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 6: Cassidy's Defiance

Cassidy stared sheepishly at the floor.

She knew she was in trouble.

Cassidy had fooled herself into believing she was in love with someone who loved her back.

Obliviously that wasn't the case.

Cassidy peeked at the envelope in her hand.

It was her test results from the doctor.

She quickly shoved the envelope into her packet when her elderly mother, Emily, walked into the living room.

"I told you that boy was no good for you, Cassidy," Emily scowled at her college aged daughter. "But you refused to listen to me. You insisted he was the 'one'. Now look, you two are now broke up. Well, I hope you learned your lesson."

"Yeah. I did," Cassidy lied.

Emily nodded and poured some tea into a cup and handed it to Cassidy.

The former water guardian sipped in briefly.

The guilt and shame of hiding a secret from her mother was almost unbearable.

Still, it did her some good talking with her aging mother, even if she couldn't hear as well.

"So, now that you've broken up with that hypocrite, what do you plan on doing?" Emily asked as she sat herself down across from her daughter.

Cassidy shrugged and answered, "Finish my degree to become a doctor, I guess."

"But what about your social life?" Emily questioned.

Again, Cassidy shrugged. "Maybe not rush into relationships as quickly anymore?"

"Cassidy." The redhead looked up from her cup at her mother. She was looking very serious.

"You are going to promise me that you will not get into a relationship with another boy until you're not in college and find a good job. Is that understood?"

"Yeah, understood." But Cassidy felt like she swallowed her tongue.

No more flirting?

No more cracking jokes and fluttering her eyelashes at cute boys?

She didn't know if she could do it.

After an hour or so talking, Cassidy dismissed herself and left.

With so much on her mind, Cassidy didn't bother to say hi to her room mate or even undress.

She was so tired that she just flopped into bed and fell right to sleep.

The next morning Cassidy was awakened by the sweet smell of pancakes and tea.

Her room mate, Rebecca, was a sweet girl with dreams of becoming a chef.

And of course, Cassidy was always her food taster.

But not today.

Suddenly Cassidy felt sick.

Very sick.

Before you could say 'night-crawler', the former water guardian rushed to the bathroom and doubled over.

Rebecca must've heard that because the first thing Cassidy heard was her knocking on the door.

"Cassidy? Are you okay?" her voice asked.

"Yeah, just a little under the weather," Cassidy called.

But it was only the beginning.

For the whole day, Cassidy didn't feel good.

She had trouble walking since she had a few dizzy spells.

Then she would feel incredibly warm.

Other times she had to rush to the bathroom and throw up.

Finally, one of her professor gave her a pass and told her to go home and rest up.

For the rest of the day, she laid on the bed, napping.

When the end of the day came, Rebecca dropped off any work Cassidy had missed.

When Cassidy finally opened her eyes, she realized it was almost seven.

Rebecca decided to question her as soon as she woke up.

"Come on, Cassidy, what's the scoop? This is the third time this week you've been under the weather!"

"I'm fine, Rebecca. Really,"

"Well, if you ask me, I think you're pregnant."

"W-What m-makes you t-think that?"

"Because my mom had those same symptoms when she got pregnant." She paused, then leaned over and asked, "You did have your period, right?"

Cassidy shook her head. It was time to admit to the truth. "No, at least not yet."

Rebecca nodded as if she expected that, and then she leaned over and said, "You're pregnant, Cassidy. It has to be that. You need to see a doctor."

"No, I don't need to see a doctor."

"But don't you want-"

"I won't see a doctor to confirm what I already know. Rebecca, I've already seen a doctor. Plus, I'm going to be one. Yes, I'm pregnant, I'll admit it."

Rebecca gasped and stuttered, "Wha-how did your grandmother react? Did she kick you out?"

"No."

She sighed with relief and said, "Oh good, because I was beginning to think-"

"She doesn't know." Cassidy looked at Rebecca with serious eyes and continued before her friend could start anything. "She's really old, Beck. If I told her that, she might have a heart attack. "

"B-but," Rebecca stuttered. "She's your grandma. Your only family. How could you hide something like being pregnant from her?"

"You can't tell I'm pregnant, Rebecca. Besides, I only stay a few hours at her place. She will never see me get sick or anything in that short time."

"Yeah, but what about when your belly swells? How can you hide that?"

"Simple, I'll wear baggy clothes."

"Even with that you can't hide a seventh, or eighth, or ninth month," Rebecca reasoned.

Cassidy shrugged and replied, "I won't visit her then. I'll just say I'm really busy with college and work."

"Cassidy! You are crazy! If you don't tell her, how are you going to explain when you go into labor and the baby is born? You'll be living with that child for the rest of your life, Cassidy. You need to tell her now."

Cassidy lowered her head. Rebecca was right. No matter what she did, Cassidy couldn't hide the baby for long. But what would her mother do if she told she did 'it' before getting married.

Mom was right about Conner, Cassidy thought bitterly. He only wanted the feeling, not my heart.

"Fine," Cassidy grumbled. "I'll tell her."

"And I'll be right behind you," Rebecca chirped.

Cassidy nodded but still had this uneasy feeling in her stomach.

Subconsciously, she put a hand over her belly.

She hoped this would go well, for her sake and for her baby's.