AUTHOR'S NOTE: THANKS JACKIE FOR BEING MY BETA AND THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE REVIEWS. SORRY FOR POSTING KIND OF LATE MY INTERNET WAS DOWN. ANY WAY HERE IS...

CHAPTER 39

SIBLING RIVALRY

June 22, 2003

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

4:48pm

Reluctantly, Will released his hold on his sister. He then wiped the tears from her face.

"No more tears". He said to her. She nodded her head in agreement. Will then took her hand and lead her inside when their family stood waiting.

"Everyone...this is Alyssa." Will said to the group. Chris stepped forward.

"Hey Al," he said, hugging her. "I missed you."

"Missed you too, Gem. Or should I call you Chris now?" Alley said.

"Both sound beautiful when they come from your mouth." Chris replied.

"You always were a charmer. "She whispered into his ear. Chris let go of his niece, knowing that it was time she finally meet her mother and father.

"Mom, Dad, meet your daughter. Alley, these are our parents." Will said. Jarod and Morgan enveloped their daughter in a hug. They spent the next few moments apologizing to her.

"Momma, Daddy, you've got nothing to apologize for. You didn't know." Alley told them. For a second the roles had reversed: Alley was the parent, her parents the children. Next will introduced Alex and the boys to their sister. "This is Aaron..."

"Danny," Alex corrected her brother.

"They seem to be going through and identity crisis." Will said.

"Why" Alley asked.

"Who knows they just have issues" Will told her. Alley stifled a giggle and her brother's remark.

"As I was saying, this is Aaron-Daniel, you can call him either Aaron or Danny he'll answer to both. This is Andros, or Andy, and this is Alexandra. We just call her Alex."

"Don't forget me." Peter spoke.

"How could I, Tiger?" Will said picking up his baby brother. "This is Peter. I'm sure you know who he is."

"Yeah I do." Alley replied. Will went on to introduce the rest of the family to Alley, a task that was becoming ridiculously long. Afterwards the twins went to Will room's so that Alley could unpack her things. Jarod and Morgan wanted to follow their eldest children, but they knew the two needed some time alone. So instead they went to their room to talk, as did most of the house's residents.

The twins sat down on the bed. They stared at each other for along time just taking in the other's features. Alley then began to cry again. Will wrapped his arms around her.

"I've missed you so much." She said some time later. Her head was now resting on Will's lap.

"Missed you too." He said running his fingers through her hair. "I'm so sorry Alley."

"For what?" She asked turning to look up at him.

"Not being there. I should have looked harder. I should have known you were alive."

"Don't beat yourself up big brother. You couldn't have known. I cut myself off from you so that you couldn't sense me."

"Why?" He asked her.

"I knew Lyle would kill you if you found out about me."

"So you knew I was alive?"

"Yeah, but not at first. They tried to reeducate me to make me believe that you were the one who died."

"Only it didn't work." Will said finishing her sentence

"It did for about a year."

"That long. Usually after a week or so it stops working."

"You ever figure out why they can't reeducate us?" Alley asked sitting up facing her brother.

"My best guess were to stubborn. Or maybe our inner sense protects us."

"Alley, how did you find out the truth?"

"I saw you. You were walking down the corridor on SL15 with Sam. I was hiding in the vent."

"Alyssa, why did it take seeing me to cancel out your reeducation?" Will asked realizing that his sister was keeping something from him.

"I don't know maybe they improved the technique just for us."

"Alyssa, what happened?"

"Nothing Will and stop calling me that." She snapped.

"You aren't telling me something what did they do to you?"

"Will."

"Alley don't lie to me now, not after everything we've been through. Please don't lie to me."

"They took something from me. Messed with my head. Will, my inner sense is gone. I haven't heard anything since the day you know..." She trailed off.

"Yeah I know." Will replied, then curiously asked, "Alley how did they fake your death?"

"A drug...two actually. One to make me sick, the other t' fake my death. Why do you ask?"

"I think the combination of the drugs might have screwed with your abilities. You still a pyro?"

