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Everyone loves the idea of time travel, and Toby was no different. He devoted his life to making it happen. And eventually, he did - he built himself a time machine. However, on the day he tested it, something happened that he had not counted on. He triggered something he could only describe as a time loop. And he was perpetually stuck. At some point, he discovered a pattern: he would go into the time machine and travel somewhere new; and when he stepped out of the machine, and back into his workshop, he wouldn’t fully remember everything he knew before. And the more times he went through the time machine, the less and less he remembered about his life outside the workshop. When he went into the past or the future, he could experience his life in the outside world, but his memories of those experiences faded quickly when he returned to the present. Whenever he travelled to a time where someone should know him he seemed unrecognizable to them. On top of that, he was stuck in his workshop, unable to walk out and interact with the outside world in real-time. At some point, some version of him realised what was happening and started a diary. He left it in his workshop and recorded memories from each trip before they faded, hoping each time he left that the diary would be there when he stepped out of the time machine again. Entry #1 Hello Toby, I can only hope this works. It’s you from the past. It seems that our time machine has entered a time loop. I know you might not believe me, but let me tell you a fact I am sure you will remember. When we were in elementary school and we told the kids in our class that we wanted to build a time machine, the only one who believed us was Jenny Jankins. She kissed us in the corner of the classroom and everyone made fun of us for years. Do you believe me now? Good. We must do something, we can’t stay in the time loop forever - please do something. Please record what you have learned and where you have been, so we can go home. I am going to the earliest centuries to learn what they first thought of time travel. Please trust me. Toby Entry #2 We are in a time loop? Meaning we can do whatever we want? Since it’s not real life? This is amazing! There are no risks, and no worries - we will always be okay! I don’t know what this last version of us was so worried about. This sounds amazing! I’m going to visit ancient Greece and see all the amazing battles and war zones. No worries! Toby Entry #3 I have decided that some versions of the time loop don't include this book. I just checked out the Renaissance era. Are we really in a time loop? What's happening outside the workshop then? Do we know? Should I try the door? ... No, I’ll leave that for one of you to try. I like time travelling. It's so cool! I'm going to go to the time they put a man on the moon! Toby Entry#6 Okay... So the novelty might be wearing off... Looking at this book, has no one noticed that we never tried to escape? Or to stop the loop? Shouldn't we? The first guy tried to explain and we didn’t listen… Why do I feel like we’re forgetting about someone or something? I've also noticed we always go to the past. I'm gonna go to the future. Maybe I'll learn something to help us... Toby Entry #7 WE HAVE A WIFE AND DAUGHTER! And no, I didn't marry someone during this time travel loop. I mean that, before we built the time machine we were married, and we had a daughter… I met her today, she is getting married. And WOW, does she ever look like our mom. She speaks highly of us. They think we died… We have to fix this. We need to change this. We need to be there for her. We have to get out of here. I'm just going to try to leave through the workshop door… Toby Entry #10 Whatever you do, please stop trying to leave through the door. It seems to make the loop worse. Look, I get it, we're desperate to get out and we never really know how many loops have passed between each entry. But repeating past mistakes will not help this! Don't lose your head. I know reading this and realising what is happening brings up emotions. But we need to keep our heads about us so we can get out of here. I am going to try going back to our childhood and see if we can change something. Toby Entry #11 So meeting us as a child didn't do anything, it seems. Is this our doomed fate? Can we stop this? Also, did meeting us as a child only encourage us to look into time travel more? Did I make it worse or has this always been? Can we ever truly be free? There must be something!! Toby Entry #12 Soo... I'm not sure what the last guy tried but clearly it didn't work... So here is an idea - what if we don't exist? Like, what if we stop Mom and Dad from meeting? Then none of this can happen... I don't see how we have another choice - it's clear nothing else has worked. So I am going back to our parents’ high school years to see if I can stop all this… Toby Entry # 13 HOW DID THAT NOT WORK? It's like fate is against us. No matter what I did, it wasn't enough. I tried to stop their date, or mess up big events or milestones… It didn't work. They always pulled through. Like their love is a constant truth, that cannot be avoided. I want to see the life I’ve forgotten. I want to know what we've missed, I need to know! Toby Entry #14 She's amazing... She's kind and loving. She believed in our ideas when the rest of the world didn't. She never quit on us. She was pregnant with our daughter. She hadn't told us yet… She'd found out the morning we went into the workshop to try this invention. She was planning on telling us tonight with a cute little surprise. And we never get to see it. Why did we never think of the risk of time loops? Why did we have to prove everyone wrong? We could have just lived a life without any kind of worries. But no, we had to be something, had to accomplish some feat! Wait.... what if I just destroy the machine? Then we never try time travel, then maybe just maybe we can leave this room. Ok, I destroyed the machine, and I'm going to walk back out that door and if it works, we will never try this again. There is no need, because while the past is interesting and the future is intriguing… The present is a gift I will never waste again. Toby In case this fails, To my loving wife, please know that I tried. I did all I could to get back to you. I can only hope you find this book. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Andrew was grateful for the extra few hours Penny had given him. She had woken him up, and then he showered and got himself ready for the day. Once they were both ready they wandered back toward the foyer where they had been greeted the night before. Thankfully Jonathan found them before they got too lost. "Ah! You're awake, wonderful! I was just coming up to find you. Betty is just putting the finishing touches on breakfast." "Do the families eat with you?" Penny followed him into the rather large kitchen. "About once a month, Deary,” Betty called from the stove. “Those who are gifted in the kitchen come in and we make a big breakfast for all the staff and their families." "Oh, that's neat! Otherwise, the families fend for themselves?" Andrew thought that was nice - the idea of everyone gathering for a meal together. "Some of them eat together; it's kind of up to them and depends on what chores they have." Jonathan smiled. "We can show you around the farm and give you more details later, I'm sure you have other questions." "Jonathan, can you tell us how this place is different than ours?” Andrew's curiosity had been eating him. “I'm sure we can figure out the similarities." "Well, we actually don’t know how different we are; we only know what the earthers tell us of their world, and every time things are different.” Jonathan handed them each a small box. “We got you each a wristband that can be used to send messages to each other and anyone else you add. Betty and I already added our numbers so you can reach us." “Oh, thank you.” Penny and Andrew took them and looked at them, intrigued. “When we take you into town, you’ll notice that most people get around by either pedal or electronic bike, some use horses,” Betty spoke from the stove; it was funny for Andrew to watch Penny stay seated and not get up and help her. “We also have the solar train if we have to travel to one of the other districts.” Andrew and Penny shared a look; this world was so different than the one they knew. It sounded amazing, surely it couldn’t be this perfect? "The earthers who have come in the past have helped us make changes to our world, so we can use some of the things from your world, like some of the technology and modern conveniences you’d be used to," Betty continued. "Oh, I forgot one of the biggest changes!” Jonathan chimed in. “Our planet only has one landmass on it. It's also very small. You can travel the whole thing in about three days by solar train. Less if you’re only going to one place and back. We could arrange for Alice and Henry to take you on a tour. They're a lovely couple who I'm sure will be great friends for you both." Jonathan smiled. "Three days? That's it!" Penny looked at him, dumbstruck. "A tour would be great!” Andrew added. “So…if it's one landmass, does that mean it’s all one country?" He was shocked - it seemed almost like a little pocket planet. "Pretty much. It feels more like one community - there is the village centre that has all the amenities, and from there the train will take you to the beachfront community, the mountain range, or the farming district." Betty finally brought the food and joined the group at the table. Once everyone was dished up and eating, an audible sigh was from Andrew and Penny - Betty was an amazing cook. Andrew watched Pen while they ate. She seemed to be doing much better after their talk this morning, and now he felt uneasy. Well, uneasy might be the wrong word, but this place seemed to be too good to be true. And Arcadia needed him; he was a hero and that came first, so he couldn’t get too comfortable. He would