Chapter Thirty-Seven: Jelly and Ice-Cream

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“That smug look on your face is really making me want to hit you.” Belle deadpanned as she sat under the tree next to Charlie, who was happily chowing down on barley sugar.

“Did I mention I got my sword back?” He grinned, popping another piece of barley sugar into his mouth.

“Only fifty times.” Belle groaned.

“Reckon you'll get the Lucky Seven back?”

“Charlie, I-,”

“BELLE! We're going out to see your Uncle Bill, can you take care of your brother and sister?” Peter called out from the front door.

“Sure Dad! I'll catch up with you later Chuckles.” Belle got up and headed back inside.

She was kind of glad to be away from Charlie. Sitting there with him had been like old times...only she wasn't the old Belle any more.

“Hey Belle-Belle, can I have some ice cream?” Oscar asked innocently as Belle sat down. Madeleine squealed.

“I ceem! I ceem!” She yelled.

“What did Mum and Dad say?” Belle asked.

Oscar looked downcast. “Not until after tea.” He mumbled.

“Are Mum and Dad here?”

“No...” Oscar started to grin.

Soon, the three were tucking into the container of ice cream.

“Belle, aren't Mum and Dad going to notice the ice cream is gone?” Oscar asked innocently as they finished it off.

Belle froze. The group quickly scrambled to the corner store to get a new container!

“Good thinking Ozzie.” Belle held the little boys hand as they walked down the street.

“My other Daddy says that I'm one smart cookie.” Oscar grinned.

“If you're a cookie does that mean I get to eat you up?” Belle chased him down the street and back up to the house. The pair quickly got inside and put the ice cream back in the freezer before putting Madeleine back in her chair and settling down to watch the television. It wasn't long before the three were singing along with the childrens shows.

–

“Keep filling up the bag and you'll increase your chances of survival by 30%.” Master Revolver grinned at the scared bank teller who was stuffing valuables as quickly as he could into the brown bag Master Revolver had handed him. “I'm in a foul, foul mood today thanks to-,”

“LEAVE THEM ALONE REVOLVER!” Sir Lionheart stood at the entrance of the bank with Chuckles, who was swinging the Lions Claw Blade around in his fingers.

“Just two of you today?” Master Revolver smirked. “What happened to the others? Wuss out?”

“None of your business.” Chuckles gripped the Lions Claw Blade in his hand. He looked at Master Revolver and noticed something. “Leave the Lucky Seven at home did you?”

Furious, Master Revolver grabbed his handgun and rushed at the pair, firing madly. The two heroes separated and hid, while Master Revolver stalked the room. He had his finger on the trigger of the gun, and Chuckles was beginning to worry. He really hadn't thought this through at all, he'd have to get up close if he wanted to attack, whereas Master Revolver could just shoot from any distance.

“What kind of numbskull takes a sword to a gunfight?” Chuckles groaned. He glanced out from behind the pillar he was behind. Master Revolver was still stalking the room, but it looked like the tellers and other innocents had managed to escape. He then looked across at Sir Lionheart.

“Escape?” Sir Lionheart mouthed.

Chuckles nodded furiously. They waited until Master Revolver was at the other end of the room and tried to make a break for it, but another gunshot rang out and they were forced to take cover again.

“Damn him!” Sir Lionheart hissed.

“Oh I am SO going to enjoy ending your lives.” Master Revolver stalked towards the pillar where the two heroes were hiding. “GAH!”

A small, sharp piece of metal embedded itself in Master Revolvers arm. A tall, lean figure dressed in a grey body suit with blades running along his arms and spine jumped down from the ceiling.

“Who IS that?!” Chuckles asked. The suit went up over the figures face and head, with goggles masking their eyes.

“ARGH! You!” Master Revolver ripped the blade out of his arm and threw it to the ground at the figures feet. The figure picked it up, shook the blood off and reattached it to the rest of the blades.

The sound of sirens started. Master Revolver scowled and stomped out of the building with his ill-gotten gains, while the three heroes bolted back towards the tip.

“Who ARE you?!” Chuckles turned to their new friend the moment they were well-hidden amongst the rubbish.

“Promise not to tell Maddy?” The figure asked.

“WEBSTER!” Chuckles cried. The figure unzipped the suit and pulled it away from his face to reveal Webster, who grinned.

“I thought you guys were still in Brisvegas?” Daniel asked, pulling off his Sir Lionheart armour.

