"Are you alright, sweetie?"

Nick opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around: he was on the floor of a small bedroom, posters on the walls. He felt a throbbing in his head, and looked up at the bedside table beside him: it was at a slight angle, and a bit of blood dripped off of the corner. Nick felt his head, and his hand came away with blood. What the...

His door opened, and he froze as he saw a woman standing in the doorway.

"Oh my god!" She exclaimed as she knelt next to him and helped him into a seated position. "What happened?" She asked as she looked at the wound.

"M-mom?"

She paused and looked at him. "Are you okay?"

He slowly nodded. "I-I think..." He let out a breath, then nearly two decades of memories flooded into his mind. He shook his head. "Yeah, yeah. I'm just... Dazed."

She frowned, then turned towards the door. "Brian! Bing the first aid kit!"

Nick's mother pulled a cloth from her pocket and pressed it against the wound.

"I'm fine, mom," Nick said.

A man entered the room with a first aid kit and immediately knelt next to Nick. "Don't move just yet, son."

Nick blinked. "Dad, I-" he paused, then sat still as Brian set to the wound.

"What happened, Ginny?"

She shook her head. "I think he fell out of bed."

"Must've been quite the dream," Brian said as he finished wrapping a bandage around Nick's head.

"I'm fine," Nick said as he got himself up on the bed.

"Follow my finger," Brian said as he held up a finger and moved it side to side. Nick did, and then he moved it up and down.

"Okay. Well, if you're really fine, then you'll want to get going. The bus leaves for the university in fifteen."

Nick nodded, then stood up.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked.

"He's fine," Brian said with a smile. "Now let the boy change."

They left his room, and Nick got dressed. "What was that dream?"

He shook his head, then grabbed his bag and walked downstairs. He opened the front door just as a young, athletic woman was about to knock. She smiled up at him, then frowned as she saw the bandage. "What happened?"

"I fell out of bed and hit the bedside table on the way down," he said.

"You should see a doctor," she said as she reached up and gently caressed the one side of his forehead with her thumb.

"I'm fine," he said with a smile. She watched him for a moment. "Okay. But I'm keeping my eye on you today."

"Hey Olivia!" Ginny said as she came to the door.

"Good morning Mrs. Nightingale."

"It's Ginny," she said. "And, are you coming over for dinner tonight?"

"That was the plan, Ginny," Olivia said. She took Nick's hand and pulled him along. "We've gotta get going if we're taking the bus. Bye, Ginny!"

"See you two later!"

They walked to the bus stop just as it pulled in and boarded. Nick listened to her talk about all manner of things, unceasing. Classes, politics, other students. Nick could feel irritation build up in him, but then she stopped, smiled, and started to ask him some questions. He found himself oddly at peace as it turned into a proper conversation, but at one point his mind drew a blank, and he didn't respond.

"What do you think about it?" She asked. She then looked up at him as they stepped off of the bus. "Nick?"

"Do you want to have kids?" He asked.

She blinked, and tilted her head. "No. Why?"

Nick shook his head as they continued to walk. "I don't know. I just... I'm thinking of the future, I guess."

"Huh," she said. "You must've hit your head pretty hard."

He raised his eyebrow. "Why?"

"You have everything planned out already," she said. "It's one of the things I like about you: I can just go with your plan."

Nick blinked. "Just like that? No questions?"

"Nope," she said. "I only have to think about what to do for work until I retire. "

"Huh," Nick said. "So... You don't have any ambitions?"

She smiled. "Sticking with you."

He furrowed his brow.

"Isn't that enough?"

No, it isn't. He thought. But why isn't it?

"It's fine," Nick said.

"Have you changed your mind about some things?" She asked.

"I don't know," he said. "I guess, there are some things that could be nice. I wouldn't mind having a daughter."

"Children are an absolute nightmare," she said nonchalantly. "All mess, loud, obnoxious. They're always doing something to embarrass you in public."

Nick's lips tightened. "She isn't like that at all!"

Olivia blinked, and looked up in surprise at the sudden outburst. "Maybe you should've stayed home today."

Nick paused, and thought through the events of the day. "No... Yes. Yeah. I'm going to go home."

He turned around and promptly walked away, leaving a confused Olivia behind. "I'll walk you home."

