Poll time! Should I write a sequel to this story or not? If I did, it would be about the baby (though when she's a bit more grown up - probably a teenager). The only problem is that I don't know how to write it so that it would still be a Thief Lord fanfic, because, you know, there's no Stella or anything, but if you really want a sequel, I'll figure out something or other.
Lurkers, PLEASE review and tell me what you think it should be. If I get enough feedback saying yes, I'll put up a sequel, and your opinion matters more than ever now. Thank you! A simple "Yes" or "No" will do, you don't have to make your review detailed.
I've got exams in school coming up (ugh), and the next chapter will be loooong, so you might have to wait a while. Believe me, though, you'll like it just as much as I do.
Enjoy! And remember, please tell me whether or not you think I should write a sequel.
"HORNET! Hornet! Where is she, Maddi?" a frantic Elaine asked Madalyn, running through the room in her white slip and opening doors, trying to find her braided friend. "She has the dress, she has it and I don't know where she is and it's about to begin and---"
"Whoa, calm down, Elaine," said Madalyn, picking up her long dress so it wouldn't drag on the floor as she carefully walked over to Elaine. "I'm sure she's right around---"
"Here it is!" said Hornet, suddenly emerging into the room with Elaine's dress in her hands, along with a pair of high heels. "I found your shoes, too, Elaine."
"Thank you," said Elaine, taking them from her. She put the shoes on the ground and put on her dress, getting Hornet to help her with the zipper in back. It was a lovely wedding dress that snugly fit, unlike most of the dresses in the store; it came down to Elaine's feet and was made of a silky lavender material. She hadn't wanted to go with the traditional white color, partly because she wanted to be different, and partly because "White always makes you look bigger, and I'm fat enough already". Her dark brown hair was carefully tied up with a few loose strands hanging around her face - courtesy of Madalyn - and she'd applied her own makeup, subtle and yet still noticeable.
"Wow, you look great," said Hornet.
"Yeah, you really do," echoed Madalyn, watching Elaine put on her shoes. "You're growing up right before my eyes...I sound like a mom, I know, but still...Just look at you!"
"Well, thanks," responded Elaine, standing up and smiling at them. There was a sudden knock at the door and Madalyn and Hornet went to answer it. Elaine heard them talking to someone else, Hornet left the room, and Madalyn came back in.
"Um, well, your mom's here," she said. "And she wants to talk to you."
"Oh. Then I should---"
"Wait." Elaine stopped in her tracks. "I just have one more thing to say."
"Which is...?"
Madalyn hugged Elaine, looking as though she were about to cry. "You look beautiful," she said. "If...If Remy were here, you know she'd be proud of you. Screw that, she is right now, wherever she is. And I know that life can be kind of scary sometimes, but we'll always be here for you, you know? Me, Hornet, Scipio, Remy...all of us. We love you."
"Thanks, Maddi," replied Elaine, hugging her friend close, suddenly emotional herself. "I love you."
Madalyn let go of Elaine, gave her a small, final smile, and left the room. At the same time, Elaine's mother poked her head in and, for one of the first times Elaine could remember, smiled at her.
"Wow, Elaine!" she said, shutting the door behind her and grinning at her daughter. "You look great! I can't believe my little girl's already getting married..."
Elaine stared at her. This was the most attention she'd ever received from her mother. What had changed? "Um, thanks," she managed to get out.
"Elaine, I...I..." She could tell her mother was struggling to say what she was thinking. "I know I've never really been a good mom, but...when you left a few months ago, I got to thinking. And if you don't like me at all right now, then I understand, but I just want to try to start over and be a nice mom...and grandmother." She hesitated, and Elaine caught a sudden whiff of perfume. "I...As you know, I've been staying at a hotel for a while now, but I'm thinking of getting a job and moving into this little house by that candy store, you know which one I'm talking about? The one on Ford Street?"
"Yeah..." Elaine was still confused, and wary; she knew that it was easier than anything for her mother to break that self-promise. But somewhere inside of her, she was starting to feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
"...so, I really hope that you'll forgive me, or at least let me be a part of my granddaughter's life," her mother was saying. She finished talking at looked at Elaine, waiting for her reply.
"I...do you promise?" asked Elaine stupidly; it was the first thing to come to mind.
Her mother smiled. "Of course I do."
"Well, in that case...Okay. I mean, I can't...I can't just say that everything's suddenly alright, because I know it won't be, but for now...I guess it is," said Elaine, smiling back. She looked at the clock in the room and started. "It's time!" she squeaked nervously, going towards the door.
"Just keep calm, because after all, what's the worst that could happen?" her mother said. "You'll do fine."
"Okay, Mom, thanks." It was the first time in several years she had called her 'Mom,' and both of them didn't see it coming. Her mother gave one last smile and left to sit in her seat to watch the wedding. Prosper was standing around waiting for Elaine in a clean suit; he'd be the one to lead her down the aisle. He grinned at her.
"Ready?"
"Yeah," said Elaine, linking her arm in his. "Let's go."
Everything happened so fast, Elaine didn't know what to think; one moment she was walking down the aisle with what felt like a million pairs of eyes on her, and the next, she and Scipio were exchanging vows of love and care. A sense of relief washed over her when Scipio kissed her; she'd kept fearing that something would go wrong. Now it was officially sealed: they were married! When Elaine threw the bouquet into the air, Madalyn was the one to catch it, and laughed over that.
The reception party went just as well as the actual wedding. Riccio got a faceful of cake when Bo shoved him from behind into his plate, and everyone laughed as they watched him chase the blonde-haired boy around. All of the guests, though there weren't many, kept giving Elaine pats on the back and congratulating her and Scipio. The couple's dance only consisted of Elaine and Scipio, but they were fine with that. Everyone else sat around eating cake and drinking champagne, talking about the wedding and the baby and anything else related to the couple. Elaine smiled when she realized the song that was playing was "In The Rough" by Anna Nalick, one of her favorite singers. She remembered telling Hornet she liked the song a few days previously and had a feeling she knew who was behind it.
The young couple made their way down the front steps of the church towards the car that would be taking them to the hotel where they would be spending the night and a shower of multicolored flower petals flew into the evening air. Elaine grinned, feeling a sudden, powerful rush of adreline and happiness. The wedding guests were waving and, in the case of the women there, saying teary goodbyes as Elaine shut the car door and they drove off, "Just Married," painted on the back window of the car.
"God, Scipio, I love you so much," Elaine said, giving his hand a squeeze. He grinned and kissed her cheek.
"I love you, too." His hand slid over onto her stomach, and the baby gave an almighty kick, greeting her father. Elaine smiled at her husband and put her head on his shoulder, feeling the baby move around. Finally, just the three of them were the family they were destined to be.
Finally.