"It's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers"
-As Time Goes By (Frank Sinatra)
"Grandma, are you hurt?"
Rachel slowly opened her eyes; blinking twice before being able to focus and meet vivid emerald eyes that glistened with unshed tears. Eyes that were so similar to the love of her life. The little eight-year-old even had the same shade of blond hair. It came to no surprise considering who his father was. The sight of him never failed to bring a smile on her lips no matter how tired she felt. "No, I'm not, Samuel." Her lips curved into a small smile.
Her smile was a huge comfort to the little boy. Even though each day his grandmother was looking paler and would sleep more, she would always smile at him. When she did he felt better because it made him feel warm inside. Samuel placed his hand under hers and grasped it gently, feeling it tremble slightly in his grasp. "Are you cold?" He didn't wait for her to answer as he moved to lie beside her and snuggled up next to her.
"Thank you." Rachel made a huge effort to turn to face him, trying her hardest not to flinch as her body protested at the movement. Her arm wrapped around the little boy weakly. She kissed his head gently. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Grandma." Samuel met her gaze. He didn't want to leave her side, especially after he accidently heard his aunt Avery telling his aunt Shelby, uncle Leroy and his dad that it won't be long for his grandma to leave. "I don't want you to go." He saw her eyes widen. "Can't you stay?"
"Oh, sweetheart." She placed her hand on his head and pulled him closer to her chest. Her eyes burned with tears. Throughout the years she had waited patiently for her time to come and welcomed it when the doctors warned her. It was something that could be never avoided and yet whenever she looked at her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild a part of her did not want to leave them because of the pain her death would bring. She loved them all too much to ever intentionally hurt them, but in this matter she had no say. "I have stayed here for a very long time. I think it's about time I reunite with your grandfather."
"Can't you tell him to wait a little while longer?" Samuel looked up at his grandmother.
A small chuckle slipped through her lips.
"At least for one last story," he begged.
"I think we can manage that." Rachel met his gaze. "Go get your cousins."
"Okay!" Samuel kissed her cheek before gently untangling himself from her and running to the door passed his dad.
"Samuel! No running down the stairs!" Hiram called out to his youngest son before stepping into his mother's room. "I hope he didn't wake you."
"He didn't," Rachel reassured him with a weak smile. "Come and help me sit up."
Hiram didn't hesitate to wrap an arm around her carefully and hold her up, while with his other hand he set the pillows so she could sit up comfortably. "You should be resting."
"I have rested enough." She patted his hand. "I want to tell them one last story."
His eyes widened slightly at the implication. "Mom…"
"It's going to be okay."
Hiram squeezed his eyes shut and gulp when he felt a lump his throat. Words failed him as his body trembled against his will. "I know," he whispered, afraid that if he spoke any louder his voice would crack. He had been through this a couple of times already and he could get through this again, but it had not hurt this much… not since his father passed away all those years ago. The denial he felt that time wanted to rear its head again at that very moment and he crushed it viscously. He didn't want to hurt his mother with his selfishness.
Rachel felt her heart go out to her eldest son. She remembered how hard it had been for him to fully come to terms with Sam's death. She placed her hand over his head and slowly ran it through the silky strands. The vulnerability she saw in his eyes reminded her of when he had been a child. It had been so long since she last saw that look. "I'm so proud of you, Hiram."
"…Mom."
"I don't ever want you to forget that."
He couldn't explain it but he knew this was her farewell to him and more than anything he wanted her to know just how much she meant to him. "I love you."
Rachel gently tugged him forward and kissed his forehead. "I love you, too, sweetie."
He felt the words as she uttered them against his forehead and shattered his guard. Hiram hugged his mother gently and buried his face in the crook of her neck. He bit his bottom lip when a sob clawed up his throat and threatened to come out. He felt like a child as she continued to run her hand through his hair as if trying to soothe his pain away. The sound of multiple footsteps had him pulling away. He met his mother's gaze one last time before standing up and regulating his emotions just in time to greet his youngest son, nieces and nephews with a smile. "Don't overcrowd your grandmother."
His warning fell on deaf ears as the children and teens rushed in. Samuel claimed his seat beside his grandmother. His cousin Marley, Leroy and Beatrice's youngest daughter, sat on the other side. She had her grandmother's dark chocolate colored hair, but her mother's blue eyes. The twins Ryder and Joe, Shane and Shelby's youngest boys, sat by Rachel's feet eager to hear a story. Ryder had dirty blonde hair, while Joe had it raven colored like his father and both had their mother's caramel eyes.
