Weeks later...

1st of September 1969

The weeks swam in the timeline just like storming waves in the nocturnal, abysmal sea as it hit golden, however, overshadowed in its somber hue. The twins' birthday was approaching and it was almost in a matter of months to remark their fourth birthday.

It was Ellie and Tristan's first day in the kindergarten. They were no longer toddlers as they were considered young children who were already prepared to attend a public institution to socialize, develop their socializing skills, befriend with peers and spend certain amount of time out of home as they have spent almost four years with their parents and somewhat their friends and acquaintances. Despite whether their seldom or often presence, the children have adapted to them especially Valerie, Frank, Kit and Lana. They have buttload of memories with each friend, family member even an acquaintance. Still collecting these authentic memories.

Jude and Timothy were desperate due to the fact, Ellie and Tristan have grown rapidly for the past months as they resembled slightly more to mere kindergarteners. In Agnes Jude's case was mildly different as she was reckoned as slightly younger to attend regularly a kindergarten just like her older siblings. Although the parents' desperation for not being able to see Ellie and Tristan and spend every wonderful, stupendous moment with them that will abide in their hearts, leaving its track for the rest of their lives and recall it with a smile once their hairs commence to acquire naturally its silver tingles, their children have already grown up and have formed their own family with precious children, they will muster with the crude circumstances the life has supplied them. The Howards couple had flourishing hopes their children will adapt to the others within days even weeks, in spite of their optimism mustn't be overestimated by them at all.

On other hand, whilst Ellie and Tristan's absence whirled in the Howards mansion, the former faces of the Catholic church are capable to spend more time with the youngest Howard heiress, Agnes Jude. At last but not least, they were worried for the twins especially Tristan. Ellie was considered as more extrovert and unreserved child unlike her brother twin, hence, readily accomodating to her peers without oscillation. Whereas Tristan tended to be more introvert and unobstrusive child, subsequently rendering him difficult target to stay in touch with the other kindergarteners. It would take him weeks...possibly months to alter, aiming himself towards the social group.

In the past few weeks, Jude wanted to make sure if Timothy hasn't impregnated her by the previous times when they went in her cottage, as a result of taking a pregnancy test. The result was negative. On one hand, Jude was beyond relieved she wasn't pregnant as three children were enough for her to rejoice her and Timothy. On the contrary, the couple were partly downhearted because they would love to raise whether one more child, twins or even triplets, if the luck play its own cards right. Further, they really can't put a finger on the nostalgic feeling that congealed some of their brain cells with uneasiness. The nostalgic feeling conveyed them back in the time when Ellie, Tristan, calculating Agnes Jude with them, were younger and growing much bigger in the passing weeks.

Flashback

A week ago

"What's bothering Mommy? Why she's like that?" Ellie asked wondered Tristan and Agnes as they were gathered along, crawling on the second floor's hallway in front of their parents' room shut door.

The children noted the former nun's bizarre demeanor these days especially today was the judgment's day when everything verged. The truth was sparkling in the middle of the horizon.

Not only Ellie, Tristan and Agnes were eerily informed by observing Jude's demeanor that concerned them, nonetheless Timothy was concerned either too. He attempted to figure out what was bothering his wife. Almost no information extracted from her with exception of her huffs, odd moodiness and most of all- rejecting to answer his question as she was harrowed with opulent questions, sailing in her mind. She wasn't prepared for fourth child though she wouldn't mind to have it rather than to lose it in the most painful way.

"I don't know, sis!" Agnes replied worried as Ellie's siblings rose shoulders as they were uncertain with the situation.

"Isn't she upset?" The brunette girl inquired inquisitive as her heart ached when the thought of beholding her mother vulnerable and upset pierced her chest slowly, sensing its razor's sharpness digging in her flesh.

"May be." Tristan answered casually, pursing his lips. Meanwhile, the children's ears were clinged to the door's hardwood material, listening every word that came from the couple and recognizing it, whether it's Jude's or Timothy's.

"Timothy, I know how we want it and would appreciate it from the bottom of my heart!" Jude howled as she reclined on the bed, her hands clamping her eyes as Timothy sat on the edge of the bed, spending hours discussing the issue that ailed her. She paused as she pretended to clear her throat." But think about having a fourth child after these three lovely angels." The blonde furthered, her face all blushed.

"Judy, my rara avis..." Timothy began in velvety voice, fondling her head as he stretched an arm, two pair of chocolate eyes locked up with other pair of hazel ones. "I would be very happy if we have another child together. I don't know why you are so upset, my love." Then he flumped on his back as he laid next to her, their proximity diminished. Offering her a little soothing, genuine smile, curled up across his lips.

"I would be content If we have another baby, darling. But..." In the meantime, she paused as her hand moved up to his, taking it in hers and grasping it for support. "...I am not ready yet for the fourth one. That's the main issue." She carried on desperately.

"Do not blame yourself, honey!" Timothy pressed gently his lips on her soft, luscious ones, cupping her cheek in a hand. Admiring her ethereal beauty. He hated to see his wife in such condition. Weak. Vulnerable. Self-blaming. "Even if you aren't pregnant with our fourth precious creation, we have three more which bring sufficient glee and pride to us."

"Yeah," She sobbed quietly as her searing tears commenced to pour down her cheeks. Timothy shushed to her, wiping with a thumb her crystal tears. "... Ellie, Tristan and Agnes are wonderful! They aren't for underestimating."

