Looking for a Story

“Daughter, it is high time you marry. I won't have my oldest daughter become a spinster," her father told her one day while she helped him clean. She laughed. "But Papa, if I left, who would help you?" "Silly girl, I can afford to hire help." He patted her head like she was a child. "It is my wish and it was your mother's wish to have you wed. You were so helpful in finding your little sisters’ husbands. Now it's your turn." He started to head toward the sitting room. "But Papa, I really don't want or need to get married." She hurried to follow her father. "Nonsense, child. You are just as amazing as your mother, you deserve a lovely marriage, and I found a man willing to ignore your age and take you as his wife." “Papa! I refuse!"' She stomped her foot - rather unladylike, but she didn't care. "Young lady, you don't get a say in the issue. You will meet this man whether you like this or not." Her father grabbed her arm and pushed her into the sitting room. As soon as she was across the threshold, the door was shut and locked behind her. She pounded on the door. "Father, this is ridiculous! You can't lock me in here and force me to marry a man!" A throat cleared behind her. She winced. "I see this is not a meeting of mutual interest?" She turned around. "No, it's not. My father didn't ask me if I wanted this." “Oh, well I can tell your father I retract my interest, Miss Grace." The man bowed his head to her. And headed to knock on the door. "You know my name?” Grace looked more closely at the man she didn't know. "Yes, I do. I know a lot about you." She raised an eyebrow. "Not for any ill-intent,” he explained. “It's just that you read stories to my niece at the library. She's quite taken with you." Grace looked at the man. Who does he look like... "You’re Daphne’s uncle?" She was both shocked and impressed. "She told me you were travelling across the sea?" "I was." The man sat down. Grace hesitantly sat across from him. "But once I got the letters about what happened to my sister and her husband…” "It was most unfortunate. I'm sorry you couldn't get here in time to say goodbye." Grace remembered the day Daphne came to story time with the news. “Yes, I wish I could have made it. But I was able to get here in time to arrange the funeral for them." "It was a lovely service." Grace interrupted. "Thank you. And thank you for sitting with Daphne during the service. It meant a lot to her." "Her mother was my friend," she paused. "A very good friend." "So Daphne has told me," the man smiled softly. "So tell me, sir, why have you come today?" Grace sat up straight. "Isn't that obvious? Also, it's Matthew." "But why, Matthew? You don't know me; we've hardly interacted since you returned to the area." "I will be frank with you, Miss Grace. Daphne is my ward. And she needs a mother, not a governess." Mathew leaned forward. “Ah, and you think because I'm almost a spinster I'll marry you?" Grace stood and walked toward the window. "You know, not every woman dreams of marriage. I'm perfectly happy by myself!" "So am I," Matthew spoke softly. Grace kept looking out the window. "What do you mean?" "I never wanted to marry. It's why I travelled. No one makes a big deal about a wedding when you’re never home. But now I have Daphne." Grace turned and Matthew was standing now. "No travelling with Daphne?" Grace giggled. "Nothing like I was doing." He chuckled. “Look Grace, I've seen you with the kids in the town. You care for them. You know their names, their favourite treats, and their favourite subject to study. You learn more about them than any other adults do." "I suppose I do. You've only been here for a month. How do you know all this?" "Daphne wouldn't stop talking about you. And the other night when I was tucking her in, she asked if I would marry you so you could come live with us." He rubbed the back of his neck. "She wants me to take her mom's place?" Grace felt her heart leap to her throat. "She wants you to fill the void. She trusts you. Feels safe with you." Matthew crossed the room to stand next to her. “Look Grace, I don't need an heir. I always planned on leaving everything I have to Daphne anyway. We don't need to fall in love, we just need to love and care for Daphne." Grace took his hand. "We can learn to care for each other. Even if it's not love. I shall marry you." Matthew hugged her. "Oh thank you, Grace. We must tell Daphne!” He knocked and her father opened the door. The two men quickly started talking about details. Grace gazed out the window, and a faint smile played on her lips. Maybe this new life would be something amazing.

Belle came in every day at 9 am sharp. She always found something to straighten up even though she was the one who closed the night before. "Good morning, old girl." Belle would pat the antique cash register. "Ready for another day?" she’d say with a giggle. Then she'd flick on the radio and turn on the open sign. Then she'd wait. Sometimes she'd pick up a book from the shelf and read, or she’d work on her own novel. She'd also do the bookkeeping and whatever else needed to be done. She took good care of me. Her book store. She'd been working at this store for a few years now. She bought it shortly after college, and her grandparents had helped her, as a grad gift. But in the last year, her bookstore had had to drop staff and was now only open for eight hours each day. Her accountant came to visit more often. "Belle?" The short stubby man came through the door. "At the till, Mr. Bannor," she called. "I've come to talk to you!” He sat at the stool near the till. “It's not good, is it?" Belle set her book down. "No Belle, it's really not. I don't need to tell you the store is losing money." He looked down. "I've cut back everywhere I can." Belle sighed. "I don't want to lose the shop." “I know. Have you considered adding a coffee bar or something to draw more people in?" the man offered. “I don't have the income to make changes to the building." She looked around. I felt for her. She'd been my favourite owner so far. "What about partnering with a coffee shop on the other side of town? Or one of the ice cream shops? Somebody might be willing to help." The man walked around, looking at all my honours. "Or, I could help you sell it and you could move on to something else. You could always move your store to an online-only store." “Wouldn't be the same." Belle explained, “If I have to close the store, I'll do a clearance sale or donate the books.” She sighed. "I'll reach out to those shops and see if that helps business. If it doesn't help, I'll close up shop and sell it." Belle ran her hand across the till. She walked Mr. Banner to the door. "I’m really sorry, Belle." "I knew a bookstore was risky." Once he left, Belle pressed her head into the wall. "Well, what are we gonna do?" I wished I had answers for her. Would ice cream or coffee be enough to save the shop? I didn't know. Over the next few weeks, she sent emails and made calls, but nothing came of it. Soon, it was three days between customers coming in. "Well, I think it's time to call it." Belle phoned up the realtor. They made plans and arrangements. Belle hosted a sale, and friends and family came to help her pack up the books. I will miss her. The store had been so peaceful with her in charge. Who knows who will move in next? The last box was packed and Belle stood in the centre of the room. “I hope the next owner treats you well." She took one last look around and walked to the counter. "I'll miss our time together." She left her key on the counter and slowly walked to the door. “Goodbye.” The door chimed as it shut behind her. I wish I could say goodbye. Instead, I silently watch her walk away from my door for the last time. I hope, wherever she goes next, that life treats her well too.

