AN: NymhadoraTonks: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Jane is a psychopath, but you'll see she wasn't really driven by her own will. Something had happened to her. It'll make sense in time. Thank you!


Everett's heart skipped a beat. He knew his mother was rough, but the knife? He felt his throat tighten as her grip did on the weapon. "M-mom," he managed to spit out. Would he be able to stop her? Or at least get her to put the knife down. He wanted to move, but he was frozen. "Can't we talk about this?" Before he knew it, Jane launched herself at him.

He felt his entire body leap to life as he dodged her attack. "What is there to talk about?" Jane asked taking another swipe. Everett ran for the door, but it wouldn't open. There weren't even locks on the door.

"The fact that you're trying to kill me," Everett jumped the table in a desperate attempt. Jane's knife caught his leg, tearing his pants, but only scratching his skin. Everett still gasped as he fell onto the table. He was able to scoot away just as Jane climbed up. She was bent over him with her knife aimed at his neck. With a swift kick to her ankles, Jane was sent flying off the table.

As Everett managed to catch his breath, he noticed how quiet it was. He propped himself up on his elbows. he didn't even hear her breathing. The blood drained from his face as endless possibilities ran through his mind. His gaze drifted towards the end of the table. With a gulp, Everett bit the bullet and peered over the edge of the table where Jane's body should've been. But there was nothing.

Everett rolled out of the way as Jane's knife drove into eh table. It stuck into the wood, standing freely. He grabbed the nearest plates, hoping that would grant him some protection. Jane plucked the knife before she swung at him once again. He deflected her with the plates. Every strike earned the white porcelain a chip in its edge. His back was against the wall when she aimed for his neck again.

Everett ducked down as her blow shattered the plate in his left hand. His hand bled onto the floor as he rolled under Jane. She tumbled over. He was about to steal the knife when she managed to pin him down to the floor. He tried to smash the plate against her temple, but she held down his arm with her knee. There was nothing he could do now.

"I've got you now," Jane chuckled deeply. He looked into her eyes as she gently placed the knife against the warm skin above his throat. When he realized that he was going to die, Everett closed his eyes. The only thing he could think of at this moment was Lorelai. What was going to happen to her? He would never see her. He wished he had told her that he lov—

The crack of the door made Everett's eyes pop open. Carlos shoved Jane off of Everett quickly. The knife skidded across the floor, just before Charlotte's feet at the door. Everett managed to turn his head and watch Carlos hold Jane down as she struggled against him. "Char! Call for help!"

Jane tried to bite Carlos's hand. "Get off me!" Everett couldn't move, only watch as something inside his father snapped. Nothing would be the same now.

About ten minutes later, Jane was strapped down to a stretcher. She didn't fight against the restraints. She looked confused and scared. "Conroy? Carlos? What's happening?" The two didn't answer as they pulled her up into the ambulance. "Where are they taking me? What did I do? What's going on?"

Charlotte peered from behind Carlos's back. When Jane saw her, her expression changed. "Charlotte! Help me! Don't let them take me away!"

Charlotte's only response was the tears that rolled down her cheeks. Carlos put his arm around his daughter and held her while she cried. Everett watched as the technician pulled what was left of the plate out of his deep wound across his left palm. Even though it hurt, he was glad it was not his drawing hand. He was glad for many things that happened tonight, although some things could've been left out he supposed, but at least now the truth was out.

Many neighbors were standing outside and watching. It wasn't long before Mal and Ben arrived on the scene. This time, Jay was with them. Everett searched for Lorelai, but she was nowhere to be found. Carlos handed the crying Charlotte to Everett. He squeeze his sister as her sobbing turned silent. Jane was hauled away as quickly as they had arrived.

"What's gonna happen now?" Charlotte asked so quietly Everett almost didn't hear it.

"I...don't know."

"She's not going to come back, is she?" Charlotte's voice was filled with fear.

"No," Everett assured her. "Even if she managed to get out of the charges, Dad will never let her come back."

"But I thought her loved her."

"He did. But I don't think he has for a long time."

"What does that mean?" Charlotte pulled away from his arms.

"Can you say that you loved her?"

Charlotte hesitated, then shook her head.

