The dark before the dawn

[Arsenal]

When you falter, there is nothing like a good woman to bring you back up. To put you back together when you might be in danger of breaking.

That was Karen just now as she explained to Mike logically that he could not put that burden on himself and then took the time to appreciate him and what he tried to do for fallen comrades here. He nodded as she spoke, and her voice, what she SAID, it did make him feel better.

<< placing her soft hands around Michael's face, holding his face gently and gazing into his eyes>>

Do NOT give her or even her wretched MEMORY power over you now.

Instead...take solace in knowing that you stood strong against her. You DEFIED her. You put down her wretched creatures and that those MEN were NOT a part of her evil and violence tonight.

You did so much tonight...and I honor you, my dear man, for standing strong in the face of such evil.

Only time, and talks like these, will help you to truly recover. But TIME and US...we certainly have BOTH.

<< She hugs him once more... and then, in a rare moment, since she always valued privacy and discretion outside of her own dwelling, she kisses Michael.>>

<< a few moments pass when...>>

MMMMmmmmmnnnnn. This made things MUCH better. Mike was allowing himself to enjoy the moment when...

Originally Posted By: Morgan

<< LOUDLY clearing her throat>>

Oh my STARS!?

<< Karen pulls away from Michael with a bemused expression on her face>>

Oh dear...MORGAN, baby!

<< Morgan comes in, smirking at her mother and Michael both>>

Morgan: Oh MY....MOM!!!

<< Hugging her mother tightly>>

<< then, surprising Michael, she HUGS him too>>

You're back! So then that means EVERYONE is here now? everyone is okay??

Mike smiled and picked Morgan up a little as she hugged him. It WAS good to see her. When she asked about everyone being OK, he stopped smiling but his voice and demeanor was still somewhat upbeat when he responded.

The core group is all accounted for...but some staff was lost. I am unsure how many. Sharon will brief us in time I have been assured.

 

[MorningStar]

Aerie - Infirmary Interview Suite

Delilah followed Sharon into one of the interview suites of the Infirmary. SHE hadn’t done anything wrong. So why did she feel like she was about to face a firing squad?

Entering the room, she pulled the loose unbuttoned sweater she was wearing around her and crossed her arms over her chest. When it was her turn to speak, she spoke her mind.

“What. The Hell. Were you all thinking? How DARE you. How dare you keep what was going on from me. You put me, and my CHILD at risk! And NOT ONE of you came to me and told me the truth. Not ONE! Do I mean so LITTLE to you that you couldn’t even let me know what was going on so I could protect myself, my FAMILY?”

Delilah didn’t only mean Alexia, but all of them.

“Do you trust me so little?! I am a member of this team, unless you all know something that I don’t, and until I am not I expect not to be lied to.”

 

[Spellbinder]

The Infirmary.

<< Everyone had gathered back in the interview room, even Isis was in attendance, but remained apart from the core group, merely observing from a distance behind Nicolas.>>

<< some more pleasantries and personal chatter occurred, until finally they all turned to see Delilah, followed by Sharon, who announced her arrival.>>

<< Everyone expressed happiness and relief, but before they could go any further, Delilah immediately began to check them ALL. The group fell silent. Cameron had warned them not to be argumentative with her and that she had more than a FEW reasons to be upset. But as team leader, Morgan felt it was her responsibility to take the blame...and try to make Delilah understand.>>

<< inhaling rather deeply as Delilah confronted them all and took a step forward, moving away from her mother, Ava and Blaze. She slowly exhaled as she now stood before Delilah, with the others at various points behind her.>>

....Delilah

If you want to blame anyone...be angry with anyone, here i am. be angry with me.

We received information from Alison and Ava...and because you were already having a difficult time with your pregnancy, as team leader, I felt that you should not be burdened with any MORE stress or physical danger. You were in no condition to fight against Circe or any of the TERRIBLE things she would bring against us.

And you WERE in physical danger. That was part of Alison's vision.

I am the one who ordered everyone to keep silent.

I am the one who agreed to Nicolas' attempt to contact Bishop.

I didn't like it...neither did my sister, Alison, Ava....ALL of the people who promised you we'd keep this pregnancy a secret from him & we honored our word as long as we could But when it became apparent that you were in danger and Him being here was a part of Alison's vision as well, I decided that it had to be done and so, I gave Nicolas my approval.

I only wanted to protect you....to spare you.

I wanted to give you the best possible chance to avoid....

<< Morgan's violet eyes widen as she catches herself and what she's about to say. She doesnt OBVIOUSLY falter in her outward presentation, but she suddenly stops herself from going any further. She didnt want to tell Delilah that they had all known from Alison's vision that Delilah was to die in childbirth.>>

<< Speaking with a firm tone>>

I didn't want anything to HAPPEN TO YOU or your baby.

It had nothing to do with you NOT being on the team and no one told you. I was just trying to protect you.

I'm SORRY...but this was what i felt was the best course of action. And here you are...ALIVE. That is all I wanted. For you to LIVE.

 

[MorningStar]

Aerie - Infirmary Interview Suite

....Delilah. If you want to blame anyone...be angry with anyone, here I am. Be angry with me.

Delilah nodded her head sharply, her eyes almost as fiery as Blaze’s.

“You’re damn right I’ll be angry with you. And everyone else in this room who is a LIAR.”

She STILL couldn’t believe that not one of them had thought she should know what was going on. That Nicolas had thought BISHOP had more of a right to know than she did. THAT was the real kicker.

And you WERE in physical danger. That was part of Alison's vision.

She touched her hand to her forehead in annoyed disbelief.

“If I was in physical danger, I needed to KNOW it! “

She was a super-powered being for chrissake - how did they expect her to protect herself if she didn't even know she needed to?

I am the one who ordered everyone to keep silent. I am the one who agreed to Nicolas' attempt to contact Bishop.

She threw up her hands.

“And they did it! You aren’t their overlord, Morgan. They do have free will.”

And Nicolas HATED Bishop, so why in the hell would he want to contact him?

I didn't like it...neither did my sister, Alison, Ava....ALL of the people who promised you we'd keep this pregnancy a secret from him & we honored our word as long as we could But when it became apparent that you were in danger and Him being here was a part of Alison's vision as well, I decided that it had to be done and so, I gave Nicolas my approval.

[Pointing at Morgan. ]

“You honored your word until it suited you OTHERWISE! You didn’t think to TELL me?! You thought I was so irrational that I wouldn’t have allowed it if I had to? Perhaps told him IN MY OWN WAY?! You blindsided him, you blindsided ME.”

I only wanted to protect you....to spare you.

“Yeah, you really spared me at the Parthenon when YOU looked like death and Alison and Karen COLLAPSED right before my eyes! You let me have no idea what was going on, worrying that you were all DYING. Wondering WHERE you were, Morgan, and whether something was attacking you!”

How DARE they? Out and out keeping something like this from her was a new low. Blatant LYING. If they didn’t trust her, they should have let her go when she tried to leave after they defeated Bianca and Black. And right now, she was wondering why she hadn’t gone anyway.

I wanted to give you the best possible chance to avoid....I didn't want anything to HAPPEN TO YOU or your baby.

Delilah paused. She took a step backward. She had been about to argue further but instead she closed her mouth.

I'm SORRY...but this was what I felt was the best course of action. And here you are...ALIVE. That is all I wanted. For you to LIVE.

She spoke again, more calmly this time.

“Morgan. I understand, and I appreciate that you did what you thought was best for me. But YOU need to understand, that I should have been part of the discussion on what was best for me. Realize that I was here, that my BABY was here, while you were fighting a goddess and I had no clue that I was in danger or that I needed to be protecting us. You handicapped me, Morg.”

She took a breath and let it out.

“It’s not just about me anymore. I have a daughter to think of, to protect. I have to do what’s best for her, and that means I have to know the bad things that are out there.”

Delilah stepped forward and took Morgan’s hands in her own.

“Don’t do that to me again.”

 

[Prophet]

Interview Room

Just as Cameron was about to go and find Delilah, there she and Sharon were. As Sharon and Delilah entered the room, Cameron took a step back. For somebody who had just had a baby, died and come back, she definitely didn't look worse for the wear and she DEFINITELY didn't let it slow her down.

She was pissed and she had good reason. Cameron definitely didn't want to hide anything from Delilah, but by the time he knew what was going on, The Parthenon Event was already happening and the witches were going down one by one. Granted, looking back, he could have shot her a telepathic message, a text message something. Although, looking at how things had panned out and knowing that his sister's vision had INDEED came true, that Delilah DID die? He wasn't sorry for how that all had played out. If Delilah had known, she would have been Delilah and tried to help the team to the detriment of herself and her baby.

Thankfully Morgan took point and took the responsibility for the team. It was welcomed but not necessary. The woman had just gone literally to hell and back for thm and her she was taking full blame for what had gone on. He wasn't totally okay with that.

If you want to blame anyone...be angry with anyone, here I am. Be Angry with me...

I am the one who ordered everyone to keep silent.

I am the one who agreed to Nicolas' attempt to contact Bishop

"Morgan...that's not fair..."

Delilah responded to Morgan's apology.

"And they did it! You aren't their overlord, Morgan. They do have free will."

"You honored your word until it suited you OTHERWISE! You didn't think to TELL me?! You thought I was so irrational that I wouldn't have allowed it if I had to? Perhaps told him IN MY OWN WAY?! You blindsided him, you blindsided ME!"

Delilah was really giving it to Morgan and the others, and while she made sense? That just wasn't how things worked in The Six. Being a telepath himself, he had seen things about his own teammates that weren't beneficial for them to know, and even if it came to fruition, sometimes being in the dark was for the better. He had never really seen anything on the level that his sister had, and he had nowhere near the amount of responsibility that she did when it came to guiding the team, but this entire team WAS in the business of making decisions that weren't popular for the betterment of them ALL..and if they weren't going to LISTEN to Morgan, then what was the point of having a team leader?

She spoke again, more calmly this time.

