Intertwined

The Past Comes Back to Life

A/N: @Miasdarling29, @an804u, @Thenurserynursefan1, @Claire278826, @LoomsburyGroup, are the amazing people that have inspired me this last year to keep writing, to keep going at life really. They're all the most talented, incredibly kind and generous people I know, and some of whom, I have been so blessed to write with. And lucky for all of you, they each have incredible books on here as well.

I had been contemplating for a long time as to how I was going to continue this story, how to manage all the characters and their stories. There were a few times I was simply going to delete it. But all the people tagged above reminded me they loved my story and me no matter what.

It seems crazy that a content creator in the United Kingdom whose characters inspired me to write a fanfic when I was going through a huge upheaval in my life, has now led to the best friendships I've ever had in my life. Friendships that go well beyond this story and TNN. Friends that are truly my family.

One of those family, Aiden, and I have been writing with for most of this year on fanfic projects and it is an absolute joy to write with you Aiden. When you caught up on the Intertwined chapters and I shared my ideas, you jumped in and shared your own. Our chaotic chat meant that I could plan and begin to write the rest of the story, and you were as excited as I was. Thank you for helping me always find and look for the connections in the story and in life, thank you for always believing in me and trusting me. I would not be the creative person I am today without you. I certainly wouldn't be me, without you.

I hope you all enjoy the story as we continue...

***

The plane descending brought back the nerves Leni had been trying to hold down and a cold shiver went up her body. Marcus squeezed his wife's hand while looking across to make sure the kids were all coping with the landing. As they walked through the airport the blonde woman found it difficult to focus on where they were headed. The noise and chaos, her nerves and anxiety had Leni feeling as though she were underwater.

'Bank Hotel please,' her husband's voice was smooth and calm in the turbulence. Marcus helped the driver load all the bags into the back while Leni took seats with her children. Her eldest daughter, now almost 20, held her mother's hand and snuggled in close. Loukia was excited but nervous for how the next few months would go. The young woman had noticed, a little more than her siblings, how much pain Leni was often in. The tall brunette, had her mother's green eyes, had delayed going to university in the last two years to take care of Leni when she was ill, and her younger siblings if her mother had to stay in Hygeia hospital in Athens.

During the ride to the hotel, Leni looked over her diary and the appointments scheduled for the next few weeks. Doctors and tests and the start of new information and treatments lay ahead. They had scheduled in day trips and some activities, so the kids were having fun as well, but the page she stopped at was the meeting with her recently discovered siblings. She was thirteen the last time she had seen them, and Amelia. She remembered her first kiss behind the garden shed, giggling and soft lips and awkward hands, Mia blushing and then Leni coaxing her back to play in the pool. Leni knew, that for her, it was just a bit of mischief. Mia was her best friend, and she was heartbroken to lose her. Her first weeks away in Athens with her stepfather's parents, were full of tears and defiance. The young girl, keen on wandering, found herself one sunset at Stavros Niarchos Park watching the fountains while eating an ice-cream her grandparents would never let her have. She sat on the grass barefoot, under a tree. Hearing some soft giggling, she looked up and saw two women walking past holding hands, they had a look in their eyes like no one else in the world existed, and Leni was staring intently but not quite sure why. They stopped under the tree next to her and one of the women lent in and kissed the other. It looked so tender and gentle. Leni gasped, because other than kissing Mia briefly, she had never seen two adult women kiss, the women paused and turned to her. 'Are you ok, little bird?' the shorter haired woman asked, a half-smile and a mischievous sparkle in her eye, 'I've kissed a girl too,' Leni blurted out and then immediately wanted the ground to swallow her. 'Good for you,' the other woman replied with a smile and then, the two women continued on their way, holding hands. Thirteen-year-old Leni vowed in that moment that she would do what she needed to get through her time in Athens and then find a way to make her life her own. She wondered if Amelia had been able to do that, she hoped so. 'You ok my love?' Marcus asked gently to his wife. Young Leni had never planned on falling for the man she was arranged to marry, that girl had been intent on not loving him one bit, but he was him and he was easy to love with her whole heart, as though they had been made just for each other. Leni nodded at her husband and squeezed his hand, 'I am. Thank you,' she smiled before her youngest grabbed her attention, excitedly explaining the landmark's they were passing.