All characters that are from the TWILIGHT saga by Stephanie Meyer belong to Stephanie Meyer. All others belong to me. I do not receive profit for these stories except for the joyous enjoyment of reviews.

This story follows right after When I'm Gone: Third Installment to GONE Saga, so if you haven't read that one or the two before, please do.

The timeline of the story will coincide with Gabriel Michael Laskaris' growing up years, starting at Seth and Rosa's wedding day, April 12th and will progress from there.

AN: Chapter for this weekend! Hope y'all enjoy it! It's not as long as the usual or shorter than the unusual...somewhere in between.

Gaby -your my muse's best friend. Thank you

Ses -I still miss you

Chelsea, Lette -thank you girls. all you other readers -please don't be shy, leave a review please.

As always, read and enjoy and please, for my sake, review!

Chapter Twenty-Two

New York City
First Week of August

Strumming the same five notes over and over again, she kept her eyes on a spot on the black rubber floor as the first of the band packed up their instruments.

Most of them called out a farewell, none expecting a response, all of them too familiar with the occasional funks she sometimes slipped into.

Not looking up, her fingers still moving over the steel strings of her guitar, she knew she wasn't alone –Adam's concern was starting to irritate her.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine," she murmured as she switched from a "G" to an "A minor" to a "C" then an "F sharp" before ending with a "D" and starting all over again.

"Are you sure?"

Her jaw tightened as she slid her fingers down the neck of the guitar, playing the same five notes at a higher frequency, "Yes, I'm sure."

"You've been down lately."

Something inside her snapped as she growled under her breath, never looking up from the spot on the floor, "I've taken my Prozac –I'm calm, I'm relaxed, so fuck off."

Her words echoed in the silence, her face flushing as she realized what she had said.

"Wow," Adam was staring at her in surprise as she finally looked up, regret shining in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Adam," Julie lifted her guitar off her lap, the strap sliding down her arm as she set it between her legs, "You're just trying to be a friend and I'm being a total bitch."

Adam lifted a shoulder as he gave her a teasing smile, "No big deal…it was kind of hot."

Julie frowned as she moved to step down from the stool she was sitting on, Adams' hand on her arm stopping her, "I'm just kidding. I…you need a friend, Julie. Someone to talk too. Let me take you out for coffee."

Julie shook her head, the thick braid her hair was in sliding over her shoulder, "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Oh, come on. You just bit my head off –make it up to me with a cup of coffee."

Julie shook her head again, moving off the stool to place her guitar in its case, "Adam –"

"As friends, Julie. Friends have coffee all the time. Maybe chat a little. What will it hurt?"

Staring at the purple felt that lined the inside of her guitar case, she wondered if what Adam had said was a good idea."

She did need a friend to talk too after all…maybe an impartial person could give her advice about what to do with the mess that was her life.

"Alright…I could use someone to talk too."

"And caffeine will put you in a better mood."


Ilbilbie, Australia

Tossing an almond into the air, he easily caught it in his mouth, biting down on the nut as he crossed his ankles, his heels resting on the railing several feet from the rocking chair he was sitting in.

He had left New York City a couple of days after the incident with July, needing time and space to think through what he wanted to do.

Tossing another almond in the air, he caught it, munching on it as he looked out to the spreading hills stretching out from the front porch of the six room ranch, the sky a hot blue that seemed to blend into the green of the earth.

It had taken him some days to see how misplaced his anger was –he shouldn't be angry at July for wanting to protect her heart.

The one he should be angry at was Seth –hell, if it weren't for Rose, he would have already headed to La Push to beat the crap out of his cousin.

If only to get rid of this anger riding him.

Tossing another almond, he rocked forward slightly before straightening his knees to rock back, staying that way as a far off plume of dust caught his attention, letting him know someone was on the road leading into the thousand acre ranch.

Just what he needed –visitors nosing around.

Staying where he was, he methodically tossed almond after almond up into the air, catching each one as he kept his eyes on the growing dust cloud, able to make out a bright blue car, the sun glinting off a windshield.

Reaching up to tug the brim of his worn out cowboy hat down, he watched as the car stopped several feet from the porch, the glare off the windshield making it impossible to see who it was but he still didn't move.

No point in being hospitable when guests were the last thing he wanted.

