"Dinner!"

Purdie's call echoed through their little house, but she didn't wait to see if anyone replied. Dekin never missed a dinner call and Cortina had hearing like a bat.

She went to the kitchen sink to wash her hands and jerked when she felt her middle touch the countertop..

Her ink sac was bulging outwards now, out of all proportion to the actual size of her eggs. Her two nutrieae were also swelling larger, pushing out of her chest like a pair of grapefruit and warm with their business of adding nutrition to the ink in her sac to then be absorbed by her eggs. It was a bit overwhelming dealing with all the changes to her body and the effects it had. She was glad that life for them had gotten fairly quiet recently. It made new developments in her eggnancy easier to deal with.

Like outgrowing some of my clothes.

It had only been a handful of items, but in the coming few months, there would be little from her original wardrobe she would be able to wear until she finally laid her eggs and her ink production wound down.

Dekin arrived in the kitchen first. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her close. "How are you doing, love bun? You didn't wear yourself out making all this dinner, did you?"

"No, I'm fine," she said, trying not to sound exasperated. She better understood now why Fulvia had been so irritable when she had been eggnant with Cortina. "We need to eat plenty ourselves so it's not as much work as you think."

He chuckled and patted her back. "I still wish you'd let me help."

"I appreciate the thought, but frankly, dear, I'd rather you let me handle the kitchen."

"Hey, I've gotten better."

"I know, I know, but even so..."

She trailed off as Cortina entered the room. She had been dealing with some things recently, the usual teenage issues of learning about love and relationships, so Purdie expected her to look bothered, but this time, her mantle was rippling with anxious yellows and she kept her gaze downwards as she sat down at the table.

Purdie gestured for Dekin to take his seat and then sat in her own spot. As head of the family, she led them in grace and then they began the meal.

Purdie focused on her own plate for the first minute or so, and then looked up and to her right where her daughter sat.

Cortina didn't quite pick at her food, but she was eating much less earnestly than usual. Her brows were knitted, her mantle still rippling subtly. She was obviously nervous about something, and in deep thought about it. But what could it be?

She had come home late the other night. She had gone out for the day with her date- although she hadn't called it that, and had dinner at her "friend's" place. It was good to see Cortina finally coming out of her shell. She had isolated herself so much after Fulvia's death that they were worried she might become a shut-in. Now that she had a… well, probably not a girlfriend just yet, but someone she liked, maybe she would get out more. Unless something went wrong.

Purdie pulsed blue. "Cortina, what's wrong?" Cortina looked up, her mantle shimmering once. "You look like something's bothering you. Did something happen the other night?"

A faint ripple of orange and a slight dilation of her pupils. She hadn't hit the nail on the head but based on that reaction she hadn't been too far off the mark.

"Nothing happened, really, I just… have things to think about…"

"I see. Anything you actually want to talk about?"

It was unusual for Cortina to talk this much. Typically she would have given simple answers in tuk'yan. Even so, Purdie was surprised when she said, "maybe?"

Purdie looked over at Dekin, who appeared to be lost in thoughts of his own. He had been doing that more often since her eggnancy. Well, as the breadwinner, the pressure was on him, she supposed, and Cortina wasn't exactly small anymore, but now wasn't the time for it.

She gently whacked his arm with her tentacle to knock him back down to Earth and gestured with her eyes to Cortina. He wore that blank look all inkyar seemed to share whenever they were suddenly snapped back to reality and into a situation where he had absolutely no idea what was going on. She tried not to look irritated, but it was hard. She just looked back at Cortina to save herself the trouble.

"So, what's bothering you?"

For an eyeblink, her mantle turned the same colour as the inside of an orange peel and then went back to a darker shade of her natural green.

"I… got a job offer."

Purdie and Dekin both perked up. "A job offer?"

"That's great!" Dekin exclaimed. "It was that job at that concert you did a couple of months ago, wasn't it?"

Cortina pulsed blue. She was still staring down at the table and hadn't met their gazes. Something was off.

"What kind of job is it?" Purdie asked.

"A... live-in... job."

Silence. Purdie and Dekin looked at each other, and then back at Cortina who was sinking into her chair, her colour almost blending into the wood of her seatback.

