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: Here's a new chapter! What? I updated in the middle of the week? I'm supposed to be updating in the weekends? Oh, sorry, I have a crazy work week so this is as I can do. Side note for any readers that are teachers out there -if for some reason, you like my school theme and projects that go along with it, please let me know you would like to use them before using them.

Gaby -I love you. I always enjoy your reviews of every single one of my chapters. Look forward to this next one!

Inosolan -I'm so glad you love my OCs! Look forward to receiving more reviews from you!

Chelsea, Moani, Lette, and all you other reviewers -don't be shy, review! The more you review, the more awesome the ideas become!

As always, enjoy as you read and please take the time to review...


Chapter Twenty-Seven

August

Dear Parents:

Our school's theme for the upper elementary students this year is "When I grow up, I'll be a…"

Your child will have projects due at the end of each month that will build upon our theme. Our goal is for them to learn and understand how the subjects taught in school –math, science, history and literature –will help them accomplish their goals for the future.

Please keep the following projects in mind so you may be able to help your child as needed.

Thank you and we look forward to helping you and your child reach their potential.

Projects and Due Dates:

End of August: "When I Grow Up, I'll Be A…" picture collage. Students are encouraged to use pictures from magazines, newspapers and their own creativity to complete this project.

End of September: "Interviewing a Colleague" –Students must find a person that is in the profession they desire to be. Their questions need to be a minimum of ten and a maximum of twelve. These questions must be turned in at the end of the second week of the month for approval. The interview should be in a question and answer format.

End of October: "Step Into the Future" –students need to come up with a costume that expresses what they want to be when they grow up. Costumes cannot be store bought –parents can help and any material available can be used.

There will be prizes handed out for best costumes at the school's Halloween party.

End of November: "Blast from the Past" –students need to research and put together a four page essay on the history behind their chosen profession. They can use books as well as internet search but must put together a bibliography of their research materials. A rough draft should be turned in at the end of the second week.

End of December: "Holiday Cheer" –We'll be doing a gift exchange with our students. They will be drawing names for a gift swap! Gifts should be a minimum of five dollars and a maximum of ten. Please help your child keep in mind their gift partner's choice of future profession when picking a gift for them.

End of January: "Plan the Path" –Students need to put together a plan of what is required to accomplish their career goals along with a tentative timeline. This should be done presentation style for the students to share with the class.

End of February: "Love What You Do" –A two page essay explaining their chosen career and why they want to do it.

Extra Credit: How will their chosen career affect their community and our society?

End of March: "The Working Cycle" –We'll be learning how the cycle of nature helps the advancement of nature itself.

Your child needs to put together a cycle diagram of how other professions will help him/her accomplish his/her chosen profession.

End of April: "The Mirror Effect" –The animal kingdom functions much like a society with rules, roles and goals. Your child will learn how animals have a place in the animal kingdom and a function that helps the entire kingdom work as it does.

Your child will need to make a collage of animals that reflect their chosen profession then choose the animal closest to representing their profession and put together a two page report stating the facts and functions of this animal and how they reflect the facts and functions of their chosen profession.

End of May: "Open House" –We will open our school and classrooms to our students' family and friends so they may enjoy the hard work and dedication of every child –they are the future!


Friday, End of first week of school in August

"We'll have more room in here," Vivi looked over her shoulder at Gabe as they made their way into Uncle Seth's office, a stack of magazines in Gabe's arms while Vivi maneuvered two poster boards onto the high tables alongside the wall where they could be out of the way until they were ready to use them.

"We're gonna need glue and scissors," Gabe dropped the magazines on the coffee table, some of them sliding onto the floor, "And markers too."

"I have all of those," Vivi ran out of the room, Gabe kneeling before the table to sift through the magazines they had collected from their family and friends.

Setting the ones that interested him to the side, he flipped through some of the others, looking up when Vivi came back in with a box of supplies in her hands, "I found some pictures in these magazines from Uncle Sam."

