Cleo's POV:
"Lewis, I want you to go. I want you to go to America, and to be in this program. I'm not going to hold you back from your dreams, Lewis." I said, taking his hand in mine.
"Cleo, I don't want to leave you. I don't want to be away from you for three years." Lewis whispered.
"I know, Lewis. But this is your dream. And we'll see each other again." I replied.
"I'll go, then." Lewis whispered, and wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back., tightly, trying to hold back tears. I watched, sniffing back tears, as Lewis got in his boat, to go pack and catch his flight.
Three years later:
Cleo's POV:
I couldn't believe that it had been three years since Lewis had left-since my Dad and Samantha had been married. In those three years, so much had happened-Bella, Rikki and I had graduated from high school, and I'd graduated early from college. I had decided that I was going to become a marine biologist, but also be a Marine Mammal trainer, and work with the dolphins at the dolphin park. My morning started off with getting ready for work, and heading off to the dolphin park.
"Hey, Cleo! Ready to work with Ronnie?" Maurice, one of the other dolphin trainers, asked.
"I definitely am, Maurice." I replied, smiling.
"By the way, Cleo, there's someone who was asking for you-he's by Ronnie's pool." Maurice said.
"Thanks, Maurice." I said, going to the kitchens to grab food for Ronnie, and then heading to his pool. I looked around when I got there, expecting to see someone waiting for me, as Maurice said there would be, but no one was there. I shrugged, and kneeled down to feed Ronnie.
"Ronnie! Come here, Ronnie!" I called, holding out some squid for him. Ronnie came up, and I threw the squid to him.
"Hey, Cleo." A familiar voice said.
"Hello?" I said, turning around.
"Lewis!" I gasped, shocked.
"How have you been?" Lewis inquired, smiling at me.
"I'm, I'm fine. What are you doing here? When did you get back?" I asked.
"I came to see you. I got back this morning. I had to see you, Cleo." Lewis said.
"I've missed you, Lewis." I said.
"I've missed you, too, Cleo." Lewis said, wrapping his arms around me.
"Mommy! Mommy, I came to see you and Ronnie!" A child's voice called. I broke my embrace with Lewis, and turned towards the little girl's voice.
"Laura! Baby, how are you? Did you have fun with Grandpa? Where's your brother?" I asked, giving Laura a hug.
"Grandpa and Lewis are back there. They stopped for a minute." Laura said, pointing behind her.
"Cleo, who is this?" Lewis's voice broke through my talk with Laura.
"Laura, let's go get your brother, okay? Lewis, we'll be right back. Please wait here." I said, hoping he'd wait.
"I'll be right here, definitely." Lewis replied, looking a little shocked. I scooped up Laura, quickly walked over to where Lewis and my Dad were, and picked up Lewis as well.
"Dad, Lewis and Laura's Dad is here. He came back from America today. I'm going to introduce the kids to him, okay?" I blurted.
"Do you want me to come with you, Cleo?" My Dad asked, looking baffled.
"No, its fine, Dad. Thank you, though." I replied, hurrying back towards where Lewis is.
"I'm glad you didn't leave, Lewis. Lewis, these are my children…and your children, as well." I whispered.
"My children? I have children?" Lewis gasped.
"Yeah, you do." I replied.
"Why didn't you tell me, Cleo?" Lewis said.
"Lewis, I was going to. Right after the wedding, I was going to tell you. But if I had, you would've stayed. And I couldn't hold you back from your dreams, Lewis. I couldn't do that to you." I explained. Lewis got down on Laura and Lewis's level, and looked at them.
"Laura, Lewis-I'm your Daddy." Lewis said.
"Daddy!" The twins exclaimed, throwing their arms around him.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, Lewis." I said, kneeling down next to them.
"I'm upset that you didn't, Cleo, but I understand. They look like you." Lewis said.
"They have your eyes, though." I replied, looking down at our beautiful babies.
"How old are they?" Lewis asked.
"They'll be three soon. Next month, in fact." I replied.
"Looks like I got back just in time, then." Lewis said.