Best and last chapter, people, but watch out. These are LONG ITALICS again!
And I want exactly TWENTY-FIVE REVIEWS before I publish Termination. I've already got the first-twelveth chapter written up - including italics, but it is your job to see that other people will be able to enjoy the Sequel to Forgiveness. Anonymous reviews are counted as well. So everybody - start reviewing, or Termination will never see the light of Fanfiction.
TERMINATION IS COUNTING ON YOU!
*Wicked Harmony has logged on* *Anonymous Dude has logged on*
AD: Ed isn't coming? YAY! *cough*
WH: I know, I'm still coughing too. Mildly now, but still coughing. *cough* See? Example. Anyway, yes, Ed is coming. He's late. And he's complaining that he missed about twenty chapters and he doesn't even know what's going on. Don't fill him in, whatever you do.
AD: Why not?
*Darth Cahill has logged on*
DC: Because she likes annoying me, and likes other people to annoy me, too.
WH: That's not true! *cough*
AD: Hey Ed, I actually hid a twenty dollar bill under your seat. You know, your swivel chair. Luke was trying to take it off me. So... eh. Hope you don't mind. It's in the lining.
WH: BWHAHAHAHAHAHA! HE FELL FOR IT! *cough, cough*
DC: What? Hey, that's not cool!
AD: I'm just... nonchalantly following Madeleine's instructions and annoying you...
DC: Now LISTEN UP, YOU NINCOMPOOP-
*Not Luke Skywalker has logged on* *Art Freak has logged on*
NS: I. Am. Cold.
WH: BWHAHAHA!
AF: I imagine you sounding like Sponge Bob. Shut up. *shivers*
AD: See? I told you I'm not going to Alaska. How are the dogs anyway?
NS: They're LUCKY. They get fur coats and burrow into that snow to keep warm. It ISN'T FAIR!
AD: Ha. Ha. *note sarcasm* And think of the irony. I'm sitting here, in our nice, cozy, warm apartment, snacking on-
NS: SHUT UP!
DC: How are you, Jane? Surviving the minus degrees?
AF: I'm doing okay. The scenery is BEAUTIFUL. So I can survive.
NS: We're going to Yellowstone next time. NOT THIS COLD!
DC: *snorts* Like that's going to happen anytime soon.
WH: *rolls eyes, coughs, and agrees with Darth*
AD: *laughs*
*Mountain Obsessed has logged on* *Brilliancy has logged on*
MO: ALASKA ROCKS!
B: I have to admit that is so. Snowflake, stop it.
WH: Snowflake? Who's Snowflake?
MO: Our dog. Well, Katie's dog, actually. She decided-
B: DID NOT!
MO: DID!
DC: Guys. Seriously. So what's going on?
MO: Katie likes Snow so much she decided that she's going to take her home. Yup. An Alaskan Malemute in Virginia.
WH: Lucky...
DC: No, Madeleine.
WH: Fine... fine... Let's write, since we're all here, and don't have frostbite.
Two Years Later;
Epilogue
"Grace," Madeleine Cahill held the phone to her ear. She was sitting at her kitchen table folding fifty little invitation cards. "I know this is sort of late notice, but I wanted to do a party next week in the old warehouse next to my house. You know, the one they were working on, trying to remodify it, and then they stopped?"
On the other end of the line, Grace frowned. For the two years she had known Madeleine Cahill, she wasn't that pleased with the way her 'late notice' ideas had turned out. The one idea about the parties at Grace's mansion had been another thing. But Grace had also wisely learned that when Madeleine couldn't answer a 'when, why, where, how' trivia, the idea was nearly bound to be worthless. "Why?"
"I thought we could invite Isabel, Vikram, Bae, maybe Eisenhower, Ivan, and Cora. Broderick too, maybe. And then-"
"No," Grace stated flatly, turning back to her computer. "No. Be satisfied with my party that I'm hosting. And the way the first one turned out, be happy you got that." Before the majority of the words were out of her mouth, Grace had her regrets. Madeleine never, ever, took 'no' for an answer. It would be better if Grace had just scheduled an earlier party at the mansion and said it was 'Madeleine's party'.
"Okay then. How about just us? I mean- Madrigal wise."
Grace didn't want to say 'no' again, but saying 'yes' was almost like agreeing the Statue of Liberty was to be cut down and used for soup. "How about..." She murmured slowly, thinking.
Madeleine didn't even give her a chance to finish her sentence. "Okay! Thanks! I'll see you there!"
"Madeleine Elizabeth-" Grace didn't get the 'Cahill' out before a click on the other line signaled a dead end. She sighed and looked back at her computer. So much for discipline. Apparently for being alive five hundred years, Madeleine Cahill hadn't gathered much in the way of maturity.
