A Taste of What If

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh,

Somewhere ages and ages hence.

-Robert Frost, "The Road Not Taken"

Now, Tory definitely knew this wasn't real. She didn't have children. Not with Ben. Not with Chance, not with anybody. She felt as if she had just stepped into someone else's life, someone who was her but wasn't.

Tory waited until she heard Ben leave the house before springing into action. She rooted through the suspiciously half empty drawers, finding what she supposed to be her own underwear. Opening the door to what she assumed was the closet, Tory was startled to find a lot of unopened boxes labeled innocuously as "books" and "Tory's clothes". Leaving the boxes alone, Tory changed into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt she found folded on one of the shelves. The jeans fit her but she suspected the shirt was Ben's judging by the way the sleeves swallowed her arms. She rolled the sleeves up to her elbows and padded out of the room, curiosity getting the best of her.

Down the hallway, she found a bathroom and another bedroom. The bedroom was clearly a child's bedroom and perhaps the one room in the house most organized, at least from what Tory had seen. The walls were painted a dark navy blue, a twin bed with rocketship covers pushed up against the wall, toys and books organized along the shelves that lined the walls. In one corner of the room, she found Coop's doggy bed and all his toys. Her heart unclenched at the sight of it.

Downstairs, she found a spacious living room, more boxes stacked along the wall, and the kitchen which overlooked the backyard. She picked up a picture frame from the couch side-table, smiling when she recognized Shelton and Hi beside them.

"Are you enjoying your sneak peek?"

Tory whirled, almost dropping the frame. Standing behind her, was the old lady from the elevator.

"You! What did you do to me?" Tory demanded.

The old lady chuckled, gray eyes shining with mirth.

"I'm giving you a glimpse of what could have been, dear child. After all, isn't that what you wanted? To know what life would have been like if you'd chosen Ben? And please, call me Karasi."

The old lady looked at her coyly, obviously finding the situation amusing. Tory had spent enough time living the impossible to know that there were some things out there, inexplicable things, that couldn't be reasoned with. She accepted the answer lightly.

"What about my life? If I'm here, where am I in my world?"

Tory's voice trembled, the fear embedding itself in her very bones.

"You are dreaming, dear child. Like all dreams, this is simply a doorway into another dimension," Karasi explained, peering into one of opened boxes and rummaging through. Tory stared at her in disbelief.

"I have a son. I have a son and I'm married to someone who isn't the person I'm engaged to in my world. Yeah, okay. Nothing to freak out about here," Tory babbled, trying to calm the rising panic she felt.

"Very few people ever get to see what could have been. This is a gift you have been given. Like your mutated genes. Do not take this lately, Victoria Brennan," Karasi replied sagely, looking at Tory seriously. Tory sucked in a deep breath, resigning herself to living in this world for the time being.

"When will I be able to go home?" Tory asked.

"When you've learned what you must."

With that cryptic reply, Karasi disappeared.

"Wait! Blargh."

Tory set the frame back on the table, sitting down on the couch. Now that things had somewhat been explained and her fear of going insane had abated, Tory found herself actually looking forward to learning more about this world. She thought about what Ben had told her, picking up Grayson at her dad's.

Truthfully, Tory hadn't thought about having children yet. She, like Chance, spent a lot of time at the office and lately, they'd been snapping at each other more often.

But this Tory was married to Ben.

Tory made a split decision then. She rooted around the house until she found her keys and her phone. Slipping on a pair of sneakers, she stepped out of the house and got in the car. She sat in the car for a moment, staring at her hands on the wheel or more specifically, the ring on her finger. This wasn't her life but she might as well try to learn from it as Karasi had suggested.

Driving towards Morris, Tory discovered that her house was practically on the bay and somehow that fact made her feel a bit better about everything. She'd promised herself long ago that no matter where she'd end up in life, it would be by the sea and in this world, she had.

Charleston here wasn't much different from Charleston back home. You know, aside from the fact that here she was married to Ben and they had a son.

Tory drove past the long bridge that connected Morris to the mainland, keeping an eye out on anything different. All across the bay, boats bobbed in the water, sending ripples across the surface. She drove past the sandy dunes of the beachfront and the green foliage of the forestry. She parked in front of the house and stepped out the car, feeling strange about being here, knowing all the things that were already different.

