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atths--twice · 4 years ago

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Finding Light in the Dark

A call sends Mulder, Scully, and Faith on a road trip back to the house in Quonochontaug. Mulder is feeling somewhat nervous, but is determined to replace the pain of the past with happiness in the present.

This story is the next in the Year of Prompts. A friend on Twitter asked for a story where Mulder visits the house in Quonochontaug with Scully and Faith. I, of course, fell in love with that idea as I simply adore writing them as a happy family. I set out to have it be a Valentine's story as the story presented itself to me. It took *just* a day longer than planned, but I hope it was worth the wait. ❤️

January 26, 2021

Mulder hung up the phone and sighed with a slight frown. Putting it down, he walked to the laundry room where he could hear Scully humming as she folded clothes.

“So, uh…” he said, standing in the doorway. She looked at him and smiled with a nod. “I just had a call from the rental agency.” She frowned at him and then nodded in understanding.

“Is everything okay?” She picked up a flat sheet, handing him an end, and together they started to fold it.

“Well, Brian from the agency said that with the virus, they aren’t getting as many people staying at the house. No one is traveling, as you know, and they’re losing money.” He took the sheet from her and finished the folding. She nodded and crossed her arms as he set the sheet in the laundry basket.

“So…”

“So, they’re considering letting it go, which means it falls on me to make a decision. If I want to find another rental company or… if I should sell the house and be done with it.” She stared at him, sighing as she nodded slowly.

“Is that what you want to do?” she asked softly and he let out a deep breath.

“I don’t know. That house… honestly I forget that it’s still there most of the time. It’s been… Jesus, twenty years.” He shook his head and sighed. “I…”

“Hon,” she said, stepping toward him and touching his arm with a smile. “I know how you feel about that house. I don’t want you to think you have to go there. We can ask the agency what would be best and not ever have to go.”

“I appreciate that, but… I think I need to go check-“

“We. We need to go. I’m not letting you go there alone.” She held his arm and stared at him with another small smile. “Would leaving tomorrow morning be soon enough?” He smiled and cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing softly across it.

“Let’s start thinking about a plan.”

________________

January 29th

He made phone calls to the rental agency, letting them know they would be coming up to check on the house and decide what they would do with it. Brian sounded relieved and said he would leave the key in the lock box, giving him the combination to open it.

A heaviness weighed upon him as they packed and readied for the trip. He tried not to let it show, but Scully‘s hand lightly grazing his back, arm, or waist let him know that she noticed. She never said anything, but her touch meant everything; his thoughts often far away.

They left the house at seven thirty, hoping Faith would sleep for most of the journey, and not become cranky sitting in her car seat for such a long period of time. Nearly seven hours was long for anyone, but especially for a two year old.

Once again, Grey was dropped off with Violet and Denis, along with the house keys so they could stop by and feed the fish while they were gone. Violet stood at the window, holding Grey and waving goodbye with her little paw, as Faith waved back and yelled goodbye.

She chatted with Bella who sat beside her, her head resting on the arm of the car seat. Faith patted her head and told Bella it was dark.

“See stars, Bell? It’s dark. See stars!” She pointed as she looked out the window, continuing to pet Bella’s head. Mulder smiled as he watched her in the rearview mirror, catching Scully’s eye as he looked back at the road. She smiled at him and he nodded as he drove down Henderson Road, heading toward the Parkway.

“Do you think we should stop at a hotel on the way? I don’t think we can just show up these days,” Scully said, reaching for her phone. “Halfway… that should put us about…” He saw she had opened her map app, looking intently at it, and he shook his head.

“We don’t need to stop. I can make it. Quonochontaug is only seven hours.”

“No. We can switch. No need for you to drive the whole way.” He nodded with a smile, knowing he would be the one driving the entire way. “I’m serious, Mulder.”

“Okay. But I’m good for now.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, Looking back at Faith, who was looking out the window, now holding her baby doll in her lap. “You okay, love?”

“Baby, mama. Baby seeping.” Mulder saw her touch the baby's eyes that opened and closed. “Shh. Baby seeping.”

“She’s sleeping? Okay then, we’ll be quiet.” She turned her head and smiled at him and he smiled back.

Within two hours, an audiobook playing quietly after Faith’s usual bedtime music, everyone in the car, save for Mulder, was sleeping deeply. He smiled as he glanced at them and then sighed as he looked back at the road. The navigation was set and the book playing, but he was no longer paying attention.

He was heading back to a house that held many memories, both good and bad, and now that they were physically on their way, he was lost in thoughts of the past; his childhood and the questions that had never been answered.

After his mother had died, he had been the one to handle her personal belongings and the selling of her house. She had left everything to him and one long weekend, he had gone up to clear it all out, readying it to be sold.

The house itself held very little personal items. Not many pictures and signs of the past. No, those were kept in the basement, almost as though they were something to hide and of which to be ashamed.

Saturday morning, after he had spent Friday going through the basement, sadness and anger causing tears at times, the doorbell had rung. Believing it to be the donation organization coming to pick up the agreed upon items, he had opened the door to find Scully.

She had smiled, a bag of donuts and two coffees in a carry out holder in her hands. He had been surprised, but opened the door to allow her to enter.

“I thought you could use some help,” she had said softly and he had nodded with a relieved sigh. She had smiled and after they had eaten, they had begun to work.

Then… he had decided it was time to deal with the house in Quonochontaug, something he had put off for years. No one had been in the house for a couple of years, him being the last one, and the reason was one he wished to forget. He had asked Scully to accompany him, no hesitation, knowing that house would be harder to face.

They had driven out together on a Thursday evening, planning to stay all weekend. It had been a long drive, spent mostly in silence. Halfway there, they had stopped to eat at a diner, the silence remaining, though her eyes had said a lot.

They arrived late, the house chilly. Looking around at the things still covered in plastic, the mess he had never completely cleared up, they had both sighed.

“It’s a lot, but…” she had said, a hand on his back as she walked further into the room. “We can be up early, get some breakfast, and then…”

“Yeah,” he had whispered.

They went to the bedrooms, Mulder insisting she take the master bedroom and he would take the smaller guest one. The rooms smelled musty, plastic covering the beds and other things.

“Uh, I don’t know about the state of the sheets. This place hasn’t been used in such a long time,” he had said, standing in the doorway and looking around the room she would be using.

“Blankets will be fine,” she had assured him and he nodded, going to the hall closet and taking out the equally musty smelling blankets, wishing he had thought to bring something better.

“I’m not sure the blankets are much better, in regards to smell anyway.”

“It’s fine, Mulder.” She had smiled and taken the blankets from him. “We’ve been in worse places than this.” He had nodded and she rubbed his arm. “Good night.”

“Good night,” he had whispered and walked to the guest room.

Dropping the blankets onto the bed, he had used the bathroom, shivering as he walked back to the bedroom. He had changed his clothes and gotten under the covers, sighing as he closed his eyes, too many thoughts in his head. Turning over, he had fallen asleep, his dreams dark and confusing.

In the morning, he had woken up early. Leaving Scully to sleep a little longer, he went to pick up the trailer he had rented and to get breakfast for both of them.

She had been awake when he returned, just coming out of the bedroom, yawning and stretching. She had smiled as she cleared the table and he set the food and coffee onto it.

After they had eaten and thrown out their trash, they looked around, deciding where to start.

“Before we do anything,” she had said and he looked at her. “I’ve been thinking. What if you didn’t sell this place?”

“I don’t want or need it,” he had answered.

“No, I know you don’t. But…” She had walked to the back door and opened it. “It’s beautiful here. The water right outside the door… it’s a perfect place to get away.”

“Scully-”

“You could rent it.” She had smiled at him and he looked around the house and back at her. “Fix it up a little for sure, but…” She had shrugged and he let out a sigh. “It’s just an idea.”

“Yeah,” he had said with a nod.

“Think about it,” she had said quietly, touching his arm.

They had worked methodically, moving from one room to the next, stopping a little after one to go out and get something to eat and stopping at the store to get something for a simple dinner.

Things that held memories, had been set to one side and then carried to the trailer. Pictures mostly, a few boxes of family items, a couple of lamps and one end table Mulder had “ruined” when he did not use a coaster for his glass of ice water.

“My mother would cluck her tongue and sigh every time she saw it. Never saying anything, but letting me know how I had messed up.”

“You’re still pretty bad about remembering,” she had teased and he chuckled softly in agreement. “How about I go make dinner and open that bottle of wine while you make a fire?” He had nodded and she went into the kitchen

He had cleaned out the fireplace, checking to make sure the flue was open, and then went to find some wood outside. It was not much, but enough for a small fire. He brought it inside, smelling garlic and onions, and his mouth watered.

As the fire began to build, she had walked into the room holding two plates of pasta tossed with garlic and parmesan cheese. She set it on the fireplace, rubbing his back as she walked back to the kitchen to get their glasses of wine. Kneeling down, she handed him his glass and set hers beside her plate.

“The fire feels nice. It’s surprisingly cold at night.”

“Not exactly a selling point for a vacation rental,” he had said, taking a sip of his wine.

“Not until you upgrade it a bit.” She had smiled at him and he nodded, but did not smile back. “You don’t want to do it?”

“I don’t want to think about it tonight.”

“Okay.”

“This is good,” he had said, taking a bite of the pasta. She smiled and ate her food as the fire crackled and warmed the room.

When their plates were empty, he had taken them into the kitchen and brought out the bottle of wine, refilling their glasses as they moved to the couch.

They had watched the fire, his head resting on the back of the couch, his fingers lightly caressing her shoulder. She looked at him and then she set her glass on the coffee table and turned to him. He had swallowed, setting his glass on the small table beside him.

