A/N: Apologies for the long delay. Writing this chapter was difficult, it took 3 re-writes before I even considered it ready for a second draft revision. Thanks for be so patient and I hope you enjoy the next installment of Through the Clouds.

Chapter 4: A Dinner for Dying Dreams

Rhydian shuffled from the tall, pine wardrobe to the twin-sized bed and back, pulling from the hangers some of his white button-down dress shirts he wore at the butcher shop and "neatly" folded them into his grey duffle bag. While he enjoyed the time with his family, he had spent most of it distancing himself in an effort of avoiding a relay of questions as to why he and Laura were "taking a break." The mere idea a couple could still be committed to each other but agree to separation was beyond Ceri's comprehension, so on a daily basis (often during breakfast) she would ask how long a break usually lasted and what their status was. Sometimes, his father would chime in with some half-cocked advice that Rhydian was certain to be more harmful than helpful. Opening the left side of the wardrobe, he pulled out the top draw and began loading some socks, briefs, and white undershirts into the overnight bag. "How long are you going to stare? It's creepy." Rhydian muttered, closing the top draw and moving on to the middle one.

"I'm really sorry, Rhydian," Bryn said from the doorway he was leaning in.

"I just - why?" he sighed, closing the draw roughly, and deciding to neglect the last one in favor of turning to his younger brother.

"I just figured they knew." Bryn had his hands pushed in his pockets. "They're part of your pack. Why would you not tell 'em?"

"Because they never needed to know!" Rhydian shot back, his anger rising. Feeling a need to do something with his hands that wasn't punching a brother in the face, he slid forward the bottom draw.

He could hear the floorboards creek as Bryn carefully entered Rhydian's space . . . a bold move for a Wolfblood. From the corner of his eye, the elder brother caught his younger sibling exhale noisily and rub the back of his head. He swayed, moving his weight from one foot to another in uncertainty.

Bryn wasn't known for his social skills, and often felt uncomfortable when it came to being near Naturals, even though he was familiar with Tom and Shannon. Feeling sorry for Bryn and knowing he would never mean to hurt him, Rhydian's anger began to dissipate like fog early in the morning.

Pulling out the last pair of sweats, he stood to full hilt and dropped them in the duffle bag. Zipping it up, he swallowed the last of his displeasure at the memory of last night's dinner fiasco.

"I've been on many, many wild goose chases looking for Mad - the Smith family, trying to find out what happened to them . . . At some point, you need to know when to call it quits. If you don't, you could lose what is most important to you . . . maybe even yourself." He sighed, dragging his hand down his face as if he screwed his eyes shut hard enough, it would just shut away the whole problem. "I didn't tell anyone because it would have only re-opened old wounds and given 'em false hope." Rhydian couldn't meet his brother's eyes. Memories from when he and Maddy would walk the rim of her family's property, deep in conversation - usually about school or some teenage drama - oh, what he would do for that time back. Clearing his throat, he looked about the room, checking he had everything.

Bryn didn't say anything else about the night. His eyes lingering on the bag. "Where you headed off?"

"I got a text from Laura. We're gonna meet for lunch and then it'll be back to her - our place, yah?"

"So, things are better then?"

Rhydian narrowed his eyes, trying to weed out if Bryn was skeptical or saddened to hear they were reconciling. "Um, no, not yet. But once we talk, she'll see that I have moved on and put this absurd search behind me."

"Right." Bryn's expression hardened as if he was seeing through his brother's soul and Rhydian shifted as if trying to shrug off the hold.

"I need to find mum and dad and let them know I'm heading back to the city." He squeezed passed Bryn who had resumed his leaning in the doorway. "Take care, little brother," he dismissed, clapping him on his shoulder.

The whir of automobiles as they whizzed through the main streets of the city, commuters jogging to catch the next train would usually grate on Rhydian's nerves, but having lived away from it, there was a novelty he hadn't felt since he first moved in with Laura. An imaginary movie played in his mind - one where she immediately was overcome with emotion at the sacrifice he had made to forgo searching for the Smiths, his devotion to her so strong they race to the chapel and wed immediately, living happily-ever-after. With the chapel bells still swinging and the organ music dancing about behind his eyes, he adjusted the shoulder strap of his duffle bag and quickened his pace. Stopping at a florist on the way, he purchased a lovely bouquet of red roses and as he paid, spotted some business cards. Chatting idly with the young girl at the counter, he accepted a small brochure from her and left.

