Aegis 3.0

[Scripted Away]

"Under one condition", Rachel said with a smile as she joined jim in rubbing Echo's belly. "She has to get along with William's blind service dog. I've called a friend who rescues dogs and trains them. figured i'd rather give a lonely dog a chance for a better life than buy one who will have a good life either way, you know?"
she was just taking out her phone to show jim a photot of the dog, when someone knocked on the door.
"Soren is that you? come in!"
the door opened, and a young man came in with a beautiful afghan dog.
"Rachel, i came here as quickly as i could. lucky you called me today. one day longer and they would have forced me to put her down."
Rachel sighed relieved and smiled at dog, who immediately came trotting over to her to sniff on her hand and then on William's crib.
"Oh eh, honey, that's my friend Soren. he rescues mistreated dog, street dogs, all that, and takes care of them."
"Nice to meet you, I've heard a lot about you- only good things of course.", Soren said with a smirk, subtly waving at jim. "Daisy here is already 30 years old, and the feds started noticing that something's up with her. no dogs gets that old. they demanded me to put her down for about a year already, and it was getting hard to hide her over the time. now i might just fake her death and let her live happily as your son's blind service dog."
while Soren had been talking, Daisy had checked out the entire room and now looked up at jim and rachel with big, urious eyes, before she looked at Echo, her tail starting to wag happily.
"What's it with the flower crown though?", Rachel asked chuckling.
"Oh she's just a pretty girl", Soren replied with a smile. "So- my idea was that she just spends some time with you, so you can get to know her, and the you can decide wether you consider her fitting for your son or not. sounds good?"

Raven froze on the spot. brothers in need had kind of become her trigger.
she sighed silently. officer Blake probably had gone to the hospital, just to make sure he really was okay, so this shit was up to her now.
great...grrrreeeaaat.
she looked at his shotwound for a moment and it just disappeared, as if it had never been there.
"You try to run and i'll make that wound appear again and put another bullet in your second knee, got me?", she growled silently. "Now what is it with your brother?"

Bailey lifted her shoulders. "I don't know either. i just remember chatting about it with Sam. He said it was like some kind of second presence, as if you were in two places at the same time and could change on which you focus more. he said he was completely here with his consciousness, and just kind of occasionally checked up on that other place or so...i don't know how to describe it. maybe like when you play a videogame very intensely and feel like the game becomes reality at some point...just that the game is not a game but a second reality?"

ash smiled softly at emma.
"I bet Mike is still around. just wait for it. eventually, he will find a way to be noticed. we haven't seen him for the last time. jeez after all my mother is a frigging godess. bet she could tell you immediately where he is right now."

Coby lifted his shoulders.
"Well, basically, just make peace. let go of what's hurting you or making you angry or anxious, be totally calm. basically just...be happy."
he pulled Mike into a gentle hug and rested his cheek on his shoulder, his nosetip in his neck. "Maybe this helps you", he whispered softly an he ran his fingers through his hair."i mean i don't know if it makes you just as happy as me, but if it does - that's the feeling you need."

 

[Wyosch]

"Nice to meet you too.", Jim replied, scanning every inch of the man. His shadow was dark grey, which meant he was a good person. Jim didn't trust him though - as usual.
Instead of being grumpy again and threatening the guy, he just concentrated on the two dogs.
Echo sharpened her ears as the other dog approached, tilting her head with a curious look in her eyes.
Soon enough, her tail started wagging and she barked silently, moving up to Daisy and sniffing her - until she started to happily lick all over Daisy's head, yet watching out that she wouldn't touch the flower crown.
"I believe Echo likes Daisy."

Tyler frowned confused as his wound disappeared, but then just straightened his back and lifted his head.
"I owed some money to some guy. Didn't give it to him as I didn't think he'd notice. He appeared to be one of the leaders of a growing, dangerous gang - and wasn't happy that I didn't pay him back.
They kidnapped my little brother... and are threatening to kill him if I don't give them the money by midnight."

Cole nodded, sighing.
"Do you think I should try again?", he asked, raising his eyebrow -
as suddenly everything around him seemed to disappear, feeling as if he was falling asleep -
until he woke up, somewhere he had never been before, a blue glowing man-like thing in front of him.
What the hell?!
He frowned. Was that his voice? Sounded like an echo. Or a thought.
This was weird. Very weird.
And where the hell was he ?!

"Your mother is a goddess?", Emma asked, raising her eyebrows. "I didn't know that."
In the exact moment, the nurse opened the door again and walked out.
"You can come back in.", she chuckled upon seeing the puke on Ash's shirt, said goodbye and left.
"Shall we go in?", Emma asked, her eyes widening. She'd see her daughter. Her daughter who was a mother of two perfect little babies now.

Mike peacefully closed his eyes, enjoying Coby's warmth and touch.
"I love you.", he whispered, hugging him back.
"I could stay like this forever."

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel chuckled softly at the sight of the two dogs and nodded.
"Looks like it. Aww look at that!"
After daisy had licked over Echo's ears for a few times- totally lady like- she trotted to William, who was stretching out his hand to her and pushed her nose against his little hand, the little boy giggling happily.
"And those two seem to get along as well."

Raven rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"In cases like this You call the cops instead of making a building collapse and almost kill a dozen people, you asshat", she growled, looked around for a moment and sighed beatenly.
She took out a second pair of handcuffs, just to cuff him o the next streetsign.
"You stay here. You are arrested for weaponed assault, manslaughter and attempted murder. I'll get your brother."
She made her way to one of the buildings around, knocked the guard out with a perfect round house kick and came back a few seconds later, with that guy's brother at her hand.
"Your brother is fine and those people won't harm you again. I suggest you come with me peacefully now, or I have to get unfriendly."

Sam would have smiled, if he had a face.
Good to see you awake. Welcome in our world. He motioned at everything around, still standing in mid-space. Come, I want to show you something.
He guided Cole back to the main place, through the broad, shining streets, past houses and building in shapes that no one had ever seen before. And it all was kind of...grey. desolate.
This is the biggest island we created, he explained. It's in the center of our dimension. All around, in a circle, are floating some smaller islands, all with a unique purpose. This place kind of is the...social spot, if you know what i mean.
Newborns were cared for and guarded on the northern island, juveniles learned to use their powers in the north east. And so on and so on. But the most important thing...is right here...
He pointed at a huge tower, with two bright lights circling around it, one pretty big, the other one smaller. This is where our worlds are bound to our dimension. Every world kind of...spread energy, and that energy lit up our streets and houses, gave us energy and power; while we cared for our worlds the best we could. We literally lived from the love and faith of those who prayed to us. We kept eachother in balance. This kinda is Olympus number two, but without the 'This is spartaaaa!' that they always had going on. No wonder they're extinct... boy This place was shining like the stars when we were still many... but so many died. And two just aren't enough to save this place. But I won't give up. Not on my home...
He sighed silently.
Are you okay though? This is a lot of new information.

"Yup, Luna", Ash said with a shrug and grinned excitedly when the nurse said they could come in again.
"Yeah let's go!"
He pushed the doors open and have Emily a warm smile, before he kissed her forehead and grabbed a chair to sit by her bedside.
"Baby I was wondering...", he said slowly "... If you'd like to move back to aegis with me? Big meadows instead of busy streets, clean, fresh air, many other kids to play with..."

Coby's eyes widened and he looked into Mike's eyes for a moment, completely frozen, till he smiled softly.
"I love you too", he mumbled softly and smiled.
"Well, we literally have an eternity waiting for us."

 

[Wyosch]

Jim smiled softly as William and Daisy seemed to get along just fine. He ran his hand through his hair and leaned against the wall, watching his wife, their son and dogs with a peaceful smirk.
Echo was excitedly barking, trying to catch her own tail while jumping around.
"Hey, honey... should I go and get the kids?"

