Lionsheart

Chapter 25: Zane Fucking Vandore “WHAT?!” I blurted out, starkly confused, “But-“ I tilted my head, looking at him as if a hidden key was revealed. We had the same eyes. Moss green. The same nose and skin color, I just wasn’t a damn ginger like him. I searched his eyes as he looked at me apologetically. “So your saying…” I looked at the ground in confusion, “Jaimies my…?” I was not going to say the word. There was NO WAY she was my sister. Oh, hell no. “Half-sister.” Red ended my sentence. I shook my head, “But, she is a few years older than me? How did you marry someone else and then have a child with my mom in that time?” My brain was thinking slowly, meticulously trying to piece the puzzle together. Red sighed, “I don’t want to get into specifics… but Jaimie’s mother, Elanore, was kidnapped and taken as a sex bot in Aquaria where, the only way out of the sex bot trade, was being impregnated because then the bots are deemed as ‘unsellable’.” He looked uncomfortable, “So… Elanore and I were an undercover married couple at the time and I had to make a sperm bank donation to prove our marriage was real. Along with that, the only way to be released from bot slavery in Aquaria is pregnancy so we had no other options. It was the only way I could save her because I was being questioned and she was on the edge of being charged for espionage.I had to do what was necessary to save her life.” He gulped, “But that doesn’t mean I don’t love Jaimie. She is just as much of my daughter as you are.” “A few years later, me and your mother secretly eloped and decided to conceive… you.” Red said, slowly. Red tucked back a piece of his long hair, showing me his ear cartilage with a small, thick silver ring wrapped around. “This is our ring. I always have it on me, ever since.” My eyes focused on it as I shook my head, so many thoughts running through my mind. “So…” I said, my mind catching up to everything, “Where is my mom, Red?” Nope, it was too soon to call him dad and I was still peeved that Jaimie was my half-sister. Red shook his head, eyes sad, “No one has seen her since she went on an assignment to Atlantis, Aquaria ten years ago.” I blinked, squinting my eyes. My heart singed in pain, knowing that she was never found. Where was she? Was she still alive? I wondered for so long about my parents, yet now, when I thought I could find answers, I still didn’t know where my own mother was. “Did you leave me that paper in the Tales of Nefareon book?” I asked, tilting my head to Red. Red blinked, “What paper?” He asked, just as confused as me. I shook my head, “Nevermind, it’s unimportant.” I began walking away, trying to remember where I put my paper… was it still in the pocket of my jacket? Fuck. “Rayne, I uh-“ He said, as if he were going to apologize. I cut him off, “I forgive you, Red. I just have something else I need to do.” I began walking down the stairs. There was no need for him to apologize. Sure, he wasn’t a part of my childhood, but I’m sure that I was meant to be kept a secret. No one was supposed to know I was Red’s daughter, and that was okay. I lived over 20 years without him. It was nice knowing that my dad had been there all along though, watching me from a far. I was nowhere near calling him ‘dad’ though, I think I’d just call him Red because it seemed way too soon for me to call him anything else. Many of the people had left and only a few tables were left with a few people drunkenly chatting, or dancing near the harp player. Gemma, Zane, Daryx and Eli were chatting; Gemma obviously inebriated as I walked up to them. Zane looked at me in curiosity of what me and Red spoke about. “I’m going to go, it was nice seeing you guys.” I said, nodding my head at the four who gave me a strange look. Zane stood, following me as I walked off. “What’s wrong?” He asked, concerned as he walked with me. “Nothing. I just need to find something.” I said, my mind thinking hard about all that Red told me. “What did Red talk to you about?” Zane said, his hand intertwining in mine as we entered the glass elevator, alone. I took off my wedged silver strapped shoes with my free hand, “It’s, uh, kinda complicated.” I said, placing my eye in front of the scanner as the doors opened and I began jogging down the hall. Zane picked up pace, jogging with me, “Is it necessary that you run through the halls like a toddler, Rayne?” Zane sounded slightly irritated with his small jab to me. I smiled, out of breath as I badge accessed into my room, ignoring his comment, “Yes, for my sanity.” I said as I rushed in, going through my unfolded clean laundry, remembering that Gemma recently cleaned a bunch of our clothes. Clothes scattered on my floor as I filtered through them, looking for my jacket at the bottom. “Rayne, what are you doing?” Zane asked, a mused expression on his face as I sat on my knees with my dress spread on the floor underneath me. “Looking for something important.” I said, grabbing my jacket at the bottom and fishing through the pockets, afraid that the piece of paper was gone in the wash. I felt a shriveled up, fuzzy scrap piece of paper, obviously washed and dried in the last pocket I checked. I opened it up carefully, seeing the dilapidated numbers across the paper, still slightly legible. Zane furrowed his eyebrows, standing above me as he looked at the note. “Why do you have space coordinates, Rayne?” He asked, looking at me. I shrugged, “No idea, but my mother left them for me, so that must mean that she wants me to find her.” I said, eyes burning the numbers in my head. Zane kneeled, shaking his head, “I don’t think those are real coordinates, honey.” He took it from my hand gently, a thoughtful expression placed on his face. “It has to be Zane. She wouldn’t write it if it weren’t real, right?” I asked, searching his eyes in hope. Zane frowned as he typed the coordinates into his Google Space app on his phone, showing me the search result. Coordinates not found. Try again. The screen read with a black screen and stars behind it. I shook my head, “That makes no sense though, Zane.” I said, shaking my head in disappointment. I took his phone and sat indian position in my dress, retyping the same numbers and getting the same result. I stared at the screen unblinkingly. Why would my mom give me fake coordinates? Why was nothing adding up? Why leave a note that is pointless? Maybe she wrote something wrong. Maybe this was well before she left. After ten minutes of trying different coordinates that were relatively the same and getting Reorf moons, stars and asteroids that had no correlation to an inhabitable planet or place that would make any sense, Zane took away his phone from me. “Maybe it’s not your mother’s Rayne or maybe she just wrote it for something else." He stood, fixing his pants and studied my lost gaze towards my hands, "How about we go back to my room, hm?” Gemini and another Zenon girl walked in, Gemma obviously flirting as she had her hand around the girl's waist. The other girl with long neon yellow hair, a pinker hued skin tone and a strong frame looked at us as I was still sprawled out on the ground with clothes everywhere, “Oh?” I stood, with Zane’s help, “Don’t worry, we were just leaving.” I said, winking at Gemma as she widened at her eyes at the mess over the ground, “I’ll clean that tomorrow, I promise!” I added as Zane led me out of the room. Gemma and the other girl giggled as we left. Once we arrived in Zane's room, I placed the disheveled note on Zane’s dresser, deciding I’d figure out the riddle tomorrow. It was time to let go and be with Zane, enjoy the present. That was the only thing I had learned through Zane's dance with death. As I was staring at the note on his dark wood dresser, Zane pressed himself behind me, kissing my neck as I giggled at the tickling sensation it caused. His hand found my zipper,, drawing it down slowly as he kissed up to my jawline and I gasped. My dress slid down as he pulled away slightly, I could tell he was caught off guard. He chuckled lightly and spanked me as I jumped, “Someone was planning a naughty night, weren’t we?” I turned, a timid smile placed on my face as I looked down shyly, “Gemma made me get this.” “Mhm, I bet.” Zane said, licking his lips as he looked me over and sat on his bed, taking off his jacket and throwing it on the ground, “Come here.” He patted his lap and my eyebrows knitted in confusion. Was he suggesting a spanking? In lingerie? I hesitated before climbing on top of his lap. I giggled as his hand traced the bow on the back of the lace panties, dipping down between my cheeks. “Someone’s a little excited already.” Zane said, pressing in as I gasped, surprised from the sudden touch. I was not expecting that. Then, he spanked my bottom, a sting leaving an impression on my butt cheek as I bit my tongue in surprise. His fingers dipped down into my sweet parts, moving in and out as I moaned. “Very naughty, Rayne.” He stopped touching me, spanking my other cheek. I was hot and bothered, wanting much much more. After a few minutes of sweet and stinging torment, we had tender love-making for a long while until he had to stop before… well, the possibility of little Zanes and Raynes running around. We took a hot shower together, and, before I knew it, I was being placed in a thick diaper and a pink satin ruffle nightie that I think was Zane’s favorite. As we cuddled and I rest my head on his chest, Zane spoke, a thought bubbling on his face, “When did you see my dad last?” I placed my chin on his chest, “2196.” I said, gulping. Zane blinked, looking at the ceiling, “Did you watch him…” He trailed off, referring to him dying. I blinked realizing that his dad, to my knowledge, didn’t die. Unless, he did later on, but, his father was taken into custody, to somewhere ‘safe’ as Red said. I shook my head, “He was taken into UGNF custody to somewhere else. He didn’t die, I didn’t let Confounduum, or Sid for that matter, kill him.” I said, sitting up in confusion. Zane propped himself on his elbow, staring at me with a questioning face, “Then, where did he go?” “I- uh,” I hesitated, “I’m not completely sure but I know he didn’t die.” I said, slowly. Zane’s face went blank, as lost as I once was when Red told me about my mother, “So, you’re saying, he could be alive?” I opened my mouth and closed it, “I don’t know. I don’t want you to feel the same as me with my mom but there is a possibility.” Zane’s hand brushed his growing beard hair, meeting my eyes, “I wish that were a possibility, but Red wouldn’t have kept something like that from me if my dad was still alive.” He shook his head. “Well, Red also didn’t tell me he was my biological father until tonight so I don’t know how great of a source Red is.” I said as the words quickly left my mouth. Zane looked impassive as he blinked to my eyes, nodding quietly. I squinted at him, “You knew?!” I asked, surprised at his lack of reaction. Zane sighed, “Don’t raise your voice at me.” He scolded me quickly, with a pause following, “I’ve known or gathered he was for some time now.” I huffed, “Of course I’m the last to find out.” I laid on my back in a grumble. “I didn’t want to say anything because it wasn’t my information to tell. Red was going to tell you when the time was right.” Zane said, going quiet. A few seconds of me staring at the ceiling in a grumpy state passed until Zane spoke, “It’s past your bedtime, little one. Let’s go to sleep.” He patted the spot next to him and I grumbled as I crawled in. After Zane fell asleep, my mind wouldn’t shut off. I searched the internet on my phone for hours for Nefareon and only kid’s stories appeared or coloring books. Ugh. I played games that night on my phone, only to fall asleep for a few hours. Per usual, right? A few days later, I came back to my room after a long run in the gym and Gemma was on her iGlass looking on intergalactic Tindr and asking me if she should go on a second date with the girl from a few nights before. “I mean, did you have any mental connection?” I asked, playing my phone game nonchalantly on her bed. “No, but it was really good sex.” She said, turning off her iGlass and changing the subject, “Oh, and you got mail from some officer who knocked on our door this morning.” She dropped a matte black UGNF envelope on my lap. I frowned, throwing my phone down and opening it. GRIFF, RAYNE You are being discharged from the United Galactic Nations Forces effective, immediately. Thank you for your service. President Winona Gorgon United Galactic Nations Forces I blinked, staring at it with my jaw dropping, “Is this a joke?” I asked, looking up at Gemma. “What do you mean, Rayne?” She asked, looking at my letter, “That’s strange! Why would they discharge you?” She shook her head, as confused as me. I looked at my phone, considering calling Zane. I blinked, looking at the top where the service was disconnected. What the fuck? I stood, “I’m going to get to the bottom of this fuckery.” I said, storming out of the room, down the hallways until I got to the elevators. I took it up to the UGNF offices where I cleared my throat, knowing on the door and straightening my UGNF black hoodie to look presentable. “Come in.” Winona’s matured, pleasant voice said. As fuming as I was, I couldn’t help but note she was always professional and nice. I walked in as she sipped her morning coffee, her eyebrows raising, “Oh, hello, Griff.” She nodded to the chair, “Please, have a seat.” I shook my head, “Not necessary.” I closed the door, pacing, “Exactly why was I discharged so suddenly? Without ANY word?” I asked, my face red in anger. Winona clasped her hands, brown eyes settling on me evenly, “It was reported that you are emotionally compromised so we are temporarily discharging you until further notice.” She smiled apologetically to me. I opened my mouth, “Who, uh, reported that and why?” I asked, my mind sorting through people who would cross me like that. She cleared her throat, “That is confidential information.” I paced, “Well, they’re wrong. I am perfectly stable and discharging me is unnecessary.” I spoke evenly, trying not to falter my voice from anger alone. Winona sighed, “Zane Vandore reported you are compromised and a few other officers were questioned and supported the claim. After therapy and, maybe, medication, we will consider annulment of discharge but until further notice, you are hereby being sent back home until stable.” She stood, walking over to me and placing her hand on my shoulder, “Think of it as a mental health break. We want you a part of our ranks, but we do not need any officers who cannot emotionally handle assignments. That is detrimental to you, our officers and the United Galactic Forces in total. You’re being discharged with ten weeks of paid leave for your service. Don’t take this as a punishment, it’s more of an honor for your service, Rayne.” I nodded, gulping as I felt so crossed, so vulnerable and stripped of everything I loved. The United Galactic Nations Forces gave me purpose, and now that purpose was taken away from me, from the very person I trusted more than anything. Why didn’t he just tell me? Thanks, Zane fucking Vandore.

Muahaha! Yet here I was thinking I was hinting at it way too much. I was scared you all were on to me!? I believe next chapter you'll find out if your theory is correct or not?

Chapter 24: Stars Align Zane had a conference early Saturday morning so I decided to head to the gym for a run. I ran for a while, almost four miles, until having to stop, noting that my body wasn’t as strong as it used to be. I was out of breath and spent after a run that usually didn't toll my body to this extent. I walked back to my room after my sweat session, feeling drained and tired. I only slept about four hours the night before and hadn’t ate anything after 3 PM so maybe it was time to eat once more. I think I had lost some weight, maybe just water weight, and I had lost an appetite almost entirely. I didn’t care for food much anymore, nor many things. I felt depressed, sad, most days and I couldn’t pinpoint why. It was unlike me, but I tried to not think about it. I opened my door, surprised by who I saw, “Rayne!” Gemma charged me like a professional intergalactic Zorgon player. “Oh, hey!” I said with a weak smile as she clung to me, hugging my sweaty self. “I’ve missed you and Eli so much!” I blinked, a ping of pain hearing Eli’s name. I hadn’t heard any news about him besides the fact that they were attempting to find him. Zane had finally opened up the night before on why Eli was gone and that Sid was behind that, too. Zane and Eli had went on a mission to Valorion and immediately were rushed to the security check and interrogated. Sid gave a tip to the Sequoian Capitol that they were UGNF undercover spies. However, since Zane was part of the Valorion Supremacy, he was dismissed. Eli, on the other hand, went to prison where he had a hearing and was convicted of espionage. Zane took quick action and asked the Valorion Supremacy to intercept and save Eli from the death penalty. The only catch was that they wanted some form of punishment for his ‘espionage’ so they encapsulated him. Zane had all intentions of saving Eli but he knew it would be some time until he had the resources to free him. Ever since Zane was back, he has been working with the UGN to get Eli back home. Last night, Zane gulped, eyes watering, “I don’t know how Red knows this, but he's known that I’ve been apart of the Valorion Supremacy all along.” Somehow, Red knew things before anyone else did. Maybe that’s why he was the Vice President of the United Galactic Forces, huh? Gemini pulled away, a dark tear staining her cheek. It was interesting how Zenons had dark tears, almost a translucent black color. Her flecks of magenta in her eyes reflecting the bright lights in the room. “I’ve missed you too, Gem.” I smiled, blinking back tears. She smiled, light purple lips wide, “You should take a shower, you smell.” We both laughed as I rolled my eyes, “Yeah, yeah, I’m on it.” I said, grabbing some clothes and taking a brisk shower. Gemini was laying on her bed, waiting for me, “Want to go to the cafeteria? I’m starving for morning meal, or what you and Eli always called ‘breakfast’.” She smiled, eyes twinkling in nostalgia. I laughed, “Yes, breakfast. Sure, I’ll come with.” Was I hungry? No, but I should probably eat something. My waffles and bacon came out of the mechanical food belt as I quickly grabbed it before it went around the corner. The ginormous mechanical food belt was in the middle of the cafeteria where over a half a dozen touch screen square panels stuck out to take food orders. Usually within five minutes of ordering the food would come down a shoot and go around the belt until the person who placed the order picked it up. It was interesting and something most fast food places on Earth and Hanna used to replace actual employees. We sat down near the floor to ceiling windows that looked out to space. I bit down on my vitamin gel capsule that burst open in my mouth. A familiar orange and spinach taste invaded my taste buds and I scrunched my face in dissatisfaction as I listened to Gemma talk. Yuck. I only took the vitamin capsules because Zane wanted me to. He was lucky I was trying to appease him for the struggle of the bad taste. “So, how have you and Zane been?” She asked, watching me tear apart my waffle and dip it into syrup. I nodded, blushing as I thought of my first time having sex, “Good. Great, actually.” I smiled to myself. Gemma looked at me for a moment, a smile appearing on her face with curiosity, “You two had sex?!” She asked, in more of a statement. “Gemma!” I looked around, my face going red as I saw one officer a few tables ahead of us turning his head slightly in our direction, “No…” I said quickly, hesitating, “I mean, yes, we did.” I bit my lip, embarrassed. Gemma raised her eyebrows at me, “How was it?” It was too early for me to be thinking about this. I sighed, looking down at my bacon, “Really incredible.” I blushed, eating a bacon slice. “I had a feeling he was good in bed.” She said, more to herself, “So you’re really not lesbian, huh?” I laughed, a bit too loudly, “No, not lesbian.” “Would you ever consider swinging to the other side?” She tilted her head, eyes curiously twinkling at me. I opened my mouth and closed it, thinking. “Once I would have.” I said, honestly. It was just Gemma and I trusted her with everything I had. She raised her eyebrows twice and winked, “Oh, stop it, you. I’m flattered.” I laughed loudly, “Sorry Gemma, but it was for someone in high school, but not to say you aren’t beautiful yourself.” She had a flirtatious look, “Mhm, okay, Rayne. Maybe, if Zane let’s me, I can have my fun with you too.” I laughed even louder, “First off, I don’t think he likes sharing.” I paused, looking around us, “And, second, that’d break our friendship.” Gemma laughed and looked behind me with a wide smile as I felt a hand on my shoulder, “What do you guys say… ‘speak of the devil’ isn’t it?” She looked to me then back to Zane as he sat down. Zane eyed me, “Mm? What were you two talking about that involved me?” He had a light stubble on his chin from not shaving this morning but he was dressed in black dress pants and a blue button up shirt. Sexy as hell, even this early in the morning, fuck. I covered my hands over my face, “I don’t want to repeat it.” Gemma clapped her hands, laughing at my humiliation, “We were talking about letting you share Rayne with me; however, Rayne says you don’t share.” I peaked up at Zane as he tilted his head, “Share… as in…?” He looked to Gemma because he saw I wasn’t speaking. “Anything really. I can babysit for free if need be.” Gemma winked at me as I grumbled and rolled my eyes. Thank god she didn’t mention anything about sex with her because I was not mentally prepared this morning for that yet. Zane chuckled as he rubbed my back, “We can make arrangements because sometimes I need a second set of eyes on her. You know how much trouble this one can get into.” I wouldn’t consider myself… well, maybe. He may be onto something. I huffed, standing up, “I’m getting coffee.” I grumbled, walking out to the drink machine as Gemma and Zane continued talking about me as if I weren’t there. Ugh. Sometimes they were the worst. “Hey, uh, Rayne?” I heard a timid man’s voice behind me as I watched cold brew coffee being poured over my iced behind the window of the drink machine. I looked behind my shoulder, confused, and then, surprised, “Calvin!” He stood awkwardly as I tackled him with a hug. I pulled back, “Eh, uh- so what are you doing here? I thought you, uh…” I didn’t want to say the word ‘quit’ so I trailed off. He shrugged, “I decided to change my plans when I went back to Earth and went into the United Galactic Airforce. Then, I decided to reapply to the UGNF to becomes an intergalactic space pilot and they granted my request so they annulled my initial end date, so that’s what I’m here for now. To become a captain.” He said, pushing his glasses up on his face, “Of course I have four years of training but I decided to put my best Rayne Griff foot forward and have the courage to leave home. It’s not so bad, after a while.” I smiled, “Well, I’m glad you’re here! We missed you.” Calvin nodded, beginning to walk away, “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.” “Yeah, I’ll see you!” I said, realizing my coffee was done. “Was that Calvin?” Gemma asked as we all walked back to the rooms. “Yeah, he’s in training to become a space craft captain for the UGNF. Crazy, right?” I said, thoughtful. Zane raised his eyebrows, “Surprising, if anything.” He hands in hands in his pockets as he walked with us, “I’ll let you two catch up, I’m have some plans today but I’ll see you at 7, hm?” Zane looked at me. I nodded and he winked, walking past our room as Gemma keyed us in. I went into Gemma's bed, too lazy to climb up to my own, and fell into a deep slumber, only to be awoken by Gemma a few hours later, “Hey, Rayne!” I grumbled, slowly stirring awake, “Hm?” “Want to go to lunch and do a little shopping?” She asked, nudging me and climbing on top of me on her bed. I did take her bed after all so I should’ve expected this much. She tickled my chin as I opened my eyes, shifting as I felt a wetness between my legs… Oh, no, don’t tell me. Not again, fuck. I froze as I awoke, my heart racing. Gemma giggled, playful as she climbed off of me, “Come on, you can’t sleep all day!” She said as I sat up, hair a mess. I shifted, feeling my face going red, not knowing what to do. “What’s wrong?” She asked, noticing I was frozen. My bottom lip trembled, “I, uh…” I shifted, trying to keep the blanket over myself as I looked down. Gemma came over, removing the blanket from me, “Oh!” She blinked, surprised that I had wet myself in a nap, “It’s okay, don’t cry. Things like this happen.” She frowned at me; I could see she felt bad for exposing my accident. A tear fell down my cheek as I got up, my cotton shorts sticking to me. I quietly gathered up the bed sheets, relieved that it somehow hardly stained the mattress because I was lying on top of another blanket. “Hey, just take a shower and I’ll do the rest.” Gemma said, grabbing my sheets from me. I blushed, “No, I can. I’m sorry Gem, I-I usually-“ “No, Rayne, you don’t have to explain. Zane told me that you’ve been having some issues and I’m here to help, okay?” Her eyes were sympathetically studying me with the wet sheets in her hands. I nodded, biting my lip as I walked into the bathroom. What had Zane told Gemma? I was surprised he told her I was having ‘issues’ first of all. Within the past week, I have had only two occasions where I wet myself and I thought maybe it was just unrelated incidents but… this was strange. I’ve never had incontinence, especially with nighttime sleep. Ever since Zane dying, I’ve had bad nightmares and sleep but I thought I was getting better and that it was going away. I wet myself a few nights ago when I slept over at Zane’s and he cleaned me and his sheets in the middle of the night. The other time I wet myself, I was wearing a diaper and woke up soaked. I was embarrassed because this was unlike me. I wasn’t wetting myself on purpose, that was for sure. I changed into new underwear as Gemini came back in and she winked at me in only a bra and my lime green cotton panties. “We need to get you sexy lingerie.” Gemma stated, checking me out for a moment before going back to the futon and reading on her iGlass tablet. I sighed, “I don’t even want to go out today, to be quite honest, Gem.” I was embarrassed and depressed, two good reasons to stay and wallow in my own self-pity until we had to go to the ceremony tonight. Gemma turned off her tablet, screen going to translucent, “Well that’s too bad because I’m taking you with me and I need a second opinion on what dress to wear tonight.” She smiled at me, playfully. I groaned, pulling on a sweatshirt. Within a few hours, we went to eat, tried on dresses and ended up in an expensive lingerie store called Lingerina. I was dragged in, against my own wishes, as Gemma kept insisting to find something nice for Zane. “Do you own even one pair of lace panties, Rayne?” She asked, her hand gliding over a black lace panty with no crotch. My face was red already as I began walking away, “Nope, and I don’t-“ Gemma grabbed my hand and pulled me back over. “Come on, Rayne! He’d be drooling if you surprised him.” She said, eyes eager for me to give it a shot. I sighed, looking over the lace assortment and landing on a pair with ice blue lace and a satin bow on the back. “Good pick.” She said, looking through the drawers and grabbing a pair out of the small sizes. I grumbled, “Gemma!” She walked over to the bras and picked out a lace matching one, “I’m guessing you’re not letting me decide on this, huh?” I said, trailing behind her, slightly fuming but also embarrassed. I didn’t go into lingerie stores, if ever. “You’ll thank me later when you get your dose of Zane.” She winked as she handed my set of clothes to the cashier. I rolled my eyes as I paid, not even looking at the cost. I had a large sum of money in my intergalactic account so I wasn’t worried about the price. Seven o’clock rolled around quickly after we got ready and Gemma did my makeup and hair. I wasn’t big on wearing dresses but Gemma insisted for me to buy this silver spaghetti strapped diamond swirled ball gown dress that had a ruffled white skirt that went no farther past my ankles. I looked in the mirror, frowning, “I look stupid.” I looked at Gemma, “This is too much, right?” Gemma shook her head, “Rayne, you look beautiful. It’s a dressy occasion and what your wearing is fine.” She laughed at my frown as I tucked my wavy black hair behind my ear. Someone knocked the door and Gemma opened it as I grabbed my small handbag. Zane stood, holding the door open as he smiled, thoughtfully looking at me. “I look ridiculous, right?” I said, frowning down at my dress. “No, you’re perfect.” He said slowly, eyes carefully looking me up and down like he was savoring the image as he took my hand. Daryx and Gemma walked with us as we went into the elevators, going down the 5th floor where the United Galactic Nations ceremony would be held. We were guided to our seating, where we found Red who sat with familiar faces. I blinked, as if I saw a ghost. Eli was there, looking off in the distance until he saw us approaching. He stood, smiling underneath his beard as he hugged everyone. He shook Zane’s hand as Zane patted him on the back. I guess that meant whatever went on between them must have been forgiven, right? I was the last to say hi. I fell into Eli, hugging him as I felt myself messing up my makeup with a tear falling down my face. We didn’t speak, as he hugged me quietly. I could feel him tremble. “I missed you, you tall tree.” I said, as I wiped a tear away quickly as I had to tilt my chin up to look him in the eyes. Eli had tears in his eyes as he blinked them away with a laugh, “I would expect nothing less of a reaction to seeing me for the first time since everything happened from you.” We all said hi to Erik and Frank who were also at the table with Red and a few other older officials, including Winona, who none of us had seen in a long time. We sat down, waiting for the ceremony to commence. President Wormuloid cleared his throat, and I gulped, in surprise, to see the Sequoia Capitol's president here. It was alarming, why would he be at a UGN ceremony? A server came around with champagne and I took a glass, sipping quickly. Zane turned his head slightly to me, noticing my sudden apprehensions. “We are here tonight, united as one. Not one country, one planet, or one galaxy, but united as galactic nations, to honor those who have served the planets for centuries.” He paused, looking between tables to the various beings from each planet around the room, “Tonight, is a night, to celebrate those who sacrificed, who are departed and will forever be remembered. Thank you, to everyone who has served and continued to serve in the United Galactic Forces, this is to you.” He raised his glass before walking off. “I thought Valorion wasn’t a part of the UGN anymore?” Eli said, face red as he squinted, confused, at the stage. Daryx spoke, “The Sequoia Capitol has been working with the UGN to end the Valorion Supremacy for some time so President Wormuloid is very much a part of this.” Zane’s hand was on my lap, squeezing my thigh as he smiled at me, reassuringly. I blinked, seeing Red on the stage, clearing his throat and waiting for people to quiet after President Wormuloid's speech, “It is my honor to award this year’s United Galactic Nations Nebula badge to someone of high distinction, who has sacrificed her life for the nations and has stopped one of the most powerful criminals across the galaxies.” The room was silent as a man across the room fixed his tie and a few people cleared their throats, awaiting the reveal. “Rayne Griff.” He looked to me, across the expanse of the balloroom, as I looked up from sipping champagne in surprise, setting it down and almost spilling it. I got up, feeling surreal as I walked across the ballroom to the stage where Red shook my head, “I’m proud of you, Griff.” He nodded to me as he handed a quarter sized gold pin in the shape of a nebula that was in a red velvet box to me. “Thank you.” I said, before awkwardly walking off. “The next award, is given awarded to the officer who has proven the most bravery among officers across the galaxies. The United Galactic Nations Valor award is honored to Elliot Ghalderas, showing bravery and honesty, through true sacrifice.” Eli cleared his throat, surprised. He walked up, thanking Red and going back to his seat. Countless more awards were given and the night progressed to dinner being served. Erik eyed me across the table, “I’m not gonna lie, Griff,” His southern accent chopping his sentence, “I didn’t think you were going to make it through the academy, let alone, elite training up here.” He laughed to himself, with a shake of his head, “Yet, you surprised us all.” Zane chuckled near me, “Erik bet that you would…” He tilted his head, looking for the right words, “quit the UGNF first. Obviously, he lost.” Erik piped up, “Hey, now, I did also bet on Ghalderas and was I not right?” Eli looked up, entranced in whatever thoughts consumed him as he ate. “Yeah, but he didn’t get the highest rank so you still lost. Griff earned that, you old fart.” Frank slapped Erik’s back and I laughed. “So who bet on me?” I asked, cutting my steak. I looked up and all of them looked to Zane. Erik sighed, “That Zaney did, of course! Lover boy over there.” He shook his head, setting down his napkin. I looked to Zane in surprise. Zane smiled, warmly as his blue eye met mine. So he bet I’d win… before he ever knew me? Huh. How did he know I’d be even a remotely good scores on my boards? I wouldn’t have even bet on me. “Speaking of which, I didn’t know you all still bet on trainees. How long has that been going on… centuries now?” Red said, eyeing Frank and Erik as they all began laughing. Later that night, after desert, as many people were leaving the ballroom, Red got up, walking over to me, “Griff, can I speak to you in private?” I nodded standing and following him up the balcony that overlooked space, as if there weren’t a glass window between us and the galaxies. Red leaned his elbows on the gold trimmed balcony, looking at the stars as he cleared his throat, “There’s somethings I’ve been meaning to tell you.” I said, “The mysteries to why you know everything that is happening before it ever happens?” I asked, smiling ear to ear. Red rumbled in a laugh, almost nervously. Did I detect a falter in Red’s normally macho appearance? “No…” He shook his head, “I met someone, many many years ago, who I fell in love with.” Uh, why was he telling me this? It was highly unlike Red to pull out the sappy card. Red said, standing straight and adjusting his neck tie, “That woman was…” He hesitated, eyeing me with his own green eyes, “Your mother.” I thought I saw some type of thing going on between them… that explains the flirting while I was sleeping in the back of the van. I waited for him to continue as he looked uncomfortable, looking out to the black and star speckled space before us. “Your dad isn’t David.” Red paused, looking back at me. He looked pained, eyeing me carefully, “I’m your biological father, Rayne.”

