After he had about passed out again for boredom,Cole sat up in his bed flipping through one of the magazines that had been left at his nightstand,it laid turned open against his knees until he finally came to a section featuring different parts of pup culture that seemed to him a totally different culture altogether.I've listened to music before but what the devil is bubble gum Pop?He wondered without much enthusasim and set it aside,casting his absent gaze over the nearby window of his hospital.If it weren't for Arcelia and her mother's insistence,I would be anywhere else but this place...all of this mindless television and video game nonsense should be destroyed...along with me,I shouldn't even be here right now.

He had been taken to recieve immediate medical attention somewhere in New York and had regained sentience that morning and up into the thin,delicate face of the girl he loved.She had been over him,heartache filled to the brink in her light hazel eyes.From being able to feel the contours of sheet-like cushion underneath him,he had been able to automatically rule out that he had transcended into the highest place imaginable but that hadn't been his concern,his concern was the one staring down at him as though she had just seen a ghost.He regreted the way he had departed from her and it surprised him immensely,he had never the emotion so thoroughly and he almost smiled as he had begun to reach up to stroke her cheek,he grimaced at the memory now,gripping his right arm and facing forward so that he could turn to more important things,like what he would do upon his release now that he only had one...

"Cole,"Wendy's benignant voice drifted into the room,the door creaking open also."I-"

"I would like to have a word with him."Came an older man's paitent voice,which was familiar to him to a point."Don't look at me like that..."he told her capersomely but then turned more serious."You'll get you're chance but I'm thirteen years over due.It's time I make up for them."

There was a pause,then she told who Cole had already come to realise was her father in a very hushed voice,something and left the room.Part of him wished she hadn't so that he would not have to be alone with the man but part of him did...he felt foolish for ever coming up with the idea of putting her through that sort of hellish circumstance but he wouldn't have regretted it if she had done it.Without giving it a thought,he rolled over and when his ebony eyes found at random the sterilised,washed out white walls,that's where they remained and would remain until the adult dragon him nothing.He had never bothered to be anything to him and even though he knew it was as good as worthless to worry with what was already put in the past,it didn't make him feel anything more towards the dragon besides maybe not slaying him for the sake of his sister.Still,Cole didn't know what he felt towards both his sides,deeply he just wanted to be able to live without restraint and take whatever came his was next for him.Now that he was the way he was,he was determined to adapt to it.

"If you've come to simply tell me sorry for all that I've been put through in my life,I can tell you it would probably be the most obvious thing to come to even a half-wit's mind,even if you hadn't come."He told Jake in a low,catious voice but the entire meeting seemed picayune to him."This would be the most cliche approach you could have taken,Dragon,and yet I find myself still not caring.I'd tell you spare both of us this and leave but I don't intend to make a sceene.As you know by now the people I care for most in the world are just outside in the waiting room and could easily come at any time.I'd prefer they not witness us in that state."

But he sensed that the man wasn't put off by his implyed inconcinnity."Sounds as if you think the world is still out to get you,"he repiled in a normal,cool tone."I know it probably wouldn't matter to you either way but the Dragon Council isn't planning on taking any rough course of action in you're case.Then again,I don't suppose you're actions will turn rough once more?"

Cole felt the nearly welcoming sensation of indignance filter through him."Just so you know,I do have more important things to worry with here,"he told him hotly."So swallow whatever bit of pity you're trying to display to you're forgotten,wayward son and get out but if you're just wanting a good gawking at what my sister's done to me,then I guess you're at the right place.So get you're merry little worth's fill and beat it.You're nothing short of a nuisance."

"It's not my place to try to make assumptions when for over a decade I've been living anything but a fairy tale lifestyle either."Jake said to him with calmness that was kept in check,making Cole wonder why he was unable to do the same."But I've always felt like it'd be my place to tell you the truth if you ever asked,so you wouldn't feel like you were just abandoned.Which you weren't and never would have been."

Something surfaced within him suddenly and he didn't even know what it was at first but when the silence between them lingered,giving him a chance to come to a conclusion,only one thing that made sense was something that again caused him to feel slightly taken back...and that was something that had never been clear to him...the feeling of being rejected.It was powerful and new to him,as was everything now...like he was seeing everything differently or perhaps for the very first time.While everything had always seemed clear to him,now everything seemed more real to him when he interacted with other people besides his sister and yet he still felt obligated to keep his distance.I won't let him win over me,the cretin.