fight as long as Pen did; after all, she was his team leader. "Oh, Pen and I were wondering…we told you last night, we haven’t graduated yet - will that be a problem?” Andrew was sitting next to Jonathan at the table, with Penny across from him. "Well, not really. You could take a work assessment test if you’d like, but we don't tend to expect the earthers to go to our school system… We usually just help them find work - if they would like, that is." Jonathan smiled at them. "We both are keen to take some time off, but we also both like to be busy. I’ve been working as a Photographer on the side for a while, and Andy is an amazing pianist; he also composes music!" Pen beamed with pride at him. "Andrew was quite a big deal to have at a party. If you like piano music, that is." "Ah! Well, in that case, we can help you find gigs to keep you busy if you’d like! Vikki’s been doing a jazz night at the club - you might be able to get on rotation there. Or some of the bands might need a piano player. Alice runs a gallery for local artists, so you could get a slot in there. Oh! And Henry needs a new composer/pianist at the theatre." Jonathan's eyes lit up, his mind full of ideas. After a moment of silence, Betty spoke. "There is another big difference that we need to talk about with you two." "Okay…?" Andrew couldn’t help but be curious now. “In your world, the idea of soulmates exists only in stories, yes?” Betty asked, and both of them nodded. “Well here, it’s a real thing…kinda.” “What do you mean?” Penny asked. “Each person has a name that only their true partner will be able to unlock. And when you find your partner and they discover your name, you will be able to communicate telepathically.” Jonathan smiled at Betty like they were sharing a secret. “You two have unlocked this name, haven’t you?” Penny giggled slightly. “We have.” Betty smiled softly at Jonathan. “We call them soul names.” “How did it happen?” Andrew asked. He and Penny had so many nicknames for each other - what if they had soul names? Could they unlock them while being in love with someone else? “I grew up on the farm and Betty lived in the mountain range. I would bring our trade goods to the market, and she would be buying goods for her family. We would see each other often and we became friends over time… I took her to a few balls and a banquet or two. Then we started dating, taking the risk that we wouldn’t be the ones to unlock each other’s names,” Jonathan explained. “However, my family wasn’t pleased with my choice of “a farmboy” as they called him. But I loved him, and he was determined to impress my family…so one day he came riding up to my house on a perfect white horse, declaring his love for me, and I ran out to him, telling him he was My Knight.” “And I called her My Lady, and just like that we were bonded. Her parents, knowing we were each other's true partners, eventually accepted me.” Jonathan ended the story with a smile, taking Betty’s hand. "Whoa, how romantic." Pen sighed. “Why didn’t they like you? Was it really because you come from the farm?” Betty laughed. “No, not really, they just believed I should only be with my true partner, but Jonny and I weren’t worried about that. Some people never find their true partner.” “And some find it between friends, and they just choose to stay friends and learn to control how they use this skill of communicating,” Jonathan explained, “It’s like a muscle - the more you use the telepathy, the stronger it gets the less you use it, well, the weaker it becomes.” “Could we have sole names?” Andrew couldn’t think of a world where Sophie wasn’t his true partner or a world where Penny and Trevor weren’t together. "Not all earthers have soul names, but it has happened before." Jonathan looked at them closely. “I know you have partners, but in your world, even if you find that you have soul names, it doesn’t mean you have to fall in love.” Both Penny and Andrew let out a sigh; neither of them were ready to think of what it really meant to never leave here. Would they lose their love for Sophie and Trevor? What would happen to them? Those were thoughts for another day. "Now that that’s taken care of..." Betty stood and started cleaning up. "You two need a place of your own. I assume you want to stay together?" They nodded. "Well we have a cute little townhouse, it has two bedrooms and a basement that would do well for both of you to set up spaces for your hobbies. Jonathan can give you a tour of the homestead. Then you two can see the townhouse and give us a list of new things you want. We will get them for you while you go on a tour of the island. How does that sound?" "As long as the first stop on the tour is a boutique - we need clothes that are ours, not taken from your guest room." Andrew laughed. "Ah yes, we will take you in today and help you find clothes. But first, a tour of your new home!" Jonathan smiled at them both. Andrew looked over at Pen and offered her a hand. They could do this, together. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? 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"Where is that girl!" Andrea sighed. "She was with us at the hotel, right? We never should have let her take her own vehicle!" The other girls nodded in agreement. Each of them had tried texting and calling her, and they took turns calming her mother down. Promising she hadn’t run away. Little did they know that Rose was in a bit of a bind. - 40 minutes earlier - "Don't worry girls, I'll be right behind you," Rose assured them. She watched as the girls left her alone. She looked at herself in the mirror - she was getting married today! Her dress was perfect, her makeup spotless and, other than her veil, her hair was finished and flawless. She was almost ready to leave when her phone rang. "No!" she sighed as she picked up the video call. "David, why are you calling me from the cave instead of the venue? You’re supposed to be with Nathaniel." She stared at her nerdy best friend, her techy sidekick. "I know! I know! And I was, but Super Nova is at it again... And the city is desperate.” He pulled up videos on the screen, and Rose saw both the fire and police departments struggling. "What did you tell Nathaniel? Does he know?" She pulled out her watch, put it back on and tapped the button; instantly her costume covered her dress, and her hair and helmet hid her face. Their communication switched to her headset and she left his video on the screen in her helmet. She quickly packed up the last few things while he talked. "Told him I forgot the rings," David explained. Rose shot him a look. “I panicked, okay? I can control 80% of the tech from the phone. So as long as I keep calm we should be able to keep him in the dark unless they start live-streaming the fight…" He sighed. “I should just text him…” Rose muttered - not to David, but thinking out loud. “No time! I'll tell him if we need to. Super Nova on main, I'll take a cab to your hotel and get your car and other stuff. Good luck, Techno.” He hung up for now and she took a breath. Time to be a hero… Techno jumped out the window and flew toward the main street. As Rose, she’d been struck by lightning as a tween and it gave her the ability to manipulate electricity. She had trained and become a hero. And David found out about her when she contacted him, needing a better tech. She trusted him and he had not failed her. He even helped her find a place for a hideout. David introduced her to Nathaniel, who had found out about her ability when Techno rescued him; the fact that Rose met him where Techno dropped him off clued him in. No one else knew - Andrea might suspect it but Rose really didn't know for sure. She landed just outside Super Nova's view. "Guro, are you at a point to give me a status update?" “She's trying to kidnap the mayor's son again." Guro’s voice echoed in her helmet. "You know, with how easily that boy gets taken, I swear he's in love with her." She shook her head. "Hmm, might be worth a discussion one day. But for now…the weak point is near the bookshop. You should be able to get a shot before she knows you are there.” Techno looked and then leapt to the spot Guro pointed out. And she took the shot. Textbook-perfect shot. Super Nova turned sharply. "You!" …and loaded a fireball to shoot at Techno, who tucked behind the bookstore chimney. Thankfully, Super Nova's shot missed. Techno came out from behind the chimney. "Super Nova! That's enough! You know how this ends. And I don't have time for this." Super Nova threw her head back and laughed. "Did you really think that would work?" Techo shrugged. “I'd hoped. But, it distracted you!" She glanced to where the mayor's son was being carried away from Supers Nova's trap. Thanks to Guro’s robot. “How dare you! I trapped him fair and square!" Super Nova raged. Then she smirked. "Not like you to fight dirty, Techy." "It's Techno!" She said sharply. "And I said I didn't have time for this today!" "Oh don't worry, Techy, I won't keep you." Super Nova smirked and shot the base of the chimney out, trapping Techno under the debris. Super Nova then grabbed the mayor's son back, just after the robot had set him down near the police. "And since you don't have time today, I'll just take my prize and deal with the mayor, and the cops can deal with my demands." And she flew off with the mayor’s son in tow. Techno couldn't follow after her, because she was trapped and her suit was damaged. She looked to the chief of police and shook her head. "Go, I need to repair my suit. Will you be alright without me?” The chief nodded. "We'll manage. Will you be okay?" She laughed. "Guro will help me and repair my suit. It will take a few hours, but you can call us when you need to." The police quickly left, and Guro's robot started moving the bricks away from her. "You okay? Do I need to call the doctor before we get ya to your wedding?" Guro asked, as his robot worked. "No, I’m not hurt; the suit used the last of its energy to protect me. So if you can get me close to the church we should be good." Guro's robot produced handles on itself for her to hold onto, and they flew together through the city, successfully dodging the media. Guru's robot dropped Techno in the gardens near the church. She tapped her watch and was once again the bride. Seeing that David had left her car nearby, she ran to it, hopped in, and headed to the church. She parked quickly and raced inside. "Girl! Where were you?" Andrea hurried toward her. "Everyone is so worried about you!" "Sorry, there was a fight and I got stuck in traffic," Rose explained. “Only you could be late to your own wedding girl!" All the girls laughed, then helped to straighten her veil and touch up her makeup. "Well girl, ya ready?" Rose smiled. "Yes, I can't wait." Soon all her friends and family were watching her walk down the aisle to Nathaniel. When she got to the front, he took her hands and smiled. "You're late." She giggled and whispered, “Better late than never.” Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

