"Yes." Ellie walked over to Jack who stood from his chair, she flung her arms loosely around Jack's shoulders. Ellie gently took Jack's hand and led him to her room.
Ellie woke up the next morning as the bright sun beamed on to the long bed. Ellie's eyes searched the bright room for Jack, she saw him push open the tall door holding a tray.
"Morning Ellie." Jack smiled walking over to her he sat on the bed next to her and lightly kissed her soft lips. He picked up the small red box from the beside cabinet and took out the ring. He gently placed it on her long, slender finger.
Ellie and Jack walked hand in hand in the kitchen half an hour later. All of the Mall Rats except Bray, Trudy and Pride were seated around the tables that were clustered in the centre of the room.
"We've decided to get married!" Jack announced , everyone's attention quickly turned to the two of them who stood nervously in the door way
"That's wonderful news!" Tai-San said as they were congratulated by each of the Mall Rats.
"When's the wedding?" Ebony asked smiling at them.
"In 3 months time." Jack answered they'd decided 3 months because it was Ellie's mothers birthday and she thought it would make it more special to remember her and celebrate.
Part 35:
Ellie stood in front of the long vanity mirror that she'd borrowed from Trudy's room. She stared at the knee length white dress that clung tightly to her, she and some of the others girls hand found it in a village wedding shop near to Salene and Ryan's cottage. The dress was completed by a shawl that she placed on her shoulders. She couldn't believe how fast the three months had gone.
"Hi Ellie." Cloe smiled walking in to the room wearing a pale red bridesmaid dress which made her look stunning.
"Are you ready, Ellie?" Tai-San asked as she walked in to the room.
"Yeah."
"Wow, Ellie you look beautiful." Tai-San complimented her as she studied the white dress.
"I'll go and tell the others!" Tai-San said as she exited the room.
Tai-San walked down the stairs and entered the huge living room where Jack stood eagerly awaiting his bride. Dal stood next to him, he'd agreed to be Jack's best man. They stood at the front of the room behind them was a door that led outside where a small patio was built that over looked the long open fields.
"Jack she's ready!"
"Okay thanks Tai-San." All of the Mall Rats stood both sides of the room leaving a walk way down the middle for Ellie. Ryan and Salene had come for the wedding but Jenny wasn't feeling well so she'd stayed at the cottage. Bray stood next to Trudy near the front row, he was till worried and upset about Amber but decided to put on a brave face for Ellie and Jack.
Ellie began to walk down the long walk way her heart was pounding, she saw Jack standing at the front of the room in a smart suit a small smile graced her face. She couldn't believe that in a few minutes she would be married. Ellie finally reached Jack at the front of the room. Tai-San began.
"Do you Ellie take Jack to have and to hold from this day forth until death do you part?" Tai-San asked as she turned to look at Ellie.
"Yes!" Ellie smiled facing Jack
"And Jack do you take Ellie to love and cherish until death do you part?"
"Yes." Jack turned to look at Ellie with a bright smile spread across his face.
"You may now kiss your bride." Jack leaned forward his lips meeting Ellie's as they embraced in a passionate kiss.
Part 36:
aJust as Ellie and Jack embraced in a passionate kiss, the handle on the door leading outside turned and the door flew open. The Mall Rats quickly turned there attention to Patsy who was helping Amber, Amber face was bright red she was now screaming. Bray's eyes roamed to Amber's swollen stomach Trudy quickly rushed over to help Amber. All of the Mall Rats stared at them in shock and confusion.
"How long have you been having contractions Amber?"
"About an hour and a half!" Amber managed to say in between screams.
"We don't have much time, Patsy help me get Amber to the sofa." Trudy quickly helped Patsy support Amber to the mahogany three seta sofa.
"What's going on?" Bray asked looking at the three of them, his eyes still on Amber's stomach as he tried to make sense of what was happening.
"Amber is having your baby, Don't just stand there help me now! Everyone you no what to do get to work! Ellie can you take Brady?" Trudy ordered, Cloe rushed into the room with a wet flannel, which Trudy began to wipe Amber's forehead with.
The Mall Rats quickly organised themselves and left the room. Dal and Jack brought in bowls of water, Patsy brought clean rags and Ebony brought a clean white towel to rap the baby in which shocked everyone that she was being nice to Amber especially no. Bray was still confused, he walked over to Amber and Trudy. Bray quickly moved the coffee table that sat in the middle of the room, he grabbed a soft bed spread and a pile of pillows, he lay them on the floor. Trudy and Bray helped Amber to the blanket on the floor, Bray positioned the pillows behind Amber's back. Bray gently took Amber's hand as she began to scream louder.
