Tales of Destiny
This Boy's Life
A/N: This is my first attempt at integrating a song into one of my writings, so it'll be kind of sketchy. Use the following key to make things seem a little less confusing- (Text): Normal in-story dialogue, (Text): Character thought, (Text): Song lyrics.>
The song for this final entry to A Country Boy's Heart is "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed.
2 years have passed since the last chapter.
"Stahn! Wake up!" A voice intruded on Stahn, who was sound asleep in his bed.
"Zzzzzzz...." Was the only reply the person got.
"This is important Stahn! Rutee needs ? Grhahaga! Rutee!" Stahn shouted.
Trying to fling himself out of bed, his legs got tangled in his bedsheets and caused him to fall flat on his face, taking his awakener right along with him.
"Owww..." Stahn mumbled.
"Stahn...why do you have to be so clumsy...?" Ilene grumbled as she got to her feet and straightened out her dress.
"Sorry..." Stahn said as he stood up. "Did you say something about Rutee?"
"Yes!" Ilene shouted. "It's finally happening!"
"Huh?" Stahn replied with a blank stare.
"Stahn! I can't believe you've forgotten! Think for a second!"
Well I just heard the news today...
It seems my life is going to change...
"Ummm...Oh yeah!!!" Stahn said excitedly. "I've got to hurry to Rutee!"
"Don't worry about a thing Stahn, I notified Garr in advance and he talked to the King of Darilshied. The Draconis is right outside town, waiting for you." Ilene reassured.
"Oh wow! Thanks Ilene! You're wonderful!" Stahn said as he hugged Ilene.
"Yes yes, I know." She replied with a playful laugh. "Now hurry! You can't miss this!"
"Right!" Stahn said as he ran as fast he could out of his room. But he was indeed a clumsy ox, he tripped over just about everything he came across, including his sister Lilith's favorite frying pan. It hit the ground with a loud clang. Stahn stopped dead in his tracks, just waiting to be mauled by his furious sibling. But when nothing came, he began to get a little suspicious.
"What the heck? Where is Lilith?"
He looked around his house and saw no sign of her, or his grandfather. However, there were more important matters at hand here.
"Whoops! Rutee!"
Stahn bolted out the front door. He was running so fast he didn't even see his sister, who was having a picnic with the ex-town bully, Rufus.
"Stahn?" Lilith called out.
"I wonder where Airhead....I mean...Stahn, is going?" Rufus questioned.
Quickly exiting Liena village, Stahn saw a crew member of the Draconis right outside the burg.
"You Stahn?" The crewman asked.
"Yeah that's me! Let's go! Hurry!"
"Calm down kid, we'll get you there. Get on board."
Stahn ran up the boarding ramp leading into the mighty dragon airship, and the craft took to the air with a mighty roar of power. The ship's destination was Cresta village.
As they darted through the sky, Stahn was lost in deep thought.
Oh man oh man oh man...to think this is really happening! I really hated to leave Rutee in Cresta, but I have to take care of Grandpa and Lilith. I know Rutee has the same idea with the children at the orphanage. I guess that's why she couldn't come live with me in Liena.
Stahn could see the continent Cresta was located at on the horizon. The Draconis was going at full speed, so the ETA was no more than perhaps 15 minutes.
Hang in there Rutee, I'm almost there...
I close my eyes, begin to pray...
Then tears of joy stream down my face...
The Draconis landed a few hundred meters from Cresta, prompting some residents to come out and see what was going on. They saw a blonde haired young man run right past them.
"What the heck was that?" One citizen questioned.
"A bird?" Another asked.
"A plane?" Said another.
"No, it's Super Bush Baby!" A young child exclaimed. Sweatdrops appeared on the foreheads of the others...
"Rutee!" Stahn yelled as he burst through the Orphanage door.
"Shh." One of the workers hushed him. "Rutee's exhausted, she has just given birth afterall."
"Dang!!!" Stahn shouted, stomping his foot on the ground. "I can't believe I missed it!!!"
"Quiet!" The worker yelled. Stahn blushed a little nervously.
"Oh, um...yeah...sorry. Can I see her?"
"Yes of course, go right ahead Stahn." The worker said with a bright smile. She pointed to the room Rutee was in.
