Hey guys! I can't believe it, the end is here! It's crazy. I've never actually finished a story before... And now here we are. 25 chapters in and nearing the end. I\\ hope you guys like it!
-Thursday, July 4, 2013/12:00 pm, Duncan Household-
One Year Old
Chapter 25- Catch Me If You Can
"Oh, my grand-baby is so big!" Amy exclaimed tearfully as she held Anabelle to her chest. The one-year old babbled and tugged on Amy's necklace. "I can't believe it's been a whole year!"
"I know," Teddy replied as she sliced up fruit for a party platter. "I feel like I just found out I was pregnant last week. Now my little girl is a whole year old!"
"Time goes by way to quickly. I still can't wrap my head around the fact that we graduated over a month ago," Spencer stated as he entered the kitchen with a thirteen month old Toby on his shoulders.
"Yeah, no kidding. And that a month from now we'll be 2,000 miles away in Boston," Teddy replied, taking a sip of her water.
"Yep! All the way across the country."
"Don't remind me," Amy responded bitterly. Spencer and Teddy shared a guilty look before quickly changing the subject.
"Uh what time is everybody coming again, mom?" Teddy asked as she began cutting up some oranges.
"About an hour," the middle-aged woman replied, checking the clock. Spencer handed Toby to her and she bounced him on one knee, holding a child in each arm. The brunette 19-year-old approached his wife and kissed her on the cheek before stealing a strawberry slice off the platter. She swatted at him and continued her job with a giggle. The older woman stood with the two one-year-old's in her arms and exited the kitchen, presumably to set them in the pack-n-play in the living room.
The last few months had been a lovely, stressful time in Spencer and Teddy's lives. After Teddy met with her counselor and learned about the college in Boston, she'd immediately went home and applied before even talking to Spencer because she didn't want to miss t e deadline. Then, after Spencer found out about it, they'd argued on and off for weeks about it.
"Teddy, love, this is too good to be true. We can't move 2,000 miles away from our entire family for something that isn't even going to work out in the end!"
"Spencer, we cannot pass up this opportunity. This is a chance for us to follow our dreams. To make a better life for ourselves and for our daughter. We have to show Anabelle that now matter what gets thrown in your way, you can still follow your dreams!"
After Teddy was accepted into the college in Boston, the fighting between the two got worse. Finally, just before the registration deadline, after some much needed interference by Linda Walsh, Spencer gave in.
On May 31st, 2013 Spencer and Teddy graduated high school. It was a beautiful ceremony at Ritchie Center in Denver and yes, many tears were shed. As both a first wedding anniversary and graduation gift, Paul and Linda Walsh took Anabelle for a few days and flew their son and daughter-in-law to Boston. The two were able to tour both of their respective colleges and go apartment/house hunting. Lucky for them, the pair found an adorable 3-bedroom house that was a 20 minutes drive from both colleges.
And now it was July 4th, 3 weeks before the big move to Boston, and the young Walsh family couldn't be more excited.
"I wonder how different everything would be if Maddie were here..." Teddy pondered, staring off into space.
"Love... Don't go down this road again, please," Spencer begged softly.
"I'm not. I'm not going to breakdown. I'm just genuinely curious," she replied with a shrug. "We probably wouldn't be going to Boston."
"No," he agreed softly. "We probably wouldn't be."
"Did somebody order the best 1st birthday cake in the history of ever?" PJ asked as he entered the kitchen, carrying a tray in front of him that held his neice's birthday cake. It was a gorgeous, professional looking two tier cake. The first layer was stripes that were red, white, purple and pink, while the second layer was purple with starts and hearts of the other three colors. Wrapped around the base of both layers were tiny balls that corresponded to the color scheme. The cake topper was a giant "1," and there were skewers that spelled out "Anabelle," each letter presiding in a different color shape.
"PJ!" Teddy gasped. "It's beautiful!"
"Wow!" Spencer exclaimed. "You really did do an awesome job!"
"Thank you, thank you," PJ bowed. "Oh, Teddy, I hope you don't mind. I invited my girlfriend to Ana's party..."
