A/N: Epilogue, people. Thanks so much for reading this.

This little story is just a distraction from all the angst from “Home”. I hope you like this last part.

I’m planning to write a Mara-centric fic soon. Please watch out for that. Thanks!

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iii. the rainbow connection

“There you are!” Emily Feehily exclaimed, seeing Stella and Dylan coming their way. Mara was in her stroller, cuddling her Patrick Star doll. The mothers hugged.

“Where’s your little bundle?” Stella asked. Emily Feehily gave birth to a baby girl some months ago. “Hey guys,” she addressed the twins Bobby and Bettina. Dylan went over to them and they started talking.

Stella wheeled the stroller beside her and sat next to Emily on a bench. “Sinead is with her daddy right now,” she explained. “Her grandparents are in town and they offered to watch the baby. And how is this little rug rat?” Mara was sucking one of Patrick Star’s arms. Emily patted the baby’s bonneted head.

“Oh she’s very well,” Stella replied, glancing at the kindergarteners. “Good thing she didn’t catch her brother’s bug.”

“Aw… we heard about that,” the shorter woman said. “When one of my twins get sick, it’s inevitable that the other one will get it as well. It’s a ‘twin thing’.” They laughed. “And how’s the hubby? Saw it on the news that his team is working that business hot-shot rape case.”

As the adults talked, the children were having their own conversation. “You’re feeling better, Dylan?” Bettina asked with concern in her voice. The boy nodded and smiled.

“You missed the song last Friday,” Bobby said after drinking from his tumbler. “Bettina and I have a part where we sing together. And you have one where you sing it all by yourself.”

“I know. Maggie told me,” he explained.

Bettina nodded. “Yeah, Maggie and her mom told Miss Warwick that they’d give you that homework.” The four of them, plus Carrie Eames, Ernie Coley and Jonas Hart were classmates the year before and are best of friends now. “Do you know the song already?”

“Some of it,” Dylan answered. “Mommy knows the song.”

“Our mommy does, too,” Bobby said. “Oh, there’s Maggie now.”

As said, the bubbly little blonde was skipping towards the group, her mom right behind her. Elise Berringer joined the mommies’ circle while the younger Berringer found a seat beside Bettina.

“You’re here!” she said happily, looking at Dylan’s direction. “I told you the candypop worked.”

“Yeah, not the menecine,” Bobby added. Their classroom began to fill up. “Mommy kept on saying it’s the menecine but I always feel better after the candy.” His twin nodded in agreement.

Soon, their mothers kissed them goodbye because their class will start soon. Miss Warwick entered the room with a CD player and her notebook. Jonas, Carrie and Ernie joined the group in their worktable.

While the teacher was checking attendance, Dylan reached into his backpack. He tapped Maggie’s shoulder and said, “Here. You left this at our house,” he slid the little Carebear across the table to the little girl. “Mr. Cheeks liked the company.” Maggie smiled and placed her toy in her own bag.

By the end of the school day, Dylan had a new song to sing for his mommy, daddy and baby sister. He even sang it in front of Danny, Flack, Lindsey, Sheldon, Adam and Sid. Mara clapped happily.

The next day, however, their drawing time was interrupted by a loud, “Achoo!” This time, it was from Maggie. “Sorry. Itchy nose,” she said, dabbing her nose daintily with a hanky. Not long after, she sneezed again. So hard, her eyes watered.

“Uh-oh… we should call your mommy,” Miss Warwick said, attending to the child. The Feehily twins, Carrie and Dylan all stopped drawing to ask Maggie if she was okay.

“I ab,” she sniffed. “Jus itchy nose.”

“Sorry,” Dylan whispered. “I told you not to get too close.”

Maggie rubbed her nose. “But I gots my flu shot – and it hurt,” she whined. Then her mom came into the room.

“Oopsie,” Elise Berringer said, picking her daughter up. “Got the bug from Papa, didn’t you, little lady?” Maggie sniffed and nodded. She buried her head on her mom’s shoulder and a small sob came from her lips.

“How about the song?” a mumbled cry came from Maggie.

Elise looked at the teacher. “Well, the program will be next month,” she explained. “Plenty of time to practice. Just have some rest, Maggie.” The little girl nodded, her face hidden by her hair.

“Who’ll sing my part?” she asked.

The teacher faced the class and asked them. Dylan’s hand shot up. “I’ll sing your part, Maggie.”

“D’you know the words, Dylan?” Maggie asked him.

Dylan nodded. “You showed me ‘member?” he replied.

Miss Warwick smiled at the exchange. “That’s settled then,” she clapped. “Maggie, you get well. Okay, baby girl? And while you’re resting, Dylan will sing your lines. Is that good?” Maggie nodded and smiled.

“Thank you, Dylan,” she said. “Bye-bye guys.” There was a chorus of ‘bye, Maggie!’ and then the Berringers went home.

Maggie missed school the next day and the day after that. Bobby and Bettina visited her on Tuesday. Dylan dropped by on the next day. She was getting better and was to attend school on Thursday.

Dylan and Maggie practiced the song during his visit.

“I’m glad Mama gave me candypops yesterday,” Maggie said, jumping on a beanbag. “I’m okay now.” Dylan flopped face down on another beanbag.

“That’s good,” he said to his friend. “We really miss you in class.”

She stopped wrestling with the bag and asked shyly, “Really?” Her eyes were sparkling.

He nodded, sitting up properly. He kept on slipping to the floor. Maggie giggled as he opted to lean on the beanbag instead. “Jonas kept asking if you’re okay already and Julie always forgets her part in the song.”

Julie Castine was a new student and she sings with Maggie at one part of ‘Rainbow Connection’.

Elise and Stella went to the living room with the kids bearing a glass of lemonade each. “Ready for school tomorrow, Maggie?” Stella asked after getting a kiss from the girl.

“Yes, Missus Taylor,” she said. She took two cookies from the plate and gave one to Dylan.

“Aww…” Elise cooed. “Did you see that, Stella?” she whispered to her. Stella just nodded with a smile.

“One day…” Stella started.

“Yeah. One day…” Elise agreed.

10/18/07

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Mandi – yes, I am still watching RENT. Singing “La Vie Boheme” all the way haha.

Mo – yeah, “Dylan and Maggie sitting in a tree…” LOL.