“Morgan. I understand, and I appreciate that you did what you thought was best for me. But YOU need to understand, that I should have been part of the discussion on what was best for me. Realize that I was here, that my BABY was here, while you were fighting a goddess and I had no clue that I was in danger or that I needed to be protecting us. You handicapped me, Morg.”

She took a breath and let it out.

“It’s not just about me anymore. I have a daughter to think of, to protect. I have to do what’s best for her, and that means I have to know the bad things that are out there.”

Delilah stepped forward and took Morgan’s hands in her own.

“Don’t do that to me again.”

Cameron took a moment, before walking over to Delilah, hugging her tight no matter how much she might have objected, and took a step back.

"I know it may not have been the best option to not tell you, but there was nobody in this room that wasn't acting without your best interest in mind. We may have underestimated your ability to handle the information, and for that, at least I am sorry, but I think we all felt like our backs were against the ropes a little bit...I mean my sister was sick, one of my closest friends was pregnant, and I had just found out that my sister had seen a vision where Circe comes back, opens a hole in the Earth, destroys Aerie and takes over Morgan's body..and oh yeah.. you DIED while giving birth.. That's not an easy one to handle...for any of us..."

[he grabbed her hand]

"I'm sorry... very much so. But after feeling your SOUL leave your body while I was up there fighting against the machinations of Circe? And to know you are alive, and healthy..that Maxim is alive? That your baby is alive and healthy? I have to say...I'm just glad to see you..."

 

[Rampage]

Nicolas listened as Delilah gave it to them good, and then saw Morgan try to fall on her sword. He then heard Cameron apologize eloquently. He had a different perspective and he decided to share it. Stepping forward, he spoke.

Delilah...I completely understand why you are upset. COMPLETELY. And you have every right to be. But once I had this information, which was all of yesterday, please consider my position.

My OWN birth killed my mother. Killed her. And maybe it is misplaced, but this is the first birth I have been around since then. A baby changes things Dee. There is NO WAY I could forgive myself if you were in any way harmed because of this situation with Circe.

Nicolas stepped forward and looked her in the eye. He was still affected by the knowledge of his own birth. He always would be most likely.

The ONLY reason you were even here was the concern about the birth due to Ali's vision. That is also why I knew how to contact Bishop so easily. A baby CHANGES things. Any grudge I had with him no longer mattered because I knew...

Nicolas starts to say more but stops. Telepaths keep lots of secrets.

...I knew he would be a good father. So I had a way to contact him should the need arise. And I did as soon as I heard that he was needed. Morgan had nothing to do with that as she did not KNOW until I told her after I had DONE it. Her supporting it was as much to protect me from your wrath as anything else. But I cannot allow that.

As for the rest? Things moved so QUICKLY and, had I more time, I probably would have told you SOMETHING. But the only thing I knew in a short period of time is that having Bishop here gave you the best chance of living and that I was needed to help Morgan navigate the Underworld. So on I went.

Seeing you here NOT dead and angry with me is preferable to me over mourning a lost teammate and friend. The only thing worse than losing you would have been losing you and then facing a child as she goes through her life wondering if her Mama is dead because of HER. You do not ever want your baby to go through that. MY Mama made a choice that I thank her for...but I sometimes am jolted by the truth that if she was so great of a person to do that...then I am probably never going to be good enough to deserve such a gift. A LIFE for a LIFE?! Who am I to deserve that!!

Nicolas seemed almost off on a tangent for a second there...talking about many things at once. He calmed himself and focused as he finished.

So yeah, I did what I thought was best at the time. And while I am sorry that you are angry at me and feel betrayed...I cannot help but be happy to endure your wrath.

 

[Isis]

Interview Room

:: Dominique sat posed in a chair near the conference table. While she was just a few feet behind and away from Nicolas, She made sure she was removed from the concentrated group. With the exception of Nicolas, Alison, Morgan, Persephone and most recently Cameron, the sorceress could hardly tolerate The Six. As a group, she found them to be rather “pedestrian” and as individuals, she considered most of them to be soft and self absorbed…and of course there was the fact that they were always poised to interfere in the activities of the Hellfire Club and Sisterhood.::

:: Still, watching them now was rather fascinating to her for a variety of reasons.::

:: Delilah expressed outrage and indignation. Dominique had rarely had any direct interaction with Delilah since the truce came into effect. But at the end of the Viper caper, Delilah had made it a point to step forward and THANK Isis for all of her help in that caper, including helping to heal the wounded of the Six. From her observation of Delilah in the recent past, up till the present, Dominique found this woman to be someone who valued integrity and did not have the same “diva” tendencies that Morgan, Alison or even Dominique HERSELF had. ::

:: In many ways…the trio of Morgan, Alison and Delilah was similar to the trio in the Sisterhood, with Delilah in much the same position with her group as Dominique was in her’s. Together, yet apart. Connected but yet separated all at once…for many reasons…both occupational and personal::

:: Delilah didn’t suffer being coddled, underestimated or patronized. That much was clear too.::

:: Dominique had no opinion on the majority of what was unfolding in front of her and being said right now, as this was a SIX matter, BUT as Nicolas’ role in the matter became more clear and he stepped out from Morgan’s attempt to protect him from from further scrutiny and wrath from Delilah….::

Nicolas listened as Delilah gave it to them good, and then saw Morgan try to fall on her sword. He then heard Cameron apologize eloquently. He had a different perspective and he decided to share it. Stepping forward, he spoke.

“Delilah...I completely understand why you are upset. COMPLETELY. And you have every right to be. But once I had this information, which was all of yesterday, please consider my position.”


“My OWN birth killed my mother. Killed her. And maybe it is misplaced, but this is the first birth I have been around since then. A baby changes things Dee. There is NO WAY I could forgive myself if you were in any way harmed because of this situation with Circe. “

:ominique’s aqua blue eyes fixed on Nicolas intently as she swallowed and breathed in deeply. The subject of his birth…his CONCEPTION…and the cost to her sister, his mother…to HER…to their village…no matter WHERE she went in this world or WHO she became, this would ALWAYS been a source of vulnerability and deep emotion for her. When the Six first learned and SAW, via Harbinger’s scrying pool, what had happened to her and her sister the night Set attacked their village…it had touched them all. And Her sister, Nicolas’ mother had found the courage, the serenity to make a choice…the ULTIMATE choice. Living with the realization forever, being REMINDED of it by her patron goddess, Isis, during the battle against Set, had tempered Dominique’s all consuming desire…LUST for revenge against Nicolas. She had a greater, more important task. To HONOR her covenant with her patron goddess to keep Set locked away, to HONOR her sister’s memory and make sure her sacrifice was NOT in vain. ::

:: There had been a time, NOT so long ago, where many in the Six had felt Nicolas WAS a lost cause. But that time had come and gone. He’d MORE than changed…he’d GROWN as a young man. Dominique no longer saw him as a burden or source of bitterness. She STILL kept her distance for personal reasons…but when he had a NEED, she would be there. This moment, was a NEED.::

Nicolas stepped forward and looked her in the eye. He was still affected by the knowledge of his own birth. He always would be most likely.

:: Dominique slowly rose from her seat and took several steps forward. Moving without hesitation or concern for what ANYONE in the room thought. She now stood just behind Nicolas, slightly to his left. She placed her hand on his back, the tips of her fingers resting on his shoulder. She made a silent but DEFINITE gesture of support and endorsement for Nicolas .::

“The ONLY reason you were even here was the concern about the birth due to Ali's vision. That is also why I knew how to contact Bishop so easily. A baby CHANGES things. Any grudge I had with him no longer mattered because I knew...”


“...I knew he would be a good father. So I had a way to contact him should the need arise. And I did as soon as I heard that he was needed. Morgan had nothing to do with that as she did not KNOW until I told her after I had DONE it. Her supporting it was as much to protect me from your wrath as anything else. But I cannot allow that.”


“As for the rest? Things moved so QUICKLY and, had I more time, I probably would have told you SOMETHING. But the only thing I knew in a short period of time is that having Bishop here gave you the best chance of living and that I was needed to help Morgan navigate the Underworld. So on I went.” Seeing you here NOT dead and angry with me is preferable to me over mourning a lost teammate and friend. The only thing worse than losing you would have been losing you and then facing a child as she goes through her life wondering if her Mama is dead because of HER. You do not ever want your baby to go through that. MY Mama made a choice that I thank her for...but I sometimes am jolted by the truth that if she was so great of a person to do that...then I am probably never going to be good enough to deserve such a gift. A LIFE for a LIFE?! Who am I to deserve that!!”

Nicolas seemed almost off on a tangent for a second there...talking about many things at once. He calmed himself and focused as he finished.

So yeah, I did what I thought was best at the time. And while I am sorry that you are angry at me and feel betrayed...I cannot help but be happy to endure your wrath

::Speaking in a clear, direct tone, with no hostility::

Delilah, my nephew is right. A baby DOES change everything. NICOLAS changed my & my sister’s lives forever. I spent a LONG time being ANGRY, DRIVEN by the need to destroy HIM because of it. I was reminded by my patron goddess of what my TRUE destiny was. The realization of that BIGGER picture is what tempered my anger.
We ALL had our individual roles to play this evening…so that YOU :: all of them, INCLUDING Delilah:: could even HAVE this moment.


Harbinger and Nicolas reached out to me and because of the truce between the Six and Sisterhood, in addition to my responsibility to ensure that the threat of Set remains forever locked away, I responded and joined this effort.

As a favor to Persephone, who because of Circe and the Blue Moon, had been completely cut off from her mother, Demeter, Hecate and Athena, I used my remaining magicks to contact them and open a channel of communication. Athena, Hecate and Demeter decreed that Spellbinder was to go to the source of this assault and stop it once and for all. She was to fight and defeat Circe. Hecate, Demeter and especially Athena called upon Nicolas to go with Spellbinder to help her and ensure that she succeed. He SAVED her from Medusa.


My nephew risked his life…as he has often times before…for the people in this room. His affections for this group are still largely a mystery to me. But it is not for me to interfere in his personal life and whom he chooses to deal with, SO LONG AS those associations do not open up any possibility of his blood opening the doorway for Set’s return.

