Chapter 19
''I thought Dr. Robbins teaches all her students that jealousy is a green-eyed monster'' – Derek winked to Alison.
Internally Alison groaned. She couldn't believe how quickly he read her. Was she really that obvious, she questioned herself. Well, there was no point in denying it. Jealousy is a big green-eyed monster and if you feed it once it never stops being hungry.
But it felt strange to Alison. She was never jealous of her brothers and sisters. Nana and David never made them feel like that. So, she couldn't understand why was she feeling it now. What was it that made her jealous? Was it because deep down she feared her family was only 'borrowed' and now when she's found her mother she knew noone could take that away from her? Was it that? Did she want her mom only to be hers?
When all those questions started buzzing in her mind she realized how childish all that sounded. She had to remind herself that she's waaaay past that age when she could act like a possesive child. So she tried to play as cool as she could in front of Derek.
''And you never heard that there is no reasoning with the monster?!'' – Ali winked back.
As the thickling monster a.k.a Amelia saw her brother and daughter winking at each other and coming closer she stopped with her sweet torture of the little ones and looked questioningly at them. Derek's likable character and his ability to get under people's skin with his wit and smile drove Amelia crazy sometimes. How was he doing that? Alison met him that morning and they were already exchanging mischevious secret looks. He was a great uncle and Amelia knew that, but this was quick. She obviously underestimated his special powers.
''You two seem like you're up to something?'' – Amelia tried to sound casual, but it actually sounded pretty forced and funny.
''Come on, Amy. Don't be jealous. You know I was always the coolest uncle.'' – Derek said, really satisfied with himself. But Zola didn't let him fly too far on his imagined wings of fame.
''Daddy, I think aunty Amy is waaaay cooler than you. You never want to play pricesses with me.'' – miss Zola said with her most firm voice and matter-of-factly, no-joking tone.
Amelia, Derek and Alison couldn't resist and they bursted into histerical laughter. When Zola added – ''You tolded me that I have to tell the truth, daddy.'', it made the three older Shephards laugh even more.
They calmed down a bit when they reached Derek's car. ''Well princess Zola, you say your aunty is cooler, so she will put you in your carseat.'' – Derek acted like his feelings were hurt.
''Ali, I can sit in the back with them if you want?'' – Amelia questioned.
''No, no. It's okay, I don't mind.'' – Ali smiled and went to sit between Zola and Bailey.
Zola was always a chatty little girl, so silence seriously bugged her and if she could do something about it the silence would never exist. So, that whole minute they spent silently in the car was probably her record. Deciding that enough was enough she turned to Alison.
''I saw a photo of you in aunty Amy's room, but I don't know who you are. What's your name?''
Hearing that Amelia has her photo was nice, but seeing Amelia blushing at that statement was hilarious. Alison chuckled and responded sweetly – ''My name is Alison, but you, miss Zola, can call me Ali.''
''I like your name. And what's your other name?'' – Zola inquired innocently. '' I have two. Mine are Grey and Shepherd. And Bailey's is just Shepherd.''
''Well...'' – Alison was at lost. She didn't know what was she supposed to say. She cought Amelia and Derek exchanging looks. ''Maybe your daddy could explain it to you.'' That was the smartest thing she found in her mind to say. It was the quickest escape. But Derek didn't really appreciate it.
At first he stuttered and struggled with words, but after few seconds of uncomfortable, and for Zola very confusing silence he cleared his throat and finally said – ''She has two other names. Like you do, sweety. One is Shepherd like ours and one is Jean.''
''Oh... But daddy, if one name is from mommy and other from you...?'' – Zola tried to understand – ''Then...'' – she turned again to look at Alison and asked – ''Is my daddy your daddy, too?''
Zola definetely cought them all off guard with that question. But in her mind it made perfect sense. She was quick to connect the dots, but not quite correctly. She was very close, though.
Derek was the first one to recover and answer. ''No, sweety. Ali got her name from aunty Amy and her daddy.''
Little girl furrowed her brow. She was concentrating really hard to figure out the solution for what seemed like a riddle to her.
''Sooo... Is aunty Amy your mommy then?'' – she asked Ali again.
Alison was usually great with kids, but in that particular situation she felt like a fish out of the water. With no idea what was the right thing to do, what to say or how to act. Amelia recognized her daughter's panicky mode, but decided not to interfere, only to support and try to calm her with a soothing smile.
''Umm...well... yes, she is.'' – Alison hesitated there for a second – ''You're quite intelligent, little miss .''
''Really? Does that make you my big sister?'' – Zola inquired excitedly.
''It's your call princess Zola.'' – Alison grinned at Zola, seeing she could hardly contain her excitement.
