Chapter 5.

We didn't get back to Maxville until late that night. It was a convenient excuse to postpone my visit to my mom. After all, I wasn't exactly looking forward to the visit. My mom had grown up in a family of villains- she didn't need another one for a son, even if I wasn't exactly guilty of some purposeful crime. The fact that my father was in jail permanently didn't help the situation. She'd been abandoned…and I knew she'd have every right to slam the door in my face when I did get up the courage to face her.

I woke up early the next morning, a habit I couldn't seem to shake. Since it was Sunday, Layla and Will had a chance to sleep in. The house was quiet as I planted my feet on the carpeted floor of the guest room and pulled on a shirt and a pair of jeans. Once in the bathroom, I stared at my reflection for a few frozen moments before turning on the water and splashing my face. The noise of the faucet was a welcome relief from the silence.

Before everything had happened- before my introduction to prison, I'd always enjoyed solitude and silence. Now they were both openings for memories that were too painful to dwell on. With that thought in mind I hurried to finish getting ready and left the house- eager to seek some busy place that wouldn't allow for too much reflection.

I found myself walking the familiar route towards the old part of town. Many people were already out and about though the sun was just rising. More appeared as I left the neighborhood and came to the hub of the old-fashioned business area. Most of the people were business owners getting ready for the day. I could see the video arcade up ahead, not open yet but looking the same that it had five years ago. Past that were a row of touristy shops that sold things nobody in their right minds would want to buy.

I stopped, grinning suddenly, glad to be distracted. Though the old part of town was more like an outdoors shopping mall than anything else- it still managed to give me a sense of relief. I think that was mostly because nothing had changed. There were a few new businesses, a couple store fronts had been remodeled, but the cobblestone and cement paths were the same. The dorky globe statue at the center of the small park area was the same and as I looked across the street I spotted another sign that was an exact picture of what it had once been.

The Paper Lantern.

I stood staring. There was an unnamed emotion, clenching my gut, making me feel almost nauseous. The restaurant seemed unchanged. Almost as if I could walk in, open the door and step back in time. I would see old Mrs. Lin, shouting orders in Cantonese, hardly caring if we spoke a word of the language or not. Ariel might be folding up the napkins or organizing the menus again and back at the sink—

I grasped my head and then stomach as the nausea increased. Moving swiftly to the nearby trashcan, I threw up. My body kept heaving even after there was nothing left in my stomach. My arms shook as I pushed myself away from the waste bin.

Back at the sink of the Paper Lantern…would be Knight. Smiling, splashing and making a general mess of things, as he talked on and tried (in vain) to get me to respond with more than a terse sentence.

Knight.

I found my way to a bench and sat down, supporting my head with weak hands. The tips of my fingers scraped across the stubble of my hair.

Knight was dead.

And in the eyes of the superhero community, I'd been the one to kill him. Accident it might have been, but not accidental enough to keep the jury from sentencing me to five years in prison.

"Excuse me, excuse me, do you need help?" I heard a familiar, female voice ask.

I looked up, drawing my hands back to my sides. Her dark eyes widened in surprise.

"Warren?"

"Hi mom," I replied, my voice was hoarse.

"I heard you'd been released," she said slowly, still adjusting to the fact that I was sitting there. Her eyes traveled over my face searching for changes.

"Yeah," I answered and examined her in the same way. She looked the same. There were a few gray hairs, shining bright against the other black strands, but otherwise she was still my mom. I had the sudden urge to press my face against her like a kid.

"Were you going to come see me?" her tone was stiff as she took a seat on the bench.

I scooted closer, glad even for motherly rebuke, "Sometime."

"Sometime soon?"

I nodded.

She sighed and looked away, suddenly her eyes looked older. "I was on my way to the prison."

I was surprised. "To see dad?"

"Now that the Ministry is destroyed there isn't any reason that I can't. I started visiting him last year when the last members who were actual threats were arrested."

"Must've been strange." I'd been once or twice with Lydia before I'd been imprisoned. My father and wife seemed to have some kind of innate understanding for each other.

"It was at first," she admitted, allowing a small smile, "Then again, he did want to see me…"

"I saw you a couple times," I replied to the subtle criticism, glancing away.

"I was talking about Lydia. You wouldn't see her," her voice grew more heated, and I knew without looking that she was glaring hard at me. Living with my own temper problems gave me insight as to how my mother would react. "She was pregnant Warren and you just turned her away!"

I grimaced as a few passing people glanced at us. "I didn't know she was pregnant until I got out."

"Like that's an excuse."

"Look-" I gritted my jaw, "There were reasons for what I did."