The little boy's eyes widened as he saw his brother, let go of the woman's hand and ran towards him, tears in his eyes.
"Billie!", Tyler called, frowning sadly as his young brother hugged him as tightly as possible. His handcuffs disappeared into nothing but grey sand as he slung his arms around his brother.
"I thought you were dead!", Billie cried, clinging onto Tyler's shirt with his bloody hands.
"I'm here... I'm here...", Harris mumbled calmingly, picking the little boy up.
"Why did it take you so long?!"
"They said no cops, so I had to get the money myself... I'm sorry it took so long, Billie..."
The brothers hugged each other, until the little one lifted his head up from his brother's soaked shirt, and turned to Raven.
"Who is she?"
Tyler put the boy back on his feet and heeled in front of him, letting out a sigh.
"She's a police woman... and I have to go with her now."
"I will come with you."
"You can't, Bill."
"Why not?!"
"You'll go back to your foster family and-"
"But I don't want to! I want to stay with you!", Billie screamed, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry, but you can't. You have to go back to Cecilia and Mark. They'll take good care of you while I'm away.", Tyler replied, trying to stay calm, but seeing his brother this hurt and crying made it quite hard for him.
"...how long will you be gone this time?"
"Longer than last time, I'm afraid."
"But last time was already so long!"
"8 months isn't that long, Billie."
"Without you it is..."

Cole was frowning. He didn't know if he was physically frowning, but internally he surely was frowning.
This all was very strange. He didn't have a body. Or did he? It was a weird one, that for sure.
It's weird.
No voice either.
This was quite confusing. They both were just... things made out of glowing stuff.
Wow. Making a lot of sense right now.
Eh... I'd love to hear more about.. this all - whatever it is - but I want to cure Bailey first. She's more important.

Emily smiled softly at Ash, looking at their daughter who was peacefully sleeping in her arms.
"I was actually thinking the same.", she replied. "It'd be much better for them to grow up around family and with other kids. Sure, there are plenty of kids in the city as well, but from my experience, most are pretty much spoiled brats. Especially in such big cities like LA."
She looked up at her fiancé again, her eyes sparkling proudly
"Good thing we always think the same."
Emily's eyes widened as her mother walked in.
"Mom!"
"Emmy!"
Emma smiled happily, hugging her daughter - without hurting any of the babies.
"I am so proud of you, honey. They're beautiful."
"Thanks, mom."

Mike blushed slightly, nodding.
"You're right.", he replied, winking. "Okay, now let's get to- wait. Where were we going to again?"

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel nodded silently at Jim's suggestion.
"They'll want to see their little brother. And you still have to clear up a thing or two with Jack...oh my God, look at that!" She giggled as Daisy jumped into the crib and curled up around William like a huge plushie. "I have a feeling we found our blind service dog."

Raven sighed silently as she watched them. God how she could empathize with Billy...
"Or...", she said, gently putting a hand on the little boy's shoulder to calm him down.
"I can try and talk to my boss. He thinks very highly of my family so I might be able to convince him- we've had it one time before, that a criminal was let go if he'd join the police. It's done rarely, only with people who possess skills the police needs, and people they think they can trust: you join. Police academy. Training, and lastly working as a cop. One year trial: you screw up- you are fired and go to jail. You do a good job- you might even get the custody for your brother. You'd get a reliable partner, someone who'd keep an eye on you and work with you. It won't be easy. But that could be your chance. Your only chance."

Sam nodded, more or less- it was kind of hard to see in his true form- and put one hand on Cole's shoulder. Small lightning crackled where they touched, until Sam kind of faded, till he was barely visible anymore.
Down on earth, Sam opened his eyes.
"Bailey, how are you? ", he asked carefully as he saw her bending over Cole, who was just laying on the ground. Sure, his consciousness was in their realm right now.
"What's wrong with him?!"
"He's fine. He will be back in a moment."
"He better be, Sam! I swear I will make alien-favour of you if he won't come back!!"

Ash smiled softly as he watched Emma and Emily. He still remembered how they had argued about her and him moving in together, about protection and the like the like...
Now it had come how Emma had been scared it would come... but all were happy.
Even the fear that had been agonizing him for weeks had vanished as soon as he had realized that it were his children that were growing there.
"Look at that, Benny has my eyes...", he said with a happy smile. "Or well...one of my eyes."
He smirked slightly. "Nobody copies my heterochromia."

Coby chuckled silently. "What, am I distracting you so much? We're were about to let out our families know we're still here- and happy."

 

[Wyosch]

Jim smiled softly as he saw Daisy cuddling up with William. He gently stroke over her head, scratching behind her ear, before he ran his hand over his son's small head.
"She's perfect for him.", he mumbled, sighing silently as he started thinking on how to approach this all to Jack.
"Honey, you any idea on how I should talk to Jackie?"

Tyler sighed silently, looking down at Billie.
"It sounds like a plan to me, but I'll let you decide: I know how scared you are after what happened to mom and dad."
The little boy looked down to the floor, and then up at his big brother.
"I don't want to lose you too.", he whispered silently, hoping the lady wouldn't hear it.
Tyler heeled down, putting his hands on his brother's shoulders.
"Billie... you won't lose me. I'll be careful. What happened to mom and dad was an accident... that won't happen to me too, okay?"
Billie frowned, stretching out his hand.
"Pinkie promise?"
"Pinkie promise."

Cole opened his eyes.
What was this?!
Blue... the sky?
His body didn't feel... fluent like a liquid anymore. More like a robust, steady thing he could control.
"Bailey? Sam?", he asked, slowly sitting up again. Ok, his head was aching. Great.
"Am I back on earth?"

Emily shook her head, turning to her fiancé with their daughter.
"She did."
Emma smiled softly as she saw her granddaughter's different eyes. One light blue - like both her parents - and one brown - like her dad.
"Aww that's super cute!"

Mike chuckled. "I am just easily distracted.", he replied, winking. "And I have troubles concentrating - so yes, it is your fault!", he replied, kissing Coby's cheek. "But I don't mind it."

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel sighed soundlessly, got up from her bed and went over to him to gently stroked a streak of hair out of his face and take his hands. "Be honest, be fair, and show him that you mean it when it you say you want to get better. Don't just say it. Mean it. Prove it. Show him your chat with Mayrose or so. And be honest about why you left him alone. He will notice when you don't tell him the truth."
She softly kissed his cheek and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug.
"And let him know that you know he's right being angry at you. I know you won't like it honey...but this time you will have to let yourself be vulnerable. He doesn't need a figure of strength and bravery now. He needs his father. Hey..."
She lifted Jim's chin up and smiled slightly. "I know you can do this, honey. I believe in you."

Raven sighed soundlessly as she watched Billy and Tyler.
For a moment, she felt conflicted wether she should or shouldn't stay out of this, but then she silently cleared her throat and more or less hugged herself as she squatted down in front of Billy and smiled sadly.
"Hello Billy...you don't know me, but..."
Her voice broke before she could speak on, but after a few seconds she had pulled herself together. "I know how hard it is to let someone go and be afraid you'll never see him again..."
Hoping to cheer the little boy up a bit, she shifted into her half shifted bunny form and smiled sweetly. "But i promise You that I will personally make sure your brother will be fine. And i will do my best to make sure you'll be able to see him as often as possible."
Turning to Tyler, she slightly straightened her back, but her expression remained the same- understanding, sad, and somewhere deep down scared. "I understand you would do everything for your brother. I-..."
She sighed, out her hand put on his shoulder and let him a few feet away from Billy, to talk in private. "As a cop, I have to make sure you wont screw up again. ...as a person I know your situation far too good. If I can help, please let me know. I've been in your place."

"You are", Sam chuckled after he had gone back into his vessel.
"Watch out, now that you woke up you are like a beacon for everyone who can see energy, and you probably have developed new abilities. Healing, for example."
As he saw Bailey staring at him with big eyes, he nodded at her.
"Yes, but I doubt your body would survive that much energy twice."
She nodded in silence, her gaze lowering to the floor.
"I'll go see my grandkids now. If you need me, just give me a ring", Sam said with a soft smile and teleported into the hospital...

...where ash almost jumped out of his skin from shock. "Jesus, Sam!", he gasped, his hand pressed against his chest.
Sam just chuckled and wrapped his arms around Emma from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder as he watched the babies with sparkling eyes. "Just as beautiful as their mother and grandma", he mumbled with a proud smile.
It didn't take long until Macon appeared in the room as well, his wings immediately knocking a glass of water off the table.
"Dangit!", he hugged, but grinned widely when he squeezed ash in a tight hug. "Con-gra-tulations!", he cheered, While Ash chuckled as he noticed that he was taller than his uncle by now.
"Thanks uncle Mac. Hey Emma, I believe you two have never been introduced! This is my awesome uncle, Macon. He's the guy who found a cure for cancer and can talk to and spot ghosts."
Mac gave ash a slight glare at the last sentence, finding it completely unnecessary to mention that, but smiled warmly at Emma and stretched out his hand. "So great to finally meet you in person, Miss Anderson."