"Are they of airplanes," Vivi set the box at the edge of the coffee table, picking up an arts magazine Kim had given to them as she kneeled next to Gabe.

"Of course," Gabe reached across the table to grab the kid size scissors from the box, cutting a big circle around the picture he wanted, the edges of the glossy page jagged.

Setting it on the floor beside him, he dropped the scissors on the table before continuing with his search, "I think I'll cut out helicopters too."

"Those are flown by pilots too," Vivi flipped through her magazine, nibbling on her lip as she flipped glossy page after glossy page, things catching her attention but not meeting her needs.

"I don't know anyone who flies," Gabe cut out another picture, setting the scissors between them before flipping to the end of the magazine and tossing it aside, "How am I supposed to do an interview if I don't know any pilots?"

"Tia Rosa has a friend who has his own plane," Vivi finally found something that might work with what she had in mind, taking the scissors and carefully cutting the entire page out before setting it under the table where it wouldn't get wrinkled or torn, "You can ask her if she can call Andy so you can interview him."

"Really," Gabe gave her a big grin, the gap between his front teeth where his tooth had fallen out of making Vivi smile as a blush creeped into her cheeks, "I'll ask her before you go home."

Gabe's smile grew bigger, Vivi ducking her head as she returned to her magazine, carefully turning each page while Gabe flipped through his, the whip sound of each page turning filling the silence for a few seconds until she spoke up, "I'm going to ask Miss Trinity if I can interview her."

Gabe's eyebrows lowered as he looked over at her, "Why?"

"'Cause she's a ballerina –she even danced with the Russian Ballet!"

"So?"

"What do you mean, so," Vivi looked at him in surprise, briefly wondering what she had done wrong to make him look at her with that 'duh' look of his, "I'm going to be a ballerina when I grow up so I'm going to interview her –she's been a ballerina forever."

"You can't be a ballerina."

Vivi's rosebud mouth dropped open as her eyebrows arched in surprise. Setting the scissors aside, she sat back on her heels, "Why not?"

"'Cause you're gonna marry me when we grow up, that's why."

"So?"

"What do you mean, so," Gabe echoed her words with incredulity as he got to his feet, "You have to stay home and cook and clean and take care of our kids."

"Na-ah," Vivi scrambled up to her feet, her long hair tumbling over her shoulders as she set her small fists on her waist, "Not true. Tia Rosa's married and she works at taking pictures."

"My mama doesn't work," Gabe scowled as he pointed a finger at her, "She stays home and so will you."

"Don't point your finger at me," Vivi swatted his finger aside, her voice getting that shrill edge usually brought out by Marc, "I can do what I want and if I want to be a ballerina, I will!"

"Not if you want to marry me," Gabe tossed the ultimatum at her, the cocky look on his face letting her know he was certain of which she would pick.

Her face flushed a bright red, jaw tight as she glared at him, "Then maybe I won't marry you! Now get out!"

"You can't say that," Gabe yelled back at her, his own face flushing under the russet hue of his skin, "You already said you would marry me and you can't take it back!"

"I can do whatever I want –you don't own me," Vivi stomped out of the office, ignoring Uncle Seth's look of surprise as he came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishtowel as the darkroom's door rotated open, Tia Rosa coming out with an equally surprised look on her face, "And I don't want to see you until you change your mind!"

"Ha," Gabe stomped across the living room floor, grabbing his backpack from the armchair where he had dumped it, "You'll change your mind before I do!"

"Don't hold your breath," Vivi yelled before running up the stairs, a few seconds ticking by before her bedroom door slammed shut, the sound echoing through the house.

Gabe slammed the front door just as loud, the silence heavy before Seth looked over at Rose with wide eyes, "Whoa."

Rose bit her lip to keep from laughing as she wiped her hands, moving towards the kitchen, "Good thing they're getting that out of the way before there's actual kids involved."

"Tell me about it," Seth shook his head, tossing the kitchen towel over his shoulder, "You call Leah and I'll talk to Vivi."

