AN: I'm finally back again...N I know u all hate me but pl z don't hate d story! Stay by me! Sorry 4 d late updates! And here's the shock wave!

Muahahahaa!

MAXIMUS DAVIS LAHOTE

(CASSIE'S POV)

That was that! Was I the only one left on this planet who couldn't meet her soul mate? That's so freaking unfair! Being a princess doesn't mean that you have to kept away from your guy (If that has got to do anything with this, otherwise it was a bit irrelevant, wasn't it?). I stomped backstage to see what was going on. At a distance, I saw a few people surrounding someone wearing a red Minnie mouse hair band. I pushed past them and saw Sonny who was crying.

"Sonny? What happened?" I asked, alarmed.

"I…athe…" she was saying but I couldn't get the next.

"I'm not getting a word you're saying, seriously." I replied.

"Cass?" It was the voice that I loved i.e. Brady's. I looked back to see him dressed up in an old fashioned royal black dress which was just like the photo I had seen the other day in the or palace. He looked really handsome dressed as my ancestor. When I saw him, my mouth had fallen open. He looked somewhat like what Avery's 2nd boyfriend in Dog with a Blog was looking on a Halloween episode but even more masculine and sexier. The funny thing was, he was wearing his favorite black sneakers with that.

God, this guy can be so sexy at times!

"Cassie?" he snapped his fingers in front of me.

"What?" I asked, coming back to my senses. And he was saying I was sexy. Look who's talking. Sometimes, I feel I'm no match for him.

"You were asking something, remember?" he asked me.

"Yeah, what happened to Sonny?" I asked him.

"Um…she had oregano in her pizza." He told me. Shit, Sonny is allergic to oregano! When she eats oregano, her tongue swells up and she can't speak properly for two days at least, let alone sing in two minutes.

"What do we do now?" I asked him.

"We don't even have a substitute." He told me.

"Hey, what happened? Why ain't the performance starting?" we heard Mark's voice from my back.

"Sonny ate oregano." I told him, reluctantly taking my eyes off Brady.

"WHAT?" he shouted. Brady put his finger to his lips to shush him.

"Slow down." He whispered.

"How?" Mark whispered back.

"Pizza. Ta-da!" Brady replied.

"Where do we find a substitute from?"Mark muttered. Both of them looked towards me.

"Do not even think I'm going on-stage. No way!" I stated.

"Please?" Mark insisted. "Nobody remembers the lyrics as well as you do. We even saw your girls' that sleep over video."

"WHAT?" I reacted. "But no."

"C'mon." he said.

"I have an idea." Brady replied. "We'll make Ashley lip-sync. You sing behind the curtain."

"That's better." I replied. Mark went to call Ashley outside and Ashley came in.

"So, here's the song list, Cassie. Don't freak out. Sing yourself out." He gave me the list and kissed my forehead. "Mark, Sonny and Ethan are here with you." He shooed out the others except the guy who was controlling the sounds and lightings. His band consisted of Nathan, Ken, Kyle and Dave.

"All the best." I muttered, shivering.

"Calm down. Close your eyes and sing when I finish my stanza." He told me. It was easy to say 'calm down', much harder to do it. The first song was supposed to be 'Don't Stop' by 5 SOS. It gave me time to compose myself. Ashley wasn't on the stage yet. She was by my side, holding my hand. I could see out through peek in the curtain although, I knew no one could look inside here. I was actually freaking out. I knew, I was! Then, 'One thing' and 'Midnight Memories' both of which were by One Direction (my personal favorite). Then, I heard the lyrics of 'Why Don't You Love Me?' by Haute Chelle Rae. There was a fog machine and then, Ashley had to step in through it. I sang along with the chorus, i.e. with Brady's voice.

Left on the sideline, stuck at the midnight,

Waiting for my turn and…

This was my cue.

"I can't see: why don't you love me?

Touch me, tell me I'm your everything and hear you breathing…" I was totally into that song. I looked at Brady and to my surprise, I could see him clearly. I could hear the crowd hoot well for me. It was just like they used to when I was in 3rd grade and was in the school play. But I knew they couldn't see me, the spotlight was on….

IT WAS ON ME! I looked at Brady, totally lost.

Who the fuck had drawn off the curtain?

Who the fuck had the light on me!?

Who the fuck had pushed me on the stage without me realizing?

WHAT THE FUCK!

I was freaking out once again. Brady held my hand and his warm hand felt better in mine. My fear had stopped and then, I sang with what I had. I felt as if my stage fright was going and then, I enjoyed. I didn't know how, I just did. Then, I sang till it was time to get it over. But I still didn't want to stop. I was love in being on stage now.

