned slightly, surprised to see her completely passed out.

"Buck, take care of my sister."

Buck nodded.

Ridley stood quietly, her eyes fixed on Drew as she swayed in her spot. Hearing Drew's soft sobs, she immediately drew her fingertips to her lips. "Oh Drew honey," she whispered under her breath.

She wanted so badly to comfort her friend, but feared that if she moved, she would fall. Instead, she turned, burying her face in Vin's chest as she clung tightly to his waist.

Buck shrugged, “I´m going to take her on home.” He held her close as he carried her over to the door.

JD followed him, “I didn´t do any shots Buck why don´t you let me drive you both home?”

“Thanks Kid.” Buck looked to JD as he held the door open for them.
Ezra followed, carrying Trina. "I'm going to take her home too. We shall see you tomorrow."

.