"It's no problem, PJ. We love Steph," she smiled.
"Steph?" PJ asked, cocking his head.
"Stephanie?" She asked. "Your girlfriend?"
"Stephanie?" PJ laughed. "Teddy, we broke up over a month ago."
"Oh, well... I don't know if I'm that comfortable having somebody I don't know at Ana's party..."
"Then having my girlfriend here won't be a problem," he smiled.
"PJ, I just said-"
"Skyler, you can come in now!" He called.
The back door opened and in walked Skyler, the woman that had walked out of the Duncan's lives two years ago.
"Skyler!" Teddy exclaimed, dropping her knife on the counter and running to hug her. The blonde squealed as she wrapped her arms around the brunette. "I missed you so much! How are you? You guys are back together?"
"I'm great!" She exclaimed. "And yes, we're back together. We have been for about a month."
"Wait, a month?" Teddy asked. "Didn't you say you broke up with Stephanie a month ago?"
"Yeah," PJ replied, taking a seat at the table. Meanwhile, Spencer and Skyler shared an awkward hug.
"Did you happen to break up with her for Sky?"
"Yeah, but don't worry. It wasn't a messy breakup. Neither of our hearts were in it. And you know I've always wanted Skyler back," he shrugged.
"Aw, baby. I've always wanted you back, too!" Skyler replied happily, wrapping her arms around the blonde. They shared a tender kiss and Teddy couldn't help but smile. Finally, her brother was back with his soulmate.
-Thursday, July 4, 2013/10:00 pm, Vantage Point Apartments-
"I can't believe she's a year old," Teddy whispered as she stroked her daughter's head later that night. The one-year-old cooed in her sleep and curled up with the pink alien stuffed animal in her crib.
"I know," Spencer whispered fast, wiping a tear from his eye. "Pretty soon she'll be all grown up and having babies of her own."
"Ugh, don't even mention that," Teddy responded. She leaned down and kissed her daughter's forehead before grabbing her husband's hand and taking him to the kitchen. "I have a gift for you."
"For me?" Spencer asked, surprised. "Love, it isn't my birthday, you didn't have to get me anything."
"Well, it's for us," she replied, opening the fridge. She fished around inside for a moment before bringing out a single cupcake with a "1" candle on it.
"Happy first birthday to me!" Spencer fist-pumped jokingly. Teddy rolled her eyes and sat on his lap at their table, lighting the candle.
"Shut up, ya big goof-ball," she smiled. "This is a celebration for us. Because we made it through a whole year of parenthood and came out better because of it. Because even though we have a child, we're following our dreams and setting the best example possible for her. And most of all, because I love you with all of my heart and there's not another person on this Earth that I'd have rather spent this last year with."
"I love you, Teddy Walsh," he smiled. "Let's make a wish together. Close your eyes and think about what you want for our family in the next year, then wish for it, then we'll blow out the candles together."
They wished and blew with all their might before sharing a passionate kiss. Spencer stood, lifting Teddy bridal-style as he deepened the kiss and headed for their bedroom.
-Wednesday, July 24, 2013/8:00am, Vantage Point Apartments-
"I can't find my phone. Spencer, where's my phone!?" Teddy exclaimed frantically while he sat and watched with an amused look on his face. Today was the day the movers were picking up all of the furniture and boxes that needed to be delivered to the new house, and Teddy was freaking out. For the last few days she'd had trouble sleeping, and she had the overwhelming feeling that she's forgotten something important. She looked over to her amused husband and threw her hands up in frustration. "Spencer, this isn't funny! Help me!"
"Baby, look down at your hand," he replied with a giggle.
She looked down and realized she had her phone all along. She giggled, rolled her eyes and sat down on the couch next to her husband and one-year-old. "What's wrong with me?"
"Nothing," he responded with a smiled before pecking her lips. "You're perfect."
"I'm going crazy. You're going to have to put me in a mental institution before we even get the chance to board that plane."
"No, way!" He exclaimed. "We already bought the tickets!"
