Author's note (1): this story has three parts. Expect the second and third parts around New Year's.

Author's note (2): this story is set in SL-verse. If you didn't read anything else in SL-verse you may be a little confused. You can either (1) read this story as is, (2) read SL-verse, (3) email me and i'll try to answer any questions.

Part 1: Christmas

"Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins
Silently closing her bedroom door
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more
She goes downstairs to the kitchen
clutching her handkerchief
Quietly turning the back door key
Stepping outside she is free"
Lennon and McCartney, "She's Leaving Home"

Thursday-Friday, December 24-25, 1998

"Remind me again why we're hosting a large Christmas dinner?" asked Amanda, setting the empty glasses tray on the kitchen table.

"Because everyone is still excited about Emma" said Ethan, "and they didn't get to see her yet. Mom and Calvin would've never forgiven us if we didn't invite them"

"I know", sighed Amanda, "but I keep waiting for something to go wrong"

"You mean to keep waiting for Shiera to explode", muttered Ethan quietly. Amanda's brother Calvin, and his wife Helen, were in the living room and did not need to hear this. "We shouldn't have let her pick my mom up from the airport. It's not safe"

"She wouldn't do anything to Eileen, don't be ridiculous. Besides, it would've looked weird to Calvin and Helen if we protested too much"

"I don't trust that girl with people, Amanda. She isn't normal"

"Uncle Calvin is asking about the eggnog", said Emma, coming into the kitchen. Her tone was sullen as she added: "I don't like aunt Helen. She keeps fussing over me"

"That's because she's happy you're awake, sweetie", said Amanda.

"She doesn't even know me," said Emma, "and I'm tired of hearing what a miracle it is that I'm awake and well. It's not a miracle"

"Of course it is", said Ethan sharply. "That's what the doctors say". He and Amanda exchanged glances: Shiera watched her mouth, if nothing else, but the concept of concealment was foreign to Emma. She wouldn't – or couldn't – watch her mouth.

"I'll go get Calvin his eggnog", said Amanda. "Honestly, he shouldn't drink so much before dinner"

"When is Shiera going to be here with grandma, anyway?" asked Emma.

"Grandma's plane only landed an hour ago" said Ethan, glancing at the oven's time display as he checked on the duck. "They're probably still stuck in traffic"

"Shiera doesn't get stuck in traffic"

"Even holiday traffic?"

"Duh"

"Emma", said Ethan warningly. The duck would be ready just in time – if Shiera would indeed get lucky.

"Stop running down the child" said Helen, coming into the kitchen. " It's really sweet that she has so much faith in her sister"

"Too much faith", muttered Ethan. Emma left the kitchen the moment Helen entered it. It annoyed him that he could not speak freely in his own house: either he had to make sure that his sister-in-law wouldn't hear or see anything she shouldn't, or he had to watch for his daughters' attitude.

"She has a hard time adjusting, doesn't see", said Helen sympathetically.

"You have no idea" was the vehement reply.

"How are you handling it? All of you, I mean". Helen spread her arms. "You and Amanda seem worn out"

"It's just the holidays" lied Ethan. And worrying about Shiera's constant forays to other planet, or Emma joining her so enthusiastically, he thought. And everything else that comes with it.

Helen shook her head. "I don't believe you, Ethan", she said. Ethan's heart skipped a beat, but then she added: "You've had too much luck"

"My daughter was comatose for four years, Helen. My other daughter won't speak to me…" he bit his lip. He did not mean to say that out loud.

"Shiera doesn't seem to talk much to anyone", said Helen. "No offence, Ethan, but you should've done something about her years ago"

"Don't I know it", sighed Ethan. He'd wondered many times if there was anything he and Amanda could've done that might have changed the way things turned out. Maybe if we'd been more firm with her when she started with the martial arts obsession… "I think it's too late, now"

"I'd tell you that it's never too late but, hey," Helen shrugged, "I've never had children"

Ethan was about to say something, but then they heard the front door opening, and Shiera's voice called "We're here!"

