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15. Gone

Elysian Fields…

Devlin stood in the doorway of Khyrran's room, watching as she wrote in her journal. She had been home for almost three days and except for her comments in the kitchen, she hadn't said a word. Howard and Gail had laid into her like nothing he'd ever seen before. She had sat there silent and stone faced, nothing in her demeanor betraying a whisper of her thoughts. It was though she were locked inside herself. She had eaten very little and only a threat from Jet that he was going to put her in the sterile room made her start.

Wally came up behind him. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"

Devlin looked at his younger brother. "Yeah. My study should be free." With one last look at Khyrran, he lead Wally into the darkly furnished room. "What's up?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That Khyrran had been missing."

"Who told you?"

"Grace."

"Wally, you're barely eighteen. And you are extraordinarily lacking in the common sense department. If we had told you, you would have been out there looking for her, then I would have had two younger siblings to worry about."

"So, that's it? You were worried I would get my self into some sort of trouble? Devlin, I have been doing this for a while. My Uncle Barry was the first Flash. That was the reason the orphanage wouldn't allow him to adopt me. His schedule was chaotic and unpredictable. But when I was ten, I went to the police station where he was a cop and got lost in the lab. There was a freak electrical storm that day and a lightening bolt came through the window hitting a bunch of chemicals that spilled all over me. I became the kid Flash that day. And when Uncle Barry retired a few years ago, I took his place."

"I understand all that. But you are still compulsive."

"And you aren't all knowing. Besides, maybe I could have found her long before now."

"I highly doubt that."

"You still should have told him." Devlin's head swiveled to the doorway, where Khyrran stood. "Blood is blood, Devlin. And he is right about one thing, Wally. You never would have found me; I was on another planet."

"Khy," Devlin said, softly. Part of him was delighted; she was reaching out from whatever abyss she had been facing. The other part, the Guardian part, was hesitant to expose their secret in the house.

"It's ok. Idan told me it's time he knew. And here's fine." She shut the door and for the next few hours, the two Guardians proceeded to tell their brother who they really were.

Mankato…

"She seems to be holding up pretty well, considering," Theodora said.

"Ingenious idea, though. Giving her orders to tell Wally," Nixi said to Idan.

"I thought so. We had to do something to get her back in the game. Though she still has a few issues to work through before she gets sent back out into the field."

Kamara walked in. "Give her a few more days, then put her back on the training schedule she was on before she took the throne. She's not a child anymore and it's time we began treating her like the Empress she really is."

"But…" Nixi protested.

"She's right," Gagon answered. "Khyrran still has to a planet to lead. Any show of weakness and the ground she gained in the last year will be lost."

Idan and Nixi sighed. Someone was going to have a fit about this and they were both betting it would be Devlin.

Mann'ahoia…

A week later…

Khyrran stood on in the main hall of Aeternus Castle on Avalon. Arthur and Mera had gotten married earlier that day and the reception was in full swing. She had told Mera months ago that she'd host the reception. Now she just wanted it to be over. She was happy that they were happy, but she could handle only so much frivolity at that point.

Devlin and Grace knew something that had happened during her absence and were walking on eggshells around her. Dawn and Jet were gently prodding, especially since they were the ones who tended her wounds. Howard and Gail had suggested a family trip in Paris. She didn't want to go to Paris. She wanted them all to leave her alone. If given the time she knew that she could overcome the insecurity she was feeling. Zaddock had ripped away her identity with his actions and she had had no other choice than to put those feelings on the back burner to escape with her life. Being home was wonderful but her family was making her feel fragile and broken all over again.

Kent came up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "You wanted to talk."
She looked at him. "Come on."

He reluctantly followed her out of the hall and into a small antechamber. He began before she had the chance. "I would like to point out that I did help, before you take my head off."

"The only point in your favor, Kent," Khyrran said, sitting in one of the chairs. She indicated that he should sit and he did, reluctantly. "Clark came to you for a reason. These weren't normal circumstances, Kent. I never understood your quitting anyway."

Kent sighed. "Khyrran, until you see the horrors this world and others have to offer, you'll never truly know why I did it."

"Kent, I don't know what you think the past month has been, but I have a pretty good idea what 'horrors' walk this planet. But if this is what it took to get the Guardian of Air back, I'm not going to complain." She rose, Kent following suit.

"I expected you to be angrier than that."

