Paternal Bonds Shattered

Disclaimer: Do I need to say it? I don't own iCarly

A/N:

Chapter 38 (Whole Again)

Vanessa watched little Rachel playing with Derek, Hank, and Lilly. She could only think of how innocent these little children were. So innocent, so undeserving of having their mothers taken from them. Hank and Lilly were the fortunate two, they were allowed the choice of having a normal childhood. Should it even be a choice, though? Rachel and Derek had done well to grow, despite the struggles they had. Perhaps it was Adam's spirit really watching over them.

"So I'll be the King and you can be the Queen, Rachel!" Vanessa placed her elbow on her armrest and rested her cheek to her chin, smiling cheerfully as Derek took a strong stance and pointed a stick at Rachel. Rachel laughed and Derek pointed to the fort. "This is the castle where Hank imprisons you!" Hank groaned and Lilly grinned at him.

"Why do I always have to be the villain?"

"Because you are." Hank sighed and Lilly giggled. Rachel jumped giddily and grabbed Lilly's hand.

"Lilly's my best friend, so she has to be there with me!" Derek tapped his chin and tilted his head in thought. What could Lilly be? Perhaps a servant to Hank who was friendly with Rachel. He nodded and placed his closed hand in his palm, a light bulb going off in his head.

"Okay, Lilly's the servant! She treats Lilly like royalty. Then the King comes by and saves her!" Hank sighed and shrugged, as long as he was playing the game and they had fun, he was happy. The kids laughed and ran off into places, Rachel and Lilly climbing the fort while Hank circled the fort as if he were a shark circling a boat. Vanessa watched this exchange and turned her eyes to the side. Such was the age of innocence, when children's games were just that, children's games, not real life. Where rescuing the princess was only a thing of the past that you did with your best friends. It was never serious, god forbid it ever become a reality. Perhaps Derek and Rachel knew more about this 'game' than Hank and Lilly, or perhaps they didn't realize the realism that came with their casting. To them, it was a silly kid's game, but to Vanessa, it was so much more. To her, they only took on the roles of her baby sister, of Sam, of Hector, and possibly either Jonah or Freddie. She tapped her foot on the porch floor and looked to the screen door. Her family was inside, each of them sitting there, waiting for something, anything. Maybe Jonah would call, but if he didn't call soon, they were to expect the worst. She was probably one of the only ones handling this without breaking down and crying. She couldn't break down, as the oldest sister, she had a job to uphold her image as the strong older sister.

Vanessa looked up as Viola walked out onto the porch. She finally finished with all the operations needed to walk again, but kept her wheelchair as a firm reminder of all that she'd been through. Vincent stepped out with her and placed his hand on the small of her back, he was so happy for his wife. He was retired now and making a good pension. His greatest dream now was seeing his family whole again. "Everyone's here, aren't they?" Vincent nodded at his daughter and Viola wiped her eyes. By everyone, she meant the girls and even Jonah's family.

"Michael got his father and grandfather in law here just a little bit ago," Vincent stated. Granddad Bryant was 110 years old now, Ryan was 89, and perhaps the only thing keeping these two men from passing on was seeing the woman their grandson was going to marry, this sweet and doting young girl that he called Valerie. Olivia was 22 now and joining the military. Above all else, she wanted to see Valerie safe before she went off to boot camp. She was going to become a pilot and couldn't wait to be through with aviation school. "Your sisters are all inside, if you would like to come in. The children will be safe out here."

"No, I want to watch them." Everybody was holding their breaths. Like Freddie had done with his staff at his mansion, Jonah had given them a specific time to await his contact. If he didn't contact by that certain time, assume the worst had happened. Well, that time was in a few more hours and everyone wanted to be with someone for if Jonah didn't contact them. "I thought you were playing poker with Jonah's dad and grandpas, dad?" Vincent chuckled and crossed his arms, closing his eyes as he began feeling the effects of his pride.

