Looking for a Story

"I can't do this anymore." Ally sighed as she fell onto a park bench on her eighth walk this week. Work was driving her crazy. Her boss was the worst and she was over it all. She needed more than a break, she needed something new. But what? She needed a job, but could she afford to find a new one? She threw her head in her hands. She was out of tears and ideas. She wasn't sure how long she sat there before she looked up again, but when she did she jerked back. "Ahk! Hello!” "Hi!" a little girl with two perfect braids, freckles and missing teeth was smiling and waving at her. Ally looked around - where was this child’s mother? "Why are you sad?" the little girl asked. "I'm not..." Why was she trying to explain herself to a child? "Sometimes life is hard, kid, and you just have to make it work." "When I'm sad, I play!" the little girl said, like she had all the answers. "If only it were that simple." Ally sighed. "But it is! Come with me!" Before Ally could answer, the girl pulled her off the bench. She opened an umbrella, which Ally hadn't noticed she was carrying. It looked vaguely familiar... It was polka-dotted and clear. Ally had hardly finished processing that, when she realised they weren't at the park anymore…or at least, not her park. There were puddles everywhere and it was lightly raining. The little girl smiled her toothy smile. "Jumping in puddles is the best fun!" She clicked her heels; had she always had on rubber boots? Ally looked down at her own feet. When had she put on rubber boots? The little girl pulled on her hand. "Look, the rain has stopped! Come jump with me?" Ally held out her other hand and couldn't feel any rain, so she sighed and said, "Sure, kid, why not?" Hand in hand they jumped. They made an impressive splash - even Ally was surprised. When the water settled there was a little monster floating in the air by Ally's head. And the two of them where in a bedroom, "What in the world?" The little girl pulled on her hand again. "Come on!" They raced to another puddle that was in the corner of the bedroom and the splash was even bigger. This time they landed in a charming campground. Every puddle, another world to explore! An old apartment building, kingdoms, superhero worlds, and so many more places…. Ally's head was spinning. "Wait, please slow down! There is so much to explore.” The little girl looked at her with wide eyes. "I know! That's why I'm rushing! I don't have much time!" Ally gently pulled the girl to a stop. "You’re just a kid, you have lots of time." "No, I don't." The little girl was yelling. "I have to help take care of things, and none of the other kids play like I do! So I have to grow up." Tears fell down her face and her breath caught in her throat. Ally dropped to her knees and pulled the girl into a hug. "Oh ya sweet girl, I'm so sorry... I wish I could help" "Oh my gosh!" The little girl pushed free from the hug. “You can help!" Ally was taken aback, how could she help? "What do you mean? I don't even know you…." "Do you still write?" the little girl asked. How did she know that Ally used to write? "I mean, kinda…? School kind of stole my time, but ya, I have a few projects on the go. But I'm kinda hitting a wall with them." "Write these stories. And I can enjoy them." The little girl rocked back and forth in excitement. “I don't know…“ Ally sighed. "I don't think I'm that good…." "I bet you are better than you think. Please!” the little girl begged. Ally looked at the little girl. The more time they spent together and the longer she stared at her, the more familiar this child felt to Ally. Her hair, her freckles, her umbrella… "You're not just some kid I met at the park, are you?" The little girl shook her head. "Please explore the worlds and stories I don't have time for." Tears pricked at Ally's eyes and she nodded. “I will... I'll write those stories. And we'll enjoy them together.” The little girl clapped her hands, and together she and Ally walked up to a puddle and jumped in together.

For as long as I can remember, it's just been Dad and I. And for years he's been taking me to this community theatre show that does everything wrong. Girls take the traditional guy’s role and vice versa, but they still act seriously. Sometimes it has been hilarious, other times it has been horrible, but it is our special tradition. We always get popcorn and snacks and act like true theatre snobs. Don't worry, we are always polite to the people working there. We act like we are making notes, critiquing the show. It's some fun! I look forward to it every year. I might look forward to it more than Christmas! This year is going to be the story of Beauty and the Beast, and I can't wait. I'm bouncing with excitement at school. "Girl, what's got you all jumpy today?" my best friend Jenny asks as we sit down for lunch. "It's show weekend!" I smile so big my face hurts. Jenny gives me a look. "I thought I was at your house this weekend." "Oh no! I mixed up the weekends! I'll talk to Dad, he'll have an idea." I hope. *** I picked up supper on my way home from work. Winnie had texted me, saying Dad, we have a crisis! So I decided pizza was required for whatever waited for me at home. I walk into the house, preparing for the worst. "Winnie, I'm home!” I enter the kitchen to find Winnie sitting on the bar stool, staring at the calendar. “Kiddo? I brought pizza." "I messed up, Dad..." Her voice is heavy. I hadn't gotten a call from the school, any of her friends’ parents, or the police, so how bad could it be? "I doubt that."' I slide the box toward her. "Talk to me, Kiddo." "Jenny is supposed to be here this weekend." Oh, I understand now. "We're supposed to go to the show this weekend." "Well, we have two options." I start slowly as I open the box, trying to get her to eat. "We can either miss the opening weekend or go next weekend." Winnie opens her mouth to argue. I point to pizza. She rolls her eyes and grabs a slice. "Or, we take Jenny with us. I'm sure I can swing another ticket. She's basically your sister anyway." "You'd do that? But it's our thing, Dad." She looks at me, worried. I shrug, trying to make it look natural. "You’re in high school Winnie, things will change. Just wait till you bring a boy with us." I nudge her and she turns bright red. "Dad!" I laugh. "Okay but seriously, Kiddo, if you don't want Jenny to come with us, I'll call her mom and see if something else can be arranged. She is old enough to stay home alone for a weekend." Winnie gives me a look. Yeah, we both know Jenny's mom wouldn't go for that. "No, I think Jenny would like to go to the show if you don't mind sharing our tradition." "I'll make some calls." I grab a slice of pizza and pull out my phone. "You text Jenny to make sure wants to come." I head to the other room to call the ticket lady at the theatre. *** The week came to an end and before I knew it. Dad and I were picking up Jenny for the weekend and heading to the theatre. "So Jenny, where is your mom headed this weekend?" "Honesty Mr. T, couldn't tell ya. Something for business…and Dad is off on some holiday with his new girlfriend." She sighs, really heavily. I put my hand on Jenny's knee. Her dad left her family last year but her parents have split custody. But it seems like there is always a weekend when nobody is available. Jenny's mom is very strict that Jenny can’t be alone all weekend, so Dad offered our place. She gives me a smile. "But I'm so excited to join you guys. Thanks for getting the extra ticket, Mr.T!" "No worries, Jenny. Consider it a ‘welcome to the family’ gift." I won't tell Dad, but Jenny smiles a little brighter. We get to the theatre, and Dad and I start in on our bit. The kind Mrs. Elfie welcomes us in. Jenny gives me a look but says nothing. We get our snacks and find our seats. "So explain the act to me?" Jenny asks as we sit down. I feel my face flush. Did Jenny think Dad and I were foolish for this? Should I be embarrassed by it? "It's...it's just a thing Dad and I do... We've always done this." I look away, giving Dad a pleading look, hoping he would understand. *** Winnie looks at me, face red and maybe slightly mortified. I'm not going to lie, I was afraid of this. I'm not hurt; all those years ago when we started this, I was embarrassed, but the joy it gave her was enough. "It's okay, Win. If it makes Jenny uncomfortable we don't have to, but I'm going to make notes and we can share them later." I give her a smile, and she lets out a sigh and opens her own little notebook. Jenny looks at us with raised eyebrows but says nothing. *** The show had been amazing; I couldn't wait to break it down with Winnie. The girls and I head out of the theatre back to the car. Before we get there though, a bunch of actors rush Winnie and I, wanting to know how many stars we would give the show. I gesture for Winnie to give her rating. She glances at Jenny, but rather than being embarrassed, she shakes her head slightly and smiles brightly. "Five out of five stars, my favourite so far!" Then hands them her notebook and they all sign it. We head back to the car and drive back home. Once we get home, Winnie slips into the kitchen to make the girls a late-night snack. Jenny stands in the hallway, looking into the kitchen; then she glances back at me."What was all that at the theatre about, Mr. T?" “It's tradition. Winnie loves theatre, I write for the paper, so years ago we started pretending we were theatre critics. It was a good distraction. Sweet and silly, but until she tells me to stop, I'll keep it up." I smile. "Ah, sorry I made Winnie uncomfortable." Jenny looks down. "Winnie and I will talk after the weekend is done. You two should just enjoy your weekend." Jenny lets out a sigh and gives me a quick hug. "You are welcome to join our tradition anytime, Jenny." With that, I sit down and spend the evening listening to the girls laugh and make memories and traditions all their own.

