Finding My Way Back Home

Prologue:

Camila and Liam are super close to each other and have been there for each other since day 1, they call each other best friends since the day Camila was born. When their mom told Liam he was going to be a big brother he was upset and sad at first as he didn't like the idea of someone else taking up his parents attention but after he felt his sister kicking his hand that was on his mom belly he slowly began to warm up to the idea of having a sibling. When Camila was born and got to hold her in his arms with the help from his parents everything changed and vowed to always be there for her. Liam is protective of his sister, he doesn't like it when kids in her class pick on her and make fun of her cause she likes to do things boys typically like to do, she likes to play sports and help build things with her brother and father, He is always there for her.

December 2004

Camila and Liam are outside playing in the snow making a snow fort so they can have a snowball fight. Liam fort is

"Camila, are you ready?"

"Almost Li... okay I am done! Prepare to go down "Camila said in an evil voice as evil as it can get for a 6 year old.

Liam laughed, " I am not the one who is going down."

With that being said the snow ball fight started with both of them throwing one right after the other and not stopping or slowing down anytime soon. They would barely slow down enough to make more snowballs. After about 10 minutes Camila decided she had the best plan, she stopped throwing her snowballs and ducked down behind her fort and waited for Liam to come over and was going to throw the remaining 15 snowballs she had at him for her to win the game. She knows he will come over as he will get worried that something happened since she stopped throwing snowballs. Sure enough after 2 minutes Liam walked over to her side of the yard.

"Hey Cam everything okay?" Camila didn't respond with words, she just started throwing her snowballs completely, taking Liam by surprise and when she was through with them she pounced on him, taking Liam down to the ground. Upon seeing that everything was indeed okay he joined back into the game and proceeded to have a wrestling torment in the snow. For a 6 year old Camila was able to pin Liam on his back and his arms down and screamed " I win!" and putting her hands in the air unknowingly letting his arms go. Liam took that opportunity to start ticking his sister making her laugh uncontrollably and squirm around.

"Li stop it" she said the best she could while laughing.

"Never" said liam jokily as liam would stop in instance if she really wanted him to.

Before things could go on further their mom stepped out onto the porch and called them in for dinner.

"Camila, Liam dinner is ready, come on in and get washed up so we can eat."

"Okay mom!" They both shouted back as they stopped playing and got off each other and stood up so they could go inside. "Come on sis, let's go inside to eat, I will race you to the door." "You're on!" With that they took off running to the door, Liam winning the race.

"No fair" Camila pouted " your older so you have longer legs than me"

"Not my fault you're just short" Liam joked back at Camila. She has always been on the shorter side. Camila stuck out her tongue at Liam as they walked inside to get their outside clothes off. They took off their boots, hats, gloves, jacket and snow pants and hung them up on the hooks to dry off, before heading into the bathroom to wash their hands so they could eat.

They were eating one of their favorite meals which is their moms home cooked chicken and dumpling soup with crackers and grilled cheese on the side. They all sat down at the dining room table and ate their meal and talked about their day. After dinner Liam and Camila helped clear the table and did the dishes as part of their chorus they had to do around the house. Once the dishes were done they went to change into pjs so they could settle down to watch a movie before it was time for bed.

"Camila it's your turn to pick the movie we watch '' They take turns picking out the movie each night. Liam picked the movie yesterday which was Star Wars.

"Finding Nemo!!" she exclaimed " I love that movie, it's my favorite!"

Their mom chuckled at her daughter's response. "Alright Finding Nemo it is."

"I don't want to watch Finding Nemo. We watch it every time. Can't we pick a different movie." as Liam grumbled and complained.

"But we watch Star Wars for you just as much as we watch Finding Nemo so ha" Camila said as she stuck out her tongue at her brother and crossed her arms across her chest. Liam also sticks out his tongue at his sister.

"Children that is enough no need to stick our tongues out at each other. We take turns on who picks the movie and if Liam you want to watch Star Wars every time that is fine we will watch it, same thing goes for you Camila. If you don't want to watch the movie we can simply go to bed early and skip movie time altogether. So what is it going to be, movie or bed?"

Both siblings said quietly after getting scolded "Movie"

"Okay then movie it is, now say you're sorry to each other, we don't act like that."

"Sorry Cam, I didn't mean to act like that and hurt your feelings, do you forgive me?" Liam said quietly and shyly.

"Of course I do, Li, you're my best friend. I will always forgive you. Do you forgive me too? Camila said using her puppy dog eyes on him.

"Don't look at me with those eyes, of course I do!" As Liam moves to pull his sister into a big hug.

"Great, now that is taken care of, let's watch the movie." The Payne family settles in to watch the movie Liam and Camila cuddling on the couch with a blanket over them and their mom sitting in the recliner with her own blanket watching her children for a moment before watching the movie. Camila ends up falling asleep on Liam halfway through the movie, when it is over their mom comes over and picks up Camila while telling Liam it's time for bed to head upstairs to his room and that she will be there after she puts Camila to bed. Once Camila is in bed and tucked in she makes her way over to Liam's room to tuck him in for the night. She gives him a kiss on the forehead and tucks in the blankets around his telling him good night, have sweet dreams before turning off the light and leaving the room. The Payne family fell asleep peaceful and blissfully unaware what is about to happen tomorrow will change their lives.