Another century went by, and several more moves later, Melody had made her way to the beaches of Miami to take over another one of her main hubs. She tried keeping in touch with her mother and aunts, and it worked for a while, but stopped about twenty years ago. She tried finding them, but it seemed they had vacated the area and never sent her a change of address. For the first few years she was worried about them, but guessed something happened and they went into hiding like the used to, so she let it be for their safety. Her days now were spent sitting behind her desk wondering about her worth in the job. The business had grown far more than she ever dreamed, now spreading to other countries, and now practically ran itself. She was able to get the painting of her from Adagio, and placed it in her office. She stared at it, thinking back on the years she lived and how she spent them. She wondered, if she had to do it all over again, would she choose the same path or live more for her than a nightmarish ideal. She was brought out of her daydreaming by the buzz of the intercom.

"Ms. Charm, Stephanie Olivander is here to see you."

Melody looked at the intercom and smiled, "Send her in."

The door opened and a tall slender woman with fiery red hair and wearing scrubs walked in with a cupcake and lit candle. She closed the door and started singing happy birthday. "How does it feel to be a thousand years old?"

"Technically that was about two hundred years ago, so thanks for making me feel so young." Melody grabbed Stephanie by the collar of her scrubs and pulled her in for a passionate kiss. Melody had met Stephanie five years ago, and under a weird sense of circumstances, Melody had to tell her about her immortality very early on in their relationship. Even with the idea that one would age while the other wouldn't, Stephanie still accepted her and was willing to try to make it work.

"Well, I was counting from when you were reborn. I can't really count the other years. The first bit ended with your death, and then you were a jigsaw puzzle for a hundred fifty years after that. I'd give you your present, but it's currently wrapped up and has to get back to work," Stephanie gave Melody a sly wink. When Melody gave her a weak smile back, her flirtatiousness turned to concern. "What's wrong honey?"

"Nothing's wrong, I'm just tired is all." Stephanie crossed her arms and tapped her foot. She could always tell when Melody was trying to hide something from her. "It's not that something is wrong. I've just had a lot of things on my mind recently. Work doesn't give me the excitement it once did. I've spent centuries expanding it and trying new ingredients. Now I'm in every country and not sure if there are any more mixtures out there to make. With the advancements in modern medicine, I sell more allergy meds and over the counter pain killers than anything else. Most people travel the world to fix this boredom, but I've already seen the world. None of it is new. Sometimes I wish I actually did kill my mother so that I could die as well."

"Most people don't talk this way on their birthday. Also, if you had died all that time ago, then you'd leave me all alone. You wouldn't want that would you?"

"Of course not. You are the only reason I haven't gone totally insane." Melody wrapped Stephanie in a hug and started to give her love bites on the neck.

Stephanie giggled and pulled away, "Stop that, I have to go back to work."

"Fine, I guess I'll just have to wait. That just means it's just going to be more fun playing with my present when I get home."

"I can't wait." Stephanie attempted to leave, but stopped as she reached for the door. "I almost forgot to mention, but it's interesting you bring up your mother. We have this old woman in the terminal ward that has been ranting and raving saying she's your mother and has been demanding to see you."

"That can't be right. My mother doesn't age, so she would look younger than me. On top of that, I don't think I've ever seen that woman get sick."

"I didn't think so; it just seemed odd so I thought I'd tell you."

Melody rubbed the back of her neck while staring down at the floor. "Tell you what. I'll walk you back to work, and I'll go check on the woman. At least then we'll both know for sure." Melody grabbed her coat and locked the door behind her. When they made it to the hospital, Stephanie went to her desk while Melody walked over to the room she was told. Before she could walk in, she could hear the woman grumbling from the other side of the door.

"Why isn't anyone listening to me? Call up Melody Charm and get her here. Are you all going to deny me from seeing my daughter in my time of need?"