Haha yes! You ask and you guys shall receive new chapters? Chapter 22: Trauma Presents Itself in Different Forms Zane. After that night, Rayne wasn’t the same. She was still her, playful, bratty and cute, but something was off, something I couldn’t place my finger on until a few nights later. I knew she would be traumatized from all that happened; however, I didn’t know the extent. “How are you?” I asked Nethander at the bar. “If you knew how I was, why would you ask.” Nethander said, looking down at his absinthe in a glass. Neth was a different breed of a being, but I knew, deep down, he was in pain, traumatized, like Rayne, from what Sid did to them. Neth showed his care in strange ways. He only hangs out with people he can ‘tolerate’, me being one of them. I sighed, drinking the rest of my beer, “Because I care. It’s a human emotion, you should try it sometime.” I said, cracking a smile at him. I saw a corner of his mouth raise as his eyes looked sadly down, “How’s Griff?” He asked, for the first time his eyes looking up. I met the Zenon bartender’s eyes and nodded to him for another, “She’s…” The bartender passed me a new glass as I frowned, “Not well.” Nethander’s eyes shifted, “Your gift is stronger, you know.” I said slowly, “A lot of things are stronger, since…” I trailed off, knowing people were near us and saying that I ‘died’ was not normal, “I have better vision, hearing. After workouts, I’m not even sore the next day.” I said, slowly. Nethander nodded, “If you don’t mind me being intrusive… what’s wrong with Rayne?” Neth had this issue where his mind went in a boomerang. He’d ask one question, then switch subjects, and then go back to the last subject. That’s another sign that he actually cared. I could tell he liked Rayne, considering that was his brother’s affixation. Neth didn’t talk about family, but I knew the only family he had was Echonus and now that was gone. I sipped more beer, looking down at my watch, knowing it would be time to leave soon to check on Rayne, “She’s not sleeping nor eating.” I shook my head, knowing my baby was in pain and I was here with Neth, drinking. “Your part Nef now so it’s only normal to have increased senses and repair.” He tilted his head with his glass in his hand, “And, not to mention, their sexual benefits.” I closed my eyes, “I really don’t want to talk about that with you.” I placed my index finger and thumb on the bridge of my nose, “But-“ I looked at him, “what do you mean, exactly?” He had peaked my interests slightly. Nethander drank the rest of his glass, “In cunninglus,” I widened my eyes, looking around and checking if anyone was listening to us, “the cervical mucus is… like an antidote, in a sense.” He smiled at his own joke, “Any type of bodily fluid from a potent Nefareon is. If you couldn’t tell already.” He tapped the wood, “Naturally, my brother knew a lot about them.” I could tell Nethander was drunk, as he, so easily, talked about sex. He tended to do that when he was drunk and speak his mind. I sighed, “Interesting.” She was surprisingly sweet and good tasting. It was cute to see her little face frustrated for more when I did it. I’ll take notes to do it more in the future. “Has she seen anyone?” Neth asked, switching back to Rayne’s mental state. I shook my head, “Not yet, I was going to give it a week. Maybe she just needs some time.” Nethander leaned back, looking at a Terethian woman across the room that he’d been eyeing all night, “Have you two had sex yet?” Neth asked, bluntly. Yep, he was drunk. I blinked, realizing I should probably leave before the questions got worse. I laughed, setting down cash on the counter and standing, “No.” The bartender took it, “Thanks, bud.” I nodded to him. “That’s surprising that you’re holding out. Normally, you-“ I cut him off, “It was a good night, see you Saturday, Neth.” Nethander smiled, “You should get her to a psychiatrist at the least. Something for the insomnia would help, trust me.” His light green eyes dilated in sympathy for her. I nodded, “Thanks, I’ll try that then.” - - - I snuck quietly into her room, hoping she was asleep. I peaked in, seeing she was on her iGlass tablet, reading on the couch. Her green eyes quickly looked up, happy to see me. “How’s Neth doing?” She asked, curious. The one thing I loved the most about Rayne was her desire to help everyone… but herself. It became apparent in the past few days that she wasn’t caring for her own self anymore, which was difficult for me to watch. Rayne was tiny as it was, but it had been four days and the lack of food was diminishing her body quickly. She had a fast metabolism, that I could tell by how much she ate and was able to stay small, and a lack of eating really made a difference quickly. I was never into feeding an adult baby baby food because I never saw the nutritional value but yesterday I finally gave into the concept and fed her it. She protested, of course, but she had only ate some yogurt at lunch. I know I was a control freak and it is my greatest downfall, but sometimes it was a good thing. If Rayne wasn't practicing self-care, then I knew when it was time to step in. I had to give it time before pushing her into something she didn't think would be beneficial for her. Maybe this was only a one week thing and she’d snap out of it next week. I knew she wasn’t intentionally trying to starve herself, but I think she was traumatized. Maybe it was time to get professional help, because me worrying every day wasn’t productive for the both of us. I realized I had been looking at her for a long moment, “He’s as good as he can be.” I said, keeping it simple and quick. Chapter 23: Baby Rayne. Zane was staring at me for a long moment as I sat there, “Have you ate dinner yet?” He asked, looking down to me. I frowned, “I wasn’t hungry.” He seemed concerned about my eating habits and sleeping lately. I didn’t think it was a big deal. I just was having a rough time sleeping and didn’t care much for eating right now. He sighed, “Is someone still padded?” Zane cocked his head at me. Ugh.Was he going to treat me like I was little a second night in a row? I shifted, knowing I had no underwear on after I showered before Zane left. I tried to suppress a smile as I bit my lip, “I dunno.” Zane crouched, his hands immediately going to the waistband of my grey sweatpants. He pulled them down, a thought darting across his face when he realized I wasn’t wearing anything. “Hm.” He cocked his head at me, thinking, “Maybe someone may get adult treatment tonight.” He closed in the gap between us as he stood and picked me up. We made out as he held me in his arms and brought me over to Gemma’s old bunk bed. He exposed my bottom, taking down my pants and spanking me quickly. I yelped with a giggle and he smiled as he grazed my neckline with his lips and warm breath, pushing me on my back on the bed as he pulled my sweatpants off. He began kissing downwards, meeting my nether regions slowly. After some time of moaning and becoming more frustrated that Zane never gave me what I wanted, I said, “Can you just have sex with me already?” I asked, looking down. His eyes flashed in surprise as he propped his face on his elbow, thoughtful. Zane stood, taking off his belt to answer my question, “Are you sure you’re ready?” I bit my lip again, nodding. I wanted him so badly. He unzipped his jeans, looking down at me like I was a piece of steak as he lowered over me, kissing my jawline and I moaned as his warmth was close to me. “I’m not in you yet, little one.” He pulled back his face, eyes twinkling playfully. I laughed breathlessly, “Please, Zane.” I gave him puppy dog eyes as he had a half-smile. “Hm, I think you’re a bit too excited.” Zane said, pausing before taking down his briefs and gently thrusting into me slowly as he watched my reaction carefully. I gasped as my head went back at how good it felt. Fuck.I was a bit nervous it’d hurt, but I didn’t have any pain. Zane went slowly, making sure that it wasn’t painful before picking up speed. Zane was an expert at sex as he rhythmically thrust into me as moans escaped my lips. Almost an hour later, changing positions and Zane’s tender loving, I was snuggling Zane’s chest as my eyes were closing and he watched me. I hadn’t slept much the past few days and this sex had me spent enough to finally sleep. Who knew it’d feel so good? I wanted to have a second round but I was beyond tired. Living on one to four hours of sleep a night was beginning to catch up with me. He smiled warmly, “I love you, Rayne Griff.” I smiled, nuzzling my hair into his chest, “I love you, Zane Vandore.” His eyes studied me carefully. “Let’s get you changed and put you to sleep, hm?” He said in more of a statement as he snaked out from under my naked self. Zane came back with his blue plaid pajama pants on and a diaper in his hand. He was so handsome and the idea of this handsome creature about to diaper me humiliated me to the bone. I blushed, turning on my stomach and hiding my face. I felt a sting on my bottom as I yelped from the sudden spank. Before I knew it, Zane was climbing on the bed, tickling me, “No, please no, I hafta pee Zane!” I said as he grabbed my ankle when I turned around. I tried to escape him but he immobilized my legs with both of his as he began tickling the sole of my foot. “You should’ve thought about that before taking off your diaper earlier.” He said, as if he were lecturing me. I began laughing uncontrollably as I squirmed, knowing my bladder hadn’t been strong lately. I felt a little trickle of pee between my legs and he stopped just in the nick of time before a full stream went. He spanked me again and let go of me, “That’s a warning.” I turned onto my back as I met his serious gaze, eyeing me like I did something wrong. “For what?” Zane chuckled, as if I were trying to be funny, “You removed your diaper without me here. You should know better by now, babygirl.” He squinted at me as if it were a known rule. Ugh, I had a love and hate relationship with his controlling nature. I crossed my arms over my bare chest, “Fine.” He signed, unfolding the diaper and sliding it under me as I lifted my bottom up, “So now I have a grumpy one on my hands, hm?” Zane powdered my bottom and front, taping the thick pastel purple cartoon planet printed diaper on me. I placed my thumb in my mouth and looked innocently at him, “Nuh-uh.” Zane rolled his eyes with a playful expression, “Oh, so now you’re going to act innocent, hm?” I smiled behind my thumb. After what happened, I hadn’t felt the same, yet this moment made me feel whole once more, as if none of it ever happened. It was refreshing and, for the first time since, I slept like a baby. A baby that Zane loved.

Awwww, that's so nice thank you so much because it really does mean a lot!❤️ I appreciate your feedback, as always, so thank you, again.

I had to give this story a good moment to soak in what happened before posting this chapter because... I'm evil like that? muahaha! Anywho, here's a new chapter and I hope to hear your thoughts, haha. Chapter 21: A Bullet Called Hope On our space craft ride back to the Intergalactic Space Station, as we hit light speed and I felt the light tickle in my stomach, I felt numb. A numbness that began in my heart and spread through my blood. I could feel nothing, see nothing besides a blur of life passing by me. My soul was lost, that left the universe when Zane did. Before Zane, I was nothing. Just a stupid girl with the desire to travel the galaxies and make a name for myself. He gave me purpose, yet I blew him off. Now, without him, life doesn't make much sense. It's useless, grotesque. Who am I after Zane Vandore? The galaxies don't want to know. I thought of the first time I caught him watching me eat dinner at the academy. His blue eyes catching mine when I was a new recruit, walking over late after my DNA test. His crooked smile when he had something else on his mind. His light chuckle and eyebrow raises when he knew he was right and I kept trying to nudge his patience. Zane’s jaw tightening when he got mad. His veins popping out of his arms when I knew I was in for a punishment. Tears fell down my face, but I couldn’t feel them. It hurt so deeply that my other half was gone, murdered before my very eyes by someone I once trusted. It was unbelieveable. He was alive not even an hour before. It was the one time he trusted me, completelyand unconditionally. His love was beyond unconditional. I’d never find such a love like that again; one I sought so deeply for that traveled through the time continuum. We were destined to be, no matter what the odds, and now that possibility was gone. It was sickening, cruel. How stupid could I be? I thought I had the power to resurrect someone from the dead? No, I was a fucking idiot. My mom had that power, not me. All I had was the power to heal myself and pulsate energy, wooopee. Sure, I ‘helped’ Daryx, but maybe it was a fluke. Maybe he came out of his coma the exact moment I was there and it was coincidental. Maybe it was all a fucking lie that somehow Sid was part of again. I was a fucking idiot. Pain seeped through me as I closed my eyes, trying not to blow up. My hands kept quivering with energy ever since it happened and I took mental note to keep my hands flat ove my legs. My mind was numb and Daryx had been pacing back and forth, expressionless, while Nethander stared at the ground the whole space craft ride. Daryx phone went off, ringing. He picked up, not even saying ‘hi’ as he listened intently. “Why would they take him there? There’s no point, he’s dead isn’t he?!” Daryx asked whoever he was talking to on the phone. He paused from his pacing, turning his back from us as I heard him sniffle. “Okay. We’ll be there in fifteen.” I heard more sniffling as he walked to the restroom of the private space craft. What? We’re we being summoned for another mission? After what we went through? Well, guess fucking what? I quit. I might as well throw myself out the space craft, because there was no point in life without Zane. None. Five minutes later Daryx came out, eyes watery and bloodshot, “He has a weak pulse, Rayne.” He quickly wiped away a tear. I hadn’t seen any trace of emotion from Daryx until this second. Hope shattered through me like the bullet that obliterated Sid. I nodded, expressionless. He had a pulse, but that didn’t mean he was back or return to his old self. Nothing was promised and I was just considering killing myself for a life without Zane. When we arrived at the Intergalactic Space Station Hospital, I wanted to vomit. So I did just that in the lobby with Daryx and Nethander. Neth was quiet the whole time. I knew he was in pain, much more than I felt considering his brother, who was in captivity for years, was now gone, forever. I didn't know he had a brother up until last year, nor did I know his brother was close to him. It was a shock what Echonus did for me, for us. He was a true hero, one that cared deeply for me and now was gone. I wish I got to know the real Echonus, but that time is far past. After an hour Nethander left without a word. He had no expression on his face as he walked quickly away, gone in the blink of an eye. Fresh, warm tears still kept falling down my face as I sat in the lobby, looking like a puddle of mess. I walked to the restroom, throwing up once more and walking back into the lobby as Daryx took a long look at me. “Rayne, it’ll be okay. He has a pulse, and that’s enough right now, okay?” Daryx said when I sat back down next to them and I wiped away my tears. He was truly as strong as Zane and I needed that right now before walking off an edge. He looked down at my dress and then away quickly, in an awkward silence. I knew I had soaked my dress from Sid, but I didn’t care. I was beyond care. I just wanted Zane back, and I was no use standing here. I needed to be with him now. To save his life like he did mine. I waited with Daryx in the waiting room lobby for two hours until a doctor came out. “Daryx Vandore?” We both stood and walked over to the doctor. “Hello, I’m Doctor Gwen.” A younger Valorion woman with glasses nodded at us, “I have good news, Zane has returned to steady vital signs in a miraculous way.” I began crying, as I smiled, most likely looking like I was crazy. “Did you have to do surgery?” Daryx asked. “Surprisingly, no. A medical mystery, truly." She paused a moment, eyes flicking to me quickly in thought, "Our Helical imaging system showed no sign of fractures or injury so no surgery was necessary.” I smiled, wiping away my tears. “W-when can we see him?” My voice croaked. Doctor Gwen eyed me behind her glasses, “In a few more hours until he’s off the ventilator and stabilized.” Her cold eyes shifted back to Daryx with a smile. Daryx asked a few more questions and I sat on the uncomfortable waiting chairs. After Dr. Gwen left, Daryx said, “You should take a shower, maybe get new clothes and rest? I can call you with any updates, okay?” He said, sitting down next to me with his hair disheveled from running his hands through it. I looked forward, “I’m fine.” Daryx said, “Zane would want that.” I felt a sting as I sat there. I stood, “I’ll be back.” I sounded like a robot as I walked away. When I got back to my room, I stripped my urine dried dress off, and realized I wasn’t wearing underwear still, for Zane. I showered, crying so hard that my breathing was ragged and I kneeled on the ground, feeling the hot beads of water hitting my back. I went over to my suitcase, opening my hidden compartment, looking for something. I found my GoodNites galaxy extra-absorbent pull-ups. I slipped it on, wanting to feel close to Zane in some way, any way, really. I pulled on Zane’s UGNF black sweatshirt I stole from him and my pink plaid pajama pants. I nuzzled my nose into his sweatshirt, weak and numb as I stood there. I walked back over to the hospital floor, going back to where Daryx was. I fell into a deep nap, only to awaken a few hours later to Dr. Gwen leading us to Zane’s room. “He’s stable in our ICU. It’s quite astonishing how he came here in such a critical condition and now we’re considering releasing him tomorrow. We’ve never seen this type of rapid recovery in any patient before. A true phenomenon.” Dr. Gwen spoke, walking quickly. She halted outside of his room, “I believe he’s sleeping, but go ahead. It is an odd time at night, but you are welcome to stay although our visiting hours are over.” She nodded at us before leaving briskly to her next patient. Daryx said, “Ladies first.” He looked ahead to the room with a curtain drew close. I nodded, walking slowly and drawing the curtain back a bit. I peaked my head in. Zane smiled, weakly, “Why, hello.” He said, calmly, as if nothing had happened. As if I had just seen him only hours ago and he was never murdered before my very eyes. I walked in, wanting to jump onto his bed, but deciding to walk up to it, blinking back tears and not saying a word. Zane turned down the volume on his wallscreen. He was watching Intergalactic basketball on planet Reorf. This whole time I had been crying and he was watching sports in an ICU room! I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. God, I was a mess. Zane’s eyes flashed in pain at me as he opened his arms, “Come here, Rayne.” I nodded, whimpering as I climbed up, “Shhhhh, shhhhh. Hey, now, everything is going to be fine.” He cooed me as I cried into him, nuzzling my head into his blood pressure cuff and other monitors attached to him. A beeping noise came on and, seconds later, a nurse came in, “Are you feeling okay?” She rushed in, clicking her pen as she looked at me on Zane. “Excuse me but we can’t do that right now-“ Zane cut her off, “Look, we’ve had a long night and I’m stable, possibly enough to leave now if I wanted, but I’m going to stay the whole night to appease my doctor. Please, just let her be.” He said in an authoritative but respectful tone to the nurse. She nodded, “Sure, sure,” She left, not even wanting to argue with him as she mumbled, “Craziest night I’ve worked in a while.” Zane lightly chuckled as I giggled between my tears and Daryx entered the room. “Hey brother.” Zane said, smiling. “God damnit, you’re not dead? What a disappointment.” Daryx smiled, eyes watery. Zane chuckled light-heartedly. Daryx looked awkward, with his hands in his pocket, “If you’re feeling okay, I think I’m going to sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” He said, concern shadowed his voice. After Daryx left, Zane eyed me for a moment, “Are you wearing padding, little one?” His pale face was musing. I blushed, nodding, “Yeah.” I said, shyly. He smiled, warmly, “Good girl.” He patted my padded bottom, bringing the stiff hospital blanket over me, "How about we get some sleep, hm?" He asked, shifting so we were both comfortable. That night, I didn’t sleep. I acted like I was sleeping but I opened my eyes after he closed his, hearing his rhythmic breathing. Even when I tried to sleep, I couldn’t because flashbacks of the previous day kept my mind awake, alert. When I dozed off, even for a split second, I’d jostle awake, listening for Zane’s breath and looking at the heart monitors to make sure he was still alive. The next morning, Zane woke to the nurse bringing in breakfast as I climbed off of him, wobbling to the restroom as she drew blood and took his vitals. When I came out, Zane said, “They’re sending me home.” He smiled warmly with color back in his face. It was a medical mystery, wasn't it? “Already?” I asked, surprised as I sat in the hospital chair as he pulled on his dress pants under his hospital gown. Zane chuckled lightly to himself, “Well…” He looked at me, “Against doctor’s orders, but, even the nurse said that I’m in good condition.” His bright, awake eyes studied me carefully. He was thoughtful as he looked at me, “Did you sleep last night, Rayne?” I nodded, smiling weakly, “Yeah, why?” I blinked, eyelids heavy and my brain fuzzy from lack of sleep. Zane shook his head, taking off his light blue hospital gown and throwing on his dress shirt, “Don’t lie to me, did you?” He had a intrusive stare as he looked at me. I bit my lip, staring at him with a shrug then looking down at my feet, not even having socks on, just shoes. Was I a mess? One could say that. It wasn’t about me though; it was about Zane. Zane needed to get back to fully well, not me. Zane sighed, fixing his sleeves as the nurse came inside the room once more with papers on a clipboard, handing it to Zane. Zane signed quickly, handing it back to the nurse, “You’re free to go then, Mr. Vandore.” She said, muttering to herself once more as she left. Zane grabbed his bag with his belongings off of the ground, “Let’s get back to our room, hm?” He said, tilting his head down to me as he opened his hand for me to take. I stood, taking his hand as he lead the way out of the hospital, giving Daryx a call on the way. “Are you hungry?” Zane asked, after disconnecting with Daryx. His blue eyes looked down to me. I scrunched my head, shaking it, “Not really.” I said, quietly. I just wanted to be with Zane. Nothing else. Zane’s eyes stayed on me for a moment longer in the elevator, thoughtful. He had a look as if there was something wrong with me and he were trying to figure out why. The elevator scanned Zane’s eye and let us enter the UGNF floor. Red stood at the other side of the elevator, eyeing us, “Ah, Griff and Vandore! Just the people I was looking for.” He said, standing aside as we left the elevator. I smiled, missing Red’s familiar face. To think, I had just seen him a few days prior saving a criminal that me nor him knew anything about. I wondered... did he know about Sid ever since I began the academy? If so, why didn't he warn me? So many things confused me, yet I'd get to those answers after I spent some quality time with Zane. Red pivoted around and nodded his head towards the hallway for us to follow, “You two-“ We passed a group of officers and Red paused, “are being summoned to the United Galactic Nations ceremony, next week.” A UGN ceremony? Only intergalactic officials attended those, that was interesting. “First, how did you know I would be back? Second off, why the sudden invitation?” Zane looked at Red who had his hands clasped behind his back as we walked forward. I trailed behind Zane and Red quietly. Red smiled, winking as he looked at Zane and me, “You’ll find out next week, if you choose to come.” Zane sighed, “Thanks for the mysterious answer, per usual, Red.” He rolled his eyes as we halted at Zane’s door and Red left us. As we entered the room, Zane said, “I’m going to take a shower. How about you go take a nap?” Zane asked, looking down to me. I was surprised that he knew I didn’t sleep, considering I lied to him earlier. I nodded, knowing I was caught, as I walked up his half stairway to the living room area and crawled onto his couch. I laid on my back, staring up at the ceiling as Zane’s artificial morning sunlight cast down on my pink plaid pajama pants. I closed my eyes, my mind not shutting off. Ten minutes later, Zane walked over to me. “You’re not sleeping, are you little one?” I cracked open one eye as he smirked down at me. I shook my head, not saying a word. “Are you okay, Rayne?” Zane said as I scrunched my legs to my chest and he sat near me. “Yeah, why?” I asked, cocking my head. I was fine, Zane was fine, everything was fine now. He was alive and that’s all that mattered, right? “You seem…” His blue eyes studied my face as he chose his words carefully, “not yourself.” I smiled weakly, “I’m fine, really. Just a bit sleepy.” I blinked, questioning my own self. Was I fine? Was everything really okay now? Zane was alive and we made it. We completed the most difficult mission; one that challenged our trust, our love. I watched a future Zane get taken by a time lapse I watched my love die before my very eyes and thought, for a good hour, that he was gone, dead, yet he came back to life. I heard of another future without me in it that was terrifying and destroyed other innocent planets. I traveled through time continuum with a manipulative psychopath and lived… how would I not be fine? Maybe I was still in shock. Maybe my brain hadn’t caught up with all that had happened. Maybe I just needed time to recollect myself or the person I was. That was all normal, right? I was fine. I’d be fine. I just was sleepy.

