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: This chapter's happenings is all in one day, although in two separate parts of the world. Things are starting to speed up and I'm excited about that. I am looking forward to see what y'all's responses will be, although I am a little apprehensive over the potential backlash. Just remember -most of the time, I have no control over what these characters want. They let me know and despite how much or how long I argue, they usually get their way. Not all the time, but in this case, they definitely did.
Enjoy as you read and please, review! I'd like to know what y'all are thinking and feeling.
Chapter Eighty-Eight (17 yrs old)
Monday, August 24th, 10:52AM
Forks, WA
"Thank you for coming with me."
Gabe grinned as he leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, his hands in the pockets of his jeans, "I had fun, although, I gotta say, California girls are a little too forward for my taste."
Megan laughed as she shifted on her feet, arms crossed over her torso, "I showed remarkable self-restrain, if you ask me. They'll probably ask about you every time they see me around campus."
Laughing, he slid his right hand out of his pocket and around her waist, pulling her into him as he dipped his head to drop a kiss on her smiling mouth, "Ma knows I'm back in town so I'll head out. I told her I was dropping you off first."
Settling her hands on his broad chest, she gave him a shy smile, "Dad got a new job and he won't be home until late tonight…maybe you can stay a while longer?"
His smile grew as he caught her bottom lip between his teeth, giving it a tug before tilting his head for a tighter fit, his tongue slowly sliding over hers, causing shivers to cascade throughout her body. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she melted into him as he bend her over his arm, laughing when he pulled back, holding his left hand several inches from her face, a silver foil square between his first two fingers, "Will you look at that? I've still got one left."
Grinning at the teasing tone in his words, she grabbed the sides of his leather jacket, pulling him into her house, the door closing with a slight bang behind him. She let out a groan then a laugh as he threw her over his shoulder, "Gabe!"
She landed a hard smack against his butt, letting out a yelp when he reciprocated, "You don't need to carry me around like a sack of potatoes."
"I've been wanting to see your bedroom for a long time, babe," Gabe took the stairs two at a time, turning left at the landing when she pointed towards a closed door, "Now that I've got the chance, I'm not wasting any time."
Megan's laugh was loud and care-free; it echoed down the hallway before the bedroom door was closed, effectively shutting out the rest of the world.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Thalia clapped her hands three times, calling out to the group of dancers on the stage, "Bom trabalho a todos. Faça uma pausa, então vamos começar do topo." *Good job, everyone. Take a break then we'll start from the top.
Calling out to the new dancer in the company, Thalia moved to where the tall, elegant Lia Rodriguez sat, keeping her face blank as she introduced the redhead, "Lia, this is Viviana de la Luna."
Lia's startling green eyes, lined with black eyeliner, swept over the lines and curves currently showed to advantage in a black leotard, black tights and a black wrap-around skirt, "Ela é uma bailarina?" *She's a ballerina?
The tone to her words made it clear Lia did not like the idea of a ballerina in her company but Thalia paid it no mind, her body relaxed as she gave her a brilliant smile, "Uma prima donna."
Lia kept studying her from head to toe, her face impassive as she spoke to Thalia, "She'll need to change her diet...she's a bit...too much to do ballet, don't you think?"
Smirking as she looked sideways at Viviana, she could see the girl's feelings had been hurt by Lia's comment, "It's already been addressed...and ballet is not the only thing she'll be doing."
"Ballerinas are not versatile," Lia stood up with fluid grace, the silk wrap dress she was wearing tastefully accentuating the svelte shape of her body, "It is why I do not like them."
"This one is," Thalia cocked a hip, resting a hand on it as she looked over at Viviana, giving her the once over look with the same studied concentration as Lia, "She dances with her soul, not just her body."
"I hope you are correct," Lia sniffed as she visually dismissed the new member of her dance company, turning her eyes towards Thalia, "You're live in four months. To add a new dancer to the choreography can be catastrophic."
