A/N: Nobody figured it out! Not really, anyways. It's not gonna start with that scene, so you'll have a minute to calm down before the ACTION kicks in. Technically, you won't REALLY find out what happens in this chapter, but *gasps* I've said too much! I like to CAPITALIZE things.
Gabriel and Cecily were awoken by a cry. "I'll get it, Ceci," Gabriel whispered to his half asleep wife. Cecily mumbled a thank you and rolled over. They had slept in surprisingly long; it was almost 10:30 in the morning. Alexis continued to wail, so Gabriel sat up and reached out for her in her bassinet. "Good morning, precious," he said to her on a sing-song voice. Cecily propped herself up on one arm. She loved watching Gabriel with Anna. The couple had been married for 18 months, and for the first year, Gabriel had been terrified of being a father. Five months into their marriage, when Cecily told Gabriel that she was with child, he disappeared for two days. When he returned, Cecily had to pull her brother off of him. Gabriel later apologized to her.
"Ceci, forgive me, darling," he had said while holding her hands in his.
"I just didn't want to be a horrible father like him, my father. You know I would never leave you, either of you."
Cecily had smiled with tears in her eyes. She shook her head and kissed him.
"I forgive you," she said to him. "I love you." Gabriel was worried all throughout the time Cecily was pregnant. But as soon as Alexis came into the world, and opened her bright green eyes, Gabriel would not leave her side. Every time he picked her up she would smile, and when he sang to her she would instantly fall asleep. As Cecily watched her husband and her daughter bond, she could not keep the smile off her face. She hoped they would be this close forever, like she and her father were.
After both Will and Ella left, Cecily's parents grew very protective of her. They would walk her to school, and walk her home, and after a year they decided to homeschool her. She was hardly ever let out of the house, and when she was it was with her parents attached to her side. Although she had little to no interaction with others her age, she formed a close bond with her parents. Now that Charlotte was the consul, Cecily and Will got to visit them often.
"Ceci?" Gabriel called again. Ceci looked up. "Oh, yes?" She said, stirred from her thoughts. "I think she wants you," Gabriel said smiling. Cecily sat up and happily took Anna in her arms. "It's okay, baby girl," she cooed. "Mama's right here."
-Page Break-
Charlotte sat on the soft grass watching her two sons and her husband play swords. She loved the three of them so much, but what a handful! While Charles was constantly making noise and asking questions, Michael was much more thoughtful. Instead of asking what a sensor was, he had tried to open it up and see what was inside. It was quite ironic, actually; Charles had been born with Henry's red hair but Michael with his spirit. Michael's hair was brown like Charlotte, and his eyes were a deep, dark green. It was strange, Charlotte thought. She had never seen anyone else in her family with those eyes, but then again there was nobody quite like Michael.
Charlotte looked down at the book in her lap, A Tale of Two Cities. Tessa had recommended it to her, but she was having a hard time getting into it. Maybe it wasn't her style. She put the book down on the blanket next to her and went over to play with her boys. Henry saw her and smiled.
"How nice of you to join us, Lottie," he said.
"Alas," he said dramatically. "There is a mundane maiden in that tree yonder there, er, that needs our help!"
The two boys thrust their wooden swords towards the tree Henry spoke of. Charlotte laughed. Before following after his sons, Henry gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Go home, Lottie," he told her. "The boys will stay here forever, and you have nothing to do but watch them. Go spend the rest of the day with Tessa, or Sophie, or Cecily."
Charlotte hesitated. Henry was not wrong, of course, that she would have nothing to do but to watch the three of them play. But she enjoyed that, watching her boys play. However, when she thought of a day by herself, she couldn't resist. Henry saw her answer in her eyes and smiled.
"We'll be home by supper time, Lottie," he assured her. Charlotte picked up her book and her blanket and walkd towards the carriage where Cyril was waiting.
Back at the institute, Charlotte sat in the library sipping wine. It was so peaceful, she thought, she could stay here forever.
Then the telephone rang.
Charlotte threw her head back. Why did she buy that thing? She had saved up for months to buy one in case there was a situation that needed her attention. It rang again. She got up and locked away her frustration, answering the telephone in her sweetest voice, "This is Charlotte Fairchild,how may I help you?"
-Page Break-
"Excuse me, I apologize for interrupting your meals, but is there a Tessa Herondale present? Tessa Herondale?"
Still standing in the women's bathroom, Tessa heard her name being called. "Tess- Tessa Herondale?" Tessa walked out of the bathroom.
"Yes, can I help you?" she asked. The waitress smiled sweetly. Tessa noticed something odd about her. She focused to peel the glamour, and saw that the whites, pupils, and irises of her eyes were dark blue. Tessa's eyes widened, but she tried to hide her surprise.
"There is a young woman on the telephone for you."
Tessa had only ever spoken on three of those in her life. Suddenly she thought to herself, could it be Sophie? She hurried to follow the waitress.
"Hello?" she said once she reached the telephone.
"Tessa, it's Charlotte!" That's odd, Tessa thought. It sounds nothing like Charlotte.
"Anyway," the woman continued. "I know you are having lunch now, but when you're finished with your meal would you care to join us at the park for a walk?"
"Oh, Charlotte," Tessa said. "Sophie's missing! She went to the restroom and didn't return, so after a long while I went to find her and she had just vanished!"
"What? Sophie is here with me! She told me that she told you before she left, that she was feeling ill and so she left for the institute. I happened to be home, so we thought why not have a girls' day out?"
Thank goodness, Tessa thought. She had been so worried about Sophie.
"Okay, then I'm on my way. Please tell Sophie I have her bag."
"Of course! We'll meet you on the bench by that small tree, do you know the one?"
"Yes, I do," Tessa said. "I shall see you both soon."
A tall man stood in the corner of the room. A woman walked in happily.
"It worked, sir," she said. "She should be arriving shortly."
The man smiled. "Good. And you have the other two women-"
"They are in position, sir."
The man took a deep breath. "Wonderful."
A/N IM SORRY OKAY YOU DONT HAVE TO YELL AT ME! Don't worry, I won't cliffhang you next time- and I will reveal who the corner man is! ARENT YOU EXCITED?!
I know I am :) have fun doing what ever it is you people do when you don't read...
~Sam