"No!" He exclaimed. He paused, then lowered his voice. "No, I need some time to myself."

He stopped at the bus stop. A bus rumbled in, and he took it home.

What the hell's wrong with me? Who was I even talking about?

He got off at his stop and walked home.

"Nick?" Ginny asked as he came through the door. "Are you alright?"

"I should've stayed home," Nick said.

Ginny directed him to the couch. "Just sit down here. I'll get you some water."

Nick nodded. "Thanks." He paused. "Did Lium leave for school already?"

Ginny came back. "Lium?"

"Yeah, my brother?"

She shook her head and set the water down. "I'm going to call a doctor."

He grabbed her wrist before she could call. "No. I... I need..." He blinked. "Eterna." He looked up at her. "Where's Eterna?"

Ginny's expression changed. "Where did you hear that name?"

"I... I don't know. But I need to talk to her."

"It's just an imaginary person," Ginny said as she stood up. "Something you came up with when you were younger."

She walked into the kitchen.

Then why did the name bother her? And why'd she ask where I'd heard it if I came up with it?

Eterna suddenly appeared in the room. She cast a look of disdain towards Ginny as she rounded the corner, then turned to Nick. "Hello, Nick. What is it you need?"

"You are not welcome here!" Ginny exclaimed as she grabbed a kitchen knife. Eterna's eyes turned icy, and Ginny froze over. Brian came into the room. "What the hell-" he paused when he saw Eterna. "W-what are you doing here?" He looked at Ginny. "What did you do to her?"

"She's alive," Eterna said. "She decided trying to attack me when Nick called upon me was an appropriate course of action."

Brian's jaw tensed. "You can't come around here, Eterna."

"And yet here I am, Eldad," she said. "Nick is almost as much my son as he is hers, and he wants to talk to me." She turned her gaze to Nick. "What do you need from me?"

"I don't know," Nick said. "I just... Knew you were the person I needed to talk to."

Her eyes narrowed. "Did you mess with time?"

He shook his head. "Not that I know of."

He suddenly cried out in pain and held his head. Flashes of memories, of other people seared into his mind.

Brian sat beside Nick and held him. "What's happening?"

Eterna knelt in front of Nick. "You changed the past, Nick."

He looked up at her. "H-how?"

"A spell," she said. She placed a hand on each side of his head. "You wanted your parents to be alive and a part of your life. This is the life you'd live. No brother, no daughter. A girlfriend who... Well, you've met her. But you have your parents, a fifty year plan for your life, and haven't gone through all the pain and heartache of your other life."

"Daughter..?" Nick asked through clenched teeth. "And..." Ashley and Sera's faces flashed across his mind, and memories of them both flooded him. Then came the pain, and the nightmares.

Eterna lowered her hands to cradle his face as tears flowed from his eyes. "Nick, you need to choose."

He shook his head. "No. I... I don't want to lose..."

He looked at his father, then his mother.

"Nick," Eterna said. "I need you to look at me, Nick."

He slowly moved his eyes to hers, and she smiled so softly. "Nick, you can choose your parents, or your daughter and Sera."

Nick shook his head. "I want both."

"You can't have them both, Nick. If your parents survive, you never meet Ashley's mother," Eterna said. "You don't get snatched up by the organization, and I never take you in, and you never meet Sera."

Nick reached up and held onto her wrists, his knuckles turning white.

"And you never end up with the strength you need to protect any of them."

Nick swallowed, his eyes on Eterna. The ice around Ginny suddenly cracked, and she leaned against the wall, panting.

"Nick! Don't go. Don't leave us!"

Nick started to look back at her, but Eterna held his head in place. "Nick. You need to choose."

He closed his eyes, then heard his father's voice, deep and gentle. "I had to make a similar decision, son."

Nick shut his eyes tighter.

"I had to choose between living with the woman I loved and losing both of you, or living with another woman, and sacrificing myself and her to save you." He leaned his head against Nick's. "I couldn't bear the thought of losing either of you."

"Can't I sacrifice myself for all of you?" Nick asked.

"I don't want you to, son," Brian said. "I want you to live your own life, and follow your own path. If that’s with us, that'd make me more happy than anything in the universe. But, if you choose your daughter and the woman you love, then I couldn't be prouder to be your father."

