Cassie POV
I felt the pull out bed in the nursery dip. I opened my eyes and saw MJ smiling at me. he was bouncing up and down. I grabbed him and he squealed. I held him close to me as we both lay in the bed. I closed my eyes and just held him.
"Mommy," MJ said.
"Yes, baby."
"Who are does people?" he asked me. I opened my eyes and looked at him.
"Ten more minutes and I'll tell you," I said. He shook his head.
"Dad, said to wake you up," MJ stated and he stood up on the bed and started to Jump on it. I just closed my eyes, sighed and sat up.
"Fine, monkey, I'm up," I said and grabbed him. I stood up carrying MJ and checked on Lily. Still asleep, lucky. I carried MJ out of the nursery and into my bedroom. I put him on my bed and he sat down next to peter getting comfortable and watching cartoons. I walked into my bathroom and put a bra on and fixed my hair before going downstairs. MJ followed me downstairs humming to himself.
I walked into the kitchen and hugged cooper from behind. I rested my head on his chest and breathed in. I could feel him shaking from slight laughter.
"Someone's still tired," he said and I nodded.
"You have no idea," I stated and he turned around. I looked at him, "What's for breakfast?" I asked. He smiled and kissed me.
"French toast," he stated and I smiled, "With cinnamon sugar and eggs on the side with bacon or sausage."
"Mhmm. Have I told you lately that I love you," I sand and kissed him.
"Momma," I looked at MJ and walked toward him. I picked him up.
"What's up little man?" I asked him.
"Fruit," he said and I looked at Cooper.
"Yeah, you're dad did forget fruit didn't he…you know because some of us don't like eggs," I stated and brought out the fruit. I sat MJ on the counter and I started to cut up the melon, strawberries, watermelon and threw in the grapes.
"Good morning," I turned around and saw my mom. I turned back around and rolled my eyes.
"Morning," I said. I love her and all, but I know another fight might ensue or some disagreement. I just want no drama, a drama free life, which so far I have been able to accomplish. Besides the fact the Romanians are still looking for us and that my family is back in my life.
"You liked being on your own, I get it," I turned around and saw my dad.
"Ugh, I didn't miss that," I muttered and he chuckled. A cry from the baby monitor made me jump since it was unexpected. I ran a hand through my hair and left for the nursery. I opened the door and saw my sister in the room. Now I'm not angry, well maybe a bit, but not angry. Okay, I probably am because she probably woke my daughter up and didn't expect her to cry out loud.
"Hey, sweetie," I said and walked to the crib that Lily was already standing in. small tears going down her cheeks. I picked her up and held her close to me. She was still crying.
"I swear I didn't do anything. She just woke up and screamed," Remy stated defensively.
All I did was nod and walk out of the room. I went to my bedroom and changed Lily's diaper. I then walked downstairs. Lily was sniffling by now and just resting her head on my shoulder. I sat down next to the bowl of fruit and picked at it. I gave Lily some pieces of the fruit that were small enough for her to chew.
"Is Adrian outside or is she asleep still?" I asked Peter who walked into the kitchen with a slight limp.
"She went to her bedroom at like five in morning and she's been up since seven," Cooper said. so she was outside by now. "Breakfast is served."
Cooper gave me a plate and I had lily on my lap. Adrian came inside and sat next to me. Everyone came into the kitchen. Masen sat next Peter and Cooper at the head. The entire family sat in the rest of the chairs. Cooper had to use the two loaves of bread we had to make breakfast for everyone. We need to go into town for more food.
"So, what have you been up to these past thirteen years besides the obvious," Korri asked.
"Nothing really, just works. Traveling every now and then, I still play music and make it. We've been hiding from Romanian's for a long while and just raising the kids," I said as we all ate.
"How did you graduate?" Roman asked, Evangeline hit his head.
"I just did, I focused on my daughter and school and that was that… I needed to graduate, but I also needed to be a parent. I was ridiculed by peers a bit, but when they saw that I was still going to work hard and do my best to better than them, they stopped. I graduated Magna Cum Laude and Cooper graduated Summa Cum Laude. We just graduated and left."
"where did you leave to?" Remy asked.
"California," I said and they looked at me. "Los Angeles."
"You were in California," Remy said and I nodded.
"I miss the beach," Adrian whispered and I nodded.
"Me too," I said and rubbed her back.
"Why did you leave?" Aunt Rose asked. Adrian took her plate and left the kitchen. I looked at Peter and he took Masen's plate and left the play room. Cooper whispered to Masen and Masen followed Peter. Once I knew they were gone I looked at my family.
"Adrian was five and in school. We were at our house near the beach. We were just walking at night by the pier and we ran into a Romanian. At first he didn't know who we were, but then he did. Cooper started to fight him and I carried Adrian and ran. I hid her and told her to stay as quiet as the wind and ran to help Cooper. I was attacked from behind in front of the place I hid Adrian. We fought and then the person had me. I was being held by my head, they were ready to just crack my neck and kill me. They kept saying they'd keep me alive if I told them where Adrian was, I refused."
I looked at everyone and showed them the scar on my neck. A bite mark on my left lateral neck region. My dad growled.
"Cooper tackled the guy as he bit me. No venom had gone in yet," I said. We left a month later and moved. "Peter was with a babysitter that night."
"Cassie we could have protected you and your family. You could have avoided all of this if you stayed," Mom stated angrily. Grandpa Aro nodded.
"No, you wouldn't have" I said and she looked at me.
"how not?' Grandma Sulpicia asked.
"Because no matter how powerful you are you can't always protect the ones you love," I said. "I was kidnapped by Victoria, remember."
"Cassie we weren't," my mom started.
