Howie and Alexanderia were downstairs waiting for AJ to come down so they could go to Brian's and Leighanne's. 10 minutes later AJ comes down.

"I don't want to go!" said AJ sitting on the stairs.

Howie looked at AJ he wasn't in the mood to deal with whatever problem that AJ had to go over to Brian's and Leighanne. "Why?"

"I'm just tired and I'm not in the mood to try one of Leighanne's experiments."

"And you think that I am. We told Brian that we coming and so we're going."

"So tell them that Alexanderia is sick. And that's why we can't make it."

Howie looked at AJ not believing the words coming out of his mouth. "No I will not use our daughter as excuse to get out of a promise. AJ that's just low!"

AJ knew that he got Howie mad he called him AJ soon it will be Alexander but he didn't care right now. "Howie, that's just an advantage of having a kid; everyone does it."

"And if everyone jumped off the bridge would you do it too."

AJ had given a little laugh because that's something his mom used to say. "Yeah maybe depends how high the bridge is!"

"Fine be a smartass, you can stay here but me and Alexanderia are going. And you tell Brian the reason why your not coming. I'm not going to lie for you. Come on Alexanderia we have to go." Howie took Alexanderia's hand and they walked out the door.

Getting up and mumbling to himself "shit, I hate when he does this. Well Leighanne's creation better be good." He ran to catch up with Howie and Alexanderia.

The drive to Brian and Leighanne's was of silence. AJ and Howie were still mad at each other. Alexanderia knew that something was wrong it scared her a little because this was the first time that she saw Howie and AJ fight. Even though she has seen her mother and her mother's boyfriends fight all the time it was different this time. She wanted to say something to them but couldn't, so she just sat back and watched both of them.

When Howie pulled in the driveway Nick just got out his car. He went to go meet Howie, AJ and Alexanderia.

Nick bent down and picked up Alexanderia "Hi guys, hey where did your new friend come from? Is he a Care Bear?"

Alexanderia nodded her head yes. "Well they are the best bears in the whole world!"

When they got to the door Brian answered it. "Hey guys come on in, Kevin and Kristin are already here. Dinner should be ready soon."

Brian led them to the living room. Nick put Alexanderia down and everyone went to sit down. Howie sat at one end of the couch and AJ the other with Nick in the middle. Alexanderia sat down on the floor and began to play with Tender Heart.

Nick senses the tension and wished that he wasn't the only one besides Howie and AJ in the room. Yeah there was also Alexanderia but she's doesn't talk so she was no help to him.

5 minutes later Kevin and Kristin walk into the living room. "Hey guys how are you doing?" said Kristin hugging Howie, Nick and AJ.

"Great" said Howie not looking at her.

"Never been better" said AJ with a half smile.

Kristin gave Kevin a look that said, "what's wrong with them?" Kevin shugged his shoulders. Kristin saw down in front of Alexanderia.

"Can I play too?"

Alexanderia looked up at her and shook her head yes. She handed Kristin the doll that Brian and Leighanne gave her.

Howie, Nick, AJ and Kevin just watched Kristin play with
Alexanderia. They were amaze that she manged to play dolls (well a doll and teddy bear) with a child that doesn't say anything.

That didn't last to long when Kevin decided he needed to break this silence. He hated when AJ and Howie had a fight. They just wouldn't talk with each other they wouldn't talk at all. In a sense they were like Alexanderia but at least Alexanderia communicates with you.

"How was Alexanderia when you guys got her home?"

"She seems back to normal and we read two chapters of Harry Potter. By the way I'm so getting you back for giving her those books. Do you know that I'm interested in what happens to Harry" said Howie.

"Hey I read them myself and thought that you all may like it. I saw an interview with J.K. Rowling and that's what she wanted. Families to come together to read and enjoy themselves. Bone how about you? How do you like Harry Potter?"

"I got to admit that at first I thought you were crazy to give her these books but when we started reading it. I'm hooked, its like we won't let each other read a chapter unless we're both there because we don't want to miss what going to happen next."

"I'm glad, that's what I wanted. Something for you three, something that would reinforce that you're a family."

Brian came in the room with a tray of dark orange drinks. "Here me and Leigh thought you guys may be thirsty." Brian handed everyone a glass and gave a glass to Alexanderia that had a built in straw. "Here this glass is just for you, see it has its own straw." Alexanderia smiled at Brian.

They all took a sip of the drink "so what do you guys think?"

"Um, its different" said Howie.

"Yeah, what kind of juice is it?" asked AJ looking at the dark orange liquid.

"Its carrot juice, Leigh got it out of the book same with the
dinner. I should head back to help her. Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes."

As soon as Brian left they put down their drinks. "I didn't even know you could get juice from a carrot" said Nick.

Which caused everyone to smile. "This is only a drink I had to see what's for dinner," said AJ.

Howie looked at Alexanderia "you don't have to drink it if you don't want too." A look of relief came on her face.

5 minutes they all headed to the dinning room. "Hey guys welcome, sorry I couldn't come out before but I was finishing up dinner. Its personal pizzas and I made one for everyone."

Howie and AJ were still mad so they but Alexanderia between them. Nick whisper to AJ "see personal pizzas can't be that bad."

When Nick got his pizza he saw that they could be bad. They were done on pita bread and it had carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, rashes and cauliflower. It had a big N for his name. The cheese smelled funny, it was cheddar and it wasn't mozzarella. "Um, Leighanne what kind of
cheese did you use?"

"Oh its goat cheese."

Alexanderia didn't know goats could make cheese. She looked at her pizza and thought this wasn't a pizza. But she took a bite anyway she didn't like it. But her mother told "whatever food I put in front of you, you better eat it." She took another bite. AJ saw that she really didn't like the pizza so he whispers to her "you don't have to eat it." Alexanderia smiled at AJ.

But unlike Alexanderia he had to eat it or else he would hurt
Leighanne's feelings. By the time he finished his pizza he was even madder at Howie for making him come and eat goat cheese pizza.

"SO what do you guys think?"

"They're great Leighanne, you should give me the recipe and I'll try and make them at home" said Kristin.

"Yeah, that way I don't have to always come over here to eat it," said Kevin.

Leighanne looked at Alexanderia plate and saw that she only took one bite "you don't like it honey?"

Alexanderia looked at AJ "no, she's not that hungry."

"Oh, I wrap it up so you can take it home."

The rest of the dinner was everyone except Brian and Leighanne trying to eat their pizza. When they were done with their pizza Leighanne brought out their desert which was ice cream. "Here its homemade ice cream" she and Brian passed it out.

Nick knew he didn't want to know the answer to the question that he was about to ask but he had to ask it. "What kind of ice cream is it?"

"It's banana!"

To everyone's surprise it wasn't that bad the best part of the whole meal. After dinner they sat around talking. Howie looked at his watch and saw that it was 8:30.

"AJ, we should be going its getting late, its past Alexanderia's bed time."

AJ looked at his watch and saw that Howie was right. He bent down and picked up Alexanderia.

"Kev, Bri and Nicky I'll see you guys tomorrow and thanks for dinner Leighanne, good night" said Howie.

"Yeah thanks for dinner and good night," said AJ and Alexanderia waved to them.

"Good night guys," said Kevin, Brian, Nick, Kristin and Leighanne and they waved to Alexanderia.

When Howie and AJ left they all turn to one another and asked, "what's up with D and Bone. I mean he called him AJ and you know he's mad when he does that" said Kevin.

No one knew how to answer that question.

In the car Howie asked Alexanderia "are you hungry?"

She nodded her head yes.

"Okay we'll stop at McDonalds before we go home okay?"

She nodded her head with a smile.