"I know what I'm doing, Lia," Thalia tossed back the thick braid her hair was in, hands resting on her rounded hips as she stared down her teacher, mentor, and now colleague, "I have, after all, been trained by the best."
Lia's glossy red lips twiched, "Flattery will get you nowhere."
"It will get me as far as I need it to go," Thalia gave her a wide smile, her own hunter green eyes bright with the excitement of the challenge she was currently working on, "Now, if you'll excuse us, we need to get back to rehearsing."
"Of course. I shall leave you to it, then," Lia leaned in as did Thalia, both of them kissing the air as they touched cheeks, once on each side, as was their custom. Lia gave Viviana a head to toe look once more before walking away, head high and shoulders back, the perfect portrayal of Brazilian pride.
Thalia stood where she was, studying Viviana's face, wondering if the girl knew every emotion she felt was on display for all to see, "You're the sensitive type, are you not?"
Viviana turned bright golden eyes her way, her high cheekbones flushed a delicate rose, small strands of red-gold clinging to her face, making her look even more like a porcelain doll than she already did, "If you mean not liking when I'm talked about as if I'm not standing right here, then yes, I am."
"Lia isn't one to pussyfoot around others," Thalia pursed her lips as she tilted her head to the side, dark green eyes intently studying Viviana's facial expressions in reaction to what she was hearing, "And neither am I. Which is why I'm telling you right now, I do not like having my orders treated as if they were options."
A flash of guilt let her know she was in the right track despite what her new dancer's denial, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do," Thalia moved until she stood toe to toe, tilting her head back slightly considering the girl was an easy two inches taller despite the heels she was wearing, "Find yourself a couple of jungle cats and feed until you pop, because if you show up tomorrow with that hungry look in your eyes, I'll toss you out on your ass. You may be the kind of dancer I've been seeking for months but you're not ireplaceable...remember that next time you think of ignoring my demands."
Viviana stood in place as Thalia walked away, closing her eyes as she muttered under her breath, "Bitch."
Stopping a few feet from the stage, she didn't bother turning around simply speaking loud enough for Viviana to hear despite the sounds of the other dancers in her company as they played around on stage, "Indeed, I am. And so are you, although I'm sure you'll deny it...there's something about you, Viviana, something I don't trust. You pretend to be someone you are not. This may be your first day with us, but don't think I haven't noticed how you act like a naive innocent little girl...until I figure out why, a bitch is exactly what I'll be. Get used to it, doll, because you have many life lessons to learn."
Turning on her heel, she marched towards Thalia, hating having her buttons pushed by this pint sized half-breed, "And what lessons are those, dare I ask?"
Looking out of the corner of her eye at her, Thalia smiled before turning her attention back to the stage, "You're not the center of the universe, you're not one of a kind, and the world owes you nothing. That's three of the most important lessons, darling. The rest will come in time."
Clapping her hands to get everyone's attention, she gave them a big smile, "Let's start at the beginning, and remember, dance with your hearts. Open them wide and everyone will see who you truly are when they watch you move."
La Push Ice Cream Shoppe
3:26PM
Emmie looked up from the textbook she was reading, grinning as Lili, along with Cameron, came out of the shop with their ice cream cones in hand, "Took you two long enough."
"Sorry," Lili licked her ice cream as she sat down across from Emmie, Cameron sitting to her right, "I couldn't decide between butter pecan and Mexican chocolate."
"So she got one scoop of each," Cameron licked at her strawberry ice cream, the breeze ruffling her blue-black hair, which hung straight down her back, thick and shiny. In the past month, Cameron had put on a couple of pounds from having regular meals, her face glowing and her eyes bright. The ghosts of her past still haunted her, but the nightmares were few and far in between now. She had friends who sincerely cared about her, and a family who looked out for her and showed her she was loved. Even Bailey had let up with the scowls and glares now that she had moved in with her boyfriend. Life was good for Cameron and she had no intention of taking any of it for granted.
