*The Chronicles of F.R.E.E. Atania's Knight - Raquel Festow* Part 1

Chapter 42 - The Realm Gathering

*Darren Hodgson POV*

"ALL OF THIS IS HER FUCKING FAULT! She deserved what happened to her, because it's nothing compared to the pain families had to suffer when their children didn't come back or were found dead." Danielle shrieked at mum and dad.
I was shaking with fury. This isn't my sister! My sister would never have acted like this before Astrovia. This girl was a complete stranger, an imposter, a fake.
Before I could argue back, a scream came from the other side of the door.
"WATSON! COME BACK!" Came Raquel's voice.
I looked at mum and dad in horror before bolting for the door and running after her, almost flying down the stairs with my dad close behind me.
"RUTH!" I yelled after her as I saw her running towards the back of the garden, quite far ahead of us. "WATSON! WAIT!"
"Son, she must have heard her." Dad said, guiltily.
"You go sort out Danielle! I'll deal with her." I told him, running towards her as quickly as I could.
Watson had reached the surrounding woods and disappeared from sight. I pushed myself to run faster, desperately. She was quick on her feet and I had never been able to keep up with her, even when we had our FREE training together on Lisorix just after we joined.
I finally managed to catch up with her. She leaning on her arms against a tree, sobbing frantically with her breathing fast and jagged.
"Baby. Baby, I-I'm so sorry..." I said, gently placing my hand on her shoulder to let her know I was there.
She spun around, slapping my hand away.
"Stay away from me!" She spat, her face tear stained and blotchy, her eyes red from crying. "I don't want to be a problem, anymore. Just leave me alone!"
I gasped at the state of her, before clenching my teeth together, furious at Danielle for causing my gorgeous fiancee to break apart like this. I pulled Watson into a tight hug, refusing to let her go, even though she was thrashing around and trying to push me away.
"Ignore her, babe. She's just overwhelmed with everything I told her. She's gone fucking crazy." I explained. "You know I told you about how she was best friends with Jenny? Yeah, they're exactly the same, I'm afraid." I joked weakly. "Both stuck in their own little Realms."
Watson stopped thrashing and trying to get away, and just slumped into me, giving up.
"I-it's not that..." She murmured, sadly and very quietly.
"What is it then baby?" I asked, kissing her forehead before half pulling away to look her in the eye.
She gazed up at me, pathetically, her bottom lip trembling. "She was right." She whimpered.
I frowned and jerked my head back in surprise. "What? No she wasn't!" I told her, defiantly.
"She was. It was all my fault that you were taken away in the first place." She said, breaking our eye contact and burying her face in my chest, shaking all over and struggling to keep standing.
I tried to get my head around what she had just said. "How could you say that?" I told her, pulling her face back up to look at me. "We were both taken away together."
"But if I hadn't have been a doppelgänger, none of this would have ever happened!" She wailed, breaking herself away from me. "This is all my fault that this happened. I wish I had never been born!"
I grabbed her and tightened my embrace on her. "I don't wish that at all. If you had never been born, I never would have met you. I never would have found out what true love is. I never would have found someone who brightens the room for everyone when they walk in. Who brings smiles to those who are usually a hard nut to crack. Who is so easy to talk to, that everyone turns to her when they need guidance and support, because that's what you do best, Watson. You are needed more to everyone else than you realise. But I'm the one who needs you more than any of them. I love you, baby. I love you more than I need air to breathe, more than the blood pumping through my veins. You think Rebecca's and Natalia's ninety odd years married is impressive, wait until you see how long our marriage will last. Because I'm not even going to allow death to split us apart!"
Watson froze and looked up at me again, checking to see if I was being genuine. I gave her a rueful smile.
"I love you, Ruth Watson. Without you, my life wouldn't have meaning." I told her, sincerely.
Watson sniffed and smiled at me, before reaching her arms up to pull me into a much needed, reassuring kiss. I deepened it, and she jumped up to wrap her legs around my waist. I leaned back against a tree behind me, so I didn't fall backwards, and pulled my arms downwards to support her better. When my hands gripped her thighs, she let out a longing moan that drove me crazy.
