ZEDD - TWO YEARS LATER

"Zedd! Catch Sullivan!"

Shaking my head, I grab my naked and wet son, who has obviously escaped from the bath - again. He definitely takes after his older sister, no doubt about it. "Back in the tub, son."

"No! No, no, no, no, no!" And I will be so glad when he's out of that phase too.

I carry him back to the bathroom only to find that Grace is splashing the hell out of her father. I almost think he's more wet than they are. Depositing my son back in the water, I tell Thomas, "I said I'd help you bathe them. Why didn't you wait?"

Crossly, he replies, "Because I know you had a rough day and thought that the last thing you wanted to do was fight with two toddlers."

"It's not the same, love. Fighting with supposedly intelligent beings is galaxies away from this, believe me."

"Hi, Papa!" The cheerful greeting from my daughter makes me smile. "Splash Daddy!"

She proceeds to do so, making my husband recoil slightly as she gets him in the face. I have to bite my lips to keep from laughing, but I have no doubt that Thomas can feel my amusement. "That's enough, Gracie. I think Daddy's had enough for tonight."

I kneel by the tub next to Thomas and grab a cloth, quickly scrubbing down one child as he tends to the other. Working together, we have them clean, dried and in their pajamas in no time. Since they are obviously still too wound up to sleep, I suggest, "Why don't we all go down to the living room for a bit? They can go to bed in a while."

Grudgingly, Thomas agrees. "Once they're in bed, I'm going to need to work on some of my homework. They refused to take naps today so I got nothing done."

Well, that would explain his mood then. "Reading?"

"Some of it."

"Well, then, why don't you bring it with you and I'll keep an eye on them while you read."

"Thanks, mate."

It's not long before we're settled in the living room, twins on the floor playing quietly. Jacob and Mara Jane join us and things feel pretty good. Gina and her kids are out for the night, having some quality time of their own. Jacob gets down on the floor to play with the little ones and Mara Jane settles in on Thomas' other side to read herself - until Grace comes and leans on her knees. "Sissy - read?"

"Yes, I'm reading."

"Read to Gracie?"

"You won't like this book, Gracie, but if you get one of yours I'll read it to you."

In a minute, Grace has picked out a book and is settled on Mara Jane's lap. Mara Jane reads to her, changing her voice for the different parts, much as Thomas did when Mara Jane was little herself.

After a while, Thomas asks me, "What time is it, Zedd? The twins should probably be going to bed soon."

"It's-" I stop and stare in disbelief at the clock across the room, face smashed and hands pulled off. "What the hell?"

"Language" Thomas reprimands me automatically. He looks up and sees the destroyed clock. "What the hell?"

"Language, Daddy" Jacob smirks.

Before Thomas can respond to his son's wisecrack, Gracie says sweetly, "Not bedtime?"

Simultaneously, Thomas and I look at our daughter. Shocked, Thomas asks, "Gracie, did you break the clock?"

"No, Daddy." The wide eyed innocence isn't fooling me and I doubt that Thomas is either.

Firmly, he says, "Grace-" He stops when the child shakes her head and points to her brothers on the floor, who are both watching in interest. "Sullivan? Did you break the clock?"

My youngest son nods affirmatively. "No bed." I bite my lip, knowing I should be scolding the child but unable to do so at the moment. Neither can Thomas, apparently, and then my son continues. "Gracie said."

And suddenly it all becomes clear. Grace masterminded the action while Sullivan was the muscle to carry it out. Oh, hells, we are in so much trouble. Still, our elder children are just as quick on the uptake and after they exchange quick looks, they both stand up, grabbing the little ones. "We'll put them to bed for you tonight, Daddy."

Mara Jane has barely finished speaking before they hightail it out of the room, little ones' protests fading as they hurry away. We sit in silence as it all sinks in. Finally, Thomas says, "Zedd?"

"Yes, love?"

"You owe your parents an apology."

"Yeah." I look at him as he turns to look at me and we both collapse into laughter.

Several minutes later, we start to settle down. Thomas wipes his eyes and says, "We're in for a ton of trouble here."

"Thank the powers that their other siblings are more than old enough to help, at least."