Tossing another almond into the air, he crunched down on it as soon as it landed in his mouth, watching as the driver's door opened, his eyes narrowing as a tall willowy blond stepped out.

She looked like a runway model, with her hair perfectly styled, expensive designer sunglasses covering eyes he knew to be the exact shade of grass in spring time.

The blue summer dress she wore hugged all the right places, the skirt fluttering a few inches above her knees.

Placing an almond between his teeth, he bit down as she closed the door, adjusting a Chanel purse over her shoulder, rolled papers in one hand as she made her way towards the porch, the Manolos she wore completely out of place in the rugged outback surroundings.

He knew every single brand she wore –he was, after all, paying for it all.

"Didn't expect to find you here," she stepped up into the porch, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head, fingernails manicured and perfectly shaped.

"What are you doing here, Camille," Lian asked without looking at her, tossing another almond up into the air –it was a habit he knew annoyed her and it gave him great pleasure doing it.

"Just checking up on my investments," Camille's voice was slightly accented, something he was sure she had picked up from living in that little Italian villa outside of Rome she'd bought with his money.

"Your investments," Lian let out a chuckle as he tossed another nut, easily catching it in his mouth as he dug another almond from the tin can in his hand, "Is Italy not enough?"

"Darling, you know well enough more is better," Camille leaned against the porch railing, crossing her ankles, "Wasn't that your motto when we were married?"

Lian didn't reply, keeping his eyes on the horizon as he tossed another almond into the air, watching as a couple of the horses he had bought last year make their way across the expansive field towards the fence.

"I must say, you've had me worried for a while there," Camille held the rolled paper in both hands as she tilted her head to the side, the styled curls tumbling down her shoulder, "I thought perhaps you've finally found someone to take a risk with again."

"I have," Lian re-crossed his ankles as he picked out an almond, tossing it into the air, not seeing it necessary to give an explanation.

"Perhaps you have," Camille gave him a smile as she straightened up, holding out the rolled paper, "Although I don't think she's interested."

Lian didn't take the paper, keeping his attention on his almonds as Camille tossed the paper onto his lap.

It slid off the jeans he wore, the rolled up paper landing on the wooden porch, uncurling enough for him to see the front cover.

Without saying anything else, his ex-wife walked down the porch steps towards her car, giving him a jaunty wave before getting in.

He kept his eyes on the vehicle as it made a U-turn to go back the way it had come, the tires kicking up dust.

Not moving until the dust settled and the car was no longer in sight, he placed the tin can of almonds on the upside down barrel beside the chair, dropping his feet to the porch floor as he leaned over to pick up the tabloid.

The muscle in his jaw ticked as he read the big letters across the paper –JULY STAR HAS MOVED ON.

Studying the picture under the words, he could feel the anger welling up inside him.

The table between them was obviously one of those coffee shop tables, so small that it was impossible to keep from touching, Adam's hand covering Julie's as she picked up a coffee cup with the other.

That touchy feely son of a bitch actually thought he could move in on his girl!

And that was the crux of the matter –no matter what, and despite July's fear of getting hurt, she was his and there was no way he was going to let her slip away.

Tossing the paper onto the front porch, he stood up, leaving a booted footprint right over Adam's face as he made his way into the house, phone in hand as he called his travel agent.

Three rings and an answer later, Lian made plans to return to New York City on the next available flight.


First Day of School in mid-August

Rick made sure to close the back door softly, not wanting to wake his Leah or their kids.

Moving towards the kitchen sink, he filled up a glass with water, rolling his shoulders back as he took a sip.

He had gotten plenty of sleep last night which was good what with the new school year starting up although he'd been back to work since the week before, preparing lesson plans as well as scheduling upcoming track meets.

Rinsing the glass, he placed it on the dish rack before moving into the hall, his eyebrows lowering when he saw the light coming from his daughter's room.

Stopping by the opened doorway, he silently watched as Emerie, still wearing her yellow ladybug printed footie pajamas, meticulously took out the things Leah had packed into a child sized backpack the day before.

A smile tugged at his lips as she placed a new box of crayons on top of a notebook –it had not on the list of supplies given by the kindergarten teacher but she had insisted on it –nodding to herself before pulling out an Elmer's bottle of glue.

