London Calling

[Dah]

(The present day portions of the following story take place shortly after Danny and Alexia’s visit on July 4th, 2022)

June 6, 2001

Melody Dubek was a pale shadow of the woman her son Danny had grown up knowing. Her once active, healthy body had been reduced to a weakened, near-skeletal form. The effects of her battle with leukemia had taken much from her. Once long, dark blonde locks were now reduced to whisps hidden beneath a blue head scarf and her strength was all but gone.

But Danny could swear when he looked into her eyes, the old light and life was still there, locked away beneath the surface. Most of all, though, it was her voice that reminded him that the wonderful, incredible woman that was his mother was still there.

Melody had always had an incredible singing voice. The house and, later, flat they lived in was always filled with music, be it her little radio in the kitchen or the piano she could be found playing throughout the day. The sound of her humming any number of tubes in her soft, melodic tone was a constant companion for the young man. He’d even overcome a severe speech impediment due, in no small part to her singing with him as a small boy. It was the number one thing he was grateful cancer had not yet taken.

Danny was 14 years old when Melody was diagnosed. In the two years since, he’d been forced into the position of being her primary caregiver at home. A job he firmly believed his father, Vernon should have taken upon himself. But, as he saw it, since his father had little interest, it was his job to step up. There was always some excuse, some business meeting or phone call. It fell upon the young man to hold his mother’s hand through chemotherapy and clean her up when she became ill afterwards. Now, at 16, he was well versed in everything necessary to take care of someone fighting a losing battle with cancer, but it came with its share of costs. Friendships stagnated, his schoolwork suffered. Even writing, his deepest passion was put on the back burner. Taking care of his mom, Danny had seen many things he would never be able to shake. He became very familiar with the sound of her sobs and could track how much weight she was losing as he was made to hold her through her lowest moments.

The lights and sounds of the carnival filled the air around them. Melody had always loved ferris wheels and with the opening of the London Eye a year earlier, she’d been eager to ride it just once before the end. It had been Danny’s idea to go that evening, sensing that such an end was coming sooner rather than later. Vernon came along, of course, but Danny felt like his father was barely there, spending his time arguing on the phone. He had no idea who was on the other end, and frankly, he didn’t care. He’d long ago given up on the thought of him doing the right thing and grew accustomed to disappointment with his father.

Melody’s bright green eyes sparkled in the night-time lights of the carnival, a smile on her gaunt face as she stared up at their destination. She glanced up at her son from her wheelchair, a small hand gently gripping his wrist.

“Oh, Danny.” She said softly. “Look at it. It’s beautiful.”

Danny turned his attention back to her, forcing a smile for her benefit. “Yeah, Mum. It is.”

Danny was born in Texas in 1985. When he began talking, it became apparent that he suffered from a disorder called Apraxia. Words came out garbled and nigh-unintelligible. When they moved to his father’s hometown in London shortly after he turned eleven, Melody had enrolled him in intensive speech therapy. He had to relearn to speak almost entirely, adopting a posh British accent in the process.

Danny was not one to make friends easily in his younger years, and aside from two or three close companions back in Texas, Melody was his best. She encouraged and challenged him, but always with the utmost love and support. It was what made being at her side through all of the horrors of cancer even remotely bearable, yet infinitely more heartbreaking.

He wheeled her through the queue, glancing back at his father. Of course, he wasn’t behind them. He stood far back, animatedly speaking into his phone.

“Jesus.” Danny muttered. “Bloody fucking pratt..”

“Hey.” Melody said. “Language. He’s doing his best.”

“He’s doing nothing, mum.” Danny insisted quietly.

“Your father is working hard.” She said softly. “For both of us. Go easy on him, okay? For me?”

Danny didn’t want to go easy on him. He wanted to scream and shout in his face. He wanted to call the old man every rotten name he could conjure up. He wanted to pour every ounce of the pain he should have been spared into venomous words that would utterly devastate his absentee parent. Instead, he put on a tight smile that failed to convincingly reach his eyes.

“I think we’re next.” He said, moving on from the subject.

Melody lit up again once more. The London Eye was the largest Ferris wheel in the world and the cars were large enough to fit multiple people. It was pure luck that they got their own. Danny sat next to her, making sure her chair was locked in place. As the wheel began to move, he felt her thin arms wrap around his left. Melody leaned her cheek against her son’s shoulder, a content, tired smile forming. Danny fought back the ache that threatened to overwhelm him as he gazed upon her. She seemed so fragile and delicate, a far cry from the woman who had once carried him and played with him during his youth. It was difficult to reconcile the image of her then and now.

It was the sweet, soft sound of her humming a little tune that hit him hardest. He couldn’t place the song, exactly, but it was beautiful. Perfect. Tears began to stream down his cheeks, despite his best efforts. A shudder from suppressing a sob gave him away. Melody peered up at him, her brows knitting together in concern.
“I’m sorry.” he said, wiping the tears away as if they were an annoyance.

“Oh, my baby.” She gripped his hand as tightly as she could, tears of her own forming. “You don’t need to apologize.”

“No.” He sniffled. “You have enough going on. You shouldn’t be worried about me.”

Melody placed a hand on his cheek and looked up into his eyes.

“It’s okay, my sweet boy.” She cooed. “Everything is going to be okay.”

Danny turned his glassy eyed gaze to her. “I’m scared, mum. I’m so scared.”

He hated laying the responsibility of his sadness on her, but she just brushed his tears from his cheeks. “I know. So am I.”

Danny swallowed hard, unable to find the words to comfort her. How was she still so strong? Even in the face of her life’s end, she seemed as fearless as ever.

“Life is scary.” She said, “But you know what makes it easier for me?”


Danny peered down at her, part of him marveling at how strong this woman was as she comforted her child, even as her life was slowly coming to an end. “I think of life as…just a song. The people we meet and experiences we live through are just notes in that song. Some are pleasant, and we never want them to end. You want those notes to sustain and last as long as possible. Others are...sad notes. And we just don’t want to hear them. Trouble is, we don't get to decide.”

Melody took his hand, squeezing as hard as she was capable. “But...even the sad notes make up the melody of your life. They're important in making you who you are...and even a sad song is beautiful in its own way."

Danny couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful simplicity of that philosophy. She once again clutched his arm and leaned against his side. He felt her fragile body rise and fall with a deep sigh. Melody watched the lights sprawl over night-time London, enamored with view.

“You know what, kiddo?” She asked with a content smile on her gaunt, tired features. “Despite everything that’s happened…your brother leaving, getting sick…Every sad, hard…difficult thing...”

She turned her eyes up to him, squeezing his arm a little tighter. “My life has been a damn good song. And I wouldn't change a single note.”

Melody nestled against the shoulder of her youngest son, a serene smile forming as she began to hum a soft, lilting tune. At the time, Danny couldn't place exactly what it was. It would be years later when he finally realized what tune it was that his mother had last sung to him. She spoke no lyrics, but he heard her voice, clear as day in the world of his imagination.

Baby mine, don't you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine

That night, Danny would say goodnight to his mother for the last time. Melody died in her sleep, peacefully and painlessly just two hours later. Silence settled in the flat, even long after the funeral. His mother was gone, and the life and music that had once filled his life went with her. But through the grief and sadness there was something else beneath the surface that had been brewing. Resentment. All of that pain turned to anger and it would also be the last time he’d willingly speak to his father. With Melody gone, the bridge was well and truly burned. And nothing would ever repair it.

[Dah]

2022

A bright blue sky and the warm glow of the sun faded in the foggy, gray clouds of London. The urban sprawl beneath them stretched into the horizon, millions of people just going about their daily routines far below the big metal machine. How such a thing could defy gravity without the benefit of magic must have perplexed the Rhy’din-born fae, Danny thought as he peered past her to the familiar sight of the city that he had once called home.

Seeing London again was a mixed bag of feelings for the intrepid writer. There were good times, of course, but it would always be the place his mother died. Even on the book tour, he’d avoided the place and the memories that it brought up and the old wounds it tended to reopen. Still, he would put on a brave face for Alexia’s benefit. This was, afterall, her first time visiting. And, if things didn’t go well… possibly her last.

Alexia placed a warm, gentle hand on his shoulder and squeezed. She had been gazing in the same direction and now slowly brought her large dark eyes to meet his intense green ones. A comforting, empathetic smile touched her lips and she gave him a knowing look.

"It's going to be... oh-kay... *mo chroí.*" She murmured to him.

It took a moment for his smile to reach his eyes, but eventually, it got there. She could always bring him out of any funk he was in. What a strange twist of fate that Danny's emotional rock would turn out to be a quiet little fae who barely scraped five feet tall.

The plane descended onto the runway of Heathrow with a jolt, Danny intently watching Alexia the whole time to see how she reacted to the whole experience.

One eye squinted as she reached to rub at her pointed little ear. Air pressure changes, apparently, spanned across many species and races. With a small, sharp intake of breath through her nostrils, she shook it off and returned to eagerly watching out the window. She had been absolutely glued to it for a great deal of their trip.

"Incredible..." She said, hardly above a whisper. “It’s o-one thing to read about but… entirely different to a-actually experience it.”

"Yeah." He said with a grin. "Sometimes, we're capable of some pretty amazing things, huh?"

The plane rolled across the tarmac as the pilot blathered on about the weather and the wait til they reached the gate. He'd almost forgotten just how gray London could be. Part of him wished they could have gotten a good day, but at least this way, she was getting the true London experience.

Fortunately, the gloomy weather didn't bring Alexia’s spirits down in the least. She was excited. This was where her beloved finished growing up and developed many of his passions. This was where he overcame his speech impediment and simultaneously gained the heart stopping accent that never failed to bring warmth to her cheeks. But, most importantly, this was where he could potentially regain a relationship with his father. She tried not to burst with excitement as they touched down. It was a well ingrained habit by now to reach for his hand.

"Wh-What exactly *is* the location your b-brother gave you?"

Danny's brows knit together in clear uncertainty. He hadn't exactly thought too much about it. He vaguely recalled the street in the address, but the exact location wasn't coming. "You know...I'm not sure. It's a shopping area, I know that. I can't imagine the old man's got a flat on that street. Not a whole lot of people live in that part of town. I suppose we'll figure it out as we go."

"To be f-fair, my love, *w-we* live in a shopping area where n-not many people reside." She countered. A year ago she might have blushed at her brazenness to include herself as a full resident of the studio apartment. Now, it was as casual as taking a breath.

"But you're r-right, of course.” she chuckled. “We'll learn more o-once we get there."

"So, you're thinking it might run in the family?" He asked with a cheeky little smirk.

A soft giggle shook her shoulders. She hadn't quite thought of it, but now it absolutely tickled her.

"It w-wouldn't surprise me if it did." She teased, giving his hand another soft little squeeze.

The sun was just setting over the city as they climbed into the back of a cab, their bags obtained. The rules were apparently different here, she'd note. The driver sat on the opposite side of the car and the cars took up the opposite side of the road from what she'd experienced in Clute and may have seen in Rhy'din. And people sure did love their horns.

It was a little daunting at first. Enough to make her scoot over and completely melt into Danny's side. But once she did, she was able to peer out the window and appreciate the sights. Far different from the calm, almost lazy traffic of Clute, Texas, she stared wordlessly at the bustling of people and vehicles, the flashing lights, and moving images on billboards.

Much like Clute, being back in the town of his youth transported him back to that time. He could remember running down these very streets. He knew the little corner shops and pubs. Mr. Gregor's butcher shop would be coming up in about 100 feet. "There." Danny said, pointing to a Starbucks. "That used to be where my speech therapist was. Used to be a dingy old flat..."

