AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANKS TO MY REVIEWERS

CHAPTER 21

FAMILY REUNIONS AND FAMILY REVELATIONS

Blue Cove, Delaware

Miss Parker's Home

March 1, 2003

5:25pm

All thoughts of the DSA had left her mind when Parker returned home.

"You're back. You're back." Alex chanted as soon as Parker entered the house. "Jarod and I cooked dinner. Hope you like spaghetti. I like spaghetti. Do you want red wine with your dinner? How are my brothers and th' others? Can we make some hot chocolate? Jarod tried but it didn't come out like yours." The child said in one breath.

"Alex how much sugar did you have today?"

"Only a little."

"How much is a little?"

"I had some pez, and some sour bright crawlers, and a chocolate bar, and three cups of hot chocolate. By the way you need a new tin of chocolate powder."

"A new tin I just brought that one."

"I told you Jarod tried a bunch of times t' make hot chocolate." The child explained as she continuously jumped up and down.

"Jarod!" Parker yelled for the pretender.

"Yes." He said appearing from the kitchen

"How long has she been like this?" Parker said pointing to the child

"A couple of hours."

"Good then she'll crash soon."

"I don't understand what happened. I mean one minute she was fine and the next she started giggling hysterically."

"It's called a sugar rush. Alex has had so much sugar in her system that she's now extremely hyper. It should ware off in a few minuets." She informed him.

"Speaking of Alex where is she?" They found her ten minuets later asleep in Parker's room.

"She's going to be hungry when she wakes up."

"I heat her food when she awakes." Jarod said grabbing two plates from the cabinet.

"It's probably a good thing she's asleep. We have things we need to discuss."

"Such as?"

"How you plan on getting the children out." She said taking a plate from him.

"Oh. Well now that you have the children placed next to Peter it will make the plan easier. But there is still no way to get all of the children out at the same time." He informed her as the two sat down. "Wine?" He asked holding up the bottle.

"Yes please. As I was saying the children have come up with a plan. I'm not sure how it compares to yours, because I can't read a word of it."

"May I see it?" The pretender asked.

"Of course, just let me get it." Parker got up from the chair and retrieved the fourteen slips of paper from the briefcase. "I hope you can make some sense of this. If you can't we're going to have to wait for Alex to wake up."

"Even if I could read this I don't even know which part comes first. I guess were going to have to wait for Alex to get up.

"How was she?"

"Fine, she's a good kid."

"You two talkin' bout me again?" Alex asked rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she entered the dining room.

"Well, well look who's awake. Are you hungry?" Parker asked the child

"Yup." She replied climbing onto the woman's lap.

"I warm a plate up for you." Jarod said getting up from the table taking his and Parker's plate with him.

"This is really good Jarod."

"Thank you Alex." The pretender replied. "Alex I have a question for you. Can you read these?"

"Ahuh. It's written in the language me and the others created."

"Don't talk with food in your mouth Alex." Parker chided her. Alex complied. She pushed her plate away and brought the scraps of paper toward her.

"It's a plan, and escape plan." She told them. "Lets see this piece comes first, then this one, ah this one's last." She mumbled. "Okay it say's tomorrow morning at three am you can get them out. Because the group was just moved to their room, a guard post hasn't been set up yet. You can get my brothers out but not the others, 'cause there's to many. All you have to do Jarod is wait by the pipe you used to get me out. If they aren't out in twenty minuets you're to leave because that means they've been caught." She said as she skimmed the plan. "This doesn't make much sense. I don't see why they all can't get out at once. Jake is up to something. I know it." Alex thought out loud.

"Maybe he's just being cautious." Parker said.

"Maybe." Alex replied, still deep in thought.

"Either way it's getting late. Which means it's time for you to be going to be young lady."

"Come on Alex I'll help you. In fact I think I'll go to bed as well, your brothers and the others wore me out today." She said leading the child to the bathroom. While the two were gone Jarod clean off the table, and washed the dishes. He then walked over to the couch and promptly fell asleep. He like Parker was exhausted from the day's events.

