"Table 3 needs menu's Dani, Dani, where is that girl." RJ sighed and went upstairs to check on his little "sister" "Dani, it's the lunch rush, and Fran can't handle 12 tables...Dani, what's going on" RJ said as he saw Danielle looking in a box, he walked over to her.

"What is this, why was this hidden from me, what are you hiding from me." Dani said voice shaking holding a letter and a pendent in the shape of her birthmark

"Dani...I... now is not the time, but I promise you, tonight I'll tell you everything" RJ sighed, knowing it was his responsibility now that his father wasn't around, he knew it wasn't going to be easy, but he knew he couldn't keep that truth from her anymore.

Danielle walked back downstairs to the restaurant not saying a word.

~…~

The day trailed on slower than usual, Rj kept sneaking glances towards Dani, he knew she was hurting, and he missed her playful banter. Fran had said goodnight and Dani was cleaning the tables and putting up the chairs.

"Dani please I can't handle the quiet anymore." Rj pleaded

"What do you want me to say, Uncle Finn told me my mother died, and my father abandoned me, now I find a letter from her and a pendant that's the same of my birthmark." Dani threw the dish rag into the sink.

"Come upstairs" Rj said leading her upstairs. "I was hoping my dad would have told you, but after our fight and when you decided to stay with me, I knew it would be my responsibility, but I never wanted you to feel betrayed. This box was your moms, and as you know your mom was my aunt and dad's sister."

"Why did he never tell me about her, why were any questions about my parents pushed aside like they never existed." Dani sat at the table and looked at him with pleading eyes

"Your mom did die in battle, but she was weakened by a broken heart, grandfather realized who your father was and that she was unwed, he took you away from her when you were only hours old, he gave you to my parents, and they loved you as if you were their own. The box you found is from your mom, the pendant is your fathers." RJ said watching his cousin with tears in her eyes, although he knew the truth, he hated what his family did.

"Did my father know, why didn't he come for me"

"I don't know much but I remember Aunt Athena telling my mom that there was a war, and she didn't know if he would make it out alive. Dani, your dad wasn't a Pai Zhuq Master, he was a Mystic, your parents were in a forbidden relationship.

"Is that what my birthmark is. Why does the pendant match it." Dani said, processing everything and looking at the sun and moon pendant that was a dim grey.

"I don't know, but the letter might be able to tell you more, I hope." RJ said placing his hand on hers supportively

Danielle slowly opened the letter and read it

My little dove,

If you're reading this, you have found the box, and I must no longer be with you, but please know that my love for you will never leave. You must have so many questions and I wish I could be there to help you understand. The pendant inside was your father's and he loved you the moment I told him, unfortunately we come from two different worlds and our leaders never approved of us being together. I don't know where you will be when you find this, but if you ever want to know more about your mystic half there is a special realm in Briarwood, you will know where. His name was Daggeron and he was a solaris knight. If you ever need me, think of me, dream of me and I will be there for you always.

All my love, Mom

Dani finished reading and had tears rolling down her cheeks, RJ felt helpless he couldn't imagine how she was feeling his parents raised him, he had lost his mother, but he had known her, she raised him, sure his relationship with his father was rocky and he hadn't spoken to him in years, but he knew he was there. He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her as she cried on his shoulder.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Rj asked after a few moments

"His name is Daggeron he was a solaris knight, RJ, I think, I need to go." Dani said softly

"I knew you would one day, there's a whole side of you, that you should explore. I'm always going to be here for you." Rj dried her tears

~…~

"Are you ready" RJ asked as she zipped her last bag"

"No, maybe, I guess I'm just nervous, what if I find the mystics and they don't accept me, I only know the Pai Zhuq way, they rejected my parent's relationship what if they reject me." Dani sighed

"Then it will be their loss, but I don't see that happening, now no more stalling you have a long drive to Briarwood." Rj hugged his cousin and watched as she drove away