Chapter 24: Let Them be Happy

Never have I been more miserable, and I thought losing Christine was bad. It's only been a week and Dreama hasn't spoken to me at all, not once. Indeed there was the occasional "excuse me" if I happened to accidentally bump into her but that was that. I needed to hear her voice, her voice! Her beautiful voice…I need her in my arms, I need to whisper to her that those horrible words were not meant for her, never could they be meant for her.

When I went down stairs that night after the fight Dreama and I had everyone looked at me with pain. When I realized they heard my conversation with Dreama I literally fell to my knees and began to weep. I thought it was all over for me, I thought they would send me away but they didn't, instead they sat me on the couch and had me explain the story all over again, afterwards they simply said "It's all in the past now", I couldn't believe it yet somehow I did.

I was in my room laying on the cozy bed and took in Dreama's sweet sent of red roses. Oh how much I missed her, how much I needed her…what could I do? What could I do to win her back?

My thoughts where abruptly broken up when I heard crying from outside. I quickly got up and went to the window to locate the heartbreaking weeping, and to my surprise I saw Jennie. She was in Jonnie's arms clinging to him tightly, crying on his chest. Why was she crying? Had Dean found out about them? Had they realized that they did not love each other? No, it was none of that. Everything was going down hill for them, because Thelma was still healing the Tamber's were busy with her, they knew they can not mention their engagement to them or Dean would just go mad.

I wish I could help them, and then suddenly a thought came up. Maybe I can help them.

After maybe an hour of being outside with Jonnie and Jennie all three of us walked into the cottage where we found Dean and Dolly sitting on the couch together reading books. Jonnie timidly walked up to them causing the two parents to glance up at him.

"Hello Jonnie honey, how are you?" asked Dolly, her joyous voice was back, but not entirely the jolly voice it was before Thelma's accident.

"Yes, how are you?" asked Dean placing his book beside him. All Jonnie did was nod to them.

"You must be hungry, I'll go make something for you," started Dolly beginning to stand and head for the kitchen but didn't get too far for Jonnie stopped her.

"No Mrs. Tamber, I actually have to speak with you…I have to speak with both of you," Jonnie's words were shaking, his Irish accent sounding unstable, Jennie quickly walked up and stood by him holding his trembling hand in hers giving him confidence. Dolly sat back down next to Dean.

"Oh well alright, what is it you wish to speak to us about?" asked Dean his English accent hard yet gentle.

Jonnie swallowed, so did Jennie.

"Jennie and I have an announcement to make to you…" Dolly suddenly gasped, her hand reaching for her husbands.

"Four months ago, before I left…I asked Jennie a question…" the room was silent, Jonnie glanced behind to look at me, and I nodded for him to continue. "That question was…for her to be my wife…"

Jennie quickly stepped forward. "And I said yes" she said with joy. Her parents though looked at her in disbelief.

"What?" asked both her parents at the same time this time with a hint of anger in their voice.

"You asked her before confronting it with me?" Dean asked standing with resentment.

Jonnie and Jennie took a step back, but I stepped forward.

"Dean…" they looked at me. "Dean they love each other, you know this. You knew they would eventually ask one another."

"Yes but I expected Jonnie to have some manners and tell me first before asking my daughter to become his,"

"Yes and I would have liked it if you would have told us sooner other then keep it from us all this time," said Dolly joining her husband on the floor.

"Please, just look at them Dolly" I said suddenly. "Look how happy they are together. You should be proud Jonnie can make your daughter happy like this. Be happy your daughter found love instead of living in the dark her whole life."

Dolly and Dean took a step forward.

"Our little girl is more then happy! She'll never live her life in the dark!" Dean growled.

"Dean," I spoke with calmness. "He asked before confronting because he loves her more then anything, she agreed before confronting because she loves him more then anything. Please, grant them this and let them be happy."

They fell silent.

"Dean, Dolly please. Once you find true love you never want to let it go…" I said.

"How could they possibly know what love is? They're too young!" Dolly bellowed.

"Trust me; when you see the right one, you know their the one, you know it's them you love and always will. Just like you knew you loved Dean when you first saw him," at this Dolly looked as Dean and Dean looked at her. They knew it was true, the very first moment they saw each other they fell in love.

"That's right mother and father…I love Jonnie with all my heart," Jennie stated taking a step forward with Jonnie by her side, tears beginning to form in her eyes and quickly fell.