The complex loomed before her, looking as it always had. She stood in front of the door, hand outstretched to knock. What would be different inside? Breathing a sigh, she knocked on the door.

She stood there for a good minute before the door was yanked open abruptly. A haggard-looking woman stared at her from the other side. Tory blinked in surprise, taking in the dark curly hair, sun-kissed skin and hazel eyes.

"Who are you?" she asked, trying to peer over the woman's shoulders. The woman leaned back into her line of vision, a weary smile on her face.

"Very funny, Tory. Your father and Grayson are out back with Cooper," she replied, moving aside to let Tory in. Tory stepped inside, watching the woman warily from the corner of her eye. She followed her out back, looking around the house curiously. Whitney was nowhere to be found, in fact none of the things that usually screamed "WHITNEY" were around. The stylish lamps, the colorful throw pillows. They were all gone... maybe she'd just decided to redecorate.

Out back, Kit was throwing a ball for Coop to chase. She couldn't see Grayson at first, half-hidden behind Kit as he was but then Kit stepped forward to get the ball from Coop and Tory saw him. He was so small, Tory thought, he couldn't possibly be any older than 3 years old.

Dressed in a Superman shirt with jeans, Grayson was the perfect mixture of her and Ben. Even from here, Tory could see the smattering of freckles on his face, her green eyes, Ben's dark hair and darker complexion. She watched him with Kit for a while, his hands flying in the air, Kit's hands seemingly answering back.

Tory made a noise in the back of her throat, recognizing the signs. In that moment, Grayson turned his head and saw her. His whole face light up, shallow dimples appearing on either side of his smile. Tory barely had time to realize that he had Ben's smile before Grayson launched himself at her legs, hugging them tightly before looking up at her with familiar green eyes and chubby cheeks.

"Hi mommy," he said quietly, pursing his lips in a way that made him look like a chipmunk with food stuffed in it's mouth. Tory gasped quietly, the reality of it hitting her. She was a mother. She was responsible for this tiny child clinging to her. She didn't know what to say, how to interact with him if her suspicion was right. She settled for gently raking a hand through the soft dark locks, her fingers catching on the listening device curled around his ear. Her heart sunk.

"Did you have fun with grandpa?" she asked softly, finding it strange to regard Kit as a grandfather. Grayson nodded his head against her legs, taking his thumb in his mouth. Tory wrinkled her nose at the bad habit, instinctively reaching down to pull his hand away.

"Don't suck your thumb, baby. You don't know what kind of germs you have on your hands," Tory crouched down, smoothing her hand down his hair and down his chubby cheeks. Catching herself, she pulled away, giving him her hand to hold.

Kit looked a lot older, hair beginning to grey at the temples, the hunched posture taking away years. He seemed almost miserable, barely covering it up with a wan smile.

"Hey kiddo," he sighed tiredly, getting up from where he was sitting on the ground. Coop came running up to Tory, stopping before her and fixing her with ice cold blue eyes. Tongue lolling and tail wagging, he looked the same he did in her own world. Grayson reached out a tiny hand to pet Coop and for a moment, Tory was struck with the fear that Coop would bite him. Coop wasn't a dog after all, he was part wolf too. But all Coop did was nuzzle Grayson's hand and lick the palm of it. Tory breathed in relief. Of course, Coop would never hurt Grayson.

"Hi dad. Where's Whitney and Jackson?"

Kit made some strangled noise at the back of his throat, shutting his eyes as if in pain. The woman behind Tory huffed indignantly and when Tory looked back at her, she was looking back at her coldly.

Feeling a bit as if she'd stepped on a landmine, Tory gathered Grayson up in her arms and turned to go with Coop at her heels.

"Who's Jackson?" she heard Kit ask and that's when Tory knew. Jackson didn't exist in this universe. And Whitney… Where was Whitney?

"No one… just," Tory trailed off, retreating back into the house. She practically ran past the Whitney-less living room and only when she was back in the car, having buckled Grayson in the back, did she release the breath she'd been holding.

