Michael stared fondly at his daughter as she ran across the playground, the sun having just set around the mass of children and parent's. She was so spirited, so independent. It would have worried him in most situations. However, having met her as a teenager when she time traveled, he didn't worry about much when it came to her.

It was still baffling to him.

Star stayed quiet about the whole thing, even now. She hated the fact that David was alive somewhere, and their daughter was the reason for that. It was so confusing.

He wondered how things would have turned out if she never would have invaded their lives that summer. Would he have killed David? Would the Frog Brothers still be alive? Would he, himself, have made it out?

He mostly wondered nowadays when David would make an appearance.

He had only seen him once since the incident and that was days after the death of Max. They talked briefly, both still tingling with hate and bitterness. It was short, but David had been kind enough to inform Michael that he would be coming around to make impromptu visits – he'd be lingering with the others in the shadows until it was time to appear.

He supposed he should be grateful that he actually seemed to care about Rhiannon.

"Hello, Michael."

"Think of the devil and he appears."

"You're my future father in law, you should think more highly of me," David smirked as he moved to stand beside Michael. "We were in the area, and I thought I smelled something familiar."

Michael didn't even need to ask, "It's been years. You remembered her scent?"

"Always."

Mike turned his head to the side and let his eyes trail over David's new appearance, before shifting his eyes to a few feet back where the rest of the boys were hovering with smirks on their faces. He assessed that Dwayne had changed the least physically; his dark hair still long and flowing. The others now sported shorter locks, and their clothes fit the scene of the late-nineties flawlessly, "You told me that she said not to find her until she was over 18; she's only 5."

"She hasn't gotten her ring yet, Michael," David grinned. "She wouldn't even understand. I just appear to be a friend of her fathers if she sees me."

"I'm not telling Star about this –"

"Daddy!" Rhiannon shrieked as she ran over, a bright grin on her dirtied face.

Michael raised an eyebrow as he knelt down to her level. He had only been looking away for a minute, "What happened, angel?" He looked over to where a little boy was being yelled at by his mother – who turned her eyes up and shot Michael a look that was a mixture of approval and an apology. The child was filthy as well. "What happened to Kevin?"

"He pushed me down," She crossed her arms across her chest after pushing her untamed dark curls from her tanned face. "So, I hit him."

"Rhiannon Grace!" Michael gasped and the child flinched backwards.

"I apologized to him," She mumbled as she turned her eyes towards the ground. "I told his Mommy sorry, too!"

Michael pushed a finger under her chin to lift her face back up with a questioning look on his own, "Why did you look so happy when you came over, then?"

"His Mommy said I did good for standing up for myself," Rhiannon whispered, her smile only returning as her father's did. "She said Kevin would be okay and maybe he's learned his lesson." Her eyes went soft and big as they usually did when she was trying to win Michael over. "I'm sorry I hit him, Daddy. He hurt my leg and I got upset."

"You shouldn't have hit him," Michael held back a laugh, unsuccessfully, as he looked at her torn jeans and scraped knee. "I'm glad you stood up to him, though."

"Just like you would! Right?" Her eyes twinkled as he nodded and her attention shifted to the men hanging around her father. "Who are they?"

"Oh, Rhiannon… these are old friends of Daddy's."

"Hello," She grinned as Marko waved and Dwayne and Paul flashed bright smiles. Her eyes turned to David last, who was now kneeling in the same way Michael was. "You all don't look old enough to be friends with Daddy…"

"We're old enough, I promise," David chuckled as Michael even gave a small smirk. He was happy to see that she had always been so spunky. She was tough girl when he knew her; he didn't know that it had started from a young age, or so it seemed. David shook that away and caught her watching him with curious eyes. "What is it?"

Rhiannon shook her head and blushed before shuffling her feet backwards and turning her eyes back towards Michael, "Can I play a little longer?"

"What about your leg?"

