It's all fun and games...

Sariel looked down at herself, she really couldn’t just run out in only a t-shirt. Even though the thought crossed her mind. She ended up pressing her back up against the corner by the door contemplating just how she got out of this situation because everything about it she hated. Also, that there were so many people.

Nigel shook his head and rolled his eyes as Jamie told him that he hadn’t known it was a clan. He wanted to say something about that had been the first mistake. But if anyone could understand what it was like to throw every sense out of one’s head and just charge blind into unknown territory it was Nigel. He had done it when Katelyn had been kidnapped. Instead, he just stepped a little side so Jamie could greet Archibald. The lost brother that none of them had thought would see again.

Archie nodded as Jamie told him that he was happy to see him. “Well, you too big guy” Archie breathed out, at least in their line of work it wasn’t unnormal that people came back. But most of the time it was a happy thing. Because it was back as in vampires or witches which should be killed again. Angels was better at least. Nigel huffed with a smile on his lips when Jamie blatantly told him that he had taken his coffee. Not that he minded, but it was a thing that had always happened in the past, and as a big brother it was kind of his duty to remember his younger brothers of the shenanigans that they had done. Both the annoying and embarrassing parts. Arhcie looked around a little confused as he turned his eyes towards Jamie “Is there a fallen angel here?” he asked curious. Sariel widen her eyes, normally people saw her as a hybrid but she did know that her aura or how she felt would be more fallen than angel even though she was part pureblood angel. Her witch blood messing it up.

Archie quickly hugged Jamie back. It was nice to see the one brother that Archie had always been the closets with. Jamie being the punching bag, and Archie being the odd one out and denying being a part of anything that would harm supernatural that could be linked to their family. That meaning Shapeshifters. He couldn’t understand why Jamie was being punished, as they had gotten their mother to marry their father. So how could that be his fault? “Half witch?” Nigel asked looking from Mariella towards Jamie a knowing smile formed on his lips, what was this? Their brother fraternizing with the ‘enemy’?

The smile disappeared when Jamie mentioned Lelantos “what” he sneered, and it was clear something about it clearly riled Nigel up. But the older brother kept it together for the time being. He didn’t want to ruin the at the moment quite happy reunion. They still didn’t really know why Jamie was in town, and Nigel wasn’t buying it only to be because of the vampires that had killed his wife and children. He then nodded as Jamie added that they could discuss it later.

“Sure” both Nigel and Archie spoke in unison and looked at each other with raised brows before they laughed. But what caught Nigel attention was that Jamie came out of the bedroom with what must be the hybrid woman clothes. They had slept together? The knowing smile was back. But then again, knowing what condition that Jamie had been in, there surely hadn’t happened anything. But it still seemed suspicious that they had slept together.

Sariel looked at Jamie as he came back, almost like a scared cat trying to find somewhere safe they could hide away. “Thank you” she said with a small voice and started dressing herself. For a moment she contemplated to run out the door and not look back. But something, rather, someone was pulling her to stay. And slowly walked towards the entrance into the living room.

“Well, Archie is getting married soon” Nigel started and Archie started beaming and nodded “yeah, Nora and I didn’t want to waste any time now that we found each other” he explained and scratched his head a little embarrassed and quickly turned it towards Nigel “Hey and you are getting kid number three soon, and got your oldest daughter back, that is pretty big news too –“ Nigel was laughing and nodded but quickly died down as a small black haired looked from the door frame towards them. She looked absolutely scared, she had helped Jamie last night, how? She didn’t look like she could do much without running away scared. What happened next was the whole reason why Sariel had been so afraid to show her face when an angel was among them. “Wait, I know you” Archie said and looked puzzled “I – I don’t think so” Sariel got out and shook her head “Yes I’m sure” it was clear Archie didn’t know why at first before he snapped his fingers “yes of course, there is a high alert in heaven about finding you” he really shouldn’t know, but he had gotten curious as he had walked around and overheard a tall beauty with a strong angelic aura scream at someone how he had been able to lose her daughter. He had then gotten to know Eden better, after she had more or less taken him under her wing, as they both were newly reborn and created angels. Sariel’s eyes widened, they knew. “I’m sorry I need to go” she almost couldn’t get the words out and walked into the bedroom to get her purse. “Did I say something wrong?” Archie wondered, wasn’t it a good thing that your mother wanted to find you?

