Lost and Found

“Mom, what’s going on?” a voice came from the front door. Marianne, Danny and I looked over at it and saw Michelle DiBenedetto Haner, the wife of Synyster Gates. One look at us and her face immediately went into a blank confusion. “Who’re these kids?” Michelle started walking through, past us to the kitchen. “Mom, I told you to be firmer with these kids. They get one whiff of the guys and they’re all over you. Did you threaten to call the police?”

“Elizabeth?” Tracy motioned. I stood up and walked beside her, Michelle came out of the kitchen looking at me, judging me. Tracy put her arm around me. “Remember when you and Valary were sixteen and she had to give up her baby?”

“Yeah? What about it?” she asked, her gaze never leaving me.

“Meet Elizabeth, your niece.”

Michelle’s eyes bugged and her hands flew up to her mouth. “Are you shitting me?” she asked, though it came out muffled.

“Michelle, look at her. She’s an exact replica of Matt and Valary.”

“Told you!” Danny said from behind us. I turned to look at him.

“Shut up about that!” I turned back to Michelle and her composure kept the same. She reached out with one hand and touched my face, her eyes watering. It was like she was trying to see if I was real.

“How… how did you… you…”

“Find you guys?” I asked for her. She nodded and returned her hand. “Hospital records led us to this address. After finding out I was adopted… I just had to find my real family.” Michelle quickly pulled me into an unexpected hug, and pulled away.

“You know Val will never believe this, right?” Michelle asked her mother.

“It’s worth a try. Even if we have to get tests done, it’s worth a try,” Tracy assured.

Michelle nodded and looked around. "Mom, can I talk to you in private?" Michelle stole a glance at us and guided her mother outside. She shut the door behind her but we could still hear what she was saying. "Mom," she started, then paused.

"I know what you're thinking," her mother spoke, "but I have a really good feeling about this. I believe she is that little baby."

"What if they're faking the papers or something? We can't have another fan just claim to be the daughter of Val's and then next thing you know, they're asking for this, this, and that. I don't want that to happen to her. How can we trust that she is who she says she is?"

"They didn't even know they were who they are." There was silence for a moment.

"Okay," Michelle said, "but if something happens, I'm gonna say I told you so. But I can't get over how much she looks like her, like him. What's going to happen if she is Valary's kid? What's going to change?"

"Something wonderful," her mother said. "I've just got a feeling."

The door opened and I looked at the two women. Mrs. DiBenedetto cleared her throat. "Do you know when they are going to be back?" she asked her daughter.

“Um… well, they’re in town tomorrow, actually. Val and I talked last night. They have a little break before more touring. You can meet them then.”

“We’ve already met them,” Marianne said, walking up next to me.

“They know you? Why didn’t Val tell me-”

“No, sweetie,” Tracy stopped her. “Elizabeth didn’t know any of this until after they met.” Michelle’s mouth formed the ‘O’ shape and she then nodded. Michelle took another good look at me.

“I can’t believe that… you’re here… this is so weird.” I smiled and nodded. “Oh look! Matt’s dimples!” I must’ve blushed so hard, I felt my face heat up. I looked away. “So tell me about yourself… and who’re your friends?” I looked up.

“Well, this is Marianne, and that’s the crazed stalker who is going to try and steal your underwear tonight, Danny,” I told her. She looked at me like I was crazy. “He loves Avenged Sevenfold like… He just really loves them.”

Michelle laughed and we all sat in the living room. “Wow,” she breathed.

“I know,” Tracy said. “It’s surreal, isn’t it?” Michelle nodded as her and her mother continued to stare at me.

“So… what’s your favorite color, Elizabeth?” Michelle asked.

“Red,” Marianne answered for me. I looked at her.

“That was my question…”

“You forgot that red ties with orange,” Danny added. I rolled my eyes and leaned back.

“They know everything, I guess. Go ahead and ask them,” I said.

Michelle and Tracy laughed lightly. “Are you out of high school yet?”

I nodded. “We just graduated, actually,” Marianne said.

“I wasn’t being serious,” I laughed. “I can answer my own questions.”

“Are you going to college?” Tracy asked.

“Of course she is! She was the fricken Valedictorian,” Marianne said. I groaned, pushing my head into my lap.

“Where are you going?” Michelle asked.

“UCLA,” I answered quickly.

“Oh, that’s so awesome. That’s not too far from here,” Michelle gushed. “Do you start in the fall?” I nodded. “What are you going to major in?”

“I was thinking about majoring in history, actually,” I said. “I want to be a historian, but I'm not too sure. Maybe a teacher.”

