Distribution: This story cannot in part or whole be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may only be distributed with author's permission and must include all disclaimers.
Disclaimer: Cole Turner, Darryl Morris, Prue, Piper, Paige, and Phoebe Halliwell. Leo Wyatt, Jenna, and Andy Trudeau and all other characters that have appeared on the series "Charmed" as well as the concept of Charmed and all backstory are the copyright property of Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, and the WB Television Network. No copyright infringement was intended. All original characters as well as the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.
Tia couldn't help but smile at the group as she knelt down in front of them. Yes there were tears flowing freely from all but they were tears of happiness and joy. The little light Dragon glowed brightly and happily as he lay cradled in his daddy's arms, his fierce love for his daddy plain to feel; as was his love for each and every person that was crowded around him, be they two legged or four legged. Tia felt her own tears gathering as the little light Dragon named Baby Ben turned his amethyst eyes to her, his love for her flowing over her in waves. Even after all you have been through little Dragon, you can still care and even more amazingly you can still love she thought to herself. She watched as the little Dragon turned his eyes back to his daddy, nuzzling his snout under his daddy's chin. As she looked into Cole's eyes she realized that she shouldn't have been so surprised by the little Dragon, after all his daddy has survived many, many trials up to and including the Charmed Ones and his heart and soul still knew love, both its giving and receiving. She sighed a little to herself as she continued to look at her nephew. He had survived so very much and at such a young age, for a Dragon anyway. Even though she could easily see a fragileness about him she also knew that within that fragileness there lay an inner strength, a strength that would see him through just about anything, a strength that was mirrored within Darryl.
Darryl. She turned her eyes to him, the one who completed her nephew's soul. The Legend had never made mention of a Soul Bond existing between the two Warriors, but then again Legends, especially ones stemming from Prophecies usually came with their own sack of surprises. Darryl had survived his own trials throughout his life, but like Cole he too had survived. Darryl shared with Cole that inner strength. The death of his little brother had been a very dark hour for him, yet he found within himself the will to go on even when it didn't seem like he could. The loss of his little brother had been devastating because he hadn't just lost his little brother but his best friend as well and that empty void had remained within his heart and soul; had remained until he had met Cole.
Tia knew that it had not been an easy road that brought them together, the biggest obstacle being the Charmed Ones. She simply thanked whoever was listening that the two boys had been given the chance to meet again without the interference of said Charmed Ones. It had been then that the two boys had found within each other the piece of themselves that had been missing. Cole had filled that empty void within Darryl that had been left by the death of his little brother and Darryl filled the empty void within Cole, the void that his protector Belthazor's death had created within him. Darryl gave Cole the one thing that no one outside of the Nation ever had, total acceptance, warts and all.
Aunt Tia shook herself back to the present, as she didn't have the luxury of time at the moment. She needed to create her own link with the boys and their twins before she could send them back to her Draco. The hardest part she just knew was going to be getting Cole to let go of Baby Ben so that the little Light Dragon could return to his safe spot inside his daddy. It was one thing for Cole to know that his son was safe inside of him but now that Cole had held his son just knowing wasn't going to be enough. Not that she blamed him in the least of course; she only hoped that Piper was going to be up to the task that was going to be asked of her, for Cole and Baby Ben's sake. Sending a quick blessing prayer to the group that was before her she carefully brought their attention back to the issues at hand.
"I know that none of you want to hear this and you know I don't want to have to say it but it is time for Baby Ben to return to his safe spot. Now just hear me out please." Tia raised her hand, stopping all six of them in their opened mouthed tracks. "Cole, I know that it is hard, especially now that you know your son is there but believe me when I tell you that you won't be separated from holding him for long and please don't ask me to explain because we don't have time right now." She watched as both boys turned their searching gazes upon her as the twins tightened their holds on their beloveds. The puppies were sitting at their charges' feet watching her very carefully. Knowing that trust was the most important thing within her family she simply let them look at her, look her in her eyes until they found what they were looking for.
After what seemed like an eternity to her she saw them all relax a bit. Obviously they had found what they were looking for and for that she was glad as her time was running out. Gently she reached her hand out and scratched Baby Ben behind his ear and was rewarded with a little giggle, one that seemed to be very contagious for soon all of them were giggling. Soon though the giggling came to an end and the silence once gain descended. Tia was more than her fair share of centuries old but for once she found herself at a loss as to how to proceed. The raw emotions she was feeling were so powerful that they threatened to take her breath away. Thankfully for her Baby Ben stepped in.
"Daddy, I have to go back now, but I promise that I'll be back in your arms soon." Baby Ben didn't really want to leave his daddy's arms but he knew that he had to. The minute he had said it though he felt his daddy tighten his hold on him and it made him smile. He reached up and wrapped his arms around his daddy's neck and held on tightly himself. Baby Ben easily felt the fear that was coming from his daddy, fear and a hint of anger. It took him a moment but he finally realized that the anger was directed at his at one time mother Phoebe. He too had felt anger towards her at one time, anger and hurt. He had never figured out why his mother didn't love him, not even a little bit. His daddy had always loved him, right from the beginning but his mother… oh she had talked to him while rubbing her stomach but he never felt the unconditional love he had felt from his daddy right from the start. He had tried talking to her, tried to tell her that his daddy needed help but she never listened; and then he began to feel the hate grow and it just grew and grew and grew until he could feel nothing else from her. This had hurt him, but when he realized that the hate was also for his daddy he began to understand a little bit. His mother had hated his daddy and because he had come from his daddy she hated him as well. He still didn't know why his mother turned her heart away from them, but she had and she had done it when his daddy needed her more than ever. It had been the hurt he had felt from his daddy after she had left them in the Wasteland that had affected him the most. From that moment forward he had stopped thinking of her as his mother and he knew that he would never think of her that way ever again. She had hurt him and she had hurt his daddy and for that he would never forgive her. He looked up at his daddy when he felt a tear land on his head.