Nick grit his teeth. "I'm sorry, dad. Mom." He opened his eyes and stared into Eterna's. "I want my life back."

He suddenly woke up in his room in the Bren Estate, covered in sweat. He looked down at his hands, tears streaking down his face. He looked up, and saw Cyrus and another man in the room.

"Your highness," Nick managed to utter as he dropped his gaze.

The man patted his knee. "How many times do I have to say you can call me Himael?"

Nick cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, Himael. What... Why are you here?"

"The prince has an ability required for this test," Cyrus said. "One member of each group of children from the royal family has it. Though, for the purposes of the test, it needs to be augmented by one of the Seven."

Nick slowly nodded. "What... What was that?"

"To see if you could refuse the temptation to alter time based on a focal point in your past, with more of an emphasis on an ideal outcome, as opposed to the normally disastrous ones," Cyrus said. "For you, had your parents stuck around and raised you, and things had gone well throughout, that is likely the life you would have lived."

"Did I pass?" He asked.

Cyrus nodded. "You did."

Nick held onto himself for a moment. "I-I want to see my family, now, if that's okay."

"It is," Cyrus said. Nick suddenly disappeared from the room, and Cyrus let out a breath.

"You didn't tell me he was Eldad's son!" Himael exclaimed.

Cyrus eyed him. "I didn't know either."

Himael ran a hand through his raven black hair. "I mean, we suspected he was Eldad's bastard. He looks just like him. But for god's sake, the proof he's not from a random fling is right there in his goddamned head! And with a Nightingale no less!"

"I'm aware," Cyrus said calmly.

"I-We, can't let anyone know about this," Himael said. "If father found out the truth behind my brother's disappearance... Heads would roll, and Eterna's would be the first on that block."

"I know," Cyrus said, his tone sharpening.

"You need to tell her to keep her mouth-"

Cyrus struck the bedside table next to him. Himael jumped, and looked over at him. "Eterna took him in because she knew exactly who he was, and she kept it quiet. Nick has no aspirations to power, so you don't have to worry about royal succession. This is a non-issue. Understood?"

Himael let out a breath, then nodded. "You're right, of course. I apologize for losing myself."

"You are forgiven, Himael," Cyrus said, calm once again. "And thank you for helping with today's test. Now, I recommend you return to the palace."

"Of course," Himael said as he stood up. He turned around, then Cyrus was on him in a flash. He reached into and modified Himael's memories, cutting out the pertinent information. As Himael collapsed, Cyrus caught him, and teleported to the royal palace and lay him on his bed. He looked down at the man in frustration.

"I warned you not to watch."

As Cyrus and Himael were discussing the test, Nick sat on the edge of his bed. He got up and walked out of his room, leaning against the wall as he stopped at the top of the stairs. A broken smile touched his lips as he heard Ashley giggling. Sera's voice wafted up to him, and he heard Eterna make a comment. He walked down the stairs, and they all looked up at him.

"Daddy!" Ashley exclaimed as she looked over at him. "Fina says you're-"

He hugged her tightly, his tears flowing again.

"Daddy?" Ashley asked. "What's wrong?"

He sniffed. "I, uh... I thought of just how sad I'd be, if I didn't have you." He looked up at Sera, whose expression was about as mixed as his. "Or Fina, or Eterna. I... I couldn't live without you."

Ashley hugged him back. "I don't want to live without you either, daddy."

Nick nodded and closed his eyes, and felt Sera's arms wrap around him and Ashley as well. After a while, he finally let go and straightened. He caught Eterna's gaze from over by the kitchen, and he walked over to her. She went in, and he followed. She leaned against the counter.

"That was the hardest test you'll have to endure," she said quietly. "It nearly broke-"

He embraced her, and she blinked.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you..."

She gently stroked his hair. "No, I'm sorry. I-I haven't been here for you."

"You were there when I needed you," Nick said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

Eterna's hand shook slightly. "I have always thought of you as my son. From the moment I first met you, all those years ago. I love you so, so much."

