literature

A Second Life: Chapter 12

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It didn't take Once-ler long to find his family's RV. Sun-Ray had actually found it, and it was only parked about a mile from the driveways.

Once-ler didn't even knock on the door to the RV.

He flung the door open and stormed in, followed by the Lorax and the enraged animals.

The animals and the Lorax cornered Once-ler's family and kept them there.

Once-ler cornered his mother off and had her backed up against the wall of the RV.

"Why?" Once-ler growled.

Isabella was too shocked by the sudden entrance and fierceness of Once-ler, that she couldn't speak.

"Why did you try and kill Aislinn?" Once-ler shouted.

Isabella's eye twitched in annoyance.

"You mean that witch isn't dead?" she hissed.

"You better be glad she isn't," Once-ler said. "Because if she was dead, I wouldn't have come in here so calmly."

Once-ler thought he heard his brother's sigh in relief when he said Aislinn was alive, but he ignored it.

"I was trying to get her out of the way!" Isabella said, trying to sound innocent. "She was getting between me and you Oncie!"

Once-ler's eye twitched this time.

"Don't ever call me by that stupid nickname again," he growled.

Isabella backed up against the wall some more. She had never seen Once-ler act like this. He was enraged, with nothing but revenge and hatred on his mind.

"And don't you say that Aislinn was getting between us," Once-ler said, coldly. "There was never an 'us' Mother. You never liked me. You said so yourself that because of me, your life was ruined. So don't give me that load of crap!"

Isabella's eyes narrowed at Once-ler, but she didn't say a word.

Once-ler pointed a finger in her face.

"If you EVER come near my family again," he said, anger dripping from every word. "So help me, you will regret the day you ever came to this valley."

"Like that's a threat?" Isabella said, her trembling voice giving away her fear. "That's nothing! I already regret that! And I regret having you!"

Once-ler punched a hole in the wall, barely centimeters from Isabella's head. Her eyes grew wide and her mouth gaped open.

"You want a threat?" Once-ler hissed. "Then how about this? If you come near my family again, your head will end up like this wall."

Isabella blinked stupidly at Once-ler.

"Am I clear, Isabella?" Once-ler asked.

Isabella flinched at her name, but nodded.

"Good," Once-ler said, simply, removing his hand from the wall.

He then turned and walked out of the RV; the Lorax and the animals following him out, but growling and baring their teeth at the family.

                                                                                                                                         


When Once-ler got home, Melody greeted him at the door. She smiled at him and said a simple thank you, like she knew what he had done, and told him that Aislinn was awake and Gran and Melody were going to go to their house and sleep.

Once-ler rushed in his and Aislinn's bedroom to see Aislinn sitting up in the bed, looking alert.

"Are you okay?" Once-ler said, putting his hands on either side of Aislinn's face. "Are you in pain? Do I need to get Gran to come back over?"

Aislinn simply covered his mouth with her hand.

"Hush," she said. "I'm fine. Yes I hurt but that's normal. And no let Gran go home and sleep."

Once-ler blinked at Aislinn, and sighed in relief, his whole body relaxing. Aislinn removed her hand from Once-ler's mouth.

"Now that I have answered your questions," she said, smiling at him. "You need to answer mine."

Once-ler sat down in the chair he had left beside the bed, and he nodded at Aislinn.

"Where were you just now?" Aislinn asked.

Once-ler looked down at the floor.

"Once," Aislinn said, her voice sounding like she was coaxing him to talk.

Once-ler briefly glanced up at Aislinn, then began to explain where he went and what had happened. When he was done, Aislinn was frowning slightly.

"Please tell me you didn't do anything to Bret and Chet," she said.

Once-ler's head snapped back up to look at her.

"I didn't," he said, frowning a little. "But why do you care?"

"Because they tried to come back and help me!" Aislinn said. "Isabella wouldn't let them though."

"They could have!" Once-ler said, his voice growing louder. "They had the choice! And they chose to follow that- that woman's orders!"

Aislinn's eyes narrowed.

"If I recall correctly," she said, her voice getting lower. "I know someone in this very room that used to follow 'that woman's' orders! And he did something much worse than what his brother's just did!"

Once-ler stood up, hands clenched into tight fists.

"Oh!" he shouted. "So you're going to bring that up? I've changed! I'm different from what I was back then!"

"I agree," Aislinn said calmly. "But! You have no right to judge Bret and Chet, when you yourself did the same thing, but on a much worse scale!"

