Dream Partners: Twisted time

Chapter 1: Gentle Reminders

The cool spring breeze blew through the windows as Andrea and her mother; Julie mulled over company details. It had been a year since they all found out about Victoria's powers and it still shook her to her core. She got caught in a daydream until her mother smiled and smacked the back of her head and said "Pay attention". Andrea frowned at her and said, "Stop...I'm worried about her okay". Julie sighed and said "You're just like me" before she smacked her on the head and said, "Be less like me". Andrea looked at her confused before Julie said "I was hands-off with you and you turned out great". Andrea frowned and said "I was having a horrible time and you didn't help me!" Julie giggled and said," You remembered wrong, you were a moody caterpillar who never left her cocoon most of the time". Andrea blushed and said "Nu-uh" and Julie grinned and said, "I remember you tortured your poor husband when he had traveled back in time, saved your life, and tried so hard to make you feel confident and loved". 

Andrea gasped and said, "Y-you're n-not supposed to remember that...the gods fixed the timeline after that". Julie smiled and said, "Well they decided that it'd be our little family secret, but everyone else...yeah they don't remember". Julie continued and said, "All he wanted to do was to be your friend and protect you and you shut him out, and me, so we both did what we could and that was to let you decide for your own". Andrea sighed and said," Ugh, I hate it when you're right". Julie smiled and said, "Victoria is strong like you sweetie, but you can't baby her all the time, I know you still have doubts but understand your life and hers are two different ones". Andrea said" I know but last time she came home from training, she had a scar that didn't go away for weeks and Julie said, "You came down to breakfast every morning with cuts on your arms that didn't heal for months...but you survived didn't you".

Andrea looked at her mother with a shocked look before Julie sighed and said "You know I didn't mean it like that...I was worried about you, I tried my best to make it stop, I even offered to move schools but you refused...it tore me up to see you like that which is why as soon as I was able to, I scared every person you brought over". Andrea teared up and hugged her mother tight and said " I know you did your best and I'm sorry I didn't make it any easier for you mother". Julie teared up and said" I would've killed every one of those bastards if they had taken you from me...I would've given anything for you to have had your father around and a normal childhood".

Andrea smiled and said," I guess we're even then...I've known all this time that dad walked out on my 5th birthday and that you've secretly hidden that by telling me he died when he was still alive". Andrea continued and said" he died a few years later which is when you started working for the company he left you in charge of. Julie sighed and said "Yes, all of that's true, he was a wonderful businessman but me and him just didn't work but we tried to force it for you until after an argument about him drinking on your birthday led him to storm off". Julie continued and said" he had heart issues and he knew it but he never listened when I told him to take care of himself and unfortunately his heart did him in and he died of a heart attack...I tried to contact him so many times but he was adamant that he wasn't gonna come back and even I don't know why". 

Andrea smiled and said," But he left you complete ownership of the company, with no mess at all, so I guess in a way he was trying to make it right in the end, but I've long forgiven him". Julie smiled and said "My point in all of this is that you turned out well despite everything that happened and I know we can't control things all the time but that just gives us the strength to adapt...im not saying any of that was great but I'm saying it made you strong and adaptable and whatever doesn't kill you is gonna make you stronger". Julie continued and said," that world is a nasty place and those celestial enemies are even worse, but Victoria is gonna have to learn to be strong to a certain degree if she's gonna survive, so I'm asking you, Andrea, to not sweat it if its not going to kill her...she's gotta learn to fall down and get back up".

Andrea sighed and said, "Jay told me I needed to let go of the past and I have but I'm more afraid of the future". Julie smiled and said" Your husband knows a lot about survival so just trust him on this okay?" Andrea hugged her mother and said, "Okay I'll do it but if she ends up with a broken arm then we're going back". Her mother smiled and said" Sure sweetie, as the looked down at the accounting paperwork and finished up rather quickly. Victoria had been off training all day with her future partner, Carlos, under jays supervision since he was off. Jay was still wrapping his head around this future husband and dream partner mess that Victoria and Carlos were currently thrust into without choice and trying to control it as best as possible. Andrea and her mother finished the filing of the paperwork just as the office door opened up and Victoria rushed through and gave her mother a hug.