Madianna- ;-D Thanks for your long review!

Guest- Don't worry, Loki and Sigyn will appear in this chapter! Also, Richard has to be the father, because that's what happened in real life. It won't make sense if Richard's not the father.

YorkistGirl- Yes, Richard is history. I guess they must have forgotten to use condoms this time!

"What do you want to call him?" Anne asked, watching as Richard gently took the baby from her arms and stared down at him in wonder.

"I-I-I…" Richard stuttered, eyes filling with tears. "I've never seen something so…perfect. He's beautiful."

Anne smiled.

"I- I want to name him after Ned. Is that okay?"

Anne nodded, still smiling. "I thought you might," she whispered. "You've always adored Ned."

"Yes. Even if he is an absolute arse at times!"

The two laughed and looked down at the baby, who slept peacefully in his father's arms.

"This must have happened in August…" Richard murmured.

Then his eyes flashed dangerously. "And you could have been pregnant with him when that bastard raped you?!" he seethed. "After this, I'm going to get a hammer and bash his head in!"

Anne placed a hand on his arm.

"No, Richard. Don't degrade yourself to his level. You're our boy's daddy now, that's all that matters."

Richard turned to look at her.

"Yes," he said," I am. And I won 't let him hurt you- or our boy- ever again."

"Oh, Richard…" Anne murmured, tears coming to her eyes, "I love you."

"And I love you, Anne. I love you so much. And our boy. Edward…"

"How about we nickname him Neddie? There are so many Edwards in our town."

He leant over and kissed her before pulling away, smiling.

"Neddie it is…."

They didn't notice Clifford, Somerset and Northumberland walk past, glaring at them through the open door.

"Wait 'till Margaret hears of this…" Clifford mumbled, motioning to the other two Lancastrian lords to follow him.

York was not going to win this fight. No, they were not.

Ned was thrilled to have his new nephew named in his honour. "Dickon, if my new baby is a boy, I'll name him after you," he said, hugging his youngest brother tightly. "After all, we York brothers have to stick together!"

May 31st 2013

"Students, we have a new student joining our form!" Mr Wilson smiled, clapping his hands together.

"Great!" George murmured, his head on the desk. "More potential kids to be burnt to cinders in fires…"

Richard patted his shoulder comfortingly. "It's okay, George."

"Shut up before I knock your teeth out."

"Oh. Ok."

"Class, meet Mollie Jackson. She's from the USA."

A young girl entered the room. She had bright red hair, similar to Hermia's but brighter, and bright blue eyes.

"Welcome to our form, Mollie," Mr Wilson greeted.

"Thank you, Sir."

"You can take… that seat there. Right next to George."

George's face shot up right off the desk, his eyes wide and pale from alarm and lack of sleep.

"No…" he murmured. He put his hand up. "Sir, she can't sit here!"

Mr Wilson raised an eyebrow. "And why not?" he enquired.

"This is Lennie's seat. She can't sit in it."

"George. We've been over this: Lennie's not coming back. He's most likely dead-"

"NO!"

George leapt up off of his seat, throwing the chair to the floor.

"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"

He stormed out.

"George!" Richard called.

"F*ck off!"

The door slammed.

The room was silent.

"Just sit in that seat, Mollie," Mr Wilson sighed.

"Yes, Sir."

George stormed down the corridor. How dare they?! HOW DARE THEY?! In front of his face! Lennie couldn't be dead. He couldn't be!

As he turned around the corridor, he bumped into Slim.

"Oh, hey Slim…" George mumbled. "I guess I didn't see ya there."

"No problem," Slim replied. "Are you O.K?"

"No. That bastard of a form teacher told me that Lennie was dead, Right in front of my face! And in front of everyone else, too!"

"Why'd he do that?" Slim asked, his voice calm.

"Because he was tellin' some new student to sit in Lennie's seat, and I wouldn't let 'im."

"Right."

