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: Made me sad to see I only got two reviews for the last chapter but I didn't let that stop me so here's the next one...maybe I can get more than two reviews for this one?

Kids ages as follows: Vivi, 13yrs old, Emmie, 9yrs old, Jillian, 2yrs old and as always, Gabe's age is next to the chapter

Enjoy as you read and please (don't make me beg) REVIEW!

Oh, right, before I forget -the song in the last scene was written by me, inspired by Lian Young and July Star. I believe Lian is the one singing the lyrics in parentheses while July sings the other lyrics not in parentheses.

Chapter Fifty-Six (12 yrs old)
March 6th

Vivi started as a small folded square of paper landed on her notebook, quickly closing her hand over it to keep the teacher from seeing at as she turned to face the classroom, droning on and on about Washington's involvement in politics.

Keeping her eyes on the whiteboard filled with color coded details –Mrs. Smythe was one of those seriously organized people that always have a place for everything –she carefully unfolded the note, glancing over her shoulder at Gabriel but he wasn't looking at her, his pen moving across the notebook on his desk as he copied the notes on the blackboard.

Smoothing the paper over her notebook –she had already finished copying all of Mrs. Smythe's notes in her neat handwriting –she glanced down, the one sentence note written in Gabriel's uneven handwriting:

Meet me First Beach 5PM

Biting her bottom lip, she looked over at Gabriel again but he still wasn't looking her way. The sound of her name had her jerking her head around, trying her best not to look guilty as her eyes met the brown ones of her history teacher, "Yes Mrs. Smythe?"

"You seem to be distracted."

"No ma'am."

"Well, then," Mrs. Smythe gave her a tight lipped smile, placing her blue marker on the ledge of the board along with all the other colored markers, "Please explain to the class who Christine Gregoire, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are and why they are important?"

Vivi nodded, standing next to her desk –having been a teacher for over twenty years, Mrs. Smythe had certain rules that seemed old-fashioned but had to be followed nonetheless –shifting nervously as the rest of her classmates turned to look at her, "Christine Gregoire was elected in 2004 as governor which made Washington the first state to have a female governor along with two female senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell."

Mrs. Smythe nodded her permission for Vivi to sit down again, turning back to the board as she picked up on her lecture. The woman was very stingy with her approval, something that seemed to motivate her students to try hard at impressing her.

Folding Gabriel's note in half, she slipped it into the pages of her textbook, keeping her eyes on the teacher the entire time.

As the teacher kept talking about politics –occasionally calling on one student or another and asking them questions –Vivi struggled to keep herself focused on the topic at hand, her mind going back to the simple sentence scrawled in the middle of the creased paper, wondering what it was Gabriel was planning.

She knew Marc had baseball practice until dinner time at six thirty so he wasn't going to be a problem although he hadn't been as vocal about her time spent with Gabriel as he used to be. Not to say he still didn't advice her to be careful, telling her again and again how Gabriel was not good for her but he no longer got in the way.

Giving herself a mental nudge to pay attention, she picked up her pen, crossing her ankles as she tuned into Mrs. Smythe's words, reminding herself she still had two more classes to go before school let out.

No use getting called on in front of her classmates when she would find out what was going on later today.

With that in mind, she pushed the whole thing aside and just focused on learning about the history of Washington.


Gabe looked at the clock over the large kitchen window, "Is it done yet?"

Emily looked over her shoulder at him, a pastry tube in her hands, "Gabriel, if you want this to be perfect then you need to stop distracting me."

"It's just I'm supposed to be meeting her in fifteen minutes."

Emily chuckled as she turned her attention to the large strawberry flavored cupcake sitting on her counter, not saying anything as she carefully covered the top with white icing, twisting the top of the tube so the stiff frosting would twirl until she finished in the middle. Setting it aside, she picked up the tube with pink frosting, the tip a rounded flat edge that would give her a perfect round petal.

The sound of Gabe standing up didn't break her concentration as she carefully overlapped each petal over the other, the end result a five petal pink flower. Setting the tube aside, she picked up a tiny edible pearl and placed it in the center of the petal before taking a pinch of pink sprinkles and dropping them around the outer edge of the cupcake.

