Gatoris offered lodging for his family. Both accepted happily. He took this time to catch up with his daughter and sister. Jessica told of he life on the Comet Kingdom. "Queen Comet was a nice person. She took me in and raised me as her own daughter." she began. "I also had good friends like Edge to take care of me." Before Gatoris could ask who Edge was, a slender female knight was in their presence. "Princess Jessica... she began. Gatoris bowed to the woman. "What is it, Edge?" Jessica replied. "...it's private, princess..." Edge tried to explain. "You can say it in front of my father..." she smiled. Edge, seeing that she was insistent, gave her the bad news: "The Queen is dead." Gatoris bowed his head as Jessica cried. "She was a good woman..." Gatoris said of her. Edge took Gatoris aside. "Good sir, my journey here was long and tedious. Would it be possible..." "Yes, you can stay. Stay as long as you need, Edge." Gatoris knew the drill. The knight thanked her gracious host.

At dinner time, Aerith was in the kitchen. She was preparing dinner, until Hikari stepped in. "Aerith, you don't need to cook. You need to rest!" she said to her sister-in-law. Aerith reluctantly let her cook.

When dinner was served, there was much talking between the family members. "Welcome to the family, Jessica and ... Hikari was it?" Gatoris began a toast. "You can call me Akane if you want..." his sister replied. He nodded. "Anyway, welcome Jessica and Akane. And welcome to our guest, Edge." Edge stood up and bowed. "Thank you, Sir Gatoris..." Gatoris gave her a puzzled look. "Since when have I been knighted?" "Queen Comet did it before I left, dad." Jessica piped in. Gatoris shrugged his shoulders. He really didn't want any type of title, but he'd take it.

During dinner, Gatoris complimented Aerith's cooking, as he usually did. "I didn't cook it this time, honey..." Gatoris was puzzled when his wife said that. "...your sister did." Gatoris looked at Aerith, then to Akane. "I couldn't tell the difference!" he said.

When it came time for everyone to retire, Jessica sat in her bed. She had found her real family on the same day that the only family she had known had died. She began to sob lightly. She did not notice her father enter in the darkness. "I know how you feel, Jessica. I have lost my parents in many of my lives..." he muttered. She looked up at her father. "It's always tough to lose a loved one. Only time can heal the pain..." Gatoris said as he hugged his daughter. She took comfort in her father's words. "I'm always here for my family," he said as he walked out. She looked at the rose her father left on her bed. She hoped he was right...

The next day, no one could locate Gatoris. He had disappeared somewhere in the castle. Aerith glanced at the calendar: it was March 18. She suddenly got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. March 18... Angelina's birthday... And given Gatoris' recent episode of depression, this could be a bad day.

Almathea finally located her brother in the courtyard. He had half a bottle of wine next to him, and he was crying. She knew what day it was, and she had a bad feeling too. "You okay, Gatoris?" she asked. He turned to her, slightly upset. "The hell you think?" Alma was not taken aback, for she expected it. "I know you miss Angie..." she tried to cheer him up. "You bet your Senshi ass I do! More than anyone would know!" Alma was offended by the Senshi remark. "Calm down, bro! I was just trying to help!" "You can help by leaving me with my thoughts..." Almathea gave up. He wanted to be alone, so be it. Gatoris continued crying.

He decided to see how Angelina was spending the day. He was depressed enough as it was, so he couldn't see it getting worse.

Angelina was getting ready to go to a party her friends were having for her. They had the bright idea to make it a costume party. It had taken her a week to finally decide on the perfect one. People will think I stole this from 'Romeo & Juliet'... she thought. ...But it is what Garrett thought of me... she began to cry. Alma looked in on her friend and roommate. She had let the lavender dye fade from her hair, revealing her natural brunette locks. She was dressed as a Japanese schoolgirl. Alma hugged her friend. "It's okay, Angie..." was all she said.

