Chapter Text
Five years later…told from Amber’s point of view…
“Mommy, mommy!” Alexandra came running into the kitchen still in her pajamas. She looks so cute with her hair sticking up all over the place I have to laugh. I bend down and pick her up. “Morning, little one. Why so excited?” I ask her, already knowing the answer.
“It’s my birthday and my party day!” She tells me before patting my stomach.
“Good morning, baby,” she says sweetly. “Alice, can we have pancakes?”
“Of course, pumpkin, it’s your birthday after all.” Alice laughed.
I look over at Alice and smile. This is going to be a wonderful day. We’ll get to see all our old friends today. I put Alexandra down and she runs off to wake her father. I sit down at the kitchen table and start to think back to the past. A lot has happened since my wedding five years ago. Six months after the wedding, we were attacked again. This time by a tribe called the Technos. They were technologically advanced and viscously cruel. It was a horrible time. Even though the city was united, we were not prepared to fight the Technos. Lex refused to let me fight because I was seven months pregnant with LJ at the time. Instead, I stayed on the farm with Alice, Ned, and Trudy. Ned is Alice’s husband. We met him after Lex and I moved to the farm. He and his younger brother and sister were traveling from the north. They were looking for a place to stay, so Alice offered the farm. Ned was very obnoxious at first but Alice tamed him quickly and they’ve been living with us ever since. We asked Pride for help again and the Gaians sent almost all their fighters and healers to aid us. Trudy wasn’t allowed to fight either; she was five months pregnant with Pride’s child, Fawn. We never thought we would defeat the Technos. We probably never would have if three of their high commanders hadn’t helped us. Jay, Siva, and Java began to question their leader, Ram. Ram had started out nice enough. He turned the power back on and gave us running water again, but it soon became clear he wanted payment for what he did. The price was too high and the city rebelled. Ebony was captured and forced to become Ram’s third wife. Even though it was a terrible time for her, it was actually the turning point in the war. She was reunited with her sisters, Java and Siva, and convinced them to help us defeat Ram. Jay, Ram’s general, also joined us after he learned that Ram’s plan wasn’t to rebuild the city but to destroy it. With their help, Ram was defeated. Unfortunately, their help came too late for some of us. Pride, Chloe, and Java died in the final battle of the war. When Trudy heard this she went into premature labor and the Gaian healers almost lost her. She and Fawn survived and she insisted on going back with the Gaians. On her way home she met up with an old friend from before the virus. He helped her grieve for Pride and they fell in love. His name is Jaymes and he is a wonderful father to Brady, Fawn, and his little brother, Ghany. We don’t see them as often as we’d like, but they sent word they would be here for Alexandra’s party.
“Mommy! Daddy said I can feed the piggies before breakfast,” Alexandra yells as she runs through the kitchen. I look up and see Lex standing in the doorway holding L.J.
“Morning, Lex. She woke you up?” I ask innocently.
“No, this little guy did,” Lex says as he hands me L.J.
“You better go find her before she lets all the pigs out again,” I tell him. Lex laughs and leaves the kitchen. Andy and Tally come running into the kitchen and they stop next to me. Tally smiles, “Do you need help with L.J.? I know you’re going to be busy getting ready with the party.”
“Thanks, Tally. I put his outfit on my bed if you want to get him dressed after he eats,” I say putting L.J. on the floor. The minute his feet hit the ground he runs off laughing. Andy and Tally follow him. The farm has really changed from when we first moved here. We’ve expanded our crops to include corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, lettuce, eggplant, cucumbers, peas, carrots, and cabbage. Last year Alice and I decided to plant strawberries and grapes. Lex wanted to make the grapes into wine, but I told him to forget it. I’ve seen him drunk and it’s not a pretty sight. We also have pigs, tons of chickens, sheep, and a few cows. Alexandra doesn’t understand why we lose a pig or chicken every now and then; and none of us have to the heart to tell her that her dinner used to be the ‘piggy’ she fed that morning. We are the major supplier of fresh vegetables to the city. We have a stand at the market that never stays full for very long. The best thing about living here with Alice is that this was her house before the virus. Everything here actually belongs to her and Ellie. Alice’s mother was a sentimental person who kept everything, and I mean everything. The attic is full of old toys and clothes from their childhood. Alice is wonderful, she is always telling me to go upstairs and get anything I can use for the children. The house is full of people all the time and I love it. I’m so glad Lex agreed to move out of the mall and away from the city. The city. The changes that have occurred there are wonderful. After the Techno occupation, we held an election for city leader. Bray