(Chapter 8)

Four years later July 13, 1999

Jason had been leaning over the large stone wheel, sharpening his machete when he heard the bells that signaled an intruder. It was the bells that were attached to a string leading across the main entry way to the ranch. Quickly he stood up and stalked out of the old cellar he called home. It had been four years since the accident that took away his Odette. Ever since then whenever the bells rang, his heart would leap, only to be crushed at the sight of some teenagers trespassing to have sex or do drugs. It was these poor souls that he took his anger, sadness and frustration out on. Eventually he lost hope of ever seeing her again. Kitty had made good on her promise. He thought as he slowly walked through the woods to the hill overlooking the main house. He stopped just out of sight and waited to see who the next victims would be. But the sight before him, caused him to freeze and stare wide eyed in shock.

A large black truck pulled up in front of the old house, and stopped. After a moment, the truck turned off and out of the truck stepped Odette. Jason felt his heart skip a beat, as he watched her step away from the truck and look around at the old place. She looked just the same as the day he saw her, except her hair was pulled up in a loose bun, and she wore a soft moss green, and white summer dress. Suddenly a strange noise came from the truck. Jason watched as she turned and walked around to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door. After a moment Odette reappeared, holding on to something that Jason couldn't see because of the door. Then she closed the door, and what Jason saw, made him drop his machete. Odette stood there holding the hands of two small, children. From what Jason could tell, there was a boy and a girl. Both were dressed in little overalls, except the little girl wore a purple shirt, and had a heart pocket on her overalls, and the boy had a red shirt, and a car shaped pocket on his. Both children had reddish blond hair, the little boys hair was short and curly, and the girls pulled up into long pig tails that ran down her back.

Jason watched as the trio held hands and walked out to the beach of the lake. He wondered whose children they were. Suddenly a red minivan drove up the road and parked beside the truck. Out of this van, stepped the man Jason remembered as Odette's friend Caleb. The children squealed and ran to him throwing their arms around him. Then Odette walked up and gave him a big hug. Jason felt the ripples of anger coming up just below the surface. This man stole the woman he loved. Jason resisted the urge to run out of the treeline and run his machete through the intruding man. But he wouldn't do that to his Odette. He had already caused her enough pain. A familiar ache began throbbing in his heart looking at the woman who had changed his life. He wanted so much to run to her and carry her off, never allowing her to leave him again. But he was afraid she might not want to come to him, after what happened. Jason slumped against the tree he was leaning against. The ache in his chest became worse as he remembered that horrible night, when he thought he lost her. He remembered seeing the fear in her eyes after he had killed the bad girl and hit her. He remembered seeing her flying through the air in the explosion, and coming down to hit the ground. He remembered holding her bloody limp form in his arms, feeling his heart break as it had never done before. Cold shivers ran down his spine as he remembered. Now she was back. Jason didn't know what to do. He was torn between wanting to run and take her back, or killing the man with her or both. But what about the children? Whose children were they? They looked so much like her. He knew he could not harm them. Jason watched as they all went to play by the lake with a small red ball. He decided he wanted to get a closer look.

Jason walked through the woods until he came to the edge of the trees beside the lake. He was only a few feet from where the children were playing. He stood and watched as she played with, not allowing them to go near the water, but still laughing with them. He was hit with another wave of shock when one of them called her mommy. Then he became enraged, someone had dared to touch his Odette. He could not fathom someone else laying their hands on her, nor the idea of her being a mother. Though he could tell she was a good mother, much like his own was. Suddenly the ball flew towards him and landed only inches from his foot. He leaned down and picked it up looking at it. Then he felt a tug on his pant leg. He looked down surprised to see the little girl looking up at him with big blue eyes. Suddenly Jason was taken back to when he was a child meeting Odette for the first time. This little girl looked exactly like her except her hair was a lighter color. She looked up at him the same way her mother did, with no fear. "Hello, my name is Jocelyn, but you can call me Jocee." she said smiling. Jason tilted his head not knowing what to do. The little girl seemed unphased. "My ball please?" she asked in a bright little voice. Jason leaned down and handed her the ball. She smiled back up at him again, "play?" she asked looking up at him with hopeful eyes. Suddenly they were interrupted Odette voice calling for Jocelyn. She turned and called back, "Coming momma," before turning and smiling at him again, "bye bye," she said waving before turning and running back to her mother. Jason watched as she ran back, and jumped into her mother's arms. His chest began to hurt even more at the sight of Odette smiling. Quickly he turned and left no longer able to stay there. For hours he sat in his cellar, just sitting on his bed staring at the ground. He could not believe she was back. She had children. She was with another man. Jason became angry all over again, and stabbed his machete down into the floor.

