NOT EDITED. YEAH YEAH.

I always end up naming the chapters of song I'm listening to. :P

         "You know, your mother and I were like Ambrose and Mia."

I hum as I bite into the flesh of the apple and peer at Meredith out of the corner of my eye. 

"We use to spend hours together outside," she muses with a gentle smile. Her brown hair with hints of gold glimmers. I touch my own and wonder if it looks like that; if it's somehow gotten lighter from countless hours in the sun. "Which was funny, because we'd fight every minute of the day we got. Whether if it was about clothes, or boys."

Ambrose and Mia are doing the same in the distance, yanking on a hair brush and what pajamas each other will wear. By now, everyone has been tucked into bed beside Meredith and I, a long with the two fighting girls.

Meredith had requested I come put them to bed so we could talk. I agreed, while Liam groaned about it and trudged up to the room alone. Either way, he should be glad. We ended up getting the biggest room decked with a bathroom and all. 

"Girls, there's another brush under the vanity," Meredith calls and Mia runs off to retrieve, leaving Ambrose with a smug smile of victory. Meredith picks out a flowery pair of pink pajamas for both girls who take turns getting dressed in the bathroom. Mia is the first one out, plopping herself onto the king size bed. 

She turns to me and eyes me curiously, "Ambrose said were cousins," she says but she doesn't wait for me to chime in. "Can you braid my hair like yours?"

I nod mutely and settle onto the bed, dividing it into two sections and beginning. Meredith attends to Ambrose who requests braid too and I request the urge to roll my eyes at the both of them. The only reason they're so enticed with us all is because we're not familiar to them.

Ambrose practically spent the whole evening bugging Stella. To say that it didn't go well would be an understatement. 

They moved onto Rosalyn after who entertained them for a short amount of time about nails. From there, they moved to Belle and Alfie. When they realized they weren't getting to them, they pounced onto Liam. Quite literally too. 

He played with them for a while, mainly to appease the others who were getting driven wild by children, and meshed them quite well. But I wasn't surprised by that, seeing as Liam had a little sister. 

At the thought, my fingers still in Mia's hair, luckily, I've come to the end of the braid so I tie it off with a clear elastic. Mia beams at herself through the mirror placed on the wall and declare she loves it. I smile at her and even though Ambrose and Mia are polar opposites, they are menaces together. 

I met Mia's mother earlier - Alden's brother's wife - and she was very nice, as well as being extremely beautiful with long lashes and a caramel complexion. From there, she introduced me to everyone else and the line of people who were my 'family' continued. Almost all of them had mates and children, or well, children on the way. 

One thing people didn't fail to comment on was my appearance. It seemed everywhere I turned someone gushed about how I looked exactly like my mother. Thus that lead forth to saying I could pass for Meredith's daughter and Ambrose's sister. Ambrose beamed at that while I shuffled awkwardly. 

"Now go to bed you two," Meredith tucks the blankets up to their chests with a playful stern look. "We'll see you two tomorrow." 

"Night mommy," Ambrose presses a wet kiss to her cheek and gives me one as well. "Night Ron."

"Night Ambrose," I give her a swift hug a long with Mia. "Night Mia."

They chorus another goodnight to both of us as we leave and shut the door, shutting the lights off and entering the living room/dining room area. 

Meredith invites me into the kitchen where she begins to boil water with the kettle, "tea always helps me sleep better at night," she tells me. "Would you like some?"

I nod, but I'm not too fond of tea. The thought of sleeping is pleasant though. 

I examine Meredith as she works; it's easier to decipher the differences between her and my mother then. Unlike my my mom, Meredith has a button nose and a beauty mark on her cheek. Her cupid's bow is more pronounced while my mother had fuller lips - identical to mine - and Meredith also has lighter hair. Mom had it slightly darker; the only thing I seemed to somewhat inherit from my father was my hair. A darker brown that now seemed to lighten over the duration these past months. 

Meredith is right. I have grown to look like my mother each passing day. 

Apparently, she has some pictures of me from when I was younger. The one's my mother had sent to her when she had time. While my tea bags settles in my mug, she runs to fetches them. She comes out with a thick, blue scrapbook that is busting at the seams with all the photos. I know they cannot all possibly be mine.

When she lays it down, the words 'Grey Family' are printed across with a sappy quote about love under it. Alden Grey. Meredith Grey. 

She flips it open, flipping through some wedding photo's of Alden and her while showing me pregnacy pictures. She stops at one page, pointing to a picture of two little girls and I realize it's my mother and her. They appear to be getting ready for the first day of school, hair in pig tails and toothy grins and all. 

