Khgirl08: Hey, hey, hey!

Ellie: -sulks- Hi. I'm giving out ice cream cake this time, if your name is on this list that is.

Danielle (yes, still the real one ;3) and OathkeeperKeybearer.

Yeah.

Khgirl08: Don't pay any attention to her; she's just moody because she's hardly even going to be in this chapter, if she is at all. XD I'm going to be touching base with a bunch of different characters this chapter, and introducing some new ones, so I hope you enjoy my little experiment! I'm going to label each section, but I am jumping back and forth between characters a little bit, so hopefully it doesn't get too confusing…

Ellie: This story is about me, though, ME!!! I'm the main character!!! There's nothing confusing about that, is there? :'(

Disclaimer: I don't own it if someone else does.


(Danielle)

"Think. Think. Think. Think." Winnie the Pooh sat on a small log next to Danielle, rubbing his head. "Perhaps a bit of hunny will cheer you up?"

"Pooh, I don't think hunny is going to cheer her up right now. She looks so sad…" Piglet sat on Danielle's other side, also thinking of some way to cheer up the depressed brunette. "Danielle, why are you so sad? Don't you like us?"

"It's not that I don't like you, Piglet and Pooh, or anyone else on this planet. I'm just worrying about my son and our friends, that's all." Danielle ran a hand through her curly hair, causing it to stick out slightly. "I know that Sky is probably sick with worry about me, and I don't know what happened after that dreadful man grabbed me. All I know is that I managed to pull free from him when he wasn't paying attention, but he shouted something strange right afterward, and then I ended up here, in this meadow." I hope the others are alright…

"Well, don't worry! I'm sure Sora will come and save ya! He always found us when we got lost! Hoohoohoohoo!!!" Tigger came bouncing up to the group, followed by Kanga and Roo. "Don't you worry about a thing, Danielle!"

Dan blew a sigh. If only they knew that Sora is in no position to be saving anybody… But how can I tell them that their friend was captured by the Heartless? It's better to just let them believe what they want. "You're right. I'm sure someone will come help me soon."

Kanga hopped up to Danielle, smiling kindly. "Tell me, Danielle, how far along are you? When is the baby due?"

Danielle smiled back. "I'm expecting in about four weeks now. That's part of the reason I'm so nervous, I suppose. I want my family with me."

"It's like Tigger said! Sora will come really soon to save you, Danielle!" Roo hopped up and down in place. "Don't worry about it!"

Dan nodded, not wanting to discourage the kind stuffed animals. Never in a million years would I have guessed that I would be reassured by talking stuffed animals and consider myself sane! Well, not until today, at least… "Is there anywhere that I can lay down? I'm a little worn out from all of the excitement of today."

The inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Woods looked at each other dubiously. "Please don't b-be offended, D-Danielle…" Piglet was stuttering quite nervously. "You're just a little too big for our houses."

"Oh, that's right." Danielle laughed slightly. "If you wouldn't mind then, my friends, could I have a couple hours of peace and quiet? I just need to think for a while…"

All of the friends nodded simultaneously. Piglet and Pooh hopped off of the stump, smiling brightly. "Okay, Danielle. We'll see you later!"

When the group was out of sight and earshot, Danielle broke down and began sobbing. "Oh, Sky… Hope… Ellie. You had all better be alright… I couldn't live with myself if any of you were hurt. And… Riku…" How could he do this to me? How could he have led me straight into this trap?

"Danielle! Dan, over here!"

"Riku! Oh, thank goodness you're alright! We've all be so worried!"

"Danielle, where is Sky? Where is he?!" Riku's expression looked so pained… What could I have done to make him hurt so much?

"He's protecting Hope from the Death Eaters, Riku, you have to come help us!"

Riku's eyes scared me so much in that instant, and then he shoved me backwards into the arms of that man. "Take her. That stupid brat would do anything to save her friends, including turning herself in." When he looked at me again, his eyes turned almost red. "Good-bye, Danielle. Next time we meet, I will have Sky with me." He left, and moments later Sky and Hope saw me being dragged away by that man, who had yet to say a word.

"Mom! Mom, no! Give her back!"

The man holding me chuckled, placing his hand on the baby and rubbing my stomach gently. "I'll make you a trade- I'll spare your mother's life if, and only if, I get your little friend Ellie. Shall we make a deal?"

