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“So this is the coffee place you have been raving about?”, Rose asked as they walked up to a little hole in the wall cafe. Landon smiled opening the door. “Yup. Best coffee I’ve ever had. They also have bagels and do breakfast bagel sandwiches too. Me and the guys come here a lot since the Cicada where we play the most regularly is six blocks away.”, Landon explained. Rose shrugged and walked inside getting in line. “Thanks for this..”, she said with a half smile. “For what?”, Landon asked with a raised eyebrow. “For listening and just hanging out with me this morning. You could have easily went back to bed or pawned me off on my cousin or your sister to deal with the drama.”, she explained. “I could I suppose. But that’d be a shitty move as a best friend.”, he smiled. “Landon you have like a dozen best friends though.”, she sighed shaking her head. “No I don’t. I have you and Atif. You two are my best friends. You are the two that know everything there is to know about me and who, yes there have been moments in the past that contradict this, but you are the two I trust without even a thought. Rachel of course knows everything about me too, but that’s different.”, Landon pointed out. “Right Rachel is different because she’s going to be your wife. Which congratulations in person…..cousin.”, Rose teased elbowing him a little. “What can I say I always knew I belonged in the Howlett family. And thanks.”, he smiled. “Yeah. But seriously you have everyone as a best friend. If you are singling me and Atif out as your best friends what does that make the rest of the gang?”, she asked as they moved up in line. “It makes the others my friends. Yeah I’m close them all. Especially Lily and Cora Lee who are family. No matter how far you are from me, you’ll always be my best friend. And you know that no matter where I am you can always call on me to listen and be here for you.”, he assured giving her a side hug. Rose smiled and nodded. “Thanks Landon. It’s good to know that I’ve got someone who will listen to my craziness.”, she sighed.
“Morning Landon. Large salted caramel straight up? No band or fiancee this morning? And who’s this?”, the barista smiled knowing his order already. Landon smiled and glanced to Rose who was raising an eyebrow. “What I told you I come here a lot. This is my best friend she’s visiting from the Cambridge,England. And yeah I’ll take my usual plus the skinny zesty egg white sandwich. Plus whatever she orders.”, Landon said getting his wallet out. “Um I’ll take a large mocha java and the same sandwich.”, Rose said. The barista smiled and rang up the order getting started. “Oh Landon looks like your little admirer is back.”, she commented nodding her head to the far corner. Rose raised an eyebrow. “And admirer?”, she questioned. Landon looked in the direction and saw a newspaper quickly moved to hide a face but not fast enough to hide the red hair. “It’s her again.”, he said not moving from the counter. “Her who?”, Rose asked. “I don’t know what her name is. But she has popped up now three times. Remember I told you about a little girl that bought me coffee and told me everything was going to be alright?”, he said. Rose thought back and nodded remembering him saying it and it sounding weird. “Okay so what that’s her?”, she asked. “She appeared last summer, the day I found Rachel’s ring. I was here meeting the guys to go to the club to practice. I was wearing my Clash London Calling tee, you know the one.”, he started to explain. “Yeah the one that got a rip when we were going out your window in Texas. Get to the point.”, Rose said folding her arms across her chest. “Well I see that same girl, except she looked a little younger than when she bought me coffee and she was wearing my shirt down to the exact same rips so it’s not like she had a similar shirt. I chased her down. She stopped outside a shop and I thought I had her but she shimmered out like looking at a mirage. And I was left standing there in front of the shop that had what is now Rachel’s engagement ring in the window.”, Landon explained.
Rose furrowed her brow trying to figure this out. “So she’s a teleporter?”, she asked. “I don’t know. I’ve never ever seen someone teleport like that. And I’ve researched it this past year with Forge no documentation of a teleporter like that and had Aunt Jean do a cerebro scan for her and it’s like she doesn’t exist. And if that isn’t freaky enough well she looks like you.”, Landon said. “What? You mean she’s got red hair not exactly something to go on.”, Rose said glancing to the table and blinked the girl was gone. “She’s gone…”, Rose exclaimed in a soft voice. “She did it again. Ugh.”, Landon sighed getting their drinks and sandwiches and they walked over to the table the girl had been at. Landon picked up the paper the girl had been hiding behind and saw an ad for an open mic night circled. “So what do you mean she looked like me?”, Rose asked sitting down taking her coffee and taking a sip. “Oh god that is good.”, she commented. Landon smirked a little. “Alright well when I saw her the first time she looked about twelve. Between her hair, facial features, and general body structure she was almost a replica of you at twelve. But there were weird differences.”, he started to explain taking a sip of his coffee. “What were the weird differences?”, Rose asked taking a bit of her bagel sandwich. In a strange way it was nice to eat meat while home. She generally avoided meat during her visits because she was never certain when she’d see Merrick and didn’t want meat on her breath when making out with him.
“She had well. She had the Shadow family green-yellow eyes and she had a rather Bryant smirk. Then the kicker she had a British accent. It’s just freaky cause I mean I can’t think how that combination is possible. And it was weird that last summer when I saw her she looked like maybe nine. And who knows how old she looked this time.”, Landon explained. Rose raised an eyebrow, a little girl that looks like her and Merrick but with a British accent. “So she looked like a combination of me and Merrick and spoke with a British accent? Well at least we know whoever she is it’s some weirdness. Because I’m certainly never having kids with Merrick. And certainly wouldn’t have one that seems to age randomly and teleports. Must be some coincidence or something.”, Rose shrugged. Landon shrugged. “I guess. It just still weirds me out. And has me curious. Like maybe someone did some science experiment, test tube stuff with yours and Merrick’s DNA.”, Landon speculated. “Test tube? Seriously?”, Rose shook her head eating her breakfast. “What it happens. Hudson was a test tube. Viper used your dad’s dna and combined it with hers to make an heir. Karli is another good example of a test tube baby.”, Landon commented. “Karli?”, Rose asked with a cough taking a drink of her coffee. “Oh yeah I forgot that’s not supposed to be known. Was going through the database and found a file that had a seriously high level encryption on it.”, Landon explained.
Rose sighed shaking her head. “And being you… you hacked it.”, she chuckled. Landon smiled brightly and shrugged. “What can I say I see a secret I gotta find out more.”, he said. “Alright so what did you find? And I promise I won’t go telling other people.”, she assured. “Karli Fearbirgh isn’t a Fearbirgh at all. Hell technically she’s only a year older than me.”, he explained. Rose blinked setting her food down now very interested. “Wait what? Elaborate.”, she requested. “Well some scientist that was part of the Weapon X program took the DNA of one of his other patients a mutant that little information was known about other than he was a bit psychotic and had red eyes and combined it with a X-Men named Ashley Davis aka Squall who was a water mutant. Random was created from the combination of their DNA and was rapidly grown to be ten when she emerged from the test tube. She was not mentally stable, though Karli still isn’t, she found out who her biological parents were and sought them out after of course killing her creator. The ‘dad’ died too. And she tried to kill Ashley and well at the time Ashley was only sixteen and in a relationship with a blind seer mutant named Atif aka Oracle so the idea of having a kid let alone one that was ten freaked her out. They sought the help of Duncan and Professor Xavier. Duncan removed their memories of each other and volunteered to take on the role of Random’s parent. So Professor Xavier implanted false memories so she would believe that her mother was Duncan’s deceased wife and that she’d grown up in Scotland with him. She still to this day has no idea she’s not Duncan’s real daughter. Everyone was sworn to secrecy about it, but Forge is well Forge and kept everything.”, Landon explained.