"This is perfect," he confirmed to the waiter, the spot was outside at the corner of the street, giving a view to the gardens across the way, the fragrant smells from the blossoming flowers wafting gently to them. The umbrella overhead perfectly shaded them from the harsh glare of the sun. Additionally, he could carefully stow his duffle bag behind the tall cement planter behind him. While he felt confident about mending their relationship and picking up where they had left off, he didn't want to come across as arrogant.

For once, the cafe they agreed on was casual dress. While he enjoyed watching Laura have a grand time at the luxurious places that required a jacket and tie, the dress code made him itch and he always felt watched - which was often true.

A gentle breeze crossed and Rhydian could feel Spring trying to break through the tingling wall that was winter. The waiter returned and placed two menus in front, asking if Rhydian wanted to place his drink order. Nervous to make any wrong moves, he shook his head and elected to wait for his ex-girlfriend to arrive. Relaxing at the beauty of the gardens on the other side, he adjusted some of the silverware as he laid the cloth napkin across his lap. Allowing his mind to wander as he waited, it slowly descended to the dinner he had a week ago with his family and friends. In an effort to cheer Rhydian up, Ceri had invited Jana, Tom, and Shannon to dinner. Going above and beyond, she prepared a vast spread, including more Natural dishes than usual and ensuring everything was thoroughly and properly cooked.
Rhydian hummed, looking up and down the street for signs of a tall, fit, blonde coming to meet him. A small voice inside his head sneered, laughing that he was being stood up. Shaking his head, not wanting the voice to grow or more importantly, be true, he sank back into last week's dinner fiasco.

The dinner had started a little rough as often happens when Bryn is included. After leaving the pack as a youngster, not even able to fully transform, Bryn eventually landed in Denmark, having found a Wild Wolfblood Pack that was less progressive and stuck closer to the old ways. Yet, once a year, Bryn made a trip to visit his mother and brother. He was still warming to Gerwyn, his transgressions not so easily forgiven. So any social situation that was devoid of Wolfblood tradition always put Bryn on edge and therefore everyone else. However, the gained experience of knowing a Wolfblood (wild or tame), Shannon and Tom allowed for Bryn to warm up to them in his own time by oddly enough ignoring him.

"It was going so well," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes with both hands.

"Was it?" Came a feminine voice. Startled by her arrival, he clumsily tried to stand but she shush him, her cheeks reddening as others began to stare. She gestured for him to sit as she did herself, and Rhydian mentally cursed himself as he wanted to pull her chair out like a gentleman.

"I'm glad you're here. I was worried - "

"That I wouldn't show? Can't imagine how that feels."

Rhydian winced at the sting of her words and cleared his throat, looking down at his empty plate.

Drumming his fingers on the table, shifting through mental note cards he had created to make the lunch perfect, he jumped to the flowers he had laying, hidden behind him. Catching a glimpse of the duffle bag, he felt suddenly foolish for having packed it. If the first few moment were anything to go by, he would be returning to his parents' home tonight.

"I bought these for you?" Handing her the flowers, he quickly extracted the a small business card and brochure from his back jean pocket. "I also picked these up." He placed them gently in front of her.

"What are these?"

Her mouth left agape as he wasn't sure if she was being serious because it was clear what they were. "Um," he mumbled. Seeing the server return, his side swept brown locks getting in his eyes, the young man nearly collided with their table. He smiled at them, prepared to take their order, but Rhydian wasn't sure he still had an appetite.

Laura ordered a simple chicken Caesar salad, while Rhydian ordered a double cheese burger and fries, feeling a glutton as the two plates were dropped in front of them no much later. Though, he was happy for the quick service as not much had been exchanged between the two of them.

Silence continued as they munched on their meals, Rhydian searching for any sign that Laura was enjoying her food . . . or anything. Peering up every few seconds as he eagerly awaited for her to take the lead, not wanting to feel pushy. He had devoured the remainder of his burger and was halfway through his fries, when he he came to the conclusion he was going to be have to be the one to break the silence. "Uh," Rhydian began, "I would like to get back together. A last chance."

"Don't you mean second chance?"

He chuckled, "No, I mean a last chance, because I only ask for one more. It's all I need, I swear."

Laura tilted her head, as if considering each word's validity. "Rhydian, I just don't know . . . You seem awfully cocky about this and that leads me to believe this is just a show."

Reaching over for her hand, but stopped as she pulled away. "I am terribly sorry. I can't understand what it must feel like." Except, he did. He knew what it felt like, to want something that it ached. "I want to try again, we can start - "

"This isn't a video game, Rhydian," she snapped, looking around quickly. "You can't just pick up where we left off." She seemed to remember the business card and brochure and upon seeing the pictures of weddings marketed on the front, rolled her eyes. Pointing at him with the brochure, she responded exasperated, "Really?"