Khyrran grinned. "What do you think those training sessions were?"

Kent chuckled as they left the antechamber. Mera and Arthur were getting ready to leave on their month long honeymoon and the crowd had followed them out of the castle. The throng parted for her as she made her way to the horse drawn chariot.

"Have a good time. And Arthur don't worry about Atlantis for a couple of weeks. I got it and the Guardian thing."

He gave her a genuine smile. Mera reached down and hugged her with a "Thanks." The two drove off and the party moved back inside to continue with the celebration.

Lilac House…

A few days later…

Gail walked into the family room looking for Khyrran. Grace and Devlin were there watching TV. Well, Devlin was. Grace was leaning against the arm rest with a sketch book propped on her legs, the pencil in her hand flying furiously over the page.

"Have either of you seen Khyrran?"

Devlin sighed. "She's in her room."

"This is getting ridiculous. She ran away for nearly three weeks and now she's pulling this recluse crap."

"Mom, please don't push it. She'll open up when she's ready."

"Devlin, I'm worried about her. And you as well." The pencil in Grace's hand stilled as she and Devlin looked at the older woman. "You spend too much time in this house. You're newlyweds. You should be out doing things together, growing as a couple."

"Gail, we aren't worried about the strength of our marriage. We love each other very much. Khyrran's going through a tough time right now and we'd rather be here for her," Grace commented.

"I just feel that she's ruining for you."

"Did it ever occur to you that I didn't leave of my own free will?" Khyrran's question came right on the heels of Gail's statement. The three turned to see her standing in the doorway.

"I didn't realize you'd decided to actually be part of the family…"

"No, because then you would have said it to my face instead of the sneaky manipulative way you did."

"That was uncalled for young lady."

"Whatever."

Devlin jumped in, "Taken? As in kidnapped?"

"Forget I said anything," she said, spinning on her heel and sprinting up the stairs.

"That's just great, Mom. She finally decides to open up and you have to shoot her down like she's worthless."

"She's lying."
"She's been kidnapped before or did you forget that?" Devlin tossed the remote on the table and followed Khyrran up the stairs. Gail looked at Grace. Grace picked up her extra pencils and followed her husband.

"I'd be careful, Gail. You're going to end up losing both of them if you aren't."

The Next Morning…

Howard looked at Gail. "You do realize that this isn't going to work, right?"

"These are our children, Howard. Paris is beautiful this time of year and Khyrran's never been."

"Gail, for once will you please quit thinking of yourself and try to put your daughter first?"

"Howard, she's never been. It'll be wonderful."

"Have you seen the look on her face every time you bring it up?"

"Fine, a weekend in New York."

"She hasn't left her room, except for meals since she came home!" he exclaimed.

"She was kidnapped, again, from right under our noses. It isn't safe for her here anymore. She needs to get out of this house, if only for a little while," Gail argued.

"Ok, but you're telling her."

Devlin walked in to hear his father's comment. "Tell her what?"

"Family weekend in New York," Gail replied, happily. "With Khyrran."

"That is never going to work."

"And you think you know that how?" she demanded.

"Because you are going to tell her and she's going tell you no. Besides, you could ask her before you plan," he commented, jerking his thumb over his shoulder, indicating the teen in the doorway.

"Morning, Khy. Want some eggs?"

"No thank you." She poured a glass of orange juice, grabbed a piece of toast and headed out the back door, towards the stables.

"Be back by noon. I'm going to get us an evening flight."

"Have fun, I'm not going."

Gail dropped the spatula. "Yes, you are."

Khyrran turned and gave Gail the 'Empress Glare'. "No. I. Am. Not."

"We can't leave you here alone. It's not safe."

"Then send me back to the Kents. Or to my father. He should come around if he knows I'm 'in danger'," she said, putting air quotes around in danger.

"I am not sending you to your father. Or to the Kents. You are our daughter and you are going with us."

"You can book the plane, but you can't force me to get on."

"Consider yourself grounded from the car."

"Fine, my feet still work." Khyrran shut the back door, seconds before the frying pan shattered the glass pane.

Mann'ahoia…

Same day…

Khyrran stood at the head of the Council table. "I apologize for my absence. Something came up. I must say, ladies, that I am impressed with your coping skills. Things appear to be running smoothly."

Ferinia spoke up. "That's all you have to say about it? You have been gone for over a month!"

"Like I said, something came up."

