A Place in the Sun

Summary: Sequel to 'How to Save a Life' and 'Topsy Turvy'. Jade and Linksano are living a happy life with their friends and family. But when SOI and Charlene are kidnapped by a shady government agency, their fathers undertake a perilous journey to get them back.

Warnings: None

Pairings: Linksano/OC, SOI/OC Friendship.

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I only own my .

Chapter Six: Come Together

The moment Linkara and Co beamed into the living room, Charlene ran into her mother's arms. Jade scooped her up and held her tight, kissing her over and over as tears of relief and joy poured down her face. Charlene kissed her back, the two of them talking in a strange, lilting language that seemed almost musical in nature. SOI trilled in happiness and nuzzled Jade, while the other children hung back, looking around the living room in awe. Grant was the first to speak. "Umm...Mr Linkara..."

Linkara grinned. "Just 'Linkara', kiddo. Mr. makes me feel old. What's up...?"

"Grant Stephens, and this is my brother Gerald. What's going to happen now?"

Linkara sighed. Truth be told, he hadn't really thought about it. His apartment was bigger on the inside, thanks to a rather convenient spell he had discovered, but eventually his landlord would begin to wonder why it had suddenly turned into a daycare for kids straight out of X-Men. "I guess I try to get in touch with your Moms and Dads. Tell them the truth about what Merkle did. And...try to figure out other things."

Charlene looked over. "What other things?"

90's Kid gulped. "We...well, when we came to rescue you little dudes and dudettes, we went through the morgue, and...there was a kid there. He was all...messed up."

Charlene exchanged a knowing glance with the others. "Richard. Merkle did end up killing him."

Linkara clenched his fists. "Bastard. Whatever Insano and Linksano do to him, it's not enough."

Jade gave him a look. "Why, what are they doing to him?"

"Something unpleasant, I hope," said Harvey. "I know it's not the right thing, but sometimes violence is the answer. And in this case, it definitely is."

Jade sighed, running her hands through Charlene's dark brown hair. "You're right, of course." She said something in the strange musical tongue, and Charlene giggled.

"What language are you two speaking?" 90's Kid asked. Jade grinned at him.

"My native tongue. It doesn't really have an Earth equivalent. I've been teaching Charlene. Oscar can speak it as well. Though he doesn't have the vocal chords to produce the exact tone."

Harvey frowned. "But when you first came here, you spoke English. We all heard it."

"That's because English is one of the most common languages in the multiverse. It's considered to be one of the simplest languages to learn. Now, as to understanding it...that's different."

Harvey chuckled. "Yeah. So what were you and Charley saying earlier?"

Charlene grinned. "I was telling Momma how happy I am to be home, and how much I missed her."

Linkara ruffled her hair. "We all missed you." His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his jacket pocket, revealing his holster-and Margaret. The boys surged forward, eyes wide and eager. "Hello! Oh, hey Insano. Yeah, he's fine. I'll send him home right away. Merkle?" There was a pause, and Linkara grimaced. "I don't need details. Linksano? OK, thanks." He hung up, glaring in mock anger at Grant, Gerald, Jake, and Adam. "What are you looking at?"

Adam looked up at him, eyes shining. "That is such a cool gun!" The others chorused their agreement, and Linkara laughed.

"Yeah? Well, how would you like to see even more guns?"

"YEAH!"

90's Kid grinned. "Well, come on little dudes, and I'll show you some totally radical guns!" The boys cheered and followed him out of the room.

Jade glared at Linkara.

"What? There's no way 90's Kid would let any of those kids touch any part of the Arsenal. He can be a bit of an idiot at times, but he knows weapons better than anyone." Linkara retorted before turning to SOI. "Your Daddy's waiting at home for you."

SOI bounced happily, then floated over to Charlene and hugged her. "Riki, riki tee."

"I'm glad I had you for company too."

She kissed his cheek, and SOI blushed, trilling in a low tone. Linkara bit back a smile as he activated the transport to send SOI home.

Harvey grinned. 'Looks like someone has a little crush.'

Linkara turned to Jade and Charlene. "Linksano should be home soon. He told Insano that he had to make a stop someplace."

Linksano had faced many dangers in his life-most in the form of a universe conquering dictator, but others had cropped up from time to time. Homicidal holograms, for one. Not being fully appreciated for his SCIENCE! Well, okay, that wasn't a danger so much as an annoyance. But he had come through all of them more or less intact. But as he gazed into the glass display cases, he felt like the man drowning in quicksand that reaches out for a vine only to discover it's a snake. He was totally, completely, and utterly lost. How did one even begin? Was there a protocol, or was he just expected to pick something at random and hope that Jade liked it?

His staring at the display like a deer in headlights caught the attention of a pretty and perky blonde. She walked over, her heels clicking on the tile. "Did you need some help, Sir?"

"Yes, I...you see I was wondering, I'm looking for a ring."

