Fledgling God: Book 3

Chapter 1, Invitation

On the sixth day after fighting Big Ugly, Bermuda got up, stretched, and then walked into the kitchen on his own. Best of all, he walked normally. He wasn't weaving or limping or acting like he'd been injured at all. I got up too, stretched, and felt just fine. Actually, I felt better than fine-I felt full of energy. I went to my massive bathroom mirror and gave myself a good once over. I looked healthy. My skin was healed, my cuts were gone, and my burns had healed with no scars. Go, Team Tea!

To be back to full health after just six days was outstanding. I still had nightmares about Isobel and the golem. If that had happened today, I would have healed so much faster. When I'd started this process, I wanted some sort of defense. I'd found that with pigeon-stepping and blocking-but being able to recover like this, that was a form of defense too.

I decided a shower was in order. I'd been lying around for days and hadn't been paying that much attention to personal hygiene. Bermuda decided to join me. He hopped up on his customary place on the back of the toilet and started his own bath. The rain water shower heads in my walk-through shower were so nice. I just stood there, soaking it up for a good while. Then I went to the air side and got my blow dry. Now that I was feeling better, the frisky fairies were back, and I started thinking about a whole different type of blowing.

As if he'd been summoned by magic, Tyler walked in and said, "Hi."

I said, "Hi," back in a happy, but sexy, voice. He got the clue, and between one blink and the next, his clothes vanished. That was a seriously good superpower to have!

We made love on my enormous bed under the slow-turning ceiling fan. We took our time, and I luxuriated in all the good feelings of being back to full health. Afterwards, of course, I had to take another shower, but I didn't mind. Tyler was with me, and we were chatting the whole time.

We had just finished when I heard a knock on the door. It didn't sound like Annabeth's light tapping. I wrapped a towel around myself and went to see. It was John!

He looked good. His eyes were clear, his smile was easy, and he had a nice tan. Obviously, his two-week honeymoon had done him a world of good.

"John!" I squealed and gave him a great big hug.

"John!" Tyler yelled and made it into a group hug.

"Ah! It is good to be back!" John laughed and picked both of us up, giving us a squeeze. He was a little too enthusiastic in his greeting, because when he put us down, I felt a little dizzy and saw spots. Still, I felt fully hugged.

"Meet us downstairs," he said. "We have much to discuss, and there is little time."

That sounded rather mysterious, but he didn't say anything else. Instead, he left to go tell Annabeth.

Tyler, of course, pulled his magic clothing trick, and suddenly he was ready to go. I had to run to my walk-in closet and get dressed, but it didn't take me long. Bermuda raised his head to see what all the fuss was about, but then put it back down again after a big yawn. I guess we weren't exciting enough.

Sandy greeted us at the door to her apartment, and once again it was hugs all round. She looked good too. The tired lethargy of low magic was gone, replaced by the vibrant and healthy Sandy I was used to.

Annabeth and John joined us, and we moved the reunion inside. Sandy had made coffee, and Annabeth started making tea. John and Tyler would rather have had a beer, but Sandy's refrigerator wasn't fully stocked, so they settled for coffee. The air was filled with cheerful voices, and I paused for a moment to just take it all in.

We were all here.

We were all okay.

This was what I'd been working towards for weeks now. All the training, fighting, and healing had been worth it. The family was back together. Even Sandy's two cats, Snowy and Biscuit, were part of the celebration. Once again, this felt like home. Whatever showed up, we would face it, together.