Epilogue

Cassandra looked up and smiled in satisfaction. "Now, my dears, it´s getting rather late, so I´ll have to pare down the other things that happened after Amelia's wedding. Well, you see, the very next day, Kitty got early up to say her good-bye to her sister and new brother-in-law. She then gave Amelia a second wedding present: a golden ring. Needless to say, I don´t think I´ll need to tell you both that now Amelia possessed the magic ring I once had given to Kitty so long ago…only that it now was imbued with some of Kitty's own magic as well." Cassandra paused, then continued.

"Now, when Amelia returned from her honeymoon, she took Kitty downtown, to a friend she knew that lived there. Kitty fairly quickly ascertained that her sister still wanted her revenge for those pierced ears of hers because this friend of hers turned out to be the owner of Benbow's most exclusive beauty parlor," Cassandra told them, chuckling.

"Kitty earned my respect for her restraint…though, I will suffice to say that she ended up closing herself up in her room, refusing to even show her face to anyone at all, until Amelia removed the spell that made it impossible for Kitty to remove the makeup job she'd received…" Cassandra closed her eyes wearily for a moment, then snapped back awake and continued on.

"Alexander Dalley---you remember him, don't you?---well, he went and bought himself a house near the Doppler's. He explained this to all who asked, telling it was because he didn't want to be too far away from his friends. However, this explanation didn't fool Amelia in the least bit, as she clearly saw the blush on his cheeks, as well as all of his shy looks over at Kitty," Cassandra told them.

"Now, after a year or so, Amelia and Delbert were blessed with the births of their four little children. They were such cute youngsters! Amelia's Mr. Arrow could be often found sitting amongst the little ones as they played. Kitty was surprised to see how he was so gentle when he picked them up into his huge arms when they had fallen down, or simply started to get a bit cranky. All in all, things were going quite well for the Dopplers, one and all," Cassandra explained with a proud smile.

"After a few years, our Kitty figured out that she didn't feel the pull---like her sister, Amelia---to head back out for new adventures out in the Etherium. The supernova incident as well as the pirates on Treasure Planet voyage had proven to be more than enough. So, that being said, Kitty applied and landed herself a new job at the O.N.O.S. (I believe I mentioned that fine institution back somewhere in Chapter 16). There, she worked hard and enjoyed her work, and was loved by both the staff and patients as well. None too surprisingly, it wasn't very long before she got herself promoted to the next level of responsibility. This trend continued on at a rather rapid rate, until such time---only a little more than a year since her last promotion!--- she became the Head of the whole facility…" Cassandra told them all proudly, beaming at what her Kitty had been able to accomplish.

"Well, was it only a coincidence that one Mr. Alex Dalley just happened to work there as well? Mmm, perhaps. Or that soon after our Kitty went to became the Headmistress, that he too was promoted, becoming the Deputy Headmaster? Again, I'll say perhaps. But, the best surprise of all came upon the very day of Amelia's 45th birthday, when the Dopplers had the most unexpected and pleasant of surprises when both Kitty and Alex came over for a visit...

Amelia welcomed her dear sister as Delbert escorted both Kitty and Alex inside the front door.

"Happy Birthday, Amy!" Kitty said, hugging her sister happily.

"Oh, I do wish you'd stop calling me 'Amy'," Amelia sighed wearily. She hadn't broken Kitty of that habit yet, and she held little hope that would ever change. "So, my dears, how is everything going with the both of you?"

"Great, thanks, Amelia," Alex said, after he too received a hug from Amelia. "Well, as a matter of fact, better than great, really." He turned to Kitty, who was for some reason blushing rather prettily that moment, then gazed down significantly to her left hand. Amelia, one perfect eyebrow quirked in curiosity, followed Alex's gaze down, and gasped as she saw a shining sapphire ring on Kitty's ring finger. Amelia's eyes widened, and she raised a hand over her now pounding heart, the faintest of hopes blossoming in her mind. Amelia blinked several times, her eyes gleaming from unshed tears. "Oh, my dear dear boy…please, oh please tell me that this means what I pray it means," she looked grinning to Kitty's lovely face, which turned redder still, though her smile was all the confirmation Amelia could need. "Oh, Kitty! My sweet sister! I'm so happy for you!" Amelia cried as she rushed to hug her sister, happy tears spilling down her cheeks.