Grace swirled around in her swivel chair again to grab her glass of water, and accidentally knocked something to the floor in the process. She looked down in horror. It was the other vial; the one Fiske had given her once he'd admitted to breaking the first one. Before her very eyes, Grace watched as the splattered, glowing blue liquid disappeared.
NS: The Statue of Liberty WOULD be cut down and used for soup if Madeleine had her way...
AF: *GASPS*
WH: That's NOT TRUE!
NS: You would. What if... There was a large amount of cookies under the base of the statue? And remember, the public would KILL you if you did anything. XD
MO: Haha.
WH: I would... design a giant submarine with huge CAT claws on the end of it-
AD: -it would be a simple matter to drill into the island since it's rock-
WH: -and then get out of the submarie with a scuba diving suit and a supply of air, and swim into the hole made by the claws.
AD: If the 'large amount of cookies' are under the base of the statue, there has to be a secure dry place to store them.
WH: A cavern would be perfect. And also, if the cookies are 'under' the base of the statue, you would be swimming up. Eventually you would penatrate the 'dry caven/place' and-
AD: Live happily ever-after with a lifetime supply of cookies without anyone ever knowing you're there.
NS: I hate your theories. Hate them.
DC: Continue. And Madeleine - don't you dare get any ideas.
One Week Later;
She had jeans under her skirt.
Madeleine had to admit, it was cheating. But if she was going to sneak into Boston's Harkins Theater after the party, she needed a fast change of clothes. It's time to chill. She reminded herself. You have the canapes, the ink, your pen. You might as well start writing now. Well- wait. Suspicious, Madeleine pressed her head to the floor, making sure her hair didn't get dipped in ink. She peered out from under the tablecloth she was hiding beneath.
She could see a bunch of 1700's style shoes. Although it was a 1500's party, people just automatically thought that clothes from the 17 hundreds equaled clothes from the 15 hundreds. What a pity. Madeleine rolled her eyes and got back into her position, leaning on her elbows, below the table. No sign of the others. Jane's probably looking in the kitchen and protecting her other trays...
Well, that just made it easy for the little mastermind to sneak away. It's all the other people's fault that I'm gone anyway! She thought disgustedly. If they stopped asking questions, I wouldn't mind. But- geeze! Talk about talkative!
Madeleine laid a small, leather-bound book in front of her, dipped her quill pen in ink, and started to write.
December 13, 1998
Well, tonight is the night of the party. It's a shame that I'm the only one who has to crawl under the food and drink tables to get some peace from those annoying people! Honestly! I mean- they'll just go on, and on, and on. Who cares what it was like in the 1500's? It's the past. Put your past, behind you. As Timon would say.
Otherwise than that, it's going good. I slipped under the tables with my stuff just as the band arrived. Maybe I should tell things as they happened, one after the other.
Jane got here first. She truly came a day before. She claimed that every good party needed good party trays, and started cutting carrots, and making all this artichoke dip that I'm certain no sane person is ever going to eat. I think there's platters of cheese and crackers above my head, and drinks farther down, a bit past my feet. When you get to the wall and the tables turn the corner, Jane put together an enormous pot of chilli, soup, sandwiches, more soup, and five different kinds of bread. After that are the desserts. I honestly should of snitched those trays instead of the canapes. Those brownies are to die for!
I was here second. I put up all the stuff and was helping Jane cook until the cooking ideas got a little extreme. That was when she was making the dip. So I'm pretty sure you get a feeling of how much food I wanted at this party. I also wanted to explore down this super dark hallway. The first door on the left is the kitchen. But Jane dragged me away and I didn't get to see what's on the right side, or what's on farther down the left side. Maybe there's a thief's quarters there and I'll get half a million dollars for turning him in. Maybe that's the reason they quit construction on this place! Hm...
Luke was the third one to arrive. He was dressed in a red tunic and tan breeches. I teased him since his boots weren't actually authentic 1500's made. He got rather mad and tried to throw a bowl of dip at me. I splattered him with a bowl of gravy. So he had to go back and change. Poor guy...
Katie was fourth. She was wearing her usual yellow dress with cream lace cuffs. It was actually really pretty. Her hair had about three pencils she had stuck in it though. I told her to take them out, and she told me; I was crazy- and what if she had an 'inspiration'? Oh, Please. She's not going to have one at my party. Not now anyway. At least- I hope not.
Thomas was next. He walked in wearing a giant chicken suit. Luke was back by that time, and he told Tom he looked like an idiot. He actually did. Well, not that bad. The chicken suit looked itchy, and it needed more air holes. Tom would of sent Luke flying into the middle of next week if I hadn't stopped him. I had Tom go change out of the chicken suit and put on something actually referring to the1500's. He claimed he was a 'chicken' from the 1500's. I told him he would have died at two years old in a stew-pot if that was true. Poor guy. I think he just got back about now.
