Chapter 7: Lost and Found

Summary: OMG! What a crazy last chapter! What will happen with Ann and Tom? Felicity and Ithal? (Forgot about him didn't cha?) And I think we all know what will happen with Gemma and Kartik… or do we? Muahaha!

Suggested music:

Paragraphs 18-32: Where Are You? by J. Roman

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Time seems to have stopped, both Ann and Tom frozen like statues. I feel as though I could walk up and slap Tom for being the stubborn git that he is and he would have no idea. I restrain myself however and take them both in carefully. Ann is no longer trembling… in fact she looks quite regal, no longer gazing at Tom as if he were a god among men… but rather as a mere mortal… her equal. Tom, on the other hand, is a complete mess. His body is rigid, but every muscle seems to long for her. The unbearable pain in his eyes is heartbreaking… clearly he has suffered more from our deception than I thought.

Ann's mouth turns up at the corners as she gives Tom a slight smile. "Yes… it has been a long time. You look well."

Tom, still looking as though he had swallowed an abnormally large amount of arsenic, stutters, "My God Ann… I hardly recognized you… why you look…" But he never finished his thought. He appears to have remembered Ann's true status. But instead of replacing his normal mask of smugness, his face darkens with even more with despair.

"I have changed, yes… but I am the same person you knew before. I always will be…" I whip around to face Ann. Was she going to do it? Could she really…

"Tom, I know you are disappointed with me, but…" Tom raises a hand and cuts her off, his eyes plastered to the floor. His voice is low and chilling.

"Disappointed? Is that how you think I feel? Disappointed?" He lifts his smoldering gaze to her face. "That can barely describe how I feel. My heart has been ripped out of my chest, stomped on, and thrown into the gutter if you truly want to know. You lied to me. I'll admit my main interest in you was your newfound position in society. But as I became more acquainted with you, I felt as if I had found something… more. You were completely unlike anyone I had ever met before. You had compassion and intelligence, even if you were quite in timid. I began to hope that I had found someone not only perfect in social standing, but perfect for me. You might not have been the most attractive girl I had ever met before, but that didn't matter! I… fell in love with you. But it was all a lie. How could you do something like this? Manipulating me into caring for you? What made you do it, hmm? Maybe you just wanted to toy with me, see if you could hook a doctor with your lie? I bet you never cared for me. Only a cruel seductress would do such…"

"TOM!"

He jerks his head towards the sound of my voice, eyes burning with anguish. "This does not concern you Gemma! You have no idea the pain I have…"

"OH SHUT UP YOU STUPID NINNY!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "It has everything to do with me! Felicity and I came up with the lie! We couldn't stand the fact that we had our glorious futures handed to us and Ann would be left with nothing but thankless job as a governess or maid to look forward to! She deserves more! She's a better person than anyone could ever be! She has brains and strength and potential… it's just her stupid birthright holding her back! If you really want to know its not Ann that doesn't deserve you, it's you who doesn't deserve Ann! Never in my life have I been so embarrassed to have you for a brother you pompous, sniveling little…"

"Gemma please… Tom has a point," Ann says as she touches my hand softly. For her sake I stop… but deep down I'm simmering like a boiling pot of water.

"Tom, I lied to you and I was wrong. I deeply apologize. It was a childish, selfish thing to do. But I am not entirely to blame. Do you think you would have taken one look at me if I had not lied about my birthright?"

"Of course I would have! How absurd…" But he trails off as he realizes how stupid that sounds coming out of his mouth, the very mouth that told me to find him some wealthy girl for him to marry. "Well… perhaps not…"

"Then don't you see? I did whatever it took to be with you… that is how much I care for you… but I realize now that you must not care very much for me."

"What on earth are you talking about? I just told you I feel in love with you! How can you say my feelings are…?"

"Don't speak to me that way!" Ann shouts rather loudly. I'm so shocked I feel as though it is my jaw that has become unhinged this time. "Don't act as if you are the only one who has been hurt throughout this experience! I worked hard to change my life so I could be with you, but as soon as you find out that I am nothing but a potential maid, you cast me from your life without a second look! What kind of devotion is that?"

