A/N This chapter was written by Lexvan, with some edits by me.
A month had passed for Matt, in Rehab, and he was doing pretty good. Seeing Mandy was the high point of his day. And whenever she could, Lillian would come and visit, much to Chris' disapproval. The others have been visiting Matt as well. Seeing his friends has been giving Matt the strength he needs to keep moving on with his rehab. Which brings us to now when Matt is getting a visit from some other friends. Matt, of course, is in his room playing his guitar to pass the time when a knock comes at his door.
"Who is it?", Matt asked as he walked up to the door.
"Your favorite high school DJ!", a familiar female voice said.
"I know that voice anywhere.", Matt said with a grin as he opened the door to see Irma standing there with a smile on her face.
"What's up, Regent-Boy?", Irma asked before hugging Matt who returned the hug.
"How's it going, Irma?", Matt asked as they pulled away from each other.
"Pretty good.", Irma said.
"Says you!", another familiar voice said. "All you and Cornelia did the whole ride here was sing VMJ songs that were playing on the radio. Today just had to be the man's birthday."
Matt looked past Irma to see Angelo and Cornelia standing in the hallway.
"Oh! So, you don't like my singing!", Cornelia said as she turned away from Angelo.
"I didn't say that.", Angelo said. "I like it when you sing. As long as it's a song that compliments your voice."
"It's nice to see that you two love each other so much.", Matt said with a grin getting their attention.
"Don't you start.", Cornelia said. "We drove a long way to see you. So, be happy."
"You never change, Corny.", Matt said before they hugged.
"It's nice to see you too, Matt.", Cornelia said as they pulled away from each other.
"What a second!", Matt said. "I just called you Corny and you're not telling me not to call you that. What gives?"
"After a while, you just get use to it.", Cornelia said.
"Plus, when I call her Corny, it's a whole different story.", Angelo said as he walked into Matt's room. "Good to see you, man."
"Same here.", Matt said as they shook hands. "So, what brings you all here?"
"Can't we visit an old friend without wanting something?", Irma questioned pretending to have her feelings hurt.
"Yeah, but from what Taranee told me, when she and Nigel visited me on Friday with Andrew, you were trying to get a job at the Heatherfield Aquarium.", Matt explained. "And you two were still getting your place in order.", he said to Angelo and Cornelia.
"True.", Cornelia said. "But we decided to take a break from all of that and pay you a visit."
"As for me, I felt kind of bad for not visiting you with Andrew.", Irma said.
"Don't sweat it, guys.", Matt said as he sat on his bed. "You guys are trying to start over. Believe me when I say I know how it feels."
"Girls?", Angelo said getting Cornelia and Irma's attention. "Tell him. He's not going to get mad."
Matt looked from Angelo to Cornelia and Irma who had a look that said they were hiding something.
"Tell me what?", Matt asked.
Angelo looked at the girls and saw that they didn't want to tell Matt what they were hiding. So, he decided that he'd tell him for them.
"You don't want to tell him, fine.", Angelo said. "I'll tell him for you."
"Don't.", Matt said. "I want them to tell me."
Cornelia and Irma looked at each other and then at Matt.
"The reason why we waited so long to visit you was because...", Irma began to say.
"Because we were afraid that if we saw you again, we'd get more flashbacks from when we were enthralled.", Cornelia finished explaining. "We're sorry, Matt."
"Don't be.", Matt said with a smile. "Part of me felt the same way about seeing you two again.", he said with a small laugh.
A few seconds past before the four of them burst out laughing. It was a pretty tense feeling for them. After a few minutes of laughing, they calmed down and decided to take a walk outside.
"Man! Am I glad to of gotten that out in the open.", Irma said as they walked around the grounds of the rehab center.
"Same here.", Matt said. "So, how is your home coming along?", he asked Angelo and Cornelia.
"Funny thing about that.", Angelo said. "Turns out that after the apartment building was destroyed in the explosion, I of course had to heal up first. But after that, I went to one of the best construction companies and paid them to rebuild the apartment building that way Uncle John had it remodeled."
