AN: SM owns Twilight.
So dear readers, this is the end, until Bella and the Major pester me into writing the next installment.
I hope that you enjoyed this story, please leave your feedback.
Chapter twenty five. My oh my!
Bella POV.
The summer rushed by. I had had the most amazing time ever.
Apart from all of the kids I got to know and the counsellors, Meg and I had formed a strong friendship, relying on each other for fun, support and a hug now and then, when we got stressed and tired.
Keeping an eye on all of our young charges, was very tiring, they seemed to have endless amounts of energy. Occasionally she and I were asked to keep an eye on one of the kids at night, if they got scared, sick, sad, or had nightmares.
Meg and I luckily shared a cute little cabin with only two beds, so none of our kids ended up staying the night. Thank heavens!
I even had to help fill in for the cook for one whole week, as one of the kitchen crew left suddenly, and didn't return.
The camp director insisted I come back next year and work as assistant again. Meg has also been guaranteed work here next summer if she wanted it.
We've been keeping in touch with Riley and he's thought about coming here as an assistant next summer too.
Meg has professed her everlasting love for him, even though she will be having a long-distance relationship with him for the remainder of the year. Meg lives on the other side of the country from Ry and me, all the way down in sunny Texas.
On Skype every night she tells him all about our hilarious adventures trying to keep up with the kids. After giving him a summary of our day, Meg gets all soppy and over the top, with her lovey-dovey, eye-fluttering, romantic talk.
I worked out, after they started doing that stuff the first time, that I needed to make myself scarce, and to give them some privacy. I usually retreat to the bathroom and have a long shower and to relax in peace.
Usually by the time I returned, they are finally ready to say goodnight and I can go to bed with a good book.
I don't know how Meg and Ry fell in love so quick, but they have.
I hope it lasts for their sakes. As for me, I just wish they'd tone it down a bit and let me get out of the room, before they get all gooey with the love talk!
Actually it won't take long before we go our separate ways and start back at school. Meg and I won't see each other for a whole year. But we have plans to be back here, so I'm looking forward to that.
Things between Ry and me are good, we text all the time, not needing Skype as much as he and Meg do. I'm looking forward to seeing him back in Boston. I'm really hoping that he is able to come over to Gran's house and hang out with me occasionally.
I hope Ry's mom will let him come and see me. He thinks that she is worried I really am his sister, by the same father... I could be, who knows? Only a DNA test will prove it either way.
Ry says his mother is worried that if it's true, his biological father might want to have contact with Riley and visitation rights.
I told him to tell her, that Charlie is dead, and that his rights are no longer an issue, but that we both want to have a close friendship and I wasn't going to be a threat to her or Riley.
I also told him if she didn't want me to be his friend, she'll have to cut off his phone and Internet access. He laughed and told me that she would come around, and that his step-dad and his sister Ami were on our side, and nothing could stop us contacting each other.
I laughed, it was true. Things would be fine, and in a few years we could both go off to the same college and be siblings there if we wanted, and no one could stop us.
He's interested in IT and I like lots of things, but I might try getting into pre-med. If not that, then something completely different, like becoming a full-blown pastry chef making the best croissants in Boston, just like my grandmother Brigitte Marquis.
I don't know whether I'll be attending regular school in the Fall, or still doing my classes online. If I get fitted back in a regular class, I will still be repeating some of the work I have already completed, online.
If I keep studying online, I can start studying a lot more science subjects, and even take on some other interesting subjects, like psychology and sociology.
I kind of enjoy studying online, but would like to see what it's like to be back at school again, it would need to be a different one to my old school, as they know me as Bella there, instead of Elle.
The name thing still gets all kinds of confusing. Sometimes during this summer, I forgot to answer to 'Elle' and I had to pretend I was daydreaming, or partially deaf!
Today I got some excellent news from Doc, the two mafia 'friends' of my mother's, who have been implicated in her death and forced her to travel to Europe with them; have both been arrested coming back into the US!
They were travelling with eight young women, who were all destined to spend the rest of their short lives as sex slaves, and then when they were a little too old and worn out, as drug mules.
I'm so relieved they can't hurt people anymore, and those young women can go back and lead normal lives.
Vladimir an Dimitri the mafia dudes, are behind bars awaiting sentencing, and the 'Whitlocks' as the guys like to call themselves, are providing a substantial amount, of rock hard evidence to the CIA, in order to make sure they are locked away, for many decades.
There was also a large consignment of designer drugs uncovered, in several shipping containers, which had landed in Boston Barbour. The containers were due to be transported to their 'business', on further investigation there was found to be a whole warehouse set up with their gear, as well as heaps of rusty, old containers that had previously been used to import the same sort of drugs.
