Morrigan woke to her bedroom surrounding her. Dark emerald painted walls with various pictures and clippings hanging of historical events from over the past 300 years. As she stretched, she realized she was still in her clothes from the previous day, at least she thought it was the next day. She reached from her bed to nudge her curtain out of the way to see the dawn light beginning to break over the horizon of the neighborhood. She began to wonder how she got home. The last thing she remembered was seeing the Eskarii woman Mo’Emori waving goodbye to her, after that was completely blank. She threw her legs over her bed to sit up and heard the soft crinkle of something in the pocket of her pants. She furrowed her brow trying to remember as she pulled out a folded piece of paper. Morrigan could not believe it. Covering her smile with her hand, she choked on the flooding memories of her last therapy session. “It was not a dream,” she thought.

She jumped to her feet in a dance of joy. Celebrating internally as the wood floor beneath her feet responded in dull thumps. She had to catch herself awkwardly as she came to an abrupt stop, remembering that it was still the crack of dawn, and her parents were still sleeping. Giggling she changed out of her stress-sweat stained clothes and picked out clothes for the day. She finally felt free. Not because she shimmied in the nude in her room, but there was no more looming weight sitting on her shoulders. The persistent feeling of doom was finally gone.

Morrigan poked her head out the door and listened to see if either of her parents were awake. Greeted with silence, she slipped down the hall to the bathroom. Her mind wandered as she cleaned herself in the shower; it was Saturday as well as her 19th birthday. Her father had a surprise for her that she could not wait to see, she was excited to tell Taylor about Mo’Emori's desire to see her again. Not to mention the biggest surprise she had for them as well.

Was it wrong of her to be that happy about that? She wondered. She had a crush on the Eskarii but would never betray Taylor in such a way. Honestly, she was lucky enough to have him in the first place. In truth, Morrigan did not really have any friends aside from Taylor. Knowing that Mo’Emori considers her a friend is what truly made her happy. As far as she knew that's all the alien foreigner felt for her. Blushing, she felt a little guilty at hoping it were more. With a soft giggle and a head shake she conceded that she was just being silly and turned the water off. Stepping out while grabbing a towel, Morrigan dried herself and wrapped her hair and stared at the fogged mirror. Taking her hand, she took a single swipe to reveal her face and with a her finger, she traced FREE underneath. She grinned at her reflection. Today would be a good day.

She finished styling her hair back into the sleek bob she had for the past two years and focused on getting dressed. Once she was ready for the day, she headed down the stair and into the kitchen. She dug into the fridge to find the standards for a ham omelet, hash browns and this purple fruit that came from the Eskarii home planet. She was surprised with all the nuclear weapons that went off around the world that Earth did not lose as much as they had in terms of wildlife and produce. Scientists warned of the effects of radiation would have on the planet and yet, for some reason the global radiation did little to affect the biomes. Granted there were the deadly pockets of radiation surrounding impact sites however, that was something scientists, engineers and even mages worked on. At least they were smart enough to recognize the dangers of the hot zones. She refocused on scrambling the eggs and dicing ham while the hash browns sizzled in the pan.

By the time she poured omelet mix into the second pan, she could hear her father’s heavy foot falls coming down the stairs. James Clarke, the shirtless six-foot figure that was her father rounded the corner groggily. She found it annoying yet amusing that he was almost as tall as her boyfriend, and her mother was five foot ten and yet, Morrigan only stood at five foot six. Her father was a military fit man, with broad shoulders and short beard neatly trimmed. His slightly shorter than her hair was an unruly mess as he combed his hand through it to work out the tiny knots that formed overnight. To his surprise he found his daughter up early and cooking breakfast. “Oh! Good morning sweetie,” he said as he froze at the odd spectacle.

Her voice carried a chipper ring to it as she replied, “morn’n dad!” She pulled her focus away from the near perfect omelet she was making to glance over her shoulder to find her father sitting at the island bar giving her an incredulous look. She could only respond with a smirk as she reached into a cabinet to grab him a coffee cup and pour him a black coffee like he has every morning. As she slid the cup to him, his look shift into confusion as he watched her go back to the seasoning the eggs and hash browns she was making while humming.

