Chapter 24

Shannon's P.O.V.I just got off from work and I'm pretty beat. Elizabeth's right about Jeremy because the moment he stepped in to the studio, he immediately recognizes me going in for a hug. It was awkward for me but I don't think he noticed anything weird about our encounter and fortunately, he was more interested with Elizabeth and I getting back together. Of course he knows, tabloids are still circling around with the photos of us kissing at the beach.

I've met the other casts too and they all asked the same thing. Florence was there too and I've met her back with that one memorable photoshoot she's a part of, and that is with Scarlett. Speaking of Scarlett, I'm on my way to her house right now to spend the night. I've told Elizabeth about this earlier and gladly she agreed to it. I really miss Rose and me being able to see her will spare Scarlett time to just breathe from all the tantrums that kid had gave her.

Ring!

I glanced at the passenger side where my phone sits and saw Elizabeth's name flashes across the screen. Its a FaceTime call, I answered placing my phone on the mobile holder at Target.

"Hi!" She smiles, that sweet sweet smile. God she's soadorable. Its already eight New York Time and she's all dressed up.

"Hi sweetheart, you look beautiful. Going somewhere?" I smiled before glancing at the road.

'Are you driving?' She squints at the screen with brows knit together. I nod and she gives me a look between anger and worry and so I say,

"I have a phone holder in my car Elizabeth, there's nothing to worry about." She rolls her eyes and smiles and nods scrunching her nose in the process.

'Are you on your way to Scarlett's?'

"Yup, I brought some snacks and the presents we bought for Rose last week and its all packed up. Zoe insisted on doing it and surprisingly, it turned out pretty well." She giggles and bites her bottom lip and that always makes my heart skip a beat. I'm starting to think its not really a good idea to do FaceTime while driving, I'm struggling to take my eyes off her and keep them on the road. "You're all dressed up, going somewhere?"

'Having dinner with the twins in 20 minutes. Its their birthday on Sunday and I still don't have anything for them.'  Sunday, hmm. An idea sudden pops in my head, a lightbulb suddenly lights up. I have my schedule set for the week and I have a podcast on Friday morning, maybe I could fly back to New York and be with her and her family for the twins birthday. I'm just going to surprise her then but I need details.

"Well, that is really hard sweetheart considering that the twins already have it all. But we can think of something okay." She sighs and nods. "Any plans for Sunday?"

'Yea, a little get together party at the headquarters. It was originally at Mary Kate's place but then they said it wouldn't accommodate everyone and they also want to include the team in the celebration so we're doing it at the headquarters instead. It would be so much nicer with you here though. I really miss you.'

"I know, I miss you too and I can't wait to see you really. Can you send my birthday wishes to the twins instead?" She smiles but her smile doesn't quite reached her eyes. Its the thing I noticed since the day I left New York and it breaks my heart really. As soon as I stopped at a red light I turned my attention to her.

"A few days left okay sweetheart? Just a few days left. We're going to be together before you know it. Please don't be sad." She sighs heavily before giving me a smile. My mind travels to the thought of her going in public any minute now and it doesn't sit with me that the paps might be still waiting for her outside of her building so I asked "Is Jake coming with you tonight"

'Yup, we got the whole team so nothing to worry about honey.'  The red light turns green and I was forced to pry my eyes away from her as I passed the cross roads.

"That's good to know."

'So how's your meet and greet with Jeremy?'She giggled teasing as she rest her chin in the palm of her hands very intrigued on what actually happened earlier and she made me think of how Dani anticipates the same reaction over and over again every time we have a shoot with some cast members.

"I did pretty well at acting actually. He really bought the Dallas line. Well, he's more interested that we are back together." I grin waggling my eyebrows making her giggle.

'So he doesn't know?' I shake my head and say,

"Nope, doesn't have a single clue that I don't remember a thing."

'So who did you meet?' She asks her eyes brighter which made me smile as my mind lined up cast member in my head according to the sequence of my shots earlier.

"Uh, There's Jeremy." She nods. "Hailee Steinfeld , she's tall by the way, same height as me. Then there's Vera Farmiga and she's so sweet, Tony Dalton was also there. Alaqua Cox and Fra Fee. Oh, and Florence was there too, I nearly forgot. I've met her once sweetheart when I shot Black Widow. Then I shot a do-"

'Florence was there?' She suddenly asks cutting me off and there was something in her tone that I really couldn't get my finger on causing my smile to slowly fade.

"Yea, she was there. Is there any problem sweetheart?"

'Wh- What did she say? Does she know you can't remember anything?'

