This story is in honor to the victims of 9/11. I know it was almost 13 years ago, but the memory lives on. If you were in any way affected by this tragedy that happened over a decade ago, I offer my sincerest apologies and I would like to thank you all for the bravery you've shown. Y'all associated with 9/11 (minus the people who caused it) are heroes. Thank you.
I don't own Austin & Ally, 9/11, or the song I'm Already There by Lonestar.
Third person POV (Set in 2011)
Ally Dawson Green tried not to cry. She had to stay strong for her baby and her husband. He was leaving to go on a mission trip in Indonesia while she stayed home to take care of their five-month-old baby boy AJ. His real name was Aiden Jr. Green, named after his daddy. Well, kind of. Ally had Aiden's name picked out from the time she was five at least. It was just a coincidence that she married a man that had the same name.
Aiden Green had been friends with Ally as long as she could remember. They, along with their other best friend Trish Delarosa, did everything together. They were like the three musketeers-inseparable. While Trish always viewed Aiden as the brother type, Ally fell head over heels for him, and luckily he felt the exact same way.
So that's how the couple got to where they are today. They'd been married for a year and a half, and had AJ five months ago. Now, he was leaving. Ally was happy it was only for a month, but she didn't want him to leave at all.
"I want you to call me as soon as you land" Ally demanded. She tried to sound intimidating, but the tear that slipped down her cheek and the small crack in her voice said otherwise.
"I will Als; stop worrying. Everything will be fine" Aiden assured his wife as he pulled her closer to him and put his head on top of hers. The intercom stated that it his flight was boarding, but Ally couldn't even hear it. She was just listening to the sound of her husband's heart thump in a rhythmic notion, and watching the rise and fall of his chest. He was hers-she couldn't help but worry for that reason.
"Sir, are you getting on the plane or not?" a lady at the gate entrance asked impatiently as she took the tickets from some of the last few customers.
"In a minute" he said then turned back toward his wife and baby. "Take care of your Mommy little guy, alright? She needs a good strong man to protect her and Daddy has to go right now. Think you can handle it?"
The baby only gurgled something incoherent in response making his father laugh. Ally always loved his laugh. That and his smile. Those were the first features (as far as physical appearances go) that she fell for. His laugh could light up the dullest room. It filled her heart with joy the day AJ was born and she saw his first smile-exactly like his father's.
"Ally, take care of yourself and this little guy while I'm gone okay? I love you both so much" Aiden said staring at her with such intensity she almost fell to the ground in an effort to beg him to stay at home instead of going on this mission trip, but she couldn't be selfish. Those people needed to hear the Word of God and she couldn't interfere if that was the direction God was pulling her husband towards. It wouldn't be right.
"I will Aid, don't worry. I love you more" Ally said. Aiden leaned down and kissed her softly.
"Not possible, but I don't have time to argue how much I love you because it will take well longer than I have left on this earth to describe" he said with that charming smile before leaning down again to capture her lips in one last kiss. "Bye Als"
"Bye Aid. We love you"
"I love you too"
"Come on Austin, we're in a real pickle here. Cam needs someone to look after her and Heather couldn't make it. She said her daughter just went into labor, and you know she told us when her daughter had that baby she was going to resign and move closer to her" Sarah Moon said in a desperate voice.
Austin Moon was a rising pop-star, and he really didn't have time for this. His brother Connor, and his sister-in-law Sarah's plane was about to take off. They were heading on a mission trip with the church they attended; the only problem was an adorable little five year old girl named Camryn-their daughter. They had no one to watch her now that their only option as a babysitter quit last minute. That's where they figured their dear little brother fit in perfectly.
"Guys, I may be twenty years old now, but I can't handle this. You know I love Camryn to death, but I have so much to do! I can't take care of another human being when I can barely take care of myself!" Austin exclaimed. Connor rolled his eyes at his little brother.
"Dude, you and Dez live alone in that apartment of yours, and you make good enough money. I can give you a hundred bucks for the month and pay you back the difference if you have to use any of your precious money" his older brother said sarcastically.