"Sky, no! Take Hope and run for it, now!" The man smacked me as my son, my gorgeous, brave, strong son, nodded and took Hope's hand, pulling her down the street away from me.

"What have they done to you, Riku? I can't believe you would do that… I can only hope that you'll be alright and that you have a really good reason for it." Wiping her eyes and smiling slightly, Danielle slid off the log and leaned against it, gazing up at the sky and watching the clouds form different shapes. "I haven't done this since I was sixteen, the day before I left Maple Brook. Becca and Eddie and I sat there for hours outside the cave, even after the sun had set and the stars became the focus of our attention."

"I'm going to miss you two so, so much."

"Becca, isn't there any way you can do one of those forgetting spells on Dan's parents and make them forget that they were leaving?" Edward's blue eyes were pleading as his overlong hair fell into them.

Becca shook her head, her long red locks swinging slightly as she continued to stare at the stars. "No can do, Eddie. It's illegal to perform magic on a Muggle, without their consent at least, and I can't use magic until I turn seventeen, anyhow. I doubt it would work, anyways; Mother and Dad have always told me that what is meant to happen will happen, no matter what we humans do to prevent it, so if Dan's family is meant to move, if MY family is meant to move, then there is nothing we can do." Waving a hand above her head, Becca turned to me and smiled. "Think of all the places you'll get to see, Danielle! You could be going to any one of those stars, and whenever you get lonely, all you have to do is just look up and think of us, because Maple Brook is only a star-gaze away from wherever you'll be."

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Dad already left, anyhow, and Mom would never stay here without him. I just wish they would let me stay here with you guys. What if I don't make any friends there?" I was so worried about absolutely nothing, which Eddie immediately assured me of.

"Danielle, what are you talking about? You'll make lots of new friends, I know it. If you're worried about making friends, think about Becca and I. It's always been the three of us, and all of a sudden we'll have to take that number down to two. And when Becca goes back to Hogwarts… I'll be all alone, and since I've never really been friends with anyone else in Maple Brook, who knows if I'll be able to make new ones?" Eddie sighed and picked up Becca's wand, which was lying idly by her hand. Waving it in the sky, he shouted to the heavens, "Please don't make her leave!"

Becca and I smiled sadly, as did he, and soon tears were rolling down all of our cheeks. When two pairs of footsteps approached from the woods, I sighed. "That'll probably be my mother, coming to check on me."

"Your mother? I wouldn't think that, but then again, I'm not a stupid Muggle like you." A greasy haired teenager who I didn't recognize stalked out of the tree line, followed by none other than Ryan Mason, a popular boy at the local high school and someone who had always despised the three of us. Becca drew in a sharp breath and rose as he smirked at her. "Well, if it isn't Becca Swallow. I never would have guessed that you of all people were Muggle-born. And you even let that filthy creature touch your wand? Shame, shame, Rebecca…"

"Yaxley?! What are you doing here?" Becca grabbed her wand from Eddie and held it tightly at her side, as if she was expecting to use it at any moment. "And I'm not Muggle-born, I'm a half-blood. My mother is Dumbledore's younger sister, thank you very much, and there is nothing wrong with being a Muggle-born, anyhow. Look at Lily Evans, why don't you? She could charm the grease off of you AND Snape's hair, and that's an accomplishment. As for Dan and Eddie, they're fifty times the people you are, so bug off and go home!"

Yaxley smiled and looked around. "I was just taking a look at my new home, Becca. I've always wanted a cave to hang out in, and I guess I've found one, haven't I?"

Ryan finally spoke up as Eddie and I stood behind Becca, our fists clenched at his attitude. "Yaxley, I think you need to think a little. These three have been using this cave as a hang out for as long as I can remember, and they aren't going to give it up just because you want them too. It's probably filthy, anyhow. There's got to be a better place for us to chill out."

Becca glared at him. "Mason, why don't you scurry on back to your precious groupies and leave us alone? And since when did you start feeling so pathetic that you had to hide behind someone as stupid as Yaxley?"

"Stupid, am I?" Yaxley strode forward and cupped Becca's cheek, grinning lecherously at her. "I may be stupid, but I'm not blind, and you have changed a lot since the end of term. In fact, I'd almost call you beautiful. Almost… but that look of disdain needs to disappear." Bending down slightly, he pecked her on the cheek and slid his hand down her neck before releasing her. "See you around, Becca. Mason, let's get out of here."

