Chapter 20

The end of the Timedance

Alex's POV

Dad shut the door. "Why's Talia crying?"

"Something happened. The Phoenix took her and then…" I wiped my eyes.

"Pop just woke up, that's why I came, but let's let Talia calm before we do anything." He frowned.

Puck was sitting on the bed, rubbing her back. She clung to him. Dad left a box of tissues near them. Then he led me out. I stumbled. He caught me.

"It feels like Grandpa Renard died again. He-he was sick, but… I just saw him. He, she- I couldn't do anything!" I sobbed.

"It's ok, Alex, breathe." He rubbed my shoulder.

I hugged him, mumbling things I didn't comprehend. Her grief was mine. Our bodies tired, from having cried so much, and our breath steadied. Owen carried Talia out. His eyes were puffy and red too.

"Pop will understand if-"

"NO! No, we, we need to. Need to see him." They shook their head.

"Owen, you're not supposed to be here." Dad reminded.

Talia gripped Owen's suit. "I'll think of something."

We went downstairs and Mom drove us to the hospital. A storm kicked up. Talia was staring out the window. I gently held her hand. The storm calmed a little. We went to his room and Grandpa was awake. He didn't look so bad now. Talia crawled on to his bed and he held her.

"Koreetsi mou, I've missed you." He said softly.

"Grandpa…" She said.

"You're ok. It's not your fault." He brushed her hair.

He soothed her until she fell asleep. He talked with us for a bit. He didn't remember suddenly collapsing while his crew was sorting the fish. He told us that he had met Talia went she had Timedanced. The doctor came and kicked us out.

We went home after we knew he was going be ok. Owen stayed in a hotel, claiming he had important things for Dad to look at. We flew as far as we could; the helipad needed repair (Something about a missile), walked in the lobby. There was a man arguing with the receptionist. He had brown hair and murky gray blue eyes.

"C'mon, Talia, let's go!" A man grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch her!" Owen growled.

"And who the hell are you!?" The man snapped.

Puck tucked her behind him. "She is not yours anymore! You lost any rights to her when you committed that arson 15 years ago!"

"You can't stop me from taking Talia home." The man shouted, shoving them.

They snarled.

"She is MY daughter! I adopted her." Dad interjected. "I suggest you leave before I call the police."

"I'll be back." He stormed out.

"Owen, who was that?" I asked.

"Her birth father, Anthony Jones." He growled.

Alex's POV End