"No, I don't think she knows. She just told me we met at a party because I told her, I don't quite recall meeting her before but she was cool with it." I smile and she smiles back with that not so good smile of hers. I couldn't quite understand the look she was giving me because I really don't know what's wrong. Did something happened before with Florence or what.

'Is that it?' Her eyes squinted like she was doubtful of my  recent statement. But what I just said is the truth. She's nice and doesn't ran out of things to say so the conversation keeps going drowning out an awkward silence while we were shooting. I nod my head at Elizabeth's intense stare and offered a reassuring smile.

"I promise." I say. She leans back and crosses her arms against her chest before looking at me and says,

'Alright, I believe you-' She was cut off with someone talking to her in the background letting me know that she's about leave for the dinner. She nods and turns back to me making me raise my brows. 'Honey, I need to go. I'll call you later okay?'

"Alright please take care. Text me when you get to your sisters okay" She nods and blowing me a tender kiss before waving at the camera. I waved back and blew her a kiss as well and with the call ends. I'm getting closer to Scarlett's house but my mind is still stuck on Elizabeth's reaction with the mention of Florence earlier. It sounded like something might've happened before, I'm not really quite sure about it. Maybe Scarlett knows, maybe I should ask her.

I entered the gates of her house and pull over by the garage. I can already hear Rose's screams getting closer and closer as I turn off the engine making a wide smile spread across my face. I immediately hop off Chase as soon as I see her running towards us.

"Shannon!" She yells at the top of her lungs launching herself in my waiting arms before being lifted up in the air. Her squeals and giggles fills my ear with so much pleasure. I miss her so much.

"Hi princess! I missed you." I say before greeting Scarlett who is watching us with a smile plastered on her face as well, placing a kiss on her cheek and hugging her with Rose stuck in between us snuggling further into my neck.

"Where's Colin?" I asked

"He's cooking which was a first. We really missed you. Colin even chose to bring out the Rosé later on this evening while we catch up." Wow they really love me here. I raised my brows as Rose pulls back giggling at whatever she is giggling about.

"I heard you were giving mommy a hard time pumpkin." I say and she pouts sticking her bottom lip which gives her a pass from every silly thing she does and she fucking knows that.

"I missed you and you were far away and I want to get ice cream with Chase." I placed a kiss on her cute little nose making her giggle and scrunched it.

"Well, what would be better than to say sorry to mommy." I gave her a pout as well before turning to Scarlett seeing her watching us shaking her head. Surprisingly, Rose turn to her mother and apologized sincerely fidgeting with her small fingers while giving her puppy eyes. Scarlett raised her brows looking at me and I winked at her. Rose is like every six year old little girl in the world and its very rare for them to recognize and admit to their mistakes and Rose is also like that. So its a good thing that she's learning to apologize and say sorry for what she had done and I'm really proud of that.

"That's okay honey. Shannon's here so let's go inside and have fun."

"Yea, let's do that. Also, Lizzie and me have something for you and I know you'll love it."————————I've been telling Scarlett and Colin every unlocked memory that I had while Rose and I play with the puzzles Elizabeth and I got for her from New York. Its a collection with ten, thirty puzzle pieces about princesses and dragons. I immediately thought of her as soon as I saw it and clearly she loves it because she's been too concentrated on it, her brows stitched together and tongue slightly sticking out of her mouth with her face almost touching it. Its so cute I sent a picture to Elizabeth.  I haven't heard from her yet though, but she texted me a while ago and said she's already with the twins.

"So are you back together? Well the kissing at the beach clearly states that fact but I just want to hear it from you." Colin says. What defines back together? Well yes we're dating but she's not my girlfriend just yet. Is she? Well that's where this is going right? Maybe she's already my girlfriend. I'm going forward to saying that but my mouth goes in a conplete U-turn and say.

"We're taking things slow, I guess." Scarlett snorts in laughter and threw a pillow on me hitting me straight in the face.

"Mommy, that's not nice." Its my turn to laugh as Rose comes to me placing her arms around my neck. Scarlett rolls her eyes but smiles at me.

"It's alright pumpkin. I'm good." I placed a kiss on her arm as she pulls away. "Why don't you ho back and do your puzzles for me sweetie." Her eyes lit up and with no words, she goes back and sat beside me returning to her concentration on the puzzle she's working on.

"So I was saying, we're taking things slow."

"For what reason exactly? You two are clearly so in love with each other still. Its pretty impressive how you developed such emotions in just about a week." Scarlett insisted an answer that is not very clear to me at this moment. Its true though, I'm amazed myself on how I got so attached to her in a matter of days even though I don't know a single thing about her.