“Holy fucking...wow. And Forge dated her??? He knew it all and still dated her? I mean wow.”, Rose said shaking her head going back to eating her sandwich finishing it off and eyeing his. “You going to eat all that?”, she asked pointing. “Um guess not. You can have it. You feeling alright?”, he asked pushing the half of his unfinished sandwich to her. “Yeah I’m fine. I just I dunno this tasted really good and I’m still craving more.”, she said taking his sandwich biting into it. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh. Just I dunno. Weird question and don’t answer if you don’t want. But when was the last time you had sex?”, Landon asked her. “June of last year with Merrick before I went back to Cambridge. Merrick’s the only guy I’ve been with. Why?”, Rose asked licking the corners of her mouth. “Ah alright well. Guess that rules that out. You just craving food and such wasn’t sure if maybe you were pregnant.”, Landon said. Rose started laughing. “Well I’m not given gestation is forty weeks and it’s been way longer since I last got laid. Not to mention my healing powers would never let me get pregnant, or at least not carry to term. A curse that Rachel at least doesn’t have to deal with not having the Howlett healing powers.”, Rose sighed. “Alright just wanted to check. And you never know someday you might become a mom.”, Landon shrugged sipping his coffee. “Yeah well if that happens it won’t be for along time. I hope you are being cautious.”, she added. Landon laughed a little. “Of course. Condoms and Rachel went on birth control as an extra precaution. Not looking to have a kid before we even get married. And with how we plan to travel the world not sure when kids will come into play.”, he answered. “But you want them?”, Rose asked. “Yeah. I’d like to have kids with Rachel. I think she’ll be a great mom when the times comes. And will be interesting to see how our genetics collaborate into another living being.”, he smiled thinking about the idea of having children with Rachel.
“You made the right choice you know.”, Rose commented. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”, he asked. “When you decided or well knew Rachel was the one. It was the right choice. With the life you want to have and the family you dream of. She’s the right Howlett for you. And I mean you are obviously hopelessly in love with her and vice versa.”, Rose explained with a sigh. Landon smiled nodding a little but reached over and squeezed her hand. “Yeah I am. And I know right now it might not be easy to see. But the decision you made yesterday it’ll work out in the end.”, he assured. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not meant to have someone.”, Rose shrugged getting up her hand slipping from his. “Roselyn Elizabeth Howlett. Don’t ever let me hear you talk like that. There will be someone for you. You just need to look, you might stumble over the guy by accident some day.”, he said getting up. “Now come on let’s go back to the house. The others should be awake by now. And if you hang out long enough you can finally meet my band. Jackson has been wanting to meet you since well since before I started dating Rachel.”, he said heading for the door. “Which one’s Jackson and why would he want to meet me?”, she questioned following. “Jackson is the trumpet player, he’s thirty now. I’m not a judge on men but girls at the clubs seem to find him attractive. And well I talked to the band back in the day about my dilemma of picking between you two. During said conversation I described you physically and your personality. And apparently Jackson liked what he heard.”, Landon said walking down the street.
“Uh huh. And what did you happen to tell your band about me?”, Rose asked curious now. “That was a long time ago to remember.”, Landon said trying to get out of talking about it. “Bullshit. Landon you remember everything. So spill. What did you tell that apparently impressed your trumpet player?”, she demanded. Landon sighed. “Alright fine. I told them that you are incredible. That you have this great singing voice and rock on guitar. About you being brilliant, intense, passionate and fiercely loyal. How you are an amazing fighter like your dad and have that animal instinct. Then they asked about your looks…”, he sighed shaking his head. Rose smiled linking her arm with his finding this rather amusing. “Oh do tell.”, she teased. “Well at the time you had shoulder length hair, but I told them how it was this thick rich shade of red, your skin is like porcelain, the intense deep blue eyes that are their own shade of a blending of cobalt and azure, your cute little rounded nose, your soft full lips, about your slender neck, and that you’ve got all the right curves in all the right places.”, Landon admitted. Rose laughed. “Well thanks for that favorable summarization. And I’m sure you described my cousin just as favorably.”, she teased. “Yeah. I told them about how she’s amazing, plays piano and violin, brilliant too. How she’s sweet, compassionate, graceful and just has this aura of innocence. About her being an amazing and fierce fighter. Then looks about her silken bronze skin, the long wavy thick black hair, those intense Howlett eyes, the cute rounded nose, soft kissable lips, well placed curves, and her legs…”, he said smiling shaking his head a little thinking about Rachel’s legs. Rose laughed again. “Oh so it’s her legs huh?”, she joked a little. “They are part of it yeah. I dunno, I just know I like when they are wrapped around me. And since proposing liked them even more when they get wrapped around me during sex.”, he shrugged smirking. Rose laughed shaking her head. “Well at least sounds like my cousin is getting laid good. Suppose it’s expected.”, she commented. “Why is it expected?”, he asked as they walked up the steps of the house. “Because you’re Merrick’s cousin. And well the sex was mind blowing.”, she admitted walking inside.
The rest of the house had woken up and were sitting in the living room drinking their coffee and eating breakfast when Rose and Landon walked in. “ROSE!”, Cora Lee yelled. Rose smiled. “Hey everyone. Hope you don’t mind got here early this morning and Landon was the only one awake. So went to breakfast at that coffee place with him.”, she greeted walking in and finding a spot to sit. Landon walked in taking off his sneakers and stepped around people to sit ned to Rachel on the couch. Rachel leaned into his holding her tea with both hands. “Did you tell me you were going to breakfast? I kind of remember that.”, she asked. Landon nodded. “Yeah you were kind of mostly asleep when I got out of the shower. Gave you a kiss and told you I was going to breakfast with Rose.”, he nodded. “Thought so.”, she said tucking some hair behind her ear with her left hand. Rose smiled looking over at her cousin and Landon and how happy they looked. Then she notice the bling. She’d seen pictures of the ring but never in person. “That ring looks even prettier in person than the picture Rachel.”, Rose commented. Rachel blushed a little smiling. “Thanks. I adore it.”, she admitted. Lily was about to say something when her phone rang. “Hey mom. What's going on?”, she answered. “Morning sweetie. So your dad and I are up in Boston. Nana Hazel head a heart attack yesterday. She is doing better, it was only minor. However they want to put a pacemaker in today. I already called the Haven to let Merrick and Sebastian know. Merrick wasn’t there apparently he decided he should drive up so he’s on his way here. You’re sisters are already here. But I wanted to let you know.”, Kim answered. “Oh. Um. Alright well just keep me informed. Rose just got here so we’ll be here all day just catching up. Give Nana Hazel a hug and kiss from me and Tommy.”, Lily said. “I will. Bye Lily.”, Kim said hanging up, “Bye mom.”, Lily sighed putting the phone away. Rose raised an eyebrow and looked at Lily as did the rest of the room. “What’s wrong?”, Tommy asked. “Nana Hazel had a minor heart attack yesterday. She’s doing better but they are going to put a pacemaker in. Josalyn and Emma are of course there living near by. Mom and Christian went last night. And apparently Merrick had left before mom called to tell him about the surgery.”, Lily explained. Rose frowned now feeling a bit worse than before. So yesterday she hurt Merrick, or at least she thought he was hurt too and then his great grandmother had a heart attack.