''Daaaaaaaaaddy, did you hear that?'' –she literally screamed from the top of her lungs with joy – ''Aunty Amy, why didn't you tell me before? I've always wanted a sister!'' Then she turned to face Ali again with a huge grin – ''Well, if I'm princess Zola then you must be princess Ali! Ohhh I can't wait to show you all my toys! And we can plaaaaaay all the time. We'll have tea parties and wear crowns like real pricesses...''
Zola could ramle and ramble all day. If the oxygen wasn't necessary she would never stop to catch a breath. But her joy was infectious and there was no way to escape it. Everyone felt relieved with how accepting the kids were. Well, Zola actually. Bailey didn't really understand what was going on, but he was smiling just like everyone else in the car. The only concern was how to keep Zola spreading the news to every single person who was willing to listen to her.
''Of course, you'll show me. But can I ask you to do something for me little miss?'' – Alison started carefully.
''What? What? What?''
''Can I ask you to keep a secret for me? Like princess to princess...'' – Ali smiled widely as Zola's interest grew.
''Mommy says I'm not very good with secrets. I always tell her everything. My mouth just speak...'' – Zola frowned.
''We can make a deal. You can tell your mommy, but noone else. Could you do that? I will be your secret princess sister for a while and then we will tell everyone else.'' – Ali offered sweetly.
''I could do that.'' – she grinned again, happy with new conditions – ''You' ll be my secret princess sister Ali.''
''Pinky promise?''
''Pinky promise!''
Half an hour later the Shepherds were on a ferry boat. Seattle lights looked more beautiful as it was getting darker. The sky was clear, stars on full display. It wasn't too cold and shockingly for Seattle, it wasn't raining. All in all, the night was very peacefull, except for Zola's non-stop rambling about her dolls. After the pinky promise there was no chance Ali could get away from her new little sister. Good side of that was that Derek and Amelia had a chance to have their heart-to-heart without interruption.
''How is it that you seem so okay with all this? I imagined you judging, yelling, not understaning... But you were just – Oh hi, I guess I'm your uncle...'' – Amelia was the one to start the conversation. The thought of Derek exploding at some point was pressing on her since the morning. It was just strange to her. He's not that famous for his great reactions to situations of that kind, just like Amelia was not famous for great choices in her past. But maybe there was hope. Maybe people really do change.
''So...you'd rather have me yelling at you?'' – Derek smirked.
''No no no... I'm not complaining. Just wondering.'' – she retorted quickly.
'' Well I think you and I had our fair share of fights for what went down 18 years ago. I'm not saying that I'm not hurt that you kept such a huge and important part of your life a secret, but I get it. I wouldn't understand if you had told me then, but I do understand now.''
''It means a lot, you know... You understanding... Because I was never able to forgive myself for what happened. But you see that beautiful, intelligent and kind girl over there.'' – Amelia looked lovingly in Ali's direction – ''She's the best thing that came out of all that mess. I'll forever regret missing so much of her life, but I will never regret giving her the chance to become what she is now.''
''I can't even imagine how hard it must've been for you. You were only sixteen. I should've been there to protect you...'' – Derek frowned.
''You said it... Let's just leave it in the past where it belongs.'' – Amelia tried a smile.
''How you two found each other? I remember you didn't know who she was on the first day. Were you only pretending or...?''
''No. I didn't know. I realised few days after and I was shocked. Our first talk was...em...well...very difficult. With a lot of tears, my regret, her anger and resentment. She literally broke down on the floor in front of me, Derek. That sight made my heart break even more. She even thought of going back to NYC.''
Amelia was swallowing hard and having a hard time getting the words out. She felt so vulnerable and little in front of her brother.
''But she stayed, I see.'' – Derek offered his best comforting dimpled smile.
''She did.'' – Amelia returned the favour with a smile – ''We had a lot of bumps on the road and we still do. It'll take a lot of time to heal, I know. But slowly we're getting there.''
''I'm so glad for you Amy. And I'm really proud of you. Standing your ground, trying to make it right...'' – Derek hugged tightly his sister, trying with that hug to apologize for everything he had done to her. ''But, for how long do you plan to keep it a secret?''
''I don't know. If you ask just me I would scream it to the whole world, but she's still not ready. I have to respect that. She has a family and a life. It's not my place to barge in uninvited. So I'm giving her time, as much as she needs.'' – Amelia shrugged her shoulders – ''And well, it's not that easy living with the 'Shepherd' name. I'm a living proof of a struggle.'' – she chuckled.
In her eyes Derek could see hope. Beautiful, twinkling hope. She wasn't running for the first time in her life. In their family you inherited the 'running' gene, but she was fighting it. And Derek could not be more proud of her than he was in that moment. 'She's going to be a great mother. She already is.'-he thought to himself.
A/N: I've always imagined Ali and Zola being close and having this bond, because they were both adopted. I'm having some ideas to bring Maggie in the mix too. What do you think about that?
I hope this chapter was as genuine as I intended it to be and I really hope you like the way this story is evolving. The Herman surgery is the next thing to tackle.
Thank you for reading! :)