Thank you to everyone who reviewed last chapter, and sorry for the delay in posting this. I do not own H20, but I do own the plot for this story and Lewis Jr and Laura.
Lewis's POV:
I was thinking over what I had heard Cleo say to my Mom, about how I wasn't angry at either of them. I wasn't sure if I should be angry, or if I shouldn't be. Sure, Cleo and my Mom had kept a huge secret from me, but Cleo did it because she didn't want me to give up on the program, and my Mom did it because Cleo begged her to keep it a secret. I know that Cleo was keeping it a secret because she wanted to let me continue doing what I love, but she kept our children a secret-for three years.
"Lewis? Are you okay?" Cleo's voice broke through my thoughts.
"I'm fine, Cleo. Just thinking." I replied.
"Alright." Cleo replied. We reached Cleo's house shortly afterwards, and I watched her unlock the door, thinking about whether or not I should be angry with Cleo and my Mom for keeping the twins a secret. Sure, it was a pretty big secret, and I missed out on a lot of their lives and on being there for Cleo-but on the other hand, I understood why they did it. I may not like what they did, but I can't go back and change it. Laura and Lewis charged into the house, immediately running for their toys. I went and sat on the couch, watching our two children play. Cleo went into the kitchen, and began rummaging around.
"Lewis, Laura, it's time for dinner." Cleo called.
"Coming, Mommy." Laura said, and then walked over to me. She took my hand, and started to tug.
"Come on, Daddy, it's time for dinner." Laura said. I stood up, and we walked into the kitchen. Lewis was sitting on a chair, and Laura dropped my hand and went to her chair, pulling it out and climbing onto it. The twins reached for their food with their fingers, carefully picking it up and trying to place it in their mouths, but most often, dropping it. I enjoyed watching them, but it also made me realize how much I had missed. I hadn't been here to hear their first words, or to see them take their first steps, and that frustrated me. I was angry with myself, even though I knew that was illogical, because I didn't know about the twins. If I had known about them and decided not to come home, then it would be my fault that I had missed so much. But I didn't, and it bothered me that Cleo had made the decision to keep our children a secret, so I couldn't decide to be here. I took a deep breath, and then pushed back my chair.
"Is everything okay, Lewis?" Cleo inquired, upon seeing the look on my face.
"Everything's fine, Cleo. I just need to take a walk. I'll be back in a minute." I replied, heading towards the front door.
"Okay, Lewis." Cleo replied. I glanced back to see a concerned look on her face, and our babies, flicking pieces of macaroni at each other. I walked outside, and along the street, heading towards where I used to fish off the beach, and where Cleo and the girls used to hang out as mermaids. I was trying to separate myself from the anger I felt towards Cleo, but I was having trouble with it. I know that she thought she was doing what was best for me, but it wasn't fair. She didn't let me decide if I wanted to be here for her, and to be with the children. I took a deep breath, steadying myself.
"Lewis, is that you?" A voice inquired. I turned, and saw Ash.
"Hey, Ash, how's it going?" I asked.
"It's going alright. How are you doing?" Ash replied.
"I've been better." I said, turning to look at the ocean again.
"You met the twins, didn't you?" Ash asked, taking a seat next to me.
"You knew too? Was I the last one to know about my children?" I said, feeling more frustrated than I did before.
"I told her that she should tell you, and so did Rikki and Emma. She just wouldn't listen. She didn't want you to think that you had to come home." Ash explained.
"I understand that, but I wish she had just let me make the choice about whether not to come home. I missed seeing our babies taking their first steps, or hearing their first words. I can't ever get that back, and I hate that." I whispered.