Chapter Seven

Amistad woke up early to make breakfast, but was greeted by a beautiful laid out table for two and the smell freshly brewed coffee. 'Good morning,' she greeted Ursa when she saw her.

The younger woman turned around from doing the dishes, quickly turned the sink off and dried her hands before rushing over to grab her in a tight embrace. 'Amistad, I've miss you so much.'

'I've miss you too,' she said as she hugged her back.

Ursa was the first to break away and show her to her seat, 'Come, sit down. Tell me of your travels.'

She took a seat, 'Thank you,' she said and looked away from the food when she heard pawing on the back door.

Ursa turned to see Everafter begging to come inside, 'I have to go and let him in,' she went to let the puppy inside. 'Did you enjoy being outside?' She asked him as he trotted back inside.

'You got a dog,' Amistad asked as the puppy took notice of her and hid behind his master.

Ursa looked down at Everafter, who studied Amistad, 'He was a gift.'

'A gift? Who, your Father?' She was surprised that she had reached out to him or allowed him to reach out to her.

'No,' she shook her head as she went back to join her. 'I have so many things to tell you.'

Amistad looked down at her plate, 'I have something to tell you as well.'

Ursa could see the worry on the older woman soft features, 'What is it? You're not planning on leaving me are you?'

'I—'

'If you need to go out and spend more time with your son, I understand. I know that something must have happened back there and you were reluctant to leave him. So if you need to go and be by his side a little longer, I won't hold you back. Just please don't tell me that you'll leave me for good.'

'No,' she shook her head. 'I won't leave you, but I do need to tell you about my son.'

'Did something happen to him? If he's hurt, you should have stayed there. I can take care of myself.'

'Slow down,' Amistad smiled at her rush of kindness and worry.

'I am sorry, please go on,' Ursa refrained from saying anything else.

'Ursa, I know that when I tell you this you might get upset. However, given the circumstances I had no choice.' Ursa nodded for her to continue, 'I actually brought him back with me.'

Ursa felt the blood drain from her face and dread set in, 'You mean?'

'Yes, I am sorry. I had to bring him back with me,' Amistad watched her.

'I,' Ursa looked down at her uncovered hands and then the reflection of her image as it caught the glass table's surface. If she wasn't a hideous monster, she would have been thrilled at the news of seeing her old companion. However, years had passed since she last had seen him and had probably became a forgotten memory of his past. Which meant that now she needed to hide within her own home. An action that she couldn't runaway from, because once again she would be condemned to her room. She wanted to speak out and protest, but one look over at her aged friend and she realized that she wasn't the only one that suffered all those years ago.

By remaining at her side, Amistad had given up on being with her son. Missing out on his birthdays, graduation and the majority of his life altering events because she was at her side. There was only so much love and comfort that a letter or phone call could offer. 'I would understand it if you want us to leave,' Amistad stated.

'No,' she said softly, she wouldn't lose her only friend. 'He can stay. I'll keep to my room and study. I have to start writing my final book anyways.'

'Ursa, you don't have to do this.'

'I am sure that given the people he has met and the years that have passed he has forgot my appearance.' She told her, 'It's best that he doesn't see me like this, I'll give him a scare for sure.'

'But…'

'You've done so much for me already. Why not let me do something for you?' Amistad watched as she got up from her untouched meal, 'He'll probably be hungry once he wakes up, so he can have this.'

'Come on, Everafter,' Ursa called her pup as she left and headed for her room.

Amistad frowned at Ursa's sad retreat, therefore she decided to make it up to her by going out and buying her favorite cake. Minutes after Ursa left Riku appeared looking for her. 'Wow, the food looks great,' he told her taking a seat right across from her.

He began to eat happily and the frown on her face deepened, 'I am glad you are enjoying it.'

He nodded not noticing his mom's frown, 'Has your friend woken up yet?'

'Yes.'

'Did you ask her about me staying?'

'I did and she agreed.'

'Great,' he took a bite of his pancake, 'when will I get to meet her? I'll have to thank her for allowing me to stay.'