"There," Emily pleased smile with the end result made her eyes dance as she carefully set the cupcake into a cake box specifically sized for it, carefully closing the lid before turning to hand it to her nephew, placing a pink candle in his free hand along with a disposable lighter, "You still have five minutes. Be careful with that lighter, okay?"

"Yep," Gabe grinned at her, leaning in to give her cheek a kiss before heading towards the front door, "Thanks Emily! I owe you big time!"

"Yes you do!"

Gabe hurried off, making sure to keep the box steady as he ran-walked towards the beach, grateful his aunt's place was just some minutes away.

Reaching the outskirts of First Beach, he slowed down even though he knew he was already running late but he couldn't help wanting to enjoy the view stretched out before him.

The sun was slowly making its way into the ocean, the colors streaking across the clear blue sky –a breathtaking blend of gold, pink and orange. The sound of the crashing waves intensified as he got closer but what had him stop in his tracks was the sight of Vivi sitting on one of the driftwood logs, her back to him as she looked out at the ocean, the horizon dropping off into the nothingness beyond.

The red-gold color of her long hair seemed to hold the sunrays captive, giving them the opportunity to dance and twirl but never letting them go. Gabe sucked in his breath as she shifted, the simple movement fluid and graceful. Nothing she did, whether it was walking, dancing or simply smiling lacked the fluid grace she seemed to have woven into her very DNA.

Gabe loved watching Vivi move –to him, she was beauty personified. Hell, seeing her on stage for that ballet thing she did last week had squeezed his heart and taken his breath away –more than once.

Shaking his head, he moved forward, the soft shifting of pebbles under his feet having her look over her shoulder; her gold-brown eyes twinkled as she smiled at him, "Hi."

"Hey," Gabe straddled the log she was sitting on, setting the plain white box between them, "Sorry I'm late…I brought you something."

Vivi's smile was shy as she looked down at the white box, reaching out to finger a corner, "What is it?"

"Open it."

Vivi gave him another smile as she carefully lifted the top, her lips forming a cute little 'o' at the sight of the white and pink cupcake, "Gabriel…"

"Happy birthday," Gabe held up the pink candle he had in his hand, "I even brought a candle."

Vivi's smile grew as he placed the candle on the cupcake, leaving the pink flower in the center untouched. Giving him a teasing smile as he flicked the lighter on, she turned sideways to be face to face, "Are you going to sing happy birthday?"

Gabe grimaced as the candle's wick caught the flame, setting the lighter down on the log, "Do I have too?"

Vivi giggled as she looked down at her birthday cupcake, thinking it the most beautiful of all cakes she's had throughout the years, "No."

"Thanks," Gabe watched her, enjoying the way her cheeks were a soft pink, clearing his throat before he spoke again, "You do have to make a wish, though."

"Oh," Vivi chuckled softly as she looked up at him, gold-brown eyes meeting cool blue, her heart beating fast as she let herself fall into the warmth she saw in them.

Taking a deep breath, she looked down at the flickering flame of the candle, lifting the cupcake out of its box as she closed her eyes, making the same wish she had been making since her eighth birthday.

Blowing out the candle, she lowered her hands but before she could open her eyes, Gabe leaned into her space, the touch of his lips against hers setting off a swarm of butterflies in her stomach.

Gabe himself was experiencing a spike of adrenaline he normally only felt when he raced his bike. His eyes closed as the exhilaration rushed through him, his head tilting slightly to the side as her soft lips moved against his.

Reaching up to touch his fingers to her soft skin, his lips tugged slightly at the soft swell of her bottom lip, her own doing the same to his top lip, a strange sensation tugging at his lower abdomen. The burning ache of his lungs made him realize he was holding his breath so he slowly pulled back, opening his eyes.

The look on Vivi's face took his breath away –her cheeks were flushed, her eyes still closed and soft lips opened slightly as she took in a deep breath before opening her big gold-brown eyes, the dazed look in them making him smile as he slowly moved his thumb over her bottom lip, "Thought I could make one wish come true."

Vivi couldn't help smiling as she bit her bottom lip, the tip of Gabriel's thumb touching her teeth, "I think you've made all of them come true."