"You can't be serious," Dekin said at last. "You barely leave the house because you hate interacting with people and yet you're considering a live-in job?"

"It's a very good job," Cortina insisted, somewhat meekly. "Well paying."

"You can't expect me to believe that you'd willingly go and live in some stranger's house just for a few extra gees."

"They're not strangers," Cortina insisted. She met Dekin's eyes this time, her voice stronger and a small flicker of scarlet whipped through her mantle. "I've known them for years. They've helped me a lot and this is my chance to help them."

"Help them how?" Purdie asked. "I thought this was a job."

"It is a job they want me for, a job I can do better than anyone else they could get."

"A maid?" Dekin asked incredulously. "You're constantly having to be told to clean your own room."

Cortina flushed and her mantle darkened slightly. "They're not asking me to be a live-in maid, Dad. They want me as a…" Her burst of courage and assurance suddenly slipped.

"A what?" Dekin asked firmly.

"A… bodyguard…"

Purdie gasped and Dekin stared at her. They were both incredulous. How could their mild-mannered, shy little girl possibly be a bodyguard, or a guard of any kind?

Dekin sighed and rubbed a hand over his head. "Sweetheart, I think they were joking."

"They were not." Cortina's reply was flat, firm, and devoid of the slightest doubt. The affirmativeness of it was a little unsettling.

There wasn't much point asking her who these people were. They wouldn't know them even if she answered clearly, but it was obvious that whoever they were had their hooks in her deep.

Cortina had always been a shy, lonely girl, easy to bully, and Purdie had worried people might take advantage of that. It didn't seem like she was being bullied but perhaps manipulated through some guise of assistance or friendship. Cortina was not particularly gullible but kids her age could be easily misled. Of course, being a teenager, Cortina would never listen to any argument that said whoever these people were could possibly be manipulating her, so there had to be some way of getting her to reconsider. Perhaps even Cortina herself had some ulterior motive. Was the girl she was dating one of these people?

She shared a glance with Dekin and could tell he was thinking much the same. But how to move forward? Cortina was obviously determined to argue, her soul set on this job, but for her and Dekin this whole situation was a forest of red flags.

"Cortina," Dekin said. "You have to understand that we can't just let you go off to live with some people we've never met before, especially not at your age."

Cortina pulsed burgundy, telling him he wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know. "But you trust me, don't you?"

Dekin's mantle rippled. He grimaced slightly and Purdie felt a pang of guilt.

As head of the family and as a mother figure, Purdie was supposed to take the lead in such discussions. Verbal communication was supposed to be the forte of inkyora compared to inkyar, but with her hormones so unbalanced due to her eggnancy and stress the current situation put on them, she didn't trust herself to keep her cool. Right now she was mostly instinct and her instincts were screaming at her to keep their child safe at home, regardless of her wishes.

"Of course I trust you," Dekin said slowly. He had been doing a good job up until now but he was starting to falter a bit. Purdie knew that the longer this conversation went on, the more likely Cortina would gain control of it. "It's just that… well, you're young, inexperienced. Getting a live-in job at your age is a bit… much, isn't it?"

From most other teens, that would have provoked an uproarious response and denial, but Cortina simply displayed red in disagreement, as if she had been expecting that argument before the discussion ever began.

"Lots of kids are already moved out by my age, you've even said so yourself. I wouldn't even consider this if I didn't think it was important. You know I wouldn't just abandon you and Iya when there are babies coming."

The thought had honestly never occured to Purdie. Cortina had always been shy and rather timid, but she always has a strong sense of responsibility, something she had inherited from Dekin. They would never think she was just trying to get away for her own sake.

"That isn't the issue. We've never met or even heard of these people you suddenly want to live with. If you were really that close to them, you would have probably mentioned them to us, right? As far as we know, you don't have much in the way of friends at all."

That might have been a bit strong, perhaps even mean, but it was true, even accounting for the fact that Dekin didn't know about Cortina dating someone. Cortina's reaction was a wave of guilt through her mantle and a matching look on her face, her strong, stalwart posture bending.

"I couldn't. It had to be a secret. I couldn't tell anyone about them, not just you."

Purdie frowned. "Why would that be? What reason could you have to keep your friendship with someone a secret?"

