Growing Pains

[Goliath]

Mishu Warehouse - Tokyo Proper Docks

"AAAAARRRRGGHHH!!!"

Ben roared for the crowd as he power tossed a much smaller man who would have been considered ripped by normal standards against the electric fence cage that contained them in the ring. Ben's massive body :garrick: jumped right onto the fence, his physiology making him immune to electric attacks, grabbing and shaking the cage with ease. The crowd went wild as Ben spit blood from his mouth into the crowd. Korean Yakuza fight clubs weren't the most posh of places, but they were bloody fun. Ben's life changed the first time he ever knocked somebody out cold. Something about looking at a guy that thought he had something on you just laid out cold on the pavement like the bellend that he was just made Ben get his rocks off - pun intended.

And once he became Goliath, he never stopped. At Hellfire, he was a pussy. Some little servant boy that had been picked up and put down like he was the family dog. But in the free world, there wasn't a lot of people that fucked with Ben Lewis and lived to tell about it. Every hit. Every blood spatter was like proof to Ben - that he was just as good as Cameron, and Ava and Haleigh. This weekend had left him more confused and angry than ever and right now he wanted to beat the shit out of whatever he could in the most gruesome ways possible. And he had been doing it for the last three hours. He had been in these circles in his late teens, once Kelly finally trusted him enough to make him her Bishop. She gave him freedom. In her own way. Kelly King had a way of reminding you of the black shackles around your hands, and of her skill as a locksmith. It was the reason she was still alive. And now she was the Mother In Law of The Black Queen. If it wasn't so fucked up it would have been funny.

Opponent: (Korean) "Dangsin-eun ajig baeg-in sonyeon-eulbadji moshaessseubnida!"

"What's that mate?"

Ben charged the man, who was indeed quite strong for a flatscan, and grabbed him by the neck, throttling him against the cage, watching his body writhe against the electricity. He looked him in the eye, gave a wink, spit on him and hurled him like a rag doll into the center of the ring before puffing his chest and hitting it with his fists, his biceps rippling and flexing in perfect physical perfection. He soaked up the attention.

"You approve?!"

It felt good. To be celebrated for his manhood, because every woman in his life seemed hellbent on destroying him. He thought of Cassandra. Her leaving made him realize that at one point he did love her, and had he not, he would have never entertained her in his life for as long as he had. But Kelly had broken her completely, in ways Cassandra would never realize, and for Ben, it was just too painful to be around. But that was Kelly King. She broke people. In ways that exceeded the capability of Ben's fists. He roared to the crowd once more.


"This man is NO Yakuza!"

He was enraged at Kelly. She destroyed every life that she ever came into contact with. It was no surprise to Ben that she had survived the uprising. She was a powerful witch and mutant, a brilliantly gifted mind, but her true power was her ability to make herself useful, to earn favors. To earn clout with others. She had a hand in the entire Inner Circle's deepest pain, and yet she lived over the others. She had manipulated him, made him feel like he was nothing, like the only reason he had a life was because she allowed it. She was his mother, his caretaker, but she was not his child. She doted on her children. She gave them EVERYTHING and him nothing.

His anger swelled as he flexed his muscle once again, grabbing the now fleeing opponent by the foot and flinging him in the air, watching him thud to the ground with great force, listening with delight as he heard the cracking of a bone.

"You flea? You shame your family like this? So brazenly?!"

Ben snarled with anger. family. It was an almost laughable word to Ben. His family had shamed him beyond repair before birth. All his life he thought his mother was an unstable lunatic and his father was a raging depressed alcoholic. He was told that he wasn't as good as the others, when he shared the same blood of one of her daughters.

"Erika."

He HATED being away from her. He did not want to be in Tokyo. He was planning on finally getting to spend some time with her - his SISTER. From the moment he was born he felt alone, and though Ava had been more than a good enough surrogate sister, he desperately craved the idea of family of his own. He wanted a legacy as much as anybody else.

Opponent: naneun geob-i naji anhseubnida. naneun baem-ida.

The man began to cough up blood, his body near complete disfigurement.

"Baem-ida. Snake."

He had picked up a little Korean in his youth, and it was enough to trigger him.

"Amanda."

Goddammit he wanted her so bad. She was forbidden fruit. She was Eve. No. She was Lilith. He could easily say that he thought Amanda Soto was the most intelligent person he had ever met, but his words wouldn't mean much. Ben never was one for academic pursuits. She had always been hot and cold but now she was taking it to another level. She threw herself at AJ, and then at him, and now she was withdrawing altogether. It made no sense. Her not wanting to share a room was the straw that broke the camel's back. He had enough women in his life playing him like that, he didn't need another. Especially her.

"And I am the snake charmer! Well...kind of."

Ben's tensions from the weekend boiled over as he grabbed his opponent by the hair, dragged him to the corner of the cage, forced his mouth to bite the corner, smashing his head in with brute force, killing the man instantly. This was against the rules, but Ben was sure he had been heavily bet on tonight. He was making them money. They weren't going to do a damn thing with him. Ben watched the man's blood drip from the edges of the ring and down onto the floor. It felt good to see, and Ben was a bit scared to ask himself why.

Announcer: "THE WINNER! The UNCHALLENGED! GOLIATH!!!!!"

The crowd went wild as the cage was deactivated and spectators moved into the ring, cheering him on and kissing him on the cheek, bowing before him. He may have been one hell of a mess, but right now, he was the God of the fucking ring. He was a champion. He was Hercules, and for the first time in awhile, it didn't matter if the others didn't see it. Goliath was feeling himself, and he wasn't about to let go of what he was finding.

 

[Berserker]

The Red King’s Suite

She wanted pizza, which he was happy to give her, but he suggested some other things that might actually help settle her stomach.

Haleigh: “Yeah whatever, it all comes up as little chunks just the same.”

He laughed. The way she took even puking in stride was amazing. Every other woman in this place would be crying and wanting to be waited on, but not Haleigh. And that's why he was going to wait on her, and only her. He grabbed a mug of coffee while Haleigh was asking him to let the doctor in. "Jazz." Oh hello, this is my doctor, Jazz. Bet you can't guess what he listens to while he's stealing my organs to sell on the black market.

He suggested, though he knew it was futile, that maybe she should put some clothes on.

Haleigh: “Jasper’s been my doctor for years. He’s seen me naked already and even if he hadn’t, he’s going to deliver our children so we might as well throw out the false modesty now.”