Gatoris poured another glass of wine and continued watching.

When Angelina got tot the party, all her friends were waiting for her. Although everyone else was dancing, Angie just sat and watched her friends have a good time. She refused to dance with anyone. Even Jared offered to dance with her. Even though it had been six months, she could not let go of either man.

This sight depressed the half-drunk Gatoris. He wished he could be there to dance with her. He took another drink and continued viewing.

It then came time to eat. At her request, the seats next to Angelina were left empty. Instead of being happy, dinner was somber. At the beginning, Angelina raised a toast. "I know it is my birthday and all, but I don't want this toast to be about me. Instead, I propose a toast to Jason and Garrett..." she began to tear up. "May you be happy... wherever you are..." Angelina finally broke down in tears. "I'm sorry I ruined the party..." she muttered as she walked out and back to her house.

"No, Angie.. I'm sorry for ruining your life..." Gatoris muttered. he had polished off the bottle of wine by now. "Gatoris, it's not your fault! How many times do I have to tell you?" Aerith had found him, and she was channeling Angie. "Not my fault? It is my fault that you live a fragmented life, Angie! it's my fault that I cursed you to follow me into hell!" Gatoris went off on her. "Garret... that spell wore off after the first rebirth!" Angelina had about enough of this. "Still, I cursed the Queen of the Angles into a miserable life!" Garret was on a full-blown self-guilt trip. "You should have gone to Jason..." "No... I made Jason to purify your heart..." Angelina began. Garret glared at her. "You mean you cursed me to be a failure five hundred years ago? That means that Jason is the true muse of writing..." Garret now felt like a shell of a man. He slowly began to chant a spell. "You should be with him..." he muttered as he began. Angelina could not stop him from casting a spell uniting her and Jason, like she and Garret had been. "...and now farewell, Angelina." he said in a grim tone. He pulled out his sword, and placed it at arm's length. He closed his eyes for a moment. He did not see Edge step in front of him as he thrust the sword toward himself.

Gatoris opened his eyes and saw what had happened. His heart almost stopped. This knight whom he barely knew had just sacrificed herself so he could live. Gatoris bent down and picked her up. She was alive, but fading away. He began to heal her, but she spoke up. "No, Sir Garret... that isn't needed." Gatoris ignored her and kept trying. "Don't strain yourself. You need the energy... You have to protect your family... and the ...world..." Gatoris refused to let her die like this... Then Jessica came into the courtyard. She rushed to her friend's side. Edge looked at Jessica for a moment. "Farewell, Princess Jessica..." was all she said. She then died in Gatoris' arms.

"Great..." Gatoris muttered as he laid the fallen knight on the ground. "..yet another sin to die for." He then picked his sword up and wiped the blood off of it. He looked down at the blade. The dragon that had adorned it had been replaced with a red rose. he then held the sword at arm's length again. This time, Jessica stepped in front of him. "You're not getting off that easy, dad." she said, beginning to cry. Almathea then jerked her niece out of the way. She then stepped in her place. "If you want to die Charon, you will have to take me with you..." she said, tearless as well as fearless. Then Angelina took her turn in front of him. "You know what you are doing to me, Garret?" she yelled at him. "You are slowly killing me! If you want to kill me, make it fast." she then turned around and placed the point of Gatoris' sword near her heart. "I'd rather die than be forced to live with someone I don't love..." she screamed. Garret froze. His mind had become clear again. What the hell was he doing? he thought. He tried to drop the sword, but Angelina had a hold of the blade. He wondered why she wasn't letting go. "You have cursed me to live with Jason... I have no reason to exist..." She said, finally crying. Garret slowly chanted a new spell. This one broke the bonds of his last, and returned the original bonds. "Remind me never to drink that much again..." Garret muttered. Angelina then hugged him. "How can you still love me after what I said?" Garret said. "That wasn't the real you talking..." Angie explained. She was right. Garret hugged back.