A slow pulse of red. "I can't tell you."

"Well, it's not happening then." Dekin said firmly. "We are not letting you go off to live with people we've never even met. We trust you, Cortina, but you're asking us to put faith in someone else for the welfare of our child. That's too much to expect."

Cortina looked at him, her mantle a muddy brown. She glanced over at Purdie, whose decision it ultimately was. Purdie said nothing. She couldn't disagree with Dekin. She felt the same way, but probably even more strongly. She kept seeing the little six-year-old the three of them had raised overlaid on the teen sitting at the table. She couldn't just let that precious little girl run off on her own.

Cortina pulsed blue and scooted back from the table. She stood and headed out of the kitchen, removing her phone from her pocket, her dinner unfinished.

Once she was out of earshot, Dekin leaned towards her.

"Did I mess up?"

Purdie flashed red. "You probably did better than any other father would do in the same situation. Sorry you had to do all that."

He smiled thinly. "Well, I am a parent too, after all. I feel better knowing I don't have to be like so many fathers, seen but not heard."

That was something of the stereotype. Many males felt like they were just tag-alongs in the family, with the wife or wives always handling everything, from the finances to the family affairs. These days, many felt their sole purpose was to provide, assuming the wife didn't take care of that as well. It was no wonder that hatch rates were at a historical low. Cortina's generation would have to breed like sunfish to get the population stable again.

Cortina herself reappeared in the kitchen, her previously calm demeanor replaced by a deep concern and worry. Panicky yellows rippled through her mantle and she almost appeared to be shaking.

"What's wrong?" Purdie asked.

Cortina sat down heavily in her chair. "They're coming."

"Who? These people you were talking about?"

She flashed green, very quick, and Purdie started to panic as well. Even if she didn't know who they were, she assumed they were people of some status or importance to want a bodyguard.

"But-but the house isn't clean! And we're still in the middle of dinner."

"The house is fine, Iya, and they won't be here for a while yet. I'll do the dishes so you don't have to worry about it."

"But you still could have discussed inviting them over with us first," Dekin chided her.

"Sorry," she replied meekly. "It's important and it just seemed… like the right thing to do."

Puride sighed, forcing herself to keep her. "Well, what's done is done. Let's just finish supper and try to clean the house up a little. Cortina, make sure your room is clean and your bed is made."

"I know."

Purdie tried not to be nervous, but it was difficult. This wasn't how she expected to feel when finally meeting Cortina's friends. The fact that Cortina herself was also anxious, didn't help things. Dekin paced back and forth in the centre of the room. So, when the doorbell rang, the three of them nearly jumped.

Dekin, already on his feet, headed there first. Cortina tried to follow but Purdie forced her back down on the couch. She would go before her, ready to intervene and protect their little girl if it came down to that. She sincerely hoped Cortina had been more judicious with her company than that, but it seemed a parent's prerogative to assume the worst.

From where they stood, next to the up-stairs, they could see into the porch and through the doorway. The tension ratcheted up to its peak as Dekin grasped the door knob and pulled it open.

Outside, the sun had completely set and bugs were buzzing around the porch light. Standing in its faint glow, with the light of the street lamps behind them were two tall, young inkyora, and to her shock, she knew them. Dekin did too, and he stood there, frozen in the doorway.

"Dad," Cortina chided. "You're letting all the bugs in."

Jolted back into animation, Dekin stepped out of the way, letting the two biggest celebrities in the world into their humble suburban home.

Purdie knew of the Squid Sisters of course. Was there anyone who didn't? They blew up around the time Cortina turned fourteen. She had just started listening to popular music at the time. Purdie, being a typical housewife, inevitably saw them on the multitude of talk shows and cooking shows she watched. She was well aware of what big names they had become since those days, but what were they doing in her house?

Cortina gently pushed past her and helped their new guests put their coats on the nearby hooks.

Callie was dressed in a black halter top and long magenta skirt, making her outfit appear similar to a backless dress. Marie wore a simple short, silver dress with lime-green lining the inside of the skirt. Both girls wore stockings of magenta and green respectively.

Callie removed her dress shoes and started quickly up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Marie demanded.

"To her room. I'm finally gonna' get to see it." She kept going and Cortina, alarmed, ran after her.