Nigel looked at Sariel just before she hid away in the bedroom. Archie was right, she looked familiar, but it wasn’t for the same reasons as Archie had put on the table. He looked like someone he knew, someone that was dead now. He put his arms crossed over his chest and then walked over and sat down in one of the worn-down chairs that was in the rather sparse room.

Sariel almost jumped out of her skin as Jamie’s voice was heard right behind her. Her heart was beating hard against her chest as he tried to reassure her that no one was going to take her away. “You don’t understand” her voice came out as a hiss, not wanting to sneer at him. But right now, she wasn’t thinking straight. The small joke about him liking her clothe washing too much managed to get a small chuckle out of her. No! No, she had to go. “No, I have to go I can’t risk it”

Both Nigel and Archie widened their eyes as Mariella asked if Jamie was Sariel’s mate. A snort left Nigel and he shrugged “Then I say poor girl, she has her work cut out for her” he looked to the bedroom again. He had never felt envy against witches and their mates, it always seemed more like a disadvantage than anything else. Especially as it didn’t have the same consequences for the other part that wasn’t the same species. Archie shook his head as Mariella clearly was trying to figure out what was going on and he joined Nigel by sitting on the other chair, three chairs in total. The other one being pushed against a desk. “Well, I don’t understand why she is so afraid, I’m pretty sure it was her mother that was looking for her, and she was very concerned – wouldn’t you be glad that your concerned mother was looking for you?” Archie asked and Nigel looked towards him with a raised brow “Right…” Archie said with an embarrassed smile, sometimes concerns could be a lot of things. “It’s just Eden seemed like a genuine person, angel what you would call it” Nigel stopped breathing for a second and turned his full attention towards Archie “What, Eden is alive?” he asked with wide eyes, Archie looked just as surprised towards his brother. “How do you know her?” Nigel let out a laugh this world just became smaller and smaller. “She is the only one that Daisy trusted to help deliver Katelyn after Madelaine was taken” he breathed out “I thought she was dead” he mumbled and looked towards where Jamie and Sariel where “now that I know it’s her mother, she really looks like her” Nigel look over at Mariella “maybe we should just make some breakfast ready, let the two lovebirds figure things out without us sitting here glaring at the door and waiting” he laughed and then walked out towards the car again to get the things they needed.

She was about to lose it, and then he stepped forward and his warm hands locked around her upper arms. Sariel kept completely still and looked up into his worried eyes. Everything stood still, the world stopped turning, she was sure of it. The hybrid had never really understood love, known what it was really about. She had read about it and heard it from when she had been outside the cottage. Which had happened once or twice. But this, she had never experienced anything like this before. She almost forgot to breathe as he kept telling her that he would keep her safe, and he promised. There was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to believe, to trust his words. But she had been let down so many times before, especially from people that was supposed to love her unconditionally. So many scars on her heart, and she was scared that he would just turn out to be like them all. “I’m not –“ sure that last words wasn’t spoken as she felt a rumble over her head, and then a lightning struck not far from them. Her eyes glanced over, but this time it wasn’t like a small warning like he had given Jamie before. This was a real vision where she saw a scared Ayah with a cut on her arm running away finding somewhere to hide. “No” she whispered and pulled away from him, she grabbed her phone she didn’t really understood trying to find out to call Ayah but got frustrated. Before she could stop herself, she threw it at the wall and then ran out of the room and straight to the outdoors.

She overhead Mariella saying that someone was hurt, it had to be Ayah, wouldn’t it? That meant she was close by. “Ayah!” Sariel screamed and looked around hoping someone would call her back. Then she took off, making Nigel standing there looking confused after the woman that before had been scared out of her mind and now looked like a lioness on warpath. “Ayah!” she screamed again not caring that branches was that slapped in her face or the thorns that pulled in her clothes. She could feel her aura now, what had she been doing in the woods.