Gabe chuckled as he dropped his hand to his lap, feeling the heat climb up his neck, feeling glad his skin was dark enough to hide the awkward blush, "Go ahead and eat your cupcake –Aunt Emily made it."

Vivi's smile grew as she removed the candle, carefully setting it inside the cake box before peeling back a section of the wrapper and taking a bite, licking frosting off her bottom lip as she let out a little moan of appreciation, "Oh man…this is good. I'm telling you, I can't wait until Aunt Emily opens her bakery."

"You and everyone else in town," Gabe watched her as she carefully ate her cupcake, his stomach cramping in such a confusing way –it didn't hurt but it wasn't comfortable either, "Brad said one more month and the construction will be done."

Vivi nodded as she got through half of the large cupcake, the moist bread practically melting in her mouth along with the vanilla flavored icing, "I heard Aunt Rose tell your uncle Lian it would be a very good investment. Aunt Emily's baking is out of this world and since the closest bakery is in Port Angeles, she should be getting lots of business once she opens."

Gabe nodded as he watched her carefully place the other half of her cupcake into the cake box, "If you're done, I'll walk you home. I know Uncle Seth doesn't like it when you guys are late for dinner."

Vivi nodded as she slipped the lid's tabs into their corners, the box in both hands as she stood up, giving him a shy smile, "Thank you for this…it's the best birthday I've ever had."

Gabe stared down into her beautiful eyes, unable to keep himself from leaning in and kissing her again.

Vivi wished she wasn't holding the cake box, the desire to touch him strong but she didn't, instead tilted her head back to put a little more pressure on this second kiss, her heart beating hard against her ribs.

Pulling away, the tip of their noses brushed, her eyes bright as he smiled into them.

"Happy birthday, Vivi."


April 4th
Friday Afternoon

Emmie wasn't having a good day –at all.

First of all, her trouble making brothers woke her up earlier than she was ready by slipping their gecko into bed with her. Now, she didn't mind the little cold-blooded reptile but when it wasn't yet time to wake up and the four legged critter skittered up her neck to get tangled in her hair, it wasn't at all the best way to be woken up.

Needless to say, she screamed bloody murder while Alyx and Andrey laughed their fool heads off, Tyra simply grumbling about the noise as she rolled over, not at all surprised over the morning activities nor caring about them.

It had gone from bad to worse as the day progressed.

As much as she loved school days and learning new things, today hadn't been her day –at all. Her English teacher had returned their essays, an A minus and a comment about how she tended to give too much detail penned in red on the last page. Then she had tripped over her own feet on the way up to the front of the classroom –everyone had laughed –to solve a simple algebraic solution per her teacher's request.

Lunch had been a lost cause –one of the stupid football jocks had squashed her Twinkie and taken her milk before Gabe showed up with Vivi at his side.

Really, the only saving grace of the whole day had been her biology class where they got to dissect a frog and identify all of its organs. Then again, being she wasn't allowed to use the dissecting implements because of her age, she had to work with one of the prissiest girls in her class who kept gagging the entire time.

Now, here she was in her kitchen, working on the science project she had due in two weeks.

Two months of research, which involved setting up a compost pit of fruits and vegetables in the forest –with a fence to keep the forest animals from eating her experiment – was now ending in this –a presentation plastered on a tri-fold board with the help of Mou. The topic itself –'The Life of a Fruit Fly' –was intriguing enough to get her first place at the science fair but it wasn't helping that Mou couldn't seem to comprehend her vision for what she wanted the entire presentation to look like.

"No," Emmie dropped her black marker, reaching across the kitchen table to take one of the letters he had drawn and cut out for her, "It's not right. This is not how I want them."

"Princess," Mou let out a quiet sigh as he set down the scissors, "This is the second set of letters you've had me do –I don't understand what's wrong with them."

"They need to be rounder," Emmie tossed the letter back onto the neat little pile he had made of them, "And with hexagons. Like it would look if you're looking from a fly's eyes."

"Princess –"

"They have to be just right," Emmie knew she was sounding like a whiny brat but she couldn't help herself, her usually easygoing personality left back in gym class when she'd smacked herself over the head with the stupid tennis racket –everyone had laughed at her, even the gym coach, "Do them again."

"Emmie –"

"Did I just hear you tell Embry what to do?"