LOL? I had a feeling these chapters would cause such uproar?

LOL thank you for seeing my insinuation. I love when people acknowledge my little inside jokes to myself as a writer, hehe?

Here's a few new additions to the story. I feel as if I owe you all a few chapters instead of waiting because I most likely won't be posting as often as usual because of school. I hope you all enjoy, and, like always, I'll be reading your feedback and thoughts :) Chapter 18: My Middle Name is Predictable The ground beneath me felt firm as I opened my eyes and a tear fell onto the slate tiled ground. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I looked around the room, seeing I was in what looked like a corporate office, except… there was a ceiling to glass window that looked out to the galaxy. “We’re on the Intergalactic Space Station, year 2219. Human month March. Day the 25th. Intergalactic time 800:48 or,” The Worcan man cleared his throat, “Military time of 18:09.” I blinked, almost two weekssince Sid took me from Zane. “Two weeks?” I looked at Kalen, wondering why he didn’t take me back to my own time. “The second-dimension Echonus, or who you call Sid, is in this time. Also, we cannot bring you back to a certain time because you spent exactly two weeks traveling in time and you’d be aging incorrectly.” Kalen paused, “Not like you’ll age much past a certain point anyways.” What did that mean? The Saiph man spoke, “The other matter we wanted to discuss earlier and didn’t have time for was: we need you to help in an assignment.” I cocked my head, “Exactly what would that entail?” “We require your assistance in capturing Echonus Galavander, the second-dimension form who is a time criminal.” I squinted, shaking my head in confusion, “There’s a first-dimension form?” “Yes, he was kept in confinement by the Valorion Supremacy for the past few years and recently released last week.” My mouth dropped in complete surprise. There was a normal Echonus that I had never met. One who was kept a captive by the Valorion Supremacy. “Where is he now?” I asked. Kalen sighed, “He’s in the intergalactic Special Victim’s Unit.” Was that on the Intergalactic Space Station we were on? I shook my head, “What about Confounduum? Is he caught?” Kalen frowned, “Confounduum hasn’t committed any known crimes.” “He attempted to murder like a handful of people… how is that not a crime?” I said, looking at them like I was in some twilight zone. The Saiph man spoke, “Negative. Confounduum has been controlled and manipulated by Sid for multiple time-lapsed years. Confounduum has not committed any intentional crimes.” I took in a sharp breath, my brain thinking a thousand things per minute. So…this whole time, I’ve been in the presence of a manipulative psychopath? I felt my heart rate increasing, feeling immense anger for being controlled for so long. “Okay, so, uh, how do we stop this sick bastard?” I wanted to stop him, myself. He didn’t have the right to touch anymore lives. The quiet amphibian man spoke, “Our highest possibilities of stopping him is in Valorion, tomorrow night. We’ll send you there with a Valorion who can muddle your predictability. He knows your coming.” A few hours later after settling into my old room me and Gemma used to be in when we were in elite training, I went to the pool. I wanted to get my hands on a phone to call Zane, but I was advised against it until the assignment was over. I swam laps in the pool until I became tired. I was infuriated with the past two weeks. I needed to take out my frustrations in the water because I was beyond pissed. I had been manipulated for the past almost two years by this ‘Sidarian Eckeuqel’ that was named Echonus Galavander. I was disgusted that I had fed into his lies for so long. He manipulated me into thinking he was trying to help me. He created a ‘villian’ called Confounduum who had just been controlled by Sid this whole time that I thought I had to halt when the true villain was Sid himself this whole time. Sid told me he was from a different time lapse that he had escaped. Were we really star-crossed lovers? Or was it all a lie? The part that disgusted me the most was had babied me although he had kidnapped me and was telling me lies to manipulate me into liking him for so long. At some point, I considered the possibility of actually liking him if I hadn’t already met Zane! He had put Zane through two hells, one that Zane will never know about. The future Zane was manipulated and tormented by the same person who tormented me and that sent me through different stages of anger. I swam near the edge on the water where it met the ceiling to bottom of the pool floor’s window. My eyes focused on the stars in the distance and the swirl far away of the Milky Way Galaxy. Oh, how I wanted to visit Earth once more. To help it before its animals went extinct. I planned on going back, once I got my life back that is. I quickly turned in the water as I heard the door close and someone walk in. My eyes meeting Zane’s tired ones, “I had a feeling you’d be here.” He said, walking to the edge of the pool and looking down at me as I swam towards him. “Too predictable, aren’t I? I guess I should try to be less for tomorrow.” I said as I climbed the ladder. “That’s why we’re both here, hm?” He cocked his head, eyes traveling down my body. I blushed, knowing I looked silly in a generic one-piece dark blue swimsuit that was too small for me, “So it’s you?” My eyes lit up, happy then worried. “No” His smile faded, “my brother, but I’ll be there.” A chill went down my spine. His brother? He took the towel from me and patted my legs and arms, then wrapped it around me, hugging me, “Mmm, I missed this.” He nuzzled his nose into my wet hair, then pulled back, “Where were you, Rayne?” He had pain in his voice as his eyes searched mine. “Traveling through time with a manipulative psychopath.” I met his eyes as humor twinkled in mine and he frowned. “Was it Sid?” Zane said, his voice almost in a growl when he said Sid’s name. I nodded, shaking my head at how stupid I was. Everything made so much sense now. Why Sid hardly spoke to Zane before and wouldn’t let me leave a note to Zane when I left. It was as if Sid were trying to make Zane look bad through manipulating Zane and it all made sense. Zane pulled away from me, turning his back as I saw the veins of his arms and his jaw tense, “If I get my hands on him-“ He shook his head in a low growl. “Considering what he almost did to you, I’d let you and watch happily, but he needs to go back to his time and that may complicate things if you did do anything to him.” I said quietly as I pulled a UGNF shirt over my head and then my light heather grey shorts on. Zane turned slowly, confused, “What do you mean?” His blue eyes wearily looked at me. I threw the towel over my shoulder, “It’s a long story, but, for some reason, he really has it out for you.” I said, squinting at the ground as I realized what I just said. It all was making even more sense: Sid was trying to make Zane’s life hell. Sid was the reason Zane didn’t have a dad… and the reason why Zane was in so much pain because Sid kidnapped me… but for what reason? Jealousy? Zane shook his head, “And the part about that ‘he needs to go back to his time’? Explain.” Zane sat down, waiting on me. My mouth opened and closed, “Well, he’s, uh, not from this time? Do you know about time travel yet?” I asked, realizing maybe I was saying too much too soon. Zane nodded, “Yes. I’m just confused why he’s not in the ‘right’ time.” He knew about time travel this whole time?! “He escaped a time lapse, one where, supposedly, we were a ‘thing’.” I shrugged, “Not sure if that’s real anymore though considering I’ve just been lied to the past two weeks.” A corner of Zane’s mouth raised, “Hm.” He mused, “So, what did he do to me or almost do to me?” Zane cocked his head, curious. Oh, fuck. A lot of things. I closed my eyes, thinking of Zane’s brother. His father. About how it was necessary that I stopped his brother but also that Sid gave me the poison to hit Daryx with. Many things in Zane’s life were altered because of Sid. How disgusting, despicable. I couldn’t tell Zane that. “Rayne?” Zane’s hand touched my arm and I opened my eyes. “Can you give me a spanking?” I said, biting on my tongue and almost wanting to laugh. Future Zane gave me a list of instructions to do and I had to follow through, after all. Humor twinkled in Zane’s eyes and he threw back his head with a laugh. He stopped laughing and I bit my lip, looking as serious as I could. “I never thought I’d hear you ask me that.” His eyes were bouncing playfully as he looked down at me, “How about we go back to my room and we’ll talk some more, hm?” I looked up to him and nodded, happy he dropped the subject about Sid. Minutes later we were in his room and I sat on his bed, Indian style. “So…about that spanking?” I said, looking up at him. He crossed his arms over his maroon UGNF shirt as he stood in front of me, looking down at me in wonder, amusement on the corners of his mouth. He chuckled lightly, “Why are you so adamant about a punishment so soon?” He cocked his head, his eyes studying me, “Did you do something that you think deserves you to have one?” I smiled, my eyes becomes watery, “Because…” I shook my head, feeling sad that future Zane was gone, “Someone who I hurt told me to ask you to.” I sounded like a crazy person, that was certain. Zane’s mouth fell into a line, “Sid? That sick fu-“ “No, not him.” I cut Zane off, looking at the plaid covered bed sheet, “You, you did.” Was I breaking a time law by saying that? Did it even matter anymore? Zane cocked his head, his mouth frowning, “What time did you travel to, Rayne?” I opened my mouth, “To about before I was ever a thought in my mom and dads’ heads. To a time when your brother went into a coma. To fifteen years in the future where I met a version of your future that was time lapsed.” A tear fell down my cheek and Zane smiled, as if I were a hurt puppy. He sat next to me, hugging me, “Shhh.” His embrace only making me cry more, “Hey, now, it’s okay, baby. We’re together now and that’s all that matters, okay?” He caressed my hair behind my ear and kissed my head. I stopped crying minutes later and he asked, humor in his voice, “It does sound like something I’d say though. You must have done something that earned it, hm?” He turned his head so he could look down at me. I gave a weak smile, “Well, the fact that I left you alone for 15 years is a pretty good reason.” Zane’s eyebrows shot up, “15 years?!” He paused, “Well, guess what? I’ll make sure that won’t happen again, okay?” He said with a reassuring smile. I laughed to myself, “That’s the other thing you told me-“ Zane gave me a confused look at my sudden laughing state, “He-You, told me to not let you protect me, because I don’t need it.” Zane smiled, “That’s almost impossible for me not to do, Rayne.” He said in a statement as his eyes studied my face, thoughts flickering across his eyes as he looked at me, “What else did I tell you?” He asked slowly, thoughtfully. I sighed, my fingers playing with the hem of my shorts as I looked down, “I know certain things you’ve been lying to me about for some time now.” My voice became quiet, “Did you want to tell me or should I tell you myself?” I asked, looking up to him. Zane’s face went blank as he looked at me, his jaw tightening as I could see he was uncomfortable, “Go ahead.” He said, eyes studying mine. Chapter 19: Thanks, Future Me Zane. “Go ahead.” I said, waiting for her to speak. I didn’t want to place anything that she shouldn’t know onto the table just yet. Rayne blinked, her eyes quick as they studied my face. She stood, walking over to my dresser and touching my cologne and ties. My eyes fell to her shorts, one side higher than the other and showing her perky little bottom. I knew I should have just spanked her to begin with. I didn’t know this would turn into an intervention started from my future self. It was intriguing to hear that she spoke to me in the future; however, I was a bit mad that I ratted my own self out. Telling Rayne that I couldn’t protect her irked me a bit. “You’ve know Eli was taken and didn’t tell me.” Who told her that? Me from the future? Fuck, was future me trying to get Rayne to break up with me? I tapped my fingers on my jeans, knowing that I’d have to do some serious damage control. “You’re part of the Valorion Supremacy and, from what I assume, a double agent.” Unfortunately, correct. I did consider telling her for some time, but knowing how irrational she was, I just couldn’t risk it, not yet at least. She didn’t say anything for some time as her fingers touched my ties, her green eyes gliding across them in deep thought. My mind was musing, in this serious conversation, about how much I just wanted to cuddle her and hold her. Give her a good spanking if she still wanted it and diaper her. Yet, here I was, knowing I’d have a lot of explaining to do. I thought she was done as she looked at me, “You completed a blood oath in exchange for my life.” Her green eyes, once serious, as she met mine, forgiving. Maybe my future self wanted to save our relationship, and I was just trying to make myself be honest with the person I treasured more than my own life. “Rayne.” I shook my head, my eyes becoming watery. God, was I really going to cry when I was trying so hard to be her rock? I needed to protect her and be strong, not cry, “I-“ “No, you don’t need to explain yourself.” Her green eyes met mine as she walked over to me, climbing into my lap, my eyes melting as she was so adorable, “I don’t need you to protect me. I need you to pick back up my pieces when I fall apart and put them back together. If you’re not here, then I don’t have that.” “Mhm, is that so?” I understood what she was saying, but I needed to infuse my dominance at some point. She was my baby after all, and letting her do what she pleases scared me. “And you can’t pick up the pieces if your gone.” Her eyes were serious as she was inches away from my face, “So do me a favor and let me do the protecting. It’s the only thing I’m good at, anyways.” She shrugged. It all hit me at once, things aligning in my head.. She was right; I was endangering myself and I was on track to be assassinated, either by the UGN, the Valorion Supremacy or my blood oath, and that could endanger Rayne. I truly was bad at protecting people, and you can’t protect the ones you love. Fate or destiny would always bite, no matter how long you stalled it. That wasn’t my forte, apparently as I failed with my mom, my brother and now Rayne. Rayne was trouble ever since I met her and I had been trying to do the impossible ever since we began dating: trying to protect her. Yet, she was trying to protect others. All she needed was me to take care of her after. Why had I not realized that earlier? I was good at the aftercare, being there for my mother, my brother, and Rayne. I never was able to save them or prevent them from their suffering, but I was there and, sometimes, that’s all someone needs. Maybe that was what I needed to focus on because I was getting frustrated with trying to do the impossible. I had truly met my match: Rayne was the one who protected people, not me. I thought that was me, yet I couldn’t. She had the powers, the intelligence and wit. She was Bot 404 for crying out loud! How had I not seen this all earlier? It was hard to step back, considering my dominant nature, but I didn’t have to step back fully. It just meant in certain areas I wouldn’t step in…but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t chastise when necessary. I frowned, a thought bubbling in my head, “You understand I can’t leave the Valorion Supremacy, Rayne.” Rayne smiled, kissing my cheek, “Yes, you can, sillyhead.” Her fingers played with my hair like a toddler. Ugh, why was she so cute? I smiled, looking up, “No, I have a blood oath. If I go against them, I’ll start seizing if they found out I was even thinkingof it.” Or worse, but I didn’t want to tell her that. People were sent into comas for life. Others paralyzed from neck down. Some lost limbs. The possibilities of torment from a blood oath were endless, truly. Her eyes bounced, “Your half Hannan. The blood oath only affects full-bred Valorions.” I cocked my head at her, my eyes studying her pink pouty lips, “How do you know that for sure?” She smiled, “Your future self, of course.” Thanks, future me. Sorry you had to be depraved of such a beautiful creature called Rayne Griff. Chapter 20: Too Late For Goodbyes Rayne. I slipped on the red satin dress, one I kept from the future. I wanted to wear it again, for Zane. I decided not to wear underwear, in hopes that tonight may end with me being treated as an adult with Zane. It’s never promising, but one could always try. I put on red lipstick, mascara and slipped on a garter belt on my leg, slipping a small tranquilizer between my legs. I had to be prepared for anything and everything, knowing how unpredictable Sid was. I heard a knock on my door as I was pinning my hair in a twist to the side. I walked over to the door after spraying myself in a mist of perfume, opening the door as I threw my jacket over myself. Zane stood there, in a two piece suit as he fixed his cufflinks. His eyebrows shot up immediately, “Hello, beautiful.” He smiled, kissing me quickly and taking my hand, “How I wish you were my date tonight, maybe later we’ll do something, hm?” “Depends if I want to.” I winked at Zane and he squeezed my hand. “We’ll see if you behave, that is.” God, he always needed the last word, didn’t he? As we turned the corner, Daryx was leaning against a door, waiting patiently with his hands in his pockets. He looked up, smiling as he saw Zane and hugging Zane, “Brother, I’ve missed you.” He pulled back, his eyes falling on me. “And I assume-“ He stopped, eyes fixing on me in confusion, “You.” Different emotions on his face. Anger bubbling across his composure, then sadness, and a blank stare followed as he shook his head. Zane looked from me to Daryx, not understanding the exchange. Daryx looked at Zane, “Your dating Sarah?” I suprressed a smile bubbling in my thoughts. My name wasn't Sarah- it was just the cover name I gave Daryx when i traveled back in time. Zane cocked his head, “No, this is Rayne. I’ve told you about her before.” Zane said slowly, eyeing me in confusion. I spoke, “I-uh have some explaining to do, but we can do that on the way there right?” Daryx spoke, “How about you explain now?” The dominant trait of both Vandores was definitely noticeable as he held his foot, eyes not wavering at he looked down to me. I opened my mouth and closed it, thinking. “I time traveled back to a time where you were about to kill innocent people," I said quickly, his eyes flashing in surprise of how blunt I was being, "Given, some were not, and I decided to save your life and theirs. Your welcome.” I said, deciding to walk past him in a huff because I knew I was in the right here. Daryx and Zane paused behind me, looking at each other as I walked away. They decided to walk far behind me, talking low. “You did what?!” Zane asked, his voice faltering in surprise and a tinge of anger. “Well, obviously I didn’t go through with it.” “Are you insane?! You were just going to leave mom and I like that? Do you know what I’ve went through these past months with her asking about you?” His voice was steady and calm, but I could tell he was fuming. “I was wrong, okay? I made a mistake and I paid for it. Now stop scolding me, you’re my brother, not dad.” Ouch, I felt that burn as I blinked, still walking ahead of them. Zane went quiet, picking up pace as he took my hand, walking with me as he had a stone cold expression on. Daryx sat next to us on the private UGNF space craft, a blank expression on his face as he looked out the window. The UGNF spacecraft lowered to the Valorion soil, sand scattering in waves with dry grass. As I walked down the stairs of the craft, I saw a black, dark purple hued, hover limosine. My eyes lit up as I saw Neth and… Echonus?I squinted, confused. Was it Sid? Or the real, my dimension, Echonus? Zane grabbed my hand, pulling him behind me as we approached them. Echonus’s yellow eyes met mine, constricting and dilating as he looked at me, as if for the first time. Yet... it was his first time. We never met before, until now. This Echonus looked… kind? His eyes didn’t look like they were invading my privacy every waking moment, his smile was genuine, and his stance was … humble? I couldn’t explain it, but this man looked like a much younger version of Sid and a completely different individual. “It’s fine, Zane.” I said, letting go of his hand and snaking in front of him. Nethander nodded at us as we approached. Echonus’s eyes didn’t leave me as we approached. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Griff.” Echonus bowed, tilting his head towards me, then looking to Zane, “And you, Mr. Vandore.” He tilted his head to Zane. Echonus was proper and incredibly polite. Who was this individual? Definitely nowhere near creepy and it was refreshing. I smiled, “It’s nice to meet you too. The real you.” Echonus blinked, eyes becoming fully dilated and his scales changing from dark green to a shimmering turquoise. “I’m sorry you met me in not the best impression. Tssss.” I shook my head, “You were framed. It’s not who you really are, Echonus.” I said, eyes going to Neth who had an apologetic stance. Neth spoke quickly, “No words can express my apologies to you and Zane.” He looked embarrassed of his actions as he stood there, awkwardly. Zane spoke, “Not necessary. You were blackmailed by an interdimensional psychopath, no need to explain yourself, Neth.” Daryx opened the hover limos door, “Shall we go? Or are you all going to stand here apologizing for the actions of the person were trying to apprehend?” Echonus nodded, “Daryx has a convincing point. Let’s stop wasting our breath on my other version and take him down, together.” We all got into the hover-limo, sitting in an awkward silence. As we sat, my eyes went to the present-time Echonus who had wavy dark blue, almost black, hair in a ponytail and a 5 o’clock beard. His eyes met mine as I studied his face and I looked away quickly, realizing that he could read my thoughts. “So, if he knows were coming, why is he still there?” I asked, my mind becoming nervous as we approached the Luminous Memorial Hall. “He wants to see you, for one last time.” Echonus said, quietly as he looked out the window. Zane’s body tensed, “Of course that fuck does.” He looked towards Echonus, “Sorry, I didn’t mean...” He tilted his head as he trailed off. “It’s completely understandable, your frustrations. Tssss.” He paused, eyes constricting and focusing on Zane, “Let me make something clear: I am not him. He’s not from this dimension so I take no offense.” He snickered to himself at whatever he was thinking as he added, “A conundrum one would call it, but we aren’t our past or future selves. We’re the people in this moment right now, not then.” I asked, “Can you see the future, what happens tonight?” He must have the same abilities as Sid, right? Echonus frowned, yellow eyes fixating on me, “Unfortunately, tonight’s events are blurry, multiple scenarios that have been rippling through time.” He hesitated before speaking as his eyes shifted from me to Zane, “In my hypothesis, because I am meeting my true unanticipated match, my other form. I have no idea of the future events, nor does he.” Daryx asked, “So, we could all die tonight, theoretically? We all have no idea what’s going to happen?” Echonus nodded, slowly speaking, “Death is inevitable on this night; however, it will not affect any of your lives to that significance, I can foresee that much.” His eyes fell sorrowfully on me. I squinted at Echonus, confused by what he meant. It was like a riddle; one I didn’t have energy to solve as we approached the ginormous black granite building that was once the Luminous Tower. “Then why don’t I just go in?" They all turned their heads toward me, "Alone.” I said, looking at Echonus. Zane's arm tensed near me as he blinked at me. Echonus shook his head, “We need a Vandore to block Sid’s mind reading. He can’t read your thoughts with Daryx, nor control others.” We got out of the hover limo and I fixed my dress, looking at Zane who got out last, “How about you stay back?” I said, in more of a statement than a question. Zane shook his head, “I can’t let you be kidnapped by him again, Rayne.” He said my name, as if I were a child. I shook my head, “He can’t. I promise you. Do you remember what we talked about last time? You have to let me do this, by myself. Please.” I wanted to protect him. Sid was twisted, sick in the head, and I didn’t think anyone would be safe tonight. Zane’s face went blank, moments passing in silence before he spoke, “Okay, fine, Rayne. But…” He walked up to me, taking my chin in his hand and tilting my head up to look him in the eyes, “Promise me you’ll be back in my arms tonight?” I gulped, nodding, "Promise." His eyes looked pained, crossed about his decision, yet he nodded, giving me his trust. He leaned down, kissing me. Daryx stood awkwardly behind us, “Let’s save the making out for later and get this over with, hm?” Zane chuckled lightly as his minty sweet, warm breath was in my face. I rolled my eyes and kissed him on the cheek quickly, “I’ll see you later, okay?” Zane nodded, with a pained smile as he watched me walk away with Daryx into the Luminous Memorial as Zane went back into the hover-limo. We walked into the building, the large glass doors quietly swooshing closed behind us. Echonus and Nethander walked in front of us, walking past a dining hall where Valorion citizens quietly mingled and ate. I paused at the doors where a hostess was on his phone, playing some Virtual Reality game behind his clear glasses. I scanned the room quickly, not seeing anyone familiar. I walked past the dining hall into a larger reception hall that was once a lobby where Echonous and Nethander stood, looking around. Where was Sid if not in here? My answers came quickly as a shiver went down my spine, hearing his words loudly in my head. You truly are the most exquisite being, beautiful in every sense of the word. A enigma, without end. The greatest treasure that I never had the pleasure of exploring. I looked over to Daryx who was reading through the black waterfall memoir wall about fallen famous Valorions. The water began falling in slow motion, then stopping in midair. My breathing became ragged as I realized Sid was splitting time. I turned around, scanning my surroundings for Sid. I couldn’t see him; where was he? I looked to where Echonus and Nethander were walking. Nethander and Echonus looked back to me, as Daryx was completely frozen by Sid’s time split. That whole plan about needing a Vandore to prevent Sid from reading our minds and controlling us definitely didn't pan out. “What do you want from me, Sid?” I said, aloud as I walked towards Echonus and Nethander in the middle of the hall near the glass windows. Your undivided, unconditional love, yet it’s something I will never have, will I? I shook my head, squinting at the black granite ground, “You had that in your own dimension. Now stop fucking with mine.” I said, my voice razor sharp. “Tsk, tsk. Such a potty mouth, aren’t you?” I heard Sid, as he stood above the waterfall Valorion memory wall, at the balcony looking down at us three. I looked up, about to speak, and then felt warmth traveling down my leg. I closed my eyes, knowing I was wetting myself. Someone isn’t properly diapered, are we now? Your choice of a daddy was surely a mistake. My face went red, flushed as I tried not to think of the small puddle forming beneath my feet. “Cut the crap, Sid. I don’t want to play your stupid mind games.” I said, angrily. Sid smiled, disappearing in midair. I squinted, confused. A moment later, reappearing directly in front of me. I jumped back, blinking as my heart was pounding in my chest. Echonus and Nethander began walking slowly towards us. “It’s called stalling, tiny one. Tsssss.” Stalling? Another chill went down my spine and I didn't like how close for comfort Sid was. “Wh-?” A large shattering noise erupted, as a body crashed through the glass doors. My eyes focused on it, seeing Zane rolling on the ground as Confounduum appeared in a dark blue smoke above his body. “N-no!” I said, feeling my hands pulsating. Zane wasn’t frozen in time; he was breathing raggedly as he was on the ground, coughing and regaining his strength. “Sid! Stop this! Whatever you want, it’s not worth a life!” Confounduum’s smoke fell over Zane on the ground and the room was silently filled with his muffled sounds, like he was choking. A burst of energy came from my hands, knocking the soul-less Confounduum backwards who vanished before our very eyes in a puff of blue smoke. Even without Confounduum, the smoke encircled Zane, bringing him up in the air, floating. “I wanted you. In my dimension, in this dimension. Yet, wherever I have went; I still have yet to have you because of this lifeless Valorion mutt.” So, this Valorion hatred was from Sid all along? It was never Confounduum, he was just an extension of Sid’s hate for Zane. How could I be so stupid? Sid said, walking down the stairs of the balcony. I looked at Echonus for help, who was silently watching. What was he here for if he wasn’t trying to stop Sid? “You had me! You even told me about the story of Echonus and Grelda! Was that a lie too?!” I asked, desperate as I looked at Zane turned blue, his hands grasping the smoke swirling around his neck, just like his father. Sid laughed, “That’s a made up tale, silly girl. Tsssss. One I made many years ago in hopes you’d believe in it to finally love me. Yet, inevitably, you kept going back to him.” Sid said with a hiss as he said ‘him’, eyes constricting on Zane, “Do you know what he’s done to you, what he will do, Rayne?” My eyes furrowed as I shook my head, “It doesn’t-“ Sid cut me off, “Open your eyes Rayne! I know you’re smarter than that.” His eyes constricted and dilated as they focus on me, “He assisted in your best friend, Eli, demise. Now, do you know where your friend is, silly girl?” I shook my head, desperately looking to Zane who was becoming weak in the air, legs hardly kicking anymore as he was gasping for air, eyes looking at me. “HE-“ Sid looked to Zane, eyes constricting, “has Elliot encapsulated alive. In space.” I blinked back tears, “Let him go, Sid, please. Nothing you say can change that. Please.” Flashbacks of when Zane's dad was in the air hit me hard. “Yet you still love him?” Sid scoffed, eyes studying me for a moment, looking to Echonus as if he should agree, “Then, let me do the honors of ending his life so you don’t have to, Rayne.” The next few seconds went by in a blur, so rapidly I couldn’t feel my own heart beat any longer. I heard a snapping sound and Zane’s body went limp, falling on the ground. Lifeless. I blinked, disbelief shattering through my brain. I felt nothing, saw nothing. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I yelled, all I could see was red as I turned towards Sid, feeling all of my power, stronger than when I held the Luminous Tower, coarsing through me. My hair and clothes fluttered, as if wind hit it. Nethander yelled, “No, Echonus! You don’t have to do this, brother!” “I must! I have to. My affixation deserves a life of happiness, not this.” I looked to Echonus who took out a gun, a bullet searing through the air, shattering through Sid as it struck his chest. Instead of blood, a turquoise light erupted. Sid furrowed his eyebrows in surprise, looking down at his chest as cracks appeared. Bright turquoise light crackling through his chest. “You idiot! You’d end both our lives instead of living one with her?” Sid said to Echonus. “For her, anything." Echonus looked at me longingly before his eyes turned back to Sid, "That’s what you should have done instead of being selfish.” I looked to Sid who looked at me, eyes pained, “You changed my life, the day you were born, and I hope you’ll forgive me one day, Rayne Griff.” I only had four words for him, “Go to hell, Sid.” A light emitted from his body, as his figure was vibrating. His eyes flashed in genuine hurt as Echonus charged towards Sid, grabbing Sid by the neck as a bright turquoise light erupted in front of me, so bright that I had to cover my face, and when I uncovered my face, he was gone, and so was Echonus. Time resumed as if nothing ever happened, and water began falling once more on the memoir wall in front of me. Sounds of light chattering came from the other room and the light rustle of air conditioning in the room resumed. Daryx looked around, perplexed. I turned, running over to Zane and falling onto his limp body. Panic was hitting me, sending my heart into overdrive. My brain was scrambled as I listened to his chest for a few moments, feeling no rise of a chuckle or his rhythmic breathing. No pulse. He was… dead. Gone. No, no, no. Not Zane. My love. My one true person who was my rock. My first love. My balance to my chaotic self. My boyfriend. My daddy. Pain hit me hard as I rose to look down at him. His neck was broken, eyes lost of any spark he once had. My eyes became blurry as I nestled his head over my lap. My face was wet as I felt my cheek, surprised that I couldn’t even feel the tears anymore, my body was completely numb. “Rayne, what ha-?” Daryx stuttered as he looked at Zane’s lifeless body and me above it, “No!” He kneeled next to me, touching my back as my tears fell on his face. People began rushing in the room, yelling for a hover ambulance. “He’s dead, you fucks. Dead. There’s no point in a fucking ambulance.” I said, looking up at the couple who looked at a loss for words. So many emotions were racking my body as tears kept falling, on him. I looked at my fingers, wet from tears I kept wiping. This had to be a sick joke. This wasn't real! He had to be alive, he just had to be. This couldn't be the end for him, for us. There had to be some other way. Some miracle. But... wait. Maybe I was the miracle. I had a gift. To bring back the dead, right? You idiot, Rayne! Bring him back to life! Your mom did it with Rex, now it’s your turn! My internal voice screamed at me. I reached under my skirt, whipping out my pocket knife on my urine soaked garter. Daryx looked at me, “Rayne, what are you doing?” He watched me cut my palm as I winced at the deep wound I gave myself, bright red blood dripping out. A few more people were in the hall, gasping as they watched the scene unfold. “I’m going to save your brother’s life.” I said, taking my pocket knife. I hesitated, thoughts of doubt in my head. Was it all a coincidence that my tears saved Rex and my blood cured Daryx? There was still that small chance that it was all in my head. That all of this was just an old kid's story. Maybe I wasn't gifted and it was all a string of coincidences. Or maybe it wasn't, but there wasn't much time and I needed to try. I shook away the thoughts as I pressed my knife into Zane’s neck, where I assume his jugular vein was, letting my blood drip into his new incision. A scab formed moments later over his new cut on his neck as if I were fast-forwarding a movie. I took Zane’s neck, hearing a few pops as I straightened it, holding it in place like my mom did Rex's. I whispered, “C’mon, work, please work. Damnit. Work.” I said as tears fell down my cheeks like rain as I was inches away from Zane’s lifeless, pale face. My eyes studied his eyelids, closed, as if he were sleeping. I kept telling myself, he's sleeping, he's sleeping, right?! Yet I knew, he was deceased, in another place, most likely better than here. Was I too late? Was this really it? Is this was Sid wanted? I get it Sid, if you couldn't have me, no one could, right? Disgust filled me as I waited, Daryx trying to nudge me away but I wouldn't move. He was saying something urgent, but my ears couldn't listen. They were hyper focusing on Zane, to hear a breath, to believe in the impossible. Pain ran so deep, jabbing me multiple times as more tears fell. I nuzzled my face into his as I waited. I couldn’t look at his dead face any longer, it hurt too much. Minutes passing by like years as I heard footsteps approaching. I kept looking for any sign of life in Zane, but he was a dead weight in my arms, head heavy like a brick. Someone yanked me away from him as a few paramedics began checking his vitals, beginning chest compressions on Zane’s unmoving chest. I yelled bloody murder at whoever took me away, kicking and screaming. I didn’t care, I wanted to be with my deceased boyfriend. I wanted to be with him while his blood was still warm, his breath so recent. Daryx held me in the air as I kicked and screamed, tears falling down my face. I looked like a lunatic, but I was far beyond logic. Far gone from sanity as the paramedics placed Zane on a stretcher. Zane was motionless, as they wheeled him onto the hover ambulance. As we followed the paramedics outside and Daryx talked to one of police officers that arrived on the scene, I was still in a daze, not comprehending anything that happened. Only a few words my ears heard as I stood near the hover ambulance, before the doors were closed. "Zane Vandore. Time of death, 19:01, March 26th, 2219." A tear rolled down my cheek as I stood with a warm blanket over my shoulders in my red satin dress. It felt like a black hole had sucked the emotion from my once beating heart, pain seeping into my chest. Only an hour ago, I was thinking that Zane would discover that I wasn't wearing underwear underneath my beautiful dress. Only an hour ago, he said 'Hello, beautiful.' in his usual charming Zane way. Only twenty minutes ago, he was kissing me and chuckling. Only fifteen minutes ago, he was struggling to breath. Only twelve minutes ago, he was murdered. I began walking away, not knowing where I was going, just knowing, I had to leave. I didn't belong here, nor anywhere for that matter, without Zane Vandore alive.

