“We rushed back as soon as we heard! Is everyone alright?” Devona asks, as soon as she steps through the door.

“Gramps! You SHOULD HAVE SEEN MOM! SHE ROCKS! JUST WOOSH! WOOSH! And STAB! SLICE! POW!” Xander throws a punch and a kick. I grin.

“Well, he's perfectly fine.” I grin again.

“Tell me about it.” Crile mumbles. “He's been like this for days...”

“Xander, dear, why don't you calm down before you hurt yourself, or worse, some else.” The grandmother suggests. The kid grins silly ear to ear and runs back to his mother.

“How is your vacation?” Little Rei walks over to say hello. Tyro makes himself comfortable in Devona's arms and I pick Rei up.

“Very nice, dear.” Devona answers for me.

“You needn't rush back each time there's a bit of a ruckus.” Zarri tells us.

“Ruckus?” I raise my eyebrows.

“She insists on it not being a big deal…” Crile mumbles.

“Treasure, have you completely gone insane! Astri was attacked! You and your children almost got hurt!”

“Almost. I handled it.” Zarri throws a glare. HA! I grin proudly. Powers or no powers. She's kicking ass still. That's my Gorgeous!

“And we don’t doubt you one bit, Gorgeous.” I smile. “But you can't stop us from worrying about you and the little ones.”

“Yes, yes. I'm aware.” She mumbles.

“What's the status anyways?” I turn to Crile.

“One dead still. Our injuries were minor. They were just some Odion teens. They trashed everything in sight more than tried to hurt anyone seriously, besides the one dead moronoid. We have the rest of them locked up. This one;” he points to his beloved; “insists on gathering Intel...”

“But you don’t seem to agree?” I finish his sentence for him. He gives me a quick eyeroll. Right. Between the land and the kids...

“Treasure?” Devona puts a bit of pressure there.

“They are just kids.” Zarri exhales. Ah. There we go. The motherly instincts have spoken. “You should see them. They look like a bunch of lost puppies.”

“More like a pack of wild dogs...” Crile mutters all tired.

“Night shift?”

“Just making sure my family is safe.” He answers. I glance over the three jewels. The twins are eleven now. Which makes the little Tyro nine. Of course, she would have some reservations about a bunch of teens running wild... It's not their fault... Well. Not all of it. Devona looks at me. I've seen that gaze before. I sigh.

“Of course, you'd be concerned now too.” I smile. “Very well. Shall we go then?”

“Go where?” Crile asks, oddly enough, glaring at me. There we go. That's more like it.

“To Rebellion.”

“No.” Zarri protests.

“Gorgeous, I've had this conversation before. If anyone is going there - it's me.”

“And me.” Devona adds.

“Whyyyy?” In a mere instant Zarri turns into a five-year-old. That soothes my heart.

“We've been doing nothing, but laze around for the past decade. I'd like to be of some use to you, Treasure, before I die.”

“You've earned your vacation. Enjoy it.” Crile says. True. Devona and I have been taking it nice and slow all over Noxanda. With the occasional trip to Ballista. She loves to shop... Not that I can complain. This slow paced, mundane, numbingly dull life was worth the pain. I couldn't be happier. Not for myself, nor for the kids. I enjoy every moment spent with my woman. As boring as this life looks to the outside world - it's never that for us...

“We will. Nobody said we're going there tomorrow.”

“We can go around, place to place, seeing more of the world, making our way over there. We'll take our time. Promise.” I wink at Zarri.

“It did you good, after all.” Devona takes a light jab at her daughter. I grin. “We'll visit Laira too. Besides.”

“Yes?” Zarri focuses.

“This way we'll gather Intel from this side too, before we do anything. Times change, we can't guarantee that the people still feel about the Rebellion the same way as before.” I answer.

“True.” Crile nods. I set the Pretty down and pat her on the head. She looks at me all oh-so-worried and slowly retreats back to her father's side. Devona does the same with Ty. Xan stares hella worried at his mother. Crile gestures Ro to come over and he runs the five steps.

“Well. I won't try and talk you out of it.” Zarri says and puts a finger over Xander's lips, as he takes in air to protest. “When you'll be in Existara, you should go see Percival. He's close to the border and he'll be of use to you...” I see the tears pile up.

“We'll be fine, Gorgeous.”

“Yes, I'm sure you will be...” She tries her best to smile.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“You sure?”

“Between an Assassin and a Mixology Cleanser - you bet.” I answer my boy. Guess fatherhood has softened him up a bit too. It fills me with great joy and pride, seeing them like this...

    While Devona and I were busy getting ready for our “round the world” trip, the three rascals have been busy getting in trouble. We left them alone for a few days only… It’s tough to leave when you wanna stay, but, if this helps them here, then... I sigh. I walk in the room and see Crile standing by the bathroom door with a knife to his throat. I smirk.

“May I?” I ask, carefully.

“Ira? What? Oh. You heard...” Zarri averts her gaze from me.

