Mrs. Houper shook her head. Putting her cup of tea back down onto the table.

  “Lord Spring has always been a thorn.” Mrs Houper said. “I wish I could say he was wrong about public opinion but unfortunately he is correct. Everyone is scared and it’s easy to blame the nearest thing that seems adjacent in any way.” Seren held their tea. They hadn’t drunk any of it, they were just holding the cup.

  “I think Eric’s starting to hate me too.” They admitted quietly.

  “Now that is ridiculous. Complete and utter nonsense and I know it for a fact.” Mrs. Houper said. “That man loves you like his own. I’ve seen it with my own eyes and so have you. Don’t you think for a second he wouldn’t give you the world.”

  “He didn’t stop me,” Seren shrugged.

  “That’s exactly what I mean.” Mrs. Houper said. “Look.” She took Seren’s mug from them and put it on the table and brought their chair close. “All he wants is for you to be safe. He wants to hoard you like everything else he holds dear. But you’re tenacious and when you’re caged you die. Letting you leave and do your own thing is the hardest thing he has to do. Because he doesn’t want to see you hurt or upset.”

  “Isn’t that what every parent is like?” Seren asked,

  “Every good parent has that phase where we just want to protect our little ones from harm only for the child to rebel and break our hearts.” Mrs. Houper said. “But the good parents let them go. Trusting they will fly.” Seren blinked slow. Trying to wrap their head around the metaphor.

  “So. Children break their parent’s hearts when they learn to fly?” They asked. Mrs. Houper just shook her head.

  “Nevermind. Just trust me?” She asked, Seren looked at her, seeing nothing but honesty.

  “Okay.” Seren said. “But how do I make him think I’m less of a disappointment?”

  “Well, you aren’t a disappointment and I’m sure he doesn’t think so.” Mrs. Houper said. “You’ve always taken on the responsibilities that were never yours. He takes pride in that.” Seren nodded. Understanding that a little bit better.

  “Okay. I think I understand.” They said, using their coat sleeve to wipe their face.

  “Good. Feeling a bit better?” Mrs. Houper asked.

  “Yeah. I should probably run home.” Seren said. “Say hi to the kids for me?”

  “I will, just be careful. The streets are dangerous.” Mrs. Houper said, “More so for you than most right now.”

  “I’ll be okay.” Seren reassured her and left for home. The streets seemed bitterly cold for a spring day. Though Seren suspected it was the way people grasped their children tightly and ran out of sight as fast as they could. Or perhaps it was the way the childless glared at them with disgust. Seren held their head high and walked steadily. Not giving any one the slightest satisfaction of seeing them in fear. They entered their house and removed their shoes. Putting them away quietly. After a minute, they walked up the stairs. Going all the way up to the study. Starting to walk right in before remembering the rules and knocking.

  “You don't have to knock. Just come in.” Eric said. Seren walked in and all the way to their old desk and sat on their old chair.

  “What is it?” He asked.

  “Nothing, I’m just.” Seren shrugged. “I guess I just wanted to be with you is all.”

  “Oh,” Eric said. There was a few more minutes of silence. Seren picked at their fingernails though they knew they weren’t supposed to.

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  “Well, if you’re going to be here you might as well help.” He said and put some books on their desk. “We’re falling behind without Wilbur, or any enforcers.” Seren took the work happily. Working together side by side again felt like for once all was right with the world.

  The light outside changed and slowly darkened by the time the two caught up fully. It felt truly warm in the house as they finished the last paper.

  “I appreciate your help.” Eric said as he stood from his desk. “You’re still the best employee I've ever had. It’s a shame I decided to adopt you.” He offered a smile and squeezed them to his side.

  “Never too late to disown me.” Seren said, just happy to receive affection.

  “I’d sooner die than give you up.” Eric laughed softly. Seren smiled contentedly.

  “I am a part of the dragon’s horde.” Seren laughed.

  “You are the entire horde.” Eric said. “I know it’s not something I say a lot. But you are the most precious thing I own.”

  “Own,” Seren scoffed but laughed.

  “Well not own, but I. You’re in. You know what I mean.” He said sheepishly and shoved them playfully. Seren stood up from their desk before forcibly reminding themself that it wasn’t their desk anymore.

  “Let’s see what we can do for dinner.” Eric said.

  “Yeah, I’ll be down there soon.” Seren said. “Just gonna stop by my room for a minute.”

  “All right,” Eric said, he started to leave the study but paused. “I love you, kid. Serenity.”

  “I love you too.” Seren said, the words came out before they actually thought about them. But once they said it they were filled with love. A love they hadn't dared feel for a long time. Eric smiled, eyes filled with pride. It made Seren’s heart soar. He left the study and Seren took a breath reveling in the happiness. Then letting it go as they left and went down to their room. They knocked on the closet door softly before opening it and sitting before the nest.

  “Tonight.” Seren said definitively. “I'm going to rescue those kids and close the entry to the fae realm tonight.” The sprites froze and stared at them in fear.

  “You can't do that. You'll never return!” One of the sprites said finally. The rest chittering in agreement.

  “Then I won't return. But I have to try.” Seren said.

  “That is noble.” The waterbearer said as she emerged.

  “It's not noble. It's just what needs doing. It's the right thing to do and doing the right thing isn't noble. It needs to be done and if no one else will then I will.” Seren said.

  “That's what makes it noble. Doing the right thing when no one else will.” The waterbearer said. “We will be ready when you are.”

  “Are you coming with me?” Seren asked.

  “Perhaps since brave ones will. But it's as a whole? No.” The waterbearer said.

  “I understand.” Seren nodded. “I'll see you before I leave.” They stood back up and closed the closet door. They changed their pants to make it seem like there was a reason for them to take a detour into their room.

  Then went downstairs to the kitchen, Eric had a stock pot out and was cutting vegetables.

  “It’s soup tonight.” He announced. “I could use some help with these vegetables.” Seren smiled and ran over and hopped up on a stool to help cut the vegetables.

  “Is soup easy to make?” Seren asked as they peeled potatoes.

  “Exceptionally.” Eric said. He paused in his chopping celery to look at them. “What are you doing?”

  “Peeling potatoes?” Seren said holding up a half peeled potato.

  “Why are you wearing your jeans?” Eric pointed down at their pants.

  “Oh. I just threw these on. My other ones were dirty and I mean to change them earlier but didn’t get around to it.” Seren shrugged. Trying to sound nonchalant but knowing instantly they’d said too much.

  “Seren whatever you are planning, don’t.” He said.

  “I’m not planning anything.” Seren said. Continuing on their potatoes.

  “I know you. I know when you’re about to get into mischief.” Eric said. Tossing his chopped vegetables into the stock pot. “It’s not your responsibility.”

  “While walking back home people were glaring at me and running away from me.” Seren said. “I can’t live like this. I have to do something or this all will kill me.”

  “No it won’t.” Eric said stubbornly. “People will forget in time.”

  “No they won’t,” Seren said. “I am what I am and any goodwill I’ve made in my life is gone in a second from no fault of mine.” Seren sighed and put down the potato and the peeler.

  “As long as I am what I am. I will be seen as a monster.” Seren said, “but maybe I can change that. Maybe I can break that.. That cage.”

  “There are better ways.” Eric said. “Better ways than putting yourself in danger.”

  “Maybe, but I can see this way. And I can’t keep losing people.” Seren said. They stepped off the stool and hugged Eric. “But I love you. And I appreciate everything.”