Jared

*Rachel is in the room at this point, the conversation had just started*

I was seated on my bed with Cali a few feet away also on the bed. Kindra was not in the room.

"Yes Cali I know," I said. "I promised to be a father for Kindra. I'm sorry I've just been busy lately."

"Like you were going to be busy with that girl?" She seemed jealous, but not for herself. "Kindra needs a father now Jared, not later."

"You should be thanking Rachel," I started to glare at her but stopped. "If it weren't for her sacrifice I'd still be imprisoned."

"What sacrifice?" Cali demanded.

Everything came into perspective for me, "Right, you couldn't have known that you were asleep last night. Raymond is dead, all because I asked for her to help me. She tried to go alone but they wouldn't let her."

"Why didn't she tell anyone before she left you told her to go?" Cali asked.

I shrugged, "I suppose she probably didn't even realize I had called her. Rain barely recognized it and we were a lot closer in proximity."

"I'm sorry to do this to you, I know you barely got back from that place," Cali completely changed the subject. "But I need you to choose, me or her."

I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"You heard me Jared," Cali repeated. "Don't make me choose for you. I don't have time for games anymore."

I frowned but then revelation came, "You want to know if you can go have a normal life or if it's worth it to you to stay here."

She nodded, "I don't know what I'd do but I'm turning eighteen soon and so I can start my own life, free of all this."

I stood and paced the room, "First of all I don't know for certain that Rachel is even interested." Cali rolled her eyes. "But, whenever I'm around her I want to be the man she sees inside of me. The power that I have to change the world for good. I'm not who she thinks I am but when I'm near her I want to be. When I'm near you..." I paused.

"You feel nothing like that," Cali gulped and looked down. "I get it."

"That alone wouldn't make the choice for me Cali," I put a hand on her cheek and watched her press into it. "I want to be the boy you knew. The one who took no responsibility for anything, the one who hated the world and wished he could destroy it. You know what I'm talking about better than anyone else. I want to be the boy you fell in love with."

Cali was panicking, "But I'll change what I want of you. I'll change."

"But I won't," I sighed. "I'm sorry Cali, but my choice is not you. What are you going to do with Kindra?"

Cali had tears forming in her eyes, "She still needs her father."

The reality of her statement hit me like a high-powered machine gun, and I knew what that felt like. I didn't quite believe she was serious until I felt a little presence climb into my lap. Evidently Kindra had been there the entire time, invisible. She became visible and looked up into my eyes. I could see the intelligence in her eyes, understanding far beyond her age. She was only a little over a year yet she looked and acted like a three to four year old.

"Daddy, mommy's not coming back, is she?" She asked.

I shook my head, "I don't think she is."

"What did she mean when she said I was getting a new mommy?" Kindra asked. "Did she mean Rachel? She has been standing in the corner over there."

I gulped and flipped the lights on with my magic. Rachel appeared in the corner.

"How long have you been there?" I questioned her.

"Longer than I ever should have," She looked very guilty. "I should be going now."

"Are you leaving too?" Kindra asked innocently. She looked up at me and her eyes filled with tears. "I lost two mommies in one day."

Rachel's countenance fell, "I was just going to have some time alone to think about what I heard here. I wasn't leaving forever."

"Take your time Rachel," I looked away. "But can you take Kindra to spend some time with Ivar and cheer him up."

Kindra looked up at me again, "What happened to Ivar? Did he lose his mommy too?"

I shook my head, "He lost his brother. He'll never see his brother again."

Her little face was sad, "William's gone forever?"

I nodded, "Bad men..." I hesitated but I felt she needed to know the truth, "Bad men killed him."

She seemed to understand what that meant and got very sad, "He needs his mommy."

She got down off my lap and left with Rachel, hand in hand. Now to find out what Mike's big breakthrough was.