Chapter Twenty

MR. PO

After the dramatic dinner and Ms. Scatter's disappearance from the Anti-Realm, the world seemed to crash down on the entire Anti-Castle for the remaining three Hosts, but especially Mr. V. As if there wasn't enough work to do around the castle, there were piles of work that suddenly appeared now that Ms. Scatter was no longer around to take care of them. Mr. V has been juggling things around between his appointments with the Villains and maintaining a semblance of balance within the Castle and with the Recruits. Ms. Villa has tried to pick up the slack of Ms. Scatter in reaching out and mothering the Recruits, however, some of them either succeeded in achieving some sort of an end to their story, but the few that still remain have shut all of the Hosts out from their lives. Since so many of them stopped checking in at the Castle, Mr. Po has had no choice but to go visiting their Realms on his own. Even Mr. Po struggled to keep tabs on them all as the Doors to their Realms were locked up tight as they reached the ends of their missions.

From his traveling endeavors, Eito discovered that Adam had somehow gotten himself locked inside of Apfel Realm with no access back to the Anti-Realm; Jack Heart was locked away in a prison cell in Underland; Jane Hook has gone missing in the Neverland Realm; Malfie has broken all of his mirrors; Dalmatia was being bound hand and foot as he was escorted from a fashion show; Jamilia was thrown into a bone pit; Joe was fighting with Ursula's eels; Farja was on trial with Jafar acting as sultan; Veil keeps crying and seems to have lost the ability to speak; and Ember Hades found so much work to do that she can't even leave the Underworld. On top of all the Recruiter drama, there is also drama with the Original Villains now that their stories are changing to suit the Recruiters.

The Evil Queen keeps aging with her mood swings, if angry she turns old and if not angry she is young, but if she starts crying she turns into a child. The Queen of Hearts has been in such a daze she won't touch the apple tarts and keeps holding onto a card that had been torn in half. No word has been heard from Captain Hook about Jane Hook's disappearance. Maleficent has either been vanquished or turned into a lizard. Cruella has been sent to an insane asylum. Ursula has made little to no contact with Mr. V but it would appear as though she has lost her voice. Jafar is trapped in a lamp with the delusion that he is the sultan. Scar has been missing after some dispute with his nephew. Lord Claud Frollo has actually written a letter to Mr. V demanding that Veil never step foot in the threshold of his church or he would make an example of her and burn her at the stake. Hades seems to be stuck in the Whirlpool of Souls somewhere in the Underworld and has left Ember in charge to handle things, which has only tripled her workload because Persephone is on the topside of their Realm making spring happen.

The whole Recruiter program has, to say the least, nearly fallen completely apart now that Scatter has stepped out of their lives. However, no one is suffering more from her absence than Mr. V. Despite his claims of having a handle of everything and that he could manage just fine without her, it was obvious to both Eito and Eva that his life, his whole little world, that he thought that he had in the palm of his hand has quite literally shattered without her. Romantic feelings aside, there was just so much work to do that it was nearly impossible for the three of them to tackle without Ms. Scatter's expertise. Recruiting new Villains has been impossible, keeping control of the current Recruits was utter chaos, and even the Staff was fading. Yes, fading. As the Recruits have gone through and rewritten the stories, some of the Staff members have faded from the Realm, as if their lives had little to no significance here in the Anti-Realm. For some of the Staff members such as Frederick it was a good thing, however, for someone such as Urchin it was not necessarily that good. It could mean anything from the person who was no longer a failure and finally got a happy ending, or the person who sacrificed themselves and died. Fading from the Anti-Realm did not necessarily mean that they no longer existed, but it was something that was difficult to swallow when not prepared. Mr. V has had to go and pilfer through the Recruits in-progress written stories, at least those who were kind enough to still write, to check up on the progress as well as to see what has happened to the Staff and characters. Ms. Villa had one hell of a time trying to manage the Castle, and despite Eito's charismatic nature, it was nearly impossible to hire any new sort of help to maintain the Castle.

