I don't own the song used in this chapter. Don Henly does.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the So Weird characters. The only things I own are Kat, Marie, Bree, Ben & Greg. The ideas and concepts are my own, with the exception of the Dark and Light, which were heavily influenced by Susan Cooper's the Dark is Rising series.
Onto the story!
-- One Year Later --
It was a good day, Katrina decided as she took in the people around her. The sun was shining, the people she loved the most were all in one place, safe and sound, and there was an open bar. Glancing to her left Katrina spotted Marie and Gregory speaking quietly to each other and the red head couldn't keep the smile from her face. She looked to her left and laughed as Ben extended a hand to Bree. The blue haired woman glared at the elemental, shaking her head.
"I am not that drunk." Bree stated and Katrina rolled her eyes. Ben turned towards Katrina who smiled at the elemental, nodding. She stood up and took his hand, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.
"Having a good time?" Katrina asked the teen. Ben grinned back at her, nodding.
"Champagne is good."
"And how much has Marie given you?"
"Enough." Ben responded, earning him a glare from Katrina. "Just two." He amended his head down a little.
"Oh Ben…" Katrina laughed at him, shaking her head.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to invite a special guest to the stage. Molly Phillips." The DJ announced as the latest song finished playing. The crowd cheered for the woman, who accepted the spot in front of the microphone gracefully. Katrina started to move away from the dance floor but the elemental's hand grabbed her arm.
"Please Kat? One more dance? No one else will dance with me!" Ben pleaded. Katrina bit back a retort about the teen having two left feet and sighed. What else was she going to do? Stare at Carey from across the dance floor? Not so much.
"One more." Katrina stated and the teen smiled brightly. "Only one. Then you drag Marie out here."
"Deal."
Molly smiled as she stepped up to the microphone. Her brown eyes twinkled as she took in the crowd in front of her, scanning each of her children for a moment. Taking a deep breath she exhaled before pulling the microphone from its stand. "Wow. I can't believe that I'm really doing this. That I get the chance to do this." Molly could feel the tears coming to her eyes and she took another deep breath. "I've been told I'm not allowed to cry today- something about mascara running and pictures later… so forgive me if this takes a while." The brunette laughed, shaking her head. "Originally, I said no to singing at this. Then, I thought a bit more about everything we've been through together. All of the pain we've felt, and the happiness too. And how long it's taken you guys to find that happiness through all of the
pain that seems to follow our lives. That kind of made up my mind. And then the hard part came. What on earth was I going to sing?" Molly paused, laughing.
"I'm sure I could have made up an original song, but for the life of me I don't think I could have thought of one that summed your lives up like the one I'm going to sing. I was driving one day and I heard this song and it seemed to fit- a little too well. So there is my very, very long speech. I've gotta say, I'm pretty glad I am NOT the maid of honor, because this was hard enough to figure out."Molly laughed, putting the microphone at her side for a moment. She turned to face Gavin, nodding at the younger man. He began to strum the chords on an acoustic guitar.
"I got the call today, I didn't want to hear- but I knew that it would come. An old true friend of ours was talking on the phone- she said you found someone… And I thought of all the bad luck, and all the struggles we went through- how I lost me and you lost you. What are these voices outside love's open door? Make us throw off our contentment and beg for something more?"
"I've been learning to live without you now but I miss you sometimes. The more I know, the less I understand- all the things I thought I knew, I'm learning them again. I've been trying' to get down to the heart of the matter but my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter. But I think it's about forgiveness… forgiveness… Even if, even if you don't love me anymore…" Molly's voice flowed through the area and Clu took Fiona's hand, leading her to the dance floor. Out of the corner of his eye he could see other couples doing the same thing and smirked.
"So Mrs. Bell, how are you?" Clu grinned at his wife. Fiona giggled, squeezing his hand.
"I am amazing right now. I got married to this really great guy…. He's pretty sweet, kind of a good dancer… very hot." Fiona smirked. "But you know… he has this weird sense of style." Fiona pulled at Clu's Hawaiian shirt.
"I don't know… my wife seemed to approve when I tried it on at the tux place…" Clu laughed. Fiona rolled her eyes, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"This is perfect." Fiona whispered against his shoulder, smiling to herself. "It didn't rain… we can see the ocean from here… everyone is happy…" She glanced around her. "I love you."
"I love you too Fi." Clu pulled her tight against her, resting his chin on her head. "I love you a lot."
"These times are so uncertain there's a yearning undefined. And people filled with rage- we all need a little tenderness. How can love survive in such a graceless age? And the trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness they're the very things we kill, I guess. Pride and competition cannot fill these empty arms and the work they put between us; you know it doesn't keep us warm…"
"I can't believe this worked." Annie mumbled to Jack. The brunette's arms were around her waist and the two watched their friends dance. "I can't believe everything worked out."
"I knew it would." Jack stated and the blonde laughed, turning to face him. "I did!"
"Sure you did Mr. Pessimist." Annie laughed as her boyfriend tried to tickle her.