Andrew and Penny had been married for three years now. They had built a happy life, and they were still heroes in disguise. However, today Penny sat in the doctor's office, rereading the paper over and over again. "You're sure?" "The test doesn't lie, ma'am. Congratulations." The doctor gave her a smile and helped her fill out the paperwork. "I'm going to have a baby." She whispered it in excited disbelief. How am I going to tell Flame? She walked to the train station; the doctor she liked best worked in the mountain range, so Betty was going to pick her up when the train got to the farming district. As she walked, she rested a hand on her stomach. There was a life growing there. She was to be a mom. Suddenly her heart ached for her own mother. She would love to ask her questions. As Penny sat on the train, a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Hands still resting on her stomach, she remembered her notebook was in her bag. While she rode the train, she wrote Andrew a note. As the train pulled into the farming district, she pulled herself together; she didn’t want Betty to suspect anything. "Hello, dear! How was your appointment?" Betty helped her up into the carriage. "It was great, I am so glad you recommended him. He was very helpful." She smiled to herself, her hand wandering to her stomach again. "I'm glad! Are you and Andrew still coming to supper tonight?" Betty asked as they rode into the farm. "Um, no actually, something came up." Betty smiled softly and said nothing more. She pulled into the stable and Pen headed to her house. It would be a few hours yet until Andrew would be home, so she rewrote her note on nicer paper and put it and the papers from the doctor in an envelope. She set the table with a pretty tablecloth and set the envelope on the table, then started on a simple supper. Hey Petal, I just pulled into the farm, I just have to change then we can head over to the main house for supper. Sounds great Flame, I'm in the bedroom; there's a note for you on the table. Pen slipped into their room to change. Andrew walked into the house. "Pen, what's with the table set up? Aren't we having dinner with Jonathan and Betty?" When she didn't answer, he picked up the note; his name was written across the front in her lovely writing. He slowly opened it. My Dearest Andrew, In another world, we were in love with others, Then we were pulled into this and found love in each other's arms. Today we are one, husband and wife. I love you so much and am so proud of you. Our lives couldn't feel more complete. But maybe you wouldn't mind if we added one more person to our little family to make it even more complete? Andrew looked back at the envelope, saw the other papers and pulled them out... He dropped them. He turned to see Penny, his wife, the mother of his child standing there. "Pen..." He hugged her. "You’re going to be a dad, Andrew, and an amazing one at that." Her voice broke. "Oh Pen, I miss them too." He let his own tears fall. *** Love, we don't have to go to the ball tonight. Andrew paced back and forth waiting for his wife. Penny walked out of their bedroom in a dress that made his jaw drop. "Darling, the ball is in our honour as a thank you for all we’ve done for them. I have to go." She giggled at his expression. Andrew looked at his wife; she was gorgeous. She glowed, her belly rounded and hands always resting on her stomach. "Well, I can't argue that logic." He offered his arm. "Though why they waited so long to host it is beyond me.” “Well, we only told them a few months ago that it was us and they wanted to have a huge party, and these things take time to plan.” She giggled as she took his arm; man, he still loved that sound. They walked to the wagon that was going to take them to the community centre of the farming district. As they rode, many of the women asked how Penny was doing, if they had everything ready, did they need anything. Andrew and many of the men tried to hide their laughter. When there was a lull in the conversation, one of the little girls who had claimed a spot next to Pen tapped her on the arm. "Miss Penny?" Pen hummed. "When will your baby be able to play with the rest of us?" The adults all laughed. "Well little one, my baby is going to be small for a while, so it will be a long time. But you are learning to read, right?" The girl nodded proudly. "Well, you can come practice reading to my baby after they come, alright?" The girl shrugged as if that seemed to be good enough for her. The adults pointed out how great Pen was with kids and how she would make a great mom. Andrew agreed Pen would be the best mom. They’re right, you know. Pen looked at him and leaned her head on his shoulder. And you will be the best dad. Andrew smiled. The other adults pretended not to notice that they were talking without talking. Soon they arrived at the community centre and everyone headed inside. They met their friends from all over the island. People who hadn't seen Penny in a few months oohed and aahed over her look. Andrew had been taken to help fix the sound system. Love, when you're done with the music come save me! Andrew looked up from the soundboard and saw Pen cornered by several women offering no doubt unsolicited advice. "Boys, we need to hurry this up, my wife needs saving." Henry smirked at him; he looked over to Alice who was already heading Penny’s way. "My wife will see what she can do, but seeing as our daughter is with a sitter tonight, I can't see her getting out of here scot-free either." He smiled. "Man, what is it about women that makes them think other women want their advice?" Andrew laughed. "We’d better move, they might both need us." The men laughed. Within minutes they were done and off to save their wives. "Excuse us, ladies, but the tunes are going and we would like our loves to join us for a dance." The older ladies of the island found Andrew to be just charming, so he easily saved both Pen and Alice. Thank you. Pen took his hand and they headed to the dance floor. "Do you ever wonder what our moms would say?" "Oh they'd be awful for advice; we'd never hear the end of it." Andrew laughed. Pen knew he was teasing, but she couldn't help it - she looked down, trying to hide her longing. She felt Andrew's hand guide hers from proper dance form to behind his neck. Then his hand came to under her chin. "Look at me, Love." Pen sighed and slowly looked up at him. "I know it's hard, I miss them too. I would love to be sharing this moment with our parents. But look around you, our kid is going to have a family in another way. And we will teach them all about our families and our friends." He gave her a smile, and she leaned her head on his shoulder. "I know we can't go back but some days..." She couldn't finish her thought; instead, she hit the ground crying in pain. Her hand covered her ear. Andrew couldn’t offer her any help because his wrist started to burn; he pulled his hand close to his chest. Hoping the pain would ease, he could only assume Penny was feeling the same pain. Alice, Henry, Vikki, Jonathan and Betty came running to them. Suddenly there was a hole in the far wall of the hall. Everyone rushed to the other side, behind Penny and Andrew. The pain they were both feelings was seemingly forgotten. With tears running down her face, Penny took Andrew's hand. "It's Arcadia." Her voice was so soft yet so strong. Andrew almost didn't hear her. "What do we do?" He squeezed her hand tightly. "What do we want to do?" She looked around her. Their friends were looking at the world on the other side as if trying to understand what they were seeing. "That's your home, isn't it?" Jonathan’s voice broke the silence. "You two should go home, and raise your baby with your families," Betty spoke softly. What about Trevor and Sophie? She looked at him, filled with panic. What if they have waited for us? What if we don’t recognize each other anymore? What if the others are older? Or worse, younger? Andrew took a deep breath. She waited for him to say something, think something! We can only hope it's been at least eight years there. What about... Pen's hand went to her stomach. What if she goes back and she loses her baby? But this chance to go back may never happen again. They couldn’t wait. Alice knelt next to her. "You've been the best friend I could ask for, Penny, but I think you need to risk it. You have to believe your baby will be fine." Alice hugged her. "I'll miss you though." Penny and Andrew moved in a daze to share hugs with their friends, the people whom they had grown to love.

