Happily Never After

Summary: This story takes place ten years into the future. The characters in this story are as following; Will Vandom, Susan Vandom, Irma Lair, Anna Lair, Tony Vandom, Tom Lair, Taranee Cook, Theresa Cook, Lionel Cook, Peter Cook, Elizabeth Hale, Harold Hale, Lillian Hale, Chen Lin, Joan Lin, Hay Lin, Cornelia Hale, Cassidy, Emily, Yan Lin, Mira Lin, Kadma, Halinor, Chris Lair.

The girls have grown up and married, hoping to live happily ever after. But sadly, as reality tells us, there is never a happily ever after. Now the girls must live without a husband and an unborn child. Can they deal with this and still find true happiness? Or is their world forever lost in darkness?

PS: For my good buddies Cassidy the Water Sage and Cassidy Herrera, I added Cassidy to this story. She is a main character, so she goes under the whole summary. Unborn child? (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

Chapter 14: Can you feel the love tonight?

Dating: to have romantic social engagements with

That's the definition for dating. For Hay Lin though, it was Date: to have a very romantic, enchanting social meeting between two or more people, often involving in laughter, fun, and dancing. Maybe even eating, too.

Yesterday she had been invited to very mysterious meeting from a someone who said 'he'd like to repay a debt.'

But it wasn't like she couldn't guess what was happening. She slowly moved to where the letter had told her to meet, a small part of her hoping it wasn't a joke.

The letter said to meet 'that someone' at an old oak tree next to the White Swan, where a bench lay in wait. Hay Lin was to meet 'that someone' right there, under the moon and stars in the navy sky.

When the tree came into view, she paused, looking around a bit to see if there was anyone else around? See no one, and hoping no one was hiding behind the tree, she made her way to the tree and sat down on the bench.

She must have waited for like two minutes before someone playfully tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped, and hearing a chuckle behind her, looked over her shoulder to see none other than Tomo. He smiled down at her, and held out his hand. "I assume you are Miss Lin, correct?"

"Uh," Hay Lin said, taking his hand awkwardly and shaking it. "Actually, it was Mrs. Lyndon, but, I suppose you could consider me that."

Tomo arched an eyebrow and asked curiously, "I don't mean to intrude, but you said, 'was Mrs. Lyndon.' Did you get a divorce or something?"

Hay Lin shook her head sadly. "No, it's not like that. My husband…he died on the battlefield."

Tomo lowered his head. "Oh. Forgive me for asking. I didn't mean to—"

"No, no," Hay Lin reassured, shaking her head and waving her hand at him, "it's completely fine. I'm still grieving, that's all."

"Losing someone close to you is a terrible thing," Tomo responded, slipping around and sitting down next to her. "How long ago?"

"A month, I suppose. But I'm working on getting over it. I have to for my child."

"Child?" Tomo looked at her with his head tilted. "Are you—"

"I'm pregnant. Not too far, though." Hay Lin sighed and looked up at the sky sadly. "It won't be easy, but with my family, I'll able to pull it off."

"I see." Tomo also leaned back and looked up at the sky. He stared at it for a bit before looking back at her and saying, "And if you'd allow me, perhaps I can also be of assistance."

With Cornelia:

"Here's Irma and me getting into another fight," Cornelia said, pointing a photo. Jose grinned, his blond eyebrows lifted. "My. You two certainly got along well."

"Yeah," Cornelia said, laughing. "If it wasn't for Will or Elyon, we'd never work together."

"You and your friends certainly were close."

"Yeah…" Cornelia sighed and closed the book. Jose blinked curiously and asked, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Cornelia lied. Jose shook his head. "Cornelia, you should know I can read lying."

Now it was Cornelia's turn to blink. "Huh?"

He pointed at her. "I can tell you're lying. You can generally see in the facial expressions."

Cornelia covered her face with a hand. "Oh. Am I that readable?"

He shrugged. "No, I just naturally can tell."

Cornelia bit her lip. "I really miss my friends," she said sadly. "They always were able to cheer me up when I'm down."

"But didn't you grow up here? Wouldn't they be in the same area?"

She shook her head. "No. They all moved away, like me. All of them married. Probably happy as ever with kids of their own."

With Irma:

"Guess who?" a voice playfully asked, covering Irma's line of sight. "Hey," she said, grabbing the hands with her own. "David, that's not funny."

"But you're laughing," he reasoned, peeking over her shoulder with a wily grin.

Irma laughed and shoved him. He stumbled and laughed, wagging his eyebrows as he did.

Irma looked up at the night-time sky, silently counting the stars. "Hey, ever wonder if there's life beyond our world?" she asked him.

"Sure," he said, walking over to her. He also looked up at the sky and said, "Not the little green men people always fantasize about, but beings similar to us. It's a big world outside. There's bond to be some sort of life out there."

Irma grinned, mentally thinking of Meridian and Zamballa. This guy had no idea how right he was.

"I mean," he continued, spreading his arms out, "there's dozens of suns out there, and even more planets. Scientists can all agree even if the probability was low, we wouldn't be the only ones out there." He paused, turning to face Irma. "Besides," he said, smiling slowly, "I don't think the one who put us here would want us to be alone."

Irma's grin grew wider. This boy, the more she got to know him, the more she liked him.

