Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Winged Warrior ❯ Home ( Chapter 5 )

The morning brought frost to the windows. The temperature both inside and out must have dropped with the sun. The bright morning star wasn’t up yet; the room was still cast in darkness aside from a slight red light from the neon sign outside. The sound of a fizzle as if someone had poured a coke over ice came and went in the room; the sound of the door shutting woke the large young man. The bright eyes of River, much like the sun, were reluctant to show as he fumbled slightly in bed. He couldn’t keep sleep off for more than a minute or so. He let out a heavy hot breath into the air, and was shocked by its visibility. The change in heat didn’t bother him at all. The blankets though thin and more sheet like were comfortable, but more importantly, he had Alex’s body tucked into his own. Even if he was freezing, his mind managed in those sleepy moments, with her there, he’d be warm. He put his forehead against her own as sleep threatened again, his eyes spotted the smile that graced her lips which only made him smile as well.

The tender moment sleeping together wrapped together in that blanket wouldn’t last. The Mutt was up and raring to go. “Sleep in the van.” She spoke softly as she nudged Sam towards the door after almost yanking her out of bed. Once Sam had completed her zombie like walk out, she turned sharply towards River. “Get up now.” She barked at him impatiently. He just nodded groggily; he forced his body into an upright position and tried to stretch himself awake. “Are you good to carry Blondie?” RJ asked immediately after he was sitting up. With a yawn, he shook his head. He didn’t even notice Mutt rolling her eyes before she grabbed his forearm and yanked him onto his feet. “Move it.” She said give him a strike on the back towards the door.

“What?” River slurred almost asleep standing up. He almost instinctually shook his head before exiting the dank hotel room. His eyes caught a glipse of RJ lifting the girl that once lay beside him into her arms, as easily as one would pick up a newborn. River stood in awe as she was able to carry Alex through the door way with little trouble.

“What are you staring at Musha? Oh this little trick, I’ve had practice.” She beamed, walking gracefully to the back of the car without disturbing Alex’s slumber. Swiftly, she distributed Alex to one arm! She even managed to unlock the back of the car. “Man, she and her parents sleep like rocks,“ RJ spoke as she positioned Alex again, “Alex was always a bit more sensitive than her parents though, guess she’s comfortable because of some scent memory mumbo jumbo, hell I don’t care.” Between her small griping she jumped up into the van skillfully and laid Alex down against the side. She hopped back out smirking and looking at River who seemed impressed by the small feet she accomplished in front of his very eyes. “Oh, that’s simple.” RJ said mischievously as she walked over then scooped him up just as easily she had Alex. “That is impressive” River, unused to the feeling of his feet not being on the ground, had a miniature panic attack in her grip. “Ha-ha, big guy, bet you’re not use to that” She laughed for a good minute before she set him down. “Now get in the car before I put you in like an infant.” She walked behind him and as a joke, took one leg crossing it over her other and gently hit him the bum with her heel before she walked towards the office to return her key.

“Ladies first.” River mumbled gesturing towards the interior of the van with one hand and rubbing his behind with the other. He let out a slight smile being slightly lost in thought when Sam spoke.

“Yeah, get in” She smiled in good humor despite looking like she was asleep standing up. With a brief laugh, she simply said “Just kidding.” Sam climbed into the back and curled into the opposite side of the van. Final River got in and shut the door behind him carefully so not to bother either of the girls. The van itself was cold without the heater running; the windshield covered in little ice like specks each one different. For a moment he assumed that they would need blankets, River remembered they were up above in compartments. As he found the comforters, he almost let out a slight laugh at the colors, red and blue. He wondered if they were significant but his freezing friends took precedence. He laid the red over Sam, who gratefully wrapped her body up in it. He laughed slightly in his head at Sam’s display. He knew red was her favorite color and that it was cold, but just watching her wrap up almost like a burrito in the comforter seemed comical. His attention then went to Alex, who’d been lying on the cold mattress longer, for a few seconds he hugged the blanket to himself warming it up before draping it over her gently. It was large enough to cover most of the van; he knew space wouldn’t be an issue. He watched amused as, without waking, Alex gripped the blanket around her face slightly. Once her sleeping form stopped moving, he sat and reclined back on top of the soft material, it felt like flannel, one of his favorite fabrics. He situated his hands behind his head and pressed his side against Alex’s back for a bit more warmth.

He just laid there staring at the ceiling of the van, looking at all the compartments and wondering what were in them. After a couple minutes he closed his eyes, trying to remember a bit of his past now more than ever and all he saw was a face. It was a face in a painting and he heard a strong voice that he thought should have been familiar to him, it said only the name ‘Tenshi’. The face reminded him of the mirror, he was a man with a partially squared jaw-line that came into more of an oval shape, and he had a broad chin that along with his jaw as covered in an ‘honest Abe’ beard. His hair was on the longer side, probably the longest just below his shoulder level, in the back. His coloration, lightly tanned Caucasian with brown hair but his eyes, his eyes made the distinct connection with River, amber, bright and vivid amber. Then became the largest distinction, he had a scar on his face, much like that of a crescent moon, curved along his face stretching from his forehead to his chin, it appeared to only have just missed his eye. Tenshi, who was he and why did he look like River? Was River’s name actually Tenshi? He just couldn’t place it when the sound of the car door slamming pulled him from his illusions. He looked upward from his relaxed position and saw RJ sitting and starting the van somberly. He wanted to ask her but he couldn’t find the words. Instead he swung his legs under the blue blanket and snuggled back into Alex back before he went back to sleep.

They seemed to roll on forever in that van. They woke up when the sun hung in the middle of the sky and as the wheels rolled on, they watched it disappear into the west. The ride went on and on tediously until suddenly they were driving through that familiar old forest. The lights of the little old town were just up a head! They were finally home. RJ put her old hat on her head straightening it quick when she saw a group of men in uniform. It was a stopping point, something strange for the little old town. The police stopped her and the officer motioned for her to roll down the window. “Hey.” RJ spoke with him like she was talking to a friend.

“Aw, guys it’s RJ!” the police officer at the window yelled to the other guys standing around with large and happy eyes, he was a rather plain looking man. Of course, they all looked similar in the blue uniforms standing out in the cold. “How ya doing mutt?”

“Doing pretty good. Thanks for the tip off on the kids. Shoulda told me about Mr. Musha and Ms. Oceana sooner though, sorta ticked me off that I had to go find ‘em.” She said. The three in back focused in on the conversation at hand. “I got them. The ‘shadow men’ will remain under the F.O.T.C watch until they are reprehended; there will be no more problems now that I have possession of the boy.” She let off a smile. “You mind if I return Ms. Vexo home, I’m sure her mother would appreciate it.”

“Oh, sure, go ahead.” He said with a large white smile. The woman flashed a similar smile then drove towards the Vexo residence rolling her window up and watching in the rearview as the men disbursed. Sam crawled up towards the front and looked at RJ with a curious expression.

“You know where I live?”

“I’m Mutt, I know everything.”

“Oh yeah, what’s the meaning of life?”

“An individualized answer for each human being,” the woman replied sharply. The girl simply returned back in huff.

“You lied.” The voice of the teen resembled more of that of a child. “There is no meaning to life.”

“Jeez you’re depressing.” Laugh the driver, Alex and River couldn’t help but snickering as well. “Seriously though, everyone has their own meaning, the point, or meaning, or whatever you want to call it right now, is to drop you guys off at home then go and spend time with my four year old.”

“You have a four-year old!” Sam blurted shocked, “Is your husband a poodle?”

