When Jayesh woke up the next morning, he had a long, detailed letter waiting from Kari, and a shorter one from Connor, his six year old. Connor was a Guardian with a Ghost, and sending messages to his parents was his latest obsession.

"Dear Dad,

How are you? I am fine. Can you come for the Dawning tomorrow?

Love, Connor."

Jayesh glanced at Phoenix. The Ghost said, "The Vanguard has cleared visits through all next week."

Jayesh picked up his tablet and typed,

"Dear Connor,

I'm doing fine. I miss you. Have you been good for your mother? Look for me tomorrow afternoon.

Love,

Dad."

Then he wrote a long letter to Kari to explain about Shaw Han being his blood brother. He wasn't sure how he felt about that, yet. The man was a stranger, and Jayesh's exact opposite. But it was heartening to know that the Traveler had granted him a second chance, too. Jayesh had been haunted by his death all his second life, only remembering vague impressions of being executed. Hearing it from Shaw's point of view had filled the holes. It had also given him closure on that particular question.

He climbed out of bed and took a hot shower, then dressed in casual clothes with a heavy coat. The snowstorm had ended, but the temperature had plunged. Phoenix informed him that the snow was topped with a layer of ice, and to walk carefully.

Jayesh made his way up to the Tower walk. Robot frames were busy shoveling the sidewalks and sprinkling salt. People were already moving about, sometimes sliding on the walks. It was a dim, gray twilight, as the sun wouldn't rise until nearly noon. Even then, it would barely peek above the horizon, then set again. The day before the shortest day of the year was a long, cold, dim one, as were the weeks leading up to it. The Dawning lights strung everywhere pushed back the faint daylight and added color and cheer to the world.

Jayesh ventured forth to secure a hot breakfast. But before he reached the door leading to the Tower cafeteria, Shaw sent him a message.

"Hey Jayesh, meet me at that spot on the wall. You know the one."

The warlock changed directions and picked his way along the icy walkway. "Phoenix, what's he up to?"

"There are quite a few Guardians there," Phoenix replied. "I think they may be wall skating."

"No way, really?" Jayesh had heard of wall skating, but had never seen anyone do it. It was one of those things that Hunters bragged about after a few drinks. It involved either skates or ice, and the Guardian in question would attempt to skate down the side of the wall-all seventy stories of it. The buttressed shape of the wall, where it flared out at the bottom, made for a ramp. Sticking the landing was the hardest part, as most Guardians died on impact. The Vanguard frowned on this sport, so it had to be played on the sly.

Jayesh reached the place where Shaw had dumped water the night before. A group of Hunters clustered against the parapet, looking over. Jayesh looked, too. The water had become an icy slick down the wall. The buttress at the bottom was thick with snow, and there were already tracks where someone had tried it out.

Shaw greeted Jayesh with a slap on the back. "Ever tried wall skating?"

"I've heard of it," Jayesh replied. "Never seen it in action."

"Then watch and learn, little brother," said Shaw, jumping up on the parapet. He saluted the other Hunters, then leaped off.

He slid down the icy wall as if surfing, one foot forward, leaning far back to keep from overbalancing. He shot down the wall, one, five, ten stories, gaining speed as he went. The Hunters cheered. Jayesh watched, wide-eyed. It was hard to see Shaw in the dim light, but he became visible again as he hit the snow. Unfortunately, his speed was so great that the snow tripped him. He wiped out and tumbled end over end the last ten stories. The Hunters groaned.

"The trick is to stay alive all the way to the bottom," one Hunter told Jayesh. "Shaw's good, but the snow is a challenge "

Far below, the distant speck lay still at the base of the wall. A tiny point of Light appeared as his Ghost began resurrecting him.

Footsteps rang on the walk behind them. Jayesh turned to see Lord Shaxx approaching, his helmet with its single horn distinctive in the twilight. "What's going on, Guardians?" he boomed. "Lose something?"

"Uh, sure," said the Hunters. "Just admiring the view. Right."

At that moment, Shaw Han transmatted back to the top of the wall in a swirl of particles. "Did you see that?" he laughed, slapping his friends and brother on the backs. "That was awesome! Even the snow at the bottom!" He turned and saw Shaxx. His grin faded.

