It was going to take us a week before we were properly settled at our new address. I’d sent Jackal and the guys ahead, while James and I took care of the final things at the apartment. It was safer to keep them out of the way, as we didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention.

I finished working my notice period, Jeremy’s comments bouncing off me in a way I’d never experienced before. I didn’t feel like I had to shrink myself down anymore, or defensively evade him. I just didn’t care. I didn’t care he got the promotion I’d wanted. I didn’t care my boss ordered me to go get his coffees and his dry cleaning. Within a week, they’d be living their same small lives, and I’d be rebuilding and refining a whole world.

The police came through and took statements, but it seemed our unfortunate neighbour was being lumped with the blame.

We weren’t the only ones moving out of the apartment either, so our hasty exit was barely of note, and with Mrs. Greaves’ murder on the news, I had a great excuse to cut ties with my old life and shift to something completely new. A metamorphosis.

Even though I missed the guys, and it sucked having a few days without any of my lovers, I felt a lot more secure in myself. I felt like one of those slider puzzles where the picture was all messed up, but somehow everything had shifted over the last few days and the last pieces were sliding into place.

Bruiser and Bonaparte were looking after Pooky for me and settling her into the new house, and Nightfall had been setting up Dave’s computer and getting Jenny functional as per James’ instructions. I’d made sure we had an extra generator installed at the new property as a safeguard before risking unplugging anything at our end.

“It feels kid of odd to have everything working out for us after everything that happened, doesn’t it?” I said to James as we taped up another box. “You know, after the whole Dave and Mrs. Greaves stuff?”

James frowned at me. “I wouldn’t say everything is working out. I mean, I’ll get to work full time on Newtopia for a bit and the house you’ve found is great, but the guys still hate me, and… we’re not together anymore. That’s not a happy ending, as far as I’m concerned.”

I gave him a sympathetic look. It was easier for me. I had five guys waiting for me, and he was still heartbroken.

“You know, once we’ve sorted things out, you could probably write yourself a new girlfriend. Get that cat-girl you’ve always wanted,” I said, handing him his body pillow to tape as protection around one of his monitors. “Although we should probably fix the whole genetics thing first or she might come out generated like Blade, with a cat face and human ears.”

“I don’t think so, Emma,” he said dejectedly. “They were… I don’t know. A fantasy, but an empty one. What I really want is you.”

I unrolled the tape and wound it around his pillow.

“James…”

“I know, I know. We weren’t a good couple,” he shook his head. “But I’ve grown up a lot over the last few months. This kind of experience… this responsibility… I know it’s changed me. Do you think I could ever change enough that you’d consider giving me another chance? Even… in addition to your other guys?”

“I don’t know, James. We fought a lot. And with the guys… it’s kind of a respect thing. They all approve of each other; we’re all committed to each other together. They don’t like you, and I just don’t feel that way about you anymore,” I shook my head. “I think we’re better off as friends.”

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“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I took you for granted. You know I’d give you the world now, right?” he laughed. “I kind of am. Newtopia’s yours now. I guess it’s only fair, after you saved it.”

“It’s not mine. It’s ours. All of ours.” I gave him a small smile. “We can share it.”

We took the boxes carefully down the stairs and loaded them into my brand-new jeep and drove them over to the new property. There was no way I was trusting a moving company to handle our equipment. We were determined to do it ourselves, load by load.

When we arrived, Pooky saw me from the other end of the deck and yipped at me happily, limping over to me with Bonaparte loyally at her side.

“They’ve become fast friends,” Bruiser said, greeting me with a kiss and taking the box out of my hands so I could crouch down and scratch Pooky’s ears.

“Hey my Pooky-pupper,” I said, smothering her with affection. “I wonder if we should make you a dire-weasel when we send you to Newtopia. What do you think about that? You guys would be the same species then. Unless you want to keep your canine-ness and be a dire-wolf or something.”

“She’d probably get attacked as a dire-wolf,” Bruiser said. “A dire-weasel would definitely be a safer form. They are considered neutral animals, rather than hostile. And until we get Jenny familiar with a wider range of species, a new and unique form might get generated with errors, according to Nightfall.”

Bonaparte was standing on his hind legs, his forepaws put together as though he was begging.

“You’ve talked about it, have you?” I laughed, petting Bonaparte as well.

“It has been on our minds,” Bruiser nodded. “Pooky is not in good condition, Emma. We should send her through the Nexus sooner rather than later. Nightfall is determined to be the first one put through, however, to test it is safe.”

“Let’s get all this stuff inside first. I don’t want to even think about that until we actually have the Nexus operational.”

Jackal and Bastion came out, having heard our voices, and took several boxes as well, as James handled his monitor. Nightfall directed them to place things where he had set up his office, and Brick set the table for us to share a lunch. He took a seat next to me and I sighed in contentment.

I was tired as hell, but everything was finally looking up.

“So, how are you all settling in? Are you happy with the house?”

“It has been more than sufficient,” Nightfall said, sounding pleased. “Jenny has been functioning optimally and has incorporated many of the patches we have developed. Once all of the equipment has arrived, I plan to install three more desks so we will have space for Bastion to continue his artwork and both yourself and James can work by my side.”

“I don’t want to stay on this side of the portal forever,” Bastion said hesitantly. “I mean, I like it and all, Emma, but we won’t be here forever, will we?”

I frowned in thought. “I suppose we need to talk about this, don’t we? Which world everyone wants to live in.”

“I feel I belong in Newtopia,” Bruiser said, taking the lead. “As a human, I only feel like half of myself. Even when I’m returned to my shifter body, I think I would like to explore our newly-seeded world. I’m not sure if I would have the same kind of relationship here. I miss being able to commune with nature. I could try to remain here if you wished it, but I do not know if it would ever feel right.”

“I prefer to be where the information is,” Nightfall said, folding his hands on the table in front of me. “I would like my original body back, but my preference would be to remain here as a guardian of our world.”

“Are you sure, Nightfall?” I asked, surprised. “You don’t want to return at all?”

“I would not mind travelling between worlds occasionally, and I would find it a necessity if you made your permanent home in Newtopia, but somebody would need to remain on this side to ensure the safety of our world.”

“What about you guys?” I asked Jackal, Bastion and Brick.

“I want to remain with you,” Jackal said. “Although I have caused you a lot of problems in this world. I will do what you tell me to do. I’ll go wherever you want me.”

“I’m with you, no matter which world,” Brick said firmly. “I don’t care where I am so long as I have you at my side.”

Bastion hesitated, then shared a look with Brick and nodded solemnly. “Same. You’re my life now, Emma. Home is wherever you are.”

“The Nexus could be operational by the end of the week,” James cut in. “But no one has to make any decisions immediately, right?”

“Bruiser’s right about Pooky, though,” I said. “She’s old and not in great condition. It’d be good to send her through soon, and Bonaparte and Bruiser will need to be with her. This might be our last week all together for a while.”

Bruiser wrapped an arm around me and pulled me in for a kiss.

“Well then,” he whispered. “We better make it count.”