The First Time, Family Force 5
I got these memories, they're all of you and me, I've been recording them ever since I was seventeen. Push playback then rewind I see us meeting for the very first time. A mental note of you, you sang my melody, first bar in a lifelong symphony. The prelude to a kiss. My heart's pounding when I reminisce.
Press repeat. 'Cause I want to see.
The first time that I saw your face. The first time that you spoke my name. The first time that I heard you say. There's a first time with me every day. The first time that I felt your touch. The first time I couldn't get enough.
Another memory, when you first looked at me. I hit pause and then love hit me back. Under attack stopped me in my tracks, there you go again, your eyes gave me a flashback. Remember that time, we stayed up all night, I swear we danced until we saw daylight. Step by step and frame by frame, slow motion, let me see you again.
Press repeat. 'Cause I have to see.
The first time that I saw your face. The first time that you spoke my name. The first time that I heard you say. There's a first time with me every day. The first time that I felt your touch. The first time I couldn't get enough. The first time that I heard you say. There's a first time with me every day.
No matter what I do, I won't fast forward anything with you. I know you feel it too, the first time I saw love I was with you.
The first time that I saw your face. The first time that you spoke my name. The first time when we talked all night. Was the first time love made sense in life. The first time that I felt your touch. The first time I couldn't get enough. The first time that I heard you say. There's a first time with me every day.
26: Epilogue: The First Time
Gabriel's Point of View
Something soft, warm and smooth touched my cheek. I started. "Whoa!"
I snapped awake and fell off the bed, remnants of a terrible dream flying away like disturbed bats.
The hardwood floor beneath me creaked as I stretched upward to look at the moving lump in the bed. Who was it? Why was there someone in my bed?
Still, I found it hard to be mad, because the curiosity was overwhelming. All I could remember was a frightening dream at the moment, one—like many others before—where Charlotte died by Cole's hand. I was always too late in those nightmares. But now, as I sit on the cold wood, dark sheets draped over my knees, I can't figure out who's in my bed. Was it Klaus? No, that lump off breathing body is much too big for him. It couldn't be Madison, she wasn't like that. Who was it? Alyza? Had she come back from the dead to haunt me?
Well I decided that if it was Alyza, then she was succeeding in the haunting part. I was definitely feeling haunted.
I rolled onto my knees and peeked up onto the bed. I was nearly afraid of what I might find—though I'd never tell anyone that. When my eyes grazed over the body, I saw the rise and fall of the chest. Their face was covered with another sheet—not the one that I was now trampling on—so I couldn't see their face. But I knew it was a girl. So maybe it was Alyza. Maybe not. I saw a sharp shadow of dark hair under the deep blue sheets. Black hair. No way. It can't be…
It would be wrong to get my hopes up.
I pulled the sheet back quickly, like a Band-Aid. I was prepared for the hurt too, the flesh and hair that always seared after tearing away that super sticky Band-Aid.
My breath caught in my throat.
Sleeping Beauty herself lay there, a gentle smile caressing her features. Black locks of hair gathered in dark rich rivers and waves around her creamy white complexion. Her gray eyes—that I knew so well—were closed. Memories hit me softly, like butterflies landing in my stomach, floating and beating their wings against my sides.
Charlotte was back.
She was the one who had accidentally touched my face just a bit ago. Or was it an accident? Was she really sleeping, or playing with me?
Before I allowed it to, a happy smirk settled into my face. I poked her like she was a dead animal, and I was the hunter who wanted to know if the meat was officially dead. She reacted suddenly, making me jump back. Her beauty and brightness seemed to illuminate the room, and I was blinded by it. I blinked furiously while she laughed at me. I felt her reach up to tousle my hair and plant a kiss on my lips.
"Good morning Gabriel," She breathed.
I heard the relief and love exhale with her voice, breezing towards me, making me sigh in contentedness. Swiftly I stood and picked her up, tossing her over my shoulder. I heard her breath catch, and she gave me a fight, because she knew that's what I wanted. She always knew to give me a challenge.
