Chapter 05 A heartbreaking goodbye
Quanktumspirit: "Here is the last chapter. Thank you for all of your support."
Several months passed after the RS attack. Jimmy, Rory and Issa all passed their OWCA training and were often sent together on missions, each getting their own LOVEMUFFIN nemesis.
Nicky and Annabelle spent every free minute with each other, and they even became lovers of each other. Every evening they would cuddle together and love would blossom between the two.
Perry was overjoyed to have his entire family back together. Jimmy, Rory and Issa were all welcomed and even got their own rooms in Perry's flat.
And as the months dragged on, the family's bond only grew stronger. Perry spent a lot of time with all his children and mate. Often the family would go together on picnics, despite both Jimmy and Perry are sometimes being sad that this 'picnic' was the last thing they did together as father and son, also with Edith.
They went swimming, bird watching, and training together at the OWCA. Perry was making sure to catch up on the 7 years he's missed out on Jimmy's life. And Jimmy was sure to show his father a thing or two about fighting.
Overall, the new 'extended' platypus family was growing stronger together, with each passing day.
But then the sad day came when the Australian Platypuses were all called back to Australia for a mission down there.
Perry and his family drove them to the airport, and they had to say their goodbyes.
It was especially hard for Nicky and Annabelle. They pulled back from the family a bit to hold a discussion with each other.
"Australia will seem so bland after the great adventures we've had here in America." Annabelle sighed as she looked at Nicky.
Nicky hugged her, his heart broke a bit, "I will miss you, Annabelle."
The airplane was honking impatiently. Jason and Oliver glared out of the door, they have already boarded, said their goodbyes and thank-yous and were waiting for Annabelle to hurry up.
"Annabelle, hurry up, the flight is going to take us over 25 hours until we get there, we have to get home." Oliver shrieked out of the airplane.
Annabelle turned round to them, "I... I know, I'm coming."
She turned once more round to Nicky, "Well... I guess this is the point we have to say goodbye... For good."
"Goodbye... Annabelle," Nicky said as tears built up between his eyes.
They shook hands and Annabelle shot into the airplane. The doors were closed, and the airplane rolled onto the landing field, and took off, into the skies and far away back to Australia.
Nick collapsed to the ground as more tears build up. Perry walked up to his son and gave him a strong hug.
"That is one of the bravest things I have ever seen you do, Nicky... I know it's not easy letting a loved one go." Perry said.
Nicky nodded his head, "It hurts, father. It... It hurts."
Nick dissolved into tears as his other siblings tried to calm him down. But he was just too heartbroken over the fact, that Annabelle has really walked back out of his life.
It will be months, if not even years before he could open himself up like that to anyone.
In the Airplane, a few hundred meters in the air.
The Australian Airplane was now in the air, flying the 3 platypuses back home.
Jason and Oliver looked at Annabelle, they saw how the tears were building up in her eyes as she looked down at the American Platypus family.
"Annabelle, is this really what you want? We've spent over 188 days with the American Platypus family. And during that time you and Nicky have grown to respect yourselves. Do you think you can just let all those memories you two have made together go like that?" Jason asked her.
Annabelle blinked back tears, "I know, I love everything about that cute platypus... But... But my family lives in Australia, I can't just abandon them... I..."
Annabelle couldn't hold her breaking heart back, she shook as all the wonderful memories between her and Nicky came back to her mind, her face flushed pink thinking about that cute platypus. But she was also heartbroken because she knew no one will ever be like Nicky the Platypus.
"But Annabelle," Jason spoke up next, making her look at him confused, "You love him. You love Nicky for who he is. And you two have had some excellent dates with each other."
Annabelle stopped her crying and looked at her two friends confused, Jason and Oliver both nodded and handed Annabelle a parachute.
"Go on, stay with him. And give him a fright of a lifetime," Oliver said, chuckling.
Annabelle looked at the parachute confused, but then understood where her friends were getting at, they chuckled, and she burst out with laughter.
Jason smirked and quickly dialed Nicky's mobile phone number up, time to give that man a fright of a lifetime. And Oliver informed the pilot that Annabelle wanted to return to the American platypuses and that she was going to jump off in a bit.
The pilot understood and turned the plane around.
On the ground, Nicky was trying to sort his broken heart out. His siblings, 'old and new' all hugged him and tried to calm the crying teen down, but nothing helped.