"As much as I've mocked you guys, and as much as I've searched for the downside to what you guys do… I always knew you were stronger then the dark. That you guys would always come back to us. Clu on the other hand… I worried a bit- he's not too good on the uptake, especially when you tell him to wait." Annie giggled, nodding. "But I'm happy for them. And for us." Jack kissed Annie's forehead. "This has been a long time coming."
"I've been learning to live without you now but I miss you sometimes. The more I know, the less I understand- all the things I thought I knew, I'm learning them again. I've been trying' to get down to the heart of the matter but my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter. But I think it's about forgiveness… forgiveness… Even if, even if you don't love me anymore…"
Carey watched his brother and new sister-in-law as they danced. He struggled to keep the frown from his face- he's sworn to himself (and his mother) that he would be happy for them. This was their day and they deserved this. He loosened his tie, looking around the reception. They'd taken the pictures; they'd danced a bit- when the heck was the food going to be served? He turned away quickly as he saw one of Fiona's bridesmaids, Tracey, looking at him slyly. Shaking his head his eyes scanned the dance floor, nodding at Peter. Peter frowned at him but said nothing. The two had had long discussions about the draw backs to both vampirism and loneliness. Peter had found love in another vampire while he had been away from the group and the two seemed happy. But Carey had been determined to keep himself isolated from all that love entailed- it was safer that way. He'd been hurt too many times, and now, as a vampire he knew he'd only hurt others.
He smiled as he caught his brother's eye and rolled his eyes as his brother gave him a nod to his left. His eyes scanned the dance floor, landing on a familiar red head. His heart fluttered as he stood up, his mind made up. His self imposed isolation had gone on long enough- if his brother and Fiona could deal with their demons and wind up together, he and Katrina could do the same. Maybe the pep talk from his mother and Molly had helped, and the four glasses of champagne, but the vampire could dream that he'd made his mind up on his own, couldn't he?
"Can I cut in?" Carey tapped Ben on the shoulder, smiling at the teen. Ben grinned at him, nodding. Katrina opened her mouth to respond but the blonde had already taken Ben's spot, the elemental on his way towards Bree.
"All the people in your life who've come and gone. They let you down; you know they hurt your pride. Better put it all behind you; cause life goes on- You keep carrying that anger, it'll eat you up inside…"
"Hi stranger." Katrina finally spoke up as the two began to dance to the music. "Having fun?"
"Oh, loads." Carey rolled his eyes and Katrina laughed. Carey smiled- it'd been so long since he'd heard her laugh- he hadn't realized he'd missed it so much. "God Kat…"
"It's OK Carey." And then she closed the distance between the two, kissing him gently. There were no more words needed between the two- all of the pain and heartache vanished as they continued to kiss- there was no music, no one else on the dance floor: just them.
"I want to be happily ever after and my heart is so shattered. But I know it's about forgiveness."
Molly had been singing for years. And for almost as long as she had been professionally singing, she'd been a mother. It hadn't taken her long to master the art of double tasking- performing and keeping an eye on her children, neither of which could stay in the same place for too long. Though she hadn't used the skill in years, the moment she saw Katrina walk into the reception she knew she'd be putting it to good use. She heard a shriek from her daughter and looked over, a broad smile filling her face. Finally. The brunette had worried she was going to have to club her former guitarist over the head if he hadn't taken a step in the right direction soon.
Carey and Katrina were kissing, and looking quite happy and Molly felt her heart soar. Carey broke the kiss and handed Katrina a necklace. Molly smiled to herself as Katrina took it from him, sliding a ring off of it. To their right she spotted her daughter and son in law, the two giggling like school children and pointing at the couple. Her daughter looked so radiant- so much like a woman. Annie and Jack had joined the group, Annie's camera aimed at the new couple. Jack was trying to talk his girlfriend into something – what was that shimmer on Annie's finger?
Molly felt a small pang of heartache. If only Rick could see their children now. A hand touched her shoulder and Molly smiled- it'd been so long since she felt the familiar caress. Rick had always rubbed her shoulder, teasing her about it being so bony. She turned expectantly, frowning slightly when she found no one. It'd be so long since she'd imagined him near…
"I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter. Because the flesh gets weak and the ashes will scatter but I know it's about forgiveness."
"They're going to be OK." Rick stated the red head as she approached him. "They're finally going to be alright."
"Finally." The red head looked longingly at the dancing couples. "They've been so brave." Her green eyes filled with tears and Rick shook his head smiling.
"This is a happy day Cass… the first of many. My baby girl is a married woman now… I think it's time we let them celebrate." Rick smiled at the woman, slinging a hand over her shoulder. He caught Gabe and Josh, standing a few feet from them whispering and he nodded at them.
"Forgiveness- even if, even if you don't love me anymore…"
Well there it is guys. The end of my So Weird series. I really hope you guys like the ending- I thought it was fitting, albeit a little cliché. (What can I say? I wanted a happy ending.)It's been a long time coming and I for one am relieved to be finished. :-D I've defiantly evolved since I started writing this series- I was only 16 when I started. (Now I feel old)