He nodded. "I love you too." He finally let go and took in a shaky breath. "Oh..." He closed his eyes and steadied himself on the counter.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

"It'll take a day or two for the extra memories to filter out," Eterna said. "Leaving only the event itself as a reminder." She took his arm and guided him out. "For now, take it easy. I'd recommend sleeping for a while."

She handed him off to Sera, and returned to making breakfast. Sera helped him back up to his room, and she sat next to him on the edge of his bed.

"What day is today?" Nick asked.

"Saturday," she replied as she took his hand in hers.

"Not that I'm complaining," Nick began. "But why are you here?"

"Eterna asked me to stay the night," she replied. "So I did."

He quietly smiled, and gently squeezed her hand. "Thank you."

"Anytime." She turned and gently pushed him down onto the bed. "Now you get some rest." She kissed him, but as she straightened he grabbed her hand.

"Will you be here when I wake up?"

She stared at him for a moment, and he looked away.

"I'm sorry, that-"

She kissed him again, this time longer. She pulled back slightly. "For as long as you need."

He let go, and she closed the door behind her as she left. She went downstairs to find Eterna rushing past her.

"What's wrong?"

"My other job," she said quietly. "Can you look after Ashley? And there's a list of things we need on the fridge: here's my card, and a house key."

Sera nodded. "Okay."

Eterna stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Sera could hear the sound of ice forming, and then it stopped.

This is quite the family I've gotten involved with, she thought, looking at the card and key in her hand as she sat down with Ashley.

"Is daddy going to be okay?"

Sera nodded and smiled. "Yeah, he is. He just needs a little time."

"What happened to him?"

"Oh," Sera said as she started to cut up her meal. "This last test he did made him... Have to experience some things."

"Bad things?" Ashley asked.

Sera tilted her head slightly. "Not bad, so much as having to choose between things he really, really wants."

"And he can't have both?" Ashley asked.

Sera shook her head. "No, he can't."

Ashley looked down. "And that made him sad?"

"I think... It made him understand a lot of things," Sera said. She smiled. "And I think it's helped him."

Ashley thought for a moment, then silently started eating. After she was done, Sera quickly wiped Ashley's face.

"I can do it myself!" Ashley protested.

"You usually miss something," Sera admonished. She finished, then leaned back. "There. Clean."

Ashley narrowed her eyes at her for a moment, then turned around and started to go to the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Sera asked as she cleaned up the dishes.

"To see if daddy's okay."

"He needs to rest," Sera said gently. "Why don't you help me with the dishes, and then we've got to do some shopping. Maybe we can pick something out for him."

Ashley looked upstairs, fidgetted, then nodded and followed Sera into the kitchen.

"Say, Ashley?" Sera asked as she filled the sink with soapy water. "At the theme park, do you remember when you froze that guy's arm?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Those mean guys wouldn't leave you alone, so I told them to."

"Yeah," Sera said. "Do you remember what you said?"

"I told them to leave you alone," Ashley said.

"Do you remember your exact words?" Sera asked.

Ashley went quiet for a moment. "I'm sorry."

Sera blinked. "For what?"

"I called you mom, but... I shouldn't have."

Sera smiled. "It's nothing to feel bad about. I just wanted to know why."

"Petra and Eason sleep in the same bedroom, and Fernanda and Saul sleep in the same bedroom. Moms and dads sleep in the same room, and you and daddy slept in the same room. And you kiss. I know you're not my..." She searched for the term.

"Birth mother?"

She nodded. "You and I are like Eason and Payter." Ashley was quiet for a moment. "Was that bad?"

"No, it wasn't bad," Sera said.

How do I explain this?

"Your dad and I aren't... A mom and dad, like Fernanda and Saul."

"But you will be," Ashley said.

Sera blinked. "I think I'd like to be, yeah."

"Does daddy?"

Sera took in a breath. "I hope so."

The pair worked quietly until they finished, and Ashley looked up at her. "I hope he does too."

Sera took a piece of paper and wrote down on it, then put it out on the table. She quickly got ready, then grabbed Ashley's hand. "Let's go."

They left the house and walked to the mall, both quite silent. They reached the mall, and Ashley looked at the huge structure, eyes wide.

"Haven't you been here before?" Sera asked.

Ashley shook her head. "Daddy shops at the grocery store near our house."

"Oh," Sera said. Well, we're here now.