His willingness to ACT to protect the people he cares for and has demonstrated loyalty to time and again, and his unflinching bravery in the face of steep adversity are no doubt among the reasons Athena herself has chosen him as her champion.
He knows, perhaps better than anyone in this room, what it is to be a child who’s life came at the ultimate cost…the life of his mother, my sister. No child should have to grow up without his or her mother.


I do not begrudge you your feelings, nor do i cast judgement on how you feel. If anything...I have some EMPATHY. I know all too well aware what it is like to be robbed of the ability...the RIGHT to make choices regarding myself or my loved ones.

BUT I believe you to be a woman of reason and that EVENTUALLY you’ll come to understand that the choices your team mates made, in the face of such severe threats to you, to them…to the world…were the best they could do. They did not wish to see your daughter live in this world without her mother. The did not wish to see this world DESTROYED on the dawn of your daughter’s life in it.

::And with that, Dominique fell silent. Still unwavering in her support of Nicolas at this moment. Delilah may or may not receive her words, but too often, she'd been aware of how Nicolas was reduced to the "pariah" of this motley crew and it offended her deeply. She would not sit idle and allow him to go through that again, not at the hands of anyone in this room, not after all that he...ALL of them had been through. He understood, like they all did, that ALL choices come with reprocussions and consequences. He himself was a LIVING EXAMPLE of it. That he wanted to help someone he cared for AVOID the same fate should be enough to at least TEMPER the anger...but only time would tell.::

 

[Arsenal]

Mike listened. And listened. Then Nicolas spoke, and he saw the kid in a new light. Enlightened. Adult. And most of all, much more serene.

And then ISIS stood up for him. Well damn. In related news, hell froze over. Her speech was actually not just analytical but impassioned. Good for her. Mike began to nod as she spoke. When she finished, he chimed in.

Delilah, put yourself in our position for a second. In a situation far from ideal we did what we thought was best. We KNEW you would be...YOU. That you would stand in danger with us, full belly and all. I did not plan to EVER allow that and the only way to stop you is to not tell you. So I am perfectly fine with the decision I made in this regard. We ALL keep secrets when we think it best. It does not make us bad people, just people doing the best we can.

Mike was clearly referring to Delilah, Bishop and the pregnancy here. It was not lost on him that he was sworn to secrecy 8 months ago by Delilah. He was on board then and he was on board with it now.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Interview Room

<< Everything was moving along as it should in this moment, everyone taking time to appreciate one another and just decompress. Soon Delilah and Sharon joined them.>>

<< Delilah immediately expressed her displeasure, her ANGER with them. Morgan attempted to shield them all from Delilah’s anger by claiming full responsibility and both Cameron and Nicolas objected to that.>>

<< Karen had known Delilah longer than EVERYONE in this room. She knew Delilah’s PARENTS before she was born. She had long regarded Delilah as a surrogate daughter and the two enjoyed a warm, caring relationship even apart from Delilah’s long standing, close friendship with Morgan. One thing about Delilah that Karen had long known was that UNLIKE her daughter Morgan, or Alison, Blaze, HALEIGH even, Delilah was far more even tempered. She was not nearly as quick or prone to wrath as the other four. Delilah was a patient, understanding person. BUT she was a person who had solid principals and stood by them even when they were not convenient or popular to the others. She was a person who was loyal and expected that in return from those she had given her loyalty, which was only fair. She did not agree with lying and did not suffer lairs very kindly.>>

<< Delilah had been through HELL in the last year. Karen had been largely unable to help her through much of it. Some things, a person had to go through on their own, and Delilah did not ever want or make it a habit to “run to Karen” everytime things got tough. But at the end of the Black/Bianca caper, where Spellbinder DIED and Karen was prepared to destroy her own soul to cast a necromancy spell to revive her, That was the first time Karen and Delilah had suffered a true STRAIN on their relationship.>>


<< A view of Karen’s opal blue eyes …>>


<<FLASH!>>

<< 6 months ago, THIS SAME PLACE. Morgan lies in a medical suite, in a COMA, dying, following Black’s brutal assault on her in NYC. Karen has been attending her as best she can, but the doctor is weary…and ANGRY.>>


Karen: Not so fast.

<< Karen says as she looks into Delilah's eyes. For Delilah...it was ALMOST like seeing that alternate Karen...the one who was to be burned at the stake for killing alternate Nicolas, who had brutally raped and killed alternate Morgan. Still, this was no alternate timeline, this was HER Karen. the same woman who had often regarded her as a surrogate daughter. After all, she and Morgan had been close friends since childhood.>>

<< Delilah could see up close now that Karen was very tired, her eyes looked rather strained from the tears she had shed many times since being here. Delilah could only imagine what else had been going on since bringing Morgan back to try to keep her alive.>>

That is my daughter in there....lying in a coma.

<< Karen says in a low tone.>>

She went to save you...from that derranged woman, Bianca. In some ways it served a very important purpose, for Morgan finally was confronted with a real casualty of the Inferno...one OUTSIDE of her circle. an INNOCENT- at least she was at the time of the INFERNO.

At the moment it mattered MOST, she exercised CONTROL, the control she feared she'd NEVER get after the Inferno. She accepted her role in Bianca's madness, APOLOGIZED and offered to HELP HER, tried to SAVE her from the threat of BLACK.

She...she did it YOUR way because she KNEW it was the right way.


<< Karen's voice was now trembling...was it with grief? or rage? Delilah had seen HER karen grieve...and she'd seen the RAGE of two alternate Shadow Weavers...which one would she get NOW?>>

and now...she's in a COMA. she's DYING.

And...I understand...that you....LET that woman LIVE. you let her GO. After ALL that she DID to you...ALL of you. MY DAUGHTER! YOUR FRIEND OF ALL THESE YEARS!

WHY Delilah!? WHO'S SIDE ARE YOU ON?! Is your sense of "RIGHT" so PURE and JUST that you're willing to highlight it with the BLOOD of your own friends and family?

Bianca could have gotten the help she needed from my daughter if ONLY she had done things DIFFERENTLY. Morgan would have JUMPED at the chance to do ANYTHING to help someone that she knew had been a victim of the Inferno. DO you remember MASTER MOLD!?

But no, that woman did what she wanted no matter who it hurt or placed in danger...there was nothing NOBLE or JUSTIFIABLE about it save perhaps that she was...IS INSANE.

She violated Harbinger's security, she unleashed the DEADLIEST THREAT to my daughter's existence...and you....

<< Karen clenches her fist. Would she strike or attack Delilah?>>

....you LET HER GO...YOU LET HER LIVE! while MY DAUGHTER LIES IN A COMA!


WHY!?


<< as grief stricken and as ANGRY as Karen was...she did not go as far as she MIGHT have. NOR would she attack Delilah. That was the difference between HER and her alternates. She could be vicious and deadly, ESPECIALLY when it came to her daughter or her own well being, BUT she'd prooven time and again [such as when persephone murdered mike] that she knew how to display just ANGER and punishment WITHOUT going overboard to needless violence and abuse.>>

I DEMAND an explanation, Delilah!<< Now it was time for Delilah to explain herself. >>

<< but the depth of their love for one another allowed for them to OVERCOME what COULD have become a deep and wide chasm, a rift of resentment.>>

<<FLASH>>

"Because killing Bianca would make us no better than she is. Than Bishop was when he tried to kill Sharon.”

She turned and walked a few paces to the other side of the hallway from Karen.

“Bianca wanted to hurt Morgan because of what she had become during the Inferno. Bishop wanted to hurt Sharon and the rest of us because of things we’d done with our powers when we weren’t ourselves. If others judged us at our worst moments, without seeing the big picture, the reasons why – then they would say we all deserve to be dead right now. But we don’t!”


Delilah turned around, her face pleading with Karen to understand.

“Morgan is not the person that she was during the Inferno. You said it yourself – she forgave and even wanted to help Bianca. If we had killed her after she had seen that Morgan was not at fault for her predicament, that there were people out there who would help her – Morgan would have carried the guilt of that innocent with her for the rest of her life. I know what that’s like and I didn’t want it for her!”

She gestured at the room where Morgan lay.

“You asked whose side I’m on? I’m on MORGAN’S side. I’ve always been on her side, on this team’s side. I didn’t show it in the right way, and for that I’m sorry. I understand now that sometimes we have to do things for the greater good, things we don’t necessarily want to. I understand now that our powers mean we do play by different rules. BUT I won’t let my friends lose their humanity by it! We’re still people – good people. We can’t lose ourselves in revenge – sometime it’s up to the victims to do the right thing. If we murder Bianca now – and that’s what it would be – where does it end? Who do we go after next? That would make us no better than MALICE.”


She took a breath, calming herself.

“I remember Master Mold every single moment of every day. It was my greatest fears realized. But if we allow ourselves to lose that which makes us human – what good is being alive?”


She looked down at the ground for a moment, then back up and into Karen’s eyes.

“I promise you that if Bianca makes one move in the direction of Morgan, I will kill her myself. But she – like we all – deserves the chance to change. And Morgan deserves the chance to put Inferno behind her. And if I've learned one thing through all of this, it's that we are not defined by our mistakes.”


Bianca may not have been the nicest person in the world, but that made her no less worthy of that chance. For who might not be a little hostile in the face of the emptiness of the present and the dread of endless tomorrows?

<<it was at that moment that Karen's intense facial expression and glare at delilah began to soften.>>

<< she sensed that at long last, the Delilah SHE remembered those days leading up to the Inferno had RETURNED. But it wasnt merely an old "persona" reasserting...it was the strength of CLARITY and the BALANCE of UNDERSTANDING that Karen had not seen in Delilah for quite sometime.>>

<< she heard Delilah's words...and sensed the change in her, the GROWTH and most of all...the affirmation of her love and care for Morgan and their team.>>


<< she was not a possible threat that Karen would have to protect Morgan from.>>

<< Karen's facial expression softened and she exhaled.>>


<< she walked forward, leaving the doorway clear.>>

Go and see your friend. Talk to her. Tell HER how you feel. The last time you had spoken in depth, it was shortly after Bishop's return. It was not pleasant.