"What would you have had me do? Make you a Russian heir?" He walks up to Ann until his bulging eyes are mere inches from her face. I suppose he is trying to intimidate her. That might have worked on the old Ann, but not the new one. She has faced skin stealing water nymphs after all. Her beautiful, steely gray eyes bore into his without fear.

"No, of course not! But you could have stood by me! I would have done that and one hundred times more if you had been in trouble. That is what love is. I'm sorry I hurt you, I truly am. But if you had truly loved me, you could have at least tried to work it out."

Tom opens his mouth to retort, but can say nothing. He knows she has made a point… they were both wrong. The look of sadness returns to his face as he gazes into her eyes… but it is soon replaced by another emotion… admiration.

Without warning, he grabs Ann by the shoulders and places a hot, passionate, completely improper kiss on Ann's lips. Her eyes grow wide as saucers, her hands plastered rigidly at her sides. Felicity gasps with surprise. I know my jaw has popped out of its socket. After a few seconds, Ann is so overcome with happiness she throws her arms around Tom and deepens the kiss. I'm not sure weather to feel happy or… disgusted. After all, it's my idiot brother she is kissing… but I think I'll be happy for Ann.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON HERE!"

Tom and Ann's lips break away quickly, but they still hang onto each other for dear life. Felicity and I whip our heads around. Mrs. Nightwing!

"Ann Bradshaw! Why in God's name are you grouping this… Oh! Mr. Doyle! Why I'm… well…"

Tom turns timidly to face our powerful headmistress, still clutching Ann. "Good evening to you Mrs. Nightwing. Umm… well, this is quite awkward. I guess I'll have to make my announcement now… Mrs. Nightwing, I wish to court Ann Bradshaw."

Awestruck, Mrs. Nightwing sinks into a nearby chair. "My! Oh my goodness this is a surprise! Well… of course Mr. Doyle! What a marvelous choice! Ann is such a fine girl. I never thought she was suited for housework anyway. Well, come, come now, we should, umm… take a tour of the rose garden! Yes! We can discuss the terms of your courting and possibly… engagement. Right this way! I will meet you out there! But hurry along! It's getting dark!" And like the wind, Mrs. Nigthwing flies out the door into the garden, babbling on about propriety and engagement.

Tom turns his loving eyes back to Ann. "Well, have I begun to make up for my pigheadedness?"

Ann's eyes are filled with tears. "Well, it's a start!" She smiles and laughs harder than I have ever seen her laugh. Tom's smile is radiant as he wipes the tears from he face. He turns to Felicity and me. "So… it was your idea was it?"

I lift my chin defiantly. "Yes. But you best not get mad my dear fellow! This is the best thing that could have ever happened to you! You're very lucky!" I say with a mischievous smile.

Tom chuckles softly. "Yes, truly I owe you all of my happiness. Thank you Gemma… just don't ever do it again… lets be honest shall we? Luckily this worked out!"

"Of course Tom… I promise."

Tom smiles and gives me an appreciative nod. "And as for you," he says in a husky tone as he looks back to Ann, "I believe we have a great deal of catching up to do." His fingers trace the outline of her lips playfully.

Ann gives a very unladylike giggle. "Oh, believe me, you don't know how much I want to… catch up with you." Her smile is adorably and wickedly seductive. Finally, Ann has become the woman I know she could be.

"Well then my lady… let us start now." Tom slowly lowers his head to meet hers. He softly presses his lips against hers and gives her the most beautiful, innocent kiss I have ever seen… besides the ones Kartik has given me of course. They stand there for what seems like an eternity and a second all at once. Felicity and I look at each other with sly grins and quietly exit out of the academy, leaving the beautiful new couple to… smooch as Ann calls it.

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"That was the most bizarre turn of events I have ever witness in my entire life." I state incredulously to Felicity as we make our way towards the gypsy camp. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I knew all along that Ann was perfect for Tom, but never in a million years would I have thought he would swallow his unbearable snootiness and admit it!"

