“Is anyone going to get that?” Ainsley called out to an empty house before she gave a laugh and a shake ofher head, “Guess it’s up to me. Grabbing the relentlessly ringing phone, she said, “Hello, DoranResidence.”

“Maurice! It’s been so long. Wasn’t it was that show I did before Hero was born? How have you been?”Her smile lit up her face as she recognized the voice of an old choreographer she’d worked with. “I’vebeen doing well. The children are all growing like weeds. They’re all in high school now. Puck’s also doingwell. He had a showing of his paintings last month which did very well. It’s so good to hear from youagain, Maurice. How have you been?”

She listened for a bit as the person on the other end chatted a little more before getting into the meat ofthe call, “Well yes, I’ve kept up with my training, though it’s been ages since I performed.” Her jawdropped open at what he said next, “Wait, you what?”

“You can’t possibly be serious, Maurice. Why would you want me as the lead in a new show? It’s beenyears since I was on a stage and ...” She smiled, “You old flatterer. Well of course I’m going to say I feel asyoung as ever.”

After a moment she laughed and relented, “I’m honored. The show sounds wonderful and I’m honoredyou thought of me. Let me talk to Puck about it, but I don’t see any problems. Getting back on a stage todance sounds fantastic.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Titania looked down into the scrying pool and gave a wistfully sad sigh. Lifting a hand, she brushed herfingers through the water and dispersed the image lingering there.

A tentative chiming voice questioned her suddenly morose mood.

“Time grows short, my little loves.” Titania stared at the empty pool for a moment longer before shecontinued quietly, “I knew this day would come, but that does not mean I do not wish it could wait for afew more months or years.”

She was answered by the dancing motes of light swirling closer to her while making comforting music.

Giving them a wan smile and turning away from the pool, Titania reached up a hand to rub the back ofher neck, “It is what must be, and I accept that, loves. Still, I will mourn what has been before I can fullycelebrate what will be.”

Another questioning tinkling followed her towards the door.

Pausing thoughtfully, she answered, “Yes, I could have changed what was foretold, but that does not meanit would have been the right thing to do. I looked down the alternate paths of the choices before me, butthe future was always a darker place than what I saw down this road.” Lifting a hand, the faeries dancedover her fingers, “There is still some time before me. I will live each day as I always have.”

As she arrived at the bottom of the stairs, she caught her youngest child as he rushed towards the door,“Tey, where are you off to?”

“Mom!” He had a vaguely guilty look as he stopped, “I was going to head out with the guys for a bit.”

“Oh.” Titania hesitated and then asked with a mother’s smile, “Since you leave for the universitytomorrow, would you be willing to spend an evening with your old, tired mother instead of your youngand vivacious friends?”

A quick flash of disappointment raced across his face before he thought about what she said and frowned,“You’re not old, Mom.” Glancing quickly at the door then looking back at her, he hesitated then said, “If Ihang out with you, can we play Monopoly and make some chocolate peanut butter rainbow chipcookies?”

Laughing, she pulled him into a hug, “Of course, my love. I think I also have a taste for some toffeecaramel sugar cookies in the shape of monkeys and hippopotamuses. If you let me win at Monopoly, Iwill let you lick the spoon.”

Teenage boy adventures forgotten, Tey grinned, “Mom, you always win at Monopoly, so it sounds like adeal to me. Can we give the monkeys some wings too?”

“Delightfully perfect! Wings are just what the monkeys are missing.” She tweaked his nose and turnedtowards the kitchen, “If I remember correctly, you still owe me for that last time you landed onBoardwalk.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Some time later...

“I really wish I could Jihoon, but I can’t.” Hero spoke into her phone with a forlorn sigh, “My mom has anopen rehearsal preview tonight for the show she’s in and my dad is going with her to watch as part of theaudience, so I have to stay here and babysit my brothers and sisters.”

“Hey! You are not babysitting us!” Lysander shouted indignantly.

Hero rolled her eyes, “You know what it’s like with brothers and sisters, right?” Lowering her voice to anintimate whisper, she said, “I really miss you too, Ji. I wanted to get to spend some more time with youbefore leaving for college.”

In the background Lysander gave a high-pitched, obnoxious imitation of his oldest sister while leaningforward to obnoxiously smooch at Portia, “Oh Jihoon, I love you so muuuuuch. Smoochy smoochy!”

“Lysa! Stop being so childish!” Hero grabbed a pillow from the back of the couch and tossed it at himbefore she said back to the phone, “I really gotta go, Ji.” Quieter still she said, “Love you too.”

Lysander grinned impishly, “It’s what you get for still calling me Lysa. Besides, Mom and Dad told us thatnone of us could invite anyone over.”

Hero flopped onto the corner of the couch and gave him a stern glare that lasted for all of five seconds, “Iwasn’t upset at that.”

“Not that you would have done anything ‘inappropriate’. Portia on the other hand...” Lysander trailed offas he smirked in his littlest sister’s direction.

“Shut up, Lysa.” Portia didn’t even spare him a glance as she continued playing her game.

Dropping back down onto the couch, Lysander shrugged, “I just wish we could have gone to the showtonight. It’s no fair that Dad gets to go and we don’t. I wanted to see Mom dance too.”

Rosalind shrugged as she watched the heated game between the youngest twins play out on the screen,“Mom said she only got a couple of tickets, so she’s taking Daddy and Aunt Bo and Uncle Merc tonight.We’ll get to go to another performance.”

“It’s still not fair.” Lysander slouched as only a teenage boy can, “It would have been nice if they’d at leasthave let Faith and Val hang out with us.”

Sebastian snorted and gave his older brother a quick grin, “Mom and Dad want the house to still bestanding when they get home, dork.”

Hero watched her brothers and sisters with a thoughtful expression on her face as they bantered back andforth. The conversation darted from one topic to another like a hive of bees cavorting in a field of flowers.She only paid what they said partial attention as her mind wandered off in its own direction.

After a moment, she said, “Hey. We should talk about the stuff Mom told us about the Doran family line.There should be a plan in place in case anybody shows up wanting to cause trouble.”

“HA! I don’t think so, ‘Bastian!” Portia ignored Hero’s question as she skirted her character aroundSebastian’s, gaining the lead in the race.

“No fair, Portia!” Sebastian said even as he grinned, “I still beat you in the last round.”

Rosalind watched the back and forth between their two characters before she pointed out diplomatically,“I think you’re both really good at the game.” After a moment, she asked, “Can I play winner?”

“Come on guys, I’m serious.” Hero got up and stood directly between the couch and the television,blocking their view of the screen, “We should really talk about this and figure out a plan of some sort. Idon’t want to end up like all the Dorans that came before us.”

Sebastian gave a strangled sound as his avatar went careening off the track, “Hero!”

“What flew up your butt, Hero? Get out of the way!” Portia gave her a glare of death as her avatar quicklyfollowed Sebastian to doom, “I was winning that game!”

“No you weren’t.” Sebastian grumbled.

“Yes I was.”

“No you weren’t.”

“Was too!”

“Were not!”

A brief look of guilt flickered over Hero’s face, but then the bickering between the two youngest twinsmade her roll her eyes, “Quit it, guys. You can play later. I want to talk about this now while Mom andDad are out. This is serious stuff.”

“Well, since you ruined my game anyway.” Portia sulked as she tossed her controller to her sister. “Fine.Let’s be lame and talk about serious stuff.”

Sebastian hesitated before he got up and put his remote away, “I would have liked to finish the game, butI’m kinda interested in this stuff too.” Sitting back down, he looked up at Hero, “What did you want totalk about.”

Turning off the television, Hero sat down on the coffee table across from the couch, “Well, you all know Ican fly and sometimes make stuff float if I think about it hard enough, right?”

Lysander snorted with a grin, “Kinda hard not to when all of us have played basketball with you at leastonce, Hero.”

Rosalind added, “Or when you fly down the stairs in the morning because you’re late for the bus.”

“Okay, fine.” Hero grinned, “Well, Grandma told me that all of us would have some sort of “gift” from ourcombined Elven and Alien blood. I found out that Mom used to have visions. I guess she doesn’t havethem anymore, at least not like she used to.” Pausing for a moment, she looked at each of them before shesaid, “I want to know what each of you can do.”

“If Mom had visions, what can Daddy do?” Rosalind asked curiously.

Hero’s brow furrowed, “Grandma never said if Dad could do anything, Rosa. And I don’t want to knowabout him, I want to know about you.” She paused abruptly as she looked between Rosalind and Spot.Understanding slowly dawned, “Oh. Why on earth did I not see that before?”

Rosalind’s green cheeks colored slightly with embarrassment, “I can talk to all animals. Not just Spot.” Shelooked up at her siblings and gave a lopsided little smile, “It’s not as cool as what Lysander can do,though.”

Lysander looked at his twin with a little shake of his head, “Come on, Rosa. What you do is really cool. Imean, you can talk to the fish and I’ve seen you carry on a whole conversation with a flock of sparrows.”

“They like to gossip.” She shrugged and added, “It’s still not as cool as you being able to heal people.”