“Only you, Vexo. You would be the one to ask a retarded question like that!” She snapped, “One, he looks as human as you when he’s disguised, two, he’s very handsome, and three, he’s not a poodle! He’s a German Shepherd.”

“Yeah, that made it better.” Sam snickered, the car made a sudden stop and she went tumbling forward. “HEY!” Sam said scrabbling up. “ABUSE I SAY ABUSE!”

“Yeah, yeah, you and Wolf seem to think that phrase is funny. It won’t put me behind bars kid, I’ve murdered lots of people and I’m still walking around free.” She laughed when Sam’s face drained of color. “I said I was 735, I didn’t get this old being ‘nice’.” RJ stopped on the street corner, her eyes wondered back, one of her eyebrows went up and the other crooked down. “Oh come on Samantha, serious, after today and yesterday, you’re still going pale faced over that. Jeez.” RJ rolled her eyes and went on. “Hey Bird Brain and Blondie.”

“What?” River and Alex replied annoyed by their given nicknames. The entire trip she seemed to be trying to refresh something their memories that just wouldn’t click. It was frustrating and overall unnerving as she just continued to try.

“Stay in the van while I make sure Vexo goes inside and hugs her mommy and all of that good sappy bullshit.” RJ rounded the corner gently and looked at all of the houses with a rather dull look.

“Are you ever appropriate?” Alex asked sharply glaring at the back of RJ’s head.

“Let me think.” RJ stopped for only a second, “Nope, sure as hell ain’t.” She snickered and looked back when her eyes went on the rather unmoved teenagers, she frowned. “You’ll just have to get use to me.” RJ almost let out a disheveled sigh with her tone of voice. She pulled into the gravel driveway of the large brick house that belonged to Miss. Vexo and her daughter. “Finally, I get rid of one of you cynical little punks.” She joked, that time receiving a more pleasing chuckle from the teens. She opened the door and shoved her feet out before her body and leaped out. “Come on Sam.” She said as she walked around and opened the back for Sam to come out. Once Vexo had leaped out, she and the Mutt walked towards the door way with River and Alex walking from behind the tinted windshield.

“I wonder what it’ll be like when we meet our parents.” Alex thought aloud as they watched Miss.V open the door and nearly crush Sam in a hug. Her voice seemed rather unconscious considering the situation at hand. None the less, River seemed to still feel like answering her.

He set his strong chin against her shoulder looking over her. “hm, dunno.” His voice was deep and a bit groggy sounding. He almost felt like he shouldn’t be surprised that Miss. V actually knew RJ and gladly gave her a hand shake and a little conversation. He walked their lips, trying to figure out what they were saying but he couldn’t keep up. He was only able to wave when the attention went on them. The conversation between Sam’s mother and the driver didn’t last much longer after that.

RJ retook her seat rather quickly as she got into the van. “Now you’re the last ‘goods’ I have to deliver- wait. Ugh, that’s right.” She grumbled to herself. “Meh, I’ll teleport with his ass, I’m too lazy to do this shit all over again.” She thought aloud to herself. The other two seemed to just be lost in the conversation she was having with herself.

“How much further is it?” River asked taking the seat beside RJ quickly. Anxiety surged through him now, his entire life was about to be revealed, the story of his life presented before him only a car ride away. The response of not far didn’t exactly please him, did he spend months so close that it would actually sicken him to find out? His thoughts were interrupted by the string of time and a turn onto a dirt driveway that was almost as long as a road. The home at the end was near, just appearing in the distance as both River and Alex seemed to lean forward in their seats just to get a peak.

It was a large farm house with fade white paint, the outside was very plain. It simply had windows with shutters that were a faded dark blue. There was a large front porch, stretching across the front of the house an awning tiled in the same old grey shingles as the roof. It was a simple rectangle with a triangular roof after three stories of windows. There was a man sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch. As River’s eyes caught him, he almost felt immediately as though he deserved respect as well as a bit of despise. The man must have been in his forties, graying hairs were beginning to show in his brown locks along his scalp line, his face brought into slight wrinkles by harden facial expressions. He looked unpleasant to be around and his brown eyes were laced with discipline. He could have been a war veteran but his face was handsome with broad features much like those of River’s with a sharper square and longer face. His body was long and filled mostly with muscle age putting a bit of a sag in his stomach. As he rose he was noticeably much taller then he originally appeared, a grey sweater over his torso and thick painter’s jeans against his legs, his feet were sheltered in combat boots. If he would have dog tags, he would be the perfect soldier.

“It’s Edmund.” RJ laughed as she pulled up along the front porch and looked at him. “Hey Junior how ya doing?” She asked as she leaned against the window looking up at him.

“Oh, fine this morning.” He said in a bass voice. He crossed his long arms and looked down at the woman in the car. “Do you have them?” He asked almost uncaring about her state.

“Nah, I’m coming back empty handed, of course I have them you dolt!” RJ barked, the man’s shoulders went up frightened. “Jesus, Ed,” RJ shook her head. “I’m taking them home, if I find out you’ve bother the boy about training in the next three or four days, I’ll tan you worse than the sun ever could” She growled before pulling away from the farm house and traveling into the woods without another word for the man.

“Who was that?” River asked alarmed at RJ’s courage against a man probably a foot taller than her.

“Oh your uncle Edmund, don’t worry, he’s no big deal. He just needs to get laid or something, guy’s waaaaaaaaay too uptight.” The way that she talked like a teenage despite her old age just seemed to make River and Alex go into a fit of chuckles. “Seriously” RJ let out a sigh. “Anyway, we’re- here”

The two snapped out of their laughter and stared up at their home. It was simply amazing, the town was similar to something that would be seen out of a vampire movie, it was a calm little village with little tudor cottage like homes and stone roads, the sidewalks were raised but also brick of a different color. There were lanterns that looked as though they were the old London gas but upon approaching it turned out they were light bulbs like the normal street lights. It was shocking that this place was so- old-fashion. The entire place seemed to be stuck in the eighteen hundreds in a European set up. If this was what life was going to be like, both of them exchanged the glance, they wanted to go back to Miss. V’s.

After a few miles into town, there was a fountain in a town square like area. The businesses began to fan out from there, then, on top of the hill, it could be spotted. The estate was large and the hill around it seemed to be free of any other homes. There was a stone gate wrapping from the sides around the back, snuggly fitting it to keep a yard that would face towards the forest and a front that would over look the village. Upon approaching it, the stone made a half circle for a drive way with a section for a lovely garden and another more elegant fountain directly across from large double doors that sat in the dead center of the house. The house was seemingly made out of brick and stood hard against the weather nicely. The shape seemed uncomplicated and it almost seemed to have add-ons to the large brick structure. Aside the double doors were two large windows, sitting one window length apart on either side, curtains drawn but lights visibly on. Two more stories repeated the pattern replacing the double doors with one window, the one directly above the door shaped in a circle probably opening into a grand entrance. From there came the roof, it seemed to make a triangle facing the street that almost didn’t fit the box like structure only to cause another roofing structure to be built behind it similar to the farm house’s roof. To both sides were side pieces that almost seemed like shrunken duplicates, fitting snuggly into the sides of the manor with windows raised out of the roof in their own individual compartments. These sides were only about half as big as the ‘original’ building but only held two large windows, one on each story of the house. The left came out in a half hexagon shape, suggesting perhaps a window seat was there but all the curtains, aside from that circle window, were drawn this night. Rooms couldn’t be identified from the outside.

“Who live there?” River said his breath caught as he stared at the beautiful manor at the top of the hill.