Once done with her bath, Parker tucked Alex into bed.

Miss Parker, could you sing t' me again?" the child asked yawning as she did.

"Of course sweetheart." Once Alex was asleep, Parker went to her room. On her way there she draped a throw over Jarod. She stopped and admired how handsome he truly was. She bent down and kissed him on his brow and then went to her room.

Jarod woke an hour later to the sound of whimpering. At first he thought it was Alex but then realized it was Parker. Jarod entered her room to find her in the throws of a nightmare. He shook her a wake and was shocked when Parker began to cry in his arms.

"It's okay I'm here. I'm not going any where." He said comforting her. Eventually Parker's cries subsided to the occasional whimper, and then even those subsided. Believing that she was asleep Jarod made the motion to get up

"No don't go Jarod." She begged "Please stay."

"I'd do anything for you Morgan." He replied. "Anything." He held her in his arms savoring the moment. He knew that it would be a long time, maybe even another lifetime before he would be able to hold her again

Blue Cove, Delaware

Miss Parker's Home

March 2, 2003

2:28am

Jarod awoke to find he and Parker intertwined. "Parker, Parker. Wake up." Jarod whispered.

"What is it?" Parker asked groggily. "Can't it wait I'm sleeping?"

"I have to go, it's two thirty."

"What?" Parker said still in a sleep-induced haze.

"I have to go and get the boys." Jarod told her smiling at her state of comprehension.

"You woke me for that." She moaned.

"I'll be back in the morning Parker."

"What ever." She said as she pulled the covers over her head. Jarod headed for the door. "Jarod." Parker called, pulling the covers off of her head.

"Yes?"

"Be safe."

"Don't worry I will." He promised her

"Jarod." She called again

"Yes?"

"Is that turning point still available?" She said almost afraid to ask.

"For you Parker, always." Jarod replied and left the room smiling.

Blue Cove, Delaware

Outside of The Centre

March 2, 2003

2:53am

"Where is he?" Will asked, as he paced in front of his brothers.

"Does he not know that it is cold out side?" Aaron complained rubbing his hands up and down his arms for warmth.

"Someone's coming. Hide." Andros announced. Two minutes later a red jeep stopped where the boys were standing moments ago.

"Boys where are you?" Jarod hissed. Slowly the three children emerged from their hiding spots and came to Jarod.

"Hello Jarod."

"Hello William, boys."

"Jarod." Aaron and Andros replied

"So, you boys ready to get any from this place?" Jarod asked them

"Yes sir." They replied in unison.

"Climb in." Jarod gestured towards the jeep. "Make sure you three buckle up." He said getting into the car.

"So, where are we going?" Aaron asked.

"A hotel outside of Blue Cove." Jarod told him.

"So, we won't be seeing Alex any time soon?" Andros spoke.

"You three will see your sister in the morning." Jarod reassured them.'

"It is morning." Will protested.

"Besides you're going in the direction of Miss Parker's house." Aaron pointed out.

"I don't even want to know how you know that." Jarod said.

"We can stop by Miss Parker's and get Alex then we could go to the hotel." Suggested Andros

"Please." Will begged "We need to see our sister."

Jarod sighed. "Okay." He said giving into the boy's begging.

Blue Cove, Delaware

Miss Parker's Home

March 2, 2003

3:31am

"Sush. She'll hear us." Aaron hissed.

"Big brother you four are making enough noise to raise the dead." Alex said as she turned on the lights to reveal her and Parker .

"Alex!" The boys yelled running over to their sister, enveloping her in a hug.

"Okay, breathing is becoming an issue." Alex said gasping for air.

"Sorry." They apologized

"Boy's I have some clothes for you in the Jeep. I'll be back in a minute." Jarod spoke.

"I don't think that they're listing Jarod." Parker told him. "Why don't you get their clothes and I get them something to eat." She suggested

"Okay I'll be back shortly." He said leaving the house. He returned with a duffel bag. "Will these are yours." Jarod said tossing the boy a pair of jeans, a white long sleeve shirt, and the black sweatshirt. "Aaron, And Andros these are yours." They too were given a pair of jeans, a long sleeve shirt and a sweatshirt. "Red's for you Aaron, the black is for Andros."