Smirking grandly, I trotted down the hall, heading for the Drawing room. "Hmm, that feels good," I told Charlotte as her fist beat my back playfully. "Harder."
She obliged, and this time, I noticed the notch of aggressiveness leaking into her incessant pounding. Still, it felt good. Feeling slightly vengeful, I carried her into the Drawing room, and our audience had a front row view of her plaid-pajama clad butt. She yelped when I set her back down, facing the small group of spectators. Char took a minute to assess everyone's expression, and then she just smirked nonchalantly.
"Yeah, he can't get enough," She joked casually.
I chuckled while Madison and Remus stared at us, both seeming to soak up the happy, family atmosphere.
Madison was holding Klaus, bouncing him on her knee, his face was red. At the sight of Charlotte, he began flailing his arms and reaching out to her. My auburn spiky haired friend only grimaced lightly and handed him to Charlotte. I pulled Char onto the couch with me, asking Remus simultaneously, "So Averira, how's dad doing?"
I got a scowl from a disapproving Charlotte and Madison raised both eyebrows at us.
"Oh, he's doing," Remus replied. "He's doing time."
Once we had gotten back to the Worlds—and regretfully in Lord Averira ruling domain—Remus had gone ahead to take care of his father. As hard as I'm sure it was for him, he had his father imprisoned, or rather, impeached. He took his father's place at the throne unwillingly, and Madison was on her way to becoming Queen after he asked for her hand in marriage. Charlotte and I were very happy for them.
As for me and Char, we were the second happy couple, and our big addition, Klaus, making us a trio. But besides Remus's recent coronation, nothing exciting was about.
Charlotte's voice melted into my thoughts, and I imagined them sinking down a mental drain.
"Gabe, do you think we could go to the Disney Castle today? I want to see everyone again," She requested.
It's not like we have anything else to do, "Sure. That sounds great. Get Klaus ready, we'll catch breakfast at the castle."
Smiling sweetly, she hurried off, cooing to Klaus on the way. Madison and Remus got to their feet.
"Hey, man, we're gonna head out, 'kay?"said Remus.
I stood as well, and gave him a quick hug, "I'll see you guys later."
Madison didn't wait for me to hug her, she pulled me into a constricting embrace, "I'm so glad you're back with Char. You deserve her, and she deserves you. I'm so happy for you guys. I'll miss you guys. Come and visit."
When she let me go, I noticed that she angled her face sort of away from me, and her eyes shone watery. She hid halfway behind Remus's shoulder. A lump rose in my throat. "I'll catch you guys later. I will. Good luck, and… thank you. For everything. I love you guys."
Remus dipped his head slightly in respect, and I bowed back, to the new Lord Averira. The right one. They left speedily, and I guessed that Madison wanted to get out before I caught another tear in her eye. We were family, it went like that.
As the front door closed behind them, Charlotte reentered the room, carrying Klaus and his baby bag.
"Did they leave?" she asked softly.
I nodded in response and scooped Klaus out of her arms. "Yep. Remus had kingly stuff to attend to."
"Well," She exhaled. "You ready? Or do you want to get changed?"
I glanced down at my PJ pants and blue t-shirt. I shrugged, "Nah. We're going for breakfast, doesn't matter."
Char laughed under her breath, shaking her head at me. "Okay, fine. Let's go then."
We were speeding down the space highway, going sixty and Charlotte shifted in her seat. I took that as a sign. She was about to say something.
"Did you like Madison? While I was gone?"
My body stiffened. I hadn't been expecting anything like this so soon. I was glad it wasn't a hard question answer. "Nope. Friendship only. But she's close family."
Charlotte nodded slowly, considering that. I took the time to scrape up some courage to ask her the latter question. "How about you? Any boyfriends?"
