The Parent Trap {Jariana}

{ｃｏｎｆｅｓｓｉｏｎ}

"'His' and 'Hers', kids. No offense, Mom, but this arrangement really sucks." Emmi sniffled, leaning back into her mother.

"I agree, it totally sucks." Ariana said softly, stroking her daughters curls. "I don't want to lose you now that we've been together."

"Well, then I guess we'll just have to fly to Melbourne, see Avia and Dad and work this whole thing out." Emmi said matter-of-faculty, peering up at her mother.

"I guess we will." Ariana agreed smiling at her, "Not to worry, I'll take care of everything." She promised, hugging her daughter tightly.

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Ariana was just going around her walk in closet getting random clothes and throwing them in a heap on her bed as Frankie watched her from her bed and Zac from her little corner nook.

"I'm sorry I can't handle this." Ariana declared, storming out of her closet with curlers in her hair and staring at her brothers.

"I haven't heard from Jai in like ten years and now I'm flying halfway around the world just to meet him again!" She cried, swinging around a blouse that was in her hand. "I'm not ready for this! I mean if he didn't drive me nuts then I'd still be married to him. That's why we had this arrangement - so we wouldn't have to see each other again!" Ariana delivered her monologue like a true Drama Queen as her brothers watched her drone on and on and on, looking bored with all of it.

"If it would help you dearest sister, Zac and I could accompany you," Frankie offered, trying to make this easier for her. Ariana squealed and hugged them tightly.

"That would be much appreciated!" she squealed before walking to her vanity to pack her make up, unaware that her daughter was standing hidden behind the double doors listening in and trying not to laugh at the situation.

"Look at me you guys! I'm a total mess! Wait, tell me - do I look old?" She blurted, looking into the mirror and checking for wrinkles before frowning and looking at the boys. "Wait, why am I so worried about that? Jai could be balding and fat - yes, that could work..." Ariana mumbled to herself, pulling the curlers out of her hair.

"Actually, from what Emmi tells me he's still a hunk." Frankie said and Ariana smiled thinking of Jai's...abs.

"And never remarried." Zac added, "Just like you."

"By choice, you guys! I've had my fair share of men, just so you know! Nathan even tried courting me just before we left for New York and mind you he wouldn't stop..." Emmi entered the room.

"That was like seven years ago." Frankie muttered which made Zac laugh when he came beside him and give him a high five.

"Whatever," his sister said with an eye roll, "So Jai's still a hunk eh? Mind you he had this grin that made me weak at the knees..." she recalled dreamily while her brothers pulled a face.

"Mom, I'm totally ready." Emmi announced, making her presence known with a grin that matched her fathers.

"Oh yeah, me too...almost." Ariana replied with a smile.

"Mom your suitcase is like, totally empty." Emmi noted as she stood by Frankie.

"Oh right, sorry." Ariana said distractedly, "Did you speak with your father?"

Emmi and Frankie shared a look before she answered, "Uh, yeah, I just hung up with him, actually. He said he's really anxious to see you."

"He did? Anxious-nervous, like he's dreading it or anxious-excited like he's looking forward to it?"

"Anxious-excited, definitely." Emmi said and Frankie raised an eyebrow knowing she was lying, "He said he'll meet us tomorrow at noon at the Stafford Hotel in Sydney."

Ariana laughed uneasily when she heard that.

"That's so...soon. Uhm, why don't you go down and grab our tickets from your Grandmother, ok?" she said and Emmi nodded.

She was about to exit when Frankie whispered in her ear, "Liar, liar, pants on fire."

Emmi whirled around and glared at him, playfully, bringing her finger to her to her lips. "Shh!" She hissed then swiped her hand against her neck silently saying, 'I'll kill you if you say anything.' Frankie immediately shut up when he heard Ariana call on him.

"You know, Ari." Frankie said as he stepped into his sister's closet, "If I was going to face Jai Brooks again, and I had your legs, I'd go all out. I'd wear this," he came out with an Alexander McQueen satin one-shoulder dress and a four-inch heeled Oscar de la Renta two-tone strappy pumps, "You'd kill it."

Ariana smiled and started putting her clothes in the suitcase while Zac just stared at Frankie in distraught.

A while later the Grandes were all set and Ariana kissed Joan goodbye. Emmi rushed up to her grandmother and gave her a kiss.

"Bye Nonna!" she said.

"Bye Em." Joan said with a smile.

"So you won't forget to come over for Thanksgiving right?" she asked.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" Joan replied.

"Bye..." she whispered and rushed to the car.

"Oh and say hello to your father for me!" her grandmother called out.

"I will..." Emmi said and climbed in.

Joan gave her a thumbs-up which she replied with crossed fingers and crossed arms. The driver shut the door and they were off...

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