The following letter finds its way to Colleen just before the holidays ...
Dearest Colleen,
I am not sure how to address this letter. You have so many titles, yet none of them seem to fit, where I am concerned. Shall I call you Mother, Aunt, Gran' We are not related by blood, and yet we are family. It is confusing at the best of times, but you know all this already.
I want you to know that after all my wanderings, I have at last found my heart's desire. His name is Emrys, and he is Lycan, like my birth-father. Words cannot express how much he means to me. It is like his soul called to me, and my heart answered. We are soul-bonded, promises made beneath the twin moons, with Selene's blessing. We are living in my birth-mother's old cottage in the woods near the Brambles, where we are homesteading. Would you believe we are raising pigs? I do not know why. I cannot bear to kill them. It is quiet and peaceful here, and no one bothers us much. That is a good thing.
I would like to say that I hope this letter finds you well, but I know better. No matter what happens, I ask that you remember how much you are loved by family and friends. I know sometimes it does not seem like enough, but you are never alone, so long as you have them. You have always been like a mother to me, or at least, you are the closest thing that I have to a mother.
I visited my foster mother some months ago, and I brought Duncan and Mara safely to Rhy'Din. It was the last time I tampered with time. I know it changed some things, but hopefully for the better. Some lives were saved, while others may have been forfeit, but I could not bear leaving things as they were.
I have searched long for my foster father, to no avail. I believe he returned to his home world on Earth, and I am content to leave things as they are. I am confident Kirin will be happy where she is. My only regret is that there is no way to visit, without disturbing the past. Once again, I must be content to leave it alone and hope things turn out as they should.
I would like to visit sometime. I would like for you to meet Emrys. I think you would like him. He briefly met Rhi and Gory last night at the ball, and I think he made a good impression. Like me, he has been alone for too long. He is something of a wild thing, and though I do not want to tame him completely, he has much to learn. I must admit, I am having fun teaching him.
He has a sister in Rhy'Din. Her name is Seren Lowell, and she has become a good friend. Her mate is Lycan, too. Emrys turned him some months ago to save his life. You might have heard of him. He is an actor with the Shanachie. His name is Dorian Hadley. We are going away for a few weeks after the holidays to attend their wedding.
So much has happened since we last spoke, too much to share in a letter. Emrys wants children. I do not wish to deny him, but the thought frightens me. I am of mixed blood, and I do not know what kind of offspring to expect. What should I do' Am I worrying too much' I have no answers. I think perhaps that is a topic for another time.
Some of my belongings are still at the brownstone. I find it difficult to live there. There are too many memories there for me now, but I also find I cannot let it go. Perhaps with your blessing, we will live there someday, Emrys and I and our children, and replace those memories with new ones.
Remember what I said. Family is not only measured by blood, but by the bonds of the heart. You are loved by many, and you will always have a place in my heart and my home, as mother and sister and friend. I will get in touch after the holidays, so that we can meet in person. Until then, remember you are always thought of with love and affection.
Marissa
Along with the letter was a small package, and inside the package was a musical globe with an inscription that read "A Mother's Love is Forever", which played "Wind Beneath My Wings". http://i63.tinypic.com/2qvh4ec.jpg
Dearest Colleen,
I am not sure how to address this letter. You have so many titles, yet none of them seem to fit, where I am concerned. Shall I call you Mother, Aunt, Gran' We are not related by blood, and yet we are family. It is confusing at the best of times, but you know all this already.
I want you to know that after all my wanderings, I have at last found my heart's desire. His name is Emrys, and he is Lycan, like my birth-father. Words cannot express how much he means to me. It is like his soul called to me, and my heart answered. We are soul-bonded, promises made beneath the twin moons, with Selene's blessing. We are living in my birth-mother's old cottage in the woods near the Brambles, where we are homesteading. Would you believe we are raising pigs? I do not know why. I cannot bear to kill them. It is quiet and peaceful here, and no one bothers us much. That is a good thing.
I would like to say that I hope this letter finds you well, but I know better. No matter what happens, I ask that you remember how much you are loved by family and friends. I know sometimes it does not seem like enough, but you are never alone, so long as you have them. You have always been like a mother to me, or at least, you are the closest thing that I have to a mother.
I visited my foster mother some months ago, and I brought Duncan and Mara safely to Rhy'Din. It was the last time I tampered with time. I know it changed some things, but hopefully for the better. Some lives were saved, while others may have been forfeit, but I could not bear leaving things as they were.
I have searched long for my foster father, to no avail. I believe he returned to his home world on Earth, and I am content to leave things as they are. I am confident Kirin will be happy where she is. My only regret is that there is no way to visit, without disturbing the past. Once again, I must be content to leave it alone and hope things turn out as they should.
I would like to visit sometime. I would like for you to meet Emrys. I think you would like him. He briefly met Rhi and Gory last night at the ball, and I think he made a good impression. Like me, he has been alone for too long. He is something of a wild thing, and though I do not want to tame him completely, he has much to learn. I must admit, I am having fun teaching him.
He has a sister in Rhy'Din. Her name is Seren Lowell, and she has become a good friend. Her mate is Lycan, too. Emrys turned him some months ago to save his life. You might have heard of him. He is an actor with the Shanachie. His name is Dorian Hadley. We are going away for a few weeks after the holidays to attend their wedding.
So much has happened since we last spoke, too much to share in a letter. Emrys wants children. I do not wish to deny him, but the thought frightens me. I am of mixed blood, and I do not know what kind of offspring to expect. What should I do' Am I worrying too much' I have no answers. I think perhaps that is a topic for another time.
Some of my belongings are still at the brownstone. I find it difficult to live there. There are too many memories there for me now, but I also find I cannot let it go. Perhaps with your blessing, we will live there someday, Emrys and I and our children, and replace those memories with new ones.
Remember what I said. Family is not only measured by blood, but by the bonds of the heart. You are loved by many, and you will always have a place in my heart and my home, as mother and sister and friend. I will get in touch after the holidays, so that we can meet in person. Until then, remember you are always thought of with love and affection.
Marissa
Along with the letter was a small package, and inside the package was a musical globe with an inscription that read "A Mother's Love is Forever", which played "Wind Beneath My Wings". http://i63.tinypic.com/2qvh4ec.jpg