THANKS FOR THE WONDERFUL REVIEWS.
CHAPTER 28
FAMILY DINNER
March 10, 2003
Russell Family Home
Charlottesville Virginia
7:12pm
The triplets found their mother crying in their father's arms. "They killed our baby Jarod and we never even got the chance to meet her!" Morgan cried.
"I wish that there was something I could say or do to take your pain away Morgan." Jarod murmured into her ear.
"We don't even know what she looked like. And what about Will. They killed a part of him that day as well." She said her tears subsiding.
"Don't be sad momma." Alex said, she and her brothers climbing onto Morgan's bed.
"We know what Alley looked like." Aaron spoke.
"Will gave us a picture of her." Andros said as he pulled a picture from his back pocket and gave it to his mother.
"He even told us about her." Alex told her mother.
"And don't worry 'bout Will." Aaron said.
"He's okay just look out side." Morgan complied with Andros's wishes and got up form the bed. She looked out of her window to see Will and Chris chasing each other both boys smiling and laughing.
"He's going to be fine." Jarod said wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his shin on top of her head. "He's strong just like us Morgan." He whispered.
"Grandpa Charles told us t' tell you an' daddy that dinner is ready." Alex spoke she and her brothers getting up from the bed.
"We'll meet you downstairs kay." Aaron said as the three walked towards the door.
"That's fine sweetie. Tell your grandpa, your father and I will be down in a minuet." Morgan said still looking out the window.
"Yes ma'am." They called over their shoulder.
"Are you alright?" Jarod asked once the children had left.
"Yeah." She sighed. "I'm going to change and wash up I can't go downstairs looking like this." She said reluctantly leaving his embrace.
"Like what? Your beautiful." Jarod said and kissed her.
"You're just biased." She said playfully shoving him away.
Jarod captured her in his arms again and whispered into her ear. "You say that as if it were a bad thing." Morgan wiggled out of his arms.
"Go downstairs and attend to you children. With you up here I'll never get dressed."
"I don't see a problem with that. In fact then we both could stay up here." Morgan flung a pillow at him. "You know your setting a bad example for our children." Jarod teased and then quickly left the room to avoid any more pillows Morgan might have felt like throwing. Morgan laughed at Jarod antics. And then went to change her clothes.
She came down stairs a few moments later. "Where's Will and Chris?" She asked sitting down next to Jarod. No sooner had she spoke, Chris and Will both entered the dining room Both boys were disheveled and were covered in dirt, hay and grass. On Chris's shirt were spots that look oddly enough like scorch marks. Morgan eyed the makers and then her eldest son. Will said nothing but grinned. "Go shower and change you clothes." Morgan commanded the two boys. The two ran up the stairs laughing.
"I think that's the happiest I've seen him since he got here." Charles said.
"Who Will or Chris?" Jarod asked.
"Both actually." His father replied.
"Were are Peter, and the rest of the children?" Asked Morgan.
"In the kitchen helping Ethan and Emily, brig out the food." Charles told her. A few moments later Ethan, Emily and the children emerged from the kitchen, arms laden with hot dishes. Even Peter was carrying a plate albeit a small one. They set the plates on the table and then sat down. Just as food was being passed around Will and Chris returned.
"Much better." Morgan said, as she looked the two boys over. Will sat down in between his Mother and Aaron. Chris sat in between Emily and Alex. Surprisingly the dinner was not an uncomfortable one. Much to everyone's surprise Morgan and Emily bonded over dinner. Peter had become very taken with Charles, commanding the retired Major the reenact war story after war story, much to everyone else's dismay. Charles was thrilled to have such an audience, seeing that her could rarely get his own children to listen to his stories.
"So I think that a trip to the mall is in order tomorrow. Morgan and the kids all need clothes."
"Among other things." Morgan replied. "Alex definitely needs something that's not from the boy's department." She said glancing at her daughter's attire.
"As long as you take her." Jarod said. Ethan snickered remembering the last time he went shopping for clothes with the little one.
"I have a question." Will said.
"What is it son?" Jarod asked him.
"You remember that music store next to Lowes?"
"Yes." Jarod replied.
"Well I'm not sure if you saw it but there was this guitar hanging in the window. Can I have it?" Morgan and Jarod looked at each other. "Before you say no, I promise I'll practice everyday. And there is a study out that says that music stimulates a child's mental growth I should know I did. And I promise to pay you back." Will said
"Number one Will, you don't have to pay any one back. You are our son and until your old enough to get a job your mother and I will be paying for your expenses. Number two; I seriously doubt that your I.Q. needs to be any higher than it is." Will hung his head know that his father was about to say no. "Other than that I can't see why you can't have the guitar. As long as it's okay with your mother." Will looked to his mother.
