Ashes - (Sequel to Dark Flame)

Ch. 10

        Waking up next to Liam was the greatest feeling ever. I finally felt whole again. He smelled faintly of cigarettes and patchouli, which is weird considering he doesn't smoke, but it was the most amazing scent I have ever smelled. Suddenly, I felt Liam get up, his warmth was gone. I turned to see him waking up Leo, kissing him on the forehead as he held him on his side. I've never seen two people more happy to be around eachother at nine in the morning. 

        "I'm surprised you even know who I am, Leo," Liam said, looking Leo in his eyes, which were nearly identical to his own. Leo just giggled, and held onto Liam's neck.

        "Mommy!" He yelled pointing at me. 

        "Is mommy awake?" Liam asked, turning around and then making a surprised face. "Let's go lay down with mommy Leo!" He said, walking and then falling onto the bed with Leo still in his arms. 

        "Good morning boys!" I laughed as they both laughed.

        "Good morning, beautiful," Liam smiled, "God, I've really missed saying that."

        "Well, I'm just happy to have you again. Last night was, honestly, the first night I've been able to sleep the entire night," I admit.

        "I was just thinking the same thing. I thought me leavng would protect you, but it just made things worse. Much, much, worse."

        "Are you talking about Harry?" I ask.

        "Not just him, London. It's gotten so bad and feel like it's all my fault. I let my gang just fall apart."

        "We can still fix it."

        "Juliet, I don't want to live like that anymore. I know I'm still not safe, but I am safer than I ever was."

        "Liam, I'm serious. We can go back, and we can fix this."

        "Juliet, I could never ask you to do that. Ever."

        "You aren't asking, I'm offering."

        "What about Leo?" he asks.

        "We can take him to America, he'll be safe. I also think Essie and Sammi should go too, and stay with your mother." 

        "I agree. But why are you going to stay, Jules?" 

        "We are in this together, I love you, and I never want to leave you again," I smile and kiss his cheek.

        "Okay, we should go for breakfast. I'm starving. What about you, little man? Are you hungry?" he asks Leo. Leo nods and laughs at him.

        At breakfast, Essie is already down there with Sam and Niall. Liam stops in the doorway before entering. 

    "Liam!" Essie yells, running over to hug him. He takes her in his arms and apologizes continuously until she hits him on the arm. "I love you unconditionally, you're my brother."

        We all sit together and Liam discusses our plan with the rest of the group, and they all agree it's a good idea. Essie wants to leave immediately so she can see her mother. Niall doesn't want Essie to leave, because they have grown so close over the past few months. Liam and I don't want to take Leo to my parent's house, but we know that it's the best choice.                

        "Okay so let's all pack our stuff and head for America then!" Essie jumps out of her chair and takes her daughter upstairs.        

        "I'll go buy the tickets," Niall says as he sulks his way to the elevator.

        After about 5 or 6 hours, we were all packed and ready to leave. We all got on the same flight. Liam, Leo, and I sat in a row, and Sam, Essie, and Niall did too. It was a long flight, but I was so relieved to finally see New York, where we were scheduled to land in less than 30 minutes. 

        When we landed, we all said our goodbyes to eachother, and said we would see Niall soon. We did not say it to Essie, since we don't know when we would ever see her again. 

        Liam, Leo, and I all boarded our plane, and within 3 hours we landed. I was nervous about seeing my parents, who I called on the way.

        As we got off our plane and gathered our luggage, we scanned the room for my parents. I saw my mother, sitting in a chair, and my father standing next to her. I ran with Leo straight to them. They hugged us and my dad grabbed Leo. 

        "Oh, darling! I've missed you so much," my mom squeals when she hugs me. She looks up at Liam, who is standing behind me. "Liam, honey, come here!" she walks towards him, giving him a hug as if nothing ever happened. 

        "Hello, Mrs. Montgomery, you look as beautiful as ever," he said, which only made my mother hug him even more.

        "Aw, sweetie! When Juliet called us and said you all were coming, we couldnt have been more thrilled," my mother says.

        We all hugged and talked on the way to the car. I was nervous about telling my parents why we were really here. I knew they wouldn't really mind, but I couldn't help it.

        When we arrived at their house, my old house, Liam made comments on how cute he thought it was. When we got inside, my father carried our bags upstairs and then went down to help my mother cook dinner. I showed Liam around the house, and we put Leo down for a nap in the guest room which had a crib set up. 

        We got to my old room, and I opened the door, the musty smell was soft. I turned on my light to reveal my pastel pink walls, and my perfectly made white bed. My room was still in tact from when I left. Pictures were still on the wall, and there were still clothes in the closet that I decided to leave behind. 

        "Cute stuffed animal collection you got there, Jules," Liam laughed.

        "Liam, those aren't stuffed animals, those are Beanie Babies," I correct him, which makes him laugh even more. 

        "God, I love you," he says while laying on my bed. 

        "I love you, too,"  I say. I hear a knock at my door, followed by the voice of my mother saying it's time for dinner. I go and wake up Leo, and then take him down stairs and Liam is already waiting for us at the end of the stairs. We all sit down for dinner, and catch up. After dinner, I knew it would be the best time to tell my parents why it is that we are here.

        "Liam's in a gang?" my mother says, her eyes going big. 

        "Yes, and we feel like it would be safer if Leo could stay here for a while. We'll come back," I say.

        "Oh, honey you can't go! Niether of you! It's much too dangerous!" my mother exclaims.

        "Mother, innocent people are going to keep on dying if we don't do anything," 

         "Lucy, maybe it's not a bad idea. I mean, Juliet is a tough one," my father says, and I mouth the words 'Thank you.'

        "We would be more than happy to keep him safe here, sweetie, I just want both of you to seriously think about this," my mother says, getting up and telling us she is going to bed.

        "Juliet, you know your mother gets worried. I mean, yes, I'm worried too," he says, kissing me on the head and giving me a hug. "We love you."

        "I love you both too," I say to him as he walks out of the room.

        Liam and I walk upstairs and put Leo to bed. Then, we both wash up and climb into my bed. I feel his arms snake around my waist  and his chin settle into the crook of my neck. I fall fast asleep to the sound of his deep breathing and the feeling of his heart beat against my back.