A/N: Hello! It's been a while I know, but work and life keep getting in the way. Plus, I had a bout of depression (brought about no doubt by lack of sleep, seratonin is a bitch to keep in your system you know) which makes the Plot Bunnies go hide usually, so I had to wait till they came back.
(By the way - if anyone else had depression problems, might I suggest a googly woogly search for "Stephen Fry Letter Depression" - it will bring you to a wonderful and inspiring Letter Of Note, that I think everyone should read.)
This chapter is a little wordy and exposition heavy, but it really was time that some of the threads got sorted and re-ordered, so we all know where is what.
There may be some typos, build a bridge, there may be spelling errors - but some things which helpful people have messaged me as being glaring and constant spelling mistakes ARE SPELLED PERFECTLY CORRECTLY THANKYOU VERY MUCH.!
I'm Australian people, we and the BULK of the English speaking world spell colour with a U, we spell centre with an RE not an ER (ERs belong in hospitals not shopping centres). It's called language. People use it differently, so long as you can understand it, it's doing it's job. (mind you, I can be even more pedantic about the correct usage of the apostrophe so I'm a fine one to talk aren't I?)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Glee, I wish I did but bloody Ryan Murphy sent me to a crack house istead of the Glee Auction, He's a bastard like that sometimes!
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It was all Rachel's fault really.
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Well, technically it was Brittany's fault, but no one had the heart to blame her for what happened.
To be perfectly accurate, it was bound to happen eventually.
But why did it have to be Rachel?
Kurt and Blaine were still giggling into each other's faces as they continued their war of gel versus spray (The Hair Wars as Dave had quipped to Jeff, prompting the blond warbler to almost pass out from laughing)
Dave and Jeff were perched on the edge of the bed. Dave was sitting while Jeff stood between his legs and leant into him for a searing kiss. Dave had been self conscious at first, but after Jeff proved that neither Kurt nor Blaine were taking notice of anything around them (by hissing "Katy Perry and Lady Gaga are both talentless, tone-deaf hags" and receiving no reaction whatsoever) Dave had relaxed into his first serious make out session and was beginning to see what all the fuss was about.
Pang sat, unnoticed in his chair and smiled at the feeling of so much love in the air around him.
Danu chose well, he thought, but now... I wonder what happens next.
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What happened next was Rachel Berry, throwing the door open suddenly and running into the room.
The sound of the door slamming open startled all four boys. Their nerves were, understandably, still a little on edge.
As the loud noise seemed to reverberate off the walls Blaine turned to the doorway and with the full power of The Speech simply said, DON'T MOVE.
Kurt found himself grabbing Blaine around the waist and suddenly the two boys flew to the other side of the bed.
They... flew?
Kurt looked down and noted, almost absently that he and Blaine were currently floating a couple of inches above the polished floor of the hospital room.
Dave grabbed Jeff by the waist also and with the impressive muscular strength he had once used to throw Kurt into lockers with, pulled him to one side so that Dave stood between the blond and whatever threat had just entered the room.
Huge white wings flared into existence and spread out to act as a shield against the possible attacker.
Jeff felt the soft feathers tickle his open collar as he stood close to Dave's back and reached out to touch Dave's shoulder.
Jeff's eyes glowed softly with a silver light as he automatically looked for hostile emotions and sent waves of calming reassurance outwards.
Pang knocked over his bucket and then tripped over his mop as he leapt to his feet.
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Rachel stood, unmoving (well, Blaine had told her to) and her mouth fell open. She looked at the scene before her and her brain tried to process what it all meant.
Brittany walked through the open door and closed it behind her.