Rhydian leaned back in his chair, this wasn't going how he had planned. "I just thought . . ." He sighed, realizing he may have - he definitely overstepped - with trying to find a new florist for a wedding he wasn't sure would happen. "What would you like, Laura? You had to have some idea of what I was looking for when I asked you out to lunch." He discarded his napkin in a huff, so it lay crumbled on his plate.

"Actually, I was half expecting you to tell me you found Maddy and are getting married," she quipped.

Rhydian smiled, but he wasn't sure as to why. He let out a long sigh. "I haven't searched for her, at all. I really meant it when I said I put the search behind me. I've accepted that I may never find her or know what happened." He watched some cars pass and waited as their server checked in with them. "I . . ." his voice lowered to such a quiet whisper that Laura needed to lean in, "I may have even lost my friends over it . . . But, I really do believe in us."

It was clear his statement caught her off guard, as her jaw nearly hit the table, "What happened?" she asked. "What do you mean lost your friends?"

They had been divining in, chatting about current events, what was going on, the baby what was on its way. It was just what Rhydian needed to take his mind off the recent separation. Heck, even Tom only had to poke his wife once in the shoulder not to press Rhydian about the abrupt break up with his fiancee. Feeling lighter than hen had in days, he stood to help his mother clear the table for dessert. It was at that moment - with one question - that everything seemed to spiral into chaos. In hindsight, he wondered if he it would have been better to let Shannon just pester him leaving Bryn with nothing more to do but listen. Sadly, with no one to really to really act as a blockade for Bryn, he was left defenseless like a baby fawn. As Rhydian pulled some small dishes from the cupboard, he could see Jana turn to his younger brother, smiling as she asked, "How did you like the city?" It was a simple question, really. Nothing in itself malicious - but all too honest, it was the unforeseen key to Pandora's Box. Bryn answered that he could not live there himself, but found the experience informative as to how Naturals lived and would bring what he had learned back to his pack to help them understand the world outside better. He could have ended it there, but Rhydian supposed he felt uncomfortable by the staring and deemed it necessary to continue to talk. And so Bryn added hastily that what he enjoyed most was chasing Rhydian through the city as it reminded him of their time together when they were younger. At this Rhydian, let the last plate drop into the sink with a crash.

"Wait," Laura cut off, holding her hand up to stop him. At this, the server returned to pour her coffee and leave a small container of creamer. "So, Bryn . . . ." With a pause, she added, "Am I missing something? What's so horrible about what he said?"

Groaning as he didn't really want to relive it, he explained. "Much like you, Jana didn't quite understand, so she followed up her question with another." At this, Laura made an 'oh' with her mouth as understanding struck like a ton of bricks. "Bryn went on to explain that he had chased me because I was chasing a woman I believed was Maddy. That answer then led to Shannon asking why I had thought the woman was Maddy, and before I could stop it, the whole thing blew up," he finished, pounding the table with his fist so the cups rattled. "Why did you think it was her?" "What?" Rhydian looked at her confused, wondering why she cared.

"Why did you think it was her?"

Caught off guard, he fumbled to answer. Taking a slow sip of water to gather his composure, he nonchalantly replied. "Her scent. It was on the long cover the woman was wearing or somethin'." He looked away for a second, remembering the shock of seeing - not Maddy - but a stranger.

When he looked back across the table, he was surprised to see her looking right back at him. Instead of the harden facade she had been wearing was sympathy and sorrow. "You never said you smelled her scent. You just told me you just thought it was her," she filled-in in a quiet voice.

"Oh, yeah, well, either way . . . it wasn't her," he said with a shrug.

"So, Bryn told the truth and you're mad at him? Seems a little unfair to him."

"I'm not mad!"

Laura folded her arms, and gave him an incredulous look.

"I'm not mad . . . much," he repeated somberly. "It's just that it was going so well until . . ."

"Want to talk about it?"

Shannon shot up to her feet with remarkable speed for someone who was entering her second trimester of pregnancy. Slamming her hands down on the table, "You had no right to withhold that information. We have lost valuable ti- "

"We didn't lose anything because we're not looking for her. It's over. No more," Rhydian snarled, the plates clattering as he set them down on the counter and approached the table.

"What was the name of the place that she got it from?" Shannon asked, her attention redirected back to Bryn, who looked to be growing ever more paler by the second.

"I . . . I don't . . ."

"That's enough," he commanded, pausing to look at everyone. Ceri was still holding the cake mid-transit from the kitchen to the table. Gerwyn looked from Shannon and Rhydian, still chewing the last of dinner. "We need to stop," Rhydian said more calmly. "She's not coming back. We need to let this die. For everyone's sanity and future."

