Author's Note:
Ummm... Hi... Long time huh? I'm so sorry for not updating an actual chapter in months! I had my GCSE's and I had to change some of the previous chapters to fit my future stories. There is more of a difference in the older chapters compared to the newer ones. I have changed some names and swapped some powers to better suit the stories following this one. If one of the old names are still in the previous chapters, please tell me so I can change it. Don't forget to review on those chapters and say if it's any better.

Most of the many reviews on the last Author's note update (thank you for all who reviewed) said they would prefer the three prequels to this story based on how Uriel, Victor and Will find their soulfinders. I have decided on doing this first. However despite having already thinking about the basic plotlines for each of the three stories, it will still take me a while to update. I am writing an Ironman story as well so it will take me awhile to update everything. (Check out the Ironman story if you're interested.)
I think that's all I needed to say so here's the next chapter...

Chapter 24

Zhalia's POV

Slowly, I woke up from the best sleep I have had since I remember. I turned to see a slight dip in the bed next to me. Touching it I felt it was still slightly warm. Jace must have left only a few minutes ago. Then I heard a shower starting to run in my en-suit: Jace. My brothers wouldn't dare using my bathroom; not if they wanted to be ten feet under the house which I can happily accommodate them with. Argh, he better not leave it in a state boys normally do. Otherwise he's cleaning the entire thing himself . Sighing, I got out of bed and starting to collect some toiletries. Luckily I had a spare toothbrush in my room so I went to the shared bathroom. I hate showering in the family bathroom- I guess I'm so used to using my en-suit shower that I don't like using the others. I have to shower later then.

After finishing, I went to my room. Too busy sorting out some of the paper on my desk, I didn't hear the en-suit door open. "Morning!" came a voice from behind. Jumping, I spun around to find Jace with only his trousers on and towel-drying his hair. Luckily I didn't phase through the ground this time.

Trying not to stare at his chest, I put a hand on my chest near my heart and smiled "Don't scare me like that."

"I thought you heard me." he peaked out from underneath the towel. I couldn't help but glance up at his body, my eyes stopping at his bare torso. Damn was he fit... and all mine too.

"I...um... No, I didn't!" I shook my head, gulping.

He must have noticed my uneasiness as he smirked and tossed his towel somewhere I didn't care to look. "I left my shirt on your bed." his eyes searching my face as I managed to take my eyes off him and onto the ground. "I forgot it." Like fuck he did. He started to make his way to me. "Does me being shirtless bother you?" he questioned, smirking, as he stopped right in front of me. With my head still down I could see the hem of his jeans which seriously hung way to low.

I can't cause his ego to grow more. "No, it doesn't." I said, quickly meeting his gaze so my eyes didn't linger on his body. "Why would it?" I smiled slyly.

"I don't know...," he said slowly as he grabbed my hands and put it on his stomach. "Maybe it's because of my amazing physique..." Damn is he right... But I can't feed his cockiness.

"In your dreams, lover boy!" I snorted.

"Well then, why is your hands still on my stomach and your thumb rubbing it?" his lips widened so that if he stretched it a millimetre more, he would rip his face. This time, I couldn't stop myself from blushing as I quickly withdrew my hands.

"Don't get ahead of yourself!" I laughed.

"I know you love it!" he whispered in my ear. "How about I receive a kiss from the princess?"

I placed one hand on his chest, stopping him from leaning any closer, and raised my other hand to the side. Focusing on his shirt on the bed, I telekinetically lifted it and placed it in my raised hand. I shoved the black short sleeved shirt to his chest. "First, put the shirt on!" I smirked childishly.

"Haha, fine!" he laughed as he slid into the top. "You are definitely hot and bothered by me being only half naked!"

"Shut up!" I blushed furiously. "Do you want a kiss or not?"

"I'm wearing the shirt!" he pointed to the shirt.

"Good boy," I laughed. We circled our arms around each other before I pecked him on the lips.

"That's it?" he pouted. I huffed, amused, before leaning in and giving him a deep kiss.

