CHAPTER FIFTEEN
(chapter title – Cassidy's Point of View, part 2)

It seemed like Marius and I had finally fallen asleep when the sound of a cat dying woke me up. I put my glasses on and looked at the clock – 5:00 AM.

Marius continued snoring, which I kicked him for. I turned on my stomach as the noise grew louder. I then realized what it was – my uncle Seamus playing the bagpipes.

"What is that God-awful noise?" Marius questioned. I had put the pillow over my head and tried to get some more sleep in before the twins woke up.

"My uncle Seamus playing the bagpipes." I answered, my voice muffled.

"Why does he play the bagpipes at five o'clock in the bloody morning?" Marius asked.

"I don't know. He lived with us when I was younger and he did it then, too." I answered, sitting up and stretched. I looked over at Marius, who had gone back to bed.

On my way to the bathroom, I checked on the twins. They were fast asleep and I prayed they didn't hear the bagpipes.

I took a quick shower and sang a little of Falling Slowly when I saw Marius join me. I rubbed the shampoo throughout my hair and continued singing as Marius stepped closer to me and kissed my neck, his eyes going to my Celtic cross.

"Where'd you get that?" he asked.

"My mom left it to me." I answered, finishing up. I didn't want to talk about my parents right now.

He sensed that I had moved away from the subject. I stepped out of the shower and went to get dressed. I then went to the spare room where the babies were and looked down at them. Cosette was beginning to stir while Ryan still slept.

I picked Cosette up and held her as she began crying. I bounced her on my hip as we went to the rocking chair. I lifted my shirt and bra before bringing Cosette to my chest. She latched on and suckled loudly. I smiled and stroked her hair as I sang Falling Slowly to her.

She finished nursing a while later. I picked her up and held her against me as I continued singing Falling Slowly. I felt her bottom and brought her to the changing table so I could change her.

I finished with Cosette and turned my attention to Ryan. I picked him up and did the same routine with him.

Soon, both babies were taken care of. I exited the nursery and went to the room where Marius and I were staying. I made the bed and saw him sitting on the chair next to the bed holding Darlin'.

"Are you mad at me or something?" Marius asked.

"No, I'm not mad. I just have a lot to do today. I'm meeting Bridget, Thomas and Evanna for breakfast at The Red Fox then we're doing some things for the memorial service," I told him, grabbing my light jacket. "You and the twins are more than welcome to come with us, if you want."

"I actually need to talk to Dean about something. It has to do with your birthday." He told me. I realized that my birthday was the day before Cedric's memorial service.

"Okay. Would you be willing to watch the twins? I'm gonna pump this morning so we can start bottle feeding them." I told Marius, getting my pumping supplies. He removed the jacket I had on and exited the room. He knew I liked privacy while I pumped.

I finished and poured the milk into bottles and put the bottles in the fridge. I then washed the parts I used to pump with in sudsy water and put them on a towel to dry.

I found Marius sitting on the couch in the living area looking at a throw pillow with words on it. I smiled – remembering the words from my childhood.

The pillow was blue with white flowers around the edges. The words were also white and read – Life has knocked me down a few times. It has shown me things I never wanted to see. I have experienced sadness and failures. But one thing for sure…I always get up!

"Usually, these things have some sort of phrase on them like 'love is the strongest gift there is' or something like that." Marius noted. I kissed his cheek and rested my head on his shoulder.

"I made that pillow when I was having a really bad day," I told him, taking his hand in mine. I kissed him and looked into his eyes. "I have to go now. There's six bottles in the fridge for the babies. I love you so much."

"I love you, too. Tell Thomas, Evanna and Bridget I said 'hi', okay?" Marius told me. I nodded and stood up. I grabbed my purse and exited the room, looking one last time at my husband.

I headed down the stairs and saw Thomas sitting at the kitchen table, a coffee cup between his hands. I walked over to my brother and sat on the kitchen stool next to him.

"Uncle Seamus wake you up?" I asked, helping myself to an apple in the basket on the table.

"Yeah." He answered, taking a sip of coffee. I hugged him and knew he was going through this the hardest – Cedric had been his twin brother.