Coby chuckled softly as he gently swatted Mike's shoulder.
"Now c'mon you cheeseball, or we'll still be standing here next Christmas!"

 

[Wyosch]

Jim looked down at Rachel with an anxious frown on his face.
He had always been the strong, brave figure. Letting Rachel in had been one hell of a fight with himself. One after another, he was slowly letting people in: Rachel, Macon, Rex.... okay that was about it. Yet he still kept most of his worries to himself. He'd only talk to them about the tip of the iceberg. There was so much more. And if they'd knew what...
He couldn't be weak.
How was he supposed to let himself be vulnerable if he still always tried to avoid situations like that because they made him feel uncomfortable?
He sighed, running his fingers through Rachel's hair, staring into her eyes for a moment.
"I'll try, okay?"

Tyler sighed soundlessly, giving her a thankful nod.
"He's my brother... I'd do anything for him.", he mumbled, sighing. "I already lost my parents, I can't lose him too."
He turned to his young brother for a moment before looking back at Raven.
"Thank you for what you're doing. You shouldn't have."
He ran his hand through his hair, looking at Raven with his big blue eyes.
"And I'm very sorry you had to go through something similar."

Cole frowned as Sam disappeared, leaving him clueless on what to do with his abilities now.
"Eh... how do I heal?", he asked Bailey, looking at her with big eyes. Should he just think >>heal<< and then heal? Or what?

Emma shook Macon's hand, smiling softly.
"Nice to meet you, Macon. I'm Emma." She slightly tilted her head to the side, as her daughter yelled out what she had wanted to say,
"CAN YOU FIND MIKE?!", Emily asked, looking up at everybody from the bed, while her daughter was licking her arm.
"Mike is a ghost now, right? You could find him, right?"

Mike chuckled, nodding. "Okay, I think you're right."
He akwardly ran his hand through his hair, looking to the floor.
"I just have no idea where to go... I mean, I have never been out of my room since I'm free again... I don't know the city at all."

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel smiled softly as she ran her fingers through Jim's hair and planted a small kiss on his chin.
"I know you can do it, baby", she whispered to his ear as she tightened her hug.
For so long she had always been trying to find a way how to show him how proud she was of him, but she wasn't sure if she had ever succeeded...
"Honey i know you probably won't believe me...", she mumbled softly. "But I'm really proud of you. Sure, there's still a lot you have to learn, but you've already become a wonderful man. I love you."
She planted another kiss on his cheek, then his nosetip and lips and smirked gently. "I know you can do this. And if you need my help, just tell me. I'm always there for you, Okay?"

Raven just furrowed her eyebrows and lowered her gaze to the ground, her eyes suddenly full of pain; at least until she looked back at Tyler with a completely blank expression.
"It's fine. I'm not the one who should be worried about. I don't need my father. My brother is the one who-..."
She sighed and shook her head.
"Say goodbye. Time to go to the academy and get you geared up."

Bailey looked at the floor for a moment, clearly very lost in thoughts, before she looked up at Cole again, closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then breathed out slowly again.
"Cole, listen...", she mumbled silently. "I've been talking to Sam about this a while ago... He explained unicorns' healing like this: 'we pass a part of our energy into another body to empower the cells, stimulating them into a quicker healing and reproducing process'."
She sighed silently. "He also said that small amounts are no big deal, but such things as regrowing entire organs changes the cells so much that they couldn't stand another empowerment after that. That means...you could actually heal my infertility. But after that, you could never heal me again from anything..."
Bailey once more let out a sigh and leaned her forehead against Cole's shoulder, hitting her numb legs with one fist. "I've thought about this for a long time. My future, or my legs? I made my choice. But you are just as involved. You are the one i want to spend my life with. Cole...what's more important for you? Spending your life with someone who can walk- or being able to have kids on our own one day?...that is; if you even want to spend your entire life with me...", she added and blushed slightly.

Mac jumped slightly at Emily's sudden yelling, but then smiled at Emma and nodded.
"I can. I'm the supreme archangel, and son of two pretty powerful demons. I can even work a certain amount of effect on them. One moment..."
He started glowing in a godly, soft white light, and after a moment, Coby and Mike materialized beside him, I'm temporary bodies made of mist.

"...what the?!"
Coby looked around with big eyes as they suddenly were somewhere else. Upon noticing Macon, he smirked slightly. "Eh, Gabriel's heir?"
"Exactly. Hey Coby, hello Mike. You're already being missed."

 

[Wyosch]

Jim smiled gently at his wonderful wife, closing his eyes at her touch, slowing down his racing thoughts for a short moment.
"I'm proud of what we've become.", he replied, stroking a streak of hair out of her face.
"I'll be back soon with the kids.", he mumbled, kissed her and teleported away - leaving Echo running around the room, barking nervously. She didn't understand how he had suddenly been able to disappear like that.

Tyler frowned at Raven, but lastly just shrugged it off. It was none of his business.
He walked off towards his little brother and heeled down in front of him, sighing silently.
"Billie, I really need to go now."
"No!"
"Do you want to spend the rest of your life at the Smiths?"
"Ew no!"
"Then I must go. If I do a good job, I might get custody over you and you could live at my place."
"If you have one."
"Hey, I'm trying to help you!"
Billie raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, nodding.
"How do you want to do that?", he asked.
"Well, like I said: if I am a good police man, the judges might change their mind and I can get custody over you. You could leave your foster family and live with your big brother."
"But we already tried that! And you were already helping the community!"
Tyler chuckled. "Community service is eh... I'll explain that to you when you're older."
"I'm already five! I'm almost adult!"
"Of course you are.", he ruffled the little boy's hair and stretched out his hand.
"Deal?"
"Deal. But only if you finally find a place to stay. I didn't like the dumpster."
"...neither did the judges... but okay, deal."
They linked their pinkies, stared into each others eyes for a moment until Billie started to laugh.
"C'mon, let's bring you back to the Smiths."
Tyler and Billie walked back to Raven, hand in hand, Billie slightly hiding himself behind his big brother.
"Could we quickly drop him off at his foster family before we go to the academy?"

Cole stumbled up to his feet, frowning deeply, shaking his head.
"No."
In his eyes were denial, but mostly fear.
"I don't want that. I can fix you! I can heal your legs and then your infertility! We'll do both! I don't want you to sit around in a wheelchair like Dylan did!"
He was slightly shaking, holding some tears back. He didn't really know why this upset him so much.
"Fixing your legs is a minor thing, right?! I only need to fix your numbness, not grow back any organs! And... and your infertility will be the major thing and we'll fix that too and you'll have a happy futuw with me and our kids and you'll be able to walk them to school and play soccer with them!"
A tear rolled down his cheek.
"I won't let you rot in a wheelchair!"

Mike frowned confused as he suddenly seemed to be in a hospital room.
Strange smell in here.
"Mike?!", Emma called, gasping as she saw her dead son standing in front of her.
"Mom? Sam?"
"MIKEY GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE AND LET ME BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!", Emily shouted, her usual gentle and caring face having quite the threatening expression now.
"HOW DARE YOU DIE ON US?! YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE AND I HATE YOU!"
"Honey, ignore your sister... probably still the hormones and painkillers.", Emma mumbled, feeling quite embarrassed.
"Hormones? Painkillers? Hospital? Do-"
"Yes, you're an uncle."
"A DEAD ONE!"
"Emily, zip it!"

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel chuckled silently as she saw echo that confused and gently petted her head.
"it's okay sweetie, Jim will be back in no time", she mumbled smirking.
But the thought of what him would be going through now made her smirk vanish instantly.
"I just hope everything will work out once more..."

Raven nodded at Tyler and smiled softly at Billy. "Your big brother is a good guy. I will do everything I can to help you."
Looking back up at Tyler, she even managed to smile a bit at him.
"I actually might even already have an idea where you can stay. Houses and flats in the city are very expensive, but it costs nothing at all to build a house in Aegis. That's the new small village near the city. Maybe you've heard of it. My family founded it."