Elias started his work day like any other. Check the supplies, make sure silverware was rolled, then go look over the books and see if they had any reservations for the day. "Oh nice, only one! For eight o’clock. Wonder when they booked it?" His finger followed the chart and he froze. "Eh! Ricky, come get a look at this!" His manager Ricky came wandering over. He looked where Elias was pointing. "Oh! Today is the day!" "What do you mean?" Ricky smiled. "This reservation is our restaurant's version of an urban myth. It was made 40 years ago. It's been in every training manual for managers, and we even have the original note." "Nobody thought it was a prank?" Elias asked as he checked the glasses. "Nope, it was a mom who came in with her daughter. She was quite insistent, so the story goes." Ricky shrugged and headed over to help a guest who had just come in. Elias shook his head. "Guess we'll see if anyone shows up." Elias thought about it all day. Why would some­one book a reservation 40 years ago? It’s not like this was a popular restaurant - it was a local joint. For big holidays, people booked six months in advance. But 40 years… And it was a mom? Was this some kind of love story moment where she booked it while she and her husband were in a bad spot, and she booked it in hopes that they would be together to celebrate? He laughed at that idea; life wasn't romcom. He couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. The day ticked by. Soon it was seven-thirty, so the table was set up. The whole staff waited on edge to see if anyone would show up. They'd even put bets on it. Elias stood at the host stand, watching as the minutes ticked down to eight o'clock. Then a woman walked in. Her eyes were red and puffy like she'd been crying. "Ma’am, may I help you?" She took a moment to pull herself together. "I’m about to ask you something crazy." “‘Do I have a reservation for 8 o'clock tonight?’" He said with a slight smile. She was taken aback. "Yes." She blinked a few times. “Is there really a reservation for tonight?” Elias picked up a menu. "Yep, it was made 40 years ago. Come, right this way." He led her to the table. "She really thought of everything..." the woman whispered. Elias pretended not to notice. "Long day?” He asked as she sat down. "Kinda…? It's my 45th birthday today. Please don't make a big deal about it," she added quickly. "Promise." He put his hand over his heart. "But, Happy Birthday," he whispered. "Thank you." She smiled. "But my mom set me on a crazy memory train from my childhood, and to places I haven't been since I was little." "Oh, that seems wonderful." Elias could see how that could make someone emotional. "The crazy part is, Mom has been gone for over 30 years... She was sick and yet she planned something for my 45 birthday…." "Maybe she knew you'd need something special this year." "Yeah, maybe she did." The woman smiled softly. And Elisa left her to look over the menu. Throughout the evening, he kept meaning to get back to her table to see how she was doing, but he was always too busy. With luck, he just happened to be at the hostess stand when she was paying. "How was everything?" he asked, like she was any other customer. "Wonderful. I will need to come back." She smiled as she reached for her wallet to pay. "We hope you do." After she paid, he pulled out a small box. "I saw you didn't get dessert, and it is your birthday, so…here." He handed her the box. "It's our classic cookie - on the house." She looked at the box like she wanted to argue. "Thank you." And with that, she left. Elias watched her go. What a crazy story, and he had gotten to play a small part in it.

Three years later... School started up again in a few weeks. Sophie sat in Penny's small office in the local studio where she’d taken up a residency for the time being. She liked having a private space for photo shoots when she did people rather than nature. The girls were enjoying one of the last peaceful weekends they had left. "Penny, I am going to start making my wedding dress." "WHAT! Did I miss something?" Penny’s eyes opened so wide it looked like she just might lose them. "What? Girl, no!" Sophie laughed. "I told Andrew last night that I want to get my degree with his last name, so he'd better get moving." "Sophie! What if he had plans and you rushed him?" Pen shook her head. "Hey, I've got one more year of school left, and I'd like my professional name to be my married name... So I gave him a push." Penny couldn’t believe her friend. Andrew must be stressed. "Oh, Sophie..." Penny sighed, and Sophie laughed at Penny's response. "Poor Andrew." "Eh, he'll get over it." Sophie shrugged. She was a busy girl. She didn't have her whole life to wait for him. "Should I drop a hint to Trevor?" Sophie winked. "Sophie, no! Trevor could still have more school left! I don't want to rush him into anything." Penny busied herself looking in her location booking, picking places to take Andrew and Sophie’s engagement and wedding photos. "You want him to though, don't you?" Sophie teased. "Well, duh! I'd rather be his wife than look for a new roommate after you and Andy get married! But he said the wedding would be a distraction... So I don't push. And he's still undecided if he’s just doing his bachelor's or getting his masters." Sophie's phone started dinging. "Well, maybe Andrew putting a ring on my finger will help him decide. I'll come by next week to see what design you have come up with, but right now I got to run! My adviser just messaged me; she’s got an internship for me to look at." Sophie beelined for the door. "I hope it's the one with Nadine!" Pen giggled as her friend ran out her studio door. Nadine was her favourite local designer and was in high demand for internship placements. But Nadine and Sophie had a working history so everyone was hopeful. Pen… Andrew called to her. Yes, Andrew? She giggled. What do I do now!!! She could hear his panic. You propose as you have planned? Sophie will love it. Then get married in November at the start of reading week like you'd been thinking. She kept looking at photos and already planning suggestions for the couple. But now it doesn't feel special. Penny could feel the weight of his sadness. Oh Andy, of course it will. You have her whole family there and yours. Heck, you even invited mine because you want to celebrate. She closed her book, giving him her full attention. Thanks, Pen. I needed that. You're still going to film for me, right? She could partially feel him smiling from here. Duh! Trevor can't be trusted not to break down. She laughed loud enough that the desk clerk looked over at her. *** Two weeks later it was family day at the Art Gallery. It was a great way to end the summer, and Andrew had Sophie's dad save them the spot by the Unity Candle Display. Back to where it all started. She's going to say yes, right? Stop worrying! Pen shot him a look as she set up her phone to record. Sophie and her twins brothers had been looking at the display. "You know guys, this is where I asked Andrew on a date. Thanks to Penny and Trevor." "Really?" The boys turned to look at her; they were 16 now and dating - about the same age as Andrew and Sophie had been when they started dating - so maybe they hoped to get some tips from this story. Andrew listened in. "Well, Andrew basically set up Trevor and Penny in one smooth line, and after Trevor offered to take Penny on a date, I took my shot and asked Andrew on a date." Sophie turned to see him watching her. "I love hearing you tell people that you asked me out." He smirked and kissed her cheek. "I think I want to hear you tell it for the rest of our lives." Taking Sophie's hand, he got down on one knee. "Sophie, would you do me the favour of marrying me?" He opened the small box holding a ring