She had leaned closer to him, a hand on his thigh. He cupped her cheek, her eyes closing as she sighed.

“Scully,” he had breathed. She opened her eyes and he shook his head slowly. “I…”

“Mulder,” she had whispered, moving until she was in his lap, her arms loose around his neck, fingers rubbing softly in his hair and down his neck. He held her waist, closing his eyes as her forehead rested against his, her breath smelling sweetly of wine.

“Scully… I… this-“

“I’m not asking or expecting anything from you,” she had whispered, kissing his temple as he sighed. Then his other temple, forehead, cheeks, and lips. Every kiss soft and tender.

He had kissed her back, his hands gripping her hips. Their kisses slow, their breath mingling, her tongue gently touching his, silently asking for permission.

He had pulled back, licking his lips, Breathing hard as their foreheads once more pressed together. Her fingers scratched softly at his neck as they sighed simultaneously.

“I’m sorry. I just… this house…”

“You don’t need to apologize,” she had whispered. “Not for anything.” He sighed again and she wrapped her arms around him, her face pressed into his neck. He held her tightly, his eyes closed, sighing with relief at her understanding.

She had pulled back, kissing him once more, before rising and taking their glasses into the kitchen. He sighed as he watched her go, hearing the water running as she washed the dishes. He scrubbed a hand down his face and stood to his feet.

Walking into the kitchen, he had rubbed her back and picked up a towel to dry the dishes, working together in silence. When the last plate was clean and had been put away, she bid him good night, rubbing his arm as she passed.

He had sighed as she left, walking back and sitting on the couch, staring at the slowly dying fire. As it went out, he had risen and used the bathroom before lying down in bed and staring into the darkness.

His door had opened quietly a few minutes later, the faint light from the living room lamp momentarily casting a soft flow across the bed. The door had closed and the room was once more dark.

The covers were lifted and the bed squeaked as Scully slid in beside him, snuggling close. He had let out a breath as he raised his arm and she lifted her head, lying on his shoulder and wrapping an arm around his waist. She brought her leg up, resting her knee against his thigh and side softly.

“Was your bed not warm enough?” he had teased quietly and she hummed.

“No, this bed is much warmer.” He had hummed out a quiet chuckle and they fell silent, their breathing the only sound in the room.

He had shifted, turning onto his side and pulling her close, their forehead’s touching as they had done on the couch.

“There are bad memories here. Broken ones. Ones I… I’m not sure are real,” he whispered and she hummed as she stroked his face, her hands warm. “But, there are also good ones. Ones of games and laughter. My mother singing. Parties and music. My father telling some story and all the men laughing. I had my first taste of hard alcohol here.”

“Really?” she had whispered with a soft laugh.

“Not on purpose,” he chuckled, hooking a leg over hers and breathing in her scent. “I had been running around and grabbed what I believed was my cup and took a big drink of what I thought was water, but what was actually vodka.

“Oh!” She had laughed, her head falling back and they looked at one another in the darkness. “What happened?”

“I was sure my throat would burn forever, my stomach on fire, and then I gagged and threw most of it up onto the grass. One of the men thumped me on the back and laughed. I was so embarrassed to throw up in front of them, but Jesus Christ, it was the only option.”

“Hmm,” she had hummed, moving closer, her lips at his throat. “How old were you?”

“Eleven, nearly twelve,” he had said, his fingers running softly up and down her back.

“Maybe that’s why you don’t like it much.”

“Hmm. Could be.” He thought back to that day, the way his head had spun as his mother led him inside, Samantha crying and holding his hand.

“So, does that go in the good memory column or the bad one?”

“I’ll consider it both.”

“Hmm.” Quiet again, she moved even closer, kissing his throat and then sighing.

“Good night,” she had whispered, and he nodded, closing his eyes and kissing the top of her head.

“Good night.”

He had slept soundly, waking up spooning her, his nose buried in her hair.

As they ate breakfast, he had looked around, thinking about the possibility of remodeling the house and renting it out as a vacation home.

“It would take a lot,” he had said out loud and she frowned at him. “If I was to remodel it. This place is good, but… what would they find once they started working on it?”

“What are you saying?”

“We… I own the land surrounding here. Would it be better to tear it down? Start over from scratch?”

“Good question for a developer.”

“Yeah.” He had smiled and she gripped his hand. “I think I’ll call some people, see what they have to say.”

“I think it’s a good idea. I like it here.” She had smiled and he nodded. “Wouldn’t mind coming back.”

“That could be arranged.” He had leaned forward and kissed her softly, holding her chin with his thumb and index finger.

“I’d like that,” she whispered, kissing him once again. “Maybe when it’s a bit warmer out.” He chuckled and nodded again.

All personal items packed inside the trailer and the rooms cleaned, they had packed up their bags, taking out the trash and setting it in the back of the trailer to drop at a nearby dumpster as they left.

They never did go out there again. Not together anyway. He had, on his own, to meet with developers who suggested ways to improve the house. Things were moved out and he saw the beginning of the remodel before he had disappeared and was gone for nearly a year.

When he had returned, he’d had more time on his hands. Only once had he seen the place completed before never coming back. Life taking over and stopping him… them from coming out there again.

He had left it in the capable hands of a rental agency, the money from it deposited into a separate checking account created by the gunmen, and transferred over to his primary account only when needed.

Scully hummed in her sleep and he blinked his eyes, shaking his head as though clearing away the past. The audiobook was chapters ahead and he made no effort to go back to what he remembered, deciding starting it over would probably be for the best.

“Oh.” She stretched and he glanced at her with a smile. “Oh… I fell asleep. I’m so sorry.” She reached over and patted his arm as she glanced back at Faith. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep… oh my god, it’s 11:30?! How long was I sleeping?”

“I really don’t know.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking.” He smiled at her and she reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I’m okay. I do need to pee though and we’ll need gas soon.”

“Yeah, I need to pee too.”

A quick stop at a gas station, they took turns using the bathroom, letting Bella out to relieve herself. He got them each a coffee and restarted the audiobook as they drove away. This time they both paid attention, laughing and discussing the story quietly.

Soon, they exited the interstate and drove down the road toward the house. He felt nervous and calm simultaneously as they pulled up and parked in the driveway.

“Wow,” Scully said, staring at the house in the shine of the headlights. “It’s different. I like it. It’s not as dark.”

“Light is always better,” he agreed, turning off the car and smiling at her.

“Absolutely.”

“You stay here, I’ll go open the house and turn on the lights.”

“I could do it”.

“Nah, I got it.” He kissed her and got out, closing the door quietly. Using the flashlight on his phone, he found the lock box, punched in the code and took out the key to unlock the door.

Walking inside, he took a deep breath, happy that the house was different, the changes allowing for better memories to be created. He shivered in the chilly room, intent on turning on the heater when they were all inside. He turned on some lights and went back outside.

Nodding at Scully as he opened the back passenger door, he let Bella out, holding onto her leash as he opened the back of the car.

“I’ll set up Faith’s bed real quick and we can lay her down,” he said softly and she nodded.

“Sounds good.”

He grabbed the portable crib, and the bag with the sheets and blankets, bringing them and Bella inside. He set up the crib in the guestroom and quickly made the bed, setting Faith’s favorite stuffed animal, the grey alien with a pink belly, in the corner.

Heading back outside, he saw that Scully was taking Faith from the car seat, shushing her when she began to cry. They walked inside while he unloaded the rest of the luggage, bringing it all inside.

He put their bags in the master bedroom and went to the kitchen to unload the food they had brought for the morning. It was mostly stuff for Faith, not taking any chances of being caught out with no food. They planned to make a trip in the morning to stock up for a few days.

He could hear Faith fussing and crying as Scully sang to her, shushing her softly. Once he was done, he called out to Bella, taking her out to pee one more time, giving her a treat when they came back inside.

It was quiet and he smiled tiredly as he searched for the thermostat, setting the heater to seventy to see how that temperature felt. He heard it kick on as the toilet flushed and Scully came out to join him a moment later.

“I like the house very much. It’s the same, but with some changes. And it’s brighter and happier.”

“It is,” he agreed, looking around the white walls, the dark wood paneling gone.

Taking her hand, they walked through the house, looking at all the changes. Some even he had not seen, twenty years being a long time between visits.

The furniture was all done in soft grays and blues. The coffee and side tables were dark oak, with bookshelves that matched. Games and puzzles filled one and random books filled the other.

The kitchen cupboards were steel blue, the countertops done in white marble. Different sized bowls set upon them, one now full of bananas and apples. A white rectangular table with a bench and two chairs sat in the corner, a vase of fake flowers in the middle.

A small laundry room with a stackable washer and dryer and a counter to fold clothes, was just off the kitchen. The side door lead to the wraparound front porch, though they did not venture further than a quick glance.

The floors throughout the house were a light wood, with colorful rugs of grays and blues upon them. The room where Mulder had nearly broken beyond repair, was now a cozy sitting room. Large windows with sheer drapes faced the water which would let in beautiful sunlight in the morning. A dark wicker basket of toys sat beside a red bookcase with children’s books and pictures of the surrounding area sitting upon it.

She turned to him and smiled, which he attempted to return, but failed. She came close and hugged him, holding on tightly. He closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her, trying to block out memories of the past.

“It looks beautiful,” she said quietly, pulling back to look at him. “Much better than before.” He nodded and smiled slightly. Let’s go to bed. It’s late and you know our girl won’t be sleeping in.”

