Hello everyone. i know, its been a few weeks since my last update but i made this one a bit longer... ok so a whole lot longer to make up for the time it took me to post this. Anyway, hope you guys like it. Let me know.
There for you. Chapter 3.
Future, 2029
Raven walked silently along the hallways of Titans Tower a few minutes later after Vicky had left her room in a hurry. She seemed focused on the path ahead of her as if afraid to lose a non- existent trail left behind by the young shape shifter but in fact, she was trying to recollect memories from fifteen years ago. Something that Vicky had said earlier made her try to recollect any relevant event but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Raven continued walking and unconsciously ended up in front of Michael's old room. It had not been touched since he left that day, two days before his demise. Raven opened the door slowly and was met with a cold, empty darkness she tried to avoid. Even though she had always been fond of the shadows, the emptiness and sorrow was all that was left of his long gone aura.
The windows had not been opened and the curtains had never let the sunlight get pass them for as long as he had been gone. No one ever entered this room either save for Victoria and herself on rare occasions, like this one. Raven remained at the door for a moment longer, peering into the dark void in front of her, trying to see her memories of him alive. She closed her eyes for a moment and caught the faint scent of his cologne.
Vicky, no doubt, had come in the room recently. This room was like a safe haven to her. She would spray his cologne only but a couple of times in the air before laying on his bed, wrapped in one of his shirts or even his cape and cry herself to sleep.
Raven finally decided to enter the room and slowly, she walked towards the bed and stopped by the nightstand where a lamp came to life with a dim light after one touch of her finger on the base. Raven mused at that little, insignificant detail. Michael had always been practical. Never one to complicate himself with the simplest of things and this lamp was a prime example. With the first touch, a dim light shone, giving its owner time for his eyes to readjust to the sudden brightness. At the second touch, the light intensified a little more and at the third touch, it died again. No annoying clicks of buttons or switches or tiny chains to fumble for.
Raven smiled a tiny smile, more like a little twitch on the left side of her lips without any real humor before looking down at the bed. She saw the cape of the famous Red X, tattered at the ends as it was part of his signature look. She dared a light touch on the fabric and the material proved to still be soft as velvet but she dared not touch it further.
Then walked at the end of the bed and set her sight on the rocking chair for a brief moment before walking passed it to a shelf next to the curtained window. It had been a while since she had let herself walk around this room. It was more of a sanctuary for Vicky but sometimes, it was also hers. There were small framed pictures on the shelf and dresser, pictures of him and his daughter always smiling with a twinkle in his eyes.
His playful and mischievous eyes that always tried to find something in hers, something that he knew was not meant for him but another that had already claimed her hand. But even thought he knew, he never ceased to hope and that's what she always admired in him, even thought she never said it out loud.
Raven slid her fingers along the spines of the books in front of her. Some she had given to him at one point or another. Others he had acquired himself out of pure interest and curiosity and the rest were children's books that he read to Vicky every night whenever possible when he wasn't away on missions.
She came across a photo album that had seen much better days. The cover almost ripped from wear and after retrieving it with much care, she found many pictures she had no idea had been taken. They were of her along the years until there was an abrupt stop. No doubt was right before Michael left. She went back to the beginning and inspected each one with more attention. She recalled the moments but she just never noticed them being taken.
She stopped at one on the fifth page. It was of her when she was very close to give birth to her children. She was sitting on the rocking chair, holding a baby Victoria in her arms looking down at her with abandon. The same rocking chair that now sat motionless in the room she was invading, in the picture, it was in the medical bay and Raven recalled that day as if it had been yesterday.
Cyborg sat quietly in front of the monitors. The baby was calm, too calm if he was being honest. She slept most of the time as babies her age tend to do but for some reason, she had lost her appetite and it worried everyone, especially the father who had started to blame himself for his lack of instincts. And the only thing he managed to do was pace non-stop in the room.
"Michael, you're doing fine. You have taken great care of her since she was born" said Raven as she walked in the room and heard him mumble to himself. she had come to visit the infant as she did every day since she took her maternity leave, or rather was made to take the time off early by the rest of the team. It was only herself, Michael and Cyborg at the moment as the rest of the team was out on a mission.
"I appreciate your confidence in me, beautiful, but right now words can't help. My baby girl is sick and Cyborg doesn't seem to be able to figure out what's wrong and if he doesn't know, then I'm lost" Michael said after he stopped for a moment. He was in the brink of desperation, exhaustion and almost tears.
