ALTERNATE ENCORE - I FOUND A REASON
Dakota, several of her cousins, and The Fourteen, were working in her room, packing her belongings, some of which were going to charity, and some to her villa. It appeared that they had accepted her story and believed her, but Anni and Mel weren't exactly calm, especially when they knew that someone else lurked in the mansion—
"Hello, bunnie-wunnies!"
"AAAHHH! ELMYRA!" screamed The Fourteen, and immediately hid—behind Dakota.
"MO-THER!" she groaned, blushing furiously. Leave it to parents to embarrass their kids in front of their friends. Her cousins, meanwhile, couldn't help but laugh. It didn't help that her mother was wearing her traditional Tiny Toons outfit, either.
Junior peeked out from behind his friend, ears low, and muttered, "Um—I mean—hello, Mrs. Maximilian."
The adult at the door giggled, "Hee hee hee—now what was that line that Babs always said? Oh, yeah. 'I just can't help myself!' Now, I just thought I'd come and see if you all would like a snack, before you head to the villa."
"Well, let me ask them." The brunette stepped to one side, revealing all the lagomorphs compacted into a nice Dakota-shape, though as soon as she stepped out of the way, they collapsed out of it. Shotsy grunted and gave her a dirty look, but Dakota just laughed, "Well, do you guys want a snack or not?"
"Well, we sure do," replied the "Artist". Timidly, the lapines stood and approached their parents' nemesis, unsure of what to make of this.
"I've got carrot cake."
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Fourteen lagomorphs bounced/stampeded out of the room.
Dakota and her cousins barely managed to step out of the way. "Hey, I think they like the idea, Mom!"
To which, the adult simply replied, "Do I know bunnie-wunnies, or what?" The humans laughed and followed the rabbits down to the living room, where several large carrot cakes and flagons of carrot juice awaited them—as well as some lettuce, too.
The Fourteen, no longer afraid, hopped over to eat.
From somewhere, a piano began to play, accompanied by drums, then a guitar, and then a bass completed the ensemble.
The humanmaid sat among her new friends, eating cake.
"I'm not a perfect person.
There are many things I wish I didn't do."
And she stuffed some down Tex's mouth, starting a food fight.
"But I continue learning.
I never meant to do those things to you."
In the middle of the melee, she pulled him to the floor, and kissed him.
"And so I have to say before I go:
That I just want you to know!"
They picked up the boxes and suitcases, and walked out of the room to a waiting WE-haul truck, and a limousine.
"I've found a reason for me!
To change who I used to be!"
Through the window of her limousine, she sadly looked back at the mansion, even though she knew she would come back later today.
"A reason to start over new!
And the reason is you…"
But smiled again as she sat next to Tex.
"I'm sorry that I hurt you.
It's something I must live with everyday."
She saw Tex handing several boxes to a homeless shelter, and she laughed again.
"And all the pain I put you through—!
I wish that I could take it all away."
All was forgiven, yes, but the pain would always be there.
"And be the one who catches all your tears.
That's why I need you to hear—!"
As they drove on, she held his paw.
"I've found a reason for me!
To change who I used to be!"
The villa was a huge structure of Spanish colonial style, marked with earth tones, and dark highlights. Willows and azaleas were scattered about the estate.
"A reason to start over new!
And the reason is YOUUUU!"
The ostentatiousness of it made her feel shame again. Tex noticed, and he placed an arm on her shoulder.
"And the reason is YOUUUU!"
He kissed her cheek, leaning his ears toward her.
"And the reason is YOUUUU!"
She hugged him.
"And the reason is YOUUUU!"
Both walked inside.
Now came the unloading, but there wasn't much of that. Shotsy gave a few hints for redecorating, but there wasn't much that Dakota wanted to add. Her office was transferred there as well, practically the only place that actually seemed "lavish". Eventually, it got dark. Her cousins went home, and The Fourteen, one by one, burrowed away.
"I'm not a perfect person.
I never meant to do those things to you."
Tex, however, remained at the main door.
"And so I have to say before I go:
That I just want you to know!"
He held her hands.
"I've found a reason for me!"
Placing an arm around her shoulder, both turned to face the California sunset.
"To change who I used to be!"
Her head found his shoulder, and he ground his teeth softly.
"A reason to start over new!".
She cried, both for joy, and regret for all the time lost.
"And the reason is you…"
He held her closer, rubbing his chin on her head.
"I've found a reason to show—!"
He looked at her eyes.
"A side of me you didn't know!"
They pulled closer.
"A reason for all that I do!"
Their lips met once again.
"And the reason is you…"
They remained like that as the sun sank on the ground, making room for the stars, planets, and galaxies, letting them glimpse at the new couple, the female formerly being Jacob Marley's Daughter.