"Evanna and Bridget should be up and around soon," I told him. "Have you thought about what you're going to say?"

"Not yet. I still can't believe he's gone." Thomas said.

"I know. I can't believe it, either." I remarked, wrapping my arms around his neck.

We stayed like that for a few minutes before Bridget and Evanna announced that they were ready to go.

We took Bridget's car, since it was the only one all four of us could fit in comfortably. I sat up front with Bridget, while Evanna and Thomas squished in the back.

It was pretty quiet on the drive to the Red Fox Pub. Thomas was the owner of the Pub, so we got to eat free, so did friends and family.

When we got there, I saw a red car parked in the first parking spot in the parking lot.

"Looks like Kathleen, Robert and Rose are here." Thomas noted as Bridget pulled next to the red car. We all exited the car and walked to the pub.

Thomas was right – under the green and white striped awning were three people waiting to enter the pub. I recognized the woman as Kathleen O'Brien, Cedric's ex-wife. I noticed the twins next to her and gasped – the last time I had seen the twins since they were two-years-old.

We all went into the pub as Thomas turned on the lights and went to the kitchen. He heated us up some bangers and mash as all of us sat at our favorite table.

"Cassidy, it's so good to see you again." Kathleen broke the silence as I sat next to her. Kathleen and I weren't the best of friends, but I was willing to put that behind me.

"You, too, Kathleen," I told her, taking a sip of my water. I then turned to the twins, "Rose, Robert. So good to see you!"

"You, too Aunt Cassidy." Rose told me. Robert was silent. He had some vocal cord damage and usually signed. Today, nothing. I knew he was upset about his father dying. I reached across the table and took his hand in mine.

We talked for a while before Evanna, Bridget and I went to a store in Dublin Square to get an outfit for me for the memorial service. I had forgotten the dress I was going to bring at home.

I found the perfect dress to wear to the memorial service – it was black with a pattern of white flowers on it. It came mid-calf and also came with a matching sweater, since it was sleeveless.

"You should also get this." Evanna said, shoving a beautiful red dress in my arms. She went to pay for the black dress while I tried on the red dress.

I turned in the mirror and was in love. It was tea-length and had quarter-length sleeves. It was low-cut, so I bought a white sweater to go over it.

We exited the store and went back to the house to relive Marius of babysitting.

"Hey. How was it with your family?" Marius asked as I took the dress bags to the bedroom.

"It was good. How were the kids?" I asked as I sat next to him on the couch. He was currently watching a Rugby game. I rested my head on his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

"They're fine. They've been asleep for an hour now." Marius told me, turning so he could see me. He turned off the TV and focused all his attention on me.

"What have you been up to?" I asked, sitting on top of him.

"Dean, Thomas and I have been planning your surprise party." Marius told me.

"Anything you can tell me?" I asked between kisses. He stood up and led me to the bedroom.

"You'll. Find. Out. Tonight. I. Think. You'll. Like. It." He answered between kisses. I felt his hands go up my shirt as we fell down on the bed.

We made out for a while before Marius told me to take a shower and get ready. I got the dress bag that contained my dress for the evening and went to take a shower.

I finished my shower and was blow-drying my hair when I heard Marius on the phone.

"Yeah…Tonight at 7:30 at the Red Fox Pub…Sneak in the back so she won't see you…Could you be there at five for a sound check?... I'll make sure of that…Okay…See you soon….Thanks again, Gavin…Bye."

"Who was that?" I asked as I applied mascara, lipstick and put my hair into a braid. I then put on my glasses and exited the bathroom.

"No one for you to-" he stopped mid-sentence and stared at me. "Wow – you look absolutely beautiful!"

"You like it? Evanna and Bridget helped me pick it out." I told him, slipping the sweater on, along with my black sandals.

"Give me a minute and I'll be ready." Marius told me, stepping into the bathroom. I went to feed and change the twins. I put a pink dress on Cosette and a T-shirt with a picture of a tuxedo on it and jeans on Ryan.

Marius came over to me as I was getting the twins diaper bag ready. I felt him kiss my neck and put his arms around my waist.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart. I love you so much." Marius whispered in my ear. I turned around and kissed him on the lips.

