Shattered!

[Firebird]

Rotunda garden

Poor Blaze had only intervened to check on Karen. She didn't expect to get such an agitated response from the older woman. Carefully inspecting the way her arms coiled around her waist, she noted how standoffish she seemed.

But she half expected it with the awful glare in her eyes. Blaze bravely moved around until she was standing next to Karen. "Its been a rough couple of weeks for all of us. I can tell your going through a difficult transition, especially seeing Morgan hurt like that. I get that....my mother..." Pausing, Blaze avoided eye contact for a second, "When she was alive used to do the same thing. She was very protective of me, just as you were."

Raising her eyes, Blaze shook her head. "I didn't come here to pick a fight with you, Karen. I simply came because I thought you were in distress, which I was right."

Reaching out to take Karen's hand, gently massaging the back of her knuckles. "Try to take it easy. Morgan wouldn't want to see you this way."

 

[Arsenal]

Mike listened attentively as Karen responded. It was a mixed bag overall, but he understood much deeper many if the relationships on the team, as well as that Karen was still in fact in charge of her feelings, that she was not the woman he met in the other timeline. That was what he in part wanted to see, but he also understood much more as she spoke of Christopher and his complete betrayal. he regretted making the comparison after hearing Karen's reply to it all. he started to speak again as Blaze made her entrance.

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.>>

Mike glanced between the two women, his own voice strained slightly.

Decidedly mixed. The last few weeks...months have been one hell of a challenge. Dealing with it is equally...trying.

He actually felt for the mutant as she shared a room with THIS much venom. he decided to defuse a bit of it for her.

Raising her eyes, Blaze shook her head. "I didn't come here to pick a fight with you, Karen. I simply came because I thought you were in distress, which I was right."

Reaching out to take Karen's hand, gently massaging the back of her knuckles. "Try to take it easy. Morgan wouldn't want to see you this way."

Yes Karen, I...did not wish to upset you like THIS, I only wanted to give you food for thought about all of this. I...am sorry to have upset you so, I realize that I speak from ignorance at times, but not from malice, I hope you understand that. Perhaps we will speak again when we have both had a chance to rest, think.

Mike walks over to her gingerly, determined to keep reaching out to her, no matter what.he kisses her cheek and whispers in her ear.

Love ya doc.

Mike turns to Blaze and kisses her forehead.

Take care of her, hothead.

Mike nods to Karen once again, a gleam in his eye in spite of himself.

Take care of yourself, Good Doctor.

Mike call her one last time by her pet name as he walks out of the rotunda and begins to walk a bit across the island. As he walked, he decided that he needed to speak to someone else, someone he had left alone for quite some time.

Mike turned to walk to Haleigh's place...

 

[Rampage]

In the middle of nowhere

Nicolas' eyes opened suddenly, and for the first time in weeks, he exhaled. Since leaving the others, he has been completely incognito, and he came to this place to ponder things.

This place is called by the native Tuareg here Tinariwen, but the rest of the world refer to this place as the Sahara desert. It was here that Nicolas leaped on that night, tears burning against his skin as he homed in on his father's place he had created for his invasion.

As soon as he saw it, the young demigod launched into an attack against it, using his powers to awesome effect as he systematically destroyed the large pyramid. The tuareg heard the din and avoided the area, thanking whatever gods they favored for the sudden storms which interrupted the drought, but they avoided that area on pain of death.

After he had spent nearly a day satisfying himself with wailing away at the massive stones, he reduced the stone rubble to earth, allowing the crater to take on water from the rain. The crater would one day soon be an oasis, but right now, it was Nicolas' place to think, to HURT, to absorb what had occurred.

And so he sat, and sat....and sat, cross-legged, his mind now working where his body once had. He did not eat, he did not sleep, he stopped breathing after day seven. He never really needed to breathe, but with what was going through his head, he simply stopped. Days turned to weeks, and after a while, even the snakes and scorpions stopped trying to consume him and regarded him as a thing dead.

He had managed to completely fulfill Alison's prophecy, managed to hurt his girlfriend and completely FUCK that up. For all he knew, she was tearing the planet a new asshole or sitting in limbo growing out her eye teeth. Meanwhile his best friend loved him like THAT. WOW. What to do. She was in many ways all that he could ever want, but the guilt of how everything went down overshadowed the possibilities whenever his mind went THAT way. His only living relatives? One wanted him dead for a reason he couldn't REALLY hate on that much, and the other was an elder God who didn't even belong on the dimensional plane. Oh, and they both worked damn hard in the last few days before here to make sure his life was a true piece of shit.

