"The Ole Ball Game Series Explained!"

Hi Everybody!!

I'm so sad to see this series end! But, I thought it'd be fun to tell you all how it started, who the characters actually represented and some more stuff about the series.

First of all, the series started because I was bored (as always) and thought it'd be funny to write a story using my real life friends as characters. So I started with my sister, and the characters kept getting added. Soon we had a six character series!! I couldn't get enough of writing the characters, and soon they each had their own story. Most of my friends, my sister and I included are sports fanatics, so I definitely had to make the series surround what is closest to my heart, BASEBALL! Especially Yankee Stadium and New York.

Who the characters actually represented?

The first story ("Take Me Out to the Ball Game")
Was about Charity, who is really my sister Chrissy.
The baseball fanatic who is in love with athletic guys. Her personality was really captured in Charity, and I'm pleased to announce that I made up her hero. Eventually, though, I hope she ends up with a guy better than Alex. And maybe in the end, I wont have to do any matchmaking!

The second story ("Route for the Home Team") was based on my good friend Lydia. :) Lidia was most definitely a stretch of the imagination. Right? Not really. She was very much like her character, well except in some parts. heh. Obviously I got as close as I could. I matched her up with someone who really does exist, and obviously they have some chemistry. Their great together..however, sometimes fiction is different than real life. Right? Maybe eventually, love wont be such a story. But then again, life does surprise. Again I did my best to capture Lydia. She's great, one of my most faithful readers. She's also a writer & you should all check out her blog!!



Third was Keely's story, "1,2,3 strikes your out". It was inspired by one of my best friends, Kellie. She's the sweetest, deepest person I know. During the story, a lot of you were surprised by the quick change of events in her seemingly happy story. But as the story states 1,2,3 strikes sometimes your out. I wanted to capture the feeling that not all stories have happy endings, and the real life people that you use sometimes don't work out. Thankfully though, Kellie, and Keely in the story, is incredibly resilient. She is one of the strongest people I know. Even though she's dealt with so much tough stuff in her life, she still takes the time to listen to others.



Fourth story was "Take Me Out...Period!" I really wanted to capture a good friend of mine and my sister's, she's so much like a sister to us I hesitate to call her friend. Bethanie is really, Beckie. A country girl at heart, transplanted to the city. Within the timeline of the story she finally finds her cowboy, the guy she's waited for all of her life. She's come to terms with growing up, and being who she is. A sweet girl with a huge heart, especially for the country. Sometimes she takes the role of the ditz, but generally she knows what she's going to say and makes sure it's said. In real life, she's quite more than that, but she's so much fun. Her hero, T.C. was also fabricated, yet hope is out that such a man exists. The perfect man of God, turned cowboy just for her ;)



The fifth story, "If they don't win it's a shame" was fashioned solely for the male character of the story. Andre. Andre is in reality my friend Ant. He's a great guy, so into baseball which is awesome. A fantastic witness for Christ and his goodness, as he raps the gospel. How cool is that? Aria was made up, yet again. (I love making up characters!!) But, hopefully a girl twice as good as her exists for the guy who gives some of the best advice and takes the role of brother incredibly.



The sixth and final story was "The Ole' Ball Game." My own story. Yes, I was Jazzelle. I suppose its time now to disclose that my hero is my real life hero. Danny. :) We've been together now for almost six months, and I can only hope that our ending is half as happy as I've written for us. I really am sort of a matchmaker at heart, being as I'm a romance writer & love giving advice to my friends and others. Danny is very much a match maker too. EVERYONE goes to him with problems, and he's more than happy to lend a listening ear. It's one of those things I love about him. I love him more every day. He's incredible and very much a real life hero. One of the guys girls label as "one of the good ones." Anyway..the final pics follow. :)






Hope you enjoyed the series, please leave some comments as to your thoughts!

"The Ole' Ball Game"epilogue

The Epilogue

Two Years Later..

Jazzelle sat in the reception hall, her arms full of her newborn baby, a smile stretched her face making her cheeks hurt. It never failed, even after two weeks with little Xavier in her arms she still couldn't keep from smiling at him. The perfect combination of she and Daemyn, the little boy had transformed her life with just his arrival.