Riku and Ursa had been friends growing up, but when he was ten his father had sent him away to boarding school. At the age of fifteen he suffered a head injury from playing rugby and had lost most of his memory. Well, it was easier for him to remember who was a constant in his life and since Ursa had limited interaction with him. She became easily forgotten, well that was until she stood before him once again and re-jogged his memory. Something that she didn't wish to do. 'When she's ready to greet you, she'll come to you. For now feel welcome, just don't go to the room down the hall on the left wing.'

Riku looked up at his mother, 'She's not some old sick lady, is she?'

'If she were, would that make a difference?'

'No,' he was a bit taken back by her defensive tone.

'Good, now let's finish up and get ready,' before he could ask, she told him, 'we're going out.'

'But we just got here, we should relax and take a moment,' he tried to convince her, but failed.

'We need to run errands,' she stated.

'Can't we just push them off until tomorrow? Or better yet, you can go alone.'

'No,' she said in her mom voice, 'you're coming with me.'

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ursa gazed out the window from her study and watched as Amistad and her son left. 'Come on, Everafter. Let's go get you some food.' Her stomach growled, 'I guess that I need some too.'

Everafter turned from his toy when he heard his name and looked over at his master. When she began walking to the door leading outside the room, he followed after her down the stairs and to the kitchen where she got him food and water. As he ate his master prepared her self a meal as well. Once both were finished, she let him out so that he could go and play out in the garden. His master following behind him so that they could both play and get some exercise.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Riku parked the car in front of a bakeshop and groaned, 'I don't like sweets.'

'Good, because they are not for you,' his mother stated as she unfasten her seatbelt and climbed out of the car.

'Well, you shouldn't have sweets either,' he told her. 'At your age they are probably worse for you.'

Amistad slapped his arm when he arrived next to her, 'Humph, at least I don't have a bad habit like you.'

Riku rubbed his shoulder and he could feel his right eye begin to twitch from her comment. 'I can quit at any time,' he got defensive and before she could counter, 'I just don't choose to right not.'

Amistad rolled her eyes and walked towards the bakeshop, but made sure that he followed behind her. Inside the attendants greeted her and one of them asked if she was ready to be helped. She nodded and walked up to the counter to look at all the delicious pastries. 'I would like one of these,' she pointed at her selection.

Riku looked around the small bakeshop and as his mother ordered her desserts and found that even though the pasties had a good appearance and nice finish, to him they were unappealing. Desserts were usually overly sweet and sticky, plus since they were usually very addictive it made an over-consumer gain weight. A huge draw back for such a tantalizing delicacy. As he was admiring the decor, another customer arrived and he turned to look at the new arrival. The female brought a smile to his face, since she reminded him of someone that was very special to him. She had a small and delicate face, big blue eyes, lean figure and a fair complexion. If she were tanned then she would be almost a perfect replica, cause even her blonde hair was a match for hers.

'All done,' his mother joined his side and turned to look at the direction her son was looking at, better yet who he was looking at.

Namine's heart skipped a beat as she looked up at the handsome man that was standing not too far away from the entrance. He seemed to be everything that a woman could wish for in a man. He was tall, fit and attractive. When the woman that had been at the counter joined him, she couldn't help but stare. She looked extremely familiar, 'Did you get everything you needed?'

'Yes,' when Namine heard her voice once again, her senses no longer tampered by the male beside her, she knew where or better yet who she was.

'Amistad,' she called out to her.

'Yes,' she turned away from her son and to the young woman that was coming towards them. 'How may I help you?'

'You must not remember me, I am Namine Thorn. You used to work for my Aunt Lily Veale.' She introduced herself and offered a smile.

Amistad studied the young woman, when she was a little girl she was a dead ringer for her mother. As time passed it seemed that her features slightly changed, but didn't take away any of her beauty. She had come over to the Frost Manson often as a child, as she grew older she stopped visiting as frequently. She offered the young woman a small smile, 'You're Rose's daughter.'

'Yes,' her smile grew wider as she was recognized.

'You've grown up to be a such a beautiful young woman,' she complimented her.

