The Delacours: Part Deux

thirty-two.

When everyone woke up the next morning, Val made breakfast and then she, Zane, and Odie headed to the fae realm. Zane grabbed a bag and threw it over his shoulder.

"Be safe," he said. "I love you two," he said to Chris and I.

"Don't say it like that," Chris said. "That makes it sound like you're not gonna make it back."

"I will always come back to you," Zane said, reaching for Chris' hand and then mine. "We're just not sure how long we'll be gone."

"Not long," Val said. "But Liz... I do need to ask you something." She pulled me aside and handed me an envelope. "If shit goes sideways... and we're not back... give this to Ava and Noah."

"What? What is –"

"It's instructions on how to open the portal to the fae realm. I'm sure you won't need it, but there's no other way for me to get you to safety if Zane and I are both in the fae realm. Promise me you'll keep this safe?"

"I will. But fuck... Chris is right, can you two sound like everything's gonna be okay?" She took a deep breath.

"Everything will be fine, it's just a back-up plan." I took a deep breath, not entirely reassured. Zane, Chris, Val, and I all held our foreheads together. The twins wrapped their arms around Val's and Zane's waists and Odie gave Chris and me a hug. They opened the portal and the three of them walked through it. It closed behind them.

"You'll be okay at home alone with the twins?" Chris asked.

"You have a meeting. I'll be fine," I said.

"If you need me... you'll call me, right? I can re-schedule."

"You've already re-scheduled that meeting, Chris. Just go to work. I'll be fine. We'll just... go to the park? Ava, Noah, you two want to go to the park?"

"Okay, Momma!" they said, running to get their shoes.

"See? We'll go to the park." He half smiled at me, kissing my forehead.

When the twins finished getting ready, they piled into the back seat of my car and I drove to the park. I parked the car and they ran towards the playground. I groaned a bit as I saw how many other moms and dads there were with their kids, knowing they were going to try and talk to me about my pregnancy. They immediately started to climb on the structures as I sat on the bench and watched them play. I took a deep breath of the fresh air, trying to calm myself.

"Haven't you seen here in a while..." I heard a deep voice say. I looked to my side to see a man with short hair and a full beard.

"Jackson?" I asked. "Hey! Yeah, it's been a while." I smiled, pushing my hair behind my ear. He sat down next to me. A small blonde boy came over to him and handed him something.

"Daddy, I found this rock. I want to keep it but it's making my pants fall... Can you hold on to it for me?" Jackson laughed.

"Yeah, buddy. I'll hold on to it. Go on, go play." Jackson put the rock into the pocket of his cargo shorts and his son ran back to play. "How is everything?" he asked.

"Things are... okay," I said, trying to find the words.

"Just okay?" he asked, eyeing my bump. I adjust my t-shirt, trying to pull it away from my body. "I haven't seen your partners here lately either..."