Chapter 20: Episode 21 — Crossing Borders
“Hey, baby.” She gave him a quick kiss and looked around, “Seriously Damien. You have to start cleaning around here.”
“Baby, you know I want to but its work.”
She chuckles, “Sounding exactly like someone who plays around with toys.”
She shakes her head, before bending over his table and signed the papers she was holding and handed it over to her assistant.
“Yeah, yeah…” Damien says as he sat back ran his eyes up and down her legs underneath her tight office skirt.
“Eyes to yourself, Mr. Cayce.” She mumbles as she finished reading, turning around and leaning back on his table.
“That’s pretty hard with you here Mrs. Cayce.” he teases.
She shakes her head with a chuckle and gave her a look before he smirks and went back to playing with their daughter.
“All worth it,” he mumbles making his wife laugh before he pulled out his pen and helped their daughter with her drawing, she listens to him intently and nodding.
The woman smiled amazed by the man she married. A glance on his table reminds her of the day she woke up with him sitting beside her bed, Ash was on the couch, Derek by her feet, and Jared on a love seat.
She opened her eyes staring at the unfamiliar ceiling, not knowing where she was. A blinding pain ran down her neck as she tried to move and look around. She saw four boys sprawled around the room, all asleep.
She tries to sit up, another blinding pain rush blinded her and made her gasp. She closed her eyes dropping back in bed, fighting back the need to shout, but then she felt a hand in hers and someone reaches for her face.
“Angel,” someone says, “Angel…”
She opens her eyes again and sees one of the boys had woken up. She stared at him wondering why he was all excited and jumpy.
“Ash! She’s awake!”
English, was the first thing that came into my mind.
“Astrid!” the boy on the sofa rushed to her side, the boy by her foot sat up, scratching his eyes. He grins at her, “About time, princess.”
“You gave us quite a scare there, crybaby.” The boy who was sitting by the love seat says.
She responds to them with a blank look.
“Are you ok Astrid?”
“Astrid.” She repeats.
He chuckles, “No, I’m Ash, your twin brother. You are Astrid.”
“Astrid…” she repeats.
“Hun, are you ok?” the boy by her feet asks, now looking worried.
“Ok?”
“Call the doctor.” The boy named Ash says while another boy ran out of the room.
After a couple of hours and a dozen tests, by now there are more people in the room than she liked, the doctor explained what happened.
“She seems to have suffered a memory lost.” He says, “Quite severe in fact as she can only repeat everything she hears, meaning the damage was done on a part of her brain where the learning occurred.”
“But can she regain her memories?” an older man asks.
“It’s too early now.” the doctor says, “It’s just been a day, after all, there are cases where the brain just needs to reboot, so maybe a good night's sleep may help and we’ll see tomorrow and the days to come.”
They all turned to the girl but she just stared back at them, wondering who they are.
Then one lady walked up to her and kisses her on the cheek, “Everything will be fine love, don’t worry.”
The next days weren’t any better than the first, but the boys made sure that she grew stronger rather than get her memories back. She sat and stared as the boys fooled around, making her laugh once in a while. It has been a week, and she had learned their names, and that was about all that she can say. Well, until Dimitri came with Kale talking in Russian.
“Ну, я планирую остаться в НГБ (Well, I’m planning to stay in NSA).” Kale says.
“Это хорошо, я хотел бы сделать то же самое, но я должен исправить Духовны, дом во-первых, затем может вернуться (That’s good, I would want to do the same, but I have to fix the Duchovny house first, then maybe come back).” Dimitri says.
“Как насчет Tenshi? Что вы планируете делать с ней?” Kale asks.
“What about Tenshi? What do you plan to do with her?” she says while painting with Damien.
They all turned to her, surprised.
“What did you just say, Astrid?” Jared asks.
“What about Tenshi? What do you plan to do with her?” she repeated, not looking away from what she was painting.
“That’s what Kale asked me,” Dimitri said. “Вам нравится живопись охотник? (You enjoy painting Astrid?)”
“Это нормально. (It’s fine.)” she answers.
“She understands Russian,” Dimitri says.
Then Jared hits his forehead, “We forgot that she’s bilingual!” he says excitedly, “Comment est-ce que vous vous sentez chasseresse ? (How are you feeling Astrid?)”
She made a face, “Très bien, j'imagine, j'adorerais à marcher à l'extérieur du bien. (Fine, I guess, I would love to walk outside though.)”
Jared laughs and the others lit up like bulbs.
“好的我猜，我想儘管往外走了。(As much as we’d love to but your dad’s going to kick your butt if we do that.)” Derek asks.
She sighs, “這正是無。(I guess that’s a no.)”
“Ich denke, das ist ein Nein. (Would you like anything else, sis?)” Ash asks.
