It's always difficult to get all of the Mason family in one room for breakfast. Reyna isn't a morning person, Abi and Ameri wake up just about when the sunrises, Keegan doesn't like breakfast, Averi has been prone to curling up in bed with Reyna and Cody to avoid having to be up too early, and Liam and Caroline are normally way too stressed to actually deal with all of them. But with their week and a half in Orlando almost done, they've made a resolution to all gather for breakfast at least once during their vacation. So somehow, Reyna drags herself out of bed and pulls on some clothes, being her favorite plaid pajama pants and one of Cody's old hoodies, sliding on flip flops and pulling her hair into a bun. Once she's ready, she heads out the door. Cody beat her out of the room, helping her dad and Caroline wrangle all four of their other children, so she's maybe a few minutes late but hasn't completely missed it yet.

"I'm here!" she exclaims as she slides into the spot next to Cody, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before turning to her family. "I made it out of bed, someone give me an award and mark it on the calendar."

"Or just do it more often and we won't have to," Keegan sasses, making her chuckle.

"You shut your mouth, Keegan. I'll smack ya."

"No, you will not," Liam says, giving his daughter a look.

She returns the look as she leans over to her little brother and gently snacks him. It's takes everything in Cody not to laugh, but unfortunately, the girls don't have the same level of restraint, so their giggles fill the silence. Reyna grins as she falls back into place, lightly leaning against her boyfriend.

"I ordered you a bacon, onion, and cheese omelette with white toast and the circle fries you like," he tells her, glancing down at her. "And a black coffee."

"You're a blessing," she says, squeezing his thigh. "So, what's the plan for today?"

"After breakfast, you go shower and look presentable," Liam says, chuckling. "I know your friends love you, but they don't need to see you like this."

"So we don't take pictures today?" she offers, shrugging. "Maybe I don't feel like effort today."

"Shit," her dad mumbles, making her furrow her eyebrows. Then a few things click into place in her brain as he says, "No!"

"They're coming to surprise us," she says, looking to Cody.

He looks just as surprised as her, as does Caroline. The three girls look confused, as does Keegan. Abi is the first that it seems to click for and her eyes widen, a shrill squeal breaking the silence.

"We see Heck today?" she asks, bouncing up and down.

"And Tywer?" Ameri asks, a smile spreading across her face at the thought of the older boy with tattoos that spoils her.

"Ian!" Averi squeals, clapping her hands.

"JR," Caroline sighs, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "What a man."

"Shelley and Mel, too?" Keegan asks, looking to his step-father.

"All of them are coming," Liam confirms, nodding to his family and rubbing his temple. "It was supposed to be a surprise. But I obviously failed at that. Even Crystal and Arden and Daniel will be here. They all wanted to share the love with you guys and the girls and us."

Reyna laughs, "Oh, Dad. I love you. Don't ever change."

As conversation flows and they all eat breakfast together, Reyna takes a moment to lean back and really look at her family. Her dad, who has stayed strong through most of the whole ordeal. Caroline, who has kept her head on in front of the kids and always been supportive of everything they've done. Keegan, who didn't want to accept the truth or spend time with the girls at first. Abi, who cares most about her sick sister being happy. Ameri, who missed her beach and her dog, but who loves her sister more than anything else. And Cody, the guy she's in love with and who hasn't left her side once. The fact that, even now, smiles can cover all of their faces hits her heart and she coughs, placing a hand on her chest and feeling the burn of tears in her eyes. Under the table, Cody slides his hand in to hers. She looks up at him, love filling her eyes as she does so. Without a second of hesitation, he leans down and kisses her. She grins against his lips, which are only pressed against hers for a few seconds.

"I love you," she whispers, squeezing his hand.

"I love you, too," he whispers back, sending her a soft smile.

"I happy you and Cody finally together," Aves says, catching their attention. "And you'll have him when I'm gone. But you deserve him, sissy. I love you."

"I love you, too, Aves," Reyna says, smiling at her little sister. "And I'm glad I have him, too, but you'll never fully be gone. We love you too much to let you go."

And so they segue into their favorite memories with Aves, ones that will last a lifetime. With a warm heart, Reyna leans against Cody and fully accepts that this is their life and that this is going to happen, that life sucks and it brings people together just to split them up or yank them away. But for the time they're in your life, they shine and they bring happy memories. That's what she'll choose to remember about Aves, not the angst and tears and yelling since the diagnosis. Instead, she'll remember the love. Always the love.

•••

fucking shit. this is completed, other than the epilogue. holy frack. the long sentimental note will be included in the epilogue bc my fingers and toes are currently frozen and i need tp do my hair so i can sleep.

countdown | the end

[ 12.14.17 ]