CHAPTER TWENTY (please do read the author's notes)

A/N-1. LynneStar18 made a super-cool video, using that Stone Sour song, and bits of the JC movie. Do check it out at - .

LynneStar18 has also made great drawings on Julius Caesar and other things (invader Zim, which is some kind of cartoon thingy)at-

http://missy-lynne10. .

2. I have another reviewer (yay) Sophie-Lou, who was upset that Cassius and Titinius broke up. The-red-robyn thought similarly. I just wanted to say that it upset me too, even though I wrote it. After all that dialogue, I even considered getting them back together (I used to listen to all sorts of romantic songs while writing their scenes), but decided against it. It wasn't according to plan (yes, I did sort of lie to Cassius in that note. I made it up to him with all the ice-cream. I actually believe all of this is happening. I know, I'm crazy.)

3. There are sort-of clues to why Portia and Brutus will break up, but don't bother trying to figure it out, it will ruin the surprise. Oh, no, its really obvious now. Please read this while you are feeling stupid. Maybe I'll change my mind and hide the clues…okay, clues hidden. I hope. Okay, okay, don't bother checking. No one will be dumped.

4. The "Cassius" part of this story took forever to write. Its first version was so long, but so incomprehensible. It needed lots and losts of editing, and almost all of it isn't even there anymore. And the part that is there sounds so stupid and meaningless.

3 The twentieth chapter, the fortieth review, my longest (I think) chapter… how cool is this? I am so proud of myself. Go me! Go me! GO ME!!!!!!

The clouds parted, a straight path of light entered the scene in a dramatic way and a thunder like roar could be heard.

The thunder like voice yelled "Go me!" several times and then everything quietened down.

Peace yet again.

Thankfully, the voice hadn't woken anyone up, because the voice's sound had consisted of ultrasonic waves. The screamer, being an insomniac herself, knew the importance of a good sleep, and let her character's rest.

This is because when one sleeps, their souls leave their body, because remaining in a physical body can get very tiring. That's why babies sleep so much – because they are new to the whole physical world, and are not quite used to it. They leave and go to the spirit world a lot. As one gets older, one gets used to the limitations of a physical body and sleeps less.

But this piece of information, however interesting, is not quite related to the story. If anyone is interested, the screamer may always be e-mailed.

And be sent reviews, of course.

But for the moment, our hero, Caius Cassius, was sleeping peacefully on his sofa. Peacefully because of the huge vat of chocolate, given to him by his ever so wonderful fairy godmother, that he had consumed. He had even consumed it with a safe conscience because the cows were not tortured in heaven. They were allowed to roam wherever they wanted, and their calves were not cruelly taken from them, and definitely not killed if they were male and unable to produce milk. They also got tons of food to eat, because "heaven" had lots of grass and meadows.

Yes, heaven was a happy place.

So, sleeping with chocolate running through his veins, Caius had another reason to be peaceful. Apart from the chocolate, that is.

He had had a long chat with the fairy godmother, and talking always helps.

'Wanna talk?' the fairy had said, and this time, our hero had not argued, but had been a good boy, had held his patience, and had talked.

'Yeah,' he said, 'what do I do now? The author said that I will get my soul-mate in the end, so I don't have to worry, right?'

'Didn't the author also say something about free will?'

'She did…so I won't get my soul-mate?'

'No sonny, you will. Life, child, is like a video game.'

'A video game?'

'Yeah, you always win in the end.'

'Not in all video games, you don't.'

'Okay, in a video game in which you win in the end. That's what life is.'

'Meaning?'

'You get a lot of choices, but the ending is planned, baby. I had asked you earlier, if you knew what destiny was, remember?'

'When you were my conscience?'

'Yes. So, you'll get a happy ending. But you have your own choices. Life, is like a JAVA program with if-else's. You choose your ifs, or else something else happens. But then the bracket closes and what's outside it is the ending -,'

'We didn't have Computers as a choice of subjects back in Rome, so I don't really know what you're talking about.'

'Okay, I'll try to write it down.' And she did. Not in a java way; the author's having a tough time learning JAVA anyway. She is pathetic enough to try to learn it by trying to describe it in her fan-fiction. Yes, that's how bad her condition is.

The life of Cassius

Situation- Chocolate placed in front of you.

Choices- Eat it/don't eat it

If choice 1 followed- get fat

If choice 2 followed- feel hungry

What happens anyway- Your hair stands up.

Situation- Your hairs in a mess.

Choices- Comb it/don't comb it/pretend not to notice and continue eating your chocolate

Blah blah blah.

What happens anyway- you attain Nirvana.

Choices- stay there/let this repeat itself/save the world/move on to a bigger level/some weird thing we don't understand.

'So we all attain Nirvana in the end?' Caius asked, 'and go to the real heaven? And then we get choices. And then?'

'The concept on which this universe works is very complicated. No one here has quite mastered it. It started with a creator. Let's suppose, an author. She creates. When her character's story ends, they merge with her. She in turn, goes to her creator – this all, mind you, is guesswork – and Cas, we do know all that has happened has already happened.'