“Nein, das ist gut. (No, this is good.)” she smiles, “Ich mag hier zu sein und Sie sprechen und sehen Sie herumalbern. (I like being here and hearing you talk and see you fooling around).”
They all laughed again, this time she looks at them, staring at them one by one, finally staring at Damien.
“What’s my name?” she slowly asks in English.
Damien raises a brow and glanced at the others. “Your name is Astrid Matthews.”
“But we call you Princess,” Derek said.
“Or Cry baby,” Jared says.
“Or sis,” Ash says.
“Or angel,” Damien says.
She frowns, “Why so many names?”
“’ Cause that’s who you are in our lives,” Ash says, he sat beside her and took her hand. “But most of the time you’re a brat.”
They laughed again and she joined them pushing Ash away playfully.
It took her two years before she tracked down most of her memories or at least the moments that she had with someone, and just like what the doctor said, every time she wakes she remembers something new. The doctors were so amazed by the progress that they wanted to study her.
But of course, her grandfather had put his foot down.
Ironically, there was one thing that she never really gotten to remember, how to fight.
They told her how good she was, she remembered all the fights she was in, but for some reason, she could never remember how. So you can just imagine how scared she was when she was sent back to the academy. A no- fighting student has never been heard of in NSA. Well, unless it was by choice.
But not to worry, she had the boys with her, especially Damien. Though they weren’t beside her all the time, the remaining years in NSA was pretty ok, though she had to learn how to fight again. This time it was harder, it was as if she wasn’t even excelling.
“Enough.” She groans.
“No Astrid.” Gen says, “You have to learn this.”
“But I’m aching all over.” She whines again.
“That’s not the Astrid I remember.”
They turned around and saw an old man standing by the door. It has only been eight months since she got out of the hospital, and according to her grandfather did everything to hide her tracks this time.
“Who are you?” Astrid asks.
He smirks and charged her, hitting her on the gut. She moved back and doubled in pain.
“Already in pain, princess?” he hovers over her. “All those years of learning blocking the pain down the drain, is that it?”
“Who is this person Gen?” Astrid snaps her hand over her stomach.
“I don’t know.” Gen shook her head, keeping an eye on our unwanted visitor.
“Look here, old man, I don’t know who you are and I don’t know how to fight, so take it easy with your hits and retorts.”
She turns to Gen, wanting to leave.
“Wuss.”
She stops, and turned to him, “What did you just call me?”
“Wuss.”
For some unknown reason, she grew angry and that was enough to charge to him and attack. And she attacked non-stop until it was him who was pinned on the wall, her feet up to his throat.
“Who are you?!”
He stifles a laugh, “Schizek.”
She stared at him and moved away. Dropping her arms on the sides and letting her guard down.
“Master Schizek…” she says in almost a whisper.
He chuckles, “You truly never cease to amaze me, Astrid.”
“I knew he could pull out that spunk.” Father Johan says from the door.
“You sent him here?”
“I was looking for you.” Master Schizek says, “I was here to remind you of something you made me promise to.”
“I made you promise to remind me of something?”
“Yes.” He stepped up, “That day I told you about Charles plans to make you one of his assassins, you said that you have your principles, that you will only kill those who you think should be killed.”
“And have I broken that vow?”
“No, you have not, child.” He says, “But you have forgotten how it is to trust.”
“Trust?”
“You’ve forgotten how it is to trust.” He nods. “Maybe you have seen and dealt with so many people who did not deserve your trust or even attention, but don’t you think your family is different?”
She glanced at her grandfather, remembering why she would move away from the male members of the family or even her friends. Except for Damien, he was different.
“You came here to remind me that?”
“Someone needed to.”
She smiles and tried to retrieve that memory, but while she hasn’t she thought it would be best to reconnect with her mentor to remember more of her past.
“Do you think she’d ever been able to fight as she uses to?” Father Johan asks Master Schizek while they watch Astrid training.
“She never really forget.” He says, “She has the same passion and she was the same fighter when she charged at me yesterday.”
“But she couldn’t even keep up with the trainers now.”
“That would be best if you ask me.” Shisek smiles as he watched his best student. “She will fight when she needs to. She needs peace of mind Johan, she deserves that.”
Unfortunately, it seems like her spunk in fighting went along with him. Cause the moment he left she was back to being helpless, unless necessary.
“I don’t understand why I have to go with you.” Astrid whines.
“Well, we can’t just leave you at the dorm, while we’re all having fun,” Ash says.
It was their freshmen year in the university, living life like a normal university student, which was at that moment inside a bar with some of their fellow schoolmates enjoying the night dancing, drinking, and waiting for the New Year countdown.
The boys were at the pool table, while the girls were at the table laughing and talking.
“Excuse me, I just need to go to the loo,” Astrid says.
“Want me to go with you?” Allana asks.
“Nah, I’ll be quick.” She nods, “Order another round while I’m gone.”