"That's right, Jude! You have just confessed what we have and what we shouldn't lose." He tucked her hair behind her ear. "Look! If you aren't ready for it, otherwise I will be still happy to have you and our little angels." He stroked her milky cheek as his thumb kneaded her cheekbone.

Jude couldn't supress a broad, charming smile on her face as they chuckled lightly. She was somewhat uneasy as she wanted to make sure if she's pregnant otherwise.

***

"It's negative!" The blonde clarified beyond relieved, wiping her forehead with a forearm, leaving the bathroom as she held the pregnancy test. Her heart raced as her perturbation promptly vanished.

"Oh!" Timothy gasped in low voice as he arched an eyebrow, ambling up to Jude, snaking an arm around her shoulder, his hand idly rubbing her upper back, pursuing for her eyes, wearing a little, smug smile. "I told ya to not worry even if the result was negative. Ya remember, sweetheart?"

"Mhm." She rested her head on his shoulder, hummimg eloquently as she affirmed his words. "I am so relieved!" She kept on, inhaling sharply in relief as her nostrils smelled Timothy's neck aroma. In the interim, she closed her eyes.

Whilst the twins and Agnes overheard their parents' conversation, they were somewhat desperate, factly Jude wasn't pregnant. They craved to have one more sibling though they should be responsible for their whether younger sister or brother.

"Oh!" Ellie, Tristan and Agnes gasped staggered. "It's not possible." They evoked altogether in one voice.

***

As soon as the first sun rays in the wee hours of the morning settled down on the ground, bathing the rooms in bright sunlight, despite the slight lukewarm weather compared to the last days, embodying the soothing and fresh early autumn atmosphere, Jude and Timothy woke up firstly as the first thing was to wake up the infants as the hopped up quickly in convenient slippers, walked away from their bedroom as they headed directly to the children's room, hence, waking up the twins even Agnes Jude, dressing them up in comfy garments, thus lifting them as they were being held and brought downstairs to the kitchen as Jude was determined to prepare the breakfast, whilst Timothy put them in their high chairs and supervised them.

When Jude walked up to the fridge as she picked up its ingredients for the breakfast, she didn't miss the opportunity to multitask- namely doing the breakfast and chat with Timothy and the children.

"Aren't you excited for your first kindergarten day, are you, Ellie and Tris?" Timothy evoked a question as he pecked kisses on each child's temples and cheeks so that to not behold them disappointed and grumpy. Rubbing their shoulders gently.

"Yeah, Daddy!" The twins responded boldly in unison especially the eldest child, consequently blissful childish giggles escaping her thin lips. They clapped their hands cheerfully in the air.

"That's splendid!" Meanwhile Agnes pouted lips as she wanted to go daily the kindergarten just like Ellie and Tristan though she realised the slight age difference how affected her limited opportunities. Suddenly Timothy shifted his warm, reassuring chocolate eyes to the little blonde girl as he crouched down to her as their eyes met, noting her big hazel eyes, filled with distress, pleading him in manipulative way. "Oh, honey! Agnes, why you are upset, sweetheart?" His hand moved up to her soft golden curly hair, stroking it as he ran his delicate, considerate fingers through her scalp.

The little girl didn't answer as her father expected. It was oblivious for the twins why their younger sister was downhearted as her big hazel eyes were fixed on Timothy's warm chocolate eyes, giving her an inquiring look. 

"Probably because you aren't old enough to go the kindergarten!?" Jude guessed as she chopped a pineapple on the cooking board. 

"Mhm." Agnes confessed as she nodded her head. Putting a thumb in her mouth, sucking it nervously.

"Oh, sweetie!" Timothy still stroked the softness of her golden hair, offering her a genuine smile. "One day you will attend a kindergarten just like your sister and brother." He furthered optimistically.

"Will I?" 

"Exactly, my little princess." He peppered her cheeks with kisses. "You will!" 

***

"Mom, I hate school because of these imbeciles." Shona huffed as she held the fork with three fingers, thereafter munching the scrambled eggs. 

"I know, sweetie!" Valerie opted to reassure her with soothing voice, afterwards sipping her morning coffee. "But you have me and your uncle Frank. We are the last hopes to deal with these hooligans." She carried on as she abided optimistic, having bright hopes that she and Frank will stand for the young girl whenever she's being bullied again. 

"What if they don't stop?" Shona questioned despairingly after she masticated the scrambled eggs. 

"There are two options though it might be a tough choice."

"For example?" The red-haired girl raised an eyebrow in incertitude. "By being moved in other school?" Her childish inquisitiveness grew significantly. 

"Not only that alternative, nevertheless the another alternative would be to speak with your class teacher, then with the headmaster and report these bullies. If they don't do what's the right for you, otherwise you are going to visit another school daily."

"Oh! It's not being easy to deal with such problematic people." After Shona's last comment then she proceed to finish her breakfast with her mother in silence, without peeling any word afterward. 

Valerie wasn't obligated to answer her daughter's exclaimation as she realised instantly how wise was her daughter especially for 8-year-old girl, being raised by one parent only. Just like in Johnny's case as he was being raised by Lana. 

The last time when the both homosexual women have seen each other was a week ago when Lana paid a visit to the Howards and her new girlfriend. The both women had a romantic dinner in Valerie's house, whilst their children were playing in the bedroom.

To be continued...