that had a small black pearl in the centre. "Oh, Andrew! Yes! Yes! YES!" She pulled him to his feet and kissed him. "Sophie! Don't you want your ring?" He laughed breathlessly. "Oh! Yes please!" He slipped it on her finger. Three months later Andrew took his bride's hand. Listening to the pastor talk, he quickly glanced at Pen. You did well Andrew. He watched her eyes then wander to Trevor. You too, Penny, you too. He looked back to Sophie, and he took her in again. The dress she’d made had been a perfect fit. It was a simple silhouette that hugged her body like a glove. Then it was covered in lace and sparkles. She was beautiful. His heart was happy. "You may now kiss the bride." Andrew pulled his wife in close and kissed her for all the world to see. After the pictures were taken - with Penny giving her assistant Jeremy countless instructions - they had dinner, and then it was time for speeches. Trevor and Pen stood hand in hand, giving the best man and maid of honour speech. "Andrew and I grew up together and I met Sophie the same day I met Trevor. And I will never forget when the four of us all asked each other out." The crowd laughed. "That, however, started the four of us down the path we are on today. Sophie has helped me gain some confidence and helped me find my voice. I am grateful for her." "Andrew helped me to see the world for what it is, rather than what I thought it was. He was my friend and gave me a chance to ask my girlfriend out. Without him, I wouldn’t have the happiness I have." The four got up and shared a hug. Everyone cheered for the group of lovers. Five Months Later Leo, Trevor’s driver, sat on a chair in the back of his boss’s office; he never let Trevor meet alone with his mother anymore. Leo didn’t trust that woman. He used to live in the mansion with the family but had moved out after things started to make him wonder if his boss was on the up and up. On top of that, she treated her own son as a stranger, refused to get to know her son's girlfriend, and didn’t support her son’s dream of being a teacher or a writer. Leo knew Trever’s father would have supported him, but he was barely hanging on in the hospital. So someone had to look out for the boy and it was going to be him. "Mother, I came to ask you about Father’s other family ring. He said I could use it for Penny, but you know he can’t leave the hospital. Now that I have graduated, I want to marry Penny before I start my new job at Arcadia High." "No." She didn't even look up at her son. "What do you mean, ‘no’? It’s Dad’s ring! He said I could have it, you can’t keep it from me!" Trevor looked at Leo. Leo could only nod sadly. "I allowed you to become a teacher, hoping it would knock some sense into you. I will not let you use your grandfather's ring on some useless restaurant girl," she snapped. “‘Useless restaurant girl?’ Mother, she’s a business owner, just like you! She has a company that sells prints around the world, and has worked hard to employ others!" Trevor shouted. The driver flinched. Trevor hardly yelled at his mother; then again, Trevor was never home these days. "Look, Trevor. We are not having this conversation. You're not using your grandfather's ring to marry that girl, and if you marry that girl I will disown you. Now get out and think about what I've said." She never looked up, just worked on the contract in front of her. "Mother, her name is Penny, and I love her with every bone in my body." Trevor took a deep breath as if he was calming himself. Likely something Penny had helped him with. "So whether you like it or not, whether you help or not, I will marry her. So go ahead and disown me. You've never been there for me before; why would I think you would start now!" He turned and walked out. Leo got up and followed him out. Waited till they were outside the house where he knew his mother couldn't see them. "Trevor, wait." "I'm not going back in there to apologize. Don't make me." Leo cringed. Trever had every right to say that; Leo did use to make Trever do exactly that. "Trevor, I'm not even going to suggest that. Here, take this with you." Leo handed him a yellow folder. Trevor raised an eyebrow at him. "Hey, I’m not just a driver, you know. I have a friend in the courthouse who helped me start the application to change your last name from your mother's to your father's. Why she insisted you have her last name, I’ll never know. I also talked to your school and asked them to put a pause on printing your degree. And I’ve called your bank and gotten the paperwork to get your mother removed from your account. I will be contacting your father's estate about this disowning of your business. Oh, and because I work for your father first and your mother second, I need to make sure his wishes are met. So take this." Leo tossed Trevor a small box. Trevor caught the box. He already knew what it was; he’d looked at this ring box so many times. He just stared at Leo, then hugged him tightly. "Thank you. So much." "I should have been in your corner years ago. Also, here…" He handed him a card. "It's my address; I will be quitting once I get all your matters settled, so bring Penny over sometime. I’d love to have dinner with both of you, maybe even help her business." All Trevor could do was nod and walk away. Four Months Later Trevor stood on the steps of Arcadia High at the end of his first day as a teacher. It was raining, but the sun was out so it was very picturesque. His girlfriend was walking down the sidewalk toward him with a bright yellow umbrella over her head, still too far away to have seen him. She looked beautiful. The ring in his pocket suddenly felt heavy. He had this big romantic event planned for the weekend, yet this moment felt perfect. Jeremy stepped out the door beside Trevor; he was working as the art teacher at the school as well as being Penny’s assistant for big events. Trevor grabbed his arm. "Hey Jeremy, you have your camera on you?" he spoke softly. "Always, why?" Facing away from Penny, Trevor pulled out the ring and put a finger to his lips. "Would you help me out? I'll pay you for any work you do on the photos." "Help you make her dream come true, no need to pay me. Let me set this up for you. Go, be out of sight." Jeremy shooed him away. Clearly, this wasn’t his first engagement photo shoot. Trevor watched Jeremy saunter over to meet Penny. "Hey, boss lady! Long time no see!" "Oh, Jeremy! Hey! I forgot you worked here!" "Yeah, only till freelancing pays the bills. Anyway, with the rain and the sunlight and your lovely outfit, I was wondering if I could take a few photos of you for my class to show contrast?" "Oh yes, of course, Jeremy!" She blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Perfect, face that way." He pointed away from where Trevor was and then gestured for Trevor to come closer. He took a few photos of Trevor behind her. "Now turn and face the other way." Her eyes lit up when she made eye contact with him. "Trevor, is this..." "Penny, I have loved you for years now, you are my partner in so many ways. I love you so much and I want to share my life with you." He smiled. "Will you marry me?" Penny dropped her umbrella and fell into his arms. "Of course, I'll marry you!" They made eye contact, sharing the secret, knowing that Trevor was giving up the family he had left for her. And she kissed him, telling him she was his family now. They got married on New Year's Eve. Trevor's mother didn't show and no one cared. His driver stood in as Trevor's parent. Penny wore her mother's old dress with a few modern twists, thanks to Sophie. Trevor wore an old suit of his; they kept it simple. Penny took a quick glance at Andrew. We did it, didn't we? Yeah Pen, we did. Andrew gave her a smile. As the new couple kissed, their lives opened to the next phase.