With the new Villain in town, all the deadbeats and lower ranked sorts of henchmen for hire were trying to get on his good side to be hired, however, the Great Chernabog did not seem interested in anyone. In his events of running around town trying to hire those who were looking for jobs, Eito discovered that the Chernabog had been looking for Ms. Scatter. Of course, Eito told Mr. V immediately upon his return to the Castle, however, it came as little surprise to him as though he were already anticipating it. He merely thanked Eito for his hard work and insisted that he put out pamphlets and staple help wanted posters to the walls rather than seek out help and focus on his own tasks in the Castle; allegedly it would be faster. Eito had watched the man walk away with his cane and was left alone standing in the hall, trying to figure out what was happening to them and if any of them would recover from this, and if Ms. Scatter would return.

MR. V

Sitting in his office chair, the half-written stories of his Recruits were spread all around him, his typewriter needed cleaning, ribbon replacing, and new paper void of ink spots. He was out of alcohol and almost out of coffee, and despite the magical clipboard that Scatter had left behind for him he either wasn't using it properly or it only wanted to be used by Scatter because of how frequent the appointments would suddenly change on a dime and a whim and would switch things around on him that he was better off ignoring the clipboard all together and just doing what he wanted.

Maybe this was why she was always so scatterbrained. . .

Though not intentional, Mr. V found himself isolating himself from the Recruits to try to figure out his life and see what he needed to do for them as well. Despite his fellow Hosts' insistence, he has yet to go to any meals with the Recruits since he announced that Ms. Scatter would have a time of leave until further notice. Jamilia practically broke out in a fit of tears the moment she heard that, Ember seemed to hate Mr. V even more than what she already did and the boys just seemed to fall off the face of the Realm coming and going whenever they pleased however they pleased. All rules, decorum, and manners of business had all but been forgotten as they all became wrapped up in their own stories, evident by the half-written stories before him.

In Black Apple Poison, Adam was teaching Snow White how to read while trying to save her from the Evil Queen as well as try to win her heart from the prince that wanted to sweep her off her feet. If he kept going down this road he would either get the girl or get himself killed.

In The Last Card, Jack struggled between his ever-growing love for Alice and his heavy bloodlust of loyalty thanks to the Queen of Hearts. He was having to decide what was more fun, the fuzzy feelings that Alice gave him, or the many deaths he caused by taking off their heads under his Queen's command. If he didn't pick a side soon, he would tear himself in half, Mr. V hoped he would open his eyes and realize what he needed sooner rather than later.

In Neverland's Lady, Jane disappeared after she fell off the Jolly Roger while fighting against Captain Hook while they were over the Mainland. Hoards of children were aboard the ship and Mr. V couldn't make heads or tails of whether it was a mass kidnapping or saving the children. The poor girl had better survive the fall, else all of Neverland is doomed without her.

In The Fae and the Princess, Malfie danced with Aurora once upon a dream while he sat beside her bed holding her lifeless hand as he and Prince Philip stood beside her sleeping form discussing something. As much as it pained Mr. V to see, he worried that Malfie wouldn't get the happy ending he wanted.

In More than Fashion, Dalmatia danced with some girl before she was kidnapped and held for ransom. He was left with the choice of going to Cruella and taking her job on to steal the puppies or to go and save the girl himself and possibly get himself killed. Mr. V hoped things would be different for the poor boy.

In Three Hearts, Joe was teaching Ariel how to be a human while deciding whether to kill her and Prince Eric to satisfy Ursula, or to steal Ariel away for himself to keep her safe from a plot that was being formulated against her. If the boy truly had three hearts he would listen to one of them and make the right decision.

In Blooming Magic, Farja is struggling to get over her crush and childhood friend Aladdin and has been infatuated with one of the princes that Jasmine has turned away. He has encouraged her and made her magic bloom but has also used her to get information; and she has just learned of this betrayal. Ms. Villa had done all she could to talk to the poor girl, but she's locked herself up in her room and refuses to see anyone; Mr. V knew Ms. Scatter would get to her if she were here.

