Notes:

This story is a sort of a Spin Off based on "A Love Reset" by KaramelHaven – in the dream world where Kara is married happily to Mon-El, the prince of Daxam.

The idea of this fic had been going on around my mind ever since I've read her BRILLIANT story! You should definitely read her fic on Ao3, but I believe I have put in enough explanations so you wouldn't feel too confused if you haven't read "A Love Reset". feel free to read this anyway.

I wrote two multi chapter fanfics about these two children back in summer, but for some reasons I removed them. Since I have started writing about this family again in the shape of one-shots, I decided to post these stories again in this whole series called "Never Grew Up" . I first put the two stories and then repost the two one-shots. If I write multi chapters again I add them and I will indicate in the titles if they are related or not. thanks for reading and supporting.


El mayarah

Chapter 1: Don't let go of me

My name is Tyren. I'm the son of the last king of Daxam. You could say I'm a prince, but my father is no longer the king and therefore I have no title as a prince. I don't mind that though, I love my parents. I don't care if I'll never be famous or rich, as long as I have my family.

I love my mother Kara. I love how she brushes her long blond tresses right before sleeping in her white or blue sleeping gown while humming a tune, how she looks at me lovingly when she thinks I'm not seeing her, how she reads me a book with her beautiful voice, how she praises my every success, tells me how much I'm like my father, how she puts a kiss on my forehead when she tucks me in bed every night, how her scent feels in my lungs when I embrace her, soothing and sweet.

And I love my father Mon-El just as much as mother. I love how he always believes in me, how he hugs me tightly when he returns after being away for the day, caresses my dark hair, how he lets me be with him when he works in his study and answers my every question, how he surprises me by making a meal all by himself in the kitchen.

And I love my little sister Elin. She has my mother's golden hair and we both have our mother's sky blue eyes which father always calls comets. I find it funny when he calls us his comets. Elin is sweet, graceful and smart even for a six year old girl. She always likes to be around me, believes everything I tell her – even my made up stories which she listens to with wide eyes. Sometimes she imitates me, makes a mess of my papers for school if I leave them unattended on my desk too long or plays with my action figure collection without asking me first, instead of playing with her own dolls. Despite being irritated with her on some occasions, I would do anything to protect her, just like my parents sometimes needlessly tell me to look after her.

And above everything else, I love the moments when we are all together, all four of us together in our big house or on a vacation. I feel incandescently gratified and complete every time I remember a day – not that long ago – when Elin was sitting on my mother's lap playing with her hair, while mother put tender kisses on her soft blond curls and father had an arm wrapped around mother's shoulders, soothingly rubbing her arm, while I was huddled in the middle of them, tucked into father's chest with his other hand keeping me safe as I was reading a book.

With all my knowledge as an eleven year old boy, I can imagine no other moment more satisfying than this.

I wish it could be like this forever, but father has an important job as one of the leaders of our nation – the new Daxam – and it keeps him away for hours, sometimes days, from us. Mother works with him as well, though she tries to spend more time with me and Elin.

I've learned that Daxam was ruled by kings and queens until a year before I was born. When my father Mon-El became the King with my mother Kara as her Queen, they decided to disband the monarchy system since it was causing harm to so many people on Daxam, very few had a voice and there was slavery. My mother once explained to me when I asked her about the slavery. There are no slaves anymore and I can never understand how someone would force another person to do everything for them without paying them in return. Fortunately my father abolished slavery, and now Daxam has turned into a democratic society like Krypton. I've been to Krypton many times – my second home planet, because my mother is a Kryptonian – and I've seen the differences between my two home planets and I hope one day Daxam can become as peaceful and modern as Krypton. I have faith that my parents can really accomplish doing that. I'm also not blind to the hardships they face every day though. I have often seen them troubled, angry or utterly tired. I wish I could help them somehow. They never talk to me about their problems, always putting on a strong face for me and my sister, but as I'm growing up, I notice their sadness too. Nevertheless they always seem to conquer the bad feelings when they are together. They comfort each other, love each other and never stay upset too long after talking to each other.

I'm so proud of my parents. They are my heroes and I want to be just like them when I grow up.

It find it amusing how they often call each other by unique endearment terms. My mother calls father Zhor and father calls her Miar. I don't particularly like watching them kiss so deeply, like they want to melt into each other, but it makes me happy to see my parent love each other so much.