“Oh, the royal family of course.” RJ laughed as she stopped in front of the porch leading up to those powerful double doors. M’s were crested into each one, their golden handles glistened in the moon light.

“Wow” the teens said in unison. As they both stared at it from behind the tinted window, afraid to move from their spots. Everything was so amazing in the grand picture. The curtains twitched when the van stopped outside the lovely home, then suddenly one of the two doors shot opened revealing a young boy who came darting out after RJ jumped out. He jumped onto her back with a yell of mutt. The young boy had a round face but he was obviously older by his size. His features were still slightly covered by baby fat but he was probably near nine or ten, he was going to be a tall boy obviously as he already came up to RJ’s chest level when standing on his own. He had a tuff of brown hair and hazel eyes that almost seemed more green than brown. He had a big, slightly bent grin and a laugh that would make an entire room laugh along.

“Hey you little monkey!” RJ said as she grabbed the boy’s knees and held him up on her back. She laughed along when he took her cap and put it on his head. “Ohhhh Rexxy! I’m hooooomme!” She yelled into the manor and listened to it echo back.

“Oh! Oh!” They heard a man’s voice from upstairs he seemed like he was about to imitate someone or something. “Oh just a minute dear.” His voice mocked that of a dear old lady, “I just need to get my teeth in!” He continued on his joke.

“Ah, Rex you shut up, ya ain’t that old!” She yelled back still laughing as was the boy on her back. “I HAVE YOUR SON!”

“Which one?” He called back almost sarcastically.

“Which one? Which one! What kind of stupid question is that! The second one!” RJ screamed shaking her fist slightly. Suddenly there was a bit of stampede in the house.

“River!” A girl appeared in the door way out of breath, she seemed their age. She had a gentle face, soft and beautiful, the face only a princess would bear, it was framed by long brown hair much like River’s only straightened and seemingly less course. She had large surprised hazel eyes that almost seemed like they were trying to see through the van. River and Alex just stared for a few minutes before River finally let out a word.

“Rain!” He yelled and broke into a smile before he jumped out of the van. Alex just stared as he ran over to the girl lifting her up and spinning her in a hug into the air. She stepped out and just watched the strange event unravel in front of her. The boy on RJ’s back was jumping up and down now, as if he saw his idol for the first time in months when River got out of the car. “Hey” He said, Alex had never seen him look like that, it almost seemed like a part of him had been returned to him. In a way, she was a bit jealous of that look that he gave this girl, whom for some reason he was able to remember.

“You big dork where have you been!” The girl replied, she struck him in his chest and he only laughed smiling at her. That made Alex twinge a bit. “Mom and dad sent RJ out a month ago looking for you! Where were you!” The girl began to shake him a bit that’s when Alex realized, it was no girlfriend or even best friend that was his sister. “Seems that the two hours at least gave me enough sense to call home ‘baby brother’.” Then it made sense after those teasing words left this girl’s mouth, they were twins.

“Ah, shut up.” He said crossing his arms. Alex knew immediately he could never strike her, not even as he had hit her with only a segment of strength that man could crush his own sister. She wondered if she too had super strength like her brother but she didn’t want to ask. Rain only struck him again, this time he cringed upon the impact; it hit one of the burns.

“Are you hurt?” the hazel eyes filled with worry as she began to look him over carefully, “Where are you hurt? Who did it to you? What’s the extent?” the questions streamed out of her mouth in steady progression. River did not have a moment to think or reply. She buzzed around him, “You’ll have to take your shirt off, let’s go inside.” She said grabbing his hand. The moment seemed to stop right there. It was quite amazing when her small gentle hand grabbed a hold of his giant scarred one. “Alex,” She turned towards the blond with a smile. “Come on in, we’ll call your parents.” Rain said gesturing her in. Alex smiled back, perhaps it was knowing it was River’s sister, or a memory that just wouldn’t show, she felt safe around her as well. Rain had a sort of motherly radiance surrounding her. Alex followed her in as she yanked along her brother. RJ only followed after with the boy still trying to get off her back.

The inside was more magnificent then the outside, priceless paintings of lords of the kingdom hung along the walls in the lobby, there was a grand stair way leading up to a balcony like landing. It split into a corridor beyond the large balcony. As expected, the ceiling stretched to the very top of the building, stopping only after the third story, squaring off, it was quite possible that the attic sat right about it, and there was even a latch door at the ceiling. The ceiling was decorated with an amazing sky like scene, the latch door hidden in a cloud. A couple of winged warriors could be seen floating around in the lovely mural. The tall walls were blue, a darker almost midnight blue color and decorated with multiple family heirlooms or at least what looked like they could be, such as a plaque holding a sword. The wood work framed the room in a lovely cherry wood finish which led into the sea of red that was the carpet. With-out the wood work it would have loved almost wrong against those walls but the boarder raised a good five inches from the floor leaving space for the eyes to transition from red to blue or vice versa.

The French doors to the left lead into a ball room, the lights currently on, hired help seemed to be waxing the floor and straightening things around in there. The room seemed like an elegant hall that only the finest could rent out, a ballroom the belonged more in a castle than a manor. There was a stage area towards the back that was slightly visible from the door way. The walls were lighter in there and more sophisticatedly decorated with fine molding and balcony possibly only accessible through secret passage ways.

To the right, more heavy double doors stood strong again with graceful ‘M’s carved into them, Rain pushed those doors open to reveal a parlor, seeming more like a visiting room then a living room. There was no television. Only old fashion royal-looking furniture sitting tall and bold against the hard wood floors and royal red walls sat in a design that would encourage the occupants to talk with one another. Then beyond the sitting area was a black baby grand piano tilted so that it could occupy less space, sitting across it in the room was a harp. Directly across from their entrance was another door, when Rain opened that one it was a typical living room. The chairs were large and luxurious and the couch looked soft and welcoming sitting across from the large screen TV with multiple accessories surrounding it such as surround sound speakers, the latest DVD player and even a blue ray player, multiple game systems sat on either shelf the controls tucked in compartments under them. She dragged her brother to the inviting couch and pushed him onto it slightly. River, without much struggle, fell in a heap on the couch, he groaned slightly when the injuries were aggravated again.

“Oh don’t whine.” Rain teased a bit as she walked around him and sat on a rather strong looking dark coffee table. As Rain got the ratty button up shirt off of her brother, Alex examined the room curiously. The walls were a simple blue with white boarder and peach carpet. It was the first room that felt like home instead of like a castle. The furniture was simple dark colors and soft fabricated with one brown leather chair that looked to be more old fashion. The table beside it hinted that that must be the king’s chair. A stand stood next to it with various books and projects. Alex attention snapped back when she heard River grunt, Rain’s hands were glowing and the wounds were disappearing slowly, Alex’s eyes widened as the wounds shrunk away into nothing.

“Showing off already Rain?” The man’s voice came again, this time it was closer, so close it was only talking. Both River and Alex’s eyes shot to him, he and RJ stood eye to eye next to one another. He had River’s facial structure, Blaze’s chestnut eyes, Rain’s hands only masculine and the boy’s slightly oversized ears. The man’s smile gave him away, that crooked grin could only be related to a few men on the planet; this man was none other than River’s father. He was an older gentleman, obvious by some stress lines on his forehead and his thinning hair, as well as the beard and mustache that hung on his face had grey hairs in multiple locations. His body was slightly rounder then his brother’s, who they had only just passed a while ago. He held a high presence, gliding over the floor almost weightlessly and resting in his leather chair. “Ah, hello Alex, it’s good to see you back as well.”

“Dad, what about River?”

