Okay so…. This is the final chapter. I was going to split it into two parts but I figured I had kept you guys waiting long enough. I just want to thank everyone who has reviewed, no matter if they only reviewed once or every chapter. And I even want to thank those of you who didn't review. The review count may not be the highest, but the people who have followed and favorite this story also encouraged me.
So here it is, the ending to my first real multi-chapter story. I'll miss this and I'll miss you guys.
A/N: I do not own Hetalia, I just own the feels that it produces whenever I think of History.
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Have I mentioned how much I love to sleep? Well I love to sleep. I love it so much I should even list taking naps as one of my hobbies. Maybe I should do that now that I think of it. Maybe I can even make a Napping Countries club and invite Greece and Mom and… wait I am getting off track. Oh the joys of the train of thought the brain makes when it is waking up. Have I discussed something like this already? Oh well I feel too good to even care. Moving on. That love of sleep is why after a good solid night's rest, a whole nine uninterrupted hours, I am able to greet the world with an absolute shit eating grin. It is a beautiful day.
And you know the fact that I am returning home today does help. I know that I have only been here a few days, but they had been quite taxing and all I want to do is go home really. Kind of feel like Dorothy out of The Wizard of Oz. Wasn't she only there for a few days to? And wasn't the source of her problems magic? And didn't she have a coward, a man of steel and a brainless idiot to help her, just like I have Mom, Dad and England? I think I am seeing a correlation here. And there goes my train of thought again.
I leisurely rise up off of my spot on the couch only to remember that I had fallen asleep here last night as the others were discussing how they were going to get me back to my time. I had already been tired and their constant droning was just as soothing as a lullaby to me at that moment. Looking around the room I cannot find any trace of Mom.. or Dad… or well anyone. The place is completely silent, except for the sound of my breathing and the beating of my heart. Wait is that a car alarm that just went off? Oh well not my problem.
My stomach growls at me and I hurry to the kitchen area to start making some breakfast. The cupboards are obviously pretty bare, Mom was only expecting to be here for a couple of days and not planning on feeding me as well. There were however some pasta noodles and a jar still half full of Moms homemade pasta sauce. I knew what I was having for breakfast.
Now for most having simple spaghetti for breakfast was not a good choice, but I am surely not going to complain. I am hungry and I am going to eat, it had been far too long since I had. The pasta does not take too long to cook and soon enough I am sitting on the couch, watching the T.V. and eating a giant bowl of Spaghetti.
Unfortunately nothing good is on, and all of the shows I follow haven't even been though of yet, so I end up channel surfing for the most part. I pass by a few soap operas as I finish my breakfast and set the bowl on the floor by my feet. I will pick it up later, when I feel the motivation to do so. I keep on clicking the channel up button until I hit a channel that is playing all the Harry Potter movies back to back, if the channel guide on the T.V is not lying. Also they are not any of the remakes either, but the originals. While I knew that Harry Potter had come about in this time period I had never watched the originals, the remakes had been good enough for me after reading the books. I was also told that they left some important stuff out and disappointed some people so I had no reason to. Yet now that I was watching them I knew that even though the special effects had improved greatly there was just something about these that seemed special. Magical, if you will. I would have to see if I could find copies of the movies this way in my time, I mean you never know.
I start watching about halfway through Chamber of secrets and am nearing end of Goblet of Fire when I hear the door open. I turn to see Mom at the doorway looking at me with a sense of determination on his face, though I have no idea why. He put his hands on his hips, looked me over and seemed to come to some sort of decision.
"Ve~! It is almost time for you to go! And look at you, you need to shower. I cannot return you to me looking like that! I might think I was mean to you and that would be very very bad." Mom said as she rushed over to me.
"What do you mean almost time to go? What time is it?" I asked. Surely it could not be that late, could it? I mean I feel like I just woke up.
"It is fifteen minutes after three! You have time for a quick shower before you have to leave! So hurry up, ve~!" Mom stated as he plucked me off the couch and then promptly let go of me in front of the bathroom door.
Now that he had mentioned getting clean I realized how dirty I felt. I had showered the morning of the day I was sent here, but not since. My hair if nothing else needed a good scrub, it gets greasy so quickly. I also probably have a layer of pure grime just coating my skin, which sounds just about as gross as it feels. I don't even want to think about what I must smell like to other people. Yeah, a shower would be great.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks!" I reply smiling up at Mom. Even here he still has some of the quirks mom does at home, like making sure I am showering regularly. I keep telling him that I am perfectly capable of maintaining my own personal hygiene, but he never seems to believe me. Though right here this may be proving his point, not that I will ever admit that out loud.
