I don't own any of the characters in this story.
Trent, Gwen, Courtney, Owen, Noah, and Cody were all walking back home. Gwen was sitting in Trent's arms. Her father hadn't said a word to her ever since they left the forest. She knew she was going to get it bad from him.
Trent stopped with Gwen in his arms as the group walked past a music set. Courtney turned around, seeing that her husband wasn't walking beside her. She asked, "Trent?"
"Go on, Courtney. I need to have a talk with our daughter." Trent told he wife, then looking down at Gwen, who looked at him nervously and winced. Courtney nodded, then continued to walk with the group.
Once they were out of sight, Trent found a nearby chair, and set Gwen down. Gwen stood up on the chair and looked up at her father. She laughed nervously, trying to put on a big smile. Trent glared down at her with a stern look, as Gwen's smile disappeared.
Trent leaned down to Gwen. "Gwen, what were you doing today? You were almost killed." Trent asked his voice full of concern.
Gwen turned around, her back toward her father, and replied, "I don't know."
Trent hugged his daughter. "If something happened, I don't know what I'd do. You really worried your mother and everyone else. Besides, if you die, who will take the place of the director when I'm gone?"
Gwen turned around to face him, her face full of anger. "Is that all I am to you? A replacement director when you're gone? Besides, I don't even want to be a director. It's no fun." She said, turning around. Then she sat down and crossed her arms.
Trent looked at her. "That's like saying you don't want to be a part of this family. Being a director is in your blood, as I am. We are part of each other."
Gwen still wasn't convinced. Trent smiled, then pushed his child off the chair and onto the ground with his hand. Gwen fell down with a "Oof." And looked up at her dad. He rose in eyebrow and smiled at her. Gwen smiled back, then walked over to him and gave him a hug.
Trent grabbed a nearby guitar and started a song.
As you go through life you'll see
There is so much that we
Trent looked outside at a tree, and saw a bird's nest with three baby birds. All but one baby bird were lying in the nest, peacefully. The other was trying to fly on its own.
Don't understand
Gwen looked up at the bird as well, and smiled.
And the only thing we know
Gwen continued to watch the baby bird, until its mother came and directed it toward the nest.
Is things don't always go
The baby bird went its siblings and lay in the nest, with its mother following. Trent walked off of the set and set the guitar down.
The way we plan
Gwen looked down, sadly, then she followed Trent.
But you'll see every day that we'll never turn away
Trent ran, then stopped at the sidewalk and saw Bridgette and Geoff together on the other side of the street, who were holding a two year old child.
When it seems all your dreams come undone
Gwen ran to her father's side and looked at the child too. She smiled again.
We will stand by your side filled with hope and filled with pride
Bridgette set down the child and let it try to walk a few steps. It walked happily, but it was headed for the street. Geoff quickly picked up the child and kissed its forehead.
We are more than we are
We are one
Trent finished singing, then ran to a nearby fountain with fish and pennies inside. Gwen followed, and started singing.
If there's so much I must be
Can I still just be me?
Gwen asked, as her Trent walked by her.
The way I am?
As she asked the question, she looked at her reflection in the water, and a fish jumped out and splashed, ruining the picture of her face.
Can I trust in my own heart?
Or am I just one part
Of some big plan?
Gwen finished singing, then walked to her father who was leaning on a big tree. He was looking up at the sky, and started singing again.
Even those who are gone are with us as we go on
Your journey has only begun
Tears of pain, tears of joy
One thing nothing can destroy
Is our pride deep inside
We are one
Trent pushed off the tree and started running back home. Gwen was following but was running a little slower. As they ran, they passed Tyler and Lindsay with a beautiful baby, they passed Beth and Brady who also had a baby, and then they passed Katie and Sadie, who were squealing at a baby in a stroller.
Trent stopped halfway for Gwen to catch up. Once she was finally a few feet ahead of him, he continued to run in front of her. As they ran back to the mansion, Trent began to sing, once again.
We are one, you and I
We are like the Earth and sky
Trent stepped in a puddle, making a big splash. Then Gwen did the same, only making a smaller splash.
One family under the sun
Trent started jumping the steps, by one's then by two's. Gwen was following, but was struggling a little bit.
All the wisdom to lead, all the courage that you need
Trent stopped at the porch and looked down at Gwen, who was still catching up. Gwen looked up at him, confused.
You will find when you see
Trent looked at Gwen, then he looked at the big balcony.
We are one
Trent continued to look at the balcony, while Gwen didn't understand. From what she saw, the balcony was pointing the opposite direction toward adventure, not towards home.
Trent looked at Gwen, seeing that she was confused, and did a double take on the balcony. He quickly understood what she was confused about and walked toward her. Trent leaned down, put a hand on her shoulder, and said, "As long as you live here, it's who you are." Trent kissed Gwen on the cheek and said, "You'll understand some day." Then Trent walked up the steps and into the house.
Gwen looked up and saw the same baby bird, who was trying to fly earlier. She smiled at the sight of the bird and watched it fly away from her, and into the distance. Her smile faded away as the baby bird could be on its own, while she couldn't. Gwen sat down on one of the steps and sighed, hoping that one day, she would be free, just like the baby bird.
Meanwhile, in the big city, there was a tough looking girl, who had a unibrow and her black hair tied up in a scrungie. She was kneeling down in an alley, looking for scraps of food.
Suddenly, someone came up from behind her. The boy had glasses and a blue, long sleeve shirt with a hamburger on the front. "Oh, hey, Eva. Whatcha' doing?" He asked.
Eva looked up from her searching and growled, "I'm looking for food, dork. What else?" The boy scoffed, then kicked some trash in her face. The boy laughed, while Eva glared at him.
Eva looked around the boy, and realized something. "Harold, where's Duncan? You were supposed to watch him!" She said, grabbing the nerd's neck.
