EPISODE EIGHTY FOUR
THEME: Alive again
MOON STONE FORTRESS
AT THE PACK HOUSE
Meagan could tell whose voice it was even in her deepest dream. She jumped off the couch running towards Benjamin and almost knocking him out.
“Ben!” Meagan screamed as she held onto him tightly.
“Easy tiger.” Benjamin blared in laughter even as he lifted her off the ground. “How is my beautiful sister doing?”
Getting down from his embrace, Meagan looked longingly at the door and moved towards it. “Where is everyone? Are-” She hadn’t finished her statement when the huge front door gave way to the rest of the Swift family. Screams and yells filled the entire room as their noises echoed.
“Oh my goodness. Meagan!” Jasmine and Penelope screamed as they held onto their sister tightly.
Collins being Collins joined in their embrace almost lifting the ladies up at the same time. They remained like that for a while before releasing Meagan when it seem like she would run out of breath. Meagan had tears in her eyes when she walked towards her parents.
“Mom. Dad.” Meagan sniffed as she held onto them tightly.
“My baby.” Mr Swift cooed, rubbing at her back gently.
“I can’t believe you have grown old.” Mrs Swift joked as she wiped off the tears on Meagan’s face.
“I have missed you all so much.” Meagan said in a muffled tone.
“We missed you very much too honey.” Mr Swift replied.
“You all seem to be forgetting me.” Gabriella muttered behind the family members.
Collins was the first to leap at her. “If you think I would ever forget you pardon my insolence.” They both chuckled as they exchanged hugs.
“You still owe me a drink, Gab.” Jasmine murmured into her ears as they hugged.
They all exchanged pleasantries, lingering in each other’s hold.
“Where is Carl?” Mr Swift questioned looking at Meagan.
“I am right here, thought no one would ask after me.” Carl said from behind, looking a bit brighter as he got wheeled out by Claire.
“Aunt, uncle, grandpa, grandma!” Claire yelled bouncing towards them. “When did you all get here?”
Benjamin lifted her off the earth like he had done to her mother. “Few minutes ago. Woah! I can’t believe my little Claire is so big now.”
“My baby Claire.” Jasmine cooed, pulling gently at her cheek.
Claire wiggled herself from his hold and made a pose. “Of course! I am a big girl now.”
They laughed at that, as she went all round to hug each of them. Mr Swift and the rest of the family moved closer to Carl fussing over him.
“Thought you were stronger than I was, how could you give in so easily?” Mr Swift tried to make a joke.
Carl grinned. “Well…let’s just say I got tired of acting strong and playing Alpha. I wanted to be pampered by Meagan a bit.”
They laughed lightly at the joke, trying not to show their emotions in front of him.
“You both still look so beautiful Jasmine and Penelope, I should really think of swapping the Swift sisters since I am becoming a bit tired of Meagan’s face. Right baby?” Carl turned to her as he wiggled his brows slowly.
Meagan rolled her eyes at him. “Easy for you to say. I should do the same too.” She laughed.
“Let’s settle everyone, Meagan made some nice appetizers and lemonades to cool your minds.” Gabriella announced on behalf of the maids who came around to serve them.
Meagan swapped seats to sit next to her mother and Gabriella. Mr Swift had taken up a space with Carl as they catch up on old times as usual while the others sat around each other. Claire who has always been super obsessed with Benjamin and Collins sat next to them filling them in on the parts of her life they missed since the past ten years.
“How have you been holding up honey?” Mrs swift asked Meagan as she sipped lightly on her glass of lemonade.
Meagan let out a long sigh, she didn’t know where exactly to start from. “I can’t explain it mom. But it has been tough.”
“You should commend Meagan.” Gabriella said. “She has been an epitome of a strong woman and Carl couldn’t be more lucky. She has done beyond what I as his mother would have done. And I am so grateful. Only her love and affection has kept Carl up on his feet till this very moment.” She added.
“I am so sorry for not being here with you baby.” Mrs swift caressed her hair.
Meagan sniffed, trying to prevent the tears from falling. “I am more glad to have you all here with me.”
“We would never depart far from you again. I am so sorry baby.” Her mother patted her cheek.
“Thanks so much mom.”
Meagan muttered in response as she looked around at the pack house that has seem to come alive again. It had been so long since they had such moments together. The last time her family had come around had been about twelve years ago when her parents had decided to celebrate their wedding anniversary on Thanksgiving day and had thought it would be nicer to celebrate it with Meagan’s family. They had all flown down to Moon Stone and it was a blissful moment through and through.
Time had gone past and a whole lot has ensued. Still Meagan felt overwhelmed with how natural their affections for each other light up the room. Meagan couldn’t thank Carl enough for granting her unspoken wish.
“Wait a minute!” Jasmine’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Where are the boys?”
“They went out, didn’t tell them you all would be arriving soon. They would be shocked beyond words.” Gabriella laughed.
“I can’t wait to see my Jaylen. The last time we saw him was at the celebration of his company’s achievement.” Penelope said.
“So jealous of how you all dot on Jaylen.” Claire huffed with a pouted lips.
“Well now that we are here, how about we dot on you too.” Collins tickled her side with the rest of her aunt and uncle joining in.
The whole room bubbled with pure joy. Meagan finally felt at peace after what seems like forever as she watched Claire laugh her lungs out which seem like a rare encounter. Meagan had been so engrossed in sorting the situations of the pack and that of her immediate family that she had forgotten the love of her own root. Forgetting how they accept and love her with no clause.
Having all of them around her, makes her feel so free all she wants to do is flap her wings and fly freely.
“The garden is set Luna.” A maid announced to Meagan, pulling her out of her reverie.
Waving the maid off, Meagan smiled enthusiastically as she stood up and clapped her hands to get all of their attention.
“I would advice you all should go into your rooms, have a some nice shower and rest because we are having a dinner buffet out in the garden. Welcome home family!” Meagan announced, feeling like a twenty year old again as she laughed with all her heart.
“That’s great!”
They all screamed out in excitement.