What a stupid idea,.you think to yourself as you walk the snow-filled path. Or at least, you think it's the path. It was a path when you started, but the deeper you have gone into the woods, the deeper the snow has gotten. Now that you think about it, that makes sense. It's the week after Christmas - nobody has been out to clear the trails. But, you're stubborn. So you keep walking. This path is supposed to lead to a gorgeous view of Lake Vallor. And after the mess of a holiday season that you’ve had, you just want to get away from all of it for a bit. It had been a nice enough winter day when you’d started out, so an hour ago you didn't mind the snow or even the cold. But now your feet are wet, your coat hood is frosty, the scarf you wore has ice on it, and your soaked gloves feel useless. And you are hopelessly lost. You didn't want to admit it, but you are. Your phone shut down from being too cold. So you are on your own. You are half tempted to climb a tree and see if you can spot the highway or the lake. But you’re not sure you could get high enough to get see anything. So you lean against a tree, trying to remember any of the survival things you’ve learned over the years. You know you've already failed the first rule, as you've wandered too far away. And you didn't come prepared. You only have your winter clothes - no backpack with supplies, just whatever was in your pockets. You've clicked your key fob and you can't hear the car horn. Which means you are too far away from your car to be in range. Then while leaning against the tree, you smell smoke. But it doesn't smell like out-of-control smoke, more like campfire smoke. Seeing it as your best chance of getting out of here, you try to follow the smell. The tree line starts to thin and you find a clearing. You walk into the clearing and see a cabin. A cabin out here? How odd... You pause. Is knocking on this random door a good idea? What if the person inside is creepy…or a murderer? Then the wind picks up and it feels like it cuts right through you. So, not caring who answers that door, you walk up to it and knock. After a moment, the door opens. You feel the warmth of the house rush out. You try not to melt at the warmth. "My heavens! You look chilled to the bone. Come in! Come in!" A woman pulls you in the door. "Thank you.” You feel the warmth, then realize how stiff your body is. As you start to warm up, you feel like your body is on fire. "Did you get lost?" the woman asks. "Here, take off those soaked clothes, we can have them dry by my fire." You remove as many sopping clothes as you feel comfortable with. Then the woman hands you a blanket and ushers you close to the fire. You take a few moments to welcome the feeling back to your body. You breathe easier and are grateful for the warmth. Then you remember she asked a question. "Yes, the path to Lake Vallor was buried under snow, so I lost track of where I was and my phone wouldn't turn on. So I got lost..." "My! You are lost then. You managed to get to the other side of the woods.” She looks at you with sympathy. "Oh really? I didn't realize I got that far off the path." You look around the little cabin. "How far of a walk is it back to my trailhead? My car is parked there." “It's a good hour-long walk.” You try to hide your grimace at the idea of walking an hour in the cold again. “But we'll let your clothes dry, so no rush." She smiles like she didn’t notice your grimace, then hands you a hot drink, which you aren't sure when she made. "Oh, thank you!” The drink continues to thaw you. You sigh, finally feeling the burning sensation die down. "So tell me, why are you out walking so close to the holidays? Don't ya have family around?" You look down at your mug. "I do." You take a deep breath. "I Just needed to get away from them all." The woman smiles at you. "Ah, I see, is your family dysfunctional?” You shake your head. “Not really, they're just a lot and the holidays are a lot... " You watch the fire. "We are all so busy, with all the running, parties, and events…it all just gets to be a bit much." The woman smiles at you and rests a hand on your shoulder. “Then enjoy the peace my little cabin brings." She leaves you in front of the fire and seems to disappear. But you don't notice. Instead, you sit and listen to the fire crackle, watching it dance. You feel your body relax and the tension lessens. You breathe a bit easier. You smile - not the forced smile you've put on for pictures over the last few days, but a real smile. The holiday craziness wasn’t to be helped though… Your mother had just been trying to make the holiday perfect for everyone. The last few years had been rough for most of the family, and she just wanted to give everyone some childlike wonder. Which was sweet, but it meant a jam-packed holiday. None of you kids had had the heart to tell her that all you really wanted was a quiet holiday together. Some good food, some classic games, and a gift exchange. But she had arranged shows, light tours, a girl's and boy's night for the sibling groups, and too many big meals. You couldn’t help but feel like your need for peace and quiet had been overlooked. Maybe your family felt the same way…. But like you, they maybe didn’t feel like they could speak up, for fear of hurting your mom’s feelings. Mom was just trying to be Grandma; Grandma made every holiday special, and last year without her…nobody had wanted to celebrate…so you didn’t. But this year your mom was determined to not have a repeat…. But had it been worth it? Had your mom enjoyed this holiday? You should ask her, maybe she is as tired as you are…. Had she noticed her children's exhaustion? You sigh and feel your smile fall. You could have talked to your mom over the holiday - and not just about the plan for the day, but about how she was really doing. You sit up straight. Alright, when you get home, you’ll make a warm drink, sit down with your mom and just talk. You smile again. Yeah, that would be good. You're not sure how much time has passed when… "You look more relaxed," the woman observes as she comes back into the room. "I am, thank you." You hand her the mug that you somehow emptied while lost in your thoughts. “So do you want to talk about how you ended up out in the woods just after the holidays?” She sits on what looks like her favourite chair - it has a basket of knitting next to it. You pause. She’s a total stranger…but something about her feels familiar, safe even…. So you decided to talk. “My mom just went overkill on the holiday, and I just needed a break.” You look up, expecting a rebuke. “Ah, that can happen.” She picks up some knitting. “Do you know why she did that? Or is this a yearly affair?” “New to this year, she was trying to…” You take a breath “...do what Grandma would have done.” “Ah, those first few holidays are hard without the family backbones.” She smiles softly, and you don’t feel like such a failure. “I imagine she feels like she has to fill a role that was huge to fill.” You nod. She’s right…and it only validates the idea that you need to talk to your mom. You happen to look out the window and notice the sun is setting. "Oh, I should get a move on! It's getting dark." The woman puts a hand on your shoulder. "I'll drive you back to your car. No point in you walking. My old truck will get us there." She picks up a set of keys by the door. "I'll get it started." She slips outside. You stand and start to gather up all your clothes. As you put on your jacket, you remember your phone in your pocket. You turn it on to find a few messages from your family and a phone call or two from friends. You chuckle to yourself. At least you know they care. You call your parents, letting them know you’re okay, that you'll be home soon, and that you'll explain when you get there. You send a photo and a brief explanation of your afternoon to a few group chats. Then the woman comes back in. "Truck’s ready when you are." As you follow her out to the truck, you can't help but notice the sunset’s beautiful colours painting the sky. You quietly wonder if you will come and visit this woman again…only next time it will be on purpose. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Penny woke up to the sound of a door softly closing. A moment later, light peaked around the door frame of the bathroom. She rolled over and looked at the clock|; 4:30 am. She should go back to sleep; she was definitely still tired enough for it. But her eyes burned, and her head kind of hurt. That's what you get for crying yourself to sleep, she reminded herself. Feeling suddenly restless, she got up and walked to the window. Pulling open the curtain, she gazed at the two moons hanging high in the sky. Their light almost felt soothing to her eyes. She let out a deep breath and wrapped her arms around her chest, her mind racing with all the things she and Andrew would have to deal with. She was so lost in her thoughts that she jumped when Andrew's arms wrapped around her and he placed a cup and a small pill in front of her on the window sill. "I figured your head might hurt as much as mine. And they have everything in that bathroom." He chuckled lightly. "Want to go back to bed?" "I don't think I can…. Do you think we can sit and make a plan?" She leaned against the cool window before taking the pill and draining the glass of water. "I was hoping you'd say that." He took a step back, giving her room to turn and look at him. "Floor or bed?" he asked. "Lean against the bed? Beds are for resting, not serious conversations." She grabbed a pillow and sat on the floor. "Ah, so you're the one who gave Sophie that idea." He laughed. "I should have known." "It was one Trevor gave me, actually." She let out a sad sigh and waited for Andrew to get comfortable on the floor. However, he didn't sit right away. First, he went and grabbed the tray of snacks brought to them before. "We haven't eaten since we got here, and I'm guessing breakfast isn't for a while around here." Her stomach rumbled, so they both grabbed something to munch on. "Well, I’ll start by saying this: I would like to have our own space rather than staying in a house full of people, regardless of how long we are here." Penny spoke slowly. "Well, I think the idea of living together makes me feel safer." She paused. "I think whatever plan we make, it has to work for both for the short term and set us up for the long term." "Yeah, I think that makes sense.” Andrew sighed. “As much as I don't want to admit it, it does seem unlikely we will get to go back…but I want to have hope." He gave her a sad smile. "Hope is such a cruel gift." She sighed heavily. "Always waiting for something that may never come, but unable to let go of the idea." Andrew moved closer to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I know Pen, but we will get through this together." He leaned back again, his hand moving to his lap and fidgeting with a wrapper from the snack tray. "Okay, so we find somewhere that we can stay together…I assume you’re going to want to be able to cook, and I really don't want someone else to clean for me." "I'm glad you agree." She smiled. "I don't think I could spend six months doing nothing. Maybe take some time off to rest and get to know the area better, but then find some kind of work." "I've been working the freelance grind, so doing nothing isn't really in my wheelhouse. We are still high school students though; maybe we’ll need to do some kinda school….” He looked over to the window - not that he wanted to go back to school. "Think we can find jobs with our passions here?" Penny hated how weak her voice sounded, but she had to admit this was a lot. "I know the architecture is old school, but looking around even this room, it seems they have the modern amenities we are used to, so I'm sure we can, Ros...Pen." He sighed. "Sorry, I bet we don't want to use superhero nicknames right now." "It's hard not to, eh? We've been using Rose and Spark both in and out of the suits for the past few years." She smiled as she thought for a moment of their friendship over the years. "We could pick new ones? You know, to replace those?" Andrew played with a loose thread on the pillow. "Maybe we could save that for six months? Just avoid using them for now?" Penny paused, making sure they were on the same page, he nodded, "So, we find out if we can work with our passions and get a space that is our own. Anything else we need to plan?" Penny looked over at the clock and found that it was 5:30. The sun was starting to rise in the sky, and the colours were lovely. She quickly rose and ran to the window. “Andrew, look!" He followed her, and they stood together watching; the room seemed to be facing the homestead, and Andrew pointed down to what they both could see. "I would guess that these are the people who work for us?" They both took note of the style of clothes, a modern Victorian style - something that Sophie would have loved to sew. Trevor would have been inspired by all kinds of stories to tell. "Early morning farm chores." Penny smiled softly. "It doesn't look like they have gas power farm tools - look at the size of the stable." She slowly opened the window, and the smell of the farm hit them both, along with the sounds of horses. As city kids, this seemed almost exciting. They watched the movement for a bit longer until people seemed to be settled at their jobs for the morning. "Think if we got ready for the day, Betty would let me help make breakfast?" "I'm guessing not, but maybe if Jonathan is around we can get more information about this place?" Andrew laughed. "Let's see what we can find for us to wear because I think our street clothes might just stick out a bit." He chuckled. "I'm sure we can find clothes that feel like us but match the style.” She smiled. Sophie had helped her learn a lot about fashion and how to dress in the way that made you feel your best. "I like that idea. It could be fun to reinvent ourselves like characters from one of Trevor’s stories." They both went and rummaged through the drawers, quickly finding clothes that seemed like a good fit. "Mind if I shower first?" When Andrew nodded, Penny slipped into the bathroom. She looked in the mirror; her eyes were bloodshot and her hair frazzled, and she had clear tear lines on her face. She shook her head; only Andy would not care to mention to her how unkempt she looked. Snooping around the bathroom, she found a hair tie hidden in a drawer and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Then she finally got to look at where her ear cuff used to sit. It looked like Andy’s mark had, black with an almost silver tint. She lightly touched the bruise and inhaled sharply. Yep, they burned. She now understood Andrew's reaction to her touching his bruise. After staring at herself for a moment, she stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash away her stress. She slipped on her new outfit and fell in love with how soft the fabric was. "Oh! This is lovely." She spun around, enjoying the silhouette it gave her. Why had she not worn more skirts in Arcadia? She wandered out of the bathroom and saw Andrew lying back on the bed, quietly napping. She looked at the clock; she'd let the boy sleep. After all, he'd been her hero last night - she could give him a few more hours of rest. Penny curled up on the sofa and watched the sun continue to rise.

Jennavieve had always loved theatre; since her mother had taken her to a kid's concert, she had been hooked. Not only did she watch plays, but she acted in them too. She loved being on stage. She did school plays and community theatre, and she also went to drama camps. That was why this year - her senior year of high school - she was looking forward to having a decent role in the school play. She didn't need to be the lead role, but she was hopeful that she wouldn't be in the ensemble. So, on the Monday morning after auditions, Jennavieve raced to the bulletin board by the drama room. Quickly scanning the posted list, she saw that she was... in the ensemble. Her heart dropped. She refused to cry though. She was going to do her best, even though it was not the role she had hoped for. This was the last show before college and she wasn't going to waste it. She worked hard, learning the dances and all the melodies, and her hard work was rewarded in small ways. She was put near the front and given a part in the play's group of main characters. Even though it wasn't what Jennavieve wanted her last high school play to be, she was still having enough fun not to drop out. But that all changed at a dance workshop weekend when she took a rough fall. She hadn't hurt herself too badly, but the dance teacher was livid. She lectured Jennavieve about not knowing the dance. Jennavieve wanted to point out that this dance was chaotic -she had fallen because someone else was in the wrong spot. But rather than mentioning that fact, Jennavieve simply asked to go get an ice pack and ran off the stage. She found ice backstage and sat down to compose herself. "Jenny?" She looked up and saw Tomas. They were friends…or at least theatre friends. They had actually acted as each other's love interest in a play once before. Tomas' dad ran the community theatre, so Tomas was always involved in shows. He was a good actor; she was surprised he was also in the ensemble. "I'm fine, Tommy, just needed a second." She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Tomas smiled and sat down next to her. "She shouldn't have yelled at you. The director called her on it. And we took a break and are going to redo that dance number to something a little less...uh, extra?" he finished with a laugh. "Good." She laughed too. "I agree the song is better suited for a bit less." “I brought your water bottle."' He handed it to her; she smiled and took it. "So, in the new dance,” he continued, “She wants everyone to pair up, and I was thinking because we've danced together in the past we could pair up…and maybe, because we know how to act subtly we could create our own story in the story? We are both in the main actors' crews so…could be fun?" Jennavieve smiled. "As long as we don't get in trouble it sounds fun!" So that's what the two did. They gave their no-name characters a backstory. It was easy enough to do as their crews were always on stage together. Jennavieve would wave at Tomas the first time they saw each other on stage. He would wink. Tomas would sneak her a note in the next scene -and he'd actually write her a note every practice. She had to admit he was smooth. Whenever the leads were talking and their crews had to do background acting, Jennavieve and Tomas would find a way to help each other. Then later in the play when the groups were at a bonfire, Tomas would find a way to sit next to her and put his arm around her. During one practice, Jennavieve forgot her sweater and got cold during the scene, and Tomas gave her his sweater without thinking. The directors loved it because it showed how close the two groups were becoming, and they told the two of them to keep it up. Later in