Shattered!

[Seer]

<< the storm raged over the ocean and the island, washing away anything remaining from the battle of Set as the island itself once again slowly reversed any physical damage. this land was as ancient and mysterious as anything that could be defined by those terms...a lasting reminder of the will and power that CIRCE once weilded...but while the ISLAND itself could mend and repair...it was NOT so simple for the latest inhabitants.>>

<< zooming along the terrain, from Delilah's luxury cottage, to Ava's villa, to Haleigh's compound, to Nicolas and Mike's mansion and finally to the center piece of the massive island, the Rotunda where Mogan, Karen and most recently Blaze lived...these homes housed the individuals of the Six...but home was NOT where the heart was.>>

<< the team had been SHATTERED by the revelation of Nicolas and Haleigh, in a move that outdone Set's expectations and anything the SISTERHOOD had sought to accomplish initially, the team was now definately fractured and there were no signs of recovery. A BAD sign for more than one reason.>>

<< Alison was gone, Morgan was gone...and neither one would likely return. Leaving the team with a recently arrived and revamped Silver Swan along with the alternate version of Blaze known as Firebird to help TRY to salvage what was left.>>

<< but that was just the beginning...>>

<< the first night passes...then days...then weeks. no sign or word of morgan or alison. Karen has barred Nicolas and Haleigh from coming anywhere near the rotunda and Delilah, who never wanted to be "RIGHT" at a cost like THIS, was less than hospitable to Haleigh or Nicolas either. >>

<< as bad as it was...it could always get worse and it WOULD before it got better. sometimes the floor had to drop out before people came back to their senses and TRIED to make it right....this would be one of those times.>>

<< how bad could it get? well...we'll just have to watch and see.>>

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the rotunda

<< a summer evening on Aerie, the ocean was alive with flowing energy, the moon drove its rising tides and the skies churned above with a faint rumble of thunder. the winds were steady...and as Karen moved through marble garden of the rotunda, she enjoyed a goblet of HELMOCK. Her nightgown [see banner] hugged her frame just right and she wore "pussy cat" high heeled slides that matched the fur trim of the gown.>>

<< the doctor had begun to show more skin in her clothing, it was classy but still more than she had been known for. another change since becoming shadow weaver.>>

<< in the weeks following the "Fall out", Karen had taken control of the rotunda in her daughter's absence and forbade Nicolas or Haleigh to come within 100 feet of it. She granted Sharon and Blaze sanctuary within the massive structure as well.>>

<< Her relationship with Mike had been strained. She displayed agression toward him that he'd never seen directly before but having seen her ALTERNATES in various timelines, many of which prooved to be HOMICIDAL, he realized that "Shadow Weaver" was more than a name change. The nightmare of Set played on her worst fears of a mother, not being able to protect her daughter. It had left her forever changed.>>

<< the fall out from what Nicolas and Haleigh had done had shaken her too. Not just for Morgan, but it forced her to remember how SHE felt when she found out about Christopher's affairs with Diana AND Helena! Now her DAUGHTER was experiencing the same feeling. Her daughter had been betrayed by a man yet AGAIN.>>

<< she vacillated between turning Nicolas into a toad, and struggling to find a way to at least...open a dialogue with him. But if she did that, her daughter might not EVER come back. Karen trusted that Morgan was safe in Limbo...but she wanted her back on earth where she belonged.>>

<< as she indulged in more hemlock, Tinkerbell, was nearby watching her "grandmother" as the swirling night sky flowed over the semi enclosed marble garden of the rotunda.>>

 

[Arsenal]

As Mike walked up to the rotunda, his mind was relatively clear. The strain of the past few weeks had been and ebb and flow. He let Karen have her space, knowing that much of her change was the strain of what had occurred. but tonight he planned to speak with her, and he was unsure how it was going to go. But he knew that it had to be done.

As she stood, looking quite delicious tonight, he hated to break the decorum. The player in him wished he could wait until the afterglow to bring this up. But tonight they needed to be honest...about EVERYTHING. With each other and themselves.

Mike approached Karen, rose in hand, and gave her a peck on the cheek.

Karen, you look lovely tonight, as you do every time I see you.

After accepting her greeting, he motioned for her to sit. He sat by her and took a deep breath...before speaking.

I am hoping tonight that we can speak, just a little while, about everything. I KNOW you are still hurting and angry and I understand your pain. But I want US to put everything on the table, for our sanity and for what we have together. I do not need to bring up directly what I am talking about, but I DO want to know, darling...what are you thinking right now? Even doctors need to be listened to, and I am always here for you.

Mike was reaching out directly to Karen. Their relationship had survived so far, but there could be no relationship if one of them was swallowed up in anger and grief. Considering her immense power and new attitude, it was a risk. But a risk that a man in love would be willing to take. Mike was such a man.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

<< the doctor hummed softly, tending to cascading plant with a mysterious crystaline bloom. it was one of many species of plant not found anywhere else on earth.>>


<< Mike approached, up the stairs that lead out to marble lanai...with a rose in hand as he greeted. her. she received him lightly. not smiling, but not showing any outwardly negative reaction.>>

<< as she took the rose...she studied it for a moment before tossing it into the air. a rushing harp sound heralds its disappearence and its reappearence into a rose vine that spiraled up a marble column.>>

would you care for a drink?

<< she said in an icy tone as she held her goblet of hemlock in hand.>>

hemlock perhaps?

<< looking deadly serious for a moment, her eyes seemed to suggest a bit of malice until she suddenly laughed softly. she knew hemlock was poisonous to anyone NOT of mystical origin. she was merely giving mike a taste of his own newly aquired "humour" >>

<< he wanted to talk and now was as good a time as any. and so, she slowly walked over to a chair with a small end table that Tinker was sitting upon and seated herself. gesturing for Mike to sit in the other chair.>>

Yes, now is a fine time to talk. It has been a few weeks, but no amount of time will erase the memories of recent events. What is on your mind?

 

[Arsenal]

hemlock perhaps?

No thanks. I'm trying to cut back.