Both stood, and then she smiled at her new boyfriend.
Cree Summer Franks and John Kassir (originally by Michael W. Smith)
"Cry for Love"
I'LL LEAD YOU HOME
©1995 Reunion Records
She told him the story of how she flew on Santa's sleigh, "My life is like a racing car—hurtling towards the wall—
At the speed of sound."
Tex laughed and replied, twirling her like a top, "My time has been so finely tuned but I've never seen a human being—
So tightly wound."
She laughed too, sagging her arms, "At times it seems beyond belief, I just need a bit of relief
Like a war-weary soldier."
She took his paw and ran up a hill, "Marching up and over the edge, take my hand and pull me up cause I'm falling too faaaast!" And she nearly falling down.
She looked at the night, "Somehow I've lost my way—I'm cryin' 'Save me!'"
Both clamoured to eternity, "Can You hear meeee? I'm calling ouuuut!
I'm crying ouuuut—!—A cry for loooove…"
Then they held hands/paws again, "I can feel Youuuu—!—You're touching meeee!"
They looked at each other, "You healing meeee—!—My cry for loooove!" Then, she walked away.
She shook her head, "I will be the first to admit: I don't have the strength to handle it—
Alone anymore." He followed, worried.
Then she looked up and smiled, "I don't have to fret, don't have to explain, all my worryin' is in vain,
I'm not alone anymore!"
Tex asked, "Why is this so hard to believe? What is mine is mine to freely receive—
Like the changing of seasons." which passed before them.
He held up his Book, "This is the beauty of the Word, and for all that I have seen and heard—
Oh, I want to come hoooome!"
He hollered to the sky, "Somehow I'll make my way—my way home to YouuuuUU!"
Suddenly, Dakota was alone. She yelled, "Can You hear meeee? I'm calling ouuuut!
I'm crying ouuuut—!—A cry for loooove…"
Suddenly she felt Tex behind her, "I can feel Youuuu—!—You're touching meeee!"
She looked at his eyes, "You healing meeee—!—My cry for loooove!"
Once again, he called to the night, but softly, "Oh, Father, hear my call—"
She echoed, "Oh, Father, hear my call."
She threw herself back at him, "I know You'll catch me when I fall…" And he caught her, too, smiling.
Then she stood again and cried, "Oh, Father, hear my call! I know You'll catch me when I fall!
Oh, I pray that You'll hold me now—hold me!" He held her arm.
Tex, "And take my fear awaaaay…" And as they asked, their fear of the future was gone. They both knew Who had brought them together, and what their purpose was. They had been healed, for their cry for love had been answered.
She looked at her new gold Cross and Star, "I'm cryin', 'Save me!'" Then, all the bucks of The Fourteen appeared behind them, chorusing on bass.
Looking at the sky, she hollered, "Oh, I know that You can hear me!"
"Dooo—hee-oh—doombah—"
She brought her fists close, "Heeeear me crying out for love!"
"Dooo—hee-oh—doombah—"
And smiled, "Oh, I know that You can feel—my cry for looooooo—ooh!"
"Dooo—hee-oh—doombah—dooo—hee-oh—doombah—"
A Light from both shone above them, and a Voice called out,
"I can feel youuuu—you're calling ouuuut.
You're crying ouuuut: a cry for loooove."
Both knew their requests have been answered. They smiled at the Light, reaching up to touch It.
Tex, "I can feel Youuuu—"
Dakota, "I can feel You!"
Tex, "You're touching meeee—"
Dakota, "Oh, You're touching me!"
Tex, "You're healing meeee—"
Dakota, "You're healing MEEEE!"
Tex, "My cry for loooove."
Dakota, "Oh, my cry for love!"
The Reply came again,
"I can feel youuuu—"
Dakota, "I know that You can hear me!"
"You're calling ouuuut—"
Dakota, "Heeeear me crying out for love."
"You're crying ouuuut—"
Dakota, "I know that you can feel— "
"A cry for loooove."
Dakota, "My cry for looooooo—ooooh!"
Overwhelmed with joy, they continued singing to the Light throughout the night,
Tex, "I can feel Youuuu—"
Dakota, "I can feel You!"
Tex, "You're touching meeee—"
Dakota, "Oh, You're touching me!"
Tex, "You're healing meeee—"
Dakota, "You're healing MEE!"
Tex, "My cry for loooove…"
Dakota, "—my—cryyyy…!"
And the Light would be with them…
…forever.
Cree Summer Franks and John Kassir (originally by Michael W. Smith)
"Cry for Love"
I'LL LEAD YOU HOME
©1995 Reunion Records