“You doubt your brother’s brain, my dear girl, he knows I’m happy to see him back and will wait until later to get him a good welcome home slugging.” The man laughed. Mutt stepped forward and then spoke in a tongue that River, Rain, and their father seemed to understand, the boy on her back had his head tilted as he only understood a few words.

“He doesn’t something, Rex, something is just something.” The boy translated aloud. As RJ let him down off her back, he darted over and hugged River around the midsection. “did you miss me? Did ya?” The boy asked with big adoring eyes. His little brother, River could tell by the way he reacted to him and hugged him with no problem. River nodded uneasily but kept up a good show for him. The boy seemed overjoyed just by that. “I didn’t go in your room- no wait, that’s Will that hates that- I still didn’t go in your room!” He said happily.

“Cain” Rex said harshly and the boy jumped back against a cushion on the couch. “Would you mind going to find your mother? We have things to discuss.”

“Aw, can’t Rain do it?”

“No, I asked you to, now go” Rex said pointing towards the door, Cain shuffled his feet and once he walked out of the living room, he began to yell Mom. Rex stared at RJ who after a few minutes nodded to signal that Cain was gone. “So neither of you remember a thing?” Rex said as he looked at River and Alex. Rain stood and stood by the wall shocked. River sat up and threw his feet down to the floor. He signaled for Alex to come sit by him as he replied.

“Not a thing sir…. “ He replied respectively. He lowered his head slightly. “We just ended up living with our friend Sam…”

“Sam has forgotten as well?” Rex asked stunned his hand sat under his jaw. He sighed slightly as he looked at the two sitting on the couch in front of him. His brow tightened, revealing just how the wrinkles came to be. “Don’t tell Cain, his little heart would be crushed.” Rex said leaning back and rubbing his head. “Has anything weird happened to you lately?” River stood up and took off his necklace; his wings spread out then relaxed against his back. “I’m not following.”

“He didn’t remember his own wings.” Rain interrupted for her father. “To him…. They’re weird.” She said looking up at her brother. He put his necklace back on and sat down, “Will! You saw Will!” Rain said shocked. “He’s been missing too.”

“He tried to kill me.” River said twitching.

“Yep, they’re tricking him.” RJ spoke to Rex. “I’m off to get him now. Don’t worry, I’ll be able to tame the fiery beast before I return.” Before their eyes, RJ disappeared into thin air almost as if the filming of their life had just stopped and she had left the house before filming resumed.

“Holy shit.” The words spewed out of River’s mouth before he would have even had a chance to stop them. “How did she do that?” His eyes shot to his father instantly searching for answers.

“River” Rex was choosing his words carefully, “There are things about RJ, that I, nor anyone else, will ever be able to explain.” River’s eye brow rose a bit; he looked to Alex who had a similar puzzled expression on. Then almost as if the joke had just sunk in, they both began to laugh with one another.“Ah holy freakin bite me the lot of you.” The Mutt was back and she had the giant on his knees with her foot on the back of his head. “or I’ll take him back for something that purrs but isn’t a little bitty kitty” She released the large man who stood with little hostility.

“I hate cats” He grumbled to the side before leaving the room almost as instantly as he had been in it. His speed was indeed amazing, Alex quickly assumed that Blaze must have had enhanced speed like his younger brother’s strength.

A smirk graced the face of the woman that had brought in the giant, “Well Rex, my work here is done.” She walked over to the man and put him in a head lock, “Now you stay good, little buddy.” She laughed a bit as Rex squirmed in her grip like a child. “Keep out of trouble.” She gave him a peck on the forehead with a laugh before she disappeared yet again.

“Is she really 735?” River asked curiously looking at his father after the woman had called him little buddy.

“Yes, she has looked the same since I was a small child and as well as when your grandfather was a child and so on.” Rex scratched his chin and then his eyes looked over to the door. Cain entered with both the giant Blaze that was almost literally twice as tall as him and a woman that seemed no taller than Rex. She had blond hair but brown roots, giving it away that she dyed her hair. Her eyes were a near liquid green. She had high cheek bones and though she was an older woman, she obviously had aged beautifully. She had a pleasant cheeky smile that Rain returned to her. River was on his feet carefully and looking at the woman with eyes that Alex thought were about to start spitting tears.

She watched the tall boy that she’d always known almost turn to a child as he walked over and buried his face into the woman’s shoulder. Alex almost wanted to smile; she knew it must have been his mother. She almost wanted to ask how he remembered her but she didn’t want to say anything while his mother had him like that.

“Leah” Rex called over shaking his head. He seemed to not want to spoil the moment either. He noticed words being exchanged between the two as Leah seemed to rub his back and mess with the mop of hair on his head. River finally stepped away from his mother, and Alex was able to take a longer look at her. She was indeed very pretty, even in what appeared to be running around the house clothes such as flannel pants and a hoodie that didn’t match them. She appeared also to be in pure white slippers. It was quite the sight.

“I called the Oceana’s” She announced after rubbing her eyes a bit. “Hello Alex” Leah said pleasantly with a nice warm smile. “It’s nice to see you back as well.” Alex just nodded but before she knew it, Leah was hugging her. She didn’t recoil to the touch though, as she would have normally done with strangers. It was even weirder for her not to do so with someone who she had no recollection of at all. “You parents should be here in about five minutes; you can cut it in half if your mother is driving.” Leah joked as she patted Alex’s shoulder then went and took a seat by Rex. Alex’s eyes when to Blaze who was staring at River both silent and almost apathetic. Blaze took a seat in an extra arm chair. His torso was as long as the back of it. In the dark chair, he gave a warm but malevolent feeling.

River retook his spot by Alex, leaving barely enough space to fit a fine tipped blade between them. Alex looked at him a bit confused for a moment before his large rough hand wrapped around hers. The tension between the two brothers had not subsided, obviously, and River was playing the part as the unnecessary protector.

River’s eyes darted over as his hand was patted by her other hand. He smiled a bit towards her in an unspoken language that they seemed to be picking up rapidly. Alex’s face turned a bit red as she looked down at her shoes. Then Cain made a point to climb on the both of them to break up the mushy moment.

River’s little brother seemed to have such wonder and such innocent as he wrapped his arms around their necks in a group hug. He wasn’t nearly as strong as his brother nor was he probably as fast. He gave off a boyish smile and then leapt a bit. He quickly told them how happy he was that they were back. River only laughed and grabbed a hold of his little brother and began to noogie him.

There was a screech of tires outside, which caused Rex to rise uneasily to his feet. “That must be Gwen” he said almost unevenly as he heard the car door slam shut. “Gwen” He yelled almost as he rushed towards the door.

That’s what it finally hit Alex. Her parents were outside and on their way in and she knew almost nothing about them but what her mother looked like. She felt the panic begin to bubble in her chest as she squeezed River’s hand. “I can’t do this.” She breathed looking to River for some sort of way out “What if I’m not the same to them? What if they’re awful people? What if they’re not actually my parents? What if-!” Rain had leaned forward and gentle slapped the side of Alex’s face. It wasn’t enough to hurt her, but it was enough to put her back into her senses. “Thanks I needed that”

“Don’t mention it” Rain said as she leaned back on the coffee table without another word. Then the door swung open and Rex stepped in scowling someone behind him.

“Honestly, you need to think about your baby” He scolded before a hand came in and slugged him on the arm. He rolled his chestnut brown eyes as he stepped in fully.