So now, he was sitting here, his eyes finally open as he looked upon the sky for the first time in a while. What to do. Karen? No, in the end that is Morgan's mom, and she hated him right now.

Mike? No. he was probably happy with Karen (to a point) and contact now would only prompt him to rush to his defense, which he did not want. Mike had always been there for him, but right now that was a hazardous job.

Alison? Next...

Sharon or Blaze? Soon, but he knew who he needed to talk to. he had left her as well, after promising he would not. Their bond was strong, and he only needed to reach out over the miles for her to hear...

Haleigh?

 

[Shadow Weaver]

Rotunda- marble garden

<< feeling the agression in her soul rising up again. Karen's facial expression was intense. she had already smacked Mike once this evening, for coming to her and telling her such MONSTROUS things, things that perhaps even Alison would not have revealed to her unless it was necessary. He meant well, and he showed as much sensitivity as he could...but still, some things were better left unsaid. Karen had always been one for ettiquite and protocall, but with eveyrone ELSE abandonning those principals, why should SHE be the only one to remain focused?>>

<< Mike's concern about her changes was valid, even if she dismissed it on the surface, the training and experience she had as a psychotherapist was SCREAMING at her inside telling her that she was NOT as "okay with her changes" as he thought she was.>>

<< his minimizing of Alison , his comparing Haleigh and Nicolas to Christopher...for every GOOD thing he attempted to do, he dilluted the effect with two or more missteps...he wanted her to do something, and she agreed [grudgingly] that something should be done, but he was not doing a good job of winning her over...not completely.>>

<< and Blaze, poor Blaze, who was merely checking on Karen received a bit of the hostility as well. but this alternate prooved most capable of appealing to her "almost Step Mother". The doctor's hand slowly received the warm, caring touch of the young mutant and as Mike bid the doctor farewell after offering an apology, the doctor looked at him with a softer gaze. She didnt speak, but she knew she'd see him again later.>>

<< now that he was gone, she looked at Blaze, and slowly exhaled.>>

Mike came to me, we've been..strained over the last few weeks, and its not hard to guess why. But while it was nice to see him again...he shared with me some concerns. Valid, deep, and complex...but no less easy for me to hear, let alone process in a peacefull way.


Morgan....she's in Limbo. She wont answer my calls, she ignores me. I can feel her pain but i can feel her heart growing COLD as well. This is not what i want for my daughter.

Alison is gone, she may never come back. She abandonned her own family before, I don't doubt for a moment that she doesnt have the capacity to do it again and Mike STILL doesnt seem to get that. He thinks because she comes across as cold and "marble hard" that she couldnt have possibly ever had meaningfull relationships! How...PRESUMPTUOUS of him to say the LEAST!

and then of course...there's Nicolas and Haleigh...like a BAD TABLOID TRAIN WRECK, they remain the sun at the heart of this dysfunctional solar system. I loathe both of them and yet...I know we cant all stay seperated on Aerie forever. Ava is hurting, Delilah is hurting... Something MUST be done....but WHAT!?

<< looking away.>>

BESIDE me turning them BOTH into toads!

<< more of her violent tinted humor.>>

I want Delilah here...I need to talk to the both of you.

and Sharon...where is she? I havent seen her in quite a while.

 

[Seer]

the night grows darker

<< Mike meant well, but he certainly lacked the grace that came with sharing tragic events/outcomes of alternate timelines that Alison had. It was rather ironic, him using the images of other timelines to warn Karen...when if it had been Alison, he might have found a way to discredit her. >>

<< Karen herself was grappling for control, when she felt herself increasingly losing control and worse, NOT CARING. The slippery slope she faced since becoming Shadow Weaver was very real and if there were a time for to crack and "cross over" , now would be it...all it would take was one last straw...and sadly, tonight of all nights could turn out to be that very straw.>>

<< Blaze was now with the doctor in the marble garden of the rotunda. At Karen's requeset, Blaze sent a signal to Delilah, summoning HER to the rotunda as well, but Sharon's whereabouts were not immediately known. The woman moved at high speeds while in flight, she was impossible to reach telepathically and the island was immense. she HAD been watching flying, then she was watching Ava and Haleigh, but she was gone again, even as Haleigh may have registered her and her gryfalcons hidden in the lush trees above the lagoon.>>

<< Mike had left the rotunda and was now heading to Haleigh's compound which was a fair distance away. Perhaps he thought his time in the wilder, more "unknown" parts of Aerie had made him more capable of traipsing about this mysterious island at night...but he would find that was not necessarily the case.>>

