Chapter 64: Family of One
Gwen blazed into Center-Point Sector. She ran straight through downtown, too panicked to wait for traffic and too harried to apologize to passers-by.
She didn't stop until she reached Tony's Restaurant.
Exhausted, she ducked into a back alley and slumped beside a dumpster. The dumpster smelled as one would expect from an Italian pizzeria – rotted garlic, moldy basil, and whole lot of rancid mama mia!
But Gwen didn't mind: Tony's Restaurant sat in the heart of every Fantasian, including hers.
Tony's was the first place Gwen had met her Fantasian family after the crash landing six years ago.
She remembered it perfectly.
The Pan and Hawkins children had crashed into Fantasia. The flying long boat had splintered when it hit the ocean. Somehow they swam ashore. Somehow they survived.
But they were alone.
It had been cold. It had been wet.
But Gwen only started to cry when her baby brother, Peter Michaleen, had stopped breathing. She remembered cradling him as Jon Hawkins cradled her.
She didn't know what to do.
Then they were found. They were whisked to the hospital.
Gwen was separated from her baby brother. The doctors put him in an incubator that was "cozy and warm."
"Don't worry," they had said, "He's comfy in there. It's just like a little bird's nest. Oh you can look honey, but don't reach inside! He's too fragile to touch."
Then Gwen was separated from Melody and Jon. Both children were passed to their grandfather. "He is your mommy's daddy," the nurses had said.
Gwen never saw their grandfather. She only remembered Jon screaming for her as the medial staff ushered him away.
After that Gwen was alone.
But she was soon joined by two men: Chief Hiccup and King Arthur.
At the time, Gwen had no idea who they were, but if she had, she wouldn't have cared. She was so afraid. She was afraid that her baby brother was going to die. She was afraid that the shadows were still coming to get her.
She remembered crying. She remembered blubbering about the shadows.
King Arthur had wiped her tears. Chief Hiccup had taken her on his lap.
"I will protect you," he had promised, "The Darling bloodline is forever protected by mine. Trust me little one. My debt to your family is stronger than dragon steel."
Gwen had cried herself to sleep. She woke several times, then cried herself back to sleep, tears muffled in Chief Hiccup's lap.
Finally, she left the hospital.
King Arthur remained with Peter Michaleen.
But Chief Hiccup took her to Tony's Restaurant.
And just like that everything was better. Tony's Restaurant was a spaghetti-and-meatball wonderland. The restaurant was full of warm, comforting colors and savory, comforting smells. Gwen had been greeted by two dogs (their names were Lady and Tramp), and two Italians (their names were Tony and Joe).
"Set-a-here, little Gwendalina ." Tony had snapped his fingers. Like magic, Joe scurried from the kitchen with pepperoni pizza, almond biscottis, and nuttela hot chocolate.
Gwen ate it all. Then she had fallen asleep, snuggled between Lady and Tramp.
When she woke, six unfamiliar faces were smiling at her. Chief Hiccup introduced them as her Uncle John and Aunt Tigerlily, Uncle Michael and Aunt Lilo, and Uncle Pips and Aunt Crysta.
"This is your family," Chief Hiccup had said. "They'll take care of you until your parents get back."
The memory faded.
Gwen tilted her head against the dumpster. She stared at the sky. The sun was setting. Dusky rays bent into the brick alleyway, turning it pink.
Gwen looked down. Her shadow was pulling away from her, stretching with the light.
"Poppycock..." Gwen murmured, using an Uncle John word. Charily, she curled in her feet. "Don't be silly. It's just...just a shadow."
A neon sign suddenly lit the entryway of Tony's Restaurant. The light smattered shadows on the pavement.
Gwen closed her eyes. It was childish, but she wished it was night. Surrounded by the dark, she wouldn't cast a shadow.
Bzzz.Bzzz.Bzzz.
Gwen opened her eyes. Her phone was vibrating in her backpack, blowing up with messages from Ping.
Gwen grunted. Ping's messages cited all of her strengths and flaws.
Strengths and flaws: Yin and Yang: Balance and balance. Classic Fa Ping.
Gwen replied.
Gwen's thumbs hovered over the screen. Tentatively she finished the thought.
Gwen tapped send.
Then she pressed the phone against her leg, screen down. Ping responded immediately but it took several deep breaths before Gwen turned over her phone.
Gwen shook her head, suddenly afraid of Ping's afterthought. It was her father! It had to be! He was probably talking to Ping right now! Gwen grabbed her bag. Intent on stuffing her phone inside, she ripped open the zipper as Ping's message appeared.
Gwen frowned. MSJT? With a kissy face? What in the world was Ping talking about –
Oh.
Wait.
MSJT.
It was an acronym.
Master Sergeant Jak Triton.
"Ugh! Ping!" Gwen made several faces. All of that worry? All of that suspense? All so Ping could enjoy a little girl talk?
Cheeks red as her temper, Gwen typed a furious reply.
She didn't wait for his response. Bagging her phone, Gwen jogged irritably from the alleyway.
"Silly Ping," she muttered, phone vibrating through her bag. Ping had undoubtedly sent several pert texts, all of which included something about Jak Triton's crazzzzy-big pectorals.
Gwen scowled. For some reason, all the fanatic Jak fans (including Ping) really annoyed her.
"He's not even that impressive!" Gwen sped around a corner. "And this whole ordeal is his fault anyway! Jak mentioned my parents at the beginning of the race. He put them in my mind!"
The idea became more plausible as she said it out aloud.
"I didn't actually see my father," Gwen decided, "I only thought I did. Michaleen and I already have a proper family. My parents are gone."
Gwen slowed to a trot. She had reached her destination – a small medical plaza. The medical plaza was located behind the Fantasia Elementary School. Incidentally, many parents thought the set up was ideal, especially since the medical plaza overlooked the playground (where children frequently broke bones and lost teeth).
Gwen entered the building. She'd been here dozens of times and had memorized the route. Smoothing sweat from her hairline, she quietly listed the medical offices as she passed.
"P. Sherman Dentistry... Hundred Acre Wood Daycare...Dottie McStuffins Pediatric MD...and finally..."
Gwen reached a double wide glass door. One door was labeled Olympus Physical Therapy, while the other read Hercules PT, DPT. As she pulled the handle, Gwen smiled at a little somebody sitting on the opposite side of the frosted panes.
"Michaleen?" she slipped inside. "Are you finished with therapy?"
Michaleen looked up from his Avengers comic book.
"Gweny!" he squealed, arms open wide.
It had been a bitter day for Gwendolyn Pan, one full of painful family memories. It also didn't help that her existing family (Rufio) had been rooting for her loss.
But the instant Michaleen hugged her, Gwen knew that he was the only family she would ever need.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
sultal's note: Okay trying something new with the iphone pictures for text messages. Let me know if you can't read them or get the pictures, because I'm going to be using texting throughout the story (remember the gaurdians have phone too. Kinda pointless to have iphone for communication if they don't use them lol).
keep writing