Another nod followed the ruler and the still packaged child scissors, the tousled curls of fine dark hair flopping around her ears with every nod she gave.

He couldn't hold back the chuckle, smiling when she spun around to look at him, "What are you doing up, glikia mou?"

"Making sure I have everything for school today."

"Your mom put everything that was on the list in your backpack," he moved across the room, the butterfly printed rug soft under his bare feet, "And you should be sleeping."

"But I'm going to school today," Emmie looked up at him, big blue eyes bright and alert as she pulled out a package of pencils.

"I know you are, meli mou," he took the pencils from her before picking her up and into his lap, "But it doesn't start for another three hours and you need to get some sleep or you'll get tired before nap time."

"There's nap time at school," Emmie looked up at him with obvious dismay –she didn't like nap time, always put up a fuss until she fell asleep.

"For the little ones like you, yes," Rick cupped her small face in his hand, "Your brain is still growing and learning lots of things so it needs to rest more."

"Oh," Emmie curled her toes against his thigh, a finger in her mouth as she thought it over, "Does nap time make you smarter?"

Rick smiled as he smoothed her hair off her forehead, "It helps."

He could tell Emmie didn't like his answer but she crawled into her bed, watching as he returned her school supplies to her backpack, the big blue and purple butterfly on the front making her happy.

"Daddy."

"Yes Emmie," he zipped the bag close, placing it on the floor against the bookcase beside her bed.

"Can you make chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?"

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her forehead, holding the comforter as she got under it, "Sure."

Tucking the flower printed blanket around her small body, he kissed her cheek before standing up and moving to the door, finally seeing how his little girl had reached the light switch, "Emerie."

"Yes Daddy."

He pointed at the plastic case that usually held her stuffed animals (those were all piled on her rocking chair) –it was turned upside down and pushed up against the wall, "I don't want you climbing this. You could get hurt."

"Okay Daddy," she hugged Mou-bear, her rosebud mouth spreading into a smile when he smiled at her, "S 'agapó̱, bampá." *I love you, Daddy*

"S 'agapó̱ pára polý mo̱ró." *I love you too baby*


He checked his watch, seeing he still had ten minutes of waiting.

Leah had told him the kindergarten class let out at two thirty but he had wanted to make sure not to run late.

Besides, he wasn't the only one in the parking lot. There were two other people leaning against their cars –mothers more than likely.

Crossing his ankles, he slipped his fingers into the pockets of his jeans, looking around the school yard, one of the elementary classes in the playground –probably their recess time.

Looking at his watch again, he decided it was okay to head into the building, opening the door leading into the school's office as soon as he walked into the school.

Standing at the front desk, he waited a minute before clearing his throat, somewhat amused when the secretary –a young girl in her mid-twenties –looked up, her mouth falling open for a few seconds before she blushed, reaching up to touch her hair, copper red curls piled at the top of her head and held in place with what looked like two pencils and a BIC pen, "Can I help you?"

"Yes," Embry pulled out his wallet to remove the ID from its slot, "I was told to come in here to have my ID copied. I'm on the list of people authorized to pick up Emerie Laskaris from school."

"Oh," she stared at him for a few more seconds, nodding as a blush stole across her face again, "Yes, of course. Uhm…"

She stood up, moving towards one of the file cabinets containing student records, blushing bright red when she tripped on her own two feet.

Embry looked down at the desk, biting back a smile, not wanting to embarrass her further.

Finding the file on Emerie Rachel Laskaris in the second to last drawer, she straightened up to move towards the counter, hitting her knee against the still opened drawer, "Ouch!"

Embry couldn't ignore that, the whack to her knee had been very loud, "You okay?"

"Yes," she nodded, unable to look at him as she limped towards the counter, opening the file folder to pull out the list Mrs. Laskaris had given them when she had registered her young daughter into kindergarten, "Can I borrow your ID?"

He gave her the ID, watching as she studied it before taking a pencil from her up-do to write something next to his name on the list.

Still unable to look at him, she limped towards the copier, reaching up to tuck a curl behind her ear –it had sprung free as soon as she had removed the pencil.

A couple of minutes passed by before she returned with his ID, placing the copy behind the list as she finally looked up to give him a shy smile.

