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: Due to a suggestion, I've decided to start putting kids' ages on my AN whenever they come up in the chapter. As you can see, next to the chapter is an age -that's Gabriel's age due to this being his story (although it may not seem like it but I'm using others' stories to make the time pass quickly). This means that I won't be doing many shout-outs to my readers/reviewers but know that I still love you all very much and am grateful to get reviews every single chapter.
I'll still update the family tree because it helps me stay on track.

Alyx and Andrey Laskaris -four years old, kindergarten.

One more thing -the lyrics in this chapter belong to Lee Brice and Thompson Square -being Julie and Lian are about music, is it really a surprise that I find songs perfect for them every time I turn on the radio?

Chapter Thirty-Nine (10yrs old)
First Weekend of August
1:32 AM

The moon's profile reflected against the phosphorescent surface of the ocean, its fingertips gently skimming over the top, the rippling waters mimicking the steady beat of its heart.

Not many know this, specifically those who walk upon land, but the ocean had a heart –one that beat heavily, its waters crashing onto the surf with every thump.

This heart the ocean had –it is a greedy heart, seeking those who belonged to it…for those who had yet to find acceptance.

It was always that way with the ocean –an unforgiving and relentless search, focusing on the one just a step away from its reach, counting each second as it faded away and brought it closer to taking what belonged to it.

As the quarter moon preened itself, using the constant moving surface of the salty waters as a mirror, the ocean's heart continued to beat its heavy rhythm, each thump calling out, again and again, redoubling its efforts to bring her unto itself –promising the only thing it could give while taking all her dreams for itself.

Oblivion from pain and sorrow…promising a place within its cold, dark heart

Her entire body trembled, the feel of his hands moving over the curves and dips, fingers tracing patterns against sweat slick skin, a moan building deep inside her.

Arching her back, she dragged her fingernails up his back, his breath cool against her hard nipples, causing her to shiver as he closed his mouth around a puckered peak, his hand giving the other its due attention.

"Please…" she whispered into his ear, gasping as a flash of pleasure shot down to her core when he pinched her nipple while sucking hard at the other one, "Oh God, Julian! Please –"

"Tell me what you want, baby," he moved his wet mouth up the curve of her breast, licking the pulse at her throat before nipping at the delicate skin, "Tell me and I'll give it to you."

"You," Julie moaned, a soft sob escaping her as the coil deep in her belly kept getting tighter and tighter with no promise of release, "I just want you –please…just you."

Moving his mouth up her throat and across her jaw, he found her lips, the kiss hot with carnal passion as he moved between her long legs, her core slick against the hard length of his cock.

Wrapping her legs around his waist, she lifted her hips, taking him in one long deep thrust that had her splintering apart, a keening cry escaping her as she split into millions of little pieces, flying into space before sinking into the wet silkiness of her release.

"I love you, July," he panted into her ear, his hands buried in her long hair as he pushed into her, again and again, relishing the feel of her body tightening around him, the muscles of her hot, wet pussy rippling around him as he drove himself into her, "I love you –so fucking much."

Julie dug her fingers into his shoulders, her heels digging into the small of his back, urging him to move faster, to push harder, her whisper ragged as she kissed his face, "You're my soul, Julian –I couldn't live without you."

They both rushed off the cliff, clinging to each other as they experienced a high like nothing else –not even the rush of performing before thousands of fans could beat this exhilarating feeling of being together in the most basic of ways.

He kissed away her tears, holding her tight as he rolled onto his back, her slight weight settling over him as she pressed kisses against his chest.

Wrapping his arms tight around her, he kissed her forehead, long silky hair wrapped around his fingers and arm, "I've missed this so much –being able to just wake up and reach out…find you next to me, warm and soft."

"And asleep," Julie teased, tilting her head back to kiss his throat, "I must say, I much prefer being woken up this way than your mother knocking on the door to announce breakfast."

Lian hummed, moving his mouth down her nose, his own brushing over her eyelid and cheekbone before he found her mouth, his tongue moving over her top lip before he sucked on it, "Good thing we have our own place now…we can do this every night."

Julie laughed, reaching up to cup his face with her hand, her long fingers tracing the outline of his ear, "Not every night –we do need to sleep some."

"Sleep is overrated," as soon as he said that, a yawn escaped him, Julie laughing as he gave her a sleeping smile, "Maybe not."