I slowly open my eyes, my body stiff as a board. I smell smoke. I start to panic, then I realise that I'm lying next to a bonfire. I start to sit up. "Careful, My Lady. You took quite a fall earlier." I fell? I don't remember falling... I straighten to a sitting position and try to locate the voice. "Wait, what did you call me?" "My Lady, My Lady." His voice almost sounds like he's smirking. Then I see him - a man in armour, sitting on the other side of the fire. He gets up to walk toward me. "Maybe you hit your head harder than I thought you did... “My lady” is how a royal guard addresses the princess." He sits next to me and leans in to get a good look at me. I flush at his closeness. “Princess?" I move back. "I'm not a princess..." He raises an eyebrow, then sighs. "Oh bother… Yes, you are Princess Elfie, youngest daughter to the king of Citish Kingdom. I am taking you to wed the prince of the nearby Kingdom." I look around. "Then why are we alone? Don't royals travel with grand caravans?" "Well Princess, we were with said grand caravan." He pauses to look at me. "Until someone tried to flee, tripped herself on a tree root, and hit her head.” I decide it's better to play along. A blush creeps across my face, as I’m still aware of his closeness. "Oh, yes. I remember now." He sighs again. "Look, My Lady. I know you don't want to marry this man. But your father needs this peace treaty." I look away. "No one cares about what I want, Sir Jasper." How did I remember his name? "Ah, so your mind is returning, My Lady." He beams at me, then his smile falls. "Knights and Princesses don't get to choose much, do they?" I study him closely. "Did Jasper the Prodigy not want to go on this journey?" I tease, trying to lighten both our moods. "The journey? No, that's not the problem, Princess. It's the fact that I am to return... without you." He lowers his voice as if the trees might hear. I turn bright red; I can feel my face flush. "Pardon?" "Sorry, My Lady. I shouldn't have said anything…" He quickly moves away from me. "Wait!" I grab his hand. "Do you truly mean that?" "Of course, My Lady!" He takes my hand in his. "I hate to leave you behind.” "I never wanted to be Father’s bargaining chip." I watch the fire dance in his eyes. "Had I been a lord I would have fought for you hard," he says quickly. "I know, My Brave Knight, Sir Jasper the Prodigy." I reach up and touch his face. He catches my hand, so now he's holding them both. I blush. “What a story we could have had." He gives my hands a squeeze and lets them go, then quickly moves to his original spot across the fire from me. I stare at the fire for a while, thinking about all the wonderful times Sir Jasper and I had together. He had gone from stable boy to knight in training. He'd stopped a thief from stealing some of the royal treasury. He’d flown up the ranks. He'd been made a knight when we were teens. And then became one of the princess's bodyguards. He didn't get along with my sisters so he was always with me. I knew it was against the rules, but he was so close to my age that we became friends. Then...something more. That is, before this trip, this treaty. Father had been planning to offer my hand in marriage to the best tonight at the tournament. He simply wanted me wed. We had been sure Jasper would win; he trained all the time. That all changed when the letter came. A king demanding a treaty or else he would bring war to our Kingdom. So I was offered as a bride-to-be to a king’s spoiled son. I already know I will not be happy there. "Jasper?" I ask, my voice faint. He looks up at me but says nothing. "Run away with me?" "Elfie, don't ask such questions. We will bring war to our land if we do that. And if we are caught, I will hang." He's right, I know he is. But in my heart, I believe - maybe foolishly - that we can make it work. "So, we don't get caught." "Elfie... You know this isn't possible." He tosses a rock. "Our fate has been sealed." "No!" I stand. "I refuse to accept this fate! I love you and will not leave your side!" My face flushes. "What?" He speaks softly. "I won't leave your side," I say, too quickly. "No, before that..." He walks towards me, and I meet him halfway. "I love you." I whisper. "You knew I did, didn't you?" "I...I hoped you did. I knew you cared for me, and that you wanted to escape from royal life with me. But…" He takes my hands again. “I feared you only saw me as the safest escape route from your father's house." "Oh Jasper, you are so much more than an escape route." I want to say more, but I hear a ringing that drowns everything out. I squeeze my eyes shut and the noise stops. When I open my eyes again I'm staring at the pages of my book. And I can't help but be slightly disappointed.