Later that night Odette was putting her children to bed in her old room. She quietly sang them a lullaby until they both drifted off to sleep in their cradle. She smiled as she saw her daughter sucking on her thumb, and her son cuddling his teddy bear as they lay side by side in the bed. She had not wanted to bring them here for the selling. But she knew she had to, she had no choice. When she had pulled into the ranch, a flood of memories came back to her. Being here with Sora,...and Jason. Odette sighed, she had missed him, all through those years. So many times she had fought the urge to come back. But she knew it was for the best for both of them. Especially after what happened, she winced as she remembered what happened that night. After going through two years of therapy, and surgery to remove the burn scars she had tried to go out on dates. But those dates never worked out. The men were nice. But they were not for her, and through the long four years, she felt as if something was missing. But now she was back to sell the ranch and get some closure. She would leave here and be able to move on with her life for her children.

She stared down at them attempting to convince herself that she would move on. Suddenly she felt a presence behind her and closed her eyes. "I knew you would come." she said in a quiet voice. She turned and saw Jason standing there staring at her. She smiled at him, resisting the urge to run into his arms. God, she had missed him. She suddenly realized that it was hopeless. She had never stopped loving him and she never would. But she still had to try. She could over come this, she hoped. "Its been a long time," she said attempting to smile. Jason walked up to her. She felt his presence hit her like a brick, and felt her knees nearly buckle. She had to grab onto the cradle for support. Slowly he turned his head to look down at the sleeping children. She followed his gaze, 'its ok, you can do this,' she thought to herself feeling her voice getting caught in her throat, 'this is why you came back, he deserves to know.' "Jason...these are my children; JJ and Jocelyn." she said smiling down at them. Jason looked down at the sleeping children for a moment before turning back to Odette. He reached out and grabbed her left hand looking at it. There was no ring so she was not married. She looked confused at first, and then she realized. She slowly shook her head at him, as he looked back up at her, still holding her hand, not wanting to let go. "I never got married,Jason." she said, hoping he would understand. But he didn't he slowly raised his hand and pointed downstairs where Caleb sat watching TV. She shook her head again. "Caleb, married Kitty, Jason." she said still hoping he would understand. Jason just tilted his head before making the sign for father that she had taught him. Odette closed her eyes and held tighter to the cradle. She looked down at her children and then back up at him. "They are beautiful aren't they...you know...I named JJ after his father...because he reminds me of him.." she closed her eyes and took a deep breath,"...his name is...Jason junior."

She opened her eyes and slowly turned to look back at him. He was completely still, then she saw his eyes widen with the realization. He turned and looked down at the children again, and quickly backed up. Odette put her arms out,"please Jason, I'm so sorry!" she cried as he ran into the opposite wall, and slid to the ground, not knowing what to do. She quickly ran to him and dropped to her knees in front of him. "Jason, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I'm so sorry," she said putting her hands on his shoulders. Jason was dumb struck as he continued to stare at the cradle. They were his children, his blood. She had been pregnant that night, and he had hurt her! Jason didn't know what to do. "Jason, you did nothing wrong. You don't have to do anything." she said in a quiet voice praying that he was ok. He just sat there staring for what seemed like forever. Odette lowered her head in sadness and said in a quiet voice, "Forgive me I beg you...if you can...I've done nothing but cause you sorrow...I am selling the ranch...it will be turned into a wild life conservation area...so no one will be allowed here...You will be safe...tomorrow I am signing the papers...and then we will go...but I wanted you to know...I wanted you to see..." tears began running down her face. Suddenly she felt hands wrap around her. Jason had gotten to his knees, and pulled her into a tight embrace. She felt droplets fall on her head, and looked up to see tears running down his mask. He held her tightly for several long moments before pulling back from her. He stared at her, and then brought his hand up to sign to her. No...go..stay...with...me...family...together...please...I...love...you. Odette's eyes widened as she looked at him. He wanted her to stay, she cried harder tears into his chest, and nodded. This was more than she hoped for. She had never been so happy in her entire life. Jason pulled off his mask, and kissed her for the first time in four years. It was the most passionate kiss they had ever shared. Together they sat there in each others' arms crying for hours. Before Odette finally got up and pulled him to his feet. She took his hand and led him to the bed, where she held him take off his shoes, and jacket off. Then she went and gently picked up the children one by one and lay them in the bed with him. Both children instantly snuggled up to him, deep in sleep. Jason felt their warmth, he was nervous at first that he might hurt them if he touched them. But then Odette crawled onto the other side of the bed so they were safely nestled between their two parents. She reached over and grabbed his hand and together the family fell asleep together for the first time.