Just then, he noticed his mobile phone ringing, with Jason's mobile number. The other siblings backed a bit away and looked at Nick confused, as he stared at the screen on his phone.
"Jason?... Did you leave something behind?" Nicky asked, confused as he picked the phone up.
"No, we haven't Nicky... It's just... We don't know what has gotten into her. But for some reason, Annabelle has completely snapped. No, no Annabelle, don't-" Jason started to panic down the phone.
Nicky blinked and looked up towards the airplane, "Completely snapped? What am I supposed to understand under that?"
The airplane turned right round until it was directly above Perry's Platypus family.
Nicky and his family's eyes widened as they saw the door swing open and something jumping from the airplane. Something small and peachy colored.
Nicky could recognize it in an instant. "NO ANNABELLE!"
The peach dot shot faster and faster towards the earth and the family, before a while a white parachute was opened above her head and she landed on the ground again, before getting rid of the parachute.
Nick shot from his parents' and siblings' side to meet Annabelle in the center of the landing grounds. Still not believing, his true love just jumped out of a flying airplane.
Nick arrived moments later at her side, completely gobsmacked: "Annabelle... Wh-what... Why did you do that? Aren't you supposed to be returning home?"
A few seconds behind Nicky arrived Perry, Sylvia, Becca, Millie, Jimmy, Rory and Issa. They stopped a few feet away from the 'love couple' and looked at Annabelle confused.
She caught her breath and her face remained red as fire, "I'm so sorry for scaring you like that, Nicky... It's just... Um, I... I've... Oh, for heaven's sake."
Seeing as Annabelle couldn't bring a word out of her mouth, she decided to show Nicky what she was trying to get across to him.
She embraced Nick in a tight hug and then kissed him passionately.
Nick just blushed and carefully kissed her back, feeling his heart race like a runner around a track.
Was this how true love feels? And how his 'father' and mother feel whenever they would kiss?
Jimmy coughed to get the two 'lovers' back to the now time, "Excuse us, Annabelle, but what the hell just shot through your mind? Why would you jump out of a flying airplane like that?"
"I thought it was obvious." Annabelle said and hugged Nicky again, who started turning bright red, "I can't leave the man I grew to love these past few months. And I don't want to leave Nick, for no money in the entire world."
The phone, in Nicky's hand, gave off a row of laughter. "Oh my, my. Have fun with your 'girlfriend' Nicky. And send us an invitation to your wedding. If you two ever get married."
Nicky placed the phone to his ear and glared towards the airplane mad, "Oh shut up Jason."
Jason hung up, and the family waved towards the sky, then the airplane vanished back, all the way to Australia.
Perry and Sylvia looked at each other and sighed a bit.
Sylvia walked up to Annabelle and smiled at the young woman, "Well... I guess all we can do is welcome, you into the family. Welcome, Annabelle."
Issa embraced her next and shook her hand, "You sure you can cope with living halfway across the globe?"
"With such good friends and an even greater family," Annabelle said, hugging Nicky again. "I'm sure we will make the best of it."
Nicky could feel his heart exploding in his chest, his life couldn't be going any better right now. He had his siblings all back together, a great older half brother, his younger brother was back safe in the family and Annabelle is just as much in love with him as he is with her.
He is now a mate to the female platypus he loves and has the best supporting family to boot him as well. Perry and Sylvia smiled at their massive family and hugged each other. The other kids chuckled and cheered for the young in love couple.
A few more months have passed.
At a Danville OWCA church, a double wedding was being held. Every one of the OWCA Agents was dressed in their best, Jason and Oliver have travelled back from Australia to America for this special wedding of their friends and Perry the Platypus and his mate Sylvia were standing together at one end of the church.
Two handsome dressed male Platypuses were standing on the other side of them.
"You two ready?" Sylvia asked, smiling at her son and Perry's firstborn.
Jimmy and Nicky both nodded their heads, despite having a year difference between the two, they agreed to get married on the same day. Jimmy is dressed in a black suit and has a red rose in his buttonhole, and Nicky is dressed in a brown wedding suit with a white rose in his buttonhole.
A short while later a knock came from the door, it was their true lovers; Issa was dressed in a light blue wedding dress and carrying a bouquet of gold coloured roses, her gray hair was pinned back, and a veil was covering her face.