"I just wish I knew for sure which side they'll be on."

Shaking my head, I don't have a ready answer for him, but fairly sure that it'll depend on the situation. The doorbell rings, causing an instant shift in my mood. "Who in all the hells would it be at this time? Anyone who would come to see us knows that we have the little ones and certainly would call first."

Together, we go to the door. I open it to find an unfamiliar couple on the porch, looking upset. "Can I help you?"

They hesitate, exchanging looks briefly before the male speaks hesitantly. "Are you - the parents of Mara Jane and Megan?"

"Mara Jane, yes. Megan is the daughter of the woman who runs our household. What do you want?"

The woman bursts out, "Give her back! What have you done with her?"

Thomas speaks up. "Give who back? Done what with who?"

"Our daughter!" the woman sobs. "Where is she?"

"Who is your daughter?" Thomas asks, although I get the distinct feeling that his guess is the same as mine as I look at the pair before us.

The male pulls the crying woman to him and answers as she buries her face in his chest. "Sinai is our child. There was a family discussion earlier tonight, the results of which upset Sinai. When we went to check on her a while ago, she was gone. As far as we can tell, she took none of her prized possessions, so we were hoping that she came here - to Mara Jane and Megan."

"What about me?" Megan speaks from behind the couple as she and her mother and brother come up the steps.

The woman breaks free of her mate, grabs Megan by the shoulders and shakes her. "Where is she? Where is Sinai?"

Thomas has been teaching Megan and Dylan martial arts since we moved here and started teaching Sinai after she recovered from her beating two years ago. As a result, Megan quickly removes herself from the upset mother's grasp and quickly subdues her. Gina looks at us. "What? Sinai is missing?"

At our nod, Gina looks at Dylan. "Go tell Mara Jane to come down here. Tell her it's very important and to hurry."

"She and Jacob are putting the twins to bed" Thomas mentions.

Gina nods at Dylan, who takes off quickly. "He'll help Jacob. They can manage for a few minutes."

Knowing that Gina's children treat the twins like their own siblings, neither Thomas nor I have cause for concern on that front. Not to mention the seriousness of the situation being obviously clear to the teenager.

It's not all that long before Mara Jane races up to us, slightly pale. "Dylan said that Sinai is missing?" We nod and she turns to the strangers, expression ugly and voice cold, "What did you do?!"

"What did we do? What did you do?" the female screams at her.

"I have done nothing but be her friend, as she has been for me and Megan."

Gently, Thomas sets his hand on Mara Jane's shoulder. "Honey, if you know - or think you know - where she might be, now is the time to say so."

There's a pause as Mara Jane collects herself. "I don't know, Daddy. If she's not at home, not here and they didn't find her on the way, then I have no-" She stops and looks at Megan. Megan looks back thoughtfully for a minute before she nods.

"Mara Jane, she might be hiding in that place we found a few months ago."

"Or the place we found a month before that." Megan nods in agreement and Mara Jane looks at me and Thomas. "Megan and I will go look. We might have an idea or two."

"I'll go with you."

"No, Papa, please. I'm asking you and Daddy to trust me. If she was upset with something her family did, she's not going to come out if you're there. Like most young ones, she's going to assume that you're going to immediately turn her over to her family and Megan and I are going to be the best ones to talk her down - so to speak."

I don't like it, but on some level I know that she's right. "Make sure that you both have your cuffs in case something happens. Hurry so that you can get back before dark."

Mara Jane looks at Megan. Megan releases her captive and together they head through the house toward the back door. Once they're out of hearing range, Thomas says, "Zedd, are you sure-"

"Don't worry, Thomas. I can track her power if need be."

He turns to our 'visitors'. "Why don't you come inside? It'll be better than waiting on the front lawn."

I lead them into the house. Gina heads upstairs to check on things there as I take the couple to the dining room and Thomas goes into the kitchen. In short order, he returns and addresses them. "Would you like something to drink while we wait for the girls to get back?"

The woman shakes her head, but the male and I both nod. Before Thomas leaves the room, the man speaks lowly. "I apologize, your lordships. My wife's behavior - and my own - has been reprehensible."

