Epilogue.

Six years later.

Devonne.

They left us in a hurry

The left without saying goodbye

They left without telling

The left us alone to cry

I looked at the poem I'd written six year ago feeling kind of stupid. It didn't make sense, nor did it rhythm, but it told me something had changed if nothing else. I remember the counselor, she was old and mean, and I'd hated her from the moment we met. It was her idea to write this, to vent our feelings towards our parents. At that point I was confused, mad, scared and misguided. The world around Daniel and me was falling apart and I was naïve enough to listen to the majority. They pointed fingers, so I did too.

I saw them as monsters just like everyone else did.

That had changed now.

"Do you think we should take our photos?" Daniel's voice asked behind me.

Hearing. That's what changed me. That's what changed everything.

I turned and looked at my twin, his hair a mess of curls and eyes big and wide. I bit my lip and shrugged, my eyes skimming outside watching the front driveway intently waiting for his car to arrive home.

"I don't know, they didn't say." I responded, words spilling from my lips making sounds that still amazed me. "I don't think we should, just in case Daniel."

I let my eyes shift back and he stared disappointed but nodded going back to packing. We had to sacrifice aspects of this life for our new one. We both knew that already, but it still hurt leaving our stuff behind.

"It's just a photo," I heard him whisper, "We can take more, make new memories."

I nodded in agreement the poem still in my hand. Without a second thought I ripped it up throwing the pieces towards the middle of the room where all the things we couldn't take sat displaced.

I knew ripping it up did nothing, it didn't change the feelings I'd once had or the views of the world. My mom had murdered her brother, why? Well that was debatable, the tale of mom's downward spiral was well documented and it was easy to just add the pieces together and say my Uncle was the innocent bystander who was killed in a moment of insanity, just like Demi had been.

That's what I hated the most, even when I was five it never fitted. Everyone started saying my mom killed her too, that she murdered Demi and then killed Trace because he'd found out. That's what the police said anyway. Of course there were other suggestions, did Trace kill Demi? Did mom seek revenge? Of course that was quickly pushed aside by the police anyway, they were unwilling to look into the case, too much cost, didn't want to be shamed because they failed and she didn't. We'd never know the truth, but the media liked the idea of Miley's revenge, so there were two sides.

"Von are you sure we're making the right decision?" Daniel suddenly asked.

I looked up at him, his collection of CD's around him and the guitar Uncle Joe had bought him for his eight birthday. "I mean we have lives here, we have school and our friends. If we go with them-"

"It'll be worth it." I cut him off frowning.

Daniel looked at me, a curl falling across his forehead. "You don't know that."

"They're our parents Daniel. I trust them."

"You never used too," He mumbled under his breath looking away.

He was right.

I didn't remember a lot from that horrible year. To me it was fuzzy and blurred, but I remembered being bounced around from guardian to guardian.

I don't remember the actual day Joe found Uncle Trace but I know we ended up with grandma and grandpa Jonas for the following week. There was a fight, a court case and then we were with mammy and pappy. They were shocked when they saw me, everyone was. Nothing was hidden anymore. All the details spilled out into the media like a volcano erupting.

Mammy and pappy were the reason I wrote that poem. They filled my head with images of mom and dad, so did the counselor.

They made me fear my parents. Made them become monsters in my mind, in my dreams, in every aspect of my life.

We were in there clutches for seven long months and then we were back in court again.

"And what about Uncle Joe, Von?"

"What about him?" I asked moving over to my doll collection.

"He's our Uncle, he looks after us." Daniel responded seriously looking around the playroom we shared. "We can't just leave him Von. We're his family."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I didn't want think about that. Leaving my dolls was hard, but leaving Uncle Joe behind was hurting me so much. I loved him, we both did. He was there for us when no one else even wanted to contemplate the evil spawn of 'the celebrity killers'.

"We'll still see him," I whispered picking up my favorite doll, "They promised."