Alley formed a ball of fire in her hand. "Does this answer your question? I picked up a new trick too."

"What?" Will asked and Alley floated her bag onto the bed. "One for another I guess."

"I'd rather have my inner sense back.. I miss it." Alley admited

"We'll see what we can do. In the mean time..."

"Let's not tell Momma and Daddy." She finished for him.

"Yeah. They have a lot on their plate right now."

"Works for me." Ale replied.

"Speaking of our parents we'd better go and see them. They're probably freaking out about now." The two got up from the bed and walked to their parent's room

Will knocked on the door. "Mom Dad it's us."

Jarod opened the door and smiled at his two eldest children. The twins followed their father inside. They climbed onto the bed where their other was sitting. The four talked for what was close to an hour. They discussed many things. Most of which they talked of was Will and Alley's past. Alley was given the middle name "Winifred". Alley told her parents of her escape. They were slightly upset that Sydney didn't tell them about their daughter. After talking the four of them went down stairs to where the rest of the family was.

"So Alyssa..." Charles began

"Alley is just fine Grandpa." Alley told him.

"Alright then. So, Alley, what would you like for dinner?" Charles asked her.

"Well I've become very fond of Italian."

"Say no more. I, with the help of a select few, shall whip up a wonderful Italian dinner," Charles told her.

"Can I help?" Alley asked.

"Of course, Sweet Pea."

Alex watched her sister and Grandfather interact. As she did a feeling stole over her that she didn't quite understand.

The family ate outside that night. Alley and Will sat in between their parents. The Black Files ate dinner a few feet way from the rest of the family.

"So I finally have a real daughter," Morgan laughed. "You and I can go shopping for new clothes tomorrow," she told Alley.

"That'd be great, Momma," Alley replied.

"We also need to get a room for you, Sweetheart," Jarod said. "Unless, of course, you and Will want to share a room."

"I don't mind sharing a room with Will. In fact, I'd prefer it."

Jake watched Alex out of the corner of his eye. He could feel the jealously radiate off of her.

"Tomorrow morning you and I will go riding first thing." Will said to his twin. With that Alex got up from her spot under the willow tree and stormed off into the house. No one other than the Black Files noticed her anger.

"Should we go after her?" Greg asked.

"No, let's give her time to calm down some." Jake told him. "Alex has her mother's temper. Right now she's pissed and I don't feel like having her take it out on us."

Upstairs Alex was seething. She didn't understand why she was angry she just knew she was. She paced back and forth. Suddenly she swung her arm, her fist coming in contact with the wall. She didn't have time to register the pain for her hand had become covered in flames. Panicking she telepathically called out for her Aaron, Andros and the other Black Files. The group came flying up the stairs to her side. They found her waving her arm wildly.

"Make it stop. Oh God please make it stop." She begged them

"Alex, Alex listen to me," Jeremiah began "You must control your emotions. Stop panicking. Just calm down." He started slowly walking towards her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes.

"Calm down, Alex. That's the only way it will stop." Jeremiah repeated the manta over and over until the flames dissipated.

"We gotta tell Momma and Dad," Danny said

"No!" Alex yelled and her eyes momentarily flashed red.

"Alex, you must control your emotions." Jeremiah chastised her.

"Lex, why don't you want t' tell Momma and Dad?" Andros asked.

"Because they just found out about Alley they don't need t' know 'bout this too. Not right now anyway."

"Some how I doubt that is the reason why Alex." Mike said

"You're angry with your parents and Will." Maddie replied

"You think that your place in this family is being threatened." Melissa told Alex

"I do not!" Alex protested.

"Yeah, Mouse, you do," Marc spoke.

"We've been watching you all night, Alex," Cassie told her.

"And we've not only seen the jealously radiate off of you..." Tobias began.

"We've felt it." Terra finished.

"Alex, for the past few months you've been your parent's only daughter," Rachael told her.

"Now you think Alley is gonna replace you," Jake said.

"You gotta understand, Mouse, Momma and Dad love us equally." Danny told his sister.

"So come on let's go outside before anyone realizes something's up." Andros said.

