A/N: Sorry if this story's a tad shorter than before. I ran out of ideas and the fact that my OGT's going uphill for the up-coming Davao Cosplay this June 25 (I heard) made me work double time! Inori wig from Guilty Crown, here I come! Hehehe!

Zero: I know. Disclaimer.

Me: Go on~!

Zero: Should I say that you only own Fire Flower, Alexius and the plot?

Me: Whatever. Oi! Genny! Come here and get your ass out of Final Fantasy!

Genesis: Okay, disclaim and disclaim. Got it. *Inhales dramatically* The beast roars as ownership and –

Me: I didn't tell you to do it LOVELESS style...

We all get the picture...XD

Chapter 03: Summer and Winter

Meghan Chase Tallyn

It has been a while since I have gone through a trod that leads into the land of fey. Everywhere I look now, memories of that day always glare at my face, sending me to regret. Only one thing never made me regret, though: I was able to raise Alexius as normally as I could away from the glare of destiny.

Being half a fey, it wasn't easy for me on my first time. There were drawbacks, but, I was able to pass through all that. As I look at Alexius, I wonder whether he would pass all of his tests in this current life we're having.

I wanted us to be a happy family, so I asked Ash to see through Alexius for the time. It was not going as I planned. Alexius shrugged him off and I was beginning to worry because, despite Ash's mask of indifference, underneath that facade, he was frowning. I could see that glint of hurt inside his eyes and it also hurt me deep inside.

"Because of you, I suffered," he said.

Alexius seemed to have taken after Ash and I when it comes to grudges.

Alexius matched my pace, and, sometimes, he trips on the uneven ground on one or more occasion and I can't help but smile as he curses.

"Really, Lex," I smiled. "You just have to watch where you're going."

"I'm just not used to walking on uneven grounds with roots trying to incapacitate me from my spinal cord," he grimaced.

Ash gave me a look and I whispered as silently as I could, "Alexius is an A+ student in the field of science. He states things as logically and as scientifically as he could. It sometimes annoys Puck, but I don't ask him to stop it. He actually makes me proud."

"I can tell," Ash whispered.

We managed to enter the Unseelie land. Within that instant, a dragon of ice appeared which was queer enough for Alexius to yell.

"I thought dragons were extinct?" he yelled as he and Fire Flower dodged the icicles that came their way. "Uncle, didn't you say to me once that they were extinct to their bitter doom or something?"

"I said nearly extinct," Puck replied, multiplying into one of his many clones.

"Well, they're not extinct enough for Alexius," I replied.

I tried calling out my powers, but, I have forgotten that they were sealed away. Instant pain graced my body and Alexius was distracted when he saw me crouching on the ground.

"Mom!" he yelled.

The dragon noticed my crouching form and went its way towards me. I closed my eyes, waiting for my death, wondering whether I'd die as painfully as possible or would just feel a snap on my thread of life.

Vines surrounded the dragon. I looked around and saw Alexius, panting and sweating with one eye closed. His palm was raised, aiming at the dragon while the other one became his support on the power he used. When the vines securely fastened around the dragon, Alexius used his other hand and flames erupted and landed on the dragon.

Heavily panting, he said, "Sizzle and burn." He stood there for awhile, heaving his breath up and down until his eyes slowly rolled upwards and he fainted on the ground and Fire Flower caught Alexius with her hands.

"He's of both worlds," Fire Flower stated. She stared at me and then at Ash. "This is forbidden, you know. You could be turned into outcasts if they find out, and the power inside him isn't helping. They're fighting to take over and he might die."

"What should we do?" I begged to differ.

"Another trip to Lea, then," Grimalkin appeared. "She does have the cure for various and rare effects of blood and magic, but first, we must get all of you to rest up. It would be a long day tomorrow, and judging by the boy's complexion, he'd be a burden to us."

"I know a place," Ash nodded.

We followed him up a slope into an icy fortress. This is the part where I shivered from the cold. I kept on feeling frostbite coming up, but Puck seemed to have noticed and started rubbing my hands with whatever warmth he could produce with magic until we finally arrived at a small fort. Redcaps instantly attended to us and I was certain that one of them actually bowed down to Alexius' sleeping form.

1.1.1.

Night stilled in. I gaze out of the window and saw flecks of storm through the curtains, and I released a sigh.

"He's a strong kid, Meg," Puck said a while back. He'll live."

I have no doubt on that. I've seen my son get into fights. Though I was always pretty harsh on him whenever he does get into one, I raised him to learn how to stand on his own. I can't falter on that belief that he'll survive.

Cold arms wrapped around me and I looked up to see Ash, his head lowering itself to nuzzle my neck. I stifled a gasp and I held his head there, wanting more of the ecstasy that sent more warmth towards my body.

"Meghan," he whispered out loud. He carried me bridal style towards a very warm room and we started a dance with our skin against one another. Heat and sweat mingled with our cries and our bodies intertwined, just like that silent fifteen years ago. I cried out his name, and he cried out mine as we came together.

Morning dawned and I traced my finger upon Ash's lips. He opened his eyes and smiled. "I love you."

"I know," I replied, getting up and dressing into my attire.

Both of us got out of the room together and went for the dining hall to see Alexius, trying to get Fire Flower to talk, only to be dumped again and again. Grimalkin and Puck were both enjoying the scene and I could see that Alexius is experiencing what Ash used to experience around me in my teens. Poor, young, naive Alexius.

"Mom," he stood up and suddenly swayed a bit. Fire Flower leaned against him as a support and Alexius let a blush creep out to his pale cheeks.

"I like you better when you were asleep," Fire Flower stated bluntly.

Alexius ignored her comment and ran to me.

"Momma's boy," Puck snorted.