"Please, I don't want to be stuffed in a room filled with old men. I'm only 64! I'm not old."

"You're ten years older than Jonah's dad." He paled and stared at her with narrow eyes. He pouted and huffed.

"Thanks for pointing that out, sweetie." Viola laughed and placed her hand to her lips, covering her wide smile. "I'm not sure what hurts more, my age, or the fact that someone over one hundred years old can kick my ass at a poker game." Vanessa smirked as Vincent shook his head slowly.

"Well look at it this way, he's got about forty-six more years of experience than you do!"

"Yeah. Forty-six too many…"

"Well what can you do?" Vanessa looked at the children playing their game and felt a sense of depression growing inside of her. She wanted them to play something else, so badly she did. She had to remind herself that they were just children. The screen door opened once more and George strolled out on the porch. Vincent looked back at him as the elderly man tapped his foot impatiently on the ground.

"There's where you ran off to, coward." Vincent chuckled nervously as Vanessa and Viola watched with amusement. "What? You couldn't take the fact that I had a better hand?"

"I swear you're cheating somehow, old man!"

"I'm just an old man in a wheelchair, how the hell can I cheat?"

"You're in cahoots with your son in law!"

"Ryan's got nothing to do with my skills." Ryan and Michael stepped onto the porch, eager to see what was going on. Vincent had left the card game a bit early. Everyone there knew it was just nervous jitters and no matter how hard they tried, they were unable to focus entirely on the game. They all relaxed themselves and watched the children, perhaps this was the most calming thing they could do. "Look at those youngsters, not even aware of why everyone waits…" Ryan nodded and leaned his shoulder up against a pillar holding up the roof of the patio.

"I'm lucky enough to be alive to see my great granddaughter. Now…I just want to see my grandson happy, I want to see him have a family." The others nodded as Michael rubbed the back of his neck and rolled his head around. He and his father still had a pretty good relationship and in all honesty, he hoped that he and Jonah would be this close when they were old. Perhaps future happiness all depended on what would take place today.

In the kitchen, the other sisters huddled together while Vixen showed off some of her moves. "See my dance instructor wants us to perform a very complex dance, but I can't seem to get it right." Vixen sighed as she attempted a complex move and fell to her feet. She groaned and Victoria helped her to her feet. Veronica sipped her drink and shook her head.

"You probably have a lot on your mind Vixen, I mean we all do." Veronica set her drink on the table and began adjusting Vixen's shirt. "I mean you know what my boss said to me this week? You look too stressed, I can't use you in any shots, take the week off! So I'm out of work this week. At least the guy thinks I'm good enough to keep the job."

"Yeah, you are, Veronica. I mean, we've all seen your modeling, you're spectacular!" Veronica blushed as her sisters nodded. She didn't feel so good, though. Every day was still hell for them. The past ten years were the worst years of their life, knowing that they had a sister still alive out there. They could never mourn for her, because they knew she wasn't dead, but they could never go find her or see her because they knew she might be killed, or worse.

"I wish we could just be a happy family again. I mean hell, when mom was able to walk again…"

"We were happy then, weren't we?" Victoria circled the two girls and moved her eyes to the porch while responding to Vixen's question.

"Sure, we were happy for mom, but it wasn't euphoria, if that's what you're asking." They'd all been excited, but even Viola felt a weighty haze upon her, they all did. There had been so much stress going on that the family had nearly been split apart from it all. There had been fights, there had been many arguments and harsh emotions strewn about, but they still managed to rise above it all. "Girls…" Vixen and Veronica looked to Victoria as she begun to sob. Of all of them, she had been the one to take it hardest of the siblings. "I miss Valerie…" The girls hugged their sister close and let her cry on their shoulders. They closed their eyes and felt the pain in their chests as they started to cry as well. During all this, none of them could remember seeing Vanessa cry, but they knew inside she'd gone practically nuts when Valerie was taken from them. They wanted to see her cry, though. They wanted to be able to hold her, but she always had to be the strong one. They wanted to tell her she didn't have to be so strong, but she'd probably think they were insane for thinking such a thing.

