Helena and I stand out on the sidewalk, soaking in the sun.  At least I am, Helena is waiting for me to move, to talk, to do anything so she knows what to do.  

“We should have a party.”  I suggest, wanting nothing more then to spend some time with the people I love most in the world.

Helena squeezes my hand, which is wet with sweat.  If I were her I’d want to rip her hand away and wipe them on my pants, but that’s not Helena.  She is not so easily grossed out, and if she is, she hides it remarkably well.

“Tonight?”  She asks.

I nod, “Yup, and we should invite everyone.”  I turn my head and smile at her, “could we have it at your place?”  I love her place, it’s all so open and welcoming.  It also means that I don’t have to clean up.  Cheap I know, but totally true.

Helena smiles at me, for the first time since we have left the office.  “Of course.  Who are we inviting.”

I open my arms wide, gesturing to the foot traffic and cars that are travelling before us “everyone.”  I grin.  I do want to invite everyone, but that is unlikely to be the most practical of decisions.

Helena cocks her head, clearly trying to figure out just who everyone really is.  “Is that Shane, Alice, Dana and Kit?”

I nod again, “Invite Peggy too.  She should be there.  Do you think we should invite Molly?”  I ask, unsure if Molly was considered part of the ‘family’ yet.

Wrinkling her brow, Helena thinks for a moment before she answers “I don’t know.  Let’s leave it up to Shane.”  That’s a great idea, that way we aren’t inadvertently making the wrong decision.

I nod to myself, happy that a little party is something that is welcomed today.

From zero to party is the way it has always worked in these parts, and I am pleasantly surprised that it is still true.  Within and hour of making the calls, Alice was around with popcorn and other snacks.  Shane arrived with Dana, they bought alcohol and cocktail mixes.  Apparently no one was going home tonight, and no one was going to be waking with a hang over.