Emmie looked up into her father's serious blue eyes, wondering when he had come into the kitchen from track practice.

Her bottom lip poking out in a pout, she gave him a baleful look, "He's not doing them right."

Rick cocked an eyebrow at her as he placed his briefcase on the counter beside the phone, dropping his gym bag just inside the door into the laundry room, "He's taking time out of his schedule to help you with your project –you are not to boss him around."

"I don't mind."

Rick looked over at Embry, his face impassive but the seriousness in his answer letting him know he meant business, "I mind."

Emmie looked down at the glossy pictures she was organizing and labeling, petulantly mumbling under her breath, "He's mine so I can tell him what to do."

Unfortunately for Emmie, her father's sharp hearing picked up on what she had said, his jaw tight as he looked at her, "Go to your room –now."

Emmie looked up at him with open mouthed shock, "But my project isn't done!"

"You'll get it done once Embry leaves."

"No," Emmie yelled, climbing up onto her seat to be closer to her father's height before stomping her foot to make her point, "He's helping me –he's not going anywhere!"

"You, young lady, will learn to be respectful," Rick lifted her off the chair, managing to keep her kicking feet from connecting with any important body parts, "You will not boss Embry around –he's an adult and you're a child."

"But he's mine," Emmie yelled as Rick headed down the hall, wiggling in his arms in an effort to get free but didn't succeed, attempting her escape again when he set her down on her bed but he was too quick for her, "Let me go!"

"I don't think so," Rick lifted her and sat her back on the bed, "You're going to stay right there until you learn how to be respectful."

Emmie looked up at him, blue eyes filling up with tears as she crossed her arms over her chest, her voice filled with accusation, "You're mean!"

"That may be so but I'm not changing my mind."

"Rick –"

Rick turned to look at Embry, who was standing at the bedroom's doorway, the look on his face pained as he watched Emmie's tears roll down her face, "Leave, now. You are not to come back until I tell you too."

Embry's eyes widened as Emmie let out a loud sob, the usually easy going nine year old standing on her bed and slapping her small hands against her father's chest as she yelled out, "No! You can't make him go! I won't let you!"

Grabbing her wrists in his hands and making sure he didn't hurt her, Rick turned her around, holding her against him to keep his struggling daughter from hurting herself as he spoke to Embry, "Outside, now. I'll talk to you when I'm done here."

"Rick –"

"Go, now."

"No!" Emmie kept struggling to break away, her glasses slipping off her nose and falling to the bed as she let out a choking sob, "I don't want him to go!"

It was written all over his face, the struggle he was feeling between listening to Rick and his imprint's demands but in the end, Rick made it easy for him by putting the weight of the Alpha command behind his last words.

"Leave –now!"

He turned away, the sharp pain streaking through his chest not easy to handle along with Emmie's sobs but he knew he couldn't step in the way he wanted too –she was Rick's daughter which at this point trumped everything else.

The last thing he heard before closing the front door behind him was Emmie's voice, high pitched and slightly choked with tears, "I hate you!"

He stayed outside, working through the roiling emotions he was feeling, the sound of his Princess' crying exacerbating them but he stayed put in one of the Adirondack chairs Rick had made for their front porch.

An hour passed before the front door opened, Rick walking out quietly, leaving the door opened slightly before sitting down in the free chair with a heavy sigh.

"Is she okay?"

Rick nodded, leaning forward until his elbows were resting on his thighs, his hands buried in his sandy blond hair, "She tired herself out and fell asleep."

Embry nodded, he himself sitting in a similar position, his hands hanging between his knees, "What about you?"

Rick let out a humorless chuckle, "About as well as I can be after hearing my daughter say she hates me."

"Rick," Embry let out a heavy breath as he looked over at his Alpha, "She didn't mean it. She's having a bad day and honestly, I don't mind."

Rick knew what he was referring too and although it was going to be hard for Embry and his daughter –subsequently himself as well as the rest of their family –he couldn't see any other solution, "I will not put up with her attitude, Embry. You're an adult and she will treat you with respect."