Melody could recognize that voice from anywhere, though it did sound weak. She walked in and peaked around the corner. On the bed lay a woman with pale blue skin and even paler blue hair. The woman looked frail and was covered with wrinkles. "Always still acting like a child, aren't you mother?"

The woman stopped her flailing and looked at Melody. "It's about time they listened for once."

"They didn't come seeking me. I just happen to have some connections in the hospital. What are you doing here anyways? And why are you so old?"

"Hey, watch your manners young lady. Remember, you're talking to your mother."

"That still didn't answer my question." Melody walked over to the electronic board and scrolled through the information, "My god, is there anything you DON'T have? You have diseases that haven't been seen in centuries. And on top of all that, you look like the crypt keeper. I thought sirens were just as immortal as I am."

"At one point that was the case, but ever since we lost our gems at the Battle of the Bands, a lot of what we knew about ourselves changed. We became sterile, injuries took longer to heal, and we got sick. The first time I got the flu was the worse three weeks of my life."

"Why didn't you come to me sooner? I have medications that treat these in their early stages. If you kept in touch like we decided, I would have known; but you all never mentioned any of this in your letters, at least when you were still sending me letters. Where's Aunty Dagi and Ari anyways." Her answer came from the sad look Sonata gave her. "Oh, how long ago."

"Both of them roughly when the letters stopped. I relied on them so much that it was difficult for me to survive on my own. Adagio kept track of the letters, so with her gone it was difficult to reach out to you. I spent my days bouncing around from place to place, hoping to come across you, but never found the right pharmaceutical branch. Eventually age and disease caught up with me, so I thought I'd come to Miami Beach and live out the rest of my days. It's just unfortunate they wouldn't just let me die looking out to the sea. Passed out one night and woke up here."

"Yeah, people aren't too keen on dead bodies showing up on popular tourist attractions. They tell you how much longer you have left?"

"It took asking about ten people to finally get someone to be straight up with me. They've basically told me they're wondering why I'm still kicking. But enough about me," Sonata knocked on the dresser next to her, "I have a gift for your birthday."

"But today isn't my birthday."

"Not according to that hot nurse that has been taking care of me. I never knew what your tastes were, or sexual preference, but I will say you found yourself a hot number."

"How do you know I'm dating her?"

"Because when I mentioned your name she wouldn't stop talking about how she had a girlfriend with the same name. Now stop asking questions and open your gift."

Melody raised her hands in defeat and walked over to the dresser drawer. She opened it up and her heart began to race. She reached in slowly and pulled a familiar dagger out. "Where did you get this? I thought Aunty Dagi got rid of it."

"She tired, but I rescued it for a rainy day. But ain't I the best mom ever? I get to give you what you always wanted." Sonata leaned her head back to expose her neck. "Go for it."

Melody's hand shook as it felt the weight of the knife. She could feel her heart trying to escape out of her chest and her breathing became quick and shallow. Before she knew it, she had placed her other hand on Sonata's chest while she placed the point of the blade inches from her throat.

"That's right. Do me a favor. End the misery I've had to deal with all these years. Take what you've always wanted without the fear of someone stopping you."

Every muscle in Melody's body tensed, preparing herself to finally take her mother's life, only to be stopped by a someone she thought to never see again.

"You made such an improvement all those years ago. Are you really going to throw it all away?"

Melody looked up at her other self, "But she's asking for it, begging even. This isn't for me. It's an act of selflessness and mercy."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, princess. Just know, you go through with this, and you'll never be rid of me."

"Who are you talking to?" Sonata kept looking at the space Melody was talking towards, hoping to see what Melody saw. She no longer cared when she felt Melody remove the pressure on her chest. "No, don't wimp out on me now. I'm letting you do what you wanted all those years ago, and you would be helping me by putting me out of my misery."