"Such as…?"

"Lady Ferinia, please, quit asking questions that you don't need to know the answers to."

The queen sat back in her chair with a huff. The meeting continued without interruption. But Khyrran knew Ferinia wouldn't let it go until she knew exactly where she's been and what she'd been doing.

Mankato…

Yep still later…

"Quit lollygagging." Idan looked over his shoulder at the young priestess. It had been over a year since she had taken her druid's test and received the priestess title. She was supposed to have taken the sorceress test over two months ago, but with their trip to Ajuris 5 and her…mission, it had never gotten done.

"Why are we doing this now?"

"Because someone somewhere said we had to and I'm not arguing with that someone."

"I hate you guys sometimes. You know that, right?"

"Dutifully noted in my handy dandy notebook."

"Shut up."

"Alright, little miss cranky pants."

"Do you and the others talk like this when we aren't around?"

"No. You just relax more around your own speech patterns."

"Oh." They walked in silence for a few minutes. "Idan."

"Yeah?"

"Why?"

Idan stopped walking and turned to face her. The look on her face was heartbreaking. "Because Zaddock wanted what you had. And the Sword of Atrox couldn't be held in his possession anymore. For you to be able to control it, you had to experience some sort of trauma. His…actions touched you on every level; mentally, emotionally, and physically." He sighed. "Without that…you wouldn't have been able to wield the Sword."

Her eyes closed and she stopped walking. "Shouldn't we have seen this coming? His return, anyway?"

"Not all events are shown to prophets, Khyrran. Though I do agree with you. Something kept this vision from coming through, though I don't know what. I'm looking into it."

"Can I ask you something else?"

"Anything."

"Even about my other mission?" He nodded. "Clark isn't going to become…a "Lorder", is he?"

"That is up to you."

"ME!" she squeaked.

He nodded. "You were never born in that dimension. That Superman didn't have someone like you to fall back on."

"Are there more out there?"

"Yeah. There are four other dimensions where the Lords have control over Earth. Three of them have versions of you. But these questions are going to have to stop here. Any more information and you might change our timeline."

Khyrran nodded. "Let's get this over with."

"You need to talk to someone about the Zaddock events."

"For what purpose? He's dead, Idan. There's nothing anyone can do about it. Unless you are suggesting time travel?"

"Do you remember what we discussed about that?"

"The human sacrifice thing? Wouldn't Zaddock work for that?" she asked an unsettling grin creeping across her face.

"Your sacrifice would be Wally, Khyrran. You don't get to pick and choose."

Her face fell. "You're kidding?"

"No, I'm not. If you EVER go into the time stream, you had better be prepared to suffer the consequences of Wally's death." He watched as she processed that information. She came to terms with the rule quickly and resigned herself to the fact she was going to have to live with the events of the past month. And come hell or high water, she would work through this self-doubt.

Lilac House…

Still same day…

"Are you packed?"

Khyrran sighed. "I told you at breakfast, I'm not going."

"I don't remember giving you a choice."

"Funny, I do. I took the grounding instead."

"Fine. Your father and I are going to New York."

"Have fun, watch out for muggers."

Grace, Devlin and Khyrran were getting ready to sit down for dinner, hours later when the doorbell rang. "I got it," Khyrran said. She opened the door to a young officer. "Can I help you?"

"My name is Deputy Brady Evans. Are your parents home?"

"No, thankfully. Hold on a sec. DEVLIN! THE SHERIFF'S HERE!" She turned back to the deputy, who had a chagrined look. "Sorry. Devlin's my older brother."

Devlin came out of the kitchen with a look of pure annoyance on his face. "Khyrran, didn't Martha teach you any manners?"

"Sure, Clark just undid them though."

"How can I help you, Officer?"

"You are…?"

"Devlin Sheridan."

"And your parents are?"

"Howard and Gail Sheridan," he said, his eyes narrowing. "Why?"

"Maybe we could talk in private?"

"Trust me, that isn't possible in this house. But please come in. Khy, go get Grace."

"Grace is?" the deputy asked.

"My wife. Whatever you have to tell me obviously isn't good news. I would rather spare them from listening through the keyhole."

A faint smile passed the deputy's lips. Grace and Khyrran entered the living room. "There's no easy way to tell you all this. There was an accident on the highway this evening. Your parents were involved."

"What hospital are they at?"

