Absense Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 3- What Could Happen?

Author's Note: thank you guys so much for reading! I really wasn't expecting the reaction it got, especially since it's just something that I randomly started jottin' down during history ;) hope you like it! :D

Mason's POV

I set my paintbrush down on the side table next to my stool. I took a step back to admire my work. My smile faded into a quizzical glance. I cocked my head to the left side, then to the right. I really had no clue what so ever of what my painting was supposed to be. I couldn't think of something to paint, so had I splattered random lines and spashes of color, hoping it would eventually turn out to look like something. So far, the plan failed. Not that it looked bad, whatever it was, but it had about the purpose of a white crayon.

As I studied my artwork, I felt my pocket vibrate. I picked up my phone and smiled.

"Hello, brown eyes," I smiled, expecting her usual response to that: Hi, new British guy!

"Hey," Alex replied oddly in a flat tone. By that, I knew something was wrong.

"What's wrong, love?" I asked her.

"Nothing.." she sighed.

"Oh it's something alright. I can hear it in your voice. What happened?"

I listened to complete silence for a moment, besides little Leah's sing-songy babbles from the background. Finally, Alex spoke up. "I saw Justin today," she said quickly.

That was when my sense of alarm kicked in. "Really? Where? How?"

"Of course, with our luck, he just so happens to be Leah's principal."

"Did he say anything to you?"

"Yes..." she sighed.

"Like?"

Alex explained everything that happened. The chasing around the parking lot, the antennas, the akward silence, everything.

"So, what's he expecting now?" I asked.

"Well, he said we need to catch up soon," she replied, "I made him swear not to say anything to, um, Mom and Dad, about Leah. He, he thinks I need to intoduce her myself."

I could hear in her voice how much it hurt her to bring up her parents. I could sense how much she missed them. It hurt me to see her that way. "What do you think?"

Alex's tone of voice softened, like she was sad. "I want to, really badly," she forced out.

"You know how risky that could be," I reminded her, then regretted saying it.

"I know, Mason. I know. That's why we ran away: so the wizard council could never find us. So we could stay together. And us coming back to my parents' place would increase the chances," her voice trailed off. I could feel how much it hurt her to think like that. It hurt me, too.

"I know, love."

"But I would really like to see them all again. To show them that I'm not well, dead or anything. So they can see that we're just fine. I'd really like them to meet Leah, too. It hurts me to realize that she has never met her own family before, a lot. I just don't know how they'd react to her,"

"Alex-"

"But on the other hand, if we were to just stop by, I'd probably want to come back more often, so Leah could get used to everyone. She's already warming up to Justin, a lot faster than I was expecting. But if we were to go back more often-"

"The more likely we'd be discovered," I agreed.

"Right. And I probably wouldn't be able to make it if we were forced to separate! What would happen to Leah? Her whole life would be jacked up at not even five years into it!"

"And that's the last thing I would ever want to happen. I'm not going to let somebody take my beautiful girls away from me. Ever."

"Thank you, Mason. That makes me feel a little more secure," I could feel her smiling. "But one question's been bugging me all day: If something were to ever happen to us, what would happen to Leah?"

To be honest, that thought had never crossed my mind. "Good question," was all I could respond.

"I mean, she'd have nobody. Literally. And I couldn't imagine my baby in some stranger's care!"

"And what would happen if her powers came in? Or if she phased into a werewolf? Whichever she may be. How could someone help her throgh that? She'd have no clue what was happening to her."

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

"You know, maybe seeing your parents again isn't such a bad idea," I declared, "As long as we're not over there all the time."

"Yeah. That sounds like a good plan. For Leah."

"For Leah," I smiled.

"Well, we're almost home. Call me when you're on the way."

"Okay, I shouldn't be much longer."

"Great," she replied. "I love you."

I smiled. I loved the sound of her voice when she said that. "Love you, too." I replied. Click. The line went dead.

Justin's POV

I walked into the sub shop smiling later that day. I felt good inside.

"Hey, man!" Max called out from the register once he spotted me. His childish face lit up. I had to admit, I was pretty glad Max had taken a year off from collage. The shop wasn't the same without his randomness.

"Hey, Max," I smiled, patting him on the back.\, "Where's Mom and Dad?"

"Dad's right here, son!" Dad announced from the kitchen window, waving a piece of bolongna at me. He chucked to himself at his own joke, as usual. I rolled my eyes and smiled.

I could hear Mom's heels clank-clunk down the spiral staircase. She entered as she flipped through a menu. "Jerry, add tomatoes to the grocery list, please. We're out and-" she paused when she spotted me. "Justin! When did you get here?" She asked excitedly as she rushed over. She hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek.

"Just now, Mom," I laughed, wiping it off, hoping that she wasn't wearing lipstick. "I have some news for everyone, that I think you'll be interested in." I looked around. "Is Harper here by chance? She might wana hear this too."

"Let me check," Dad replied. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "HARPER!" his voice boomed, making every customer jump.

Harper poked her head out of the subway cart, wearing a sailor's hat. Same old Harper. "Here!" she called. She scampered over to us.

"Okay Justin, tell us what your announcement is before I end up forgetting that I was supposed to be listening," Max informed me.

I stared blankly at my brother for a second, then shook my head. I took a deep breath. "I saw Alex today."

Everyone's jaws dropped instantly.

"You saw Alex?" Mom demanded.

"Did you talk to her?" Dad begged.

"Is she still with Mason?" Harper chimed in.

"Our sister named Alex?" Max asked.

Everyone coninued to blurt out different questions. I finally got to speak again. "Yes I saw Alex again. I did talk to her for a while. Yes, she's still with Mason, they're married now actually. And yes, Max, our sister named Alex."

"How'd you meet up with her?" Mom asked me.

"Well actually I was at work and-" I stopped, Alex's words ringing in my mind.

"Please, Justin. Swear you won't say a thing about Leah."

"You don't want them to know about their OWN granddaughter?" I had asked.

"No, I want to be the one to tell them. One day."

"Alex-"

"Swear you won't, Justin."

"Fine. I swear."

"Uh, you know, I can't quite put my finger on where exactly we met," I studdered, "But the important thing is: she's safe, she's happy, she's loved, and she's just fine."

"Oh my Mijah's okay!" Mom cried, happy tears welling up in her eyes. "Do you think we'll ever get to see her again?"

I smiled. "I'm sure you will. Soon." I smiled as my family and Harper danced happily in their own ways.

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