FSOG chp13 end of beginnings
The last snow flakes drift, dancing along the snowcapped edge of the patio railing. The winter sun has peaked beyond the horizon over far distance Midway atoll. I watch the last vestiges of day bleed thru twilight into darkness. Broken by the sparse patio lights; Casting eerie shadows drift along the still, frozen, carpeted, snowscape. I watch the peaceful world outside. I watch the idyllic peace I long to find inside this abode.
Turning back into the madhouse of the great room. My Aspen house is nearly rolling down the hill with the chaos inside. My only consolation is that the family is not here. It's just my horde of barbarian's, Led by the child king himself: Christian the First. I smile at his chasing our five and six-year-old adopted boys. They are racing naked thru the house to avoid the bath upstairs. Chris in hot pursuit. Our oldest children are busting moves on the latest Dance party video game. Christian is very upset about Andrea and Barney early Christmas gift of the VR game. They have been addicted to it since the twentieth.
I will miss my eldest; Sixteen-year old's Teddy and Phoebe are off to Aunt Cass House in Oxford after the break. Phoebe is studying boys and Classical Lit & Publishing. Teddy in Art history and restoration, following in Rays footsteps. Grace and Ella our twin eleven-year-old daughters are beginning after the summer, high school. Peter our adopted ten-year-old is drifting toward a mechanical degree, possible Auto mechanic. If we can keep him from disassembling the cars; hopeful next year he will master putting at least one back to running order. Tommy our ten-year-old, adopted daughter is becoming Christian clone. They both came from places Christian knew too well. Both our most recent adoption. At four years.
I watch College senior Sophie tackle Edward the six-year-old, we've him since he was six months old. One down one to go. Chris corners Harry our five-year-old, we've had him since he was one year old. His scars speak of unimaginable horrors. Nope! Harry slips by Chris with that classic stutter step that Teddy used to score the winning point in Ruby last month. He's headed for the Kitchen Door and the back steps.
"HARRY!" I scream, landing him on his butt. I point to his father and the stairs. "Baths. NOW!"
That has everyone running for the stairs.
The sooner they're bathed, pajamas and settle on the cushions. The sooner we will watch the New Year ball dropping harking on the Big screens. Gail is laughing putting snacks on the tables. Jason is guarding the back stairs from the manic Grey Horde upstairs. Last year the herd sneaked down the back stairs and raided the Chocolate. Sick whining kids on sugar overload was not our idea of fun and relaxing. The horde ate thirty pounds of Chocolate in ten minutes. My kids don't do anything half ass. I take a hot tea and sit on the couch.
The youngest are the first down with Sophie smiling dropping on a beanbag after grabbing a tall Mai Tai. "I'm never having Kids. I swear mom. Never!" she smirks to Gail. As her thirteen-year-old brother flops next to her. Jason Jr. is a fun-loving free spirit and sports gods. "Yea right sis. You Know you'll have a pack by the time your tenth anniversary rolls around. Just to make Mom happy, to say nothing of Aunt Anna."
As the last of my children flop about me: Tommy, and Harry cuddle to me. I start the fourteen-year-old DVD. The kids favorite Christian Grey 'mountain man Rimbaud 'live at Madison Square Garden for the Save the Children charity concert. Daddy rocking like the rock god he is. His Belgium cousin Luther junior rocking with him. He blasts the world for close to two hours before I walk him off the stage. He only plays charity gig's, not needing the money or fame.
His last album made twenty million for charity, all classic rock acoustic non-sing song. He rocks, my world. I let the time plead away. Till fifteen minutes to ball drop here in Aspen.
"Everyone Shut up! Teddy you're first. YES! By order! What do you wish for this coming year?" I start are yearly New Years tradition. This should be good.
"MY Teddy Grey wish for the new year is my parents buy the Old Wilson Shipwright Loft and gift it to me outfitted for restoration. And for Mom to Stop picking on me." My eldest smirks, sticking out his tongue at his sister.
"My Phoebe Grey wish for the new year is to study in Shanghai next fall. And for Mom to Stop picking on me." My daughter laughs sticking her tongue out at her sisters.
"My Grace Gail Grey the supreme wish for my new years is for Dad to allow me to date. And for Mom to Stop picking on me." She sticks her tongue out at her sister.
"My Ella Therese Rose Grey, overlord supreme daughter and sister wish for the new year is for the adults to allow me to perform; Musically and dance this coming summer. To tour with my band. Oh! And for Mom to Stop picking on me." She sticks her tongue out at her Peter.
"My Peter Jason Grey wish is to have Dad & Uncle Jason teach me to fix the cars I break. For mom to teach me to drive. Since Dad doesn't need another Heart attack like teaching Phoebe to drive; to say nothing of Teddy's driver Ed fiasco. And for Mom to Stop picking on me." He points to Tommy and sticks his tongue sideways in his mouth, making a comical face.
"My Thomasina Victoria Anastasia Grey wish for the new year for the parents to allow me to intern with dad and make my first solo acquisition and merger. And for Mom to Stop picking on me. And dad start." She laughs falling off the couch. Looking upside down she raspberries her brothers.
"My Edward Jaeger Carrick Grey wish is for Sailing lesson this summer. And a new baseball hat. And Mom can pick on me, I love her. Despite my siblings. Harry" he tries to touch his tongue to his nose, like his father.
"My Harry Christian Luke Raymond Grey wish for a deep-sea fishing trip with the Dad and Grand-papas. Maybe a new BMX bike. And for Mom to stop dressing me and picking on me. JJ?" He forks his tongue at his buddy.