<< Morgan and Alison were still absent, maybe permanently. Their abandonning the team was a painfull blow...and Nicolas was gone as well, though he could not stay away forever, he HAD afterall, made a "promise" to Haleigh. Fullfill his promise to her and risk further alienation from the others as well as twisting the knife that Morgan felt was in her back...he too was alone...and struggling. Dominique had forbade him to make contact with her and for the last few weeks, she blocked even the subtle attempts at his "searching" for her astral form. for HER, the nightmare of set was over. She would follow her destiny of forever keeping him at bay from this dimension, but she was LESS than able to even LOOK at her nephew right now. Still, Isis' destiny to her avatar INCLUDED Nicolas.>>

<< all of these things in the air, surrounded by the mist of uncertainty, but one thing was clear...danger and more heartache loomed over Aerie, and not from the source you might think.>>

<< and so we watch.>>

 

[Black Widow]

"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!"

Haleigh slowly turned back around to see her sister.... she didn't look hurt.... or even surprised. Rather, she seemed to regard the outburst with objective interest, like someone not emotionally involved might do. She had been waiting for Ava to do this... she had known it was coming and was surprised she'd waited so long. Ava had been coddling Haleigh, comforting Haleigh... all the while ignoring how she FELT about it and Haleigh knew enough to expect this. Ava needed to vent, and Haleigh had been waiting for it to come. She didn't say anything at first... she knew Ava needed to get it out.

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!?

"Because he understands-- he knows me, Ava.... in a way that no one else can. He knows my most private thoughts, he knows my darkest desires. He knows the things that I hate and the things that I love. He knows that I am capable of both limitless mercy and terrible cruelty. He knows that I can be compassionate, caring, and logical, and he also knows that I can be selfish, manipulative, murderous, deplorably violent and visceral... He sees me at my weakest and yet takes me as I am. He is intimately aware of every motivation, I can hide nothing from him.... and still... he thinks I am a person worth loving. [pausing]Or he thought I was... I don't know now."

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.

"[cutting her off]WHY are you so intent on blaming this on HIM?? It was ISIS AND SET who did this to us, to ME! you think Nicolas WANTED this?? All Nic ever wanted was too be accepted, to be loved! And the harder he TRIED, the more you and Alison and Delilah refused him. [frankly] You know WHAT?? I don't CARE if you don't approve of my feelings for him. YES, I KNOW THAT MY LOVE FOR HIM WAS MY UNDOING, but you can't help who you LOVE, Ava, and for good or bad, I LOVE him!"

She fired back, a little hotly. She couldn't fathom just WHY Ava hated Nicolas so badly... why she'd ALWAYS hated Nicolas. Haleigh had been against him in the beginning on principal... but once she'd gotten to KNOW Nicolas, she accepted him... but that had never happened with Ava and Nicolas. Ava had always been dead set against 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!"

"[gently]I know... I know... what we did.... we can never take back. In a single moment I burned many bridges, I undid so MUCH that I've long worked for... but I TOLD you what happened in the future timeline.... maybe.... it's better this way.... it is a heavy cross to bear... but if it means Morgan will live -- I would much rather wear the brand of 'traitor' than see her harmed like that."

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."

Haleigh pulled her sister into a hug, speaking quietly in her ear.

"I know you're disappointed in me Ava.... and I'm sorry I let you down... I'm sorry I put you in such an awful position... I know it's been hard.... and I'm sorry for that."

She slowly let her sister go, turning pensively back to the balcony, patting the spot beside her on the rail for Ava to join her.

"I wish I could fix things... but I fear I'll never be able to. I don't even know where to START!"

She lamented, staring out at the horizon.

Haleigh?

Haleigh's heart stopped. Nicolas' voice had called out to her in mer mind... it was a familiar 'sound' yet had been so achingly absent for weeks that seemed to be eternal.... that the idea that he was speaking with her seemed surreal at best. Her walls quickly went up.... she had a scathed heart to weakly try to defend.

Oh, so you DO still know how to communicate.

She thought back bitterly.... It had only been two weeks... but she'd begun to accept that he may never return and that had been hurtful enough to leave a mark on her heart.

 

[Rampage]

Oh, so you DO still know how to communicate.

Nicolas winced. He knew it would not be easy, but he was determined not to fail in finishing what he started here.

I deserved that...and MORE. I promised to be there, but I believed that I would be more harm than good. The last thing you needed was Ava trying to kill me. So I went to destroy Set's palace, and think. I haven't even breathed in thirteen days...until just now.

Silence.

So...do you hate me as well?

 

[Black Widow]

I deserved that...and MORE. I promised to be there, but I believed that I would be more harm than good. The last thing you needed was Ava trying to kill me. So I went to destroy Set's palace, and think. I haven't even breathed in thirteen days...until just now.