All in all, the sting to arrest them and the evidence went off perfectly. The good news is, I can start being a whole lot freer in my movements now that there is no longer a threat to me!
All of the people, who once posed a big threat to me, are now behind bars or dead.
Today I'm fifteen! YAY!
There's a celebration we're planning, now that Sue and Pete are hitched, and Bear and Ben are officially husband and husband, there's cause for three times the happiness.
Both couples had small weddings at the registry office, and no real party. So tonight we are cooking up a big feast to celebrate, my birthday and both their marriages.
They are all so happy, it's beautiful and wonderful, and I couldn't be more ecstatic for them, they deserve all the happiness they can get.
Everyone will be here, except the one I want to see the most, my Major. He has a lot of commitments and sadly can't leave; he said he will try to come up here on the weekend to give me a present.
I told him a present wasn't necessary, but he said it was something he had anyway, and that I'd just have to put up with it.
I laughed at him and he chuckled back.
I miss him so, but I'm glad things are going well for him.
Riley and his little sister Ami are coming, and Doc says he has a surprise guest, I have no idea who that could be, but I'm looking forward to it, whoever they are.
Oh my God! I can't believe it! It's Essie! My Essie!
We can't stop crying and hugging and holding each other!
I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd get to see her again!
She looks a little older, but not much!
We can't stop crying and smiling and saying 'oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!'
I feel a little crazy and relieved to be at home in her arms once again.
I've missed her so, so much and it's incredible to see her!
Once we calm down, Doc tells us all about what he had to do to find her. She's been working as a theatre nurse, right in combat zones for a few years now.
When Esme left me and Rene, she joined the army to have somewhere to live and some training. It was hard, but a blessing in the end, as she got to work saving lives and doing intense and adventurous things in war zones.
She's back in civilian life now, and Doc located her on a list of nursing personnel, who'd enlisted in Boston seven years ago. He hit the jackpot, when he contacted her to confirm his suspicions, and she turned out to be the one he was looking for.
Oh...and that's not all! It seems they have become smitten with each other. I watch them, as they keep looking at each other with the same goo-goo eyes that Meg uses on Ry!
Unbelievable! I guess Love is in the air. Gran and I are the only single ones living in the house now!
It also turns out that my Essie is called Captain Esme Everhart.
What a great name! I never knew her surname; it really suits her, as she truly has a beautiful, big heart.
I'm back and studying online again, and it's making a lot of sense to just keep on, doing it that way, I'm covering a lot more work and loving it.
All of the guys are doing different work now.
Doc is carrying out a larger research project with veterans who have post traumatic stress disorder, and he's exploring the practice of meditation and yoga on their levels of cortisol and blood pressure. So far so good, and our special Captain Esme, is assisting him.
Pete and Sue still live in Gran's house with me, but Pete has started taking on more legal work, supporting vets and their pursuit for better health care and extra training, so they can find new careers, once they leave the armed forces.
Bear, aka Emmett, finally came clean and told me his real name. He and Ben now live together in a nice new apartment, and have started their own private eye business, they love it, and seem to enjoy all of that cloak and dagger, snooping. Especially when they can set the monitoring of their target online and do all of their spying, from the relaxing comfort of their own living room.
Ben has adopted a cute, tabby kitten and called him 'Bruiser', which Emmett is slowly warming up to. The kitten won the day in the end, when Emmett fell asleep and woke up with the kitten curled around his neck, like a furry, purry neck warmer.
I have to admit, Bruiser is completely gorgeous and I adore him.
I'm so thankful I have Skype time with the Major, he's been keeping me informed and it's always wonderful to talk to him
The Major's kid's club is flourishing, and he's had to employ some assistants to help out. He's made sure they've been all trained in first aid, and are sensible and level headed kids.
Most of his four assistants have finished school but can't find work and all of them are older kids from big families, so they already know a lot about child minding.
His new assistants are also great at sports and love coaching the kid's soccer and basketball teams with him. He has organised for all four of his assistants, to study at the community college. So they can receive their certificates in child care.
One day his assistants might like to take over and start up their very own child minding services, or after school care. The Major is just pleased he has been able to meet a big need within the community, and many parents in work don't have to worry so much, about what their kids are getting up to after school, while they are still at work.
Jules is now pretty much focusing full-time on tutoring the kids and making sure they understand and complete their homework. He said he wanted to train as a teacher, and the Major has encouraged him to do some study online to get qualified. Jules has come right out of his shell, and speaks up and laughs more often, as he gains his confidence back.
The Major and the gardening guys have made a new baseball pitch and diamond, which is being used by the whole community, in conjunction with the barbeque facilities they built a few months back.
