Sorry I haven't been updating much—my computer hasn't been working very well.
…
Piper's POV
We head back to the party to look for Mayfair. Even I agree that things got out of hand. I can tell that Teddy feels really bad about how she found out. I didn't really help matters. I might have been overly harsh to poor Mayfair.
We look but we can't find her. Instead, we find Teddy's family. Priya's crying even half an hour after the performance. Perry and Pearl both congratulate us calmly, but Teddy and I both see that Pearl's face is slightly red. Hazel hugs both of us and hints strongly that she wants to be taken to the waterpark with us. Teddy doesn't tell her that he's already planned for himself, me, Lennie, Nick, and Mayfair to go. Of course, that's if Mayfair still wants to go. I don't know if she will want to go…
I even get to hold Teddy's baby sister, after Teddy of course. Since we were so wrapped up in rehearsing, Teddy and I were told that she was born but neither of us have held her yet. Baby Quinn looks so content in Teddy's arms. He looks like a natural parent.
Naturally, there's a slight uproar in our corner when we tell Perry and Priya that we're mates now. I'm the one who tells them that. I can tell that Teddy was going to but I wanted to be the one. Priya starts crying again. Hazel can't stop hugging me, and Perry and Pearl hug each other with delight.
Teddy's POV
When we're allowed a moment to ourselves, Piper and I slip off. We head out of the main hall, where the party's taking place, and into the very quiet office floor. I perch on the desk in my office while Piper sits down on the chair. Piper smiles as she says, "I really like your family."
"So…you don't blame Dad for…?"
I think deep down I know her answer. But I just need to hear her say it.
Her face settles into a slight frown as she gets up off the chair and sits next to me on the desk. "No, of course not, Teddy. I'm not my brother."
I suddenly feel a pang of panic. "Luke isn't going to be mad, is he? About…you know…us?"
"Oh no, I don't think so." Piper grins mischievously. "I'm at least 75% sure he won't throw you off a building."
"That's reassuring…"
We laugh together. She rests her head on my shoulder and we simply sit together for about half an hour, listening to the music. I hate to admit it but I have completely forgotten about Mayfair.
Then I venture her a question: "So now that we're mates…" To play it safe, I wait a couple of seconds to see if she'll dispute the word. She doesn't. She just waits expectantly. "…I know we don't have to yet. In fact, I don't think either of us want to right now…but, one day, have you thought about starting a family?"
Her face completely relaxes. "Have you?"
I slowly nod. "I mean, one day, I'd love to start a family with you. But would you want to?"
She laughs. "Of course I would, Teddy. I just don't know when we'll be ready. It could be in a few months, or a few years."
I nod. "Whenever it is, I will cherish every day with you."
"Thank you."
We interlock our fingers on both hands and lean in until our foreheads touch. "I love you, Piper," I say quietly.
She smiles. "I love you too, Teddy."
"I will never get tired of saying that," I declare.
Our moment is interrupted by a loud crash coming from the main hall. We rush back into the hall and find a huge metal machine shaped like an octopus coming through a gaping hole in the wall. There's heavy smoke in the air and debris from the wall litters the floor. Agents are running about and screaming. I frantically look around for my family. Dad is ushering Mom with Quinn in her arms out of the room. Pearl is helping Ravi the Rabbit out from underneath a piece of debris.
"What is that?" gasps Piper.
"I'm gonna call it Octobot," I declare.
Perry's POV
"Stay here," I command Priya, who's still clutching Quinn.
I run back into the main hall and find Teddy and Piper staring up at the monster machine. I come in just in time to hear Teddy's declaration of the machine's name.
"Octobot?" I repeat. "Really, Teddy?"
He shrugs. "It makes it easier to fight him when he has a name."
Two of Octobot's tentacles snake out and pick up Ravi the Rabbit and Pearl. She lets out a scream.
"No!" I yell.
"Pearl!" yells Teddy.
I run towards Octobot with fury surging through my veins. I leap up and deliver a kick to the body of Octobot. With hindsight, I should have gone for the leg holding my mother, but the anger in me kind of blurred the line between what is and isn't sensible. One of Octobot's free legs smacks me into a wall. I land painfully on my chest. I think a couple of my ribs have been cracked.
I look up and see Teddy and Piper launch an attack together. Teddy does what I should have done; he attacks the leg holding Pearl while Piper goes for the leg holding Ravi. Both attacks fail and my son and his mate follow me into the wall.
Teddy groans in pain. "That was a mistake…"
"Hey!" yells a voice.
We look round to find Cassie standing right in front of Octobot. "Cassie, no!" I yell.
Cassie's POV
I ignore Perry's yell. "Let go of my mate!" I screech.
Ravi stares down at me. "Cass, get out of here!"
"Not without you!" I snap fiercely, though I can't stop some tears falling down my face.
I bring out a small knife from my fedora, the blade of which suddenly extends until I'm holding a large katana. I run, leap, and bring the sword down on the leg, cutting a large slice out of it. Octobot lets out a roar and flings Ravi into the air. I drop my sword, push off against Octobot's body, and catch my mate in mid-air. We hit a table hard and crash to the ground. The impact makes us both hit our heads, knocking Ravi out and making my vision spin. I see that Octobot is coming towards us but when I try and stand up, I fall back down again. I manage to crawl to and slump in front of Ravi's body to protect it.
Piper's POV
I see Octobot going for Cassie and Ravi, neither of whom can protect themselves. During my basic training, Cassie helped me out a lot and taught me so much. I'm not about to let her die.
I leap to my feet and rush towards Octobot, scooping up Cassie's dropped sword in the process. With one stroke, I slice off the arm holding Pearl, who drops to the floor and lands lightly. She calls to me, "The body of this machine is where the pilot's sitting. We need to get to the cockpit."
I pause, thinking over my options. "Give me a boost," I call to Pearl.
Pearl holds her hands low to the ground with her palms up. I run as fast as I can towards her. Just as I'm about to run headlong into her, I push off with my feet, which connect with her hands. With a mighty heave, Pearl uses her hands to throw me up and forwards towards Octobot. I slice two of Octobot's arms off with a single swing. Teddy, Pearl, and Perry attack from below. Cassie manages to get to her feet and help.
After only a couple of minutes, we've cut off all the legs. Octobot's body crashes heavily to the ground. I use Cassie's katana to slice open the opaque black dome and find the person inside.
Teddy's POV
Piper gasps loudly. We all hear the clang of the katana hitting the ground. "Pipes! What's wrong?" I ask worriedly, coming to join her.
I look into the pod too. My hand flies to cover my mouth. Oh…it-it can't be! Oh God. Oh no. This can't be happening…!
The person inside the pod, lying unconscious against the side of it, is Mayfair.
…
Dun dun DUUUUN! *gasps* how's THAT for a cliffhanger?