Here he was, the famous thief turned hero, clad in his Red X suit minus the mask, pacing like a madman and all because a tiny female.
'The irony' Raven thought but reconsidered because even though in other times she would have concluded that pacing back and forth in the same spot was pointless and useless at the current situation, there was also a hint of worry that shadowed her musings as she realized that that could be her and Garfield in a few months when their own children were born.
Raven watched him return to his pacing with a deep frown sculpted on his otherwise smiling face.
And he paced, wrecking his head in what little he knew about taking care of his baby. Even coming to the conclusion that letting Slade take her blood a few months ago had been the worse decision and probably that was where the problem was coming from.
But a series of beeps broke the silence that had stretched too long. It was Leo, the first time they heard of her in months since she left the tower. A certain sense of relief invaded Raven then, Garfield had been worried that Leo might had gone looking for Slade after all but by the looks of it, Leo had not.
"Hello Raven. Michael, I have good news and bad news regarding Vicky's condition" she said in her cheerful manner.
There was an obvious relief on Michael as soon as he heard the words but, with a slight tilt of his head, he regarded the young woman in the screen "Not that I'm not grateful that you know what's going on but, how did you know about her condition?"
"Cyborg told me. I called to check up on everyone and I found out about the results of the tests. What I see is that she's weak, her antibodies are not strong enough on their own and are in dire need of supplement"
"Red Boy here thinks that maybe when Slade took her blood he might have altered her somehow" said Cyborg in order to explain other of the theories they had come up with since he last spoke to her but didn't miss the slight, almost non-existent twitch of Leo's eyebrow at the mention of the criminal, but it was gone before he even consider it real. And hesitantly, she answered.
"There could be a connection. After all she was too little and already weak when he… when he did that, she was with the medical support at that time and maybe that's why she improved but ever since she was taken out of the supplements she had been connected to, her health started to decline again. Still not strong enough to heal on her own"
"Supplement. What kind of supplement do you have in mind?" asked Raven this time.
"As in breast milk supplement" said Leo as-a-matter-of-factly.
Michael's brows shot up before the frown settled on his features again and asked defensively and full of skepticism "And where exactly am I supposed to get breast milk when her own mother happens to be a baby herself?"
Leo gave him a smile, never affected by his rude retort before answering "Although ideal, in most cases is not completely necessary. Breast milk is breast milk, no matter who it comes from"
"But that still doesn't answer my question, who am I going to get it from" Michael asked with a bit more annoyance in his tone but Leo's answer was a subtle nod. When he followed her gaze, he was met by an equally surprised sorceress who quickly composed herself.
"I don't think that's a good idea" she said. "I'm not entirely human, remember?"
"Raven, you are the only logical choice, after all, her mother wasn't entirely human either. For all we know, Vicky is also a shape shifter" said Leo with all the confidence of having come up with that scenario herself before voicing her suggestion.
"Yes, but not half demon" Raven said stubbornly and crossed her arms over her belly.
"True, but for practical purposes, your physiology is closer to a human's than otherwise"
"May I remind you that after failed attempts at artificial insemination you concluded that…"
"That your physiology didn't respond to human procedures but otherwise it works the same way and your swollen belly is proof of that. Look, if it makes you feel any better, we can run some test on a sample of your breast milk to put your and Michael's mind at ease. A few drops will suffice"
An uneasy look crossed Raven's features "I don't know Leo, its risky…"
"Please Raven, if not for me, do it for Vicky. I don't think I can go much longer watching my daughter grow weaker. I'm begging you…" Michael said and in his pleas, he had cut the short distance between them and had grabbed her by the shoulders and Raven wasn't sure he even noticed. There was no malice, no teasing, no faking, just real concern in his eyes and almost desperation in his tone.
Raven let out a tiny sigh before giving him her answer in the form of a gentle nod. Michael smiled widely before kissing her forehead, thanked her and turned to the young doctor awaiting patiently on the screen.
"Excellent. Cyborg, this is what I need you to do" Leo instructed Cyborg on how to analyze the breast milk once Raven followed her instructions on how to get the sample although for that, Leo had to get Dr Thorns to help her with in a joint video call and reluctantly, Raven did as she was told.