Harold rolled his eyes. "Whatever. He can take care of himself. Apparently, he's the chosen one, and not the one with the real brains and muscles." He said, gesturing towards himself.
Eva put Harold down, and said, smirking, "Well, I hope you have a good back story as to why you weren't watching the kid."
"Why? Is Heather here?" Harold asked the girl.
Eva smirked again, and said, "As a matter of fact, she is. Turn around."
Harold turned around, and saw Heather walking up the alley with the little punk in her arms. Harold ran to her, and said, "Hey Heather. I found some food in an alley across the street. It's in the kitchen, okay?"
Heather set Duncan down beside Eva. Eva kneeled down to Duncan, and said, "Hey, Duncan, wanna arm wrestle?" Duncan looked at her, and grinned from ear to ear at the thought of it.
Heather quickly turned around to Harold, and yelled, "You were supposed to be watching him!" Harold winced in fear.
Duncan turned away from Eva and toward his mother. "It's not his fault. I left on my own." Suddenly, Heather got in his face, asking him questions.
"What were you doing?" She asked.
"Nothing." He replied.
"Who got me fired?"
"Trent."
"Who killed Alejandro?"
"Trent."
"What have I told you about them?"
Duncan looked up at his mother and tried to think of an excuse. "She wasn't that bad. I thought maybe we could be-"
"Friends?" Heather asked, interrupting him. "You thought you could be friends with Trent's daughter?" Heather scoffed and said, "What an idea. What an idea!" She said, coming to realization. Duncan gasped as Heather picked him up in her arms.
"You brilliant punk! You have the power of Alejandro rushing through your veins, making you so powerful." Heather said, hugging him close. Harold made a disgusted noise, causing Heather to shoot daggers at him. Harold winced.
Heather held Duncan close as they walked inside a nearby building that had boarded up windows and doors. They walked up a staircase and inside one room that had nothing but a mattress with stuffing and springs coming out. Heather dropped Duncan down on the mattress, dust flying out of it, and started to talk to herself.
"I now see the path. To our beautiful return to power!" Heather said, as other criminals came inside, all looking at Duncan and Heather.
Duncan tried to speak up. "But I don't wanna-" But was shushed by Heather.
"Be quiet my little one. You must be exhausted." Heather said, talking in a baby voice, then she began to sing.
Sleep my little Duncan
Let your dreams take wing
Heather started to pat down the mattress, trying to make it more comfortable for Duncan.
One day when you're big and strong
You will be a king
Heather walked away from Duncan.
"Good night." Duncan said, quietly.
Heather turned around, and said, "Good night, my little punk." And as she closed the door, she said, "Tomorrow your training intensifies." Then started singing again.
I've been fired, persecuted
Left alone with no defense
When I think of what that brute did
I get a little tense
Heather started to walk in the lounge, and lay on an old couch.
But I dream a dream so pretty that I don't feel so depressed
Cause it soothes my inner kitty, and it helps me get some rest
Heather jumped off the couch and walked toward Eva and Harold, who were standing next to each other.
The sound of Trent's dying gasp
Harold made a pretend gasp, as he reached for his throat for air, then he fell down with a thump, his tongue sticking out of his mouth.
His daughter squealing in my grasp
Harold hit Eva, randomly, while she punched him in the face.
His family's mournful cries
That's my lullaby
Heather started singing dramatically, as she started cleaning a big, sharp knife with a towel.
Oh, the past I tried forgetting
And my foes I could forgive
Trouble is, I know it's petty
But I hate to let them live
Heather sang fiercely, stabbing the knife in a cutting board. Heather threw down the towel, as Harold started to sing a verse.
So you found yourself somebody who chased little Trent up a tree
Heather turned to him, a look of disgust in her eyes.
Oh, the battle may be bloody, but that kinda works for me.
Heather said, pushing Harold down to the floor. She ran towards the stairs.
The melody of angry growls
The counterfeit of painful howls
Before going up the stairs, she walked on Harold's back, making him yell in pain.
The symphony of death, oh my
That's my lullaby
Heather opened the door to Duncan's room, revealing that he was peacefully, sleeping on the mattress. Heather began to sing, quietly in the room.
Ale is gone
But Heather's still around
Heather walked towards the mattress, and leaned down to his face.
To love this little lad
She sang, hugging him, then giving him a peck on the cheek.
Till he learns to be a killer
With a lust for being bad.
Heather walked out of the room, the door still wide open. Eva and Harold walked in.
"Sleep, you little trouble maker." Harold said, then sang.
I mean precious little thing.
Eva punched him in the gut, causing him to fall down. Eva looked down at Duncan and sang.
One day when you're big and strong
Heather appeared in the doorway, and sang.
You will be a king!
Eva and Harold ran out of the room, with Heather closing the door behind them. Heather ran to the banister, and looked down, seeing other criminals and hobos looking at her for instructions. She started to sing.
The pounding of the drums of war
The thrill of Duncan's mighty roar
"Joy of vengeance!" Harold piped in.
"Testify!" Eva yelled. Heather started to climb to the roof.
I can hear the cheering
Eva and Harold sang together in duet, while Harold held a sarcastic flag that read, "Hooray!"
Duncan, what a guy
Heather finally opened the door to the roof, and started singing the last verses.
Payback time is nearing, and then our flag will fly
Against the blood, red sky
Heather sang, as the sky really did look blood, red. The criminals were singing the last verse with Heather, including Eva and Harold, who were standing behind her.
That's my lullaby!
Heather laughed, evilly. She had a plan just waiting to hatch, and she would make sure that it didn't fail.
*sigh* What a long chapter! But at least, I got it done. Anyways, same as usual, hope you enjoyed the chapter and please review!
