Yusei and I dropped Jaden off at his timeline and the Crimson Dragon took us home. His runner stopped and Yusei took his helmet off. I got off of his runner and I saw everyone, including my grandfather, and Crow. He held Feather in his arms. I sobbed and ran over to my grandfather Yugi as I promised.
"Grandfather," I yelled as I tackled him into a hug. He held me tightly as I sobbed. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, I'm sorry I told you, you could have saved her, I'm sorry."
"Wendy?" Crow said.
"Wendy...what..." my mother gasped. "Wendy...do you mean your sister?" I nodded in my grandfathers arms.
"I told you that it would be okay. I'm here, your life hasn't changed from before," grandfather Yugi said.
"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Crow said. I gasped and stared at him. He still had Feather in his arms. Yusei walked over to us.
"Wendy, you can tell them. It's over now and our lives haven't changed. So, tell them," Yusei said smiling. I nodded.
"Well, here it goes," I said. "We found the person responsible for what was happening. He wanted to destroy Pegasus and the game of duel monsters and in turn destroy the world." Everyone gasped. "But that's not all, we met the now famous duellist Jaden Yuki, and well...," I stared at my grandfather. "We met...my grandfather when he was younger. We also met the Pharaoh too. Oh, and he wanted me to tell you grandfather to always believe in yourself, do not stop duelling, never forget that your friends are always with you, even if they're not beside you and to always remember what you learnt from him. Always." My grandfather smiled and sighed sadly.
"Pharaoh? Do you mean Pharaoh Atem, Wendy?" my mother said. I nodded. My mother smiled and gave me a hug. "Don't ever do that again. Do you understand?" I giggled and nodded.
"Hey, where's my hug?" Crow said pouting. I smiled and gave him a loving hug. He hugged me back. He then lifted my chin up, smiled and planted a kiss on my lips. I felt Feather wriggle in the sling.
"Was she alright through all of that?" I asked Crow.
"She cried once, but she was fine after a few seconds," he said. I smiled and hugged him some more. "Darling?"
"Yes?" I said looking up at him again.
"Why did you...why did you leave like that?" he asked me with sadden eyes.
"Don't worry darling. It's over now and no one was hurt," I said. He smiled and kissed me one more time.
"Wendy? What happened to your sister?" Emily asked. "You never...I mean...you never told anyone. Not even me. Am I not trustworthy?" She started to sob a little.
"E-Emily, don't cry," I said hugging her too. "I-It's too much to talk about right now. I-I just can't...okay? You will know, everyone will. Just not now" I saddened. My mother tried to keep her tears in, but she couldn't. We all heard her. "Mother...what's...?"
"Losing a child...and like that...I...I will never get over it," she said while crying. My grandmother held her. Crow placed both of his hands on my waist and I turned around to face him. He stared into my eyes.
"Wendy, you're making me worry. Please tell me, tell us," he said. Lowering my gaze I shook my head. "Why not?"
"Crow, don't pry," my mother outburst frightened Feather. She started to cry. Crow took her out of the sling and rocked her gently while whispering to her. She stopped crying. Crow looked back at me.
"Darling...I just want to know that you're okay. That's all," he said.
"I will never be okay," I said. Everyone gasped. "I-I can't...because...because it's my fault she's dead."
"Wendy, don't you DARE say that. It wasn't your fault," my mother said.
"Oh come on mother. If I wasn't born, father wouldn't have done what he did," I shouted while crying. My mother stomped over to me and took a hold of my face.
"Wendy Elizabeth Hogan, listen to me. It was NOT your fault," she shouted in my face. My tears kept on coming. I pulled away from her. I don't believe it. It was my fault. She died protecting me.
"It was my fault. She died protecting me. I wish I would have died and not her," I shouted. Everyone gasped. Crow, Yusei, Emily and the others were in complete shock. My mother in rage and disappointment slapped me. I fell on the ground. I sat up and touched my cheek where she slapped me. Her rage was built by tears.
