Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue

Summary: See Previous Chapters

Interlude

16 years ago...

The Cryptographer, a Technopath with an affinity for computers, had no actual regrets about going inactive - that is, filling a background role in the Superhero Community rather than actively combating the forces of Evil - but there were days that he missed the comparatively carefree life of an active Hero. Super-villains could at least be counted upon to monologue about their aims and agenda, and their weakness was usually a matter of record.

Gregori, as the Cryptographer was known in his Secret Identity, hadn't expected being a stay-at-home dad to be easy, but he and his wife, Patricia, (also known as the minor Villainess the Pied Piper) hadn't reckoned on their twin daughters developing powers so early, either. Not to say that he wasn't proud they would one day follow in his footsteps, at least for the three years of Compulsory National Service required for anyone with Superpowers. He just wished that they could have waited until puberty, or until they had passed milestones like impulse control and the ability to listen to rational arguments.

At least it looked like their powers were still developing, though it would have been nice if either child had developed an inherited power, so he and Hannah could at least have a frame of reference. As it was, the Pied Piper's ability to command rodents and their heightened sense of smell was of some use when it came to locating a mischievous two-year-old who could literally hide in the shadows, but neither that nor his own technical powers were any help against a hydrokinetic toddler with an aversion to bath time.

Alara's power might have been limited to things containing water, rather than water itself, but her parents were quickly discovering just how many seemingly-innocent objects fell into that category.

A loud squeal and the patter of tiny paws gave him a few moments warning before the squirrels who lived in the backyard tree swarmed by, carrying Roisin with them. Ten seconds later, a loud splash and giggling meant that their job was half-done. Roisin stopped protesting once she was actually in the water, and Chris was starting to suspect that she only held out in hopes of a squirrel ride.

Pulling a handful of technical components out of his pocket, Gregori tracked down his younger daughter, hiding under a sheepskin in the typical toddler belief that if she couldn't see anyone else, then they couldn't see her. Fortunately, Alara was easily distracted by the floating parts, separating and reforming into different trinkets, that Patricia actually managed to get most of her scrubbed down before Alara noticed where she was and shrieked, sending most of the bath toys and all of the bubbles flying out of the tub.

Patricia sighed and shook her dripping hair out of her face as Gregori fetched a mop and a dry towel. "At least she'll sleep through the night."

Indeed, Alara was already half-asleep, the use of her powers exhausting for a body that had yet to build up the stamina required. Gregori bundled Alara into the towel, as Patricia turned attention and washcloth onto Roisin, who had been amusing herself by tugging the shadows of the bath-toys back and forth, trying to make them move. So far, any movement was indistinguishable from the bobbing of the waves, but that was going to be interesting to deal with in a few years.

Gregori lifted Alara into his arms, the trials of raising super-powered children entirely worth it at the feel of her tiny head resting on his shoulder. "Gives us a chance to clean all this up. I'll be back in a moment."

Getting Alara into a sea-green nightie and tucked into sea-life patterned sheets was the work of moments, and Gregori stopped by the linen closet for another two towels, returning in time for Roisin to decide that baths were less fun without Alara there to make things interesting. He took over drying her off while Patricia gratefully accepted the other towel. It was little things like that that made their marriage work, despite their conflicting ideologies. The fact that Patricia's preferred method of causing trouble was to sue both sides for reckless endangerment whenever an Epic Battle took place in a populated area, also helped, since Gregoi didn't have to worry about the moral and ethical conflict of not arresting someone who endangered civilian lives.

With Roisin safely in her own bed, lulled to sleep with a soft nightlight that made the shadows in the bedroom flicker and dance, Chris re-joined his wife in the living room, where a pot of hot chocolate waited, and the duo of pet rats were bringing over a package of tim-tams. Drinking to cope was a habit that neither of them intended to get into, but a small treat was acceptable. Collapsing next to his wife, Gregori draped an arm over the back of the couch. "As much as I love our two hellions, what are your thoughts on me getting a vasectomy?"

Patricia looked up from her lap-top. "I think that's a wonderful idea, especially if the Barron Battle trial goes like I think it will and we end up helping Firestar with Warren on top of our own two. We can afford it easily enough, especially under Superhero Health Insurance."

Gregroi relaxed. "I'll make the appointment in the morning. Besides, if we change our minds, vasectomies are comparatively easier to reverse."

Patricia laughed, "Not until the twins are much older, I assure you."

Present day...

The years between the twins' relatively carefree toddlerhood and today had all the usual trials of parenthood and growing up, with the added burdens of being from a family blended in ways that society didn't approve of.

The Cryptographer still regretted none of it, but he looked at the way the fellow Supers that his daughters should have looked to for support treated them, and worried.

Civilians thought that his children and their friends were wonderful, when they recognised the names. That would be a large benefit, later, but their biggest hurdle would always be the rest of the Superhero Community. It was ironic that Warren and his girls had less to fear from the Villain Community that they would one day face in battle than they did from their own side.

Still, he knew that they were resilient, and their team was already closer than some that had worked together for years. They would be all right.

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A/N: OK, so this is mostly just another interlude. I'm working on a Superhero original series inspired by this fic, and it's taking up most of my attention right now, along with my other stories and my day job in general.

I'll try and get the next proper chapter up soon

Thanks

Nat