Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 7- Fearless

Author's Note: Hi everyone! It just now occured to me that for the past 5 or 6 chapters that I had been spelling 'Absence' wrong in the title above. Fail. Really sorry about that! Feeling a little stupid right now, but hey. In order to be old and wise, you have to at some point be young and stupid. ;-)

Harper's POV

"I don't think a pack of energy drinks was on your parent's grocery list, Max," I informed him as we walked back to the shop. I guestured to the heavier paper bag in his hand.

"But it is something that will keep me occupied and out of their hair," He replied, obviously proud of his previous remark. I rolled my eyes.

"But it will also keep you up for nights on end, and make you look like you need to be in a mental institution," I responded, shuffling the bag of lettuce to my other hand.

"Please, Harper. I'm not fourteen. I'm a legal adult." he enphasised. He attempted to strut down the sidewalk, but missed the curb by one foot and ended up falling backwards into a neighbor's shrub. I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really now? Way to show off your legal adult brain, dude." I snickered to myself as he angerly climbed back to his feet. I was still laughing my head off as we walked into the Russo's front door.

"Hey guys! You'll never guess what Max did!" I laughed loudly as Max pulled shrub out of his hair.

"Hey, who's the kid?" Max whispered to me. I gave him a confused glance. He pointed to the bar, where a small dark haired girl was sitting with her back facing us. I walked a little closer. The girl was smiling as she carefully used crayons on an opened jumbo coloring book.

"Mrs. Russo?" I called out in confusion.

"Yes, Harper?" she replied, her head in the fridge.

"Um," I studdered, "Any reason for a kid to be in here?"

Mrs. Russo's head instantly snapped.

"Nonna?" the little girl spoke up in a high bell-chime voice, "Do you have a crayon sharpener?"

My jaw dropped. "And, why is she calling you Nonna?" I demanded.

"Because she said that Grandma sounded too old and gray," the girl answered for me. She spun around in her chair and gave me a dazzling smile.

"Wait just one second!" I demanded, "Grandma?" I shoved the groceries in my arms onto the counter.

Mrs. Russo gave me a worried glance, then smiled at the girl. "One second, sweetie. I'm pretty sure there's a sharpener in the closet upstairs. Why don't you go check?"

The little girl nodded and skipped past me up the stairs. On her way up, I caught a glimpse of her eyes. They were a pretty shade of dark brown. They looked happy and honest, and way too familiar.

I waited until she left the room before I confronted the issue. I lowered my voice to where she couldn't hear. "What the heck is going on?" I demanded.

"Well," Mrs. Russo began, "it's kind of a long story. You see-"

"Hey Mom?" an even more familiar voice called as footsteps thudded down the metal staircase, "Leah said she couldn't find a sharpener in the closet. Is there any other place one might be?" She bounded down the stairs with the girl on her right hip. She glanced into the living room, then noticed me. She froze.

"H-harper..?" she studdered.

"Alex?" I asked.

She stared at me with wide eyes. I stared back at her, my eyes equally as wide. She slowly set the girl down and continued down the stairs. A smile spred across her face.

"HARPER!" she cried as she rushed over. She threw her arms around me, much to my surprise. My jaw dropped into an open-mouthed smile as I hugged her back.

"Oh Harper! I thought you would've forgotten about me by now!" She informed me. I could see a single tear start to form in her eye as she laughed.

"And, I thought you weren't a hugger..?" I laughed as she released me.

"Five years can change a person," she smiled, striking a random pose. I laughed. Same old Alex.

"You can say that again!" I replied, "You look great!" She smirked. Never to refuse a compliment: so Alex. "And why on earth would I forget my best friend?"

The little girl spoke up in a singsong voice. "So this is the best friend you were always talking about!" she laughed.

Alex carefully lifted the girl up into her arms. "Harper, this is my daughter, Leah Nicole. Leah, this is your Aunt Harper."

My face lit up like a street light. "Aunt Harper?" I asked.

"Well, duhh," Alex corrected, "She wasn't going to call you Uncle Harper!"

"Well I'm honored," I smiled.

"Shouldn't I be honored, too?" Max interrupted us. Alex head turned. Her jaw dropped.

"Max!" she yelped, pushing Leah into my arms as she dashed over to her brother, gawking over how much he'd grown. Leah instantly hugged me. I smiled and hugged her back, feeling touched that she accepted me so quickly. I looked into her eyes. I could definatly see Alex in her, but she also had Mason's kind smile. She looked happy. I had always pictured Alex as a good mom; she was just a kid herself at heart.

Alex's POV

I sat in the living room with my family, having the time of my life. I couldn't stop smiling even for a second. Whether it was my brothers and I reliving our old childhood memories, or just smiling at my beautiful daughter, who had fallen asleep in my dad (and now her Poppy)'s arms, I felt secure. I felt happy. I felt right at home. I honestly couldn't ask for anything more. My life was coming close to perfect.

Once again, of course, I spoke too soon.

Review? :)