"DARREN? RUTH? WHERE ARE YOU?" Came Natalia's voice.
We both groaned in frustration and Watson hopped down, off me. She looked me down before looking back up at me, smirking seductively.
"Do you need a minute?" She asked me.
I looked down and laughed. "Erm, yeah. That may be an idea. You go, I'll catch up." I told her.
Watson gave me a last, mind blowing kiss, before running off to meet Natalia. I sighed, and slumped on the ground, sitting with my elbows on my knees and my hands pushing my hair back.
I'm going to fucking kill Danielle! How dare she fucking do that to Watson! What an absolute bitch!
I sighed and stood up, looking down to see if I had calmed down, which I had. I decided to walk to the house, rather than jog.
Tonight was going to be interesting, that was for sure. No doubt, Raquel had told Rebecca and Natalia what my sister had said about Watson, and I bet Raquel will probably take a real dislike to her too.
When I reached the kitchen, Rebecca was there, leaning against the counter, dressed head to foot in her armour, with her arms folded and looking like she was deep in thought.
"Alright, Beccs?" I asked, awkwardly.
She snapped her head up to look at me and scowled.
"What the hell did your sister say to Ruth?" She snarled.
I shook my head, ashamed. "She didn't actually say it to her face. She was screaming at me, saying that it was Watson's fault that we had been taken away in the first place."
Rebecca looked livid. "Get her out of here!" She snarled.
I sighed. "I would, but then that would mean my mum and dad would have to go too, I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet." I admitted to her, shaking my head.
Rebecca made a low noise in the back of her throat from anger. "If she causes one more incident, I will personally be taking care of her, do you understand?" She snapped, strictly pointing a finger at me.
I nodded. "If you get to her before me, that is. If I hadn't have had to run after Watson, I think I would have beaten her black and blue."
Rebecca huffed, and looked away from me. "Go and get dressed for the gathering. Ruth will be meeting us in the hall after everyone else has been sat down. You better hope your sister doesn't do anything to offend anyone!"
I sighed, heavily and went into the hall to get upstairs and ready for the Gathering.
I caught a glimpse of the dining hall as I passed and saw my mum and dad, talking quietly with Watson's family, looking very ashamed and apologetic at the way my sister had behaved. Danielle was sitting at the table, already, busy looking at her phone and ignoring everyone around her with sour look on her face. No doubt, she was texting Jenny.
I scowled at her and ran up the stairs. Upon entering the bedroom, Watson was already in her armour, trying to locate something.
I let out a low whistle. "Damn you look sexy in that armour!" I growled, seductively.
She jumped and looked up at me in surprise.
"Jeez, you scared me there. I can't find my greaves or boots." She chuckled, walking over to me and putting her arms around my neck.
"Well if you keep distracting me with your sexiness, you're never going to find them, are you?" I slurred, wiggling my eyebrows.
She laughed and let me go, turning to resume her searching. I stole a last look at her before going into the wardrobe to dress in my armour.
As I was just finishing up, I glimpsed her greaves and boots in the back corner.
"I have them." I called out to her, and she came in.
"Oh thank you. I didn't realise I put them in here. Now, get your arse downstairs otherwise Rebecca will murder us." She sneered.
I laughed and gave her a last kiss, before putting on my helmet and jogging down the stairs.
Hunter was standing at the bottom in his old Narthwich armour.
"Hey," I laughed. "It still fits you!"
He laughed and looked down at himself. "Yeah, I was surprised at that too. Ready to go in?"
I gave him the thumbs up and we went into the dining hall together. Natalia was directing everyone where to sit. The doppelgängers were to sit at the top part of the table, Regina on the end, then Rebecca, Rosalie and Ruby on her left, Rhianna, Watson and Raquel on her right. I was sitting next to Ruby, with Jarod next to me, then Hunter, Xavier, Fabian and Grace, followed by my mum, dad and sister.
Next to Raquel, would be Natalia, Clive, Clemency, Micha, Oren, Clara, Harry and then Watson's family.