He tried to hide the grin that was threatening to spread across his face when she said our children. It more than made up for the fact that she was stark naked and a not unattractive man who was not him was about to enter their bedroom. He let the doctor in, though, because what choice did he have? and then went back to the kitchen to get Haleigh something to eat. Not eating would be worse than eating and puking. He'd read that in that book he'd bought about pregnant women. There was also a section about nipple piercings, which he really hoped he could talk Haleigh into.

He put the leftover pizza on a tray along with a dish of crackers and a glass of ginger ale, and carried it back into the bedroom. If the doctor didn't like it, he could suck it.

Jasper: Yep, pretty sure. Well established, too. Six weeks along, according to the imaging software.

That stopped Alek dead in his tracks.

Haleigh: “Six weeks?! No, it’s been six days.”

He looked at Haleigh.

"Wait - you've been pregnant six weeks? I thought Kelly just-"

He wriggled his fingers in her direction.

"-witchy wooed you last weekend?"

 

[Steel]

The Paris Hotel

It killed him to see in her eyes how upset she was, especially when he knew it was that she had done it to him that was upsetting her. But the voices she was hearing, they were all the people who had hurt her, traumatized her. If she didn't want him to touch her... He knew it wasn't about him. But he wanted to comfort her so badly, so he reached out and asked if it was okay.

She didn't wait to respond or for him to come to her, instead wrapping her arms around him. He enveloped her in his arms, holding her tight, like he could shield her from all the bad things.

Ava: "Always...yes..."

"Whatever you need is okay by me..."

Ava: "I don't want to ruin this trip....I need it so badly.."

She pulled back and looked into his eyes, and he could tell she was trying not to cry, a skill she had learned through many years with Stavros Cassadine, among others. He shook his head, clicking his tongue. His voice was gentle.

"You're not ruining anything, Ava. We're here because we both needed a break. Whatever you need we can do."

Ava: "I need you."

"You have me. No matter what."

He lifted her chin and leaned down to kiss her lips. He took a moment afterward to take her in, how beautiful she was.

"And you're allowed to feel emotions about what Archer did. It's only normal. It doesn't make you weak."

He knew Ava well, knew that she'd rather be dead than weak.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

 

[Shogun]

Tokyo, Japan - Kosoan Tea House

He removed his shoes and entered the tea house, bowing in reply to the hostess’s greeting. He looked around the place, allowing himself to be led a table. There was ritual involved, though at a more relaxed establishment such as this, it wasn’t strict. There were westerners behind him, a bit too loud for his liking. He frowned over his shoulder at them more than once, but they didn’t take the hint.

“Itadakimasu.”

He told the geisha to express his gratitude when the food was delivered. She smiled and dipped her head, not looking at him. It wasn’t who he was looking for, but then, he didn’t really expect to find her at a place like this. Miso soup, steamed rice, and a light assortment of sushi had been set before him, and he slurped his soup appreciatively before picking up his chopsticks.

The rowdy men behind him asked for more Sake. Gaijin (foreigners), the kind he wished would not come. They stirred up bad memories for him. The geisha stared at the floor, trying to say no to the men without saying it directly. Aito set his chopsticks back on the rest before he looked over his shoulder and spared her the agony. He spoke quietly, but people listened.

“Apologies, sir. I have just taken the last of the amazake.”

Gaijin: Nobody asked you, man, mind your own business.

The westerner was used to bullying people around, and here amongst the Japanese it was an extremely effective method of getting one’s way. Aito uncrossed his legs and turned, placing a hand on the man’s back. The man looked angry for a moment, but then he began to look quite ill. A gray-greenish hue took over his skin, and the whites of his eyes were yellowing, while he clutched at his side and grimaced in pain.

“My business is Peace, and it is being disturbed.”

Gaijin: I.... I don’t feel so good. I think I have food poisoning.

“A doctor would say liver disease, if the jaundice is any indication.”

Aito looked at the other man now.

“Your friend needs a hospital if he hopes to survive.”

 

[Black Widow]

Hellfire -- The Red King’s Suite

Alek: Wait - you've been pregnant six weeks? I thought Kelly just--witchy wooed you last weekend?

“Yeah, the morning that John became King.”

She said, pulling her gaze from the 3d ultrasound image to look at Alek.

Jasper: Haleigh, a week after conception, they’d be the size of a grain of rice. We wouldn’t see much more than the yolk sacs. When did you start hearing their heartbeats?

“This morning. Look—”

Jasper: Well, that’s about right. And explains your symptoms. You’ve known for six days, but these babies are six weeks along. Five at the shortest.

“A week ago I couldn’t get pregnant, Jazz.”

Jasper: Clearly your body overcame a program limitation earlier than you expected. Or else, you are cooking in a microwave instead of an oven. I suppose that’s equally likely, knowing you.

“How can we know for sure?”

Jasper: In a couple of days I can do another ultrasound. If you are progressing at the rate of a week per day, we’ll know very quickly.

She inhaled deeply through her nostrils, and then her eyes found the plate of pizza Alek was holding.

“It that meat lovers? Yeeeesssss!”

Her stomach grumbled loudly as she beckoned Alek over with one hand as she grabbed the tablet from Jasper with the other. She took a slice from the plate as it reached her and pointed with it at the screen to show him.

“Look babe— we made a little melted gummy bear.”

She said before she took three bites from the pizza with a smile. She looked at the image as she chewed. When she’d finished the first slice and grabbed a second she looked at Jazz again.

“Are they healthy?”

Jasper: Too early to tell, I’m afraid. We can run some tests at the 15 week mark.

 

[Berserker]

The Red King’s Suite

Six weeks. Could one of the baby's still be his?

Well, of course they could. But it was hard to believe that Haleigh wouldn't know she was pregnant for so long - she just wasn't someone who would miss something like that, especially not with her physiology. Plus, he thought she couldn't get pregnant until Kelly King did something to her - which he would be very angry about, had it not resulted in the creation of his daughter - while the Europeans were here. He asked as much.

Haleigh: “Yeah, the morning that John became King.”

Her eyes moved to him then, and he gave her an encouraging smile. Six weeks...six months...it didn't matter. They'd work it out.

Jasper: Haleigh, a week after conception, they’d be the size of a grain of rice. We wouldn’t see much more than the yolk sacs. When did you start hearing their heartbeats?

Haleigh: “This morning. Look—”

"You can hear the heartbeats?"