"Me neither." He pulled her back for another hug, she greatly accepted.

"Conroy, do you think we can be ourselves now?"

Everett thought for a moment, then grinned softly. "I'm sure of it."


His plan went just as he hoped it would. He stared down at his hands, fearful, but filled with new wondrous possibilities.


The next morning, Everett woke up stiff. He hadn't bothered to shower after last night. When he undressed, he glanced at the marks on his shoulders. They were already a soft pink. Soon, they would be gone. Then, Everett would only have to watch his fresh wounds heal. Only these were a sign of victory rather than a sign of pain. Everything was going to change, Everett could feel it now.

Once showered and ready for the day, Everett went downstairs in search of life. "Dad?" he called, but there had been no answer. He opened the door to the basement, but the lights were off and there were no signs of life.

Just as Everett was going to check back upstairs, the doorbell rang. He hesitated but answered it. A royal guard was there to greet him. Everett was surprised as the man bowed. "Conroy De Vil. I have a message for you from the Princess of Auradon." He then curtly held a piece of paper for Everett to grab. The boy took a step back from the guard's abruptness.

"Uh...okay," Everett slowly grasped the paper. "Thank you." Everett bowed, and the guard returned it before leaving his doorstep. Everett shut the door, only looking at the note in his hand. He unfolded it with caution, afraid of what he might read.

Conroy,

I've just heard what occurred last night. Are you okay? Well, I know you're okay, but I'm so sorry this happened. I want to come to visit you, but my parents have forbidden me. I'm not allowed out of the castle for two days. They're really shaken by this. I've alerted you to know who through my lesson sources. (it definitely has perks) But I couldn't send one to the other you know who. I'm sorry for that, but I'm afraid I'm not strong enough.

I wish I could see you and help you get through this or just figure it all out. I suppose this could go to plan. Now that Jane is gone, perhaps you could convince you know who to come back. There could be nothing stopping her now.

Write if you can. I'm afraid my phone will be the next thing to go.

Lorelai (Lori)

Everett held the paper to his chest. He wanted to see Lorelai, but it almost felt too soon. It didn't feel right to scheme and plan right now. He had almost died last night. His enemy "mother" was hauled away strapped down to a stretcher. Their whole family had suffered a great rift. Everett couldn't keep moving with the plan until this had settled.

He folded the note back up and put it in his pocket as he strode to the kitchen. On the way, he passed the glass sliding doors and stopped in his tracks. Charlotte and Carlos were up in that tree Everett was only staring at a few nights ago. There was a sturdy board between them. Several were already nailed in place on the sturdy branches. Steps had even been pegged to the trunk.

Everett slid open the glass and stepped out onto the grass. Beside him was a pile of wood, tools, and a fresh blueprint of a treehouse. He looked back to see Carlos staring back at him. His father instructed Charlotte to continue as he climbed down from the tree. "Morning, Conroy."

"Dad," Everett stared up at Charlotte in the tree. "Did you draw this overnight?"

"Well, I wasn't going to sleep," Carlos admitted as he brushed his hands on his pants. His arms were exposed by the black t-shirt he was wearing. Now, Everett could see every bruise Carlos had ever received. "Besides, it'll keep Charlotte distracted."

"Charlotte...or you?" Everett raised a brow. He watched his father's expression changed instantly. This was when Everett could see the dark bags under Carlos's eyes.

"I've had plenty of time to think."

"One night."

"A lot can happen in one night," Carlos defended. "I've actually been planning on this longer than you think."

"The treehouse?"

"No," Carlos glanced at the ground. "I've been wanting to separate from your mother for a while. She's changed since I was in...her first company."

"Why didn't you end it sooner? You know that she hurt—"

"I didn't know about Charlotte. I knew little of you too. I thought I was the only one she ever dug into. And I thought I could live with that. I had lived with that for so many years before I had even met Jane."

"Grandma?" Everett's voice cracked.

Carlos nodded with a blank stare. "Yes, but that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is, I couldn't truly find a reason to leave."

"This place was a living hell, Dad."

Carlos's head snapped up at that. "She is still your mother."

"She was not and you know it," Everett snapped back. "She raised Charlotte to be mindless and beautiful. She raised me to be an excellent athlete to make herself look good. She made you hide your talent from the world. She made us mold into what we weren't."