He nodded again and followed her to the bedroom, turning off the lights and locking the doors along the way. Bella was asleep on her bed and paid them no mind as they passed.

As he laid down, Scully’s head on his chest, he let out a deep breath. “No more,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “No more darkness.”

“No,” she whispered back. “No more.” He kissed her head and closed his eyes. “Good night, Mulder.”

“Good night, love.”

_________________________

January 31st

The fire crackled and Bella stretched, letting out a deep sigh. Mulder smiled as he watched her, the fire warm, and no doubt she was exhausted.

They had spent the majority of the day outside in the snow, the depth of it more than he could have imagined, the storm blowing in and taking them by surprise. Bella had jumped and dove into it, coming up covered in the powder, her tongue lolling out happily.

Faith had been a little more hesitant, unsure what to think of it. Bundled up in many layers to ward off the cold, she had tripped once, her hands landing in the snow. She had shook them, trying to get the snow off of her mittens, but to no avail.

Scully had laughed as she bent down beside her, helping her wipe them off. When she had looked at him, picking Faith up, her blue eyes shining with happiness, he had never felt more in love with her.

Even as he was happy to be there with them, his light in the darkness, he had been unable to completely stop thinking of the past. The house being different helped immensely, but there were still spots within it which held some pain.

One of them, the loft where he and Samantha had slept when they were younger, had been a space he specifically asked the developers to turn into something different, though he did not have an actual idea of what he wanted.

What they had done was better than he could have imagined.

A skylight had been added when they put in a new roof and the dark loft was now a cozy reading nook with natural light spilling in. A small television sat in the corner, a VCR and DVD player on the shelf of the stand it sat upon. A storage bench ran the length of the low wall, colorful pillows in blues, grays, and muted greens brightening the space further.

Toys, blankets, and movies were inside of the bench. Two light turquoise bean bag chairs sat atop a striped rug of greens, blue, and tan. The railing had been changed, and now included a thin piece of plexiglass, keeping the view clear, while creating a safe space from little arms, legs, or heads from becoming stuck.

He had brought Faith up there, playing with and reading to her. She had loved the beanbag chairs, climbing on them and then giggling as they moved with her. She had also loved looking down and waving at Scully, calling for her to look up at her. Bella whined as she watched them, wanting to join them so badly.

Sitting in the little loft, the sunlight coming in through the skylight, he had felt his sadness lifting. Faith smiling at him and her laughter helped to replace the pain of the past with the happiness in the present.

“She’s exhausted, isn’t she?” Scully said, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up and saw her smiling at Bella. “I don’t think I have ever seen her so still.” She smiled at him and he chuckled with a nod.

“It was a busy day.”

“Yes, it was.” She turned her head and looked out the window as he did the same, smiling at the snowman family they had made, now covered in even more snow.

Three different sized snow people were wearing extra hats and scarves from each of them. Faith’s was her height and she stared at it from all sides before she hugged it, surprised by the coldness on her cheek when she did. She touched her cheek and looked at him, her brow furrowed.

“Snow is cold, my love,” he had said, bending beside her, touching his cheek to the snow person and then placing his cheek on Faith’s. She had pulled back and touched her cheek again as he laughed, kissing her cold nose.

“May I join you?” Scully asked and he looked at her, confused.

“Of course, why would you… oh.” He chuckled as she joined him in the overstuffed chair in which he was sitting, her head on his shoulder, an arm around his waist, her legs on top of his.

“So by join, you meant sit on my lap, not in the chair beside me?” he asked, his fingers in her hair.

“What would be the fun of that?” she asked, letting out a deep sigh. He chuckled again, nodding and kissing her head.

The fire popped and Bella jumped, standing and staring at it before she stretched, yawned, and laid back down. They laughed quietly, her toes pressing into the seam of his jeans along his calf.

“You okay?” she asked quietly and his fingers paused for a second before running through her hair again.

“I am,” he answered with a slight nod. She lifted her head and pulled back to look at him, her eyes searching his own. He smiled as she touched his cheek and side.

“You’re sure?”

“Mm-hmm.”

She nodded and stroked his face, her fingernails scratching gently at the beard he had been growing for a few weeks. She took a deep breath and licked her lips.

“I like your beard like this,” she whispered and he fought back a smile.

Oh, he knew.

When he had started letting it grow, no longer wanting to shave every morning, she had made comments about his scratchy beard and ducked away as he attempted to rub his cheek against her neck.

But she would always giggle as he did it. He knew she did not really hate it.

When it had grown in, he had noticed the way that she touched it often, her fingertips scratching beneath it, her eyes dilating and her breathing increasing, sex inevitably occurring wherever they were at that moment.

Yeah… he knew.

But he would play it cool.

“You do, huh?” he asked, giving her a curious look.

“Hmm. I do. I didn’t in the past-”

“That was different,” he said quietly, leaning into her hand and staring into her eyes. “I was different. That was a depressed beard. It was ugly and unkempt, no care over how I looked. This is different.”

“I know,” she whispered, her hand stroking softly. “I like it. It’s sexy.”

“Sexy?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist, locking his fingers together, and opening his legs enough to allow hers to slip in between.

“Mm-hmm. Very sexy.” She bit her bottom lip and he smiled.

“I think I may have noticed,” he admitted and she stared at him.

“I like it. Especially on my thighs.” His hands slipped as his body jerked and she grinned.

“Yeah?” he asked, clearing his throat.

“God, yes,” she breathed, her eyes closing. “It’s so stimulating, it makes me…” She shivered and he chuckled, causing her to open her eyes.

“Yeah, I noticed.” He smiled and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“Always observant, you are.”

“When it comes to that, you bet I am.”

“Hmm,” she hummed, dropping her hand down to the button of his thermal shirt and fiddling with it. “How quickly can you put out the fire?”

“Which one?” he teased, unlocking his hands and placing one on her ass. She laughed and kissed him, her tongue stroking his as she shifted onto her knees, her hands on his face.

“This fire is close, but that one needs some attention. You take care of it and meet me in the bedroom.” She kissed him once more and climbed off of his lap, heading to the bedroom, lifting her sweater over her head on the way. “Hurry up or I’m starting without you.”

He jumped up and hurried to put out the fire with the ashes in the metal bucket beside the fireplace. Once he was sure it was out, he walked toward the bedroom, unbuttoning his pants and removing his layers of shirts.

She was on the bed, already naked, her knees bent. She was moaning quietly and he saw she was squeezing her breasts. His clothes dropping to the floor, he tugged at her feet, pulling her legs apart as he climbed onto the bed. He kissed his way up her legs, heading toward his goal. He rubbed his beard against her thighs, one then the other, and she arched her back, his name said breathlessly.

Closer to her center, he breathed deeply, smelling her arousal. He kissed her pubis and she whimpered, her legs tightening around him. Rubbing his chin on her inner thighs, she cried out, grabbing his head and gripping his hair.

“Mulder,” she gasped and he smiled.

“Yes?” he asked, kissing her pubis again, rubbing his face across it back-and-forth. She pulled his hair and he chuckled, raising his head to look at her.

“You’re a shit,” she said, her chest heaving.

“You said you were close and I can tell you are. Nothing wrong with showing some restraint and prolonging that pleasure.”

“Fuck that,” she said through gritted teeth, attempting to push his head where she most wanted it, but he stopped her.

Pushing up, he rubbed his face on her stomach, feeling it quiver as he kept moving up her body, kissing and rubbing his beard against your skin. He reached her breasts and ran his lips across her nipples, then his beard, her legs gripping even tighter as she whimpered.

“Jesus, Mulder. You keep that up, I’m going to come.”

“Is that a complaint?” he asked, knowing the way in which she truly wanted to get there.

“No. Not at ohhh, at all.” She moaned as he came up, nuzzling at her neck and her lips. “Kiss me.” He lifted his head and kissed her lips, her tongue running across his teeth, the kiss hot and needy.

He pulled back and resumed his nuzzling at her neck, back tracking down the path he had taken up her body. He paused at her stomach, enjoying the way it quivered under his touch.

“You’ve known all this time?” she asked quietly, her breath coming out heavy through her nose.

“Of course I have,” he responded, his tongue running from her navel to the top of her pubis. “As if I could not notice.”

He moved, opening her legs and rubbing his beard against her inner thighs once more, her fingernails scratching at his scalp. Her arousal was more evident now and he breathed in her intoxicating scent.

“Mulder, please…” she begged.

And he did, taking his time, making sure she got there.

Twice.

_____________________

The next few days, the snow sticking around, they went for long walks, Bella rolling and sliding in the snow. They went close to the water, throwing sticks in and watching them float away. There were plastic sleds in a small shed out back and they made a small hill, packing down some snow, to let Faith slide down, Mulder catching her at the bottom. Her happy laughter echoed around them, Scully smiling from the top of the little hill, as they trudged back up to do it all again.

They went into the little town, walking along the streets, looking in the windows and stopping in a few places that remained open, masks on and keeping their distance.

In one shop, Mulder found a little pop-up playhouse shaped like a toad stool. It was red with white polka dots on top and a squat round bottom with a curved door and circular windows on the sides. Deciding to keep it for a couple of days, as Valentine’s Day was approaching, though Scully stated it was a rather silly day.

“As though people need a specific day set aside to express their love,” she had said as they walked out of the store, the playhouse in a bag.

“Scully,” he had started to say and she interrupted him.

“I don’t mean that a gift or flowers isn’t nice, but couldn’t someone do that on February nineteenth just as well as the fourteenth? It will cost less on that day which means you could buy even more.” She had shrugged and he smiled, pulling her into his arms and lifting her off the ground.