Ellie slipped through the back door. All the lights were off. Perfect! Mom and Dad must have gone to bed already. She made it to the kitchen with hardly any sound. She'd get a drink and then head to bed. No issues. She opened the fridge and… "You’re home late." Her mom's voice came from the dark dining room table. "Mom!" Ellie gasped. "Sit, I'll make tea." Her mom stood, lighting a candle as she did so. "Oh Mom, that's fine. I'm tired and should get some sleep. Got to be up for church in the morning." Ellie faked a yawn, hoping to win some sympathy points with her mom. "Sit," her mom said again, not leaving room for conversation. Ellie reluctantly sat. Her eyes flickered between the dancing flame and her mom in the kitchen. Moving around the dimly lit kitchen, her mom wasn't talking. The sound of the kettle and cabinet doors echoed in Ellie’s ears. Am I supposed to say something? Or is Mom waiting for me to start? Her mom turned around and set two cups of tea on the table. Ellie stared at her mom, who took a long, slow sip of her drink. Ellie took short sips, waiting for her mom to speak. Her mom set her mug down and took a slow breath. Oh boy, here it comes. "I'm only going to ask you this once." Her mom paused, wrapping both hands around her cup of tea. "Where were you really tonight?" Ellie opened her mouth, then looked at her mom paused, and took a long sip of her tea. Setting her drink down, she answered, "Me and a few friends went to a party at one of the cool kid's houses. We said we were going to work on a project when we were really going to the party." Ellie looked down. Her mom let out a heavy sigh. Ellie prepared for a lecture. "Was it worth it?" Was it worth it? Ellie looked at her mom. Is this the lecture? "What do you mean?" "Was it worth it? Lying to me and your dad? Sneaking around? Breaking the rules? Was the party worth it?" Her mom spoke slowly and her voice was short. Ellie could tell her mom was hurt and she was grateful her father was upstairs. Ellie looked at her mom, then down at her hands. "At first? Yeah... It was fun, you know, doing something crazy like that. It made me feel cool. We were playing truth or dare, and other fun games. But then…" Ellie picked up her cup of tea and tilted it back and forth. "Then someone brought out alcohol that they stole from their parents.” "Did you drink?" her mom cut her off. "No. I thought about it but I didn't. I called a friend who didn't go to give me a ride home." "So your friends are still at the party? Are they drinking?” Ellie only nodded. "Let's go." Her mom grabbed her keys. "Go?" Ellie slowly stood, confused. "Your friends - we’re getting them." Ellie could have died of embarrassment. But she knew her mom was right. Her friends would need a ride. By the time they got there, her friends were clearly not sober and they were getting in a car. Her mom parked and jumped into action. “Nope!" She took the keys from the driver. "In my car - let's go!” The girls whined but got in the car. Her mom made a quick call to the police, letting them know there was a party with drinking and maybe some unsafe drivers on the road. Then she dropped her friends off, handing the keys to the dad of the would-be driver, along with an address on where to find the car in the morning. As they drove home, her mom said, "Ellie, I'm proud of you. You left an uncomfortable position. But next time you want to try something like that, please talk to us about it. That way we can make a plan with you so that you can be safe and don't end up in those positions in the first place " Ellie fiddled with her hands. “I didn't think you'd let me go if I told you the truth." Her mother sighed. "Ellie, my dear girl, I will always be on your side, but I can't be if you don't tell me. I know secrets will exist, but I'd like you to try and keep them to a minimum in the future." Ellie said nothing at first. "Thank you, Mom. I am sorry, thank you for helping my friends." She paused. "I am in trouble?" "It's nearly one in the morning and you have to go to church in the morning…so for now that shall be punishment enough." Her mom gave her a smile. And Ellie simply laughed.

Camilla woke up with a checklist on her mind. Go to work Pick up groceries Make cupcakes for Mom’s birthday Wrap gift Sleep Simple enough. She had a hop in her step as she got ready for the day. She was out of the house with ten minutes to spare. Just enough time to get coffee before going in to work. That was her first mistake. She bumped into the man in front of her. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry - head in the clouds." He looked her up and down. "I can tell." He turned away gruffly, his coffee now on the floor. "Please let me buy you a new one." She spoke softly but confidently. The man sighed. "I suppose that would be nice." Camilla quickly paid for the new coffee and her caramel latte and rushed out of the shop. She would still be on time for work if she didn't get stopped by... A train. Of course. Well, at least she had her coffee. She took the time to enjoy the drink while she waited. Once she could move again, she was officially 20 minutes late. She raced to work, parked in the worst spot in the parking lot and flung open her door. Unfortunately, she spilled what was left of her coffee all over the inside of her car. "Well, no one can accuse me of being late for a cup of coffee." Camilla forced a smile and hoped the mess won't be too bad eight hours from now. Opening the office doors fully out of breath she called out, "I'm here, sorry there was a train." Her boss looked displeased. "Stay a few minutes late to make up for it. Understood?" 'Yes sir." She nodded and quickly made it to her desk. And opened up the files she needed to edit. Only all the files were corrupted. She sighed and called tech support over to her desk "Please tell me I don't have to call the client..." She really disliked this client; he was a pain and nothing was ever his fault. Her tech guy gave her a sad look. "I'll send you an email you can forward to him and maybe it will help." "Thanks." She sighed and picked up the phone. Four hours later, she got off the phone with him. She was exhausted. And was grateful for her lunch break. She went and sat at one of the benches outside, hoping to have a moment of peace before going back to work. "Camilla, is that you?" Camilla’s stomach dropped; it was Christopher. He was from marketing and he was just…a lot. "Maybe." She tried to keep her voice light. "It is! How is ya doing, pretty lady?" "Just fine Chris. Just trying to enjoy a moment's peace before my crazy day continues.” She hoped he'd get the hint. He didn't. Instead, he sat with her and talked all through her lunch hour. After that, she got lectured by her boss again. According to him, what happened with the files was her fault…somehow. She ended up staying well after closing, just to make up for lost time. When she made it to her car, everything was still sticky from her spilled drink this morning. "I don't have time for this.” She found a blanket in her trunk, laid it over the seat, and headed to the store. The store was out of a few key favourites, but she could find a couple of alternatives for the cupcakes she was planning to make. The cashier was clearly having just as bad a day as she was, so Camilla tried to be