I held my hand up sending the doors sailing open when we are close, they are normally heavy. But it set them on edge as they looked ready to attack, but they see faces they knew. Some are young and wouldn't remember us, but a woman who had salt and pepper hair walked forward her hand outstretched to us, she looked like she thought this was a dream. I moved forward, it was Willo just older, "My child," her voice was not a whisper but it was loud enough to be heard as whispers broke out.

I just let her touch my face, her eyes moved to Warren. "Chaos has taken her,"

I stood tall which was hard, "We will get Ambala back, but you can't send your kin. They will all die, Aria, bring me them, they promised they come when called," She bowed out as I opened the first portal, she just walked through pulling Jackie with her. I had a small plan, it wasn't much.

Willo, looked like we made this the best day but a flash of nearly white hair caught my eye it was at the head table was were Willo stumbled from. I moved it was BiBi, I just bypass Willo grabbing my daughter, I gasped. "BiBi, why did you follow mom?" she was so tranquil smiling at me.

I was making a show of myself when Warren knelt at our side, "Bexi love, look at her hair. This isn't our daughter," I just made a fool of myself. "My greatest of Granddaughters is so lucky to have you. To be so loved and cared for, I am KyKi," standing straight again seeing the other blonde woman beaming at me, my chest was hurting.

Warren in his native tongue explained why I just acted in such a way, Willo held me close as a girl with lush green eyes came close. I asked her, "Bexi?"

"You know me," she breathed.

Willo touched her daughter in laws shoulder, "Aye, this is our family protector and his beloved. They fought the first war and have returned in our dire hour. Please fetch my Wiklow and your pa," I stood.

"Daro is still here," he was like old, and now older as Bexi rushed from the hall as I saw faces that I once knew. They rush, clapped my back in harsh grunts before pulling us into hugs. My bag, I moved to open it seeing on the very top a case of Snickers tied to a single one was the wooden carving I held dear, with it in hand we talk.

I asked, Willo. "Why is Wiklow leading, he is still young,"

Willo sat with a heaviness, "My beloved Wirich, he fought with bravery trying to get to his daughter before the dark man came. He is buried and waiting for me," I felt the welling of hot tears as the one named KyKi took my hand.

"Bexley, might you tell my mother and me of this BiBi once again," I leave Warren who looked ready to keep me close. I just sit and tell them all I know; it was hard to look at Krka who looked enough like Aroura I felt the pain of my failure all over again. I was fiddling with eh figure when Krka spoke in soft tones that vibrated in my head, she spoke only to me the words whispered into my mind. "Fear not little one, everything happens, and things can change. But what can not change is love, once there it is always there even in the darkest of hearts. Beatrice is who we see shining so bright in the future, she changes the world for us all. In such a loving and good way," at least she wasn't about to become a tyrant.

The doors opened once again, Bexi walked in smiling followed by a man who looked like Warren, but his hair was longer and shaved on the sides, his body was stacked. "I think I got the short end of the genetic stick," was mumbled as Warren shoved me to the bench, Willo just swatted him with her walking stick. I rubbed my shoulder, my eyes soaking in Daro who aged well but he aged, his dark eyes shifting and looking. "My Bexi said we have travelers, who can help us. Where they be," Daro grunted in such a spiteful way.

Warren knew Daro had a soft spot for me as he placed me front and center for all eyes to see, "I told you both, I would come back and see you somehow. Sorry I kept you waiting," trying to lace the words with emotions because I did miss these faces.

Wiklow was the first to look shocked, Daro though his memory was long as he rushed me nearly breaking my ribs in a hug. "Beloved," was mumbled as I just hugged back as tight as I could.

"My Bexi, you see beloved who you were named for. A strong woman with a fierce heart and love,"

Wiklow held his sobbing wife as her brothers stood looking at us, they were knee-high the last I saw them. I held my hand to Wiklow, he saw what was laying in my palm his carved toy and a snickers bar, his cheeks tinted red and his mother understood and wacked him too. "I waited long for your return, family protector and her beloved," oh, how the tides have changed, here it was me who was great in our time it was him because my anxiety was so great.

Warren grunted, "That hurts Wiklow," but they hugged before he turned to me, "Have missed you, have you come to help?" I placed his toy and candy into his palm. "I will always come to help our great family, but you can not with a good heart lead our family to death. I am calling friends to help, and together we will for once and for all kill Chaos and save Ambala, but in this, we will take our rage and revenge on him for taking Wirich from us far too soon," a wave of war cries echoed. Revenge, I had always considered it to be a much-belied concept. Knowing that I always served people what they had truly earned kept me happy and serene. They could play their passive-aggressive bullshit games and I would smile nod.

I order, we leave in the morning, our goal tomorrow is to get to Ambala after that we come home and plan the battle. After we have her he will be on constant guard," Wiklow smiled. "You heard the protector. Eat but no drink we ride in the morning," I just sit with Warren who was trying not to smile handing me the warm bread dripping with butter and chunks of cheese. He leaned in close to me, "You know you're badass in any timeline, but why more so here?" it was a legit question.

"I am riddled with anxiety and depression, and for some unknown reason, it doesn't bother me here. But being back home it just eats me at times,"

Sleep was easy as Daro slugged Warren muttering in Austrian, I just smile like a toddler at the men. "Sleep my child," Daro was gentle for being a massive man of great stature. "You as well," kissing his forehead before Warren walked him back to his home. It was like I had never left, it was clean but my belongings are still where I had left them long ago. I wore a fresh sleeping gown as I brushed my teeth hearing his thoughts rattling in my head, Wiklow the poor man. I offered, "Come in Wiklow, I know you're there," much like when he was growing always too nervous.

He was a man of great power even without power, he was a ruler and a thinker. "I am sorry," fiddling with the figurine. "Sit and talk, Wiklow," he did, Warren just gave us space waiting by the door hidden, but I sensed and heard his thoughts.

I wait until he is ready to talk, "I blame myself, for pa. I was not here when it happened, was with my wife in town at a gathering,"

He wanted my forgiveness; I was so confused. I state, "I do not blame you, no one does, you blame yourself when no other has. We are all our own worse enemy, you may not in your thoughts be a great as Ambala. But in my mind and my heart you're, it takes great strength and inner power to lead a clan. You must make harsh choices and that was what you were doing at the gathering, Kai attacked then because you were not here. A ruler and great warrior is feared and let us mention my husband and yourself look like twins, the same. Kai, he hates Warren and looking at you will make him act rash," Wiklow was thinking but more calming thoughts as Warren was smiling, he was thrilled with how I handled his family.

I stand, "But good to Bexi, woman are powerful. And you two produce very powerful children, I would know. Sleep we leave when our friends arrive," all in all his thoughts are much better when he leaves my home, he stops and looks at Warren, the family protector.

Something is unsaid between them.