Chapter 1
Twins age: 1 year old
"There you go, come on you can do it." Kenzi said holding one arm out to Jaxon and using the other arm to hold the camera. He giggled madly and waddled toward her, throwing out his legs and walking. He flew into her arms smiling up at her.
"You did it! Yay Jax!" Kenzi said. He giggled and put his hands on the side of her face and pressed his lips to her mouth.
"Mama." He said pulling back. Kenzi laughed and nodded.
"Yes baby. You did it. You want to go show pap pap?" Kenzi asked. He nodded his head madly. Kenzi laughed and turned the camera to face them.
"There we go daddy, Jaxon's first steps." She said, she closed it and put it down and carried Jaxon to his room she quickly removed his dirty shirt and slipped a clean one over his head. She smiled down at the giggling boy in her arms. He looked so much like Dyson it was unbelievable. Kenzi lifted the picture next to Jaxon's bed and showed him it. It was a picture of Dyson, arms crossed over his chest smiling. Kenzi smiled to it and turned it to face Jaxon.
"Who is this Jax?" she smiled.
"Dada." He said smiling brightly.
"That's right, this is daddy." She said putting the picture down. She squeezed him and headed to her car. Ellie had stayed with Lauren and Bo last night at their new place and they were going to meet her at the Dal. She smiled in her review mirror at Jaxon who was playing with his cheerios.
"Don't play with your food." Kenzi said smiling at him. He dropped the cheerio and flashed a huge smile.
"You little goof ball." She said.
"Mama. Mama. Mama." He said over and over again. He had just started saying it and Kenzi was very proud. Ellie had begun walking and chattering words at 8 months but Jaxon always the late bloomer had decided he would wait. She pulled up in the back parking lot and grabbed up Jaxon.
"Come on, walk with mama." She said taking his hand and sitting him down on the ground. He followed suit and waddled along next to Kenzi as she opened the door to the Dal and walked inside. People were milling around here and there but Jaxon managed to spot Trick immediately. Ellie may have been quicker to walk and talk but Jaxon has senses like a hawk. He could pick out someone in a crowd that he recognized before Kenzi even could, smell them too, and god forbid you tried to whisper something, because he heard it.
"Pap pap!" he called loudly. His little lungs exploding with the words. Kenzi chuckled, he and Ellie had been calling Trick pap pap for a while now. He was like their grandfather, older, and very loving to them.
"Hey there buddy!" Trick said coming from behind the counter. Kenzi let his hand go and he waddled quickly over to Trick. Trick scooped him up and lightly tossed him in the air.
"Look at you walking! Good job Jax!" he said.
"MAMA!"
Kenzi spun around and saw Ellie at the door all big eyes and strawberry blonde curls. Kenzi dipped down and held her arms out as Ellie ran over to her. Kenzi smiled as she snuggled into her neck.
"Hey baby girl. How was your sleepover?" she asked looking up. Bo and Lauren were walking in. Ellie was very smart, she was a very fast learner and she was always running ahead.
"Fun!" Ellie squealed. Kenzi pulled back as Trick sat Jaxon down on the ground.
"Bubba!" Ellie called. Kenzi let her go and the pair met wrapping their arms around each other. Kenzi smiled, she loved the relationship between the two. Trick bent at the waist and pointed to the carpeted area in the corner with the couch, the area where Dyson had lounged around like a dog all the time. Now it was filled with their toys, various dolls, trucks, and blocks. Ellie grabbed Jaxon's hand and practically dragged him over to the area. Jaxon obviously tired of walking plopped down on the floor as soon as they got to the carpet. Kenzi turned smiling to Bo and Lauren.
"How was she?" she asked.
"Wonderful. When did he start walking?" Lauren pointed.
"This morning, I was very surprised but he stood off the floor and went to waddle away from me so I stood in front of him and he came right over." Kenzi said sliding up onto a stool.
"Finally, I was starting to think he would never walk." Bo said smiling.
"I knew he would eventually, he's just a late bloomer. I almost think it's because he's so damn stubborn." Kenzi said watching the twins play together.
"Wonder where he got that from." Trick said from behind the bar. Kenzi laughed a little and nodded.
"He is his father's son." She said as Trick passed her a glass of water. She hadn't had a drink in a while, she had claimed she would not stop drinking but she could hardly find the time to put her shoes on let alone fix a drink.
"Don't I know it." Trick said. They all chuckled, Kenzi looked up as she saw Hale walk in with his new partner. Hale had been doing better but after he'd been assigned a new partner three months back he'd been in a sour mood, and he was just now getting his groove back. Beck was the new partners name, he was handsome and charming, but he was no Dyson, not even close.
"Hey lil momma." Hale said pulling Kenzi into a hug. They had taken comfort in each other after Dyson had been gone. Neither of them willing to give up on him. After work every day Hale would come by the house and give Kenzi numbers to call and ask questions while he would drive hours just searching, stopping at various Fae households and asking questions. Now doubt he and Kenzi were best friends after sharing their misery.
"Hey Hale." Kenzi squeezed him and then let go.
"Where are the munchkins?" he asked. Kenzi pointed and he turned smiling at them. Jaxon's head popped up immediately.
"Uh, caught your scent." Kenzi joked. Hale went to move to him but Kenzi held his arm.