I beam at the photo and Meredith flips through two more of my mother, one when she was twelve and with an arm wrapped about their father, so Meredith tells. "That's my father," she says softly. "He died shortly after the Purgatory disbanded."

And then another when she was a teenager. The cusp of her mating year; sixteen. "Wow," I breathe as I stare at similar features as my own. I guess I can understand everyone's frantic insisting from earlier that I was a carbon copy of my mother, because I truly was. 

Meredith looks to the picture then me, a smile touching her lips and a hand strokes through my hair. "You look just like her," Meredith hums. "I swear when I saw you, I thought I was seeing my sister again." Warm fingers press against my cheek and I smile hesitantly. "There's a different air about you though than your mother."

"What do you mean?" I ak as she retracts her hand and resumes flipping through the pages, coming upon a page of filled with pictures of a young Ambrose. Her name is spelt in sparkly pink letter's at the top. I examine some of them - blonde hair smoothed back and beaming smiles in each of them. The next page is of me.

It's a whole page dedicated to me, just like Ambrose. My name is spelt across the top in purple. It's pictures I've never even seen before.

One of me in the tub with bubbles covering my face, another of me by the lake, me on my dad's back, my mom braiding my hair, and even pictures of Adam and I together. One in particular stands out; the same picture that hang's on the Beckett's wall, our arms draped around one another and cheeks pressed tightly. My fingers curl over our smiling faces and then dart to another where my mother is bending down to hold me. My hair is in a braid and her's as well. I nearly cry at the sight. 

"Your mother would always send these," Meredith begins, "this is the last one I received of you before her death." She taps a school picture of me, messy hair and forced smile. Twelve years old. "Your father wouldn't return any of my calls. We attended the funeral and he never spoke to us again." Meredith's face twists into a sour expression. "I was only allowed to be there for a short time. One day I went over and insisted he allow me to take you. That it wasn't safe for you to be there with the Purgatory hunting down anyone related to the former Alpha." 

If only you knew it was Beckett, I think and then I wonder, "why were they hunting down anyone related to the former Alpha?"

"Those who are related to the former Alpha can challenge them for the pack," Meredith says. "The person who challenged our father was a second-cousin. He didn't like the running so he challenged him and won. Then it was passed on to his son and from there, corruption happened. They most likely went after your mother because she could rightfully challenge, just like they had the intentions of killing me because I could too. I didn't dare to. But your mother spoke often of doing it."

"So, if my mother would have challenged the Alpha and won, she could have taken it back even if she was a female?" I ask and my stomach churns at the latest discovery. 

"Of course. It doesn't matter on sex, it matters about who's the strongest. Your mother and I have full Alpha blood and that scared them. Just like you do," Meredith explains. 

I let that settle as I slump back in my seat, hands wrapped around the mug and watching her lips move but I do not hear a word. 

This is where the beginning of my resolution blossomed from. 

        Rosalyn cuts my hair at my request the next day. It's gotten far too long, so she chops the ends off and gives a trim in the front. For some reason, I insist I want something different, Rosalyn seems appalled and so does Belle.

"Maybe you should go blonde," Belle muses and I shake my head.

"Red head?" Rosalyn supplies. 

"No," I snort. "Just something darker. My hair's gotten too light."

So an hour later after a quick run, my hair is darker, darker than my natural color but I don't mind seeing as it'll wash out in a few weeks. I'll just need it for now.

Liam comments that he likes it when I appear and so does everyone else. I merely roll my eyes because I barely look different anyway. 

We spend the day running around with the two energetic girls while Liam begins to speak about war with the others. My stomach churns but Meredith assures she will equip only the strongest. 

"Do you think we should wait for the Purgatory to come to us?" A younger member from Alden's pack ask and Liam shakes his head immediately.

"I don't think it's a smart idea." Liam replies, "they attacked us back at my father's place. Burnt the place down and even had an insider working for them to do it. If we stay here, they'll lure but we need time to prepare. You all need to learn how to fight properly in order to take down the pack. We'll need a good amount of time."

Alden's pack agrees and so does the said Alpha himself. He agrees with helping the others train, but when I look at the one's that I have, I realize that they are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and brothers. They have people to lose. Our group only has one another.

We have no one waiting for us to return home, while most of them have children and siblings within the pack. I cannot imagine trudging back from a war with the news of their dead pack mates. My throat is dry. 