“Maddy got a job here in Family Law, so we're in the process of moving. I saw you guys were down to one, so I thought I, Sir Hedgehog, could help.” Webster pointed to the small dark grey hedgehog figure on his chest.

“Maddy is going to eat you alive.” Charlie pointed out.

“Not really, I do night feeds with Tate.” Webster shrugged.

“Because that will totally save you.” Daniel rolled his eyes.

Charlie wrapped the Lions Claw Blade up in a clean length of cloth when he had a thought.

“Say Webster, you don't know how to use a gun do you?” He asked.

“Never touched one in my life. Why?” Webster replied, trying to peel off his suit.

Charlie told them about how he got the Lions Claw Blade back. Daniel frowned.

“There's someone else out there maybe?” He pondered. “Or maybe they're just screwing with us?”

“Who knows.” Charlie put the sword away.

–

“So how loud did Maddy yell?” Belle asked as she sat with Charlie in the strong new branches of the tree.

“I doubt he'll be able to have any more children.” Charlie laughed.

“Ah well. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission huh?” Belle grinned.

“BELLE! WHAT'S THIS I HEAR ABOUT A WHOLE TUB OF ICE CREAM BEFORE DINNER?!” The voice of Peter Masters roared throughout the street.

“How's that working for you?” Charlie roared with laughter, earning him a nice shove out of the tree.

“OWCH!”

Chapter Thirty-Six: YOINK

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“DARN IT Ruby!” Sir Lionheart groaned as he dodged another Ruby Blast. Since discovering the Ruby Suit, Daryl had managed to improve the skill set to include minor explosive Ruby Blasts and Ruby Whips, which could be used to grab victims while numbing them.

“Are you lot DONE yet?” Ruby turned to face Mobster Marion and three of her goons, who were busy destroying an old city memorial. Peter had warned the Knights of the Last Order that the memorial would be a target, as Mayor Jones wanted land for a shopping complex.

“We're taking our time to do things properly!” Mobster Marion snapped as another statue fell.

“It's DESTRUCTION, how “properly” can you do it?!” Ruby cried, throwing another Ruby Blast at Sir Hyper, who had gotten close enough to try and strike. Sir Hyper screamed as the Ruby Power charged up to his shoulder, numbing his entire arm.

“Sir Hyper!” Sir Lionheart tried to get to his fallen comrade, but it was too late. With a sickening pop, Ruby easily twisted around Sir Hypers elbow.

“Not another one!” Sir Lionheart groaned. That meant Sir Hyper, Sir Dark AND Lady Courage were out of commission!

“You're next Chickenheart!” Ruby grinned beneath the mask. Sir Lionheart quickly grabbed Sir Hyper and the pair bolted from the memorial, unable to save it.

“Damn, damn, DAMN!” Sir Lionheart groaned. He did his best to drag Sir Hyper away from the area as quickly as he could – when Sir Dark had his ankle broken, Master Revolver and twenty of the Death Valley Mobsters had chased them around the city. Lady Luck was still fuming over the fact that her beloved had been injured.

“I'm sorry Sammy.” Sir Lionheart climbed down one of the broken storm drains which led to the tip. Sir Hyper was following slowly, hissing with the pain in his elbow.

“I'll live.” Sir Hyper replied. Now nineteen, the small boy had become an imposing man. He was still pretty hyperactive and fun though, especially with children. He was going through University himself now, hoping to become a teacher. His theory was that while Belle could try and change minds that were already set, he could help mould the minds that were still flexible.

“If only we had Chuckles and Giggles again.” He sighed as the pair emerged from a large pipe that emptied near the tip. Sir Lionheart shook his head.

“I know Charlie's still keen, but I don't see Belle getting involved again.” The older man sighed. “Let's get your arm fixed. Petunia's gonna kill us.”

“I think the jerk just dislocated my elbow.” Sir Hyper looked at his arm. With a little wiggle and a “pop”, the arm looked normal again, if not a little swollen.

“Oh thank goodness for that.” Daniel pulled off his helmet. “A bit of ice on that and you'll be good in a week. We're running out of combatants.”

“Surely TJ should be fine soon.” Sam got back into his civilian attire.

“I'd still like for him to rest for another week or so until he's 100% fit. He could get killed otherwise.” Daniel replied.

“SAM! DAN!” A raspy female voice called out. Lady Silent (or Not-So-Silent-Any-More as Sir Dark calls her) ran towards them, jumping up and hugging her brother tightly. “You guys were on the news, I saw your arm, what happened Sam?”

