October 12, 2045

A gasp erupted from the end of the table

Don was clenching his fists-clearly trying not to burst into a fit

"W-what?" He asked worriedly 

"Don-a elderly couple called wanting to adopt Conny!" Mom said happily-pulling Conny closer into a hug

She smiled

Don sniffled and stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back as it hit the floor and ran over to Conny before hugging her tightly--

"Is he..crying?" A voice squeaked behind Malkem

Malkem turned around to face Quinn, who looked sad. She sniffed and wiped her nose with a tissue and stood up after Don. She trudged over and entered into the big wad of hugs that had appeared. Emma, Nat, Thoma and more kids had piled in to hug Conny as she smiled at them all.As everyone left the hug-Malkem noticed that he wasn't in the hug.

He hadn't known Conny except how she looked like-Conny was a young girl with fair skin and oval-shaped blue eyes. She had short blonde hair tied into two pigtails at the back along with short, messy bangs. Malkem had noted that she hadn't gotten good marks on the daily tests.

Mother glared at him meaningfully and twisted her head at Conny.

Cmon! Do something! She is your sister -It looked like she was saying

Malkem sighed and sipped his soup regrettably before standing up and walking over to Conny-Who was being swarmed by people talking 

Some od the kids shushed up as Malkem stalked near. He stared at Conny and patted her shoulder reluctantly 

"Good luck with your new family Conny" He mumbled under his breath

"Oh-Thank you Malkem!" she looked up and said happily-grinning 

Malkem flinched before relaxing

Malkem mumbled a 'No problem' under his breath and trudged back to eat his soup in peace.

"Everyone-Back to your chairs! We can say Good bye to Conny when she leaves later today!" Mother called as everyone congratulated Conny and went back to  your seats

"And you, Malkem-Dont eat without starting the prayer!" She noticed

Malkem chuckled sheepishly and left his soup and stared back at the woman and as everyone sad back down-she clasped her hands

"Let's appreciate that all forty of you are able to live here happily today too-Thank you for the food!" She recited

"Thank you for the food!" The kids chanted

As everyone ate-Malkem noticed Don shivering every few minutes.Conny patted his shoulder

"I will write stacks of letters, and I will never forget u! When I leave the house I want to be a mother like mom! And then I will never abandon my children!" She comforted him

"You love mom very much, don't you?" Emma squeaked as she stared at the child

"Yea!" Conny said entheusiasicly 

"I am not as fast and as smart as you guys but even after I leave, I will do my best! I will have Little bunny..so I will be in..."

Conny paused

"I didn't want to leave anymore! I want to stay here!"

"Its ok!" Someone yelled

"You will be a perfect mom!" 

"Good luck Conny!" 

"Its all ok!" 

Everyone started yelling to her happily. Quinn smirked before calling 

"Conny! Conny!" She started chanting 

"Conny! Conny! Conny!" Every else started chanting along with her

Don smiled at Conny and started cheering

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It was time for Conny to leave

Everyone was saying their final goodbyes as she held Mother's hand and walked out, her hair blowing in the wind.

The door shut as Don stamped off-clearly mad and sad

"Guys!" Norman called to Emma,Ray,Gilda,Quinn and Malkem "Mom said we have to clean up!" 

Malkem stared at Normans narrow, inward-tilting blue eyes as they stared at him

"Ok-" Malkem said slowly,standing up and walking over to clean the tables "But--"

"WHAT?!" Emma's yell could be heard across the room.Malkem had twisted around in panic to see...

"Little bunny?!" He said in disbelief "After that whole speech..." 

Malkem stared at the bunny

"What do we do? Conny must be gone by now--" Quinn started 

"There is still time, from the window I saw the lights in the gate were still on.Mom isn't back either so I dont think Connie has gone yet" Ray interrupted 

"Ray I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT" Quinn pouted-pointing to the window where they could see the gate-its lights on.

Norman grinned "She is just like you Emma" He said 

"I am--" Quinn started  to say coldly before Malkem threw a fork at her

"What was that for?!" She demanded

"It slipped," He said calmly "And I remind you guys-Every minute we lose-Conny can be farther away" 

"Exactly-Me and Norman can go and deliver it" Emma piped up 

Everybody but Quinn murmured in agreement.

"Why cant I go?" She asked-on purposely looking at Norman,not Emma

"Because-well-we--" Norman stamtered-unsure

"Dont want much attention-three kids running to the gate--" Malkem decided to say 

"Ok-I get it! Go on guys" She said flatly

Norman and Emma nodded before running outside in the dark

Ray sighed and started picking up the plates as Gilda broomed the floor

Quinn stared at Malkem for a second before smiling 

"Malkem-Can I borrow you for a second?" She asked sweetly "I am not waiting for an answer-come on"

She pulled him into an empty corridor

"I think Emma is hiding something" She hissed

"What? No!" Malkin defended "She is just returning little bunny!"

"Or is she? My idea is that she is gonna try to escape without getting adopted!" Quinn urged

Malkem cocked his head sideways-in definite confusion

"Quinn-" He said putting a hand on her shoulder "Emma doesn't even want to leave the house! She said so herself-Emma isn't going to do that--"

"Just-Malkem-To be sure. Let's follow them!" She said with a glint of mischievous in her eyes

Malkem shivered but noded

They ran outside after the walking Emma and Norman as they conversated in the dark,empty feilds

Empty except Malkem and Quinn that is

As Norman and Emma raced on the fields in the dark-Malkem and Quinn were racing across the treetops

Go down to the ocean, a crystal tide is raising, water's gotten higher as the shore washes out~