"Wendy you stupid, selfish child," she screamed. My grandfather held her back. She burst into more tears and couldn't contain her anger. "You listen to me right now." I stared up at her and gave her a frightened look. "Do not say that you want to die in front of your mother. If Feather said that to you when she's a teenager how would you feel? Huh? Tell me."
"N-Not good," I said.
"That's right, not good," she shouted while crying.
"Mother...I...I'm sorry..." I said holding down my head in shame. I was still on the ground. I started to cry. "B-But...if I wasn't around you'd have your youngest daughter still. Gracia...would still be alive." She gasped and went to slap me again but my grandfather caught her arm. I held my head down. As much as I love my life now, it had to be said. Because it's true, I would sacrifice my life for hers. So that she could have a loving life, as I have now. My mind drifted away from the world as my mother kept yelling at me again. It reminded me of the time...of the time that my father's rage for me increased and he almost killed me. But...if it wasn't for Gracia, I wouldn't be alive today. I knew what I wanted to do. I stood up and walked away.
"Wendy, get back here," my mother yelled to me. I stopped walking.
"No," I said plainly. "I have to be somewhere." I walked away. I knew where I had to go. In the distance I heard everyone talking. My grandmother knew where I had to go too. I heard her tell everyone. I had to go to the cemetery: to see Gracia. I haven't visited my sister's grave in years. Since before I met Crow.
A few minutes later I was there. While walking the way, I picked up a bunch of flowers to place on her grave. My sister's grave was in the children's section. She was five years old when she was killed. As a neared her grave I started to get nervous. I stopped at hers. Her name was written but was starting to rot away and the weeds and grass were covering the words. I ripped them off and read the words. 'Gracia Moto, loved and missed by her older sister, mother and grandparents.' I sat down with my legs crossed in front of the grave. I was quiet for a few minutes. I started to sing.
Sooner than memories begin to fray
Everything from the past just swept away
Remembering when all who have gone are now lost
Many paths, many seasons I have seen
Time has washed them away just like the sea
So many fates and dreams will become tragedies
To see you safe
To watch you grow
Visions of love, my only hope
Such loneliness is worth the price
I'll protect you with my life
Constantly guiding despite the cost
Hoping against fear when all is lost
Pity not my destiny, no
My sacrifice is worth this
To see you safe
To watch you grow
Visions of love, my only hope
This loneliness is worth the price
I'll protect you with my life
This burden I must bear alone
For many lives and more to come
My loneliness is worth the price
I'll protect you with my life
I'll protect you with my life
I stopped singing because I had started crying. With a light breath and tears flowing from my eyes, I started to talk. "Gracia, it has been a while huh? I'm sorry that I haven't come to visit. I've had a few problems and then a few good things happened and before I knew it, I was pregnant and married," I sighed. "I wish you were still here though. Why did you stand up for me? Our father should have killed me, not you. You deserved better. You were only five. It shouldn't have ended like that. But, I'm grateful. I have a happy life thanks to you. A peaceful life. I didn't tell you enough how much I appreciated you. I love you, little sister," I ended with tears flowing from my eyes. I heard footsteps. I thought nothing of it until I heard a voice. His voice.
"Wendy...," Crow whispered. I gasped lightly and looked around. It was Crow. He had a sad look on his face. I looked down and back to my sister's grave. He walked over and sat next to me on the right side. We sat in silence for a while. While my mind was deep in thought, Crow placed his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him. My head hit his shoulder. There was a minute silence. "Wendy...darling...do you really...want to die?" I gasped.
"No, I don't," I whispered. "I use to. But then I met you and then we had our little girl." I felt him sigh.
"Then, why did you say that you should have died?" he asked. I looked up at him.
"Because she's my sister. She was so young when she died. Wouldn't you want to take my place if something were to happen to me? Or what about Feather? Would you die for her?" I whispered. "I would die for you and for our daughter." He nodded.