"Daddy, I know you don't want to let go and I don't want to let go of you but if I don't return to my safe spot inside of you then we can't leave and I won't get hatched and I really want to get hatched daddy."
Hatched. The word suddenly registered with Cole for the first time. As he looked down at his glowing son he realized that he was a Dragonling, not a little boy. Hatched. "How? Who?" Cole found himself at a lose for words and from the emotions he was feeling come from his brother he knew that Darryl was thinking the very same thing as he was. His son was a Dragonling which meant that he would be hatched from a Dragon Egg that had to be laid by someone, who that someone was going to be was a total mystery. "Humans can't lay eggs Auntie Tia, much less a Dragon Egg." Cole was becoming upset again, suddenly he felt Julianna's arms tighten their hold on him just a little bit more and he took comfort from her embrace. He could also sense the same confusion and apprehension he was feeling come from Darryl as well. He glanced over and saw Anita pull Darryl further back into her embrace just as Julianna had done with him. He looked down a moment later when he felt Snuggles moving by his bent knees. A smile formed on his lips as he watched Snuggles rub Baby Ben's tummy with his snout making his son laugh, the very sound being musical to his ears. He looked over to Anita though when he heard her snicker a bit.
"His laugh sounds just like yours." Anita said responding to the questioning look he had aimed at her. She had become adept at reading her soon to be brother-in-laws face rather quickly, of course it had helped that both he and her sister Julianna shared many facial expressions and nuances. Her Darryl had once commented on the similarities between the two and they had ended up having a discussion about it that lasted for hours, not to mention quite a few chuckles as well. Anita now found herself smiling as she saw the corners of his mouth curve up in what she and Darryl called 'his happy little smile'; it was a smile that no one outside of the immediate family has ever seen. As she watched him continue to stroke his son's glowing little head she realized that Darryl was scratching him behind his little glowing ears. Her gaze moved to her sister and they smiled at each other. They knew what the boys were doing, they were trying to put things off and not deal with them. She and Julianna had learned all about this little personality quirk by the second month they were with their boys. She also knew that it was now up to them to get things moving again. Neither of them wanted to, after all they loved Baby Ben too but somehow they just knew that it would be all right in the end, that soon Baby Ben would be able to move onto being hatched so he could be with his daddy all the time instead of just here. That was what they had to make Cole and Darryl understand.
"Aunt Tia, when he says hatched are we talking about an actual egg here?" Anita asked as she rested her chin on her beloved's head. Any other time, any other people involved and she would have simply laughed knowing beyond a doubt that it was either a metaphor or an outright joke. However, when one took into consideration whom they were dealing with she knew that 'egg' meant just that… an 'egg' to be laid and then to hatch.
"Yes we are talking about an actual egg though it won't be too big when it is laid, it will actually grow a bit once it has been laid. The lay-er will lay the egg at eight months and then it will be the lay-er who will be responsible for caring for the egg for the last month before he hatches. It will be during that month that the egg will finish growing so that Baby Ben will be the right size when he emerges. And yes there are needs that the egg will have that can only be handled by the lay-er even though the lay-er has already laid the egg." Rosey paused as she took in the looks she was receiving from everyone. "Well she asked." She said, flapping her wings and rolling her eyes at the group in general before continuing.
"Now as for the who in regards to the lay-er… now that will be up to Baby Ben himself. Yes you boys heard me right. It will be up to Baby Ben himself." Rosey couldn't help but smile again at the new looks of confusion that quickly swept across the group. Somehow she just knew it would be Julianna who asked the next question and Rosey simply couldn't help herself in the end.
"How can Baby Ben choose his mommy when he doesn't know anyone but us?" Julianna asked. She would dearly love to hatch Baby Ben herself but she was already carrying their twins and from the look on her sister's face she was thinking the very same thing. Rosey's next comment however brought her mind to a screeching halt right along with everyone else's.
"He has been with Cole since the Wasteland." Rosey said and then simply waited for her statement to actually sink in. It didn't take long and soon all four were turning red and sputtering.
"That wasn't very nice you know." Auntie Tia tried very hard to keep a straight face but watching the four before her act like fish out of water was simply too much and she finally lost it. Her laughter rang out across the open field soon joined by Rosey's. The boys and their twins simply sat there, their mouths opening and closing yet nothing coherent coming out of any of them. Finally, after many minutes of laughter Auntie Tia and Rosey finally pulled it together.
"Sorry about that but the looks on your faces were just too priceless." Auntie Tia was the first to get it together enough to speak though. Knowing that time was growing shorter rather quickly she decided to put the poor group out of their misery. "Let me clarify."
