Second chapter of the day is hereeee! Enjoy.
Previously
"Lottie, my Mom's in this photo," she told her.
"My Dad's in this one," Lottie responded. "But wait, if your Mom was married to my Dad, and the two of us were born on the 13th of September..."
"We're sisters, Lottie," Connie finished for her.
"Connie, we're not just sisters," Lottie responded. "We're twins."
They looked into each other's eyes, both of them in complete and utter shock.
Present
"I don't understand this," Connie said, pacing the room. "Why didn't my Mom tell me that I have a sister? That she had twins?"
"I feel the same about my Dad," Lottie said from her bed. "This doesn't make sense."
They sighed before Connie caught sight of Lottie's book.
"You're reading Persuasion!" She cried.
Lottie looked at Connie in surprise.
"I am," she responded. "It's my favourite novel of Jane's. I must have read it at least 20 times now, and the ending still makes me cry every time."
Connie smiled.
"I feel the same way. Is it your favourite book overall?"
"It is. What's yours?"
"I'm the same. Persuasion all the way."
"No way! That's insane!" Lottie cried before they looked at each other and laughed.
"Is Anne your favourite heroine?" Connie asked.
"She is. Is she yours?"
"It's a draw between her and Elinor from Sense and Sensibility."
"I forgot about Elinor! She's brilliant. Favourite hero?" Lottie questioned.
"Definitely Frederick. You?"
"I love Frederick, and also Mr Knightley."
"Good choices!" Connie cried.
"Thanks," Lottie answered bashfully.
They continued asking each other questions about themselves and their favourite things until it was dinner time.
"Come on, let's go," Connie said.
They got to the canteen, where there was already a queue. Lottie bit her lip slightly and her sister looked at her curiously.
"Lottie?"
"It's fine," Lottie lied. "I'm fine."
Connie wasn't convinced, but nodded all the same.
They grabbed dinner and sat down at a table by themselves.
"What's Dad like?" Connie asked her twin.
"The best. I can go to him about anything, night or day, because he's always willing to talk to me. He's usually pretty quiet, but he's one of the most caring people I know. I'm lucky to have him."
"I feel the same about Mom."
"What's she like?"
"She's beautiful, both inside and out. She loves fiercely, and she's one of the kindest people on this earth. She's also incredibly smart, especially when it comes to politics. She's actually going to become the next Director of NCIS."
Lottie looked at her sister in shock.
"That means she and I are going to meet at some point."
Connie nodded.
"It looks like it."
"Wow. That sounds... like a dream come true."
"I feel the same about Dad."
Lottie smiled at her sister.
NCIS
"Lottie?" Connie asked as they sat opposite each other on their beds that night. "How would you feel about switching places?"
"Why would we want to do that?"
"To get Mom and Dad back together. You said that the divorce been haunting Dad for as long as you can remember, and Mom's been the same way. They both clearly love one another."
"But Connie, what if it doesn't work this time around either?"
"Then it doesn't work, but it's worth a try."
Lottie hesitated before she came to a decision.
"Deal, but if we're going to go through with this, then we need to be able to act exactly like one another."
"We should be fine," Connie responded. "After all, we have six weeks to plan."
NCIS
"This is Dad's team. On the far left you have Tony, and then McGee, Abby, and Ziva," Lottie pointed to each of them as she said their name.
"Tony's the one in the suit, McGee's the one in the shirt and blazer, Abby's the one in dark clothes, and Ziva's the one with the long brown hair," Connie thought out loud.
"That's usually the case. Now, this is Ducky and Jimmy. They're the ME and the ME assistant. You can also go to them about anything. Ducky is the sweetest, and Jimmy's cool too. He'll make you laugh so hard your ribs will hurt the next day."
Connie smiled.
"Ducky's the older guy with the bow tie, and Jimmy's the one with round glasses. OK, I think I got it."
"Who's this?" Lottie quizzed, pointing to one of the team members.
"Uh, Ziva?"
"Good. This?"
"McGee."
"You're good at this!"
"Thanks. Do you want me to go over the new house now?" Connie asked.
"I think that would be a good idea."
They continued like this for the next six weeks in between activities: going over things in each other's lives in order to get the other as familiar as possible with each aspect. And eventually, it was the last night before camp was finished. Connie and Lottie were both reading when the former had an epiphany.
"Lot?"
"Yeah?"
"Remember how I mentioned Mom just got the job as the Director?"
"Yeah."
"She and Dad are going to meet at work."
Lottie's face looked up from her book in a flash.
"Oh no. That's bad."
Connie nodded.
"All we can do is hope that they don't kill each other," she said.
"I have a feeling they might."
"What do you mean?"
"They're going to be pretty angry with one other, and that might make things worse," Lottie told her sister who groaned.
"Oh man."
"All we can do is pray that they don't, because that'll make things a lot worse for us. Now come on, we need to sleep because we're leaving tomorrow."
Connie nodded as she lay down.
"Night, Lot."
Lottie turned off the lamp.
"Night, Con."
NCIS
They both woke up the next morning, and grinned sleepily at the other.
"Morning, Connie," Lottie greeted her sister.
"Morning, Lottie."
The two of them got out of bed and Lottie tossed Connie her packed bag, with the latter doing the same. They quickly got dressed and did their hair, and then went to the canteen for breakfast.
"Now remember, Dad's going to pick you up at 0900, so you have forty five minutes–" Connie cut off her anxious sister.
"Don't worry, I have it all written down. You just worry about you. If you feel like you can't breathe, or you just want to talk, call me, night or day, okay?"
Lottie nodded.
"Okay."
Connie squeezed her sister's hand from across the table before they both went back to eating.
"How are you feeling about this?" Lottie asked her sister, trying to sound casual.
"I'm excited about it. It'll be nice to get to know Dad and his team. What about you? Are you sure you're okay with this?" Connie's eyes caught her sister's.
"I don't know," Lottie whispered. "I've wanted to meet Mom for as long as I remember, but I'm scared about what she'll say when she finds out I'm not the daughter she raised but the daughter she left behind."
"Lottie, she'll be making a mistake if she doesn't love you. You are one of the sweetest, kindest and best people I've ever met, and I can't wait for you to meet. You'll be alright, I promise."
Lottie nodded with a weak smile.
The two of them finished their breakfast and went back to their cabin.
"Here's my cell," Connie handed her sister her phone. "You're on here under Lily."
"Here's mine. You're under Viv."
Lottie caught her sister's eyes, anxiety rising in her.
"I'm still not sure about this."
"Not sure about meeting Mom? Or about switching places?"
"Meeting Mom."
"Like I said, she'll be stupid if she doesn't love you, and Jennifer Shepard is not stupid. She's going to adore you, Lot. I know I do."
"Thank you," Lottie whispered with a smile.
Connie squeezed her sister's hand and caught sight of her watch.
"I have to go. Dad'll be here soon. I love you, sis. Remember to breathe."
Lottie nodded as she hugged her sister.
"I love you too."
Connie smiled at her twin, grabbed her bag and left the cabin.
Once again, thank you ever so much for reading, you're the best xx.