"Hello Kurt, Blaine. Hi Dave, oh, hello Dave's Guardian, I'm sorry I don't remember you telling me your name yet. Hello Blaine's Grandpa, I don't know your name either, sorry. Did you know you've spilled some water on the floor? Wow, nice pearl by the way, you too Blaine, and that green and brown thing really sets the silver off. See Kurt, I've been learning fashion, just like you'll ask me to when... when... oh darn, forgot that one too. Anyway, I just thought you should know that Rachel is on her way...oh shoot, I got the timing wrong again. Hi Rachel! You better move you know, that puddle is going to ruin your shoe if it reaches them. I ruined some shoes jumping in puddles the other day. Lord Tubbington was so mad at me, but that's because I splashed him, not because of the shoes. Oh yeah, Kurt, Rachel wants to tell you some really bad news, but she won't because she doesn't want to upset you, so she's going to ask you to come downstairs really urgently so Carole can tell you about your Dad's heart attack. Don't freak out though, because your Dad is fine. Well, he's fine now. Lucky for him he was downstairs in the emergency room talking to your mom when Dave and his Angel accidentally healed everyone. Actually, Dave, you might want to lose the wings in a minute, because your doctor is on her way in to check on you. Where was I? Oh yes, Kurt and Blaine, Lord Tubbington is downstairs and he says he wants to talk to you. He was a bit freaked out at all the press and the FBI guys so he's gone to hide in my car. It's ok, I left a bowl of water in there for him and the window is open a crack. If you go out to talk to him now you could watch Finn trying to park, It's going to be really funny. But no clowns, I don't like clowns, so it's funny but without clowns. Here, let me help you up sir."
She bent down and offered her hand to Grandpa Pang, who was still lying in the pool of spilled mop water.
Rachel seemed to snap out of her daze and moved her feet hurriedly to avoid the spill. Blaine frowned slightly at the spreading puddle and it retreated back into the bucket which then righted itself.
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As Dave's wings faded out of sight the tall figure of the Chief of Surgery entered the room. She broke into a wide grin as she saw Dave standing and looking fit.
"Oh thank the Lord, "She beamed, "You got caught in our little miracle too. It wouldn't be right if you hadn't I suppose."
Her eyes were drawn to the blood stained front of Kurt's ruined shirt, and the bullet holes there.
"Seems like everyone got lucky today."
Rachel opened her mouth to speak but... for the first time in her life she couldn't seem to make words.
Brittany finished helping Pang to his feet and grabbed the chair he had been sitting on.
With surprising strength she carried it behind where Rachel stood open mouthed and positioned it carefully.
Rachel fainted, her fall broken immediately by the chair.
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Brittany looked at Kurt.
"Hey Kurtie, "she smiled, "Would you like to come over for a sleepover tomorrow. Rachel is going to need her nails done after she starts biting them tonight."
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When Carole had heard the shouts and screams that had come from the emergency room cubicle she had already begun to run towards it before she even realised she had stood up. The firm grip of Coach Sylvester around her waist was the only thing that kept her upright as her panic developed into fully fledged despair.
She barely noticed the silver sparks that seemed to be falling around her.
She definitely didn't notice the sudden cessation of the low level aches and pains she had still suffered from ever since her ordeal in the park.
Sue Sylvester, however, did notice the indoor pyrotechnic display.
"What the...?"
She frowned deeply and shook her head, muttering to herself.
"Ok Carole, "She said gruffly, "This is where I leave you all alone like I was left by my insane, selfish bitch of a mother and go do some grown up stuff. I'm pretty sure your cry-baby act may have seriously damaged the tendons of my left shoulder, but I am going to once more prove the bigger woman and overlook your desperate need for physical reassurance."
Carole didn't seem to be hearing her.
"You go annoy the so-called doctors in there now, I have a feeling that whatever the hell has just happened, it's not bad news. I'm going to go try to premptively put out whatever brush-fire some idiot has just lit. You stay strong, you hear? I expect you to be back to showering wasteful amounts of affection over my sweet Porcelain by tonight, understand?"
Carole smiled faintly at the tall woman, obviously not really listening.
Oh well, Sue was used to lesser beings ignoring her words.
Sue strode out of the waiting room. The sparks still falling seemed to swirl around her as if trying to avoid her glare.
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When Carole entered the cubicle she saw the medical staff standing in shock as the heart monitors hooked up to Burt's still body continued to scream out their terrible flat-line. Carole felt her own heart shudder to a halt.
A doctor stood holding the charging paddles, but making no move to apply them.