"Good afternoon." a voice called from behind her, the voice she'd be able to identify without thinking.

"Hello handsome." she couldn't help herself, the man was everything she'd ever wanted. Standing, she kissed his lips softly. Xavier sighed in his sleep, snuggling himself against her, making her heart thud with love for her boys.

"Is everyone on their way?" Daemyn asked, smoothing her hair away from her face with gentle hands.

She nodded, "I got a call from Lidia saying Altan was making them late, Charity said the kids are making her late, Bethanie should be here any minute. I think Andre and Aria are already here." The noise level outside was somewhat conducive to Andre's voice.

Daemyn took in the hall in a long glance, "Looks great."

Again, Jazzi nodded, "The moms were here late last night making everything perfect. I'm just surprised they haven't tried to steal him yet." she smiled again, looking down at their son.

"Hello!" shouted Andre, walking in the door, he clasped Aria's hand in his.

"Shh!" cautioned Daemyn and Jazzelle simultaneously looking down at the sleeping Xavier.

"Oh please, the kid will live." said Andre, "Give him here."

Awkwardly, Andre took the baby from her arms and held him.

Aria smiled wide watching him, "So tiny."

Jazzi winked at her husband and went to check on the refreshments, knowing that the gathering of their friends and family would get crazy. The door was slammed against the wall, as the next group of people came in. Bethanie looked frazzeled as she walked in behind her three children, the five year old twins ran straight for the cake. Two year old, Ben straggled behind, holding his father's hand.

"Hi babies!" Jazzi called, walking over to hug Bethanie and T.C. The little ones quickly flooded the hall, just as Lidia walked in.

"Oh Lord, baby station!" she shouted.

"Hello to you too!" chuckled Daemyn.

"Don't close the door in my face again. I'm trying to juggle five kids here." sighed Charity as she walked in the door. Alex held the door for Cole and Ava, with two year old Andrew running ahead of him.In his other arm was the carseat holding one of the twins. Charity set the carseat she held on the table beside her.

"Oh my babies!" exclaimed Jazzi, moving across the room to welcome her nieces and nephews.

"Yeah, they will be if they go on keeping us up every night. I haven't slept in three weeks." she sighed, setting the diaper bag beside little Adonica.

"Oh stop complaining about these beautiful babies!" exclaimed Jazzi and Charity's mother, picking Adonica up.

Alex set Caemon down on the table beside the other carseat and rubbed his eyes, "Their beautiful all right, but quite loud."

Jazzi laughed, fighting her way through the crowd to get back to Daemyn's side. Keely had long since come in, and stood watching Chailyn run around with the kids who'd very much become her cousins. Together they made a close net of friends, more like a family.

Jazzi looked around and smiled at the couples that had formed, the children that'd been born, the situations that had made them grow stronger as a family. Somehow this was so much bigger than the ball game that had brought them together, yet it still held a special place in all of their hearts. Still every summer they gathered at the stadium to watch their team beat the others, they stuck beside them through thick and thin while enjoying the time together.

Her long-time friend Mike, strolled into the room, tapping her chin she watched him as he watched Keely with little Chailyn. Tenderness stole over his features, and she couldn't help but think about the last time she'd matched Keely up. She'd thought her matchmaking days were over. However, the same stirring began inside.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Daemyn whispered in her ear.

She smiled up at him, "Precisely."

Together, they walked hand in hand to begin their life as a matchmaking couple. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear her friends laughing and talking. Right now though, she was just thankful that they were all here and thankful most of all for the ole' ball game that'd brought them together.

And They Lived Happily Ever After...The End..Or is it just the beginning?

Following are the pictures :)

"The Ole' Ball Game" chap 10

Chapter 10

Eight months later....

"Push Keely," Jazzi urged gently, counting under her breath as her friend's contraction came to an ending and another began.

"I'm trying." her normally mild friend grated out, clinging to Lidia's hand as she came closer to the birth of her baby.

"Aye Dios! She's killing my hand." grumbled Lidia, looking across the bed, eyes pleading with Jazzi to switch places with her.

"Would you rather deliver the baby?" she questioned from where she sat, guiding her friend through the next contraction.

