Chapter 34

A Change

The grass rustled against Jesse's skin, and the breeze blew on his face, but he did not open his eyes. He just lay there, slipping in an out of a limbo state.

"Jesse."

"Jesse come back…"

He shifted when he felt a wet sensation on his face, a kind of snort and sniffle, warm and fuzzy but just a little damp. He could hear the soft oinks, the little squeaks…

"Rue-"

"Jesse back to me!"

"Come on kiddo let's go fishing today!"

"Please baby, wake up!"

"Alex? Alex!"

"No! Notch give him back!"

"PAPA!"

Jesse flinched, trying to open his eyes, trying to move. But he felt so sluggish, so tired. Everything was going white, he just wanted to sleep.

"Jesse, it's time to wake up."

Jesse's eyes finally opened, but it felt like it took an eternity to do so. The grass was gone, and so was the damp sensation on his cheek. The cotton sheets pooled around him, and the wood ceiling greeted him from above.

He was in the treehouse.

"I'm back?"

"Not exactly."

Jesse sat up, once more spotting the man from before. He was seated once more at the table, again shuffling a deck of cards.

"Hello Jesse," he said.

"Hello…." Jesse replied, "Notch."

Notch smiled, a slight spark in his eye. He extended his cards, "Care for another game?"

Jesse got out of the bed, and settled down in the opposite side of the table. "Did I make the right choice?"

"I informed you that there was no wrong choice in that situation."

"I understand now that I was literally choosing life and death back there."

"You are one of the few who have had that option," Notch finished shuffling, "You go first."

Jesse took his stack and laid down the first card. "So, there was no wrong option?"

"No, only your opinion mattered."

"I feel like you influenced,"

Notch raised an eyebrow, curious, "Oh?"

"Well, showing me Olivia and Axel, isn't that kind nudging?"

The elder placed down a card, "It was either a hello or a goodbye, depending on your choice. I wasn't influencing you, I just thought you might like to see them. Considering it might have been your last time."

"Then why am I back here?" Jesse said, "I chose to go back to – well my body. How am I back at the Crossroads?"

"We are no longer at the Crossroads. You did go back, but you didn't stay."

"What do you mean?"

Notch silently lowered his cards, "Even when we do choose to return to the fight Jesse, even when we fight as hard as we can….We can still lose."

Jesse froze, "Wait… do you mean…"

Notch sighed, "Time may have been different in the Crossroads, how long it took you to make your decision did not affect the time in the mortal realm. But your body was still badly wounded Jesse." He looked at him, his eyes having lost their spark, "Far greater than I thought in fact, Herobrine may have missed your vitals on purpose, but his power is deadly."

"You- you mean," Jesse's fingers gripped the table, "You mean I died?"

"…Yes."

Jesse swallowed, his throat thick. "So, I'm- I'm gone then? Where am I now? The Aether?"

"No, no," Notch shook his head, "You were there for a short time, but you are not any longer."

Jesse stared, very confused.

"You did die Jesse, despite choosing to go back, you did die." Notch sighed.

"You keep saying 'did'."

"Many ages ago, I heard the prayer of hundreds, crying out for me as Herobrine destroyed their home. They begged me to come down, to stop him. But when I created this world, I created people to plow their own path. I cannot interfere with independent souls. It is not my right,"

"But you still had the power to do so," Jesse asked.

Notch sadly smiled, "But would that be right?"

"No….I suppose not."

"But unlike that night all those eons ago, this time it was very different. They did not cry for themselves, or vengeance or for salvation. Hundreds of voices once again cried out to me, but they cried for you." Notch looked up at Jesse, "They begged be to bring you back. So yes, you did die Jesse."

"You mean you…"

"You will not be joining me in the Aether just yet. Uno."

A wave of guilt washed over Jesse. "But, what about other people? Why let me come back? Why save me? That's breaking your own rule, isn't it?"

The deity drew a few more cards before he answered, "No one died that night Jesse, there were many people hurt, but you were the only one to die. I cannot explain my reasoning for bringing you back, and yes, I did break my own rule. However, there is a future ahead Jesse. A future that needs you." He laughed at Jesse's expression, "Don't look at me like that, the future is a wonderful thing."

