Erikstrulove- you'll more or less find out the fate of Alex in this chapter. And chapter 61 will clear everything up for you. Kaine's tied up at the moment and under heavy security. As for the river...you'll find out about that in chapter 65 and chapter 66.

LJP- I was mean for not leaving a hint I might 'kill' off a character. But it was fun, even if Alex may not be dead. As for John turning back into Peter, Alex will have a role in it one way or the other. Let's see Gabe has been sick since Chapter 57, which is also when I hinted that Kaine poisoned Gabe. There isn't any reeducation in Alex's future, but they will try to break her. And no Morgan and Jarod are not taking this lying down.

CHAPTER 60

A PROPOSAL

December 9, 2010

9:15pm

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

Though her Ice Queen facade was in place, Moran had passed the stages of hysteria and frantic panic long ago and had moved on to the stage of pure fear. Her babies were in danger and she was all but helpless to make anything right. Little Jack was possibly dying, poisoned by Kaine, and yet the only symptoms Jack was displaying was that of a head cold or the flu. Peter- according to Jeremiah- was no longer Peter but the son Richard Parker had always envisioned.And of course, worse of all maybe, there was Alex. Morgan's baby girl had been shot three times. Though the boys did not come right out and say it, Morgan knew that somewhere along the line she had come very close to losing her baby girl forever. Knowing just how close Aaron and Andros were to their sister, Morgan feared that if she had lost Alex, she would have lost Aaron and Andros as well. One thing was sure nothing was ever going to be the same again.

"Momma." Came Jason's voice. Morgan looked up and saw Amy, Keegan, Jason and Jack standing out side of her bedroom door. Morgan nodded and the four children scurried into the room and climbed on the bed next to Morgan, Jack situating himself into his mother's lap. Jack had already been told of his...condition and surprisingly was taking it quite well.

"Hey there little man," Morgan said pulling Jack into her arms. She held him close placing a kiss on the crown of his head.

"Momma is Katie going to be okay?" Jack asked.

"Your big sister is a tough, stubborn girl, and one who I am proud to say won't give up easily," Morgan answered. It wasn't a direct answer to Jack's question and the little boy and his companions were well aware of it.

"Aunt Morgan?"

"What is it Keegan?" Morgan questioned looking over at the dark haired boy who looked so much like her older sons at their age.

"N-nothing," Keegan said looking down at his hands. The boy had lost the courage to speak.

"It's alright baby you can tell me," Morgan prompted. Bitting his bottom lip, Keegan blue eyes met his aunt's own blue orbs. He stared at her for a long time, searching her, before he spoke. When he was satisfied with what he saw, Keegan placed a hand on either side of Morgan's face.

"You haven't cried yet," Keegan stated. "It's okay to cryIt isn't a sign of weakness. You don't have to be strong all the time, not anymore. There are people here for you. Let them be the strong ones. Let us be the strong ones."

Keegan's words struck achord with Morgan. Forcing emotions forward that she had been refusing to show. She felt tears fall down her face, Keegan brushed them away as Jack, and Jason wrapped their arms around Morgan's neck.

"We're scared too Momma," Morgan heard Jack whisper as she let herself cry for her children.

December 10, 2010

12:40am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Airstrip

Jake and the other Black Files were grouped together. They stood out in the middle of an abandoned airstrip, the only light came from the full moon above. Nearby were Jarod, Morgan, Sam, Jen, Will, Jamie, Alley and Jeff. Everyone was awaiting the return of Jeremiah, Adam, and Angelo who were being accompanied by Allen, Benny, Steve and the children of Project Phoenix.

The leader of the Files had his arms wrapped around his sister, a pose all the other Black File males -save Aaron and Andros who were clinging to each other's hands- had adopted. Jake had no desire to let his sister go after what had happened to Alex. Looking around, Jake saw worry and fear on each of his family members faces. In the moonlight, Jake observed that Aaron and Andros -who had naturally pale skin- where as pale as ghost and in a way it frightened Jake.

