Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings and Ella Enchanted. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and Gail Carson Levine. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

*.*.*

Welcome to the conclusion to my Aftermath Series. :')

I honestly didn't expect this series to end so quickly, and yet here we are! :) While I am happy that this series is concluding, know that it is not the end of my Origin Series. Parker Dooley will sure to return for the rest of my First Age series. So, there's hope yet for this series and for Parker Dooley! :)

As for this story, it has this Charles Dickons' Christmas Carol feel to it. That said, enjoy! :)

*.*.*

"Take her in here," Terrence Dooley said, leading his great-grandfather, Parker Dooley, into Terrence and Marjorie's bedroom, where Parker carried Marjorie towards the bed.

Parker Dooley was a dragonoid with a dragon-like head and a lizard-like humanoid body. His scales were red and smooth, while his snout was short with a tipped end pointed up towards the sky. He had yellow eyes that were cat-like and long, fluffy, red ears. His frills had three fingers with black tips, while his horns were grey, short, and curvy. His claws were black and fingernail-like, while his spikes were black and ran from his back all the way down to his medium-sized tail, which curled around his feet.

His clothes today were a white buttoned shirt, red suspenders, and dark brown breeches. They were new breeches he recently bought from the villagers over at the village of Pim, not far from Terrence and Marjorie's cabin where Parker was staying at.

In Parker's human-hobbit form, he looked just like his great-grandson Terrence, Frodo Baggins, who he and Terrence met at the Chesapeake Manor nine months ago, learning that Frodo was really their descendant from the Third Age. How Frodo came to the First Age was beyond them. The last time Parker and Terrence saw Frodo, he was at the Chesapeake Manor trying to remember what happened, but forgetting what a dragonoid was, all thanks to Parker's powerful spell.

Parker, in his human-hobbit form, had bright blue eyes; lighter-than-usual skin, much like Frodo's skin; short, pointy ears; fair elvish features; and soft, thick, curly dark brown hair that rested on his head and the tops of his feet. It truly was a wonder how Parker ended up with so many lookalikes thus far, including Tobias, Janet's hobbit husband and Parker's brother-in-law, who died during a fight between him, his family, and the Druid Brona, the Warlock Lord, back at the Druid's Keep in Paranor, in the Four Lands. Now, Tobias was Parker's spirit guide, but an eccentric one at that. Parker often wondered why Tobias was his guide, but he never really asked.

Parker was also once the evil/neutral/grey dragonoid Maranguan, who was the most mysterious side of himself that he ever had. Because Maranguan was so unpredictable, Parker did his best to contain him, so he wouldn't become evil. The reason he became evil was for a lot of reasons, past experiences for the most part that built up to him meeting the Sith Emperor Vitiate, who turned him evil fully for a brief amount of time, before Vitiate betrayed him and sought a new apprentice. Parker, then Maranguan, created the Shadow Empire on the planet Zafna, which was now under the reign of Qua'ra, also a shapeshifter and one of Parker's best friends, who Parker didn't know whether or not she, and her family, was alive.

On the day Parker returned to being good and whole again, it was the day that he lost his dearly devoted human wife, Eliza Bowler-Dooley. Parker and Eliza were inseparable and their love was strong, stronger than anything Parker had ever experienced. Eliza was his mate and now she was gone. On the day Parker regained his goodness, he fought against Vitiate and lost, causing Vitiate to use Force Lightning, a purple lightning that was ejected from his fingertips, to make Parker whole but the price was paid: Eliza's life, as well as Janet's, who was also Anabeth's mother, the same Anabeth married Parker's hobbit son Maxin Dooley. Both were now dead due to old age.

Nine months ago, Parker met the fourteen princesses from another world, filled with castles and kingdoms. These princesses, including Snow White and Cinderella, taught him to hope. But would that mean he'd let go of Maranguan? He'd been asking that question ever since Terrence married the woman of his dreams: a curly, brunette-haired, bright green-eyed, and pale-skinned hobbitess named Marjorie. Only then, was it time that Sir Edgar's reign over Lamia and the region Kyrria ended, as well as King Charmont changing the law about the elves and the hobbits' occupation, so they could be free to choose whichever vocation suited them, instead of just entertainment being their only option.