"Prepared," I finished for my mom, "We wouldn't have been prepared for that either."
"Cassie, you shouldn't have left and that's that. I'm angry at you for leaving, I'm pist that your ignoring me when I haven't seen you in thirteen years! You are a child! You are my child, and you are goin to listen to me!"
"God Damn it Mom! I'm 31 years old!" I yelled out frustrated.
"don't yell at your mother," Grandma Sulpicia stated. I stood up with Lily and walked out of the kitchen.
"So you just leave," Briar stated.
"Walking away is better than staying there and hearing you all telling me how stupid I am for leaving," I stated a bit angrily. I went into my bedroom and got my clothes. I grabbed Lily's playpen and put it in the bathroom. I put her in the play pen and took a shower. The water calmed me down a lot and I was happy. I got out and dried myself and changed. I then started a small bath for lily.
"Cassie," I sighed. It was my mom.
"Yes," I said. I heard her footsteps come closer until she was next to me. She sat down on the edge of the bathtub.
"Cassie, what's wrong? What happened?" she asked me and I looked at her.
"Nothing did…nothing big besides that…it's just I knew it'd be hard and I knew you'd be angry, but I feel like you're not giving me a chance to breathe. You want to be everywhere where I am and I get that. I do, I just need to breathe," I said.
"That's okay. In some ways I understand. When I first saw your grandpa Charlie after I ran away he wouldn't let me out of his sight," she said and Lily laughed and splashed the water a bit. "She looks so much like you and Remy when you were both babies."
I gently rinsed Lily's hair making sure not to get any shampoo in her eyes. I washed Lily's body as she continued playing. It was silent and I loved the silence. I loved it just being silent and the only noise coming from my daughter giggling or talking happily.
"Why Lily?" My mom asked. I looked at her. "Why did you name her Lily?" I looked at Lily.
"She had a little tuft of blonde hair when she was born and she has green eyes. made me think of what Aunt Rose might have looked like when she was human," I said then raised my voice, "I would have named her Lillian but that's an old person's name." my mom laughed and Lily looked at me confusedly.
"Hey lily bug," I said and she smiled.
"Lillian is not an old person's name," I heard Aunt Rose yell back.
"Marie is because that's you middle name," I said, "So she's Lily Marie."
"And the other's?" Mom asked.
"Adrian was a name Marc always liked. It just so happened to be unisexual too, Brooke because I wanted something that had to with water…it's not her power, but she seems to be calm when she's near water, Peter because when I was pregnant he kept kicking and doing flips and turns. At least I think. Orion because when my water broke, Cooper had just pointed out the constellation to me. It means Hunter. Masen is because of Dad's last name and Jude because of Cooper's middle name," I said and mom nodded.
"There all beautiful," Mom said and I nodded, "What's wrong with Adrian?" I looked at Mom and sighed.
"Adrian's always been shy, but it wasn't until tha day that she started to become more anxious and scared," I revealed, "I believe she has anxiety, but Cooper thinks it's just a phase."
"Maybe it is," My mom said and I shook my head.
"It's been going on for years. A phase is a month to a year," I said and she nodded. I carried Lily out of the tub and into my bedroom where I had some of her clothes. I dried Lily, put a diaper on her, put her in clothes.
"Can I?" My mom asked. I nodded and she carried Lily who whimpered a bit but then calmed down.
"She is too beautiful," My mom said looking at her.
"Lily, can you say Grandma," I said. Lily looked at me, "Grandma."
"Mammamama," Lily said and I shook my head.
"Gggrraannddmmaa," I said slowly.
"Ughee," is the sound Lily made and she clapped.
"Never mind," I said and my mom laughed.
I walked out of the room with my mom behind me and saw Peter in his room. He looked at me full of sadness.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"It's not fair! Everyone can go around the house, walking, running and play outside and I have to stay inside because that giant grabbed my ankle too tightly," he complained.
"Do you want me to get a doctor for you?" I asked and he shook his head than nodded.
"Grandpa Carlisle," I said and he showed up next to me.
"No, not one of them…a real one," Peter stated.
"He is a real one. He works at hospitals and does surgery on people," I said. Peter thought about it for a moment and then sighed. I walked into the room with Carlisle and he looked at Peter's ankle.
"Its just sprained, but you can't move it or put pressure on it. You'll only make it worse," Carlisle said.
"What! Life is so unfair," Peter stated and I laughed. I sat next to him on his bed and ran a hand through his hair.
"No one said it was baby," I told him and kissed his head.
"I hate that WWF guy," Peter stated and I laughed.
The rest of the day seemed easier. After a bit of arguing with my family of course. Adrian came down from her room once and she shyly said hi. She stayed next to me the entire time and then whispered in my ear if she could go to her room. I of course said yes. She wasn't comfortable around my family yet. it would take some time for her but she'll come around. The younger kids seemed to get along fine. MJ loved playing with other kids his age, while Lily just liked being around everyone. My dad thought it amazing of what goes on in my kids mind. Lily's mind was so simple; one worded like: mom, dad, water, food, etc. MJ was very imaginative. Peter was just coming up with ideas to fix his ankle quickly and Adrian was worried about everything, a bit scared and wary of them, and then a lot of artistry in her mind.
"A musical genius like you," My dad said and I nodded.
I gave my family a tour of the house. They thought it was wonderful. I showed them my music room and my dad loved it. It was open, but exactly like a music room should be. By the end of the night everyone was comfortable with each other and there was no fighting. Adrian was realizing they were family, but wasn't a hundred percent trustworthy of them and Peter just stayed away from Uncle Emmett.
It was great having my family back. Having them here. Now my children don't have to learn about the rest of their family through stories and pictures.
