From: questgrl2@juno.com Author's trash: Weell, I meant to finish this right for mother's day . . .but I couldn't. My creative juices just weren't flowing. Thanks to Lois for beta-reading this and I may send out a differerent version (aka edited ;) later. Disclaimer: I don't own JQ. I'm not making money off of this. Read and you'll find out why :) Dedication: To Meach, our resident ml mommy. Happy mother's day:) Archivers: Take! Categories: V, A, Fam Mother's Day (1/1) By Dana Cain A silent shadow walked with his companion across the grassy field. The black figure only obeyed the commands of its master, who seemed to walk in slow, soft strides. The shadow clutched black, two-dimensional posies. It was forbidden for him to say anything to his master, though he wished that his master would take the time to speak out to him. It had been days since he heard his complex twin (with his colors and vividness - so full of life - oh, he envied him) give the sound of laughter. His counterpart was oddly and normally sad during this time of year - and the black one never quite understood why. The sullen face was so different from the normal boy that he had grown up with. The shadow kept wondering and walking. His boy, the toe-headed master, said something about the sullen holiday - the day of the mother. Yes, he remembered now. He remembered how she had left them in a sudden blur of devastation and misunderstanding. "It *was* a misunderstanding," his colorful copy would tell him, "It was an accident, all an accident!" The mirrored image - the sullen black figure that was his only life companion - often wondered about his owner's words. He had always taken the steps that his duplicate had taken, eaten the same things that his master had eaten, (though his stomach was never really filled with the warm and steaming food! Life could be so unfair!) and made the same mistakes that the boy had too often made. But it was that one mistake - that dismal, unspeakable mistake - had kept him from saving the one person he loved most. My, how the boy wept in a fit of shame and fury. The shadow (only a slave - a silly mime!) wanted to cry with his master as he mimicked him brushing away tears. It was the only time lonesome shadow had ever thought about breaking his solemn vow to keep completely quiet. The dark form remembered the only wish that he had ever made in his life. Wishing had always seemed foolish to the wise companion of the boy, but the shadow remembered how hard he had wished that day. Unable to clench his fists in rage, and unable to scream with all of his might with the frustration, the whisper-thin ethical code seemed almost useless. Why couldn't he tell this boy how much he loved him? The shadow felt somber at the memory. He remembered the special - the only - wish. He had only wanted to be made of flesh - if only for minutes - so that he could comfort his mournful owner. But wishing was just as foolhardy as the silhouette had earlier thought. He could never take human form. The shadow could only crumble with the little figure and could only shake with rage and horrid realization. The dark form that had slowly grown up with his partner (although the partnership was controlled by the colorful one, the shadow still dreamt of it as a partnership) had learned to take the better with the worse. Although life seemed so painful and void back then, it often had its own little perks. Both of them had moved on, grown up. The shadow would often wonder how the boy felt when he was lying in bed awake in the middle of the night. He would lie there, facing the ceiling, his azure eyes filling with tears from memories of long ago. The shadow repressed a shudder at the thought of those lonely nights. He kept walking with his boy - who oddly enough was becoming a man. A man whose boyish features were losing a long and drawn out battle with masculinity. The blond ran a hand through his hair and stopped for a second. Walking over to a small grave, he went to pay his respects. "Anastasia Quest," the shadow read silently to himself. "May she live in our hearts forever." The shadow correctly mimicked the boy placing some of the pansies on the grave. He watched and copied the boy who smiled down and lovingly touched the grave. He gently kneeled down and bowed his head, whispering a prayer so silent that even the dark shadow on the ground had to strain to hear him. "I love you grandma," the young man said. His shadow mouthed the words in sadness. He had wanted to see the grandmother as much as his boy did. The silhouette was surprised to find that his owner still wanted to walk. Making his way across the Bostonian graveyard with his brilliant copy, he felt a sense of remembrance. They were going to see her. The murky figure on the ground wanted to scream to his master. It had been so long! Would the boy be able to deal with the pain? Could *he* deal with the pain? The shadow wished to pry his twin away from the graveyard - to put him back in the car and leave - but he could not stray. The twin kept walking and venturing towards the maple tree where the woman - the beautiful angel