"Another promise they'll probably break." Daniel muttered half heartily.

I looked at Daniel his lip quivering. I wanted to help him, but I couldn't. He liked it here, but I didn't. I was sick of this city, of the life we'd been forced to grow up in. I hated Los Angeles and the fake people that lingered around us.

"They won't Daniel. Not this time." I responded confidently.

Daniel just rolled his eyes at me and stood up leaving the room, probably to go sulk in his bedroom, he was such a crybaby sometimes. I however wasn't, Joe said I was like my mom and I was beginning to understand why. It had taken me a while to finally come to terms with what they'd done, but Joe helped us both, he made us understand what happened. He told us how mom investigated, and I guess I got inspired so I started my own research.

I wanted to find them. To ask them the one thing I couldn't understand.

Why they left us behind.

I had that answer now.

"I'm home!" Joe's voice rang out from downstairs.

My eyes widened as I rushed to the window seeing his car. Crap, I was supposed to be watching out for it. I looked around the playroom panicked two suitcases were on the floor and our belongings littered everywhere.

"Please tell me you've done your homework already." He continued, "If not there is no way I'm giving you the present I bought you guys." I bit my lip hearing that. He'd bought us a present, and we were about to tell him the one thing he never wanted to hear.

"Daniel? Devonne?"

"Coming!" I yelled in reply.

I moved out of the room, closing the door hoping he didn't suddenly feel the urge to have a room cleanliness inspection. I walked over to Daniel's room staring at my brother sitting on his bed, his eyes staring at a photo frame. He must have seen me looking and turned glaring,

"Leave me alone-"

"Stop being a wimp." I snapped at him. "If anyone should be upset it should be me, not you! You've always wanted them back. You always believed in them. I didn't. You should be happy Daniel." He just looked at me and held my gaze for a moment before swallowing and nodding.

"We're giving up so much for them Von, what if they hurt us again?" He asked me.

I looked at him and shook my head. "Like I said before, we have to trust them."

"I do." Daniel murmured, "But this is hard. This is harder then I thought it would be."

"We always knew this would happen." I responded quietly, "Daniel we've known for years. Ever since mom came to our soccer game. You knew they were coming back for us." He just looked away tearfully, "Remember what daddy said? That when we get sad packing all we have to remember is, this can all be replaced, our family can't be."

Daniel closed his eyes withholding the tears nodding in agreement.

"I know." He murmured. "You're right."

I smiled feeling genuinely happy, "Now stop crying. This is our last night with Uncle Joe, we need to at least try to have some fun." I ordered seriously turning away. "I'm going downstairs, pull yourself together and come down in a minute."

With that I turned and walked down the staircase of Joe's house. He'd made a lot of changes for us, purchasing this house included. At first it was awkward with Joe, he didn't know how to speak sign language and everything was unorganised. He learned quickly though and now he was very much in control. He'd made a family out of a disaster zone.

I hopped down the final step looking up at my Uncle who was unpacking his guitar after yet another day in the studio with Uncle Kevin.

"Joe!" I yelled excited as he straightened looking at me, "Guess what?"

He frowned at me, his forehead filling with wrinkles "You're still wearing your uniform, what did I tell you? When you get home from school-"

"I got 91 on my science quiz!" I interrupted grinning at him.

Instantly the scowl was gone replaced with a huge grin, "91?" He repeated laughing walking over to me opening his arms. "That's amazing Von! God, how did you get so smart?" He pulled me into his arms hugging me tightly, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks," I whispered as he released me.

Joe reached up tucking a strand of my wavy hair behind my ear, his eyes staring for a moment at the technology placed there. Mom always knew I was smart, but it wasn't until I was eight that my school noticed. I was ahead of everyone in my class, including Daniel, so this year they decided I should skip a grade. It was a bit hard to begin with, but only two months in and finally I felt a little more captivated by what I was learning.

"They'd be proud too Von," He added after a moment.