"Come on Amber push!" Trudy encouraged her.
"I AM!" Amber screamed, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. "YOU'RE A PIG, I HATE YOU BRAY, IT'S ALL YOU'RE FAULT."
Amber's screams echoed in every room of the house. Kc laughed he heard Bray called some horrible names before but a pig wasn't one of them. Cloe walked up the long stairs to her room. Kc followed her as she walked in her room he grabbed her arm and lightly kissed her soft lips.
"You look amazing!" Kc said admiring the red dress that she was still wearing.
"Amber I can see the head!" Bray said softly, trying to encourage her.
"One more push common, Amber you can do it." Trudy yelled looking her exhaugsted friend. She remembered how hard it was for her having Brady there was no doctors just kids, she new exactly what Amber was going through. Amber pushed as hard as she could, to her relief Trudy lifted up a small screaming baby.
Part 37:
"Well done Amber you have a baby girl." Trudy smiled wrapping up the baby it one of the small blankets Ebony had brought. She gently handed the baby to Bray. Bray stood silent for a moment cradling his daughter in his arms. Amber screamed again, her face more flushed than before. Bray was by her side in an instant.
"What's wrong Amber?" Bray asked placing a fresh cloth on her head to cool her down. He gently placed the baby on the sofa next to Amber and took her hand.
"Nothings wrong Bray." Amber screamed again. "Everything's right." Trudy explained with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Bray asked staring blankly at Trudy.
"I mean Bray you're going to be a dad again sooner than you thought Amber having twins!" Trudy informed him.
"Common push Amber."
"I CAN'T TRUDY!"
"Yes you can you're doing so well, PUSH."
"One more push Amber!" Amber pushed as hard as she could as she heard a babies soft cries she fell back on to the pillows.
"Well done Amber!" Bray gently kissed Amber's forehead and walked over to where Trudy stood with his second child.
"What is it Trudy?" Amber asked lifting her head to look at Trudy. Who smiled "it's a girl." Trudy wrapped the baby up and handed it to Bray.
"I'll leave you alone."
"Thanks Trudy!" Trudy quickly left the room knowing that Amber and Bray had a lot to discuss. Bray carefully handed the twins to Amber.
"Are you okay?" Bray his voice soft, caring as he sat beside her.
"Yeah I'm fine!" Amber replied not looking up at him, she couldn't what if he hated her for leaving, what if he didn't want her or the twins. No he had to want the twins. The way he looked at them when they were born was liked he'd never seen anything more perfect in his life.
"Amber?"
"What?"
"Where did you go? why and why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?" Bray asked, Amber stared up in to his deep brown eyes, she new she couldn't lie to him.
All of the Mall Rats gathered outside the living room awaiting news of the baby.
"How is it? What is it?" Lex asked he was holding Alex who had grown so much the past few months, his brown eyes were just like his dads.
"First of all!" Trudy began "There's not one there's two twins, there fine so is Amber and there both girls."
"Can we see them?" Cloe asked strolling down the stairs Kc followed shortly after with a guilty expression on his face.
"Not yet but you can see them later." Trudy explained as Ellie handed Brady to her.
"Well?" Bray asked smoothing a strand of golden hair from Amber's soft face.
"I didn't tell you because I new you'd stop me, I left on my own but Patsy followed we stayed at an old cottage not far from Salene and Ryan's."
"That still doesn't explain why you left."
"I left because of the baby. I didn't want anything to happen to them I couldn't bear it. Danni might still be alive I couldn't take the risk Bray, and I didn't know if you'd want a baby or not, so I left to try and figure things out."
"Danni's dead Amber! She'll never hurt you again I promise, and I do want these babies Amber there part of you how could I not." Bray gently leaned over and pressed his lips to hers. He pulled out her golden wedding band from his pocket and softly placed it on her finger.
"Forever!" Bray whispered and lightly kissed Amber again.
Part 38:
A small smile played on Trudy's lips as she walked into the room and saw Bray with his arms tightly wrapped around Amber.
"Sorry to interrupt I'll come back later." Trudy said in a low tone she quickly turned around ready to leave.
"No! It's okay Trudy what do you want?" Amber asked watching her friend turn back to face her, Amber gently pulled away from Bray breaking their hug.
"The others want to see you and the babies. Are you ready to see them?" Trudy explained as Bray lifted one of the tiny babies and cradled it safely in his arms.
"Yeah." Amber smiled at Bray, as she continued. "We're going upstairs to our room they can see them then."