"Sounds smart to me," Emmie set down her textbook, closing it after giving the page number she was on a quick glance, her arms crossed over the big tome, "So I called this meeting so we can discuss our trip to Greece next year."
Cameron's dark eyebrows arched in surprise, "You two are going to Greece?"
Lily looked over at her cousin with a big smile, "We're going to Greece. You're coming with us."
Emmie nodded in agreement, pushing her glasses up her straight nose, "Uncle Sam said you can join us too."
"I don't have money for a trip like that," Cameron brought down her ice cream cone, dark brown eyes wide as she looked from Lili and Emmie, "Besides, this is something you two have been planning for years. I don't want to spoil it."
"You won't," Emmie brushed back the dark hair the breeze was blowing into her face, "You're our friend and it will be fun to have you come with us."
"And you don't need to worry about the money," Lili finished her butter pecan scoop, smiling as she gave the Mexican chocolate its first lick, "I've got it covered. The Mexican chocolate is really yummy."
"Better than regular chocolate ice cream," Emmie brushed her long bangs out of her eyes, mentally taking note of her need for a trim, "So I talked to Daddy about our trip. He said we can leave two weeks after graduation and come back the beginning of the third week of July. That will give us eight weeks. We'll fly into Athens, stay there for a week. After that, we can go wherever else we want. I know I want to go to Mt. Olympus and Loutsa, so the rest of the places are up to you two. We can spend three days in Olympe, and at least a week in Loutsa. That leaves us with five weeks and four days to see other places."
"I want to go to the islands," Lili chimed in, finishing the last of her waffle cone, "Crete, Ios, Mykonos –and I want to spend at least two weeks in Athens. Lydia Vous Vouni is located there and I'm hoping to meet her."
Cameron shrugged when they turned to look at her, cleaning her fingers and mouth with a napkin, "I don't really know what's in Greece. Is there a reason you two chose Greece?"
Lili nodded, pushing back her thick hair before pulling it into a ponytail, sighing at the cool breeze brushing the back of her neck, "This is Emmie's graduation gift, since she won't be getting a car because she can't drive yet. She's wanted to go to Greece for, like, ever."
"Why?"
Emmie looked at Cameron in surprise, realizing she'd only been living with the Uley's for a month or so. She fit in so well, it was almost like she'd always been around, "I'm sorry. I completely forgot you've only been here for a month now and don't know all the history behind the La Push families."
Cameron shrugged, her eyes dropping to the cement table, rubbing a finger against a dark stain permanently set into the concrete, "Sam told me about the whole shape-shifter thing."
"She took it well, too," Lili commented, crossing her arms over the table's surface and leaning forward as Cameron explained, "The Cheyenne believe in an avenging warrior spirit known as the Dog Soldier. He can take on any form –animal or human. So the whole shape-shifting thing wasn't anything new to me."
"Intriguing," Emmie's ice blue eyes were bright as she studied Cameron, her mind going several miles a second as she developed several new theories before shaking her head to focus on the conversation at hand, "Anyway, Daddy's from Greece –Loutsa, to be exact. He is the last of the Children of the Moon."
Cameron studied Emmie's face, piecing things together, "Your dad's a shape-shifter too?"
Shaking her head, she filled in all the blanks for Cameron, something none of them had ever had to do before because they, that is the pups as referred to by their parents, had known all the details since they were in diapers. Cameron was enthralled, soaking up all the information as she realized she wasn't just Sam's sister –this was her people, her culture…her family. It was humbling to see a bigger world than the narrow view of it she had due to her own experiences.
"It's going to be summer time there, right," Cameron asked once they got back to their vacation trip planning. Both girls nodded in response so Cameron made a suggestion, "Why don't we just travel along the coast, hit up all the beaches?"
"That sounds like fun," Lili grinned as she crossed her legs on the bench seat, tucking her long skirt around her knees, "I can design a bunch of different swim suits for you two."
