Happily Never After
Summary: This story takes place ten years into the future. The characters in this story are as following; Will Vandom, Susan Vandom, Irma Lair, Anna Lair, Tony Vandom, Tom Lair, Taranee Cook, Theresa Cook, Lionel Cook, Peter Cook, Elizabeth Hale, Harold Hale, Lillian Hale, Chen Lin, Joan Lin, Hay Lin, Cornelia Hale, Cassidy, Emily, Yan Lin, Mira Lin, Kadma, Halinor, Chris Lair.
The girls have grown up and married, hoping to live happily ever after. But sadly, as reality tells us, there is never a happily ever after. Now the girls must live without a husband and an unborn child. Can they deal with this and still find true happiness? Or is their world forever lost in darkness?
PS: For my good buddies Cassidy the Water Sage and Cassidy Herrera, I added Cassidy to this story. She is a main character, so she goes under the whole summary. Unborn child? (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Chapter 4: Cornelia's Nightmare
Cornelia Hale was strong.
As firm as a rock.
As stubborn as a tree.
Nothing could shake her cage.
Or so they said.
But not anymore.
Not after today. . .
Cornelia was visiting her parents' home.
It wasn't her idea, though.
It was Caleb's, her husband.
He had, last night, talked her into seeing her parents to tell them the good news.
She was pregnant.
By three months to be exact.
The two had argued over the topic most of the night.
Finally, after midnight, Cornelia gave in.
She would visit her parents, all smile and no frown.
But that was an act.
Inside she was still fuming over what had happened two years ago.
When Cornelia had announced she was getting married.
At first, her parents didn't seem too thrilled.
They begged her to wait a bit, to finish school.
She had, of course, refused.
The debate had turned into an arguement and the arguement turned into a fight.
Then Cornelia, red with anger, stormed out of the apartment, vowing never to return.
It had been the same with her friends.
They all had arguements with their parents.
Will and her mom fought over Will being foolish to think of moving to Hollywood.
Irma and her father fought over Irma being ready to marry.
Taranee and her mother fought over if Taranee really should marry Nigel.
Cornelia and her friends did not forgive their parents, that was for sure.
They had steered clear of them for two years.
And now Cornelia's husband, her lover, was forcing her to visit her parents.
And to apologize for her behavior.
Cornelia was not looking forward to it.
She stopped the car in front of her old apartment.
She climbed up the stairs, keeping her head low so no one would realize her.
Finally she was at the front door to her doom.
She knocked.
Much to her surprise and relief, Lillian opened the door.
"Cornelia!" her little sister screamed as she ran up and gave Cornelia a big hug.
Cornelia had the air squeezed right out of her. She never knew her sister was so strong.
Then Lillian released Cornelia, grabbed her arm, and dragged her inside the room.
"MOM! DAD! GUESS WHAT! CORNELIA'S HOME!" Lillian bellowed at the top of her lungs.
"What? Cornelia? Is she here?" a masculan voice asked.
Suddenly Cornelia was being enbraced by her mom and dad. They were both crying with joy.
It almost made Cornelia want to cry.
"Oh, Cornelia! It's so good to see you again. It's been too long," her mother Elizabeth sighed, brushing a loose strain of hair out of her daughter's face.
"Cornelia, dear, my, have you grown. How's the man of the house doing?" Harold, her father, laughed, patting his daughter's back.
"I missed you so much, Sis. I thought I'd never see you again!" Lillian giggled happily, clapping her hands together.
"I, uh, wow, I never thought I was missed this much," Cornelia gasped, scratching the back of her head.
"Of course you were missed, Cornelia! Just because we had a fight doesn't mean we don't love you anymore," Elizabeth reassured.
Cornelia for the first time since entering Heatherfield smiled. Then the reason why she came nudged her brain. She had news to tell.
"Okay," Cornelia laughed, throwing her old feelings out the window, "I guess you guys are eager to hear what my life been like since I left, so I'll start from square one.
"Caleb and I got married a month after I left and we got an apartment in Midgale. I got a part time job as a park ranger while Caleb found a job as a police officer. Everything since then been great and wonderful. But the reason why I came back was to tell you guys something important."
Cornelia sighed, feeling the suspense rising in the room.
"I'm three months pregnant," she said finally.
Silence.
Then in a split second, the room bursted into cheers.
"Congrats to both of you!"
"Yay, I'm going to be an aunt!"
"Oh, Cornelia! This is wonderful news!"
Moments later, the Hale family was back together again, laughing and sharing stories that happened over the past two years.
Everything was perfect.
Until that phone call.
Cornelia heard her cell phone ringing.
She apologized for the distrubance and explained her husband was on a case right now and would sometimes check up with her.
She peeked at the caller.
It wasn't Caleb.
It was his partner, Mike.
She answered, uncertainy raising her gut. Had something bad happened? Was Caleb hurt? Or worse?
"Hello?" she asked.
"Cornelia? Hi, it's Mike. You know, Caleb's buddy from the force?"
"Yes, we meet at the company pinic more than once, remember?"
"Yeah, I was just checking. Listen, Cornelia, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but uh."
He paused, sounding grief shriken.
"Go on," Cornelia insisted. "I can handle this. What happened?"
"Caleb and I were tracking a serial killer when we cornered him to a wall. We didn't know he was armed, and I was kind of cocky, but uh, he shoot Caleb, Cornelia. I'm sorry. We did everything we could but, he just died in my arms."
"WHAT?!" Sorrow and grief devoured her heart. Her husband was dead? Just like that?
"Um, Cornelia. Caleb wanted to leave you with a message. Right before he died, he said he loves you, and that he hopes your child will grow up big and strong. He also said be a better mother to it than his mother was to him. I gues that's all, so bye."
He hung up.
The room that was once full of laughter and joy was now darkened and overshadowed by grief.
Caleb was gone.
His dream of being a wonderful father was over.
And he had left her all alone.
Harold asked his daughter what was the matter.
She said her husband had just been killed a few moments ago.
Everyone began to comfort her.
And Cornelia finally broke down.
Okay, next chapter is going to be about Hay Lin. And I have decided this story will be a prequel to my next generation of guardians story.
As for the future guardians, they are called D.R.A.G.N.S. (pronouced drag-N-s)