"Well, make sure you hold onto my hand: there'll be a lot of people here."

"Like Ignatio's Keep?" Ashley asked.

"A lot like that, yeah," Sera said. They walked in, and she looked over the list. "Okay... Let's start with the..."

They made their way through the mall, Ashley gripping her hand tightly as they went.

"Sera?"

She looked back to see Nayeli. "Hey Yeli. What're you doing here?"

Nayeli pointed with her thumb over her shoulder, and Sera looked to see Jolie with all three kids in tow.

"Family trip?"

"I said I was coming here, and the kids wouldn't shut up about going as well, so mom brought them here."

She looked down at Ashley. "Oh, hey Ash! How's it going?"

"I'm okay," she said.

"Are you shopping with Sera?"

She nodded. "We're gonna get something for daddy too."

"Speaking of, where is he?" Nayeli asked.

"He's not feeling well right now," Sera said. "So he's at home. Eterna gave me a list and her card, so here I am."

"Her card?" Nayeli asked. Sera produced the gold card, and Nayeli's eyebrows shot up. "You could get a lot of things with this."

Sera gave her a flat look. "I'm going to get what's on the list."

"C'mon, Sera; live a little."

"That's what I'm trying to keep doing," Sera said. She looked at Ashley. "Would you be my shoulder angel, today?"

"Aren't there things you want?" Nayeli asked Ashley.

She thought for a moment. "Is there something here that'll help daddy feel better?"

Nayeli paused. "Aw... That's too pure. You win."

Ashley blinked, and tilted her head. "I don't get it."

Nayeli smiled. "That's okay." She turned her eyes to Sera. "You do still have your own money with you though, right?"

Sera nodded. "Yeah, why?"

"I think I know what you can do to cheer up Nick," Nayeli said with a wink. "And while you and I work on that, perhaps Ashley can work with my family on something from her."

"I can't just-"

"I want to!" Ashley said, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at Sera. "We can then both cheer up daddy!"

"Uh, Ash, Yeli is-" she paused, then let out a breath. "If it's okay with Mrs. Amero."

Nayeli waved over to her family, and Jolie corralled the kids over.

"Hey Sera!" Jolie said. "Long time no see."

"Yeah," Sera said. "It's been a while."

Jolie's eyes followed down to Ashley, who now stood behind Sera's leg, her confidence gone. "You must be Ashley. You look just like your dad."

"You know him?" Ashley asked.

"I do," Jolie said. "I talked to him last tuesday, even."

"What'd you talk about?" Ashley asked.

"All kinds of things," she said. "But it was mostly about how much he loves you and Sera."

Ashley watched her for a moment, then stepped forward. "Can I ask for you to help me?"

Jolie nodded. "Of course."

"My daddy's not feeling well, and I want to get him something to cheer him up."

"Sure," Jolie said. "I'd love to."

"Can we help too?" One of the Amero kids asked.

"Mh," Ashley said, nodding.

"I'll come back to get you in forty five minutes, right here," Sera said as she knelt. Ashley nodded and hugged her. "Okay, Fina."

"Good luck," Sera said.

"Good luck," she parroted as she pulled back and joined the Amero clan.

"Just give me the receipt and I'll pay you back, for whatever it is," Sera said to Jolie.

"Alright," Jolie said. "See you in forty five."

Sera watched them walk away, the Amero children bombarding Ashley with questions about Nick as they went.

Nayeli tapped Sera's shoulder. "She'll be fine: you should worry about yourself right now."

Sera let out a breath. "I think I know the answer, but where are we going?" Nayeli pointed to a women's clothing store, and she shook her head. "Those clothes are more for the person who wears them."

"Oh come on," Nayeli said. "At least get a swimsuit."

"It takes forever to go through things."

"Then I'll turn into you," Nayeli said. "We'll go twice as fast."

"I can't swim, Nayeli."

"Then you can spend some quality time with Nick and have him teach you," Nayeli countered.

"We have till next summer," Sera said.

"But they'll cost less out of season," Nayeli said. "And, there are always random heat waves."

"Yeli-"

Nayeli grabbed her hand and dragged her towards the shop. "I'm done arguing with you."

"Yeli!"

