(PART 8: TIES)
Van woke up with a scream. "Ah!" *starts to breathe heavily* "Wa. was that just a dream?" Van looks around the room, and looks at the clock; "2 AM, June 8th. okay, it was just a dream." Van is still too shaken to go back to sleep, so he stays propped up in his bed, contemplating the events of his dream. "So, then what was my dream? Did Fiona really get shot? . This is bad, I can't remember what was my dream, and what actually happened."
Van is just about ready to lie back down when he hears the door shut. "What the.?" Van jumps up out of bead and runs silently and stealthily to the door. He opens it and runs out into the cool, clear, starry night. He looks around, half embarrassed that he is in his boxers and a t-shirt, and half concerned for who went out the door. Van runs around to the other side of the house, and there he finally catches a glimpse of whom he is pursuing.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Van calls after the figure. The figure collapses on the ground, not 10 meters from Van. Van runs over to the person; "Hey, are you.. Oh, no!" Van's jaw dropped as soon as he saw whom it was that he was kneeling over. "Fiona, can you hear me?"
"Van." Fiona reaches out her arm in a weak manner.
"Hang on Fiona, I'll get you back to the house." Van gently picks Fiona up, cradling her in his arms, and walks back to the house. He looks down at Fiona, who is staring up at him with watery eyes.
"Oh, Van!" Fiona sobs; putting her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.
"You are lucky Van. You nearly lost your girlfriend; and if I am not mistaken, your wife to be. I could still take her to Prozen, but out of the little goodness in my heart, I will give you two more time together." Hiltz ducks out from behind a tree and runs towards the death stinger, which is hidden just out of view.
"Hmm. so, does that mean that that was more than a dream?" Van looks down at Fiona, who is now in tears, and squeezing him so tightly that he didn't know whether it was Fiona, or a bear that was hugging him. "Hey, it is okay Fiona, you don't need to cry." Van struggles to open the door, and almost drops Fiona in doing so.
Van collapses with Fiona on her bed. "Van, I am so glad you came. I realize that what I did was incredibly stupid, and I could have gotten all of us killed. What almost happened was way too close to the dream that I had; and in that dream you.."
"Hey, it is okay. It is okay, you don't have to worry about that; although the only thing I am concerned about is the fact that we both seem to have had the same dream."
"You had the same dream? Where I got hit by that CPC, and you brought me back?"
"Yes, it seems that way. But in that dream I was so scared when I lost you; I was so scared that I'd never be able to talk to you again. I thought that I had lost the one person that I love so much. I thought that I had lost you." Van cries as he buries his face into her shoulder. "I love you Fiona!" Van then hugs Fiona and holds her around the middle; pulling her close to him.
"Van." Fiona sighs, mimicking Van's hug. "Wait, something is different. I don't feel any pain! I don't feel any pain where I was shot!" Fiona says with a little concern and a bit of joy.
"Hmm. I wonder . . .." Van pulls up Fiona's shirt just enough so he can reach the wrappings, and then begins to unwrap Fiona's wound.
"Van! What the heck are you doing?!"
"Just a minute, I want to see if I am right about something."
"What? That if you unwrap me I will bleed to death?!"
"I want to see if my dream was more than just a dream."
"Well before you start ripping the bandages of people off, you should ask if they WANT them off!"
Van gets done unwrapping the flustered Fiona. "AHA! I knew that it was more than a dream. Look."
Fiona looks down at her stomach, which looks as if she had never had any trauma in her lifetime. Fiona sits up in a sort of daze. "Wh. What is going on?"
"Fiona, how far into that dream did you see? As in what was the last part you remember?" Van shifts his weight to his right arm, sitting right by Fiona.
"Well. the last thing I remember seeing was after I had been hit by the CPC. I was in the air, hovering right above the Liger. I felt as if I was being pulled in two directions, one towards the sky, and one back to you. the pull from the sky started to diminish, and soon it almost became a push back to you as if it understood that I had a role yet to perform. I was hurled through the left side of the liger, and then I almost wrapped around you, and flew into my body. But where did that come from?" Fiona looks over at Van with a very inquisitive expression.
"I have no idea how to explain it to you and not make me look crazy, but I."
Fiona leans over and hugs Van; "Van, you are not crazy." Van lies back on the bed on his back, and puts his arms around Fiona.
