Summary: This story takes place ten years into the future. 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: This is for my good friends, Cassidy the Water Sage, Cassidy Herrera, DREAMCOLE, and mizunderstood247.

Disclaimer: I do not own W.I.T.C.H., nor do I own the children to be born or the boys Cole or Edward. Cole belongs to DREAMCOLE. W.I.T.C.H. and party belong to Disney. The boys (minus Cole) belong to Cassidy the Water Sage, and what I mean by it is that I'm too lazy to create my own characters, so CS (Cassidy the Water Sage) let me borrow them. They're in her story A Forgotten Past. However, Edward is totally her character, so if you even think of using him, ask her.

Chapter 12: Racing Hearts, racing minds

With Taranee:

Kyle then closed the door behind him and playfully followed Taranee into the living room.

"So what made you want to help my dad?" Taranee asked him curiously.

Kyle gave her a friendly smile and responded, "I know your bro. He and I work at the same place. And since he knew I had met you before, he asked me if I could watch out for you while he and your pops are away."

Taranee sat down on the couch and glanced at the window. "You know, it's probably awkward hearing this from me, but I have this feeling that I'm forgetting something."

Kyle grinned and leaned against the wall. "I get that all the time. Just give it time. It'll come back."

With Will:

"I thought I'd find you here," Will said as she stepped behind the tree.

A young man with long, dark brown hair stood behind the tree, and he was smiling. "Hmm," he said softly, "perhaps I give you too much credit." His dark hair fell gracefully over his shoulders, past his shoulder blades and long past his waist. His face was completely clean-shaven, giving a youthful look to his lean, elfin face. Only his dark eyes, brown like a buck, were filled with mysterious wisdom that not even a sage could understand. It was always portraying no emotions, yet held the greatest of all secrets inside.

"Maybe." Will crossed over so she stood before the man. She crossed her arms expectantly over her chest and asked, "Okay, Mr. Mysterious. Can I at least know your name before you go off into another speech of 'light-and-darkness'?"

"Cole," the man answered. "My name is Cole."

"Cole," Will tested it on her tongue. It felt good, belonging, like it should be said. She tilted her head a bit and continued, "So, Cole, what were you talking about that night?"

Cole took a step closer and said, "I know you still have your doubts about our conversation the other night, Will, but if you allow me to, I could show its true beauty."

Will hesitated, answering, "Maybe."

Cole looked up to the sky. "Be it the night with the starts or the day with the clouds, I love it."

Will gave a sheepish smile. "What are you doing? Quoting Shakespeare?" She looked up to the sky and suddenly felt Cole's arms around her.

"If you can find peace in the light and the darkness, then you can find true love. If you allow me to, I will help."

Will thought for a moment. Finally, she sighed and said, "Okay . . . I trust you."

A small smile peaked on Cole's lips. "Close your eyes. And believe what your Heart feels."

Will could feel Cole move her down as her fingers touched something soft and gentle like a cloud. To Will, it was as if she was riding on top of a cloud in the sky. And it was wonderful.

When Will opened her eyes again, Cole was standing in front of her, his eyes as mysterious and knowing as ever. Cole then said, "Will, you said you trust me. But do you trust me enough to let me help you with your burden?"

Will looked down and placed her hands over her stomach. She sighed and looked away. "Even if you could help, I doubt you can take the pain away."

"Maybe not, but what if I can help you lessen the pain?"

Will looked up at his eyes again. Tears began to well up in her eyes. "Can you really?"

Cole nodded. "I can certainly try."

With Taranee:

Kyle looked curiously at the numerous pictures set on top of the fire place. His eyes fell on a picture of a young girl with an older boy, and two adults, all who looked very happy together. He picked it up and turned to Taranee, who was sitting on the couch. "Hey, who's this?" he asked, holding up the frame.

Taranee looked at the picture and smiled in sweet remembrance. "That's me when I was thirteen. Peter's to the right of me, and there's my folks behind us."

"Really?" Kyle looked curiously at the picture. Then he set it back down and looked at the others that lined up on the fire place porch. He noticed another one, one where Taranee was hooking arms with a boy her age, with dark red hair. Both were smiling.

"And this?" He held up the picture for Taranee to see.

"Oh." Taranee's smile faded, and she looked down. Kyle was about to put the picture down, sensing maybe it wasn't a good time to bring that subject up, but Taranee reluctantly answered, "That was my husband, Nigel. He was so happy back then."

"I bet." Kyle stepped away from the fire place and sat himself next to her. He gave her the best brotherly smile he could muster and said, "You know, the thing about losing someone is you miss them." He shrugged his broad shoulders and continued, "But you've got to understand, what would they say to you if they saw you mopping over them still? Would they want you to be depressed, or would they want you to move on?"

"I guess you're right," Taranee sighed. She struggled to her feet, and waddled over to the fire place. She stared sadly at the picture of her and Nigel, and her hand settled over her swollen belly again. "I just try to get over the fact he's really gone."

"He's not." Kyle got up and walked over to her. He placed a gentle hand over her shoulder and said softly, "So long you keep them close to your heart, and in your dreams, then they'll never leave you."

Taranee looked up at him. "Really?" she asked. "Do you mean it?"

Kyle smiled down at her and nodded. "I mean it. It's like they've never left. They'll always be there. Just not physically." He nodded again at the picture and said, "They'll always watch over you, wherever you are. And then again, it's just a temporary separation. You'll be together again. And this time, it's permanent."

