We Are A Family

Chapter 20

It's been a solid year since the mall accident, it was actually pretty interesting because Lauren was arrested that same day she shot me; there was slight fear time to time knowing Buddy was still alive after CC nearly killed him. Lauren was going to prison for ten years and then she would be set free, unless a prisoner rapes her to death with a broom or something.. My only hope is that the broom makes it out alive.

I sat on the couch in front of the fire place, CC's arms wrapped around me as we watched Bandit draw with his friend Thomas he met at school; the two have been inseparable since they became friends. I smiled softly looking to CC who looked back to me with a warm smile.
"Tomorrow, you me, the kids and everyone else are going a special trip. You don't need to look nice but just know, it'll be a long trip." He told me.
I rose a brow sitting up then looked at him.
"Where are we going?" I asked him confused from the sudden news about a trip.
CC grinned softly. "We're going to Texas to see your family, then we're all going to the beach to renew our vows." He said.
A small smile crept onto my face as I looked at him. "Eleven years.. It doesn't even feel that long." I murmured.
CC chuckled softly looking at me. "I know, it's like yesterday; you were falling for me at the pond at Ashley's party." He began.
I rolled my eyes grinning. "Or how you asked me out in front of thousands of fans." I continued.
CC laughed. "Now that I think about it, that was pretty cheesy." He said.
I laughed looking at him. "Now you think it was cheesy?" I asked him.
CC rose a brow. "You thought it was cheesy when I asked you out?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes with a smirk. "It was very unique though." I said but squealed when he pinned me to the couch, thankfully the boys had ran off to Bandit's room and Lily was upstairs with Tristan and Serenity.
CC looked into my eyes grinning. "You didn't answer me." He said.
I gave off an innocent expression that only formed into laughing when his fingers went to my ribs and the tickling began.
"St- stop CC, p-please!" I cried laughing, I could feel the tears forming from all of the laughing I was doing.
"Was the way I asked you, cheesy or no?" He asked continuing to tickle me.
I grabbed one of his wrists, somewhat stopping him as I smiled softly through tears.
"Not at all, it was one of the best ways to ask a girl out... It was beyond unexpected.. but that is what made me fall more in love with you Christian, because how happy you make me.. it's more than how most guys did. I've never fallen so hard in love with someone, until the day we first kissed under the moon and stars." I said smiling then grinned noticing a blush appear on his cheeks. He cracked a smirk before pressing his lips to mine.
"I am so glad I asked you to marry me, Mrs.Coma." He whispered.

"Are we there yet?" Lily complained in the back seat.
I smiled softly when CC rolled his eyes, we turned on the old road in Lufkin going toward my dad's house. I glanced to the old tree that sat near the road, we went around that old curve then pulled into the drive way where my old house was.
I could feel the tears swell up when the front door opened and my dad slowly walked out, his hair nearly white. He was fifty-four, but to be fair. His hair was already gray when I was only eighteen, I got out of the jeep then walked over to my dad. My arms wrapped around his thin body, he hugged me back much tighter. I smiled looking at him.
"We came to visit, hope that's okay." I said.
My dad nodded then glanced to the truck and bus that was tailed behind us, he rose a brow looking at me as I smiled softly.
"All of us came to visit." I told him with a laugh.
My dad smiled softly. "Come on in, there's no dogs here." He told us.
I felt tears fall, I took CC's hand then walked into my old house.

The house was full of laughter twenty minutes later, the guys were looking at old pictures in photo albums and I was taking the opportunity to wander around the house, like I've been meaning too these past ten years.
I could feel my chest tighten walking into the kitchen, memories of me learning to cook pancakes or steak fingers for the very first time raced through my mind as I smiled. I glanced to the old rock table that still rested against the wall, a bowl of fake fruit rested on it along with some letters or bills.
I frowned then walked down the hall, I bit back a sob. This was my mom's hallway, where she did the laundry.. where she would scold me for doing something wrong.. where she would run from wasps. I glanced to Jace's room, he was off in Ireland now. Living somewhere near where Jack was, the two visited one another when they weren't busy making YouTube videos. Jace was pretty famous, he had four million subscribers now. He worked up to his dream goal and he achieved it, I smiled softly finding the old room empty except for a few soda cans and some socks.
I ran a hand through my hair then looked at my bedroom door, my lip quivered as I held my hand on the knob. Tears were forming as I pushed it open, work out machines were placed in here. There were some boxes and bags in a corner and my closet was completely empty, I looked at my drawn on walls; tears escaped as I let my hand wander on each wall. Young teenage girl laughter was all I could hear in the room, sobs came next and then anger. I stood by a wall and watched my young sixteen year old self run into the room, I was wearing my old pink and black shirt with shorts. My best friends Brashay and Kayla followed after me and then Elisa came in next.
My mom followed in and demanded pictures, we all got together and smiled looking into the phone's camera.
I looked to my bed as my seventeen year old self appeared, tears stained on my cheeks as I walked to the photo of my grandfather that passed away thirteen years ago, she stood there as tears kept falling. She kept saying that she needed him, I watched her as she grabbed a knife then placed it on her wrist. I frowned as she held the blade, but no blade came. She let the knife fall, and she fell to her knees sobbing. I looked away then to my wall, I jumped when a fist connected to it. I glanced over to see my fifteen year old self, anger was all I could see. Brashay stood there in shock, eyes wide seeing my fist in the wall. I remember it was a fight I had with Kayla, I frowned deeply then looked away.

My bedroom felt colder than before, I sighed then exited the room to join the others.
I smiled softly seeing Bandit sitting on his grandfather's lap. Beth kept trying to pry her cousin off so she could sit in her granddad's lap next, I smiled softly. It made me think of Santa Claus, just watching the two fight over their grandfather like that.
I looked to Kayla who was smiling softly, Mark was taking nonstop pictures of the two. I glanced to Lily and Alex who stood in front of a picture of their grandmother, she was leaning over their grandfather smiling as happily as ever. I walked over to the two with a soft smile.
"Do you think grandma knows we're here?" Lily asked me.
I looked down at her with a warm smile, I knelt down next to my nephew and daughter smiling.
"You know that? I think grandma knew we were here the moment we entered Texas.. and she's smiling down at all of us." I told them.
Alex looked up at the ceiling with a smile. "Hi grandma." He said.
Lily looked to her cousin before grinning. "Hi granny!!" She exclaimed.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at the ceiling now. "Hi mom." Was all I said before everyone else began to say hello or something total random at my mom looking at the ceiling.
The house was full of laughter when my dad said he forgot where he put the frying pan.

When we arrived at the beach, all the kids wanted to do was play in the ocean; and by kids I mean Ashley, Jayy and Mark.
I laughed softly as the wind blew through my hair, it felt so nice out here not to mention it was very beautiful today.
I tensed but relaxed when CC's hand took mine. We stood in front of the waves as I grinned.
"If this turns out anything like it did for the proposal, I will be so done with everything." I said with a laugh.
CC smirked pressing his lips to mine.
"EWWWW" I heard Alex, Lily, Bandit and Beth exclaim looking at us.
I laughed before looking at them.

Our friends and family that came with us stood in the sand as they watched me and CC renew our vows, I smiled watching him talk then began to talk after he was done.
I pressed my lips back to his one last time before the waves hit not only us, but everyone else as well; knocking us down and that was when our picture was taken.

I came a long way, I found love; I had children. I had everything I could possibly need, I didn't want anything else in this life. Except to last a lifetime, with my family.

Yeah... that didn't sound too bad.
After all, We Are A Family.

END.