"Please do."
Auntie Tia looked down at the two puppies who had just spoken, their stances and their eyes did nothing but reinforce the fact that they didn't find this as funny as she and Rosey did. Well they certainly are Guardians for the Guardians, no doubt about it she thought to herself with an inward smile before getting back to the business at hand, namely putting the four in front of her out of their collective embarrassed misery; she also said a silent 'please' that none of them thought about the shooting or the bullet right now or she would never get Cole to let go of Baby Ben.
"Okay then. Let me explain. You see I know exactly what you are thinking about, the looks on your faces say it all. Let me put your minds at ease about this. You see whenever there is a … uhm… well a situation, for lack of a better term then Baby Ben goes and plays with Little Cole. Yes Darryl I know all about Little Cole and Little Belthazor. It was actually my idea and a very good one I might add." Tia smiled at their confused looks. "When Raven found out what the Source was up to she came to my Draco and myself for help. Draco sent her to me and it was here that I taught her how to duplicate the memories and how to protect them. I haven't actually seen her in the flesh since then as coming here while I was here would only have served to endanger Cole and neither of us was willing to run the risk of the Source finding out about our connection. Anyway as I was saying Baby Ben plays with Little Cole and Little Belthazor and as for neither of them telling you anything Darryl, it was because they promised Baby Ben that they wouldn't. You didn't want to worry your daddy now did you my littlest one." Tia leaned a bit forward and ran the back of her fingers over his little glowing snout making him giggle again.
"I'm sorry daddy but I did make them promise. I didn't want you to worry about me or be sad about not being able to hold or anything. Great Uncle Draco said it would be best if I waited till the starting of my hatching cycle to let you know I was here. I'm sorry daddy… I didn't mean to hurt you really I didn't. I'm sorry." Baby Ben started to cry when he felt the sadness coming from his daddy. He hadn't meant to make him sad, to hurt him but he thought he had and it made him sad and he couldn't help it, he started to cry. When he felt his daddy's arms tighten their hold on him he shyly looked up to his daddy's face and found nothing but love there in his daddy's eyes. He couldn't help himself as he suddenly reached up and wrapped his arms around his daddy's neck again, holding on to him for dear life, wanting and needing his daddy to know that he loved him no matter what.
Cole felt a brief sadness when he found out that Baby Ben had played with Little Belthazor and Little Cole, it was a sadness though that he was used to. He himself had never met Little Cole but Darryl had told him all about him. At first he had been happy that the memories of his dad still existed but then had been saddened when he found out that there was no way to release the memories, to integrate Little Cole into himself. He needed Big Belthazor to do that but he was dead so the memories would remain but would always be just beyond his reach. When he and Darryl had released his dad's soul he had found some peace but he still missed the memories, he hadn't realized just how much he had missed them until his dad started telling Darryl stories of when he was a child, stories that he himself had no memory of. Darryl had also told him stories of when he was little that Little Cole had told him, only these were stories from his own point of view that he didn't remember. Little Cole and Little Belthazor existed only on the Dreamscape and they can only show themselves when he couldn't handle something and shutdown emotionally, giving himself time to regain his emotional strength. That was when they would come out and talk to and play with Darryl. The first time it had happened his brother had been very startled to see both of the Little ones instead of his adult self and then when Uncle D had explained it he wasn't sure who was more upset himself or his brother. His brother had found the whole situation very unfair and made no qualms in letting those who were present know it. He on the other hand was sad yes, but he also felt a small amount of peace from the knowledge that Little Cole and Little Belthazor both survived and were together, that they weren't alone. He had met Little Belthazor when the Source had taken over his body, Little Belthazor had stayed with him, had cared for him during that terrifying and painful time. Together they had survived but he didn't know if Little Belthazor had survived the vanquish until Darryl had told him that he had seen him on the Dreamscape. It had been then that he had found out about Little Cole. All of these thoughts went flashing through his mind and would have continued if it hadn't been for the desperate feeling of sadness he had suddenly felt come from his son. Instinctively he tightened his hold on his son, making sure that Baby Ben felt only the love that he had for him and not the sadness. The sadness was his and he didn't want it hurting his son. He's been hurt enough already he thought to himself as he nuzzled his son's glowing neck.
"Oh you didn't make me sad my little one, please don't think that you did. Yes I am a little sad that I didn't know that you were there and that you have never gotten to be held until now but I am also happy. Now I know that you are safe and that you were never alone, you had Little Cole to play with and Little Belthazor looking after you, taking care of you. Please don't cry little one. Honest you did not make me sad so please don't cry." Cole kept a tight hold on his son needing to make him believe that he had done nothing wrong. Suddenly he felt Darryl reach out through the Bond and send waves of love through it, all directed towards his son.
Amazingly it had been those waves of love that finally got Baby Ben to stop crying as he looked over to Darryl, never letting go of his daddy of course.
