Sorry for the delay. I was updating my fanfics and taking a break. :)

*.*.*

Parker chuckled, wondering what Qua'ra's family squabble was about. He turned to his son now, saying with a light chuckle, "Of course your alliance can use our hyperspace route. We'll need to work together if we're going to defeat Vitiate."

"Oh, that's the catch: Aslan said we may defeat Vitiate, but he can't be certain we will. Our mission is to find you, and you're here. So, that's excellent news! And bring you home. Your wife misses you dearly," Melena said, curtly.

"She does?" Parker said, somber. "I've turned into such a monster. The last time we met, I nearly killed her. I can't go through that again!" He found a chair to sit down and made his way there, covering his hand over his face. "How can I face her?"

"You'll have to," Melena said, returning her gaze to her sister. "So, tell me, Qua'ra, what's been happening around here?"

"Oh, there's so much I want to tell you—" Qua'ra said, delighted to tell Melena about her travels.

Maxin turned to his father. He pressed a hand against his father's shoulder, determined to ask him, "Are you all right?"

"A lot has changed since we last met. I'm not that strong," Parker choked. "I don't think I can see your mother."

"You were asking for her. Why wouldn't you face her?" Maxin asked, confused.

"Heh heh! Good point." Parker said with a smile. "I've got to face this. I think it's time we had a family reunion, don't you think?"

"Yes. Let's do that," Maxin said, smiling back at him.

~o~

An Hour Later…

Melena walked with Qua'ra, determined to see their previous family squabble hadn't been for naught. She was really hoping they would bond. Aslan was certain they would.

"Qua'ra, what do you have to say?" Melena asked, facing her younger sister.

"You shouldn't have left us!" Qua'ra spat at her, finding the words hard to say. "When the escape pod broke off, we thought you'd died! You and Tack – Daaron. I'm sorry. I'm used to his prison name."

"Do you know why he is called Tack?" Melena asked Qua'ra, curious.

"I heard it had something to do with the darker creatures messing around with his mind," Qua'ra said, curtly.

"After the ritual Father did to us, turning us into scarred lions and lionesses – not everyone became a scarred lion and lioness, due to that ritual – I thought you'd grown out of your feeble stage of upstaging me!" Melena shook her head. "You are not the only one wanting to become empress of the Shadow Empire. I want that position, too."

"Parker finds me worthy. You hardly know him," Qua'ra said in defense.

"That may be, but we'll leave that up to our current Emperor to decide," Melena said, smugly.

"I heard you overtook Maxin's position during his first mission, drugged him. How did you stoop so low?" Qua'ra asked, shaking her head.

Melena grinned a small grin. "I see we haven't changed. Devious even. Aslan would be proud."

"He would never use the word 'proud'. Pride leads to downfall." Qua'ra clasped her sister's shoulder. "I will see to it this empire does not fall to ruin. I'll guarantee that."

"The eldest always takes the throne first. I thought you knew that," Melena asked, curiously.

Qua'ra nodded. "Then I'll do my best to not interfere in your plans, sister." She bowed, walking away in utter frustration. She looked back, asking her, "Why do people call our brother Tack?"

"It's simple. Our brother sat on a tack once. It was Kat'ka's doing. It's become more his name than his old one. It's how we'll remember him by," Melena said.

"Right. I'll take your word for that," Qua'ra said, walking away.

~o~

Parker managed to find his chambers, leading Maxin into the sitting room. Parker smiled, grateful to see his son was in awe of the place. And yet, there was something about his son that was different, something that Maxin refused to share. He smirked, wondering if it had anything to do with their separation, why Parker had to leave, or because of Melena. He knew he would find the answer soon enough.

It was only a matter of when.

"You've changed," Parker said, startling his son.

"What do you mean?" Maxin asked, his somber expression showing.

Parker grunted. He had to think carefully. Any wrong move could dampen his relationship with his son. He wanted to keep that father-son bond, cherish it if he had to. And yet, he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to his son's tale than what he shown on the surface.

"Something's bothering you. Tell me." Parker said, curious. "I know you kept up that act, even though you were happy to see me. I know you meant it, and yet I can't help but wonder what has changed. Is it because I left a year ago or the fact that Melena still travels with you, unnerves you." He shook his head, telling his son, "Maxin, you are part dragonoid. Surely, some part of you guessed that I could read between the lines, knowing there was something wrong with you."

"Alright," Maxin huffed, the truth coming out. He glared at his father, admitting in ferocity, "I hate that you missed my graduation! I hate what you've became! Every waking moment I spent with that cat-woman proved one thing: I can never be half the man you are! It hurts. It hurts you turned evil, it hurts you missed out on a year's worth of adventuring!

"I wish I could take everything back that I've done, but I can't!" He said, softer now, "I wish things were different between us. Mother is much kinder than I am. She hasn't let you down, even when I did. You know, I thought we were happy together, a happy family. What drove you to become this way? Teach me, so that I may understand. Tell me that, please!"

Parker snarled. "You have no right to ask me that, son! No right at all!"

"I have every right to ask you because you left me at home, wondering whether or not you had turned fully evil, whether you had truly taken on such a terrible life!" Maxin huffed, pausing for a moment. "I can't believe you're my father, the dragonoid who had secrets, who managed to tell them when someone called you out for them." He asked, shaking his head, "How long did you know that Corin would be your undoing? How long did you know that?"

"It was back when your mother and I raised Corin. The second I touched your mother's shoulder, that's when I had the vision of Corin being my undoing," Parker said, admitting the truth. "I had the vision when you were fourteen years old. You know this."

"I couldn't believe it came true," Maxin said in understanding. It just didn't change things between them, not after what they've endured. "You still could have been a good dragonoid. Was it you who attacked Turen's family? Killed them all?"

"Yes," Parker said in honesty. "I was evil! I never should have done it, and yet I did. You never saw because you weren't there. Corin and Eliza, your mother, knew about it. They told you. I'm sure they did."

"Yes." Maxin shook his head. "How could you do that? How could you do that to Turen's family? They didn't do us any harm!"

"They killed your grandparents. At the time, I thought it was the only way." Parker shook his head. "I was wrong. I'm sorry, I'm sorry we lost them all." He looked at his son, noticing Maxin retreating. "You shouldn't have had to go through so much. I'm sorry you did! I just wanted to protect you!" Parker approached his son, reaching out to him. Maxin jerked away.

"No. Don't touch me!" Maxin said, shaking his head. "You can't mend this. You can't mend it all!" He walked away, but not without looking back at him. "I thought I could trust you, but you're no different from Melena. She only told me what she wanted me to hear, too." He added, remorseful, "I do forgive you for missing graduation. That's about it."

"Maxin, I—" Parker's voice faded, watching his son leave the room. He closed his mouth, understanding his son needed time to think things through. He just hoped their father-son bond wasn't broken. If it was, then he didn't know what he could do to mend it.