"Before we had our heart to heart, I would have gutted you without a moment's hesitation. But like you, I'm a changed woman myself. I wasted an eternity torturing myself over how I can get my vengeance against you. But ever since leaving England and coming to the US, my life changed for the better. I married, had a child whose life I didn't ruin that had kids of her own, brought my business from a mom and pop shop to a global powerhouse, and a woman I love that I can share my deepest darkest secrets with. I will one day have to bury her, but I'll make the best of it until that fateful day." The door opened and Melody tossed the blade back into the drawer and slammed it close. "Speak of the devil herself."

"I see you two have met. How is everything going?"

"Very good. In fact, I'd like you to meet my mother, Sonata Dusk."

"So this actually is your mother. I'm so happy to meet you finally. Melody has told me all about you."

"All horrible I imagine." Stephanie hesitated for a moment. "It's alright. I was a total bitch to her in the past. I'm just glad someone could be there to treat her right for once."

Stephanie blushed, "Thanks, but it's mutual. She was a breath of fresh air for me as well. So, I'm going to leave you two alone. I was just checking in on you two while I was making my rounds. I'll be back later to change out your fluids." Stephanie backed out of the room and closed the door.

"I like her," Sonata stated.

"Me too."

"You plan on locking that down for good."

"No, I'm done with the whole marriage thing. Besides, we decided on that long ago, though we've also talked about kids too." Melody reached down and grabbed the knife again, "As for this. I don't know how you got this in here, but I am definitely getting rid of it."

"So that was your plan all along. Watch me as I wither away in the confines of a hospital."

"Oh no, how will you ever survive being waited on hand and foot and a never ending supply of jello?" Melody leaned down and kissed her mother on the forehead, "Now I can keep tabs on you much easier. See you around mom." Melody tucked the knife behind her back and exited the room. She walked over to a coffee machine in the waiting room and took a seat, enjoying the scent of fresh cheap coffee.

"I'm proud of you." Melody looked up and saw Stephanie standing in the archway.

"Proud of me for what?"

Stephanie walked over and sat next to Melody. "I don't know how it got in there, but I found the knife in the dresser."

Melody choked on the coffee mid sip. "You knew about that? Why didn't you turn it in or notify security?"

"I almost did, but your mother stopped me before I could. She wouldn't tell me how she got it, but she told me what it was for."

"So you knew my mother was here this whole time and you didn't tell me?"

"Not the whole time. I only found the knife yesterday; but I did lie about it today. If I told you about her outright and her intentions, you would have never came. So where's the knife now?"

Melody tapped the small of her back, "I'm taking it home to add to my collection of trinkets."

"Well, I have to get back to work. I'll see you later tonight and I'll cook you your favorite meal."

"Best girlfriend ever," Melody gave her a kiss before letting her go.

Later that night, Melody was sitting at her desk twirling the blade when her assistant came on the intercom.

"Ms. Olivander on line one Ms. Charm."

"Thank you Ms. Stone." Melody picked up the phone and leaned back in her chair, "How it going sweetie? I'll be leaving shortly, so I can't wait-," Melody paused because she could hear Stephanie sniffling on the other end. "Steph, honey, what's wrong?"

"It's your mother."

Melody let out a sigh, "What did the hag do this time? Whatever she said, just brush it off."

"She's dead, Melody. She flat lined an hour ago and I only just now found the strength to tell you."

Melody straightened in her chair, "Wow, so it finally happened."

"After all that, that is what you have to say?"

"It's complicated. It's sad news, but if you lived the life I did, it wouldn't hit you as hard. Just go home, have some wine, soak in a warm bath, and I'll take care of dinner. As for any paperwork that needs to be done with her, just fax it to my office if something isn't already in place."

"Okay," Stephanie let out a couple of my sniffles before hanging up.

As Melody hung up the phone, she noticed a woman standing in front of her desk fiddling with the knife. "Long time no see, Hecate."

"A pleasure to see you too, Ms. Charm."

"So what brings you to my office?"

"I'm here to finalize the deal we made."

