Fan Fiction / Zoids Fan Fiction ❯ Unforgettable ❯ secrets ( Chapter 23 )

Van's eyes opened the next morning and saw Fiona still fast asleep right next to him with a contented sigh on her face. “My future bride,” he said brushing a few strands of hair out of Fiona's face.

 

He looked towards the clock and knew he had to get going if he was planning on picking up his parents at the airport on time. “I think I'll just let you sleep. You're in for a big surprise later,' he said kissing her forehead before he carefully untangled himself from her and got dressed quickly.

 

He snuck out of the house and got in his car and drove away silently. He was sure that Fiona didn't wake up yet. `I must've really worn her out yesterday,' he thought with a grin remembering all that happened yesterday.

 

Van remembered the tape they watched at the end of the day. “There's something about that tape that doesn't make much sense,” Van muttered to himself remembering Fiona's father mentioning something about a decision he had to make. “What decision did he make?” he asked himself knowing it had something to do with Fiona.

 

“He seemed to be really stressed about something but I don't think it was solely about the fight he had. What happened back then to cause it?” he couldn't help but ask himself. Unfortunately he couldn't think of an answer. “Guess we'll just have to wait for the other tapes,” Van muttered to himself.

 

There was one thing that he knew almost for certain but he decided not to bring it up. “Why would you hide something like that?” Van asked no one in particular. Someone that he'd make sure to have a talk with later.

 

Van pulled up to the airport a half an hour later and parked the car. He stepped out and walked inside where it was already really busy. It was really hard for him to squeeze through the crowds that were forming even though it was still early in the morning.

 

Van gave a sigh of relief as he squeezed through to the right gate and took a seat as plane after plane came down. He knew he'd have to wait a few more minutes since the plane was delayed a bit according to the monitors showing the departure and arrival times.

 

About fifteen minutes later, Van finally saw the plane land and come up to the gate. “Finally,” he muttered with a yawn. Sure it hadn't been that long of a delay but he still had to wake up relatively early to get there.

 

The plane came to a stop and Van waited patiently as the door opened and people started to file out in a neat and orderly fashion, or at least they would've if it hadn't been for a kid running out of it really excited.

 

“Uncle Van!” The kid yelled happily running up to his uncle. “You're not together with dragon lady, YAY!” he said excitedly as he was picked up and placed on Van's shoulders.

 

“Michael don't run off like that!” Maria scolded as she walked out calmly and walked over to Van. “Hello Van. Things definitely seem to be getting better for you,” she said giving him a quick hug. “Fiona's not here?” she asked looking around expecting Fiona to appear any moment.

 

“No, she's at home resting. She had a busy day yesterday and deserves the rest,” he said deciding to leave out any detail. Yet the look on Maria's face seemed to give him the feeling that she knew what that busy day was.

 

Van's parents came out a few moments later and seemed to be having a little argument but nothing really bad. They stopped it as soon as they saw Van and smiled. His mother rushed over and gave him a big hug. She then noticed the same thing as Maria. “Where's Fiona?”

 

Van laughed and gave the same explanation that he gave to Maria. Somehow he got the same feeling as he did with Maria in that she probably guessed what he meant. “Let's get your things and go. Fiona will probably be up by the time we get back,” he said leading them towards the baggage claim.

 

Van put his nephew on the ground and he ran up to his mother and took a hold of her hand while Van fell a little bit back so that he was walking next to his father. “Fiona will be excited to see you,” he said since their reason for coming out was Fiona's seriously injured state.

 

“That's always good to know,” Dan said with a smile. “I have a feeling that's not why you brought her up though. Something on your mind?” he asked looking towards his son with a smile.

 

Van looked towards his father with a piercing expression. “Tell me something, did you know Fiona's father?” Van asked and watched as his father suddenly stopped walking. He even seemed a little stunned that his son asked him this. “I thought so,” Van said as the two of them continued walking.

 

Dan sighed and walked on until they came to the baggage claim. “Found that out from the one tape did you?” Dan asked since he didn't think that Van would be able to figure it out as quickly as that

 

“I thought it was weird when I heard your voice and then saw Maria there. I've seen pictures so I knew it was her,” Van said with a smile. “How come you never mentioned it to either of us?” Van asked giving a questioning look to his father.