"Ve~! Your welcome! Now go get clean or we will both be in big trouble if we run late!" With that he turns away and starts walking to the kitchen while humming to himself. I see him spot the empty bowl from earlier and pick it up before I close the bathroom door behind me.
The bathroom looks like a normal bathroom, or what at least is normal for this time. One side is taken up by the tub and the other has a toilet and a sink with a mirror above it. I stare back at my reflection in shock. My hair is an absolute mess that I just don't even want to see. I look like medusa with my red curls going out in every direction. No I mean the damn things look like they have a mind of their own. Usually my hair is in soft curls not…this. Thankfully my skin does not look white and pasty like I had been in a dungeon for days and I have no dark circles underneath my bright blue eyes. I probably had dark circles yesterday, but I think last night's sleep helped. Overall I guess I didn't look too bad, it was just the hair.
I have some trouble getting the water started. The bath had two handles with which to adjust the water temperature, not a pad that you type it in on, so I did some trial and error. At last, three minutes later, I was able to get into the shower, taking special care to make sure the envelope with the pictures in it was not in a place where water can reach it. I had just left the envelope in my pocket, assuming that it was the safest place it could be. In about ten minutes I was out of the shower and redressing in my dirty clothes. Part of me hated to put on clothes that were dirty after I had just taken a shower, but since I knew the other options were going nude or wearing mom's clothes, that part of me was overpowered. I also made sure to pick up the pictures and returned them to my pocket; it would not be good if I forgot these.
On the sink I notice a complimentary toothbrush and some toothpaste that the hotel provided. I grab that shit up faster than you can blink and start scrubbing away at my mouth. It is surprising that in situations of stress or turmoil some things just seem to float to the background, like my need to be clean. But now that I have a chance to be hygienic I am taking it, no questions asked.
I look back in the mirror and what I see is what I am more used to seeing. At least when I go home now I won't look like some deranged half-zombie thing.
Turning I run my fingers through my hair one more time as I step out of the bathroom. Mom is no longer alone, standing near him in the kitchen is Dad. They are talking in soft hushed voices, so I have no idea what they are saying. The conversation seems to be important because they don't even acknowledge the fact that I am there. Trying to be polite I clear my throat very loudly and wait for them to notice me. It doesn't take long, maybe a second at most, and as soon as they do Mom springs into action.
"Ve~! You look so clean! And you only took about twenty minutes! We have twenty five minutes to get to England's room and send you back home!" Mom said cheerfully as he rushed over to me.
"Ja. We should probably head over now so that way there is no way that the spell should not be completed on time. Plus England wants to have a word with you." Dad chimes in, wait Dad doesn't chime, period. Let's use adds instead. Dad adds in. That sounds so much better. Crisis of ruining Dad's masculinity; avoided.
"You guys seem like you're really in a rush. What is really going on here? Do you want to get rid of me or something?" I know that they really don't want me to leave, at least I hope they don't, but I know that by saying this I would at least get Mom to answer me.
"That's not it at all!" He cries as he takes my hands in his. "I just keep thinking about how future me must feel without you! I can't even imagine what it must feel like because I know that I am going to miss you already, and I have only known you for a few days! The me of the future must be heartbroken ve~! I have to get you home soon so that future me can stop being sad! He needs his figlia, his precious bambina!"
Dad starts to speak as soon as Mom stops. He walks over coming to rest a hand on Mom's shoulder. "You know that we care, even I know that you are aware of this fact. Rest assured that we only want to make sure that you arrive home safely to us. That is why we both spent the better part of the day with England trying to figure out the details of how his magic works. I was not about to send you off with an unsafe mode of travel."
"So that's where you both were. If that is the case then I am sorry for overreacting. And I do know, you are my parents after all and you love me." I say looking up at them. Somehow they always manage to stand just a little bit taller than me, even here in the past.
"Ve~! Of course we love you. Me and Germany are probably even the best parents in the history of forever! Right Germany?" Mom says smiling up at Dad total joy now eclipsing his face.
"Ja, I bet we are Italy." He replies looking down at Mom. Oh no. Not here in front of me. They are not about to go all romancey, lovey dovey in front of me. I would have to burn my eyes out. They can wait twenty minutes until I get home and then they can shag like rabbits for all I care. Oh wait, I do care, because that is just disturbing and parents should never have sex with each other ever…Despite that fact that I was created during…that. Oh god the mental images! I am sooo going to need therapy after this whole trip to the past is over.
