(Dez)

"How long has it been, since this storyline began, Charon?"

When you have children, the entire world changes. You're no longer first in your own life. All of a sudden, you love something with more care and conviction, than you've ever felt for anything in the past. You hold a small bundle of a person in your arms, and a wave of protection, fright, anxiety and love overpowers you. That bundle, means more than all the riches in the world. You want nothing more to protect it, keep it safe, and love it as if you've never loved before. I never understood, the strength and power, of a mother's love, until I became one.

When Dizzy was a child, just hardly walking, a baby if anything, I saw a lot of myself inside of her. She is undeniably her father's daughter, and it shows when things get serious. But, in every day life and events, Dizzy held my personality traits. She's rebellious, strong, hotheaded, charismatic, and stubborn. Traits I once believed to be the core of the very fiber of my being. Traits…I had to learn, that one can often times, do without.

I felt more protection over Dizzy, than I did Cain. Not because one is my own and the other is adopted, no. As far as I'm concerned, both are my children. Yet Dizzy…Dizzy was strange. As much of me as there was inside of her, there is an equal amount of her father. She's frail, delicate, in a way. I see this when she's hurting, and doesn't speak of it. She holds it inside, as if she's trying to prove to everyone she's as strong as they are. Truthfully, it's an act, and one any mother can see through. And it hurt me, when she became a teenager and skinned knees quickly became wounds both emotionally and physically.

A mother, can easily tend to a skinned knee. A kiss and a hug, and there is no more pain. Cain never bothered with emotions, much like his father. Dizzy, much like her father could have been, took them all to an extreme. One myself never knew possible. When she was hurt, everyone hurt with her. Though her silence kept it inside, the air around her radiated it. To this day, she believes she hides it well, and perhaps to herself she does. But to me, and to her father, we see it clear as day.

We also see, more than we let on to them, too.

"Many, many years ago."

Charon says to me, as I hold his arm. We walk back towards Megaton, leaving Cain and Dizzy to sort out their unspoken emotional issues.

"Do you think…they'll finally open up?"

I ask him, because to this day, Charon is still all-knowing, and ever-right.

"No. Not now, anyways."

I'm not sheltered, or blinded. My children cannot fool me, though they believe they can. That loneliness Dizzy tries so hard to hide, is softened by Cain. I'm not sure how, exactly, or even positive how it happened. Only that it did. Only that, the two of them mean more to one another than they'll admit. In many ways, they remind me of Charon and myself. Back when the two of us were in similar situations. Although, Charon and I didn't have conflicting emotions of possible incest. Though they're not related, they were raised as though they were. To them, that must make a world of difference. However, Dizzy needs a constant in her life, and Cain needs her just the same. I can't tell you, how I know this. Lately, I file everything under 'Mother's Intuition'.

"When, then, Charon?"

"When Dizzy returns from her adventure."

"She won't ask him to go?"

"No. No, I feel Dizzy will do this alone, and in Cain's absence realize things she didn't before. It will be beneficial, upon her return."

We gave Dizzy three months to venture out alone. Not because we don't trust her, but because we're parents, and we want her safe. If she doesn't return, we'll send Cain out to find her.

"You think…she'll realize it?"

"Maybe, Dez, it depends."

"Depends on what?"

"On how much she has to suffer alone, before coming to her senses."

Charon feels the same way as I do about those two. They don't see it, but they mean a lot to one another. It's a sad feeling, a sad and tragic romance. They may fall into it, they may not. All of that, depends on them.

"I hope, our children can be happy."

"All parents hope for that, Dezbe."

"Are you happy?"

I ask Charon. It's been years, decades, we've been together. He's changed in so many ways, from the man he once was. In the same light, I have changed, too. Having children, does that to people.

"Yes, Dez. I would not trade my life, for anything."