"Uhmm... no that would be my brother's girlfriend who just came back," Maria explained. "Though I don't think he takes any interest in me... I think he may be interested in my cousin. She's such a jerk too... I can't believe that she would think about trying to get him to like her when he should be liking me. I hate girls..."
She looked frustrated now and was crossing her arms. She was thirsty too at this point and seemed unsure what she should do.


He recalled his mother at that point a look of concern came over him. He looked at her with a half-hearted smiled.
"Well why don't we go talk to my mother before I get bandaged up and then you can take a nice long bubble bath and the nurses here can tend to my wounds," he said.

Melisse didn't seem to do much of anything except for work and smile. And at this point, she was smiling again.
"Ahh, so eht wasnot you?" Taking a long strip of cloth, and then some tape, Melisse began to cover his wounds.
Melisse listened to Maria intently, knowing what she meant with every word.
She could sympathize. For she too, had experienced such a heartbreak in her time.

"How doyou know thes man? Es he good friend? I duntknow." She seemed to be raving on now. "Bet ef you like thes boy, you go after him! You can't let cousin have him!"

Boy, did she need to brush up on her English skills.


Smiling, Verona nodded. "Of course.."
And then there it was; home. Her new home anyway. They weren't even very far now.. Just a few more paces, and then they could rest. For the first time, in what seemed like forever, they were finally getting to relax.

"Yes I will and do you know who did this to him..." she asked in a furious tone. "It was my brother but no Mayhen was just trying to get at Eric. It's that whole brotherly thing. I'm thirsty. Get me a drink."
She was being a brat at this point and just sat down and crossed her legs. She wasn't usually liked this but she was in a bad mood at this point.

"All right," Ezekiel said. "When we get in there I'll get help from the nurses to see my mother and you can come with me so we can tell her the news. I want her to at least have on happy thought before she dies, if she dies, which cannot happen."

He was determined to find a way to make his mother survive. She'd gotten him through a lot, partially because he was the oldest.

Looking up to this rather rude girl suddenly, Melisse's jaw sort of hung in the balance.
"No," she snapped back at her. "You get yourself!" She wasn't about to take lip from a guest like this. Not after inviting her in and all. If Maria wanted a drink, she could get it herself, or leave. Hopefully, she'd leave.


Nodding, Verona continued to make her way to the door with Ezekiel. Then finally, they were there. It was so nice to have a somewhat fond memory of this place; Ezekiel first kissed her here. Though it seemed to be such a dim time for him to have done so, she was glad he did. Otherwise, none of this would have been possible.

"Now," she said, propping him against the door. "Lemme see."
Examining Ezekiel, she cringed. He looked far worse than he actually was, she was sure of it.

"Oh fine," Maria snapped. "I don't need your petty services. I'll just go and get something that would probably taste much better than what someone like you could make." She had left at that point in a bit of a haughty manner. She would feel extremely guilty but at this point she was just angry at her brother and Veronica... and Verona.

"I'm fine," he said after a moment. "Quite attractive though, aren't I?"
He laughed slightly and when two nurses came forward they glanced at Verona with smiles. They both knew her and were glad she was back safe, though they doubted that Ezekiel would even show his face if he'd hurt her in any way.

"Your mother would like to see you," the short blond nurse said. "She has missed you very much."

Sticking her nose up in the air, Melisse continued to work strenuously on Mayhen's chest, then finally, his shoulder.
"I doubt thet. Besides, when heh weks up, a'll beh sure to tell hem about your ettitude."
He wouldn't appreciate it of course. With the shape he was in, he was liable to chop Maria's head off or something, just for fun.
"A'll beh sure to tell him bout you ferst thin."


Smiling politely at the nurses, Verona had completely disregarded what Ezekiel had said about being handsome, or what not. "I'd very much like to see her too," she chirped in, taking Ezekiel's hand. It was like she was trying to get across, 'He's mine!', when really the women weren't doing anything more than being polite..

Sticking her nose up in the air, Melisse continued to work strenuously on Mayhen's chest, then finally, his shoulder.
"I doubt thet. Besides, when heh weks up, a'll beh sure to tell hem about your ettitude."
He wouldn't appreciate it of course. With the shape he was in, he was liable to chop Maria's head off or something, just for fun.
"A'll beh sure to tell him bout you ferst thin."


Smiling politely at the nurses, Verona had completely disregarded what Ezekiel had said about being handsome, or what not. "I'd very much like to see her too," she chirped in, taking Ezekiel's hand. It was like she was trying to get across, 'He's mine!', when really the women weren't doing anything more than being polite..

Maria looked even more displeased and just left after that. She was crossing her arms then. She'd go out to make it easier on her and she thought she'd explore the world of alcoholic beverages and maybe she could learn how to torture Veronica with it. She'd act concerned and just get Veronica wasted and leave her there.

