That evening after work, Theo and Ember met Wade at the beach where Ember shoveled sand into bags that Wade held open and Theo helped out as well and he could tell this was draining on Ember, but the expression on her face told him she was determined to continue. Theo noticed the setting sun over the ocean and thought the place was really romantic if they weren't working.
"I don't think this is going to work.", Wade confessed.
"I'm with the Water guy on this one.", Theo agreed.
"Not if you hold the bag steady.", Ember retorted to Wade before starting on Theo, "And if you would shovel faster."
Theo frowned.
"That's hurtful."
Wade however was unmoved as he adjusted the bag.
"Maybe your dad will understand.", he said gently.
Ember scoffed and continued shoveling though Theo quietly agreed with Wade. The bags didn't hold for long and adding more to it wouldn't make much of a difference and Wade could clearly see it.
"I'm serious.", Wade continued with his voice heavy with regret, "Look, I know it can be tough. I mean me and my dad . . . we were like oil and water. I never got a chance to fix that. But you guys are different. It might be time to tell him."
Ember shoveled faster as she started to flare up.
"Yeah, right.", she fumed, "Tell him what? That I got us shut down and destroyed his dream?"
The shovel in Ember's hands got hot and bent out of shape from the heat she emitted. Frustrated, Ember tossed it aside before slumping to the ground as her flame simmered to a soft-candlelight while she calmed down and her prismatic inner light shone through. Theo set his own shovel aside as Wade let the sandbag he held open go so they could be near Ember.
"I think I'm failing.", she murmured, "My dad should have retired years ago, but he doesn't think I'm ready. You have no idea how hard they've worked or what they've had to endure. The family they left behind . . ."
She paused before continuing.
"How do you repay a sacrifice that big? It feels like a burden. How can I say that?"
Theo could tell Ember really wanted to say this for a very long time so he let her keep talking though he noticed Wade looking sympathetic as Ember sank lower and hung her head.
"I'm a bad daughter", she whispered.
Wade crouched beside her still looking sympathetic.
"Hey, no.", he said comfortingly, "You're doing your best."
Theo sat beside her as well though on the opposite side of Wade.
"I agree.", he admitted sounding a bit hurt himself, "You know, I made a sacrifice that big once."
Ember sniffed as she was still feeling depressed.
"I'm a mess.", she said as she tried to cover her vulnerable light.
"Nah.", Wade said smiling, "I think you're even more beautiful."
Theo nodded.
"No kidding Ember. You really do."
Ember felt better as she noticed Wade and Theo's comforting smiles. Theo then looked out at the sunset just as the sun touched the horizon where the ocean met the sky.
"Maybe you're right about my temper trying to tell me something.", Ember admitted.
/
As much as Theo felt sympathy for Ember, he noticed that Wade had noticed the ground around Ember.
"Whoa, look what your fire did to the sand.", he said in awe.
Theo wasn't all that impressed as he had seen Ember do this before in the shop. Melting sand into glass was something Fire people were naturally good at though Theo had noticed Ember had talent while doing so. No wonder so many Fire kids ordered so much lollipops from her. Ember then took a piece of the melted sand and shaped it into a sphere while making a design inside it that reflected how she was feeling. Theo looked over at Wade who was watching completely mesmerized which had Theo guessing he had never seen a Fire person do this before. The sphere cooled down and the design inside was revealed to look like some kind of flower that Theo had trouble recognized, but Wade seemed to know what it was.
"It looks like a Vivisteria flower.", he commented.
Ember looked at the sphere in her hand taking comfort knowing that Theo was there with her when she brightened.
"I know how to seal those doors!", she said getting excited.
She hopped up and hurried off, but Theo paused as he noticed the sphere Ember dropped. He picked it up and handed it over to Wade who looked a bit confused.
"Hey, it will make a nice gesture to her.", Theo told him.
Thinking that Theo wanted him to give it to Ember, Wade took it and after pocketing it, took off after Ember with Theo right at his heels. It took a while to get to where they needed to go and it had gotten dark, but they got there soon enough. Theo and Wade stood back as Ember stood before the sandbags holding the leaks back. The look on Wade's face told Theo that he was still wondering what this amazing Fire girl had in mind and how he could help out.
