A/N: NOT EDITED.

This chapter brought to you because of these songs:

Kings of Leon – The Runner

Kings of Leon – The End

Kings of Leon – Pickup Truck

Kings of Leon – Ragoo

Florence and the Machines – Shake it Out

Mumford & Sons – Holland Road

The Kite String Tangle – Arcadia

Kanye West – Streetlights

Linkin Park – Papercut

Lucy Rose – Be Alright

Birdy – Words as Weapons

So yeah.. check those out... anyways, Enjoy.

Chapter 6 – Pat Lawson (November 24th 2014)

'Mr. Lawson, this is The Hill School calling about your son Benjamin...'

After ending the call I went straight to the closest grabbing my shoes and jacket, "Pat where are you going? What's wrong? Is it Oakley?" Sarah came out from the back with her parents concern in her voice as well as her features. I just shook my head, "It's Ben, his school called asked me to come in-"

"Of course – that surly girl is-"

"Mrs. Moor just remember that surly girl is my daughter and you're standing in my house," I warned her but somewhere deep inside I heard the voice telling me just how late my chastisement was in terms for my daughter.

"Well I'll be-"

"Leaving if you continue-"

"Pat!" Sarah cut me off, "It's a hard time but we can't take out our stress on my mo-"

"I'm not blaming you, I have more fault here but you aren't in any position to be telling me who to speak of. You called my daughters mother a whore, and whatever else and she heard you Sarah. She heard you both, I did the most damage and she tried to kill herself, I think you're mother has said enough on a subject that has shit to do with her and she should be reminded of that if she forgets."

Leaving was easy as I just slipped out of the door wondering what Ben could have possibly done that would warrant a meeting with his teacher and principal.

Driving tensely when I finally arrived at The Hill School, I'm not sure what to expect – no that's not true. I expect that Ben has gotten into some kind of fight with someone, his anger over the situation released on some poor student.

I was wrong.

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"Well? Is someone going to tell me what's going on here?" I ask when I'm guided to the principals, seated and Ben has his head hung not looking up at my entrance.

"Mr. Lawson," the principal says, Ben to my left, his teacher standing next to the principal's desk, "you were called in today because of an assignment that ben was given."

"I assigned a short paper, on who their hero was, the person they looked up too and Ben handed in the outline – he had chosen your daughter, Oakley – but when we were made aware of the situation going on at home I returned his outline giving him more time to change who he would be writing about. We felt it wasn't appropriate considering your complication, his choice; it would be unhealthy to the other students..." Ben's teacher recalls for me, I keep my eyes neutral but I'm anything but...

"However today, your son handed in the same outline and paper about your daughter that I returned and told him to change. In class in front of the other students your son was blatantly rude. When I returned the paper, saying in a whispered voice as not to inform all students of my words that he could not write about her, and that I will not be accepting his work as I previously mentioned, your son replied that he was either going to write about Oakley or not write anything at all..."

I nodded, "Ben please go wait outside-"

"Actually Mr. Lawson we need to discuss the punishment for your son-"

"I didn't want to say this in front of my son, but if you insist," I gave one sharp nod, "He's done nothing wrong. You said the assignment was for him to write about his hero, if you wanted a different paper you should have asked that he write a paper on someone you – his teacher – found suitable enough to be written about as a hero," Bens teacher widens her eyes, her cheek filling with color.

"Now you listen here... My daughter is friends with Amelia and was at our house just yesterday talking about this situation. Your daughter tried to take her life by cutting and taking pills, had to have her stomach pumped and has yet to be released. Even when she is released because she is a danger will not be returning to your home but your brother, Grant Lawson-"

"Ben let's go," I stood abruptly, furious with Amelia, "As for you Mrs. Spaw and Dr. Wellsworth, you'll be hearing from my lawyer for discrimination..." I watched their eyes widened when they both realized just how far they overstepped. I didn't wait for anything from those two, Ben following me I pulled my phone out calling Amelia's school and letting them know that I wanted her excused for the rest of the day and that I would be picking her up immediately.

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The drive home was silent, Amelia in the front seat asked once what the problem was but after not getting an answer she remained silent, as did Ben in the back seat.