Merrick hadn’t answered his cell, as he was driving so he’d not gotten the message that hazel was going to be having surgery. Zoe had remained silent mostly during the drive, however was singing along to the radio. It seemed to be keeping Faelan content in the backseat and she noticed Merrick smiling a little. He found it rather amusing to hear her voice singing Back in Black by Ac/DC and Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult. As they pulled into the hospital parking lot she had just finished singing Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas. Merrick had parked but waited for the song to finish before cutting the engine laughing a little. “What?”, Zoe asked getting out of the car and pulling her seat forward leaning into the back grabbing the cookies, diaper bag and car seat. “Just hearing an opera/musical theater type singer singing along to Kansas or anything that was playing while we drove here.”, Merrick explained getting the stroller out of the trunk and opening it up. “It’s not like I don’t know the songs. I just prefer opera and musicals is all.”, Zoe said sticking her tongue out as she set the car seat onto the stroller. “So do we know what room she’s in?”, Zoe asked. “Um no. Hold on, my phone has been going off since the Ferry.”, he said taking out his phone to see a text from his mother. “They apparently are going to be doing surgery giving her a pacemaker and she’s in room 324.”, he said putting the phone back. “Alright so let’s go find room 324.”, Zoe said shouldering the diaper bag. Merrick pushed the stroller as they went inside and found an elevator heading up.
When they reached the third floor and started down the hall in the direction of the room they spotted Christian walking out of the room. “Hey Merrick. David said you had left to come up. Oh and hello Zoe. Grandma will be happy to see you guys. And I see you brought my grandson.”, Christian commented leaning to the stroller and ticking Faelan under his chin. “Nana hazel will be really happy to see your little cherub face. Your sisters are already at the room.”, Christian said looking up at Merrick for the last sentence. “Like all my sisters?”, Merrick question. “Well Josalyn and Emma. Your mother called Lily. She’s still in Manhattan. Rose is visiting so she’ll be there unless something comes up here that requires her to come. Now I’m going to go find some food in this place.”, Christian explained heading to the elevators. Merrick gulped a little going stiff when his dad brought up Rose. Zoe noticed it and rubbed his arm. “You alright?”, she asked softly. Merrick nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. Guess it makes sense. I turned to my best friend when everything went wrong. So she’s gone to hers...my cousin Landon.”, he said taking a breath. Zoe sighed and gave him a side hug. “Come on. Let’s focus on Nana Hazel shall we.”, she suggested. Merrick nodded in agreement as they walked the hall to the room and entered. In the bed hooked up to some monitors was his Nana Hazel, she still looked tough as nails even with the tubes and wires. His mother sat on the right in a chair by her bedside, along the wall Josalyn was leaning into Robert and Emma was reading something on her kindle.
Hazel turned her head when the door opened and smiled brightly seeing Merrick with the stroller. “There’s my boy. Oooh and he brought my great great grandson.”, she greeted. “Hey Nana. How are you feeling?”, he asked pushing the stroller into the room and taking up some of the left side of her bed. “Oh I’ll be fi….”, Hazel’s voice stopped when she saw Zoe walking in behind Merrick holding the diaper bag. “My nightingale! You brought my great great grandson and my nightingale? Oh you thoughtful boy.”, Hazel said patting his arm. Emma and Josalyn both took attention of their brother walking in and even more attention when they saw Zoe. Emma’s cold blue eyes narrowed at Zoe. “What is she doing here? She’s not family…”, Emma questioned. “Hey Nana Hazel. I was going to mail these but then Merrick told me about the heart attack and asked if I wanted to come check on you.”, Zoe greeted ignoring Emma as she offered the container of cookies and leaned over giving Hazel a hug. “Oh you sweet child.”, Hazel said taking the cookies also ignoring Emma. Merrick however didn’t. “Emma don’t start. Robert’s not family but there he sits.”, he commented. “Yeah well as of last night…”, Josalyn argued holding up her left hand to show a white gold ring with small diamonds that surrounded a square cut bright yellow canary diamond. “Ohh Josalyn congratulations that ring is gorgeous. Very unique with the canary diamond.”, Zoe said turning and getting closer to look at the ring. “Um….thank you.”, Josalyn said not sure how to take that reaction. “Congratulations Josalyn.”, Merrick said giving his triplet a hug and shaking Roberts hand squeezing rather tight. “I suppose officially welcome to the family.”, Merrick said leaning closer to his future brother-in-law. “Now that warning I gave you when you started dating her still stands, you hurt my sister I’ll rip you to shreds.”, Merrick whispered to Robert. Robert forced a smiled and nodded. “Thank you Merrick. You always know how to make someone feel welcomed.”, Robert said.
“Alright so we’ve established that Robbie is going to be family. So I still ask why is Zoe here?”, Emma asked. “Emma…”, Kim said shaking her head at her daughter. “Zoe is here because I say she’s family. Would you like to argue with me young lady?”, Hazel said pressing the button for her bed to move up so she was sitting up more and could properly stare down her great granddaughter. Zoe tried to hide her smile at Hazel jumping into her defense. Emma glared but slightly less at her nana. “No Nana. Of course not…”, Emma conceded. But Merrick knew from her eyes and tone she didn’t mean it. “Zoe’s my best friend Emma. And the last twenty-four hours have not exactly been good to me. So she’s here as my support.”, Merrick explained. “Alright enough with explaining why my nightingale is here. You are going to let me hold that baby now. And don’t tell me no young man. I’m in the hospital and about to go have a pacemaker in, cater to an old woman.”, she said pointing to the stroller. Merrick let out an exasperated sigh and the room all seemed to be watching him. He unbuckled Faelan who was at least still in human form having been entertained in the car by Zoe’s signing. “Fine Nana…”, Merrick said handing Faelan over but not exactly letting go. Hazel took him and looked at Merrick. “Let go so I can hold him proper.”, she ordered. Merrick sighed and let go Zoe placing a hand on his arm patting him. “Hello there handsome boy. Oh you look just like your dad, well except the eyes. But you are going to grow up to be a good looking man. girls are going to just throw themselves at you like your daddy.” Hazel said smiling at Faelan who smiled back at her.
