two years later - september 29, 2022

claudia's hand tightens around mine as the vein in her forehead bulges slightly.

"one more push," the doctor says with a soft smile, looking up at claudia. "you're doing so good, claudia."

one more push and a full minute later, i hear the loud cry of a baby.

my baby.

claudia had agreed to be a surrogate for me, after a donor bank called to tell me that gwendolyn's eggs were going to be thrown out soon. using an anonymous donor with all of my features and most of my medical history, and being told that i couldn't have children due to endometriosis, the both of us agreed that we'd do this together, as sisters.

it worked out because claudia wanted to be pregnant but didn't want the kid, and i wanted the kid but couldn't be pregnant.

i squeeze claudia's hand as she lets out a loud breath of relief, relaxing with her legs in the stirrups. "you did it, claudia," i murmur softly, brushing her hair off of her sweaty forehead. "i owe you my life."

"congratulations," the nurse says, holding the small and slightly premature baby in her arms. "you have a healthy and beautiful baby girl."

tears well in my eyes as the small human was passed to me gently. i let out a stifled sob as i hold the girl close to me, my fingers running over the pale skin and the button nose.

"gwendolyn amelie dené o'connell," i whisper softly, pressing my lips to the newborn's forehead. "my beautiful baby..the love of my life..named after your mommy and her sister."

claudia lets out a soft squeal as she looks at me. "i haven't seen look at someone like that since-" she trails off, her face falling as she realizes her train of thought.

"since gwen," i finish for her, a sad smile crossing my lips. "i know - i haven't felt truly happy since gwen, and now i have her baby."

"she would be so proud of you, billie," claudia murmurs, her hand grasping my bicep gently.

thirteen weeks later - december 18, 2022

"as some of you know," i say into the microphone, sitting down on the stool. "i have a baby now."

the screams of the crowd make me smile sadly, tears immediately welling in my eyes as the beginning cords of the song begin.

"this little girl makes me so happy already, and today..on my twenty-first birthday, i'm telling you that this will be my last show." the tears fall freely from my eyes and i look up at the screen behind me. "everytime i sing this song, this moment replays in my head - tonight, this one goes out to both of my babies."

"its not true," i sing into the microphone, the screen behind me morphing into the moment i pulled gwendolyn on stage with me.

"tell me i've been lied to," images and news clips of the plane crash flash on the screen before moving to a video of gwen crying because of the fault in our stars. "crying isn't like you."

"what the hell did i do?" a clip of gwen telling me about the ring flashes, the sad smile on her lips causing a pang in my heart.

"never been the type to let someone see right through," the video morphes into when gwendolyn sent me a video of her crying while listening to listen before i go.

"baby, won't you take it back, say you were tryna make me laugh," i sing into the microphone, my vision clouded with tears as i watch the screen ahead of me. the memories of gwendolyn hit me all at once - that first day in the ER, all the way up to holding her while the plane went down. "and nothing has to change today; you didn't mean to say i love you."

i continue the song, hardly able to breath by the end of it. "goodnight guys - thank you for being there for me in the hardest time of my life. i love you. stay safe."

i wave at the crowd of fans as a last goodbye before making my way off stage and to my greenroom. i immediately take baby gwen into my arms and hold her close, pressing my lips to her forehead.

"you look just like mommy," i whisper to her as i point at a picture of gwen. "that's your mommy, baby.."

OMNISCIENT

every year after baby gwendolyn was born, billie had taken her child to her mother's grave. each year, they brought a pink rose and a yellow lily, and put them atop of the engravements in the cement.

baby gwendolyn, however, was born with a gift that billie hadn't realized until later.

gwendolyn could see her mother in certain lights and circumstances. when she was nervous about a test, gwenny would see her mother standing right beside her as she jotted the answers down.

as the years went on, she kept her mouth shut about seeing her mother, in a slight fear that billie wouldn't believe her.

that is, until her sixteenth birthday.

september 29, 2038 BILLIE'S POV

"momma," gwenny shouts as she runs down the hallway. "mommy said you were throwing a surprise party for me but i really really don't want you to."

i raise my eyebrows at her words, wondering where the fuck she heard about her surprise party.

i'll bet it was that little bitch kelsey. big mouth.

"i don't know who told you about a party," i chuckle, running my fingers through my hair as i set a plate of toast and strawberry jam on the kitchen table. "but they're completely wrong."

"mommy says you're lying," gwendolyn says with narrow eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

"don't tell me you're a little," i fein surprise at the repeated use of mommy as i wrap my arm around my daughter's shoulders. "who told you?"

"mommy did," she mumbles as she leans her head on my shoulder. "she told me that you crinkle your nose and refuse to make eye contact when you lie."

"who are you calling mommy?" i ask, registering her words in my brain.

"my mother, duh," she shrugs, pulling away firm my embrace and grabbing a piece of jam covered toast. "did you sign that permission slip for my choir class?"

"its on the coffee table," i say, my eyebrows furrowing as i follow her into the living room. "i'm your mother, gwendolyn."

"and so is mommy," she says with the roll of her eyes, taking a bite of the toast before grabbing her backpack off the nail on the wall. "she told me to tell you that she loves you, by the way." throwing her bag over her shoulder, she makes her way to the front door. "i have to get to practice, love you, momma!"

"gwendolyn!" i shout as she slams the door shut. "slam it harder, next time!"

i let out a sigh and rest my forehead in my hands. "kids."

"she's a handful," i hear a familiar voice say.

i've only heard that voice from a laptop and in my dreams in the last eighteen years.

"are you gonna look at me or are you just gonna keep staring at the counter with bug eyes?"

i slowly turn around and see the love of my life standing in front of me. her hair was long and curled to perfection, and she wore a hoodie and black leggings and looked no older than she did eighteen years ago. "gwen?"

"hey, baby," she murmurs, opening her arms for a hug. "miss me?"

i take a scared step toward the woman, tears welling in my eyes as i look at her. "this isn't possible-"

"i'm here," she says softly, pulling me into her warm embrace. tears fall freely from my eyes as i inhale her scent. "i've always been here."

"why are you just now showing up?" i ask her, my face buried in her neck. its been so long since i've been held by someone i actually care about.

the batteries in the lipstick gwen bought ran out long ago, and instead of buying new ones, my dumb ass decided to look elsewhere for a release. meaningless hookups took over my life, until gwenny was born, at least.

"you didn't seem to need me until now." she says, her fingers running through my blonde hair slowly. "she's beautiful, by the way."

"she looks just like you," i mumble into her skin, my hands gripping onto her hoodie tightly. "of course she's beautiful."

"eighteen years and you're still soft," gwen laughs softly, pressing her lips to my forehead. "i'd always been around - especially when gwendolyn was born - but your thoughts are getting too loud and violent lately."

"my thoughts?" i ask with raised eyebrows, pulling away from her slightly. "you're telling me..you can hear my thoughts?"

"unfortunately," she sighs, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she rolls her eyes playfully. "every time you watch that nsfw file, my ears start ringing."

my cheeks burn red as i hide my face in her chest once again. "you're kidding me."

"nope," she grins, placing he finger underneath my chin. "gotta admit - watching you touch yourself while thinking of me...after all these years...it's hot as fuck."

"gwenny'll be back in two hours," i whisper softly, looking at gwen with hooded eyes. "we have a lot to talk about."

FIN.