The concert bit won't be explained until further down the line, but many things will come to fruition soon, haha. And thank you! I shall try to keep posting as well. Chapter 17: The Key I slipped into a bright red satin dress that Zane gave me since my other clothes were in the wash. He said that my clothes ‘smelled’ so I was clothing-less, besides my grey jacket over the dress to keep me warm. He at least gave me a dress, but that left me without underwear. Hopefully, Zane wouldn’t know, but deep down, I think he knew and planned on this. The waiter poured us both champagne in our glasses, “So…” One of my many questions bubbling on my mind came out, “Are you married now?” I asked, quickly. Zane mused, drinking his champagne and looking out the balcony to the city with a twinkle in his eyes, “No, I haven’t.” His sad eyes met mine. I wanted to cry because maybe I was torturing him by spending the day with him, going out to the nicest and most expensive restaurant on Valorion. I wanted to ask if he ever dated anyone since, but I made sure to stifle my curiosity as I sipped the champagne. “I’ve tried dating, if you were wondering.” His eyes fixated on me with a subtle smile placed on his face. He sighed, “One would say I have very special tastes in a woman…” He trailed off, “I’d say I’m picky and I’ve had many expectations that no girl has ever met... Well, besides one.” His eyes met mine with a wink. The wink made me tingle, in a place I rather not admit. “Oh?” I said, with a giggle, “What would that criteria be?” His eyes lit up, humored, “Hmm.” His hand grazed his chin, “I like… bratty, someone who deserves to be put in their place with a good spanking.” He said, in a normal voice, unwavering to the couples and group sitting around us. My face became red. I didn’t care if we were in another time, people were still aware. I felt sticky, wet in a place I didn’t have panties to cover my dress from the wetness. I was getting excited. God, when I’m back in my time I’m soooo fucking Zane. I was still a virgin, afterall. “Someone who is submissive. Witty. Intelligent, that I can hold conversation with and play a mental game with.” He switched into describing me, “Someone who depended on me. Although, she is strong enough and independent. She doesn’t need me, yet that’s what made me want her the most.” He sipped more champagne, “Yet, wild. I like someone who needs to be tamed. That’s my favorite part.” His eyes twinkled in nostalgia, “You, you were always my favorite part. No matter what you did, you’d be the thing that made me come alive. The person I always wanted to be came out when I was with you.” I blinked back tears, gulping as I looked over the city. What cruel world was I in where this incredible man was left by himself, without any explanation where I was, for fifteen years? What sick fuck would do this to him? Me, it was all me. “What’s wrong, Rayne?” Zane said, eyes studying me carefully, tiredly. “I-“ I shook my head, lip trembling at the sudden emotions washing over myself, “I just didn’t know the implications of leaving you. It’s disgusting, what I caused. You lived a life, one without me, and I’d never wish that upon you. Never.” A tear fell down my face. Zane frowned, tossing his cloth napkin on the table and got up. He kneeled near me, brushing away a tear, “You were taken from me, Rayne. This isn’t your fault.” He smiled, blue eyes sad. I shook my head, “No, I chose to go with him Zane. I-“ I began and a few figures were behind Zane. I furrowed my eyebrows, looking behind him in confusion. “Rayne Griff, it’s beyond urgent to speak with you.” A man said, as my eyes focused on him. I blinked, confused that a Worcan man stood in front of us with dry, white embellished and rippling skin, long pale blonde hair in dreads and piercings. His black eyes focused on me. A man from Saiph stood with him and another amphibian man. How rare of a group to be seen together. It was like when Gemma, Eli, and I together, an odd pairing, but we found eachother. Zane stood, his hand hovering protectively in front of me, “To what is the urgency to disrupt our dinner?” Zane looked at the people near our table. The Worcan man flipped open his wallet, showing a glass badge, “I’m Officer Kalen. We’re with the Intergalactic Time Keepers and we need Miss Griff to help us.” Zane shook his head slowly as I stood up, “Can this wait?” I looked around, seeing that everyone around the room was seemingly ‘frozen’ in time besides these men, Zane and I. I glanced at his white leather jacket and kaki pants. He looked nothing like a Intergalactic Time Keeper that I’d assume. He looked like a drug dealer, if anything. “Unfortunately, this requires our immediate attention that you go back to your time.” The Worcan man nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly, at the Saiph man who went into his pocket. I stuttered, “W-wait!” They all paused, looking at me in confusion, “Just give me a minute. One minute.” I said, standing in front of Zane, understanding that they wanted only me, not him. The Worcan officer Kalen, looked down at his watch, sighing impatiently, “Request granted.” He began walking away with his odd trio. I turned around, looking up to Zane’s pained eyes, “I didn’t think it’d be so soon.” He shook his head, “I knew a time lapse would happen, but not tonight. The day I finally see you once more.” He shook his head, blinking back tears as his eyes studied my face, his hand cupping my chin. I closed my eyes, feeling his pain. I wanted to give this Zane everything and so much more. He deserved a life of love, not pain. I opened my eyes again and a tear fell down his face, “Rayne, can you do something for me?” I nodded, as he let go of my chin and took my hands in his, intertwining them, “Go back to the time you left me and ask for a spanking, first.” He smiled, playfully through his sad eyes. I giggled as tears went down my face, “Then, I want you to tell my naive self that the blood oath isn’t lethal to me the day I signed my soul away to save you because I’m not a full-bred Valorion.” I blinked, nodding and understanding that Zane wanted me to help him, stop him from doing the things he did in my own time. Zane smiled sadly, “Thirdly, I want you to find that fuck Sid and spit in his face for me.” Zane looked up behind me as I heard approaching footsteps. “And, lastly, Rayne,” His eyes searched mine, urgency behind them, “Always know to be yourself, no matter how much I may try to protect you, because you are so beautiful and powerful beyond the galaxies. You are the key to fixing me, the galaxies and the planets themselves. I need you, but the galaxies need you far more, Griff.” He said my name, as if I were once a trainee at the Academy. I blinked as he let go of my hands and I felt a hand firmly grasp my shoulder. I felt a vibration in the ground as a tear fell down my cheek and the whole room looked to be vibrating, crackling with blue light as blue and turquoise swirled around us.

