Summary: Aurora is in college, spending only her weekends and vacations in Crystal Springs. After since Andros' reunion with his children, Blaecleah kept quiet, but peace never lasts for long.

Necroblade: That's okay, I got loads of wedding dresses thanks to Jenny and google, but not the one I'll be using. I'm glad you're not mad at me for not updating in almost a month. Lucky you, passing in one try, I'll just keep it to the lucky two. My brother did it in 3 times, and I really want to out do him. Yes, the cliffie's evil, but I said multiple times Evil is my middle name. In front of the door, a cop or a monster? Hmmm… I think monster would come close, but not in the way you meant it.

Ghostwriter: Glad you liked it. This time you didn't have to wait long. YAY!

Arwennicole: Well, maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but paying close attention while reading, you'll find out which it is. I hid it in the chapter. Oh and thanks for the wedding dress description and picture. I love it and will be using it for my next chapter.

LucyE: Of course I didn't forget about you all, I just had some other things on my mind. Read and find out what's going to happen to Aurora, Mack I'll leave to be a surprise. Well, posting stories is actually quite easy, once you reached that point, give a yell and me or sweet, ever so helpful Jenny will help. I believe you know who's getting married, for it's a chapter I promised you. More I won't say.

DizneeDol: Jenny's jealous of me, since I finished this chapter in, what? 4 hours tops after finishing the last. Just didn't put it up to keep you in suspense and to catch more reviews! Yes, I know I'm evil.

Jenny: If you really want me to reply to all of that, then you're out of your mind. 8KB! For heavens sake! Thank you for having SO much faith in me as a driver. Wait, I have so much faith in me as a driver, you're the only one to agree with me. Yay, someone agrees with me!

TrueRomantic: Tell me the date of your birthday and there'll be a birthday present waiting for you on Being only child sounds fun, but I really don't know what I would do without Demon (the nickname my older brother got some time ago when I was talking to Jenny). Yeah, well, Jeff and Ashley always were close, so it wouldn't be fair to keep the ripped apart now would it? As for who's getting married, you'll just have to wait. I love the dress description, but I won't be using it yet, maybe in another story. But I promise it will be used.

The-power-of-love: Always try to do that. :)

Melissa: It's okay, don't worry. Phantom just told Jenny, so I don't have to do it, but anyway. Have fun and we'll all try not to get your mailbox too crowded with updates. (PHANTOM! JENNY! Start writing, really, really fast :P)

Phantom Rogue: Duh! Of course you know who's at the door! I freaking to you already. Jenny knew too, since she already beta-read this chapter before I put the last one up. Me? Guilty for being mean to Ashley? NEVER! Of course I'm not going to kill Aurora! She's my main character! And me looking for a wedding dress has nothing to do with that. Why does everyone think it's Aurora getting married? She just started college for god sake! She won't get married until after graduating college! You know, me and Jenny were talking about marrying Ciana off when she's older, I even got her a boyfriend/soulmate. I'll e-mail you about it later. Oh and Ciana is by now, 4 weeks old! There won't be a happily ever after for a LONG time. I believe a 2 year old is capable of minimal speech, much easy words and not too complicated sentences, but that's it. (I happen to have had 2 2-year-old around me not too long ago, a fiend of mine has a 2 year old daughter and a friend of my dad's too.) Why'd ya wanna know?

Juzblue: I'm not going to kill anyone but bad guys. I promise. Okay, so you want me to pass my test since you're save and far away, thanks! You have as much faith in me as Jenny! YAY!

It Was Just The Beginning

Chapter 9

Gwyn stood in front of the door nervously. After a long day of trying to keep herself even just faintly amused, she was finally going to do what she came here for. If she was lucky she could be out before things got nasty. She had just seen Ray enter, so she didn't have to worry about spending too much time in there, but still there were going to be some nasty questions. Taking a deep breath, she pressed the doorbell.

It took a while, but finally the door was opened and she was looking into the younger version of a very familiar face – one that was covered in a confused and slightly wary expression. Taking a deep breath to collect her thoughts and pray that she wouldn't screw this up, she knew what she had to do and what attitude to keep for now.