"And you," Emmie gave her a pointed look before looking down at her watch, "Darn. I'm going to have to leave in a few minutes. It's my turn to set the table and help mama with dinner preparations."
"What are you reading," Cameron asked, having gotten sight of the cover of the textbook on the table. She was still in awe at the fact her new friend was going to be starting her last year of high school at the age of fourteen.
"Insect Morphology and Phylogeny," Emmie held up the cover, giggling at the wide-eyed look Cameron gave her, "I'm working on a research paper. The admissions counselor at MSU is working on getting the university to approve my request to do dual degrees. I want to complete my Bachelors and Masters in four years. Apparently, universities are all for academic progenies. Money won't be a problem at all, so it's just a matter of finding the school that will let me do what I want."
"What about MIT? It's a really good school," Lili asked, always intrigued with her cousin's higher education woes –she'd been getting scholarship offers and guaranteed acceptance since she was a twelve year old sophomore in high school, "I read it's well known for its science program."
"They're willing to let me do dual degrees on two of my three chosen fields. This means it will take me two years longer to get into a doctorate program."
Cameron let out a chuckle, giving her new friend a smile, "Even if that's the case, you would still be the youngest doctorate candidate."
"The thing is, I'll have to work on my doctorates one at a time. I've mapped out my next ten years and I believe, if I do dual degrees on my three fields of interest, I can complete my three doctorates before I'm twenty-five."
"You two are, like, my role models."
"What," Lili gave her aunt –strange to call her that when she was a year younger –a look of surprise, "I understand Emmie, but why me?"
"Are you kidding me? You're fourteen and you already have your own clothing line…not just that, you've had two runway shows, have been picked up by several high-end boutiques and I overheard Bailey talking to your dad about a fall show in Milan."
"I won't be able to go to that one but Bailey's got it all covered," Lili let out a sigh of disappointment as Emmie picked up her backpack from the ground, pushing in her textbook, "She even talked Brady into coming with her. Believe me, having Bailey as my business partner was the best decision I ever made. I had no idea she had such a great head for business and stuff, but she's awesome."
"Ruthless, more like it," Emmie stood up, the two girls following along as they headed down the street, "Uncle Sam told mama she actually drove up the price when Nordstrom requested to pick up your designs. I think you should officially have her become your business manager and not just the face of Liliandra."
"We're in the process of doing that," Lili grinned at her cousin, thinking she too had a good head for business, "There're some other designers wanting her to model for them, but since she doesn't have an agent, not to mention she's the brand of my clothing line, she hasn't taken them up on any of their offers. She'd be making a lot of money if she did, though."
"Your sister doesn't care about the money," Cameron piped up, pushing her hands into the pockets of her dark blue jean shorts, "She likes the challenge…and the opportunity to intimidate others."
"It's not Bailey's fault she comes off as intimidating," Lili came to her older sister's defense, knowing full well the tension between Cameron and Bailey was all on her sister's side, "She's been nice to you lately."
Cameron nodded, slipping her hands into the pocket of her denim jacket, "True…it's a little scary, though."
"You need to get used to her as she is," Emmie shifted the strap of her bag higher up her shoulder, "Gabe says when Bailey's being nice, you need to watch your back. In this case, I think she's just trying to let you see there's more to her than the bitchy side you've been encountering."
"I've gotten used to her bitchy side," Cameron muttered, reaching up to brush back her hair as the breeze blew it into her face, "Think you can tell her to just…be herself?"
"You need to tell her," Lili elbowed her on the arm, giving her a toothy smile; "She'll relax once you stand up for yourself."
Emmie laughed as she nodded in agreement, stopping at the corner where they would be parting ways, "If she pushes too hard, push back, Cameron –it's the only way she'll show you respect."