I waved at my mum and dad as I moved towards my allocated seat and they stared blankly at me for a moment, before realising who I was. Danielle's jaw fell open when she saw me, before laughing her head off.
"Seriously? Having a medieval feast now are we?" She jeered loudly.
Everyone looked at her, some confused, others glaring, like Hunter and I.
I stormed over to her before sitting down.
"Right, I am only going to say this once." I snarled in her ear. "You keep your fucking mouth shut, or you will make yourself many enemies tonight. Do you fucking understand me?"
She cocked an eyebrow and smirked, not taking me seriously. "Yeah, ok, bro."
I gave her a furious look before spinning on my heel and marching back to my seat, sitting down and facing Natalia who was sitting opposite me. She gave me a sympathetic smile to which I gave her an encouraging grin back.
The door opened and everyone rose up to their feet to show respect to the Seven Protectors of the Seven Realms, as Regina had called them.
Regina came in, wearing a black armour with a horned helmet, looking like she was a Viking warrior, with her two red swords crossed over her back. She looked so much like Watson, that if she hadn't have been wearing the horned helmet, I never would have been able to tell them apart. She took her place at the head of the table and bowed her head to everyone. My mouth opened in surprise and I caught Clive looking at me. He leaned forward.
"That's the original Uiestean Armour. The horns are actually from a real dragon." He hissed.
"There's real dragons?!" Hunter and I blanched at him.
Natalia shushed us and we watched Rebecca come in next, dressed in her Atanian armour. She had polished it especially for tonight and Cometfell had been given a thorough clean too. She took her place beside Regina and watched the door for the next doppelgänger.
Rosalie entered, wearing her purple armour with a long, curved, purple sword at her side. She wore a long, floor length cloak, like Rhianna did, but hers was lilac rather than black. The hood of the cloak hid her face and only her mouth was visible. You could see her lips set in a straight line, giving away how nervous she was.
After Rosalie was standing by her place, Ruby then entered wearing her silver Cristisian armour. Her broad helmet hid most of her face, but showed more that the others so far. Whispersong was hanging from her hip and she gripped her hand on it to keep control of her nerves.
Rhianna then came in, before Ruby had stopped at her place. She wore her long black cloak, the hood hiding her face, and her silver armour just about visible. She strode over to her seat, straight away, then stood still, facing ahead of her and didn't acknowledge anyone else in the room.
Watson then made her entrance, lightening the atmosphere immediately. Her black armour from Narthwich with Dragonwrath across her back in its matching baldric. She waved slightly at her parents before moving to her seat, her lips curved up in a modest smile.
Raquel then walked in, her hands clasped in front of her and a massive grin pasted across her face. Because she was yet to be given an armour or sword, she had chosen to wear a long, white, figure hugging gown with pink, swirling, flowery designs trailing across the skirt from the right hip, downwards until it framed the hem.
Once all the doppelgängers had taken their places, they all removed their helmets as one and there was a collective gasp from those at the other end of the table. Both mine and Watson's family, apart from Watson's mum, hadn't seen the doppelgängers together yet. They stared with wide eyes and mouths open in amazement.
"Freaky, right?" Harry muttered to them all.
Everyone else removed their helmets too and took their seats, watching Regina closely, as she addressed everyone.
"My friends. Tonight, we celebrate the Seven Realms coming together to stand against the Order of Verdicts. But we shall not dwell on that, this evening. Instead, we will share our stories, our memories, along with our traditions and beliefs from each of the Realms. First, we will feast together, then share our stories, and then lastly, we will share songs from our Realms to truly celebrate who we all are."
I noticed Watson's eyes widen in fear at that and she looked at me, terrified, before mouthing. "Oh fuck!"
I bit my lip to stop myself laughing. I knew it was because she would most likely be singing National Anthem later on tonight.
Harry seemed to have realised this too, and muttered something, quietly, to Watson's family who sniggered into their hands.
"I must stress, though..." Regina continued, her voice rising louder and more authoritive in tone. "Those of you from this Realm, Earth, should remember that your Realm is not ready for this information. Therefore, I must ask you all to swear that you will keep whatever is shared tonight a secret. Please rise!"