<< Karen spoke softly but with approval as she gestured for Delilah to pass.>>

<< Karen herself would journey up to the observation booth to see the others for the first time since taking Morgan away from the battle.>>

Delilah nodded as Karen told her she could finally see Morgan. But as the older woman started to join the others, Delilah stopped her.

“Karen?”

The Doctor turned, and Delilah hugged her.

“Thank you.”

Delilah smiled and let her go, stepping through the doorway into Morgan’s room.

<< The overcame it…just as Morgan would have wanted, just as they NEEDED to. Delilah was a fair and just woman, but even SHE had her limits, and clearly her entire team…her FAMILY withholding the truth from her, DENYING her involvement in choosing her own actions was a red line. Karen could understand that, very much so.>>


<< As Cameron, then Nicolas laid their thoughts out for Delilah, ISIS stood up in a truly telling moment of support for Nicolas as well as extending compassion and empathy toward Delilah. Though she was a FOE of the Six, aligned with the Hellfire club…a member of the Sisterhood with MALICE AND ENCHANTRAH- two women Karen had DEEP SEATED HATRED for- She had come to see Dominique in a place and CLASS by herself. The woman was full of mystery, elegance and even grace, as she showed now. Those were qualities Karen could respect and appreciate. >>

<< Dominique offered a timely, solid voice of support for Nicolas’ actions as well as reminding them ALL that they wouldn’t even HAVE this moment, such as it is, were it not for the efforts of everyone involved this evening and that whatever happened, whatever choices were made…were obviously for the desired outcome of surviving Circe AND seeing Delilah live. Karen couldn’t help but nod in silent agreement.>>
<< Michael spoke, underscoring some of Dominique’s response and standing behind Morgan’s goal of wanting to see Delilah LIVE and Alexia to have her mother.>>

<< Now it was Karen’s turn.>>


<< steps forward among Morgan and Delilah. Karen can SEE the pained expression in Morgan’s face and violet eyes as Delilah has just sharply checked her. Karen places HER hands over BOTH Delilah and Morgan’s hands, as they were still held. A silent gesture of a MOTHER reminding her DAUGHTERS that they were SISTERS, FRIENDS…before emotions went too far and the WRONG things were said. She looks at Morgan, then Delilah. >>

Morgan, daughter, stand beside Michael and let me speak to Delilah eye to eye

<< Karen communicates with Morgan via their psychic bond as mother and child, unheard by any ears…or minds.>>

<< She stands before Delilah, drinking in the woman’s facial expression, studying her eyes, her body posture, everything. As a psycho therapist, these things are reflex, but Delilah is no patient. She is like a daughter.>>

Delilah, I too, went along with Morgan’s directive. Not because I didn’t have a mind of my own, but because “THE SIX” is LEAD by Morgan and more importantly, I FEARED for your safety and I felt that this WAS the best course of action.

Now….FEELING and KNOWING are two different things.

You asked what the hell were we thinking?

<< She takes Delilah’s hands into her own>>

Do you remember, 2 years ago…in the weeks following Morgan and Sharon’s “deaths” at the hands of Master Mold? After Alycia read and executed Morgan’s will and Alison and Haleigh were installed as “Co-Leaders” of the Six and CEO, COO of Illustra, respectively…I spent several days in Morgan’s penthouse…SWIMMING through a sea of GRIEF…and RAGE.


After we learned that MALICE was responsible for unleashing Mastermold…and for me, REMEMBERING what she’d done to my family years earlier, I decided…without telling ANY of you who were in Illustra, that I would pay Malice a little visit.


<<FLASH>>

<< 2 years ago. NYC, the Hellfire Mansion. Karen Victoria has arrived and is seeking REVENGE.>>

<<the men find themselves surrounded by a mysterious sparkling golden mist...as their eyes roll to the back of their heads and the fall back to the wall..sliding down in a DEEP sleep. they will awaken with no memory of this moment. Karen slips past and into the room..where she finds Malice sleeping ever so serenely in the darkness. her chambers are the stuff dreams are made of...though the decor is in sharp contrast to the ultra modern look that her own daughter favored>>

She sleeps...confident that she is protected. Pity she didnt remember that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...especially a woman whose child just been murdered.

<< drawing closer to the canopy bed, Karen begans to manifest herself...but only in a "dreamy" appearence so as to confuse malice at the first eye contact. thunder crashes again...as lightning pierces the sky outside of the windows...>>

Malice.......MALICE....wake up...you murdering COW

::sleeping in her plush canopy bed....the thunder rolled on outside before CRASHING so hard as lightning flared across the sky. Malice opened her eyes casually...before hearing a voice...the voice...so familiar. She turned her head and her opal blue eyes WIDENED at the sight of what appeared to be a phantom image of none other than Dr. Karen Victoria::

::immediately sitting up.::

MALICE: KAREN VICTORIA!


:: she back kicked herself out of the bed...so that it was seperating her from Karen...giving her a decent amount of space to compose herself::

You're often underestimated in your power for you, like me, keep your powers secret from the general public..you blend in with society..HIGH SOCIETY at that. You made a truly worthy foe of Helena's for 20 years and you two had some of the most DELICIOUS battles i've ever seen. I knew this moment would come eventually. A woman scorned by her unfaithfull husband, a mother mourning the loss of her daughter. How EASILY that you would attempt to place the blame on a single person...the person who stole YOUR MAN AWAY FROM YOU. Ironic...that a noted psycho therapist is now functioning in a most selfish and irrational manner....dont you think?

:: Malice smiled wickedly as she flashed her gleaming white teeth and lightning flashed in the window behind her. She was doing it again..using the TRUTH ..even if it was skewed.. as a weapon in concert with subtle empathic manipulation.::

<< Karen stood...as the cape of her flying suit flowed ever so slightly behind her. she stood with her hands on her hips..glaring at Malice just as Malice glared at her.>>

Did you think i would ever TRULY forget Malice? did you think i'd EVER forgive?


<<Malice retorted and Karen spoke ABOVE HER. her tone was dripping with hostility and sharpness>>


SELFISH? if THAT isn't the pot calling the kettle black!

<< thrusting her arms forward and sweeping them outward...a rushing "harp" sound is hard as the large canopy bed is REMOVED in a flury of sparkling golden orbs.. Karen begins to walk forward>>

You took my husband...you sunk your psychic hooks into him and lured him from his family and into the arms of MysTech....It is YOUR FAULT that he turned on his WIFE AND HIS DAUGHTER...you bed hopping harlot!

<< Karen's hair and cape began to flow a bit more>>


My life was forever changed...RUINED because of YOU and while I may not have immediately realized it then, I am MORE than aware of it NOW. My husband is dead. My daughter is dead...and now..its time for YOU TO DIE!


<< taking a battle pose, as five golden orbs swirl into view around her body, Karen gestures. a chiming sound goes off as the orbs spin faster and transform into mystic daggers>>

You ruined my life...you work for the entity who destroyed my daughter and my husband. Rational or NOT....i cant think of any MORE FITTING REVENGE than to see you DEAD!


<< thrusting her hands out...the daggers charge madly for Malice, sparkling and gleaming as the split through the air. they will not only CUT THROUGH anything EXCEPT adamantium, they also have concussive power behind them...the equivalent of being hit by high velocity cannon balls>>

<< Rapid fire montage of Shadow Weaver and Malice engaging in a VICIOUS catfight/grudge match. Malice physically attacking Shadow Weaver in her diamond form...and a few moments later…>>

:: MorningStar arrived in a most traditional way, but her entrance wasnt IMMEDIATELY noticed as there was an ALARM already going off...probably because Karen was busy attacking Malice. MorningStar was able to survey the splendor and opulence of the vestibule before making her way inside and down the main hall. It was her first time ever having been inside this establishment although NYPD had some files on the place due to suspicious activity over the years.::

Intruder alert! main floor, main hall way. Intruder identified Mutant: MorningStar. Intruder Alert!

:: her seemingly easy entrance would quickly be forgotten as all the windows were now sealed shit by carbonium steel sheets and insulated against a variet of energy attacks...and she know found herself confronted by oncoming WILDpack soldiers...who were armed and their faces covered with masks with eye slits and a mouth slit to give them a more featureless/intimidating facial look. they wore state of the art body countouring armoured suits that highlighted their lean, toned physiques and brandished small yet high powered plasma cannons::


:: the soldiers were taking aim when from her immediate left, a LARGER soldier lunged forward...preparing to TACKLE HER from the side::

:: scoffing as she stepped over Karen to a hidden control panel in the wall, she pressed a button to get a visual to see what was happening elsewhere in the building.::

Ahh, Delilah Trelevan has entered the building. No doubt to rescue the doctor. They certainly keep tabs on one another don't they?

::watching as MorningStar dispatched several WILDpack soldiers and held her own against more with the plasma cannons...she nodded slowly::

hmm yes, MorningStar is quite powerfull. I can see why Alexis took an immediate dislike to this one, she's an energy wielder/manipulator whose limits have not been defined yet. an IMMEDIATE rival for Alexis in terms of power from the moment she joined The Six full time. Her sterling character, her integrity....everything that Alexis is not. Delilah has the trust and respect of her team mates as well as her peers in law enforcement and she was highly favored by Morgan as well as her mother. Alexis was always an outcast even in her own family....there was much for her to be jealous of.

::smirking as she saw Blackout appear::

Already she defends her new home as readily as she would have Illustra. Blackout has certainly displayed a proactive stance she never possesed as "Shockwave". Its a change i intend to FULLY exploit in the days to come.

::as she turned away from the monitor that was covered again by a moving picture on the wall, she found herself on the receiving end of a surprise::

<<standing behind MALICE this time, Karen had a glint in her own eye...as she raised a large SPIKED HEAD MACE up>>


Exploit THIS!


<< with a mightly swing, Karen slams the mace across Malice's jaw and returns the favor as she sends MALICE flying into the wall before she falls to the floor>>

my magicks's allow me to CONJURE ANY weapon that i need in battle, Malice. I may not be as STRONG as you physically, but I am every bit as adaptable. You said it yourself, "I've been in the game for a long time, battling with the hellfire club in some way for over 20 years." and for all your power and tactical savvy, you made one mistake that HELENA never made when fighting with me, NEVER underestimate your enemy!

