One Mistake & No Survivors
Wow. Here we are, thirty chapters later and over a hundred reviews. And its time for the end. Thank you for everybody who has stuck with this story and joined along the way. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone from Big Time Rush. The girls belong to their creators. I only own the plot.
Chapter Thirty
Survivors
Astoria Daniels' POV
I sit on my stool, painting the scene below me on my canvas. My eldest child, Harmony Felicity Daniels runs below, chasing her younger brother, Regulus Jacob Daniels. Harmony's curly black hair gets covered in sand as Regulus jumps on her, knocking her to the ground. I laugh and hear my husband, Felix, laughing as he comes up from behind me.
"Get your head out of the clouds Harmony!" Felix teases as he pulls up a stool next to me. Harmony just looks up at us from below, blinking her olive green eyes. She opens her mouth to speak, but Regulus tackles her.
"Regulus!" Harmony cries out. "You got sand in my mouth!"
"Sorry." Regulus says, running his fingers through his red hair. He helps his sister up out of the sand as I continue to paint. He has always been thoughtful when it comes to helping other people, and right now I can see the guilt in Regulus's brown eyes. Unlike his older sister, who is often in her own little world, Regulus is serious and a thinker. But I wouldn't trade them for the world.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Felix staring at me. "What?" I ask, setting down my paint brush. Felix looks exactly the same as he did when I first met him before my spy years. The years that continue to haunt me. His soft lips turn up into a smile as he runs his fingers through my auburn hair. I got rid of the blue dye over twenty years ago, and my hair reaches down to my shoulders now. My eyes are still the same shade of forest green, and Felix loves to remind me how beautiful they are.
I've taken so many anger management and yoga over the years. What I did so many years ago…it bothers me. I wake up in the middle of the night screaming sometimes, as the memories burn inside me still like a raging fire. Painting helps me express them. Felix knows of my past, but my children do not. One day, I shall let them know how the horrendous crimes I committed.
But for now, I set down my paint brush as Felix and I run down to the steps that connected our beach house to the sea, and enjoy the moment of now with my family.
Ciri Lumen's POV
"And then he tried to fire me." My husband, Christopher, says. My four year old daughter, Leigh, sits on my lap and is color. "I'm the boss!" Christopher laughs. "My own employee tried to fire me!"
"Are you serious?" I laugh. I feel a tug at my turtleneck sweater and look down at Leigh. "Look what I made!" Leigh says, tugging at my shirt more. It's nothing more than a scribble, but it puts a smile on my face. "I love it sweetheart." I say as I lean down and kiss the top of her brown curly hair.
Leigh looks like me. She has my brown hair and olive skin, but my husband's deep brown eyes and curly hair. Personality wise, she takes after Christopher. Leigh has his bright smile and that twinkle in her eyes that makes the most depressed person smile. She is one of the reasons that make me carry on everyday. If it wasn't for Leigh and Christopher, I would have ended my life years ago.
Years ago, after my capture when I was seventeen, I was assigned a psychologist. And there, it was where I discovered I was sick. Not physical, but mentally. I was raised in a bad household, and it was bound that I was going to end up the way I did. I was exposed to things a normal child would have never been exposed too. I realized I was never evil, and suffered from a mental breakdown from it. I wasn't the monster I appeared to be. My family molded me into the person I was, and Charles West just put on the final coat that hardened it. But I broke free of the shell many years ago at my final capture, where I cried. My tears helped me realized I needed help. The things I did to everybody years ago was my way of trying to forget my childhood. But I can never forget it. My heart aches every time I see a puppy pass me by on the street. The mental image of my family laughing as one would die flashes through my eyes, but I carry on. For my family's sake and my own sake.
Christopher and I met when I was twenty six. I had taken up a job at as a journalist for a newspaper, and he was another journalist. When we first collided in the mail room, Christopher tells me that sparks flew. Of course, I did not know what that meant. I had never known what love meant. But over the years, Christopher taught me what it is. When we were twenty eight, I finally agreed to let him take me out on a date. Years later, when we turned thirty two, we married. It was only when I was thirty six we had Leigh, and as I held my baby girl in my arms for the first time, I finally understood what it meant to be love. I knew what it meant to love someone, but I never knew what it meant to be loved. Leigh and Christopher have taught me that humans aren't born evil, but are made evil.