Shaxx folded his massive arms. As the Crucible handler, he stood head and shoulders above most other Guardians. If he disapproved of their actions, they were indeed busted.

"Wall skating?" Shaxx said. "That is dangerous, Guardians. Civilians might get the wrong idea."

"That's why we do it on Dawning's Eve," said Shaw Han. "It's too dark to see us."

Shaxx stood unmoving for a long moment. Jayesh cringed inwardly, waiting for the huge Titan to punch Shaw's head off for rule breaking.

Then Shaxx walked forward and looked over the parapet. "Looks like you iced it properly," he boomed. "Let a Titan educate you in wall skating." He vaulted over the parapet and dropped out of sight. Everyone leaned over to watch, shocked and delighted.

Shaxx's form was more hunched than Shaw's, more compact. During the first drop, he allowed himself to freefall, turning somersaults in the air to control his position. Just before he hit the snow, he drew on his Solar Light and melted a track straight through it to the ground. He reached the bottom in one piece and raised a fiery hammer in salute.

Shaxx transmatted back to the top amid cheers from the Hunters. "I blazed a path," he reported. "Reaching the bottom should be easier now. That snowbank was four feet thick."

As he spoke, Nell and Grant-4 walked up. Nell was swathed in a heavy winter cloak with only her eyes showing. Grant wore a heavy coat like Jayesh's in lieu of his Titan armor. His orange eyes scanned the gathering. "Jayesh! Some kind of party?"

"No more parties," Nell groaned. "I am so hung over. I'll never drink again as long as I live."

"You had one glass, Firefly," Grant told her.

"It wasn't the size of the glass," Nell replied. "It was what was in it."

"Not up to wall skating, then?" Jayesh teased.

"No," Nell said. "But I'll watch. Is that Shaxx?" She and Grant stepped to the parapet to watch the progress of each jumper.

Shaw Han found Jayesh. "Come on, you try it!"

Jayesh gulped. "Uh, no thanks."

"Come on!" Shaw urged. "It's tradition! We skated the walls as they were being built!"

"I don't like dying," Jayesh admitted.

Shaw rolled his eyes. "You're a Guardian. It's part of the job. Come on! Try it!"

The other Hunters joined in, jeering that a warlock had no chance of showing them up. At last, his honor at stake at the reputation of warlocks to uphold, Jayesh jumped.

His feet touched the icy wall exactly once. Then he fell parallel to the wall, the freezing wind whistling in his ears. He tried to hit the slope feet-first, but his position was wrong, and he hit the melted groove in the snow sideways. He shot to the bottom of the wall in a white cloud, where Phoenix had to resurrect him.

Jayesh transmatted back to the top in a wild adrenaline high. His whole body felt loose and light, and his head whirled. He high-fived everyone, including Shaxx.

"Again?" Shaw Han asked.

"Never again!" Jayesh exclaimed, his voice coming out higher than he'd intended. "Terrifying!"

"What is the meaning of this?" a new voice broke in.

The crowd turned and quieted. Commander Zavala stalked toward them, his parade armor making him seem at least ten feet tall and as wide as a truck. His blue eyes glowed as brightly as the Dawning lights, but in a much less cheerful way. An air of authority surrounded him, like a parent who had found a child drawing on a wall with a marker.

Shaw Han bowed. "Hello, Commander. We were wall skating."

Zavala glanced over the parapet at the ice slick and the plowed track in the snow. "I cannot allow this travesty," he said, turning to the crowd. Everyone cringed except Shaxx. "None of you understand the gravity of such a sport."

"Please, sir," Shaw said. "It's tradition."

"I am aware," Zavala replied. "Over the years, the original technique has been forgotten. Do you know who started this tradition?"

Then, to Jayesh's complete shock, Zavala stepped up on the parapet. He summoned a Void shield to one arm, threw it down the wall, and leaped after it. He caught it with his feet and surfed down the wall with flawless balance.

The crowd roared in delight and astonishment. Jayesh was yelling, "Zavala started it? Zavala?" But nobody heard him.

The Vanguard Commander reached the bottom in a perfect run, and raised his fists and shield to them from the ground. Then he transmatted back to the top, where the crowd converged on him, laughing and cheering. The usually serious Zavala grinned and accepted their adulation.

After that, a few more Hunters tried it, but the crowd mostly dispersed. There was no point in jumping when the boss had just shown everyone up.

