Chapter 24- Sibling Rivalry Resumes
All of the sewer people, including Annabelle the Second, were recovering quite nicely. All except Julian that is, who was still in a coma two weeks later. Alexis was by his side constantly and was appalled that she would even consider kicking him out of the castle. But being so focused on Julian also meant she stepped aside from her leadership duties. Sam did her best to fill in for Alexis, but she wasn't giving it her all because she was determined to be there for her kids and make up for lost time. Drew and Jason began building up an army together, much to Monica and Elizabeth's dismay over Jason's heart condition, but he insisted he would pace himself.
With Sam as temporary leader of Spoon Island, she decided they'd stay at Wyndemere a little longer but was hoping it wouldn't be too long before her father woke up. This meant that the Drakes, along with Anna, moved into the home originally meant for them. Danny noticed Willow was becoming more and more depressed living at Wyndemere, but she would hide it from Sam because she knew she had a lot on her plate.
Scout seemed to be doing a little better since Sam and Drew talked to her. She no longer asked for her bathroom, but Willow told Danny she still had nightmares and didn't want to sleep alone.
Danny's mind was on two things. Angelica. And he was growing anxious for school to start. It had been a long time since he'd been in a real classroom, and while this would still be different, he'd at least be learning facts rather than false history of the Almighty V and his plans to save the world. But there hadn't been any more mention of school since they arrived, which really made him think his mom wasn't too focused on her temporary position.
When Danny walked into his mother's room one afternoon, his mother and sisters were lined up on the bed. Sam was braiding Willow's hair while Willow braided Scout's hair, and Scout braided the hair on a doll she found in the castle.
Danny cleared his throat. "Uh, Mom?"
Sam looked over at him and smiled. "Hi Danny. We were thinking of going for a walk around the grounds. Would you like to join us?"
"Um, maybe," he said. "I was wondering if we could talk out in the hallway though?"
Sam finished braiding Willow's hair, then peeked around at her and smiled. "You girls finish up. I'll be right back."
She followed Danny out to the hallway, and he closed the door.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked.
"Well, not really," Danny said. "Not to be disrespectful or anything… but you're kind of supposed to be in charge right now and all you want to do is spend time with us. Which is nice and all… but I kind of want to get back to school."
Sam chewed on her lower lip.
"And I get wanting to be here with Grandpa…" Danny frowned. "I miss him too. But I was actually kind of looking forward to our new house. And Willow… she's not showing it around you… but she hates it here. She's really depressed."
Sam sighed. "And I was accusing your grandparents last week for ignoring their duties… but I don't even want to be leader. You nailed it right on the head, bud. I just want to spend time with you kids. I did a lot of reflecting these past three years. I watched you and your sisters on those screens every day. You were so close, yet so far." She wrapped her arms around him. "I couldn't reach out and hold you when they hurt you… I want to do better. I want to be the mother you deserve. I don't want to lose any more time."
"I get that, but the people on this island need a leader. With the exception of the army, doctors, nurses, and food being distributed, no jobs have started. School hasn't started. We're just drifting along."
She nodded. "I know. I do know that. But… it's been three years. Longer with Willow…" She exhaled deeply. "Ava and Nikky seem to be recovering fine, I'm going to talk to Nikolas about taking over until your grandma is ready. In the meantime, we'll move into our new house. And maybe once we're settled, and you and Scout start school and Willow starts work, I'll think of what I want to do. All I know is I don't want to be leader. It's too much right now when I want to focus on you."
Danny smiled.
"Your dad is anxious to get married," Sam said. "But I'm putting him off. I want your grandpa there. He wasn't at our other weddings. And I'd like him to walk me down the aisle."
"He'll be there, Mom," Danny said. "I'm sure he will."
GHGHGH
Nikolas agreed to take over leadership until Alexis was ready to return to it. The first things he planned to do was build a police station and the schoolhouse. This perked up Spencer, and he wanted to be his dad's right-hand man in all the decision-making. Alexis got very emotional though when Sam and Molly told her they were moving out but agreed that she had to do what was best for the kids.
After tearful goodbyes with their loved ones, Drew, Sam, Willow, Danny, and Scout finally arrived at their new home. They didn't have much to take, just a bag each of their 'new' clothes they retrieved from Wyndemere and enough food for a week.
Danny was pleased to know that Cam and Jake were right next door to them and a lot of other families they knew were on the same strip, including Molly, TJ, Lexie, Stella, Curtis, and Trina (who had a successful mind-mapping procedure); the Drakes and Anna; Monica, Michael, Jonah, Ned, and Brooklyn; Diane, Max, Milo, Epiphany, and Scott Baldwin; Bobbie, Carly, and Donna (Nikolas had to make an exception to let them have less than 5 per household, since everyone else refused to live with Carly); Mac, Felicia, Spinelli, Georgie, and Chase (Mac invited Chase since they needed one more and he had worked with him in the past); Dante, Lulu, Rocco, Jax, and Josslyn (Lulu invited Jax and Josslyn when she learned of Joss' falling out with her mother); Steve, Felix, Nurse Amy, Kevin, and Andre Maddox; Sasha, Elias, Lucy, and a couple women Danny never met before. Lucas and Kristina stayed at Wyndemere with Alexis, Julian, Nikolas, Ava, Spencer, Avery, and Nikky.
Drew dropped his bag on the tiny couch in their part-living room-part kitchen-part-dining room. "Well, I don't know, it might take an awfully long time to unpack." He stretched his arms. "Hope it doesn't take too much out of us."
Danny looked around. It was really quite tiny for five people. From the outside, he would assume the three bedrooms would be super small too. At least he'd have the basement to himself.
He walked towards the stairs leading to the basement. "I'm going to check out my new room."
"Uhh…" Willow cut in. "I thought I would be taking the basement."
Danny raised an eyebrow. "We decided I was. Remember Grandpa was going to share it with me?"
"But he's not living with us after all…" Willow said. "Surely as the oldest, and an adult at that, I'd get the bigger space."
Danny groaned. "Scout still needs you though, and you want to bond with Mom or whatever."
Drew and Sam exchanged a look and Scout sat on the couch looking up at her siblings.
"The basement isn't that far," Willow said.
"But the rooms upstairs are closer."
"But I'm the oldest."
"I was the oldest before you arrived!"
"Danny!" Sam snapped.
"You never wanted me here," Willow said. "You didn't even try to hide it in the beginning."
"I thought you were getting along so well," Sam said.
Danny crossed his arms. "Were is the key word."
"So, these past couple months were just an act?" Willow asked.
Danny stepped closer to Willow, furrowing his eyebrows. "I should get the basement!"
Willow gritted her teeth. "I should!"
"Enough!" Drew set his hands on his hips. "Neither of you are getting the basement. Your mother and I are."
"But Dad!" Danny groaned. "That's not fair."
"Yes, it is," Sam agreed. "Maybe having your rooms closer together will make you more appreciative of each other."
"Fine," Danny said. "But I'm taking the room next to Scout."
"Then I'll just be closer to the bathroom then," Willow said.
"Fine," Danny said.
"Fine," Willow agreed.
Danny took his bag and hastened to his new room and slammed the door shut.