Thinking about two little hearts beating, loud enough for Haleigh to hear it - it was a miracle. He wouldn't say this made it real - it had been real to him from the first second she told him, before they knew there were two babies - but this made it...amazing. The doctor still didn't believe that Haleigh had only been pregnant six days, but she sounded sure, and Alek believed her.

Jasper: Clearly your body overcame a program limitation earlier than you expected. Or else, you are cooking in a microwave instead of an oven. I suppose that’s equally likely, knowing you.

It made sense. Haleigh was unique, and it was foolish on their part to have thought her pregnancy would be normal.

Haleigh: “How can we know for sure?”

He moved closer to the bed, still holding the tray, but his eyes were fixed on the doctor, intent to hear his answer to that question.

Jasper: In a couple of days I can do another ultrasound. If you are progressing at the rate of a week per day, we’ll know very quickly.

Haleigh: “It that meat lovers? Yeeeesssss!”

Alek chuckled at the way Haleigh was excitingly motioning him to bring her the pizza, which of course he did.He handed her the plate, then set the tray on the bedside table and sat on the edge of the bed. She showed him the tablet, with the image of the twins on the screen. It took his breath away, even though they just looked like tiny beans.

"Oh my god...Haleigh..."

Haleigh: “Look babe— we made a little melted gummy bear.”

He laughed, his eyes dampening, as he smiled.

"Well they do say girl bears are made of sugar."

He planted a kiss on the top of her head, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"And they have your hair."

They watched the screen while Haleigh ate, until finally she asked the doctor the most important question, if the babies were healthy.

Jasper: Too early to tell, I’m afraid. We can run some tests at the 15 week mark.

Alek scoffed.

"Which could be next week."

He put a reassuring hand on Haleigh's shoulder.

"They're healthy."

And whatever was going on, they'd figure it out. And if Kelly was behind it? He'd kill her.

 

[Arclight]

Tokyo - Japan

Soft moaning filled the the luxury apartment that overlooked the beautiful city of Tokyo, Japan. The apartment was dim, the city lights helping to illuminate the space. Soft trickling of water could be heard from the fountain centerpiece, and the smell of incense filled the air.

"Right there...fuck yes..."

Alexis groaned, her body immediately relaxing as she felt the strong hands travel down her spine. Every synapse was firing - her skin coated with goosebumps. This was exactly what she needed after the cluster fuck of events that transpired the last few days. She may have left Hellfire three years ago, but god damnit if that fucking place didn't bite her right in the ass even half a world away. Archer Fairchild, asshole extraordinaire and shitty business associate, went belly up, quite literally. Ava secured SubZero, one of her biggest traders in Asia, and morphed it into a devision called Tricel. Not that Alexis was worried in the slightest. Despite leaving Hellfire, she kept good ties with Ava and Haleigh, laundering weapons and technology through the black market and giving them a percentage of the cut for the supply. She had a mutual understanding with them, not ever really having to see them. In fact, she hadn't seen anyone from Hellfire since she left - since before the uprising. Alexis became a blip on the radar, disappearing without a trace and only being found if she wanted to be found. A benefit of her unique powers. But she would send little birdies of communication, the lines always open between her and her two friends, yet the separation was very apparent. They were now regents, and Alexis was not. That right stolen from her by Alek Hallbjorn.

The Scandinavian street scum was Helena's little lap dog from the moment she found him. And in true Helena fashion, she put him over Alexis in every possible way, claiming him 'the son she never had' for years. By the time Alexis said fuck it and left, there were only whispers of an uprising - something she never truly took seriously. As much as she hated her aunt, Diana, and Kelly, they were powerful, and they would die before ever giving up their power, especially to their children. But sure as shit, they did die, and Alexis' rightful title was stolen. SHE should have been Red Queen. SHE should be sitting pretty with a fucking crown of gold, draped in red satin. But she wasn't. And she wouldn't, not until she took it from the bastard....one day.

So Alexis built a new life for herself, traveling like a ghost, and building an underground empire within the black market. Despite her bitterness toward Hellfire, it was still her home, and those people were still her family, so she continued to support the cause discretely. But people like Archer fucking Fairchild, and his giant ego, fucked up a good portion of her week by pissing Ava off. Granted Alexis was thrilled Archer was out of the picture, but now she had to rework a few delicate deals due to the takeover.

But her mind wasn't on business right now. Far from it. She smiled blissfully, groaning out once again.

"You're a fucking, God."

She praised, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

Worker: "Apologise Lady Arclight..."

Alexis huffed out, lifting her head from the table as the masseuse continued to kneed on her lower back.

"What."

Worker: "The....um...12 o'clock shipment just arrived...but it was raided by some rogue SubZero agents. Half the weapons are gone."

Alexis scoffed, an uncharacteristically amused smile spreading across her lips. She began to sit up from the table, the masseuse immediately stopping and taking a step back. Alexis swung her legs around to the side of the table, not bothering with the modesty towel, as her nude form was perfectly illuminated by the city lights.

"Thank you Maikiko, you can leave."

Maikiko bowed respectfully before quickly crossing the room. The worker looked terrified as she hurried by, shutting the sliding divider doors as she exited. Alexis slid off the table, her bare feet padding across the bamboo floors as she sauntered over to the wet bar.

"Did I not double the guards at the pier after SubZero went to shit?"

She asked rhetorically, pouring herself a glass of sake.

Worker: "Yes, Lady Arclight....we doubled all the guards at the pier, the warehouses, and the condos..."

Alexis slowly nodded, taking the sake down like a shot before placing the glass back on the wet bar.

"Yet the shipment was still hijacked?"

Again, her voice was calm and even, yet her question not a question at all. As the guard began to sweat, Alexis looked as if she picked up something else from the bar, but nothing was in her hand. Her head turned to the worker, sapphire eyes steely and even.

Worker: "Y-y-yes Lady Arclight...."

Her face remained even, silence filling the room, until finally Alexis gave the man a smile which caught him by surprise. She waved her hand casually as she sauntered over to him.

[with a light laugh] "Hey, what's a few guns, right?"

The worker coughed out a relieved laugh, finally smiling with a nod; the tension leaving his body. But as Alexis met with him - her face the picture perfect of calm and inviting - her smile immediately dropped and her eyes went icy cold. She whipped her hand in front of him, quick and precise. His eyes were wide in horror.

"$250,000 THAT'S WHAT."