"Behave yourself. We're guests here." Marie's mantle flickered burgundy in irritation then she faced Purdie and bowed.

"Honored to finally meet you. We've learned a lot about you from your daughter."

Purdie was at a loss for words. She was still trying to wrap her head around the situation. She glanced over at Dekin who looked equally bewildered. Purdie forced herself to calm down and fell back on the manners and protocol drilled into her at a young age.

"Welcome to our home. We're honored to have you. Would you like some tea?"

"That would be lovely."

Purdie went back to the kitchen, doing her best not to look hurried. She already had the kettle set to boil in anticipation of company but now she took out her best teas, something she normally saved for special occasions. If this didn't count, she didn't know what did.

Dekin wandered into the kitchen after her, still not over his own shock. She could imagine the sorts of things going through his head though.

They had called Cortina shy earlier, yet she was far more confident now than she had been two years ago. How had that shy, timid girl gotten involved with two of the biggest celebrities in the world? What could she have possibly done for the stars to align in such a way to arrive at that result?

As she waited for the water to come up to temperature, she watched Marie out of the corner of her eye. The young inkyora walked with enviable grace into the living room and, as if she had been there before. She turned and faced Fulvia's picture, displayed on the small shelving unit. She knelt and opened her purse, producing a small yellow flower and placing it next to Fulvia's picture before bowing her head and folding her hands in prayer.

Purdie was beside herself. What Marie was doing was the height of good manners and respect as a guest, but more than that, it meant she already knew that Fulvia was dead and where they put her picture. The former made sense for a friend of two years, for most people, but she still found it difficult to imagine Cortina revealing such personal information to anyone. She always imagined her keeping even those she considered friends at arm's length. The fact Cortina must have told them where the picture was spoke of something deeper than she thought possible.

The kettle clicked, and Purdie began pouring the tea. She should have asked which kind Marie would like but she doubted she even had it.

Marie came over and sat down at one of the long sides of the table, her purse on her lap. Dekin seemed to be avoiding looking in her direction. He was probably still collecting his wits.

"You have a very nice home," Marie commented. "Reminds me of where I grew up."

"Ah… thank you." Purdie wasn't sure what else she could say without making it sound shallow. "Do you take anything with your tea?"

"No, it's fine. This is a sudden visit, so don't worry yourself too much about it, ma'am."

Ma'am, Purdie echoed in her head. That's right, this was still her house, her domain. She was still the authority here. She had to keep calm and she couldn't let Dekin take the burden on himself to do the talking. This was her responsibility.

Purdie started to pour the tea into cups when Callie and Cortina returned from upstairs.

"Marie, her room is so cute! It's just like the ones you see in movies for the girl-next-door."

"Callie, if she was the girl-next-door type, we wouldn't be here right now."

Callie laughed. "Yeah, that's more F-Tani, isn't it?"

There was a detectable pause before Marie replied, "Yeah, maybe."

Purdie turned again towards the table. Callie had sat on the other end of the table's long side with Cortina squeezed between them. The line in the sand had been drawn. Honestly, it hurt a little, seeing Cortina so firmly in the opposite camp, but she supposed it was natural.

Purdie distributed the tea and sat beside Dekin who had moved to the long side of the table opposite them.

Marie took a sip of the tea and gently put it back down on her saucer. " Just to get the formalities out of the way, I am Marie Sansea, and this is my cousin, Calabria Cuttlefish."

"Callie is fine," the latter girl said with just a hint of irritation.

"And, to make it plain," Marie went on, "we would like to hire Cortina as a live-in bodyguard. That would involve her travelling with us to the vast majority of our events, protecting us from the like of potential assaults, harassers, stalkers, etcetera. We will be paying her, of course, and she will get a minimum of two-weeks vacation not counting the times she comes with us on our own vacations."

Just based on their public personalities, Purdie suspected Marie would be the one to do the talking. It was straight to business as well. No pretense, no condescension, just to the point. She appreciated that, she supposed.

"But why her?" Purdie asked. "She's even younger than you are and it would take a long time to train her up to the standards you would need." She was trying to keep any emotional arguments out of this. Those were a last resort. Cortina was young but not stuipd. She would not be dissuaded by purely emotional arguments, it would require sound logic to change her mind.