Realization hit Once-ler like a ton of bricks. Aislinn was right. He had no right to say things about his older brothers, when he too did the very same thing.

Once-ler unclenched his fists and sat back down in the chair. He took his fedora off and ran a hand through his hair.

"You're right," Once-ler said softly.

"Excuse me?" Aislinn said, raising her hand to cup around her ear.

"I said you are right," Once-ler said, looking at her.

Aislinn smirked.

"I know," she said. "I just wanted to hear you say it again."

Once-ler chuckled and shook his head.

"Seriously though," Aislinn said. "You won't be harsh on Bret and Chet will you?"

Once-ler thought about it a moment. Yes his brother's picked on him, but he knew that was only because of their mother. Usually when it was just the three of them, Bret and Chet looked after Once-ler and played with him. They were nice, but they wanted to please their mother. Just like Once-ler use too.

"I won't be harsh on my brother's," Once-ler said.

"Good," Aislinn said. "Now do me a favor?"

Once-ler looked at Aislinn and nodded.

"Can you fill the bath tub up with nice hot water?" she asked. "I feel super gross."

Once-ler had forgotten that Aislinn had gotten mud, rain, and blood on her and all of it was now dried on her.  

Once-ler smiled and got up.

"I can do that," he said, going into the bathroom and starting the bathtub to filling.

He went and got her a wash cloth and a towel and made sure that everything she needed was within reach.

Aislinn had managed to move to the edge of the bed herself, but she wanted help getting into the bathroom. Once-ler was more than willing to help. Once-ler then left her alone and closed the bathroom door and changed the bed sheets, since there was blood on them.

After Aislinn had gotten a bath, washed her hair, and changed into her pajamas, she called for Once-ler to help her back to bed. Once-ler came in and helped Aislinn limp to the bed.

Once they were in the bed, Once-ler carefully wrapped his arms around Aislinn and pulled her close. All Aislinn felt was the warmth. She was exhausted from the day's events and she was nearly asleep by the time her head hit the pillow.

Once-ler watched her sleep for awhile, then pulled her even closer to him and went to sleep himself.

                                                                                                                                         


"I need to get out of this house! If I don't, I'm going to go INSANE!!!"

It had been nearly a week since Aislinn was hurt. She had bruises everywhere and she was a little stiff and sore. Gran had made her stay in bed for the first two days, then Aislinn had started getting up and cleaning house on the third day.

Gran then told Aislinn she couldn't leave the house. That had been four days ago. Aislinn was crawling up the walls trying to find a way to get out of the house. And after her little outburst toward Gran, Gran finally agreed to let her go to town with Once-ler to get groceries and some medical supplies.

Aislinn had hugged her Gran and limped to find Once-ler.

Gran saw Aislinn dragging Once-ler by the collar toward the car. He simply waved at Gran before Aislinn let him go so he could get in the car.

Gran watched them drive away and hoped that Once-ler could get away from Aislinn in town so he could pick up Aislinn's surprise.

*Flashback – A few days ago*

"I want to marry Aislinn," Once-ler stammered to Gran and Melody.

Once-ler had managed to get the two of them together and away from Aislinn. He had been meaning to ask them for permission for awhile now, but he just now got the nerve up to ask.

To his surprise, Gran hugged him tightly and Melody squealed and jumped up and down.

"Finally!" Melody nearly shouted. "Finally! Finally! FINALLY!!"

"So I take that as a yes?" Once-ler nervously asked.

Gran pulled back from her hug and nodded.

"Of course dear!" she said. "I wouldn't want anyone else to marry her!"

*End of Flashback*

Once-ler had to order Aislinn's engagement ring, and the day before he had gotten a call saying it was ready to be picked up.

Once-ler had tried to figure out ways to ask Aislinn to marry him, but everything he thought of got too complicated and, in his head, ended in disaster.

When they had reached town, they first went to the medical supply store and picked up everything Gran needed. Aislinn was amazed that they even got through the store. Once-ler had become popular since he started coming to town, which was before they built their houses, and had started helping people around town. Many people now were asking Once-ler to run for mayor, Once-ler would always reply by saying he would think about it. Aislinn, though, thought it was a great idea, and made a mental note to try and talk him into it.

After they put the medical supplies in the car, Once-ler made up an excuse that he was going to help someone and that Aislinn would have to get the groceries by herself. Aislinn was fine with it, but asked if he could wait for her outside the grocery store when he was finished. She was still limping pretty badly and she needed Once-ler to help her lift the heavy things into the car since she couldn't get a good foothold to lift anything heavy.