Silence.

So...do you hate me as well?

Haleigh sighed deeply... her sister wouldn't know exactly why... but she might sense a shift in Haleigh... a slight lightening of her mood. She was still somber... but the shade wasn't quiet as dark as it had been before.

Do you really have to ask or is it just a courtesy at this point? You know I don't hate you. I'm not angry anymore... just disappointed. There's a lot of that going around.

 

[Rampage]

Do you really have to ask or is it just a courtesy at this point? You know I don't hate you. I'm not angry anymore... just disappointed. There's a lot of that going around.

Indeed, I'm sure. I will be honest. I don't know WHAT to do. Right now you and Mike are probably the only two people on the planet who would care to see me right now, and both of you are closely linked to people who would probably rather NEVER see me again. But I would like to see you, if at all possible. Though I suppose I EVENTUALLY need to pick the scorpions out of my pants and get a shower first.

An attempt at levity, Nicolas waited to see what Haleigh would say...

 

[Black Widow]

His joke was lost on her. She wanted to see him... but she knew Ava would likely take it badly. Was Ava prepared to see him again? Had she listened to anything Haleigh'd said about Nicolas... or was she going to remain as stubborn as was typical of both sisters? There was only one way to find out...

I'll have to tell her you're coming. It wouldn't be fair keep it from her.

She thought, conceding to allow him to visit. She expected Ava to immediately disapprove... to try to talk her out of it, to remind her that he'd left and she [Haleigh] had been deeply hurt by it.... but Haleigh didn't know what to do EITHER... she knew that she had an ally [and maybe more] in Nicolas... and she hoped that Ava would accept that Haleigh NEEDED to see him... he was the only one who truly understood her position, her pain... because he was there too.

 

[Rampage]

I'll have to tell her you're coming. It wouldn't be fair keep it from her.

He was happy that SOMEONE would be happy to see him. He smiled despite himself and sent one last message.

I will wait for you to contact me back. Hales? Thanks, sweetheart.

Nicolas went back to his meditations, his breathing becoming shallow as he thought happier thoughts for the first time in quite a while...

 

[Persephone]

:: Everything Haleigh said about Nicolas turned Ava's stomach. Her breathing began to labor just slightly showing how truly angered she was that Nicolas had such a strong HOLD on Haleigh. After EVERYTHING! Pulling out of her sister's hug, Ava shook her head. ::

"I wish I could fix things... but I fear I'll never be able to. I don't even know where to START!"

"You need to start by taking Nicolas out of your life!"

:: As Ava continued on to emphesize her point, she was unaware that Nicolas had finally contacted Haleigh mentally. ::

"You sound like a brainwashed school girl Haleigh! 'Nic accepts me, he knows me, he loves me'. Yeah, well he also loves, knows, and accepts MORGAN too, and look how THAT turned out. What makes you think he's just going to abandon trying to mend his relationship with Morgan because SUDDENLY you LOVE him? You need to snap out of it and realize that you're setting yourself up for even more heartache if you think he won't turn around and do the same damn thing he did to Morgan to you!"

:: Looking at her sister, she seemed zoned out....but differenly than before. She was tense and seemed to be concentrating, like her mind was somewhere else. ::

"Haleigh.....HALEIGH! Haleigh are you even lis--[Ava's eyes suddenly narrowed into a dark glare as everything clicked together] It's him isn't it.....you're TALKING with HIM aren't YOU!? [throwing her hands up in the air] I'm done. I WILL NOT stand by and watch you WILLINGLY give him your heart only for him to CRUSH it again."

:: Ava began to walk off, but soon stopped and turned around to look one last time at her sister. Her tone was sharp and direct. ::

"He's a parasite Haleigh....a leech. He gravitates to the next warm blooded body when he realizes that he sucked dry the last one he had. The sooner you realize that, the quicker we can focus on helping YOU and less about HIM."

:: Ava wasn't doing this to hurt Haleigh or make her feeling like she was abandoning her. She was doing this as a last resort....tough love. Nicolas needed to stay away from her sister, and Ava was going to make sure it happened. ::

"I'll be back tomorrow morning. We can start your stable project then."

:: And with that, Ava walked off into the woods, disappearing from Haleigh's compound. Something had snapped in her. She was done sitting around and letting Nicolas further destory the lives of her sister, Morgan, and everyone elses in the six. He would pay. And Ava knew exactly the way how...::

 

[Black Widow]

"You need to start by taking Nicolas out of your life!"

