Transform Me (A "Shatter Me" Trilogy Fanfiction)

EPILOGUE: CHANGE

Epilogue: Change

"Jun Miyuzaki Junior! Mai Aisling Miyuzaki! For the love of God, if you don't behave right at this very moment, I swear I'm going to—"

The twins don't wait for Caitlan to finish her spiel. They were smart enough to know that their mother always made good on her threats and promises. JJ immediately puts his chubby little hands up and makes the rain stop. Mai flicks her wrist and the fire that had surrounded them only moments ago instantly extinguishes. Then they look up innocently at their mother with wide hetechromatic eyes colors of amethyst and emerald.

Caitlan presses her lips together in a concentrated effort not to laugh at the sight of her own mischievous children. They were both drenched and covered with mud, with parts of their clothes singed. She squares her shoulders, plants her fists on her hips, and gives them her most disapproving stare.

"What did I tell you about using your Energies?" Caitlan wags a finger at them.

"That we should only use it if it was absolutely necessary." Mai dutifully recites.

"And that we shouldn't play with them." JJ rolls his eyes and sighs.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, boyo." Caitlan narrows her eyes at her son and he gives her a sheepish grin.

Mai quickly flicks her brother's ear when their mother isn't looking.

"Hey! Watch it!" JJ yells and summons a flurry of snow from the sky. He scoops some up into a ball before hurling it at his sister. She blows out a tiny breath of air which sends the snowball hurtling back at him and hitting him on his freckled nose. "Ouch! Mama, look at Mai!"

"JJ started it!" Mai shoots back and sticks out her tongue.

"Stop it right now!" Caitlan demands, exasperated.

They both have so much of my brother in them that it feels like he's still here. And in some ways, he still is. It's been five years since his death and watching his two children grow each day brings me memories of my childhood with my brother. They bicker a lot, but they also look out for each other. The other day, JJ accidentally knocked over a week's supply of flour and Mai told everyone it was her fault. As punishment, Mai couldn't get any dessert for five days, but JJ always snuck her half his share. Last month, when one of the kids at school intentionally tripped Mai on the playground, JJ fought back and got a week's worth of detention.

They were also a spitting image of their father. They both had Caitlan's wild red curls, freckles, and green eyes—or at least, each of them had one green eye and one violet eye—but every other feature and temperament were identical to my brother's. If he were still around today, I know my brother would have been a great father just as Caitlan is an amazing mother to their children. The twins are such a handful that I don't know how she does it and still manage to help save the world at the same time. I always find myself awed by her and wonder what I'd be like as a mother one day.

"If you don't stop acting like brats right now, I won't let you play with Alexander and Jenna later. And you won't get any cake." Caitlan warns, and at this, her children immediately sober up.

"We'll behave." JJ quickly pipes up.

"We promise." Mai adds sweetly.

"You'd better." Caitlan narrows her eyes at them, then sighs. "Now, come on. The two of you need a bath again. And hurry up. It's starting soon."

Caitlan leads her children back into the guest house they're staying in for the week and I let the curtain I'd been holding fall back to cover the window from where I watched them.