"Does anyone know where Olivia is?" Vixen wiped her eyes and looked around. Olivia had been with them, but she wasn't in the room anymore. She was the only one that nobody could see, and everyone wanted to remain within eyeshot. "I thought she wanted to stick around with us and wait for…"

A squeal erupted from another room and the girls looked up in time to see Olivia running into the room. Her mouth was wide in a grin and her heart was pacing. The girls quickly followed her and stopped at the screen door as Olivia ran out onto the porch, waving her cell phone in the air. All eyes fell onto her as the kids continued their game. "I just got a call from Jonah! I spoke with her, she's with him, Valerie!" Everyone continued to stare at her, the shock washing over them as euphoria began pouring through their veins. "They're on their way from Freddie's place as we speak, or well, they've been on the road!"

"How close is he?" Michael asked with a smile. "How close is my son? Is my daughter…" Vanessa rose from her seat and blinked, her sisters all watched her closely.

"Dad, Jonah and Valerie will be here in exactly an hour." Michael cheered as everybody began rushing into the house. They had to prepare, though there wasn't much to prepare, they weren't throwing some big 'welcome home' party for anyone, they just wanted to look their best. Vanessa remained on the porch, choking up a sob. Veronica, Victoria, and Vixen all eyed each other as Vanessa finally broke. Her little sister was coming home, for good! This was the best day of her life. The girls surrounded Vanessa while Veronica tilted her head.

"Go on 'Nessa, cry. Let it out, you've held your tears back for ten years, let them pour." Vanessa strained and suddenly they came rushing from her eyes. The girls hugged her as she sobbed silently, so overcome with joy, sorrow, grief, pleasure, and a whole mix of other emotions. Veronica rubbed her oldest sister's back and smiled. "This time, let us take care of you."

An hour later, Jonah pulled up in front of the house. He looked to Valerie and held her hand, smiling and gazing lovingly into her eyes. "You know, they're not sure whether to stay in Index or move back to Seattle. Ten years and this town has grown on them. Can you believe that?" Valerie laughed and looked at the house. She wasn't surprised, she'd love a small town, but she would miss Seattle too much. "At least your mom and dad are wanting to stay here. Most of your sisters have moved back to Seattle, save Vixen, who still lives with her parents."

"Yeah, so Mom and Dad want to stay here?"

"Yep. My dad's moving back to Seattle to be a little closer to where I am. Rachel still manages to get me to drive all the way out here so she can see her grandparents." Valerie smiled as a tear dripped down her cheek. She was so happy to know she could be with her family. She'd missed so much, too much.

"Mom…can walk now, right?"

"Uh huh."

"I'm happy for her." At least she had reasons to be happy. Honestly, she was afraid she'd never see them again. "Can we go in? It's been so long, I don't want to go another second. I don't think I can go another second without seeing them." Jonah smiled and exited the car, walked around and opened the passenger door for Valerie. As she stepped out of the car, her family seemed to pile out of the front door, an overwhelming, but pleasant sight to see. She smiled at them as Viola ran to her daughter. "Mom…"

"Valerie!" Viola hugged her daughter tightly and tears dripped from her cheeks. Her sisters and Vincent hurried over, each wanting a piece of this greeting. Michael, Olivia, Ryan and George moved over to Jonah. Michael pat his son on the shoulder and smiled proudly.

"You brought her home finally, eh Son? Have I ever told you how proud I am of the man you've grown to be." Jonah smiled and nodded his head. Viola released her daughter and stepped back, spinning a bit.