of mercy - was buried. How could he face her? How could they both face her? The letters etched on the grave - so final and cold - caused both the boy and his duplicate to wince. The boy thought of hesitating, and the shadow could only pray that he would, but he quietly walked to his mother's grave, stronger than before. "He's actually going to do it!" the shadow thought. "What will he say to her?" The shadow mirrored the boy wiping a tear, and then walked with him over to his mother's grave. "M-mama!" was all he could say before letting out a suppressed sob. All of the emotions - all of the pain - came racing out of him. It mixed with the hot, stinging tears that dripped down his solemn and chiseled face. The remainder of the pansies was placed on the grave with care. The boy wiped his face and sniffled, but the shadow carefully watched him. His boy had something to say. "Mama, you know I'm sorry. You do know, don't you? You know . . .you know that you were the best mother ever, don't you know that, mama?" The dark duplicate wanted to cringe. The poor boy! How he wished - for the second time - that his two-dimensional arms would turn to flesh! But he kept his form - as solid as a soldier - and watched and mirrored the boy wiping hot, flowing tears. "I wish that I could honor you today. It's your day, mama! And yet - I feel so ashamed just coming to visit you! It's my fault that you were taken away, and no apology could ever change what I did to you - and to pop! "Geez, mom! WHY!? Why does it have to be this way? Why can't I hold you and tell you how sorry I am? Why can't I tell you that you were the best mother in the world? All I want to do is wish you a Happy Mother's Day, just like every other kid!" The boy changed positions, and sat brokenheartedly on the ground. "Hadji found his mother - and Jessie still has her whole dang family! Why is life like this, mama? And I know I'm being selfish! I know I am! But -" He sniffled and wiped away a tear. "I-I just want to tell you how sorry I am. I just want to tell you that I love you. I just want to listen to your voice sing me to sleep again. I just want you to take me with you - away from the evils of this world - and let me stay in a place where I'm truly happy." The shadow felt as if his master's brain was going in several different directions. The boy wasn't making complete sense, it seemed. A gentle wind whipped the boy's blond locks around, and he stood up, still crying. Both the shadow and his owner jumped when the hands hit their shoulders. "Son," the boy's father said. "Pop?" he asked, turning around. "I didn't expect you to be here!" "I know," he said, his voice almost whispering. "But I had a feeling you'd be here." The man cleared his throat. "We both miss her, son - so much." The boy embraced his father, sobbing into his chest. Tears splashed gently on the boy's head. "You heard everything?" the boy asked a few moments later, gaining his composure. The shadow strained his ear to hear everything he could. "I did. Oh son, your mother loves you more than words can say. And she never forgave you because there was nothing to forgive. You did what you thought you had to do, and she knows that. And she'll always love you." "How do you know?" the blond asked, his voice shaky. "Ask me one day about my mother," the father said, and kissed his son on the forehead. The shadow smiled (unseen by anyone but his father shadow) and walked beside his boy. The father and his shadow placed a comforting arm around their children. The boy shivered as a gentle breeze blew by. The shadow watched as his master's face -which had been so sullen before - was overtaken by an invisible peace. And unseen by the boy and his father - another shadow walked with the two shadows. The sleek silhouette was the same form that the boy's shadow had run to for the comfort and protection during the days of blissful childhood. The beautiful form touched the colorful child gently, and then gave a gentle wave. The boy's shadow saw her mouth the words "I love you" before she vanished into nothingness. The sun was slowly going down across the field, and as the father and son started reaching the shade, the shadows started to fade. The boy's shadow suddenly did the unthinkable as it vanished into inevitable blackness. "She loves you!" "Did you hear something?" Jonny Quest asked his father, turning towards him. Dr. Quest smiled at his son. "You must be hearing things, Jonny." "But that voice - it sounded like me." "What did it say?" Benton asked, amused. "It said 'she loves you.'" Jonny said, looking confused. "You must have been telling yourself subconsciously," Benton said. Jonny smiled. "Maybe that's it." "I'm sure it is," Dr. Quest said warmly. "Your mother *does* love you." The two men walked for a moment, and then Jonny stopped. "Will you tell me about grandma?" Jonny asked, getting a surprised look from his father. "Now?" "Yes. I want to know how much she loves you." The End ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How many communities do you think join ONElist each day? http://www.onelist.com More than 1,000!