"Alex why don't you show your brother's where to change." Parker told the girl.

"Come on." Alex said leading her brothers to the guest bedroom.

"They've missed her." Parker commented.

"Yes they have. I have the feeling that they aren't going to allow them selves to be separated for a while."

"I have a plan on getting Peter out." Parker said suddenly.

"What is it?" Jarod asked.

"I'm going to ask Mr. Parker if I can take Peter home during the weekends. Then after a few weeks I'm going to disappear."

"Why don't you just contest for adoption? I could refer you to some great lawyers. I'll even work on your case behind the scenes." Jarod offered.

"The Centre has too many resources. And with Mr. Parker in the picture there's no way I could get custody. He's Peter's father. I'm not even sure Peter is my little brother. For all I know Raines is my father."

"He's not your father." Will spoke "And neither is Mr. Parker."

"How do you know this Will." Parker asked.

"I just do. And Peter is your brother." He told her.

"How? Do we have the same father?" She asked

"No. The same mother." Will said softly. Parker stared at the boy in shock. "It's true Miss Parker. Before your mother was killed the Centre harvested her ova. Bridgette was nothing more than an incubator. You see Mr. Parker wanted an heir. He knew that you and Lyle weren't his."

"Kid's why don't you go back to the bedroom." Jarod instructed. The four children complied.

"You lied to her William." Alex accused.

"I didn't lie to her Alexandra." Will defended himself. "I just didn't tell her everything." He sighed.

"I think that Miss Parker has had enough half lies to last her a life time." Aaron said.

"Look you three, it's not our place to tell Miss Parker who her father is. It's Sydney's." Will told them.

"But Will, Sydney doesn't even know he's Miss Parker's father." Andros protested.

"He will soon. Why do you think the others stayed back? There are things that need to be taken care of but can only be done inside the Centre. People who still need looking after." Will explained to them.

"Like who?" Alex asked.

"Pete for starters." Will told her. "Then there's Broots, Sam, Sydney, and Doctor Mackenzie. That's why Jake and the others agreed to stay back."

"What do we do now?" Aaron asked his older brother.

"Now we sleep. I doubt that we're going anywhere tonight. Not after what Miss Parker has learned. Jarod would never leave her in this much emotional turmoil." He told them. "Come on lets get some sleep." The three children climbed into the queen sized bed, and fell asleep a little while afterwards.

Once the children had left the room. Jarod guided Parker to the couch. She was still in shock form the information Will had just given her. Once it all sunk in she began to cry.

"They did it again, Jarod." She wept. "The went and played God again. And the worst part is Peter will have no memory of her. At least I do."

"Hush, Morgan. It will be okay." Jarod told her, pulling her in to his arms.

"No Jarod it wont. They'll never stop, and nothing we can do to stop them."

"Listen to me Morgan." Jarod gently commanded, lifting her chin so that she looked him in eyes. "We will get Peter out. And one day we will stop them. Don't realize that they're afraid of us. Why do you think that worked so hard at keeping us apart. They know that together were unbeatable. Remember on the Island. They knew that we would find the scrolls, Morgan. Now you need to have the same faith in your self that they do. The same faith I have in you." He said. Then unable to stop himself he bent down and kissed her.

At that same moment Will muttered in his sleep "finally."

Parker looked at Jarod in shock. Jarod worried that Parker would cause him bodily harm for kissing her began to apologize.

"Don't" she told him placing a finger to his lips. "Thank you Jarod for having faith in me when I didn't." She said and then kissed him. The kiss started out much like their first kiss, one of innocence. It then deepened into a kiss of promise and hope. They broke apart for air. Jarod then scooped her up and carried her into her room. That night the two had now regrets. Nor were their any regrets when the two woke up that morning in each other's arms a little after six am to the sound of the phone.

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