The Epilogue

I couldn't phone Chelle since she was in school, so I sent her a text saying I was back in the land of the living and looking forward to speaking to her. I did manage to speak to Gem. The real question was what to do about Eve and Laura. It was obvious that they both wanted to get together, I just needed to come up with something to get them over their self created barriers.

Chelle phoned me as soon as she had a break and it was wonderful hearing her voice. Of course to me, we had only spoken yesterday, but to her that was over three months ago. She felt the need to apologise about going on these dates. She felt guilty having a good time and seeing someone who was romantically interested in her. She assured me that she was not in the slightest sexually interested in them. She felt so awkward during the process, worried that every time she smiled they would feel that she was leading them on. Most of them had been alright, with a few quite pleasant and some truly shocking bad ones. At least, after the fact, they made good stories.

I texted Jen, not sure about the time difference and not wanting to disturb anyone. She didn't immediately phone me, but we had a chat later. Laura had been keeping them informed, but there was nothing anyone could do but wait for me to wake up. Initially it had been hard and she as well as Katie and Dillans parents wanted to come over and visit me, however, at the same time, access to me was very restricted and until the MIB had come to the conclusion that I was, in fact, Dillan in a different body, no one was allowed to see me. They are still very interested in my healing ability, presuming it is associated with what I had gone through on the bus. While I was unconscious they had done all sorts of tests and if Laura hadn't intervened, I suspect they would still be using me as a lab rat.

When mum announced my adoption to the media and created a media frenzy, the government decided that what little they could gain by further examination was not worth the price. I was still being tested, but now only non invasive and necessary ones. My real challenge, was getting out of hospital. Theoretically, after three months in a coma I should have been weak as anything and need rehabilitation to be able to get about. Since that thankfully wasn't the case, I just needed to convince the doctors. They already knew that I was an anomaly in regards to my healing, still they wanted me to stay over night to make sure of my recovery. Mum decided that she was going to stay with me and organised a fold out bed. Gem came in later and we were able to cry and hug together.

I wanted to get Gem alone so that I could set something up for bringing Eve and Laura together, but mum didn't really want me to leave her sight so I didn't have the chance. Instead I decided to communicate with Gem via text. I suggested we went out for a meal the following night, to celebrate my release and recovery. Mum agreed with that and left it in Gem's hands to organise which gave me an opportunity. I asked Gem to set it all up. Book two separate tables, a three seat and two seat and tell Eve to go all out on the romance front.

Glory of glories, they removed the catheter as part of my release agreement with the doctors was that I showed myself to be fully recovered. I did have a nightmare in the night. I think that was part of the reason mum insisted on sleeping in the same room. For the first time I remembered a bit of it. Large men with shadows for faces chasing me. I was running but couldn't get away and when they caught me, I woke up screaming. Laura was there stroking me, soothing me. Then she climbed into bed and spooned me. The door to our hospital room did open and a nurse checked on us, then left us to it.

After a thorough exam the next day I was cleared to go. We didn't go back to the house though. Mum had moved out and was living in a hotel near the hospital. Gem had gathered my clothes so I could leave the hospital with some dignity. Mum arranged to have someone come in and style my much longer hair. The pink colour had gone. I didn't notice at the time but it was semi permanent and after three months was non existent. Besides a slight trim and style, mum also carefully applied some makeup. It wasn't until when I left and we had to go through all the camera flashes that I realised why we had bothered. I was officially a celebrity now and would have to be on my best behaviour on an almost permanent basis.

My hair wasn't the only thing that had changed during my three month sleep. My breasts had grown from an A cup to somewhere between a C and a D cup. This meant my clothes didn't fit right. The answer, of course, was more shopping. First for a bra fitting and then everything else. Although I didn't have the muscle wasting that was expected, I still didn't have any stamina. Mum was really good with me, so we stopped whenever I felt tired. During the spa treatments afterwards, I slept through a good part of my massage. That did give me a second wind so I was ready for our restaurant adventure.

We had sat down and ordered our drinks when I received a text that Eve had arrived. I stood up and asked mum to come with me. With a confused look she acquiesced, so I led her to the reserved two seater table next to ours and asked her to sit. As she sat down, Eve appeared with flowers in her hand and her guitar on a strap over her shoulder. I kissed mum on the cheek, then gave Eve a hug and a kiss, before moving back to my table with Gem. Then I watched with a smile on my face as Eve went down on one knee and presented the flowers and followed it with a song, saying how much she loved her. I had tears in my eyes as they hugged and kissed. Gem had managed a surprise for me, since Chelle sneaked up to hug and kiss me.

Eve managed to convince mum to move back in. I managed to have a good chat with Eve later. She was very grateful for my assistance and felt the need to apologise for her actions. I forgave her and all was right with the world. Chelle couldn't stay the night as she still had this deal with her mother. At least I had missed three months of that and there was only another month to go before that was over. Until then she was allowed to see me and have dates with me, but only as often as she had dates with her mother's choices and no sleeping over. After June all bets were off.

Once life had returned back to normal Eve invited Chelle and I to accompany her on her summer tour. She suggested since we all had fun working on a song together that we do it again. She had shown our song to her record company and they were interested but wanted enough songs to make up an album before releasing any singles. Eve had already recorded a new album of her own, and I was included as the inspiration on four of the songs. Laura had chosen her next movie role, bearing in mind that she was going to be on tour with Eve first. Neither Laura or Eve needed to make an album with us, but both had enjoyed the process and sometimes you do something for fun, not just to further your career.

The tour included London, so I could meet my previous family then. Eve had already put aside the tickets and sent them an invitation to the show. Life was looking good. The marriage was back on but a new date would need to be worked out and I was going to be a bridesmaid. They were thinking of a smaller affair on a sunny beach in the Bahamas.