In the story Pretty Scars, Jamilia has been kicked out from the hyena pack and has been left to her own devices ever since she helped Simba escape and has been kidnapped by slave traders and is plotting with one of the slave boys to run away. Mr. V couldn't be more proud of her for standing up to the pack, but also greatly worried if she would survive the end of her tale.

In The Burning Bell, Veil secretly helped the gypsies escape Notre-Dame while her master Lord Claud Frollo and her Sisters hunted down Esmerelda; all for the fragile hope of saving one boy who showed her how to use her voice. The boy was stubborn and wanted to fight, all the while Veil's actions were being uncovered and putting her own life in peril. The suspense was killing Mr. V and he hoped the boy would stop being so immature.

In Rotten Judgement, Ember has come across quite a few Greek and Roman heroes as they've passed through the Underworld, but a nameless Spartan has caught her eye and she has been testing the Fates to give him a second chance so long as she walks the surface of the world with him. Mr. V hopes that this is the one who will give her an insight on the life she lost before she worked for Hades.

His Recruits were all out trying to find their own happiness, some literally fighting for love and death to protect the ones that are a part of their Happy Endings; if only they chose simpler paths. Then again, they were just as human as they were Villains. They all made mistakes and had to learn from them as well as how to use the mistakes to their later advantage. He could only hope that they received their Happy Endings and not their Villains.

His eyes glazed over from exhaustion rolled over the ten half-written stories before him, but he longed to read the eleventh book that was titled The Firebird. All the book provided was a title on the cover and the inside of the book itself. Although he had no idea what the story was about, he had a vague guess of who was in the story. He caught himself looking into the book a few times a day, hoping that something would give him an idea as to where Scatter was and what she was doing. But the writing of stories takes time, and as an author in progress he knew better than to try to rush a story when it was not ready; it would cause the story to jump very quickly to a very sad and unhappy ending. The pages remained blank, not even an index to let him know how many chapters were in the small book, which only made his situation worse.

He closed his tired eyes and placed his head in his hands and tried to force his mind into a quiet blank space. He was overworked and under-caffeinated, the world around him split into ten different Realms all seemed to be burning, and all the while that this was going on he was having to dodge Chernabog now that he had made an appearance. Since the events at the House of Mouse, rumor has it that Chernabog is looking into the Villain Recruiters Program and is somehow getting others interested in the program as well. He tried to ignore the rumors and the whispers, but when Eito brought it to his attention after an endeavor of trying to find new employees, Mr. V knew he needed to be concerned. Especially so when letters from Madam Medusa, Lady Tremaine, Mother Gothel, the Horned King, Ratcliffe and Queen Narissa have all sent petitions of interest in the programs though none of them have a recruit to be an addition to the program. Despite the free and unintentional advertisement the massive demon provided, it wasn't necessarily good for his business since the Villains piquing an interest in the program was a surface level of interest and had no recruits.

Mr. V assumed Chernabog's real intentions and investigations: his program was an attempt to find Scatter, and he couldn't blame him for trying. As a newcomer to the Anti-Realm he was supposed to look for direction and assistance from the Anti-Castle, and since Mr. V was the current ruler of the Anti-Realm he was technically obligated in providing such assistance to the newcomer; not that he would. Out of wanting to protect Scatter for as long as he could, Mr. V had actually avoided going out into the public eye and sent the dwindling Staff out whenever there were appointments needed to be met or errands to be run. As another Staff member disappeared from the castle, though, it was only going to be a matter of time before Mr. V would have to make a public appearance again. Mr. Po and Ms. Villa could only do so much to assist him in this matter as well as the end of the season show was coming up and they needed to make enough merchandise to catch the buyers' eyes for their own reputation. They were in desperate need of assistance, but no one wanted to work; they just wanted the money that came along with the work. If only Scatter hadn't left. . .

