"You sure this is a good idea, Sheila?" Guy rolled a shoulder and winced. He still couldn't quite get that stiff feeling out of his muscles. Basically, he still felt… well, like he'd just bench pressed two thousand tonnes of rock.

"I know but we need to see how you've affected SheZow's powers. Now that you're feeling better."

"Relatively speaking." It had been a long few days. Guy couldn't even quite remember the first few hours after stopping that meteorite. Not until waking up in the hospital, his mother at his side. They'd talked a lot and it seemed they'd worked it out. Except she kept hugging him, like that would make up for any latent responsibility on her part. He didn't have the heart to tell her being squeezed all the time still kind of hurt, especially when whatever drugs they had given him had started to wear off.

Guy drew in a breath and lifted up an arm. Even that took some effort. He was missing those drugs right now. He grimaced, then flung out his fist. "You go girl." SheZow's outfit materialised around him. Without any glitches.

"So how do you feel?" Sheila asked.

Guy swallowed. "Ow." And sat down in the chair in front of Sheila and hugged himself.

"Aw, sweetie…" said Sheila.

"I'm okay," Guy said quickly, straightening himself up. "Just kind of figured once I was SheZow I wouldn't still feel so awful. She's supposed to be strong." He shrugged, carefully. "I can't go and fight baddies feeling like this."

"Of course not," Sheila said. "I don't want you going out fighting now. I just wanted to take some readings. You'll be fine. You just need to do what those doctors told you, get some rest. I mean, they don't always know what they're talking about with superheroes, but I think this time they might be spot on."

Guy nodded. "Good. Because I don't feel like fighting anyone." Or going outside. Or watching the news. Or talking to his Dad. He stood to his feet. "She-yeah." His transformation dropped, followed by another brief bout of discomfort across his shoulders.

"Well, at least we know SheZow's still working properly. I don't know if you've been watching the news, but people seem a little confused as to whether SheZow is going to come back or not."

"I haven't…" He still didn't want to see what Megadale thought of SheZow's latest endeavours. "What do you mean?"

"I think they realised you completely used up SheZow's powers to stop that meteorite. I suppose they don't know whether that's permanent of not."

Guy groaned. Yeah, there was a reason he wasn't watching the news. He folded his arms. At least that seemed to give his sore muscles some support. "They're all happy they might have seen the last of SheZow then? Guess I'm going to disappoint them, huh."

"Actually, it sounds like they want SheZow back. It's pretty obvious Megadale wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"What really?" Guy let out a short laugh. "You're telling me even Brian Smirk has something nice to say?"

"Well, I'm not so sure about Brian Smirk. They've got some charming young lady covering all of the superhero stories at the moment. The last time I saw Brian Smirk he was doing a story on the newest arrivals at the Megadale cattery."

"So, wait, they don't hate me?"

"I think they may be coming around. Guy," said Sheila. "You did a really great job, you know that right? You said Shezow was strong; well, she is. But so are you. Her powers are one thing, but they're still wielded by you. Stopping that meteorite was as much down to your stubbornness as it was SheZow's strength."

Guy smiled faintly. "Was that a complement?"

"Yes."

"I did have help. From SheZap. I mean, she didn't help much. Still made me do most of the work." He rubbed at his shoulder. "But I don't know what would have happened if she didn't."

"Well, I'm still proud of you, Guy."

"Thanks Sheila. I wish everyone felt the same way."

"Guy, I've just told you, Megadale doesn't hate you. Even the Guild. They contacted me and and it sounds like they may be reconsidering their position. But I think that one was down to Kelly. At any rate, I've made them promise not to come anywhere near your house, or your family, if they need to take up anything with SheZow. They've got plenty of opportunity to pick a fight with her when she's running around town. I don't want you taking off again because you're worried about your family."

Guy smiled faintly. "Thanks Sheila." He really couldn't have asked for a better computer. "But it's not the Guild or, okay, and I guess I don't have to worry so much about the media or Megadale anymore…"

"You mean your father?"

Guy huffed and looked at the floor. "Yeah."

"Sweetheart, I really think you should watch the news a little. There's nothing there that's going to upset you. In fact, I think you might be surprised."

Guy settled into the mound of cushions and blankets his mother had left for him in front of the television. He could hear her crashing around in the kitchen. Somehow, all the noise brought him comfort. He'd spent so long away from his family, he wanted to be as close to them as he could. Else he'd still be hiding down in the she-lair.

Even if Mom was smothering him. And even if he didn't actually want to talk to Dad.

"You better be right, Sheila." Tentatively, Guy picked up the remote and switched over to a news channel.

And it turned out she was. There was a young reporter rabbiting on about how SheZow had saved them and when would she be coming back. And telling everyone they shouldn't be harassing the family whilst they worked through whether their son could be a superhero or not. Guy winced. Hopefully that wouldn't put any ideas in his father's head.