friendly and kind. "Reusable bags, ma'am?" The cashier spoke shortly. "Oh shoot, I left them at home. I'll buy two paper bags." The cashier rolled her eyes and handed her two bags. Camilla paid and quickly packed up her groceries. She dashed to her car. She was behind schedule but she could catch up. Traffic was painfully slow but she was almost home. Once she got home she climbed the stars back up to her apartment. She struggled to get her keys out of her pocket and then she heard it - ri-i-i-ip - and several objects tumbled down. She looked down and there was flour, sprinkles, icing sugar and milk everywhere. The property manager was gonna flip... She quickly dashed inside, grabbed paper towels and tried to clean up the milk before it made everything else sticky. As she mopped, tears pricked at her eyes. She squeezed them tight. But she couldn't stop then. She cried out the stress of the day. She looked up and saw a little boy looking at her. If Camilla remembered correctly, he was her neighbour in the apartment across the hall. "Are you okay?" "No, I'm not…" she said through tears. "One second!" The boy dashed inside his apartment and dashed back out. "Here! Candy always makes me feel better!" He handed her a wrapped candy. She was about to say thank you when… "Jonny! You can't just take candy and run out... Oh my." Jonny's mom rushed to her side. "Are you okay?" Camilla laughed and looked around. "It's been a day." "Let us help you clean up. Jonny, go get the vacuum." The little boy ran back to his apartment again. The woman helped Camilla pick up the groceries and placed them on the counter. Camilla found a broom and together they cleaned the hall. Once the mess was cleaned up, Camilla put the groceries where they belonged. She sent in an online order to the bakery her mom loved and simply went to bed. She was so done with today. Maybe when she was at the bakery tomorrow she would pick up some treats for the family next door as a thank you. She bet the little boy would like their chocolate chip cookies… But tomorrow would be a new day.

Before Penny and Andrew knew it, they had been in Twin Crescent for four years, and in those four years, something had changed between them. It happened sometime after they opened the community centres. They never really spoke about it though; they held hands when they walked around town, their dances got more romantic, they cuddled while listening to music, they greeted each other and parted ways with kisses on the hand or cheek, and both were dreaming of what a future together would look like. Andrew sat with Henry, each of them enjoying a cup of coffee while Alice and Penny went shopping for a gala the studio was hosting for a new exhibit called “Heroes in Our Midst.” The girls had made it a group effort and encouraged people to submit photos of everyday heroes; all the profits were going to go to the community centres. Andrew and Henry kindly opted out of this trip, choosing the coffee shop instead. Henry leaned back and asked Andrew a question, which he had been expecting. "So level with me dude, what is the deal with you and Penny?" "What do you mean, my man?" Andrew sipped his coffee, smiling and knowing where this was going. "You call her Pen, Penny, and many other names. But, I've never heard you call her beautiful or sweetheart or any other traditional dating names... Come to think of it, I've never even heard you call her your girlfriend." He set his cup on the table, waiting for Andrew to answer. "I never asked her to be. You know we both were in love before we came here...so using those names just felt wrong. Those names belonged to Sophie. And I won't give them to Pen - she and Sophie were best friends... I never want her to feel like she's replaced her." Andrew shugged. “Also for the longest time, I think we both felt bad at the thought of moving on.” “I guess I never really thought about what it would be like to get pulled from another world and leave everything behind…." Henry looked down like he was lost in thought. “Penny and I didn’t get to choose that we left, but we have made the best of it. And I plan to keep making the best of it.” Andrew pulled a box out of his bag. “Dude is that…” Henry looked at him with wide eyes. Andrew opened it to show a simple gold ring. “Yep, I’m just waiting for the right moment to ask her.” He closed the box with a dopey grin and placed it back into his bag. “Wow, good thing I have a ring for Alice. She’d lose it on me if Penny got a ring before she did.” Henry laughed. Andrew joined in. “Still planning on asking her after the gala?” “Actually, I’m gonna ask her tonight - just feels right.” Henry shrugged. “And gives me less time to be nervous.” “Well, she is going to say yes, so you got this.” Andrew smiled at Henry. He couldn’t help but think of Trevor. It was odd to think of getting married without him at his side, and even more so to think of marrying Penny, the girl Trevor had been ready to give up family for. Before Andrew could get too lost in thought, Penny and Alice walked through the door, laughing, smiling, and holding the bags of who-knows-what. Andrew and Henry shared a smile and waved their girls over. After getting the girls their coffee fix, all four headed to the theatre to see the play Andrew had written a few songs for. Both couples walked hand in hand, Alice and Henry walking ahead of Penny and Andrew. As they got close to the theatre, a group of thugs ran by them. Penny looked at Andrew. Flame, why is it that being a hero always interrupts date night? We could just call the police? It wasn’t uncommon for them to practise what they preached at schools and call the police; they didn’t want Twin Crescent to be dependent on them. However, as Penny was about to agree, the police ran past them. So much for that idea… Andrew sighed as he looked ahead and saw that Henry had led Alice into the theatre. “Come on.” Andrew pulled Penny into an ally that had a side door leading to his office. Both of them changed into their costumes and then slipped into the alley. They greeted the officers. “How can we help?” Flame asked as they ran alongside the police. “Anything to slow them down would be great!” one of the clearly worn-out officers answered. Flame and Petal shared a look; the thugs were clearly slowing down, so Flame tossed his shield and it tripped up two of the three. Petal used some parkour moves and her lasso to catch the last one. Flame paused and watched Petal fly through the air; watching her courage and confidence, he knew he loved her. He couldn’t deny it. He was helplessly, hopelessly, in love with her. Soon everything was back under control. Once they checked in with the police, the two slipped into the theatre. They changed and fixed their hair, and Penny touched up her makeup. Penny looked over at Andrew and offered him her hand. He took her hand and kissed it. “Pen, wait.” “Andy, we’re gonna miss the curtain call. Alice and Henry will get suspicious…” She pulled on his hand slightly. “I know, I know, but this can’t wait.” He pulled her into a hug. “I love you Penny, and I need you to know.” “Oh, Andrew!” She hugged him tighter. “I love you too.” She quickly kissed him. Then she giggled. “Come on, we need to go.” He smiled and glanced at his bag. The ring could wait a bit longer. *** A few weeks after the