The Ultimate Test

Chapter 7

Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Author's Note: The lyrics at the end of the chapter are the lyrics to the song "All Because of You", slightly modified. The original version of the song was recorded by Lila McCann in 2001 and is the property of Warner Bros. Records Nashville. A cover version of the song was recorded by Céline Dion in 2002 and is the property of Sony Music Entertainment. If you want to listen to the song (and I definitely recommend listening to the song), go to the YouTube website and type "all because of you celine dion" in the search bar, and it should be at the top of the list it gives you.

[Nosedive's P.O.V.]

The next morning, at the hospital, around 10h30

I awoke to someone shaking my left shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes to see Mal. She was standing over me, fully dressed. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," she said.

"Good morning, Mal," I replied. "I take it the doctors found nothing wrong?"

Mal nodded. "They said I could leave today."

"That's great."

"One thing, though."

"What?"

"Could you please hurry up and stand so I can lean on you? I don't know how much longer I can hold this position." It was then that I noticed that her legs were shaking noticeably. "I'll do you one better," I said. Standing up and turning around so that my back was facing her, I said, "Climb on."

"Are you sure, Dive?"

"If I weren't, I wouldn't be offering."

"Do you realize how silly this is going to make us look?"

"Do you really care what the humans think of us?"

"No, not really."

"Then climb on." So Mal climbed on my back, and I gave her a piggy-back ride all the way to the Pond (I had to stop at the hospital's front desk to sign her out, of course).

[Mallory's P.O.V.]

When we got to the Pond, all the lights were dim. When we arrived at our HQ, it was completely dark. Dive had to fumble in the darkness for the light switch, and when he finally found it and flipped it...

"SURPRISE! WELCOME HOME, MALLORY!"

The guys had prepared a surprise welcome-home party for me! I looked around. There were balloons and streamers everywhere, and DRAKE-1 had a huge banner draped across it that said "WELCOME HOME, MALLORY" in big block letters. I was overcome with emotion, and a huge tear leaked out of my left eye. "You guys are the greatest," I finally managed to say after a few seconds.

"Think nothing of it, Mallory," Wildwing said. "You're our friend," Duke joined in. "And also our teammate," Tanya said. "And that's what friends and teammates do for one another," Grin finished.

"So, who did what?" I asked. "Well," Mandy said, "Wildwing got the drinks, Duke bought the party supplies, Grin handled the decorations, Tanya set up the sound system, Dive cooked the dinner, and I baked the cake."

"Speaking of food," Duke piped up, "I'm starving! Let's get this party started already!" At that cue Tanya pulled out a remote control and pressed a button on it, causing the sound system to play some jammin' party tunes.

The rest of the day was a fantastic blur. We all danced, played games, ate the best meal I've ever had, and we even did some karaoke. I've never had a better time ever. That night, as Dive and I headed to our rooms, Dive asked me, "So, Mal, did you have a good time today?"

"Yeah, Dive," I replied, "I did. Thank you and the guys for the party. I really needed this."

"No problem, Mal."

"And thank you, especially, for those pizzas. They were absolutely delicious."

"Don't mention it, Mal. It was nothing. Well, I'm pretty tired, I'm going to turn in for the night. See you in the morning, Mal."

"Yeah, see you." Dive gave me a little kiss good night, and then we both went to our respective bedrooms.

[Third-person P.O.V.]

About four hours later...

Everyone's favorite blond duck was fast asleep in his bedroom. He was so out of it that he didn't hear his bedroom door open. In walked everyone's favorite red-headed duck, who spent a couple of minutes watching her love's chest rise and fall and thinking of all the things he had done for her. I don't deserve someone like you, she thought, but I'm glad that you're in my life. She leaned over and kissed his blond locks ever so gently to avoid waking him, seeming to hear a piano play somewhere as she did so. She recognized the tune as the introduction to a song she had heard recently, so she began to sing...

Thought I could define it, one look in your eyes; well, it proved me wrong
I find myself speechless, this feeling of completeness is so strong
And I was convinced that my heart had reached its limit
Until you created this new place in it

Your touch wraps around me in a love that knows no boundaries now
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
You're the answer I've been needing, life has a whole new meaning now
All because of you

Everything is different, there's no frame of reference for the way I feel
When I look at your face, I'm so amazed; I can't believe you're real
I could stay here for hours just watching you sleep
Hanging on every breath that you breathe

Your touch wraps around me in a love that knows no boundaries now
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
You're the answer I've been needing, life has a whole new meaning now
All because of you

Your touch wraps around me in a love that knows no boundaries now
There's nothing I wouldn't do for you
You're the answer I've been needing, life has a whole new meaning now
All because of you

All because of you

When the song ended, the red-head kissed her love's head again, thinking, Thank you, Dive, for everything. Then she left the room, returned to her own, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.

End of chapter 7

And that's a rap for now. Please review.