Parker's mind returned to the present, where he looked on at Terrence as he darted out the door, heading straight to the village of Pim to find a healer and a midwife. Parker sighed, staring at Marjorie, who was on the bed now, since Parker carried her over there, doing her best to keep calm.

"Take deep breaths," Parker said, helping Marjorie breathe while trying not to faint.

Minutes passed before Terrence returned with the healer and the midwife. The healer was an elf wearing green clothes, while the midwife was a hobbitess wearing a dark purple dress, as opposed to Marjorie wearing her white dress. In a manner of seconds, Parker and Terrence were asked to leave the room, while the healer and the midwife got to work with helping Marjorie give birth to hers and Terrence's firstborn child.

.

Parker paced back and forth in the living room, staring at Terrence half the time, who sat on the couch, pondering over Marjorie's screams happening behind the door to Terrence and Marjorie's bedroom. Parker looked at Terrence with a heartfelt sigh, wondering if now was the time to say anything that might help him out.

"What do you think she'll be like?" Terrence asked, breaking the silence. "My daughter? My firstborn?"

"She'll be a wonder," Parker said with a smile. He paused, adding, "The firstborns are always wonderful. I've never had any more children than my firstborn son Maxin, your grandfather, but I know if you have more children, I'll be happy for you."

"Thank you," Terrence said with a warm-hearted smile.

"Well, don't thank me yet!" Parker said with a smirk.

"AHHHHH!" Marjorie screamed again from the other side of the bedroom door.

At last! Another scream was heard, an infant. The door opened and the healer walked into the living room minutes later with a smile on his face.

"It's a girl!" The healer said, gesturing for Parker and Terrence to head inside the bedroom. "You may see them."

"Thank you," Terrence said, rushing into the bedroom to kiss his wife and see his newborn daughter.

Parker entered the bedroom, all smiles. There was his new great-great-granddaughter wrapped in a blanket and nestled in her mother's arms. He took a good hard look at the newborn infant, hoping she wouldn't start crying in front of him. Instead, the infant looked at him with wide eyes, before crying. Parker caught Marjorie's gaze, nearly walking away from the bed until Marjorie passed her newborn to Terrence.

"Here. You hold him," Marjorie said to Parker, as Terrence took the child and passed her onto Parker.

At first, the newborn cried when Parker held her. Parker gulped, hesitating on whether or not the child wanted to be with him after all. Then the crying stopped and the infant stared wide-eyed at him again, laughing merrily. Parker smiled, loving the infant.

"What have you called her?" Parker giggled, looking at Terrence and Marjorie.

"There. You see? She likes you," Terrence said with a smile on his face.

"Terrence and I agreed," Marjorie looked up at her husband, before facing Parker, "We've decided to name her Autumn since she is born in the Fall."

"That makes sense," Parker said with a warm chuckle.

"We want you to help us care for her," Marjorie insisted.

"Well, as much as you can help," Terrence added, grinning at Parker.

Parker grunted. "I'd love to."

"Good. Here, let me see her," Marjorie said, holding out her arms.

Parker passed the child back to Marjorie, allowing Marjorie the chance to feed her newborn. Parker looked at Terrence, as the gentle-hobbit patted him on the back, close to Parker's black spikes.

"We did good this year," Terrence said with a smirk. "The house is well furnished and Marjorie gave birth to our firstborn daughter. Everything's turning out in our favor."

"I'm glad," Parker said, his mind wandering.

"Are you okay?" Terrence asked, concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Parker said, smiling. "I just got lost in my thoughts."

"Well, don't take too long. I want everything to be perfect for my little girl," Terrence said, smirking at Marjorie and their infant daughter.