the play when the main characters fought, Jennavieve gave Tomas his sweater back and he watched as she left with the rest of the girl's group. Then just before the big dance scene, the two made a point of awkwardly avoiding each other until they saw the main characters dance together. Then they intentionally found each other and danced together. The directors complimented them on their subtle story. Jennavieve was grateful for Tomas' idea; it made the show more fun. She knew to be wary of feelings formed during a stage play, but she was really going to miss spending time with him when the play was done. Then two days before their first show, the two leads got sick - like, super sick. It seemed they had caught it from each other. Both lost their voices and couldn't perform. At practice, the director looked at Tomas and Jennavieve and stated, "You two will have to take their roles, you are the only two who can.” Tomas and Jennavieve shared a panicked expression. Then Tomas took her hand and said, "We'll do it." The costumes had to be tailored, and last-minute changes were made to the dances. Thankfully, they didn't really have to work to learn the lines, because they were so familiar from practice. But there was one thing….their positions on stage. “Tommy, what are we going to do? We haven't been watching their blocking! What if we mess up during the show!?" Jennavieve exclaimed as they walked backstage to change after a rushed dress rehearsal. "We don't need to know their blocking. We can make these characters our own. The directors liked our subtle story. We can use elements of it in our new roles. We can do this!" he squeezed her hand before slipping behind the curtain that was one of two makeshift change rooms backstage. "You're right! We can do this." Jennavieve slipped behind the other curtain. They had six shows over three days. The first show was rough, but thankfully it was for the elementary school kids, who didn’t seem to notice. By the last show, no one would have believed that the two hadn't always been the planned leads. Jennavieve still waved to start their interactions, and Tomas still winked. He found a way to slip her his note. During the duet at the bone fire, he gave her his sweater, and during their fight, she gave it back to him. When she turned to leave, he grabbed her hand and begged her not to leave. She pulled her hand away, brought it close to her heart, and then left without saying a word. Their rehearsed awkwardness worked great for the big dance. Once they did finally speak, Jennavieve made a point of taking his hand. And when the time came for the big kiss, they skipped it; instead, Tomas dipped her to end the dance. The crowd loved it every time. When the curtain dropped on closing night, the two shared a smile. "Thank you, Tomas." Jennavieve smiled. "I didn’t do anything," Tomas said with a shrug. "But you did." She gave him a hug and he returned it with a laugh. "If you say so." After she let go, he caught her hand. "Say, now that the play is done…wanna go out for dinner next weekend?" She blushed. "I would love to." Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!

Alice had lived a good long life, so she wasn't sad to go. She knew she was dying. Or was she dead? She honestly wasn't sure. She had been having really vivid dreams as of late. And now she was on a tree-lined path and it smelled like spring. She couldn't help but start walking. She followed the brick path and soon came across a doll that had been left behind. It seemed vaguely familiar but she didn't know why. She bent down and picked it up. As she did, the trees in front of her bent away from each other and she saw…her memory? Alice stepped closer, and she saw herself as a little girl, running to her grandpa. "Grandpa! You made it!" Small Alice cried as she jumped into her grandpa’s arms. “Of course, little girl! How could I not make it? It's your birthday!" He spun her around, and she giggled. "Did you miss me?" she asked. Since she refused to let him go, he started carrying her toward her house. "Of course, I miss ya every day!” Soon they were in the house and the party began. Alice watched as her childhood birthday party played out before her. She smiled as she saw friends she had long forgotten. She watched gifts in simple paper get opened. The joy of childhood seemed to flow from this room. Soon the party ended and everyone left. Alice watched as her younger self jumped on her grandpa's lap. "Oh, please don't go! I'll miss you too much!" She had tears in her eyes. "Oh, I'll be back again before you know it." He poked her nose. She curled into his lap and he seemed in no rush to move. Alice smiled as she watched her younger self do what her own grandchildren had now done for years when she had to leave them. Then out of nowhere, little Alice leapt up and ran out of the room. All the adults looked around and shrugged. A few seconds later she came barreling back into the room holding a doll, the same doll she was now holding as an adult. "Grandpa, take this with you!" She pushed her doll into his lap. “Then you won't miss me too much!" She smiled brightly. "Oh, darling…." Her Grandpa looked at the doll. "I couldn't…." He tried to hand it back to her. "No! I want you to take her, then I know you have something to think of me." She smiled up at Grandpa. He looked at his granddaughter. "How could I say no to you, my dear? I'll take the doll with me." Alice watched as little Alice walked her grandpa back to his car…and slowly the trees closed. Then her Grandpa appeared in front of the tree. "Grandpa?" Tears welled up in her eyes. She ran to him. “Hey, little girl." Her grandpa smiled and opened his arm to her. She rushed to give him a hug. "I'm older than you now.” She teased. "Silly girl." He offered her his arm. "Walk with me?" She looked closely at her Grandfather; he didn't look like she remembered but rather like she had seen him in photos of his younger days. "Of course, I've missed you dearly." They walked through the tree-arched path. "It's lovely here." Alice felt happy walking with him again. "It really is. See anything else you want to look at?" Grandpa asked as he walked. "Will I see another memory if I do?" She was enjoying seeing her grandpa again, would picking something, make him leave? He nodded. She looked around and saw a cookie tin sitting against a tree. "That's Mom’s!" She ran over to pick it up. "Will you stay and watch this with me?" "Of course." He smiled and the two started toward the two trees that were bending back. Alice saw herself in college, sitting at her desk…struggling over some paper, she was sure…. Her roommate walked into their room. "Hey, there was a package for you in the mailbox. I didn't think you'd make it before they closed for the weekend, so I grabbed it." Alice barely looked up and muttered, “Thanks." Her roommate shook her head. “Girl, you need a break.” “I will, later," Alice mumbled as she took another swig of her coffee. "I'm going to join our brother-dorm for carolling. You sure you won't take a break and come?" Alice shook her head. Her roommate sighed. "We leave in forty-five minutes if you wanna join. The package is from your mom. At least stop long enough to open that." Adult Alice watched as her old roommate left her in their room. She watched as college-aged Alice sighed heavily, rolled her chair away from her desk and stood up. Her back cracked in several places. She walked over to the box. Mom hadn't mentioned sending a package the last time they called…. Alice opened it slowly and couldn't help but smile. "It's the cookie tin....'' She pulled the tin out of the box. Underneath there was a letter. Hello Sunshine, I noticed in our last phone call you sounded stressed. I know your last final is close to Christmas so I thought I'd send you these to lift your spirits. Don't forget to enjoy this time of year, Sunshine. Love, Mama. Alice opened the box and the smell of Christmas hit her nose. Her mom had sent her all her favourite cookies. Alice took one out and took a bite. She sighed happily. This…this made it feel like Christmas. She looked around her room. It was a mess. When did she clean last? When was the last time she hadn’t spent her evening at this desk or in the library? Finishing her cookie, she quickly put herself together and raced out the door to join her friends. Alice watched as the trees closed. "Mom sent me that cookie tin every year. I was heartbroken the day it became mine." She turned to look at her grandfather, but he was gone. "You'll see him soon, Sunshine." Her mom's voice filled Alice with joy. "Mom?" She turned and ran to her mom, holding her tightly. "Hello, Sunshine." Her mother held Alice for a moment. "Come, let's keep walking. Tell me, how are my grandbabies?" Alice laughed. “Of course, that would be your first question! They’ve all made me a grandma now. The oldest of which is very worried about how sick I am." Alice laughed, ending in more of a sad sigh. "How are you holding up?" Her mom looked at her closely. "Tired, my body grows tired and my mind mixes memories." They walked along the path through the trees. After a moment of silence - “Mom, do you know when I'll go?" Her mom shook her head. “Sunshine, I can't know that." "Well, I'm glad to see you again." Alice had missed the comfort her mother provided. Then out of the corner of her eye, Alice saw her dress. She stopped, "Mama, look." "Oh…. It's your wedding dress." Her mom smiled fondly. "It's been a year. I'm not sure I'm ready to see him again." She looked at the dress…. Their wedding had been beautiful, and she'd love to see him again, but she didn't want to say goodbye again. Her mom smiled and took her hand. "I understand, Sunshine." Alice looked at her wedding dress moving in the wind; as she watched it, it started looking like the drapes in her room. She blinked. She was in her room, and her granddaughter had just dropped off some flowers to brighten the room. And now her room smelt like spring…. Was that all real or had she only dreamed it?