Everybody else started arriving after. Grace came first. She was wearing some randomly selected tunic with breeches pulled over a pair of jeans. I told her I got grounded from going outside when Gideon found out I had been working in the fields and that she should be wearing a dress suitable to a party. She told me it was too hard to find a dress. Pu-lease.
Vikram came, not Isabel, thank goodness. I was rather surprised anybody from the Lucian branch came beside Luke.
Nobody from the Tomas branch came except Tom himself.
Alistair came, but I think he's just here for the food. Definitely not for the dancing. God...
Cora decided not to come. Which was rather a pity, because I had... I think, five small spray cans of pink paint. I was hoping we could both ambush Luke after the party. Some wonderful things don't happen. Oh well...
Hope came, although not Arthur. She said he was busy, and little Amy needed a babysitter anyway. Coming from someone who's three months pregnant- I thought that was pretty good. I know I would have stayed home.
Wait a second... Someone's coming...
Okay. False alarm. I just went and crawled down the tables in case it was Luke. That dude would kill me for hiding under here. Actually, he's probably looking for me by now. Ekk!
It's funny. Katie tries to take care of me so hard. And so does Tom and Jane. But Luke- Luke's really the only one who succeeds. But even then. With all them 'trying' to take care of me. Nobody really does it. I'm still alone. I know if Edward were here, he'd be laying on the floor opposite of me. I can picture him there. Elbows propping him up, blue eyes sparkling in laughter. He'd be shaking his head right now. Half scornful of me hiding from everybody. But no matter how much I see him, he's still not there. Everytime I open my eyes, he disappears.
I miss him.
-MC
DC: Thank you. I feel appreciated - finally.
WH: *cough* Your self-appreciation ought to be enough.
B: Snowflake, stop!
MO: Tell her to sit. She can't read the computer screen. O.o
B: Sit!
AD: What's she doing?
B: Trying to crawl onto my lap. She has this idea that: one - it's going to be warmer there, and two - she's a lapdog.
AF: Awww... SWEET!
NS: I will not say anything... I will not comment... I will not say a word...
AD: A nice combination of a dog. Alaskan Malemute, right? *cough*
B: Yup. Okay, write Madeleine.
Madeleine stared down at her book and swallowed hard, choking the sobs back. She knew quite well that her last entry had ended with something said about Edward, and her last entry after that. All her entries always said something about him. But Edward wouldn't want her to be crying. Except he's gone. Madeleine took a few deep breaths. And- and I'm so alone.
There was the house she'd built underground at the base of the North Virginia Appalachian Mountains. It was a nice home, all dug out from underground. The entrance had concrete steps leading down from the middle of a tree trunk. She had designed it all herself, lining the entire house with an oak roof and walls. But- only Madeleine lived in it.
There was her two year old, painted mustang mare; dubbed Carrie. But there was no Edward to toss hay into the rack with one throw. No one to sit beside Madeleine as she ate her ham and cheese sandwich with pudding on the side. Nothing in all the world could make up for Edward.
"Madeleine Elizabeth! When I find you..."
Madeleine's eyes widened at the unfinished threat. Working fast, she snapped her diary shut, closed up the pen and inkwell, and stuck the three of them into her pockets. She unwillingly left the canapes. Clumsily managing to crawl, Madeleine made it all the way down the row of tables to where they met at the wall's corner. She could hear footsteps and voices, although she couldn't distinguish who's were who's.
I'm so dead. She thought. Then realized that thought was actually true. She nearly laughed, but managed to stay quiet.
The footsteps came closer, and closer, stopping right in front of where she was hiding. Madeleine didn't dare breath.
Suddenly two arms shot out under the tablecloth and grabbed Madeleine's ankles. She gave a little yelp and desperately thrashed, trying to free herself. Not being able to, she was forced to lie still as the arms pulled her out from under the tables. Madeleine looked disgustedly into Luke's laughing eyes. "I'm busy," Was the first excuse she could think of.
"You're going to be busier in a minute," Luke reached down and helped his sister up, then handed her a piece of paper. "Someone over there wants an autograph."
"I'm THROUGH!" Madeleine howled. She snatched the piece of paper away from Luke, scribbled her name on it, and thrust it back into his hand. "I'm leaving! I'm going to Antarctica, where no one knows me, and not a soul there knows my name! I'm going to dig a snow-house out of snow and live on penguins! I'm going to-" She angrily pushed past Luke and stalked away from him, flopping right into Thomas. She side-stepped him, and tried to keep walking.
Thomas raised an eyebrow and caught her arm. Barely noticing, Madeleine continued trying to walk, pulling against Thomas' arm, but not going anywhere. "I'm going to disappear off the face of the earth! No person is ever going to hear from me again! Nobody is going to remember the name of-"
Madeleine stopped raving suddenly as a yellow dress appeared below her. "What are you talking about?"