"Their head quarters are back in Portland. Perhaps we should wait," Adam comments and Stella nods.

"The Alpha is there." She comments vaguely and no one questions on how she knows that. Our group knows. 

"We'll determine that later on." Liam states. "Right now, we prepare. I want everyone up early on the weekdays to get into better shape." No one protest and we stray from the subject. It's casual for the rest of the day but my mind cannot running. 

I spend the day with the girls. Ambrose has requested some girly time in her bedroom so Rosalyn does her makeup while Mia draws on Belle's face with eyeliner. Stella and I watch, amused. 

"Give her a moustache," Stella comments as she swirls a green apple lollipop in her mouth. I swear the girl stashes hoards of candy. 

Mia giggles and obliges and when Belle catches a glimpse of herself, she laughs too. 

"Want to go running tonight?" I ask Stella when the girls are too busy talking about makeup. She quirks a brow at me and withdraws the sucker from her mouth.

"Didn't Liam say it was too dangerous?"

"Maybe," I shrug and flash her a coy smile. Stella beams at me and waggles a finger in my face and I follow it with my eyes.

"You're a rule breaker, Ronnie Mars. I like that!" 

"I want a lollipop, Stella! Where did you get it?" Ambrose says, suddenly drawing her attention to the short brunette. "Did mommy give it to you?"

"Yeah," Stella breathes with a evil grin. "She actually gave me them all and told me not to share with you."

Ambrose gasps and so does Mia, who throws the eyeliner to the side. "But why?" Mia cries. "She wouldn't do that! You're a liar!"

"No I'm not," Stella defends childishly. 

"Then share some with us!" Ambrose chimes and Rosalyn is shaking her head at Stella, while Belle runs to the bathroom to wipe off the smudges drawn on her face. 

"No, get your own twerps." Stella swats at their hands as they reach for her own lollipop and giggle when Stella gets up, running. They chase after her and their laughter rings throughout the whole house. I can hear Stella's screams as well, "get away from me you little gremlins!"

Rosalyn and I burst into laughter. 

Meredith comes by with a questioning look but it's answered when Stella runs pass her and back into the room, where she jumps on the bed and Ambrose follows. Mia comes in second and leaps onto Stella.

Stella wrestles them off of her and the day continues like that, only Ambrose and Mia take to bugging Liam again who chases them back. Stella just seemed genuinely annoyed while I know Liam is making the effort to play with them.

I watch them from the living room, Ambrose dangling from Liam's back. He runs around the yard with her and pretends to buck her off, sending her into a fits of laughter. Mia clings to his leg as well and they switch places, demanding turns on Liam's back. 

It's cute. It's surreal. 

Alden takes to grilling up dinner for everyone and that's when I take the chance to whisk Stella away, out to the front porch. "I'm gonna for a walk with Stella," I inform to Liam who's still attached to Ambrose and Mia. I know he can't protest with them clutching and so he narrows his eyes at me. I give him a swift kiss. Ambrose and Mia gag.

"Be safe Ronnie!" He calls after me and I wave him off with a grin over my shoulder.

"Always!"

Stella and I don't hesitate to shift the moment we're far away from the house. It's feels odd, being in wolf form and just running, because the times before I've strictly stuck to learning how to fight and never straying far from Liam's house besides traveling into town. 

I only indicate to stop when we're far enough out of reach when no one can hear us. Stella eyes me warily when I shift back and notices something is going on. "What's up?" She questions. 

I fidget, only because I wonder how Stella will take my news. Liam is the only one who knows about my mother being from the original Purgatory. Granted, they had no control over what the Purgatory turned into, I'm still related to them. I still have Purgatory in my veins. 

I brace myself for Stella's reactions. I'm not going to beat around the bush. "I'm related to the Purgatory." I blurt in a rushed breath. Stella blinks. "My mom's second cousin challenged my grandfather and won. When his son got old enough, he-"

"Your cousin is Tate?" Stella cuts me off, her face stony. 

"Well," I swallow. "I suppose he is. I'm not really sure how the family tree works exactly, because-"

"I don't care how you're related to them, Ronnie." Stella spits and I flinch. Only because I didn't want her to view me as one them. "You didn't know Tate and you didn't know what he'd do to me. Is this what you wanted? To tell me-"

"No," This time I cut her off. "I told you this because I spoke with Meredith last night. Family members can only challenge an Alpha and if the oppentent wins, well, you know. The pack becomes theirs. Members are free to leave, but most will likely end up staying when they realize their new Alpha is stronger."

