Be prepared for the end. It'll come up faster than you think. ;)

That's all I have to say.

Oh, and I named this chapter Finis FOR A REASON. I play piano! I have a right to like the word Finis!


*Wicked Harmony has logged on* *Not Luke Skywalker has logged on* *Anonymous Dude has logged on*

WH: You *cough* flunked. Big time.

NS: ...

AD: I'm sorry we flunked. *cough, cough, cough* Not like it's a major deal or anything. We *cough* tried.

NS: 'Tried' is a major word in that sentence. And you failed writing the previoius chapter. Not me.

AD: EX- *cough, cough, cough cough* -CUSE ME?

WH: I *cough* hate being sick. This sucks. It's so *coughs* annoying being miserable.

NS: You don't have to be miserable.

*Brilliancy has logged on* *Art Freak has logged on*

B: How are you feeling, Mads/Lu? Better?

WH: *cough, cough* Thanks, but... eh.

AD: Translation *HACK, cough* - no.

NS; Stop doing that.

AD: What?

NS: That. It's annoying. HACK, cough. What is that? You sound like you have a furball stuck in your throat.

AD: It *cough* feels like it.

WH: Feels like that for me too. *ah, ah, ah-cho* Every time I try and get the phlem out of *cough* my throat it just gets stuck farther in.

AF: Poor Edward, listening to that all day and night...

NS: * o * Poor me!

AD: POOR *HACK, cough* US!

WH: POOR *HACK, cough* US!

*Mountain Obsessed has logged on*

MO: I missed a lot, didn't I... I always miss stuff. It's not fair!

B: If you signed on at the time I tell you to sign on, you'd be on-time.

MO: Ha. It is 4:30 right now on my clock!

WH: Your *HACK* clock must be fast.

NS: Stop that, Madeleine. It's annoying. And Lu, you stop it too.

AD: *cough, cough* Sure, little-

NS; OKAY, OKAY, OKAY! Stop it! We had a deal!

WH: I sense *cough* bribes and other things here...

AF: Me too. Okay. Start writing, Mads. You read the last chapter.


Chapter Forty-four;

Finis

Madeleine Elizabeth Cahill couldn't decide whether the view was better from Bunker Hill, or from the hill overlooking the Old Faithful Inn. It was a hard choice. After a long time, she finally decided on the Old Faithful Inn; almost strictly for the fact that she had never seen geysers before and they were an interesting, curious specimen.

Madeleine was twisted around on a bench that was halfway up the hill. She was technically suppose to be facing away from the view, but that annoyed her. So she kicked up her legs and fixed that problem. Old Faithful erupted in the distance just as her phone began to ring. Again.

Picking it up, Madeleine glanced at the person who was calling. Katherine. Won't she ever realize I can take care of myself now? With a quick pull-back, the seventeen year old flung the phone into the nearby forest. She could hear it clattering against rocks and shrubs as it tumbled on it's way down. The song We Are the Champions faded off into the distance. That done, the view once again could be her main priority. Madeleine leaned her chin up against the back of the bench, thinking.


B: I STILL cannot believe you did that, Madeleine. It was vulgar, and rude, and disrespectful-

WH: *cough* I wanted to. And that phone was annoying. Verizon is NOT *HACK, cough* getting my patronism anymore.

AF: That really is getting annoying, Mads. And I'm a realist that loves writing. Stop it, please.

WH: Then it'll be even more *cough, cough, cough, cough* annoying when you talk to me in person. Get use to it.


She already knew her siblings had been rejected from their branches. It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out. They were different people from what they had been. That was clear. They were different from how they had started their branches, and they had different goals now that they had changed. Madeleine swallowed hard as she watched the sun beginning to set over the Rocky Mountains. The chains choking the different branches were too tight now to begin to loosen them from the flesh they had dug into. It had to take time, along with certain strategic tools, to fix.

A dull ache started in Madeleine's heart. She had the tools, and she knew that together- she and her siblings could do anything. No matter what the goal. But that wasn't it. The other half of her heart that had been cut away long ago, was still missing. And it was still gone.

