Love Is Love

When you need a friend to carry you...

Lin's POV:
As I was swooping the baby food into Ariella and Isaac's mouths I couldn't help but picture what Stacy would have been like as a mother. I don't know what to tell them when they ask why they haven't got a mother. Do I tell them the truth? That she's working? I don't know what Stacy wanted me to tell them, that she is watching from the clouds? I knew it may be a story about the watching from heaven thing but I still looked up with a tear glistening in my eye.
"Mi amor, please forgive me. I did the worst thing to you but I will make sure I treat these kids like diamonds. I still love you and always will. Siempre y para siempre."
Both kids were now looking at me confused as I smiled at them.
"Are you two going to be bilingual babies huh?"
They continued to stare in wonder as I chuckled sadly continuing to feed them breakfast. My phone began buzzing rapidly so I picked it up scanning through the texts:
Nine from Jon and a few from mis padres. Great. I texted Jon to come over asking him to bring my parents and fill them in on what happened since I couldn't talk about it without breaking into tears. To think that yesterday morning she was just here in this house and so happy I... Isaac held my hand as he looked curiously at the tear falling down my cheek. I owe it to her. Within minutes everyone came, my parents hugging me sadly and squealing when they heard the cries of the children.
"Uh Lin? Why have you got two babies in your house?"
"Meet Isaac and Ariella, me and Stacy's twin children. When Stacy died she was still pregnant and they managed to save these two."
I looked through my blurry eyes to see Jon smiling widely and my parents crying in joy.
"It's a miracle!"
My mother and father rushed to each of them hugging and kissing them on their tiny foreheads.
"Ariella, Isaac, meet abuela y abuelo." Grandma and Grandad
I looked over at Jon,
"And your Tito Jon." Uncle Jon
Jon looked at me with tears brimming in his eyes,
"You are like a brother to me Jon."
He hugged me tightly and proceeded to do the same to the twins.
"This is lovely and all but, Lin you look a mess. You & Jon have a day together so you can both process what happened and we'll look after Ariella and Isaac yes?"
They began pushing me and Jon out of the door,
"Remember everything pink is Ariella's and everything blue is Isaac's and remember their food is in the cupboard above the sink! Remember Ariella likes to sit on the chair next to the -"
They shut the door in me and Jon's face as he laughed at my expression.
"Jon?"
"Yeah?"
"Did you ever read the note?"
"Umm... No, but I don't have to, I mean it was addressed to you and -"
"- just read the note."
I handed it to him as he took it slowly, in silence. His hands began to get more shaky as his eyes scanned the tattered piece of paper. Finally he looked up at me,
"L-Lin..."
"I know."
"You shouldn't keep this, it's keeping you down."
"Yet it's the last thing Stacy gave me with a meaning. Her children she had no idea about but this, this she knew about and did clearly. It's magnified in each word."
Jon pulled me to sit on a nearby bench as I did yesterday with Stacy.
"Jon?"
"Yes?"
"Why didn't you tell me about the shortcut?"
He exhaled heavily as I too sighed. This was destroying our friendship quickly but I have to know why he wouldn't let me see her.
"I'll explain it from my view okay?"
I slowly nodded and he began:
"Stacy called me, I assume after she got off the train and told me that you broke up with her. She told me that you said you weren't ready for a child and, although I tried to explain to her that didn't sound like you she was adamant. Turned by her rage. To stop her from doing anything she would regret I said I would pick her up, I asked her address and...-"
"- Carry on."
"- if I was smarter I should have seen this as the first clue but she told me the address of her parents house. I sped up and saved her from that hellhole in a matter of minutes and had to force her inside the car because she, she wanted to, well"
He took a shaky breath.
" she told me she wanted to die. I said that was stupid threatening to call you and she took it back immediately. Fuck, I'm so sorry Lin."
"Continue... Please."
"I grew suspicious that she meant it when she told me a-about dying... I said I was calling you. She then ran away. I chased after her as you heard by the phone and as you know I lost her but you don't know why I ended the call. She revealed herself from behind some thorns and at first I was relieved but she was holding a wooden weapon of some sort, it was sharp, sharp enough to cut skin and she looked like she was able to use it. She asked where you were and I told her. It was then Stacy stole my keys and ran. Fuck, she hinted it so many fucking times. I...-"
"- We both made mistakes. To blame you would be contradictory on my side."
He nodded staring at the ground.
"I know I still haven't answered your question Lin."
I looked across to see him still staring at the ground.
"It must be gnawing at your insides to know the answer but I don't have one. I have no sense in what I did yesterday, and it is by far the biggest regret I have."
"You're not the only one Jon."
"Lin. The hospital texted me the other day. They don't think you're mentally healthy enough for the kids."
Jon finally looked up with tears running down his face.
"Tomorrow people are going to come round and somehow we've all got to prove to them you're fine."
"I am fi-"
"- You bloody don't look fine Lin. You look a mess."
We both went silent for a while then. I've got to keep the kids for Stacy but... How can I show these people that I am capable of doing it?

AN: Hello! Bonding time with the Groff. See ya in the next chapter!