"I didn't even think we'd make it back in time for dinner." Kevin grinned, first to step into their house after a long eighteen hour day. The night before, they didn't get back from their late 'snack' with Jasmine and the crew until a little before midnight, leaving them with almost four hours of sleep. Not to mention, they still had to catch up and spend a little time with their mother.

"See what happens when you go in early? You get out early as well." Mrs.Jonas smiled, wiping her hands on her crème colored apron as she greeted her boys in the living room, giving them each a hug as if she hadn't seen them in weeks.

"Oh, Jasmine and Timmy are coming for dinner too, ma." Nick mentioned, pulling away from his mother's embrace.

"Ok, that's fine." she smiled, then went in for Joe.

Within the next ten minutes, Jasmine and Timmy arrived, filling up the entire dining room. With Nick, Kevin, Joe, their parents and Frankie, it was a full house. Throughout the lovely dinner prepared by Mrs.Jonas, it was full of random conversations and laughter. It was probably the most lively time they each had in a while, since the productions of the show had started.

After clearing off the dinner table and taking the dishes into the kitchen, everyone under the age of 21 made their way to the wreck room with their games, instruments, music, etc. Timmy following behind Nick to the foosball table, Kevin plopped down on the couch as Joe walked over to the end table to show Jasmine the 'tiny shit' he'd been bragging about at 'work.'

"Are you ready for this?" Joe asked, his body blocking the case where one of his prized possessions laid. Laughing, Jasmine nodded before Joe stepped out of the way, waving his arms in front of the clear case without even looking. "Meet Taco." he grinned, watching as the excitement on her face faded.

"Ew. I thought you said he was orange." Jasmine stated, looking at him oddly.

"He is." Joe chuckled, giving her a weird look.

"Um, he's definitely as green as your shirt." she replied, watching as he glanced down at his shirt, then to 'Taco.'

"Oh my God." he mumbled. "Mom!" he screamed, his voice cracking as he rushed to the doorway. "What'd you do with Taco?!"

"Joseph, I didn't do anything with him." she yelled back.

"Didn't you think I'd notice if you swapped geckos or something?! At least get the same color if you let the original die!" Joe cried out, not knowing where his little orange buddy went to. It wasn't for a moment before Mrs.Jonas appeared in the doorway with the phone in her hand.

"Joseph, my dear." she began sweetly. "Taco changes colors, hun. Like a chameleon. I thought you knew that." Mrs.Jonas tried her best not to laugh at her son, but she couldn't help it when Jasmine began laughing behind him.

Joe's face fell, not believing that he didn't even know that his gecko could change colors. Feeling kind of stupid, he reluctantly turned to see Jasmine's jaw bobbing up and down as a belly-laugh exited her mouth. Feeling a little stupid, he turned back to his mother, quickly changing the subject.

"So, who was on the phone?" he asked, crossing his arms as if he was really interested, even though he was just trying to change the subject.

"Bailey." she smiled back. "Oh, and she's doing fine; incase you were wondering." her tone somewhat hardened, her soft stare slowly disappearing. Joseph hadn't talked to Bailey since the night before, when he had to cancel their dinner plans.

"Why didn't she call me?" he asked, sounding a little hurt, his mind racing as he began to comprehend that his girlfriend called his mother instead of him.

"She said she did; you didn't answer." Mrs.Jonas narrowed her eyes at him, a little disappointed that not only did he not have time for his family, but his girlfriend as well. She then felt a little bad for him once he frantically patted his pants down for his phone. Finding it in his back pocket and snatching it out, the screen blinked; 3 missed calls. Wondering why his phone didn't ring, he then saw the 'silent' icon activated on the top of the screen. Mentally cursing to himself, his mother continued. "-But don't bother calling her now, she had to go because Parker has her working late. She just wanted to call and check up on me, unlike my own son." she playfully nudged him, Joe giving her a weak smile in return.

"Thanks, mom." he sighed, flipping his phone to the side and texting her; his heart filling up with guilt. In the corner of his eye, he saw his mom walk away and felt Jasmine peering over his shoulder as he began to text.

'you.me.dinner.together.tomorrow.
I miss you. <3'


Once he hit 'send', he slid his phone back into his pocket and looked over at Jasmine to see a smirk playing on her lips.

"Aren't you sweet." she smiled, his eyes staring back at hers for only a moment before grinning and nodding at her comment. Making his way back over to Taco's 'home', he lifted the lid and grabbed hold of the little guy who was still green as can be.

"Hey buddy." he whispered, his finger stroking his head, missing the feeling of his webbed feet on his palm. It had been days since he paid any attention to him. "You miss your mommy, huh? Is that why you're green?"

"Ha ha. What, you talk to the thing?" Jasmine asked, chuckling at how serious he was being.

"Duh." he rolled his eyes, attracting his attention to back to Taco as he took a seat on the couch.

"You never cease to amaze me." she smiled, taking a close seat next to him, smiling down at the little gecko.