Thomas reached out to gently brush Emily’s hair back, his touch filled with fatherly affection. "I’m glad you found some peace, Em. You’ve been through so much, and it’s good to see you happy and relaxed."

His voice carried a slight hesitation - "You know we’re always here for you, right?"

Emily looked at her dad, her smile tinged with empathy. Daniel had advised her to show patience, but perhaps a slightly more direct approach was necessary?

“Dad, I know it’s hard to fully understand, maybe even to accept all this,” Emily began, her voice steady and reassuring. “I bet you sometimes wonder if Daniel is just a friend or something more. And I know it might make you angry that his presence has changed our lives so suddenly.”

She watched as a flicker of surprise crossed Thomas's face, and couldn’t help but laugh gently. “I’m getting warm, aren’t I?”

Thomas shuffled uncomfortably. “It is eerie how much like your mom you are; it’s hard to hide anything from you,” he sighed wearily. “I know Daniel is real, Emily. The EEG showed it, your abilities have shown it, but” he paused, gathering his thoughts amidst the turmoil.

“Yes, I do wonder if our lives would have been fuller and easier had Daniel never come here. I also wish I knew why he came here, why us, why you?”

The floodgates opened and all his concerns seemed to flow out at once.

“I feel nervous for you and for our family. Who is Daniel? Is he an alien? Is he a ghost? Will he turn on us, or worse, on you one day?”

"Tom!" Sarah exclaimed, her voice sharp with surprise and a hint of a reprimand.

"It’s okay, Mom!" Emily reassured, holding up her hand with a calming expression.

"Danny and I have talked about this, you know?"

She tapped her fingers slowly on the table. "He told me it would take time. He's lived with me for so long, and I even needed time to understand him. And you’re not even sharing my body."

She continued, "Let's look at the evidence, right? I’m a walking supercomputer - it's like having access to an entire library of another universe's knowledge. I’ve learned so much from him - science, history, engineering and stuff that isn’t even touched upon in our colleges here."

Emily's excitement surged. She leaned forward, her eyes alight with fervor.

Her eyes sparkled with a sudden burst of excitement. “And then there's the way he helps me with problem-solving—academic and social! It’s like having a live-in tutor who can guide me through life’s challenges any time I need help. Heck, I know three languages because of him!”

Her tone became softer, and reflective.

“But Danny’s not just a teacher or a guide. He’s opened my eyes to so much—new cultures, philosophies, perspectives. He shares his experiences with me—his struggles, his victories—and it’s given me a whole new way of looking at the world.”

Her shoulders slumped slightly, and her eyes grew misty.

“He knows when to back off. I can feel how much he wants to share the parts of his life that hurt—the pain, his family, his health. And even though I want to help him with that burden, he carries it all on his own. He doesn’t share those parts. Just so I can have some semblance of a normal childhood.”

She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. “Yes, Danny, I’m not an idiot—I know you keep those memories private.”

She looked up at her stunned parents and shrugged. “Smartypants thought I didn’t see the pattern, but he never seems to share those particular memories. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know he’s protecting me.”

Her voice softened. "Since he has been with me - I’ve felt so much happier, so much lighter. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, he's there to talk me through it, day or night.”

Emily concluded with conviction, "Everything he has shown me? Taught me? Truthfully - it has made me a better friend, a better daughter, and honestly, a better person."

Her gaze softened, becoming introspective, "I can’t imagine my life without him anymore. It might sound unorthodox and weird, but without Daniel, my mind would feel so empty. He’s become a part of me."

With a playful wink, she added, “Madame Zara said my bond with him is evolving, and I can feel it growing stronger. Maybe one day, soon, Mom and Dad, you can meet him too…again"

—

With that statement, Emily began bounding out of the room but screeched to a halt mid-sprint. She turned slowly, her face thoughtful once again.

"You know, there's something Daniel mentioned that really stuck with me," she said, tapping her temple gently. "During one of our conversations in the dreamscape, we talked about all the incredible things that have happened, and he suddenly brought up how important family and our bonds are."

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Sarah and Thomas both stilled, their curiosity visibly piqued. The discussion so far had centered around Emily and Daniel, but this shift toward the family as a whole caught them off guard.

Hesitatingly Sarah asked "What did he say, sweetie?"

Emily smiled, evidently savoring the memory before continuing. "He said that despite everything we’ve been through, the strength of our family’s bond keeps us strong. It doesn’t matter how tough things get—what truly matters is that we have each other to lean on, that we genuinely have each other's best interests at heart. He said those connections define us."

The room fell silent, the weight of Daniel’s words settling over Sarah and Thomas. A deeper, more unexpected understanding seemed to dawn on them.

Emily hesitated, her expression growing solemn. "He... he was really passionate about it. You know, by the end of his time in his universe, he had lost his entire family. He doesn't talk about it much, but I think in our family, he sees beauty, kindness, and a bond that he never had a chance to experience."