The next morning however, Jason awoke alone. Odette and the children had gone. Jason was instantly up on his feet grabbing his mask and flying to the door, praying they had not left. He opened the door, and suddenly felt himself fly backwards off his feet from the force of some unknown object slamming into his stomach. He looked up and saw a VERY pregnant Sora standing in the door way completely red with fury. "YOU BASTARD!" she screamed as she came at him with a large baseball bat swinging at him as if she were in the world series. She hit him again full in the face. "BUNNY TOLD ME WHAT YOU DID! FIRST YOU IMPREGNATE MY BEST FRIEND, AND THEN YOU CRACK HER SKULL!" she roared. Jason attempted to get to his feet. But Sora slammed the bat down on his back, slamming him on his face. "YOU DON'T DESERVE THOSE CHILDREN! OR MY BEST FRIEND!" she said hitting him again and again. Odette was outside talking to the man about canceling the sale when she heard Sora screaming. She ran into the house and to the bed room. She instantly grabbed the edge of the bat "KITTY CALM DOWN! REMEMBER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE!" she wrapped her arms under Sora's and pulled her completely out of the room. "YOU'RE DEAD! I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NEVER ABLE TO REPRODUCE AGAIN. I'M GOING TO TURN YOU IN TO MINCED MEAT YOU JERK! HOW DARE YOU!" Sora continued to roar as she was dragged down the hallway. "What are you DOING?" she demanded when she finally was able to drag Sora down the hallway to her own room. "THAT BASTARD DESERVES TO DIE FOR WHAT HE DID TO YOU!" Sora was still roaring waving her arms and the bat around like she was trying to fly. Odette just crossed her arms,"Kitty...I forgave him...why can't you?". Sora stopped and looked at her friend in awe, "you mean after everything he did to you..." but Odette interrupted her, "yes after everything...he is the father of my children. They deserve to know him, and whether you like it or not I love him, I'm not selling the ranch. I am coming back here to live. You and Caleb are welcome as well. I know you guys talked about building a house...well there is plenty of land here. But Sora...I want him to apart of their lives...apart of mine...I thought I could say goodbye but I can't...he's apart of me." She waited for Sora's reaction. Sora just stared at her for a moment before raising the bat, "He won't be for long!" she shouted before attempting to leave the room again. But Odette grabbed the bat from her."Sora..please...I don't want you to have a conniption...remember what the doctor said...you are supposed to be on bed rest." Sora attempted to grab the bat again, but quickly became exhausted and had to sit down. "I knew this would happen if you came back here. I don't know why but that degenerate is like cocaine to you. He is not good for you Bunny. He hurt you once...what if he hurts the children...or you...or something?" she asked pouting. Odette shook her head and sat down on the bed beside her furious friend. "He won't...but if he does...you have my full permission to tear him limb from limb...will that make you happy?" Sora continued to pout. After a moment Odette stood and lifted Sora's feet from the ground and onto the bed. "Now you have to lay down and rest...you've had a busy morning and I need to go make sure I still have a baby daddy." she said walking towards the door with the bat. Sora mumbled "I hope I broke his neck..or at least a few ribs," before Odette closed the door.

Quickly Odette ran to the room where Jason was still sitting on the floor. She ran and jumped on him wrapping her arms around him. Jason grunted still in shock from what just happened. "Are you ok?" she cried looking at him to make sure he was ok. But Jason just pulled his mask off and began kissing her again. They kissed for several long minutes before they heard a small voice behind them. "Mommy?" Odette turned and allowed Jason to pull his mask back down over his face. There in the doorway stood JJ and Jocelyn holding hands and looking at their mom in confusion. "Who is that?"asked JJ looking at the strange man with curiosity. Odette turned back to Jason and smiled before swinging off him to sit beside him on floor. She opened her arms, and the children ran to sit in her lap. Jocelyn smiled at Jason from her mothers arms. JJ still seemed unsure of the man. "Children...I would like you to meet someone very special," Odette started. The children looked at their mom curiously. She smiled at them and then smiled at Jason. "This is your daddy,"

Author's notes

YAY Odette returned, and ha ha Jason is a daddy! This chapter was difficult because I really wanted to keep him in character. But I mean really what would Jason do if he had children? I would also like to add that Sora is a beast!

Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter things are going to start getting gnarly soon!