Mike smirked back at the witch. it would be SO much easier to just go with the flow, simply spend time with her. But he saw too much in the alternate timelines to let this time pass.

Karen, I am worried about you, about all of us. First, let me be HONEST. I love your new Shadow Weaver persona. Call me crazy, but a woman willing and able to do what you do is SEXY as hell to me. But, I saw a lot of things during my time in the alternate timelines, a lot that had to do with YOU. In more than one case, you were already Shadow Weaver. You were also very angry, consumed by anger and in that time, you allowed yourself to deny what you are. The MOTHER to this team. All of them. Even those in whom you are EXTREMELY disappointed. In those timelines, without you to act as the glue for the team, it falls apart, and they die. Only when YOU bring them back together do they manage to come back together but, the longer YOU take, the more of them that are lost. Including...Morgan. Honey, I don't want that to happen here. Shadow weaver, that is you. The Darkhold spells, also you. Stern and commanding..you also, sometimes to MY own chagrin. <<<chuckles>>> But hatred and anger?? NOT you. This team, these people need you. I need you, and not simply to kick my ass twice a week. I know you have something to say, and I want to listen, help you any way I can, even if it is just to listen. Sweetheart, talk to me.

Mike looked into Karen's face, his eyes searching for answers to the rest of her heart. He felt he was here to fight for Karen's soul, and he was going to give it his all.

 

[Silver Swan]

elsewhere in the Rotunda

[ elsewhere in the rotunda, walking through long, circular halls, Silver Swan aka Sharon Kelly moves about, exploring what is, for now, her new home. The splendor of this place...the wonder and mystery...it fascinates her. Its moments like these, that she seems MOST human, even a bit child like in her curiosity as she marvels at the various sculptures, plants, and other mysterious artifacts and accessories of this ancient structure.]

[ how many lifetimes ago could she have fathomed herself here, and among her PEERS now? She was a super powered MUTATE.]

[ through the training and discipline of the Amazons, Sharon had learned how to control the molecules of her adamanitum silver bodice and costume, using her power over it to reshape it to any form of clothing/accessory she required but it would always be silver. and so now, she was a cute silver tunic w/ leggings and "ballet" flats. her blonde, silver streaked hair was pulled back into a pony tail.]

[ the mutate had spent many days exploring the rotunda and unlike others on the team who were not necessarily known for their patience, Sharon had been taught the ways of patience by the amazons...nothing was too long in coming for her at this point. besides, having lost her family and her former life as well...it wasnt like she had anywhere ELSE to go.]

[ she'd come along way since her transformation. she wished there was something she could do for Morgan...or even Nicolas. She had little sympathy for Haleigh, considering how Haleigh had tried to rake HER across the coals about Zach when Sharon didnt even KNOW about Haleigh's intentions with Zach. But for Morgan and Nicolas...one being a close friend and the other like a son...she wished she had an answer. she was once human, once married, had many of the same struggles that some of her younger teammates had or were having, but somehow, inspite of having her humanity back it all seemed so "pointless" to her and THAT secretly made her feel bad.]

[ Firebird had taken a liking to Sharon. It was unknown to the mutate that Firebird and Sharon's alternate had been close in their timeline, but the mainstream didnt mind having a friend...Firebird was her first "new" friend since becoming Silver Swan so that was a distinction for the altnernate to be proud of.]


[ Sharon heard Mike , though he was quite a ways away and on another level. her hearing was perfect and enhanced by SONAR. But Karen had not imposed a ban on Mike and so the mutate did not bother to go see him where he was. Instead, she continued on in her private exploration of this place...her mind at some points drifting on Nicolas, Morgan...then Ava...then Delilah...and even Haleigh.]

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the rotunda

<< Karen listened as Mike spoke. A few weeks of seperation had done him some good. he looked less weary, more centered and refreshed. Karen too had regained that pristine look of elegant disdain she was known for. She gazed upon Mike, letting him speak and absentmindedly stroking Tinkerbell who gladly enjoyed the attention.>>

<< he revealed something rather serious. that during his journey in the time stream, he encountered several alternate versions of Karen, many of whom had ALREADY adopted the "Shadow Weaver" persona and nearly all were consumed by anger, hatred and bitterness. It didnt sound cliche or far fetched. He seemed genuininely concerned about her and the changes she had undergone.>>

....

<< pausing for a moment, she gulped down more of her hemlock , setting the goblet down.>>

These alternates of me that you saw...did you see what brought them to where they were? what happened? why didnt you mention this before?

<< she asked forwardly.>>

It's true...I have changed, quite a bit. I feel it, but NOW, it is not so foreign to me. At first, i wondered if I had gone to far, but i realized that the reason this happened was because my daughter's life was at stake. She's fought gods before, she's fought a "goddess level sorceress" before...but SET was trying to take her from me. For a parent...a MOTHER...it brings forth an instinct that is as primal as anything i can think of...it goes beyond the almost "cliche" documented cases of mothers lifting cars off of their children.

You have no idea what it felt like. We didnt know what Set would do or try to do to Morgan, Haleigh...or even Isis.

<< to even revisit this now...it gave Karen more than a little discomfort.>>

I needed a way to stop him...so GREAT was that need, that it manifested itself by me gaining FULL ACCESS to the DARKHOLD book of spells, but it touched me...it BURNED me and now, i understand what my daughter means by speaking of a "tainted soul". I am NOT the same...but...I wouldnt change BACK either if i had the opportunity Mike. I NEEDED that power to be able to help my daughter. I may need it again, but even more so, I feel more ALIVE and IN TOUCH with myself and my magick than i have in years!

<< looking down at her well manicured hands...she looks up again.>>

But I've seen how Delilah, Ava and the others looked at me back at the Hellfire mansion. They all noticed the changes too. Delilah was with you in the time stream, so she must have seen my alternates as well.