"You mean, let her die," Shannon said in a trembling voice. Rhydian gulped watching stray tears escape from under his friend's thick rimmed glasses. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself, he needed to be strong. He was their Alpha and as such, needed to do what was best for them all, even if they couldn't see it.

"So, that's it," Tom began in a small voice. "You decide what we all do, just like that?" he said with a snap of his fingers. Looking from his wife to his best friend, Tom suggested, "I think . . . I think we all just need to step back and - "

Shaking his head, "No, not this time. No more. It's time to bury it, mate. We've got to move on, bigger things are happening," he reminded Tom, gesturing to his unborn child that was expected to make his or her grand entrance later that year.

Jana stood, and Bryn who was seated between them seemed transfixed where he looked like he wanted to leave but couldn't communicate such a wish to his muscles. The energy seemed electric and it felt as if an infinite amount of possibilities could explode from the next few seconds. "Rhydian, regardless of your feelings or wishes, this is a Segolia matter - "

"One that was thoroughly mishandled," he interjected. "It's a closed case - a cold case - and I doubt they want to waste anymore time tracking down flimsy leads. Isn't that what they told you? Warned you to drop it or it would effect your consideration with them for better opportunities." He could tell by the way her nose twitched he had struck a nerve.

Ceri delicately set down the cake. "Perhaps if we take some time - "

"No . . . no more time. The search is over."

The silence was overwhelming, seeming to fill every crevice of the old farmhouse.

"It's not the only thing that's over," Shannon answered. Squeezing passed her husband, they watched her leave without saying anything further.

"Thanks for the lovely dinner," Tom said toward Ceri and Gerwyn, haphazardly collecting his wife's purse and his jacket that were hanging from the back of the chairs.

Rhydian could feel Jana's glare boring into him, but he refused to look at her, his eyes fixed on Tom's retreating form.

"Jana," Tom called from the door, his eyes darting outside to where Rhydian was sure Shannon was pacing by the car, mumbling to herself.

Jana looked as if she wanted to say more, maybe threaten him, but she simply turned away from him, her hair whipping about, causing Rhydian to flinch. She patted Bryn's shoulder, murmuring something along the lines of having enjoyed seeing him before following the same path Shannon used, sidling passed Tom as he held the door open for her.

Rhydian watched her go, his eyes falling on his best mate, whose face was a mix of pity and disappointment. Nodding to the group of remaining Wolfbloods, Tom gently closed the door behind him.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Laura blurted out.

"Funny, it's exactly what my father said . . . albeit a little nicer," he muttered, clasping his hands and leaning his forehead on them. "I thought you'd be impressed that I finally let it go."

Laura laughed in a way that was clear to Rhydian she felt otherwise. She opened her mouth but quickly closed it. She rested her head in her hands and sighed. It was quiet and Rhydian was certain he would be taking the black cab back to the farm.

"What are you doing for the full moon tonight?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "It's been kind of tense . . . you know?"

"I'm probably . . ." She stopped to look out at the passing cars, smiling the way she did on their first date and he spilt his drink on her because he was so nervous. Turning back to him, the warmth of her smile seemed to have found refuge in her eyes, "Would you like to join us, my pack . . . tonight?"

"Really?"

"No one should be left to traverse the moon alone, not even an idiot like you."

Rhydian's smile fell, but he was still relieved.

"I have some things to do before tonight, so we can meet at our usual spot up at the park that's located on the edge of the city, okay?"

Realizing it wasn't quite the invitation he had been hoping for, he nodded, quickly wondering what he'd do with the duffle bag he had packed. "Tonight. See you then," he agreed.

He stood as she did, but shuffled- stepped when she merely waved instead of hugging as she usually did when leaving. Dodging an awkward moment, the server swooped in to check they were both not leaving. While Rhydian took care to assure him they were not doing a "dine n' dash", he sat back down while the check was retrieved and paid for the meal.

Remembering his gym membership, he stored the travel bag in his locker and walked about the city until it turned dark. Ignoring the peculiar look from the driver, as they pulled up to the deserted park, the last rays of light illuminating the trees behind him, he quickly paid and saluted him. Jogging up the trails that had been long abandoned, he kept looking back to see if it was all clear. With the taxi just a dot in the growing darkness, Rhydian transformed into his wolf-form and headed north to meet Laura and her pack. He could already hear their howls in the distance. Racing across the hills, leaping over fallen trees, he pushed hard with each step, knowing this was his moment to show her how committed he was and finally prove what their relationship was worth to him.

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