"Okay Ember, let's see this idea you got.", Theo thought to himself.
Ember took a breath and then pressed her hands against the bags as she flared up again. This time however, as her light shone with an explosion, Ember controlled it as the sand melted and she began shaping and lifting it as if she were painting with it.
"Nothing like doing something that you love.", Theo thought to himself smiling as he noticed Ember's joyful look on her face while she was working.
Wade was also looking at Ember in awe. She looked so free as her radiant light continued to shine. Ember continued to work as the glass wall she made reached the top where she finally stopped and came down as the glass wall cooled and solidified into a much thicker seal. She sighed in satisfaction while Theo looked impressed before they both noticed Wade tearing up.
"Are you crying?", Ember gently teased.
"Yes.", he admitted, "I've just never been punched in the face with beauty before."
Theo chuckled as Ember laughed lightly before the trio felt the ground vibrate. A cruise ship passed sending another wave of water towards the newly made glass wall. Ember and Wade backed up ready to run and Theo prepared to throw up another electromagnetic field as the water splashed against the wall. But the wall didn't break or crack which made the trio relax as they watched the water run behind the wall since it was clear enough for them to do so.
"It worked!", Ember cheered.
"I'll have Gale come by right after work", Wade promised, "I'll let you two know the moment I hear anything."
"Will this be enough for her?", Theo asked him hoping for good news.
"Honestly?", Wade answered, "It's hard to know. She could go either way."
Ember nodded nervously, but then looked a bit curious as Wade took out the glass Vivisteria Ember made at the beach and handed it over.
"We saved it for you.", Theo said to Ember as she carefully took it from Wade.
"It's special.", Wade added.
Ember held her glass creation in awe. Had she really made something so beautiful?
/
The following day went by without much going on besides the usual, but Theo could see that Ember hadn't forgotten about what Wade had said only last night. He was feeling nervous also, but hoped for Gale to be accepting of Ember's glass seal. He had also tried helping out more so Bernie could take it easy though Bernie insisted on helping. By the time night came and the shop was locked up for the night, Theo went upstairs and noticed Ember admiring the glass Vivisteria. He could tell she was still feeling happy by the way she was glowing and lighting up the room. Unfortunately they both heard Bernie cough and hurried down to find Bernie working on a wall.
"Mr. Lumen, are you okay?", Theo asked.
Bernie by now had finished up and gave him and his daughter a smile.
"Yeah, just finishing up the latest fix."
Ember came over and gave her father a playful look.
"Theo and I will take care of it.", she assured him before looking stern, "You need to rest and that's an order."
Theo and Bernie could both tell she was just playing to show she was concerned about him, but Bernie saluted.
"Yes ma'am."
He and Ember laughed while Theo rolled his eyes comically. Then Bernie came up to Ember and took her hands in his.
"Ember, I see a change in you. Happier. Calmer with customers, and with that . . . food inspector."
Theo flinched as Bernie spat out the last two words while glancing at Wade's photo on the "Banned" wall before returning to Ember.
"You're always putting shop first and working so well with Theo.", he continued, "You have proved I can trust you."
He paused so he could cough a few more times, but managed to get to the stairs okay before looking Ember's way once again.
"I'm so lucky to have you.", he said before heading upstairs.
Though Theo felt complimented that Bernie was seeing a change for the better in Ember, when he looked her way, she seemed a bit worried.
"Ember, you okay?", he asked.
Ember looked his way after breathing a few times.
"Theo, I'm worried about Gale.", she admitted, "What if she told Wade that the seal I made didn't make the cut?"
Theo looked thoughtful.
"Then why don't we go over to Wade's place and find out if Gale called yet?", he suggested.
Ember looked at Wade's photo wondering if she should take Theo's advice and go see Wade and find out if Gale had called or not. After a moment or two, she decided to take it and headed out the door while Theo took out his cell phone and made a quick phone call. He had only been in Wade's office once, but he had managed to get a phone number off the directory which he hoped was Wade's home number.
"Hello?", came a voice that sounded feminine on the other end after Theo had dialed and waited a few rings for.