Finally she got to where the fairies aura was strongest “Ayah?” she called out a little softer and walked towards the small cave “It’s me Sariel, please come out” she whispered holding her hands out to take the redhaired woman into her arms.

Nigel looked at Jamie as he came out of the house, even Archie had picked up his lazy ass and came out and looked the direction that Sariel had run. What the hell was going on now? “Wait what?” he asked when Jamie asked if there was one of his daughters in the woods. Well, he knew that Katelyn liked to be out on the new moon because that meant she didn’t need to be afraid of werewolves. But – he realized at the same time as Mariella did. "Maya" Maya needed to change form at the new moon, meaning it could be her. Nigel walked to the cars back seat and pulled out a blanket. “Thanks for getting blood on my car yesterday by the way” Nigel said with a frown and a smile on his lips before he took off in the direction the other was running.

Sariel looked at the direction that someone was coming as Ayah told her it could hear her. But all she saw was a small blond woman. Sariel quickly stepped in front of Ayah, she might not have her powers to through magic after, whatever the woman was. But she still knew to fight, and no one was hurting Ayah. But her stance shifted a little as Ayah told her that it was okay. Demons where in the woods? It was lucky that the fairy wasn’t hurt more. “Blood demons?” Sariel asked and turned her eyes towards the redhaired woman. “God damn it Ayah! What are you doing out here anyway, you know they aren’t safe, especially with blood demons and hunters roaming around” she reprimanded the younger woman. Not that she wanted to yell at her. Clearly Sariel had gotten a scare that now projected into scolding. After a time, she sighed and pulled her into her arms hugging her close. “Sorry, I just got scared” she mumbled.

Nigel was quickly at the scene and saw how Sariel was hugging a redhaired woman and then there was his daughter. He sighed relieved as he saw that she seemed okay. He gave her smile as he walked over and grabbed her shoulders. “You, okay?” he asked not really caring that both Mariella, Jamie and Archibald were there now.

Sariel nodded but didn’t really say or let go right away. She knew it was her fault, she should have called and told her where she had headed off to, and that she wasn’t coming home. Would be easier if you could just always send telepathic messages instead of that bloody technology.

“I know, I'm just glad you're okay” Nigel said with a small smile and looked the same direction that Maya was looking, then he looked towards the redhaired woman and Sariel. The way the stood and hugged each other it was clear that they were close as well. But it was also then he realised just how much she looked like Ella. What the hell?

Sariel pulled Ayah close but in a half hug, making sure she knew that she was here when she needed help. “It’s Jamie, I told you about” Sariel explained, as she had come back from the woods she had told Ayah what she had found out and that she had a solid lead on figuring out who had done it. “I’m Nigel, this is my daughter Maya” he pointed towards Jamie and Archie “Those two knuckleheads are both my brothers” he said with a smile, and then looked at Maya as he had also introduced her to her uncle. Well, she had a lot at this point. But these two were the only one he would ever be comfortable enough to actually tell about his kids.

The hybrid turned to her friend and nodded “They are good, they can help, I don’t have any power right now to help with your wound” she said and let her hand glide over Ayah’s hair. She could see it too, how much they looked alike. Could this be the missing sister?

Nigel nodded as both Maya and Jamie commented on their scent. You didn’t need special kinds of noses to see that they looked very much alike. Then there was the aura, even though it wasn’t the same magic that flowed in their bodies it was still clear that it matched. Nigel placed a hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “Come, let us go back to the house, get something to eat and let them figure things out” he said with a low voice, his eyes clearly asking Jamie to stand down and drop what it was he was thinking. They had no say in what would happen from here on out, and even if that meant that for a while Mariella wanted to get to know her own family and spend less time with them. Didn’t mean she would forget. Nigel put an arm around Maya and started walking back, Archie laid his eyes on the three of them a moment longer before he followed his brothers.

Sariel looked at Mariella and then back at Ayah. She stepped a little away letting the air fairy decide what she wanted. She quickly noticed that the other walked away, catching the eyes of Jamie. She felt how her heart skipped a beat, which made her frown for a moment. Horrible bond. She shook her head and then looked back at the fairy wanting to say or do something, but it somehow also felt so very private and not for her to be a part of. The only reason she stayed was because she wanted to be there for Ayah, with whatever she needed.

