I cannot believe it has been 20 months since I last updated this...

'Hello Jeff, old friend. I've been expecting you.'

'Hood.'

Seated behind the desk Belah Gaat looked every inch the businessman. Still sharply dressed, still cold and calculating. Still full of hate. It oozed out of the man, and Jeff wondered once again what had possessed him to take the man on all those years ago. Well, time had shown him the answer to that question.

Gaat had possessed him. For a short while. Now there was nothing but animosity between them, exacerbated by Kyrano and Kayo's support of Jeff over their blood kin.

But in this universe Gaat had a distinct advantage, one he would have no qualms using.

'Tell me, Jeff, why I shouldn't just call the police and have you all escorted off the premises.'

'Because you like to gloat, Gaat.'

'Ah, well, you are not wrong there. Tell me, is this universe more to your liking? Have you not got your heart's desire?'

It took both Virgil and Gordon to hold him back as Jeff lunged forward, but Gaat only laughed.

'The "Great Jeff Tracy", undone once more by the love of a woman.'

'No – you tricked me.'

'I did no such thing. If you remember clearly I warned you to be careful what you wished for.'

He had. Jeff knew Gaat had, and he'd thought so long and hard about if he could do it all again how he would do it differently. How he wouldn't do it at all.

'You knew exactly what would happen.'

'No – I hoped. I had no real basis to believe you'd take the hints I was throwing you, that you'd wish for the right thing. Turns out I didn't even need to use my powers to make sure you wished for the right thing.'

The Hood stood up and gestured to the whole room.

'This – *all of this* – is your fault and your fault alone.'

Jeff's shoulders sagged and he felt like he'd aged over the last couple of minutes.

'Yes, yes it is. But I am here to right the damage my selfishness has caused, both to myself and my family.'

'Ah yes, your family. I see the lost sheep has come home. I admit that I was very surprised to see you all here.'

'What you said wasn't true. They all remember, Gaat. They all remember what their life was like before.'

'Well, that makes this more understandable but doesn't change anything. What are you intending to do?'

There was a hint of curiosity in the last question, and with a start Jeff realised that the man before him had no idea why they had come. He had simply prepared for the inevitable showdown without looking deeper. It was a failing that had caused the Hood problems in the past life and it looked like he was no better now.

But it was Virgil that surprised them all.

Releasing his dad's arm Virgil stepped forward until he could place his hands on the desk, and he leaned forward.

'My father may not be able to do anything about what has happened, but that doesn't mean I can't. Give me the stone and let me wish.'

There was a chorus of 'no – Virgil!' but they were ignored. The Hood, intrigued by this turn of events, regarded the man through narrowed eyes.

'What possible reason would I do that for?'

'Because you wanted my father to suffer and he has. You wanted to be one of the most powerful men in the world and you are.'

'And what could you offer me that I don't already have?'

'I'm offering myself.'

'What?'

'I will come and work for you, do whatever you want me to, no questions asked. You will finally have a Tracy under your thumb.'

'I see. A tempting offer…'

'Think about it, Hood. Not only have you bested my father and got rid of my brother, you will also have me working for you. Nothing else could destroy my father so completely.'

Virgil turned to his father. Jeff physically stepped back at the look of hate coming from his middle son.

'I will never forgive you for putting yourself above Scott, above us.'

'Virgil – please – '

'Never.'

The words were spat with venom, and over Virgil's shoulder Jeff could see the grin on the Hood's face widen in delight.

'Well, Virgil, I think we may have a deal there.'

Gaat sat down at the desk and opened a drawer, placing the stone on the blotter. The room fell silent as the stone seemed to emit a light from deep within itself.

'Go on, boy. Take it. Make your wish.'

'Virgil – don't! Please!'

Virgil ignored his father, reaching out and grabbing the stone, turning his back on Gaat and holding it up so all gathered in the room could see it.'

'I wish…'