My mum and dad rose to their feet at the same time as Watson's family, Harry too, but Danielle was too busy tapping away on her phone to pay any attention to anything. My mum snatched the phone out of her hand and I distinctly heard Rebecca mutter "I think we're going to have to do a memory potion towards the end of this evening."
I flinched. I didn't want my sister to forget she had seen me, but she had such a loud mouth on her, I wouldn't put it past her to share everything with Jenny who will then spread it. I began to grind my teeth at Danielle's ignorance as she rose to her feet, full of attitude.
Regina raised an eyebrow at my sister before speaking again.
"Please place one hand over your heart and the other on the orb in front of you please."
I jolted when I noticed there was a round, silver ball placed in the middle in front of them. I hadn't noticed it before. Everyone from Earth did as they were told, but when Harry placed his hand on the orb, Watson stood up.
"Harry, you don't need to as you'll be joining us." She told him, smiling at him.
Harry made an 'o' shape with his mouth and sat back down, sheepishly apologising. Rhianna snorted at him before looking down at her plate and Watson sat down, smirking as she tried not to laugh too.
Regina had a small smile on her lips too, before clearing her throat and looking up to address those from Earth.
"Please repeat after me."
I saw Danielle roll her eyes, cockily, and shake her head. Watson's mum scowled at her.
"Bellong fey sivijong."
Our families snapped their heads to Regina in surprise, who gestured for them to repeat. They had obviously not expected the oath to be in a different language.
"Bellong fey sivijong." They said in awkward unison and the silver ball glowed.
"You may now be seated again." Regina smiled sweetly at them all.
They all sat down, exchanging alarmed looks and nervous murmurs.
"In case you were wondering, this orb actually creates a binding contract. You have hearby sworn that you will not reveal any of the information with any outsiders and will only discuss it with those who had been present in this room. If you break that contract, you shall be severly punished."
"Oh, please break it." I heard Rhianna mutter to Watson who raised her eyebrows back at her.
I knew they were talking about Danielle, but I had a bad feeling that she had already shared some of what had happened tonight with Jenny. I furrowed my brow with worry for my sister. What was the severe punishment that Regina mentioned?
"We will now eat!" Regina called out, with her arms open wide and Penelope came through the doors, pushing a tray laiden with our dinners.
Jarod, however, got up from his seat and disappeared into the kitchen. I frowned.
"Where's he going?" I asked Natalia.
"For Rebecca and my food, of course." She muttered back, winking.
The other doppelgängers were given their starters of a bright pink soup with a crusty roll first. Rebecca pulled a face at Ruby's food when it was placed in front of her. Watson laughed.
"Jarod made you the usual then, Beccs?" She asked, smirking.
Rebecca poked her tongue out at her. "Of course. I prefer my usuals."
"Typical Neonian." Regina chortled. "You know, I have yet to meet a Neonian who breaks their routine of what they eat. They all live on this green roll of bread."
"It's called a Neonian Pudding, and that's because it's delicious." Rebecca told her, proudly. "And I have changed my routine of what I eat. At least I did when I came here."
"Because Jarod wasn't around to cook her usuals, she means." Watson added.
Regina laughed. "You have a special cook too, huh?"
Rebecca glared slightly. "Yes. Jarod has always cooked for us at FREE."
"Like I said, typical Neonian. Afraid to turn away from the norm... Although, you aren't your typical Neonian, are you Rebecca?" Regina mused.
Rebecca rolled her eyes. "If you're referring to me being married to Natalia, then yes. I am not your typical Neonian. There's a lot more that I have gone against, that Neonia considers 'rules and regulations' though. I'm not a stay at home mother, I don't cook, or clean, or sew. I can create weapons and armour. And I led a rebellion and fought for what I believed in, instead of sitting back and letting the gods take over my fate." She seemed to speak with a bitter taste in her mouth.
Natalia frowned briefly before making a broad smile. "But she is very much respected in Atania." She chipped in, happily, trying to cheer Rebecca up.