"Now you listen to your daddy little one. He would never lie to you… ever." Darryl reached over, wrapping his hand around the back of Cole's neck, offering his brother the physical connection he could feel Cole needed. As he continued to look Baby Ben in the eyes he could practically feel the little light Dragon searching within him, needing to know that what he had just told him was the whole truth. He knew it wasn't because Baby Ben didn't trust him, it was because he was his father's son and just as Cole tended to unconsciously seek reassurances that all was as it appeared to be so his son was doing the same thing. Darryl couldn't help himself and a smile quickly found its way to his lips. A laugh soon followed as Cole turned to look at him, his look mirroring that of his son. "You are definitely your father's son little one, most definitely." Darryl said as his laughter died down enough for him to speak.
Anita looked over to her sister as she watched her beloved offer support and comfort to both father and son. The look in her sister's eyes matched the emotions she was feeling coming from her. Julianna had always been far from jealous of the boys Bond; in fact she, like Anita herself were nothing but grateful for that Bond that existed between the two boys. Gods knows how much their own bond had helped them through trying and emotional times together. Their own bond was stronger than the average twins and they were connected through the Nation as well but they still both looked forward to the day when they would be not only be married to their beloveds but they would also join the Bond that the two boys already shared. That joining would also bring them closer to Baby Ben and Anita could tell that Julianna really wanted that connection with the little light Dragon that was her beloved's son. Anita smiled as she watched Julianna reach her hand over and scratch Baby Ben between his little ears. Her laughter soon followed and was quickly joined by all as Baby Ben began to purr, the sound identical to his daddy's own purr.
"Oh yes little one, you are definitely your father's son." Julianna said, the smile in her voice matching the smile on her face. To prove her point she gently began to scratch Cole behind the ear with her other hand and almost instantly his purring was matching the purring of his son.
Auntie Tia knew that time was growing short but she just couldn't bring herself to disturb the little group yet, so she waited and watched and found something she hadn't seen right away. Slowly she let her eyes, her Dragon eyes wander between the seven who were in front of her and she discovered an aura of power, one that was now surrounding the little group and the longer they all stayed in contact with each other the stronger it became. She could understand the connecting aura between Cole and Darryl; after all they were of one soul and the connection between each boy and their beloved twin as they were of one heart. What she hadn't seen until now was the connection that connected each twin to the other's beloved; and even still more surprising was the connection between the puppies and the boys and the twins. Finally she brought her eyes to the center of this new aura of power and found Baby Ben's little, yet strong dragon eyes staring steadily back at her. Those eyes spoke of power, old power, ancient power yet benevolent power as well. Well well well, you too are a Guardian aren't you little fellow. But the question now is the Guardian of whom.
Tia watched for a few more minutes, the aura growing even brighter before finally disappearing. She smiled as she watched the power flow not only back into Baby Ben but also into the others. A new connection had just been formed between the group before her and she had no idea what that connection would actually do in the long run but she could definitely see what it was going to do right now. The entire group relaxed visibly, as if someone had simply drawn the tension right out of them and replaced it with a new and, for lack of a better word soft calmness. The furry puppy faces relaxed first, their tails beginning to wag in response as well. Then came the twins, their shoulders drooping ever so slightly as the tension drained away though their holds on their boys never lessened. Lastly she watched the boys. Their faces began to loose that tenseness she had seen in both from the moment they had landed in the field, a look of not contentment but one of "ease" finally taking up residence on each of the two faces. When the glow of the aura finally receded completely into Baby Ben's little light Dragon body, the ease and peace that it left behind remained. Tia found herself relaxing a bit herself, as she knew that now it would be easier to get her nephew to let go of his son so he could return to his safe place. Now there was a connection so that they would know that Baby Ben was safe; even if they couldn't talk directly to him or hold him they would still know that he was safe and that was the most important thing for all of them.
Cole felt a power come from his son, a power that washed over him before radiating out to encompass the family that surrounded him. The power carried with it a piece of his son, a piece that he could feel as it wormed its way into him, coming to settle itself deep inside him before shielding itself. He followed the power and felt it as it entered his brother where it also left a small piece of itself, shielding it before moving to Anita, then Bearlock, then Snuggles, and finally Julianna. He felt the power leave a shielded piece of itself in each of them before returning to Baby Ben's still glowing form. As the power settled back into his son he felt a calmness slowly begin to settle over all of them, a calmness that was his son's doing. He smiled as he realized what his son had just done. Now he would never be without the feeling of his son again.
"He's left a piece of himself in each of us, connecting us to him so that we will know that he is safe." Darryl had felt not only his charge's sense of peace but also his unfettered happiness at being connected to his son. Darryl felt his own happiness grow as well; he may not have been Baby Ben's father but he was the only person that Cole had ever talked to about his son and he had come to know Baby Ben both through those talks and through the memories he had received from his charge when they had initiated the Bond link between them. He had cried for the child that had been lost, the child that had never gotten to truly be but who loved his daddy with his whole soul. He had cried again when Aunt Tia had shown them what had really happened in the Wasteland; only those had been tears of joy, joy for both father and son. His brother had his son back, had in fact never lost him but there had been a price and he knew that they were going to talk about that particular price when they got back home.