They waved to each other as they went opposite ways, Emmie's mind going back to the paper she was working on. Excitement zinged through her as she mentally plotted her paper, outlining her hypothesis and the needed information to prove or disprove the theory. There was no doubt in her mind she would successfully impress the admissions committee at MSU.
3:47PM
He breathed in the warm scent of vanilla and cinnamon, her skin soft against his lips as he placed kisses along the slope of her shoulder and up the side of her neck to whisper into her ear, "Ma expected me home hours ago."
Megan smiled as she ran her hands over his arms; they were lying in the middle of her full size bed, her back to his front, his arms wrapped around her middle. She'd grown up with so many insecurities, being cherished by Gabe was something she sought as often as she could.
Tilting her head against his shoulder to look up into his eyes, she reached up to stroke the defined edge of his jaw, "I'll tell her it was my fault."
"That won't get me out of trouble if I miss dinner," Gabe looked over his shoulder at the ding of his cell phone, reaching towards the bedside table where he'd placed it, laughing when he saw the text message, "Told ya. She says she'll kick my ass if I'm not home by five thirty."
Setting the phone back, he went back to holding her, closing his eyes as he soaked in the feel of her smaller body tucked in tight against his, her soft skin cool against his hotter one.
"Have you signed up for your flying lessons," Megan's soft question had him opening his eyes, a smile spreading across his face as he shifted slightly to be able to look at her face, "I had my introductory class last week. I start the first of October."
She smiled at him, leaning in to kiss his mouth, "You're going to be an amazing pilot."
"I sure will try," he gave her a smile in return, resting his forehead against hers; "Your gift will not go to waste."
"I know," she stared into his ice blue eyes, revealing in the tender way he was looking at her. Heart beating hard, she took in a deep breath before letting it out in a rush, "I love you."
He stared wide-eyed at her, swallowing hard as he tried to gather his chaotic thoughts over her declaration, "Meg –"
"I don't need you to say it back," she pressed her fingers against his lips, giving him a soft smile; "There's no strings, no expectations. I just wanted you to know…you're loved by more than just your family. You've shown me what love feels like, even though you haven't said it. Thanks to you, I know life can be good. You've taught me I have worth –you've treated me like I'm something precious."
Taking her hand in his, he kissed her fingertips before pulling them away from his mouth, "You are precious, angel. You deserve everything good life has to give."
Blinking back tears, she leaned in to press her lips against his in a soft kiss before whispering, "Promise me something."
"Anything."
"No matter what happens, whatever life throws our way, if it pulls us apart, you won't blame yourself for any hurt I might feel over it. I don't care, Gabe, if you break my heart, because I know you won't do it on purpose. No matter how much it may hurt, you've made me into a better person. I'll never regret you…never."
Without warning, a lump formed in Gabe's throat, forcing him to swallow several times before he could speak, "Meg, you…" he swallowed once more, leaning in to rest his forehead against hers as he stared into her blue-green eyes, "You saved me…from myself, from stupidity, from –so many damn things, there's an actual list you can pick your favorite from. You helped me grow into the person I am… I'll never regret that."
Smoothing his jaw with her hand, she gave him a sweet smile, "I'm glad…and you still haven't promised."
"What am I promising again?"
"That you won't hold on to any guilt if anything were to happen between us."
"Meg…" he took in a deep breath, the many heartbreak stories linked with imprinting he'd learned since becoming Alpha served as a stark reminder he couldn't do anything but give her what she was asking for, wondering all the while if he could actually follow through with it, "I promise."
Lifting her arms over his shoulders, she slid her fingers into his dark hair, pulling him down for a kiss. It wasn't long before the kiss morphed into more, their bodies moving and melding in a sweetly familiar way. Megan let out a soft moan as his mouth moved down her neck and over her shoulder, her fingers digging into his broad shoulders as he moved over her. Gabe groaned at the feel of silky soft thighs cradling him, vaguely recalling they'd already used his last condom.
