Break my heart.
A.N.: This is finally going to be completed! It's kind of depressing though…and it didn't start out that way. Hope it isn't to cheesy and that they're all [mostly] in character. anyway, read on and R & R as well.
Disclaimer: None are mine! Except for Aaron/Eric and Wendy his mother, everyone else belongs to their respective owners and this fanfic is purely for entertainment only.
"Come back here Aaron!" John yelled chasing after the stark naked toddler. Aaron squealed with glee and sprinted down the beach.
"Catch him!" Marguerite shouted, John shot her a look.
"What do you think I'm doing?" He demanded as he set off after Aaron.
Veronica burst out laughing as she watched John tear across the sand, in hot pursuit of Aaron. She could see his patience waning, while to Aaron the whole thing was just a big game. He would slow down just long enough for John to get close, before he would turn sharply and sprint away.
When Ned joined into the fray it was Marguerite's turn to laugh. She watched as Ned and John finally managed to corner Aaron.
"Grab him Ned!" John commanded, even though he was smiling, but Aaron, who was eager to play; slipped away again. "Marguerite!" John yelled.
"What?" Marguerite yelled back, "why do you always blame me? You're the one who made him hyper, not me."
"You two," Ned groaned.
"What?" Marguerite and John exclaimed in unison.
"Nothing," Ned replied innocently, he leapt out and grabbed Aaron, who had been suddenly drawn to a strange bug on the sand. Ned caught him off guard and slung Aaron over his shoulder.
"Dirty!" Aaron giggled clapping his hands, "Ned dirty! Dirty! Dirty!"
"For crying out loud," John moaned good naturally, "does that child ever stop?"
"Would you want him too?" Veronica wondered, following Ned into the cool stream, she reached out and tickled Aaron's neck.
Aaron screamed with laughter and John shook his head. "No," he replied, "I suppose not."
"I'm going to miss this little guy when he's gone," Ned said softly. An awkward silence fell over the group as the realize set in. This would most likely be the last time they would get a chance to give Aaron a bath.
"Remember that one time," Veronica began, "when there was that awful smell—"
"Goodness that was rank!" Marguerite joined in, remembering all too well. She carefully splashed water onto Aaron's head, so she wouldn't get any sand into his eyes. The sand was actually Veronica's idea, she said it worked just as good as any shampoo—all thought that was something Marguerite doubted.
"—No one knew where it was coming from," Veronica continued.
"Until Challenger realized Aaron had stashed his dirty diaper in Veronica's book chest!" Ned hooted.
Aaron continued to squirm and squeal but finally the three of them managed to was his hair, scrub behind his ears and get him dressed.
"Come on!" John said, swinging Aaron into his arms, "time to go see Mum!" Suddenly his face turned grave, "I hope she treats you good," he quickly pulled off his hat and handed it to Aaron. "There you go." He said, "yes, yes it's yours."
"Ha! Ha!" Aaron babbled, sticking the rim of John's hat into his mouth.
"You really are going to miss him aren't you?" Marguerite wondered nonchalantly, walking up beside him.
"I think I will. I also think it will be so blissfully silent we wont know what to do with ourselves." John replied.
Marguerite smirked, "I wouldn't bet on that one, Lord Roxton."
When they finally reached the treehouse, everyone was in great spirits. Even Ned and Marguerite exchanged a few stories with one another they could remember.
But when the elevator door opened they saw Challenger standing beside the table a grave look on his face.
"She's dead." He said softly.
"What?" Veronica demanded.
"How? What happened?" Ned demanded.
"She died in her sleep, from what I'm guessing was internal injuries. And if that's really the case, I'm surprised she lasted this long."
"But why?" Marguerite spat, not satisfied with Challenger's answer.
"She said she wanted to make sure we were looking after Aaron—Eric," Veronica pointed out.
"But she said she changed her mind, that she wanted him back!" Marguerite cried out, everyone looked at her in silence; except for Aaron who had burst into sobs, as if somehow he knew what had happened. "Well I never wanted him to leave, but I certainly didn't want her to die either!" Marguerite tightened her grip on Aaron.
"Its not your fault," Ned insisted.
"It's nobody's fault," Challenger said, touching Marguerite's shoulder gently.
"Wendy just wanted to make sure Aaron was in good hands."
"He is," Veronica interjected.
"What now?" Marguerite wondered, closing her eyes.
"Mama," Aaron sobbed.
"Hush child," Veronica said touching Aaron's heated cheeks, she planted a kiss on his forehead and blinked away tears.
Marguerite carried Aaron into the bedroom, where Wendy lay looking peaceful as if she were sleeping.
"Mama," Aaron whimpered.
"She's better now," Marguerite tried to explain; ignoring her tears. Aaron turned his eyes to Marguerite's. He blinked before he reached up and touched her cheeks.
"Mama," Aaron mumbled one last time before he buried his face in Marguerite's shoulder.
End.