"No, I suppose not, on with the killing." sighed Lidia, concentrating on helping Keely with her breathing exercises.

"I don't know if I want to do this in a few months..." whined Bethanie from her seat in the room, as she lay a hand over her rounded middle.

"Of course you do!" exclaimed Charity with a smile, "You got yourself into that predicament, didn't you."

"Yes..but not intentionally.." Bethanie muttered, rubbing her stomach.

"Okay, everybody hush, we're about to have a baby!" announced Jazzelle.

Silence fell over the room, to be pierced only seconds later by the infant's cries. Jazzi couldn't help but smile at the little one through her tears. "Welcome to the world little girl." With a heart overflowing, Jazzelle handed her friend the little one that would change her life.

Keely's eyes filled with tears as she beheld her tiny miracle baby, and hugged her close to her chest. "Welcome to the world Chailyn Grace." she whispered, her smile and tears telling the story.

--
Jazzelle sat beside Daemyn on the couch, laying her head in his lap as they watched the home video from Charity's wedding. After the entire thing had run itself through, she looked up at him, a smile stretching her lips. "Nothing compares to seeing that tiny baby." she whispered, still amazed at the miracle of life.

He smiled along with her, "You're still in love with that little one, aren't you?"

Shrugging, she sat up and snuggled herself closer to him, "Always amazed with little ones, especially ones I get to deliver. Ones I'll get to help raise. I so admire Keely for everything she's done, and has gone through. I'm so overjoyed to be Chailyn's godmother." Keely had decided to move in with Jazzelle after everything that had happened. It seemed the best decision, for now however Keely and Chailyn would spend a few nights in the hospital recuperating.

"I know you're loving that they'll be living here." he ran his hand up and down her cheek softly, eyes pinning her with his sincerity.

"Of course! You know me. I love children, and Keely is one of my best friends. Things will be great." she could feel the air crackle with excitement as his lips moved in closer to her's. He was going to kiss her. Her eyes closed in anticipation of his kiss, just as his lips settled over her's.

"I have something for you.." he whispered as his lips broke from her's.

"Oh really? I love surprises." she grinned and bounced excitedly on the couch, feeling very much like a little kid at Christmas.

"Come on, we've got to go find it." he tugged her to her feet, and helped her out the door and into his car.

"Find it? I thought you HAVE something for me, not something we'd have to find." grunting, Jazzi watched his smile transform his face, darn him. He always made her lose her composure! Her own smile shone through as they drove toward the unknown surprise. What would it be? Her heart thudded with excitement. Something about all of this gave her goosebumps. What was going on?

--
Lidia tugged the curtains back into place and sighed, "Where are they?"

"Will you calm down?" asked Altan, securing his hands around her waist and turning her toward him. "They'll get here when they get here."

"I'm trying..but seriously..it's like Ludia's taken over my body. What is wrong with me?" she smiled at him.

He laughed out loud, "Maybe she has, maybe that's why I love you so much right now."

With a gasp, she stepped back out of his arms, "Excuse me? You love me so much because Ludia's taken over my body? Well tell Ludia to kiss those lips of your's then." feigning hurt she pushed him away when he tried again to take her into his arms.

"You know I was joking, Lidia. You're the only one for me. Ludia could fall out of a plane for all I care!" he grinned and winked, making her stomach fill with butterflies.

"Nothing you've said all week has turned me on more than that sentence." she answered, walking into his arms willingly and settling her head against his chest. He was everything that was right and wrong in the world. The perfect combination of making her crazy beyond belief, and fall head over heels.

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway stole her out of her stupor born of love, sighing, she tugged herself away. "That's them." she hissed, peeling back the curtain slowly.

"Who cares?" he whispered back, tugging her back into his arms.

"I should..." Lidia tapped her chin, wishing for all the world she could lose herself in his embrace and forget everything that told her not to give her entire soul and being to this man.

Footsteps crunched in the snow and she knew exactly where they were headed. To the small backyard she had, where Daemyn had been earlier setting up his surprise. True to her word, she hadn't peeked once, not that the suspense wasn't KILLING her. But, she'd promised.