Once uncle Dar-Blaine told me how my father had claimed my mother as his mate the day they married. He couldn't finish his story of my parents' wedding night, because my father dragged him away hurriedly with a frown. I don't understand what mate really means, but I think it means that my father loves my mother more than anyone else. I've planned to ask Uncle Dar more about it the next time I see him.

I am excited because soon uncle Kal is coming to visit us from Krypton. He always brings me and Elin cool gifts. For my Last Name Day, he gave me an orb that can project a hologram of stars and planets in Rao's system with highest precision and since I share my mother's love for stars, I had squealed gleefully and jumped to hug him when I realized what it was. Since then my mother teaches me the names of the stars whenever she has the time.

We always have such a fun time when uncle Kal comes to visit us or we go to Krypton. He is a scientist, like his father Jor-El – my grandfather Zor-El is a scientist as well – and is so passionate about his work and likes to travel to other planets. Uncle Kal brings me souvenirs from his trips to different parts of our galaxy. Like he once gave me a glassy stone with a bizarre alien insect trapped in it, stones that shine different colors at different angles or some very unusual gadgets and artifacts from more developed or primitive planets. I keep them on a top shelf in my room so that Elin can't reach them. These are my special collection which I don't like sharing with her.

I sometimes dream of becoming like uncle Kal. Travel to every system of stars and see all corners of the galaxy.

I once wrote a paper on uncle Kal's adventures for a school assignment which I got a top mark for and the teacher liked it so much that sent it to be published in the school journal for everyone to read it. I received a lot of positive response from it, although some kids didn't seemed intrigued by it. I think it had more to do with who I am than the paper itself. A lot of kids keep their distance from me since I'm the former King's son. I have come to realize, many people who used to be in the elites and royal families, resent my parents for putting an end to their previous way of life, and now their children had their beliefs and didn't want to befriend me. I supposed their parents had warned them against me. Mostly their coldness doesn't bother me, I have other friends, but sometimes some of them try to bully or insult me, to which I try to act indifferent and passive, because my father instructed me to do so. He said, I should be careful and never answer their empty words, but at the same time hold my pride and defend myself when I need to in a civilized and polite way. I used to be too concerned about the backlashes, sometimes got into fights, but after some time they grew tired of mocking me and gradually everything turned pretty much normal at school. A School which my mother has helped building and in this school all the children from all walks of life can attend, to learn about science, literature and art. One more thing that pisses off my father's adversaries; why other children – from what they call inferior families – have the right to sit next to their – so called superior – children.


The night before uncle Kal's visit, I laid awake thinking what would happen tomorrow. What souvenir uncle Kal would bring me this time. What we would do during the weekend. I was so happy that father had promised not to go for work and would be around this weekend. It was hard to sleep while being so excited. I kept looking at the shimmering stones on my shelf, trying to calm my mind down and slowly my eyelids grew heavier until I fell asleep.

I woke up to the faint sound of crying in darkness. It was Elin. She must have had a nightmare. Grife. Did I even fall sleep? Since I felt completely awake, I decided to go check on her. Groaning, I threw away my blanket and dragged myself out of bed. As I opened my door, Elin became quiet. I walked down the hallway towards her bedroom anyway. In the dim blue light of her night lamp, I could make out my mother's silhouette from the doorway. She was sitting on Elin's bed, holding her small distressed form in her arms, swaying lightly to calm her as she murmured something softly in her ear.

I went to sit next to them. Mother raised her head to watch me with tired eyes and a smile.

"Elin-nizu, look who's here." She whispered delightfully to Elin in Kryptonese. She often used the "- nizu" Kryptonese suffix for Elin, which was used for small children on Krypton. Both I and Elin were learning our mother's language beside Daxamite. I was fairly good with Kryptonese, but Elin was still struggling since she was too young, sometimes slurring the words or mixing the two languages together.

Elin raised her head from its safe place in mother's chest, sniffling and blinking her tears away to see me. She seemed fine.

"Hey nessa, it's ok. It was just a bad dream." I told Elin in Daxamite, calling her "nessa" – which means sister in Daxamite – like I usually did.

Elin watched me for a few more seconds before unwinding one of her arms from mother and reaching for me.

"Hanon." She called me "brother" in Daxamite.

I held her small hand in mine and the three of us stayed like that for a while until mother broke the silence.

"Do you want to talk about your nightmare, sweetheart?"

Elin looked at me before looking up at mother. "It was the Garata, Tyren told me about. The one that eats babies and breathes fire." She then burrowed her head into mother's chest with a shiver.

Mother shook her head, turning to look at me in disapproval, making me feel guilty. I dropped my eyes from hers.