Burt's shirt had been cut open and his chest hooked up with monitoring sensors and covered in conductive gel.
Carole's own nursing training kicked in and she grabbed them from the doctor's stunned hands, only to realise that they were uncharged and useless.
She dropped them on the floor.
Carole reached out to touch Burt's face as tears filled her eyes.
...beep...
The monitors registered a heartbeat, only weak, but growing rapidly stronger.
Carole blinked the tears from her eyes as she automatically made note of the various readings and monitors.
She may not work in a hospital any more, but her accreditation was always up to date.
Blood pressure...low, but rising.
Heart rate...increasing
Blood Oxygen levels...almost back to normal
Burt moved on the bed as he began to awaken from whatever state he had been in.
Carole clutched his hand like she was drowning.
"...tell Kurt...love...must tell..."
Carole strained to hear Burt's words.
"...Elizabeth!"
Carole felt another blow to her chest, but she shook her head and continued to squeeze Burt's hand.
Of course he might say the name of his first wife...
If he was thinking of Kurt it was only natural that...
Elizabeth had been his first love after all, it didn't mean...
Carole took a second to collect all her jealousies over Elizabeth and her feelings of inadequacy about her relationship with Burt and then she imagined them being locked in a huge iron chest.
Burt needed her.
She was his wife.
She had made her peace with Elizabeth's memory long ago.
Burt needed her.
Burt didn't love her less, he just loved her differently.
She smiled sadly to herself, only to be drawn to look at the man she loved as his grip tightened on her hand.
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"...Carole? ...Carole!"
Her name had never sounded so sweet.
"I saw... I saw Elizabeth, "Burt was rapidly waking up, "She stopped me from falli... no, she made me fall! She stopped me from joining her."
Carole was confused but she simply smiled and brushed a tear from Burt's eyes.
"She told me she was happy I found you. She told me she's glad I found you."
Burt was blinking rapidly now.
"Carole... I am so glad I found you."
Carole couldn't stop her tears now either.
"I have to..." Burt was confused, "I have to tell Kurt something... yes! I remember! I need to find him. Carole, she was there. It seemed so real... Carole. I... I love you. I had to come back. The people I love are here too. She doesn't need me anymore, but I need you. I need you, and Kurt and Finn and..."
Burt blinked as he finally felt himself fully awaken.
He sat up.
The doctors and nurses stood around the pair, staring.
"So..." Burt drawled, "Does anyone have a spare shirt they could lend me?".
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It had taken almost half an hour to get Burt released from the ER.
Carole was still amazed it hadn't taken hours.
If Burt had been the only miraculous cure that day he would probably still have been there, being tested and probed and...
Carole smiled as she remembered the look on the doctors' faces when they realised that Burt was not the only miracle cure that day.
Stories had rapidly circulated around the hospital about cancer patients suddenly going into remission, their tumours dwindling literally as onlookers watched.
A patient suffering from massive brain injuries had alarmed the surgeons working on her as she suddenly began to move on the operating table.
The surgery team had stared as blood clots loosened and bleeding stopped as they tried to operate on the delicate brain tissue.
Within minutes they had to frantically remove their swabs and instruments as the open wound had begun to close up.
Subsequent scans revealed that even the shattered skull bones beneath the faint scars left on her temple was fully healed, stronger than before.
One doctor had suggested reopening the skull to examine what had occurred.
The nurse who slapped him across the face had not been disciplined, she had in fact been asked out to dinner by the hospital administrator.
One patient had regrown a kidney, ending years of dialysis and waiting on the transplant list.
Not everyone was healed.
Only the most serious, the life threatening illnesses and injuries seemed to have been affected.
The religious members of the medical staff had prayed to Jesus, Allah, Yahweh, the Buddha...
The non-religious had considered praying too.
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The press had arrived, a media scrum of biblical proportions to say the least.
The CDC, FBI, CIA, FEMA, NSA... if they had an acronym they were there... had arrived.
Men and women in suits all trying to pull rank and trying to set up control centres and incident rooms in various parts of the hospital.
