18 YEARS LATER...

"Why aren't we going to the airport?!" Elizabeth argued with her husband, Leo, as he sighed and folded her clean laundry that was carelessly laying on the bed. Even after eighteen years, Elizabeth Harrison is the same. She put her hand to her waist, "My baby is finally coming back home, and we are not even going to pick him up?!" She added.

Leo looked at her and grinned, "Your baby is turning twenty-eight in three months." He rolled his eyes at her playfully before he added, "And anyway, I did offer, but Liam said he will take a cab home." Leo took the folded clothes into the closet, while Elizabeth followed him in. "Still, I wanted to go pick him up," She pouted. "I missed him so much and he was gone for so long – I wanted to crush him with my mama bear hug at the airport. You are telling me, I will have to wait until he gets home to do that?" She asked.

Leo placed her clothes in her section neatly before he turned around and chuckled, "Babe, he will be here –" Leo looked down at the watch tied around his wrist, "In less than two hours. You can crush him with your hugs then – till then hug me – but not with mama hug – the other hug," Leo suggestively spoke while stretching his arms out for her. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pushed his hands off to which Leo could only chuckle and shook his head.

There was no calming her down today. Liam was finally coming back at five long years. Elizabeth has been waiting for this day since Liam announced a few months ago that he is finally returning home. And this time he was coming back home for good. "Oh, I completely forgot to put clean towels in Liam's room." Elizabeth slapped her forehead as she tried to walk out of the closet, but Leo stopped him.

"Seriously? You are worried you didn't put a clean towel in Liam's room, but you couldn't put your own clean laundry back in the closet?" Leo asked her. Elizabeth rolled her eyes, "I was busy. I am sorry but my son is coming back, I didn't get the time to put my clothes back in the closet." She replied. Leo chuckled and shook his head. There was no arguing with her.

Although Elizabeth has gotten older, she is closing in on fifty – but she hasn't changed much. She is still the loudest, boldest, and unapologetic Harrison – and Leo just loves her the way she is. Leo opened his mouth to tease her more when they heard a knock at their door before he opened and entered their seventeen-year-old daughter, Iris. "Mom? Dad? Uncle Silas is here!" She announced.

She saw her parents walking out of the closet and wrinkled her nose, "Oh God, please don't tell me you two were –" She spoke, but before she could continue Leo and Elizabeth both rolled their eyes, "No, we weren't." They replied together. Iris's mortified expressions dissolved and she sighed in relief. She has every right to act like this as if they were doing it in the closet – it would not have been the first time she walked on them. Iris cringed and shook her head – she doesn't even want to think about it.

Leo and Elizabeth had Iris a few months before their wedding. Since Elizabeth didn't want to be pregnant when she walked the aisle so the couple waited for a year before they exchanged their vows. Iris looks more like Elizabeth. Everyone says that she looks like a younger version of Elizabeth. She has also taken after her mother's nature. She is just as outgoing, bold, and beautiful as Elizabeth. She is currently in high school and will be starting her senior year in a couple of months. Being the daughter and youngest child, Leo is very protective of her and so is Liam. Iris was very excited to know that her elder brother was finally returning home.

Leo walked to the dresser and picked up his phone, "I will go downstairs." Leo said while looking at his phone, "Marcus and Charlie will be here in a bit as well." He informed as he read the message he received from Charlie a few minutes ago. "Cool," Iris replied before the father and daughter went downstairs while Elizabeth went to put clean towels in Liam's bathroom.

Leo walked downstairs with Iris to see Silas and his family in the living room. Leo smiled and approached Silas, who was standing there. He hasn't changed much – just got a little older and now shows some peppery hair. He was still like he was eighteen years ago and if speaking truthfully – he is still a little afraid of Leo – even after the two made amends ages ago. "Hey," Leo greeted him before he looked around, "Where is Maria?" He asked.

"Mom is in the kitchen. She brought some homemade lasagna for Liam," It was Ezra who replied for his father. Leo smiled at his nephew, "Of course she did," He replied. Liam loved Maria and Charlie's cooking and often when he calls he tells them that he misses their food. Leo will not be surprised if Charlie brings something for him as well.

Ezra Harrison, Silas and Maria's older son, is eighteen-years-old and just finished schooling. As his father was, Ezra is also known as the heartthrob and a bad boy, but he is always respectful and kind to others. Everyone called Ezra Silas junior, but Leo believes Ezra is better than what his father was when he was younger. Ezra will be going to university in a couple of months.

"Hey!!" All four of them looked around to see Elizabeth climbing down the stairs. Silas smiled and approached his sister to hug her while Ezra and Iris caught up on something. Leo decided to go into the kitchen and see what Maria is up to.

He walked into the kitchen to find Maria standing by the counter. Leo smiled as Maria turned around to see her brother walking in. "Hey," Maria greeted and walked to her brother before hugging him. He hugged her back. Maria was standing on her own. She didn't need crutches to walk anymore. She still sometimes trips or feels like her legs will give up when she takes long walks, or she can't run around – but she is walking without any help for the past fifteen years.

