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otakusheep15 · 3 years

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SFW Alphabet - Simeon

This man seriously owns my entire heart. Like, I would trade all of the brothers just to be with him, no questions asked lmao

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Surprisingly, he’s not that affectionate. Well, at least not physically. He enjoys spending time with you and being in the same room, but he hardly ever craves psychical affection like the brothers do. The farthest he usually goes is hand-holding and maybe a little hand kiss too, but he rarely goes beyond that unless he’s feeling especially clingy that day. Just being near you is enough for him really.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Friendship with him can go one of two ways. He’d either baby you like he does with Luke, or lowkey bully you like he does with Lucifer, no in between. It really depends on how you are as a person and how he sees you. If he sees you as someone who needs protecting and is a bot more on the childish side, you’ll totally be another Luke to him. And if you’re someone whose more on the opposite end of that spectrum, calm, composed, serious, he’ll treat you more like he does Lucifer. But he loves you all the same.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Cuddling is probably the one exception to the lack of physical affection. He loves nothing more than to curl up next to you in bed after a long day of dealing with RAD, Luke, and Solomon’s “cooking”. He especially loves laying his head on your chest so that he can listen to your heartbeat. It just calms him down and reminds him that you’re really here with him.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Man is the definition of malewife (besides Barb), so of course he’s amazing at any kind of chore. He’s also gotten quite good at household chores after having to take care of Luke for so long. And, trust me, he would love to settle down with you. Maybe Luke could come along too? That would be ideal.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He’d be super gentle about it. The last thing he wants is to make the situation any worse than it’s gonna get, so he breaks the news as calmly as possible. If the situation did somehow escalate, he would try is best to get everything under control lest someone get hurt (physically or emotionally).

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

As much as he’d love to get married, he also wants to take it slow. He understands that relationships need time to develop, so he wants to wait until both of you are absolutely sure before going any further. After all, marriage is a big commitment to an angel, so it’s important that everything is perfect.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

He is so gentle. Like, he’s the best when it comes to care. Maybe it’s just his instincts as an angel, but he feels the need to protect you from any harm whatsoever. He always makes sure he has permission before touching you anywhere, and he’s constantly checking up on you and making sure you’re feeling well. really, he just wants you to feel as comfortable as possible with him.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

He likes hugs, but he doesn’t give them out too often. It’s almost always you who goes to him for hugs first unless he’s in a really good mood. But he’ll never deny anyone who does want a hug, especially you (and Luke).

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Honestly, he probably waits a while before saying it. In fact, you might end up being the one to say it first. He wants to take things slow, and the last thing he wants is to make you feel rushed by saying it too quickly. He loves you very much, and you’re both highly aware of that, but actually saying the words takes time for him.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

Surprisingly, he gets really jealous really easily. Not so surprisingly, he’s very good at hiding it. He just hates how much time you spend with the brothers, and he’ll use anything to get you to come over. His most common excuses usually involve either Luke or Solomon needing supervision and him needing help with that. He never means to guilt trip or gaslight, but he lowkey might if it means getting you to him quicker.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

He is a sucker for for hand kisses, both giving and receiving. They’re just so romantic to him, and they don’t take much effort either. His kisses, regardless of where they are, are super loving and romantic. All he wants to do is sweep you off your feet and make you feel loved.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

*cough*Luke*cough* All jokes aside, he does really love children. He just loves how innocent and joyful they can be, and he loves how they speak their minds since most don’t have a filter. The chaos they can get into is also an added bonus, even if it can be a hassle to clean up afterwards.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Mornings can go one of two ways. The preferred way is you two waking up around the same time and just staying in bed for a couple hours enjoying each other’s company. These mornings are usually filled with sweet words and soft touches. The other, less preferred way, is absolute chaos. It doesn’t matter if you stay at the HoL or PH, there will be chaos. And one (or both) of you is going to have to fix it.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

He tends to stay up late working, so you can either go to bed and he’ll join later, or you can stay up with him. Either way, he’ll try and finish up as quickly as possible so that he can curl up with you in bed. If his day was especially stressful, he’ll hold you close to him and rant about all of his worries. Side note: please pet his hair, he deserves it.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

He’s actually pretty open with you, which is kinda surprising. I mean, he does have his secrets he’d much rather keep, but who doesn’t. However, he also knows the value of trust in a relationship, so he tries his hardest to be open and honest with you as possible. He hopes that you’ll do the same as well.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

The freakin definition of patience. He’s dealt with so much throughout his life, so he’s grown to have an amazing temperament. Of course he can get annoyed (*cough*the play*cough*) but he does so well at controlling it most of the time. This patience is specifically applied to you and Luke. You could literally murder someone and he probably still wouldn’t be mad.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He’d remember most of what you say, but he’d hardly ever utilize it like some of the brothers do. He’ll use the information in more subtle ways. You mention. a certain flavor of cake you like? He makes sure Luke makes some during hsi next baking session. Any shows you enjoy? He may not watch them depending on the length, but he’ll do some research on them so that he can talk to you about it.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