<< Mike said that in many cases, the alternate Karens abandonned their role in the team and the team suffered...only when she made an effort to bring the team back together did it come back together.>>

...the revelation of Nicolas and Haleigh, it was beyond repugnant. It was the epitome of treachery. I have been where my daughter is NOW, mike. I was the victim of infidelity, and in that case, it was attributed to telepathic coersion of some kind. My daughter seems to be doomed to experience EVERY kind of hurt that a man can bring...first from her father, then from the dogs in the entertainment industry, and now from her former partner, Nicolas. And I am powerless to protect her. I cant fix what NICOLAS AND HALEIGH have broken...her HEART! and i can't BARE to look at them now Mike...

And then there's Alison...who has abandonned her family AGAIN, just as she did her birth family. I dont think anyone realizes how significant, how FINAL her goodbye was.



<< she spoke with anguish.>>

it's been weeks, but it may as well have been just 2 hours ago.

<< she looks at him.>>

and what about you? you have come to me...and shared this with me. SURELY there is more to it than that. what else arent you saying?

 

[Arsenal]

I had not spoken of it before because we have been on a whirlwind, one thing after another...there was little time to analyze what we saw, to communicate to the rest of you.

Mike stood quickly, pacing as he spoke.

It was amazing how awful we were in so many other lifetimes. I even pondered never telling you, but the truth is that being honest with you is more important than the ramifications. I am certain that you will know what to do, are the key to what has been seen. I will go person by person, and state what I saw as we went.

Starting with you. You became Shadow Weaver in two timelines as things grew increasingly difficult in your life. I managed to reach out to ONE alternate, help her return to the team even as she tortured me with the rest of the sisterhood as the Black Queen. The other was too embittered, and her plight for me the saddest. In both timelines in which I encountered Shadow Weaver, Morgan was...dead.

Delilah, when we encountered her, sided with the state against metahumans. In the timeline in which we found Ava and Alison, Delilah had hunted them down and was their principal jailer. In the process of this, Nicolas was her...slave, a psychic hound stripped of his humanity and used to hunt other metahumans. The worst part for me was that OUR Delilah did not even flinch at the sight of herself leading Nicolas by a leash.

I was a leuitenant for Delilah in one timeline, and you had yet to meet me in the one in which I reached out to you. But I gave you a little nudge.

Alison was, amazingly enough, in the timeline we found her, a mother figure of sorts. But only after nearly everything else had been lost. Ava was even more nurturing there, but this timeline was the most grim of all. For here, YOU had murdered Nicolas and Delilah and I had you on Death Row, and he had apparently murdered...Morgan. No one seemed to know why it happened. We never found out anything while we were there. I now believe that it had to do what was just averted dealing with Set. The timing seems right to me. And there was something else we found, something I took and never told anyone about when we were there. But now I give it to you.

Mike hands her a picture of VICTORIA, stolen from the house on their first visit. He palmed it from some corner while everyone else was busy.

She was so beautiful, and so POWERFUL. Moreso than her mother..or father. But she never got to know them and the alternates of that time never let Nic see her for good reason I guess. He only saw her once, when her mind found his, and she teleported the group into her presence. So, if you happen to want to speak with him someday, I think you will find a young man very much in touch with the pain of losing a daughter, even if it was from another time.

Mike had revealed a LOT , and he knew that it was a lot to process. He waited, standing there to be ready for her no matter what...

 

[Shadow Weaver]

<< At that moment, Karen was completely taken aback. A conversation like THIS she would expect to have with ALISON, who was the "keeper of time". The woman had often spoke of alternate timelines, and through LIMBO, ALL times and places were possible, but because the Six had so often gone on time/space blurring capers, it could be easy for them to become used to the idea of "alternate selves" running about. They had SEVERAL in mainstream time even now. Firebird; the ORIGINAL Malice herself in her "alternate's body; and Enchantra, whose mainstream counterpart had been long dead now. >>

<< still, it came as a shock to Karen that she had unknowingly adopted the codename/aspect of "Shadow Weaver" just as several of her more tragic alternates had and on the eve of a truly nightmarish caper too? was it merely a coincidence? or something worse?>>

and you...felt it necessary to reveal this to me now?

<< she looks at the picture of "Victoria"...it is both fascinating and upsetting all at once to see this beautifull little girl with those unmistakable icy violet eyes, the natural blonde tint in her beautifull thick hair, and obviously a child of mixed race heritage. Aspects of her mother and her father can be seen all at once. But the child was an orphan, apparently under the care of alternates ava and alison. Morgan was dead in that timeline...and so was Nicolas. Morgan was dead in SEVERAL timelines.>>


<< not only had two of the several alternates that Mike had seen adopted the name Shadow Weaver, but one of her altnerates had MURDERED an alternate NICOLAS, who himself had murdered the alternate MORGAN! the doctor sat, poised, but clearly more than a little...unnerved.>>

<< WHY was he telling her this? was this some carefully crafted plan to try to "shock" her out of her new persona? was he trying to pretend to be ALISON, a woman whom he did not hesitate to provoke at every turn in the recent past?>>

<< As he continued to tell of the versions of Delilah and other tragic details of the various timelines, she sat still and silent, staring at the picture in disbelief for a moment longer, she slowly sets it down. Karen stood up slowly...walked over to Mike.>>

<< SMACK!!>>

HOW DARE YOU!

You come to me, telling me these hellish scenarios where I am a homicidal, sociopathic woman that murders people...and worse, you confirm that there are realities where my daughter is not only betrayed, but even KILLED by Nicolas!?

<< she stands, glaring at him with her sapphire blue eyes without an instant of waver and folding her arms.>>

...You are NOT Harbinger, Michael.

<< she says with disdain.>>

And painting a bleak, disturbing picture with glimpses of alternate timelines is VERY unbecoming of you.

<< unfolding her arms, she breaks her hostile glare...and moves away from him, CLEARLY seething beneath the surface. she turns her back...picking up Tinkerbell who seems to sense Karen's distress. the doctor cradles the cat and that seems to give her a bit of help remaining calm and composed.>>

....I can't even..I can't even THINK CLEARLY at the moment. All at once, you tell me that the changes I have undergone may somehow lend themselves to the downfall of the Six in THIS mainstream timeline, as if what Nicolas and Haleigh did wasnt ENOUGH!? and THEN you tell me...that in more than one instance across the multiverse, i have FAILED to protect my daughter...that she's....DEAD....and I am...some bitter, twisted CRONE who MURDERED Nicolas!? Tortured you? Left Delilah, Ava and whoever else to nightmare endings?

