"It was…interesting," Skyler admitted later.
After all of the excitement of her waking had died down, her mate had calmed down, and the children reassured that Skyler was going to be fine, things had surprisingly gone back to "normal" quickly.
After than clan had gone on their patrols, Skyler had shooed both Elisa and Nayeli to their respective rooms for well deserved naps.
Diane Maza had stuck around for a while, but had gone home herself, more than a little tired from the emotional roller coaster that she'd been on. She'd been so tied up with the kids and the drama over Skyler's mystery sickness, that she'd completely forgotten to give Elisa grief over the hasty marriage of Beth…
For the time being, that was.
Once that had all been handled, Skyler went in search of Owen to see if he could give her any insight to what Nought had said.
Once the whole story had poured out of her, Owen tapped his stone fist against his chin thoughtfully. "It seems that we misjudged your strength, Ms Henrick. I knew you were fully Fae, but who did you say your father is?"
"He said his name is Nought," Skyler said with a frown.
"Hm," He gave a thoughtful hum before dropping his stone fist to his side. "I vaguely recall hearing the name and of someone with his abilities, but I cannot remember him."
"Yeah," Skyler said with a frown. "He said that it was kind of a blessing and curse that so few could remember him."
And what kind of existence would that be? Skyler couldn't help thinking about it. To not have friends, because no one would remember meeting you by the end of the day. Family? Only a few of them remembered what you looked like, despite many could remember your name.
And, maybe, that was why her mother had chosen him to be the father of her child. A man easily forgettable to many, and possibly even the child.
A man so weary of rejection that he wouldn't try to force a child of his to remember him because the chances were so small.
Owen looked blankly at her for a moment, "And yet, you remembered him then, and you remember him now. I wonder…"
"I was thinking about that. I'm not sure but," Skyler shrugged. "Maybe it's genetic? Like, I remember him because we share blood ties or something."
"Perhaps," Owen said with a shrug. "Ultimately, the choice is yours, Skyler. You can choose to try training with this Nought, or you can continue with The Xanatos children and I."
Skyler thought of Nought, all alone in his home in the place between waking and sleeping. She wasn't ready for a father-daughter kind of relationship… not that she'd really know what that was anyway… but maybe someday. In the meantime, he'd be able to teach her, train her and help her to break down the walls that she'd build because of anger and rejection herself.
"You know what, Owen?" Skyler said, putting a little steel in her spine, "I think I'll meet with Nought and give it a try."
Owen's eyes gave a twinkle, just the barest hint of the trickster below the surface, "Very well. I will be most interested to see how it all works out."
As Owen walked away, Skyler said, in the barest of whispers to herself, "Me, too."