Chapter 15: The Chronicles of Echonus Were Real? I shook my head, “I time traveled. I’ll be back to the time I left pretty soon.” I said, meeting his eyes studying me on his chair. I placed my heels on his desk, crossing my legs. Zane took in a moment, staring at me silently, “Where did you go?” He sat on the desk, near my feet. God. Even fifteen years in the future Zane was hotter. Why was life so cruel? I shook my head, “I don’t know if I’m even allowed to tell you that.” I said, crossing my arms. “Tell me, Rayne.” His voice, commanding with authority. I sighed, “I went back to 2196 and then to 2217 and now, I’m here. No idea why, but I’m here. Maybe for you, who knows.” I shrugged, being honest. “You left and couldn’t have written me a note or something? To let me know that you weren’t dead?” Zane’s voice was in a low voice, quietly fuming. He was actually infuriated. Not a ‘playful’ mad where he gave me a spanking. Oh, no. This was pissed. “My friend told me that I-I…?” I trailed off, beyond perplexed. Sid told me I couldn’t leave a trail? He’s the one who told me not to, although I suggested it… was Sid looking out for me or just himself? And why was I even here. What was my purpose and where the fuck was Sid? Zane’s face was blank as he stared at me, no trace of emotion, “Who was this ‘friend’? Was his name Sidarian Eckeuqel?” Zane cocked his head. I was taken aback in an instant. How did he know Sid? I slowly nodded, “Yeah… but…. how do you know his name?” Zane threw his head back with a roar of a laugh, “You don’t think after fifteen years that I wouldn’t do anything to find out what happened to you? If you died or where you went? Who you could have possibly been with?” He shook his head, looking behind me, out his windows. I shook my head, still confused, “So what did you find?” I asked. Zane’s eyes cast over me, “That either you were in hiding, kept hostile, or dead.” He laughed to himself, eyes watering, “And I knew about an Amphibian who had a fucking affixationon you. I was able to at least find that out.” He shook his head, “Of course you had the most manipulative Amphibian criminal possible and, knowing how gullible you used to be, I had a feeling it was in the realm of possibilities after someone explained time travel to me with the Amphibian race.” Manipulative criminal? I bet the Aquarian Time Control must have told Zane or is was easily accessible information. I shook my head, “He escaped a time lapse, Zane. Don’t act like you wouldn’t have done the same.” Zane studied my face, contemplative, “Do you know who he is, Rayne?” I nodded, “Uh, yeah. I met him at Sterling Industries. We all did.” Zane shook his head, as if lecturing a child, “No, Rayne. Do you know what he did?” He cocked his head waiting. I squinted at the black mark on my ripped jeans, perplexed by his question, “Yeah…” Did Zane already know what I knew? “He tormented Nethander.” Zane nodded, waiting for more, “And?” And what? There was more? The part where he was with the Valorion Supremacy. Apparently, so was Zane. His blue eyes kept trailing my body, as if taking in the image of me as he waited. After a few moments of me racking my brain, Zane spoke, “He escaped a time lapse. Going to another time continuum where he didn’t and was not supposed to exist in. Meaning, there was another ‘Sid’, so to speak.” I cocked my head, hearing his words and processing them. “Sidarian Eckequel doesn’t exist, in any time continuum for that matter. That’s a made up name.” Zane said, speaking slowly. I took my feet off of his desk and my hands began sweating as my fingernails dug into my palm. I didn’t like where this was going. “Then, who is he?” I asked, bluntly. Zane sighed, “His birth name is Echonus Galavander.” Chapter 16: Galactic War IV of 2222 I smiled with a nervous laugh, “Sure, okay, Zane.” I was in denial, “Don’t joke with me about this, Zane. Because I’m about to have a panic attack.” My fingers were shaking, energy underneath them, flaring. Zane looked down at me as he stood, with a frown, “He placed the real Echonus in prison in the year 2216. A few years later, they found that thatEchonus wasn’t the right one.” Chills went down my spine. So I was with a sick and twisted Echonus that was undermining my reluctance this whole time. So many things of Sid’s story didn’t make sense. Why did Sid have the ability to time travel if I were really dead. Why Sid needed me to travel with him in the first place. Why he tormented Nethander. Why was Sid so much older. Why Sid was so vague. Why Sid chose to time travel to certain times. Was Sid just time traveling to escape the law this whole time? I felt nauseous. How could I be so stupid? I looked around the room, flustered as I saw a small trash bin. I lunged to the bin and began vomiting out my breakfast. In an instant, Zane was pulling my hair back, “Shhhh, it’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be just fine, little one.” Tears fell down my cheeks as I cried, spitting out the remnants of vile in my mouth and wiping my lips as I sat back. “No, it’s not fine.” I pressed my palm into my forehead, “Sid, or Echonus, whatever the fuck his name is, left me ten minutes ago. I don’t know where he is or where he went but he’s my only ticket back to the present time.” Tears fell down my face as I met Zane’s older blue eyes sadly watching me as he kneeled next to me, “To be back with you, so all this doesn’t happen.” Zane sat on the floor next to me, I wanted to giggle because it was so silly that this handsome, well-dressed man had his long legs outstretched on the ground near me. He sighed, “You can’t stop this from happening Rayne. There’s nothing bad about it.” Was he brainwashed? The Valorion Supremacy was unlawful. It was like the underground mafia of the galaxies, was he not aware? “Last time I checked, the Valorion Supremacy keeps people hostile. People in tanks underground.” Why did I sound like Confounduum? “There’s people on the Sequoian Airspace as bots, Zane.” I searched his eyes as he looked mused. “Not anymore.” Zane said, sighing as he stood up. I squinted at him as he saw in his chair, placing his elbows on his knees, looking down at me on the ground with a crooked smile placed on his face, “Don’t bullshit me Zane. I’ve already been lied to a lot by you, of all people.” Pain showed in his eyes as his face went blank, “I stopped living in fear when you left, Rayne. After all, the Valorion Supremacy didn’t have anything to threaten me with anymore.” He paused, thoughtfully, “So I decided to take it upon myself to correct the things I thought were most important to you.” I shook my head, “But earlier Jaimie said that you had baby bots here?” Zane blinked, “I still own what once was the Sequoian Airspace…” He paused, “but those bots are workers, not real bots anymore.” I rubbed my temples, confused, “So… you’re saying…” I trailed off, meeting his eyes, “You own an intergalactic sex trafficking network now? In the form of… bots?” My mouth gaped open. Zane threw his head back, laughing as I sat there in silence, confused. He collected himself and looked at me, “More like an airspace where people are able to explore their sexual desires in a healthier way that still profits the Supremacy. There’s more to the airspace than that now, though. That’s not the only facet.” He smiled, studying my reaction. I stood up, pacing, “What the fuck.” I said to myself, then looking at Zane, “So, how do I go back?” I asked. He said, “You don’t need Sid to go back, Rayne. Intergalactic time travel is granted to those stuck in the wrong time.” He sighed, sadly. I studied his expression as he turned away from me, looking out the window. “What happens to you if I go back?” I asked, quietly behind him. Zane turned his head towards me, “A time lapse. Where this instance never happened. Where the past 15 years didn’t happen.” My heart dropped in my chest. This version of Zane was tortured, for 15 years, because of a fuck like Sid. He wasn’t Echonus to me. Ever. This Sid was twisted, fucked up. He screwed up this Zane and that wasn’t okay in any time continuum. I closed my eyes, feeling tears roll down my face. Zane walked over to me, brushing my tears away. “Shhhh, it’s all going to be okay, baby.” He hugged me, rubbing my back as I cried into him. “No, it’s not fucking okay, Zane.” I shook my head, pissed, “You went through 15 long years without me because of Sid.” I shook my head in disgust. Zane pulled away, taking my chin in his hand, “That doesn’t matter. What matters is that I disappear, because I want to be in a time with you.” His eyes became serious, “Things went very wrong without you here. As much as I was you to stay in this time to love you and nuture you, I can’t. And as much as I wanted to protect you in 2219, you are the only thing that could have saved millions of people.” His thumb grazed my bottom lip as I opened my mouth in confusion, “What happened exactly, Zane?” Zane blinked, “I probably shouldn’t have said anything.” He sighed, taking his hand away from my chin, as he took his hand over his face. “Galactic War IV of 2222.” Only 3 years after I left? He leaned back on his desk. I frowned, thinking hard, “And?” I waited for more. “You’re just as bratty as I remember, aren’t you?” He took a moment, looking at me with nostalgia. He broke away from his thoughts, “This is completely against the Laws of Time but… you have to know-“ His eyes looked pained, “Three planets were obliterated in one day. First the Intergalactic Space Station was taken over. UGN, completely compromised. Then, Earth had the first planetary nuke. Next, Reorf. Last…” He shook his head, hesitating. “Nefareon.” Nefareon? T-that was a planet that was gone. I thought it erupted in an explosion or something? I blinked, confused. “Who? Who did this all?” I asked, confused. Zane looked at the ground, “I did.” Zane said, slowly meeting my eyes. My mouth dropped open, “No. You’re lying. You wouldn’t.” I shook my head, taking steps back. “I was in a dark place. And I was easy to manipulate. So I did something that I wanted no part in. I was the Secretary of Defense of Valorion and Vice President of the Valorion Supremacy.” “That makes no sense, Zane.” I said, shocked. Who was I dating? Did I know what he was capable of? “During the time, the only planet I could go to was Valorion because I was a wanted intergalactic criminal and had a hearing with the UGN for double intelligence espionage.” Meaning a life sentence or the death penalty. Fuck. “The President of the Valorion Supremacy at the time, President Confounduum, was going to carry it out no matter what with an executive decision. I didn’t agree to any of it until I found out that the UGN was going to take over Valorion entirely, with forceful tactics. We supposedly had to strike first, before they destroyed Valorion.” He closed his eyes, “I didn’t want to do it, but I was backed into a corner. So, I initiated the plan to take over the Intergalactic Space Station, signing off on it.” President Confounduum… he was behind this? What was his motives? Why didn’t Confounduum just become a fucking dictator and take over Valorion? His eyes opened, watery, “However, I did NOT sign off to the planetary obliterations. My signature was forged onto another plan undenounced to me.” “When did you become part of the Supremacy?” I asked, softly as I stood there, picking at my nail. “When you were almost killed. I joined to save your life in exchange for my own.” I shook my head, “Is Confounduum still alive?” Zane’s eyebrows furrowed, “Not to my knowledge. He disappeared when the bombings began. Eight years later, I took office as President once the Valorion Supremacy took full reign of the Sequoian Capitol.” Interesting. Dually noted when I go back to my time. My head hurt as I paced for a few moments lost in thought. Zane watched me carefully, “Are you mad at me?” I sighed, “No, Confounduum was behind this. I thought I killed him and I apparently didn’t.” “You…” He formed words in confusion, “attempted to kill President Confounduum?” I nodded, “Only because he tried killing your dad.” Zane’s eyebrows shot up, “What?” “Long story short, he loathes Valorions. Your dad was at the wrong place at the wrong time when Confounduum was attempting to have me join his ‘legion’ of Valorion hatred and I said no and he didn’t like that.” I shrugged. Zane sighed, “Can I request something of you, Rayne?” My eyes met his, “Will you spend the day with me?” I blinked, with a sad smile, “Of course, I owe you that at least.” If this version of Zane were going to disappear in a time lapse, he at least deserved that, right?

Glad to see you are back as well, I thought you vanished from DD and I missed your commentary, haha! But yes, things will make sense once more very soon.

So... I've switched back to writing for this story. It's honestly my favorite story I think I've ever written and I personally reread the whole story because, even as the writer, I want to read more chapters since this story has so much to it with the characters and plot that still isn't written for. So, for any of you still reading this, here's a new update and I have a few more chapters written but I'll be posting them after tweaking them and sufficient editing. Thank you to those of you who are loyal fans of this story and are ever so patient with my posting! I appreciate you ❤️ Chapter 14: Crossed Sid nudged me, “Rayne.” He sighed, touching my back gently. “Leave me the fuck alone.” I said as I sat on the chair in the hotel room, looking out the window as police cars with lights on patrolled Sequoia in the distance. “We have one more time to go to. Then I’ll take you back to 2219.” “What if I want to go back? Go back to a time where I can stop Daryx before any of this ever happened?” Sid shook his head as he stood near me, looking out, “We can’t or else we’ll both disappear.” “What do you mean? Both of us?” I asked, confused. I looked up to Sid’s eyes as they constricted, looking out to the city, “Fate is chosen for us. Destiny is what we choose. Which one do you believe in, Rayne?” Was he lecturing me? I didn’t want any part of it right now. I was wallowing in my own self-pity; I didn’t have time for this. “What does this have to do with anything?” I asked, annoyed. Sid walked away, slowly pacing, “Someone wise once told me that we decide which one controls our lives.” I squinted at him, “So that would mean destiny, right?” “Some people live, letting the world decide for them. Others, decide the world. Every single person has a choice.” His eyes met mine, “They just don’t know it.” “Well, I choose to go back and save Daryx, well before I place him in a coma.” I stood up, sticking out my arm, “Let’s go, now.” Sid shook his head, frowning, “That would cause a time lapse. Me and you…” He trailed off, “Poof. Gone.” I squinted, “But how do you know? How do you decide what year we go to so ‘safely’?” “Because I let fate choose where, not destiny.” “How do you know? Any of this? I don’t understand.” “Tssss. It’s one of my many gifts. I feel inconsistencies in ripples in which, without me or you, can cause catastrophic events that can create a time lapse without us, taking away lives, lineages that will never have been born, altering the time space continuum completely.” A gift to feel what year is the right one? That didn’t make sense, but I’d give Sid one last shot, then I’m done helping him. “Then where are we needed next?” I shake my head, “Wherever I need to save another life, I’ll go.” I said, sighing. “We’re not going to save a life this time, Rayne.” Sid said. What did that mean? He stuck out his forearm, it swirling in blue turquoise. I grasped it, feeling the vibrations between us in harmony as I closed my eyes. I opened them and we were standing on dark black granite, near a few holes where water was sprinkling out of the ground into a large fountain. I looked around, confused as droplets of water hit me. “2244.” Sid spoke slowly as he looked at his watch. I squinted at him, “F-fifteen years in the future?” I asked, stuttering from shock. “Yes.” I looked around as rain hit the ground and thunder rumbled above us. Sid began walking briskly as I pulled the hood of my jacket over my head. Sid was walking quickly across the street and I jogged to catch up to him, “Where are we going?” I asked, trailing behind him. “To the Supremacy Capitol.” Supremacy… Capitol? As we walked, I saw ahead of us a ginormous building that looked like an amphitheater that once was in the same location as the… Sequoian Capitol? What happened to the government center of Valorion? Minutes later we were walking through the large double doors that lead into an immaculate black granite floored lobby with a… what I could only assume was, a Valorion Supremacy symbol across the tiles in gold flecks. A constricted snake’s eye was across the floor with swirls leading to different corridors and staircases. People with suitcases walked passed us in a hurry as the lobby was filled with people going in and out of the Centre. I made mental note to not think of anything besides stupid teenage girl thoughts as we passed multiple Amphibians who were dressed in all black, patrolling the parameters. I followed Sid up the grand black glass spiral shaped glass escalator that stretched to the right of the second level that sloped underneath another spiral escalator that curved to the left. I looked in awe at the magnificently designed architecture of the building, staring up to the ceiling where clouds rippled on the ceiling, making it look like the clouds were moving. Breathtaking. I looked ahead of me, and Sid disappeared. My breathing stopped, where did he go? I literally looked up for approximately ten seconds. How could he disappear so fast? Did someone take him? I turned around, looking everywhere in confusion trying to find Sid. I tried to calm my breathing as I soon realized he was gone and I was alone, completely and utterly, by myself. A few security guards followed a man walking across the black glass bridge platform above me as I was lost in deep thought. My mind was muddled in where Sid went, but this man walking caught my attention through my confusion. I quickly began walking up the next set of spiral escalators that met in the middle of the bridge platform on the third level of the building. I quietly trailed behind the men walking in a pack. Between an Amphibian male and a few Valorion born men’s heads was a man with dirty blonde hair, finely gelled up. He was looking at something in his hands as he walked. They all turned and I slowed down my pace, watching from a distance as I saw his side profile. I saw his sharp straight nose and chiseled jaw line with stubble grazing his chin. His blue eyes looked serious, tired, as they cast down, reading something that must have been important with square glasses on. Zane. And he was still fine as hell, even if he were 15 years older. Fuck. What was his life, 15 years from now? I didn’t know. We’re we still dating? Was I part of the picture still? Or had he moved on to someone else, who wanted the same things as he did? It made me sad. The thought of leaving Zane for a short time. It hurt me to know he was in the present time alone. I looked around the floor, searching for anyone who I recognized, my focus drifting back to Sid. Where the fuck did he go? I looked forward, seeing Zane was turning into a corridor with his men. The men halting, stopping outside of the corridors, looking to be patrolling the area instead of entering the corridor. I began walking towards the corridor he turned into. One of the men looked at me behind his opaque black glasses. “This area is only for officials.” He spoke, with a deep voice. I tucked my hair behind my ear as I caught the other security officers attention, “Sorry, I was just hoping to speak to Mr. Vandore. We were supposed to meet today.” I said, quickly crafting an excuse to see him. Was I breaking another time law by speaking to him? Most likely, but I didn’t care. The Valorion man took a moment, staring at me with a blank expression, not speaking. “Is this another baby bot gram?” A woman with blonde hair came up behind him, eyeing me with bright blue eyes, “He’s already had his fix for this month. Tell your boss that you were denied.” Her eyes studied me behind her glasses. I met her gaze in surprise. Jaimie? She looked at me, her face going pale, “R-rayne?” She cocked her head, lost in thought. I studied her face. She put on some weight, but she looked much older, with dark circles under her eyes and the beginnings of crow’s feet near her corners. Another security guard walked up behind her, “Mrs. Verahue, should we send her away?” I internally sighed hearing her ‘new’ last name, thank god Zane wasn’t married to older Jaimie. Jaimie blinked, as if she were dreaming, “N-no. She’s an old friend of Zane’s, my sister.” Nice save, Jaimie. Once I get back to the present I’m going to make sure she never calls me her sister ever again. She paused, tearing her gaze away from me to the guards, “She can go in.” Jaimie said, looking back at me, nodding for me to go ahead, down the hallway. I nodded at her and walked passed them, down the long black granite hallway to two large double black wood doors. As I brought my hand up to the door to knock, my breathing hitched, reading the letters printed on the door. ZANE VANDORE PRESIDENT I squinted, shaking my head, President? Of what? This Valorion Supremacy? Who was this Zane and what was he doing? I could hear men speaking behind the door, almost as if they were just leaving. I backed up, walking into the corner as the doors opened outwards, covering me behind the doorways. The men and Zane walked down the hallway, speaking. “Thank you for giving us the investment for Amaranthine’s new research. Very much appreciated, Vandore.” A half Amphibian blue man said as he did a small bow to Zane. “My pleasure, anything to support curing Earthling mental disorders.” Disorders? Zane spoke. Mental illnesses? How can that be cured, exactly? As I was standing there, I realized it was my chance to sneak in his room. I quietly crept into the large room that had a desk in the middle on a Valorion Supremacy rug laid over black wooded boards. I heard his footsteps going back to the room as I frantically looked around, seeing a large black cabinet. I opened it, seeing a few jackets. I pushed the jackets away and slipped into the cabinet, closing the door. An oh so familiar scent filled my nose as I awaited Zane walking in. The scent of his dress jackets was the scent he wore 15 years ago. I nuzzled my head into one, taking in the enticing forest sweet-scented cologne. My breathing stopped as I heard Zane enter, closing the doors behind his with a sign as he walked over to his desk, tapping the desk with his knuckles. I pressed into the door, bringing my eye closer to the small crack to see his face straight on. In a second, I pressed too hard and propelled forward, bringing one of his jackets with me as I somersaulted to a halt. Once I stopped, the bottom of my foot halted on hisfoot as the jacket was still covering my head. “Hey! You’re not supposed to-“ He kneeled, as he slowly took his jacket away from my face, his eyes blinking, as if he saw a ghost, “No, it can’t be…” His eyes looked pained, “Rayne?” I crawled back, on all my fours, confused why he was confused. I stood up slowly, brushing off lint from his jacket from my jeans, “In the flesh.” I said, meeting his blue eyes, lost in thought, studying my face. “You-“ He shook his head, “You were dead. Gone.” His eyes began watering, “H-how are you here?” His voice was hoarse. I cocked my head, “I didn’t die.” I squinted at him, “Unless I did, I don’t know.” I shrugged, walking around his desk, my fingertips grazing his papers as I sat on his leather chair. Zane blinked, “You were gone, the night after I returned, 15 years ago.” He said, slowly. 15 years ago? That’s the year we time traveled too… unless Sid didn’t tell me something… Wait. What if Sid had lied to me this whole time? What if I never came back and we were gone too long and now I was stuck in this year? No, this couldn’t be, could it?

This is a super short chapter but next chapter will be much longer. I look forward to everyone's feedback for the new update!? Chapter 21 Hayden was sprawled out on the floor, playing with her blocks as she suckled her pacifier. She waited, excited to go home finally after a long, nerve-racking weekend with Saul. It was, surprisingly, pleasant, without any spankings. Hayden was wondering what had gotten into Saul since he was so nice; it was odd, that was for sure. Hayden knew the extent of what she put in place while she was away from her Little Thieves- what she ended up changing the Little Rebels name to. She put some dangerous plans in place and, if they failed, everything may go south quickly considering her best Thieves would be compromised. She heard the doorbell ring, getting up as she waddled down the hallway, excited to see Carey and Chase. She felt bad that she hadn’t told them about the master plan to take Violet, Pisces, and Nigel from the Happy Baby Hospital but to be fair… they were working with the Hunters behind her back. It was only karma that Hayden would have to go behind their backs to protect her own. In her most recent meeting two weeks prior, the Little Thieves had begun their plans. “Are you bloody insane?” Samuel asked, his European accent thick in the air. “We all have to be as Thieves, right?” Hayden smiled at the wide eyes looking at her unblinkingly. Aradine spoke slowly, “So… you’re suggesting... to into a high security hospital to save Violet, and endangering up to five little’s lives in the process?” “First of all, it’s not endangering if we’re successful. Second off, I can’t go. Third, you can’t let Carey and Chase have any hint of what is happening. Fourth, they have low security, just a bunch of idiots running the place.” Samuel asked, “What does that mean?” Hayden frowned, “I’m almost positive their working with the Hunters.” Hayden had heard them a few days before talking to Saul over the phone about her recent assignment to take Allen Henders from his home. A week later, Chase told Hayden that Allen was being sent away for retraining. Hayden hadn’t thieved any littles in three weeks, in which she knew, for a fact, Carey and Chase were lying to her face. Hayden knew her time was coming soon, so she decided to make some big moves, to save Violet before she wouldn’t have the chance again. No little Rebel had ever thieved from the Happy Baby Hospital before and she wanted to be the first to devise a plan to successfully do it. Hayden waddled down the hallway as Saul opened the door. Hayden’s stopped breathing as she halted in her light pink onesie and diaper in the middle of the hallway. Her heart rate sky-rocketed as she bit down on her pacifier, eyes meeting Grandmother Anne Marie’s all-knowing blue ones.