"It was just a story baby girl. It's not real. Isn't that right Tyren?" Mother stroked Elin's hair, staring at me expectantly.

"Of course, it was just an imaginary story. I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you Elin." I apologized, feeling genuinely regretful.

Elin raised her head again to look at me, as if to see whether I was being serious or was just pretending to assure her in front of mother. When she saw the truth in my face – finding out I had lied to her – she frowned and pouted at me adorably, showing her striking resemblance to mother.

"Elin-nizu, let's go back to sleep sweetheart. I'll stay with you tonight." Mother tenderly shifted Elin from her lap into the bed. She complied happily since mother offered to stay with her and I saw that as a sign to leave them.

"Mya can I get you anything?" Still feeling guilty, I offered to help her with anything. Calling her Mother in Daxamite.

Despite her obvious tiredness after a busy day and now waking up in early hours to comfort her daughter, – because of my stupid story to joke around with Elin – mother beamed at me gratefully and shook her head. "We're fine Tyren. Go back to sleep dear. You have to get up early for school."

I nodded and walked back to my room, thinking I should act more responsible and stop messing with Elin, with my made up horror stories, when she believes in them so easily.


Focusing in the classes was hard the next day, constantly thinking about the things I wanted to talk about with uncle Kal. The anticipation continued even when I get home, so I tried to kill time at the house until he arrives.

A new messaged popped up in my inbox. Opening it, I saw a flashing colorful advertisement lit up my hologram device. It was about a new group of exotic illusionists and acrobats who had come to Daxam and had a huge performance tomorrow night. The videos were amazing and had my heart racing. Running out of my room into the hallway, where our rooms are located, I looked around to find my parents. I decided to check their room and heard them laughing. I couldn't understand what they were talking about with the door closed, muffling their voices. Knocking softly, I waited for them to open the door. I never enter their room without knocking. I didn't like to walk in on them kissing, like they so often did. It was gross!

Father opened the door.

"Tyren, my man." He tried to ruffle my hair as a habit, but I dodged his hand.

"Atar NO! I just brushed my hair!" I shouted, calling him father in Daxamite.

Laughing, father pulled me into a hug. "All dressed up for your uncle Kal?"

"Yes!" I hugged him back and saw mother smiling at us from her position, sitting in front of the mirror.

They were both dressed as well. Remembering why I came there for, I drew out my hologram device to show father the advertisement.

"Father Look! Can we please go to this show? We can take uncle Kal too! I'm sure he'd like it!"

Father watched the advertisement, he's face a bit hesitant. Mother was watching too while putting on her earrings. He then scratches his beard.

"I'm not sure Arne." He exclaimed, calling me son in Daxamite. "I don't think this would be proper for your sister."

"But they have clowns and acrobats! I know she would love to see them too!" I tried to reason.

Father turned to look at mother. They watched each other silently, as if talking with their eyes.

"I think about it Tyren. We ask uncle Kal and then we decide. How about that?" He put a hand on my shoulder.

"Okay." I answered, feeling a bit deflated. Father always talked like a politician. Guess that was because he was actually a politician.

"Dear, can you check on Elin? Make sure she's dressed and not playing instead?" Mother asked me while I rolled my eyes. Why did I have to check on her? I nodded nevertheless. Just before I could leave though, mother added.

"Tyren I know how much you love to tell stories dear, but do you think you could tell your sister the more pretty ones?"

Oh, here was the talk I knew was coming. I turned back to face them again, feeling guilty like last night.

"I'm sorry mya. I know, I didn't think she would believe it so easily. I won't do that again."

Mother smiled brightly and father put his hand on my shoulder again.

"That's my man. Always look out for your family." Father ruffled my hair before realizing what he had done.

"ATAR!" I shouted and tried to tackle him half in revenge and half jokingly. They both burst into laughs.

Walking to Elin's bedroom with ruined hair, I saw her sitting in a corner, playing with her dolls, talking to them and offering them food. Fortunately she was all dressed – wearing her beautiful blue dress and her hair was neatly braided on two sides.

"Elin, are you all dressed up for when Uncle Kal arrives?" I asked needlessly, for the sake of starting a conversation.

She only nodded, still angry with me for lying to her about that Garata dragon. I went closer to her, sitting on her bed.

"I know I scared you with that fake story nessa, I'm sorry. I promise I won't lie to you again."

She didn't respond immediately, but after a while she gazed at me questioningly, her blue eyes staring me down exactly like mother's did.