The seventeen year old in the red dress with white lace straightened up. "Ah... nothing. Absolutely nothing, Katherine."
Luke and Thomas exchanged meaningful glances.
"Good," Katherine rolled her eyes. There was still one pencil tucked behind her ear, making her look like a 1500's secretary. "Anyway, someone wants to talk to you. And honestly, popularity is no reason to be hiding out under the tables. What do the poor celebrities do when they're surrounded by screaming fans?"
"Fans don't scream," Madeleine stated flatly.*
"What are you talking about?" Jane snapped, suddenly appearing behind Katherine. The girl in her green dress was holding a large, silver platter with fudge heaped on one half, and brownies on the other. She was indignant. "Fans always-" Then she got the joke. Indignance turned to disgust. "Ha, ha. Very funny, Madeleine. Now stop pretending you don't like the attention."
"I hate it," Madeleine crossed her arms and glared at her two sisters. "I hate all of it. I want to be left in relative form of peace."
"Maddie, just go out and talk to the darn people will you?"
"Hm..." Madeleine sarcastically put her index finger to her chin and 'thought'. "Let me think. This person who wants to talk to me, is a good looking idiot of a boy who want to see what a stupid girl from the 1500's looks like. Then to top it off, he wants a dumb autograph just to make it look like he's not trying to flirt. They think that I can't see thought all their ruses. WRONG! Why don't they talk to your four? If-"
"Madeleine," Luke turned Madeleine back towards him, resting his hands gently on her shoulders. "If you're going to complain, why did you do this party in the first place?"
Madeleine's mouth opened and shut twice. Then she firmly set her lips in a thin line. "Fine. I'll talk to your idiot boy. Where is he?"
"Oh," Katherine relaxed visibly. "Over there. By the door. He's the one with blond hair and blue eyes. See him?"
Madeleine exaggeratedly squinted. "No, I don't."
"Oh, be nice will you?" Katherine snapped. "He's in a sort of like- a tan tunic with gray breeches. You can't miss him."
Sure. Madeleine practically snorted, but she looked out over the crowd, hoping to escape her siblings' watchful eyes.
She could see Grace in the middle of all the people, laughing and talking like she always did. There was Hope, surrounded by Alistair, and a few other people, her hands sliding up to lightly rest on her stomach every so often. Madeleine could see the difference between all her decedents. The ones from Lillia, all the way down to Hope. She could see the ones who lit up at everything they saw. Who were all action. She could see the ones who just sat there and thought things over till they got a brilliant idea. Then there were the ones- so much like Edward. Who knew, but played along, loved, and were unmistakable. Madeleine's heart began to ache again, so she turned away and scanned the crowd near the door for the boy.
It took her awhile. The door was partially blocked by all the people, making it hard to see the other people standing by the door. Frowning slightly, Madeleine decided to scan the wall by the door from left to right. There was a fat man first. He was frowning, and attempting to look happy and jolly. There was a young man next, but he had brown hair, and an almost orange-red tunic. It couldn't be the one Katherine was talking about.
Madeleine scanned the wall over again, finally seeing the boy- and her heart stopped dead. She couldn't move. Nothing Madeleine had ever done, had ever felt like this; like the entire world wasn't moving. Slowly, Madeleine began to wake up. She could hear Katherine shaking her, asking what was wrong.
Madeleine quickly pushed her away.
B: THANKS!
WH: Ed, it's your turn, slightly. WITH MODERATION! *cough* And no, it's still my POV. It's pretty much my POV throughout.
And then she found herself running. No, not running- flying. The girl flew through the crowd, tripping, stumbling, coming close to crashing into people. But she didn't stop or slow down. She could stop. But Madeleine couldn't make herself. He was here. Truly here. Pushing people aside, Madeleine ducked and dodged around.
Bursting through the edge of the crowd, Madeleine frantically looked around for the boy. He had been right there- over by the door, leaning against the wall. Where-? Madeleine found herself scooped up into two strong arms and looking into a pair of liquid blue eyes.
"Got you."
The voice was so soft, so warm. Madeleine felt herself sink into his arms, managing to wrap her own arms around his neck. There was a chuckle, and a bright smile. Madeleine found herself gently deposited on her feet again, Edward's hands wrapped around her waist- his forehead almost touching hers. "I missed you," She found herself whispering.
"So did I."
Madeleine closed her eyes as Edward twisted slowly downwards. Barely brushing her lips, he let her go again, running a hand up to sweep her cheek softly. "How?" She managed again. Her throat seemed clogged. "How did you-? I mean, both of us-"
"I was lucky," Edward smiled. "If I remember correctly, you went and told me everything that was in that little vial you had made. I decided-"
All romance turned to indignation and disgust. Madeleine pushed away from him. "You cheater!"
