A Spark of Hope

We Had It All

Roses on parade, they follow you around 

Upon your shore, as sure as I can say

Be gone, be faraway 

Like fuel to fire

Ever since Eclipse and his little ones had been living with her, food has been disappearing faster, which required Hope to go out more. She wouldn't mind if it weren't for the fact that food and everything, in general, has been getting more expensive than it should be. At this point, she might as well pull double shifts at G.U.N. That or she could start going to Headquarters instead of working from home like she's been doing for the past couple of months.

It was a short trip to the store, but getting back took longer than it needed to. The streets were busy with lunch hour, and she almost thought about getting herself lunch on her way back but the lines were too long so she decided to eat food from home. Once she got past the busy streets and into the country, the ride home went much faster.

She parked the vehicle close to the front door and pulled out her house keys, she opened the door and what she saw shook her. Eclipse was flying! His arms had been replaced with bird-like wings as he flapped around the room. His three children below watched him happily. As carefully as he could, he landed on the floor, "Yes, I'm getting better at this!"

Eclipse clapped his feathered wings together while his children jumped cheering for him. "I think I got everything down except for the landing!"

Hope watched in confusion as his wings glowed and turned back to his regular arms. The three-eyed winged child popped out of his arm happy as can be. The four children flew around in circles joyous for Eclipse.

"Just wait until Hope sees this, she's gonna be so-"

"Ecstatic?" Hope finished Eclipse's sentence surprising him to turn around. She was standing at the doorway frozen, her presence froze him to his feet. When the little ones saw her, they also stopped midair, it was as though time stood still.

Everyone stood perfectly stood not one of them wanted to be the first to speak, not that Eclipse didn't know what to say. Feeling too awkward by the long silent pause, Eclipse finally spoke but it was no 'hello' or 'welcome home'.

"You're home?!" He yelled still surprised by her sudden presence.

"Of course I'm home I live here!" Hope was offended that of all things, this was the first thing he said to her. "Did you forget me or did turning into a bird make you lose brain cells?!"

"No, I don't think so, I just wanted to show you on my terms so that it's a proper surprise!"

"This is certainly a surprise alright." Hope replied unimpressed keeping her stare at Eclipse and spoke in a more calm voice than before, "How long have you known and how did you even discover this ability?"

Eclipse straightened his posture, "It was a couple of days ago, when you were sick, Cregal, this little guy, he merged with my arms and then they turned into wings."

"Whoa, whoa, Cregal? They had names and you didn't tell me?"

Eclipse demonstrated by having the crimson-three-eyed child fly forward, absorbing him into his arms, they once again grew into wings. "I was going to tell you, but then our house was broken into, so I had to delay telling you about it. As for the names, they're just as much of a shock to me as you. Their names came to me in a dream last night. Or, I don't think it was a dream, more like a vision or memory, I was feeding them and I called out every one of their names."