"Well, I don't have all of the details, but I think that I created your body using my energy because I could feel the energy leaving my body, and I could just feel. just. everything. I can't really explain it, it was something that was instinct, it was love. My love for you is what did it." Van hugs Fiona tightly.
"Van.." Fiona cuddles up with Van, so close to him that you couldn't tell the two apart. Fiona buries her face in Van's shoulder, closing her eyes and releasing a sigh. "I have wanted to do this for years; just to be with you."
"Well, you aren't alone in that. I love you Fiona; even that first day I knew that there was something special about you, something that would save me, and you from many dangers. I always had the suspicion that we would become more than just friends, or a traveling duo. I can't count the number of times I just wanted to hold you after one of our battles, or just when we were alone together." Van feels his heart melting, and seeming to pour into Fiona.
Meanwhile in another room; "Oh! That is so sweet! I knew that they liked each other long before they let onto it!"
"They certainly have come a long way in such a short time. I was begenin' to wonder if it'd be when they are 90 years old when they finally tell each other how they feel."
Irvine and Moon Bay have their ears against the wall in the other room listening to Van and Fiona's little moment. "It is good that they are finally together though, I was beginning to become frustrated in watching them stare at each other like they do, and not even so much as a hug come from either of them."
"Well, they may not be the only ones that people are frustrated at.." Irvine flashes Moon Bay a smile.
Moon Bay smirks to herself. "Oh Irvine!" She flings herself around him and begins to rub her head on his arm.
Irvine's eyes grow wide with shock. He looks out the corner of his eyes to see her. "Umm. I wasn't quite expecting that reaction out of you."
"Oh get a grip! I was just fooling around. Or are you upset that it was only a joke?" Moon bay gives Irvine a playful shove. "OOF!" Irvine hits the floor with a loud thud.
"What was that!?" Van, who is half asleep, sits up so quickly that he wakes Fiona, who was asleep on his shoulder.
"What is it Van?"
"I thought I heard something fall in the other room. do you think someone was listening to us?"
"I don't know Van, I didn't hear anything."
"Well, it is really late to be up, I think I should get to my room, I think that you will be okay until morning."
Fiona pouts; "Van, do you have to go?"
"I think it'd be better for now. Maybe later."
"Oh, okay. good night Van."
"Good night Fiona."
"Oh, Irvine! I'm sorry!" Moon Bay looks over the side of the bed to see that Irvine is lying between the two beds on the floor, moaning.
"Ow. I think I broke something."
Moon Bay, looking very worried, gets down off of the bed and kneels over Irvine. "I'm so sorry Irvine. I didn't mean to make you fall. Where does it hurt?"
"Right here." Irvine points to the middle of his chest. "I think I fell on it."
"If someone falls on their face they usually know about it."
"Okay, well, I DID fall on my chest, and it is kind of hard to breathe."
Moon Bay leans forward for a closer inspection. "It doesn't look like you're having any.."
As soon as moon bay had come within reach of Irvine he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him in a 'bear hug'. Moon Bay lets out a sharp scream of surprise. "YA!"
"Shh. shh." Irvine tries to soothe Moon Bay. "Didn't expect this did ya'?"
"I didn't expect it now, but I knew that if you were to pull the moves on anyone it would be in this fashion."
"Had me figured out then from day one then I take it. But I am a master of surprise seeing as you didn't expect it now."
"Oh Irvine." Moon Bay puts her arms around Irvine and hugging him. "Wait. What was that?" Moon bay looks up quickly and puts her ear up to the wall. "I don't hear anything. and I thought I heard the door shut."
"Maybe he left, or heard us and then decided it was time to break it up."
Meanwhile Fiona looks around at the 'Vanless' room, and her gaze comes upon the letter that she had written to Van not 30 minutes ago. She reaches over and opens up the piece of paper, letting the ring fall onto the bed. She sets the piece of paper down, and picks up the ring. Fiona sits, rotating the ring in her fingers, then, she slips it back onto her right hand. She picks up the piece of paper on the bed, gets up, and throws it in the fireplace, which is now only a bed of hot coals, but the paper bursts into flames as soon as it hits the coals. Fiona then smiles, and looks down at the ring on her finger. "Fiona Flyheit. it has a nice ring to it!"
Fiona walks back over and slides under the covers. She lies wide- awake on her back for what seemed like an eternity, unable to sleep. She rolls over with a sigh, and looks at the empty space next to her. "Van."