Connor waited near the main doors of the Acotango fortress, anxiously watching for his father. The whole place was underground, and the endless concrete walls and floor bored him. Connor had found his way into the hangers multiple times, and from there, outdoors. The guards were becoming used to finding their little escape artist in places he shouldn't be. For a short, chubby six-year-old, Connor had no fear. His Ghost, Varan, healed any injury and could bring him back if he died. Connor had never died, but he didn't worry about it.

His biggest worry was whether his father would make it for the Dawning. It was past noon. The outer doors had been open all day, admitting blinding sunlight and frigid air from the snowscape outside. Guardians came and went, but mostly they came and stayed, visiting family and friends. Most carried in packages and boxes, laughing with companions, or scanning the interior with eager expressions.

Connor perched himself on a crate, out of the way, and maintained his vigil, eyes fixed on the doors. Every so often, Varan would say, "Your mother's checking in. You're not freezing, are you?"

"I'm fine," Connor replied. "Dad will be here soon, I know it." He grinned at Varan from the depths of his fur-trimmed hood. He had his father's dark hair and eyes, as well as his wavy black hair. Varan gazed at him fondly. Few Ghosts had the opportunity to see their Guardians grow up, and she loved him dearly.

Connor returned to watching the entrance, drumming his heels against the crate. When two Guardians entered the doors, he ignored them. Dad would be alone. But Varan spun her shell and said, "Look."

Connor did and identified his father at once, even with his helmet on. He leaped off the crate with a shriek of excitement and galloped toward him. "Dad! Dad!"

Jayesh turned, caught him in mid-stride and swept him off his feet. "Con! Come here!" He laughed and hugged Connor against his coat, then pulled off his helmet to kiss him on both cheeks. "What are you doing out here?"

"Waiting for you!" Connor exclaimed, wiping his face. "It's been ages and ages! Who's this?" He looked at the stranger who had accompanied his father. He'd removed his helmet, too, and smiled in a friendly, uncertain way.

"This is your uncle, Shaw Han," said Jayesh. "I invited him to spend the Dawning with us. Shaw, this is my son, Connor."

Jayesh set Connor down. Connor shook hands with Shaw, as he'd been taught. "Nice to meet you," Connor said. "Did you bring me any presents?"

Shaw laughed. "I'm afraid not. I wanted to meet everyone, first."

"Well, come on!" Connor exclaimed, taking both their hands and tugging them forward with all his strength. Both men staggered. "Mom's been cooking all day! This is going to be great!"

Shaw gave Jayesh a questioning glance. "The kid's strong."

"Titan," Jayesh said out of the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, I'm going to be a Titan," Connor said proudly, leading them down the main corridor to an elevator. "Dad won't let me have a gun and armor until I'm big. Are you a Titan, Mr. Han?"

"Call me Shaw," he chuckled. "And no, I'm a Hunter."

"Grant-4 is a Titan," Connor said. "I'm going to grow taller than him. But I don't want to be an Exo."

"I'm pretty sure you'll stay human," Jayesh laughed. "Come on, let's get to our rooms."

The elevator took them three floors down to the living areas. The hallways smelled of various people's Dawning feasts. Laughter and voices rang muffled through each door. Connor ran to one halfway down the hall and swiped his key card through the lock. He held the door open for his father and uncle. "Mom!" he yelled. "Dad's here! And he brought Uncle Shaw!"

They entered the small living area of the tiny apartment. The concrete walls had been brightened by colorful posters of landscapes, and the floor was softened by rugs. It smelled deliciously of baking meat and spices.

Stephanie dashed in, her long black hair flying behind her like a comet. "Daddy!" she squealed. Jayesh knelt and caught her, lifting her off her feet in a hug. Stephanie hugged him as fiercely as a three-year-old could. Then she sat up, looked into his face and said, "Did you bring me a Ghost?"

"I'm afraid not, sweetie," Jayesh said. "But I brought you an uncle. This is Shaw Han."

Stephanie regarded Shaw soberly, her dark eyes deep and thoughtful. "What's an uncle?"

"Your father's brother," Jayesh said.

Stephanie accepted this. She shook Shaw's hand, too. "Hi."

"Hi," said Shaw, beaming at her. "You have cute kids, Jayesh."