Haleigh stood up, folding her arms across her chest. She didn't know why Ava was so hellbent against Nicolas... she didn't know why Ava refused to accept that Nicolas had been as much a victim as Haleigh had... but Haleigh had a simple answer for her sister. She shook her head, narrowing her eyes.

"I'm not going to do that, Ava."

Haleigh scoffed as Ava called her a lovesick schoolgirl. Thanks for belittling and trivializing my feelings for him. Did you ever stop to consider that I don't do ANYTHING without thinking it through? Or is that too complicated for your thick head?? She thought, but didn't say. She knew it was a hurtful thing to say... she further knew that Ava was only trying to help, however misguided she was.

What makes you think he's just going to abandon trying to mend his relationship with Morgan because SUDDENLY you LOVE him?

Haleigh rolled her eyes, shaking her head. Ava REALLY didn't understand, did she? Haleigh cut her off:

"What makes you think I WANT him to abandon Morgan for me, just because we slept together?? LITTLE has changed, Ava. I loved him before; I love him still! I want him to be HAPPY and if that means him trying to reconcile with Morgan then SO BE IT. WHY do you think nothing happened between us BEFORE, Ava? I want Morgan to be happy too, but I've completely fucked THAT one up."

You need to snap out of it and realize that you're setting yourself up for even more heartache if you think he won't turn around and do the same damn thing he did to Morgan to you!"

"You mean the same thing WE did to Morgan. Why is it so HARD for you to accept that he was as much coerced as I was?? He and I are in the same boat here, Ava, we're guilty of the exact same sin. There is NOTHING that separates us, NOTHING to indicate I'm any LESS guilty than he. for you to stand there and BLAME him for something he had no control over is illogical and RIDICULOUS. How can you pardon ME and condemn HIM in the same breath??"

She asked, demanding reason. Ava was allowing her preconceived hatred of Nicolas to affect her judgement about his involvement here and Haleigh wasn't going to shy away from CALLING her on it.

I will wait for you to contact me back. Hales? Thanks, sweetheart.

Nicolas was reaching out to her again... Haleigh grimaced. Don't thank me yet... she's not taking this very well.... and I haven't even TOLD her yet!

:: Looking at her sister, she seemed zoned out....but differenly than before. She was tense and seemed to be concentrating, like her mind was somewhere else. ::

"Haleigh.....HALEIGH! Haleigh are you even lis--[Ava's eyes suddenly narrowed into a dark glare as everything clicked together] It's him isn't it.....you're TALKING with HIM aren't YOU!? [throwing her hands up in the air] I'm done. I WILL NOT stand by and watch you WILLINGLY give him your heart only for him to CRUSH it again."

"Ava, come on, don't you think you're overreacting a little? I'm listening to you too. So that's it, huh? You're just going to give up? hey-- don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you!"

:: Ava began to walk off, but soon stopped and turned around to look one last time at her sister. Her tone was sharp and direct. ::

"He's a parasite Haleigh....a leech. He gravitates to the next warm blooded body when he realizes that he sucked dry the last one he had. The sooner you realize that, the quicker we can focus on helping YOU and less about HIM."

"Well now you're just being melodramatic."

Ava stalked off, after saying she'd be back in the morning to help witht he stables. Haleigh threw up her hands, resigned.

"FINE.... I'll see you in the morning."

She shot back as Ava disappeared into the jungle. She sighed, leaning against the railing for a moment before walking back over to a lounge chair and sinking into it.

She's so damn stuboorn it makes me want to tear out my hair! [pausing] Well... I didn't get a chance to tell her... but I think it's safe to say she wouldn't have been receptive to the idea.

 

[Firebird]

The Rotunda Gardens

Mike turns to Blaze and kisses her forehead.

Take care of her, hothead.

Smiling up to the muscular man, Blaze nodded, "I will, Tarzan, I'll look after your Jane for you." A playful nickname she had given Mike, sense he spent an awful lot of time in the jungle. As he left Karen would finally address what had been bothering her.

Mike came to me, we've been..strained over the last few weeks, and its not hard to guess why. But while it was nice to see him again...he shared with me some concerns. Valid, deep, and complex...but no less easy for me to hear, let alone process in a peacefully way.

"I don't doubt that you are, just as Morgan and Nicolas were before this caper ever began. Mike may not know how to always articulate his concerns well at times. He comes off as aggressive even firm...but as I told him in the jungle he's got a heart of gold. But you've got me curious, what are these concerns?"

A thin brow arched, awaiting for Karen to elaborate more on this. If Mike had concerns it was important to him, which meant the team needed to hear it as well, or most of them. Morgan, Nicolas, and Alison were missing in action.