She softly kissed his mouth, stroking her thumb over his cheek as she stared into his beautiful dark brown eyes, "Sleep, baby. I'll be right here when you wake up."

Lian closed his eyes, no change to the perpetual darkness he lived in, letting out a tired sigh as he turned his head to bury his nose into her hair, his brain shutting down, body following soon after.

Julie laid quietly on him, her eyes on the moon she could see from where she was, the dark sky littered with stars –that was something she had missed while in New York.

Closing her eyes, she tried to relax but despite how spent –not to mention, satisfied –she was feeling, her brain wouldn't shut down.

She had plans for later that week –plans to help Lian find himself within the darkness he lived in.

She needed to do that before she revealed her secret to him, before the call of the ocean became too strong to ignore.

Even now, in their little three bedroom house in Forks, she could hear it calling to her, beaconing for her to slip into the dark oblivion it offered.

July…

July…

July…


Friday, Second week of August
9:45AM

Lian jerked awake, his heart beating frantically against his ribs as he moved his arm across the mattress –she wasn't there.

He wouldn't be feeling so much panic if he hadn't just woken up from a dream where she left him –told him he didn't have what it took to make her happy.

The silence in the room was heavy, his breathing coming fast as he sat up, knocking over the lamp on the bedside table as he tried to re-orient himself, "Julie? Julie?"

Throwing his legs over the side of the bed, he reached to the end in search of his pajama pants, the flannel fabric against his fingertips letting him know they were there, "Julie?"

A faint sound across the room had him snap his head to the side, his eyebrows lowering as he tried to figure out what it was and where it was coming from. Pulling on his bottoms, he kept one hand on the mattress, the other reaching to find the dresser which led him to the doorway, "Julie?"

The sound came again, this time louder –it was coming from the bathroom.

Stretching his arms, his fingertips brushed the walls before he felt the frame of the bathroom door several feet from the bedroom, the smooth wood of the door cool against his hand as he searched for the doorknob, "Julie? Are you okay, baby?"

As he opened the door, he realized what the sound was –his Julie was throwing up, probably hunched over the toilet, "Oh, God, honey. You're sick."

Julie moaned, her arms wrapped around the toilet, forehead leaning against her forearm as her stomach folded in on itself, the acid racing up her throat and out of her mouth.

Opening the cupboard behind the bathroom door, he felt through the items until finding the washcloths, unknowingly knocking some of them off the shelf and onto the floor as he turned towards the sink, turning on the cold water and getting the cloth wet as Julie threw up again.

"Was it last night's dinner," Lian asked, wringing the water out of the washcloth before moving towards the sound of her retching, his toes colliding with her knee, letting him know exactly where he was, "Told you homemade sushi wasn't such a good idea."

Julie's chuckle was pitiful, her body shaking as he kneeled beside her, one hand moving over her head and hair as he wiped her face with the washcloth, "I've made sushi before –and it's never made me sick."

"The fish was probably tainted," Lian gathered her hair into his fist, placing the cloth on her neck as she dry heaved, "How long have you been sick?"

"It feels forever," Julie groaned, her voice hoarse, the rawness of her throat causing tears to spring forward.

Kissing her temple, he gently gathered her in his arms, easily standing up as he turned, "Get us to the living room, baby –I'll take care of you."

"One step to your left," Julie couldn't hold her head up, the t-shirt she wore keeping her warm as he walked out of the bathroom, "One more step then turn left."

With her help, he got her to the sparsely furnished living room, gently lying her down on the couch before heading into the kitchen in search of saltine crackers.

"Third cupboard to the left of the sink, second shelf," Julie instructed him, taking the damp washcloth from the back of her neck and placing it over her eyes, "God, I hope this passes soon."

"Got plans for today," Lian found the box, opening it and pulling out one of the sleeves, placing the box back where it was before he headed into the living room.

"I have a surprise for you."

"Ah, come on, Julie," Lian's hand ran up her leg, fingers tripping over the fabric of the shirt she wore until he touched her face, "You know I don't like going out."

"We're becoming hermits, Lian," she pushed herself up so he could sit, lying down again with her head on his lap, taking the crackers he handed her, "Besides, it'll be fun."

Running his fingers through her hair, he let out a sigh, already knowing he was going to do as she asked, "Just promise if you're still feeling sick, you'll reschedule."

She took his hand, resting it against her warm cheek as she closed her eyes, "I promise."


5:10PM

"One more step."

