A Happy Family

Riley was still kneeling over Lionel's unconscious body crying with her mother still tied in the chair when she heard foot steps and voices approaching. She jolted,

"Is anyone over there? Please help me..."

Lian and the others were searching some few distance away from where Riley was when the voice hit him up. The whole environment sounded chaotic but Lian immediately recognized her voice,

"That's Riley's voice..." He shouted and raced towards the direction of the voice.

Like a strick of lighting, his eyes flew wide opened with shock when he got to the entrance.

"Riley..," he rushed in, kneeling over Lionel as he lifted his head onto his laps."What happened to him?"

Riley tried to swallow down the tears to narrate what happened but she couldn't hold it back.

"Nichole shot him Uncle..."

Just then, the rest of the search party hustled in.

Two of the men rushed over to Rosita and untied her whiles the others searched the other rooms. Lian inspected where Lionel was shoot and noticed that he has few chances of surviving.

He glanced at Riley,

"We have to get him to the hospital now..."

He was about lifting him when Dickson arrived with Detective Robert.

"Lio..." shouted Dickson when his eyes fell on the lifeless body of his son on the floor. He knelt over, "No Lio.., open your eyes."

"We need to get him to the hospital now. He has few chances of surviving."

"Call for the ambulance.." shouted Robert to his men.

"No, I will take him." replied Dickson as he lifted his son.

"I'm coming with you." said Riley hastily.

Dickson glanced at her and nodded. He rushed out with Riley following suite. Detective Robert also gestured to his men and they strolled off in search of the rest, leaving Lian and one of the officers with Riley.

As Dickson and Riley got to the car, Riley opened the back door for Dickson to lay him down. They took their seats and drove off.

Lian glanced back to Rosita who had her head leaning on one of the officers, still unconscious. He went over to them.

"Is she okay?"

The officer glanced down at her and back to Lian, "I think she has been drugged."

"I guess this can help." he brought out an inhaler from his pocket.

"Sure." they took it and passed it over Rosita's nose.

"How about the rest? Have you found them yet?"

"Not yet but the rest of the team are on it. We will find them soon."

"Okay...." They were still talking when Rosita drowsily opened her eyes.

"Ouch....," she held her head. "It hurts.."

"I'm glad you're okay, let's go.." Lian and the officer helped her up and they sauntered towards the door.

"Where is Riley? Is she okay?"

"Yes she is." replied Lian.

"What about the rest?"

"Don't worry, they're fine." said Lian as they rounded the corner to the corridor.

**************

Nichole and Zed tried to escape from the backyard but unfortunately for them, they were surrounding with no escape route.

Nichole and Zed nervously glanced around at the officers closing in on them. She stared at Zed and the gun in his pocket caught her attention. She hastily pulled it out, pointing it at the officers.

Felix, one of the officers sauntered slowly towards them, holding up a gun at Nichole and Zed.

"You're surrounded Nichole, why don't you give up."

Nichole chortled, "Not without a fight."

She shot at the officer but she missed. She was about to shot again when she felt a sharp pain in her leg and another in her arm. She was shot.

"Aha..." she screamed in pain and fell down.

The officers rushed in on them and handcuffed them.

"What about the hostages?" questioned Felix.

"They have been found." another officer answered.

"Okay, let's go."

They took Zed and Nichole and went over to where the others were to meet everybody found and safe.

Kate, Nancy and Loretta glided over to where Lian and Rosita stood and hugged Rosita. They hugged for some seconds and they drew back.

"Where is Riley and Lionel?" asked Kate.

"At the hospital." replied Lian

"What happened?"

"Lionel got shot."

"Oh mine.., they gasped.

Just then, Robert called for them to leave. They took their seats in the car and it sped off.

Some of the officers took Zed to the station whiles Robert and two other officers drove Nichole and the rest to the hospital.

After an hour, the car pulled up at the hospital. Kate, Loretta, Nancy, Rosita and Lian glided out of the car and rushed to the hospital.

Detective Robert also had Nichole taken for treatment and to be later taken to the station.

They got to the corridor of the theater to meet Riley and Mr. Dickson waiting anxiously for the doctor to come out.

"Riley..." called Rosita.

"Mum..." Riley rushed into her mother's arms with tears running down her cheeks. "I'm glad you guys are safe."

Rosita nodded and drew her back, " What about Lionel? What did the doctor say?"

Just then, the theater door flew opened and the Doctor glided out with a sweaty face. They all rushed towards him.

"How is he Doctor?" asked Dickson.

"Calm down Mr. Dickson. There is nothing to be worried about. We've managed to get the bullet out and he is out of danger now."

They all sighed in relief.

"He will be transfered to his ward soon."

"Thank you Doctor..." replied Dickson.

"Welcome, excuse me." He smiled at them and left for his office.

The rest of the night went peaceful with Lionel responding well to treatment and Nichole also in the custody of the police. Kate, Nancy and Loretta returned home with Rosita and Lian. Rosita had wanted Riley to go together with them whiles Dickson stayed over at the hospital but she insisted on staying behind together with Dickson.