Merrick rolled his eyes. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t take too much after me in that department. He should learn from my mistakes not repeat them.”, he said frowning. Emma raised an eyebrow at her brother’s behavior this wasn’t normal for him. “What’s wrong?”, Emma asked. “Nothing you need to worry about Emma.”, Merrick assured. Emma didn’t of course buy this as she saw Zoe still patting his arm trying to comfort him about something. So Emma being Emma looked into Zoe’s thoughts. Emma blinked pulling back from Zoe’s mind narrowing her eyes at Zoe. Oh she’d seen more than she probably ought and in a way more than she wished she had. She saw the most recent things like Zoe staying the night in Merrick’s arms and Zoe’s feelings about it. Then she saw past that to news that Rose had broken Merrick’s heart because she didn’t think she could be a good mother figure to Faelan living so far away. That at least Emma agreed to, but the idea that her brother had been having a relationship with Rose Howlett was offensive and now that Rose had broken her brothers heart that just made her angry. But as she’d looked deeper past the information about Rose being with Merrick and breaking his heart she saw all the time Zoe had spent with Merrick. And exactly how far beyond friends the two actually were. Hazel looked at Merrick seeing the frown and at Zoe seeing her frowning a little as well while absentmindedly patting his arm to comfort him. “Everyone out…”, Hazel declared. “What?”, Kim questioned. “I said everyone out. Well not Zoe and Merrick. And Faelan of course I’m not letting this little cherub go till I must. But I must speak privately with these two.”, Hazel said. “Um..”, Kim said looking skeptical. “I said out, and I mean now.”, she said nodding to the door. “Alright come on girls. Let’s find your father.”, Kim suggested ushering her daughters and Robert out of the room shutting the door.
Zoe and Merrick both raised their eyebrows looking at Hazel. “So we are in private. Now you two better just come out with it. What is wrong?”, Hazel asked shifted Faelan in her arms. Merrick sighed and moved the stroller into the corner and sat in one of the chairs. Zoe frowned and looked at him then to Hazel. “Do you want me to tell her so you don’t need to say it?”, she offered. Merrick leaned forward resting his elbows on his legs and rubbed his hands over his face. “Yeah. Go ahead.”, he nodded. Zoe sighed walking closer to him rubbing his back. She knew it wasn’t easy dealing with this, and telling Hazel wasn’t going to be easy either because Hazel favored Rose. “Rose came back to town. She met Faelan and well..”, she started to explain. “She told Merrick yesterday afternoon that they should just be friends. Because it wouldn’t be fair to Faelan, to Merrick, or to her if she was to get close to Faelan just to have to leave. And being someone Faelan could only really know over a computer screen and the phone just didn’t feel right. I feel horrible because I think that I was a factor in her decision even if she didn’t say it.”, Zoe explained. Hazel frowned she’d had high hopes that Roselyn could be a good match for her Merrick. “Reasonable I suppose. But for love you do whatever it takes to be together. You don’t let a silly ocean stop you. Now what’s this nonsense that you were a factor my dear?”, Hazel shook her head. “In his effort to be completely honest about what happened during the year she was gone...Merrick told her about him staying nights with me. Which apparently since it wasn’t about sex between us that held more weight than the girls he’d slept with in the past from his little black book.”, she explained.
“So there you have it Nana. I shot myself in the foot by being honest with Rose and over all by just not stopping seeing other people after last summer. She doesn’t want to be with me that way, anymore if she ever really did. And it sucks. I can’t even describe how much it sucks and hurts. And in a way I’m glad. I now know where I stand with her, and it’s in a little box marked ‘Friend Zone’. She doesn’t think she could step up and be more than what we were with me because of Faelan so be it. He doesn’t have a mother figure now and if he ever has one I don’t want it to be someone who’d phone it in literally. I want him to have someone that can be here for him emotionally and physically. Someone who can be here for me emotionally and physically too.”, Merrick sighed. Hazel nodded and looked at Zoe and Merrick. Merrick was still leaning forward his face in his hands and Zoe was at his side gently rubbing circles on his back. Haze thought to point out that right next to him was a beautiful and amazing young woman who was there for him emotionally and physically but she figured now would not be the correct moment to point that out. “Well then. Roselyn’s loss. If she doesn’t want to be part of your life my dear boy she obviously wasn’t the young woman I thought. You and this sweet little boy deserve a woman who can step up to the plate.”, Hazel sighed. The moment was interrupted as a doctor knocked on the door and walked in with nurses. “Misses Frost we need to prep you for surgery now. Your family will need to go tot eh waiting room.”, the doctor instructed. Merrick stood up and took Faelan back putting him in the car seat. “We’ll be here when you get out of surgery Nana.”, Merrick said giving his great grandmother a kiss on the forehead. “See you after Nana.”, Zoe said leaning giving her a hug. “I’ll see you later my dears.”, Hazel waved as Merrick pushed the stroller out with Zoe following behind.
“She’ll be alright. And so will you. Want to go grab some lunch?”, Zoe suggested as they walked down the hall. “Yeah. I don’t want to go too far but don’t want hospital food either. Guess see what’s nearby to eat. Maybe grab something and take him over to that park we saw find a spot where there’s less foot traffic so he can shift if he wants.”, Merrick agreed. Zoe nodded as they went to the elevator. When they stepped out of the elevator they ran into the other Bryant-Frosts. “Where are you guys headed?”, Kim asked. “They were taking Nana into surgery. So we are going to go find something to eat and take Faelan over to the park nearby.”, Merrick explained. “Oh well we could come with you.”, Emma offered. Zoe didn’t like that idea, she didn’t really care for Emma she couldn’t fully place why but she just didn’t. “Um…”, Merrick thought. “Yeah we could go with. We’ve been here for so long would be good to get out.”, Josalyn suggested. Zoe shrugged a little. “Um sure. Mom? Dad?”, Merrick asked. “No we’ll wait for new from the surgery. Your uncles had to be at court so they weren’t able to be here. You kids go get some air. I’ll text you when she’s out of surgery.”, Christian replied. “Oh we could go back to our house it’s not that far and we have plenty of food and Faelan can have run of the house and yard.”, Robert offered. “Um...are Talia and Alexander there?”, Merrick asked. “Probably does it matter? Zoe’s Alexander’s sister right?”, Robert questioned. Zoe shrugged. “I guess that's fine. Wouldn’t mind seeing my little brother.”, Zoe sighed. “This day just gets better….fine. Let's add dealing with Talia and Alexander to the pile.”, Merrick sighed. “Glad that’s settled. We’ll come back when you text that Nana is out of surgery and ready for visitors.”, Emma smiled giving her parents each a hug. Josalyn smiled and hugged her parents before taking Robert’s hand and heading out. “Lord give me strength…”, Merrick muttered before hugging his parents and pushing the stroller out. “This is going to suck you know that right?”, he said glancing to Zoe. “Yupppp. Trapped in a house with your sisters and my brother.”, Zoe sighed as they got into the car and followed Robert and his sisters.