"You want to watch, don't you?" asked Altan, tugging her hand as he walked toward the back door.

She nodded slowly, "That and a few other things..."

He laughed again and winked, "Later, much later. Come on..look he's got her eyes covered."

Before her, the scene played out. There stood Daemyn and Jazzi, he held both hands over her eyes as he stared out at the snow covered ground. In one corner of the yard a snowman stood, wearing an assortment of old winter clothes. A smiling face, and stick arms welcomed his guests, the carrot nose seemed a bit sparce, as Lidia was sure some creature had gotten to it. Atop the pure, white snow were the stark, crimson colored rose petals. They'd been scattered all over, only broken in pattern by the white bags holding small candles. Against the darkness of the sky, she watched as Daemyn uncovered Jazzi's eyes. A smile stretched her friend's face, and she welcomed his arms around her. Much like Lidia had Altan's just moments before, and had now. Then, the surprise unfolded. A jewelry box appeared in his hands, and he was down on his knees. Jazzi covering her mouth with both hands, Lidia laughed as it did nothing to slight her shriek.

Tears were now pouring down her friend's cheeks, and darn it all they were burning in her own. How did Jazzi say yes with abandon, and why was she still flailing for an answer? Was Altan the one? As surely as they snow was cold, she was baffled. Sighing, she smiled up at Altan, "You ready to get out there and congratulate them?"

He nodded, "Yes ma'am."

Together, they walked hand in hand down off of her back porch, hugging and congratulating their friends. It seemed yet another couple had formed, almost instantaneously. She was willing to bet baseball season would never be the same for any of them, again.

Technically this is the end of the story..but there will be an epilogue & another surprise afterward. Hope you enjoyed "The Ole Ball Game Series"

"The Ole' Ball Game" chap 9

Chapter 9

Lidia poked Altan in the ribs, "Faster, I need to know if their alright."

"I'm trying, I'm trying." he muttered as he shoved his body weight into the front door of Daemyn's apartment for the fifth time.

"Never send a man to do a woman's job." she groaned finally, shoving him out of the way and forcing her shoulder into the door causing it to fly open and thwack the wall. She could hear Altan snorting in derision behind her, yet she pressed on ahead of him through the reckage that now was Daemyn's home. Trees littered the front room, a large piece of his roof had stabbed through his couch, or what was left of it. Lidia closed her eyes and pressed onward, hoping beyond hope that the two had gotten out of here or were at least in the safest room of the house. Still, her hope was dying slowly as she heard no movement or life in the house.

Altan, as if sensing her dismay kept close to her back, pressing through the house with her, investigating each room. "What's this?" he asked, when they reached the kitchen. A door stood the only thing untouched in the room, yet garbage and most of his kitchen furniture and possibly the neighbors stood in front of the door.

"Looks like a door, Sherlock, start digging." she commanded, being the first to grip a chair and pull it out of the way.

"Lovely, your friend gets herself trapped in a house of horrors during a hurricane, and I have to go digging." he grumbled under his breath, tugging at the kitchen table which had somehow lodged itself between the cabinets and the door knob.

"Shut up, she set us up remember? I, unlike you, have the common courtesy to check on my friends after a storm." she huffed gripping the garbage can and yanking it away from the door.

Soon enough, all of the debris had been cleared and Altan pulled the door open. Slowly, the two descended the stairs. Her heart lept at the sight of Jazzelle laying in Daemyn's arms, both seemed to be sleeping. It seemed she couldn't help but keep looking at her friend, after every possible situation had run through her mind, most bad. It was great to see them both alive. But, of course, the compromising situation she found her friend in was a great way to relieve some of this anxiousness that'd built up inside of her. "Well aren't you two cozy?" she asked in a voice that could raise the dead, at least that's what her mother had always said.

"Lidia? How did you get in here?" asked Daemyn sleepily rubbing his eyes, and helping Jazzelle up.

"Oh I have my ways." she taunted, rubbing her now sore shoulder.

"Is the storm over?" asked Jazzi, her ear inclined toward the window.

"Sure is, and boy should the two of you be glad you made it down here." put in Altan.