All of these bombarding thoughts, issues and concerns were piling high in his skull and clogging the space he needed for clarity. With all the work around him he was really beginning to crave a social life and some good food. He had managed to cut back his poor eating habits and resulted in small snacks here and there, but he rarely left his office unless it was to go to bed or shower. He missed how things were, he missed the life that was once in the castle, and he really missed Scatter and even Varuo if it meant it would bring her back sooner. The longer he sat around and moped, though, the more depressed he was becoming, and it was most unbecoming of him. His eyes rolled over to the clock, it was only 12:02pm, the beginning of the lunch rush and Mr. V could not help but find himself wanting something from home. Groaning he pushed himself up from his chair and felt his entire body ache all over. He had been sitting for far too long and his joints were stiff. He scratched his beard that had grown grizzly after not being well kept, his dreads had a smell, and as he walked, he could tell that his own body odor was rather ripe and far from his usual crisp and clean scent. He needed to become human again.

With his cane as his guide Mr. V lazily wandered to his room and had almost forgotten what his own room had looked like. He avoided looking at the bed for the simple fact that he would most definitely want to sleep in it. Mr. V continued to the shower and let the warm water fall over him. It felt as though a year's worth of filth and grime were finally leaving his body, even though it had really only been one week. "Only a week." He sighed as he lathered the shampoo in his dreads. It felt like a month had dragged by and he could not help but feel as though the upcoming week was going to be even worse than this past week. "Hopefully a good meal will do me good."

He hummed as he turned the water off, toweled down and dressed in his most casual attire. A pair of khakis, a white button up with the sleeves rolled up, his top hat, scuffed up brown shoes and his cane. He went on ahead and tapped his cane to open a small portal for himself and entered into 1920s New Orleans. For the first time in a long time Mr. V found himself walking around in the sun. He mostly kept to the shadows, but it was still the first time in months since he actually walked in the sun. He forgot how bright it was. With a huge yawn escaping him he walked his way forward to Tiana's Palace. Normally he would take his time, take in the view, enjoy the music, but at the moment all Mr. V wanted to do was get a good meal, get a good bottle of alcohol, and a good sleep.

"Well I'll be." A warm voice sassed him. "If It isn't lil' Valentino."

Mr. V turned to see Mrs. Eudora, Tiana's mother, walking with a cane and her hand on her hip. "Mrs. Eudora." He managed a smile as he walked over to her. "What are you doin' out and about?"

"I should be askin' you that." She poked his shoulder with her finger and a big smile on her face. "I haven't seen you in months! Ever since Tiana and Naveen got married, I've seen less n less of you. I was beginnin' to wonder if you walked off the face of the earth."

He laughed halfheartedly and dragged his hand across the back of his neck. "Sometimes it feels as though I have."

"What, did somethin' happen?" She gave him a knowing look and her mouth quirked up in an assessing look. "Shadow business not workin' the way ya want it to?"

"No ma'am." He shook his head with a snort. "No, even though I can't get rid of the Shadowman life, I don't play in it or tempt people like Facilier. Managing a different sort of business."

She crossed her arms and looked up at him, "What sort of business?"

"A business that is supposed to give people second chances." He found himself looking up at the drifting clouds overhead. "A chance to give themselves a happy ending."

"You make it sound like you're writing a story, Valentino." She chuckled politely and patted his hand. "Life doesn't always go the way you want it, honey. Sometimes you gotta go through the hard times to figure out what you need and what you want."

"I done gave up trying to find my own happy ending, Mrs. Eudora." He gave her wrinkly warm hands a squeeze.

"I wish you wouldn't talk like that." She heaved a sigh and frowned; a scolding glimmered in her eyes. "Tiana would not be happy to hear that."

"She seems to be doing all right though." He forced a smile and tried ignoring that pang of pain in his ribs. "Heard there's a baby on the way."

"Oh yes." Mrs. Eudora smiled brightly. "I'm so excited for my first eva granbaby, though I wonder if she will be all right having it. . ."

"Tiana has always been strong." He added encouragingly. If she wasn't known for her persistence and stubbornness, It was her strength to carry on no matter what came her way.

"Yes." Her smile wobbled and she blinked her eyes hard like trying to hide tears. "But there was an accident before this one and well . . ." She gulped and looked to the side, "Tiana didn't take it so well."

