AN: Hello everyone! This is the 4th installment in the AU, following the stories "Though thick and think", "Waiting for someone like you" and "After the wait".
This story will be written in the same manner as "After the wait", meaning, multiple small stories following each other. I will update it as often as possible, but most likley, it won't be each week like it has been with the other stories. Maybe once every 2-3 weeks, maybe once a month. That's me thinking positive about it.
I just want this stroy to start, you know. I have been thinking about for a long time now and this first chapter had been written for weeks now, months actually.
I'm open to all of your ideas and story suggestions! I think it worked out pretty well with "After the wait", so lets keep that going. If you have something you would like to see(individual character or family story ideas), tell me - I will see what I can do.
Don't be scared or shy to call me out if I get something wrong! English is my second langauge, but that doesn't mean you should tolorate reading a story where a word or saying is used incorectly.
I will try to include all of the family (both families!), but it will center around Callie and her struggles with being a young adult, first real job and so on. But the family will all be there, I promise!
So, this small story idea, came from a review BumbleBrie left for "After the wait" story a long, long time ago. I think it's a perfect way to start this off.
Let me know what you think!
I hope you enjoy :)
Lena POV
August 13th
"Again! Again!" I heard Frankie call out
Keeping my eyes shut, I reached for my sunglasses that stood on the towel somewhere next to my arm. Once I found the sunglasses, I put them on and pressed up on my elbows to look out to the river.
Frankie swam back to Cooper, who was in the water with her. Once she was up to Cooper, he picked Frankie up and threw her in the water again, making a big splash. Two seconds later Frankie was on the surface again. She laughed out. Once she had gotten her curles out of her face, she called out swimming back to Cooper "One more time!"
Jesus and Jude were in the water with them, not too far away. They were splashing one another and laughing. Brandon was floating in the water on his back, relaxing and catching some Sun.
"I think I need more sunscreen," I heard Mariana say. Looking at my left I saw how Mariana reached for the sunscreen that was in the bag next to the towel and handed it to Callie, who was pressed up on her elbows, like me, looking at Mariana.
Callie grabbed the bottle and squeezed some of it out on Mariana's back. She put a good, thick layer on her. Once Callie had finished, she handed the bottle back to Mariana and asks to put another layer of sunscreen on her as well. When they were done, Mariana tossed the sunscreen back to the bag. They both laid back down on their stomachs and continued chatting.
"Are you seriously saying that you aren't even slightly saddened and upset that you and Gavin broke up?" Mariana asked Callie
"Well...a little bit. But it's not like I am utterly heartbroken," Callie replied "It was mutual. We both felt the same way,"
"You and Gavin were together for so long," Mariana said a moment later
"3 years is not that long," Callie reasoned back
"After ending a 3 year long relationship – I would be bawling my eyes out!" Mariana replied
"I would be bawling my eyes out, if he had broken my heart or if he had dumped me out of nowhere, unexpectedly. We both knew for some time, that things weren't going to work out. We didn't end up hating one another, we didn't end up breaking each others hearts. We simply drifted apart. It wasn't a result of something either one of us did!"
"You fell out of love," I chimed in looking at the two girls
"Exactly," Callie agreed with me, when she turned her head to look at me
Callie looked back at Mariana on her other side "That happens sometimes. And I'm not sad, because we had a good run. I enjoyed our time together. We made some great memories," Callie turned her head back to Mariana "And I will always remember him, because he was my first boyfriend,"
A moment later Callie added quietlty "Besides, I already cried about it on my moms shoudler the other week," Mariana chukcled back lightly "And Cooper got me chocolate. So...I'm good now!"
"Got the water!" I heard Stef call out. When I looked to my right side, I saw how Amy and Stef walked towards us. Stef was holding 2 liter bottle with water in her right. Amy was carrying a flying disk and a volleyball the boys asked to get from the camp site.
They both were wearing only their bathing suites. Both of them had their sunglasses on their eyes. Thier hair was made up in messy bun on top of the head and they had flip-flops. Both of their bodies were covered in the scars, that they got from the shooting that took place 3 years ago. Those scars will forever be a reminder, that we all almost lost these two woman.
