Summary: Ten years after season 10, Mary Camden Rivera and her family encounters an unexpected tragedy. They turn to her all her family for help, but can the Camdens help her and Carlos and their children get through the pain? Every other character has a minor side plot, too. This is my first 7th Heaven fic, so it may be a little sloppy.
Family, Thy Name is Camden
This first part you don't have to read, but it may be useful later on. So you might as well read it now.
Matt Camden (36 years old) is still married to Sarah, and they have 2 kids: Edward (Eddie) who is 10, and Kristin who is 6. Sarah is expecting their third child in six months or so. They moved back to Glenoak after med. school to be closer to their parents. They opened up their own practice
Mary Camden Rivera (34) is back together with Carlos, and they have 3 kids: Charlie, who is 12, Michelle, who is 7, and Ryan, who is 2. They live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Carlos manages a local grocery store chain and Mary is a flight attendant.
Lucy Camden Kinkirk (33) is still married to Kevin, and they have 3 kids: Savannah, who is 11, Chase, who is 10, and Allison, who is 4. They still live in Glenoak, and Kevin is a police officer and Lucy is still the associate pastor at her dad's church, but she does more now than before. She's also expecting kid number four in about 2 months.
Simon Camden (30) divorced Rose after 6 months, and is now married to a woman named Denise, who is more likeable than Rose. They have 1 kid: Hailee, who is 3. They live in San Francisco. He directs documentaries and short films, and is looking for that one project to make his career. Denise is a dog trainer.
Ruthie Camden (25) is married to a man named Will Harris, and they have two twins, one boy and one girl: Randy and Megan, and they are 2 years old. They live in Glenoak. Ruthie teaches 8th grade English and Will builds houses.
Sam Camden (17) is a senior in high school and still lives with Eric and Annie. He has a girlfriend named Mackenzie (Kenzie) Anderson. He plays baseball for the high school team. He's not a superstar, but he's pretty good at it. Sam is definately the more popular of the two at school.
David Camden (17) can't get a girl to save his life--just kidding. He's had girlfriends, he just doesn't right now. Like Sam, he's a senior in high school and still lives with his parents. He played football for a while during high school until a shoulder injury in his junior year forced him to quit. He was popular until then, now he hangs out with a different crowd.
Well that about covers everyone except Mom and Dad, but they're just normal for them. Eric is still at the church, and Annie's at home, blah, blah, blah. Now on to the story. The first chapter will just introduce everyone and their lives and stuff.
Chapter 1: They Sighed
Matt sighed as he pulled on his white coat. "Sarah!" He called. Silence for a moment, before he heard the impatient voice of his wife.
"What!" Sarah called back.
"Have you seen my stethoscope!" He asked.
"No! And if you're gonna yell at me, come into the room so we don't have to yell across the house!" Mumbling to himself, Matt made his way downstairs to the kitchen. He spotted his daughter sitting at the table eating breakfast.
"Morning, pumpkin," Matt greeted. Kristin looked up at her father and smiled.
"Hi Daddy," she returned the greeting. "Wanna see my drawing?"
"I'll look at it later sweetheart," Matt answered. "I promise. Where's your brother?"
"Upstairs," Kristin told him. "He's walking to school today."
"Oh," Matt said. "He doesn't wanna take the bus with his sister today?"
"No," Kristin replied sadly. "He thinks he's too cool."
"Well, don't worry too much about that honey," Sarah told her from her place at the counter. "I'm sure Eddie will see that he can't be too cool to be seen with his sister. But right now I know a first grader who needs to catch the bus."
"Okay!" Kristin said, enthusiasm back in her. "Bye Mommy, bye Daddy!" She grabbed her backpack and headed out the door. Sarah told her to wait a moment in the backyard.
"When did Eddie start walking to school?" Matt wondered.
"He didn't," Sarah responded. "Neither of them know I'm not going to let him yet." She grinned at her husband. "Eddie!" She called up the stairs again. "Get down here or you'll be late for the bus!"
Eddie was already heading down the stairs. "Mom, I'm walking to school with Jamie today, remember?"
"No," Sarah said sternly. "You're gonna take the bus today with your sister."
"Oh, mom!" Eddie protested. "Why? Jamie's mom is letting him walk to school!"
"I don't care," Sarah said. "Go to the bus stop, now."
Eddie sighed and went outside. Matt raised his eyebrows at Sarah, and said, "Mornings. Don't you just love 'em?"
Mary sighed as she trotted down the stairs. She knew this was going to be a long day. She had to fly up to Buffalo, down to Chicago, over to San Francisco, where she'd rent a car and drive to Glenoak where she would spend the night at her parents house. She was used to having long days, being a flight attendant. Today, however, she was extraordinarily tired, and she wasn't sure why. Not to mention she was usual back before the kids got home from school. Carlos handled the mornings, while Mary did the afternoons.
"Hey honey," Carlos greeted from his position in the kitchen, where he was making pancakes for the family's breakfast.
"Don't forget to take Michelle to soccer practice after school," Mary told him. "The coach will drop her off afterwards like the other girls. Charlie's going to Steve's house after school to work on a project, so you don't have to pick him up. I called Mrs. Baines about babysitting Ryan while you're at work, so just drop him off on your way. And don't forget to leave the store early."
"Don't worry honey," Carlos reassured her. "I got it all under control. Remind me again why we can't just take him to daycare like before."
"Don't you remember the fire? They have to close the place down for three months. Starting tomorrow, we'll take him to a new daycare." Carlos nodded in understanding.
"Have fun today and tonight, honey," said Carlos.
"I'm sure I will," replied Mary sarcastically. "On the flight from Chicago to San Francisco, I'll feel bad for those people, cause they'll have one crabby flight attendant. I'd better get going. Tell the kids goodbye for me, okay?"