Chapter 20 Hayden bit her lip as she sat in her car seat, strapped in. She shifted, feeling the crinkle of her diaper and the soft padding pressing on the car seat between her legs. Her palms were sweating underneath her fingerless mittens. “You okay back there?” Chase asked, his blue eyes concerned in the rearview mirror. “Just peachy.” Hayden said dryly. “Hayden, try to be on your best behavior, okay?” Carey looked at Hayden, feeling bad for her. “That’s pretty hard for me to do but I’ll give it a try.” She said sarcastically, gulping as the entryway to Saul’s house came into view. Hayden sighed, placing the pacifier, clipped to her onesie underneath her layers of clothes, into her mouth. They rolled up the driveway as she took a clear look at the house. A towering red brick house that looked very humble for it’s large stature. There was a chimney and large windows with lights on behind the curtains. Hayden felt a chill go through her as she saw Saul walking past a window, seeing the approaching vehicle. As they parked, Saul was already walking outside to help carry items in. Chase got out, giving a half-hand shake half hug to his brother. Carey got out, hugging Saul as Hayden nervously suckled her pacifier, watching them. Saul’s eyes cast to the vehicle, seeing Hayden in her car seat with her feet dangling and she was fastened in still. He smiled, eyes twinkling at the cute little. He was super enthralled to be taking care of her for the weekend and to finally not be working. He had worked two weeks without a day off and now he finally had a much needed break with his favorite little and one of the top Rebels who had the highest number of taken littles. It was a win-win scenario. He couldn’t be called in to work because the Rebel that caused him the most work as of lately was under his direct supervision. Chase went to unload the bags in the back of the car as Saul walked up to Hayden’s side. Hayden blinked as the door opened and she felt the crisp air on her legs. “Look who we have here, a baby Hayden!” Saul unfastened her baby car seat with a playful twinkle in his eyes, picking her up as he placed her on his hip, “Don’t look too excited to spend the weekend with me now.” He gave her thigh a small pinch as Hayden blinked, acting impassive. Saul raised his eyebrows at Hayden, surprised that she had an attitude already yet it was only Friday and she had two full days with him. You’d think she’d know who she was dealing with by now, Saul thought to himself. They all went inside as Saul set down Hayden at the entrance, guiding Chase and Carey to his guest bedroom. They set down Hayden’s diaper bag, suitcase and supply bag with all her baby necessities down near the bed. Hayden stood at the entrance, wondering if she should take off her shoes herself. She looked up, seeing Chase, Carey and Saul walking over to her. Chase scooped her up, kissing her on the forehead, “You be good for Saul this weekend, hm?” Hayden nodded timidly as Carey petted her hair and Chase set her down on the ground. “We’ll miss you, babygirl.” Carey opened her arms and Hayden waddled to her, hugging her. Carey looked at Saul, “Thank you, again. See you soon, okay?” Hayden smiled under her paci as Carey and Chase left, leaving Hayden and Saul alone. Hayden’s back was tense as Saul kneeled in front of her, unzipping her puffy purple coat and helping her out of it. He unlatched her Velcro shoes. “This is unnecessary.” Saul said to himself as he pulled down her white frilly skirt, petticoat, stockings, and socks. He placed back on her frilly lace socks and smiled as he stood. Hayden shifted, left only in a plain white onesie that had a pastel brown bear peeking out of her pencil pouch. Her legs were cold as she crossed them with a crinkle, not knowing what to do as he looked down at her. She felt her face warming, embarrassed. Saul picked Hayden up, “I think someone’s grumpy, hm?” He walked over to the couch, laying her down, “Maybe little Hayden needs a nap.” Hayden blinked, suckling her paci as she waited as Saul left, returning with his brown blanket. He picked Hayden up, sitting on the long end of the couch with her cradled in his arms. He wrapped her in the blanket as he placed one of his couch pillows under her head. Hayden grumbled, “I’m nawt sweepy though, Uncle Sawl.” She blinked as she said ‘uncle’ despising the combination with his name. Saul turned on his TV, “Well someone’s grumpy and that either means some baby needs a good nap or a baby needs to make a stinky.” Hayden’s face became hot and red. She did not want to even consider the idea of making a ‘stinky’ in front of Saul. That’s where she drew a hard line. Saul furrowed his eyebrows in question, “Now that I think of it, maybe I should check your diaper.” He took away the blanket, unfastening her crotch snaps and pushing her forward to sit. He drew up her onesie on her back and Hayden felt cold air invade her backside as he checked her bottom. It would have smelled by now, you asshole, she thought as her shoulders tensed. It was obvious she didn’t need a change; he was just trying to poke Hayden into breaking. That was becoming apparent as minutes passed. He said to himself, “Hm, nothing yet.” He said, snapping her onesie back as it made the diaper crinkle. He swaddled her back into the blankets. “Maybe a nap will do the trick.” He said, making Hayden comfy in his arms. Hayden sighed softly, deciding trying to nap would be her best option. She was a bit tired, admittedly. She stayed up the night before, nervous for today. Hayden probably got about 4 hours of sleep, playing video games all night and drinking. She was a bit on the hungover side, but she’d leave that part out of telling Saul about. She shifted, trying to relax her body as she nuzzled her head into the pillow and closed her eyes, hearing the commentator on the television speaking about some game. Surprisingly, she fell into a long nap, only to awaken to the smell of spaghetti and meatballs in the kitchen. She nuzzled her head into the pillow as she awoke, for a moment thinking she was at home, soon to realize she wasn’t at all. Hayden stretched as Saul was in the kitchen, eyes happily bouncing as his baby awoke in a cute little stretch. He went back to the food, straining the noodles and prepared both plates, setting them on the table. Hayden was picked up and placed at the table. Her hands touching the dark wood as he set down a plate of spaghetti in front of her. He placed a bib on her, “I have a feeling this won’t do much for your clothes considering how messy you are but it’s worth a shot.” Saul set a sippy cup with chocolate milk in it in front of her. He sat down and began eating his spaghetti, watching Hayden carefully. Hayden stared at her food for a moment, wishing she had a fork. Spaghetti was so dissatisfying without a fork because you could only get so much noodles in your mouth at once, after all. She picked up a noodle that soon fell out of her grasp. Hayden tried again, placing it in her mouth and slurping it whole, red sauce slapping her face with the first noodle. Saul had a half-smile on his face as he watched, loving the live show in front of him. Hayden grabbed a few noodles, being a bit more daring, as she brought them up to her mouth, having to angle her head back like a piranha to effectively get all the noodles successfully in her mouth. A noodle slipped out of her grasp as she caught onto the others with her mouth. She frowned as it fell onto her lap. “That didn’t take long.” Saul said to himself as he got up, grabbing a towel from the counter and sprinkling water on it at the faucet. He came over to Hayden, “Stand, little one.” She stood as he grabbed the noodle before it fell the the ground, throwing it into the trash. He unsnapped her onesie, “Arms up.” She opened her mouth in question, then shut it as he took off her large bib. He waited, patiently, with his arms crossed as she slowly raised her arms, “Good girl.” He took off her onesie, leaving her only in a diaper. She went to cover her breasts and he swatted her arms away with a look. He put her bib back on that was large enough to cover her small breasts. Hayden sat down, feeling strikingly exposed in only a bib and a diaper. She never thought she’d feel so vulnerable without a onesie on. She was beyond embarrassed as she just stared at her food, face flushed. “What’s wrong babygirl?” Saul asked, seeing how flushed Hayden suddenly was. He knew she was embarrassed and was enjoying every second of it. Her lips were pouty as she shook her head and went back to eating her spaghetti. She managed to get even more messy, with sauce splattered on her bib and even diaper. Hayden lost care after a few minutes, being unapologetically messy as she greedily drank her chocolate milk from her sippy cup. She drank it all quickly, realizing how thirsty she was after napping earlier. Saul took their plates and washed them as Hayden sat there, not knowing what to do with her hands as they were covered in tomato sauce. Saul came over a moment later with a warm rag, cleaning off her hands, cheek and thigh that had sauce on it. He took her bib, leaving her clad in only a diaper. “How about you go to your room and pick out a toy to play with?” Saul said, cocking his head at her. Hayden blushed, wanting to cover her breasts as she felt so small with him looking at her. She nodded timidly, getting up and waddling away to her guest room for the weekend. She opened the backpack with her toys, grabbing her box of wooden trains. She jumped when she heard Saul behind her, “Let’s see if we have any nighties in here.” Saul looked through Hayden’s suitcase. She hadn’t even heard him come in! Let alone be right behind her. I guess he was a ‘hunter’ after all, she thought. He pulled out one of her half-sleeved dark blue and turquoise fuzzy monster nighties, “Aha! I found one.” He helped her into it and placed a pastel blue pacifier in her mouth. Saul took her hand and took her into his bedroom, picking her up and placing Hayden on his bed. He went over to his dresser, taking off his shirt. Hayden’s pacifier almost dropped from her mouth as she checked him out, then quickly looking down as he caught her stare. Saul studied her for a moment, thoughtfully analyzing why she was looking at him as if she was also an adult. Huh, strange for a little, Saul thought. He turned away, changing into a long sleeve thermal shirt and taking off his pants. Hayden snuck another quick peek at him, her special parts tingling. That’s not even fair how handsome he is, Hayden thought, drooling behind her pacifier. He changed into green flannel pants and laid on his king sized bed, grabbing his book off of the nightstand. Hayden opened her box, dumping her Thomas the Train set out. She shifted as she sat on the backs of her thighs, feeling the need to pee growing. She ignored it, connecting her tracks and rolling her trains along her newly placed tracks. “Trains, hm?” Saul asked, behind his book as he sat behind her. Hayden spread out on her tummy, “Its Thwomas the Twain!” She held him up, looking back at Saul. His light grey eyes looked at the small train in her little fingers with a smile. Definitely an odd choice, but I won’t say that, Saul thought. She went back to playing, getting bored within ten minutes. She sat up, feeling the pressure on her bladder building and laying on her stomach was only making it worse. She fidgeted, knowing she’d have to wet herself at some point. She closed her eyes, relaxing herself as she felt a few tinkles, then a stream. That was the part that always worried her when she wet diapers: her diaper leaking. Although her diapers were thick, she never knew if it’d leak out the sides so she could never pee in long strides like when she used a toilet, even at the Boarding Lodge. Hayden went back to playing with her trains as she felt her diaper warm and squishy underneath her. She waited for Saul to say something, considering his eyes were trained on her since he saw her. He didn’t say anything nor check her as he read his book quietly and she squirmed, playing with her trains. About an hour later Saul looked at his watch, “I think it’s sleepy time for baby Hayden.” Hayden rolled her eyes as she was still ‘playing’ with her trains. It was tough to play with the same damn boring toy for longer than ten minutes, let alone an hour. What time was it? Hayden knew it probably wasn’t even past 8 PM. He stood, “Put your toys away, babygirl. Uncle Saul will be back in a little.” Saul left the room as she placed her toys in the box and took them to the guest room with a waddle, feeling the heavy diaper on her bottom. Saul came in the guest room with a bottle of warm milk, placing it on the desk. Hayden was on the ground putting her train box back and he picked her up as she grunted in surprise. He set her on her back on the bed. Saul fished through the diaper bag and set down powder, wipes and a thick nighttime diaper on the bed. “Someone’s a wet girl.” He said as she blushed and he patted the diaper. He untaped it, taking two wipes and unfolding the wet diaper. She squirmed, the cold wipes tickling her. Saul rolled up the wipes in the wet diaper, sliding the new one under her and powdering her bottom generously, taking note that she learned from last time to keep her bottom up in the air unless he told her otherwise. He smiled, pausing a moment to enjoy the sight of her little powdered bottom in the air. Saul tapped her thigh, letting Hayden know to lower her legs. He folded the diaper over her and double taped it snugly onto her. The padding was thicker than her daytime diaper as Hayden began sitting up, feeling gravity be taken away from her as she was picked up. Before she knew it, Hayden found herself in Saul’s arms as he sat on the bed, cradling Hayden. Saul took away her pacifier, replacing it with the nipple of the baby bottle was pressed between her lips as Hayden’s mouth filled with milk. Hayden suckled slowly, tasting the warm milk. She met Saul’s light grey eyes watching her lovingly. After filling her tummy with milk, Hayden was feeling, surprisingly, sleepy. He eyes began drooping as Saul tucked her into the bed, swaddling her into a fuzzy blanket. Saul kissed Hayden’s forehead before walking to the doorway, hesitating as he looked at her closed eyes as her breathing became rhythmic and soft. Saul smiled, feeling for the first time in a while, a sense of happiness and content. Saul turned off the light, bringing the door to a crack open as he left, going back to his room. He sat on his bed, turning on his television with a smile placed on his face. His smile vanished quickly as the news flashed on the screen, police cars around the Happy Baby Hospital. His eyebrows furrowed, shock on his face as he reached over to the nightstand, unlocking his silenced phone. He had twenty missed calls as blood pulsed through him in surprise. What had happened within a few hours of him being distracted? Impossible, he thought, shaking his head as he called Wardon back. “Saul! I’ve been trying to reach you, where have you been?!” Wardon’s voice loud over the police sirens near him. “I told you that I was with case Nix tonight.” Saul said, flipping through the messages on his phone. “Sure, your ‘side’ project. How did we not have the inside information of this kidnapping before it even happened if you were working with your brother and his wife? Apparently, they’re playing you, buddy.” Wardon said, angry. Saul shook his head, “No, Chase said they hadn’t heard anything new in plans from Hayden. I asked them today and Hayden said the Rebels were laying low…” Saul said, almost to himself in confusion, “Hold on a second, let me call Chase.” Warden grumbled on the other side of the phone as Saul hung up, dialing his brother’s number. “Yello!” Chase paused, confused from the random call, “I’m surprised your calling, something wrong with Hayden?” He asked, concerned she did something. Saul collected himself as he paced his room, “Please explain to me why Violet and a few other little Rebels were taken from the Happy Baby Hospital and I didn’t get the intel for it?” Chase squinted, beyond confused, “Uh, what? Hayden told us they were going to take a girl named Yolanda next week… that’s all she said from her last meeting. Unless, she’s-“ Chase shook his head. “She’s onto you two.” Saul said slowly, realizing how clever the little baby Hayden was. Carey cocked her head, wondering what Chase was talking about, “There’s no way though, she wouldn’t not tell us something. We’re pretty close…” Chase said, feeling panic that their deal was becoming compromised. “She’s a Rebel, Chase. You’re dealing with someone you should never fully trust, no matter how genuine they seem. Obviously, she already one-upped you guys. Unless she didn’t know and the leader of the group didn’t tell her, but I highly doubt that.” Chase gulped, “Saul, there’s something we still haven’t told you…” Saul sighed, his hand rubbing his eyes, “What?” He was becoming annoyed. “Hayden is the leader.” Chase swallowed as Carey gave wide eyes at Chase. Carey and Chase had agreed to work with the Hunters a few weeks prior to dismiss them of life-time charge for harboring a Rebel; however, the only catch was they had to help name all of the little Rebels and their families to fully terminate the Rebels for good. Although Carey knew they had to tell Saul everything, she was trying to save Hayden a little bit by keeping out the fact that Hayden was the leader of the Rebels for as long as they could. Saul blinked, his mind racing. It all made so much sense now. Of course she planned for the Rebels to attack tonight... Saul was easily distracted with taking care of Hayden and away from work for the weekend. He thought that nothing could happen since he was taking care of one of the most dangerous Rebels...yet he was proven wrong. While he was away, they managed to thieve the old leader of the Rebels and a few of the top most wanted Rebels in one night. She was intelligent, carefully planning one of the greatest schemes of the Rebels he had ever seen, much more aggressive than Violet had ever been in her plans. He looked out his window, wondering if storming into Hayden’s room for a good spanking was appropriate at this time. After a moment of silence, he said, “Thanks.” He hung up the phone, tossing it on his bed. Of course, when things seemed perfect, something else had to happen, didn’t it? Saul sucked in air as he placed his elbows on his knees, sitting on the edge of his bed. His phone went off again as he looked at the screen. Saul picked up his phone, “Hello.” Wardon spoke, “What’d you find out?” Saul’s jaw shifted, “Hayden hasn’t been telling Chase and Carey everything..." He paused, wondering if telling Wardon everything was a good idea, "She’s also the new leader.” Wardon began chuckling, “So… you’re saying you have the leader of the Rebels in your house right now?” He asked. “I’ll deal with it.” Saul said, sighing. “You know what need to be done, Sa-“ Saul cut Wardon off, “No, I won’t allow it.” He said, voice cold. “Her ‘parents’ can’t help us anymore. Hayden needs to be taken to the Boarding Lodge and then the Happy Baby Hospital for reprogramming. I know your attached but we have to do what’s necessary.” Wardon said. Saul shook his head, “That’s not going to work. She’s going to end up like Violet and it’s not going to change her. She needs a caretaker who can put her in her place.” “You’d have to talk to the Elders. You know we don’t make that choice.” Saul frowned, “Well, give me the weekend. Please.” Wardon sighed, “Fine. Your brother and his wife are going to be trialed though, we can’t protect them any longer. You may want to let them know their options before the end of the weekend.” Saul shook his head, slowly, understanding what Wardon meant, “I know.” Saul hung up, his hands running through his hair as he laid back in bed, knowing things were going to become a lot more complicated after the weekend.

Heh... you're onto me?I was wondering if anyone could catch where I was going with that. Next chapter will explain as to why it seems like things were placed in fast forward- which technically they were- but it will make much more sense soon.

Surprise! There's an extra chapter you uncovered!!?? Just kidding... I always mess up the chapter numbers. I am notorious for it so thank you, hehe.

As the author, I can confirm there is a game at play, hehe? The real question is: who is getting played? Are Carey and Chase being played? Or are Carey and Chase playing Saul? Or... are there other parties playing them all? It's a conundrum, truly. Thank you for your thoughts! Here's a small update for now ? Chapter 19 A few weeks later. Hayden stood, looking over Carey’s shoulder as she broke into the database of Happy Baby Hospital. Live video footage of the hospital rooms appeared on the screen. “Camera 17, there.” Hayden said to Carey as she selected the angle to enlarge the video. “I’m going to get a drink. Want anything?” Carey stood, looking sadly to Hayden who took Carey’s office chair. “You should know you don’t have to ask by now.” Hayden said with slight sarcasm mixed with disgust as she tapped the keys on the laptop, changing the camera angles. Hayden’s eyes fell on her old friend, Violet. Hayden had to look away, vile thoughts bubbling in her head from the image on her screen. Violet was sitting in a white cushion covered room, in a diaper and a white straight jacket. She had a blindfold over her eyes and headphones covering her ears. Completelydesensitized. Hayden exited out of the camera and flicked through the other cameras, seeing some littles in their ‘hospital’ beds, which some were cribs with bars. All of the littles were diapered, most were sleeping. The ones that were awake looked drugged. Carey set down a glass of wine in front of Hayden. “Whatexactly do they do to them at this ‘hospital’?” Hayden said, quickly gulping down her wine and setting down the empty glass. Carey blinked, smiling warmly, “Hayden, maybe tonight’s not the night I should tell you that.” Hayden crossed her arms, “There’s no right time or place. Just tell me.” Carey looked uncomfortable as she crossed her legs, “Permanent incontinence, medically induced-“ She was cut off as Chase popped into the office. “Hey! Saul’s on the phone. He wanted to ask you a question.” Hayden blinked out of her sudden entranced state, wanting Carey to continue. Her mind was buzzing about the words permanent incontinence as Carey got up, taking the phone from Chase as she walked away. Chase put his hands in his pockets, suddenly awkward as he leaned against the doorframe, “So… what are you guys doing in here?” Hayden turned back to the laptop screen, feeling her buzz increasing as seconds passed, “About this.” She went back to camera 17 where Violet looked to be sleeping. It was hard to tell though in her restrained state. Chase blinked away from the screen, trying to act like he didn’t see it. He had heard of the Happy Baby Hospital, but he didn’t want to see it. “Maybe you should stop looking at that.” Chase said, still standing there oddly. Hayden looked up to his lanky figure, as he was acting weird. “Why are you being weird?” Hayden said squinting up to him. He frowned, shaking his head, “I’m not-“ Carey walked in, still on the phone, “Next weekend is our business trip, right?” Chase nodded. “Yeah, that would be perfect if you could. Thanks, again, Saul, you’ve been so kind.” She said with her country charm hinting her words. Hayden scrunched her face to Carey who looked away to not be distracted. She handed the phone to Chase, “Night, bud.” Chase hung up the phone, scratching his forehead. Hayden spoke, “What just happened?” Carey sucked in air, “Well… Chase slipped that we were going to be out of town next weekend and… Saul offered to take care of you.” Hayden’s eyebrows furrowed, her hand covering her face, “Please tell me…. you two… didn’t say yes.” She said slowly, face becoming red. Chase shrugged, “We had too.” Hayden’s body became tense, “No, you DIDN’T have too.” She emphasized as she stood with her hands in the air. “Hayden, we have to keep our friends close and our enemies closer. This will make us blend in with the hunters and almost completely off the hunter’s radar. By him watching you for our ‘business trip’ when we take the littles at the safe house to the Mundane Realm, we can save littles while the leader of the hunters is distracted.” Carey explained, not letting Hayden have a word in until she was finished. Hayden walked away, defeated, “Whatever.” She walked down the stairs and grabbed the opened bottle of wine, taking it to her room. She laid down, drinking as she laid on her twin sized bed. She hugged a purple over-sized teddy bear. Would it really be that bad? Admittedly, she had a small crush on Saul in some weird, twisted way. He was handsome, dominant, witty and intelligent and those were all the traits Hayden wanted in a man in the Mundane Realm. He had this rough look to him, yet he was loving if you caught him at the right time. He was also commanding, self-reliant and dependable. From being at his house, she was surprised he didn’t have a wife. Hayden always wanted someone she felt she could depend on, take the reins, and make decisions for her. Of course, Hayden liked to consider herself an alpha female, just not in the bedroom. It was like the perfect man was in this realm yet he only could see Hayden as a ‘baby’. That’s not what Hayden wanted. She wanted to take the pacifier out and talk to him like an adult. Other times though, in all honesty, she wanted to be babied, to be unconditionally loved and given undivided attention to. It was an odd love-hate relationship she had with the whole ‘babying’ thing. She liked it, in a deep facet of her heart, but she’d never admit to it fully. Hayden fell asleep curled up to her teddy bear as her empty wine bottle rolled off the bed with thoughts of Saul stirring in her head.