When we entered the house, Sarah stood shocked that I had both Ben and Amelia with me, "Where are your parents?" I asked hanging up my jacket.

"They went to visit with Ronnie," well better that they went to visit her brother now because I had to have a talk with the three of them.

"Why – why do you have Amelia?"

"What did you tell your friend Alicia Spaw last night?" I ignored the question from Sarah, asking Amelia one of my own. Her eyes widened, her hands on her lap twitched, her eyes avoided mine.

"Nothing," all I get was attitude.

"Really because she heard what you had to say, I mean I didn't know you were a doctor Amelia, that you knew so much more than I did as Oakley's parent. Did you know Sarah that on top of the self harm that Oakley took a bottle of pills? Had to have her stomach pumped?" I turn asking Sarah sarcastically.

"Amelia..." Sarah said with pure sadness, shaking her head, "Pat, what did Ben's school call for?" she eyed Ben but still gazed at Amelia.

"Well he wrote a paper on his hero, and it was about Oakley, his teacher, Mrs. Spaw said it wasn't appropriate because he picked Oakley..."

Sarah nodded absentmindedly, "I'm sure it was a lovely paper Ben," she praised him.

"Ben can you go on up to your room until we need to leave for our session with Wagner," I said wanting to deal with Amelia without him as our audience.

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I sighed loudly, "What were you thinking Amelia?" the exasperation in my voice clear, "Wagner said not to make this whole thing some sort of event that Oakley has to hide away in shame but with as hard as it is going to be for her you thought it would be better to escalate the rumors she'd have to deal with?"

She growled at my statement before standing, bolting to her feet, fire in her eyes, "And what about me dad!? What about the rumors I'd have to deal with-"

"So you thought you'd make them worse by adding to what Oakley has done?"

"I made it her own fault so people wouldn't be talking about you, saying you weren't a good dad. That's all people are going to say, talk bad about you and Mom because she's in the hospital."

"But Amelia... why tell Alicia? You weren't helping-"

"Even now after what she did you still think she's better than me mom?" Amelia asked pained.

"No one is better than anyone else-"

"Yes she is, to Ben to Mom and now you dad..." her eyes welled, "Mom bends over backwards for her but she doesn't even like her. Now people are going to look badly at mom and you because she's moving out with Uncle Grant... If she didn't want to be here, why didn't she just ask for her to go live with him?" taking a breath she continued, "Everyone says you're going to pick her over mom and I, but mom deserves you and you said things would get easier over time but now she did this and everyone's going to be talking about it," she cries.

I take her hand in mine, "First, if Oakley is painting me as a bad father, she's well within her rights to do so, I have done so much wrong but you don't see it because I've tried my hardest to make sure you know I love you as much as I love my biological children. In doing so, I overcompensated with you Amelia.... And I know this is hard for you, but that's why we have Wagner, what you did, said about Oakley won't fly... so while I know you are struggling, you're grounded, no phone, no internet, no study groups, nothing. Home and school. Two weeks," I state firmly before heading up to speak to Ben.

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Oakley Lawson (Bumblebee) POV – November 27th 2014

Dr. Wagner stood next to me while dad signed the papers, Uncle Grant, Aunt Julia, and Ben waiting nearby, "Remember what we went over Oakley if you feel panicked or overwhelmed call me, talk to your uncle Grant, someone, try to relax before you do anything. We are all here to support you, you have my number right?" she asked kindly, prepping me before we left.

I nodded, pulling out her card with her cell number for just in case, "Yes, I remember."

"You're able to go home, but things still need to be worked on so you'll be seeing me twice a week still, does that sound okay?" she asked but I knew it was not an option to lessen the amount of sessions per week. It wasn't that the therapy wasn't working it was that I had too many things hiding and couldn't really be as honest as needed.

Still I nod once again, going to stand by Ben and Aunt Julia, smiling that I would be getting out and sleeping in my room at Uncle Grants place but first I had to do something.

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"Everyone is at the house... you don't have to pack your things now, I can run in and get what you'd like if you just tell me," Dad says when I get into Uncle Grants car with Julia, and Ben. By everyone I knew he meant the usual family, not to mention the other three or four families that joined us during Thanksgiving, the house was the largest and able to accommodate all my aunts, uncles, cousins, and a few families that we were very close with.

