May 25, 1949

Graduation day came at last. 'As Molly finally walked across the stage to receive her diploma, Rebecca was in the audience crying. She had dreaded the day when Molly would graduate from high school and become an independent individual, but now she was overjoyed to see her daughter on that stage. Not all of her family was there though. Guinna had stayed home with the twins. They'd just left the hospital a few days before, and they needed her full time. Kit, Baloo, and Wildcat each volunteered to stay home with her but she insisted they go.

After the ceremony and a short dinner with the family, Molly and Shawn went out to celebrate with their friends at the Cape Suzette Ocean Center. They walked alone hand in hand on the narrow, sandy shoreline.

"Wow! I can't believe we're actually high school graduates. We can finally be on our own and do what we want" Shawn said, excitedly.

"Yeah, I'm glad we're both going to U'n'U."

"Me too." Shawn stopped, tugging Molly roughly against him. "How I've waited for this for so long; no more parents to get in the way."

Molly laughed. "It will be a relief without Kit looking over my shoulder constantly." Shawn didn't reply, and silence gathered around them. He gazed down at her with an odd, lustful look in his eye - one Molly had never seen on his face. He advanced, catching her in a deep kiss. It was rougher than it usually was. Molly was enjoying it until a hand started to creep under her shirt and up her back. She pushed away, surprised.

"What are you doing?"

"I've waited to have you for so long. We can celebrate our independence." Shawn advanced again, but Molly stepped away. She stared at him in confusion.

"Shawn, what's gotten into you?"

He caught her shoulders, holding her at arm's length. "I love you, Molly, and I want to be with you."

"I love you too, Shawn, and I want to be with you. But, now isn't the right time. Can't we wait until we're married?"

Shawn stared blankly at her, not moving. Finally, he said with force, "I can't wait! We promised we'd get married after college and that could take three or four years! I want you NOW."

Molly flinched at his sharp tone. She tried tugging away from his grip, but couldn't. "Shawn, you're scaring me. I'm sorry I can't be with you. If you truly loved me, you would wait."

Shawn's expression turned angry, making Molly even more frightened. He stared at her long and hard, rubbing his thumbs agitatedly against her shoulders. Finally, he loosened his grip and turned on his heel not looking back. Molly stood frozen. Her fear had left with Shawn, but her mind exploded in a mixture of confusion and sadness. She had lost the first boy she'd ever loved.

****

Rebecca had caught Molly as she arrived home from the Ocean Center around eleven o'clock. Molly had tried to hide her tears, but her eyes were puffy and red. She zoomed passed her mother, straight to her room and shut the door. Molly ignored the soft knock at her bedroom door half an hour later. She snapped up her head when Rebecca touched her shoulder.

"Molly, honey, are you all right?"

"No." Molly replied, miserably. She wiped her tear-streaked cheeks with her hands.

Rebecca sat next to her on her bed. "What happened?"

"Let's just say I couldn't give Shawn what he wanted and we parted ways…not sweetly either."

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I know he was your first love."

Molly sat up on her elbows. "Mother, you don't have to give me pity."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are. I can tell by your tone. I just feel like being alone, please."

Rebecca stood, ready to leave, but stopped. "I need to tell you. Chief Anderson called tonight while you were gone. He said Don Karnage was killed this morning."

It took several moments for Molly to process this horrible information. Her mouth dropped open and red eyes widened in utter shock. She stood, advancing toward her mother. "No…that can't be. Why would you say something like that?!"

"I don't know details, but the Chief called himself. It has to be true" Rebecca said. She touched Molly's shoulder, but she jerked away.

"Leave me alone, please."

"But, Molly…"

Her eyes blazed. "Please leave!"

With that, Rebecca walked out the room and closed the door.

***

The night was long and the sleep was unpleasant. Molly tossed about, stranded in nightmares of shadowy figures carrying swords aimed ready to stab at her. Her last dream had been of a man standing over her, caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. It had been less frightening and more real than the others. She woke around six that morning. Light was just starting to peek through her curtains. She moved to sit up, as she did, her hand brushed against something crinkled under her pillow. Molly quickly pulled it out and received the shock of her life:

To my dearest Molly,

Yes, it is I, the great and talented Don Karnage. Right now you may think I am dead. But alas, I am not! I faked my death in order to be free. I know I do not deserve freedom, but I go to the Bagos where very many people do not have rights like Uslanders. I want to change my life, a second chance, as you would say. I will no longer be a pirate and steal and plunder and murder, but a working citizen. This will be the last time you hear from me. I cannot keep contact. I shall never forget you.

the One and Only,

Don Karnage

Molly stared at the letter in disbelief. It didn't register until she read the letter over again and finally her disbelief wore off.

"Oh, shoot!"

************

This is the end. LOL! Yeah, right! It's the end of this story, but the drama continues on in the next story. Thank you, Tarra, for being an awesome beta-reader!!! Thank you to everyone else who's been keeping up with this fic since the beginning! The series is no where close to being finished either :D