Edward crossed his arms. "I believe that's the wrong choice of words."
Giving a roll of the eyes, Madeleine crossed her own arms and glared back at him. "Fine. You just copied what I had done! You didn't even try to make your own!"
There was a quick shrug. "Granted. But I never would have even thought of something that would stop you from dying."
Madeleine held up a finger. "It doesn't stop you from dying, it stops you from dying completely. Big difference. That's the reason we're both-" The girl looked around to make sure nobody was listening. "Ghosts right now."
"Big difference. It doesn't matter."
Madeleine decided to change the subject. "But I got out almost two years ago. Why didn't you come sooner?" Madeleine swallowed hard and looked at the ground. "I missed you."
Edward's arms wrapped comfortably around her waist again. "I know. Grace only broke my vial when you asked her to do the party. And then I was busy doing things the rest of the week. I couldn't come until now," His eyes twinkled. "It would of been very amusing if you had really refused to see me."
Madeleine's cheeks flushed a vivid red. "Sorry," She mumbled at the floor. "But you wouldn't believe how many people just want to annoy me! And what were you doing that you were so busy you couldn't see me?"
There was another shrug. "Close your eyes."
"Edward... Not that again."
"Just close them, Maddie. Seriously."
Madeleine groaned and lightly shut both her eyelids.
"Alright, before I let you open them, you have to answer a question," Madeleine gave another groan. "Whatever happened to the ribbon I gave you? I told you not to lose it again."
Eyes flying open, Madeleine glared at Edward. "You know what happened to it."
A smile twitched on Edward's mouth. "Got to answer the question..."
"I gave it to Lillia."
"I honestly don't know if that qualifies as losing it or not..."
"Cut it out, Ed," But it was impossible for Madeleine to feel angry at him.
"Well, this is the last time I'm going to do this," There was a light smirk. "Hopefully at least. Close your eyes," Madeleine closed them. She could feel Edward's hand wrapping around her, then doing something with her hair. "Open."
The girl's eyes flew open at the same time as her hand flew up to feel the red ribbon she knew had been inserted in her hair. A soft red crept into her cheeks again. "Thank you, Edward," She whispered. Madeleine curled her arms around his neck and buried her head in his tunic.
Smiling, Edward rocked her back and forth. Then he pulled her a bit closer. "Madeleine," He whispered softly. "I'm sorry. About leaving, I mean. I should have listened to you and-"
There was a finger pressed on his lips. "Don't, Edward. You had a reason."
Silenced, Edward didn't know what to say or how to say it. He could feel everything, but there were no words for how he felt. "I'm not going to leave you," He finally whispered. "Ever, Maddie. You won't ever be left alone like that." He pulled her closer, his nose and mouth gently pressed up against her cheek. He spoke in a whisper, barely hearable. "I promise you won't ever be hurt like that again."
They stayed like that for a few moments until Edward noticed something. "Where's Luke?" Madeleine blinked, thinking. "And Katie, and Jane, and all the rest? Did they-" The next thing he knew he was being dragged along by a wild pony by the wrist.
"Luke's going to kill me!" Madeleine yelped, giving him an extra-rough jerk to make sure he dodged a lady's wine glass. Thinking for a minute, she rephrased her sentence. "I was being sarcastic."
"Better- better be-" And Edward suddenly found himself on the dance floor with fifty pairs of eyes on him. Madeleine didn't even hesitate. She plowed through the dancers, dodging kicking legs and a couple of high-heeled shoes aimed for her. "Madeleine Elizabeth Cahill!" Edward howled when they were through. "What was that?"
"Sorry," Madeleine gave him an apologetic smile. "I meant to go around, but I miss-judged the route. Do you-" And then they burst out of the crowd and were at the other side of the building. Edward let go of Madeleine's hand and doubled over, panting. "Do you see Luke?" Madeleine completed her question.
Edward was annoyed at the fact she wasn't even breathing hard. "No."
"You could at least look," Madeleine rolled her eyes disgustedly, then raised up on her toes and looked over the crowd. She gave a yelp and grabbed Edward's hand again. "He's coming this way with Tom!"
Dragging him around a corner to the left, Madeleine stopped at the entrance to 'the dark hallway'. She gave one look at all the doors, held up a finger, and began judging. "Eenie, meanie, minie, moe. Catch a tiger by..."
"Oh, for heaven's sake," Edward lost his patience. "Just choose one," He grabbed her hand and bolted down the hallway, opening up the second door on the right. He pulled her inside and slammed it shut.
MO: EVERYBODY gets impatient with Madeleine when she decides she doesn't want to move.
WH: I don't do that...
NS: DO!
DC: DO!
AF: DO!
B: DO!
MO: DO!
AD: *is neutral*
WH: Thanks, Lu.