"I don't need to hear lies,"he told him with a staid edge to his words."Can't stand'em either."

"It won't take long and I'll leave."Jake responded equally solemnly,seeming to be glad to let the unmitigated banter between them both drop."You're mother and I had found out about the time we were around you're and Wendy's age that we were sworn enemies but we were able to come to terms with it and eventually had you both when we were out of High School.The Huntsman was always on our tails and especially after we stopped him from ending all magical creatures.Well,I won't go into alot more details,"he sighed with a heaviness expelling he had kept to himself so long,as he sat across the way from Cole and continued on."Anyhow,they had found us on our return home from seeking out some assistance from someone in Columbia who was willing to give us some inside on the Huntsclan.I told R-you're Mother that it wasn't a good idea she come with me but she did and then gave birth over the course of the trip.That night...they struck us down in the Jersey woods.After we had thwarted their attempts at global extermination,they had layed low and when I did fight them it was because they found out about her pregnancy.They,at the time,wanted our marked child.She...she took off running into the woods and I was left to fight the Huntsman.I...I would have gone after her but she had you two and I had to deal with what was on my plate."

Cole felt the depth of his words,feeling somewhat curious as to how this story would end he peered over and caught the image of Jake to about his shoulder's up,before wrenching face in consideration and saying with a bit of coaching to his tone."So,how does you're version end?"

The man only shook his head and lowered it to massage his temples in agitation."It ends with you're mother only managing to save you're sister,her leaping into the way of the Huntsman's attack and dumping her into my arms,then you winding up with a life I would have given my own for if it could have been altered."he then flashed a glare up at Cole before he could retort and told him in a heatening tone,making it clear he would not take any comments."You're my son and I may not ever be apart of you're life,which I don't expect to,but don't you ever think that you're mother didn't try her best to save you as well.You can think as ill-willed of me all you want to but you're mother.She was braver then anyone we'll ever meet,have met."

Looking at the way he defended the woman who had given herself so long ago,Cole felt some respect towards him,he had apparently come to the terms of what had happened to him but was more then willing to do anything it took to keep whatever he had for him;going for him.To see this dragon,to see the truth front and center in his distinct Chinese features,Cole knew he would probably never see him after this and it made who his parents had been become more tangible then he had ever cared before to see them as.They had been young,experienced and sensible people who had run into bad luck,maturing love had been their binding but unforunate circumstances had almost been their complete demise.Here when Cole felt like he had lost it all,the former American Dragon was admitting something to him that he didn't have to tell him but did...he did it because he believed it was deserved to be told.Did Cole's life of lies,a curse and a lack of anything except of extreme expectation outweigh in significance of this man's?Was Cole's life anymore worthy then this dragon's?

"The Huntsman told me my parents were destroyed by you."he was now on his back,staring up at the ceiling as a need to sort things out set in,his voice neither threatening nor open."So to say you're lying would be like saying you have to be a knight in order to be valiant."

Jake nodded at that and got up to walk out,well-wishing him a little awkardly as he left."This is where I leave supposively.Telling you was what I needed.Um...I hope you get well soon..."

Cole paused for moment to stare at him opening the door and came to a decision."Father."he said the word swiftly and wasn't surprised in the least when Jake froze in his tracks,turning as if to be sure he had heard correctly and as he did,he received a pleased look crossing his son's raw-boned facial features,his arms crossed even though that meant he would have to feel the bandaged limb up to where only his right elbow remained."It must've took quite an amount of sinew to admit this to me and I just wanted to tell you...thank you for telling me."

Meanwhile on the flagstone steps outside the hospital...

Wendy strolled out into the glaring yellow sun,since she had spent half of a day under a large canopy of giant leaves and then since early morning in the hospital waiting around for Cole to awaken,she found the light falling onto her fairly perturbing.She hadn't been able to bring herself to face him yet.Surprisingly,it was not what she had commited that burdened her,it was the fact that in the end...Cole had kept his word from when they had first met and then had used her.I guess I shouldn't be so worked up by this.she thought as she seated herself at the bottom step which contracted out onto the main sidewalk,sighing latently carked in her mind and body.But it just makes me...makes me wonder where we both stand now...