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“So this is the coffee place you have been raving about?”, Rose asked as they walked up to a little hole in the wall cafe. Landon smiled opening the door. “Yup. Best coffee I’ve ever had. They also have bagels and do breakfast bagel sandwiches too. Me and the guys come here a lot since the Cicada where we play the most regularly is six blocks away.”, Landon explained. Rose shrugged and walked inside getting in line. “Thanks for this..”, she said with a half smile. “For what?”, Landon asked with a raised eyebrow. “For listening and just hanging out with me this morning. You could have easily went back to bed or pawned me off on my cousin or your sister to deal with the drama.”, she explained. “I could I suppose. But that’d be a shitty move as a best friend.”, he smiled. “Landon you have like a dozen best friends though.”, she sighed shaking her head. “No I don’t. I have you and Atif. You two are my best friends. You are the two that know everything there is to know about me and who, yes there have been moments in the past that contradict this, but you are the two I trust without even a thought. Rachel of course knows everything about me too, but that’s different.”, Landon pointed out. “Right Rachel is different because she’s going to be your wife. Which congratulations in person…..cousin.”, Rose teased elbowing him a little. “What can I say I always knew I belonged in the Howlett family. And thanks.”, he smiled. “Yeah. But seriously you have everyone as a best friend. If you are singling me and Atif out as your best friends what does that make the rest of the gang?”, she asked as they moved up in line. “It makes the others my friends. Yeah I’m close them all. Especially Lily and Cora Lee who are family. No matter how far you are from me, you’ll always be my best friend. And you know that no matter where I am you can always call on me to listen and be here for you.”, he assured giving her a side hug. Rose smiled and nodded. “Thanks Landon. It’s good to know that I’ve got someone who will listen to my craziness.”, she sighed.
“Morning Landon. Large salted caramel straight up? No band or fiancee this morning? And who’s this?”, the barista smiled knowing his order already. Landon smiled and glanced to Rose who was raising an eyebrow. “What I told you I come here a lot. This is my best friend she’s visiting from the Cambridge,England. And yeah I’ll take my usual plus the skinny zesty egg white sandwich. Plus whatever she orders.”, Landon said getting his wallet out. “Um I’ll take a large mocha java and the same sandwich.”, Rose said. The barista smiled and rang up the order getting started. “Oh Landon looks like your little admirer is back.”, she commented nodding her head to the far corner. Rose raised an eyebrow. “And admirer?”, she questioned. Landon looked in the direction and saw a newspaper quickly moved to hide a face but not fast enough to hide the red hair. “It’s her again.”, he said not moving from the counter. “Her who?”, Rose asked. “I don’t know what her name is. But she has popped up now three times. Remember I told you about a little girl that bought me coffee and told me everything was going to be alright?”, he said. Rose thought back and nodded remembering him saying it and it sounding weird. “Okay so what that’s her?”, she asked. “She appeared last summer, the day I found Rachel’s ring. I was here meeting the guys to go to the club to practice. I was wearing my Clash London Calling tee, you know the one.”, he started to explain. “Yeah the one that got a rip when we were going out your window in Texas. Get to the point.”, Rose said folding her arms across her chest. “Well I see that same girl, except she looked a little younger than when she bought me coffee and she was wearing my shirt down to the exact same rips so it’s not like she had a similar shirt. I chased her down. She stopped outside a shop and I thought I had her but she shimmered out like looking at a mirage. And I was left standing there in front of the shop that had what is now Rachel’s engagement ring in the window.”, Landon explained.
Rose furrowed her brow trying to figure this out. “So she’s a teleporter?”, she asked. “I don’t know. I’ve never ever seen someone teleport like that. And I’ve researched it this past year with Forge no documentation of a teleporter like that and had Aunt Jean do a cerebro scan for her and it’s like she doesn’t exist. And if that isn’t freaky enough well she looks like you.”, Landon said. “What? You mean she’s got red hair not exactly something to go on.”, Rose said glancing to the table and blinked the girl was gone. “She’s gone…”, Rose exclaimed in a soft voice. “She did it again. Ugh.”, Landon sighed getting their drinks and sandwiches and they walked over to the table the girl had been at. Landon picked up the paper the girl had been hiding behind and saw an ad for an open mic night circled. “So what do you mean she looked like me?”, Rose asked sitting down taking her coffee and taking a sip. “Oh god that is good.”, she commented. Landon smirked a little. “Alright well when I saw her the first time she looked about twelve. Between her hair, facial features, and general body structure she was almost a replica of you at twelve. But there were weird differences.”, he started to explain taking a sip of his coffee. “What were the weird differences?”, Rose asked taking a bit of her bagel sandwich. In a strange way it was nice to eat meat while home. She generally avoided meat during her visits because she was never certain when she’d see Merrick and didn’t want meat on her breath when making out with him.
“She had well. She had the Shadow family green-yellow eyes and she had a rather Bryant smirk. Then the kicker she had a British accent. It’s just freaky cause I mean I can’t think how that combination is possible. And it was weird that last summer when I saw her she looked like maybe nine. And who knows how old she looked this time.”, Landon explained. Rose raised an eyebrow, a little girl that looks like her and Merrick but with a British accent. “So she looked like a combination of me and Merrick and spoke with a British accent? Well at least we know whoever she is it’s some weirdness. Because I’m certainly never having kids with Merrick. And certainly wouldn’t have one that seems to age randomly and teleports. Must be some coincidence or something.”, Rose shrugged. Landon shrugged. “I guess. It just still weirds me out. And has me curious. Like maybe someone did some science experiment, test tube stuff with yours and Merrick’s DNA.”, Landon speculated. “Test tube? Seriously?”, Rose shook her head eating her breakfast. “What it happens. Hudson was a test tube. Viper used your dad’s dna and combined it with hers to make an heir. Karli is another good example of a test tube baby.”, Landon commented. “Karli?”, Rose asked with a cough taking a drink of her coffee. “Oh yeah I forgot that’s not supposed to be known. Was going through the database and found a file that had a seriously high level encryption on it.”, Landon explained.
Rose sighed shaking her head. “And being you… you hacked it.”, she chuckled. Landon smiled brightly and shrugged. “What can I say I see a secret I gotta find out more.”, he said. “Alright so what did you find? And I promise I won’t go telling other people.”, she assured. “Karli Fearbirgh isn’t a Fearbirgh at all. Hell technically she’s only a year older than me.”, he explained. Rose blinked setting her food down now very interested. “Wait what? Elaborate.”, she requested. “Well some scientist that was part of the Weapon X program took the DNA of one of his other patients a mutant that little information was known about other than he was a bit psychotic and had red eyes and combined it with a X-Men named Ashley Davis aka Squall who was a water mutant. Random was created from the combination of their DNA and was rapidly grown to be ten when she emerged from the test tube. She was not mentally stable, though Karli still isn’t, she found out who her biological parents were and sought them out after of course killing her creator. The ‘dad’ died too. And she tried to kill Ashley and well at the time Ashley was only sixteen and in a relationship with a blind seer mutant named Atif aka Oracle so the idea of having a kid let alone one that was ten freaked her out. They sought the help of Duncan and Professor Xavier. Duncan removed their memories of each other and volunteered to take on the role of Random’s parent. So Professor Xavier implanted false memories so she would believe that her mother was Duncan’s deceased wife and that she’d grown up in Scotland with him. She still to this day has no idea she’s not Duncan’s real daughter. Everyone was sworn to secrecy about it, but Forge is well Forge and kept everything.”, Landon explained.