"I know," I added lightly.

He kissed my forehead, "Now where is your brother? Oh and you're not out of trouble, go get changed! You don't want to dirty your uniform." He ordered as Daniel came down the stairs a smile on his face.

"What's the present?" Daniel asked straight out.

"Well a hi would have been nice, and it has something to do with dessert but I'm not telling you yet." Joe announced as I took the opportunity to run upstairs to change.

I made it to the top just as I heard Daniel suddenly burst out laughing downstairs. That was my favorite sound. Laughter. It was the first thing I heard after surgery, the sound of Joe laughing at me. It made me cry at first. I didn't know what to do. I didn't understand the sound he was making. Yet when I opened my eyes and saw his cheerful expression, that moment was etched into my mind forever.

The technology was new. I'd just tuned seven when Joe was notified that I was a possible candidate. It was miracle. After everything going wrong, it finally felt like something had shifted, that a change had been made.

I could hear.

That was the moment that changed everything.

It wasn't that I got my hearing back, but rather how I'd been selected as a candidate. Someone had suggested me while the particular doctor was on a conference in England. A woman, whose bright blue eyes looked at him desperately he'd told us. Until then we didn't know where they were, mom and dad had just vanished into thin air. But when he told us about the women, who seemed nervous and on edge pleading to examine me we'd all known.

It was mom.

I forgave her when I heard Joe's laughter. I forgave her for leaving us, because something in me realized that she'd never left. Mom and dad were watching, they were waiting for the right time. They were making sure everything was perfect before we were a real family again.

I walked intro my bedroom smiling at the two new residents who were pulling out my clothes and the third asleep on my bed.

"Joe's home," I responded looking at my mom and dad.

Daniel.

"Okay what's wrong?" Joe asked loudly.

I instantly turned to Devonne dropping my spoon into the pudding. It was our favorite, the only thing both Devonne and me enjoyed. Chocolate pudding. But tonight I couldn't eat it, and as I looked at my sister's bowl hers also sat untouched. We couldn't eat, not when we knew what was about to happen.

"Hey, come on, you can tell me. Is something wrong at school?" Joe questioned. I looked towards our Uncle, his eyes searching both of ours but focusing on mine. I was always the one who blurted everything out, but I hadn't this time. I'd kept this secret safe for four years.

"You know we love you right?" Von asked pinching her lips together.

She stared at Joe timidly, beginning to chew on her lip. She was nervous too, I could tell by the way she was acting. Devonne was trying to be brave but I knew this was hard for her too. Joe's expression instantly looked panicked, as he reached out offering his hand to her.

"Of course I do, what's wrong Von?" He asked.

Devonne didn't take his hand instead combed it through her wavy brown hair that she refused to get cut.

"Nothings wrong." She swallowed. "Everything is perfect Joe, that's the problem."

Joe shook his head not understanding. "What do you mean?"

He turned to me hoping for an answer but Devonne had decided it was better if I kept my mouth closed. Mom and dad didn't want us to shock him suddenly in fear of how he'd react, so Devonne was going to ease him into the idea. Plus I was barely holding it together. I wanted to be strong like Devonne, but I loved Joe too much and I liked our life here. I couldn't think of anywhere I'd rather be.

"Daniel what's going on?" He asked his eyes looking directly into mine.

"You promise you won't be mad?" I asked causing Devonne to instantly stiffen turning her head giving me a pointed glare.

Joe looked at me and then at Devonne, his eyes nervous, unwilling to respond for a moment. Finally after a few seconds he nodded. "I won't be mad, are you in trouble? Is it about school you can tell me okay? We can work this out." I looked at Devonne, her mind uneasy. I nodded at her to keep going, knowing we had to tell him. We couldn't just leave and break his heart like mom and dad did to us.

"You know those ballet classes I did at school?" Devonne asked turning back to Joe. "Just after I got my hearing?"

