Prologue:

Late September. It was a very stormy night; the rain was thrown violently to the ground and pounded the earth mercilessly in thick heavy sheets. Lightening flashed across the dark forbidding sky and smote all that it could find while the thunder exploded in the air and shook the windows of the Bernard Manor. As the wind fought to bring down the trees of the exquisite garden and surrounding grounds a woman’s painful cries were heard within the halls. Inside the master bedroom, the new lady of the house was in labor. Outside pacing up and down the hall anxiously was her husband, James Bernard the fourth. Mr. Bernard was a very wealthy man inheriting millions from his father and grandfather who had years ago owned a large business.
At a young age James’ grandfather died at 58 of pneumonia, leaving his father with the company. Years later James’ father decided to sell the company and run for public office. His father became the Governor of Colorado while James went off to college in New York to study archeology.
During his studies in New York James met a young woman by the name of Christina Yiams, whom he fell in love with and later married. Together they had a son named Trevor, two years later they had another son who they named Leonardo. Sadly months after her second son Christina died from unknown causes. Heartbroken at the loss of his wife of only three years James became depressed and threw himself into his works of ancient civilizations. He spent long nights in his study reading while his two sons were raised by their grandmother Amelia. Five years later James heard reports of strange artifacts found in Alaska. Eager to jump on the opportunity James headed off to Alaska with a team of experts he hand picked to go with him. On the expedition he met the daughter of an old family friend named Krysta. She was young, beautiful, tender, kind and had a spirit for adventure. Upon looking for these artifacts James found that slowly day by day he was falling in love with Krysta.
Finding nothing to support the reports of any artifacts the team decided to leave the frozen lands and return home. As they were beginning to hike their way back to the nearest town James slipped down the steep slope of a hill and slid all the way down into an underground cavern. Slightly disoriented James grabbed his flashlight and found himself surrounded by cave drawings and various things untouched by modern hands. When his team arrived they congratulated him on this unexpected yet truly remarkable find. Months of excavating toke place with new finds and artifacts emerging everyday. One day James and Krysta were looking for more clues about this unknown civilization when they both came across a small mound of dirt with stones encircling it. Removing the soil they discovered the mummified remains of a young girl, the only thing she had on her were the wrappings and a necklace of twine with small blue beads and a large purple crystal. After finding the remains James decided to keep the crystal necklace as a token from his expedition.
After they had found all that they could find the team returned to the modern world and became renowned for their unearthing of a long lost society. Soon after returning home James began to court Krysta then months later asked for her hand in marriage. Now she was there in the room preparing to give him a new child.
“Daddy?” a small voice came from behind him ripping him from his memories. Turning he looked down at Leonardo who was now six years old. His small green eyes looked up through a forest of thick brown curls that hung down his face.
“What’s wrong with mommy? Is she gonna die?” he said as he looked at the door to the room. James quickly moved to his son and swept him up into his arms.
“No son, mommy isn’t going to die.” James replied as he went back down the hall going to Leonardo’s room. Half way down the hall a figure appeared from an adjoining hallway. His eldest son Trevor, now eight, came quickly looking around worriedly then spotting his younger brother in his father’s arms hurried over to them.
“I’m so sorry dad, he came to my room and asked for a glass of water and when I came back he was gone. I think he heard mom.” Trevor said in a rush as he came up to his father. James only smiled softly and ruffling Trevor’s dirty blond hair studying his face. Trevor was the spitting image of his mother, inheriting her large brown eyes and slim lips as well as her straight hair.
“It’s okay son. No need to apologize, you just take care of your brother now.” he said as he sent Leonardo down.
“Come on Leon. It’s way past your bed time. “Trevor said as he toke his brothers hand and led him back to his room. James watched as his boys entered the room and closed the door behind them. A slight pain stabbed him in the heart at the sight of his two boys. Years of essentially ignoring them because of his own sorrow had left it’s mark on them, Trevor looked after his brother and toke care of him when Amelia wasn’t around to watch over them. James remembered the nights in his study when Trevor and Leon would come in to say goodnight and he wouldn’t response save for a grunt or a wave. Marrying Krysta, however, changed him. Turning him into an active father figure for his sons. The past couple of months had been amazing with his kids warming and accepting their new mother as well as waiting eagerly for the arrival of the new member of the family. Thoughts of picnics, outings, movies and dinners together filled James’ mind. Seeing his sons and his wife smiling brought such a joy to his heart.
“Mister Bernard!” a voice shouted. Looking back he saw one of the maids running towards him. “Sir Come quick, come quick!” She yelled frantically.
“What’s wrong?” the sound of the maids’ voice caused him to start to worry. “Is Krysta all right?”
“Quickly Mister Bernard, quickly.” she yelled over her shoulder as she ran back up the hall to the master bedroom. Without hesitating James ran after.

In little Leon’s room, Leon was slowly drinking the water his brother had gotten for him while Trevor stood at the door pressing his ear against it, listening to the sound of foot steps as they hurried away.