A week later, Nichole, Zed and his goons were taken to trials with the charges of murder and kidnap. With enough evidence presented at court, they were found guilty and were each sentenced to life imprisonment with community services.

*************

A YEAR LATER

It was a lovely and beautiful day with the peaceful aura of the morning filling the atmosphere.

Lionel sat on his bed starring down on his mother's portrait when he heard a knock on his door.

"The door is not locked." he replied.

At that moment, the door slowly flew opened with Dickson at the entrance.

"We should be going now son..."

"Alright Dad..." He glided down the bed, gently placing his mother's portrait on the drawer beside it. He sauntered to his study table and picked up the riff. "Let's go."

"Alright." Dickson walked out of the door, followed by his son.

He placed a hand over his son's shoulder as they glided down the stairs to the packing lodge. Dickson let go off his son and he walked over to his side of the car. They settled in their seats and after some few seconds, they drove off.

The streets were quiet busy with people going on their daily activities. Dickson and his son drove in their car when he noticed Lionel's mind drifting away.

"Are you okay son..?"

Lionel glanced at his father with a smile.

"I wish mum was here with us."

"I know how you feel son but I believe she is happy now wherever she is. She will be feeling very proud of you now. No need to worry about her." he paused for some seconds, "Why don't you tell her everything when we get to her grave."

Lionel stared at his Dad and nodded, slightly smiling. "Alright Dad.."

After 30mins of driving, they pulled up in front of the cemetery. It was Lionel's first day ever visiting his mother's grave. Dickson glanced at his son and brushed his hands through his hair.

"I'm sorry son..."

Lionel nodded with a smile, "It's okay Dad..."

Dickson smiled back, "Alright." he sighed, "Let's go."

They both got out of the car and sauntered into the cemetery. After some few walks, they got to Tasha's grave.

"That's your mother."

Lionel glanced at his father then back to the grave. He stared quietly for a while and sighed, placing the riff on the grave. "I'm sorry for not visiting you early mum...but see, I'm here now." Tears rolled on his cheeks. "I know I have been a bad son." He sniffed, " but this bad son misses you a lot mum.." Dickson glanced at his son and put a hand over her shoulders, pulling him into a hug.

"It's okay son..."

"I missed mum so much Dad..."

"I know son...I understand how you feel. I miss her too." He drew him back. "I think we should go back now."

Lionel glanced back at his mother's grave for some few seconds.

"I have to go now mum..I'll come and visit again later."

He glanced back at his father and nodded, "Let's go Dad.."

Dickson nodded and they sauntered away.

THE HOLLANDS' MANSION

After these past years of being away, Mrs. Flora and the rest of the family had returned back to Australia with her health stable now. It's been a week now since their return and it's time for one of those their family get together. The whole house was busy with everybody moving up and down, making arrangements for it.

"Where is Riley?" questioned Mad. Flora.

"They have gone to visit her father's grave." replied Kathie who was coming out of the kitchen.

Just then, Rosita, Riley and her friends entered.

"Grandma..." she exclaimed and went over to hug her.

Rosita looked on with a smile and sauntered to the kitchen to help the others. Kate, Loretta and Nancy also followed her. Riley stayed a little with her grandmother and later went to join the others.

After hours of preparations, everything was set.

It was around 12pm when Lionel and his Dad pulled up in front of the Hollands mansion.

Both Lionel and his father glided out of the car.

"Lio..." a voice exclaimed gleefully from behind him.

He turned, Riley ran into his arms and hugged him, almost pushing him to the floor.

Dickson looked on and smiled, "I think I will leave you too alone." he replied and walked away.

Lionel glanced at him then back to Riley,

"So where is everybody?"

"They're in the garden."

"Alright, let's go." He held her hand and they strolled to the garden.

Kate, Loretta and Nancy were with Riley's cousins, chatting and giggling when Lionel and Riley got there.

"Lio...." exclaimed Kate on seeing him.

He smiled as he neared them.

"You guys should sit over here." she pointed to a seat beside her.

Lionel nodded and settled down together with Riley beside her. They continued chatting and giggling for a while and they were called for the games.

As usual, they were divided into a group of two which is the boys group and the girls group. They had lime and spoon competition, dancing around the chair, and a whole lot of competitions. After all these games, the scores were put together and this time, the boys won.

"Yeah..." they exclaimed, hugging each other.

Riley together with her friends and the other ladies laughed at their funny reactions.

At that moment, Lian's voice called,

"Everybody, come over for the family picture."

They all moved over together, forming a group. Lian set up the camera and ran to join them.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes," they exclaimed.

"Okay, 1.. 2.. 3..."

"Yeah...." they all chorused and snapped, the camera captured them.

All along, Mrs. Fiona was watching them from a distance. She smiled at the happy moment before at her sight and sighed.

"Good to have happiness returned to this family again." she chuckled and sauntered towards the house.