As Christopher, Leigh, and I walk down the streets of New York, we pass by St. Morris's. I see girls and boys moving about inside, learning what I did many years ago.
"Thank you." I whisper so softly that nobody hears. I feel Leigh tug at my hand and point to a toy store down the street. I gather her up in my arms and slip my free hand into Christopher.
And together, my family and I make our way down the streets, and once again, I get the same feeling I have had some many times over the years. The feeling of being wanted, feeling loved, and enjoying life.
And I could never be more grateful for it.
Elena Knight's POV
"Welcome home, Mr. Knight." I say as Kendall enters the kitchen of our house. I stand at the kitchen counter, pouring brownie mix in a pan. I place it in the pre-cooked oven and turn and face Kendall. He brushes my black side bangs out of my brown eyes and kisses me gently on the lips.
"God, do you have to do that in front of me?" I hear my fifteen year old daughter, Riley; groan as she enters the room. She sits down at the kitchen table and goes to grab a cookie, but I swat her hand away. "No cookies yet." I scold as I place a bowl of chips on the table. Riley pouts, but her green eyes show that she isn't really upset. "Maybe I should go all spy on you!" She exclaims, jumping up onto the chair. Kendall grabs her and throws her over his shoulder, before carrying her out of the room. I watch them, and laugh. Riley is identical to Kendall. They both have blonde hair, the same beautiful green eyes, and the same long, strong body. Riley, like Kendall, is strong and protective. Kendall comes strolling back into the room, and I can see our youngest child, five year old Dean, clinging onto Kendall's leg.
"One leaves, and another one enters." Kendall laughs. I lean down and pick up Dean, setting him on in a chair at the kitchen table. Dean is just like me. He has my brown eyes and black, along with my personality. He looks up greatly to his older siblings, and adores Kendall. As Riley likes to call Dean, 'Daddy's Little Man.'
"Do we have everything we need?" Kendall asks. "Because I don't think I can go to the grocery store again. The cashier there is going to think I'm flirting with her."
I hit him in the arm. "You better not be!" I exclaim. Kendall laughs and says, "The cashier is like, a ninety years old lady. Calm down, Mrs. Knight."
"Sam, put the cookie down!" I say, spinning around. And sure enough, my twelve year old son is sneaking a cookie from the plate on the table. "Come on Mom!" Sam groans, placing the cookie back down. Sam has my personality and my black hair, but Kendall's green eyes. "Just one?" He pleads.
"No, you can have one when everybody arrives." I say. "Now, why don't you go outside and play some soccer with Dean?"
Sam opens his mouth to protest, but Dean is already out of her chair and is dragging Sam by the hand out the door. "Let's play Sammy!" Dean squeals. Sam's green eyes from behind his black square framed glasses seem to plead with me, but Kendall and I just laugh as Dean drags his older brother out the door. I watch from out the kitchen window as Sam helps Dean kick the soccer ball into the net. Riley appears out of nowhere, and I assume she crawled out her window. She knows all about my spying past, like Sam. Dean is still too young to know, but one day he will too.
Amanda Diamond's POV
"Brian, come on!" My ten year old daughter, Danielle, yells as she pounds on the bathroom. Her green eyes burn with anger as she pounds on the door more. "We have to get to Uncle Kendall and Aunt Elena's house, and I still haven't brushed my teeth!"
I watch from my bedroom door as the bathroom door opens, revealing my fourteen year old son, Brian. "Perfection takes time, my dear little sister." Brian teases as he steps out of the bathroom. Danielle rushes in, and the door slams shut behind her. "Brian, must you always take so long to get ready?" I question as Brian runs his fingers through his brown hair, much like James had when we were younger too.