"It's not about the money" Austin said narrowing his eyes towards his big brother for thinking he was that shallow. "I may be some cookie-cutter pop-star now to you guys-"
"We never said that" Sarah said cutting him off.
"I know, but he was thinking it. Anyway, even though that's what I am, you know I'd give an arm and a leg for that little girl. It's just, what do you guys expect me to do? Put my career on hold the whole time you guys are gone?" Austin asked exasperated.
"No sweetie, of course not" Sarah said putting a hand on her younger brother-in-law's shoulder. "It's just-we're desperate Austin. If we can't find someone to watch her then we can't go on our mission trip and help tell those poor people about God. And I can't take my baby over there and risk her getting sick."
Austin sighed. "I get that guys; I just don't know what you all expect me to do"
"Pwease Uncle Austy? I wuv you" Camryn said from beside Austin. He had completely forgotten she was right there, but the little girl was smart. Using words like 'pwease', 'Austy', and 'wuv' are really hard to say no to. Especially when she's pouting all cutely-like a puppy.
"Urg, fine! How long do I have to do this again?" Austin asked sighing. Both Connor and Sarah were smiling widely, happy Austin had been suckered into doing this, and proud it was their little girl who did it.
"That's my girl" Connor said picking his daughter up as she nuzzled her little head in the crook of her Daddy's neck. "And it's just a month"
"A month!? For goodness sakes Con, why a month!?" Austin exclaimed.
"Oh come on, a month isn't that long Austin" Sarah said rolling her eyes. "Please don't back out now"
"I won't, I won't" Austin said groaning.
"Austin" Connor said nodding his head in the direction of a place more private. Austin sighed but complied as Connor set his daughter down to say goodbye to her Mommy.
"What?" Austin asked slightly impatient. He had a radio interview to get to soon which he was already late for.
"You're going to be looking after my daughter now Austin. Don't be talking like that" Connor said teasingly. Austin crossed his arms and stared at him. "Okay, okay. I just wanted to make sure you knew how much Camryn means to me and Sarah. She's our world. I know you love her, but I need to make sure you're going to take care of her."
"I will dude, I promise. I know how much she means to y'all, and she means just as much to me. I'd never let anything happen to that little girl. I knew that since the day she was born when I was fifteen. Remember, that was the day you and Sarah asked me to be her Godfather in case something happened? You knew I wasn't even old enough then, but I would've found a way; the same way you found a way when…when Mom and Dad died. You were seventeen and I was fourteen. They should've put us in foster care but they couldn't find us until you turned eighteen and were my 'legal guardian' or whatever you wanna call it. I guess if you basically raised me in my crazy teenage years, I can watch your kid for a month" Austin said with that good-natural humor he'd obtained long ago.
"That a boy" Connor teased, catching Austin in a head lock and giving him what they used to call a nuggie as kids. Austin pushed his laughing brother away and started fixing his hair with a glare set towards him.
"Not cool dude; I have an interview to get to…twenty minutes ago" Austin said. Connor just smiled.
"Awe, but if I can't mess with my baby bro then who can?" he said in a baby voice.
"Uncle Austin!" Camryn yelled about as loudly as the small child's lungs allowed her to from across the medium sized area of the airport. Austin smiled as the little girl waved enthusiastically for no apparent reason and waved back.
"Apparently your daughter can" Austin said flatly, though the smile never left his features. "You passed that trait onto her honestly"
"That I did" Connor said smiling proudly at his little girl.
"Flight 93 is now boarding" the announcer person said. Austin's eyebrows creased at that. Flight 93? Like in 9/11?
"That's my flight" Conner said giving his brother a side hug before ruffling his hair again. This time Austin didn't even bother trying to fix it, and confusion was written all over his face.
"Dude, they just said Flight 93" Austin said. Connor laughed a little but nodded.
"Yeah, you're point being?"
"Isn't that like-"
"Con, we have to go" Sarah said hurriedly, not meaning to disrupt their brotherly conversation, but time was of the essence.
"But Sarah, your flight is-"
"I know Austin; it's leaving. That's why we have to go" Sarah said, not letting him speak. "Bye Austin, love you. Take good care of our daughter alright?"
