Those With Wings

Until the End

Zero

Yes, the little "chat" I had with my parents. It was horrible.

I remember the day only too well. We'd just finished high school and I'd had a conversation with Luanna, in which we both agreed to finally tell them the truth. They'd always questioned us about Alex and Piper; where they were, why they hadn't seen them, why we stopped talking about them. Of course, until then, we had refused to answer any questions.

Oh, how clearly I remember that day. I sat in the kitchen, a glass of water in my hand. Luanna was sitting next to me, my mother was preparing food, my father was staring happily at me and Minerva was gone- probably at her boyfriend's house.

"Mom, dad, there is something I have to tell you," I finally admitted.

My dad froze, and my mother shrieked. "Zero! I told you two to be safe!"

I gave her a perplexed look, and then realized what she meant. "Mom! Luanna isn't pregnant!"

"I told you! I can't be a grandmother yet!"

"SHE ISN'T PREGNANT!"

"I'M NOT PREGNANT!" Luanna yelled, irritated.

My mother paused, and then sat down. "Oh. What's wrong then?"

I took a deep breath. "It's about Alex and Piper."

A silence fell upon the room and I scraped my throat. Then explained everything that had happened.

When I was done, my mother was crying, and even my dad was swallowing loudly and blinking rapidly. "Are you serious?" my mother sobbed.

I clutched Luanna's hand, who was having a hard time not crying as well. She just sat there staring down at the table the whole time, in silence. "Yes," I whispered.

My mother made an attempt at brushing her tears away, but then stopped. "Why didn't you tell us before?"

"Because I decided I had to explain before I left." I stated. Luanna still didn't even look at me. She only looked at the table. She didn't want to remember any of this.

"Left?" my father repeated.

"Yes. I have to go to Luanna's home. We're going to live there. Together. We have to, since we are the leaders after all."

"You're too young! Both of you!" my mother shrieked, dropping the plate she'd been holding, her tears were gone now. "I'M NOT ALLOWING THIS!"

"You can't keep me here!" I yelled back. "My place is with Luannitha!"

"Your place is here!"

"IT IS NOT!"

"IS TOO!

"ZERO IS COMING WITH ME!" Luanna interrupted loudly. She stood up and let her hair cover her face. Her wings were tensed and she balled her hands into tiny fists. I couldn't see if she was crying or not, but she was shaking.

"But-"

"Listen! We'll be there for Minerva's graduation and wedding and we'll drop by every year! I promise! But you can't keep us here!" Luanna got what she wanted. It was obvious she was hurt. I could see it in her when she walked out back down to the beach and let her feet stick in the water. She just wanted to move on.

I remember that after that there was some more fussing, but we won in the end. I'll never forget the feeling that rushed through me when Luanna told me she was pregnant,  when we married- the feelings that still rush through me everyday: every time she touches me, every time one of our kids call me father. I don't think it's something I'll get used too, just like I've never forgiven myself for what happened to Luanna's father, and Alex and Piper. I wonder how they're doing; if there is a true heaven where they rest, or whether Alex has chosen for Evangeline there. I suspect not. He loved Piper more than anyone.

My point is that it doesn't truly matter. Because I have Luanna, and she has me. And we'll always be that way until the end.