Ch. 2 Family Reunion

"What? Who is this, really," Daley's step-mom murmured into the phone.

"Its me, Mom, it's Daley. Me and Lex," Daley cried into the phone.

"Not true. Daley died a year ago. You're another punk kid trying to get my hopes up again. Me and Daley's real Dad's hopes up, really. I'm just her step-mom… But I miss her. And her brother, my real son. Why do you do this to us?"

"No, Mom, it's me. We were stranded on an island. Lex is here with me, here is Lex," Daley handed the phone to Lex.

"Mom?" Lex cried into the phone as Daley hugged him, tears leaking out of her eyes.

"Oh my God. Put your sister back on the phone," whispered the quiet voice. Lex handed the phone back to Daley.

"Now do you believe me?" Daley asked, crying.

"Daley! Oh my God, Daley! Where are you?"

"I'm in LA. The lodge by the docks, its like a mile from our house."

"I'm coming! Oh God, Daley- what happened?"

"I'll tell you when you come, okay?" Daley asked.

"Okay, I'm coming!" and her mom hung up.

Daley cried and hung up as well, and hugged Lex, who was also crying. They continued to hug, and Nathan walked up to the phone next. Daley hugged him for support as Nathan spoke into the phone.

After a lot of cheerful talking, Nathan hung up saying that his mom was coming. Then Melissa called. Then Abby. Then Eric, then Taylor. Last but not least, Jackson called his stepfather.

Jackson hung up after lots of quiet talking.

"He's coming," he said simply as Melissa patted his shoulder.

"What's up with…?" Nathan asked.

"They cleared me in a trial, but when they find I'm alive they'll reopen the case. My Mom's dying," Jackson murmured.

"That's so awful!" Daley gasped as Melissa gave him a huge hug.

That's when Daley's Mom came rushing in.

"Mom!" Lex cried and Daley smiled and they ran over to her, participating in a monstrous hug.

"Oh you guys- I've missed you so much," she murmured into their hair.

"We've missed you too, Mom," Lex murmured.

"What happened?" she asked as they pulled out of the hug.

"We crashed on an island, and used our instincts to survive. We handled it pretty well," Daley smiled, "but… the captain and 2 of the students died.

"Oh my," she murmured.

"And other things happened too. Games, saving a dolphin, getting lost in the jungle, Abby almost died… twice! And…" Daley turned bright pink, making Lex laugh out loud.

"And what?" she asked.

"I…" but then Nathan's mom and Melissa's Dad came rushing in, and both were reunited with their kids.

"Mom!" Nathan gasped as they hugged.

"Dad!" Melissa cried into his shoulder.

Then Abby's mom, Eric's Dad, and Taylor's Mom came rushing in a whir of hugs. Then Jackson's step dad came, and they hugged awkwardly.

"Now, what were you saying?" Daley's mom continued as they started walking out of the lodge.

"I… Nathan!" Daley waved Nathan over.

"Yeah?" he asked inquisitively.

"Mom," Daley began, "meet Nathan."

"Hello Nathan, I've seen you around," her step mom nodded, confused.

"Well, Mom…" Daley began.

"Oh brother," Lex rolled his eyes, "Daley and Nathan are in love. There, she knows," Lex laughed.

Both turned the color of Daley's hair.

"Is this true? MARTHA!" she called over Nathan's mom.

"Did you know they were on first name terms?" Nathan asked in Daley's ear.

"I thought you did," Daley retorted.

"Yes Susan?" 'Martha' asked.

"It appears that a lot has happened in a year. Including the fact that our children are in love," Daley's step mom murmured.

"Really? Is that true?" Nathan's mom asked.

Nathan and Daley nodded, still beet red.

"Well…" Nathan's mom murmured, "that's interesting…"

"Well, luckily in the support group I found out ahead of time that Nathan is a fine young man," 'Susan' smiled.

Nathan pulled Daley close to him, Daley looking up at him lovingly.

"I love her, ma'am. Even if I was a horrible human being, I wouldn't hurt her if she asked me to," Nathan smiled.

"Well," both of the parents grinned.

It appeared that two other similar conversations were going on for Melissa and Jackson as well as Eric and Taylor. They also appeared to be going well.

"So you guys had a support group?" Daley asked as they walked, holding Nathan's hand.

"Oh yes. All seventeen of us parents (Jackson's mom was too sick to come, poor dear) became good friends, and told everything about you guys."

"That's never a good thing," Nathan laughed.

"I don't know how I feel about our parents being in cahoots," Daley laughed.

"I don't know how I feel about you using the word cahoots," Nathan laughed even more. (AN: Yes, that is a line from Gilmore Girls! One of my favorite ones!)

"Well, I took a cab here, so can I get a ride from you?" Nathan's mom asked.

"Our pleasure," Lex's mom began as Nathan and Daley climbed in to the back seat. Lex went into the middle seat.

"They're going to be kissing," he whispered to the two moms. They exchanged a look and made sure the rear view mirror was slightly facing the two.

The drive seemed to be short, and when they pulled into Nathan's driveway Nathan left reluctantly.

The other three left then, Daley smiling to herself.

They were finally home.


"Your father will be home in a bit. Hide so you'll surprise him," their mother murmured.

Daley hid in her room, Lex in his. She looked around the room. It seemed that her parents had not come in for a year- dust was everywhere, uncharacteristic of her step mom, and her bed wasn't made from when she had to leave early. But there had been one day… ah well. Daley flopped on her bed, loving the familiar warmth of it. She heard a car pull in, and waited excitedly on her bed.

"Hello honey," she heard her step mom say.

"Hi. Um… when's dinner?"

"In a bit. Here, follow me upstairs."

"Okay," Daley heard them come up the steps, and her father opened the door.

"DAD!" Daley cried and ran to him. He was in shock, but hugged her tightly as Lex came and hugged him too.

"I've missed you, sweet pea," he murmured.

And Daley smiled.

(1, 061 Words) No more updates for a while, guys (sorry for the long one) tomorrow's my birthday part, and Friday is my actual birthday! I'M FOURTEEN! Well, I'm officially fourteen as of 12:03 Midnight on August 4th, but you know what I mean.