AF: Of course. Thanks to the person who doesn't tell the truth... Oh, come here, Rush, you sweety-thing...
NS: Stop hugging that dog. You're turning my stomach, Jane. Write, Maddie.
"Now, explain what that was all about," Crossing his arms, Edward leaned back against the room's wall. It was pitch black in the room, leaving no light to see by. He could hear Madeleine's steps as she moved closer to him, but couldn't see her. Two little hands wrapped around his neck, and Edward smiled as Madeleine's head pressed against his chest.
"Well, the only thing the others saw, was me seeing you, then running pell-mell through an entire crowd of people and both of us together. I don't think Luke's going to highly appreciate someone doing that to his sister."
Edward's eyebrows twisted slightly down. "Killer, to over-protective," He breathed out of the side of his mouth. "Nice."
Madeleine heard him, but decided not to say anything. Suddenly footsteps began thumping ominously; heading down the hall. Grabbing his wrist again, Madeleine pulled Edward to the back of the room. She ran her hands along the wall until she felt two metal poles beneath them. "Come on," She hissed. "This is going to be a piece of cake."
Edward groaned, "A piece of cake that's been sitting in the Sahara Desert for two years straight," There was another sigh as Edward started climbing up the ladder as well. "This better have a backup plan behind it..."
"Don't worry," Madeleine hissed. "Everything-"
The door opened with a heavy, foreboding squeak beneath them.
Madeleine's mouth was softly pressed against Edward's ear. "Don't. Move. A muscle."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
Madeleine wanted to shoot something back, but being in the predicament they were in, she thought it best not to. Below, two shadows appeared in the doorway. One rather on the tall, wiry side, and the other- tall, with muscles bulging. "Are they here?" Madeleine recognized Luke's voice quickly. She stopped herself from laughing.
"I don't see them. You?"
One of the many ideas Madeleine always had, stored up in her brain, popped loose. Disappearing, from view, but still in the room, the seventeen year old girl floated up to the ceiling next to a fire alarm sensor. Smiling deviously, a match appeared in her hand. It only took a minute to light the little flame and a blaring sound rocketed from the fire alarm. The door below her closed, with Luke and Tom leaving.
"Madeleine Elizabeth Cahill!" Edward hissed. Keeping his voice as low as he could, he tried to sound like he felt, not happy at all. "What the hell are you thinking?"
"Simple," The girl appeared high up on the ladder above him. "I got them away from us. And the fire sprinklers won't do anything."
Edward glanced, unconvinced, at the large puddle being made below him and Madeleine.
"Remember, this is an old building." Madeleine rolled her eyes as she pushed upward on a roof's tile. The tile flipped upward and let both Madeleine and Edward out of the building. "They stopped remodeling it almost six months ago, and it's been vacant ever since. The fire alarms will blare once, and go off. I figured since there's only sprinklers in the rooms adjoining the original room, nothing would get in the way of the party. Besides, on the other hand, I don't think Luke and Tom are going search through rooms getting wet, just to look for us."
"Madeleine," Edward gave her a dead-pan stare. "I honestly love your 'logic'. I've missed it. But that is the stupidest idea you have ever come up with in your entire life. No lie."
"What would you have done?" Madeleine shot back, putting her hands on her hips.
Edward was stumped for a second. "Something other than what you did."
"But what?"
The blond haired boy blinked, then decided to compete in a glaring match. Both of them stood under the stars, desperately trying not to smile. Edward gave in first, letting a grin creep over his face. "Fine. You win. I didn't have any ideas. But that was still a pretty bad move."
Madeleine shrugged nonchalantly and reached out; not especially for anything in particular, just towards Edward. Understanding, he took her hand and gently pulled her into a hug. The two of them walked to the East edge of the roof after a moment, just above the warehouse's door.
Almost dangerous. Edward thought for a moment, as he looked down at the ground nearly one and a half stories below. Having Madeleine so close to the edge of something was almost like asking her to grapple off. He hoped she wouldn't take the opportunity. "Maddie?"
Looking down, Edward found Madeleine's dainty, pale face staring up at the stars. He could see her eyes moving lightly, drawing lines through all the constellations she knew, and even the ones she had made up. "What?"
"Do-" Edward tightened his arm, which was wrapped around Madeleine's waist. "Did you miss me?"
The pale face turned towards him. The lips moved slowly, mouthing each whispered word. Emerald green eyes stared at him. "Why do you ask?"
"I was afraid," Edward breathed. "I mean- I watched you and everything, but-"
"But you were afraid I left," Madeleine finished for him, leaning her head against his shoulder. "That I didn't care anymore. That the package was only a lifetime deal."
Both Madeleine and Edward chuckled lightly at the spoken irony. "Yeah," Edward nodded slowly. "Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of."
