Chapter Eighteen: Hayley and the Professor Hayley's Perspective

Still no sign of Kiara and Basil. Man, what's taking them so long? I stared out in the darkness through the windowpane. I heard no dog barking whatsoever. Big Sis, please be okay. I only hope that that mean rat, er, rodent didn't hurt you. Oh, boy. Getting use to a villain that just turned good is harder than I thought. I remember that night when I was shot in the arm, thinking that my life was over. But, I saw Kiara again. My Big Sis. Then, I saw him, carrying me. I was so scared. But, my sister was there, holding my hand. She was able to walk beside him. I do believe in Kiara that Ratman, er, whatever his name is, has changed. I just don't know how to get used to it. Jeez, I haven't seen that movie in a long time. Big Sis is such a fan of the Great Mouse Detective. It isn't my thing, but I understand that it is her passion, as well as music is to me. I wonder if Panic! At the Disco is playing right now. I wish I had my iPod with me so I could listen to it. I finally stepped away from the window and sat by the fireplace. Brr, I'm so cold. I rubbed my shoulders as AL came up to me.

"Any sign of them?" She asked. I shook my head. AL noticed that I was worried, so she changed the subject. "You got yourself a new haircut. You look good in it." Oh, yeah. That's right.

"I got it cut yesterday. However, even though it did look good, it was bringing sorrow to my parent's eyes." Big Sis has short hair like I do now. I guess getting it cut was a bad idea.

"Did you want it short?" AL asked me again.

"Yeah. You see, this is my second time coming here. You know, in this world."

"Really? What happened the first time?"

"Well, I was riding the bus home when all of a sudden; something grabbed me from behind. Now, I was in the back seat, which made me think that that was logically impossible. That's when everything went black. When I came to, I was in a chair, with him facing me. He had such a cold look on his face. Uh, what's his name again?"

"Ratigan, or as I call him 'Chunky Legs.'"

"Ha! Why do you call him—you know what? I'm not gonna ask. Anyway, I asked him where was I, but he didn't answer. He just kept staring at me. After a while, he looked away in a different direction. He stepped back to give me room to stand up. When I got up and turned around, Kiara was standing there. I was so thrilled to see her. I immediately ran to her and hugged her tightly.

"I thought for a minute that this was going to be the last time I ever saw her. She told me about how Ratigan was treating her with kindness and how he slapped her. I wanted to hit him so bad, but Big Sis wouldn't let me."

"She's your sister. It's her job to protect you, as well as it's mine to protect my brothers and sister."

"That was the reason. Then, Ratigan separated me and Kiara. I remember saying to him that I was done in any harm, she would kill Ratigan. When Ratigan took around the corner, I finally said something. I said, 'You hurt my sister again, I will kill you, too.' Obviously, he said nothing. He just pushed me into this…vortex or something."

"The time machine. The same thing happened when I tried to get him to let go of K.P."

"Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Anyway, when the doors were about to close, I heard my sister calling for me. I turned to catch a final glimpse of her. All I could say was, 'I love you, Big Sis.'" Tears started to swell up. I'm not the usual person that cries a lot, when I saw her that day; I thought that I would never see her again. AL gave me a hug.

"I wouldn't worry so much. You know, I thought I needed to protect her, but she's proved strong. Hell, she survived a whole week without me. It was tough on me, but I trust K.P. You should, too. So, cheer up, okay?" Big Sis said that we'll go home. I believe her. So, I'm keeping a positive attitude. Kiara, Big Sis, I believe in you. "Well, I'm heading off to bed. You coming?" She asked.

"Nah. I'm gonna stay up a little longer." I replied.

"Okay. Night night." She said and went to bed. Minutes must've passed when I started to doze off. Just then, a knock came across the front door. Could it be? I dashed to the door. Kiara, are you finally home? I opened the door, only to see a tall rodent in tuxedo, looking down on me. It's…..him. Fear was on my face. It was silent. Dead silent.

"Um, is Kiara here?" He broke the silence. I shook my head. I was afraid to speak. "I see. Sorry to have troubled you." He tipped his hat and started to walk away. For a second there, I thought he was about to do something. Maybe Kiara is right.

"Wait!" I called out to him. He turned around. "She went to see the queen to clear your name. Then, she was gonna go find you." I spoke up. He looked astounded.

"Oh." Was all he said. Maybe he might be not so bad. Well, Dawson and Ms. Judson are asleep. Maybe if I could….

"Would you like to come in? You can wait here until they come back." He smiled at me.

"Thank you, but I don't want to bother you."

"No, it's okay. I insist." I cannot believe I'm actually talking to him, even inviting him in. He smiled again.

"All right, then. I'll stay." He took off his hat and came in. He is so tall. I can see why people would be afraid of him. He even looks like he has the strength to lift people up just by the neck. He hung his hat up. I told him to sit in the red chair. Instead, he sat in the opposite chair facing the fireplace. Although I was a bit afraid, I tried my best to show kindness. I have to at least give him a chance.

"May I take your cape?" I asked him. He chuckled.

"You're so polite." Well, that was unusual for him to say. "No. I'll keep it on, but thank you." I sat in the red chair. Okay, so far, so good. Now, let's see. I want to start up a conversation, but I don't know what to talk about. This sucks. Come on, Hayley. You're a social girl. You know how to talk.

"I believe I was a bit rude back then when I brought you to see your sister." Ratigan spoke up.