The light faded around Flint and Rose Thorn. He had wrapped his arms around her and they had hit the ground hard, but the grass felt soft underneath them. Wait, what grass? They had been on the roof of the skating rink; how could they land on grass? Flint looked down and found himself on top of Penny; she was lying on her stomach. He hoped she hadn’t done any damage to her face, since their cuts and bruises didn’t always heal with the Elements Repair. He stopped for a second - Penny? He had jumped to project Rose Thorn, not Penny. Something had gone wrong. "Rose! Your Identity! I'll cover you!" He tried to cover more of her body. "Andrew?" Her voice was so soft he almost missed it. Then he realized what she had also just realized - he was covering her with his arm, not his shield. She gently brushed her fingers against his skin, right over the spot where his Element should have been. He inhaled sharply and she quickly moved her hand away. His skin burned at her touch. He moved his arm to get a better look at his wrist and saw…a bruise? He wasn't sure; it was black and a grey that almost looked silver. He grimaced. It reminded him of Metallic Owl; was this part of her plan - to separate the heroes from one another? Then why use Jaded? "Andrew," Penny spoke again. "Move my hair out of the way." It wasn't a question, and her voice shook as she spoke. Andrew did as she said, which was simple because her hair was already pulled back in a clip. As he lifted her hair from her ear, she tilted her head so he could get a better look. He gasped; the place where her cuff had sat was darker than his wrist. He didn't dare touch it. Was it because she had been the team’s leader? Was it because she had spent the most time talking to her Element, trying to figure out how to stop and catch Owl? "Oh, Pen." He hugged her close. "Andy, where are we?" He could tell she was fighting back tears. "I guess I should let you up and we will go find out together, eh?" He carefully stood up, not wanting to knee her in the back. As he stood, he offered her a hand in a dramatic fashion similar to one of their old dance routine starting positions. "What, are we back in dance class?" she teased. Picking herself up off the ground and taking his hand, she did a little jump and a twirl, which gave them both a laugh. "Seemed like a good time for a laugh. Wasn't dance class one of our parent's ploys to get us wed?" Andrew smiled at the memory of the two of them when they were younger. "That, and to give me more grace." Pen struck a pose, but suddenly her face went from a smile to shock. "Andrew, I don't think we are in Arcadia anymore." She pointed and Andrew turned to see what she was pointing at. "I'm not even sure we are in our world anymore…." Andrew saw it - two moons hung in the sky, and he guessed that they must run parallel to each other. "Well, you should turn and see what I was looking at." So they both turned and saw a beautiful, almost Victorian-style home, surrounded by a lovely farmyard. "Should we head there and see if we can find answers?" "I don't think we have any other choices. I don't think this is the work of Owl." Soon as Penny said that, her eyes lit up in fear. "Andrew! What are our friends going to do without us?" She started to hyperventilate. He put his hands on her shoulders. “Pen, stay with me. Breathe for me. Listen to me. Knowing Sophie and Trevor, they grabbed our Elements and became Rose Mage and Ice Phoenix. And if this is the work of Metallic Owl, we won't be here for long. If it’s not, you know they will try to find a way to get us back." He watched as her breathing slowed. "You're right." She chuckled. "Rose Mage and Ice Phoenix… I like that. But Andrew, I meant it. I really don't think this is the work of Owl. Don’t you think Trevor would have told me or you about something like this from his experience under Owl's control?" She shook at that memory; she’d become Frosted Rose that day, and she never wanted to do that again. "I was afraid you were going to say that." Andrew sighed and chuckled at the same time. "Well, let's go." He offered her his arm. There would be time for crying and breaking down later. Right now he needed to be strong for both his sake and Pen’s. Fortunately, it seemed like they had been dropped at the edge of this homestead, so it was a short walk to the door. Penny knocked and a man dressed in a casual suit opened the door. He smiled at them. "I was wondering how much longer we'd have to wait. Please come in and I will explain everything." He opened the door wider and welcomed them in. "Betty, love! The new Eathers are here! Please bring a tray of hot drinks for them." He ushered them into what looked like a den or foyer. "Please sit." Andrew looked at Penny, sensing that they both felt unsure, but they sat anyway. "My, dude…oh um, sorry…. Sir?” Andrew realized ‘dude’ might not be the best way to address this man. “Who are you? Where are we? Why are we here?" "Please, no need for formalities. I only dress this way because it's Betty's favourite style. I will answer all your questions in a moment but first, won’t you tell me about yourselves? While we wait for Betty to join us." He leaned back as if welcoming them to talk. Andrew looked to Penny, who simply shrugged. "Well, my name is Penny, and I love photography. I even have a little business on the side. I'm nineteen and supposed to graduate in three months." She shifted uneasily. Andrew knew she was trying to look brave and put together. "I'm Andrew. I love the piano and have been playing it since I was little. Same age and grad date.” He took his hat off and fiddled with it. The man’s eyes lit up. “You two know each other then?” Penny looked up at Andrew. “Yeah, we’ve been best friends for as long as we can remember.” “And Pen and I have also been dancing together since we started school,” Andrew added. “So are you two lovers then?” The man gave them a cheeky smile. Penny giggled. "No, much to our parents’ dismay. We do each have a lover though. We all started dating around the same time; we’re all one big friend group…kind of inseparable." "We are also superheroes back in Arcadia - the four of us together, that is - and we’ve been doing that for four years now," Andrew added. Seeing as their Elements were gone, he gathered that superheroes didn’t exist here. "It requires the magic of the Elements." Penny looked at the man like she was studying his reaction. "Ah, that makes this all the more interesting then. I assume that’s what those nasty bruises are from?" They exchanged a glance and nodded. Just then, a woman entered with a tray of drinks. She wore what Andrew assumed was a casual dress. He would have to ask Penny about it later since she spent more time with Sophie when it came to the designing parts of fashion. "Hello, young ones, I'm Betty, married to that one…we have tea, coffee, hot chocolate and warm milk. Enjoy.” She sat down next to her husband and everyone quietly made themselves a drink. "Okay, allow me to explain, and then you can ask questions, alright?" When they nodded, the man continued. “My name is Jonathan, and I ran the homestead on behalf of the Earthers. That's what we call people from your dimension, Dimension 332. You are now in Dimension 652, also known as Twin Crescent. And once per generation for us, two people from your world come into our world. We don't really know why, it just happens. Or fully know how much time has passed in your world, every time it seems to be different." "Has anyone ever made it back to Dimension 332?" Pen interrupted. Jonathan looked down. "No, never." Both Penny and Andrew gasped. Andrew impulsively reached out to take Pen's hand. She squeezed it. "I won't tell you not to be sad,” Jonathan continued. “Please, mourn the life you lost, but please don't hide away from us, waiting for someone to save you." He looked back up at them with great sadness in his eyes. "You speak like you've seen this, but you can't be more than five to ten years older than us…?" Andrew couldn’t help but ask. "Yes, you see, my grandmother married one of the Earthers. She was one of the few people to do so. You see, historically they end up with each other. No one else can relate to their life experiences, so it just happens. But not always. The woman who came over with my grandfather had been the daughter of people who held the two of Elements you speak off, and she believed without a doubt they would come to save her. She died waiting. I only met her once; I was just five when she passed. I don’t know if her parents got close to crossing the line between worlds, we never saw them." "Oh." Pen leaned on Andrew this was becoming a lot already. If past holders of the Elements couldn’t bring their child back, what chance did Sophie and Trevor have? "I know this is a lot and I want to give you time to process. But I’ll tell you the good news before we find you a bed to rest your head. The very first people who came over were smart. They started this homestead; it provides grain for the planet, and my family has been managing the homestead on behalf of the Earthers for years now. The place employs several families; all of them are willing to do a number of jobs. So you two can have whatever life you want, you could live like royalty if you like. Or, there are a few