Becca stared after them as they walked off, her eyes narrow with anger. I never would have guessed that she would end up marrying Ryan, of all people. "And yet, she did. I wonder where she is now… Ellie seemed so worried about her the last time we had a chance to sit down and talk." Danielle sighed and smiled up at the clouds, which were now drifting apart and turning orange with the setting sun. "Our lives were all changed because of my family leaving Maple Brook, but maybe it was meant to be, like Rebecca said all those years ago." Resting her hands on her swollen tummy, Dan closed her eyes and drifted into a peaceful sleep.


(Draco Malfoy)

Draco threw open the door of his former manor, not wanting to be inside the wretched house for any longer than necessary. Why did the Dark Lord have to make his base here?

"Because, Draco, it was what he wanted." A tall, greasy man appeared from the shadows covering the lawn, and fell into step beside Draco, his dark hair gleaming with oils. "Best to be careful how loudly you think, or else people may think that you aren't completely loyal to the causes of the Dark Lord."

Draco snorted with humorless laughter. "Maybe so, Snape, but aren't my thoughts supposed to stay private?"

"If you were employing Occlumency, as I instructed you to do at all times, they would be private. Come. They are waiting for us." Severus Snape stepped through the front gates of the Malfoy property, turned on his heel and promptly disappeared. Draco followed suit, and soon he was standing in front of another gate. "Hurry up. The King won't want to be kept waiting, and I'm sure Potter is anxiously awaiting our information, as well."

Draco sneered. "If Mickey wasn't in on this, I would wait a few days before getting back to them. I hate Potter. He thinks he's so much better than I am, simply because he hasn't screwed up in his life. With Dumbledore hovering over him at every opportunity, how could he go wrong?!"

"Draco…" Snape began, "you have to remember that we have both committed many unseemly acts, and worse than that. Potter has every right to hate us now." Snape sneered. "Once the Dark Lord has been defeated, we won't need to deal with them any longer."

Draco nodded and sighed. But when Voldemort is gone, I won't get to see that Mason girl anymore… I can understand why Yaxley is so in love with her mother, if she's anything like Ellie. "Right. Let's get this over with."

Rapping the lock on the gate sharply with his wand, Snape unlocked it and crossed the barrier. As soon as Draco had followed him, he turned and locked it once more. "Oh, the joys of being Headmaster. At least I convinced the Dark Lord to have the minister put me at the post instead of Yaxley. That would have been a disaster waiting to happen… I'm not really sure that Minerva was overly thrilled with the loss of her position of power, but now that the Dark Lord is in charge we have to go with what he says."

"You're late." A stunningly red-haired teenager was waiting for them in the shadows at the head of the path and stepped out to meet them. Draco rolled his eyes as she glared at them. "Professor McGonagall had to leave, unfortunately, and she took Harry, Ron, and Hermione with her. Of course, they couldn't tell me where they were going, but they left me with a message for you. McGonagall said that the other three are probably going to be lying low for a while, lower than they have been, at least, and not to mention anything involving their true movements to the Dark Lord, like you have been."

Draco swore under his breath. "What are we supposed to say to him, make stuff up? 'Oh, yes, my lord, Potter and Company are gallivanting across Australia, why not go search for him there?' That's definitely going to please him."

Snape, too, glowered with anger and resentment. "I don't know, Draco. I'm sure Minerva will come up with something, but… She is going to have some explaining to do. It's obvious she still doesn't completely trust me." He turned to the girl, who had crossed her arms and was still glaring. "Miss Weasley, I trust you at least have accommodations prepared for us? Is my office ready for me and the dormitories ready for Draco?"

"Yes, I believe the house elves attended to it. What did you mean, McGonagall doesn't trust you? She didn't tell me, either, or Draco, so obviously she doesn't trust any of us to keep a secret."

"Ginny, try to actually think for a moment. Snape is a Legilimens, he could know where they went in an instant if you knew. As for not trusting me, of course she doesn't trust me, do you trust me?" Draco closed his eyes and breathed deeply; he had just looked into Ginny's face and seen Ellie's green eyes peering back at him, even though this pair should have been honey brown. "I'm going inside, you can stay out here if you want."