"Why?" they asked in unison, both sets of eyes peering at the stairs leading upward.

"You probably don't want to see it up there, Daemyn, but I sure hope you have insurance." Lidia shook her head and hugged Jazzelle, "Nice to know you're alive."

"Alive? But...What's going on?" her friend muttered, looking rather confused.

She could only continue to shake her head, "The storm has been over for almost an entire day, we still hadn't heard from you. Everyone is worried sick, Bethany is nearly on her way home. Which reminds me, we have to get you guys out of here." she led the way up the stairs, through the wreckage and toward Altan's car. There were some days where she'd just love to believe that all things worked together for the good, but other days she was worried out of her skin that they wouldn't.

Thank God, today they had.

--

Jazzelle stared out the window of Altan's car, the city was a mess. Her hand still clasped Daemyn's in a death grip. They could have easily died in the past three days, seeing his apartment the way it was made her heart sit in a cozy spot in her throat. Her eyes made their way to Lidia, who still sat in the front seat shaking her head. Thank God for her friends and family, if Lidia hadn't come would they have left the cellar?

Soon enough, she had no more time to think as they drove up in front of her house and were greeted by the mass that was her friends and family. She'd received so many hugs she thought she might burst with the next. However, when she looked up, she came face to face with Daemyn who smiled at her. Her heart gave another leap, and she automatically reached for him. Something about him compelled her toward him like no other man she'd ever met. "Thank you for everything." she whispered.

He smiled, "Pleasure was all mine, I'd love to have a few more days with you."

Slipping closer she let him hold her in his arms, "I'd like the rest of my life with you." she whispered back, hoping it wasn't too soon to say something that important. Yet, she'd felt that way since the moment she'd laid eyes on him.

Daemyn's eyes were round, yet his smile spread, "Sounds good to me, so when's the wedding?"

"Wedding?" Lidia piped up from beside her.

Jazzi groaned, great another source of entertainment for them all.

"I don't know when their's will be, but ours will be next year at this time." shouted Andre from across the yard.

"Next year?" they asked in unison turning toward Andre and Aria.

Both grinned widely and nodded.

Jazzi wrapped her arms around Daemyn's waist, "Two years?" she whispered hoping no one but Daemyn would hear this time.

He nodded, "Sounds good to me."

--

Charity passed the popcorn to Keely, "So you skipped right past the whole dating thing and you're going straight for marriage?"

Jazzelle sighed her sister had a way of going right to the heart of the matter, with no reguard for who was listening. "I guess so."

"Well, you'd better not rush right into this..what if he isn't 'the one'?" asked Keely, her blue eyes sincere as she lay a hand across her slightly rounded stomach.

"He is." she answered abruptly, fidgeting with the wrinkle in the slipcover of the chair.

"How can you be so sure?" questioned Lidia from her perch on the arm of Charity's chair.

"Because I am. Okay?" she was getting annoyed, why were they on her case all of a sudden?

"Okay! Geesh!" the three answered in unison.

"Can we talk about someone else now? Like maybe you, Charity, what about the little one you've been talking about? Alex told Daemyn something about adopting?" she cornered her sister with the question, hoping it'd stop her blood from it's near boil.

Charity nodded excitedly, "We're adopting a little boy, his name is Andrew. He's only six months old, his parents have decided they can't provide for a little one. We've been thinking about it for a while, and somehow God just dropped this little one into our laps." she smiled dreamily, and for the first time since her sister's wedding day, Jazzi seriously saw the woman her sister had become. A beautiful wife and mother, and an incredible human being.

She wiped her eyes and rose from her seat to hug her sister, "That's great." she whispered though her voice had gone from the emotion lodged in her throat.

Everyone was smiling along with her, hugging and Jazzelle remembered again what had brought her to this point. Love. That's what would keep her going, and now that it had invaded her life, things would never be the same. She looked around the room and took in all of her friends faces, some things were better than the old ball game after all.

"The Ole Ball Game"chap 8

Chapter 8

Jazzi tucked her shirt into her pants, and turned toward Keely and Lidia. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"We're not three, Jazzi, go on your date. Come back with juicy details." winked Lidia as she shoved her toward the door.