"Dad says that it takes time to look as good as he and I do." Brian says, popping his collar, and I can't help but laugh. "You are so much like your father." I say as Brian smiles and walks off down the hall. Brian and James are so much alike. Brian looks so much like James did when we were younger. Brian even has James's personality. He's charming, talkative, active, and a very social boy. Danielle is like him when it comes to being talkative. She is very curious, like me. She has James's brown hair, which is long and wavy, but green eyes, which neither James nor I have. Danielle gets her green eyes from James's mother. Danielle is hyper, like my two youngest children, Emma and William. They are seven, hyper and pranksters in training. I think that is why they like their Uncle Carlos so much.
As if on cue, the two come out of their bedroom. Emma's long brown hair flies out from behind her as she rushes down the stairs. William comes out next, his hazel eyes sparkling as he flies down the stairs after her. "No running on the stairs!" James calls out as the two rush past him. He sees me in the doorway and kisses me.
"Everybody ready?" He asks. I nod towards the bathroom door. "Your son took too long in there. Danielle was waiting twenty minutes."
"That's my boy!" James shouts. I hear Brian laugh and I can't help but smile. Danielle comes out of the bathroom, her sneakers in hand.
"Who's ready to go to Uncle Kendall and Aunt Elena's house?" I shout. A chorus of cheers came from all around the house, and soon, my four children and lined up at the front door, ready to go.
Erika Garcia's POV
"Austin Carter Garcia, get off the phone!" I say to my sixteen year old son. I tap the watch on my hand. "We have to go!"
"Mom, it's about a school project." Austin whines, his dark brown eyes pleading with me. I shake my head and throw a pillow at him. He cries out as it hits him. "I got to go." Austin says quickly into his phone. He slides it back into his pocket and stands up. "I've been ready to go for the past hour." Austin states, pointing to himself. "And Gabe and I want to get the project down as early as possible…"
"You are so much like your Uncle Logan." I say as I walk into the kitchen. Austin follows me. In the kitchen sits Carlos and youngest child, eleven year old Lennon Adam. Austin sits down next to Lennon. Lennon looks just like Logan, with dark brown eyes and the same spiky hair. Austin has Carlos's hair from when we were younger. Austin and Lennon both have tan skin, but are complete opposites. Austin is a leader, while Lennon is quiet. But, Lennon is young and looks up to Austin as a role model, a role Austin has accepted completely. Lennon is trying to hide a smile, but I can tell he is excited to go. He completely adores Kendall and Amanda, as Kendall always plays and teaches Lennon about certain things like sports, and Amanda always has jokes for Lennon to hear.
"Carlos, where are the girls?" I ask, grabbing my purse off its hanger.
"Ashleigh is on the roof and Bridget is in her room." Carlos reports. I spin around, my brown eyes wide. "Why is Ashleigh on the roof?" I ask.
"Just joking." Carlos says. He gets up and kisses my cheek. "Ashleigh may be just like me, but she knows that we have to go. I'll go get them."
I let out a sigh of relief. Ashleigh Katherine Garcia, our second oldest child, is completely like my husband. She looks like me, but the fourteen year old is a complete model of Carlos. She talks all the time in class, and I have received constant phone calls from teachers about it. She never gets in trouble though because she shares Carlos's sweet innocence. On cue, my daughter comes walking in. She sits down at the table, some kind of textbook in her hand. Even though she talks a lot in class, she always works hard in her studies.
Carlos reenters the kitchen with my other fourteen year old daughter, Bridget Krystal Boscarino-Garcia. She runs her fingers through her long, shaggy blonde hair, and she smiles up at Carlos, her forest green eyes twinkling. Her pale skin stands out against the rest of us, as Bridget is adopted. She truthfully looks like she could be a long lost sibling of Kendall. Sometimes, Bridget can be demanding and act like she is in her own little world, but most of the time, she is calm, quiet, shy, and peaceful, which is how she acts when she is around the family. We adopted Bridget when she was about four years old, and the family immediately accepted her.
"What are the rules?" I say, leaning against the fridge. I point at Austin to start. Before the Garcia clan goes out anywhere, we go over certain rules so nothing and nobody ends up broken.
