YOU FOUND ME Chapter 8: The Rest is Still Unwritten, a secret life of the american teenager fanfic

THE REST IS STILL UNWRITTEN

Ben and Adrian spent the rest of that night dancing and talking, as the dawn came in they tracked down where the music was coming from and found Henry and Alice asleep in the Camaro Alice, received from Leo for Christmas. He and Adrian awoke the two sleeping love birds, and thanked them for D"Jing their dance. Henry and Alice both said that no thanks were needed they both felt guilty for their actions, and doing this was the least they could do to help them reconnect if it was possible. As they left Adrian then asked Ben to drive back to the condo with her, but Ben had decided that he wanted to go somewhere else. To a place that he regretted that he never took Adrian, and a place where both had needed to go for a long time.

Ben asked Adrian to drive him to the grave yard where there daughter, and Ben's mother were both buried. Adrian was hesitant to go to this place, because she was afraid to be reminded that her daughter was gone. "Ben, I can't I want to be with you, but I can't go there to see her. If I do that I don't think I could survive." Adrian said as she quickly began to shed tears at the thought of seeing Mercy's grave. "Adrian, we need to go there to say goodbye to our daughter, and let her know that its okay for her to move on. We have to do something that we need to do, and she needs us to do, and that's to let her go. "I have been avoiding that place like the plague since her wake, and I still feel guilty that I didn't have a funeral for her. But, she needs to know that we still love, and miss her. Besides, my mom is still mad that I never introduced her to the mother of her granddaughter." Ben said taking Adrian's hand.

As Adrian felt Ben's hand in hers for some reason she felt stronger, and more confident. She hated how Ben could do that to her, make her feel so much stronger than she actually was. "I know you can do this Adrian, and I know that it's scary. But you need to say goodbye to her just as much as I do." Ben said as he looked at Adrian in the eyes and took her face in his hand and kissed her passionately. As Adrian felt Ben's kiss she was revitalized by his strength and confidence. She decided as soon as his breath intermingled with hers that she would become the strong person he believed her to be, she realized that if Ben could have that much faith in her she could have that much faith in herself. She looked at Ben and took him by the hand, and said. "Okay Benny I'll do it, but you had better not let me go after this." "I let you go once Adrian, and looked how I ended up, I promise I will never let you go again." Ben replied leaning his head against hers.

Ben and Adrian then made their way from Papi's Tacos to the grave site of Mercy Lee Boykewich, and Sarah Helen Boykewich. As they got out of the car Adrian held onto the door handle and leaned against it as she looked at the entrance, afraid to go in. Ben walked towards her took her by the hand and wrapped his arms around her. Feeling Ben do that and having him so close to her, made Adrian feel as if he had given her an invisible suit of armor, that could shield her from anything. With this feeling she let go of the car door took Ben by the hand and walked with him to the Boykewich family plots. As they neared the graves, the armor Adrian felt she had on could not protect her from the emotion of pain that flooded her as she saw the two graves of Ben's mom, and their daughter lie before her.

Adrian turned her head and cried into Ben's chest as she saw the first, and final resting place of her daughter. the Epitaph read "MERCY LEE BOYKEWICH" BELOVED DAUGHTER OF BEN AND ADRIAN BOYKEWICH THOUGH YOU WERE HERE FOR ONLY A MOMENT YOU TAUGHT US HOW TO LOVE FOR A LIFE TIME. SLEEP WELL OUR PRECIOUS LITTLE PRINCESS". Adrian cried harder as she read the epitaph, and touched her hand to the cold brimstone that displayed the message on her daughter's tombstone. She placed her hand over her mouth as she looked at Ben, and turned to him to ask. "Ben who chose the epitaph, and her tombstone?" as she saw the headstone with two angels male and female holding roses over a cradle. Its beautiful did your dad pick this for her or mine?" she asked.

Ben looked at her and said, "No, her own dad did." Ben said sadly. Adrian looked at Ben in shock and turned to him wondering how he could choose a tombstone for Mercy after losing her. "Ben how did you do that? We buried Mercy three days after she died, how did you find the strength to pick a tombstone for her after she died." Adrian asked horrified at what Ben must have been feeling to choose his daughters tombstone. "I did all of it Adrian." Ben responded looking at her with pain in his eyes. I chose the tombstone, I chose the epitaph for her grave, I chose the coffin she would be buried in." Ben said as tears now began to appear in his eyes, as he relived all he did to make the arrangements for his daughters grave. "I even chose the dress, and blanket she would be buried in." As Ben told Adrian as his tears began to flow uncontrollably from his eyes. I did it because she was our daughter, and I wanted her to know that I loved her, and that you loved her, that we loved her. I didn't want her to feel scared, or alone when they buried her. I didn't want her to feel alone in the ground, and I came here the day they buried her to kiss her goodbye from you and me because I knew neither your or I might never have the strength to come back here."