A while after we'd ended; they had started playing the DJ. It was funny how everyone was coming to me and telling me that I was awesome. They even told Brady that I had overpowered him. As if. Brady had been so good up there and I had never felt him singing that well. He usually sings to me when I ask him to but I hadn't heard him in a while, so yeah, it felt a bit better. We were sitting together and watching everyone because it was quite amusing to see people search for corners to make out but some of them didn't even bother to do that.

"So, why did you actually start fearing being on-stage? The other day Diana and I were watching your old plays and stuff. You did like it so much, then why?" he asked me. I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Well, it's when I was 9. I took part in a school play as usual and…a day before, I had food poisoning but still, I went to the play because it was a competition not a function but we kinda lost because I started throwing up during my part and voila! Everyone accused me of losing and I was alone, once again." I answered.

"Tell me whoever did that. I'm going to kick each one's asses." He told me.

"No, you don't need to, now. I'm fine up here." I replied. He got up and bowed in front of me.

"So, will the princess of the great Makabah tribe, privilege me, a commoner for one dance?" he asked me. That was kind of cute and romantic but I didn't get a word he had said. I laughed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked him.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked me.

"Lemme think." I said, tapping my index finger on my chin.

"Get up, already." He said.

"That's like my Brownie!" I replied and got up. Suddenly, the music changed. I knew the tune; it was one of my favorites.

Don't try to make me stay, or ask if I'm okay….

"That's some song for a privileged commoner like me." he said and pulled me towards him in a ball dance position.

"Shut up. It doesn't suit you." I said and chuckled. "So, commoner, how much do you love me?"

"Princess, don't do this to me." he said. "I don't have the answer…don't make me stay the night, or ask if I'm alright…I don't have the answer." He was singing along with the song 'Irresistible'.

"Hmm… pretty song." I said. It wasn't like we were dancing; it was just that we were moving with my arms around his neck and his arms around my waist.

"Yeah, for my pretty imprint." He replied and kissed the tip of my nose. His lips then moved down to mine and they collided. I had closed my eyes and well, it felt great for some reason, kissing him after a long while peacefully, knowing nothing would go wrong this time. It ended for more than 30 seconds till finally Mark had to interrupt.

"Guys, sorry to disturb but…" he was saying and we both were dead embarrassed. "Okay, so I was saying…what do we do when girls cry and don't tell you a reason why?"

"Hug her and keep your mouth shut. She would tell you anyway." I answered, annoyed.

"You go upstairs and wait for me. I'll be there in a few minutes, 'kay?" he said and kissed my forehead.

"Why?" I asked him.

"Trust me."

I went to the staircase that led to the balcony upstairs. I was walking as slowly as I could because I knew I would slip in these heels. Brady even had to go and see the large jack-o-lantern so I knew he might be busy but why had he asked me to go upstairs in the first place. It was a cool night and I headed to the boundary and looked down. I heard some footsteps and knew it was Brady but I didn't look backward. He came from my back and kept both of his hands on mine softly. But they weren't warm…they were colder…even than mine and kind of…

I turned back to see Shane. My eyes widened in shock as he caught me even closer and covered my mouth as I tried to push back. He was hard and I couldn't push him off! It was so…I don't know. I had a thousand feelings in one second: anger, hatred, frustration, and horror, fright, lost, detestation, disgust, sickness, nausea, aversion, repugnance….

"Shsh…shsh, I know. Calm down, okay? You know that I love you since the day I saw you, don't you?" he asked me when I was trying to punch him. "Reply to me and don't try to fight back. Or I won't leave you."

"Uh…Y-yes?" I stuttered.

"Why don't you be with me? Brady won't even know." He replied.

"BECAUSE I DON'T CHEAT ON THE ONES I LOVE!" I shouted. He twisted my arm and I didn't get what happened next because my head became blur and my body numb. I couldn't get why they weren't working and I was in his control. He reached for my face and somehow, my tears had managed to reach my eyes. The next thing I knew, his lips were crushing against mine. It felt like concrete…I didn't know why and I needed to run.

A second later, I heard another round of footsteps and a shock of wind, kind of like a tornado but not on me, on him and he fell down the boundary. It was Amy who had come to my aid. She shook me hard and caressed my hair. I was now feeling my body when she helped me sit up.

"A-Amy?" I was crying and my voice broke.

"Shsh…it'll be okay." She said and pushed me to herself and hugged me hard. I could hear her voice breaking too.

"I…I feel…like a prostitute." I said while crying.

"Hey, nothing happened okay. He couldn't do anything else. He just kissed you, okay? And I think he's probably dead." She told me. My head whirled and I wanted to run away as soon as I could. "Wanna go home?" I nodded as she wiped my tears.

She had Paul's car keys and so we both reached the parking lot. She had texted Brady from my cell phone that I was needed at home right then, not mentioning the main reason. I had kind of changed into my coat dress and sneakers. It felt horrible. I hated myself so much that I could even kill myself. In a few minutes, we were home. I ran to the door crying but soon, I heard Marley's loud help pitched barks and shouting voice from inside that belonged to…

OH MY GOD! RACHEL!