“I love you,” he had whispered and she laughed.

“See? A few days early even. And that’s all I need.” She had pulled her mask down and kissed him before he set her down and they continued on their way.

The afternoon before Valentine’s Day, after discovering the box of pasta they had planned to eat for dinner that night had not made it home, Mulder had volunteered to go back to the store to get it. Scully insisted they could eat something else that night, as they had just purchased another week's worth of groceries, but he insisted more and with a kiss to her and Faith, he left.

He had an ulterior motive for going, one he did not want her to know about just yet.

While they had been out earlier, he had seen something in a florist shop he wanted to buy for her. It was simple, but it had made him smile when he saw it and he knew he needed to buy it.

Stopping quickly at the store, he bought a bag of Valentine’s chocolate kisses before he picked up the pasta. He drove to the florist shop and went inside, smiling as he saw what he had wanted was still there.

It was a wooden stand with two small glass nearly heart shaped test tube vases, hanging from a metal pronged holder. At the base of the stand was a wooden heart with the word Love written upon it. It was perfect in its simplicity, exactly the kind of gift he knew she would enjoy.

“Those are quite popular, I only have those two left.” He turned and the florist nodded her head at them. “You better grab it while you can.”

“I saw these when we walked by earlier and I had to come back when it was more covert.”

“Understood,” she laughed and pointed to the stands. He nodded and she picked one up with gloved hands and he followed her to the register.

“Do you have any violets? Just a few to set inside the vases?”

“As it happens, I cut some for a bouquet this morning, I always save the extras. Never know when they will come in handy. I’ll get them for you.” He nodded as she walked away, glancing at his watch and seeing he still had time before he began to draw suspicion.

“Here we are, I’ve tied a small bunch together and you can distribute them between the two vases when you get home.”

“Thank you.”

She wrapped the vases and the stand and placed it in a brown gift bag, tied with twine. The flowers were wrapped and he asked for a heart balloon as well- for Faith. She nodded and filled a shiny pink mylar heart with helium.

Paying for it and getting into the car, he smiled at the balloon dancing on the front seat. Such a small thing, but he knew Faith would love it. He could not wait to see her happy smile.

As he got onto the main highway, the street was packed with cars. An ambulance drove past him and he took a deep breath. Most likely an accident and traffic would be backed up for a while. He put the car in park and took out his phone, texting Scully to let her know what was happening.

Take your time. Get home safely. ❤️

He smiled at the heart and put his phone in the cup holder. Turning the heater up a bit, he then turned the volume up on the radio and leaned his head back on the headrest.

A song began to play, a soft strum of a guitar and he was immediately pulled in, as he closed his eyes.

Take it If she gives you her heart Don't you break it Let your arms be a place She feels safe in She's the best thing that you'll ever have

His eyes flew open and he sat up straight, listening intently to the next part of the song.

She always has trouble Falling asleep And she likes to cuddle While under the sheets She loves Pop songs And dancing, and bad trash TV There's still a few other things

She loves love notes and babies And likes giving gifts Has a hard time accepting A good compliment She loves her whole family And all of her friends So if you're the one she lets in

Take it If she gives you her heart Don't you break it Let your arms be a place She feels safe in She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her

On days when It feels like the whole World might cave in Stand side by side And you'll make it She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her like that

“Pull to the right. We will be detouring you. Pull to the right. You will be detoured.” A voice said over a speaker and Mulder jumped, looking to his right. A police suburban drove by, lights flashing but no siren.

He turned the car on, missing the rest of the song as he concentrated on following the detour. The words remained in his head however, his thoughts of Scully and how it sounded as though the song had been written especially about them.

Pulling into the driveway a few minutes later, he turned the car off and picked up his phone, searching for the song with the words he remembered hearing.

He found it on the second search, listening to its entirety before purchasing it with a smile. Moving the gifts to the back of the car to bring in later when Scully was busy with something else, he grabbed the pasta and walked inside, a plan for tomorrow beginning to formulate. ______________________

February 14th

“Oh! So pretty!” Faith exclaimed as she stood in front of the toadstool playhouse and clapped her hands happily. She ran inside and squealed when she saw the pink balloon floating inside. “Heart. Pink heart. So pretty.”

They both bent down and watched her exploring, looking out the windows and calling out hello. Mulder unrolled the door and she popped out from behind it shouting boo! and running to him. He caught her and fell back, feigning fear. She laughed and ran back to scare him again.

“I’ll go get breakfast started,” Scully said with a smile, rising from her knees beside the playhouse.

“No wait!” he called out and stood quickly to his feet. “I uh… I can do it.”

“You’re playing with Faith. I don’t want to disturb the fun.” She smiled anew and started to walk to the kitchen when he stopped her again. “What are you doing?”

“Just… I…” He sighed heavily and shook his head. “We said Valentine’s Day wasn’t important, but… I got you something and it’s set up in the kitchen.” He sighed again and she smiled slowly, licking her lips and rolling her eyes as she shook her head.

“Well then, I’m just as guilty.”

“What?”

“I said it wasn’t important, that it was just a day, but… I got you something too.”

“Whoa, I’m having a crazy feeling of deja vu,” he murmured, thinking about a Christmas morning, opening gifts together in his apartment. She laughed, which ended with a sigh, her shoulders lifting in a shrug and a shake of her head.

“Together?” he asked and she nodded, reaching for his hand.

“Together.”

He scooped up Faith, wanting her to share in the festivities and they walked into the kitchen, his eyes on Scully to see her reaction.

“Oh! Hearts!” Faith shouted and he chuckled, glancing at her before looking back at Scully.

She shook her head with a smile, letting go of his hand to look at the numerous cutout hearts hanging and spinning slowly from the ceiling, some single and some intertwined. They were all made from white notebook paper, the house not exactly full of crafting materials.

“When did you do this?” she asked and he smiled.

“Last night after you fell asleep. You are a heavy sleeper sometimes, as you know.” He set Faith in her high chair attached to the kitchen chair, buckling her in as Scully came to stand beside them.

“Mulder, this is so beautiful. And violets…” she said, touching the flowers in the vases, rubbing his back as she did. “Thank you, love.” She kissed him and he smiled as she pulled back.

“You’re welcome. Check out the counter.”

She turned around and laughed as she walked to the counter and saw the heart shape he had made from the chocolate kisses.

“You and the kisses,” she teased, and he knew she was remembering years ago when he had left the chocolate kisses in and with various people at the hospital, letting her know it had been him doing it only when she had arrived at home.

“Chocolate kisses are sweet,” he responded and she laughed softly, foregoing the candy, and coming close to kiss him again.

“Dada. Na-na, please.”

“Of course, my love. I’m so sorry.” He took a banana from the bowl and peeled it, cutting it into pieces and placing it in a bowl. He gave it to her with a small fork and kissed the top of her head. “That should buy us a few minutes.”

“Right, let me get your-”

“Did you see what was on the hearts?” he asked, stopping her from getting his gift. She looked up at the hearts and then back at him. “Oh right, they’re up quite high. Let me help you reach them.”

“You’d better watch it,” she said, reaching up, but he was ahead of her and he cut the twine with some scissors, a single heart fluttering into her hands.

“Stubborn,” she read and looked at him, with her eyebrows raised.

“Oh… whoops. That wasn’t supposed to be the first one. Let’s try this one.” He cut down another single heart and she caught it.

“Empathy. That’s much better.” She gave him a look and walked to the next single heart, waiting to catch it. He grinned as he snipped the twine and once again she caught it.

Five more hearts were released from the twine, and when she had them all, she laid them on the counter.

“Intelligence. Empathy. Compassion. Beauty. Stubborn. Understanding. Loving. Sexy.” She looked at him with a grin and he raised a fist.

“Nailed it. First time truly celebrating in a loooooong time and I hit it outta the park.” He danced around, Faith laughing as she watched him, bananas squished in her hands and on her face.

“Yes, you did good. Now it’s my turn.”

“Bring it on, honey.”

“Dada, milk please.”

“I’ll get it,” Scully said, opening the fridge quickly and taking out her cup of milk.

She handed it to Faith and kissed her head, before opening the pantry and taking out a gift wrapped in pink paper with anatomically correct red hearts. He laughed as she handed it to him and she smiled.

“Gotta have some authenticity to it,” she stated with a shrug. He nodded and carefully unwrapped the box.

Lifting the lid and then the tissue paper, he drew in a breath. Looking up at her, she smiled softly and he shook his head as he looked back at the gift she had given him.

It was a collage of pictures held within a frame, in the center of which was a drawing of a grinning heart overflowing with other smiling hearts. Underneath was written, My heart is happy.

Every picture was from their visit. A picture of the house on its own. Him and Faith in the loft reading a book. Faith mid sled, him smiling happily with his arms out wide to catch her, the house in the background. One of them all by the fire, a squishy selfie they liked to call it. Another selfie in the snow, all of them red cheeked and grinning. Down by the water, him showing Faith how to throw sticks. Bella jumping out of the snow as Faith laughed. The snow family. Him and Faith asleep on the couch, her laying on his chest.

“I wanted you to see. To see the happiness I’ve seen in you,” Scully said quietly and he nodded, looking up at her with a lump in his throat, understanding the many layers to the gift.

“Thank you,” he said hoarsely. She grasped his forearm as he let out a deep breath, looking at the pictures again.

So much thought had gone into the choice of pictures, always showcasing the house and how happiness had outweighed the sadness previously held inside the walls.

“The best thing that you’ll ever have,” he whispered, shaking his head with a sigh.

“What?” Scully asked and he looked at her with a smile, setting down the frame and picking up his phone from where it was charging on the counter.