She did not realize she was absent mindedly humming the song Mo’Emori hummed to her during her break down yesterday. Her dad however, picked up on the melodic notes from a popular Eskarii song. With a shake of his head, he decided it was far to early to contemplate what he was witnessing and took a sip of fresh coffee. As he set the cup down, he gave it an approving look before turning his attention back to his daughter, “So… you do realize it’s a bit strange for you to be making breakfast on your birthday right?” he prodded.

She laughed lightly, “yeah probably. I was up before you so I decided I would take it upon myself to make breakfast for us,” she noted as a matter of fact. She took two spatulas to awkwardly flip the pan sized omelet, nearly breaking it in half. Muttering curses under her breath she turned to check the potatoes. Quickly she scurried to the fridge and grabbed cream as she set up another cup of coffee and passed it to her father before returning to the stove, “it's almost done. So, you may want to go wake mom up.”

He arched an eyebrow while grabbing the second cup, “okay…”

Morrigan continued humming as her father got off the stool and proceeded upstairs in utter confusion with both coffees.

He nudged the door to their room open to see his wife nestled in bed. He walked over and gently sat next to her as he set his cup on her end table. Helen shifted and wound herself tighter in the massive blanket. He sure hoped she would have a better idea about the situation downstairs. As much as he did not like being so disconnected with his daughter, it was a blessing Helen worked from home. At least one of them got to spend a good amount of time with their daughter. His hours were long, and he also knew Morrigan did not necessarily approve of his line of work. Granted since the incident he worked tirelessly to restructure protocol at the station.

He gently nudged his wife, “you may want to get up.” He said softly.

Helen twisted over to peek out from under the blanket and saw a cup of coffee in her husband's hand. As she turned to accept the cup she slurred, “what’s this?” All he could do is chuckle and shrug.

“Courtesy of our lovely Morrigan, who seems to be in an intriguing mood this morning,” he mused as he reached for his own coffee to take another sip. His wife sat up and took a sip. Taken aback by the sudden heat she gave a meaningful groan. James took solace in the fact that everyone in the house always looked like a disheveled mess when they wake up.

“Wow, she made it right… what do you mean she's in an intriguing mood?” she asked inquisitively. Her own curiosity piqued when it dawned on her that Morrigan made the coffee.

Once again, he shrugged and let out a strained breath before looking at her, “well, on top of having coffee ready for us. It seems she took it upon herself to make breakfast this morning, all while merrily humming Eskarii songs and smiling like she’s on top of the world,” he informed her. Taking another sip, he let that sink into his wife’s brain.

The reaction to that was a quirked eyebrow and mimicked drink of coffee. “Well that certainly isn’t a bad thing, it’s been quite a while since she’s been in a good mood. Perhaps she is just excited about her birthday?” finally breaking the overhanging silence.

James scratched the back of his head with a smirk and pointed out, “I don’t know about that, she hasn’t been this excited about a birthday since she was seven… honestly I can’t think of a time I saw her like this.” Helen could see his expression was filled with confusion with a hint of disappointment. She felt bad that as much as he loved Morrigan, he does not get the time to he wants to spend with her. He never truly got the time to figure out their daughter’s little quirks and hang ups. Even getting last night off, he intended to spend every moment with her until she was over two hours late from therapy and apparently passed out cold as soon as she was buckled into his truck when he went to pick her up. She was dead asleep by the time they arrived home and he had to carry her in and up to her room. Today would be different though.

“Well, I suppose I should get up so we can go figure out the mystery that is our daughter,” she said through a laugh. James could not help but laugh at that as well.