"And they did it?", Matt questioned.
"I was just as surprised when they said yes.", Angelo said. "Turns out that they, like the other construction companies, weren't being bothered by Hay Lin."
"That's because she needed those companies to bulid any houses she wanted built.", Irma said. "I may have been enthralled but there are a few things that come to mind every now and then. Same for you?"
"Let's not sugar coat it, Irma." Cornelia interjected. "We've actually been getting a lot of memories."
"Okay, yeah, by 'every now and then' I meant 'all the time.'" She said. "That's why we were afraid to come and see you."
"Wow. At least I've got one blessing.", Matt said.
"But nothing's popped into my head yet today." Cornelia said. She smiled. "That's probably because you look better than you have in a long time."
"Thanks. For me, the memories come every once in a while. I try to not let them get to me, but there are times that I'm awake at night thinking about them. Then again, most of mine are really hazy. I guess that's a benefit from being drugged up all the time."
"I hear ya there.", Irma said.
"Not that I'm suggesting anything." He quickly added. They all chuckled a bit.
"I remember Will saying that the memories will always be there.", Angelo said. "She also said that the best you can do is keep moving forward and not let them hold you back."
"Sound advice.", Matt said as they all sat on some benches. "So, how's Chris doing?"
"Pretty lie or ugly truth?", Cornelia asked him.
"Give me the ugly.", Matt said with a grin knowing that something was up.
"He's real jealous of you, man.", Angelo said.
"Huh?", Matt questioned. "Why would he be jealous of me?"
"Well, it's how close you and Lillian are that he's jealous of.", Irma replied.
"You're her favorite Regent.", Angelo explained. "Chris found this out during the war. When they joined up with the rebels she had the girls tell her of all the adventures they had together."
"And he thinks that if I do decide to become a Regent again, he'll be pushed aside and lose Lillian.", Matt figured.
"Pretty much.", Irma said. "So, I have to ask. Do you intend accepting Lillian's offer to become her Regent again?"
"To be honest, I have no Idea.", Matt said. "I mean, I do miss it. But, I still don't think I'm worthy of it, after all that's happened."
"Okay, first of all, what happened to you wasn't all your fault.", Cornelia said. "Hay Lin got the jump on all of us. It couldn't be helped. So don't beat yourself up."
"Thanks.", Matt said. "Mandy tells me the same thing sometimes."
"Well, she's right.", Irma said. "And we know that the rehab is tough, but know you've got friends that are rooting as well as praying for you, Matt."
"Thanks.", Matt said. "And know that I'm doing the same for you two when it comes to your having to check up on Hay Lin."
"And for that, we thank you.", Cornelia said as she and Irma shivered a little.
"That bad?", Matt asked.
"You have no idea.", Irma said. "It's getting better, mind you."
"That's good to hear.", Matt said. "But to be honest, I still believe that deep down, the old Hay Lin is still in there."
"Now you sound like Angelo.", Cornelia said.
"Well... I think that our Hay Lin is still there.", Angelo said. "She just needs time to be herself again."
"Couldn't agree more.", Matt said. "So, any interesting stories you guys have?"
"I got one.", Angelo said. "It actually involves Chris."
"Do tell.", Matt said.
"Well, it was about five days ago.", Angelo began to explain. "Me and Caleb were still setting up the martial arts school, we're opening, while Cornelia was out with her mom and Lillian shopping for some stuff for our place, when...
Flashback, five days ago...
"So, you still going to call this place the Golden Dragon Dojo?", Caleb asked as they were hanging the banner to the place on the wall.
"Yeah.", Angelo said when they were done. "Uncle John called it that, so it's going to stay that."
"You know, when the war ended, I never thought that I'd still be teaching people how to fight.", Caleb said. "I figured that I'd be living a simple life with Natasha and..."
"Will?", Angelo questioned knowing that his friend was still getting over the fact that Will was in Kandrakar.
"Yeah.", Caleb said while looking up at the sky, through the windows of the martial arts school. "I miss her, Angelo."