Matheous. Thoughts of him flitted through Darryl's mind, thoughts of him and Grams. Matheous had given his very life for Cole and there wasn't a doubt in his mind that he had known about Baby Ben as well. He had seen the look in the large Dragon's eyes as he looked down at Grams and then Cole and then Baby Ben; he knew what he was doing without question. He also knew without question that he would do the very same thing if the need arose, not just for Cole, his brother and his charge, but also for the rest of their family. As he looked to each member of that family he just knew, he could read it in each of them that they too would do the very same thing. It was that fierce love and devotion that they each had for the rest that was the real Bond between them all, a Bond he knew just as they did that could only be broken by death and even then the Bond would still resonate for each of them. Matheous, he was the one that had made the life that he had now possible, given him the family that he now had and for that Darryl knew he would be forever in the Dragon's debt. He would visit Matheous' candle in the Hall of Memory and remember, remember the courage and heart of the Dragon who had given him his family and honor that sacrifice. Aunt Tia's voice brought him back to the moment, but the smile remained on his face.
"Thank you my Littlest One. Yes I know you want to be hatched and you will be I promise." Tia took note of the smiles that returned full force on each of their faces in reaction to her words. Dragon's never made a promise that they wouldn't die to keep which is one of the main reasons that Dragon's did not make promises lightly and those that sat before her knew this. She smiled back at them before returning her full attention to the little light Dragon, who was also smiling up at her. "Can you get back by yourself littlest one or do you need a little help?" She kept her voice gentle and even not wanting to upset the delicate balance that the group had finally achieved.
"That's okay Great Auntie Tia I can get back myself." Baby Ben turned back to face his daddy once more. "I have to go back now daddy but I promise I will be hatched real soon. I already know who I want to hatch me so don't worry about that." Baby Ben patted his daddy on the shoulder as he spoke, he didn't want his daddy to get upset again. "I love you Auntie Julianna and you too Auntie Anita but you have my baby brothers and sisters to take care of and I just won't fit right now, but don't worry I know you'll like my hatcher." Baby Ben could see the pain in both of the twins' eyes and he just didn't want them to be sad about not being able to help him get hatched. He swiveled his head around to look at Rosey who was quietly snickering. "What?" He asked, not knowing what she was laughing at.
"Oh nothing." Rosey said as she tried to get her snickers under control. She knew whom the little fellow was talking about and the image his words created in her rather perverse kitty kat mind were just to amusing, her snickers escaping before she had the chance to control them. The next thing she knew she was on the receiving end of a rather loud raspberry courtesy of Baby Ben. Not one to be out done, she was after all a kitty kat, she quickly responded with one of her own which was just as loud as Baby Ben's was.
Auntie Tia looked at the now smiling faces of the group before her. Rosey may not have set out to relieve some of the tension but she had succeeded and for that Tia was grateful. However she could also tell that her little one and Darryl needed to get back home. "All right everyone it's time to get you ready to return home. Firstly we need to do a little Magick." Tia stood back a few paces before bowing her head calling to her own power. She felt it wash over her as it had a hundred times before but this time she knew that it was more important because this time it was for their Little One and Darryl. As she looked up she could see a new kind of wonder in their eyes and she smiled. When she had called upon her power she had used it to perform a partial transformation so she now stood before them in her half-dragon form. Half-dragon yet still human in shape, her wings sprouting from her back like a Gargoyle. "I can tell that my Draco has never shown you this form either." Her voice had a smile in it as she flicked her prehensile tail around her own ankles.
"No he hasn't but I have seen it before, in dreams." Julianna and Anita spoke as one in answer to Tia's question. The twins looked to each other before turning back to Tia. They had spoken of their dreams to their boys and Cole had told them that what they had seen in their dreams was a half-dragon form, one that was a combination of the creature's original form and it's Dragon form. It was then that the twins learned about the passing on of the Dragon Soul and how it can pass onto someone that was not born within the Dragonish Realm. Those reborn Dragon Souls are always Prophecy Souls, ones that have been destined for a purpose elsewhere, a purpose that would require them to be away from their home realm for very long periods of time. Thus they are usually born to the magical races of the realm they will come to call home. When they had later asked Uncle D about the dreams he had simply smiled at them and used his normal line, When the time is right you will know what it means. Uncle D could be irritating that way.
"To answer the question I know is on your minds, this is in fact my original form. I was born on Dragonish just as my Draco was and just as Raven and Matheous were. Raven and Matheous were the last to be born on Dragonish yet destined to remain forever away from the place of their hatching. Yes Julianna, Anita that does mean what you think it does, neither of them can ever return to Dragonish."
"Then where is Matheous now? Shouldn't his soul have returned to Dragonish?" Snuggles asked. He didn't want to upset anyone but he had to know, he wasn't sure why he had to but he did and when it came to these kinds of sudden feelings he didn't bother to question them since he knew that it was strictly Magick related. He wasn't about to jump for joy over Auntie Tia's answer but he would follow her direction.
"Ask my Draco, he can explain it better than I can." Tia knew she was bordering on lying, which is something one Dragon never did to another but there simply wasn't enough time to try and explain yet another off shoot of the boys' own Prophecy. Draco will have more time and be so much better at explaining it than I can that it is the right thing to do she thought to herself. Since nothing untoward happened because of her answer she relaxed a bit as she prepared to perform the spell that was needed.