"Wait." She smiled. Jaxon planted his hands firmly on the ground and shoved his butt straight up in the air as he straightened his legs. He pushed off the ground and took off towards Hale. Hale's face turned into a full grin.
"Look at you little man!" Hale yelled as Jaxon latched onto his leg. Hale scooped him up and Jaxon placed a wet kiss on his cheek. Ellie looked up and threw her small hand in the air waving and then she went right back to her toys. Hale chuckled and put Jaxon back on his feet and he took off right back to Ellie. Beck came out of the bathroom and walked over to the group.
"Hey guys." He said. Everyone grunted and nodded their hellos except for Kenzi. She didn't really like him, got a bad vibe from him at times.
"Hey Kenzi." Beck smiled to her. Kenzi glanced up and plastered on a fake smile.
"Hey there Beck." She said. Hale gave him a look and he turned away not wanting to piss him off. That was another reason Kenzi didn't like him, he flirted with her.
"So what are you doing for their birthday?" Lauren asked.
"We're going to do it here at the end of the week." Kenzi said crossing her legs. Beck watched her closely while Hale watched him. She was beginning to feel like she needed to show him the bite on her hip to make him back off. Dyson may not be around, but she was still his.
Victor smiled at his doctor as she gave him the good news. Dyson was showing more signs of brain activity, slowly but surely he was coming around. Victor knew Dyson would lead him straight to his daughter. Now he just had to wait it out, just wait until Dyson opened his eyes. He had to admit he was growing rather impatient, he should have never let that idiot shoot him to begin with. He hadn't planned on letting him live, but after he'd found out just who exactly Dyson was then he knew he had to let him live. Hopefully he woke up soon because if he didn't Victor would just say screw it and unplug all those machines and he'd find his kid himself.
Kenzi lifted Ellie out of the backseat and sat her feet on the ground. She went to run toward the grass but Kenzi's hand shot out and grabbed Ellie's hand.
"No ma'am, you stay right here." Kenzi said pointing. Ellie nodded and wiggled about as if she could not stand to be still. Kenzi unbuckled Jaxon and pulled him out of the car as well sitting him on his still wobbly feet. She bent down in front of them and straightened out Ellie's bright pink dress, fixed her bow, and patted down the curls. She moved to Jaxon and patted down the cow lick in the back of his jet black hair, she made sure his little button down shirt was tucked in, and then she looked at his face knowing there would be some mess there. Sure enough he had a smear of dried cheerio crumbs. Kenzi licked her thumb and placed her hand on the back of his head holding him still as she wiped it away. When she was done she stood and smoothed out the deep purple dress she was wearing and she took their hands and marched them through the graveyard and straight to Dyson's headstone. They had been coming here once a week since his empty casket was buried. Kenzi felt it was the only way for her to speak to him. Even if he wasn't dead.
"Hi Dada." Ellie said as Kenzi released her hand. She moved to the stone and rubbed her hand over it. Kenzi felt like she was starting to get the concept.
"Dada." Jaxon said looking up at Kenzi.
"Yeah." Kenzi said. She stepped closer to the stone and kneeled down in front of it. She gathered both children into her arms as she put her fingers on the inscription and read it to them for what had to be the hundredth time.
"You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back. Or you can do what he'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on." Kenzi read to them.
"Hey Dyson," Kenzi started, "Ellie and Jaxon are turning one today. Big milestone for them. Jaxon started walking a few days ago, he was being stubborn as usual, just like you. I'm sorry you're not here to see all this, but I promise I've been recording everything for you. I know you'll come back to us soon, but right now we're just waiting for you. See you soon Dyson." Kenzi said. The children knew the routine; they had been copying Kenzi since the first time. She looked to them and she kissed her hand as they did the same and then they all three put their hands on the cold stone.
"Bye dada." Ellie said.
"Dada." Said Jaxon.
"See you later Dyson." Kenzi smiled as she stood and took their hands walking back to the car. She would never let the children forget who their father was, no matter how long it took him to come back.
They arrived at the Dal a few minutes later. Kenzi pulled open the door and walked them inside and around the corner.
"Happy Birthday!" Everyone inside yelled. Kenzi smiled and let the children go as they went their separate ways, Ellie going right into Trick's arms, Jaxon into Hale's. Kenzi looked around the Dal, it was decorated with bright pink and blue streamers and balloons. All her friends where here as well as some of the doctors and nurses from Lauren's lab and the clinic where the twins had been for their first month of life. Kenzi smiled as Bo and Lauren came over to her while everyone greeted the twins, picking them up and giving them hugs and kisses.
"How'd it go?" Bo asked.
"It was fine." Kenzi said. Bo passed Kenzi a beer and smiled to her.
"Hale has offered to DD." Lauren said. Kenzi looked over Bo's shoulder at Hale and he smiled and made a drinking motion for her to turn up the bottle. She chuckled and passed Bo the camera.
"Film this please ma'am." She said.
"Of course." Bo laughed and took the camera opening it and focusing on Kenzi as she tipped the beer back.
"Dyson, this is Kenzi, drinking beer at the twins first birthday. You should be proud, she hasn't had a drink in nearly six months." Bo said.
"Funny." Kenzi said pushing the camera around to face the twins. She stood back and watched as the twins thoroughly enjoyed all the attention. When Dyson got back she was going to make him spend every single waking moment with the twins, he'd missed so much already.