"Actually, Dad there are a few things I want to get myself, and I don't want to not having something I need for school and have to come back so if it's cool I'd like to just go in myself?" I said hoping my voice didn't shake, that it wasn't apparent to anyone that my heart was racing because of my plan. I had so much time to think about everything, I had held onto the darkness for as long I could.

My dad glanced at Uncle Grant, seeking approval, but Uncle Grant was focused on me, so I gave him the most believable tight smile I could, "You sure that's what you want Oakley?" he asked unsure still, "Yeah, I'm sure."

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In the backseat I tried to relax inwardly, feeling my anxiousness Ben took my hand in his, holding it tightly and I exhaled, the air whooshing out of me. When the car stopped, Aunt Julia turned around in her seat, "You're so brave for doing this Oakley," she smiled kindly, while I eyed the house, it looked the same not that I was expecting much to change but you could never know with Sarah. The drive way filled with cars, we had to park on the road, releasing Bens hand my legs shaking I walked up to the house, skipping the front door, heading for the back instead Uncle Pat and Aunt Julia carrying boxes ahead of me.

"No one is going to say anything to you Oak," Ben whispered when he got to my side, little did he know I was going to be doing the talking, but I nodded.

Entering the house, scents hit me suddenly, sweet, mouth watering, but no one was currently in the kitchen, the food all laid out, some on the stove still preparing, two turkeys cooking in the oven, dishes others brought stacked on the island, someone on the counter. Turning we went to my room, with my hearing I still hear the whispers downstairs: 'hurting that man,' 'acting just like her mother,' my steps faltered for a minute but I continued up to my room. Hesitating to open the door, not wanting to see it, the blood – my blood – on the ground, the door new and I remember dad having to knock it down to enter.

"Your dad cleaned up the blood Oak," Uncle Grant murmured next to me, encouraging me to enter. Nodding I turn to knob, pushing it open, the air thick, smelling heavily of household cleaners, bleach hitting me hard with my new senses. When I enter I eye the room, the place I once thought of as safe but realize it wasn't... not anymore.

"I want all the books on the first two shelves, my lap, computer and all my clothes," I say and we start packing, filling the boxes, bit by bit the room sheds layers, and as my heart calms it races at the same time for another reason all together. When I have the last box and on my way out, I stop at the hiding place that probably saved my life, opening it I take out the original recording and the one I made keeping on in my pocket, the other on top of the closed box.

Instead of heading out back I walk to the front stairs, Dad and everyone else in the living room, watching football, I can hear the younger children and teens in the basement, when I step into the room everyone, watches me, warily like I'm going to hurt them physical, when they're the ones that have been hurting me.

"Bee, what are you doing?" dad asks me, when I walk to the video and music system, surround sound, I wanted everyone in this house to hear it at once. With shaky hands I plug everything in, ignoring the complaints and groans when the TV goes black, the game going off, those in the basement complain when the movie, music or game they were playing goes off as well. I stand back, and find my fathers eyes, before I press play.

"You want to make a tape for daddy baby?"

"Ya momma."

"Okay ready, lets sing for daddy... A – b – c – d – e – f – g – h – I – j – k..." and we continued until we were at Z, "Now I know my ABC's next time won't you sing with meeeeeeee! Do you like that daddy?"

my fathers eyes fill with tears the confusion over at what he's hearing, at me giggling – happy.

"What else should we sing for daddy Bumblebee?"

"If wou're wappy an wou kwnow it cwap wour hwands!"

"If wou're wappy an wou kwnow it jwemp up and dwown!" My own vision blurs but I refuse to look away from my dad, even though now people are coming from the basement up, questioning what's going on. Those that are in the kitchen, coming, moving around me but I'm watching dad, my sadness and anger mixing as the playing goes on.

"Oh no... Oh god... how – how did they find me..." Mom mumbles the recorder still picking everything up and dad tilts his head to the side, the confusion is back, but I know what's coming.

"Come on Bumblebee you need to hide and be really quiet okay, no matter what you hear don't come out Bumblebee, you understand?" her voice frantic now, "Pat what is this?" Sarah asks next to dad but he doesn't answer her, he doesn't but tries too. His mouth opens once, twice, but nothing comes out, the recording plays out.