The group wasn't exactly thrilled with the answer but they knew that if Auntie Tia had directed them to Uncle D then it was going to be best to simply wait and ask him. They all looked to each other and knew that it was going to be a very very very long answer that would then probably take them another very very very long discussion to dissect said answer to find the answer they were looking for in the first place, such was the way their Uncle D answered a simple question. Auntie Tia's voice brought the groups attention squarely back to her before anyone accidentally groaned out loud.
"All right then we still have a few things to do before you head back. First I will perform the connecting spell. Now before you ask it is the spell that will connect you to me, this way if you ever need my help with information or a safe heaven you will be able to call on me. This spell will connect me to each of you separately but if information is needed by more than one of you all you have to do is connect yourselves together and then connect to me." She couldn't help but smile a bit at the very confused looks she was getting, well from everyone save her nephew. Cole's expression was one of thoughtfulness not confusion; a second later Darryl's expression mirrored Cole's as one followed the lead of the other. "Yes my little one you and Darryl have the right idea. I will be your personal and private library of the Old Knowledge and a… well how shall we put this… part time Den Mother if you will." Tia smiled as she saw the blank looks that were now present on all of their faces save Cole, Darryl, and Baby Ben. The children were going to need someplace to play, especially now that they have already shown signs of being present as it were and they were barely a day old Tia snickered to herself.
"What about?"
"Yes little one even Little Cole and Little Belthazor can come here and play. That is one of the reasons that I will be sending Rosey back with you. Now before the questions start let me finish the connection spell please." With that Tia lowered her head and called upon her power to strengthen the spell to include all of those present.
Syn, good Goddess of Locks and Doors,
Open the gates, I now implore,
Allow me to pass through the astral veil
With speed; grant fair winds to my sailWhen my family is in need
Bring me to them with speed
And when we've gained what we can learn
Grant a hasty, safe return
As Tia spoke she raised her eyes, making sure that she had all of them in her direct line of sight so the spell would work for all of them. There was a brief glow as the spell encircled them with it's power, with her power but it quickly dissipated leaving behind a warm and cozy feeling for them all. As she watched a smile appeared on each face before her. Right now they were experiencing the initial emotional glow from her spell as new bridges were made between them, bridges no one but them could see and which no one could ever break. The number of bonds connecting each member of the group to the group itself were multiplying but she knew, as did her Draco that the Bond between Cole and Darryl was the strongest and one that none of the other bonds could ever interfere with. Their Bond was unbreakable even now but would strengthen once again with the Ascension. Their time was almost upon them yet there would be more pain before they finally reached their united Destiny, but Tia knew that they would not be alone, they would have each other and they would have the family.
She found her eyes focusing on their little one who was smiling as he scratched his son behind the ears. He had been through so very much pain and this saddened her, he had suffered time and time again yet he was still able to laugh, to love, and most amazingly accept and trust. Oh his trust didn't come easy, it never did but once you had it it was impossible to lose. Well, not impossible, he had trusted the Charmed Ones and their White Lighter but they had proved unworthy of that trust and that had hurt their little one very deeply. There was a fragileness about him now that hadn't been there before his time spent with the Charmed Ones, but there was a strength that still lay underneath the fragileness. It was this strength that had kept his head above water until he met up again with Darryl, this very same strength that he now used to protect Darryl. Tia silently laughed at the sight before her. Here sat the Warrior Archangel and his Warrior Guardian but somehow the line was blurred on the whole Guardian part. Which of the boys was the Guardian and which was the Guarded? Yes Darryl protects Cole but Cole protects Darryl just as much. She began to wonder if they couldn't have come up with a better translation from the original Dragonish words that made up their individual titles. Brothers would have been a more apt description she thought to herself with a secret smile, one that if Draco had been around to see he would have known that her mental wheels were now turning full force. However there was other business to attend to at the moment, important business, family business.
"All right then children we are now all connected which I think you can already feel. Now with the spell I just performed all you have to do now is simply picture me, as I am now mind you and call to me with your power. I will hear and respond."
"How exactly? Will you be Astral projecting like Prue or will you be physically manifesting where ever the caller is calling from?" Bearlock understood the connection because he too could feel it, what he didn't fully understand was how she would appear to them if they called her. The wording of the spell wasn't specific so that meant that it would mean whatever Auntie Tia had been thinking when she recited the spell and he needed to know, to understand. He, like Darryl didn't like things that weren't fully explained to his satisfaction.
"Not exactly Bearlock." Tia smiled at the Newfie puppy as he remained close to Darryl's legs. "What will happen is that whomever calls me will be the one to come to the, for lack of a better translation Thought Plane. It will only be their Astral selves that come and if two call to me then both will come to the Thought Plane."
"But what about their physical selves? What will happen to them?" Bearlock understood what Auntie Tia was saying but he needed to know more and he could tell that Snuggles felt the same way.
"They would stay where they were when the call was sent out. Now before you ask let me finish. During this time it is true that their physical selves will be vulnerable which is why all of you can't call at the same time. Only two of you can call at once. The others who are a part of the Ascension will be charged with protecting the physical selves of the callers." Auntie Tia waited for everyone to think about what she had just said before continuing. "Now as a safety features you could say, I have made it so that if there are only two present then both cannot call. This way if two of you are near each other but unable to communicate then you both can't accidentally call at the same time." Tia simply looks at their slightly confused looks. "Okay I know it doesn't make a lot of sense right now but once you start practicing it will make sense. Now that the spell is out of the way I think it is time for you our Littlest One to return to your safe spot in your daddy so that you can all return home. It is almost time for Cole and Darryl to wake up. Time runs differently here to a point, not a lot but just a bit faster."