"The fixing if my infertility will take all the capacity my body has for such energy...", Bailey explained silently, looking away with tears in her eyes as Cole reacted like that.
"I won't turn into an immature, stuttering, adult baby just because of a wheelchair!!", she almost shouted, half because her nerves were wrecked as well, partly because reasons.
She took a deep, calming breath and reached up to take Cole's hand and gently run her thumb over it.
"Baby why should i be 'rotting'? There's a big difference between how Dylan has been when he was still sitting in a wheelchair and me sitting in one. My brain is still working, I can still study, and tell you how handsome you are and comfort you when something's wrong. I haven't changed. I'm still me."

Ash laughed silently at Emily's outburst and gently stroked over her shoulder to calm her down.
"Hey man, I'm glad you're halfway okay", he said with a half happy and half sad smile. "But eh...who's the other guy?"
Coby just looked around in utter confusion and lastly just took Mike's hand to feel at least a but more secure. "I'm Coby..."

 

[Wyosch]

Echo patiently sat down next to Rachel, looking up at her with big eyes.
She didn't understand what the human had told her, but she seemed calm. So she could be calm too.
What about that other dog? An old, wise dog.
Echo was very young. She was only three years old, and had lived her entire life until now in an abusive home - being forced into dog fights.
Could she stay with the nice humans?

Jim sighed. How was he supposed to make his son believe in him again when he didn't even believe in himself?
"Jackie?", he called, smiling softly as he saw Kai playing around with a barn dog in the distance. Rose and Angel were out there too, probably. He knew how much Rose loved nature.
He raised an eyebrow as he heard something that sounded like cats fighting, one or two notes being hit right.
Someone was playing the guitar.
Or well, attempting to.
He walked through the shadows up to the barm, and stopped when he saw a little black haired boy sitting on a ball of hay, an acoustic guitar on his lap - which was far too big for his little hands - trying to play it.
Jim carefully walked over to him, sitting down next to him - both silently staring at the floor for a moment.
"What are you doing here?", the young boy asked, slightly moving away from his dad.
"I'm here to take you and your siblings to your mother and new baby brother.", Jim replied, looking at Jack through the corner of his eye. "And I'm here to make things up to you."
"You left me.", Jack replied, no emotions in his usually happy and joyful voice.
"And you have no idea how guilty I feel about it... I feel like I lost all of you..."
"You did."
Jim silenced, actually just wanting to walk away. When he made himself vulnerable to Rachel, Macon or Rex, they tried to still somehow sound nice when comforting him for mistakes he made. Kids were straightforward with stuff like that.
And it hurt.
"Listen, Jackie-"
"Only family may call me Jackie."
Jim sighed.
"Jack... I've talked to your mother about everything. I'm getting help so I can become a better father. There is this really nice lady who-"
"You're going to leave us again."
"What? No-"
"You're going to leave mommy too and I can't let you hurt her as much as you've hurt us!"
"Jack- I would never leave your mother. Not even if someone was threatening to take my life. I love her. She's my life. I'm more scared to lose her to someone else than you are to lose us."
Jack looked up at his father with a frown.
"That's not possible. You can't be more scared than me."
"Trust me, kiddo, I am."
"What does it feel like?"
"I always have this urge to run away. From everyone and everything. Run away to protect myself from getting hurt. I've hurt your mother a couple of times because I... I'm jealous of every guy she speaks to. I always think she would leave me for someone who is better than me. And there's not much needed for that. I'm always shaking when I see her talk to another guy. Having the urge to just push him away. I'm terrified. Even after we're married and all our kids. I'm terrified. Every day. There's not a single day that goes by where I don't once think about when the day will come that your mother will find someone else to spend her life with... I have nightmares about it."
"Does mommy know?"
"She knows I'm scared to lose her, and she knows how jealous I can be, but she doesn't know how deep my fear is. She doesn't know about the nightmares."
"Why don't you tell her?"
"Because I know she is already worrying about me. I don't want her to worry even more. And you see... maybe I'm also a little scared."
"Why?"
"Maybe because I've been told that I'm always overthinking and overreacting, and annoying people with my problems - maybe because of that I'm scared to talk."
"Are you scared right now too?"
Jim nodded silently, his arms slightly shaking. He felt how his heart was pumping too much blood into his veins.
"Terrified."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not only scared to lose her... I'm also scared to lose you. And your siblings." And his brother and father and cousin and friends...
"Why did you leave us then?"
"I didn't want to. You have to believe me..."
"Why did you leave us?"
"My demon is the strongest existing. I usually am strong enough to keep it in or out from interfering with my life... but when your mother lay in coma - I was too weak to fight it. I thought she'd die. I thought I'd lose her forever. I can't live without her. She's the reason I'm alive. She's the reason I still fight..."
"Your demon made you think you had lost her?"
"Exactly. I completely shut down. I locked everybody out to protect myself from even more pain."
Jack sighed silently, pulling up his legs and hugging his knees.
"Are there more things you're afraid of?"
"More things anyone could imagine."
"Does mommy know?"
"Nobody does."
"Not even uncle Macon?"
"Not even uncle Macon."
"Isn't that too much to keep to yourself?"
"I don't want to hurt the others."
"So you'd rather hurt yourself instead of others?"
"Indeed."
Jack stared in front of him for a moment, frowning sadly.
"Daddy?"
"Yes?"
"Do you still love me?"
"Always did, still do and always will."
"I love you too."

"Are you family of the Davises?", Tyler asked. "I've heard a lot about them. They stopped HACK. They risked their lives to save the ones of people they don't even know..."
Billie smiled. "They're my heroes!"
"I know.", Tyler looked up at Raven again, smiling gently. "If it really doesn't cost anything.... maybe."

Cole shook his head, another tear rolling down his cheek.
"No... I don't want you to just sit around in a wheelchair! You'll throw away your entire future... you can't play with our kids... you can't walk them to school... nothing..."
He looked away, a painful expression on his face.
"What if I first heal your legs and then your infertility? I... I don't want you to be sad..."

Mike smiled gently at Coby, looking at the others in the room.
"This is my boyfriend, Coby. He's a half dragon. Cool, hm?"
"YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND?!"
"Yeah?"
"YOU'RE STILL AN ASSHOLE!"

 

[Scripted Away]

Raven thought for just a moment.
Billy needed to be brave now, to find the strength to let his big brother go with a complete stranger, and maybe, just maybe, one of his heros could help him with that.
She smirked as she took out her phone.
"Hey mom, you available right now?there's this boy Billy who would love t-"
She was interrupted by Rachel appearing right beside her, echo and Daisy by her side and William in her arm.
She smiled warmly as she squatted down in front of Billy.
"Hey Billy", she said smirking. "So nice to meet you."
Smiling at Tyler as well, as if he was just like every other young man and bit someone who had just committed a crime, she nodded. "Nice to meet you well. I'm Rachel Davis."

Bailey sighed soundlessly and looked away. "Cole I think it's rather that you're traumatized by Dylan's time in a wheelchair", she said silently, stroking over his hand with her fingers. "Why should I be throwing away my future? It's not like I couldn't walk our kids to school in a wheelie. So what's the real problem here, hm honey?"

Coby flinched slightly at Emily's harsh words, but then just smiled at Emma and everyone else.
"You might now me as Jake instead."
He turned to ash, Emily and their kids and smirked proudly. "Congratulations, you two."

 

[Wyosch]

Echo immediately happy started barking at Billy, Tyler and Raven. So many new people!
Just as she was about to sniff Billy, he screamed and jumped back.
While the dog walked back to Rachel, her tail between her legs, Tyler smiled happily at Rachel.
"It's so great to meet you. You're my brother's hero."
Billy looked up at the woman with big eyes.
"You're real!"

Jim smirked softly at his son and got up, stretching out his hand.
"You comin'? Let's get your siblings together. I have an idea on how to surprise mommy."
Jack nodded excitedly, jumped off of the hay and grabbed his dad's huge hand compared to his.
"What idea, daddy?"
"Well, your mommy loves poems. And I've tried to write one once and it completely sucked."
"Do you mean the one where you wrote 'dove' instead of 'doe' because it rhymed with 'love'?"
"Eh yeah. How do you know about that?"
"I found your song book and Kai helped me read it. Your writing isn't that pretty."
Jim chuckled.
"Well thanks for the compliment."
"Your songs are sad."
"Not all of them, though."
"Most are."
"Well then we should write a happy song together."
"Really?"
"Yeah, why not?"
Jim looked up at the sun, enjoying the warmth, before he turned back to Jack.
"Let's call your siblings okay? On three."
"One..."
"Two."
"THREEEEEEEEEE!", Jack screamed, giggling.
"I meant we call their names on three, but I bet shouting out the number will help too."