His favorite memory is this one time you came over to bake with Luke. Luke, precious thing, was trying out this new recipe, and he was super excited about it. But, of course, Solomon had to come in and mess everything up and now the kitchen and half the house is a mess. Luke is super upset, Solomon is lowkey enjoying it, and Simeon is there watching the world burn around him. And through it all, you stayed there and helped them clean up even when you didn’t have to. He just found it so sweet that you took the time to help Luke and also the rest of the Hall as well. It ended up being a fun day even if he did scold Solomon for hours afterwards.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

He’s decently protective, but that’s mostly is angelic instincts. Angels have that natural instinct to protect humans, so he had that urge even before you two became a thing. And that urge only became stronger as you two got closer. However, his protection comes in more subtle ways, like most of his gestures. Someone getting a bit too close to you? He’ll put his arm about you and slowly back you away. The brothers are fighting again? He’ll step in front of you to make sure you’re not caught in the cross-fire.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Like pretty much everything else, he’s much more subtle with his dates. He prefers more lowkey options, like a picnic or just hanging out in either his room or yours. You guys never do anything over-the-top, and he likes it that way.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He tends to prioritize others over himself a lot, and he’s been trying to work on it for a while. And, obviously, he’s terrible with tech. I honestly have no clue how he’s survived this long not knowing how a D.D.D. works past the basics.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He’s naturally pretty, so he doesn’t need to care. Jokes aside, he isn’t one to particularly care for his looks. He does want to look nice and presentable, but it isn’t usually a top priority compared to someone like Asmo or Mammon.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

WIthout a doubt. He tends to get attached to people very easily, and you’re no exception. Once you two being getting close, it’s over for him. From then on, he’s attached to you. If something were to happen to you, he would simply cease to exist.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

He and Michael totally had something going on at one point. Maybe they still have something going on. Hell, maybe even Luci was involved at one point. I have no clue where this idea came from, but it’s in my head and so now all of you are being subjected to it as well.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

People who dislike Luke are a big no for him. Sorry, they’re a package deal. You want him? Well, now you have a child too.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

He tends to make noises in his sleep. It’s not really cohearent words or anything, more just like light snores and stuff. Kinda like a dog when it really gets into a dream, ya know?

#OBEY ME #shall we date obey me #shall we date simeon #scenarios #sfw alphabet #Headcanon

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ladyseaheart1668 · 6 years

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Endless Summer Book 4 : Daughter of Vaanu (Chapter 26)

Description: In the wake of Tahira’s return--and Silas Prescott’s--their friends and family try to figure out what comes next.

Tagging: @xo-endlessmayhem-xo ; @princesstopgun ; @mysteli

Chapter 26: Something Like Ordinary

Jake

A silence falls over us as we watch Tahira take off into the moonlit sky with Silas Prescott's limp body in her arms. Grayson lingers on the balcony until she vanishes from sight, and stays there a moment or two more. Diego and Varyyn immediately start trying to eat each other's faces. Michelle went immediately into doctor-mode, but now that Tahira's taken off and Iris has assured her that neither Alodia nor the baby have suffered any ill effects from our adventures, she remembers that she has a fiance who was waiting for her, and more face-eating commences. For my part, I'm a little classier about it, and delicately taste my wife's mouth while my hand carresses the swell of her belly. Honestly, what I'm feeling now is a little too much to be expressed with carnal kissing, but I need to be close to her. I need to taste her and touch her, but gently.

We did it. We got her cousin home, and she's still with me. She and the baby are still with me. I'm sure sometime in bed tonight I'm gonna start trembling and possibly crying over the worst-case scenarios that aren't going to come true anymore, but right now I'm too relieved to think about them.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her. “I wouldn't be surprised if you told me that trip took it outta ya.”

“It did,” she admits. “I'm exhausted. And hungry. ...Hey, Raj?”

Raj looks up from where he's on his knees, poking through the chest with Craig and Zahra. “Yeah?”

“Baby Peanut is demanding that hangover cure you made us on the island. Think you can help me out?”

He grins, getting to his feet. “Baby Peanut's wish is my command. Come on, I'll give you guys a ride back. We can make a stop at the grocery store on the way.”

“Let me just take off my armor.”

I help her remove the polished amber pieces, and place them carefully back in the trunk. For a moment, she hesitates beside the trunk, staring down at it's contents. I wind my arms around her waist from behind, lacing my fingers together over her abdomen.

“Later,” I murmur into the curve of her neck. “Worry about that later. Just be with me now.”

“...Yeah...” She exhales slowly, nodding. “Yeah. Later.”

Tahira

The air is brisk and chilly, especially at this altitude. It shouldn't surprise me, I guess. If I've been gone ten weeks, the rest of the world must be well into October by now. I confess that the silence gets to me pretty quickly.

“Marci? Are you still with me?”

“Of course, Tahira. You have not deactivated me.”

I chuckle. “Fair enough. You've been awfully quiet since my cousin found me.”

“You had the situation under control. I didn't think there was anything I could say that would have been very helpful.”

“I suppose that's fair. But I'm glad to know you're still with me. I enjoy your company, you know.”