unoccupied apartments, and townhouses you can choose from. But for tonight, we have several guest rooms in this house.” Jonathan smiled at them softly. Andrew and Penny looked at Jonathan, dumbfounded. This was a lot to take in. Andrew spoke first. "So basically, we have inherited a fully-functioning farm that we don't have to work unless we want to?" "Yep, you are rich now, and no one minds much because this homestead does so much for the people here.” Betty, who had been very quiet for this whole conversion, spoke up. She gave them each a comforting smile, then moved to clean up the drinks. “And it's not like you got a choice in this matter, so it's the least we can do for you. Now, I'm sure you have any questions, but I think it would be best if I let you two have some space to talk to each other and get some rest so that you can face the world tomorrow." Jonathan quickly led them into a large room that had a bed, a sofa and an ensuite. He gave them a small smile and left them with one final reminder. “Take as much time as you need. Honestly, very few people rush into this new life, and most take months to accept it. We move at your pace." Once the door was closed on their temporary bedroom, Andrew and Penny both sat on the floor. "Andy?" Penny’s voice was tight like she was trying not to cry. "Can we break down now?" "Yes Pen, we can." They silently let the tears fall. "Andy, we are never going back, are we?" She looked at him, tears rolling down her face. "Hey now. Sure, he said no one's ever left, but Arcadia needs Rose Thorn to lead their superhero team. Sophie, Trevor, and The Elements will do everything they can to get us back." A knock at the door interrupted them. “Come in,” Andrew called. "Here is your snack tray." Betty placed the tray on the long, low dresser in the room. She left quickly, clearly trying to give them their space. Andrew looked at the clock. "Look, I know it's only 6 pm here, but I'm beat, and I bet you are too. So unless you’re hungry, I say we go to bed. Whenever we wake up in the morning we’ll talk about this, but for now, I say we sleep." Penny yawned, then sniffed back a few more tears. "I think that's a really wise idea." Andrew stood up. "Let's see if they’ve got some PJs in this place, because - I don't know about you, but - these clothes feel gross." "On that, I agree." After Penny stood, Andrew opened the top drawer on one side of the dresser and Penny opened the other. They each quickly found a set of PJs to wear. Penny let him change in the bathroom, and he didn’t argue. He put his clothes in a neatly folded pile; after all, he wanted to be neat if Pen came in here. He walked out and found her in a ball on the floor; the nightgown she chose made her look so small. She was shaking, crying. He crouched behind her, took her hair clip out, and ran his fingers through her hair. Then he mustered the last of his strength, picked her up, and set her on the bed. He could sleep on the sofa for the night. "Andy, can we share a bed? It seems big enough…. I don't want to sleep alone." Penny's voice was soft but heavy. Andrew could tell she was ready to break; if he was honest, so was he. "I’m not going anywhere, Pen." Andrew smiled at his best friend. He turned off the light and crawled into bed. Once he was under the covers, Pen lay on her back, giving him space on the bed. But after a moment he heard her sobbing, so he rolled over to face her and noticed her body was shaking. He moved closer, offered her a hand, and hummed softly. He waited until her crying stopped, and her breathing evened out. About an hour later she was asleep. With his job of protecting done, Andrew finally fully broke, and he cried himself to sleep.

“I can't even remember the last date I was on…." Jenny complained to Sally as she stepped out of the changing room and modelled the new dress she’d just tried on Sally smiled. "Girl, that's the one!" She pulled out her phone, and Jenny smiled as Sally snapped a photo and showed her. "Wow! I do look great." Jenny looked up from the phone and posed again in front of the mirror. "He's gonna drop dead when he sees you," Sally teased. Jenny gigged. "I hope not! I'd kinda like to enjoy my dinner." She picked up her phone. "Should I send him a sneak peek of my outfit?” Sally shot her a look. "Duh!" The girls giggled as Jenny took a selfie, typed Looking forward to dinner, and sent it to her date. Jenny changed back into her street clothes, then paid for the new date night outfit. The two girls wandered around the mall before parting ways so that Jenny could get ready for her evening. Jenny spent an hour getting ready. She did her hair and makeup and looked at her outfit at least seven times. She sent Sally a selfie. All good? She asked. More than good, you look amazing! Sally responded. Thanks! :) Jenny texted back. Now, remember, Sally, typed. Text me if he gets weird, and I'll call crying and get you out of this. Jenny looked at her phone and laughed. Sally was so extra. But Jenny promised to do as she was told. Shortly after, she glanced at the clock and headed to the restaurant where she was to meet this guy, texting him that she was on her way. She was the first to arrive at the restaurant, she was taken to a seat and then she waited…. The waitress brought her water, and still Jenny waited. She sent him a text but he didn't answer…. She could only hope that he was driving. She watched as the condensation on her glass of water started to run down to the table. The waitress came by again and gave her a sad look. Jenny had been there for thirty minutes when she started to acknowledge that he wasn't coming. She should text Sally and tell her…. But part of Jenny didn't want to admit it had been a bust…. "Hey, hun, can I call someone for ya? Or get you something?" The waitress stopped by her table. "No, thanks. I'll call my friend and see if she wants to join me or go somewhere else." Jenny picked up her phone. "Alright, hun. Well, look you look great; your date is missing out!" She winked and walked away. Jenny took a breath and called Sally, who picked up right away. Before she could say a word, Sally exclaimed, "Oh no, he didn't! I'll be there in ten." Jenny hung up the phone and just stared at it. She felt the tears burning her eyes. Not because her date had ditched her, but because of how quickly her friend was willing to come to her aid. Ten minutes on the dot, Sally walked in. The waitress smiled and followed her over. "What can I get for you two?" Sally looked at Jenny with a smile, then back at the waitress. "Whichever dessert has chocolate and ice cream. We'll start with one but we might need two." The waitress smiled. "I can make that happen." "Oh!" Sally got the waitress's attention before she left. “And a side order of fries." “Can do!" The waitress walked away. "Has he texted you at all?” Sally gave her friend her full attention. "After we sent that selfie, he said ‘me too.’ Then nothing." Jenny looked at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time. Sally shook her head. "Well, his loss." She put her hand on top of Jenny's. "But seriously, are you good?” Jenny took a breath and looked at her friend. "I think so. I think I'm just mad at this point. Like, why waste my time?" "Maybe he got cold feet?" Sally suggested. "Or maybe something happened and he didn't think to text you…." She shrugged. "But we can be mad at him if you want." She giggled and leaned back. "I'd rather not talk about it and enjoy our treat instead." Jenny stated, just as the brownie and fries were set on the table. "Enjoy, ladies!" The waitress smiled and walked away. "Oh, this was such a good idea," Jenny said after her bite of brownie and ice cream. "Chocolate is medicine for the soul, and you can't convince me otherwise." Sally smiled as she dipped her fries in her ice cream. The girls sat and talked like nothing had happened, and soon they were laughing again. Once their dessert was nothing more than a puddle with brownie crumb islands and the fries were only crumbs and salt, Jenny no longer felt sad. The two girls paid and headed to their cars. "Movie and popcorn at my place?" Sally offered. "You can crash there too if you'd like." Jenny smiled and nodded, and the two girls drove off. Back at the apartment, the movie played in the background as the two girls scrolled through videos and posts on their phones. Jenny forgot all about the boy who had stood her up and about the outfit she had spent hours trying to find; all she could think of was how truly grateful she was for an amazing friend. Did you like what you read? 