CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"Why me? Oh, huff-puff! I don't want any of what happened last time I was alone with her!" Wolf complained.

"Honey, nothing will happen. I'm sure." Virginia said. "Even if it did. You can stop her."

"I don't know."

"Wolf, you're the only one who can help here. Just go inside and talk with her AS a wolf." Tom said.

They reached the hospital. Tom parked the car and they all went inside.

"I'm still not sure about this." Wolf said, scratching his temple.

"Wolf, everything will be fine. If you need me, you can call me. And I will enter." Virginia tried to calm him.

"What if I fail?"

"Then, we will have to wait for Dr. Simons's plan. He didn't tell me about it yet." Tom said.

They reached the room. Wolf hesitated before entering. Virginia encouraged him to enter, and he did so.

"Umm, hi Mary." he said.

Mary looked at him, with no expression on her face. "Why are you here? You want to humiliate me?"

"Oh no. I've never thought about that. Umm, can I sit?" Wolf pointed to the chair near the bed.

"Yeah, sure."

"You know, I.. wanted to see you. Me and Virginia were back to Wendie's palace last week, and we came back today. And we thought that we come to visit you."

"Oh. How thoughtful, and where is she?"

"She's with Tom. He's having a little hard time these days."

"Any why is that?"

Like you don't even know. he thought. "Well, his girl hates him. And he's really in love with her, and want to be with her all the time. He doesn't even know the reason that she started to hate him."

Mary lowered her head. Her eyes filled with tears. "She doesn't hate him Wolf. She loves him. She knows that he's her mate for life. But she can't stay with him. She's not the same anymore. He loves someone who doesn't exist anymore. He loves Lola, not Mary."

"Aren't they the same person with only different names? Wasn't Mary the one who used to pretend to be Lola? Tom knew Mary, he loved her, and he still does. He also knows that Mary IS Lola. And Lola is just a character. Not a real person."

"I can't let him see me this way Wolf. I can't." she started to cry. Wolf sat next to her on the bed, and put his arms around her.

"It's OK. Let it out." he rubbed his hand on her back while he tried to calm her. "Everything is going to be OK. I promise. And you know that he will help you to be back as you were."

"I know." she said as she wiped her tears with her hand. "But I feel unsure."

"About what?"

"Everything. What will happen to us?"

"No one knows. Do you really feel that he is the one?"

"Yes. He's my mate."

"You're a wolf. And when it comes to mating, you never go wrong."

"I almost did once."

"But it didn't happen. You felt who is your mate that time didn't you?"

"Yes."

"See? We never go wrong about our instincts. Maybe you're not aware of them, because you didn't live with wolves for long. And didn't have the chance to experience it."

"How can I learn what I need to know?"

"I'll teach you everything."

Mary looked at him in the eyes. She knew he meant every word he said.

"You're being so nice to me. After what I did.."

"Let's just forget about what happened OK?"

"OK." she finally smiled.

"Now, can I go and tell him to come?"

"I feel a little bit ashamed of what I said to him."

"Do you know what he told me?"

"What did he say?"

"He said that he knows that you're not acting like yourself, and he totally understands why. And he loves you. No matter what."

"Tell him to come in please."

Wolf nodded and smiled happily. He went out and closed the door behind him. Tom and Virginia were waiting for him outside.

"So soon?" Virginia asked.

"Yeah."

"What did she say?" Tom asked.

"Well, umm.. she...umm..." Wolf scratched his temple.

"WOLF! GET TO THE POINT! Please."

"She's waiting for you." Wolf winked at him and smiled sheepishly, and Tom quickly ran into the room.

"What did you say to her?" Virginia asked.

"Oh, nothing really. Just the same that Tom told her before."

"Why didn't it work with him?"

"He's not a wolf. No matter what happens, wolves always listen to eachother, and understand."

"Wolf stuff again, huh?"

"Yep."

"Oh Wolf, you're the best. I love you." Virginia gave him a hug.

"I know. I've always been the best." Virginia looked at him sharply. "Only since I met you." he continued. And Virginia smiled.

"Should we go home now?" she asked.

"Which home? Wendie's palace? No. Let's keep Tony suffering a little bit. So he wouldn't seperate us anymore."

"Good idea. Let's go to our apartment then. We will know what happened between them tomorrow. Or this evening maybe."

"Yeah." Wolf said, and they both went home.

*^_^* *^_^* *^_^* *^_^*

Tom opens the door and enters the room. He's unsure about her reaction. But when he saw her, she was smiling. But it was a sad smile.

"Hi." he said.

"Hi."

"May I?" he pointed to the chair. She nodded for -yes-, and Tom sat down.

"How are you today?"

"Better. I guess. I just feel tired. And...ashamed of what I said to...you."

"I know you didn't mean it. I understand."

"Good."

"Mary. I really love you. And I can't imagine my life without you by my side."

"I know. I feel the same."

"You know, Dr. Simons said that I can do the surgery next week. And you'll be the same."

"No Tom. I won't be the same. That Mary is dead. This one here is a new Mary. I think that this was a result of what I was planning to do. I was being selfish. And I was going to destroy a family."

"No matter what kind of a Mary you are. I love you." he got up and kissed her softly.

he sat next to her on the bed, holding her hands. And they talked for hours about different things. They also decided what to buy for Wolf and Virginia as a wedding present.

"What do you think about getting a necklace for Virginia?" Tom asked.

"I say we buy two bracelets, and carve their names on them. One for Wolf, and one for Virginia."

"Good idea. And how about a playpen for the cub?"

"But it has to be pink. I'm sure she'll have a girl."

"Why don't we get a white one. It will suite both, a girl or a boy."

"OK."

"Now, I'll go to see if there are anykinds in shops. And if they have any catalog, I'll bring it here, so you can choose from. And, the same goes for the gold."

"OK. I'll be waiting." Mary replied. Tom gave her a kiss and went out.

He knew that they had so much time untill the wedding. He wasn't in a hurry to buy the bracelets and the playpen. He entered a couple of toy shops and took some playpen catalogs from them. Then, he headed to the jewlery shops. He took a couple of catalogs, but he was still searching. Not for the bracelets. No. He was searching something for Mary. An engagement ring. He entered many shops. But he couldn't find what he wanted. Finally he decided to enter the last jewlery shop for today.

"May I help you sir?" a young woman asked, as he was searching for a ring.

"Yes. I'm searching for an engagement ring. I want something special."

"What kind of special do you mean sir?"

"Well, I want it to remind her of the moon. Something like that."

"A white pearl will do. Follow me please. I think we have what you need."

Tom followed her, and she asked him to sit near a table. She brought a black velvet box. Opened it, and Tom was amazed by the beauty inside. It was a golden ring. It had a white pearl on the middle, and from it's base, tiny golden wire came out, which had little diamonds on the edge.

"Here sir. The pearl is the moon. And the little diamonds are the stars."

Tom was amazed, and out of words. "Wow." was the only word he said about the ring.

"Do you like it sir?" the woman asked.

"Of course I do. And how much does it cost?"

"Three thousand dollars sir."

"I want it. Do you take credits?"

"No sir. Only checks and cash."

"No problem."

Tom went with her to the cashier. He wrote a check, and he bought the ring. He went back to the hospital with a happy smile on his face. She's gonna love it. But when can I propose? Hmm. he thought on his way to the hosptal. "Tomorrow! Yes!" he said happily. He parked the car and went inside. He entered Mary's room, and found her sleeping. He left the catalogs near her bed, and slowly went out. He didn't want to wake her up. He went to Wolf and Virginia's apartment.