Austin sighed and nodded. "Yes, of course. You be careful and I love you too"
"Always am" she said smiling at the younger boy she'd known since she and Connor were about eleven. Austin made sure that one didn't get away from his big brother-mostly because she loved him to death and had always spoiled him rotten.
"Bye sweetheart. Be good for Uncle Austin" Sarah then said to her daughter. Camryn beamed up at her mother.
"Always am" she said in a teasing way. Sarah laughed.
"That's my girl. I love you baby"
"Love you too Mommy"
"Later bro. You take care of my girl, ya hear?" Connor said, though they just had this conversation. Austin nodded. "Alright, love you bro….and stuff. See ya"
His brother had never really been good with words. "Love you too man"
"Bye Daddy!" Camryn said in her slightly loud five year old voice that proved she was in a rather hyper mood today. Connor laughed.
"Bye baby girl."
"I love you so much Daddy; to the moon and back" Cam said with those innocent doe eyes of hers staring up at him. Connor nodded, trying his best to stay strong for the sake of his pride, but that little girl could melt the heart of the strongest warrior. Hitler* might even have a hard time saying no to that face.
"Daddy loves you to the moon and back too princess" Connor said. It was sort of their little father/daughter thing, but it had started back when Austin and Connor were real little; their mother would always say that to them every night.
And with that they left, leaving Austin alone with a five year old little girl about to burst with energy and excitement. Sure she'd miss her parents, but she loved every moment she got with her favorite-and only biological-uncle.
"So what are we gonna do now Uncle Austin?" Cam asked all bubbly and excited for the day to come already.
"Well, you're going to play sit quietly with Uncle Dez while I do my radio interview with the man you hear a lot when you're Mommy and Daddy turn on the car radio" Austin explained as best as he could. She needed to behave if she had to be there-which she did.
But that little plan had just gone down the toilet.
Thirty minutes later when he pulled up at the radio station, they rushed him in faster than he could blink and said he was so late they had to fill his slot with the next celebrity available and he'd take her slot in five minutes.
"Austin, what do we do with her?" Dez asked looking down at Camryn like the child may explode. He liked kids when he could play with them (and basically be one) but if he had to take care of one and watch her by himself, that was a whole other story.
"Watch her. I'll only be gone a few minutes" Austin said rolling his eyes as he entered the recording booth.
After a ten minute interview where everything went fine, though a little rushed, he walked out to find Dez and Camryn practically sprawled out on the ground. They both looked worn out-well Dez did at least. Camryn was out. Great, now he'd have to carrying the sleeping child all the way to the car.
"What happened!?"
"That little niece of yours sure can put up a fight" Dez said in an exhausted voice as he lifted himself up off the ground. "Let's stay at Connor's place for a while. Maybe the whole month"
"What'd you do to the apartment?" Austin asked sighing. Dez chuckled nervously.
"Nothing technically…I just kind of borrowed a few animals from the zoo and brought them over. Turns out that's 'means for eviction' whatever that means" Dez said scoffing. Austin sighed in frustration as he picked up Camryn carefully and walked out to the parking lot where he laid her gently in the backseat, careful not to wake her up.
"This is going to be a long month"
"You ready to go little man?" Ally asked looking down at the gurgling infant in her arms. He was just the sweetest little thing. Of course she got no response, but she just laughed it off as best as she could and walked to the parking lot. The only thing that was on the radio was some new up-and-coming pop-star. She caught enough of the interview to hear the guy's name before switching the station. When she found nothing she liked and AJ started getting agitated in the back seat, she resorted to a Barney* CD she despised. As a kid, she loved the purple dinosaur, but now she wanted nothing more than to strangle the producer. At least it stopped a meltdown before it started though.
Her phone rang as she pulled onto the interstate from the airport and she hit the button on her car. It was there as a sort of safety thing Aiden had installed so neither of them would be tempted to look at their phone while driving. "Hey Ally, you still at the airport?"
"No Trish, I'm driving" Ally replied to her best friend's usual loud personality. It could come in handy at times, but not when she was in a sullen mood from her husband leaving. Not forever of course, but she still felt empty without him.