I watched our Uncle, his eyes distant for a moment before nodding. His posture stiffened looking at Devonne. "Yeah I remember Von."

Devonne shook her head. "Joe I never went to ballet classes at school."

Joe just looked at her, his face screwing up. "What? What do you mean? I remember every Wednesday from four till eight you had ballet for six weeks. Hayley's mom dropped you home." Devonne didn't speak and just stared down at her pudding in deep thought.

"You know how we have soccer games on Saturday morning?" I continued and Joe nodded turning his attention to me. We'd only started soccer this year, so this memory would be more familiar. "And Hayley's mom sometimes drops us home when you can't because of work?"

Joe sighed and nodded, his eyes suddenly looking shallow. "Is this about me working too much? Look I can stop and spend more time with you guys." He responded quickly.

I couldn't help it. I felt the tears building because Joe had always done everything for us and I felt like we were betraying him. He'd given up so much. He loved us like we were his own kids.

"We don't have a friend called Hayley." Devonne finally announced.

Joe just looked bewildered his mouth opening and closing a few times. I felt the tear fall as I wiped it away, but he'd already seen. Joe reached out taking my shaking hands off the table, covering it with his.

"Guys what's going on? What do you mean Hayley isn't real?"

"Hayley isn't real. We made her up." Devonne whispered.

"Then who has been bringing you home? Where were you when you had ballet?" Joe asked shaking his head looking at Devonne half mad, half completely fazed by everything we were saying. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but he looked so confused and I just wanted to give him a hug. I wanted to tell him we were sorry.

I waited for Von to speak, yet she didn't. Devonne just looked at her pudding, while Joe suffered staring between us terrified. I couldn't handle him looking like that, so before I could stop myself I let the truth out.

"Mom and dad."

Joe's head snapped back to me, his eyes widening, "What?"

"When ever we said we were with Hayley. We were actually with mom and dad."

Joe just looked at me with huge eyes his mouth hanging open. He released my hand and leaned back into his seat as silence filled the space between us. I felt more tears falling seeing him looking so confused. He was mad at us. I knew this would happen. I loved him though, I didn't want to leave Joe but I couldn't live like this. We were meant to be with mom and dad as much as I liked it here. We belonged with our family. Mom and dad needed us just as much as we needed them.

"Joe we're sorry." Von whispered her lip quivering. "They told us not to tell you."

Joe just blinked, his face suddenly grimacing. He clutched his hair pulling at it for a moment before slowly taking in a breath. He let his hand rest back on the table, his eyes focusing back on us angry.

"You've seen them?" He asked needing to hear it again.

We both nodded, "For the past four years. Joe please don't be mad." Von begged quietly.

Joe just clenched his teeth, then his fists until his knuckles turned white. I turned to Devonne to see a tear fall down her cheek. She reached out her hand to him pleadingly. "Joe we're sorry. Please, please don't be mad. You promised you wouldn't be…" He looked at her furious.

"I can't believe this!" He yelled slamming his fists against the table.

We both jumped my eyes staring at him scared. Oh God, he was really mad at us. Devonne let out a sob, Joe's wild eyes focusing on my sister. He opened his mouth to yell at us, I waited for the harsh words yet they didn't come. Joe looked at Von shaking his head, his eyes softening seeing her tears.

"I'm not mad, I'm just…" He trailed off. "I'm mad at them."

"Don't be," Von whispered sniffling, "They wanted to protect you."

He snorted shaking his head staring away furious, "Look, I'm not mad but you need to tell me next time you see them. Do you guys talk to them or…God have you been calling them?" He asked us seriously as we both shook our heads.

"No, they come to us." I responded.

Joe glanced between us and let out a loud groan. Then he placed both his hands upon the table. We'd done this before, when ever we got into a fight Joe would make us hold hands, remember that we were family, that we stuck together no matter what. I instantly reached out taking his warm hand, Devonne hesitated but finally followed my lead taking our Uncles outstretched fingers.