Rose nodded, picking up the cordless phone in the kitchen as Seth made his way up the stairs, his chuckles quiet as he looked at her, "It shouldn't take long for her to understand."

Rose stopped mid-dial, looking over at him in confusion, "Understand what?"

"Gabe's point of view."

"Gabe's point of view," Rose lowered the phone as she gave him a look of surprise, "It's archaic, Seth. For him to think he's got the right to tell Vivi what she can and cannot do –"

"I know, he shouldn't be doing that but he does have a good point."

"A good point," Rose placed her hand on her hip, the other one resting on the counter as she cocked her head to the side, "What good point?"

"That she should stay home –especially if they have kids."

"Are you serious," Rose's mouth dropped open, the obvious disbelief showing in her hazel eyes, "You actually think a woman can't do both –work and take care of her children?"

"I just think it's better for the kids if a parent stays at home with them," Seth leaned against the balustrade as he explained, "Especially when they're younger –help them get to school, greet them when they get home, give them a hand with their homework."

"Did your mother stay at home?"

"Mom was an ER nurse," Seth's lips quirked into a smile, "Dad was a jack of all trades around the reservation so he would look after us when we were little, take us fishing after school, help us with our homework. Whenever mom had to pull night shifts at the hospital, he would tuck us in at night and get us up in the morning for school."

"So that means you're equally capable of staying home to take care of our kids," Rose pointed the phone at him as she gave him a challenging look, "It doesn't necessarily mean I have to be the one to stay at home."

"Well, yeah, but…" Seth's eyebrows lowered as he gave her a strange look, "I'm usually in my office working on designs for hours on end."

"And I'm in the darkroom just as long," Rose let out a frustrated breath, "Not only that, but most of my photo shoots are outside."

"You could take the kids with you."

"Take the kids with me," Rose's voice got a bit high with surprise, "Do you have any idea how dangerous that would be? I get so focused on what I'm doing had the twins been normal, they'd have wandered off, fallen into a hole or something. I can't take little kids with me to a photo shoot, Seth. It's not safe!"

"Well, I'm sorry if my work doesn't take the same amount of concentration yours does," Seth's words dripped with sarcasm as he pushed away from the balustrade, "We should just save ourselves the fucking trouble and not have any kids!"

Rose could feel the heat climbing up her neck, blinking fast to keep the tears at bay as she moved across the living room to yell up the stairs, "Fine by me!"

1:02AM

Seth laid on his back, staring at the ceiling as he tried relaxing his body enough to fall asleep but it wasn't working.

His wife was at the other side of the bed, her back to him as she pretended to be sleeping –he knew she was pretending because her breathing was too evenly spaced to be natural.

Keeping his hands stacked on his flat stomach, he let out a quiet breath, the frustration inside him welling up.

Running his fingers through his hair, he gripped the back of his neck, wincing in discomfort as a soft sob –nearly indiscernible were it not for his supernatural hearing –broke the silence, Rose's shoulder rising as she buried her face into her pillow.

Even though he believed himself to be in the right, he couldn't take the tension anymore.

Rolling onto his side, he reached out to touch her shoulder, his fingers stroking her soft skin as he whispered, "I'm sorry."

Moving across the space separating them onto her side of the bed, he kissed her shoulder before burying his face into the side of her neck, his arms wrapping around her small frame as he apologized again, "I'm sorry, baby."

"Did you mean it," her voice was husky, a sniff following as she gripped his forearm, her body relaxing into his, curves settling against hard planes like the last two pieces of a puzzle.

"No," Seth moved his mouth up her neck, his breath tickling her ear as he kissed her temple, "Rosie, I love you…and to have kids with you –it would be great. Everything else…we'll figure it out when it happens."

Moving in the constrained space his arms allotted, she turned until she was facing him, her arms wrapping around his middle, "I don't think your job is less important than mine, Seth."

"I know, baby," Seth kissed her forehead, his lips moving over her face as he moved his hands under the cotton top she wore, his fingers stroking her bare back, "It was unfair of me to say that."