The hollow echo under his boots was so achingly familiar that he faltered, his hand tightening on Julie's, "Where are we?"

"Can't you guess," Julie took his other hand in hers, leading him forward, the hollow sound of their steps causing his heart to jump into his throat –there was once a time when that very sound had his heart pounding in excited anticipation, "I was discovered here –on this very stage."

"Posh," Lian grinned as he let her pull him along, explaining when she asked how he'd known, "I got discovered here too –I was eighteen, used to sneak out of the reservation to come play here on the weekends. Does Pierre still run the place?"

"Yes," she freed one of her hands, a scrape along the wooden floor making him wonder what she was doing, "Here, sit down."

He easily found the stool she had moved, keeping one foot on the ground as he rested the other on the bottom rung, "What are you up too, baby?"

Julie's laughter echoed in the empty space, the smell of polished wood and steel strings tickling his nose right before she placed a guitar –his guitar –in his hands, "Julie…this isn't going to work."

"Just try," she moved behind him, her lips brushing his ear as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "This is your guitar, Julian. You don't need to see to make music with her…just like you don't need to see to make love to me."

Lian's lips hitched into a one sided smile, swallowing past the lump in his throat as the guitar's curves settled familiarly onto his lap, his fingers moving along the neck, his thumb strumming over the strings as he gently coaxed one note followed by another.

"She's the only one I'm willing to share you with," Julie whispered into his ear, causing his body to react as he chuckled, his fingers still moving from one fret to another, "You're a better person than I am, then. Every time I saw you play your guitar, it would make me so damn jealous…I couldn't help but think how I would much prefer your hands on me…making my body hum the way you do with that guitar."

Julie chuckled, pressing a kiss below his ear, the beat of his heart steady under the hand she had pressed against his chest. Able to feel the warm puffs of air against his neck, he let out a slow breath before letting the notes form into a melody, his singing voice slightly rough from lack of use as he began to sing lyrics that had been trapped inside him since the accident.

I am insensitive
I have a tendency to
Pay more attention to the things that I need

Sometimes I drink too much
Sometimes I test your trust
Sometimes I don't know why you're staying with me

I'm hard to love, hard to love
No I don't make it easy
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood

I'm hard to love, hard to love
And you say that you need me
I don't deserve it but I love that you
Love me good

Lian played the riff a couple of times, tapping his toe in a 4/4 rhythm before picking up the lyrics.

I am a short fuse
I am a wrecking ball
Crashing into your heart like I do

You're like a Sunday morning
Full of grace and full of Jesus
I wish that I could be more like you

Hard to love, hard to love
I don't make it easy
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood

Hard to love, hard to love
You say that you need me
I don't deserve it but I love that you
Love me good

He turned his head to the side, his nose brushing against her jaw as he kept playing, his heart in every word that spilled from his mouth.

Girl, you've given me a million second chances
And I don't ever want to take you for granted
But I'm just a man

I'm just a man

Hard to love, hard to love
Oh I don't make it easy
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood

I'm hard to love, hard to love
You say that you need me
I don't deserve it but I love that you
Love me good

You love me good

He pulled his hand back, resting his wrist against the side of the guitar as the humming of the strings faded into the silent room.

He felt the tear slide down his neck, moving his guitar to the side as Julie moved to stand between his legs, her hands framing his face and tipping it back to press her lips against his. Wrapping his free arm around her waist, he pulled her in closer, his tongue moving over hers as the salty taste of her tears mingled with the sweet taste of her mouth, both focused completely on each other, neither heard the door opening.

"Oh God! Don't tell me we got invited to watch you two make out!"

They broke apart, Lian able to feel the heat of Julie's blush against his cheek but he didn't let her step away, keeping his arm around her waist as he tilted his head towards the sound of his cousin's voice, "Just something you're going to have to get used to. Why are you here?"

"We were invited," Seth answered, the sound of more people entering the club having him turn his face towards Julie, "Invited for what?"

Julie cupped the side of his face, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone as she touched her nose to his, her beautiful smile evident in her voice, "Our engagement party."

Lian laughed, tilting the last inch to kiss her again only to break apart as Derek's Idaho accented voice called out, "I did not come down here to watch you two swap spit!"

Laughter was instantaneous, chairs scraping against the floor, the smell of food coming from somewhere on the left, his hand moving down her hip to wrap around the back of her thigh as she called over her shoulder, "Dinner will be served in half an hour. If you can all be patient, the band will be set up in a few minutes and the entertainment will start."