Ally couldn't remember how long this living fire had walked next to her. Too long, that was for sure. Sometimes its heat was comforting and other times it was unbearable. No matter how much she ignored it, it always stayed close by. It shrunk and grew, but it never died. She had long grown tired of the fire and longed to be free of it. But she had no clue where to start. Out of desperation, she asked her mother, "How do I get rid of this fire?" Her mother's face softened. "It's not an easy feat. It will take a lot of work. You may not like it."' "Mom, I'll do anything!" Ally begged. "You must go to the woods." Ally stared at her mother. "The woods..." "Yes, the woods." Her mother said nothing more. The next morning, Ally headed to the woods. She wasn't all that sure what she was looking for, but the cracking of the fire forced her to keep moving. She walked for a while…until she found a clearing with two stone chairs. One was black, like it had been trapped in a fire. Her living fire sat on that chair. Ally stared at it. "What, you expect me to sit and TALK with you? No way!" Ally passed around the chairs, frustration beginning to build. "You've been a problem for as long as I can remember! You get me in trouble! You make things harder than they need to be!" Ally yelled, stomping about like she was a kid again. “I didn't ask for this, you know! I didn't need to be different! I would have been perfectly fine being like everyone else!" She turned to keep yelling at the living fire, only to see how much larger the flame had gotten. "Oh." She placed a hand on the empty store chair, its coolness calming her. "Are you my anger?" She'd never talked to the fire before; she had never thought it would be worth it. The fire shook its head. Ally tilted her head. "No? But you flared up…. Come to think of it, you always get bigger when I lose it." She slowly moved to sit in the chair. "And the flare-ups get me in trouble. And they happen when I'm mad..." The fire shook its head again. Ally's brow furrowed, and she stared hard at the fire. "I don't understand. Am I remembering wrong?" The fire nodded this time. "Oh, so you do know the word for ‘yes,’ or action I guess." Ally rested her head on her hands. She tried to think of times when she'd gotten mad and the fire hadn't gotten huge…. Then it hit her. "When I want to defend someone, or when it's something I care about. So what makes that different..." The wheels kept turning in her mind. When did the fire grow, and why did it never go out? "Wait..." Ally stared at the fire. "No..." Alley shook her head and curled in on herself. "I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS YET!" Her voice became shrill, she cried, and the fire grew bigger. A hand rested on her shoulder. “I can handle it, you know..." The voice was kind, warm, and familiar. "King!" Ally jumped up, trying to make herself presentable and hide her fire. "Ally." His voice was so gentle, she felt like she could break if He spoke anymore. "No King, I'm fine, completely fine." She knew he could see through her lie. "Ally, you don't need to run forever; in fact, you can't.” Alley shook her head again. "Let me take it...'' He held out his hands. "I can handle it." She bit her lip. "I'm scared of what I'll find if I let go." She looked at the fire. “I may not always like it, but it's comforting." She looked between the two. She slowly turned back to the king, tears burning her eyes. "Why? Why am I different... I didn't need to be! You could have used me if I wasn't different! I might even be more helpful if other things didn't get in the way!" Her voice got louder, and her tears came faster. She felt the ache in her heart come back, an ache she'd been trying to avoid. She was ashamed she was mad at the King. She turned to look away from the King and noticed she wasn’t feeling the heat anymore. Her living fire wasn't on fire anymore; rather it was like a living ember. She gasped and looked back at the King; He was holding the fire in his hand. The living ember took a step closer to her. "Grief," It stated and pointed to itself. "Grief? You're my grief?" Grief nodded. Ally let her tears fall. She sat on the ground, resting her back against the chair. "I never liked being different. Kids are mean, grown-ups don't always understand, it's hard when everything is harder. Everyone says you have a rhythm and a reason." She looked at the King, who moved to sit close by. The fire had somehow vanished, and Grief sat with them too. "I never understood why I couldn't be like everyone else..." She'd run out of tears and she looked to Grief. “I'm sorry I avoided you." Then she took the King's hand. "I should have talked with you a long time ago.” "You were ready today." He smiled softly. "I know it hasn't been easy for you. I know telling you that I have plans for you isn't going to take the hurt away. But I didn't make you this way so you'd be useless. You are who you are because you have and will continue to do great things that I have planned for you." Ally looked at the King. "I really want to believe you, King; but today, I just don't have it in me."' "That's alright, I still believe in you. And I will use you in my kingdom." He squeezed her hand. "I do trust you, King." She looked over at Grief. "I'll let you go with the King. I know He can handle my feelings and anything else that I throw at Him…” Grief smiled and everyone stood up; then the King and Grief slipped into the woods. Alley walked home. She knew that if grief or anger or anything else became too much, she could let the King help her, even when it scared her. She didn't need to face her emotions alone.

"You look amazing." They spoke at the same time, then laughed. They let the transformations drop, hugged, and held each other as best as they could. Gone was the familiarity they were used to. The strength was different, and the fit was different. But it still felt good. "I told my parents everything." Pen looked up at him. Andrew felt like she might break if they spoke too loudly. "Me too. They somehow knew something had happened, but looking at you now I think I know what they mean." Andrew took her hand, and Pen shook her head. "I'm sorry, Pen." He kissed her head. "We both lost a baby, Andrew…we both lost our lives, we both have to live with the memories of what was…. And then, what do we do now?" Penny held him tighter, and he let her. "I know, Pen. I'm sorry their longing took everything away from us. I should have insisted we stay." He held his head in guilt. "Andrew! No! We both wanted to, we had no idea this would happen. But we have to choose what we do now." She walked towards the edge of the Art Gallery and sat against the edge of the wall. "They won't understand." Andrew knew it sounded mean, but how could they? They had lived a whole lifetime without them. "I know. I love you, Andrew. But I loved Trevor." She sighed. The weight of the world on her shoulders was a weight he desperately wanted to remove. "Do you think you could love him again?" Andrew joined her and placed his hand on hers. "I think I could." She paused, like she realised what she had said. "Not that you're easy to get over, Andrew! But..." She let out a frustrated sigh. "Pen, I understand. I was thinking the same thing about Sophie. I loved her once like she was my everything; she was the air I needed to breathe. The movement in my music. My world. The reason I fought for Arcadia was so she could be safe." He smiled at the memory. "And I would never let Trevor miss out on the chance to be loved by you." He smiled at her. "I could never do that to Sophie." Penny let that realisation hit her. "After all, we lived in paradise, and our dreams were ours for the taking. We had no worries." "You think we wouldn't have fallen in love otherwise?" Andrew had wondered that a time or two in the short time they'd been home. "No, my love for you is real, just like my love for Trevor is real. But we fell in love with no worries; we fell in love with them while fighting a freaking supervillain... Trevor was my rock, my sword. He was the inspiration for my work, the reason I fought through a creative block. He, ironically, helped me find my voice." They both chuckled. "So we learn to love them again?" Andrew looked at her. She sighed. "I think that's the only choice we have. I can't break them like that." "Me neither." Andrew pulled her close. "But I promise that if anything happens to Trever, I'll protect you." Leaning into him, she replied, "I’ll take care of you if something happens to Sophie, I promise." They stayed like that for a moment, letting the world rush by. Enjoying their last few moments together. With that settled, they talked about what came next. Neither of them wanted to go to college, so they came up with some ideas to present to Sophie and Trever. "So, we will talk to them on Sunday?" Andrew looked down at her. "Yeah, I think that would work. I don't want to tell them about Twin Crescent, they would feel so guilty..." Penny shuddered. Andrew had to look away for a moment. He'd loved watching her anxiety fade in Twin Crescent, and now that they were back to their younger selves, her anxiety seemed to have returned. "Then we won't, they will respect that. We will tell them it's just too hard to talk about." Now, what do we do about this? He chuckled. There is nothing we can do, I guess; we will just have to learn to control how often we use it. She shrugged. "With all of that settled, we should probably go home; we likely have a Mage and a Raven planning to come to see us." She giggled. "Yeah, you're not wrong." He stood and helped her up. He tapped his element twice, letting the comfort of his suit absorb him. He watched her tap her Element. Her new outfit truly looked amazing; Arcadia would love it, and Sophie would be getting all kinds of new commissions for cosplay. She turned to swing home. Andrew wanted to hold her again, but he knew he