"A fair question," Marie conceded. "The honest truth is that it's because we trust Cortina implicitly, which is extremely important given our lifestyle, the troubles we face, and the idea of her living with us."

"But how long have you known her?" She knew what Cortina had said, but she wanted to hear it from them and see if it would match.

"Two years. I know that might not seem like a long time to you, but for us, it's quite a while, and we've experienced much together during those two years."

Dekin leaned forward, his eyes narrowing at Cortina. "This wouldn't have to do with those times you were away from home for a week or more, would it?"

Cortina sank lower in her chair before she flashed green in acknowledgement. "I did say it was a secret," she said meekly.

"You lied to us."

Cortina's mantle paled then turned a solid, washed out purple, her face guilt-ridden. Purdie did feel sorry for her, knowing all too well the position she was in, but she also couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed. They couldn't have all been lies. Cortina was clever enough something in a way that wouldn't result in her having to outright lie, but even so, it had still been a deception. Couldn't she trust them?

"Please don't be mad at her," Callie said, rubbing Cortina's mantle affectionately. "We were the ones who wanted her to keep the secret. It was for her benefit, too."

"She could have told us, at least," Dekin said sourly.

"I promised not to tell anyone," Cortina said softly.

"You still could have-."

"I promised." Cortina's voice flared back into strength, her posture straight and tall, the shame displayed in her mantle evaporating, replaced with a more reddish-green than her natural colour. There was no give in her voice. She was firm on this.

"In retrospect," Marie said, "we probably should have let her tell you, at least. A product of our own inexperience, I suppose."

Dekin's face darkened, his eyes never having left their daughter. "And that job at the concert a couple months ago? Was that actually just you hanging out backstage or something?"

"No, she was actually working," Callie answered cheerfully. "She did a good job too."

Purdie felt an odd sense of relief. At least not everything had been a deception. They had been so proud of Cortina for that little accomplishment too. It was good to be able to keep that.

Cortina looked upset, probably feeling guilty for all the deception, but also hurt. Callie wrapped one of her long black tentacles around her and pulled her close in a comforting gesture that seemed to relax her.

The gesture wouldn't have seemed like a big deal to most inklings, but for someone as closed as Cortina, it spoke volumes for the amount of familiarity and intimacy between them. Just how close was she to these girls after two years?

"I'd like to know how you even met," Purdie said. "I can't imagine you sharing the same social circles."

"We didn't anticipate meeting her, either," Marie smiled. "Basically, our grandfather got tied up with something and Cortina was helping him out. We met through him. We see him often."

"And we took to her immediately," Callie said, smiling broadly as she pulled Cortina into a tight hug. "So shy but so cute and earnest. Didn't say much back then but her actions spoke for her pretty well. You've raised a real sweetheart." She punctuated by giving Cortina a kiss on the cheek. Purdie, surprised, expected Cortina's face to practically glow blue, but she was even more surprised when her cheeks only slightly coloured, as if she was used to it. In fact, Purdie suspected that if she and Dekin weren't there, she would have barely reacted at all.

"We've been close ever since," Marie went on. "Having her around goes a long way to keeping us grounded and she's been as loyal a friend as we could possibly ask for."

"So you can see now why we'd want her around as our bodyguard."

"Not the bodyguard part," Dekin said. "Cortina would normally hide behind us instead of confronting anyone. I admit, she's much more confident these days than she was before, and if you played a part in that, I thank you, but there's a big difference between that and being a bodyguard."

Callie laughed. "Yeah, when she realized who we were she panicked and tried to hide behind Gramp's shack."

Now Cortina's flushed brightly, her mantle turning a bright blue. She even hid her burning face behind her hands. Purdie couldn't help but smile though. That was more like the Cortina she knew. It was actually quite relieving.

"She's come a long way," Marie agreed and started to rub Cortina's head. "And I can assure you, she won't be doing any hiding when it comes to her job. She never would have gotten certified otherwise."

Dekin and Purdie both sat up straight.

"What?" Dekin asked incredulously. "There's no way she could have gotten certified at her age!"

"She's really talented," Callie said. "And no, we didn't bribe anyone. Even if it actually would have worked, Cortina would not have appreciated that at all. She earns what she gets."

