Mandarin sat in his chair when he felt six auras enter the home and he muttered, "of course…"
The monkey team walked into the living room to see Mandarin looking at them with one eye opened, "Somehow I knew you would come anyway….."
"You snuck off with Adie! What did you expect!" Sprx yelled
Antauri was starting to get ticked, "Sprx…." he said warningly and Sprx kept his mouth shut for the moment, "Where is she?"
Mandarin opened both his eyes, "She's upstairs…." he got up and walked to the kitchen; he had no intention of talking to them but they had intention of talking to him
Nova followed him with the others reluctantly behind her, "How is she?"
Mandarin turned around looking at his sister, "She is deeply disturbed and depressed but not to be unexpected in a situation like this…"
Sprx finally cracked, "That you put her in!" he rushed towards him and took a hold of his chest raising him in the air and shoving him against a wall, "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
Nova walked to stop him but Mandarin smacked his hands away and him to the ground, "I do not deny it! It is my fault towards these unfortunate events that have come to pass, and I do not need any of my insolent brothers telling me so!" He finished and rushed out the backdoor into Chris's old backyard leaving them in the kitchen.
Sprx was still mad at Mandarin but with less rage, but he was so preoccupied with him that he didn't notice the others were mad at him, especially Nova and Antauri
Nova yelled first, "SPRX! Can't you keep your mouth shut for once in your life! You are such a moron!" she finished yelling and walked out towards Mandarin
Antauri was the next to speak, "I suggest, Sprx that you listen next time…and control your temper..." he said with an angered look
Sprx looked at him, "Sorry…." he muttered as he got up…
"You don't owe us an apology Sprx…." Gibson said to him, and Sprx just gave him a look, "I suggest that while Nova talks to him we go up and check on Adie…"
Antauri just looked at Gibson, "I agree...let's go..."
They all headed up the stairs to Adie…
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It had been 10 minutes and even though Chris had a lot of stuff it was mostly already in boxes because he didn't use it much; he only kept out the stuff he used all the time. She had made it through almost all of his stuff when all was left was the things in his dresser; she emptied it bottom to top. She had almost gotten the top finished when she saw something in the bottom back of the drawer; she reached and grabbed it pulling out a small lilac box.
She looked at it funny and thought to herself, "I wonder what this is?" She put down the box she had in her arm and looked closely at the box before opening it. She gasped and collapsed on the bed; she covered her mouth as a tear rolled down her face.
Inside was a ring with a small lilac and white jewel on it; she took it out of the box and it had something engraved on it, it said, "I will love you always" By now she was crying full fledged, she knew what this was an engagement ring. She cried as she put it on her finger and looked at it; she felt extreme grief as she lay on his bed, clinging to the bear she gave him for last Valentines Day…she cried herself into a deep sleep still clinging onto the bear.
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Nova walked out to the backyard to find a disturbed Mandarin sitting in the tree, sighing and head hung low. She felt sad for her brother, "Mandarin….are you ok?"
Mandarin looked at her but didn't say a word.
"Please talk to me…I…" she started but was interrupted
"Why do you not hate me like the others?" he asked looking at her
"What? They don't hate you…Sprx is just being an ass….he's just angry and confused….that's all"
"No, he isn't; he knows exactly what he is saying and he means it…" he jumped from the tree in front of Nova looking at her, "and I agree with him…."
She stood there just looking at him, "Mandarin…it is not your fault…even if you weren't there to help her, he still would have done what he did…." she paused seeing he still felt guilty, 'and if you hadn't of been there you wouldn't have been about to free her and save her life…."
Mandarin looked up puzzled, "How did you know that I'm the one that freed her?"
Nova smiled, "I watched her pull something out of the pouch on your belt and push it….that's when Adie's eyes changed….I just put two and two together…"
Mandarin smiled out of happiness for the first time in a long time, "Thank you…."
Nova knew she had gotten through to him, "There now was that so hard to accept…"
Mandarin smiled again, "No I suppose not…." he paused, "let us go back inside…" he put a hand on her shoulder as he walked past her and entered the house with her behind him heading to the upstairs bedroom where the others were
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The monkey team made their way to a room where the door was open; Adie was lying on the bed surrounded by boxes, with her eyes red and puffy as she held onto a bear
They all looked at her sad and still moist from tears; her father stared at her. They all did, staring at her until Mandarin and Nova walked in and she asked, "What are you guys doing?"
Otto looked at Nova, "She's sleeping…."
"Then why are we standing here?" she replied but saw something, "Wait….what's that?" she was pointing at Adeline's hand at the ring
Otto looked at it, "I've never seen it before…."
Nova was pondering but Mandarin thought he'd inform them, "She was not wearing it when we left…."