Taranee nodded, and she found herself leaning against Kyle's massive chest. "I hope you're right, Kyle. I really do hope so."

With Cornelia:

"It was great, really," Cornelia insisted for the tenth time today. It was also the tenth time that her 'date', Jose, had asked how the meal had gone.

"Oh, good," Jose said, exhaling a breath of relief. He wiped his brow and admitted, "It was my first time in a fancy restaurant like that."

"Really?" Cornelia stopped and stared at him in amazement. "You acted like you totally knew what you were doing."

"I guess I just acted on instinct." Jose looked at Cornelia, nodding to himself as if thinking something over, and then he gestured out to a garden that lay before them. "You know, it is very pleasant to have someone else working on the garden with me." He chuckled to himself and said, "And for no pay, which is even more uncommon."

"I should be thanking you," Cornelia said. "You've been fun to hang around. And you treated me well."

"You deserved it," Jose insisted. "You've been working hard on the garden. I must say, you have a natural green thumb."

Cornelia laughed and shook her head. "You have no idea." She nodded toward him and said, "You have one, too. That flower you gave me, it's in full bloom."

"Flowers are most enjoyable when in full bloom," Jose said. He played with a spiked up lock of blond hair and continued, "I am also foreign to the ways of women, I'm afraid. I still feel like there's something more I could do for you."

"Oh, don't worry," Cornelia insisted. "You've done enough for me. Actually, it's really me who feels in debt to you."

"Really?" Jose asked. "How so?"

"Well," Cornelia began. "It's kind of hard to begin."

Jose looked around and noticed a bench. He gestured toward it and said, "I have all the time in the world. Take your time."

With Hay Lin:

It was mid-afternoon, and surprisingly, No One Special had shown up, during the less likely time a person would come. There was virtually no one in the restaurant, and Hay Lin's parents were taking a break. Hay Lin had enough courage to go up and take care of the 'odd customer', only to discover it was . . . him.

The man stood by the door, patiently awaiting for someone to seat him. And Hay Lin was lucky enough to be alone.

"Hey there," she said pleasantly, trying to control her over-excited voice. She nodded toward his usual seat and said, "The usual, sir?"

"You know me," the man said. He sat himself down and looked up happily at Hay Lin, saying, "And, oh, by the way, you can call me Tomo."

"Tomo," Hay Lin repeated. It was like music on her tongue. She scribbled his name down on her pad and the usual order, which was memorized by heart, and she pranced away, calling to Fang, the chief, "Order up! Number 52, you-know-what."

"Oy-vey," Fang sighed. "You're obsessed with him, aren't you?"

"No-o." That was a lie. Hay Lin was feeling pitter-pattery around Mr. No One Special, aka Tomo. "Anyway, you know I still love Eric."

"When are you going to wear that excuse up?" Fang chuckled. He waved his hands at her, saying, "Go on, love bird! Time to spread your wings once more and go find another mate. This one seems like a good one. With his choice of food, anyway."

Hay Lin had to laugh at the chief's jokes. Leave it to him to make a jest like that. Finally, when he finished the preparation, she took the dish out to Tomo.

When she set it down, she said to him, "By the way, I'm Hay Lin."

"I know that."

"Huh?"

Tomo grinned through the pasta and pointed at her name-tag. "It's on your shirt."

"Oh!" Hay Lin laughed in embarrassment and shook her head. She slapped her forehead and said, "Silly me! Where is my head today?"

"I don't know," Tomo said slyly. "The clouds?"

Hay Lin and Tomo laughed together. When their laughter ceased, Tomo set down his fork and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a business card and set it on the table, but no without winking at Hay Lin first. "Here. If you want to find your mind, give me a call."

Hay Lin laughed again at the joke and took the card. "Sure thing. I kind of need my mind."

Tomo nodded. "Don't we all?" He laughed again and asked, "Don't we all?"

With Taranee:

"Gee, spaghetti and meatballs?" Taranee asked with a smirk.

Kyle grinned and set down the plate. "Afraid that's the best I can cook. I always burn everything else."

"Is that even possible?" Taranee asked.

Kyle merely smirked playfully and shrugged his shoulder. "Can't say. I'm just a really hot guy."

Mm-hm, ain't that right? Taranee thought, but she didn't say it aloud. Instead she took hold of the seat, able to pull it out when a sharp pain hit her middle. She flinched and grabbed her stomach, and immediately felt wetness below.

The smile on Kyle's face disappeared, and he ran to her side. "Taranee!"

Taranee, overcome with unbelievable pain, fell to her knees. The only words she could get out of her mouth was, "Call . . ."

Kyle, who was kneeing beside her, nodded and ran to the phone. He dialed 9-1-1 and demanded for an amburlency. He gave the address and said, "There's a woman giving birth here! She's in pain!" He then hung up and ran back to Taranee, who was crying.

"It's going to be alright," Kyle comforted, cradling her between his large arms. Despite the build in his muscles, he held her gently, like holding a newborn infant.

Taranee grimaced and whispered, "My . . . parents. I need . . . to call . . . to call them."

"Don't worry," Kyle reassured. "I'll call them as soon as you're safe in the hospital. No need to worry everyone and have a mob, right?" She could see he was trying to smile, but was unsuccessful.

Taranee merely nodded, crying as the pain build up. Only when the amburlency alarms came did a wave of relief wash over her.

Not too long for a chapter, but I think I ended it nicely. Thanks again to DREAMCOLE!