The worker began to gasp gargled breaths as the deep wound across his jugular became visible with pouring blood. The worker dropped to his knees, slumping to the floor dead as blood began to pool around him. The knife within Alexis' hand slowly phased into visibility as she looked down at him, unfeeling. Throwing the knife down, the point blade stuck upright into the bamboo floors by his head.

"Clean this up."

Turning to her bedroom, Alexis disappeared through the sliding paneled doors. In the shadows of the living room was one of Alexis' gaurds, silently watching with an unfeeling stare. This wasn't the first body he would clean up, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

 

[Sparrow]

The Hellfire Mansion

She was supposed to arrive three days ago. Or that's what Cameron thought. But dropping everything to go to another country for the summer took more than a night to plan, and he should have known that. She had to make sure her father was taken care of, that the hacienda was taken care of, in her absence. Carolina was almost too much to bear for those three days, bouncing off the walls, asking again and again when they were going to leave. She was excited to spend time with her papa, and Elena didn't want to deprive her of that joy. But she worried...

Cameron could grow tired of his daughter, or make up with his wife, and Carolina would be left behind. Elena could not let that happen. Her little heart could not be broken the way her's had been. So Elena was torn: on the one side, she wanted Carolina to have good memories of her papa; but on the other, she desperately wanted to shield her daughter from being hurt by him later. She couldn't ask her father's advice: he despised Cameron (with good reason) and his answer would always be that she should stay in Colima.

But if she didn't take Carolina to Nueva York now, to her father, she would want it all the more and run off later, when Elena wouldn't be able to protect her. Just as Elena herself had done. That was a mistake she didn't want Carolina to repeat.

So three days later, they were here, in the back of a white limousine, pulling up to the Hellfire Mansion, a place she never thought she'd ever step foot in again.

She pushed her oversized gold Persol sunglasses up on her face, and smoothed her sleek ponytail. Uncrossing her long legs, she straightened the pristine white wrap blouse and short skirt she was wearing [this but with a short skirt]. She wore only a sleek gold bracelet on her wrist and a gold chain with a golden sparrow hanging from it around her neck. She looked down at Carolina, sitting beside her, holding a stuffed turtle and bouncing up and down excitedly as she looked out the car window. It made Elena smile, to see her this way. Carolina had picked out her own outfit to wear on the plane, a blue Little Mermaid tshirt and leggings under a green canvas jacket with brown Uggs on her feet. She also was wearing a headband her abuelo had gotten for her (god knew where) that had cat ears on it. Elena gently scratched her arm to get her attention. Carolina turned to look at her.

"Listo?" [Ready?]

Carolina gave her a look as if she were 70 not 7, her little hands going to her hips.

Carolina: "Mami...English. We're in Nueva York now!"

Elena smiled warmly.

"Si, si...inglesa..."

She teased.

Carolina looked perturbed.

Carolina: "Mami..."

"Okay, okay."

The car had come to a complete stop, and the driver was coming around to open the door for them. Elena allowed the driver to help her out of the car, and then she turned to take Carolina's hand. She helped her put her little backpack on, and told her to hold Sheldon tight. Then hand in hand, they walked up the steps to the front entrance of the Hellfire Club.

Elena recognized the doorman from her previous stay at the mansion, and greeted him.

Doorman: "Welcome back, miss."

"Thank you, Fairchild. Is my usual room ready?"

Fairchild: "Yes, miss. But the White King has prepared rooms for you and the little one in the White Wing."

Elena took a breath in and sighed.

"Very well."

She indicated the car.

"My bags?"

Fairchild: "Will be brought to your suite immediately."

"Thank you."

Carolina was being uncharacteristically shy, standing close to Elena and she stared up at the man in the funny uniform.

Fairchild: "And who is this?"

"Her name is Carolina."

Fairchild knelt and held out his hand, which Carolina shook. From his pocket, he pulled out a lollipop and held it out to Carolina, who finally smiled and took it from him.

Carolina: "Gracias...thank you!"

Then she gave the doorman a hug before running back to Elena's side. She looked over her shoulder and waved at him as Elena led her towards the elevators, following an attendant who was showing them the way.

When they arrived at their suite, Elena saw that there were several rooms, with a bedroom for her and one for Carolina. Carolina set Sheldon down on the bed and looked around her, seeming a little bit shell shocked. Everything in the room was white. Fucking Cameron. Elena smiled and knelt down in front of her daughter.

"What do you say if you and me do a little shopping, make this place feel more like home? We could buy a new comforter for your bed..."

She touched her finger to Carolina's nose.

"And some pretty curtains..."

Carolina's face brightened and she nodded.

Carolina: "Mami, can we see papi now?"

 

[Prophet]

Hellfire Mansion - White Wing

He could sense her the second she was within the city limits. Her joy was unbridled. She was so happy to see him and as he fastened his belt on his outfit, a swell of anxiety rushed through him.

"What the fuck was I thinking?"

The White King had been so enamored with Carolina in Mexico. He couldn't imagine her not being by his side ever again, but the mansion was in chaos, and he was bringing her into the eye of the storm, more than that, he was uprooting her from her safe space, and after the confrontation he had with his wife last night, he began to doubt his ability to protect her. But when he sensed both Elena and Carolina walk through the doors of the mansion, his mind went clear. The logistics didn't matter. He had a daughter and she was here, if only by the grace of his mother. Fucking this up wasn't an option.

Tying the laces of his shoes, he moved from his new private quarters and made his way over to where Carolina and Elena would be staying, slowly opening the door, feeling Elena's nervous energy immediately.

Elena: "What do you say if you and me do a little shopping, make this palce feel more like home? We could buy a new comforter for your bed...and some pretty curtains?"

His heart swelled.

Carolina: "Mami, can we see papi now?"

"I'm right here, kiddo!"

Carolina: "Papi! I missed you so much!"

She all but charged his knees, nearly knocking him over as he bent down to hug her with all of his might. Gripping her tightly, he took in her scent. Intoxicating, sweet, delicious. He suddenly understood all the parables people had for wanting to eat babies, they truly smelled amazing. His cobalt blue eyes met Elena's and his heart skipped a beat for a moment. He scooped up Carolina in his arms, carrying her on his hip as he maintained eye contact with Elena.

[to Carolina] "Oh I missed YOU so much! So much it nearly killed me!"

Carolina would not loosen her grip around him as he moved towards Elena. He was so unsure as to what to do. In Mexico, they had made passionate, intense love on her kitchen counter before making dinner and sitting down like some kind of nuclear family. Their telepathic connection was still there, still so strong, as if he had never left Mexico, and he couldn't help but admire her amazing olive toned body.