It was only a few minutes later that Leo called back to analyze the results along with Cyborg and thankfully the results were favorable to their situation.
A few hours later the rest of the team came back and Garfield found his wife sitting on the rocking chair with Vicky happily attached to one of her breasts. Garfield gave her a puzzled look for a brief moment as he made his way to her but soon, his expression was replaced by a smile. It occurred to him that the baby's declining health had had a simple remedy that didn't cross anyone's mind until now.
"I didn't think you could do that yet" Garfield said playfully after kissing his wife tenderly on the lips which she responded to happily.
"Apparently I've been able to for a while" Raven said with a smile.
They fell into a comfortable silence and all the while, Garfield's heart melted a little more at the sight, no doubt his wife had the biggest heart. But suddenly, a few questions popped in his head but before he had a chance to voice any of his worries, Starfire flew in and landed next to the couple, smiling tenderly at the sight.
"Friend Raven, how wonderful of you to nurture little Victoria but, will you have enough milk of the breast for your little ones when they arrive?"
"Yes Star, according to Dr Thorns, I have at least a two year supply or for as long as any of them need it, there will be plenty for all of them"
"That wont be necessary Rae" came the happy voice of Cyborg and when they turned in his direction at the control panels of the medical bay, they could see his satisfied smile. "I've been monitoring Vicky's progress since you started feeding her and there has been an incredibly significant improvement"
"Already?!" Michael and Raven asked at the same time.
"Yes, already and the only thing I can attribute it to is your healing powers. If you can continue feeding her on a set schedule for the next twenty four hours, I'll get definite results but, all in all, at this rate, she should be able to go back to regular formula in about two days or less" he said with a smile.
Everyone's excitement at the good news was clear. Michael's most of all and showed it by giving Raven a kiss on the top of her head and then bent down to kiss his daughter's cheek. Even Robin, who had silently entered the medical bay the moment he heard the news from outside, seemed to relax and sighed in relief and even exchanged a smile with Michael because they knew with certainty now that their baby would be alright.
/
Garfield peered into the dimly lit room and found Raven, sitting on the rocking chair, distractedly rocking herself as she went from page to page of the book on her lap. He approached her silently but knew she was aware of his presence. He stopped next to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder which she covered with one of her own without looking up from the album.
Garfield now had an idea of what kept her so distracted. The candid pictures, the images of his wife through the eyes of another that had also felt for her. He felt jealousy creep up and tug at his heart even though the events were long gone. He had been long gone and yet there was no mistaking her reaction still after all these years. She mourned him, she missed him and he even dared say she had loved him to a certain extent.
Oh but Garfield was very familiar with the claws of jealousy that had ravaged his heart over the years Michael had been with them, and sadly realized that he kept fighting them off even with Michael gone because now the fight was with the memory of him. But long ago he learnt that he could only protect Raven so far without hinting at the misconception that he didn't trust her, because he did trust her. It was the others he didn't trust.
Robin and Michael were to her the heroes of her life and heart and many times Garfield spent sleepless nights dwelling on the fact that he simply came up short compared to either one of them or any of them for in essence, they were one and the same and often wondered if she would mourn him the same if he was the one gone instead.
A soft squeeze to his hand still resting on her shoulder` brought him out of his reverie and he looked down and was met with her soft gaze. He could tell she had been fighting back tears.
"All this time and you still get upset as if he were still here" she stated non-accusingly.
Garfield locked eyes with his wife for a moment before relaxing the frown he didn't realize he had until his expression softened to an almost apologetic one.
"I'm sorry babe, sometimes I can't help it"
For a moment Raven looked down at the images on the photo album before closing it but he noticed she pulled out one of the pictures enough so as to not lose the page she was on. Raven got up from the rocking chair, placed the book down on it and turn around to give her husband a hug that he happily returned and then, with her arms still around his neck, she pulled him to her and kissed him passionately.
After a few minutes they pulled apart just enough to catch their breath but they remained close enough to rest their foreheads on one another.
"I'm sorry Gar, I didn't mean to come here before seeing you but I just…"
"shhh, it doesn't matter. Did you talk to Vicky?" he asked as they pulled apart. Raven knew he was deliberately changing the subject but decided not to press the matter further.
