Author: Regency

Title: I’ll Love You Forever

Summary: Everything is finally going well Gwen and Ethan’s life, but when Theresa returns to visit her brother’s new baby, the little girl she left behind can’t leave her alone.

Author’s Notes: Callisto means “beloved”

Disclaimer: I technically own Callisto and I do own Terrence. A little bit of Evian for you.

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In My Daughter’s Eyes

Theresa disappeared after that night, knowing that she’d never see her daughter nor her son again. Even if Gwen and Rebecca had allowed her to stay, she couldn’t have knowing that her child was being raised by the woman who’d taken everything she’d ever wanted.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero

I am strong and wise and I know no fear

Gwen spins in a circle faster and faster until she falls down. Her daughter, Callisto looks upon her in awe and smiles. Then, she starts to spin, because if her mother can do it, so can she. Gwen laughs and claps, but is up to catch her when she gets dizzy and starts to fall.

But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me

Gwen jumps up and down as the rope goes over her head and under her feet. She pretends to pout when her legs get caught and she has to step out. Calli takes her place and gets all the way through the song twice before she misses the rope. She then sticks her tongue out at her mother and runs off as Gwen starts to pursue her. She is everything Gwen ever wanted.

I see who I wanna be

In my daughter's eyes

Theresa pushes the stroller with Whitney at her side, carrying her son, Liam in her arms. She supposes it’s good to be back, but she hasn’t seen any real proof of that yet. She did get to meet her son’s father’s new child and Whitney’s half-brother, Terrence. He gurgles from his place in the stroller and she gives him a little smile. He is a perfect little boy with Eve’s skin tone and Julian’s beautiful eyes. But she can already tell he’s Crane through and through. He all but demanded his lunch.

Theresa stops when she hears the laughter that has haunted her dreams for three years.

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal

world is at peace

She watches the tiny raven-haired pixie being chased by a flaxen-haired Gwen. Her fingers tingle to touch the pigtails that blow behind her as she fleas in mock terror.

This miracle God gave to me gives me

strength when I am weak

Theresa rushes to push she and Whitney behind a tree so that she can watch unobserved. She never thought she’d see the girl again. She’s just as beautiful as she predicted she’d be. She presses her hands to her mouth to silence her cries.

I find reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

Theresa is terrified when the little girl stops running for a moment and turns to look into her eyes. She gasps and stumbles back, leaving Whitney to stabilize the stroller as her brother begins to cry. Calli starts to walk towards her with that naïveté a girl of only her age could possess. Theresa could be anyone and she’d still walk right up to her. She knows she should run as fast and as far as she can, but her soul needs to stay and look and see this perfect being that came from her very own body.

And when she wraps her hand

Oh it puts a smile in my heart

The tiny waif reaches up to Theresa and she kneels before her on the grass. They both reach their hands out and Callisto’s hand fits so perfectly in Theresa’s. Theresa pushes the dark bang behind her ear and dries away her own tears.

“I’ve missed you, baby girl.” Calli only smiles and dries her true mother’s new tears. She doesn’t understand but she hates to see someone so pretty crying.

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

“Don’t cry, angel. It’s all right, now.” Calli’s seen this woman in her dreams for as long as she can remember and she’s always been crying. She can finally wipe them away herself. Theresa laughs at her incredible compassion for someone she can’t possibly know.

It's hangin' on when your heart

has had enough

“Do you want a hug, angel?” Theresa sees Gwen standing not ten feet from her. She knows that they could never forget one another and that this moment is gift from one mother to another. She nods. She wraps her arms around her and squeezes her gently. This is almost a dream come true.

It's giving more when you feel like giving up

It's in my daughter’s eyes

She lifts her off that ground and rocks her for a moment before pulling away to see her face again. This is her daughter and no one, no one can tell her different. But she’d a deal with Death and she’d be damned if she’d give him a chance to go back on it.

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future

A reflection of who I am and what will be

She gently tickles her chin and gives her another quick kiss before walking towards Gwen and carefully handing her back.

“Here, I think this belongs to you. Hold on tight to her; don’t ever let her get away.” She rests a hand on Gwen’s and silently thanks her for this opportunity. Gwen only nods, but can’t think of a thing to say to this woman who single-handedly desTerrenceed and rebuilt her life.

Though she'll grow and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

“Bye, honey. Be good…and be happy.” She smiles at Calli reassuringly before backing away and going back to Whitney, realizing that is she doesn’t leave now that she won’t be able to.

When I'm gone I hope you see

how happy she made me

Just once more before they leave, Theresa turns back to see both of them still watching her and then, starting to wave. Calli wiggles from Gwen’s arms and reaches a small hand out to her. Gwen whispers something to her and she seems to forget about Theresa and runs to the swing set a ways away. They share a last look and Gwen whispers, “Thank you” and the wind carries it across the distance and Theresa hears it. She nods and leaves, pushing Terrence back to the car. Fate brought them together one final time, just as she’d promised.

For I'll be there

In my daughter's eyes

Watching Theresa’s retreating back, Gwen responds to her daughter’s insistent shouts for attention.

“Coming, honey. Coming.” As she pushes Callisto on the swing and the wind blows through her hair, Gwen is put in the mind of what Theresa was probably like as a little girl and thinks that maybe had she known her then, they could’ve been like sisters.

“Higher, mommy. Higher.” And she pushes her daughter higher. Just like she asked.