After It All

Chapter Twenty

James

"I'm still not sure James" Riley said as we headed to The Next Step with the kids in tow
"Landon wanted us to do this Ri, we can't let him down like that" I whispered so the boys wouldn't hear
"Piper will be with them the entire time. It's not like they are on their own" I said watching as she looked back at Landon and Zach who were messing around, Landon had jumped on to Zach's back as they ran off in front of us making me chuckle more

"Can we make sure they are close to the front at least? So we can see them?" Riley asked as we watched our boys messing around in Studio A.
It's weird to think of all the memories we had in here and now our kids had the chance to do the same.
A-Troupe was the best years of our lives, we all know that. And it's now time to watch the next lot of A-Troupe take the Studio by storm
"Front and centre" I nodded kissing Riley's lips allowing her to soften completely 

It wasn't long before we were all back stage preparing to go on. I could see Riley in the corner of my eye peering through the curtain and the kids with Piper. I left her to it purely down to if I had tried to stop her or said anything, it would just stress her out more 
"You guys ready?" Eldon called making us all gather around before walking onto the stage

It had been so long since any of us had danced, it had been a lifetime since we all danced together
But here we are for one final go..

I don't think I'll ever be able to forget both Zach's and Landon's face that entire performance. Ellie's was cute too but I think she was more fascinated with the colourful lights then what was actually happening on stage 

Up next was a duet Riley and I had worked on for the kids in some respect. When the kids were babies, there was this one song we would always sing to them when they woke up from a nightmare, to this day they'll still ask for it
It's become a staple in our family and we couldn't think of anything better to help them with recent events

The boys expressions had shifted from excitement to pure happiness during that number and it's safe to say that it was exactly what we wanted 
It's been a long couple of months but hopefully, things are on the rise for our family right?

"Things are going to be okay aren't they" Riley whispered to me out of breath after we walked off stage
"Of course they will be" I smiled 
"Did you see their faces" Riley smiled placing her hands on both of my arms looking up at me
"Priceless" I winked making her chuckle
"We're getting our little boys back" She said 

And she was right, completely and utterly right
As usual..

"come on love birds, time for your final number" West said making Riley and I chuckle taking our final positions 

--

We walked over to the kids after finishing up that evening, Riley and Piper instantly began to try and calm Ellie down while Landon stood there clinging to Riley's leg
Leaving me with one question.. Where was Zach?

I walked through the building the hope I would find him somewhere, praying that my worst fear wasn't coming true for a third time but as soon as I got out into the corridor, I could see the fire exit propped open with Zach's jacket
He had clearly left that there for a reason leaving me with more worry building up inside me

 But as soon as I pushed through the door, I could see Zach sat on the concrete step just looking out at the carpark

"Zee?" I said taking a seat next to him, he looked up at me and his expression was hard to read, it was like he was scared but he was also happy? I can't quite explain it..
"What's going on buddy?" I whispered wrapping an arm around him pulling him in a little closer

"I know who it is" He whispered making me tilt my head at him hoping he would elaborate a bit more
"I know who took Lan and Ell" He said looking down at his hands
"What?" I asked
"Zach, what is going on?" I asked again grabbing his attention 

"Remember Uncle Ty?" Zach said making me nod slightly
Tyler was someone I worked with while we lived back out of the city. He became very close to the family to the point the kids called him Uncle Ty
We told him he could come visit whenever he wanted but when the news of the move caught wind he cut off all contact with us 

We figured he would just be one of those friends to reach out when we were all settled

"Yeah buddy?" I asked, worried about the answer
"It was him." Zach said making me look at him confused

"Zach, that's a big accusation to make. How are you so sure?" I asked 
"He took Landon first, Landon was always the favourite and I knew I remembered that car from somewhere" He explained
"then he took Ellie, he took Ellie back to our old house. The last place he saw us and when we were there I found this" Zach said handing me a piece of paper

I looked down at it to see it was the front page of one of the kids books, of course it was one that Tyler had bought, it had his own little message inside for the kids

"And then he was here tonight, I followed him out here. I left my jacket there in case he decide to take me too" Zach said making me look at him slightly taken back by all this information

"And you are sure Zee?" I asked and Zach didn't even hesitate
"I've never been so sure Dad" He answered