"My Jason Christian Barney Fredrick Taylor wish for adults to lift my banded motocross competitions this spring and summer, and release my snow board for winter competitions. Please MOM, and for Aunt Anna to stop picking on me." He gives his sister the finger with the tongue. "Smack" his head bobbles as Gail threw a pillow, she had ready for the insolence dare devil.
"If you don't break any bones this spring, or cause me more gray hairs maybe?" Gail tease him.
"With GPA of 4.0. I will consider the summer" Jason laughs. Jason Jr. Looks crestfallen since his best semester is 3.5…
"My Sophie Alice Taylor, the queen of the herd. Wish for this year that the adults will not scare away my boyfriend who is coming tomorrow. And Mom, Aunt Anna and the guys will give him a chance. Oh! And stop picking on me." She looks at us hoping we will not scare away the young man. We've already read his background check, voted to give him a chance. He seems a nice boy.
"My Jason Taylor the senior, wish for the kids to give Christian and me a break on the chaos and pranks this coming year. And that Gail and I get an alone vacation this summer. And Anna to stop picking on me." He laughs sticking out his tongue to Gail: Blowing a kiss.
"My Gail Taylor wish is for my children and Anna's Children to be happy and stop causing us gray hairs and wrinkles. Also a month long vacation form these devil possessed children of the corn. Also for Anna to stop picking on me." she sticks her tongue out at my husband.
"MY CHRISTIAN TREVELYAN GREY, CEO, father and pussy-whipped husband wish for the new year; that my kids would all be exiled to boarding schools, and prison summer camps. My hair is too gray, too thin and my nerves are shoot." He laughs.
"DREAM ON OLD MAN!" Scream the herd. Gail throws her second pillow, then her third at Jason sr.
"All right that or world peace. And Anna to love me forever, Despite my kids!"
"DREAM ON OLD MAN!" Scream the herd. Christian sticks and then licks his lips. UH! La LAA going to enjoy the bedroom tonight. Maybe sleep in tomorrow after breakfast. Since Sex god will keep my screaming all night. I lick my lips and blow him a kiss, and a finger. Everyone looks at me. "Gross MOM! DAD!" scream the kids.
"Only if you make another Kid; so, I won't be the baby anymore?" pouts Harry. I cuddle him. Kissing his head. He beams up at me. He is going to be a happy boy this coming year.
"MY Anastasia Rose Grey, Matron, martyred, mother, wife and love slave. That my herd of barbarian's would not embarrassments me more than twice per child; That my Kids would stop wrinkling my face, graying my hair and above all limit fractures and stitches this year. My husband to steal me away for more adult time. And above all else this year! Should I say it?" I look about my room remembering that day so long ago when hope and future looked so dim and hellish.
"Miss you can't sleep here" I turn to an asshole airline agent, yelling at a me, sleeping under the chairs. I stare up into a copper headed angel fallen to earth. Grey eyes staring at me like I'm everything he wants and needs. The only thing in the world, universe. Lifting me from the ground he holds me in his arms, strong safe arms. He kisses me. Wow! I thought the electric spark we have touching was wow, but nowhere near how WOW! His kisses are.
How that kiss would start this wonderful journey and bring me such joy and happiness. I watch my children and friends and my husband. God! What a wonderful live so far, with greener pastures ahead. The chanting brings me back to earth and Aspen winter wonderland in our house on the hill.
"You should, really should, really, really should! SAY IT! SAY IT!" Everyone chants at me. Expecting my usually: 'And pick on each and every one of you. But this year is different. This year I have miracle to show them and hopefully not cause my husband to stroke out.
"Alright you scurvy dogs and vandals at the gate of my sanity. I hereby grant Harry his wish plus one. You Husband are getting fixed, for good this time."
I feel myself lifted into his arms. Holding me. As the word seep into my children and friends. "Anna?" he kisses me.
"Your overachiever sperm has got me pregnant again with twins. Sex god." I whisper into his ear. He kisses me and the world disappears to just him and me, locked in this kiss here and now.
"Five, Four, Three, Two, ONE! HAPPY NEW YEARS!" everyone screams but us. Locked in the kiss that will last us a thousand years, in a Thousand lives. He lifts and carries me to bed. I look back at my children cheering us on. How that Wow has never wavered from that first kiss in that airport terminal so long ago.
Laying me down, he looks into my eyes. I see my world, my only desire in his green flecked grey eyes. "Everything to me." I whisper. "Everything we'll ever need, want of have. Each other" Christian whispers into my lips. Kissing us into morrows bright future.
Xxxxxx
Below after the parents left.
"More siblings, you had to wish that Harry?" Phoebe pouts. I dump my cider on her head. Standing looking at my brothers and sisters. "We are Grey's. We will always be here for each other, no matter how many or how they came to be GREY. We will fight, scream and prank, but always love and cherish each and every one." Teddy says, acting like the protector he is.
"Let's dance and party till we fall asleep. Aunt Gail?" Tommy asks.
"Well, Kids the adults are gone and Uncle Jason owes me some dancing. Phoebe hit the party list. Jason get over here and dance" Gail dances Harry across the room to her husband.
The music blares and kids are dancing about. Teddy leans against the window looking out at the snows-cape. Pulling faded pictures on his smart wrist watch; Pictures of Dad and mom in an airport terminal long ago. Mom battered and bruised from evil family, Dad looking lost, beyond despair and life. Then together in blissful forever. I look out into the darkness. Whispering words, I do every year since I found the pictures in Mom scrapbook, locked in her closet. "You will never be in that place again as long as I live mom and dad. Never beyond the family's love."