Title: The Lost Boy
Author: Mel (e-mail me at cosmic_quest@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: The characters of '7th Heaven' are the property of Spelling Television, Brenda Hampton and Warner Brothers and no profit has been made by my utilising them in my story. All other characters are my creation and therefore belong to me.
Rating: PG-13 for language and angst.
Summery: A decade after the terrible tragedy hits one of their own, the Camdens' are still struggling to come to terms with their grief. Then an exchange student from Scotland enters their home and turns their live upside-down once again...
Author's Notes: For the sake of the story, in the opening scene Matt is sixteen, Mary is fourteen, Lucy is twelve, Simon is ten and Ruthie is five with the twins not being born for another two years (i.e., when Matt is eighteen). This is my first attempt at '7th Heaven' fan fiction so I hope you guys enjoy. Also, please bear in mind that I live in the UK so I haven't seen any of the latest seasons yet.
Archiving: As long as you ask first, it should be okay.
PROLOGUE- Our Blue-Eyed Boy
"It's gonna be so neat! There's sailing and archery and stuff."
"When are you going to be back?" asked an anxious young voice, a stark contrast to the previous shout of boyish delight.
Annie smiled inwardly as she heard Simon patiently reassure his young sister that his homecoming would only be a week away. At just ten years old, he was a remarkably thoughtful caring child compared to many boys his age. Even in his exhuberence of going off to an activity camp set in an idyllic coastal location with two schoolfriends, Simon took the time and patience to ensure Ruthie he wouldn't be gone long.
"Hey, there's Steven and Joseph!" grinned the boy as Eric turned their minivan into the parking lot of the elemantary school.
Maybe it was her maternal instincts or perhaps she just worried more after her youngest son, nevertheless Annie could not quell her nervousness at the thought of Simon going away on this school camping trip. She trusted the teachers to watch the children with the constant vigillance needed for a group of twenty-five not-so-angelic fourth graders but she wasn't sure if her son was ready for the responsibility of being away from his parents for a full week, the longest he had ever been seperated from them since the day he was born.
"He'll be fine," Eric whispered to her as Simon bounded out of the family vehicle to meet with his friends.
Then again, maybe *she* was the one not ready to pack her baby boy off on his own.
She sighed nostalgically as she helped Ruthie out of her seatbelt, watching Eric and Matt go to unload Simon's bags from the back. Matt, her eldest, now sixteen years old and standing just an inch or two shorter than his father, well on his way to becoming a man. She was starting to realise her children were growing up and there was nothing she could do about it except watch and admire the adults they were growing into.
"Mom?" Ruthie quietly piped up.
She was still preoccupied with her depressing thoughts but not so that she did not hear the little girl standing beside her. "Yes, honey?"
"You think Simon will bring me back something?" came the mischievious reply.
Annie smiled, pulling her daughter to her. "That'll be a surprise."
At least, for the younger kids anyway, adulthood was still enough years in the future to ignore.
The teachers were starting the herd the children onto the bus indicating it was time to say goodbye. Simon swung his rucksack onto his back then turned away from his friends to his family.
"You promise to take care of Happy?" he asked regarding Matt and the girls with a solemn frown. Annie could hear in his voice it was not just Happy's welfare he was concerned about; Simon was beginning to realise that his departure was imminent and, like any ten-year-old on his first camping trip, he was not as confident as he thought he would be. "She needs alot of looking after, a dog is not something to be taken lightly."
"We promise," Matt appeased.
"Yeah, we've divided up the work," said Mary, "I'll take her on my runs every morning and afternoon."
"And Matt will feed her," Lucy took over, "and I'll give her all the attention a dog could need."
"Good, just remember that she'll miss me so you gotta make sure she's okay, y'know, eating well and that."
"Happy will be fine," Eric assured, pulling his son into an embrace, "so don't worry and have a good time."
When Eric released him, Annie moved to hug her son. "And remember we're only a phonecall away, if you need anything or want to come home, just call and we'll come get you."
"I'll be okay, Mom," Simon said, holding her tight for a moment then wriggling free, worried in case his show of emotions would be pounced on by his teasing friends.
He moved to join the other children boarding the bus. Just as he stepped inside, Simon turned one last time to grace his family with one last smile and a wave. It was such a sweet, beautific smile that would remain forever imprinted on Annie's mind. Later, she would mourn that innocent boy who, despite his excitment, had spared the time for one final goodbye. That boy who had been cruelly snatched from their arms too soon.
It would be two days before Sergeant Michaels would come to the house, his dark eyes downcast and grief-stricken and the apprehension in the normally confidant police officer would intuitively inform them this was not a social call. He would ask the children to leave the room before sitting Annie and Eric down. As her husband would sob softly, Annie's mind would recall her precious little boy and his infectious smile, unable to comprehend how such a child as loving as Simon could have fallen overboard during stormy weather, how he could have drowned in the raging ocean...
They would never have a body to commit to the earth, never be allowed that final closure. Instead, all Annie had left of Simon was his physical possessions and that one last smile.