"Hello, Mr. Hammond." She said as cheerily as possible, speaking clearly, trying not to let him pick on anything out of the odds. "You probably don't know me, but my name is Rosa. Um… I've got a message for your son, Ray. Could I come in for a moment?"

He was obviously considering telling her 'no' and closing the door. When he opened the door further, she breathed a silent sigh of relieve. She tentatively stepped inside. Immediately she spotted Ray. Obviously he hadn't left the hall yet, his jacket and bag seeming to agree to that fact. When she looked him in the eye, Ray was looking at her with a penetrating look.

"Um… hi." She greeted.

"Do I know you from somewhere?" Ray asked, still seeming to try and look right through her.

"No, not really. Why?"

"You look familiar somehow." Ray replied. "You said you had a message for me?"

Gwyn quickly broke eye contact and looked at the floor, self-consciously pushing her long black hair behind her ear, hoping he hadn't recognized her eyes.

"Actually, it's more of a warning. You see…"

Just then Ashley came down the stairs with baby Ciana in her arms. Gwyn glanced at her and smiled a little.

"Oh, hello." Ashley greeted.

"Hi." Gwyn replied softly, getting more nervous and uncomfortable by the minute.

"Ash, this is Rosa, she's here to warn Ray for something. Or so she says…" Andros said, obviously not trusting her one bit, though she couldn't blame him.

Ray hadn't looked away from her yet, still looking at her, but now more curiously.

"What are you here to warn me for?" He asked, trying not to let his curiosity show.

"Well…"

In the living room the phone rang. Andros and Ashley caught each other's eyes and Ashley handed Ciana to him, knowing he didn't want to leave this Rosa out of his sight for as long as she had to stay in their house. Gwyn held her breath, hoping against hope the call wasn't what she thought it was.

"Ashley Hammond." Ashley's voice came from the living room.

Gwyn's heart was pounding 60 miles a minute and her hands balled into fists.

"Are you okay?" Ray asked softly, obviously trying to listen to the phone conversation too.

Gwyn didn't react as Ashley's voice entered the hall again.

"Yes, Aurora is my daughter. Is something wrong?"

All colour drained from Gwyn's face. She had taken too long. Hell was going to break loose soon and she would be caught right in the middle. She closed her eyes for a moment and before looking around. Both Andros and Ray had turned their heads to the door opening to the living room. Knowing it was now or never Gwyn took a deep breath.

"Ray." She nearly whispered insistently and Ray looked at her again. "You're going to be in for a rough ride, but whatever you do, DON'T give up. Aurora will be just fine."

Ray looked at her strangely, but got distracted by Ashley's voice again.

"What?" Ashley's voice was filled with fear, disbelief and despair. "How… How is she? … I understand. … We'll be there as soon as we can. … No, there's no need, I'm sure you have better things to do. … Thank you, bye."

After a moment of silence in which Ashley didn't return, Andros looked at her fleetingly, but must have decided she wasn't too dangerous and quickly walked off into the living room.

"Ash?" She heard him ask. "Wh-What's wrong? Did something happen to Aurora?"

"She…" Ashley sobbed, her words barely coherent between tears. "She… Oh god, Andros. A truck ran a red light… It… Aurora… It hit Mack's car… Aurora… She's… She's…"

Ray looked at her with slowly widening eyes.

"She's not…" Andros asked, his voice breaking.

"No… Physically she's not as bad as Mack, but…" It was obviously hard to say for the young mother. "She's in a coma, Andros. They don't know when she's going to wake up and in what state she'll be. She hit her head against the dashboard and was without oxygen for a while. She might never…"

Tears were welling up in Ray's eyes, hearing his sister was in hospital, but his sight never left Gwyn.

"How?" He choked, staring at her through tears of sorrow and wonder.

Gwyn shook her head and knew she had to get away right now. Closing her eyes, she disappeared in a bolt of electricity, entering the nearest socket. All Ray could do was stare and wonder what just happened.

A/N: Ha! I finished it fast didn't I? I guess I'm kinda over that writers block for now. Hope you liked it. Review.