Moving her arms up his back, she gripped his shoulders, placing a kiss at the base of his throat before tilting her head back, her lips opening under his, their need for each other bursting into flames.

The inferno of their desire consumed them both as their bodies melded into one, a lover's moon looking in, unabashedly observing as they expressed their love to each other –not in words but in actions.


6:45AM

The early light of the rising sun slowly creeped into the room through the window, the sheer fabric over them doing nothing to keep it out as it slowly made its way across the bedroom floor towards the bed.

The bed-sheet tented and moved, the white fabric almost see-through as the sunlight touched it.

Biting her lip to stifle a moan, she dug her fingers into the mattress beneath her, the fitted sheet bunching as her hands fisted, body arching as she tried to catch her breath.

His hands moved over her hips and down her legs, long fingers curving over her knees as his mouth left behind a wet trail that slowly made its way down one leg.

Tongue tracing the outline of her knee, he made his way up the inside of her thigh, spreading her thighs wider as he settled between them, the scent of her arousal strong and intoxicating.

Unable to hold back, she let out a soft moan as his mouth covered the most intimate part of her body, breathing labored as she reached up to grab the low headboard of their bed, the wood splintering slightly under her tight grip.

Every strong stroke of his tongue pushed her higher, her neck arching as he covered her mouth with his hand, muffling the scream right before it escaped.

Moving up to cover her body with his, he buried himself in her, their bodies covered in perspiration as he kissed his way up her throat and across her jaw to whisper into her ear, "You need to be quiet when you come agape or you'll wake them up."

Leah opened her mouth against his palm, her teeth scraping against the calloused skin of his hand as she wrapped her long legs around his waist, her hips rising off the mattress with every thrust and push.

Moving his hand from her mouth, he licked the curve of her bottom lip, the edge of her teeth nipping his top lip.

Rick sealed her mouth with his, his tongue darting over hers in an unspoken demand for control, Leah giving it to him willingly.

Letting go of the headboard, she buried her fingers into his hair, her tongue retreating and advancing, following his lead as she picked up the taste of her arousal coating his tongue.

Tugging at his hair, she gasped as he broke the kiss, his voice a deep growl in her ear, "Eláte gia ména, mo̱ró mou –prépei na értheis gia ména ." *Come for me, baby –I need you to come for me*

He wrapped his arms around her, his hands reaching up for fistfuls of her thick hair as she turned her head to the side, her teeth sinking into the muscle of his arm without breaking the skin.

The explosions of their combined release send them spinning beyond the stratosphere and into a heaven solely occupied by them.

As he slowly regained consciousness, he moved his face from her neck, kissing the reddened skin of her shoulder where he had bit down to keep quiet.

Rolling off her, he pulled down the bed-sheet covering them, his heart still racing as he combed his fingers through her hair.

Tucking the sheet under her armpit, she moved to snuggle into his side, letting out a soft sigh as her muscles relaxed into mush, placing a long-fingered hand on his flat stomach as she slid her leg over his, tucking her foot between his knees.

"Told you having the room to ourselves would pay off," he turned his head to kiss her forehead as he moved his fingers over her shoulder and down her arm, looking over at the empty space where his baby girl's crib had been –they had moved her into Emmie's bedroom the day before.

Leah's swollen lips stretched into a smile as she looked up at him, "This has been a long time coming."

"Yes," Rick grinned as he turned to look into her eyes, tracing a finger over her eyebrow, "How did Tyra do last night?"

"Mhm," Leah closed her eyes, enjoying the way he lightly traced her facial features with his finger, "She woke up twice –I fed her, rocked her and just before she fell asleep, she asked for you."

Rick's eyebrows arched as he cupped the side of her face, "Really?"

"Mh-hm," Leah opened her eyes to look into his, the light blue color bright as he looked at her with equal amounts of awe and sadness, "She said 'Da-e.' It was the sweetest thing ever."

"Wow," Rick looked up at the ceiling, letting out a heavy sigh, "I missed her first word."