To Aaron and Andros, Alex was nearly the most important person in their lives, they weren't complete without her, and she had nearly died six hours ago. Jake was unsure as to how the brothers would react when Jeremiah arrived. At times Aaron and Andros had explosive tempers. Jake felt that it would be best for everyone in the long run if he diffuse the fire in Aaron and Andros before it even had a chance to spark.

Letting go of his sister Jake walked a few feet over to Aaron and Andros. "You know that what happened wasn't Jeremiah's fault," Jake said softly to the younger boys.

"He was suppose to protect her," Andros said hoarsely, Jake noticed that Andros's eyes were red from crying.

"Andy, bro, you know that Jer didn't leave her behind willingly. Hell he never would have. That guy Steve knocked Jer out and dragged him away from her," Greg said defending his brother.

"Greg's right. Jeremiah did what he could," Jake said calmly. "Put yourself in his shoes. Jeremiah hates himself for being unable to protect Alex. He loves her just as much as you. And there is no amount of blame you could put on him that would compare, to the blame he is placing on himself. You know Jeremiah, for him this is like the river accident all over again. We can't let this be like last time okay. We are all going to be there for each other."

"Jake...what if...what if Alex," Aaron couldn't bring himself to finish his question the thought of losing his sister forever was too much for him to face.

"Listen to me Aaron-Daniel," Jake said placing his hands on Aaron's shoulders. "We aren't losing her. We aren't losing anyone. The fourteen of us sick together...always."

"Fifteen," Maddie spoke up. "Keegan...he's one of us."

"Fifteen then," Jake said smiling slightly.

"And do the fifteen of you sticking together mean you won't tell your parents the truth?" Morgan asked Jake. Jake turned around to face his aunt. She was hurting, and Jake was well aware of it.

"Why Jake? Why didn't you tell me what they were doing?" Morgan asked she was near tears.

"Because they didn't tell me, you know that Aunt Morgan," Jake replied.

"They would have told you if you had asked," Morgan stated, and she was right.

"Yes they would have," Jake agreed. "And I didn't. Blame me if you need to, it's fine. You're scared at the thought of losing your daughter, and your sons. Just promise me one thing, you won't blame Jeremiah."

Morgan looked at Jake incredulously. She didn't know why she was surprised by Jake's words. The teen had always placed the well being of the others in his group before his own.

"You're something else Jacob Roland Russell," Morgan said shaking her head. "You'd do anything for them."

"That's what you do for family," Jake replied. "You're one of the people who taught me that."

December 10, 2010

12:52am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Airstrip

"You okay?" Jeff asked Alley, for what had to of been the thirty-first time since the two had learned they had a daughter; Since learning that Alex had scarified herself just so that they could hold their child.

"Yeah," Alley whispered, leaning into Jeff's embrace. "She needs a name."

"I thought it would be obvious what we would name her. It's because of Alex we're going to get to know our daughter," Jeff said.

"So Alexandra, then. She still needs a middle name," Alley spoke. "You pick."

"Radha. Alexandra Radha Stewart," Jeff said softly. Alley could hear the tears in his voice, and felt her own hot tears fall down her face.

"It's not right Jeff, it shouldn't of been this way. They stole her from us," Alley wept softly.

"I know, I know, sweetheart. But now we have her, and they won't get her back," Jeff promised.

"I always thought we'd get married first before we had kids," Alley chuckled bitterly. Jeff swallowed, suddenly nervous. He was going to wait till Christmas, but why not. It was about as privet of a moment he was going to get for the next few weeks. Jamie and Will were a few yards away to the left. Sam, Jen, the Black Files, Jarod, and Morgan were on Jeff and Alley's other side.

Reaching into his coat pocket, and pulling out a small velvet box he had been carrying around for over two months. "What's that?" Alley asked, knowing the answer. Jeff opened the box with one hand, his other still wrapped around Alley's waist.

It was a simple white gold claddagh ring, the hands clutched a blue diamond cut in the shape of a heart. "Marry me?" Jeff asked simply.

"This isn't because we've suddenly found ourselves in the family way and you want to make an honest woman out of me?" Alley asked a coy smile gracing her face.

