New note for this edited version of the ending… as a disclaimer, the last line there is a lyric from the song "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley (hope I got that spelling right). …and as the illustrious Big-Wired pointed out, if the end seems like a cutoff, it's a set-up.

---------------------------------------------------

Bright and early the next morning, Will's mother answered a knock at the door and found Hay Lin standing there with a basket in one hand.

"Good morning, Ms. Vandom! I've got a few things to show Will! Can I come in?"

"Sure", Susan replied. "Irma stayed over last night... I don't think they're up yet." She paused. "Not that Will getting up at a decent hour wouldn't be a good idea..."

"Okay then, I'll give them a little wake-up call." Hay Lin rushed inside and up the stairs. Without a second's hesitation, she opened Will's door...

...and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of Will halfway curled up and Irma spooned around her, both of them looking as placid as could be. Her cheeks grew a bit rosy, and she turned from the scene with a smile. "I suppose I should learn to knock first", she whispered to herself. With that, she stepped out of the room, closed the door behind her, and proceeded to knock.

"Wha... what time...?" Will could be heard fumbling around, followed by a loud protest from Irma.

"That was my head!" The Water Guardian exclaimed. "Who's there?"

"Just me!" Hay lin replied. "I've got some new designs I wanted to show off! Are you two... um... busy in there?"

"Um..." Will began.

"We're, um..." Irma tried to follow up.

"Never mind", the Wind Guardian said cheerfully. "I'll be at home. Just call me when you're both up to the task of thinking coherently." With that, she jogged back downstairs and out the door humming.

"You don't suppose she suspected...?" Irma let the thought trail off.

"No way", Will replied. "There's not a chance." She paused a moment before looking her friend in the eyes. "...is there?"

The good news for both of them was that their mutual friend and comrade didn't suspect the truth. The bad news was that the reason for that fact was that she knew, just as surely as she knew there'd be a lot of things they'd be doing for her in order to keep her quiet. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised", she thought aloud to herself. "They're perfect for each other now that I think about it." She allowed herself a dreamy sigh. "I wonder if I look that cute with her..."

...and on she went, singing softly to herself.

"I can see you, your brown skin shining in the sun, I see you walking real slow and you're smiling at everyone..."

END... or is it?