The community veggie garden is flourishing, and there is a big monthly community cook-up for everyone in town. Father Randall has gotten enthused about celebrating the growing community support, with regular get-togethers and a fresh, food, feasting experience.
All of the mini businesses have started to get more work too, as the community saw for themselves the work that these homeless vets have achieved.
The once broken mowers, chainsaws, and brush cutters have now been upgraded and resold, to new owners, the gardening guys have had to increase their numbers, by bringing in new guys to help them get through all of the work they are paid to do gardening.
The town council is contracting out their park and roadside maintenance to the gardening guys. They had to buy some new equipment, and get cracking on the vastly expanded workload. They teamed up with the cropping guy, and he's mowing the high grass on the roadsides with his tractor.
The entrance into town is now looking really neat, for the first time in years.
The gardening guys came up with a way to build and install more garbage bins along the main roads, to help stop all the littering.
One of the jobs all of the guys participate in once a week, is picking up all the litter along the road side.
The gardening crew have gotten together to rent a house and they are proud and happy they are no longer homeless.
The furniture repair guys have been asked to construct some more outdoor settings, so that all of the paying cafe patrons have somewhere to sit.
Many of the church parishioners are very impressed and have started bringing their friends and family down to the little cafe. They are paying a couple of the local ladies for their baked goods, and two of the single teenage mothers have work as cafe waitresses.
The three young guys, who went off to study carpentry, are now all apprentices with a large organization, doing carpentry work, constructing new houses for the victims of hurricane Katrina.
As they now all work in New Orleans, the three young carpenters moved out of the Major's family farmhouse, and into the big city, paying rent and starting their whole new life and career.
The Major offered the farmhouse to the admin. girls who have been doing an amazing job keeping on top of all of the paperwork, which they are still doing as volunteers. These women have been sleeping in their cars, but still manage to come to work, looking well turned out, clean and smart.
They are overjoyed to be living in a house, sleeping in beds and able to have daily, hot showers. Another female veteran joined them there, she's just returned and has had one leg amputated, she's happy to not to have to sleep rough.
It felt like time had suddenly stood still, and the air around me had become silent.
I looked up and saw him.
We stood there across the room like statues, just absorbing the moment.
His hair was even longer, and his skin really tanned.
That turquoise coloured tee shirt was a little tight around his shoulders and biceps, but the colour made his eyes look even bluer than normal.
I sucked in my breath. He was stunning.
After an eternity of staring into each other's eyes, he made his way over to me, looking...a little nervous maybe? Or perhaps shy?
It was weird and strange.
I just wanted to hold him and tell him I was his.
But of course I couldn't...I had forgotten how to use my voice.
I reached out and he touched my hand.
I felt all hot and blushed red, his hand was strong and warm.
His grip gentle and firm
I sighed and he smiled.
"Happy birthday darlin', I hope you like this."
He placed a small square box in my other hand, the wrapping paper and ribbon was a soft gold.
I looked at it, it was almost too beautiful to open, so small and exquisite.
"Go on, open it."
I smiled, "thank you Major, its perfectly wrapped, it is so pretty. I'd just be happy to look at it all day. But I won't..."
I carefully undid the paper and fine ribbon.
I wanted to make sure to keep it safe, it was too nice to throw away.
A small, black velvet box, sat in the palm of my hand.
Now I was nervous!
"Open it cheri."
I did.
A fine, gold ring sat there, looking at me.
A small, clear, pigeon's blood ruby was set in its centre.
I gasped and felt someone standing close by... It was Lucille...
But... she was dead...wasn't she?
I felt her smile and shake her head.
She was standing tall and looked a lot younger.
The same sparkle was in her eyes.
She urged me to try it on.
"This ring was Aunt Lucille's she wanted you to have it. She left it for you to wear and remember her by. She told me you were powerful, and had a great deal of potential. Try it on, see if it fits."
I did, and it fitted perfectly on my right ring finger, it was so small and delicate, and perfect in every way.
"Her one and only love gave her this in Paris, when they were young students together before the war started. They never were able to marry, but he made her a promise, that he would always love her, and you know I'm pretty sure he never left her side, even when his body was long gone."
"Its exquisite Major, thank you so much...I can feel her here, just beside me. She's happy now, she's with him, and they are finally reunited."
I took a deep breath.
I had to tell him!
"Major, I want to ask you something..."
He nodded, he looked as nervous as I felt.
"This time next year, can I take you out on a date?"
His eyes crinkled up and a brilliant smile broke out on his face.
"It would be my great pleasure... sweet, sweet Bella " he picked up my hand and kissed it.
Oh my!
I hoped you all enjoyed this story.