*Thank-you for the reviews on the last chapter. They were greatly appreciated. Thank-you all so much.
Over the next month Charlie and Mason spent their time packing to move to Wales. Charlie didn't realize how much stuff she had until she started packing it up. They weren't worrying about furniture because they had purchased new furniture that was being delivered to the new house shortly after they arrived. Even without the furniture it was so much stuff. They only had a couple more days before the big move and they were no where near being finished with the packing so Husky and Olivia came over to help them out. They needed to be out because the person that bought the house wanted to move in the week after Charlie and Mason were out. Charlie couldn't believe how fast everything had gone. It was like her life was in fast motion. She wanted it to just slow down a little. "So," said Mason as he carried a box into the living room for Charlie to label. He wouldn't let her lift anything so she was labeling boxes as they had them packed up, "this is the last from Laney's room. The only thing left is one more outfit for school, the outfit for the day we leave and her carry on bag."
"Good," said Charlie as she labeled the box for Laney's room. "I can't believe we're moving. Everything has gone by so fast."
"I know," he said, "but just think in a couple days we will be in our new house living a new life together."
"I know but I think I'm already starting to miss Mississippi. I'm going to miss the annual fair and my parents. I've been here my whole life. And I think I might miss the hurricane season."
"That's sick, Charlie. Hurricane season?"
"Yeah."
"You should be happy. We will never have to worry about hurricanes again. I understand you're going to miss this place but everything is going to be so much better. Our lives together are going to be better."
"I know it's just all bittersweet. I have so many memories here but I am ready to embark on this new chapter of my life."
"We all have memories here," he said, "but we're going to make memories in Wales. Lots of memories. The first our beautiful babies being born."
"I know," she said with a smile. "What if I don't like it there?"
"You will. Stop worrying and if it's my mom you're worried about don't be. Everything is going to be fine and we'll be all right. And I know you're going to love the house especially when you see it."
"I'm sure I am too," she said, "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, "now I need to get to more packing so that we can have this stuff sent out by tomorrow afternoon."
Mason kissed Charlie's lips before he headed back upstairs to do some more packing. With Husky's and Olivia's help they managed to get everything packed up. The house looked so empty once everything was packed away. It looked so big and it would look even bigger once they removed the furniture which was their task for the next day. Mason spent the next day removing the furniture from the house while Charlie was tying up some loose ends. She had requested all of her medical records so she could take them to Wales to her new doctors especially the OB/GYN. She also got Laney's medical records along with her school records. She then removed Laney from the school she was attending since it was Friday and they were moving the next day. She then had to call Wales to set up an appointment with the school Saint Ambrose school for girls to get Laney registered. She wanted to get her back to school as soon as possible. She had so much to do and so little time to do it. She probably shouldn't have been doing all that because of being stressed out and she didn't need to be stressed while she was pregnant. It just wasn't good for the babies.
When Charlie was finished with everything she needed to get done she picked Laney up from school. Laney got into the car and threw her book bag down with all the stuff the teacher had given to her since it was her official last day. "How was school, Baby Girl?"
"Sad, Mama. It was my last day. I'm never going to see my friends again."
"I know it was sad but you're going to make new friends in Wales. It's going to be okay."
"I don't' want to move, Mama. I want to stay here. I can stay with Mammaw and Pop Pop. You can go to Wales with Daddy and I'll stay here."
"Aw. Laney, I would miss you too much," said Charlie as she pulled out of the school parking lot. "You would really stay away from me that long?"
"Well, no," said Laney as she looked out the window, "I would miss you too much. I just don't want to leave my friends."
"I know but just think about how much better our lives are going to be and you're going to be a big sister."
"But the babies aren't my friends. I want Ellie and Savannah. They are my bestest friends and I'm going to leave them," she said as she started to cry. "I'm going to miss Mammaw and Pop Pop too. What if they forget about me? What if I forget about them?"
"Laney," said Charlie, "You won't and they won't forget about you. You guys can stay in touch and talk as much as you want. It's going to be tough at first but it will be okay. And there's no way your grandparents are going to forget about you. I promise."