"Well… hopefully I can do the same Gemma… and hopefully Ithal will be as forgiving as Ann…" Felicity remarks quietly. We are standing on the outskirts of the camp. She wrings her handkerchief in her hands, her whole body shivering with anticipation. If this continues…

I grab her firmly by the shoulders. "Felicity. Get a hold of yourself. Ithal does not want to see a deflated Felicity! He wants his powerful, arrogant, wonderful Felicity! Just be yourself! That is who he fell in love with!"

She slowly nods. "Well, I don't know whether to be thankful for being called arrogant or not… but thank you Gemma."

"It's the least I can do my dear friend!" I say teasingly. "Now go and give him hell!"

"Gemma!" She giggles lightly. She turns to face the camp, takes a deep breath, and struts into the clearing towards his tent. Fortunately, the rest of the troop has gone to sleep. And perfect timing… Ithal has the night watch!

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I frantically scurry through the bushes to get closer to Ithal's tent. Eventually I find a spot with the perfect view of Ithal. He his playing a beautiful tune on his flute… I wonder if Felicity knew he played? Speak of the devil, here she comes!

"I haven't heard that song in a long time…"

Ithal whips his head around to face the beautiful creature speaking to him; the girl with the ice blue eyes and white gold hair who had stolen his heart nearly 2 years ago.

"I remember you used to play that for me every night I would sneak out here… it sounds… beautiful… yet sad…"

"Felicity! What are you doing here?" His tone is happy at first, and then it becomes stern. "Aren't you afraid to be seen with me? A dirty gypsy?"

"Ithal… I am so sorry. Let me explain…"

"I think you have explained enough Felicity. It pains me to say so… because even though you have cast me aside… I still love you. There has been no one else, no matter how hard I try to forget you. You have destroyed my life with your charm and your beauty… and your status. Please, do not torture me… let me just remember us as we were."

"But Ithal… that is not the reason I left you…" She drops her eyes to the ground, staring at her toes she was drawing circles in the dirt with.

He looks at her quizzically. "Really? Then what happened? Did I do something that bothered you? Please tell me Felicity…" He takes her hands in his, caressing them softly.

"No, no Ithal… you could never have done anything to have hurt me… I know how you care for me. I… was hurt by someone else… and I was afraid… that because of it, you wouldn't love me anymore… that you would think I was… filthy… because that is how I feel about myself…"

Ithal's face becomes clouded with fear and grief. "Felicity… nothing that anyone has done to you is your fault! You know you can tell me what has happened! I will help you through it!"

Felicity looks up into his eyes apprehensively. "Are you sure Ithal? What happened to me was… wrong… and it has damaged me terribly… will you be willing to stand by me?"

As quick as lightning, Ithal pulls her into a fierce embrace. "Of course Felicity! I love you more than anything in the world! I always have! I would protect you with my life… and I will help you with whatever you have endured."

After regaining her composure from being held in such a way, Felicity slowly brings her hands up to caress Ithal's back. "Oh Ithal… I have missed you… so much… I'm so sorry…"

Ithal draws steps back slightly to take her in. He raises he finger to her lips. "Shhhh… don't worry my love… I'm here. I understand… just let me have you… let me hold you… let me kiss you… forever."

Tears stream down her soft skin as she stares at the man of her dreams, the man who never truly left her. She buries her head in his chest and cries, pulling him roughly to her. Ithal rubs his hands against her back and her head, tears coming to his eyes as well. "Oh Felicity… what happened? Whoever hurt you… was a terrible, terrible person."

At first, I'm fearful Felicity will lash out, defending her father to the very end. But, once again, I am surprised. "Yes…" she whispers softly. "I finally see just how wrong he was… and just how I should be treated… how I should be loved…"

She lifts her head and places her hands against his cheeks. He closes his eyes and places his hand on top of hers, savoring her touch. And then… a beautiful kiss.

Seeing my work is done, I quietly slip away. Now that I have done my part for my friends, it is high time I get my reward.

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Awwwwwwww! I hope you guys liked it… I'm not sure if its as good… hopefully it is… I'm writing it pretty late. Haha! I really want to get some more Kartik and Gemma lovin going on! But… I thought I needed to give the other girls some fun too:D Anywho, thank you all for your lovely reviews! They make my day! I'll keep working on the next chapters! But for now… I need sleep.