Authors Notes: Apologies for the wait but my laptop died and I had to wait for the replacement to come in.

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White Bird

Chapter 8

Star Man

I wish I could say, that was all the sorrow Danny had experienced after Dareths passing, but that was just not true. Deaths come in threes...and three it did.

The day started out muggy, and rainy. It had been a month after Dareth died when Danny found herself once again...washing dishes. Even though they were clean she never felt like they were ever clean enough, or the clothes, or the carpet...actually she started from the basement and worked her way upstairs. Even cleaned Inky's old room. Mostly it stayed untouched till she came home.

She spotted the shadow fly over the house. She saw the face in the window sill. She rushed downstairs and thrust open the door. Her arms around Aloe immediately. She hadn't seen him since that day. He had chased Donny. She had been incredibly scared that he had been hurt.

"Geez mom chill." Danny backed away from him and shook her head. The smile that had been on her face before had gone. She turned and headed back into the house. Aloe followed her.

"How...How did you survive all this time?" She asked still not remembering much about him. Actually she was still coming up zero. He shook his head pointing up.

"The starman raised me." He said. Danny turned and gave him the most weird smile.

"Really? You can tell me." She said. Aloe rolled his eyes.

"I don't expect you to remember, or understand. He pulled out a small stone and put it on the table and let go of it. His appearance changed from the human look to that of a blue oni form.

"Eating the food they provided kind of does this." He motioned to himself.

"After a little while I couldn't control the change anymore. So he gave me a very small vengestone to help me. But no matter what I do, my eyes are always green." He looked down at Danny. He was incredibly tall compared to her.

"Mom…" Danny turned to see a very shy looking kindergartener. "Is he going to hurt you?"

"Mom huh?" Aloe smiled down at Otto and sat on the grass. "Nah kiddo. I'm not going to hurt our mom."

"Our?" The woman that stood in the doorway had brown hair like Dareths. Aloe knew a lot about Danny's past, but he wasn't aware that Dareth had a relationship before Danny. Perhaps this was that reporter womans daughter? Did they have kids? Perhaps…

"This is Aloe Steels...the product of a marriage...that I can't really remember. Bits and pieces with him, but thats it." Danny said. Inky looked down at Danika who had her finger in her mouth.

"So...I'm the middle child?" Inky looked at Danny. Danny burst out laughing.

"Maybe…" Danny looked unsure playing with her fingers. Inky just shook her head, but still wore a smile. She knew Danny's memory wasn't 100% back to the way it was before the wars. She was still remembering that she had a fish at one point. She liked the idea. Her eyes looked back down at Otto. He tried his best to be manly like Zane told him to be. He was the man of the house now. Right?

Otto reached up his hand.

"I'm Otto Zareth Darzuski." He said it was such an odd name. Aloe just smiled and took his hand.

"So...I have siblings now huh? Thought you said you couldn't have anymore."

"Adopted." Inky held up her hand.

"Cloned." Otto held up his hand. Aloe looked amazed. Danny just had her hands stuffed into her pockets.

"Your dad just didn't like doing...those...things with anyone. Made him feel sick. You were a...once in a lifetime chance. I was hoping...that love would have changed that. I guess even I'm not good enough." Danny stuffed her hands in her pockets going back inside the house.

"Come on kids...lets order pizza and pretend we aren't dying inside."