“Jeez, Rex, don’t you think I can take care of myself, I know what I’m doing!” came a woman’s voice. Alex almost flattened in her seat, her chest feeling like it was going to burst within seconds. On jean covered leg came in before the entire body came into view, Alex almost refused to believe this woman could possibly be her mother, an older sister maybe, but not her mother. The woman looked to be in her middle to late twenties, aside from an obviously pregnant belly, she seemed extremely fit. She and Rex stood eye to eye just like RJ had but this woman, while seeming like a duplicate of the Mutt they’d met in strength at least, had long blond hair that as pulled back into a pony tail and rich green eyes. She and Alex had multiple features that were similar, like their facial structure and lips. Alex thought that she might have to struggle to find something that she shared with her father if this was truly her mother. Those green eyes landed on her and when she smiled, it shocked Alex that it wasn’t like her own. It was unique not quite like anyone else she’d ever seen, compared to the rest of her mother, it seemed peaceful. A smile that could melt the entire room in a high stress situation, it put Alex immediately at ease.

The man behind her jolt Alex out of her ease faster than fire would burn flesh. He looked almost like a blonde haired elf. His jaw pointed and rounded, it looked odd and boyish compared to the features of River. He had waves in the mop on his head. It reminded Alex of what her hair looked like longer. The man had ice blue eyes that despite their cool color appeared warm and playful. He was like a stick standing there, but the most surprising thing. He wasn’t even as tall as the woman that Alex at least assumed was her mother. In fact, he looked like he and Rain would stand eye to eye. When his eye caught her, he smiled, much like the woman beside him, it was unique, not quite like Alex’s in total. His smile held that twinge of mischief that Alex always had in hers, like she was plotting something in her mind, and even if she wasn't it always looked like she did. She could see that evidence clearly in this man that could be her Father. The childish part of the smile though, she debated on.

Alex stood very carefully bringing River up with her not being quite capable of letting go of his hand at the moment. He stood up loyally beside her. She looked at him and whispered low. “Which one do you think I look more like?” She asked anxiety ridden.

“Your mother, you have your dad’s eyes and a mixed smile of the genetic potential” River replied quietly, he dropped his hand behind her and with a brief hit on her behind, he simply whispered “Go on, and talk to them.” He said pushing her forward a bit, “They won’t bite you.” River said reassuringly as she gave him nervous eyes. Alex only gulped and looked back at her parents; she took another step towards them.

“Uh, hey?” She said her face flushing a bit. Gwen’s eyes caught hers sympathetically, a look that told Alex that she knew that she didn’t remember. That deeply bugged her, her legs managed to take her over to hug the woman she barely knew. As the arms of the woman wrapped around her she could only manage a simple, “I’m sorry” though she didn’t know what exactly she was saying sorry for, but she just had to say it.

“It’s okay” Gwen’s voice was smooth and calming, ironically mother-like but it was more like she was talking to a frightened child then a teenager, only at the same time like she was talking to an adult. It was an unmocking voice that did calm Alex before there was a small kick like feel to Alex’s ribs. She almost flipped back in shock. Her face drained of color before she assessed that it had just been the baby moving within her mother.

“is it a boy or a girl?” Alex asked timidly as she stepped forward again.

“A girl” Gwen replied quietly. It was a brief moment before anyone made any noise. Then the elf like man jumped on Alex’s back with a wide quirky smile plastered across his childish face.

“Ah, bumble bee! It’s great to have you back” he said almost as if he didn’t get to say it, his chest was going to burst. Alex nearly panicked when the weight was on her back without any warning. She hadn’t even seen him run around to get there. She would have flipped him onto his back if he didn’t have a good solid hold on her.

Almost as if it were an instinct though, after bumble bee left his mouth, Alex groaned. “Daaaaaaddd” She half growled embarrassed. She looked over at River who was hiding small snickers. “I’ll get you later Musha, don’t think I don’t see you laughing over there” Alex pointed an accusing finger at him. River only shrugged and smiled a crooked grin that almost made Alex forget she was mad at him but she wouldn’t forget.

“All right, let’s take you home before your dad hurts someone” There was a twinge of sadness in the woman’s voice, it was probably caused by Alex’s mind registering the elf like man as her father when she couldn’t even tell it was her own mother. Alex lowered her head as she followed her mother out the door not really paying attention to her father on her back. The long journey to that little room seemed short when leaving the house, especially with her eyes following her mother carefully.

Alex didn’t notice that River was following behind, silently.

As the entire Oceana family went to exit the Musha manor. River took his position and opened the door for them. Gwen and Keith both thanked him with a simple thank you and a nod. Alex stopped for a bit looking up at him with a smile; she just shook her head and rolled her eyes before proceeding after her parents. He kept in step behind her, he even helped ease Gwen into the car. After both her parents were in the car, Alex decided to take the moment to address him.

“All right, ‘door boy’, what do you want?” She teased as she turned towards him and idly played with his pilot wing necklace with RM carved into it so perfectly. “A tip or something?” She continued, “Because all I’m going to say is stay away from strangers”

“Kind of hard when you don’t remember a lot of things.” River laughed a bit, “Nah, no tip, just wanted to be able to say good night. Try to get some sleep tonight, in your own bed for the first time in, well I’m not sure how long.” River sighed slightly. He looked to her parents; neither of them watched the two of them. They weren’t expecting anything, he supposed. “Well, G’night, Alex” River smiled before throwing both arms around her in a friendly hug. Alex’s heart fell a bit when he didn’t kiss her good night, perhaps the night before had been a dream after all, perhaps they were only friends.

River, almost as if he could read her thoughts, pulled away from the hug and landed a brief kiss on the lips. “Good night” Alex whispered as her face turned red but the smile remained. She got in the car only to have River shut her door for her. She smiled up at him for a moment before remembering something and rolling down the window. “Go to bed” She scolded quickly.

“Jesus” River crossed his arms over his chest. It was the moment that Alex realized it was still bare. “Couldn’t ya have just let me have a little fun?” He joked back before turning around a waving as he walked into the house. It wouldn’t be the last time she saw him that night.

Keith’s eyes had wondered back as he started to drive towards home, he made his mischievous smile as he noticed his daughter’s red face. “Still running after Musha huh?” He asked meeting her eyes in the rearview window. Alex’s face turned a deep shade of red when the word ‘still’ registered; she had been fawning over him before? How embarrassing, especially to hear coming from the mouth of her father. What girl went to her father for boy advice? “All you have to do is get him once, and we’re in” Keith joked with a laugh.

Gwen didn’t find it funny neither did Alex, Gwen sent a backhand into Keith’s chest almost as quick as the words had rolled off his tongue. “Jesus Keith, shouldn’t you be telling her that ‘That River boy is bad news’ or ‘he’s a nice kid’, you make it seem like she wants to take advantage of him- well rather you want to take advantage of their relationship”

“What is my relationship with River?” Alex asked to break the mini-war between her parents. It silenced the car for a moment before both Oceana’s brows tightened a bit.

“Friends” Keith sounded like he was lying. Gwen back handed him again.

“I believe you two were dating before the incident…” Gwen sounded more confident. Alex assumed that this would probably always be the case. “I’m not sure if that really was the case though, sorry hun”

“It’s okay” Alex beamed, she could have cared less as long as they weren’t enemies before the ‘incident’. She wondered what had happened, as she had many nights before. It was a bit less saddening with both her parents, alive, in the front seat of the car she was riding in.

The road seemed to blur in her train of thought, before she knew it she was at a small home on the outskirts of town. It was more modern then the Tudor style of the town, but it was obviously not brand new. The land around it had patches of green where grass had been growing, there was an entire large area that there was no trees or plants at all, just brown dirt. It seemed like the place to train on dry sunny days. There were a few pieces of equipment scattered around miscellaneously on the ground as well as hanging up.