<< as Malice fell to the floor, with a bloody gash on her face and seemingly unconscious, Karen stood with one hand on her hip as she casually tossed the large spiked head mace into the air. the rushing harp sound was heard before the conjured weaponed disappeared into thin air. Karen nodded with satisfaction....as she stepped over Malice, allowing the cape of her flying suit to brush over the telepath>>

MorningStar is here to "rescue" me. A brave young woman, but i did not NEED to be rescued...this was a PERSONAL MATTER.


<< Karen had cought wind of where Delilah was in the building and that Blackout was now confronting her>>

I must get down there and get us BOTH out of here before we are overwhelmed!

<< cut to a few moments later>>


<<as Delilah cut down more WILDpack soldiers with a LASER blast, Karen silently gestured...as her cape blew in the wind...black halos of magick formed around her hand...and with a nother rushing sound...BLACKOUT found herself ENSNARED by powerfull, constricting shadow tendrills of dark magick...the tendrills wrapped around her body like tight riings and were impossible to break physically.>>

Morningstar!!

<< Karen moved with a purpose...her cape sweeping over the fallen bodies of the WILDpack soldiers as she reached Delilah.>>

Time is short....we must leave this place immediately!

<< taking Delilah's hand...Karen sweeps her cape around herself and MorningStar..the harp sound is hard followed by a wind as the cape casts a shadow that swirls around both women...and in a flash..they are GONE, teleported out of the Hellfire club and safely back to Illustra ....leaving Blackout to try to free herself from the tendrills and to inform Malice of what has happened....>>

<<FLASH!>>

<< that same night, Karen and MorningStar have just ESCAPED the Hellfire Mansion, returning to Morgan’s penthouse in Illustra>>

<< having returned to her daughter's penthouse, Karen and Delilah were now safely out of harm's way. appearing in the large, sunken in sitting room off the main area of the penthouse...close to the "area of consecration" and a portion of the floor-to-ceilng windows, Karen swept her cape behind her as she exhaled with relief>>

well, that was a close one.

<< she looked over at Delilah>>

Delilah, I cannot BELIEVE you risked coming to the Hellfire Club by yourself like that!


<< sounding almost like a mother reprimanding her daughter>>

you could have been captured, HURT, or WORSE!


I knew the risk I was taking when going to confront Malice....but it was something I had to do. She took away my husband, she is alligned with the entity that took away my daughter. She HAD to be reminded that Morgan was someone's daughter...and the MOTHER is just as capable of exacting revenge as anyone ELSE.


<< she paused...as she ran her hands through her hair...and sighed>>

I didnt want anyone else to know what i was doing, i didnt want you to place yourselves in danger on MY behalf.

<< looking back at Delilah>>

But THANK YOU for caring enough for me...your bravery...its as pure as the light that you channel.

[ Delilah looked at Karen a little sheepishly - she felt like she'd just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Not suprising as she looked to the doctor as a mother-figure now that her own parents were gone. And with Morgan's death more than ever she needed "family" to turn to.

She sat down on one of the sectionals, and wiped her face with her hands. ]

"I know, I know - I'm sorry Karen. I didn't stop to think - of course I know you can handle yourself more than adequately. But I just...felt I owed it to Morgan to keep her mother safe."


[ She looked up at Karen and smiled.]

<< a very dark and intense time for BOTH of them, and the rest of the Surviving Six>>

I made the choice to go and attack Malice…a choice born out of bitterness over Christopherand mutated by fresh grief over Morgan into RAGE. I did not want to risk the surviving Six’s involvement…but Tinkerbell had communicated to you and so YOU came after me, WITHOUT telling your team mates.

We BOTH were out of our minds and weren’t thinking clearly…but one thing that was NOT unclear was our mutual care and concern for one another. You were very dear to me as you have always been, as you are NOW.

The LAST thing that I wanted was to deceive you as I did. BUT aside from Morgan’s directive….I felt that your safety and keeping your stress levels as low as we could in the midst of your condition took precedence .

There’s an old saying…”The wrong thing done for the right reason is STILL the wrong thing.” But Delilah, you and I have BOTH seen each other through difficult times AND questionable choices. The one thing that was NEVER in doubt was our bond of friendship. I love you as a daughter. That will not change.

Sometimes, children get angry with their parents for the choices they make in trying to do what they FEEL is best for them. You’re angry with me now, and I’ve certainly earned your anger by deceiving as i did like this….but I would do just about ANYTHING I could to protect you, just as I would Morgan...and we've seen not just in our own time...but in OTHER timelines...where sometimes...even MY methods are not always...correct or well thought out.

I only wanted for you to LIVE, to see your BABY and to know the joy of motherhood as I have with my own daughter and to a large extent with you as well!

I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me and to understand the motivation for my choice.

 

[Persephone]

Meeting with the rest of the six and their allies, Ava greeted them warmly and even returned a hug from Cameron. But the reunion was short lived as Delilah made her presents AND opinions known. To say she was pissed was an understatement. She laid into them, and despite Morgan trying to take on all of the blame, she still was angry that they kept what was going on from her. Everyone chimed in, trying to explain to her why they did it. That they were sorry. That they didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Ava simply lifted a single eyebrow and folded her arms across her body, watching the conversation unfold.

While she understood why Delilah was angry, Ava was NOT sorry for what she did. For keeping it from Delilah. For what the six ultimately had to do to make sure the outcome was not like Harbingers visions. They did what was necessary. They did what they deemed fit given the circumstances. They did what they thought would SAVE Delilah's life AND the life of her unborn child. And guess what? It worked. Delilah was alive, Alexia was alive, Maxim was alive, and the six were alive.

"Well I, for one, am not sorry."

Ava stated bluntly.

"You and your child are alive and healthy. That I am NOT apologizing for. While our actions may have been misguided, the outcome was drastically different than what could have been. You were going to DIE Delilah. And I was going to do everything in my power to prevent that from happening, even if that meant keeping it from you."

It may have been harsh, but it was the reality of the situation. Ava had gone through a traumatic experience that tested her own will to live, and the only thing that kept her going was her family--THE SIX. Come hell or high water, she would not let anything happened to them again. Even if that meant her words would cause Delilah to hate her.

"You may dislike what i'm saying to you, but at least I know you're alive to do so."

 

[MorningStar]

Aerie - Infirmary Interview Suite

Karen recalled a time that Delilah would rather forget, when Morgan had died at the hands of Master Mold, and the two of them had stood side by side against Malice and Blackout in the Hellfire Club.

Delilah tried to interject,

“But Karen…my not telling the Six that I had gone after you then is not the same thing as…”

But Karen shushed her as she said her piece, so Delilah let her. When she had finished, Delilah answered her respectfully, with a small smile.

“Karen – I know you had good intentions. And you will always be a mother to me. I just want you – you all – to understand that you can’t keep me in the dark. Not when it affects me.”

I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me and to understand the motivation for my choice.

“Of course I forgive you.”

Delilah hugged Karen, soaking in that mother’s comfort. And then Cameron hugged her too.

“Damn you, Cameron King. You make it impossible for me to hate you.”

She squeezed his hand as he told her that he had felt her die, and how glad he was to see her and that everyone was okay.

And then came Ava.

"Well I, for one, am not sorry. You and your child are alive and healthy. That I am NOT apologizing for. While our actions may have been misguided, the outcome was drastically different than what could have been. You were going to DIE Delilah. And I was going to do everything in my power to prevent that from happening, even if that meant keeping it from you."

Okay, Delilah had had about enough of this.

“I DID die, Ava. I DIED. Athena and Hecate sent me back to my body, but I DIED. You all didn’t have a damn thing to do with it. What you did do, however, is bring me and my child into a warzone without consulting me first. Any nice vacation spots in Afghanistan you want to take me to next? And once I DID return from being dead, without Sharon and Ruby, that vortex thing would have taken me AND my child to god knows where. So quit acting like what you did SAVED me.”

She turned to address the entire group.

“Isis had it right – a baby changes everything. You’re damn right it changes everything. It was MY CHILD at risk here. It wasn’t YOUR decision to make about what was best for her. It was MINE! THAT is what you need to understand. I can forgive, but you MUST understand why this can’t happen again.”

 

[Harbinger]

Infirmary- Nursery

::MEANWHILE::

::ELSEWHERE in the Mansion.::

:: From Harbinger's Executive Study, to the underground technological gem that is the Infirmary, Harbinger and BISHOP suddenly manifest in the NURSERY. With her magick fully restored, she's now able to use all of her abilities and so she wasted no time in TELEBLINKING herself and Bishop. A routine method of travel for her but for him, not so much, although it was less unnerving than Spellbinder's stepping disc.::

:: The nursery is dimly lit, with the soft "white noise" from the sound of various machines and energy flowing through the facility. Harbinger actively BLOCKS Prophet from being able to sense her, and WARPS the temporal fields around the Nursery to prevent anyone seeing or noticing anything. It will appear that NOTHING changes in this environment to the naked eye.::

:: The new born baby Alexia Morganna lays in her isolette, still surrounded by a power dampening field and a forcefield.::

:: Harbinger can't help but feel a pang of grief...and GUILT...if only for a moment...when she sees this tiny newborn. This innocent new life.::

:: As Bishop goes to his daughter, Alison, who is noticeably carrying her Time Staff with her, moves over to the control panel.::

I'm deactivating the force field and power dampener. She will not have any effect on me or you.

:: The fields power down and Alexia continues to sleep peacefully in her isolette.::

All her vitals are fine.

:: She looks upon the baby::

She's adorable, Bishop.

:: Alison says in a soft tone as she holds her time staff out in front of her, pointing the large red garnett jewel at the top of the staff at Alexia. The garnett jewel begins to hum and glow with an intermittent freqency as Alison slowly moves the time staff back and forth the length of Alexia's tiny body::

I'm...amplifying my own power of precognition to see if there's ANY possible...any PROBABLE time threads surrounding Alexia's life that show her being able to stay WITH Delilah...