couldn’t; they didn’t belong together here. He would always love her, but their love was not for this world. As they broke apart for one last time, she whispered, "Goodbye, Andrew." She ran her thumb across his cheek and jumped away. He watched her go. Then he turned and headed home. Even with his new suit and the new upgrades Flicker had shared with him, he still couldn't move like the other heroes. He was just slower, but he leaped from building to building more easily than he remembered doing before. He landed on his family's apartment balcony. He was grateful his bedroom window was right next to it, so he could climb in and out of the window onto the balcony. "I was wondering when you'd get back." Sophie's soft voice filled his ears. "Had to make sure your home was okay?" "Something like that." He smiled softly. "Like the new suit?" he teased as Sophie looked him up and down. "It's amazing, Andrew." Her voice was full of awe. "You must have gone through some stuff to get a new upgrade. Gale was telling me we only get upgrades as we age or as we go through hard things." She chuckled. “I’m going to have new commissions for copies." Her hands roamed across the fabric as if she was trying to solve a mystery. He let his transformation drop and pulled her into a tight hug. It felt different, but not unfamiliar; his muscle memory kicked in and he kissed her like she was his everything. "I thought I'd never see you again." He kept her face a few inches from hers. "Will you tell me what happened to you?" Her voice was soft and full of understanding. "No, Sophie, it's too much. I just want to focus on you." They sat, hand in hand, against the railing of the balcony. They talked till Andrew yawned. "Oh! You're probably beat, eh? I shouldn't be sitting here keeping you up.” She reached for her necklace, and Andrew stopped her. "Andrew, what is it?" "I’m afraid to sleep…" That wasn’t quite it, but he hadn’t slept alone in years… He wasn’t sure he knew how. Her smile was soft. “I’ll sit with you till you fall asleep.” He nodded and they slipped in through his window. Andrew went into the bathroom to change. When he came back, she moved his desk chair next to the bed. He lay down and she stroked his hair for a moment. “How can I help you sleep, my fire boy?” She spoke softly. "Can you tell me how you and Ice Raven beat Jaded?" He closed his eyes and felt himself relax while she told him all about Ice Phoenix and Rose Mage. Andrew smiled to himself. I told you so. Andrew sighed. Yeah, he could learn to love this girl again, no question about it. Sophie was everything he remembered her being. *** Penny knew Andrew watched her leave. She let her tears fall, and it hurt. She was angry and sad. She knew they were making the right choice. But it hurt losing the life she had grown to love and having to figure this all out again. She knew Ice Raven would be waiting for her. She stopped just outside of his range of night vision and composed herself. Then she leaped into his view and landed on her roof. "Hi, Raven." She smiled and let him take her in. "My Flower! You look... Wow." He circled around her. "Beautiful." He took her hand and kissed it. She smiled. Always the charmer, she thought. He pulled her into a hug, and she noticed how much smaller she felt in Trevor's arms than in Andrew’s; he was taller and broader, but she fit well. Their transformations dropped. "I thought I would never see you again." She whispered into his chest. "Do you want to talk about it?" He scooped her up. "You looked pretty upset when you stepped through the portal." He sat them on the chair on her balcony. "No, I really don't. Trevor, please don't make me." She looked at him, pleading. "Never, My Flower. I love you and trust that if you don't want to relive it, then it isn't worth pushing." He hugged her again, lifted her chin up, and kissed her like he was trying to help her forget. She melted into the kiss. They spoke for a long while in soft tones, and Trevor helped calm her down. "Well, My Flower, you need your beauty sleep. I should go." He attempted to stand but she clung to him. "Penny?" his hand rested on the swell of her back. "Stay. Please?" Her voice was small. "Like till you fall asleep?" He spoke softly. She nodded and clung to his shirt. She couldn’t remember the last time she didn’t share a bed with someone, and without her baby she felt so alone. His smile softened. "Oh Penny, of course I'll stay for a bit." He helped her up and they walked down to her bedroom. He waited in her room while she changed in the bathroom. When she came back, Trevor han pulled out one of her extra pillows and was sitting by her bed. After she crawled into bed, he took her hand protectively and held it tightly. She looked at him, eyes feeling heavy. "Tell me a story?" "Oh! I'll tell you how we won against Jaded. Sophie becomes Rose Mage and I become Ice Phoenix..." He told her the story. I told you so. Andrew's voice teased her. Ya ya, shut up. She cuddled closer to the side of the bed where Trevor sat. Yeah, she could love Trevor again. He was the wonderful boy she remembered. He loved her and she could love him. *** The two couples soon graduated and the group stuck to the plan of staying in Arcadia. Penny and Andrew did not plan to go to college; rather they would keep up the business they had started in high school. They would also support Trevor and Sophie while they studied. The four of them had been unable to stop Metallic Owl, so they all moved into the same apartment building to be close to each other. The girls had an apartment near the roof while the boys were near the main floor. Trevor studied to be a teacher because, on top of his own writing, he wanted to encourage kids to create. His mother wasn't happy about it, but she seemed to think teaching would help him to lose this crazy becoming-a-writer idea. Sophie studied fashion and worked on her website on the side to keep building her own brand. Penny built up a collection of photos and took them to a local studio, where she got a space and then worked her own webpage for people to book her services. Andrew worked with a friend of theirs that had a jazz band, and he got a job playing in the theatre; maybe he could work his way up to composing, as well as teaching piano on the side. As heroes, they had gotten better at fighting. They learned how to use the unified Elements. That way, no matter what was happening, they could have all four power sets in any given battle. And shortly after Sophie and Trevor graduated college, it was time for the wedding bells to toll…

Life was just too much. Ginny couldn't handle it anymore. She needed to leave. And not on a holiday - like, leave and never come back. She looked around her apartment. She had no family left, only friends. And the only friend who might miss her was Alice. But if Ginny went through with this, she could always reach out to Alice in a few years. Ginny started to plan. She applied to change her name, got a new ID, and applied for a job in a similar but different field. She let her friends throw her a going away party and talked of planning a trip to a place she wasn't really going. Then she boarded a plane and never looked back. Once she landed, she sold her old phone, got a new phone and a new number, and deleted all her social media, emails, and anything she could think of. Ginny no longer existed and Crystal was born. She went to the store and bought a cheap electric razor and shaved her head. "Wow." She looked in the mirror. "I feel so free!" She looked at her new apartment. "New me, new life." She found being a tutor at the Learning Center to be much easier than her teaching job. Was the pay any better? No, not really, but she was happier and had more energy. She learned to surf and started working out. She even got a tattoo; she looked like a totally different person. She didn't know if anyone would recognize her anymore. Not only did she look different, she felt different. She entered a surfing contest, and she placed on the podium. They even wrote an article about her: "Newcomer to the Sports Places on the Podium.” Her students were proud of her. The community she built was proud of her. She was proud of her. She was happy, healthy and free. It had been two years since she left her old life behind and became Crystal. Maybe it’s time to send Alice an email, she was sitting in her favourite cafe. She’s done enough internet research on her old friend to know that she was still at the same school. So she could easily find it. She was lost in her thoughts and didn’t hear steps behind her. "Ginny?" Crystal froze. That voice... "Sorry, name’s Crystal." She didn't turn around; it couldn't be true. "Maybe to everyone here, but to me you’re Ginny - my best friend, a best friend who disappeared 2 years ago." Crystal turned around, and there standing before her was Alice. Crystal stood up and gave Alice a hug. "How?" "It wasn't easy, I'll tell you that much. You were ridiculously hard to find." Crystal motioned to the chair opposite hers, inviting Alice to sit. "Well, that was the point. You knew I wanted a fresh start." "I didn't think you meant this extreme." Alice looked her friend over. "You don't even look like you anymore." "But I'm happy... Happier than I've ever been. I work at a Learning Center, I tutor some amazing kids. I like the heat, I spend time on the water, I feel free." "Why did finding freedom mean leaving all of us? You could have stayed in touch with us... We could have…” "Alice, I needed to do something drastic. And no one would have let me do this. But I am happy about this. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you what I was doing, but I am not sorry I did it. I hope you can come to understand." Alice looked around. "I think I get it, I just missed my best friend." "I missed you too. Start over?" Crystal reached her hand out across the table. Alice took her hand. "Start over."