"Okay I'll tell them."
"Thanks Trudy." Amber called as she watched Trudy quickly leave the room.
The Mall Rats gathered outside the living room awaiting Amber, Bray and the two new arrivals to the tribe. Amber placed her arms around Bray's shoulder to steady herself, she wasn't quite recovered from the birth yet but wanted to get to her room as fast as she could so she could rest. Trudy walked behind them cradling the twins, as they walked out of the room they were greeted by exited Mall Rats. Lex was the first to congratulate Amber and Bray which surprised all of the Mall Rats. Salene gently lifted one of the twins from Trudy and followed them up the stairs.
"We'll be down stairs if you need us." Trudy offered once she and Salene had placed the twins in the two small cots that Lex and Ryan had brought in from the nursery. Bray escorted Amber to the bed, he helped her lie on the soft covers. Bray gently drew the bed spread over her. Then sat on the edge of the bed he stared down at her.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly brushing a stand of golden hair from her tired face.
"I've never been better!" She smiled up at her then lightly kissed him before falling into a long tracing sleep.
Dal looked towards the closed door as he heard loud knocking from the other side.
"Come in! Oh hi Leah." Dal said he was a little surprised to see her.
"Hi, I need to talk to you." She nervously placed with her bracelet avoiding looking at him.
"Do you want to sit down?" Dal asked gesturing the empty space next to him on the long bed.
"Thanks." Leah slowly sat next to him, still her eyes not meeting his gaze.
"I'll get right to the point I..." She paused for a moment, before continuing "I like you Dal and I want us to be more than just friends and I wanted to see how you felt!" Dal sat in silence. She stared at him trying to read his expression but it was no use it didn't change.
Ebony lay silently in Pride's arms her head rested lightly against his bare chest. She lifted her head slightly to see his face.
"Pride did anything happen between you and Amber?" Ebony asked suddenly breaking the soft silence that had occurred between them.
"No why?" Pride asked staring down at her unexpected question.
"I want to know something."
"What?"
"Are you still in love with Amber?" She asked, she had to asked she couldn't live a lie not with Pride she felt to strongly about him.
"No of course not I love you Ebony. I've loved you since the first day I met you. Now it's my turn to ask you something. Do you still love Bray?" He asked his expression serious.
" NO! I love you and I'm going to prove it to you!" Ebony grinned as she began to kiss his strong chest.
Leah awaited Dal's reply she couldn't stand the silence. She felt slightly embarrassed so quickly stood up to leave. Dal remained silent, he grabbed her hand as she began to walk away, pulling her on to the bed he softly lowered his head to hers, pressing his lips to hers embracing in a passionate, heated kiss.
Patsy sat on the floor in her room stroking the cat. She felt lonely Cloe was no where to be found, Leah was occupied with Dal, Jack and Ellie hadn't been seen since their wedding earlier. She quickly stood up, straightened her skirt and walked to the kitchen to join the few Mall Rats that were their.
Part 39:
Amber woke at nearly 3 in the morning at the sound of tiny cries. She looked at Bray who was fast a sleep and quickly climbed from beneath the worm covers, she walked over to the first of the two cots and lifted up the oldest of the two twins. Like magic she immediately stopped crying. She looked at her other tiny daughter who was fast asleep, just like her dad, she smiled to herself and quickly exited the room. She strolled down the long stairs and silently walked into the living room. She sat on the small arm chair and gently rocked the baby, both mother and daughter fell into a soft sleep.
Almost an hour later Bray slowly awoke he placed his arm on Amber's side of the bed and quickly opened his eyes realising that the bed was cold. He quickly sat up he was scared what if she'd left, what if she'd taken the twins and he'd lost all of them. He quickly rushed from beneath the covers, pulling on his trousers, he silently ran down stairs. He walked into the living room to see if any of the Mall Rats were awake. He saw the soft out line of a body sitting in the chair. He walked closer realising it was Amber. He smiled with relief. He walked slowly to her taking the child from her arms taking her upstairs and placing her in the small cot. He returned to the living room, he carefully lifted Amber in his arms realising he never wanted to be away from her not even for a moment, he held her closer against her and carried her up the stairs lightly kicking open his bedroom door. He gently lay her between the soft covers. Climbing in next to her he wrapped his arms tightly around her waste drawing her against him.
Bray woke early he stared at Amber who was fast asleep, he lightly kissed her closed eyes and climbed out of bed. He walked over to the cots and lifted out the small children placing them in two carry baskets. As he entered the kitchen he was greeted by Trudy who was feeding Brady.