"I don't know. This is strangely new to me, not in a bad way. Its a bit overwhelming to be honest. Being friends with you guys is such a big thing already but the fact that I was in a relationship with Elizabeth two years ago still feels like a dream. We're still getting a hang of each other. I just don't want to rush into anything with her that will end up with us hurting each other. She might know me from the inside and out but its different now. I'm not even quite sure if I'm still the same Shannon I was before." I took a sip of my glass of Rosé sitting on the table as I keep glances of Rose still figuring out her puzzle which is at fifty percent complete.

"Lizzie still loves you and that's for sure." Scarlett mutters taking a sip of her glass too. I raised a brow looking at her.

"How do you know?"

"I know when a person is in love Shannon and Lizzie is not an exemption to that. The way she looks at you even in those stolen pictures of the both of you in New York is still the same way she looks at you at that restaurant when we had our double date."

"Why? Didn't she had another relationship with anyone else after us? In those two years, I'm sure she had one."

"Not that I know of. She shuts down after the rumors started spreading about the breakup even deleted her social media accounts. There's not even a rumor where she is dating someone." I'm not sure if I should believe that. A woman as stunning as Elizabeth Olsen might've had someone in a span of two fucking years.

"Huh" I mutter leaning against the couch. "Nothing?" I asked again and they both shakes their looking at each other.

"Did she mentioned someone?" Its my time to shake my head at them. Well, I had no one for two years, its possible for an average person like me, that is.

"Shan, maybe she really is just waiting for you. You disappeared in the face of the earth all of a sudden and we all know what you both had was real and amazing. Its really hard to believe that it would end in such short notice." That's what they all say. They don't know the behind the scenes of it. Every thing that I've remembered between the both of us like the depression, anxiety, panic attacks and what Robbie did to her. God, I fucking hate that man.

"Anyway, so when is she coming back?"

"Who?" I asked being suddenly snapped back into reality. Scarlett quirked an eyebrow. " I'm sorry got into my own little world there."

"Lizzie, when is she coming back?" A smile form on my dace as the thing I was planning for a surprise pops into my head turning the switch on.

"Monday night I think but I was thinking of flying to New York on Sunday morning just to surprise her and the twins for their birthday and also to make sure she's safe when she gets back. I mean, I dealt with the paparazzi yesterday and its not a very good scene to watch and not a very good experience for me. I really hate those screaming men."

"Tell me about it." Colin rolls his eyes shaking his head and that made me chuckle and sigh.

"I'm done!" Rose jumps out from the carpet and smiled widely running up to me and wrapping her little arms around my neck. " Look Shannon, I've finished the first puzzle." Yep, she finished it alright, after working on it for a really long time. Well, she really worked hard on it and it really looks good.

"Great job pumpkin!" She giggles before releasing a yawn. Okay time for bed. "Someone's sleepy"

"Okay, bed time. Come here baby." Rose gives me a goodnight kiss before letting go and falling into her mother's arms before being lifted up in her arms. I looked at her in awe as she rests her head on Scarlett's shoulder.

"Good night pumpkin! I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night Shannon." Her voice a little whisper as they walk away making my heart skip a beat. I started cleaning up Rose's mess on the carpet but kept her puzzle intact and placing it on the coffee table.

"You know Shan" Colin started making me glance up to him. "You and Lizzie, you're just meant for each other. Scar and I knows that and we are rooting for the both of you. I know its hard at first, considering your situation but eventually everything will be put back in place and soon everything will be okay. There's nothing wrong with taking it slowly but it is also given that the two of you are going to be stuck in each others lives whether you like it or not. It is not strange for you that you've crossed paths again even though things happened that wiped everything away? Because for me that is an amazing and shocking turn of events and it doesn't happen in most people. So consider yourself being the luckiest person because you had a second chance in life and at the same time a second chance to start over again."

I slowed down trying to let Colin's words sink into me. He's a hundred and ten percent right, even more than that. I had a second chance and I want it to be worth it and fixing what was broken before between Elizabeth and I maybe was the purpose of it. My mind may forgot what we were back then but I believe that the heart and what's truly in it and who owns it will never be forgotten. The heart always remembers and that's the reason why I had completely, truly and sincerely fallen in love with an amazing woman who's name is the same as the queen. Who likes protein shakes for breakfast and cooks heavenly food. Who's always a morning person, well not always, most of the time that is. A woman who loves flowers and scrunches her nose as she smells them, her sweet smile like no one else's and the way she bites her bottom lip as she does it and her laugh. God, I love her laugh. Well I could go on and on but there's too much to say but with all of that, what I'm really trying to say is that, I love Elizabeth Chase Olsen and that is the truth.