Hero’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, “You can heal?”

Lysander gave a helpless shrug, “Kinda. I fixed Spot when she was hurt and I’ve been able to heal littlecuts and bruises that Rosa and I have gotten. I don’t know if I can fix anything major, though. It’s not thatbig of a deal.”

“Not that big of a deal?” Hero gave him an incredulous look, “That’s a huge deal, Lysander. That’ssomething that could make all the difference in..”

Sebastian quickly interjected, “Hero, lay off a little, okay.”

All four siblings turned to look at him as he said, “Uhm. I can read emotions. Kinda. It’s like I know whateveryone else is feeling. Grandma called me an empath. She’s been helping me learn how to control it so itdoesn’t hurt all the time. When I’m around too many people at once, I get headaches.” He gave a helplessshrug, “It also doesn’t help when you guys yell at one another like that.”

Before anyone could ask him questions about it, he turned to his twin, “What can you do, Portia?”

“Me? Nothing.”

“Oh come on, you’ve got to be able to do something.” Sebastian smiled encouragingly before he lightlyteased, “Maybe your power is to always get what you want.”

Giving a light laugh, Portia raised a hand to her mouth as she considered that, “That would be a totallyawesome power. Yeah, sure. That’s what I can do.”

Hero asked eagerly, “Really?”

Portia rolled her eyes, “Oh, give me a break, Hero. I can’t do anything cool like you guys can. I’m the oddone out, okay?” She chucked a pillow in Lysander’s direction, “One of us has to be a black sheep, right?”

“So Sebastian, what’s it like to know what someone else is feeling? Do you ever hang out in the closetwhen Rosa and Andi start making out?”

“Portia!” Sebastian gave her a horrified look that was echoed by Rosalind, “That’s horrible. I wouldNEVER.. OW!” He suddenly raised a hand to his brow as his breath caught suddenly, “Oh no.”

“What’s wrong?”

.

.

.

Through gritted teeth, he got out, “There are people here.” Sebastian looked at each of his siblings beforefocusing his pained expression on Hero, “I.. I got a sudden wave of .. hate. I d.don’t know who they are,but they’re planning on hurting whoever they find here.”

.

.*~*~*~*~*~*

Across town, Ainsley prepared herself in the dressing room the show had provided for her. Though it wasa limited run, they were giving her star treatment.

Reaching for the makeup, her hand suddenly froze and her breath caught in her chest. It was the samefeeling she always felt just before a vision. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on retaining control even asshe was grateful that she was already sitting down. The things she had learned under Titania’s tutelageallowed her to retain control of the vision, rather than having it consume her.

That didn’t change her reaction to what she Saw, though.

“Oh no.” Stumbling away from the vanity, Ainsley rushed towards the door, calling for her husband,“Puck! PUCK!”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Hero felt as if she had been frozen to the floor as everyone panicked around her. They’d caught a glimpseof the darkly dressed elves headed towards their front door, confirming what Sebastian had sensed.

“Hero?” Sebastian looked plaintively up at her. He had the same expression on his face he’d always hadwhen he’d turned to his big sister to make everything better.

“Uh..” She raised a hand to her mouth as she suddenly realized she was having trouble catching herbreath.

“Hero, what do we do?” Sebastian’s voice cracked as he looked at her pleadingly, “They’re bad. All bad.They want to hurt us. What do we do?”

She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. Did she even know what words to sayto fix this?

Behind her, the other three were completely losing it. Their voices were blending into one, becoming ajumble of fear and indecision.

“They’re almost here!”“Where do we go?”“What do they want?”“There’s no back door! We can’t go out the front!”

As their words washed over Hero something inside her clicked. In that moment, she finally caught abreath. She knew what they needed to do.

“Everyone, upstairs. NOW.” In a tone of voice that would take no argument, she pointed towards thestairs.

At first, they stared at her, uncomprehending. Sebastian croaked a confused, “What?”

“They’re coming through those doors in about five seconds. We don’t want to be here when they do, soeveryone get up those stairs right now!”

Finally given some direction, the four of them raced up the stairs. When the last one was up, Hero simplyjumped and flew the rest of the way up.

*WHAM*

Wood splintered and flew into the room as the front doors flew open after a solid kick. One of the panesof glass also shattered, following the explosive bang with a softer tinkling of glass falling to the floor.

“Was that really necessary, Kal? I could have picked the lock, you know.” Tolan flipped his hair out of hiseyes as he came last up the stairs.

Kern rolled her eyes and pushed past the men to enter the house, “It doesn’t matter how we got in as longas we’re in.”

Ignoring the rest of the house, she stepped up to the urgently beeping security system. Without pausing,she tapped a few buttons and easily silenced the alarm. Punching in another code, she announced, “I’vesent the false alarm notice. We’ll be undisturbed and all of the alarms are now disabled.”

“Are we even sure the brats are here?” Tolan asked as he looked around the place with a disdainful snort,“I’d hate to come all this way and not have some fun.” Under his breath he added, “Who decorates inpink and purple anyway?”

“They’re here.” Kal growled, “I saw a glimpse of them through the window. They’re hiding around heresomewhere.”

Upstairs, the five Doran children had barricaded themselves into one of the bedrooms. Rosalind’s sobswere the only sound in the room until Portia spoke, “What do we do now, Hero? The house isn’t that bigso they’re going to find us eventually. We’re trapped here now.”

Lysander twisted his hands together nervously as he mumbled, “This is bad. This is really bad. Reallyreally bad.”

Sebastian just looked imploringly at his oldest sister, “What now, Hero? You’ve got a plan, right?”

“First off, you guys need to toughen up.” She spoke fiercely, allowing for no argument, “We are Dorans.We do not just roll over and die. Rosa, I know you’re upset, but stop snuffling. Spot is going to need youto carry her.”

At that, Rosalind stopped crying and wiped a hand over her messy cheek. Glancing to her beloved dog,she gave a meek nod.

“Okay, good.” Hero gave a satisfied nod before she took a deep breath, “Here’s what we’re going to do.”

Downstairs, Kern barked an order at her men, “There are five of them. Two boys and three girls, and all ofthem should be here. Find them. NOW.”

Quickly, the three men took off towards different directions in the house. Jahan went towards the kitchen,Kal kicked open the door into the den, while Tolan headed upstairs still complaining about the decor.

“Oberon wants them alive to serve as bait, but if one of them gives you too much trouble, just make theproblem go away.” Kern took out her phone and began dialing a number.

“Are you sure this is going to work?”

All five Doran children, plus their dog, quietly and nervously perched on the roof just outside of one ofthe bedrooms.

Lysander hovered protectively close to Rosalind as he looked towards his older sister, “They’re going tofigure out we’re out here once they realize we’re not in the house. And while it probably wouldn’t hurt toomuch to jump down from this high, there’s a chance someone could still break an ankle or something.”

Rosalind bit her lip, “How are we going to get Spot down?”

Hero took a deep breath as she took one last look back inside the house. Setting her shoulders, she turnedto face her siblings, “We’re not going down. We’re going up.”

“There’s nobody here, Kern.” Tolan shrugged as he came out of the last bedroom, “Your information musthave been wrong.” He waved a hand airily, “Maybe they took the brats with them to the shindig you saidthey’d be at.”

Kal shot him a deadly glare before he said, “They were here. I told you I saw them through the windows.There was also a fresh bowl of untouched popcorn in the den and the video console was still warm.”Turning around to face Kern he said simply, “Somehow, they got away.”

“That’s impossible. There was nowhere they could have gone. How could they have possibly gotten out ofthe house? They’ve got to be here somewhere.” Kern was furious and didn’t hesitate to show it.

Jahan shook his head, “We’ve been over the place top to bottom, Kern. They aren’t here. It’s possible theygot out when they realized we were in the house. Hell, you’ve already tried to take their father down oncebefore, maybe he built a safe room in the house. Face it, they’re not here.”

She spun on him with a look so venomous he flinched, “I WILL NOT be outwitted by a bunch of kids!”

Straight above the arguing elves, about twenty feet above the roof, Rosalind clung to Spot as she kept hereyes focused on the stars overhead, “I j.just realized something, Lysa.”

Holding tightly to her shoulder, Lysander said, “Now’s not the time, Rosa. Tell me later.”

“But I th.think I m.might be afraid of heights. Kinda a f.funny thing to learn at a time like this.”

“Don’t look down, Rosa. Just hang on and we’ll be safe soon.” Hero’s voice was strained as sheconcentrated on keeping all of them in the air and moving away from the house.

“Can’t you go any faster?” Lysander asked nervously. He had a death grip on Hero’s shoulder and anotheron Rosalind. “It feels like we’re flying like a snail. If a snail could fly. Y’know.”

Gritting her teeth, Hero snapped, “If you’d like to take over airline pilot duties, you’re more than welcometo. Maybe if someone had said no to a tasty cake once in a while it wouldn’t be so hard to carry all four ofyou.”

“Hey, I like tasty cakes.” Sebastian said defensively. Under his breath he added, “This is kinda cool.”