“Is mommy going to be okay?” Leon asked as he sat down on the floor next to his bed. Trevor looked down at his younger brother. During the years in which their father had somewhat abandoned them Trevor took it upon himself to take care of his brother even though Amelia did raise them. As the years passed Leon had begun to look up to Trevor for all guidance and reassurance in everything as well as teaching him things that all boys do like catching frogs in the ponds and climbing the trees even though they were forbidden from doing so. Now that his dad had wanted to start acting like a father left a slight bitterness in Trevor, but he was happy that he finally had a father and mother.
“Mom’s gonna be fine. She’s just getting ready to welcome the baby.” he said as he came and sat next to his little brother. Leon looked up at him with his green eyes filled with childish fear.
“When the baby comes I’ll still be your brother, right?” Leon asked.
“Of course you’ll still be my little brother. What’d make you think other wise?” Trevor said slightly taken back by Leon’s question. Leon looked down sheepishly under his brothers gaze.
“Micah said that the baby was going to replace me.” he said softly. Micah was one of the maid’s daughters who would come and play with Trevor and Leon. She enjoyed teasing and taunting Leon about everything he done or how he looked.
“Don’t listen to what Micah says, ‘kay? She’s just jealous because she doesn’t have a cool little brother like you.” Trevor said with a reassuring smile, Leon didn’t look convinced. Thinking quickly Trevor rushed out of the room and went to his own. Rummaging among his collections and toys he found what he was looking for. Grabbing his Swiss army knife he hurried back to Leon and sat down next to him in his hand he held two blank dog tags. Quickly he scratched at the metal with the blade etching in his name on one and Leon’s on the other. Once done he put the dog tag with Leon’s name around his neck and placed the other one around his brother.
“There, now you see these tags?” he said holding up his own tag for his brother to see.
“Yeah.”
“My tag has your name on it and your tag has my name on it. Now no matter what anyone says this tag says that you’re my little brother and I’m your big brother. ‘Kay?” Leon looked down at his tag that hung below his chest and cupped it in his hands.
“Okay!” he said with a big smile.
“Good now come on let’s get you to bed.” Trevor said as he stood up, just then one of the maids burst into the room scaring both boys.
“Oh boys! Come quickly! Quickly now!” she said excitedly.
“What’s wrong Lucy? Is it mom?” Trevor said slightly worried.
“Oh come and see!” she said as she picked Leon up onto his feet. Trevor wasted no time in taking Leon’s hand and jogging after the overly excited woman. They followed her to the master bedroom where she paused and gave a few short knocks on the door. Another maid opened the door and quickly ushered them all in. Once in the room Trevor toke in the whole scene. Maids and servants scattered around the room many with joyful or tearful faces, a few doctors standing nearby the bed with his grandmother. His father sitting on a chair at the side of the bed…and his mom. Krysta looked very pale and tired, but even that didn’t seem to quench her beauty in anyway. Infact it seemed like it increased her loveliness. Her large almond-shape blue grey eyes, crimson lips and heart shaped face perfectly framed by her long, cascading black curls lay peacefully against the soft pillows that propped up her long frail body. Something small and wrapped in a blanket lay in her arms. Looking up from the bundle that she held she smiled at the two boys invitingly.
“Come on, it’s alright.” she said sweetly. Given the invitation Leon dashed from his brothers side and jumped onto the bed nearly swimming in the sea of soft silk sheets. Trevor hesitated a little but with a little helpful nudge from one of the servants he nervously walked forwards and stood beside his father. There in the large bundle of blankets was the small face of a new born baby. Leon was already whispering his promises to the little baby claiming he would be the best big brother ever. It toke Trevor a second to find his voice again.
“What’s his name?” he asked both his voice and words shaky. James placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.
“Her,” he said softly. “You have yourself a new baby sister.”
“What’s her name?” he corrected. His mom smile brightly.
“Kianna.” she replied softly. “Do you want to hold her?”
Trevor didn’t think at all when he moved around his dad and sat on the bed close to his mother. Krysta carefully handed Kianna to him and quickly Leon came around to look at her.
“She’s so small.” Leon said.
“All babies are small, Leon.” Trevor replied never looking away from his new sister.
“I’m gonna teach her how to catch frogs!”
“You can’t teach a girl how to catch frogs, they like to play with dolls and dressing up.”
“Well we can still teach her.” Leon said as he reached and put his finger in Kianna’s little hand, Trevor put his own finger in her other hand. Almost instantly Kianna’s hands gripped on their fingers and she opened up her eyes. Trevor almost chocked at the sight of her fiercely beautiful blue eyes, he felt as though he was starring at two glowing sapphires. Kianna looked up at both her new brothers, then to the astonishment of the whole company she suddenly smiled and let out a sweet little cue at them both before yawning then falling asleep in Trevor’s arms. James chuckled softly at his new daughter.
“She’s going to be quite a girl when she gets older.”