"And she misses you.", Angelo said as he placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Even if she can see you and Natasha through her Viewing Pool, she still missed you both."
"I just wish that there was a way for her to be able to come to Earth.", Caleb said. "Or any place we can be together."
"Well, it's not like you can't go see her.", Angelo said. "You got Natasha and Blunk who can open folds to Kandrakar. Heck,iIf you want, I can give you one of the Fold Crystals, that I found a year ago, in the rubble of the old apartment building."
"Thanks.", Caleb said. "But for now, I think its best that I get used to us not being together before I even think of paying her a visit."
"Do you really think you can do that?", Angelo asked.
Caleb then looked at Angelo with a grin that he returned. Watching them from her Viewing Pool was the Oracle, known as one Will Vandom. A sad smile was on her face as she used her index finger to trace over the image of Caleb's face.
"I miss you too, Caleb.", she said as a lone tear ran down her face. "More than you'll ever know."
Back on Earth, Angelo and Caleb had just finished setting up a punching bag and were taking a break.
"So, let me ask you something.", Caleb said as they were drinking some water. "If Will had asked you to stay up there and become part of her personal council like Tibor, Alfor, Luba, and Halinor were for the last Oracle, would you do it?"
"If I wasn't with Cornelia and if Ehren didn't pick me to as her parent, maybe.", Angelo said.
"Maybe?", Caleb questioned.
"Yes. Maybe.", Angelo replied. "That's a huge choice to make. I'd be giving up a lot."
"True.", Caleb said. "But what about when you get older?"
"When I reach my sixties, then I'll probably do it.", Angelo said. "Cause by then, I'd of lived a good life and be good to go. As long as Cornelia came with me."
"What if Will were to offer it to you sometime in the near future?", Caleb asked. "Think Cornelia would let you do it?"
"Heck no!"
Angelo and Caleb both jumped and turned around to see Cornelia along with her mother, Elizabeth and her sister, Lillian.
"Jeez, Cornelia!", Caleb said. "Don't do that!"
"Seriously!", Angelo said. "If I were an old man, I'd probably be on the floor right now having a heart attack!"
Watching from her Viewing Pool, was Will who had a grin on her face.
"Some things never change.", she said to herself before she made the image vanish.
She then left to take care or her duties as Oracle. Back on Earth...
"So, I take it that you're done with your shopping.", Angelo said checking his watch. "And it's only 1:44 P.M.! Wow! I figured that you'd still be shopping."
"Actually, we just came from Lunch.", Cornelia said as she walked up to Angelo. "I just wanted to come by and see you."
"Really now?", Angelo questioned as he wrapped his arms around Cornelia's waist .
"Yeah.", Cornelia said with a smile before they kissed.
"Not to interrupt but I have a favor to ask of you, Angelo.", Lillian said getting their attention. "Remember, Sis?"
"Oh yeah!", Cornelia said as she and Angelo pulled away from each other. "Go ahead, Lillian. I'll be right back."
"Where you going?", Angelo asked as Cornelia and her mother headed out of the dojo.
"There's something I have to with mom.", Cornelia said as they stood at the entrance to the dojo. "Besides. I think Lillian wants to talk to you and Caleb alone.", she said before she and Elizabeth left for the second floor of the apartment building.
"Okay.", Angelo said before turning to Lillian. "What's up, Lillian?"
"It's Chris.", Lillian said with a pout. "We kind of had an argument about Matt being a Regent again. Well, if he decides to become one again."
"I went to see Matt the other day with Martin and Alchemy.", Caleb said. "He's doing pretty good. But it's going to be a while before he's able to leave the center."
"I know.", Lillian said as she sat in a chair that was against the wall. "But when I talked to Chris and Napoleon about Matt being one of my Regents again, if he decided to, Napoleon was okay with it. But..."
"Chris wasn't.", Angelo said as he sat next to her.
Lillian only nodded her head as he eyes began to water. Seeing this, Angelo wrapped an arm around her in comfort knowing she needed it.