Lian leaned forward, his forehead bumping her jaw as he whispered, "Who's the entertainment?"

He felt her smile against his forehead, her fingers spearing through his hair, "We are."

"Just make sure to keep it kosher," Lance's booming voice carried from the back, high pitched laughter and giggles evidence to his words, "We have impressionable children in the room."

Lian grinned as Julie stepped out from between his legs, the sound of her dragging something towards them no longer echoing as he lifted his guitar back in place. As soon as he felt her presence beside him –she had brought a stool and microphone with her –he turned to smile at her, "Well, being this is an impromptu performance, why don't you call the shots, babe?"

"Awww!"

Julie laughed as she adjusted the microphone's height, placing her hand on his thigh as she leaned in to whisper into his ear, his hair tickling her nose as he nodded.

Letting out a soft breath, he closed his eyes even though the outcome would be the same…it simply made him feel less vulnerable. Strumming his thumb down the strings, he tapped his toe against the floor to keep time, his long fingers moving along the neck as he began to play the opening melody to a song he and Julie had been working on before the accident had occurred.

Her voice was that low whiskey soprano that always made him shiver as she began to sing the beginning stanza.

Sometimes it feels like, I'm gonna break
Sometimes this world, gives more than I can take
Sometimes, sunshine gets lost in the rain
And it keeps pouring down
It just keeps coming down.

He added his own voice to the chorus, holding back on the volume to echo her.

This life would kill me if I didn't have you
I couldn't live without you baby
I wouldn't want to
If you didn't love me so much
I'd never make it through
'Cuz this life would kill me
This life would kill me if I didn't have you.

The feel of her hand on his thigh and her shoulder against his gave him the confidence to play the way he used too –with his heart.

You are my heart, every breath I breathe
I'm safe in your arms, you rescue me.
When I'm weak, you're strong
If you were gone I don't know where I'd be
You were made (You were made) for me

This life would kill me If I didn't have you
I couldn't live without you baby
I wouldn't want to
If you didn't love me so much
I'd never make it through
'Cuz this life would kill me
This life would kill me if I didn't have you

If you didn't love me so much
(If you didn't love me so much)
This Life would kill me If I didn't have you
(This life would kill me)

Couldn't live without you baby
I wouldn't want to
If you didn't love me so much
I'd never make it through
'Cuz This life would kill me
This Life would kill me if I didn't have you

The silence was absolute as the guitar notes faded, the sudden thunderous applause and cheers making them laugh as he laced his fingers with hers. Somehow, because they were family and friends, people they knew and loved, it was all the more special…

For both of them.


Four Days Later
9:22AM

Lian let out a yawn, rolling over to pull Julie into his arms only to come up empty.

Lifting his head from the pillow, he listened to the silence, his heart giving a hard lurch against his ribs before settling down once he heard the faint sounds coming from the bathroom.

Tossing the covers aside, he took his pajama pants from the foot of the bed, pulling them on before moving around the bed, his fingers trailing along the edge until he turned the corner, using the dresser to guide him the rest of the way.

Reaching the bathroom, he knocked on the door before turning the knob, the stone tiles cold under his bare feet, "Julie, baby, you okay?"

"No," Julie moaned, a heavy breath escaping her before she threw up, her arms wrapped around the toilet, a sheen of perspiration covering her face, "I'm not okay."

Lian grimaced, closing the door so he could open the cupboard to search for a washcloth, "This has been going on for four days, baby. I think it's time we go see a doctor, find out what's going on."

Her voice was hoarse as she reached to grab something from the floor, "I know what's going on."

"What," he finished soaking the washcloth, wringing out the water before moving to kneel beside her, his eyebrows lowering as she nudged his hand with something, "What is this?"

"It's positive."

Lian forehead furrowed as he held the pen like think in his hand, his thumb moving over the surface, rubbing against the oval shaped depression for a few seconds before it hit him, "Posit –are you –oh God…you're pregnant."

Julie moaned as she felt her stomach fold in on itself, heaving and gagging before she could talk again, "Yes."

Lian's hand closed tight around the stick, not saying anything for a few seconds before leaning forward to press a kiss against the first part of Julie he could get too which was her shoulder, "We're having a baby."

Julie's smile was faint as she rested her cheek against her arm, watching the awe on his face, his eyes bright with unshed tears, "You're okay with that?"