"Well I'm at your house so when you get home we're watching a movie" Trish said rather than asking. Ally rolled her eyes but didn't say anything about it.
"Sure, why not. See you in a few" she said and disconnected the call without another word. AJ was in the back babbling happily while the songs played. If you could even call them songs.
"Where's my favorite baby boy?" Trish asked as soon as Ally walked through the door.
"He's asleep so don't wake him up" Ally snapped. Trish grumbled in response before settling back onto the couch she'd just gotten up off of with a bowl full of popcorn from Ally's cabinet of course.
Ally just rolled her eyes and walked to the baby's nursery to lay him down. She kissed his little forehead and said, "Sleep tight baby. Mommy loves you so much"
"Ally" Trish said from the doorway. Ally turned around and immediately noticed something wasn't right.
"Trish, what's wrong?" Ally asked worriedly. Trish glanced to the baby then back to her best friend.
"Aiden's on the phone"
An hour and a half earlier
"Thank you and have a nice flight" the flight attendant said as she took the last customer's boarding pass.
Aiden walked onto the plane looking for his seat, which he quickly located next to this young looking couple maybe a few years older than himself. He vaguely recognized them from the meeting for missionaries held between the four conjoining churches on this trip. "Hi"
"Oh, hello. My name's Sarah and this is my husband Connor. You're for the mission trip right? You look familiar" the woman with the beautiful, long brown hair said cheerily. Connor was smiling from beside his wife.
"Yes, do you go to Bethel Baptist*?" Aiden asked as he put his suitcase in the little slot above their seats.
"Bethel Highland, actually" Conner answered. Aiden nodded. Their two churches were practically the same church just in different buildings. They did almost every activity together-even potlucks-and only held separate services on Sundays and Wednesdays.
"So, what's your name?" Sarah asked when Aiden finally sat down.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Where are my manners" Aiden said shaking his head. "My name's Aiden."
"Conner"
"And you know my name" Sarah laughed. "So, did you come with any family?"
"No, actually my wife and son just left the airport" Aiden explained.
"Oh, you're married! How wonderful! And you have a little boy? How old is he? Our little girl is five and she just left with our brother, Austin" Sarah babbled.
"I bet she's adorable. My son's five months old" Aiden smiled. He always loved talking about his family. "You want to see a picture?"
"Of course! Oh, he's so little" Sarah gasped as she leaned over her husband's lap to look onto Aiden's phone. Conner just smiled at his wife. She was so open with everyone, and she just loved babies. "Con, get your phone out and show him and picture of Cam. What's your baby's name?"
"AJ. It stands for Aiden Jr, but the funny thing is that my wife Ally always wanted to name her son that. We've known each other since we were probably your daughter's age and she always told me I shared her future son's name" Aiden said smiling at the memory as he looked onto Conner's phone at the picture of Camryn.
"Oh my goodness, that is just the cutest thing! How did y'all get together?"
"Sarah, he may be Austin's age, but we just met the boy. Let him relax a little before you make him pour out his whole life's story" Conner laughed as his wife pouted.
"No, no, it's totally fine. Ally does the same exact thing. I'm used to it" Aiden laughed as he told the story of how he and Ally met and got together. They were going to the dance together as friends at school because Trish had a date and neither of them did. Aiden had asked Ally to dance, and it was a slow song, so like in cliché movies, they started dancing closer and closer (with Ally on his feet because she was a horrible dancer) and they kissed. They were the cutest couple, who never once broke up no matter how much they fought (they had been best friends since they were little after all) and he proposed on their graduation. Now, here they were. Two twenty year olds living a happy life, married with an adorable and healthy son.
"Oh, Conner! He and the girl were best friends just like us!" Sarah squealed when he was finished telling the story.
"Yeah, but he didn't have his little brother literally push his face into his best friend's" Conner smiled. They laughed and shared the memory of how Austin practically gave them their first kiss. He'd told them he was tired of them denying their feelings (they were thirteen and he was ten) and he literally got up on a chair and shoved their faces together. Ah, young love.
Suddenly, the plane took a jerk to the left, then right, and shook several times before stabling again. "What's happening?" someone cried.