Maybe, even loved him.

With Taranee:

Jasper slept soundly in Taranee's arms, eyes closed and little chest rising and falling slowly.

Peter walked in, waving quietly to his sister. "Hey, sis," he whispered. "How's little Jay doing?"

"He's doing fine," she whispered back, smiling tenderly at Jasper. "He's taking his nap."

"That's good." Peter began to walk away again, but he halted and said, "Oh, by the way, I invited Kyle over. You don't mind at all."

This smile was broad and eager as Taranee said as hoarsely as she could manage, "Sure. I'd love to see him again."

And that had a double-meaning to it.

With Will:

"Mom," Will called, peeking into the kitchen. "Can I introduce you to someone?"

"Oh," Susan said, setting the dishes down. "Is this your mystery man, the one who you were visiting for the last month?"

Will's red eyebrows arched up, stunned. "H-how did you know?"

Susan chuckled. "Oh, it's a mother thing. You'll be doing the same thing to your son or daughter when it's born."

"Yeah." Will's eyes flickered to the door. "So, uh, you wanna meet him?"

"Sure, I do. Besides, I need to approve of him if I'm going to let you continue dating him."

"Mom!"

"Might need to get the BB gun, though, just in case."

"Mom!"

"Oh, I'm just kidding!" Susan laughed at her frowning daughter. "Take a joke, will you?"

Will instead groaned, rolling her eyes and shaking her head. Then she turned to the door and opened it. "Well, here he is."

Cole stepped forward, his long, flowing hair floating like ribbons in a gentle breeze. He paused before Susan, bowing gracefully to her, talking in his low, mysterious voice, "Hello, Mrs. Vandom. I am Cole Angelheart."

"Oh. My." Susan didn't know what to say, or how to even respond to him. He seemed so…out of place, yet so in place. It was a funny feeling, really. Something Susan had never experienced before. Suddenly remembering her manners, she held out her hand to Cole. "Nice to meet you, Cole. I'm Susan Vandom."

Cole slowly took her hand, wrapping his fingers around it and lifting it up, and then carefully down, a ghost of a handshake.

Will wrapped her arm around Cole's neck and smiled at her mother. "See, Mom? Perfectly tame. And completely sane, too."

Susan smiled both at Will and Cole. "I'll admit it; you two make a wonderful couple. But please, no—"

"MOM!" Will shouted, slapping her hand over her mother's mouth.

Cole watched silently as the two women struggled and wrestled. Slowly, a ghost of a smile appeared on his face, and a hush chuckle escaped his lips.

Women, he thought.

With Cassidy:

"Hello, princess," Edward greeted, once the door had opened to him. Cassidy smiled, but something ticked in his mind. Something was wrong. The smile didn't reach Cassidy's eyes as she continued to smile at him.

"So, uh, what did you need me for?" he asked, looking around uncertainly.

Cassidy gestured with her head into the room. "Come in. It's a long story."

She held the door open for him, and Edward walked carefully in, checking all his surroundings. She sat down on the sofa and patted a seat next to her. Looking through the corner of his eye, he could see Rebecca, Cassidy's roommate, standing in the small kitchen, her head down pretending she wasn't listening to whatever Cassidy was going to say.

When Edward sat down, Cassidy took a deep breath. "Edward," she said slowly, slowly breathing out every word, "we've been friends for a month now, and I really think I can trust you with a secret. It's just, I've been hiding this because I was scared that you leave. It's hard to make friends here, you know."

Edward nodded slowly, his blue eyes shimmering in the shifting light of the sun as it disappeared and reappeared behind the clouds.

Cassidy sucked in another breath, then continued, "So I've come to a decision to tell you—I did 'it' with another guy, and now I'm pregnant!" The last part was forced out, scrunched together in one single breath.

Cassidy panted as she tried to gain her breath once more, but her mind was still racing with worry. Would Edward be upset? Would he leave? Would he…hate her? She waited painfully for a reaction.

He instead stared at her, and then he reached out and took her hand into his. He held it for a bit, making sure she was then looking straight at him. "It's okay," he whispered, caressing the back of her hand with his other hand. "Well, I mean, it's not okay about you being pregnant, but…it'll be alright. Don't worry. I'll be here." He turned and smiled at Rebecca. "And I think she'll be here, too."

With Edward:

Edward shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned back against the old willow. Tomo was standing next to him, crossing his arms over his chest. "So, how's it going with you?" he asked the now white haired wolfman.

Edward shrugged his shoulders. "Cassidy trusts me completely, it seems. I kind of feel bad for lying to her about what I really am."

"It's not like we have a choice," Jose said, walking over to his friends.

"If they find out who we really are, they might feel offended," Cole added, joining them with Kyle and David following close in.

"I have an idea," Jose said suddenly, looking at his companions.

"Well?" Kyle asked, tilting his head to the side. "What is it?"

"Have WITCH get a reunion," Jose said. "Then they won't feel so down and then they can relate."

"But they won't need us," David said softly.

"David," Cole said, looking at him with his distant eyes, "our job is lift them up. Not get in a relationship with them."

"Yeah, but—" David stopped and shook his head.

"So," Kyle said slowly, "what do you have in mind?"

Jose gestured to come closer. "Pay close to attention, and do exactly as I say."