Van, who is also having trouble sleeping, is brought back to reality by his door opening. "Fiona? What are you doing?"
"I can't sleep Van. I don't know why, but I just can't." Fiona says as she shuts the door behind her.
"You aren't alone. I can't sleep either."
"Can I sleep with you Van?"
Van, a little startled by the question and how 'blunt' it was. "Uh, well, I don't see why not." But in his mind Van was coming up with a million ideas of 'why not', and felt a little stupid for saying that, and thought: *what do I mean "I don't see why not"!? There are a million things that could happen, and not need to happen. but yet, we nearly spent the night in her room together.*
Fiona walks over and slides under the covers next to Van. They each roll over on their sides so that they are looking at each other. "Van, you're blushing. Your face looks like a beet."
"Your one to talk. Your cheeks look like you have been standing way too close to a fire for way too long." Van reaches out and pulls Fiona close to him. "Why do we seem so afraid, or ashamed, we are 20 years old; we can make decisions for ourselves. I love you, and that is all that I care about right now, what others think is their thoughts, nothing more. except for your thoughts. So I have a good reason to be blushing. I am sitting next to the most beautiful woman in the world, and she likes me.. Is that not a substantial reason for blushing?"
"Oh Van!" Fiona puts her arms around Van, embracing him in her arms. Van does the same to Fiona, leaning forward so that their lips are touching, Van passionately kisses Fiona. Van, once again can feel his heart melting, only this time it feels more like his heart was a water balloon than just melting. Fiona puts her head on Van's shoulder and closes her eyes.
Van's eyes slam open. Van quickly notices that Fiona is no longer right beside him. "Fio-.." Van leans over quickly to see that Fiona is laying to his right, without any cover, and is shivering. "Oh, Fiona." Van feels guilty for his habit of tossing and turning at night, and begins to try to untangle himself from the mess of sheets and blankets. Realizing that it would take more time than he could stand for; Van pulls Fiona over to him, and wraps what cover he can around her. "God you are cold! I am so sorry."
Fiona snuggles up next to him under the wad of covers. She breathes a heavy sigh as she nuzzles Van's shoulder with the side of her head. "Fiona.. Are you awake?" Van doesn't get any response from Fiona except for her relaxing. Holding Fiona close to him; Van falls asleep.
A cry full of despair echoes through the house. "FIONA!!!!!!"
Van and Fiona both quickly sit up in bed. "Poor Thomas." Fiona says with a little snicker.
"Poor us when he comes in here.. I don't know if my ears can take it."
"Fiona! Fiona! Where is Fiona!?" Thomas is running through the house opening doors and slamming them shut again after he has thoroughly checked them for Fiona. "Fiona!? 'You in here!? Oh, 'morning Moon Bay! 'Morning Irvine! Since when did you two sleep together?"
"Thomas. What the hell.. Jesus I haven't had my coffee yet! Don't do that to me!" Irvine quickly sits up to cover Moon Bay while grumbling at Thomas. Moon Bay looks up at Irvine.
"Pass the ear plugs. When he gets to Van's room he is going to have one heck of a fit."
"Wish we had some.. Well, at least we get a good show."
Thomas comes bursting into Van's room; "Van! Have you seen Fi.o.n.a." Thomas elongates his last word out of shock. "Well.. This is quite a shock to the system. Since it is morning, and Monday; I am going to walk back out that door, and try this again.." Thomas walks goofily out of the room.
"This should be good." Doctor D. has just woken up.
Van and Fiona both cock an eyebrow at Thomas as he walks out the door and into the living room. "I think he took that kinda' well."
"Shh.. Don't jinx it! He still has to walk back into the room... maybe we should cuddle up really close for him, and see how he handles that."
"I have no objection to that Fiona."
Thomas turns back around to go back into the room just in time to see Van and Fiona kiss. He slumps over, inhales deeply, and lets out a loud scream. "AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
An agitated Irvine yells out of his room; "THOMAS YOU BIG BABY!!! IF YOU DON'T STOP THAT I AM GOING TO COME OUT THERE AND MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!!!!"
At once every one in the house, who if weren't awake, are now, exclaim; "Amen!!!"
Doctor D. steps out into the living room; "Alright, that is enough, it will be time for breakfast soon."