"It's an awfully nice day,isn't it?"A cheerful woman's voice reached her ears and almost made Wendy bolt to her feet but instead she just remained sitting with her head resting within her light-skinned,comely hands,feeling the need for some company."A tad bright but still lovely."

"Yeah,I guess you could say that..."She replied almost dreamily,suddenly feeling completely at rest with this person."But I'd say otherwise when it comes to everything in that hospital."

"Oh,it is now?"The woman said thoughtfully and Wendy could feel her inquiring eyes now on her."You sound like it's all you're fault,I assume that's why you're out here,contemplating."

Wendy felt a little loutish discussing these matters at first but somehow felt the woman would listen no matter how outre it seemed."Well..."she hesitated slightly and then went on slowly."I did something to my brother even though I didn't want to and he wanted me to do it.But see I tried doing just the opposite for him in the first place and now that after all of this is finally over,I don't know how to approach him anymore.I mean...what am I to him?Was he just using me as his ticket out?Right now I feel like...um...sorry,I didn't mean to ramble on."

"No,no,it's very alright dear."She told her briskly,severing over Wendy's apology."I think it's a wonderful act to try to rescue someone you want to get close to but has he done anything for you in return?Because you can't always try to pull a quality out of someone,when that quality hasn't yet had time to grow and develop.Expecting too much from someone can make them feel like one little screw up will be their downfall to their parent's pride and when they feel like they aren't expected enough to do something,then that's cause for feeling like they're not good enough and they may turn envious..."her words faded into a good-natured laugh."I think you have nothing to worry with,Gwendolyn.You're brother is going to be just fine."

Absolute shock penetrated her soul and she glanced up quickly to the right but in turn there was no woman to be found.Shivers coursed through the girl and she drew in her knees to her chest,frantically thinking.Okay,now I really am losing it.Sitting here talking to figments of my imagination...the idea lodged worry in her mind but somehow dissipated when she came to sense someone off to her left and feeling headstrong to prove she wasn't about to jump off the deep end,Wendy turned on a beat to face the beautiful woman about in her late 20's casting a warm look down at her through sapphire eyes that melted an undiscovered place in Wendy's heart and sent a surge of longing through out her soul as the woman who was in the same light green dress Wendy had seen before and had golden hair which tumbled down to just a little above where her's was at,started to approach her,sitting beside her again less then a foot away.She placed her hands lightly on her lap,allowing her fond gaze to roam the length of the younger girl and then when her eyes finally fell upon Wendy's 'W' etched silver bangle,a small smile crossed her softly peach complexion and then turned up,finally locking eyes.

Curiousty swam in the fourteen-year-old's entire body,as she looked at this woman,who had been something almost divine as she had grown up."I..."her words caught in her throat,tears building in the corners of her eyes,she felt so riddled in disbelief it was breathtaking."You're my mother...You're...you're...you.Oh my good-how?How can you be here with me now?"

Rose merely smiled at her daugther's thunderstuck expression."To put specifically,Wen,I've always been right here."she paused and spoke,her eyes and voice now marked by wistfulness as she continued."Just...not as here as you thought I was.But I've watched you grow up and I want you to know I'm very proud of who you've become;that goes for Cole as well."

The feeling of a seperation from this woman Wendy had never experienced,started to rise in her and she knew what she had to do,with or without permission."Is it...may I..."her words were struggling and tinged with uncertainity because of the want to know who she was."May I touch you?I mean...can I give you a hug or anything?This...this is all so weird for me."