:: after a few moments::

There are none.

As i knew there wouldn't be....but for HIS sake....

Time grows short.

I have already made preparations and arrangements for Alexia's care and safe keeping. She will be in the most trusted and capable hands.

:: She falls silent, giving Bishop time to process things even as they are occurring...even as they are going the way SHE "saw" them going months ago. She gives him this time to spend with his newborn daughter, to prepare her for her journey and to say goodbye.::

 

[Persephone]

Delilah: I DID die, Ava. I DIED. Athena and Hecate sent me back to my body, but I DIED. You all didn’t have a damn thing to do with it.

"And who the hell do you think clued Athena and Hecate in about all of this?"

Ava snapped back, cluing Delilah into the fact that had Ava NOT contacted them, the outcome of her death would have been drastically different. It would have been PERMANENT. Inhaling a sharp breath, she knew this wasn't getting them anywhere. Delilah was in mother lion mode and was pissed. So she took the remaining venom that Delilah spit at her instead of continuing to argue. She just wished Delilah would understand they did all of this because they loved her, not to hurt her.

Taking a few steps back, Ava put some distance between herself and the group. With her arms still folded across her chest, she leaned her back against the cold metal wall and let her head rest back. Perhaps keeping her mouth shut for the duration would be a better course of action for the goddess.

 

[Spellbinder]

Interview room

<< Morgan’s violet eyes widen and sparkle with a flash of OFFENSE AND DEFENSE. How dare WE?! HOW DARE SHE!>>

JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE TALKING TO !?

<< Her mind BLAZED with indignation as she stood there being berated by her best friend. She THOUGHT she was prepared to hear such a response. She THOUGHT she understood in her conscious mind why Delilah was SO upset. But for a moment, it seemed as though logic and reason were about to fly out of the window, until Morgan felt her MOTHER’S soft, reassuring hands, one on top of Delilah’s hand holding Morgan’s, and the other underneath Morgan’s hand.>>

<< She saw and felt her mother’s silent call for CALM and understanding from her and for Delilah to remember she was among FRIENDS and FAMILY.>>

<< Her mother asked her to step back beside Michael so that she could speak with Delilah eye to eye. Morgan did so but even Michael could sense that the witch was AGITATED. She folded her arms and looked rather unhappy.>>

<< Her mother, Cameron seemed to reach her. Nicolas displayed courage and valor and Isis backed him. Morgan could see that Isis was in no mood for her nephew to be vilified and that she wouldn’t stand for it. Her words to Delilah were clear and direct, but not accusatory or antagonizing. Morgan was actually quite pleased with Nicolas and how far he’d come all around. There were times where he WAS a brute and out of control. But SHE’D been out of control as well…just about everyone in this room…INCLUDING Delilah had been out of control at some point, but here they were now. That’s what should matter!>>

<< Ava spoke honestly. She was cut from the same cloth as Haleigh and Alison. But they provided the balance of attitudes and outlooks needed in this group.>>

<< Blaze had come to stand by Morgan at this point and wrapped her arm under and around Morgan’s making them arm & arm.>>

Thank you, SIS! I so appreciate the support because right now!?....

Blaze: [To Morgan via their psychic rapport as siblings] "…I know Morg. But you shouldn’t have tried to take ALL the blame. It wasn’t necessary…OR fair to you. YOU are the team leader, yes, but there wasn’t anybody in Michael’s apartment that night OR your office the next day that didn’t have a mouth to speak up and disagree with your decision if they felt strongly enough to do so. Even I didn’t. We didn’t have the time or the LUXURY! Dee is UPSET & she has grounds. Just let her ...."


<< The sisters listened as Delilah snapped back at Ava. MAMA BEAR was in full effect…and sometimes, MAMA BEAR wasn’t always rational or FAIR. She was really finding FAULT with them trying to SAVE HER and her baby's LIFE!? >>

Oh that’s IT!

<< Morgan’s eyes once again flashed with indignation and OFFENSE as she came forward. Blaze NOTICEABLY held the arm & arm lock and came forward right along with Morgan, with a look that said she was NOT keeping out of this any long.>>

Oh just STOP, Delilah! JUST STOP IT!


<< Chimes sound off as Morgan SCREAMS!>>


HOW DARE WE? HOW DARE YOU!?

I’ve had ENOUGH of you standing here acting like WE were capriciously taking risks with you and your baby!

<< She quickly slips her arm out from Blaze’s hold and points at Delilah, while her other hand is on her hip and she stands DEFIANTLY.>>

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT ANY OF US WENT THROUGH.

YOU DON’T KNOW what it did to ME to learn from Ava what Alison had seen…and to know that we had almost NO TIME to do anything ELSE about it! My mother, Alison, Isis and myself were SICK…we were being DRAINED of our power every MOMENT and yet ALL of us wanted NOTHING MORE than to make sure you LIVED.

You were supposed to be DEAD before Circe even came through to this world and apparently you DID die…and it was a MERCY that I was not AWARE of it while I was being SAVAGED AND ATTACKED BY MEDUSA in the underworld becauase If I HAD been…I don’t know that I could have gone ON! I HAD A JOB TO DO. I had a RESPONSIBILITY to EVERYONE. YOU. THE WORLD!

But I suppose you FORGOT that along the way as you stand here & SAVAGE us for some IMAGINED transgression of playing “god” with your life.

WE did what we’ve ALWAYS done! We ACTED on the information provided to us by Harbinger in a way that seemed MOST LIKELY to AVERT the outcome of her vision and the ONLY reason you’re standing here RIGHT NOW is because the goddesses Hecate and Athena intervened…and it was ISIS who made that possible. The Blue Moon had completely CUT Ava OFF from the goddess & blocked THEM from getting to US! Do you REALLY think we wouldn’t have chosen another way if one had been AVAILABLE TO US!?
We’ve known each other nearly ALL of lives & suddenly YOU think so LITTLE of me that I would be capable of just treating you like an AFTERTHOUGHT? That I handle making a descision to safe guard and protect YOU & your baby with such negligence?

<< Morgan’s pointed finger had lowered and was now balled into a fist, a TREMBLING one.>>

Well I’m not going to listen to this ANYMORE.

I made the descision as team leader based on the information we had and the TIME CRUNCH we were under. You’re alive and so is your baby. Everyone ELSE is alive in this room and Minerva’s Aerie and the WORLD are safe once again because of OUR actions.

<< Morgan turns on her high heel , turns her back on Delilah and storms past Michael even as Blaze tries to grab her.>>

NO! Don’t touch me! Don’t ANY of you touch me or say ANYTHING ELSE to me! I’m FINISHED.

<< She exits the room and into the hallway. If there was one thing more pronounced than Morgan’s love and concern for her friends and family…it was her ANGER when she felt unfairly attacked or misunderstood.>>

 

[Firebird]

Interview Room

Blaze gingerly nibbles her lower lip as her apple green eyes move about the room, watching and assessing everyone in this situation. It’s a precarious to say the least. Her SISTER is RAPIDLY moving from a place of wanting to be understanding to a place of indignation and RAGE. Morg’s heart was always covered in ice. For those that she let the ice MELT for, that meant they were special to her and FEW were more special to the witch than Dee. In Firebird’s own native timeline, the two had a similar history as they do here. She was as as much apart of the family…until BISHOP.

Sharon killed Bishop in self defense, Delilah blamed the Six, Morgan and Alison cast her out…everything went to hell. Suddenly Delilah was “the JUSTICER” for Mystech!? If the mainstreams were horrified by that, think how the NATIVES must have felt.
In the end, they succeeded in bring Delilah back to herself, but Morgan was gone…missing…more than likely dead. They’d never be able to resolve and restore their friendship. Blaze would not stand by and let ANY version of that happen here.

One thing about the mainstreams that PISSED Firebird OFF was their seemingly LACK of gratitude for what they had in each other, how they were all ALIVE and FREE. Many, if not ALL of them seemed to lose sight of that more than a few times and it was something Blaze couldn’t stand. To HER, that was part of what was going on here.

"MORG! WAIT!"

It was no use. The witch was not to be contained or held against her will in moments like this and it was better to let her go and cool down. She looked around at the others. If THEY weren’t going to say anything, SHE was.

"Don’t ANY of you go near Morgan right now. Just leave her be. She knows what’s needed when her emotions get the better of her and that’s why she’s left the room."


Turning back to Delilah, Blaze looks at the woman with a calm but unwavering gaze.
"Dee…

I’m glad you’re here. It's a GIFT from the goddesses, quite literally! They helped you...they helped US.

I lost MY Dee….I watched her and MY Morgan break apart worse than a broken bone. I lived in a world where Delilah was my ENEMY and she was trying to KILL me and the rest of the Six. I’m sure you know what that is like…since you went through the Inferno Event."

"Things are so much different here. So much more stable. That’s the one thing that has ALWAYS fascinated and relieved me about this timeline. But sometimes…I honestly feel like many of you…YOU and MORG especially…are so BENT on being “RIGHT” and everyone else just FALLING IN LINE. "

"It shouldn’t be that way. By now, BOTH of you should know that sometimes things are going to happen in ways you don't like and you just have to DEAL WITH IT and see how the OUTCOME was worth it. We just made it through something HORRIFIC. We should be appreciating each other, our LIVES…our FREEDOM. "


"In my timeline, we could NEVER operate out in the open like you do and even when BISHOP outed the Six in this timeline, you guys were able to RECOVER and return to society! WE never got that chance in my timeline."

We’ve all been WORRIED and fearful for you and your baby.

If Morg and Alison were as upset as they were, that should tell you that they didn’t handle this, YOU with anything less than urgency. My SISTER was SICK and still she was more concerned about YOU than her own health...her own LIFE."


"They did the best they could with what was before them and I know all too well how sometimes a person is only left with unappealing, down right SHITTY options…but that’s the way it is and you chose one…or you stand there and DIE or watch someone you love DIE or get turned into a SLAVE or a HOUND."

"They weren’t going to do that with you and honestly? Mike and Cam had it right. YOU being who you ARE, you WOULD have tried to stand shoulder to shoulder with them. You would have tried to get involved and the thing is…you WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO. Even BEFORE this, you were in bad shape and SHARON was the one helping you get through it."