Later, everyone is gathered around the breakfast table outside. (It is a nice day; why not?) From left to right, the seating of everyone follows, 'Top' (far side): Rudolph, Maria, Doctor D., and Thomas. 'Bottom' (near side): Moon Bay, Irvine, Van, and Fiona. Rosso and Viola are at the ends of the table.
Irvine nudges Van with his elbow. "So, what really went on last night?" Irvine says, being as suggestive as possible.
"Irvine, stop being such a perv. I can easily turn this around; What were you and Moon Bay doing last night besides eavesdropping on Fiona and I in her room?"
"The same thing you were doing."
"Which was..."
"Well, by the way you look, I'd say that we don't have to worry about any mini-vans for a while."
"Gee; how long did it take you to think that one up?"
"What do you mean by 'mini-vans' Irvine?" Fiona asks inquisitively.
"Well, now look who is eavesdropping. Ask Van. I am sure he'd be overjoyed to explain it to you."
"I am overwhelmed with your generosity Irvine." Van says sarcastically before turning to his right.
"What did he mean by 'mini-vans' Van?"
"Irvine was making a comment on us having kids."
"He thinks we did that last night?"
"Umm. I am not sure. He did think that we did. but I am not so sure now."
Fiona laughs. "That 'mini-van' comment was pretty good though!" Fiona forgot where she was, and says this a little louder than necessary. Everyone looks up from eating their food and stares at the two of them.
"What was that Fiona? Did I hear 'mini-van' come out. there is another coming!? May God have mercy on us all!" Moon Bay exclaims.
"WHAT!!?? NO!! It was a comment that good old Irvine here came up with trying to figure out exactly what Fiona and I were up to last night."
"And what would that be Van?" Rudolph glares at Van.
Van and Fiona are both starting to sweat. "Nothing that would directly result in the addition of a new member to the family. Hope that answers your question."
"Your use in the word directly has us interested Van." Irvine presses.
"As in we didn't have intercourse you moron!" At this everything goes silent, and everyone has their gaze fixed on Van and Fiona. Van's face is comparable to that of an apple in its redness. Van sits back down after standing up to yell at Irvine. "This might make it hard to be together without being teased." Van whispers to Fiona, who is also staring at Van.
"Are you guys going to eat, or waste your time on bitter arguments?" A familiar voice comes from a nearby hill.
"Long time no see Raven. What hole have you been hiding in? Did you come back to try and finish Fiona off?"
"Are you indicating that you want me to Van?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I needed to get out for a while, and I was hungry. I figured that you guys would have something I could much on. But right now I am more intrigued as to how Fiona's wound healed so fast. And as to if it has anything to do with the dream that I had."
"I don't know if we'd give you anything to eat. But I am curious as well as to why you had the same dream that me and Fiona did."
"Wait, if you guys are all talking about the dream of Van getting the new liger. then I had that too." Irvine says in wonder.
"Me too." Moon Bay says.
"So did I." Rudolph says as he glances around the table.
"I think we all did." Doctor D. stands up. "I think it has something to do with telepathy, and that we are all emotionally bonded to each other. So much so that we have some of the same dreams."
"Go check out the liger Van. I think it will arouse your curiosity."
Van hurriedly stands up and runs off towards the liger, with Fiona and Zeke following in close pursuit. "Van, wait up!" Fiona calls as she runs after him.
"Strange.. Just strange. Everything is strange right now. I am not sure what to make of it all." Moon Bay says in a daze.
"Well, those two sure make a good couple. an awkward, but good couple." Irvine, also in a daze is looking out to where Van and Fiona are running off.
".. So, am I allowed to eat or what?"
"I never thought I'd say this. but I guess pull up a chair Raven."
"What? You are going to let a criminal like Raven go without punishment. much less eat BREAKFAST with him!?" The hotheaded Thomas yells over the table.
"Would you just sit down and shut up! He came here without threatening to blow us up first! That is saying that something, somewhere has changed a little." Moon Bay stands up leaning over the table with her fist held in a 'pre-punch' position, huffing.
"I am not interested in blowing anyone to pieces right now; only interested in what is going on here."
"Van. Wait up. Van." Fiona gasps.
"Woa." Van is standing in front of the Zoid from his dream; bewildered by the new event, Van stands staring up at the Liger. Fiona comes up beside him and leans her head on his shoulder and wraps her right arm around him.