"And she achieved one of the highest levels," Marie added. "With full marks in close combat, weapons, tactics, and acrobatics, among other things."

Purdie and Dekin both stared at their daughter who wore a display and expression somewhere between pride and embarrassment.

Weapons they could understand somewhat since they knew she was skilled at turf war, but close combat? Short of the rare moments she lost her temper, Cortina never raised a hand to anyone. Of course, when she did, it never ended well for the one on the other end. The months after Fulvia's death were particularly harrowing in that regard.

"I don't believe it," Dekin said firmly. "There's no way she could have gotten that good after just two years."

Cortina pouted and her mantle reddened, offended but not overly so. Dekin did have a point.

"One wouldn't think so, normally," Marie agreed. "But she did. Cortina, why don't you show them your certification?"

Cortina raised an eyebrow at Marie. "You have it. You said you needed it for paperwork."

Marie grimaced and Callie burst out laughing.

"'Make sure you have everything, Callie; don't let yourself forget anything, Callie; we have to make a good impression Callie.' Ha! Look who's ended up forgetting something now!"

Marie looked very annoyed, her mantle rippling crimson, while Cortina giggled quietly into her hands. Despite the situation, even Purdie had to admit, seeing Marie flustered was funny.

"Anyway," Marie went on, regaining her composure. "I assure you, her qualifications are genuine and she is more than good enough."

Dekin crossed his arms and glared across the table at Cortina. Cortina met his gaze evenly, still smiling.

Then Dekin stood up suddenly and walked towards the living room. "Come on, Cortina."

Cortina frowned. "Dad?"

"Dekin," Purdie demanded. "What are you doing?"

"I heard that guards have to be willing to prove their capabilities if someone doubts them."

Cortina's eyes narrowed and her mantle turned a solid red. "You're challenging me?" Her voice and eyes were hard as steel.

"Yes," Dekin replied bluntly. "Come on, let's get this done."

"Dekin, you can't," Purdie cried.

"Don't worry," he replied. "I took some self-defense classes. I won't hurt her."

Cortina pushed her chair back and stood. She moved with brisk but confident steps. She was angry, insulted perhaps. This wasn't good. The last thing they wanted to do was antagonize their daughter. That would just create bitterness and there would be no rational arguing, it would be an emotional slugging match.

Callie and Marie, by contrast, appeared completely calm and relaxed.

"Nice tea," Callie commented nonchalantly.

Purdie's mouth fell open, as if to say something, but no words emerged. She looked back at the living room where Dekin and Cortina were now staring at each other.

Dekin was of reasonable height for a male but Cortina was just as big as he was now and her intensity was on another level from his. It reminded Purdie so much of Fulvia: the intense gaze she had right before a race, where she would put it all on the line to maintain her title as queen of the mountain.

"If you can't beat me," Dekin said firmly. "You're not going anywhere."

"That's fine," Cortina said. "But if I win, I'll hear no more arguments about my competence as a bodyguard."

"There's more to bodyguarding than fighting."

"You challenged me. If you lose, you have no right to question my ability, even if you are my dad."

Then there was a flash of movement followed by a soft bang and the next thing Purdie knew, Dekin was on the floor, his arms pinned behind him by Cortina who was on top of him. Dekin just now seemed to be coming to the realization himself.

"What? W-wait a second, I wasn't ready."

"No," their daughter replied flatly. "You weren't."

"Countdowns are only in movies and T.V.," Marie said with a sympathetic smile. "Real guards don't bother. You have to always be ready to protect your charge. Let him go, Cortina."

Cortina obeyed, letting Dekin's arms go and standing up, then helping Dekin to his feet. He still looked stunned. Purdie was too. How on Earth had Cortina moved so quickly? If she had blinked she would have missed it.

"I told you she was talented," Callie said and then gave Cortina a firm and affectionate nuzzle as she sat back between them.

"So it seems," Purdie breathed, rubbing Dekin's shoulder as he sat down again. He still seemed to be coming to terms with what happened. So was she, for that matter.

"I assure you, your daughter isn't in danger from the sort she'll be protecting us from," Marie said. "She can handle overbearing fans and stalkers with her eyes shut. They're no real threat to her."