"I suppose," Jesse looked out the window. "Are we not at the Crossroads then?"

"No, we are inside your mind. Your body is healing right now as we speak. You'll probably have a scar. But you're healing quickly, perk of being brought back." Notch frowned at his deck, eyebrows furrowing together. "But I am to inform you that Reuben is quite happy on your choice. He is glad you back went though he does miss you. He also says you need to take better care of yourself."

Jesse chuckles, just a little. Tears trickling out for the millionth time it seems. But they were happy tears this time, "I miss him so much right now."

"I know but he is happy you decided to keep fighting," the elder hummed, he watched Jesse stiffly put down a card, "How are you feeling."

"Honestly," Jesse took a moment to access the pain throughout his body, "I'm in agony."

"Good, that means you are closer to being alive than you are dead."

Jesse thought back on the numbed sensations he felt in the Crossroads, how the closer he had gone to the exit containing Rueben the less he felt. "Did you know what I was going to pick."

"I see many things Jesse, but what a living soul will choose I cannot see. It is not my job to control their actions, remember?"

"I think you're more involved than you let on," Jesse said. "I remember a lot more now. I recognize your voice from the woods. You guided me to the cabin." He held up two fingers, "You also were the one talking to me by the river, you said I needed to be here. You were probably in the storm that helped us get away from Herobrine the first time. You were trying to warn us. I bet, you were also the feeling Petra had that we needed to go through the First World door."

Notch smiled slightly.

"You can't tell me you didn't nudge or influence just a little bit."

The other shrugged, "Alright, certain things needed to be put into motion. So, I 'nudged'."

Jesse leaned back, "Did you know Herobrine would be involved in all of this? That he was going to attack Steve and Alex?"

"It wouldn't be the first time he's done so. They have crossed paths many times of the ages." Notch answered, "But no, I did not foresee it. I certainly, didn't see him striking you down either. I wouldn't have brought you here had I known. His form as Brine kept him just as well hidden from me as it did Steve. I only became aware far too late, and I could only warn you the best I could."

"Why didn't you warn Steve?"

"I'm afraid Steve and I have not spoken for quite a long time."

"Why?"

"Many things in life have driven us apart, what happened to his brother for starters."

"He asked you to take his immortality away, I remember the dream- the vision."

"I couldn't do it, I tried to explain to Steve what he asked of me. But his heart had been greatly wounded, he did not see through his pain and rage. I pointed him to where he could fine the means to do what he wished, thought it hurt me do so."

"I remember, he couldn't do it. Even with all his rage and hate, Herobrine was his brother."

"I'm afraid he understood that too late." Notch said softly. "We like to believe we can kill just one person to save the many…But what if it's family? Could you, do it? After the incident we spoke very rarely and then not at all after…..well..."

"But Herobrine came back," Jesse flinched, catching the sadness in his tone. "Herobrine set a trap for them. Are they alright? Is everyone okay?"

Notch snapped a finger and the window once against into a foggy picture.

Jesse recognized the inside of Steve and Alex's home immediately. It was the kitchen. Alex was stirring her big cauldron over the fire. She was covered in bandages from head to toe. Her thick long hair resting matted around her shoulders. Her usually vibrant green eyes were dull and marred with tear lines. She leaned heavily on a cane as she cooked, a weak smile on her lips as she spoke with-

"Ivor?!"

"He showed up shortly after you went to face Herobrine."

Jesse leaned in, inspecting the scene closer. Ivor talked with Alex, his eyes clouded in worry. Jesse could tell by his posture he was asking all of his scientific questions, possibly asking Alex about her immortality and such. A simple conversation to ease the air. The female seemed accepting of the questions, anything to sooth.

Petra and Aiden were at the other end of the room, seated on the living room sofa. They sat close to each other, chatting amongst themselves. Their postures were stiff. Petra had cuts and bruises on her skin. Aiden looked a little worse, his leg was wrapped up, the cotton pants -probably given by Alex- hanging loosely over the bandages. They were both fine, but Jesse could see Petra's worry signs around the corner of her eyes. She tried her best to stay calm as Aiden did his best to sooth.