theatre incident, Penny and Andrew were on one of their favourite types of date nights - a trip to the Market. They walked around, holding hands and giggling at the different things they found. Penny paused to look at a sunhat she had been eyeing for weeks. It had a soft yellow ribbon tied around it. Andrew watched her and took in her outfit; he noticed that the yellow in the hat matched the yellow flowers in her skirt - it would be a perfect pair. "Sir, I would like to buy my lady the hat she can't stop eyeing." He laughed. "Andy! You don't have to!" She quickly took it off, blushing and slightly embarrassed. "Pen, you've looked at that hat every time we've come to the Market in the past three weeks. Let me treat you." He handed the man the money. "There - can't take it back now." She leaned over and kissed him. She’d hardly kissed him in public so this must have made her happy. The smile that the hat brought her was worth it. Hand in hand, they finished their walk around the Market and headed to their spot in the park by the pond. Andrew and Penny sat watching the sunset over the water. Penny rested her head on his shoulder and took his hand. Andrew smiled and slowly pulled the ring box out of his pocket. He cleared his throat. “Penny, here - this is for you.” He handed her the small box. “Another gift, Andy! My birthday isn’t for a few weeks. You spoil…” She opened the box. “Oh my….Andy?” She turned and looked at him. “Penny, I know we’ve been through so much, and we have made an amazing life here. So, please do me the honour of marrying me?” Andrew looked at her, with a soft smile. “Oh Andrew, absolutely!” She gave him a hug that knocked the wind out of him. “Here - put it on me!” She handed the box back to him, and he put the ring on her finger. “Oh, it’s perfect!” She kissed him. That evening, the two sat and planned their wedding. As the sun fully set and darkness covered the park, they walked back to their shared bike. And for a moment, they let the sadness of being so far from home weigh on them. *** Their wedding had taken several months to plan. They also had been asked to be a part of Alice and Henry's wedding, so they learned about the wedding traditions of Twin Crescent. They wanted to honour their past from Arcadia but also enjoy the new life they’d found in Twin Crescent. One of the harder moments for Penny had been choosing her actual wedding dress. She’d always planned on wearing her mother's dress, with Sophie modifying it; so the thought of buying a wedding dress was harder than she'd expected. But Alice and Andrew worked together to find a dress that looked like her mom’s and yet was unique. Andrew arranged for Alice, Betty, and Jennifer to help her find her dress. Andrew and Penny arranged to have a “first look;” they took this moment to take pictures with their superhero masks on. Their bruises had faded and no longer hurt, and people no longer asked about them; but for these pictures they let their bruises be a focus, showing how far they had come. Penny walked herself down the aisle, with Andrew, Henry, Jonathan, Alice and Betty all waiting for her. Andrew gave Penny a locket with a promise written inside, which was one of the traditions of Twin Crescent; Penny in return gave him a watch with a promise written on the back. They said the vows they had grown up hearing in Arcadia.

"Love?" Alex calls out. "I'm going to go through the attic to see what we can donate.'' "Sounds good, Babe! I'll go through the garage. Meet for a break in two hours?" Jarad shouts back. "Sounds good!" Alex ascends the ladder to the attic. "So much dust.” She quickly finds the light and plops herself in front of a box. As she pulls back the cardboard, the smell of old worn leather fills the small space. "Oh man, I loved this jacket in high school! I wonder..." She quickly puts the jacket on. "Oh wow!" While she can’t move a lot in the jacket, it still fits. She sits and enjoys the smell of the leather for a moment. She puts her hands in the pockets. Then she feels something in one of the pockets. She pulls it out to find a ticket stub. Alex brings a hand to her mouth. "I thought I'd lost this... " She looks at the old ticket. "The first play Jacob ever took me to." They’d been together for all of two months. "Oh, Jake, I am so excited to see Peter Pan! This is the best Christmas present ever." Alex clung to his arm while they waited in line. “Ya, it will be great. " Jacob laughed under his breath and rubbed the back of his neck. He glanced around the theatre. "So, you really love this kinda thing?" "I do! It's so amazing how the actors can take on a whole other world." She looked at him, a realization dawning on her. "You like theatre too, right? I would hate to think you spent money on something you won't enjoy too." "Me?" He chuckled nervously. "I love theatre. It's great.” He looked away quickly. Alex let out a breath. "Oh good!" Jacob was saved from more questions due to it being their turn in line. Once they found their seats, Alex pored over the program, seeing who was who and where they had studied. “Jacob, look! Half of them went to my dream school!" “You want to be an actor?" Jacob glanced at the list of schools in the program. "I'd like to make costumes." Alex turned to the costume designer’s page. "You sew?" Jacob was surprised; how had this not come up? "I do, I don't like to talk about it." She closed the program. "I'd love to see your work sometime." Jacob took her hand. "I made the dress I'm wearing. I wanted a dress that worked with my jacket." She blushed. "Oh, wow.." Jacob took her in. "I knew you looked good, but that's incredible!" Alex's blush deepened. "Shh, the show’s starting." They watched the show, holding hands. Jacob was surprised to find how quickly the first act went by. "That was amazing! I've never seen something like that before." He stood and stretched. Alex giggled. "Have ya never seen a play before?" Jacob looked down. "Um…well, I'm gonna go get in line for the washroom." He quickly darted off. Alex chucked and flipped through the program again. Jacob made it back but just as the second act started. Again the time flew by. After the show was over, Jacob and Alex walked over to a coffee shop near the theatre. "So when ya gonna tell me the truth?" Alex smirked at him. "Tell you what?" Jacob's voice got tight. “That up until today, you'd never set foot in a theatre?" "I... I..." Jacob sighed. "Alright, you caught me, I didn't know how much you loved theatre. Mom just suggested the play as a Christmas gift." He looked down. "Hey, I'm not mad, I just wished you'd been honest with me. But you liked it, right?" Alex slid her hand across the table. "It really was amazing. I can see why you enjoy it so much." Jacob placed his hand on hers. "I'm glad. This was a really great date." Alex lets out a happy sigh as she remembers that date. "Babe, ya comin’ for our break?" Jacob interrupts her thoughts. "It's been two hours already?" Alex gasps. "You got lost in memories, didn't you?" Jacob teases. "Maybe…" Alex giggles. "Alright, after our break we're gonna work together. Because you can't be trusted not to get distracted and again." He laughs. "Fair enough." She slips off the jacket and places it back in the box, but slips the ticket stub in her pocket. She will show Jacob over their snack.