She shoots a glare at him. Thomas looks at me, clearly leaving this with me as he leaves the room. "Your child is missing. I think that we can overlook the breach in etiquette. This time." I sit down and fold my hands, looking at them very seriously. "Now, let's start at the beginning, shall we?"

He draws a deep breath and nods. "I am Teran and this is my wife, Hetta."

Thomas comes in and sets cups before me and Teran before taking his own seat. I respond in kind, after a smile for my mate. "I am Lord Zedd and this is my husband, Lord Thomas."

Hetta opens her mouth to say something, but snaps it shut at the look from her husband. Thomas notices and says softly, "Go ahead and speak. Let's just get this all out in the open, shall we? Because I have no doubt whatever the family meeting was about that made Sinai so unhappy has something to do with us."

She doesn't curb herself this time. "What have you done to turn our child against us? She was a good child - quiet and obedient, excellent student. Since she became friends with your child and her pet, she's changed."

Thomas nods, expecting something like this apparently. "How do you mean she's changed?"

"She's argumentative and challenges everything we tell her!"

Thomas frowns. "Zedd?"

"Being full Eltarian, she shouldn't be acting like this for many more years yet" I explain. "Remember, with the longer lifespans, it takes longer for them to reach full maturity, thus the reason that their - what did Kira call it? - coming out parties are at a much older age."

"It sounds to me like Sinai has helped Mara Jane advance intellectually and Mara Jane has helped her advance in maturity." He turns his attention back to Hetta. "And Megan isn't a pet. She's Mara Jane's best friend from Earth."

"Humans aren't good enough to be more than pets."

Uh oh. I feel Thomas go from calm to full rage instantly. He's trying to control himself so I step in. "And I would suggest that you apologize, and quickly for insulting my husband and children."

"I- what?"

Teran's eyes are huge as he realizes just what an enormous mistake his wife has just made. "Hetta, stop."

"Thomas used to be full human before becoming a halfbreed. And before you say something else unintelligent, we bonded when he was still fully human and he's never been any kind of pet." Leaving her to chew on that information, I return my attention to her husband. "So what happened that upset Sinai so much?"

He sighs. "My job is moving and either we move with it or I lose it."

"How far?" He tells me and I realize that he's not talking about just moving to the other side of town - or even the planet. They'll have to move to another galaxy. As a businessman, I understand the reason for the move - depending on what his field of work is. Either there's more work there or the costs of running the business would be much cheaper. "What do you do?"

Teran explains and I realize that he's - essentially - a contractor, licensed in many fields. I ask several more questions - what does he make, what's his experience and so on. "I'd much rather stay here and finish raising the rest of our children, but -"

"But the minute word gets out that you're looking for work here, your current job and income disappears." He nods.

"So why not start your own company?" Thomas asks.

"Doing what?" Teran asks. "And how? I have no money for it and certainly no knowledge of how to run a business."

"You could be a -" Thomas looks at me, floundering for an Eltarian word for what he wants to suggest. He looks at me and switches to English. "A repairman or a handyman."

"Ah." I explain the concept to Teran, knowing that there's no such thing on Eltar. "Not to mention that - if you go that route - as your business grows, you could hire people that specialize in areas that you do not favor."

"I still wouldn't have the funds for such a venture and would not be able to deal with the other aspects of the business."

"Then you find an investor to help you get started" Thomas responds. "And a good manager for the other stuff."

"Can you recommend someone? I wouldn't know where to start" Teran admits.

"I might know a person or two that may be interested" I answer, making a mental list as I do. "You need to decide if this is something that you really want to try and do first."

"Teran! What are you doing? What are you saying?" Hetta demands, shocked.

I suddenly snap to attention, feeling Mara Jane's power roll over me faintly, meaning she's at a distance. "Mara Jane."

"What is it, Zedd?"

"I'm not sure. She's using her power, but it doesn't feel like it does when she's angry or afraid."

"Should we-"

"I will. Stay here. See if Pina and Dar are home yet - just in case." Knowing just how much he wants to protest, I head out quickly, not giving him the chance.