Its okay, I just need to calm down. I am just leaving this topic and never touching it again. I am also going to just banish this whole chain of thought from my brain. Okay now on to more pressing matters.
"So England told you some stuff about magic? What did he tell you?" I ask, thankfully getting their attention back. At least both of them have the decency to blush, because yeah you two have an audience here, and Mom you are still holding my hands.
"Yes! But England can explain everything better so let's just get him to explain it! I still don't understand it all that well." Mom says as he starts pulling me to the door. Dad beats us both there and holds it open for us. As we enter the hall Mom begins to fill the space with seemingly mindless chatter.
"So when you get home I want you to give me a big hug, okay? And make sure that you tell me that you love me and that you are safe and that you will never ever do something like this again. Oh and make sure that after everyone else has left that we make some pasta together! We can have Germany make some sausages too! Ohh, Ohh, and then we can have a family dinner with everyone, even Romano and Prussia!"
"Sounds great Mom." I reply.
"Well, we are here." Dad says as we come to a sudden halt near a door. I almost trip and fall because I am still walking when Mom stops and since he still has a grip on one of my hands… well it would not have been pretty. Thankfully I am able to right myself before my face hit the floor. Dad raises a hand to knock and gives two shard raps in the door.
I can hear someone moving around on the other side of the wood and soon enough it opens to reveal England standing just inside the doorway. He looks a little haggard physically, his clothes are slightly crinkled, his suit jacket is left open and he is not wearing socks. Yes, that is what England looks like when haggard, while the rest of us look like that around seventy percent of the time. Though England looks absolutely hilarious when he is drunk as a skunk, so I guess that makes up for it.
England's eyes though are what catch my attention. They are so full of power and life that I almost cannot believe it. I swear it looks like he has magic swimming through his very veins at that moment, and it is just so fucking beautiful. I swear I have never seen green eyes like that in my life. Hey, I may be taken, but I can think a guys eyes are pretty.
"Ah, there you all are. What have you been up to? I thought that you were to bring her here earlier so I could explain some of the mechanics of what is going to happen to her." Mom is about to reply but he does not seem to notice so he carries on. "Well no time to discuss that now we only have about twenty minutes to go, eighteen to be specific. Come inside all of you so I can tell her what I can in the little time we have left."
Mom lets go of my hand a little reluctantly, the door too small for us to both enter at the same time, and he goes in first. Dad holds out his hand as if to say 'after you', and I nod my head back at him giving him a small smile as I follow after Mom. I know that Dad has entered the room as well because I can hear the door click closed behind me.
As I walk further into the room, closer to the bar stools; I notice that England's room now is almost the same as his room in the future. Here though there are less signs of him being visited by other people. There is no hamburger wrapper slightly hidden near the end of the couch or lying on the counter. There are no used wine glasses in the sink or an open bottle of wine sitting somewhere. There is a box of tea, only one, sitting on the counter and there is only one empty cup in the sink. It is weird to think of a time when England wasn't constantly in contact with America, his boyfriend, and his trash couldn't be found. It is weird to think of a time when France did not bring some wine over so he could complain about Russia and England could vent about America. It is weird to think of a time when Japan did not stop over early in the morning to share some tea with England as they talk about nothing and everything at the same time.
In truth it is the little things that I pick up, or don't pick up, that make me want to go home the most. I don't want to continue having to think about things in comparison to 'my time'. I don't want to be shocked when something that I grew up with, and seems so normal at home, occurs here. I also don't want to be disappointed when I see a familiar face that I know from home, who doesn't know me back. I don't want to have to guess where I am on everyone's relationship timeline. I don't want to have to watch my words and hold back some of the things I want to say.
"Have a seat." England says breaking my chain of thought. He gestures to the bar stools and both Mom and I sit down. Dad remains standing on my left side while Mom sits on my right. "Now I know you must have some questions, but let's see if I can answer some of them without you having to ask each one specifically. Is that alright with you?"
"That's fine." I reply looking him in the face. "I want to know as much as I can in the time I have left here."
"Well I hope you can keep up with this input of knowledge then. To start off first thing this morning I got to talk to Romania and Norway. Romania refused to give me a hand, stating I must learn from my mistakes or something, though I think that he isn't one to talk about that subject manner. Regardless Norway gave me a boost of about 20%. Yesterday I was at 20% after using what I had restored to heal you. So I had 20% plus 20% more to bring me to 40% this morning. Then I got the regular daily influx of magic of my rather extensive magical community just two hours ago bringing me to 80% full on my magic. This being said the spell is much less likely to fail or have any negative side effects as I can put more magic into the spell. Are you following me so far?"
