The terrifying moment was almost over.
No one was hurt. Mr. Cocoa was found lying in the chocolate box, while the house was scared of the gun shot. The old man warned Bella of her actions, as he was the one to decide who can get of piece of his estate. Marco and the grand dad took care of her for the night, ensuring she didn't have any lethal weapon with her, the list did include flower vases as well, though she couldn't do much in front of the head of the house. Consulting a good mental care facility was required and this time they knew she needed their support and love.
Shawn had drove Amelia home. The condition of her hair wasn't any good, but at least she survived Bella's wrath and envy. Thankful for that they were. So finally it was over.
As Amelia sat on the couch still fixing her hair and thinking about what all she was told, she looked into thin air, eyes not focused on anything particularly. Getting her a glass of scotch, neat that is, Shawn sat on the same couch facing her, offering her one. Without giving it much thought, she took the glass, and emptied it contents in a minute, which did make her scrunch her face.
"Awo," she exclaimed, "That was strong."
"You needed it," Shawn said placing her glass back on the center table, and sitting back sipping from his glass patiently. Amelia looked at him, before snatching the glass from his hand, and drinking all of it in one go again.
"Lia," Shawn said looking at her condition, with a scrunching face again.
"That was stronger," she said.
"Dude it was neat, it has to be strong," Shawn said looking at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry," said Amelia fiddling with the hem of her dress.
Looking at her Shawn knew she was serious. He closed the distance between them and placed his hands on both sides of her jaw, cupping her cheeks.
"You don't have to be," he said.
"I should have trusted you," she said avoiding his eyes, while a tear left her eye. "She told me about what she did to you, and your brother" she said looking at him now, "And all this time I thought you were the bad guy,"
"You did?" he asked widening his eyes.
"I'm sorry," she repeated.
Taking her in a hug, Shawn kissed the top of her head, before placing her in his chest. Amelia was leaning on his chest with her arms folded under her neck, as she tried to hide the regret and the tears. Shawn knew how serious this moment was, but the warmth he felt when she was near him was eternal.
After a few minutes when her breathing was normal, Shawn placed her head on the cushion, lying her down slowly on the couch, as he rose. Covering her with a woolen soft knitted blanket, he checked the temperature of the room, before sitting on the opposite arm chair after removing his coat, and placing his head back, to finally get some sleep.
As the alarm went off, Shawn stood on his feet, from the sleeping posture, but as soon as he did that, he realized he had stiff back and neck.
"Shoot," he cried on pain rubbing the back of his neck.
"And he tried to be Ryan Gosling," Amelia commented from the kitchen.
"Ha-ha, hilarious Lia" he fake laughed.
"That, I know for sure, but you need this" she said giving his a hot bottle for his neck.
"This is how a Bella free life looks like," he said relaxing on the couch.
"She was a friend, Shawn" Amelia reminded.
"Who made sure we were miserable?" he reminded.
"She told me who she manipulated everyone,"
"She was insane, oh, past tense, I mean is insane," Shawn joked.
"Wanna grab some breakfast?" She asked.
"I would love that," he said smiling at her.
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(After a month)
The five of them, Jack, Amelia, Shawn and Marco sat on the round wooden deck on the back of the villa, as they waited for Tyler, who had landed last night from Africa.
"Where is she now?" Jack asked.
"Back in Atlanta, with mum and dad," said Marco.
"How is she doing now?" Amelia asked.
"She is being taken care off, she doesn't talk to me," he said looking at his fingers.
"She'll come around, you are twins" Shawn consoled to which Marco hummed.
"Guys," they heard the very familiar voice from behind them. That was Tyler.
"Ty," Amelia said rushing towards him. The five of them stood, as they welcome Tyler. After hugging Amelia, he kissed Jack and then hugged the other two guys.
Sitting around the table, they ate the brunch as they talked about how life had changed since 0the last time all of them met at the vacation.
"That was a crazy trip," Jack said.
"Hm, not for them" Tyler said pointing at Shawn and Amelia.