"And we'll be there to look after her personal health and well-being," Callie said. "We've gotten her to shower more often already." Cortina gave her a sour look and Marie chuckled.

Purdie frowned. That had been something of a concern. Cortina was well behaved and had a good head on her shoulders for a girl her age, but she wasn't independent enough to look after herself completely. She couldn't really cook all that well, she had trouble picking out a proper wardrobe, and she had difficulty making big decisions or having important discussions. The fact that Marie and Callie had been doing virtually all the arguing since they arrived highlighted that pretty clearly.

"Iya." Puride looked up at the sound of Cortina's voice. Her daughter's hard intensity had vanished, replaced by the gentle, meek, little girl she was all too familiar with, and it made her chest ache.

"I know you're nervous about letting me go and I know you don't know Callie and Marie much, but they really are the best I could ever ask for. Next to you and Dad, they're the best family I have. Their money and fame has nothing to do with it. Whenever I needed to cry, scream, or just talk, they were there to listen. When I was at my lowest points, they were there for me. It's not that I didn't want to talk to you about any stuff, it's just… there were some things I just couldn't..." She let those words linger and then continued.

"The reason I really want to take this job, not just because I want to help Callie and Marie out, is because I need to. I… I need to get out, I need to grow up a little, and this is the best way. I love you and Dad more than anything, and I love being able to come home, especially when I feel like I need to get away, but it's…" she pursed her lips. "I think it's too safe. It's too easy to hide. I've become too dependent on you. I need to grow up."

"Becoming a big sister will make you grow up in a hurry," Dekin said gruffly.

Cortina winced. "I know it seems like I'm dodging responsibility, but I- I need to do this. They won't need their big sister for the first couple of years. I want to be one they can actually learn from and I want to become better for myself too, because right now, I'm not happy with the way I am."

Cortina looked at her with glistening eyes. She was pouring her heart out here, even if her argument didn't seem all that convincing. Hardly surprising; she wasn't very good with words. But maybe that's the point. She's always had us to handle things for her, talk to people and organize things. Look how much she's grown without us. Does she actually have a point? Maybe we have coddled her too much since Fulvia died.

She glanced over at Dekin, and he seemed to be pondering the issue over as well. Still, this was a lot to take in.

"It's not as if she's replacing you with us," Marie stepped in. "Callie and I have been living on our own since we were fourteen and we still talk with our parents all the time and ask for advice. Cortina will be no different."

"She's just trying to spread her wings a little," Callie added. "She wants to know what she can really do, what she's capable of. She wants to make you proud."

Cortina made a shy nod of agreement and the table fell silent again.

Purdie and Dekin looked at each other. She could see the doubt and concern in his eyes. There was still something missing out of this equation, they could both feel it. But at the same time, could they really use that against them? Against Cortina?

What would you want? She asked her late lover silently. She and Fulvia had left their respective homes because they felt constrained and trapped somehow, Cortina seemed to feel overly sheltered and unprepared for the big wide world.

You wouldn't try to keep her constrained, even if you wanted to. You'd want her to live a free and fulfilled life. You'd sent her off with a hug and a kiss then dare the world to stand in her way.

Purdie sighed heavily, her mantle turning a dark blue. She didn't want to let Cortina go, she wanted to keep their baby safe at home. Which is why I have to let her go. She realized.

"Alright," she said softly. "You can go."

Callie and Marie both let out held breaths while Cortina turned bright orange and then reached across the table to squeeze her hands.

"I won't let you down, Iya. I'll make you proud."

Purdie pulsed blue and squeezed back. "You already have, sweetie. Maybe I was just too blind to see how much you really had grown."

She felt Dekin's hand on her arm. "We both were," he said.

"Besides," Purdie smiled. "If anything happened to you, I'm sure these girls would have their own mothers to answer to."

Callie and Marie both paled and Cortina laughed. Purdie and Dekin laughed too.

Author's Notes:

This was one of the trickiest chapters to write, although, not nearly as much as Chapter 10. There are a lot of subtleties and it's probably the most time we've spent in Purdie's head.

Callie and Marie have high standards when it comes to bodyguards and it goes without saying that Three meets them all, for the most part.