No one noticed the children's sudden disappearance. No one that is except for Peter. Peter got up from his spot at the table and walked over to his sister after she and the others emerged from the house. He held is arms out to her as a sign that he wished to be picked up. Alex complied with his unspoken wish.

"Love you, Alex." He whispered in her ear.

"I love you too, Tiger."

"Don't be sad, kay. You still my big sister."

"Thanks, Tiger, I need that." Alex replied kissing her baby brother on the cheek.

"M'sleepy." Peter yawned.

"I think we all are, Tiger." Danny said. "Let's go to bed."

The fifteen children went to bed, taking Adam with them. Danny and Jake tucked their younger brothers in bed. By the time the rest of the family entered the house the sixteen children were fast asleep.

June 23, 2003

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

7:21am

The next morning Jake had taken his group to the lake to eat their breakfast. He was making sure Alex stayed as far away from Will and Alley as possible. Jake wanted to make sure Alex had a chance to cool down before she came in contact with Will and Alley.

Just as the group was about to jump into the lake Will, Alley, Chris, and Debbie approached. Jake took one look at Alex's frowning face and knew that the outcome would be bad.

"Hey guys.' Alley replied cheerfully. Alex cringed at the sound of her voice.

"Hi," The children replied.

"What are you all doing?" Alley asked.

"Obviously going for a swim," Alex replied.

"Oh shit," Greg whispered.

"Mind if we join you?" Said Alley.

"Yes, actually," Alex snapped.

"Alexandra!" Will said.

"Shut up, Will," Alex told him

"Oh this is going to be so bad," Marc said and slowly began to back away from Alex and her siblings.

"What's gotten into you?" Will asked Alex. She just ignored him.

"He asked you a question," Alley said.

"I heard him. I'm not an idiot. But maybe you are since you can't seem to realize I'm ignoring him." Alex spat.

"What's wrong with you, Alex?" Alley asked her sister.

"What's wrong with me! What wrong with me! You're what's wrong with me. Everything was perfect until you came!"

"Christ Alex it's only been one day." Will said

"Shut up Will I'm talking here." Alex yelled at her brother. "See Alley, I understand that you haven't seen Will in a long time. I understand that you missed him. I understand the whole wanting to meet your parents thing. I mean, hey, look at who you're talking too here. But you took them from me...all of them. You took my spot! Before you came I was Momma and Daddy's little girl. I was Will's baby sister. But you came here and ruined it all! Every since you came here you're all they talk about! You're all they see. Momma and Daddy haven't said a word to me since you came. Will hasn't spoken to me. No one tucked me in last night. No one. And it's all your fault. They're the only one's who even remember me." She yelled pointing at Andros and the other Black Files. "You've replaced me. I wish you never came back. I wish you were still dead!" Alex spat. Will made a motion to touch her.

"Don't come near me. Don't pretend that you care now. I want nothing to do with you." Alex said in a low voice in such a way that it startled Will. Alex then ran off into the woods. Danny and Andros ran after her.

"Alex wait!" Aaron yelled.

"Alex come back!" Andros called after her. They found her a few moments later sitting under a tree. Her knees were drawn up to her chin, she was no longer crying.

"Hey, Alex." Danny said sitting next to her.

"I think Will realized what an ass he was being." Andros said trying to get his sister to smile. It didn't work. The boys pulled their sister into a hug and finally Alex confessed her fear.

"With Alley here Momma and Daddy don't need me. They finally got the daughter they wanted. I don't want to go back. I'd rather die than go back there."

"Oh God, Alex is that what you think. That Momma and Daddy will send you back to the Centre." Danny said horrified that his sister had led herself to believe such a thing.

"Alex, so Momma and Daddy didn't spent a lot of time with us yesterday. They were happy t' see Alley. That doesn't mean that they don't love us. They would die before they ever let the Centre have us. Deep down you know that." Danny told his sister.

"I just don't wanna go back." Alex whispered.

"Dear child, if wishes were horses then beggars would ride." Came a voice from behind.

Aaron, Andros, and Alex were to frightened to even scream

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