Writers Note: I am SO sorry for the late update. I have had some serious writers block lately. Also, my aunt had a baby so I've been up helping her out the passed week, so I havent had much time to think. I'm probably gonna take a small break from the story for a bit. With school starting, and the baby here, Im gonna be extremely busy. I'll try and update when ever I can!

Also, I now have names on my chapters. All are named after songs. Plus, there will be lyrics from the songs to express the mood of the chapter and the characters in the chapters.

Hope that all makes sense! Thanks for your patience! Enjoy chapter 11!

Chapter 11

Renee slammed the phone down on the kitchen counter.

"Dammit!" she cried.

She was sick of her past. Sick of how it always brought danger to everyone she loved.

Damn you Laitanan! Even from the grave, he still came back to haunt her.

Lucy, please hurry.

"Aunty?" Mackenzie called.

Renee looked at the small child, cursing herself for reacting like that. "Yes honey, I'm ok...I'm just worried about Lucy. She should have been here by now..."

Mackenzie looked down, a sad look on her face. "She promised to take me to the park." She mumbled sadly.

Renee felt her heart break as she looked at the sad expression on Mackenzie's face."I know she did sweetie" Renee bended down to scoop Mackenzie up into her arms for a hug, "I'm sure she's on her way back right now"

"Ok" Mackenzie said, letting go of Renee to look out the big window, hoping to see Lucy riding back, sad when she didn't. Mackenzie turned around and figured this could be a good time to ask a few questions. "Aunty?""Yes sweetie?"

"Why doesn't Lucy call you 'Aunty' like I do?"

Renee was taken aback by the child's innocent observation. "Because...Lucy is more like..." Renee was at a loss for words. What do you tell a child who only understands the simple part of the family tree. Or one who just recently lost a parent? They never prepared her for these types of moments in her FBI training, and Renee was finding it hard to give an answer."Well honey...that's because she's more like a sister to me"

"But I thought Lucy was your niece?"

"She is...but...being a niece can feel a lot like being a sister...why do you ask sweetie?"

"I don't know" Mackenzie shrugged and walked to the big window again. She hung her head when Lucy still wasn't in sight.

"Aunty? Will you still love me the same after the baby comes?" She asked worried.

Suddenly everything made sense. Renee moved next to the little girl and put her arms around her shoulder. "Of course I will sweetie...No matter what, my love−and Uncle Jack's love−for you will always be the same. You're our little angel, always remember that."

The little girl shrugged and laid her ear to Renee's stomach. "I can't hear anything" she whispered, concerned. "Is she okay?"

Renee chuckled. "Yes she is. She's a healthy baby." Renee took Mackenzie's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Can you feel those little nudges? That's your little cousin. Renee watched the little girl for her reaction.

Mackenzie's face lit up when she felt a small kick. "Doesn't that hurt?" "It doesn't actually." Renee smiled. "Hey honey, you want to help me pick out some names for the baby while we wait for Lucy?"

Mackenzie let out a squeal and clapped her hands. "Okay!" she jumped. "She's a girl, right? I hope it's a girl!" she cried. "Boys are icky!" she decided, making a funny face.

"Well, I think it's a girl." Renee picked up the child and brought her to sit on the couch with her. "What sounds like a pretty girl name to you, honey?"

Mackenzie placed her forefinger on her chin, lost in thought. "Hmm, I like Aurora!" she said, naming off her favourite Disney princess. "What do you like?"

"Hmm, well that's a pretty name, but it's also your favourite princess, silly!" Renee caught on as Mackenzie giggled. "What about Lillian?" Renee added.

Renee glanced at the clock sitting on the table in front of them, wondering what on earth Lucy could be doing.

Mackenzie made a funny face "No. Not that. There's a girl in my daycare named Lillian and I don't like her"

Renee laughed at Mackenzie, attempting to be carefree for the girl's sake."Alright then... how about Savannah?"

Mackenzie wasn't paying attention to what Renee was saying. She was trying to think of the name Lucy always obsessed over. She knew it was a name Lucy would pick and knew it would mean a lot to her. She sat motionless for awhile when it hit her.

"Abigail" she whispered.

"Abigail..." Renee repeated, loving how the name sounded. "I like that."

"Lucy loves that name. I think it's pretty" She struggled. "What happens if it is a boy?" she said, making a disgusted face.

'If it's a boy, why don't we name him Jack?"

"That's Uncle's name!" the tiny child protested."You're right, but I think Uncle would like that, don't you?"

"Maybe for a middle name?" She paused to think again. "I don't know many boy names. I don't like boys. But Connor is nice, I guess. Or Michael" Mackenzie fiddled with her fingers and looked down sadly.

"Mackenzie, sweetie, what's wrong?"

Mackenzie started to remember why Lucy loved the name so much. "Abigail was Mommy's middle name," she said sniffling

Renee took the child into her arms and wrapped her into a hug."I know you miss her sweetie"

Mackenzie cried into Renee's chest, nestling her head under her chin.

Renee could do nothing but hold the girl in her arms. She knew all too well what it felt like to lose a loved one, and knew that sometimes it was best to just cry it out.

"Why did the bad guy hurt mommy?" she sobbed "She didn't hurt him, did she?"

Renee felt heartbroken listening to the little girl crying in her arms. "No honey...your mom...was protecting you. She was a hero."

"It's not fair!" she squealed.