The house itself appeared to be two stories tall, the outside seemed only slightly worn. It wasn’t the elegant Musha manor by a long shot, but it radiated with the feeling of home for Alex at least. It was probably only the size of one of the wings on the manor. The out appearance gave a bigger then average feel for it. The siding was grey after two feet of what appeared to be stone walls. Its shape reminded Alex of Edmund’s farm house. It was almost a generic square, but as they drove into a connecting garage, Alex realized that perhaps it was as generic as she believed. There were areas in the back that shot out making extra rooms.

The trio got out of the car almost simultaneously; the two older Oceana’s watched their daughters eyes light up as she looked around just the garage. The door opened again, and her eyes opened even more as the Mutt popped out of her jaguar with the keys in her hand. “Hey, Gwen, can you believe your daughter got a hold of this thing?” RJ tossed the keys to Alex. “Jeez, my first car was made out of cardboard and stone wheels.” The Mutt was laughing again and while her laugh echoed, she was gone already.

“Does she do that often?” Alex asked her parents, the pit of her stomach a bit queasy at the sight of an entire being disappearing into thin area. She wondered if it took anything out of the demon at all.

“Yes” Both the Oceanas answered at the same time. Gwen just shook her head a bit; she kept a smile on her face. RJ had mentioned her before, in the car ride. Alex hadn’t grasped what their relationship quite was but obviously it wasn’t hostile.

“It’s not that bad” Keith beamed as he walked over to Alex standing in front of her. His childlike grin seemed more mischievous then before. He was plotting something. Alex could tell, it was written all over his face. She took a step. Keith only shrugged before; he disappeared almost as if he was disintegrated. Alex’s eyes got large as she threw her hand where he had been and waved it wildly. “ow!”

“I’m sorry” Alex said retracting her hand with cat like reflects. She didn’t know just how bad she had hurt him with her wild waving and not exactly knowing where he was when she did it. She heard him start to laugh and then realize he hadn’t felt a thing. “Is he always a pain?” Alex looked to her mother.

“You bet.” Gwen replied before she laughed as well. Alex joined in on that one; her father reappeared with his arms crossed. He looked like a pouting child the way he presented himself. “Oh get a sense of humor Keith”

“I have one, you just don’t get it.” Keith spat back sticking his tongue out.

“That’s because I’m not a child” Gwen replied in quick wit. Alex watched the two with a smile, no wonder she acted the way she did. Her mom was a tough woman and her dad was a total screw ball, it all made perfect sense. “Now enough of this” Gwen said after rolling her eyes at her pouting husband. “Come on Alex,” Gwen took a hold of her daughter’s hand and took her inside through the side door. It led into a kitchen that almost seemed like an apartment style ordeal. Everything was very open; there was a bar like counter on the edge of a rather spacious tiled area with granite counter tops. The area contained all the necessities and a few extra things. The dining room, that was as simply as a dark wood table with six chairs, was off to the side towards the front of the house which stood behind a dividing half wall also with granite counter tops but also held mail and even a pair of keys. There were a vase of flowers on the counter, they appeared real but Alex was sure that they couldn’t possibly be in the Oceana house.

Alex couldn’t help but nudge her father for those, they really were beautiful. “Not bad dad” Alex whispered as she noticed them. “They look real.”

“Don’t look at me, River bought them for you and your mother for an appreciation day thing” Keith crossed his arms bitterly. River may have stolen his thunder that day, Alex couldn’t be sure when she couldn’t remember.

From where they stood, they could have walked across a nice strip to the stairs that went up about six steps then turned and went up the rest of the way to the second floor. Or they could drop down into what seemed like the living room, it was lower than the rest of the first floor. It was very simple with mostly black furniture, one full couch, a love seat, and two armchairs, as well a chocolate brown coffee table. The TV was in an entertainment center that matched the coffee table and stood out against the maroon walls which nicely blended down into the beige carpet.

Alex was shocked to see the TV on and a ‘Mortal Kombat’esc video game on the screen. There was a simple game system in front of the entertainment center. It was almost a shock to see a man that resembled River on the screen fighting another figure with black hair and blackened eyes. It was obviously a game made only for the Warriors as both had large wings.

The screen yelled Finish him which startled Gwen into looking over. The man who looked like River upper-cutted the black eyed creature into the air and flew up behind him gripped a hold of both of the other man’s wings and ripped them straight off. For a videogame the motions were surprisingly realistic.

“TENSHI VICTORY” the game boomed as the letters came across the screen.

“Bet you’ll think twice before messing with my clan again, Buke” Both the boy that Alex just noticed on the couch and the man who look like River on the screen spoke at the same time. “Haha” The boy laughed as he went through the menu again.

“Alan” Gwen growled as she stepped forward towards the boy. The boy jumped into the air and stumbled over the couch landing in a pile on the floor. Alex knew it must be her brother after his ‘graceful’ display. He looked up at them with the same green eyes as their mothers only with a shot of masculinity in them. He was much too young to call him anything but cute. He still had a round like face that he probably wouldn’t out grow for a while and a tuft of blond hair.

“Hey!” Alan pointed straight at Alex before he bonded over and tackled her to the ground using his entire body. “ALEX!” He said with a giant smile sitting on her as she laid on the ground in daze.

“Jesus, Twerp!” Alex growled as she got Alan in a head lock. Somehow that little boy was familiar enough for her to treat him as such. “I get home and you just tackle me straight to the ground, are you trying to kill me?” Alex hissed. Alan simply squirmed in her grip. The two of them kept laughing the entire time while in the background; Gwen stumbled just a bit before exchanging a glance with her husband.

“I’ll pull the car around front” Keith spoke almost out of the blue before he had disappeared into the garage. The two siblings snapped out of it and looked to their mother with worried eyes.

“Mom?” They both spoke simultaneously, “Are you okay?”

“Fine, you two,” Gwen smiled her best but there was a tad bit of pain hinted in her eyes. “I just have to go see the doctor” Alex exchanged a glance with her and then looked at Alan. It made sense to her. Their mother was in labor, she’d ask about some of the facts she didn’t know later.

“Alan” Alex looked at her brother. “How about you go upstairs and find a video?” Alex looked up at her mother who gave her apologetic eyes. Alan looked utterly confused but he did nod and eventually went shooting up the stairs. “Mom, don’t worry about him at all, I can’t the house covered” Alex said quickly walking over and helping her mother towards the front door.

“I’m so sorry” Gwen groaned, “This was unexpected, of all days ya bastard” Alex almost laughed when her mother shook a fist towards the sky before she winced and held on to her stomach as to hold it together. “Thank you for taking care of your brother, I am so so sorry.”

“Mom it’s not your fault, I guess she wanted to be here to meet me too?” Alex tried to joke, Gwen did laugh a bit as the two of them crossed the threshold. Keith stood with the door open ready to help Gwen in. Alex and Keith worked as a team to aid her into the car. “Good luck mom” Alex smiled a genuine smile before kissing her forehead and shutting the door. She looked to her dad, “Drive like a maniac if you must but don’t get yourself killed, call me when the bundle has arrived”

“You know I will, bumble bee, don’t let Alan stay up too late” Keith replied quickly as he went hood sliding across the top and swerved into his seat quickly. Alex took a step back towards the house and watched the car drive away into the night. The light of the porch was eventually the only light she could comprehend so she turned and reentered the house.

Alan was standing in his pjs at the top of the stairs. “Sis, I couldn’t find a movie, I think I’m just going to go bed” Alan seemed to shift uneasily before he turned and started away before Alex could manage out ‘Uh, okay’.