"I understand darling, really I do. But what you said, hurt a lot," he said. "Not just me, but everyone there. They love and adore you. Your mother was right though. If Feather said she wanted to die in her teenage years we both would be hurt."
"I know darling," I sighed. "I'll let my mother cool down and then I'll talk to her. Right now, I want to stay here." He nodded again.
"Do you want me to stay or leave?" He asked.
"Stay, please," I said. He smiled.
"Sure, you can tell me what she was like. If you want," he asked.
"Not right now darling, I'm sorry," I said. He smiled and started stroking my cheek.
"It's fine. Tell me when you're ready, okay?" he said. I smiled and nodded. A few minutes passed as Crow and I sat there in silence. I was still leaning on Crow's shoulder as he held me tightly. My phone that's in my pocket, started to buzz. I had it on vibrate. I took it out and looked at the message. It was from my mother. It read 'Darling, where are you?' I replied with, 'I'm at the cemetery with Crow.' Soon, I got a reply, 'Wendy...please come home. Stay over for the night and we can talk' I sighed. I didn't know how to reply. "Darling, come on, I'll take you to see your mother. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning alright?" I stared up at Crow. He smiled. "Don't worry about Feather. I'll take care of her." I giggled lightly. As much as I wanted to go, I didn't want to leave my sister. "We'll visit her again. I'll make sure of it." By her, he meant Gracia. I nodded.
"Alright, I'll take your word for it," I said to him. He stood up and held out his hand. I took it and he helped me up. He then took me in his arms and hugged me. His hugs were always great.
"Come on darling, let's go," Crow said. I said one last goodbye to Gracia and placed the flowers on her grave before Crow and I left hand in hand. He drove his runner here to see me, so we didn't have to walk there. A few minutes later we were at my mother's house. I got a little nervous. "Don't worry, your mum is fine. She won't hurt you. She just wants to talk to you. You know, share what you told me, she'll share what she thinks, things like that my love. So don't worry." I giggled and kissed him.
"You know I'm going to miss you," I said and kissed him again while wrapping my arms around his neck. He snickered and kissed me more.
"Wendy? Crow?" We stopped kissing and my mother was as the door. She walked outside and over to us. I prepared for the worse. She hugged me. What a surprise that was. Well, I guess she is my mother. "W-Wendy...darling, I'm sorry for getting angry at you. I-I love you too much okay." I gasped and hugged her too.
"D-Don't apologise mother, I-It was my fault. You were right, with everything," I said back. She let go of me and put her hands on my cheeks. She stared into my eyes.
"Wendy... I haven't told you this because your sister told me not too," she said with her head down. "Your sister...she...she told me...that she was going to do what she did." I gasped.
"W-What do you mean?" I asked.
"Darling, she was sick of seeing you getting hurt by your father, so she decided that she would step up and take the hits instead of you," my mother said. She started to form tears. "She...she told me that she wanted to protect you." I gasped and started to get teary.
"W-What?" I said.
"Darling, come inside. We can talk about everything okay?" I nodded with tears falling. Crow hugged me from behind. "Thanks for looking after her Crow. But, I have to take her for the night." She gave him a small smile. Crow smiled back and nodded. He twisted me around to face him.
"I'll see you tomorrow okay?" He whispered while wiping away my tears and giving me a small peck on the lips. "Be good, and call me if you need anything." I giggled and nodded giving him one last kiss. My mother took a hold of my arm and lightly pulled me towards her.
"Come on you. Let's talk," she said smiling. I nodded and got out of Crow's grip. My mother and I walked to the door. I glanced back at Crow and smiled. He smiled back. I blew a kiss too him and stared at him seductively. He blushed. I giggled and kept walking in with my mother. I'll see Crow tomorrow morning.
"Wendy?" I turned around to see my grandparents there. "Are you alright?" I smiled and nodded. They both smiled and gave me a hug each. If feels a little weird staring at my grandfather now as I saw him in the past as a teenager. "What's that look for?" my grandfather asked.