End of PROLOGUE- Our Blue-Eyed Boy
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Author: Mel (e-mail me at cosmic_quest@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: The characters of '7th Heaven' are the property of Spelling Television, Brenda Hampton and Warner Brothers and no profit has been made by my utilising them in my story. All other characters are my creation and therefore belong to me.
Rating: PG-13 for language and angst.
Summery: A decade after the terrible tragedy hits one of their own, the Camdens' are still struggling to come to terms with their grief. Then an exchange student from Scotland enters their home and turns their live upside-down once again...
Author's Notes: For the sake of the story, in the opening scene Matt is sixteen, Mary is fourteen, Lucy is twelve, Simon is ten and Ruthie is five with the twins not being born for another two years (i.e., when Matt is eighteen). This is my first attempt at '7th Heaven' fan fiction so I hope you guys enjoy. Also, please bear in mind that I live in the UK so I haven't seen any of the latest seasons yet.
Archiving: As long as you ask first, it should be okay.
PROLOGUE- Our Blue-Eyed Boy
"It's gonna be so neat! There's sailing and archery and stuff."
"When are you going to be back?" asked an anxious young voice, a stark contrast to the previous shout of boyish delight.
Annie smiled inwardly as she heard Simon patiently reassure his young sister that his homecoming would only be a week away. At just ten years old, he was a remarkably thoughtful caring child compared to many boys his age. Even in his exhuberence of going off to an activity camp set in an idyllic coastal location with two schoolfriends, Simon took the time and patience to ensure Ruthie he wouldn't be gone long.
"Hey, there's Steven and Joseph!" grinned the boy as Eric turned their minivan into the parking lot of the elemantary school.
Maybe it was her maternal instincts or perhaps she just worried more after her youngest son, nevertheless Annie could not quell her nervousness at the thought of Simon going away on this school camping trip. She trusted the teachers to watch the children with the constant vigillance needed for a group of twenty-five not-so-angelic fourth graders but she wasn't sure if her son was ready for the responsibility of being away from his parents for a full week, the longest he had ever been seperated from them since the day he was born.
"He'll be fine," Eric whispered to her as Simon bounded out of the family vehicle to meet with his friends.
Then again, maybe *she* was the one not ready to pack her baby boy off on his own.
She sighed nostalgically as she helped Ruthie out of her seatbelt, watching Eric and Matt go to unload Simon's bags from the back. Matt, her eldest, now sixteen years old and standing just an inch or two shorter than his father, well on his way to becoming a man. She was starting to realise her children were growing up and there was nothing she could do about it except watch and admire the adults they were growing into.
"Mom?" Ruthie quietly piped up.
She was still preoccupied with her depressing thoughts but not so that she did not hear the little girl standing beside her. "Yes, honey?"
"You think Simon will bring me back something?" came the mischievious reply.
Annie smiled, pulling her daughter to her. "That'll be a surprise."
At least, for the younger kids anyway, adulthood was still enough years in the future to ignore.
The teachers were starting the herd the children onto the bus indicating it was time to say goodbye. Simon swung his rucksack onto his back then turned away from his friends to his family.
"You promise to take care of Happy?" he asked regarding Matt and the girls with a solemn frown. Annie could hear in his voice it was not just Happy's welfare he was concerned about; Simon was beginning to realise that his departure was imminent and, like any ten-year-old on his first camping trip, he was not as confident as he thought he would be. "She needs alot of looking after, a dog is not something to be taken lightly."
"We promise," Matt appeased.
"Yeah, we've divided up the work," said Mary, "I'll take her on my runs every morning and afternoon."
"And Matt will feed her," Lucy took over, "and I'll give her all the attention a dog could need."
"Good, just remember that she'll miss me so you gotta make sure she's okay, y'know, eating well and that."
"Happy will be fine," Eric assured, pulling his son into an embrace, "so don't worry and have a good time."
When Eric released him, Annie moved to hug her son. "And remember we're only a phonecall away, if you need anything or want to come home, just call and we'll come get you."
"I'll be okay, Mom," Simon said, holding her tight for a moment then wriggling free, worried in case his show of emotions would be pounced on by his teasing friends.
He moved to join the other children boarding the bus. Just as he stepped inside, Simon turned one last time to grace his family with one last smile and a wave. It was such a sweet, beautific smile that would remain forever imprinted on Annie's mind. Later, she would mourn that innocent boy who, despite his excitment, had spared the time for one final goodbye. That boy who had been cruelly snatched from their arms too soon.
It would be two days before Sergeant Michaels would come to the house, his dark eyes downcast and grief-stricken and the apprehension in the normally confidant police officer would intuitively inform them this was not a social call. He would ask the children to leave the room before sitting Annie and Eric down. As her husband would sob softly, Annie's mind would recall her precious little boy and his infectious smile, unable to comprehend how such a child as loving as Simon could have fallen overboard during stormy weather, how he could have drowned in the raging ocean...
They would never have a body to commit to the earth, never be allowed that final closure. Instead, all Annie had left of Simon was his physical possessions and that one last smile.
End of PROLOGUE- Our Blue-Eyed Boy
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