 

“He made us promise not to tell her that. He wanted it so that if anything happened to him that Fiona would live with Claire. He wanted us to keep an eye on her as well. Just to make sure that Claire didn't drive her nuts,” he said with a chuckle. “Karin, me, George, and a few others were the best of friends when we were younger,” he said smiling at some fond memories of his.

 

“I see,” Van said taking it all in. It was really strange to hear all of this had happened and he didn't know anything about it. “What were the two of them arguing about in the tape?” Van asked grabbing a bag as it came to them.

 

Dan grabbed some as well and stood next to Van glad that he could finally reveal a few things that he knew. “Fiona,” was his simple reply but it was pretty obvious that he was holding quite a bit back.

 

Van rolled his eyes at his answer. “We figured as much right from when we first heard the argument. I know there's more to it so spill!” Van said sternly as he watched his father very carefully. All this about Fiona's father was really getting him interested in his future wife's past.

 

Dan just smiled as he picked up the last of their bags. “Claire didn't want any children, simple as that. George said that when Fiona was born that he'd be leaving and taking Fiona with him,” Dan explained before he went silent and left the airport with the rest of the family.

 

Van figured that he had a decent understanding of things for now and that his father was being vague with things for a reason. There was something big that he was hiding and Van just knew that he was never going to actually say what it is.

 

*****

 

Fiona yawned as she rolled over in bed but felt that it was empty where Van should've been. “Van?” she asked as she rubbed her eyes and sat up. He was nowhere to be seen and she couldn't hear anything else in the house.

 

Fiona got out of bed and took a look around but she didn't see Van anywhere. “Where is he?” Fiona asked herself as she headed back to their room and took a quick shower and then threw on some clean clothes.

 

Fiona walked into the kitchen and decided to make something to eat while she waited for Van to return. She didn't even get started when she heard the sound of the doorbell being rung rapidly.

 

Fiona sighed and walked to the door and opened it. She then felt something wrap around her legs tightly which caused her to stumble a little. She looked down and was surprised to see that it was none other than Van's and her soon to be nephew. “Michael?” she asked questioningly as she kneeled down before him.

 

Michael beamed up at Fiona and nodded his head. “Auntie Fiona!” he said happily as he hugged her leg tightly. He definitely liked her a lot better than Tiffany. She was actually kind to him.

 

“Why are you here?” she asked looking up as Van and the rest of them approached. “Oh my! I didn't know all of you were coming over,” Fiona said happily as she hugged Van's parents and sister. It was always nice to see them since they were like family to her.

 

Fiona seemed to understand why Van wanted to keep it a secret the night before. Instead of just telling Irvine and Moonbay, he wanted to be able to tell everyone all at once. `That must mean that he knew they were coming over,' giving a light glare at Van but he just grinned at her. “Why didn't you tell me Van?”

 

Van just grinned and kissed her forehead. “Because I wanted it to be a surprise,” he said before walking past her. “They're going to be staying here for the trial because they want to be there for you as well. They're just here for a short visit and then they'll come back later. I'm sure they'll stay for a little longer when they hear of our plans,” he whispered into her ear with a grin.

 

Fiona smiled at the thought. Having Van's family around would be the best way to help her get over the thought of having to face Ethan. “So we're having another get together tonight with you family as well as Irvine and Moonbay I take it,” she said and he just nodded his head.

 

“Yep,” he said with a grin as he took her hand and led her and everyone else inside. He grinned and leaned over and whispered something in her ear. “One big announcement that I'm sure they won't forget,” he said before kissing her cheek and straightened up.

 

Fiona smiled as she fingered the ring which was still attached to the necklace hidden under her shirt. She forgot to take it off of the necklace so it was still stuck there even now. She was happy that she'd get to tell everyone about it that night.

 

“If you're tired, the guest rooms are ready,” Fiona said and everyone nodded and walked in that direction. That is everyone except Van, his father, and her. “Don't you want to rest? You must've had to get up pretty early to make it here this early,” Fiona said looking at him curiously.