“Fine.” Kern snarled as she took one last look around the hallway. “Burn it down. If they’re in here weeither smoke them out or take care of the problem. If they’re not, it’ll still leave a very pointed message forwhen they get back home.” Kern glared at each of her men before she turned and stalked down the stairs,“I know it’s obviously too hard to catch a few teenagers, but at least try and do this part of the jobcorrectly?”

Under his breath, Jahan muttered, “Bitch.”

From below a cold voice called up, “You can be the last one to leave, Jahan. Make sure it’s burning hotbefore you come out.”

The group was about halfway over the house when Portia gave a shriek and pointed with her free hand,“Fire! The house is on fire!”

Hero’s control slipped and the group dipped dangerously towards the roof, earning a yelp from Spot andshouts of fear from the others. Regaining control almost as quickly as she lost it, Hero closed her eyes andconcentrated on moving forward, “We. Can’t. Stop.” Sweat was beading her brow and the strain wasbeginning to show.

Lysander looked back over his shoulder, watching their home burn. Speaking in such a way that healmost sounded like he was sobbing, he said, “At least we’re not inside. Try not to scare Hero or she’sgoing to drop us.”

Sebastian’s voice was small as he asked, “Are we going to make it?” He had decided this wasn’t as cool ashe first thought.

Uncharacteristically, Hero almost snarled, “Of course we are. I’m not going to let us fail.” Her shouldersshook as she continued them forward inch by inch. Gentler, she said, “Concentrate and stay strong. We’renot going to let them win.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

Titania watched the smoke begin to billow up from the old gatehouse she had helped Puck turn into ahome. Sadness settled over her like a shawl, weighing her shoulders down. She gave a soft sigh, “Whymust there be violence in every cycle, no matter how hard we try to avoid it?”

Closing her eyes, she let out another bittersweet sigh. Bringing her focus in on herself, she began movingin slow, purposed movements that spoke of a dance-like ritual. There was a graceful significance to theway her hands seemed to sketch patterns and symbols in the air.

The warm fall breeze that had been blowing over Veronaville suddenly stilled, leaving behind a coldnothingness.

“Tania, what are you doing out here?”

Finishing the last motion of the pattern with a satisfied nod, Titania looked over towards the speaker thathad broken the silence in the courtyard, “Hello Oberon.”

He arched an eyebrow as he watched her, “It’s cold out. You should come inside.” His eyes flicked towardsthe neighboring house, but he did not acknowledge the growing cloud of smoke as he turned hisattention back on her. With a gesture towards the circle inscribed on the ground, he said, “You usually dothis type of thing up in your workshop.”

“It seemed like an appropriate night to enjoy the evening air. It’s a rather nice night, don’t you think? Itwill be winter soon.”

Ignoring the question, Oberon said again, “Let’s go inside, Tania. We can light a log in the fireplace andbreak open a bottle of wine.”

Staying where she was, exactly in the center of the circle, Titania shook her head with a sad expression,“Not tonight, love. It is time for a change.”

Oberon tilted his head and watched her with a hint of wistful longing crossing his usually schooledfeatures, “Change? You know exactly what I have always wanted to change about our relationship, Tania.”

Moving to her side, he slid his arms around her with a gentle caress. Leaning in close, he intimatelywhispered the words as almost a kiss, “Marry me, Titania Summerdream.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

“Hero, stop!” Sebastian hissed urgently as he tried to catch up to his eldest sister.

Though her knees felt like jell-o, Hero led the five of them towards their grandmother’s house. She’d madeit as far as she could in the air, but had to put everyone down when they’d cleared the house and had asafe spot on the ground to land. Not sparing her youngest sibling a glance, she said, “Come on, we’realmost there. Grandma can help us. I think that’s her in the backyard.”

“But wait!”

Grabbing her shoulder, he pulled her to a stop, “She’s not alone.”

“So?” Hero gave him a confused look as she tried to pull him onward, ‘What’s your problem, ‘Bastian?”

“I think that’s Oberon that’s with her. He..” The boy swallowed, “He’s behind all of this. He hates us all.I’ve known he wanted to hurt us since I was little. I don’t think we should let him know we’re still alive.”

“But..” Hero trailed off at the desperate expression on his face. Taking a look at the others, she said,“Okay, we’ll keep out of sight until we see what’s going on.”

Obeying Hero’s directives, they all snuck over to some bushes where they could stay out of sight. Portiagot down on her belly and inched through the bushes to get a better view while the others peeked outover the top.

Sebastian sat in the back and pulled his knees up tight to his chest as he tried not to rock back and forth.Dread was written across his face as he worried at his lower lip.

Hero watched for a moment before she whispered, “They’re kissing, ‘Bastian. I really don’t want to watchgrandma make out with some guy.”

Lysander frowned as he tilted his head and watched, “They’re talking now.”

Rosalind bit her lip and started to stand up, “Can we go over now. I’m getting cold.”

Abruptly, Lysander put a hand out to hold her back, “Hang on. It looks like they’re arguing now.” Helooked over towards Sebastian who now had his eyes clenched shut.

“No? NO!?” Oberon stepped back and let loose a bellowing yell, “Why the hell not, Titania?”

She responded with a sad sigh, “Because it’s not meant to be, love.”

“Don’t call me ‘love’!” His temper disintegrated as he shouted at her, “You don’t have the right to call methat if you won’t marry me, Titania. I’m tired of always coming in second in your life. I deserve better thanthat.”

“Perhaps.” She remained infuriatingly calm no matter how loud he yelled.

“Perhaps!?” Oberon growled, “What is that supposed to mean?”

She responded with another soft sigh as she looked off towards the house she had raised six children in,“Oh Oberon. Do you truly want to know why I never accepted your proposals no matter how much Iloved you? It will not make you happy to know.”

“YES!” His eyes grew wide as he sputtered angrily, “Of course I want to know! I’ve loved you for all mylife, Titania, but you would never agree to be mine!”

“See, there. That is why.”

“What?” He stopped yelling as he narrowed his eyes in confusion, “What is why?”

“Oberon, if I had ever agreed to marry you, I may as well have put shackles on my wrists and let you lockme in a tower hidden away in the North Forest.” With a little shake of her head, she explained gently,“You never truly loved ME. You loved the idea of who you thought I was. Who you wished me to be.”

“That makes no sense, Tania.”

Reaching up, she caressed his cheek with a fond, wistful smile on her face, “You have never accepted orunderstood the mission I chose to make the most important part of my life. You never even came totolerate the children that took up residence in my heart.”

Almost sullen, he responded with the same response he always had for this weathered old argument, “Wecould have had children together, Tania. Mine and yours. We still can. You’re still young enough. Comeaway with me. Tonight. Please?” The last was said with a pleading hint of desperation.

Despite the look of sadness in her eyes, she shook her head, “No. You have always kept yourself separatefrom the rest of my life, Oberon. I hoped for so long that you might see and understand, but it is far toolate for any of that. Far too late.”

Oberon stepped back and regarded her with a resigned expression, “I should have known better than tohope you’d change your tune after all these years, Tania.”

She gave a wan little smile, “Perhaps.”

“Yes. Perhaps.” He reached a hand up to his chin and considered her carefully, intently memorizing herfeatures. His other hand reached around behind him as if to scratch his back.

Titania stood here, placidly, simply watching him with sorrowful eyes.

“You do know that I have always loved you, Tania. No matter what happens next, I loved you.”

“I know, love. I know.”

Portia lifted up on her hands as she caught a glint of light off the sharp edge of the blade, “Is that a.. ?”Suddenly she hissed urgently, “Hero, he’s got a knife!”

With no hesitation, Oberon mercilessly thrust the blade forward, stabbing Titania in one harshmovement.

Despite the calm on her face as he raised the blade to strike, she still cried out in agonized pain as thewicked knife cut deep into her vital organs.

Teeth clenched in an agonized grimace, Oberon hissed, “I won’t share you any longer, Tania. No more. If Ican’t have you, no one can.” Angrily, he jerked the knife free, causing as much damage on the way out asit did on the way in.

Light quickly fading from her eyes, Titania sank to her knees. With a weak and fading voice, shewhispered, “And so it is done. And so it begins.”

Oberon stepped back, staring at her with a mad expression in his eyes, “What?”

There was no answer forthcoming. Her lifeless body fell into a heap at his feet.

Oberon looked down at her and his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry it came to this, Tania. I really did loveyou.”

“MONSTER!”

Hero crashed through the bushes mere moments after Titania’s body had crumpled to the ground,“MONSTER! YOU’RE A MONSTER!”

Sebastian tried to grab her and hold her back, but nothing was stopping her now.

The others quickly rose and followed.

“The hell?” Oberon gave the children an exasperated look as they charged up onto the closest platformsurrounding the courtyard, “Kern and her men were supposed to deal with you brats. What in the worldare you doing here? Please don’t tell me you actually escaped.”

“How could you do that!? She never did anything to anyone!” Hero stood in front of the others as theyspread out behind her. “Do you think you could get away with this?!”