“I heard this yesterday and I…” He queued up the song and set the phone down, reaching for her hand and pushing play. “I swear it was written for us.” He watched her face as the first chords of the song began.

Take it If she gives you her heart Don't you break it Let your arms be a place She feels safe in She's the best thing that you'll ever have

He smiled and she scrunched her chin, her eyes shining. He took her other hand and pulled her close as they began to sway slowly.

She always has trouble Falling asleep And she likes to cuddle While under the sheets She loves Pop songs And dancing, and bad trash TV There's still a few other things

He felt her chuckle and he held her tighter.

She loves love notes and babies And likes giving gifts Has a hard time accepting A good compliment She loves her whole family And all of her friends So if you're the one she lets in

Take it If she gives you her heart Don't you break it Let your arms be a place She feels safe in She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her

On days when It feels like the whole World might cave in Stand side by side And you'll make it She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her like that

So many thoughts and moments in their lives flashed in his mind. He heard her sniffling and he knew she was thinking of them as well.

Kiss her with passion As much as you can Run your hands through her hair Whenever she's sad And when she doesn't notice How pretty she is Tell her over and over So she never forgets

Take it If she gives you her heart Don't you break it Let your arms be a place She feels safe in She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her

On days when It feels like the whole World might cave in Stand side by side And you'll make it She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her like that

He pulled back and stared at her, cupping her face and rubbing his thumb across her cheek, as the song continued, speaking without saying a word. She shook her head and took a deep breath, closing her eyes and laying her head on his chest as the last lines of the song began to play.

On days when It feels like the whole World might cave in Stand side by side And you'll make it She's the best thing that you'll ever have She'll love you If you love her like that

As it ended, they remained swaying in each other’s arms, his arms holding her tightly.

“Mama. Dada. More food. Na-na all gone.” They both laughed, the private bubble they had been in popped, as reality came calling.

“More food?” he asked, pulling back from Scully, rubbing her arms as he did. “Did you make banana art today, or actually eat most of it?” Faith grinned at him and he shook his head at the mess she always made.

“Time for pancakes, I think,” Scully said, taking the premade bowl of batter from the fridge.

“Faithy look! It’s pink! Pink pancakes!”

“Yay! Pink pa-cakes!”

The heart kisses were moved into a bowl, Mulder opening one and offering it to Scully, who took it with happiness shining in her eyes. He found a Valentine’s Day playlist on his music app and they sang along and danced as they worked together to make breakfast.

“You’re simply the best!” he sang into the spatula as he flipped the pink pancakes. “Better than alllllll the rest!” Scully laughed and Faith wiggled in her high chair.

Sitting down to eggs and pink heart shaped pancakes, Scully having purchased a heart cookie cutter at the store unbeknownst to him, they smiled at each other, toasting a successful Valentine’s Day.

As they ate, he glanced at the gift Scully had given him and looked around the kitchen, at the changes made for the better, and he made a decision.

“I’ll call Brian tomorrow, see if we can’t figure something out to keep this place as a rental. See if he has any suggestions for what we could do. I… I’m not quite ready to let it go just yet.” Scully smiled slowly and reached for his hand.

“I think that’s a great idea. I wouldn’t mind coming back.”

“I think that could be arranged,” he said, his words from years ago, holding more weight. A promise he intended to fulfill.

“Maybe when it’s warmer though. Perhaps when there is a little less snow.”

He laughed and nodded, imagining coming there in the summer, and the many activities they could do in the warmer weather.

“Yes, we’ll definitely have to come back when it’s warmer.”

“I’d like that,” she said and he nodded.

“Me too.”

And he meant it.

____________________________________________

The song in this story is If You Love Her by Forest Blakk. I heard it and knew I had to include it in a story somehow. It’s such an MSR song.

My friend who asked for the story makes MSR videos and asked if there was a song I would like her to use. I told her THIS song and she created an amazing video. I’ve included the link and you should all go check it out. It is simply beautiful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEoHZiRNrGM

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justanotherpersonsuniverse · 4 years ago

Text

Paladin Rose (An Other Magic AU Substory written by CartoonAddict564 from the comment section)

Part 3 (Beginning of the End arc)

First things first, Juleka thought. She had to get Alya away from anyone who might suggest anything to her. She had to find out exactly what had been done to her. She had to find out how to fix it. And she had to see if it was possible to take the Ladyblog ad down.

So she carefully left Alya, who kept apologizing for 'being useless and stupid,' and went back to Bustier's class. "Um, Miss Bustier?" she said. "The Lavaillants asked Alya to help them write up some flyers to find Rose. Is it okay if she does that instead of coming back to homeroom? She's super worried..."

Bustier quickly nodded. "Of course. That's very kind of her."

Sometimes, Juleka thought, it was nice having a total pushover for a teacher. "Actually, she asked if maybe a few of us could help. Is that okay?"

"Well, if it's to help Rose I don't see why not--"

"Great. Alix, Chloe, Sabrina, let's go. Bye!" And Juleka ushered her friends out the door before leaving a somewhat surprised Bustier behind them.

----

"So she'll really do anything anyone says?" Alix asked. "Anything?"

"Far as I can tell," said Juleka, frowning at her phone. "Come on, Luka, pick up already!"

"Oooh." Chloe grinned. "This could be fun."

Alya beamed at her. "Yes?" she asked. "Do you have something I should be doing? I'd try to think of it myself, but I'm terrible and dumb. If you could tell me what to do, I'd be so grateful!"

"Ugh, she's worse than Sabrina," groaned Alix.

"Hey!" said the redhead. "I don't act like that."

Everyone stared at her.

Sabrina sighed. "Well, not as much anymore," she insisted. "I'm getting better. I--"

"Quiet." Juleka held up the phone. "Luka, finally. We have a problem, and--um, why are you wearing a helmet?"

Through the video feed of the phone, they could all see Luka looking embarrassed as he removed it. "Oh, uh, Rose said she could use a sparring partner, so I thought I'd help out." He paused. "She whooped me. Your girlfriend knows her way around a sword and lance, Juleka."

"It's why I love her," Juleka deadpanned. "Listen, the Lavaillats showed up and cast some kind of spell on Alya to make her ask Ladybug and Chat Noir to find Rose."

All the good humor fled his face. "Rose," he called. "Get over here. You'll want to hear this."

----

"...so that's what happened," Juleka finished.

Rose's normally adorable face (at least in Juleka's view) was red with anger. "But that's awful!" she insisted. "That spell is only for evil monsters and villains! It's supposed to help them recognize the harm they've done. You know, make them more humble so they stop being all 'I am so great I have the right to hurt people' and start being all, 'I'm no better than them; it's wrong to hurt them.'" She crossed her arms. "Using it on a civilian is messed up!"

"Aren't they worried someone might learn they're, you know, crazy magic paladins?" Alix asked.

"Doubt it." Luka shrugged. "Presumably the spell wears off at some point. Then all anyone thinks is that Alya had really low self-esteem today, probably including Alya herself. No one thinks magic was involved."

Rose nodded. "The spell lasts for about twelve hours. If the bad guy has some epiphany about, you know, not being a villain anymore, that can last longer. But the spell itself should be done by bedtime."

"So for today, Alya will do anything anyone asks." Chloe began to smile. "Well, obviously we need someone to stay by her to make sure no one asks her for anything bad. I volunteer."

"No," said everyone else at once, including Luka and Rose.

Chloe pretended to gasp. "What, do you not trust me?"

"I trust you!" said Alya. "You're better than me, anyways."

The others frowned, but then Chloe glared at them. "Listen. One of us can get out of school anytime she wants because of who her daddy is, and it happens to me. I'll tell Damocles that we have some urgent thing to do, and he'll give us passes so we can leave. Then I'll take her up to my room in daddy's hotel and, I don't know, lock her in a closet or something. Otherwise, she'll be stuck here all day, and then Kim will dare her to dive into the pool with her laptop or something dumb like that."

Nobody said anything.

"I'm not going to hurt her," stressed Chloe. "Seriously. Guys--"

"Alright," said Alix at last. "If you promise, I trust you."

Juleka gave Sabrina a very uneasy look, but Chloe was right; she was the only one who could get out of school, and even her power was probably limited to just herself and maybe one other person. "Fine," she said. "But seriously, Chloe. If we come by and find her in a maid costume scrubbing your bathroom, we're throwing you into your pool."

"Bleh." Chloe stuck out her tongue at them. "I'll be good. I promise."

"If that's taken care of," said Alix, "We need to get that blog post off the Ladybug."

Juleka shook her head. "Can't. Alya's the only one that knows the password, and anything to do with the blog is the one type of suggestion she won't take. That post is up there until the spell wears off and she gets rid of it herself."

"Hey," said Luka. "Here's a thought. Maybe that's not such a bad thing."

"What?!" yelled the rest of the team at once. Even Rose seemed shocked.

"No, wait, listen." Luka held up his hands. "We know the Lavaillants are going to do something to try to find Rose, right? Well, this is something we can control. Alya has Ladybug's number. Once this spell wears off she can contact her privately and explain that they shouldn't find Rose--instead they should stall. Lead the Lavailllants on for as long as possible, and then say, oh, we got a report that she was heading to Timbuktu or something." As long as Ladybug doesn't find Rose today--and since Rose is going to be staying under deck all day, that shouldn't be a problem--we're fine."

Juleka considered. "One issue. Suppose Ladybug doesn't just take Alya's word for it that Rose shouldn't be found? I mean we can't explain the real reason."

