Begin!

Universe*

~Normal POV

"Hey everyone," Violet shouted, "We're getting a telegram!"

"A telegram," Duncan said quizzically, "I thought Kit said we wouldn't be able to get information about the meeting."

Everyone else ran into the living room and they all waited in anticipation as the telegraph printed out its paper. They had been told the machine was only for emergencies. The fact that they were receiving a message put them on edge. Once the paper was finished, Violet read it for the others.

Children,

The meeting went according to plan. I will share the details with you when we get there. Dewey and I are on our way. Tell Quigley we're bringing Fiona; I said I'd take her too and her stepfather allowed it. Fernald followed our instructions; he has now been taken into custody willingly, and Miss Widdershins got a chance to say good bye before he did. She knows what he has done to you in the past and she hopes that you can forgive him as she has. We'll be there in a few hours.

-K

"What do you think happened at the meeting," Klaus asked, "It's not like she told us their part of the plan."

"She might just tell us," Isadora noted, "If everything went well then she shouldn't have a reason to keep it from us anymore."

"Victory," Sunny said, which meant, "Does this mean we won?"

"I think so, Sunny," Violet replied.

"Fiona's coming too," Quigley asked barely containing a smile.

"That's what is says," Duncan replied, "See, Romeo, we told you there was nothing to worry about!"

Quigley laughed, "I never said I doubted you I was just worried!"

~...

Several hours later the taxi pulled up to the shack as expected. Kit, Dewey, and Fiona got out and entered the house. Quigley and Fiona embraced and shared a quick kiss, once again not caring who was watching. Kit and Dewey ushered them all into the living room to talk. The two adults sat on the couch together as everyone else gathered around them.

"It's wonderful to finally meet you Baudelaires," Dewey said, "And you too as well Quagmires. I knew your parents well once upon a time, but I haven't been in contact with them in ages."

"Dewey, before anything else, sir," Violet started, "There's something that we've been meaning to ask about. We don't really know who else to ask other than you two."

"Of course, Miss Violet, what's the matter?"

The Baudelaires and the Quagmires shared knowing looks. They thought back to their discussion outside of the Last Chance General Store after learning about V.F.D. from Duncan and Isadora's notes. With everything happening so fast recently, the question was still planned in their heads. Quigley was told of course what this question was, and he too wanted the answer. Duncan held Violet's hand for comfort as she prepared herself for what would likely be an answer they did not want to hear.

"We understand that our parents were involved heavily with V.F.D.," Violet said choosing her words carefully, "And we have been told much about their heroic exploits. However, after much discussion between the six of us, we would like to know: can we decline a position in your organization?"

Dewey and Kit blinked in surprise. They obviously hadn't expected such a question to come from them.

"Decline?"

"What my sister means is," Klaus said, "Your organization is very noble and we think what you do is wonderful, but we're not interested in being a part of such a dangerous thing."

"None of us are," Duncan added, "We've decided that it's not a life we want to live."

The adults looked at each other, carefully processing their response.

"My stepfather has been part of the organization for ages," Fiona spoke up, "He let me come here on my own, but I don't know what he intends for me to do after this. He said to just think of this as 'shore leave.' I think maybe he just wanted to be alone for a bit after Fernald proved his loyalty at the meeting."

"That sounds like he wants you to come back," Quigley said, holding her hand, "It is your home, and you said your place was with your family."

"And with my brother being carried off to jail I don't have anywhere else to go otherwise."

"So, what's your answer, Mr. Denouement," Isadora asked worriedly.

Dewey regarded them with a mixed expression before responding, "I thought it might come to this. Years ago I was told that Bertrand and Beatrice wanted out of the organization themselves. Miss Violet, they didn't want that life for you, or your siblings. Quinten and Karen were still involved, but they seemed to not want you included either, Quagmires. That was the reason why you children weren't officially introduced until after their deaths. Your parents were close friends, and I know for a fact that Violet was introduced to you triplets as an infant, not that you'd remember, but after the Baudelaires decided to leave the organization they couldn't afford to let you be around each other anymore. With the Quagmires still working for us it was simply too dangerous."