"Are you kidding me," Lian set the stick on the ground, sliding his hand up her back to gently brush her hair off her face, "The idea that something might be wrong…it terrified me –but we're having a baby…" he smiled, reaching up with his other hand to wipe the cool cloth over her face, his thumb following her hairline down to her jaw, "This is normal, right? Just morning sickness?"

"Just morning sickness," Julie groaned, the feeling of misery washing over her, "Why can't you get morning sickness the way Seth did for Rose?"

"Seth got morning sickness," Lian placed the cool cloth on her neck, gently pulling her up on her feet before lifting her into his arms, "How is that possible?"

"It's called Couvade Syndrome," Julie rested her head on his shoulder, quietly guiding him out of the bathroom and down the hall towards the bathroom. Closing her eyes to avoid getting dizzy thus nauseous as he set her on the couch, "Rose told me he spent most of the first and second trimesters throwing up every morning."

Lian couldn't help chuckling as he made his way to the kitchen, easily finding the saltine crackers in the third shelf of the cupboard to the left of the stove, "He must have been miserable."

"Probably just as miserable as I am," Julie took one of the throw pillows and wedged it under her head, "If you won't throw up for me, will you get fat with me?"

Lian laughed, walking out of the kitchen and into the living room, his fingers bumping against her drawn up knees, "I suppose I can try although I've always had a fast metabolism."

Julie took the sleeve of crackers he offered, taking his other hand and pulling him to sit down at the edge of the couch, "You can always cut back on your activities."

Lian laughed, his fingers sliding up her arm, over her shoulder and into her hair, leaning down to press his lips against her cheek, his words hot against her soft skin, "Now, see, that I'm not willing to do."

Julie chuckled, closing her eyes as he used his mouth to explore her face, goosebumps breaking out all over her body, "Julian…"

"Yeah baby."

Julie stared into space, absentmindedly picking at Lian's pajama pants, her thoughts spinning and turning, going round and round in circles, going back where they started –it was like attempting to follow the Mobius strip.

"Julie," he ran his fingers through her hair, his lips following along her hairline towards her forehead, "What are you worrying about?"

"What if I told you I really were a mermaid?"

Lian chuckled softly, resting his forehead against her temple, his breath brushing across her face, "Didn't I tell you I would love you no matter what? If you want to believe you're a mermaid, I'll stand by you."

She nodded, turning her face to look into his eyes even though she couldn't see anything past the dark brown of his irises, the pupils not reacting at all, "I love you, Julian…you know that, right?"

Closing his eyes, he gently dropped his forehead against hers, their noses brushing as he softly whispered, "Without a doubt."

But she could hear it in his voice…he doubted…and so did she.

Pulling him into her arms, she closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her but it didn't matter how tight he held her, she could still feel the tug within her getting stronger.

July…July…July…


First Week of School in August

"You have the next hour to write a short essay on your opinion on how the world came to be," Rick set the chalk on the tray that ran along the bottom of the wall to wall blackboard, slapping his hands together to get rid of the chalk dust as he looked at his freshman students' faces.

He taught freshman and sophomore World History at Forks High School while his counterpart, Miss Reinhardt, taught juniors and seniors –quite frankly, he found it much more challenging to work with the younger ones, influencing their study habits along with encouraging a thirst for knowledge that would get them through high school and college.

"Being World History, we all know it had to begin somewhere, correct?"

His students nodded, keeping their eyes on him as he moved towards the back of the classroom where he kept his desk, "Being the beginning is such a controversial topic between different theories, it would be helpful for me to know where each of you stand on how it all began."

One of his students, a freshman girl named Ginger, lifted her hand in the air, "Yes Miss Greer."

"Does this count towards our grade?"

Smiling as he moved around his desk, he gave her a pointed look, "Forty percent of your grade is participation –this goes towards that. Any other questions? Good. You have an hour so I suggest you get started."

Sitting down as soon as all their faces turned towards their desks, he opened his grading book just as his pocket vibrated.

Looking across the classroom to make sure they were all working, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, looking at the screen to see he had a text from his wife.

Message From: Leah
Kinder teacher called –wants to see 1 of us

He quickly texted her back: Why?

Message From: Leah
Don't know. First wk of school n already in trouble?

Chuckling to himself, he looked up to check on his students before replying: W/ A&A, better believe it. Want me to go?