“Holy fucking...wow. And Forge dated her??? He knew it all and still dated her? I mean wow.”, Rose said shaking her head going back to eating her sandwich finishing it off and eyeing his. “You going to eat all that?”, she asked pointing. “Um guess not. You can have it. You feeling alright?”, he asked pushing the half of his unfinished sandwich to her. “Yeah I’m fine. I just I dunno this tasted really good and I’m still craving more.”, she said taking his sandwich biting into it. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Uh huh. Just I dunno. Weird question and don’t answer if you don’t want. But when was the last time you had sex?”, Landon asked her. “June of last year with Merrick before I went back to Cambridge. Merrick’s the only guy I’ve been with. Why?”, Rose asked licking the corners of her mouth. “Ah alright well. Guess that rules that out. You just craving food and such wasn’t sure if maybe you were pregnant.”, Landon said. Rose started laughing. “Well I’m not given gestation is forty weeks and it’s been way longer since I last got laid. Not to mention my healing powers would never let me get pregnant, or at least not carry to term. A curse that Rachel at least doesn’t have to deal with not having the Howlett healing powers.”, Rose sighed. “Alright just wanted to check. And you never know someday you might become a mom.”, Landon shrugged sipping his coffee. “Yeah well if that happens it won’t be for along time. I hope you are being cautious.”, she added. Landon laughed a little. “Of course. Condoms and Rachel went on birth control as an extra precaution. Not looking to have a kid before we even get married. And with how we plan to travel the world not sure when kids will come into play.”, he answered. “But you want them?”, Rose asked. “Yeah. I’d like to have kids with Rachel. I think she’ll be a great mom when the times comes. And will be interesting to see how our genetics collaborate into another living being.”, he smiled thinking about the idea of having children with Rachel.
“You made the right choice you know.”, Rose commented. Landon raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”, he asked. “When you decided or well knew Rachel was the one. It was the right choice. With the life you want to have and the family you dream of. She’s the right Howlett for you. And I mean you are obviously hopelessly in love with her and vice versa.”, Rose explained with a sigh. Landon smiled nodding a little but reached over and squeezed her hand. “Yeah I am. And I know right now it might not be easy to see. But the decision you made yesterday it’ll work out in the end.”, he assured. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just not meant to have someone.”, Rose shrugged getting up her hand slipping from his. “Roselyn Elizabeth Howlett. Don’t ever let me hear you talk like that. There will be someone for you. You just need to look, you might stumble over the guy by accident some day.”, he said getting up. “Now come on let’s go back to the house. The others should be awake by now. And if you hang out long enough you can finally meet my band. Jackson has been wanting to meet you since well since before I started dating Rachel.”, he said heading for the door. “Which one’s Jackson and why would he want to meet me?”, she questioned following. “Jackson is the trumpet player, he’s thirty now. I’m not a judge on men but girls at the clubs seem to find him attractive. And well I talked to the band back in the day about my dilemma of picking between you two. During said conversation I described you physically and your personality. And apparently Jackson liked what he heard.”, Landon said walking down the street.
“Uh huh. And what did you happen to tell your band about me?”, Rose asked curious now. “That was a long time ago to remember.”, Landon said trying to get out of talking about it. “Bullshit. Landon you remember everything. So spill. What did you tell that apparently impressed your trumpet player?”, she demanded. Landon sighed. “Alright fine. I told them that you are incredible. That you have this great singing voice and rock on guitar. About you being brilliant, intense, passionate and fiercely loyal. How you are an amazing fighter like your dad and have that animal instinct. Then they asked about your looks…”, he sighed shaking his head. Rose smiled linking her arm with his finding this rather amusing. “Oh do tell.”, she teased. “Well at the time you had shoulder length hair, but I told them how it was this thick rich shade of red, your skin is like porcelain, the intense deep blue eyes that are their own shade of a blending of cobalt and azure, your cute little rounded nose, your soft full lips, about your slender neck, and that you’ve got all the right curves in all the right places.”, Landon admitted. Rose laughed. “Well thanks for that favorable summarization. And I’m sure you described my cousin just as favorably.”, she teased. “Yeah. I told them about how she’s amazing, plays piano and violin, brilliant too. How she’s sweet, compassionate, graceful and just has this aura of innocence. About her being an amazing and fierce fighter. Then looks about her silken bronze skin, the long wavy thick black hair, those intense Howlett eyes, the cute rounded nose, soft kissable lips, well placed curves, and her legs…”, he said smiling shaking his head a little thinking about Rachel’s legs. Rose laughed again. “Oh so it’s her legs huh?”, she joked a little. “They are part of it yeah. I dunno, I just know I like when they are wrapped around me. And since proposing liked them even more when they get wrapped around me during sex.”, he shrugged smirking. Rose laughed shaking her head. “Well at least sounds like my cousin is getting laid good. Suppose it’s expected.”, she commented. “Why is it expected?”, he asked as they walked up the steps of the house. “Because you’re Merrick’s cousin. And well the sex was mind blowing.”, she admitted walking inside.
The rest of the house had woken up and were sitting in the living room drinking their coffee and eating breakfast when Rose and Landon walked in. “ROSE!”, Cora Lee yelled. Rose smiled. “Hey everyone. Hope you don’t mind got here early this morning and Landon was the only one awake. So went to breakfast at that coffee place with him.”, she greeted walking in and finding a spot to sit. Landon walked in taking off his sneakers and stepped around people to sit ned to Rachel on the couch. Rachel leaned into his holding her tea with both hands. “Did you tell me you were going to breakfast? I kind of remember that.”, she asked. Landon nodded. “Yeah you were kind of mostly asleep when I got out of the shower. Gave you a kiss and told you I was going to breakfast with Rose.”, he nodded. “Thought so.”, she said tucking some hair behind her ear with her left hand. Rose smiled looking over at her cousin and Landon and how happy they looked. Then she notice the bling. She’d seen pictures of the ring but never in person. “That ring looks even prettier in person than the picture Rachel.”, Rose commented. Rachel blushed a little smiling. “Thanks. I adore it.”, she admitted. Lily was about to say something when her phone rang. “Hey mom. What's going on?”, she answered. “Morning sweetie. So your dad and I are up in Boston. Nana Hazel head a heart attack yesterday. She is doing better, it was only minor. However they want to put a pacemaker in today. I already called the Haven to let Merrick and Sebastian know. Merrick wasn’t there apparently he decided he should drive up so he’s on his way here. You’re sisters are already here. But I wanted to let you know.”, Kim answered. “Oh. Um. Alright well just keep me informed. Rose just got here so we’ll be here all day just catching up. Give Nana Hazel a hug and kiss from me and Tommy.”, Lily said. “I will. Bye Lily.”, Kim said hanging up, “Bye mom.”, Lily sighed putting the phone away. Rose raised an eyebrow and looked at Lily as did the rest of the room. “What’s wrong?”, Tommy asked. “Nana Hazel had a minor heart attack yesterday. She’s doing better but they are going to put a pacemaker in. Josalyn and Emma are of course there living near by. Mom and Christian went last night. And apparently Merrick had left before mom called to tell him about the surgery.”, Lily explained. Rose frowned now feeling a bit worse than before. So yesterday she hurt Merrick, or at least she thought he was hurt too and then his great grandmother had a heart attack.