Nayeli stopped and turned toward her. "We never hung out like this before, Sera. We didn't talk about boys, or try on clothes together, and you seem kinda stressed out..." She let out a sigh. "But fine. Let's just... Find something for Nick."

Sera's gaze fell, but she smiled, if only slightly. "Alright. Let's go in."

They went through the clothes store, and came back out half an hour later. Sera had only one bag, though Nayeli had four.

"I didn't think they'd almost kick us out," Nayeli remarked.

"You," Sera corrected with a laugh. "They almost kicked you out."

"It's not my fault I can change anywhere I want..." Nayeli replied. "Maybe she shouldn't be so judgemental, and it's an adult clothing store anyways."

Sera shook her head. "Let's find something for Nick."

"What does he like?" Nayeli asked.

Sera paused.

"Sera?"

"I don't know."

Nayeli raised an eyebrow. "You guys have known each other two months now, and you have no idea?"

Sera hung her head. "I don't have a clue."

"Okay, well, when you think of Nick, what's the first thing that comes to mind?"

"His voice."

Nayeli scratched her head. "This is going to be harder than I thought... What does he do in his spare time?"

She shook her head.

"Well, he likes to help people," Nayeli said. "Maybe there's something that can help him with that? Maybe a stamina enchanted item, or a bracelet that glows for when it's dark?"

"Maybe..." Sera said. "Speaking of helping people, how did he help you? If you don't mind."

"No," Nayeli said. "I don't mind. I... Well, I was being whatever someone else needed, and one day I needed to be a... Well, huh." She smiled at Sera. "This is still hard to talk about."

"You don't have to push yourself," Sera said.

"No, I want... No, I need to. I was a mess, covered in blood and... You know, and I couldn't really move on my own. Nick was the only one who answered his phone, and he came. He carried me to the bathroom, and held me up and cleaned me off in the shower then carried me to the infirmary."

Sera blinked, the thought of Nick showering Nayeli crossing her mind. Her jaw tightened slightly, and she looked at her. "Must've been quite the experience."

"He was a gentleman about the whole thing," Nayeli said. "I'd even tried offering... Myself, to him, but he declined. He then.... He asked me something. If what I was doing filled the pit in my chest." She relaxed. "I'd still be in back rooms today if it weren't for him."

Sera clasped her hands in front of her, her gaze on them as she rubbed her knuckle with her thumb. "Mh."

Nayeli quickly looked up. "I'm not in love with him or anything. He's just… A great friend." She lightly punched Sera's shoulder. "And I'm rooting for you two."

Sera half smiled. "I know, but it's still... Hard, I guess."

"He loves you Sera," she said. "Like, really loves you. He planned out heat week for you, and by the end of it, hell even after it, instead of being scared off, he wanted you more. And, he's not going to consider dating someone without considering what Ashley thinks about them, and Ashley thinks the world of you."

"You think so?" Sera asked.

"I know so," Nayeli said as she looked off into the distance. "If she doesn't come running up to you all excited the second she spots you, I owe you twenty bucks."

Sera let out a breath, then felt something collide with her legs. She blinked, and saw Ashley hanging onto her with one hand as she held up a bracelet in the other. It was clearly self made, with lettered block beads. "I made this for daddy!"

Sera smiled and took it from her hand to look it over. It had the names 'Nikky', 'Ash', and 'Fina' spelt out on it, with a heart between each name.

"Do you like it?" She asked, her eyes waiting for Sera's approval.

"I think it's perfect," Sera said as she handed it back to her. Ashley smiled and put it into a small bag she had with her. She looked at Sera's bag. "What did you get?"

Sera rubbed the back of her neck. "Oh, I, uh..."

"I distracted her," Nayeli said. "It's my fault."

Ashley looked up at her in disbelief. "Nayeli! This is for daddy!"

"I know, I know," she replied. "I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

Ashley watched her for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "I guess. But Fina, you need to find something."

"I've got an idea," Sera said as Jolie and her kids finally caught up.

"Ashley, please don't run off like that," Jolie said.

She looked back. "Sorry. I saw Fina, and I really wanted to show her."

Jolie let out a breath. "I forgive you. Whew."

"Thank you for helping out," Sera said. "How much do I owe you?"