Amelia eyed him before bursting in laughter on Shawn's shoulder.
"Plan for the day?" Jack asked.
"They are going to meet his parents" Marco said.
"Movie, for us then?" Jack asked.
"I'm in," Tyler and Marco said in unison before looking at each other in disgust, making the other three laugh.
And with that they relished every moment on that very wooden deck, talking chatting, gossiping, and eating, of course.
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As the two stepped out of the car, Amelia took a deep breath in trying to ease the adrenaline rush caused on the thought of meeting is parents.
"They will love you," Shawn said taking her hand in his, and leading the way. Looking back at her while walking he looked at the smile that was hiding all the anxiety and anticipation.
As soon as they entered the foyer, Adam Whitman and Diana Whitman welcomed them with warm hugs. The two had a hint of admiration for the sweet innocent girl that stood in front of them. They were proud of their son and couldn't get more happier in his happiness.
Next in line was Ethan Whitman, Shawn's brother who kissed the hand of the lady with utmost respect. They discussed things over lunch, and by dessert, Amelia was already everyone's favorite. After lunch, the couple left for a meeting, leaving the brothers and Amelia home. While Shawn prepared tea for them, Ethan showed around the house to Amelia. The last stop was Shawn's room. Opening a particular cabinet, while Amelia looked around the room, Ethan took out Shawn's photographs.
"Here check this out" he said handling her the glossy colored sheets which had captured Shawn's attention on various occasions.
"Wow, these are amazing" she said in awe.
Ethan smiled in response.
As she unfolded the images, she couldn't believe he still had her photographs.
"He still has these?" Shae asked.
"Had these? He would literally look at these," Ethan said, and before the two of them realized, a flying cushion can his way, hitting him on his head.
"You are so dead," Shawn said from the entrance of the door.
"Grow up," Ethan said raising his eyebrow, before tossing the same cushion in his direction.
While the two brothers fought the cushion battle, Amelia looked at the images. Ethan stood in front of Amelia, and when Shawn threw another one in his direction, he ducked it in time to dodge it, not realizing who it would hit. Amelia looked at the pillow which had fallen to the floor after hitting her. Picking it up slowly from the ground while the guys kept their eyes on her every move, she threw it in Shawn's direction, before picking another one from the bed an tossing it in Ethan's direction. While the three played the butler, watched them standing at the door, laughing his heart out.
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(A week later)
Meeting Shawn's family was a cat walk, for the both of them. But for the very first time in his life, Shawn was nervous of screwing things up in front of her parents. As Amelia drove, she sat on the passenger's seat shivering and shaking.
"Shawn, calm down" she said looking at his anticipation.
"What? I'm relaxed" he said.
"I can see that," she said. When nothing worked out, she halt the car on the side of the road and shifted in her seat to look at Shawn.
"You know, Shawn, it is because of you that my parents and back together," she broke the ice.
He looked at her clueless.
"I never understood his ways, you made me see the other side of the coin, you made me see things from his perspective and when I came back, I started writing him letters."
"And?" He asked.
"He came back to us, he realized he shouldn't have left and now things are back to the time when we were a family, and I owe this to you" she said looking him in his eyes.
He smiled at her listening to that, and while he thought about it, his nervousness went away. And now when he sat calm on the passenger's seat, Amelia stepped her foot of the accelerator.
Sitting on the dining table, he would look at Amelia while he ate to feel a little relaxed.
"So, what do you do son?" Mr. Claire asked.
"I handle my businesses," he said gulping the food in his mouth.
Looking at his nervous state, Mrs. Claire couldn't help but smile.
"Family businesses?" he asked.
"No sir,"
"John," he corrected making Shawn and Amelia smile.
"Yes John, I created my own company," he said, then taking a deep breath he gave John his puppy eyes, "I am", paused, "A very big fan of your books, sir."
This made the three Claire's sitting in the room burst into laughter.
Smiling at him, the old man thanked him. Mrs. Claire adored the boy who had made her daughter fall in love, and she couldn't be more thankful to him for that.