After WEEKS of seperation...THIS is what you bring?

If what you suspect about the events in that tragic timeline where Nicolas murdered my daughter are true...if the events involving Set in THIS timeline could somehow lead to Nicolas attacking Morgan and possibly killing her...Perhaps SET's goal has already been achieved. And where ever he is now, he revels in known that his banishment was nothing but a mere "inconvinience"...perhaps its BETTER that Morgan remain in Limbo where we KNOW she will be safe.

<< it was dangerous to let outcomes of other timelines influence mainstream actions but again, that was why there was only ONE precog on the team...>>

But there's no way to know that for sure, without ALISON. the woman that YOU drove away. She abandonned her own birth family once before Michael. She may not EVER come back to this one either.

What do you expect ME to DO, Michael? REVERT to a more MEEK and DEMURE version of myself and BREAST FEED Nicolas?

<< an almost vulgar display of sarcasm this was an example of just how she had changed...even her manner of speaking>>

Coddle him and tell him that despite the damage he has done, everything will be okay? Well I WONT do that. Even IF i wanted to...HOW could i begin to repair the damage done to Morgan? to ALL of us? My being a doctor, even a witch doesnt guarantee that I have all the answers. there's no SPELL to repair broken hearts, broken trust...a broken FAMILY.

<< setting Tinker down in the chair, Karen immediately turned away from Mike...hiding the distress on her face.>>

I dont want to fight with you...but I dont know what you expect me to do...especially with what you've told me.

<< Karen was deeply hurt.>>

It sounds quite monstrous and it also sounds as though you're suggesting that my becoming Shadow Weaver is somehow connected to this current..."state" the Six is in.

 

[Arsenal]

Mike's face tingled with Karen's slap. Considering everything, this was still a best case scenario. He could have imagined MUCH worse. He listened as she spoke very carefully, thinking before responding again.

The last thing I want to do is argue with you, Doc. In fact, seeing you now as you look tonight , it makes me more angry that I have to bring this up. I would much rather breastfeed.

One vulgar sarcasm deserves another, except one of them is not being sarcastic.

Of course I am not the Seer, and I am glad of that. Her burden is immense, I certainly grant that. But we are not simply agents of time. It falls to us to understand, to forgive, to reach out, or to FAIL to do so. Contrary to your earlier assertion, you were NEVER demure and meek. To ridicule who you were is counterproductive especially considering that you may be more powerful, more ruthless now, but Karen had one thing that Shadow Weaver does not: a family.

Do you need Alison to tell you how to be human? To tell you that people make mistakes, to quote your own words so many times before? She sits on an island babysitting artifacts, her only companionship issued to her like combat boots. She may never be back, but given her lack of real relationships, are you actually surprised?

Nicolas and Haleigh made one HELL of a mistake, but they are hardly your late husband. Both of them did what people do all of the time: they connected, but put that aside out of loyalty to Morgan and were TRUE to her. Set stripped that from them like peeling an onion, and used them, already knowing that they would be condemned. He probably IS laughing, because he set forth what you nor Morgan could ever understand: mental domination. With your psi-screens, it becomes...easy to assume that everyone could be so strong. But the fact is, Nicolas and Haleigh were both victims here as well.

I am not here simply to attack your new persona. I understand what you did and why you did it. I am only saying that your former self had values and mentalities that should not be totally abandoned now. This team wold have fractured long ago if you had simply given up, and in each timeline where you had given up, there was no team.

Mike stood himself, pacing a bit, the last thought in his mind the toughest. But in for a penny, in for a pound. He spoke again.

One thing I wonder in the back of my mind, and I'll bet you wonder also at times. If NICOLAS and HALEIGH could not help themselves, maybe Christopher could not also? Or does your condemnation of him guarantee your condemnation of them as well? If you can turn people into frogs, why cannot someone else turn people's wills into their own?

They were hard questions, but Mike was not here to coddle the sorceress. He believed the tea, the family itself was at stake.

 

[Black Widow]

The first night had been the hardest.... and many nights after that were nearly unbearable. Ava, though she disapproved, still tried her best to comfort her sister.... but Haleigh proved to be inconsolable. Ava naiively clung to the justification that Haleigh'd been coerced... but the hybrid herself wouldn't allow something so trivial [] deter her self-flagellation. She had betrayed Morgan... she'd hurt EVERYONE and she'd done it in such a cavalier manner that she often questioned herself... wondering if she'd been all too easy to manipulate because she'd wanted it to happen. wondering if on some level... she thought she could use the situation to get away with it. It was hard to be sure. What was worse.... if she were faced with the situation AGAIN.... she didn't know if she would have acted ANY differently. More than one person had REBUKED her for seeming so willing... for lobbying to be Nicolas' QUEEN... but much of that was born out of self-preservation. Should she be blamed for trying to make the most out of her position?

In the beginning she was very hard on herself... she knew that what she did had driven Morgan away, and Alison too... she knew what she did had shattered the team, torn the family asunder and there was nothing she could say to herself, nothing Ava could say to her to ease her guilt. Living in exile was excruciatingly hard.... she'd done it before... but before she was not ashamed of her actions.... before she felt convicted and wasn't going to change her mind or concede that she was completely wrong. This time was different.... this time she knew she was wrong.... and because of it she'd hurt many people.... most of all Morgan.