"Oh yes." Raquel grinned at Rebecca. "There's the annual Gathering of Breenio in yours and Natalia's honour."
Watson jolted and grabbed Raquel's wrist.
"You're shitting me!" She gasped, desperately trying to hold back a laugh.
Hunter burst out laughing. "Go on babe, tell her."
"Well, we all gather around Rebecca Donton's old hut, and celebrate Rebecca's and Natalia's affects on the Realms. Like the mass fields of Chreek Reeds, Rebecca planted across the Realm to keep us safe from danger, a mass Tension Release to commemorate their first sighting of each other, an Emotional Release to celebrate their falling in love and their saltazeeb latch to each other, jumping over paths of coal in Rebecca's honour, then we finish off with the dances of the Realms." Raquel told everyone with a wide smile.
Watson, Regina and Rhianna laughed and clapped their hands, but Rebecca had frozen, her eyes wide and her fork half lifted to her mouth. I wasn't sure at what point during Raquel's little story she had frozen, but she was obviously not expecting Atania to have a festival in memory of her and Natalia.
"Isn't it wonderful, Rebecca?" Natalia squealed excitedly.
Rebecca came back to reality and put her fork down.
"I don't feel very hungry now." She mumbled, looking disgusted.
Regina slapped Rebecca on her arm, laughing even harder. "Now, now, Rebecca. Tonight is all about celebrating the differences of the Realms."
"That's not a difference of the Realms!" Rebecca argued. "That's just proving they're all fucking nutters!"
Clemency laughed. "You can thank Geenaraz Penelope for that. She was the one who first organised it all and made it part of our tradition."
Rebecca glared at her. "Remind me why I released you from prison again?"
Regina however, looked over Clemency with great interest.
"So you're Clemency Moreno, correct?" She asked her, slowly, avoiding eye contact and pretending to concentrate on her food a little too much.
Clive, who was sitting next to Clemency, took a closer look at her.
"That's right." Clemency replied proudly. "Us Moreno's have been helping to fight against the Order since Rebecca first came to Atania and my Geenaraz made her her first Portal Bracelet so she could save Cristis."
Regina snorted into a food and put her fork down. "I think you'll find it's been a lot longer than that, sweetheart." She mused, smirking at Clemency. "Honestly, do you not know how I am?"
All the doppelgängers, apart from Raquel, all put their spoons down and hovered their hands over their ears, ready for the inevitable shrill shriek that was coming when Clemency had put two and two together.
"No I can't say that I do. Rebecca's own Geenaraz?" Clemency guessed, innocently.
I also stopped eating to prepare for the offensive screaming that was coming soon, as did Hunter.
Regina laughed. "No, child! I am Regina Moreno and that man you're sitting next to, is Clive Moreno. The first Realm Jumpers, creators of the Portal Bracelets, the first enemies of the LaCroix's, or as they're better known as now, the Order of Verdicts."
Clemency froze for a moment before taking a deep breath in. I clamped my hands over my ears, but that still wasn't enough. Clemency released such a shrill, high pitched, unpleasant shriek, that a couple of the glasses smashed along the table that were closest to her.
She leaped up from her seat and ran to Regina, engulfing her in a tight hug and crying, happily.
"I never would have believed it!" She wailed. "Are you really my geenaraz and geefirez? The First Realm Jumpers?"
She turned to Clive and threw her arms around him too, kissing him all over his face. Clive laughed, trying to stop her.
"Iez, we are." Regina laughed.
Clemency stopped dead. "Then why did I not know that? Does Geenaraz Penelope know?"
Regina looked away from her then, and Clive bit his lip.
"Penelope knows." He told Clemency quietly. "But Regina and Crystal had a huge arguement when Benny found out Crystal was his soulmate. We wanted to keep exploring the Realms, but Crystal was more interested in-"
"Vollang! Every fucking minute, of every fucking day!" Regina snapped. "It was disgusting!" She glanced around at everyone and cleared her throat. "Maybe I'll leave this side of the conversation for later on, after we have eaten."