"You mean that what appears to be an hour here is in fact less than an hour back on the Earth Plane?" Snuggles asked as he continued to snuggle up to Cole and Baby Ben. The simple joy he was feeling coming from Cole was making his little puppy heart swell with happiness. Sappy sentiment, he thought to himself but perfectly true all the same.
"Exactly Snuggles." A smile formed on Tia's face as she watched Snuggles continue to play with their Littlest One and their Little One.
"But three hours haven't passed here yet."
"No they haven't Bearlock but they also spent some time in the Blackness of Niquili and time runs differently there as well know. Add the two together and you have three hours Earth Plane time." As Tia spoke she watched Darryl tense, belatedly she realized that something dire had happened to Darryl in the land of the Crydeshi, something that still frightened him even here and now. She watched the scene before her and felt somewhat better about what was to come. She watched as Snuggles walked around Cole's legs so he too was against Darryl's legs, while a giggling Baby Ben leaned over and grabbed Darryl's nose making Darryl smile. Tia saw the way Cole was looking at Darryl and she knew right then that Darryl would be just fine because the Guardian had his own Guardian as well.
Darryl hadn't meant to tense up but when Auntie Tia had mentioned the Crydeshi the memories rushed back from where he had sent them when they had landed here. Quickly though he found himself the center of what he could only think of as a "love hug" as Snuggles snuggled up to his legs, right next to Bearlock and he simply couldn't help the chuckle when Baby Ben had reached over and grabbed his nose with his little light claws. He felt Anita rubbing her cheek on the top of his head, something that he had always found soothing, why he didn't know and really didn't care, and all he cared about was how it was helping him calm down. Suddenly there was a familiar feeling of safety washing over him and he knew where it was coming from. It was coming from his brother, through the Bond. Cole was once again proving that although Destiny had named him the Guardian, Cole was more than capable of being a Guardian to him, of being there with love, understanding, and a strength to help sustain and carry him through moments like this, moments where he felt overwhelmed and scared. Cole had a unique understanding of these two feelings and that understanding enabled him to know just what Darryl needed and he never hesitated in offering said help. Darryl knew that there were probably going to be some nightmares to come from their time with the Crydeshi but he also knew that he wouldn't face those nightmares alone, he would have not only his brother but also his whole family and with support like that coming from all around him, he just knew he would survive whatever might come.
The moment Cole had felt the fear he had immediately opened the link completely again and offered his brother what he knew he needed. There was no hesitation, no thought other than to give Darryl whatever he needed to beat off the fear that was settling around him, and beat it off he did. Cole knew just as Darryl did that nightmares were coming Darryl's way once they got back to the Earth Plane, but for now he could feel a calmness begin to replace the fear that had snuck up on Darryl and for that he was grateful. He couldn't help but chuckle himself a bit as Snuggles moved next to Bearlock against Darryl's legs while his son reached over and grabbed a hold of Darryl's nose. Darryl's laughter, though not as loud as usual was still enough to let Cole know that he had helped his brother for the moment and for Cole that was the most satisfying and "right" feeling he has ever had the pleasure to know.
Auntie Tia knew that there time was growing extremely short and she was actually grateful for their returning to the Earth Plane because they all looked like they could do with some actual real sleep and a good hot meal. To that end she once again drew everyone's attention back to herself. "Littlest One, I know that you are having wonderful fun with your Uncle's nose but you really have to return to your safe spot now." When Baby Ben turned to look at her she could easily read the need within them, it was the same need to help as his daddy had in his eyes. Like father like son in a very big way she thought to herself with a smile. Baby Ben was going to be a handful and she knew just the person to help that handful stay safe, not that his daddy or anyone else in the family would ever let anything happen to him but Baby Ben's lay-er was going to need some extra help in understanding what was happening to her so she quickly made her decision.
"Rosey, you need to get ready as well. You are going back with them."
Stunned silence was heard by all, a whisker could have dropped and have been easily heard by all. Even Rosey was speechless, which served only to make Auntie Tia chuckle once more. She knew that time was growing very short but she just couldn't bring herself to say anything more, fortunately Baby Ben seemed to know what he had to do and as she watched the Little Light Dragon suddenly began to lose shape. Before any of the group could say a word Baby Ben giggled and once again disappeared inside of his daddy. Everyone turned to look at Cole's face, wondering how he was going to react especially with all of the recent emotional upheaval caused by the appearance of the Charmed Ones back into his life. Cole's only reaction though was to smile.
Darryl saw the smile on his brother's face and before he could even fully open the link again he felt someone giggle, he felt it inside of himself and found it to be contagious. "I can still feel him, hear him." Darryl said as his own giggles subsided leaving behind a smile that matched his brother's. He then felt a wave of happiness flow over him. "He… we can still talk to him?" He wasn't quite sure what was happening but very quickly he got his answer.
Oh I can still hear you Uncle Darryl. You and Daddy. Auntie Julianna and Auntie Anita can feel me if you want them too just like Snuggles and Bearlock can.