(End Part 8)
Van woke up with a scream. "Ah!" *starts to breathe heavily* "Wa. was that just a dream?" Van looks around the room, and looks at the clock; "2 AM, June 8th. okay, it was just a dream." Van is still too shaken to go back to sleep, so he stays propped up in his bed, contemplating the events of his dream. "So, then what was my dream? Did Fiona really get shot? . This is bad, I can't remember what was my dream, and what actually happened."
Van is just about ready to lie back down when he hears the door shut. "What the.?" Van jumps up out of bead and runs silently and stealthily to the door. He opens it and runs out into the cool, clear, starry night. He looks around, half embarrassed that he is in his boxers and a t-shirt, and half concerned for who went out the door. Van runs around to the other side of the house, and there he finally catches a glimpse of whom he is pursuing.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Van calls after the figure. The figure collapses on the ground, not 10 meters from Van. Van runs over to the person; "Hey, are you.. Oh, no!" Van's jaw dropped as soon as he saw whom it was that he was kneeling over. "Fiona, can you hear me?"
"Van." Fiona reaches out her arm in a weak manner.
"Hang on Fiona, I'll get you back to the house." Van gently picks Fiona up, cradling her in his arms, and walks back to the house. He looks down at Fiona, who is staring up at him with watery eyes.
"Oh, Van!" Fiona sobs; putting her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.
"You are lucky Van. You nearly lost your girlfriend; and if I am not mistaken, your wife to be. I could still take her to Prozen, but out of the little goodness in my heart, I will give you two more time together." Hiltz ducks out from behind a tree and runs towards the death stinger, which is hidden just out of view.
"Hmm. so, does that mean that that was more than a dream?" Van looks down at Fiona, who is now in tears, and squeezing him so tightly that he didn't know whether it was Fiona, or a bear that was hugging him. "Hey, it is okay Fiona, you don't need to cry." Van struggles to open the door, and almost drops Fiona in doing so.
Van collapses with Fiona on her bed. "Van, I am so glad you came. I realize that what I did was incredibly stupid, and I could have gotten all of us killed. What almost happened was way too close to the dream that I had; and in that dream you.."
"Hey, it is okay. It is okay, you don't have to worry about that; although the only thing I am concerned about is the fact that we both seem to have had the same dream."
"You had the same dream? Where I got hit by that CPC, and you brought me back?"
"Yes, it seems that way. But in that dream I was so scared when I lost you; I was so scared that I'd never be able to talk to you again. I thought that I had lost the one person that I love so much. I thought that I had lost you." Van cries as he buries his face into her shoulder. "I love you Fiona!" Van then hugs Fiona and holds her around the middle; pulling her close to him.
"Van." Fiona sighs, mimicking Van's hug. "Wait, something is different. I don't feel any pain! I don't feel any pain where I was shot!" Fiona says with a little concern and a bit of joy.
"Hmm. I wonder . . .." Van pulls up Fiona's shirt just enough so he can reach the wrappings, and then begins to unwrap Fiona's wound.
"Van! What the heck are you doing?!"
"Just a minute, I want to see if I am right about something."
"What? That if you unwrap me I will bleed to death?!"
"I want to see if my dream was more than just a dream."
"Well before you start ripping the bandages of people off, you should ask if they WANT them off!"
Van gets done unwrapping the flustered Fiona. "AHA! I knew that it was more than a dream. Look."
Fiona looks down at her stomach, which looks as if she had never had any trauma in her lifetime. Fiona sits up in a sort of daze. "Wh. What is going on?"
"Fiona, how far into that dream did you see? As in what was the last part you remember?" Van shifts his weight to his right arm, sitting right by Fiona.
"Well. the last thing I remember seeing was after I had been hit by the CPC. I was in the air, hovering right above the Liger. I felt as if I was being pulled in two directions, one towards the sky, and one back to you. the pull from the sky started to diminish, and soon it almost became a push back to you as if it understood that I had a role yet to perform. I was hurled through the left side of the liger, and then I almost wrapped around you, and flew into my body. But where did that come from?" Fiona looks over at Van with a very inquisitive expression.
"I have no idea how to explain it to you and not make me look crazy, but I."
Fiona leans over and hugs Van; "Van, you are not crazy." Van lies back on the bed on his back, and puts his arms around Fiona.