Alexius aimed a very graceful kick at Puck, who evaded it without even looking. This made Alexius blow up into a string of curses and I muttered fervently, "I have to ground him from watching too much violent movies in the future."

I took Alexius into a hug as I said slowly, "How are you doing?"

"Dizzy yet ecstatic," he replied, grinning, "and, I like the food here. I have a mind to stay here."

Puck and Alexius exchanged high fives. The two of them, despite polar opposites, are quite close with one another. I couldn't help but giggle when Ash scowled heavily, "Watch it, Goodfellow. Don't you influencing my son in any of your vices."

Alexius looked at Ash with deepest dislike and remained silent.

"Lex," I started, pulling him to myself as I whispered as softly as I could, "he is your father. Please try to show a bit of courtesy towards him. You need him as you need me. You have to accept this fact whether you like it or not."

"Can we get our asses moving now?" Puck yelled out loudly. "My butt's freezing out with ice boy junior here, no pun intended, though," he added hastily at Alexius' glare that resembled Ash's.

With everything ready, we marched off and searched for Leanansidthe, following a trail to the land of the Exiles.

We were able to reach the gigantic castle of the exile queen, and surprise gave way when she appeared right in front of us in her shimmering magic and her very fashionable clothes. It was no surprise the Alexius groaned and muttered, "How come people around here are so flashy?"

"Hello, Lea," Ash said cautiously.

"My darlings," she stretched out her hand bracingly. "Welcome, welcome! What good it is for you to suddenly drop by! How is my dear pet?" she turned to Puck and Puck said reluctantly, "I've never been better without you, Lea," just to get on her good side.

Alexius smirked and whispered something that made Puck redden and chase after him while Fire Flower, who was currently being quiet, gave Lea a very cold look that could have meant as a warning.

"Kids," I muttered, and then politely turned to Leanansidthe. "We came to look for the Sword that went missing. Surely you've heard of the rumor by now?"

"Oh, yes, the Sword of Light," she smiled, "also known as the Lumen Espada. I see now that the balance of light and dark is way off again, now that you've mentioned it." She muttered as the doors behind her opened.

"And one more thing," I said, eyeing Ash and hoping for support. "My son, that boy," I glanced reluctantly at Alexius, who was continuously being chased unsuccessfully by Puck and was being told off by Fire Flower in a very dangerous voice, "has both Summer and Winter within him. It causes an off-balance. We need your help in balancing his abilities that make him return to normal and to make sure that he is as fit as he is as both fey and human." I made sure not to leave loopholes just in case she tries something.

"Well, I have just the thing," she said, "but it's going to take a high price."

1.1.1.

I wiped away Alexius' muddy face as Lea made us sit at the table.

"Mom, I'm cool," Alexius grimaced.

"It's not my fault you went playing, sweetie," I replied as Puck snorted on one side of the room.

"So," Lea began, "what are you willing to offer in return for whatever you need?"

I looked through my pockets but couldn't find anything. I looked at Puck, who replied in that instant, "What about that necklace I bought you in the human world for your thirtieth birthday?"

I unconsciously held the necklace on my neck. It was precious to me and I heavily treasured it. I couldn't just give it up, but Puck was saying, "I could always buy you a new one, princess. It's very cheap out there."

"But you're only thirty once in a life time," I scolded him, taken aback as I held dearly onto the locket.

"Yes, that token would do," Lea said.

Reluctantly, I took it off and sighed. Inside were pictures of Alexius and Puck, both on different sides. But, if this could help not only me but my son, I'm going to give it a try. I handed it towards her outstretched hand and dropped it on her palm.

"Very good," she said as she went for one of cupboards and took out a bottle. "This has a potion that makes a fey like your boy choose which path he would take, summer or winter? It's up to him to decide."

Alexius stared at the bottle with doubt. I examined it myself and saw the liquid inside bubbling.

"Um, mom," he said, disgustedly, "I'm not sure whether this is a safe thing to drink."

"I don't know about being safe," Fire Flower stated slowly, "but how are me so sure that he won't morph into one of those pets you keep and play with, Lea? I mean, seeing how this looks more like one of those weird transformation potions," she finished with a glare as Ash stiffened beside me.

"Yeah," Puck said. "How do we know this doesn't turn the ice junior into a broccoli or something?"

"Oh, dear god," Alexius exclaimed, "anything but a vegetable! I don't mind looking like a dog for an entire lifetime as long as it's got nothing to do with veggies that rabbits could chew on for the rest of their lives!"

"How rude," Lea said, looking irksome. "This one is high quality. I made it all by myself."

"Which is the reason why we can't trust you," Ash said stiffly.

This made Alexius turn up proudly as he swished the liquid inside. "So, all I have to do is drink it? No other things intended such as 'You'd owe me an entire lifetime' crap?"

I hate it when he starts talking like Puck. I have to remind myself to pull them both away whenever they get too...intimate?

"Mom," Alexius looked at me encouragingly, "please wish me luck."

I took his head gently in my hands and kissed him lightly and said, "You have my blessings. May the odds ever be in your favour."

Alexius smiled at his favourite quote and said, "Welcome to my Hunger Games."

"Good luck, ice junior," Puck waved and grinned.

"Alexius, you're being reckless," Fire Flower blushed but kept her head down.

Alexius stood and said in a British accent, "Bottoms up."

He opened the bottle and started drinking the liquid while making a face. After finishing the entire concoction, he said, "Blech! Tastes like rotten eggs mixed with...mixed with..." slowly, Alexius' grip loosened on the bottle as he swayed warily.

"Alexius!" Ash exclaimed, rushing towards our son.

"Lea, what the hell did you do?" Puck yelled, taking out his dagger.

"We just have to wait until he resurfaces," Lea said off-hand. "Now, if you excuse me, I need to gather rumors that could help you, children." And she vanished with all the sparkling glitters.