"They aren't. I'm sorry, but their entire vehicle was completely gone by the time rescue teams arrived."

Devlin sank to the chair behind him. Grace walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. Khyrran was the only one confused. "What do you mean it was gone?"

The deputy looked as if he would rather be any where but there. "It looks as if it was blown apart."

"Faulty wiring?" she asked.

"More like a car bomb. I need to ask, is there anyone who would want to kill you parents?"

Devlin spoke up. "Not that I can think of. Can we get back to you in the morning, Officer?"

"Of course. Here's my card." Grace took it and showed the poor man out.

"Who knew?"

He looked at Khyrran. "What?"

"Who knew that they had changed their minds about flying to New York?"

"No one. Just us."

Grace came back in. Devlin pulled her into his lap. The silence was deafening. Khyrran broke it, again. "I'm going to call Wally and Clark." She was almost out the door, when she turned. "Devlin, which car did they take?"

"The BMW. Why?"

"The one I learned to drive in?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Stop and think about it, Dev. There's only one person that we know that could get anywhere near that car without someone noticing. George. And they won't let me drive anything else yet. It doesn't make sense. Who would want to kill them? Nobody. They weren't the targets. I was."

Just outside Metropolis…

Two weeks later…

Devlin watched as they lowered the caskets into the ground. Both were empty since the police couldn't find enough of either one to bury. The priest from Howard and Gail's church read the eulogy. Neither he, Grace nor Khyrran knew the man, but he had asked and Devlin felt they would have wanted him to.

Halfway through the service a small commotion near the back began to override the priest's words. Jet's whisper of 'Oh shit!' made Devlin stand up and ask Reverend Adams to stop. George was shoving his way through the crowd, Edith right behind him. George stopped right in front of Khyrran and glared down at her. She looked up at him.

"Whatever you have to say can wait. Don't disrespect your son this way," she said, speaking before he could.

"Shut up, you little by-blow!" he hissed, getting in her face.

Khyrran recoiled into Clark who drew her into him. Wally, Jet and Jonathan joined Devin on their feet. He waved them back, trying to prevent a confrontation at all costs. "She's right. This is neither the time or the place."
George ignored him and ripped Khyrran out of a surprised Clark's grip. "My son died because of you. He wasn't supposed to be in that car! YOU were! You and that harlot you call a mother! All my problems would have been solved with your death!" He drew a small automatic gun from his coat pocket and aimed it at her. "I can't get my son back, but I can make sure the job gets finished!"

Devlin and Wally tackled him. Jonathan picked up the gun after it went flying. Clark moved in to protect Khyrran and Grace who had moved when Devlin did. Jet was already on the phone with the police. Martha and Dawn were keeping the crowd back. It was over in seconds.

After the panic died down, Devlin turned to his grandfather and asked, "Why are you trying to kill Khyrran? And just what was wrong with my mom?"

"She was an ungrateful whore!" He looked at Khyrran. "You should have died with her!"

Khyrran broke away from Grace and Clark. Wally stopped her just as she reached George. She looked at him and stopped when he nodded.

"What about me?" Wally asked.

"What about you?" the old man sneered.

"Howard was my father." An astonished look came over George's face. "I'm a whatever that word you used on her, too."

"Howard had another son? That's not possible."

Devlin and Wally exchanged looks. "Why not?" they asked in unison.

"It's just not possible." He kept repeating the phrase over and over again until the police took him away.

Devlin looked at his siblings, who were sitting on the cliff at the edge of the cemetery. Wally was looking out into nothingness. Khyrran was sitting with her back against Wally and talking. The young red-head nodded every so often and Devlin smiled. Clark came up behind him.

"She's telling him some random story about Howard," he said.

"I know. You want to go get them so we can get this over with. I just wanted some closure."

"Honestly, Devlin, there was a lot of closure today. And it may not seem like it but everything's going to fine. Eventually."

"And, yet for some funny reason, I don't believe you."

"That's because you know our sister." Clark walked off as Devlin chuckled.

Elysian Fields…

Three weeks since the funeral…

Khyrran was curled up on the couch in the study, flipping channels. Nothing interesting was on, but Clark had called her from his cell phone that morning to watch the news at noon for something about the story he was working on. She glanced at the clock: 11:53. Seven minutes and she could go find some other mindless task. Maybe she'd go to Mann'ahoia. She needed to check on some things anyway. The Overseers had suggested, in tone that meant it was an order, that she take a few weeks off and deal with Howard and Gail's deaths. They had no idea that it was probably worse this way. She had nothing to take her mind off it. Grief wasn't her problem, guilt was. The police had traced the bomb back to a guy that Khyrran and Devlin knew had worked for George in the past, and since George confessed…well, that took care of itself. All she could was feel responsible.