He picked up Cosette while I picked up Ryan. I closed the door behind me and followed Marius to the car. We put the twins in their carseats and I climbed in the front seat.

"Here, put this on," Marius told me, handing me a blindfold. I raised an eyebrow. "where we're going is a surprise. Don't take off the blindfold until we get there."

"Um, o-kay." I told him, tying the bandana around my eyes.

We drove for a while. I was completely bored, so I started singing random songs. Marius joined in once in a while, but other than that, he was silent.

I felt the car stop and heard Marius get out of the car. He opened my car door and helped me unfasten my seatbelt and lead me away from the car.

"I forgot the twins! Stay right there!" Marius told me. Of course, I stood there like an idiot while Marius got both twins out of the car and handed me one.

We then went up a couple of steps and went through a doorway.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT CASSIDY, CASSIDY AND MOM! WE LOVE YOU!" I heard a lot of people shout. Marius removed my blindfold as I felt my eyes well-up with tears. In the crowd, I saw Ella, Anton, Enjolras, Eponine, Sara, Jolene, Kathleen, Robert, Rose, Gavroche, Courfrayac, Joly, Combeferre, Jehan, Grantaire, Javert, Bahorel, Feuilly, Thomas, Evanna and Bridget.

"Thanks you guys!" I finally said after a long time.

"This isn't all of your birthday surprise." Marius whispered in my ear. He turned me around and led me to the front of the pub.

I nearly screamed when I saw who was onstage. In person were Gavin and Marissa, the two people responsible for my favorite movie and favorite song.

"Happy birthday Cassidy! Hope you're having a great day!" Marissa said into the microphone. She had a soft accent, which I couldn't place. She was sitting at the piano while Gavin sat on a stool next to her, strumming his guitar.

"Everyone, grab a loved one and dance with Marius and Cassidy." Gavin said in a light Irish accent.

Marius took me in his arms as Falling Slowly began playing.

"This is the best birthday present ever! Thank you so much!" I whispered in Marius' ear as we danced around the floor.

"You're welcome. I love you so much and would do anything for you." Marius told me.

I rested my head on his shoulder and looked at all the dancing couples. I felt Marius draw me closer and hold me.

The song finished and all of us turned to the stage, applauding loudly. Everyone left the dance floor and helped themselves to a cupcake – chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or blueberry. I helped myself to a chocolate cupcake and went to talk with Ella. I hugged her tightly and looked into her eyes.

"How are your bad days doing?" I asked.

"They're okay. I just think about Hope and everything good in my life and they go away." She told me, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back and felt Marius wrap an arm around me.

"I'll take the children to the hotel room, if you want me to." Javert told me.

"All but the twins – they're staying with Marius and myself." I told him, looking over at Marius. He was holding Cosette while Evanna held Ryan.

Marius and I said goodnight to Ella and Anton, telling them we would see them tomorrow. We also said goodnight to Javert, Evanna and the twins. Evanna said she would take the twins home for us. She and Dean would put them in their pajamas and take care of them for us.

Soon, the party was winding down. Thomas offered to drive us home, seeing as both Marius and I were falling asleep on our feet.

"Honey, I've been thinking about something," I told my wonderful husband as I changed into my pajamas, "when the twins turn a year, I would like to have another baby."

"Sweetie, are you sure?" Marius asked. I nodded and sat at the desk in the corner of the room. I found my note cards and a pen. I tapped the pen to my cheek as I thought about what I was going to say the following day, "what are you doing?"

"I've been busy all day, I didn't get a chance to write my speech for tomorrow." I answered, writing down some ideas. Cedric and Thomas were ten years older than I was, so I really didn't grow up with them.

The order of us kids went – Cedric and Thomas, Bridget, Evanna and myself. We had a little brother between Bridget and Evanna, but he died when he was eight months – he had an infection in his lungs and he couldn't fight it.

I focused my thoughts and took another sip of tea. I looked at Marius and longed to join him, but I had to write my speech.

Around midnight, I had something and decided to call it quits. I put my materials away and went to join Marius. He was fast asleep, but woke up when I put my head on his shoulder.

I fell asleep in his arms, dreaming of our perfect family.