"Rick, it doesn't happen all –"

"No," Rick shook his head, knowing Embry was about to lie for the sake of defending Emmie, "I know this is not the first time she's bossed you around, it just happens to be the first time I've caught her doing it. I don't know why you let her but I do know I'm putting a stop to it."

Taking a deep breath, Embry asked the dreaded question, "What are you going to do?"

"As long as she keeps acting like a spoiled brat, she won't be seeing you," Rick leaned back into the chair, the rockers tilting it back as he stretched out his long legs, feeling suddenly tired, "I know it won't be easy for either of you but she has to learn somehow and quite frankly, you're my bargaining chip."

Embry closed his eyes, letting his chin drop to his chest but he didn't say anything. Rick watched the slumped shoulders, feeling bad but not guilty –he was only doing what was best for his daughter at this time, "Embry, I'm sorry but…there's no way I'm going to let her behave that way. If I don't stop it now, it'll only get worse and to be honest, I should have put a stop to it much sooner. She's getting controlling when it comes to you and I don't like that."

Embry let out a soft scoff as he looked up at his Alpha, "She does own me so what's the problem?"

Rick's jaw tightened, several seconds passing before he shoved himself to his feet, "No, Embry –she does not own you. You may have imprinted on her but that doesn't mean you're property. You have a life of your own and quite frankly, I think it's time you start living it."

"What?"

The blank look on Embry's face worked well to drain the anger Rick was feeling, "While you're on exile, as I'm sure you're thinking of this, get out –meet people. Have some fun, for fuck's sake."

Embry's eyebrows rose in surprise, having never heard Rick curse before, his dark brown eyes still confused, "Meet people?"

"Yes, Embry," Rick shook his head as he moved across the porch, listening to the sound of the wind brushing the top of the trees, the far off crashing waves in harmony with the music of nature, "Meet people. Go on a date, hang out with the guys…spend time alone. There's more to life than catering to Emmie's needs and wants –"

"That's all I want out of my life."

"Yeah, well," Rick turned to look at him, his mind made up, "That's what's going to ruin my daughter's life. She's already got her intelligence setting her apart –I don't think an egoistic attitude is necessary. Do you?"


April 8th
Seattle

She was sitting cross-legged in the middle of their one and only couch, books and papers spread around her, some having fallen to the carpeted floor, others in piles on the coffee table before her, the screen of her laptop computer lit up with a blank video chat box.

It was her niece's second birthday and she had arranged video time with her sister, who was currently in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, daughter and their band. Due to the time difference, she still had a ways to wait so while she did, she reviewed her case files, occasionally gnawing on her bottom lip as she made notations, every once in a while consulting the medical textbooks she had acquired throughout college and medical school.

Collin was still at the hospital, halfway through his shift. Meanwhile, she had come up on the pediatrics emergency rotation and was placed on call, which was why she was wearing one of her scrub tops with her black volleyball shorts, socks on her feet. Draped across the chair near the front door were her bottoms and messenger bag, her slip-on Vans beside the door, everything set and ready to go if her beeper went off but so far, it had been a quiet night so she busied herself with some of her more complicated cases.

A ding-ding caught her attention and Lyn couldn't keep the smile from breaking out as she set her legal pad and patient chart to the side, leaning forward to take the laptop and place it on her lap before clicking OK when asked if she wanted to accept the video call.

"Lyn! Oh, good, I didn't miss you!"

Lyn grinned at her sister, shifting to get more comfortable in her spot, "I still have several hours to go but so far, it seems like there's no emergencies involving kids here in Seattle."

"That's great," Julie grinned at her sister as she snuggled into the corner of a maroon colored plush couch, "I was going to wait until we got back to our hotel room but the band's gotten a second wind and we only have the studio for another day so they wanted to finish the new CD we're working on."

"A new CD? Yours or Lian's?"

"Both," Julie smiled as the sounds of music being made were heard in the background, "We're calling it Sying."

Lyn's face softened even more as she blinked back tears, "Let me guess –all those lullaby songs you and Lian started writing after she was born?"

Julie's smile spread into a grin as she nodded, shifting as the music stopped, only to start up again, a faint squeal followed by a chorus of laughter as the music stopped, "Natalie walked in on us after the concert in Florida. Jillian had been running a mild fever all day and she was fussing when we finished sometime before one in the morning. Lian got her to sleep singing that blues one he wrote –Rock Me. Natalie came into the dressing room halfway through the song and fell in love with it."

