Life After High School - Ten Years Later

By Risty and Silver

Disclaimer: Ahem. We don't own them.

Summary: You figure it out.

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(Kane's POV)

I heard what Jaime had said to my dad and I also heard what he had said to her. Next to me Vincent gripped my hand tightly. Although we both had our eyes fixed firmly on the television, where Harry was having his first flying lesson, we were listening hard to their conversation.

(Damon's POV)

To be honest, I was a bit surprised by Jaime's little speech. Whatever I had expected her to say, it certainly wasn't that and for a moment I was lost for words. But there were things that needed to be said.

"You were wrong," I agreed. "You caused me a lot of guilt and Emma a lot of stress and you put Billee, Legolas, Elrond and Emma's brothers in a very difficult position. I could say a lot of stuff about how you should have kept out of it, but somehow I think you know that now."

"I do."

"But this changes nothing between us" I added. "What happened is in the past and people are just beginning to get over it. You have your life and we have ours and that is the way it should stay. It's too late to start again Jaime, too much has been said and done. Emma has often said that maybe one day she would like to see you again, but she says that she can never again be your friend. Things have changed."

"I understand" she sounded half upset and half surprised that I was being so reasonable. "I suspected as much."

"Here" I reached into my jacket pocket and took out a business card with the number of our work phone on it. "Take this, if you see anything suspicious call us. And if Ria wants to call Kane occasionally, well I won't object to that. Kane and Vince have very few friends in Silverwood and they need to mix with more kids."

"When are we going dad?" Vince asked. I hesitated.

"Kivan and Ranger have already left" I told them. "Benny and I are leaving tonight and Billee and Legolas have to go tomorrow morning. Take your pick."

"Ria will be bored here by herself, dad" Kane sounded upset. "She has to stay in bed."

"I cannot leave you here." I said firmly. "I know that Boromir was here earlier and I can't take the risk of him being around you. In Silverwood, we can protect you from anyone who might wish to do you harm. You know that."

"Just a few days?" They begged. And as always, I gave in.

"Only if Jaime promises to keep Boromir far away from you" I told them. Jaime nodded.

"I promise" she said. "I give you my word. And don't worry about space, they can sleep in the spare room next to Ria. They'll be all right."

"I hope so" I said with a nod. "I'll come and pick them up in a few days. Now, if it's all right with you, I'll just go up and see Ria before I go. I can't be much longer, Benny will be waiting for me."

Jaime nodded again. Kane and Vince scrambled off the sofa and ran upstairs ahead of me. From the laughter ahead of me I knew that Ria was awake. I paused in the doorway, Vincent was bouncing up and down on her bed and Kane was sitting next to her holding her hand. He saw me looking at him and blushed, but he didn't let go of her hand. Ria saw me and smiled, she had such an adorable smile that I could not help but smile back at her.

"Hello Ria" I said. "I see you're looking better."