"And I love Jennie with all my heart Mr. and Mrs. Tamber, I want nothing more then to see your daughter happy," Jonnie said holding Jennie's hand tight.

While they stood there silent thinking about what to do I was standing thinking myself about what I just said. "When you see the right one, you know their the one, you know it's them you love and always will."

How could I be so blind? I love Dreama…more then ever. How could I realize this now? My happiness, my warmth, my love…its all Dreama.

"Alright we've decided," my thoughts settled on Dolly and Dean, what had they decided? I stood next to Jonnie and Jennie. Jonnie looked at me and swallowed the big lump growing in his throat. How scared he must be, I placed a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him.

"We decided no," said Dean. Just like that my world stopped. From the corner of my eye I saw Jonnie and Jennie both releasing the big breath of air they've been holding. They said no to their daughter's happiness.

"We decide no if you plan on having children right after you marry," Dean suddenly said. Everyone's head snapped up. Did we hear right?

"But if you promise not to have any until at least two years of marriage then everything is fine" Dolly said with a serious look. Everyone was dead quiet, and then it finally hit them. Jonnie and Jennie leaped up in the air with joy and embraced each other, Jonnie laughing with joy while Jennie laughed and cried tears of joy. They placed kisses all over each other's faces and whispered numerous times they loved each other terribly. Dolly suddenly clapped her hands making the two lovers snap their heads in her direction.

"I don't want any love making in front of me now unless you want your mother to cry to…" Dolly trailed off as she broke down and cried. Jennie ran to her mother with a big smile on her face and embraced Dolly. Dolly laughed with delight. Jennie then ran to her father who gave the same action, Jonnie walked to Dolly and hugged her dearly.

"You're part of the Tamber's now" Dolly said through happy tears. Jonnie then walked to Dean and shook his hand.

"Welcome to the Family son," he said.

"Thank you so much Dean…"

"Hey now, your family…you're going to start calling me father for now on believe it or not,"

Dean and Jonnie erupted in laughter and soon everyone was laughing. Then out of no where we hear clapping, we glanced at the stair case and saw the rest of the family looking happy as ever, and for once in along time I saw Dreama smiling.

They all rushed down the stairs toward the lovers and they all embraced them. Almost everyone was crying, except the men of course. They all went to Jonnie and welcomed him to the family. Then suddenly Jennie turned toward me and ran to me, embracing me what I believe the most, Jonnie turned and embraced me too. I found it uncomfortable for Jonnie to do that but he was happy, I shouldn't ruin the moment just because I don't like hugging other men.

"Thank you Erik!" they both shouted to me. Everyone then looked at me and they all said,

"Well done Erik" all said it except Dreama, she didn't even look at me, didn't even seem to realize I was in the room. I began to walk up to her but she quickly turned to the others. Then suddenly Tommy shouted out.

"Everyone! How about we spread the good news?"

"No, no not yet, wait until -" started Dolly but it was too late, they all rushed out. All that was left in the room was me, Dolly and Dean.

"You did well doing that Erik," said Dean out of no where. I turned to him,

"Thank you," I said nodding to him. Dolly then came to me and placed a warm kiss on my cheek.

"Well I better go and make sure Tommy and Noah don't get into some contest now," said Dolly leaving just me and Dean alone in the main room.

There was silence for a bit then Dean spoke.

"Well, I should go and tell Thelma the big news," he said turning to leave.

"Dean wait!" he stopped and glanced in my direction. I was dead silent; I was actually going to tell him my feelings for Dreama.

"Is there something you need to say?" he asked noticing my troublesome. I nodded when really I meant to say no.

He suddenly came forward and sat on the couch and then signaled me to sit next to him. I staggered at first then obliged. We sat in silence before I spoke.

"I'm in love with Dreama," I said flat out. I suddenly regretted it but I had to tell him, I just had to.

"I know,"

My head snapped up and I turned to him shocked.

"What?" I asked wide eyed. He just nodded, how could he know?

"I know because I'm her father and a father knows these things" he said somehow reading my mind.

"I understand if you do not wish me to go near her anymore, I just felt you should know and that…that…" I couldn't bring myself to tell him I took her innocence. But he is her father, and a father should know who is responsible for taking his daughters virginity.

"I…I…made…love…to…Dreama" I stuttered, but it felt damn good to let it out! Now was time to take in the reaction.

