Chapter 21: Eve's Story/Basil in Love

Unknown to our heroes, Fidget was still alive. At that moment, he knew Eve hated him for trying to throw her friends overboard and for betraying her trust in him. Even Ratigan betrayed him and he knew just how she felt.

"Oh, Eve, what have I done?" he asked himself, "She trusted me and I don't blame her for not being able to forgive me."

…

That night, Clover was sitting in bed, wearing her light teal green nightgown, thinking of Basil. Hiram stepped inside to see his eldest daughter. "Clover, darling, what are you thinking about?" he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, father," she sighed dreamily, "That journey I had with Basil was life changing."

"I'm sure of it and Andrew and Olivia felt the same way when all of you solved our case."

Clover chuckled. "Yes, but there is more to it than just that: He helped me recover from my heartache from my ex." Then she began to sing.

There's been a change in me;

A kind of moving on.

Though what I used to be,

I still depend upon,

For now, I realize

That good can come from bad.

That may not make me wise,

But oh, it makes me glad.

Her father was listening, so she continued singing.

And I- I never thought I'd leave behind

My childhood dreams,

But I don't mind.

For now, I love the world I see.

No change of heart, a change in me.

Andrew and Olivia came out of their beds and slowly tip-toed out of their rooms to listen to their older sister sing.

For in my dark despair,

I've slowly understood

My perfect world out there

Had disappeared for good;

But in its place, I feel

A truer life begin.

And it's so good and real.

It must come from within.

Seeing their sister happy made Andrew and Olivia happy.

And I- I never thought I'd leave behind

My childhood dreams but I don't mind.

I'm where and who I want to be.

No change of heart;

A change in me.

The younger siblings hugged each other.

No change of heart;

A change in me.

"I see. You're eighteen and you're old enough to hang out with whoever you please," Hiram told her.

Clover nodded. "Thank you, father." Then, she and her father gasped to see Andrew and Olivia awake. "Andrew. Olivia. What are you two doing out of bed?"

"We just wanted to listen to you sing, Clover," Olivia replied.

"We know you miss Basil, but so do we," Andrew added.

"I'm sure we'll see him again someday soon," Clover assured them.

"Yes, and we should all be in bed," Hiram said to his daughters and adopted son, "We had an exhausting journey and it's time we rest for the night. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Father!" Andrew and Olivia replied.

"Thank you for listening, Father," Clover said gratefully.

"It's a pleasure. I'm glad we had this talk, too." Then, he turned off Clover's light before heading to bed.

…

After a night of helping the poor lady find her emerald ring, Basil couldn't stop thinking of Clover Flaversham. He sang a song to himself.

I was the one who had it all.

I was the master of my fate.

I never needed anybody in my life.

I learned the truth too late.

He covered his face.

I'll never shake away the pain.

I close my eyes, but she's still there.

I let her steal into my melancholy heart;

It's more than I can bear.

He uncovered his face and an image of Clover leaving with her family burned in his mind.

Now I know she'll never leave me,

Even as she runs away.

She will still torment me, calm me, hurt me.

Move me, come what may.

Wasting in my lonely tower,

Waiting by an open door.

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And be with me forevermore.

Then he sang stronger with emotion.

I rage against the trials of love.

I curse the fading of the light.

Though she's flown so far beyond my reach,

She's never out of sight.

Basil grinned, knowing that Clover would always be there for him.

Now I know she'll never leave me,

Even as she fades from view.

She will still inspire me;

Be a part of everything I do.

Wasting in my lonely tower,

Waiting by an open door.

I'll fool myself, she'll walk right in

And as the long, long nights begin,

I'll think of all that might've been

Waiting here forever more.

Someone knocked on the door, interrupting his thoughts. "Come in," he said politely.

Someone opened the door and it was Dawson. "Basil, ever since Clover left with her family and had catching up to do with Eve, I was thinking we could go for a walk tonight," Dawson offered.

"Dawson, you're a genius!" Basil exclaimed, knowing his own partner solved his problem.

…

The next day, Eve's and Flappy's dad, Shade, helped Hiram Flaversham fix the toyshop, while Andrew, Clover, Olivia, Eve, and Flappy stayed with the bats' mother, Luna.

Later, Eve and the Flavershams explained their adventures with Basil and the others. Flappy, Shade, and Luna were shocked to hear Eve's ex-boyfriend kidnapping Hiram, Olivia, and Andrew and him trapping Basil, Dawson, and Clover along with them.

After a while, Clover said to Eve as they were having tea, "Eve, I'm so glad your family's alive."

"So am I." Eve sipped her tea.

"Yes, it's good to have you back, Eve," Luna said.

"Eve, as a celebration for your return, your mother and I bought you a gift," Shade said.

Eve gasped. "You did?"

"Close your eyes," her father instructed and she did. "Now, open." She opened her eyes and saw a gift he revealed: A bat necklace.