Parker smiled, wondering what moment would be more perfect than this? He realized that any moment would be perfect, as long as they were good moments. But then, when would he have his moment again?

~o~

Four days passed, and so far, Autumn Dooley was looking festive this time of the year. Parker watched her be carried around in her mother's arms, while Terrence worked on repairing a pipe under the kitchen sink. The sun had just started setting, giving Parker the chance to eat dinner and go to bed early. He was in no mood to speak to anyone about his feelings; at least, not now.

Maranguan was contained. Nothing could release him, or so Parker hoped.

Parker went into his bedroom after dinner, once Terrence finished repairing the pipe and seeing the water was clean and fresh. It was then, after several minutes, that Terrence met Parker in his bedroom.

"Are you okay?" Terrence asked, concerned for the light red dragonoid.

"I'm fine. I'm all right," Parker said, timidly. He wiped a tear from his eyes, doing his best to keep himself calm.

"Well, if you've got something to say, then say it! You don't have to keep it hidden," Terrence said, serious.

"I'm sorry. You have family. You're happy. I… I don't know what that's like. I'm forgetting what it feels like to be a father," Parker said, somber. "I'm afraid I'll lose myself before the night is over."

"Well, you should get some rest. We'll talk in the morning," Terrence said, closing the bedroom door behind him.

"Right. I should sleep," Parker said, making his way over to a cushioned chair with floral patterns sewn on the fabric. He rubbed his eyes, covering his face with his hands, all while doing his best to keep himself calm.

He sniffed the air. Something wasn't right. Surely, the flames in the stone fireplace wouldn't go out. If they did, then he'd fear the worst! He jumped when the flames crackled in the fireplace. Okay, no need to panic! There was no need… or so he hoped.

He uncovered his face, jumping and yelping at the sight of two Dalmatian spirits walking around in his room. Alongside them was a dark-haired lass with pale skin, a thin frame, fair features, brown eyes, and wearing a dark blue tunic, a brown jacket, green pants, and black boots. This lass was a spirit, too. Parker recognized this lass: it was Janet, Anabeth's mother. She was here? And the Dalmatians… well, he didn't know who they were. They must be… Janet's parents, Janus and Jock.

How were they here?

"What are you doing here, Janet? Janus? Jock?" Parker asked, nervous and sweat pouring down his scaly, light red face.

"What are you doing here, Parker?" Janus asked, shrewdly. "You were supposed to go questing. Didn't Tobias tell you your time to stay in Kyrria has passed?" Janus chuckled. "No, he didn't. Sneaky as always."

"Or maybe he wasn't ready to tell Parker!" Jock said in delight. "It's a shame. Usually, when Tobias comes to you, it usually means that there's a new quest ready to begin."

"Why are you here?" Parker asked, his light red, scaly fingers trembling and almost ready to go numb.

"We've come with a warning, one that you must listen to," Janet said, sharply. "You will be visited by three spirits tonight: your past, your present, and your future. You will recognize these spirits, but you must listen to them, including yourself. Who knows? You might learn something."

"They will come tonight, after every hour," Janus told Parker, giddily. "Don't be upset and don't be too alarmed. For this night will change you. Good luck, Parker Dooley. We're counting on you to make the right choice!" In an instant, the ghosts of Janus, Jock, and Janet disappeared, leaving Parker frozen and afraid. Parker wanted to move, but he couldn't.

More ghosts were going to invade Terrence's house tonight? That was the last thing he wanted! Eventually, he moved from the chair, getting ready for bed and hoping that no more spirits would come tonight, at this hour no less.

*.*.*

References:

Vitiate comes from the MMO video game, "Star Wars: The Old Republic". Force Lightning comes from the "Star Wars" galaxy. Princesses like Snow White and Cinderella come from fairytales and Disney. Brona, the Warlock Lord, Druid's Keep, Paranor, and the Four Lands comes from Terry Brooks' book series, The Shannara Series.

-x-

Thanks for reading. :)