Kelly walked into the living room, school bag slung over one shoulder. "Please tell me you haven't been sitting in front of that all day?"

"No, actually," Guy rolled his eyes. "I've been planning SheZow's triumphant return. And it looks like Megadale might actually want her back."

Kelly dumped her bag on the floor. "Yeah, I noticed." She scooted up next to him on the couch. "And so they should. They wouldn't be here if it wasn't for SheZow."

"Yeah, well, soon as I can power up without feeling like my arms are going to drop off…"

They were replaying footage from just before the meteorite had come down. It wasn't like Guy found it unsettling. He'd already dealt with the meteorite. Seeing it hurling towards Megadale didn't upset him, though perhaps it did remind him of the ache still in his arms and shoulders.

An image of Mom talking to Brian Smirk came on. "Hey, Mom got Brian Smirk arrested? Did you see that…" he began to ask Kelly. Then he trailed off and swallowed hard.

Because his father had come to stand beside Mom. Mom Guy could handle, going on as she was about how Megadale should be grateful for her son; it was stuff she'd said to him any number of times over the last few days. But he had no idea what his father was going to say.

His mother stopped speaking, and then Dad looked at the camera.

"I haven't seen this yet," said Kelly. Not that she'd had a lot of time to watch the news either - Guy suspected she'd been careful about watching it around him, because he'd been avoiding it. "Hey, has Dad been crying?"

"Shh!" Guy wasn't sure. He didn't know if he wanted to hear what his father had to say, but still he leaned forward on the couch.

"Look, I get it Megadale. I know that SheZow made a mess of a few things. Well, a lot of things. And I'd be the first to admit finding out she's my son… made me a little uncomfortable."

Guy groaned and slumped back into his cushions. Yeah, just as he'd thought. Dad was still all hung up about SheZow. Why had Sheila told him to watch the news?

"But you know what?" Boxter continued. "Despite having to run away from home just cause it was the only way he could get away from our screwed up legal system, and the Superhero Action Guild, who weren't that much better. Despite all the crap the media's thrown at him… and the way I treated him… I don't care what you think of a boy running around saving the world in pink. He's the one up there stopping that thing. Not us cops, not the Guild. He's a bloody hero and I'm proud of him! I just… I just hope I get the chance to tell him that. If I don't that'll be my fault."

Dad started to cry, even as Mom drew him into a hug, pulling him away from the camera's stare and hiding his face. The camera only stayed on them for a few seconds more, before swinging its gaze up to the descending meteorite.

For a moment, all Guy could do was stare at the screen. Even as the story switched over to Brian Smirk being overrun by a half dozen kittens.

"Kind of wish they'd stop playing that." Boxter stood behind the couch, in his uniform.

Guy started. He didn't know how long he'd been there, but he must have only just come in from work.

"Aw, Dad…" said Kelly.

Boxter rubbed at the back of his neck and smiled at her sheepishly. Then he slowly turned his attention to Guy. "Look, son…"

"Did you really mean that?" Guy swallowed.

"Which bit?"

Guy rubbed at his arm. "I don't know… that you're proud of me, I guess."

Boxter sat down beside him. "Hey, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know," Guy shrugged. "You looked kind of freaked out, maybe you were just worried about me…"

"Well, yeah, course I was worried about you. I thought…" he cleared his throat. "I thought I was going to lose you."

"Ah." Guy hung his head.

"Hey…" Boxter put an arm around Guy's shoulders. At least he didn't squeeze as hard as Mom had been. "Yeah, okay, I've been an idiot. I got scared, I thought I'd missed my chance to tell you what I really thought. And it made me realise… if that horrendously embarrassing bit of news footage didn't convince you… I am really proud of you. You did a good job. And I should've realised it sooner. I'm just glad I get to tell you that properly." Dad pulled him into a hug.

Guy's shoulders sagged and he hung onto his father for a long moment. "Thanks Dad. So you don't care about, you know, the dress?"

Boxter smiled at him faintly. "It's still pretty weird. But it does take guts, I'll give you that."

"Yeah, well, I bet it took guts to get all emotional on camera," Guy smirked.

Boxter sighed and rolled his eyes. "I am not going to live that down, am I? And thanks to the news cycle all of Megadale now knows your Dad's a great big softie. Wonderful."

"I think it's adorable," Droosha stepped into the room. She came and stood behind Boxter, ran a hand through his hair.

"Well, you would."

"So I found this in the mail…" Mom waved a letter.

Boxter stood to his feet and quickly took it from her.

"Hey!"

"Oh no, I saw what you did to the last one."