After Owen's death, Silas and Maria returned home and immediately started Maria's therapy. It was not an easy journey. It took Maria almost three years to finally walk on her own – without anyone's help. The therapy was painful for her. There were times when she felt helpless, emotionally and physically drained – but she never gave up – not when she wanted to do it for her children. "I brought lasagna for Liam. He likes them," She informed Leo. Leo chuckled, "Thank you, Maria. I am sure he will be delighted to know that. He misses your and Charlie's food." Leo informed her.

Maria smiled and before she could say anything, the two of them heard footsteps coming into the kitchen. Both of the siblings look at the entrance to see Noel walking in with an extra container of lasagna in his hand. He smiled and put it on the counter, "Mom, you forgot them in the car," He signed to his mother before he looked at Leo, "Hi," He waved at his uncle.

Maria slapped her forehead. She completely forgot that she bought the extra one to give to Kathie when she arrives. Kathie likes Maria's lasagna as well. Maria brought them for her so she could take them to her new apartment. "Thank you," Maria signed to her younger son, Noel.

Maria and Silas adopted Noel when he was a newborn. Noel is deaf and mute. He is of Asian descent and was abandoned by his parents. When Maria and Silas went to adopt another child after Maira was able to walk around, they saw Noel and fell in love with him. They knew it would not be easy to raise a child when they didn't know any sign language, but they were ready to learn and they did. It was not only Silas and Maria who learned sign language but the entire family did. Everyone from Marcus to Iris – knows sign language and can communicate with Noel easily.

Leo ruffled the boy's hair, "How are you doing? How is school?" Leo asked Noel in sign language. Noel wrinkled his nose, "School is boring," He signed to his uncle. "I can't wait to graduate," He added to which Leo and Maria chuckled. Leo and Noel walked out of the kitchen, while Maria stayed behind to check on the lasagna.

Noel is fifteen-years-old. Maria and Silas were told that he is half Taiwanese, but he was born in America. It doesn't matter where he came from – they were going to have him as their own anyway. They never met his parents as they abandoned him a few hours after he was born. He is the youngest of the Harrison/Wayne clan, and according to the other kids of the family, the most spoiled one as well.

Within a few minutes, the entire kitchen started to smell like Maria's lasagna. "Please tell me you got me some of your lasagnas as well!" Maria had her back to the entrance when she heard a familiar voice. A big smile stretched on her lips as she turned around to see her niece walking in. "Of course, I did. They are in the freezer. I bought them, especially for you and Liam." Maria replied to Kathryn as the young woman walked to her aunt and embraced her in a hug.

Maria didn't hear the doorbell, maybe the door was open for Marcus and his family. Since Kathie is here, they all must be here as well. She can now hear everyone in the living, while only Kathryn is the one that walked into the kitchen. "You have gotten tall," Maria chuckled as she pulled away from Kathryn, who grinned, "Nah, I am wearing heels." She waved her dismissively while showing her heels to her aunt.

Maria chuckled and put her hand on Kathie's shoulder. Although she was wearing heels, still Kathie is taller than her mother and her sister – she got that from her father. Thinking about her father, Maria quickly peeked around to see if Marcus was near before he looked at her niece, "Anyway, tell me, is Marcus still mad about you moving out?" She asked Kathie.

Kathryn heaved a sigh and shrugged, "Honestly, I can't tell it anymore. I don't think he is mad, but he isn't happy about it either. Mom told me she would take care of it and she did. Dad doesn't show his disapproval in front of me anymore like he did when I proposed the idea." Kathryn replied.

Maria chuckled, "Give him some time, you know how possessive your father is for both of you," Maria told Kathryn, who smiled and slowly nodded. Kathie knows that very well. Marcus has always made sure his daughters were well protected and taken care of, so when Kathie decided to move out of her father's house just before her twenty-first birthday – Marcus didn't take it well. Little does Kathie know, that Marcus hasn't slept well since she moved out a few weeks ago.

Kathryn, Marcus's eldest daughter, decided to move out and live on her own a few years ago, but she never shared this idea with her family. She knew her father would never approve and she hates making him sad. But it was time she finally leave her nest and make something of her own. Since she was a child, all she ever heard was how easy it is and will always be for her because of her father. He is rich, so she will have a lavishing life, and it was true. It was exactly like this, but since Kathie could remember, she wanted to be something of her own.

Everyone thought, Kathryn would be the one that would take over her father's business, but it is Ella, who is more into it than she ever was. Kathryn wanted to study law, and that's what she has been doing. Well, more like what she is planning to do. Currently, she is a student of Criminal Justice for her undergraduate major. She will be done by next year, and soon she will start preparing to get into a law school. She reached her all by her own hard work, but for outsiders, she is where she is because of her father's name and money. She doesn't care what others say, it is enough that people around her are proud of her – including her parents.

"I knew you would make lasagna! I made brownies!" Maria and Kathryn turned to look at Charlie, who strolled in with a container full of her famous brownies. Kathryn chuckled, "Liam will be so happy," She commented. Charlie put the container on the counter and embraced Maria in a hug. The two of them act more like sisters than best friends. All these years, Kathie always saw these two by each other's side – no matter what. She wishes to have friends like them. She does have great friends, but she wishes to have what these two have.