"Like I could ever make an honest woman out of you," Jeff replied. "So am I going to get a yes?"

"Of course you are. I love you, Jeff, there's no one else I'd want to spend the rest of my life with," Alley said planting a kiss on Jeff's lips. Jeff's face lit up with a smile, and he slipped the ring on Alley's finger.

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of plane engines. Jeff and Alley looked up to see a small plane, begin to make it's decent on to the run way. The past five hours had been hell on the two of them but, the five minutes it took for the plane to land and for the door of the plane to open was excruciating.

The door barely had time to open before Alley, Jeff, Will and Jamie ran up to the plane. Jarod, Morgan, Sam and the Black Files were right behind them. Angelo, and Adam were the first to exit the plan followed by Allen, Steve and Benny in his wheelchair. Jeremiah was the last to get off of the plane, he was carrying a baby in the crook of each arm.

"Matt, Alex it's time to meet your parents," Jeremiah whispered to the babies. "Jamie, Will this is your son," Jeremiah said holding Matt out to the two off them. "Jeff, Alley your daughter."

The parents took their children from Jeremiah, smiles on their faces. Jeremiah didn't fail to notice the ring that now graced Alley's fingers. "There names are Alexandra and Matthew right?" Jeremiah asked.

"How did you know?" Jeff asked the younger boy. Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders.

"What are their full names?" Jeremiah questioned.

"Alexandra Radah Stewart," Alley rocking her little girl.

"And Matthew Aiden Leo Russell," Jamie said looking at her son. "We'll name the next one after you Jerry," Jamie smiled placing a kiss on Jeremiah's cheek.

"Will...Alley" Jeremiah began.

"She did it so I could have my son, and Alley her daughter. I would have done the same. If any one's to blame it's me Jer. I didn't believe her, and I should have," Will said. Jeremiah nodded his head and walked away, leaving the parents to be with their children.

Jeremiah felt someone standing next to him and looked up. "Mom, Dad," Jeremiah sighed seeing his parents. Sam and Jen pulled their son into a crushing embrace.

"Thank God you're alright. Your mom and I were so worried," Sam sighed.

"I'm okay or I will be once we get Alex back. I have to go and talk to Aunt Morgan and Uncle Jarod now," Jeremiah said and stepping out of his parents' arms. Sam nodded his head, a Jen placed a kiss on Jeremiah's cheek.

"We'll talk soon okay?" Jen whispered to Jeremiah.

"Promise," Jeremiah replied he then went over to his aunt and uncle. He met thier eyes, and Jeremiah quickly focused his gaze on his feet.

"Aunt Morgan, Uncle Jarod. I-I'm so sorry," He apologized, keeping the tears at bay. "I didn't want to leave her. If Steve hadn't knocked me out, I'd be there with her." The red head was surprised to find himself in Morgan's arms.

"It would of done us no good if you were with her, Jeremiah. I'm just happy you're safe," Morgan told the boy.

"W-why don't you blame me? I was suppose to protect her," Jeremiah asked looking up at his aunt and uncle.

"I know my daughter Jeremiah, she's stubborn, just like her father and I. Just like you. She did what she had to in order to make sure her family was safe," Morgan told the boy. "Please don't blame yourself baby. I don't want that, your uncle doesn't want that, and neither does Alex."

"Okay," Jeremiah said. With that order of business done, he went to face the rest of his group. "Air, Andy," Jeremiah nodded at his cousins.

"Are you hurt?" were the first words out of Aaron's mouth. "There's blood on your shirt."

What? Oh no," Jeremiah answered momentarily confused. "It-It's Alex's. It should be mine."

"Jer you did everything you could for her. We don't blame you," Andros told the older boy. Jake's words earlier had struck home and Aaron and Andros could not blame Jeremiah for what had happened to Alex.

"You two wouldn't of left her behind," Jeremiah stated.

"You act like you did willing Jeremiah. You admitted to us that Steve knocked you out and dragged you from her. What else could you have done?" Jake asked.