"It's only blood, Daddy," She said as if it was an obvious answer and David shared a silent look of amusement with Paul. "Please?"

"Five minutes," Michael said firmly as Rhiannon latched her small arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek. She whispered something in his ear and he nodded reluctantly, sighing as she marched over to Dwayne and told him that he had "pretty hair" and almost demanded that he come and swing with her. Paul clutched his side in laughter as Marko punched his arm in a brotherly manner before the two ran off behind Dwayne and Rhiannon.

David scowled as the four crowded around the swing set, "I speak to her, and yet I'm not invited?"

Michael had a similar look on his face, for different reasons, "She said she didn't want to ask you." He caught the look of confusion on David's face and huffed with fatherly annoyance. "She said you were cute; it made her shy. It's a compliment."

David's scowl was quickly replaced with a triumphant grin and the hope those 13 more years would pass by quickly.

"Rhiannon!"

My head shot up as I was jolted out of my daydream; it had been three weeks since I returned to my time and different – altered – memories were hitting in waves. Dad had told me of that one on my first evening back and it was finally something that I could put an image to.

Three weeks.

I had some choice words planned for David about his lack of punctuality for when he decided to finally show his face.

I shook the thoughts away as Jeremy Harris – a boy I had met at freshman orientation last week and instantly clicked with – opened the passenger's side door to his car with his free hand propped on his hip, "Are you coming or are you staying in my car all night?"

I felt a blush creep across my cheeks as I grabbed my bag and stepped out of the vehicle, "Sorry, Jer." I glanced down at my blackened ring with a frown before meeting his eyes. "I was lost in my memories again."

"Well, I can't really blame you," Jeremy offered a look of sympathy and mild understanding as he twirled his own dark ring over his finger. "At least you've met your man. If I knew mine and he was away… I'd be a little distracted as well."

I gave him a tiny nod and let out a breath. I felt bad for Jeremy. If these rings were non-existent, I knew he would have no problem finding companionship. He stood about 6 feet tall, with a chiseled jaw and tousled black hair over his piercing green eyes. I knew that I was attractive, but he almost made me feel like an ugly duckling standing beside him.

In the week that we had known each other – on more than one occasion – he had to remind me that I wasn't.

"If I was straight and the soul mate thing wasn't an issue, I'd be all over you - Hell, get me drunk enough and I might be on you anyways."

It had been so long since I had really had a friend. It was nice having someone again – especially someone musically inclined.

Shared interests were always a plus.

"C'mon, Princess," He teased as I wrapped my hand around his crooked arm and we made our way through the noisy parking lot towards the small pub – it was a local hangout for the college crowd, and Jeremy knew it to be one that never checked ID's.

I wasn't much of a drinker – though I had many chances at the abundance of high school parties over the last four years. Jeremy had insisted that I needed a night out and proceeded to make sure that I would have an evening where I could forget my David induced woes.

We quickly made our way inside and found a two-seater table near the front of the room by the stage.

"I'll be right back," Jeremy shouted over his nearly bare shoulder – having only clad his upper half in a fitted gray tank top – before disappearing into the crowd of students towards the bar.

I shook my head with a laugh as I dropped my purse on the edge of the table against the wall before glancing down at my own similar outfit – apparently as friends it was okay to dress alike. Had we been soul mates, he never would have given it a second thought as he dressed me for the evening.

The fact that Jeremy was a performing arts student and not a fashion one was still up for much debate.

I had on a silver and black tanktop over a pair of skin tight jeans, topped off with black stilettos – whatever made him think that tall heels + alcohol was a good idea was still beyond me. Thankfully I had an abnormal amount of grace and I didn't expect too many problems.

"Well, we picked a good night to show up," Jeremy beamed as he placed a round of drinks – which could have supplied half of a football team – on the table before me.

"Holy fuck, Jer," I teased as I prodded at one of the glasses. "Don't want to have to make a trip to the bar later?"