"Of course there were," she answered reasonably and I turned to her with a shocked expression. "I know you wouldn't do something so idiotic and uncaring without some kind of reason…but that doesn't make it less hurtful. I always thought we were more alike, but now you seem to be taking after your father." Her eyes were serious as she laid a small hand on my arm, "The past isn't going to change…but you've got to do something about the future. Even if you did all that for a good reason, you hurt Lydia- badly. What are you going to do about it?"

I shrugged, unable to meet her steady, earnest gaze. "Disappear."

"Sounds like a coward's answer."

"Maybe I'm a coward."

I felt a stinging slap across my cheek and looked up, eyes burning. My hands might have been burning too but for the lack of my powers. I watched as she stood up and looked down at me with a frown. Remembrances of many fiery arguments between us came to mind.

"Does this coward want to come with me and see your father?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

I stood, glad to have a height advantage again. "Then I suppose I'll be coming."

"Good choice."

My vision swam a bit as we walked towards my mom's car. Hana Peace wasn't known for her lack of intuition however and I was glad when she drove to a fast food place to grab some breakfast. I managed to down the food with little trouble. The momentary nausea had disappeared with the past.

The car drive was quiet. My mom didn't bring up the subject of Lydia again…for which I was very grateful. Though, I was still curious about how much contact they'd had with each other since I'd been imprisoned. Knowing my mom, she'd probably been in the hospital room as Lydia gave birth. The thought was comforting; at least someone had been around in my place. I reminded myself that Lydia had still had her dad, Shyla, Taylor and Emma but they'd all been dealing with Knight's sudden death as well at the time.

It took a couple hours to reach the prison- a place that I vowed I'd never want to step inside again. It was strange to think that I'd been less than a mile from my father the entire five years. There were two buildings, one for maximum security villains like Baron Battle and another for lesser criminals. Of course some bad apples were mixed into that bunch as well- like Secondhand. How that man had ended up as my cellmate I really couldn't figure out. I didn't want to think of that man and tried to push the thoughts away, all the while reminding myself that I still needed to check up on his cronies and make sure they weren't hanging around before I made any move to help Lydia understand why I'd done what I'd done.

My mother checked in at the guard station and pulled through to the guest parking lot before we got out and walked towards the maximum security building. I recognized a few of the guards and tried not to feel strange as they stared me down. The worker at the front counter was friendly enough as she gave us our passes, but I could feel the sidelong glances she gave me. It seemed once a person had been in prison they acquired some kind of invisible mark to let everyone know. If I hadn't yet thought hero work would be impossible for me in the future- this was further proof. No one could see me as innocent when I looked so guilty.

"You going to keep staring into space or come?" My mom asked and gave me an amused smirk before she walked back through the doors.

"Coming," I answered and followed close behind her.

We were ushered into a glowing room- redundant since all prisoners already had to wear power-draining cuffs. Sitting in the chairs on the far side of the small table, we waited until the doors opposite opened and my father entered, accompanied by two guards.

One of them looked at me with a grin, "Peace- thought ya weren't gonna see me ever again," Henry said, looking me up and down as he cuffed my dad to the chair. It took him a moment to make the connection, "This your dad or somethin'?"

"That's right," I answered simply.

"Wow Peace, you had it stacked up gainst you huh? Can't really help when you have a villain for a parent already- sees it over and over again. Can't make that blood turn straight."

I gripped the edge of my chair tightly, feeling the downcast gaze of my father rather than seeing it. "My dad's a hero Henry. Can't be ashamed of that, can I?"

Henry shrugged with an unconvinced look and left the room with the other guard.

"Friend of yours?" My mom asked, her voice was strained.

I shook my head and looked over at my dad, meeting his appreciative gaze with a smile.

"You're looking well," he said slowly, his deep voice sliding across my senses in a familiar way. His hazel eyes were smiling. "You two fight all the way here?"

"Not the whole way," My mom answered, fairly glowing as she laughed with my dad.

I wanted to close my eyes and savor the moment. For the first time since I'd been released I actually felt like the future wasn't so dark. Seeing them together was more satisfying than anything I'd experienced in a long time.

AN: Sorry for the long time between updates! It's been a rough road trying to get over writer's block and just figuring out how to write up all the ideas I have for this story. There are several big twists to come soon so keep reading! Thanks so much for your encouragement. Please keep reviewing and letting me know what you think!

I did go back and change Lauren's name to Fiona, so that's taken care of. Thanks for the comments on it :)

Finally, thanks to my anon reviewers, especially boogabooga! without whom this chapter wouldn't have been finished as quickly. I really appreciated the kind words!