Two wagons stopped in front of Michaela and Sully's house. Immediatelly, Brian led Katie and little Matthew toward the barn with an excuse to help him unhitch the horses from the wagons and take care of them. He decided to do that so the grown ups would have a chance to talk about everything. He would take care of the little ones.
Once they entered the house, Colleen went toward the kitchen to put a kettle on. Michaela set up the table while Sully went to get some woods for the fire. Matthew started to make a fire.
It didn't go unnoticed by Nicole that Atlantis was at ease with these people. She watched how she helped Dr Mike to set up the table, but also caught few moments when she looked at Matthew. It wasn't the first time she saw it, she also noticed it back in town and on the ride to Sully's homestead. Than there was Atlantis' son having the same name as young blond man who was starting up a fire in a fireplace. She wondered what kind of relationship he had with her sister.
As she and Atlantis finally sat down, for a moment, they were alone at the table. Nicole leaned toward Atlantis not being able to stay quiet anymore.
"So…you're gonna tell me what is it between your and your handsome lawyer?", as she noticed her sister's face getting a nice shade of red, Nicole couldn't help but smile. So, she guessed. Not that it was that hard to guess. She also noticed how gentle was Matthew with her sister; every now and than when they would talk, he would lightly touch her hand or shoulder, shared long looks with her and it was fascinating, it looked like they communicate without uttering a single word.
However, there was no time for further discussion as Michaela, Sully, Matthew and Colleen sat at the table.
For long time, nobody spoke. Colleen poured coffee in the cups and took a seat beside her brother. Nicole swallowed hard before reaching in her bag and producing a framed photo. Without a word, she gave it to Atlantis.
Something in her lungs started to rise as Atlantis' brown eyes looked down at the photo. A tall man with moustaches and beard held a little girl with strange looking hands. His other hand was protectively placed upon the shoulder of a woman with long brown locks who was sitting in front of him. On her left side stood another girl, holding a doll. All four of them were smiling.
Shivers ran up and down Atlantis' spine as the sobs climbed up from her lungs. Next thing she knew were Nicole's arms pulling her in a comforting embrace. She leaned into her, her eyes fixed on the photo as the tears bursted out and rolled heavily down her cheeks at the sight of her family.
"I still remember that horrible day, like it happened yesterday", whispered Nicole, her own voice also cracked with tears "For years, I couldn't forgive myself."
"Yourself?", Michaela gently asked.
Nicole nodded, turning her attention to a doctor "Yes. Mum and Dad took us to the fair and Atlantis and me wanted to get some ice cream. At first Mum didn't want to let us go all by ourselves, but I assured her that we are big enough and that we will also bring ice creams to her and Dad", as the tears started to roll down her eyes, Nicole continued through sobs "Still, she didn't aloow it. We waited until Mum and Dad turned their backs and ran away. We thought that they won't even notice that we're gone. We ran toward the ice cream stand and Atlantis pointed out that we didn't have any money because parents didn't allow us to go. We just stood there and that was when that woman came. She took immediate interest in Atlantis and told us she will buy us some ice cream. I didn't want to, but she started to assure us she won't do us any harm. I tried to pull Atlantis away from her, but that was when she grabbed her…", her hold on her sister tightened, memories of that horrible day taking their toll on Nicole "I couldn't call for Mum and Dad as they were too far away, but nobody wanted to help, they all thought she was with us and that I was disobeying her. Atlantis was screaming for me as she ran away carrying her", with those words, Nicole broke down and she looked at Atlantis "I am so sorry, Atlantis."
"Well, aren't you two little beautiful girls!", red-haired woman smiled down at two sisters. Six-year-old Nicole held Atlantis' hand and the younger child hid behind her sister. "Now, now, nothing to be afraid of. Where are your parents?"
"At the fair", four-year-old Atlantis silently said.
"What, and didn't buy you an ice cream? Come on, I will buy you some."
"No, thank you, Ma'am", Nicole replied remembering her parents' warning to never take some food from the strangers.
Red-haired woman stared sharply at the older child "Now, that's rude. When somebody wants to buy you an ice cream, you don't refuse."
"I don't know you", mumbled Nicole, taking two steps back.
"Well, than I will buy an ice cream just for your little sister!", a woman pulled little one for her hand, her eyes twinkling. As little one started to cry and tried to break free, Nicole grabbed her jacket sending woman into anger "Let go of her!", woman yelled.
"NOOOO! Leave my sister alone, you witch!", a six- year - old girl was crying, holding onto a jacket of her baby sister.
"You little scumbag!", red - haired woman mumbled through gritted teeth "I said let her go!", she pulled the little girl stronger to her, but the oldest girl didn't give up.
"You can't have her! She is my sister!"
"I. Said. LET. GO!", red- haired woman snapped and kicked the older girl hard!
The child fell down on the floor, her grasp loosing on the jacket of crying little girl. As a woman ran away, carrying her, the little girl screamed through sobs "NICOLE! HELP ME!"
Nicole placed her head on her left palm, squeezing her eyes shut as the tears stopped her from talking further. Atlantis grabbed her sister's upeer arms and gently shook her.
"Nicole. Nicole, look at me", as her sister opened her eyes, Atlantis said "Nicole, it wasn't your fault."
"Yes, yes it was. I was suppose to protect you", sobbed Nicole.
"But, Nicole, you were just a child, you couldn't fight her!", Atlantis tried to reassure her, it broke her heart to see her sister hurting like this.
"I should have done something, run to get our parents…"
"What good would that do? Heart would be long gone till you came back with them", Atlantis said.
"I shouldn't have to talk you into running away in the first place."
"Hey, I wanted to go", Atlantis tried to smile "I wanted to have an ice cream too", at those words, Nicole shakily smiled and Atlantis wiped her tears away, kissing her on the cheek.
"Younger siblings never listen, I know that", Matthew's voice was heard.
"Matthew!", Colleen gasped.
"What? You and Brian had even worse ideas than that! Remember when we went fishing when you were, what - six and Brian barely two years old? You wanted to catch a big fish and instead of putting a worm on the fishing stick, you started to put Brian's trousers on it, wanting to feed fishes with him, eventhough I tried to stop you!", receiving playfull hit on the head from his sister, Matthew laughed "It's true! Brian was light as a feather and Colleen was chubby little girl, she actually managed to pick up the fishing stick with him hanging from it giggling like crazy, but it broke under Brian's weight and he fell into shallow water, splashing her from head to toe!", he laughed even more when Colleen covered his lips with her palm to shut him up, sending everybody into laughter.
"Nicole, it wasn't your fault", Atlantis looked at her sister; her facial expression seemed to relax a bit. Atlantis was sure that Nicole blamed herself all these years "You weren't physically strong to pull me away, our parents were too far away. Don't do that to yourself. Plus, I'm fine", smiled Atlantis "All this will be over in few days and than we can make up for the time we missed."
Nicole nodded "I'd like that", as her sister hugged her, she whispered "Thank you."
"Are you ready to testify on the court tomorrow and repeat all this in front of the Judge and jury?", asked Matthew.
"Absolutely, Matthew", said Nicole "Thank you."
For long in night, lamps in Sully family house were on. As the wind blew its October tune outside, the fire in a fireplace kept the house warm as two sisters sat in front of it and talked for a long, long time…never letting go of each other's hands. While everybody else slept in the house, Atlantis and Nicole started to catch up on lost years. Eager to hear about each other's lives… and determined to never ever lose one another again.