Hey guys! Sorry for the hiatus. I'll be popping in here or there to try to post chapters. I hope you all enjoy this new installment and I will be reading your feedback as always.☺️ Chapter 18 Saul turned on the stove, placing his pot of water over it. He looked around his house, making sure it was neat and tidy for his guests. He turned on the bathroom light, looking at himself in the mirror and fixing his grey and black hair. Saul was, undeniably, eager to see Hayden for the first time since he captured her. He had many dreams of him with her… some that were a bit outside of his normal behaviors towards a little. He tried not to think of those and focus as often as he could. Saul wanted her as his little, and, admittedly, he was jealous ever since he found out his brother Chase had Hayden. He couldn’t believe that she was Chase’s little… but most of all, he couldn’t believe his own brother was helping the Rebels. It was jaw-dropping and he was disappointed in his youngest brother and, most of all, Hayden. It wasn’t shocking to him that Carey was part of it. He had heard certain comments at family gatherings and always had a questionable head turn her way. He knew she was different ever since they had married. The doorbell rang and he flicked off the bathroom light. He walked over to the large double doors of his home, clearing his throat before opening the doors. Chase, Carey and Hayden stood there, an awkward and nervous tension between them. “Is it too late to ask for vodka in my sippy cup?” Hayden asked in a whisper besides them. Carey nudged Hayden to shut up as they saw Saul approaching the window. It was honestly a guess to who was the most nervous between them. They had hardly spoke to eachother the whole ride to Saul’s house afterall. The door opened and Saul smiled, teeth showing as the three walked in. Hayden almost tripping inside as her purple Velcro shoe began slipping off. She blushed as she fell into Chase’s back as Saul said, “Hey little brother! How’ve you been?!” Chase grabbed Saul’s hand as his oldest brother pulled him in for a hug. Saul saw Hayden trip, but decided not to emphasize the incident considering he was trying to play it cool. He did take note, however, how his brother didn’t even budge as he noticed his ‘daughter’ falling on him. Hm, little neglect, Saul thought. Saul gave Carey a hug and Carey was awkward from his sudden friendliness. She had never seen Saul so happy to talk to them, considering Chase was probably his least communicative brother. They hardly ever talked at parties and Carey was apprehensive to this new person that took on Saul oh so suddenly. After Saul greeted his brother and Carey, Saul’s gaze went down at the little girl with her front hair braided back and a pastel satin bow on the back. He smiled, eyes melting at the cute sight. Very malicious and sneaky, but oh socute and almost asking for cuddles by her eyes alone. So innocent looking, yet so dangerous, Saul thought. Hayden looked to the ground, as Saul closed the door behind them. She felt gravity flip the switch as she went into the air. Her pacifier flew out of her mouth as she was shocked by the sudden lift off the ground. “Ahh, you thought you wouldn’t get special attention once you walked in, huh?” He turned her around in his arms, placing Hayden on his hip and bouncing her as Hayden’s shy green eyes met his awaiting ones only a few inches away from her face. Her mouth was agape as she was suddenly flustered, not knowing what to do, how to act. He kissed her hair as Carey spoke, “This is your new place?” She asked, looking at the high ceilings and generously furnished living room near the kitchen. “Yeah. I have been home a bit more recently so I thought it was time to finally move in. Maybe start my own family.” Saul’s eyes rested on Hayden’s as hid hand held her bottom on his hip. He felt the soft padding and crinkle that sounded when he bounced her. Oh, how he loved making that noise apparent. Hayden blushed, trying not to think about Saul’s hand on her diaper as she looked to the house itself. A beautiful glass diamond chandelier in the dining room hung above a large mahogany wood dining table. The carpets did look new, like Saul warned Chase, and there was a large couch setup that laid underneath the upstairs balcony that looked down to the living room arrangement. A red brick fireplace was on the front area of the living room that the couches sat in front of. Huge windows were near the fireplace that had grey curtains hanging on them. Chase grabbed the pacifier on the floor, “It’s beautiful Saul. Work must be treating you well.” Hayden could feel a rumble from Saul as he spoke, “Mhm.” He handed Hayden off to Chase, realizing he was holding her for far too long, “I keep telling you I can get you a job with the Hunters, financial stability and plenty of benefits, brother, but you never believe me.” He walked over to the kitchen as Chase placed Hayden back on her feet, helping her out of her own shoes. Chase took her light purple puffy coat off and hung it on the coat hanger. Saul was trying to act nonchalant with Hayden…as much as he wanted to give her a punishment to her rear end as soon as possible. He wanted to give her that attention she needed that he knew his little brother wasn’t giving, but that time would come eventually. Saul would make sure of it. He shook the linguine noodles in the water, turning on his microwave’s timer. Carey walked into the kitchen, setting her wine on the island counter. “Here’s a little heart-warming gift.” She smiled, meeting Saul’s eyes. Saul had a half smile, eyes studying Carey’s for a moment, “Thank you, but I’m not really a wine drinker.” Carey pulled out beer from under her pea coat, “And that’s why I brought beer!” Saul chuckled, surprised at the sudden gesture from her. He didn’t speak to Carey much, and it was quite nice of her. “Wow, you two really thought this one through.” He said, peeling the tails off shrimp in a bowl, “Does Hayden like nuggets?” Saul looked up at Chase as he walked over to the barstool at the island counter, taking a seat. Carey walked over to the coat hanger, placing her coat over Hayden’s. Hayden stood awkwardly near Chase, not knowing what to do. Saul’s eyes glanced to Hayden who had her pacifier back in her mouth. She was dressed charmingly, with a onesie top that was a soft pastel pink and a tiny satin ruffle skirt that matched her bow in her hair. Very innocent, almost angelic, looking, but not fooling Saul in the slightest. If she were Saul’s little, he’d make sure her diaper was on full display, whether that’d be under a onesie or in a mini-skirt. She was too cute not to dress accordingly. “Those are Hayden’s second favorite.” Carey said across the room. Saul smiled, genuinely, “What’s her first?” His mind mused… were they lying to him or were they telling the truth? He couldn’t tell. “Mac and cheese.” Both Chase and Carey said at the same time. Saul rose his eyebrows as he looked in his freezer… he was good at catching lies but this didn’t seem like one to Saul. Did theyreallybaby Hayden? Or was this all an act? If they were harboring an illegal Rebel, then they were as guilty as Hayden. Saul had so many questions and his investigation had only just begun! Saul closed the freezer, knowing he had a box of macaroni and cheese in his cabinet. They all laughed as Hayden blushed crimson as she shifted while she stood there, feeling the thick padding between her nervous legs. Carey brought crayons and Hayden’s coloring book over to the table. “Color babygirl. Look!” She sat at the table as Hayden timidly sat down, shoulders tense, “There are mermaids in this one!” Carey pointed at the mermaids and mythical creatures in the book as Hayden sucked on the pacifier between her lips. Hayden focused on coloring as Saul went to cooking and small talked with Chase as they drank beer. Carey opened the wine and poured herself a glass. The only person who needed a drink more than all of them was Hayden… and she would not be getting that. Hayden almost jumped when Saul placed a sippy cup full of apple juice in front of Hayden. “Oh, you didn’t have to go out and buy that! We brought our own.” Carey said in surprise. When did Saul get sippy cups? So out of character to Chase and Carey. “I got them just in case. I’ve never had a baby here so I thought I’d be prepared.” He said, his words making Hayden’s tummy tickle. Ugh, why, Hayden thought. Why was it when Saul babied her, or said certain words, she felt a tickle in her tummy? Not the Grandmothers, Chase or Carey had ever made her feel that type of way. When the words ‘baby’ or ‘diaper’ came from his deeper, husky voice, it made Hayden feel smaller and more babyish, but also added a thrill factor she couldn’t explain. What was it about him that made her that way. “What do you say Hayden?” Chase said, sternly from his barstool chair. “Thwank you.” She said behind her pacifier, not looking up. Saul stood there, looking down, seeing how tense Hayden was as she paused in her coloring. She was scared, that was certain from her body language. Saul was good at reading that, very good in fact. Saul went back to his cooking as he said, “I approve of her outfit. Super cute.” He said, squeezing lemon juice over the sizzling shrimp in the pan, mind musing over Hayden. Chase spoke, “I’ll take the credit. Thank you.” Carey laughed and playfully punched Chase as Saul turned around to the couple, “Shut up. That was my outfit I chose for her.” Hayden colored, listening to them talk as if she weren’t there. Wrong, it was mine!She thought as she didn’t say a word. It was okay, she’d let them take the credit considering she wouldn’t have said thank you anyways. Carey cleaned up the table, insisting to help Saul with setting the silverware down. She placed a large purple bib on Hayden and helped set the plates down as Chase sat near Hayden. Hayden flinched as Saul set down a bowl of macaroni and cheese in front of Hayden. Saul smiled, her slight movement confirming how nervous she was. Oh, how he lived for moments like these. She hadn’t changed a bit, had she?He thought to himself. Saul made sure to sit at the head of the table, right next to Hayden. Carey sat across from Hayden as they all ate silently for a few moments, no conversation flowing. Hayden sat there staring at her macaroni, wondering if she’d at least get a baby spoon. She looked across the table to Carey with a look in her eyes. Saul caught the look, one that confirmed that she was not, in fact, properly babied at her current household. He went back to his food, acting as if he didn’t notice. Carey blinked at Hayden, then to Saul, “This is incredible. Did you ever take a cooking class or something?” She asked, honestly taken aback by the immaculately cooked garlic shrimp linguine. Hayden sat there, looking at there food as her mouth watered, wishing she were an 'adult' to have their food instead of mac and cheese. As good as mac and cheese was to Hayden, she still would have loved to eat shrimp linguine with wine instead. Chase shook his head, “Nope, he was always the cook in the family. Always the one to craft the finest cuisine for the rest of us. We probably would have lived off of frozen dinners if not for Saul.” Saul smiled, eyes glancing to Hayden who already had cheese on her cheeks. His eyes melted watching her calculate how to eat macaroni with her fingers. Adorable to no end, wasn’t she? He could watch her for hours and still be surprised. Carey caught Saul’s adoring look to her little. Hayden wasn’t kidding, huh? She thought, taking a drink of wine. She looked to Chase who was clearly oblivious to Saul’s look at Hayden. Of course, classic Chase who would have been blind without Carey being his eyes. “Pinot Grigio, interesting choice.” Saul said, taking a sip of his beer. Carey thought this ‘new’ Saul had emerged… yet he made a statement that sounded like another pressing question. “Yes, my favorite from the Mundane Realm.” “Mm, how often do you two visit?” Saul slid into the question easily. Hayden focused on her noodles that kept slipping out of her fingers, one onto her dress by his question. “Oh my, not your pretty skirt!” Carey said across the table. Hayden blushed, going to grab the noodle. Her wrist was grabbed quickly as she looked up to Saul’s light grey eyes. “Ah, ah, baby.” He stood, pulling her to stand up as the noodle fell on the ground but cheese residue was still on her skirt, “You’ll make more of a mess, little one.” “I can do that, Saul.” Carey said, standing. “No, no, I got it. I don’t mind.” He said, dipping his napkin in his water and dabbing it on Hayden’s skirt and pulling it down, “May I?” His head turned to Chase. Chase was a bit perturbed by the scene, in which he knew his brother was asserting his dominance to Hayden quite quickly, “Yea, that’s actually what I was going to do.” “Mhm, sure you were.” Saul said, the words coming out of his mouth too quickly. Chase cocked his head to the side as Saul helped Hayden out of her skirt, his fingertips brushing her soft legs, “What is that supposed to mean?” Saul made sure Hayden was back in her seat before he sat down. Hayden felt a cool air on her legs as she sat there, her diaper obviously protruding from her onesie that had snaps at the crotch. “When did your heart change to adopt a little, brother?” Saul asked, sipping his beer with an unwavering look in his eye. Chase looked at a loss for words as Carey spoke up, “We’ve been trying to have a baby… a real one, and I’m… infertile.” Carey looked to be blinking back tears. Wow, what a good show they were putting on, Saul thought. “And since we couldn’t Carey convinced me into us adopting a little.” Chase picked up where Carey’s awkward silence left off. Saul nodded, knowing they were lying through their teeth, “Mm, now it makes sense.” He could tell easily that this was all a cover-up. All of his questions were being confirmed and they were answering his internal questions like they wanted him to know at this point. Hayden licked her lips as she picked up her sippy cup, drinking it. “I’m surprised you two got this little.” Saul said, watching the sippy cup drop from Hayden’s hands. Hayden’s face blushed in embarrassment as it fell and Saul’s finger looped under a side of the sippy cup, grabbing it before it toppled to the ground, “Maybe she needs to be fed her food.” He said in a statement as Hayden’s eyes met his. A flicker of annoyance darted across her face, then a blank look followed. Yep, I saw that look little girl, Saul thought. If she were his, she’d be over his lap by now. His finger tapped his leg and Saul resisted the sudden urge. “She is a very messy girl.” Carey’s hands clasped together as she looked at Hayden with a smile. She was a cute little to look at. Hayden wanted to reach across the table and playfully threaten Carey with her cheesy hands… but she resisted. They were in close scrutiny with Saul and he was asking very intrusive questions about the family. Saul took everyone’s plates and came back with a warm washcloth, wiping Hayden’s cheeks, hands and sippy cup. “You’ve been so much help, thank you, Saul.” Carey said as Chase went over to the living room. “My pleasure. I thought the least I could do is take your little off of your two’s hands for a night.” He paused, standing up, “If you ever need a babysitter, just know I’m always here. No payment necessary.” Hayden blinked in panic… did he just offer a babysitting service for free? “We may take you up on that offer. Hayden is a bit of a handful at times and we could use a good date night.” Carey said as she looked at Hayden’s worried eyes and then up to Saul’s genuine ones. Again, she was so surprised how helpful he was being. “Did you two want to have one tonight?” He cocked his head, looking over to his brother on the couch. Chase’s eyebrows went up by the sudden offer. It was true that him and Carey hadn’t had a date night in some time from their constant work… “No, we couldn’t.” Carey said with a humbling smile. “I insist, giving you guys a night off would be nice, wouldn’t it?” Saul pressed, he wanted to see if his brother was still as much of a pushover as when they were younger. Maybe Saul could get a little taste of what he oh so wanted that night. Chase said, “You can have her!” He was slightly joking in his buzzed state as he watched lacrosse on the television. After the few times Hayden had snapped at him, he thought it was only fair. Oh fuck no! Hayden stared at Carey for help. She stood, nuzzling her head into Carey and hugging her ‘mommy’. Saul looked to Carey with his eyebrows raised, knowing she wore the pants in the relationship. Carey said, “Maybe not tonight, she’s a bit shy and it takes her a second to warm up.” Saul knew that wasn’t the truth with Hayden. It was a cover, a good one at that. He smiled, “Maybe some other night she can be with Uncle Saul.” The word uncle he oh so badly wanted to replace with ‘Daddy’. He swallowed it back, glancing to Chase who didn’t know what a treat he had being able to take care of such a precious, yet bratty, little. Carey smiled, “We can arrange something maybe when Mommy and Daddy go on a business trip next.” She smiled down to Hayden who was digging her nails into Carey’s waist. Carey kept composure as she wanted to grimace at the pain. She was understanding the hint that Hayden was attempting to send, but this was notthe time. Carey had to play into Saul’s game a bit, because she knew he obviously was on a mission to spend some time with Hayden alone. Carey could easily tell from his studying looks he was giving Hayden. Carey pulled Hayden’s arms away and grabbed her wine glass, walking over to the island counter as Hayden was about to sit at the table. “Where do you think you’re going?” Hayden heard Saul above her as he picked her up. Her legs dangled on his hip as his hand was holding her diapered bottom and he bounced her in his arms. Carey met Hayden’s wide eyes as Carey winked at Hayden and walked to the living room. Hayden blinked, shifting her composure so it wasn’t so easily readable. It was too late, because Saul had caught her wide eyes as he smiled. He knew that this little was scared, that was painted across her face. He loved her nervousness because it made it a mental game, one he seeked to play. It was the reason he wanted to adopt Hayden in the first place, after all. Hayden bit her lip as she met his light grey eyes. Saul’s eyes looked at her lips for a moment, then back to her green eyes with a smile. He brought her over to the sectional couch, depositing her on the opposite corner of Chase and Carey as he lunged over the little. “Someone seems grumpy, aren’t we? Hm?” His hand tickling her side in an instant, “Where’s the happy baby? Is she here?” He asked. Hayden grumbled, almost saying no as she felt his fingers dance on her sides and she began squirming. She began laughing as she said, “No! Pwease no!” She used her ‘baby’ voice. He ignored her, as she giggled uncontrollably as she squirmed and her sides and armpits were mercilessly tickled. She turned and was about to crawl towards Carey and she felt her legs grabbed and pulled over Saul’s lap. “Aha! Look we have here! Little feeties!” He said as he began tickling her lace sock covered feet. Her bladder was building as he tickled her feet and the back of her knees. She couldn’t hold her bladder as she began wetting. After a few minutes, the back of her neck was sweating from squirming and trying to get away. It became apparent that Saul was relentless. Saul stopped, pulling Hayden into his lap as he sat back on the couch. Chase began clapping as his favorite Elven lacrosse team scored, completely ignoring Saul tickling his little. “Someone needs a change.” Saul said, musing to himself as he patted Hayden’s diaper and she squirmed more. He was hoping she’d be wet after a good tickling and it seemed to do the trick. “Oh my! Already? I’ll change her.” Carey said, standing as she walked over to the diaper bag on the ground in the entry way. “I can change her, I don’t mind.” He said, setting Hayden down on the long part of the couch. “Oh no, you’ve helped us with her enough! We couldn’t-” “No, I insist. I need to keep up my diaper changing skills, after all. It’s rare I change little’s diapers as of lately.” Saul said, as Carey set a bottle of powder, wipes, a changing mat, and a diaper on the couch. Hayden blushed red, although her face was already flushed, as she squirmed, hoping that Carey was going to change her. “I must admit, this is kind of nice having someone else take care of Hayden for the night. For once, I’m not on diaper duty!” Carey said, beaming a smile to Saul as she sat back down. Saul chuckled, “I’m sure. Considering Hayden must wet quite often.” Hayden bit her lip as she shifted, wanting to talk back so badly. She raised her hips automatically as he placed the pastel pink butterfly changing mat underneath Hayden’s bottom. He removed the tapes of the diaper, taking a wipe. She looked at the ceiling, trying to not react to the cool wipes on her parts. Hayden wished she had a pacifier or something that could cover part of her face during the awkward diaper change. She jumped when she felt him tap underneath her thigh, “Legs up, little one.” His voice was firm, commanding. Hayden raised her legs after hesitation and he held her legs, taking his time as he wiped her bottom. As he threw the wipes in the diaper and rolled it up, placing the diaper to the side, Hayden lowered her legs. Saul swatted her bottom and she squealed, “Ah, ah, keep your legs up.” His eyebrows were raised at her and she blinked in response, attempting her very best not to hiss back at him. Hayden bit her lip, the quick swat leaving a sting on her bottom. He opened the diaper, stretching it out as he slid it under her and began shaking the powder bottle, but no powder came out. Saul said, twisting the cap and removing the new bottle’s seal, “New bottle, huh?” He cocked his head to Chase and Carey, eyes all-knowing. “Yeah, we just went to the store this morning.” Carey smiled, adding a bit of her country sweetness into her sentence. Or you just never diaper Hayden yourselves, Saul thought, almost speaking the words. His mind checked all of the boxes of his suspicions. Hayden wasn’t trained anymore. She wasn’t the ‘baby’; she was being treated like an adult at home. That was blatantly obvious to Saul. There was an awkward silence as Saul generously powdered Hayden’s bottom and taped the diaper on her. He snapped the crotch of her onsie, hands gliding over her leak guards. Saul picked Hayden up, standing with her in his arms, “After I put Hayden down for a nap, I think it’s appropriate we have an adult conversation, hm?” Chase and Carey turned their heads to Saul in confusion, not saying a word. Carey was, for the first time, speechless on what to say or do. Saul was placing a foot down and was acting as if he was Hayden's Elder, not theirs, in a blink of the eye. She was taken aback, not knowing what to do. Saul set Hayden down on his bed, grabbing his fuzzy dark coco blanket and wrapping Hayden in it. Hayden’s cheeks were still flushed and she wasn’t tired, at all. She wanted to be part of this conversation because the mood shifted entirely. What were they about to talk about that she couldn’t be a part of? Millions of thoughts were running through her mind. She laid there, blinking up at Saul as he brushed her hair behind her ear, “Nap time, little one.” He flicked off the light in his room and closed the door softly. Hayden laid there, tense as she shifted feeling the fluffy diaper between her legs. She grumbled in the dark, smelling the forest scented cologne enveloped in Saul’s blankets and comforter. Hayden laid there for a few minutes, hardly hearing anything. She got up, pressing her ear to the door hearing only the sound of their voices, but not being able to hear their words clearly, only muffles of them. Hayden grumbled to herself as she gave up, crawling back into her spot on the bed realizing she couldn’t hear them at all from where she was. All she knew was that the tone was serious. Meanwhile, in the dining area, Chase spoke, taken aback, “No, we can’t. We won’t.” Saul crossed his arms, sitting back, “It doesn’t matter what you decide to do. I’m giving you a choice. You can take it or leave it but they will want her eventually. We will find her, whether that be in this realm or the Mundane one. I can assure of that.” Carey shook her head, “But, you can keep our secret. You can help us.” She clasped her hands on the table. Saul sighed, “Help you with what? Ending the immortality of the ancient Elders one by one?” Saul laughed loudly to himself, “Do you know the magnitude of the Rebels actions? Are you both completely blind? This is illegal, immoral. I will have no part in it and I’m giving you both a choice before you spend the rest of your lives in the confines of a prison cell.” Carey shook her head, “Is that what they tell you? That the Rebels are ‘ending immortality’. There is no evidence, no proof that this is all correlated to little’s leaving this realm.” Carey was fired up in the heat of the debate. If only Hayden were there, she would be right behind Carey. Saul squinted at Carey, talking slowly, “Edmond Meldon, recently deceased ancient Elder, born in the year 102, survived 1917 years before, just a week ago, a sudden heart attack in his mansion.” Saul paused, eyes looking from Chase to Carey, “That same day, Fawn Greene was taken from her home by a little Rebel.” Carey shook her head, “That’s only one circumstance that has a possible correlation. There are no scientific proof or logic backing these allegations.” “Caderyn Rhydarius, found in her garden from a sudden brain aneurysm the same day, around the same time Rebecca Stone was taken.” Saul’s face was serious as Chase squinted at the table, shaking his head, “Shall I continue?” A silence came upon the room as Carey and Chase sat there, suddenly quiet. He stood, going over to the fridge as he broke the silence, “Another beer, brother?” Chase shook his head, “No thank you, we’ll be leaving.” Chase stood. “Sit down. I’m your family for Elven sake and I’m looking out for you. Like always.” Saul said, taking a sip as he eyed his brother. Chase sat back down, tapping his long fingers on the table, “What’s the point of all of this? You reach out to me for the first time in years to what? Blackmail us!?” Chase said, his voice raising in anger. Saul smiled, crossing his arms as he pressed his back on the counter, “Oh, come on, have more faith in me than that little brother." He spoke, offended from his Chase's words, "I didn’t invite you here to blackmail you. I’m here to help you. I’m giving you options, simple.” Carey spoke, cutting off Chase from responding, “Fine. You’ve convinced me.” Her blue eyes met Saul’s, sadly. Chase looked at Carey, shocked. He shook his head, going quiet. Then, finally, he spoke, “Sure. Whatever Carey wants to do I’ll follow.”

This is a very clean-cut story with fine details. I'm surprised how cruel and unusual the Anderson's are but I guess that's what makes a good story, eh? I know there are other stories with the same twists of temporary/permanent medical changes in a character that I have read in the past but this one is super merciless and hit me like, "Wow, I feel really bad for the main character." Well done, keep up the good work.

Yes completely understandable. It was my first time skiing and I went to the top of the mountain(and I'm not talking the bunny hill) and it was definitely a learning experience as I toppled down it and slightly terrifying but I lived to tell another tale of this story, hehe? And I like your theory! I guess we'll find out? Why thank you! And of course, I'm not going to bite!? I know those darn Rebels! ... my thoughts exactly? Anyways, here's another chapter that may explain some things... Chapter 17 Saul looked through the countless files that this oh so mysterious little Nix had taken. He placed them on his board in his room, studying them as he placed string connecting the tacks on his map. Saul knew where Hayden was… but he wanted to create a board to figure out where their safe house must have been. He could use his new resources to his advantage until he found his answers. If Saul could figure out a safe house, then he could figure out where one of the Rebels portal were. He crossed his arms, seeing certain strings pass each other but none of them intersecting completely. They surrounded hundreds of miles of the land of Eden in the Elven Realm... yet no commonplace between them. He pulled out his phone, dialing his youngest brother’s number with a sigh. Chase was making dinner as his phone vibrated on the counter. Hayden was watching TV on the couch as he answered, a bit surprised by the name on his phone... He blinked, staring at the screen for a moment before picking up. “Heyo! How’s it going buddy?” Chase said, trying to sound casual and not confused to as why his brother was calling out of the blue. Had a family member died? Was there a accident? Was one of his cousins pregnant? The only occasion his eldest brother called for was a serious one. “Good, just working a lot lately.” Saul paused on the phone, looking out his window as snow fell slowly, “Sorry for the random call… I know we don’t talk as often anymore but I thought I'd change that.” Chase was taken aback from his brother's sudden warming of his ice cold heart, "U-uh." Chase stuttered, "Yeah, I missed hearing from you, brother." Saul walked down his stairs as he tried to remain calm, "So how about we have a get together? I heard you adopted a little and I'd like to invite you all over to my new house." He said smoothly, without falter. Chase’s mouth fell in a line as he tossed a towel over his shoulder, a bit taken aback that his brother knew Chase had a little. How did Saul know? Chase acted normal, “Oh yeah! I thought you received my family Christmas card… huh.” Chase knew that he didn’t send Saul anything on purpose, “Well, yes, me, Carey and Hayden would be delighted. Is this a friend or family event?” Chase inquired. Saul smiled, “A family event. A small celebratory party for your new addition since I didn’t get to see you guys on Christmas this year.” Saul regretted not going to the annual Christmas party… but he was busy trying to catch a Rebel or two. “You don’t have to do that! We’ll see you next year I’m sure.” Chase said, trying to snake out of this. Saul was an odd sort to littles and Chase knew his brother all too well. Saul was sure to scare Hayden, especially since she was different than many and the Rebel leader. Carey came in the kitchen, whispering, “Who’s that?” Chase mouthed ‘Saul’ to her and she widened her eyes and tilted her head in surprise. Hayden’s head turned from her iPad to them, wondering why they were suddenly quiet. “No, I don’t mind. I thought I’d have a small get together. I’ll cook dinner and maybe we can play some games that night. Have a fun, relaxing time.” Saul spoke slowly, wondering what was going through Chase’s head. He knew his brother would be confused to the sudden offer, but his brother was always a people pleaser. Saul had a strong feeling Chase would fall into his trap. Chase’s hand went through his hair, “Sure, bud. What day will this be?” He was hoping that it’d be a day he could make an excuse. “Next Saturday?” Chase mouthed the day to Carey and she began mouthing ‘make something up!’ as she waved her arms angrily at him. Chase threw his hands up, “Sure, that works. See you then.” His face was red as his hand went over it, rubbing it in defeat as Carey rolled his eyes at him. “Oh! And one more thing.” Saul said over the phone, as he forgot something. “Hm? What’s that?” Chase said, trying to remain calm. “Should I buy some diapers for your new baby? What size is she?” He said, already knowing her size but inquiring to act like he didn’t. “Small. And no, you don’t have too. We have plenty here, although she does wet quite often.” His blue eyes trailed to Hayden’s on the couch who was glaring at him, slightly confused to who he was talking to. Saul held back his chuckle with a smile on his face, “I will just in case. I don’t want anything on my new carpets.” He paused, his mind musing about Hayden, “I’ll see you in a week then.” Chase hung up the phone as Carey said, “Have you lost your mind!?” She lightly punched his shoulder. Chase threw his hands up, “What am I supposed to do?! Say: Oh yeah, by the way, the Nix case you’ve been following is actually us this whole time!” He said in a deeper voice. “Yeah but you could’ve said we were out of town! Your brother is cold-blooded and one of them. He even gives me the chills! I don’t want him anywhere near my daughter.” She blinked, realizing she called Hayden her daughter. Hayden stood up, placing her iPad on the couch, “I’m so confused, who are you guys talking about?” She walked over to the island counter, standing in her grey sweats and sweatshirt. “My brother.” Chase said, turning around to stir the noodles, realizing they were probably there for too long. “You know, you like never mention your brothers… am I missing some crucial information here? I feel like I’m out of the loop.” Hayden looked at Carey who frowned, crossing her arms as she was still fuming at her husband. Chase sighed as he strained the spaghetti noodles, “His name is Saul. He’s a hunter, one that has been hunting little Rebels in specific as of recently.” Hayden’s breathing hitched and she gulped, “T-that’s your…” She blinked, feeling dizzy, “brother?” How had she not known that earlier?! Carey’s angry gaze fixed on Hayden, “Do you know him?” Hayden nodded, “Yep, I sure do.” Hayden drank wine like water as she sat there at dinner that night, “Can we just say that you have a business trip?” Chase sat back, “Look, I’m as nervous as you. Saul has a built in lie detector in his brain and I don’t want to be near him either… but it’s just one night guys. Should be only a few hours and then we leave.” Carey’s hazel eyes rolled as she sipped her Pinot Grigio, her favorite imported wine from the Mundane Realm, “Yeah but your brother likes to interview me every time. All you have to do is act like a bro with him.” Chase’s eyes narrowed to Hayden’s full plate, switching the subject off of himself, “Are you going to eat?” Hayden drank the rest of her third cup of wine, “I’m eating wine tonight because of you fucking up for the rest of us.” Her words slurred a bit as she stood, “Your brother has it out for me. No idea why but the moment he sees me you’ll understand.” She walked over to the second bottle of wine, opening it like a wine connoisseur. Her and Carey had a true common passion and that was wine. “Want another glass, Carey?” Hayden asked as she spilled some on the counter. Chase stood, with a sigh as he came up to Hayden, “Maybe you should eat first before you have any more wine.” Hayden glared up to him, “I’m an adult and I’ll do as I please.” Her hand hit the wine glass and Chase quickly grabbed it before it spilled onto the counter. He sighed, going into the cupboard for a sippy cup. Chase dumped the wine in the cup, screwing the lid on and handing it to her. She glared at him and walked away with the sippy cup in hand, “I’m going to my room before I begin screaming at you.” Carey gave Chase a humorous look, “Nice save. I know it’s not entirely your fault..." She paused, thinking, "Did you tell your brother about Hayden? I thought we made sure we left him out of getting a Christmas card, huh.” She sat back in her chair as Chase sat down. Chase shrugged, “We didn’t send him a card. I honestly don’t know how he found out… maybe our Elderbook profile picture of all of us?” Carey shook her head, “He’s not on social media though. Knowing him, he probably checked in on us and saw. Just the strangest timing.” Hayden stared at her ceiling as she laid back on her bed, closing her eyes as she thought about Saul in her drunken state. She felt surprisingly… flustered. Hayden bit her lip, a thought of them having sex flicking across her mind. Hayden got up, walking over to the diapers on her changing table and grabbing one. Was she really going to do this? She slipped off her sweatpants and underwear as she placed the diaper under herself and taped it on. It was lightly attached around her but she began touching herself, ignoring the fact that she was obviously bad at diapering her own self. Hayden’s mind imagined him touching her, his large hands on her sweet spots. She felt sticky as she moved her hips to her own hand. She moaned, reaching her climax more than a few times. She fell asleep soon after with her cool sweat sticking to her forehead in a film.