"I didn't mean to make him mad.", Lillian said as the tears began to flow. "It's just that, I'm still used to Matt being one of my Regents. Even when he was enthralled, I knew that the real him was fighting to break free.", she said as she wiped her tears away.
"We understand, Lillian.", Caleb said. "You have a close bond with Matt that Chris doesn't understand yet. It's not romantic or anything. But it's still a close bond. Like a brother-sister bond."
"But if you want, I can talk to him for you.", Angelo said.
"Will you do that for me?", Lillain asked as she looked at Angelo with pleading eyes.
"Sure.", Angelo said with a smile which put a smile on Lillian's face as she hugged Angelo.
"Thank you.", Lillian said as Angelo returned the hug.
"No problem, Lillian.", Angelo said as Cornelia and Elizabeth came back into the dojo.
"Is everything okay?", Elizabeth asked as Lillian and Angelo pulled away from each other.
"Yeah, Mom.", Lillain said as she stood up smiling. "I just had to get some things off my chest."
"Okay.", Elizabeth said.
"You know. Seeing all three of you here is like looking into the past, present, and future.", Angelo said to the three Hale's.
"It does, doesn't it?", Caleb questioned.
"How so?", Elizabeth asked.
"Well, first you have Lillian, who looks like Cornelia did when she was sixteen.", Angelo explained. "She represents the past."
"While Cornelia, who probably looks like you did when you were in your twenties, Mrs. Hale.", Caleb said. "So, she represents the present."
"You do look a little like I did in my twenties.", Elizabeth said.
"Thank you.", Cornelia said proudly.
"And you, Mrs. Hale, give us a look at to what Cornelia and Lillian will look like in the future.", Angelo said. "And to that, I say that the future looks pretty good."
"You little charmer you.", Elizabeth said with a slight blush at the compliment.
"Well, I intend to have inner beauty as well as outer beauty.", Lillian said proudly.
"Someone getting full of herself.", Cornelia said with a smirk.
"I learn from the best.", Lillian said with a smirk of her own.
"She's got you there, Cornelia.", Elizabeth said with a grin.
"Mom!", Cornelia whined.
"Well, it's true.", Elizabeth said. "You were a bit full of yourself when you were younger."
"I hate to say it, but she's right.", Caleb said with a grin.
"You don't think I was like that do you?", Cornelia asked Angelo with innocent looking eyes hoping that he'd side with her.
"Well, there was that one time, in tenth grade, when you almost snapped when they accidently sold that dress you had on hold.", Angelo said thinking back to their youth.
"Well, if that's how it's going to be!", Cornelia said as she turned to walk away only for Angelo to grab her hand and pull her back to him while spinning her around so that she was face to face with him.
"I was also going to say that you've come a long way from that.", Angelo said with a smile making Cornelia smile before they shared a quick kiss.
"Hmmmmm.", Cornelia said with a smile. "Good answer.", she said before she left with her mother and Lillian to do some more shopping. "I'll see you later."
"See you later, Baby.", Angelo said as three Hales left.
"For a minute there, I thought you were in trouble.", Caleb said with a grin.
"Hey, I just told the truth.", Angelo said with a grin.
"What about Chris?", Caleb asked. "You know that that's going to be hard to do. Seeing as he can teleport away from you."
"Oh, I have an idea on how to fix that.", Angelo said. "And I know just the place to confront him about all of this."
"I have to see this go down.", Caleb said.
"Faith, Caleb.", Angelo said. "You've got to have faith."
"We'll see.", Caleb said as they went back to setting some things up for the dojo.
The next day, Lillian called Chris and asked him to meet him at the basketball courts, at Heatherfield Park. Taking his sweet time, Chris showed up there within twenty minutes. Once there, he saw that Lillian was there with Angelo and Caleb.
"What's all of this?", Chris questioned. "I thought that you'd be alone."
"Well, I'm not.", Lillian said. "I asked Angelo to talk to you about something. And Caleb is here to help, too."
"And that is?", Chris asked.