"We're engaged," Ezekiel said with a grin.
The two women both smiled broadly. They were quite glad for him.
"We're very happy for you," the began as they led him towards his mother's room. "And to such a fine young woman too... you're really lucky you know, both of you."
Ezekiel looked slightly confused, for the most part he was viewed as being bad but then again he realized that they had known him when he was younger, when he was more like himself.

At this moment Veronica, Sebastian, and Eric had come through the back door. They were sitting in the kitchen and were fully aware that both Verona and Ezekiel were there. They didn't go out though because each felt guilty for something and didn't feel like confronting either of them.

Smiling again, Melisse was glad to be rid of that pestering girl. It was one thing to be there, and a whole other to be a snob.
As she continued to work on Mayhen's shoulder, she discovered it really wasn't so deep. It was only minor compared to his most recent blunders.
But she stitched it up as well, and then took a rag to his tanned skin; no more blood.

Once she was done, she drug him off into the living area, and pulled him onto the couch. Throwing a blanket over his body, she sighed. Nothing new today.


"Thank you both," Verona said with a grin. Both she and Ezekiel followed the women intently.
Verona more so than Ezekiel. She seemed to be a step ahead of him the entire time. With god reason too; she wasn't the one who'd been attacked.

(We got some drama here... o__o more complex than I thought)

Once Maria was out of the house she was capable of thinking more clearly. She was beginning to realize how rude she'd been and the guilt was beginning to set in. All she really needed was to take a walk to calm her nerves and all she had wanted was a glass of water. She would have normally asked for a glass in her usual cute and polite way but she was still mad at her siblings.

Ezekiel noted how Verona was walking faster than he and it was a blatant reminder of his injuries. As they reached his mother's chamber he got nervous as to what her reaction would be, seeing him bloody and all.

When they entered though she smiled broadly and sat up, with the assistance of another nurse that was in there. She was very pleased at the moment but it was obvious how weak she was.

"Mother," Ezekiel said. "I missed you so much and I'd like to re-introduce you to Verona, who is now my fiancee."

"There weh go.." Melisse said with a sigh. It didn't take long for her to head back into the kitchen to clean up either. She needed to more than anything as of now.



Though Verona could tell that something was obviously wrong with Ezekiel's mother, she smiled widely, and curtsied for her.
His mothers smile was enough for her. If she did somehow pass on tonight, Verona had no doubt, that she would go on happy.
"Do you remember me Mrs. Singston..?" She asked her in that wind chime voice. "I maybe be a bit more red than you remember, but I am still the big crybaby from before."

Yes, quite a cry baby indeed. That was by far, one of the worst days of her life. But looking back again, she wouldn't trade it for the world. That day had made her life what it was today.. And though it wasn't exactly perfect, it was close.

Mrs. Singston just smiled. She remembered Verona very well and she remembered her as the only one who'd ever stood up for Ezekiel in the fashion that she did. She did not have a favorite son though and had been equally concerned for Eric's state of mind at that point.

"I hear that dear Eric had proposed to you previously, please tell your parents that I do not approve of you marrying Eric but would much rather have you marry Ezekiel. Eric needs someone that is more tolerant of his moods, someone compassionate. The poor boy always seemed to be left out and he wanted in on this whole curse thing," Mrs Singston said. "In a way I understood but I was just a peasant girl that was picked out by a very wealthy man."

Ezekiel was sitting at this point and one of the women was already getting things ready to tend to his wounds. They had gotten the medicine already since Aldous had managed to ship it to them through a small chain of people that knew the Singston curse.

Veronica was being treated with the very medicine at the moment.

(No Mayhen, woot)


Smiling, Verona nodded, and listened. After a brief second though, she did take notice that her fiancee had abandoned her, and took the spot next to him. She took his hand into hers yet again, entwining their fingers. Tonight, she'd be sure to allow him the pleasure of having his hair played with.

"I understand.. And please take no offense when I say this, but Eric is not half of the man that Ezekiel is. Not in my eyes."

He was a fine man, yes. But he didn't appeal so to Verona. She would never be able to get past all of the things he'd done. To her, Ezekiel, his mother, sister, cousins, Mayhen.. Everyone was suffering because of his stupid decisions.
Pretty much everyone was ready to slaughter him.. Well, maybe not so. BUt Verona sure knew that she was. Just like Veronica..

"And how did my son get all these nasty scratches? I want the entire story... from Verona's point of view," Mrs. Singston said, pausing slightly and glancing at Ezekiel so he'd get treated rather than just sit there.

The other people in the room seemed to understand exactly what that meant and two immediately went to take care of him. They allowed him to hold onto Verona's hand though due to the fact that some of the treatments might actually hurt. They were quiet thought and tried to get it so that they were not in Verona's way at all. In fact they worked so that it was almost like she was part of him.