“Well, I know how Jamie gets after he has to use a lot of energy to heal, so I think I got food for half an army in the back of my car” he explained with a smile as Maya asked him what they were eating. “Hopefully it will be enough for the both of you put together” he laughed and looked towards Jamie, still wondering what the story was between him and the hybrid. Especially since they had slept in the same bed, was he starting mend the wounds about what had happened to his wife and kids? Given how he had gotten himself hurt yesterday, he was doubting it, but still. He was curious. “So, Sariel, huh? She’s quite easy on the eye” he said with a lifted eyebrow, Archie shook his head and groaned picking up his pace towards the car. Of all the brothers, Archie had been the one that had never really found it interesting using his looks and how he looked to his advantage getting women with him into his bed. He had one relationship to boast about besides Elenora, and that was more than enough for him.

Sariel placed a hand on Ayah arm as the fairy decided to just say what fell her in mind out loud. “Ayah” the hybrid warned, it was a dangerous thing to ignite that kind of hope in herself. Especially since it seemed like Mariella had a family on her own. “You can’t just say that to people, even if it might be true, you have to consider what it will do to them, finding out what has happened” The only reason Sariel was this considerate about it, was because of her own story. How it had been finding out that her mother had started her own family that she hadn’t asked to be a part of. She knew of her siblings know, or at least them that shared the same mother as her. Who knew who her father was and what kind of children he had? “Maybe we should go home, then we can meet again, where you haven’t been hurt or frighten, how does that sound?” Sariel asked tenderly, besides she didn’t really feel like going back to the cabin. She needed distance from Jamie again, before the bond would compel her to do something stupid.

”Sounds like a good idea” Nigel nodded with a smile on his lips as he joined his brother in emptying the car. He still didn’t by the fact that Sariel wasn’t anything more than just a random run in. Well maybe it started like that, but – no wait, maybe Mariella was right, maybe it was so that Jamie was Sariel’s mate. “Mariella said she might have you written on her collarbone” he winked “maybe she was right, and that’s why Sariel even wants to hang out with your sorry ass” he then took what he could carry and walked into the small house’s kitchen.

Sariel felt conflicted as soon as Mariella asked if she didn’t at least want to say she was going to him. Him of course being Jamie. Another grip to her stomach appeared and made her even more uncomfortable. Now this was uncharted territory for Sariel. She hated when people left her, but she was also so afraid what would happen if they returned. “I –“ she licked her lips and furrowed her brows “No I – I’m not feeling that well, couldn’t you just tell I had to go?” she said a little guilty and looked towards Ayah as she gave her and out “you can stay though, if you two want to talk together, I just, need to get home”

Archie was quick to grab the small ball of energy. Her being so small made it easy for him to run around with her hanging on his back like a monkey. “Well, I’m out with making food! Oh what a shame” Nigel narrowed his eyes as he came in and saw it “What, you are the best at making food than any of us, Maya let your uncle go, so he can make us food” Archie started laughing and then let Maya fall down to the ground. His hand found her blond hair and ruffled it a bit up before he pulled her into a half hug. “Clearly it’s time to do my true purpose, being Cinderella, the slave for his evil brothers” he took a spatula and pointed it at Nigel “I’m still getting the Queen, don’t forget that” Nigel threw his hands up, and then ran towards his daughter and threw her over his shoulder “fine! Then I’m taking this rascal” he laughed and ran outside with her instead, watching how Mariella came back with the other fairy, but he couldn’t see the hybrid. He lifted his brow looking at them. “Hi again” Nigel said with a smile and put Maya down once more putting his hand out to official great Ayah.

“Yeah I’ll, I’ll be back home” she gave her a soft smile putting her hands down in the pockets of her pants. “We’ll figure it out, just take your time” she then added before she finally said her goodbyes and walked towards the edge of the woods. Only to turn and walked further in. She needed to breathe and forget where she was. Just for a moment. Maybe she could find the path where she had met Zach for the first time. Where she had made animals out of water, making them dance around them. Why had he just left her, after he had promised not to? Was that the reason she was running from the bond now? Because she knew that the chance of rejecting was too big. Because who could love a loveless woman.