As he stalked off alone, Draco began thinking about Ellie, of all things. It makes no sense! I've had plenty of girls in my lifetime, and I could have had more, many of them at least as pretty as she is, so why does she hold such an attraction for me? I saw her for all of three minutes, and she is already taking over my every thought. The Dark Lord makes me think about her, thinking about Dumbledore reminds me of her, the King mentions her all the time, I even see her when I look at the Weaselette! She's just so… intriguing. I want to know everything I can about her, I want to find out as much information as I can to help her, and I want to make her safe from the Dark Lord, but I don't know why.

"Malfoy, wait." Ginny jogged up beside the tall, blond man, staring at him strangely. "Why did you look at me like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I was someone else who you didn't want to see." Ginny stepped in front of him and stopped, forcing him to do the same. "Who do I remind you of?"

"That's none of your business, Weasley."

"Yes, it is my business, Draco. Tell me who she is."

Draco glared down at the red head, who returned the stare with even more ferocity, before he shrugged and rolled his eyes. "Her name is Elizabeth. She has the same color hair as you do, that's all."

"Do you mean Ellie Mason, the Princess of Heart who Mickey told us about so many times?" Ginny's eyebrows raised. "Do you have a crush on her, Malfoy?"

"None of your business, Ginny. Excuse me." Draco shoved past Ginny, who was smirking at the faint blush that appeared on his pale cheeks. Where does she get off, assuming things like that?! It isn't any of her concern who I choose to place my affections upon! Besides, I do NOT have a crush on that Mason girl; she just interests me, that's all. "That's all. There's nothing more to it, nothing!"

Or… Is there? When I put my arm around her, she didn't pull away, and I could have sworn she was looking at me with something almost like admiration. And that light, that peculiar magic she used to get away from Nott and Avery, it was one of the strongest powers I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of strong powers. They didn't wake up for two hours, no matter what anti-spells were used, and they don't remember anything after grabbing her. Aargh, there I go again… "I guess I've got my work cut out for me; Ellie Mason, you are going to be mine."


(Sky)

"Come on, Max! We have to train in case the Death Eaters come back!" Even though it had only been six hours since the attack, Denise and Max were raring for another battle. Even Christopher and Taylor seemed pumped. Sky, on the other hand, was doing his best to avoid everyone. Deni popped her head into the bedroom he was sharing with Max. "Are you coming, Sky? Yuffie and Merlin are going to teach us more battle moves! It'll be awesome!"

Sky stared blankly at her until her hopeful smile disappeared. "Alright. I'll see you later, then."

Sky could hear Daisy and Minnie fussing over some news after the others left, but he didn't really care to go see what it was. If it was about Hope or his mom, somebody would have told him. He could only suppose that they would never come back. I'm all alone…

"Sky?" Aerith was standing in the doorway, holding a plate and a mug. "I brought you some soup and crackers. You haven't eaten anything since this morning, and I know you must be hungry."

"I'm fine." Even in the state he was in, he could tell that Aerith didn't believe him; she winced at the almost robotic tone in his automatic answer and set the food down on his bedside table with a sigh.

"Sky, you need to eat something. I know this has been hard for you, but-"

"Hard? Aerith, that Death Eater is probably going to kill my mom and baby brother or sister, Hope's heart has likely been taken from her already, and my dad is working with the Death Eaters. That's a little more than hard."

Smiling sadly, Aerith sat on the bed beside him and smoothed back his hair. "Sky, King Mickey believes that Danielle is safe. In fact, Ellie is going to rescue her really soon. As for Hope, I know she's safe. The Death Eater who took her away is actually working for us, and he was just making sure she didn't get captured by the Dark Lord and Maleficent, like Kairi, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and your dad did. She may not be back for a little while, but she'll be just fine, I promise."

Sky turned away. "What about Dad? He doesn't even want Mom anymore, said she wasn't any use to him. He's never acted that way before, he loves Mom, and he would never say that about her!" He was surprised to hear his voice crack a little, and to feel tears stinging his eyes.

"Sky, honey, that isn't true. First of all, this happened before, when your father was possessed by an evil man named Xehanort. He tried to kill Sora and Kairi and just about everyone else on the face of the planet. He came back, though, and helped Sora defeat Xehanort. I'm sure your parents have told you this story before, right?"

Sky nodded. "But he didn't look any different, except for his eyes, and that's what makes me think he actually turned evil, not the other way around."