"Look Valerie dear, I can walk again. And those doctors said I wouldn't be able to walk ever again!" Valerie grinned and applauded her mother. Victoria and Veronica felt their hearts lift up. There was that euphoria they'd missed so much. "I can walk, Valerie, I can walk! I can run, I can dance, but I can't do a cartwheel. I'll break my back." She laughed and hugged Valerie again. This wasn't supposed to be a somber moment, they wanted to forget that she'd been gone for ten whole years. Hell, the last time they physically saw her, Rachel was three. Vincent smiled at his wife and folded his arms over. If his wife and daughters were happy, then he was. He turned to Jonah and his eyes shone with pride.

"So Jonah, you've brought my last daughter home to me. Ten years after saving my family, but hey…better late than never." Hell, the fact that Valerie had been pregnant at sixteen wasn't an issue to him, not at all. He knew it then and he knew it now. Jonah was the type of man that could be trusted, this much was clear as day. "When's the wedding?" Valerie lifted her eyes quickly and blushed as Jonah chuckled nervously.

"Dad!" Michael walked over to Vincent and placed his elbow on his shoulder.

"I agree with old Vincent here, when is the wedding." Jonah and Valerie looked to each other as her sisters surrounded them. Vanessa waved her hands in the air and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me! One step at a time! My baby sister just got home, we can all plan the wedding later." They laughed as another car pulled up. Jonah had almost forgotten to mention that Sam, Freddie, Amy, and Angie were coming along with them in their own car. Sam wanted to see her son and Angie couldn't wait to see her brother again. Everybody looked to them as they left their own car. Sam closed her eyes and sighed softly as the cool wind breezed onto her face. Valerie hugged her and smiled.

"Feels good to be free, doesn't it, Sam?"

"Hell yes." Both of them could appreciate the cool, crisp air. Sam smiled and hugged Valerie's hand. In the last ten years, she'd become her best friend. Granted, it wouldn't change how she looked at Carly. But the two were close in a way that she and Carly had never been. Angie tugged on her mother's pant leg and smiled.

"Mommy, where's big brother?" Valerie looked at the little girl and grinned, then looked to her family.

"Yeah, where are our children?"

Rachel, Derek, Hank, and Lilly were all laughing and rolling around on the grass. Yet again, the good guy prevailed. Hank and Lilly went back to the fort as Derek and Rachel's laughter started to die down and they stared up into the sky. "Derek, do you think we'll see our mommies again?"

"Sure, why wouldn't we?"

"Because…mommy's been in captivity for as long as I've been alive! I don't know if the good guys will win this time. It's not a game for our mommies...Where's their kings, their princes?" Derek's face softened as Rachel wiped her eyes. They both knew that game meant more to them than it did to Hank and Lilly. While those two were their best friends, there was just a bond that Derek and Rachel had that those two would never have with them. Derek moved his hand over to Rachel's and grasped it softly.

"It's okay Rachel, I think we will, because Angie said our dads went to find our moms." Rachel smiled and rolled over to snuggle next to her best friend. Derek breathed out and looked into the sky with a more serious expression. "Adam, I hope you help mommy and Rachel's mom make it home safely."

"Derek!"

"Rachel!"

Derek and Rachel gasped and their eyes shot open as they sat up and looked at each other. Had they heard it, or had it been a figment of their own imaginations? Hank and Lilly watched from the fort with bright grins. The two stood up and looked at the house, seeing Valerie and Sam standing on the front lawn. They had tears in their eyes and both were kneeling on one knee. Angie waved at her brother and smiled. Derek and Rachel felt their hearts swell and pound, their dreams come true. Their mothers were home! "Mommy!" They ran into their mother's arms as the women held them tightly and cried with them. That day, there was not a single dry eye, and on that day, the families were whole again.

Emotional chapter, emotional ending of the chapter. I love it. This was where I THOUGHT to end the story, but I pressed on for the next generation. However there are a LOT of differences. One MAJOR difference (It is major, though he appears only in two consecutive chapters) is actually a surprise...but there's a huge difference with the whole cliff thing and whatnot that took place in PB, along with the trial, Hector, etc etc. You'll enjoy it...I just changed to what I felt would have been a more realistic approach