As he was talking England was pacing slightly back and forth, in a way that did not make me uncomfortable, but made me feel like I was listening to a teachers lecture. A very important lecture, containing things that would be on the final, so the entire time he was speaking he had my rapt attention and full focus.
"So what you are saying is that yesterday your reserves were at 20% and you have since raised them to 80%. This makes the likelihood of failure go down a significant amount. Is that right?" I need to make sure that I understand what is going on I will not be walking into this blind, not again.
"Yes that is the general gist of things at the current moment. Now when the spell starts I will need to be holding the item that brought you here. It will act as a conduit between now and the future. You will also need to be holding onto this item when the spell starts. The spell should recognize automatically that you are not of this time and try to send you back to the future without you touching the object, a picture wasn't it?" He looks at me and I nod my head to let him know that he is correct. "Yes, right. There is however a small chance that the spell will not recognize you immediately and that could cause any amount of trouble, if it picks you up about halfway through only half of you may be sent to the future, and I can guarantee that you would not survive that experience. Now i-"
"Die?!" And this is the moment I realize how dangerous this whole business is. I could die, I mean actually DIE. I would cease to be. There would be no future, only the past. And if some religions were to be believed I would never even remember my past. Does any of that even apply to nations anyway? Dios mio.
Before I could fully panic however England called out to me. "Sparentano! Look at me!"
I look around to see that I am staring at my lap with each of my parents' hands covering one of mine. I look up to see England much closer to me than before. So close that if as I looked up he was pretty much the only thing I could see, yet not so close it was creepy.
"If you are holding that picture when the spell begins, which you will be, then there is no chance of you not being picked up by the spell. From there there are only two options: you will stay here or you will go back to the future. There will be no half here half there. Do you really think that anyone you have met would have allowed you to attempt this if there was a chance you would die?"
Knowing this I calm down quite a bit. It was silly of me to believe that my parents, or uncles, or friends/friends of the family, would let me possibly kill myself trying to get home. They would do what they always did instead, come up with a ridiculous solution that would somehow work.
"I had the same reaction, Nadja." Mom says squeezing my hand slightly. "I was dead set on not letting you go, but he says it's safe and I believe him. He got you here he can get you back right?"
Wait a clock tick.
"If I need to be touching the photo how did I get here in the first place? I mean shouldn't have the photo been sent back alone? Why was I involved at all?" I ask looking at England quizzically.
"There are many spells for time travel believe it or not, and I think I know which one I will use in the future. It is supposed to warp time in a specific area to get the desired results. In this case I was probably going to bring a copy of the photo from the past to match yours. This specific area that is distorted is within three feet of the one casting the spell. Now keep in mind that spells themselves have a kind of intelligence. You were obviously very attached to this item, if not what it represented. The spell understood this and took you to be a part of what it was trying to reverse. This would have had no effect on you because there was no you in the past to replace you with. However my simple spell was cast at the same time. When something like this occurs the spells seem to connect for a better word. I wanted the future and you wanted the past. I could have just as easily been pulled to your time but as you can see that is not the case."
"Italy did you get all of that?" Dad asks Mom.
"Nope. But you can re-explain it to me later, right England?"
"Yes, yes, of course. Now does that answer your question?" He inquires looking at me somewhat impatiently, but there is also some pride there. Well he was the one that taught me to always ask questions from a wizard when they are willing to answer, most times they are not so forthcoming with information.
"Yeah, it does. Thank you." I reply.
England looks at me for another moment more and then he begins to speak. "Now we only have about ten minutes left so let me try and explain a few more things. But first is first, we need to make sure you have the picture so that way we are not one minute away and it is nowhere to be found. I doubt this will be a problem, but even if it is you have ten minutes to look for it and all of us here searching for it. You will have it in your hands in time regardless."
Feeling semi-unconfident I take out the envelope from my pocket. It was in this moment that I would have to reveal the picture that brought me here. Thinking on it though I had let out so much information that this picture would not come as a surprise. Mom and Dad already knew that I would one day exist so of course there would be pictures of them.
I open the envelope with confidence. I looked at Mom and then Dad. "Can you guys please close your eyes? There is still some stuff I want the future to surprise you with. I mean you guys can't know everything about the future, right?"
"I can close my eyes for a while, and Germany can too! Right Germany?"