Jeremy aimed a playful scowl at me before taking his seat, "We have a benefactor."

"Excuse me?"

"The bartender said that someone has offered to pay our tab – anything we wanted," He grinned as he motioned to the array of drinks. "This is what I wanted. Oh! There are also hot wings and nachos coming out soon."

"Jeremy Harris!" I scolded as I glanced over his shoulder to look for a familiar face, something that proved unsuccessful. "You don't find that a little, oh, weird?"

"I'm not stupid, Rhi," He frowned as he set a shot glass with an electric blue liquid inside before me. "She said the guy was a regular customer – some rich hotshot. He does this all the time in some Robin Hood styled give to the poor thing. He picks a group, buys their drinks and remains anonymous all in an effort to ease his guilt on being one of the elite."

"It's still weird," I grumbled as I sniffed at the coconut scented mixture. Jeremy scowled until I clasped the small glass in my hand. "What are we drinking to?"

"Getting you drunk – fine, tipsy. Quit scowling!... and karaoke."

"Fuck me."

The shots were downed quickly and I easily lost myself in what the night was supposed to be – a break.

Because of that, I didn't notice the shift in colors in mine and Jeremy's rings.

XXX

An hour later, I could truthfully say I was feeling amazing.

I wasn't drunk, mind you. I had no intentions on getting sloppy. I did, however, have a nice buzz going.

Surprisingly, this place was a lot more fun than I had anticipated. I guess that had to do with it being a college hangout. The atmosphere was laid back and anyone's personal drama was left at the door – the bar was a place for eternal relaxation.

The karaoke, however, had been far from up to my standards. Karaoke most anywhere usually was, though.

It may have also had something to do with the fact that I could sing – that plus the alcohol warming my body made me a bit of a perfectionist. However, all rude comments were left aside – everyone was enjoying themselves. If they weren't ashamed to make asses of themselves, I wasn't going to judge them.

Passion ruled overall, not talent.

"Up next: Rhiannon Emerson and Jeremy Harris!"

"Wait, what?" I squeaked as Jeremy jumped to his feet with a glint in his eye. "Oh, I hate you."

"We're vocally gifted, Rhiannon," Jeremy argued with a small laugh and a slight slur. "It would be rude not to give everyone here the pleasure of hearing our voices."

"Arrogant," I mumbled as I took his hand and followed him up the steps to the center of the stage. "You better have picked a song that I know."

"I think you'll be fine," He winked as he handed me a microphone. "You were humming this yesterday. I wasn't going to be a total dick."

"That's surprising," I chuckled as I clasped my hand around the microphone in time for the music to start up. "Okay, this is an acceptable duet."

Jeremy gave a snarky, told you so sort of nod my way before starting his cue," Do you hear me? I'm talking to you. Across the water, across the deep blue ocean. Under the open sky, oh my. Baby, I'm trying."

"Boy, I hear you in my dreams. I feel your whisper across the sea. I keep you with me, in my heart. You make it easier when life gets hard," I sang in a perfect harmony as we laced our free hands together.

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again

Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh
Ooh Ooh Ooh Ooh

They don't know how long it takes waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye, I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you
I promise you I will

Jeremy's eyes widened as we released hands upon his next solo verse and he nodded down to my ring, which was a dull red.

An annoyed smirk played across my lips – because of course David would have chosen now to show up. I avoided searching through the crowd for him just yet. I had lyrics to focus on. Instead, my own eyes popped open as I let out a tiny laugh and gestured to Jeremy's left hand with a mouthing of, "Look down."

Jeremy cocked an eyebrow in confusion, until he saw that his ring was the same hue as mine. His generally composed persona shifted and I could see his skin flush in the dim lights as he stumbled over the last few words of the song.

I couldn't help but wonder – and hope – that was more than a coincidence. I liked Jeremy. The thought of keeping him around was comforting, in a way. However, I was very confused if it wasn't more than a coincidence.