"I remember the last time I spoke to Beatrice," Kit said, "She was holding you in her arms, Klaus, after you had just been born. She looked up at me and said, 'Kit, for the sake of my children I need you to keep the world quiet for us; we can't do it anymore.'"

"So they kept it from us because they didn't want to tell us," Klaus asked.

Dewey nodded, "That is correct, as far as I have been told. To answer your question, we will not force you to join our ranks. What we do isn't easy, and it's always dangerous. If your parents didn't want you to join: then we will honor your request and let you leave us peacefully."

Everyone shared relieved looks of joy at his words.

"You really mean that?"

"Yes we do," Kit said, "But you will remain under our protection just like everyone else. Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about what happened at the meeting."

"So everything went well, I hope," Fiona said, "My stepfather wouldn't tell me what happened."

"You weren't there," Violet asked.

"No he told me to stay in the room until he got back," Fiona replied, "He mentioned that I wouldn't have wanted to be there."

"Indeed, and Captain Widdershins was correct. You wouldn't have wanted to attend, Miss," Dewey said, "To start from the beginning; the meeting today was actually a red herring. The real meeting we had was to discuss what to do about our enemies and it happened shortly after Kit left you on the mountain trail. We came up with a plan and tricked our enemies into attending so we could take care of them."

"Esmé Squalor was arrested; she and Olaf apparently broke up and that left us able to take her in. The two white-faced women deserted him sometime after he left the carnival; their location is unknown, but we can assume they won't be a threat any longer. The henchperson of indeterminate gender died in the Heimlich Hospital fire. The bald man with the very long nose was shoved into the lion pit with Olivia by accident. Fernald turned on Olaf as a desperate attempt to protect you, Fiona, and turned himself in. And Ernest was punished at the meeting as well for his own crimes."

"So, what did you do," Quigley asked slowly.

"The meeting was in reality a public execution," Kit replied quietly, "Count Olaf will never hurt anyone else again. That's why we couldn't allow you to attend."

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. A silence fell over the room as everyone processed the shocking information they had just been told. Count Olaf was dead. It was almost too good to be true.

Dewey sighed, "I only wish Ernest didn't have to meet the same fate today."

"Brother," Sunny said, which meant, "Your brother too?"

"Yes, my brother too, Frank and I will run the hotel now."

"What happens to us," Violet asked, "If we're not joining V.F.D.?"

Kit smiled, "We already had a plan for that. We've set you up to attend a boarding school with your tuition funded by myself and several of our associates. It's called Whitmore Academy, and it's run by an old friend of ours, Damien Whitmore. He's a volunteer, but as we said you won't be doing any work for us any longer. You'll live there until you graduate and after that you'll be of age to obtain your family fortunes. You'll be free to do whatever you wish after that point."

"We can assure you children that this place is a much more refined and academically-oriented school than Prufrock ever was. We've been trying to get Prufrock shut down for years," Dewey added with a smile, "Damien is a trustworthy friend, and he will be in constant contact with us if any issues or concerns come up during your stay."

"So, we just get to go back to normal lives," Klaus said.

"As normal as they can be after everything you've been through," Kit answered, "I understand that it's probably not the most preferred option given your history with private school, but it's the best choice to induct you back into normal life. And before you ask, we have ensured that the papers don't think you're murderers anymore either."

"We think it sounds great," Isadora said, "Anywhere is better than Prufrock."

"I agree," Duncan said grinning.

"What about Sunny," Violet asked, "She's still young to attend a school."

"Sunny will live with you of course, we wouldn't dare think to separate you permanently," Dewey said, "Whitmore has a daycare, and you'll be given a dorm to live in. We figured that the six of you might prefer to live together."

"We would," Duncan nodded smiling at Violet, "We don't want to be separated ever again."

"Together to the end," Violet smiled back at her boyfriend, sharing the words that only they understood.

"What about Fiona," Quigley asked.

They all looked at the mycologist as she blushed at Quigley's concern for her, "I have to go back to my stepfather. As much as I would love to go to school with you all, stepfather needs me more."

Everyone looked disappointed, especially Quigley.

"Perhaps you can talk to your stepdad first," Quigley suggested, "When are we going there?"