Just then, another student came rushing past. She had strawberry blonde coloured hair and blue eyes. When she saw Slim, she sighed in relief. "Slim!" she called. "Can you help me find room S15?"

"Down the hall and down the stairs to your left," Slim replied. "And don't dawdle!"

"Yes, Slim!" she rolled her eyes, laughing. "God, loosen up!"

"Oh, I need to loosen up?"

"Don't act like Dad!"

"Oh, hahaha! Very funny!"

"That wasn't even a joke!"

"Sure it wasn't…"

"You two related or somethin'?" George interrupted, a half frown, half chuckle on his face.

"Yeah," Slim said. "She's my sister."

"Sister?" George echoed. "I never knew you had a sister."

"You don't remember? We were always playin' together back in California. When we was kids."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

The girl stepped forward. "George? You've grown!"

George concentrated on her face, trying to remember who this girl was. Then, an image came into his mind of him; Lennie, Slim and a young girl playing near the Sacramento River on summer days.

"Wait a minute… Christine? That was you who played with us on those summer days by the river?"

The girl smiled. "Hello, George."

George looked her up and down. She'd grown. She was no longer that small girl he remembered pushing on the swings, or teaching her to ride a bike or swim. She was…different. Grown up. Strangely attractive for some reason. George had never found any girls attractive at all.

He smiled.

"Hello, Christine," he said.

She looked around. "Where's Lennie? He's always with you, isn't he?"

"No," George shook his head. "Lennie… Lennie's dead."

"Sigyn!" Loki called from his bedroom. "Where's my coffee?"

"Hold your horses!" Sigyn called back. "It's coming!"

Loki rolled his eyes, sighed, and lay back on the pillow.

"SIIIIGGGGYNNNN!"

"WHHHAAAAATTTT?"

"I want my toast!"

"Loki, it's coming! Stop your whining!"

"I want you back in bed!"

"Well, I want you to shut your big mouth!"

"Bitch!"

"Love you too, Loki!"

"Gorgeous!"

"You're not helping!"

"Dead sexy in your birthday suit! I.e.: Naked!"

"You're gonna get it!"

Loki wolf-whistled.

Sigyn ran in, a cup of water in her hands. She threw it at Loki and ran out again.

Loki laughed. "Oh no, you don't!" he grinned, climbing out of bed and running after her. "You owe me an extra session of playtime!"

Richard helped lift up the boxes from the van and into Warwick's mansion. He's moved out of his family house and was now living with Anne, Warwick and their family. He was going to be sharing one of Warwick's many rooms with Anne, with Neddie sleeping in a crib next to their bed. He'd miss his family terribly, but he knew that this was for the best.

"Good luck son," York patted him on the back proudly. "You'll be a great dad. And come back as often as you like. I want to see more of my grandson."

Richard smiled. "Thank you, Father."

"I'm so proud of you, Richard. You'll do us all proud."

Richard turned and walked into the house, up the stairs, and into his new room. Correction. Their new room.

He smiled, looking around.

Everything just felt so right now.

"Everything is going to be okay now…" Richard thought, looking out of the window. "Nothing can go wrong now…"

June 22nd 2013

No sign of him. It had been five months and there was still no sign of Lennie at all. Nowhere at all. It was like he had disappeared of the face of the Earth.

George sighed as he packed a bag. Maybe it would be better if he just accepted that Lennie had probably died the night that he had disappeared. After all, Lennie couldn't look after himself at all, so what hope did he have of living on his own in the wilderness? None. None at all.

Yet George couldn't accept that completely. Not until he saw Lennie's dead body for himself, he wouldn't believe it.

Lennie had to be still alive. He had to be.

George zipped up the suitcase and the reached for his guitar and placed it into its guitar case. He'd need it where he was going.

As he picked up the suitcase by the handle and started to pull it along towards the open door of his bedroom- and also picked up his guitar as well- Aunt Clara approached him.

She hugged him.