Morrigan stood by the table, she had set up her plate on one side of the table and bother her parents on the other. She bit into one the Eskarii fruit like an apple and wiped the excess juice from her mouth. She liked this fruit, they were purple in color, about the size of a pear and had a sweet and tangy taste to them. Not to mention they were really juicy. She could hear her mother’s giggle following her father’s heavy footsteps. They both came into view in the stairwell fully dressed, though her mother still sported minor bed head, “oh my! What’s all this?” her mother asked. Morrigan took the moment to appreciate her mother’s appearance. She was normally the definition of stoicism but being awake before her for a change. She got to see the raw beauty that was her mother with messy long brown hair and comfy clothes rather than her hair pulled back into a ponytail and dressed in business attire. She even appreciated the lack of makeup that showed her mother’s freckles. Morrigan knew where she got her own looks from.

Morrigan gestured at the three made plates and large fruit bowl at the center, “breakfast! Though you both took your time, so I decided to add a fruit mix to it as well,” she teased. Both her parents looked at each other as Morrigan walked around the table to pull both chairs out and as she stepped out of the way she leaned up to give her mother a kiss on the cheek, “good morning mom!” Helen smiled brightly as she looked to James raising her eyebrows in exaggeration. He gave her a ‘see what I mean?’ look and gestured as he stepped around the chair to take his seat. Helen giggled softly as she followed suit meanwhile Morrigan rounded the table to take her own place.

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Morrigan dug into the food without a second glance at her parents. She was patient enough to wait for them, but she was starving. They ate in relative silence aside from the stray compliment of Morrigan’s cooking to which she responded with a nod and mouth full of food. Morrigan had just finished her food when her mother finally broke the silence, “so are you excited for your surprise today?”

Wiping her mouth on a napkin she shrugged playfully, “well I can’t be excited about something when I don’t know what it is,” she eyed her father a challenge.

“Well, it wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew what it was.” He took another bite and darted his wife a look. “It's bad enough you know there’s a surprise to be had,” he accused. Helen blushed and turned her head to look at anything and everything the opposite direction of her husband’s gaze as she pretended not to hear him.

It was not until her father poked her mother in the ribs making her jump and squeak Morrigan lost the ability to contain the need to laugh. Her mother played innocent while sending a wink to Morrigan. She smiled devious, “well since I was nice enough to make breakfast, maybe you could be nice enough to let know what my surprise is?” she said passively. That brought a laugh out of her mother while her father gave her a suspicious look.

“So that’s what this was? Bribery?” he asked playfully.

Morrigan waved it off with a sly grin, “nah. I just saw the opportunity to turn it into leverage.”

He grinned, “looks like someone’s taking after her mother,” he noted sarcastically. Laughing as his wife playfully smacked him in the arm while playing at being insulted. “Besides.” Looking to his watch. “We have a few hours before we will be ready for your surprise.” He dramatized. His little display worked though, especially when her mother gave her a knowing smile. She definitely wanted to know what this surprise was. However, she had her own game she could play.

“Well, I guess that means you’ll just have to wait for the surprise I have for you guys,” she snickered and watched as her parents looked to each other with perplexed looks on their face.

Her father turned to her with a serious look on his face that actually had her worried. “You're not pregnant, are you?” he deadpanned. Morrigan’s face turned as red as could be as she covered face with her hands in torturous embarrassment.

“Oh my god dad! What is wrong with you? No! I’m not pregnant!” she whined through her hands.

Her father let out a genuine breath of relief before giving his wife an evil grin, “well that’s a good thing. I happen to like Taylor and if he happened to get my baby girl pregnant that means I would have to kill the young man,” he remarked teasingly hidden underneath a serious father tone.

As amused as she was by their antics, Helen felt a little sorry for Morrigan as her father embarrassed her to the moon and back. More so when she watched her daughter groan and plant her head on the table, “mom make him stop!” she pleaded, following up with dramatic whining. Helen reached across the table and gave her daughter a comforting touch on the arm.

“Don’t worry sweetie. I wouldn’t let your father do anything to Taylor. Besides the child would need its own father growing up,” She stated.

Morrigan raised her arms in exasperated defeat, “alright–alright you win!” She tossed the folded form on the table “Now no more talking, not about me and Taylor or anything involving babies!” she crossed her arms across her and pouted as she slid down her chair. Completely frustrated that topic even came up and with how easily it destroyed her surprise for them.

