Wong had set an around the clock watch in the main courtyard, for Stephen's return. He would leave nothing to chance, for he knew the news that he must deliver to his old friend was bound to shock him, perhaps even shake him to his foundations, and he intended to prevent even a whisper of rumor to reach Stephen's ears before he spoke to him. "It is imperative we have the opportunity to prepare your father before we reveal this miracle to him," he had told Selena. "As you know, he had accepted long ago that this was never a possibility. For as much as you were rocked by this revelation, it will go much harder on him. Utmost patience is required now."

Selena had readily agreed, for the resilience of her youth coupled with the dreams she'd been having with increasing frequency for several weeks, had somewhat alleviated the shock for her. And of course, she wanted only what was best for her father. She had been anxious to keep watch for him herself, but Wong insisted that she continue to follow her regular activities-–for he knew that their already strong father-daughter bond was so enhanced by their individual magics, that Stephen might read upon her face, mayhap even catch the extraordinary news, from the potent swirl of thoughts and emotions filling her, and which were beyond Selena's ability to control.

The Novice on watch that evening had been swift to come find Wong at the very moment she had spotted the Sorcerer Supreme stepping through the portal he had conjured back to Kamar-Taj. "He appears battle weary, Master Wong," she had reported breathlessly, having clearly sprinted her way to find him meditating at his desk in the library, "As do the other Masters that arrived with him."

Wong had nodded and thanked the young Novice, reminding her she must not share this news with anyone else, unless he told her otherwise. He had jotted a quick note to Selena, to let her know that given the lateness of the hour he thought it best to allow Stephen a good night's rest, and they would address the issue come morning. He then instructed the Novice to deliver his message before dismissing her for the night.

At eight am, as per Wong's instruction, Selena had gotten a breakfast tray for her father, and then met the librarian outside her father's rooms. As much as she had worked to calm herself, her eyes shone bright with expectation, the cheekbones which she had inherited from Stephen, flushed with hectic color. Wong kept his voice calm and even–-not difficult, from nearly a lifetime of maintaining detached equilibrium-–and reminded her, "All will be well, Selena. Behave as you normally would. And soon enough, once we have prepared him, your father will take great joy in your news."

"Of course…of course," she answered breathlessly, suddenly seeming much younger than her years. Reminding him of the girl she'd been when Stephen had finally relented and allowed her to start spending weekends at Kamar-Taj to begin her studies in the Mystic Arts–-while insisting she complete her regular schooling on weekdays, back in her middle school in New York.

Wong stepped back as Selena knocked on his door. "Come in," came the voice of the Sorcerer Supreme. Both of his visitors knew that Stephen had likely been up a couple of hours, as was his well established routine. He'd have meditated upon arising, and then addressed any messages, correspondence, or updates left in his absence. All before attending to his own most basic needs-–thus Selena's offering of breakfast.

She put on her sunniest smile as she opened the door, leaving it ajar behind her. "Hey, Dad–-I brought you a surprise."

"Good morning, honey." There was a pause as Stephen took in the unusual sight. "What's this?" Wong could already hear traces of skepticism in his reaction. "Are you trying to butter me up or something, Selena? Because the answer is still 'no' when it comes to going off world just yet. You're nowhere near ready for that-–and if I allowed it, it would smack of nepotism. Favoritism. And any other 'ism' you can think of…"

"Jeez, Dad," Selena scoffed, convincingly, "Can't a girl just grab some breakfast with her…perpetually…busy father?"

"Right. Okay." Stephen sighed, rather wearily–meaning he wasn't completely persuaded, but his 'dad-sense' (as Selena had come to refer to it) had declined a notch or two. "Okay, honey. Let's catch up."

Wong heard the shuffling of feet, so that he guessed the pair had moved to the little nook where Stephen often took his meals when he was doing double duty; studying some ancient tome, diagraming new spells, planning a mission, or on the very rare occasion, reading for pleasure. From his position just outside the doorway, Wong saw a second chair float in that direction, so he knew that Selena would soon be seated with her father.