"Okay, you both need to listen. Got that?" We nodded as he gripped our hands, "No more lies. You need to both start from the beginning and more importantly why are you telling me this now?" He questioned, his eyes flickering between us. "What changed?"

"They're ready now." Devonne responded simply.

"Ready for what?" Joe snapped.

"For us to come and live with them."

Joe looked at me his grip on my hand tightening again, unwilling to let go. "They're coming to get you?"

We both nodded in sync, as he looked disgusted, "When?"

"Tomorrow, if you'll let us." A new voice announced.

I looked up to see dad standing there. I relaxed a little seeing his familiar bearded face, one I'd always trusted with all my heart. Even when they left us, I didn't doubt mom and dad for a moment. They were our parents. I knew them better then anyone in this world. Because Von and me were part of them, we both knew they'd always put us first and that they only wanted us to be okay. I knew that from the get go, Von took a little longer to catch on.

Dad just looked at Uncle Joe, his eyes filled with unspoken apologies. While Joe, just sat there staring at dad in disbelief just like the first time we saw them both again. I still remembered that moment, I was so happy but at the same time so scared.

"You shouldn't be here." Joe finally announced standing up defensively.

Dad just gave a small smile stepping closer, "This is exactly where I'm meant to be Joe, where I should always have been. With my family. With my kids, with you" Dad responded his smile falling.

Devonne and me both sat silently as we watched Uncle Joe just look uneasily at dad, his mind telling him one thing, his heart telling him another.

"Joe I'm so sorry." Dad whispered shaking his head.

"Don't," Joe snapped looking at dad pained, "Don't say you're sorry, you…you just left."

Dad just looked at Uncle Joe and shrugged, "What was I supposed to do Joe? She killed someone. Miley killed Trace. We didn't have a choice and you know it." Dad retorted just as brutally, "I love her Joe, you know that. I had to protect her, the twins, we had to keep this family together. I did this because I had too, not because I wanted too. I never wanted to leave you, nor did I want the twins to be left behind."

Joe just stared at dad, his posture rigid. "Is she okay?" He finally asked, "Is Miley okay?"

Dad smiled and nodded, "She wasn't, but she's coping. She's come to terms with everything now and so have I." Dad whispered as he finally let his eyes drift over to us, "And seeing these two all the time has helped, don't be mad at them Joe we just didn't want to put you in a position that made you question your morals."

Uncle Joe snorted, "Yet you have now?"

Dad nodded, "We have, because it's time we fixed this. Did you honestly think we weren't going to come back?"

Joe just looked at dad speechless. I guess he'd changed. I didn't really notice, but the way Joe's eyes zipped up and down dad made me realize that this would seem so crazy to him. Joe hadn't seen dad for six years, while we had.

"You're right, I knew you'd come back for them. I just…" Joe trailed off looking over at us his eyes disappointed. "Wished it would be longer."

Dad moved closer to Joe while his eyes stayed on us. Joe finally looked back, dad right in front of him now, "I don't expect you to forgive us, I can't understand the hell you've been through but I'm your brother Joe. Miley picked you to raise our kids for a reason, because she knew you were the one person we all needed in our life no matter what and that isn't going to change."

"I can't believe this Nick,"

"Well it's happening, Joe I'm okay, I'm right here."

Uncle Joe's head started nodding, and without any more words he pulled dad into the hug I'm sure they'd both been waiting years for. I smiled in relief, letting out a sigh turning to Devonne who was already off her chair rushing towards the other room.

"God Nick, god it was hard without you." Uncle Joe murmured, "It was so damn hard, everything was out of control. I was so scared for you and Miles."

"I know and I'm so sorry. I didn't have a choice. I love her Joe."

Joe's arms tightened around dad, "I know, I know you do."