An old warrior was sitting near the river, enjoying the peace of the day, when the Leader came to see him. “I have a mission for you.” “Oh?” The warrior raised an eyebrow. “I have a child who needs help getting to her family.” The Leader looked over to the woods. “She doesn’t have an easy path, and I don’t want her to travel alone. Will you accompany her?” “I will. What do I need to know?” The Leader gestured for him to follow and showed him a young family. “They don’t know what’s about to happen, how much their life is about to change. But they can handle it.” The warrior looked at the couple and then at the Leader. “Will you be with them? It won’t be easy for them either.” The Leader rested a hand on the warrior's shoulder. “You know I am always with my people.” The Leader’s smile was kind and gentle, like always. “Of course.” When the man looked back at the couple, he saw them sitting in a hospital room, worry etched on their faces; neither one was speaking, but both were praying. It was time for him to go. He walked through the woods until he came across a little girl looking lost and scared. “Hello there, Little One." The warrior bent down to talk to the little girl. "What's going on?" The little girl looked around, confused. "I'm here to help you get home.” He offered her his hand. "Your family is waiting for you." "My family?" She asked as they walked down the bumpy path. The warrior smiled. "Yes, your family." The little girl tripped. "This isn't going to be easy, is it?" The warrior looked down. " No, it's not, but I won't leave you." “What’s my family like?” She asked as if trying to distract herself. “Oh, they are very wonderful. They have been praying and preparing for you!” He explained. “I can’t wait to meet them.” The little girl glowed. The sky grew a bit darker. "What's happening?" The little girl called out, clinging to the warrior's hand. "Don't worry, it's just a storm." He held up his shield to block the wind as best he could. "Don't give up on me?" She nodded and fought against the winds with the warrior's help. The winds died in town, and they didn’t have to fight as hard to walk. "Do you help all the kids get to their families?" the little girl asked. The warrior beamed. “I do. Not every child's path looks the same." "Is it scary?" She tripped gain, so he slowed his pace. "Sometimes. It can be hard sometimes.” He looked around the woods. The storm was coming back and this time with a vengeance. "Sir, I'm tired. Can we stop walking?" The little girl sat down on the ground. The warrior helped her up. "No, Little One, we need to keep moving. You have to keep fighting. We'll be there soon." They walked for a bit longer but the storm was too great and the little girl couldn’t do it anymore. The warrior picked up the little girl; she weighed almost nothing. "Don't give up on me, Little One. We'll get you home." Soon he reached the edge of the forest. A light shone around them, and when the warrior opened his eyes he was in a hospital room. He turned and saw Little One in a glass case with tubes, wires, and needles. He smiled and looked at her. "So that's what you look like, so small. I knew we'd make it, Little One." Soon the girl's parents arrived and stood gazing at her. “She looks more like you than she does me,” her mom commented. “Means she’ll get your attitude,” her dad teased. Then her mom sighed. "She's perfect." Her eyes glowed. "She really is." Her dad took his wife’s hand. “Those little holes are for you to put your hands inside,” a nurse told them. Her mom carefully slipped her hand in. “Hi Baby, it’s me. Your mom. And this…” The husband slipped his hand in. "...Is your dad.” He smiled, with tears in his eyes. The warrior watched the little family share a moment. Then the doctor came in. The warrior listened to the doctor talked about risks and what little one would need in order to go home. Her parents had to leave and go back to the waiting room. The warrior walked over to the little case and watched them leave. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch over her.” He looked down at Little One. "You're a fighter. Trust me, you got this." He stayed watching over the little girl till she was ready to go home. He watched every victory, every setback, every tear cried. He felt the strength from all the ones who prayed for that little girl. He knew the Leader was with this little family. Soon he needed to help another child. “Don’t worry Little One, I’ll check on you again.” He waved and slipped back to the woods.

Aurora lived in a world where emotions were sold in little bottles. You couldn't feel without them. There were so many emotions to choose from - happiness, anger, contentment, lethargy. You could buy bottles with potions that release over time, and you could have short-term bottles delivered weekly. Or, you could pick them up at any store. Unless you were Aurora. Her mother forbade her from having emotions. She was not to buy them. So in all the seventeen years she'd lived, she'd never felt anything. She didn't mind though. She'd seen emotions cause her friends to do stupid and rash things. And she'd learned to fake emotions, no one she knew she’d never truly felt anything before. She could smile, laugh and even cry with her friends, but she always felt numb. And yet, part of her wondered what it would feel like to feel something. "Feelings are dangerous!" her mother would always say. "They make you act foolishly. They could impair your judgment. You don't need them. They are a waste." Aurora would nod. "Yes Mother, I know." "That's my good girl.” Her mother would pat her on the head. "Can't have you getting hurt." And that was the conversion. No more information was given. Aurora had no idea why her mother feared emotions so. But Aurora trusted her mother, so she believed that emotions shouldn't be trusted. One day, Aurora was hanging out with her best friend. "So Aurora, your big 18 is coming up! What are our plans?" Katie asked excitedly. “Same as always, Kate." Aurora gave a well-practised smile. "Really? Come girl, live a little," Katie teased. "You know how my mom is.” Aurora rolled her eyes, the skill that was hardest to learn. "Want me to see if my mom can pull some strings and get you over for a sleepover? The two of us can have a small party." Katie smiled brightly at her. Aurora knew it was just Katie's emotions that made birthdays such a big deal. It was just another day. But at the same time, she found it thoughtful. "You can try." Katie clapped and jumped up and down. "You just wait! Mom and I will throw you the best mini-birthday ever!" Aurora used that well-practised smile and, for the first time, she wished it was real. Somehow Katie's mother