She hopped down into the living room. She jumped over the couch and sat there, eying the controller a bit. She wondered how well she could play this game. It couldn’t have been any harder than any other game she had played before in similar formats. She muted the volume and see went through the selection of characters. Her eyes stopped on a woman named Amara. She decided that she couldn’t play anymore so simply saved where her brother was and turned it off.

Her feet carried her up the stairs and though she consciously had no idea where she was going. Her feet carried her to what she would find was her bedroom. It looked mostly untouched but it was obviously her room. Her bed that was only slightly bigger than a Twin sat against the wall with a black microfiber blanket and pillow set laying on it. The room was painted a sky blue with white wood work. There was a dark wood dresser and a window seat along the large window to the side parallel to the bed. The outside world was partially covered by black drapes. She looked out into the night, there was a tree directly outside that had a shimmer of moonlight on the branch that she probably could have reached from leaping out the window.

She continued to wonder around her own room opening the closet door that was right next to the hallway door then finding her own personal bathroom. It was a simple little room with its own shower bathtub, toilet and sink. It had a medicine cabinet that she didn’t want to dig through yet. Instead she turned back out and found a book before she lay back on her bed and began to read, cuddling into her blankets. Her mind wondered to River again, he had given her and her mother flowers, he maybe was dating her before the incident and the two of them didn’t remember on thing, she wondered how he was holding up.

River had tried to be a good boy; he went up to his room up those grand stairs and searching a bit. His room was far more luxurious then Ms. V’s attic. It was like a master suite in a five stair hotel. He had a king-sized bed all to himself; the blankets were actually practical looking instead of random patterns that no one would hang in their basement. It was four poster bed, almost melodramatic for royalty. He knew he should have expected it but he still stood in awe. As he walked in, he discovered his room was nearly the size of an apartment; it was almost too big for his own taste. Even if he was 6’5, this was overboard, he felt weird about it. He was starting to miss the comforting small area that was Ms. V’s attic. He almost missed the oversized noisy air conditioner that he had to run so he didn’t die up there in both the winter and the summer.

He looked around it carefully; it was painted a royal blue with beige carpeting around the bed. Over to the side was almost a lounge like area with a mini-bar which made the room feel even more like a hotel room. It was packed with all of his favorite foods that didn’t need to be cooked in anything more than a microwave which sat on top of the counted beside it. He waited for the room to begin to feel like home as his feet went onto the hardwood flooring. He removed his shoes and set them on a large cushiony leather chair there. He walked over to the bed and jump onto it going into a roll before landing on her feet on the other side. He looked around and found the dresser that held a mirror; he opened it and looked through it, all of his clothes looked right. He found a pair of sweat pants and changed throwing his clothes like a basket ball player into the laundry chute.

He zoomed into his own private bathroom, again it was over-the-top, with a Jacuzzi jet bath tub and separate shower, as well as a toilet and long counter for a sink random thing were spread along the sink which made River feel better, it all looked so fresh and clean that it didn’t feel like anyone lived there at all. He walked back into his room and looked towards his closet. No, he wouldn’t look in there tonight, it may be too much and he would have to go running and screaming from this strange place he would have to call home. He crawled into bed with a sharp yawn as he looked at his side table. It reminded him that he needed to take out his contacts as he could still see it without squinting. As he plopped into bed again, he found glasses on the side table and put them on, they were of course the right prescription. He shrugged it off; it was his room after all. He leaned up and flipped a switch on the wall that turn out the lights in the room and then, kidding with himself clapped twice. The light on his night stand turned on. “That is awesome” River said looking over with a giant smile. He laughed a bit “Ah the finer things in life” He continued to laugh. He noticed two remotes and as he slipped into his bed which was a nice mixture of texture and comfort pressed the on button for both. An air conditioner above came to life, spewing out his favorite temperature directly above him; it was a silent wall unit.

The other opened a compartment on the foot board of his bed; a flat screen popped up and was ready to begin playing if he pressed a lower power button on the right remote. He kissed both the remotes before he clicked the TV away. He took off his glasses and clapped away his light still smiling and lay there quietly. He looked towards his two large windows over by the seating area and thought for a while as he messed with his necklace. He thought back to what he said earlier, about wondering if he could fly. He grabbed his glasses again and put them on as he rolled out of bed in that dark room and walked across the carpeting until he reached that window, it over looked the vast forest as well as a pool and training ground below. It was truly a site to behold. River looked towards the pool, if he couldn’t fly, he could at least try to land there. He enthusiastically threw the window open and jumped out angling himself towards the pool and he began to fall rapidly, at first he didn’t understand, his wings would have at least let him glide easily. His hand shot up and realizing he hadn’t taken it off, he grabbed the necklace and just as he would have hit the pool he ripped it off and glided just over before climbing upward.

He levitated above the manor with wide eyes as his wings obviously were working on his back. He couldn’t believe it, he was up there and he wasn’t falling to his doom. The smile on his face grew as he took in the chilled spring air. Before he knew it, he was darting towards the village; he watched people move around but remained quiet since it was considerably late. He wanted to scream and yell as the adrenaline pumped through him, with the wind pounding against him as he soared and did a few spins. He wish he knew where Alex lived now, she had to feel this feeling of being alive, of flying on her very own.

Almost as if a homing pigeon had smack him with directions, he drifted towards Alex’s house; he let out a bellow of yahoo once he was on the outskirts. He realized just as soon as he had, that he actually had no idea how to stop or land. His feet went down before him and his momentum didn’t stop for a good few feet. He fell face first into the Oceana’s lawn laughing himself silly.

Alex heard the yahoo and then the rather loud crash outside and went running. She found River on the ground just laughing his head off. She carefully pulled him to his feet. “My god, are you okay?” Alex asked worried, oh how precious it would be to meet up with her parents in the emergency room because her boyfriend- er friend went crashing into the ground- Wait where did he come from?

“Alex” He said with a bright smile as he stood and held her shoulders. “You’ve got to try this! It’s the most amazing thing in the world.” River shook her a bit still smiling like a little boy with a brand new, shiny toy. Alex’s mind tried to assess just what was going on with River when she grabbed his biceps calmly.

“How hard did you hit your head?” She asked in a flat tone. Only to find herself picked up by the tall boy by her waist in almost a bear hug. “Ack, River, you’re going to kill me!” She breathed, he had taken a considerable amount of wind out of her but he wasn’t crushing her. She giggled a bit when he rubbed his head into her stomach almost literally out of touch with himself. “River? Hello?” She asked, she noticed him snap back into himself when he brought her down to level with him in height. “All right, what is this I have to try? Pot or Meth or what?”

“No drugs,” He kept that smile on his face, “I can get you high without them.” He leaned his head forward a bit giving her a peck her on lips.

“Probably not nearly the satisfactory response” Alex replied as she rested her arms on his broad shoulders. “I wouldn’t call myself ‘high’, you’re far too cocky Musha” She smirked at even the thought that perhaps he got ‘high’ that way. “Nice try though,” She began to unconsciously play with his hair in the back, she thought it was a bit weird that the smile never left his face.

“Can I try again?” He asked innocently. She only laughed a bit and nodded this time kissing him back. In a quick motion, he had them both in mid air. He broke the kiss when suddenly she seemed to have opened her eyes. “How about now?” He laughed as he held her up there.

“River Musha, I swear to god if you drop me” Alex said clinging to him with her entire body. “I’m supposed to be watching my brother, if I end up in the emergency room, you’re going to the maternity ward to explain what happened to my parents, ok?” She poked him in the chest.