"Taken the bullets for her. Alex knew, damn it! She knew that this was going to happen. She knew she was going to be taken. It should of been me, I'm older," Jeremiah said, he was shaking all over. Angry that Alex had been hurt. Angry at Steve for making him leave Alex behind. Angry at himself for not realizing in time what Alex was going to do. And he was scared. Scared that he would never see Alex again.

Jeremiah found himself in the middle of a group hug, all of the rest of the Black Files were wrapping their arms around him.

"We're going to get her back, bro. Alex is tough, she'll be okay for now," Greg said. "Now we just have to be tough for her. Okay?"

"Okay,"Jeremiah said wiping away the tears he hadn't known he cried. "Hey look there are some people you guys need to meet," He motioned over to Allen, Benny, and Steve who were standing with Adam and Angelo.

"Is that my little brother," Rachael asked looking at Adam.

"Yeah, Alex made him cut and dye his hair," Jeremiah said smiling.

"Hey, Ad, you make a cute red head," Lissa said as she and the other Files walked over to the boy and the rest of the new comers.

"Little brother, you've grown," Jake noted.

"Yeah, so I did. That's not all," Adam said and held out his hand and produced a ball of electricity. Despite the situation at hand, the Black Files let out a few whoops and cat calls at Adam's display of power, making Adam blush from the attention. Jarod, Morgan, Jen and Sam had been with Will, Alley, Jamie, Jeff and the babies, all turned around to see what the commotion was about.

"Holy shit," Sam gasped and he and the others quickly walked over to Adam and the other kids. Rachael had her arms wrapped around Adam, kissing him on the cheek, when the others arrived.

"Looks like someone finally came into a power of his own," Jeff noted holding his daughter in his arms.

"Oz," Angelo said nudging, Jeremiah.

"Oh right. Everyone this is Allen David Grey, son of triumvirate member, Susanna Grey, and your first cousin Dad," Jeremiah said nodding to Allen.

"Hullo," Allen said mournfully. He partly blamed himself that Alex got left behind, Allen knew that he owed his life to her. Had Allen been captured by the Centre he would have more than likely been killed, at the very least held for ransom.

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Especially you three ." Allen nodded at Sam, Jarod and Morgan. "I must admit I grew up idolizing the three of you, I mean you three had the courage to bring down the Centre. To stand up to them," Allen spoke.

"You know we stood up to them too," Marc said grudgingly.

"I know all about you. Mr. Marc Scott Broots, fourth oldest of the Black Files, a precognitive pretender. Brother to Cassandra Susanna Broots and Deborah Alexis Broots. biological son to Devin Williston, who incidently was killed by your childhood sweeper. You and your sister, Cassandra were adopted seven years ago by Jon Carter Broots," Allen quoted. Marc let out a low whistle.

"Did I mention that he was the son of a triumvirate member?" Jeremiah asked. "He has access to all Centre and Triumvirate files."

"Yeah, it's grand being Susanna Grey's son," Allen spat

"Allen's father was murdered by the triumvirate because his mother would not give up the Grey family seat," Adam remarked. "Continuing with introductions the tall guy is..."

"Stephen Kirby," Sam grinned.

"Honored you remembered me Sam," Steve said holding his hand out to Sam.

"One of the best and last sweepers I trained," replied, Sam.

"Wait this isn't the scrawny teen who Dad use to mop the floor with is it?" Lissa asked.

"Yes I am," Steve said wryly. "And this is my son Benjamin." If anyone was shocked by Benny's resemblance to Peter they didn't show it.

"Hi," Benny said, his Scottish accent quite apparent but it had hues of an American accent as well. Benny was nervous meeting the Russell family, and the group before him was barely half of the family. His whole life, Benny had wanted to meet the group of people he knew would accept him and he finally got his wish.

"I gotta ask kid, what's your full name?" Aaron questioned.

"Benjamin Riley Merrick Kirby. I picked it myself sort of. They called me Able on Carthis, but Dad he called me Benny. Once we left Carthis, I chose my middle names," Benny answered.

"Kid your going to fit in just great," Andros smiled at Benny, making the boy feel accepted.