"Umm..Well.." Looking at Ezekiel for a moment, Verona didn't quite know what to do. She didn't like telling stories like this, but she would try her best.
"Well,my friend Mayhen.. He was ready to fight Eric. Ezekiel got in his way, and changed. So, Mayhen started fighting him. The Veronica jumped in.."
Gripping her other hand into a fist, she sort of looked down.
"She did this to Ezekiel."

That was all she would say. If Ezekiel's mother didn't know the relationship between Mayhen and Veronica, oh well. It would be tough luck for her. Besides, Verona didn't even know their relationship at this point. Mayhen was a stubborn man.

"Oh dear," Mrs. Singston said. "Well at least it's not as bad as the last time that Ezekiel and Veronica got in a fight. They were both at bed rest for at least three days. Pray, tell me how did Mayhen respond to Veronica butting in on this little fiasco."

Mrs. Singston had been suspicious of there being a relation between Mayhen and Veronica. Veronica had been a bit more whimsical lately and a bit out of it. She had also been muttering to herself about something but would just say she was trying to sort something out when someone asked her what she was thinking about.

Still not quite looking up to Ezekiel's mother, Verona began again.
"Well, he was angry.. He stormed off, even with the damage that Ezekiel caused. He's really stubborn.. But.. I didn't think he would just leave like that.."
Although I sure would have!

Yeah, she more likely would have just found some way to hurt Veronica, then leave. Verona wasn't very good with hurting people, other than smacking obviously. She just wasn't very athletic.

"Are you sure he just stormed off because she has a rather larger bruise on her right side," one of the nurse's said that had just come up. "She's downstairs and said she was thrown by him."

Mrs. Singston glanced at the nurse and just nodded slightly. She wanted to be sure that this was true so she glanced at Verona but did not vocalize the question. Ezekiel also looked at Verona to see how she would answer.

"Y-yeah... That too..." Looking down, Verona nodded. That was entirely true. He had slung Veronica away from the whole situation. Of course, in his little fit of anger..he had indeed thrown her at least four or five feet.

"He's not normally violent with women.. He was just..angry...that she interrupted his fight. He's so old fashioned.. He just..overreacted. A lot. I'm really sorry.."

It was like she was apologizing for him. When he woke up, there was no doubt that he would be sorry for what he did.. He would see reason when he awoke. He always seemed to be like that.

"Do you think that she should go speak to him?" Mrs. Singston asked. "It is my duty as her aunt to make sure that she finds a place to stay after Ezekiel takes over the family business. It's important for someone to realize that she is just as worthy as someone that loves her as you and my son are."

Ezekiel had gotten distracted when they had started stitching up his side at the moment. He wasn't paying attention at the moment. He did hear part of what his mother was saying and it was beginning to embarrass him at the moment.

Shaking her head, Verona showed her distaste of having Veronica go and visit him.
It wasn't exactly smart.. But... if she really wanted. She probably shouldn't though, given the current circumstances..

"I don't think that she should.. Just maybe give him a day to cool off some.. Let him feel bad for what he's done, and just chill.."

Chill?

Leaning against Ezekiel some now, Verona could tell he was in quite a bit of pain, and she wanted to ease it in any way that she possibly could.
"It's okay.." She told him, placing her head against his shoulder.

Ezekiel just nodded though he was distracted by the state of his cousin at the present moment. He was watching Verona and he could tell that she felt a tinge of anger towards her. He was confused for a moment but understood why she would be angry.

"Don't be angry with her," Ezekiel said after a moment. "She was only trying to protect him."

Mrs. Singston had nodded slightly in agreement at that point. She was seeming to be a bit more out of it at this point and just let herself lie down and sleep. The nurse's began to motion for the two to leave.

Listening to the nurse, Verona immediately left the room, leaving Ezekiel behind.
What, now he was even siding with Veronica!? What was this!?
She stomped away more, dashing down the stairs to find someone, anyone, who could point her in the direction of the bathroom. She didn't visit this place everyday after all. This was her second time here.

(It is so minuscule.)

Ezekiel looked utterly confused and he made his way out of the room towards his own bedroom. He hadn't been there in ages and he was greatly looking forward to sinking into the satin sheets and just sleeping a good twelve or thirteen hours.

Maria had arrived home at this point and when she saw Verona she looked like her nerves had raised one more notch, despite the fact that it seemed utterly impossible for her. She went immediately to the kitchen but turned around when she saw Veronica there.

((it happens sometimes))

Spotting Maria, Verona also turned around. She didn't want to socialize right now..
But she did want a bath... She could use Ezekiel's bathroom maybe.. She didn't want to, but oh well.

Marching back upstairs, she entered is room without thinking. She saw him there, and pouted. "Can use your tub..?" She asked plainly.
That was all she needed anyway.. Maybe they could soak in the hot tub together later though.. If he would stop being so weird.

"Please..?"