"Shut up!" a man yelled from the front, holding up a gun. People were crying, trying their best not to scream.
"Sarah, what's today's date?" Conner asked his wife as quietly as he could. Sarah, who was sobbing silently now, pulled out her cell phone and looked at the date. 9-11-11. "Dear Lord" Conner whispered.
"What is it?" Sarah asked.
"We're on Flight 93 and I didn't even realize that today is the ten year anniversary of 9/11" Conner said biting his bottom lip.
"It's what!?" Aiden asked in a frightened whisper. "What's happening!?"
"Aiden, call your wife" Conner said as he grasped Sarah's hand.
"Wait, what?"
"Kid, do you want to die without telling her how much you love her and that things will be alright? Don't you want her to know it's okay to be happy?" Conner asked. Aiden took a ragged breath, already scared out of his mind, but fished out his phone anyway and dialed their home number-the home he would never see again. God, please don't take me unless I know Ally's okay, he prayed.
"Conner, call Austin. I want to talk to him and Camryn" Sarah sniffed. "We're really going to die, aren't we?"
Conner nodded. "Yeah baby, I think so. But at least we're dying together right?"
"That's a bitter-sweet truth" Sarah choked out as she laid her head on Conner's chest. Conner sighed, stroking his wife's hair for what he feared would be the last time and dialed Austin's number.
Present time (With Ally and Trish)
"Aiden? What is it? What's wrong?" Ally asked immediately when Trish put the phone on speaker and they shut to the door, heading into the living room and sitting on the couch. They heard a bunch of noise and Aiden sniffing in the background.
"T-The plane…A-Als, it's g-going down" he stuttered.
"WHAT!?" both Ally and Trish yelled at the same time.
"What do you mean?" Ally asked desperately.
"I-I'm calling to say goodbye."
"Aid, you aren't making any sense. Are you sure it isn't just turbulence or something?" Ally asked, begging God in her mind for what she knew in the back of her mind was the truth to be only a dream.
"Ally" Aden sighed. "The plane's been high-jacked. There's nothing we can do about it. Conner and Sarah, the couple beside me said that it's the ten year anniversary of 9/11 baby, and…I'm on Flight 93."
"No! Aiden, please tell me you're joking! This isn't funny!" Ally begged. She and Trish were both already crying and Trish had her arms wrapped tightly around Ally's shoulders as they both listened intently to the phone sitting in front of them on speaker.
"Ally, please don't do this. Just listen to me. I need you to take care of our baby and yourself. That goes for you too Trish" Aiden spoke shakily. Ally could hear the fear in his voice; she was one of the only ones who could ever tell when Aiden was really scared.
"I will" Trish vowed in a cracking voice.
"Ally?" Aiden plead. He was waiting for her answer.
"M-M-Me too" she promised.
"And Als?"
"Yeah baby?" Ally asked sniffling.
"I want you to be happy-", by this time Ally was already shaking her head, knowing where this was going. She knew it was something she could never do. "-and if that means moving on eventually, and it doesn't have to be right away, I'd be okay with that. Please remember that" he begged.
"No way" Ally refused immediately.
"Yes. Please, you have to promise me you'll be okay and you'll try to be happy again, for your own sake For AJ's sake…for my sake Als. I need you to promise me" Aiden said again.
"Lord, don't take my husband" she cried, not even answering him.
"Oh Ally, over everything, please promise me you won't start blaming or resenting God for this. You and AJ and Trish need Him more than ever right now. Please, I need to know that more than I need to know that you'll think about moving on" Aiden said desperately.
"I can promise you that Aiden. Will you promise the same? I want to make sure my husband g-goes to Heaven when…Oh Lord" Ally said and started sobbing. She couldn't even finish her sentence. She didn't want it to be real.
"I know Ally, I know. I'll be okay. It's you I'm worried about. Will you please just try to be happy? For me?" Aiden begged. Ally sighed.
"Yeah, I can try. I love you" she croaked out. This was a conversation she didn't anticipate…ever. She thought they'd live together forever, until they were old, and they would die together. That couple next to her husband must be lucky in some way. Neither of them have to know what it's like to lose the love of their life because they'll die together.