Portia echoed Hero as she yelled, “MURDERER!”

Lysander glared as he positioned himself between Rosalind and Oberon. For her part, Rosalind coveredher eyes, trying to hide away the image of her beloved grandmother dead in a pool of blood on the coldground.

Sebastian was struggling with his own internal war as he felt his own grief mingled with that of hissiblings, but there was also their rage and Oberon’s madness. Covering his mouth as he tried to gaincontrol of himself, he whispered, “I can’t feel her. She’s gone. She was there and then she was gone. Allgone.”

Hero practically snarled as she glared at Oberon, “You’re going to pay for what you’ve done!”

“And how do you plan on doing that, girl?” Kern stepped through the bushes behind the teenagers, a gunheld threateningly in her hand.

Sebastian twirled to face her and gave a strangled sound, “Hero, we’ve got trouble!”

“Trouble is right, boy.” Kern gestured towards the bushes nearby and her men stepped out, each one ofthem armed with a gun similar to hers. The dangerous looking woman glared and said, “I don’t knowhow you got out of that house without us catching you, but you’re not getting away this time.”

There was another rustle in the bushes, quickly followed by an angry Spot leaping out with a defensivegrowl. Her people were in danger and she wasn’t about to put up with that.

Rosalind looked up and gave a terrified squeak, “No Spot! No!”

Not listening, the dog snarled with bared teeth and lunged forward at the nearest of the aggressors.

“What the f..” Kal swore and lashed out with a vicious kick as the protective dog lunged at him, “Give mea break. Is this what they consider an attack dog?”

Spot had her teeth barred, but as his heavily booted foot connected solidly with her chest, she let out astartled and pained yelp. The impact sent her flying backwards where she landed with a hard thump onthe ground.

Raising his gun, Kal pointed it in the direction of the prone dog and fired it once before he turned backand sneered, “We mean business, kids. Next one to move without Kern’s permission ends up like themutt.”

“Spot..” Rosalind stared with a horrified expression as her voice caught in her throat, “Spot.. Spot.. No..no..”

Kern mercilessly pointed her gun at the green girl, “All of you. Down off the platform. And quit yoursniveling before I give you something to really cry about.”

“Spot..”

Lysander’s hand was shaking as he took his twin’s elbow and led her off the platform.

“So, tell me, Kern,” Oberon began conversationally once all the kids were down on the ground in front ofhim, “How did five teenagers escape what you ensured me would be a foolproof plan? Am I paying afool?” He gestured casually with the bloody knife as if it were a butter knife rather than a weapon that justmurdered someone.

Gritting her teeth, Kern replied, “I don’t know how they got out of the house, sir. Regardless, it shouldnot matter since we have them now.” Casting a glance over her shoulder at Titania’s body, she added witha barb, “It looks like your business was finished a bit messier than you had expected.”

Oberon glared at that as he turned his attention back to the teenagers, “How did you get out of the housewithout them knowing?”

With only the barest hint of a tremor in her hands, Hero defiantly crossed her arms and glared back,“Why should I tell you? You’re planning on killing us no matter what we do, aren’t you?”

“How would you know that, girl?” He asked with a snort. “Perhaps I simply want to re-educate you to theerror of your ways.”

“Don’t treat me like I’m stupid. We both know that isn’t what you’ve been planning.” Hero spared amoment to glance at her siblings. Rosalind was sobbing quietly behind her while Lysander tried hishopeless best to comfort her. Portia was trying very hard to hold it together, but even she was struggling.Sebastian was obviously fighting his own battle as he dealt with the situation and all the emotions he wasbeing inundated with. Taking a deep breath, Hero hissed, “If you’re going to do it, do it quick.”

“What do you think, Kal?” Oberon asked with a sadistic humor in his voice, “Do we have a group of fine,upstanding youngsters in front of us, or are they a collection of half-breed abominations?”

“Uh.” The bald elf faltered as he looked from the kids to Kern and then to Oberon. The man was actingstranger than usual. Clearing his voice, he said as diplomatically as he could, “You hired us to hunt half-breeds, sir. I would assume you’d want us to clean up this particular little problem with .. uhm..expediency.”

“Excellent vocabulary.” Oberon made another casual gesture with the bloodied knife, “Make sure to givehim a bonus, Kern.”

Facing away from Oberon, she rolled her eyes, “Shall we get on with the job, sir?”

“You might want to reconsider that. I’m guessing you’re going to have a little more trouble withexpediting that job than you originally thought.” Hero’s demeanor had suddenly grown more confident asshe faced down their captors.

Beside her, Portia also regained her confidence. A mean smirk played over her lips, “I think you just lostthe upper hand, Obi-Wan.”

“What the hell are you talking about, girl?”

“Take a look behind you, dumbass.”

Hero shot her littlest sister a sharp look.

Under her breath Portia hissed, “Whaaat? He’s threatening our lives. If I can’t swear at him now, when canI?”

Behind them stood an angry crowd. At the center was Ainsley, still dressed in her costume from the show.Puck was by her side while the rest of Titania’s children surrounded them. Further back, Mercutio andTybalt stood with their families, watching with obvious anger.

“You have done enough damage tonight, Oberon. This ends now.” Ainsley’s voice was dangerously quietbut carried an ominous weight with it.

Beside her, Bottom quivered, a war between grief and rage visible on her face. Through her teeth she said,“No quarter, Ainsley. They killed my mother. They should be given no quarter.”

Ainsley reached a hand out to her friend and spoke gently, “Don’t let your anger cheapen your grief, Bo.Let’s end this without further bloodshed.”

“This complicates things, Oberon.” Kern murmured as she took stock of the situation, “We are armed andthey don’t appear to be, but they outnumber us significantly. We could hurt them, but we may not win.”

“Quitter.” Oberon mumbled as he looked back at Ainsley. “You’re early. You were supposed to be keptoccupied for at least another hour or so. Why can you Dorans never do what you’re supposed to?”

“Oh we’re going to do exactly what we’re supposed to. We’re going to mess you up, you as.. OW!” Portiayelped as Hero pinched her shoulder.

Ignoring Oberon and his people, Ainsley walked over to Titania’s body and knelt down. Reaching out, shelet her hand hover over the woman’s body as she took in the details of the scene before her. Almostinaudibly she whispered, “It’s exactly like the vision. Exactly.”

Closing her eyes, Ainsley took a deep shuddering breath before she looked back up towards her children,“Are you alright?” Seeing Rosalind’s tears, she asked worriedly, “Are any of you hurt?”

“We’re all okay, Mom.” Hero said as she spoke over the people standing between them, “They .. theykilled Spot, but they haven’t hurt any of us.”

Portia snarled, “Yet. They were going to, Mom.”

Ainsley nodded and spoke in a softly reassuring voice, “We’re going to resolve this now, Portia. It’s goingto be okay.”

The youngest girl looked unconvinced, but she gave her mother a nod.

With her knees feeling the cold paving stones and the cooling puddle of blood, Ainsley turned herattention back to Titania. A look of profound sadness settled onto her features as she spoke gently, “Sheknew this day would come and faced it with more courage than I ever could have. Even knowing whatwas coming, she never had an unkind word for anyone. Even her murderer.”

Briefly her gaze flicked to Oberon who met her eyes for only a second before he looked away.

Ainsley finally reached out and touched Titania’s cooling shoulder as she murmured softly, “You deservedso much better than this.”

As if flipping a switch, the contact of skin to skin seemed to trigger a metamorphosis. A whirlwind ofdancing lights swept up from the ground from Titania’s body to surround a surprised Ainsley. As thelights grew thicker, she felt herself being lifted off of the ground.

The dancing lights laughed and chattered a delighted cacophony, whispering words of power andwelcome that only Ainsley could understand. No part of her was untouched as she was lifted further andfurther off the ground.

Understanding seemed to light up her face as she gave a gasp of surprise, “Oh!”

In that moment, everyone on both sides stared in stunned disbelief as the lights swirled faster until theyabruptly exploded outward in all directions.

For a heartbeat, no one spoke to disturb the oddly echoing tinkle of bells that faded as the lights driftedinto nothingness.

“What the HELL was that?” Oberon broke the silence with an outraged and offended tone.

“That was Titania’s parting gift.” Ainsley had a new strength and confidence in her dancer’s frame as shecarefully stepped around Titania’s body and stood there defiantly before them, “Your time here is done.”

“The hell it is.” Oberon glared at her, “I don’t know what type of trick you’re trying to pull on us, but alight show isn’t enough to make me or my people back down. No matter how you try and spin it, we’vestill got the upper hand.” He made a pointed gesture with the knife towards the children.

“Oberon, I think..” Kern began with wary uncertainty.

“Shut it, Kern. Now is not the time.”

“Now is the time.” Ainsley explained as she gestured towards them, “Titania’s goal was to create a havenaway from the North Forest and the Elder Council.” With one graceful hand, she gestured behind hertowards all of Titania’s adopted children, “She began with one abandoned, forgotten child at a time, butshe knew there could be so much more to her dream.”