Alexia soaked it all in. Every site, every anecdote. She was only too happy to learn more and more about his childhood.

"D-Did you like him? Was he k-k-kind?"

Danny smiled back at her. "Well, *she* was...well, she was exceedingly British. Demanding, precise. No-nonsense, you know? There were times I absolutely despised her. But, in the end, without her pushing me so hard, I don't think I would have progressed to where I am now.."

“D-does she still t-teach?” Alexia asked.

Danny shook his head in response.

“She retired a year or so before Mum got sick.” Danny said. “Last I heard, she moved to be closer to her grandkids. But that was ages ago. God knows if she’s even still around.”

‘Still around.’ Alexia knew full well what those two words implied. For a moment she was sad for him. It wasn’t an easy thing to contend with the death of any sort of mentor. Yet, something about the idea of this stranger living out the remainder of her life with loved ones sat right with her. The end of a good life was tragic, but knowing you’d touched even one person’s life, let alone many, somehow made it easier.

[Vernon Dubek]

November 7th, 1971

The alarm clock rang out on yet another dreary London morning. Blue eyes that held a patch of brown within them opened, still bleary from slumber. Vernon Dubek groaned, his hand listlessly slapping around in search of his clock. With a smack, the screeching machine went quiet.

Vernon stretched his arms, throwing long legs over the side of his bed. Already standing at 5’11”, he was a lanky sixteen year old, still adjusting to his growing body. Outside, the sun was just rising behind the gray clouds.

He sighed, it was almost time for school. The eldest son of wealthy industrialist Richard Dubek, Vernon was a student at the prestigious Westminster School. His bedroom was decorated in the silver and blue colors of his house, Ashbunham. His father always insisted the boy attend his alma mater and receive the finest education. For Vernon, though, it was a miserable experience. The uniforms felt stiff and uncomfortable and many of his classmates were every bit as stuffy.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, adjusting his blue and silver necktie with a grimace. He’d always disliked ties. They were required, but he wore them with a bit of disdain. His friend Henry once compared it to being strangled by a baby. One last look and brush through his neatly trimmed brown hair and he was off.

His father sat where he always did in the morning, at the kitchen table with a paper in his hands. The scent of the morning’s tea hung heavy in the air as his mother, Estelle poured a cup for Richard.

“Good morning, dear.” She greeted her son, setting the kettle down on the stove. She quickly made her way over. For a brief moment, Vernon thought for once it would be to lovingly kiss his cheek and wish him a good day. But, as always, she was appraising his appearance, brushing absolutely nothing off his jacket and fussing at his hair.

“I do wish you would cut your hair. You look an absolute mess.” She complained, her round face scrunched unpleasantly.

“I just did, mum.”

“Well, you still look messy.” She was never one to back down once she decided she was being somehow slighted.

Richard peered over the edge of his paper, piercing blue eyes cold as ever. He had a stern face that reminded Vernon of a hawk, his once thick brown hair was just beginning to retreat all the way toward the back of his head. An immaculately groomed beard surrounded a constant scowl. In all his life, Vernon swore he’d never seen the old man smile even once.

“You’re to come straight to the office after you’re finished today.” Richard’s voice was a low, officious rumble.

“Yes, sir.” Vernon said meekly, not even making eye contact.

“And you will look smart.” Richard added. “No crumbs. No wrinkles. And that tie will not be loosened. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Vernon muttered almost robotically, refusing to make eye contact with the man. .

Richard lowered his paper, never a great sign. “And you will look a man in the eye when you speak to him.”

Vernon did his level best to look his father in his scrutinizing eye, only to find disapproval staring back at him.

The sound of shoes clomping on the stairs thankfully broke the tension and that glare was turned to the fashionably dressed young man who’d just entered the kitchen. Vernon aggressively adjusted his paper before returning his attention to its contents.

“Mornin’, mum.” He greeted her cheerfully, ignoring the scowl on her face. “Papa.”

Vernon’s younger, 15 year old brother, Stephen (or “Stevie” as he preferred to be called) was a bit of a wild child. Never one to conform to his parents lofty expectations of him, he wasn’t even in contention for Westminster. They tried to send him to a few boarding schools, but he was kicked out within a week at all of them. No matter what his parents tried, they couldn’t break him of his “rebellious” streak.

“Stephen,” Estelle said reproachfully. “You are not going out dressed like that.”

Stevie pulled a carton of orange juice directly from the fridge, drinking directly from it before setting it back in with a roll of his eyes.

“Oh, I know.” He said with faux exasperation. “But, you see, I seem to have misplaced the cufflinks to my tuxedo and it just doesn’t look right without them.”

Richard aggressively lowered his paper, staring daggers at the boy. “You will mind your tongue in this house, is that clear?”

Stevie smirked, undeterred, putting on a thinly veiled tone of sarcasm. “Of course, papa. I’d hate to lose the undying love and support of my caring family due to my ungrateful tone, wouldn’t I?”

“Keep up with that smart tone, young man, and you will find out what that is like.” Estelle spat back.

If he was honest, Vernon rather admired his younger brother. He was free in all the ways Vernon was not. Free of his parents expectations, free of the fear of not fitting in, and free from any manner of self consciousness.

“C’mon, Vern. Walk with me.” He waved his big brother onward, stepping out the door.

Vernon grabbed his things and started to leave when that stern voice again called out.

“Vernon.” Richard glowered over his paper. “Immediately after school.”

The young man swallowed and nodded, passing through the door. Estelle and Richard exchanged a dubious glance. Stephen’s proclivities were well known to them. The boy was a constant disappointment. They would do everything in their power to ensure their eldest did not follow a similar path.

“Yes, Vernon.” Stevie said, mimicking their father’s voice as the door shut behind them. “And those jackboots will shine like a mirror.”

Vernon caught up with his brother on the sidewalk outside the estate.

“Why do you do that?” He asked his little brother.

“Do what?”

“Exacerbate things with them?” Vernon explained.

Stevie rolled his eyes. “How am I exacerbating things? Just because I’m not a good little automaton putting on my dandy suit and tie every morning like you? You look like a sodding banker!”

Vernon glanced down at his outfit ruefully. “Well…he just…they want me to look professional.”

“You look like a tosser.” Stevie snorted. “You’re 16 years old, mate. You shouldn’t resemble an accountant!” Stevie added with a chuckle

Vernon couldn’t deny that he envied the younger boy’s ability to dress however he saw fit. The fashionable, colorful outfits spoke of a freedom he could only dream of.

“Stevie!” A feminine voice called out behind them.

Vernon turned to see her for the first time. She was average height for a girl, blue-green doe eyes, her dark blonde hair done in braids on either side. Loose, flowy clothing covered her slender form. Her pleasant smile seemed to light her entire face.

“JoJo!” Stevie cried out, embracing her, both sharing theatrical kisses on both cheeks. “How are you, love?”

Stevie had always had an ease in dealing with the opposite sex that eluded his older brother. Perhaps it was just his personality, Vernon considered. Or, more likely, it was the fact that girls held absolutely NO appeal to the younger Dubek brother. Stevie wasn’t “out” among family, though Richard likely had his suspicions. If his mother knew, she certainly didn’t let on in the slightest. Vernon, however, accepted who his brother was, though they never truly spoke of it.

“Ugh.” Jo sighed. “Mum and dad are at it again.”

“Still utter wankers?” Stevie asked with a scrunched face.

“The absolute worst.” The girl said, exasperated. “And who is this gangly fellow? Your banker?”

“See?!” Stevie grinned and hooked a thumb to his brother. “This is my brother, Vern. Vern, this is Joanna.”

Vernon cleared his throat, straightened his posture and extended his hand to her. “Good day.”

“Yeah…super day.” She took his hand, an amused smirk joining the quirked eyebrow on her face. “You’re not going to try to sell me insurance are you?”

“I’m sorry?” Vernon asked, perplexed.

“Are you always this formal?” Jo asked.

Vernon’s father had always encouraged him to treat every personal exchange as a business interaction and to always follow a proper decorum when speaking. While it could be useful in dealing with figures of authority, it didn’t exactly make him the most popular guy in his class.

“Nah.” Stevie waved her off. “Just with the ones he’s sweet on.”

Vernon’s pale complexion flushed red. He could swear his skin could suddenly fry an egg. Joanna laughed, but she had to admit he was cute. There was definitely some potential buried under that rigid propriety.

“Nice suit.” She said joining them in their walk.

“…it’s a uniform.” He corrected her.

“Vernon attends Westminster.” Stevie explained, putting a bit of sarcastic pomp in his voice.

“Do you really?” She asked.

“Yes. Ashbunham.”

“Well, then.” She said with a smirk. “It appears we’re going to be schoolmates.”

Both brothers snapped their attention to her in unison. Stevie was the first to speak. “You what?!”

“That’s what mum and dad were on about. I’m to attend Westminster starting next semester.”

There were few females even allowed at the school. It had only begun accepting them in ‘67 and even since, it was still a very limited number.

“You’re fuckin’ me.” Stevie said in wide-eyed terror.

“I tried to fight it, but they’re not bending.” She grumbled.

“Bloody hell…” Stevie muttered. “Well, clearly we’ll have to stage a jailbreak immediately. I mean, I’ll be far too bored without you.”

“Oh, how tragic.” She chuckled. “Don’t make a fuss. I’ll be around. It’s not like I’m going to the moon or something.”

“Yeah, but you’ll be off in that…snob factory!”

“Hey!” Vernon protested.

“I apologize for nothing.” Stevie deadpanned quickly.

Jo chuckled, walking with the two brothers. “Well, I was worried, going there by myself. But now that I know I have an insider to walk me through the place, I feel much better.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Vernon didn’t quite have the heart to tell her that he was about as “in” as a bad case of athlete’s foot. He was grateful for Stevie not outing him in that moment.

“So, what’s your story, Vern?” She asked. “What does a Westminster man like yourself do for fun? Mergers and acquisitions? Hostile takeovers of big companies? Stop me if I get close.”

Vernon snickered, stuffing his hands in his pockets as they walked. “I don’t know…what does anyone do? Listen to music, play a bit of football I suppose. I don’t get a lot of downtime, to be honest.”

“Well, that won’t do.” Jo said in a matter-of-fact tone. “What kind of music?”

“Oh…The Rolling Stones, Beach Boys…”

“Bowie?” She prodded him further.

“Who?” Vernon asked.

“You haven’t heard David Bowie yet?”

The elder Dubek brother shrugged. Jo turned to Stevie.

“What have you been teaching him? I expect more out of you.” She chided him playfully.

Stevie threw up his hands. “Oh, come on! Look at what I have to work with…”

“Oh, Vernon.” Such disappointment in her voice. She shook her head in mock disapproval. “You have so much to learn. Don’t worry, my poor dear. I’ll educate you.”

Vernon let out a derisive chuckle. “Oh. Wonderful.”

[Dah]

Present Day

It wasn't long before the vehicle rolled to a stop outside of the Royal Lancaster Hotel. Danny had told her it was a 5-star hotel, unsure if that would mean anything to her, but he seemed to feel it was very impressive. Their bags secure, they made their way inside and up to the stylish, modern designed room. Their window looked out onto the city as lights began to spring to life across the many buildings.

"A-All this for us?" She said in awe as she walked right up to the bed, and stepped up onto it. Alone with the person she felt most comfortable, most herself, she felt completely at ease. Enough to be her actual quirky, odd little self.

She didn't stop. She walked right across as though it were not in the middle of her path, and continued on to the window. She peered through, her nose just shy of pressing against the glass, and stared in wonder.

