Chapter 4: America is missing!

TRAVIS SKY 

  

"Honey, what are you doing not in your tuxedo?" My mother asked as she walked into my room. I hadn't even heard her open the door. "You know if you don't hurry, your father is going to flip this house upside down… literally." She smiled with her arms akimbo.   

"I will only be a minute more."   

"Are you going to spend that extra minute sitting on your desk and staring out the window like a depressed teenage girl?" She asked as she strolled towards me but I remained silent. She sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder, "honey," her lips curved into a faint smile, "I don't know what to say to make you feel better, I am honestly sorry about everything your father is putting you through." 

I looked away from the window then at her. "There is no need to be sorry mom, I really am fine now."   

"Really?" She questioned in a tone that portrayed the disbelief in her. 

"Yeah! When I realized that what I am doing is what is right for every single one of us, including her and the whole community, it stopped bothering me."   

"You sure don't act like it." 

  

"But I am, I really am fine." I forced a smile on my face.   

She cupped my cheek in her soft palm, "I hope you find love and happiness in your new home sweetie."   

"It is not my wedding day yet, save those speeches for the main event."   

She smiled, "I understand." She placed a kiss on my cheek. "I will leave you to get ready, one minute sweetie."  

"Yes mom." I responded with a roll of my eyes.

I got up from my desk and got dressed then joined them downstairs. 

 

★•★ 

Mushroom soup, bitter greens with tomatoes the size of peas, rare roast beef slices as thin as paper, noodles in a green sauce, cheese that melts on your tongue served with sweet blue grapes. The servers, all young people dressed in white tunics, moved wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full. 

Food floated in on platers as good as any in New Orleans.   

The sight and aroma of the food was a gentle massage to my soul and pleasing to my nostrils.   

My taste buds were already tingling just as the sight of the food and my wanted to go wild and bury his face into every dish but I managed to calm him.

"Travis!" One of the women seated at the table called my attention away from the food. She had on her face one of the most beautiful smiles in the room. "My name is Natasha, I am Darla's  mother."   

"Nice to meet you ma'am." I smiled back at her with a slight bow of my head.   

"Lovely to make your acquaintance dear, this is my daughter Darla, your bride." She smiled and pointed to the little girl that sat opposite me.   

I squinted, just to be sure I wasn't seeing wrong. "She… is Darla… my bride to be?" I asked again and she just nodded with a smile.   

"Hi!" Little Darla blushed at me. 

I turned to my parents and shot them with a confused look but they didn't even notice me. If I wouldn't be mistaken, she looked at most fourteen, anime blue eyes, red thin lips, not petite but small body, small ears, small everything… it was child abuse. "I am very sorry to ask this but uhm… how old is little Darla?"   

Her mother giggled loudly accompanied with snorts. "Oh excuse my manners, I am so sorry." The rest of her family joined in on the laughter and I was left wondering what comedy I acted for them.   

"Travis?" Little Darla called out to me with her tiny voice. "I hear it a lot, I understand your reason for the question. I am actually nineteen years old." 

What? She is actually the same age as America, how is that even possible? Yes America was little in stature but definitely not like her. 

"Wow! I am so sorry for asking by the way." I tried to cover the disbelief in my eyes. 

"It's fine, you are my husband anyway." She smiled. "I heard you had to reject your mate because of me, it's so sweet of you, thanks honey."    

I was starting to get grossed out by her "trying to be sweet" behavior.   

"Now that that's settled, let us dine." Her mother instructed. "How is the food treating you Travis dear?". 

"Very well ma'am." I smiled.   

"Enjoy."  

  

★•★ 

Of all the things that happened at the table, the only thing I enjoyed was the delicious delicacy, it filled the hungry wolf in me.   

"What the hell dude? You snubbed my whole calls!" Dylan exclaimed as he marched towards me.   

"So sorry, I was at an introductory dinner with my fiancée and her pack."   

"Really dude? I know you guys broke up but I thought it was due to circumstances."   

"What are you talking about?" I frowned.  

"America is missing dude."   

I felt my eyes widened in shock. "What?" 

  

★•★ 

"America!"   

"America!" Celestia called out in tears. "She is so little, she doesn't know anyone out there." I could feel how heartbroken she was. 

My wolf couldn't hold it in, he ran the entire forest till he was tired just so he feel a little peace. "Where are you A?"

  

★•★ 

Standing at the altar, I was rethinking the whole marriage decision when she walked in with her hand interlinked with her dad's.   

"Do you take Travis Sky to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death?" The preacher asked her. 

  

"I do. This is my solemn vow." She responded with a wide grin on her little face. 

"Do you take Darla Reynolds to be your lawfully wedded wife?..."

They all stared at me with Inquisition on their bright faces all waiting for me to respond.  

"Travis." Darla whispered.   

"I….