"I have no objections" Morgan replied.
"Well since Will is getting a guitar can I get a bass" Chris began.
"You have your own money Christopher. It's up to you." Charles told the boy.
"What about you three any type of musical instrument your interested in?" Ethan asked his niece and nephews.
"Guitar"
"Saxophone."
"Piano." The all said a once. The three than looked at one another confused.
"It's alright you three. Not always will the three of you share similar interest." Will said realizing what had disturbed his younger siblings.
"But we've always shared the same interest." Aaron protested.
"The only constant is change." Will replied sagely.
"Well we don't like it." Andros said.
"We like being th' same." Alex replied.
"That's because you're afraid of being different." Chris told them
"Are not!" The protested.
"Then what's the big deal. So you three like different music instruments. It still implies that you all like music. And knowing you three you'll all learn how to play what ever the other plays." Chris told them.
"I guess your right."
"That's a scary thought." Emily muttered.
"Good I'm glad that's settled." Chris said ignoring his sister's comment. "Now pass the cake."
After dinner the children went upstairs to play. Meanwhile the adults discussed the Centre, more specifically how to bring it down.
"The thing it The Centre is like a hydra. You cut off one of its heads another one grows back." Morgan explained.
"Then we have to go for the heart." Charles said.
"Easier said then done Dad." Jarod told him. "The Centre has its hands in everything, military, terrorism, pharmaceuticals... "
"What ever will profit them." Morgan finished
"By taking the children, didn't you cripple The Centre?
"Yes and no. We crippled the Blue Cove branch. But there are dozen of Centre's scattered around the world. The Blue Cove Center is just one of the more powerful branches of the Centers. But the others were not affected by what occurred.
"They're so pathetic." Will said sitting on the steps. The others children around him.
"Maybe if they just asked us they could get insight on how to bring down the Centre." Chris spoke
"They just wanna keep us sheltered form the evils of the Centre." Aaron said
"Yeah 'cept we spent practically our whole lives there." Andros protested
"We know more 'bout The Centre than they do." Alex said
"If dey asked us we could tell um 'bout Jake's plan." Peter supplied.
"We'll tell them eventually Tiger." Will told the toddler. "Right now is not the time. There are so many other things that they need to learn of first."
"Like how Sydney's Morgan's daddy?" The little boy asked.
"Yes, like that."
"And dey need t' know 'bout Aunt Julia." Peter told him
"That right they need to learn about Aunt Julia." Will echoed.
"Don't forget about the babies. Morgan and Jarod need to know about the babies." Peter said.
"I could never forget about the twins Tiger." Will told the boy. "But the babies can wait. Mom has at least two months before she begins to show.
"They're going to be boys you know." Aaron said.
"I know." Will replied.
"Looks like you won't be the baby for much longer Pete." Andros told the child.
"When are we going to tell Momma and Daddy about the twins Will?" Alex asked her brother.
"Let's just give it a few months." Will told her. "I think Mom's still trying to digest that we're hers. She and Dad don't need to know about the twins just yet."
"We'd better get back upstairs before they notice us." Chris said. The six children got up and quietly crept back up the stairs.
Ten minutes later they heard the adults come up the steps. "Hey guy's its time for bed." Emily said sticking her head into Chris's room, where the children were putting together a puzzle.
"All right Em." Chris replied. The group set off to prepare for bed. One suited the children climbed into bed
"Night." Morgan and Jarod said to each of their children as they tucked them in.
"Night." Their four children said in return. Morgan than left to go and tuck Peter in.
"Are you sure that you're okay in here by yourself?" Morgan asked the child.
"I'm fine Mor. Sides Will and da others are 'cross da hall. If I get scared I go over dere."
"All right baby. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite." Morgan said and then kissed him on the top of the head.
"Mor." Peter said as his sister walked towards the door.
"Yes baby?" She said turning around.
"Never mind."
"No sweetheart tell me." She said returning to his bed.
"You know how da others are all gettin' instruments?"
"Yes would you like one as well?"
"No I want somethin' different." He said nervously playing with his comforter.
"What would you like?" She asked him
"A mom and a dad." He whispered. "I think we can cover that." Jarod said from the doorway. Peter looked up and smiled as Jarod walked over to the bed. "I happen to know two people who wouldn't mind being your Mom and Dad."
"Who?" The boy asked.
"You're looking at them." Morgan told him. Peter looked at the adults in disbelief. A grin slowly began to cross his face.
"I have a Mom and Dad." Peter said in awe. Leapt into their arms and hugged his new parents. "Thank you." He whispered into his mother's ears.
"Your welcome baby." She replied.
Four children crept back to their room, smiling over the new addition to their increasing family.