Lyn nodded but didn't comment –she had mixed feelings about Natalie, to be honest. Yeah, the woman was accommodating with Lian and Julie's situation but Lyn was sure Natalie loved the lullabies Julie and Lian had composed specifically for their daughter due to one very important factor –the sales and awards they would receive, indirectly skyrocketing the label into one of the best in the business, "So can I see my niece to say happy birthday?"

"She's a bit busy…" Julie's smile turned a little mischievous as she shifted in the couch to stand up, the iPad she had bought –much easier to carry around than a laptop –in her hands, "Here, let me show you."

The screen blurred before it focused, Lyn letting out a laugh at the sight greeting her. There was the band playing in the sound booth, obvious enjoyment on their faces as they all focused on the sole occupant in the middle of the floor –her niece.

She was still as small as Lyn remembered, wearing a bright pink miniature poodle skirt along with little bitty saddle shoes and ankle socks, the white t-shirt she had on sporting pink and black polka dotted letters that spelled out 'Rockin' with the Band'. Her dark hair was a soft cloud of curls around her china doll face but the most beautiful thing she wore was a big bright smile as she bobbed and bounced, clapping her hands and turning in a circle as she wiggled her bottom.

"Oh goodness gracious," Lyn quickly clicked the record video button, wanting to show this to Collin when he got home from work, "Look at her!"

Julie's laugh came through but she didn't move the screen shot, letting Lyn enjoy watching her niece as she danced to the music being played by the band, "She loves being the center of attention –especially the band's attention."

"The sound in such a small enclosure could affect her hearing," Lyn cautioned, even though she loved the sight of her niece dancing –the little girl was oblivious to anything other than the music and how it made her want to move.

"She's wearing ear plugs so it muffles the volume of the instruments," Julie told her sister, knowing the comment came from her concern as a pediatrician as well as her daughter's aunt, "She doesn't like them but she knows she's not allowed into the sound room without them."

"Wherever did you get her shirt?"

"Micah –our drummer –got it specially made for her. You need to see her growing collection of t-shirts, Lyn –the guys spoil her rotten. It's truly a miracle she's not turning into a little diva."

Lyn laughed as Jillian hopped over to the drums, patting her little hand against the screen of the bass drum, "Give her time. What's she doing?"

"She's telling Micah he needs more bass," Julie's voice was full of laughter as she watched her baby girl giving Micah a pleased nod, bobbing her little head as he added the constant thump-thump of the kick drum to the song they were currently playing, "She has an ear for music, Lyn…it's amazing, really, to watch her. Whenever one of the guys hits a sour note, she scrunches up her little nose and shakes her finger at them. She'll scowl at them until they start from the beginning and when it gets close to the part they messed up, she'll stand still, won't blink her eyes until they get pass it correctly then she'll go back to dancing."

"You got yourself a prodigy, sis," Lyn grinned as her niece threw her arms up in the air, spinning around a couple of times before she got dizzy and fell on her bottom but even the surprise of it didn't wipe the big smile on her face, "She got any preference for instruments?"

"She loves the drums," Julie's voice wavered slightly as the sound of a door opening and closing sounded in the background, "Micah's supposedly giving her lessons –she bangs away while he keeps time with the kick drum."

"Who you talkin' to, baby?"

Lyn's smile spread wider at the sound of her brother-in-law's voice, the video wobbling slightly and she knew he was probably hugging and kissing her sister, "Lian, stop mauling my sister."

A few seconds later Lian turned the iPad towards him, "She likes it when I maul her. How you doin', Lyn?"

"I'm on call so that means I can't really relax," Lyn stopped the video recording, grinning at the sound of a high pitched squeal, "What's got your daughter so excited?"

"She just spotted me," Lian grinned as he handed the iPad back to Julie, giving her a smooching kiss on the lips before opening the sound room door, lifting his waiting baby girl up into the air, "How's my baby star doing?"

Jillian giggled as he brought her down and placed nibbling kisses into her little neck, "Daddy! Sing! Sing!"