“So what if she dreamed a dream?” Oberon sneered, “She was a fool.”

“No, she wasn’t.” Ainsley gave him an almost sympathetic look as she shook her head, “You don’t evenunderstand, do you?”

“What is there to understand?” Oberon yelled, “She was a fool with a soft heart. That Doran bitch filledher head with foolishness about half-breeds being as strong as true bloods. You’re not and never will be.The magic is erratic and unpredictable and you’ll taint the bloodlines beyond all recognition!”

“You’re blinded by the same fear as the Elder Council.” Ainsley said softly, “But that doesn’t change thatyou became the key to Titania’s gift to all of us here.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“You sealed the magic with her blood, Oberon.” Ainsley gestured towards Titania’s broken body lying in apool of crimson enclosed in a mystic circle inscribed on the ground.

His eyes widened with sudden understanding as his gaze followed her gesture down to the circle on theground.

“With her magic and blood, the wards have been sealed and the sanctuary she spent her whole life tryingto create has been consecrated.” A small smile spread over Ainsley’s features as she continued theexplanation, “There is now an alternative to the North Forest that the Elder Council cannot touch. Ourborders are open to all who come with an open heart, but closed to those who come with hate. You andyour people are not welcome here, Oberon. You can go now.”

“Oh for the love of..” Oberon raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, “It was one thing listening tothis bullshit coming from Titania, but it’s something else coming from you, Doran. You’re not only a half-breed, but also alien tainted.”

“Your opinion does not change what has been wrought today, Oberon.”

“Fine.” He waved an imperious gesture in Kern’s direction, “Shoot them all.”

Kern’s lips pursed in disapproval, but she raised her gun and pulled back the hammer.

The serenity on Ainsley’s features disappeared as she narrowed her eyes, “You were offered an opportunityto leave in peace. Your weapons will not work here.”

Ignoring her, Kern leveled the gun at Ainsley’s face and pulled the trigger.

*click*

Kern frowned and squeezed down harder.

*click*click*click*

“What the..” Kern stared in horror at the gun as it failed her, “It’s never done that before.”

Kal pointed his gun at Lysander and pulled the trigger. The gun clicked numerous times to indicate thebarrel would have been emptied into the teenager if it had worked. It did nothing other than clickineffectually. “Son of a bitch.”

Kern shook the gun and pointed it Ainsley again only to have it repeat the same empty clicking sound, “Idon’t know what she did, but they’re not working. We are suddenly out numbered and out gunned.”

“ARGH!” Frustration deformed Oberon’s face as he yelled, “Son of a bitch! Why can’t anything go the wayit’s supposed to, just once? JUST ONCE.” Turning his rage on Ainsley he growled, “This is your fault!”

Ainsley responded with a simple shake of her head, “You are the one that set these events in motion,Oberon. Of us all, the blame lies at your feet.”

Spitting with anger, he turned and growled at Kern, “Useless. You’re all useless.”

“I’m just going to have to take care of this situation myself.” With a crazed determination in his eyes,Oberon advanced on Ainsley with his knife drawn.

Her eyes widened and she stood frozen in disbelief as he came at her. Guns her newfound powers coulddisable, but a knife was a completely different issue.

“That’s as far as you go, Gossamer. Back away from my wife and children.”

Suddenly Puck was standing between Ainsley and Oberon, guarding her with a determinedprotectiveness. In his hand, he held a knife that matched Oberon’s.

Oberon stopped his advance to throw his hands up angrily as he shouted to the sky, “You have GOT to bekidding me! If it’s not one thing, it’s another. First you won’t let me have Tania. Then the Doran Heir getsall her mojo. Now Tania’s first stray decides to try and grow some teeth? When the hell do I get a break?”

Behind him, Portia glared at the back of his head, “Wow, he’s really snapped. He’s talking to himself.”

“Shut up, kid.” One of Kern’s men leveled an ineffective gun in her direction earning a roll of Portia’s eyes.

“You think this is all some conspiracy against you?!” Puck was incredulous as he listened to Oberon rant.“You’ve caused more heartache and grief than you can imagine and yet you act like a spoiled child whodidn’t get the toy he wanted.”

Oberon glared at Puck, “As if you could understand everything I’ve faced, you half-breed bastard.” With adismissive sneer, he eyed the knife in Puck’s hand that matched his, “Like you’d stand a chance againstme, boy. You don’t have the first clue about how to handle one of these. Where did you get it anyway?”

“I know far more than you think, Gossamer.” Puck tightened his hold on the blade as he held up a finger,“You may think half-breeds are useless, but my mother taught us everything she knew. Everything.Including the significance of these blades.”

Oberon’s eyes narrowed, “She wouldn’t.”

“She would.” Puck’s eyes narrowed, intensely focused on Oberon as he spoke solemnly and ritualistically,“Blood has been spilled. An innocent has been murdered with blood spilled on untainted ground. Forblood you have taken, a debt is owed. For anguish you have caused, a debt is owed. Blade meets bladeuntil honor is restored. Blood will be spilled.”

Oberon’s eyes widened in shock, “You.. you can’t. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

Puck’s expression was deadly serious as he responded, “I know exactly what I’m doing. I’ve said theInvocation of Blood. You fight me or you forfeit everything. You’ll become an exile to everything youknow and can never come back.”

“But..” Oberon sputtered as he tried to deny what Puck had done, “You don’t know what you’ve done.Even if you win, you’ll lose. There’s no escaping the payment for the invocation.”

Ainsley reached out and lightly touched Puck’s shoulder, “What does he mean, Puck? What have youdone?”

Without taking his eyes off of Oberon, Puck spoke reassuringly to his wife, “I’ve challenged him to a duel.If he refuses to fight me, he will be outcast by all the laws of the North Forest no matter that I’m a half-breed.”

“And if he fights you?”

“If he fights me and wins, he’s free to leave.”

“Puck..” Ainsley trailed off, her worry obvious in her voice.

“Shh, love. This is the only way now. There’s no turning back.”

“You should have thought of that before you made your bed, boy.” Oberon stepped forward and lunged atPuck with his blade.

The knife missed Puck completely and gave him time to bring his knife up to guard against Oberon’sattacks. Puck narrowed his eyes as he spoke, “If you cheat, you forfeit as well.”

“I notice you didn’t tell your little wife about the cost even if you win, boy.” Oberon taunted with a sneeras he circled around Puck, “That’s a fine little detail to leave out.”

Puck followed Oberon around and then sprang forward with a surprising attack that nearly made it pasthis defenses, “After everything you’ve done to my family, I think the cost will be worth it to make you goaway forever.”

Oberon backpedaled as he tried to avoid the deadly sharp edge of Puck’s blade. The expression on his faceshowed his surprise at the other man’s skill with the blade. With a snarl, he regained his footing andadvanced wordlessly. With a feint to the left, he stabbed to the right...

... and made it through Puck’s defenses, sinking the blade deep into his side.

Puck stumbled back, grunting from the sudden pain while his arm pressed down on the wound. For amoment, he wavered, seeming unsteady on his feet.

Portia was the only one of his children to see the blade strike home. Horrified, she gasped, “Daddy?”

Voice tense with pain, Puck still spoke with reassuring confidence, “Hang on, baby girl. We’re not doneyet.”

Oberon smirked with a growing cockiness, “Oh, I think we are done here, boy. You’re barely keeping onyour feet, aren’t you?”

Puck’s eyes flashed with hatred, but he stayed where he was, clutching his wounded side.

Raising his eyebrows, Oberon taunted, “I told you that you didn’t know what you were getting into. Atleast you won’t have to worry about the cost of winning, will you?” Waving the wicked blade in front ofhim he smiled viciously, “Of course, after I’m done with you, I’m going to slice open each one of yourbrats while your wife watches. Maybe I’ll keep her alive for a little while. The council would so love to gettheir hands on a Doran.”

Hearing those words, Puck’s expression seethed with hatred. Forgetting his own pain, he leapt forwardwith a furious strike. “I will not allow you near my family, ever again.”

Still gloating from his successful strike, Oberon was taken by surprise by Puck’s unexpected attack. Toolate, he raised his blade to block the strike.

It was not going to be enough.

Puck easily slid past his guard and buried his blade deep into Oberon’s chest. With a swift, gracefulmovement contradicting his own wounds, Puck pushed the blade in another inch before he jerked it backout.

Oberon’s mouth hung open in surprise as he seemed to hover there. Looking down at the growing spot ofred on his chest and then back up at Puck, he took one stumbling step backwards before he gave anuncomprehending shake of his head, “Not like this..”

Those were the last words to escape his lips as he collapsed to the ground. As the light went out of hiseyes, he weakly reached towards Titania’s body.

His hand fell short.

The only sound that broke the tableau of the stunned courtyard was Puck’s labored breathing.

Abruptly Hero let loose with a yell, “You did it! You did it, Daddy!”

Behind her, Lysander peeked out from between the fingers of the hands covering his eyes, “Did we win?”