“Someone’s starting a habit.” Hera teases.
Yeah, Hera stayed with us, all anger forgotten. Dimitri and Tenshi also came back after they’ve finished fixing up the Duchovny house.
“You dragged me here, I’m going to get my drink,” Astrid says over her shoulder.
She hears them laughing and Gen calls for a waiter.
Along the way she caught Kale and Dimitri in the middle of ladies, dancing. Astrid shook her head, amused.
At the end of the bar, Jared stood alone, every once in awhile glancing at the girls’ table.
“Hey…” Astrid shouts over the music, “What are you doing here? Why don’t you join us?”
He shrugs, “It’s easier to get drinks here.”
“You ok?” Astrid reached for his shoulder.
“Gen broke up with me,” he mumbles.
“Again?” with how frequent this happens, Astrid could lip-read Jared as if hearing him mumble over the music. Almost two years into the relationship someone would think they’d grow up and admit that they love each other. “What did you say?”
He gave her a look, “You’re supposed to be my best friend Astrid.” He snaps slamming his glass down the bar, “And FYI I didn’t do anything! I don’t even know what I did this time. So I just gave in to her. It’s what she wanted. Now if you’re done accusing me, I’m going home.”
“Wait! Wait, I’m sorry, ok? It’s just, this always happens, you screw up, she screws up… last time I check it was your turn. That’s what makes your relationship.”
“Does that supposed to make me stay?” he glares at her.
Astrid sighs, “Talk to her, you can’t welcome New Year like this Jared, I refuse to go through New Year with you looking like that, I’ll even add one day in the academy calendar just for you to make up.”
He chuckles and hugs her. “Thanks, hun…”
Astrid gives him a quick hug and kissed him on the cheek then quickly moved out of his hold, “As much I’m loving the moment, I seriously need to pee now.”
Jared laughs and watches her run to the restroom.
When she stepped back to the floor she sees Jared had joined their table and was in a serious conversation with Gen while Hera and Allana cheer the boys on with their game. Astrid smiled and made her way to the table when a couple of boys stepped up and blocked her way, accidentally spilling beer on her as well.
“Shit,” one guy says and looked her over with a smile. He was drunk. “Sorry baby girl, accident.”
She forced a smile, “Yeah, it’s cool. Excuse me.”
“Hey, wait.” One of the boys grabs her by the arm and pulls her back. “Let us apologize properly. How about a drink?”
“No thanks, my friends are waiting for me-“
“Well, maybe we can buy you a new dress?” he says again, “I mean, that one’s ruined.”
“And such a shame too cause it looks good on you.” the other one added, his eyes running over her body repetitively.
She looked at both of them not wanting trouble tonight, not on New Year’s Eve. It was one of the conditions they had with their parents after all.
“It’s cool boys.” She says, pushing them away.
But one boy pushed her back roughly and frowned, “What crawled up your ass making you all snobby?”
“You did, now let me through.” She snaps.
“No, I need someone to kiss at twelve, and I think you’d be the perfect candidate.” He says.
In the corner of her eyes, she can already see Damien and Ash coming over, but then she felt the boy’s hand crawl up her thigh to her butt, and that’s when she lost it and those boys, luckily, just lost blood and their dignity.
That night, they concluded that her fighting instinct just kicks in when necessary. Damien even thinks it’s like a censor on people who Astrid thinks would be dangerous.
Speaking of Damien, after kicking those boys out of the club that night, finally broke the big question ten seconds before the ball was dropped, and when the new year came, so did an opportunity of a new life.
It was cheesy and lord, so romantic.
They were all at the table, talking and laughing when Astrid noticed that Damien, Ash, Derek, and Jared were missing.
“Did they say where they were going?” she asks, worried.
“Not really,” Collin says, calling the guards they brought who were stationed by the door.
Astrid scanned the whole place from where she was, fear eating her up.
“Calm down Astrid…” Gen says, “They’re probably just fooling around.”
Astrid thinks it over and gave a doubtful nod. The lights suddenly died and for a quick second, there were screaming and shouting. Someone grabbed Astrid by the wrist and she instantly struggles out of it.
“Astrid, love, calm down.”
“Damien?”
He chuckles and pulls me close to him, “You expecting someone else?”
She frowns and gave him a light nudge. “Where were you? What’s going on?”
“We need to get out of here, angel.” He says, a little urgent.
“What? Why?”
“Just stay close, ok?”
She tightened her hold of him, as they cross the bar, lit only by the cell phones that the people had pulled out. She doesn’t know what Damien’s plans are, but either way, she’s not letting go.
Of course, fate once again has a different plan, not a minute had passed, somehow she lost Damien among the crowd, despite the dim light he was nowhere to be found and from the looks of it, she was somewhere in the middle of the dance floor.
“Damien?” I called out, a bit worried, remembering the two guys earlier.