There was a quivering sigh while Madeleine tried to retain her emotions.

He's gone Mads. Don't mope. She looked up at the stars, wanting the comfort they usually offered her. They didn't help much. What's the date? The girl watched little people-ants beginning to go inside the Inn. Bison-beetles grazed next to the river wrapping around the hill below her. Everything was calm and peaceful.

November... November... November 17. Just at evening. A horde of stored memories flooded back to her. Madeleine scrambled up from her bench, and disappeared.


Lost.

Madeleine gave a furious groan as she looked at the map of Gibraltar. It was completely stupid. All she needed to know, was what stupid street to take to find the stupid coast. I'm pretty sure it still does border on the sea. Right? There was a disgusted scoff. Fed up to the neck with stupid street names that changed every dumb street, Madeleine just started walking South. She figured she'd hit the coast sometime, and she did.

It was covered. That was the next thing. If Madeleine would have had a mood ring on, it would have been the blackest black that was possible to be called black. Clearly stated- she was mad, and frustrated, and a little bit of stumped thrown in too.

When she had finally reached the coast, she counted fifty paces away, cutting two off since there had been five hundred years of erosion since she had last been there. The place was covered with a boardwalk.

The seventeen year old stared down and wished she were Thomas instead of just part- Thomas. Maybe then she wouldn't have to actually sneak around in the dark while digging up a boardwalk. How many people in the world have actually done that? Madeleine didn't answer the question she had asked, for the main reason that she was far too disgusted to.

Oh well. Here goes. She looked around to see if anyone was there, then going onto her knees, Madeleine reached under the boardwalk and began unscrewing the bolts. It was quite easy. The boardwalk was probably from the nineteen fifties, so the bolts were old and rusted. She managed to pull up three crossties, then a shovel appeared in her hand and she started digging.


NS: Thank you, thank you, thank you- STOP IT! Stop- like- coughing on me! That's disgusting!

AD: Not as *HACK, COUGH, COUGH, HACK* disgusting as your self-importance.

NS: I am covered with- dare I say it: flem. Ew. *goes to wash hands, hair, and anything else that was touched by germs*

WH: XD *cough*

B: Luke, get back here. You'd be in the shower for years if you wanted that accomplished. Seriously. Get back. Now.

AD: I'll get him back. Don't worry.

AF: Eh. Like that will happen anytime soon. *insert line break of awesomeness here*

B: A line break of what?

AF: Of awesomeness. Line breaks are awesome. You didn't know that?

WH: *GASP!* *hacks, coughs, and sneezes because she gasped*

B: Mads, stop it.

AD: WE'RE BACK! *HACK*

B: You know, 'hack' sounds like you're 'hacking' your computer to bits. O.o

NS: Tkos os ammpuomg.

WH: What?
AF: Something's up with Luke now... Hurry up! I have stories to write! Poems to compose! Songs to publish!

AD: Eh, I taped his hands to the laptop so he either has to ruin his laptop, or type with us. I just think I taped his hands in the wrong place... O.o

B: Lu, let him loose. Seriously. We need him.

WH: He's got the *cough* main part in this chapter.

AD: Really? Aw, hear that, Lukie? They want *cough* me to let you go... How sweet...

NS: SKIT I[! MPT NE FRP O ,IRDER YOU OM UR SLEEP!

AD: Oh, shoot *cough* the tape's coming loose...

AF: LET HIM GO!

WH: Lu, *cough* seriously...

AD: OW! hry QUIT IT! *ha-* STOP NOW!

B: Great, now what? Luke's killing him? I don't need this trouble. Should we come back tomorrow and write it, Mads?

WH: Not a *cough* bad idea... O.o

AD: Okay. I think *HACK, cough* we're back. Think.

AF: Seriously, write now. Both of you.


Menlo Park, 7:00 PM;

"No!" Katherine screamed. "You do not stand up for her! She needs to start taking responsibility for her own actions!"

Luke's worried face turned disgusted. "And you're saying that for a phone- although it might have cost 150 dollars- that you can make appear in your hand just as easy as if you were breathing. You're screaming at her for that?"