"What is it my love?" Julianna had sensed a change in her Cole and she could tell through her own link to her twin sister that Anita was feeling something from her love as well. However before either of them could get upset over it they suddenly felt what she could only call a wave of happiness wash over her and from the excited yaps coming from the puppies she was pretty sure that they felt it as well.
"What was that? Was that Baby Ben?" Anita couldn't help herself as she found herself giggling right along with Julianna. The happiness she was feeling was just so pure and childlike and it reminded her of her Darryl. Julianna and Grams and Darryl had all helped Cole feel safe enough to let out the child that was still within him, the child that had survived more than any child should ever have to. Her love Darryl though was just as capable of letting out his own inner child to play right along side Cole's inner child. Darryl had suffered losses of his own that had marked his childhood with a darkness as well, a darkness that Cole seemed to be able to banish just as Darryl was able to chase away many of the shadow's from Cole's past. Together the boys could very easily be mistaken for two very tall children. The feeling of simple happiness that she always felt coming from Darryl as he sat in their tub and played with his rubber duckie was very similar to this new feeling she was now sensing. From the smile on her twins face she just knew that Julianna was feeling the same way, after all they had discussed the boys playing with their rubber duckies on more than one occasion and usually while they were cleaning up all the escaped water from the tub after said rubber duckie play. Their tub was large and had a divider down the middle, one that separated it into two separate tub units, their Grams had done this since Darryl never liked to be too far from Cole incase of an emergency. That and the fact that the divider could easily be magicked away to make one large tub whenever either twin wanted to play with their beloved while the other pair played on the bed… Anita's thoughts were interrupted a moment later by Darryl's somewhat shocked voice.
"Anita! Not in front of the child!" Darryl's somewhat shaky voice called out. "And you stop giggling." This last was directed to his snickering brother and the two snickering puppies, not to mention the now snickering Rosey who had planked herself down just behind the two puppies who were still at his feet. Darryl simply rolled his eyes at them, his words having had no effect whatsoever.
Rosey decided to make her personality known at that moment and a collective groan could be heard from both boys, both girls, and both puppies. They all knew that their lives just got a little more complicated and they shuddered to think what was going to happen once Rosey, Pee Wee, and Uncle D were all in the same room together. They all felt a momentary stab of self-pity for they all knew that somehow they were going to end up in the middle of that threesome more than they felt they deserved. Everyone's attention was drawn back to the winged furry one; her words loud and clear.
"All right then CHILDREN it is time we were on our way. Come on then, let's hustle it up now. Everyone up up up." Rosey, though she had been stunned when Tia had first said that she was returning with the boys to the Earth Plane quickly decided to take matters into her own paws and get everyone moving, after all she was now a Guardian herself which in her kitty opinion automatically gave her "ordering about" rights over the group before her. "Are you going to open the door or do you want us to?" Rosey had turned to face Tia when she asked her the question but somehow she just knew what was going on behind her. "I saw that. Now put those tongues back in your mouths CHILDREN." She had a smile on her face as she said it though.
The group froze as one, their tongues still hanging part way out of their mouths. As one their tongues quickly disappeared back into their mouths as they rolled their collective eyes. They all knew that they were bigger than her but they still found themselves a tad bit afraid of her, not that they worried about their physical well being but because they all knew that she could easily make their lives so totally miserable that it simply wasn't worth angering her right at this moment. So they waited, as patiently as possible for whatever was going to come next.
"I will open the door this time. My Draco knows the spell to open the door in this direction so he can teach it to them. We don't have time right now." Auntie Tia looked over the little group and going from one to the next she hugged each of them in turn. They never noticed her eyes flash a deep purple with each hug; even the puppies were hugged before being returned to their rightful charge's waiting arms. Anita picked up Rosey, or rather grabbed Rosey as she leapt up into her arms leaving Julianna's arms free, one of which was quickly wrapped around her beloved's waist. Auntie Tia knew that this was going to be the last time that she got to see them all together and she wanted to burn the image into her mind so that she could imprint the memory on a memory gem as soon as they left. This was her family after all and even though she didn't plan on ever forgetting this moment, just having the physical gem itself would, for some reason she couldn't quite fathom make them feel closer to her.
Shaking herself a bit she quickly moved back a few paces before calling upon her power to open the doorway. As it opened she noticed a very small, but definitely still just noticeable pinpoint of light begin to appear on the front of the necks of each member of the group. Smiling at her Draco's cleverness, as well as her own, she waved to them as they moved towards the door.
"Love you Auntie Tia." The words were loud as everyone of the group said it at the same time.
Auntie Tia couldn't help the new tears that found their way to her eyes as she called back to them. "I love you all. Be safe and be happy." Her words were meant for all of them, be they hatched or un-hatched. She knew that no matter what or who life threw at the group they would survive… no they would do more than just survive, they would be victorious over any and all who would seek to do even just one of them harm and she pitied the first one that even tried it.
A smile found it's way to her lips as she turned and walked into the forest. She headed straight for her home so she could retrieve a memory gem quickly as she had no intentions of ever losing the image that now resided within her. And this way I know it will be forever safe. She started humming a little tune as she practically skipped all the way home. The forest giggled as it watched her.