"No telling Kendall what to do." Austin says.
"No crazy stunts or pranks." Ashleigh pouts.
"No trying to get away from anybody I don't like." Bridget adds, but then says, "Which doesn't really make any sense, because I like everybody who is going to be there."
I point at Lennon, who finishes off by saying, "No correcting Logan on anything smart he says."
I smile and toss the car keys to Carlos, who catches them. "Let's go then." I say. My children get up and rush out the front door. I stop Carlos right before he walks out the door. "What did you say to Bridget to get her to come down?" I question. "Because I know there was no way she was done with her makeup yet."
"I promised her that you would let her read an expert of your newest book." Carlos answers before rushing to the car. I shake my head. I write books now as a living, spy books, but not under my real name. The series chronicles my spy adventures with Elena, Amanda, and Kameryn, but I don't use any real names. I also run a photography business on the side, as I took up a great interest after Carlos taught me about cameras during one of his lessons during my teen years.
"Come on Mom!" Austin shouts as I lock the front door. I smile and jump into the car with my family, ready to see everybody.
Kameryn Mitchell's POV
"Mom, where are my shoes?" My fourteen year old son, Evan, shouts from the bottom of the stairs. I look at Logan, who shrugs.
"I don't know!" I shout back. "Check the garage!"
"Mom." My other son, twelve year old Lucas, says from the doorway of my room. I quickly button up my white collared shirt and look at him. He holds out a hairbrush for me. "I can't get this one spot in the back that is sticking up." Lucas turns around and points to the back of his blonde hair, where one piece is in fact, sticking up straight. "Can you get it?" He asks, turning back around. I nod and gesture for me to follow him into the bathroom.
Lucas is a lot like me, looks-wise and personality. He is quiet and shy like me, and sometimes ends up lost in the shuffle. Evan reminds me of Kendall, just with Logan's looks. Evan is outgoing, confident, and makes friends like its nothing. Evan sometimes acts without thinking, but always finds a way to make things right if he wronged them in the first place. Lucas looks up to Evan, and Evan guides Lucas in the art of certain things. Lucas is loyal; as is Evan. Something Logan and I raised our sons to be.
"Kameryn!" Logan's voice shouts from the bottom of the stairs. "We have to go!"
"Is it all good Mom?" Lucas asks, looking over his shoulder in the mirror, trying to see if his hair is fixed. "Yes sweetheart, all good." I reply. "Ready to go?"
"Think Bridget will like it?" Lucas asks as he follows me out of the bathroom. I hold back a giggle at Lucas's question. He recently confessed to his father that he had a slight crush on Carlos and Erika's adoptive daughter, Bridget. "Lucas, if Bridget doesn't like your hair, then she is a fool." I say, and kiss my son on the cheek. Lucas lets out a groan and wipes his cheek off. I laugh as the two of us go down the stairs. Logan and Evan are at the front door. Logan has the car keys in his hands, and is twirling them around his finger. Evan is leaning against a wall, texting someone on his phone.
"Well look at you." Logan says. He comes over to me and kisses me on the cheek. "Boys, one day I hope you find love like your mother and I do."
"So are you giving me permission to go to St. Morris's and protected some pretty girls from a hot band who are in danger of being killed?" Evans smirks. "Sweet! Lucas, you can be my sidekick. I think you and I could totally pull off a Batman-Robin thing."
"No way am I wearing tights!" Lucas exclaims. He runs out the front door and to the car, followed by a laughing Evan. Logan looks at me, a smile on his face.
"What?" I ask. He kisses me on the lips before we head out the front door. "Did you find a good home for that little boy?" Logan asks.
When Evan was five and Lucas was three, I started a program that helps abused children find good homes. When Logan and I were eighteen, I finally told him about Marcus and the beatings I had endured throughout my entire life. Logan called the authorities in New York, and Marcus received a life sentence in jail. I visited him shortly after he was sentenced, and he apologized to me for his actions. Marcus told me he only beat me out of anger of our parents for just leaving me. Since then, we have rekindled our relationship, and actually seem like brother and sister. I started the program to help children who are going through what I went through, or worse. Sometimes they are foster kids, or kids just in need of help. Whatever it is, I have helped over a thousand kids find new, healthy homes to grow up in.