“It was dislocated, but I popped it back in. Chill out Tammy, I'm fine.” Sam patted her head, wincing at the pain that was still in his arm.

“It looks like it's sore.” Tammy pointed out.

“Are you going to be annoying all the way home?” Sam frowned at her as the trio headed towards Sams car.

“I'm your big sister.”

“By fifteen minutes!”

“Still your big sister.”

Daniel couldn't help but sit in the back seat chuckling all the way home.

–

Belle walked out of the court room, fuming. It seemed that the Death Valley Mobsters weren't the only crooks in town, and she was beginning to regret all the times she saved the Pleasantville First Bank as Giggles. The way they treated people and they were allowed to get away with it?!

“Does this city THRIVE on corruption or something?!” She wondered out aloud.

“It's an alternate way to do business one might say.”

Belles head shot up to see Mr. Jones smiling triumphantly at her.

“You're just like your father.” He chuckled. “Neither you, nor him, nor the Knights of the Last Order can change this city. It's the place where so called “trustworthy” businesses come to make a dirty profit. That's what keeps us going.”

“Leave me alone.” Belle growled at the Mayor, stalking off.

“You're fighting a losing battle, why not join the winning team?” Mr. Jones called after her. Belle ignored him and quickened her pace. What a SLIMEBALL!

She got into the slowly dying old Elantra and headed home. One day she'd have to buy herself a new car.

“Now I understand why you got so mad Dad.” She said later, sitting at the table at home nursing a hot chocolate. “It's infuriating, the way that people get away with murder in this city.”

“You're fighting a long ingrained state of mind Beauty.” Peter replied, standing at the sink and peeling potatoes. “This was SO much easier when Bill lived here.” He grumbled.

“It wasn't a total waste of a day though.” Belle mentioned.

“Oh?” Peter looked up at her.

“You see, I stopped at the petrol station to get more fuel and-,”

Belle was cut off by Lara returning home with Madeleine and Oscar. Oscar burst into the house waving around a red ribbon.

“I won the race! I won the race!” He cried, running laps between Peter and Belle. “We had the sports carnival today and I won the race!”

“Well done!” Peter lifted his step-son up in a big bear hug.

“Have you finished those potatoes yet?” Lara narrowed her eyes at Peter, who started peeling as if his life depended on it (which it did).

“Hey little man!” Belle high-fived Oscar before pulling him into her lap.

“I ran really, really, REALLY fast Belle! Zoom!” Oscar started giving a detailed description of how he completely obliterated his competition (to be honest, he only JUST barely won, but we won't take his victory away from him).

“Did you see the Pleasantville Memorial got flattened?” Lara said quietly to Peter.

Peter grimaced. Joe Masters had a plaque there due to his actions against Johannas.

“I can't take much more of this.” He threw down the last potato and the peeler, frustrated.

Belle looked at her father, and then back at Oscar, who was still jumping around with excitement. She tried not to think of the future the poor boy faced.

–

Crickets chirped loudly at the tip that night, where again Charlie was having a late-night training session. Although tonight wasn't so much training as it was stargazing. And not so much stargazing as it was being lost in his own thoughts.

He'd seen the news that day. He'd seen Sir Hyper get injured. He knew Sunny still had a cast on her arm and that TJ had just gotten out of his moon-boot. Daniel was the only combatant of the Knights of the Last Order left who could still fight.

The bad guys were winning.

He sat up. It wasn't fair. He had to do something! But without Belle and the Improbability Clause he was little more than cannon fodder.

You managed to do okay before Giggles came on the scene. Remember how you won the Lions Claw Blade?

He shook the thought off. That had been with the help of Sir Lionheart and Sir Dark.

You should go and get your sword back. It's not like you need Giggles to help you.

He sighed. He didn't even know where Mobster Marion was. Probably antagonising some innocent civilian.

He got up and stretched. Probably should go for a walk, lying down with the Arm Scythes on usually ended in stiffness. He pulled on his masks and headed back towards the city on the back of the midnight bus.

He savoured the bus ride every night, because that's when he was Chuckles again, even if he wasn't fighting crime. He jumped off the bus near the Pleasantville Central Park and headed into the scented garden. It was peaceful here, the lingering smell of the flowers hanging in the air.

WAS peaceful.