We left the stage to roaring applause – which, yes, made me a little giddy on the inside. I clasped Jeremy's hand back in mine as we got to our table, "Hold on, okay?"

"Uh huh, but…" His eyes immediately began scanning the room for a face he hadn't seen so far in the evening.

"Eh, no but's," I chuckled as I threw my purse over my shoulder and noticed my ring went dark again. "Oh, real nice." I chugged the remainder of my drink before pulling on Jeremy's hand as we weaved through the crowd and towards the door.

"Where are we going?" Jeremy asked with an alarmed tone before I motioned to his ring. "Wait, where did he go?"

"Outside," I groaned with a scowl.

The chill night air was welcoming to my flushed skin as we stepped outside and my eyes darted around, "This isn't hide and seek, David!" I paused for a moment as realization swept over me. "Oh, benefactor! I should really thank you properly from trying to get Jeremy and I trashed - lazy hunters!"

A booming laugh – Paul's, if I was correct – from across the parking laugh caught my attention and I zeroed in in an instant. I dragged Jeremy behind me and found David standing in front of a concrete ledge – the edge of a higher, fenced off parking lot. Paul, Dwayne and Marko were all sitting on the bars over the ledge, swinging their legs over the six foot drop, "Hello, boys."

"Hey, girl," Paul smirked as the other two gave me a smile and a wave. "You reek of tequila - and mediocre singing."

My eyes narrowed with a low growl, "You reek of years of man whoring and disappointment."

"I missed you, too."

I grinned as my eyes trailed over each of them, basking in the change of their appearances. It was entertaining to see them so… modern. Marko and Paul each had their blonde hair shortened, their clothing current and preppy in style. Dwayne had his hair shaggy, just past his ears and swept to the side; he looked just as dark and mysterious as before.

David, of course, took my breath away.

He wore solid black, from his jeans to the button downed top covering his toned torso. His hair was slicked back – and with my inner nerd emerging – reminded me a bit of Draco Malfoy.

"Hey, fighter."

I dropped Jeremy's hand and sauntered forward, "David."

My sneer became more pronounced as a growl slipped from my lips and my hand smacked across his face with an echoing thwack. "You complete ass! Almost a month, David! You've had three fucking weeks!"

My hand was stopped from swinging again as David grabbed my wrist with a low hiss and a smirk, "I don't think so." He pulled me up to him with a small amount of struggling on my part. "It's only been a few weeks. You'll manage." He noticed that my glare didn't lessen and he moved his lips to one of my ears. "I missed you."

That did it.

I lost out to my relief, and a strained smile spread across my face, "Sure you did."

I turned my head and before I had a chance to react, his icy lips captured mine in a rough kiss. It was a kiss over twenty five years – technically – in the making.

It was hard and fiery… and perfect.

I pulled away and grinned from ear to ear. I felt whole again.

The boys behind David all cheered and hollered – in an act that made me really question their ages – as Jeremy bit down on his bottom lip, "Rhi?"

I quickly spun around and my euphoria was replaced by concern at the tone of my friend's voice - who I had almost forgotten about as the boys entered my vision, "What?" He lifted his hand up, and the ring was brighter than ever. "Oh! Huh. You know, I was just thinking I was being mental…"

I let out a laugh at the same time that David caught sight of the ring and his jaw dropped ever so slightly. His head turned to face his boys slowly, his eyes wide with bewilderment, "Someone has been keeping a secret for a very long time…"

Dwayne and Paul immediately held their hands up in surrender, "Don't look at us, man!"

David turned to Marko, who had caught on quite quickly to the situation.

"Sex appeal knows no gender, man," The youngest of the brothers smirked and shrugged before gliding down from the railing to hit the ground with a soft thud. "It never seemed important to mention."

Marko caught Jeremy's eye and the mortal let out a small yell as the ring burned against his skin. A bright smile spread across Jeremy's face moments later, "Finally."

"I think we have some things to talk about, Jer."