convinced Aurora’s mother to agree to the sleepover. "Katie's mother mentioned that she picked up extra emotions for tonight, and I didn't want you to feel bad for not taking them, so I picked this up." Aurora’s mother handed her a bottle with a clear liquid in it. "What is this?" Aurora looked at it closely. "It's a drink that stops the emotion potions from working,” her mother said passively. "Is it safe?" Aurora brought it to her nose; it had no smell. "Oh, perfectly. I used it on you when you were young and we would go to your little friends’ parties. And I use it daily to look normal." Aurora carried the drink into the car. "Mom? Are you sure emotions are that bad? Maybe it's not so bad." "Never, darling. They make people do…" "Foolish things. I know…but some people aren't foolish or wasteful with them." “Aurora…” Her mother spoke slowly. “I'm letting you spend the night with your friend. Don't push it. Drink. The. Drink. Or you will suddenly get sick." Aurora knew she couldn't really feel fear, and for that she was grateful. She slowly drank the liquid it; had a sour aftertaste. "Happy?" "Never," her mother said pointedly. They pulled up to the house. "Have fun. I'll drop the car off tomorrow. I’ve arranged a ride to work tomorrow, so you can have the car." "Thanks, Mom." Aurora headed inside, ready to pretend she could feel like the rest. "Aurora!" Katie's mom gave her a hug. "Happy birthday, dear!" "Mom and I got all kinds of things to make tonight special!" Katie jumped again. And did they ever! They had cakes, cookies, chips, pop, movies, face masks, and so much more. "And…" Katie's father stepped into the kitchen. "We got you a few gifts!" "Wow...I...I don't know what to say." Aurora stared at everything…Unsure how to react. "We are gonna celebrate!" Katie's mom handed everyone a pink drink for what Aurora assumed was happiness. It had been years since she’d seen one this close up. She wanted to look at it closer but couldn't without being conspicuous. She quickly drank it down and noticed it had no flavour - was that because of the drink before? She kept rolling with the act all night. After much celebrating, the girls went upstairs to Katie's room. They crawled into bed, turned off the light, and talked late into the night. When there was a lull and a moment of silence, Aurora couldn't help but ask. "Kate?" "Yeah?" 'What does it feel like?" Katie sat up. "What does what feel like?" “Feeling...'' Aurora sat up and wrapped herself in a blanket. "What do you mean? You...you feel...I've seen you... Tonight you..." "Copy-and-pasting is easy when you've been watching it all your life." Aurora took a deep breath. "My mom doesn't....doesn't let me feel. Forbids it, actually. I've never been allowed to feel..." "But tonight you drank emotion potions..." Katie came and sat next to her. "They make a counter potion for that." "So, you're always numb?" Aurora nodded. Katie said nothing and just hugged her friend. "So, try to describe them to me?" Aurora fell asleep to the sound of her best friend trying to explain what different feelings felt like. The next morning Aurora chatted with Katie's parents. They decided that they would help Aurora move away from home shortly after high school, and then Aurora could decide what she wanted to do about emotions. Aurora continued to follow her mom’s rules. Then a few weeks after graduation, thanks to Katie's dad, Aurora got a job in the big city; there she worked as a receptionist for the sister company to the one he worked for. Katie's mom helped her find a therapist. And that's where she sat now, facing a kind older woman who went by Ms. K. "So tell me, Aurora, what brings you to my office today?" "I'm 19 and I’ve never felt anything before..." she said quietly. "Oh, dear girl, you're not the first person I've met who has had this happen to them." The older woman said with a smile. "My mom said emotions were dangerous and wrong... " "So you never got a say in your feelings?" "No. Never. And even after I've moved away, I'm still terrified to try." "Because what if she's right?" Aurora nodded. “I’ll help you." The two spent a few weeks talking. Aurora learned that some feelings existed without the potions, like being uncomfortable, feeling like you didn't belong, or feeling safe or comfortable. And eventually, she took home a small set of tester emotions, small bottles that only lasted an hour or so. She set them on her table. And just stared at them. She didn't have to use them. She could wait; her therapist had said there was no rush. But they had kind of hit a wall with therapy. She needed to feel and she knew it. She wasn't sure what she wanted to feel first. She looked at all the colours, each one representing something she'd never experienced. The red caught her eye, and she picked it up. Anger; without giving herself a moment to think, she took a drink. She was shocked at the heat of the drink. Then she waited. Would she freak out, would she break something? But nothing happened. Was she broken? Had her mom wrecked her? She started writing just like her therapist suggested. She started to write about her mom, and suddenly she was writing fast and hard, she was so angry. Then she stopped. She was angry... and she wasn't dangerous to anyone. The realization of her mom’s lie fueled her anger more. Writing wasn't enough. So she went for a walk. She walked till the emotion wore off. "Whoa..." She saw a bench nearby and sat for a moment, processing the experience. Still feeling overwhelmed, she walked slowly back to her apartment. She wanted to feel something more positive. She picked up the pink drink she remembered from her birthday. Happiness. She took the drink and swallowed it. She found it odd that almost instantly she thought of Katie and her family and the way they had helped her. And she started crying. You can cry when you’re happy? she wondered. She called Katie. 'Am I broken?" Aurora started their call. “What do you mean?' "My therapist gave me emotions to try in small quantities. And when I tried happiness I thought of you and your family, and I started crying," Aurora explained. "Oh, my friend... You are not broken. You're just crying because you are so happy. Hey, turn on the front camera." "Why?" “I wanna see your for-real smile." So Aurora did. "Woah. Emotions look good on you.” "Thanks." Aurora smiled brightly. The girls talked way later than Aurora had meant to. But it felt so good. After hanging up, Aurora looked over to her box of trial emotions. There was more to feel. Sadness scared her the most because she knew that once she tried that one, she would grieve the childhood she didn't have. But for now, she would go to bed knowing she had started to heal.