Stella takes a few minutes to process it all, leaning against the bark of a tree and running a hand through her hair. She only glances at me when she declares, "you know you're crazy, right?"

I shrug. 

"What's this got to do with me?" She breathes. 

"I'm going to fight Tate, take the pack, and then I want you to kill Tate." I finish. 

Stella is silent as she leans against the bark and ponders what I've said. I begin to grow ancy once again, only because I know it's risky and at this point, I shouldn't have even told her. Maybe she'll tell Liam. Maybe this crazy plan won't even come to fruition. But Liam would never let me go fight Tate even if I did explain to him; he's too scared from losing me last time. 

It could mean death. 

"I'll get the files to prove I'm related and challenge him. He can't deny me it; the whole pack will recognize the challenge and then he won't back down. I'll bring him to the cusp of death and I'll be declared Alpha. They'll regard me as their leader because I'm of the blood line too. But I can't get the pack unless I fight him." I explain in a rushed breath. It's my only way to convince her to even go along with this plan.

"What about Liam? He won't let you do this, Ron," Stella breathes, "hell, I don't even want to let you do this! Tate is a crazy motherfucker and if you... if you die and it's on my watch, I would never be able to forgive myself." She states. She meets my eyes. "Do you really think you can do this?"

I nod firmly. I'm not sure if I really believe it myself, but I've killed Paz and Mandy, plus the other wolf. I've escaped death - you know, besides the whole house imploding thing - when the Purgatory or Beckett has got to me. I've survived before, so why can't I do it again? I'm not willing to risk Meredith and the family I've just met. I'm not willing to wrench their family away from them because of me. I don't care if they're willing to do it, I'm not willing to let them. 

I have to do this. 

"If you get the Purgatory, you can order them after Beckett and seize his pack too." Stella realizes, "Meredith and her pack won't have to get involved when we've got the most ruthless killers on the path. How are you so sure that they'll be willing to follow you, though?"

"I'm not," I state with a shrug. "But they can't deny me it once I defeat Tate. But if I prove I'm stronger, they should comply. There's no other family left to challenge him except for Meredith and I. They killed the rest off so no one would be able to go against him. They have to follow me because there's no one else to take over the pack. It stays in the original family's name."

"Holy shit, Ron." Stella breathes and her eyes have taken on a new light. "This is crazy and stupid but got to be the best plan so far. If you do this, the Purgatory..." she trails off, trying to form the correct words and I jump in,

"The Purgatory can no longer kill or harm anyone without my permission. I could even dissolve them if I wished. Stella, this is it. This is our chance to end it without any of us being risked!" I cry and Stella nods and I swear I can see tears glisten in her eyes under the setting sun. 

"You have some balls, Ronnie." She declares and with a shake of her head, she flings herself at me and embraces me. "Anyone who says you don't is fucking nuts."

"Well, how do Liam and I-" I begin but Stella cuts me off with a snort.

"Shut up, Ron." She squeezes me before releasing me and stepping back. "If you get yourself killed though-"

"I won't," I object. "You have to trust me."

Stella studies me with her dark eyes and finally nods, accepting that I'm serious. "I'm just glad that you asked me to come. And that you're letting me do what I want with Tate. I appreciate that."

"We're family," I say with a smile and Stella returns it. 

"When do we leave?" 

"Tomorrow morning. Have your bags packed and ready to go. Meredith is the only other person I'm going to le hert know so that she can contain Liam for a while." 

Stella nods, "I think I know who else can keep him here long enough for us to reach Portland."

I cock a brow at her but she merely smirks, waving me off. We don't discuss anything more, rather we walk back arm and arm together. The plans are set and in motion.

I just hope I don't regret it.

        Meredith seems resistant to let me go when I catch her later in the evening, "you can't do that," her brows crease in worry once I utter the words. "You could be killed, Ronnie and we've just found you."

"I know," I begin, "but this is the way I can keep everyone safe. In order for no one to get hurt, I have to do this."

"You could get hurt," Meredith protest and I nod.

"But so could this family. Like you said, we've only just found another and I'll be damned if I'm going to let anyone here die for this. You didn't cause this. I did. So I'm going to fix it." Her eyes water and it looks as if she wants to object that I can't go. She opens her mouth, then closes it when I send her a look of desperation and grasp her by the shoulders. "Please, aunt Meredith. I need to do this."

