Previously in "A Soldier's Coming Home", Matt meets April's half sister, Abigail, who tells everyone that her mother is dying.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Valentine Family Home – That Evening…
April was a bit anxious as they arrived at the home belonging to Abigail and her mother. It wasn't that she wasn't looking forward to this, she was, she was just a little nervous about the whole thing.
Once they reached the front door, Abigail opened the door first then went in ahead of her father, stepmother and half-sister.
Carmen Valentine gave a soft smile when she saw Andrew and his family. "Andrew, it's good to see you again. I'm only sorry that you have to see me like this."
Kneeling down beside her bed, Andrew clasped her hand tightly in his, the platonic love he felt for her shining in his eyes. "You don't get to apologize, Men. You are going out of this world with your daughter, our daughter's, love and the love that we once shared," he told her with a soft smile.
Carmen nodded solemnly. "You're right, I am." She then looked at her daughter. "Will you promise me that you'll take care of each other after I'm gone?"
Abigail nodded. "Yes, Mom, I promise."
"I promise, Carmen," Andrew said as he helped Abigail kneel down beside him. Theresa put her arm around April's shoulders and guided her own daughter out of the bedroom so they could give the others some privacy.
Andrew turned to Carmen. "Would you like me to perform last rites?"
"You're not Catholic."
"It doesn't mean I can't do it."
"If you want to that, that's fine with me," Carmen replied.
Andrew nodded and kissed her forehead and began to administer last rites.
Outside…
"You're not mad are you, Mom?" April asked Theresa as the two of them sat rocking gently on the front porch swing.
"Why would I be mad, sweetheart?" Theresa asked.
"Daddy cheated on you with Abigail's mother," April said. "I was just surprised that you weren't mad about it."
"Sweetheart, that was a long time ago," Theresa said. "I've forgiven your father for his mistakes." Her gaze turned toward the house when she heard the shuffle of footsteps coming closer to them. "Besides, Abigail will need someone to talk to beside her sister, won't she?"
April nodded. "I suppose you're right. I like Abigail a lot and it'll be great having her around."
"I'm glad that you think so, my beautiful April Shower," Theresa said as she gently hugged her daughter then kissed the top of her head.
Abigail came out then. "You wouldn't mind if I joined you, right?"
"Not at all," April said, moving to the other side of her mother so that Abigail could sit down by Theresa.
Abigail smiled sadly and sat down. "I'm going to miss my mother when she's gone. She was my best friend."
"You will have me, your father and April here to be your support," Theresa said as she hugged her stepdaughter.
Abigail nodded. "Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate this."
"You're welcome, sweetheart," she said before she turned to Andrew when he came out, his face solemn.
Abigail looked at Andrew, but already knew what he was going to say. "She's gone, isn't she?"
Andrew nodded. "Yes. She went peacefully."
His older daughter nodded then quickly departed the porch and Andrew was about to go after her when Theresa stopped him. "She needs a female to talk to," she said softly. He nodded and kissed her softly, watching as she went after Abigail.
Theresa caught up to Abigail and hugged her. "I know, love, it's hard, but at least she's not suffering anymore."
Abigail sobbed. "I know, but I thought I'd have a little more time with her, you know?"
Theresa nodded, knowing exactly what that was like, having lost family herself. "I do, all too well."
"You do?" Abigail asked in surprise, her voice soft.
Theresa nodded. "Yes. You see, the kingdom I came from was attacked during the war, and there were many casualties, many of them being members of my family."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Theresa," Abigail said with a sympathetic smile.
Theresa returned her smile. "Thank you, Abigail. It still hurts sometimes, but I know that they're not suffering anymore."
"They are all probably looking down at us right now then," Abigail said.
Theresa smiled. "You're right, they are. I feel them around me every day."
"It's an excellent feeling," Abigail said.
Theresa nodded. "Yes, and I think your mother is with them right now."
"I agree. She's looking down with love," Abigail replied.
Theresa smiled. "So now we have family smiling down on us. That is the best feeling in the world."
"It is," Abigail said.
A Few Days Later…
Abigail was browsing through the sauces in the general store when she sensed a familiar presence beside her. Turning her head, she grinned when she saw… "Mason! Hi, how are you?"
"I'm wonderful, Abigail. How have you been?" he said, hugging her as well as he could with the baby cradled in his arms.
Abigail sighed. "I'm all right, thank you. I'm coping with my mother's death one day at a time. How have you been?"
Mason smiled. "I've never been better. Tatiana keeps getting more and more beautiful. Hell, she's even more beautiful than she was the day I met her."
"How did you two meet anyway?" Abigail asked as she made silly faces at the baby that was now awake in Mason's arms.
Mason smiled. "We actually met the night before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The moment I saw her, I knew that she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with."
"Would you mind telling an old friend about it, over a dinner between friends?" Abigail asked.
"Oh, I definitely wouldn't mind," Mason said. "It'll give us a chance to catch up."
