It didn't take long for Barry to realize that his other brothers and sisters were trying to listen in on what he, Dar, and Amanda were doing. Obviously having felt the fear come from him and Dar – the oldest of the others were awake and anxious on what exactly was occurring.
D'Artagnan though was completely oblivious to the whispers in his mind, completely ignoring them by the clenching of his heart as he stood their staring at his triplet. Face spotted with blood smears, having been wiped off in an attempt to clear her mouth and allowing her to breath. Desperate to remove the blood that was so necessary to live escape her mouth in a most horrific way had left him shocked and completely at a loss of what was happening to his sister.
When Barry finally had the opportunity to pull himself together and slowly get his wits back about him, he began to realize that he and Dar had to go talk to their other brothers and sisters.
It was a concept that neither of them had really faced before.
Most of Barry's life had been spent with his grandmothers and his aunt and uncle. Besides Amanda and Barry who had always been connected to him…he had never been the 'oldest' sibling. Never before did he have to set an example or keep the peace between siblings. Yet here he was looking up at the ceiling and realizing he had many siblings to do just that.
In every way he was not prepared for this kind of responsibility. Hell he wasn't even prepared to actually live with his triplets – let alone all of the other family members he discovered he had.
But facing facts – he knew that both he and his brother needed to do the right thing. If not for the others – than for their sister.
Either way – they had to do it.
Pinching D'Artagnan's jacket he pulled his brother over to the wall to speak with him. Of course his eyes were glued to Amanda.
"We need to go talk to the others." Barry whispered. D'Artagnan looked at him for a second before Barry continued.
"They have a right to know what's going on. She's their sister as much. Plus one of us is going to have to tell James. And honestly I think you should be the one to tell him."
At that D'Artagnan looked over to Amanda and realized that James did need to know. James was in love with her…was still in love with her. Despite everything that he had been put through…his love for her had remained constant.
Looking back at Bar he nodded his head.
"You're right. I at least need to let him know she's here."
With that both made their way over to what both assumed to be elevators. With in seconds, both were making their way to the house.
James couldn't sleep. After making sure the kids were all in bed and assuring them that their mother would be ok, they finally drifted off to sleep. Events of his life kept flashing through his mind. Moments in time when the whole world had consisted of him and her against the evil around them. Nothing had prepared him for the life that he had been forced to live. At the end of it all was the knowledge that life would have been empty with out her.
Amanda had filled a void in his life that he had never known was there...until he realized just how much he loved her. Things that he would do for her smile alone made him justify just how insane he could become when it came to her happiness. Though he had never really seen her happy...how could he of. Every single moment of happiness that they could of had was ripped away by the Centre.
Moving down the stairs he surveyed his surroundings. The villa was beautiful. Holding an odd aura to itself. Almost as if the house itself knew just what precious cargo it bared. Experience almost. As if it had hidden people from danger before. Touching the wooden railing he felt a wave of fear and panic take him over...and then a sense of safety.
Lifting his eyes from the railing he once more looked around himself. Sensing something down the hall he slowly approached as his arms became rigid and his eyes furrowed.
Dar and Barry rounded the corner suddenly causing James to inwardly jump and then settle down. Blinking his eyes in irritation he looked at them with disapproving eyes when he noticed the look of pain written in both of their faces.
"What's wrong?"
D'Artagnan braced himself as he slowly walked over to James.
Parker's hand continued to caress her daughter's. Holding back tears as she continued to gaze at her beautiful daughter's face. Trying to memorize every curve of her face, the color of her skin, the curl of her lashes. Beautiful. Realizing that she had created this perfection. This gift from god was given to her. Even that had been taken away from her. Why? Why couldn't they have just given her that. Being a mother was an incredible feeling. Looking at Amanda made her realize just how much of her life she had missed. Her first smile. Her first laugh. Her first steps. A tear fell onto their linked hands. Not knowing that she was crying Parker lifted her other hand to examine her face.
Jarod had watched her in silence until now. Finally he walked over to her and pulled her up and into his arms. Holding her close as she buried herself in his embrace and cried openly. Jarod kissed her head whispering that it was ok.
"I swear I'll do anything to save her Mandy. I swear it."
Parker just continued to cry and hold onto Jarod for dear life.
Caressing her hair Jarod softly spoke the words 'I love you.' Parker just hugged him to her tighter...knowing now that he really did love. Faults and all. Parker lifted her head with tears still running down her face. Jarod seeing the tears cupped her face with both his hands and wiped away the tears with his thumbs. Leaning down he kissed her softly and slowly and then leaned his head against hers. Both closed their eyes as Jarod said the words that she needed to hear.
"I'm not going anywhere. Whether you like it or not your stuck with me. We're in this together."
Parker let out a huge sigh as she rubbed her forehead against his and wrapped her arms around him more securely as he did the same with her.
Neither knew that the bond between them was growing stronger than either of them could ever imagine...or that it was the reason Amanda's eyes slowly blinked open.
Looking up for a few seconds her eyes finally found what she had sensed.
Her parents. Holding each other close.
A slow smirk appeared on her face...even through all of her pain.
" 'Bout damn time." She said as loud as she could.
With that both turned and stared in amazement at their daughter. It wouldn't be last time that they do so.