A watery laugh leaves her, "you have some courage, Ronnie." She sniffs. "I'll only let you go if you promise to come back. If you go like your mother-"

"I won't," and then I recite the words I said to Stella. "You have to trust me." It seems to have become my slogan but it finally makes her agree with me. She clutches to me, sobs into my hair and only let's me leave when she pushes money into my palms for the plane tickets. I don't hesitate to place them for pick up tomorrow night. So when I get to the airport an hour before, we have everything in order.

"You have fire, Ron," Meredith whispers when I leave to go to my room. "That's what's different."

I only offer her a grim smile.  

I need to make it to Portland as quick as I can so Liam can't catch up to me and put a stop to it. Meredith agrees that she'll try to keep him detained, but she can't promise me that she'll be able to. I thank her anyways.

I spend the night with Liam.

We sink into the bath together, me leaning against his chest and his arm wrapped around my stomach. His fingers trace my scars and his lips are wet against my ear. I nearly cry when he takes me back to the bed and whispers his love for me. I'm betraying you, I think when he rests his bare body against mine and pants against my neck, I'm lying to you.

But I clutch to him to me as tightly as I can as he rocks us both, hands fisted in the sheets above my head and swallows my cries with his mouth. 

Remember this. Remember this. 

"I love you," I whisper when he settles beside me. But I'm unwilling to let it end so I straddle him, bring my mouth to his heatedly and whisper stupidity. "I love you so much, Liam. I'm always going to love you."

I don't know why I'm confessing as if I'm a dying woman, because this won't be the end. When I leave, it isn't going to be the end. 

"I love you too, Ronnie." And his arms sweeps to my hips as he helps me move. "Never gonna let you go," he huffs breathlessly. If only he knew. 

I only sleep for a minimum of an hour till the clock's beady red letters remind me of my plans. Liam is passed out cold from our antics and I hope Stella's plan to keep Liam intact for a while is fool proof. 

I manage to change as quietly as I can in the bathroom, shoving on a hoodie, jeans, and some boots while hitching my back pack filled with a spare set of clothes. 

At exactly 5 AM, Stella is outside my door. What I didn't expect was to find Adam and Cliff. 

"Stella!" I hiss under my breath. "You told them?" 

"Yeah," she states with a shrug. "And we brought this." She draws the syringe in front of my face. My eyes widen in horror.

"That could put him in a coma like Jeremy, now you're fucking insane S-"

"Relax!" Stella hisses back at me. Cliff appears annoyed while Adam shifts from foot to foot. "It's a smaller dosage. It'll knock him out long enough till we reach Portland. Adam said so," she argues and my eyes slide to Adam. 

"How do you even know about these?"

"My father is the epitome of evil, Ronnie, please. " Adam snatches the syringe from Stella. "Look, let's do this quick before he realizes that you're not in bed. Cliff and I will try to keep him down when he wakes up, but who knows how long we'll be able to do that?"

"Alright, fine," I huff in compliance and Adam creeps into the room, me behind him. I figure I don't have much of another reason. Immediately so, Liam stirs from the footsteps. Sometimes I wish we weren't werewolves with keen hearing. 

"Ron?" He murmurs sleepily and his eyes open, only to find Adam and I looming over him. "Ronnie, what the fuck is-"

Adam cuts him off with a hurried jab to the arm, pressing down on the syringe so it empties into his bloodstream. Liam wrestles against Adam, grabbing at the needle and whipping it across the room with a glare. You know, till his eyes start to droop. "What... are... you.. d.." Liam trails off and I give him a kiss.

"I'm sorry," I whisper against his lips. Tears string at my eyes but I refuse to cry. "I'll come back. I'm sorry."

Adam hugs me before I go and whispers, "be safe, Ronnie." I squeeze him back, offering no words in return because I can't think of any. How can I be safe when I am going to fight a psycho? 

Cliff and Adam bar the doors once Stella and I flee down the hallway. I don't know how that'll really keep Liam locked up, but for now, that's all we got.

You're the worst mate ever! I scream at myself. I suppose it's true.

Stella and I take the jeep to the airport. We reach there and dash in with minutes to spare, getting our tickets and making it just in time through security. 

The files are tucked away into my bag. Stella grips at my arm when we take off.

This is absurd. This is just as crazy as everyone told us.  

I watch the sun come up from the airplane window. I hope Liam forgives me. But most of all, I hope I come back alive.

It'd be shitty to die a second time around. This time, with no chance of returning.

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THE CLIMAX IS ON IT'S WAY!

Make sure to stay tuned. :)

Until next time,

- CeCe.