A few weeks later, Andrew and Penny walked out of the parkour class; they had stayed late to work on a lift for a dance routine they were working on with the safety of the mats. As they found their way to their bike, Andrew heard women cry for help. He and Penny shared a look, and without thinking they took off toward the cries. They rounded the corner and saw a woman trying to stop someone from taking her purse. “We have to help,” Penny whispered. Andrew knew she was right. “But how do we help?” He whispered back. “We’re heroes! This is what we do!” Penny shot him a smile. Then moving quickly, she ran at the thief and used the element of surprise to knock him down. She quickly returned the purse to the woman. “Run!” The woman did not need to be told twice; she ran to her own bike and disappeared. Unfortunately for Penny, the thief got back up. “So you wanna fight, do ya girl?” He swung at Penny, who thankfully dodged just in time. Andrew stood shocked for a second. There was no magic, no elements to keep them safe. What was Pen thinking? Suddenly, he saw the man pull out a knife! Andrew needed to act, and act fast! He saw a metal trash can lid and grabbed it. He ran toward Penny. “Petal! Watch out!” He jumped between Penny and the thief, using his makeshift shield to deflect the knife. As the knife hit the ground with a clang, Penny’s eyes widened like she just realized what she’d done. She quickly kicked the knife away. Andrew used the shield to defend himself and tried to knock the thief down long enough so they could get away. But the guy was persistent. Penny watched Andrew fight; she needed a new way to help. Then she saw it - a jump rope left behind by some kid. She rolled away from the two fighting and grabbed the rope. Sure, it wasn’t as good as her magic lasso, but she could make do. She worked quickly to tie the rope, and as she finished she looked up to see that somehow the thief had managed to get his knife back and was too close to Andrew for comfort. “Flame!” She called out as she took a running start yet again, only this time she tossed the homemade lasso. As it landed around the thief's hand, she lept in the air with a flip, pulling the lasso tight and managing to wrap it around the thief’s body while landing perfectly. Andrew and Penny worked quickly to tie the thief to a tree. After retrieving a notepad from their bikes, they left a note for the police. They signed it with a flower on fire and rode away. Penny headed home while Andrew stopped at the police station to tell them about someone tied to a tree. When he arrived home, Penny had made them hot chocolate and they sat on the couch. “That felt amazing!” Penny’s eyes lit up. “I guess it did feel pretty cool to do hero work again. Though I do miss the safety of the suits.” Andrew laughed as he enjoyed the warmth of his drink. Penny laughed along, then looked at Andrew. “So, Petal huh?” Andrew nearly choked on his hot chocolate, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Sorry, I’ve been trying to find a name to replace Rose and in a moment of panic, Petal came out.” Penny giggled. “It’s okay, I did the same thing with Flame.” Penny smiled as she fiddled with her mug. And I like Petal, it’s cute… “Oh, you think it’s cute do you?” Andrew teased her. “What? I never said that!” Penny laughed nervously. “Yes you did, I heard you.” Andrew looked at her. Can you hear me now? Penny looked at him. He heard her voice, but she never opened her mouth. I can! I really can! Wait, what does this mean? Andrew looked at her, both confused and excited. “I guess it means that here we are meant to be together in some way…” Penny looked at him. “And I guess we get to decide what that is.” She gave him a small smile. “Yeah, I guess we do.” Andrew smiled. So they had soul names; he couldn’t help but wonder what that would mean for them. *** A few days later, a story was printed in the press about two heroes named Petal and Flame. Petal, did you see the paper? Andrew reached out to her at work. I did Flame, we’re heroes again. Penny laughed and looked at her wristband; that way her co-workers would think she was reading a funny message. She and Andrew kept it a secret that they found out their soul names. Do we want to be heroes again? Andrew asked. Penny stopped her work, did she want to be a hero again? It certainly was riskier here than back home, but fighting smaller crime was better than fighting the Owl… And surely they could do more than just stop petty thieves. They could go visit kids at the hospital and help fundraise, and maybe even help the kids who needed a second chance… I think, I think I do. But I want to talk more about it at home. So later that night while eating supper, they talked about ways they could take up the hero mantle again. They decided that a few nights a week they would patrol the village square, as that seemed to be where most of the trouble happened, and on weekends they would go to visit the other districts and see what they could do to help. Andrew agreed that visiting hospitals and schools sounded like a good idea too. So that’s what they did. Andrew brought some unused costumes home from the theatre, and Penny used what few sewing skills Sophie had taught her to make a few modifications to the outfits. Her costume for Petal was a light green romper; she sewed a belt of yellow roses to it and found a mask that matched that green dress fabric. It was light and easy to move in, and she could easily add layers later when it got to be cold. She also found a green and yellow rope she could use as her lasso. For Andrew, she took a black dress shirt and, using a stencil, sewed flame outlines on the shirt. He found a pair of pants that stretched enough to be comfortable to fight in. He also retrieved that same trash can lid and bent it into a better shield so he could use it again. They worked on incorporating moves from both their dance and parkour classes into their fighting style. Over time as they worked to protect Twin Crescent, their bruises faded and they felt pain less often. It didn’t take long for Penny and Andrew to find a schedule. They both kept working at the studio and Theater and Andrew was still on the Jazz club rotation. So on the nights when they had dance class or parkour class or Andrew had a gig, they would stay late and patrol the Village Center. They caught a few teens trying to graffiti the walls, as well as the occasional thief. Sometimes they would help the police or firemen when they could. And then they would rotate which weekends they spent in the other three districts. It felt good for both of them to spend time fighting crime again. After about a year of this, Penny and Andrew used some of the money they had inherited to start community centres in each district or to help upgrade ones that already existed. They offered any troubled youngster a lesser punishment if they came to a centre the next time the heroes visited. And more often than not, the teens came. Penny and Andrew had fun watching their new friends Alice and Henry try to figure out who Petal and Flame were. It made them laugh at all their guesses. Meanwhile, Jonathan and Betty never said much about the two heroes that just showed up one day. But whenever it was discussed, they gave Penny and Andrew a knowing look. If the people in Arcadia thought Penny and Andrew were in sync before, they would have been shocked to see them now. Without having to actually talk to one another out loud while dancing or fighting, they could move with such grace that some people believed that Petal and Flame really did have superpowers. Petal on your left! Flame called to her while they dealt with a small group of thugs trying to break into a coffee shop that had kicked them out earlier that day. They had already broken a window by the time the two came across them. Flame really hoped this building had an alarm system. Thanks, Flame! Petal gave a swift kick to the guy on her left, successfully winding him. Having him drop to the ground, she quickly handcuffed him to the same post where she’d handcuffed the other thug they’d beaten. I hear the sound of bikes; hopefully, that’s the police. Soon a group of officers came around the corner, clearly relieved to see them there. Flame quickly knocked the last thug to the ground. “Hello, officers! We have your guys here,” he said with a smile. “Just send Petal’s handcuffs to our mailbox in the village.” And with a wave, the heroes disappeared into the night. They found somewhere to change and head back to the hotel they had picked for their stay in the mountains district. As they walked, Penny enjoyed the view from the dual-lit sky. “You know Andy,” she said taking his arm, “If I could live anywhere other than the farming district, I think I’d pick here.” “Oh?” Andrew looked at her, surprised. “Not the warm beach district? But you love the water and the waves…” “Well yes… but look.” She gestured to all the shadows and shapes in the background and the cute almost-Christmas-village-like look of the district. “It’s simply magical.” Andrew smiled. “I still think I’d rather be warm,” he laughed. “You just have no use for aesthetics.” Penny rolled her eyes as they entered the hotel. “What good are aesthetics if I’m cold all the time?” Andrew shook his head. “Well, this is yours.” He stopped outside her door. We did good tonight, Petal. We did, Flame. Penny gave Andrew a hug and held on for just a moment too long. She quickly let go and tried to hide her blush. “Well, um…yes, thank you for walking me to my room.” “Happy to. Sleep well, Pen.” He stepped back as Penny entered her hotel room. After she closed the door, he quietly walked to his. Don’t forget! We have a heroe’s breakfast at the centre tomorrow, 9:30 sharp! Penny reminded him as he got to his room. He smiled. He knew the reminder was as much for her as it was for him, but he still found it cute. His mind briefly wandered to the hug; why had Pen turned so red afterwards? It wasn’t uncommon for her to hug him after a battle, just like she had tonight, to check he was okay or something. It wasn’t anything more… right?