"I love you Bumbleebee okay, I love you to the moon and back you hear?" I can't tune out the beats, the racing hearts that are listening to what happened to my mother. But nothing is making me look away from dad, not even when I feel someone come stand right besides me.

"Yes momma," my voice young, placating her, my tears running down my face as I look at dad. My head feels full like it's going to explode, but I'm not going to look away, I want to see the pain there, I want to know if he loved my mother. I want to see him, look into his eyes when he finds out that this was what happened.

"Pat – Pat I love you okay, don't think I don't – I'm sorry I thought – I thought I got away from them Pat, I thought I could have my happily ever after with you, I loved you Pat, you were everything I ever wanted and I didn't think I would ever get a chance at love. I love you deep in my heart, and my secrets, I kept them to protect you and the kids, don't forget that, tell them about me, love them, cherish them for the both of us you hear?" Mom's talking faster now. Dad lifts his hands to his mouth, hands shaking and now someone is calling my name but I don't turn to look away.

"Ben – Ben I love you too, I wish I had more time with you, I wish you'd remember me, but ask your daddy about me, he'll tell you how happy I was to be your momma." I'm sobbing, fighting to keep my eyes on dad.

"Pat don't go looking for these men okay, you can't win with them, not yet... but when the kids are older, you need to find my daughters, I'm sorry for the secrets baby, I thought I'd get to tell you everything myself. I'm so sorry, so sorry," Mom sobbed, "Momma what's wrong?" when a younger me whispers, dad does too, "oh god," he murmurs behind his lips. I can hear everything, it's distracting and I'm fighting to concentrate on just dad.

"Pat – you can't trust just anyone – if you need to get help go to Gabriel Gavino or Jay Colt... take the kids to him, he will be able to keep them safe, my daughters will be there too, they'll protect you guys, no body else but them Pat, do you understand?" my eyes welled up listening, knowing what was coming next, the tears falling down my face, "Aunt Julia, take Ben outside! Take him outside Now!" I shout not wanting him to hear the end.

"Bumblebee don't come out okay, stay here, even after you don't hear nothing, stay here. You understand baby? Wait until daddy finds you here, you hear me? Say you were outside Bumblebee... came inside and you hid here... don't tell anyone I put you here... not even daddy, don't tell daddy right away, you understand?"

"She knew all this time," someone says.

"Ywes momma," I'm not confused anymore, I was then, but not now. Now I'm over it all.

"Now I need you to listen real careful okay? Real careful..."

"I wistening momma..."

"Don't give this player to anyone okay Bumblebee? People are gonna ask you if you saw anything or heard anything, but I want you to lie and say you didn't, say that I left, don't give them this player Bumblebee, just keep it to yourself until later – then show it to daddy okay? Do you understand?"

There's a loud noise, and I hear a sob, "I love you Bumblebee, I love you Benny and I love you Pat. I love my other girls too, Pat let them know that I loved them too."

"Be real quiet Bumblebee... I – I love you... don't come out... not until you hear daddies voice." Time now stands still in a way it has never done before and I don't know why listening to this now, right now is different than when I have listened before.

"Shhhhh..."

All you hear on the surround sound system is me breathing loudly, until voice come on again.

"Look what we have here... Elder Bellamy – or should I call you Anya?"

"Albert..."

"Where are the Violins Elder Bellamy?"

"What Violi-" the tape clicks right after the gunshot, and for the first time since I've ever listened to this recording, the sound of the gun doesn't make me flinch, I force my eyes to open, dad stumbles back, there is shouting around us, crying, but he can't look away from me anymore than I can look away from dad at that minute.

The tape comes to an end and my shoulders hunch over, someone is touching my shoulder so I pull away from dad, slowly turning my head as others around me are crying, I face with Uncle Grant who has his own tears in his eyes, "Ohhh Oakley," he cries sadly, my legs feel hollow and I can hear my own heart racing.