Cole laughed, shaking his head.
"Traumatized? Me? Why- why should I? It's not like you're just going to be in a wheelchair for your entire life and you won't be able to jump or run or walk and you won't be able to walk any stairs or teach kids how to walk or stand up and you'll need special care and someone who's there for you 24/7 and it's going to be very expensive and-"
He took a deep breath, looking down to the floor, holding in his tears.
"I can't do this.", he whispered brokenly, hugging himself, while he turned his face away from Bailey. He didn't want her to see him like this.
"Why won't you just let me help you...? I can do both... I don't want to... I can't... you can't..."
His grip tightened around himself, and his expression changed from sad to terrified.
"I'm scared."

Emily frowned confused, motioning at Mike to move out of her sight.
"Thank you- but wait. Did you just say you're Jake? Bailey's brother?", she asked, frowning. "I've met him and he definitely isn't... what the hell are you actually?"
"He's half dragon.", Mike explained.
"Ok. Well, Jake for sure as hell isn't a half-dragon and wouldn't fall for someone like my brother."
"Excuse me?"
"Did you meet that guy? He's tidy, correct, a hard worker - you're the exact opposite."
"Hey! Opposites attract."
"That's just a fake saying. Opposites may be interesting for a while, but won't last long. Don't you remember Jasmine's first boyfriend?"
"Ew. Yes, I know what you mean. But trust me on this. Jake is Coby and Coby is Jake and Jake isn't really Jake but Coby."
"You do know you're not making any sense right now."
"Am I ever?"

 

[Scripted Away]

After Rachel had calmingly petted Echo's head for a moment, she smiled widely at Billy and Tyler.
"Billy, Tyler, it's great to get to know you in person. I'm really sorry about what happened to your parents..."
She sighed silently.
"You two probably don't know it, but I knew your father. A great man. He saved my life once. And you-"
She turned to Tyler with a smirk.
"My husband is the devil, so don't mess up, alright?" But her smirk was clearly showing that she didn't mean it.
Squatting down in front of Billy, she smiled softly.
"Billy, listen...", she mumbled, with love and pride in her eyes.
"We've saved this world so children like you could have a good future. No matter what they are, Billy, live your dreams. Never let anyone or anything stop you. And if i can ever help you somehow, one call is enough."

Rose looked up in surprise when she heard her brother giggling. She hadn't heard that in a long time.
And daddy was there!
They finally seemed to have made up.
With a happy grin, she ran towards them, her plaid blouse covered in grass stains and her blue jeans with holes in the knees. Her cowboy hat flew away, but she didn't care. She jumped into her dad's arms and grinned happily.
"Will we finally go home, daddy?!"


Bailey reached out as far as she could, and finally managed to grab Cole's hand and pull him down so he'd be sitting beside her.
"Cole, look into my eyes", she said with a calm voice.
"Do I seem like i need special care? Like i couldn't help myself? Or like I couldn't take care of a kid? Honey what you feel right now, that's caused by a trauma, and you know that. You never got any help when Dylan had that accident and turned into a completely different person. And that left scars. Of course it did. But this is not like back then. I'm still me, and that won't change. I'm here for you. You don't have to be scared."

Coby crossed his arms at that discussion. There actually were a few things he didn't like about that.
"Okay do i have wird word in this?", he grumbled, throwing his hands into the air.
"Mike: I am who I am. I am just as much Jake as I am Coby. The outside was different, but I'm the same person. I am a hard worker, and I am hands on and responsible and probably rather serious than humorous. Just in case you thought I'm not at all like the jake-me you knew."
Frowning, he turned to Bailey.
"And you- do you even know how great your brother is? He would do everything for the ones he loves, goddamn he died to save Sam. He might be a tad lazy, and not as accurate as me, but he doesn't have to. He is honest, and brave, he has the biggest heart I know and he'd never let anyone down. And that counts far more to me than any working attitude or so. So thank you, but we dont need relationship advice, Miss Hormones."
Wrapping one arm around Mike's waist, he stared into everyone's eyes, his literally gleaming, until everyone averted their gazes. "Anyone else want to criticize my boyfriend or our relationship?"

 

[Wyosch]

Billie looked down to the ground, a sad expression on his face as Rachel mentioned their father.
The memories.
"Why don't you go to the store there and buy yourself some ice cream?", Tyler suggested, handed him some cash and the little boy walked off.
"I'm sorry he reacted like that. It's been two years already, but... seeing someone that close to you die in front of you leaves scars.", Tyler explained, putting his hands in the pockets of his pants.
"So if I mess up your husband will torture me in hell?", he joked, smiling softly. "I am really thankful for the chance your daughter is giving me. I won't screw up. Not again."

Jim's eyes widened, sparkling, as his daughter jumped into his arms. He happily kissed her cheek and ran his hand over her head.
"Yes, babygirl, we'll finally go home. All together.", he replied, hugging her tightly.
How he had missed this feeling.
The feeling of holding his kids.
The feeling of them relying on him.
The feeling of family.
"But first two other things."
"Daddy!", Kai yelled, running up to him, his pants covered in mud stains, his shirt partly ripped apart. "You're back! For good... I hope?"
"Kai, my boy!", Jim smirked at his son's clothes, only reminding him so much of how he used to come home when he was Kai's age. "I'm back, and I am never going to leave ever again. I made a few pinkie promises for that."
He turned to Jack, gently petting his head, and then to Rose.
"So, I need your help with something. Jack told me you all know how much I suc- stink at writing poems... your mommy deserves a great one. What if y'all help me write one? Together?"
"That sounds like a good idea.", a silent voice replied. A cute, little blonde-haired girl, wearing a white dress, some cowboy shoes and a jeans jacker, stood behind them, looking up at Jim with big eyes.
It didn't take him long to realize who that little princess was.
"Angel.", he gasped, his smile softening. "Wow... look how much you've grown! And look how pretty you are... just like a real angel."
The little girl smirked proudly, her tiny hands wrapped around her dress.
"I am big now!"
"I see... you think you're big enough to give me a high-five?", Jim asked, lowering his hand, slightly going down - just enough for her to reach his hand - and playfully raised his eyebrows. Angel stood up on her tiptoes and hit his hand as hard as she could - and even though he didn't feel anything - he pretended it to having hurt quite a bit.
"Whoa there, you are already strong young lady!"
Jack now walked in front of Angel, looking up at his dad.
"Can we start witht the poem now?"
"Sure, kiddo. Anyone got an idea on how to start?"

Cole looked at Bailey with big, scared eyes, a sad frown on his face.
"No- no, what if- what if you're going depressed because we can't go for our morning joggs anymore? You-", he shook his head, slightly backing off.
"You won't be able to do anything anymore. I'd have to be around you 24/7 to help you grab stuff and take care of yourself and eat and shower and remind you to breathe and not bite yourself and you'd push me away because you need space, a bit I get it, but then you push me away entirely and I go cold and then you don't care anymore and I'll let you alone because I don't care either and what if it all happens again and-", his voice was shaking. If one would be able to see beyond the slightly scared facade of him, one would see a boy trapped in his past, afraid to make the same mistakes again, panicking because he doesn't know what to do - because he's scared of change, scared of what's going to come...
"...what if I can't do this?"

Mike looked at Coby with big eyes, smiling internally. God he was perfect.
"Oh yeah?", Emily mumbled, looking up from her daughter.
"You have known him for like... what? Not even a couple of days. I've known him all my life. And you know what? He's not a great brother like he makes everyone believe.
Where was he when Dylan had the almost fateful accident?
At a casino in Vegas, and he didn't come home until a week later because 'he had to have fun once a while'.
Where was he when Jasmine died?
At the other side of the country with his 'friends' who got him into drugs. He didn't even come to her funeral!
Where was he when I needed him with my unplanned pregnancy?
At home. Being lazy. Watching stupid cartoons all day long."
She started tearing up, but remained strong and just frowned even deeper.
She knew Ash would probably be angry at her for talking like that with everyone around, but she didn't care. Time for everyone to know what an asshole her brother was.
"Don't tell me he's a great person. He can make anyone believe he is, but I know what he's really like. And if you want to trust a man with two faces, go ahead.
Just know that he didn't go to jail for dealing drugs to 'help us'.
He never did anything to help us. He went clubbing with mom's money while she worked her ass off! He went clubbing with the money we needee to buy food and school supplies!
You know, me and Cole weren't able to attend one year of school because that asshole had gambled away all the money.
Michael is not who everyone think he is. He's not the sweet angel he pretends to be.
He's a killer. A liar. A fraud."
She turned away, tears rolling down her face.
"And now get out of my sight."
"...Emily-", Mike mumbled, taking a step back as his sister turned around to him again, her eyes scaring the crap out of him.
The doors hectically opened, sheets of paper flying through the room, some mugs of coffee falling to the floor, while Emily's hair started to gently flow behind her.
"I said... GET OUT!" - and in a matter of seconds her brother flew through the door opening into the hallway.