Aerith chuckled slightly. "Sky, you don't know that. I know a lot about your father, and I'm certain he would never go back to being evil by himself. As for not wanting your mother anymore, that makes it all the more likely that he is possessed by someone. From everything that you and Hope told me about him, it sounds like he loved the two of you more than life itself, and I'm sure he wouldn't just give up on that love because he wanted to fight for the Heartless and the Death Eaters. I assure you, Riku is not evil, and he will never be evil again."

"Do you promise?"

"Yes."

Sky cracked a small smile and wiped his eyes, still not looking at Aerith. "Thanks for the soup."


(Ryan Mason)

Ryan ran a hand through his overgrown hair as Ellie slammed the door to the small cabin; this wasn't the way he had wanted to reveal his identity to his daughter. He wanted to get to know her first, find out if she was still as much like her mother as she used to be, discover what her fears and dreams were so he could do his best to help them along. Most of all, he wanted to make sure she never cried, and he had just caused the very thing he feared most of all. "That didn't work out very well…"

Abigail sat back on the porch chair and put her face in her hands. "Of course it didn't. Ryan, your daughter thought you were dead until a few seconds ago. How did you expect her to react?!"

Mickey quickly nodded to Ryan and stood up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to head to The World of Magic, as it seems Ellie isn't going to be ready to go anywhere for a while. I'll let you two deal with this." Mickey tugged on an invisible cord hanging from the trap door and was immediately pulled up.

Ryan was gazing at Abigail in fury. "Do you mean to tell me that you told my daughter that I was dead?! You told her that I was dead, didn't you?"

"Why would I do that?! I never believed you were dead, and I would never lie to that girl unless it was completely necessary, and that would not have been a necessary lie." Abigail stood and stomped across the yard, not stopping until she was staring almost straight up at him. Ryan had to blink several times to get rid of the thoughts of Rebecca that filled his mind. "You don't know anything about Ellie, Ryan, nothing at all! You barely know anything that happened after you were taken from us, all because you never came home! She was a baby, Ryan, a little girl on her third birthday, when Lucius came for Becca, and all she knew about that disappearance was that you were gone. She didn't know why, she didn't know how, but she knew you were gone. Ellie was bound to come up with some explanation for your absence. It doesn't matter that you couldn't come home, she probably thinks you abandoned her, because she just couldn't grasp why her daddy would leave her unless he was dead!"

Ryan closed his eyes and sighed loudly. "Abbie, are you sure that you and Becca said nothing of the sort?"

Abbie nodded. "Quite sure. I know she still expected you to come home someday right after Becca was taken, and after a while she just stopped talking about either of you. I don't know when she came to the conclusion that you were dead. I didn't even know about it until she asked me to help for Becca's sake, and I asked why she didn't want me to help for your sake as well. She told me that you were dead, and that for a little bit when she first remembered the circumstances surrounding your kidnapping she thought that there was a chance that you were still alive, but quickly decided that Lucius Malfoy didn't make people disappear, he killed them, and she was quite certain that both you and Robert were both dead." Taking a step back, she smiled half-heartedly. "Well, you proved her wrong, didn't you?"

Ryan nodded solemnly. "I have to talk to her, Abbie. I just have to. She's my baby, my little girl, and I haven't gotten to speak to her as her father since her third birthday." Stopping for a moment, he shook his head forlornly. "I can't even remember if she's sixteen going on seventeen or seventeen going on eighteen."

"Sixteen. She's sixteen."

"Thanks, Abbie. Do you think you should talk to her first, or should I…"

"Just go, Ryan. Nothing I say or do is going to make her feel any better." Abbie stepped aside and smiled encouragingly. "Get in there."

Taking a deep breath as he strode across the yard, Ryan did his best to regain the confidence he had held for as long as he could remember. There's only one other time I've felt so nervous, and that was when I was about to propose to Becca. Heck, even that seems like nothing compared to this. Cracking open the front door, he nearly closed it again when he heard a loud sob from the couch. Swallowing deeply, he opened the door wider and managed to get out a few words. "Ellie? It's me…"

Ellie sat up and turned to him; her eyes were red and swollen, and tears were still streaming down her flushed cheeks. "What do you want?"

Ryan stared at her for a moment; even now, he felt like he was staring at her mother. The hair, the eyes, even the shape of her nose was exactly the same as Becca's. He jerked out of his reverie and closed the door behind him. "We need to talk."