The people around her were wondering what’s going on, whining and mumbling between them. Suddenly a screen appeared beside the stage.
“This goes for Astrid Matthews.” The one on stage says. “A walk down memory lane…” he paused and counted in.
“1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4…”
The guitar starts to play and on cue, a photo of her with the boys in the orphanage appeared on the screen.
“We can build a fort out of pillows in our living room…” A photo of the infamous food fight they had at the age of four appeared.
“Play tag in the kitchen like we used to do” A photo of her sitting on top of Derek, crying and slapping him around after pushing her down the stairs. Astrid stifles a laugh.
“I can hide, you seek come find me.” A photo of Ash hitting Derek on the nape after the same incident; Damien and Astrid were in the background and he was pulling her hair to get her attention.
“We can take our bikes to the park you the one downtown?” A photo of them underneath the treehouse came up now.
“And we can swing in the swings until the sun goes down…” A photo of Damien and Astrid sharing a swing, while the other three were betting who can go higher, Derek broke his arm that day.
“Nothing’s changed with age…” A photo of the five of them grinning at the camera during Jared’s 5th birthday, their arms over each other’s shoulders appears.
“You’re still as lovely as the first day…” A photo of Astrid reading in the orphanage’s library’s window seat, with the sun setting in the background.
“I told my mama you’d be mine one day, I’d be your everything, could not wait…” A photo of Damien while painting appeared, he was biting on his tongue looking very serious.
“I’m so happy to say I was right… Cuz you are the only for me…” Then there was the photo of them in the library, Astrid was leaning on Damien’s back while he was bent over his coloring book.
“I’ve known for so long… And you make me feel right, childlike…” The next photo was the same moment, only this time she was looking at the camera, smiling; her head on top of Damien, while Damien rolled his eyes up grinning at her smiling. Astrid laughs again.
“I’m right where I belong with you…” A photo of Damien and her at the hospital after the fire accident in the Matthews’ mansion.
Then the words When you left, this was what we were up to… slid up.
“Teach me how to jump rope…” A photo of the boys, Allana and Collin training to fight appears, and from the looks of it, it was during middle school.
“I can teach you how to climb…” The next photo made Astrid laugh out loud, ‘cause it was of Allana beating the boys’ asses “Play ball, then you can help me color in the lines…” This time it was a photo of Ash during one of the school games, making a shot.
“Always knew, we’d make a great team…” The next was the boys with Allana exchanging high fives in the middle of the court, Allana in a cheerleader uniform.
“I can be the cop, you’re the robber…” A photo of them in costumes, under a banner saying Halloween Dance, they were 15.
“Since you stole my heart or red rover…” A photo of all of them during the opening of Damien’s Gallery at the age of 16.
“I can wrap you up in my arms, or playhouse in our house…” A new photo slide in of the boys, Collin and Allana covered with flour no doubt during a class, they were 17.
Then the message appears, “You may not be on those photos but you never really left…”
“You’re still as lovely as the first day… I told my mama you’d be mine one day…” A photo of the Halloween Dance underneath the same banner, this time the boys had tiaras on them making her laugh out loud.
“I’d be your everything, could not wait, I’m so happy to say I was right…” Then a photo of Damien in front of his favorite painting of her making her face heat up and shaking her head.
“Cuz you are the only one for me… I’ve known for so long…” A photo of them after the mess they made, raising a cake with a Happy Birthday Astrid and Ash, all beaming with pride. Astrid laughs while tears were swelling up her tears.
“And you… make me feel right, childlike, I’m right where I belong… with you…”
But the photos look better with you in it… slides up.
“Pigtail and hand me downs…” A photo of Astrid reading in the dorm’s library appeared.
“Couldn’t disguise what you’d be…” Then a photo of them from the supposed ball of Andy appears.
“I see you then as I see you now…” Then a photo of her and Damien at the balcony of Allana’s room in the Jacobson’ rest house came up, foreheads together.
“Perfect, lovely, worth it to me…” Another photo of them flashed at the rave, when we were talking and watching people dancing.
“All I ever need…”
Everything now is perfect, like you never left, but there’s still something missing… the message appears.
The guitarist continues to play when she felt someone take her hand, and when she turned around it was Damien.
“Damien, you did these?” she asked.
“Well, I had help.” He grinned and glanced behind me and I saw the boys grinning and watching us.
“What’s going on Damien?” she asked.
He smiles, “Astrid, do you remember when we made that promise before you left? We waited, you came home and life has been good since then.” he chuckles, “It was a bit rough start, but damn, it was fun.”
She laughs along with him and glanced around them and everyone’s eyes were on them.
“Damien, I-“
“Don’t, before I lose my nerve and I practiced this with dad.” he chuckles and reached for her hand, “Anyway, as fun as that may have been, I don’t want a part two of it.” He looks at her straight in the eye. “Cause I want to start over. I want something new, something to look forward to every day.” He took a deep breath.