“I can't believe the NERVE of that man! Yelling at me as if I were one of the grunts!” Chuckles heard the distinguishable voice of Mobster Marion ranting. “I don't care what he lost, he has no right to speak to his fiancé like that!”

“Had a domestic with Revolver did you?” Chuckles jumped out from behind a bush.

“Humph. What do you care?” Mobster Marion growled.

“Hey, we've all had relationship problems before. Maybe it will help to talk about it?” Chuckles threw up his hands in defence. “You're not breaking any laws right now so I'm not going to beat you up.”

“I can change that!” Mobster Marion grinned, pulling out the Lions Claw Blade and slicing down one of the bushes.

“HEY! Not cool!” Chuckles cried.

“I'll just take my frustrations out on you shall I?” Mobster Marion laughed, swinging the Lions Claw Blade at Chuckles, who jumped back.

“I was only trying to help!” Chuckles yelped indignantly. “No wonder Revolver yells at you, you're a COW!”

“And proud of it brat!” Mobster Marion moved to advance again, when a gunshot rang out and a bullet landed just in front of her.

“The HECK?!” Chuckles spun around, looking for the source of the bullet. Nothing but silence and empty darkness surrounded him.

“Ooooh, you're going to get it -ARGH!” Mobster Marion moved to attack again, but was stopped by another bullet. In her fright, the Lions Claw Blade fell to the ground.

Chuckles saw his chance. He swung at Mobster Marion with one of the Arm Scythes, forcing her back. She kicked at her sword, sending it towards one of the bushes.

It would be a foot race to see who would get there first, and Chuckles had a sharp advantage. He swung at Mobster Marion again, forcing her backwards before taking off towards the fallen Blade himself.

“Get back here!” Unfortunately Mobster Marion still had speed on her side. She went to make a grab at Chuckles when the third bullet nicked her finger. She screamed in pain and fright as Chuckles rolled into the bushes and took back his sword.

He bolted as fast as he could back to the tip, making sure that Mobster Marion nor none of her henchmen were following him.

“I GOT MY SWORD BACK!”  

Chapter Thirty-Five: Together Again

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The first thing she noticed was the tree. Another year or so and it'd be back to its former glory, ready for the next generation to play in. The second thing she noticed was Sunny out the front of her house with a two-year-old, a broken arm and a man Belle had never met before. So it looked like she wasn't back with Charlie after all.

“Things have changed a little bit Beauty.” Peter helped Belle get her trunk out of the car as a young man of six ran out to hug her.

“Hey Ozzie!” Belle lifted up her younger step-brother. “You're getting big now mate, you're almost as tall as me!”

“I missed you Belle!” Oscar hugged her tightly. Hand-in-hand, the siblings headed inside where Lara was feeding baby Madeleine Masters. Peter set down the bags and kissed his wife.

“Who's the guy with Sunny? Is that her baby?” Belle asked, setting down her bag and sitting down. Oscar scrambled into her lap.

“That's her boyfriend Patrick and their daughter Melody.” Peter replied.

“What happened to her arm?” Belle asked. Peter looked uncomfortable.

“Ruby Daryl.” He replied.

“Ruby Daryl? What the -?” Belle looked confused.

“Maybe it's best if you ask Sunny. She's currently trying to break down the door.” Lara pointed to the front door. Out of the window, Belle could see Sunny waving and knocking furiously.

“SUNNY!” Belle ripped open the door. The two friends hugged each other tightly. “You're a Mum now?”

“Yup. Myself and Patrick have a little girl now.” Sunny grinned.

“So, you finally found yourself someone of your own?” Belle smiled.

“Sure did! Patrick, get in here and say hi to Belle!” Sunny called to her beloved Patrick. “Bring Melody too!”

“How on earth did your parents react to you having a baby?!” Belle asked as the group sat down at the Masters table.

Sunny looked downcast. “Things got pretty bad once Chuckles and Giggles left. Demon is now the Mayor – it turns out he was my own father!”

“Demon is your father?!” Belle yelped.

“Yeah. Dad got really pissed off after you and Charlie came into my place that time to stop Daryl from picking on me. So he decided to become Demon and do whatever he could to get rid of you. Now he's Mayor...and he's become far too power-mad. Especially once he found out that it was Daryl who found your Ruby Suit. Daryl is now Dad's private enforcer, which is how I got my arm broken.” Sunny sighed. “He was also pretty ticked off when I got pregnant, but Mum talked him into signing the old house over to me when they moved into their new mansion.”

