The house was small, but charming. I had no doubt that my mother picked it out and my father being in love the way he is, bought it for her. Even in the darkness I can see the wind chimes and the many beautiful flowers.
A few days after coming back to Santa Carla from being going for so long my father told me about my mother and him getting remarried, who was invited, and stories of the day they had, I was happy for them. Truly., Speaking of my mother even after she found out about me being back she still didn't want to see me or talk to me, until I got the heart breaking phone call. It's not like I didn't see her though, when it got dark I would swing by the house a few times and just watch. You could say it was creepy but I just wanted to see her, even with how we left things. Four years later my father told me they were moving, he offered his grandfathers house to me, I wasn't so sure but after talking with the boys and girl. We came to the conclusion it was better then the cave, but we still went there every so often. Then a couple years later we left once again, traveled farther east then last time. Fifteen years we were away besides coming back every once in a while to check up on the house, and make sure everything was okay, and no damage was done. Calling my father if anything needed to be fixed, after all working while being a vampire was hard, especially because I don't age and the need to stay out of the sunlight.
After my father moved we kept in contact, and met up a few times, it was hard but we managed, until old age really started to hit him and he started to forget, it just became to hard. Now here I am, standing infront of their house I never got to come to. It's been almost thirty years and I've never been to their place, how shity. Shaking my head I stand up from my bike and walk towards the front door, my nerves are slowly getting the best of me, and my brains screaming to just leave but I can't. Taking in a unneeded breath I raise my arm, and make a fist before knocking, taking a step back I roll my neck trying to get my nerves to settle. How funny, a vampire that's nervous, god kill me now. When my mom called to tell me about my father, I was shocked. It took my brain a moment to figure out who was calling but when it clicked I wanted to cry, it was nice to hear her say my name even if the conversation felt tense and the call was short. The soft click of a lock causes me to swallow hard, this is it. The door opens up and I'm shocked to see my mother standing before me, she was old, her once beautiful brown hair now littered with gray and white but it was still curly, her once beautiful face was now wrinkly but her brown eyes still hold the same sparkle. Neither of us say anything, we just look at each other, one old and frail the other still young and beautiful, frozen in time for eternity. Giving a small smile I nod my head towards her, " Hey mom" I said, her eyes get watery, and her bottom lip quivers. Instantly arms wrap around me, it takes my brain a few seconds to figure out what's happening, and after it does I wrap my arms around her, making sure to be carful. Closing my eyes I take in a deep breath, the same perfume she's always worn entering my nose, " My baby girl" she said pulling away, cupping face lightly, her hands warm yet shaky, her my eyes roam my face slowly, " Just as I remember" she whispers, her small smile turns into a frown and she removes her hands from my face, remembering what I was" Come inside" she said, moving back she opens the door more allowing me to enter. Looking around I take in how cute and nice it is, it's definitely a home filled with love. My eyes run over the pictures sitting around as I follow her around, one picture causes me to come to a stop. The three of us stood infront of my great grandfathers house, all of us smiling wide, from how young I looked I couldn't of been no older then nine, maybe ten, "Octavia" turning my head my mother was standing at the end of the hallway, taking once last look at the picture I turn and make my way towards her. Once I'm right behind her she opens the door, and walks in slowly. I wasn't prepared for what I see, and if I could turn back time I would in a heart beat, "Octavia's here" my mother said, the old man that lays on the bed turns his head ever so slowly. Looking away I close my eyes for a few seconds, " Fuck" I whisper lowly knowing that neither of them heard it. Shaking my head I turn back around facing my father, a small smile adorned his face, " Tavia" he said, his eyebrows were frowned in confusion making this so much worse. Alzheimer's and dementia is a bitch. Blinking away the tears that threatened to fall, I walk towards the bed bending down once I got close, " Hey dad" I said, he raises his hand and I reach for it, flinching when I felt how cold it is, " You're still young" he said, glancing at my mother I saw her wipe her check. Growing up I understood that getting old was a part of life, and for the longest time I believed it to be inevitable, then I met my boys. Taking in a deep breath I squeeze his hand, "Funny story" I said, yet soon frown knowing that it was a lie. The whole story wasn't funny, it was sad, filled with so much anger and heartbreak it was scary. Looking towards my mother I saw her shaking her head, " It's nice to see you" I said earning a smile from him, he nods his head while letting out a small hum, " It is" he said, biting the inside of my cheek I look away, not being able to think of anything to say, " It's late" my mother said, nodding my head I look at her before looking at me father knowing that this was going to be the last time I see him alive. My bottom lip quivers and I lower my head trying to keep myself together. Closing my eyes I take in a deep breath, you can do this O. Looking up I smile at my father, " Moms right, I'll see you later okay" I said, he smiles and nods his head, standing up I lean over and kiss his cheek lightly, " I love you dad" I whisper before squeezing his hand and letting it go, " I love you to O" he said, giving him a teary eyed smile I turn around and walk out of the room. Walking into the kitchen I place my hand on the counter and lean on them, a small sob coming from me. Everyone dies, some die young, some middle aged, and some die old living a long life, but nothing in life prepared me for the day I'd see my father so frail and close to death. It hurt.
