Chapter 21

Not Falling Apart

2 weeks later

Cato POV

It has been two weeks since I saw her and her teary face keeps in my mind every day even though I haven't heard from her in two whole weeks. I miss them terribly, is like there is a part missing from me. Clove keep calling me for the week following but I just couldn't answer, I need time to think and figure things out, now that I have them there is no way that I'm gonna let my kids go; there is a knock on my door so I finish my cup of coffee quickly and head to the door, as soon as I open it there are two pairs of tiny arms around me

"Hi Cato! We miss you so we asked mommy if it was okay to come and visit you!"- Claire said cheerfully with a wide smile on her face, suddenly I realized that the twins were not alone, Alec was right behind them.

"Morning Cato, I hope you don't mind that I bring them, given the circumstances I didn't know what else to do"- he said guardedly trying to figure out my reaction.

"Of course its okay, I have missed you two like crazy"- I picked the twins up and took them inside my house- "How about some coffee Alec?"

He looked in the direction of Clove's house and hesitated for a minute but then he turned back to us and agreed, I made scrambled eggs for Cade and French toast for Claire then they went to eat their breakfast at the living room to watch cartoons. Alec and I take a seat on the kitchen table and before I could ask him anything he started to speak.

"I'm so sorry the way things happened Cato, not only because of Clove but for the twins, this is affecting them also, is not fair for any of you but the fact that it happened doesn't means that you can't try to be happy again"

I was confused by his words, did he means that I should find someone else and forget about her? Does he feel that way about Clove? That last question has been wandering in my mind since the last time that I saw them together so I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"What are your feelings towards Clove?" the question took him unaware but he quickly recomposed and took a deep breath before answering.

"I love her"- he simply said and I immediately start to feel the anger getting to my head- "But not the way you are thinking Cato, she is an essential part of my life, Clove is the family that I lost many years ago, we have got through a lot of things together, she is my best friend, my sister, that is why her and the twins happiness is the most important thing to me; and I can totally say that you are that happiness"

"I appreciate that you take care of her and the twins, I know how fragile she is, believe me is really hard not to go running right now to her but we need time, this big lie hurted us and I'm not saying that the damage is irreparable but we need time to heal"- I just opened my heart to Alec but I needed to say this out loud and he is the right person to tell.

"I'm glad you are aware of this Cato because she really loves you, she has been so sad this days, actually right now she is sick probably just a food poisoning but anyway I think I'm going to go check on her, do you want to keep the kids with you?"

"I will love to but I have to go to the training center, I think that in the afternoon I´ll go to Clove's house, is time to fix things"- I reassured him with a smile that everything is going to be okay between Clove and I.

I said goodbye to my kids promising to go in the afternoon to play with them, then I headed to the training center, lately I only was there for my class time, last week it was unbearable to be around Brutus and Enobaria but then I talked to her and I realized that she really did all for our own good; with Brutus it was different because he had done it for personal selfish reasons.

"Morning Cato, your 12 o'clock class is already waiting for you at the gym"- Enobaria smiled timidly at me, she still feels guilty although I told her that soon everything will be okay with Clove.

My class went quickly and soon it was already 2 pm and I had another class right away, it was the 16 years old and today it was their last evaluation so the class took longer than I had expected, when I got out it was already around 6:30 pm and I decided to practice with my swords for a little while so I headed to the gym in the second floor, being there gave me the peace and calm that I need to be able to think as an extra, practicing with the dummies is a way to get rid of stress.

I was there for about 40 minutes, then I decided that it was time to go home, get a shower and then I will go to Clove's house to talk with her, I need to tell her that she is the love of my life, that it doesn't matter how many things we have to get through as long as we do it together, because this is once in a lifetime love. I was in halfway down when I heard a lot of noise in the first floor, someone was screaming and another person was crying, as I listened better I was able to distinguish Clove's voice, it sounds desperate and then she let out a tearing scream; I run downstairs as fast as I can, as I approach Brutus office I hear what they are saying.

"What else do you remember Clove?"- He sounds desperate as well- "Did you saw someone suspicious?

"I don't know, they just took him away!- Clove sounds devastated- "I just…"- I abruptly opened the door and pairs of teary eyes turned to look at me.

"What happened?"- I was worried and anxious because there were only two things in the world that could make Clove this worried.

She starts sobbing again and holds her head in her hands, Enobaria walks towards me,- "They took him away"- I couldn't or wouldn't want to understand what she was talking about so I looked bewildered at her.

"Cade is missing Cato, they took him away"

My whole world collapsed.

Hello amazing readers! I'm very sorry for making you wait so long but I was crazy with school final projects and all but finally I am free so I will be updating this week again.

I can't thank you enough for your reviews and favorites, big big thanks to Hannie597, CrazyAnnoying: hope this chapter answers your question, Shae101, EGilly, gummybears212, FromTheAshesWeReborn, koyamonlover, thewinky0313, and all the anonymous guests you don´t have an idea of how happy you make me.

Write you soon

XOXOX

Marianeclover.