It hurt to live.... Every day she considered walking into her lagoon and drowning.... and every day she knew she hadn't the strength to do it. Survival was an instinct all too present in the hybrid.... but still... every day she had to face herself, and as much as it hurt to deal with her own thoughts.... it was even more painful to think of Nicolas. She hadn't seen or spoken to him since the night of Set's demise, and that itself was hard on Haleigh. 'He said he'd always be there for me...' She told her sister one night. 'I should have known then that it could never be so.' Her loneliness was exponential with his retreat. She was left to marinate alone in her self-loathing and self-doubt, with only her sister to save her from becoming completely withdrawn. Days turned into weeks and slowly, Haleigh became accustomed to shouldering the weight of her guilt. She was not the same as she'd been before... her eyes were dull and her demeanor dejected.... she didn't sleep, she couldn't smile and even her sarcasm lacked mirth. she was slowly becoming more and more like her future alternate self, and the only witness to that was Ava-- someone who wouldn't recognize the signs. One day they sat out in the shady grove by the lagoon, having iced tea and talking about neutral subjects..... when suddenly Haleigh told Ava about the future timeline they'd been to. She told her sister about the little girl, and then about the fate of that team.... Morgan murdered by Nicolas, Nic murdered by Karen, and the team torn apart by the events..... Like Mike, Haleigh had figured out that Set had been the reason Nicolas had brutalized and murdered Morgan in that alternate reality. Haleigh mused about it to her sister, the only person that would listen. Morgan and Karen had both rebuked Haleigh, mocking her for 'protecting' Morgan by bedding Nicolas.... but how unintentionally true WERE their statements? Had she, in fact, spared Morgan rape and death by being a stand-in of sorts? Morgan was heartbroken, betrayed.... but alive. If Haleigh had NOT gone to Nicolas.... not comforted him, not slept with him, would Morgan have been victimized, as she had been in the alternate timeline? It wasn't hard for Haleigh to tell herself that this outcome was BETTER than the alternate.... but it wasn't easy either.

All these things she discussed with her sister... as she searched for ground to stand on... as she searched for a way to forgive herself. But she couldn't.... internally she still felt like a traitor and she couldn't reconcile with that. She was plagued with remorse, though she knew it did no good for anyone, least of all herself. She hadn't expected Morgan to forgive her, she didn't think she deserved even when she asked but still, Morgan's complete forsaking of her had hurt Haleigh.... and made it all the more difficult to come to terms with what she'd done.

But that had been a week or so ago. Haleigh had started to compartmentalize in order to function.... she was beginning to shut off her feelings, like her alternate future self had done. Nowadays when her sister came by, they kept the conversation light. Ava no longer gave Haleigh updates on the rest of the team, and neither of them brought up Haleigh's exile or the cause of it. It became an unspoken agreement that Nicolas's name was not to be mentioned.

Today the two sisters sat out on the belvedere, looking out over the North shore of the island, a soft breeze keeping them cool from the summer heat. Haleigh gazed off absently, lost in thought... when suddenly she spoke:

"I was thinking of adding to the compound... maybe.... a structure of stables? I've seen a herd of wild horses... they roam those valleys inland. One of them reminds me of Comet [her childhood horse]. We could tame a few of them... go on 'trail rides' together.... like we did when we were kids."

 

[MorningStar]

Delilah withdrew from everyone but Karen. The Doctor wasn't in much of a mood for "visiting", but Delilah made sure she was there for her if she needed her.

Her number one priority was Morgan's well-being, of course. Delilah knew that physically Morgan was safe, but emotionally and mentally she could only imagine... She spent most of her time sitting on the beach, staring out at the churning sea, calling for Morgan. She hated the thought of her friend alone at a time like this - if Morgan ever needed her, it was now - but unless Morgan willed it there was no way for Delilah to get to her. She even thought about contacting Ororo - but then thought better of it. She could only pray that Morgan would come around soon.

What she had seen in the alternate timeline - what she had gotten so angry about, what she had been told she overreacted about - had come to pass. And now that it had happened, she wished to god she had been wrong. But they had lied about it then, and acted upon it now, and hurt Morgan so badly that the Six was probably irreparably damaged. And on a personal level, Nicolas had proven them right that he did not know how to treat Morgan properly. And now she might never trust a man again. Haleigh had betrayed Morgan the same way Sharon had betrayed Haleigh - but somehow she didn't think this relationship woud be so easily repaired.

Things were a mess, and Delilah didn't know how to clean it up this time...or if it even should be. Though she knew it was upon her to try and coax Morgan into working with Nicolas and Haleigh again, she wasn't sure she wanted to. It seemed a very unfair thing to ask her best friend to do. And didn't they deserve Morgan's anger? She wanted to say Haleigh didn't, but that wasn't how she truly felt deep down. Deep down, she thought that this might very well be unforgiveable - and the end of The Six as they knew it.

 

[Persephone]

:: Two weeks had past since the reveal. And as each day passed by, Haleigh became worse. Racked with guilt and the inevitability that there was no turning back from her actions, it was very difficult for Ava to watch her sister go through this. She knew in her heart of hearts that Haleigh never meant to hurt Morgan. That what she did wasn't out of spit of hatred. But even knowing this Ava was torn between being a sister to Haleigh and friend to Morgan and those who had turned their backs on Haleigh. It was all so stressed and began to really take a toll on the goddess. With Alison's abrupt departure, she had tried numerous times to 'call out to her', but there was no response. She knew Alison was finished with the six....that she was finished with Mike and Nicolas. But Ava truly believed that after everything they had went through in the alternate timeline that they had become closer; like surrogate sisters. Eventhough Alison was strongly devoted to Morgan and most likely never wanted to see or speak to Haleigh again, Ava knew that she would listen....and quite frankly, that's really what she needed right now. Going to Karen was out of the question. Blaze was Morgan's sister, Delilah as well. She was barely over her own 'issues' and now suddenly was thrust into mother mode over a situation that took everything Ava had to hold her opinions about. ::

:: Sitting out on the belvedere, Ava rubbed the bridge of her nose, her headaches seemingly getting worse. ::

"I was thinking of adding to the compound... maybe.... a structure of stables? I've seen a herd of wild horses... they roam those valleys inland. One of them reminds me of Comet [her childhood horse]. We could tame a few of them... go on 'trail rides' together.... like we did when we were kids."