“Astrid, from the very first time I heard your laugh, saw you cry, be covered with food, tackle Derek on the ground, and giggled on every funny and romantic scene you read... I made a promise to myself that I will be part of that. Laughing with you, wipe away your tears, save you from onions” she laughs again, “hold on to Derek while you kick his ass-”
“I’m part of your proposal too much!” Derek shout and Astrid’s eyes widened at Damien, surprised. Then he sighed and knelt on one knee.
“Oh my god…”
“Astrid, I want to be the reason why you wake up, I want to be the one who makes you laugh and giggle, I want to be upfront and center when you tackle Derek again after this!” everyone laughs along with the others and through her tears. “Astrid I want you to be beside me, making you proud, to be the one you can talk to about anything, the one you trust with every secret and every problem… cause I swear, from the very beginning, you have all been that for me.” She took a deep breath, holding unto every word he said. Then he pulls out what everyone in the room was waiting for, “Astrid Matthews, it would be such an honor if you would say yes and be my fiancé, my bride, my wife… cause God knows you are already my life.” he smiles as she just stood there, hands in his, still shock. “Will you marry me?”
She stared at him, biting her lip and nodded, “Yes…” she answers in a whisper, pulling him up and threw her arms over his shoulder crying.
“Yes, Damien!” she says again, laughing and crying at the same time. People were cheering around them before a clock start ticking and they look up the clock and start the countdown.
“Cuz you… are the only for me I’ve known for so long And you… make me feel right childlike I’m where I belong with you…”
Damien sings in her ear as people around them continue counting. Then he reached for her hand and slipped on the ring and as if on cue, and it probably was, they shared another first kiss.
She shook her head remembering that night, it’s so hard to believe that it has been ten years. They all succeeded over their family businesses, Astrid had taken over for grandfather in the Circle and was constantly away in the first year visiting digs and checking artifacts with him. It pissed off Damien for a while, but when she brought them all in one of the trips, that shut them up.
The archaeological world is amazing, and they decided to have one dig every year for three months and tonight they were to have a meeting about that year’s dig.
“Momma! Momma!” Astrid turns around and saw her little boy bursting through the door, “Someone’s chasing me!”
She stood up and frowned, grabbing Damien’s letter opener.
“I’m going to get you for that you little trouble maker…” they hear someone say from outside Damien’s office.
Astrid instantly calmed down and let go of the knife she was holding, Damien’s hand ran up and down her back.
“You ok?” he asks, worried.
“Yeah…” she sighs and smiled at him as he set their daughter down.
Finally, the one who was supposedly after her son, entered the room, hunched and creeping around.
Leo, their six-year-old son, squealed and ran to Damien who caught him. Leo instantly hid in the crook of Damien’s neck.
“I wonder where that little boy went,” Derek says in his evil villain voice.
“And I wonder when you’re going to grow up?” Astrid teased him which earned her a disapproving look.
“The same day you calm down and not throw blades whenever I run after your son.” He says glancing at the blade on Damien’s table.
“Uncle Derek! Uncle Derek!” Serafin knocked the air out of him as she jumped on him.
“You’re lucky my kids are here, or I would have chucked something at you.” Astrid grins.
“And I wouldn’t even stop you.” she glanced at the door and saw a very pregnant Hera by the doorway. “He has been bouncing more than these two and the twins the whole flight.” She points at her stomach.
Astrid laughs, “Well, there’s no surprise there.” Damien says.
“Oh, c’mon you like me jumping around.” Derek walks up to her and wrapped her in his arms.
“Urgh, shut up!” Hera and Astrid say causing the two men to laugh.
For some reason, Hera and Astrid still felt awkward with the boys’ sexual innuendos. Even after marriage and kids.
“Now come here and give me a hug you two.” Astrid struts up to them, arms open as they both hugged her, and Derek giving her his usual kiss on the cheek.
Damien joins in and gave Hera a one side hug so Leo won’t be on top of her tummy and a manly hug to Derek.
“You’re squeezing us, daddy!” Leo says.
“Oh, so there’s the little varmint!” Derek says, Leo squeals as Derek starts to tickle him.
Leo squirms and laughed, while Hera and I sat down watching them.
“Uncle Damien! Aunt Astrid!” two boys came running and shouting.
“Whoah, hold your horses,” Damien says as two twin boys ran up to him and threw their arms around his waist. “Where have you been?”
“Checking out the new toys,” Dean says excitedly.
“We saw the new blades and it was pure awesome!” Drake says.
Astrid smiles seeing how much they looked like Derek when they were younger. Dean and Drake were just a year older than her twins, and she knows that they’re Derek’s pride and joy. But with the next set of twins coming, a girl and a boy, she’s pretty sure he’ll be whipped by his little girl, just like how Serafin has him whipped.