The picture adjusted, and Jesse could see inside Alex's medical room. It was a little hard to see inside, the door was mostly closed. But he could see Lukas sitting on a recliner chair, fast asleep. He had pulled it close to the bed, his upper body leaning forward as he rested on the comforter. His sleep was clearly fitful as one hand rested on the bed owner's arm.

Jesse blinked, "I'm staring at myself."

It was indeed him, lying unconscious on the bed.

"I understand that might be a strange perspective." Notch hummed, removing the picture.

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Where was Steve?" Jesse asked nervously, "I didn't see him. Where is…"

Notch raised an eyebrow.

Jesse leaned back, sliding down the bench a bit, "Is he okay?" he asked quietly.

"I can tell you he is alive. But I don't know where he is at the moment. I'd check on him, but as stated before he and I…"Notch laid down a card, "I'm sure he's alright. He's probably out clearing his head. He's got a lot to process right now. You both do."

"So what Herobrine said….Steve and Alex…"

"They are your parents, yes."

Parents.

The word sounded foreign and unusual. But it was easier to accept that it had been the first time.

"Herobrine wasn't lying then," Jesse said quietly, looking blankly at the cards in his hands.

"No. When the truth hurts more, Herobrine will use it. He knew this would affect you deeply."

"I … I know he wasn't lying, I can feel this is the truth," Jesse cringed, "I just….I wish I knew… why didn't they…"

"I can't answer that Jesse." Notch said quietly.

Jesse looked out the window, "I guess this changes everything, knowing they're my family."

"Not at all." Notch replied.

Jesse looked back, confused.

"Steve is your father, Alex is your mother, and you are their son," Notch explained. "It changes nothing between the three of you. The only change is what you make of it." He reached across, setting a hand on Jesse's own, "You must know they loved you Jesse, very much. And they would have done anything to keep you. Because not too many years ago, I did speak with them, like I speak with you now. They had a choice too, and they chose you."

"A choice? You mean like the one I had at the Crossroads?"

"They thought they lost you Jesse. It killed them inside."

Jesse went quiet, "I don't know what to do with this."

"You are in a special position," Notch said, "You have had much in your life, you have had love and family in one of a kind forms that many do not see. You are in the unique position to define what your family is."

Jesse frowned, "That's….I don't understand,"

Notch smiled, running fingers through his hair, "You will soon. But for now we must part." He looked down, "It also seems you've won."

Jesse looked as well, noticing all his cards were gone, "Wait where are you going?"

"I'm going nowhere Jesse, you're waking up."

The cards and the table vanished slowly along with the rest of the room. Jesse stood, "Will I be seeing you again?"

Notch cupped the sides of his face, placing a kiss on his forehead, "If all goes well Jesse much time will have passed before you and I meet again." He smiled, "You will find home Jesse, I wish you the best of luck."

Jesse smiled.

"Oh, and one small thing?"

"Yes?"

"Do ask Steve to stop calling me old." Notch laughed.

The deity then gave him a hug and the room faded to white.

Jesse slowly opened one eye, taking notice quite quickly that his whole body felt on fire, and it hurt very, very much to move.

He could hear Ivor outside the bedroom, still speaking with Alex.

He opened the other eye, blinking rapidly to allow his eyes to adjust, the room wasn't bright, it just hurt to open his eyes at the moment.

He shifted.

The sudden movement woke Lukas up, who still remained well and faithful by the bedside. The male's eyelids fluttered open in confusion, sleepily glancing over, "Jesse!" he smiled, eyes lighting up as he was immediately awake.

Jesse smiled weakly, "Hey," he cringed at how hoarse his voice was. "What's up?"

Lukas looked ready to cry as he sat up, squeezing Jesse's hand. "Oh you know," his voice cracked slightly, "Just doing what everyone else is doing and trying not to die."

He immediately spotted the bandages wrapped around Lukas's throat, and the patch on his jaw, "What happened to you!"

Lukas twiddled his fingers in the bed sheets, "Herobrine tried to cut my head off. Don't worry though! Alex treated it, she says it will heal just find, it probably won't even scar."

"Why did he do that?!"

"I might or might not have shot him a few times with Alex's diamond arrows. Also might have insulted his godliness..."