A giggle filled the air as Joe instantly let go of dad. He tilted his head looking towards the door, as I recognised tears in Joe's eyes, they were happy ones I was sure. "What was that noise?" Uncle Joe asked as the door opened.

"It's Joseph, Devonne was tickling him again." Mom's voice proclaimed.

Mom walked into the room holding my one year old little brother in a blanket. I was still getting used to it, I had a baby brother now one who looked just like me much to Devonne's frustration. While mom I often struggled to recognise, her hair was blonde at the moment and long, she changed it so often even I got confused. Joe's whole expression filled with shock as he shook his head in disbelief.

"Oh my god Miley, Oh my god…" He murmured covering his mouth rushing towards mom. She smiled and opened her free arm to him,

"Joe I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you." Mom whispered.

"You didn't, well you did but you did good Miles. You did a good job."

I listened to what he said understanding what he meant. Joe was and had always been happy with the justice mom served. Dad moved over to me giving a wink, reaching out to ruffle my hair as I ducked away.

"You had a baby, this is…" I heard Joe whispering still clutching mom.

"Joseph, the twins named him. Well, we agreed of course."

Joe looked over at dad and me his expression gleeful, "After me?"

Dad laughed wrapping his arm around my shoulders, "Well we don't know any other Josephs, and we thought it was fitting, he's born on your birthday talk about coincidences." Dad joked as I pressed my body up against dad's feeling confused about this, but happy at the same time.

"And mommy's having another one right?" Devonne proclaimed holding her hands out to take Joseph, only for mom to scold her handing him to Joe's waiting arms. Our Uncle's eyes now firmly back on mom specifically her stomach.

"Well not for a while," Mom murmured uneasily.

"And by a while she means like six months." Dad proclaimed smugly.

"You're pregnant?" Joe asked holding our brother overwhelmed.

Mom gave dad a glare and nodded, "Unexpectedly yes. It's definitely the last one. There will be no more, right Nick?" Mom snapped staring across at dad, who just laughed as both Devonne and me pulled a face,

"Ew gross!" She hissed.

Uncle Joe just shook his head in shock staring at Joseph in his arms. "I…" He trailed off, as I saw something I'd never seen my Uncle do. A tear rolled down his cheek as he looked at my brother, "I can't believe this. I don't want to believe this because it means you're going and-"

"And it means we still want you to be apart of our new life." Mom murmured.

"I can come and see you?" Joe asked quickly.

"Of course you can, but not now." Dad responded dismally.

Joe looked confused then spotted me and Devonne, "Oh God Nick, the police will think you kidnapped them- What do you want me to do? You know I'll have to call the cops. I'll help you but I'm not going to jail." Uncle Joe looked around panicked as mom smiled.

"Nick has it covered, but you need to act as the distraught victim Joe. That the twins were taken without your knowledge and that you are sure we did it. You need to portray to the world your devastation and once they believe it, and the hype disappears when Von and Daniel aren't found it'll be time. Then you can come and be with us whenever and wherever you want." Joe's head started nodding automatically touching Joseph's cheek, only for his hope to dwindle,

"When? Are you taking them right now?" He asked quietly my little brother letting our a gurgle.

Mom shook her head, "Like Nick said we leave tomorrow."

"And tonight?"

Mom grinned placing her hand on Joe's shoulder, her happiness lifting the room like it always did. "Tonight we get to spend with you, as a family." She announced looking at Joe. "And hopefully this ends the storm that's been chasing us, finally the whole world can just forget so we can stop and start again. Together."

Joe nodded looking at Joseph glowing while I stood there feeling more confident now. This finally felt like the family we were always meant to be, and I didn't know what the future might hold, but I knew as long as we were together nothing could challenge us.

A/N: I just hate last line, they always come our so corny and awkward :( Anyway it's finished (I swear I sometimes questioned whether or not this story would ever be completed) I hope you liked this more then the last chapter. Thanks for the reviews and for those who care I'll be updating waiting maybe tomorrow :)