In The End

Bonus: Ten Years of Life

I kiss my mother's pallid, cold face, a single tear escaping my eye. She'd passed peacefully and in her sleep, still I can't help but feel as if a piece of me has been ripped apart. But I know she's in a better place. She'd suffered all of her life, and I'm glad she's finally found peace in heaven.
Everette places her silver clawed hand on the crimson pall, and kisses my mother's cheek. "Bye grandma," she whispers hoarsely, sobs wracking her frame.

My sixteen year old hugs her twin brother and her little fifteen brother Maxwell, and slips over to Remington, tears causing her black makeup to smear a bit.
Emerson gives his respect, before placing a hand on my shoulder. "Remington doesn't want me to say anything, but he's worrying about you. He totally understands that you need your time right now, but he as well as the rest of us are worried about the baby--"
"I understand, Em, don't worry. You guys are totally right, and I know Mom wouldn't want me to be sad," I say smiling, wiping the tears from my cheeks. Emerson helps heave me up, and I immediately rest my hands on my swollen stomach. Remington and I are expecting a baby boy any day now, and we want to adopt another child on our trip to France, which we leave for tomorrow. We love our kids, and we love raising them.
It's a little hard though, with Palaye Royale becoming one of the biggest Rock N Roll names of this generation. On top of that, dancing has gotten me on multiple TV shows, as well as competitions. My dance crew separated ways two years back, Logan going on to dance on broadway. Who'd ever guess that, huh?
I also model in my free time--although I haven't lately with a new baby on the way--under the same company as Steph, who married Sebastian three years ago. They have a beautiful baby boy, and he's a toddler who adores the ground they walk on.
Walking over to my family, I kiss Remington softly. He kisses back and looks at me worriedly once we've parted. I smile. "I'm good." His shoulders sag with relief after my words. I can't bear to stay and watch my mother in this state, so the kids, Remi, and I pack up and hit the road in my impala.
   The children, Rem, and I finally reach the mansion, where Everette immediately
flies towards, sobbing. Both of her brothers call out to her, hot on her trail. I smile sadly at this. At least they'll be there for her. Rem and I silently leave the car and head inside, going straight to our room to start packing.
   "Ma chérie, are you sure you still want to go? With everything that's happened, it's okay to delay the trip." Rem's eyes scan me worriedly as I put more clothes in my duffel.
  "Remington, I'm not going to delay our tenth wedding anniversary trip. We agreed, trips are only every five years and the rest is family time. I know that you really want this. I really want this." He smiles at me.
   "Ten years, huh? Damn, we're old," he chuckles, and I giggle along with him.
"You're old, I'm 29, you're the one who's 34." He glares at me.
"Five years and it's a crime apparently."
"Yeah, five years older yet you still act like your five years old." We burst out laughing, and I know he's play fighting to distract me from the pain.
We pack up our stuff and say goodnight to the kids, who're bunking in Everette's room. We kiss them goodnight, and I take a moment to awe at Everette cuddled up with her older and younger brother.
   Zeppelin is still the shy kid that he's always been, though he gets seriously protective over Everette, and she's become very introverted, only talking to Zepp, Maxwell, and their three friends, Clara, Augustus, and Alice.
   And Maxwell is the sweetest kid in the planet. He is all about saving the animals and is in the same grade as his siblings, despite being a year younger. The school thinks he'll graduate within the year.
   Remington and I drift to sleep, my thoughts on my mother, and how proud she was of her family.