"Thank you, Father and Mother," she said, putting it on and hugging them.

"You're welcome, my dear," Shade replied.

"We thought you'd like it," her mother told her.

"I do."

…

For over a month, Eve had been coping with her breakup with Fidget and did her best to get over him.

There were nights when Eve went for a fly with her bat family. Others, when she spent time with Clover, Andrew, and Olivia and Flappy joined them because Eve told him he could come; Flappy hadn't spent time with his older sister and her friends in a long time. When Eve and Flappy were with the Flaversham siblings, they played cards together.

One night at Eve's parents, Clover asked Eve, "Eve, would you like to go for a walk?"

"Yes, Clover," Eve replied.

"Can I come?" Flappy inquired.

"Yes, little man," Eve said, giving him chin rubs.

"Watch out for criminals," Luna warned.

"If one of them happens to be your ex-boyfriend, give him what he deserves," Shade told his daughter.

"Give him the taste of his own medicine," Luna encouraged, "That should straighten him out in a heartbeat."

Eve nodded, understanding what they meant. "Alright."

"Be careful out there," her mother warned.

"We will!" Eve called as she left the house with her friends.

…

That night, when Eve and the others were out for a walk, they saw Basil and Dawson outside for a stroll. "Oh, hi, Basil," Eve greeted.

"Hello, Eve," Basil greeted back.

"Hi," Flappy said, waving at Basil.

"Hello, Flappy," Basil greeted the little bat lad.

Eve giggled.

"I got my shop repaired with the help of Eve's father," Hiram told Basil.

"Good. I hope you get back in business soon," Basil said.

"Thank you and it should be ready to go," Hiram answered.

"Basil, I broke up with Fidget," Eve informed the detective.

"That's good," said Basil, "He doesn't deserve a young lady like yourself."

"No, he doesn't," Eve agreed, shaking her head.

"You deserve better than the likes of him," Dawson told her.

"Clover, when I helped the lady mouse client find her emerald ring, I thought of you," Basil told Clover, who blushed.

"She asked me if I would marry her out of impulse, but I politely declined and said that my heart belonged to someone else. I knew from that moment it was you."

"Oh, Basil," Clover fawned, "How sweet."

"How have things been between you and Eve since you both had catching up to do?"

"Very good. Her family is wonderful."

"Especially this little one, here," Basil said, referring to Flappy and tousled his hair.

Hiram looked warily at his watch. "We best be going," Hiram said, "It's getting late."

"One minute, Father," Clover said, "I'll catch up with you." To Basil she said, "By the way, Basil, I have a friend named Stella. You must meet her."

"I think I will."

Then Clover sang, remembering Hiram's concern for the time and that her family started to leave.

I must go;

They'll wonder where I am.

Come with me, Basil.

Basil lovingly put his hand to her cheek.

Clover, I love you.

Clover smiled and looked at Toby.

Order your fine puppy!

Be with him at the door!

Basil broke from his embrace and kissed her hand.

And soon you'll be beside me!

Clover chuckled at the action her boyfriend took.

You'll guard me and you'll guide me.

Then Basil checked his watch and realized Hiram was right. "Oh, drat! Look at the time! It's late!"

"We'd better be going," said Dawson, "Mrs. Judson would wonder what took us so long."

"Come along, Doctor," Basil ordered like Sherlock Holmes would Dr. Watson.

"See you soon," Dawson said.

"Until we meet again, Clover Flammer," said Basil.

"It's Flaversham!" Andrew, Olivia, and Clover giggled.

Hiram stopped to glance at the detective. "Is this going to happen all the time, Basil?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow with a grin.

Basil chuckled. "I don't know."

"See you later, Basil," Clover said as she and her friends left.

…

"What on earth were you two doing out there at this time of night?" Mrs. Judson demanded, "Don't you know it's late?"

"Please, Mrs. Judson, we were just out for a walk and didn't think it would take as long," Dawson explained, "We just lost track of time - that's all."

"Then we bumped into Clover and her family," Basil added.

Mrs. Judson stopped for a moment at the mention of his girlfriend. "Clover? Clover's a sweetheart," she said, "You must've grown fond of her."

"Indeed," Basil answered, relieved Mrs. Judson had calmed down.

"That explains why you politely refused the young woman's proposal," Mrs. Judson added, "I'll admit she may be beautiful, but she's young and impulsive."

"And he made a wise decision," said Dawson.

Basil blushed, lost in his thoughts of his dear beloved Clover, whom he was smitten by. Then, he had an idea: He decided to write her a love letter.

Dearest Clover,

You are different from most women I met. You're feisty, fearless, and an extraordinary one I've ever come across. I hope to see you and your family soon.

Love,

Basil

When finished, Basil just set his pen down, thinking of Clover and that wonderful family of hers.

AN: Yep, Basil's smitten by Clover very badly.