Merrick hadn’t answered his cell, as he was driving so he’d not gotten the message that hazel was going to be having surgery. Zoe had remained silent mostly during the drive, however was singing along to the radio. It seemed to be keeping Faelan content in the backseat and she noticed Merrick smiling a little. He found it rather amusing to hear her voice singing Back in Black by Ac/DC and Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult. As they pulled into the hospital parking lot she had just finished singing Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas. Merrick had parked but waited for the song to finish before cutting the engine laughing a little. “What?”, Zoe asked getting out of the car and pulling her seat forward leaning into the back grabbing the cookies, diaper bag and car seat. “Just hearing an opera/musical theater type singer singing along to Kansas or anything that was playing while we drove here.”, Merrick explained getting the stroller out of the trunk and opening it up. “It’s not like I don’t know the songs. I just prefer opera and musicals is all.”, Zoe said sticking her tongue out as she set the car seat onto the stroller. “So do we know what room she’s in?”, Zoe asked. “Um no. Hold on, my phone has been going off since the Ferry.”, he said taking out his phone to see a text from his mother. “They apparently are going to be doing surgery giving her a pacemaker and she’s in room 324.”, he said putting the phone back. “Alright so let’s go find room 324.”, Zoe said shouldering the diaper bag. Merrick pushed the stroller as they went inside and found an elevator heading up.
When they reached the third floor and started down the hall in the direction of the room they spotted Christian walking out of the room. “Hey Merrick. David said you had left to come up. Oh and hello Zoe. Grandma will be happy to see you guys. And I see you brought my grandson.”, Christian commented leaning to the stroller and ticking Faelan under his chin. “Nana hazel will be really happy to see your little cherub face. Your sisters are already at the room.”, Christian said looking up at Merrick for the last sentence. “Like all my sisters?”, Merrick question. “Well Josalyn and Emma. Your mother called Lily. She’s still in Manhattan. Rose is visiting so she’ll be there unless something comes up here that requires her to come. Now I’m going to go find some food in this place.”, Christian explained heading to the elevators. Merrick gulped a little going stiff when his dad brought up Rose. Zoe noticed it and rubbed his arm. “You alright?”, she asked softly. Merrick nodded. “Yeah. I’m good. Guess it makes sense. I turned to my best friend when everything went wrong. So she’s gone to hers...my cousin Landon.”, he said taking a breath. Zoe sighed and gave him a side hug. “Come on. Let’s focus on Nana Hazel shall we.”, she suggested. Merrick nodded in agreement as they walked the hall to the room and entered. In the bed hooked up to some monitors was his Nana Hazel, she still looked tough as nails even with the tubes and wires. His mother sat on the right in a chair by her bedside, along the wall Josalyn was leaning into Robert and Emma was reading something on her kindle.
Hazel turned her head when the door opened and smiled brightly seeing Merrick with the stroller. “There’s my boy. Oooh and he brought my great great grandson.”, she greeted. “Hey Nana. How are you feeling?”, he asked pushing the stroller into the room and taking up some of the left side of her bed. “Oh I’ll be fi….”, Hazel’s voice stopped when she saw Zoe walking in behind Merrick holding the diaper bag. “My nightingale! You brought my great great grandson and my nightingale? Oh you thoughtful boy.”, Hazel said patting his arm. Emma and Josalyn both took attention of their brother walking in and even more attention when they saw Zoe. Emma’s cold blue eyes narrowed at Zoe. “What is she doing here? She’s not family…”, Emma questioned. “Hey Nana Hazel. I was going to mail these but then Merrick told me about the heart attack and asked if I wanted to come check on you.”, Zoe greeted ignoring Emma as she offered the container of cookies and leaned over giving Hazel a hug. “Oh you sweet child.”, Hazel said taking the cookies also ignoring Emma. Merrick however didn’t. “Emma don’t start. Robert’s not family but there he sits.”, he commented. “Yeah well as of last night…”, Josalyn argued holding up her left hand to show a white gold ring with small diamonds that surrounded a square cut bright yellow canary diamond. “Ohh Josalyn congratulations that ring is gorgeous. Very unique with the canary diamond.”, Zoe said turning and getting closer to look at the ring. “Um….thank you.”, Josalyn said not sure how to take that reaction. “Congratulations Josalyn.”, Merrick said giving his triplet a hug and shaking Roberts hand squeezing rather tight. “I suppose officially welcome to the family.”, Merrick said leaning closer to his future brother-in-law. “Now that warning I gave you when you started dating her still stands, you hurt my sister I’ll rip you to shreds.”, Merrick whispered to Robert. Robert forced a smiled and nodded. “Thank you Merrick. You always know how to make someone feel welcomed.”, Robert said.
“Alright so we’ve established that Robbie is going to be family. So I still ask why is Zoe here?”, Emma asked. “Emma…”, Kim said shaking her head at her daughter. “Zoe is here because I say she’s family. Would you like to argue with me young lady?”, Hazel said pressing the button for her bed to move up so she was sitting up more and could properly stare down her great granddaughter. Zoe tried to hide her smile at Hazel jumping into her defense. Emma glared but slightly less at her nana. “No Nana. Of course not…”, Emma conceded. But Merrick knew from her eyes and tone she didn’t mean it. “Zoe’s my best friend Emma. And the last twenty-four hours have not exactly been good to me. So she’s here as my support.”, Merrick explained. “Alright enough with explaining why my nightingale is here. You are going to let me hold that baby now. And don’t tell me no young man. I’m in the hospital and about to go have a pacemaker in, cater to an old woman.”, she said pointing to the stroller. Merrick let out an exasperated sigh and the room all seemed to be watching him. He unbuckled Faelan who was at least still in human form having been entertained in the car by Zoe’s signing. “Fine Nana…”, Merrick said handing Faelan over but not exactly letting go. Hazel took him and looked at Merrick. “Let go so I can hold him proper.”, she ordered. Merrick sighed and let go Zoe placing a hand on his arm patting him. “Hello there handsome boy. Oh you look just like your dad, well except the eyes. But you are going to grow up to be a good looking man. girls are going to just throw themselves at you like your daddy.” Hazel said smiling at Faelan who smiled back at her.