"If that's what you want to do....we can do it."

:: Her voice was softer, the tone showing signs of how worn out she was. Removing her hand from her head, Ava looked over at Haleigh and gave her a forced smile. ::

"I'm sure Aslan [Ava's horse on Aerie] would enjoy some friends. We can get started tomorrow if you like."

:: It was so hard skipping and dodging around such a massive topic acting like everything was peachy keen, especially since it was weighing so heavily on the both of them. But Haleigh didn't want to talk about it...therefore the brunette respected her wishes. ::

 

[Black Widow]

Ava was a good sister... loyal, supportive. Even when it was hard... and Haleigh knew it was right now. She knew from Ava's tone that her sister was weary.... and she knew the response was only to placate the hybrid. She rose from her seat, going to the balcony and resting her elbows on it.

"Tomorrow sounds good."

Haleigh turned back around to face her sister, to thank her, though there wasn't even an attempt to force a smile on her part. Ava was strained, that could be seen plainly.... but she didn't say why. Haleigh knew why.... they hadn't talked about it for several days, they'd been ignoring the elephant in the room despite how it pressed on their minds, their spirits every waking moment. Haleigh sighed deeply, gazing at her sister. She knew Ava wouldn't bring it up, out of respect for Haleigh's wishes.... but Haleigh was concerned that Ava would allow the tension to build and build until it became a volcano of resentment. Ava was the only person Haleigh had right now... she didn't want to jeopardize that.

"You can go to them, Ava. I won't hold it against you.... I don't hate them. [turning back to look out at the view] I wish they didn't hate me. I know it's justified that they do."

 

[Firebird]

The rotunda

While each of the team remained divided and allied with others, Blaze remained inside her room. She tried passionately to keep this team together. But the cracks had been too much that everything was now shattered. What was once a strong-formidable team was a crumbled mess.

Morgan's heartfelt cries and Alison's frigid words echoed in her mind. Seeing Morgan, a woman who she sought for strength had been crying. It was that same emotion that tore into Blaze like a knife and twisting inside her organs. She didn't know what to think or even to do for that matter.

Yet, as an element of fire she couldn't just sit around either. She didn't explore the rotunda like Sharon, she didn't indulge in light conversation like Ava and Haleigh or Mike and Karen. She opted for something more physical and less emotional.

A slender leg swung around the black punching bag in her room. A few candles flickered around the various pieces of furniture. The aromatherapy candles of jasmine and vanilla wafted through the air. White slender wires were adoring her throat from the small head phones she wore from her IPod. Madonna's 'Bye bye Baby' played from the slender white device.

"Arghh!"

Fiery emotions were unleashed in her brutal jabs, uppercuts, and kicks to the sand bag. Swinging around the air as she lunged into the air striking it once again. Each move more vicious than the other. Blaze could be a calm person but even she had her limits. It was like deja-vu for her all over again with this team.

Back flipping away, she turned to reach for her towel. Her olive skin glistened with perspiration. Dampening her black tank top and matching pants. A few strands of chocolate flirted across her right eye, before tucking it behind her ear. A slick pony tail was swept off her slender neck.

Setting the bottle down she thrusted her head out. A stream of red, yellow, and orange cascaded down to seep up and around the punching bag. Igniting it on fire, "Bloody hell!" Cursing under her breath, she walked closer. Swaying her hand the fire was all retracted with the odor of burning rubber.

The random play mode on her IPod would play 'Thief of Hearts', "Bitch!" The vocals would play like liquid velvet through her head phones. The song reminded her of the love triangle between Morgan, Nicolas, and Haleigh. Sighing under her breath she removed the IPod device to play it on her queen bed.

"You do it, you take it, you screw it, you fake it."

She sang along with a grumpy tone, reaching up to her hair tie to pull the long strands out. Sighing audibly, she exited from her guest quarters in search of the kitten. All that physical energy had worked up an appetite. Bare feet paddled along the cold marble floor as she would explore the rotunda.

It wouldn't take her long to locate the kitchen. Grabbing a few pieces of fruit from the refrigerator she set it down onto the nearby island. Raising a brow she turned back around to the refrigerator to spot a large bottle of Grey Goose Vodka.

"Oh thank you God!"

Pulling out the ice and cranberry juice she mixed herself a drink to take some of the stress off. Taking her bowl of fruit in one hand and her drink in the other. She pondered that bottle of vodka with a devilish grin. "Well, its not like Morgan would mind..." Snatching the bottle she turned to return to her room with a large bottle of vodka, fruit, and her pre-made drink.

 

[Persephone]

:: Ava followed Haleigh with her eyes, watching as she turned her back to look out over the balcony, the goddess rolled her eyes shut. ::

"You can go to them, Ava. I won't hold it against you.... I don't hate them. [turning back to look out at the view] I wish they didn't hate me. I know it's justified that they do."

:: Softly scoffing, she shook her head in disagreement. ::

"No....no I can't go to them, Haleigh. This 'team' is divided more than just you and Nicolas vs. everyone else. Alison is GONE! She LEFT us because of that pompus PRICK Mike and his constant need to question and critisize everything she foresaw. Morgan will probably NEVER return to Aerie, let alone EARTH. And the others? My God, if I even OPENED my mouth about ANYTHING concerning what has happened I might as well paint a giant red bullseye on my forehead because they KNOW that i'm your sister and won't turn my back on you!"