“Wow. What about the DVM?” Belle asked.

“They're unstoppable. Last time we managed to get Revolver arrested he only got community service.” Peter said bitterly. “Three whole weeks of it, and he hasn't done one second.”

“Wow. This place really has gone to the dogs.” Belle looked down.

“Plus Jones has had a huge crackdown on vigilantism. Thankfully he has no idea Sunny's with the Knights or we'd be in huge trouble.” Patrick added.

“How did you two meet anyway?” Belle asked.

Sunny smiled.

“I was doing some online courses and ended up at the Library a fair bit. Patrick was also studying and well, here we are.” Sunny rested her head on Patrick, who kissed her nose. “Have you been to see Charlie yet? He misses you.”

“So I've heard.” Belle sighed.

“Just go over there and say hi Belle-Belle, it's not that hard.” Sunny poked her friend in the arm, hard.

“Easy for you to say.” Belle rubbed her arm with a quick dirty look at Sunny, who poked her tongue out.

–

“Hi Betty, hi Thomas!” Belle hugged Charlies parents as she walked into the familiar lounge room.

“Well I don't believe it! Is this the same little girl who once helped me make biscuits?” Betty squeezed Belle tightly.

“Little is correct.” Thomas laughed as Belle scowled at him. She was STILL impossibly tiny for her age.

“Don't be mean!” Betty chided. Belle smiled at the pair of them.

“How have you guys been?” She made herself comfortable on the couch.

“Getting by. It helps that Charlie came home and took over the family business.” Thomas sat on one of the chairs opposite her.

Belle felt a twinge of guilt. She remembered how she'd planned with Charlie to do a business degree together.

“He learnt a lot about metal working while he was in Awesomica. They do things differently over there, and Charlie brought back a lot of new ideas.” Thomas continued.

“It's so good to have the two of you home again.” Betty smiled.

“Speaking of, where is Charlie?” Belle asked, figuring it was better to get this over and done with.

“He's at work at the-,” Betty started, when the front door opened and a loud, clear, familiar voice called out.

“MUM! DAD! I'm home!”

Belle jumped a little. Charlie barrelled into the lounge room and stopped dead in his tracks.

He wasn't too much taller, but enough so that he towered over Belle. His shoulders had filled out even more and he had the beginnings of a beard. He was now a complete tank, and Belle, who was still shorter than most thirteen year olds, felt pathetically tiny.

“Hi.” Charlie mumbled, completely unsure of where to look. Belle looked almost exactly as she had four years ago, perhaps looking a little bit more like her father. He noted that she was still incredibly short, he'd have to pick on her later...if they were still friends.

“Hi.” Belle tried to smile back.

Silence.

“I'm going to get dinner ready, Pete and Lara will be over soon.” Betty suddenly got up.

“I need to prune the roses.” Thomas also exited.

More silence. The atmosphere was heavy enough to sink a ship, and it couldn't get any more awkward if they tried.

“So...how was Brisvegas?” Charlie asked.

“Good. How was Awesomica?” Belle asked.

“Good.”

Crickets.

“How's the business?”

“Good. How was University?”

“Good.”

Another long, awkward pause.

–

Belle lay on her bed, looking out of her window at the leaves gently swaying outside. Dinner hadn't been that bad, but she still hadn't been able to really talk to Charlie. Every time either one of them tried (and everyone was giving them every opportunity to have a private heart-to-heart!) it just ended in awkward silence.

Her old bed felt great. The familiarity of her old room felt safe and inviting. She didn't know how she'd managed to stay away for so long, Charlie or no Charlie. The only thing that made her uncomfortable was the helmet.

Belle had shoved the thing into her wardrobe and closed the door, but she could still sense it. It was like Giggles was staring at her, trying to get to her.

“I'm not Giggles any more. I need to be a lawyer now, the fight on the streets isn't my problem, I'm fighting higher up.” She tried to tell herself.

Meanwhile, Charlie had slipped out and was training himself with the Arm Scythes at the tip. He wasn't ready to go back out and rejoin the Knights of the Last Order with their fight against the corrupt system, but the urge to put his blades back on and swing away was overwhelming.

“Looks like you're having fun.”

Charlie spun around. Sunny stood behind him, nursing her sore arm.

“What are you doing here?” Charlie asked.

“Watching you. How long have you been coming down here?” She sat down, looking up at him.