"Now you look after yourself, George, you hear me? You go and enjoy yourself. You've done your exams, what results you get do not matter now. You go and take a good break. O.K?"

George nodded.

"Yes, mam."

Aunt Clara's face softened.

"Oh, George…" she sighed. "I've always thought of you as another son- a brother to my dear nephew…"

George lowered his head, looking at the ground.

"And your mother and father would be proud of you for tryin' so hard in your exams…"

Nothing.

"I am, George. I'm very proud of you."

George looked up, his brown fringe covering the top of his eyes.

"I'll never stop lookin' for him, Aunt Clara. I promise."

"George, my nephew is long gone. I don't want you to spend your life always lookin' for him."

"My life has always been centered around him. That won't ever change."

"You just have fun, George."

George nodded and walked out of the door.

As he walked out of the house and down the street, he was met by Slim, who also pulled along a suitcase of clothes.

"Hey George!" he called. "You lookin' forward to this trip to France?"

"As long as they don't force snails down our throats, I am!"

"I can't believe that the school could afford this after all that's happened. I'm surprised that it wasn't cancelled."

"Me too. Hey, do ya think that we'll end up sharing rooms with French students?"

"I think we're off to a Youth Hostel."

"Cool. I think we're in a music competition or somethin' like that. Which explains why literally everyone we know is goin'."

"A competition with a sister school in France with a French hating King… I think we'll be fine."

"By the sounds of it, those Frenchies want to kick our asses. That's why the trip wasn't cancelled. The French want a war."

"Well, they won't be getting' anywhere with Hal on board!"

"You can say that again!"

The two laughed as they approached the school building, the giant coach roaring away near the doors. Richard stood with Anne, a baby sling holding 1-month-old Neddie in place against his chest. He took Neddie out and handed him to York.

"Take good care of him," Richard said. "His neck muscles aren't strong enough for him to support his head yet."

"I know! I know!" York laughed. "I've fathered seven children, Dickon! You included! I know how to look after a baby."

He looked down at Ned and bounced him happily up and down in his hands. "You and I are going to have a fun time with Grandpa and Grandma and your aunties aren't we, Neddie?"

Neddie cooed and gurgled excitedly in response.

"See. He's happy already. He'll be fine."

Richard bent over and kissed his son's soft head. "Grow strong, Neddie. I love you very much."

Neddie reached out at the touch with a clenched fist, cooing.

Anne kissed his head. "I love you, my precious boy. Be good for your grandparents."

Neddie cooed and reached out again.

"He'll be fine," York assured. "He's in good hands."

"For now, Edouard's in a deep coma. Let's hope he stays in it for the next two months," Richard replied.

"Indeed," York nodded. He turned to Anne and gave her a quick hug. "Stay safe, my dear."

"You too," Anne smiled. "You look after yourself, York. And our little munchkin here."

She tickled Neddie under the chin, who wriggled in response, grunting.

"I will. I promise you, he will be safe with me and Cecily."

Hal leaned over out of his window, banging the side of the coach loudly. "Hey, lovebirds! Get your York asses in the coach!"

"Yeah!" Mercutio chirped, leaning out of the window next to Hal's, "Get your asses in the coach!"

"We're coming!" Richard replied. "Hold your horses!"

"We're on a coach, you dumbass!"

"Yeah, I know!"

Richard turned back to his father. He took off the baby sling and held it. Anne took Neddie from York, then Richard handed him the sling. York placed the sling on and then placed Neddie securely inside it. He smiled down at the baby, before looking up at the young parents with serious, yet loving eyes. "I promise you, he will be safe with me."

Richard smiled. "I know. Thank you, Father."

He hugged his son and father one last time before picking up his suitcase and heading towards the coach.

Anne stayed behind for a moment. York smiled fondly at her. "I'm glad that you and Dickon are together," he said.

"What?" Anne turned her head to face York, surprised.

"I always hoped that you would be with my boy. You're perfect for him. I can't think of any other women that would good enough for him. I'm glad it's you, Anne."