Letting my daughter's power guide me, I quickly realize that they must be near the back of the property. Knowing now that there's only a few places that they could have been referring to, I move a bit faster, having a rough idea where to find them. I find them faster than I thought I would as they are moving toward me, albeit slowly.

As I'm about to call out to them, I realize that Mara Jane is leaning heavily on her friends. "Let me go get your dad" Megan says.

"No. We have to stay together" Mara Jane insists. "We're safer together, especially since it's starting to get dark."

"Mara Jane! What happened?" I hurry over to the girls.

She sighs. "I wasn't paying as close attention as I should have been and I twisted my ankle on a loose rock. I should have noticed it before it turned under me."

Looking closely, I realize that she's using her power to brace her ankle so that she can walk at all - even with her friends help. Quickly, I scoop her up and head back for the house, the other two right behind me. As we go, I address Sinai. "Your parents are at the house and we have been talking to them about ways they might be able to stay here so that you don't have to leave the girls."

"Mama won't listen" she answers despondently. "Now that she knows who Mara Jane's parents are, she won't want me to have anything to do with them. I've already defied her by being Mara Jane's friend."

"How so?"

"Before the teacher assigned us to work on that project together a few years ago, Mama told me that she'd heard that Lord Zedd had returned and his children would be attending our school. She said that I was to stay as far away from his children as I could."

"And then the teacher assigned you two to work together and you didn't tell your mother."

The girl nods. "I was curious about Mara Jane. I'd heard that she'd been raised on Earth but she still seemed pretty smart and I wanted to know more. The more I learned, the more I liked her. Same with Megan."

"First things first. "We'll get Mara Jane taken care of and then we'll sit down with your parents and figure things out."

We finish the return trip quickly and get Mara Jane tended to. Pina pronounces her injury simply a bad twist and she should be fine in a few days. Thankful for that much, Thomas, the girls and I all head back for the dining room where Sinai's parents are waiting. We can all hear them arguing as we approach, however as tempting as it is to eavesdrop, I am a lord here and that behavior is beneath me. Instead, I open the doors and we all enter the room just in time to hear Hetta finish, "-a halfbreed!"

I know that Thomas is extremely irritated, however he holds his head high proudly - as he should - and remarks calmly, "I'm a power holder too."

Very embarrassed, Sinai says, "Mama please stop it."

Furious, the woman turns on her daughter. "We'll discuss this when we get home!"

"Normally for your bigotry, I would throw you out of my house, quite literally. However, since the situation is clearly upsetting Sinai to such a degree that she chose to flee your home, I suggest that this gets settled now." Said in a way that isn't really a suggestion, the girls, Thomas and I all take seats - Sinai seated between the girls and opposite her parents.

"Mama, please listen. I know that you didn't want me to have anything to do with Mara Jane but a few years ago one of the teachers assigned us to work on a project together. She turned out to be really smart and the best partner I've ever had. I didn't have to do all the work myself for a change. When I got beat up two years ago by some of our classmates, she stood up for me - stopped them from doing it again. Since then, Dr. Oliver - I mean, Lord Thomas - has been teaching me to defend myself in case Mara Jane isn't around."

The woman gasps loudly. "He's been giving you power?"

"Of course not!" Thomas snaps. "I don't have that kind of power or ability and even if I did, I wouldn't pass it to a child. My power isn't dark power like Zedd's is. I'm Ninjetti. My power comes from the great temple on Phaedos."

Sinai speaks again. "Mama, Papa, please. They have all been very kind to me here. None of the things that you seem to think would happen have happened. I've never been mistreated or used or anything like that."

"You have been disobedient and rude!"

"Why? Because I don't agree with your views? Because I know from my own experience that you're wrong and I've told you so? When Mara Jane disagrees with one of her fathers, she tells them so and they listen to her!"

Hetta turns on Thomas, furiously. "Do you see what you've done to her?"

Thomas leans back in his chair. "Considering that she's keeping her tone and attitude very calm, I'd say that she's handling herself very well. You are the one who is practically screaming and having a fit like a child."

Teran speaks up. "She is now, that's true, but there have been times where Sinai has sounded just like her mother is now."