"With that said, I believe we all need to get back to the house. There's a lot of stuff that we need discuss and it would be better if we weren't doing it out in the cold," Jarod spoke bringing everyone back to the situation at hand.

"Stuff like how to get, Alex and my brother, Pete out?" Benny asked.

"Yeah. That and finding a cure for Jack," Will said running a hand through his hair.

"What are you talking about?" Jeremiah asked.

"Kaine slipped something to Jack. He said that if we don't return Jack to the Centre he'll die," Terra said. Jeremiah let out a string of curses.

"Let's get home," Jarod said. "We have...I have three children that need saving."

"And despite the jet lag I'm ready to get to work," Jeremiah spoke darkly.

December 10, 2010

1:38am

Charlottesville, Virginia

Russell Family Home

"Gemini right?" Benny asked looking up at Chris.

"Yeah. And this one is Shadow," Chris replied nodding at Keegan who was still awake despite the time. He like Jason, Amy and Jack had refused to sleep until the others returned. "You have a code name?" Chris asked the boy.

"Lineage," Benny answered. "Is Kaine still awake?"

"No, he started talking about my mother and I accidentally injected him with something that would make him sleep. And incase you were wondering, no one has told him about you yet," Chris said.

The three clones had gathered into Chris and Debbie's room, they didn't know why they had done so. Benny just supposed that it was comforting to be amongst people like him. He wasn't alone anymore and it was a fantastic feeling.

They had pulled Jason and Jack's old bassinets out of storage for Matty and Alex -as the babies had quickly come to be called. They were now in the room that Jamie and Will shared with Alley and Jeff.

The four members of project Phoenix were taking the news of being parents surprisingly well. Will supposed that a part of him had always been prepared to discover that he had a child created from him. The Centre had done it with his parents, why not with him, Jamie and Alley and Jeff. Either that or Will was still in shock.

"So what's next?" Jeff asked, he was giving Alex her bottle.

"A decision is going to be reached on who is going to do what. I can tell you now what's going to happen though. Sam, Steve, and maybe Uncle Jon are all going to take the Files to Carthis to rescue Alex and Pete. The rest of us are going to stay here to find a cure for Pete," Will said.

"Did you sim that or did your inner sense tell you?" Jamie asked.

"A bit of both. While we're on the subject of my inner sense, Allen's staying here, well not here he, Benny, and Adam are going to go back to Carthis with the rest. But once all of this is over with Allen is staying here with the family. He's not going back to England. Allen may love his mother, but he doesn't want to become her. Look's like the Grey's lose their triumvirate seat after all," Will told them.

"You've figured out in a moment what it's taken me a lifetime to realize," Allen spoke from the door way. He was holding a box filled with bottles, diapers, and baby clothes that he and the other's had bought in Carthis for Matty and Alex.

"You come baring gifts," Jeff noted.

"Yes," Allen said looking down at the box in his arms. "Alex...your sister Alex, not your daughter...or the crazed pretender. Come to think of it maybe you lot should start thinking of new names. Any way Alex said that you would need them, so she racked up a credit card buying stuff for her niece and nephew. Jeremiah fussed at her the whole time, but Alex kept telling him that her niece and nephew would only wear the best. She's amazing, your sister."

"Tell me about. I've known here since I was seven," Will said shaking his head.

"I take it she always goes risking her life for saps like me," Allen joked, but them grew serious. "She really did save my life. If the Centre captured me and learned who I was, they would have killed me. Or worse."

"You're a prodigy," Jamie said looking at the boy.

"I have borderline pretender abilities," Allen admitted. "By the way I'm suppose to tell you that everyone is to meet downstairs to decide what is to be done. And I think that a few people want to fawn over Alex and Matty. You may not realize it but the four of you have not allowed anyone to hold them." Allen smirked. He then sat the box on the floor and headed down stairs, Will, Alley, Jaime, and Jeff following behind with Alex and Matty secured in their fathers' arms.

Up Next: We find out the fate of Alex. Get to see a bit of Pete...er...John as well as Mister Parker. And a glimpse of a new character that will become very important in three to four chapters.

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