“Why thank you, Tahira. I enjoy your company as well.”

The hospital is coming into view beneath me. As I arc toward it, descending out of the sky, I start to hear people shouting. No doubt news crews will be on the scene in minutes. The moment my feet touch ground, I'm swarmed. I let the voices and questions wash over me as I shout for a doctor. Plenty of them swarm me, too. It's only when they've taken Silas Prescott from me that I turn toward the crowd spewing questions at me, some anxious, some excited, some stunned. I don't hear their individual questions, but I don't need to. I project my voice into the crowd.

“It's me, everyone. It's Dragonness. I'm home. Where I have been is not important, nor is it important how I got back. In the days to come, I swear that I will formally answer all your questions. For now, all you need to know is that I thought that I was using my last act in life to protect Northbridge. But it was not my last act. Nothing matters more to me than continuing to protect Northbridge as I did before. And now I must be on my way.”

Before anyone can react, I take flight again, shooting straight up into the sky, climbing to an altitude where I hopefully blend into the night.

“How do you think that went, Marci?”

“Since you left Silas Prescott in capable medical hands and successfully addressed the crowds, I would say that your mission was a success.”

“Excellent. I'm going to give you a chance to rest for awhile, okay? I'm going to change clothes back at my apartment, then I'm going to my mom's. I'll bring my suit with me, of course. In case Dragonness is needed.”

“That sounds like a sensible plan, Tahira. You know where to find me if you need me.”

* * *

I left the windows unlocked at my apartment the day I fought Silas Prescott. Luckily, no one thought to lock them again in ten weeks, and I can easily slip in without breaking anything. I am surprised to find that all my stuff is pretty much untouched. I would have thought the landlord would be pretty eager to lease the space again. But maybe my mom or Dax or Poppy or Grayson covered for me. I don't know, and at the moment, I don't much care. I slip inside, change clothes, and pack a bag with a few days' worth of clothes and my supersuit. A civilian once more, I make the journey to my mom's apartment the old-fashioned way: on foot.

Mom must have been waiting by the door for me, because the moment I press the buzzer, she responds, and the door into the building unlocks. She's in the hallway when I get up to her floor, hovering eagerly by the open door.

“Come in, darling. Come in. I'll make tea.”

I follow her inside. But as soon as the door has closed, I drop my bag and throw my arms around her. She squeaks in surprise, but she doesn't hesitate to hold me back. For a long moment, we're silent, just holding each other.

“...Mom...” I whimper. “...Mommy...”

“It's been a long time since you called me that,” she murmurs, tightening her grip just a little.

“I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I ran out on you the last time I was here...I'm so...I'm so, so sorry I ever went into that battle without telling you that I love you...”

I have no doubt that my mother wants to be strong for me right now, because she always wants to be strong for me. Of course she does. She's the mom. She always wants to put me first. ...But damned if she doesn't entirely deserve to break down and let everything out, and a part of me is glad that my words push her over the edge. Now it's her face pressed into my shoulder while she sobs with abandon. I gently lead her over to the couch. I snuggle up in her arms, the way I did one morning when I was thirteen and scared to go to middle school because adolescent drama had turned the one-story building into a prison in my mind. But now I'm twenty-five, and it's my mother weeping while she clings to me.

“I thought I'd lost you,” she finally manages to croak. “I thought I would never see you again...”

“I thought you'd lost me, too...” I admit. “But I'm here now, Mommy. I'm here, and I love you and I'm so sorry if you ever thought otherwise...”

“It doesn't matter now, sweetheart. What matters is that you're right. You're here now. You're back. Everything's going to be all right.”

“I...met my birth parents...” I confess softly. My mother is silent for a moment.

“You did...”

“Or...what's left of them. Maybe. They sent me through the Prism Gate to save my life when I was a baby.”

“I know. Alodia explained that much to me.”

I squirm as guilt snakes through my gut. “...I thanked them for sending me to you.”

“...I wish I could have thanked them for sending you to me, too. You're the best thing that ever happened to me, Tahira. My dream come true. ...I am so proud of what you've become.”

“Do you mean that?”

“Of course. You're a hero, baby.”

“...So they say. I just kinda felt like gaining the powers of flight and super-strength meant I had to do something good with them.”

“And that makes me even prouder. To know that I've raised the kind of woman who is motivated to use her gifts for the betterment of the world.”

“That's all your handiwork, Mom,” I agree. “...But...tonight, I don't want to be Dragonness. Just for tonight, I want to be Tahira Rogers. Your little girl.”

“I can absolutely agree to that.”

Grayson

I want to go straight to the hospital. I want to be there with my father. I want to be beside him when he wakes up. I want to tell him...ask him...Christ, I don't even know what. So much. How could he do something so terrible? What the hell was he trying to accomplish? I want answers. I want to beg him not to die, now that I got him back...

I can't go straight to the hospital. I have to let Tahira take him, wait for the hospital staff to call me. Tell me he's there. So while everyone else drifts out of the clocktower and heads home, I linger with Eva, Kenji, Dax, and Poppy. I sit on the couch, staring at my phone, willing it to light up with a call from Northbridge General Hospital.