"Happy?" I gave him puppy eyes. Without answering, he gave one more kiss before nodding.

"How about we go out today? Just me and you?" he suggested.

"Sorry," I said, giving him a disappointed look. "I got my mum to invite some people that I want you to meet."

"Who are they?"

"A family friend." I paused. "Jace, I umm... I have this hunch that you might know some of the family." He gave me a look that said he wanted me to elaborate. "And if my hunch is right, I just want you to know that please don't be mad at me. I just want things to be normal- happy!"

"Zhalia," he said sternly as he narrowed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Who did you invite?"

"Secret..." I shrugged, sheepishly.

He let out a sharp breath. "Ok, fine! Let's go down to have some breakfast before who ever they are come."

I could tell Jace was slightly agitated, curious and annoyed about the guest. I cleared the living room of my family and Scott so when the guest come, and if my theory happens to be right, then there is some personal space for the family. Suddenly the doorbell rang and Jace became tense before slowly standing up to see who it was. "Jace, stay in the living room." I commanded as I went to go open the door. "Hi!" I greeted the Woods family. A mother, two identical twin girls, the girl's younger half-brother, and step-dad (the younger boy's dad).

"My, you Benedict's are giants!" the mother said as she gave me a warm hug.

"Listen," I told her as I let them in the hallway. "There is someone I would like you to meet, who is very important to me and that you might know. I'm asking you that if you do know him, then can you please keep an open mind about things?" They nodded before entering the living room. The second the mother met Jace's eyes, you could feel the air becoming thick with tension.

"Mum?" Jace whispered, staring at Jane, the mother. Amara and Kaira, the twins, gasped with wide eyes as they noticed their older brother. Jace broke the state with his mother and looked at me with fear in his eyes.

Zhalia, what... How... Why? She hates me, why did you do this? His voice popped in my head, wavering as his voice was breaking.

You need to face them Jace. You can't live with sadness, they're family! I sent him telepathically but in a soft voice.

"Jace..." Jane murmured with disbelief. "Is that really you?" Tears started to form in her eyes as Jace was also on the verge of breaking down himself. "My baby..." Jane let our a final cry before running over and cupped his face. She rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs, sobbing, before pulling him into a hug. Jace visibly froze with his arms just dangling there, confused as to why she wasn't angry at him. Slowly, braking out of his shock, he raised his arms and wrapped it around his mother, and finally broke down crying. "You called me 'Mum'. You haven't called me that in years!" I could practically feel her smiling from her tone.

I could feel a lump forming in my throat at the mother and son reunion. "Aherm, Jane?" Danté interrupted the reunion.

"Oh sorry." Jane smiled sheepishly as she pulled away from Jace but had her hands on his shoulders. "Danté, this is Jace: my eldest son I told you about. Jace, this is Danté, my husband and my soulfinder . This is our son, you're half-brother, Ethan." She signalled to the 2 year old boy. Jace nodded a 'hello' towards Danté and gave a small wave to Ethan who hid behind his father as he sucked his thumb. His gaze fell on his two 13 year old twin sisters. He went over to them, not sure about himself, before stopping abruptly as he got to them "Hi..." he smiled weakly.

Frowning at him, Kaira spoke, crossing her arms as she did so. "What? You're not going to hug us?"

Jace gave a relieved laugh, at ease with his sisters again "You haven't changed at all, Kaira!"

"You can tell us apart? But you always used to get us mixed up!" Amara questioned.

"I always could tell you two apart: I just pretended I didn't to annoy you both." Jace replied as he ruffled their hair. Suddenly, the twins simultaneously launched themselves at Jace causing him to stagger back, balancing himself before returning the hug.

"We missed you!" the girls murmured into Jace.

Jace's POV

"Girls, let go of Jace now. I need to speak to him." Mum said sternly. I gulped as they let me go: this was the bit I was dreading. The explanation. "Jace, where's your father? What are you doing here at the Benedict's house?"