"Ah, finally! Thank you!" I sat up and reached for the bottle of water "I was so thirsty!" Stef handed the bottle to me, while Amy waved her hand in the air, getting the boys attention "Hey, you in the water! I got the stuff!" The boys all started to swim to the shore
The bottle was cold to touch, it was very refreshing in this 30 degree (86 F) heat. I placed the bottle to my cheek for a little while and moaned out "Oh, so good!" I put the bottle to my neck for a little while, before I opened it and took a long sip.
"Frankie!" Stef called out walking two steps closer to the lake "Come over here for a sec!" she waved at our daughter
"5 more minutes mom!" Frankie called back as she sawm towards Cooper
"You can go back after. I want you to come drink some water! I don't want you to dehydratre!" Stef called out, holding her hand above her eyes so she would see better in the bright sun
"What about me!?" We all heard Cooper shout back with fake hurt tone in his voice "Aren't you worried about me getting dehydrated?"
"I'm worried about you! Get over here!" Amy shouted out
"Yes, ma'am!" Cooper saluted to Amy, before he splashed some water to Frankie, who was swimming to the ashore. In return, Frankie kicked her feet few times harder to the water, making some of it splash to Cooper.
In a moment everyone was gathered around me. I handed the bottle of water to Frankie, to take a sip first. After that, the bottle was passed around to everyone. Not long after, the bottle was empty.
Cooper picked up the empty bottle "I will go get this refilled!" he said and walked away towards where the stream was
"Hey, let's go play some volleyball!" Jesus suggested to the other kids as he picked up the ball. They didn't need to be told again. The kids walked a bit further away from our lounge area and started to play some ball passing it around to each other.
It was just me, Stef and Amy left in the lounge spot. Amy laid down on the towel that Callie had been on just seconds ago, but Stef laid down on her towel by my right side. I took off my sunglasses and laid down as well, resuming to sunbath my stomach.
"This is perfect," Amy sighed out some 10 minutes into sunbathing
"It sure is!" Stef agreed in the same, complete relaxed tone
It was very nice that we could get out of the city for few days, away from all of the tehnology and fast life style and just let go, relax, enjoy the nature and each other company. I could hear the kids laugh and chatter just further away. There weren't many thing that I loved more than hearing my kids laughter and knowing that they are happy and having good time.
"So, does this mean we have annual vacation together every year?" I asked out loud, keeping my eyes close "We have done it 4 years in a row now,"
"Has it been 4 already?" Stef wondered out loud
"Yes, it has. First was in 2014. We went to the, Kaspian Recreation Area. Next year, after Callie and Brandon graduated high school, we went to a small trip to Marro Bay Campsite. In 2016, after the twins graduated we went to Cerro Alto campground. And this year, we are..." I exhale deeply before I finish "God knows where!"
"The way you say it, it sounds like we are lost!" Amy chuckled back from my right
I opened my eyes, turned my head to my right side to see Amy and with a smirk on my lips I asked her "Aren't we?"
"Well...no," Amy dragged out slowly. She placed her hand over her eyes and turned her head to look at me "Not exactly," she smirked back
"Then tell me - where the hell are we?" I said and looked out to the woods and small hills that we were surrounded by. We were basically in the middle of the woods, next to a river. I know where we started, where we are going, but I had no clue as to how far we have traveled. It's not like there are a lot of signs next to the river that meanders through hills and woods.
"In the woods," Amy answered with hesitation "Somewhere next to South Fork of American river!"
"Thank you, for that detailed answer," I said with a chuckle
"Always welcome," Amy replied, when Stef reached for my hand. It instantly put a smile to my face.
"Embrace the nature," Stef said to me, she patted my hand "Just relax,"
"This is perfect," I said in a hushed after a little while
"Hey, buddy!" I heard Amy say out in a little while. I also heard a heavy dog breathing. Poor Duke was hot. He had been sleeeping by our tents in the woods, in the shadow the last I saw him. Trying to stay cool. I guess, he got bored and decided to come to where everyone else was.
When I opened my eyes, I saw how Amy was petting him. He was standing next to Amy, he was licking her face. His tail wiggling back and forth.
"Yes, yes...thank you so much for washing my face," Amy said turing her left cheek to him, that way trying to stop him from licking her nose and mouth "Go say hi to Lena. Go on!" Amy patted his chest. He jumped over Amy and was up to me the next moment.
