A Life With You - BTY VERSE

The Last Show

Imagine. Darren parks the car in the parking lot, and quickly, all the family was outside. Sami opened the trunk and took her stuff, also giving his to Kyle. "Did you get everything? You're sure you did not forget anything?" you asks, stressed out. "Mom, we're good! Stop worrying. You're more stressed than us" your 18 year old daughter said as she put her arm around your neck. She quickly kisses your cheek and said "Kyle, come on! We're gonna be late!". Your 15 year old whines under his breath and runs to join your daughter. After a quick wave to you and your husband, they went inside the theater by the stage door.

Seeing them going inside and using that specific door makes you emotional every time. You remembered the times you did, with or without Darren by your side. Of course, you never stopped performing, but it was different now. 'It's the youth' you thought.

You and Darren walked hand in hand into the theater and took your places. You two always were excited to see the Conservatory Show every year since Sami and then Kyle got in. They both enjoyed music so much, just like their father. At first, Darren started to teach them when they were little. Quickly, Darren's passion for music rubbed off on the kids. They played a few instruments, but Sami's favorite was the guitar and Kyle's was the piano. Both were really good at it. Darren took out the camera and the tripod and put them between you. He always did that, filmed everything, for years. And you did too, so that did not bother you. Darren and you talked a bit before the show started. You saw a bunch of kids, very talented, but not as talented as yours, of course. You applaused the violin kid who just performed and heard "And now please welcome Sami and Kyle Criss!".

Your husband and you started to cheer and yell "My babies!" which makes Sami and Kyle giggle on stage. Kyle took his place in front of the piano and Sami sat on a stool. Both had mics in front of them. Sami took her guitar and said into the mic "Hello everyone". She was surely more confortable than Kyle. "This year is a very special one. Because it's my last year in this Conservatory before I go to college" she said. You took Darren's hand and intertwined your fingers. "I learned a lot here. But I never learned as much as I learned in my family" she adds. The audience awed as you and Darren felt your hearts skip a beat. "So I decided to perform with my brother, Kyle" she said as she turns to her brother who waved shyly. "I owe a lot to my family, and for the music side, Kyle and I owe a lot to our father" she explains. You glance at Darren proudly. He smiled and squeezed your hand. "The song that we are going to perform is a song we've been doing since...forever" Sami chuckles. The audience laughed, and listened to her carefully. "At first it was a lullaby, then the song our father sang whenever we were hurt, and then, it become the song that none of us will ever forget. So, this is for you Daddy" she said, looking at Darren with a big smile. Sami glanced at Kyle to inform him he could start. When Kyle played the first notes, you immediatly recognize the song. "Oh boy" you exclaim. Darren was looking at them, an arm on the armrest of the chair and a hand over his mouth, really moved.

Sami joined the song with her guitar and started to sing "I've been alone, surrounded by darkness. I've seen how heartless the world can be". You started to feel the tears in your eyes as your daughter kept singing. You remembered all the time Darren sung that song to them. Everytime Sami was crying when she was a baby, everytime Kyle came back to school sad. And now look at them, one is an adult and the other one is a young man. You couldn't hold your tears anymore when you heard Kyle singing with her sister "Daddy you're not alone. Cause you're here with me. And nothing's ever gonna break us down 'cause nothing can keep me from loving you. And you know it's true" "It don't matter what I'll come to be, our love is all we need to make it through" sang Sami, alone.

At this point, Darren was silently crying too, squeezing your hand like never before. The fact that the kids changed a little of the lyrics to make it more true to the situation makes the song heartbreaking. Your little princess was going to leave soon, and you knew it was making Darren sad as much as you, even if he didn't say it. Your kids sang the whole song into the silent theater. It was by far the best performance, and you did not said that because it was your kids. Well, maybe you were a little influenced. "It don't matter what we'll come to be, our love is all we need to make it through" the kids finished. You could see tears falling from Sami's eyes. Darren, you and the audience gave them a standing ovation, as you both smiled widely at them. Sami and Kyle hugged tightly on stage before taking a bow.

At the end of the show, you and Darren went out of the theater in front of the stage door to wait for your kids. When they went out, they immediatly ran to you and hugged you both tightly. Darren looked at Sami and Kyle in the eyes and said "Thank you so much. You might have learned a lot with me, but you taught me a lot too guys so...thank you. You were...man, you were truly amazing. I'm so proud to be your father". His eyes were once again filled with tears as he cupped Sami's face. "And you" he said as he chuckles. "You're gonna kick some ass in Michigan". He kissed her forehead as she pulled him into a tight hug, crying on her father's chest. Kyle and you joined the hug as Sami said with a teary voice. "I'm gonna miss you so much guys". "Us too" Darren said with a cracked voice, "Us too, princess".