"Well, I don't have all of the details, but I think that I created your body using my energy because I could feel the energy leaving my body, and I could just feel. just. everything. I can't really explain it, it was something that was instinct, it was love. My love for you is what did it." Van hugs Fiona tightly.
"Van.." Fiona cuddles up with Van, so close to him that you couldn't tell the two apart. Fiona buries her face in Van's shoulder, closing her eyes and releasing a sigh. "I have wanted to do this for years; just to be with you."
"Well, you aren't alone in that. I love you Fiona; even that first day I knew that there was something special about you, something that would save me, and you from many dangers. I always had the suspicion that we would become more than just friends, or a traveling duo. I can't count the number of times I just wanted to hold you after one of our battles, or just when we were alone together." Van feels his heart melting, and seeming to pour into Fiona.
Meanwhile in another room; "Oh! That is so sweet! I knew that they liked each other long before they let onto it!"
"They certainly have come a long way in such a short time. I was begenin' to wonder if it'd be when they are 90 years old when they finally tell each other how they feel."
Irvine and Moon Bay have their ears against the wall in the other room listening to Van and Fiona's little moment. "It is good that they are finally together though, I was beginning to become frustrated in watching them stare at each other like they do, and not even so much as a hug come from either of them."
"Well, they may not be the only ones that people are frustrated at.." Irvine flashes Moon Bay a smile.
Moon Bay smirks to herself. "Oh Irvine!" She flings herself around him and begins to rub her head on his arm.
Irvine's eyes grow wide with shock. He looks out the corner of his eyes to see her. "Umm. I wasn't quite expecting that reaction out of you."
"Oh get a grip! I was just fooling around. Or are you upset that it was only a joke?" Moon bay gives Irvine a playful shove. "OOF!" Irvine hits the floor with a loud thud.
"What was that!?" Van, who is half asleep, sits up so quickly that he wakes Fiona, who was asleep on his shoulder.
"What is it Van?"
"I thought I heard something fall in the other room. do you think someone was listening to us?"
"I don't know Van, I didn't hear anything."
"Well, it is really late to be up, I think I should get to my room, I think that you will be okay until morning."
Fiona pouts; "Van, do you have to go?"
"I think it'd be better for now. Maybe later."
"Oh, okay. good night Van."
"Good night Fiona."
"Oh, Irvine! I'm sorry!" Moon Bay looks over the side of the bed to see that Irvine is lying between the two beds on the floor, moaning.
"Ow. I think I broke something."
Moon Bay, looking very worried, gets down off of the bed and kneels over Irvine. "I'm so sorry Irvine. I didn't mean to make you fall. Where does it hurt?"
"Right here." Irvine points to the middle of his chest. "I think I fell on it."
"If someone falls on their face they usually know about it."
"Okay, well, I DID fall on my chest, and it is kind of hard to breathe."
Moon Bay leans forward for a closer inspection. "It doesn't look like you're having any.."
As soon as moon bay had come within reach of Irvine he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him in a 'bear hug'. Moon Bay lets out a sharp scream of surprise. "YA!"
"Shh. shh." Irvine tries to soothe Moon Bay. "Didn't expect this did ya'?"
"I didn't expect it now, but I knew that if you were to pull the moves on anyone it would be in this fashion."
"Had me figured out then from day one then I take it. But I am a master of surprise seeing as you didn't expect it now."
"Oh Irvine." Moon Bay puts her arms around Irvine and hugging him. "Wait. What was that?" Moon bay looks up quickly and puts her ear up to the wall. "I don't hear anything. and I thought I heard the door shut."
"Maybe he left, or heard us and then decided it was time to break it up."
Meanwhile Fiona looks around at the 'Vanless' room, and her gaze comes upon the letter that she had written to Van not 30 minutes ago. She reaches over and opens up the piece of paper, letting the ring fall onto the bed. She sets the piece of paper down, and picks up the ring. Fiona sits, rotating the ring in her fingers, then, she slips it back onto her right hand. She picks up the piece of paper on the bed, gets up, and throws it in the fireplace, which is now only a bed of hot coals, but the paper bursts into flames as soon as it hits the coals. Fiona then smiles, and looks down at the ring on her finger. "Fiona Flyheit. it has a nice ring to it!"
Fiona walks back over and slides under the covers. She lies wide- awake on her back for what seemed like an eternity, unable to sleep. She rolls over with a sigh, and looks at the empty space next to her. "Van."