"I can't believe it, she beat the traffic!" roared Calvin. Helen and Ethan left the kitchen in time to see Amanda slap her brother's arm and tell him: "You've had enough eggnog"

"Mom!" Ethan went right over to his mother and bent down to hug her. She hugged him back reluctantly, because that meant she had to let go of Emma. "It's so good to see you"

"It's been too long", agreed Amanda, right behind her husband.

"I'm not big on travels", said Eileen, "but maybe you're right". She pressed Emma close to her again. "I could use seeing my granddaughters more often"

"I'll go put these in the guest room" interrupted Shiera, slightly lifting her grandmother's bags; she hadn't really let go of them since entering. "If that's okay with everyone"

"Do you need help with those?" asked Calvin. "They're almost… bigger than she is" he finished, staring at Shiera's back as she disappeared upstairs. "Girls are not supposed to be that strong. Especially tiny skinny things like her. What are you feeding her, Amanda? She's practically skin and bones"

"She added weight recently" said Amanda defensively. "She eats like the rest of us put together"

"Maybe she's bulimic", suggested Helen.

"She's an athlete", said Ethan firmly, before Emma could say anything stupid. "Go sit at the table, everyone. Dinner will be ready in a minute"

"That went well", said Ethan to no one in particular as he loaded the dishwasher. Shiera was in the kitchen, too, helping to clean out while Amanda put Emma to bed, but she hadn't said a word to Ethan in over a month now, and so now he pretended to speak to the air. "Calvin was never the most observant of people, Helen managed to miss it when Emma healed that cut, and my mom didn't notice anything out of the ordinary – yet. She is staying here until after New Year's, though". It was the thing with Emma that really freaked Ethan out: Helen had cut her hand while collecting the shards of a broken glass, and Emma healed that. The kid was smart about it, though: she grabbed Helen's hand quickly, before Helen could take a good look at the cut, and kissed it, saying "There, now it wouldn't hurt at all". Helen took Emma's actions for childish sweetness, but Ethan and Amanda had seen Emma heal minor injuries enough times to know what had really happened.

"Don't be angry with Emma, she doesn't deserve it", said Shiera quietly. "And we'll keep things normal where grandma can see or hear. I don't want her knowing, either, as you should've known"

Ethan almost dropped the dish he was holding. He twisted around and looked at Shiera. She wasn't looking at him at all, but rather continued with what she was doing. "What happened to make you talk?" he asked. Already he wasn't sure if she spoke at all – maybe he only imagined hearing her answer him.

"Don't hurt Emma". Now Shiera was looking at him, too, and she looked serious – like she always did.

"Of course I wouldn't hurt her!"

"You're hurting her all the time"

"How?"

"Yelling at her when she's just trying to help – like that first time she healed someone in the house, remember?"

"That was scary, Shiera. Even you were surprised"

"I didn't know she could learn that", agreed Shiera. "That's all. Nothing surprising about healing, anymore"

"Says the Ranger", muttered Ethan. "That Melissa person had no right…"

"For one thing, Emma asked her to teach her that. For another, you really should get to know Melissa better before you say anything about her. And, in case you forgot, Emma would still be lying in the hospital if not for Melissa. So watch your mouth"

"Don't talk to me like that" snapped Ethan.

Shiera's eyes narrowed. "When you're this close to accusing someone who's done your family nothing but good?"

"You are still my daughter…"

"So act like it!"

The kitchen was completely still for a few minutes. Then Shiera resumed putting things in the fridge.

"What was that supposed to mean?" demanded Ethan, but she didn't answer. "What was that all about?" No answer. Sighing, Ethan returned his attention to the dishes. Now I remember why I didn't miss her talking to me, he thought. I hope mom really is asleep and didn't hear any of this.