Thomas and Sarah exchanged a glance, their emotions unspoken but visible in the quiet shift of their expressions. Emily pressed on before they could respond.

"He reminded me of how you two have always supported me. Despite how strange things have been, you've never treated me like a freak, and you’ve stood by your promise to understand and accept me."

Her voice grew earnest, her eyes glistening with gratitude. "Danny said that’s the essence of family—those who stand by you no matter what."

Thomas cleared his throat, his hand lifting to rub briefly at his eyes. "That’s... quite profound, Em," he admitted, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "Your... brother has a wise perspective, despite everything."

Emily cupped her face in her hands, her elbows resting on the table as she gazed distantly. "Yeah, he really does. It made me realize that no matter what happens, I’m never truly alone. I have all of you, and I have Danny. And I guess he has me too."

Sarah’s eyes glistened as well, a gentle smile spreading across her face. "That’s a beautiful way to put it, Emily. And he’s right—our bonds do keep us strong. I’m glad you and Daniel—Danny—have each other to lean on, and that you feel supported by us."

—

As Emily bounded away again, Sarah and Thomas lingered at the kitchen table in a contemplative silence, their initial apprehensions softened some.

Thomas began softly, almost whispering as he followed the path Emily had scampered off with his eyes. "I forget how wise she can be."

He smiled wryly, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement, "...how wise they can be."

Sarah nodded, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup again, her mind deep in thought.

"That look she gets, so far beyond her years, it’s calming." She looked up, her gaze simultaneously serious yet soft. "The way she spoke about everything Daniel has brought into her life... it’s hard to dismiss, Tom."

Thomas exhaled deeply, feeling his own hesitancy reduced.

"I know, I know. And it’s not just the languages or the academics. It’s everything - her whole being. It’s hard for me to admit, but do you remember how she used to struggle with social anxiety? Now, she seems so at ease."

Sarah’s expression brightened, "Exactly. She’s happier, more confident—as if she has a constant advisor by her side, guiding her, protecting her."

Sarah paused before adding “And she does…”

She leaned forward, "I think we both used to worry we were losing a part of her, but after everything - I believe she's gaining something extraordinary. Daniel isn’t replacing any part of her; he’s enhancing her, helping her grow."

Thomas groaned softly, the chair creaking as he shifted.

"It's a lot to take in. An invisible presence that teaches, supports, even protects her," he remarked. He shook his head, chuckling softly. "But that’s Emily for you, always finding magic in the world. Now, she has her own real-life Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Sarah playfully reached across the table and poked Thomas on the nose. "Ah, trust her father to bring out a Star Wars reference to disarm the complexity of our life," she teased.

Thomas laughed softly at the unexpected demonstration of affection.

“In all seriousness” he began “I think what won me over…or more over…was how Emily talked about what Daniel has taught her about family, about ties and bonds. I didn’t expect that."

Sarah nodded, her expression thoughtful yet tinged with sadness. "He’s not just teaching her subjects, but values—the deeper meanings of relationships."

Her voice softened, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. "It’s heartbreaking to think about what he lost in his own universe. And yet, here he is, finding hope in us, in Emily."

She looked up and continued “And if his influence is helping her appreciate and strengthen her bonds with us, with her friends, isn’t that a sign that his presence might actually be a positive thing? Maybe he’s like a guardian in some way?"

Thomas mused, "A guardian within? That’s an interesting perspective. And somehow comforting, to think she has this guardian with her, especially when we can’t be there."

Sarah summed it up, her voice firm yet filled with wonder, "Maybe this isn’t a curse or an interloper, Tom. Maybe this is a gift—a rare gift that the universe gave Emily, and indirectly, us."

Thomas smiled slightly, reassured. "A gift... It's all about perspective, isn't it? Emily said she feels supported from all sides now. That’s all we could ever hope for her, to feel supported, loved, and strong enough to face whatever comes her way."

With a playful tap on the table, Sarah concluded, "Okay, this is getting too deep for this time of the morning. I need to go do... something else for a bit."

Thomas laughed, "You and me both. I think I’ve had enough of metaphysics and dual consciousnesses for a spell."

As they stood, their eyes met across the table, filled with shared understanding.

Thomas walked over to Sarah and gently pulled her into an embrace. As he leaned down to give her a tender kiss, Sarah looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with emotion—relief, love, and a spark of something new, a strength born from their trials.

"We will be okay," Thomas whispered, his voice soft but firm in the quiet kitchen. "All of us."

In that embrace, they allowed themselves a moment to dream of the future. For the first time in a long while, they felt a glimmer of excitement, not fear, for the unknown.

As they stepped back, hands still clasped, sunlight streamed through the window, painting the kitchen in gold. In its light, they saw not just the challenges to come, but the beauty of every small victory and the peace that came from facing them together.