Chapter 6 - Giving In

AN*Okay, so i do not intend this story to last for long. I am sad to tell that this is the second to the last chapter but i will add more if... you'll see :)

And thanks to addicted2reading9 for reminding me that Amy's eyes are green. I'm sure you've noticed that too. Sorry :)*

"Now let's talk about payment." Natalie said.

Relief washed over Amy the second she saw Dan's eyes open. But now that Natalie said that, she was hit by a soft pang of sadness that after all they've been through, this is how it will end. She sighed. She didn't feel so bad cause she knew that Grace and her parents were proud of her. They would never prioritize the clue hunt over a family member. After all, that's what set Madrigals apart from the other branches. Relatives before power. She caught Dan's eye and nodded. She flipped open the messenger bag that she was currently slung around her left shoulder. She pulled out a small wooden box with swirly carvings. With a heavy heart, she placed it on Natalie's outstretched hand. Natalie sighed then smiled triumphantly. Finally. After three hard years, the stone was theirs. "You can keep the money." she told the two crestfallen siblings.

"Oh no you don't!" someone said loudly. Everyone turned their heads to Irina Spasky. "This is not yet over Natalie!"

Natalie smiled sweetly at her. "But it is. Tell me Irina, would you dare fight us?" She looked at the Russian menacingly. Irina looked away and didn't reply."That's what I thought." She went to her brother, opened the box and showed him the fragile looking stone. The cause of all their problems. The cause of almost all the deaths in the Cahill family. Suddenly, Ian felt something he had never encountered before. For the very first time, he was refusing power. And not just any power. He was rejecting the power to rule the world. He wasn't just rejecting it either. He felt a desire to destroy it but he didn't. It was discovered by a Cahill after all. He closed his eyes and finally gave in to everything. He gave in to the desire to stop the long war that he denied himself for so long. He gave in to the inner kindness in him. And… He gave in to the feeling he felt for Amy Hope Cahill. "No." he said firmly.

Natalie looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"I said no! I don't want this anymore! It's mad!" Ian shouted

"What is mad about this? The prize is right in front of your eyes Ian!" his sister shouted back.

"THIS is mad! The killing, the fighting, all of it! When will you realize that we don't have to kill each other for this stone! Why can't we use it as one family?" Ian then turned to the wide-eyed crowd. "Look at us! I can barely call our group the Cahill family! More like the Cahill competitors. Cause that's what we really are! The hunt has made us kill our own flesh and blood. Our ancestors gave this stone to us so we can use it to prosper as a whole family. And all this time I had thought there was nothing more important than money and power... but I was wrong. There are more important things than that." She looked at her sister then at Amy, then at his feet. "Like... love..." he said more silently but enough for the whole island to hear. He looked back up. "I'm sorry. To all of you. Especially to the both of you." He looked at Amy and Dan. "Amy, Dan, i'm sorry. I don't know if you'll ever forgive me but I just want you to know that I really am sorry."

Natalie wiped a tear from her eye. A Kabra. Crying. Right. But it is true! And if a Kabra is crying, what about the others? They were bawling their eyes out. Natalie surprised Ian by hugging him. And that seemed to do it. The crowd began muttering their own apologies. Ian smiled at them. He had done this. And he wasn't a Madrigal. Natalie surprised Ian once more by getting everyone's attention. "Alright everyone! I'm going to arrange our departure! You have no need to worry! Do something to entertain yourselves for the moment." With that, all the Cahills, except for the Kabras and Amy and Dan went away, conversing with each other in groups. "Stay there for a while Ian. I have to get our planes ready." Natalie said. "By the way, that was quite a speech you gave there bro." She smiled at him, punched a few buttons in her phone, then began ratting away. She mouthed an excuse to Ian then went away.

Ian approached Amy and Dan and helped the both of them stand. "You were wrong you know." Amy said. Ian looked at her questioningly. "Cause I forgive you." Amy said.

"Well, I am not a forgetful person..." Dan began. "But I know how to accept apologies." Ian smiled at him then gave him a brotherly hug. "Hey, what's with the touchiness?" Dan complained.

Amy rolled her eyes. "I guess near death experiences really have no effect on you."

Dan grinned at her. "Not one bit." He turned to Ian and frowned. "You stole our show!"

"What do you mean?"

"We are the Madrigals here!"

Ian shrugged. "I guess family branches don't matter to me anymore." Amy ran then hugged him.

"WOAH!" Dan exclaimed, his eyes wide. "I was not expecting that dude!" He looked at his sister and Ian still in an embrace. "I guess, I uh - I have to go now." he stammered, while retreating back. Amy pulled away from the hug, blushed, then narrowed her eyes at Dan.

"Hey! don't give me the evil eye when all I want to do is to preserve the innocence of my own eyes and ears!" he said loudly.

"I am going to murder you myself if you don't run." Amy threatened. Dan knew Amy wasn't serious but still, he ran for it.

"Amy..." Ian murmured once Dan got lost in the grove of palm trees. Amy looked at him. "I should've told you this long ago. Back when we were still in Japan. I'm just too much of a fool..."

Amy looked at him. "What is it?"

"I - I -" Ian rolled his eyes. "Just let me show you." With that, he closed the remaining space between them. He gently tilted Amy's chin and pressed his lips on her lightly...

Amy's mind was fogged. She can't see or hear or smell... just feel. It wasn't anything extravagant. They were only 16 year olds after all. It was short, it like lasted for only two seconds, but it was very, very sweet. Amy looked at him letting him know that the feeling what was mutual. "Took you long enough." she said then intertwined her fingers with his.

They walked together, hand in hand when they found Dan. He looked at their hands then grinned goofily at the both of them. "I missed something didn't I?"

Ian shrugged and the three them laughed together, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in three years.

AN*I know, i know... dramatic much?*