"Great. Let's go then," she said with a smile, going up to purchase the sauce she finally picked out before leading the way out of the general store.
Matt saw Mason and Abigail enter the Mystic Grill and smiled at them. "What can I get for you?"
Mason returned his smile. "A booth, please, Matthew and a high chair for the little guy here."
"Of course; coming right up," Matt said as he led them to a booth then went to grab a high chair for the newest Lockwood family member.
Abigail smiled at Matt. "Thank you. We really appreciate this."
He grinned then kissed the side of her head. "You're my sister-in-law. You get free reign to wander and go as you please," he told her.
Abigail smiled. "That's true, and I'm glad to have free reign to wander and go as I please."
Mason looks between them, a confused look embedded on his face. "What do you mean, she's your sister-in-law?"
Matt decided to clear up the confusion. "Abigail is my wife's half sister. Her mother had an affair with my father-in-law years ago. I didn't know about it until we met just before her mother's death a few days ago."
"Carmen…died?" Mason asked in a soft, strangled voice, looking at Abigail, who nodded her confirmation.
Abigail nodded. "Yes. She was sick for a while and it was only a matter of time before she passed away."
Reaching over, Mason took her hand gently in his then squeezed it with silent sympathy. "I am sorry for your loss, Abby," he said softly.
Abigail smiled solemnly. "Thank you, Mason. It's good to know that people are here for me during this difficult time."
"I've known you and your mother for a long time, Abs. You are, and always will be, like a sister to me," Mason told her.
Abigail smiled and hugged him. "And you have always been like a brother to me, Mason."
"That's good then," he said with a soft smile, kissing the side of her head with silent affection.
"Mason Lockwood, who is this woman and why are you hugging her?" a feminine voice demanded from beside them.
"Now, Tatiana, don't you be getting angry," Mason said as he stood up to tower over his wife. "This is an old friend of mine, Abigail Valentine-Young."
Tatia raised an eyebrow. "Wait, you said Young? Are you any relation to Pastor Young?"
Abigail nodded. "He's my father."
"I heard about your mother. I am very sorry for your loss," the brunette told her with a soft smile that matched Mason's.
Abigail smiled solemnly. "Thank you, Tatia. Your support is greatly appreciated."
"You are like a sister to Mason, and that means you are like family to me," she said as she snuggled up to her husband.
Abigail nodded. "I consider you to be my sister as well, Tatiana."
"You should come over for dinner later. I know that you and Mason would love to catch up, and we'd love for you to meet the other children. Tanya and Melinda are growing like weeds," Tatia said with a smile as she admired her newborn son, making faces at him.
Abigail nodded. "I would definitely love that. I want to see Tanya and Melinda."
"And they'd love to see you," Tatia said with a smile.
Mason smiled. "It's settled then. Abigail will be our dinner guest."
His wife nodded again then kissed her husband's cheek and turned to leave, kissing her son's forehead gently.
Later…
Tatia smiled at Melinda after she put a new dress on her. She wanted everything to be perfect for when Abigail came. Tanya stood in the doorway, watching this, a smile on her face as well. "This is exciting, Mom. I can't wait to see Abigail."
"Neither can your sister, apparently," her mother replied. "She's been excited since we told her."
Just then, Michael, the now 5-year-old, came streaking through his oldest sister's room and Tatia let out a soft groan of frustration. "MASON LOCKWOOD!" she yelled after standing up and moving toward the doorway. "You were supposed to be watching your son!"
"He got away from me before I even noticed he was gone," her husband replied as he approached them with their younger son cradled in the crook of one arm while he carried Michael's clothes.
Tatia shook her head. "You still should've been watching him. You know how fast he can run."
"I do. He gets it from both of his parents. Even his gorgeous mother," Mason said with a smirk, leaning down to kiss her quickly.
Tatia smiled and returned his kiss. "Yes, he certainly does." She saw Michael run off again. "There he goes again."
Mason chuckled softly then ran after his son after handing Tucker to his mom, who cradled him in the crook of her arm, rocking him a little. Mason followed after Michael, catching up to him when he was about to head down the stairs. "No, you don't, buddy. We wouldn't want you to fall and hurt yourself."
Michael pouted then squealed with joy when Mason tossed him over his head. Mason laughed as well. "Come on, squirt; let's get you dressed before Abigail gets here."
"Awe, Daddy, I don't want to!" Michael whined but eventually gave in when Mason sent a soft, stern look down to him.
One Hour Later…
Abigail arrived at Mason and Tatia's mansion, a smile on her face. She was looking forward to seeing them and the children. She knocked gently on the front door then stood back to wait for someone to answer the door.
Tatia answered the door and smiled at her while she said, "Abigail, hello."
"Hi," Abigail said with a smile back to the other brunette. "Can I tell you something in confidence without Mason knowing about it yet?"