“What is it?” James asked. Morrigan quickly stood up and collected the plates and bowl.

“Nope! No talking. You two read that while I go die in the hole I dug,” she said as she walked away into the kitchen to begin washing the dishes.

James felt a bit guilty over his teasing but sometimes it is good to be knocked down a peg. It was a good lesson for Morrigan against trying to leverage against her parents. He unfolded the paper and shifted so Helen could read it as well.

Morrigan smiled as pride began swelling in her chest. She could not help it. For the longest time she thought she would fail to pass her therapy sessions despite all the progress she made. Her biggest fear was what transpired yesterday, breaking down and letting everything she kept in, out. However, that seems to be what saved her. Perhaps she should be more honest about her feelings more often, she thought to herself.

Lost in her own thoughts she had not heard either of her parents walking across the room, jumping and dropping a pan in the sink as her mother wrapped her arms around her from behind.

“We’re so proud of you baby!” her mother muffled into the side of her head with a kiss.

Morrigan could not contain herself. She spun and wrapped her arms around her mother, pulling her into tight embrace. She looked across the island and saw her dad standing there radiating enough pride only a father could. “I’m so relieved,” she said.

James moved around and nudged himself into the hug, “we are happy for you love. Why don’t you go relax and I will finish the dishes,” he said while shifting towards the sink. Morrigan let go of her mother and smiled to her father.

“Thanks dad.” She took her document off the island and ran upstairs to her room. She could hear her parents laughing and commenting on how great of an achievement this was for her. As she closed her door, she moved to the wall across her bed and tacked the release form to the wall so she could see it every day.

With that she took out her music player and put in ear buds, scrolling on the internet to find Eskarii music to listen to. She would listen to Saurian music; however, the internet had no records of the Saurian having music, at least recorded music. She found an Eskarii song with a translated description mentioning a creature from their planet that bursts into flames upon severe injury or end of life cycle, rising from the flakes of its charred flesh to be born anew. “A’leni” the song as called, meaning “Rebirth” in the Eskarii tongue.

Selecting the song, she closed her eyes to listen to not only the melody, but the meaning buried within the song. She cracked a tight smile when she realized it was the song Mo’Emori had hummed to her. She became enthralled in the soft melodies, daydreaming of exotic things.

Of being on a planet surrounded by vibrant flora and wildlife, taking in the purple, green and blue scenery. The three moons hanging in the dusk sky and stars peaking through the atmosphere. Small, adorable animals scurrying along twisted branches and draping vines while she was surrounded by Eskarii and Terrans living in tandem. Growing and learning, teaching one another in what could only be described as true peace.

Hours had passed as her mind wandered, only to be brought back to reality by the doorbell. She pulled her ear buds out to listen. Her father called up the stairs for her, his tone not giving away who was at the door. Was it possible it was the police? She peered out the door, however she saw no vehicles aside from her dads. Relieved that it did not seem like she was in trouble she got off her bed and opened her bedroom door, creeping towards the stairs. What she saw standing at the bottom of the stairs was her ginger beard hunk, a piercing smile greeting her as if he were seeing her on the night of their first date all over again. “Taylor!” she screamed with joy as she sprinted halfway down the stairs before taking a flying leap towards him.

Taylor’s expression when from dreamy flirt to sheer panic as he braced himself to catch her. James and Helen were around the corner of the stairs in the kitchen, out of sight and unable catch a glimpse of their reunion that was transpiring. They certainly did not expect their daughter to come flying down the stairs to land into Taylor’s arms, wrapping around him like a monkey, and nearly toppling the giant over. Taylor and Morrigan both laughed hysterically as Taylor balanced himself. Her father joined them in laughter as soon as he realized what had happened while Helen stood there shocked.

“I can’t believe you did that!” Helen said as her shock slowly turned to happiness, seeing Morrigan so happy.