 

“I'm fine for now but thank you Fiona. Actually there's something I'd like to talk to you about. That is if Van hasn't already mentioned it,” he said looking towards Van and saw Van just shake his head no. “Van figured it out from the tape you saw that I knew your father Fiona,” he explained and he saw her eyes widen in surprise.

 

The three of them walked over and took a seat on the couch. “So you were friends with my father?” Fiona asked trying to get everything straightened out. This was really big news to her. When she saw him nod his head she grew more confused. “Why didn't you ever tell me about this?”

 

“I never really did know how the mind of your father worked. He just told us that he didn't want you to know. But he wanted us to keep an eye on you should anything ever happen to him,” Dan explained looking like he was really eager to get some of this off his chest.

 

It made sense to Fiona now how they took such a quick liking to her when they first met despite their resentment of her mother. Fiona giggled a bit. “I sometimes couldn't figure out what he was thinking as well,” she said with a small laugh again. Her father obviously didn't change much from when Dan knew him.

 

Dan, in reality, knew exactly why George Lynette didn't want them to mention it to Fiona. Fiona would get curious and start asking too many questions about her father which would eventually lead her to find out stuff she wouldn't be ready to understand.

 

Fiona had one other question that she hoped to have answered. “If you knew him so well, do you know why he married my mother in the first place?” she asked looking at him. She just couldn't see what her father could've seen in her mother.

 

Dan's mouth seemed to be opening and closing like that of a fish. He was really doing a lot of thinking about that question. He then laughed and scratched the back of his head. “To tell you the truth, I have absolutely no idea why he married Claire in the first place. Karin and me thought it was the biggest screw-up of his life,” he said with a laugh that seemed to be reminiscent of Van when he was nervous about something.

 

“George never told us of his reasoning for marrying Claire,” Karin said walking into the room a taking a seat next to her husband. “They remained together for three years and then divorced shortly after you were born. Claire never wanted any children and having you there really set her off and she just left,” she continued to explain the circumstances of George and Claire.

 

“We were the best of friends and yet he wouldn't tell us anything. It actually hurt that he wouldn't confide in us. Some more than others,” Dan said with a sigh as he leaned back in his seat.

 

“I see,” was all that Fiona could manage to say. It was a little strange to take in that the closest things she saw to parents right then were close friends with her father. “Thank you for telling me,” she said with a smile towards them.

 

Van looked towards a clock and saw the time. “Oh Fiona we have a bit of business to take care of. Are you ok staying here?” he asked turning to his parents who just nodded their heads. There were plenty of things to do around there like going out to the beach.

 

Fiona nodded her head as well and stood up and the two of them left the house for a short business meeting they had to go to. Van's parents watched them as they left and the smiles seemed to fade as soon as the two of them were out of sight.

 

Karin looked like she wanted to say something really badly but Dan beat her to the punch. “We've gone over this a hundred times. It is not our place to tell Fiona,” he said in a way that said that he'd gone through that far too many times.

 

Karin didn't look too pleased with her husband's answer. “Why can't we?! Fiona of all people deserves to know the truth! Are you just going to continue to go along with this lie that George set up?!” she yelled at him but not loud enough to draw the attention of the other two occupants.

 

“Telling Fiona now may be too upsetting for her! He has his reasons for doing this. We should just decide to respect his wishes and go along with it. She'll find out eventually but not by us. We'll just have to wait and see what George had in mind,” Dan said but he knew his wife wasn't through with it.

 

“Only five people know the truth. Two of them are long dead, one couldn't give a rats ass, and you won't let us say anything about it!” she said obviously trying to get over the frustration that she'd been feeling at keeping this a secret from Fiona in all the time that she knew her.

 

“That's enough Karin!” Dan said loudly. He hated yelling at his wife but he didn't want to talk about it anymore. “Fiona will know the truth when George feels she's ready. We won't say a thing till then,” he said the last part calmly before he stood up. “I'm going to take a nap,” he said giving her a kiss before he left towards one of the other guest rooms.

 

Karin watched her husband leave with sad eyes that weren't normally on the usually very happy woman. “She deserves better than this Dan,” she muttered before following after her husband.