"Yes and I'm afraid I encouraged her even more without knowing it. That's why I came here, to see if maybe I could find a clue as to what she's planning and how" Raven had walked around the chair towards the bed and used her dark energy to lift the cape that was left on it but there was nothing underneath, so with a sigh, she let the garment back down. "But so far I've come up empty" she said as she walked back to the rocking chair but Garfield picked up the album before she reached it.
"Is that what you were doing with these? Looking for clues?" he said calmly as he looked thru the pages. As he expected, most of the pictures were of Vicky and Michael, he was surprised that his image was among them more than a few times but most of all Raven's image greeted him and a familiar yet strange feeling of déjà vu invaded his mind.
"I'm not exactly sure Gar but somewhere among those images is a sign, something that let us know where all started."
"You mean you're actually ok with them going back in time and change the past?" he asked with great surprise and something else Raven could quite tell what it was.
"No, not exactly. The fact is if they change something, anything no matter how small before they were born then they could very well erase their own existence but, there is the possibility of finding out what exactly happened and maybe…"
"Maybe nothing, Rae. You said so yourself, its too risky. I will not let my kids and niece to put themselves in danger that way or any other way. The past is in the past and there is nothing we can do about it" Garfield interrupted, his eyes sparkled with anger and the seriousness of his tone was in a way, disconcerting. Raven watched without flinching, how he tossed the photo album unceremoniously on the bed and unavoidably, spilling the pictures across the cape and sheets.
However, Raven took a calming, deep breath before speaking, his attitude and angry antics were unsettling and in a way, disappointing.
"Gar, I'm not saying I condone their actions and decisions but I would think that you, of all people, would understand Vicky's reasons for what she's trying to do"
"What do you mean I would understand, as if going back in time has ever been a possibility to change anything and you of all people should know that I would never put my family at risk"
"So you're telling me that the idea of going back and prevent your parents from dying and protect Meliah from her fate, has never cross your mind before? Or have you forgotten that Starfire was able to go to the future thanks to Warp and thanks to what she saw there, she was able to change it. Cyborg is not alone, destined to rust away, I'm not isolated in a mental ward and you are not hiding behind the bars of a cage as a one man freak show at a carnival. And Nightwing is not alone, he's with us, with his family." She watched him frown and even glare. She had never seen him so mad at her like that.
Raven walked slowly to her husband and gently grabbed his hands in comfort, hoping to calm him down. "Gar, I'm aware of the possible consequences but I also understand why Vicky would go to those lengths. She misses her father, our friend. Don't tell me you don't understand that" she said softly.
Garfield looked at their joint hands more out of embarrassment than anything else and Raven watched how his frown melted away as he formed invisible circles with his thumbs on the top of her hands and without looking up, he answered "I do understand Rae, I really do and trust me when I tell you that the thought of being able to go back in time and change the many things that have gone wrong in my life, has crossed my mind the moment after things happened but…" he took a deep, cleansing breath before bringing his eyes from their entwined fingers to her own. "… I also realize that every event, every mistake, every tragedy has also led to happier times, far better that I would have ever dreamt of. It led me to the Titans and it led me to you and now… I'm the proud father of two amazing kids that take after their beautiful mother whom I'm honored to call my wife" he said and lifted one of her hands to his lips and placed a gentle, lingering kiss on it. Raven couldn't suppress the small sigh that escaped her lips, musing on the fact that even after all these years he was still able to make her heart skip a beat.
He continued "I do understand Rae, but what if… him dying… was meant to be? What if… no matter how many times she's able to go back and change things in order to save him… she still loses him, over and over again... what then?... you're right, I did think about what if I could go back and change things the moment I turned around and watched how that last lightning stroke the boat right before it fell down the waterfall and even though I knew I couldn't, I obsessed about it for years even after Mento and Rita adopted me. After a while, I was able to forget about my obsession and was able to move on but, when Warp appeared from the possible future, all those thoughts came back because I realized Warp had figured out a way to guarantee his success, by going back in time and change things to his benefit. Rae, there was no way I could let that opportunity go by and I even thought about stealing the time machine device from the evidence room… but…" he sighed " somehow, Rita knew something was up. Back then I couldnt understand it and I couldn't explain it how she knew but, she did and the night I had planned to steal the device, she called me and convinced me to go have dinner with her…"
The restaurant was a small establishment in a hidden corner of the world. Simple yet tasteful and elegant and the food was of extraordinary quality and yet, the smells and the friendly smiles of the ones catering their meal did nothing to bring the young changeling out of his depression. He silently played with the vegetables on his plate while fighting the stinging in the back of his eyes until the soft hand of his adoptive mother closed over his and gave him a gentle squeeze and Garfield had to close his eyes shot, etching a deep frown on his green features.