This made them think even more….she might have found it somewhere in the room…Nova was looking hard when she noticed the lilac box in her other hand; she gasped and the others looked at her. She looked at Adie as she said, "it's an engagement ring…..he was going to ask her to marry him…" she started at Adie as the others turned
"Oh dear….this is indeed becoming more and more unbearable for Adie…." Gibson said
They stood there for only moments when Antauri walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Adie…."
Adie slowly opened her puffy eyes to see her family standing around her, "What are you guys doing here…I said I would be fine with Uncle Mandarin…"
From across the room Otto spoke out, "We know…we just wanted to be there for you….even if you don't want us to…."
Adie just chuckled, "I want you too….I just wanted to be alone for a while….I knew you'd eventually come…." she sat up still holding the bear
"Are you alright?" Antauri asked sympathetically
Adie actually smiled, "I'm fine…."
Gibson was looking at her, "Adie….you know what happened the last time you held in your emotions…."
Adie looked at him, "I promise I'm fine….."
Antauri felt the same as Gibson, "If I may be as so bold as to ask why you are not as upset as we expect?"
Adie smiled and looked at her bear, "Let's just say I had a really good dream…"
The monkey team was silent but smiling at Adie's peace.
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Earlier before her father woke her
As Adie slept she found herself in a familiar setting; it was the place where she first met Chris. It was the high schools annual sweethearts dance; the scene was exactly the same as it was 4 years ago. She stood looking around remembering their night as she started to cry a voice called out to her, "What are you crying for?"
Adie gasped and turned around there was Chris standing there in the clothes he was wearing on their last real date before he died, "CHRIS!" She ran up to him and gave him a huge hug…."Chris I thought you were dead…I thought I lost you forever…."
Chris sighed, "Adie! Adie….I am dead…."
Adie looked at him, "No! No your not dead it can't be true! Please!" She started to bawl
Chris took her into his embrace; her tears stained his shirt, "Shhhhh….Adie…you have to listen to me…." he took her head so that it was looking straight at her, "I love you…I have always loved you and I always will….just because I'm dead doesn't mean I'm gone….as long as you keep my memory alive…I will always be with you….You have to understand that…"
Adie looked at him and kissed him, "I do….I just don't know if I can live without you….I won't ever be able to love anyone else…as I loved you…" more tears ran down her face
Chris smiled, "Yes you will Adie, I want you to remember me but don't want you to cut yourself off from loving another….I want you to be happy…don't stop looking for someone else…."
Adie looked at him and how much he loved her; she let more tears run down her cheeks, "Alright….I'll miss you Chris…I love you so much…" she cried as she smiled
Chris smiled and hugged her, stroking her hair, "I know…I love you too…."
Adie felt something and Chris looked around, "Adie…someone's trying to wake you up…but remember I will always be with you, no matter what…"
Adie looked at him and said, "Alright….goodbye Chris…I love you…" more tears ran down her face
"Goodbye Adie…." he said
The scene started to disappear as she smiled…and woke up….
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After her father woken her up they helped her pack everything up and slept in Chris's old house overnight. Then over the next day, Adie found out Chris had already been buried and visited his grave; she donated his things to charity…except for a few things that she wanted to keep for his memory and she went back home to Shuggazoom……..
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Three days later
"Well young one…this is where I leave you…." Mandarin finished saying as Adie had given him a hug in the docking bay.
"Promise to call me?" she said with a smile
"Of course…." he said giving a smile back
"Alright….." she gave him another hug and helping into the ship that the team had given to him, "So where are you heading?"
"I'm not entirely sure…somewhere where Skeleton King can't find me that's something that is certain…."
"Good…I don't want you to get hurt…and you don't hesitate to call if you need help…" she said giving a stern look
"Alright….yes….I shall call you if I need assistance…" he said with another smile
"Perfect…now I'll see you later…" Adeline said giving him a peck on the cheek
Mandarin laughed, "Goodbye for now…" he smiled as he shut the door and Adie stepped back.
Her uncle took off into to the sky and Adie smiled
"Adeline…."
She turned to see her family standing there; she smiled, "yeah…."
"We're going swimming wanna come!" Otto said enthusiastically
Sprx smiled, "Yeah you can see me beat your aunt in a swimming contest…." he laughed but stopped as Nova knocked him over the head
Adie smiled, "Yeah sure I'll be right there…..
"Ok…" Chiro said as they all walked off
Adie stood there smiling and laughing at her family; she looked down to her hand and felt her ring. She smiled again….thinking of her dream.
"C'mon Adie! Your gonna miss the fun!" she heard Otto yell from down the hall
She laughed again and started running, 'Coming!" She knew that she would have a wonderful life full of adventures with the monkey team and her father….she was as happy as she could ever be….
THE END
(Yes I know the ending is corny….lol )