"Why not?" asked Sabrina. "They're already magical. They're literally the most likely people to believe 'Rose's parents are evil paladins and Rose had to run away to date her vampire girlfriend and stay with her vampire girlfriend's cute older brother' on Earth."

Juleka sighed. "Because--wait, you think my brother is cute?"

Sabrina made a soft 'eep!' sound. "Um, I just meant aesthetically."

"Hmm," mused Rose with a soft smile. She was still wearing her armor, except for her helmet, and it occurred once again to Juleka that Rose looked incredibly beautiful when wearing full chainmail and carrying a sword. "He's alright. But I prefer the vampire girlfriend, myself."

"...right." Juleka shook her head, though she couldn't hide a faint smile. "Anyways, the more people who know that things like vampires and werewolves exist, the higher the chance of Inquisition 2: this time the humans have guns." She shrugged. "Ladybug and Chat Noir wouldn't join the mob, but if we told them about us and it leaked somehow? We could be in trouble."

"Oh." Sabrina frowned. "Right."

"We'll just have to be persuasive, then" said Luka. "Or, you know. 'Persuasive.' Like I showed you."

Juleka frowned. She'd didn't like using her suggestion power, and really didn't like her odds of using it on a superhero. "That might... not work."

"Well, we'll think of something. And if I'm right, the Lavaillants will think things are progressing, so they won't look for her." Luka clapped his hands together. "Okay, that just leaves your classmates. How do we deal with them?"

"If it were just Kim and Max it'd be easy," grumbled Alix. "I could blast them with spells to make them confused. Well, moreso than usual."

"Or I could use Suggestion," added Juleka. "But Markov is a robot. I don't think magic works on him."

Then Sabrina stepped into the center of the group. "I'll handle them."

Chloe frowned. "What? Ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. Sabrina, we can all fight if we have to. We're predators, except for Alix, who's a badass magician." Alix blushed a little. "But you turn into a deer. What'll you do, eat grass at them?"

Sabrina frowned. "I'm serious, Chloe. I want to help."

"Why?" asked Alix. "I mean, we appreciate it, but I don't know if this is your thing. You're... nice. Easygoing. You let people do things. Standing up to Kim and Max... you sure you're up for it?"

"Yes." The redhead looked down. "You all saved me from being trapped in an alien world. And even before that, you were nice to me despite the... the things I did." She managed a glance at Chloe. "I've done nothing to repay you yet. I want to fix that."

"This isn't about paying a debt," insisted Juleka. "We're friends. We--"

"I'm not going to be a burden!" Sabrina took a breath. "You're my friends, and I want to help you! I... I just really want to help." She bowed her head. "Please let me do this."

They all looked at each other. But it was Rose who said, "Well, then I say go for it!"

"You realize if she messes up and Kim catches you, you're the one who's in trouble," said Alix. "We're clear on that, right?"

"If she says she can do it, I trust her," said Rose serenely.

Juleka hesitated. She had a very bad feeling about this. But...

But she understood wanting to be useful. Wanting not to burden one's friends. And she trusted them, both Sabrina and Rose. "Alright." She said. "Let us know if you need anything."

"I will!" enthused Sabrina. "I won't let you down!"

"Alright then." Luka nodded. "Chloe, take Alya to the hotel; Alix and Juleka, maybe start working out our argument to Ladybug; Sabrina, do your thing." He grinned. "Let's do this, guys."

——

"Hi-yah!"

Luka tumbled to the floor of the ship and looked at the beaming Rose. "Okay, okay, I concede. You're the better fighter." He accepted her hand to pull himself up. "How did you get so strong?"

"I am strengthened by my righteousness!" said Rose. "And also push-ups. Lots of push-ups. One more time?" Her tone turned wheedling. "You can use magic if you want."

Luka considered. "Alright," he said at last. "And--go!" He murmured something as Rose leapt at him--

And then Rose sailed up to the ceiling as Luka's floatation spell hit her. The sword fell from her hand, and without it her arms were just a little too short to reach his head. "Hey!" said Rose as Luka chuckled. "That was mean."

"I am strengthened by my magic," intoned Luka. "And also 'not being a midget.'" Rose stuck out her tongue at him, but was smiling and didn't seem annoyed. "Anyways, that should wear off in a few minutes. Want a snack while you're waiting?"

"Hmph." Rose wrinkled her nose. "No. As a paladin who has been defeated, I must reflect on my failure and pray to improve--wait, is that cherry licorice?" She looked at the box of candy Luka had taken out from one of the hold's cabinets. "I love that flavor!"

Luka laughed at that and lifted the box above his head so she could reach it. "Once you're down we'll check on Juleka. See how the gang's doing with Ladybug, Kim, and so on."

Rose frowned. "Do you think they're doing okay?"

"Oh, I'm sure they are."

----

No sooner had school let out than Juleka entered Le Grand Paris Hotel and made a beeline for the elevator so she could get to Chloe and Alya, but just before she entered she got a text. "Juleka," Chloe had written to her. "Sabrina left school early to start getting ready, so when you get here, go to the private kitchens and check on her to make sure she didn't set herself on fire or anything."

"Set herself on fire?" Juleka frowned. "What's she doing?" And so she ducked into the restaurant, slipped into the back area, and then went past the bustling main kitchens to reach the smaller ones which were reserved for private functions and special occasions. One of them had a 'Closed' sign on it even though there was light coming through the crack in the door, so Juleka pushed it open and went in.

Sabrina was working at one of the counters next to a rack of ovens. The burners held bubbling pots of food that looked and smelled great. Juleka's stomach rumbled and she wondered if maybe she could get a snack--but then she forced herself to focus. "Sabrina?" she asked.

"Eep!" Sabrina jumped and pointed a ladle at Juleka before realizing who it was. "Oh, it's you. Sorry." She took a breath. "How was school?"

"Sucky." Juleka frowned. "Um, are you sure you should be in the open like this? Your father's looking for you, and he's in the police, so--"

"I know it's a risk." Sabrina took a slow breath. "I know. But like I said earlier, I want to help. And..." She gestured at the food. "This is the only way I know how to help."

Juleka tilted her head as she understood. "Fey food," she murmured. "You're going to get Max and Kim to eat something which puts them under your control."

"Right."

"Do you know how to do that?" Juleka stepped closer and looked at the food. "I talked to Luka about that stuff one day--I was a little kid and I got it in my head that if I accidentally bought a snack from a store and it was a fey store somehow, the fey would be able to take me away forever--and he said it's tough."

"Well, I've been studying," said Sabrina primly. "You know how good I am at school. I'm sure I--"

At that moment, one of the pots erupted in a blast of stew, spattering Sabrina's face and covering her eyeglasses.

Juleka hid her giggle as Sabrina looked down. "I'm not useless," she said, as if trying to convince herself. "I'm not. I'm not--"

"Of course you're not," said Juleka. "I've needed help with my powers plenty of times too. And Chloe--she needs Alix to do all kinds of magic junk to her every month so she doesn't wolf out and eat somebody." She stepped to Sabrina's side. "I can call Luka. Maybe he can help walk you through this."

"Or," said a new voice from the door, "She could ask an expert."

Both Juleka and Sabrina wheeled around to see another Sabrina. But this one was different. Wilder, somehow. Her hair was tangled, her clothes were a bizarre mishmash of black goth gear and forest-green stuff that looked like it came from Ancient Rome, and her eyes were somehow unsettling. "You're the other me," Sabrina whispered. "The one the fey took."

"What do you want?" asked Juleka at once.

The human Sabrina smiled. "Maybe I just wanted to drop in on my sister," she said as she approached. "Give a little advice."

"Fey don't give things." Juleka growled. "You want to trap her in some kind of deal, and--"

The changeling Sabrina put a hand on Juleka's shoulder. "Wait," she said. "She didn't let my dad send me back to the fey. I don't think she's hostile." She took a breath and met her double's gaze. "I want to talk to her."

"Sabrina..." began Juleka.

"You seem stressed," said the human Sabrina. "Peckish, even. Want a snack?" She whipped what looked like a box of cookies out from... actually, Juleka had no idea where it had come from. "Freshly baked."

"Nice try." Juleka frowned at her, then looked around for something safe to eat in case the human Sabrina could somehow manipulate her appetites and make her hungry enough to eat the cookies. She settled on a box of nuts on a counter and began to snack on them as she said, "We're not dumb enough to take food from someone who lives with the fey."

The human Sabrina shrugged. "Many humans aren't. That's why we have other methods. Like, say leaving a few food items around ahead of time just in case." Her eyes flicked to the box of nuts.

Then the changeling Sabrina looked at the box too. "Uh, Juleka? I didn't put those there."

Juleka's eyes widened and she tried to spit out the nuts, but the human Sabrina snapped her fingers and Juleka's body froze. "In exchange for those nuts," she said in a light voice, "You're to leave this kitchen and not return until after I'm done talking with my sister." She grinned as Juleka's body began to move of its own accord. "Bye!"

As soon as Juleka's traitorous legs took her out of the kitchen and stopped, Juleka cursed, then raced towards the nearest ceiling vent. No sooner had she gotten there and verified the coast was clear than she pried the vent off, shifted into her bat form, and flew through it. When she found a vent leading into the kitchen, she placed a talon on the vent's exit grate and found it completely unmovable. Her body would not let her open up the passage back inside. But she could stay there, technically 'outside' the kitchen and watch the conversation.

"Why do you want to help me?" asked the changeling Sabrina quietly.

The human redhead shrugged. "We're sisters," she said. "And you interest me."

"Why?"

"During that fight on the hill, even though you were drugged, you tried to help your friends," the human said. "You could have tried to run away. Or just hidden. But you tried to save them--even though you were the one in danger." She hesitated. "It's... not a very fey thing to do. I was intrigued."