won. Bray and Tai-San still live at the mall with their two beautiful children, Martin who is three and Aurora who is two. The distance between Bray and me has helped to heal old wounds. We can actually be in the same room without trying to kill each other. I guess it also helps that our children all get along. This brings me to Salene and Ryan. They have two children, Julian who turns six in a few weeks and Devon who is barely three. They are wonderful parents. Salene went into a deep depression after Chloe died and she started binging again. It was a rough time for Ryan and Julian, but Trudy came back and helped them through it. It’s still hard to believe that Chloe and Pride are gone. It was a sad day when we buried Chloe next to Zandra. The Gaians took Pride’s body back with them for a proper burial. After Java died, Ebony asked me if we could bury her with the others. Bray said no and Tai-San thought it would bring negative energy to the farm, but Alice told them it was her farm and her rules. Java is now buried with Chloe and Zandra. Ebony has changed the most out of all the Mall Rats. I think losing one sister and having the other one in a constant state of depression has taken its toll on her. During her time as Ram’s wife, she became close to Jay, who in the end helped save us all. They were married a year after Java died and they have an adorable two year old daughter, Tamara. Jay and Ebony run the city’s security force and they both live in the old hotel. Jack, Ellie, Patsy, and Dal all still live at the mall, although Dal spends most of his days here on the farm. Jack and Ellie are going to be married in the spring and Patsy is still trying to get Dal to notice her. Alexandra’s squeals of delight bring me out of my reverie. I get up and look out the window. I turn to Alice, “Trudy and Jaymes are here!” We both stop what we are doing and go out to greet them. I run and give Trudy a big hug. When I do, I notice her stomach is bigger than mine, “You’re pregnant!”
Trudy smiles and pats my stomach, “So are you!”
I notice Brady and Ghany hiding behind Jaymes, “Hey, you two, Alice made pancakes…” I didn’t have to say anything else; they both run past me into the house. Alice says her hellos and goes to get the kids settled.
“Hello, Jaymes. You must be so happy!” I say taking Fawn from him.
Jaymes looks at me and grins, “I’m a very happy man. I have a beautiful wife and three lovely children and possibly two more on the way.”
Lex comes over and greets Trudy and Jaymes, “Did I hear you say Trudy might be having twins?”
Trudy nods, “The healers think they heard two heartbeats. Either it’s twins or I’m giving birth to an alien.”
Lex laughs, “With Jaymes as the father you never know.”
“Daddy! Daddy! Come inside and have some pancakes!” Alexandra calls out the kitchen window.
Trudy, Jaymes, and I go into the living room to talk. As soon as we sit down, L.J. comes running into the room with Andy and Tally hot on his heels. Jaymes leans over and scoops him up, “Hello, L.J. do you remember me?”
L.J. shakes his head and points at me, “That’s mommy.”
We all laugh. Jaymes puts him down and turns to me, “Amber, I’ve known you for a while now and I still don’t know what L.J. stands for.”
Everyone looks at him and laughs. I shoot Trudy a very annoyed look and tell Alice and Lex to stop laughing. Poor Jaymes looks confused so Trudy takes pity on him and explains, “L.J. stands for Lex junior.”
“What’s so funny about that?” Jaymes asks still confused.
They laughter starts again. I sigh and raise my voice so Lex can hear, “I just think it’s a bit egotistical to have TWO children named after yourself.”
“Oh, now I get it. Alexandra and Lex Jr. So, have you decided what you’re going to name this one?” Jaymes asks.
Lex yells from the kitchen, “We were thinking of Alexia or maybe Lexington…”
I yell back, “Over my dead body!” The laughter starts yet again. I love the sound of laughter.
The doorbell rings and Alexandra runs to open the door. All the Mall Rats spill into the living room, everyone starts talking at once. It’s so good to see all my friends, but I notice that Ebony, Jay, and Tammy are missing.
“Salene, did Ebony tell you if she was coming today?” I ask.
“Jay was going to try to get her to come, but I’m not sure if she’ll come,” she replies.
Alice comes out of the kitchen with Ned, “I’ve got cake and cookies!” All the children run into the kitchen leaving the rest of us to catch up. The doorbell rings again and Alexandra yells from the kitchen, “Mommy, wait for me! I want to see who it is!”
I wait for Alexandra and then I open the door. Ebony stands in front of me, Jay is behind her holding Tamara. “I wasn’t sure if you were coming.” I say hesitantly.
“I wasn’t going to but Jay insisted and Tammy couldn’t stop talking about L.J. so…”
I nod and let them passed me into the house. I know that Ebony is hiding her true feelings, but I decide to let it go for now. I start to close the door when I notice Siva walking towards the house. “Ebony…”
Ebony turns and sees Siva, “She must have followed us. I’ll take her back.”
“Ebony, she can stay. The only people who still have a problem with her are Bray and Tai-San. Besides this is Alex’s party and she likes Siva.” I say putting my hand on her shoulder.