“So...what happens now?” Eva breaks the silence with her question.

“What do you mean?”

“Well...Dragonness is back now, and so is Silas Prescott...”

“My father is likely going straight to prison as soon as he is healthy,” I point out bitterly. “I don't think he's going to pose much threat anymore, especially now that I'm in charge of Prescott Industries.”

“And Aleister and Estela are running Rourke International while their father rots in a hospital for the criminally insane. That doesn't stop them from being afraid of him.”

That makes me pause. She's right. Everett Rourke and my father are smart, powerful men. They were friends once. And they essentially sought to harness the same power in different forms. My dad may end up in a home for the criminally insane, too. Perhaps even the same one his old friend was sent to. ...And now Tahira, whose power my dad sought to exploit, has met Alodia, the living source of that power. The Endless even warned the Catalysts not to get complacent, not to stop being wary of Rourke.

Tahira Rogers and Alodia Chandler. Silas Prescott and Everett Rourke. Two sources of power, and two men with power and means who tried to exploit them. The more I think about it, the more I worry.

“You're right,” I concede. “Whatever happens to my dad now, we can't just assume it's over. Not now that Tahira and Alodia have met.”

“But as to what happens immediately,” Kenji says, “I think there's still plenty for Talos, Minuet, and Dragonness to do in terms of rounding up petty criminals. We'll arrange for Dragonness to meet with my mom to get up to speed. We should also probably consider what to do about Caleb and whatever gang he's running with now.”

“We'll consult with Tahira on that.” Eva sighs.

“But for now, let her rest for a few days,” I say firmly. “She deserves that. In the meantime...maybe I'll see about making sure dad doesn't get sent to the same place as Everett Rourke. I don't trust the two of them in the same building.”

“I wish Alodia didn't have to go back to California,” Dax remarks. “It might be helpful to have her and all her crew in one place nearby.”

“We've got most of the Catalysts right here in Northbridge,” Poppy points out.

“Yes, but Alodia is their leader. Not to mention that she's Tahira's biological cousin.”

Anything else anyone might have said is cut off when my phone starts to trill my ringtone. I feel my heart flip in my chest. “...It's them...it's the hospital...” Gulping, I thumb on the call and put the phone to my ear. “Grayson Prescott.”

“Mr. Prescott, this is Dr. Edward Nakashima at Northbridge General Hospital. Your father is here in our ICU.”

“My...father...?” I hope I sound convincingly hesitant. “...When...when did he...?”

“Not long ago. He's stable, but his condition is pretty serious. We'd like you to come in so we can discuss everything with you.”

“Yes. Yes, of course. I'll be right there.” I thumb off the call, rubbing a hand over my face. “...I guess it's showtime...”

I feel a hand on my shoulder. When I turn to look, I am a little startled to find that it's Eva, looking sympathetically down at me.

“You could probably use some company on the way. I'll come with you.”

“I...you don't have to do that...”

“It's no trouble. My dad's there, too. I'm a little overdue to visit him, what with this whole rescuing Tahira from an alien dimension thing.”

I nod slowly, feeling a faint smile on my lips. “In that case, I'd definitely welcome the company.”

Tahira

After tea and cookies with my mother, I treat myself to a hot shower and nestle into a pair of soft pajamas before drifting towards my bed. My childhood bedroom is pretty much the way I left it when I moved into my own apartment after college. It's lost a few items over the years as I've brought things with me, and most of my old books and toys have been donated to charity. But a few particularly sentimental items are still around.

I sit down on the edge of the bed and pick up the cuddly toy lamb resting against the pillow. My favorite toy, a left over from my baby days. Her well-worn fluff is baby blue on her head and body, white on her face and ears. When I was two years old, I dug into the depths of my imagination and came up with a name for her, christening her Blue Lamby—or “Boo Wammy”, in baby speak. Eventually, Mom and I accepted that her official name was Boowammy. I pick up the lamb and her head flops back on her neck. Her stuffing has all been irreversably pushed into her head and her body from years of being carried around the neck. I support the back of her head with my hand, lifting her face so that I can look into her button eyes.

Did you miss me, old friend? I ask her. There's no need to speak aloud. Everyone knows stuffed animals are telepathic. But a flex of my wrist makes her nod.

Of course, Tahira. I always miss you when you're not here.

I've become a superhero. Did I ever get around to telling you that?

You didn't need to tell me. I always knew. I know everything about you. It's my job.

Thanks for not telling Mom. I guess she found out anyway, but I'm glad she didn't hear it from you.

Keeping secrets is also part of my job.

I chuckle a little. I place my lamb aside as I turn down the covers and crawl underneath. But as I lay my head on the pillow, I draw her under the blankets with me, my arms cinched around her permanently flattened neck.

* * *

I wake up the next morning to the smell of coffee and the familiar sounds of Mom puttering around in the kitchen. For a moment, it's blissful and nostalgic, until I realize I can hear voices. I sneak into the bathroom to take a quick shower and put some clothes on before I go investigate.