"Megan, I don't have any more –"
"It's alright," her whispered words brushed against his neck, causing him to shudder with a sudden wave of pleasure, "I'm on the pill."
Closing his eyes, he softly rubbed his mouth against hers before capturing her bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a gentle tug, smiling at the full bodied shiver she gave him as he wrapped his arms around her, his weight pressing her into the mattress as she whispered into his ear, "I love you."
Time stopped for them as they sank into each other, their world narrowing to the feel and taste and sound of each other, mouths and hands and bodies moving to bring each other pleasure, rational thinking completely lost to the overwhelming emotions and sensations rising up and drowning them, both willing to give themselves over to the undulating waves of pleasure coursing through them.
The next hour ticked by unnoticed by them as they dozed, wrapped in each other's arms, the loud ding of an incoming text message forcing Gabe to open his heavy-lidded eyes as he reached for his cell phone on the bedside table, chuckling as he read the message out loud, "Get your ass home now, or I'll come after you. Don't make me embarrass you in front of your girlfriend."
Megan laughed as they both got out of bed, grabbing her jeans from the foot of the bed and pulling them on as she looked around her bedroom floor for the bra he'd removed rather enthusiastically, "I absolutely adore your mother."
"The feeling's mutual," pulling on his shirt, he found his socks, one of them draped over the corner of her opened laptop computer, "You don't need to get dressed."
"I'm walking you to the door," Megan pulled on her top, the cotton wrinkled from having been tossed into a corner some hours ago, "I'm sure the elderly neighbors across the street would be shocked if I'm naked."
Grinning as he pulled on his Converse sneakers then reached for his phone, wallet and keys, giving her a wink, "I wouldn't mind."
Laughing together, they headed down hand in hand, Megan leaning against the door frame as soon as Gabe stepped out onto the porch, hands still connected, his eyes looking into hers, "I'll come by Wednesday morning to help you pack, yeah?"
Nodding with a smile, Megan moved in closer, standing on her toes as she used her free hand to pull his head down for a soft kiss, their noses brushing as she whispered against his mouth, "I love you."
Wrapping his arm around her narrow waist, he pulled her into him, his tongue moving past her parted lips, pouring his feelings for her into this one kiss. Once breathing became imperative, he pulled back to look into her eyes, "Give me time, angel. All I need is a little more time."
"Time we have plenty of," Megan squeezed his hand as she stepped back, giving him a tender smile, "Drive safe, okay?"
"I will," letting go of her hand, he stepped off the porch, looking over his shoulder, "Give me a call if your dad gives you any trouble."
"Okay."
"See you Wednesday."
She waved has he pulled his dad's car out of her driveway. Closing the door, she practically floated up the stairs to her room, a smile on her face as she let herself dream of a future with Gabe…love and laughter, fights and tears and making up. There would be accomplishments, failures, successes. She could see herself being his support throughout his time at the Academy, standing proud throughout the commendations and awards she knew he would receive, following wherever the military would send him. There would be a wedding, a house with a white picket fence, and babies…a little boy that looked just like his father and a little girl with her blond hair and his beautiful blue eyes.
Leaning against the window frame, she stared out into the street, not seeing anything as she wondered if Gabe would want to make Forks their home once he retired from the military. She was sure he would, since he was so close to his family –she wouldn't mind, of course. She loved his family and they made her feel like she was one of them…
"Stupid girl."
She spun around, the window frame clipping her shoulder, blue-green eyes wide as she stared at what she was sure was a hallucination. Blinking hard, she realized with an odd sense of unrealism the woman, no taller than five feet tall, was really standing just inside her bedroom door. So many small details jumped out at her –the overly pale skin, the hardness of her petite body, the breathtaking beauty of her face –but what really freaked her out was the bright burgundy color of her eyes.
"Who –what are you?"
She watched, fear mounting, as curved lips spread into a truly frightening smile, the soft pitch to the words she spoke freezing Megan in place.
"I'm your living nightmare."