 

*****

 

No sooner had Van and Fiona gotten home a few hours later that Fiona was suddenly dragged out of the house by her soon to be mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Van could barely make out the words “Shopping, Be back later,” before the three of them disappeared leaving house empty except for Van, his father, and his still sleeping nephew.

 

Dan and Van sat down on the couch with a hot cup of coffee and it remained silent for a few moments before Dan finally decided to speak. “I see that you decided to get this place anyways. I'm glad. I like this place a lot better,” he said looking around the very nicely furnished house.

 

Van took a sip of his coffee while nodding his head. “Yeah. Tiffany didn't even think twice before saying no. Said something about it being too small. I just decided to buy it secretly though. A place I could go when I felt like being alone. It's pretty quiet and peaceful so I like it here best,” Van stated as his head fell back and he stared at the ceiling.

 

“Good choice. I would've done the exact same thing in your place. I guess it was useful when you broke up with Tiffany because she didn't know of it so it was the perfect hiding place,” Dan said and Van nodded his head again.

 

“I sure used it a lot when she kicked me out of the house every other week,” Van said with a laugh which his father joined in with him. “That ever happened to you and mom? Has she ever kicked you out like that?” Van asked curiously finding the thought of it rather amusing.

 

Dan just chuckled and scratched the back of his head. “A few times when she was pregnant with you and Maria. The mood swings she had were close to murder on me. It always worked out though and I never held any hard feelings. Even the best of couples will have their fair share of arguments. Thing was, we didn't have the money for places like these back then so I always ended up at George's place. We didn't fight too often though,” Dan explained taking a sip of his drink.

 

“Sounded like you can get into big fights when you do though,” Van said and he saw as his startled father look at him. “I forgot something and heard you and mom talking about something. What are you really hiding from Fiona?” Van asked with a sigh remembering what he heard his parents arguing about earlier.

 

“Your mother's been begging me for years to tell you and Fiona something but we can't. Fiona will learn eventually and it'll be up to her if you're to know,” Dan said with a frown not liking how him and Karin were overheard in their argument.

 

“I agree with mom though, if you have the ability to do something than you should put it to good use. Fiona has the right to know if you're keeping something from her,” Van said taking his mother's side in the argument. Fiona didn't deserve to have something hidden from her.

 

“I'm well aware of that but we don't have any other choice but to keep it from her. She'll find out eventually but it might be too much for her if she learns about it all at once. Give it some time and I'm sure she'll find out the truth,” Dan explained before he stood up.

 

Dan strode over to the bags and started to dig around it. “I have one question to ask you Van,” Dan said with a serious tone to his voice. “Are you planning on ever proposing to Fiona at some point?” he asked although he felt he knew the answer. He doubted that Van could ever say no to that.

 

Van was slightly shocked by his father's words. “Of course, I made the mistake of missing out on seven years with her. I don't plan on that ever happening again,” Van said wondering what could've made his father ask that.

 

Dan stood up and appeared to be carrying something in his hands. “Here, it's another of the tapes. She mustn't be allowed to have it unless you two actually get engaged,” Dan said seriously. He didn't know when Van would propose but he wanted to let him have this in case it happened and he wasn't around to give it to Fiona.

 

Van took it and stared at it. He'd make sure that he gave it to her later that night. `Two in two days. I thought it would take longer to get the next of them,' Van thought as he stored it in a place that no one could find it until he got it out for her. `Can't wait to watch it with Fiona. I want to know more about her dad.'

 

Dan looked at his son and saw the eager look in his eyes. `He's just like his mother, always eager for anything. He never likes to keep secrets unless he has to and even then he fights,' Dan thought with a smile as he zipped up the luggage again.

 

Dan then stood up and grimaced at a thought that he had to do. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have a death order from your sister. I have to give Michael his bath,” he said and saw Van wince. Michael hated baths more than anything. He'll put up a fight for hours if he has to.

 

Van couldn't help but feel sorry for his dad. He was glad that he wasn't in his position though. Van began to wonder if he'd have this sort of trouble from his own kids. He was pretty sure that anything coming from Fiona would be perfect though. “I'll let it be known on your tomb stone that you fought and died bravely,” Van said with a mock bow before scrambling his way out of the house before his father asked him to help.