"How's Amber?" She asked as Bray joined her.
"She's fine a little tired she was up with the twins last night so I thought I'd let her lie in."
The rest of the Mall Rats joined them in the kitchen nearly half an hour later.
"Where's Salene Ryan and Gemma?" Ellie asked as she joined Jack, Bray, Trudy and Ebony.
"They went home last night, just after your wedding." Everyone's attention turned to the entrance to the kitchen where Dal and Lea hand in hand.
"We've got an announcement to make!" Dal said smiling. "Me and Lea are an official couple." Dal smiled down at Leah who had never been happier.
"That's great!" Trudy smiled at the two of them, it was great that Dal had some one she'd seen how UN happy he'd been lately.
"Yeah congratulations." Ellie said watching the two stroll in to the room and take their seats.
Bray returned to his room just after breakfast, he arrived just as Amber had finished dressing. He smiled at her then lay the twins in their cots. He strolled over to Amber wrapping his arms tightly around her waste drawing her closer to him. He lowered his face to her pressing his lips against hers, his tongue lightly stroking hers.
"What was that for?" Amber asked as she lightly moved her head to look at his.
"It's a thank you."
"Thank you for what?" Amber asked curiously, staring into his dark ocean blue eyes.
"For being my wife and for giving me two beautiful daughters." Amberlightly reached up kissing him back.
Part 40:
Two days had passed before Salene, Ryan and Gemma returned to the house only this time Jenny was with them. It was early hours of the morning when they arrived all of the Mall Rats were asleep including Lex who was supposedly on guard duty.
"EVERYONE GET UP QUICK!" Salene yelled as loud as she could. The dazed Mall Rats rushed down the stairs. Not knowing what was going on.
"What's wrong Salene?" Amber asked she was the first to reach the bottom of the stairs.
"It's Jenny!" Salene said trying to catch her breath.
"What's wrong with her?" Leah asked urgently as she ran to the bottom of the stairs, concerned for her eldest sister.
"She's got a fever of some kind, she went to sleep last night and we can't wake her!" Salene replied, gesturing to the front room where Jenny now lay on the sofa. Amber, Bray, Dal and Leah rushed into the room to assess her condition. Dal quickly began examining her while the others watched eagerly. to see Jenny Dal examined her.
"How is she Dal?" Amber asked her voice filled with concern.
"She's got pneumonia! I'm sorry Leah." Dal said his voice soft as he placed a hand on her shoulder "She's had it for a few days and there's nothing I can do for her. She's dying!" Leah ran from the room tears trailing down her cheeks. Dal quickly followed.
Amber and Bray slowly walked into the kitchen the Mall Rats eagerly awaiting news on Jenny's condition.
"How is she?" Salene asked holding Gemma who now had short brown hair. Like her fathers.
"I'm sorry everyone she's not going to make it. So if you want to see her this is your last chance." Amber explained holding back her tears.
Dal walked in to Leah's room, she was sat on the bed her head buried in her hands, she looked up her cheeks, stained with tear marks. He sat next to her. She turned to face him throwing her arms around his shoulders and hugging him.
"Amber wants to know if you want to see her before..." His voice trailed off unsure of how to phrase his words. "You know!" Leah nodded tears still rolling down her flushed cheeks.
One by one the Mall Rats entered the living room to say there good ~ byes to Jenny. She was still unconscious and her pulse started to get slower and slower. Amber and Bray were two of the last Mall Rats to say their good byes to her. Leaving Leah and Dal on their own with her. Leah sat on the edge of the sofa and took Jenny's cold hand in hers.
"Good bye Jen, I love you and I know you'll be Mum, Dad, Debby and Josh." Leah said softly staring at her sisters paler cheeks.
"Who's Josh?" Dal asked softly.
"Josh is was, will be again soon Jenny's boyfriend. He was killed in a car crash just before all the adults died. Jenny never really got over loosing him." Leah said her voice slightly muffled from the tears. She read Jenny a saying out of a book it was one their mum used to tell them when they were younger.
"We will be together again soon, our love for each other will never die." Leah watched as Jenny took a final breath, then she was gone. Leah rushed from the room and up the stairs Dal didn't immediately follow he thought she might need some time to herself.
The next day the Mall Rats gathered in the field nearest the house. They stood around a new grave. Which now had a peace of wood at the top of the grave in the shape of a cross, caved on the cross was "Here lies Jenny Lawson rest in peace we'll be together again soon."
"Good bye Jenny we will all miss you and we know that you'll be watching over us. Never forget us we'll never forget you." Leah managed before tears began to flow down her cheeks.