"I know baby, I love you too. I wish I could be there to kiss you, but all I can tell you is when you go to sleep, just turn out the light and close your eyes, I'll be with you wherever you are. I'll be the beat of your heart, and the moonlight you see every night. You can hear my voice in the wind, baby girl. We share a love that is undeniable." Aiden sighed. He was working out a goodbye speech, and he may have said a few things similar to the couple next to him, but it was sweet none the less.
"I wish I was in your arms" Ally said closing her eyes.
"I know. I love you, Trish, and Aiden so much. You guys are my life. Love you Als" Aiden whispered.
"Love you…stay" Ally said biting her lip.
"I love you"
And that was the last thing Ally ever heard come out of Aiden Green's mouth.
"NO!" she cried as she and Trish sank to the floor in tears. "He's gone! He's really gone!"
"You got Austin" Austin said in a low voice when he answered his phone. He'd just gotten home and both Dez and Cam were passed out on the couch, so he had to be quiet.
"Austin" his brother's strained voice came from the other end of the line. Austin immediately turned his attention to the call, cutting off the TV that was left on since this morning apparently. If Conner sounded that scared over something, this must be serious.
"What's wrong? Is Sarah okay? Are you okay? Do I need to get a sitter for Cam and Dez so I can fly down to pick you guys up?" Austin asked immediately. He knew something was wrong; he could feel it in his gut.
"Bro, I just gotta tell you that you tried. You really did" Conner said. Austin furrowed his eyebrows together, not quite sure what he tried at.
"What are you talking about Con?"
"You seriously tried to warn us about going on the stupid Flight 93. But I was an idiot and I didn't even realize it was the ten year anniversary of 9/11" Conner sighed. There were all kinds of strangled noises in the back ground, some of which were angry yelling, and others were terrified screams. He could hear whimpering closer to the phone though; a girl's whimpering.
"Con, what's going on? Sarah, you alright?" Austin asked. He knew she was listening. He could always tell whenever Conner had the phone on speaker or when Sarah was just listening. It wasn't on speaker, but he could hear Sarah.
"I-fine" Sarah squeaked out. She clearly wasn't fine.
"Guys, tell me what's going on. Do I need to come help you?" Austin asked. He could hear his brother sigh from the other end.
"Dude, there's nothing you can do to help. The plane's been taken over. We're just calling to…say goodbye" Conner gulped.
"No, no. Don't talk like this guys. This cannot be happening" Austin said, now getting very scared and stressed, and he just started pacing the hard wood floor in the living room, not caring who he woke up at this point.
"Austin, please believe us. This is serious. We don't want to make you upset, but we're not coming home. I guess it is a little longer than a month" Sarah said this time.
"If by a little longer, you mean thirteen years…how do you expect me to do that without you guys!? I need you both so much! No, please don't go!" Austin cried. This time, he was so loud he woke up both Dez and Camryn.
"Uncle Austin, what's wrong?" Cam asked, her mother's adorable brown eyes staring up at him. She had her Daddy's hair though…
"Camryn!" both Sarah and Conner exclaimed through sobs.
"Is that Mommy and Daddy?" Camryn asked, starting to get excited. That right there broke Austin's heart into pieces. He was already terrified his worst nightmare was actually coming true, and now he knows it's real. His precious little niece was about to lose her parents, just like he and his brother had. But at that time, Austin had Conner and Sarah with him the whole time. This would be like Austin losing his only remaining set of parents. How was he supposed to raise their little girl by himself when he could barely take care of himself.
"Y-Yeah" Austin choked out. Cam looked at him curiously.
"Uncle Austin, are you crying?" Camryn asked pouting.
"Austin, can we talk to our daughter?" Sarah asked. Austin sighed and put the phone on speaker.
"Dez is here too" Austin said sniffling.
"Hey guys…" Dez trailed off, not knowing what was going on at all, but sensing something was off.
"Oh Dez, please help Austin take care of Cam when we're gone" Sarah begged. She clearly was in a desperate state of mind if she was asking Dez to raise her child.