"YES!" Katherine turned to Madeleine, who was suppose to be sitting on the park bench with Jane, but very mysteriously, disappeared. "Great," Katherine snapped. "Now what? You try to tell her something. She doesn't listen. You try to help her. She ignores you. You try to discipline her for doing something she shouldn't do. She doesn't care. HOW THE HELL ARE YOU SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEONE LIKE THAT?"

"You don't have to take care of her," Jane pointed out. She was sitting cross-legged on the park bench about two strides to the right of Katherine, eating teriyaki chicken Thomas had decided to buy, then didn't like. "She's your sister. Just be glad she's not your daughter."

Katherine blew up at that. "THAT'S NOT FAIR!" People's heads turned while they were walking fifteen yards away on an entirely different path. "You three are SUPPORTING HER! I am trying to CONDUCT DISCIPLINE right now, and I CAN'T!"

Luke crossed his arms and leaned on one foot. The one that didn't have weight on it began tapping. He wasn't looking at Katherine, but over in the distance where a pine tree's branches had begun moving for 'some reason'. "One..." Pause. "Two..." Pause. Luke thought for a minute. "I'm counting, Madeleine... Two and a half..."

"Fine," Madeleine suddenly appeared in front of him. "But I'm not going to get yelled at for throwing away that stupid phone. If I'm going to have it back, the ringtone needs to be changed."

Katherine stared at her. "You- you threw away your phone- because you didn't like the ringtone?"

"Well, sort of," Madeleine thought for a minute. "That and the combination of the fact that it was annoying me because you guys were calling so many times."

Jane covered her mouth with her hand since she had accidentally swallowed a piece of meat wrong and was 'coughing'. Luke shot her a warning glance. Katherine looked as pained as possible. "I can not believe you. Why didn't you just change the ringtone? Or answer the stupid thing?"

Madeleine blinked. "You can actually do that? And why would I have answered the phone? You just would have driven me crazy anyway."

Katherine gave her a 'seriously' look. "Why in-"

"Alright," Luke stepped in between the two sisters. "Break it up. Katie, take Tom and Jane to the hotel. I'll talk to Madeleine," Madeleine shot Luke a grateful glance, but Luke pretended not to see it. He figured he probably shouldn't be the extra-nice-dude, but it was a good thing to be the nicer-than-Katherine-dude.

Once the other three were gone, Madeleine turned in relief to her brother. "Thanks so much for doing that! I mean- honestly," Luke gave no recognition at her words. He gave Madeleine a dull stare. Her voice grew softer. "Katie, just kept going on... and on... And..." Her voice trailed off.

"So," A slight smile showed on Luke's face. "Why did you throw your phone into a forest in Yellowstone?"

Madeleine glared at him, feeling like she had just jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. "Why should I tell you?"

"Why did you throw your phone into a forest in Yellowstone?"

Madeleine crossed her arms and wondered if she could move fast enough to kick Luke in the shins and then run away. She didn't like her chances. "I was bored with it. And I didn't want them to find me."

"Why not?"

"I was doing something."

"What?"

Madeleine put a devilishly angelic expression on. "None of your beeswax."


AD: O.o Now if I did *cough* that-

NS: You'd be dead in five seconds. WRITE.


"Why not?"

"Because I said so."

Luke's face formed a frown. "Start talking."

"Mannheim Steamroller is doing a totally rad new Christmas album. Like- super cool. Jane's freaking out over it. And-" She stopped short. "Well you said you wanted me to talk!"


AF: I was NOT! I was excited! There is a difference, Madeleine!

WH: *cough* Not really...

NS: Knowing you, Jane, I'll bet it's what Maddie said... O.o


"Why didn't you want them to find you," Luke said everything slowly, as if he was repeating the words to a five-year-old. His eyes were serious, saying he meant business. "We were worried sick for three hours. You need to tell us where you're at."

"There is... a reason," Madeleine looked, and kicked at the dirt.

Luke cleared his throat. Waiting.

"It's private."