Madeleine didn't reply. The effects of rapid, two-day continuous party planning was beginning to catch up with her. Drifting slowly downward, her eyelids settled halfway closed on her face, along with a sleepy smile. Madeleine yawned as she got down on her knees next to the rim. She patted the stone on her right for Edward to sit down as well.
"You never answered my question," Edward whispered, nervousness increasing in his voice. He swallowed hard as he sat down next to Madeleine.
"I love you," The girl had laid her arms on the rim, and she turned her head towards Edward, the sleepy smile twitching upward. "I love you more than anything. And-" The eyes flew open. Madeleine lifted her head and looked directly into Edward's eyes. "-And I'm never going to let you go again. Not even to the cellar."
Smiling, Edward gently grabbed Madeleine and pulled her onto his lap. She leaned against him, arms still laid on the warehouse's rim and head on the arms. "We're even," He whispered softly. "Madeleine?"
A sleepy; "Hm?" Was his only reply.
Reaching his left hand down, Edward felt around in his pocket and pulled up a small gold, oval locket. There were tiny, intricate engraved poppies on the front, and although the style of the locket was rather old, it looked as if it was made the day before; considering how brightly the yellow gold shown. Just above the locket, was a little loop, allowing the yellow satin ribbon that made the locket a necklace, to pass through.
Edward held the small locket in his hand- feeling the weight of it. Rubbing a thumb over the flowers, he swallowed hard. Memories still came from that fateful day, even though he didn't want them. Leaning forward, Edward slid one end of the yellow ribbon under Madeleine's chin, and under her black hair. Then he tied the ends together.
Madeleine's eyes blinked rapidly for a moment as her mind adjusted to what must of happened while she cat-napped. Then while she straightened hastily up, her hand flew to her neck. Eyes wide, she untied the ribbon and held the locket in her hand. It was like the past was there, with her, and she was still living in the era she was born in. That it was like the same night when Edward had given her the original locket for the first time.
"Do you like it?"
Madeleine jumped at the voice. "No," She shook her head. "No, I don't like it."
Edward's face fell, "But-"
"I love it, Edward," Locket still in one hand, Madeleine threw her arms around Edward's neck. After a moment, her grip loosened. "But- but- I thought the locket got buried in China."
Shifting Madeleine's weight on his lap, Edward rested his chin on her shoulder. "That's what took up all my time." Madeleine snuggled up against him. "And it's why I didn't get to see you before. I wanted someone to do it who knew how, but wasn't going to sit down and do a cheap fake out of plated gold. But I found someone. Then I had to sit there and explain what I wanted to him. And I mean- I had to explain everything."
There was a soft giggle from Madeleine.
"But your picture's still inside. That hasn't changed. At all," Edward hesitated for a moment, then he leaned down, twisting his head to the side as he leaned over Madeleine's shoulder. A pair of green eyes began twinkling as Madeleine wrapped her arms tightly around Edward's neck while his lips gently brushed hers.
And then everything felt right.
All the missing pieces of her heart began clicking together, finishing the puzzle Madeleine had worked so hard on. There was no fear of Luke, or any of the others. She didn't have to run from anybody, or hide, or be worried. Everything was- was perfect.
Looking up, the black haired girl stared up at the stars.
"MADELEINE ELIZABETH CAHILL!"
Two heads turned.
AF: I hated you at that instant. I truly, truly could have smashed you into smitherines, tossed them off the Golden Gate Bridge and never thought a thing of it.
B: I despised you at that moment. I could have taken you and attached you to one of those medieval stretchers and pulled your limbs off and never thought anything of it.
MO: I loathed you at that moment. I could have PULVERIZED you into COOKIE CRUMBS and TOSSED THEM across THE EARTH, and never looked back.
NS: You were crazy- No, no! ARE crazy, Mads.
WH: Yeah, yeah. Thanks. I figured. O.o
Jane was marching towards them holding a hopelessly soggy cake in one hand, and looking like she was going on a one man crusade. "WHY? She screeched. "WHY do I have to live with YOU as my sister?"
Madeleine began absentmindedly whistling the ringtone she had heard on Thomas' phone. Whistling Wizard.
Katherine was stomping up behind Jane. Her face was dark, and promised nothing good for Madeleine in the next few minutes of her life.
A grin stretched over Edward's face and he stood up, dragging Madeleine along with him. Then he gave her a little push forward. "Handed forward on a silver platter," He whispered in her ear. Madeleine glared at him.
Thomas was holding up a soaking wet chicken suit and his face was a dark, purple-magenta color.
Madeleine began wondering if she had a grappling hook within a five stride range.
And then Luke crawled up out of the roof's trap door. Madeleine could see he was clearly upset, but there was something else. There was no everlasting rage. There was no hate in those dark brown eyes. There was only a exasperation- and love. Love for Madeleine, no matter what she did; no matter what happened. That was one thing that would never change.