Morgan....she's in Limbo. She wont answer my calls, she ignores me. I can feel her pain but i can feel her heart growing COLD as well. This is not what i want for my daughter.

"Morgan needs time...her heart is broken. Even I can feel her pain, hell, I saw it. She trusted him...she trusted THEM both. As you know, Morgan doesn't allow men in for this reason. But, I have faith in Morgan that when she's ready....she'll return to us. Maybe not right away but with time. Even in pain, Morgan is strong...she defies weakness at every corner. I only hope...she does not lose herself to the darkness once more."

Blaze was offering her own bit of insight and fear as well.

Alison is gone, she may never come back. She abandoned her own family before, I don't doubt for a moment that she doesn't have the capacity to do it again and Mike STILL doesn't seem to get that. He thinks because she comes across as cold and "marble hard" that she couldn't have possibly ever had meaningful relationships! How...PRESUMPTUOUS of him to say the LEAST!

Alison HAD to abandon her family, there was no other reason around it. Alison will always carry herself with a marble heart. But even I know that it can be melted around the right person. Back in the control room...she requested to see me. She had confided in me that she felt that both Nicolas and Mike were attacking her. That she had been wearing herself thin. I don't think this is the last time we will see Alison Marble. She knows our paths are linked together even as a gatekeeper of time. I do think this reprieve will replenish what has been depleted of her. Unfortunately, Mike and Alison are like oil and fire, the consequences are explosive. I think in time...not right away those two MIGHT be able to form an understanding. I know the more Mike learns the more he has a better understanding of things. I really do wish they would learn to get along. But even I know that Alison won't let that happen."

and then of course...there's Nicolas and Haleigh...like a BAD TABLOID TRAIN WRECK, they remain the sun at the heart of this dysfunctional solar system. I loathe both of them and yet...I know we cant all stay separated on Aerie forever. Ava is hurting, Delilah is hurting... Something MUST be done....but WHAT!?

"Its understandable that you loathe them, they've hurt Morgan and rightfully so you feel the need to lash out. Any mother would. But, you are right we cannot remain separated for long. I wish I knew...the only one who has those answers isn't here...she's lost in time or rather with time. What I do know is that all wounds take time to heal."

Blaze refrained from commenting on Nicolas or Haleigh for it would only rile Karen up more. Instead she avoided the subject, at least for awhile. But as disgusted as she was with both of them, Blaze was concerned for both. In her heart she tried to see the good in people, including those two.

BESIDE me turning them BOTH into toads!

"Do you honestly believe that would solve anything? The scar is still there, even the pain and anguish. If we turned on the other we would be no better than the barbaric monsters we fight on a daily basis. I don't know about you but I'd rather not be subjected to that. I know I'm better than that and so are you, Karen."

I want Delilah here...I need to talk to the both of you.

and Sharon...where is she? I haven't seen her in quite a while.

"That's understandable. I'll send a signal for her, requesting that she meet you in the garden. As for Sharon I thought I saw her and her gryfalcons flying in the sky. She's been rather quiet as well."

 

[Shadow Weaver]

the rotunda marble garden

<< Karen looked down at the young mutant. She was different from her mainstream counterpart in many key ways and yet...dealing with her was like "that old feeling". Karen was gratefull to have another chance to interact with the fire elemental. in another time, if things had gone in another direction, Karen might have even ADOPTED Blaze to help reverse the damage caused by Christopher. >>


<< Despite Karen's new found sarcastic, often morbid sense of humour, the fire elemental remained serious at this moment, reminding Karen that if she attacked Haleigh and Nicolas in that way, she'd be no better than any monster they had faced down thus far. This FURTHER added to what Mike was saying. >>


<< Sigh>> I know Blaze. Mike only just reminded me that I should not...CANNOT let go and completely revel in the darkness that has burned my soul since this caper began. That is in part why he came here.

<< twirling her hand , with a rushing harp and "ting" sound, the doctor's opened hand now grips a new, fresh goblet of Hemlock.>>

Would you care for something to drink?

<< unlike earlier, when she offered Mike a glass of HEMLOCK in jest, she didnt do the same thing with Blaze. it wouldnt have been fair. With the sound of her high heeled "pussy cat" slides click across the marble path in the semi enclosed garden, she slowly walks across the way to a large, plush, throne like chair that is near the marble fire chamber and seats herself, looking like she could be about to pose for a photo shoot. It was not hard to see where Morgan inherited her bewitching beauty from.>>

<< Delilah arrived.>>

Delilah!

<< she held out her hand for Delilah to come to her and she gave her surrogate daughter a hug.>>

How nice to have you here. Both of you, please sit down. We should talk.