"Ja." Was his simple one worded reply. Mom and Dad looked at each other and closed their eyes in sync. Had they been practicing this? Closing their eyes in unison, I mean really that doesn't just happen.
I know however that time is of the essence and I quickly pull the pictures out of the envelope and start leafing through them. Over the last couple of days they have become all sorts of out of order. I am on about picture fifteen when I find the one I am looking for. I stuff the other pictures back into the envelope while setting the picture I need upside down on my lap. I put the other pictures back into my pocket.
"You can look now." I tell them and they open their eyes.
"Oh and don't worry about me whom you seem to have forgotten." Teases England, standing about five feet in front of me. "They were at the wrong angle I couldn't see a thing."
Gosh darn it, I am still so bad at this hiding information thing. "Well time is of the essence," I reply "so what else would you like to tell me?"
"The fact that your time here will be erased. Well that is not quite right those of us who have met you will remember you, but we won't be remembering it anytime soon."
"That makes no sense!"
"Bloody hell! I don't mean to raise my voice but I will explain it all to you if you will let me."
"Sorry." I say knowing that he had a point. Plus he hadn't even really raised his voice at me. Then again I am comparing that volume to Dad when he raises his voice so maybe my scale is a bit off.
"We cannot have what happened here affect the future. Now you may think that just because you still exist that the future must be safe, but that is not true. Time could just change and adapt to what you have changed and you could go home to a completely different world. So I am going to enact a fail-safe with you as the key. Now I assume you are aware that all countries have magical communities, I should have at least taught you that much. This means that every country has at least has a small bit of magic. Most countries honestly forget them most of the time because they work so independently from the general populace.
"Countries still have that magic though, and a little is all they will need for this. I will gather together everyone that has interacted with you or has learned of your presence. Together we will say a spell that will block you from our memories. Consider it like putting our time together into a ball, and putting that ball into a box, and locking that box with a key. The memoires will simply be inaccessible to us until the key activates. In this case the key will be the present you, so once you return to the future everyone will remember, but not before that moment. Because the you of the past is not the key, you are."
Wow. Talk about a lot to take in.
"Okay so pretty much you are erasing all memory of me until I return to the future and restore your memories by arriving there?" That is what I got out of that long speech. Hopefully that is right.
"Yes that is the idea. Don't worry all will go as planned, because this ensures that in the future I will never know what that spell will do, so I will perform it. No one would try and keep you from that world meeting. No possibilities of this becoming a paradox or some random off shoot timeline."
"England, you're a genius." I say. He really thought of everything.
"Ve~! He is pretty smart when it comes to this kind of stuff! I think it has to do with those T.V. shows of his!" Mom says placing his input.
"He has always been at least a decent strategist. To not be able to do something like this in his area of expertise would be very degrading for him I assume." Dad adds in. See adds works so much better then chimes.
I am about to make another comment when there is a knock on the door. England looks down at his watch and grins. "Right on time." He says "Exactly five minutes until four."
England walks briskly to the door and pulls it open. Before I can blink people are barreling through the door trying to get into the hotel room. As I sit here looking I can see some of the people coming through the door. First there is America, then Uncle Romano and Uncle Antonio. Next is Uncle Prussia who is dragging along a scared looking Canada. Then comes France and Russia, though their arms are not even linked.
"Everyone calm down! Enter the room in an orderly fashion and do not waste time trying to get in the door before another person! Nadja has to leave in five minutes so you will all get to say a couple of words to her before she leaves! Do not take too or others may not be able to say goodbye!" Dad yells out immediately getting everyone's attention.
A line forms in front of me and I am looking at France. I stand up to look at him placing the photo upside down on the now empty bar stool.
"I know that we did not get to know each other very well but you seem like a fun person. I hope that when we meet again in the future we can have many more verbal sparring matches. Ours was almost as fun as mine with England." France says smiling slightly.
I nod and reply, "Don't worry we will have plenty of those, but be warned you will always lose." France just shakes his head and I smile. As France moves off to the side America comes forward.
"I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. You seem to be almost as cool to be a superhero's sidekick! So stay that cool, 'kay?"
"Okay I promise." I reply as he holds out a fist in anticipation. Thankfully we still have this in my time, though I didn't know it's origin was from so long ago. We bump fists and he moves away to reveal Canada.
"Um…T-thank you for noticing me. It's n-nice to be seen. I hope even in t-the future we can see each o-other." As he murmurs this he is looking into my eyes and not at kumichiko, which is more than a good start.