"All ours, love." He said fondly. The bed was soft and cushy...and absolutely made the queen mattress in Danny's apartment seem minuscule in comparison. Danny watched her with that warm, loving smile on his face. The excitement fairly emanated from her...and he absolutely loved Alexia being trademark Alexia.

"The place isn't too far away. Walking distance, I reckon. Maybe we'll clean up, go for a stroll?"

She tore her gaze from the window to shine that radiant smile at him, leaving behind a rapidly fading patch of fog where her warm breath hit the glass. With a small but eager nod, she made her way back to his side, a definite bounce in her step as she went.

His arms wrapped around her tiny waist, pulling her close. Those warm, green eyes peered down at her, that dimpled smile that belonged solely to her adorning his lips. "Thank you for being here with me. It makes it a little less scary."

She narrowed her eyes playfully as she settled happily within his arms. With a small, mock-disapproving shake of her head and a soft tsk, she slipped her arms around his neck.

"As though I'd be a-anywhere else." She said just before planting a tender peck on the corner of his lips.

The pair parted, Alexia heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. After enduring a nine hour flight, it was an absolute necessity. Danny’s eyes trailed after her until the door clicked shut. His shoulders slumped a bit as he turned, walking towards the window overlooking the city.

Part of him wanted to find the nearest portal back to Rhy’Din and forgo this nonsensical journey his brother had started him on. There was simply no way it could end in anything other than misery. Not for the first time since leaving Clute, he asked himself why he even decided to follow through on the notion. He’d stopped off in London a time or two in the years since leaving to explore the world with his mentor, Ken Greene. Yet, those rare occasions were usually mere stops along the way to some place more interesting…and less problematic for him.

Clute had held mostly positive memories for him, but here in London, there was almost exclusively pain. There were, of course, a few bright spots along the way, but the most significant painful experience of his life had taken place only a couple miles from this very spot.

Somewhere out there, his mother was laid to rest, buried beneath the earth. It felt as if he was holding a knife to an old wound, on the precipice of reopening it of his own accord. In the nine hours since they’d left Texas behind, he’d tried to imagine what it would be like to see his father again. The things he’d say, the way it would feel. In his mind, Vernon Dubek was still the dull, distant businessman he’d known as a child.

He imagined himself finding whatever office he was sequestering himself in and just letting him have thirty eight years worth of pent up anger in front of everyone he’d duped into thinking he was worthy of respect. He’d promised Wallace he would give the man a chance, though, and Danny always thought of himself as a man who kept his word.

He rested his forehead against the smooth, cold surface of the glass, mentally preparing himself for what lay ahead. This trip would be difficult, he knew. He was just glad that he had the beautiful, wild-haired fae at his side through it all. For her, he would endure anything, no matter how painful it would be.

[Vernon Dubek]

Summer 1972

Over the intervening months, Vernon and Joanna had grown close. She shared new music with him and encouraged him to broaden his horizons. They walked to classes together, ate together, and in general, spent every moment they could listening to records and enjoying each other’s company. It was a tightrope walk, Vernon knew. If his father got wind of it, he would put a swift and decisive end to their friendship. Jo convinced him to tell his father that he had to engage in extracurricular activities for a well-rounded education.

Much to Vernon’s surprise, Richard bought it. Their afternoons and early evenings were entirely theirs. Stevie would accompany them from time to time, but mostly it was just the two of them. Jo would play her guitar or the piano and eventually got Vernon to sing, discovering that the man actually had an absolutely beautiful singing voice. It took only a little prodding before it became a common occurrence. She even eventually started teaching him to play the guitar.

Vernon had gained confidence in something other than business for the first time in his life, and he absolutely loved it. Part of it was the thrill of exploring a previously unknown talent, but an admittedly large aspect was the rebellious nature of it all. So, when Jo broached the idea of forming a band, he leapt at the opportunity, consequences be damned.

Well… not entirely. He still feared the reprisal of his strict, domineering father. The excuses for him to be out became more and more creative. They would play small venues, mostly. Coffeehouses and house parties and the like. David Bowie and Pink Floyd had become his two favorites, so the songs they played were mostly covers of their songs. They were obscure enough to remain out of Richard’s sight, but developed enough of a following to land them more gigs. For the first time he could ever remember, Vernon Dubek was happy and fulfilled. It was like a dream. He never wanted it to end.

He was in his last class of the day when he received word that his father wanted to see him after school let out. The stab of terror flooded deep in his gut. He’d gotten used to sneaking about, but the fear of getting caught was always there. Every time there was any contact from his father, he was certain they’d messed up and it was the end of the line. But after multiple occasions with no fallout, his nerves settled and he got cocky and a little complacent.

Vernon swore he could feel every eye in the building watching him like a man on his way to the guillotine. In reality, of course, he was barely registered by his father’s underlings.

The door to his father’s office felt especially heavy as he pushed it open, but Vernon made his way inside. The room was richly appointed, yet somehow managed to feel cold and impersonal. If one were to judge at first sight, they’d never know that Richard had a family at all. There were no personal effects to suggest his life outside the office, only lavish furnishings, awards, and records books.

Richard sat at his desk, engrossed in a bit of paperwork. He made no effort to acknowledge that anyone had entered the room, let alone his eldest child. Silence hung oppressively in the air, broken only by the scribbling of Richard’s pen and the faint “tick tock” of his clock.

Vernon swallowed hard. He was familiar with this routine. He’d seen it all his young life. It was an intimidation tactic. Make your target as uncomfortable as humanly possible until they practically beg for your attention, then purposely deny them even that. It worked on everyone Vernon had seen, except Stevie who just started singing show tunes until his father couldn’t stand it anymore and threw him out of the room.

This, however, was not in Vernon’s repertoire. He walked up to the desk, unsure if he should sit or stand. In the end, he stood awkwardly with his hand on the back of the chair, almost asking permission.

“You will stand.” Richard said, icily, not looking up from his work. It was another move he loved to pull. He wanted to show that even if you towered over him, he was still in a position of power. Everything he did was about establishing himself as an apex predator and everyone else as prey he allowed to exist.

Vernon straightened up, standing almost at attention, and awaited his father’s acknowledgement.

“You’ve been quite busy of late.” Richard said after an agonizing minute of silence. He still wouldn’t grace his son with the barest glance.

“Yes, father.” Vernon said quietly. “My extracurriculars have taken much of my free time.”

“Yes. I’m sure they have.” Richard muttered. “And what did you say those were again?”

“Oh…n-nothing terribly exciting. Helping at the library, debate club…”

Richard slammed a crumpled up piece of paper on the desk suddenly. Vernon felt his throat tighten and his stomach turn. His father finally matched his gaze, eyes filled with disgust. It was a flier for his and Jo’s band’s performance at a local coffeehouse.

“You’ve been lying to me.” Richard snarled.

“No, dad, I can explain-“

“Enough!” Richard pounded the desk, shooting out of his chair. “You’ve made a fool of me for months, boy, and, by god, you will do so no longer. I have sacrificed far too much to make something worthwhile out of you and I will not see you throw it away on this… nonsense.”

“Dad, it’s just a bit of fun.” Vernon pleaded.

“Who else is involved? This has your brother’s stink all over it.” Richard sneered.

“Stevie had nothing to do with it-“

“Who else?” Richard demanded.

Vernon said nothing. His mind was in full flight mode and words just weren’t coming.

“It’s that Wright girl, isn’t it?” Richard’s eyes searched every inch of his son’s face, taking note of every tick or slight change. “You’ll not consort with her again, is that understood?”

It wasn’t fair. He’d done nothing wrong. Desperation rose from the pit of Vernon’s gut. “She’s my friend!”

“That girl is low-born, common filth, Vernon.” Richard spat. “I’ve seen her family. Shiftless alcoholics and daydreamers all. Rubbish comes from rubbish.”

“You don’t even know her.” Vernon insisted.

“And nor shall I lower myself to do so.” Richard’s voice positively dripped with disdain. “I don’t care how you end it, but you will end it. Is that understood?”

“But, dad-“

“Is that understood?” Richard said more forcefully, punctuating every word.

“...Yes, sir.” Vernon replied, dejected.

“Furthermore, you will no longer waste your time on this music nonsense. You will return your focus to your studies, where it belongs. When your classes are finished, you will immediately come here and you will work. And, God as my witness, Vernon, if you so much as step a toe out of line, I will cut you off and leave you on the streets with that rotten little whore. Do you understand me, boy?”

Rage mixed with fear in a chaotic whirlwind within Vernon’s mind. He did his best to stem the trembling in his hands.

“Yes, sir.” He managed to choke out.

“You and your brother have tarnished our family’s good name for far too long. My patience is at an end.” Richard lowered himself in his seat. “Go to class. Do what is required of you. You are dismissed.”

The world as Vernon knew it had ended. It was as if something inside had broken. He should have known better. The past months had been like a dream…but every dream must end at some point. Reality had caught up with him and it was time to wake up.

[Dah]

Danny’s instructions were simple. Go to a particular address. No google, no asking around. Just go. As they went along, Danny told stories about every place from his adolescence as they passed. Every step and every tale brought them closer to their destination. Being back in the streets he knew so well brought the excitement back into his voice. Much of the nervousness had begun to fade and he had started to truly enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Alexia knew him well enough to know that, while he was genuinely eager to share every bit of his youth with her, the stories also served another purpose. One she was happy to oblige. As his tone turned from tense and jittery to eager and energetic, she happily and dutifully looked at everything he pointed out with full appreciation.

The first thing he saw was the lights of the sign. A golden glow mingled with red in the dark street. Danny didn't need to check to know it was his destination. Something about it just beckoned to him. Something almost supernatural calling out for him to come closer. Finally, he got a good look at the sign.

In the shining gold and red script, it said "Melody's".

Something deep in his chest seemed to sink down to his stomach. Melody had been *her* name.

For a long moment, he just froze, uncertain whether to proceed or not.

"M-Melody's." Alexia’s tender little voice broke the silence that had settled between them.

"I l-like it. It's your n-niece's name, isn't it?" She tilted her head as she appreciated the design.

Something in his bearing and his tone had gone suddenly tense. "And my mother's." He said, his voice wavering with a grave, guarded note of rising tension. He hadn't fully put it together yet, but he was beginning to see why Wallace had set him down this path… and he wasn't certain he wanted to follow it any further.

The smile evaporated from Alexia’s face and her dark eyes grew wide. She gently squeezed his hand in a feeble attempt to offer comfort but she knew it was just too big. Too raw. After a long moment, she swallowed hard with an audible gulp.

"Oh..." She all but whispered. "M-Maybe, ah... Th-That is to say... I, ah… w-w-well…" As she struggled to come up with something, *any*thing to say, she began gently stroking his forearm.

He took in a few deep breaths, clinging to her hand for dear life as he tried to regain control of the turmoil within him. "Okay." He whispered, almost just to himself. "I can do this. We need to get this over with." Danny swallowed hard before looking down at her, pleading in his eyes. "Stay with me. Please?"

"Always." She said quickly, firmly. Her eyes gazed into his with pure affection and admiration. It wasn't even a question. With one more little squeeze, she gave a tiny smile and a single nod urging him on.

With a forced smile, he brought her hand to his lips, placing a kiss upon her knuckles. The smile faded almost immediately upon looking away. He wasn't entirely certain what waited on the other side of the red double doors, but there was no point in waiting any longer. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, opening the door and leading Alexia inside.

