"Reunion"
In the wake of Ming's latest rampage, two of his victims had been left hospitalized. While Zyna received treatment on Mongo, Jade was admitted into an infirmary on Earth.
The Phantom opened the door to Jade's room, pausing as he watched her from the entrance.
Jade turned her head, looking him over for a moment. Then she let her gaze drift away again.
He walked in and took a seat, sitting a short distance from her bed. "What you did was very admirable."
Jade nodded. "But your admiration for me can never surpass your hatred."
"I don't hate you, Jade...but I don't recognize you either. You've been a stranger to me for a long time now. You're simply not the woman who I once knew."
"You still don't get it, do you? The woman who you 'once knew' is the same one before you today. I'm a woman who seizes opportunities when they come along." She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "When you proposed, I said that in order for our marriage to succeed, you'd have to accept me for what I was. Our relationship failed because you couldn't do that."
The Phantom shied away from her gaze suddenly. "Hadea told me the same thing when I proposed to her."
She flinched in surprise. "Sounds like the two of you have had issues as well. If you ultimately couldn't accept me, what makes you think that your marriage to her will be any different?"
"The fact that you and Hadea are not the same."
Jade quietly looked elsewhere.
"For what it's worth, though, I've loved you both for the same reasons at times. She makes me happy, and you once made me happy as well."
Jade's gaze softened as she turned back to him. After a bit of silence, she spoke up while brushing a hand through her hair. "I want you to ask Rachel to leave your team. I'm not losing a daughter just so you and Hadea can live happily ever after. Find someone else to take your place for a year."
The Phantom winced. His stomach tightened. "I've already asked. She says that she wants some time to reach a decision." His gaze grew warm and sympathetic. "I'll ask her to think about you while she makes it."
Her voice lowered to just above a whisper. "Thank you."
He rose, looking her over for a while. "Goodbye, Jade," he quietly said. The Phantom turned and left the room.
A few minutes later, Jedda entered, and Rachel followed her.
Jade's face lit up in surprise.
"Listen..." Jedda hesitated. "I just want to say that by rescuing Rachel, you weren't merely saving your daughter, you were saving my sister." Her voice softened. "Thank you."
Jade's face shook as she fixed her stare on Jedda.
Rachel eyed them both with a somewhat somber expression.
"Jedda," said Jade. "I know that I've made some mistakes, but..."
Jedda looked down and sighed while stroking her temple. "You can't simply mend things by saying you're sorry. Not after what you almost did to my kingdom. I'm not a little girl anymore, I'm an adult. And right now I have responsibilities to a lot of people. By helping Ming, you endangered those people."
Jade let her gaze drift to the covers. After about a minute of hesitation, she quietly spoke up. "Do you think that you might eventually give me another chance?"
Jedda stared her over for a little while. "I don't know." After a few more quiet moments, she walked to the bed and held Jade's shoulder. "Goodbye, Mom."
Jade looked up at her with a touched expression.
Rachel approached as well, holding Jade's hand.
Jade stroked her younger daughter's fingers.
Afterward, the sisters turned and left the room, giving each other comforting pats as they walked.
While observing the affection, Jade found herself smiling. Perhaps they hadn't always had her, but she was glad that they now had each other.