I find Alodia in the kitchen, working her way through a mixed fruit salad while my mother sips coffee and nibbles toast. Dressed in regular clothes, her baby bump is much more obvious than it was while she was wearing the armor. It's still fairly small, though. She smiles when she sees me.

“Hi.”

“Good morning,” I reply. “I admit I wasn't expecting to see you again so soon.”

“I know it's early, but I have to go back to California this evening, and it's going to take awhile to tell you everything you need to know, so I wanted to start right away.”

“I see.”

Mom stands up and pulls out a chair for me. “Sit down, sweetheart. Let me make you some oatmeal?”

“Yeah, okay.” I sit down, feeling my belly fluttering with anxiety. It's not that I don't think I can trust Alodia. I actually trust her completely, in spite of barely knowing her. It's just that I'm not sure I want to know everything that she's going to tell me. But I suppose I never really had a choice. I was always going to learn it all someday. Might as well be today.

Alodia tells me everything. Absolutely everything. She tells me her story, and what she knows of mine. What she knows of our fathers' race, the power of their will. The Prism Crystal is her life energy, left behind to call her home and repair the timelines. The power that I gained from it is my birthright. She tells me about her Catalysts. About Everett Rourke. The Endless. Vaanu. While she talks, I eat a bowl of oatmeal and some cinnamon raisin toast. By the time she finishes, nearly four hours have passed and I'm starting to feel hungry again. But primal needs are somewhat overwhelmed as I try to process everything I've been told. Mom drifted out awhile ago to give us some privacy. I guess she's been told everything once already.

“So...what happens now?” I finally ask.

“Now, I go back to my life and you go back to yours. You've got a city to protect, and I've got a baby on the way.”

“I know, but...” I glance briefly at my mother. “I mean...you're my cousin. I don't know about you, but that sort of means something to me.”

“It means something to me, too. I'm not suggesting we should lose touch. Though...in time, I think for the benefit of my human aunt and uncle, if they ever find out about you, we should say that we found each other through one of those DNA testing services. I'll tell them I wanted to know if my dad had any relatives I wasn't aware of.”

“Fair enough.” I look at her for a long moment. She doesn't look much like me. Physically, she's pretty much my exact opposite, small and fair to my tall and dark. But we're kin. “...We're quite a pair, aren't we.”

She smiles the brave, weary smile of someone who has been on a difficult mission for a worthy cause. “Yeah. When I first came back, I was terrified that I wasn't meant to be here. A dozen things have come up that have slowly convinced me that I am, though. And meeting you has definitely been a big one.”

“Yeah?”

“It's like I told your parents: we've both fought hard for this world. Fought and sacrificed and survived for the world, and the people who matter to us here. It's our home.”

I look down into my empty oatmeal bowl, drying on the table in front of me. I really should be soaking it in the sink.

“...I gotta admit...when my mom first told me that I had come from another dimension, I didn't react well.”

“No?”

“...I didn't speak to her for three days. ...I had barely started speaking to her again when...” I trail off, swallowing against the knot in my throat.

“...When you fought Silas Prescott.”

“...Yeah...”

“...I had just gotten married when I learned that I was the missing piece of the Island's Heart. ...I didn't react well, either. I mean, I managed to put on a brave face, but I was so fucking pissed at the whole situation.” She sighs. “But...as my father told me...you cannot control your circumstances. Only how you react to them.”

“...Not exactly comforting in your situation.”

“Not at all,” she concedes.

“...Dax actually told me something comforting when I was freaking out about the fact that I was from another dimension. He...lies awake at night worrying about multiverses or something. I think...it's the fact that time and space are infinite scares him, and the idea of infinite dimensions makes him feel...helpless. But anyway, what he told me is that this is my life. Here. That it doesn't matter if I was born in another dimension. This is where I live. Where I made my life and my home and my family. So this is where I belong.”

“Definitely a much more comforting thing to hear during an existential crisis,” she quips. Then she sighs. “Full confession: I highly doubt anything is over yet. For either of us. Everett Rourke knows I'm alive. And he's no idiot. I'm betting it won't take him long to realize I had something to do with bringing you back.”

“The good news there is that now that the two sides of the family have met, we're going to be much stronger. We should exchange contact information. When it all hits the fan, we need to be ready.”

Michelle

By the time my shift starts the next morning, Silas Prescott has been stabilized, but he has not regained consciousness by the time I finally get around to having my lunch at three in the afternoon. I make quick work of a bland chicken salad sandwich and a side of even blander french fries, and settle back in my chair, closing my eyes for a moment.

We did it. We brough Tahira home. Whatever comes next, that small success is ours to cherish. At least for the moment, we can go back to our lives. I have a wedding to plan now. I open my eyes and dig out my phone to place a call. After two rings, I hear the voice on the other end.

“Hey, Michelle.”

“Hi, Alodia. I'm glad I caught you. I wasn't sure if you were already going to be on the plane home.”

“No, not yet, but we should be heading to the airport soon. What's up? How's Prescott?”

“You'll have to ask Grayson. I can't say without breaking confidentiality.”