"Shit, Emily even texted me she'd gone off back home because of Eva. I forgot." Amy replied.

I hurried inside and instantly knew that it was time that I had my nephew. I was getting nervous as I saw her rolling in pain on the couch. Amy ran after me and said: "I think the crowning has started. Cassie we need to do the delivery NOW!"

"I know…we need to call the doctor." I muttered searching the pocket for my phone. I ruffled Marley's head and made him go outside but stubborn as he is, he stayed in a corner in the kitchen.

"No, stupid. NOW MEANS NOW!" she replied.

"HOW?" I shouted.

"GET HIM OUT!" Rachel screamed.

"Get me a clean pair of scissors, warm water, towels…" and she said some more stuff that I ran to get. She was a healer and she had a good sixth sense when it came to these kinds of things. Grandma had once told me that she, in judging pain, was even better than Wayne. I had doubted it then but I knew now. By the time, I had returned she had moved her to the coffee table and covered her with a bed sheet while Rachel was still screaming and hitting back.

"CASSIE, GET HIM OUT, NOW!" Rachel shouted.

Nothing in my life could've been as gross as this.

And I mean it. I was literally going to puke when she called me to help with the pulling out and stuff. My head whirled so she made me help Rachel with pushing.

And then I heard a cry and I melted from each corner of my heart. I looked at Rachel. She beamed at me weakly and Amy waved over Rachel. I think it was kind of a healing thing. She cleaned him and covered him in the baby blue baby suit that Brady and I had bought some days ago. I didn't know why I had got it but it just caught my eye that day. She gave him to me.

"Aw, he's so cute, Ames." I was going to cry now for sure.

"Born on 1st November, 12:16 a.m." she replied proudly. "And the first delivery I carried out. Shit, he's so cute, Cassie."

"What are we naming him?" I asked Rachel. We had thought of a lot of names to be true, and Maximus being Rachel and my favorite but Paul wanted it to be Davis.

"Um…" she said.

"MAXIMUS DAVIS LAHOTE?" Rachel and I answered to my question at the same time.

"Nice. Now, let's call the others and give them the news. Paul will surely die of a heart attack." Amy said. "And yeah, some formalities need to be done."

I called Paul. After a familiar tone, he picked up.

"Hello?" there was a lot of disturbance from the background.

"Paul…Rachel…"

"Rachel, what?!" his voice turned up.

"Hear this…" I took my phone and made Paul hear the baby cry and took the phone to my ear.

"How...What…where are you?!" he shouted.

"I'm at home and Amy did the delivery. Rachel's okay because of her healing gift."

"I…I AM A DAD! Cassie! I AM A DAD!" he screamed like a mad man. I laughed.

"I know that better than you, weirdo! Now, be back home. You gotta do some formalities too." I said, giggling.

"I. AM. A. DAD. Do you know what that means? Have you ever been a dad?" I heard him say to someone other than me.

"Shut the phone at least, Mr. Dad." I said.

"Oh, right." He said and hung up.

So, needless to say, in a round of 15 minutes, everyone was at home calling themselves his favorite uncle or aunt but Paul and Rachel had called me that since he had landed up with me first and was sleeping in my arms. Everyone was of course, fighting with me but…

That reminded me Brady hadn't turned up yet to me. He had gone to the hospital with Paul. As I thought of him, my legs turned weak and I gave Max to Leah. I felt…like I had cheated on Brady. I ran to my room, at the verge of tears and then, climbed to the un-boundaried 'balcony' by my window. I cried sitting there, hugging my knees. It felt awful when I heard someone again and felt her/him putting a hand on my shoulder. I almost shouted of fear.

"Hey, shut up. It's me." it was Louie. "And why're you crying?"

"I don't know. I'm happy?" I lied. Wow, what a nice lie! I should be given a Nobel Prize for the worst lie of the millennium.

"You know, you could get an award as the worst liar of the country. Amy told me already." He said.

"I could use up a hug, if you knew!" I retorted.

"I'm all yours." He opened his arms. I laughed, hit him on his arm, and hugged him. It didn't work as comfortingly fast as it does with Brady but it worked slowly. "You know…Shane…"

"Can we not talk about him, please?" I pleaded. "Promise me, Louie, you won't tell Brownie any of this."

"But he needs to know!" he snapped.

"I will tell him my way, when the time comes, okay?" I replied.

"Okay, promise. But you know…if Amy hadn't been there, I would've kicked his ass hard enough to send him to Africa." He answered. I giggled but I was still crying. He was silent for some time and then, I didn't know how, I became drowsy. Shit, Louie! I remembered that he helped me drowsily into my room and then, I turned to my wardrobe for my pajamas and then into the bathroom to change and finally, fell into my bed. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.