The changeling smiled slightly. "Thanks. And, um, thanks for not letting my dad send me back."

"No problem." The human Sabrina clapped her counterpart on the shoulder. "So. This fey food."

"Is it good?" the changeling asked.

The human stuck a finger inside one of the pots and sucked it. "Magic's all wrong," she said. "This is basically synthetic hemlock. Sorry."

Sabrina blanched and looked down, but her counterpart was at her side. "Fortunately, I can show you how to do it right," she said.

That made the changeling brighten, but then she paused. "In exchange for what?"

The human Sabrina grinned, as if the changeling had passed a test. "Get me set up with this 'Internet' thing the mortals use," she said. "It sounds cool. I want to see what the fuss is."

The changeling quickly nodded. "You got it. Once I'm done with this food, I'll get you a phone and an account." She extended her hand and the other Sabrina shook it.

"Alright then. I think we'll be fine." The human Sabrina sent a meaningful look up at Juleka's vent. "Totally fine," she stressed.

Juleka flushed; apparently she hadn't been as sneaky as she thought. And it did seem like the changeling Sabrina was in good hands. She quickly fluttered back down the shaft.

----

When Juleka reached Chloe's suite and entered it, she sighed. "Chloe. We talked about this."

"What?" Chloe was reclining in bed while Alya braided her hair and did her nails. "You said no scrubbing the bathroom. She's not!"

Juleka frowned.

"Besides, I did her hair and nails too, so she owes me." Chloe gestured at Alya, whose hair and nails did seem fancier.

"You realize when the spell wears off you're going to have an angry fox on your hands?"

Chloe waved a hand. "That's not for a few hours. I'll send her away, give her time to see that I just gave her practice in making people prettier. She'll be fine."

Juleka frowned. There was an odd glint in Alya's eyes. A mixture of annoyance... and anticipation. "And supposing my brother got the time wrong and the spell actually wore off two minutes ago?"

Chloe blinked. "Huh?"

And then Alya dumped all the hair dye bottles onto Chloe's head at once.

"ALYAAAAA!"

——

"Kim! Max! Thanks for coming!" Sabrina clasped her hands together and welcomed the two boys into the deserted little park. She'd sent them a text asking them to meet her there at dinner for 'something urgent,' and fortunately, both had showed up, along with Markov. "It's good to see you!"

"You too, Sabrina," said Max politely. "We noticed you left school early today. Is anything wrong?"

Sabrina waved this off. "Don't worry about it."

"How long will this take?" Kim asked. "Cause I don't know if you heard, but Rose's folks put a $3000 bounty on her, and we're gonna collect!"

"Not long," Sabrina promised. She had a picnic basket and began to take out what looked like small sandwiches. "Come on, I brought snacks so we can eat while we talk! Here, these are the appetizers--please, enjoy!"

Juleka, who had asked Luka to cast a glamour over her so she would look as different from herself as possible (it wound up making her look like a peppy cheerleader), was sitting nearby and paying close attention. She smiled as Kim's expression changed to one of glee. "Awesome, free food, thanks!"

Sabrina smiled brightly as Max and Kim each ate one of the sandwiches. "Man, this is really good," Kim said at last. "Did you do something special to make this?"

"N--" began Sabrina, before her mouth seemed to freeze. "N--N--"

Juleka stiffened. "What's going on?"

"Ooh, rookie move."

Juleka jumped and turned to see the human Sabrina, who had someone slipped up next to her without her noticing. "Hey Fangsy," she said. "What're we watching?"

Juleka scowled. "Sabrina's trying to talk to those guys but her mouth stopped working or something--"

"Well, duh." The human shrugged. "She's probably tried to lie. But she's a fey, and fey can't lie. So she couldn't say it."

"But she's lied before!" Juleka insisted. "Loads of times! Mostly for Chloe!"

"Yeah, but she was trying to live like a human then. Most of her magic was dormant. Now she's actively using her magic and calling on her fey nature. So that nature's reasserting herself." Human Sabrina shrugged. "No lies for her."

Juleka scowled, then quickly texted Sabrina, "YOU CAN'T LIE." Sabrina glanced at the text, blanched, then seemed to make herself swallow and say, "Yes. Now--"

"What'd you do?" asked Max. "Seriously, this is really good."

"I..." Juleka could see that Sabrina was thinking fast. "...had an expert teach me a few tricks."

"She local?" asked Kim.

"No. From out of town. Way, way out." Sabrina fixed a big smile on her face. "Anyways! I hope you enjoyed that?" Both boys nodded. "Good. And, um, in exchange I was hoping for just a little favor?"

Kim gulped down his second sandwich. "What is it?" he asked.

"Well, I had this proposal for you, and I'd like you to listen to it and--uh--agree with me?" She flashed a disarming smile, one that usually accompanied a statement being made in a tentative or hopeful manner, one that could be accepted or rejected later. But there was nothing ambiguous in the words themselves, and Juleka knew that with fey, the words were all that counted. The boys were bound to listen to and agree with whatever Sabrina proposed.

"Ooh, smart," mused the human Sabrina. "Nice play."

"Why?" Juleka asked.

The redhead looked at her. "If she just ordered them to 'not look for Rose,' they'd do it--their bodies wouldn't let them go walking around hunting for her--but they'd notice how weird that was. So first she ordered them to 'agree' with whatever she says next. Now she'll offer them another round of food and tell them not to find Rose. They won't look for her--that's from the second dish--but more than that, they'll agree that they shouldn't look for her--from the first one."

Juleka considered. "Why don't all fey do it that way, then? Instead of just ordering people to do X, order them to think they should do X?"

"Well, it's easier to screw up and drive people totally insane the way she's doing it. She has to make sure she asks for something reasonable enough that their minds accept it; if she asks for something crazy, they'll do it and think that they should do it but still know it's insane, so then they go bonkers from the contradiction. Giving orders without demanding agreement doesn't hurt human brains as much if things go wrong." She grinned. "This is fun! Popcorn?" She offered Juleka a bag.

Juleka found herself reaching to take a handful before she caught herself and scowled. "Do you do anything besides offer people food to get them to do things?"

"Why? That's the best part of being fey-like!"

Meanwhile, Sabrina had taken out little platters of steaks with a compound butter on top. "Oh wow," said Kim as he gobbled it down. "Seriously, when we graduate and you become Chloe's live-in servant full time, she's gonna eat like a queen."

Juleka thought she saw a vein twitch in Sabrina's forehead. "Anyway," the changeling said. "Here's my proposal." And from her basket she took out a map of Paris. "You said you were also looking for Rose, right? I propose we should split up the city to be more effective. Specifically--in exchange for this sumptuoussteak," She paused so they all could laugh, again letting her tone and demeanor make the 'bargain' sound more informal than it was--"You guys pick this area." She gestured at a large section of the map mostly comprising the outer districts and suburbs of Paris; by area it was more than 70% of the city. "I'll take this one," she said, gesturing at an inner area which just happened to include Rose's actual location.

"Why that one?" asked Markov in a protective voice. "And why should we look in this outer area?"

"Well, honestly, I think Rose is--" Sabrina's mouth froze again and her eyes bulged slightly as she tried to reword whatever she was about to say to be, technically, not a lie. "There are reasons why Rose could choose to go to these suburban areas," she said at last. "Less security cameras, fewer people who know her personally. You looking there could be logical."

"Then why are you giving it to us?" pressed Markov.

Sabrina made a melodramatic sigh. "My father won't take me to wander around the outskirts of town right now," she said, and Juleka knew that was true, though not for the reasons she was implying. "Also, I know this inner part of the city best. If she's there, I'm sure I can find her. Whereas if I looked somewhere else, I surely wouldn't find her no matter what."

All true, Juleka thought. Rose was in the central part of the city, and Sabrina could find her--but she hadn't said she'd tell anyone she'd found her. And if Sabrina looked somewhere else she would never find Rose, since regardless of Rose's exact position, she wouldn't be in the 'somewhere else.'

The human Sabrina grinned. "She's a sharp one. I like her."

Meanwhile, the two boys looked at each other. "I agree," said Kim, and Juleka was relieved to hear he didn't seem to be mentally struggling with it. "Splitting up makes sense, and I'd rather have the bigger section anyways. We'll look there and not on your turf."

"Agreed!" said Max.

Markov hesitated, but said, "I suppose that makes sense. I'll recalculate my probabilities, focusing on that area."

"Excellent!" Sabrina grinned. "I'm so glad we could work this out. And now..." She hefted her picnic basket. "Desert?"

----

"So now, what, they just owe you a favor?" asked Juleka.

"Yep!" Sabrina beamed, then looked at her duplicate. "Thanks again for your help."

"Hey, you already paid me back," said the human Sabrina lightly. "No worries."

Juleka chuckled as she looked at the remaining food. "I can't believe they just ate it."

"Why? It's delicious!" The changeling Sabrina gave a sly glance to the human one, and Juleka had the brief feeling of being set up for a prank. "Want some?"

"Um, no," said Juleka. "I--"

The changeling Sabrina gasped. "Juleka, are you saying you think I'll order you to do something horrible?" She melodramatically flopped against her duplicate's arms. "I thought you trusted me!"

"I just don't--"

"Oh!" Sabrina's eyes quivered like she was about to cry, though her smile belied this. "I knew you wouldn't trust me. Nobody trusts fey."

Juleka stared. "Are you... are you trying to guilt me into eating your fey food?"

"Who, her?" simpered the human Sabrina. "She's just sad you don't trust her."