James settled himself and wiped his watering eyes, “oh it is completely believable.”

Taylor kissed the side of Morrigan’s head and turned to her mother, “I believe the proof is right here Mrs. Clarke.” Taylor leaned forward to help Morrigan down, except she did not budge from her hold on him.

“No! You’re not allowed to let go!” she pouted as she tightened her grip and nuzzled into his beard and neck. She smiled, sighing blissfully as he righted himself and leaned his head into hers. Sure her antics were childish but she was going to take every second to enjoy yourself.

She pulled away and gave him the deepest kiss. Her father grunted and she peeked to see her father covering his eyes. Her kiss turned into a smile against his lips as she lost control of her laughter. “Sorry. Sorry. I may approve of Taylor but you’re still my baby girl.” He apologized. She responded by sticking her tongue out at her father.

Helen grabbed her husband by the arm hiding her laughter behind her hand, “come on you've done enough to embarrass her today.” Morrigan groaned and planted her face into Taylor’s shoulder.

Taylor arched an eyebrow turning to everyone, “I take it I missed something?” he inquired.

Morrigan shook her head against him, “please don’t ask.” She leaned away being supported by his thick muscles, “besides, I have other better things to tell you!” she grinned. She could not help but admire Taylor’s gorgeous face. Even as he smirked at her in defiant playfulness.

“Maybe I want to know about this embarrassment though?” he said coyly.

She grabbed his face so he could not look away, “no mister, there’s more important things to tell you” She turned and pointed at her father. “And you! Keep it to yourself!” she demanded.

James shrugged with a shit eating grin and went to walk past them towards the front door. “Okay, just remember what I said.” He smirked as she threw her head back in a dramatic groan. “Besides, if you don’t let Taylor go, we’re going to be late,” he stated.

Morrigan pouted but conceded, letting her boyfriend set her down as they turned to follow her father. Her mother waved to them, “have fun you three!”

They piled into her father’s truck, Morrigan sliding into the back with Taylor unwilling to be apart from him. As soon as they pulled out of the driveway Morrigan began babbling about recent events. James was thankful that Taylor was there to distract her as he turned towards the city. He listened to his daughter ramble on with such happiness. This was something he missed dearly, ever since her arrest she had been consumed by anger and dread. She lived in chronic misery and the only thing that ever dragged her back to the daughter he knew was Taylor. Even seeing him did not always work. More often than not there was always that hint of despair. Now she was bright eyed, smiling and talking with joy filled enthusiasm.

He hoped his surprise would not backfire. It took a lot of string pulling to make his plan come to fruition and it is risky since he knew how she felt about certain things.

Morrigan had gone over what happened during her last session in vague detail before getting into ecstatic description of her interactions with the Eskarii receptionist.

Taylor laughed, amused by his girlfriend’s delight. “I'm not going to have to start worrying, am I?” he joked. She gasped and playfully smacked his chest as she leaned against him.

“No, you dork, I’m just happy someone likes me,” she said.

“Oh? And I don’t?” nudging her with his shoulder.

She scoffed at him, “you’re being impossible you know that right? I meant someone other than you, especially an Eskarii. You know how much I adore them.”

He nuzzled her head, tickling her nose with his beard. “Of course, sweetie. Honestly, I’m happy you’ve made a new friend, hopefully you’ll be able to hang out with her soon.”

Morrigan beamed, “yeah, I was thinking about some time after graduation. Its only a week away and will give us time to plan something.” She locked her fingers between his, “the best part is I’m finally free. Dr. Yuma signed my release and is going to tell the judge I passed his assessment!”

He kissed the side of her head, “I knew you would sweetie, I’m proud of you.”

James looked back with a smile, “we all are!”

She began to blush with subtle embarrassment from all the praise. She knew she earned it, but it was still a lot to accept. She nestled against Taylor as they drove, letting the world fade away into her own little section of bliss. Before she knew it her attention was drawn out of her happy place from the truck stopping. Morrigan looked out of the windows and grimaced in painful confusion. “Dad…why are we at the precinct…”