“I wish she would snap out of it. Nobody blames her for Java’s death. I don’t know how much more I can take. How did you deal with Lex after Zandra died?” Ebony asks with tears in her eyes.
“It was hard, very hard. I don’t know why it’s taking her so long to grieve, but I’ll be here if you need to talk.” I say as Siva walks up the stairs.
“Can I come in?” Siva asks me.
Before I can answer her, Alexandra runs out and grabs her hand, “Siva! Come join my party.”
Siva smiles and follows Alexandra. Ebony and I close the door and go back inside. All the children are sitting around the kitchen table eating the cake Alice baked this morning. They all look so happy I want to cry. I go back into the living room with the others.
Bray comes up beside me and grabs my arm. “We need to talk,” he hisses in my ear.
I follow him outside and Jaymes, Trudy, and Lex follow me. As soon as I they shut the door Bray starts yelling, “What is she doing here?”
“You mean Siva?” I ask.
“Of course I mean Siva. I want you to make her leave. It’s her fault Chloe and Pride are dead.” Bray says angrily.
“It wasn’t her fault and she’s staying. This is my house not yours.” I say.
“If she had done her job and told Pride he was walking into a trap he’d still be alive! She is nothing but a murdering coward!” Bray yells.
“Bray, stop it! If I don’t blame her why do you? She was scared of Ram and she didn’t know what to do! It’s been almost five years, you have to stop blaming her.” Trudy whispers.
Jaymes walks over to Bray, “I seem to recall Trudy telling me a similar story when we first met. She told me of her time with the Chosen and how she almost lost Alex. Did you blame her for what she did? Did you blame her for letting Alex be switched with Julian?”
“No, of course not! She was brainwashed and held prisoner,” Bray replies.
“And what do you think Siva was? She was Ram’s prisoner. She was scared and she didn’t act quick enough to save Pride and Chloe. Java tried and she paid for it with her life. You and Tai-San have to learn to forgive and forget. If you don’t your anger will eat you alive,” Jaymes says turning to walk back in the house with Trudy.
“Be nice to her because if you don’t you’ll answer to me,” Lex says leading me back into the house.
Back inside I hear Alexandra and Ghany arguing.
“I do too!” Alexandra yells.
“You do not!” Ghany yells back.
“I do!”
“You don’t!”
I go into the kitchen to see what is going on. “Alex, honey, it isn’t ladylike to yell.”
“Mommy, I was telling everyone I have my own angel and Ghany said I didn’t! I want you to tell the Angel story!” She says throwing herself at me.
I look around at all the children and smile, “Who wants to hear a story?”
“Me!” They all yell at once.
“Okay, let’s go into the living room and I’ll tell you the story of Alex’s angel.” I tell them as they all go running into the living room. I sit down on the floor and they all crowd around me. All the Mall Rats stop talking so they can listen, too. It’s very quiet and Ned tries to make a joke, “So, you guys have your very own angel?”
Alice whacks him across the chest and he whispers, “Sorry, doll.” We all laugh.
When everyone is quiet again I begin, “A long time ago before any of you little ones were born, a beautiful girl lived with us at the mall…”
“Amber, was it before I was born too?” Brady asks me.
“You were a tiny baby at the time, Brady,” I tell her.
“So, that means I was born, too, since I’m older than Brady,” Ghany says.
“No, it doesn’t!” Brady yells.
“Yes, it does!” Ghany yells back.
Jaymes kneels down next to them and whispers, “Why don’t you let Amber tell the story.”
They both look at him, “Yes, daddy.”
I continue, “This girl was very special to us. She made us laugh and she made the mall feel like home. She wanted us all to be happy. Sadly, she had to leave even though she really didn’t want to…”
“But why did she go if she didn’t want to?” Julian asks.
“She had to go because she was needed in heaven. She heard the other angels calling her and she knew it was time to go live with them.” I stop for a minute and look at all my friends. Most of them have tears in their eyes. Trudy is leaning against Jaymes, crying silently. Ryan and Salene are also crying and Lex is trying to hide his tears from everyone. I smile at them and continue, “For a long time it was hard to live without her. Then one day we realized she was watching over us from heaven, keeping us safe. She was especially watching over all you little ones.”
“Even me?” Ghany asks.
“Yes, silly. Even you,” I say as Alexandra jumps up.
“Mommy! I want to tell everyone my angel’s name,” she says.
“Okay, honey, you tell them her name.” I say as I hear crying in the corner. I look over and see Siva crying. Ebony sees her too and rushes over to her. She looks at me and I smile a sad smile. Siva is finally grieving for the ones we lost. I look back at Alexandra and see the pride on her face when she speaks, “My angel has the prettiest name in the whole world. My angel’s name is Zandra.”