"Huh? Oh, no. That's okay." I said.

"It's not okay. I was such a terrible person to you and Kiara. I apologize." Man, he's so formal.

"Don't worry about it." I replied.

"But, I do." He continued. "I have done terrible things to your family. I have taken away what was very important to your parents. Their daughters." I looked at him. He had sorrow in his eyes. He's actually serious about this. "I have made your sister suffer. Ever since I hit her that day, I felt so pathetic, so horrible." He started to message his temples. "I don't deserve to have my name cleared. I should've died from that fall." I got up from my chair.

"You're wrong, Ratigan." He looked at me. I have wanted to hit him so bad, but something stopped me. "My sister forgave you. And I forgive you as well. Yes, it's hard for me to forgive, but my sister saw something in you. You've changed. The last time I saw you, you were mean and cold and violent. But, I'm facing you right now, talking to you, and you haven't shed a single drop of rudeness to me. Don't you see that?" He kept looking at me. I bet he was thinking of what I said.

"You…you really think that I've changed?" He asked.

"Of course. You may not notice it, but you have. I've seen it. My sister's seen it. You used to be a sourpuss back then." He chuckled at my comment. Holy smokes, I made him laugh!

"Now I see why Kiara loves you so much. You have spirit, girl. And that's very good to have." I blushed at his compliment.

"Gee, no one has told me that."

"Guess I'm the first." He smiled. I smiled back.

"Yep!" Then, his ears perked up.

"OH, how rude of me. I'm afraid I never introduced myself properly."

"Oops. I didn't either. So, consider ourselves both rude." I added on. He laughed and slightly bowed.

"I'm Professor P. James Ratigan. And what is your name?"

"Hayley. Just Hayley, Professor." I curtsied.

"You can call me Ratigan." I noticed him initialing his first name.

"So, what's 'P'?" He started to turn red.

"It's a stupid name. You don't want to know."

"Aw, come on. It can't be that bad." He turned even redder.

"It's….Padraic."

I stifled.

"See? You're laughing." He spoke up, trying to keep his voice low, so no one would wake up.

"I was not. I simply stifled. There's a difference between laughter and stifling."

He laughed. "You're so full of it." He flicked my forehead.

"Hey!" I laughed along with him. I have forgotten my fear of him. Here I am, talking my Big Sis's favorite villain. Well, I'm afraid he's not a villain anymore. After that, we began to talk more. He told me his hobbies as I told mine. He was rather interested on the rock bands I listen to.

"Panic! At the Disco? That's such an odd name for a music group." He quoted.

"Once I get my iPod from home, I'll let you listen to it."

"iPod?" He questioned on the peculiar word.

"Oh, it's something you can listen to music with. You can have any kind of music you want on it."

"Oh, right, right. I saw your sister carrying one of those things in her room. Do you know what music she's got on it?"

"It's mostly Christian, show tunes, and Disney. She listens to that song you performed in the movie."

He blushed hard. "Oh, no. Not that one." I was surprised to remember some of it.

"Oh, Ratigan, Oh Ratigan, the rest fall behind…" I began to sing. He cupped my mouth.

"Stop! Stop! Bad memories! Bad memories!" We laughed again.

This is actually quite fun. He's brought out more of him out. From that cool, suave shell was a kind, generous, and funny person. I even made him smile and become embarrassed every time I would bring up that silly song he'd perform. It was not long when the door knocked again. I got up to answer it.

"Kiara! You're home!" I hugged her tightly.

"Hey, sorry it took so long. We couldn't find…" She stopped, only to see Ratigan sitting in a chair.

"Hello, Miss Kiara." He said. Basil stepped in. "Basil." Ratigan nodded his head in greeting.

"Professor." Basil did the same.

"You've been cleared, Ratigan. You're a free man." Kiara spoke up. He smiled.

"Thank you, but you didn't have to. I mean, after everything I've done to you…" He was soon interrupted.

"We all forgive you. I as well." Basil said. Ratigan looked at him in shock.

"You what?"

"It's hard to forget that painful experience. But, if we don't forgive, how can we live on? So, I'm willingly to set aside our rivalry. Will you?" Ratigan sighed, and then smiled.

"Yes. Shake hands on it?" He stuck out his hand and Basil shook it.

"Yay! Now, we can all live peacefully." I cheered. We all laughed.

"Well, I must be off. Otherwise, I might end up as a grouch in the morning if I don't get any sleep." Ratigan said. And for the first time, Kiara and I hugged him.

"Goodnight." We both said. He felt a bit surprised, but he smiled and hugged us back. He tipped his hat to Basil and went out. Kiara turned to me.

"What was he doing here?" She asked.

"Looking for you. I told him to stay, if that was all right."

"Oh, it's not a problem. He's family now. Where is everyone?"

"Sleeping."

Basil chuckled. "Well, it is late. We all need to go to bed. Goodnight, ladies."

"Goodnight." Kiara and I said. As we went up to our beds, Kiara stopped me.

"I forgot to tell you something."

"What?" She pulled me into a hug and said the words that made me feel happier than before.

"Don't you forget that."

"I won't." I got into a nightgown and slept in a bed that was facing the opposite of Big Sis's. Yeah, we're all family now. Nothing will break us apart. Kiara's words echoed in my head as I dreamt.

I love you, Lil' Sis. I love you.