I just realized after I posted yesterday that I will be leaving Thursday and won't be back home until Wednesday night. And since I got a wonderful response to yesterday's post here is another chapter today.

Pretender Fanatic- Your so close with your guess about what is up with Pete. I can tell you that the memory wipe that Mr. Parker had administrated to Pete will come into play but not quite in the way your thinking. I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter I hope that you enjoy this one just as much.

Loveroffanfics- Don't worry Syd will be showing up to deal with the kids problems, Chris and Debbie will be coming with his also. As for Pete's brain washing you like Pretender Fanatic are close.

LadyJadePerendhil- I read your review last night just before I went to bed and it had me smiling. It still does. It's one of the best reviews I've gotten in a long time. And don't worry I'll defiantly keep you all guessing.

CHAPTER 28

MORNING

November 21, 2010

4:21am

Blue Cove, Delaware

Jamieson Manor

Will felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. The other children had begun to awake due to Pete's outburst. Unable to face them Will ran from the room. Not stopping to put on his coat, or shoes, or even to grab his keys Will bolted from the house before anyone had time to realize what was going on. Will ran and unlike when he was driving Will knew exactly where he was going.

He reached the large oak door and pounded on it over and over, not caring that his knuckles where becoming bloody.

It was Sam who answered the door, and for a moment Sam was thrust back forty years in to the past. There stood not a nineteen year old Will in nothing but his pajamas, his knuckles raw, and tears flowing freely down his face and he stood on the doorsteps shivering. In his place instead stood a six year old Sammy Grey in his cowboy pajamas, his knuckles raw, and tears flowing freely down his face as he stood shivering in two feet of snow.

Sam blinked and the apparition vanished. "Will what are you doing here?" Sam asked pulling the boy into the manor "Is everyone alright?"

"He hates me Uncle Sam. He thinks I'm the one to blame. And he's right," Will said as Sam draped the throw from the couch across Will's narrow shoulders.

"Who your Dad?" Sam asked.

"No. Not Dad. He'd never blame me. Not even if I deliberately ended the world. Pete... he thinks that I'm the reason that they were taken."

"But you aren't William," Sam told the teen.

"I know that. Now anyway. Mom, Dad, and Alley have lectured me over the past hour on how I'm not to blame!" Will yelled

"Calm down William you'll wake the others. Now listen Pete probably doesn't know the whole story yet," Sam said placing an arm around Will's shoulder.

"He said he hates me," Will whispered.

"He doesn't hate you Will. He's just confused," Sam told his nephew.

"C-can I just stay here for the night?" Will asked burying his face in his hands.

"Of course you can. This is your house after all, one of them anyway. Just take a warm shower, we can't have you catching a cold. Your mother would kill me. I'll see if I can scrounge up some clothes for you," Sam said getting up from the couch.

"Kay," Will said getting up as well. He headed upstairs to the bathroom. There he turned on the hot water and undressed waiting for the water to warm. He climbed into the shower and let the water cascade down his back, as he rested his forehead against the tile of the bathroom. Will let the world around him evaporate, as steam filled the room.

A knock on the door brought Will back to reality. He gasped realizing that the water had become cold. Will turned off the tap and wrapped a towel around his waist.

"Come in," Will called to the person behind the door.

"Thought you were trying to drown yourself," Jamie said placing a change of clothes on the toilet seat for Will.

"The thought had crossed my mind," Will replied.

"That's not funny William," Jamie scowled.

"Sorry it's just it's been a long day, and it's not even six a.m. yet," Will sighed.

"Everything will be better once the sun comes up," Jamie said.

"You promise?" Will asked pulling Jamie into his arms.

"Promise," Jamie replied, placing a kiss on Will's lips.

"I love you," Will murmured in to her ear.

"I love you too. Now dry off, you're dripping wet," Jamie said stepping out of Will's arms.

"I will, just as soon as you leave," Will told her.

"Why so shy? It's not like there's anything under that towel I haven't seen before." Jamie replied. Will felt his face flush. "You're so cute when you blush," Jamie said leaving Will to dry off and get dressed.

Once dressed Will grabbed his dirty clothes and towel and headed towards Jamie's room. On his way Will ran into Sam.

"I called your parents and let them know that you were okay. They agree with you and think it's best that you give Pete some space. They're going to talk with him in the morning," Sam informed Will.

"Thanks Uncle Sam," Will said.

"You're welcome Will. Now get some sleep," Sam instructed.

"That's the plan," Will replied and enter Jamie's room.

"Will, is that you," Jamie said sitting up.

"No it's your other boyfriend," Will said tossing his clothes in the dirty clothes hamper. He then climbed into bed. Jamie snuggled up next to him resting her head on his chest.

"Everything is going to be okay," Jamie said as sleep began to overtake her.

"I know, you promised me. But somehow I have the feeling that it's going to get worse before things ever resemble to looking better," Will spoke tucking a strand of Jamie's blonde hair behind her ear.

"Have faith," Jamie told him.

"You can't have what you've lost," Will said softly.

"Then find it," Jamie told him.

"I can't. Not alone," Will said and for a second he sounded as though he was that lost little boy he was not so many years ago.

"You're not alone Will," Jamie told him and Will tenderly kissed her lips. Exhaustion crept upon the couple and the two drifted off to sleep in each others arms.

November 21, 2010

4:32am

Blue Cove, Delaware

Jamieson Manor

Alley crept quietly in to the manor it was late -or early depending on the way you wanted to look at it- and she didn't want to awake anyone. She quietly climbed the stairs and entered the room that once belonged to her mother when she was a child. In the room sleeping was Jeff. Alley pulled off her shoes, socks, coat and jeans and climbed into bed with her boyfriend.

"You know, for a pyrokinetic you have cold feet," Jeff mumbled in to Alley's mane of dark curls.