[to Elena] "I'm glad you're here..."

Cameron sat Carolina down next to him, as he gave Elena a warm and intimate hug, her own scent flooding him with a desire he wasn't prepared for. It was both awkward but so comforting to have her here, and for a moment he thought he could understand Haleigh's reliance on Alek in this moment, but then he pictured both of their heads exploding in a gruesome bloody fashion. This was different. Or so he told himself.

"I heard something about redecorated. I'm sorry. Erika has really specific tastes, and you know how we feel about a color pallete around here.."

[pausing]

"There are some of your things...that..that I kept from when you were last here. I have them in my study. This place could use a bit of color, I guess."

[mentally to Elena]

"How are you? Are you guys tired? We could go to breakfast and maybe the park? FAO Schwartz? I don't want to overload her...and I don't want to step on your toes. I understand and am aware of the position I am putting you in...and I want to make this as easy as possible."

 

[Sparrow]

Hellfire Mansion - Elena and Carolina's Suite

Elena wanted to make this as easy for Carolina as she could. She could hear in her mind that she was 95% EXCITED to see her father, and 5% worried he wouldn't like her. It was that 5% she was concerned about. Hellfire had a way of making children feel unloved and under par - exactly the reason she had hidden Carolina's existence for this long. Elena had made it her top priority to make her daughter know she was loved and safe, and that would never change, no matter what it took.

So she would not allow Carolina to fall victim to the Hellfire bullshit of some manufactured hierarchy based on colors and titles. And she wouldn't surrender her child to the Club either: Elena was still her mother, and responsible for what she did and who she was with. She suggested they buy some new things to make the room more like a child's and more Carolina's. Carolina brightened at the idea - what kid didn't like to pick out new things - but she still was a little overwhelmed.

Cameron: "I'm right here, kiddo!"

Carolina ran past her with a speed never before recorded.

Carolina: "Papi! I missed you so much!"

Elena took a breath, then rose from kneeling and turned to see Cameron hugging Carolina. In spite of everything, it still affected her, seeing them together. A little flutter in her heart reassured her that she was doing the right thing. Elena's eyes locked with Cameron's as he picked up Carolina, and the flutter in her heart clearly wasn't just for the father-daughter reunion. He looked just as good as he had in Colima.

Cameron: [to Carolina] "Oh I missed YOU so much! So much it nearly killed me!"

Carolina looked concerned.

Carolina: "Oh I'm sorry papi!"

Cameron was coming towards her, and it took her a second to respond. She reached out and rubbed Carolina's back.

"It's okay, mija, papi is fine."

Cameron: [to Elena] "I'm glad you're here..."

He set Carolina down and moved to hug her. Elena put her arms around him, her body seemingly remembering how it fit against his without thought. When they separated, she gave him a slow kiss on each cheek.

"Carolina has been about to burst with excitement since you left Colima."

She gave her daughter a warm smile, and reached down for her hand to give it a squeeze of reassurance.

Cameron: "I heard something about redecorated. I'm sorry. Erika has really specific tastes, and you know how we feel about a color pallete around here.."

Carolina quickly shook her head emphatically.

Carolina: "Oh, it's so pretty papi! I mean Daddy...I love it, really I do!"

"It's just not what we're used to, that's all."

Cameron: "There are some of your things...that..that I kept from when you were last here. I have them in my study. This place could use a bit of color, I guess."

Elena gave him a small smile.

"That would be nice, thank you."

She hadn't come back to the mansion to pack when she'd left, leaving all her things in the room she had occupied in the Red Wing.

Carolina was busily unzipping her backpack on the bed, pulling out the toys she had brought on the plane with her, then she came rushing back to them with something in each hand.

Carolina: "Look papi! This is my Barbie. Her name is Heidi!"

She held up a mermaid Barbie doll for him to see. Then she thrust a piece of paper at him.

Carolina: "And I drew this for you on the airplane! See, it's me, mami, you, my new horse Sheldon, abuelo...and over here is my new unicorn for my birthday!"

Elena chuckled.

[mentally to Cameron]

This is why you don't make promises to children that you can't keep, Cameron.

And then he was in her mind, and it was like the stroke of a lover. But, she supposed, that's exactly what it was.

Cameron: "How are you? Are you guys tired? We could go to breakfast and maybe the park? FAO Schwartz? I don't want to overload her...and I don't want to step on your toes. I understand and am aware of the position I am putting you in...and I want to make this as easy as possible."

She caught his eyes again, those blue eyes she'd seen in her daughter every day since she'd been born.

[mentally to Cameron]

Breakfast would be nice, she'd like that. I gave her something before we left for the airport but she's hungry now. And she has so much energy she'll be bouncing off the walls here in a moment. She's here to spend time with you, Cam, and that is what she should do.

Elena broke eye contact with him, and knelt down to Carolina.

"Your papa wants to take us to breakfast, would that be okay?"

Carolina's face lit up like a Christmas tree and she nodded emphatically. Elena's face turned up to Cameron's.

"There's your answer."

[mentally to Cameron]

"And I'm glad we're here too, Amado."

 

[Prophet]

Hellfire Mansion - White Wing

He could still feel the wetness of her lips on his cheek.

Carolina: "Oh it's so pretty papi! I mean Daddy...I love it, really I do!"

"She's got the white court in her yet."

Elena: "It's just not what we are used to."

"Well feel free to do whatever you want to the place! It belongs to both of you!"

He mentioned still having Elena's things.

Elena: "That would be nice, thank you."

For a moment his mind went to the night that she left. The night that Haleigh told him that she loved him and that she couldn't stand to see him marry Elena and not her. And how easily he let go of Elena. With almost no question because it was what he truly wanted. It was bittersweet that his wife would not return the favor now. But he wasn't completely unsentimental. Elena was a bit of a cat burglar, collecting the most fascinating things from around the world, and although Haleigh wanted Sparrow's things disposed of, Cameron made sure it didn't happen. He wasn't sure why until this very moment.

Carolina: "Look papi! This is my Barbie. Her name is Heidi!"

Cameron smirked. It appeared his knight had left an impression on Carolina which brought him great comfort. He had instructed her to protect his daughter at all costs, and was relieved to find that The White Knight would be of no bother, rather object fascination to Carolina.

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl!"