“Ever since I got back.” He admitted.

Sunny sighed.

“I've been trying to think of what to say to you, after everything that happened. I missed you awfully after you left.” She said.

“There's no need to say anything. We were both young and stupid.” Charlie sat down next to her. “I missed you too, and to be honest I'm a little jealous of Patrick.”

Sunny smiled. “I figured you would be. You will always be my first love though, so you have that.”

Charlie smiled too.

“It's a shame you can't say that I'm your first love.” Sunny hinted cheekily.

“You are!” Charlie was confused.

“Oh please. Belle has always been and always will be your one and only.” Sunny laughed.

“Belle and I were best friends. Nothing more.” Charlie defended himself.

“Of course. My apologies, I must have misread the situation.” Sunny apologised, not sounding the least bit sincere.

“You did. Now, I'm training if you don't mind.” Charlie got up. Sunny got up too. She touched his face and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. There was a hint of sadness and regret in the action, and both of them felt it. However, the smile on Sunnys face when she left was genuine, and Charlie knew she was happy with Patrick and Melody.

Chapter Thirty-Four: Since I Lost You

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“I am SO proud of you!” Peter hugged Belle tightly.

“Pa would have been proud.” Bill ruffled her hair.

Belle looked up to the sky with tears in her eyes. After four years of hard study, she'd finally gotten her Law degree.

“You'll be coming home with us?” Bill asked as they walked away from the ceremony together.

“I'm thinking I might stay in Brisvegas. Webster and Maddy are happy for me to stay as long as I need to.” Belle replied, not looking at her uncle.

“You should come back to Pleasantville.” Bill insisted. “Charlie came back a few months ago, he misses you.”

“That's nice.” Belle stiffened. She didn't want to think about him. Not after what had happened.

Peter smiled secretively.

“Beauty should only come home when she's ready.” He said with an air of superiority.

“Stop talking like you know some great secret and we don't.” Bill said dryly.

“Jealous, brat?”

“Get over yourself pipsqueak.”

“I love you two.” Belle grabbed them both in a big hug.

“We love you too.” Peter looked at Bill, and the pair grinned at each other.

–

“Webster! Tate needs a bath!” Maddy called upstairs to her husband as the little toddler sat with an empty bowl of cake mix, trying to lick the last morsels out and instead getting them all over herself.

“You are SO adorable!” Belle picked the gurgling little girl up as Webster made his way downstairs.

“Come one Mess-Monster, time you got cleaned up!” Webster took his daughter who squealed with delight as her father lifted her up and took her to the bath.

“You guys are so awesome. I hope I have a family like yours one day.” Belle sat at the table and peeled potatoes while Maddy worked around the kitchen.

“Webster's so wonderful.” Maddy gushed. “And when Tate was born, it just completed us.”

Belle continued peeling vegetables. “Are you guys planning on having any more?”

“Nah. One will do us, and she wasn't really planned.” Maddy replied. “We're actually thinking of heading back to Pleasantville.”

“Oh...” Belle said after a pause.

“We want to help your Dad. Plus you need to go back and try to make up with Charlie.” Maddy continued.

Belle squirmed uncomfortably. Fortunately there was a loud banging and a splash from upstairs followed by laughter.

“You two!” Maddy ran upstairs, leaving Belle alone with her thoughts.

–

Belle was getting ready for bed that night. It had been a week since her graduation, and she was enjoying her little holiday.

She brushed her teeth and pulled on her nightclothes. It was a warm, beautiful night that nothing except the nagging thoughts of Charlie and Pleasantville could ruin.

Belle groaned, and threw herself onto the bed. She couldn't escape the fact that he was back in the country or that she had no reason to stay in Brisvegas. Wasn't the whole point of her education to save Pleasantville anyway? How could she do that if she avoided the city?

The problem was Charlie. He wouldn't be the same boy she left behind. He'd been overseas for nearly four years. He was older, more experienced. Would he hook back up with Sunny again? Would they be able to repair their friendship? Or were the wounds too deep?

Tossing and turning wasn't getting her anywhere, so Belle got up, grabbed a dressing gown and headed out to the back deck, where she found Webster gazing out over the city.

“Can't sleep?” He asked as Belle sat on the chair on the other side of the deck.

“Nope. Still thinking about Charlie and Pleasantville.” Belle sighed. “You?”

“Thinking of Tate.” Webster shuffled in his seat. “It's been years but I miss her so much.”