Van, who is also having trouble sleeping, is brought back to reality by his door opening. "Fiona? What are you doing?"
"I can't sleep Van. I don't know why, but I just can't." Fiona says as she shuts the door behind her.
"You aren't alone. I can't sleep either."
"Can I sleep with you Van?"
Van, a little startled by the question and how 'blunt' it was. "Uh, well, I don't see why not." But in his mind Van was coming up with a million ideas of 'why not', and felt a little stupid for saying that, and thought: *what do I mean "I don't see why not"!? There are a million things that could happen, and not need to happen. but yet, we nearly spent the night in her room together.*
Fiona walks over and slides under the covers next to Van. They each roll over on their sides so that they are looking at each other. "Van, you're blushing. Your face looks like a beet."
"Your one to talk. Your cheeks look like you have been standing way too close to a fire for way too long." Van reaches out and pulls Fiona close to him. "Why do we seem so afraid, or ashamed, we are 20 years old; we can make decisions for ourselves. I love you, and that is all that I care about right now, what others think is their thoughts, nothing more. except for your thoughts. So I have a good reason to be blushing. I am sitting next to the most beautiful woman in the world, and she likes me.. Is that not a substantial reason for blushing?"
"Oh Van!" Fiona puts her arms around Van, embracing him in her arms. Van does the same to Fiona, leaning forward so that their lips are touching, Van passionately kisses Fiona. Van, once again can feel his heart melting, only this time it feels more like his heart was a water balloon than just melting. Fiona puts her head on Van's shoulder and closes her eyes.
Van's eyes slam open. Van quickly notices that Fiona is no longer right beside him. "Fio-.." Van leans over quickly to see that Fiona is laying to his right, without any cover, and is shivering. "Oh, Fiona." Van feels guilty for his habit of tossing and turning at night, and begins to try to untangle himself from the mess of sheets and blankets. Realizing that it would take more time than he could stand for; Van pulls Fiona over to him, and wraps what cover he can around her. "God you are cold! I am so sorry."
Fiona snuggles up next to him under the wad of covers. She breathes a heavy sigh as she nuzzles Van's shoulder with the side of her head. "Fiona.. Are you awake?" Van doesn't get any response from Fiona except for her relaxing. Holding Fiona close to him; Van falls asleep.
A cry full of despair echoes through the house. "FIONA!!!!!!"
Van and Fiona both quickly sit up in bed. "Poor Thomas." Fiona says with a little snicker.
"Poor us when he comes in here.. I don't know if my ears can take it."
"Fiona! Fiona! Where is Fiona!?" Thomas is running through the house opening doors and slamming them shut again after he has thoroughly checked them for Fiona. "Fiona!? 'You in here!? Oh, 'morning Moon Bay! 'Morning Irvine! Since when did you two sleep together?"
"Thomas. What the hell.. Jesus I haven't had my coffee yet! Don't do that to me!" Irvine quickly sits up to cover Moon Bay while grumbling at Thomas. Moon Bay looks up at Irvine.
"Pass the ear plugs. When he gets to Van's room he is going to have one heck of a fit."
"Wish we had some.. Well, at least we get a good show."
Thomas comes bursting into Van's room; "Van! Have you seen Fi.o.n.a." Thomas elongates his last word out of shock. "Well.. This is quite a shock to the system. Since it is morning, and Monday; I am going to walk back out that door, and try this again.." Thomas walks goofily out of the room.
"This should be good." Doctor D. has just woken up.
Van and Fiona both cock an eyebrow at Thomas as he walks out the door and into the living room. "I think he took that kinda' well."
"Shh.. Don't jinx it! He still has to walk back into the room... maybe we should cuddle up really close for him, and see how he handles that."
"I have no objection to that Fiona."
Thomas turns back around to go back into the room just in time to see Van and Fiona kiss. He slumps over, inhales deeply, and lets out a loud scream. "AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!"
An agitated Irvine yells out of his room; "THOMAS YOU BIG BABY!!! IF YOU DON'T STOP THAT I AM GOING TO COME OUT THERE AND MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!!!!"
At once every one in the house, who if weren't awake, are now, exclaim; "Amen!!!"
Doctor D. steps out into the living room; "Alright, that is enough, it will be time for breakfast soon."