"An accident?" He immediately became concerned. Mrs. Eudora merely squeezed his hands and gave him a watery smile.

"She had a little slip in the kitchen one night in the kitchen when she got pregnant the first time." She spoke in a hushed whisper. "She said she was all right, but well, her body didn't take it so well and she had a miscarriage within the first month of being pregnant. . .She said something about seeing another star up there with the wishin' stars and just wasn't quite herself after that."

He gaped for only a moment as the realization hit him, "That's why the staff would be livid if they found her working while she was pregnant. . ."

"Now don't go tellin' her I told you." She gave him a warning look. "I only told you, Valentino, because out of everyone else around here I know how much you loved her." She pointed at his shoulder again. "You ain't around here half the time and I know you don't know what goes on all the time, but I know you can keep a secret better than anyone."

"Yet you were able to see through my biggest one." He smiled weakly as the pangs of pain seemed to grip his heart.

"Well, I could always tell when the boys were interested in my Tiana." She chuckled as she linked her arm through his. "Don't take it too personal, Valentino. If anything, I was rooting for you for the longest time; you just waited too long to tell her." She patted his hand and nudged him to walk. He took the hint and timed his cane to walk with hers. "Will you take me to the restaurant? My knees are achin' and I'm not too sure if I'd make it on my own and back."

Mr. V merely gave her a smile and walked in quiet for a few moments as he tried to think of how to respond to her. "I never could have made her happy, at least not the way she needed to be." He finally managed. "She never saw me the way I saw her, and despite everythin' I tried I was just never enough to be what she needed. I couldn't even give her what she wanted."

The years of watching her work tirelessly day after day, being mocked by her friends, and never allowing herself to rest just so she could get that building her father wanted. It wouldn't have mattered if he had had all the money in the world and bought that building, fixed it up the way she wanted it, then gave it to her, she never would have accepted it from him. She was determined to do it and earn it her way and she wouldn't have accepted something like that from him without looking at him with guilt in her eyes at every turn. It wouldn't have been enough to buy her love then, and it wasn't enough now; she was better off without him.

"You can't blame yourself for that one." She patted his hand and shook her head. "The girl knew what she wanted, but she could hardly ever see what she needed. It took her being turned into a frog to make her see that."

He chuckled and stole a glance at her, "She told you 'bout that?"

"She can't keep nothin' from me, I'm her momma." She smacked his hand. "She knows better than to hide things from me."

"She would never keep something from you, Mrs. Eudora." He laughed softly as they walked.

"Not even the baby names." She smiled smugly to herself.

He looked down at the withered woman he cherished like his own mother. "She's got names picked out?"

"Yes, strange but beautiful names." She smiled as she slipped another secret. "If it's a boy the name will be Raymond, they'll call him Ray for short. And if it's a girl the name will be -"

"Evangeline." He finished, knowing Tiana too well, and could not help but smile. It was so like her to name her children after friends she cherished; even if one was a bug and the other a star. It was touching, sentimental, and just so fitting for her.

She gaped up at him, "How'd you know?"

"Had a feelin'." He smirked as they reached the doors to the restaurant. "After you, Mrs. Eudora."

He held open the door for her and they stepped inside. The place was quiet. The band hadn't arrived yet, only some of the staff was on the clock, and the only sounds to be heard came from the kitchen. Mrs. Eudora and Mr. V quietly stepped inside and made their way to his table when Tiana herself came rushing in the doors. "Oh, I'm sorry ya'll." She called over to them. "But we're not open yet, so I'll have to ask you to -"

"I know my daughter is not askin' me to leave." Mrs. Eudora crossed her arms and frowned at her and that foot began tapping.

"Momma?" She blinked in utter surprise and her eyes flew to Mr. V. "Valentino?"

He tipped his hat off to her, "Mrs. Tiana."

She threw on a quick smile, but Mr. V caught the sleep in her eyes as she blinked. "What are you two doin' here?"