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"You're early," says Death with a hint of surprise. “Not that I'm complaining, though." "Surprise, Dad!" his daughter Beauty smiles at him. "Why are you back early, dear?" Normally when she joined him, the family of three made a day of it, as their paths hardly crossed anymore. "I'm not staying, but there's someone I want to greet and guide to the river. Mother figured you wouldn't mind and would understand." Beauty waves her hand, and her robe turns from a yellow and green background with black swirls to a black background with butterflies and roses in yellow and green - always a perfect combination of both parts of her. "I'm glad you are here today. I have a few tough passengers this evening.” Death offers her his arm. “So whose is this passage you want to guide?" "Oh, so when I joined Mom last switch, she showed me this woman who made the most beautiful gardens. Even though she couldn’t see me, I would visit her every day. And unlike mom, I could see her time was coming. And, well...." Beauty gives her dad a sad smile. "I understand, Beauty." He pats her arm. "How is your mother these days?" His heart aches - oh, how he misses his love! "She is the same as always. She misses you. But is still happy. Dad, I'm nearly a thousand years old; can't you tell me a little bit about your and Mom's story?" She asks this question every few years. Death sighs and thinks for a moment. "Come, let's meet my difficult passengers, then I'll explain a bit more of your mother's and my story." Beauty looks at him like she is going to roll her eyes but doesn’t. They walked into a hospital. "Oh, these ones are always hard." She releases her dad's arm and walks to the little boy with tubes and wires all over him. She takes a breath and touches his arm. The little boy stands up beside her. Death watches as Beauty explains what is happening. She knows which other kids need to join them today. Death walks over to the NICU ward. Then he sees her - his love, the mother of his daughter, Life herself. She is holding a baby. She always tries to check on new life. They see each other, he smiles, and she blushes. She angles the baby so he can see the little one, and he gives the baby a small ware. He is grateful he isn’t here for the one she is holding. He lifts up one of the other little ones in the nursery. The baby hardly stirs, curls up in his arms, and sleeps soundly. Life and Death share a sad smile and part ways. When he returns to Beauty's side, she has gathered all the children. She is creating flowers, butterflies and birds that make the kids smile. They seem less scared. The kids always respond better to her than to him. They lead the group of kids, who seem to be in awe of the world around them. Beauty glances at her father. "You saw mom, didn't ya?" "What makes you say that?" He smirks at his daughter. "You’ve got that look on your face - you always have it when we leave her to go home." She rolls her eyes. "I did see your mom when I was picking up this little one." They walk in silence for a while. Life and Death each take turns collecting the soul waiting for their call. "When I first met Life, she was mad at me for taking someone away from her. But as time went on, she saw that we could work together. Slowly, we spent more and more time together. But as people created more cities and built civilizations, they feared me more and I took it hard. Watching them praise Life for her work and then despite me for mine." He looks down. "But Dad, that isn't fair; your work is just as vital as Mom’s." Beauty smiles at her dad, trying to get him to smile. "You and I understand that, but you and I and your mother can't die. We will never have to grieve as humans do. So I don't blame them." He pats her arm, telling her that he is okay. "Dad, what happened?" She looks at him, begging for more of the story. "Well, the weight of the hate was too much, so I avoided Life as much as I could. I wanted her to enjoy being loved by the people without feeling guilty." He chuckles. "I'm betting mom didn't approve of that." Beauty covers her month, hiding her giggle. "Not even a little bit. So she hunted me down again and again, trying to make me see my value. After years of this chase, I got tired of running….'' With a wave of his hand he shows her a flashback…. "Death, please stop running from me." Life ran, following after Death. It had been days and she refused to stop. "Life, do you not know how hard this is for me? They hate me." He stopped long enough to turn and look at her. That’s when he really saw her face for the first time in years. Her eyes were bloodshot. "Life, you've been crying." "For years, Death. They may love me, but no one cares for me. They wreck my lands, they kill my animals, they kill and destroy each other, and no one cares! Then you run from me I can't even see you take care of my lost souls!" She fell to the ground, tears flowing. "Oh Life, I do care for you. It's why I run; I thought I was hurting you." Death’s thin fingers removed tears from her cheeks. "I care for you so much." "I don't hate you, Death; I never could. You are the one thing that brings me peace in this never-ending life." She took his hand and held it tight. "I won't run anymore, I promise. But can we stay side by side anymore... Humans have gotten to be so numerous that we have to be in so many places. What can we do?" He rested his head against hers. "There is beauty in both of us. So let's let that tie us together." She opened her hands to him. "But Live, I can't create anything. I only take away!" His hands didn't move, but his posture faltered. "With me, you can." So together they created a little girl. She had bright eyes like Life but skin as pale as Death’s. Her hair shone like sapphires but was as deep a blue as the ocean. Her smile sparkled like the stars. She was perfect. "Death, what shall we call her?" He held the little girl close to his chest and smiled as she curled in close. "Beauty. The one thing that exists in life and death. She will be a help, a comfort, and a connection for each of us." Death had never helped Life make anything before. He had never felt so alive. "She should stay with you; the human world will be kinder to her than the depths of a river. "You must visit often then. I want her to know you. She should come to stay with you when she's older. She's got both our gifts after all." Life stroked the little girl's hair. Death waved his hand and ended the flashback. "Oh wow! Dad, I...I didn't know." Beauty seems in awe of him. "We never wanted you to feel like you owed us something. We made the 50-year agreement so you can practise both your gifts." He stops walking. One of the children had stopped walking; he could feel it. "You or me?" Beauty looks back and forth between him and the kids. "I'll go. You entertain the kids." Checking on the baby still asleep in his arms, Death walks over to the little boy who had stopped. "Oh hi, Mister." The boy looks back at him. "What ya waiting on, Bud?" Death sits on the ground beside the boy. "My best friend - we go everywhere together. I don't want to get too far ahead." The boy is watching the direction they have just come from. "Ah! Well, Bud, I don't think we can wait, but I promise for you it will feel like that," Death snaps his finger, "and then he'll be here. And look," he turns the boy's attention to the group of kids around Beauty. "We are going to go on all kinds of adventures." Beauty is creating all kinds of animals for the children to play with. "Whoa... That's so cool! Is it always like that?" The boy's eyes are as wide as saucers. "Every day," Death replies as he offers the boy his hand. They start walking again, and Beauty keeps creating while they walk. Eventually, the kids run ahead, and Death turns to Beauty. “It's time my, dear." Beauty looks to her dad. "Do we have to?" She takes his hand which is now free from the little boy who is running with the other kids. "Yes, we do. She'll be grateful to finally meet you!" They enter the hospital to see a patient surrounded by family. The children who had been playing are now silent. They move to join the group of older people who had been following behind them. It is as if they understand this person is important to Beauty. Death softly touches the older lady's arm. "Welcome," he says with a smile. "Oh! I didn't realize I would leave today." She looks at her family with a sad smile. "Death, can I ask one favour?" "Of course, ma'am.'' He waits, sure that he knows what she is going to ask. "Can I see my home one more time?" "Of course. My daughter has told me some much about your home, and I would to see it for myself." He gestures for Beauty to step forward. "My aren't you beautiful, dear child." Beauty offers the woman her arm. The group starts walking again, till they reach the woman’s house. "Oh no! I suppose my family would have struggled to keep my garden alive." Beauty sighs as she waves her hand, switching her robes. "I wish I was as strong as Mom, but I’m not strong enough to bring your garden back to life as a parting gift." "Good thing I stopped by then," Life steps out of nowhere. “I knew this would happen." She smiles and takes her daughter's hand. "Let's make her garden breathe again." Death watches as mother and daughter dance through the garden, hand in hand. The children join in. The older woman approaches Death. "Thank ya for this gift." Death smiles. "It's as much for me as it is for you." Death hands the baby to the older woman and joins his love and his daughter in dancing. And so he reminds the crowd that in both Life and Death you will always find Beauty. Did you like what you read? Do you want to get notified when I post a new story before my Facebook or Instagram followers do? If you do, click the Login/Sign Up button at the top of the blog post and you will become a site member and get notified when I post a new story every Friday! Or you can follow me on Facebook or Instagram and get updates later on in the day!