"You being jealous of Matt.", Angelo said.
"Oh, I'm so out of here!", Chris said as he began to walk away only for Lillian to teleport in front of him.
"Oh, no you don't!", Lillian said. "You're going to stay and listen!"
"Wanna bet?", Chris said with a smirk as he tried to teleport away but couldn't. "Yeah! What gives?"
"I do!", Lillian said in a stern voice. "I cut off your powers. And I won't turn them back on until you hear what the guys have to say!"
"Fine!", Chris said as he sat down on the bleachers, of the park's basketball courts with Lillian.
"That was easier than I thought.", Caleb said.
"Yeah.", Angelo said. "Let's hope getting through to him will be just as easy.", he said as he and Caleb walked up to the two teens. "Okay, Chris. Here's the thing."
"Let me guess.", Chris said. "You think that I shouldn't be so upset when it comes to Matt.", he said in a sarcastic tone.
"Okay. First off, watch your mouth.", Angelo said. "You're not too old to get your butt busted. Remember that."
Chris turned his head with a huff not caring what Angelo or Caleb had to say.
"Now I know your father raised you better than that.", Caleb said.
"Yeah. So?", Chris said. "I don't need to hear how I should respect Matt just because he was once a Regent. When we joined up with you guys during the war, Lillian kept asking Irma and the girls about Matt and wanted to know about what a great Regent he was."
"Well, from what I heard, he was.", Angelo said.
"Well, if he was so great, then why was it so easy for him to get enthralled and become addicted to drugs?", Chris questioned with a smirk.
*SMACK!*
Chris rubbed the spot where Lillian smacked him while looking at her in shock. He then saw the look of anger and hurt in her eyes as she looked at him.
"Lillian... I...", Chris began to say as he went to hold her hand only for her to move her hand away from him.
"Save it.", Lillian said as she looked away from Chris. "Just save it."
"You had that coming.", Caleb said getting Chris' attention.
"Heck. I was about to yank you up from where you were sitting.", Angelo said. "You had no right to say what you said."
"Yeah. Well, I'm tired of hearing about how Lillian wants Matt to be one of her Regents again.", Chris replied.
"And what's wrong with that?", Caleb questioned. "He does have the experience. Plus whether he decides to be a Regent again or not, you can learn a thing or two from him."
"I'm strong enough now!", Chris said. "Besides, he's been enthralled for four years! How do we know that he won't revert back and turn on us?"
"Is that what you think?", Caleb asked. "Or is that the jealousy talking?"
"Cause if it's what you think, then I guess that you don't trust me either."
Chris turned to see Irma walking up to the group.
"What are you doing here?", Chris asked surprised to see his sister.
"Angelo called me and asked me to meet him here for something.", Irma explained. "Now I see why he called me. Why are you so jealous of Matt? And don't use that enthrallment crap! Cause if that's what you think, then you must not trust Joel, who's one of the Warriors. Or Corny. Or me."
"I never said that I didn't trust you guys.", Chris said.
"Then cut the crap, little brother.", Irma said. "Lillian loves you, Chris! And as for Matt, he has Mandy."
"Really?", Angelo questioned. "They finally got together?"
"Yep.", Irma said. "Lillian told me about it when she went with Mandy to see Matt a while ago."
"I... I didn't know that.", Chris said while looking down at the ground.
"I would of told you, the other day, but you got mad when I talked to you and Napoleon about Matt being my Regent again.", Lillian said.
"I'm sorry, okay!", Chris said. "It's just that whenever someone mentions Matt, your face lights up and stuff."
"That's because I care about him.", Lillian said. "He's a good friend that took up the duty to be one of my first Regents when he didn't have to. And now, he needs the support of his friends to help him get through something big in his life. And I want to be there to help him. And I'd like for you to be there as well."
"Just give me some time.", Chris said. "Okay?"