"I came here to get me some lunch." Mrs. Eudora quipped. "I found Valentino here moping about and had him bring me in. It was getting ever so hot outside. I needed to come in and sit to rest my feet."

"Momma, we don't open for another fifteen minutes." She chewed her lip and looked past them at the kitchens.

"And we can wait 'til it opens." Her mother sassed and re-looped her arm in Mr. V's elbow.

"I didn't mean it like that, momma." She frowned and her brow furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have had something made for you -"

"And I wouldn't have had a chance to enjoy my meal." She stabbed her cane into the carpets. "I needed to get out and stretch my legs and now I'm both hungry and thirsty."

Tiana's face screwed up in a frown before she took a deep breath and gave Mr. V a withering smile. "Val, will you take momma to your table? I'll be right with y'all as soon as I punch in and look over the menu."

He tipped his hat to her again before escorting Mrs. Eudora over to his table. "Of course, Mrs. Tiana."

"Your table." She chuckled. "Ooooh, if Big Daddy heard about that he would have one royal fit!"

"And why is that?" Mr. V asked as he pulled the chair out for her and pushed it closer to the table once she took her seat.

"Tiana won't let him reserve himself a private table." She set her cane to hang on the back of her chair. "He's tried a hundred times, but she won't let anyone be considered a V.I.P."

"Huh." He laced his fingers together and rested his chin on them. "That's interesting."

"Though, now that I'm looking at this spot." She glanced all the way around the corner where his table resided. "I do see this table vacant a lot. If it's your table, then I suppose that makes sense."

"What are you implying, Mrs. Eudora?" He cocked a brow at her, a teasing smile on his face.

"Yes, momma, what are you implying?" Tiana appeared with two menus and two waters.

"Oh, nothing dear," She waved it off and greedily tipped on the water. "Just runnin' my mouth is all."

"M'hmm." She had one eyebrow raised with her hands on her hips. "It will be a few minutes before we can cook for y'all, so I can sit and run my mouth with y'all."

"Well, if you're going to make sure that Valentino here doesn't run off," Mrs. Eudora scooted her chair back and stood. "Then I'm going to take a quick escape to the powder room to freshen up real quick."

"Momma don't-" Tiana's cheeks puffed as she pouted.

"Hush now, child." She held her hand up to silence her as she hobbled off.

"That woman, I swear." She sighed and pressed her hand to her head. "She's going to be the death of me."

"She's stronger than she looks." Mr. V smirked and sipped his water. "You get it from her." Tiana snorted at the comment and rolled her eyes. "You ain't lettin' Big Daddy be a V.I.P.?"

"Can't." She shook her head. "He's good business, but he doesn't come often enough for me to always leave his table reserved."

"Why not?" He hid his smirk behind his hand and kept his eyes as blank as he could.

"He wants two tables." She sighed and pressed her hand to her forehead. "The big one in the center of the room and one up in the second floor, also what would be considered a center spot. It is two big tables that I need for my customers."

"What about my table?" He knocked on the cloth covered table that he rested his elbows on.

She finally looked at him with those pretty brown eyes. "What?"

"I'm a V.I.P.'' He stared blankly. "Why do I get a specially reserved table?"

"Well." Her smile grew tight as seh gripped the edges of the tablecloth. "You see, you're my friend, and well, you've done a lot for me, and there really is no way I could truly repay you for everythin' you've done and-"

"Tia." The nickname caught her off guard and caused her to look away, seemingly rather embarrassed. He rarely called her that and only used it reservedly, especially since she was married. It pained him more to call her that and reminded him of how close they once were.

"Don't go callin' me that, Valentino." Her chest fluttered nervously with a laugh. "I'm married a-and it ain't right."

"I'm not going to steal you away, Tia." He spoke quietly. "I am a better man than that and have better morals. I just want to know why."

"You're very, very special to me, Valentino." She spoke softly and stared at the tablecloth. "Please just leave it at that."