“Ahh. Right. So...what's up?”

“There's something I wanted to ask you while you were on the east coast, but with everything else, I didn't get around to it.” I take a deep breath, feeling strangely apprehensive. “...Will you be my maid of honor?”

“Me? You're asking me to be your maid of honor?”

“Yeah. I am. I know you're going to be almost full term by the time of the wedding, and we can make whatever accommodations you need. We could have a chair for you standing by, Quinn could be my back-up maid of honor if you need to drop out at any point...anything. If you don't think you'll be up to it, that's okay, too. It's all up to you and you don't have to decide right away. I...” I trail off a moment, swallowing. “...It was just really important to me to ask you before anyone else.”

“Really...? I mean...in the five years I was gone, the others were still here. I wouldn't even have been surprised if you'd made new friends in that time you might want to ask more than any of us...”

“Trust me, Alodia. No one in the world will every understand me the way the Catalysts do. I've got good friends here at the hospital. Even close friends. But you guys are family in a way that no one else could ever be. And as to whether I'd want to ask one of the other girls...I've definitely gotten a lot closer to all of them in the last five years. ...But I wouldn't have Sean if it weren't for you, and I think they'll all understand how important it is that you have the first chance to stand up beside me while I become his wife. They'll all be bridesmaids anyway, so it isn't as if I'm leaving anyone out. Like I said, you don't have to answer right away. I know with the baby--”

“Michelle, of course I'll be your maid of honor! It would be my honor! I mean, obviously if River makes trouble, I'll deal with that, but as long as that doesn't put you off...”

“Honestly, there was a time in my life when the thought of a wedding with a pregnant bridesmaid, much less a pregnant maid of honor, would have made me cringe. Back when my closest friends were the superficial bitches who ended up betraying me. Back when everything to me was about status and power and showing off...”

“...I'm proud of who you are now, Michelle.”

I snort, but there's a grin splitting my face. “Those hormones are making you sappy.”

“Maybe, but it's true.”

“Hey, I have to get back to work, and I should let you get back to California. I'll be going dress-shopping with the girls soon. We'll make sure to send pictures so you can give your two cents.”

“Talk to you soon then. Love you.”

“Love you too, you pregnant sap. Thank you.”

Jake

Alodia spends the flight home up in the cockpit with me and Mike while Diego and Varyyn presumably screw like rabbits in Castor's bedroom. That's fine with me. There's something I've been meaning to bring up.

“You know, Princess, since you're carrying my baby and all, I think it might be about time for you to meet my parents.”

“That is...not an unreasonable request,” she concedes. “...How much do they actually know about me?”

“Less than Rebecca knows. But I told them about you five years ago. Back when I thought I'd lost you. And I told them you'd come back. ...I got a call once the story of your reappearance broke asking if you were the same Alodia Chandler. ...And they know you're pregnant.”

“Wow. That's a little more than I was expecting them to know. Not that I'm complaining.”

“Probably a little less intimidating to think that your in-laws already know you exist than to think that you might be dropping in on them without them knowing anything and being pregnant to boot when you do,” Mike remarks.

“Frankly, yes,” she agrees. She's smirking a little when I look back at her, but there is anxiety nipping at the edges of her features. “...Do they approve of me?”

“They don't even know you yet, Princess.”

“I know, but...” She sighs. “I just can't help thinking how my aunt and uncle and Diego's parents reacted to you...”

It's my turn to smirk a little. “Heh...yeah, well. I'm a shady ex-military type with shaggy hair. Not the type parents generally take kindly to right off the bat.”

She reaches over and vigorously rubs my head. “I like your shaggy hair.”

I catch her hand and bring it to my lips to press a kiss to her fingertips. “I'll be honest, my parents are a little wary. But they're wary because they think I symbolically married you after knowing you for only six months, and now I'm shacking up with you after you've been gone for five years.”

“...Whereas in reality, you married me in a tribal ceremony after having consciously known me for a few weeks, plus two-thousand one-hundred thirty-nine time loops. Plus the whole shacking up after I've been gone for five years thing.”

“Yeah. The point is, they're wary because they think I'm rushing into things, they're concerned that this might be a fading infatuation and that this whole unplanned pregnancy thing is gonna trap me in something I don't really want. But with all that, they ain't judging you. They ain't sittin' there thinking you got some ulterior motive without even knowing you. They ain't the type. They'll question my judgment in getting hitched so fast and sticking it out even after five years of you missing. They might question yours in saying yes to me when I asked you. You'll probably get a pass on staying with me five years later considering what you went through in the meantime. They ain't gonna go into this preparing to dislike you. Once they know you, they're gonna love you. And you're gonna love them. Promise.”

She's quiet for a moment. “So, when do I meet the family?”

“They've invited us to Louisiana for Thanksgiving. Think your family in California will be willing to spare you?”

“For Thanksgiving? I can promise you my folks won't even realize I'm gone.”