“Oh, your mom is having her baby? That’s a nice welcome home gift” He said in honest sincerity. “don’t worry, I won’t drop you.” He smiled his crooked grin, “Hang on, I’m going over to the tree.” He kept his arms around her as he flew over and land more gracefully on the branch then he had on the ground. “Funny, I’m better with a perch” He said as he let out a loud laugh. Alex just rolled her eyes. “You probably didn’t get nearly the rush I did out of that, did you?” Alex just shook her head. “Well…. When we figure out how to get your wings back, you’ll have to go flying with me, it’s really fun” He jumped to the window seal. With great deftness, he lifted it open completely and let Alex in before he slipped in.

“That sounds like a freaky bird date” Alex pushed him only to find that moving him had gotten harder since their playful time that fateful morning when their lives suddenly change. “Hey, do you remember that dream you had? About flying?” Alex tilted her head to one side, she just remember that he had mentioned that before.

“Oh yeah” River nodded a bit, “Where I was zooming through the forest”

“Do you think it had something to do with our lives?” Alex looked at him with a bit of worry. Just as she remember that night, she also remember a night where River woke up screaming and yelling get away from them, she also remembered that it took Sam, Ms. V, herself and two police officers that lived next door to even pin him down to calm him down.

“Yeah, but that’s probably the only one that ever did” River smiled, he almost sensed her distress about that old dream. He was sure it had nothing to do with their lives. He had been wrong before though, Alex just sort of nodded and the room became quiet as the two of them just sat there.

The sound of the phone shook the two out of their silent states. Alex was on her feet and over to the phone within seconds, “Hello?” She breathed looking to River. As her father’s voice came on the phone, she felt immediately guilt about River even being there. “That’s great!” Alex’s face lit up and she gave River a thumbs up. He assumed that it was about the baby. “All right, I can keep watch over him until you can get back dad, there is no rush.” She listened on the phone just smiling. As she smiled, River couldn’t help but smile too. He thought about leaving for a moment but then he didn’t want to, he’d only return to that large lonely room. He instead sprawled out on the window seat. He was far too big to lay there, his legs hung over the side lazily. “Love you too dad, bye” Alex hung up the phone and then snuck up and jumped on him, landing with her knees to his side.

“Ah! Attack of the Alex” River put his hands up in extremely fake shock. “Hey pretty lady, ya come here often?” He spoke in a different nasally ‘sly guy’ voice. His smile grew when she started to giggle. “I’d hate to be your brother if he walked in on this” River laughed, “We’d traumatize for the rest of his poor existence.”

“Pfft, we aren’t doing anything.” Alex said sliding back on River towards his legs, letting him sit up.

“Well no but the movement you just did, well” He giggled like an eighth grade boy before Alex hit him in the head. “Ouch, haven’t I gotten my ass kicked enough?” River rubbed his head as he looked at her through a squinted eyes and a normal one.

“Aw you want me to kiss it and make it better?” Alex teased. River lifted his index finger to his lip in a mischievous thinker pose. “oh don’t even think about it Musha, not if you were the last man on earth!”

“It’s okay Alex, I know you want to get into my pants” River joke, he got hit in the chest this time. It felt like a tingle to him but Alex shook her hand wildly cursing just a bit before she tucked her shoulder in and leaned into what had just hurt her hand.

“Jesus Musha, you’re like a brick wall”

“I’m a cuddly brick wall though” River smiled; finally he stopped being perverted, but still managed to remain callow. Alex tightened her brow before starting to laugh again.

“You’re a dork Musha”

“But ya still love me don’t ya?”

“Yeah… I guess I do” Her face turned red as she scooted even closer to him and cuddled into his chest. “I just realize you’re not wearing a shirt.” Alex mumbled more as a side note.

“Uh, you don’t mind do you?” River asked, it was his turn to be red.

“No you look kinda..” Alex bit her lip; she’d probably regret this later. “sexy” She said sheepishly. River froze for a moment almost as if it was taking time to compute.

“Awesome, I’m a sexy dork.” River laughed a good hearted laugh. He looked at her for a moment and then very carefully slipped his hand into the curve of her leg where her knee was and lifted it over to the other side to be with the other one. “Are you tired?” He asked as he shifted a bit more securing one arm around her back toward her upper half.

“No, I’m just thinking.” Alex replied, she’d truthfully been listening to his heart beat and she thought a bit about that, it had skipped only once, and that’s when the s word left her mouth. Perhaps it was because she was more prone to blushing that hers was racing a bit over normal. She let out a sigh before she looked up at him. “I know that I’ll either regret this later, or never care about it again.” She ran a hand up the back of his neck and gently pulled him down placing his head so his ear was at her heart.

“Is this the point where I get to say boobies?” River asked in a joke.

“Shut up or I’m pushing you out the window” Alex blushed again; he chuckled a bit but stayed perfectly still. He wouldn’t move unless she wanted him to move. He seemed to be honestly enjoying himself but what man wouldn’t? She rested her cheek securely against the top of his head. She was getting tired now.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” River spoke, his voice, while just like normal, seemed smoother as those words slide off his tongue. It only caused Alex to blush a deep shade of red. “Your heart just skipped a beat again.” River said almost in a child like voice.

Even at their age, Alex thought to herself about this entire moment. She knew that in her entire life time there would probably never be anything she would trade for this moment. They were home, they knew their parents and, at least she thought she was sure of, they were in love. She bit her tongue there. They were teenagers and this was likely just teenage lust or infatuation, but somehow, that didn’t matter to her. It didn’t matter to him either. As they sat there both future and past unclear, the present was the most important and it was the only thing that mattered.

River looked up at her as he pulled his head away carefully and just looked her straight in the eyes. This entire moment hung loosely on the fabric of fate. Timid, now that full consciousness was put into this, River leaned forward and tilted Alex’s head up. There breathing had slowed in this position; their faces were only centimeters apart. River felt as though he would melt, while Alex thought her chest would burst. Fate took control and Alex connected the kiss, at first slow and innocent, small pecks, nervously connection as both shook just slightly. It wasn’t as open as the ‘dream’ had been, this was fully intentional.

River took the dominant after Alex had kick started it. Slowly, carefully, the brief meetings became longer and breathing was becoming scarcer. The moment seemed to stand still; everything seemed to be in slow motion. River pushed her back against wall by the window seat, he was becoming more wild almost as if the animal inside had been released.

The once timid butterfly kisses were becoming long and passionate, far beyond probably what they should have ventured into that night but once the momentum was up, they couldn’t stop.

“Alex?” Alex’s break to reality came in the voice of her little brother, he sounded a bit scared but he wasn’t near the room. She could hear his little footsteps coming up the stairs though and it was only a matter of time.

“Shit” Alex hissed as she gave of a few more fierce but brief kisses. “You have to get out of here. If Alan sees you, then we’ll both be in deep trouble.” Alex said patting his chest to snap him out of the spell she must have twisted him in.

“Jesus, I want you” River said almost intoxicated, “Tell him you’re in the bathroom, I’ll make it quick” He even looked dazed. Alex slapped him out of it. “Ah”

“Look” She whispered, “If you ever suggest something like that again, I will castrate you.” Alex pointed her finger directly at his face. “Second, you’ve seen as far as you’re going to get until you put a ring on it” Alex pointed to her left ring finger. River nodded slowly as he stood up with his jaw slacked to one side.

“All right, I’ll store that away then.” River smiled and quickly hugged her kissing her cheek before he walked towards the window. “Smart and beautiful, I must be the luckiest guy in the world.” Rive smiled before he disappeared out the window.

All Alex could do then was stand there, and smile.