<< after a few moments, with the doctor lightly running her manicured nail around the rim of the goblet, she looked up at the two younger women and spoke.>>

We've always had Alison to help us understand the time that IS, the times that WERE and the times that could very well BE. Her's is a special gift and she is uniquely qualified to use it. We need to find a way to get her back...but before we do...there's something else we need to discuss.

Mike came to me...and told me of an alternate timeline that he saw while some of you were searching for Alison and Ava...in this timeline...he saw this child.

<< holding up a picture of Victoria, the daughter of Morgan and Nicolas. The beautifull young girl with the perfect blend of her mother and father's features, most notably her mother's icy violet eyes and a tint of blonde in her thick hair. >>

She was an orphan. Her mother...dead, at the hands of Nicolas...and Nicolas...dead at...my hands...or rather the hands of my alternate. Alternates Ava and Alison cared for the child, but they themselves were horribly scarred emotionally and mentally from the experience as well. There was NO explanation available for why Nicolas would have attacked and murdered Morgan...

<< she spoke with icy tone.>>

Just...the thought of it...it sickens me...and as i told Mike, it SCARES ME for if...goddess forbid...IF it happened here...I WOULD KILL NICOLAS MYSELF.

<< The two younger woman could see karen was deadly serious. she pauses, keeping herself together.>>

I, apparently was scheduled to be executed for murdering Nicolas.

Mike suspects that the ultimate reason for that Nicolas attacking and murdering that Morgan was SET...and...given what we saw when Nicolas attacked Dominique under Set's influence and when he captured Morgan...perhaps he is right.

<< looking over to the unusual colored fire in the ornamental marble fire chamber, the doctor continued.>>

In various timelines that Mike and the others went...there were alternates of myself, nearly each one was ALREADY known as "Shadow Weaver", each one consumed by bitterness and hatred and having murdered more than one person. In each case, Morgan was dead....and moreover, the team was destroyed beyond repair.

There was ONE instance, he said, where remnants of the team were able to come back together. In a timeline where my alternate was the BLACK QUEEN in the SISTERHOOD. That Shadow Weaver tortured mainstream Mike, but he was able to reach out to her just enough, to bring her back to herself. She and the alternate Sharon FREED Alexis from the clutches of Helena and Malice, the same two that are now in THIS timeline.

Michael implies that in nearly every instance, once i let go and embraced the darkness that is now in my soul, that the team suffers irreversible damage because of it. I RAILED against the idea that I bare that kind of burden of responsibility...as i told him, i am WOMAN before I am ANYONE'S "mother figure"...and yet...here i am, now calling MYSELF Shadow Weaver in this timeline, I now have access to the WHOLE of the Darkhold book of spells, just as my daughter and Alison and a "hit first, ask questions later" attitude. The team is fractured to the point of what feels like "beyond repair"...everyone is hurting from what happened...Set, Nicolas, Haleigh....

<< she looks at Firebird and MorningStar>>

Even IF what he says is true...which this picture of "Victoria" seems to bear out....WHAT does he want from me!? It is not ME who had destroyed the team THIS time...it is Haleigh and Nicolas! Mike HIMSELF drove Alison away!

I can't help but wonder...how narrowly did we avoid an even WORSE outcome...that maybe...Haleigh's actions, no matter how unforgivable, somehow...CHANGED and NEUTRALIZED the outcome of Nicolas raping and killing MORGAN while under Set's influence.

It is THAT very thing, that gives me pause now.

If Alison could tell us for sure...If she would just...come back.

<< it was more than a need that karen spoke of. She was genuinely concerned for Alison for she felt that the precog was not entire recovered herself from her own ordeal in the time stream. that it was that PAIN and resentmenet of nicolas that kept her from doing what she'd always done with her visions before...going TO someone or the group about them. THAT TOO was something to consider.>>

 

[Rampage]

The Sahara

Don't thank me yet... she's not taking this very well.... and I haven't even TOLD her yet!

Nicolas' eyes opened a moment but he said nothing. He then closed them back and waited. But Haleigh said nothing. Finally, a message.

She's so damn stubborn it makes me want to tear out my hair! [pausing] Well... I didn't get a chance to tell her... but I think it's safe to say she wouldn't have been receptive to the idea.

It's only been 5 minutes, and I am fucking it up for you AGAIN.

Nicolas was again silent, but his sense of isolation emanated, permeated Haleigh from wherever he was.

