Sorry it took so long, but I edited over and over and over so many times, I just wanted it to be as good and as accurate as I can. And I've been much busier than I thought. *hyperness* So… this is it. Enjoy this tidbit... I will not cry… I will NOT cry… ok I'm not crying . I have to write- I'm stalling and I can't seem to stop! Ok, here you go:

14 years later

"Sorry I'm late." Maya said as she slid into her seat next to Viktor. "I was out with Paul and Junie. But this time we went to Junie's house 'cause at Paul's the twins were there and out of the two Isabella is so much more annoying than Brook. Hence, I'm late."

"You're talking about Emily and Kyle's twins?" Gaia asked. These days you could refer to grown-ups by their first name or by Mabrother/Masister if they still preferred it. Emily and Kyle went by first name, as did Josephine and Will and many others.

"What other Isabellas are there?"

"There's an Isabel in my class!" Viktor cut in excitedly, unnoticed by his mother and aunt/sister. (because Maya's his aunt but technically they grew up like siblings?)

"But Isabella's so sweet!" Gaia protested against Maya's point.

"She's annoying, that's what she is. So we went to Junie's. Her parents are so cool, especially Josephine, and even though she has a little brother, he's ten and he can't do anything irritating because he's always doing... I actually don't know what he does." She frowned. " Anyway, where's Leon?" Maya asked. "He's never late for dinner."

"Oops, I forgot to tell him dinner was ready." Gaia stood up and went to the stairwell. "LEON DINNER'S READY." She hollered.

"How many times do you tell me not to do that?" Maya accused.

"It was an emergency." Gaia said innocently. "And I'm supposed to tell you things because I'm your sister and I give you sisterly love and because I'm older."

"What about me? You nag me." Viktor asked.

"You're only seven. You have to get nagged more than me." Maya said poking him playfully.

"Being seven doesn't mean I have to be told to do stuff I don't want to do. I'm practicaly a grown-up." He grumbled, poking Maya back. Leon finally appeared at the bottom of the stairs.

"What'd I miss?" He asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Gaia said, at the same time Maya said, "You missed a lot." Leon didn't question the remarks but the edges of his mouth were tilting upward.

As they ate, there was the usual chatter. Maya had school exams coming up, Gaia was expecting to monitor a birth the next day and Viktor had a wild classmate who had a tendency to bite people.

After dinner Gaia pulled on a shawl and announced, "I have to go to the market. Who wants to come with?"

Maya had just marched to the stairs so she swung herself around on the banister at the bottom to face her sister.

"Sorry, I have to study. Though I think I'll V-Chat Paul first, I need to ask him if-"

"Maya's got a boyfriend!" Viktor proclaimed.

"No, I don't! Do I have to tell you the difference again?!" Maya snapped and climbed the stairs swiftly. Viktor grinned and his hair covered his eyes, making him look cuter. (In case you haven't noticed, I love this kid)

"Come on Viktor, let's go." Gaia opened the door to go down and outside and held out her hand. Leon picked up Viktor and flung him over his shoulder. Viktor laughed hysterically. Leon set him down by the door and kissed Gaia goodbye.

"EW!" Viktor covered his eyes. Leon smirked and stepped back, ruffling Viktor's hair, though it didn't make a difference because Viktor's hair as always mussed.

"Love ya lots. We won't be long." Gaia called as she closed the door.

"She says it! She loves me! Now I can stop ripping petals off flowers!" Leon feigned surprise. Gaia laughed. She wasn't one to proclaim her love to someone all the time, but Leon knew perfectly well how she loved him. Every time he looked at her she felt melt-y inside. She laughed again when she looked down. "Viktor, you can open your eyes now."

"Good." He said, lowering his hands from his eyes, looking serious. They walked for a bit and when they got closer to the market, Gaia suggested what she did every time she went to the market with Viktor.

"Want to race?"

"Yeah!" Viktor yelped gleefully. He took off on speedy legs, outrunning Gaia, who had already given up trying to beat him. Just like his father, she thought, the notion popping into her head casually. She would see Viktor at the corner of the marketplace, where he always waited for her to catch up. This time, he came racing back and almost collided with his mother.

"Taja's fat! Like, really fat." He said breathlessly.

"What?" Gaia asked, half laughing and half confused. "Show me." Viktor grabbed her hand and led her to the edge of the marketplace.

"There." He said, pointing to a pretty woman whose back was turned to them. She looked ordinary, not overweight.

"Viktor, she's not fat." Gaia said, swatting his hand away. "And don't point at people." They were standing next to the wall of a building, and she felt so ridiculous spying on Taja. Or someone who was supposed to be Taja. Taja/Random lady turned around. Gaia almost burst out laughing. "She's pregnant, not fat, silly!"

Viktor's face turned red under his dark hair. "I knew that." He said sheepishly.

"C'mon , let's go say hello!" She urged, pulling him along. Taja saw them before they were within talking distance. She waved and smiled brightly. Gaia closed the distance and they both said their salutations. Then she asked how far along Taja was.

"Eight months! It's due in a few weeks. In fact, I went to the doctor a couple of months ago and It is a girl. Peter and I want to name her Sabina." Taja was evidently excited. Well, It was better than being scared. "Even having been here over a decade, I still marvel at the technology here… it's so unrealistic." She patted her enlarged stomach absently. (Did ya know that a woman feels 57 Dels of pain when giving birth? That's similar to 20 bones fracturing at the same time!)

"That's so weird!" Viktor's eyes were huge. "They can tell what it is before it's born?"

"Yes," she said quickly. "Hey, why don't you check if they're selling any oranges this time?" She gave him some money and nudged him towards the fruit vendor. Viktor momentarily forgot about his questions and ran off. Gaia wondered if he would actually spend it on fruit.

Taja smiled again and said good-bye. After a moment Gaia faced the open street and gazed into the horizon. The walls were no more, only houses and buildings blocking the view. In the distance there was only wasteland, but the sun was low in the sky, not harsh, but casting a soft glow that penetrated each detail of the people and buildings. What a perfect time to be nostalgic.

Odin had left shortly after Gaia's speech that day so long ago, but not before having a word with her. She always felt slightly awkward talking to him, but when he came to visit often every year it became less and less uncomfortable. She also found her other brother, Arthur, but they barely saw each other nowadays.

But since Leon (with her help) had made many changed to was once the Enclave, access to water was easy, food was abundant and people were happy. It was almost too good to be true. Obviously there were conflicts, but compared to what Gaia faced during her childhood, they were nothing.

This was more of a cliché. A wonderful, sincere cliché. She had a loving family, friends, and so much more than she could have imagined when she lived in Wharfton. Life was good, and she wanted to fill it completely.

She felt someone tug at her hand. It was Viktor. "I bought two," he said, handing her a small bag with two fresh oranges inside and change. The radiant hue of the fruit reminded her of so many things.

Gaia smiled.

This has been so fun, guys! Writing my first ever fanfiction, as the first person to write for Birthmarked. Thanks for reading and reviewing! You'll see me again (I'm Sage, as you know) when I create my second fanfic on The Blair Witch Project. I don't know what to call it yet but look out for wolfpupaek. Also, special thanks to Moss, who posted the chapters and edited when I needed help and such. But mostly, thanks for everything. You can cry now. Just kidding! :P Surprisingly, I expected tears welling up in my eyes. But they're not. But in my head they are. I'll see you later! So… BYE! For now!