"Thanks," said Jayesh. He let Stephanie slide to the floor. "Where's your mom?"

As he spoke, Kari entered the room, all smiles. She was as fair as Jayesh was dark, her fox-brown hair dyed purple at the tips. It curled around her face and shoulders, making her appear soft and feminine. She wore a set of warlock robes in blue and white, for the holiday, and her belly bulged in a noticeable lump. She went to Jayesh and hugged him tight, tucking her face into his neck. "I'm so glad you came," she whispered. Then she released him and hugged Shaw, too, although not as tightly. "And you came, too! I'm so glad you two figured out that you're family. I can see the resemblance." Kari stepped back, looking from one face to the other.

Shaw stared at her, then looked at his brother. "How'd you land a girl like this?"

"Accident, mostly," Jayesh said, beaming at Kari. "She's a Stormcaller. Don't let her looks deceive you. She's a monster in a fight."

Kari laughed. "Oh, stop. You're too kind, Shaw. Come into the kitchen! I've been keeping the food hot."

They followed her through a doorway and sat at a table set for five. Connor and Stephanie took their seats and chattered about the preparations they'd been making, and the adventures they'd had, and talking about presents. Shaw didn't say much, but he watched the children and Kari with wonder in his eyes. Few Guardians married, and fewer were able to carry pregnancies to term. This little family was the stuff of fantasy, and Shaw was right in the middle of it.

Then Kari served a rack of lamb, and there wasn't much talking for a while. She kept pulling more and more food out of the refrigerator. Shaw and Jayesh stuffed themselves and went back for more. Kari grew happier the more they ate. She had been cooking for days, mostly to keep herself from missing her husband so much. Seeing him and his newfound brother enjoying each dish was the payoff for her hard work.

After they ate, Jayesh and Kari washed dishes. Shaw took the children into the living room and taught them to bounce a ball off the concrete wall and catch it.

Kari seized the opportunity to kiss Jayesh extensively and run her fingers through his hair. "How are you?" she murmured. "I mean, really."

"Barely keeping it together," he whispered, nuzzling her. "I've needed you so badly."

"I'll take care of you," she replied softly, gazing into his eyes, seeking the spark of Light that danced there. "Shaw seems nice."

"He's a good guy," Jayesh said, collecting the plates. "He was going to be alone for the Dawning, since he lost his whole team. I had to bring him along."

They talked as they washed dishes and tidied up. Kari felt herself relaxing for the first time in weeks. Jayesh did, too. The unspoken trust between them soothed and calmed them both, the other's presence acting as a balance. They each knew that no matter where their mate went in the solar system, they would remain faithful and trustworthy, their love undiminished. Kari couldn't wait to have him all to herself for the night.

Once dishes were finished, Jayesh and Kari entered the living room and sat down.

"Guess what time it is?" Jayesh said, clasping his hands.

"Presents!" Connor exclaimed.

"Presents!" Jayesh agreed. He gestured at his Ghost. Phoenix began transmatting wrapped gifts from his memory storage into Jayesh's hands. Jayesh passed them out.

Connor tore the wrapping off a Two of Spades replica dart gun. He yelled in excitement and began loading it with foam darts.

Stephanie opened a smaller gun, also equipped with darts, and she and her brother immediately waged war on each other.

Shaw received a new Hunter's cloak. It wasn't strictly new, but Hunters passed around cloaks as badges of honor.

"That belonged to a friend of mine," said Jayesh. "He traded it for Cayde's cloak as a promise to avenge his death. I kept the other. Your cloak's worn through, so I thought you could use an alternate."

"Thanks," Shaw said, holding it up and fingering the material. "It's a foot too long, but I can hem it. How tall was your friend?"

"About six foot eight," said Jayesh with a grin.

To Kari, Jayesh gave a box filled with coils of wire, bits of metal, glass beads, and other bits and pieces salvaged from the ruins of Earth's cities. "I knew you needed more materials for building models," he told her, kissing her cheek. "There's not a lot of salvage out here, so I collected a few handfuls everywhere I went."

Kari's eyes filled with tears. Her model-building kept her sane, and Jayesh knew how much fresh materials meant to her. She mouthed, "Thank you," without speaking.