Grayson

My father's brain is swollen. Or it was. At least, I think that's what the doctor meant. They kept me waiting for awhile when I first arrived, and when the doctor showed up, I couldn't exactly follow what he was telling me. What I did gather was that Dad responded well to treatment, and that his vital functions are intact. But he hasn't regained consciousness. I've barely left his side. I've gone to the bathroom when I can't hold it anymore. Eva brought me something to eat from the cafeteria this morning, which was thoughtful of her. Michelle Nguyen did the same later. I think I thanked them both, but probably not as warmly as I should have. I hope they understand.

I don't know why I'm sitting here. I guess Dad would probably do the same for me. ...But maybe not. Maybe he would react the same way he reacted after Mom died, pulling away, burying himself in his work. ...Maybe he stopped caring a long time ago. Somehow, I can't bring myself to believe that. But...neither can I entirely convince myself that he hasn't.

I wish Tahira were here with me. She's always been there when I needed someone to lean on. Since we were in college together, since I was the senior overloaded with classes and she was the smart, confident freshman who always knew whether she needed to drag me to the library for a study session or make me put the books away and go out for the evening. We only had a year to get to know each other then, but we kept in touch on and off for the next three years while I worked for Dad, and she finished her business degree. Then, she applied to Prescott Industries, became my assistant, was exposed to the Prism Crystal, became a superhero and a pawn in my father's game...

… I want her here with me now. But I can't ask her. Of course not. My father has hurt her more than anyone. He used her. I guess I can't help loving him, because he's my dad. But I can't ask her to put aside her own pain to support me now.

A rustling in the hospital bed sends an electric jolt down my spine. My dad's head rolls lazily back and forth on the pillow. I leap to my feet, cautiously taking his hand.

“...Dad...? Dad, can you hear me...?” His eyelids flutter.

“...Gr-Grayson...?” His voice is a weak croak, and he struggles to focus on my face.

“It's me, Dad.”

His gaze drifts around the hospital room. “Wh-where...?”

“In the hospital, Dad. In Northbridge.”

“T-Tahira...?”

“She's safe.” An edge has entered my voice. “She's safe at home. Which is more than I can say for some people in this city, thanks to you. Do you remember what you did?”

“I...I found it...I found my way to...” His eyes suddenly fly open. On the monitor beside his bed, his heart rate spikes sharply. “Helena!”

I feel my body go cold as my blood drains into my feet. “Wh-what?”

“Where is she? Where is my Helena?”

“What?! Dad, Mom's dead! She has been for almost twenty-five years!”

“No!” he growls. “No! It can't be! I was there! I was so close!”

He tries to sit up, and the monitors start shrieking as his blood pressure and heart rate climb. I put my hands on his shoulders, trying to ease him back onto the bed, but his hands shoot out to grab my shoulders instead, tightening until the pressure is painful. I squirm, but I don't try to get away. He's still fighting the weight of my hands, pushing him back onto the bed.

“Dad, stop! You need to rest!”

“I need my wife! Where is Tahira?! Where is that brat?! She has to know! She has to know what she's done!”

There are doctors and nurses rushing in now, untangling me and my father, pushing a needle into his IV line and squeezing the plunger. I shrink, my eyes on my father's face as his struggles slowly cease and he settles back onto the bed. His heart rate slows to normal. The nurse turns to me. He's asking me something. Or telling me something. I can't focus. I can't comprehend him.

“I...have to be up early tomorrow,” I mutter. “Please call me if anything changes.”

I rush into the hallway. Push past the police officers that are standing guard outside his room. I don't stop rushing until I'm outside in the parking lot. And even then, I keep pacing. I want to throw up. I want to scream. I want to cry. I want to do all three at once, and then I want to throw things. I can feel that I've begun crying as I pull out my phone and place a call.

“...Hey, Grayson.” Tahira's voice comes down the line, gentle and calming. I draw in a shuddering breath.

“My dad woke up...”

“How is he?”

“He...started babbling about you. And my mom. I don't think he was fully lucid because he started getting aggressive, and they had to sedate him...”

A pause. “I'm sorry, Grayson.”

Before I realize that I'm going to do it, I dissolve into tears. “Oh, god...Tahira...I...I don't know what to do here. ...I know I shouldn't ask, but...I...I think I need you here...I need help. I can't handle this alone. Please...tell me what I should do...”

She is quiet for a long moment. Finally, she sighs. “Go home. Wait for me on the balcony.”

* * *

I've been at the hospital long enough that the sun has gone down again. Tahira is already waiting for me on the balcony when I get home. Or rather, Dragonness is. I've calmed down enough by then that I can't help grinning a little when I see her.

“My hero,” I quip. “Flying to my rescue.”

“That's me. ...But do you mind if I come in so I can take my mask off at least?”

“Of course. Right.” I step aside to let her through, and draw the curtains over the windows. Safely inside, Dragonness takes her mask off, and there is Tahira Rogers in front of me, dressed in a dark-colored supersuit. The last time we were together in this room was the day before my father attacked Northbridge...

...I'm crying again, and I'm not sure when it started. Tahira draws me into her arms, guiding me to the couch. I go where she leads me, clinging to her while I sob.