"No more scary stories?" She demanded with folded arms.

"No more." I promised.

And just like that she flashed me a toothy grin – with two of her baby teeth missing – and ran to hug me, letting me know that she had forgiven me.

Later that night, to my utter delight, father accepted to take us to the show. Even uncle Kal seemed curious to watch it and we all decided to go to the event the next night.


By the end of the show, I was full of snacks which I'd devoured during the performances. It was all so awesome that I wished I could see it all over again. Even Elin seemed over joyed to see all the clowns and unusual exotic animals dancing around. We came out of the auditorium late in the night to stand in the lobby of the theater. My parents were talking with uncle Kal. I didn't pay attention to their conversation. My eyes drifted around the huge lobby, seeing the other people leaving the place and among the crowd I saw one of the clowns looking at me. He's florescent colorful hair and outfit making it hard to look away from him. He waved at us with a ridiculous grin. His painted face and red nose, making him even more attracting to look at. I involuntarily waved back at him and noticed Elin stepping in front of me, waving excitedly as well.

The clown then showed us the fluffy doll he was holding in his hands. Tilting his head playfully and pointing at us to come closer. Elin thoughtlessly started walking towards him, giggling. I wasn't too sure, but glancing back at my parents and seeing them still deep in talk, I just hurried to catch up to Elin, to watch out for her and quench my curiosity to see one of the performers up close meanwhile. We would be back before they even noticed we were gone.

The clown started moving as well. Walking backwards and shaking the doll, enticingly, urging us to follow him. A part of me was doubtful and wanted to go back and inform my parents, but I pushed back my worries, thinking this must have been a part of the show and soon we'll find a room full of all the other performers and prizes and we followed him happily, laughing when he started to walk on his hands

We reached a door and the clown walked into it. I noticed it was dark on the other side. I stopped. My doubts grew bigger and pushed away the other thoughts. I reached and took Elin's hand in mine, stopping her from running after the clown.

"Let me go hanon!"

"No Elin! This doesn't seem right. We need to go back to mya and atar."

She screamed and struggled to free herself from my grip. "Tyren! I want the doll!"

She forcefully dragged me and I kept thinking. What if I was wrong? Maybe all the actors were waiting for us on the other side to surprise us? Curiosity took the better of me and I decided we sneak a peek through the door and walk back if anything seemed wrong.

"Ok, but I go first." I instructed her.

Keeping my hold on her hand, we walked up to the door and I opened it with hesitation. I saw the clown standing five feet away in a dark alleyway, shaking the doll at us. This was all wrong. I stopped dead and wanted to step back inside. Suddenly Elin jerked her hand out of mine and ran to the clown with arms out stretched and shouting: "MINE!"

Everything happened so fast afterwards that I couldn't keep track of it all correctly.

A dark figure from the shadows, grabbed Elin by her waist, making her scream in a fright and kick out. "HANON!"

I jumped forward, with intense dread clenching my heart and anger filling my whole being.

"LET HER GO!"

Just as my fingers wrapped around the fabric of Elin's dress, another set of hands gripped my torso in an iron clad, taking me away from her and I watched hopelessly as the masked man was pulling my baby sister into a vehicle.

"ELIN!" I struggled with everything I had against the hands on my chest, kicking and shouting, ineffectively.

"TYREN!" Elin cried loudly, screaming before disappearing into that vehicle.

"ELIN!" I shouted uselessly again as I felt being moved into the same vehicle. The terror had made my mind go blank completely, so much so that I didn't even realize the hands had let me go, and only the impact to the ground shook me out of the haze. The car was speeding away. Without looking back, I jumped on my feet to go save my sister, but the vehicle was getting farther and farther away. I ran after it breathlessly, keep shouting my sister's name until the black vehicle disappeared quickly in the thick veil of the night, leaving me staring into nothingness. I stopped on shaky legs. My eyes dropped down to the fabric of Elin's dress ,unaware that I had been clutching it in my hand this whole time. I felt the hot tears streaming down my cheeks.


Notes:

I love how KaramelHaven used endearment terms like Zohr (Heart in Kryptonian) or Miar (Mate/Wife in Daxamite) and tried to take a page out of her book and looked around to find words for mother, father, brother, sister, son and daughter in Daxamite. Since I had no clue how to build the words out of thin air, I looked for them in an Elvish dictionary online: and I might have changed some of them a bit to sound smoother! Also, finding names for children was a really hard job! It took me about a week as I raked the whole net to investigate the meanings, history and namesakes! But I feel content now… almost…