Droosha huffed and folded her arms. "Okay, yeah. It's from Mayor Stanley's solicitors again. But I decided I may as well read it first. It looks like we've caught a bit of a break. Apparently, they've realised SheZow basically saved all of Megadale, which is worth a lot more than all the damage she's caused. So they've basically squared the bill."

Guy sighed and rolled his eyes. "You mean I don't have to pay for anything? About time."

"Okay, hang on, mister," Boxter said, eyes roving over the letter. "This isn't free reign to go and break anything and everything you feel like. I'm pretty certain if you break more stuff Mayor Stanley isn't going to be too happy. And he'll charge you for it."

"Dad, how much is all of Megadale worth? Doesn't that mean they owe me?"

"Hey, you're lucky enough that the Mayor decided to do this." His father waved the letter. "Come on, we've been through this, I don't want to have to clean up your messes…"

Guy sighed and rubbed at his shoulder. "Yeah, I know. I get it." Somehow, he did. He knew now Dad wasn't mad at him. He had no problem with him saving Megadale - had called him a hero. He just didn't like cleaning up after SheZow. Maybe that was understandable.

"I may have some good news on that front," said Sheila, popping up from Guy's ring.

Boxter took a step back. "That is going to take some getting used to."

"I've been talking to Mayor Stanley's solicitors. They were pretty quick to agree to zeroing the bill. But I was also able to convince them to not charge any future damages to your family."

Droosha snorted. "Well, there's logic for you. How much do they think we could've afforded anyway? All we've really got is this house."

"SheZow, on the other hand," Sheila continued, "has quite a sizeable fanbase. If you include all the merchandise, she has quite a decent income."

"Wait," Guy sat up a little straighter. "I have an income?"

"No, dear," said Droosha with a faint smile, "SheZow has an income. And it sounds to me like that's where Mayor Stanley is going to charge any future damages to."

"Exactly," said Sheila.

Guy blinked. Then sunk back into his cushions and groaned.

"Well done," Kelly sighed, rolling her eyes. "I hope you're going to be a little more careful now. You know if SheZow can't pay for conventions I'm gonna have to deal with her disgruntled fans too."

"There you go," said Boxter, a smile creeping onto his face. "It's coming out of your pocket now. Or at least SheZow's. Congratulations, you get to learn some responsibility."

He was enjoying this way too much. Guy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, thanks Dad."

Boxter ran a hand through his hair. "Hey, I'm still proud of you, okay?"

"Yeah, I know." Guy winced and rubbed at his shoulder again.

"Aw, sweetie," Droosha sat down next to him. At least she didn't try and hug him. "You feeling okay?"

Guy forced a smile. "Getting there."

"Look, I know this is going to be tough. Megadale's going to be a bit better after what you pulled with that meteorite. But it's still going to be hard."

"Guess there's a reason superheroes are supposed to keep their identities secret," Boxter shrugged. "I mean, I'm glad we don't have to move to the moon, but you're still in uncharted territory here."

"Yeah… I'm just… I mean, I know I've got to put up with anything Megadale says about me. At least that'll be a bit better after stopping the meteor. But that's not what I'm worried about. I mean, Mayor Stanley and the Guild might've said they'd leave you guys alone. But what about villains? That's the reason I shouldn't have revealed my identity, even above everything else. What if they come here and hurt you?" Guy swallowed and looked at the floor. If they did, he'd never be able to forgive himself.

"Guy, I've been running around helping you for ages," said Kelly. "And so has Maz. We're both fine."

"Yeah, but no one knew where you lived," Guy countered.

"Hey, we'll work it out," said Boxter. "It's the same risk for me - there's always the possibility someone I've put away is going to get out. And it wouldn't be hard for them to track my family down if they put their minds to it. I've never really told you kids that, but…" He shrugged.

"If we stick together and make sure everyone knows what's going on, we should be fine," said Droosha. "But no more secrets. Some villain threatens us you let us know. Don't go trying to solve it by yourself."

"Mom, but…"

"No buts," said Boxter. "If something like that happens I don't want you having to try and deal with it all by yourself. Plus we'll just end up doing stupid things like…"

"… buying Mustangs."

Boxter glared at her. "I was going to say like living under a bridge." He sighed and his shoulders sagged. "And I'm going to have to return that in like three days."

"Don't worry, honey," Droosha smiled. "We can always borrow Guy's Shehicle."

"Mom!"

"Sounds like a plan," Boxter smirked, then winked at Guy.

Guy groaned and tried to give his parents his best glare. "Forget villains knowing where I live, I should've kept SheZow secret to stop you two picking on me."

"Parental privilege," Dad couldn't help adding.

Mom just smiled at Guy, and then pulled him into a hug. Again, it was far too tight.

A/n: Okay, I'm done *collapses*. If you've read all the way through it'd be really great if you left a review. I'd love to hear what you think!