A paper was thrust in front of him. A very adorable drawing of the nuclear family Carolina was now creating in her head. It fascinated Cameron how easily children just accepted things as they were. How they were so eager and willing to trust and to love and to celebrate. It was a trait he had not learned growing up in Hellfire, and he wondered if she would lose it staying here.

Carolina: "And I drew this for you on the airplane! See, it's me, mami, you, my new horse Sheldone, abuelo, and over here is my new unicorn for my birthday!"

The White King laughed as he looked at it in amazement.

"What an amazing artist you are, Lina! I love it. We must find the perfect frame for it so I can put it in my study for all to see!!"

Elena: [mentally] "This is why you don't make promises to children you can't keep, Cameron."

Cameron knew some very powerful witches. Producing a unicorn for his daughter was not out of his wheelhouse, but he kept that one to himself. If he needed to prove his word to them both, he would.

The melding of their minds had the same euphoric effect as it always had as Cameron couldn't help but to admire her collarbone as he inquired as to what the plan should be.

Carolina: "Breakfast would be nice, she'd like that. I gave her something before we left for the airport but she's hungry now. And she has so much energy she'll be bouncing off the walls here in a moment. She's here to spend some time with you, Cam, and that is what she should do."

He wanted to spend time with both of him. Suddenly his troubles at Hellfire seemed so far away.

Elena: "Your papa wants to take us to breakfast, would that be okay?"

Carolina's expressive joy filled the room.

Elena: "There's your answer."

"And I'm glad we're here too, Amado."

Her pet name for him sent chills down his spine and gave his arms goosebumps. He was trying to remain focused, but God he wanted to take Elena to his bed and not leave until she was completely spent with pleasure and sweat. All in good time.

Cameron looked over at Carolina.

"Alright..now what is one food you have seen from America that you have yet to try? It can be anything! Anything at all! We can eat our way across the country if you want!"

 

[Black Widow]

Hellfire -- The Red King’s Suite

She smiled as she showed Alek the ultrasound. They didn’t look exactly like babies, yet, but still, she was unexpectedly happy, and proud. Bizarrely, prouder now than she could ever remember being. This surpassed even the day she took the crown. She loved the little gummies, more than she thought she would. Yet, underneath all those good feelings, there was stark terror. She asked if they were healthy.

Jasper: Too early to tell, I’m afraid. We can run some tests at the 15 week mark.

Alek: Which could be next week.

“That’s too long. Can’t you just....”

She gestured some brief jazz hands. Her doctor gave her a smile of sympathy as he gently touched her arm.

Jasper: Haleigh, I can repair any injury, but I can’t cure illness.

Alek: They’re healthy.

He said, his hand on her shoulder. She gave a determined nod, steeling herself as she started devouring her third slice.

“I’ll run some diagnostics of my own,” She said, in between chewing. “And in the mean time, I can search the DNA for genetic disorders.”

She looked down at her plate, and then at Alek.

“Was I supposed to save some of this for you?”

She asked, but then she looked away, her brow furrowed and her gaze distant.

They’re here...

When they hadn’t turned up three days ago like planned, she had hoped Cameron had just lied to try and hurt her, or maybe that Elena was smart enough to know better than to bring that child here. But now those hopes were dashed. Elena was here, wearing all white, the brave bitch. And she’d brought her little minion. Haleigh set that fourth slice back down on the plate, as the queasiness set in.

It was like watching a car crash happen, it had suddenly stolen her undivided attention. Cameron greeted them right away, with hugs and warm sentiments, like he was welcoming them home. They talked about how much they missed each other, and how they were either glad or excited. They discussed redecorating to their preferred style, and apparently Cameron had kept things that Elena had left behind.

Well doesn’t that just fucking salt the wound.

And they were all smiles, and look at my toys daddy, and the picture I made you, and let’s go get breakfast! Haleigh handed Alek the plate and then abruptly rolled away to noisily regurgitate her own breakfast right into that little metal pail next to the bed. It came up even faster than it had gone down.

When she was done she sat back up miserably and tried sipping at the ginger ale. Jasper wanted to talk to her about how she should make sure her dietary intake included extra essential vitamins and nutrients, since the babies would need all they could get while they were gestating.

“I’ll take that under advisement. Do you have another one of these at the office?”

She deadpanned before picking up the ultrasound transducer and asking about it. He started to say yes.

“Great, I’ll hang on to this one. And I’ll call you, in a couple of days, to check in and set up another visit.”

She threw the top sheet off her legs and got out of bed, setting the device down on the night stand, along with the glass of ginger ale.

“I need a fucking shower. Alek?”

 

[Sparrow]

Hellfire Mansion - Elena & Carolina's Suite

Carolina was so eager to please her father. Which, she supposed, wasn't a bad thing. As long as the father didn't take advantage of it, the way someone like Stavros Cassadine would. And Elena could hear from her thoughts that Carolina really did love the pretty white room her father had made especially for her. But it was rather grown up for an almost seven year old.

Cameron: "She's got the white court in her yet."

Don't bet on it, Cameron.

Aloud she said it just wasn't what they were used to, a room so formal for a child. Despite thinking - no, knowing - that she was a headcase of the highest order, Erika had clearly tried to make the room nice for her niece, and would of course assume that white was the color of her brother's choice, so she didn't want to unnecessarily create conflict for her. She was trying to keep the peace around her daughter, after all.

Elena inconspicuously rolled her eyes at how Mermaid Barbie - whose name prior to three days ago had been Gloria - was now called Heidi.

Cameron: "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl!"

Elena smirked at him.

Talking about the doll or the knight?

Carolina also showed Cameron the drawing of her family she had made during the flight on the jet, this one including Cameron. The little girl beamed when Cameron said he would frame it and put it on his desk. Every dream her daughter had ever had was coming true at once. Even (in her mind) the unicorn.

Elena could see his eyes roving her body, and she didn't mind. Her hand went to her throat, her finger slowly tracing a line over the gold sparrow on it's chain. She knelt then to ask Carolina if she wanted her father to take her to eat, a question she already knew the answer to. Then in his mind she responded to his earlier statement, saying that she too was glad they had come. At least for now. She just prayed he didn't lose interest in being a parent. At least not before they were back home in Colima, where Cameron having to stay in New York for business could be a convenient lie.

Cameron: "Alright..now what is one food you have seen from America that you have yet to try? It can be anything! Anything at all! We can eat our way across the country if you want!"

Carolina scrunched up her face in thought, her finger going to her lips. It was visible on her face when she came to her answer.

Carolina: "Lucky Charms!"

She paused.