:: Standing from her chair, Ava finally began to vent. Everything the past two weeks was about trying to help Haleigh. Trying to ease her pain and guilt....trying to be her confidante. She didn't have the luxery of smacking Haleigh upside the head and saying she was wrong. She couldn't then, but she couldn't help but to now. ::

"Christ Haleigh....I love you; you know I love you. You're my big sister, you're there for me when no one else is....I would lay my life on the line for you....but WHY?! WHY Nicolas? Of all the men you could have...of all the men that actually DESERVE your love, why HIM!? I REFUSE to blame you for sleeping with Nicolas because I KNOW that Set manipulated your feelings for him....but I also REFUSE to sit here and pretend that i'm okay with you even HAVING feelings for Nicolas. He's an ASSHOLE, Haleigh. He's immature, arrogant, self rightous, ASSHOLE who has LITERALLY RIPPED your life APART! Don't you see that?! Don't you see that everything that you've worked for....all the pain and suffering you've endured...all the PROGESS that you've made with Karen and Morgan...it's GONE! All of it! Because of HIM. Everything you've done the past 3 years doesn't matter now. And THAT is what hurts me the most. THAT is what PISSES me off that most! Seeing you give up and revert back to the way you USED to be before we reconciled. That cold distant person who would much rather die than live! [shaking her head] I've lost my family before....When I was freed in Limbo, everyone that I loved was gone. They were DEAD. It took a lot for me to open my heart again after that, and NOW LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED!"

:: Ava was shaking she was so furious. She wasn't mad at Haleigh. She was disappointed in her mostly....but she couldn't sit back and listen to her talk about Nicolas any longer. To see her mending a broken heart because of him. He had her so tightly wound around his finger it made Ava sick. Cupping her hands on her face, she shook her head and closed her eyes, her head pounding even worse than before. ::

"I'm sorry....[dropping her hands away from her face] I didn't mean to blow up at you...[taking a step forward, Ava grasped Haleigh's hands] I'm just....i'm just concered for you...I hate seeing this happen to you."

 

[Silver Swan]

Aerie

[ after a while, Sharon found herself drawn to the statue of Artemis, the "maiden" of the "trinity of the moon". One of her silver gryfalcons was named after this goddess of the moon and the hunt. She studied the statue...the regal silence of the rotunda was comforting as well, it allowed for deep thought, something Sharon had not had the luxury of for a while, but while the team was in turmoil right now, the mutate felt more "at peace" with herself than ever before since becoming "silver swan" and she felt that it was her duty to be strong and help the others however she could.]

[ Sharon had been sitting in the pantheon for a while, but the time had come for her to check on her gryfalcons, a gift from Nicolas. the large , unusual birds that she had bonded with and tamed through her telepathic rapport/control of all avian species. ]

[ Firebird had recently left the kitchen and dining hall but Sharon could hear her foot steps and heartbeat. the woman had been engaged in rigorous physical activity. Karen meanwhile had been engaged in a serious discussion with Mike. for the first time since she'd been back, Sharon was alone, with nothing but time on her hands. the gryfalcons were her only "children" to look after now...but that was okay.]

[ assembling nourishment for the gryfalcons which consisted of fresh cut meats, some vegetables and water fortified with nutrients that the veterinarian at Minerva's Mansion had fashioned for them, Sharon moved through the rotunda, finally making her way to the center hall and to the main stairs...down them, through the vestibule and out through the columns that surrounded the circumference of the rotunda, Sharon is now outside in the open. She calls for her birds with a special sound/call and soon, they can be seen soaring nearby, calling out as they swoop in and flutter down.]

yes, hello babies. its time to eat!

[ setting the tray on a special perch, yet another item Nicolas had fashioned for her, she calls the birds over to perch and eat. gently patting each one of them as both vocalize with happiness at seeing their Silver Swan and the food she has brought.]

[ as they eat, Sharon stands, feeling the breeze over her skin and through her blonde, silver streaked hair. this island was beautifull, in the same way that Themyscria. so spacious and sprawling..the perfect place to FLY!]

[ and so, after the gryfalcons ate and tended to their plummage, Sharon summons them to join her in the air. HIGH up in the air, flying around and enjoying the wild, open skies. She challenges them , the way they were all challenged by the amazons, to enjoy high speeds and tight flight patterns. she can be seen streaking through the air by anyone on the island at various points.]

[ at that moment, she hears Ava, SCREAMING at Haleigh. She hears EVERYTHING and the hurt in Ava's voice says it all. Sharon had been there before, that feeling of void and loss, no way to truly reconcile it. she swoops down, silently and gracefully and as her gryfalcons perch, hidden within a large lush tree, Sharon lands on a thick tree branch over looking the lagoon, crouching down and listening...watching.]

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Aerie- the rotunda

<< Karen placed her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes as Mike countered her "breast feeding" remark. She could have expected that from him.>>

Of course I am not the Seer, and I am glad of that. Her burden is immense, I certainly grant that. But we are not simply agents of time. It falls to us to understand, to forgive, to reach out, or to FAIL to do so. Contrary to your earlier assertion, you were NEVER demure and meek. To ridicule who you were is counterproductive especially considering that you may be more powerful, more ruthless now, but Karen had one thing that Shadow Weaver does not: a family.

I am a WOMAN before i am anyone's mother figure, Michael. I am also ...posessed of limits and boiling points. This whole experience has brought forth a tremendous "adjustment reaction" in me, one that I have come to realize is not necessarily a BAD thing. the pendulum swings in one direction from another, and will soon return to the middle...as i recover from all of this. I just don't have it in me to look at Haleigh...without turning her into a ...scarlett lettered WHORE.

<< she said with such venom in her voice.>>

and as for Nicolas...I have been conflicted about him from the moment his father appeared. Part of me struggled to keep in mind that he was in as much danger as anyone else, but SEEING HIM capture Morgan...seeing his apparent "True Form" and KNOWING now, that in some other timeline, that could just as easily have been OUR reality, he would have MURDERED my baby...it scares and sickens me all at once. It scares me because of what I would DO TO HIM if that ever happened.

<< she says with emphasis as she looks directly at Mike.>>

but the other part of me...the doctor in me, the psycho therapist who has treated children and adults who were mutants themselves, KNOWS that sometimes things are not so easy to "control". Dominiques rune, Set's manipulation...they all played a part in his betrayal of Morgan. I REALIZE THAT in terms of "fact" but...HOW can i FORGIVE HIM without my daughter feeling abandonned by me? and worse, KNOWING that Haleigh LOVES HIM, it wont change ANYTHING for Morgan. She will see them and FOREVER KNOW what they did and that in their heart of hearts, that they WANTED it.

