Epilogue
Days later
John paced outside the big stone chamber waiting for the others to arrive. He wanted to place a buffer before Cecilia knew they were here. Things could've been going better but that girl straight up just didn't trust him. She always glared at him like a hostile animal. She would only demand things of him or get them herself. He thought Six was gruff when he first met her but Cecilia took it to another level. She was currently inside organizing the small chamber off the main meeting chamber. It wasn't like he hadn't tried being nice but she certainly wasn't going to make this easy. She was the most untrusting person he'd known. A crash brought him out of his thoughts. It'd come from further in the cave. He rushed to where Cecilia had been.
"Damn lantern." She cursed.
There was no real electricity up here except a small generator he'd brought up the mountain. They had oil lamps and battery operated lights. There were oil lamps in where she was. He saw that she'd knocked over one of them. The way she held her arm against her made him think it burned her in the process.
"You okay?" He asked her.
She scowled at him and clutched her arm against her torso.
"Why would you care?"
He sighed. "Because I care about you. You're safe with us."
"Unhuh. Everyone says that." She scoffed trying to blow past him.
"I can help with your burn." He offered.
"As if." She snapped, blowing past him. He sighed.
"Cecilia!" He called as she stormed outside.
She marched outside and turned towards the small valley to the left. He sighed and went to call after her again but he heard a roar. BK landed with Sam, Ella and a giant bag of supplies.
"Thank you for using air chimæra. We hope you had an excellent trip with us and fly again." Sam quipped. Ella giggled.
"How far behind are the girls?" John asked.
"Our departed friend Eight's friends are escorting them up the mountain from the airport." Sam answered, slinging the bag up on his shoulder.
"You!" Cecilia exclaimed.
John had completely forgotten about her. Sam froze.
"Don't hurt me I'm just the delivery boy." Sam spoke.
"Not you. Her!" Cecilia snapped.
John saw her pointing at Ella. John sighed. This was going to be interesting. John immediately placed himself between her and Ella.
"Cecilia." He warned.
She glared at him before charging. With her telekinesis she shoved him out of the way and tackled Ella. Ella let out a cry in alarm and John felt it instantly. His legacies had been canceled. He realized Cecilia's had been too but she still had her physical force. John tried pulling Cecilia off but she had an iron grip on Ella. Cecilia whirled around and nailed him in the sternum so fast he lost his balance and toppled over. He heard an engine coming up the path. Next thing he knew Six was blowing by him probably heading for Cecilia and Ella. Marina came to help him up. Emma was walking timidly beside her.
"Alright! That's enough!" Six hollered.
She physically separated Ella and Cecilia.
"Knock it off!" Six told them.
"Sis!" Emma squealed breaking away from Marina and charging towards Cecilia. Cecilia scooped her up and held her close.
"Hey Em." She sighed in relief. Ella picked herself up and moved to stand near Marina.
"Welcome to our home." Marina greeted.
Cecilia scowled at her. She hoisted up Emma and walked back into the cave.
"That went well." Sam quipped.
"Feel free to go back to wherever you guys were. We'll figure something out." John sighed.
"Got your work cut out for you don't you?" Six smirked.
"I'm sure we can handle her." Marina reassured.
"Good luck. Six chuckled. We may need it." John simply replied.
It had been two weeks. Two very long and hostile weeks. John thought he was done living in a war zone but no he sadly wasn't. He and Marina got to take turns playing buffer or referee between Cecilia and Ella. That girl was a force of nature, almost in the way Six was. Nah Six eventually stopped, Cecilia never stops and never gets tired. She just keeps going on and on. It was ridiculous and a one sided fight. Cecilia was always the instigator. But currently all was at peace. Ella was outside practicing lifting multiple rocks with her telekinesis and Cecilia was in their room telling Emma a story. He and Marina were both in the central chamber chilling. Marina seemed nervous and fidgety though.
"Okay obviously our new residents aren't the only thing on your mind. So what is it Marina?" John questioned.
Marina sighed. "John I don't know how exactly to put it but," Marina started.
"But?" John raised an eyebrow.
"John I'm pregnant." Marina spit out.
She saw John pale. Then he smiled. "That's wonderful Marina." He chuckled.
"Really?" Marina asked.
"So does that mean," John started.
"Yes, you're the father." Marina laughed. John looked like he was about to be sick.
"It's okay. We're in this together." Marina reassured him.
They were interrupted by the giggling of a toddler. Emma came into the chamber giggling and squealing in delight. She was riding a rottweiler around. John knew it was Bernie. Cecilia came tearing into the room hollering at Emma.
"Emma! Stop!" Cecilia demanded. Marina put a hand on John's hand.
"I think we got this." She smiled.
1 year later.
Cecilia slowly woke up and felt a draft. She was in the chamber John and Marina had up away from the village. All their friends had come here last night to celebrate the anniversary of saving the world from the Mogs. Cecilia and Emma slept together on their mattress. Emma. She didn't feel the little girl's body against hers. Cecilia bolted up right and scanned her surroundings. She was alone in the small side chamber. Had Earth Garde finally found them? Cecilia still had nightmares about losing Emma and having her legacies disabled. She would wake up screaming from those nightmares and from old nightmares as well. She charged out of the small chamber to the large meeting room chamber, heart hammering. She could sense her shell starting to form. A natural reflex. A self defense mechanism. John looked up from polishing the table. He instantly recognized the look on her face and approached her.
"It's okay Cecilia. We're all fine. It was just a nightmare." He reassured. She took a deep breath and looked up into his blue eyes.
"When will they stop?" She sighed.
"That's the thing about nightmares Cecilia. They never go away. We just learn to live with them." John answered.
She ran her hands through her dark brown locks and sighed again.
"Go get some air. It helps." John suggested.
"Thanks John." She replied, leaving the main chamber.
Outside on an outcropping of rocks Marina sat nursing baby Adelina. Ella sat next to her holding baby Henri on her lap. Marina had twins a few months ago. They were both four months now.
"Where's Emma?" Cecilia asked, slightly worried.
She climbed onto the rocks to sit next to Marina. Then she looked down into the grassy field below. Emma was gleefully laughing away and it was the best noise Cecilia had ever heard. She was roughhousing with BK. Cecilia let out a sigh of relief watching them. Bernie was in the form of a black lab and was just playing with Emma. She giggled and squealed in delight as they played.
"The babies woke up Emma this morning. She didn't want to wake you. She knew you woke up in the middle of the night screaming again." Marina explained.
"Sorry." Cecilia sighed. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them.
"If you want to talk we're all here for you Ceci." Marina offered.
They'd all known about her past by now. How dark her past was and how dark her future was. But up here in the mountains away from governments and rules she actually felt hopeful. She smiled as she watched Emma tussle with BK. He'd shape shifted into a beagle and was licking her face. Maybe there was hope for both of them. Maybe the future was bright for both of them. They're new family was certainly unique but it was the best family she'd ever known.