"You're mad. We get it. Morg handled things in a way you don't approve or agree with."


"I’ve gotten upset with Morgan…both in my timeline and here…for sometimes being TOO controlling. But I KNOW her. I KNOW what drives her and because she’s ALWAYS been a woman who NEEDS to control and PROTECT herself and those she cares for dearly, she will sometimes take action WITHOUT consulting the person. It’s not meant to be an insult or a slight. It’s not her underestimating you, me or anybody else. It’s HER being WHO SHE IS."

"Do you know how heart broken she would be….how DEVASTATED all of us would be if we had some how managed to survive Circe only to discover YOU had been lost?"


"Well…I’ve seen how it can be and I don’t ever want to see it again. You may not like this…but I feel like you’ve taken the goddesses restoring you for granted. You’re here now and the first thing you can think to do is SLAM Morg and the rest of us like this and make it sound like we didn’t care enough about you or respect you enough to do something DIFFERENT?"


"You may think I don’t “get it”…but honestly..I don’t care. I don’t think YOU get it. Sometimes I don’t think ANY of you gets it."

"I’m GLAD you’re alive and HERE with us, Delilah. You can be mad all you want…but we did what we had to do and that’s it. In WAR, there is no time for “approval of plans”.
I’m going to see about my sister and bring her BACK because she should be here."

Blaze turns away, her auburn hair flowing with her turn and she walks out, passing through the group without looking at any of them and disappearing into the hallway to find Morgan.

"Morg, you need to come back. Pull yourself together and come back here."

 

[MorningStar]

Aerie - Infirmary Interview Suite

Delilah had been calm, but then MORGAN blew up at her and her anger flashed. It was like listening to an insane person. Once again she could not listen to what Delilah was saying. She could not admit she was wrong even a TINY bit. And she WAS wrong. They ALL had been. She had been right about them all along, with their hypocritical double standard. They had learned NOTHING. God help her if she kept anything about HER life private. But THEY were allowed to pick and choose what they told her, even when it directly affected her.

Oh just STOP, Delilah! JUST STOP IT! HOW DARE WE? HOW DARE YOU!? I’ve had ENOUGH of you standing here acting like WE were capriciously taking risks with you and your baby!

YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT ANY OF US WENT THROUGH.

Morgan pointed at her, and she pointed right back.

“Oh YOU stop it, Morgan! I don’t know what any of you went through because you didn’t have the DECENCY TO TELL ME! I’m not asking you to let me die, but I SHOULD have been told and YOU KNOW IT!”

My mother, Alison, Isis and myself were SICK…we were being DRAINED of our power every MOMENT and yet ALL of us wanted NOTHING MORE than to make sure you LIVED.

Delilah crossed her arms and smirked.

“Well then next time, just let me die and worry about yourselves, because that’s what you do BEST.”

But I suppose you FORGOT that along the way as you stand here & SAVAGE us for some IMAGINED transgression of playing “god” with your life. WE did what we’ve ALWAYS done! We ACTED on the information provided to us by Harbinger in a way that seemed MOST LIKELY to AVERT the outcome of her vision and the ONLY reason you’re standing here RIGHT NOW is because the goddesses Hecate and Athena intervened…and it was ISIS who made that possible. The Blue Moon had completely CUT Ava OFF from the goddess & blocked THEM from getting to US! Do you REALLY think we wouldn’t have chosen another way if one had been AVAILABLE TO US!?

“YOU DID PLAY GOD WITH MY LIFE! It’s not imagined you hypocritical BITCH! Nothing any of you have told me says that averting Alison’s vision meant NOT telling me what was going on.”

We’ve known each other nearly ALL of lives & suddenly YOU think so LITTLE of me that I would be capable of just treating you like an AFTERTHOUGHT? That I handle making a decision to safe guard and protect YOU & your baby with such negligence?

“Oh stop being such a diva, Morgan! ALL I’m saying is that YOU should have told ME. Stop blowing this up and making everything MY fault instead of just admitting that! All I want is to next time be told when things affect MY LIFE.”

Well I’m not going to listen to this ANYMORE.

“That’s it, Morgan, WALK OUT.”

[Shouts after her.]

“That’s what you do BEST!”

Delilah was breathing heavily. Her eyes slid to Blaze as she turned to her and started to speak.

"You're mad. We get it. Morg handled things in a way you don't approve or agree with."

Delilah took a deep breath.

“Oh Blaze…I UNDERSTAND why Morgan did what she did. I just want her to realize she could have trusted me, SHOULD have trusted me with knowing about it. I just want to be treated as a member of this team – rather than as someone who needs their life run for them. They should give me the consideration to make my own choices.”

You may not like this…but I feel like you’ve taken the goddesses restoring you for granted. You’re here now and the first thing you can think to do is SLAM Morg and the rest of us like this and make it sound like we didn’t care enough about you or respect you enough to do something DIFFERENT?"

This gave Delilah pause. Firebird was right about taking the goddesses gift for granted. Not that she was sure she had made the right choice…

She turned to address everyone.

“I appreciate that you all helped save my life. I’m sorry that I didn’t say thank you. I’m willing and able to forgive being lied to – I understand you were doing what you thought was right – but I just want someone to LISTEN to what I’m saying and realize that keeping me in the dark when it affects me can’t happen again. That’s all I want. WHY is it so difficult for you to agree to?”

 

[Bishop]

Aerie - The Nursery

And…suddenly they were in the Nursery.

Any other time, Bishop would have told her not to do that again, that next time he would WALK. But his mind wasn’t on Alison or her freaky powers.

He had made the decision. He knew it was the right one. But it was taking every ounce of strength he had not to call it off. He knew what he was doing. There was no ambiguity to it in his mind. But he also knew things were only going to get worse for him after this moment.

Alexia was in the isolette, quiet as a mouse. As good a baby as any parent could ask for. He was already crying – he could feel the warm tears running down his cheeks.

I'm deactivating the force field and power dampener. She will not have any effect on me or you. All her vitals are fine. She's adorable, Bishop.

He looks over at Alison and smiles, proudly, nodding. He wiped his eyes.

“I like to think this is what Delilah looked like as a baby.”

I'm...amplifying my own power of precognition to see if there's ANY possible...any PROBABLE time threads surrounding Alexia's life that show her being able to stay WITH Delilah...There are none.

“I know. Somehow I knew…this is the only way.”

Time grows short.

It was as if someone had reached inside his chest and was squeezing his heart to pulp. He had had no allusions to what they were doing but now with Alison saying it the realization washed over him that their time together was way too short. Their time apart was going to be way too great.

He nodded as Alison said she had made the arrangements. He didn’t know how, but he trusted her. Frankly he didn’t know why he trusted her so much, but he did. With everything in his life. He knew that after he did this, he would lose Delilah too. So Alison would be the one there to protect BOTH his girls.

He reached into the isolette and picked Alexia up. He held her to his chest, touched her cheek, kissed her forehead. He whispered to her.

“Your parents love you very much. You will always be in our hearts. Now, be a good girl for your Auntie Alison.”

He turned to face Alison.

“I know, what I have to say, means very little to you. But. Thank you. I know how hard it will be for you, because you helped me.”

He looked down into his daughter’s face and whispered to her one last time.

“Goodbye.”

He handled the small bundle carefully, gingerly, to Alison. Just before she disappeared, he said to her:

“She will forgive you.”

He watched them blink out of his life.

But not me…

 

[Harbinger]

Infirmary-Nursery

It was as if someone had reached inside his chest and was squeezing his heart to pulp. He had had no allusions to what they were doing but now with Alison saying it the realization washed over him that their time together was way too short. Their time apart was going to be way too great.

He nodded as Alison said she had made the arrangements. He didn’t know how, but he trusted her. Frankly he didn’t know why he trusted her so much, but he did. With everything in his life. He knew that after he did this, he would lose Delilah too. So Alison would be the one there to protect BOTH his girls.

He reached into the isolette and picked Alexia up. He held her to his chest, touched her cheek, kissed her forehead. He whispered to her.

“Your parents love you very much. You will always be in our hearts. Now, be a good girl for your Auntie Alison.”

::Alison’s stone cold face was cracking. She looked rather CRESTFALLEN at the moment. No one else was in the nursery to see this AND she was BLOCKING her brother from sensing her as she felt ….HEARTSICK!? Even BISHOP didn’t see her silent reaction as she watched him with the baby Alexia and as he turned around, she straightened up quickly, RAPIDLY blinking away the tear she felt welling up in her cobalt blue eyes.::

He turned to face Alison.

“I know, what I have to say, means very little to you..."

You don’t know as much as you think.

::She said in a quiet but pained tone.::

"But. Thank you. I know how hard it will be for you, because you helped me.”

He looked down into his daughter’s face and whispered to her one last time.

“Goodbye.”

::Not since the night that Alison and Haleigh stood together before Karen to tell her that Morgan had died at the hands of Master Mold had Alison felt such a HEAVINESS in her heart. Where it ANYTHING ELSE, she’d berate herself for going “SOFT”…but many people in the Six often FORGOT that even with a “MARBLE HARD” heart, there was something beneath the surface…humanity…compassion. But did SHE EVER “See” herself feeling those things for BISHOP?::

:: She narrows her colbalt blue eyes, again keeping them from going misty.::

He handled the small bundle carefully, gingerly, to Alison.

No…wait.

Hold her a bit longer. Hold her sitting up with her back to your chest …

::Stepping several feet back, she holds her TIME STAFF out in front of her, again horizontal, with the large red garnett jewel in the crown of the staff now directly in front of the baby. The jewel once again humed softly and glowed with an intermittent pulse::

:: Alison spoke in a quiet but directing tone::

Take her little arm, place her HAND ON the garnet jewel.

:: Bishop hesitates…and Alison’s eyes dart up at him::

Don’t hesitate! Just do it!