They were immediately greeted with the black and white image of her face. She was younger than Danny had ever known her. Healthy. Beautiful. Melody Dubek, standing before an old microphone, a charming little smirk on her face as she did what she truly loved. A million images flashed in Danny's mind. Days sitting up in the living room of their flat, Melody sitting at her piano and singing to an audience of one: Her young son, as he played with his toys. He remembered that smiling face sitting up with him in his bed, holding him tight because some ignorant bullies had said something mean about his speech. Chased away every bit of fear and shame, her arms protecting him from everything that wanted to harm him and that his young mind could not understand. And he remembered what it was like when she was sick… and it was his turn to do the same for her. To be *her* lion and chase away the monsters. Finally, he remembered what it was like when she was gone...and all he had was himself. For many long years, Danny buried that pain deep down, seeking constant distractions and throwing himself into harm’s way. It was that same pain, that same sense of loss that brought him to Rhy’Din to begin with. The world wasn’t big enough to escape the shadow of Melody Dubek’s death, so he sought another. It was only after meeting and falling in love with Alexia that the pain and need for constant distraction truly began to melt away. But now, standing here in a place dedicated to her memory, with her face smiling down from still photographs, it all came rushing back.

Alexia instinctively looped an arm behind his back, her warm little hand resting at his ribs. She wanted to say something comforting, but she knew nothing would help. Not at that moment. Instead, she too stared at the image, in awe of the beauty that was Melody Dubek.

Snug against his side, she simply held him. Her free hand reached across her own petite frame to rest lightly on his shoulder. It was no small feat to tear her eyes away and glance around at the establishment they had just entered. A man’s voice floated over the gathered crowd. Soft, warm, and pleasant.

*No one knows what it's like*
*To be the bad man*
*To be the sad man*
*Behind blue eyes*

Danny vaguely recognized the voice currently amplified by the store's speakers, but couldn't entirely place it. The pair turned left in the foyer and walked into the store proper. All manner of instruments decorated the dimly lit room, on display for sale during the day. A bar was situated against the left wall. Tables and chairs were arranged in front of a small stage as the singer crooned behind the piano. More images of Melody decorated various open spots on the walls.. Singing at concerts, smiling at a carnival, a picture of her in her wedding dress, another of her in front of her piano. She was written into the very DNA of the place. In one picture, she sat on the floor arm propped on her knee with a smoldering cigarette hanging from two fingers, a little smile barely touching her lips. And at her side was a child. One look at him and the dimples on his face and it was unmistakably a young Danny.

*No one knows what it's like*
*To be hated*
*To be fated*
*To telling only lies*

It took a long moment for Danny to process everything he was seeing, but he was slowly coming around and realizing who the man on-stage was. He was tall, somewhat lanky. He was in his late 60's, grey overtaking his close-cropped, neat hair, but he was still very handsome. His voice was mellow, passionate, and pleasant even in its melancholy state. Alexia had never seen Danny’s father, but there was no mistaking the resemblance.

The chiseled features were a dead giveaway. But it was the voice that cinched it. There was just some sort of ingrained, hereditary quality that appealed to her. It was soothing and comforting, much like Danny's. But what shone through was the pain. He bled through the words and notes. Poured his heart out as crimson as the doors they passed through. It was a deep agony up until that moment she had only heard in Danny's voice when he spoke of his mother. One look at his expression confirmed it.

*But my dreams*
*They aren't as empty*
*As my conscience seems to be*

His lips parted watching his father play and sing. A man he'd only ever known to sit behind a desk, pushing papers, now sat behind a piano...*her* piano. He couldn't make sense of it at all. He couldn't figure out which emotion was more prevalent...the bittersweet memory of his mother or the betrayal he felt at seeing THAT man seemingly rewriting his history as some loving, caring husband and father. A man who couldn't be bothered with her when she was alive, now sitting where Danny once had, at her side. It was irrational, of course...but right now? He didn't care.

*I have hours, only lonely*
*My love is vengeance*
*That's never free*

Alexia could feel the shift in his demeanor. It wasn't difficult to piece together the inner turmoil that warred within him. She gave his torso a gentle squeeze, mostly to remind him she was there for him no matter what. But also... just in case.

Once again, she managed to bring him back to his senses, his eyes flicking down to her. This time, though, he couldn't force the smile. This was too much for him. Every instinct he had told him to take her hand and leave. To go back to the hotel, check out and run as fast as they could back to Rhy’Din and the distance from these feelings and this place that it provided. But his escape plan was thwarted when a voice came from the bar beside them.

"Daniel?"

There was a kindness and excitement in her voice that harkened back to his youth. He ran through the labyrinth of his mind trying to figure out where he knew it from. She was a bit over average height for a woman at 5'8". Silver was creeping back into her short dirty-blonde hair. Blue eyes greeted him like a long-lost relative and it finally dawned on him.

"Jo? Auntie Jo?"

"Oh, my boy! My silly, handsome boy! Come give us a scrunch!" She rounded the bar wrapping her arms around him, squeezing him tight. She couldn't quite help the tears that formed in her eyes when she finally pulled back to take a look at him. "Look at you. So tall and grown up!"

Emotion took over the older woman's face as she ran a fond hand along his cheek. Then, as if she'd just realized he was not alone, she cleared her throat. "Oh. I'm sorry, dear." She sniffed, wiping her eyes clear of tears. "And who is this enchanting young lady?"

"This is Alexia. My girlfriend." Danny gestured to her. "Alexia, this is my Auntie Jo."

There was something in that unmistakably affectionate, almost maternal tone that put the little healer at ease. Enough that she found herself beginning to smile when the woman fairly pulled him out of her arms and found she had to stifle a giggle. Just as she too was beginning to get misty-eyed, suddenly the focus shifted to her existence. Her eyes widened and her smile dropped briefly in a moment of nervousness until Danny made the introduction.

"Oh! Ah... H-Hello. It's l-lovely to meet you, ah... I... d-didn't know D-Danny had an aunt." Her smile easily returned as she took a step toward them both, her petite hand extended.

"Oh, only technically, dear." She smiled lovingly, taking Alexia's hands in hers. "Danny's parents and I were very close friends, you see? I’ve known this strapping young fellow all his life! The stories I could tell you..." Jo beamed at Danny, who was still taken aback by all of this. His eyes remained on his father, singing his heart out onstage, the resentment he felt growing out of control.

“Where are you two staying?” Jo asked.

“The Royal Lancaster.” Danny said distantly.

Jo’s eyes widened. “Oh my. Very nice. Nice view?”

“Yeah. Amazing.” Danny turned to her then. "Jo...what the bloody hell is all of this?"

"Oh! Isn't it wonderful?" She asked him, gesturing around with pride. "Your father and I started it 7 years ago. A tribute to your darling mum. We’d talked about it for so long, we finally got off our rears and put it together."

As she turned back to face him, Jo's face fell. There was no mistaking the look in his eye. Danny did NOT look quite so enchanted and she was finally seeing it. In fact, he was angry.

"Is something wrong, Danny?"

Danny looked at his father on-stage, a hardness settling into his features.

*No one knows what it's like*
*To be the bad man*
*To be the sad man*
*Behind blue eyes*

"Yes." Danny said. "Everything."

[Vernon Dubek]

January 27th, 1977.

Five years had passed. While the band was abandoned, Vernon managed to check in with Jo every now and again. She remained his only friend and link to the world outside of his father’s reach. Vernon buried himself in work, anything to distract himself from the emptiness he felt inside, especially after Stevie had gone off a year earlier to follow some band around the UK. He was a bit envious of his younger brother. Perhaps it was that jealousy that made him jump at the opportunity to go work in America for his father.

Houston, Texas was as foreign a place as twenty-two year old Vernon Dubek had ever been. It wasn’t just the southern American accents, it was something in the culture and the people. Something louder and brasher than the London born young man was used to. It had been two months since his father had sent him to operate the American base of his corporation, and it had been quite a lonely experience. Years of repression at the hands of his father hadn’t exactly made him a social butterfly and making friends wasn’t exactly easy in this new world.

Every day had become a mind-numbing cycle of meetings, tedious phone conversations and mountains of paperwork. If Vernon never heard a phone ring again, it would be too soon. On their weekly chat over the phone, Jo tried her level best to get her best friend to get out and enjoy being single and, as she put it, “on the prowl.” Not exactly a concept Vernon was well acquainted with.

The tall, handsome Brit set aside the thick pile of documentation at his desk with a sigh, leaning back into his chair with his fingers knit behind his head. Work was finished and there was nothing left with which to occupy himself.

He rose with a stretch, earning a few pops from his back. The flat, or “apartment”, he supposed, was sparsely decorated. It was really just a place to eat, sleep, shower and occasionally continue work. Vernon never particularly saw it as “home.” The lights of the city filtered in through his window, almost beckoning him to come out. In the months since he’d arrived, he’d never taken the time to properly explore (aside from finding a bakery he liked).

No time like the present, he supposed. Sleep wouldn’t come tonight, anyway. He was way too wired. Vernon grabbed his coat and pulled it on, slipping out of his apartment and out into the night.

Houston never seemed to reach the chilly winter temperatures he was used to back in London, even at night. Even now, it hadn’t dropped below 63. Vernon wandered down the sidewalk, marveling once again at how much bigger the architecture was. Though it paled in comparison to cities like Chicago and New York, to him, it was as awe inspiring as it was intimidating.

Vernon would never be able to pinpoint what it was about that coffee shop that made him stop in his tracks. Maybe it was the old, rustic facade that reminded him of his favorite pub back in London. Or perhaps the pleasant smell coming from within. Or maybe the muffled tones of music he could barely make out. Or, just maybe, it was fate, if you believe in that sort of thing.

Whatever the reason, he pushed through the heavy, wooden double doors and found himself in a cozy, dimly lit room. Patrons littered the landscape, lounging at tables and on couches Or standing at the bar.

Looking around the room, he suddenly felt a bit overdressed in two thirds of a three piece suit. It almost felt intrusive to him, like when the adult tries to get in on their children’s party. But aside from a few quirked eyebrows as he passed, nothing was said.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” a man’s voice echoed over the speakers, “it is my distinct pleasure to welcome to the stage, a talent on the rise. If you ain’t here for her now? Heh! Well, you will be.”

Vernon couldn’t suppress a little grin at the beat poet affect in the man’s speaking rhythm.

“Put your hands together for the one…the only! Ms. Melody Tisdale!”

The room went berserk for the woman who stepped up from the front row, guitar in hand. As she turned to face the crowd, Vernon’s heart skipped a beat. She was average height, maybe 5’6”. Blonde hair just barely brushed her shoulders. And those green eyes, though young, seemed to hold a wisdom beyond their years. A billowy shirt and dark bell bottom jeans adorned her slender figure, and the smile on her lips could melt glaciers. This Melody was the absolute most sublime creature Vernon Dubek had ever seen.

“Thank you, Lemond, for that wonderful intro.” She said, her voice a little low and soothing, just the barest hint of that Texas twang in her tone. “Not at all an impossible image to live up to…”

The crowd chuckled, and so too did Vernon. It was the first time since arriving in America that he could remember having a genuine laugh or even smile.

“I’m Melody Tisdale. I’d like to play for you a few of my favorite songs tonight. Starting with a hit from ‘75. This is ‘Landslide.’”

Melody’s fingers moved across the strings of her guitar with flawless grace and perfection. Her eyes closed as she swayed, perched upon her stool. The warm smile on her face was the most genuine and beautiful thing Vernon had ever seen. This was a woman absolutely in her element.

“I took my love, I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills
'Til the landslide brought me down”

The second that first note left her lips, Vernon knew he was done for. She was his siren, her soothing song ensnaring him completely. A voice which he could listen to forever and never grow tired. He wasn’t much of a believer in a higher power, but if ever there were an angel put on earth, this woman most definitely fit the bill.

“Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?”

There had been a time when Vernon had dreamt of playing music like the goddess on-stage, but his father decisively put those dreams deep into the ground. It had been a long time since those desires had visited his heart, but in her, they were reawakened. He fantisized himself onstage at her side, their voices combining in perfect harmony, making the most beautiful music, the most beautiful life.

“Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too.”

It was in that very moment that Vernon made a decision. One day, he would ask this woman to marry him.

[Dah]

Present Day

In the years since they'd opened, Vernon Dubek had become accustomed to the stage and performing in front of an audience. Artistic pursuits were never really encouraged in the strict home he was raised within. He'd tried to pursue music once at 17, in a fit of youthful rebellion, but his music career only lasted a week before his father caught and nipped that idea in the bud. Since those days, the only person to hear him sing had been his wife, Melody and even then, only in the privacy of their own home. Even his children had no idea the old man could sing, let alone sing well. In the intervening years since Melody's passing, he'd rekindled that passion, relearning the instruments he'd taught himself in his teens and living the life his wife had been denied. He would go on in her memory, honoring her wish that he share his gifts with others.

As the last note hung in the air over an applauding crowd, Vernon let his eyes drift shut, fingers upon the keys she'd played so often. He could swear he felt her presence. Her hands upon his shoulders as if she might lean down and kiss his cheek. A dimpled smile formed. This was a pleasant fantasy. He scooted back and rose from behind the piano, stepping up to the standing microphone. Even his fashion sense had changed. As far back as he could recall, it had always been some stuffy, rigid, suit of some sort. Tonight, he wore a faded pair of blue jeans, a button up left scandalously untucked, and a tweed jacket. A look Jo had jokingly called "The Sexy Professor".

He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, smiling at the gathered crowd. "Thank you for coming to Melody's. I can't tell you what your patronage means to us all. I'd like to welcome our visiting artist to the stage, but first, if you feel so inclined and have the means, please donate whatever you can to Melody's Mission. It's a non-profit organization, devoted to bringing music and art to places that, sadly, lack in both. And now our featured artist. All the way from Atlanta, Georgia. Please welcome Juliana Finch."

Applause filled the room as he stepped down from the stage and the short-haired blonde took his place. Vernon smiled and shook hands with many of the patrons, earning many a compliment. But he was utterly unprepared when he saw the man standing beside his dear friend, Jo. Tall, auburn hair, light scruff on his chiseled jawline. And those eyes. There was no mistaking those eyes.

It had been years since he'd seen that face, and the last time was anything but pleasant. Danny hadn't so much as left a note. One day, Vernon woke up and his son was just gone. Seeing him now made something deep inside of the old man ache. He'd often imagined what it would be like to see him again, and here he was. But the look in those green eyes did not augur well for a happy reunion.

"Danny..." Vernon said, his voice wavering. "You… you look wonderf-"

"How dare you?" Danny interrupted. Taken aback, Vernon didn't continue. "How dare you sit where she once did. Playing *her* piano. Banking off of *her* name."

"Danny, I-"

"You don't have the right." Danny stared at his father with rageful, unblinking eyes.

"It’s-it’s not like that. I did this to honor your mother, Daniel." Vernon swallowed hard. "I'm doing this *for* her."

"Convenient." Danny spat back. "Couldn't be arsed to do a damn thing for her when she was alive, but hey, now that she's in the bloody ground, ol' Vernon Dubek suddenly decides to grow a fucking conscience."

Alexia winced with every sharp word Danny spat at his father. She *felt* them. She felt the pain and despair he had kept bottled up for so long and it brought a deep frown to mar her pretty features.

"D-Danny..." she murmured softly. It was a bold, yet futile attempt to try and reel him back before it was too late and too much damage was done.

To say the old man looked deflated would be an understatement, but Danny wasn't done.

"You know, I don't know what Wally thought my reaction to this charade would be, but seeing you behind that piano just now? I've gotta tell you...makes me wish I'd have just bloody well stayed home."

Jo glared at Danny, finally speaking up. "Daniel! I understand that you’re upset,but this is-"

Vernon held up a hand and shook his head. "Jo. Please. He's every right to be angry." His eyes registered only sadness as he regarded his son. "I've dreamt of what I would say to you if I ever got to see you again, Danny. Every night since you left. I rehearsed it over and over again. Explaining myself and making every excuse under the sun. Now, they all feel so hollow. I don’t know what to say."

“You said enough when she was here.” Danny said, his voice dripping with accusation. “You said nothing.”

Danny only seemed to get angrier at this show of calm rationality. Personally, he'd have preferred a straight up fight to this. The calm, emotionally intelligent part of his brain said that he was being childish...but the other part felt denied of his rage.

"I can only tell you that I am sorry. I am so, so very sorry, Danny." Vernon took one step forward, but stopped when his son recoiled.

"No." Danny said quietly. "No. You don't get to do that. It's too late."

Alexia opened her mouth once more. She felt like she had to try something. But anything she could think to say felt inadequate and would only serve to invalidate Danny's feelings. No. He needed this. As difficult as it was to watch, she wouldn’t try to interject again. Instead, she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and chewed mercilessly. Her eyes darted from Jo, to Vernon, and back to Danny. She began wringing her little hands until her knuckles turned white and her fingertips deepened to a purplish red.

"I don't know what else to do...Tell me what you want." Vernon pleaded.

"I want my childhood back. How about that? Can you do that?" Danny asked. "Can you make me forget some things while you're at it? Because, I have to tell you, I'd LOVE to forget the time chemo made her so sick she couldn't stop vomiting and I got to be the one to hold her hair back and clean her up. Or, hey! How about you make up for the fact that I had almost zero friends here because I never left the fucking flat? Go back and tell what friends I did have that I didn't dislike them, I just had to tend to my dying mother because her husband cared fuck all about her."

THAT stung the elder Dubek and anyone could see it. Still, he took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Danny, please. Can we just go some place and talk? There's a lot we should discuss."

"No." Danny shook his head. "You had plenty of chances to have a heart-to-heart. You chose your bullshit career instead. This was a mistake."

Danny turned and started toward the door, moving through the crowd, Vernon in-tow. "Danny, come on. I don't want it to end like this..."

Danny wheeled around on him suddenly, a dangerous look in his eye. "I don't give a *damn* what you want."

Vernon stopped in his tracks and watched him walk out the door. The old man was crushed, his fingers sliding under his glasses to rub his eyes.

Jo looked down to Alexia in the long awkward moment that followed. She tried to offer the little fae a comforting smile. "I'm sorry you had to see that, dear girl. I didn't realize just how...bad it had all gotten between them."

Alexia's lips parted, but despite several attempts, no sound came. All she could manage for several moments was an awkward, terribly uncomfortable, sheepish look. Her inner turmoil raised her heart rate. Was she supposed to follow? Which way did he even go? Should she try to apologize? No, definitely not. Despite Danny’s acerbic delivery, she found she couldn't... *wouldn't* disagree.

"H-He's been hurting for a v-very l-l-long time." She said when she finally found her voice. It wasn't apologetic or excusing, merely the truth. She shook her tortured little hands loose in an attempt to get some feeling back into her fingertips as she wondered what she should do.

Jo couldn't help but wonder the same. It wasn't exactly a situation she knew how to navigate, after all. Who would? Luckily, the moment didn't last long, when a VERY embarrassed looking Danny barged back in through the door. Doing his level best to not make the slightest bit of eye contact with his father, he walked up to Alexia and took her hand.

"I'm sorry, love. Come on. We're leaving."

Alexia tried not to let the relief completely show on her features, but the speed with which she curled her fingers in his and melted to his side was undeniable. She didn't try to counter. She was only too happy to get him away from tension and heartache. She would, however, whisper soothing little murmurings to him as they left. How everything was going to be alright somehow. How much she loved him. How she would always be there for him no matter what.

The pair left a distraught Vernon standing behind, watching them leave. He dearly wished he could find the right words that would make his son stay and listen. To take away all of the pain and anguish those early years had brought to both of them. But he didn't have the poetry of language to do so. A crushing realization descended upon him when he came to the conclusion that he simply did not know his son well enough to even come close...and judging from the way he just walked out...he never would.

He barely registered Jo’s hand gently resting upon his arm as she tried to get his attention. “Are you alright?”

Vernon kept his eyes on that door. Somewhere deep inside he hoped that Danny would change his mind and walk back in so they could talk. But he knew better. His only response to his friend was a shake of the head.

“Vern. I’m sorry. He shouldn’t have said those things. He was wrong.” She tried so hard to comfort him, but he was just utterly unavailable.

“No he wasn’t.” Vernon muttered, his tone dripping in shame. “Not entirely.”

“Vern…” Jo said looking him in the eye sympathetically. “No.”

He wanted very much to believe her and let those feelings go. But that wasn’t going to happen tonight. “I’m going to head home. Close up here, will you?”

There was pain in her eyes as she forced a smile. She hated seeing him like this, after everything he’d done in memory of Melody and everything he’d sacrificed while she was alive. He didn’t deserve it.

“Of course.” She said quietly. Jo leaned in, planting a kiss on his cheek. She watched the elder Dubek walk to the door and out into the night.

[Vernon Dubek]

February 18th, 1977

Weeks had passed. Despite his vehement proclamation otherwise, Vernon was nowhere closer to speaking to his would-be bride, let alone tying that proverbial knot. He’d spent several nights in the coffee shop, just hoping she’d be playing there that evening, to no avail. He kicked himself for not speaking to her right then and there, but he just couldn’t work up the courage in the moment.

There were times he thought she might have been something out of a dream he’d had. As if he’d fallen asleep that night and created the most enchanting person he’d ever seen…only to wake and find she was a figment of his imagination. The mere thought made his heart ache. He could hardly bear to even consider the possibility.

In that time, he’d come to know the staff quite well, earning the nickname “Mr. Loneliheart” from some when they thought he couldn’t hear them. Every night, he’d come in, sit at his table, sip on tea and watch that evening’s entertainment. Then, every night, he would walk back to his drab apartment. It had been damn near a month and hope had begun to dwindle.

Vernon settled into his usual spot, a pretty, young lady named Mary sliding his tea over.

“Feelin’ lucky tonight, Vern?” She asked.

The 22 year old businessman peered up at her, a dashing, dimpled smile on his face. “Here’s hoping.”

Mary returned the smile, if a smidge sympathetically, and left him alone. He was a handsome man who could likely attract most women. It was a shame he was so hung up on one person he’d never even spoken to.

Vernon brought his teacup to his lips for that first sip. Just as the hot tea worked it’s way down his throat, he saw her. At first he wasn’t certain she was really there. Like he was having a hallucination or seeing wrong. But there she was, Melody Tisdale, in an olive green, long, flowy skirt and a paisley blouse. Her dark blonde hair was tied in a braid the hung over her left shoulder.

She was every bit as beautiful as he remembered. Vernon fell in love all over again as she walked up to the emcee. He’d later shamefully confess to a hint of jealousy when they hugged hello.

He found everything about her charming. From the calm, easy smile when she thought nobody was looking, to the way her nose crinkled when she laughed. Even the clothes she wore were endearing to him. In a word, Vernon was smitten.

“Ladies and gents! I wanna thank y’all for comin’ out to hang with us tonight. And, cats and kittens, are you ever in for a treat. If you know, then, my fine coterie ‘a caffeine crazies, you know. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce…Melody Tisdale!”