There was a soft groan and a roll of the eyes. Then he looked back at Madeleine. His interrogating expression was gone, but he was still serious. "If I was Katherine," He murmured. "I would still be sitting here screaming at you and waving a phone in front of your face. I honestly don't blame you that much for leaving us. But you need to tell us where you're at." He paused for a minute. "I don't need to lose you like I lost Lucas."

Luke silently opened his arms and Madeleine ran into them. "I'm sorry," She muttered, voice muffled. "But it's more fun being out of touch with the world sometimes."

Her brother didn't respond, but he rested his chin gently on her hair, a slight smile twitching on his lips. Suddenly Madeleine began struggling in his arms. Letting her go, Luke watched her twinkling eyes as she ran over to a pine tree and dropped to her knees. He followed her, and knelt down close to where she was.

"I have something for you," Madeleine's voice was still slightly muffled as she had her head almost immersed in a one and a half foot deep hole. "I put it here so nobody would find it, but I thought it would take longer till we were alone. And so I buried it really deep."

Buried treasure. Luke nearly grinned. Makes great gifts!

"Here!" And then Madeleine was pulling something out of the ground.

Luke didn't want to guess, but he couldn't help it as the object was being removed out of the ground. Checks? Bonds? A lifetime award of Hershey Candy bars? And the gift was... A box.

Luke stared at the moldy, worm-eaten, dirt-infested wooden box Madeleine was holding in her hands. "That's it?"

Madeleine plopped it down on the ground in front of him and gave him a look that clearly read- 'just open it dummy'.

He reached out a single index finger and tried to prop it up. It didn't open. Madeleine snatched it from him. "If you remember correctly," She shot him a disgusted look. "I've never heard of mold killing somebody. And did you actually think the box would have hinges?"

"Yeah," Luke shot back. "I did. You have a problem with that?"

They glared at each other until Madeleine finally slapped the box down in front of him again. "Now, open it correctly and see what's inside."

"Better be the winning lottery ticket," Luke muttered under his breath, then reached out, firmly grasped the box lid and lifted the top off. There was nothing there.

Luke looked up at Madeleine for his better-be-well-balanced explanation.

She stared at him as if something had happened to his brains. "It's extra security. Take out the fake bottom."

Luke stopped himself from throwing the box back into the hole. Who takes a box, buries it underground for who-knows-how-many-years and gives it to someone with a fake bottom for extra security? He quickly dug around the box's fake bottom, pried it out, and lifted it.

Luke stared.

The actual box had been lined with glass to stop the mold, and sheep's wool to protect what was inside. He took out the one wrapping of fleece and felt the slight heaviness of the package. Laying the small parcel on the grass, Luke opened it. He swallowed hard when he saw what was inside. "Is- is it really the same one?"

Madeleine nodded solemnly. "I couldn't bear to leave it. So I buried it in Gibraltar by the coast. It was wet. So that's why I lined the box with everything."

Luke gently picked up the dagger. It fit his hand comfortably, but he knew now that he shouldn't use it, and didn't have to. He was grateful for that. "Thank you, Madeleine," He finally breathed. "I- I guess I never really thought of it after everything. But I never... expected-"

Madeleine rested her right hand lightly on the dagger hilt Luke was holding. "I only wanted it to see the good times. I kinda figured you'd want it back."

Luke set the dagger back in the fleece, then opened his arms to Madeleine again. She cuddled up next to him and rested her head against his shoulder. After a while, she looked up at the stars twinkling above them and the entire reason for why she had pulled out the dagger in the first place flooded back to her. She looked at Ursa Minor. "Luke?"

"Hm?"

"Why was I named Madeleine?" The girl closed her eyes, letting her brother's arm wrap tightly around her and hold her close.

"Why do you ask?" Luke whispered back.

Madeleine paused, looking up at the sky before she answered. "Mother use to take me out. And she'd point out all the constellations. When she got to Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, she'd tell me that was my name. That that was who I was. I never understood it."

A soft smile twitched over Luke's mouth. "It is who you are," He breathed. "You may be little, but- but you have enough heart, and twice the courage to battle five grown men. You are a little bear Maddie; and Mother always knew it."