“I'm so sorry, Tahira...I'm so sorry for what he did to you...what he did to everyone...”

“I know, Grayson. It's not your fault.”

“I...I know...but...” I tighten my grip, burying my face in her neck like a frightened child. “...For ten weeks, everyone has told me I'm not to blame for what my father did. The families of the people who died have told me they don't hold me responsible for my father's actions. I cried for them, I cried for you, I cried for my father...I felt helpless, but...I never felt...broken...”

“But now you do?”

I pull back to look at her, blinking back a film of tears. She raises a hand to cup my cheek, her dark eyes gentle and sympathetic. I swallow hard.

“...It's...different now that he's back. Now that both of you are back. I just...I'm so angry with him, and I don't understand how it all happened...how I never saw it coming...God, Tahira, why? Why would he do a thing like that?!”

Something like fear flickers across her face. Fear and sadness and...resignation. She sighs.

“...For your mother, Grayson. For you.”

I feel my head get foggy, resisting understanding. Numbness creeps in as my blood rushes against my eardrums in a frantic attempt to drown out her words. I think I manage to croak out the appropriate question. She takes my hands as she answers, holding my eyes with hers.

“...This world couldn't save your mother. Couldn't bring her back to him. He thought another world might be able to.”

I feel something cold creep in to banish the numbness. “...Is that what he told you he was doing?”

She nods. “The last thing he said to me before we were consumed was, 'Maybe someday soon, my son will have a mother again'.”

I recoil. Not from her exactly, or from the truth of what she's telling me. But the words themselves hit me like the lash of a whip. I turn sharply away, burying my face in my hands.

“God...god! How...how could he possibly...” I raise my head to look at her again, knowing my desperation is in my face and my voice. “I miss her, too! I've missed her every day since she died, and I wish she hadn't...and...I admit, I've wished for a way to bring her back, but...I mean, when I learned there was a way to bring you back, I went for it. But I never...”

“You never used my cousin. The way your dad used me. You never let anyone get hurt. At least, not anyone who hadn't already agreed to the risks.” I nod weakly. She puts a hand on my cheek again. “You're a good man, Grayson Prescott.”

I've always liked to think I am. But if Tahira Rogers tells me it's true, I feel like I can believe it. “...What happens now?”

She smiles ruefully. “That's the big question, isn't it. ...Alodia doesn't think anything is over yet. But maybe for awhile, we can get back to something like ordinary. Or whatever resembles ordinary in our situation.” She pauses. “...I...may need a new job. I told your dad I quit just a few days before the big battle.”

I can't help smiling a little. “Last I checked, you worked for me, not my father. Which is especially true now that I'm in charge of his company. Unless...you'd rather find something else.”

“Heck no,” she snorts. “Not if you still want me there.”

“Of course I still want you!” Realizing what I've just said, I feel heat creep up my neck. “I mean...to work for me. If you want to work for me. I...”

She mercifully shuts me up when she presses her mouth to mine, winding her arms around my neck. I raise my hands to her face, threading my fingers through the silky black waves of her hair. Too soon, she breaks the kiss, pressing her forehead to mine.

“You're too funny,” she chuckles breathily. “We've already slept together, but you're still embarrassed to say that you want me?”

“I don't like to be crude,” I retort. “Besides, you slept with me the night before you went off to battle. I could have been a last fling for all I know.”

She sits back slightly, her hands still clasped behind my neck, and looks me in the eye. “I spent the night with you because I knew if I died without ever having asked to spend the night in your arms, I would die with regret. Grayson Prescott, I've been in love with you since college.”

And just like that, I know everything will be all right. I pull her close and kiss her hungrily. She straddles my lap, pressing her hips to mine.

“...I want you, Tahira Rogers,” I whisper against her mouth. “I'm in love with you. I have been for years.”

“You have me,” she whispers back. “I want you, too.”

I capture her mouth with mine again, tasting her tongue and the backs of her teeth. I want to see her. Touch her. Really touch Tahira Rogers, not Dragonness. I tug at her supersuit, searching for a clasp or a zipper or... Good lord, what kind of trap did Dax sew her into with this thing. I hear her chuckle.

“Looking for something?”

“How do you get in and out of this thing?”

She sits back on her heels, grinning. One hand slips behind her back and touches something. I can't see what she's doing, but her hand is barely back there for a second before the front of her costume starts to sag. She reaches up to slide the dark bodysuit off her shoulders. I feel myself trembling with anticipation as her body emerges from the costume; her clavicles, her pert breasts, her muscular arms, and her flat, firm stomach... She eases off me and stands up to peel the bodysuit the rest of the way off. Oh, god help me, she's naked underneath. Completely bare. Tahira Rogers is naked in my living room for the second time ever. She smiles at me.

“Do you like what you see?”

My mouth is too dry to form words. I swallow, nodding dumbly. She returns to straddle my lap again. Her hands on my chest, she leans down to kiss me again. I let my hands span her waist, trailing my fingers over her bare skin. Tomorrow, I'll have to go back to the hospital. I'll have to face the consequences of my father's return.

But tomorrow is a long time from now.

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