"Okay, Mama," she said. "Is it okay to be sad?"
"It's okay to be sad," said Charlie. "I'm sad too and so is Daddy. He actually cried when he handed the keys to the auto shop to Uncle Husky."
"He cried?" she asked.
"Yes he cried," she said. "And it's okay to cry. There is nothing wrong with that."
"Good because I think I'm going to cry tomorrow when we leave."
"Me too," said Charlie. She wanted Laney to know that she understood where she was coming from. Charlie felt the same way and was going through the same thing. She was going to miss her friends just as much as Laney was going to miss hers. It was going to be something new for both of them but in time they would adjust to it all. Change was the hardest thing to overcome but they would overcome it.
The next day was probably one of the hardest days of both their lives as they said good bye to their family and everything they had ever known. Charlie did a final walk through the house as she remembered all the things that happened in that house. That was the same house that Laney took her first steps, that was the house where Charlie and Mason made love for the first time, it was the house that Laney had lived in all her life. The place where she took her home to after she brought her home to the hospital, the place where Daniel left her, the place where Laney got her first scrape, where she first rode her bike. It was sad to leave but it had to be done. "You okay?" asked Mason as they were at the front door as Charlie looked back one more time at the house she had lived in for the last 8 years.
"Yeah. It just looks so different. It doesn't look like a home anymore."
"I know," said Mason.
"I'm going to miss this place," she said.
"Me too. It was such a cozy house but I think we'll be all right."
"Me too," she said as they walked out the front door. Charlie had him take a picture of the house before they left for memory.
As they were leaving Charlie's parents showed up along with Olivia, Husky, Brighton and Ellie. "What are you doing here?" asked Charlie.
"You seriously didn't' think we would let you leave without saying goodbye did you?" asked Olivia.
"I didn't think that at all," said Charlie with a smile.
"Good," she said with a smile. "I just want you to know that I love you and I'm only a phone call away and you better believe my ass will on my way to Wales when you have those precious babies. I'm going to miss you, Charlie," she said as tears filled her eyes.
"I'm going to miss you too, Liv," said Charlie as she started to cry and hugged her best friend. She would never find another friend as awesome as Olivia that was a given. She was irreplaceable.
"Good Luck, Man," said Husky shaking Mason's hand. He was keeping it sweet but short.
"Thanks," said Mason. "You just take care of that shop."
"I will," said Husky.
"I love you, Man," said Mason with a smile as he hugged his best friend.
"I love you too," said Husky. They both let a couple tears fall from their eyes. It was hard to walk away from your best friend.
"Laney, I made this for you," said Ellie handing her a scrapbook of hers and Laney's friendship. "It's all about us so that you don't forget me. I'm going to miss you, Laney."
"I'm going to miss you too," she said trying not to cry but she couldn't hold back and started to cry. "I will call you."
"Okay," said Ellie. "You'll always be my best friend."
"And you'll always be mine." Charlie's parents waited until it was their turn and Laney finally made her way over to them. "I love you Mammaw and Pop Pop. I'm going to miss you."
"We're going to miss you too," said Elaine as they both hugged her, "but we're only a phone call away so don't hesitate to call us."
"I won't," she said.
"And we know you're going to have a great time in Wales and you're going to make lots of friends. We love you, Laney. Don't ever forget that and we will be there to visit as soon as the babies are born."
"Okay, Mammaw," she said with a smile. "I love you." She gave them both a big hug before Charlie walked over to her parents.
"Mama, Dad, thank-you," she said.
"For what?" asked Charles.
"For preparing me to be out on my own. I know I can do this because of you. Thank-you."
"You're welcome. Good luck to both of you. Enjoy your new lives together," said Elaine.
"I love you, Mama," said Charlie.
"I love you too," said Elaine as tears filled her eyes as she hugged her daughter.
"And Dad, I love you too," she said as she hugged her dad.
"I love you too," he said.
"We better get going," said Mason. "Our plane leaves soon."
"He's right," said Charlie. "I will call you guys as soon as we arrive. I love you all."