Jesse frowned, gingerly sitting up, "I guess swearing on Notch meant nothing to him then."

"No, it did," Lukas said. "He swung his sword at me when I pissed him off. I guess when he hit me; it broke the deal off with you. Aiden told about the arrangement, he said you gave up the Witherstorm's power as long as he didn't hurt any of us." he gestured to his throat, "The moment he gave me this he lost it in a second."

"I'm glad you're okay, he must have been furious."

Lukas's eyes shifted to the window and he slowly nodded, "Yeah, he was pretty pissed. I triggered his...I'll explain later. But yeah, you have no idea how mad he was."

"Did...I'm mean you're here- so...is he." Jesse couldn't continue.

"Die?" Lukas slowly responded, he rubbed his arm, which Jesse noticed was also wrapped up. "Kinda. Petra threw a knife through his throat. Then he fell into lava. But according to Steve that didn't kill him permanently. A stab through the heart was the only way for the enchantments to kill him for good, which didn't happen. Alex says he'll just respawn in another world. He'll be back someday."

Jesse's heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to smile, "I'm just glad you are all okay."

Lukas's eyes watered again, and he gently hugged Jesse, "I'm just glad you are alive. We were really really worried."

Jesse reluctantly returned the hug, feeling unworthy of the affection.

Lukas pulled away and stood, "I'll go get the others, they'll want to know you are awake."

He crossed the room and pushed the door open. "Hey guys-" the male wasn't beyond the room three seconds when Petra and Ivor hurried in taking Lukas back with them.

"Jesse!"

"You're awake!" Petra landed on the bed, coming to rest on Jesse's legs, "Sweet Notch you're okay! How are you feeling man?!"

"Ow," Jesse responded, then laughing as Petra quickly readjusted herself.

"Sorry! Sorry!" she said, "We were just worried sick."

"I understand that I was in pretty bad shape."

Petra squeezed his hand, "When Lukas and I got down the mountain, you were...you were." Tears threatened to sneak out the corner of her eyes, "We thought we lost you, I don't know how you came back.

Help, Jesse thought.

"After you were revived you relapsed back into an unconscious state," Ivor said, lowering himself onto Lukas's former chair. "It's been a few days now."

"Sorry I was..." Jesse paused, "Mentally figuring things out."

Petra let out a shaky exhale, "Oh, come're." she hugged him, holding his shoulders tight as she was careful to avoid his injury. "I missed you." she whispered.

"You're healing fairly quickly, but how are you feeling," Ivor asked.

"I feel pain mostly."

"Fair enough."

Jesse's eyes shifted to the door as Petra pulled out of the embrace. Aiden was leaned against the wooden frame, watching the pack. "I'm sorry to have dragged you into all of this," Jesse said.

Aiden shrugged casually, "Sorry you had to save me."

"I would have done it even if we hated each other. I just feel bad you got hurt."

"Yeah well," Aiden rubbed his throat, and pushed off the door frame. He stopped next to Lukas, "I'm going to have to stay here for a bit to make sure I'm not going to suffer from any volcanic poison effect. But I'll take that over being the psycho's pin cushion. He did a number on you. I wasn't messed up that bad."

Lukas elbowed Aiden, "He helped a lot Jesse. We had to build a ladder to use a bridge to get to you and he went first. Aiden was the one who carried you down the mountain while Petra went back for me. I also heard he and Reg defended Bach's house while the doctor was treating you and Mariah was in labor."

Jesse's eyebrows shot up, "What?"

"She had twins!" Petra grinned, "Ivor helped deliver the babies."

Ivor shrugged, "It wasn't too stressful." he coughed.

Petra scoffed, "Sure, you were delivery premature twins, while Aiden and Reg fought off an army of spawns. That isn't stressful at all." she winked at Jesse, "Ivor is now their godfather and while they had a name for the girl - Alexia- they named the boy after Aiden."

Aiden blushed a little, "It was nothing, Lukas and Petra over here are the ones who took on you know who."

"If you can call running for my life taking on," Lukas said dryly. "Petra is the one who actually hurt him." His eyes lit up, "Now that you should have seen Jesse. I'm on my back right, I think I'm going to die, and it turns out Petra followed me all the way down to the mines and..."