Ben then fell to his knees unable to have any strength to stand on his own. As he collapsed on his knees before his mom and daughters grave, Adrian gave no thought to her dress or her own pain, but to Ben's. As she dropped to the ground beside him, she wrapped her arms around him and held tightly to him, as he cried into her breast. She had never known how much pain Ben held inside until that moment. She remembered how she saw the pain Ricky held in him from when Ricky told her about what Bob did to him and how it broke him. She was there for him, and yet she realized the reason he wasn't there for her because he couldn't be. Ricky told her he wasn't that strong and she trembled to think how Ben must have felt to have to deal with all of this pain on his own. She never gave thought to how Ben dealt with anything, because she always admired Ben for his strength which he got from Leo, now she saw Ben had no strength left to give, because he had given it all to her.

She hated herself as she remembered everything Ben had done when they were together and how he helped her as she grieved for Mercy. Ben had held all of his pain in and only in small instances did he let it out. That is why he yelled at her in the nursery, because when she got rid of the nursery, Ben felt as though she was betraying Mercy's memory. That is why he continued to get into trouble with the alcohol, the marijuana,the school fire, sleeping with Alice, the car accident, and Dylan especially. Ben was trying his best not to feel the pain that was inside of him. He was trying to do whatever it took to numb, the pain or not feel it. Now he had no choice, its why he gave in so easily to the divorce like she did, he didn't want to remind himself of the pain he felt. Adrian promised herself then she would not let go of Ben, she would be there for him just as he had been there for her. He was there for her, and Amy because he loved both of them. Adrian was there for Ricky because she loved him, but she wasn't there for the man that loved her, but now she would be. She would hold him until the pain he felt stopped, and love him till the he felt better, and hold onto him forever.

In what seemed like hours Ben stopped crying, and looked at Adrian, as she wiped the tears away from his eyes, and helped him to his feet. "So, Benny are you ready to introduce me to your mom?" she asked. "Yes, I know I am." he said as he took her hand and turned towards his mothers' grave. Mom, I know that you are mad at me, because of my actions, but I would like to apologize to you for my actions, and do something that is long over due. Mom, I would like to introduce you to my ex-wife, the mother of your grand daughter Mercy, and the love of my life. Adrian Lee Enriquez - Boykewich." Ben said as he held Adrian's hand and spoke to the grave.

Adrian then turned to the grave, looked at the tombstone and said. "Hello Mrs. Boykewich, I'm sorry that it took me so long to meet you, and I'm sorry for my actions as well. I'm sorry for not introducing myself to you sooner. I am also sorry for how I took your son's virginity, treated our relationship, and not being there for him when he needed me. But I would like to thank you for giving birth to him, raising him to be such a loving, caring, and forgiving man. I would also like to thank you for taking care of ... our daughter since we can't." She said as tears fell from her eyes. Ben held her hand and placed a consoling arm around her shoulder. Mom we are both thankful for that.

It was at that moment that a large breeze blew through the still cemetery out of nowhere. The breeze scattered loose petals of roses, which cascading all around of Ben and Adrian as a beam of sunlight shined down on the two young reunited lovers. I think that was my mom, and Mercy saying hello." Ben said as he took Adrian's hand. Adrian and Ben then clasped their hands together as they both began to have a conversation with the two gravestones as if they were actually talking with both Sarah, and Mercy. They told of how they first met, or where both noticed the other, but neither approached the other. They told of how they became friends, and of how they both started to admire the other for their attributes. Adrian talked of how she admired Ben's confidence, his strength, and of his former dignity she joked. Ben spoke of how he loved Adrian's free spirit, her intelligence, her endurance, and of her heart. To them as the talked it didn't feel as if they had lost their daughter or Sarah, it felt as though they were just talking to them on the internet, and even though they heard no words from the graves they felt their presence in their hearts.

EPILOGUE

(TO BETTER ACHIEVE THE FULL EFFECT OF THE EPILOGUE PLEASE LISTEN TO THE SONG "UNWRITTEN" BY NATASHA BEDINGFIELD)

I am unwritten,
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Ben, Amy, Alice, Grace, Henry, Lauren, & Madison all graduated the following week, Grant was nominated the Valedictorian. Ben chose to go to New York and attend Hudson University. Although Amy would have liked to go to Hudson, she decided that she and Ricky could not make such a large move especially since they had made so many large steps already, and leaving so soon would be to stressful on their new marriage. Everyone attended the wedding including Ben and Adrian, as Ricky asked him to be his best man.

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovation

Even though Ben and Adrian decided to stay in a relationship, both decided to make their relationship open, since they too did not want to put stress on their relationship. Even though both dated neither missed an online date with the other as they tried to stay connected. Jack's recovery was long and harder than he anticipated, but he also progressed. Unfortunately he was unable to play football again, but he was allowed to keep his football scholarship, and became the new assistant coordinator.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah

Grace accepted a scholarship with Grant to Yale University and tried the open relationship situation like Adrian and Ben, unfortunately it did not go as well for Grace and Jack. This was due to Grace who realized although she loved Jack she did not want to settle down with him at such a young age. Ricky and Amy were doing well, until another unplanned pregnancy interfered with how things were going for them. Although Ricky and Amy were happy to be having another child, neither was prepared to raise two children while in college, and so young. Ricky decided the best thing for both would be for him to quit college and work at the shop full time. This worked well to allow Amy her education.