The saleslady's smile became as bright as a hundred watt bulb. "Any particular sort of ring, Sir?"

Linksano sighed. This was the tough part. "Wedding. You see, when I married my wife, we couldn't afford rings, and I've been saving up for years to get one. I want to surprise her." He winced inwardly at how pathetic that sounded, but the saleslady only smiled more.

"That's very sweet, Sir. Does your wife have small hands?"

"No, not inordinately. Nor are they large. Very slim fingers."

The saleslady led him over to a different case in which there were hundreds of rings, ranging from simple bands to jewel studded monstrosities. "Does your wife have a particular favorite jewel?"

"Not that I'm aware of." Linksano said, scanning the rings. "Tesla, some of these are downright vulgar. Jade's more...simple, if that makes sense." His gaze lit on a ring that was different from the others. "May I see that one, please?" The saleslady-her tag identified her as Donna-lifted it out. Linksano examined it, smiling.

It was a simple gold band, with two hands framing a crowned heart carved from a gem Linksano was quite familiar with. "Is this a jade stone?" Donna nodded, and he grinned. "It's perfect."

Donna smiled, sensing a sale. "The heart in the man's ring is just a simple silver one. I trust that's acceptable?"

"Yes, of course. Ring them up."

Donna grinned. "Right away, Sir. You know how to wear them?"

Linksano frowned. "Yes, I know how to wear a ring. I was not born yesterday."

Donna laughed. "Well, these are very special rings."

Linkara and 90's Kid were playing video games while the others watched, offering extremely unhelpful advice, when Linksano beamed in, a small white bag in his hands. He pulled Jade into a long, soft kiss. "Sorry I'm so late, I had to make a stop."

Jade nodded at the bag. "So I see. What's in there?"

Linksano gulped. "Jade...you know I love you more than anything, right? And that I love what we have?"

"...Yeah?"

Linkara and 90's Kid paused their game, watching with great interest the scene that was unfolding. Harvey, who had been flipping through a comic book, put it aside, focusing all his attention on the couple.

Linksano continued. "Insano said something tonight that made me decide that I want to make one slight change. I just hope it's a change you're willing to make too." He handed Jade the bag. "The one on top is yours."

Jade pulled out the small box, opening it. "Oscar! It's beautiful."

Linksano took her hand. "The lady that sold them to me told me it's called a Claddagh ring, and there's a special way of wearing it. Right hand, with the heart pointing outward means you're single. Left hand, heart pointing outward, means you're engaged. But if you wear it on the left hand with the heart facing you, you're married." He removed the ring from the box. "I'm hoping you'll wear it like that. I'm hoping...you'll be my wife."

Jade nodded, and Linksano grinned in relief. "Thank Tesla." He turned to the others. "I don't suppose any of you can perform a wedding?"

Harvey smirked. "I can. I was a Notary back in my time, as well as a Captain. So, you got the rings and the witnesses." He stood and walked over to them. "Dearly beloved, yada yada, do you two take each other to be husband and wife, for as long as you both shall live?"

Jade and Linksano tried to keep from laughing as they replied in unison, "We do."

"Great, then by the power vested in me, you are now husband and wife. I'd tell ya to kiss the bride, but as evidenced by Charley, you two have done a lot more than just kiss." He blinked, then poked Linksano. "Well Doc, don't just stand there, give 'er a dip!"

And Linksano, grinning like the madman he was, dipped Jade and kissed her with every bit of passion he could muster.

Three months had passed since that day, and nearly all the children had been reunited with their parents. The Project had been shut down, and Merkle's name faded into anonymity, and then obscurity. There was only one loose end, and it came in the form of a telekinetic four year old. It wasn't that Sophia's mother hadn't been found. She had. But when Linkara tried to return Sophia to her, he got a face full of pepper spray along with a madwoman ranting about how her daughter was the Devil's Spawn. After trying in vain to reason with her, Linkara wisely decided that he was fighting for a lost cause and left the house. A two week search revealed that Sophia had no other family besides her mother.

Luckily, Charlene had come up with the perfect solution.

"You want WHAT?" Linksano said, voice cracking on the last word. Charlene beamed.

"I want Sophia to live with us. She can be my new sister! Please, Daddy! She doesn't have anywhere else to go, and I don't want her ending up in an orphanage. Pleeeaassseee?"

Linksano turned to a smirking Jade. "I suppose you condone this madness?"

"She needs a home, Oscar, and our house is more than big enough for one more."

Linksano rubbed his eyes, sighing. "Fine. But the minute she starts trying to make any of my equipment fly around the room...she'll get a severe reprimand."

"YAY!" the girls yelled, dancing around the room. Jade put her arm around her husband.

"Well done, love."

Linksano kissed her. "Thank you."

He watched as the girls began to play Candyland, smiling to himself. 'I wish you were here, Wayne. But wherever you are, I hope you have a family too, and I hope they make you as happy as mine makes me.'

THE END.