"Okay, honey," Carlos agreed. "I'll tell them. You get going. Bye honey." He kissed his wife and watched as she went out the door, shutting it behind her.
Lucy sighed as she waited for her oldest daughter, Savannah, to come downstairs for breakfast. Kevin, Chase, Allison, and herself were already down there, waiting for Savannah. They never started eating breakfast until everyone was there.
Lucy could take it no longer. "Savannah!" she called up the stairs. "Get down here, now! You're gonna be in big trouble!"
Allison imitated her mother. "Savannah!" she echoed. "Our cereal's getting mushy!"
Kevin smiled at his daughter. "I think she gets it, Ally," he told his daughter.
"No she doesn't," Lucy contradicted. "If she did, she'd get down here. You know what, you guys go ahead and eat. I'm gonna go get her." She headed up the stairs with every intention to make her daughter be in big trouble if she didn't come down the stairs right then.
Her mind was quickly changed when she saw her daughter sitting on the bathroom floor in her underpants, her head between her knees. "Savannah? Are you okay?" she asked concernedly.
Savannah looked up at her mother, looking mighty pale. "Mo-om," she whined. "I feel really terrible, and I keep throwing up."
Lucy raised her eyebrows. "Then I guess breakfast really wouldn't be good for you, would it?" She continued after Savannah shook her head. "Come on, let's take your temperature." She led Savannah to her and Kevin's bathroom, and sat her down on the edge of the bathtub. Sticking a thermometer in her daughter's mouth, Lucy looked at her watch. She set the timer on it, and handed it to Savannah. "Take it out when this goes off," she said before heading back downstairs.
"Hey, Luce," Kevin said. "What's goin' on with Savannah?"
"She's a little sick this morning," Lucy returned. "She's upstairs with the thermometer in her mouth."
"Is it something she ate?" Chase wondered. "Should we be worried?"
Lucy shook her head, "No, honey. I'm sure it's just the stomach flu."
Simon sighed. Cold hands were plugging his nose. Using much effort to keep his eyes closed, he snored.
"Daaaaddyyyyy," a small voice cooed. "Wakey, wakey." His daughter then plugged up his ears.
"His mouth is open," he heard his wife say. "Put this in there." He didn't know just what Denise handed over to the three year old, until she plopped it in his mouth. It had the sweet taste of a honey-nut cheerio. He chewed and swallowed, all the while pretending he was still asleep.
"Come on Daddy," Hailee begged. "We're going to the park, 'member?"
He remembered all right. He just loved playing this game with his daughter. He was currently between productions, so he had promised his small daughter he would entertain her at the park on that particular day.
"Daaaaaaaad," Hailee said. "Wake up!"
"Want some help?" Denise asked. When Hailee agreed, Simon felt his wife's lips gently brush his. Then he felt-well-naughtier kissing, and he couldn't help but open his eyes.
"Good job Mommy," Hailee praised. "Gotta get going, if we wanna see the duckies!" She lept off the bed and bounded out of the room to the family dog, a former rescue dog Denise had trained, named Duke. Duke followed the little girl down the stairs, sharing her excitement.
"Guess this means you'll have to take Duke with you to the park," Denise commented. "Have fun."
"I'm sure we will," Simon retorted. He smiled at his wife.
Ruthie sighed, turning up the radio. "Accidently in Love" by Counting Crows was coming through the speakers in the car. After becoming satisfied her children were safe at daycare, she headed to the school she taught at.
The car rolled to a smooth stop at the red light. She peered in the back only to find her husband Will had forgotten his tools in the backseat. "Will," she seethed, shaking her head. She whipped out her cell phone, and dialed the familiar number belonging to Will's cell phone.
"Will Harris," he answered.
"Honey, it's me," she said annoyedly. "I found your tools in the backseat. Do you wanna come get them?"
"Aw, shit," Will cursed. "Sweetheart, I can't, I'm meeting with a potential client today. I don't have time to come get them."
"Well, aren't you gonna need them?" Ruthie wondered.
"Oh yeah," Will remembered. "Can you please bring them by the one I'm building on Smalley Road?"
"Um, no!" Ruthie shot back. "I have to work too. Come get your own tools."
"Thanks a lot, honey," Will replied, his voice layered with sarcasm. "How supportive of you."
"Well, I don't think you're very supportive of me," Ruthie pointed out. "I have to teach classes. All day. Every day. Just like normal." With that, she hung up on her husband as she was in the process of rolling her eyes.
Sam and David sighed in unison as they dug their spoons into their cereal bowls. These sighs were apparently contagious, because then Annie sighed from her position at the kitchen counter. A few seconds later, Eric sighed as he trotted down the stairs.
"Okay," he began. "You guys ready for another day of school?"
Sam and David each nodded. Sam followed up with, "Since it's Friday, can I go to the baseball party tonight?"
"Who's house is it?" Annie asked.
"Jake's," Sam answered. "He's captain of the team, so he's having the party."
"Okay," his mom consented. "But only since he and his parents go to our church."
"Thanks Mom!" Sam said eagerly.
She smiled. "David? What are you doing tonight?"
"I gotta date," he told his mom excitedly. Sam laughed.
"You gotta date?" he asked David in disbelief. "With who? Becca Perkins? The Goth queen?"
"No," David answered proudly. "With Emily Thompson. The hottest girl in school." Sam still looked in utter skeptism.
"If you say so David," Sam told him.
A/N: Okay. That's the end of the first chapter. Boring I know. But it will pick up. Please review and tell me what you think! PLEASE! And have mercy, because this is my first 7th Heaven fic.