“Well what a coincidence, cause…” Damien walks at the back to his table, Leo still in his arms, and picked up two bags full of toys. “I have to bags here that have your names on it.”
The two boys cheered and ran to check the inside of the bags.
“You are the best Uncle Damien!” Drake says, pulling out the rollerblades that Damien designed not a month ago.
“Damien, you are seriously spoiling them.” Hera groans.
“I don’t mind.” Damien says, “Astrid made a list of what the boys would like.”
Hera gave her a look, “You are just as bad as your husband.”
Astrid laughs, “Well since I can’t always see my boys, I need to spoil them while they’re here.”
“Thanks a lot, Aunt Astrid!” Dean says and ran up to her hugging her.
“Any time kiddo.” Astrid ruffles his hair as they watch them go through the bag, while Damien and Derek talk about the new products, still with Leo and Serafin in their arms.
“And that just saved me cash for their birthday, Christmas and New Year, Graduations…”
“Dad!” the twins' groans. “Mom?”
“Stop that Derek,” Hera says as if just to stop her boys, including her husband.
“Babies,” Derek says and his sons just shook their heads.
“How is everything at home?” Astrid asks.
“Pretty ok.” She sighs and leaned back, “Derek is still against taking over dad’s business thing but he had it all worked out by the first week there.”
Astrid chuckled and shook her head, “Derek the mobster king, I still can’t imagine it.”
“I guess our little adventure back then made him have the guts for it.” She watches him with pride, “You’d be proud to know that he had eliminated everything illegal and had cleaned the Ozawa source of income, and it had doubled already in the past two months.”
“Wow, I am proud,” Astrid says gawking at Derek who was now playing with all four kids.
“And what about you?” she asks.
“The Circle is as worst as ever, no matter how many warnings and beheadings you set out.”
“Beheading?” she asks, surprised.
“Just a term I got from Alice in Wonderland.” She rolls her eyes and laughs, “The twins loved it.”
She chuckles, “Still a hands-on mom, I see.”
“I’m never planning to let them out of my sight until they turn 18. The same with the babies that Damien is planning to have.”
“So he’s planning to add more tots?”
“He said we have space and he’d like to see mini me’s all over that space.”
Hera laughs and rubs her tummy, “These boys think pregnancy is easy.”
“Tell me about it.” Astrid mumbles.
A knock on the door cut their conversation short, they looked up and saw Collin and Allana.
“Hey!” Astrid walks to them and hugged Allana, they haven’t seen each other for months not since they left for Greece. “God, I miss you.”
“So did I,” she says. Astrid turns to Collin who gave her a hug and a kiss on the forehead, “Where’s Antoinette?”
“With Ash.” Collin points outside Damien’s office.
Ash and Antoinette were looking at toys that were on the shelves for display, Ash was probably explaining to her the machine and how it worked when a very attractive woman approached them, she leaned out her hand to Ash, Ash happily shook it and introduced Antoinette.
“Please don’t tell me.” Astrid groans.
“Yup,” Winter says, amused.
“Why don’t you tell him to stop?” she asks.
“Cause Antoinette always has funny stories afterward,” Tathiannah says, sitting down beside Hera. “The Unsuccessful Pick-Up Lines and Moves of Ash Matthews.”
“Oh…” they all said in unison.
But then, to Astrid’s surprise, Ash waved goodbye and lead Antoinette to a new toy, leaving the woman surprised as well.
“Hm, is there something I don’t know?” Astrid asks.
“We were hoping you’d know,” Allana says.
“Me?” she asks, “What do I have to do with it?”
“He had been excited about this meet up the whole month,” Collin says.
“And?” Damien asks.
“Her secretary had reported that he had been cleaned off women for two months already,” Allana says as they move back to the sofas that Damien had in his office. The kids were now checking out the new toys.
“Seriously?” Hera asks.
“Yep.” Collin says, “About time too, cause your mom had just have had enough of women still coming at the mansion even after Ash moved out four years ago.”
“Is it one of the I’m-pregnant-girls again?” Astrid groans.
They both nodded, “But the thing now is, it’s not even true. One said she slept with him at his condo, but there was no record of her coming home with him or at the surveillance camera.”
Astrid shook her head, “I swear, I’m going to kick his ass if he does impregnate one of his girls.”
“I certainly hope that you aren’t talking about me, cause that’s just mean.” Ash stood by the door.
Antoinette walked up to Astrid and kissed her before moving to the others. She was the eldest among the kids at eight. Collin and Allana were married right after high school and Allana didn’t even have a break in college before, during, or after pregnancy. A wonder mom is what they call her.
“Why? Have you impregnated anyone?” Derek asks.
“Not that I know of,” Ash says casually.
“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.” His twin sister whines.