Once-ler agreed, kissed her forehead, which got some 'aw's' from some women nearby, then he went the long way to the jewelry store.

When he arrived, the manager happily greeted Once-ler and went in the back and pick up the engagement ring. Once-ler opened the green velvet box and looked at the ring again, happy at his choice. The ring was white gold with three diamonds in the center and two smaller diamonds on each side of the center trio. The diamond in the center of the three was the largest, then the two on each side of the center diamond was slightly smaller. To him it was simple yet pretty for Aislinn. She wasn't someone who would wear flashy things.

Once-ler told the manager thank you and paid him, then waved good-bye and slipped the ring in his pocket and went back to the grocery store to wait for Aislinn.

When he arrived at the grocery store, however, he saw a few people coming out of the store looking worried and whispering to each other. Once-ler frowned but thought nothing of it and went and sat on a bench right outside the door.

He heard the door open and he heard a voice shouting.

"Dad! I said let me go!"

Once-ler turned to see a tall man with dark brown hair and green eyes, pulling someone by the arm out of the store.

"Dad, stop it!"

Once-ler realized it was Aislinn being pulled by the man.

Once-ler stood up and shouted at them, causing the man to stop and turn around.

"You heard her," Once-ler said. "She said to let her go."

The man smirked.

"Boy," he said, his voice low and his words slurring. "I'm her father. She and her sister ran away from home several months ago and now that I've caught her, she's coming home with me. Then she'll tell me where her sister is and we'll go get her. Isn't that right Aislinn?"

Aislinn glared at Gale and tried to pull out of his hold.

"Like hell I would!" she hissed.

*SLAP*

Aislinn's head jerked to the side.

A few people that were nearby gasped.

Gale smirked as his daughter put her hand to her now red cheek.

"I'll make you remember who controls you!" Gale said, tugging on Aislinn's arm. "You've seem to have forgotten that. But don't worry. You'll -"

Gale sentence was cut off suddenly. He hadn't seen Once-ler run up to him and the punch that he delivered to Gale's face was hard enough to knock Gale to the ground.

Aislinn was standing there, looking shocked by what she had just witnessed. Once-ler stood over her father, glaring down at the man.

"Don't touch my girlfriend," Once-ler growled.

Aislinn heard some more gasps in the crowd, but then a murmur started and she thought she heard someone say that the police were on the way.

"Why you little bastard!" Gale snarled, stumbling back onto his feet.

Gale tried to punch Once-ler, but Once-ler side-stepped it. Gale tried again, but Once-ler simply side-stepped again. This went on for a few minutes, till a police officer came up and grabbed Gale and put his hands behind his back.

"That's enough Gale," the officer said. "I can't believe all those rumors about you beating on your daughters were true. I just thought you were a drunken fool."

Gale just snarled at the officer.

"Thanks Once-ler," the officer said to Once-ler. "I'm glad you were here. This guy has been nothing but trouble for years. Looks like now he'll be getting some jail time."

"Good," Once-ler said, rubbing his fist that he punched Gale with. "I really don't like him."

"Neither do I," Aislinn said, limping up beside Once-ler.

"Don't worry Aislinn," the officer said. "He won't be bothering you or your sister for a long time."

"Thank you," Aislinn smiled.

The officer nodded his head then handcuffed Gale and dragged him away. All the while, Gale was shouting and cursing at Aislinn and Once-ler.

Once-ler wanted to ask Aislinn was she OK, but she shook her head at him, as if reading his mind, and pointed to the groceries she left by the door. He nodded and helped her put the groceries up in the car and they left for home.

Aislinn was silent in the car. She didn't speak and just stared out the window. Once-ler didn't say anything either.

When they got home it was already evening. Gran and Melody had greeted them outside but quickly asked what happened to Aislinn's cheek and Once-ler explained what happened.

Gran and Melody both were shocked and angry, but glad Gale was going to jail.

"Good riddance," Melody said, disgusted.

She glanced at her sister and noticed the she was staring off into space.

"Ais?" Melody asked. "You OK?"

Aislinn jumped a little but smiled and nodded.

"I'm just going to go and put up the groceries," she said, turning and heading into the house. "I'm a little tired. I guess I should have listened to you, Gran. I think I did too much. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

Once-ler frowned a little after her.

"Talk to her," Gran said, as she ushered Melody back in their house. "She's just upset right now."