For a moment, Amanda wasn't sure what woke her up. Then she heard it again, and smiled. It was Friday morning; it was Christmas, and her daughters were laughing about downstairs; it was Christmas, and her family was together, even if not whole. We can make it, she thought. All the fights and the arguments, do they really mean anything? Why should it be like that? We can make it better. We should. With that thought, she got out of bed and wrapped up in her gown before going downstairs.

The girls were in the living room, sitting underneath the Christmas tree. Emma had a humongous plush green toy snake wrapped about her. She was breathing heavily, as if she had just ran, but she was also smiling triumphantly. Next to her, Shiera was shaking her head, apparently amused by something.

"Hi, mom!" called Emma. Shiera turned her head, but said nothing.

"Hi, girls", said Amanda, sitting next to them on the carpet. "So, who's the snake from?"

"Zhane got it for Shiera", said Emma. "Isn't it the cutest?"

Amanda wasn't sure that a six-foot snake with a mean expression counted as 'cute', even if it was just a plush toy. Still, Emma seemed positively delighted about it and even Shiera was smiling. "It's cute", allowed Amanda. "Hey", she frowned at the gifts pile, "most of these weren't hear last night, were they?"

Shiera shook her head. "They're from the team. I think DECA teleported them in at midnight"

"Oh". Momentarily weirded out, Amanda reach for the most normal thing she could. "So what did they get you guys?"

"Well, we started from Zhane's because Emma had to know what that big lumpy package was", said Shiera dryly, "though in retrospect, she probably knew what mine's gonna be and was just waiting to snuggle it. I should probably kill Zhane for hers, as he got her a flight simulator"

"Isn't it cool?" Emma held the box out to her mom for inspection, but Amanda just shook her head. "New bracelet?" she asked.

"Yeah, from Cassie"

"The Pink Floyd discography is from her, too", added Shiera.

Amanda raised her eyebrows. "Good taste"

"Yeah, well". Shiera tugged the yellow ribbon on the package she was holding, and a green scarf flowed out of the wrapping paper. She caught it and held it against the light.

"It's beautiful", said Amanda softly. "You need help with that?" she offered, as Shiera tried to figure out how to best tie the long scarf.

Shiera raised her eyes, as if surprised. "Sure", she said.

Amanda fixed it around Shiera's neck, handling the delicate fabric with care. It was smooth and light, and the rich green color reflected back the light. "It looks like silk, but it doesn't quite feel like it", commented Amanda.

"It might be Triforian. Ashley had been going on about their fabrics for ages"

Amanda's fingers faltered. "Triforian?"

"Yeah. Cool place. They need better predator control, though"

Amanda bit her lip and finished tying the scarf. Even the scarf is alien. "There", she concluded. "Looking really good on you"

Shiera smiled. "Thanks, mom"

"Look what I've got!" squealed Emma. She was holding what looked like a small, colorful wire ball in her hand. Amanda watched, astonished, as Emma threw it in the air and it expanded, hovering in midair. "I've wanted one like this for ages!"

"Just remember grandma's in the house", said Shiera quietly.

Amanda's heart sank. "What is it?" she asked.

"Telekinesis ball" said Emma excitedly. "It's special for kids to play with, because it's really, really sensitive. Kirrie and I play with hers all the time" Even as she spoke, the ball rose and began circling around the tree.

"Telekinesis", repeated Amanda, looking at the flying ball and then at her daughter. "You can make things move with your mind?"

"All humans can, mom", said Shiera. "Most just never bother to do that. Telekinesis balls are pretty common toy on Kerova, though"

"I see", said Amanda heavily. "Maybe you should wait until the weekend is over before you start playing with it, sweetie"

"I'll be careful, mom", promised Emma.

"I'll know when grandma wakes up" offered Shiera. "It's safe until then"

"Unless the neighbours see", said Amanda.

"So I'll play in my room", said Emma. The ball descended and collapsed into her waiting hand, and she put it away.

"What do you girls say for hot chocolate, and some Christmas cookies?" suggested Amanda as the girls reached for more gifts. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know what they were, but she wasn't sure how to leave the girls without hurting them.