Oh, oh

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines, oh yeah yeah
We've been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can't live that way oh, oh

Reuben and Cindy both retired from their jobs in order to work on their marriage and fulfill the dreams they had together. Reuben opened his own private practice while Cindy returned to school to get her bachelors degree. This went well for both, but they too had an unexpected pregnancy, but were able to deal with the situation without altering their lives. Both were nervous as they informed their daughter of their situation. Although Adrian was shocked she was thrilled with both of them. However drama ensued when Adrian's younger brother from Rueben's first marriage had to move in with them. (But that is another story for another time)

As expected Kathleen and George got married, but instead of selling his old home George with Anne's approval gave their house to Ricky and Amy in order to better help them adjust to their living situation with two children. This also helped Nora, stay clean by having her family so close at hand. Adrian later moved from Glenn Valley when she recieved her Bachelors' degree in Criminal Justice, and Political Science with a 3.78 GPA. With this she was happy when she was given early acceptance to New York University. She thought that she would surprise Ben, but was surprised herself when he showed up at the airport waiting for her with a dozen roses, and a limo. He then took her on a helicopter ride of the city before he asked her to move in with him. She was more than happy to accept his offer, until he learned he wanted to work back up to sleeping together.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Jack later dated Ben's younger sister Chloe when she attended school during his senior year, since he and Grace had decided to part under good terms. She was now dating a guy who was studying to be a surgeon, and had encouraged her to go into the field of Pediatrics, since she liked children so much. Even though Chloe and Jack were different and age, she always saw Jack as a hero for how he saved her from her pimp. Jack had to admit he liked the way Chloe viewed him, and soon they were dating exclusively. Anne who enjoyed her time with her family decided that she wanted to move to Italy in 2018 to be closer to Ashley whom they had not heard from in some time.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
drench yourself in words unspoken
live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
the rest still unwritten

When Anne found her she was shocked to discover Ashley was running her own restaurant and was the proud wife and mother of twins. This news shocked everyone including George who had not spoken to Ashley since she refused to attend his wedding. It really put Amy in her place since she had not spoken to Ashley in years despite the numerous calls and texts. When the Jeurgens- Bowman family flew to see her Ashley simply said that they had moved on and replaced her so she replaced them. Amy tried to talk with Ashley, but realized that she had abandoned her sister when she needed her the most for selfish reasons. She hated to see that her sister had faced marriage, and pregnancy alone. Amy realized that Ashley was used to this because she never really got attention from her parents because she was always putting herself in front. It was then that Amy realized Ashley didn't move to get away from the family she moved to get away from her, because no matter how hard she tried Amy always made herself the center of attention, leaving Ashley out.

(Gospel)
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

It took years of calling, several emails, letters, and surprise visits, but Ashley and Amy learned to rebuild the bond they had lost so many years ago by the time Ashley was due to give both to yet another set of twins. During all of this commotion no one noticed that Robbie had grown up, and with the help of Jack, Tom, and Ricky became quite the baseball player. This would help him since he and John or Johnny as he was now called both were the star pitchers on their little league team. This made them happy when Tammy, and Tom who had moved into the guest house announced they too were having kids. This served well since Grant was the representative coach with his son Jeremy by Lauren, which they had after both had graduated college. He went to medical school, and she to grad school to become a journalist. This was good for the double wedding they had along side Jason who went to school with Grant, and now Lauren and Madison were the sisters' they had dreamed of being.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

However not all was good, Grace was involved in a car accident which killed her fiancee, and left her devastated. Henry had contracted testicular cancer which left him sterile devastating Alice who wanted kids. But, the car accident gave Grace a new life and she traveled to Africa to be with her brother Jacob, and continue her father's dream of helping those who could not afford proper medical care. Ethan and Kathy actually got married and he became a school counselor and she worked as a nurse. But the unsettling news hit home to the entire SECRET LIFE FAMILY when Leo dad of a heart attack at 63. This news devastated his entire family, especially Ben who was not their to help his father because he had taken a job in New York as the Chair Person for The MERCY FOUNDATION which was a charitable organization funded by Boykewich INT. and several other companies to help kids deal with Abuse, Sex, Pregnancy, and disease, as well as several other issues plaguing teenagers. His book "The Secret Life of Teenagers" was a best seller for two years. This was good news since he chose to live free of Leo's money when he and Adrian were married after she graduated from Law School.

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open *****
Today is where your book begins

However unlike when Adrian was not there to help Ben deal with Mercy she was there to help him deal with the death of his father. She ensured him that Leo would always be with him, and live on through their own son. Leonardo Antonio Boykewich. But not everything can end in a fairytale. There were trials ahead for all of them. There would be other problems for Ricky and Amy that included John and their son Carter. There would be strife and difficulty for Grace while she and Jacob lived in Africa. There would even be trouble and pain ahead for Ben and Adrian. But...

The rest is still unwritten