"Well, if that's the behavior that's demonstrated for her at home, I don't doubt it. Children learn what they see and if she sees her mother having a tantrum to get her way and it works, it stands to reason that she'd try it too."

"How dare you!"

"Careful" I comment, raising a brow. "I'll thank you to remember where you are."

I hear Megan make a soft comment to the other girls. "Jeez, Mara Jane. Even your grandfather, hardheaded and stubborn as he is, learned from his mistake about your dad. It's a shame that Sinai's mom can't do the same."

And either she's forgotten how sensitive Eltarian hearing is or she did that on purpose - and I'm betting on the latter. Thomas bows his head to hide his grin even as I bite my lip for the same reason. Somehow, I'm not all that surprised when Teran speaks before his wife. "What do you mean by that, child?"

"Oh a long time ago, Lord Kerch had the same low view of humans that your mate holds. After he actually met and talked to Dr. Oliver, he realized that all of us aren't stupid. Add in that Dr. Oliver wasn't born a halfbreed but was made into one by the powers that he holds and that they bonded even before Dr. Oliver was changed and was still fully human, well, it made him rethink his whole position. That maybe we aren't all trash." She practically spits the last word out and Sinai puts her arm around Megan.

Sinai looks at her parents. "Megan is every bit as smart as Mara Jane and I are. Her brain doesn't work the same and she has a much shorter lifespan, but she's still a good person."

I can see that Hetta is still angry and cut her off before she can speak, angry myself now. "Now there are only a few options and, quite frankly, my greatest concern is the girls' happiness. I understand that sometimes moving is the only option, but you have others as well. One, and truthfully the one that pleases me the least, is that you go on with your move as planned. Two, Teran tries to start a business here. I can give you a few contacts that can help you get started if you like - one of them being Lord Kerch. Three, you could allow Sinai to stay here on Eltar while you move so that she can finish school. Or four - and the most fun for me - you keep making your insulting remarks and throwing your attitude and my offers of help back in my face, and I would be more than happy to level your damn estate and take Sinai and bring her here to live with us."

Thomas gives me a look. "As my husband said, while there is some concern for what's best for your entire family, our concern would certainly be the girls first and foremost. Perhaps everyone should sleep on it and come back to it fresh in the morning." He looks pointedly at Teran. "I think you have some thinking and talking to do."

Sinai sinks down in her chair and I can smell her fear. I know that - as a general rule - Eltarians do not strike their younglings, but she's certainly afraid of something. "And just so you know, if the girls do not hear from or see Sinai in the next few days, option four will become the only option."

The child throws me a grateful look as she slowly rises from her chair. Teran stands and bows to me and Thomas in turn. "Thank you for you patience and time and understanding, your lordships." He turns to his wife. "Let's go home."

Obviously still angry, she bows as well, just missing being rude and the three leave the house. Mara Jane turns to me. "Papa, did you mean it? That Sinai could stay with us?"

Thomas steps in. "Only as a last resort, honey. We know how much Sinai means to both of you girls, but it's no different than when your friend Anna had to move away in third grade. Sometimes these things have to happen for a family to survive."

Megan sighs. "Well, at least her dad seemed to listen."

"We'll see. Why don't you girls go to your rooms now?" I'm still angry and I'm sure that they all know it. Quickly the girls leave and Thomas watches me for a minute.

"All right, mate?" he asks softly.

I take a deep breath and nod, shoving aside most of my less than pleasant emotions for the time being. "How did I ever come to this, Thomas? A hundred years ago, I was a young lord full of evil power conquering entire planets. Now, I'm a husband of an extremely handsome man, father of four beautiful children, possibly looking to adopt our eldest daughter's best friend, have homes on three planets, a successful business, some of the best friends that anyone could wish for, relationship with my parents repaired, happier than I've ever been - and yet still angry at myself that I didn't just force them to do what I wanted them to do. When did I become so - weak? So ordinary?"

He gives me an indulgent smile. "Kalleimat, you are not weak. It's very easy to just let go and rain destruction down on people's heads. It takes a much stronger person to let their reputation and words speak for themselves." He stands and comes around to me, kissing me gently. "And I promise you, my love, you never have been - nor will you ever be - anything remotely close to ordinary."