It had taken Pang, Jeff and Blaine all their power to talk their way through the corridors (Blaine carrying the still unconscious Rachel) and then managing to talk the entire group out of the hospital and back to the Hudmel home.
Dave had had to carry Jeff after the boy almost fainted from the effort of calming that many people at once.
Looking down at the exhausted figure in his arms Dave had felt such a rush of affection...
Jeff had rallied as Dave stared down at him and seemed to draw strength from somewhere.
Brittany had offered to drive Jeff and Dave to the Hudmel home.
Carole and Burt had watched as Finn had done what Burt considered possibly the worst ever job of parking a car he had ever seen and had insisted on Burt driving his car home.
Pang, Blaine and Kurt had come home in Kurt's car.
They brought Rachel.
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Rachel woke up as Blaine was carrying her through the front door and into the living room.
"What...where...?"
"Oh well, the peace was nice while it lasted, "Kurt muttered.
Rachel's eyes widened as she remembered what she had seen.
She looked to see who was carrying her.
"Bl...Blaine?" She was confused, "Even Finn can't carry me this far without... how are you so strong?"
Kurt tried to suppress his snort, but failed dismally.
"Rachel honey, you've seen an awful lot of weird today, and that is the first question you need to ask?"
Blaine gently placed Rachel on the couch, making not even the slightest indication of effort. Finn moved rapidly to sit beside her and squeeze her hands.
"Blaine's kind of like a superhero now Rachel, so is Kurt. You won't believe what they can do, it's so cool."
The tall teen smiled at Rachel's nervous eyes and turned to regard the rest of the room.
"I don't know what Dave and..."
"Jeff Sterling." Jeff offered his name smiling.
"...what Dave and Jeff are doing here. Last time I saw Dave he was kind of...um ...well, dude you were kind of busted for good I thought. Not that I'm not glad you can walk again and stuff. I thought you might wind up having to pee in a bag like that guy on One Life to..."
"And this is why we don't let Finn run meetings, ever." Kurt smiled brightly.
Finn frowned slightly.
"Hi Brittany! Why are you here? Hey, isn't that your cat? Hi Lord T!"
The large cat glared at Finn.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot you asked me to never call you that. My bad dude."
Lord Tubbington shook his head.
"It's perfectly alright Mr Hudson. I've been called worse things."
Rachel looked from face to face, no one seemed terribly shocked to see a talking cat.
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"Is this where you wipe my memory and turn me into a zombie?" She asked nervously, "I mean... I don't mind I suppose, so long as you don't harm my chances of future stardom."
She blinked rapidly.
"And please... I really would like to stay in a relationship with Finn. I don't need to know what planet you are all from or..."
Kurt rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Oh, the fabulous Berry insanity, it never fails to entertain."
"Rachel, you're perfectly safe, "Blaine knelt beside her and looked into her eyes, "I won't let anyone tamper with your memory. I wouldn't even have let my Grandfather keep you unconscious so long, but he pointed out how possible it was you might hurt yourself if you tried to run away while we were at the hospital. Now we're safe I think it's time we explained a few things to you."
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Rachel smiled tremulously at him. His warm amber eyes always made her feel so safe.
"Wait, "Brittany held up her hand, "Not everyone is here yet."
The others looked around the room.
"Britt, honey. "Kurt smiled at her, "Yes we are, we're all here sweetie, all the ones who know."
Brittany shook her head and smiled sweetly.
"No, Kurt, the two who know and the one who guessed aren't here yet."
Everyone stared blankly at the blonde.
"Oh, and Dave's Dog is about to wake up. You better open the back door too Dave."
The doorbell rang.
Carole went to answer it.
She came back a few moments later bringing John and Elaine Anderson with her.
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"Yay!" Brittany high fived Jeff who was the nearest to her. "Only one more to go! I hope they get here soon. I get a dreadful headache if the world in my head is out of synch with the world outside my head for too long. I wonder who it's going to be. I don't remember that part yet."
"This is why seers are mad, "Pang muttered under his breath,"And they drive everyone else madder!"
Elaine and John looked around the room pausing only to wonder why Rachel was there.
