Author's Notes: I'm REALLY sorry :( I've been so busy with all the lessons of my new course having a deadline for now I've had little time to work. So much so that I have about five different versions of what could happen next :S At least if you do have to wait a while again, this one ends as a non-cliffhanger. ;) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own Violet, Keiko (who's absent this chapter :P) and the plot.
Chapter 19: One Dance
"Shush! Violet, they can hear you," Renet looks over to me, "If you like get their attention, you're totally on your own!"
I shake my head and watch the two leave, sighing to myself as I stand up unsteadily. "Renet…explanations please! Why the hell am I with Bishop here? Why am I agreeing to capture my family? What-"
"Whoa!" Renet raises her hands quickly, getting me to stop. "I like already told you, this is one of your possible futures if you don't tell them"
"Okay, I get that much, but why? What happened?"
She raises the time scepter, and it begins glowing. Before I can say anything she teleports us somewhere else. This time I find us on a rooftop. She again pulls me into a hiding spot behind some air vents. Four shadows eventually land in the middle of the roof, one turning slowly.
"Violet, you said you could keep up!" It's Leo.
A fifth shadow lands, looking very unsteady as they do so. They clutch at their stomach area before speaking. "I'm sorry…I guess I'm still sick…"
Leo's shadow turns back to the other three. "Don, you said she was fine"
The shadow that must be Don shuffles nervously. "I thought she was…"
Leo squares up and approaches the other me. "Violet, we've been more than fair to you, but none of us are stupid…"
"'Cept for Mikey" Raph chirps out but quiets down when Leo continues regardless.
"I know something's up, so what is it? You can tell us"
"No, I can't! I really can't!" Panic rings in her voice. I spy her backing off. "It's nothing!"
"Sure looks like nothing" Leo turns away. "What about you Don? You going to tell us?"
"I said I wouldn't say…" He mutters but I spy tears running down his face, "…she's pregnant!" He gasps before continuing. "I've been quiet for too long Violet…I'm sorry…"
My form begins to back off further, ready to run. "I didn't want to hurt you…I couldn't…"
"Violet…I thought we'd got over all this…"
"WELL WE HAVEN'T!" she cries. "Last time was too painful for me…you all felt disgusted in me and I know it!"
"You may be an empathist, but…"
She throws her arms up slightly, "BUT WHAT? I'm an idiot?"
"No…"
"Well I know when I'm not wanted…GOODBYE!" She runs, diving over the rooftops at a faster speed than before.
The four shadows run after her as Renet places a hand on my shoulder, giving me a sad smile.
"She gets captured by Bishop after she ran…her brothers weren't there to protect her. When she's caught, he puts her through a lot and eventually brainwashes her from it all"
"Stockholm's syndrome…" I mutter and receive a nod from Renet.
"If you tell them, everything will turn out fine. But like, if you don't, this could happen"
"Okay…I think it's obvious what I'm going to do then…" I mutter. "Renet…please take me home, I don't like this anymore…not that I liked it in the first place…"
She grins, raising the time scepter again. It glows steadily and creates a massive wave of energy, pulling us across time again.
"Back we are!" she grins as I peep out from behind the tree she has put us behind. I can tell not much time has passed because everyone is still gathered as if waiting for the reception…barely ten minutes perhaps…
"If you didn't like that, you should have seen some of the futures you avoided…like the one where you-"
"That's okay Renet…I think I get the point" I shake my head.
She jumps at me, hugging me again, "Like, take care and totally look after that lovely child of yours"
"Thanks…I guess…" I smirk as she releases me.
"Violet?" Someone calls out, approaching my hiding spot quickly.
I turn to say goodbye to Renet, but she's already gone! At least she can't cause me any more grief…
"I…I'm here…" I say sort of quietly as I come out nervously to face Donny.
He gives me a sort of scared but stern look. "You weren't planning on running away, were you?"
I shake my head; "On the contrary…I think I'm ready to tell the others now…"
He looks surprised, "Really?"
"Of course! I've come to realize that…well…we're family, and they shouldn't be disappointed or disgusted like I previously thought"
His smile widens as I finish, and he suddenly hugs me. "I don't know what changed your mind, but I'm glad you made such a realisation." He releases me and gestures the way he came from, "Ready?"
I link arms with him and begin back towards everyone else. "One thing at a time dear brother" I grin, "First you have to dance with me at the party"
He blushes and goes quiet, probably afraid he'll make a fool of himself or something.
We head down as everyone goes to move to the back of the farmhouse where we set up for the reception. I look out for the rest of my family, not sure exactly how to tell them. Should I tell them separately? Together? I'm trying to work it out as Don stops me and quickly unlinks arms, blushing still. I glance at him before realizing Leo is in our path.
"Where have you two been?" he asks with a smile.
"Around" I grin playfully at him, continuing past him with Don hurrying after me.
Leo gives me a humored look as I glance back at him but lets me go. So Donatello and I head to where the reception is held and wait for it to start.
"You're nervous," I say without looking at him.