I'm sad, but the anger that courses through me, makes his words make me flinch, I take a step back, facing daddy. Whipping at my tears furiously, I look at the others in the room, all the shocked faces, I seek our Sarah's mom, watching her dead in her eyes, "I can only hope that I'm as brave as my mother was when she died," I tell her my voice as strong as I can manage, "You're nothing but a pathetic old woman, putting herself in places she shouldn't. Talking about my mother when it's your daughter you should be worrying about. She had to talk bad about a dead woman, my mother to make herself feel better." I felt a hand on my shoulder and I knew it was uncle Grant but I was going to have my say, years everyone here talked about me, about my mom.

I clear my throat, "As for the rest of you, when you see me again, wipe that look of sympathy off of your faces. My mother didn't run off and leave me, she died. She wanted to be a parent, my momma, every bit as you all wanted to be parents. All of you that have stood in this very house calling her names," I eye Sarah, "I'm not interested in condolences either."

"All of you that made me feel shame, walking around like I had a reason to feel ashamed when I didn't, you don't matter to me. I'll leave this town eventually, go away to school, grow and change and you'll all be the same small minded people, in a small town with nothing better to do that gossip about a dead woman."

Grabbing the box I placed down, my face wet, I take two steps towards daddy and Sarah, "You Sarah, are the worst of all, you aren't a good woman," I swallowed and looked at daddy who was stunned speechless, "No where did mom say to bring in some other girl into our life and love her like you never loved me," I tell him, the hurt in my tone there, clear, even to my own ears. Looking away I walked to the car, putting in my last box and sliding into the backseat with Ben.

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Pat Lawson POV – November 27th 2014

I watched as my daughter walked out with her head held high, I stumbled back against the wall, 'No where did mom say to bring in some other girl into our life and love her like you never loved me,' her words cutting me where I stood.

Grief now worse than when I came home to find Norine gone, Oakley all alone, all these years... I close my eyes and the gun shot sound plays again.

And again. Again. Again. Again. One more until I fall to the ground, it feels real. I feel the ground shake. The others all stand shocked, rushing outside, the talking around me and panic makes me stumble to my shaky feet, the screaming, shrieks of pain as I look to where they are looking, I see Grants black Nissan Armada engulfed in flames, my knees buckle – nearly falling – before I run towards it, towards the car that holds Oakley, Ben, Grant and Julia.

"Someone stop him!" I hear from somewhere but I pay no mind running, screaming, down the street, "Oakleyyyyy! BBennnnn!" I shout and feel arms grab me pulling me back, "Ben and Oakley are in there," I roar struggling against the arms holding me from helping them. "They couldn't have-" Marvin – my brother – his voice cut off by the explosion that blows us back onto the ground pieces of the car fling away, not even the frame of the car in one piece.

Elder Caelum POV

(Five days after the shooting – NOVEMBER 28TH 2014)

Everyone in their pack was boarding that plane, we were finally going to get our control back, it would've been better if that little white wolf had led us to everything we – I – needed, but that was just the price we were willing to pay before she uncovered everything. I sat back watching the twenty screens in front of me, the one from the Gavino hanger that housed their private planes showing me Tallon approaching Gabriel.

The recorder picking up the questions, "Gabriel surely you can understand your father wanting to board this plane – he is family after all, will you refuse him now?" Tallon asked; George and Mina standing next to him.

"Now they want to be on our level? Fuck them! Nona died and it took ya'll nearly two days to come see her, now you wanna be on us? Don't hold your fucking breath-"

Mina and George needed to be on that plane, George was becoming too much of a wild card. "Don't speak to your mother like that Gabriel-"

"You don't talk to me George, lying pack of shit," Gabriel spat in disgust; I leaned to the screen focusing on this heated discussion, he had been away out from underneath us, immune to our controlling methods. Asking questions he never had before, all because of that white wolf. The Gavino family was going to make us rise in power not just in the shifter community but humans as well, we didn't order the hits but that didn't mean we weren't going to use this in our favor. Pass up this golden opportunity.

Mina looking at her son in confusion, "Gabriel... I don't like the man you've become," she weeps cradling her stomach.

"You let him make me this way," he said looking at his mother impassively, "all the goddamn lies mom... I'm not you, I'm not going to sit so close and pretend his shit don't stink."

"Gabriel-"

He holds his hands up to silence her, "Mom who is Katie's father?"

"What do you mean Gabriel? You – your father is her's..." that slip. Lie.