"Nothing," I said with a light blush. My grandfather snickered.
"Is it weird seeing your grandfather when you've seen him as a teenager earlier today?" he said. I blushed more and nodded. He laughed. "Don't worry about it."
"I-I know, I just…" I said still blushing.
"What is it Wendy?" My grandfather asked with concern. He walked closer to me as I kept staring down at the carpet. "Wendy?" I slowly lifted my head to face him. With a large smile I screamed.
"You were so cute!" My grandmother and mother laughed at my sudden outburst. My grandfather blushed and cleared his throat.
"Um…well…I…I guess," he said. My grandmother stopped laughing and smiled.
"You know dear, you were the more adorable guy in our high school year," she said. I giggled. My grandfather was acting like his teenage self again. He was always so confident, now he was blushing because his wife and granddaughter called his younger self cute and adorable.
"I also can't believe that I am taller than you were when you were eighteen," I said giggling. My grandfather kept blushing.
"Since you think I am cute, do you want to see so more photos?" he asked me.
"Yes," I yelled. He smiled and went to get his photo album. My mother took my hand and we sat down on the couch and waiting for my grandfather. My grandmother sat down with us. Grandfather Yugi came back with a large box in his hand. He sat down with us and opened the box. The first photo was a photo of my grandfather and grandmother was their other two friends Joey Wheeler and Tristan Taylor. They are smiling and have their fingers as peace signs. I giggled. "This is a great photo of friendship."
"Oh Wendy, darling, I found something you might want sweetie," my mother said.
"What is it mother?" I asked. My mother stood up and walked to the cupboard and pulled out something from the draws. She sighed and walked back. She started at me and handed the, what it appeared to be a photo. I looked at it and gasped. It was a photo of Gracia and I posing for a photo when I was eight and she was 4. Gracia had short blonde hair and a bright smile on her face. A few weeks before the incident, when we were both happy. A tear fell from my eyes. "Mother…I…"
"I know baby. Keep it with you, okay?" She said. I only nodded as I started at it with the tears still flowing. I closed my eyes and pulled the photo into my chest. My grandparents put their hands on my shoulder as I cried. A few minutes later we went back to looking through photos. Some included the photos of my grandfather duelling and being with the gang. A few hours later and it was time for bed. I did my night ritual, said goodnight to everyone and walked to my room. It feels weird walking to my childhood room. I smiled at my bedroom door marked 'Wendy's Room'. I opened the door. My room was the way it was the last time I stayed here. When my mother and grandparents met Crow for the first time and I was only a few weeks pregnant with Feather. Wow, that was a long time ago. I smiled at the flashbacks of Crow and I. I walked over to my bed, got inside and dreamt of Crow and my beautiful daughter.
~The Next Day~
"Wendy? Darling Crow is here to pick you up," she said as she lightly shook me awake. I groaned. "Wendy?" I opened my eyes lightly. She smiled at me. "Darling, Crow is downstairs. He's here to take you home."
"What's the time?" I asked with a yawn.
"It's 11am sweetie. You usually don't sleep in this late," she giggled. I looked up and blinked at her. "Don't worry darling. You needed the rest."
"Where's my baby?" I asked her. She smiled.
"She's downstairs too darling. Crow brought her with him," she answered me. "He is such a good father."
"I know," I smiled with a light giggle.
"Will you be getting up and get ready now? Or should I send Crow up here?" she smirked. I giggled and stared up at her.
"I'll get ready," I said. My mother smiled and left. I quickly got up, did my morning routines and left for downstairs. While walking down the stairs I heard my mother and Crow talking. I also heard Feather making those cute baby noises.
"Where is my beautiful wife?" I heard Crow say. I stopped in the middle of the stairs. My mother noticed me there, but didn't say anything to Crow. They were both sitting down in the lounge room.