A few moments later the doorbell rang again. This time it somehow sounded more ...insistent.
"You better get it Kurt, "Brittany said as Carole moved to answer it again.
Kurt just wandered out. He was starting to get the hang of Brittany, he thought to himself.
Dave found a wet nose being pressed into his hand.
/DAVE!/joy, comfort, life reborn/DAVE BACK/euphoria/LOVE LOVE LOVE/
Rachel blinked as she 'heard' Dog.
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Kurt could be heard arguing with someone at the door.
"Do not give me that flimflam Boo! I know you and Blaine have something to do with what I just saw on the TV, so either you let me in now or I swear you better move to Iceland or somewhere equally far away if you ever want to be able to consider your precious wardrobe safe from paint bombs and ironing accidents."
Kurt returned followed by a Mercedes in full diva rant mode.
She blinked as she took in the assembled crowd.
"Ok, "She asked finally, one hand on her hip, "Who wants to start with the talky-talky?"
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After a few seconds, Blaine began to tell the story of his birthday gift.
Mercedes and Rachel had both screamed a little.
Not at the tales of magical rainbows or wildflowers, but at the sight of the rings themselves and what they obviously represented for Kurt and Blaine.
"My dads are available if you two ever need someone to talk to about the trials and difficulties of negotiating a same-sex life-partnership you know."
"I hope neither of you think that you are getting away without a ceremony. I wants me a big ceremony, and a party and flowers and a drop-dead gorgeous 'oh my eyes my precious eyes' dress, which you will either find for me or make yourself Mr Hummel."
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Burt, Carole and the Andersons had smiled to see the immediate acceptance the two girls had for their friends' relationship.
Blaine and Kurt had explained about their discovery of their new powers.
Elaine and John Anderson had explained the history of the Society of Danu and the nature of Godmothers.
Blaine and Kurt had gasped and hugged each other as they noticed the rings now adorning Blaine's parents' fingers.
Dave had explained what he had seen the night of the attack in the park, with Dog offering his own comments and taking over the story after Dave reached the point where he had... died.
Jeff had cried and clutched Dave to him as he wept.
Finn had almost choked when he realised Dave and the blond Warbler were...
Rachel had slapped him back to normal.
Burt had never heard the full story of what had happened that night. He reached his arms out too and engulfed Dave in a huge hug as he sobbed his thanks against the boy's neck.
Dog meanwhile was comforting Jeff and welcoming him to 'Dave's Pack'.
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It had taken a lot of Dave's courage to tell the assembled masses about his sexuality and about his new relationship with Jeff.
Finn had managed not to choke again.
In fact, he had offered his 'I wish I could understand what the hell is going on' smile.
Rachel had just offered her heartfelt congratulations to the pair.
Mercedes had been yet another person moved to hug both boys, smiling as she did so and telling Dave how happy she was that he was finally free to spread his wings and fly free.
Mercedes had been a little hurt when Kurt, Blaine, Jeff, Dave and Grandpa Pang had laughed at her words.
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When Dave showed her why they had been laughing at her inspired choice of phrasing she laughed too, while Dog stared in silent admiration.
Rachel asked shyly if she could touch the huge soft wings and Lord Tubbington looked like he was about to faint again.
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Lord Tubbington had, under the patient coaxing of Grandpa Pang, explained a little about what they thought the boys were destined to do now.
They talked about the return of Faerie, the lost Queens...
Burt had really wanted to take time to talk to Kurt and Blaine alone, but this was the perfect time to say something so...
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"Kurt, "Burt drew his son closer to him as he sat in his usual chair and pulled Kurt down onto his knee. "I had a heart attack again today..."
"But you're better now Dad, Dave and Jeff..."
"I know son, but ...son, while I was dying, and I was dying, I saw...I ...I met your mother."
Kurt stopped breathing for a second and his eyes grew wide and shimmered with tears.
Blaine moved with all his super speed to Kurt's side and simply stood behind him, holding him tightly to his chest as Kurt continued to sit on Burt's knees and lean against his father's chest too.
