Hi Everyone.

So this is it.

It probably doesn't feel like the end to everyone reading this but I have grown quite attached to this story and I'm truly saddened to see myself ending it.

However, this is the Prelude: Finale.

I was originally going to post my finale as two chapters but this chapter somehow feels so like a part of it that I feel it deserves to be so. Therefore, it is my prelude leading in to the two finale chapters.

I hope you enjoy it

Thanks so much for reading.

Finally, I hope everything turns out how you would like it to. I've done my best to give everyone a happy ending, unfortunately someone doesn't…

AND: I apologise firstly for any mistakes you may find. My spellchecker is not working and I forgot to proof read before I uploaded. And it won't let me change the text one here! Secondly, sorry for the ludicrously long author's note.

Teehee.

Ben

Chapter Twelve- Finale Prelude- Forever Is Tomorrow Is Today: Part One

People come and go all the time.

They wave hello and say goodbye.

They pack up their belongings and leave.

This happened on Wisteria Lane very regularly. My friends rarely noticed the faces that came and went from their neighborhood. That was of course, until their departure had lasting effects on their own lives.

Gabrielle and Carlos' marriage had been bursting with excitement. Everyone had said so at the time. It had been full of spontaneous, extravagant, lasting excitement. This had been their strength.

This was almost certainly the underlying reason of why he had found his new relationship so boring. It had been so very mundanely, mind numbingly, worryingly boring. This had been the soul reason for their breakup the previous evening.

As Carlos laid his clothes out on his bed beside the open suitcase, he reflected on the argument that had ensued after he announced to Mindy that she was, to be quite frank, dull.

He hadn't anticipated his remarks to be so harrowing and cruel. But as he had found himself spouting a vicious tirade at his lover he couldn't seem to help himself. Carlos had always been proud of the fact that he treated women with great respect, but he could not bring himself to find respect for a woman who breeded snails and worked at Macy's. No matter how hard he had tried.

Placing the remainder of his clothes in to his tatty suitcase his Mother had given him, he leaned over and took the photo he had secretly been keeping in his chest of draws for months. Carlos grinned as Gaby's infectious smile beamed back at him, her inviting eyes melting his hardened exterior. Realizing his bizarre obsession with a framed photograph, he put it carefully in to a cushioned pocket and zipped it up.

He stood there silently for a moment in his now empty flat. If he didn't leave soon he wouldn't arrive at the motel until after it had closed. Suddenly, he unclasped his case and rummaged through it, took the photo out and slung it back into the draw from where he had originally gotten it from.

Then, he left the flat and didn't look back.

Eliza found it extremely difficult to carry her luggage with one arm in a sling. After going to the ER on Thursday evening, the attending had regrettably delivered the blow that she had broken two bones in her right arm.

After being asked how she obtained the injuries she herself had revealed quite a startling revelation. A friend of hers had attacked her that evening. She insisted she did not wish to make any sort of fuss or big deal out of it. But the nice young woman had naively told her that this sounded like an issue that the cops should deal with. It could be classed as assault. Feigning surprise, Eliza said that she was shocked and didn't realise that they dealt with this kind of incident.

"Oh but they do."

Eliza grinned at the thought of the cops arriving on Wisteria Lane and hauling Lynette away. Right in front of the startled, intrigued neighbors. The whole street would come out to see the grand event. Eliza knew that for a fact because she had observed that that whole god damn neighborhood thrived on the downfall of others. Eliza was just grateful that she could feed their taste for the misery of others.

Now she was not a dim young woman. She knew that she could not just leave town after giving her statement. But she also knew that it was only a matter of time until-

As if on cue her cell phone began to vibrate in her back pocket.

"Hello?" she answered, casually.

"What do you mean? Slow down, slow down. Tom I really have no idea what you're talking about. I'm at the station now; in fact I'm going to be late for my train. Arrested? Oh my God. Well you best come collect me then."

PAST:

New York

Like her daughter, Sandra Britt knew how to lie. She tried to tell herself that her daughter hadn't learnt the trait from her and that she was just a deceptive bitch; but this was unfortunately untrue.

"According to our records Ms. Britt you were the last person to see Sophie Bremmer before she fled town"

"Oh. Okay then."

"Did she indicate where she was going at all?"

"No. Not at all, she told me she planned to go browse the local stores for new furniture in the afternoon"

"Bollocks!"

Yes, Sandra Britt knew exactly how to lie. She also knew what to do when confronted with a furious gentleman.

She leaned forward and kissed the detective.

PRESENT:

Gabrielle at the very least had not found her Mother's visit to be a pleasant one. Over the past two months she had found her only Parent's effort to cheer her up disappointing. Interesting, but still disappointing.

But as Gaby prepared to bid farewell to her Mother until the next time she decided to get married or needed money for breast enlargements, she felt a sudden urge to tell her to stay. She couldn't face being left alone again.

The taxi pulled away and it dawned on Gabrielle that the thought of being alone only scared her so much because it was exactly what she needed. And if she'd found what she needed, maybe that meant she didn't need Carlos anymore.

PAST:

New York

After being granted bail with immediate effect by the charming Detective Inspector at the county general, Sandra returned home to check upon her daughter. She knew that she would have nothing to worry about, Edie was very capable of taking care of herself but still, she could never forgive herself if something had happened to her.

Sandra would never let her offspring know this, but she still would never forgive herself.

She found Edie snuggled up in bed. Waking her gently, she told her that they needed to do something for her friend Sophie. Edie yawned and then nodded; she seemed to understand what needed to be done.

It was a cold morning in the centre of the city and the crisp air made Edie's ears burn. She pulled her hat over them to try and keep them moderately warm. Her Mother was shaking, but Edie knew that wasn't due to the cold.

As they turned a corner and crossed the road to the opposite sidewalk Edie spotted the children's home looming in the distance. It didn't look very friendly. It certainly didn't look like a particularly nice place to take a baby either.

But as her Mother left the bassinet on the step Edie felt as if they were giving her a nice start to life. It must have been the right thing to do anyway. Sophie had said she couldn't cope with two babies anyway. Edie's Mother had called it selfish, Sophie had called it practical.

PRESENT:

Ian had been glad when Susan Mayer hadn't pulled away when he kissed her.

She was now looking directly at him, her expression vacant and her eyes hollow.

"What?" he asked.

She did not answer so he went in to kiss her again.

"Don't." she said. "Just don't."

"What do you mean? I thought this meant-"

"I don't know what this meant Ian."

Ian heard Mike's SUV pull up on to the drive.

"I need you to leave. Now."

"But Susan-"

"We'll sort this out later. But you need to realise I'm back with Mike now. For good. Now go, please..."

People come and go all the time.

It is a real shame that my friends only realise it half of the time.

Because then maybe they wouldn't lose the people they so desperately need...

TO BE CONTINUED