"Thanks, mom" said Shiera. Emma nodded too.

Amanda pushed herself up and turned towards the kitchen. "I'll be back in a few," she told them. She completely missed how Shiera's eyes followed her.

Emma was fidgeting in her chair long before Christmas lunch was over. By the time Amanda offered a second round of dessert, Emma was close to exploding.

"Mom, can I go play my new simulator in Shiera's room? Please?" she asked.

"What new simulator?" asked Ethan.

"The flight simulator Zhane got me. Shiera agreed to install in for me on her computer. Please?"

"What kind of a name is Zhane?" asked Eileen.

"Swedish" said Shiera.

Amanda and Ethan exchanged glances. Shiera was a smooth liar, no doubt about it: it made them all the more worried.

"Alright, you can go", Ethan told Emma. Before she says something that will be harder to cover.

"Great!" Emma all but bounced out of her chair and dragged Shiera upstairs.

"It's very nice that Emma has so many new friends already" said Eileen.

Ethan and Amanda exchanged looks. "Most are Shiera's friends, actually", said Amanda. "They're a pretty tight bunch, and most of them treat Emma like their own sister. She has some friends her own age, too"

"Hum", said Eileen. "What are they, some kind of a gang?"

Yes, thought Ethan. "No", he said, "Model kids, the whole lot. How's the cake, mom?" he asked. "Amanda has been trying to recreate the recipe for years, you know"

"It's good", allowed Eileen, "but I still stay your dad's was better"

"Hey, I'm trying!" said Amanda.

"I'm just getting to you, girl", laughed Eileen. "You're too uptight"

"Well, it's the holidays", said Amanda with a forced smile. "Things will probably get better after New Year's"

Half an hour later, the adults were sitting in the living room over coffee and some more cake. The girls were still in Shiera's room.

"I'll get that", said Ethan when the doorbell rang.

"Merry Christmas, Mr. Karlson" said Carlos politely when the door opened. "Is Shiera home?"

"Yes", said Ethan curtly. As the kid damn well knows, he thought. Probably paged her before coming here. "She's upstairs in her room"

"Thanks" said Carlos. He brushed past Ethan easily, and stopped as the bottom of the stairs. "Merry Christmas", he told the two women in the living room.

"Hi, Carlos", said Amanda. She got up. "Eileen, this is Shiera's boyfriend, Carlos. Carlos, this is Eileen Karlson, Ethan's mother. She'll be staying here until after New Year's"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am"

"Carlos?" drifted Shiera's voice from upstairs. "You're early"

"I know"

"I'll be down in a minute"

"Carlos!" Emma shot downstairs, straight into Carlos' arms. "Thanks for the book, it's awesome!"

"Hey, little one" laughed Carlos as he picked her up. "You're getting a little too heavy for this, don't you think?"

"Shiera doesn't think I'm heavy"

"That's because Shiera is a supergirl", said Carlos. "I'm not"

Emma giggled.

"Hey, I'm ready" Shiera came hurrying out of her room. She paused at the top of the stairs and laughed. "Oh, now I get it!"

"Took you some time", said Carlos. "Even I knew they were going to do it"

"Do what?" demanded Ethan, but got his answer right away: Shiera was wearing a green and black biker-style jacket, which Ethan was sure he'd never seen before. Carlos was wearing a twin jacket.

"A couple of the guys got us twin jackets", explained Carlos unnecessarily, putting Emma down. "They probably thought it's funny"

"It makes sense", said Emma. "You always wear the same colors anyway"

"I'll see you later, okay, sweetie?" Shiera asked Emma. "Make sure you don't interrupt anyone with your game"

Emma nodded.

"I'll be around later", said Shiera, turning to her parents. "We're having a get-together at Ashley's"

"Have fun" said Ethan.

"We will", said Carlos with a tight smile.

As the door closed behind them, Shiera could hear her grandmother say: "He looks like a really nice boy, Ethan. I don't understand why you despise him so much"