But I'm going to finish this story and we'll have another (hopefully good) story (Maybe consider it and Forgiveness akin to Tenchi Universe and Tenchi OAV... Just enjoy both!)
So thanks again to ALL my readers and GREAT THANKS to my reviewers!
SPECIAL THANKS TO ANGEL RAYE, for her inspiration.
Okay! This is just a short epilogue to round up this story. I hope you enjoy it! ...And watch for a curve in the road...
Always Me Chapter 9:
Homecoming
Thirtynine years later:
"Mommy! Celine's here!" Emiko cried happily to her mother and ran to her niece as Celine opened her arms.Celine looked up to see her grandmother smiling as she watched them together.
"We're glad you could make it Celine!" Mina said heartfelt and Gloria, Tiffany and Minako concurring.
"I wouldn't have missed this for the world!" Celine said. "How many women my age get to go to their aunt's fifth birthday party?" She asked fondly. As Emiko released her hold, Celine embraced her mother and grandmother and then Minako and Tiffany.
Tiffany hugged Celine tightly. Officially, this Celine was considered to be one of Tiffany's aunts. Truthfully; from that tenuous beginning nearly forty years earlier, they had become as sisters to each other. The door between the two sets of chambers had been opened once more by mutual request less than six months later. Where once there had been pain, they had helped each other to heal.
Now when someone asked Tiffany about her mother, she thought about that sad woman she had met all too briefly and yet, who treasured her more than life itself... Instead of the monster who had tormented her for the first years of her life. Tiffany grieved that her mother had been even more than she a prisoner to that monster and that hate for so long and that Tiffany herself had even helped cause that cycle in the first place, but now Tiffany gazed into the face of the woman her mother had truly been destined to become and if the past held its regrets, from that long ago day forward neither Celine nor Tiffany would allow those regrets to shadow their futures.
Brooke remained true to her word. Not only had she become like another mother for Tiffany, she never forgot the long ago friendship of two little girls and helped young Celine find her way again in a world which at first had frightened and dismayed her.
Mina brought out her camera as she prepared to take a picture of "Her Girls" she called them all. After a century of sorrow, Mina's family had found happiness.
Mina smiled as they all clustered around little Emiko, who thankfully had never known any of the troubles her family had endured... She was about to snap the picture when a hand clamped down over the lens.
"And what do you think you're doing?" Lita asked.
"I was just about to take a picture Lita!" Mina protested as Lita took the camera away from her.
"Nope!" Lita said. "This picture won't look right until you get over there with that bunch Mina!
I'll take the picture." She said. "Now hurry up and get over there!" Mina smiled compliantly.
Thanks Lita... She thought appreciatively as she gathered with her family.
Nearby, a woman of about sixty toured the grounds as part of a group. She wasn't quite sure why she had come here, though she had once worked as a maid here long ago...
Perhaps after three broken marriages, this place was a reminder of a time when everything seemed possible...
Dark Celine smiled as she caught a glimpse of Celine and Tiffany together with the rest of their family. There's still time yet... We just might meet again Celine.
We just might meet again...
All right Jennifer, I think that's enough. We need to get home and get some rest before we catch the plane for the States in the morning...
With this story completed, I'm seriously asking all my readers to give me some suggestions as to my next few stories. Please check my profile page where I have listed some of the ideas currently being considered and TELL ME!
(Oh, And yes there is a logical reason as to how Dark Celine is still around. But not all mysteries need be answered at once...)