“Holy hell. He did it. The half-breed did it.” Jahan swore as he stared at Oberon’s body. He kept shakinghis head as if he wanted to disbelieve what he was seeing in front of him.

Tolan grunted in shock before he muttered, “I didn’t sign up for this.”

Fearlessly, Portia stepped up to the two men. With a completely reasonable tone of voice, she said, “Ithink you two should leave now.”

Jahan blinked at her through his sunglasses, “What?”

“There’s nothing here for you now. You two have better things to do someplace far away, don’t you?”Portia tilted her head with a questioning gaze even as she repeated, “It’s time for you to leave the Doransand the Summerdreams alone.”

Slowly, Tolan nodded, “Yeah. We need to leave.”

Neither of them needed any further convincing. Without looking back even once, the two elves ran fromthe yard not caring where their feet carried them.

Watching them flee for a moment, Portia finally turned back to the courtyard softly murmuring under herbreath, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”

Forcibly pulling her gaze away from the new body staining the courtyard with blood, Ainsley approachedPuck with a hint of relief in her worried expression, “Oh Puck. You had me so worried. I thought he’dwon. Are you hurt?”

Puck gave a weak, lopsided smile as he shook his head, “I’m fi..”

His words faltered as the knife slipped from his hand and clattered to the paving stones beneath him.

Almost in slow motion, his knees gave out and he crumpled to the ground. The blood he’d been holdingback with a hand pressed tightly to his wound quickly stained his shirt and began to pool on the groundaround him.

Ainsley’s eyes widened in horror, “PUCK!”

Rushing to his side, she fell to her knees and gathered him into her arms. Breathlessly she pleaded, “Puck,no, please no! You have to be okay. You have to!”

Despite the obvious pain he was in, Puck only had a smile for her as he looked lovingly up into her face.Voice weak, he said, “It’s alright, love. You’ll all be safe now. You and the kids will be okay.”

The five children looked down at their dying father in their mother’s arms with varying shades of anguishwritten on their faces.

Hero’s lip trembled, but there was a fury in her dark eyes. There would be time enough for tears later.

Rosalind and Lysander shared almost the same expression of horrified grief. Without even consciouslydeciding to do so, the twins reached out and clasped hands.

Portia shook her head in denial as she said in a determined voice, “Daddy’s going to be okay. He’ll be okay,right?” A flicker of fear darted through her blue eyes as she realized she couldn’t influence this situationby will alone.

For Sebastian, he was again overwhelmed. His own grief was pushed down as the painfully sweet andfierce love between his parents washed through him and down to his very core.

“Kern, we need to get out of here.” Kal stepped up behind his boss as she stared at the scene before her.

At first, she did not respond. She simply watched the woman cradling her dying husband in her arms.

“Kern.” He gave her a nervous look as he said urgently, “We need to go.”

“Fine.” She lingered one more moment, an unreadable expression on her face. Abruptly, she turned andwalked away, leaving Kal to catch up to her.

“Shh, don’t try to talk, love.” Ainsley kept a trembling hand on Puck’s shoulders as tears streamed downher face. Brushing his red hair back from his face, she avoided looking at the pooling blood as shewhispered reassurances, “Everything’s going to be okay. We’re going to be fine.”

Puck gave a little shake of his head as he stared into the distance, unseeing and glassy-eyed, “I need to tellyou I love you again, Ainsley. One last time. Tell the children I’m so proud of all of them.”

“You can tell them yourself. Don’t you dare leave me, Puck. Don’t you dare.” Her voice broke on the lastword, coming out as a sob.

Rosalind gave a little whimper then blinked back her tears. Very softly, she said, “Lysa.” When no onereacted, she turned and looked at her twin and said louder, “Lysa!”

He didn’t seem to hear. His shocked expression was locked on his parents at his feet.

Stepping up to him, Rosalind grabbed his shoulders and gave him a hard shake, “LYSANDER!”

“What!?” He looked at her with uncomprehending grief before asked again in a gentler tone, “What?”

“You need to do something! Do something now!” Rosalind was desperate but determined as she made thedemand.

“But I..” Lysander trailed off and looked back towards his father, “It’s so bad. It’s really bad, Rosa. It’s.. somuch is cut. There’s so much blood.”

Tears staining her cheeks, Rosalind gave his shoulders another shake as she said with unyielding belief,“You can fix this, I know you can. You always fix what’s broken and daddy is broken and needs you. Youhave to do this, Lysa!”

“Children, don’t argue.” Ainsley’s words were faintly distracted as she looked up at them, “Your fatherneeds you right now. Please don’t fight.”

Rosalind turned and shook her head with wide, dark eyes, “Mama, Lysander can fix this. He can fixDaddy.”

Ainsley blinked and looked from one twin to the other, “Lysander?” Something about the expression onher son’s face sparked a faint glimmer of hope, “Is she right?”

Lysander closed his eyes tightly and did not respond at first. Finally, after a heartbeat that seemed to lastan eternity, he nodded, “I think I can. But.. it’s..” He swallowed, “He’s hurt really bad, Mama. I don’t knowif.. I don’t know if I can fix it. But I’ll try. I have to try.”

With a fierce determination mixed with unconditional pride, Rosalind said, “We’ll help you. We can.”Taking Lysander’s hand, she reached out for Hero’s and nodded towards the others to do the same.

Ainsley watched with mingled anguish, hope and confusion as her children gathered around her andPuck. None of them hesitated. They each moved into position and clasped hands with one another tomake a complete circle.

Ainsley was again reminded of her visions. It was not exactly the same, but she had seen this.

Serious determination was obvious on each of their faces, but Lysander’s was the one she focused on. Hiseyes were closed and his lips were moving, almost as if he were praying.

Puck’s eyes had closed and his breathing had grown dangerously shallow. As blood continued to flowonto the ground, his color seemed to fade until he was as pale as a ghost.

Finally, Lysander let go of his sisters’ hands and knelt down.

Unsteady hands reached out and touched the wound on Puck’s side. Lysander looked at his father’s side,but saw far more than the torn and stained fabric or even the glimpse of the deep cut. He saw deeper, intothe punctured organs.

The wound was worse than it should have been. Oberon’s strike was dangerous, but it should not havebeen killing Puck as quickly as it was. Lysander focused everything he had and fought against it, pushinghis awareness and abilities into slowly knitting his father back together from the inside out.

While he knelt to heal their father, the other children closed the circle. Ainsley did not understand whatthey were doing or how they knew to do it, but she could feel the obvious thrum of power as the fourloaned their strength to Lysander.

As Lysander worked with intense concentration and incomprehensible motions of his hands againstPuck’s body, no one seemed able to breathe.

Rosalind was the only one capable of speaking as she whispered encouragement to her twin, “You can doit, Lysa. I know you can.”

If he heard, he gave no reaction. His attention was completely focused on the wound in his father’s side.

Abruptly Puck’s eyes flew open and he gasped for a deep breath of air to fill his lungs, “Wha!?!?”

Lysander jerked his hands back and almost toppled over. Portia stepped up and leaned into him keepinghim upright. Shooting her a grateful glance, he looked back to his parents and said with a weak voice,“There. I fixed it. All better now.”

Ainsley’s eyes were locked onto Puck, as if she were afraid to believe it was true. Reaching out a hand, shetouched his shoulder, “Rest, Puck. Don’t move.”

Gently squeezing her hand, Puck still moved it off of his shoulder. “I need to move.” With unsteady legs,he stood up and took stock of himself. “I feel whole again.”

Running a hand over his side where the knife had wounded him, he shuddered as he felt the damp stainof his own blood. Very carefully, he said, “I don’t know what you did, Lysander, but whatever it was, itworked. It shouldn’t have, but it did.”

Before Puck could say another word, he found Ainsley in his arms, clinging to him. Her voice was thick asshe spoke, “I thought I’d lost you. Don’t ever do that to me again, Puck. Never again.”

Lysander rose unsteadily to his feet. Giving a sigh and a lopsided smile, he said weakly, “I think I need anap now.”

Realization sunk in that their father was going to be just fine. As one, all five children rushed in andengulfed their parents in a hug.

It was only a brief moment, but for that blissful second, the Doran family was whole.

Nearby, Mercutio stepped up to Bottom’s side and spoke softly, “The elves are gone, Bo. I think it’s finallyover.”

Turning, Bottom wordlessly pulled him into a fierce hug. Almost clinging to him, she whispered into hisear, “Merc, do you want to get married?”

His eyes widened as he held her. Pulling back enough to look into her eyes, his lips pulled into acharacteristically lopsided smile, “You know I do.”

“Well good. Because if you didn’t, I’d have to kick your ass.”

Unnoticed at first, a flicker of light began to pulse near Titania’s body. It steadily grew stronger and largeras it seemed to fill with a multitude of colorful sparkles, creating an otherworldly light. The faint sound ofa child’s laughter danced along the breeze, serving as a herald for the figure forming in the light.

By the time everyone had noticed the event, the light pulsed blindingly…

... leaving behind the ghostly apparition of Titania Summerdream.