I waited for her cheek to flush, like they always did when I hit the right note. Her complexion remained pale cream. She answered me in confidence.
"Nope. I didn't like anyone there, that way."
Before I knew it, a content smile adhered itself to my face, and I felt the effects of it. It radiated through me, and it was easy to see the bright side of the dreary day. Rain pattered on the window shield as we let the silence drift in the automobile. Klaus cooked up a long whimper. My wife turned around and popped a binky into his mouth, as it had fallen out. She came back, and this time, she looked a bit irritated.
"Do they know we're coming for breakfast?"
Uh oh. This was shaky territory. I usually just came over to the castle whenever I wanted to, but char was never really one of those "invite yourself" kind of people. With swiftness, I picked up and dialed the Sora's number into my cell phone. My eyes flickered over to view the smug expression Charlotte was wearing.
"That's what I thought," she muttered.
"Hey Sora? Yeah, hey man. Hey do you think Char and I could bring Klaus over for breakfast?... uh huh… yeah. Cool. See ya in a couple."
I snapped the phone shut and tossed it into the change dish. Char threw me a look, but didn't say anything. I flipped on the radio absently, needing to listen to something. I noticed the relaxed tilt of Charlotte's shoulders. She loved music.
Ten more minutes of classical melody later, the white and blue turrets were on the horizon, and the full castle came into view moments afterward.
I didn't hesitate to pull into Mickey's private garage. Evidently, I didn't care what he thought.
Honestly, I didn't have much respect for the little mouse, and Donald and Goofy often gave me grief for it. The two little suck-ups—who I nicknamed McDonald and Goober—didn't like me. I was alright with that. A duck and a dog weren't high on my favorite animals list anyway—if I had such a list.
Stopping the car, I slid out and collected my son from the backseat, grabbing his baby bag. My eyes met Char's as I joined her at the front of the car, they were bright. Maybe her good mood had finally kicked in. So together we went up into the castle, entering through the colonnade and marching onward for the Dining Hall. Sora met us halfway there.
"Gabriel!"
He came running to us, his arms outstretched. "Sora, dude, how's it going?" Charlotte took Klaus from me, smiling in reassurance—she was okay taking him. I gave Sora a one armed hug.
"Gabe, man! It's been too long!" And then he turned to Char. "Charlotte, Klaus! The gang's back together!"
I cracked a grin. Indeed, this gang was together again. Though part of that inclined me to disagree, we were only the full team with Remus and Madison.
Sora came up around me, placing a hand on my shoulder—which towered about half a head over him. He gestured forward, taking that hand off as we off down the colonnade. Charlotte gave me a look, and I took Klaus back. It was like we played "Hot Potato" with our son. I repositioned Klaus while walking, whispering into his soft ear. "Sora. That was Sora. This is Disney Castle. Love you buddy." He giggled and pressed his palms flat on my cheek. His mood had jumped up since the ride. A phrase popped into my mind, and it suddenly felt very true.
"When babies are happy, everyone's happy."
Well in some cases past, that couldn't have been remotely true. But now, I found the happiness couldn't just dwell inside, it ebbed and pulled, trying to get out. I grinned, and the happiness calmed, stirring in my chest, everything content point protruding. I could easily look ahead and see a possible future for us. No harmful men after Klaus and Char, a peaceful life. I could get a normal job, we could raise a family.
We were a family.
The brighter end of the tunnel came into view, and I let it swallow me.
Charlotte at my side, Klaus in my arms. Friends and family everywhere. And my black wings fluttering behind me, tall and wide, smooth ebony plume. I was me. It felt right. It was right.
We were home.
.
.
.
I'd like to thank Kimberly/kimfoo. Jenna and Mom. And soralover. My Wolfy Editor…
Especially Kim though, because she's helped me through a lot of tight spots. Thank you all for following Gabriel and Charlotte in their Kingdom Hearts journey. Each and every Hit helped me along.
They're home now.
Goodbye and God bless…