'How?'

'Don't you sometimes get these deja-vu feelings, and go "Oh my god, this has happened before"?'

'Um, yeah, I have.'

'The only conclusion we can derive is that this happens, because this has, in fact, happened before.'

'I guess.'

'I don't want to confuse you, dear, I really don't. But these things do arouse curiosity- why are we on earth? Does our life have a purpose? I am guessing that we are here on earth to figure out who we are. Our creator – and that is not the author – our ultimate creator, was bored, and came on earth several times to confirm that it was real. This physical world was created. Let there be light – and BANG, here was light.'

Brainwave time.

'Wait, wait, wait. If our creator was coming through us, that would make US the creator. That would make you and me, and everyone, individually God. And, um, and if, well, everything that was said just appeared, that would make this somebody's imagination. Or a dream. Whatever you think about before sleeping usually occurs in your dreams.'

Whatever that meant..

'I guess so.'

'You could be wrong.'

'I know. I come up with new theories everyday. We can discuss this later, of course. And we will if the reviewers ask for it. Now, let's discuss your love life.'

'Fine. Portia is Brutus' wife and Titinius likes girls. And now I think I like Titinius. But I also like Brutus. What do I do? Wait, since everything is planned, I could just sit here and wait for it?'

'Then it will happen, but probably in another lifetime. HA!'

'Okay, so I've got to do something, but what?'

'Right now go to bed, here have some chocolate,' she handed the chocolate to him, 'with me as you fairy godmother, only good can happen. Goodnight.'

'Goodnight.'

And so, Caius was sleeping happily.

Brutus

Why him? Why him? Why him?

Why was it always stupid old Brutus who was so confused? Why wasn't Portia ever confused, or even Cassius?

It wasn't fair, was it? But since when was life fair? Blossom (PPG again) got to be leader even though the position, by hereditary rights, should have been Buttercups? Or by simple law's, Mojo jojo's? Was that fair?

And it wasn't fair that his hair always looked disgustingly neat no matter how much he tried to mess it up? Or didn't wash it? Or refused to comb it for centuries? They'd still be as neat as ever. Was that fair? Was it?

And that one time he did comb it, it stood up on its end. And that was the one time he had liked his hair neat. Was that fair?

No, because life was rarely fair. Never fair, more like.

Was it fair that no matter how many times he tried, he could never win that wretched Spiderman game? And that Portia had managed to win on the very first go?

Was it fair that no matter what he did, Caius Cassius wouldn't ever talk to him? No matter how much he wanted to start an interesting conversation with him, for unknown reasons, Cassius would back out; stare at his toes, or at his knees? He wouldn't make a sound – though Brutus was sure that he had heard some sort of a squeak emerge from his mouth once – no, not a sound. He would shut up, and be silent.

Which didn't suit him.

Maybe he was just shy. He talked to Portia alright, and he talked a great deal to Casca. And to Titinius - well, Brutus didn't really want to think about that - But even if he was shy, it shouldn't really have taken him so long to open up, right? And it wasn't like they were total foreigners to each other. The times that they had spent in Rome together were so difficult to forget, and though somehow, Brutus had managed to forget them, but they now came rushing back to him like a waterfall that had stopped due to lack of rain (SPLASH!!!). But Cassius had seemed to remember him perfectly. What now? So once Brutus remembered his name, was it all over? The dialogue between them had been pretty well, open. Why was Cassius so shy now? Just one or two weeks back, the situation between them had been like-

"'Helllllllllllllllllllllllllo, Brrrroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooootus!!!! It's me!!!!' Cassius waved his arms around desperately.

'Uh, brother. I hath already said, a minute ago.'

'I mean my NAME! All this brother crap won't do, I already told you. And I WAS your brother-IN-LAW. Law law law!'

Brutus racked his brain and searched his head for his brother's, who insisted on not being called his brother's name.

'Ca-ca-aaaaa,' hinted Cassius, 'S-s-s-s-s-s-sssssssss,'

'Casca?'

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!'

'Caesar.'

'Tyranny!!! Autocracy! We will walk the streets and yell, "Freedom!!! Liberty-'

'And the water of Tiber shall flood her banks.'

Cassius narrowed his eyes, 'You copied that dialogue; it was Marullus'.'

'Sorry,' said Brutus and then he realized the truth. How could he not have noticed it before?

'Nay, Flavius.'

'Whatever, some tribune. Now guess my name. Ca-aaaaa-sssssssssssssss.'

'Metullus Cimber,' said Brutus timidly.

'Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.'

'Serpent?'

'No, think again. Freedom, liberty, republicanism…these words seem familiar?'

'Uh, Calphurnia?'

'She was tyranny's wife, for Pete's sake, Bru.'

'Octavius?'

'Great-nephew.'

'Marcus Antonius.'

'Oh, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!!!!'

'Lucius?'

'Your boy-servant? You know that's child labour?'

'Thou art Lucius then?'

'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Brutus, Caaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.'

'Casca?'

'You've already guessed Casca.'

'I apologise to thee.'