Once-ler nodded and waved at Gran and Melody before walking over to his house.

Aislinn had already put up most of the groceries and was still in her own world.

"Alright," Once-ler said walking up to the bar and leaning against it. "What's wrong?"

Aislinn glanced at Once-ler, then went back to putting up groceries.

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Liar," Once-ler said.

Aislinn looked at Once-ler again.

"Is it that bad?" she asked.

"Yes," Once-ler said. "Now tell me what's wrong? Is it about what happened today?"

Aislinn put the last of the groceries away and silently stood in front of Once-ler with her hands resting on the counter.

"Yes," she whispered. "I was so afraid today."

Once-ler frowned and walked around the bar and stood close to Aislinn. She turned her head to look at him, and Once-ler noticed that she had tears in her eyes.

"I was so frightened!" Aislinn said, her voice cracking. "I’ve gotten so used to feeling safe. And then he found me in the store and shoved me into the wall there. No one saw anything and I saw something in his eyes I’ve never seen before. He had lost it Once! He was going to kill me, I was so sure of it! I've always been able to put on a brave face, but today, I was actually afraid for my life!"

Once-ler pulled her into a hug and stroked her back trying to calm her down some.

"Shhh," he whispered. "You're safe now. He can't hurt you anymore."

"He was going to!" Aislinn said, her shoulders shaking from holding back her tears. "He was going to hurt me or worse! He was going to drag me back to that hell hole! I would have never gotten out! Then he would have gotten Melody! Then what kind of sister would I have been to let him drag her back there! To that godforsaken dark place! We would have died there! You and Gran would have never been able to find us! He would have locked us away! He would have kept us there till we were dead!"

Aislinn's breathing was coming in gasps now and tears were streaming down her face.

Once-ler pulled Aislinn's face up to face his. He saw fear and terror in her gold eyes. Gale had really scared her today.

"He will not touch you!" Once-ler gently. "He is gone!"

"How can you be sure?" Aislinn asked, histerical now. "You don't know that! What if he gets out? He’ll come looking for us. Oh God, he’ll find Gran and Melody!"

"He won’t get out!!" Once-ler said. "He won't hurt you or Melody again! He won’t even hurt Gran!"

"But - !" Aislinn started.

Once-ler kissed her to shut her up.

He pulled back from her and smiled gently.

"He's gone," he whispered.

Aislinn's eyes darted over Once-ler’s face, shining with tears and full of fear.

"No more talk of darkness," Once-ler sang softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Forget these wide-eyed fears; I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you."

Once-ler pulled Aislinn close to him, wrapping his arms around her waist and rested his chin on top of her head.

"Let me be your freedom," Once-ler continued singing, swaying with Aislinn in the kitchen. "Let daylight dry your tears; I'm here, with you, beside you; to guard you and to guide you."

Aislinn wiped her eyes and looked up at Once-ler.

"Say you'll love me, every waking moment," Aislinn sang to Once-ler. "Turn my head with talk of summertime; say you need me with you now and always; promise me that all you say is true."

She paused in her singing and stood on her tiptoes and put her forehead on Once-ler's forehead.

"That's all I ask of you," she sang softly.

"Let me be you shelter," Once-ler sang, tightening his hold on Aislinn's waist. "Let me be your light; you're safe, no one will find you; your fears are far behind you."

"All I want is freedom," Aislinn sang smiling, slightly. "A world with no more night; and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me."

Once-ler smiled and picked Aislinn up off the floor and twirled her around, causing a surprised squeak from Aislinn.

"Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime," he sang. "Let me lead you from your solitude; say you need me with you, here beside you; anywhere you go, let me go too. Aislinn, that's all I ask of you."

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime," Aislinn sang, wrapping her arms around Once-ler's neck. "Say the word and I will follow you."

"Share each day with me, each night, each morning," they both sang together.

"Say you love me," Aislinn sang softly, leaning her forehead against Once-ler's again.

"You know I do," he replied, singing softly.

"Love me," they sang together. "That's all I ask of you."

Once-ler slowly put Aislinn back down on the floor, and unwrapped his arms around her. Aislinn frowned slightly.

Once-ler held up a hand, to tell her to wait and then fished around in his pockets and pulled out the green velvet box he had just gotten today. Aislinn's eyes widened.

"I know this probably the worse possible timing ever," he spoke softly. "But I don't think I'll get another opportunity to ask you in a little bit of a romantic setting."