There was a long pause. Everett felt a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He had been wanting to say it all for so long. Carlos took a deep breath. "I was scared for us. If I left, she would turn this on all of us. I knew it would be better off if I had just kept my head down. I'm sorry for that. Maybe if I weren't from the Isle things would've been different. I should've listened to—"

"Evie," Everett finished for him. Carlos's eyes lit up, but then he shifted back into empty eyes.

"It doesn't matter now. I've already filed for the divorce this morning."

"You're serious?"

Carlos nodded. "I'll never let her hurt any of us again. I promise." Relief flushed over Everett. He would never have to deal with that woman again. It was all falling into place, and he felt hopeful.

"Thank you," Everett wrapped his arms around his father. Carlos readily accepted the embrace. "This is a good thing, Dad. You did the right thing."

"I know," Carlos hugged his son a little tighter. "It's never too late to change."

"As it is never too late for love," Everett whispered, but he didn't know that his father had heard him.


Two days later, Everett walked alone to Evie's house. He had written to Lorelai that he would meet with her on his way back. He hoped she had gotten the message. He had missed her presence but was glad to have the time with his family to adjust. Jane was not given a court case. She was simply locked away with a sentence of twenty-five years for attempted murder.

Everett looked up at the patchy grey clouds that lingered above. Squeezing the butterfly charm in his good right hand, Everet went up the path to Evie's front door. She opened on the very first knock. "Where have you been?"

"I've been home," Everett put his hands in his pockets.

"I was worried you were discovered."

"No, but I do have some things I would like to talk to you about. Can I come in?"

"Of course," Evie let him in. "You don't have to ask anymore. You're the closest thing I've had to a friend in about...well many years."

Everett walked straight for the nearest table and sat down. Evie hesitated, but sat on the other side, staring at him with concern. "What is it? Conroy, what's going on?"

"I'm just going to get straight to the point."

He told her about Jane and what happened that night. Everett explained how she was angry at him for hanging out with Lorelai. He told her all about the abuse that h and Charlotte had faced. She only asked one question, "What about Carlos?"

"He didn't know much about what was going on. He's already filed for divorce," Everett answered. "Apparently it's been on his mind for a while. Perhaps years. I'm just glad it's all unraveled."

"Is he...okay?" Evie asked.

"I would think he would be scared to go on with all of the prejudices, but I just think he's happy. He's free."

"Free."

"Yes. He doesn't have to hide his work anymore. He doesn't have to suppress...his passions." Evie just stared at him as Everett took the picture from his bag. He looked at the young smiling Evie and Carlos before sliding it across the table. Evie slowly took it between her fingers and stared at it. Her eyes automatically started to tear up. "I found that behind a family picture of ours. Along with a map."

Evie's eyes met his. "What?"

"He's been mapping where he thinks you went. It's got pins and notes all over. Some of them were even dated not so long ago. He never gave up. Not really."

Evie suddenly became very fearful. "Why are you telling me all this?"

"I want you to come back with me." Evie bit her lip, but Everett cut her off before she could being to say anything. "I know you feel like you can't, but I know my dad, your Carlos, would forgive you in an instant if you saw him. And now with Jane out of the way, there's nothing keeping you apart."

"The divorce isn't even final," Evie shook her head. "How could he even think about inviting me back into his life let alone taking my hand in love?"

"He wouldn't keep mapping if he didn't think there was hope or a chance that you could—"

"I betrayed him!" Evie snapped as she stood from her chair. "He will never forgive me just as I won't be forgiven by the rest of Auradon." She took a deep breath and then said in a soft voice, "Can't you see? It's just too late for all this." She passed the picture back to Everett. "I will not go back." She turned her back to him.

Everett stared down at the picture. Rising calmly, he left the picture on the table. "I think I'll just leave then." Throwing his pack over his shoulder, Everett turned to leave, but then stopped. "You were the one to say that it was never too late for love, but you don't believe it's true."