On the drive home, Tory decided to get some information from someone who actually lived in this world. Looking in the rearview mirror, she saw Coop sprawled across the backseat, head in Grayson's lap where the little boy was playing with a DS. Hesitating, Tory wondered if Grayson needed to read lips or if the listening device helped him hear without that provision.

"Grayson, who was that woman at grandpa's house?" Tory asked, voice casual.

Grayson looked up at her, green eyes meeting her own in the mirror.

"Grandma Audrey."

Tory made a noise at the back of her throat.

"Do you know where grandma Whitney is?"

"I don't have a grandma Whitney."

Grayson was looking at her strangely. Tory decided to drop the matter.

"What do you want for dinner?"

That night, Tory ordered out pizza at Grayson's request and they were sitting on the couch watching Rise of the Guardians, Coop sprawled out on the carpet before them, when Ben walked in the door. Tory looked over the top of the couch, catching a glimpse of Ben in his officer's uniform.

She'd already guessed that he was a cop, piecing together the conversation on the phone this morning, but seeing him in his officer's uniform was a whole new ballgame. Tory couldn't help but feel just a little envious of her doppelganger from this world.

She thought of Kit then and remembered that not all things in this universe were better.

Ben leaned over the back of the couch, dropping a kiss on Grayson's head and then Tory's. He plopped down next to Tory, stealing a slice of pizza from the box. Grayson scrambled over Tory's lap, sharp knees and elbows digging into her thigh, hugging Ben tightly.

"Hey buddy, calm down. You're gonna make me drop my pizza," Ben laughed and Tory was struck once again by just how lovely Ben's laugh was.

She watched as Grayson signed Ben something excitedly, fingers shaping words Tory didn't know. Ben responded in kind, signing with his free hand, eyes flickering over to Tory. Grayson seemed satisfied with his response, settling back against Ben to watch the movie.

Something clicked in the back of her head and a small nugget of information rose to the forefront of her thoughts. Wolf pups were born deaf and blind and only gained their sight and hearing after a few weeks. Watching them both, Tory wondered.

She had never considered how the virus would affect their children. She'd been 14 when they'd first been infected, kids hadn't even been a topic in the realm of possibility at that time and after they'd lost their powers, it just wasn't something to worry about. She looked at Ben. Had their wolf-enhanced DNA caused Grayson's loss of hearing?

Tory frowned. The virus wasn't in their genetic sequence anymore. At least it wasn't supposed to.

"Tory," Ben called. Tory shook herself out of her reverie. She looked over, finding Ben watching her carefully and Grayson busy with the movie.

"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it today," he frowned at her, coal black eyebrows stitching together in concern.

"I'm fine. Just lost in my thoughts," Tory responded, waving it off with a hand. Ben narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head. When the movie was finished, they put in another movie because apparently giving Grayson soda before bed was a bad idea and only made him less likely to go to sleep. Tory popped in The Lion King.

She doesn't know when it happens but by the end of the movie, Grayson is asleep and Tory has folded herself in beside Ben, completely ignoring the empty length of couch. They remained on the couch, watching the main screen, silently lost in their own thoughts. Tory craned her neck up to look at Ben and found him looking down at Grayson, eyes soft and full of fondness.

She looked down to where Grayson was curled up in Ben's lap asleep, sucking on his thumb. Tory couldn't even bring herself to take his thumb out. She ducked her head back down, resting it against Ben's shoulder, trying to calm the beating of her heart.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this warm and content.

Tory loves her job.

That morning, Ben had gotten a call about a crime scene and he had turned to Tory and told her that they would need her at the scene. In this world, Tory worked part-time for the forensic division of the Charleston PD (she found it amusing that they both worked for the Charleston PD when they'd spent so much time as teenagers breaking the law).

She's at the scene, examining the body. Male. Early 20's. About 5'11. The right side of the body had a wide cut laceration, blood staining the cement floor a vivid red. She estimates he'd been dead about 5 hours judging by the purpling of the skin and the rigor mortis setting in. She's examining her surroundings, trying to calculate where the perpetrator came from and fled when Ben comes up to her. He's dressed in his officer's uniform while Tory's in regular civilian clothes.