" Octavia?" Wiping my cheeks I sniff and turn around, my mother stands by the doorway looking at me with tearful eyes, " I'm fine" but it was clearly a lie, and we both know it. Walking towards the small two chaired kitchen table she slowly sits down and points to the other. Clearing my throat I walk over and sit down leaning back against the metal bars, "I'm sorry" she said, sorry. The sorry could be for many things, yet I didn't care, what happened is in the past, " It's okay" I said truthfully, yet she shakes her head but drops it. The house is silent, which I wasn't used to. For a long time everything has been loud or there's been some noice, either music or talking, especially around Paul and Marko. With those two, it was never silent, " Where are the guys?" She asks, raising an eyebrow I look at her, shocked she would even bring them up, especially since she hates them, " They're out, I needed to do this by myself" I said, she nods her head slowly as she looks around the kitchen. Thirty something years, and it seems we can't find anything to talk about. No. That's a lie, I had so many questions to ask, but yet with how the atmosphere feels it doesn't seem right to ask them, " Why did you do it?" She asks, looking at her I could see she didn't mean the question in a bad way, she was just curious. Licking my lips I give a small smile, " Many reasons. Because I love them, because I didn't want to grow old like everyone else" I said, even though growing old was supposed to be a way of life, it wasn't mine. Nodding her head she looks down at her hands, " Do they treat you okay? Are you happy?" She asks, smiling I nod my head and lean forward, the boys treat me like royalty, sure we get into it every once in a while but we always come back together, " I am very happy, and the guys treat me so good it's insane" I said, she smiles but it didn't reach her eyes, causing me to frown. Licking my lips once again I push my chair back and stand up, " I think I better be going" my mother looks up at me, she opens her mouth but closes it and nods her head slowly, " Yeah" she whispers, sadness in her eyes. Looking around the kitchen I take in the few pictures that were hanging on the walls here and there. My mind went back to the picture hanging in the hallway, "Where's your restroom?" I ask, my mother frowns as she nods towards the hallway, " First door on the left" giving a small smile I push the chair in and walk out of the room. I didn't need to use the restroom, having used it before stopping here. Standing infront of the picture of little me with my parents I carefully take it off the wall. I turn to walk towards the front door when I look over my shoulder at my parents bedroom door, if my heart could beat and work like a humans it would stop. Walking towards her door I carefully open it and stand there in the doorway looking at my father, he looks peaceful. Walking into the room I stand by the bed and lean over him, " I know I wasn't always the prefect daughter and for that I am so sorry. I'm sorry for all the emotions I caused years ago, but if I could go back and change everything I don't think I would. Thank you for everything. I love you daddy" I whisper before bending down and kissing his cheek once more before turning around leaving. Stopping infront of the kitchen doorway I make sure the picture is out of my mothers sight, " I'm going to head out" my mother stands up a frown still on her face, with my father bed ridden on deaths door step she was basically already the only one here. A big part of me didn't want to leave but I had to, we both know it. Wrapping her arms around me tightly, my mother sniffs and I could start to feel her shake, " I love you mom" I said wrapping one arm around her, giving her a tight hug and she hugs me tighter. Pulling away I smile at her, " I'll stop by again" I said, she nods her head and once again cups my face gently, " I love you Octavia, please be careful" she said, letting out a small chuckle I nod my head. The both of us know I'm the safest person in the world, even more safe then the president, " I will" she nods her head and takes a few steps back. Taking one last look at her I turn around making sure to keep the picture out of her sight. Opening the door I walk out, " Goodbye Octavia" my mother said, coming to a stop I turn around a small smile on my face. We both stare at each other, mother and daughter living in the same world but yet two very different ones at the same time, "Goodbye mom" she once again gives a smile that doesn't reach her eyes and slowly shuts the door, almost like she didn't want to. Once the doors shut the wind blows softy, and the sound of motorcycles rumble in the distance causing me to smile. Taking one last look at the house I walk towards my bike and open the saddle bag shoving the family picture inside. Making sure it's safe, I get on and start my bike up, a feeling of weightless fills me, something was removed from my shoulders and it feels good. I'm not sure what it is but maybe its closure, or maybe being able to say goodbye to my father. Revving my bike a few times I take off, heading out the dirt driveway and meeting the four familiar guys plus Savanna the new girl who joined our family, " Ready to go home?" David asks over the rumble of our bikes. Smiling at them I nod my head, Paul excitedly yells loudly making me laugh. Take one last look over my shoulder at the house in the distance I take off down the road, heading home with my family.
