A Dangerous Illusion (COMPLETE)

E P I L O G U E

'It won't ever get old, not in my soul

Not in my spirit, keep it alive

We'll go down this road

'Til it turns from color to black and white'

_-_

1 Year Later...

A lone yellow leaf fluttered gently in the wind before landing softly at the feet of a lone woman. She sat swinging in a wooden bench; bundled in blankets against the cold that spring brought.

Her brown eyes were focused on a small child who giggled in content at the sight of his uncle making silly faces. The man paused to glance up at her in momentarily before returning his attention back to that of his adored nephew.

"If I didn't know any better I'd think your brother is besotted with your son." A humoured voice chuckled.

The woman laughed slightly, not bothered by the sight of the elderly lady who had joined her on her bench. The garden was reclusive, surrounded by thick bushes that couldn't be penetrated by those of the curious neighbours.

Or the press.

"How's the trial going?" She asked wearily.

Abba sighed, placing her hand gently over Mayalika's, "It's been extended once again." She muttered grimly.

Maya's frown deepened at the news, her face aging slightly.

Five months ago, she had awoken in a hospital room distorted with her stomach once swollen now flat. She had been told her body had undergone too much stress her son had been born pre-maturely. Zhaire - named after her late grandfather - had been born three weeks early weighing in at 8 pounds.

She had missed out on three months of her child's life and for that Maya couldn't help but feel racked with guilt. She hadn't even been able to see him until she had been released from the hospital where she had been instructed to visit a physiotherapists - she had learnt to rely on a walking stick now.

It didn't help that when she had first awoken she had been told that King had been arrested on the charge of first degree murder; along with Quinn and Jazmin who were facing twenty years in prison.

It had taken her two weeks to finally contact King and when she had he had told her he thought it would be best if they cooled of their relationship. She had agreed with him wholeheartedly. Their relationship had been built off nothing but lies and that wasn't how he had wanted their relationship to progress any longer.

The two were still close friends as they continued to co-parent (along with the fact that Maya was currently raising his daughter Reign). Her grandmother had fell off the grid and his parents were too old to look after the toddler so the responsibility had fell on Mayalika's shoulder's though she handled it with grace.

She watched as Reign placed a tiara on top of her brothers head; handing Zhaire and Javion plastic tea cup as they both began to play tea party.

A weekly occurrence in their household.

Javion subtly rolled his eyes at the child - receiving a thump on his forehead as Reign glared at the older man.