Rhianna huffed. "I have a question." She said, curtly, glaring at Rosalie. "How comes you don't talk? You a fearful little mouse like Ruby there?"
Rebecca made a low, growling noise at her, but Regina turned to Rhianna to explain, cool as a cucumber.
"She's a mute." Regina explained, simply. "She wasn't always a mute, though. Rosalie, sweetheart. Could you show everyone your mark, please?"
Rosalie flinched, timidly, and lifted her hair up, showing a small tattoo on her neck just below her left ear. I leaned forward with Ruby to take a look.
The tattoo was of a huge bird, locked uncomfortably inside a tiny cage, its wings spread through the bars but looking like it was unable to take flight.
"What does that mean?" Ruby asked, as Rebecca rose up to take a look at the tattoo herself.
"She's a Secrunethian Phoenix." Regina explained. "Secrenuthian Phoenix's were thought to be extinct, but she seems to be the last remaining one. The story goes that the Phoenix's had the ability to heal and control the lands and skies, merely by the power of their singing. A king of Secrunerth felt threatened by them, and ordered every single one of them to be executed. The Phoenix's tried to supress their powers by withdrawing into themselves, but it gave them a mark. The mark that Rosalie now bears. A bird locked inside a small cage, unable to move, fly or sing. Sadly, this made them all the more easier to spot for the king's minions.
"For years, I just thought it was just a story until I found Rosalie in Neonia, sitting on the orphanage steps in nineteen forty five. When I tried to speak to her, I discovered she couldn't talk, and that's when I saw her mark. I adopted Rosalie as my own daughter to secure her safety and she took up travelling the Realms with Clive and I. I tried to discover a way of helping Rosalie to escape the prison she had placed herself in, and spent years researching all the tricks of the Realms to find a way. It wasn't until I heard that the Order had planned to attack Atania, that I realised that an hereditory Aura Reader would be the answer. That's why I sought to get Raquel's family off the Realm to safety on Earth. She's Rosalie's only chance of having her life back."
Everyone looked at Raquel, who bit her lip as she studied Rosalie's Aura.
"She doesn't have an Aura though. There's no doppelgänger latch with her, and- Wait..." Raquel leapt from her seat and ran round the end of the table to look at Rosalie's mark. As she lifted Rosalie's hair to take a closer look, she gasped. "There it is! You've removed your Aura into one small section. How?"
Rosalie glimpsed sadly at Raquel, who narrowed her eyes and looked at the mark again.
"Hmmm, I would try the doppelgänger latch to speak with you, but I don't think it will work because there's no Aura we're able to latch to."
Rebecca looked at Clemency.
"Can you see the Aura?" She asked her.
Clemency shook her head. "I'm afraid not. I can't even see it through her mark. It's like she's a Void."
Rosalie hung her head down in despair, but Raquel placed her fingers on the mark, gently and focused on it.
"Raaqis." She whispered, the mark glowed gold.
Regina, Rebecca, Watson and Ruby leapt to their feet, gaping at the glowing mark.
"Did it work??" Regina cried out excitedly.
Raquel's face fell and she shook her head. "There's something that's stopping her from releasing her Aura. A fear or regret that she's very concious of."
Regina slumped back into her chair, looking sorrowfully at Rosalie. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart." She whispered to Rosalie.
Rosalie rose from her seat but Raquel wasn't ready to give up.
"We will try again later on, after the party?" She assured Rosalie, taking both of Rosalie's hands in hers. "We will have you singing again."
Rosalie gave her a sad smile and slowly lowered herself back in her seat.
Penelope came back in and started taking the plates away in preparation for the mains. I looked further up the table to where my family were quietly talking to Watson's family and Harry. Judging by their faces, they were quite worried about how this evening was turning out. Danielle had had her phone confiscated by my mum and was pouting in her seat, glaring across the table at Watson.
Micha and Oren were deep in conversation with Clara, Xavier, Fabian and Grace. God knows what they were discussing, but I was willing to bet it was regarding the party tomorrow, as the Atanian's seemed to be leading the conversation.
"Talking about singing." Rhianna said, she slid her chair forward as Raquel breezed past to her seat. "Do we really have to sing the song's of our Realms?"