Madeleine's eyes flickered over her other siblings and behind the anger, she saw the love was still there. The emerald green eyes turned back to Luke and he saw Madeleine looking at him. There was a almost imperceptible, exasperated shake of his head. Madeleine flushed, reading his expression. I'm sorry. She mouthed the words she wanted to tell him. But Thank you; for- for keeping your other promise.
There was another shake of his head, but Luke was laughing; eyes soft and warm. He understood. You're welcome.
Madeleine let a breath out as she turned to face the other fiery three. Edward's arm curled around her waist, pulling her close, and letting her know she wasn't alone. Bright stars twinkled above, showing the millions of people who were watching over the six. Madeleine could feel almost a faint feeling of someone else there. Watching, protecting. All the people she had known in her life; all the people she had loved.
And Madeleine didn't care. She didn't have to. She had everything the way it needed to be. Her plan might have taken five hundred years to finish, but she had done it.
Perhaps it was a good thing, not being able to say 'no' to Madeleine Elizabeth Cahill.
The End
DC: The End.
AF: Yup. Finis. All good things must come to an end.
MO: This was a good thing?
WH: Eh, considering how you take it. Ed, you have like- fifteen chapters to edit actually. *cough* I don't know if you view this as a good thing. =D
NS: It doesn't matter. I had fun. It actually wasn't that bad as I thought it'd be.
AD: Most things aren't that bad once you've tried them. Remind me to make you try out for a lacross team...
NS: NO! No! Why ON EARTH would I do THAT? TELL ME!
AD: What did we just discuss about 'not being as bad as you thought it'd be'?
NS: No. I said no.
MO: Hey... Go try it out! Wouldn't hurt if your biceps get a little bigger than they are.
NS: Would it hurt you if your biceps got a little smaller? =D
AD: Dudes, seriously. *cough*
B: Come here, Snow.
AF: RUSH! Wait for me! No-
NS: JANE? OH GREAT! Just what I need, the lead dog and my sister lost in the Alaskan interior-
WH: JANE? *cough, cough*
DC: Don't worry, Mads, he'll get her. She can't really go far, anyway.
MO: O.o I wouldn't count on that.
WH: Jane taught me how to make SNOWSHOES out of BIRCHBARK ALONE!
MO: She knows how to do that? Gee...
WH: She read the entire 'wilderness survival guide'! I'm like- positive she could live in the Arctic for five years and come out looking perfectly healthy and safe from all harm.
B: So in that case, you got nothing to worry about.
WH: SHE'S CRAZY!
DC: And you're not?
WH: I have COMMON SENSE. If she sees a cliff and a pretty river beneath, what's she going to do?
MO: Go down the cliff, of course.
WH: DOWN THE CLIFF.
B: Oh.
WH: DUH! Luke NEEDS TO GET HER! Tom, how far are you away from them? *cough* Kate- find out.
DC: You asked them both the same question. O.o
B: My phone says about two hundred miles. Hang on... About two days by dogsled with our team of eight dogs. 30 hours if we go non-stop.
WH: Oh... Luke- find her...
MO: Don't worry, Mads.
NS: Do I honestly have a sister that's that stupid?
MO: See? What happened, dude?
NS: Jane decided to go running away with Rush because he spotted a squirrel and wanted something extra for dinner. I got them both back now. I think we ought to turn in though. The dogs are getting restless with both of us talking and the clicking of the laptop keys...
AF: So... night. See you guys in... two weeks.
MO: Two weeks. I think we're going to turn in too. Bye, Mads-Ed/Lu!
*Art Freak has logged off* *Mountain Obsessed has logged off* *Brilliancy has logged off* *Not Luke Skywalker has logged off*
AD: A squirrel. *cough*
WH: I feel stupid...
DC: Great... now what, Mads?
WH: All that trouble for a squirrel...
AD: Eh. You could have scheduled a flight. That's not that bad. Oh, and here's Luke's 'surprise'. I got him a husky. Yeah? Whatcha think?
WH: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
DC: Luke is going to hate you, dude. Okay. Maddie and I are going to turn in. Long day tomorrow. See you! And I WANT THAT PAPERWORK!
AD: Yeah, yeah... All bark and no bite. See you!
*Anonymous Dude has logged off* *Wicked Harmony has logged off* *Darth Cahill has logged off*
The End.
Yes, the story of Madeleine Cahill is finished now, if ANYBODY IS GOING TO ASK THAT QUESTION. I told you there would be a 'the end'. You saw the 'the end'. It is done.
There'll be a 'questionire' page, for questions that I want answered, and also a credits page, to the people who have helped so much. Thank you!
With best wishes to everybody who has followed this fic to its end, I conclude it's momentous finale,
THE END
=D
~L~