He licked my face as well. It tickled.
"Good boy, yeah!" I scratched behind his ears "Such a good boy!"
"Seriously?" Amy called out. When I glanced to her, I saw how Duek's tail was wiggling back and forth right over Amy's face, almost hitting her
"I think my mouth is clean now," I told him. It's like he understoon. He stopped licking my face and laid down between Amy and me.
"You know, I like your head better than I like your butt!" Amy said pushing his butt a little further away from her head. Duke didn't seem to mind being pushed around a little bit. He was such a calm dog.
"I will go take a swim?" Stef asked getting up "Lena, you coming?"
"Not right now. I want to catch Sun for few more minutes," I replied to Stef
"Suit yourself!" Stef said tossing her sunglasses down "Duke, come on boy! Let's go for a swim!" And just like that, Duke jumped up and ran after Stef towards the river. I heard a splash not soon after. It was probably Duke who jumped in the water.
In about 5 minutes, I heard someone walking up to us. Just when I opened my eyes, I saw Duke standing between Amy and I again, this time, soaking wet.
"Duke, nooo!" Amy and I cried out together, right before Duke started to shake dry
Frankie POV
It was already dark. Now that the Sun was down, it was a lot cooler than it was before. We were all sitting around the campfire. I was sitting on some old, fallen down tree. Somewhere in the distance an owl called out. Duke was sleeping by one of the tents, further away from the heat of the campfire.
"Here Frankie!" Jude handed me another marshmallow to roast
"Ah, dammit! There goes my food!" Brandon sighed, when his marshmallow fell in the fire. He seemed very upset about it.
"Catch!" Callie said, grabbing Brandon's attention. She tossed him another marshmallow. He raised his hand up to catch it mid air, but Jesus intercepted it.
"Hey, that was mine!" Brandon reached to get it out of his brother hand
"Too slow!" Jesus smirked back at him as he put it on his skewer and then lowered it over the fire
"Throw me another one!" Brandon said raising his hand in the air
"Sure!" Callie reached in the marshmallow bag that stood on the ground between her and Mariana and tossed him three more marshmallows one after another. He caught them all, put them on his skewerand stuck it over the fire.
"I think yours is ready," Jude nudged me softly and nodded to the marshmallow on my skewer. I lifted it off the fire and carefully touched it. It was hot by touch.
"So, does anyone knows a good scary story?" Cooper asked looking around the campfire
He and Amy were sitting opposite side of the fire. Amy was leaned back to Coopers chest, his knees were bent on both sides of Amy. They looked comfortable together. It had been 2 years now since they got married. It had been a small wedding, just family and closest friends.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Mama said raising her head up from mom's shoulder
They were holding each others hands. Mama was sitting so close to mom, that she was almost in her lap. Moms had both been very quiet. They had simply stared into the fire for the last 15 minutes. Both of them look so happy.
"Why not?" Cooper looked at my moms "A good camping trip needs a good scary story!" He reasons back with mom
My mom laughed back "We managed to live without it the last 3 years!"
"Oh, come on! It will be fun,"
"Yeah, it sounds fun!" I called out agreeing with Cooper "Let's tell scarry stories!"
"We don't want Frankie to have nightmares," mama said back to him, but briefly glanced to me. Cooper looked at me as well and nodded his head back.
"Mama!" I called out "I'm not a baby anymore! And I want to hear a scary story!"
"I don't know, honey," Mom said watching me "I think, mama is right. You got nightmare the other day, when we watched the first Harry Potter movie together!"
"The guy had a face on the back of his head, mom! It was creepy!" I reasoend back "And why do you always baby me?"
"Because," Jude ruffled my hair "You are their baby!" Mom nodded her head back agreeing with what Jude said
"I'm 8! I'm not a baby!" I stared back at Jude
"Barely!" Mom chuckled back quiely "You turned 8 only 4 days ago!"
"Oh, but you are!" Callie grinned back at me
"And always will be," Mariana added right before she tossed a marshmallow in her mouth "Oh...hot!" she cried out the next moment
"That's what you get from being the youngest," Brandon added and patted my knee
"You are like the most loved kid ever!" Jesus chimed in
"I don't want to be the youngest!" I whined back and set my eyes on Amy and Cooper "Can't you two have a kid already?" Cooper almost choked on his marshmallow, Amy almost spit out the water that she had been drinking. For a brief moment, the only noise was the firewood sputtering.