It wasn’t the crowd she deserved, if you asked Vernon. She deserved a sold out crowd in some stadium or theater. Not an obscure hole-in-wall in the middle of
Downtown Houston. Still, applause all around, and that was most assuredly deserved.

Melody clutched the neck of her guitar in her right hand, sliding up onto a stool. “Lemond, everyone. The king of hyperbole.”

She smirked to her friend and turned her attention back to the crowd. “Hello! As the man said, I’m Mel. I wasn’t really supposed to be here tonight, but your gal pal has had a week, so if you were looking for a quiet night without some goofy broad croaking out sad songs, then my deepest apologies.”

Laughter washed through the crowd, but no one smiled brighter than Vernon.

“This is Stand By Me.” She said, her fingers dancing over the strings. Her head nodded in time, those green eyes sliding shut as she leaned toward the mic.

“When the night, has come
And the land is dark.
And the moon, is the only, light we’ll see.”

That sweet, husky voice of hers captivated the room with every melodic massaging of the song’s lyrics. She felt every emotion in her singing and made the audience feel it as well. Melody was an artist at her peak, criminally unknown by the general public.

“No I won’t…be afraid.
No I won’t…shed a tear.
Just as long as you stand…stand by me.”

Vernon’s heart dropped as her eyes made contact with his. He had no concept of how he looked in that moment, but from the little smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth, he guessed it was something like a lovesick puppy. He was certain she could see right through him, if she truly noticed him at all.

“So, darlin’, darlin’ stand…by me.
Oh-whoa stand..by me.
Oh, stand, now. Stand by me…”

He wanted so very badly to believe she had. That maybe this woman he had spent weeks dreaming about looked at him and saw something in him. Maybe she saw through the nerves and awkwardness to a man who would spend the rest of his life devoted to her.

It was, of course, a pleasant fiction. That sort of thing didn’t happen to men like him. Such romantic tales were for more exciting, exotic men than himself. Still, a man could dream.

Vernon sat through her entire set, every masterfully performed song a twist of the knife in his heart and every accidental second of eye contact sending butterflies in his stomach. In the end, Melody, of course, received the applause she rightfully deserved.

Now was his chance. If he was ever going to speak to her, this was the moment. But, those old doubts were strong. Stronger than his desires and dreams. So, Vernon just grabbed his coat and headed towards the door.

“You’re just gonna leave?”

The voice behind him stopped the world. It couldn’t be. Could it? Vernon slowly glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, peering up at him was a face he considered sacred. A million words formed a massive pile-up in his mind, not quite reaching his lips.

“I spend all night singing to you and you’re not even going to say ‘hello?’”

The breath left his body like he’d been gut-punched, but the smile that came radiated pure joy.

“Hello.” It was what he could manage in the moment.

Melody smirked, amused. “Hi.” She extended a hand. “I’m Melody.”

He took her hand gingerly, a nervous laugh escaping him. “I know. I-I’m Vernon.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Vernon.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Are you headed somewhere? I’m not holding you up, am I?”

“There is legitimately nowhere else I’d rather be.” He chuckled.

“Good.” She smiled. “Drink?”

The pair soon found themselves sitting in a booth lit by a candle at its center, both with glasses of merlot in-hand. Melody clinked her glass to his.

“Cheers.” He said, taking a sip. God, he was nervous. Now that he was certain that this was real, he was certain he would say the wrong thing and blow the whole thing up like it was a minefield.

“Vernon.” She said firmly, looking him in the eye. “Relax. I don’t bite.”

She could read him like a book. Somehow, that sent a wave of relief through him. “I’m sorry. I just never expected this.” He took her in for a moment, she was so calm and cool. How he’d ended up here was beyond him. “I loved your set.”

“Thank you.” She said, “I love it when people are so invested. It makes it feel…I don’t know. Personal? Intimate? It just enhances the whole experience. I am glad you decided to dress down a little bit this time.”

At first, he laughed until it dawned on him what she had just said. “Wait, what?”

“Your clothes.” She gestured matter-of-factly pulling out a pack of cigarettes. “Not that I don’t like a man in a suit, but it did look like you got lost on the way to your shift at the bank.”

Vernon was certain his face was red as a tomato. It certainly felt like it was burning. “You saw me?”

Melody nodded, sliding a cigarette between her lips and lighting it. “Mm. Yep. You know, I waited all that night for you to come talk to me, but you just got up and walked out of my life. Rude, honestly, Vern.”

Melody blew a plume of smoke out the side of her mouth. The pile-up of words finally broke in Vernon’s mind and the words came pouring out. “I have thought about you every day since that night.”

The warm smile that took to her lips eased any nerves that threatened to silence him again. “I’ve come here almost every night, hoping to see you again.”

Melody’s brow furrowed. “And you were just going to take-off when you finally did?”

Vernon opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Melody canted her head to one side. “What’s the deal?”

Vernon forced a nervous lump down his throat. “Nerves, I suppose.”

“Nerves?” She snorted, quirking an eyebrow. “Over me? Why?”

“Do you honestly not understand how people see you?” He asked, dubiously.

“They don’t.” She shook her head. “I’m a broke college student who sometimes gets to play guitar for a couple bucks a night.”

“You are far more than that.” He shook his head. “You’re talented. Beautiful. You walk in a room and all eyes are on you. Even if you don’t notice it. And they should be. You are captivating.”

Vernon couldn’t read her expression exactly, but he gathered that she was not displeased.

“And what are you?” She asked.

“Painfully average.” He forced a chuckle.

“With that accent? Those eyes? Your height? And, my god, those dimples?” She almost looked reproachful. “You, sir, do not give yourself enough credit.”

“You’re very kind.” He refused to make eye contact, not truly believing her compliments. But, Melody reached out and grasped his hand.

“No. Hey. Look at me.” She waited until his blue eyes found hers. “You are extraordinary. Alright? When I saw you that night, I thought you were gorgeous. A little overdressed, but gorgeous.”

Melody grinned, earning one in return from the man. “You should be nicer to yourself, Vern. You’re a catch.”

If he had died in that moment, Vernon Dubek would have died a blissful man. The pair would sit in that booth for hours, chatting about everything under the sun. Their pasts, their families, their dreams. When the shop closed Vernon walked her to her flat.

Melody clung to his arm the entire way and the young businessman had never been happier. Finally, they stood at her step.

“Well,” Melody said, peering up at him, “Thank you for walking me home.”

“Thank you for letting me.”

“Let’s do this again.” She nodded.

“Absolutely.” Vernon smiled. He kept a cool exterior, but in his mind he was once again at war. Should he hug her? Kiss her? Were either choices too far for a first date? Was this a date? And if he did kiss her would-

His agonizing was cut short as she grabbed him by the lapels of his jacket, yanking him close as she rose to her tippy toes, and planted a kiss directly upon his lips. The longer it lasted the more they melded together. It was perfect. It was home.

Slowly, their lips parted and she sank down to her heels, her chest rising and falling with exhilaration. “Goodnight, Vernon.” She whispered.

He stared at her, dumbfounded. “Goodnight, Vernon…” he muttered, before catching himself. “Er, Melody! I meant…”

A bright smile overtook her delicate features as she placed a hand on his cheek. “Don’t worry. You’ll get it right eventually.”

With one last look, she turned and walked up the steps and into her apartment. Vernon watched until she was out of sight. He stood a little taller after that. The woman of his dreams actually liked him, and nothing could bring him down.

[Dah]

Present Day

To say Danny was "heated" would be the understatement of the century. The entire walk home he was silent, but somehow the anger boiling inside him was absolutely deafening. Alexia could feel it in his very presence, emanating off his tall frame like radiation every step he took. When they finally reached the room, he just walked over to the bed and sat upon its edge. For a long moment, he stared at the pattern of their carpet in silence. "I'm sorry." He whispered.

As soon as he released his hold on her hand, she stopped. Stopped walking, stopped murmuring soothing things that were not soothing anything. She simply stood where he left her for a long moment, giving him both metaphorical and literal space.

When he finally spoke, she quietly closed the distance between them, stopping just in front of him, her hands lightly clasped in front of her. Her head tilted slightly and she peered at him with that intense gaze.

"Don't be." She said softly. "You n-needed to let all of that out." Her stutter eased as it often did when it was just the two of them.

"No." He shook his head slowly. When he looked up, he just seemed drained. Like all the life had been sucked out of him. It almost reminded her of the look on his face after she'd purged The Void from his body. "I shouldn't have brought you here. We should never have come. I don't know what the hell my brother thought I'd get out of this, but this was a mistake."

"Hey..." She murmured, just barely above a whisper, using the same affectionate tone he'd often used with her.

"I'm sure your brother m-meant well. And as for c-c-coming here, you know I'd go to the edge of the universe and b-back for you. So I'm g-glad we came. You had been holding on to that for s-s-so long and it was *hurting* you." She said, as though the word itself had the very audacity.

Her small hand reached out and gingerly ran her fingers through his auburn hair. Slowly and with the lightest pressure, she dragged the back of her nails along his scalp until her warm little palm cupped the side of his face.

He stared up into those big, brown eyes. She could tell he was holding back the frustrated tears that threatened to form with everything he had. A hand rose to grasp the one on his cheek. He turned his head, placing a soft kiss on her palm before just holding it there. "Thank you. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you."

A tiny smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"W-Well, it's a good thing you'll n-never have to find out." Her thumb gently stroked his temple. She took another step closer and gently but insistently pulled him toward her, coaxing him to rest his head on her modest chest.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her breast. For a long time, he said nothing, he just held her and allowed himself to be held. He could *feel* her smile as she stroked his hair.

Finally, with a sharp intake of air, he spoke. "Can we go? I'll check for flights out of here or see if there are any boats...anything. I know it's late and we just got here, but I just...I don't want to be in London another second."

"Of c-course we can, my love. Anything you n-need." She said as she placed a tender kiss atop his head.

Danny released a sigh of relief, eventually slipping from her arms and rising over her. "Thank you. I love you, Alexia." He smiled through the sadness, running his thumb along her cheek. "I'm gonna pack."

Danny stepped away from her and got right to work, picking up his toiletries from the bathroom. He was not at all prepared for the sound of his phone ringing. He looked at Alexia, perplexed, and shot a glance at the clock. 10:30 PM. "...What the hell?"

She gave him an equally perplexed look right back. Her eyebrows lifted and her thin shoulders pulled up in a small shrug.

He pulled out his phone and on the screen was the name Lara. His agent. She knew where he was, and it wasn't exactly like her to break the no-calls-after-seven rule.

"Lara?" He asked, answering the call. "Is everything okay?"

"Danny!" She started, excitement in her voice. "You're not out anywhere are you? I'm not interrupting anything?"

Danny quirked a brow. "No...Just...in the hotel room. What's going on?"

"Big news. I just got off the phone with Aaron Leffield from Polaris Publishing. He wants a meeting with you." Lara was ecstatic. Polaris was one of the top publishers in the entire world and meeting Leffield was incredibly highly sought after for any writer.

"You're fucking with me." Danny said, cautiously.

"I am not, in fact, fucking with you." She responded with a laugh. "He wants to meet the day after tomorrow. 2 PM, his office in London."

"Holy hell, that's...that's” And then it hit. “...London?"

Dark, pretty brows lifted a touch higher on the little healer's forehead. Surprise and curiosity were evident in her features and her hands returned to their loose clasp, this time behind her back as she shamelessly listened in.

"I know." Lara chuckled. "Perfect, right?!"

"...yeah. Brilliant." His tone was NOT at all convincing.