Archie was quick to start whipping up the whole brunch themed breakfast for all of them. He looked at Jamie “you really don’t have to help, you know, I always wanted to open my own restaurant, go out, feel the good energy” he said with a smile before turning towards the task at hand.

Nigel smiled back with the same warmth, where his brother Jamie would have a hard time coming with terms with the fact that this might very well be Mariella’s sister. And that Ella had another family besides them, Nigel would just be happy that someone could answer the questions that he knew that Ella had. “And he sure is, but only because he loves it, and it gives him a reason to complain, which he also loves” he said with a convincing smile and then looked around “Well, it seems like I need to look in the shed to see if the table still works for the outside, otherwise we will need to be sitting on the floor” he walked towards the small outhouse and took a deep breath. How was there so much shit in here. Never mind that, he needed to find something they could all use even though it would be a miss match of everything.

Archie looked towards Jamie as he told him to give him a second. Well Archie had wanted to wait to tell Jamie until they were more alone. But this seemed like good a time and place like any. “Well, I got a new chance, and I don’t really want to think about what happened” he said with a sad smile and then stopped doing what he was doing as he looked towards his brother. “Jamie” he said with a sad smile on his lips “I, met them” he licked his lips “In the gardens of Eden, I met McKenna, Olivia and Lewis” he walked over and placed a hand on Jamie’s shoulder “I don’t know if it helps, but they are truly at peace with what happen, and the last thing McKenna wants is you blaming yourself” he whispered. Only saying that because she had told him. “It’s time to let go, and try to move on”

He gave Jamie time to process what he had just told him. Anyone hearing something like that about their loved once, would have a hard time. “I'm glad that I was able to see them” he said with a soft smile “The only one that suffers are the ones left behind” he gave the shoulder a small clap “but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find peace here, stay with Nigel find something that makes you happy, get to know that Sariel girl better, she seems, weird – but there is clearly something about her that you like” he gave his brother a big smile as he kept working on the food that he had been working on before.

Nigel finally got things out with the help of Maya with a big huff they had scraped enough chairs, even though they were different colours and sizes. And a table that could fit them all. Luckily, they still were in working order. Which had been a big if as he had pulled things out. “I was thinking Ella” he said as he stood there looking at the two fairies and understood that Ayah really did think Ella could be her missing sister. “Maybe you should give Juniper a call? She might be able to help with finding out if it’s true or not? Given she is also from Wonderland”

Archie let out a soft low laugh as Jamie questioned the fact that Nigel had put down roots. “And is soon going to be a father again, two times some woman decided to carry his child” he shook his head and gave Jamie a big smile. Well, it wasn’t really what was the weird part of it. “His new girlfriend is a turned werewolf, I’ve never seen someone be more perfect together than them, I think you will like her” Archie theorized and then started on getting the bacon ready as he whipped up the eggs for scramble eggs. The English muffins were placed in the small oven. He made a small sigh; it really did feel like he was making food for an entire army.

Nigel looked at how Ayah reacted on the name Juniper a small frown was made between his brows. Well, he did remember that Juniper had looked at Mariella as if she had seen a ghost. But hadn’t really commented on it. Maybe she did know more than just being able to see if these was in fact in family.

It was clear to hear that Mariella had woken up Juniper on the other end of the phone. A small laugh followed up with it’s okay. Then there was a thud when the name Ayah was mentioned. A soft gasp left the much older fairy. Her voice moved away from the phone telling Reggie that she was okay, that he could just sleep. “I’m coming right away, where exactly are you?” she asked and as soon as she was told she grabbed a bathrobe and ran downstairs and out into the garden. She found a big Oaktree with a small spell a small portal was opened, and she could step through. Because she already knew the place Mariella had talked about. It didn’t take much more than a couple of minutes before the ancient fairy stepped through the portal that had opened. Her hair an absolute mess and her wearing her pyjamas and a bathrobe. She looked around and then her eyes fell on Ayah. It really was her “Ayah” she breathed out and ran towards her folding her arms around her niece.