"Whenever you come to pick her up, stop here first. We'll give you a pass to give to her teacher."

"Thanks," Embry slipped the ID into its slot, returning the wallet to the back pocket of his jeans as he watched her watch him.

A couple of minutes passed before he gave her a smile, "Can I have the pass?"

"Oh," she exclaimed as her face turned red again, opening a drawer and pulling out a half sheet of pink paper, taking the pen from her hair to fill it out, more curls tumbling down to her shoulders, "Here you go."

"Thank you," he took the offered pass, folding it as he turned towards the door, looking over his shoulder when he opened in, "Ice your knee if you don't want it to swell."

She blushed, giving him a nod as he stepped out of the office, the door shutting behind him.

Dear God! Cutest guy she'd ever seen and she had been a total spaz!

No wonder she was still single.

Embry headed down the hallway, opening the piece of paper the secretary had given him to read the teacher's name and room number.

Good thing Forks Elementary was small –there was no way to get lost in this building.

Knocking on the door, he opened it when the teacher called out, grinning as soon as he saw his Princess, her hair gathered in a ponytail, a large white bow at the top.

She was coloring a piece of paper as she swung her feet, the shoelaces of one of the pink and white sneakers undone.

"May I help you," the kindergarten teacher, a Mrs. Birden, stood up from her desk as Emmie's head whipped around, her round little face brightening as she wiggled out of her chair to run to him, "Mou!"

"Hey Princess," Embry lifted her up high, laughing as she reached down to pat his cheeks.

"Are you my surprise?"

Embry laughed as he settled her on his arm, making sure the pink skirt jumper she wore with a white collared blouse was pulled down, the ruffled edge an inch below her knees, "Surprise?"

"Mama said I was getting a surprise when school was over," she kept her hands on his face, giggling when he gave her a kiss on the nose.

"I'm half of the surprise," he said, giving the pink pass to the teacher, never once looking away from the bright blue eyes smiling at him.

"What's the other half," she leaned forward to touch her nose to his, giggling when he crossed his eyes.

"Ice cream."

Emmie let out a gasp, "At the ice cream place?"

"Yep," Embry laughed at her squeal, leaning down to place her on the floor, "Go get your stuff."

"But I haven't shown you my school yet," Emmie took two of his fingers in her small hand, pulling him towards the table she had been sitting at, "This is my place. See? It has my name."

"I see," Embry grinned as she tapped a little finger against her name taped to the desk.

"And over here is my cubby," she pulled him across the room to point at a long cubby, a coat hook on each side with Emmie's name taped at the top, "I can put my jacket and um-rella and boots in here."

"I see you hung your backpack on the back hook," he pointed at the pink bag with a large blue and purple butterfly covered with glitter in the front.

"Yep," Emmie pulled him back towards her table to point at the chair across from hers, "And my new friend sits here. See? It says Amy."

"I see that," Embry smiled down at her as she looked up at him, her own smile big and beautiful as she towed him around the table towards a couple of bookcases and some colorful bean bags on a geometric bright colored rug, "This is the reading corner. Sit here."

Embry sat down on the bean bag she pulled him too, chuckling as she skipped to one of the bookcases, coming back with a picture book in both hands, "Teacher read this to us. I'm gonna read it to you."

"Princess," Embry let her climb into his lap, smiling as she opened the book over her knees, "Your teacher might need to go home."

"Oh, don't mind me," Mrs. Birden looked up from her desk where she had been returned to continue working on lesson plans; "I still have to wait for Geordie's mom."

Embry looked towards a little boy sitting at a table nearest the teacher's desk, a mop of blond hair the only thing visible since the kid had his face buried in his arms.

"Mou," Emmie reached up to pat his jaw, "I'm gonna read you the book."

He turned his attention back to her, a smile spreading across his face as she pointed at the picture of a green caterpillar.

Embry's smile kept growing as she told him the story –as much as she could remember from story time with Mrs. Birden -adding a couple of details of her own. When she got to the last glossy page, she closed the book and looked up at him, "We can get ice cream now."

"Alright then," Embry urged her off his lap, getting up from the bean bag without difficulty, "Put the book back and go get your things."