Twenty years…. How has it been that long? I look at that old faded photo of my smiling little girl. She'd been six the day she disappeared without a trace. We spent weeks searching for her. Nobody knew where she went. Her teacher had marked her as on the bus. She should have gotten on the bus. Becca was a smart kid. She always got on the right bus and I was waiting for her at the stop…. But when the bus stopped, Becca wasn't on her bus. She wasn't on any of the buses. Her teacher had told the police that she'd let the college intern handle bus drop-off that day, so she couldn't be positive that Becca got on the right bus. The intern couldn't recall what bus Becca got on. But she knew she'd seen Becca in the bus line. Every bus was searched, every bus driver was interviewed, and homes were checked; but still nothing. We sent flyers to every school in the country for 5 years with aged-up versions just to see if someone had seen her and if she'd been signed up for school. The town put together a reward for her return. And when they closed the case, we used the funds to create a scholarship for students looking to go into social work, law or policing, in hopes that someday someone would help bring our daughter home. The heartbreak broke my wife; it killed her. It has been ten years since she passed. I promised her I would never give up waiting for our daughter. They'd closed the case a few years ago. Everyone gave up, thinking we'd never see her again. But I never gave up; I stayed in the same house, believing my little girl would come back. She knew her way home. She would remember. Her favourite colour was green, she loved chocolate chip cookies, and she loved the smell of lilacs in the spring. She knew her address and home phone by heart. She was brave and kind. That was the little girl I lost all those years ago. We never touched her room. I went into dust every so often, but after the police took what they needed in hopes of finding her, my wife and I cleaned it and left it alone, so that when she came back it would be familiar. I set down the photo and look at the door to her room. Sometimes I fool myself into thinking she'll walk right out into the hallway. Sometimes I wonder what she looks like now - does she still look just like her mom? Does she still get freckles after being in the sun? Is her laugh still contagious? Does her smile light up a room? Is she safe? Is she happy? Did she get married? I shake my head. Enough of this foolishness. I needed to take a walk. I put on my hat and am heading for the front door when I hear a knock. *** Something never added up about the stories my mom told me when I was a child. She claimed I was adopted, but when I turned 18 there was no record of my adoption. She said it was because a family friend's daughter had gotten pregnant too young, so Mom stepped in and offered to take me in as her own since she couldn’t have kids. The way they handled it seemed slightly illegal but I could excuse that. But I have no photos of me as a baby. They start when I was six. And they all have me with a shaved head. She told me I was sick, but my records don't show my being sick…. I went to school to work in law enforcement and once I got into the detective work, I started looking into things. Things I should have left well enough alone. Cuz the more I dig, the less sure I become about who I am…. It started with me looking into a case, a case I remembered my mother following. A six-year-old named Becca went missing after school one day without a trace. I could never remember how that case ended. When I asked about it I found out why. It had been closed; there was no solution. I asked my boss if I could look into it during my off time. He said yes - as long as I left the family alone. The husband was the only one left and nobody wanted to get his hopes up for no reason. I looked at the photos of this little Becca; maybe it was wishful thinking, but Becca looked a lot like me. Or at least like childhood me. So I did the only logical thing I could think of. I did a DNA test with one of those online sites…. Surely if their daughter was missing the family would have their DNA in a system somewhere. I didn't need anyone's permission for that. I didn't even need to tell my mom what I was doing; we'd stopped speaking once I insisted on going to school to work in law enforcement. She had said she would stop speaking to me if I did. And I did and she kept her word. She gave me a place to stay while I was studying but once I got a job she stopped talking to me. I check in every once in a while. But otherwise, we have no contact. I had sent my little tube away, and now I’m waiting. While I wait, I look over all the info on the case. Is there a chance I was this little girl? I force myself to think back… back before my earliest memory… Nothing clear comes to me, but I remember falling asleep on a school bus and waking up in the car, then being dropped off on a farm and arguing with someone that they dropped me off at the wrong place. Then it fades. I can't remember anything before that. I remember that farm - I did school there for a while before I was sent to school. Was I mixing up memories? Or was that right? I just have to wait. A few weeks later my results come back. I have matches! I look to the spot for parentage and there it is - the name of the family involved in the case. This man could be my father! Then it hits me like a ton of bricks - if this man is, in fact, my father… Then everything I know about myself is in fact a lie… I have to meet him. I take a day off work and drive down to the town where the case was based. I visit the school; it feels vaguely familiar, so I drive to the address of the house. I can only hope he never left. I pull up to the house and everything feels familiar like it was from a dream. I watch the house for a moment, then take a deep breath and walk up to the front door and knock. A man opens the door. “Hello, you have good timing, I was about to leave. How may I help you?” I feel overwhelmed. “I…I am a detective. I was reviewing some closed unsolved cases, and I came across yours and, well… Here!” I hand him an envelope of photos from my childhood, next to the photos from the case file. The DNA test is also in there. He cautiously opens the envelope, and as he looks through it, tears fill his eyes. “Becca?” “I think so.” I cry too. “May I hug you?” I nod, and for the first time, I feel at home. I don’t know what will come next, but I know I will find my family.