Kitty sighed in her sister's arms, and flicked a warm glance at Alex, who grinned adoringly back at her. "I know, I know, Amy...it took me quite a while to finally realize the fact that I love Alex." Kitty smiled at Alex again, then stepped back from her proud happy sister. "So, you're in for a treat, sister dear. As we've gotten you three birthday presents this year," Kitty said. She grinned roguishly, then flicked up her index finger. "The first present is this!" She handed Amelia an envelope. "Inside that is your and Delbert's invitation to Alex and my wedding in four weeks time."

"Oh, Kitty," Amelia gushed. "I could hope for no better gift than to see you so happy…"

Kitty blushed again. "Stop that, Sis…you're making me look like I'm sunburned," she teased. "But wait…there's more."

Amelia grinned. "More? Oh, yes…those other two presents of which you spoke, hmm?" Amelia asked, disappointed that she hadn't figured it out what they were already.

Kitty smiled. "Oh, you'll love these two, Amy! Now, maybe you might want to take a seat, sister dear." Kitty guided a rapidly becoming irritated Amelia over to the nearest chair, and forced her to sit.

"Yes? Oh, do get on with it, Kitty! You were ever the dramatist," Amelia pretended to growl, but her fond smile gave her true feelings away.

"All right, but remember…you asked for it," Kitty said in mock warning. "In approximately two months time, my dear Amelia…you are going to be the proud Aunt of two marvelous children…mine! Oh, and Alex's too…" Kitty grinned.

"Oh, Kitty!" Amelia cried as she shot to her feet. "Really? You're not just teasing a poor old woman now, are you?"

"Now would I do something like that?" Kitty returned, then grimaced. "Yeah, now that you mention it, I would at that. But, no…let me assure you, I'm really going to be a mother, Amy."

"I'm so happy for you, my love," Amelia said, just before she began to cry happily, hugging her sister and mobbing her with kisses...

Cassandra looked up just then, getting a certain unmistakeable feeling. As she had finished telling her story, a woman appeared in the doorway, and she simply walked inside. Her face looked just like a humanoid cat with blond hair.

"Good morning, Cassandra," this woman remarked, smiling. Cassandra nodded her head, returning the greeting. "I've came to pick up these two," she added, pointing significantly down to were two little felinid children now sat enthralled by the story they had just heard..

"But, Momma," the little boy whined, clearly wanting another story. Auntie Cassandra was telling us about you and Daddy's story!"

Kitty---and yes, it was the very same Kitty---smiled indulgently at her children. "Yes, and you both have heard it so many times that you most likely know like the back of your hand. Now, do come along, dears…we need to get home."

"Aw, but Momma!" the two kids whined in protest.

"Tim Brian Dalley, and Amelia Suzanne Dalley, we---are---going---home! NOW!" Kitty growled. The children looked quickly away, wincing. When their Mother used that particular tone of voice---as well as stating their full names, no less!---they knew better than to do anything else other than what she told them to.

"Yes, Momma," the two replied, both obediantly as well as a trifle bit sulkily. "We're ready."

Kitty nodded, took each by their hand, and before Cassandra's eyes the three most remarkable figures simply disappeared…leaving behind the glow of a little yellow light. Cassandra laughed, shaking her head. There was simply no doubt about it…that family of Kitty's was quite special indeed…

End

HUGE AN: Okay! The story, "A Girl, A Captain and an Adventure" is now finished. To those of you who didn't quite understood the ending, let me explain. Cassandra from the beginning of the story to the end, is telling her tale to both of Kitty and Alex's children. So, when Cassandra---in the beginnig---said hello and all of that, she was talking to the two of them. Get it now? Okay, now… I do plan to write a sequel to this story, but not just now, as I need a break. I've got other things to do than to write, so I hope you guys all do understand. Oh, one more thing. Kitty's children's names were not simply picked out at random. Oh no…they are precisely the names I'd give to my children if I ever decide I'm going to have any.