"Nothing," Jolie said. "And it was no problem at all. I think, however, it's time we head home. Are you coming, Nayeli?"

"Yeah, I am," she said. "I'll see you later, Sera. We should hang out sometime this week. I'll call you. Oh, and you owe me twenty bucks."

"Okay," Sera said with a slight laugh as the Amero clan walked away.

Sera took Ashley's hand and they walked through the crowd until they reached a small shop in the corner. They entered, and an elderly couple looked up from behind the counter.

"Hello, young lady," the man said as he slowly rose to his feet. "How can we help?"

"I'd like a bit of custom work," she said. She looked over the shelves, then found a necklace with blank dog tags on it. "On this."

Later on, Sera and Ashley were walking back to Nick's place, groceries in hand.

"Say, when is Nick's birthday?"

"Today," Ashley said.

Sera blinked. "He didn't say anything."

"Daddy doesn't like his birthday," Ashley said. "So we should give him the gifts tomorrow."

"He doesn't accept birthday gifts?" Sera asked.

"He accepts them," Ashley replied. "But he fake smiles. So I stopped because it didn't make him happy. But it makes me happy to give them to him, because he's always doing stuff for me, and I can't do stuff for him because I'm too little. I want to grow big like you and be able to help him too."

Sera couldn't help but smile. "I'm glad you feel that way, but you do a lot for him."

"Like what?" Ashley asked.

"Remember what he told you this morning?"

"That he couldn't live without us?" Ashley asked.

Sera nodded. "Yeah. You just being you helps him so, so much."

She stared up at Sera for a moment, then nodded to herself. "Okay."

They got home, and they put the groceries away.

"I'll go see if he's awake," Sera said as she went upstairs. She peeked into his room, and saw he wasn't moving. She padded up to him, and held her hand under his nose, then felt his breath. She let out a sigh of relief, then left the room and went back downstairs.

"He's still asleep. How about we have some lunch, and then we can hang out till he wakes up or Eterna comes home."

"I want a chicken sandwich!" Ashley declared.

"Then a chicken sandwich you shall have," Sera said.

Later on, Nick opened his eyes to his dark bedroom. He slowly sat up, and looked around. I need some fresh air.

He got up and carefully made his way downstairs. He paused in the living room as he saw Sera asleep on the couch. He walked over, then noticed a note on the coffee table.

You looked like you needed your rest, so I took Ashley out for dinner. Feel free to order something, or raid the fridge. Eterna.

Nick went to the sliding door and stepped outside, the cold air nipping at his skin. He knelt in the middle of their small yard, and closed his eyes as he took in some deep breaths. He then slowed his breathing.

Why do I feel worse than before?

Sera frowned in her sleep, and tossed and turned as images of Nick and Nayeli in a shower together filled her mind. She suddenly sat up, and she saw Nick through the sliding door. She got up and walked over to it, and opened it. He turned around and smiled.

"Hey, rested u-"

She jumped him, pressing her thighs to the side of his head while getting her feet under his arms to hold him down. He blinked rapidly in his newfound position on the ground, unable to move.

"Sera-"

"Tap out!" Sera ordered.

"I don't know what-"

"Tap out!"

He frowned, then reached and grabbed her tail as he kissed her. She tensed up, but it was enough for him to break free, and he grabbed her wrists and held her down.

She looked up at him, her face red. "W-who does that to break free from a hold?"

He tilted his head. "Who fly tackles their recovering boyfriend without warning?"

She rolled him over, her holding him down now. "You showered with Nayeli."

Nick frowned. Please say she's just screwing with me...

Nick thought for a moment. "I don't remem-" a light came on in his eyes. "Oh, yeah, that. I did shower her."

Sera swallowed. "You did?"

"Yeah," Nick said nonchalantly. "You'd have done it too, in my shoes."

She watched him. "What?"

"Yeah..." Nick said. "This was back when she was doing that... Service, for other students. One left her an absolute mess: twisted ankles, fractures, bloodied and..." He let out an angry breath. "Anyways, she needed help, and nobody else was answering their phones, so she called me. I helped her get cleaned up and then took her to the infirmary."

"Oh," Sera said, her gaze falling. "Right. She said... Then... That was a dream, not..." She continued in an incredibly small voice. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. Again."