"It's okay, baby," Leah propped herself up on her elbow, reaching up to stroke his jaw as she smiled into his eyes, "You got to see her take her first steps…and she walked towards you and no one else."

Rick's mouth stretched into a smile as he remembered Emmie's first time walking –he had been helping her stand on her own a couple of feet from where he was, urging her to walk to him but she wouldn't budge…until Embry walked into the living room from the kitchen –she had shot across the floor like a little wind up toy and right into his waiting arms.

"She's talking and walking," Leah let out a soft sigh as she gave him a hopeful smile, "She looks for you when you're not here and lights up the moment she hears your voice. It's funny when I ask her where Daddy is –she'll look around the room then takes off looking for you all over the house. I followed her the other day and she was actually looking under the beds."

Rick let out a soft chuckle, reaching up to brush her hair out of her face and tuck it behind her ear, "She's definitely a Daddy's girl."

"They both are, Rick," Leah stroked her hand over his broad chest before placing a kiss over his beating heart, "It's just that Tyra's love is not multiplied the way Emmie's is."

Rick closed his eyes, letting out a long breath before he looked up at her, "Thank you…you always know what to say to make me feel better."

She smiled at him, her brown-green eyes studying his face for a couple of seconds before she bit her bottom lip, "Rick…'

He groaned, knowing already what she was going to ask, "Baby –give us some time. We put any more children into Gabe's room and CPS will come take them away from us."

"What if it's another girl?"

"The odds lean more towards the boys," Rick took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, "Look, I'm not saying no –I've learned my lesson…just…give me two –three years. I've been thinking we need to add to the house anyway. We can put in a two level staircase from the linen closet, over the furnace; add a second floor…two rooms and a bathroom."

"You've been thinking about it," Leah's eyes showed her surprise, his arms sliding down her back to place a hand on her hip, "Why?"

"Well, we have six kids and only two bedrooms for them and they all have to share one bathroom," Rick rubbed her bottom lip with his thumb, a deep growl building in his chest when she sucked his thumb into her mouth, "And I've seen the way you've been looking at Daisy."

Leah nipped his thumb before letting it go, tilting her head to the side, "What do you mean? What way have I been looking at Daisy?"

"With envy," Rick laughed at the look of surprise on her face, "It's obvious you want another baby."

"Well…" Leah bit her bottom lip, watching her finger as she traced her name over his beating heart, "I just…"

"Can I ask you something?"

The corner of her mouth quirked into a smile as she looked into his eyes, "Yes."

"Why so many kids, Lee? People already think we're insane for having six –hell, I think having six will drive us both insane."

Leah let out a soft breath, tenderness filling her at the way he used her nickname, something he normally didn't do, "Well…I was five when Seth was born. He was such a beautiful baby…I loved taking care of him."

She looked away from his eyes, her own becoming unfocused as she let her mind drift, "The hardest blow for me when I became a shape-shifter was realizing I was not going to be able to have any children…I went through eight years believing I was barren –a genetic dead end. I had never wanted anything more than to have my own family but because of what I was, that dream died along with so many others –it was the one that hurt the most."

"So you want a kid for every year you believed you couldn't have any," the amusement in Rick's voice snapped her back into the present, her eyes swinging over to his to catch the look of tenderness in them as he studied her face.

"Yes," Leah grinned as she lowered her upper body over his, the cotton sheet wedged between her breasts and his chest, "Unless fate decides to give us more –I won't begrudge a ninth or tenth baby."

Rick groaned at the idea of so many children inside their little house, "I think we should stop at eight…eight sounds like a good even number."

"Your mother had ten –"

"My mother was insane," Rick laughed as Leah let out a chuckle, shaking his head as his hand moved from her hip to squeeze her bottom, his other hand burying into her hair to pull her down for a kiss, "Apparently, so are you."

Leah's lips moved over his, their tongues exploring as she moved her leg higher, his cock hard against the inside of her thigh.

"Zeus," Rick growled as he dipped his hand between her thighs, his fingers slipping into her, "If I were able to get you pregnant like this, we'd be on baby number thirteen."