She looked sour, and Watson nodded.
"Yeah, I have no idea what to sing for our Realm. There's too many to choose from." She said, leaning back as Penelope returned with our mains of chicken roast.
"What about that Idiot song?" Rebecca suggested to her, smirking slightly.
Watson let out a short laugh. "It's American! That's not really representing the whole Realm."
"What about United States of Whatever?" Harry called over, Hunter snorted into his glass of wine.
"What did I just say about the songs being American, Porky?" Watson shouted back at him.
"Oh, I know!" I said, smirking. "What about the Fast Food Song?"
Watson threw her head back and howled with laughter. When she had calmed down enough, the both of us started singing it together along with the actions.
"A Pizza Hut, A Pizza Hut,
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut.
A Pizza Hut, A Pizza Hut,
Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut.
MCDONALDS, MCDONALDS,
KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND A PIZZA HUT..."
Our family all fell about laughing, along with Hunter and Harry, but the remainder of the table looked quite alarmed.
"That's nothing like the music you've shown me..." Rhianna said once we had all calmed down from laughing so much.
Watson laughed. "That's what we like to call a Cheeky Cheesy Classic, right mum?"
Watson's mum wiped a tear from her eye and nodded, still chuckling. "God, I've missed you." She sighed, smiling up at her daughter.
"I can see why you two got together." Steve, Watson's step dad, called up the table. "You're both as bad as each other."
"She failed to mention her step dad was an eagles fan, though." I called back
"Yeah, you guys got thrashed in the last game!" My dad chipped in, laughing mockingly.
"We put up a good fight though." Steve shrugged, flattening the creases in his Palace shirt.
"I'm sorry, what are they on about?" Natalia whispered to Watson.
"Football." Watson drawled, unimpressed. "It's a popular game on this Realm."
"What about Football's coming Home?" My dad called up the table.
Watson poked her tongue out at him and he laughed.
"I like her, Dazza." He told me.
I grinned, ecstatically, at Watson. She was giving my parents a great first impression and being accepted so easily by them. I was bursting with pride. She winked back at me, cheekily.
Just then the doorbell rang. Rebecca glanced at Micha and Oren suspiciously, before rising and looking slyly out of the window.
"Oh, Ruth. Sharon and Jennifer are here with another lady." She called over her shoulder.
"That will be my mum!" Hunter cried out and leaped out of his seat. "Dean and Hewitt said they would bring her over for me."
Watson and I got to our feet and made our way to the hall to greet them, Raquel following close behind.
"Hey!" Dean sang as Hunter opened the door for them, but her face fell when she saw how we were dressed. "Did I miss something? Were we meant to come dressed up?"
Watson laughed. "Just a little Realm Gathering. I'm sure you'll be welcome to join us, but we haven't finished eating yet."
I noticed they had several suitcases trailing behind them, and I pointed at them.
"Going on holiday or something?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow at Hewitt.
Hewitt bit her lip and came inside. "Well, actually..." She trailed off when she noticed someone behind me.
Rebecca came into the hall. "Evening, ladies. You alright there?" She asked, eyeing the suitcases too.
Dean took a deep breath and approached Rebecca, giving her a large brown bag.
"Thank you for the money, but we can't accept it." She said, apologetically.
"What?!" Hunter and Watson cried out together.
Dean looked back over her shoulder at them and smiled ruefully, before facing Rebecca again.
"Instead, we have decided to sell the cafe, and, if you'll allow it, join FREE like Hunter has."
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Watson squealed, leaping onto Hewitt and flattening her to the floor like Natalia and Raquel usually do.
Rebecca raised her eyebrows. "Really? What changed your mind? Was the money not enough?" She asked, looking at the bag but not taking it.
Hewitt got up off the floor and approached her. "Oh it was plenty. But when Watson gave it to us and we started talking about building a replica of Dean's Tavern from Ozryn, we realised we didn't have anything really holding us here any more. Yeah, we have Ashdown and Sawyer, Green and Perkins, Edwards and Ryder and the kids, that we will miss like crazy, but our family is no longer with us."