"She should be down soon," she said. Crow held Feather in his arms and she slept. "Can I hold Feather?" Crow smiled and handed her to my mother. She woke up and started giggling. I giggled at the sight. Crow gasped and turned his head around. He stared up at me as I kept walking down the stairs.
"There you are," he said while standing up and greeting me at the bottom of the stairs. He took my in his arms. "Hey baby." I giggled and we kissed a long and loving kiss. "Feeling better?"
"Yes darling, I am," I said. He smiled and put his hand on my cheek.
"Good, but everyone is worried about you. I hope you can explain everything, including about your sister. Emily cried in Yusei's arms last night. She couldn't stop crying about you," he said. I sighed.
"I'll explain…everything," I said.
"I'll be right near you okay?" he said with a smile. I nodded. He kissed me once more. "Let's go home."
"Awe, you two," my mother said. She walked over with Feather in her arms. She was awake and staring at us.
"Awe, my baby," I said. Feather smiled and giggled as she saw me smiling at her. I giggled and held my arms out to take her. My mother handed her to me. Feather giggled and cuddled me with her cute little hands and arms. Judging from her actions she missed her mummy. "Did my beautiful little girl miss her mummy?" Feather giggled again. Crow and my mother laughed at how adorable she was being. I kissed her cute little cheeks. She giggled even more. Crow snickered and tickled her stomach. She held her arms out to Crow. He smiled and gladly took her from me. She cuddled her daddy.
"Darling, I think it's time we go. The others are waiting for you to come home," Crow said while stroking Feather's forehead. I nodded. My mother took me in her arms and held me.
"I'll miss you. Be good and call me if you need anything or to just chat. Even if it's about your sister," she said to me. I held my mother closely.
"Of course," I said.
"Come on guys, I'll lead you out the door," she said. She led us to the door and we said goodbye. My grandparents were at the Game Shop for the day. Crow gave Feather back to me and I placed her in the sling that he brought with him.
"Come on beautiful, time to go home," I said. Crow smiled and helped me onto his duel runner. He got on himself as my mother kissed Feather and said goodbye. Crow started up his runner and we said our final goodbyes. Crow and I drove off and we were on the way home.
A few minutes later we were back at the place all of us stayed at. Crow stopped his runner and he helped me off. Feather fell asleep during the ride. She was sleeping soundly in the sling. Crow and I headed inside. Yusei, Emily, Bruno, Jack and the others were there waiting. Emily looked up and smiled at me.
"Wendy…you're okay," she said. She stood up and ran over to hug me. She didn't hug me too closely as I still held Feather in my arms. "I was so worried. Are you feeling better? Do you need girl talk? I'll listen, I swear."
"Emily, its fine. I had a talk with my mother. Everything is fine. But, I do have a few things to tell everyone though, if it's alright," I said. Emily stared at me. She smiled and nodded. I told them everything about my life.
"Well, it all started when I was about six years old. For years my father would pressure me with my music and every time he caught me duelling he would well…hit me," I put my head down for a second. I stared at Feather. She was sound asleep in my arms. I sighed and lifted my head up again. "But that's not all, he would…he would come in at night when my mother was asleep, he would…molest me." Everyone gasped. Crow pulled me in for a tight hug. Emily had tears flowing from her eyes.
"No, not that. Anything but that," she whimpered. "And to you" She sobbed more. Yusei put his arm around her waist and pulled into his chest. She cried in his arms.
"Darling…" Crow said as he held me. I wasn't crying at all, I've cried too much lately. "Was there anything else?" I nodded.
"Well, ever since my father put me in a coma when I was eight years old, I can only remember certain things before that. Bad things and learning how to duel and play music. Other than that, every time I try to remember anything else I get a migraine. I'm so use to it, I don't show the pain of them that much," I sighed. Crow held me close and kissed my cheek. He rocked me lightly as I frowned more. I felt the migraines as I kept thinking about my past. Crow's cheek was pressed against mine. I could feel the others staring at me. I looked up and Emily still had tears in her eyes. I lightly smiled. Crow kissed my on the cheek again and held me closer. He probably thinks that's all he can do.