He waited several minutes before interrupting, reasoning that Stephen needed to eat, and also giving them a chance to actually catch up with one another. Wong turned his focus inward, not wishing to play the role of an eavesdropper. When he caught the relaxed notes of Selena's laughter, he judged the time was right.

He popped his head just past the doorjamb and knocked lightly. "Good morning, Stephen. I was hoping we might have a word."

Stephen grinned and waved him in. "Come on in, Wong. The more the merrier." As the master Librarian had hoped, his friend looked just as relaxed as Selena had sounded. "What can I do for you this morning? Selena has softened me up for you, which means I'm more apt to give in to one of your more esoteric requests." He winked at his daughter, then looked back to Wong, who had come to stand before the little table, hands tucked behind his back.

"We had a visitor arrive at the main entrance two nights ago," Wong informed him, "Seeking shelter…and asking after you."

Stephen dabbed at his mouth with his napkin and took a last swallow of orange juice. "Hmmmm, not entirely unheard of. Is it someone I know?"

Wong looked to Selena, who nodded, and he continued. "Very well, in fact. Someone from…out of your past."

"Ooooooo, why so cryptic, Wong?" Stephen chuckled, having risen and was heading back to his desk. "Is this someone, someone with…nefarious intent?"

"Um…no, Dad. Not at all." Selena followed him over, with Wong in tow. She was doing her best to remain calm, but Wong could she she was straining not to just blurt out the name.

Stephen paused, immediately wary, flitting his eyes back and forth between his daughter and his friend. "What's up with you two? This mysteriousness fits you, Wong, but Selena? Not so much."

Wong and Selena shared another look. She took a small step forward. "It's good news, Dad. great news, really. But, uh…um…"

Wong took up where she left off, though he couldn't proceed with the delicacy he had hoped for from Selena. "You must prepare yourself for a bit of a shock, Stephen. People don't come back from the dead all that often–even in our line of work."

Now his normal skepticism was edged with notes of alarm. "What…what are you talking about?"

"Dad, it's…it's just the most amazing thing ever" Selena's voice cracked as she struggled against giving into happy tears. "And the reason I've been dreaming so much of…of Mama…lately..."

Stephen straightened, his heart making the jump at their implications, before his mind was even ready to make the connection. "What?"

"It's a miracle, Stephen. The most unexpected of all." Wong himself felt nearly moved to some seriously sentimental tears. Entirely uncharacteristic, of course, but having been one of the few to have seen Stephen through that long ago loss and grief, he was ready to witness the happiness to come.

Stephen made a strangled, scoffing sound, then shook his head in denial. "Beg your pardon, Wong, but..." He narrowed his eyes, trying to read in his friend's calm, inscrutable expression some sign that the conclusion he had come to was the actual truth. Though partially obscured from his sight due to both Wong and Selena standing before him, Stephen watched-unbelieving, as his brilliant mind made the connection and his heart leapt into his throat-the hooded figure that had silently come to stand in the doorway. A petite, slender vision from out of his past, enrobed in familiar, grey homespun. He squeezed his eyes shut and jerked his head as though trying to shakes it loose of cobwebs, but when he reopened them, the figure remained.

Wong and Selena had parted enough to allow him sight of the full picture, just as a soft voice spoke up from beneath the hood. "Forgive me, please, I know I was supposed to wait a while longer, but the sound of your voice...it..." She sounded as though prevailed upon, unable to resist a moment longer and as though trying to keep her own voice from breaking. "...it has compelled me as ever it did, my darling." Her sleeve slipped back as she raised her arm, a dainty, pale hand revealing itself as it pushed the hood away from the speaker's face.

Shock and awe moved Stephen to gracelessly stumble a few steps forward, his confusion giving way to incredulity until the light of understanding lit his face. "I became powerless to maintain Wong's wise edict of caution, and could not wait a moment longer to look upon your face," she explained. Her soft, much loved, forever missed, doe-eyes finally found his, and all other words fell dumb upon her lips. All but the one that mattered to him the most. "Beloved."