"You can make it, right?" Lara asked, a growing shadow of concern in her tone.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Absolutely." Danny nodded, his escape plan evaporating in an instant. He quickly put on his professional tone. "Listen, bloody great news, can't wait. But I'm gonna try to get some sleep, and I'll prep everything tomorrow. Sound good?"

"Cool." Lara said. "Congratulations, Danny. This could be HUGE for you."

Danny said his thanks and hung up. The competing feelings of dread and joy battled for supremacy within his mind as he just stood there. Slowly, he looked to Alexia and blinked. "Well. Shit."

[Vernon Dubek]

August 3rd, 1977

Six months had passed and Vernon and Melody had quickly settled into perfect harmony. They spent every moment they possibly could together, going on dates, attending her shows, or just lounging around the apartment. Vernon’s favorite moments were when she’d sit at the piano, composing her own original songs while he worked. It would be difficult to find a person so proud of their partner as Vernon. She had settled into nearly every facet of his life, striking up friendships with his coworkers, friends, and especially with his brother Stevie.

He was perpetually amazed by her ability to not only navigate every social situation, but to do so with the same charm and unerring grace that she brought to the stage. Melody was a hit at every dinner, every night out, and every function. She even landed him a few jealous looks from the men and women at work. He was fairly certain a few wives had some stern words for their husbands after a night out with Vernon and his girlfriend.

He had little doubt that his reputation as “the boss’s kid” had changed solely because of her. People looked at him differently. They chatted him up around the office more, they invited him out with increased regularity. It was something he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Respect.

Melody did have her concerns for her boyfriend, though. It was rare that he wasn’t absolutely buried in his job. He was being heavily overworked, and it was becoming a concern.

She hadn’t had any contact with his parents and he certainly didn’t talk much about them, but Melody couldn’t help the twinge of resentment for them when he would work fourteen or sixteen hour days. He deserved to be happy and if they were aware of what he sacrificed, they didn’t seem to care.

Melody often considered saying something, but it didn’t exactly seem like her place just yet. All she could do was try to distract him and sing for him when he was severely stressed. It didn’t seem enough to her, but to Vernon, it was everything.

Today was a big day. Richard Dubek would be arriving in the afternoon and the entire company was in an uproar. It would be the first time their boss would visit the American base of the company. But to Vernon, it was more. All his life, he’d sought his father’s approval, only to receive mild-to-severe disapproval and barely concealed disdain in return.

Vernon paced in the kitchen, as he always did on the phone, talking to his brother. Stephen still lived in London and was the polar opposite of his big brother. Outspoken and fearless with a rebellious streak a mile wide, Vernon had always somewhat admired him. It had been Stephen who’d encouraged him to secretly join a band when they were teenagers. Vernon had loved it, until their father caught wind and unleashed holy hell on him. He was forbidden from pursuing any sort of artistic endeavors from that day on, instead required to focus on becoming an effective businessman.

Richard never approved of Stephen, and wasn’t exactly quiet about it. Not that his flamboyant son ever cared. Unlike his elder brother, he had the good sense to dislike him right back, leaving home the moment he came of age. Stevie forged his own path, and thrived almost to spite the bitter old cuss.

“When does the old man arrive?” Stephen asked.

“Three o’clock.” Vernon responded, “We’re meant to pick him up at the airport in a limousine.”

“Ah.” Stephen said, nonplussed. “How posh. Tell him his baby boy said to sod off, will you?”

“I’ll relay the message.” Vernon chuckled. He sighed deeply. “Yes, only the best for our dear old dad.”

“Well. Your dear old dad.” Stephen snorted. “Haven’t you heard? I’m no longer his son?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Oh, right. I haven’t told you.” Stephen said, touch of bitterness in his casual tone. “I finally came out to them.”

Vernon knew what his brother was before there was even a need to be told. He figured his father at least had his suspicions. Vernon always wondered how he would take it, though part of him knew it would not go over well.

“Really?” Vernon asked. “How did that come up?”

“Oh, you know.” Stephen said in a sing-song melody. “Mum wanted me to meet some airheaded debutante daughter of their friend. I don’t know what could possibly possess them to think I would do such a thing, even if I was straight. It’s not as if I’d spoken to them in the last two years.”

“I’m sorry.” Vernon sympathized with his brother.

“I’m not.” Stephen said plainly. “I’m not exactly surprised either. He said some words I won’t repeat, told me I was no longer his son and said I was a constant disappointment. I told the old twat that I couldn’t care less what he thought of me and if I was a disappointment to him, then I was doing something right.”

Vernon couldn’t help the swell of pride he felt for Stephen. He wished he could be so bold. His brother knew who he was and what he deserved, and wouldn’t settle for less.

“You still deserve better, Stevie.” Vernon assured him. “He was wrong.”

“He’s a prat.” Stephen said flatly. “Why you spend so much time breaking your back for that absolute bell-end is beyond me.”

Melody passed through the room, a lit cigarette between her fingers. “Is that Stevie?” She asked. “Tell him I said hi!”

“Hello, my yankee love!” Stephen called out, knowing she couldn’t hear.

Vernon chuckled. “He says ‘hi’ back.”

“Gimme, gimme, gimme!” Melody smiled brightly and yanked the phone from his hands, immediately launching into a conversation that Vernon couldn’t begin to keep up with. It was always the way when he called. Over the months the two had become quite close, chitchatting and bonding over the phone. Stephen adored her and knew his brother had found someone special. Knowing they’d be talking for the next couple hours, Vernon returned to his pile of paperwork.

Eventually, she would hang up and force her way onto Vernon’s lap. Melody wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. Vernon smiled, holding her tight.

“We should get ready to go.” Vernon said, a small amount of dread in the pit of his stomach. Melody whined wordlessly in response.

“Do we have to?”

“Tragically, yes.” Vernon smiled fondly at the blonde beauty in his lap.

“You ready for this?” She asked, toying with his short, curly hair.

Vernon snickered. “Are you?”

“One way to find out.” Melody said with a smirk.

[Dah]

The escape plan had failed. Success, it seemed, could be a double-edged sword. Danny had wanted nothing more than to leave London in his rearview, but when such an opportunity knocked, you didn’t turn your back. Sleep wouldn’t come easy that night, and it certainly wasn’t going to visit long.

He was awake when the sun peeked over the horizon, golden and orange hues illuminating the London sky. Knowing he would never get back to sleep, Danny did what he always did. He went for a run. Something about the cool morning air and the monotonous, methodical clomp of his shoes upon the pavement always calmed whatever nerves were eating at him. At least, that was usually the case.

While yesterday’s arrival and short tour through the city had brought back mostly pleasant memories, this run only brought up the negative. A corner where he’d been beat up. The little diner where Becky Joachim dumped him when he was 17. The place he’d completely wiped out on his bike and chipped his two front teeth. For once, the run was doing nothing to improve his mood.

Danny was not so easily cowed, though. He just pushed himself harder, farther, trying desperately to quiet his troubled mind and focus on nothing. Eventually, it started to work. It worked so well, in fact, that he was only vaguely aware of the figure that stepped out from a shop into his path. His breath caught in his chest as he forced himself to stop, the pair just barely spared from a collision. Her two bags of groceries weren't quite so lucky. Profuse apologies fired back and forth as they both attempted to gather her spilled items. It took a few seconds before the face in front of him registered in his mind.

Jo. Sweet Auntie Joanna. Recognition dawned on her as well, a bit less enthusiastic than the night before. “Danny.” She said, a terse strain in her voice. “Good morning.”

“Auntie Jo.” He said, the forced smile on his lips not quite reaching his eyes. “Hello.”

He could see in her eyes that she had much she would like to say to him, but her sense of decorum would not allow her in such a public place.

“I, um, I was out getting some early morning errands done. I didn’t expect to see you.” She said, tucking the last of the spilled groceries back in her bag.

“Pleasant surprise, I suppose?” Danny forced a smile. The one he received in return did not meet Jo’s eyes.

“Is it?” She asked him with a turn of her head. “Last night, you didn’t seem quite so pleased about being here.”

He wasn’t sure why it hit him the way it did, but a wave of shame washed over the tall journalist. He’d not meant any offense to Jo. Of course not. She had only ever been a kind, positive presence in his life.

“Jo, listen, I’m-”

“Danny.” She interrupted, her lips forming a tight line as she mustered what kindness she could. “Let’s not retread that path again. It’s well worn, yes?”

“I suppose so.” He nodded slowly. “I just hope there was no offense taken on your part. It was never my intention.”

“I appreciate that.” Jo said, a smile forming as she reached out to give his hand a squeeze.

“Can I give you a hand back home with these?” Danny offered. For a moment Jo looked like she would rather turn him down, but the reality was that help was very much welcome.

“Please.” She passed a bag off to him.

“Are you still down by the Heath?”

“Oh, no, no.” Jo shook her head. “I moved ages ago. Not long after Teddy passed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Danny frowned. “He was a wonderful man.”

“He was a pain in the arse.” Jo chuckled. “But he was MY pain in the arse. I’m a few blocks down from the shop.”

The shop. Melody’s. There was a part of Danny that wanted to appreciate the fact that a monument to his mother existed and was inspiring musicians young and old. She’d have loved that. He wanted so badly to set aside the anger and pain from his youth, just as he had convinced himself he’d done long ago, but seeing his father brought it all back. As sensitive a topic as Vernon Dubek was, Danny was still curious.

“Is dad still in the old flat on Gloucester?” He asked.

“Oh, no.” Jo shook her head. “He moved out not long after you left.”

That was a line of discussion he had zero interest in pursuing. Luckily, Jo didn’t press him. Instead, she found a new topic.

“So, tell me!” She said. “What have you got up to all these years? I hear bits and pieces but, I’d love to get the details.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Lord. Where to begin? I spent a lot of time traveling the world with Ken Greene-“

“The journalist?” She asked, surprised. Jo was an avid reader and, at times a bit of a news junkie. She knew Greene’s work well.

“Oh yeah.” Danny nodded. “One of my dearest friends. Gave me my start in journalism. Bit of a cranky old bugger, but he’s pulled my backside from the fire more times than I care to admit.”

“Fascinating.” She shook her head in wide-eyed amazement.

“I’ll have to give you more details sometime, but the things we saw and did were incredible.” Danny said.

“Oh, and your book, of course!” Jo exclaimed. “It’s doing quite well!”

“Yeah!” Danny chuckled. “It’s been absolutely mad! Have you had a chance?”

Jo shook her head. “It’s next on my list, I promise.”

“I’m not taking it personally.” Danny assured her with a laugh.

“Can I ask you something?” Jo ventured.

Danny offered a cautious glance. “Maybe?”

“Alexia.” She began. “She’s not…”

“Human?” Danny finished for her.

“I suppose that’s as delicately as it could be put, yes.” Jo confirmed, trying ever-so hard to keep her polite nature.

“No.” Danny said. “It’s a bit of a long story, but…I’ve been living in a place that…well that isn’t outside of the norm.”

Jo took a moment to think. Another world, other species living in harmony. There were a million questions she wanted to ask, but now was hardly the time.

“So.” She finally said, “The rumors are true?”

Danny grinned down at her. “There are rumors?”

“Your father told me a thing or two.” She said. “Just bits and pieces he’d picked up from your brother.”

Wallace. Of course, Danny thought. He wasn’t sure why, but it brought questions about the nature of the relationship between Jo and his father to mind.

“Not to pry…” Danny said, a grin forming. “But are you two…”

“What?” Jo looked at him with a furrowed brow until it finally set in. “Oh! Sweeties? No! No. I mean, he’s a dear, dear friend and a wonderful man…but, we’ve never been quite that close.”