<< he speaks of Alison, and Karen immediately holds up her hand, cutting him off.>>

you're wrong. you know VERY little about Alison Marble. That child was forced into adulthood before ANY child her age should have had to contemplate such a thing. She BATTLED her mother to protect her baby sister and brother from the abuse that the woman, an agent of Mystech, heaped upon them. She ABANDONNED them due to a combination of circumstances...at age 14! Driven by a destiny she had yet to comprehend, even as a young precog, she faced things that even YOU had not seen in your days of the military...a young girl, ALONE, with only her gifts as a witch to protect her.

years later, she crossed paths with my daughter, who returned from her well publicized and traumatic experience with the london based super hero group, VALIANT. Blaze had seemingly perished at the hands of the demon BLACK and Morgan herself had been battered and wounded both physically and mentally. I did everything i could, but it was Alison, who appeared almost by design, and befriended my daughter, not only helping me to help her, but helping her to bring ILLUSTRA from the ashes of seeming defeat to rise to the fashion empire you and the world knew it to be. Alison has PLENTY of meaningfull relationships. She has Morgan as the sister she never had...she has ME as her mother, she has Delilah as a close friend, like a sister..and before he disappeared, she had her baby brother cameron, whom she reconcilled with. ALISON gathered together the original Six to save Blaze AND New York city from the first major disaster of Mystech design.

Beneath that marble hard heart of her's is a soul with feelings. She is as much apart of this family as you or Nicolas and without her, many of us would not be here. We love her...and she loves us. But you offended her to her core. Every move she makes, everything she says you found a reason to second guess it. She went through the same thing with Haleigh and her brother...and yet if you asked them about her NOW? they would tell you they trust her with their LIVES....and now, she may NEVER come back. She's abandonned Morgan, Delilah and AVA whom she forged a bond with during their time in captivity.

It's not supposed to be this way...I agree with you, but just as you think there may be a better way for me to handle this for the sake of everyone involved...and you offer [as much as i hate to admit] compelling evidence to that, SPEAKING as the "mother" of this team, I can tell YOU that there is a better way for you to deal with Alison.

thing I wonder in the back of my mind, and I'll bet you wonder also at times. If NICOLAS and HALEIGH could not help themselves, maybe Christopher could not also? Or does your condemnation of him guarantee your condemnation of them as well? If you can turn people into frogs, why cannot someone else turn people's wills into their own?

<< Karen's perfectly shaped eyebrows lifted and a flash of ANGER could be seen in her sapphire blue eyes.>>

For every sound statement you make, must it be followed by one that is completely assanine?

My condemnation of Christopher extends BEYOND his wanton adultery with Diana AND Helena...

<< clenching her fist.>>

It is about his destruction of OUR family. His betrayal of Morgan, his brutalizing the original Blaze, who was ALSO his daughter, Morgan's half sister...oh yes, he WANTED IT TOO. He wanted what Mystech had to offer so much so that he was willing to ABANDON his family and even try to DESTROY US.

Be carefull what you compare Michael. Nicolas and Haleigh have not earned the contempt that is reserved for Christopher. If they had...Nicolas would be an inanimate object, and haleigh would be something WORSE.

<< throwing her goblet into the marble fire place. the glass shatters and the fire swells in an explosive instant and turns GREEN from the hemlock. It is more than a few moments before she speaks again. her offense at Mike was more than evident.>>

In the end, I concede that Nicolas and Haleigh were perhaps powerless, just as Christopher was, but JUST like Christopher...there had to be something THERE to begin with. Even IF I forgive them for one, how can i for the other? How can MORGAN? Now that its been DONE, how much EASIER will it be for them to sneak around behind Morgan's back? or FLAUNT it before her? I want my daughter to be HAPPY, Michael. If staying in Limbo is what that will take...then I will not interfere...not for them, not for you...not for anyone.

If they want something from me...they can come to ME themselves and they will take whatever I have to give.

<< it was a start...a brutal one, but a start.>>

Even I know that it cant go on this way forever, but the burden does NOT fall on me. It falls on THEM.

 

[Firebird]

the rotunda

Having returned to the serenity of her room, Blaze savored the tranquility of her room. The soothing scented candles calming her troubled mind. Setting the large vodka bottle down onto the nearby night stand. She had a feeling she would need that later on. Sipping her drink in her hand, she strolled over to the large double doors. Opening them she walked outside onto her balcony to see a faint blur of movement along with a few birds.

"Sharon?"

Looking closer she smiled, the blonde had been quiet. But even Blaze had learned to call her a friend. At first she seemed so stoic and machine-like. Yet, she proved to be caring and even protective over the young fire elemental.

Gazing up at the night sky, admiring the dark colors. "Morgan. Alison. I miss you both but I know you need time." Allowing her thoughts to linger on them a little more, Blaze could hear Karen's voice from where she stood. She sounded in distress, angry even. Setting her drink down onto one of the small round tables tucked in the corner of the balcony.

Blaze turned to leap over the railing. Landing gracefully on her bare feet she strolled closer to see Karen and Mike. Stepping out of the garden, "Is everything okay, Karen?"

Nodding a greeting to Mike, unaware that the two had been discussing Alison along with other heated forms of discussion. Glancing to her surrogate mother for an answer. She would leave them as soon as she knew Karen was alright.

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Aerie- the rotunda garden

<< Karen turned, and her perfectly coiffed "flipped" hair flowed with the turn. Blaze's arrival was a surprising, if not well timed diversion as Karen definately was displaying a higher level of agitation. It wasnt COMPLETELY with mike, it was the WHOLE thing, which he made even more complex by sharing with her what he had seen in various timelines.>>

<< the fire elemental asked her if everything was okay. Karen sighed as she wrapped her arms around her shapely waist...looking away for a moment.>>

No, everything is NOT fine. It hasnt been for the last two weeks...

<< she said in a snappy tone.>>

Michael and I were just discussing it...

<< looking back at both of them.>>

to mixed results....

<< slowly turning around and unwrapping her arms, she glares at both of them.>>