 

*****

 

“Looks like a tornado just came through here,” Fiona commented as they walked inside of the house to see how messed up it appeared to be and that no one appeared to be around at the time. “I wonder what happened,” she muttered picking up a table that had been knocked over

 

Maria just sighed as she walked towards her room and found her son sitting there peacefully while watching television. Her father was pretty much passed out on the floor. “Have you taken your bath yet?” she asked looking at her son with a stern look on her face.

 

Michael's face paled and he immediately bolted from the room. He'd managed to tire his grandfather enough to get away with not having to take a bath but he'd not be so lucky when it came to his mother.

 

“Put me down!” Michael screamed when he was suddenly picked up. He saw that it was his uncle Van. “No bath! No bath!” he yelled out frantically as he gave a weak attempt at a struggle but Van was too strong and he was able to hold onto the struggling kid.

 

Van groaned as he tried to tame the kid. He didn't want anything to do with bath time but he knew his sister would make him do something if he didn't at least attempt to stop the kid. “Calm down already! It's not going to hurt you!” Van yelled when Michael's hand accidentally hit his face. He managed to keep his hold as the kid continued his mantra.

 

Fiona couldn't help but giggle at the sight of it. She didn't know why he hated baths so much. “It's ok, you don't have to take a bath,” Fiona said and everyone gave her rather curious stares. The whole point was to get him to take a bath.

 

Michael suddenly stopped struggling and stared at Fiona quizzically. He was glad when he was placed on the floor but in a position that he could easily be grabbed should he make a break for it. “Really?” he asked watching her.

 

“Of course, your mom was just fooling around. Would you like to go swimming though?” Fiona said with a smile as she remembered her time back at their place. Michael hated the word bath but he loved to swim. Fiona always found it odd about the kid. “Maybe your mom will even be willing to put bubbles in it for you,” she said with a smile as she kneeled to his height.

 

Michael actually seemed excited about the thought of it. He looked towards his mom asking if it was ok and was excited when she nodded her head and he ran over to her and the two of them went towards the bathroom.

 

“That was impressive Fiona. We'll have to keep that in mind for the future,” Karin said with a smile as she looked at Fiona. She knew that she would be a great mother someday. She just hoped that it was soon. Fiona deserved to have kids more than anyone else she knew.

 

Fiona turned towards her and smiled. “Just got to know what he likes. It's not exactly lying. I just decided to leave out the whole cleaning part,” she said with a smile. “Why is it that he's afraid of the bath anyways?” Fiona asked as she stared at the other three in the room.

 

Dan groaned as his head fell back. “Tiffany pulled a prank on him a year ago. He's been convinced that the bath was alive and was trying to eat him ever since. It was harmless fun but he was a pain about it since then,” he said with a small chuckle.

 

Fiona sighed as her head dropped at the name of the woman. She just couldn't seem to escape that woman's effect even when she was gone and hopefully never coming back. “I see,” she muttered with a groan.

 

“We should really thank you. Maybe now bath time won't be such a pain. Good thing that you're really good with children. You'd make a great mother someday,” Karin said and she saw Fiona smile and blush a bit in embarrassment.

 

Van smiled at the comment and walked over to Fiona and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “I'm sure she will,” he said with a suggestive tone but low enough so that no one but Fiona would be able to hear him. “Hey Fiona, I need to go pick up a few things for dinner, want to come or stay here?”

 

Fiona looked at him, smiled, and then gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I think I'll stay here. Just hurry back,” she said and Van nodded before leaving the house. She sighed and took a seat next to her soon to be mother-in-law. “What other damage has Tiffany caused?” she asked curiously since she never got into it much before.

 

“Not much. We didn't trust her enough to get her close enough so that she could do much damage. Michael was just an accident. I'd say that the most damage would be to Van. I think he was just about giving up hope of ever fulfilling his dream of starting a family,” Karin said giving a weak smile to Fiona.

 

“So she played on that to get Van to come back. I can't believe that she could stoop so low,” Dan said from the other end of the room. “He doesn't say it but he was both happy and upset to learn that she lied to him. Happy because he could go back to you and that she didn't have his child, but also sad at still not having one himself,” Dan explained and he saw Fiona thinking it over.