Four teens ranging from thirteen to seventeen sat on the floor surrounding the bed. Rachel winked at her grandson Brody, Leroy and Beatrice's eldest son, who sat on the floor beside his girlfriend Evelyn. She found their relationship endearing since it was much like their uncle Hiram and Lea's. She knew that without a doubt Evelyn was the one for Brody. Jake poked his older sister Kitty in the stomach only for her to smack him upside the head. A smile curved on Rachel's lips at their antics that reminded her so much of Avery and Shelby's relationship with Hiram and Leroy. Shelby gave them both a look that had them looking at their father for help only for him to shrug helplessly with a grin.
Zack, Hiram and Lea's eldest son, walked into the room and placed two chairs and against the walls before walking back out the room. A few minutes later he returns with his wife Celeste, a blonde haired woman with soft delicate features, and carefully guided her to one of the chairs. He crouches down by her seat and affectionately touches her protruding belly. A smile curved on his lips when he felt their baby kick. Zack looked at his grandmother. "She's a kicker."
"Oh my, not another Avery," Rachel shook her head, grinning.
Zack burst out laughing, while Celeste smiled fondly—both well acquainted with stories about his aunt when she was little.
"What's wrong with that?" Avery asked, walking into the room followed by her husband Alex.
"Nothing." Her nephew gave her a charming smile when she narrowed her eyes on him suspiciously.
"That only goes to show that our little girl will grow up to be a strong woman," Celeste offered smoothly, taking the attention off her husband. He lightly squeezed her hand in gratitude when his aunt smiled at her.
"Not to mention stubborn," Dwight cut in as he walked into the room and quickly ducked away from his older sister when she tried to swat him.
"Dwight, be nice to your sister," Beatrice warned lightly, causing her husband to pout in response.
"You're too old to be making that face," Avery teased.
"Alex, regulate your woman."
Alex wrapped an arm around his wife's waist and pulled her close before she tried to take a step toward her younger brother, already knowing what was about to happen and watched with amusement as Beatrice raised an eyebrow at her husband that had him losing his smirk. Dwight ducked his head and walked to the other side of the room, followed by Beatrice. Shelby placed a hand over her mouth to hide her smile and keep from laughing. The corner of Hiram's lip curved the slightest bit at their antics.
"Is everyone here?" Rachel asked, looking around the room. "Someone start counting heads?" The third generation laughed at her joke, remembering the multiple times she had them count off a number to make sure no one was left behind when they went out. She was happy to see that they could all still joke and smile. This was how she wanted to spend her last moments. She wanted to laugh and smile until the very end.
"We're missing four."
"No you're not," Gabriel called out from the doorway as his wife Rose walked into the room carrying their week-old baby boy Rory. He let his aunt Lea go in afterward and then followed.
"Mom," Zack called out to her. "I got you a seat."
Lea smiled at her eldest son and kissed his forehead before sitting on the chair next to her daughter-in-law. Both shared a kiss on the cheek in greeting. Lea noticed her husband standing off to the side and motioned him over. Hiram complied without hesitation and came to stand beside her. He watched silently as Gabriel and Rose introduced their Rory to Rachel for the first time.
"He's so precious," Rachel whispered breathlessly. Her fingers brushed gently over Rory's cheek, his skin warm and soft under her fingertips. How she ached to hold him, but knew she no longer can. Her body would not cooperate with how she wanted to move. Each day it became more of a struggle and she was losing horribly. Even now she struggled to lean forward to try and kiss him.
Rose instantly noticed her grandmother-in-law's dilemma, leaned in forward with Rory in her arms and closed the gap. Rachel's lips pressed gently against the baby's cheek.
"Welcome to the family." Rachel was finally able to give him the blessing since she could not go to the hospital when Rose had gone into labor. She looked to her granddaughter-in-law. "You are an angel and Gabriel could have done no better. Thank you for loving him."
Rose had to blink back tears. Rachel had been the first to welcome her in the family when she began dating Gabriel and she never stopped reminding her by always complimenting when the occasion presented itself. "Thank you for letting me," she whispered and kissed her cheek, trying hard not to cry. This was their farewell.
Gabriel watched worried as Rose stepped away from his grandmother with tears in her eyes. He wanted to go after her when she walked toward his parents, but remain in his spot when he felt his grandmother's hand grab his gently. He looked at her to see her motioning him lean in.
"My little Gabe," she whispered affectionately to him.