They were going to go home. They waved goodbye to Twin Crescent and stepped through the portal. A white light engulfed them and they were back in Arcadia, standing on the rink where they had been taken from so many years ago. If Andrew remembered correctly, they had left Arcadia in the late evening, and it was now mid-morning. The first thing he heard was Penny's horrified scream. He looked over at her and saw why she was panicking - they were teenagers again. Her baby was gone…his baby was gone... Flame, we were... Wait, he could still hear her? He didn't have time to answer; they were wrapped in a group hug. He still was blinded by the white light and he could only hope that Pen could see better than he could. "Thank the Elements, it worked!" Trevor's voice filled his ears. "You're both okay!" Sophie's voice followed. Trevor and Sophie pulled them each close and kissed their partners. Both Andrew and Pen were too stunned to really react. The voice of the Element hit his ears. "Kids, give them some room. They did just come back from who-knows-where." Andrew reached for his wrist but his bracelet wasn’t there. But…he could hear the Element? How? Was it because he had been wearing it when he left? Penny's hand still rested on her stomach. "What? How?" Trevor took her hands in his. "Oh my flower, you would have been proud! Sophie and I used your Elements and saved the day, and after the repair didn't bring you two back, the Elements remembered something like this happening years ago and started from there, and it only took them a few tries before they got it. It worked kind of like willing you to back here, and we need you two to save Arcadia." "Can we have our Elements back?" Andrew was numb; he needed Flicker back and could see from looking at Pen that she felt the same. "Oh yes!" Sophie handed them back their jewellery. It was the first time they'd both looked down. Andrew was back in the clothes he'd turned into rags years ago. His old clothes didn't feel right. Would that fade in time? With his bracelet back on, it was like Flicker knew everything that had happened to him in the last "several hours." Andrew couldn’t explain why he felt that his element knew - it was just a feeling, which brought him peace. Flicker said nothing; they would talk later when they were alone. "Look, I'd love to hear more of this story later, but right now I want my mom. This whole thing has been a lot, can we go home?" Penny looked up at Trevor. Andrew fought the urge to go and hold her. He was Sophie's boyfriend again, not Pen's husband. "That's actually wise. We told your parents that Trevor had managed to get permission for a sleepover, so going home sounds like a good idea. And you two probably need some space, so let's get together on Sunday?" Sophie smiled and took Andrew's hand. "Let me walk you home?" He could only nod. Meet me on the roof of the Art Gallery tonight. Penny walked away with Trevor. *** Pen kissed Trevor’s cheek, walked into her house, and collapsed onto the floor crying. Her parents came running from the kitchen. “Penny, what's the matter!" Her mother held her close. "Did something happen at your sleepover, sweetheart?" her father placed a hand on her shoulder. She shook her head. All the old smells of home hit her; the love of her parents overwhelmed her. All the things she'd never thought she'd see again were in front of her once more. She looked up at them. "You'll never believe me." She curled into herself. She wanted Andrew; she wanted to mourn the loss of their child. Her parents shared a look, then looked at their daughter. "Tell you what, we'll call in some extra staff and join you upstairs, and end our shift a bit early and you can tell us everything upstairs." Her mom smiled at her. “See you there in thirty minutes?” Penny could only nod. She stood tall and shared a small smile with her parents, then headed up to their living room. She didn't sit; rather she wandered around the room and looked at everything. How could it be? She'd been gone for eight years. She tapped her Element. "Shrub?" It was almost odd to have her Element back and to talk to her. "Yes, Penny?" Shrub's voice felt warm and like coming home. "You know what happened to me, don't you?" Penny picked up a photo that she had taken “two weeks ago.” Her mother had wanted a print of it but that felt like years ago. Her skills were far better now…. "Oh, Penny…" Shrub seemed to want to say more, but Penny’s parents came into the room. The family sat together. Penny took a deep breath. "I've been gone for eight years. So was Andrew, we went to this place called Twin Crescent..." Pen told them the whole story, mostly. She left out the soul names part because that one barely made sense to her. She also left out the Elements bringing them back thing and said it must have been some fluke. "Mom?” She looked at her mom with tears in her eyes. “Andy and I…we…we were going to have a baby…" She cried again, falling into her mother's arms. "Oh, honey..." Her mother pulled her in close. "How soon?" "I was eight months." She felt her mom’s strength fill her. Her father's strong arms held them both. "I’m so sorry, my little girl…" She looked up at both her parents. "Why do you believe me? It sounds crazy." "You're our daughter, and we noticed you didn't act like yourself as soon as you walked in. Yes, you look like you, but you carry yourself like a much older woman - you carry yourself with more confidence than you did yesterday." Her mom smiled softly. "And when your mother was pregnant she always had her hand on her stomach just like that." Her dad pointed to her hand. Penny blushed and moved her hand away. "I'll have to break that habit quickly." "What are you two going to do?" Her mom took her hand and rubbed the back of it. "We don't know, we haven't told them yet, we are going to call tonight and sort it out. Because, how could we explain it? It’s hard for us to understand…” She paused. “Do you mind if I go to my room and rest? My head is spinning and I want to think through some stuff before Andrew and I phone." She stood, giving each of her parents a hug. "Of course, sweetheart. Your father and I were going to go out tonight, is that okay?" Her mom took her hand one more time. "Of course, Mama." Pen walked to her room and fell into her bed. She lay there for a moment, then tapped her earring to talk to Shrub. “Why did I lose my baby?" She let her tears fall. Shrub's voice sounded sad. "Sophie and Trevor willed back the you they knew, not the you who was there." "So the price for their longings was Andrew’s and my life, and now we have to hold on to the memories..." Pen cried softly. Shrub said nothing, letting her cry. The Elements were not the best at dealing with human emotions. In all their years, Penny had never known Shrub to have wise words for emotional moments, but it was nice to know she was there and they were doing this together. After a while, Shrub spoke and shared some news with her. "I have something to tell you, Penny." Penny sat up waiting to hear more. "Because you’re grown up - even if it's just in your mind - you and Andrew will have new superhero outfits. Would you like to see yours?" Penny jumped up. “Oh please!” She tapped her Element twice, and the warmth and safety of the Element magic filled her. Rose Thorn's costume no longer looked like she was wearing a dance leotard. She walked toward her mirror. "Whoa!" She was wearing a jumpsuit that reminded her of her hero costume in Twin Crescent. The main bodice of the jumpsuit was a halter top with a sweetheart neckline. The jumpsuit pant legs ended around her ankles and looked deceptively like a skirt. Her suit was no longer brown, but a dark green. Just like before, she had a rose belt at her waist, her vine lasso still at her hip. Her red roses were now yellow, her favourite. The vines that once wrapped around her body were gone; instead, on her dominant arm, she had something like a vine tattoo going from her wrist to her elbow. Her mask stayed the same and her hair was still in a bun with roses at the base. She felt not only pretty but also confident and ready for the fight. She took a breath and tapped her Element again, the weight of everything that had happened hitting her. Penny knew there would be time to celebrate the new costume later and learn about all the changes; but for now, she cried, mourning the loss of what she had had. Just as dusk started to settle over Arcadia, she and Andrew met at the top of the Art Gallery, out of sight of people. She stood and looked at Andrew. He hadn't seen her yet, so she took a second to take him in. Gone was his old Flint costume. He stood tall. His costume also looked more like his costume from Twin Crescent; he had on a black dress shirt, and when she looked closely she could see an iridescent thread that ran through the material. That thread went from yellow to orange to red. He wore charcoal pants that remind her of the many suits he’d gotten used to wearing working in the theatre; his costume was so much simpler now. He moved more comfortably., His firefighter-like visor was gone, replaced with a mask like hers. His shield still sat across his back and looked more like his modified garbage can lid. His sleeves were rolled up and she noticed that, like her, he had a flame tattoo on his dominant arm from his wrist to elbow. But more than the new costume, she saw what she imagined her parents saw in her - a confidence that didn't belong to a young adult, but rather to a man who had gone through some things. She loved Andrew, but she was a young adult again with a boyfriend who loved her and looked at her like she hung the moon. She knew she and Andrew would always be bonded, but what were they going to do now? They'd been given a chance to live out the ‘what if Trevor and Sophie never came to our school’ storyline; could they go back to their first loves? Like their love never existed? With these thoughts running through her head she decided it was time to let him know she was here. Hey Flame, you looking for me? He turned to see her and his face lit up. Oh, Petal...