Carolina: "And...and...Twinkies!"

Elena frowned down at her.

"That's two things, mija. Two things that contain a lot of sugar."

 

[Berserker]

The Red King’s Suite

It was liked he'd stepped out of a dream into real life. Sitting beside Haleigh (who was naked, a staple of all his dreams) looking at the ultrasound of their children. He tried to reassure her that the babies were healthy. They had to be. He told himself if they weren't, she would know. She would have gotten some sort of...alert. In a way, though, the fact that she was concerned warmed him. That she cared for these children, for his child, as any mother would. (With the exception of his mother, of course. And her's.)

Haleigh: “I’ll run some diagnostics of my own. And in the mean time, I can search the DNA for genetic disorders.”

"It doesn't matter."

He was still staring at the tablet screen.

"It doesn't matter if there's something. We'll deal with it."

Haleigh: “Was I supposed to save some of this for you?”

He finally looked away from the screen, to chuckle and smile at her.

"No, mama bear, the pizza was all for you."

She seemed to go away for a moment, and his phone buzzed on the nightstand. Glancing at it, he saw that Elena and her daughter had arrived at the mansion. He didn't like that they had had to play a waiting game for the past three days, from a security standpoint. But he was grateful for the respite it had given Haleigh. He looked at her now, to see how she was, and she looked pale. Before he could say anything the plate was in his head and she was leaning across him to puke into the bowl next to the bed. He rubbed her back gently, noting how lucky it was that Haleigh's hair was short and didn't need held back all the time. When she was done and sat up, he handed her the glass of ginger ale which she sipped as if it was turpentine.

The doctor was going over the foods Haleigh she be sure to eat for the health of the babies (which, it seemed, did not include meat lover's pizza).

Haleigh: “I’ll take that under advisement. Do you have another one of these at the office?”

"We'll make sure she gets the food she needs."

Haleigh confiscated the little ultrasound thing from the doctor, and told him she'd call for another appointment. And that, as they say, was the end of that.

Haleigh got abruptly out of bed - still naked - apparently feeling better and ready to move on to the next thing.

Haleigh: “I need a fucking shower. Alek?”

"Uh...yep, right behind you."

He turned to the doctor who, though way too pretty for Alek's liking, had actually been very helpful. He reached out to shake his hand.

"Thank you, doctor. I'll show you out."

When the door had closed behind Jasper, Alek made his way to the bathroom, kicking off his boxers on the way. He found her there, the water already steaming up the walk in shower stall. He slipped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"How are you? Really?"

 

[Savage]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

Dawn was breaking over a serene landscape, the Adirondack High Peaks, the ‘front yard’ so to speak. The wolf nosed the door handle lever open and padded through the cozy living room silently, taking a familiar path to the bedroom. a cold wet nose snuffled around Ashley’s ear, and then over a hundred furry pounds leapt into the middle of the bed.

“Eclipse, you don’t fit there....”

AJ growled sleepily as the animal tried squeezing in between him and his Ashley. Eclipse plopped down anyway, laid her head on his chest and stared at him. His opened one eye and lifted his head to look at her, and then lazily started scratching behind her ears.

“Is this your winter coat, or are you getting fa—“

The wolf quietly growled in indignation to drown out his last word. He gave her a lupine grin, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I jest! Of course I know you are only fluffy. Come, let our Alpha Queen sleep, breakfast does not make itself here.”

He said as he got up, but the wolf did not follow. She wallowed instead in the warm place he left behind, and he shook his head with amusement. She would snuggle for now, but come sniffing around when the cooking produced worthy smells. Such a princess. She had become even more spoiled in the short time they had been here.

He pulled on some flannel sleepwear pants and started a fire in the hearth before he left the bedroom. He did his best to keep the clanging to a minimum as he cooked a large breakfast skillet meal in his old, well seasoned cast iron pan. Potatoes, eggs, cheese, bacon bits and chunked ham, sausage too, everything went into the skillet.

Sure enough, Eclipse found her way to the kitchen when the cooking was almost through. Savage ‘accidentally’ dropped some extra bits after letting them cool on the counter while shut off the burner and grabbed two plates. He scooped heaping servings for himself and his Ashley and grabbed the carton of oj before heading back to the bedroom.

“Wake up, my huntress.”

 

[Valkyrie]

Adirondack Mountains — AJ’s Cabin

It was early. Really early. She swatted at something around her ear in her sleep, but didn't wake. An atomic blast could have gone off next door and she wouldn't have woken up. Her days and nights were filled with enough activity to put her out like a light when she decided to sleep and she didn't wake up until AJ pulled her out of bed each morning.

Speaking of...

AJ: “Wake up, my huntress.”

She grunted, clamping her eyes shut tight. Then she rolled onto her stomach, and pulled the pillow overtop of her head in protest. She could hear a fire crackling, and feel the light that was starting to come through the bedroom windows. She grunted again. But then there were smells. Of bacon and ham and eggs. Breakfast.

She peeked out from under the pillow at him.

"Did you bring the juice?"

Orange juice had to be the greatest marvel of the modern world. First of all, the color. And then the way it was like liquid candy. Mmm mmm mmm.

When she saw that he had, her eyes opened considerably wider and she removed the pillow from her head and instead stuffed it behind her as she scooted up towards the headboard and into a seated position. She held out both hands: one for the carton and the other for a plate.

She had a long drink of orange juice and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, before starting in on the plate of eggs and potatoes. With her mouth full she looked over at AJ.

"It's good!"

She looked like a mountain man, her hair a tangled mess and in her face as she shoveled food into her mouth. Then again, if you're lucky, most mountain men are not naked.

 

[Prophet]

Hellfire Mansion - The White Wing

Elena: "Don't bet on it, Cameron."

Too bad for her, he was a betting man. There was no use in hiding his thoughts from Elena. She knew him too well. He had taught her much of what he had learned under the tutelage of Malice. More than formidable. She would know if he was hiding something, and she already didn't trust him, nor did she have reason to. But there was something about seeing her in all white in an all white apartment with his daughter in tow - well, it made him a bit hard.


Elena: "Talking about the doll or the knight?"

Cameron smirked.

[to Elena] "Both. My Knight puts all others to shame. In more than just beauty."