"Could you get anything off the body?" he asks, touching his nose in some conspicuous way. Tory furrows her brows at him, confused as to what he means when it hits her.

It can't be… Was it possible?

Immediately, Tory reaches out with her mind, searching for that golden pulse of power at the back of her head. There, thrumming gently at the back of her mind like it'd always been before the men in black came, was her power... except it wasn't golden anymore. It was an electric blue like crackling electricity.

They'd mutated.

But… Tory had searched for any sign of the Parvovirus genome and she'd never found them. Was her presence in this world activating them? She wanted to turn to Ben and demand answers. Why they still existed, how they'd mutated, how their powers had grown but the Tory from this world wouldn't have been surprised at the continued existence of her powers.

Ben touched her arm gently and Tory jumped, forgetting what she'd been doing. He was looking at her expectantly. She lowered her head so as to hide her eyes and felt the familiar SNUP! of her powers activating.

The first smell to hit her was the overwhelming coppery smell of blood but underlying that, she could smell the residual bittersweet tang of paranoia. She listened to her surroundings, Ben's heartbeat strong and steady at her side. Cops arguing, civilians roaming outside the yellow tape. Further away, she could hear cars beeping and zooming down the streets and people in their apartments.

Almost imperceptibly, Tory heard the unmistakeable sound of a gun loading. She cocked her head and turned, electric blue eyes scanning the buildings to the west. She found the guy on the 4th floor balcony of a red brick building. For a moment, she thought the gun was pointed at her but then she saw the red dot on Ben's shoulder and her first instinct was to shove him out of the way. They hit the ground at the same time the bullet ricocheted off the floor.

Ben looked up at her in shock, the impact leaving him breathless. Tory scrambled off him as officers ran past her to the building where the gunman had been. She helped Ben up, fingers poking around at his right shoulder to see if the bullet had grazed.

Ben hissed as Tory prodded. She pulled her fingers away, finding them coated in blood.

The search for the gunman was a waste of time. They were gone long before the officers had even reached the balcony they'd fired from, leaving nothing but an ominous message written in blood on the walls of the empty apartment.

Long Live Scylla

The blood matched that of the victim's, who was more likely than not bait to lure in the cops.

Back at the precinct, Tory watched the paramedic swipe the alcohol pad over Ben's shoulder, feeling particularly vengeful in that moment. She was going to get to the end of this case before she left, she swore it. Ben grunted in pain, the muscles in his bicep rippling as he shifted.

"You need to be more careful," Tory scolded, glaring at him from where she stood, arms crossed over her chest. Ben shot her an unamused look, as if saying it wasn't his fault someone tried to shoot him. And it wasn't his fault but Tory was angry and worried.

She heard someone calling her name and when she turned, she saw the last person she'd ever imagined running towards them. Jason Taylor. Jason came to a stop beside Tory, clapping her on the shoulder and nodding at Ben.

"Sorry I'm late. Got held up in traffic," Jason wheezed, waving a hand in the air. Ben scowled at him but the expression didn't hold any heat, not like it had when they were younger. Tory breathed through her nose heavily, dreading what would come next. She was not in the mood to separate squabbling children.

"Sometimes I think you want me to get killed just so you can get a new partner, Taylor," Ben retorted, shrugging back his shirt over the bandaged shoulder.

"What? Nah. You know I love ya, Blue. Grumpy bastard you may be," Jason grinned. Ben rolled his eyes.

Tory's eyebrows hiked into her hairline. She couldn't believe her eyes. Ben Blue and Jason Taylor. Getting along. This was a sign of the coming apocalypse. What next? Shelton and Hi were going to show up in hula skirts? Actually, Tory wouldn't put that past Hi.

She trailed behind them, watching in disbelief as Ben and Jason bickered light-heartedly.

"How's the little man? Haven't seen him in a while," Jason asked, turning back to look at Tory.

"He's fine," Tory and Ben replied in unison and Jason groaned.

"You guys are so disgustingly married, it's not even funny anymore. How Shelton and Hi put up with you two for so long is a mystery."