 

Karin smiled and patted Fiona on the shoulder. “I feel that you'll be the one that'll be able to give him his dream back,” she said standing up and walking towards her room to get ready. The company would be there shortly and she needed to get changed. She'd been out all day and needed a shower. She was just glad that there was more than one bathroom.

 

The smell of food was going through the house and Van just needed to pick up a few last minute ingredients for his mother since she was the one that was cooking it. She was probably one of the best cooks out of everyone that the family knew. So anything made by her was sure to be good.

 

It was nearly an hour later when Van finally showed up again and about fifteen minutes after that before Irvine and Moonbay. They always came together when Van's family came down so no one ever really questioned the main reason for why Van invited them all this time.

 

Fiona and Van were in their room just getting cleaned up a bit. Fiona just threw on a pink sundress she'd had for a while. As it slid down her beautiful body she looked at the necklace and then at the ring that was still attached to it.

 

Fiona smiled fingering the ring again before her hands slid around her neck and unfastened the necklace while taking the ring off of it. She then put the necklace back on and then slid the ring onto her left ring finger.

 

Fiona brought her hand up to the light and looked at the ring. It was beautiful and probably very expensive. It held emotional value to her though, not material value. It was her bond to Van for the moment.

 

Van smiled and walked up to Fiona and wrapped her around the waist. He then caught the hand with the ring and brought it up to his mouth and placed a light kiss on it. “How does it feel to know that you'll soon be married to me till death do us part?” he asked with a smile kissing the base of her neck.

 

Fiona smiled brightly while closing her eyes and leaning into Van's embrace. “It feels great. Knowing I get to spend the rest of my life with you makes me feel happier than I've ever been,” she said bringing her hand up and caressed his cheek.

 

“I'm glad that you're happy,” Van said taking her hand and started to pull her towards the door. “Better get going, everyone's waiting for us,” he said giving her hand a squeeze as he pulled her over to the dining room.

 

Karin looked up at her son and Fiona as they came walking to the table where everyone was already sitting and waiting. She thought she saw something glimmer for a second but she couldn't see what and just smiled at the two. “It's about time that the two of you joined us,” she said with a small chuckle.

 

“Well sorry if we kept you waiting,” Van said pulling out Fiona's chair for her and only sat in his own when he was sure that Fiona was comfortable. “Would you rather us come filthy?” he asked with a laugh.

 

“Why were you filthy?” she asked with a suggestive tone. Everyone at the table burst out in laughter except for Van and Fiona but they ended up joining in with the rest of them. It was always nice to laugh with everyone.

 

“Not like that mom,” Van said feeling a little embarrassed but laughing nonetheless. “You'd smell too if you've been out all day,” Van said with a smirk and wrapped his arm around Fiona's waist.

 

Van took a glance down at Fiona and saw the eager look on his face. He couldn't blame her. He was just as eager as she was. He then stood up and everyone turned their attention to him. “Before we get started eating my mom's wonderful food,” he said and saw the proud look on his mother's face. “I have an announcement to make.”

 

Fiona felt herself lightly being pulled to her feet. She knew what Van was trying to tell her. He wanted her to be the one that told everyone. She always found it nice that the two of them didn't need words to know what the other was thinking.

 

Karin watched the two lovebirds with great interest. She was wondering what was going on. She suddenly seemed to pick up what was going on and her eyes widened in anticipation as she watched eagerly hoping that her guess was right.

 

Fiona felt a little nervous under the glances of all her friends and soon to be family. “Van and I…” she said before raising her left hand. “Are getting married,” she said with a bright smile plastered onto her face.

 

It seemed a little quiet for a second before everyone went wild with congratulations. “Way to go Van, congratulation's Fiona,” Irvine yelled patting Van on the back really hard.

 

“I can't believe it. The two of you are finally getting married,” Moonbay said with tears coming down her eyes. Van and Fiona guessed that the tears were more of the hormones' doing than her own because Moonbay was one that you'd hardly see cry even on the worst possible day for her.