She had caught him by surprise by calling him a few hours earlier inviting him for dinner, begged him even when the strained tone of his refusal gave away the seriousness of his predicament and he knew it and eventually gave in and met her on the roof of the tower where she was waiting in a small jet.
The jet was the latest contraption in technology. Smooth and fast. So fast that in less than thirty minutes, they were halfway across the country to a rustic little town. Rita had let him be during the ride and it was when they landed that she had turned to him and asked in that sweet, soothing tone of her voice, what was wrong.
Garfield didn't have the strength to answer her right away but finally, after a couple of steadying breaths, he whispered "I found a way to go back and save them"
Rita didn't need to ask whom he was referring to and she simply asked "How?" in a whisper of her own.
Garfield was still looking away, blinking away the tears when he answered "We came across a guy from the future last week. He came back to steal a piece of the museum downtown and make sure we were stopped before he was caught. Star… she travelled to a possible future with the guy when she was fighting him and saw things… anyway. Of course she succeeded and came back and the guy was caught into his own invention and now he's a baby all over again…" Garfield chuckle without humor or was rather, a scoff.
Rita watched him with serene eyes until a spark of understanding run through her and she fought back a shiver but he seemed not to noticed and continued "… but, if he was able to come back, maybe… maybe I can…" but Rita stopped him by embracing him in her arms as tight as she could without hurting him stopping him from speaking.
"Gar, my love, please… don't go down that path. I understand why you're trying to do it, I really do but… think of the consequences" but he squirmed in her hold and pushed her away. Rita didn't fight.
"What consequences can there be other than them being alive now, today. You don't know what its like to watch your parents die right in front of your eyes and not being able to do squat because of fear" he was angry but in his anger, that flicker of hurt he saw in her eyes, touched him deep.
"You're right when you say I haven't experienced something so tragic but I can tell you this, I'm starting to know what it feels like right now with the possibility of losing you. The possible consequences are endless. What if you save them today but… fate has its own plans and you still lose them tomorrow? Tell me, would you be able to go through that all over again?"
There was anger in his eyes and he was shaking from holding back his rage but there was also a flicker of understanding, something he had not thought of before.
"Gar, believe me when I tell you if I could go back and save them myself I would, for you, because you deserve so much better than the suffering you've had to endure." She watched him turn away from her and she felt like somehow, she was losing the battle.
"Gar, even if you succeed, there is no return from the path that you're choosing to accomplish that success, no matter how many times you try to change it because in the end, even if no one else finds out, you will know, so tell me, will you be any different from the ones you fight against?"
There was silence and for a moment, Rita thought he would just get up and leave and still carry on his plan but then, she noticed his shoulders shaking and a sniff and a muffled sob escaped him and Rita cut the distance between them and turned him around and pressed his head on her chest while she wrapped her arms around him and she let him cry then, smoothing the hair on the back of his head, murmuring little nothings in his ear, just how she used to do when he was much younger after waking up from his nightmares.
After a while, he had calmed down and was able to breathe at the soothing beating of her heart and he was able to lift his eyes, red from crying only but a second. He was feeling guilty and ashamed.
"I'm sor…" he tried to say but Rita interrupted him.
"Shhh, don't worry about it love. Just tell me, where is the device now?"
Garfield sighed before answering "Still in the Tower, inside the safe of the evidence room. Cyborg is going to dismantle it tomorrow" he said resigned.
Rita smiled and was visibly relieved "I'm glad to hear that, sweetheart" she said as she wiped the remaining tears running down one of his cheeks and gave him one of her sweet smiles he loved so much.
In the restaurant, when he had been quiet for probably too long and his adoptive mother placed her hand over his and leaned in over the table "What's bothering you now sweetheart?"
He stopped playing with his food and lifted her eyes at her and asked "How did you know?"
