Lies that Destroy

Disclaimer: I do not own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 25 (Filling the Void)

Teddy stepped out of the airport, glancing around with an anxious and eager heart, she'd never been in New York before. She was a bit terrified by the amount of people she'd been running into. She knew there really wasn't anything to fear, but she couldn't help to be beside herself with worry. She was, after all, in a big place with nobody around that she recognized. Of course, she'd been here for about twenty minutes now.

In her hands, besides all her luggage, was a travel brochure. She was at the LaGuardia Airport, and she was pretty sure her father had to drive out from Queens, New York. Apparently he was wealthy, and most wealthy people either lived within Manhattan townhomes, or in homes outside of New York, New York. He had a mansion. "Okay," she said aloud, but to no one in particular. Her voice shook nervously as she eyed the cars bustling in and out of the pick-up lane. Many were taxis, and some were normal cars. "I'm all alone, in a huge place, and I'm not enjoying myself." Funny thing was, Skyler wanted to take her on a tour of Manhattan, and even show her the Statue of Liberty. It all seemed fun, but by that same respect, she wasn't sure she was ready to do that.

"There she is!" A woman's voice called from the left.

Instantly she looked over and saw Skyler beside her mother, waving in the air. "Teddy!" Her heart jumped as Skyler ran to her and hugged her. She was expecting PJ and her father, but this was still a grade A plus for her right now. Any familiar face could quell the unsettling nervousness in here. Skyler stepped back, keeping her hands on Teddy's arms and smiling at her. "So Teddy, what do you think so far?"

"So far? I just got here, and already I'm wanting to fly to a remote island where there are no people around besides myself." She chuckled nervously and Skyler laughed. What was so funny about her plight? She honestly wasn't sure how she'd get used to this. Maybe, though, with PJ and her real father, as well as Skyler and her family, she could deal with it.

"Don't worry, that's normal at first. I felt that way too, you'll get used to it!"

"Hopefully." She looked over as Skyler's uncle and mother came to help with her luggage. She watched them move towards a blue minivan and started feeling a bit concerned that PJ wasn't here. "Where's my brother?" Was he still in the hospital? Was he okay?

"He and Mr. Booth got stuck in traffic. We were a little faster than them at getting out of the house and over here. Anyway, Mr. Booth didn't want to spoil anything, but I can tell you…he lives on 71st avenue in Queens New York, has a beautiful three bedroom house, and it's right in the middle of everything!" She raised an eyebrow as Skyler stretched her arms out and bounced once, already bubbly as she remembered. A warm smile stretched across her face as her old friend laughed, cheering her up and letting her forget some of the past few days. "You're right next to Francis Lewis High School. Believe me when I say it's one of the best schools you can go to, I've been there! Now it's also right near St. John University, a nice college where PJ and I are going to go once college starts!"

"PJ gets to go to college?"

"Yes. I know it's a roman catholic college, but you don't have to be catholic to attend. Your dad has enough money to afford it, for both of you. He, along with my parents, are going to help with studies and everything!" Teddy's heart began dancing so, she felt as though she wanted to dance herself. If she didn't believe she would make a complete fool of herself, she would. "I'm so happy for you guys, you know? I mean, I know things are rough, and it'll take some time, but you'll heal. Together, you two are siblings, so you'll have each other and your father. You also have my family too!"

"Yeah. I'm thrilled really. I just…I guess I miss Denver." Skyler nodded and pat her shoulder, the girl seemed very understanding of the issue. "It's hard, you know…leaving Ivy and Emmett behind. I also…ended things with Spencer. For good." Skyler frowned and gave her another hug.

"I know it's difficult, but it'll get better. I promise! Besides, you're still going to keep in touch with Ivy, right?" She was, but it was difficult to know if they'd always be friends. There was still the issue of Ivy losing her parents that she still blamed herself for. "As for Spencer, you'll find someone that is right for you, I know you will. There's someone out there for everyone."

"I know. I just…used to think that someone was Spencer." She dropped her head for a minute and lifted her shoulders, trying desperately to see the light at the end of that tunnel. She thought she was there, though, but she couldn't be sure.

"It's going to take some time to get over him, I know, but you'll make it. It's just a small bump in the road. But, I know what can take your mind off that!" Her eyes drifted up as Skyler twisted around and started glancing about the crowd. She put her hand to her brow and squinted her eyes. "Where'd they go?" She put her hands to her hips and furiously tapped her foot. "I did not hunt her down for her to vanish."

"Uh Skyler? Who are you talking about?"

"Cousin." She responded without bothering to turn around. "Yours." Teddy's eyes grew large and her heart skipped a beat, she had to rub her ear to be certain she just heard her friend correctly. "She's two years older than I am, a year older than PJ. We both attended that high school and talked a few times during lunch about her family…didn't know anything about the connections until PJ mentioned her name a couple days ago." She spun back around and spread her arms out, smiling brightly. "So I went through the old high school phone directory and found her number to let her know you were here in New York!"

"Really? If she's here, how'd PJ meet her?"

"You remember when you guys were at the mall last week? PJ went off and talked to two people…" Skyler tapped her chin and hummed thoughtfully. "Opal Booth and James Sloan. I think Opal is the daughter of Mr. Booth's brother. James is the son of your mom's sister. Apparently they meet up in Colorado every year and put up flyers for their missing cousins…you guys."

"So when did you meet her?"