"Very funny," she replied, laying her head back on the couch.
"Look, Ana! Mommy is acting funny. Can you say mama? Mama?" Spencer cooed, tickling the little girl's belly.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma," she babbled, drooling all over her stuffed animal.
"Good! Now can you say dada?" He asked.
"Da-da-da-da-da-da!" She babbled.
"Good job, baby girl! Okay, now say this: "Mama, everything will be fine. Please calm down and be excited with daddy and me." Okay, now you try!"
"Ma-ma-ma-ma-da-da-da-ma," she babbled excitedly, kicking her legs and laughing.
"No? Worth a shot," he shrugged. There was a knock at the door and Teddy sighed, standing to go answer it. "No, wait. Here, you take Ana. I'll get it," he smiled.
"Thank you," she smiled, adjusting her daughter in her arms. "Are you excited to go to the new house, Ana-bug?"
-Saturday, July 27, 2013/10:15am, Denver International Airport-
"Yes, mom, I'll call you when the plane lands. Yes, everything will be okay. I promise. Yes, I remembered to pack Ana's diaper bag. Yes, mom. Okay. Mom, yes. Everything will be fine." Teddy assured her mother. Meanwhile, beside her, Spencer was on the phone with Linda Walsh.
"Mom, we're good. Everything is packed, I called the movers, they'll be at the hours in five hours. Ana is fine. Teddy and I are great. Mom, we'll be fine, I promise. Yes, mom. I love you too," Spencer responded.
The young family were currently seated at Denver International Airport and were waiting to board their flight. Although the married couple were excited to embark on their next life adventure, their mother's were both extremely worried. Five minutes later, when both were finally off the phone, they looked to each other and smiled.
"Our mother's are crazy," Teddy remarked.
"They mean well," he replied. "But yeah, they're both insane."
They shared a laugh before Spencer stood to use the restroom before boarding. "Need anything while I'm gone?"
"Coffee would be amazing," she replied with a smile. "Thank you, love."
"Of course," he smiled back, pecking her on the lips and kissing Anabelle on the forehead before walking away.
"Well, Ana. What do you want to do until we board?" Teddy asked her daughter, tickling her chin. Anabelle babbled and reached for Teddy's purse, knocking it to the ground, where it's contents spilled. "Anabelle, no-no! Bad girl!"
Anabelle giggled and babbled as Teddy set her in the chair beside her and leaned down to pick up her purse contents. As she fished under her chair and put things back into the bag, she grasped her video camera that she'd been given three years ago as a birthday gift. The camera she'd used the last three years to make Charlie her video diaries.
"Hmm..." Teddy hummed aloud. "Good idea, Ana-bug."
She scooped her one year old back into her arms and flipped open the camera, pressing record once she and her daughter were in frame.
"Charlie!" Teddy exclaimed happily. "Big sister Teddy here! I know it's been a while since I made you a new video, but a lot of stuff has happened. Anabelle and I are at the airport waiting to board our flight to Boston. Where Spencer and I are moving. It's insanely weird! Oh, also, Spencer and I graduated and we're both going to college! I didn't think I was going to be able to go, having a one-year-old and all, but I was wrong. Also, your gorgeous little niece turned one a few weeks ago. I realize that once you watch this video, you'll know all of this, but right now it's exciting to me."
"Now boarding flight 103 to Boston, Massachusetts."
"Oh, there's my flight! I gotta go. And here comes Spencer, right on time with my coffee. Thanks goodness!"
"Ready to go babe?" Spencer asked as he approached them. Teddy pulled him into the shot and kissed him on the cheek. "Wish us good luck, Charlie!
She closed her video camera and set it in her purse while Spencer handed her the grande frapp from Starbucks. He picked up his daughter, grabbed his wifes hand, and the small family boarded the plane that led to their future.
THE END
Holy crap, it's finished. Can you believe it?
I'd like to thank each and every one of my readers, and each and every one of my reviewers. Without you, there is no story. I love you guys, thank you so much for motivating me to complete this. Sequel will be up soon.
Love always,
Shyla Juliet