Kurt was surrounded by love.
"First, son, she wanted to tell you that she loves you. That she loves both of you and she knows all about Blaine. She's happy for you son, she says you and this young man will be forever. That was the exact word she used. She seemed determined that you understand that. She also told me to tell you the Cat and the Dragon were wrong. I'm guessing you would be the cat then? "
Burt nodded at Lord Tubbington who bowed solemnly in return.
"So the Dragon would be...?"
Pang raised his hand and bowed also.
"That would be me."
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"Can we see?"
Perhaps, Rachel was enjoying having her mind expanded a little too much.
"No room." Kurt and Pang said simultaneously.
Rachel tried to hide her disappointment.
"Let's go out to the backyard, "Kurt offered, "It's totally private, nice and big and I would love to get a proper look at a real dragon you know."
Pang smiled slyly at the young man, and winked knowingly while Blaine's brow furrowed for a second as he thought about what Kurt was saying.
"We also have a pool, "Kurt smiled, "A big pool!"
"An excellent suggestion." Pang nodded and led the group outside.
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Those who hadn't seen Pang in his true form before were spellbound
"Don't go higher than the tree line and you won't be seen." Kurt called to the huge Dragon.
"Come join me, Grandson!" Pang called to Blaine as his blue, green and silver scales shone in the afternoon light.
Everyone gasped as a smaller, but no less impressive Dragon, shimmering silver scales edged with green and brown, took to the air next to the larger creature.
"Boo, "Mercedes whispered to Kurt, "Your boyfriend is a freaking Dragon!"
"No, "Kurt replied, "He's a sexy Dragon Prince!"
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Burt snorted and rolled his eyes as he overheard their exchange.
His little boy was growing up.
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As the two Dragons swam through the sky, they were joined by Dave, who spread his wings to finally take to the air.
Jeff smiled as he watched his new boyfriend grin and twist in the light summer breeze.
"You're not jealous?" Rachel asked.
"Of course not, I've never liked heights that much, "Jeff whispered to her.
"What about you Kurt? "Mercedes asked him.
"Well... "Kurt drawled, "I could join them as any number of flying creatures."
He rapidly shifted through several bird and bat forms, lingering a few extra seconds in his favourite giant owl shape.
Mercedes and Rachel gasped, while Jeff breathed an almost silent 'whoa cool'.
"But flapping wings can get a bit tiring you know, and just today I discovered a new power..."
He smiled at Lord Tubbington.
"Try not to faint Lord T!"
With that Kurt rose gracefully into the air and was soon sitting, cross-legged in mid air while Blaine continued to loop around him.
Pang and Dave landed and Pang returned to human shape.
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"Don't you have to keep moving?" Finn was watching the sky where Blaine had coiled up around Kurt's still seated form and both boys (well, one boy, one Dragon) seemed to be having a quiet conversation as they sat stationary in mid-air.
"No, "Pang smiled simply, "no wings, see! Asian Dragon's fly because of the Celestial Pearl in our foreheads. Much easier than flap flap flap all the time."
"Well, I think wings are sexy, "Jeff murmured to Dave who blushed as he held him tightly.
"Ok boys, time to come down now!" Burt felt faintly ridiculous saying that aloud, in his yard, while his son and his... well, soon to be son-in-law he guessed, sat suspended in space.
If the boys were so blasé about thumbing their noses at the laws of physics, what hope did he have to get them to follow his rules?
"They will obey because they love you. "Pang whispered to him as the boys came back to earth and changed (well, in Blaine's case) back to human form. "Oh, and forget I just read your mind. It was just a lucky guess, I guess!"
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Pang nodded to the Andersons, who approached Burt and Carole with serious looks on their faces.
"Burt and Carole, the two of us, and Pang, discussed this for some time, and we all agree that if anyone deserves them, it's you." John Anderson seemed almost choked with emotion. "Burt, you showed me how to be a real parent, and the two of you continue to show us all how much love there can be in the world. Here, these are for you."
Elaine Anderson held out a small wooden box. It was open.
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Nestled in the silk lining were two shining, silver rings.