"You'll be taken there on Sunday," Kit answered, "Fiona if you wish to speak to your stepfather about possibly leaving his service then we can drive you back to the hotel with us. Jacqueline and Larry are picking you all up on Sunday at 9 a.m. after they stock you up on extra clothes and other luggage to bring with you. You'll be required to wear uniforms, but Whitmore is much more lax about dress code on weekends and days when classes are cancelled."

"I'll talk to my stepfather," Fiona said, "I hope he'll let me stay with you guys."

"If he agrees let us know immediately, and I'll call Damien about enrolling you as well," Dewey said.

"We should get back to the hotel now. However, Baudelaires there is something very important I wish to ask you."

"What is it," Violet asked.

Kit put her hand on her stomach and smiled fondly, "Dewey and I would like to ask you a small favor. You're the only ones we can ask. With your permission, we'd like to name our daughter Beatrice, after your mother and my very dear friend. I was going to ask her months ago, but I wasn't able to..."

Violet looked at her siblings with the same shared feeling. They didn't even know what they were feeling. Violet felt a few tears well up in her eyes, Klaus looked happy and very clearly stunned, and Sunny grinned showing off her sharp teeth. The Baudelaires didn't even have to think twice about their answer.

"We'd be honored, Kit," Violet said, wiping her eyes.

"Happy," Sunny said, meaning, "It sounds like a great idea."

"We wouldn't dare say no," Klaus added.

Kit and Dewey smiled and thanked them. Quigley wanted to go with Fiona to see her stepfather, hoping to be able to convince him to let her go to Whitmore with them. The four of them left the safe house. Everyone was in high spirits that day. They were going to a new perfectly normal home, and their lives had changed for the better. Their enemy was gone, and they were safe. But most important of all they were together.

~...

Duncan and Violet sat on the couch together that night, waiting up for Quigley's return from the hotel. Klaus and Isadora were already asleep upstairs, along with Sunny, leaving the inventor and the journalist alone. Violet was lying comfortably in Duncan's arms.

"Duncan?"

"Yes, love?"

She smiled, she may not have mentioned it aloud but she loved it when he called her that, "I want to ask you something."

"Ok."

"When we get to Whitmore... what do you think the sleeping arrangements should be like?"

He paused, "Well, they said we're all going to share a dorm. That's six people, possibly seven if Fiona gets to join us. I assume it'll be one room for the boys and one for the girls. Not like we wouldn't be used to it by now."

"And how would you feel if it was one room for each of us?"

"I've had to share a room with my siblings my entire life," Duncan said chuckling lightly, "Having my own room would kind of mess with the tradition. What are you getting at?"

"How would you feel about sharing a room with me," She watched as his face turned scarlet, "I didn't mean like that! I mean just sleeping in the same room at night."

He smiled; his face still very red, "Sorry my brain went somewhere horrible for a second there. I wouldn't mind that at all actually. How do you feel about that?"

"Well, having my own room would be nice, but I'd much rather share with you if I'm able."

He held her tighter, "Then we'll see when we get there I suppose."

She smiled and relaxed in his arms. He stared down at her beautiful face and wondered how he ever got so lucky as to be dating Violet Baudelaire. This wonderful, amazing girl loved him, and he loved her. He couldn't wait to see what the future held for them. A thought suddenly crossed his mind. A thought that he hadn't had before, and couldn't stop himself from voicing.

"Violet," He started, "You probably don't have any intention of getting married do you?"

She looked at him, sitting up slightly, "After what I've been through with that subject, no I don't."

"I see, ok then," He tried to hide his obvious disappointment.

She put her hand on his cheek and forced him to look at her, "I wasn't finished. I may not want to do it now, but I will get past it over time. And I promise you Duncan, when I'm ready to get married, for real, it'll definitely be to you."

He grinned, "I think that sounds like a great idea. I'll wait with you for as long as you need. I love you Violet."

"I love you too Duncan," They kissed passionately, wrapped in each other's arms.

When Violet had told him they would be together to the end she had meant it with all her heart. Violet Baudelaire loved Duncan Quagmire, and she absolutely looked forward to the future they intended to share.

~End of Chapter

The story isn't over yet.