"Back when I moved here, she was a senior and on the school's welcoming committee. I hung with her a couple times during lunch and she would talk about her family…I didn't know at the time that she was talking about you guys or else I would have said something." Skyler took out her phone and dialed a number. Teddy watched with a growing eagerness as the girl turned and started to walk off a couple feet. Finally, it appeared someone answered. "Opal! Where are you? She's here!" Skyler tapped her foot impatiently and sighed. "I see. Okay then. Well hurry…See you in a few…" She hung up the phone and Teddy wagged her eyebrows a couple times.

"What's the hold up?"

"Apparently your uncle decided he just had to grab a hotdog." She threw her hands in the air and exclaimed in mild frustration. "His niece that he's never seen before arrives, and he stops for a hot dog! He's just like Uncle Douglas!" Teddy laughed as Uncle Douglas glanced over at the two.

In a few seconds, Opal came rounding the corner, dragging her father by the wrist. Her father was a lean man with strong arms and a strong, though aged face. He was slightly older in appearance than Henry. He had silver hair and a light brown beard. He was failing in attempt to eat a hotdog, which was practically flying from his hand. An older woman, possibly his wife, followed them with a laughing smile. She had bright blue eyes and short hair that curled neatly in a Marilyn Monroe style. She was wearing a blue v-neck dress and looked like something right out of Broadway!

"I am not going to miss out on seeing my cousin because you wanted to stop for a hotdog, Dad!" Opal exclaimed loudly. Leroy Booth sighed in defeat and instantly smiled at Teddy.

"Well, I guess I can boast over seeing my niece before my brother." Leroy stepped past Opal and tossed the rest of the hotdog into a nearby trash bin. As he stood in front of her, gazing at her, his strong presence began to shake just a bit while his eyes started to glaze over. "You know…you do look so much like your mother. It's hard to believe that you're really here…"

"I know, I…It's all like a dream right now." Her eyes began to water and her palms grew clammy. She really wanted to hug them, but a part of her was afraid. "I'm ready to move on from that past and separate myself…" She'd gone so far as to consider having everyone call her by the name given to her by her mother. April, it was a beautiful name, and she actually still carried it as her middle name.

She hadn't given much thought to it, not even recently with all the drama, but Bob and Amy never seemed to bother with it. She just went by Teddy all the time, as it was her first name. Moreover, her full name was Rebecca Teddy April Duncan-Booth. "Where do I even begin? Is it Teddy, or…"

"Well technically my name is Rebecca 'Teddy' April Duncan…just call me April because…that's the name my real mom gave me."

"They…those monsters kept your legal name?"

"They changed it to my middle name, but yeah…"

The woman beside them lifted her ruby red lips into a smooth smile as she stepped forward and spread her arms out. "Well then, April, welcome back into the family." Teddy's cheeks went red as the woman hugged her close. "I'm Martha and this is my husband Leroy." The warmth that was sweeping into her was almost too much for her to take, the bliss was overwhelming. She started to sob, slightly embarrassed for it, but not caring at the same time. "Dear?"

"Don't mind me…" She stepped back and wiped her eyes, feeling everyone gazing at her. "I'm just a little overwhelmed. I mean…I'm only just now…god why did this…" She shook her head and looked towards her cousin, then to her Uncle and Aunt. She was breaking down, and really wanted to avoid it, but perhaps they wouldn't care. She earned a cry, surely. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Opal commented. The girl moved over and took her hands, smiling through her own tears as Teddy lifted her gaze up into hers. "We're all together now, and that's all that matters."

"Yeah…" She glanced back to Aunt Martha and tilted her head. "Why do you look like Marilyn Monroe?" Martha blushed for one second and laughed while patting her curls.

"Well I usually have my hair like this, but as for the outfit…I'm actually an actress, I'm on Broadway. We were finishing up rehearsal when Opal and Leroy came to pick me up, telling me we had to rush over here." Her jaw dropped and her heart once more skipped a beat, she couldn't believe her aunt was an actual actress! She started to faint, but stopped herself as Opal and Leroy grinned.

She heard Skyler exclaim and looked back over her shoulder to see Henry and PJ driving up to the pick-up lane. She jumped and started running towards the car. Just as PJ stepped out of the door, she practically tackled him, hugging his neck tight and weeping. "PJ! My brother's finally here…" PJ smiled and hugged her back while Henry rounded the car, his face wet with tears.

Teddy felt her father's strong arms wrap around the two of them. It was an instant connection, as though she'd known him her entire life. No words were needed in this exchange, they knew what was in each other's hearts. "I missed you sis."

"I'm sorry it took so long…I met our cousin already. Also Uncle Leroy and Aunt Martha." PJ looked over and laughed lightly, recognizing Opal immediately. Opal gave him a knowing nod and swept a tear from her eyes. "Also. You know my middle name, right?" He nodded and Henry raised an eyebrow. "I never thought about it really until all this drama started, but Bob and Amy kept my first name as my middle…and I want to move past the whole thing…to put everything behind me…"

"So what, you want to go by April from now on?"

"Yes." She looked up to her father, smiling as she met his gaze. He seemed genuinely surprised, but happy. "It's the name our real mom and dad gave me, so I want to use it from here on…" She hugged them both and let a sniffle escape her. "I'm happy we're all together."

"Not quite," Leroy said while walking up in between PJ and Henry. "Mind if we join in?" Her heart rose high in her chest as Leroy, Martha, and Opal all joined in the hug. Skyler stood behind them, smiling as she leaned against her mother's shoulder. As Teddy lifted her head up to the sky, she thought she saw her mother smiling down upon her. The emptiness she had been feeling was fleeing her and being replaced by a warmth that she'd never felt in her life. Perhaps, she could get used to this.

April 'Teddy' Booth.

She nestled close to her relatives and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. Yes. She could get used to this.

Such a sweet chapter huh?