She smiled a small, loving smile like mothers do when they see their babies for the first time. "Mother instincts I guess" she said and for a moment her smile faded "I know I'm not your real mother, I never carried you for nine months in my womb, I know that, my mind knows that but… my heart doesn't know the difference. I can't help it if I'm as selfish and jealous and protective as any real mother would be and somehow I know when you're troubled, especially when we're so far apart"
And for the first time since defeating Warp that week, he smiled and tightened his hold on her hand and said "Thanks mom, I love you"
Rita smiled and this time, it was her turn to fight back tears before saying "I love you too sweetheart"
/
Raven watched him and she couldn't hide the surprise from her features. " Gar, I didn't know any of that. How come this is the first time I hear of this?" she wasn't mad simply, caught by surprise.
Garfield shrugged but somehow was still uncomfortable by the subject. "Too ashamed I guess. It was bad enough Rita knew what I was planning to do" he squeeze her hands gently and continued "The point is, I don't want Vicky to suffer any more. To go thru such pain all over again. We lost her for four years Rae, she left to who knows where, met who knows who and now she's like a total stranger. Don't get me wrong, I still love her as I know you do too but… I'm afraid if her plan fails… we would lose her permanently and I would never forgive myself for that… what would I tell Meliah…"
"Shhh, Gar, please. Don't get ahead of yourself. Meliah is only eighteen now, she's safe. Lets keep it that way" Raven said as she grabbed a hold of his face with both her hands and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. "We'll keep them both safe, I promise"
And with that, she led her husband out of the room, turning off the light and closing the door on the way out. When their steps faded down the hallway, the light in the room came back to life. Vicky was now sitting in the at the edge of the bed and noticed that the cape still on the bed was wrapped on someone furiously trying to disentangle from the garment.
Vicky quickly removed the garment and two humanoid spiders fell on the bed as they recovered their original size.
"Mariella move your legs from my head" came the angry whisper of Mark trying to get up from under his sister's weight. Mariella on the other hand was still trying to return to her human form, having still a few extra extremities slowly returning back to her body.
"Shut up Mark, I'm still trying to figure out how to make them disappear" Mariella whisper back. Finally, after a few deep breaths, Mariella was back to her human form while her brother got off the bed and tried to rearrange his already tangled hair.
"This wouldn't happen if you practiced your shifting more often" he chided.
"And this wouldn't have happened if you would have let me transport us back to our room instead of hiding under the cape"
"And risk mom sensing you using your powers? Forget it. At least the cape can protect us from her sensing our presence"
"Guys" whispered Vicky but the twins were too distracted with their little argument to pay attention.
"And what do you think she's going to do when they found out we were eavesdropping on them?" Mariella continued.
"Guys!" Vicky said a little louder this time, finally getting the attention of her friends who seemed to have forgotten for a moment where they were.
"Guys, forget about that, we don't have time for this" Vicky said as she got off the bed walked towards the rocking chair. She didn't sit but run a gentle hand on one of the arms. "We have to find out who this… Meliah is"
Mariella thought for a moment and was ready to answer when Mark spoke for her "I wonder if its that little girl from the picture"
"Do you think she might be a long lost sibling?" Asked Mariella to no one in particular.
"I don't think so Mar, even if she happened to be a long lost sister of mine, I don't think dad would have kept us apart. Even if that wasn't the case, I don't think he had any more kids before me, I mean, c'mon, he was barely nineteen when I was born and if your calculations are right and the girl in the picture was at least two years old, I don't think my dad would have been… sleeping around at only seventeen and leaving kids behind" said Vicky, pensive never the less on the possibility.
"I don't know Vik, I mean, he was a big flirt and who knows if…" Mark started but stopped mid sentence at the sight of the glare Vicky was throwing his way.
"Watch it Mark Logan. Think very carefully before say out loud anything else about my father" Vicky said low and menacing as her eyes seemed to spark a certain shift in their coloration, just like it did every time she was in the middle of battle.
"He means no offense Vicky but the facts speak for themselves, Red X was a carrier flirt. Tell me, have you considered how to confront him without telling him who you really are? You know he's bound to flirt with you no matter what, how will you avoid that?"
Vicky made a face at the blunt comments and questions as she had not considered that detail of her father but, a little memory invaded her mind and the idea that came after was visible relief as she smiled knowingly.
"Simple, I'll tell him my name"
The twins raised their left eyebrow at the same time in question before Mark cleared his throat. "And since when the part of you-know-you're-not-supposed-to-tell-him-who-you-are bit got lost in translation?"