"Is there anyway to get your memories back?" Yusei asked. "If there is, we can help you."
"The doctor said that it could go either way really. He said that the memories could come back on there own, or they could be lost forever," I answered. Crow stroked my stomach lightly. It tickled. "Darling, stop tickling me," I giggled. Crow smirked and tickled my sides. I laughed even more. Feather woke up and started giggling herself. I giggled more and took her out of the sling. I kissed her cute chubby cheeks. Crow sighed and stared at us.
"Wendy?" Emily said. I stopped kissing Feather and cuddled her to me. "Will you be okay?" I smiled.
"I've been fine to this day, so I guess so," I answered.
"You really are a strong woman," she smiled and sniffed.
"Well I did give birth to a baby in less than 5 hours. I guess I am," I giggled. The others smiled. Crow laughed.
"And a heavy baby too," he said. I giggled and nodded.
"Well, I guess that's everything I have to tell you guys right now. If I start to remember anything I'll tell you guys, okay?"
"Right, just let us know," Jack said with a smile. I nodded.
"Right, now, what were you guys doing before I came home?" I asked. Yusei smiled.
"We were figuring out a problem with Jack's Duel Runner," Yusei said. "But we fixed it before you got back."
"Well that's great," I commented. The boys got back to work on their runners. Feather hugged me around the neck with her cute arms. "Awe, what are you doing beautiful? Giving mummy a hug? Mummy loves you very much." I kissed her cute little cheek. She giggled and hugged me more. Crow awed.
"Where's my hug?" he said pouting. As if on cue, Feather held her arms out to her father. Crow smiled brightly and took her from me. She giggled and hugged her daddy. Crow kissed her cheek and she giggled again. Out of the blue, Emily gave me a hug. Surprised, I hugged her back.
"Wendy…I…I'm sorry…about…everything you went through," she said. I smiled.
"It's okay Emily. I feel better after I told a few people…about…everything that happened. So I'm okay really," I said. She smiled.
"Good, just, let me know earlier okay. I can't help my best friend if I don't know anything," she said with a smile. I nodded, hugged and thanked her kindly. A few hours passed and it was time for bed. I fed Feather and rocked her as she slept in my arms. Crow walked back into our room from the bathroom. He had his usual shorts on for bed. He did not have a shirt on. But he did have his towel around his neck. He stared at us and smiled at Feather sleeping soundly in my arms. He smiled but then frowned.
"Darling, is everything alright?" I asked him. I stood up and placed Feather into her cot. He stared at me. "Darling?"
"Wendy…I," he sighed. "Darling…are you sure you're okay with what is happening with you? Your past, what your father did? Are you really sure?"
"Darling, really…I've cried too much in my life. I don't want to cry anymore. I can't and do you know why?" I walked over and wrapped my arms around his neck. He held my waist and stared into my eyes. I smiled. "Because I have you and our daughter in my life, I never thought my life would be so perfect already." He hesitated before smiling.
"You really think our lives are perfect?" he said placing one hand on my cheek. I nodded confidently.
"Why wouldn't it be? I'm married to the greatest man on the planet, we have a beautiful child, I have friends, my father isn't here, my mother and grandparents are happy, the only thing missing is our future children," I answered. He snickered.
"Did you want to try for another child tonight?" he growled seductively. I giggled.
"Not tonight darling. We both need rest after the recent events." He smiled.
"Of course darling. Now," he picked me up bridal style and placed me on our bed. "Get some sleep my love." He kissed me. "I love you."
"I love you too," I said and kissed him. Crow walked over and said goodnight to Feather as she slept. Crow got inside our bed with me. I laid my head on his chest as he pulled me closer. I snuggled myself towards him and fell asleep. Crow fell asleep straight after. We slept in each others arms until morning.
THE END