'Thank you,' she was flattered by the praise. She was about to say something else when Amistad looked down at her watch.

'Well,' she wanted to cut the meeting short before the girl started asking questions about her departure or Ursa, if she knew about her. 'It was nice see you again, be we need to get going. If you'll excuse us.'

Namine was left flabbergasted as she watched her usher the young man out of the bakery in a hurry. 'Bye, maybe we can catch up next time.'

Once they left the bakery, Riku looked down at his mother, 'That was weird and rude. Why the rush and why didn't you introduce me?'

'No rush, let's go home,' she answered and completely ignored his other question.

Riku just shrugged, he had a feeling that his mother didn't want to talk to the young woman or be in her presence any longer. It was the first time he had seen her be rude and a bit stand offish. He wanted to question her, but during the drive home she was closed off. As they arrived at the massive gate he noticed a car parked in front of the gate. 'It seems that you have a visitor,' Riku pulled the car over so that they could watch and his mother debated on opening the gate. She had stopped him from pushing the open button.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

'Ursa let me in,' Terra demanded.

'Go away,' she told him.

'This isn't fair, you go and see our Grandmother and even visit with Ventus. Why won't you let me talk to you?'

'Because I am not only hideous on the outside, but on the inside too, remember? Now go away,' she repeated as she slapped him in the face with his own words.

'I won't leave until you let me in.'

'I'll just call the police and tell them that there is someone disturbing the peace.'

'There is no one else for miles,' he threw back at her.

'My peace,' she clarified, 'so leave.'

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

'What's going on,' Riku turned and asked his mother as they watched the drama unfold, since the male was rather vocal.

'He knows,' she whispered to herself.

'What's going on? Who is he and what are you hiding?'

Amistad turned to look at her son, 'If only you'd remember, you'd now,' she stated.

Riku looked at her as if she was someone else, first she was rude to the blonde at the bakeshop and now she was being defensive about something that he seemed to have forgotten. 'Ursa,' they could hear the cry of desperation clearly from where they were parked.

They both turned to his shout of anger, 'Sounds like he has a nasty temper,' Amistad stated.

'Should we go and interfere?'

'No, just give him a moment, he'll give up eventually.' Amistad continued. 'Plus, Ursa is not going to give in to him easily.'

'Ursa sounds like a character, hope I get to meet her soon,' Riku muttered as they continued to watch and wait.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

'Ursa, I mean it open this gate!' Terra couldn't understand it, what was wrong with him. Why didn't she want him in her life? He knew he said some mean things, but if she only gave him a chance he could rectify his mistake. He could show her that he wasn't mean, that his temper just got the best of him when he didn't get his way or he had a difficult obstacle to overcome. In this case it was her and her stubbornness and refusal to accept him.

'Order me all you want, but I am not going to open the gate,' she cut off the intercom and left him angry and frustrated once again.

'Fuck,' he cursed and stomped on the ground before getting back in his car and turning it around so that he could head back. As he drove back, he noticed another car parked by the road, two people inside, a male and a female that looked just like Amistad. He pulled over and stopped the car and watched from his rearview mirror as they pulled up to the gate and it opened.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Ursa looked down at Everafter and smiled as she noticed that Amistad had returned and her brother had left. 'We should get going, I'll have Amistad take you out later. Let's go take a nap and enjoy our victory.'

She was enjoying the quiet and lazy afternoon when she heard a knock on the door, 'Yes?'

'It's me, Amistad,' she answered.

'Coming,' she got out of her chair and went to open the door. 'Is something the matter?'

Amistad entered the room carrying a tray with tea and desserts, 'No, I thought that you could use some company and a treat.'

'That's,' she zoomed in on the cake like a child in a candy store ready to devour every sweet in sight.

Amistad watched as she took the tray to the small table by the window, 'Do you like them?'

'They look delicious, come sit,' she told her friend as she poured them tea and offered her a slice of cake.