“Oh c’mon guys,” he sits down beside Astrid, “Not because you are all married, means I should be too. Jared isn’t married and you aren’t giving him a hard time.”
“That’s what you think.” Derek said, “Jared just isn’t as bad as you, I mean, he has Gen.”
“Ok, so I don’t have a girlfriend, I’m not in a hurry.”
“Then maybe you should be,” Astrid says, “I want to have niece and nephews from you before my kids get married.”
He glances at the kids, “Don’t you think we have enough kids already?” he glanced at Hera. “And more to come, especially…”
“Especially?” Hera asks.
Ash shook his head and kept a grin, “Forget about it, it isn’t my secret or news to say.”
“And when did that ever stop you?” Damien grins.
“Since there was a mention of castration.”
“What are-“
“Hey you guys!” we looked up and saw Gen and Jared walking toward us.
They exchanged kisses and hugs, and Jared even picked Astrid up for a quick second making her squeal.
“How are you guys?” Allana asks, “You have been pretty busy with all the openings of your hotels.”
“I know,” Jared sighs, “It’s hard when I’m one hand short.”
“Aw, and I miss you too bro,” Derek says, making Jared chuckle.
“So, still bickering worse than the married couples?” Ash asks, trying to get the spotlight off him.
“Yep.” They said in unison making the others laugh.
“But all is better?”
Gen and Jared exchanged looks. Gen looking excited, Jared just laughs and nods, earning a questioned look from everyone until Gen raised her hand showing her ring.
Astrid’s mouth drops open and her eyes widened, “Finally!” I shouted at Jared. “Now you can fight like a married couple!”
“It wasn’t as dreamy as Derek’s or as sweet as Damien’s, or as elegant as Collin's but, it was perfect,” Gen said. “It was beautifully romantic.”
“When?” Astrid asks excitedly.
“Anniversary night.” She said.
“Where?” Hera asked.
“Rooftop of our condo.”
“What?!” Derek frowns before hitting Jared, “Cheapskate.”
Jared laughs, “Bro, it was far from cheap.”
“True.” Gen blushes. “I didn’t even know that it was our rooftop until I looked down the streets.”
“How?” Allana asks.
“Let’s just say there were tons of balloons, tons of lanterns, and tons of romance,” Gen says, dreamy.
“Man, I didn’t know you have one bone of romance in your body.” Derek teased.
“Neither did I.” Jared smiled at Gen, “But I guess you’ll do pretty much everything to get what you want.” They smiled at the sweet words until he ruined the moment and said, “And I have to top off these three’s proposals.”
“You are in for a hard time Ash,” Collin says.
“Nah,” Ash says, “I like it simple and true.”
“Cheap and unimaginative,” Jared adds.
“Quick and demanding.” Damien continues.
“Easy and flexible.” Derek threw in, they all turned to him. “What?”
“Is that a girl or still the manner of the proposal?” Collin snickers.
“Guess it works for both ways,” Derek says nonchalantly.
“Hey…” Ash faking hurt, “I have standards you know.”
“What? Able to do 90 degrees and has a voice that’s just right and a heart that’s hardly used?” Jared asks.
“Hey, we do have kids here.” Allana reminds them.
Suddenly they hear people rushing to the office again, it was like the high way with all the people coming.
“I guess great minds do think alike?” Dimitri says standing at the doorway.
Astrid stifles a laugh and walks up to him. “How are you brother?”
“I’m good.” He says. “You?”
She rolls her eyes, “Urgh, exhausted!” he laughs.
“Tenshi, sweety how are you?” she moved toward his sister and Hera shuffled up to Kale who was with them.
“I’m good, Astrid.” She says, “Glad to see friendly faces.”
Astrid scrunched her nose, “Your big brother’s giving you a hard time?”
She chuckles and rolled her eyes, “You have no idea.”
Then Astrid moved to Kale who hugged her and kissed her on the top of her head. You can say we’ve set aside our differences and grew pretty close, after all, he is the one who’s keeping an eye on NSA for me as its new Headmaster.
“Hey, baby girl.”
“Hey, headmaster.” She teases.
“You boys alone tonight?” Hera says.
“Yeah, well, we thought this is family time, so we canceled,” Kale says.
“It would have been sweet if it wasn’t a lie,” Gen says.
The two boys laughed, “We might be seeing them there.” Dimitri says.
“Someone, we know?” Allana asks.
“Hopefully not.” Dimitri says, “Seeing that if it’s anyone you know, they’ll either be assassins, teachers, parents or business partners. Not a good mix.”
“I’m glad you know that.” Derek chuckles.
“Well, well…” Ash says, “Look who the cat dragged in.”
“Hey, you…” Tenshi says and hugs him.
Astrid raised a brow at Dimitri who shrugged, “I’m guessing he hasn’t told you?”
They all look at Ash, “Am I missing something here?” Astrid asks.