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel smiled sadly as she looked after Billy, and nodded when Tyler talked to her.
"My husband would torture you in hell if he saw you with our daughter", she clarified chuckling. "He'd rather unleash his entire demonic power upon you."
She smirked slightly. "But i trust you with this. You have a good heart."
Smiling at her daughter, she caused raven to flinch at her next words. "Take good care of him. He will mean a lot to you."
Raven just frowned deeply at that, without giving any answer.

Rose pouted slightly as she tried to think of something for her dad.
She wanted it to be perfect if they'd write it for her mom.
"The morning cold and raining, dark before the dawn could come.
How long in twilight, longing for the rising sun?", she suggested silently, and then leaned close to her dad's ear to whisper. "By the way daddy: I've heard ash playing a song when he visited us. I believe he starts quoting songs too, just like you."

Bailey sighed soundlessly and just pulled Cole into a deep kiss, while her fingers dug into his back, under his shirt.
"Does this feel like I can't remember how to breathe or eat?", she whispered to his ear. "I am not Dylan. My brain is perfectly fine. And you know I always find a way to solve my problems. Seriously, right now, it seems like you are the one who needs help, not me. We will still move in together, and go to college together, and then we will graduate together and start our very own center for victims of war and accidents and the like, and then one day, we will marry, we will have kids and nothing, nothing in this world, will ever be able to rip us apart. You hear me? No matter how this will end, no matter if we'll find a way to heal my legs or not, I will always be with you.
Hey, remember the day we met? When Sam accidentally threw his donut at me and you stared at me with your...mesmerizing...deep...shining..."
She cleared her throat in an attempt to focus again.
"I knew I'd never forget you. Never forget how it was no longer gravity that kept me in place, but you. And nothing would ever be able to change that, no overcaring behavior or fear or bad past.I'd never push you away, Cole. You hear me? If we were two years older i would marry you on the spot."
Bailey could see through his facade as if it was made of glass.
She could see how scared he was, scared to lose himself and her, scared to be unable to help her and trapped in what he had gone through.
"Cole i promise you, I will always be right here for you. No matter if there are feet or wheels carrying me.you won't go through the same again. This time you have me to lean on, and I won't leave you alone with your fear."

While Sam and Ash were staring at Emily in shock, Coby turned on his heel and marched out, just to gently grab Mike's upper arm to support him while getting up.
"Well I don't care!", he called towards the door. "I love him. Period. End of the conversation."
Turning to Mike again, he stroked a few streaks of his messy brown hair out of his face, lifted his shoulders and just kept supporting him.
"You okay?", he asked silently. "That was quite a flight."

 

[Wyosch]

Tyler raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds... rather painful. No thanks.", he winked, lifting his brow even higher as Rachel mentioned him becoming important to Raven.
"Eh ma'am...", he mumbled, clearing his voice. "I was wondering... I mean... your husband is the devil, and you just appeared here in an all bright light, so I believe you're like a female god or so? Well, I was wondering if you could- I mean, would you know, maybe, if like our parents are ok up there in heaven? Or like if they're in hell, I don't know... but eh, yeah."

Jim smirked proudly at his daughter, gently petting her back.
"That sounds great, honey. You definitely have your touch for poems from your mom.", he winked, his eyes sparkling as she told him about Ash. "He does?", he whispered back, looking down at Jack who was pulling on his jeans.
"I know a poem too!"
"Okay, what do you want to add, kiddo?"
"Roses are red, violets are blue
a face like yours belongs in the zoo
don't worry, I'll be there too
not in the cage, but laughing at you!"
Jim raised his eyebrows in surprise, smiling akwardly.
"Well eh... I don't think mommy would be happy if we tell her her face belongs in a zoo."
Jack lifted his shoulders.
"It's the only poem I know!"
"And who taught you that?"
"Uncle Danno."
"Of course he did.", Jim shook his head, chuckling, heeling down, Rose still in his arms, so he could reach his other kids better.
"Kai? Angel? You any ideas?"
"I'm not good at that.", Kai replied.
"You got that from me, bud. What about you, Angel?"
The little girl thought for a moment, pouting as she crossed her arms. She needed something good. Something great!
"Mommy, we love you - and daddy, you too
If you go outside, you can hear the cows moo!"
"Hey, that's already really good. I see a poet rising."

Cole painfully pressed his teeth together, looking down at his own legs.
"I just-", he gulped, shaking his head. He was confused. He didn't know what to do. What if she would end up like Dylan? What if he'd become so scared he'd push her away? What if he'd leave her? No, he would never. But what if she'd want him to because of his behavior? What if-
"I just..." His breathing slowed down to the maximum, his chest hardly moving. Quite a change from the panicking breathing he had earlier.
"I don't know what to do..."

The doors abruptly closed, and in the exact same moment Emily's eyes turned normal again.
Her face was covered in tears which one hadn't been able to see through the glowing of her previous strange eyes.
"Ash!", she gasped, from one moment to another falling back into her pillow, her heavy eyes closing - and everything going black.

Mike groaned painfully as Coby helped him get up, pressing his hand against his stomach.
"Fuck that hurt.", he grumbled, frowning. "Are you ok, though?", he asked, not looking up from the floor.
He didn't know how Coby would react.
He would have never been able to forecast Emily's sudden... outburst.
"...I'm sorry."

 

[Scripted Away]

Rachel smiled softly at Tyler, with a certain hint of pride in her eyes.
"Wait a moment", she said, and just a few seconds later, Macon appeared beside her.
"You were searching for me?", he asked, quickly looked at Tyler and then at Rey again, who nodded.
"Tyler here was wondering how his parents are", she explained, causing the angel to smirk.
He now turned to face Tyler with a warm smile.
"Your mother found great pleasure in taking care of the third sphere", he explained. "It's where souls come to life. Since she is taking care of it, not a single soul has been taking the wrong path. And your father, he has become a fantastic guardian. I don't want to imagine where Amee would be without him now."

Bailey cupped Cole's face with a gentle, patient expression and just stroked over his cheeks for a moment.
"I know you're scared, baby. But we will get through this, together, just as we got through the bullying of our classmates and Mike and jake's loss. Because you and me, we are the perfect two."
She planted a soft kiss on his forehead and just held him in her hug.
"The choices we make change the path that we take
But I know
That somewhere out there there's a path that we chose
There's a life that we share, there's a love and it grows..."
She looked into his eyes with a slight smile on her face.
"Right? Whatever it is we'll be facing now or in the future- we will always have us, and as long as that's the case we can get through everything. You don't have to know what to do. I don't know either, but we'll eventually figure it out- together. As the number one team we are."

Ash just caught the babies in the last second and sighed, half relieved, half worried.
"Emma, what's up with that?", he asked frowning, while Sam was showing practically the same expression.
"I'd like to know that too", he mumbled worriedly.

Coby just raised one eyebrow.
"Well, since I'm not the one who just got telepath-roundhouse-kicked out of the room by your sister, shouldn't i be the one asking that?"
With a sigh and a last look at the door, he wrapped his arm around Mike's waist, as he was too short to get it around his shoulders, and gently led him down the corridor.
"Let's go home.", he mumbled. "You know, that's the thing with the living. They either forgot about everything bad about you after your death, or about everything good. I've seen it happening a lot back when i was haunting that hospital for decades. It's easier for them."
He sighed soundlessly, his ears flattening as he thought back to those years as a ghost. "There was this other ghost in the hospital... Oliver. We used to care for the newly deceased together. One day, they brought in this injured girl. Celia. She was a high wire dancer, and had fallen off her wire because it had loosened somehow.
They fell in love in the blink of an eye, but for her sake, Oliver convinced this angel, Zadkiel, to heal her broken body so she could live on.
In his plead, I travelled with Celia for six years, and i watched her hating Oliver more and more for what he had done.
But when the circus was in the same city again, the city where Oliver was bound to the hospital, she didn't hesitate a second to throw herself off the wire to die and be with him again. You know what I mean? Emily might be hating you right now, but she loves you nonetheless. She just needs solve time to understand that."
He planted a small kiss on Mike's cheek and smiled reassuringly. "Now, what do you want to do? We got an eternity of time to kill."