"HE'S NOT MY FATHER!" I seethed. Zhalia placed her hand on my arms, calming me down before I do any damage. "He has no right to be called that!" I said after I had calmed a bit down.

Mum narrowed her eyes at Zhalia, giving her a look that I couldn't decipher. "You're his soulfinder aren't you?" she blurted to Zhalia, who gave a nod. "I noticed how similar your birthdays were before, but I couldn't do anything." she turned to me. "You young man, have to tell me everything after I left with the girls three years ago. You better not leave anything out!" They all sat down, getting comfy. Ethan cuddled up on his dad's lap, sucking his thumb and looking at me- waiting for story time.

Groaning, I sat down with Zhalia next to me before I began giving the tale of the last three years. It was painful, having to tell the story and remind myself of the horrible moments. I didn't dare look up to face my family as I spoke as I feared the disappointing and horror look on their faces. Every time I stopped, Zhalia would give my hand a reassuring squeeze before taking over. When we finished, I finally glanced up at them. Mum stared at me with a sad look.

"You've gone through so much!" she whispered as she came over to me and hugged me. I could feel Zhalia move away as she tried to leave the room, giving us some space. "Zhalia, wait!" Mum demanded. "Come here." She extended her arm out to her which Zhalia accepted, hugging her. "Thank you for everything!" she murmured in Zhalia's ear. "Especially bringing my son back to me!" Zhalia's eyes met mine and I gave her a greatful nod, my mother was right. "Now where is Scott? I need to see him." My mother asked Zhalia. I smiled- I finally have my life back...

2 months later

Zhalia's POV

Resting my head on Jace's shoulder as we sat on one of the tree branches in our favourite spot in the woods, I started to play with his hands- intertwining our fingers or just drawing patterns on them.

"You ok?" Jace asked softly.

I nodded, snuggling up closer into him without losing our balance on the branch. The last two months have been hectic. Scott and Jace with some legal help from Victor and Trace managed to sell their house that they had with John and split the money between the two. The Woods family finally moved in Wrickenridge. Jace moved in with them in the spare room after making it more his style. After all these years, he was finally having a proper bedroom which he could make his 'mark' to. With some legal help again, he changed his name too. To match his step-father, Danté's, last name: Woods. They were finally a family again. Jane welcomed Scott with open arms as part of her family which he gladly accepted. Jane offered him to stay with them but he decided against it, wanting to settle down on his own two feet. He didn't want to rely too much on other people but knew when to accept the help when needed. He bought a little apartment near Jace's house with the old house money. He hadn't quite settled in yet, but I guess that's what you expect when you just moved in somewhere new. Him and Jace became really close these last two months- like brothers. Probably after everything they've been through made them closer. After he's finally settled, and maybe with a job, Crystal offered to find his soulfinder in which he was grateful.

School was nearly over: just a week and a half left. Prom is next week and luckily I bought my dress (with Sky and the help of Crystal's expertise) before this recent event. Jace asked me to prom once all the gossip had started in school. I don't need to have future telling powers to know that my mother would take lots of pictures on the day- it's not even our wedding day! Diamond was starting to slightly show now, being four months; Mum couldn't hold the excitement and has showered them in baby gifts already despite not knowing the gender yet. My brother and his wife decided not to find out the gender yet as they wanted it to be a surprise. All my brothers were gambling on a boy, wanting boys to dominate and rule the family. I wanted a girl, I can't be cursed with boys all my life! Uriel proposed to Ida, who was finally ready and thinking about her actual wedding to someone she really loves. Uriel understood before why she didn't want to get married as there were complications when they met.

I love you Jace... I spoke in his mind, making us feel more closer together.
I love you too.
Forever? I raised an eyebrow questionably.
Forever! He confirmed, nodding his head slightly.

Author's Note: Thank you for sticking with me for so long! I'm so sorry for such a long wait. I felt this chapter was rushed, what do you think?

There will be about one last chapter left after this one.

If I can get past 215 reviews, I'll be more willing to quickly put up the next chapter!