Emily hung up. She was still in the locker room of the boxing gym. Adam had called her to ask for advice regarding his relationship with his internet girlfriend. Internet girlfriend heh, she still wasn't sure whether to believe he actually had one or not. Still, in either case, she felt glad to know her relationship advice was needed. Made her feel good. What she didn't count on was a renewed sense of that fluttery lovesick emotion inside her gut.

It's been roughly several months since she last seen Adam. And roughly two years since they met. In between those times they have gotten closer and now she considered Adam one of her good friends. Or at least that's what she kept telling herself. Those butterfly feelings implied something more. She had successfully kept them down for all this time regarding Adam, but she can't really completely ignore it.

Adam was cute, he was that cute slightly chubby nerdy friend of hers. Maybe more than just cute? God, why is this all so confusing? She remembered how protective she felt over him when he first told her about his magic. How the fuck dare those idiots high school kids made him feel less than whole. It wasn't his fault he got the power to completely rewrite history if he wanted to. He didn't ask for them.

And that reminded her of how much she missed seeing him, how dare he thought he can pull a Mary Poppins without any consequences. She didn't want him out of her life forever. She missed going to his special private world as she now had quite a few times. She missed the occasional trip to the past or future as he apparently can do as well (usually they make a point to not interfere, just strictly to visit. She even had to stop him from ruining something twice). Generally, she just missed being with him.

Damn it, why can't this lovey-dovey romance movie cliched feelings just stay repressed like it had been since he waltzed off down the road on his bike. Adam was just a really good friend and she is already in love with someone. And married to said someone to boot. Besides this was just one sided anyway, Adam wasn't interested in her like that. She was fine with that, completely fine. And plus she did not want to entertain the inevitable question of whether or not she married the right guy. She was sure she did.

Just then she was unceremoniously jostled out of her thoughts as her phone vibrated in her hand. She felt the resolve fall down like a ton of bricks when she saw the caller id. It was Adam.

Who the fuck was she kidding, she had feelings for that magical nerd boy. Ugh shit, why did this love shit have to be messy and complicated she wondered. She let out an aggravated sigh, not directed at Adam this time, and conceded herself to the reality of things.

She unlocked her phone and answered, "Hey Adam."

"Hey, Emily. Thanks for helping me out earlier."

"You're welcome. How'd it go?"

"We broke up."

She felt excitement swell up through her body, "You did?! I mean I'm sorry to hear that."

Hearing Adam's voice made things feel right with the world. If only momentarily.

"It's ok, for the best anyways. I need to think about things," Adam replied, "I just want to let you know I'm in my private world so if anyone asks, just come up with something."

"I doubt anyone would except your sister and parents, but I'll tell them you're at a weeklong ruiners convention in...I don't know, Atlanta," She chuckled softly before it faded into a smile.

Adam lightly laughed in response and Emily can imagine how adorable it'll look.

"I knew I can count on you, thanks Em!" He sounded pretty grateful and warm too. All the while being happy as ever.

She imagined he grinned that nerdy, but cute grin of his.

Adam hung up and Emily was left with her newfound romance development. Did he even felt the same way about her? Her illogical romance fueled side hoped he did, but her logical objective fueled side was in full force too. That side reminded her that based on previous behaviors, Adam most likely like just saw her as a good friend and confidante.

She'd also realized that the long-dormant desire to figure out the reasoning behind his magic powers was reawakened.

Adam seemed to be right about even this one. Nothing she can think of they probably hadn't thought of. A search online turned up nothing and the library proved fruitless too. The next free weekend she had, she took advantage of to do her own research. Ruin Adam once again on something. And this time it would be more than beneficial. She hoped that is. Right now she just sat at a random desk feeling more defeated than hopeful.

She had a couple of books in front of her all about the histories of myths and legends. Her logic was perhaps there was a story in there that was based on someone with similar powers. Probably wouldn't really lead them anywhere, but it was a start at least. She closed the book in her hand when she spotted a familiar short brown haired woman. She looked like she just came from her public defender job.

"Oh hey, Rhea."

"Hey Emily, didn't expect to see you here today, I'm on lunch break," Rhea said as she took a seat across from her. She looked about relieved to see her.

"I didn't expect to see you either. I was just umm…..turns out I naively thought I could make headway into getting any new about the 'family secret'," Emily admitted as she made the air quotes gesture.

Luckily it didn't take too long for Rhea to catch the double meaning there. She didn't want to actually say it cause there was still a few people around them. Sure no one would probably hear nor care, but she figured she can't be a little too cautious with something like this. Rhea for her part leaned in closer after a quick check to make sure they were relatively alone.

"Oh right yeah, it's really hard when you got no leads and you don't even know where to start. Trust me I've tried on my own from time to time. And speaking of which, I'm glad I ran into you sooner than later."

Rhea dug into the side of her suit jacket and took out a folded piece of paper. She handed it over to Emily to look at. The latter unfolded it and read it. The message was short but enough that it caused a worrying sense of dread.

"Watch your back Guardian of Harmony"

"Speaking of family secret, I got that weird note this morning. It just poofed onto my kitchen counter. I got a feeling that was directed to Adam," Rhea about whispered the last part.

Emily gasped with a short but sharp intake of air, "What?! Who'd you think want to hurt Adam? Well, besides anyone he ever ruined facts for."

Emily looked over the rest of the paper and there was nothing to indicate who the hell sent it. Crud.

"At any rate, we have a lead at least." Rhea pointed out.

The more she thought about it, the more she wasn't sure if she should take it as a serious threat as she initially did. Still, Emily immediately grabbed her phone to send a text about it to Adam, "I will let him know about this then we go search for Guardian of Whatever online."

She honestly wasn't sure how to take this sorta anti-climatic threat. She felt like she shouldn't worry too much. Come on who seriously wanted to cause Adam harm. At the same time however, despite the logical part of her mind, her heart skipped a beat in horror and felt protective of him again. If this was some kind of a cruel joke, she'll probably end up in jail a second time.

"Good idea."

As annoying and grating on her nerves he is, she didn't want anything to happen to her older brother. Rhea isn't afraid to knock someone down if they meant Adam any true harm. But at the same time, she had trouble believing someone would.

Emily put her phone away in her purse as the two got up to head towards the one open computer. Midway through a brief flash of light blue light appeared out of thin air and engulfed the two.

If anyone else witnessed it the second it happened or had noticed them earlier, it was like they were never there the next. If anyone tried to remember the two woman that mysteriously disappeared, it would've been in vain. No one remembered long enough to alert someone in charge or to call the police. Were they really here before or not? Could be dreaming things. Hard to act on something if the whole event was hard to imagine. Was it really that important then? Must be, might as well not think on it too hard. Get onto more important priorities in life.