Life After High School - Ten Years Later

By Risty and Silver

Disclaimer: Uh...err...heh...Oh damn, we don't own them.

Summary: ::yawn:: read and find out.

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(Benny's POV)

The days following the fire were difficult for all of us. We had lost our home, most of our possessions and our sources of income. Elrond offered all of us, Randy and Gimli included, rooms in Rivendell for as long as we needed them, but it wasn't the same. Kane was very quiet and very subdued when he came home from the hospital, and he would not talk about what had happened. Although he viewed Damon as his real father, I knew that the death of Boromir had hit him hard, and I completely understood that. Damon was also badly affected; he blamed himself for not doing more to help him get out.

"He wasn't evil, Benny," he explained when we were talking about it one evening. "He was just ill. Like Jonnie and my mother. He didn't deserve to die and I can't hate him, not after everything he's done. I just feel so guilty that I didn't do more to get him out."

I tried to reassure him that it wasn't his fault, but I have no idea whether I got through to him or not. He was back to his state of depression and I just prayed that he wouldn't do anything stupid. Surprisingly, Emma was also taking it hard, although she wouldn't show it. One day, when I was visiting alone, I caught her crying. She looked embarrassed, but I quickly reassured her that it wasn't a crime to be sad.

"He hurt me so much" she told me. "And I know that I should hate him, but…but he wasn't always like that. I loved him once and we had so many good times together. It was my fault that he turned out like this, mine and Damon's."

"That's not true," I said at once, taking her hand. "Sure, he was upset. But after all these years, you would think that he would have at least tried to get over it. It wasn't anyone's fault, Em, it was just one of those things. So" I went on. "I see that you and Jaime are getting on better."

"A little" she agreed. "I'll never completely forgive her, but the recent events have shown that life is too short to hate people forever. I know that you and Damon are making an effort too and I really appreciate that."

"Well our friendship is in the past," I said honestly. "And Damon will never like her, any of them. But we try for your sake. You know that the others will never accept Damon though, Jake, Baz, Julie and the rest." I spoke the truth; I knew that they blamed her and Damon for Boromir's drinking and his depression. Still, who cared what they thought? I didn't, that was for sure.

(Damon's POV)

Three days after Emma and I were released from hospital, Emma called a family meeting. The children were all there, including Galia who had come as soon as she had heard about the fire, myself, Benny, Lucas, Blaze, Forrest and Randy and Gimli. Quite a crowd of us. Emma sat in silence for a moment and then took out a letter.

"I think that you will agree," she said quietly. "That none of us have much to stay here for any more. And I don't want to stay around, Silverwood, Rivendell, Hobbiton; they all hold too many memories for me. I received a letter from my mother this morning, she wants us to go over the sea and visit her. The houses are not expensive over there; there are plenty of jobs and a good school for the children. It's a long way away, but I want to go. I want us all to go over there and build a new life for ourselves, away from all the stuff that has happened. Galia will have to leave school and I'll have a few friends who I will be sad to leave, but it is a small price to pay for a new beginning."

"If it is what you want" I agreed. "You're right, there is little to keep us here now."

"Sounds good to me" Benny nodded. "You know that I'll follow you anywhere."

"We're moving?" Vince smiled. "That's cool." Galia smiled too, but Kane said nothing. I ruffled his hair and he managed a shaky smile, but that was all.

"What the hell," Lucas looked at Blaze and Forrest and all three of them nodded. "Count us in. If you'll have us of course."

"Of course we will" Damon said at once. "Randy, Gimli?"

"Even us?" Randy sounded surprised and Benny laughed.

"Of course, you idiots" he told them. "You've proven yourself to be on our side recently and we aren't leaving you here to get into even more trouble."

"So, it looks like we are all going then" I said, reaching down to pet Sol-leks. He, Laddie and Prince had survived, although barely, but Jack had died in the fire, a fact that saddened us all a great deal. "I'll have to book tickets and we'll see what belongings we can find from the house, although don't expect much because a large part of the upstairs was destroyed in the fire. So, when do you want to go?"

Emma paused and looked thoughtful. It was just three weeks until Christmas, when we were supposed to renew our wedding vows and Billee and Legolas were due to get 'married'. However, ours wouldn't happen just yet since none of us had the money and we certainly weren't going to borrow or accept offers of cash from friends. It just wasn't us.

"If we go soon" she said finally. "Then we can get settled and maybe me, you and Benny could come back for a few days just after Christmas to come to the wedding. I want to say goodbye to my brothers before we go, and it might take them a couple of days to get down, but…as soon as possible, I want to go as soon as possible."

We all agreed with that and the meeting broke up, with Emma going off to tell Billee and Legolas what we had decided. I knew that they would be sad, but I was sure that they would realise it was for the best. Meanwhile, I immediately called Gondor and was informed that there was a boat leaving in four days time. I booked us all tickets and went off to tell the others that we were really going…