 

[Wyosch]

Tyler looked at the angel with big eyes, not only because of what the man told him, but also because he had never seen a real life angel before.
"They're still doing good things.", he replied, smirking softly - flinching as a young boy suddenly appeared in front of him.
"You're a baby angel.", he mumbled, slightly in awe. Damn those cute little fluffy wings.
Misha raised an eyebrow at Tyler, slightly backing off. Not because his thoughts were scaring him - but because he was literally fanboying about his wings.
"Daddy?", Misha turned to his father, quickly grinned at his aunt, and lastly pulled at his dad's jeans.
"Mommy climbed onto the stove again.", he explained. "Uncle Rico's Goliath Birdeater Tarantula escaped again and is in our kitchen. Mommy is threatening to burn the house down if you don't take that 'ugly stupid scary horrifying thing' away. She's kinda panicking."
He looked down to the floor, clearly embarrassed, even though he tried to hide it.
"I have no problems with taking away small spiders but that thing is as huge as... I don't even want to know it."
He smiled shyly.
"And Heather hid herself in the sink. They're both crying."

After they had all helped with giving ideas for their poem, Jim asked the kids if they wanted to know the first surprise he had for them.
"I love surprises!", Jack called, grinning happily.
"Me too!", Angel joined it, looking up at her father with big eyes.
"Well... Jackie - you ain't the youngest brother anymore, and Angel, you ain't the youngest of your siblings anymore.", Jim explained, smirking proudly as he thought of William again.
"Why not?", Angel asked, frowning sadly. She didn't understand yet that it was a good thing - or that everyone aged.
"Does this mean the baby is there ?!", Jack asked, giggling happily. "And it's a brother?"
"Yes, y'all have a new brother now: William James Davis. Y'all wanna go meet him?"

Cole sighed silently, nodding. He knew what Bailey tried to say. And it probably was true as well.
But he was scared.
He didn't want to keep on whining. She was the one who needed a strong hand now, not him. He'd have plenty of time to... what did he have to do actually? Grieve over it? Think about it? Work with it? Analyze the situation?
"Yeah.", he replied, smiling gently. "Should we get you home then...? I bet your parents are worrying where you're at. And maybe we need to help your family with the news of Jake and... your thing."

Emma lifted her shoulders, looking at her daughter with big eyes.
"I... I have no idea...", she mumbled silently, a shiver running over her back. "I mean... sure she's had outbursts of rage before, but anyone has. Never like this. I didn't even know she could do... all that."
She looked up at Sam with tears in her eyes.
"Is she sick?! Don't you know what's wrong with her? Your sister?"
She turned to Ash, panic in her eyes by now.
"Your parents are gods, right? Can't they tell me what's wrong with her?!"

Mike lifted his shoulders, sighing sadly.
"I hope so... I mean... she didn't really sound as if she loved me when she said all that..."
He looked to the floor, his face expressionless.
Everything she had said had hurt. The anger in her eyes. The rage in her voice. The truth in her words.
As Coby asked him what to do now, he lifted his shoulders.
"I have no idea. Is there anything you'd like to do?"

 

[Scripted Away]

Mac let out a small chuckle, but immediately picked misha up and teleported home with him.
"Honey I'm home!", he called, while he put his son down again and made his way to the kitchen.
Crossing his arms with a slight smile on his face, he leaned in the doorway, looking around in the room for Rico's spider.
"Ah, there you are", he chuckled, gently picked the giant arachne up and locked it in the cat's transport box.
"Okay, fluffy is locked up again and I'll take him to Rico and jasper asap", he explained smirking, climbed to Hunter on the stove, hugged her tightly, then picked her up and carried her towards the living room.
"The knight in shining armor just saved the beautiful princess and takes her to his amazing castle to marry her."

Rose grinned happily as she petted her father's hair.
"Take us to him, take us to him!", she giggled, excitedly clinging to his shoulder.
"Did you name him after grandpa rex and grandpa James?"

Bailey sighed soundlessly.
"They know I'm out and about, and left to Spain to tell the other half of the family about what happened to Jake...", she explained silently.
"Told them i wanted to stay here with you. Didn't want to be so far away from you and feel even lonelier."
She cuddled against him tightly, closing her eyes for a moment.
"Do you...do you still love me? Even if I can't run around anymore?"

Ash furrowed his eyebrows at Emma's sudden outbreak and took a step back.
"Emma I wasn't talking about her outburst there. She's a siren, siren are a subspecies of demons and telekinesis is one of our basic abilities. We can't always control it though. What i meant was what she just said there. Was it all lies you guys told us ab-"
"Ash...", Sam interrupted him, but ash just talked on.
"Did you lie to Sam to make him get Mike out of p-"
"ASMAEL DAVIS!", Sam growled, stepping in front of Emma.
"Wrong time, wrong place. Go for a walk abd come back when you can behave again."
While Ash just scoffed hatefully and rushed out of the room, Sam sighed and turned around to Emma to hug her tightly.
"I have to apologize for my nephew. He's just like his father when it comes down to things like the truth. But he was right about Emily. It should be perfectly normal, but if you want i can talk to her when she wakes up again. Right now, she's just exhausted."

Coby gave Mike a suspicious side glance and raised one eyebrow.
"Mike, I see there's something wrong. What's going on?", he asked silently.

 

[Wyosch]

Hunter clinged onto her husband as tightly as possible, hiding her face in his neck. She was still shaking, but not as much anymore as before.
"Thank you.", she whispered.
While most of her fears had either disappeared or were gone quite minor now, her fear of spiders had only grown. She used to just freeze them in ice and Macon would un-freeze them after having put them back outside again - but now she froze and wasn't able to do anything anymore, until the panic kicked in and she fled.
"If I see any more spiders of Rico escaping their cages I will kill him.", she hissed under her breath, closing her eyes as she listened to Macon's calm heartbeat which helped her calm down.
"What would I do without you?"

Jim chuckled as Rose petted his hair. Just like her mother always did.
"Yeah, indeed.", he replied, smiling softly. "Just like we named Jack after uncle Jack, you after an old, very nice lady who helped me a lot when I was still a kid, Angel after your uncle Macon, because he's an angel and kind of my guardian angel - okay that sounded cheesy - and your little brother after your grandfathers William and James."

Cole furrowed his eyebrows, a sad, yet surprised expression in his eyes.
He put his thumb under Bailey's chin and lifted her head towards his direction, so she'd look into his eyes.
"Baby, I love you. No matter what.", he mumbled softly. "You not being to walk anymore is just a big shock and a big adjustment, especially for someone who despises big changes."
He gently kissed her, his eyes sparkling lovingly.
"Don't ever think that I won't love you. I'll love you forever."

Emma turned away from Sam, grabbing her arm and slightly squeezing it.
"I'm sorry.", she whispered brokenly. "I didn't know how else-" She shook her head, painfully shutting her eyes, while tears started building up.
"Emmy is right... Mike was- but he's my son! I couldn't- I never- I didn't mean to hurt you-"
She turned around to her fiancé again, her eyes filled with tears.
"Please- don't leave me..."

Mike sighed silently, looking down to the floor.
"Well how would you feel if someone you deeply care about would say things like that to you?", he asked, putting his hands in the pockets of his pants. "And even though it's true... we had an agreement..."