He stared directly into her eyes. "I wouldn't hang out with someone I had the kind of relationship you're thinking of while dating you. Not to mention, I would never, and will never, cheat on you."

She sniffed. "Is that a promise?"

He half smiled. "Sera, I want you. Not Nayeli, not Delilah, not any other woman in the universe. Just you."

Sera couldn't quite meet his gaze. "Then have a bath with me."

Nick blinked. "A bath?"

She nodded.

"If it will help," Nick said. "But you gotta get off me first."

She did, and he got up. "I'll get the water started."

He slowly walked inside, and she paused. What am I doing? He's obviously still recovering, and... And..! she buried her face in her hands. I'm being so selfish. She finally let out a breath. But now it'd be worse if I didn't follow through.

Nick sat on the edge of the tub, a towel around his waist and long sleeve shirt still on. Eventually, Sera came in, a towel wrapped around herself. She stepped up to the tub, but hesitated.

"Forgot bathing is usually done nude, huh?"

She nodded and looked to the side.

"Well, no point letting the bath go to waste."

She went to cover her eyes as Nick reached for his towel. He dropped it, and she peeked, and her expression changed as she saw his shorts.

"You-"

Nick raised an eyebrow as he got in.

"You knew I'd chicken out!"

He leaned back and interlocked his fingers behind his head as he smiled. "I had a hunch."

She glared at him for a moment, then left the room. He smiled to himself and closed his eyes. Soon, the door opened and she came in. He cracked an eye open, and saw she was wearing a crimson bikini. She eased into the tub across from him, her legs wrapping around his. She looked him over, and saw his shirt clinging to his skin.

"Why do you always wear a long sleeve shirt?"

Nick didn't open his eyes. "So I don't make people uncomfortable."

"You look pretty cut," she said. "So unless it's because you don't want to show up the other guys..?"

"Naw, it's just..."

She looked closer, and noticed some odd indents in the cloth.

He let out a breath and stood up. "I don't-"

He froze as he realized his shorts rode a bit high. Scars and ink peeked out underneath the cuffs, and he looked down as she noticed too.

He fixed his shorts and she grabbed his hand. "Whatever it is, you can trust me."

He looked off to the side, but felt her eyes on him. He met her gaze, and she lifted the hem of his shirt. He remained still, only moving so the shirt could be removed. Her eyes widened as it was all lain bare. All manner of druidic symbols were carved and inked into his skin. He looked askance, and stood there silently.

She slowly looked it over. "How far does it go?"

"All over," he said quietly. "All along my spine, my arms, legs, chest, back..."

He twitched as she gently traced some of the scars with her hand. "Sorry, does it hurt?"

"It does.”

She pulled back slightly. "You didn't want me to see this?"

"I was..." He trailed off, and shook his head.

She smiled and put her hands on her hips. "And how did you expect that to work?"

He grabbed one of his arms. "I... Thought maybe it wouldn't come up."

"Didn't think we'd make it that far?" She asked.

"That's not-"

"Lose this game you think we're playing?"

"I don't think this is a game," Nick said quickly.

"Then why are you acting like it?"

"I-" he stopped. She's using my own words against me.

He cleared his throat. "How am I treating this like a game?"

"Like you're hiding everything because you think it'll make me give up and move on," she said. "Which keeps me from getting to know you, while you get to know more and more about me." She stared at him for a moment. "Do you want me to?"

His gaze fell.

"Just... Give up, and move on?"

"No," he said.

She gently cupped his chin and brought his gaze to hers. "I get that there are things you're not ready to talk about. I do. But when those things come up, don't try to run away. Don't hide from me. Lean on me."

He closed his eyes and nodded, and she smiled, and he felt her arms slide beneath his until she had him in a proper embrace. It felt like vines grew around his body, holding him in place as she pressed her ear against his chest. "Good. Cause you know I'm a sore loser."

Nick's foot suddenly slipped out from under him and he dropped, taking her with him. He winced as he hit the tub, and she started laughing uncontrollably.

"What's so funny?"

She shook her head and wiped away a tear. "Sorry, it's just... After all that, and... 'you can lean on me', and..."

He paused, then joined in her laughter.