Her mother's response was wordless,as she reached up her hand and gently tucked some of the fallen brown umber burnt hair from her daugther's face.To Wendy,it was as if she were being touched by an angel and yet at the same time she briefly felt her feather soft touch brush against her cheek as she brought her hand back to her neatly folded hands.She waited for her daugther's reaction paitently it seemed but Wendy was almost lost in herself at this moment.How in the world was this possible?If she was delirious she wouldn't have just felt her mother's touch on her...would she?There was only one way to find out in Wendy's mind,there was only one way to know for sure if this was for real.With determination flooding her,she once again met the woman's now anticipant gaze and before she could utter another word,Wendy threw herself into her mother's arms.Bracing herselffor extreme disappointment to go right through her,she felt such immense satisfaction when the soildness of body came in contact with her own.This was real...she was really in the arms of the woman who had saved her life when she was too young to remember.Wendy felt her arms on her back,felt the skin exposed from the deep V of her mother's dress,felt her chin rest gently onto her head but one thing made her fill with horror.When she moved her ear to her mother's chest,emptiness was what found it's way back into her and she instantly pulled away but her mother caught her by the wrists as she was ready to run back inside.Wendy tried to yank away but the grip the older woman had on her was just strong and tight enough to pull the girl back so that they could look at each other face-to-face,to tell her something that Wendy did not want to hear.

"Let go of me,"She semi-whimpered under her breath,feeling a numbness even though she still felt her mother's hand's clutching her wrists with only enough firmness to keep her from trying to retreat."You should have known I would have done that..."her eyes were strained now out onto the glass-plated double doors."You should know so many things and you don't."

"I didn't mean to frighten you."Rose told her ruefully,still not letting her go though.

But Wendy shook her head defiantly,refusing to meet the woman's caring eyes."You can't be real...maybe in some sense you are.But you're not real real...you're not real enough to me."

"I'm not fully..."The woman began to insert but groaned in exasperation."Listen,"she told her in a careful tone,gently moving her daugther forward even as she tried to pull back."I may or may not ever fully return as I was before but that doesn't mean you shouldn't-"

Wendy's mixed emotional eyes shot back to her mother's face,cutting her off boldly."How are you here with me?I mean...since Cole's curse is lifted off of him and everything,is that how?"

Rose blinked a couple of times and let a playful grin cross her pretty face."He's always going to have that loner-type disposition sometimes."she released her hold on Wendy,starting gradually to rise to her feet."But I'm sure he'll come around,no need to worry about that."

"Mom."She spoke the word shortly and urgently took her hand,shooting up to stand and saw with slight displeasure that she had inherited her father's height,taking her own hold urgently on the partially musing woman's hand."You have to tell me...will-"her words stiffened with some fear."Will I ever get to see you again?Will...will you ever come back?I want to know you."

She felt her mother's fingers lace through hers but she didn't look at Wendy right away,only keeping her medium blue eyes out onto the bustling sidewalk.At the miscellaneous men and women that passed by without giving mother or daugther a second glance,concentrated in their own lifes and tasks.Acting unknowingly of the inner workings of different worlds that were right under their feet,their complete usual obliviousness to life outside their own struck Wendy oddly and before she knew it,she felt the grip she shared with her mother grow lighter and so she gripped tighter,not wanting to let go.But Rose placed her other hand on her daugther's shoulder and pulled her around enough so that they were looking into each other's identical eyes.Eyes that while appeared the same on the outside,were forever different inside.

"Honey..."She began in a softened voice,running her now fading hand across Wendy's cheek which felt light strong wind to her."I don't want you to think I've left you or our family forever because I'm always going to remain with you.Physically or spiritually,love has and never will have any boundaries."her words and expression now became marked by resolution."I don't know if I'll ever regain complete ability to be with you...but..."she slowly caressed her cheek once more before sunlight completely shone through her."My heart's mission is to always keep an eye out for you and protect you,Wendy.Because I'll like you forever and love you for always.No matter what anyone says or does,my daugther you'll be until the end of time."

Wendy placed her hand up to where her mother's had been,her cheek tingling and her mind somehow settled with this departure,feeling a part of herself fulfilled."I love you too,Mother."

A cool breeze swept against her body,as her father,Josh and his parents came out to join her so they could all return home.Knowing that no matter what,she would always try hard to accept life as it came by her for now,as love stretched into the very outreachs of time and space itself.And always would,no matter what fell onto their lifes now,it always would.

A/N:The story is NOT over! There's the little matter of settling things between Wendy and Cole...only THEN shall my story have reached it's finality.Thanks for keeping with me thus far.I never expected for it to last this long but I'm awfully glad it did.Until next time.

LP