"How about that scarey story, huh?" Cooper asked out stopping the awkward silence, looking around the campfire "No one...okay, I will start!" He cleared his throat
"Yay!" I called out excited "This is going to be awsome!"
"I hope you are ready for this, because this one is based on true event!" Cooper warned me, his eyebrows raised up a lit "And it's real scary!"
"Just not too scary, okay, Cooper?" Mama whispered to Cooper. He nodded his head back.
"This shall be fun," Callie shifted in her seat a little, her full attention to Cooper
"This happened, to one of my childhood friends. She was around 15 that time," Cooper started. The way he said it, I believed it. He sounded like he was telling the truth.
"Her name was Mary!" Cooper continued on with the sotry "One time, she had to spend a night alone in home, because both of her parents were working late. Luckily the family had a dog, like Duke, only his name was..uh...Spike!" We heard a little whimper coming from Duke
"Don't worry, it wasn't any of your brothers or sisters or parents!" Cooper reassured Duke. I looked over my shoulder and saw how Duke lower his head back down over his paws. It was like he was actually listening to the story as well.
I averted my attention back to Cooper, who continued with the story "The night her parents were out working late, Mary woke up to this dripping sound -drip, drip...drip!" He said in a hushed voice and then out of nowhere I heard the exact same voice he was talking about
Snapping my head to my right, I saw how Jesus was holding his sport water bottle and dripping water onto the chopping board. I breathed out relieved that it was just Jesus.
I tightened the grip on the skewer. I was holding and looked back at Cooper. My body tense.
"Mary got up from her bed and went to the kitchen to turn off the tap properly. As she was getting back into the bed, she stuck her hand under the bed," Cooper extend his arm out "And the dog licked it,"
"But," Cooper said and paused. The wind blow making some branches creek and tree leafes move. An owl once again sang out his song.
"She woke up that night again, to the same dripping sound!" I instantly glanced to Jesus, who again made sure of the sound effects. My heart started to beat a bit faster as the story got more intense.
"Mary went to check the bathroomand made sure the tap there was closed off properly as well. She went back to the bedroom, again," Cooper extend his arm out "She stuck her hand under the bed. Her dog licked her hand again,"
I was staring intensly at Cooper, waiting for him to continue. I even hold my breath for a little while.
"When Mary woke up the next morning, she heard thier dog barking outside. And there was a note left on her nightstand that read - humans can lick, too!" My eyes grew big and mouth dropped open
Stef POV
"Moms!" I was woken up by a half-whisper "Moms!"
"Huh?" I was the first one to wake. Lena next to me stirred a second a later.
"Mari?" I asked rubbing my eyes "What's the matter, honey?" It was dark outside, I could barely see her figure standing at the entrace in our tent
"Frankie can't sleep. She had a bad dream," Mariana told us. When I squinted my eyes, I could see that next to Mariana's figure at the doors in the tent, stood a smaller figure. They were holding hands. Frankie looked so small next to Mariana.
"Come here, baby!" Lena unzipped her sleeping back and patted it. Frankie let go of Mariana's hand and hurried inside the tent. She went right over my legs to get to her mama faster.
"Night honey!" I told Mari
"Good night moms!" Mariana replied as she zipped up the tent. She then walked back to the girls tent. Frankie got in the sleeping bag next to her mama and pressed close to her chest.
"What scared you baby?" Lena asked stroking her hair
"I had a dream...just like the one Cooper told," Frankie said in small voice
"Oh, honey," I scooted closer to my two girls "That was just a story. It wasn't real. Cooper made it up," I tried to sooth her
"It seemed very real," Frankie whispered back sounding scared
"You are safe with us baby," I said kissing her temple three times and then placed my arm over both of them, keeping them close and safe. I will be sure to tell him excaclty how much he scared Frankie in the morning.
"Close you eyes and try to sleep," Lena whispered to her "No monster will get pass mom," Lena pressed her lips to Frankie's forehead "She always keeps her babies safe!"