Message From: Leah
Can you plz? Picking up Zak, Em has Emmie and Gabe walking home with Viv.

Looking at the clock, he saw there was still thirty minutes left of the school day: Call and let her know I'll b there when school lets out.

Message From: Leah
Thx. Luv u.

Smiling, he sent one last reply: Luv u more.


Walking down the hall towards Mrs. Birden's kindergarten classroom, he played with the change in his pocket, wondering what Andrey and Alyx could have possibly done.

Knocking on the door, he opened it to step in, his eyes widening as he looked around the classroom.

There was blue paint splattered across the walls and floor, some of the desks sporting streaks of it –and seating at one of the small tables were his sons, Andrey's hair was streaked with blue paint, the white shirt his mother had wrestled him into that morning equally splattered, "What…happened?"

Mrs. Birden looked up from the book she had been reading, her tortoiseshell glasses perched at the end of her nose, "Mr. Laskaris…thank you for coming."

"Yeah," Rick moved further into the room, catching the guilty look on their identical faces, "What did they do?"

"Well," Mrs. Birden stood up, her pink blouse sporting several large spots of blue paint, "As I'm sure you know, I allow some free time before school lets out for the children to use the different stages without any prompting or guiding…helps develop their imagination."

Rick nodded as he noticed Alyx was completely devoid of blue paint, "I'm…assuming something went wrong."

Mrs. Birden's eyebrows arched as she pursed her lips, Alyx and Andrey looking over at her before they turned their blue eyes up towards him.

It was starting to hit him –the humor of the whole situation –but he still kept a straight face as he looked down at his four year old twins, "What happened?"

Andrey bit his lip, looking down at the desk as he picked at the paint, "I wanted to paint."

Alyx's bottom lip poked out in a pout as he kicked the table's leg, "I wanted to play catch."

Rick's eyes closed as he held his breath for a few seconds –it wouldn't be good to laugh, "So you decided to play catch with the paint?"

"Paint bottle," Mrs. Birden's held up the bottle of blue paint, "Before I could stop them, the thing popped open in midair."

He rubbed his mouth, hiding the smile as he shook his head, taking a deep breath before letting it go, "I…am very sorry."

"It happens," Mrs. Birden lifted a shoulder as she frowned, "Actually, in fifteen years of teaching, this is the first time this happens but…it's Friday so the janitor will have the weekend to clean up."

"The paint's water based," he asked, slipping his hands into the pockets of his slacks, his face impassive as he kept his eyes on Alyx and Andrey –they both had their little chins tucked into their chests, their eyes occasionally flicking up to look at him as Mrs. Birden nodded, "Anything that can't be cleaned, let me know. I'll replace it."

"Thank you."

"Alyx, Andrey –get your backpacks," Rick watched as the boys stood up, pushing their chairs in before picking up their matching Spiderman backpacks from the floor beside the table, blue eyes wide as they looked up at him, bottom lips poking out in a pout, "Don't give me that look, it doesn't work with me. Now apologize to your teacher and meet me at the door."

Turning in unison, they looked up at the gray haired teacher, their eyes big and bright, those matching dimples appearing as they simultaneously spoke, "Sorry Mrs. Birden."

She couldn't hold back the smile, her heart melting at the adorable looks on their faces, "It's alright boys. Just…no more playing catch with paint, okay?"

"Okay," they nodded before turning to run to the door, giggling as they pushed each other while waiting for their father.

Rick let out a soft sigh as he gave Mrs. Birden a grin, "May I suggest a more structured free time for these two?"

"Oh, believe me," Mrs. Birden finally let herself smile, knowing the twins couldn't see her from where they were; "I'm already working on it."


Thursday, September 5th

"You have to tell him, Julie."

"I know, mom," Julie picked at the seam of the leather couch, her feet tucked under her, "I just –"

"No," Jiao interrupted her, the sternness of her voice making her feel like a child, "This isn't just about you anymore, Julie. You have a baby to think of."

"I'm scared, mom."

"You either believe he loves you or you don't. There's nothing more to it than that."

Lowering her eyes to the ground, she reached up to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks with her free hand as her mother continued, "You don't have any more time, Julie."

Sniffing, she nodded even though her mother couldn't see her, "You're right…there's a half moon next week –I'll tell him then."

"You have to trust him, baby," Jiao's voice softened as she gave her one last warning, "If you don't, you'll lose it all…you both will."