AN: the idea for this chapter came to me while I was reading otherrealmwriter's 'Mom?' Cheers.
Chapter one – Argue
I don't wanna argue with you…
You got me shivering in my spine.
Vodka? I'd've picked him for a whisky man myself.
Shut up, Dad. This isn't the time, she snapped. My husband was never a drinker. No. He seems to be reminiscing…
---
"Can you not see how this is tearing me up?!" Phoenix shrieked. Her throat was raw from the mixture of crying and yelling.
"It's doesn't have to tear you up, you can stay!" Membrane yelled back.
"No…" she whispered, shrinking back as though afraid. "I can't…" she uttered, beginning to cry. "You saw what I did to Dib – I could've killed him…"
"But you didn't," Membrane lowered his voice, trying to soothe his distraught wife.
"But I will," she retorted quietly. "Eventually I will… we're both scientists, it isn't that hard to foresee. It could take me forever to learn how to control this… During that time I could very well destroy you – and the children. Don't make me chose, because I can't. I love you, Membrane, and Gaz, and Dib. You'll have to forget me, for now."
"What do you expect me to tell the children?"
"Tell them I died when the teleporter short-circuited or something… God knows I should've," she added, lowering her voice once more.
"Don't say that…" Membrane said, stepping forward and raising a hand to her cheek.
"Don't touch me," she recoils. "I don't want to hurt you."
"You won't…" he whispered, taking another step towards her. He leaned in and kissed her softly. Both pairs of lips felt the force surge through them, but both endured it, if only for the other…
---
Membrane slammed his fist on the table and lifted the bottle of Kristov to his lips.
This is far too cruel, Phoenix told her father. If only I could've stayed a little longer… Two days was not long enough to bring this family back together – no one could've achieved that. It was all just a tease… Some sadistic deity giving us a taste of what fate will not allow.
She left the kitchen, heading back to the stairs.
Where to now? Doctor Fisher asked his daughter.
Phoenix didn't reply.