"I'm not going to be the only one who sees you, so you should get used to it. But yeah even when you are seen I think we can still find time to chill and play video games." Canada looks to be in shock from the information then smiles as brightly as his brother.
Uncle Romano is next in line and he wastes no time before talking to me. "You seem like you grew up fine, even though that potato bastard is your father. Just remember if anyone ever does anything to you I will find them."
"Overprotective as always. But yeah, I love you too Uncle Romano." And then I go in for the hug. He was not expecting it, and I removed myself before he could react. He blushed and semi stomped off.
Then comes Uncle Antonio. "Well you will be seeing me soon, so all I have to say is that we should all eat together soon, and have lots of tomatoes! Oh and thank you for Lovi~!"
"She did not give me to you, you bastard!"
"I'll be there, and good luck in the meantime." And before I can hug him he rushes forward and gives me a back breaking hug. It only lasts a few seconds and I am back on my feet and he is headed to stand by Uncle Romano.
Next is Russia, and I am kind of scared of what he might say.
"You are a young country but I see that you will become strong. When the time comes let us be allies not enemies, da?" And he smiles that smile that is creepier now than in the future and I just barely manage to keep my cool.
"If the time comes allies sounds far better than enemies." I reply. He reaches for me and some people tense, until his hand gently rests on the top of my head. He gives it a quick pat and then he is on his way as well. That is more like the Russia I know and it makes me smile that even now he is still in there somewhere.
Last in line in Uncle Prussia. "You have proven that you are truly awesome and deserve to be recognized as mein nichte. So hold your head up high, and don't take anyone's shit, okay? Oh and see you soon kiddo."
I rush him just as I did Uncle Romano, but Uncle Prussia was expecting it and hugged back if only for a brief few seconds. As we pull away I see tears in his eyes. I look around the room to see a surprising amount of people are getting emotional and it is not making it any easier to leave. I will miss them, but then again for me we will only be separated for a second.
"My turn!" Mom cries. "Nadja be good and greet us nicely on the other side. I want a big hug, in fact I will probably start the hug, so be ready for a big hug. Be safe, and come home to us, okay? Until then this is see you later."
Oh god, this is hard. Mom is trying so hard to smile but there are two tear tracks going down his cheeks. I rush into his arms as I hold back tears.
"Nadja, I think you already know what I am going to say." Dad speaks as he places a hand on my back "I am proud to have you as a daughter, and I cannot wait to meet you for what we will remember as the first time. Just remember, you are strong you will make it through."
I pull back and I feel both Mom and Dad let go of me. I take a moment to look at everyone as they are now. They will not be the same the next time I see them, but then again that isn't necessarily a bad thing. They will still be them and I will still have them to go home to.
"Thirty seconds." England states. "Grab the picture and come to me." He walks towards the center of the room as I grab the picture from behind me.
My steps are slow and slightly unsure, but I manage to make it to England without tripping. He grabs hold of one side of the picture while I hold the other, though the photo is still upside down. I take a few deep breaths and then I get a thought.
"Hey guys" I blurt out really fast. "Wait for me okay because as soon as I get back I will show you all the picture that started this mess huge alright. So just wait a little while longer, okay?" And I smile at all of them as England begins to chant once more.
"We will be waiting."
"See you soon."
"We'll miss you!"
"Before you can blink we will meet again."
At this point I can no longer hear their words I can only see their lips moving. Then the heat from last time begins to build and I am surrounded by light. The heat and light forms into coldness and darkness. I close my eyes on instinct.
And then there is silence.
I take a deep breath, open my eyes and look around me.
They're all here. Everyone. And I'm here, with them, at last.
"Welcome back!"
"I missed you so much!"
"You lied, you weren't okay!"
"Is it really you?"
"It's great to see you again!"
"Nadja, don't forget your promise."
I just smile even wider.
I hold up the picture in front of my chest, for everyone to see. But I am quickly scooped up into a bone crushing hug. The picture is probably getting wrinkled but I don't care because even if I hadn't seen him running forward I would have known these arms anywhere.
"I promised you one of these. Welcome home my beautiful bambina."
I feel a hand come to rest on the top of my head, then wrap around us both.
"It is good to see you safe. I told you that you were strong."
My eyes fill with tears and I finally let out the two words I had been aching to say for far too long.
"I'm home."
The End
(No wait scratch that)
And the story continues…
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
That's the end. No that next line is not about a sequel, it's about Nadja coming home and picking up where she left off. She is home and safe and happy and so even if we don't know exactly how it goes we know that her story, her life, will continue on.