Once-ler got down on one knee and opened the box to reveal the ring. Aislinn felt tears rolling down her face again as her hands covered her mouth.

"Aislinn," Once-ler said, his voice trembling a little. "You have already done so much for me. And I can never thank you or repay you for all of that. And I know that you could have anybody you wanted to love. But you chose me. Even though I question why a lot of times."

Aislinn giggled a little.

"But I would be honored," Once-ler continued. "If you would become my wife and be with me through sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, through thick and thin. Ais, will you marry me?"

Aislinn let her hands fall to her sides and she grinned through her tears.

"Yes!" she said, laughing and sobbing a little. "We black sheep have to stick together, remember?"

Once-ler grinned from ear to ear, remembering what she had first said to him long ago when he hired her at his factory. His heart was racing a mile and minute. He put the ring on Aislinn's finger and stood back up. Aislinn jumped on him and wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Anywhere you go let me go too," they sang. "Love me . . . That's all I ask of you."

Then they kissed.

A long powerful, passionate kiss.

The best kiss they had ever shared. Besides their first kiss, but this was a close second.

When they finally pulled away they were both grinning like a pair of idiots. They wanted to tell everyone that they were officially engaged, but when they looked outside, it was well into the night.

They both agreed that they would wait till in the morning. They both got ready for bed and cuddled up next to each other. Once-ler lay on his back, and Aislinn was curled up next to him on his left side with her left hand and head on his chest. Her ring sparkled in the moonlight shining through their window. Soon though, Aislinn had fallen asleep and Once-ler heard and felt her soft breathing on his bare chest. He grinned again and kissed her forehead.

"Love me," he sang softly. "That's all I ask of you."

Then he, too, went to sleep.

Guess who got hit with inspiration to write?

ME!!! :icondummydanceplz:

Only because I'm sick and can't go to clinicals cause I has a fever . . . :icondepressedplz:

So I've been writing all day!! :evillaugh:

I believe this is the fastest I've ever updated chapters . . . Ever . . .

Anyway . . .

Once-ler told his Mother off!! HAHA!!

Then Aislinn had to bring Oncie back down to earth when he was judging poor Bret and Chet!

You go girl!! :iconsuperw00tplz:

ONCE-LER PROPOSED!!!

:iconohuplz: Oh Oncie! You do have a little bit of bad timing, but I think it was perfect!

So . . . I guess I get to write a wedding? :iconawesomefaceplz:

So that means . . . Online dress looking!! :iconepiclaplz:

Oh! Before I forget! I did research and found Aislinn's engagement ring, wedding band and Once-ler's wedding band today! But you only get to see Aislinn's engagement ring! :iconhurrplz: You'll have to wait for the others!

Here is the link to see Aislinn's ring: [link]

:iconlegaspplz:
Gale tried to take Aislinn away! But Oncie was there to save her!! :iconlaplz: YAY!!

Then Aislinn had a total melt-down afterwards :iconwthplz:
But she does deserve to do that after everything she's been through with Once-ler, Isabella, and Gale . . . She's had it kinda rough . . . I should feel bad that I put her through all of this . . . Nope . . . Not really! :iconohohoplz:

So for those of you who don't know what the song Once and Ais are singing, the song is called "All I Ask of You" from Phantom of the Opera. The new movie. The one with Gerard Butler in it . . . I think that's how you spell his name . . . Oh well . . . It's pretty. And I wrote it out to the music . . . A little . . . In the time Once-ler actually asks Aislinn to marry him, that is all instrumental in the real song . . .

Here's the link to the song I used: [link]

Just go listen to it . . . It'll make sense then . . . .

And when they are singing . . . Once-ler's voice is in bold, Aislinn's voice is in italics, and when they sing together it's bold and italics

Thought I would tell you

I'm rambling again . . .

Have I missed anything? Or actually talked about anything useful?

Probably not . . .

COMMENT PLEASE!! There's only one or two more chapters left! But then I have a heck of a lot of one-shots!! :icondummydanceplz:

SORRY FOR ANY GRAMMER OR SPELLING MISTAKES!!!

Once-ler, the Lorax, the animals and Once-ler's crazy family belongs to Dr. Seuss

Aislinn and her family belongs to ME!! DON'T USE HER IN ANY WAY, UNLESS I GIVE YOU PERMISSION!!!!

Chapter 11: [link]
Chapter 13: [link]
The One that Started it All: [link]
© 2012 - 2024 Aerrows-Girl
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