Over the years, the cute little cub had grown into a striking female. She hadn't lost any of her unique traits, the soft black fur, black button nose, clawed digits which were long and slender. Of course, she couldn't overlook her black pit-less orbs, that sometimes seemed to easily look into her soul. She had many of the attributes of a bear, but once the curse was broken she would be a beautiful young woman. Tall stature, big eyes, a curvaceous body and perfect bone structure. They just needed to find someone that could overlook all that and fall in love with her.

Ursa looked over at Amistad untouched cake, 'Are you sure nothing is the matter?'

She had so much grace and a lovely voice, when she sang it was really something special. 'I was just thinking about how much I missed hearing you sing.'

Ursa smiled, 'You sound just like her.'

'Her?'

That's right, they hadn't got the chance to talk since this morning and she hadn't told her what's been happening. 'I have a confession.'

'You do?'

'I've gone out to see my Grandmother.'

'You've,' she was surprised by her sudden announcement.

'I know, I took a big risk, but she's ill and I couldn't just ignore her request. So I've been out to see her a few times at the hospital.'

'You've been out alone?'

'Yes, are you upset?'

'No, just…' she shook her head, 'just surprised. Have you met with anyone else?'

'Umm, I've met with my brother Ventus. He's the one that gave me Everafter,' the puppy looked up at her when she heard his name.

'And Terra?'

'He's the one that started all this, but I have yet to meet him in person.'

'Why?'

'Because he is the one that intruded into my life without my permission.'

Her words might have come out harshly, but there was so much sadness in her eyes. 'For you to reject him, he must have said something to offend you. Terra sometimes speaks things that he doesn't mean, you shouldn't hold it against him.'

'Humph, he seems to have anger management issues. He should consider therapy for that.'

'They have tried a couple of times and he's actually better than before.'

'It doesn't run in the family, does it?'

'Umm,' Amistad thought for a moment and the only one she could remember with that problem was Rose. However, after her accident years ago, she hadn't had much of an issue afterwards. 'There is one person that used to suffer from anger management.'

'Who?'

'That doesn't matter, why don't you tell me what's wrong with your Grandmother? What are your thought about Ventus?'

They talked for a while about her family, but towards the end Ursa switched the conversation, 'So why is your son here?'

'Does it bother you? I could always find somewhere else for him.

'No, but what would make you bring him back here? I mean, from what you told me before everything was going perfect for him. He was about to get married, graduated ahead of his class and even landed a job at one of the best firms in New York.'

'I told you it was a long story.'

'I've got time,' she encouraged her.

'Well,' she began to tell her what happened and what was going on with Riku.

'That's…I am so sorry to hear that,' Ursa frowned as she heard more than what she wanted. 'He is free to stay here for as long as you think is necessary. I won't be a bother, I just ask that you help me take care of Everafter the days he's here all day.'

'I don't want you to feel like you have to lock yourself away.'

'You don't have to worry about me. You know what my writing schedule is like, I am up most of the nights and asleep half the days. My meals won't be a problem, I can take care of myself.'

'You're such a good child, but what about your visits with your Grandmother or when Ventus comes over?'

'I'll visit her after hours at the hospital and Ventus will only come by once a week, so if you could just show him up to my room. I would appreciate that.'

Amistad studied her, 'Are you sure about this?'

'I am sure,' she petted Everafter, who had curled up on her lap a while ago.

—-

Name: Namine Thorn

Age: 23

Eye color: Sky blue

Relationship: Riku and Roxas (not at the same time)

Likes: has a sweet tooth, but has to limit them

Dislikes: anything sour

Description: Namine is a happy go lucky individual that enjoys spending time with her cousin Ventus. She is a big fan of Ursa's work, she just doesn't know that her cousin is the writer of her favorite book series. She works for her family's company in the modeling devision and is part share owner because of her mother.

Name: Rose Thorn

Age: 48

Eye color: Electric blue

Relationship: Namine's mother

Likes: Red wine

Dislikes: Loathes Ursa and her family

Descriptions: Rose is a determined woman that is spiteful when things don't go her way. She cursed Ursa before she was even born and hates her even more later on. She plots for ways for to take her shares of the family company.