 

[Persephone]

:: Walking through the jungle, Ava zipped up her black leather jacket before tucking her hands into it's pockets. Haleigh was deluted if she believed that Ava would just let this situation go. Let Nicolas contact her or visit her anytime he pleased as if they could REALLY keep their 'friendship' going after everything that has happened. It wasn't ENOUGH for Nicolas to be cast out like the unwanted garbage that he was. It wasn't ENOUGH for him to JUST loose Morgan and respect of his teammates. No...it wasn't enough. He needed to pay, and severely. ::

:: Suddenly Ava stopped dead in her tracks....shifting her eyes to the northeast, a smirk tugged on her lips. ::

[whispering to herself] "Perfect..."

:: As Mike was making his way toward Haleigh's compound, he had inadvertantly disturbed an owl along the way, causing Ava to pick up on his location. What better way to get back at Nicolas than to take away the one other constant in his life; the only other person who supports and loves him. It was brilliant, and oh so fitting. ::

:: As Mike continued to walk along, the jungle surrounding him subtly began to fill with white fog thick enough that he wouldn't be able to see feet in front of him. It would look like a natual occurrance. Like when driving down a rode and encountering a patch of fog suddenly. Ava stood quietly, waiting and watching... ::

 

[Black Widow]

Don't be silly, Nicolas... this isn't your fault.... whatever my sister's problem is... it's her deal. She won't listen to me... she won't let me ease her worry. She doesn't WANT to see the silver lining.... and I don't know why. Just let her cool off. She needed to vent... she'll probably be calmer and more reasonable in the morning.

Haleigh thought... hoped. She blew out the tiki torches that lit the belevedere and started slowly down the stairs. It was hard to understand why Ava felt the way she did about Nicolas, but Haleigh knew her sister was hurt by what had happened as badly.... they ALL were and it would take time to recover.

Nicolas had become quiet.... and Haleigh wondered if he was reconsidering returning from self-inflicted exile to Aerie....

You're still coming, aren't you?

 

[Silver Swan]

else where on Aerie

[ the scene between Ava and Haleigh was intriguing and alarming. Haleigh was so lost in her emotions over Nicolas that she seemed not to realize the road Ava was headed down...Sharon could see it though. She'd BEEN there. But there was no way for her to know JUST what Ava might do or WHEN...or even to WHOM yet. ]

[ As Ava left Haleigh's compound, Sharon watched Haleigh for a moment longer. Ava indicated that Haleigh must have been in telepathic conctact with Nicolas.]

so he's alive..and in reasonable health...i guess.

[ It did irritate Sharon that Nicolas had not stuck around to face the mess he made. That was not the way it should be. SHE had to face her demons, both from her past as a human as well as the ghosts of those that she killed when she was the "Savage" Silver Swan under the thrall of Mystech. The amazons helped her. Nicolas and Haleigh should not get a free pass just because THEY were manipulated. They OWED the people on this island.]

[ a moment or two later, Sharon leaves the cover of the lush foliage surrounding the lagoon, she and her silver gryfalcons. she wasnt exactly interested in talking to haleigh at this point. The memory of Haleigh trying to take HER to task shortly after she awoke from massive surgey in Limbo over a pseudo "affair" with Zach that happened before he even committed to Haleigh still lingered in her mind. At least SHE had a genuine IGNORANCE of Haleigh's nascent romantic inclination to Zach at that time. Haleigh knew full well Nicolas' status with Morgan THIS time.]


he hides and she is strung out over him. its sad...and pathetic at the same time.

[ streaking through the air, it was a glorious feeling! to fly under her own power, even without her wings. she was fast, as stealthy and accurate as an arrow fired by Artemis herself, with enough power to smash THROUGH a mountain....but at the moment, she couldnt decide wether to return to the rotunda, or to keep after Ava. something told her to wait...to slow down. But she couldnt see anything from where she was....there was no one about in this area.]

[covering many miles in mere minutes, she descended to a lower altitude, with her gryfalcons flanking her.]

[ a massive expanse of jungle was near...and Sharon decided to land. hearing many nocturnal animals as they moved about their unique, sheltered lives. the silver swan feared little in the way of "predators"...she was THE ULTIMATE predator where ever she went. her birds hovered as she landed. she was still a ways from the rotunda which was at the center of the Island and Persephone's Villa was not close by either.]

a fog...

[ she noticed the thick, low hanging fog...it seemed to be very thick even for her. but she was not afraid. she couldnt see very far in any given direction, so she decided to wait on the edge of the jungle in case there was any sign of Ava.]

 

[Arsenal]

Mike walked slowly across a known path across the island. He was hoping that time had allowed Ava to calm and Haleigh to get herself together. He was hoping that he would be able to have more of them sit down very soon.

As the fog descended, something seemed...artificial about it. But he shrugged it off.

Relax Mike. Things don't ALWAYS go bump in the night.