 

[Scripted Away]

"Hmm, sleep on the stove?", Mac suggested with a small chuckle, and ruffled hunters hair slightly with one wing.
He actually didn't mind her fear of spiders at all.
Sure, it wasn't nice for her, and he of course would help her to get rid of it the best he could- but he didn't mind occasionally playing the knight in shining armor. Or, shining wings, mind you.
With a soft smile, he teleported on the roof, where some floating icicles were already playing a slow and soft melody on his guitar.
And while he was still holding holding his wife in his arms- his wife, both of them barely out of their teenager time- he looked up at the stars as he just sang, so silently his voice was barely carried further than to Hunter.
"I found a love for me
Darling just dive right in
And follow my lead
Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow,
your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight

Well I found a woman,
stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams,
I hoped that someday I'd share her home

I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful

I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight"
((Oh god I'm probably the cheesiest guy on earth haha))

"Well then let's gooo!", Rose almost shouted, her crystal blue eyes sparkling excitedly.
"Grandma Jenny showed me how to sew! And we sewed a teddy for William together!"

Bailey smiled relieved as she wrapped her arms around Cole's neck and pulled him into a tight hug.
"I'll love you forever too", she whispered happily.
"Honey...can we go get a wheelchair now? I feel kind of sloppy sitting around like this."
Even though the situation was crap, she couldn't help but be funny. But then, her face turned comoletely deadpan, until her eyes sparkled lovingly.
"Have i ever mentioned I love your eyes?", she mumbled silently. "Like...wow...you have the most beautiful ones I've ever seen...."

Sam just pursed his lips, closed his eyes and turned his head to the side while a tear ran down his cheek.
That officially was the first time in his life that he cried. Never, even in those twelve years of captivity, he had ever been so hurt.
"Tell me. The God. Forsaken. Truth.", he whispered with a hoarse voice as he looked at Emma again, his eyes black from the storm raging in them.
"You knew I'm a lawyer before we came together. Is that the reason for the past year? Is that why you wanted to be together with me? So i would kick Mike out of there?! Was this all just a farce? Some sort of charade to get your son out of prison for things he was guilty of?!"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Did you just use me? And don't give me some 'at the beginning, but then I fell in love with you' story now!"
Although his words were harsh, the deeply hurt look in his eyes spoke more than a thousand of words, just as the tears that were getting more and more while he spoke, started to steam; and sizzled when they fell to the floor cooking. "Look into my eyes Emma, and tell me you really love me. Me. Not what I could do for you and your family. Just the man I am, without my influential family name and my powers.
But only say it if you mean it. If you don't, just go."

Coby frowned slightly.
"Okay, first: you are an asshole, Michael Anderson.
Second: unfortunately, I love You, and i don't give a fuck about your past.
Third: you are dumber than a piece of bread if you think an agreement could cover a past like that forever. Sorry, just being honest. Do you at least regret the shit you did?"

 

[Wyosch]

Hunter stared at Macon with huge eyes, her face lighting up as she smiled her biggest smile and clinged onto him even more.
"What did I do to deserve you, honey?", she asked, her voice having that happy tone she sometimes had, slightly reminding of a young kid.
"You're so perfect...", she whispered, gently stroking over his cheek, mesmerized by his beauty.
"I love you.", she gasped in awe, bending forwards and kissing him passionately.

"You did?", Jim asked, smirking softly. He was glad his mother could finally care for kids now, even it were 'just' her grandchildren and not her own. At least she could pretend to be a parent for a while.
"Hold on."
All his kids held onto him, Jack closing his eyes in remembrance of how it was the first time his dad had teleported with him.
"You can open up your eyes again, kiddo.", Jim mumbled calmingly to his son, while Kai already ran off to the kitchen.
Jim'd teleported into their house, where he believed Rachel would be. Not at the hospital anymore.
>>Rachel, you here?<<, he asked in his thoughts, frowning. This was something new he was able to do now with his devil's powers.

Cole turned to Bailey, smiling shyly, running his hand through his dark hair.
"They're just brown.", he replied, lifting his shoulders. "Nothing special."
He nodded as she mentioned getting a wheelchair.
"I believe we still have Dylan's old one. You can use that for now until we get a better one, if that's alright with you."

Emma's face was filled with tears as she backed off from Sam, not believing what he had just told her.
"Do you really think I am that kind of person?!", she screamed at him, shaking her head in disbelief. How could he? He knew she would never do something like that... ever.
"I am carrying your child which might kill me at birth! Do you really believe I would go through such a threat to my life wouldn't I love you?!"
She turned away from him, more tears running down her cheeks.
"I lied to protect you!", she shouted again, her nails digging into her skin, blood slowly running down her arm.
"My son worked for HACK! He was responsible for a kid's death. I didn't know until after he was released from prison because you helped him! I was told he'd been caught for dealing drugs... Emily told me the truth when he was out. I was furious. And I didn't tell you because I didn't want to hurt you! I know how much HACK hurt you and I didn't want to destroy your happiness because you mean everything to me!"
She backed off another step, more tears in her eyes than ever before in her entire life.
"But as it seems I don't mean as much to you when you are able to accuse me of using you.", she whispered brokenly as she stormed out of the room.

Mike sighed frustratedly, frowning slightly at Coby.
"You don't understand, okay?"
He sighed again, this time sounding broken, and looked down to the floor again.
"I... I worked for HACK. When my family thought I was away with my friends, I was actually away to capture some anoms..."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"One day, HACK's leader, James Davis, asked me to make an important decision for him. He asked me if, I in his place, would execute one of my family members if they were traitors to us. I thought it was a rethorical question, and I wanted a promotion, so I said yes... turns out because of me, the brother of HACK's Leading Hunter was executed. He was really young... under the age of 10. I got my promotion, just like I wanted and... I never cared about that boy's death. It was one in a million. I didn't care that I was an accomplice in his murder...
until the documents got leaked and most of HACK's dark secrets were discovered. Anyone the police and military were able to find was emprisoned. Just like me.
I made up a lie together with my sister so we wouldn't have to tell our family. She was only two or something... but clever. We told them I would go to prison for dealing drugs, and in return, I wouldn't tell anyone that she was - in fact - a real dog with a human shift, one of HACK's many experiments..."

 

[Scripted Away]

Mac grinned happily as he kissed Hunter back and just pulled her even closer.
God how he loved her.
His shining ice blue eyes were sparkling in the darkness as he stared at her.
"Oh man how I wish there were words powerful enough to describe how much i love you, my queen...", he mumbled dreamily, and then chuckled. "It's as if all our fights and problems have just disappeared into nothing. So perfect. Hey, remember how we flying together for the first time? Back at the mansion? I still only had the metal wings I had built. That was awesome!"

>>be there in a moment, I'm making peace in afghanistan right now<<, Rachel answered, and appeared a few minutes later. "I just Luna'd a war zone, and guess what, they'll be having a peaceful gathering tonight to settle their problems. With best regards, your fellow goddess of light", she chuckled, while William was giggling happily in her arms and daisy was sitting beside her, always keeping an eye on the baby like an overly careful grandma.
With a soft smile, she went to her knees and spread her free arm. "I missed you all so much!"
Road gasped happily and instantly ran into her mother's arms. "Mommy!!"

Sam sighed beatenly, but immediately ran after Emma. Thankfully, he was sporty as heck and caught up after a few feet.
"Emma, wait!", he said, trying to keep his voice calm as he reached out to take her hand- partly to keep her where she was, partly in an attempt to comfort her.
"Just...please listen, Okay?", he mumbled.
"Look, I've...my adoptive parents were great...i believe... But i barely remember anything from that time. All i remember is being alone, being tortured, seeing how they used the love between imprisoned anime to torture them even more. I've seen lovers turning on eachother to save themselves. I've seen a father shooting his own eight-year-old son... it was so hard to keep on fighting...to stay strong and not give up, but even though I can live normally now, it left scars so much deeper than the ones you can see."
He was staring at the ground by now, his entire body shaking until he had to lean on the wall and slide to the floor because his legs were getting wobbly.
Hiding his face in his hands, he sobbed into his palms as if the last dam of a giant sea had just broken.
"Don't you get it?", he whispered broken. "Don't you get it I'm scared as hell to lose you all? I know there's no reason to, I know I shouldn't worry like that but every day I wake up fearing that it is the last day I can hold you in my arms. Every day I'm scared as hell I'll get a call from a hospital or the police or Rachel or HACK itself that you-..."
Baring his teeth as if he was in worst pain, he pulled Emma into his arms and hid his face at her neck. "Please...i...i need you here..."

"You...were a part of hack...?", Coby whispered with shock in his eyes as he backed a few steps away. "You... you belonged to those who killed my parents? Y- I..."
He made another step back, with a completely dumbfounded expression, as if he just couldn't believe what he had just heard. "...but... they were monsters..."