"We love you," said Elaine as she watched her daughter and granddaughter get in the car. There was not a dry eye as Mason pulled out of the driveway and headed off to the airport. Laney and Charlie sat in the backseat and cried as they said goodbye to their family, friends and their house.
They both settled down once they were on the plane. They were still sad but they were also ready to arrive in Wales so that they could see their new house and start their new lives. Once they arrived in Wales they got their bags and then headed to catch a taxi to head to the new house. Once inside the cab Charlie was filled with excitement. She was finally going to get to see the house she had been waiting to see. They drove along a few back roads and soon in the middle of no where they pulled up to a brand new house that had the longest driveway they had ever seen on the biggest property they had ever seen. There stood the white house with a barn not too far from it. They got out of the car amazed to see the house when Mason realized his mom's car was there. He was hoping she was just greeting them and not trying to control anything. Mason, Charlie and Laney walked up to the front door and Laney said, "this looks like a castle!"
"Yes it does," said Charlie with a smile as Mason opened the door. "It's beautiful," she said as he picked her up to carry her over the threshold.
"I figured you would like it," said Mason as he put her down.
"I do," she said as they started to walk around the house. She expected to see a house empty and without furniture but she saw furniture and nothing she had picked out. The house was already decorated their boxes were in their living room.
Viktoryia came from the kitchen and said, "you guys have arrived. I'm glad. Do you like the house so far?"
"I wanted to decorate it," said Charlie, "and this isn't the furniture we picked out."
"Charlie, I wanted to surprise you with the decorating. I think it looks nice."
"It does but it's my house. I wanted to decorate it for me and how I wanted to do it," she said as she looked around. The entire house was the taste of her mother-in-law. There was NOTHING about Charlie in that house and she hated it because it was her house not Viktoryia's but out of respect she didn't say anything.
"Delaney, would you like to see your bedroom?" she asked.
"YES!" said Laney as she took Viktoryia's hand and headed up to see her bedroom. Charlie and Mason followed behind. They were in awe when they say the pink bedroom decorated with butterflies. There was a twin bed in the middle of the room with a canopy and sheets in pink. It definitely didn't scream Laney. "It looks beautiful. Too much pink but it's pretty."
"Isn't it? I spent hours designing this room and I will design the nursery when we know the sexes."
"Mum," said Mason, "Charlie and me would like to decorate the nursery. We wanted to decorate Laney's room too and our house. I'm a grown up now, Mum. I have a wife. It's her turn to be pleased."
"I was just trying to help," she said sadly. "I just wanted to help. I wanted to make it easier for you two."
"I know, Mum, but it should have been Charlie's to decorate."
"I'm sorry, Charlie," she said.
"It's okay," said Charlie even though it wasn't. Charlie was still upset that Viktoryia took matters into her own hands, ordered the furniture and decorated the house. Charlie wanted to do that and she should have since it was her house. She already knew Viktoryia and her were going to have problems. It was already clear.
"Laney, I have a surprise for you," said Mason, "and I have one for you too Charlie. Follow me," he said as they walked out to the back toward the barn.
"Where are we going?" asked Charlie.
"You'll see," he said as continued to walk. As soon as they came to the barn Mason said, "I will be right back. Just stay here."
"Okay," said Laney. Her face was beaming because of the surprise. Charlie on the other hand had no idea what it could be. She just liked seeing Laney so excited. A few minutes later Mason came out with two horses one was white and the other was brown. "A HORSE!" yelled Laney. "Is it mine?"
"Yes," said Mason with a smile. "I got one for you, one for me and one for mommy. I figured we could go horseback riding together."
"I love Wales already!" she said. "Thank-you," she said as she wrapped her arms around Mason to thank him.
"You're welcome," he said as he picked her up from the ground to pet the horse, "and what about you?"
"They're beautiful," she said.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"No," she lied. Everything was wrong. She hated the fact his mother decorated the house and she hated how his mom got the wrong furniture. Ugly furniture at that. She just couldn't say anything to Mason because she respected his mom and she didn't want to upset him or trouble him. She was just going to handle what she could.
"Okay," he said was he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said.
*A/N: So what did you think? Please review and thank-you for reading.