Anne blushed. "Thank you, Sir."

"Please. As far as I'm concerned, you're family. In fact, you are family already, but even more so. Call me York. No need for Sir."

"Ok, York."

A big smile broke out on York's mature-middle aged face.

"Thank you, dear," he beamed. "Now. Your adventure awaits!"

"Bye, Slim. Bye George."

Christine smiled at the two taller men, her blue eyes shining. "Try not to annoy any birds this time."

"Ehem. That bird just happened to be in the way. I couldn't help it if it got mad," Slim grinned.

George looked confused. "Bird? What bird?"

"It's a long story, George. I'll tell you on the coach."

"Hey," George frowned, looking behind Christine and narrowing his eyes, "isn't that the new student watchin' us?"

The other two turned around to see Mollie watching them with curious, yet narrowed eyes by the door to the school.

"Yeah, it is," Slim said. "What's she doin' here?"

"Beats me." George replied. "She must be a loner."

"That's mean," Christine frowned. "She's new. She must have come to see what all the fuss was about."

"She's not even goin'," George replied.

"I'm not either, yet I'm here- sayin' goodbye to you two. Does that make me a loner?"

George smiled. "Well, maybe…"

She punched his arm playfully. "Watch it, Milton. You're headin' for a punch in the face if you don't shut ya trap!"

"I'm quivering in fear!"

"Oi!"

Slim laughed. "Well, I can see not much has changed! I'm goin' to put our suitcases in the coach."

He picked up the two suitcases and headed towards the coach.

George chuckled. "I can't believe I forgot about my days in California," he smiled. "They're the happiest memories that I have."

"You were so serious, even as an eight year old."

"Well, I had to be when I had Lennie to look aft-"

He stopped, looking at the ground in sadness. Christine placed a hand on his shoulder.

"George, I'm not going to say it's O.K, because it's not. You will always remember the good times that we had with him, and we'll help you through it. If you want to talk to me about it, then you can. Whenever you want. Slim and me will help you. We'll be there for you always. Just know that, George."

George didn't say anything. He simply lifted up his hand and took hers off of his shoulder. But he didn't let go of it.

"Thank you… Thank you, Christine."

Slim came back. He hugged his sister goodbye, telling her to stay out of his alcohol stash, before going to take his seat on the coach.

George took a deep breath. "I'll be fine. " He turned to face Christine. "I always am."

"You stay safe. Look after yourself."

"Of course."

"I'll look after Aunt Clara for you. Keep her happy."

George smiled. "Thank you. She'll appreciate it."

She nodded in the direction of the coach. "Adventure awaits you, George. Enjoy it. Knock those French out of the park."

"I will."

She hugged him briefly, and waved as he picked up his guitar case and headed in the direction of the coach. When she saw them sitting by the window, she waved again and they waved back.

As Edward and Edmund approached the coach- Ned wearing a Hawaiian t-shirt and black sunglasses- York grabbed them by the collars of their shirts and pulled them back towards him.

"You two better behave in France, or you'll never see the light of day again. I will not have our family name and reputation tarnished by your childish pranks! Got it?" he hissed.

"Yes, Father!" they yelped, struggling to get free.

"Good. Or you'll be scrubbing the house for a year! With your toothbrushes!"

The two gulped. York let them go and they fled into the coach.

"Those two, eh, Neddie?" York sighed. "Look!" he lifted up a chubby baby hand. "The coach is leaving now! Shall we wave goodbye to Mummy and Daddy? Bye, Mummy! Bye, Daddy! Come back soon!"

He waved Neddie's hand from side to side.

"Bye Mummy and Daddy!" he smiled. "Come back soon!"

"This is going to be awesome!" Mercutio cheered. "Two months off school to piss off foreigners and beat the crap out of them in a singing competition!"

"Woohoo!" Hal yelled, high fiving Mercutio and throwing a fist in the air. "France, here we come!"