"I can wait.", Lillian said as she got up from the bleachers. "But know this. If Matt does take me up on my offer to become my Regent again, he will be your leader. I made that decision based on what I learned about Matt from the others as well as what I've seen him do thanks to Will and the Viewing Pool. You may not like it, but that's my decision. Now I'll leave you to think about that."
Lillian then kissed him on his check. Once she did that, Chris felt his Regent powers kick in again.
"I love you, Christopher Lair.", she whispered in his ear before teleporting away.
"Now that girl can make an exit.", Irma said as she sat next to her brother. "So, you willing to try and get along with Matt? Cause if he says yes to being a Regent again, you'll have no choice."
"I have no idea.", Chris said. "I just need time to think about it."
"Well, don't take too much time.", Caleb said. "Cause if Lillian is anything like her sister, then she's only going to wait for so long."
Seeing the look on Chris's face told Angelo that he needed to know what Matt thought about being a Regent again.
"I'll tell you what, Chris.", Angelo said getting the young Regent's attention. "In a few days, if everything goes as planned, me, Cornelia, and Irma are going to see Matt. While there, we'll find out if he wants to be a Regent again. But until then, try and get use to idea of Matt being a Regent again. Deal?", he questioned.
"Deal.", Chris said as they shook hands.
End Flashback
"Well, that was an interesting story.", Matt said.
"Yeah. That brother of mine can be a real pain sometimes.", Irma said.
"Gosh. I wonder where he gets it from?", Cornelia questioned sarcastically with a smirk.
"Very funny.", Irma said in a dull tone. "Who knew that you had a funny side, Corny.", she said with a smirk.
"It's nice to know that some things never change.", Matt said with a smile.
"You hush!", Cornelia and Irma said getting a laugh out of Matt and Angelo.
"You know something? I'm glad you two finally came by to see me.", Matt said getting their attention. "I needed this laugh!", he said laughing.
"You here that, Cornelia? Our bickering cheered him up!", Irma said with a smirk.
"Well, I'm glad our bickering is good for something.", Cornelia said smiling.
"Well, they do say that laughter is the best medicine.", Angelo said. "And by the way Matt's laughing, he must be feeling real good.", he said making Cornelia and Irma laugh as well.
For the rest of the day, the four friends had fun talking about the good times before the war started. But soon it was time to go back to Heatherfield, for night was soon coming.
"Well, today was fun!", Matt said. "Thanks for the visit."
"Anytime, Olsen!", Irma said as she and Matt shared a hug. "I'll be back to visit again, along with Andrew.".
"I'll be waiting.", Matt said as they pulled away from each other.
"We're rooting for you.", Irma said.
"Thanks.", Matt said.
"See ya later, Matt.", Cornelia said as they shared a hug.
"See ya, Cornelia.", Matt said as they pulled away from each other.
"Never give up.", Cornelia said with a smile.
"I won't.", Matt said returning the smile.
"It was good seeing you again, man.", Angelo said as he and Matt shook hands.
"Same here.", Matt said.
"I wish you all the luck, Matt.", Angelo said. "I hope to see you out of here soon. And when that happens, you're getting one heck of a party!"
"Looking forward to it.", Matt said with a smile.
As his friends left, Matt watched them drive off and away from the center. Once they were gone, he went back to his room and laid in his bed. Suddenly, he felt the shakes come back. He did his best to hide it from Angelo and the girls and did well. But now they were back. Matt then closed his eyes and...
"Please Lord, give me the strength to get through this.", he prayed. "Not just for myself. But for those close to me and that are praying and hoping for me as well."
A few minutes later, the shakes stopped. Feeling this, Matt smiled knowing that he was indeed getting better.
"Thank you. Lord.", he said as he closed his eyes and slowly felt asleep.
Watching him from her Viewing Pool, in Kandrakar was Will who had a smile on her face.
"Stay strong, Matt.", she said with a smile. "And never give up. Please give him the strength to get through this, Lord.", she prayed hoping for the best.
Thanks again to Lexvan for writing this chapter. Will Matt become regent again? Who knows? Chris is still jealous, so we'll have to see if there's room for more than one masked, flying humanoid among the regents.