Tatia nodded and stepped back, opening the door further and let her in, closing the door behind them. "Okay, what is it that you wanted to tell me that you can't tell Mason yet?" Curiously, she added, "And does Pastor Young know about it?"
"Dad doesn't know, because if he did, it would devastate him to the core," Abigail said. "Tatiana, I was sexually assaulted. I have tried to put it out of my mind, but…I just can't. Because the man who did it…it was Richard Lockwood."
Tatia gasped. "Richard did that to you? Why?"
Abigail shook her head. "I don't know. But, it wasn't how I wanted my first time to be. I wanted it to be with a man I love, not a monster."
"I'm so very sorry that your innocence was taken away from you, Abigail," Tatia said as she hugged the other woman.
Abigail hugged her. "I'm just so afraid that no man will want me now."
"I don't believe that. Not for one second; I know there has to be a man you desire out there somewhere," Tatia told her with a warm, soft smile after pulling back from the hug.
Abigail nodded. "I hope you're right. I'd hate to be alone forever."
"It's settled then. I will talk to Mason, because, Abigail, even though you told me, I need to tell him because he is Richard's brother and he deserves to know."
"No, it's fine. I would have told him first, but I needed a female to talk to about it first," Abigail replied.
Tatia nodded. "It's okay, I understand. You know that if you ever need anything, you can come to me and I'll be more than willing to help you."
"Thank you again, for opening your home to me, despite what happened," Abigail said softly.
"Will you tell me and Mason what happened, and when it happened?" Tatia asked as she bounced little Tucker to keep his fussing down.
Abigail nodded. "Yes, but not around the children; this isn't something that they should hear. I know that Tanya isn't a child anymore, but I don't want to scare her with the story of my ordeal. It might give her nightmares, especially hearing about her uncle."
"No. No, we'll have Tyler and Meghan baby-sit them, and the three of us will sit down together and you can tell us your story, okay?" Tatia suggested. Abigail nodded that was okay with her then gently eased Tucker out of her arms and began to rock him gently.
Tatia smiled. "We'll get through this, Abigail, I promise you."
"I truly hope so," Abigail said quietly.
Later…
"He did what?" Mason demanded.
"Mason, please…sit down," Tatia and Abigail both said at the same time.
Mason gave them a look. "Sit down? I found out that my brother raped my best friend and you want me to sit down? I'm not going to let Richard get away with what he's done!"
"He won't. But you need to calm down first, Mason. Please? You're scaring me," Tatia said, tears in her eyes.
Falling to his knees before her, Mason let his head rest on her lap as his arms wrapped around her. Her olive-skinned and slender fingertips stroked over his face and head in whisper-soft and gentle caresses and he finally began to calm down. "I love you, Tatiana Gilbert Lockwood," he whispered after lifting his head to look at her.
Tatia smiled at her husband. "I love you too, Mason Lockwood."
A Few Days Later…
Abigail was riding one of the horses at her father and stepmother's house, out at the back of their property, when she heard hoof-beats from another horse behind her. Abigail got nervous about the rider behind her, especially if this was who she thought it was. "If you know what's good for you, you'd leave me alone."
"Why would I do that, darling?" an accented voice said. Abigail turned her head and immediately grinned.
"Christopher! I thought I wasn't going to see you for a few more weeks," she said excitedly.
Christopher smiled at her. "I thought I'd surprise you."
"You definitely surprised me," Abigail said. "I'm glad you're here."
"Did you miss me, love?" he grinned and asked as he moved from his horse to settle behind her.
Abigail nodded. "Yes, I did."
Christopher kissed her softly. "I missed you too. That was why I came back early. I wanted to see you again."
"Have you told your uncle that you're here?" she asked as he guided both of their horses back toward the ranch's arena easily while still sitting behind her.
Christopher shook his head. "No, I have yet to see him. I wanted to see you first."
"I'm shocked, Christopher Mikaelson. You came all this way to see me, and you haven't even visited your uncle for a quick hello?" Abigail said with a look of teasing shock on her face.
Christopher laughed. "Can you really blame me, love? You're very irresistible, especially to me."
She gave him a smirk then patted his thighs. "Let's get going, mister. I want to ravish you when we get home," she told him.
Christopher smirked. "I want to do the same to you, my angel. You were all I thought about while I was away, and I never want to leave you again."
"That's good, because I never intend to let you leave my sight," she said, kissing him softly again.
Christopher smiled and when they got down from the saddle, he took her and knelt before her. "I come to you today as a man to ask you this important question. Abigail Valentine-Young, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
"YES. Oh, yes, I would not consider another offer. Yes, Christopher Mikaelson, I would be proud to be your wife!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Christopher smiled and got to his feet, kissing her. "I love you, Abigail."
Abigail returned his kiss. "I love you too, Christopher, with all my heart."
Author's Note: I know I keep adding more original characters, and I do apologize, but if Erin is agreeable, we will probably wrap this up soon, hopefully by New Year's.