“Yeah, well…” Ash puts an arm around Tenshi’s waist.
“No!” Hera gasps.
“Yes.” Ash smiles.
“When did this happen?” Allana asks.
“Ash has been flying in every other weekend at home to see her,” Dimitri says.
“That’s why you’ve been canceling Friday dinners with me?” Astrid slaps him on the arm.
“Yes.” He says with a sheepish look.
“And you didn’t think of telling me this?”
“I did, I am…” he says, “Tonight.”
“That’s why your secretary says you have cleaned and sobered up from women,” Collin says.
“You better have.” Dimitri, Hera, and Astrid say in unison.
“Darn, I didn’t see that one coming,” Derek says, amazed.
“Yeah, well, neither did I.” Ash says smiling down at Tenshi, “We just happened to bump into each other during one of my international meetings. Then we kept in touch through email and calls…”
“Urgh, a cliché love story,” Gen says.
“Whatever,” Ash shook his head, “I’m coming clean now.”
“You better.” Astrid says, “You ok with this?”
“Well, he’s been pretty serious with all the visiting and stuff.” Dimitri shrugs, “I made him learn to scale without ropes.”
“And that almost killed him.” Tenshi glares at her brother.
“Dimitri, you know I love how you take care of Tenshi, but I swear if you try to kill my brother I will kill you too,” Astrid says.
“I know.” He says, “That’s why I had his back the whole time.”
“You better have.”
“And we better get out of here,” Collin says checking his watch. “Reservations in half an hour.”
“Can’t we just do this at home like we use to?” Allana whines.
“Like we use to?” Derek asks “Yeah, throw in a few pillows, a lot of popcorns, tons of movies…” she counts and smiled, “Like good old times.”
“You know, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Jared says. “I think I can spare a week.”
“We do deserve a vacation,” Ash says.
“A week?” Damien asks.
“Yes,” Hera says, “Since we are here for a month, I will be damned if I don’t get to spend time with you guys.”
“So whose house would we be crashing in?” Dimitri asks.
One by one they turned to Astrid, instantly shook her head. “No.”
“Oh c’mon sis, you have the best accommodation among us,” Ash says.
“You’re just saying that ‘cause you want me to cook for you again, not happening.”
“C’mon baby girl…” Derek pleads.
“We’ll help.” Jared pitched in.
“Like hell, you will.” She says, “You said that the last time.”
“And I don’t want you blowing up our kitchen,” Damien says standing behind his wife and wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Fine, the girls would help,” Derek says, earning a hit on the nape from Hera.
“Why don’t we dine out for tonight and plan for the next meals tomorrow?” Collin says.
“Agreed,” Astrid says with finality no one even dared to question her. “
“No booze.” the girls say in unison.
“Boring!” Kale says.
“The kids-“
“The kids can go to mom and dad’s place.” Ash says, “They’ve been asking for them, the last time we visited.”
“But-“
“Astrid, we’re getting some adult time this week and that’s final,” Hera says.
“I don’t know how much adult time you’ll be getting, but I completely agree,” Gen says.
“We’ll drop off the kids tomorrow morning,” Allana says.
They all gave her a look before she turned to Damien who was also giving her the puppy dog eyes. She groans and closed her eyes.
“Fine!” she gave up as her family cheered. “But no maids or butlers or drivers of the sort.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Derek says.
“Everyone’s going to pitch in with work?”
“As we should,” Jared says.
“And no quarrels when we go out in bars.”
“We’re going out?” Kale asks.
“Well, we’re having an adult time, I’m not just going to sit on my ass the whole week.”
“Alright!” the boys cheered.
“We should go visit the orphanage." Ash says, "We haven't been there since Christmas."
"That's a pretty good idea."
"Hey, Ash, maybe you can also have your wedding there." Jared teases.
"Let's slow down a bit..." Dimitri says.
Making everyone laugh, Astrid glances back at Ash and Tenshi who were just laughing along with the others.
“We better get going if we want to catch our reservation,” Collin says.
“Let’s at least have one decent meal before this chaotic week begins,” Astrid says.
“Well, we better go then.” He checks his watch, “We only have twenty minutes to make it to our reservation.”
“Wait, just a sec, I just need to finish this…” Damien walks back to his table.
“Is that a new concept toy?” Jared asks.
“Yep.” Damien grins, “Dad and I had been planning it for months and we just finished it last week.”
“And it was like Christmas at home when they did.” Astrid laughs.
“Yeah, well, if this is my job you’d feel like a kid?” Derek says. “Can we see the layout?”
“Oh, yeah, I wanted second opinions,” Damien says moving to his work table.
Astrid looks around the room watching the kids were sprawled all over the floor playing, while the boys talked about the new toy and the girls gush on about Gen and Jared’s engagement. This was her dream.
Seeing her two worlds crossing borders, fusing into one.