Ben cuffed Jason on the back of the end and let him go on ahead to their desk. He grabbed Tory's hand, looking down at her solemnly.

"Hey. You okay?" he asked, entwining their fingers together. Tory looked up at him, perplexed.

"I should be asking you that," she quirked a smile. For some reason, she thought of that day in the forest after she'd gotten Ella out of that well. Him telling her he wasn't the hero type. But he was and now he had the badge to prove it.

They were smack dab in the middle of the department, where everyone could see them but Tory didn't care. Gripping his chin, Tory angled his face down and kissed his cheek chastely.

Pulling back, she looked into his eyes.

"Told you, you were a hero," she whispered. He looked dazed for a moment, eyes closed in seeming bliss. Then his eyes opened and recognition lit up.

"Really? You waited 14 years to say 'I told you so'?"

He looked at her, amused by this turn of events.

"I do like being right," Tory grinned and with a wink, she walked away aware of all the eyes on her including Ben's.

After Tory had finished her day at the lab, working in tandem with the medical examiners to examine the body, Tory headed home. She set the file she'd brought home on the counter and grabbed a snack from the kitchen, flopping on the couch.

Apparently, the graffiti left behind at the crime scene and the MO of the victim's death was linked to a group called Scylla. The name was the first clue of the group's intentions. In Greek mythology, Scylla was the monster opposite Charybdis on the Strait of Messina, she picked sailors off their ships and ate them. All of the previous victims had been missing their livers and it was suspected that the livers were being eaten. Which was just… disturbing. But this had been the first time the group had actually stuck around for the cops to arrive. Tory was certain it wasn't a coincidence.

Coop came running into the living room, tail wagging excitedly when he caught sight of Tory. Or more specifically, her food. Tory smiled, stretching a hand out to pet him.

"At least you're still the same, dog face," Tory mumbled under her breath. He cocked his head at her, looking at her with wide blue grey eyes. Tory couldn't believe how much he'd grown. She still thought of him as the wolf pup she'd rescued so long ago on Loggerhead. Keeping a hand on his head, Tory decided to test out her powers again.

In her mind's eye, she found the shining blue ball of energy that represented her powers. She searched with her mind, finding Coop before her. Surprisingly, when she cast out her mind, she found 6 other signatures. There was one to the East, one to the North, two to the West and two were a mere mile or so away. There were two that felt different in the way that Chance's signature felt different back when the Trinity had emerged. Those signatures must have been Ella and Chance. The other three were Ben, Hi and Shelton but she didn't know who that last signature was. Unless… it wasn't outside the realm of possibility that Grayson had the parvovirus genome. The parvovirus had altered their very DNA and Grayson was this world's Tory and Ben's biological son.

How would the virus have affected Grayson, if he was indeed born a Viral? Was that the source of his disability? Did he have a certain sense that was heightened above all else like the Morris Island pack had? Was it terminal for him as it had been for them? Or had the evolution of the virus exempted him from that fate?

Tory's musings were interrupted when the front door opened and in came Ben and Grayson.

"Why aren't you dressed?" Ben asked, walking into the kitchen to set down some bags. She set her snack aside as Grayson launched himself into her arms.

"Dressed for what?" Tory called, arms full of a squirming little boy. Grayson whispered in her ear, small hands warm against her skin.

"We're gonna go see Uncle Hi and Uncle Shelton?" Tory asked and Grayson nodded his head, clambering off her lap and running up the stairs with Coop at his heels.

"Don't run on the stairs! You're gonna hurt yourself," Ben yelled after him. His only response was the sound of footsteps overhead. Ben sighed and Tory couldn't help but laugh. Ben Blue, overprotective father.

Ben threw himself on the couch, hissing in pain when he jarred his shoulder. Tory made a face at him.

"Are we really going to go see Shelton and Hi?"

Ben looked up from where he was checking his bandage, dark brown eyes narrowed.

"We always have dinner with them on Fridays," Ben eyed her warily. Shit. Tory scrambled for an excuse.

"Oh. I forgot today was Friday," Tory said weakly, smiling unconvincingly.

As she showered, she wondered how Shelton and Hi had changed. Were they married too? Did they have kids of their own?

She stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around herself and moving toward the closet. She didn't know where they were going but she ended up choosing a plain burgundy dress she found at the bottom of one of the boxes. She really should try to unpack some of them.

She twisted her hair, pinning it up with a jeweled hairclip. Down the hall, she could hear Grayson giggling and Ben's voice. She headed down the hall barefoot, coming to a stop at the doorway of the bathroom. Grayson was in the bathtub, surrounded by foamy white bubbles, Ben sitting beside the tub, piling bubbles on Grayson's head and telling him the story of the time Hi sat on an anthill.

She leaned against the doorway, watching them together. Her heartbeat was a dull ache in her chest. She watched as Ben tilted Grayson's head back and washed the bubbles out of his hair, making sure they don't get in his eyes. He drained the bathtub of water, grabbing a towel and wrapping Grayson up like a giant curly-haired burrito. Tossing him over his shoulders, Ben turned. Over his shoulder, Grayson was giggling almost hysterically, thick black hair dangling and dripping on the floor.

"Do you want this little burrito?" Ben asks, indicating Grayson. Tory smiles, stepping forward.

"Looks mighty tasty," Tory sing-songs, crouching to meet Grayson's eyes. "Come on, let's go find you some clothes and let your dad shower".

Ben set Grayson down and Tory took his hand, chancing one last glance at Ben as she lead Grayson out of the room.

She's looking through his closet when Grayson pipes up in a small voice.

"Momma… how far away is Christmas?"

Tory turns back to him, holding a green button up shirt. She scrubs the towel over his wet hair as she speaks.

"In a few months. Why?"

He looks at her with bright green eyes and dark lashes, the freckles on his skin startlingly noticeable over the tanned skin.

"Because I wanted to ask Santa for a baby," he says it shyly, almost as if he's afraid to ask. Tory's face heats up and she's almost positive her face matches her hair. She lets out a strangled squeak as she thinks about what would need to occur in order for that scenario to happen. She is not doing this. Nope nope nope. Still, she's curious about his reason.

"Why do you want us to have a baby?" Tory asks, willing her face to return to normal.

"'Cause I want someone to play with," he says it so quietly, his voice is almost a whisper. Tory could feel her heart breaking. She remembered wanting a younger sibling as a child. She'd never really had friends until she'd met the boys. It had always been her and her mom.

Grayson was already such a quiet child and without the existence of Jackson in this universe, he didn't seem to have any kids his age to play with. Tory smoothed a hand over his hair.

"Hey, there's no need to cry, okay?" Tory wiped away the tears, feeling particularly protective in that moment. "But it may take Santa a while until he can give you a baby brother or sister, okay?"

Grayson nodded his head and just as Tory was going to stand up, he threw his arms around her neck. She stayed stock still for a moment, her brain fizzing out. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him, bringing him closer. Holding him tightly, Tory wished that someway, somehow he could be real. In her world. Just like this. Her heart already ached at the thought of leaving him behind when she returned home. She opened her eyes, raising them upwards and silently thanking Karasi for giving her this.

Hi dangled the noodles over his mouth with his fork. Beside him, Grayson was struggling to twirl the spaghetti onto the fork until frustration got the best of him and he picked the saucy noodle up with his fingers, copying Hi.

Tory sipped at her wine, making a face at the aftertaste. She'd gotten too used to the non-alcoholic champagne.

"Hi, stop playing with your food," Linda scrunched her nose, giving Hi a face.

"Hey. This is a non-judgment zone, okay? You are my peeps, my elite confederacy of nerds. Peeps don't judge other peeps," Hi wagged a disapproving finger at her. Linda and Tory exchanged a glance, hiding smiles.

Linda, Shelton's girlfriend, was quite pretty; tall, dark brown hair, brown eyes, soft brown skin. She had a bit of an accent, something Middle Eastern but not one Tory could identify. She was a teacher, working at the elementary school nearby. She was actually really sweet and Shelton seemed happy with her. Tory was glad he'd found someone.

Hi had apparently just ended with someone named Laurie which Tory only knew because Ben had asked where she was. As Hi put it, he was a "ladies' man that just couldn't be tied down". He didn't seem too broken up about it but Tory knew that appearances could be deceiving and had resolved on keeping an eye on him.