"My heart is shattered," intoned Sabrina. "My soul is rent! My--"

"Fine!" snapped Juleka, grabbing one of the desert toffees. She glared at it and sighed. Well, how bad could it be? And she popped it in her mouth.

Both Sabrinas grinned.

---

Alya and Chloe were still in the suite when Juleka came in, now wearing a cheerleader outfit for real. "Let's have some pep!" She chirped as she began a complicated series of gymnastics she probably couldn't have done normally. "For the mystery gang! Like, yay!"

Behind her the Sabrinas came in. The changeling one was recording the performance on her phone and sending it to the boat, where Luka, Rose, and Alix were watching. They all stared as the goth vampire bounced around like a hyperactive school mascot.

Finally, Juleka finished her performance with a set of splits. "Hooray for us! We're awesome!" And it was only then that she came back to herself, picked herself up, and glared at the Sabrinas.

"So!" chirped Sabrina as everyone else, including Rose and Luka, burst into laughter. "As you can see, I learned how to make fey food!"

——

"...so Max, Markov and Kim shouldn't be a problem anymore," Juleka was saying. "Sabrina did great."

The redhead blushed as everyone else clapped. They were gathered in Alix's living room, with Rose and Luka having used one of Alix's charms to teleport directly there. "The rest of the class shouldn't be a problem," Juleka went on. "I'lll ask around tomorrow to see if anyone else will try for the reward. If so, Sabrina's got some emergency baked goods."

Sabrina waggled a basket full of fey pastries, a bright smile on her face.

"Great," said Luka, making a note. "That's one problem down. What about Sabrina and her dad? How do we stop Roger from having police look for her?"

"He hasn't done that yet," mused Alix, sitting next to an armchair. "I mean, nobody stopped Sabrina at school. Don't know why, though."

"Because he doesn't want her," drawled Chloe. She was in the armchair Alix was next to. "He's ridiculous, utterly ridiculous, and wants the other Sabrina. He only needed our Sabrina to get the other one back to our world, and now that other Sabrina's in town, he has no use for his own daughter." She sniffed. "What an idiot. If I had someone like Sabrina I'd respect her."

"Uh," said Alya. "About that." But Sabrina waved her off.

Luka looked around. "Where is other Sabrina anyways?"

"She left after I had my cheerleading debut," muttered Juleka. "Said she'd be around."

Luka smiled at the thought of the video, which he of course had saved so he could tease Juleka in the future. "Well, we need to ask her if she'll hang around town for a while, maybe show her face here or there. If Roger thinks she's still here and gettable without some kind of fairy trade, he has no reason to go looking for our Sabrina. I wouldn't say she should go home, but she should be able to go to school and stuff without problems." He made a note. "Next: you, little sis."

Juleka blinked. "Me?"

"Uh, yeah." Chloe rolled her eyes. "The Lavillants got a good look at you, remember?"

"Oh, right." Juleka sighed. "Here's the problem: if I go back to school, yeah, they might see me there. But if I drop out, though, they'll see me on the news reports about 'two girls missing from same class' and recognize me anyways." She sighed. "I think our best hope is for me to stay at school, maybe change my appearance a little, and hope they don't notice."

"Well, I've got more cheerleading stuff for you!" said Alya brightly. "You know, to disguise yourself."

Juleka glowered, but then Rose hugged her. "I think you make a beautiful cheerleader," she whispered. "I mean, you're a beautiful everything. But that includes cheerleader."

A slight blush reddened Juleka's cheeks. "Uh," she said. "You too, Rose."

Meanwhile, Luka was going down his list. "With all those of the way, the next issue is Ladybug and Chat Noir." He turned to Alya. "Did they get back to you?"

Alya hesitated. "Yeah, but it's not great news."

"What is it?" asked Juleka.

Alya sighed. "I told her that there were some, um, problems at the Lavaillant home--don't worry, I didn't talk about paladins or anything--and Ladybug said she could understand that, but she couldn't just take it on faith." She took a breath. "She'll only believe it if you meet with her and convince her, Rose."

Rose frowned. "So I just need to talk to Ladybug and explain why I can't go home? That doesn't sound so bad."

"Explain without sounding crazy," Alix drawled. "If you say that you ran away to live with your vampire girlfriend because your paladin parents tried to deport your fairy friend back to fairyland and then tried to kill everyone who got in their way, they'll send you to the loony bin. You'll need to make up a fake reason and get her to believe it."

"And," Alya went on, "If you try to explain and don't convince her... I mean, she's Ladybug. She could just scoop you up and run you home."

Rose smiled slightly. "Maybe I could beat her."

"No." Luka's voice was flat. "The Miraculouses are some of the most powerful magic there is. She could fight all of us at once and win." He sighed. "There's just two choices. You can keep hiding in the boat, and hope she never finds you. Or you can meet with her and try to persuade her to stop looking, but if you fail, she takes you home right away."

The room fell silent, and Juleka clenched a fist. It wasn't fair! They weren't Hawkmoth, they just didn't want to be killed by psychotic paladins!

"I'll talk to her," said Rose at last.

"But--" Luka began.

"No. I trust Ladybug and Chat Noir. They're heroes. They'll understand me. They'll do the right thing." Rose stood. "Set up the meeting, Alya."

"Then I'm coming too," Juleka announced.

Luka snapped his head around to stare at her. "What? Why? Jules, you can't do anything. If it's a fight she'll destroy--"

"I'm going to be there," said Juleka in a flat voice. "If Ladybug tries to take Rose, there's a chance--however tiny--that I can stop her or stall her until Rose flees. I don't care if her Lucky Charm is a garlic-coated stake. I'm there." Her voice was like iron. "Clear?"

And that was that.

----

Ladybug and Chat Noir appeared in the abandoned building right on cue. Juleka, hiding up in the rafters and tensed to drop down on Chat Noir if needed, desperately tried to make no noise as the heroes approached Rose.

"You must be Rose. Take this," Ladybug said, giving Rose a green potion. "This is a truth serum. Once you drink it, you won't be able to lie for an hour."

"Courtesy of Master Fu--ow!" Chat Noir winced as Ladybug elbowed him. "Right, right, secret IDs, got it."

Rose drank it at once. "Thank you," she said quietly, "For hearing me out."

"Of course." Ladybug's voice was stern, tense, impersonal. Juleka wondered if Ladybug was nervous at this unusual task. "I'll get right to it. Are you safe where you'r staying right now?"

"Yes," said Rose at once. "Totally."

"Why can't you go home?"

Rose hesitated. "I can't say."

"Then--"

"Wait!" Rose insisted. "If your parents were going to move you away from Paris, you'd have to find some way to talk them out of it so you could keep protecting the city--but you couldn't tell them the real reason, right? You can't reveal your secret identity. You'd have to make something up. I'm in a similar situation."

Chat Noir hesitated. "She, uh, has a point."

"No." Ladybug shook her head. "I couldn't say that I'm Ladybug, but I could say that I help the city in ways nobody else can. I could say people count on me for protection. And so on." She hesitated. "I need an answer, Rose. What's wrong?"

Rose hesitated. "My parents believe my friends are evil," she said at last. "I tried to stop them from... hurting... two friends. They think I'm evil too because of that." She took a breath. "If I go home, they will try to 'fix' me."

Ladybug's mouth dropped. Chat Noir asked, "Are we sure the truth potion works? That story--"

"It works, Chat," murmured Ladybug. Then: "Are you saying they're abusive?"

"I don't know if that's the right word." Rose looked down. "But I won't be safe going home, Ladybug. Please believe me."

"My God." Ladybug stepped back as if slapped. "Then we'll get the police--"

Rose quickly shook her head. "There's no proof," she said. "They'd probably send me home themselves. And..."

Juleka frowned. There were two more reasons not to involve the police: Lieutenant Roger was likely on the Lavillants' side because of his changeling daughter, and also having police try to arrest paladins could be disastrous. Worst case, that could reveal magic to the world. But Rose couldn't say either of those reasons. So what other true reason was there?

"...and I don't want them in jail. Or beaten up by superheroes. I just want them to stop thinking my friends are evil, and that I'm evil for supporting those friends." Rose took a shuddery breath. "Maybe if I'm away for a while, they'll miss me more than they hate my friends. And they'll get better."

Juleka winced. That was pure Rose--concerned with the welfare of even those that had betrayed her. She wished she could hop down and hug her.

Ladybug and Chat Noir stepped away and deliberated. Finally, Ladybug came back. "Okay," she said at last. "We won't tell them where you are, and we won't tell the police... yet. But we'll keep an eye out. It's possible they're hurting other people, and if so, we'll have to intervene."

"I understand." Rose bowed her head. "Thank you so much."

Ladybug gave Rose her number. "Call me anytime you need me," she said. "And good luck." And then she was swinging away.

Juleka dropped from the rafters moments later and embraced Rose. The blonde sniffled and then hugged her. And they stood together for what felt like an endless moment.

----

"Think we should have mentioned Ju--uh, that girl in the rafters?" asked Chat Noir as he sprang away.

"No." Ladybug frowned. "I wonder how Rose's friend got up there."

"Well, apparently she didn't count on my night-vision. Can't really blame her; it's not like she could have any experience with magic." Chat Noir hesitated. "What do you want to do?"

Ladybug sighed. "I'm not comfortable going against Rose's wishes and turning her in. Or her parents... assuming she's the only one they hurt. But I'm going to stay in close contact with Rose, and look in on the Lavillants as well. If anything else is wrong, we act."

"Got it," said Chat Noir, and the two headed off into the distance.

#Paladin rose au

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