“That’s not something I hear every day,” Michelle joked with a laugh. I smiled widely this time and looked down, feeling a blush on my face. “Aw, you have Matt’s smile!” she cooed.

“Really?” Marianne asked, and I could feel her looking at me. “Does she, Danny?”

“Huh?” he asked.

“Weren’t you paying attention?” Marianne asked, looking at him.

“No, not really. I just couldn’t believe that this is who I think it is.” Danny looked at me. “I’m sorry you were adopted, but, Liz, I’m so glad you were.”

I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, Danny.”

“How do you think Matt and Val will take this… all of this sudden info? How should we go about it?” Marianne asked.

“Well, we need to tell Matt and Val by themselves first,” Tracy said.

“Then before anyone else knows we need to get maternity and paternity tests done,” Michelle said.

“Can you keep it from Brian that long?” Tracy joked with her daughter… my aunt. Michelle just smiled and nodded.

“Of course I can. Sure, it’ll be hard but I think I can do it.”

“You have to be the luckiest person alive, Lizzie,” Danny gushed. “M. Shadows as your Dad and Synyster Gates as your uncle…”

“I just wish it wouldn’t have been this way, though,” I mumbled.

“What do you mean?” Tracy asked.

“Well,” I started. “I still don’t know who to be mad at; maybe I should be mad at them all. Heather and Nick-”

“The ones who adopted her,” Marianne added.

“Yeah, them for not telling me I was adopted, or Matt and Val, for not keeping me?”

“The way I look at it sweetie, it’s like you have two families. Heather and Nick for being there for you and taking care of you, and then us… the biological family,” Michelle added. I smiled and nodded. I know I had a lot to think about.

"Yeah, but," I started. "just because they provided DNA for me doesn't make them family, right?"

She ignored my statement, looking a little flustered but continued anyway. "You just gotta remember that it's not like it seems. Had circumstances been different Val would've totally kept you. She knew Matt was going to be in a band and didn't want to drag him down and she knew she couldn't afford to raise you and take proper care of you. She wanted to give you a better life than she could ever give you. And then Heather and Nick wanted a baby so badly. They love you just as much as we do even though this is the second time I've met you."

"You saw me when I was a baby?"

Michelle nodded. "Yeah, I even held you. Matt and Val didn't want to though. Val didn't even want to look at you." Michelle’s phone rang and she immediately grabbed her purse, looking for the plastic device.

“It’s Lee, should I tell her?” Michelle asked before answering.

“This is something we need to keep to ourselves,” Tracy said, “At least until we’re sure.” Michelle nodded and opened her phone.

“Hello?” she asked into the receiver. “Really?” I wanted to know so bad what the call was about. “Okay. Thanks Leana. I need to talk to Val before she gets here anyway. Bye.” Michelle hung up the phone and looked at us. “Looks like they’ll be here sooner than we thought, a lot sooner,” she said, dialing a number and pressing send. The phone made its way to her ear and waited a few moments before speaking. “Val, I heard when you'll be getting back home… Leana told me, anyway, just listen. When you get home, I need you and Matt to come over to Mom’s a.s.a.p., it’s really important… You’ll find out when you get here, now just do it… okay. I guess I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

Out of respect, Marianne and Danny agreed to wait outside in the backyard when Matt and Val arrived. Matt and Val came to the house about ten minutes later, and when the door was knocked on, they scurried out to the back while I waited in the living room with Tracy and Michelle, who had answered the door.

“What’s wrong?” I heard Val say when the door was opened.

“Something needs to be explained and that same thing needs to be confirmed,” Michelle answered.

“Well, what is it?” Val asked.

“Let’s hurry up, there’s a barbecue brewing up at home,” I heard Matt say.

“Front room,” was all Michelle replied. Once in view, Val was the first to notice me.

“Elizabeth?” she asked.

“Hey, I remember you… and I also remember you weren’t the crazy obsessed one hailing us, either,” Matt said with a grin. Faintly, I hear Danny yell a ‘Hey!’ There was no keeping them from listening.

“Yeah…” was all I said.

“What’s this about? What are you guys doing here? If you're stalking us my judge in your character was way off.” Val said, looking to Michelle for answers.

"It’s like there’s three of them in there…" Marianne said from outside.

“Who’s out there?” Matt asked, going to the back door.

"Shit! We’re caught!” Danny said. The door was opened and a pause before anything was said.

“Uh… hey… M…” Danny said awkwardly.

Matt laughed. “Just come in.”

Matt came back into the living room with Danny and Marianne behind him. They made sure to keep their distance, though.

“I’m so confused right now,” Val said.

Notes