Endure

chapter 2

" Piper, Karren is here!"

I bit my lip, nervous as ever to meet this mysterious woman. Grabbing my bags I made my way to the main floor of the house and to the entry way. There stood a woman youthful and curious. She stood at a height of 5'4 with a petite figure. Her bright blonde hair was kept in a loose ponytail on the back of her head.

Her bright blue eyes then met my brown ones, " Piper...Wow, You look just like your mother."

I looked down at my hands, I know I have her hands, her gentle touch. That was what brought me most comfort.

" Yes, I suppose so."

" Oh, you have an accent! Oh my boys are going to love you."

My head snapped up to stare at her with widened eyes, I would be staying in a house of boys, why wasn't I informed of this?

" I was .... I was never aware that I would be living in a home of boys."

" Oh, yes 4 of them. The two are young and rambunctious, but you musn't  worry about them. The two older ones will help you if they get too out of hand. "

I simply nodded as I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat.

" Anyway, ready to go?"

I nodded and turned to Mrs.Prim who seemed quite happy with our friendly chatting," Mrs.Prim... I would like to thank you, for these past couple of months."

She simply smiled and pulled me into a hug in which I returned," My dear Piper, you deserve everything this world has to offer, I hope you find your happiness in America."

She pulled away turning to the children," Say your goodbyes to Piper, she is leaving quite soon."

It seemed as soon as the sentence left Mrs.Prims mouth the children were upon me, hugging, crying, whining, but all I did was hug them back. Looking off to the side I saw a silent Nikoli scuffing the floor with his foot.

Slowly releasing the other children I went and crouched down in front of him," Now what's the matter Nikoli, you will be relieved of your morning wake up calls."

His charcoal eyes trailed across my face before mumbling," But I don't want to be relieved."

I chuckled before pulling the small boy into a hug, the seven year old may whine and cry but I would care for him always," I am not disappearing Nikoli, I am simply saying goodbye for now. One day I will be back and I will keep in contact with you and everyone else in this household. I simply have to move on for right now, alright?"

He nodded against my chest as his small hands fisted my shirt," I'll miss you Piper."

" I'll miss you too Nikoli, stay strong and may god bless you."

Kissing his forehead I stepped away from the child before turning to a silently crying Lillian," Oh dear the day has finally come hasn't it? And I'm crying like a newborn."

I chuckled at her antics and pulled her into a hug and held tight," Oh Lillian what would I do without you?"

"You'd face an untimely death?"

I smacked her back lightly and laughed ," Cheeky bugger, shut up."

We laughed together and soon her tears dried.

" Here, take this."

I watched as she pulled her locket from her chest and over her head, her mother had given it to her, " No, I couldn't.."

She held her hand firm and softly placed the heart shaped locket in my palm," Keep it, to remember me by while your in America. I don't know how often you will be able to call."

Closing my hand around the locket I nodded," Thank you Lillian, for everything."

Hugging her one last time I gave her the number that Mrs.Prim had said that Karren would allow me to contact them with. Saying my final goodbyes I followed Karren out the door of the house and climbed into the car. I waved to the children as they stood outside in the yard waving back. The car slowly began to move and soon the house was nothing but a dot on the horizon.

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The entire way to America my hand never left the locket that now hung around my neck. I was drawing on Lillian for courage as our plane landed, Karren seemed to sense my nervous energy as I found it hard to sit still.

Her hand found its way to my thigh where she patted it softly," You'll be ok Piper, there's nothing here to hurt you now."

I simply nodded as the pilot came over the intercom, soon enough we were grabbing our bags and exiting the plane. I walked into a huge building full of people, and they were all American.

I watched as Karren began to wave at a group of four boys and who I assume was their father, the two younger children seemed ecstatic as they waved their hands wildly.

Karren chuckled as she watched them before turning to look at me," Ready to meet the family?"

I couldn't simply shake my head, I would meet them whether I was ready or not. So in reply I began to walk towards the strangers, my legs felt like lead every step of the way.

Soon I stood in front of them, face to face.

The older man smiled at me, it was genuine, no one could smile that big if it was fake, could they? " Welcome to America Piper! We are happy to have you."

I smiled timidly back at him now turning my attention to the four boys before me.

Karren straddled up beside me touching my arm ,smiling all the while," That's my husband Mark, and these are the boys."

One by one they approached me, the first to come was a tall, lean boy. His hair was dark and his face pale, his eyes were just as pale as his skin, they were icy, " Dominic."

I nodded and then came the slightly shorter boy, he looked to be my age. Just like the last he had a lean built body, but this time the boy that appeared before me was tan with, a halo of golden hair adorned his head and freckles marred his features, " Beau, nice to meet you."

He and Dominic seemed to be polar opposites, Dominic seemed more... Serious.

Then came the children, they bounced towards me seemingly happy to be there but I didn't miss the same look of mischief both their eyes held. The boys split and one boy was one my right, one on my left. They held my hands and shook them furiously.

The boy in my right had hair as light as Beau's and the boy on my left had a slightly darker version, not quite brunette, but not quite blonde. Dirty blonde.

The boy on my right spoke while pointing to himself," Lucas."

Then proceeded to point to the boy on my left," Jackson."

Then they both asked together," You are?"

I could see they wanted me to play along with their name game, and so I did, reluctantly, I answered," Piper, my name is Piper."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up to see their father who smiled down at me," Welcome to the family Piper."

Looking at the family, I could already see that I'm in for quite the adventure, and maybe, I wouldn't mind.