He did not want to just leave it at that, he'd invested so much time into the little relationship they had, invested so much time into her when she did not seem to care to do the same for him. One-sided and unrequited feelings was something he could swallow, but if there was even a hint of them ever having a chance together, he deserved to know. However, knowing would just make the pains in his heart worse and tempt him to play with the shadows, not to mention her meekness and unwillingness to come forth with an answer that told him it was something better left unsaid. He squeezed his eyes tight, sighed and glanced around the room, "It'll do."

"Thank you." She let out a sigh of relief with a smile to match and just barely managed to meet his eyes. "You were always so . . .understanding."

"I tend to be very empathetic." He smiled easily, but it hurt to do so as he leaned his elbows on the table. "I suppose that's why I'm so good at letting things go. . ."

The biggest lie he ever told, and with a straight face. Mrs. Eudora was certainly taking her time freshening up.

Her brown eyes widened, and she looked around the room to make sure they were alone. "Did something happen?"

"Of sorts." He gave a half shrug. "Just a few things on my end that I gotta tie up and fix. Nothin' I can't handle."

"Did somethin' happen with Ms. Ashe?" She asked bluntly.

"Not between her and I." He shook his head and the pains in his heart began to twist with barbs. "Complicated family matters that she just couldn't explain to me. I think I can help her, but she just won't tell me. She's been gone for a week, and well, work just isn't quite the same without her."

"She was a pretty little thing." She smiled and those dimples bloomed on her cheeks and the barbs dug deeper into his heart. "She seemed smart, especially if she was with you."

"We weren't like that." He bristled, not wanting to taint Ms. Scatter's name. "Just business partners."

"You can't go tellin' me that there isn't something there, Valentino." She snapped back and slapped her hand on the table. "Not after the look you gave her. It was deeper and warmer than the looks you gave me -!"

Her eyes widened and she slapped her hand over her mouth. Mr. V's eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. They stared wide eyed and gawked at each other before Mr. V finally found air for his lungs again. The barbs grow sharper, more pointed, and he knew he'd been played like a fiddle. "You knew." She gave a little nod and he hid his face in his hands. "You knew. . ."

He could hear her wince, "I never wanted to say anythin' -"

"How long?" He didn't want to look at her. Embarrassment and shame burned through him.

"Since I was about thirteen. . ." Her voice shook as she spoke, a chill ran down her spine and caused her to rub her arms. "I just couldn't then. The time or two I tried to speak up, well things just didn't come out right and then I became a frog and then -"

"You felt the same?" He blinked up at her and hated the hope that rose within him. He knew better. He knew he wasn't right for her. He knew she could be safe and happy without him around. That damn hope tried to rise within him and pull the barbs out; he wanted the barbs to cling tighter.

"That's rather hard to tell, Valentino." She pursed her lips. "You were a Shadowman, even if just an apprentice, but you were also my best friend. I couldn't just throw away what we had, but I didn't think we could be any more than what we already were. Then Naveen. . ." Her face fell and it looked as though she were about to cry.

He nodded his head and gave a bitter laugh, "And then Naveen."

"I never wanted to tell you. . ." She trailed.

"I never wanted you to know." He sighed and hated the relief that came with this knowledge and the release of the barbs.

"You kept me waiting for so long, though." She grimaced, as though she were the one in pain, as she looked at him. "Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"You were too good for me, Tia, and no one knew that better than me." He looked her in the eyes as he spoke softly and bluntly. "I was a Shadowman getting into all kinds of things that would taint you and your reputation. Not something a young and beautiful woman like yourself needed as you were up and becoming a businesswoman. I loved you all my life, Tiana." He avoided using her nickname for his own sake. "I didn't deserve you, and you deserved better than me and whatever I could have ever attempted to give you."

"Valentino -" He could see the tears in her eyes and the barbs refused to sink into his heart again. He held up his hand and silenced her.

"Knowing I almost had a chance is hard." His hand holding the edge of the table clenched hard on the wood. "But it's fine. I'm fine. This is fine. You're happy, and in the end, that is all I ever could have wanted for you."

"But where does that leave you?" She countered, gaining a quiet fire.