Embry watched as she did what she was told before skipping to her table, carefully placing her crayons into the box one at a time before running to her cubby to get her backpack, struggling with the zipper.

"Want help, Princess?"

"No," Emmie shook her head, looking up at him with a serious look in her blue eyes, "I can do it on my own."

Embry grinned, watching her work the zipper until she got it.

Placing the crayon box into the backpack, she zipped it up before picking up the picture she had been coloring, "I did this for you, Mou."

"Wow," Embry took the sheet of paper from her, an admiring smile on his face as he studied the swirls and scribbles of multiple colors, "This is really good, Princess."

"It's a flower garden," Emmie handed him her backpack, running back to her assigned cubby to take her pink sweater from the hook.

"A very pretty one too," Embry moved towards the door, Emmie handing him her sweater before lifting her arms up for him to pick her up.

Sliding the straps of the backpack onto his left arm and holding the sweater in his right hand, he picked her up, her small arms wrapping around his neck, "Can I have nuts in my ice cream?"

"Of course."

"And strawberries?"

"Yes."

Emmie tightened her arms around his neck as he walked out of the school building towards his car, "And whip cream?"

"Sure," Embry chuckled, pulling the keys out of the pocket of his jeans when he reached the Rabbit, unlocking the door and leaning down to place her into the car seat he kept in the backseat, "Anything you want to put in your ice cream, you can get."

Emmie gave him a bright smile, reaching up to touch his cheek, "I won't tell Daddy."

Embry laughed as he leaned over to kiss her forehead, placing the backpack and sweater on the seat next to Emmie, "You're the best, Princess."

He drove them out of the school's parking lot, listening to her chatter away about her first day at school, nodding and laughing, enjoying her giggles and the expressive way she talked with her hands.

Reaching the reservation –and the ice cream place –in less than thirty minutes, he parked the car, helping her out of her car seat and putting her sweater on her before taking her out of the car.

"I need my backpack," Emmie told him, keeping an arm around his neck as he leaned down to take it from the seat, "I have homework."

Embry's eyebrows lowered as he closed the door and headed towards the small ice cream parlor, "You get homework in kindergarten?"

"Uh-hu," Emmie nodded as he opened the door, her eyes wide as she studied the ice cream counter, "I have to do my name ten times."

"Good thing we've worked on learning that," Embry stood in the short line to the counter where they would order, "So it won't take long to get that done."

"I also have to do my letters," Emmie wrinkled her nose as the girl behind the counter looked at Embry.

"Well, you sing the Alphabet song real well; it'll make it easier to complete that."

"And my vowels, too," Emmie swung her foot, watching the untied laces flutter with the movement.

"There's only five of them –"

"And my numbers," Emmie wrapped both arms around his neck as they finally got up to the counter.

"How many numbers?"

"The ones I know," Emmie kept her eyes on the girl while Embry kept his on her, "And five more."

"How many do you know," Embry set the backpack on the counter.

"One to fifteen," Emmie wrapped her legs around his waist, "I know more in Greek."

"Man," Embry shook his head before turning to look at the girl behind the counter, "Kindergarten's tough."

The girl laughed, her dark skin flushing slightly, "Sounds like it."

Embry turned his head as much as he could what with Emmie's tight grip on his neck, "I think we need some ice cream before we get started on all that tough homework, right?"

"Uh-hu," Emmie nodded, resting her forehead against his jaw, her big blue eyes on the girl, "I want chocolate ice cream."

"With strawberries, nuts and whip cream?"

She shook her head, the ribbon on her ponytail tickling his ear, "No, just chocolate ice cream."

Embry laughed, giving the ice cream girl a smile, "Two chocolate ice creams, please."

"Graham cones or bowls," she smiled back at him, her eyebrows flying up when Emmie reached to turn his head towards her so he would be looking at her, the little girl answering for both of them, "Cones."

A few minutes later, they had their ice cream cones and were sitting at a table outside the parlor, Emmie's backpack on the table, her crayons out along with a notepad of wide ruled paper.

Several minutes into helping her write out her first name, the black crayon clasped in her tiny fist, Emmie looked up at him with serious blue eyes, "Mou?"

"Yes Princess."

"Did you think she was pretty?"

Embry smiled as he leaned down to press a kiss on her forehead, "Not as pretty as you."