“Okay. Your shoulders tensed up. After that freaky laughter and the way everyone is staring past me withtheir mouths hanging open, I’m going to make a wild guess that my dead mother is standing up behindme?” Bottom didn’t let go of Mercutio as she felt the ghostly eyes on the back of her head.

“Uh.” Mercutio hesitated and then said, “Sorta?”

No one else said a word as the ghostly figure looked back at each of them. Finally, Titania put her handson her hips and arched an eyebrow at all of them. “What? You look like you’ve never seen a ghost before.”

Seeing the startled expressions looking back at her, she let out an ethereal laugh, “Come my loves, pleasetell me you have not lost your sense of humor. Allow your mother at least one little morbid joke.”Stepping through her body but avoiding contact with Oberon’s corpse, she said encouragingly, “Tell methe cat has not gotten your tongues. I only have a short time here, my loves.”

Taking a hesitant step forward, Ainsley broke the silence and asked, “Titania, what happened?”

Blinking at the question, the ghost spoke as if to a simple child, “I died.”

Portia stifled a giggle as Hero shot her a look.

Ainsley blinked and then clarified, “I mean, how are you here with us? And what happened when Itouched your body? So much has happened so quickly. It’s all hard to process.”

Waving her hand in a gesture that was so obviously Titania, the ghostly woman smiled, “I am herebecause there are things you need to know. I was most certainly not going to chance my message to anotebook or e-mail that you would probably overlook or delete as spam.” With a shrug and a smile, sheadded, “As for what happened when you touched my body, Ainsley my dear, you were the final piece ofthe puzzle. You have become the Guardian. That is how you knew the wards had finally been sealed.”

“But..”

“Oh child, you are always so full of questions.” Titania smiled patiently and gestured, “Go on.”

Ainsley blushed but forged ahead, “I know that your goal was to create a sanctuary here, Titania, but howare we protected now? And..” Her voice faltered as the grief she felt entered her words, “Did you have todie for it to happen? Couldn’t we have done something to stop him?”

A gentle smile crossed the ghost’s face, “Oh love.” She turned to look out at each of them, drinking in thefaces of every single person there that she had brought into her family. “You are what I will miss mostabout this life I leave behind. You have all given me so much joy and love.” Bringing her gaze back toAinsley she said, “There were choices that I might have made to have kept myself alive, but not a one gavemy children or yours the future they deserved.”

Lifting her voice, Titania’s ghost spoke clearly and loudly so all of them could hear, “This place is yours tohold against hatred and fear.” Gesturing towards the hills in the distance, she continued, “From the hillsto the west that can be seen on a clear day and to the shores of the lake in the lowlands to the east,Veronaville is now a haven and a sanctuary for our kind.”

“Those that flee persecution or understand in their heart that the Elder Council of the North Forest iswrong will be welcome here. You will grow strong through peace and knowledge, lighting the way againstthe fear and hatred they continue to spread.”

Reaching out a spectral hand, Titania smiled, “Ainsley Doran, beautiful descendant of my soul sister, youare now the Guardian. All the power that was mine is now in your hands. I know you will wield it withall the wisdom within your gentle soul. It is your destiny to protect and cherish, to offer succor to thosein need.”

Titania’s eyes turned towards Puck, “And you, Puck, my darling boy. You are the gentle warrior that willstand by her side. This will be a place of peace, but you will defend yourself against their unreasoninghatred.” She turned to all of them and opened her arms expansively, “All of you will.”

Ainsley’s eyes began to well up as she reached out and clasped Puck’s hand, “You mean we can all stay?For once the Dorans do not have to leave their home?”

Titania’s expression grew sad and she shook her head, “You can stay, love. But they cannot.” Herexpression was heartbroken as she looked past Ainsley towards the five Doran children.

“What do you mean?” Ainsley asked even as she reached a hand out to touch the nearest child.

“It is your destiny to stay and hold this place, but their destiny lies beyond the horizon.” She looked ateach of her grandchildren, meeting their eyes in turn as she explained, “For generations, the Dorans havebeen forced from their homes, but there were larger forces at work than any have understood. Even iftragedy had not sought out your ancestors, each generation would have been called to the road. There is awanderlust ingrained deep in your blood. It cannot be denied any more than you can deny yourself theair you breathe. Tomorrow is the day you must begin your journey.”

“Oh loves, do not look so forlorn. This is not the end of your story.” Titania said with a gentle smile as shelooked at the anguish in their faces, “Treat this as an adventure. Go forth, dance as the sun rises and kissesyour cheek. Tease the night as you reach for the stars. Go where the wind calls to you and only look backin love.”

“No!” Ainsley shook her head in denial, “They’re too young. It’s too early. Surely they can stay a whilelonger?”

Each of the children looked uncertainly from their ghostly grandmother to their anguished mother.

Titania simply shook her head, “I’m sorry, love. Things have been set in motion this night and there is noturning back. Look at them. They can feel it in their bones.” Reaching out an intangible hand, she lightlybrushed a cold touch against Ainsley’s cheek, “Have faith in them. You know in your heart how strongthey are. This is their journey to take, just as you took yours. They will have such glorious stories.”

“My time grows short.” Titania looked out at each of them again and memorized their faces once more.“Do not grieve for my death, my loves. Celebrate my life. There is so much living for each of you to do.”

Her figure became more and more transparent as she spoke, “Live each day to its fullest.” She paused andthen added with a smile, “And marry that boy, Bo. He deserves better from you.”

Bottom responded with a choked sound that was half laugh, half sob as she gave an acquiescing nod.

And with that, Titania Summerdream smiled and faded away, accompanied by the lilting laughter of thefaeries.

*~*~*~*~*~*

When all was said and done, despite Titania’s reassuring words, there was still grieving to do. Some saw tocleaning up the mess in the courtyard while others called the fire department to come put out the remainsof the fire at Puck and Ainsley’s house.

Mostly, though, they lost themselves in their thoughts and memories. Life would be there for themtomorrow, but tonight they lost a mother, a grandmother and a friend.

Upstairs, Ainsley scrubbed her face for the fourth time. The water had turned from scalding hot to tepidand if she lingered for much longer, it was going to turn cold. With a sigh, she reached up and turned thewater off.

Almost robotically, she began drying herself off and getting dressed. The longer she took, the longer shedelayed the inevitable.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she stopped as she found Puck waiting for her. A hint of a smile formed asshe looked him over, “You found a new shirt and vest.”

He nodded, “My mother had them in the bedroom. She..” He faltered before he finished, “She must haveknown.” Watching her as if she were a skittish deer, he asked gently, “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine.” The words came out shakier than she had intended, giving away the lie to the words.Straightening her shoulders, she said, “We’re all going to be just fine.”

“Ainsley..”

“No, we’re going to be fine. After everything we’ve been through, of course we’re going to be fine. Thechildren… the ch.ch..” As she mentioned her children, Ainsley’s throat grew thick with emotion and herhands began trembling, “Oh Puck..”

As the tears came, he simply moved to her side and pulled her into his arms. Later they could be strong,but this moment could belong to their grief.

“What the hell do you mean you have to leave?”

“You heard her.” Portia was an unmoving mountain in the face of Caliban’s wave of anger, “It was prettyclear to me. In the morning, the five of us need to leave. She was right. I can feel it. We have to go.”

“That’s just stupid.” Caliban growled, “You have to leave behind everything you know because some ghostsaid so? I think we all need our heads examined.”

Giving him a look, Portia finally said, “Are we going to argue all night or what? There are some otherways I would rather spend tonight.”

At that, Caliban growled...

...and pulled her into a passionate kiss that she quite enthusiastically returned.

There would most certainly be other boys and other kisses, but Caliban was her first and she wanted toremember the way he tasted.

Just inside, others were also sharing stolen moments alone together as they said their goodbyes.

“Hero?” Sebastian asked softly as he found his oldest sister staring out the window in the dining room.

“Yes ‘Bastian?”

He hesitated a moment as he considered what he wanted to say. Briefly biting his lip, he finally askedsoftly, “Why aren’t you scared? Even Portia is a little scared and nothing ever scares her.” It went unsaidthat he was not just guessing at what the others were feeling. He knew.

A smile settled over Hero’s mouth as she continued to look out the window. She considered the questionfor a long moment before responding, “Because Grandma is right. It’s going to be an adventure. Ourfutures are out there, Sebastian.”

“But aren’t you going to miss Mom and Dad and home and everything we have here?” Sebastian followedher gaze out the window, but he couldn’t find the same comfort she did.

“Of course.” Hero turned to face him, “But even if we didn’t have to leave like Grandma said, eventuallywe’d grow up and go find our own way.”

Sebastian considered that for a moment before he said in a small voice, “I’m scared, Hero.”

“It’s okay to be scared, ‘Bastian.” Hero watched his face as she spoke, “This is going to be a big change forall of us and none of us know what’s going to happen tomorrow or the next day or even the day after that.But you take that fear and you don’t let it tear you down. You use it to make yourself stronger.” Reachingout to put a hand on his shoulder, she said firmly, “We’re Dorans. We don’t give up. Ever.”