Maria and Charlie soon started to talk, completely forgetting about Kathryn – not that Kathie mind. She smiled at them and walked out of the kitchen. As soon as she walked out, she saw her father and Uncle Silas talking about something. She looked at her father and smiled. She is not going to lie, it hurt her to leave her father's house. She loved it there, but she doesn't want to get too comfortable – she wanted to get out and make something on her own. Seeing her father worrying about her all the time, pains her. Marcus and Charlie have dedicated their entire life to their children, Kathryn believes that it is their parents' time to enjoy their lives.

"I caught dad in your old room. He was crying," Kathie jerked her head to look at her younger sister, Ella. Kathie's eyes widened, "What?" She breathed out. Her heart sunk. She can never see her parents cry – let alone because of her. A slow smirk curled on Ella's lips, "You want to be a lawyer and yet you can't detect a lie. Tsk," She mocked her elder sister. Kathie gritted her teeth and hit Ella on her shoulder, making her younger sister flinch, "Ow, maybe you should think about a career change. Go be a boxer or somewhere you can hit, because – bitch, that hurt." She rubbed her arm.

Kathie glared at her sister, "You want me to go and tell dad you are cursing at me," Kathryn threatened Ella. This was enough to make Ella stop teasing her elder sister. She quickly shook her head and glanced toward her father.

Ella Harrison is Marcus and Charlie's youngest child. She is currently a senior in high school and in a few months she will be graduating. Ella and Kathryn are very different from each other. Ella like being a daughter of a rich man – she enjoys the luxuries and even before Kathryn made up her mind to choose a different career, she was already set to take over her father's business. These two have very different personalities as well. Where Kathie is polite and easygoing, Ella is a badass. Marcus and Charlie have lost count of how many times they were called to Ella's school because she got in a fight with someone. Kathryn is organized, she always plans out everything, while Ella is messy. Her entire life is impromptu. Ella is an introvert, she doesn't go out much and has a small group of friends, whereas Kathie is social. She has a lot of friends. Even if Ella doesn't like to go out much and doesn't have a large group of friends, she is not a shy and mousey girl.

Even though the sisters are very different from one another, they love and support each other all the time. They fight a lot, but then all the siblings do. Ella bumped her shoulder against Kathryn's arm, "So, how is Ivan?" She asked while wiggling her eyebrows. Kathryn wrinkled her nose and she looked at her younger sister in disgust. Ella has been crushing on Kathryn's best friend Ivan since she was fifteen. Kathryn is revolted by the idea of them being together.

Before Kathryn could say anything to her sister, the doorbell rang. Elizabeth gasped, "Oh my God, he is here!" She excitedly clapped her hands together and rushed towards the door. A smile curled on everyone's lips – everyone adore Liam. For the kids of the family, Liam is like a protective elder brother, who is always there to help and for the elders of the family, he is that obedient child of the family, whom everyone wished their kids were like – not that anyone ever said that to their kids, but Silas and Marcus believes that their sister is lucky to have Liam in her life. He is the perfect son.

Everyone walked towards the door as Elizabeth quickly swing it open. There he stood, with a big smile on his face. He dropped his bag on the floor and opened his arms as soon as he saw her mother. "Mom," he said and it was enough for Elizabeth to burst into tears. "Baby!" She sobbed and embraced him in a mama's hug – just like she promised. Liam lowly laughed and hugged her mother back, "Don't cry, Ma. You know how much I dislike seeing you cry," He calmly spoke.

Maria was standing behind Elizabeth. Her own eyes got teary at the scene. Se knows how much Elizabeth was waiting for Liam to return from Japan. He was gone for five long years. Liam looks so grown up to Maria. The last time she saw him, he looked like a boy and now he looks like a man – a very handsome man indeed. She heaved a sigh, how time flies. It feels like yesterday when Liam was struggling to get along with the family and now here he stood, tall and handsome, being loved by the people he was once scared of.

"You are crying," She heard Silas whisper in her ear. She chuckled through the tears as Silas wrapped his arm around her. She placed her head on his chest, "I wish dad and Owen was here right now," She whispered. Silas softly hummed as he rubbed his wife's arm.

Franklin passed away five years later Owen. He has a stroke and he died peacefully in his sleep. Maria remembers seeing him and Owen in her dream, playing chess, as they would usually do. It was a hard time for her, but her family was there to support her.

Marcus walked behind his wife, who was lovingly looking at Elizabeth placing kisses all over Liam's face, "God, mom." Liam complained while laughing.

Marcus chuckled, "She will never change," He mumbled. Charlie looked up at her husband, who might be getting old, but is as handsome as ever, "Good, I like her like this." Charlie told him. Marcus wrapped his arm around his wife and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "I like everyone as they are. All the craziness in this family is what makes us what we are," She spoke as her eyes roamed around – looking at everyone.

She loved how everyone was smiling or laughing – not a single sad face in sight. She just wishes they all stay just as happy as they are right now.