As the story trailed on, Jesse glanced out the bedroom door. Alex was opening the kitchen door, Steve walking wearily into the building, covered in bandages and still healing wounds.

The older male kissed Alex gently on the cheek, giving her his best but still broken smile. She did likewise, but both seemed very sad deep down. Steve made eye contact with Jesse and uncomfortably shifted on his legs. Both adults each giving him polite smiles to mask their unease.

Jesse stared back a moment; staring at the two people who had made this journey a little easier to bear. Two people who had explored, trained, and simply talked with him.

His parents.

"Jesse?" Petra asked.

"Hmm," he said, looking away from the kitchen.

Petra was rubbing one of his arms, "We're all pretty scrapped up. Steve said we're allowed to stay here to heal...But we all thought it should be up to you, because well...You know. We can try to make it to Ground Town or just stay here."

Jesse thought on it, and then he glanced slightly at the door where Steve and Alex were beyond. "I really don't think I should be moving just yet. Ground Town is really far away and that's a long walk. Let's just stay here."

Every one nodded.

'There is something else," Aiden said, "Um, Jesse? I told everyone what happened. What Hero- He said to you. Jesse he was lying."

Jesse flinched, knowing exactly what Aiden was bringing up, he looked away.

"Jesse, I'm...I'm not friends with you because you have some ancient god's blood in your DNA or whatever," Aiden explained. "I'm friends with you because...because you gave me a chance."

Jesse looked back.

"You kept trying to be the good person, a friend, after everything I did to you. Who tries to befriend someone who pushes them off a floating city?! I wouldn't. But you kept trying, you had me at your mercy you could have ended it and you didn't. You encouraged me to start over," He glanced at Lukas, "You helped me repair what I had damaged, and you kept supporting me. I am forever grateful to you for that you have no idea how much it meant to me... That's why you're my friend Jesse. It's because you were there."

"The same goes for me," Ivor said, "I mean, my grudge nearly destroyed the world we lived in. But you gave me a home in town and you were supportive and kind. It's not anything to do with who or where you come from. It's your heart Jesse," Ivor placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's how you've treated everyone."

"Lukas and I follow you because we felt that same thing off you," Petra said, "Sure we haven't known you very long. But good friends don't have to come from years being together, you are an amazing person Jesse. You're funny, awesome, super sweet, and it's hard not to be attracted to that. You are our friend."

Tears pooled in Jesse's eyes, "But...I hurt you. What I said at the temple. I'm sorry I- I didn't-"

Lukas sat down on the bed, "We know you didn't. We know you were trying to protect us from him. I know...after Rueben, things have been hard, and with Axel and Olivia not around you might feel alone sometimes. But Jesse," he squeezed his hand, "We're here for you. We can help if you need us. You don't have to be alone, we're not trying to replace your old friends, but we want you to know we are still a team, all of us."

Jesse looked down crying, " I'm sorry for what I said," he looked back at them all, tears blurring his vision. "But I get it now, and I can't thank all of you enough for coming back to get me, for coming back to save me. I really am blessed, I may be stuck traveling, but I'm stuck with you and that's okay by me."

Petra smiled, "From now on, we're a team. We have each other's backs."

Jesse nodded, "We have each other's backs. I won't close up anymore, we're going to find home. Together."

"Group hug!" Petra cried.

"Don't hurt his stitches!" Lukas said.

Aiden yelped as Ivor reached out and pulled him into the pack, "You too stoic."

Jesse cried as they embraced him, it was hot tight and smothering. It didn't replace Axel or Olivia...

But in its own way it was still perfect.

"It's going to be okay Jesse," Lukas soothed. "We're going to be okay."

Jesse smiled nodding. He looked through the tangled mass of arms and hair out the bedroom.

Steve was whispering something to Alex, before silently departing back out the front door. Alex reluctantly let him go, her hand slipping out of his fingers. She reached up clutching her amulet.

She spotted Jesse staring at her and gave a polite smile.

Jesse's heart clenched.

It wasn't quite fully okay, yet.

There was still something he had to do.

Next Time on MCSM Immortal's Child:

"I guess... you more than anyone deserve to know. It feels like forever ago now. But I guess it started out like any normal day..."