Sebastian gave a faint, grateful smile, “I hope I can be even half as strong as you are, Hero.”

Pulling him into a fierce hug, Hero smiled, “You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, ‘Bastian. I’vegot a feeling you’re going to make us all proud.”

He gave a half laugh and said, “Because we’re Dorans, right?”

“Exactly.”

*~*~*~*~*~*

The day dawned bright and glorious with no hint of the chaotic night before. The others had all eithergone home to their own beds or taken one of the extra rooms in the large Summerdream home.

The Dorans, though, were all awake.

The car was packed with what clothes they could salvage, camping supplies, and more food than theycould eat before it would start going bad. No one had the heart to tell Ainsley that she had packed toomuch. Puck had also quietly given each of the children as much money as they could afford.

Once the practical issues were taken care of, the family stood there, uncertainly looking from one toanother. It was Ainsley who finally broke the silence.

“Well, I guess this is it.”

Hero spoke up, “Mom..”

Ainsley held up a finger and said, “Let me speak.” Offering them a wan smile she said, “This is not what Iwanted for you. I wanted you to always have a home and to never know what living on the road is like.Part of me wonders if this is now the .. curse or destiny, it doesn’t matter.. of this family because it hashappened to us so many times before.”

“Titania taught me how to ward loved ones from the prying eyes of the North Forest, so each of you isprotected for at least the next several years. I do not know how long it will last, but as long as it does, youwill be unnoticed by their Seers.”

Looking at each child, Ainsley spoke gently, “We had so many dreams for each of you.” She smiled softly,“We wanted to have a houseful of grandchildren with each of you living close by. But as the song says,you can’t always get what you want.”

That earned a laugh from Lysander and Portia.

“Hero, watch over them, but don’t forget to take care of yourself. I know you’re going to fly higher thanany of us have ever expected, both literally and figuratively.” Turning her attention down the line, shelooked at Lysander and Rosalind, “Take care of one another. I look at you and know that you two willalways have each other to depend on. You complement one another.”

Looking at her youngest daughter, Ainsley sighed, “Portia, be true to yourself. I may not understand thelife you’re going to lead, but as long as you stay true to yourself, that is all that matters.”

“And ‘Bastian.” She looked at her youngest and smiled, “Trust in your own strength.”

She fell silent and sighed softly as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

Puck took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, “It’s time, love.”

“It’s never easy to say goodbye, is it?” Ainsley sighed and shook her head, “You’ll all be fine. Even if youcan’t come home, remember you can always call. You’ll always be in our hearts.”

And with that, she stepped forward and pulled the nearest into a hug.

It was an emotional few moments as they all took turns hugging and then hugging again.

Ainsley clung to that moment, trying to make it last for all eternity.

Finally, Portia brought everyone back to reality as she called out, “I call shotgun!”

Hero rolled her eyes and hugged her father one last time, “We need to go.” She paused and said, “I loveyou and Mom, Daddy.”

Puck nodded and stepped back, finally letting her go.

Eventually, despite everything, all five kids made it into the car. Hero meticulously fastened her seatbelt,adjusted her mirrors, checked her gauges, and then started the car.

Portia shot her a look as Hero finally turned the car on only to begin checking the mirrors and gaugesonce again. Groaning, Portia reached out and pushed a cd into the player, instantly bringing up a songfrom the Blues Brothers soundtrack, “Come on. Let’s do this thing.”

Hero gave her a stern look, but the corners of her mouth turned up and she pulled away from the curb.

In the backseat, Rosalind sat morosely between her brothers. With a sad sigh, she focused her gaze on herhands.

Sebastian, being sensitive to such things, turned to her and smiled, “Cheer up, Rosa. Mom saideverything’s going to be okay and she’s always right about these things.”

Rosalind’s voice was small and sad as she murmured, “I miss Spot. At least we got to say goodbye tograndma. I never got to say goodbye to Spot and she was as much a part of our family as anyone.”

Lysander reached out and patted her on the leg, “Spot would have told you to cheer up and not be so sad,Rosa.”

“I know, but..” Rosalind suddenly stopped with her eyes widening.

“STOP THE CAR!! STOP THE CAR!” She spun in the seat, waving her hands wildly as she looked outthe back window.

Hero slammed on the breaks, throwing everyone forward, “What’s wrong! What’s wrong!?”

Rosalind picked herself up off the floor of the car and continued waving her hands, “It’s her! It’s her!”

Everyone looked out the windows behind them.

Racing up the street with just a hint of a limp was a very determined looking Spot. Every few feet, shebarked, trying to get the attention of the car speeding away with her kids in it.

“She’s alive! She’s alive!” For the first time since they’d left their house the night before, Rosalind smiled.Everyone else stared with a dumbfounded expression.

Moments later, Hero looked behind her as Rosalind happily held their dog, “Okay, are we ready to go?Finally?”

Rosalind bobbed her head in a happy nod, “We’re ready.”

Lysander sighed but smiled, “Can we find a dog groomer somewhere on the way? Someone smells likeshe slept with a skunk last night.”

“Pfft, she says she doesn’t smell that bad.”

“Oh yes she does.”

“Does not!”

Hero sighed and put a foot on the gas. They had a long road ahead of them.

“So that’s it.” Ainsley gave a soft, sad sigh as she watched the car disappear down the road.

Puck gave her hand a gentle squeeze, “They’re going to be okay.” A little smile pulled at his lips as heturned to face her, “They’re Dorans. Knock’em down and they just get right back up.”

Turning to face him, she gave a matching smile, touched with bittersweet happiness, “Your mother wasright. This isn’t the end, it’s just the beginning. For them and for us. We should figure out what beingguardians means, hmm?”

“Well, I love you, Ainsley Doran.” Puck smiled, “I’m willing to stand by your side for all eternity, comehell or high water.” He paused for a moment and then raised his eyebrows, “I do have one question,though.”

She tilted her head curiously, “Yes?”

Reaching a hand up to gently stroke her cheek, his smile slowly grew wider, “How do you feel aboutadoption?”

*~*~*~*~*~*

If we shadows have offended,Think but this, and all is mended,That you have but slumber’d here

While these visions did appear.And this weak and idle theme,No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:if you pardon, we will mend:And, as I am an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luckNow to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue,We will make amends ere long;

Else the Puck a liar call;So, good night unto you all.Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends. ~ A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Act V, Scene I

First, thank you to Marina (Smoothiequeen), Gin (Gintasticnecat), Lark (LadyLark), and Cee (Charris).Without their stories for the previous generations of the Dorans, this story would not be even remotely asinteresting as it has been. It has been a privilege to follow in their footsteps.

Second, thank you to ProfessorButters, Stacilee, and Ndainye who all - in their own ways - inspired what Iwanted to do with Veronaville and these sims. Whether it was the bits of Shakespeare they shared or theirlove of certain Veronavillians, each one of them influenced what I did with Ainsley’s story.

Third, thank you to RoseFyre for being my editor. While she was also the designated BRRL cheerleader,she has been absolutely invaluable in helping me fix all the little mistakes that fly right by me.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has read this and enjoyed it even half as much as I have enjoyedplaying and writing it.

CrCrCrCrCredits Given Wheredits Given Wheredits Given Wheredits Given Wheredits Given Where Cre Cre Cre Cre Credit Is Dueedit Is Dueedit Is Dueedit Is Dueedit Is Due

“Sing Dada! Sing!” The tow-headed little girl demanded, earning a smile from Ainsley as she peeked overthe edge of her book.

“How do you ask, Gaella?” Puck asked with a raised eyebrow and a smile he was barely keeping hidden ashe tried to be stern.

The little girl’s eyes widened as she asked plaintively, “Pwease Dada?”

“Well, in that case.” Lifting his hands, Puck began to sing, “Hickory Dickory Dock..”

The doorbell rang, pulling Ainsley’s attention away from watching her husband and the latest addition totheir family, “I’ll get it. Bo said she might be stopping over to talk about wedding dresses.”

Puck looked up and grinned as only a big brother teasing his sister can, “Now that she’s decided toactually do it, she’s worried about wearing white?”

“Hush you.”

Opening the door with a distracted smile over her shoulder, Ainsley said, “Hello..” She trailed off instunned silence as she looked at who was standing there.

“I heard a rumor that my favorite cousin-sister-best friend ended up with a big old house that has an opendoor policy for wandering misfits and half-breeds?” Fiona stood there with an amused smirk curving thecorner of her lips upwards.

“Fiona!?”

“The one and only.” She tilted her head and asked impishly, “So are you going to invite us in or not. Thatis, if you don’t mind a visit from family?”

“Oh Fee.” Ainsley pulled the other woman into a fierce hug, “You can stay for a visit or your entire life asfar as I’m concerned. Welcome home.”

Like she did many times each day, Ainsley thought of her children. Where were they now? Were theyhappy? Would they found someone to love as much as she loved their father? Most of all, she hoped thatone day they each found the home that completed them. She knew she had found hers.