Gabriel shook his head, scoffing, "Fine... you've said she is dad's, but you know the truth, who. Do. You. Know. Is Katie's father?"

Mina side glanced at George; "We wanted to protect you Gabriel... people would be coming after her if they knew she was your child..." Mina sobbed, Tallon quirked an eyebrow.

Gabriel laughed mechanically, before just stopping abruptly, "Mom, Katie isn't my daughter... I was away on training when she would have been conceived and I wasn't fucking anyone then. Katie isn't mine."

Mina's eyes widened as she avoided eye contact with Gabriel, "Of course she's yours... you have that connection with her, you were – your wolf knew Gabriel... could feel that bond."

"Bond? Bond?" he asked incredulously, "this coming from – rich. George isn't even your mate, now you want to talk about a different bond?"

"Let me tell you about your bond with George, he never marked you so I don't know whose mark that is on your neck but it ain't Georges'. I wasn't sharing a fatherly bond with Katie; I was looking after her because George treated her like shit. At this rate – with his views – I'm surprised he doesn't have more women banging at the gate to see him about some more damn kids."

Arms crossed he wasn't finished, "Bond between parent and a child? Fuck that. Samuel is the one that blew up your office," when Mina gasps, I growl, "don't fret Elder Caelum, he will be gone soon," Elder Ethel calmed me.

"You have no proof of that!" George shouted in outrage, while Mina shook her head from side to side in disbelief. Not too much though, they were under my control.

Another mechanical laugh comes from Gabriel's mouth, "Right - Chelsea handed you information on Rian and she's still alive, I wouldn't bother searching or giving you proof George, that shit don't matter to you. It didn't when you killed Rian's grandmother and child from wrong info, it don't matter now-"

"Might I interrupt," Tallon starts, "you wouldn't have anything to do with the killing of Rian, Gavan and Brady Madden now would you Gabriel?" Gabriel did it. All of them. Gone. No proof but we know.

"Was it slow and torturous?" Gabriel asked dryly, bored, disrespectful, goading Tallon but we were smarter.

"We don't know Gabriel... only the person that killed them would know what came before their death," Gabriel shrugged, "good fucking riddance."

"Bottom line, they aren't coming with us – they'll take their own fucking plane," Gabriel said walking away as a large black bus pulls up and pulls his mate out, still on machines and loads her onto his personal plane. Her hands resting on her stomach, I zero in on her finger and am unable to see the ring – the Ether ring.

"She isn't wearing the ring-"

"We will retrieve it after..." Elder Thierry answers absentmindedly, now as we all watch their end, eyes glued to the screen, learning just how close Gabriel and his little mate had gotten to undermining all our plans.

We watch, smiles on our faces, as Gabriel's plane heads down the strip, slowly lifting into the air while George's pack of sheep followed him to his own plane. Not wanting to get caught Tallon doesn't stand to watch the well oiled plan we had set come to life, while we watched here carefully.

It's beautiful; we are joyful as we watch the screens. Destruction happening all at once.

In California, the plane that just took off explodes loudly in the sky.

In Turin, Italy, the home owned by Sabastian Gavino is no more.

In Naples, Italy, that home is destroyed.

In Florence, Italy, that home demolished.

And so it continues, in Sicily, Lombardy, Verona, Messina each and every home they have collapses to dust.

On different screens, all properties owned by Gabriel, Sabastian, Chelsea or anyone in that pack is decimated, whether in England or China, all at once. Gabriel thought he was so brilliant, he showed his hand too soon. Much too soon.

He may have gotten on that plane for show, but we were no fools, he wouldn't keep his mate on such a long plane ride. Stupid boy, no matter what home he went to, if he was using his gift, none would be alive.

I chuckle at the sheep cowering, some running to see the pieces of the plane fall to the ground, shrieking – a loud wail coming from Mina. I mute the sound turning to face the other Elders, I smirk in satisfaction.

"You all know what needs to happen now, we have things to do, roles to play, now more than ever," I say, standing the others following my lead, each leaving while behind me devastation is muted and Chelsea Hobbs and Gabriel Gavino are no more.

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I'm well aware that this is the epilogue from Unconditional... there is a reason it's here... its about the dates.

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