“We’re almost done getting her the herbs for the trip and all... Your mother is saying her goodbyes to the kids right now, she didn’t want to leave it up to the last minute, kinda prepping them for it.” I explain.

“Oh, no...” Zarri closes her eyes.

“It's fine. Xander's not saying a word about what happened. He said he fell.” I tell her. Crile grins.

“What kind of a mother am I?”

“The kind that wants to protect her children.” I offer her my hand. She takes it. “The kind that wants to prepare her children for the reality. No need to beat yourself up for it.” I lead her to the couch by the end of the bed. We sit down. There's that glare in Crile's eyes again. I steal my last opportunity to taunt him. You'd better be taking notes there, instead of glaring at me, you, "dumb" son of mine...

“I know it must be difficult for you, because of the recent events. What happened with the kids especially, but, please, don’t brood over it too much. Parenting doesn’t come easily. I should know. Actions have consequences. Unfortunately, Xander learned that the hard way.”

“Twice.” I see the self-loathing in her eyes.

“He'll pull through and so will you. If anyone can train those kids to be the best - it's you two.” I take both her hands into mine. “Just don’t forget the most important part.”

“What's that?” Zarri looks at me.

“Have fun. All of you together as a loving family that you are. The things you do and will do is all for the sake of them and their future. It will be fine, Gorgeous.”

“I dislocated my son's shoulder two weeks after he got beat up to a bloody pulp and spent five days in the Maze...”

“One. He was outnumbered. Two. He protected Tyro. Three. He's still protecting Reina. And four - he hasn’t complained once about anything. That boy has matured emotionally a whole ton in a blink of an eye. He knows it was all his fault and he's taking his punishments as a man. One for his silly games, one for getting others involved and one for his weakness that he mistook for strength. He’s learning. They all are.”

“But the way he’s learning…”

“Not the most recommended one for a child, but he’ll pull through.”

“How do you know?” She looks at me, crushed.

“Because he has you. If anyone knows how to come back from the dark side – it’s you, Gorgeous.”

Zarri breaks into a sad smile. “That doesn’t make it any less painful...” She whispers.

“I know.” I kiss her hands. “Have faith in your children. No matter what. Promise me.” I catch a tear with my index. She nods. Good girl.

“I'll miss you.” Zarri hugs me.

“I'll miss you more.” I answer and let go. I get up. Crile meets me with his hand out. I grab it and we shake.

“Stay strong.”

“Likewise.” We exchange glances.

“I'll go see the kids now too. Your mother will be here soon.”

    Ira and I pass each other in the hall.

“Well?”

“She's heartbroken. Be gentle with her and be honest with yourself.” He gives me a quick peck on my temple. “How are the kids?”

“Pouting.” I answer in a whisper. We smile and carry on. I knock on their door.

“Come in, Ma.” Zarri answers.

“I take it Ira already told you everything that I was going to say, only he was better at it.” I smile.

“Does that mean you have nothing left to say?” Zarri mocks me.

“I'll miss you. I will always love you, Treasure. That doesn’t change with us leaving. I'll miss the children too. They are such precious little jewels. I think that the recent events have brought them closer together. I didn't see any fear in them and it fills me with so much joy that…” My voice breaks. Zarri walks over to me and hugs me.

“I'll miss you too, Mom. I love you.” We pull apart. I take my daughter's smiling face into my palms. Treasure...

“Please take care, Priestess.” Crile smiles at me too. I hug the boy next.

“Thank you.” I tell him and let go. Crile nods. He knows that's not a simple thank you. That was the best I could come up with... I leave my blood in his care and he, better than anyone, knows, what a grueling task it is to look after her...

“I'll go then. If we stay any longer I might change my mind.” I giggle clumsily and so does Zarri.

“Have fun.” She says.

“May the stars shine upon you.” Crile nods.

“My lords.” I curtsy and leave.

    “Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask Devona one last time before we set sail tomorrow.

“Yes. She already made her statement as a Queen. She made the decision where I never could. That's why I left it to our people to deal with the scum... She's stronger than me. She can handle this. She already is handling this better.” Devona looks at me. Well. Least she's determined.

“Alright then.” I don’t argue. “What?”

She takes in a gulp of air and nothing.

“Yes?” I try again, walking closer to her.

“Why don't you call me Vona?”

I wait a moment. “Because Vona is his.” I can't...

“You respect him even now, after all this time?” She swipes a runaway tear with one fluid motion. I lift her face up.

“Dev.”

“Huh?” She stares at me startled.

“Dev.” I smile. “I can call you Dev. No good?”

“No. It's fine. Short and simple. I like it.” She smiles.

“Good. That's my Dev.” I lean in and kiss her.

    Epilogue

The five of us gather round in our Parents' bedroom. Mom and Dad stand there huddled up in the middle of the room. Mom opens up the letter and reads out loud.

“We regret to inform you that...”