"Oh yes…I know that too" he said simply.

Again my head shot up and I almost choked.

"What?" I said with disbelief.

"Dreama told me two days after Thelma left," he said with no problem at all. Sweat was running down my face, she told him without telling me? I don't blame her, he's her father, but I still couldn't believe it. All this time he knew and yet he did nothing.

"I was starting to wonder when you were going to tell me," he said. He was testing me to see if I would have the guts to tell. Damn him, damn him for making me go through such a hassle. But I was more then glad he already knew, but did others know?

"Dolly already knows," he said somehow reading my mind again.

"May I ask you something?"

"Why yes of course" he said quickly. I sighed.

"How is it possible for you to just…how could you not be so upset at me for taking her?" I had to ask, I had to know.

"Erik, when Dreama told me what had happened…I must admit I was furious. But the look on her face was what calmed me down. Erik love was in her eyes, marked deeply in her soul. She's in love with you Erik,"

I looked away stunned, Dreama loved me from the start, and I ripped her heart out and torn it to shreds.

"Dean…what if I asked you…what if I asked if I could take your daughters hand in marriage…what would you say?" I had to know, would he let a beast like me take his daughter away from him? Would he let a man like me try and make his daughter happy?

Dean looked away and thought, by the looks of it he was thinking hard, and then he looked at me.

"I would say yes," was all he said, tears quickly rushed to my eyes but blinked them away.

"Why?" I whispered. He placed a hand on my back.

"Erik, I know you can make her happy. You love her she loves you, and after what you did tonight I would be more then honored for you to be apart of this family,"

Apart of this family, how much I wanted to belong, and this was my chance! To have a family, to have a caring mother, father, annoying brothers and wonderful sisters. To have a family full of love and music. But I have no chance; Dream no longer loved me after what I did.

"What's wrong?" Dean suddenly asked noticing my gloom. I slowly looked at him tears slowly beginning to form again.

"As much as I wish to be in this perfect family I cannot. I love her…yet she does not love me," I responded standing. Dean quickly stood.

"Listen Erik, I heard those words you shouted at my little angel of music, I wanted to run up there and strangle you. But knowing somehow that you didn't mean a word of it…just talk to her…trust me she'll -"

"No, no Dean she won't…"

My words stopped mid sentence when Dreama walked in, stopping only an instant to tell Dean how happy she was.

"Dreama, Erik wishes to speak with you," Dean said. Dreama turned to me, first time in almost a week she finally looks at me.

"Well on with it then," she asked annoyed. I noticed how Dean slipped out of the room and went upstairs. I was now alone with her, a woman who now hated me more then anything.

"Dreama I…I didn't mean to…I did…"

"I don't have all day to listen to your words Erik, say what you need to say so I can leave," she said all that doing nothing but glare at me. Suddenly feeling a bit of anger in me I unexpectedly thought that if I can't say it…then maybe I can show it.

I marched up to her, grabbed her head and forced my lips on hers. She quickly began to struggle, I knew that she would stop and give in but no she kept on struggling. Then all of a sudden I felt a sharp pain on my tongue and quickly pulled away. She bit my tongue.

After muffling a curse I turned to her, about to apologize but my mind went stiff when her small palm met my face. She slapped me, hard and good.

"How dare you! How dare you for even thinking you can touch me after revealing what you really think of me!" and with that she ran up the stairs and out of sight. Soon after Dean came down and looked at me with sorrow. I sighed and looked away.

"If just by looking at me causes her pain then I'll will cause her pain no more…I'll leave," I said heading toward my room passing Dean as I do. He suddenly places a hand on my arm, I stop yet I do not look at him.

"You don't mean just by leaving the room do you?" he said, his voice full of sorrow.

I did not say nor did anything, I just went to my room, shut the door and fell asleep on the big cozy bed where Dreama's sent quickly filled me.

If I had to leave Arthur Barstool for her to be happy then I will. When Thelma recovers I'll ask her to take me away, somewhere far away where Dreama will no longer be able to hear the sweet sound of music of the night.

What's up? Yep Erik's gonna leave...sad I know...don't worry I'm sure he'll find someon else...I hope...I mean he's gotta...he's Erik...He's...He's...oh never mind...Please review

"Life is a mask, its our job to take it off and discover the journey behind it not in front for there is nothing there but a mask"

Crystal A.