Sorry for taking so long to update, hope this is long enough. Thanks for all the reviews, keep sending more my way. And Kartik will defiantly be in the next chapter.

I looked up at the tree, trying to commit every detail to memory. It was odd to see the one thing that had consumed my dreams for almost five years in real life. It was like a mirage, and I found myself not wanting to blink for fear that if I did, it would disappear. The tree still looked the same, though I could detect some differences. The flowers that surrounded the tree seemed a little less bright, and the blue of the sky seemed menacing and fake. It was not at all the place I had left it.

"Gemma," Felicity called, breaking my thoughts, "I'm sorry, but I was wondering if your ready to try." I looked up into Felicity eyes and saw the worry there was for me. I wondered if she too could see the differences in the Winterlands, or if that too was a mirage in my mind.

I nodded and stood back a few steps from the tree, looking to my friends to support. My plan was simple, I was going to touch the tree and summon my magic. Ms. Moore had once told me that love was the strongest magic there was, and my love for Kartik had to be the strongest.

As I stepped forward, I could feel my hand shaking. I had never been this nervous in my life, not when I was fighting against the forces of darkness or making my debut. Demons and the Queen seemed tame compared to this.

As I stretched out my hand, I felt a rush of emotions run through me. What if this didn't work? Could I really live the rest of my life without Kartik? And if it did work, what kind of person would Kartik be after living four years in a place that used to be the source of all evil? Even Eugenia Spence couldn't stop being taking over by the dark, and she was one of the most powerful defenders of the realms.

The bark was smooth and cool to the touch and when I close my eyes, I could feel the pull of my magic. I put all of my strength into trying to get Kartik out, but when I opened my eyes, there was nothing. Nothing had changed and my plan had failed. Kartik was still trapped in the tree.

I sank to my knees, wondering how I was supposed to live without him, how was I going to raise my two kids alone. I thought of Kiran and Kali, both so much like their father. I was I going to watch Kiran grow and look more and more like Kartik everyday. And Kali, I was going to have to watch her find the love of her life and not have a father to give her away at her wedding. All of these thoughts were unbearable.

"Oh, Gemma, I am so sorry." I could tell by the cracks in Ann's voice that she was crying. When I turned to them I saw tears running down both their cheeks, even composed Felicity was crying.

"I just don't know how I am going to survive without him," I couldn't see clearly and the tears running down seemed as though they would never stop. "Even after all this time, I thought….that maybe….there would be a way…" I couldn't talk, my voice broke so badly. I felt my heart coming apart at the seams. The recently healed scars broke open, and my heartbreak consumed me. After all these years, I had never given up on Kartik, I had never stopped believe that one day he and I would be reunited.

My friends let my lay there beside the tree for what felt like hours. I knew that this would be the closest I would be able to get to him, that this would be our only reunion. I was about to tell them to leave me with him, and let the misery have me, when Felicity stepped forward with a gasp. I looked into her eyes and saw an idea forming.

"Gemma, do you remember the night you arrived at my house. You were hysterical for a minute, but you made a good point," Felicity said determinedly. She had a plan forming, I could tell, but I was too sad to care. All I wanted was Kartik.

"I don't know what you're talking about Felicity. I honestly can't remember."

"You were saying that it seemed as though a little part of Kartik was in each one of you. One in you, Kiran, and Kali. Well, if that's true, then you would need them as well to get him out." I sighed and shook my head. I didn't want any more plans. I simply wanted to leave and never come back.

"I think Felicity's got something. It's worth a try at least," Ann cried. I shook my head again, unwilling to even look away from the tree. I didn't want plans, or my children, all I wanted was to sit here underneath the tree. It was the closest I was ever going to get to Kartik.

"Just leave me alone."

"Okay, we will," Felicity said, pulling me to my feet. "After you bring Kiran and Kali here. They deserve to see this place too." I shook my head and protested, but I could see that she wasn't going to give up.

"Alright if I bring them here, then will you leave me here alone?" Felicity nodded.

"For as long as you want," She promised. I nodded my consent and slowly got to my feet. I took one last longing look at the tree, afraid that these might be some of the last minutes I would have alone with him. But all too soon, Ann was pulling me back to the garden and linking our hands together.

Back in the real world, I felt even more desolate. I didn't even feel Kartik's presence in this world. I saw Felicity disappear through the backdoor, to where my children where playing with Charlie. I knew I had only a few moments to pull my composure together so my children would not see my pain.

But putting the calm mask was harder to force than I had thought. All I wanted was to break down and cry. I could hear Kiran and Kali coming closer, their voices getting louder and louder with excitement. I idly wondered what story Felicity had told them, what she had said the garden was.

Maybe she had told them that it was a heaven of shorts, it would surly look like that to any other. I could still remember the look on Kartik's face as he saw the realms for the first time, a mixture of awe and shock. I remembered what else we had done in the realms, and the twins that had resulted.

"Gemma, it is time." Felicity took control now, no questions asked or feelings checked. I tried to smile convincingly at my children, before I held their hands and once again saw the door of pure light.