That elicited a chuckle from the young changeling "I understand perfectly Mark, not telling him who I am , as in not telling him I'm his daughter, but names, although they could be irrelevant, in this case are key to my success"
"How so?" asked Mariella, narrowing her eyes while she tried to decipher her friend's words which, in a more somber tone, Vicky answered.
"He once told me that he would never flirt with any girl that had my name because it would reminded him too much of me. Not that he didn't like my name but simply because it would be weird"
"And when did he tell you this?
"A few months before he…" she almost choked on her words as a sudden knot formed on her throat at the memory. "… he told me about a girl he had met before, apparently very pretty but he was just not attracted to her that way" Vicky said with a shrug, not really giving too much importance to her own comment.
"Did you ever meet this girl?" Mariella asked after a moment, still frowning.
"No, apparently I was still a baby"
Mariella let out a gasp that startled her companions as she hardly ever showed emotion, just like her mother.
"Vicky, do you realize what you just said?" when the other girl only shook her head in confusion, Mark interrupted and said "I think you just spoke about yourself Vik. You just spoke of a future that has already come to pass. I think uncle Michael was referring to you without even knowing it"
"So… I've already done this?... how come I don't remember?"
"You haven't done it yet but if its already a part of your past, that means it is a definite future" said Mark enthusiastically while his sister nodded her agreement.
Vicky watched in astonished silence from one sibling to the other and a sudden idea occurred to her and soon her expression saddened tremendously.
"Vicky, what's wrong?" Mark asked as the girl and was quick to grab onto her shoulders as she suddenly lost her balance and he had to catch her before she hit the ground. He led her to the rocking chair but Vicky seemed to not being able to breath and deep, dry sobs choked her words out for a moment.
"Vicky, talk to me" Mark said a little more desperate.
"If… if I have already been there… if I had already tried then… how come he isn't here now? Does that mean I failed? …. It's this what uncle Gar was talking about?... that my dad was destined to die anyway no matter what I do?" for a moment, Vicky felt her world and illusions and dreams come crashing down hard but Mariella was quick at her side and grabbed her hands.
"Vicky, look at me. We don't know if that's what happened or not, it was only a possible idea. There is no way for us to tell now what happened back then or who he was referring to, not until you go back and find out what happened. You still have a chance to change all that so please, do not despair"
Vicky looked at her friend thru wet lashes and sniffed and wiped away the tears that had been angrily escaping her and nodded while mark pulled her into a hug and placed a kiss on her temple.
"Don't worry Vik, we will be with you every step of the way, I promise"
After a moment of silence, Vicky let go of them and stood up and run to the closet where her dad's old communicator still laid and dialed a private number and before the second ring she heard the unmistakable sound of someone about to about to speak but she spoke first.
"Grandpa? Its me." There was a still trembling tone in her voice.
"Child, what has happened? Why are you so upset?" a concerned, deep voice spoke.
"Grandpa please, tell me you have everything ready? Tell me you can send me back now? I don't want to waste any more time. Please, I need to see him" she pleaded and another sob escaped her.
"Calm down child, I am almost done. You know I need exact coordinates and dates in order to send you to the right time I will not put you in danger if I can help it. Come now if you like and we'll wait together." When Vicky nodded, he continued. "Very well, now, let me speak with the twins for a moment" when Vicky handled the communicator to Mariella, she exchanged a look with her brother but he simply shrugged and nodded towards the small device.
"Hello Sir" Mariella said composed and restrained.
"Hello child. I have told you before you can call me grandfather as well. You know I consider you and your brother part of the family"
"Thank you sir but I would much rather not upset our parents anymore than necessary when they find out about you" she said politely.
"Very well, I understand but the sentiment still remains. Now please you and your brother must come with Victoria, I'm afraid she's rather upset to keep a leveled head at the moment and we must go over the plan details"
"Very well sir. We'll be there soon. Mariella out"
"He does mean what he said you know. Regardless of what the others say about him, he likes everybody. He's fond of aunt Raven and Uncle Richard especially. You should know he means you no harm" said Vicky in a softer, more composed tone.
"We know Vicky but, our parents and the others don't know that and the mere fact that we know him personally will not set right with any of them, not mentioning what we're about to do" said Mark quietly.
"Well, regardless of any of that I can say one thing and that is that I know your grandfather good enough to know that he does not like to be kept waiting so lets go, are you guys ready?" when the other two nodded their agreement, Mariella opened a portal and the three of them disappeared.