 

Karin basically shoved everyone out of the way. “Congratulations. When's the wedding going to be, when's the first child, what will you name it?” she asked going to her grandma mode asking more question about their future kids rather than the upcoming wedding.

 

Dan sighed and lightly pulled his wife away. She was probably more excited about the thought of this wedding than Van and Fiona were together. “Now, now dear. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves here,” he said placing her back in her seat as everyone else took their seats again. “So when did this happen?” he asked curiously thinking of his talk with Van earlier that day. He hoped Van hadn't done it for just that reason.

 

Maria sat down and looked at Van and Fiona curiously as well. “I'd like to know that as well. I don't remember seeing you wear that ring when we went out earlier Fiona,” she said watching them waiting for a response.

 

Fiona smiled brightly at the memory of it. “It was yesterday morning. We went out on the beach and watched the sunrise. Then he proposed to me. It was… perfect,” she said dreamily. It had to be the best way to be proposed to in her opinion. Van probably had that in mind since he knew her so well.

 

Moonbay then glared at Van and Fiona. “You two have been engaged since yesterday morning?! Why didn't you tell me and Irvine about it last night?” she asked with a tone of fake insult to her voice.

 

Fiona just smiled and Moonbay calmed down a bit. “I wanted to tell you last night but Van told me not to. I didn't learn why until today since he didn't bother to tell me his family was coming,” she said playfully glaring at Van while he just grinned.

 

“I wanted everyone to be here before we told anyone about it,” Van explained but he was pretty sure that everyone probably figured that out. Moonbay probably did as well but was just fooling around when she asked that question.

 

Irvine grinned at the two of them. He knew that this was going to come from day one of them meeting again. It was just an event that was delayed for a good seven years. “About time the two of you finally got down to it,” he said and everyone chuckled.

 

Van never let go of Fiona's hand and the two of them looked at each other and smiled brightly. They loved times like these when they could just celebrate anything with their friends and families.

 

*****

 

It was several hours later before everyone started leaving whether it was home or to their rooms. It was much quieter then compared to the earlier with all the talk of the upcoming trial and wedding. It was very relaxing then but they were glad to be able to get away and have some peace and quiet.

 

Van remembered something and grabbed the package that his father gave him. “Got another tape. My dad gave it to me saying that you could only have it when we got engaged. Want to watch it?” Van asked as Fiona carefully took the package from him and took the tape at it.

 

Fiona stared at the tape for a few moments. The stuff on the last tape were quite a surprise and she wondered what she would find on this tape. “Yeah,” she said walking over and placing the tape in and then laid down on the bed with Van as the tape turned on.

 

The tape started up and a picture appeared on the screen that appeared to be in the same place as the first one. The only difference there appeared to be was that it was much livelier with a lot of people enjoying themselves all over the place instead of sleeping like they were the first time.

 

“And here we all are having a blast,” Dan's voice came over the tape again. The tape then turned to a much younger looking Karin. Her stomach was huge as well. “There's my lovely wife and future son. Look at her, fat as a cow yet as lovely as the day we first met,” he said with a chuckle.

 

“I'm not sure whether I should consider that a compliment or an insult Dan,” she said with a fake pout. “Just another month and I see the birth of my first son. We'll have twice the joy now with both him and Maria. I'll now have two kids to spoil rotten,” she said with a broad smile.

 

Dan chuckle as he moved the camera around the room showing a few familiar faces and several that they didn't recognize before it suddenly came to a stop on a not so appealing target that was standing against a corner looking rather bored. “What's the matter Claire, not having any fun?” Dan joked as she scowled at him.

 

Claire glared at Dan and turned away. “What fun is there to have when I know there'll be another worthless Flyheight coming into this world? Now get that camera out of my face!” she yelled before walking away angrily.

 

“That's someone who'll never change. What was he thinking marrying her? The two of them are complete opposites,” Dan said before turning it to face his four year old daughter dancing around the room singing a made up song. “I'm getting a little brother. So soft and cuddly. Yay for me because I get a little brother!” she said happily dancing out of view.

 

Dan could be heard chuckling. “She's definitely excited about the idea of having a little brother,” Dan said turning the camera towards a dance floor. He then broke out in full blown laughter at the sight that greeted him.

