Back in the tent, the real world felt far too still after everything the family had just experienced.

  Emily and Daniel, despite their excitement in the dreamscape, were switching in and out increasingly sluggishly, the teasing and name calling altogether gone, exhaustion finally catching up to them. They groaned, closed their eyes, massaging temples on both sides, sometimes punctuated by a squeak from Emily.

  Madame Zara sighed, shaking her head in amusement. “You two really pushed yourselves. That was quite a lot for the first time - even with me as the conduit.”

  Emily opened her eyes, groaned slightly, and without further adieu, flopped down onto a soft rug she had evidently spotted on the floor in the tent. A yawn escaped her, as she adjusted herself, energy completely drained.

  “I know this isn’t kosher but…I’m wiped” she mumbled, curling up. “Just need a nap...”

  Sarah immediately knelt beside her, brushing Emily’s hair away from her face, knowing full well that her son could feel her touch as well. Thomas crouched down beside her as well, his eyes filled with quiet affection.

  “Oh, sweethearts…” Sarah murmured gently scratching her scalp. “You’ve both done so much - both of you.”

  Thomas exhaled, shaking his head as he gazed at them. “Seeing both of you, Emily, Danny… seeing you both in that dreamscape together, I don’t have words for what that meant to us.”

  Sarah pressed a kiss to Emily’s hair, a kiss meant for both her children, her voice tender.

  “My strong girl, my brave boy,” she whispered, her heart full, “You’re as real as anyone.”

  There was a pause, a sleepy eye opened with a slight fsh. Daniel’s cadence came through, groggy and half-asleep.

  “Hmm? Mom… stop… that’s weird…I’m not five” clearly taken aback.

  Sarah blinked. Then she blinked again - as a smirk crept onto her face.

  “Ohh!” she thought to herself, as her lips twitched “Oh ho ho ho! So that’s how it is.”

  For the first time, she saw a chink in Daniel’s armor. This boy had fought proverbial demons , protected his sister, endured an identity crisis spanning two lifetimes, but the one thing that truly rattled him?

  Apparently being fussed over of all things?

  Sarah’s eyes gleamed with mischief as she looked at Thomas. Thomas’s eyes widened as he exchanged unspoken words. He merely sighed and shrugged, now aware of the game afoot.

  Sarah turned to her children and doubled down.

  With an exaggerated sigh, she leaned in, her voice nauseatingly syrupy sweet. “Ohhh, my poor, tired sweet boy. My brave, strong little trooper.”

  Daniel’s eyes opened again, even more confused. “Mom, what, why - please…come on…why are you..?”

  His voice trailed off as the eyes flickered and Emily returned, letting out a tired giggle - “Oh here we go. Why are you being a troll mom?”

  Sarah wasn’t done - she now cooed at her daughter.

  “And you, my clever girl,” she said stroking Emily’s hair “Such a trooper! Been through so much! And in spite of that always looking out for your big brother, aren’t you? Even if you tease him? My brave little angel?”

  Emily’s face turned pink, as she strained to keep her eye open. “Moooom! For the love of…”

  She paused for a moment, nodding as she closed her eyes. “Yeah, Danny, weird doesn’t even begin to describe this…” she groaned for both of them.

  Thomas, meanwhile, sat back, leaning on his arms, just watching, biting his lip to keep from ughing out loud.

  “Disarming them with baby talk of all things…” he muttered to himself. “Two universes, a lifetime of knowledge, but baby talk shuts them down. Now I’ve seen it all”.

  Sarah on the other hand was in a word - thriving, her own inner demon awakening in earnest finally found a trump card she could hold over her children.

  “Oh, but I can’t help it! Just look at you two—so brave, so smart… my two perfect kids. How did I ever get so lucky?” she added, her pointlessly over the top affectionate, eyes twinkling with faux adoration.

  Daniel switched in again, eyes opening as he massaged their temple.

  He let out a long, suffering groan, possibly cursed in Spanish and whined “Mom, you’re killing me here…”

  Emily took over again, eyes closing once more. “This is so much worse than the time Danny reorganized my sock drawer when I was sleeping.”

  She paused, a small frown on her face “No, Danny - it didn’t make anything efficient.”

  Sarah mock gasped, pressing a hand to her heart. “Efficiency? With socks? Oh, my son, you’re so mature for your age!”

  Emily groaned on Danny’s behalf - “Mom, for the love of everything - please, enough. ENOUGH! He is whining in my HEAD!”

  Thomas finally let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Looks like you found their kryptonite.”

  “Oh, I did,” Sarah said smugly. She ran her fingers through Emily’s hair, looking quite pleased with herself - “I’ll have to remember this next time you two act up.”

  Daniel, or perhaps it was Emily, or perhaps both made a noise somewhere between a ugh and a whine. “Mom you’re so weird…”

  Sarah just smiled - “But you love me anyway.”

  There was no response as the children finally, at long st fell asleep.

  The tent was quiet for a moment, even the fair seemed to have finally quietened down, the only noise from the wind chimes tinkling.

  Finally Thomas broke the silence, a grin on his face, watching his impossible, unique children.

  “Goodnight, kids” he said gently, running a hand through their hair along with Sarah.

  Madame Zara, who had been quietly observing, finally broke her own silence, her tone amused.

  “You know, I’ve witnessed many things in my time, but the power of a mother’s love—and her mischief—never ceases to amaze me.”

  Sarah merely hummed contentedly. No words were needed.

  “It’s a rare and beautiful bond you all share” Madame Zara continued, standing up and stretching her back.

  “You’ve given Daniel and Emily far more than protection—you’ve given them love and belonging. A chance to heal, grow, thrive.”

  Thomas’s expression softened as he turned around to look at her “I feel that they’ve given us just as much in return, in their own way.”

  Sarah meanwhile watched as her children, as their breathing grew more regur, rapid eye movement began, the warmth of her love pressing into her chest. She whispered, her voice gentle, the teasing gone - “Goodnight, my sweethearts.”

  She kissed each of them gently, her heart overflowing with something that couldn’t quite be described with words - a mixture of tenderness, affection, protectiveness, crity.

  “You two… you’re the best thing that ever happened to us. We’re so proud of you. We’ll get through everything together.”

  A pause.

  “Thank you for letting us be your mom and dad…”

  Madame Zara smiled knowingly. “They’re in good hands. Yours. They are lucky to have you.”

  Thomas pced a hand on Sarah’s shoulder, his voice full of quiet understanding, reverence and conviction. “And we are lucky to have them.”

  Sarah turned to him, eyes shimmering. “Yes - we are.”

  And just like that, the family - awake or sleeping, visible or invisible, shared a quiet moment, holding each other close in their own way. For the teasing and ughter had faded, leaving something even stronger in its pce.

  A promise - a love that would never break, no matter what the future held.