Merrick rolled his eyes. “Let’s just hope he doesn’t take too much after me in that department. He should learn from my mistakes not repeat them.”, he said frowning. Emma raised an eyebrow at her brother’s behavior this wasn’t normal for him. “What’s wrong?”, Emma asked. “Nothing you need to worry about Emma.”, Merrick assured. Emma didn’t of course buy this as she saw Zoe still patting his arm trying to comfort him about something. So Emma being Emma looked into Zoe’s thoughts. Emma blinked pulling back from Zoe’s mind narrowing her eyes at Zoe. Oh she’d seen more than she probably ought and in a way more than she wished she had. She saw the most recent things like Zoe staying the night in Merrick’s arms and Zoe’s feelings about it. Then she saw past that to news that Rose had broken Merrick’s heart because she didn’t think she could be a good mother figure to Faelan living so far away. That at least Emma agreed to, but the idea that her brother had been having a relationship with Rose Howlett was offensive and now that Rose had broken her brothers heart that just made her angry. But as she’d looked deeper past the information about Rose being with Merrick and breaking his heart she saw all the time Zoe had spent with Merrick. And exactly how far beyond friends the two actually were. Hazel looked at Merrick seeing the frown and at Zoe seeing her frowning a little as well while absentmindedly patting his arm to comfort him. “Everyone out…”, Hazel declared. “What?”, Kim questioned. “I said everyone out. Well not Zoe and Merrick. And Faelan of course I’m not letting this little cherub go till I must. But I must speak privately with these two.”, Hazel said. “Um..”, Kim said looking skeptical. “I said out, and I mean now.”, she said nodding to the door. “Alright come on girls. Let’s find your father.”, Kim suggested ushering her daughters and Robert out of the room shutting the door.
Zoe and Merrick both raised their eyebrows looking at Hazel. “So we are in private. Now you two better just come out with it. What is wrong?”, Hazel asked shifted Faelan in her arms. Merrick sighed and moved the stroller into the corner and sat in one of the chairs. Zoe frowned and looked at him then to Hazel. “Do you want me to tell her so you don’t need to say it?”, she offered. Merrick leaned forward resting his elbows on his legs and rubbed his hands over his face. “Yeah. Go ahead.”, he nodded. Zoe sighed walking closer to him rubbing his back. She knew it wasn’t easy dealing with this, and telling Hazel wasn’t going to be easy either because Hazel favored Rose. “Rose came back to town. She met Faelan and well..”, she started to explain. “She told Merrick yesterday afternoon that they should just be friends. Because it wouldn’t be fair to Faelan, to Merrick, or to her if she was to get close to Faelan just to have to leave. And being someone Faelan could only really know over a computer screen and the phone just didn’t feel right. I feel horrible because I think that I was a factor in her decision even if she didn’t say it.”, Zoe explained. Hazel frowned she’d had high hopes that Roselyn could be a good match for her Merrick. “Reasonable I suppose. But for love you do whatever it takes to be together. You don’t let a silly ocean stop you. Now what’s this nonsense that you were a factor my dear?”, Hazel shook her head. “In his effort to be completely honest about what happened during the year she was gone...Merrick told her about him staying nights with me. Which apparently since it wasn’t about sex between us that held more weight than the girls he’d slept with in the past from his little black book.”, she explained.
“So there you have it Nana. I shot myself in the foot by being honest with Rose and over all by just not stopping seeing other people after last summer. She doesn’t want to be with me that way, anymore if she ever really did. And it sucks. I can’t even describe how much it sucks and hurts. And in a way I’m glad. I now know where I stand with her, and it’s in a little box marked ‘Friend Zone’. She doesn’t think she could step up and be more than what we were with me because of Faelan so be it. He doesn’t have a mother figure now and if he ever has one I don’t want it to be someone who’d phone it in literally. I want him to have someone that can be here for him emotionally and physically. Someone who can be here for me emotionally and physically too.”, Merrick sighed. Hazel nodded and looked at Zoe and Merrick. Merrick was still leaning forward his face in his hands and Zoe was at his side gently rubbing circles on his back. Haze thought to point out that right next to him was a beautiful and amazing young woman who was there for him emotionally and physically but she figured now would not be the correct moment to point that out. “Well then. Roselyn’s loss. If she doesn’t want to be part of your life my dear boy she obviously wasn’t the young woman I thought. You and this sweet little boy deserve a woman who can step up to the plate.”, Hazel sighed. The moment was interrupted as a doctor knocked on the door and walked in with nurses. “Misses Frost we need to prep you for surgery now. Your family will need to go tot eh waiting room.”, the doctor instructed. Merrick stood up and took Faelan back putting him in the car seat. “We’ll be here when you get out of surgery Nana.”, Merrick said giving his great grandmother a kiss on the forehead. “See you after Nana.”, Zoe said leaning giving her a hug. “I’ll see you later my dears.”, Hazel waved as Merrick pushed the stroller out with Zoe following behind.
“She’ll be alright. And so will you. Want to go grab some lunch?”, Zoe suggested as they walked down the hall. “Yeah. I don’t want to go too far but don’t want hospital food either. Guess see what’s nearby to eat. Maybe grab something and take him over to that park we saw find a spot where there’s less foot traffic so he can shift if he wants.”, Merrick agreed. Zoe nodded as they went to the elevator. When they stepped out of the elevator they ran into the other Bryant-Frosts. “Where are you guys headed?”, Kim asked. “They were taking Nana into surgery. So we are going to go find something to eat and take Faelan over to the park nearby.”, Merrick explained. “Oh well we could come with you.”, Emma offered. Zoe didn’t like that idea, she didn’t really care for Emma she couldn’t fully place why but she just didn’t. “Um…”, Merrick thought. “Yeah we could go with. We’ve been here for so long would be good to get out.”, Josalyn suggested. Zoe shrugged a little. “Um sure. Mom? Dad?”, Merrick asked. “No we’ll wait for new from the surgery. Your uncles had to be at court so they weren’t able to be here. You kids go get some air. I’ll text you when she’s out of surgery.”, Christian replied. “Oh we could go back to our house it’s not that far and we have plenty of food and Faelan can have run of the house and yard.”, Robert offered. “Um...are Talia and Alexander there?”, Merrick asked. “Probably does it matter? Zoe’s Alexander’s sister right?”, Robert questioned. Zoe shrugged. “I guess that's fine. Wouldn’t mind seeing my little brother.”, Zoe sighed. “This day just gets better….fine. Let's add dealing with Talia and Alexander to the pile.”, Merrick sighed. “Glad that’s settled. We’ll come back when you text that Nana is out of surgery and ready for visitors.”, Emma smiled giving her parents each a hug. Josalyn smiled and hugged her parents before taking Robert’s hand and heading out. “Lord give me strength…”, Merrick muttered before hugging his parents and pushing the stroller out. “This is going to suck you know that right?”, he said glancing to Zoe. “Yupppp. Trapped in a house with your sisters and my brother.”, Zoe sighed as they got into the car and followed Robert and his sisters.