Complicated

Chapter twenty three(Part three)

Phoenix was driving. Eloise was riding shot gun. Mom and Dad was in the middle. And as for me, I was at the back.

It wasn't even an hour since we had left the city and I was already starting to recognize the path we were taking as the outskirts of Perth.

Things had already started to get better and I was getting back to my normal self. 

I still had to talk to Mom and Dad. But after they heard me speaking to my biological parents, they looked better than before and I was happy to see them that way.

"Where are we going, by the way?" I yelled.

"You'll see, Carmen." Eloise replied.

"You'll love it. I'm sure." Phoenix added.

Mom and Dad were indulged in a conversation with Phoenix and Eloise, eventually giggling mildly. I got back to looking out of the window, not wanting to join them. Because if I did, Mom and Dad would definitely stop talking and go back to their silent selves, which I didn't want to happen.

My eyelids felt heavy, causing me to doze off into a deep slumber.

I felt someone tapping my cheek and I slowly peeled my eyelids apart, to find Phoenix blinking at me.

"Where are we?" I asked him, adjusting my eyes to the noon sun.

"We're at Hamelin Bay." Eloise told me. There was something dreamy in her voice.

"This is where I first met her." He told me. Ah! That was why she was so dreamy about it..

"Aww..that's so cute!" I said, causing them to look at each other.

"Before you guys kiss, I'll be heading out." I said, to which they chuckled.

"Hold on, Carmen. Stay here, will you? Besides, lets give them a little alone time." Eloise told me, pointing towards Mom and Dad, who were walking on the sand.

"Sure. Now I am hungry."

"Of course, you would say that." Phoenix said and I rolled my eyes.

Eloise handed me a hot box and I opened it to find something very mouth watering.

"What's this?" 

"Its Chicken Parmigiana." He said, taking a bite from his own box.

"Taste it. Its a popular dish in Australia." She said.

I took a bite from my spoon and sure, it tasted just how it looked like: mouth watering.

"This is so fuckin yum!" I babbled with my mouth full.

Phoenix gave me that you-swore-just-now look.

"Hey! don't give me that look! I'm a woman now. I can swear without thinking twice." I said proudly.

"I didn't think you had the wild side in you, Carmen." Eloise stated, chuckling.

"I'm wild. Very." I said, in a warning tone and I laughed at myself, to which they laughed at me.

"You made this?" I asked her. She nodded.

"You're amazing. I'm taking her with me, Phoenix. I need her." I told him.

"No. Way." He sounded so possessive.

I chuckled and said, "So what's your story? How did you guys end up with each other?"

"Like I said, I met her here, at Hamelin Bay, almost three years ago. I usually used to come here almost every weekend when I didn't work at the institute. So on one Sunday noon, she was hesitant to feed the sting rays over there. She saw me feeding them and I smiled at her. I walked up to her and told her that the rays meant no harm and taught her to feed them. I still remember her wearing a maroon one piece which was way above her knees. She looked so gorgeous and everything started from there. We dated for two years, she moved in with me, I proposed to her last year and she said yes and tada! Here we are!" He said, opening his arms for a dramatic effect.

"Quite a story, huh? So the sting rays brought you guys together." I stated. He kissed her on her cheek, she blushed.

"So what's your story, Carmen?" She asked me.

I told her about what happened between Calvin and I, about Jamie as well.

"You're strong, girl." She told me and I couldn't help but agree with her.

We soon headed out to the sand and it felt so warm beneath my feet. 

Before I met the sting rays, I wanted to talk to Mom and Dad. They were sitting on the sand, talking about god knows what, Mom playfully shoving Dad and him pulling her close and kissing her. That was definitely a sight to gaze at. After a very, very long time.

I walked up to them and they looked up at me, standing up.

"Mom, Dad, I need to tell you guys something. The only reason why I didn't talk to you was that I didn't have the courage to face you and I was shit scared that I'd yell at you both. I know you both were hurt. And so was I. So we're even. I am so sorry. I missed you both. I missed all those beautiful days. The family time, the stupid silly jokes, the pranks, pulling each other's legs, late night movie marathons, the 'I love you's' before you guys leaving for work and me leaving for school and need I go on? I need those days back. Its high time I let go of what has happened and I want to start all over again. I don't want anything to change between us. I am so lucky to have you as my parents and you've given me all your love. I'm in such a wonderful family. All of you treat me as your own and never once have I felt that I was left out. Thank you so much for everything, Mom and Dad. I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you guys at any cost and I love you so, so much. Please forgive me."

Tears swam in their eyes and all they did was grab me into a very possessive hug. 

Phoenix apologized too, for staying away from them and joined the hug with Eloise.

"Don't worry about it, kids. We're starting fresh. We're back as a family. To me and Beth, that means the world. We love you." Dad spoke into the hug.

Finally, our family had reunited.

The sting rays were absolutely beautiful and they were super friendly. They came right upto us and we fed them some scraps of fish. At first, I was a bit mortified when an eagle ray swam past my legs and another smooth ray swam over my feet, almost knocking me backwards. I slowly got used to them and gave them a pat, everytime they swam up to me.

"Phoenix?"

"Hmm?"

I jumped onto him, hugging him tight.

He'd done so much for me ever since I met him and he was the best sibling ever.

He hugged me back and it felt so warm to be in his arms.

"Thank you so much. For everything. I love you so much." I whispered into his ear.

"Always. I love you so much." 

He kissed me on my cheek and I heard the shutter of the camera close, making me smile and cherish the moment. We both looked at the camera, side hugging each other. We asked one of the tourists to click a picture of all us, as a family. 

Our first family picture.

Clicking that family picture at the bay was like the perfect beginning we were having as a family.

It was a perfect kodak moment.

That picture was the start of something new to all of us. Love shone in our eyes, happiness radiated from our laughs and the reunion made our family bond strong.

Mission eighteen-The Final Protocol: successfully accomplished.

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Author's note:

Hey guys!

So...the family is reunited. Finally. Phew!

What else is left? 

See for yourselves.

Two more chapters and then, the epilogue.

Next update: .....

Stay tuned!

Keep reading! Have a lovely Christmas!

See you soon, you guys!

Love,

Peaches;)