"Just a shadow of the man I used to be trying to make sure everyone else is happy." He smiled weakly, his hold on the table weakening. "The one person that I have wanted to make happy, however, is away trying to settle her family matters and I have no idea when she's coming back, or if she is ever coming back -!"

He had not realized that he was growing louder until he saw the heads poking out from the kitchen. She noted with raised eyebrows. "Sounds like Miss Ashe has ruffled your feathers, quite a bit it seems."

"More than I'm willing to admit. . ." He sighed.

"So why not go after her then?" She crossed her arms and leaned them on the table.

He wanted to, but it really wasn't his place. "It's not that simple -"

"Nothing is simple with you Valentino." She rolled her eyes with a huff. "You were the most complicatedly simple man that I ever knew. You have a complicated life that is full of intricacies and problems because you're a Shadowman, but you're just like the other men in the simple fact you want to be loved and love someone."

"Don't." His nostrils flared at both being called simple as well as being compared to other men. He knew exactly what she was referring to by comparing him to men and not a boy or a bastard, but still. He prided himself in being a little bit better than the average male.

"You've always short-ended yourself for everythin' Valentino." Tiana frowned at him as she continued. "Even when I tried to throw you a sign I was interested, you always kept yourself at a distance because even though you want to be loved, you're scared of being loved, almost as if you're wary you're gonna be abandoned."

"I do hope you have a point to this, Tiana." He frowned at her. "I have had one hell of a week and I don't necessarily need you callin' me out."

"You always let the things you love go, Valentino." She stood and looked down at him. "Maybe you should try to hold on a lil' tighter to this one if you're so afraid it won't come back." She pushed herself away and disappeared back into the kitchens. In an odd short few minutes Mrs. Eudora hobbled back to the table and sat back down.

"Well, at least you two talked that out before the restaurant opened." She sighed as she took her seat. "Ya'll weren't too quiet." He chose not to respond to her because he respected the woman and did not want to ruin his good graces with her. She sipped on her water, "So you finally found someone else?"

"She's a business partner." He sighed and locked his fingers together on the table. "She's just gone on a business trip and doesn't know when she'll be able to return to the office."

"Sounds serious." She nodded her head in some mysterious understanding. "So, what are you going to do?"

"I beg your pardon?" He blinked in disbelief as though he had heard her wrong.

"What are you going to do, Valentino?" She crossed her arms as she repeated her words. "And don't you dare say that there isn't anything that you can do. If this woman is as dear and special to you as you keep acting like, there is something you can do; even if it requires the services from the shadows."

He blinked incredulously at her. "You would really support me using the shadows to go after her?"

"If it is what finally gets you one shred of happiness, then I'm all for it, Valentino." She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. "Though you're not mine, you've always been like a son to me, and even though I wished things between you and Tiana turned out better I don't want to take away her happiness either. You've been too sad and wishing on stars for too long, Valentino. You need to stop looking up and start looking around for what you need or you're going to be left with nothing."

She pulled her hand back and sipped her water again before dropping the conversation and looking over the menu. She was definitely Tiana's mother and the reason why the woman was so strong. The woman did not like it when people just sat around feeling sorry for themselves, like they're a boy and not a man. As much as it pained Mr. V to admit, they were right that he needed to get off his butt and do something. "Please excuse me, Mrs. Eudora." He pushed himself back and stood up. "Would I be able to get a rain check for lunch with you at another time? There is something that I must do."

"Of course, hon." She smiled up at him. "When we do lunch again, please make sure to bring this girl so I can meet her."

"Of course, Mrs. Eudora." He chuckled and strode out of the restaurant. He went straight to the willow trees and went into the shadows to get through a portal and return to the Anti-Realm.

As soon as he walked into the Anti-Realm he was met with a large demon in the front of the Anti-Castle who seemed to know who he was as soon as he emerged from the portal. Before Mr. V had a chance to duck into another portal to return to his office, Chernabog had him by the throat and pinned to the brick wall behind him. He growled and those yellow eyes pierced Mr. V deeply. "Where. Is. My. Daughter?"

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far!

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ko-fi/sarahthewriter