"Shut up and hold me," Alley said sleepily.

"You're wish, my command," said wrapping his arms around her. "When the sun's up you can tell me why you drove over here at five a.m."

"When the sun's up," Alley echoed.

November 21, 2010

7:12am

Blue Cove, Delaware

Russell Summer Home

Alex woke up to find that the room was missing five of it's occupants. She knew that Jason and Jack had stayed in Jarod and Morgan's room after their nightmare. Will had left after what ever had occurred between him and Pete in the wee hours of the morning. But now Alley was gone as well. Alex suspected that wherever Will was Alley was as well. The disappearance that concerned Alex the most though was that of Keegan. When Alex had returned to sleep after Pete and Will's confrontation Keegan had been sleeping in between Mike and Maddie, but now the young clone's space was vacant.

Alex got up from her sleeping bag and quietly left Catherine's old studio, trying her best not to wake her brothers and cousins. She didn't have far to go in order to find Keegan, the door to the back porch was open. Alex donned her robe, pulled on a pair of slippers and went outside, closing the door behind her.

There was Keegan sitting on one of the patio chairs, smiling as the sun kissed his face.

"You know I've seen many sunrises since I've escaped, but somehow their beauty never fades," Alex said softly as she sat in the chair next to Keegan.

"You did this didn't you? When you first escaped, you came out here to watch the sunrise," Keegan said as he climbed off of his chair and into Alex's lap. "Then your mummy came out here looking for you and you climbed into your mummy's lap and together the two of you watched the sunrise. Then your daddy came and made breakfast. Only you didn't know your mummy and daddy were your mummy and daddy."

"How did you know that?" Alex asked the boy in her lap. "Did you peek into my mind?"

"No the house told me," Keegan answered.

"Well, well master Keegan you are full of surprises. A telepath, a telekinetic, and a retrocog. What else is in that little head of yours?" Alex teased.

"Don't know," Keegan answered honestly.

"Guess that's something we need to look into," Alex muttered into the boy's hair.

"Alex are you my big sister too, like Maddie?" Keegan asked.

"No sweetie I'm your cousin. Your Momma, and my Momma are firsts cousins. Our Grandmothers were sisters." Alex told him.

"But Gabe, and Zane have two sisters. Can you be my sister even though you're my cousin?"

"I think we can work something out," Alex said. "But why don't we talk to Maddie about it first."

"Kay," Keegan said. "Can we wake, Mike and Maddie up now?"

"Sure. And we can see about getting breakfast too," Alex replied. Keegan hopped down from Alex's lap. Alex took the boy's hand in hers and the two walked back to the studio. On their way they passed Jarod who was heading in the direction of the bathroom.

"Morning Daddy."

"Alex, Key," Jarod yawned. Keegan hid behind Alex still a bit shy when it came to other people. Keegan knew that he was safe, that these people where his family, but that still didn't stop him from being slightly nervous around them. Never before had the young clone been in the presence of so many people. " Are you two going to wake the others?"

"Yup." Alex replied. "Are Jason and Jack awake yet?"

"No they and your mother are sleeping in. I on the other hand will be starting breakfast in a bit," Jarod told his daughter.

"I'll let them know," Alex said and she and Keegan returned to the studio.

"Now Key here's your first lesson as a little brother. Lesson one how to wake up your older brother and sister and or parents. Stand about oh, say, five feet back, run as fast as you can, and when you get close enough jump on your intended target and yell as loud as you can 'wake up'. In this case your target will be Mikey and Maddie," Alex whispered into the little boy's ear a devious smile crossing her face. "Got it?"

"Got it," Keegan said nodding his head. He then acted out Alex's instructions to the T, leaping onto Mike and Maddie, yelling 'Wake up!' as he landed.

"Jesus," Mike and Maddie gasped sitting up. Alex fell to the floor in a fit of giggles, as Pete, Andros, and Aaron woke up as well. A look of confusion crossed the three brothers' faces but realizing what had happened the boys tried to hide their snickers. Keegan looked up at his older brother and sister's face smirked proud of himself.

"Oh you think that's funny huh?" Mike asked the six year old sprawled out across his lap. Keegan nodded his head.

"Well I bet Alex didn't tell you what happens to people who leap on top of their older siblings waking them did she?" Maddie asked Keegan.

"No she didn't" Keegan replied "What happens?"

"This," Mike said and began to tickle Keegan. Keegan's shrieks mixed with the other children's laughter brought Lex, Julia, and Morgan to the studio to investigate.

Julia found herself relieved that Keegan had already found a spot in his brother and sister's hearts. She was still worried on how the rest of the family would take the introduction of Keegan. But seeing how Mike, Maddie, and the other children took to Keegan, Julia felt that she didn't have to worry as much.

What worried Julia the most was the impending argument between her and Lex. Julia -along with Mike and Maddie- believed that Keegan deserved to know the truth surrounding his origins. Lex did not want for Keegan to learn that he was a clone of Markus -Mike and Maddie's brother who had died a few minutes after his birth-. Julia felt just as guilty as Lex over Markus's death. But Julia refused for Keegan to be a replacement for Markus. It wasn't fair to Keegan.

"Morgan, I believe your children have already gotten a head start at corrupting Keegan," Julia said humor evident in her voice.

"Hey it was all on Alex," Aaron said in his defense.

"Uh huh. Sure," Lex said not believing it for a second. "Mike why don't you release your brother and you all go and help Jarod with breakfast.

"But Dad that would mean we would actually have to perform physical labor," Maddie drawled.

"God forbid," Lex dead panned.

Up Next: Keegan keeps showing more powers. Jake and Alex fuss at Will for running off, and Will tells Jamie his darkest secret. Pete has another blow up about Will.

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