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A FATHER'S LOVE A Tale of the Twins' Past III

"Mom! We're... home?"

The happy shouts of the two children died off in confusion as they spotted their mother sitting at the kitchen table, looking terribly upset, across from a strange man who had dark hair and terribly frightening ice blue eyes. He turned to look at the pair of them and smiled, not a warm friendly smile, but a coldly assessing one and the two children found themselves invoulentarily shrinking back.

"So these are the little darlings," he said, turning back to face their mother. "You're right, there is a resemblance in the eyes. I suppose you'll want money."

"I don't want anything from you," Maya hissed at him, her eyes narrowing to slits. "I just want you to go back where you came from and leave us alone."

"Now Maya, you mean to tell me that you're going to stop me from

seeing my children."

The twins gasped at what he said and Maya slammed her fists down on the table in anger. "Get out!" she shreaked, getting to her feet. "I never want to see you again Gero! Just get out!!!"

He ignored her, instead leaning over to get a closer look at his son and daughter. "You're quite a lovely pair," he told them in a low voice and they shrunk backwards some more, Severin putting himself in between this man and his sister. "Now don't be afraid," Gero continued. "I won't hurt you. What kind of a monster would I be to harm my own children."

"You _are_ our father?" Ada suddenly asked, peaking around her brother's shoulder with hope in her eyes.

"That I am."

"Are you going to stay now?" she continued, hesitantly stepping forward. "Are you going to live with us? Are we going to be a family?"

"I'm afraid not darling," he replied with a small condensending smile. "Not only does your mother not appreciate my being here, but I'm afraid my work forces me to move around quite a bit. I'm a scientist you see. In fact, I'm going to have to leave again quite soon. Now, don't cry," he said hurriedly as he saw the girl's lower lip begin to tremble. "I'm sure you'll see me again someday. I just thought I'd let you children know that

your father is alive... in case you've ever been told the contrary." He added the last part harshly with a glare aimed at Maya before standing to leave. "Good bye Maya. Good bye... what was it again Maya dear?"

"Severin and Ada," she snapped at him. "If you're going to pretend to care, the least you could do is remember their names!"

He sniffed slightly then turned his attention back to the chldren. "I apologize children. You see, I didn't know your names before I stepped in this door. Your dear mother didn't see it fit to inform me."

"You walked out! Why _should_ you know!?"

"In fact, she didn't even bother telling me where she was living so it took me this long to find you," he continued, bluntly ignoring her. "Good bye Ada.... Severin...." He patted the girl on the head gently and ruffled the boy's hair before smoothly walking out the door, without even a

look back.

Severin shivered slightly, not liking that man at all yet at the same time feeling the same crushing hurt he could see in his sister's eyes. They _did_ have a father. One who wanted to be with them but couldn't. Or at least it had seemed that way. But he said that he might be back someday, and maybe then they could be a family....

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"Ada, are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Of course Myra," the blond girl replied with a roll or her eyes at her friend. "You know that the only person who knows more about makeup and things than me is Lexie. And if she weren't primping for my _brother_ of all people right now you'd be in her capable hands. But since she is fussing about how she looks for him you're just going to have to settle with my expert care."

"I don't blame her for fussing," Myra sighed. "She's soooo lucky...."

"Spare me," Ada snorted, tilting her best friend's head back so she could sweap the eyeshadow brush against her lowered lids. "What do all those girls see in him?"

"Well... he's handsome, and kind, and handsome, and considerate, and handsome and...."

"I get the idea."

"Well he's your brother, you can't find him attractive. That's why all the boys like you, cause you're the only female in the school not pining away over him."

"I'd like to think that it's more than that... there! You can open your eyes now."

Myra's deep hazel eyes fluttered open and she gasped as she saw her face in the mirror. "Oh Ada, you're even better at this than Lexie! You're a miracle worker. Chris is gonna love this!"

"Chris would love the way you look anyways. Now, is there anything special you want me to do with your hair?"

"Is there anything special that _can_ be done with this mess?" she asked in return, running a hand through the shortly cropped locks which were a far cry from the foot long braid she had sported in elementary school.

"In all honesty, no. I was just asking to be nice."

"Well it's certianly not very nice to say it like that! What time did the boys say they were going to pick us up?"

"Seven-thirty. Why? You excited?"

"Ada! What eighteen year old girl wouldn't be excited about going to the last dance of the school year with her sweetheart. You should be bouncing off the walls, being able to go with Alec." She sighed blissfully. "I always knew that you two were meant to be togther. Just like Sev and Lexie... no matter how much I wished to the contrary." She sighed and shook her head. "I suppose I'm happy with Chris... but a girl can still eroticly dream...."

"Myra! That's my brother you're talking about!"

"Well if that offends you, don't even _consider_ what he and Lexie are going to be doing tonight...."

"Myra!!!!"

"Okay, I won't say another word...."

"Ada, Myra, your dates are here!"

The pair shared a wide grin before exiting Ada's room and strolled purposefully into the living room where the boys were waiting. Both Alec and Chris were wearing suits and Chris' hair, which he had been allowed to grow out so it now hung down past his shoulders, was held back in a smooth ponytail. Alec had hardly changed a bit since the first time that Ada had met him however. Except for the standard changes that come with aging he still had the 'boy next door' good looks and charm.

"Where's Sev?" Ada asked her mother as she noticed that her twin was nowhere to be seen.

"He left to pick up Lexie fifteen minutes ago," Maya explained to her daughter, holding back tears as she saw what a beautiful young woman she had become. "Now you kids had better leave before this silly old woman breaks down and starts crying...."

"Oh Mom...."

"I'm serious. Have fun. And you'd better have my little girl back at a decent hour young man."

"Yes ma'am," Alec replied with a brisk nod before offering his arm to Ada. "Shall we my dear?"

Ada blushed slightly as she took his arm and the pair of them strolled out of the apartment for the best night of their lives....

My Message to the World