Leah giggled, her mouth moving down his throat, her hands skimming his chest and stomach before she reached down to wrap her fingers around him, "With my condition, we wouldn't have any –you resurrected my dreams, Rick. You're the sole reason I'm a mother –I will never find a way to thank you for that."

Rick's mouth moved over her collarbone as he rolled her onto her back, his tongue sliding up her throat before he sucked on her bottom lip, "By being mine –always mine. You have no idea how much you amaze me –you have such a wonderful heart –such a beautiful soul…I want you –now."

Leah spread her legs open for him and as he moved over her a noise at their bedroom door caught their attention.

Rick groaned as he rested his forehead against Leah's shoulder, her fingers combing through his hair for a few seconds before he looked over his shoulder to see which of all their children had gotten up at the indecent hour of making love to his wife –Zakery Harold Laskaris.

"What are you doing up so early, agoráki?"

Zaky giggled before running up to the bed, grabbing on to the sheets to pull himself up as Rick rolled off of Leah, making sure the bed-sheet covered them.

Crawling up the bed between them, Zaky threw his arms around Leah's neck as he buzzed her cheek, "Mama!"

"Good morning baby," Leah pressed a kiss on his forehead as she wrapped her arms around his small body, settling her head on Rick's shoulder, "Did you sleep well in your big boy bed?"

Zaky nodded, resting his small head on her chest before closing his eyes.

Smiling, Rick reached up to stroke his son's dark hair, blue eyes swinging towards the opened bedroom door as Alyx and Andrey toddled in, "I have got to figure out how you two get out of your crib."

Alyx gave a naughty laugh as he and his brother tossed their rabbit up onto the bed before moving to Rick's side and lifting their arms to be picked up.

Moving his arm from under Leah's head, he took Alyx first, swinging him up to set him between him and Leah, Andrey joining seconds later, all three boys piling on their mother.

"I don't think this is fair," Leah said as she looked over at Rick –he had his space while she was sharing hers with three little squirmy boys.

"I suggested we stop at two," Rick shrugged with a smile as he stacked his hands under his head, making a big production out of having space to himself as Emmie ran into the room, Mou-Bear in her arms, "Daddy! Are you making chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast?"

Rick let out a soft groan as Emmie climbed up onto the bed to sit on his stomach, "Probably."

"I want blueberry pancakes," Emmie bounced a couple of times, laughing as he pulled her down into his arms, her giggles high as he tickled her sides, "No! Don't tickle me in the morning! I haven't gone to pee yet!"

Rick stopped immediately, Leah's laughter sweet to him as Gabe walked into the room and up to their bed, holding Tyra under her arms.

As soon as she saw Rick, she let out a squeal, her arms waving as she kicked her legs, "Da-e!"

"And the party is now complete," Rick sat up to take Tyra from Gabe, laughing as his oldest climbed over his legs to join the pile of little boys on Leah, "How did you like sleeping with your sister last night?"

Tyra reached up to pat his face, her fine baby hair creating a golden halo around her head as she bounced in his arms, "Da-e!"

Rick laughed, kissing her cheek before turning to kiss Emmie's, her blue eyes lighting up with joy as she squirmed to make space within the bunch of little boys lying between their parents, "Tyra slept good, Daddy. She doesn't cry so she didn't wake me up at all. It was fun to share with her."

"I'm glad," Rick turned on his side, propping his head on his fist as he smiled down at Leah, Tyra sitting on the bed with her small back against his stomach as she played with his fingers, "Three years, agape mou –give me three years and I'll give you another one."

Leah's smile was bright, her beautiful brown-green eyes dancing as he leaned down to press a kiss against her lips, Emmie's hand patting Rick's chest, "Daddy, what are you giving mama in three years?"

"We're adding a puppy to the litter," Rick said, tongue in cheek, Leah's laughter making all six of their children giggle and laugh, Rick and Leah joining in as Emmie let out a squeal:

"We're getting a puppy!"