"About what, Dad? About how you abandoned Mother and I for almost fourteen years? You were alive this entire time, and you didn't even bother to tell us!" Suddenly Ellie was on her feet, pacing the room and waving her arms around. Ryan smiled as he recognized the habit that he had begun to develop in his late teenage years. "Do you know what it's like, not knowing if your dad is dead or alive? No, you don't, because your parents died instantly, BAM! I waited to find out your fate for nearly twelve years with Mother, and when she went missing and you still didn't come back I thought you had to be dead! You didn't even care! All you care about now is defeating the stupid Heartless, not our family. Don't pretend that you're doing this for us! If you were doing it to help us, why even bother when you don't even have someone to come home to anymore? Because you don't!"

Ryan wasn't smiling anymore. "Ellie, you don't think it killed me on the inside to have to leave? Do you honestly believe that I was happier being on the run from Voldemort's men than home with you and your mother? Ellie, I told you that I had to help you at all costs, and I meant that with all sincerity! I would do anything to keep you safe, and I have done everything I possibly could have! That's the only reason I never came home, because if I had tried to return to you the Death Eaters would have come back to Maple Brook all the earlier, killed your mother and either taken you or killed you before killing me. I had no other choice!"

"You didn't manage to keep Mother very safe though, did you?" Ellie sank back onto the couch and stared at her knees. "Do you know what happened to her, Daddy? She suddenly got really nervous and started dragging me towards that same field on the other side of the woods, the one you disappeared from, and then some stranger showed up, talking about unfinished business. I had no idea what was going on, except for the fact that he wanted Mother to go with him. She refused and tried to get me to leave. I think she wanted to fight him, but I wouldn't go, and she used her wand on me. When I woke up she was gone, the man was gone, and I was all alone." Ellie began to sob again. "She left me, too, Daddy. Mother even attacked me to get away!"

Without hesitation, Ryan sat on the couch beside her and hugged her tightly. "Elizabeth, I have no idea what happened that night, but I can assure you that Becca would not have attacked you unless she had no other choice. Someone must have wanted her, and she wanted to make sure you were safe…"

"Then why didn't she do what Grandma did and send me somewhere else entirely? And don't call me Elizabeth. My name is Ellie."

Ryan smiled slightly. "I don't know. Maybe she didn't have time to do that or she was afraid to for some reason, or maybe it was because she just isn't quite as skilled as Abigail. Ellie, your mother loves you more than anything, she always has. She would never leave you if she had a choice. I swear on everything that I am and have, she wouldn't do that to her precious little girl."

"Do you know where she is?" Ellie's voice was no more than a whisper as she raised her tear-filled eyes to meet Ryan's. "Do you? What about Robert?"

Ryan sighed. "I have no idea about either of them, Ellie. As soon as I heard about your mother, I focused every second of every day on searching for her, searching for information about her. My search led me to the king, who I heard was the person to go to if you were looking for information. When I found out that he knew your mother and grandmother from years ago and that he was also working to bring down the Dark Lord, I just had to join forces with him. Ellie, I never wanted you to find out about any of this, and it looks like I failed at that, as well…"

"No, you didn't fail." Ellie looked up at him and tried to smile. "You didn't do anything wrong, I swear. The only thing you did was try to keep Mother and I safe." Her eyes hardening slightly, she stared out the window. "It's all because of Voldemort, and Maleficent, and the Heartless. If we can stop them, everything will go back to normal, right? … Shut up! Just shut up!" She suddenly blushed fervently and clapped both hands over her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Excuse me? Who are you speaking to?"

"Axel. He claims to be my spirit guide, but I think he's up there in my head to annoy me. He never answers my questions directly, unless I wasn't asking him to, and he pops up at the most inconvenient of moments…"

"Oh. Alrighty, then." Father and daughter began laughing as they officially hugged for the first time in almost fourteen years.


(???)

A hurried footstep. A frosty breath crossing equally frozen lips. A high-pitched scream as everything went black. Watching him prepare an attack. Protecting… protecting her… Her…

"No!" He sat up in alarm, breathing heavily and shaking slightly. The thick blackness everywhere he looked made him think that maybe he was blind, but soon he realized that it was just really, really dark. The floor that he lay on was gritty, and his limbs felt stiff, as if he hadn't moved in quite a long time. How long have I been here? What happened?!