Later, everyone is gathered around the breakfast table outside. (It is a nice day; why not?) From left to right, the seating of everyone follows, 'Top' (far side): Rudolph, Maria, Doctor D., and Thomas. 'Bottom' (near side): Moon Bay, Irvine, Van, and Fiona. Rosso and Viola are at the ends of the table.
Irvine nudges Van with his elbow. "So, what really went on last night?" Irvine says, being as suggestive as possible.
"Irvine, stop being such a perv. I can easily turn this around; What were you and Moon Bay doing last night besides eavesdropping on Fiona and I in her room?"
"The same thing you were doing."
"Which was..."
"Well, by the way you look, I'd say that we don't have to worry about any mini-vans for a while."
"Gee; how long did it take you to think that one up?"
"What do you mean by 'mini-vans' Irvine?" Fiona asks inquisitively.
"Well, now look who is eavesdropping. Ask Van. I am sure he'd be overjoyed to explain it to you."
"I am overwhelmed with your generosity Irvine." Van says sarcastically before turning to his right.
"What did he mean by 'mini-vans' Van?"
"Irvine was making a comment on us having kids."
"He thinks we did that last night?"
"Umm. I am not sure. He did think that we did. but I am not so sure now."
Fiona laughs. "That 'mini-van' comment was pretty good though!" Fiona forgot where she was, and says this a little louder than necessary. Everyone looks up from eating their food and stares at the two of them.
"What was that Fiona? Did I hear 'mini-van' come out. there is another coming!? May God have mercy on us all!" Moon Bay exclaims.
"WHAT!!?? NO!! It was a comment that good old Irvine here came up with trying to figure out exactly what Fiona and I were up to last night."
"And what would that be Van?" Rudolph glares at Van.
Van and Fiona are both starting to sweat. "Nothing that would directly result in the addition of a new member to the family. Hope that answers your question."
"Your use in the word directly has us interested Van." Irvine presses.
"As in we didn't have intercourse you moron!" At this everything goes silent, and everyone has their gaze fixed on Van and Fiona. Van's face is comparable to that of an apple in its redness. Van sits back down after standing up to yell at Irvine. "This might make it hard to be together without being teased." Van whispers to Fiona, who is also staring at Van.
"Are you guys going to eat, or waste your time on bitter arguments?" A familiar voice comes from a nearby hill.
"Long time no see Raven. What hole have you been hiding in? Did you come back to try and finish Fiona off?"
"Are you indicating that you want me to Van?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, I needed to get out for a while, and I was hungry. I figured that you guys would have something I could much on. But right now I am more intrigued as to how Fiona's wound healed so fast. And as to if it has anything to do with the dream that I had."
"I don't know if we'd give you anything to eat. But I am curious as well as to why you had the same dream that me and Fiona did."
"Wait, if you guys are all talking about the dream of Van getting the new liger. then I had that too." Irvine says in wonder.
"Me too." Moon Bay says.
"So did I." Rudolph says as he glances around the table.
"I think we all did." Doctor D. stands up. "I think it has something to do with telepathy, and that we are all emotionally bonded to each other. So much so that we have some of the same dreams."
"Go check out the liger Van. I think it will arouse your curiosity."
Van hurriedly stands up and runs off towards the liger, with Fiona and Zeke following in close pursuit. "Van, wait up!" Fiona calls as she runs after him.
"Strange.. Just strange. Everything is strange right now. I am not sure what to make of it all." Moon Bay says in a daze.
"Well, those two sure make a good couple. an awkward, but good couple." Irvine, also in a daze is looking out to where Van and Fiona are running off.
".. So, am I allowed to eat or what?"
"I never thought I'd say this. but I guess pull up a chair Raven."
"What? You are going to let a criminal like Raven go without punishment. much less eat BREAKFAST with him!?" The hotheaded Thomas yells over the table.
"Would you just sit down and shut up! He came here without threatening to blow us up first! That is saying that something, somewhere has changed a little." Moon Bay stands up leaning over the table with her fist held in a 'pre-punch' position, huffing.
"I am not interested in blowing anyone to pieces right now; only interested in what is going on here."
"Van. Wait up. Van." Fiona gasps.
"Woa." Van is standing in front of the Zoid from his dream; bewildered by the new event, Van stands staring up at the Liger. Fiona comes up beside him and leans her head on his shoulder and wraps her right arm around him.
(End Part 8)