Chapter 12

Discovery

Miley and Lily sat in Miley's front room. Both of them were noticably pregnant. It was a few weeks before Christmas. "So, what are the family plans for Christmas," asked Lily?

"I think that we will be having it at my old house. It has been kind of the tradition."

"Yeah it makes since. Just think next year we'll have three new people in the family."

"Yeah, but don't remind me."

"So what are you thinking for names, Lil?"

"Well, we found out yesterday, we are having a girl." Seeing the look on Miley's eyes. "Sorry, Miley, but we aren't having twins. Chris and I talked and we thought maybe Katelyn Marie."
"That's a pretty name."

"Yeah, have you and Oliver thought of names for your girls?"

"Yes, we've made our final decisions, but we won't tell you until they are born."
"Please tell me."

"Sorry, Lily. Not this time. I told Oliver that I would keep it a secret."

Seeing that she was defeated, Lily said, "So what do you want to do know?"

"How about you look for your twin," said a voice in the darkness.

"What do you want Tim," replied Miley?

"I just thought that I might drop by."

"Anything else?"

"Cannot an old friend stop by for a visit."

"Fine, but make it quick."

"Well, I just came by to give my report to Lily."

"How did you know I was over here?"

"Your husband told me."
"So what news do you have for me about my sister?"

"She lives somewhere in California. We haven't found the city yet, but we are very close."
"Wait a second. You asked this guy to help you, Lily?"

"Why not? He is very useful, and he knows a lot about finding people. Come on, he does it for a living."
"Okay. Is there anything else, Tim."

"Nope. See you at Christmas." Miley looks down at the table. There are two hotel type key cards on the table. Miley turned to where Tim stood, "Hey Tim..." He had disappeared. "That is really starting to annoy me."

"I wonder why he left these cards." She takes a closer look. "Look, Miley. They say, Stewart's house and Oken's house. I wonder what they are for?"

"I wonder, follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Lily followed Miley to the elevator. They both got in.

"Alright already, what are we doing here?"
"Look," said Miley pointing toward the panel of buttons. "A card slot."

"Here, let's try my card," said Lily. She handed it to Miley. Miley inserted the card, but nothing happened. "Okay, let's try your card Miley." Miley puts her card in, and the elevator starts moving downward.

"It has never done this before." Finally the elevator stopped, and the doors opened into a long hallway. The two of them got out of the elevator. "I wonder if there is a light switch?" Both of them start looking, and eventually Lily finds one. She turns it on and the hallway lights up. They can see another door at the end of the hallway.

"Miley, I say let's go back."

"Aren't you a bit curious?"

"A little."
"Then let's go. A little walk won't hurt." They proceeded down the hallway. When the reached the other door, Miley opened it. They both looked inside. It was a big room. On the other side was an elevator. "Let's go try it," said Miley.

"Okay." They went to the elevator and went in. Just like Miley's, there was a key card slot. Lily inserted her's, and the elevator went up. When the elevator finally stopped, and the doors opened, Miley and Lily stepped out. "Miley, I recognize this place. It's my house. This is so cool. I wonder how the tunnel got there?"

"It was probably built by a previous owner."

"Lily, I just had a thought."

"What?"

"I just solved part of a mystery."

"Which one?"

"The mystery of how Tim and Helen got into my house without being noticed."

"Very good," said a female voice.

"Very good indeed," said a male voice. Miley and Lily turned toward the voices. Out of the darkness came Tim and Helen. "Wait a second," said Miley.

"You left the keys so we could find them."

"Yes!"
"Then it was you who built the secret tunnel."

"Yes!"

"Then that must mean."

"Yes," said Tim! "I discovered this tunnel when I was a kid."

"You used to live in this house," asked Miley?

"A long time ago. I left you the keys, knowing your curiousity, that you would come and explore."

"Is this the only tunnel?"

"Yes."
"I just had a thought," said Miley. "This tunnel is how you and Helen were able to enter and leave my house without me knowing."

"Yes," said Helen. "Tim gave me the keys so I could do it."

"Wait a second. You helped Helen kidnap Christine, Tim?"

"Slightly assisted. I didn't know she planned on kidnapping. She had told me she wanted to explore the houses."

"I am still slightly mad at you, Tim. However, thank you for sharing this information."

"You're welcome. Well, we have to go now." And with that, the two of them left.

"That was interesting," said Lily.
"Very interesting."

A few weeks later...

All the Stewarts, except for Jackson, are at the Stewart's home for Christmas. Everyone is gathered around the Christmas tree, ready to celebrate Christmas. "Okay," Robbie said. "I think that we should go youngest to oldest, as it has always been. That means, Christine, you get to open the first gift for the last time. Next year, you won't be the youngest, you'll have nieces." As Christine reached for her first present, there is a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," said Miley. She got up and opened the door. Outside was Jackson and a tall young woman with long black hair. "Jackson!"

"Hey, sis."
"Come on in, we are all getting ready to open some presents. Come on."

"Okay, let's go." The Christmas tree is in Miley's old room, because there was no room in the front room. They arrived in the room and everyone looked up. When they saw Jackson, they all got up and hugged him.

"You're just in time Jackson. Who is this young lady, Jackson?"

"Everyone, this is Rylie. She is my girlfriend from school."
"Hi," said Rylie. "I'm glad to finally meet you."

"Same here," said Haley. With that everyone sat back down and Christine opened her first present. It was a beautiful dress from her parents.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," said Haley as she kissed Christine on the forehead. Everyone opened up a gift, before it got to Robbie.

"Which gift should I open first?"

"How about this one dad," said Chris. "It's from mom."

"Okay." The package was very small. He opened it up and there was a small box inside. He opened it up, and looked inside. Inside was a pregnancy test. "Does this mean what I think it means, honey?"

"Yes, I'm pregnant again. According to the doctor, I'm due in August."

"Do you know if it is a boy or a girl," asked Miley?

"I go back in a couple of weeks to find out."

"This is the best Christmas present ever. Thanks, honey." Robbie and Haley kiss. "Sorry we don't have a gift for you Rylie. We didn't know you were coming."

"That's okay."
"I have a gift for you," said Jackson.

"You do," replied Rylie standing up? Jackson gets on one knee and pulls out a box.

"Rylie Burns, will you marry me?" Rylie nearly fainted.

"Yes, Jackson Stewart, I will marry you." The two of them kiss.

Somewhere in Malibu

Elisabeth Walters is sitting in front of a small Christmas tree. "Very soon, I will be sharing this moment with you my sibling."

A/N. Hope you enjoyed. Please R&R. Here are some questions to consider. Is there more to the tunnel than what Tim and Helen are letting on? Why has Elisabeth changed who she is talking to, while talking to herself(That is not a typing error)? What things are in store for the Stewart family? All this and more in future chapters. If you are curious about why Haley is having a baby, when the child will have nieces older than him or her. Here is why. I have a few friends who are like that. It is interesting for them.

Preview: Lily decides to go looking for her twin sister. She soon discovers that her sister is closer than she thinks.