"I see you're finally awake." A strangely soothing voice broke through the darkness surrounding him, and the anger that had been rising in his throat died out almost instantly. "You need to be more careful what positions you put yourself in. I may not always be there to bring you to safety."

"Where am I?" It was so cold here, so cold, and a shiver forced its way through him until a warm blanket suddenly appeared on his shoulders. "What's going on?"

"Somewhere safe, for now."

"Where is she? What is going on?"

"Elsewhere that is safe. That's all I know."

"You're not answering my question! What's going on? How did I get here in the first place?"

"I rescued you. I happened to hear about the attack, and I was already coming to help when I noticed you were in grave danger. You haven't been doing so well since I brought you here, though. It's been over a week since you stirred at all, and I was afraid that you might not make it." A soft chuckle, just as soothing as the voice. Everything was still dark, but shadows could now be made out as they danced across the room, or stared at him as the largest one was. "He managed to hurt you pretty badly, didn't he?"

"Yeah. But as long as she's alright, I'll be fine. I have to find her. Thank you for all the help, ma'am, but I do need to leave."

"You are not going anywhere until I give you permission. You just woke up from being unconscious for ten days, and I'm not willing to take the chance that you really aren't alright. No, sit down. Sit!"

He threw the blanket away and stood anyhow. The darkness was getting easier to see through, and it was obvious that the kind stranger was quite petite. "No thank you. I told you, I have to go. She might need my help."

"Robert Anderson! I told you to sit down!" The strange woman shouted the command so loudly that Robert nearly fell as he sat back down.

"How do you know me?"

"I've known you since the day you were born, Robert. There are only three people in this universe who know you better than I: Eddie, your father, Marianne, your mother, and Ellie."

Robert nearly choked on his breath. "No…" The reason that the voice had been so soothing, the reason he couldn't be angry around her, suddenly became very evident.

The strange woman chuckled again. "Yes."

"You can't be Mrs. Mason… it isn't possible." Even as Robert spoke the words, memories began flooding back to him: the kind woman handing him a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer's day or a steaming mug of hot chocolate near Christmas; knocking on the front door of Mason's house and making small talk with her mother until Ellie was ready to go to the cave; the fear and anger in those emerald eyes just before she took Mason home as she whispered something to his father; the same fear and anger in Mason's eyes when she returned, alone and afraid. "Why did you leave Mas- sorry, Ellie there all alone? Why didn't you come back? Do you realize what you put her through? What about your mom, and my parents? Everyone thought you were dead."

Smiling a wan smile, Rebecca whispered some nonsense word and several lanterns and candles ignited throughout the room. "I wanted to come home. I desperately wanted to come home, Robert. It just wasn't possible." Sinking to the floor next to him, she sighed and stared at one of the flickering candles. He noticed that she looked much older than she had when he last saw her; her once glowing skin was dull, and her hair was unkempt and graying. "I was a captive of a former Death Eater, who wanted to use me to defeat Lord Voldemort and take over the universe. Once he was killed by the Death Eaters I managed to escape, but they followed me everywhere I went. Until I came here, I was never able to stay in one city for more than a couple of days and on one planet for more than a month or two. It was terrifying." She looked him over and smiled. "You look so much older than when I left. I bet Ellie has grown up just as much as you have."

"What exactly is a Death Eater, Mrs. Mason? And she hasn't really changed that much, that I've noticed. At least not since she started talking again."

"Please, call me Rebecca, or just Becca, like everyone else. I don't want to be known by my dead husband's name any longer, if you don't mind." Becca gave Robert a strange look and opened her mouth to continue, but Robert cut her off."

"So, he is dead? For sure?"

"Yes. I wanted him to be alive so, so much, but I have seen his grave, received a confession from his murderer. Ryan is gone." The light that had always brightened and sparkled in the eyes of Mason, Becca and Abbie was now gone from the second generation's set. "Moving on, it would seem that I have a lot of explaining to do. If only Uncle Albus hadn't convinced Ryan and I not to speak of his world, my true world to my daughter, this would be unnecessary."

Robert shook his head; the twinkling eyes and sparkling personality of Rebecca Swallow Mason had seemingly disappeared during her time away from Maple Brook and replaced by dead-looking eyes and a sad soul, and he wasn't sure that he liked the new person sitting next to him.


Khgirl08: Thanks for reading! Review, please! :3

Ellie: Yeah, you get a really good treat next time! XD Yay for me!