"I know it's not fair, honey. Sometimes things happen in life...that will never make sense, and never seem fair. But no matter what, always remember that you have people who love and care about you very, very much."Renee felt her heart warming up as she spoke...she said this, not only for Mackenzie's sake, but for her own. She knew that what Jack had to do wasn't fair either...but in the end, she knew that no matter what, her love for him, and his love for her would bring them together again.

Mackenzie buried her face into Renee's shoulder, sobbing and mumbling away as Renee held her. . "Hey sweetie, do you want to get ready to go to the park? Lucy should be home soon. Let's get you ready so you guys can leave as soon as she gets back."Renee hugged the little girl in her arms, hoping that the prospect of going to the park would help cheer her up, and chase her little demons away.

Mackenzie wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and propped up on Renee's lap. "Ok" she whimpered.

"Now, let's turn that frown upside down little one...and if you don't, I'm going to have to tickle you!"Renee began to tickle the little child, until they both were laughing hysterically.


"Thanks for the ride, girl" I said as I stroked the back of the beautiful horse. I figured I shouldn't dilly dally, seeing that I promised Renee I'd be home within half an hour and that was at 11 am. I glanced at my watch.

"Shoot!" I yelled when the clock read 2:30. I ran out of the horse barn and down the hills, the strong wind burning my face. I was exhausted by the time I reached the deck and opened the screen door. "I'm home!"

Renee looked over to see me standing in the foyer. "Mackenzie, sweetie, why don't you run upstairs and get your stuff together? I need to talk to Lucy for a second. Ok?"As soon as Mackenzie was out of the room, Renee turned, arms crossed across her chest, and stared at me.

"Where the hell have you been?"

Whoa what's up with her? "I... was out riding. I thought I told you"

"No you didn't. You said you would be back in 30 minutes. That was more than 2 hours ago! Why the hell didn't you call me? Do you have any clue how worried I've been? With everything that's been going on, why the hell would you do this?"

I froze in terror. "Renee calm down. I went up the hills and down the fields. I had to detour coming back because the wind was blowing sand around. And my phone is over there charging." I pointed to the side table.

"Why the hell would you leave the house without your phone? After everything that's happened, why would you leave without a way of reaching anyone in case of an emergency? After what happened with Charles, you would think-"Renee suddenly stopped.

I just stood there frozen.

What the hell happened to her?

I knew she was pregnant and the stress from the baby and her hormones changing could be mood swings, but she said Charles. What did he have to do with this? I continued to stare at her, petrified at what she might mean.

"Lucy...I'm sorry. That was out of line...I was just worried. With Jack gone...and given this family's history...I panicked. I love you...and I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

"It's fine Renee. I understand. But I'm fine okay? I'm home with two legs and two arms. I'm okay." I said trying to comfort her. I heard Mackenzie jumping down the stairs and turned to meet her. "LUCY!" she squealed and climbed up into my arms. "Hey kiddo. Sorry I'm a little late. Ready for the park now?" As I placed her down, I noticed what she was wearing and turned to Renee. "A dress? For the park?"

"Don't look at me. And don't think that I've forgiven you...you better take your phone with you this time"Renee walked over to give Lucy a hug. "And if you ever scare me like that again...I will be forced to kick your ass"

I hugged her back and giggled. "Fair enough, but you're going to have to catch me" I joked.

"Ha-ha. Very funny missy. Now take this little one to the park. She's been waiting very patiently for you to get back"

I ran over to the side table, grabbed my phone and shook it in the air, giving Renee a funny face. I took the tiny hands of my cousin into mine and walked to the door, startled when she abruptly ripped out of my hands. I turned around and watched as she ran into Renee's arms. "I love you, Aunty." her high pitched voice was cheery. "And you're my hero too" she added. I looked at both of them confused. Renee was taken aback for a second, and hugged the little girl tight"I love you too sweetie. You're still my little angel"

I was about to ask what I had missed while I was out but decided that it wasn't any of my business. And besides, I thought it would be nice for Renee and Kenzie to have their own secrets. Something special for the both of them. "Ready to go kiddo?" I askedMackenzie ran back to me and grabbed my hand. "Ready!"


"Slow down!" I called after McKenzie.

"Gotta catch me, first!" she giggled as she ran up the hill towards the swing set.

She was already over and down the hill, by the time I reached top.

"Lucy, push me!" she squealed.

I ran as fast as I could over to the swing sets and grabbed the back of her seat.

"Hold on, sweetie"

I began to push her slowly at first, then picked up the speed as she demanded.

"Higher!"

I pushed harder.

"Higher!"

I found myself lost in thought while I continued to push the child. Memories that had left me long ago, can flooding back all at once.

My old friends.

Lilly's face popped into my head first. She was always the sweet and innocent acting one. Always the conflict manager, trying to resolve arguments and spats that the rest of us got into.

Kate was next. She was more of the adult figure, seeing as she was three years older then we were. She was also the detective type. Read books that had to do with mystery and murder. Loved shows that had to do with crime solving, or FBI work. Always ready for action.

Then there was Riley. She was… well, she was the trouble maker. Always got into things she wasn't suppose too, did everything but was asked of her. Constantly smiling, yet she always had this look on her face as though she was hiding something.

My thoughts were interrupted when a voice called from afar.

"Lucy!"

I turned in the direction of the strangely familiar voice. It almost sounded like...

"Lucy! Over here!"

Riley was standing a few feet behind me, waving.