The White King watched with a bewitched glances are her fingertips delicately traced the outline of the gold sparrow necklace around her neck while their daughter went on excitedly. His mind was brought back to one of the first times they had ever met. She had been standing there in The Red Parlour, in a dress that hugged her delicate frame, giving her curves that made him tremble. Her was pulled up loosely, with tendrils resting at either side of her face, lucky enough to touch her porcelain olive skin. Her eyes were wild as his. His entire life he had heard sonnets about the beauty of his own eyes, and hers were the first that ever enraptured HIM. Her neck was impossibly long, carved out perfectly and resting above the most delicate and pronounced collarbone he had ever seen. And in the center - was the very necklace she knew exactly what she was doing in that moment. The sparrow. Bright, beautiful small birds who were originally carnivorous.

And as her crimson stained lips parted ever so slightly, he saw the small hint of gloss drip from her lips. He was dumbfounded by her woman hood. He jokingly called her Sparrow, and before long, it became her call sign, everyone in the mansion seeming to recognize it as her talisman. People were nervous for Elena's return to Hellfire, but it wasn't just because she was his ex lover, one who had his child in tow. It was because Elena was devestating. Her fire and her passion, and her ability to get work so thoroughly and masterfully done SHOULD put anyone on edge. If she wanted, though they might doth protest too much, any court would be hers to serve on. But they would see how the next few weeks went.

[to Elena]: "Well perhaps not ALL others. I've seen sparrows that are breathtaking."

He was getting sidetracked so he clicked back in and asked his daughter what American treat she might like to eat.

Carolina: "Lucky Charms! And...and...Twinkies!"

Cameron laughed.

Oh, just you wait, kid. I got Lucky Charms coming out of my butt. And twinkies coming out of my--"

Elena thankfully intervened before Cameron made a very inappropriate joke about twinkies to his very young daughter.

Elena: "That's two things, mija. Two things that contain a lof of sugar."

Cameron pretended to be in deep thought, before mischeviously leaning down and whispering in his daughter's ear.

"Hmm.. Whaddya say we eat some eggs for the woman, and reconsider this twinkie idea at midnight tonight? In the pantry?"

 

[Sparrow]

Hellfire Mansion - Elena & Carolina's Suite

Cameron remarked on Carolina's doll's beauty, and Elena questioned whether he wasn't talking about another Heidi altogether.

Cameron: [to Elena] "Both. My Knight puts all others to shame. In more than just beauty."

Oh really? She arched one perfectly sculpted eyebrow at him, her fingertip touching the necklace that she had been wearing when he gave her his nickname.

Cameron: [to Elena] "Well perhaps not ALL others. I've seen sparrows that are breathtaking."

And perhaps you will again.

Carolina was asking for some of the junk food she saw advertised on American tv, and Cameron was prepared to spoil her with it, before Elena intervened as the voice of reason and responsible parenting. Cameron leaned down and whispered in Carolina's ear, which could mean nothing good.

Cameron: "Hmm.. Whaddya say we eat some eggs for the woman, and reconsider this twinkie idea at midnight tonight? In the pantry?"

Carolina giggled and nodded, her hands covering her mouth, and then turned her face to look up at him.

Carolina: "Your beard is scratchy Daddy. I like it."

She reached up and put her little hand in his.

Carolina: "Come on, let's go already!"

Elena ruffled her hair.

"You stop being so bossy!"

But her smile betrayed the fact that she wasn't angry.

Carolina: "Lo siento, mami."

Elena leaned down and kissed the top of her head. She looked to Cameron as she rose.

"Shopsin's? Or abcV?"

She extended her hand gracefully in front of her.

"You lead the way, papi."

 

[Prophet]

Carolina: "Your beard is scratchy Daddy. I like it."

Cameron had never experienced receiving such a sincere compliment. He would keep his beard at this length for as long as he lived, which in Cameron's mind was going to be forever - be it by becoming a god or getting Juliette to turn him. He wasn't going anywhere. His eyes met Elena's once more. She was softening to him and the feeling was mutual. He thought this would be incredibly awkward, but Elena was allowing him to be himself while still laying down the law, which he appreciated, and only made him want to take her even more.

Carolina: "Come on, let's go already!"

Elena: "You stop being so bossy!"

[to Elena]: "Like mother like daughter, Sparrow."

Carolina: "Lo siento, mami."

He felt bad to see her reprimanded and then realized that he was one of those dads. Elena had countered him a few times, and all of a sudden he found himself a little uncomfortable. Was he already doing a bad job? Bringing out the worst in her? But Elena kissed her forehead and he realized that Carolina was not about to be hit or struck like he would have been as a child. Elena chose love and compassion.

Elena: "Shopsin's? Or abcV?"

Cameron shook his head.

"Shopsin's obviously. No child would ever want to eat at abcV. Plus who doesn't love a diner?"

Cameron extended his arm to both of the women around him.

Elena: "You lead the way, papi."

Cameron grabbed her hand, interlocking it with his arm.

"You help, mami."

 

[Sparrow]

The White Wing - Elena & Carolina's Room

Cameron was completely enamored with their daughter, Elena could see it, not to mention feel it. Everything she said was like Shakespeare to him. Or the Word of God.

Cameron chose the best diner in the city to take them to for breakfast, and Elena was impressed that he didn't just pick the most expensive restaurant in the city. Maybe he hadn't completely changed after all. She took Cameron's arm, while his other was holding Carolina's hand, and they made their way out of the White WIng to the main entrance where a car was already waiting for them. Elena took Cameron's hand as he helped her into the car, and once she had Carolina fastened into her booster seat, they were off, heading downtown to Little Italy and Shopsin's grocery store/diner.

They got a table in the window and tried to pick something from the humongous menu. Elena helped Carolina with the words she didn't know, because she insisted on reading it and picking her breakfast HERSELF. An order of banana chocolate chip pancakes later, in addition to Elena's veggie frittata, and Carolina was back to chattering away.

Carolina: "Do you like horses, papi?"

The waitress set an orange juice in front of her, and Carolina smiled up at her.

Carolina: "Gracias! I mean, thank you."

Carolina leaned over to Elena and whispered conspiratorially, "She's very pretty. I like her bracelet." It was multicolored, one of those ones girls braided for each other at recess.

The little girl's attention snapped back to her father.

"Could we go to the Aquarium sometime? And see the fish? I saw it in a book about Nueva York, that there is a big one here. I'd like to see that."

She took a big gulp of her orange juice. Elena studied Cameron. She wondered if he really was going to take the time to take his daughter to see all the sights, or if he would lose interest after today. Elena looked down at her daughter.

"I promise we'll go before we leave, mija."

With or without Cameron.