Hi actually looked more or less the same, his baby fat had become more muscle but he still had that boyish round face which didn't look so boyish anymore with the stubble dusting his cheeks and his spiky haircut. Tory was happy to see that he had retained his strange sense of fashion though, wearing some ridiculous purple velvet jacket.

Shelton, on the other hand, looked like a whole new person. At some point, he'd gotten rid of his glasses, instead preferring to use contacts, which highlighted his eyes and cheekbones more. He'd gone through a growth spurt, making him about Tory's height which was certainly nothing to sneer at. Long gone were the polo shirts and shorts, replaced by smart shirts and pressed slacks which Tory assumed he'd become accustomed to during his time at the tech company he was working at.

Shelton returned, wedging himself beside Linda who smiled brightly up at him. Tory hid a smile behind her glass. So cute.

"I am surrounded by couples," Hi wailed dramatically, slumping against the red vinyl booth. He turned to Grayson.

"Little man, it's just you and me against the cold, cruel world."

Grayson looked up at his uncle, green eyes bright and shining with mischief.

"Actually it's just you, Uncle Hi. Girls are icky," he quipped, grabbing another noodle from his bowl with his fingers. The table fell silent for a moment and then they were chuckling. Grayson looked confused and Ben just looked amused, smirking into his cup.

"I just got rejected by a three-year old," Hi cried in disbelief, looking at the table in horror. "My fragile ego… I don't know how to take this blow".

"I'm turning four!" Grayson announces to the table.

"Like a man," Tory advises.

Ben chokes on his drink.

Tory may be just the slightest bit tipsy. She hangs onto Shelton's arm, helping him keep his balance. Up ahead, Linda is walking hand in hand with Grayson and behind them, Ben is pulling a singing Hi along.

"NO matter what they take from meeeee, they won't take away my dignityyy," Hi croons off-key.

"Make it stoppp," Shelton moaned quietly. Tory grinned and when Hi started the next line, she sang along.

"Becauseeee the greatest love of all is happening to meeeee. Yeah Tory! Sing it with me!"

"Traitor," Shelton muttered under his breath, flicking a sidelong glance at Tory. He looked over his shoulder and lowered his voice. "So… I've been meaning to ask you something."

Tory sobered, blinking down at her feet.

"Okay. Ask," she replied. Shelton gave her an inscrutable look, fishing something out of his pockets. Tory's eyes widened at the small box. She looked up at Shelton, mouth gaping.

"Before I can do anything, I have to tell her. About us. Being Virals. I don't want to start a marriage with lies," Shelton said, looking at her expectantly.

Tory looks up ahead to where Linda is steadying Grayson as he pretends the curb is a tightrope, arms stretched out to each side. She glances back at Ben, Hi draped around his shoulder, singing something quietly. He looks up and catches her eye, rolling his eyes at Hi fondly.

"Tor?"

Tory cleared her throat, looking down at the pavement.

"I want you to be happy, Shelton… Do you think she'll understand?" she asks.

"Only one way to find out," his voice is soft and uncertain but when Tory looks over, all she finds is resolve.

When she slides into bed later that night, Ben turns and reaches for her. Tory welcomes the embrace, leaning into the warm comfort. She's thinking about Linda, whether she would accept this crazy new secret life Shelton would drag her into when the thought blindsides her.

Why was she so easily accepting this new life?

She must jolt because beside her, Ben stirs.

"You okay?" he mumbles sleepily, lips soft and warm against the nape of her neck.

"Never been better," Tory replies quietly. And it's the truth.

She had resolved to learning all she could about this world but it seemed she was learning more about herself than anything else.

NOTE: Seeeee? I promised headcanons and theories and this is just the tip of ice berg, my friends. Isn't Shelton just the cutest? And Grayson ugh cutie.

Alright so I have a surprise for you guys! I'm going to write ONE MORE CHAPTER for "From Where The Sun Now Stands". It's gonna give you a bit of an insight to Shelton and Hi's time in the Confederate army. I'm so excited! Hope you guys enjoyed! Until next time.