With silence as a response, Everett left. He wasn't angry, or sad, only empty. His heart felt as if it had been ripped out, taking all of his emotions with it. As he rode his bike to Dandelion, he played the conversation over and over in his mind. Thunder rumbled like the sound of the engine. A few drops had hit his face, but Everett didn't bother to wipe them away. As if the water brought him back to life, his emotions came back strongly.

He couldn't believe Evie wasn't willing to listen to him. Why did this have to be so difficult? Why couldn't she see how desperate he needed her to understand? Carlos needed her too, and she can't see that. Everett wished she could just see him once. That is all it would take. Just one meeting and the old flame would instantly reignite, Everett was sure.

But it was hopeless now if he couldn't get them together. Everett would spend the rest of his miserable life here in this different reality. Charlotte would be better off without Jane, but the scars wouldn't heal without the help of a real mother. His father would be happier now, but it wouldn't last long. Sure, he had Everett and Charlotte now, but Carlos needed that companionship, Everett knew that. Even in the real world, Everett knew that Carlos would be nothing without his family and friends.

Everett had destroyed all of their lives. He knew that and he couldn't feel more guilty for it. He thought he could redeem himself, but really, was he just lying to himself? Did he really think he could fix everything? Everett wasn't anyone special. He didn't have the strength needed for this. He had messed everything up. Everett couldn't suppress that terrible fact anymore.

As he reached Rose's castle, he felt another rush of guilt wash over him. He parked his bike and took one step before he stopped. The rain began to fall more rapidly, but as the boy stared at the castle, he didn't move. He couldn't move. Before he knew it, Everett fell to his knees. Leaning over the ground, Everett took deep breaths. He wanted to cry, but somehow, he just couldn't.

So, he sat there in the pouring rain, listening to his pounding heart and the cracks of lightning.


Lorelai just had finished her lesson when she heard the rumbling. She skipped down the hall, expecting to see Everett sitting there with the door open. She would finally see him today, she was beyond excited. When she saw he wasn't there, she thought it was odd. He wouldn't cancel on her, she knew that. Instead of skipping, Lorelai slowly crossed to the wooden doors.

Cringing at the noise of under outside, Lorelai peaked through the door, only to open it wide in shock. Everett was sitting with his pack to her, alone in the rain. His head was down, and he was hugging his knees to his chest. Her heart dropped as endless possibilities of the matter ran through her head. But mostly, all she could think about was how she could reach him.

She stepped out onto the main steps and held out her hand. Rain droplets plopped into her hand steadily. She yanked her arm back, discouraged to go out. She looked at Everett again, her heart plunging deeper to her stomach. Taking a deep breath, Lorelai held out her hand. "Come on," she whispered to herself. "Come on."

The umbrella from Everett's lying pack came flying to Lorelai's open hand. For a moment she smiled in amazement. She really has started to truly master her powers. It faded quickly as she opened it and took her first steps down the stairs. Her shoes became wet as her foot hit the wet grass, but she didn't care. With small, slow steps, Lorelai crossed the yard.

Thunder clapped, and Lorelai let out a little squeal. Her legs shook, but she quickly regained her strength. Lorelai did not turn away. With another rumble, she took three more long strides before approaching Everett's side. She held the umbrella over them both. Everett's head shot up. He instantly looked up. That was when she saw the pain in his eyes.

"Everett," Lorelai crouched down, still holding the umbrella's handle firmly in her hand. It was like her voice had broken the wells in his eyes because they became overflowed with tears. She reached out to touch his face. He leaned into her gentle touch, pressing his cool and wet cheek to her palm. Everett's eyes turned very curious as he studied something just beyond her eyes.

He reached forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. He hesitated, but then he pulled back her brunette wig. She tried to stop him, but it was too late. The wig fell off her shoulders instantly, revealing Lorelai's natural lilac curls. Lorelai looked down as her cheeks turned bright pink. She was ashamed of her real hair. She had been raised to fear everything that made her unique.

Then she was in his arms. He had taken her in so swiftly she dropped the umbrella instantly. She was about to reach for it but instead pulled Everett closer to her as the rain began to douse her. He cried into her shoulder while she refused to loosen her grip on him. His heart pounded against her own as their chests pressed together.

They didn't move. Lorelai didn't even flinch when the storm roared above. At that moment, they were still. Even though the rest of the world was moving and changing, they remained.