"Hi, is this the Ripple household?", Theo asked.
"Yes, this is it.", the voice answered, "I'm Brook and who might be calling."
"I'm Theo.", Theo answered, "I was hoping if Wade was around by chance."
"Oh yes, he's here.", Brook answered, "What's up?"
Theo then noticed Ember heading out on her scooter and knew he had to wrap this up.
"Oh, he met someone and she was wondering if me and her could meet him at your place. If that's not too much to ask."
"No, not at all.", Brook answered, "Wade would love to meet you again."
After a bit longer, Theo got the address and it was all arranged. After a friendly good-bye, Theo hung up and sped after Ember unaware that Mrs. Lumen had come down and was sniffing the air before noticing Theo speed out the door and into the night. She was sure she smelled love on Ember and followed even though it would take time to catch up.
/
It took a while for Theo to catch up to Ember as they entered Water Town. Cascading waterfalls and towering ice-blue buildings were clearly the vibe around this part of Element City. Luckily Theo caught up with Ember just as she paused at the thought of getting splashed.
"Ember."
Ember looked his way as she wasn't expecting him to fall behind.
"Theo, what are you doing here?"
"I would ask you the same thing.", Theo answered, "But I guess you took my advice so I thought I'd tag along in case you got lost or something."
Ember sighed.
"Why are you really here?", she countered.
"Back when Wade was going to the Airball game, I caught sight of a number with his name on it and thought I'd call it and see if it was his home number. Luckily it was."
Ember looked impressed, but she let Theo continue.
"So I called and when Brook answered it, we had a chat and she gave me the address which I'd share with you in case we got lost."
Theo took a few moments to take a few breaths as he was still a bit winded from running after Ember.
"Are you finished?", Ember asked.
Theo gave a weak smile.
"Yes."
Ember rolled her eyes comically as she could tell that Theo wasn't going to let her go alone.
"Hop on.", she said.
Theo did so and as they sped off again, they didn't notice that Mrs. Lumen was just coming up the street behind them. Even from a distance, she still saw them speed off and picked up the pace. After a bit, Ember pulled up to what looked like a very pricy looking apartment building that Theo recognized from when he helped Wade home when they first tried to seal the leak with sandbags.
"You sure this is the right place?", Ember asked as Theo had given her the address while they were heading over.
"Pretty sure.", Theo answered.
Ember looked more nervous, but Theo was determined to be brave. As they approached the door they noticed a pretty big Water guy standing near it, but then Wade opened the door and brightened when he saw them.
"Ember! Theo! You both came!", he said clearly glad to see them, but looked a bit worried when he saw Ember's expression, "Everything okay?"
"Please tell me that you have good news from Gale.", she said with a tone of desperation, "I'm worried about my dad."
"Yeah, he sounds really bad.", Theo added, "We really need Gale's approval or else we're in big trouble."
"I haven't heard from her yet, but she swore she would call tonight.", Wade informed before looking a bit shy himself, "Actually, my family stopped by for dinner. You guys want to come up and wait together?"
Ember hesitated.
"Your family?", she asked.
Theo and Ember didn't see her, but Mrs. Lumen had caught up to them enough to see them, but not who they were talking to.
"Theo's in on this?", she asked herself as she observed.
"Sure, we'll come up for a bit.", Ember said.
As they headed past the doorman, Theo noticed Ember was in awe.
"You actually live here?", she asked.
"It's my mom's place.", Wade answered.
"Oh my gosh.", Ember commented.
Theo said nothing as they went past the doorman. Cinder hurried up and was hoping to head in also, but the doorman blocked her.
"I'm afraid I can't let you in.", he told her, "Residents and guests only."
"Ah, okay.", Cinder said turning as if she was about to leave, "I understand."
She then tried to dart past the doorman, but he extended an arm and made a wall of water. When she tried the other side, he did the same thing with his other arm.
"You're surprisingly good at your job.", Cinder commented.
"You're surprisingly fast for your age.", he responded.
"You have no idea.", Cinder warned.
Cinder then spun herself into a small tornado which made the doorman's eyes widen more than just a bit. He looked downright surprised.