He turns to me, panic stricken "Of course I am! What if I mess up? What if I forget what to do? What if-"
I cut him off, "Don, calm down" I smile at him. "Just don't think about it so much. It will be over before you know it!"
April and Casey's first dance goes by quickly and pretty soon our one is announced. Don is shaking quite a lot as his nerves begin to sink in more. We get ready to dance; he slowly puts his hands in the correct position on me. I nod to him and he gives a small smile.
"Ready?"
"I don't think I ever will be…" he mutters to me. The music begins and soon we're dancing along with many others.
After that dance, I approach Mikey who is sitting on his own.
"Hey" he smiles brightly at me.
I blush slightly, "Mikey…I've got something important to tell you"
"I'm sure it can wait…LOOK!" he points past me, "They're about to cut the cake!"
He drags me towards where everyone is gathering around April and Casey.
"But Mikey…" I say as he jerks me a little too hard, making me woozy and causing me to nearly fall over.
He stops and gives me an odd look. "What?" he asks with a grin seeping onto his face.
"Come here" I gesture for him to come closer. He does so. I inhale slowly, "I'm pr-"
"What's so interesting that you two are missing the reception?" Someone interrupts me. It's Leo…again. Can he not stay away for three minutes?
I grit my teeth, "I was just telling Mikey that I'm…" I trail off for a moment, unsure whether just to take the plunge or not.
"Violet?" Concern. I feel that flowing through him and Mikey.
I gulp. "…Pregnant…" I whisper quietly, barely audible.
The colour drains from Mikey instantly.
"What?" Leo asked confused, probably thinking he misheard me.
"I said I'm pregnant," I speak a little louder this time, keeping my gaze at the floor, trying not to look at either of them.
Without saying anything else, I turn away, somewhat disgusted in myself again, and begin to run away. I don't know why though, it's as if I've lost all control of my movements, yet I haven't.
I stop, panting, unsure how long I've been going for. I know running was a mistake, but at least I told them. I scan around myself; I'm in the middle of the forest. With a sigh, I jump up into the branches of the nearest tree and perch on a high branch.
"Violet?" I hear several calling out to me, but I don't respond, not to any of them. The calls range from "Imouto?" to even "Darkling?" They must be desperate to find me then.
I look up at the pinkish sky, catching a glimpse of the moon from behind the clouds. I still can't bring myself to answer though.
I begin humming quietly to myself as I try to ease my own feelings.
"Babe!"
I jump suddenly, nearly falling out the tree, as Mikey lands in front of me. He grabs my hand and pulls me into a safer position. I merely blush and try to turn away, preparing to run again, but he stops me. We stare at each other for a moment, neither saying anything. Both of us then move slowly into a hug; he pulls me up onto his lap so he's supporting me. I begin to cry, over-emotional about the whole situation.
He merely smiles all the while, radiating with soothing feelings for me. "It's alright my Kohana, I'm here," he whispers calmly to me.
I look up cautiously at Mikey, still terrified of what he thinks of me right now. As I stare up at him with big scared eyes, he begins our descent back to the ground. I feel him land heavily then begin walking slowly back towards the farmhouse.
We remain in silence for the majority of the journey, neither of us risking even one word.
"We're almost back," he mutters eventually.
I close my eyes and bury my face in his chest, now refusing to look at him, or anything else for that matter.
"Violet?" he asks quietly.
I scrunch up tighter, "NO!"
"Violet…" his tone sounds a little amused.
"No…" I whine, still curled up.
He sighs, "We can't run from this forever you know"
Wow…when did Mikey become the mature one?
I uncurl a little, gazing up at him uncertainly. "I know…" I whisper, tears still streaming down my face.
"What I said to you in the truck…well…I am scared, but…"
I close my eyes contentedly; "You think you'll be able cope when we're together…"
"Stop doing that!" he gives me a fake glare.
"I'm sorry I ran…" I wipe my eyes dry, "I was scared too…but more of what you'd think of me" I admit slowly.
He looks terrified again, but in a different way. "Aw Babe…I'd never see you like that…"
We exchange a smile, and then I clamber down from his arms, landing carefully back on the ground. Mikey steadies me as I nearly fall again, then he turns me round to face him. I move closer, coming into his embrace and then we kiss tenderly in the middle of the forest, ignoring the fact people still call out my name as they search.
Time seems to stop as we do so, the forest becoming silent and the light wind stopping altogether.
"May I have this dance?" he asks me randomly, a grin coming across his face.
I grin back, "You'll always know the answer"
He takes my hands in his own, taking lead. The moment is so magical! I swear there's music in the air. There's just him and me having this dance, and that's perfect. The stars have appeared above and twinkle steadily as we do so.
As we stop, he smiles slowly, takes my hand and begins walking back with me. "Come on, let's get back, the others are probably frantic by now"
I giggle, "I can imagine"
And with that, we walk back towards the farmhouse, ready to finish the celebrations.
But even now I can't help but think about our child. I know Mikey will be a great father, but I sense he's still nervous about such a role. I guess he has time to get into it though; this pregnancy has only just started…