"Yes, I found a very good home for him." I reply as we reach the edge of the driveway where the car sits. "You still didn't answer my question of why you were smiling at me." I point out. Logan smiles again. "I was just thinking about how you are still the most beautiful girl in the world." He says. We kiss before we both get in the car, listening to Lucas and Evan continue to argue about who would be Batman and who would be Robin.
Janessa East's POV
"Mommy, Mommy!" A voice shouts from outside. I quickly run outside and see my six year old son, Spencer, standing by a chair. "Spencer, what's wrong?" I ask, scooping my son into my arms.
"It's a rainbow!" Spencer says, pointing to a small stream of water that slowly makes its way across the patio. And, true to my son's words, the water seems to have some kind of rainbow in it. I smile at Spencer and tickle his stomach, causing him to shake with laughter.
"Does that mean Daddy is here?" Spencer asks quietly. I nod my head, blinking back tears. "Why don't you go inside and get washed up for some lunch?"
Spencer nods his head and I watch as he runs off, his blonde hair gleaming in the sunlight. He looks so much like his father, Jackson.
Jackson East. A name that haunts me to forget yet haunts me to never forget. Jackson and I began dating when we he was released from prison, at age twenty six. We got married when I was thirty, but we only had Spencer six years ago, when I was thirty six. Jackson, who ran the fire department downtown in our small Florida town, perished in a fire only a year ago. He loved to tell Spencer stories of how angels would come back down to Earth in the form of rainbows, and now every time Spencer sees a rainbow, he lets me know Daddy is with us.
"Mommy, Scooby Doo is on!" Spencer's voice says from the house. Our yellow lab, Buddy, follows in closely at my heels, sniffing at the floor. Buddy, upon entering the house, looks up at the television and barks at the sight of Scooby Doo. The giant dog runs over to the television and continues to park, much to the amusement of Spencer. My brown eyed son claps his hands, finding the real life dog much more entertaining than the television one.
I call Spencer over for lunch, and his little legs carry him into the kitchen as fast as they can. I boost him up onto his seat, and place a bowl of mac and cheese in front of him. I sit next to him, eating my salad. And the entire time, Spencer babbles on about what they did in school yesterday, even though he already told me yesterday.
Soon, Spencer places his soon down and jumps out of his seat. "Can we play spy like you?" He asks. I nod my head and Spencer runs off to hide. He likes to call hide and go seek 'Spy', as he has some vague background of my past. My son doesn't know about all the horrible things I had down, just the part about spy school.
"Ready or not, here I come!" I shout, making my way off down the hall. A memory flashes through my head, and I am forced to lean against the wall for a moment till it passes. Blood flying flashes through my head, as does Ciri's fist beating me that one day I tried and failed to protect Kameryn. As quickly as it came on, the memory goes away, and I continue off down the hall, 'searching' for my son.
I often have flashbacks to my teen years. Doctors have told me this is my way of dealing with the trauma I suffered. They started right after I was reunited with my family after I walk away from Astoria and Ciri years ago. My family and I fled to Puerto Rico, and when I was eighteen I left for college in London. I majored in medicine, and started a non-profit clinic that offered free medical care to the needy. I called it, 'The Clarke Foundation.' I see it as my way as repaying Kameryn for not being able to protect her all those years ago. I still run the clinic, but do not work as much as I need to take care of Spencer.
"You found me Mommy!" Spencer shouts, appearing from out of nowhere, and despite the fact that I didn't find him. I pick him up and spin him around a circle, while he giggles. "Want to play again?" Spencer asks.
"Why wouldn't I?" I reply. I set Spencer, and he covers his eyes. I hide behind a corner, in an easy hiding spot for him to find me. He turns around, and soon his little eyes spot me.