"Well, that's going to be a little difficult; I didn't kill her. I don't know how long you've been here, but she passed on her own recently."

"Yes, I heard. My condolences and congratulations. Your wish was to get revenge on your mother to the point she dies. You came, you saw, and you outlived her. I call that a win in my book."

Melody crossed her arms and leaned back, "So where does that leave me?"

"With a choice." Hecate set the knife down on the desk and stood up straight. "You can go on living your days as an immortal until the end of time, or I can give you back your mortality and you take your chances."

"And what do I have to give in return?"

"If you remain immortal, nothing. If you take mortality, I get my knife back."

Melody picked up the dagger and twirled it around in her hand. She looked at her reflection in the blade and could swear it winked at her. She grabbed the tip of the blade and extended it out to Hecate, "I've seen civilizations rise and fall, seen the ones I loved suffer and die in front of me. I can't deal with that any more. I found the one that makes me complete, and that's who I want to spend my last days with."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Hecate snapped her fingers and the dagger disintegrated in Melody's hands. "Welcome to mortality. Live it wisely." Hecate bowed to Melody and faded out of existence.

Melody looked at her hand, expecting something to feel different. "So how can I tell if it worked?" Melody looked around and saw the dartboard she had set up on the wall. She walked over and grabbed one of the darts. She pressed hard until it broke the skin, causing her to recoil with the pain. Melody watched as the blood oozed out of the puncture wound, and the fact it wasn't stopping. "It's not healing. It's not healing!" Melody's yelling startled her assistant and she ran into to see what was wrong. "I'm bleeding and it's not healing," Melody exclaimed with a smile on her face."

Ms. Stone leaned back with a hint of concern, "I'll go get you a bandage, Ms. Charm."

"Yes, a bandage. I need a bandage." Melody continued to look at the wound with joy on her face until Ms. Stone placed the bandage over the wound. "Thank you, I'll be heading home now." Melody grabbed her coat and ran out to her car. Once she arrived home, she opened the door violently enough for it to slam into the wall. "Steph, where are you? I have some fantastic news."

"I'm up here."

Melody ran up the stairs and into the master bathroom where she found Stephanie soaking in a bubble bath. Melody hopped in without removing her clothes and grabbed ahold of Stephanie. "Honey, I have the most wonderful news. Look!" Melody showed her the bandage wrapped around her finger.

"That's a very nice bandage dear, and as nice as it is for you to join me in the tub, may I ask why you decided to leave your suit on?" Melody didn't respond, but just shoved her finger closer into Stephanie's face. "Wait, why are you wearing a bandage? You heal faster than it takes to remove the packaging."

"Not anymore. Hecate paid me a visit after our phone call. In exchange for the knife, I'm a mortal like everyone else. I can get sick, hurt, age, and die."

"Why would you do something like that to yourself?"

"Because I'm tired of everlasting life. I've seen the world many times over. Now I just want to grow old by your side until the end."

"Aren't you quite the romantic."

"Years of practice. Now, how about my present." Stephanie giggled as Melody began to strip off her wet clothes.

Their time in the tub burnt most of the night away, so instead of making dinner, they decided to have pizza delivered to them. Stephanie was in the living room looking for a movie they could watch while Melody was in the kitchen looking for a decent wine.

"Was it worth it?"

Melody turned to see her other self leaning against the counter. "I thought letting go was supposed to get rid of you."

"Don't worry; I'm just passing through, along with the others."

"Others?"

One by one, Melody's specter morphed into each person that shaped her past. Friends, loved ones, and enemies all came through asking the same question: was it worth it. Last form it took was that of her mother as she looked when she was young. "Well, was it?"

"I know it's cheesy, but I think it's a 'Notebook' kind of night." Melody turned to see Stephanie standing by the entertainment center holding the DVD. "You alright there?"

Melody smiled at Stephanie and spoke to both with the same response, "Absolutely."