 

There were several people on the dance floor but they were all trying to not get trampled by two people that were dancing very wildly. They were going all over the place and it made anyone still on go running off as quickly as possible. “Those two sure know how to be the life of a party.”

 

The song that was ending and the two people that were dancing dispersed and went in two different directions. One was a woman and she walked in the direction of Van's mom and the other appeared to be Fiona's father and he walked towards Dan. “Two words, dance class. You're going to injure someone with those moves,” Dan said in an amused voice.

 

George Lynette just beamed into the camera. “Where's the fun in that,” he asked chuckling as he took a seat on the couch. “Just for the camera, congratulations about the baby. Wish I could have one but Claire is a stubborn goat,” he said with a tone that said he didn't worry about the consequences if Claire heard.

 

“Yeah, you should just get rid of her. She's no fun. There's plenty of ladies here who I'm sure would just love to have the chance to marry you,” Dan said and it was pretty clear that he was grinning even though you couldn't see his face.

 

George just shrugged his shoulders and then smiled as two ladies approached the two of them. “You ladies are looking lovely as always,” he said to Van's mom and a woman they've never seen before.

 

“Why thank you,” Karin said with a smile as she turned towards the camera. “He knows how to give a good compliment. I haven't forgiven you for that fat as a cow comment earlier,” she said glaring into the camera but she burst out in laughter a few moments later.

 

The camera then turned towards the other woman who remained quiet about everything up till then while having a good laugh with them as well. “You were sure clearing the dance floor earlier,” Dan said with a tone of amusement to his voice.

 

“Well it's no fun to just dance calmly,” the woman said and Van and Fiona both just gave a slight nod of their head. Dancing wildly was fun for them. Even Fiona, with her sweet disposition, had a bit of a crazy side to her when she felt like releasing it. They were the life of their senior prom.

 

“They know all about that though,” George said and all but Dan and Karin burst out in laughter. The two of them actually turned a little red and that just seemed to spur on the laughter much to the expense of Dan and Karin.

 

Van groaned wondering why his father gave it to them. “I really could go without hearing about their sex life,” Van groaned and Fiona just giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheek which made him feel a little better. He knew he should be thankful though because it was the whole reason he existed.

 

Dan seemed to finally regain his speech. “Oh you're just upset because you don't have a kid of your own yet,” Dan said and the other two stopped their laughter. George even appeared to sadden at the mere thought of it. “Sorry,” Dan muttered seeing his friend's distressed face.

 

The two women left discussing something and the two men were alone again. “It's ok. I'd always hoped that she'd change her mind but now she's even thinking of making it so that she could never have kids just to end the topic,” George said with a sigh as he leaned back in his seat.

 

“You don't deserve that George,” Dan said with a sigh. “You really need to talk to her about that and tell her what you really want,” Dan said placing down the camera. He probably didn't realize that it was still on.

 

“Dan! George!” Karin yelled running up to the two friends looking a little frantic. “We've got a huge problem!” she said urgently and the two stood up and then the camera went blank.

 

The tape went blank again just like the previous tape before it turned into the face of her father. “Hey again,” he said with that fatherly smile the two saw the previous night. “So you're going to be getting married? I guess that's the only reason you have this then. I wish I could know who he is. I hope he'll be good enough for you my little girl,” he said with a soft look in his eyes.

 

“I wish I didn't have to make these and could tell you the truth in person. But if something was to happen to me then I wouldn't want the truth to die with me as well,” he said with a sigh as he leaned back in the chair he was sitting in.

 

“You're getting married to the man you love. I screwed up and married someone I didn't love in the first place. Then you suddenly came and everything became perfect in my life. Claire was mad and left me which I have to say was the best thing to ever happen in my life,” he said his smiled broadening quite a bit.

 

“I've… kept a huge secret from you for such a long time Fiona. I wish I can tell you now but it's very painful for me just to remember. Eventually I will get to telling you the truth,” he said before the tape just suddenly shut off like the one from the night before.

 

Van looked towards Fiona when she had the same expression on her face as the night before. It seemed… sadder though. `What has he kept from you Fiona? What is that one thing I don't know about you?'