:: Bishop’s hand places the little Alexia’s hand on the garnet jewel. It’s hum shifts up in pitch and the jewel now glows a bit more brightly::

Little Alexia Morganna. Born were you, from two people, who’s lives and loves cross time and space. Yours is a life full of possibilities and HOPE. I, Harbinger, The Keeper of Time, do bestow upon you, the GIFT of CLARITY and MEMORY.

As you touch this garnet jewel on my time staff…my magicks now have touched you like the dew touches a flower in the morning. You will REMEMBER your father AND your mother.


:: Referring to the interactions both Bishop and Delilah have had with Alexia since she was born and stabilized::

Time may be “in the way” for you now, little one…but ALL things and people must live and move through time. You WILL see your mother and your father…when the time is RIGHT. But now with this gift, the touch of my time staff and my magick, you will forever be comforted by the memories of your mother and father, their gentle touch…their expressions of love for you.


Nothing changes now…you will still sleep the sleep of the innocent…but as you grow…you will NOT suffer the cruelty of not knowing who you are…and who you came from.
As I say it…let it now be so.

::The sound signature associated with Harbinger’s magicks is heard as the garnet jewel emits a soft, sparkling red ray of light that gently washes over Alexia, who YAWNS contentedly before settling once more::


She’ll remember you, Bishop…and Delilah. The few precious moments you’ve shared with her. Your words to her. They will comfort her in dreams as her mind forms and will help lead her BACK to you both when the time is right.

:: lowering her time staff, she lets go of it and as it begins to fall, it stops and soon corrects itself, now hovering beside Alison…the garnet jewel once again humming softly and glowing with an intermittent pulse. Bishop slowly, gingerly hands the baby to Alison, who carefully gathers her into her arms, cradling her and covering her a bit more with the blanket Bishop wrapped around her. She looks up at Bishop, with a look of sadness in her colbalt blue eyes that she doesn’t try to hide now…but that sadness is tempered a bit by knowing she’s given the baby a gift FEW others could imagine, let alone bestow.::


I will take her to Ororo, now. Just as I told you. She’s WAITING for me out our rendezvous point.

Just before she disappeared, he said to her:

“She will forgive you.”

Don't be so sure....





:: Harbinger and Alexia, along with the floating time staff, are surrounded by swirling, glowing blue/black orbs as she BLINKS OUT::

He watched them blink out of his life.

But not me…

 

[Firebird]

Infirmary- hallway

"Don’t try to block me out Morg. I’m not going to let you."

The fire elemental “speaks” calmly but with no uncertainty in her thought call to Spellbinder, her high heeled boots echo on the hard, cold floors as she walks and searches for the blonde sorceress. Finally finding her sitting in a chair near a potted plant with her head down to her knees.

Blaze sits down beside her and places a gentle hand on the small of Morgan’s back.

"You don’t like being criticized or corrected. You never have. You were always so strong, so self assured…so convinced that you’d always know what to do or find the best way to do it before anyone else. Part of that came with being an “only child” and having Karen as your mother….being a descendant from HECATE herself."

"The reason why you and Delilah never CLASHED like this before is because Delilah never felt the NEED to COMPETE with you. That wasn’t what it was about for her in you guys’ friendship. BUT she also DOESN’T want you to always resort to trying to CONTROL her, anymore than I do…or anyone ELSE here I’m sure."


"I know it’s HARD Morg…you take on A LOT of responsibility and you’re VERY hard on yourself. You secretly expect that others will understand and respond accordingly."

Gently rubbing her hand on Morgan’s back, the fire elemental stops and looks down. Morgan doesn’t move or respond, but Blaze can STILL FEEL her via their psychic rapport.

"Delilah understands. She ALWAYS has. She knows you…just like I do, just like your mother and Alison."


"BUT, this instance….is HER life. HER baby. You didn’t want her to die…none of us did. You took action, we followed your lead, as we should have.

"...all Delilah wants…NEEDS for YOU (especially) to understand and acknowledge is that you...or even one of us...ALSO SHOULD HAVE just TOLD HER THE TRUTH."


"In times of danger, especially when those YOU love are in danger, you have a tendency to try to control EVERYTHING about that person in order to protect them. But that’s not how it works. If Harbinger told us that BLACK was on his way to try to murder you...


YOU’D want to know, RIGHT? You’d be FURIOUS if suddenly ME, Alison, Delilah or anyone ELSE on this team was following you EVERYWHERE or trying to keep you in your apartment…"

Blaze's apple green eyes dart down at the FEELING of movement in Morgan's body. She tourched a nerve. She can feel Morgan’s back TIGHTEN UP as she shifts a bit. The fire elemental smirks.


"YES, Morg. You know I’m RIGHT. "


"Delilah isn’t your enemy. She’s being rather ungrateful to the goddesses and the situation as a whole…but she’s RIGHT about the ONE THING that is at the root of her anger. She JUST wanted to be told...and anyone of us could have. But in the moment...We ALL felt like maybe it was better that she didn't know. But like Karen said...feeling and FACT are two different things."


No point in wondering how DIFFERENT it would’ve gone. SHE doesn’t know…and NEITHER do we, only ALISON could possibly know that and I don’t think SHE wants to waste time speculating. We have what we want! Right here! RIGHT NOW! Delilah and her baby are alive, CIRCE is gone, YOU’RE not possessed, the ISLAND and MANSION aren’t destroyed. We HAVE IT, Morg. ALL of it!


"And soon…you’ll be back in L.A. and you’ll be a DIVA where it’s most appreciated, the FASHION world!"

"But c’mon…just like you want and need to be heard…so does SHE. LISTEN and HEAR your best friend. DON’T waste time. DON’T fuss over the small stuff anymore okay!?
You weren’t wrong for trying to do what you thought was best. You just didn’t do her the COURTESY of telling her what and why."

"And as for what anybody else thinks? Well that really doesn’t matter. "

"Now…let’s just go back in there and stand together, okay? You don’t need to be out here. Not after all you’ve done for ALL OF US to be here at this moment.


Let’s go in there…and you and Delilah bridge the gap. Show me that you’re both stronger and more capable of doing the right thing…unlike MY Dee and Morg."


The fire elemental stands up, gently pulling Morgan's hand and arm, urging her to stand up as well. the elder sister responds. Soon, they're walking together, arm-in-arm, to rejoin the others.

 

[Harbinger]

Interview Room

<< Of all the places Bishop ever saw himself in his life, this was surely not in his wildest visions. Here he was, in the mysterious mansion of Harbinger, one-time ENEMY of his/close friend of his cross-time lover, MorningStar. Delilah had given birth to a baby girl and died. She was revived and then crashed again while holding her baby girl. Silver Swan confirmed what Alison had warned him about and soon, he found himself making a choice no one should have to.>>

<< After a painful goodbye to little Alexia, Harbinger granted her a special gift. It was a move he could never have expected and certainly not from HER. She and the rest of the Six HATED him...and with good reason. But no, really, the time had come for the hatred to be laid to rest. Things happened and lessons were learned by all sides. But there would NEVER be a level of friendship or trust between him and Harbinger, or any other Six member. He knew that. Yet here and now, Harbinger was the very person he needed in what was turning out to be his DARKEST HOUR in his new body, his new life.>>

<< How much time had passed since Harbinger had taken little Alexia away? He couldnt know...nor did he care. >>

<< We see him standing near the isolette. We see him standing in different places around the nursery. Finally he's seated in a chair, with his head down and his face buried in his hands.>>

<< This was the hardest thing he had ever had to do since being returned to life. Was it the curse fullfilling itself yet again? Delilah might think so...the ultimate betrayal. Would she EVER understand that this was done so that she might live to see Alexia one day when the time was right?>>

<< He was so certain she'd forgive Harbinger. But the precog was not. Did Alison have that LITTLE faith in Delilah's capacity to understand? Or did Bishop have TOO MUCH? We must watch and see...>>

:: Time passes. So slowly. But no minute...no hour...helps to soothe the pain and turmoil for Bishop.::

:: Soon, swirling, sparkling blue/black orbs form as Harbinger BLINKS IN, alone, without Alexia, only carrying her Time Staff in hand.::

It's done.

She's safe with Ororo in her garden oasis. She will be well cared for by the immortal weather witch and tought how to control and use her power. My gift will bring her comfort when she needs it most...and form Ororo's teachings and stories, not to mention her magicks, she will learn all about her mother so that when the time is right...the reunion will be that much more fullfilling.

:: She lowers her Time Staff a bit as she looks upon Bishop.::

Whatever I feel about you personally...that does not prevent me from telling you now that you did the RIGHT THING for Delilah and your daughter. I give you the credit and respect you deserve for it.

Now come...

:: She gestures for him to stand up and follow her as she RESTORES the temporal field around the nursery to its proper pace and she STOPS consciously blocking Prophet from sensing her::

It's time for me to do what I must...

:: The walk together. She deliberately keps a step or two ahead of him. She doesnt want him by her side. NOT because of her personaly issues with him. B ut because in moments like this...what is about to take place...she has ALWAYS stood ALONE. She saw and did things few others among her team could. This would certainly rank among them.::

:: She'd already "looked back" and "SEEN" EVERYTHING that took place in the Interview. All the well meaning, heartfelt words, all the HURTFUL words, all the displeasure. EVERYTHING. Now, after some time had passed, Firebird was returning with Spellbinder to rejoin the others. They had arrived and Spellbinder was beginning to speak to Delilah...::

Delilah, listen...I want to say....

You've said enough.

:: Rushing chiming sounds are heard as double doors swing open and Harbinger steps in. She APPEARS to have just arrived, but Cameron can tell that she's been down here for SOME TIME and that at one point she had LEFT the island all together before just now returning. She's fully restored in appearence and power and with her time staff in hand, she looks as though she's hear to handle BUSINESS rather than see her friends and family.::

All of you, have said enough.

::She looks at Delilah::

You have always been welcomed into my home. This "WAR ZONE" as you call it. But surely you must know that for people like US...ANYWHERE we live, love...EXIST can become a war zone.

:: She leaves it there as Bishop moves past her over to Delilah. Others in the room notice Alison's stand offish demeanor. It's a presentation most havent seen in some time...and its not the most comforting thing to see NOW.::