Annabelle was dressed in a bright red wedding dress, she was carrying a bouquet of silver coloured roses, her pink hair was held back by her veil as she decided to keep her face clear.
The ladies linked hands with their lovers and were beaming over their face. Perry gave the signal and the organ player nodded, playing the wedding march.
First Jimmy and Issa walked down the aisle with Perry leading his son down, as they got to the other end he smiled, hugged his son and shook hands with Issa. He then stepped aside and waited for the last couple.
Then Sylvia walked her son Nicky down the aisle with Annabelle on his side. As they reached the side of the other couple, she smiled and nodded to her son.
Perry and Sylvia then sat on the church benches, holding hands and smiling. Their eldest children were finally tying the knot with their true loves. Becca and Millie walked with a flower basket forth, spraying small petals over the floor, and Rory walked behind the twins and held the wedding bands on two cushions.
Carl Karl, who became the next Major after Major Monogram stepped down, walked up to the podium with the wedding OWCA book in his hands.
"Fellow friends, OWCA members, and family. We are gathered here today, to tie the knot between Jimmy the Platypus and his mate Issa the Platypus, and Nickolas the Platypus with Annabelle the Platypus. Through years of searching, these four souls have found each other, found the friendship and romance blossom between each other, never giving up on one another as long as love may last. Who has; the wedding bands?" Carl asked, looking up from his book.
Rory walked up, smiling at his 'father and mother'. He presented the teal colored wedding rings. And just underneath the teal colored rings were two purple colored wedding rings with each a small crystal in it.
Carl smiled and nodded his head, "Ok, who is giving the couples away?"
Perry and Sylvia both nodded their heads. Carl beamed.
"Ok, then we shall begin with the youngest to the oldest: Nickolas the Platypus will you take today, Annabelle the Platypus to be your mate, will you promise to love, honor, respect, protect and guide her through the stages of life as long as you both shall live?" Carl asked and faced Nick.
Nick wanted to roll his eyes, he hated his real name, but the happiness over having Annabelle be his wife made the anger vanish.
"I do." Nick smiled.
Carl nodded his head, "Annabelle the Platypus will you take today, Nickolas the Platypus to be your mate, will you promise to love, honor, respect, protect and guide him through the stages of life as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Annabelle beamed happily.
Carl nodded, "Ok, next: Jimmy the Platypus will you take today, Issa the Platypus to be your mate, will you promise to love, honor, respect, protect and guide her through the stages of life as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Jimmy said, smiling at his girlfriend/mate with happiness.
Carl nodded, "Ok, last: Issa the Platypus will you take today, Jimmy the Platypus to be your mate, will you promise to love, honor, respect, protect and guide him through the stages of life as long as you both shall live?"
Issa smiled as widely as she could, "I do."
Carl beamed, "Ok... Now I have to ask this question if there is anyone who can show any reason as to why these 4 lovely platypuses may not be joined in holy matrimony, they may speak now or forever hold their peace."
After waiting for 2 minutes, nothing was said. The 4 Platypuses faced Carl again and nodded their heads.
"Ok, no more comments or exclamations? Then I can now pronounce you four, each in their own respected rights, as mates/husbands/wives of each of your true loves. You each may kiss your bride/groom." Carl explained and beamed.
Everyone at the wedding ceremony cheered and threw over the Platypuses' red, teal colored, pink, white and blue petals.
Perry couldn't feel prouder at that moment. Finally, after 4 long years, he has his entire family together.
Just as the 'single women' wanted to line up for the wedding bouquet throwing, both female platypuses shook their heads. They had something else planned.
Issa, Jimmy, Annabelle and Nicky walked away from the wedding reception and headed together straight to the OWCA graveyard. Perry and Sylvia looked at each other confused, but followed the married couples without saying a word.
At the graveside, Jimmy leads the couples to the memorial that was set up in memory of his late mother, Edith. As they reached it, the 4 Platypuses bowed down towards it. Issa and Annabelle placed their wedding bouquets in front of the grave, and Jimmy and Nicky removed their flowers from their buttonhole and placed it in front of the grave as well.
Perry smiled, they all were honoring the late Edith Platypus.
Quanktumspirit: "I know, kind of lame ending. But I was just running out of ideas. Also, I'm writing a one-shot tale for VibeQuake. Once that is completed, I'll send it over to her and you guys can enjoy another short story. Please review. And thank you for following, reviewing, and just overall enjoying this tale."