'Thee rhymes with tea, or sea. Cool, huh?'

'Cicero?'

'He was OLD.'

'Harry Potter?'

'Maybeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,' veiled Cassius.

'I'm right! Peace, ho!'

'No, but uh…ho? Ho? Excuse me? What are you, Santa?'

'Perhaps,' said Brutus, 'thou art Santa. Answer me directly.'

'You live in heaven and you don't know who Santa is. Santa, hello??? What did you get for Christmas last year?'

'Christmas! Thou callst thyself Christmas!'

'Drop that funny accent. And improve your grammar. We could go to grammar school together, like Shakespeare did.'

'Shakespeare?'

'For how many years have you been living here? Several thousand? And you don't know who the big boss here is?'

'Ye gods.'

'No, that's for real people. Everyone goes to their creator in the end. Our creator, Will, and all his creations live here. To think that you are the hero of one of his famous tragedies.'

'Wasn't Julius, who doth bleed for justice's sake, the hero?'

'Hellllllllllo? But who was the noblest Roman of them all? Brutus!'

'Uh,' Brutus was running out of good dialogues.

'Antony said that, if you care.'

'I didn't hear that. I was dead,' said Brutus, in his most normal English, he hadn't said it purposefully though; it had been a slip of tongue.

'Your English is improving,' Cassius noticed, 'and I just met you two minutes ago.'

'I thank thee.'

'Not again,' Cassius moaned, 'but forget that, guess my name now.'"

'Mark!' Portia called from a distance, 'Honey, I'm hooooomee!'

Bye bye flashback.

'Hi,' said Brutus. Yes, his English had improved. And Portia liked the change.

'Watcha thinking?' Portia asked.

'I was wondering why your Cassius friend doesn't talk so much. To me, I mean. He's being distant. He wasn't like this in Rome. He was nice and all.'

Okay, so "nice" wasn't the exact word. But at least he talked, even if it was only about evil stuff.

'Nice to you? What is that supposed to mean?' Portia asked.

'I don't really know, he used to talk to me. He never smiled or anything, but I could tell he liked me. He like, actually respected me.'

'Everyone in Rome respected you,' replied Portia, her tone dry.

'Until I you-know-whated Julius.'

'Of course Caius would respect you. He was the one who wanted to kill Caesar anyway.'

'I know. So after all that we went through, together, why do you think he isn't talking to me?'

Portia was just about to open her mouth and throw an insult at both her husband and her best friend. But then it hit her that it really wasn't Caius' fault. He simply felt guilty for having a teensy weensy crush on Brutus millennia back. Way before the two of them were even friends. Though part of her really wanted to, she honestly couldn't blame Caius for something that wasn't really his fault. For a small little crush.

And he even felt guilty about it. And that was a rare feeling for her best friend.

'Maybe he's shy,' Portia suggested. It's not his fault.

'He wasn't shy some time back,' said Brutus.

You're not breaking up a two thousand year old friendship over some stupid misunderstanding... a stupid misunderstanding brought up by some crazy poet.

'Yeah,' said Portia, 'he's confused all the time. But I guess that's why we're friends. We do get along pretty well together, and, well, he is my best friend,' Portia sounded more like she was trying to convince herself of this fact than Brutus.

'When did you meet?' Brutus asked casually.

'Why are you so interested,' Portia snapped, 'I mean, sorry -,' she calmed down again, '-I didn't mean to get all upset. We met at a party.' She tried to hold in it, she really tried to, but the next few words came flying out of her mouth, quite against her own will-, 'what was with you guys back in Rome anyway?'

'We were related. And then, well, we got along pretty well.'

'Related?' Portia tried to hide the hope in her eyes.

'Yeah, well not by blood or anything,' said Brutus, 'he was married to Junia, but they broke up later on. Junia married the mail-man.'

'Interesting,' said Portia. She had never bothered to dwell deep into family history. Her dad was Cato, and that was all she knew.

'Then she left him for this really rich businessman, then the guy who kept on hanging around at Hevvie Park. Then she married an artist, and then went back to her mail-man.'

'Good for her,' said Portia. She of course, didn't really mean it. But it kept Brutus happy.

'She called up just yesterday,' said Brutus.

'Oh, and what did you say?'

'Nothing much, that I'm fine, that you're fine, and that the whole old guy thing is totally resolved. She said that my English has improved.'

'It has, Mark,' said Portia.

Brutus raised his eyebrows, for what was the first time in his life. In the more than two-thousand years of his life.

'I'm being honest, Mark, it has. Seriously. And in such little time.'

'Yeah, well, uh.'

'It must have been the books I gave you, but I hadn't expected them to work do fast, to be honest.'

Brutus was going to open his mouth to tell her that he had gone to grammar school, like Cassius had suggested while he was still talking to him. But she quickly said, 'I'm going to Cynthia's house for tea, Mark, see you.'

And straight out of the house she went.

Cynthia. Yeah, sure whatever.

A/N- No Cynthia isn't even anyone special. I highly doubt she'll even enter this story.

And please do review. Out of politeness.