"Thanks." Stahn said gratefully.
He went inside the room quietly, shutting the door behind him without a peep. It was very dim inside the room. Stahn could hear the sound of soft breathing coming from the adjacent corner.
"Rutee, I'm here." Stahn announced.
With arms wide open...
Under the sunlight...
Welcome to this place...
I'll show you everything...
With arms wide open...
"Stahn..." He heard Rutee weakly moan. Stahn hurridly made his way over to where Rutee was and looked down. The young girl's black hair was matted to her forehead with sweat. Her cheeks were still flushed red, and her eyes had small bags under them. Looking down a bit more Stahn noticed a small bundle in Rutee's arms.
"Is that...?"
"Yeah Stahn...it's your son."
Well I don't know if I'm ready...
To be the man, I have to be...
I'll take a breath, take her by my side...
We stand in awe, we've created life...
Stahn quickly wrapped his caring arms around Rutee, being careful as to not disturb their newborn child.
"I love you Stahn." Rutee said as she kissed Stahn's neck.
"I love you too Rutee."
Stahn looked at Rutee and almost had to stop himself from laughing a little.
"Jeez Rutee...you're a mess."
Rutee's face went sour.
"What the heck did you expect?! I just had a kid for crying out loud!!!"
And soon there was crying out loud, from the young babe in Rutee's arms.
"Oh great! Now look what you did!" Rutee said angrily. "Nice going country boy!"
"Me?! What'd I do?!" Stahn objected.
"Here, hold your son, I think he wants to see his father, even if he is a loudmouth jerk."
Stahn said nothing to reply to Rutee's comment, he just grumbled incoherently. Taking the bundle of life in his arms, he opened the flap covering the child's small face. The boy looked up and saw his father for the very first time. His loud sobs soon quieted down as the newborn took in the sight of the man who helped bring him into the world.
"Man...he's got my eyes..." Stahn said in awe.
"He does, doesn't he?" Rutee asked.
Stahn lowered his face to his son.
"Hi there...I'm your dad." He said with a smile. He got a response in the form a small fist to his nose.
"Ow...that kinda hurt..." Stahn said, rubbing his nose with his free hand. "Looks like he got your personality Rutee."
"What was that?!" Rutee screamed.
"Um!! Nothing!! I didn't say anything!" Man! I thought the mood swings were supposed to stop after the pregnancy!
The child cooed softly and before long was asleep once again. Stahn carefully handed the child back to his mother.
"Are you ok Rutee? Do you need anything?" Stahn asked.
"Yeah, I do." Rutee said.
"Okay, what is it? I'll go get it."
"You, dummy." Said Rutee with her trademark mischeivious smile. Stahn laughed and layed his head down on the bed. She ran her fingers through his hair and sighed contently.
"Both of my guys here at last..." Rutee mused dreamily.
With arms wide open...
Under the sunlight...
Welcome to this place...
I'll show you everything...
With arms wide open...
Now everything has changed...
I'll show you love...
I'll show you everything...
With arms wide open...
"So what're we gonna name him?" Rutee proposed. Stahn lifted his head up and looked at her.
"Hmm...how about...Uhhh..."
"You don't have any idea do you?" Rutee said with a roll of her eyes.
"No, not really..." Stahn admitted.
"Fine, let me think of something."
Rutee closed her eyes for a few seconds and pondered on a name both she and Stahn could agree on.
"How about...Kyle?"
"Yeah sure, that sounds good." Stahn said in a hurry.
"Oh thank you so much for your enthusiasm..." Rutee replied sarcastically.
"Aw come on, gimme a break here will ya? I'm trying my best you know."
"I know, I'll forgive you, this time." Rutee said with a cynical laugh.
Stahn looked down at his sleeping son and smiled again.
"Welcome to our world, Kyle..." He said with a loving tone.
If I had just one wish...
Only one demand...
I hope he's not like me...
I hope he understands...
That he can take this life...
And hold it by the hand...
And he can greet the world...
With arms wide open...
A/N: And that's the end. I admit I rushed this, my inspiration for this story seems to have fizzled out. Hope I didn't wreck it for anyone reading. Keep an eye out for my next story, whatever it may be based upon.>