"Aw, baby," Lian settled her on his arm, turning towards Julie and pulling her into his side, Lyn smiling at the tender picture of the little family, "Your aunt wants to see you first."

Jillian grinned as she patted the iPad's screen with her tiny hand, "Sing, at! Sing!"

Lyn laughed as she studied her beautiful face, not seeing any changes since they left almost a year ago, "What do you want me to sing to you, Jill? Happy birthday?"

"Uh-hu," she nodded, resting her head on her father's shoulder as she reached out to grasp a handful of her mother's hair, "Sing, at."

Lyn felt a little silly but she sang anyway, her husband's voice joining her in the second line as he closed their apartment door, dropping his bag and kicking off his shoes before he moved across their small living room to sit next to her, Jillian letting out a happy squeal at the sight of her 'funny' uncle.

"You two make a decent duet," Lian complimented once they finished the last line, his baby clapping her hands with obvious enthusiasm, "More than decent, apparently. Jillian likes nothing but the best when it comes to music –perhaps you two are in the wrong vocation."

Collin and Lyn looked at each other before turning to look at the screen, answering in unison, "Nah."

Everyone laughed, Jillian turning to look at her father again, patting his cheeks with her tiny hands, "Now you. Sing, Daddy."

"Alright then," Lian placed a kiss on her upturned nose, giving Julie's waist a squeeze before looking over at Sammy, their sound engineer. They had flown her in from New York because she was the best of the best and they all enjoyed working with her, "Hey, Sammy, think you can hold the iPad while July and I sing?"

"Well, considering you're going to be singing to my little star, I will be delighted," Sammy's accent was customary of New Yorkers, the screen blurring again before settling, not as clear due to the glass before the camera.

Julie and Lian entered the sound room, Jillian staying in his arms as he nodded and spoke with the band, Julie moving across the room to pick up her guitar.

"I'm gonna filter the sound so you can hear them," Sammy's voice informed them as she did her thing, the sound suddenly appearing as Sammy did something else, lowering the volume so it wouldn't have any feedback, "This is one of their latest ones –they echo two sets of verses during the song, each with their own harmony but it's the melody and chorus that puts it all together. Jillian loves it."

Lyn pressed the record button as Lian placed Jillian down on the floor before taking his own guitar and sitting on the stool, facing Julie, each with a standing microphone.

"Alright, guys, let's do this," Lian nodded towards Micah, who started them off with a simple bass, Jillian looking up at her parents as they started playing two different, yet complimenting, harmonies, both looking down at Jillian when they each began to sing their own verses to the song.

Once upon a star
(I wish, I wish, I wish)

I will find my love
(Oh when, oh when, oh when)

In the crowded streets at night
(Oh where are you, baby?)

Soaking in the morning sun
(I can feel you near my heart)

I search high and low
(Come to me, oh baby, please)

Will never stop lookin'
(Here, there, everywhere)

Baby
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
Nothing I wouldn't give
So baby please
Don't forget –please, don't forget
How much I love you
(How much I love you)
Don't forget, baby, don't forget
(Don't forget)
I'll always find you

Too far off lands I go
(Can you hear my voice?)

I search every face
(I can see your eyes)

Everywhere I go, I look for you
(Your touch is all I seek)

At night, during the day, no matter when
(Talk to me, baby, please)

There's nowhere I wouldn't search
(Tell me what you need)

I'm gonna find you, baby
(Please believe in me)

Baby
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
Nothing I wouldn't give
So baby please
Don't forget –please, don't forget
How much I love you
(How much I love you)
Don't forget, baby, don't forget
(Don't forget)
I'll always find you

Once upon a star
(I will find my love)

In the crowded streets at night
(Soaking in the morning sun)

I search high and low
(Will never stop lookin')

Too far off lands I go
(I search every face)

Everywhere I go, I look for you
(At night, during the day, no matter when)

There's nowhere I wouldn't search
(I'm gonna find you, baby)

Don't forget, baby, don't forget
(Don't forget)
How much (How much) I love you

Lyn sniffed back a tear, snuggling into Collin's side as the music faded away, little Jillian clapping her little hands from where she sat, Lian and Julie grinning down at her in complete adoration along with the members of the band.

There was no doubt two year old Jillian was the center of their universe.