Madeleine let the explanation sink in. "I miss her so much," She whispered at last. "But- I always know she's there. And Father, too," She swallowed hard. "But I have you, and Katie, and Tom, and Jane. All of you make up for it."

Luke softly slipped his index finger under Madeleine's chin, bringing her head up. He gently kissed her forehead just as he had so many years ago. "I love you, Maddie."

Madeleine didn't have to reply. She knew that Luke knew clearly what her answer would be. Nothing else mattered at that instant. Forget the past. Forget all the decedents who didn't believe their elders. Forget the pain that had been suffered for centuries. This was now, and Madeleine couldn't think of any other place she'd rather be. She had her family back.

And for Madeleine Elizabeth Cahill - that was enough.


AD: And a *cough* nice sweet ending to top it off... How sweet...

WH: If you so *HACK, cough* DARE get any ideas, buster. You are MINCEMEAT!

AF: Mincemeat! INGENIUS, Madeleine!

B: Tom? Yeah, I know there wasn't a 'logging off' sign, so you're still on here. You win.

MO: BOOYAH! See? I KNEW it! Okay. So long shirts are best. If you don't like long shirts, a moose hide jacket is better. Make sure it's lined with wolverine fur around the hood. The wolverine fur doesn't freeze. Long underwear. NO JEANS. Thermal sweatpants. You'd break your frozen butt if you tried to pull off jeans up there. Bare necessities. As much weight as the-

B: THOMAS, I GET IT! MINUS DEGREES! Gee! Get out of here and log the plane tickets! God!

MO: *IS GONE*

*Mountain Obsessed has logged off* *Brilliancy has logged off*

AD: *cough* What was that all about?

AF: I have... no clue. Go figure.

WH: I'm *cough* figuring. What are you picking up, Luke?

NS: Cold weather?

AD: Hm... I'll bet they CHATTED ABOUT IT! *desperately HACKS and presses the 'up' key*

WH: *coughs and waits anxiously*

NS: *waits*

AF: *waits*

AD: Okay, so Kate apparently made this deal with Tom that if somebody called somebody a name for the time that we were on here, she would go dogsledding with him in Alaska for two weeks. Since Maddie called me Mincemeat, Tom won the bet, and they're going. Apparently Tom's excited about it. O.o

NS: Whoa.

AF: I WANT TO GO! THE NORTHERN LIGHT ARE IN ALASKA! I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO GO! *pouts*

WH: Gee, Jane. Chill. It's not like Alaska's that glamous or anything.

AF: YES IT IS! AND I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO GO-

AD: STOP! We *HACK, cough* get it! Chill out!

NS: Actually, dogsledding sounds kind of fun.

AD: *stares*

WH: *stares*

AF: *stares*

NS: What? I mean, if you really want to go, I eh... might? take you? O.o

AD: *stares, coughs*

WH: *stares, HACKS* Have Tom plan your trip then, because... *cough* I'm pretty sure you guys aren't Tomases... O.o

AF: I'M GOING! I'M GOING! I'M GOING! I'M GOING! I'ASDHGakdfj-

NS: Jane?

AF: I'M HERE! LET'S SEE, WARMEST THINGS... i CAN DO OTHERS WHEN I GET THER... UH...

AD: You're typing while you're packing. Gosh... Okay, *cough* Mads. What are we doing?

WH: No *cough* clue. Let's... get out of here though, Lu... O.o

*Art Freak has logged off* *Not Luke Skywalker has logged off* *Wicked Harmony has logged off*

AD: Ah... Alaska. The land of glaciers and grizzly bears. Great. Now I have to touch him up on that... O.o

*Anonymous Dude has logged off*


Dogsledding. What next? =P

Question; Should Jane get frightened by wolves, grizzlies, or moose? I personally hate moose, (meese) but might as well put it in a poll... O.o

EDIT: I aplogize for posting this without line breaks. It was my own fault, and I forgot. It's all my stupid computers fault for crashing anyway... Never fear! It ought to be up sooner or later!