After that, Jayesh and Shaw played dart gun wars with Connor and Stephanie. Jayesh was amused to hear Shaw lecturing the children on combat tactics. "Keep your back to the wall and check your sight lines. Use your ears. You can tell an enemy's location by sound, sometimes. Check the corners when you enter a room. Could be an ambush."

Connor swung into the living room and traded dart fire with Jayesh.

"Trigger discipline!" Shaw called after him. "Finger beside the trigger, not on it!"

"But I was shooting," said Connor, reloading his gun with darts.

"Fine," said Shaw, grinning at Jayesh behind Connor's back. "But when you're not shooting, finger off the trigger."

They played mock-war until Kari served apple pie. Then a truce was declared, and everyone crowded around the kitchen table again. The pie was declared excellent, and vanished within fifteen minutes.

After that, the children were tired. Jayesh produced an armful of their own books and puzzles from home, and the children settled down with them. Then the adults talked and talked, swapping stories and getting to know each other.

"I've been cleared of the inquiry," Jayesh said. "I had to talk to the Cormorant Blade before I left. They've been investigating the deaths of the fireteam and ruled that my team had nothing to do with it. Good thing our Ghosts kept comprehensive mission logs."

"And footage," Phoenix chimed in. All their Ghosts hung out near the ceiling, playing their own games of tag or hide and seek. "We recorded tons of footage, and the Blade wanted it all."

"Wish it were that simple for me," said Shaw. "I'm still in trouble. They're saying they'll pull me from active duty and make me a trainer for new Guardians. I did pretty well with Winona, I guess. She's scored high in her classes."

"That's better than being sentenced to forced labor and having your Ghost locked up," Kari said. "That's what they used to do to Guardians who screwed up. Now they just hand you to the Praxic Order for rehabilitation."

Shaw shuddered. "Thank the Light they're not throwing me to the Order. I'll take the change in jobs, thanks."

The hours ticked by and the short day turned swiftly to night. Kari and Jayesh put the children to bed, and Kari made up a bed on the sofa for Shaw. Then she and Jayesh cuddled up in their own bed, harder and narrower than their bed at home.

"When will they let us go back to the Tower?" Kari asked.

"When Europa is sorted," Jayesh said, his face buried in her hair. "I'll probably get my orders around the new year."

"I wish it wasn't you," Kari whispered. "Why is it always you?"

"Nell and Grant are going, too," Jayesh replied. "We have a pretty good track record. All that stuff in the Reef. Tours in the Dreadnaught. All the times we've fought Taken. And our last stint on the Moon."

"The Moon is why I'm worried," Kari replied, burrowing her face against his neck. "You told them how even looking at a pyramid made you black out, right?"

"I did," Jayesh said, stroking her. "But the Vanguard thinks the new safeguards built into my gear should let me handle it. It filters out that particular interference."

"What for?" Kari asked. "So you can talk to it? The last time you talked to a creature of Darkness, Riven ate the Light out of you."

Jayesh was silent for a long moment, remembering. "Well. The pyramids aren't Riven. They're … chatty. Eris Morn had all kinds of messages from them. I'm not sure if we're dealing with aliens, or if the pyramids, themselves, are alive. That's one thing I'm being sent to find out." He kissed her. "Better me than you, lovelight."

"I wish it was me," she murmured, stroking his hair back from his forehead. "Just once, I wish I could face this instead of you."

"You did," he whispered. "When the Shadow of Earth tracked us down."

"Don't mention her," Kari snarled, clutching him in sudden ferocity. "I'm still angry at what she did to you. And me. And she was going to murder the kids. I hope she never gets out of rehab."

"She's insane," Jayesh said. "Last I heard, they have her locked up, and her Ghost watches her from outside."

Kari smiled grimly. "That's her fault for putting Hive runes on her armor. The song is the same as the singer."

"My point is," Jayesh said, "you fought for me then. I'm going to face Darkness, itself, and fight for you. With the Traveler gone silent, you're all I have left."

Kari trembled, holding back a sob. "Don't let it destroy you. I can't lose another husband."

"I'll come back," Jayesh said. "I promise."

Those words echoed in his mind for days and weeks afterward. He had promised to return to Kari, no matter what it cost him, and a promise to Kari was a promise to the Light, itself. Later, as he stood on the icy plains of Europa and faced the black pyramid on the horizon, that promise steadied his heart.

The end