"Okay..you know my cell phone number if you need me. You know where I'll be.." she felt as if she were leaving a house full of children. They must feel the same way, because they reguarded her with narrowed eyes.

"Go, Jazzi. Just go." called Keely with a smile, one of the first genuine smiles Jazzi had seen from her in weeks.

"I'm gone. Love you all." she called through the screen door as she ran toward her car.

Jazzi could hardly wait to get to Daemyn's house. A night of movies and popcorn, cuddled beside that man caused her insides to jump and dance like nothing had before. Aside from, maybe his kiss. Grinning like an idiot, she started her car and drove toward his apartment. When she finally came to park in front of his apartment, her heart was still dancing with excitement. Striding the sidewalk quickly, she reguarded the darkened sky with some interest. They were about due for a storm. Taking a deep breath, Jazzi rapped her hand against the door in a slight knock.

Within seconds the door opened to reveal a smiling Daemyn, "Good evening."

"Hiya." she smiled and walked inside beside him.

"I got us some movies to watch." he guided her toward the couch and gestured for her to take a seat.

"Sounds nice." she tried to play it cool while watching him walk toward the television and hit play on the vcr.

All too quickly, the movie captured her attention. Yet even the movie couldn't keep her mind off of the feel of Daemyn's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. The warmth of his arms captured her heart and she leaned back to look up at him. Big mistake. Heart pounding, she watched as he smiled slowly and pressed his lips to hers. Just as he pressed his lips to hers, rain began to pound against the roof. Lightening stole across the night sky and thunder began to echo in the distance. Instead of letting him go, she pressed closer and smiled against his lips. "Wow," she muttered.

"Just what I was thinking." he smiled and winked before pressing a kiss to her cheek. It wasn't long until the rain began to fall faster, and just as the movie ended the electricity cut out.

"Oh boy, guess it's just one movie tonight." she said, sitting up and trying to see her date in the dark.

Daemyn chuckled and linked his fingers with hers, "Would anyone believe us if we told them that the electricity waited until after the movie to go out?"

Jazzelle grinned at him, "I doubt it, but then again their electricity probably went out as well. Do you have any candles?"

He nodded, "Yeah, of course, the problem is just finding them."

She felt bereft as he stood, leaving her on the couch to her own thoughts.The sounds of Daemyn rustling through things looking for candles. Finally a sound of triumph parted the air, making her catch her breath.

"Didn't mean to scare you, I found them." she could feel his breath on her neck as he whispered in her ear.

The flames of the candle flickered and danced in the darkness, Jazzelle could hardly keep her eyes from drinking in the sight of him. Her lips ached for his kiss, instead she bit her lip and stared at him. He smiled wide and pressed a kiss against her lips making her lose the little grasp she had on her control. He was incredible.

--

Daemyn fooled with the radio dial, hoping to pick up a weather report. Finally, the siren of the weather station pierced the station, and he sat back taking time to lock eyes with Jazzelle who sat quietly at his left. Her eyes were glistening as she watched him, her hand snaked over to grip his. He could not keep the smile from his lips, yet it quickly departed as the weather man for HLD news began to speak. "Severe storm watch, it's imparative that you find a safe place to wait the storm out."

He sighed, "I was afraid of that. We should get things together and head for the storm cellar."

Eyes wide, Jazzelle nodded, "Okay, if you insist." She twisted the strap of her purse in her hands and followed him through the house as he gathered the essentials, and went on walking down the stairs to his cellar.
The basement wasn't used often, he'd have told Jazzi that, except she was investigating herself. He could tell, the way her hazel eyes scanned the ceiling, the floor and everything in between. "You like it?"

She grinned, her face bright with the light from the candle, "It's cozy." she crinkled her nose as she laughed. He could get used to this, he decided.

Before long he was smiling himself, completely engaged in conversation with the woman of his dreams. She was so real, down to earth, yet over the top in a good way. Daemyn could easily see himself spending his life with her, feeling like this forever.

Together they talked long into the night, playing board games and laughing about mostly everything. The rain kept pounding, lightening cracking in the sky, thunder booming, yet he really could care less what was happening outside. She had captured his attention, and even better, his heart.