"Besides, Jarod asked if I wanted a job helping in the kitchens at FREE." Dean smirked, cheekily.
"Oh, did he now?" Rebecca shouted, looking round and casting a stern look at Jarod who grinned and waved back, innocently. She shook her head and looked back at the couple, before breaking into a smile. "If you feel you're ready for the challenge, I can't stop you from join-"
"OH THANK YOU!" Hewitt screamed, grabbing Rebecca and pulling her into a hug.
"Thank you so much!" Dean squeaked, hugging Watson.
I beamed at them. We were almost back to how things were in Astrovia. Plus, the food at FREE was about to get a hell of a lot better with Dean now in the kitchens.
"Was it their delicious food that swayed you, Rebecca?" Watson smirked at Rebecca.
Rebecca laughed. "See, Regina? I don't always stick to what I know!" Rebecca said, snidely at Regina who laughed back.
Dean and Hewitt blanched.
"Why is there more of you?" Dean hissed in amazement.
Watson rubbed the back of her neck, awkwardly. "Girls, meet Rosalie and Regina Moreno, they're-"
"MORENO?!" Both Dean and Hewitt cried out together, staring at Regina with thunderstruck expressions.
Regina laughed again and got up out of her seat. "Welcome. Please, come and join us. There's always room for more."
I noticed that Hunter was facing his mum but not speaking.
"Hunter? You alright?" I called out to him.
Hunter spun round and gave a sheepish smile, looking at his mum.
Hunter's mum wore a pale blue dress and she looked so much like Hunter had at the start of Astrovia. The blonde hair, pale blue eyes, weak and fragile frame, and looking shy and timid.
"Yeah, I-I was just explaining to mum what was happening tonight." He said, giving us a small, sad smile. "Everyone, this is my mum, Veronica."
Watson smiled at his mum. "Hi, I'm Ruth." She said in a friendly tone, holding out her hand, politely.
Hunter grimaced a little. "Uh, mum is actually deaf." He explained, looking slightly ashamed.
"Oh, is she?" Raquel gasped, and came forward to take his mums hands in hers.
Veronica gave her an apprehensive look before gasping and yanking her hands out of Raquel's grip.
"What did you do?" Hunter cried, putting an arm around his mum to calm her, as she was now crying.
"I only used your latch to say Relxa. I didn't mean to scare her." Raquel told him, looking horrified that she had upset her.
Dean and Hewitt put their arms around her, comfortingly, while we watched Hunter and Veronica talk in sign language with each other. Hunter's eyes were getting wider and wider.
"She actually heard you?" Hunter breathed in astonishment, slowly looking to Raquel.
Raquel hung her head, looking hurt that her welcome had gone wrong.
Hunter pulled Raquel out of Dean and Hewitt's grip and hugged her tightly.
"That's the first time she has heard someone else's voice since before I was born, babe." Hunter explained, his own eyes brimming with happy tears. "You just made her so happy, she got a little overwhelmed that's all. You haven't upset her."
Raquel pulled away, sniffing. "Really? I-I didn't make her sad?"
Hunter shook his head and took his mums hand, putting it in Raquel's. "Please try again." He urged her.
Veronica Hunter looked like she was eager to have another go, her eyes were almost slits because of how broad her smile had become.
Raquel tried again and Veronica let out a small sob that was almost a laugh. Raquel beamed at her, and threw her arms around her in a tight embrace.
"This is incredible." I gasped, looking at Dean and Hewitt, who nodded in agreement.
Raquel released Veronica but kept hold of her hand, and pulled her into the dining room to meet her parents. Hunter watched them go, desperately trying to stem the flow of tears.
I walked over and put an arm around his shoulder, patting him on the back.
"It's alright, mate. I think they like each other. Who could have asked for a better introduction between your mum and girlfriend, huh?"
Watson made a humming noise then, and abruptly went into the dining room along with Rebecca and Regina. I frowned as I watched them go, but noticed why they had suddenly marched back inside. The silver orb in between our two families was glowing again.