His heart slowed and pounded painfully against his chest. She called him that while growing up and continued to do so, not caring how old he got. To her, he would always be her little Gabe. It was a name that always filled him with warmth and reminded him that she would always love him, but now he couldn't explain why it frightened him… maybe it was the finality in it. The way she said it like it might be her last. He wanted to run as well as stay by her side and hold her close. Gabriel got on his knees when he felt them weaken under him. They were in the same eyelevel now.
Rachel cupped his cheeks. "Do you know how much I love you?"
"More than can ever be measured," he responded with the answer she gave him years ago.
"You remembered."
The smile that curved on her lips broke his heart.
"I'm glad that I won't have to remind you."
"Grandma…" he whispered, his voice wavering still. Gabriel wanted to ask her if this was her goodbye to him because she felt her time was near, but couldn't. Her lips pressing against his cheek was the only answer he got and knew that it was. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her, but couldn't because he was already battling back tears and knew that if he were to speak, he would break. Instead he grabbed her hand, kissing her palm before laying it over his heart; wordlessly promising that he won't forget and that she will always be in his heart. Gabriel placed her hand gently back on the bed before standing up and joining his wife, child and parents.
"So…" Rachel looked around the room smiling at her grandchildren. "What story would you like to hear?"
"Tell us about how you met our grandfather!"
"I already told you that story." She looked at Marley, amused.
"But we'd like to hear it again." Kitty looked at her grandmother beseechingly.
"Are you sure about this?"
Samuel nodded eagerly. His father would tell him stories about his grandfather and whenever Samuel heard of him, he wished he could have met the man he was named after. The story of his grandparents getting together was one of the family's favorite. His aunts, uncle and dad have taken turns telling them, but none of them could do it like his grandmother.
A chorus of "yes" echoed throughout the room.
"Fine," Rachel sighed playfully before beginning when the room went quiet. "It all started about sixty years ago…" Her soft low voice captivated the younger ones in the room instantly. Alex held his wife closer to him when she leaned toward him more. Shelby slid down the wall she had been leaning on and sat on the floor, hugging her knees. Shane joined her on the floor; her head came to rest on his shoulder. Beatrice wrapped her arms around Leroy's waist when he went tense.
Lea stood up from her chair so Rose could take it. Gabriel made sure his wife and child were comfortable before stepping out the room. Alex watched his eldest son walk away with concern. "Go to him," Avery whispered before kissing his cheek and joined Rose. Not wasting any time, Alex walked out the room as quietly as possible to check up on his son. Hiram watched them go and debated for a moment if he should join them but knew in the end he wouldn't. Even if it pained him he wanted to be there for his mother to the very end. When Lea's hand slipped into his, he welcomed it wholeheartedly and held it in a firm grip—wordlessly telling her he needed her to get through this. The familiar weight of her head on his shoulder comforted him as they leaned against the wall.
"I could hear footsteps approaching and I knew I had to hide."
Hiram closed his eyes; he could clearly envision the scenario his mother was describing.
"In a state of panic, I turned off the flashlight and tried to hide behind a bookshelf—only to slip on the rug. My forehead hit the edge of the bookshelf just as your grandfather opened the door and turned on the lights."
"It was love at first fall." His father's words echoed in his mind and a real smile formed on his lips. The sound of his children, nieces, and nephews laughing had him opening his eyes. The sight of his mother smiling and the love that echoed within her gaze when she spoke of his father lessened his pain and reminded him that it was long overdue for his parents to be reunited again.
AN: I would like to give a huge shout out to my beta MissBreePheonix, who has been patient, supportive, and puts up constantly with my random habit of writing different chaps for multiple stories and starting new ones without finishing others first. She's made of all kinds of awesomeness. =D
AN 2: Originally this was supposed to be a one-shot for bubblesmonster (who gave me the final push to visit this universe again) in Dancing Across Time because I didn't plan to write a multi chap sequel for Lies. The problem was that while outlining the one-shot I realized that what I wanted to show couldn't fit into just one piece. It was then I decided to do a multi-chap fic because I didn't want to crush everything together and make it seem rushed. Lies was the first EvanBerry multi-chap fic I completed and I want to do it justice. The sequel will not be as long as Lies and will consist between five to eight chapters. Bubblesmonster, if you're still out there I'm sorry for the long wait. I hope you like this along with everyone who wanted me to make a sequel for Lies. Please don't forget to review! 15+ reviews are all I ask for and I will update as soon as I can. I really want to hear from you guys especially when it comes to this fic because it's supposed to be very emotional and I would like to know if I'm conveying the emotions correctly.