"Uh, sure" Dez said.
"Mommy, are you sad?" Camryn asked. Sarah choked on a sob at her sweet baby girl's innocence.
"A little bit sweetie" she said finally. Austin knew this was the hardest thing she ever had to go through, but she'd do anything for her baby girl.
"Why?" Camryn asked. "Mommy's not supposed to be sad. Is Daddy sad too?"
"Yes precious, Daddy's a little sad too" Conner sniffed. "And it's because we won't get to see you for a while."
"Daddy, when are you coming home?" Camryn whined. She didn't understand, that much was evident.
Austin could hear his brother take a deep breath. Conner said the first thing that popped into his mind. "I'm already there sweetheart."
"Where? I don't see you" Cam said confusedly.
"Take a look around baby girl. I'm the sunshine in your beautiful blond hair. I'm the shadow you see on the ground, so you don't ever have to be afraid again because that's me. You know how the wind makes that whispering noise?"
"Yes Daddy" Cam said. She was starting to tear up. A little girl could sense when something was wrong with her parents.
"That's me also. I can be your imaginary friend you talk to all the time. You may not hear me answer back, but I'll be in your dreams baby girl. And you know what?" Conner asked.
"What?" Camryn asked. Now the tears were streaming down her little face and Austin picked her up, placing her in his lap as they listened in on the phone call.
"You can pray about me. I'm praying about you. So is Mommy" Conner told her. He always wanted to help his daughter grow as a strong woman of faith, but now he had to leave that task up to his little brother. He could do it; Conner knew he could.
"I'll pray for you, Daddy" Camryn promised.
"Aiden, put your seatbelt on. You too Con" Sarah said in the background. Austin had to let out a small, bitter-sweet smile. Sarah was still Sarah, even in a situation where she knew she was about to die.
"Thank you sweetie, I love you so much. And remember, I'm already there okay? Don't ever wonder why I'm not with you because I am" Conner said sniffling. It was hard for him, but he had to pull it together for his baby girl. He loved that child more than anything in this world.
"Mommy, will you be here too?" Camryn asked.
"Oh, yes sweetie. I'll be with you wherever you go. And someday, I hope your Uncle Austin will meet a very nice girl who can show you how to braid your hair" Sarah said biting her lip. She was supposed to teach her that when she got back; now she never could.
"Okay Mommy. I love you" Camryn said.
"I love you too sweetie. Love you Dez. Love you Austin. I'm going to miss my brothers" Sarah said.
"Not as much as we'll miss our sister" Austin gulped.
"Yeah, love you too" Dez said. Austin figured Dez finally figured out what was happening somewhat and knew Sarah and Conner were about to die.
"Me too, I love you so much" Austin said thickly.
"I love you all too. Dez, my man. Take care of them alright? Stay funny" Conner said. After Dez promised to do so, Conner turned the conversation on his brother. "Austin, I know you can do this. We're a lot alike, and there's no one I would ever want to raise my daughter more than you if I couldn't."
"Well, you and Sarah did basically raise me" Austin said. He didn't care that he was crying now too. His brother and sister-in-law were about to die. They were all he ever knew.
"You'll be okay baby" Sarah said.
"Yeah bro, you'll do fine. I want you to protect our little girl as if she were your own" Conner said.
"She is my own. She's my own niece and Goddaughter. I love her with my life" Austin promised. He meant every word of that.
"Good. Love you guys"
"Love you!"
There were multiple people just shouting 'I love you' over the line (and many others on the plane) because they wanted that to be their last words to their loved ones…and they were, because that was the moment the plane hit the ground.
Hey guys. I want to thank you all for reading my new story. This idea just really hit me a while ago and I couldn't get it out of my head. I've had it planned to post during the summer for a long time. I know that means all my other stories will be updated less frequent but I promise I'm trying.
*I don't own 9/11, I'm Already There by LoneStar, Hitler, or anything else you may recognize in the story. This chapter plays a very important role in the outcome of this story, no matter if it is only a prologue. I did use the lyrics from I'm Already There a bit.
God Bless you all!
-Daddysgirl11