Chapter 16 Saul heard the mother wailing as he sucked in air walking down the hallway. Ugh, another crying parent. He thought to himself as he tried to act like he cared once more. This was the 30th sad, deranged parent in the Eleven Realm he had investigated with, after all. It was becoming boring, with hardly any leads on this new little Rebel that they named Nix. AKA absolutely no leads so far. “Rebecca was near the toys! Don’t you all have survelliance video of whoever was with her? The sickos that took her for Elven’s sake!” Mrs. Clarke cried some more. Saul walked into the room at the perfect timing, “No. The footage was tampered with by the Rebels.” “Tampered with, how?!” She said with a crack in her voice. Desperate blue eyes meeting Saul’s. He cleared his throat, “The surveillance footage was placed on loop from 09:18 to 10:35 AM and no new footage was recorded. We’ve seen this on multiple occasions.” Saul had found many of the rebels through surveillance…yet this one seemed to have a game plan. This one was quite smart, leaving no trails and he wanted to find him or her. “Tell us about any little or adult you saw during that period of time. Try to think about it. I know it’s difficult right now but it can help us significantly.” Saul spoke quickly, almost as if it were memorized and recited what he said. He wanted a lead, yet he still didn’t have any. He sat back with his arms crossed as he tapped his pencil on his notebook, knowing he would not get much evidence, nor any at all. The blonde woman blinked back tears with a shake of her head, “I told Rebecca to not go too far. She went to the toy bin and one other little toddler girl walked up to the toys.” Saul cleared his throat as he sat forward, intrigued. So it’s girl, he thought, mind musing. She shook her head, “I didn’t think anything of it. Just my little having company with another little so I just went to the baby food area.” She shrugged. Saul spoke, “How’d this little look like?” He asked, fingers grazing his lips. Mrs. Clarke furrowed her eyebrows, trying not to focus on how handsome the detective was in front of her. With a shake of her head she said, “I-I didn’t really pay much attention but the girl looked… different. Dark brown hair… I think? I only saw her from behind but she was just adorable with her diaper sticking out underneath her dress.” She blinked up at Saul, “A little like that didn’t look malicious. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe someone came up to my baby after that for all I know.” Saul shook his head, knowing that the little she saw was most likely the culprit. The most dangerous little’s were the ones who looked the most innocent. Saul knew that all too well. His mind thought deeply, images of Violet in his mind. The most surprising and shocking case thus far. The leader of the Rebels, oh so adorable but close to deadly. She almost broke Saul’s foot after all. He remembered the moment he trapped her. Saul had been watching the little’s safe house for some time. She lived with Elder’s who were illegally harboring a few Rebels. The ‘mother’ elder went to prison, a life sentence. The ‘father’ escaped with two of the Rebels to the Mundane Realm, untouchable because of the Realm border laws. Saul could get them back per said laws, but it’d be a lot of work and a custody battle in which he didn’t have the current power nor time for. It was up to him to hunt little Rebels in the Realm, not outside of it anymore. Violet’s brown eyes didn’t see Saul coming, as she was snacking in the middle of the night in the kitchen of her safe house. She opened the fridge door, placing the milk back as she felt a hand on her shoulder. She pivoted quickly, dropping the glass milk on his foot as it shattered over the floor. Saul grunted from pain, quickly pinning her against the wall as she began screaming like a hurt animal. Saul sighed in annoyance, sticking the tranquilizer into the soft flesh of her bottom. Usually, he gave his Rebels good spankings before putting them to sleep, but there was work to be done that night. The mother, Vivian, came running down the stairs by the scream. Saul lowered Violet to the ground as he took out another tranquilizer, throwing it to the mother. She gasped as she saw the syringe searing through the air towards her and the tranquilizer immediately injected serum into her arm as it connected with her. Multiple emotions of shock and anger flicked over her face as she fell to the ground. Saul’s fellow hunters came into the house, rushing up the stairs. The father already had one little Rebel trailing behind him and was running to the other room. A door slammed shut as the father and two littles left the house through the window and into the woods behind the house, completely disappearing. Saul still wondered where they went to this day… they must have had their own portal nearby. The little Rebels were escaping somehow, and there must have been a few portals to the Mundane Realm unknown to the Elder’s. There had to be… there was no other explanation to Saul that would make quite as much sense. He sat there, looking at his journal as he listened to Mrs. Clarke still babbling on about these 'terrible people' and how she didn't think such a tiny girl would do this. Saul closed his eyes, trying to think of any brown hair littles he had taken into the Realm in the past few months... Hayden's dark brown hair flashed in his mind, with grey and purple strands and feathers. Saul cut her off, as he opened his eyes, "Did this girl have... different colors in her hair?" She blinked, almost as if a light bulb turned on, "Yes! I almost forgot about that! She had some purple streaks and some type of... silver or white? How could I forget!" Mrs. Clarke shook her head. Saul's pencil broke in his hand he gripped it so hard. He closed his journal, standing, "Thank you for your time Mrs. Clarke." He smiled and nodded to her as he left. Wardon was right outside the room as Saul left. "Do we have a lead? It sounds like you got a little bit of information on the Nix case." Wardon said. Saul shook his head, "No. I'm going home." He walked past Wardon as Wardon gave a strange look at the hunter. Saul was the best little hunter Wardon had ever seen and this Nix case must have been driving Saul crazy. That night Saul looked through little identification profiles at the Hunter's office. He hardly visited his cubicle at the office, which was neatly organized in the darkness. His computer screen glowed on his finely chiseled face as he clicked through profiles. He found the one he was looking for as his eyes studied the girl's moss green eyes in the picture. Strikingly adorable with messy dark brown and colored hair. Saul found himself smiling at the picture. Why? Why did it have to be her? Out of all littles, he had hoped he'd never see her as a possible suspect. Saul frowned, shaking his head disappointedly at Hayden's picture. He thought she was smart enough to know that the Rebels were a bad group to get into... Now he was the one who had to turn her in and retrieve her himself. Saul wanted to be the one so badly to take care of Hayden, yet now he wouldn't see her for some time once more. Even then, she would be sent away to the Happy Baby Hospital after the Boarding Lodge like Violet... and he never wanted that for her, not ever. It stung for him to think about it as he sat there. It was the reason he didn't tell Wardon; he couldn't until he had made a clear decision. He needed time to think about it. He clicked on her profile, light grey eyes widening as he read her 'parents' names. His tongue clicked in the silence of the office area as he sat back...Things had gotten more complicated, that was certain.

I, Rayne Griff is still being written for currently; however, I'm just not actively posting because I'm trying to write a lot of chapters for it because some storylines need to be intertwined well enough and I don't want to post something that doesn't make sense to a past or future storyline... if that makes any sense lol? So basically... it's on hold for posting but I am actively writing for it. I just bit off more than I can chew on writing two stories at once and college starts up again next week? I don't know why I do these things to myself but I keep doing it, gosh darn it.?

Hey guys! I apologize for my leave of absence without warning. I went on a ski trip and took a mini break from writing but I'm back for a little bit here to post! Here's another chapter and I'm going to be posting another tomorrow as well. As always, I'm looking forward to your feedback☺️ Chapter 15 Two months later. Hayden’s eyes fell on Rebecca Stone, a ginger girl with her hair in pigtails as she walked with her mommy at the mall. She had been a little for some time, almost four years, and had been sent back to the Boarding Lodge for little reassignment because her last adoptees couldn’t handle her from her ‘outbursts’. Rebecca and her mommy went into Rolf’s Kids store as Hayden walked with Chase into the toy store far behind them. Chase, per usual, was a tad bit nervous as he walked with Hayden. It was strange to think Chase was part of the Rebels considering he was in stark contrast to his family and always had been the oddball out. He didn’t like the idea of owning littles and was happy when he received a Study Abroad scholarship in college to go to the Mundane Realm, where he met his wife Carey. The Elders didn’t approve of him bringing back Carey into his realm and was given an ultimatum to either marry Carey in the Elven Realm or never see her again. So, they married, able to travel between the Realms without needed green cards to the Mundane nor Elven. Little did the elders know, Carey was very much against the laws of the lands. Her adopted sister was kidnapped when she was 20 and found to be in the Elven Realm as a ‘little’. It disgusted Carey and she would make sure to save her sister and others of the Realm. Her and Chase had the ability to go between Realms with their own doorway to save littles lives, giving them freedom once more. The last piece to their puzzle was Hayden, the elven princess, who was quick-witted, fast on her feet, and had as much heart as Carey and was a ‘kami-kazi’ in their plans. Hayden would throw herself in front of a bullet for Chase and Carey, which they would never want, but it would be easier for Hayden to get out of a fault in a plan than Carey or Chase. Chase tried not to think of the circumstances that revolved around what they were doing. If Carey and Chase were ever caught, they’d be sent to prison for life. If Hayden was caught, she’d be sent back to the Boarding Lodge. Hayden was terrified of ever going back, but she knew it would always be a possibility and worst case scenario for her. Hayden had been laying low with the Rebels. Chase and Carey were a part of the Rebels just as much as she was, but strayed away from having Hayden meet the other littles in fear of Hayden being caught by the Hunter’s who were meticulously searching for trails. The Rebels were all laying low, in fact, and hadn’t had a meeting in some time, ever since Hayden had joined, to keep secrecy. After all, the Rebels were without a leader since Violet left and never had returned. It was dark times for the Rebels, although they were still saving littles around the Realm. The Rebels were trying to stay quiet with their attacks, only to strike again very soon. The tall mommy, a blonde woman, let go of the girl’s hand as she browsed the toys. The girl began walking away towards a stuffed animal bin that other littles were at as the mommy said, “Don’t go too far, Rebecca.” Chase let go of Hayden’s hand as she saw her opportunity. She looked to the tall blonde woman who turned into an aisle labeled ‘Baby Food’. Hayden came up behind Rebecca, her hand slipping into Rebecca’s. Hayden smiled behind her pacifier, “Wanna bwe my fwiend?” Hayden winked, hoping the girl got her message. Rebecca looked confused, her hand still in Hayden’s. Hayden took out her paci as she hugged Rebecca, “Come with me and I can help you escape this Realm, Rebecca.” She whispered in the ginger’s ear. As she pulled away, Rebecca’s blue eyes looked at the ground, lost in thought, torn between what she should do. She met Hayden’s eyes as Hayden said, “This is your only chance. It’s either now or never.” She said as she turned around, her lace lined pink dress floating up and showing her diaper underneath as she walked away from Rebecca. Chase began walking out of the store as Hayden trailed behind him and Rebecca began following. Chase smiled at Rebecca and took her and Hayden’s hands as he walked out of the store. Rebecca’s heart was pounding as they walked down the mall. She didn’t know this strange girl who had dark brown, purple and silver hair. They could be little predators for all Rebecca knew! But the idea of freedom and curiosity would eat at Rebecca if she didn’t take her chance now. How could she not escape? She had been held in this Realm, under her own will, as a toddler for far too long. Life would never be the same after leaving this Realm, but she couldn’t stay any longer. Meanwhile, Carey waited in the car for Chase and Hayden, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. As nervous as these assignments made her, she was happy, probably the most happy she had ever been. She had a great husband and a wonderful new daughter. She loved Hayden and, although she didn’t baby her unless in public, she treated her like her own. Hayden was very… feisty yet funny and she got along well with her. Not to mention, Hayden was a great asset to the Rebels and had already saved more than two batches of littles. She was the top performer of little Rebels and she was a proud mother. Hayden smiled at Carey who pulled her Range Rover up to the mall’s curb. Chase opened the back door, helping the two littles inside. As they pulled away, two police cars had their signals blaring as they pulled into the mall’s parking lot and up to the curb where Carey had once been waiting. Hayden smiled, knowing that they were too late. Hayden spit out her pacifier after a few minutes of getting out of the congested mall parking area. Her pink pacifier fell down on her skirt and hung there as she crossed her legs. “Who are you people?” Rebecca asked. Hayden spoke, bored, “I like to call us the Little Thieves.” She smiled to the girl with a wink. “Hayden, we’re not calling ourselves that.” Chase said, turning his head as his hair bounced with the bumps of the car. She rolled her eyes, “Whatever.” “Where are you guys taking me?” Rebecca asked, becoming anxious. “Back to where you belong: the Mundane Realm.” Hayden said, crossing her eyes and letting her diapered bottom slide down on the car seat in a slouch. It’d be a long ride and Hayden could use a nap after all. Rebecca had an internal sigh of relief, “Thank god, I thought you all were predators or something.” They all laughed as they took a three-hour car ride to their safe house. “Can we stop so I can use the restroom?” Hayden asked as she had her legs on the car seat without her shoes on. Chase said, looking up from his newspaper, “We had thirty minutes to go. How about you use your diaper?” He taunted. Hayden scrunched her face, shifting, “You suck.” “Chase is changing you if you wet though.” Carey said with a wink in the rearview mirror. Hayden threw her head back with a roll of her eyes as she sat there, knowing full-well Chase was not about to change her diaper. He only changed her once and he was god awful at it. He didn’t even use powder! Even Hayden knew better. “Hayden!!!” A few of the escaped littles ran up to Hayden, hugging her as she walked into the safehouse. “How long are you guys staying?” Amber asked Hayden as Rebecca trailed behind shyly in her pigtails and diaper, soon realizing no one else looked quite like her. Hayden frowned as Chase brought in boxes of food for the week, “Only for a few hours and we have to go back.” Hayden shifted, feeling her bladder weakening. Rebecca looked around, seeing these other littles in normal clothing: leggings, t-shirts and sweatshirts. They looked like adults in the Mundane Realm, although they still had cute faces. Hayden walked past the few freed littles, “I’m going to the restroom and getting the fuck out of this.” Chase said sternly behind, “Keep the diaper on Hayden.” Hayden pivoted slowly, surprised at the sudden command, “Why?” She met his blue eyes. “Because we’ll be leaving in an hour or two and there’s no point in you taking it off only to be put back in one.” Chase said firmly. Hayden studied his face, waiting for him to crack a smile or waiver in his tone, yet there was no sign he was joking. She was surprised how straight forward he was being considering he was only like this in public. Sometimes he did it in private but it was only on rare occasions when Hayden irritated him enough. Hayden rolled her eyes, “Whatever. I still have to pee.” She turned around in a huff and walked to the restroom. She sat at the dinner table where mac and cheese was awaiting her as the other littles ate. Her green eyes found Carey’s smiling at her. “Good work today, Hayden. We’re so proud of you.” Carey said as Chase nodded in agreement. Hayden stabbed a few noodles with a shrug of her shoulders, “Thanks, I guess.” She frowned. “Why do you seem sad?” Chase asked from across the table, noticing Hayden's sad green eyes cast down. Hayden’s eyebrows furrowed, as she realized she was sad. What was bothering her so much? She didn’t understand it herself. A moment later, she spoke with a shake of her head, “It’s not enough for me. I want to meet them already.” Chase swallowed his chicken as he met Carey’s worried hazel eyes. Carey blinked, knowing that Hayden wanted to meet the other Rebels like her for some time now. She was scared that Hayden would become something uncontrollable to Carey and Chase. It wasn’t like they could control her to begin with…but their fate was in Hayden’s hands, whether she knew it or not.

I may be taking another break from posting for a few days because I will be working once again. However, I will be checking in to hear your feedback as always! ? Chapter 13 A few days later. For the first time, Hayden was in the playroom upstairs with Violet. Grandmother Whitney smiled at the two littles and realized she forgot her knitting materials. She stood, “I’ll be back. You two play nice now while Grandma is away.” Violet’s brown eyes met Hayden’s slowly as she dropped her pacifier, “We only have so much time to talk, Hayden.” Her voice was surprisingly mature as Hayden eyed her. “About what?” Hayden said, taking out her pacifier as she got up and sat on her knees, curious. Violet said, “You’ll be leaving soon and the Rebels need a new leader. One which I want you to be.” She said quickly. Hayden blinked, eyebrows furrowing, “B-but, you don’t even know me? How could you be so sure?” Violet smiled, sadly as she looked at Hayden’s hair, “You have the mark, that’s all I need to know that you were born to be the new leader.” She smiled. Hayden frowned, “The mark? What’s tha-“ She heard approaching footsteps and quickly plopped her pacifier back into her mouth. Grandmother Whitney came in to find the girls playing patty cake together. She smiled to the girls as she sat in her rocking chair, beginning to knit her ruffle diaper cover for Hayden. Later on that day, Hayden was playing hide and go seek with the other littles. She chose the best hiding place: underneath the desk in the study room. As she was sitting there, waiting to be found, she heard a few voices enter the study and the door slam. Hayden jumped, wondering if it were Elsie. “No, no, no! This is absurd, I will not have that!” Grandmother Anne Marie said in an upset voice. Hayden fidgeted under the desk, wondering if she should dart out to let the Grandmothers know she was down there. She winced as she heard her diaper crinkle underneath her as she shifted. “When requested, we must. It’s the Grandmother’s promise to the Realm after all.” Grandmother Whitney said in a calm voice. “This is an outrage! She needs further training, you and I know that well enough.” Grandmother Anne Marie’s voice was uncontrollably furious. Hayden was scared as she sat underneath the desk, trying to breath quietly in fear of being caught. “Anne, the adoption papers are signed and faxed. Her last day is next week; there’s no getting around that.” The Grandmother sighed, her fingers tapping the desk Hayden was under. She paced the room, sitting of the desk chair and looking down. Grandmother Anne Marie jumped, surprised to see Hayden, “Oof!” She stood, “Look who we have here.” She made a tsk, tsk sound as she placed her hands on her hips. Grandmother Whitney walked around the desk, looking down to find Hayden. She kneeled, brushing the girls hair with her fingers and smiling, sadly, “What are you doing down here, little one?” Hayden placed a finger over her pacifier, “Hwiding!” Grandmother Whitney blinked sadly, “Looks like you’ll be having a new home, very soon, little one.” Hayden looked up, surprised, “Alweady?” She asked, slightly stupefied but also taking note that Violet had warned her earlier that day. “Unfortunately so.” The grandmother tickled Hayden’s stomach and she giggled. “Buh I don’t wanna weave.” She said, flicking between Grandmother Whitney and Grandmother Anne Marie who was silent behind Whitney. Grandmother Anne Marie looked at Hayden, hiding underneath the desk. She knew the little wasn’t prepared enough to leave the Lodge. She was due for another few weeks, even another month at the Boarding Lodge. The little didn’t have much of an attitude anymore… yet that worried the Grandmother. She wanted to break the girl once more before her departure. It was too soon… very too soon for Hayden to leave. Chapter 14 A week later. Hayden was coloring nervously the morning of her departure from the Lodge. At first, she hated her new home, yet she grew very used to the pampering and love from her Grandmothers. Hayden would be lying if she said she wasn’t counting down the days to leave though. It had been two long months and she was ready for something different, an escape. Grandmother Anne Marie could be cruel at times, leaving little Hayden on the sexual edge for three days once. Other times, she gave her multiple ‘treats’ being that Hayden was good, that is. Hayden would miss that, because it wasn’t guaranteed in the slightest where she was going was going to be anywhere near the same regard. Hayden was most sad to leave Violet. Poor Violet wasn’t getting any better, no matter how much Grandmother Anne Marie attempted to teach her lessons, that even Hayden knew. Hayden was scared for the girl and wanted to save her from the wrath of the Grandmothers but couldn’t; there was no way. Violet was Hayden’s partner in crime, after all, and Hayden didn’t want to leave her good friend. She heard that she was adopted by a married couple about a week prior. Was she nervous? It would be a lie if she said she wasn’t. Hayden was excited to leave the Grandmothers after being babied for so long, yet it was a bittersweet departure. Hayden heard the bell ring to the Lodge. Grandmother Anne Marie yelled, “Hayden! Come here!” She said. Hayden got up, waddling over in her beautiful red velvet and frilly babydoll dress with her red matching pacifier. She had white stockings pulled over her diaper that was obviously exposed as she ran to meet her new parents. She slid to a halt on the wooden floor as Grandmother Anne Marie came up to her, fixing the girls messy braided hair in a half pony-tail that had a red bow on top. Her eyes twinkled behind her round-rimmed glasses as she looked at Hayden. Oh my, would she miss the girl, as much as she’d hated to admit missing such a brat. The other Grandmothers joined them at the entrance. Grandmother Eleanor greeted the parents as they walked in, seeing their little for the first time. She’d be back, oh would these parents not know how to handle this one, Grandmother Anne Marie thought to herself as she introduced the Grandmothers. Hayden hid behind Grandmother Whitney, shyly. Grandmother Anne Marie frowned, knowing Hayden was only acting. Hayden was bratty, and she came out of her little shell in waves. These new parents would find that out soon enough. Hayden peaked out, meeting a tall, lanky man’s stare. He had longer, dark wavy hair smootherd back and blue eyes. His eyes lit up meeting hers as he smiled warmly. Grandma Whitney pushed Hayden forward. His wife squealed, “Oh my! Isn’t she precious, Chase?!” She kneeled down and pinched her cheek. Hayden met the woman who had honey blonde hair and hazel eyes, gawking at Hayden. “Yes, very precious, at that.” Chase said, walking over and kneeling with her. When he kneeled, he was nearly Hayden’s height. His wife Carey was putting on a good show, per usual, he thought. Hayden shifted, with a slight crinkle of her diaper, not certain what to do she was so awkward at introductions. Hayden found herself in these new stranger’s car as they pulled out of the driveway, waving to the Grandmothers as they left. Grandmother Whitney cried softly in the cool winter breeze as Grandmother Anne Marie said bitterly, “Don’t worry, she’ll be back.” Once they were on the road for ten minutes, Chase spoke, meeting Hayden’s eyes in the rearview mirror, “What did you do before this?” “Color.” Hayden said, a bit confused by the question. “We mean before they took you, Hayden.” Carey said next to Hayden, taking away her pacifier from Hayden’s mouth and unclipping it from her dress. Hayden blinked, taken aback by the sudden gesture. Was this a trick question? Would she be sent back if she answered wrong? “Um, I was in school to become a doctor.” She shifted in the car seat, nervous. “Mhm, and how did it make you feel when you were taken?” Chase said, thoughtfully. Hayden asked, “Why do you want to know?” A bit of an attitude leaving her mouth. Were they trying to get her into trouble? “Because we were under the assumption that we found the right little.” Carey said slowly. Hayden was utterly confused, what did they mean? “I mean, where do I begin?” Hayden decided to be honest, “From shitting myself every day to not being able to not being able to have a glass of wine, it sucks. I was almost done with school, only a few more years.” She said, words leaving her mouth quickly, a bit too honestly to these people she just met. Hayden was scared she be punished for cursing but they didn’t say anything. Carey said, “I’m sorry for your loss of time, Hayden.” Hayden was confused to why Carey was treating her like an equal. It was a strange feeling to have after so long of being belittled and people talking to her in condescending tones. She felt liberated, to a degree. “What do you guys want from me?” Hayden asked, going straight to the point. Chase spoke up, “We want to help you. Maybe one day get you back to your home, your life again. However, you can be an important asset to helping the helpless. To restoring the old ways of the Realm.” Hayden shifted, her heart rate increasing, “Exactly, what are you referring to?” “We want you to join the rebellion. To help us save lives.” Carey said. Hayden gulped, knowing fully that if she joined this rebellion, it’d be dangerous. Was it worth it? Putting herself in danger for the sake of people like her? Like her other little friends? To think, if not for being taken Ned would be in the Mundane Realm with his child. Violet would be normal, not being tormented by older women that call themselves 'Grandmothers'. If Hayden had a chance to save those littles... would she take it? Was this her opportunity? Hayden thought to herself... what was life without a little danger, after all? “I’m in.” No if’s, and’s or but’s, as the rule book said.