“She tried to kill us and completely destroyed a University.” Belle narrowed her eyes at him.

“You don't understand Belle. Tater was a good person, I swear.” Webster protested as Belle snorted. “She WAS! Did you see her Will? That business empire that she created is now funding cancer research and supporting our Defence force.”

“Wow.” Belle deadpanned.

“You didn't know her.” Webster continued. “She meant the world to me. We met at school when we had to do a science project together. It was our last year and neither of us had any idea what we were going to do. We started hanging out, I found out that her birthday was the day after mine. She was always telling me that I was special, that I would do something great in life.” Tears were beginning to form in his eyes, but he blinked them back. “I lost my twin sister when we were four, and since that day I'd felt like part of me was missing. Tater filled that void, she was my sister in every sense of the word. Everyone told me to stay away from Tater because she was crazy, but no one told me of the big heart she had.”

“Yeah, a big heart doesn't negate the fact that she was completely psycho.” Belle shook her head.

“She was getting help. I helped her get to a psychologist. She was getting better. Then I moved and everything went wrong.” Webster looked away.

“I knew she was in love with me, but I could never love her that way. That's why I left Brisvegas. I couldn't bear to break her heart so I ran.”

“Doesn't change what she did.” Belle rolled her eyes. “Let her go Webster, she was psycho who needed to be put in an institution and left to rot.”

“She WASN'T Belle! When she got help she was fine! Haven't you seen the business empire she put together, all the people she helped out, all the good that she's done? If I hadn't run away things might have been different...”

“You can't blame yourself.” Belle said.

“You're blaming yourself for what happened with Charlie. You're thinking right now what could have happened if you hadn't left for Brisvegas.” Webster pointed out. “You're going over and over again in your head why you couldn't have just sucked it up and accepted his relationship with Sunny instead of hiding in your studies.”

“I had to study!” Belle retorted.

“You say that, but you don't believe it.” Webster smiled. “You need to go home Belle, if you don't you'll lose Charlie. Not saying he'll off himself like Tater did, but you'll still lose him.”

Belle sat silently. She COULD have taken the relationship better. She could have tried instead of making excuses.

Maybe she did need to go home.

“I might have loved her, you know, if she'd stayed in Brisvegas and continued her business.” Webster said quietly. “I love Maddy, and I'll stay with her forever, but if Tater were still around...”

“She'd make a great aunt to baby Tate.” Belle tried to smile. Webster smiled back.

“Do you think she knows?” Webster looked up at the stars. “Do you think she's watching over us?”

“I wouldn't be surprised if she was.” Belle grinned.

–

“So you're going home?” Maddy asked with a smile over breakfast the next morning.

“Yeah, it's about time I got back to Pleasantville. I can't hide forever.” Belle shovelled down her bacon and eggs (as good as Maddy is, she couldn't quite compare to Bill).

“We'll probably be a few months behind you. Both of us are looking for work, and Betty Begly has offered to babysit Tate for us.” Webster tried to scoop food into his daughters mouth, and was rewarded with it all over his face and shirt. “Thanks brat.”

“I'm heading out this afternoon, I should be at Dads place before dinnertime.” Belle said. “I've packed most of my things already.”

“We'll drive you to the Bus Interchange if you like.” Webster offered.

“Thanks.” Belle smiled.

She headed upstairs to finish packing. All she needed to do was get the last few clothes in her suitcase and try to stuff the last of her books into another suitcase.

Afterwards, she carefully started packing her last few photos, laptop and other trinkets into her bag. She was putting photos into a box when she saw an old newspaper clipping.

Belle smiled. If you really looked hard (or at least Belle thought) you could almost see the outline of the Lucky Seven Gun in her shorts as she walked out of that doomed Assembly Hall on the fateful day that changed everything.

The pair of them together, with the friends they wouldn't meet until years later, that had been their first mission. Their first win. Belles smile faded however, when in the background of the picture she noticed Sunny, glaring at Belle and Charlie, face full of jealousy.

Hopefully she could fix things up with Sunny too. She couldn't help the pang of hurt and regret mixed with jealousy she felt when she thought of Charlie and Sunny together again, but she vowed to be more mature about it. If Charlie wanted to go to the movies with her every day, then she'd do it.

She finished packing and had one last look at the room that had been hers for the last four years. It was a little bit sad to say good-bye, but it was time to move on.

Belle Masters was going home.