"I found you!" He cheers. I pull Spencer into a hug and kiss him. "You sure did buddy." I whisper into his ears. "You sure did."
General POV
The Garcia clan was the last one to pull up to the house. The Mitchell family was the first to arrive, followed by the Diamonds' shortly after. The men were outside by the grill, chattering on about things occurring in their lives, even though Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan had seen each other last week. Elena, Erika, and Kameryn were sitting on patio chairs up on the deck, talking while watching Evan, Brian, and Sammy teach Dean how to hit a baseball. Amanda was showing Lennon and Danielle how to tie a water balloon, which she then thrown at James's head, causing the man to scream like a little girl, getting a laugh from everybody. Riley and Austin were in the pool, playing basketball against each other. Austin kept dunking Riley under, which would cause Kendall to tell Austin that he needs to learn how to flirt with a girl better, and getting a laugh from everyone and a bright red blush from Austin and Riley. Bridget and Lucas sitting on the swing set, twirling around in their seats, exchanged in some kind of conversation.
"Incoming!" Three voices shouted from above. A second later, three giant water balloons were sailing down from an open window and onto Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan's heads. Everybody looked up to see Emma, William, and Ashleigh laughing from the window. "And that, my younger friends, is how you pull a prank!" Ashleigh laughed
"Ashleigh Katherine Garcia, what did I say about pranks?" Erika scolded, but a smile was still on her face. Ashleigh flashed a smile before disappearing from the window with the two giggling seven year olds. A minute later, they join the rest of the group outside.
Ashleigh headed down to her dripping father, who had a goofy grin on his face. "Your mother is so going to kill you later." Carlos winked at his daughter. Ashleigh just laughed, and said, "I like to see her catch me first." Ashleigh does a back handspring, before joining Brian, Evan, Sammy, and Dean.
James got down to his smiling children's level and pointed to his hair. "What did we say about Daddy's hair?" James asked.
"Don't mess it up." The twins replied. James ruffled their hair before sending them off on their way. The twins jumped into the pool, joining Riley and Austin, who let them join the game. Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan joined their wives up on the deck along with Amanda, who had recently joined the group up on the deck. Amanda, at seeing the sight of her wet husband, bursted out into laughter.
"I wish I had a time machine, so I could being you to the past and have your past see you now!" Amanda joked, wiping tears from her brown eyes.
"My past self would have a heart attack at seeing my hair like this." James replied, shaking his wet head. "I'm on the verge of one now."
The eight adults on the deck laughed. Soon, as their children's laughter rang through the backyard, the eight found themselves in positions they had not been in years. Kameryn sitting in a patio chair, Logan leaning against the chair. Kendall and Elena were sitting on wooden floor, with Elena between Kendall's long legs and his arms wrapped around her neck, holding his wife close to him. James and Amanda were sitting side by side, with James having one arm wrapped around Amanda's waist. Carlos and Erika were sitting side by side, hands linked with each other.
"How many years has it been since we all sat like this?" Kendall asked. "The last time was when…" He trailed off, unsure of whether or not to speak of the events that brought them all together.
"The last time we were all like this was when I was in the hospital." Kameryn said. Memories seem to cover everybody's mask like an unwanted mask. Logan leaned down and kissed the everlasting scar on Kameryn's forehead, something he always does when the memory of her experience comes up. Soon, the memory slipped away, and Kameryn leaned up and kissed Logan's cheek. "Love you." She whispered. Logan just smiled, and mouthed back the same thing.
"I'm thankful for what happened those two years." Amanda declared. James looked down at his wife, confused. "I mean, it brought us all together."
"It was one mistake," Erika said, "And none of us was a survivor. We all made one giant mistake, and it was one that seemed like it couldn't be fixed."
"But we did." Elena declared. "We survived, and look where we are today. Happy, together, and with families. I could never be more grateful."
Kendall raised his glass of water and said, "Cheers to the stupid years of teenage hood!" He shouts. The eight adults clink their glasses together, smiling the entire time. They were together, and happy. The survivors of the greatest mistake any teenager could ever make. A mistake, the eight would be grateful forever for.
The End