Gail came in and sat next to Khyrran. "You okay?"

"Peachy."

"What are you doing?"

"Contemplating and waiting for the news to come on. Clark apparently broke some story that's big enough to make live news."

"Imagine that." Khyrran gave her a look. "What?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you use sarcasm before, that's all."
Grace laughed. "Yeah, well living with you and Jet is starting to rub off on me."

Khyrran threw a pillow at Grace, who ducked. It hit a lamp and a bust of Julius Caesar, both of which Khyrran caught mid air. She put them back then got up to retrieve the pillow as the theme song for the local news began. The announcer came on. "Thank you for joining us. I'm Rich Anderson and this is channel 6 news at noon. For our top story we go live to Daily Planet Media News Reporter Angela Chen, who is on location on highway 14."

"Thanks Rich. Reports came into police headquarters this morning at around 8:30 of a car that caught fire while traveling along the coastline. The vehicle apparently exploded, then plunged through the guard rail into the ocean. A local fisherman saw the incident and is currently being interviewed by police. The car was recovered by…" Angela stopped as a piece of paper was handed to her. "The police have identified the driver of the vehicle as a Mr. Clark Kent, a reporter for… the Daily Planet."

Grace's gaze flew to Khyrran. The strangled noises coming from her were incoherent and she had gone white. Suddenly, she started screaming. Grace raced to her as she sank to the floor. Devlin, Jet and Dawn came running in as the reporter repeated the news.

"What?" Devlin cried, turning up the volume. The sound drowned Khyrran out and she stopped screaming.

"It's not true. It's not true. Somebody make it not true," Khyrran whispered.

Jet turned and raced down to the medical room they had made for emergencies. He found what he was looking for, grabbed it and a syringe and raced back upstairs. He quickly withdrew a small amount of the drug. Devlin caught on and held her arm as Jet injected the sedative into her arm. Ten minutes later, she was quietly sobbing into Grace's shirt.

The adults looked at each other. "I think it's time for more drastic measures."

Elysian Fields…

A few days later…

"Your aunt really thinks she can help?" Grace asked as she and Devlin got ready for bed.

"Leslie is amazing. If she can't put Khyrran back together, then I am at a loss of how to help her," he replied. "Besides, Gotham holds no memories for her. Leslie should have fewer problems than if she had come here."

Grace looked over at her husband. "I know that this hasn't exactly been the easiest few months…" Devlin snorted. She glared at him. "… Never mind."

Devlin was instantly sitting in the chair next to her vanity table. He picked up her hands and ran his thumbs over the backs. "I'm sorry. You have been my foundation for the last month and half. I know you didn't expect this when you said you would marry me, but if Khyrran manages to find a husband that can handle this half as well as you can, she'll be lucky."

"You've been trained well," she chuckled.

"Guess I have. But if it means I get to keep you, I'll stay whipped."

She laughed. Devlin swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. He laid her down and was about to follow her when she stopped him. Grace motioned for him to sit down as she sat up.

"I have something to tell you." She had his full attention now. "Like I said, I know the past few months haven't been the easiest, but the next few are going to be just as chaotic."

"How so?"

"I'm pregnant."

Devlin stared at her, wide eyed. "What?"

"I'm…we're going to have a baby," she said, sounding uncertain.

"You're sure?"

"Positive. Dawn confirmed it earlier today." The uncertainty was still there.

A mischievous smile slowly slid across his face. He leaned forward and placed one of his large hands over her abdomen. "You do realize that twins run in the family, right?"

She grabbed a pillow and swatted him with it. "Not funny," she said, laughing. He grabbed the pillow and threw it in the corner. He leaned in to kiss her again. Later, just before he fell asleep, it crossed his mind that this was the start of a new chapter in their lives and maybe they could finally put an end to past.

A/N: 4,454 words. I love this chapter. It was just too much fun. So… Confused? Good. Keep reading, it'll probably get answered.  Superman episode: The Late Mr. Kent written by Stan Berkowitz and directed by Kenji Hachizaki.