Danny noted the barest hint of disappointment in her voice. “Much to your chagrin?”

“That’s quite presumptuous.” Jo quirked an eyebrow. “Your father is my oldest friend and I value his presence in my life. It needn’t be more than that…”

Danny held a hand up in submission.

“Besides,” She continued. “Even if I did…I don’t think he’s ever quite gotten over your mum.”

Oh, did he ever want to offer some angry, incredulous retort to that, but he chose to keep silent this time.

“Danny…” She said, “I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting. But please, at least consider speaking with him.”

“I did.” Danny defended himself. “It didn’t go well.”

“Daniel.” Jo said reproachfully. “A public verbal lashing is hardly a conversation. I think you’ll find you have much more in common than you think.”

“Jo,” He sighed. “Why are you pushing this?”

“Because life goes by very quickly.” She said. “And we don’t always get to know those in our lives as well as we should. Then, when they’re gone, the opportunity is passed. When the anger is gone, you’ll only be left with regret. I want better for both of you.”

Danny listened, doing his level best to set aside the petulant side of him that resisted the advice. He supposed she had a point, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“How long are you in town?” Jo pressed on.

“Just had the stay extended to the end of the week.” Danny said.

“At least consider it, Danny.” Jo pleaded as they came to a stop in front of her flat. “For me.”

“I’ll think about it.” He knew it was wishy-washy and non-committal as all hell, but he just wasn’t ready. Danny could see in her eyes that Jo took note of it as well.

“That’s all I ask.” She smiled, taking the bag from him. “Thank you for your help.”

“You’re welcome.” Danny nodded.

“Be seeing you soon, I hope.” Jo said, the barest thread of hope behind her eyes before she slipped inside her flat, leaving Danny on the sidewalk outside with his thoughts.

[Vernon Dubek]

August 3rd, 1977

An hour later, the couple would find themselves standing in the arrivals gate, awaiting Vernon’s father. Melody could feel the tension emanating off her lanky boyfriend. She reached over and took his hand, peering up into his eyes, a reassuring smile doing its level best to calm his nerves.

Even Melody’s captivating smile wasn’t enough to set him at ease, but he still appreciated the effort.

“Oh! I forgot!” Vernon exclaimed, “If he asks, you don’t smoke. He hates smokers.”

“So, I’m a non-smoker? Got it.” Melody nodded.

Vernon tensed visibly as the man of the hour approached.

He didn’t look how Melody imagined at all. Vernon had inherited his height and build, but the resemblance ended there. What little remained of Richard’s white hair was cropped close, making him look as bristly as his personality. Deep lines set into his perpetually grave face, a scowl tugging at his mouth. Melody had never encountered someone so immediately unwelcoming.

Vernon forced a smile. “Dad. Wonderful to see you. How was your flight?”

“Long.” Vernon said, not even a hint of affection in his tone. “Tell me you’ve procured acceptable transportation.”

Melody did everything she could to suppress the glare that just begged to burn a hole right through him.

“Oh. Well, erm..” Vernon stammered. “I thought we could use Melody’s car and you could-“

“Who?” Richard stopped in his tracks, an annoyed look directed at his son.

Melody raised her hand casually. “Hey, Mr. Dubek. I’m Melody.”

He didn’t respond directly to her, but the look of disdain on the man’s face said more than words ever could.

“Who is this woman, Vernon?” Richard asked, ice in his tone.

“She’s…well…I...I told you about her. Remember?” Vernon struggled. Whatever hold this man had on his son went deep. He knew just how to make him feel small. Suddenly so much about Vernon made sense.

“No.” Richard said. “No, I do not.”

“I wrote you and mum. Told you about a woman I met? We’re together.” Vernon finally managed.

Richard’s cold, dark eyes flicked between the two of them. The mere idea that his son would attach himself to such a person turned his stomach and filled him with disappointment. His jaw clenched tightly.

“Take me to the office.” Richard growled brushing right past them both. It was all he could manage without causing a scene.

Melody watched him walk off with narrowed eyes. “Lovely man.”

“Yes.” Vernon said. “A ray of sunshine. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t. Don’t apologize for him.” She assured him, taking his face in her hands. “It’s just two days and he’ll be out of our hair.”

Melody’s 1975 Delta 88 had seen better days. The paint was flaking in one corner and there was a dent or two in her yellow fenders. Rust had begun to form on the rims and small crack marred the left hand corner of the windshield. Simply put, it was a far cry from the Rolls Royce that usually carted Richard around and the old man did nothing to hide it.

From his attitude, one would think Richard was being forced to sit in wet trash, despite Melody keeping the interior clean as possible. Vernon could practically feel the disdain radiating from his father’s very being. It felt like the anger was wrapped around his soul like a tentacle, slowly squeezing the life out of him.

“Did you have a nice flight in?” Melody knew she should just enjoy the silence and let him pout, but she just couldn’t help herself.

The look on his face spoke volumes. “Fine.” He practically spat, eyes turning toward his window.

“I’ve never actually been on a plane.” She said, pleasant as can be. “Did they give you a meal?”

“Do you delight in being an insufferable blabbermouth?” He asked angrily. “Or are you incapable of keeping your inane thoughts to yourself?”

“Dad…” Vernon started, before Melody cut him off.

“Incapable? No.” She said as matter of fact as possible. “I do enjoy a lively conversation, though. How about you, Dick? Can I call you Dick?”

Despite his rising nerves, Vernon had to actively suppress his smirk. However, Richard was much less amused.

“I don’t suppose you’ve the capacity for conversation intelligent enough to keep my interests.” He spat back.

“No?” She asked in a jovial tone, turning into the office parking lot. “Is it the accent? The accent usually gives away my lack of fancy book-learnin’.”

“You’ve a bloody cheek.” Richard narrowed his eyes to slits, the car coming to a stop. “Do you know what you are, my dear? You’re filth. Low-born, uncultured, and uneducated common filth. Your parents were likely no better. Trash comes from trash. That my boy continues to degrade himself with your shabby company is confounding to me. You believe yourself in a position to mock me, child. But you, and all those like you are beneath me. And when Vernon has finished you, and I assure you, he will…you will return to whatever gutter he dragged you out of.”

Richard stepped out of the vehicle, leaving Vernon mortified. He climbed out in pursuit of his father.

“Dad!” Vernon cried.

Richard spun on his heel and marched right up to him. “You will end this. I have been patient with you, but my patience is at an end. You will cut that… thing loose and you will take your future seriously from now on. Is that understood?”

Richard clearly meant it as a rhetorical question as he turned and started away.

“No.”

Vernon’s voice was quiet, but confident. The simple word stopped the older man in his tracks.

“What did you say to me?” Richard asked, a dangerous edge to his voice.

“I said no.” Vernon responded, defiance in his voice. “I have spent my entire life seeking your approval. I gave up the things and people who brought me joy because, for some foolish reason, I wanted you to be proud of me. And it’s taken me until this very moment to realize…I don’t care.”

Melody beamed up at her boyfriend, her eyes full of pride in him.

“Vernon.” Richard said very precisely, acid in his tone. “Are you willing to lose everything…your job, your family, your future…over some girl?”

“He’s got all the family he needs right here.” Melody said, stepping up beside him, taking his hand in hers.

“If you do this, there will be no coming back. You will be disowned, just like your queer brother.” Richard said, his jaw clenched tight.

Melody at his side, Vernon felt every ounce of nervousness melt away for the first time in his life. He felt powerful, safe. He had his first true moment of self respect.

“Dad. I’m losing nothing. I have my future right here.” He held up their hands. “You, though? You lose your son. Your heir. I’m going to marry this woman someday. And you lose the opportunity to get to know your daughter in law. And that…that’s a bloody tragedy.”

Richard’s face had turned red with rage. “Go to your office. Pack your things. You are going back home until I decide what to do with you.”

The elder Dubek’s voice shook with anger, but Vernon simply shook his head. “No, dad. I won’t. I am home.”

Vernon and Melody turned and started back towards the car, leaving his father fuming behind them.

“Vernon!” Richard called out. “This is your last chance, boy!”

Melody’s smile was infectious, spreading to Vernon’s face as well.

“Don’t you come crawling back to your mother and me, do you hear? You are out! Out!”

Vernon and Melody slipped into her car, watching in the rearview as Richard finally stormed off. When he finally entered the building, she grabbed Vernon and kissed him hard.

The pair clung to each other, laughter leaving them both. “Well,” Vernon said. “We’re well and truly fucked.”

Melody chuckled, not quite used to hearing him swear. “We’ll manage.”

“I suppose we will.” He nodded.

“Vern?” She asked.

“Yes?”

“Did you mean what you said?”

“Every word.”

“Even the stuff about marrying me?”

Vernon froze up, his nerves coming back just a bit. But he pushed past it and whispered back. “Yes.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Vernon wasn’t certain he’d understood her correctly. “Are…are you…”

“Yep.”

“But, I have no job, very little saved up…I have nothing to offer-“

“I don’t care. I want you. I don’t know how we’ll deal with everything else, but I know that I don’t want to waste another moment not being your wife. So…let’s do this.” Excitement crept into her voice.

Vernon’s heart pounded beneath his chest, the butterflies filling his stomach. “Will…will you m-“

“Yes!” Melody threw her arms around him, their lips crashing together. Vernon had never known happiness like he had in that moment. He would mourn the loss of a relationship with his parents later, but he had gained so much more. He had Melody. And there was nothing else in the world that mattered.

[Dah]

Two days passed, mostly without incident. Danny was intent on making the best out of the situation. Long walks, cozy dinners, dusty old bookstores and pubs were a staple of their evenings. The journalist could almost forget about the dramatic encounter with his father on their first night. Almost. Alexia, as usual, was his rock. The one person who could get him through anything and make him smile again. The way she hung on his every word and patiently listened to him prattle on about his adolescence in London reminded him just how lucky he was to have her. He only wished he had something more exciting to show her. He knew full well, of course, that she was likely genuinely happy to explore, not only a city with such history, but one that was such a part of HIS life. Still, Danny was a people-pleaser and that nagging voice in the back of his head was hard to ignore.

Danny walked up to the window, looking out over the city. They had no plans tonight. Part of him felt he should be preparing for his interview tomorrow, but the rational part of him realized there was simply nothing he could do TO prepare. He just wanted it over and done with. He wore a waistcoat over a loose-fitting, white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled and a pair of tailored trousers, his hands stuffed into the pockets.

Alexia stood on the opposite side of the room, brushing out the last of the tangles in her long, damp, dark brown hair. She watched him the entire time, a pensive look on her delicate features. After setting the brush down, she quietly stepped up behind him and slipped thin arms around his torso. Her warm cheek pressed gently against his back as she murmured up to him.

"T-Talk to me, my love." Her feather soft voice muffled slightly.

The moment she made contact with him, that warm smile slowly worked its way onto his dimpled features. He leaned back into her just slightly, his torso rising and falling at an even pace with every breath. His hands found hers, resting atop them and giving a small squeeze.

"It's just odd. Being back. It feels sort of...familiar but also not? If that makes sense?" He said, glancing back with his peripheral vision. "So much is exactly how I remember it, but a lot of it is just sort of alien to me now. I dunno. Maybe this is what they mean when they say you can never go home again."

Although he couldn't see it, her eyes widened at the very thought. With a small but sharp breath taken through her nostrils, she quickly dismissed her train of thought and pushed her way under and through the space between his left arm and his body. Once she was snuggled into his side, she peered up at him with those intense dark brown eyes.

"E-Everything changes when you gain a n-new perspective. Y-You still manage to make it sound w-wonderful." She smiled coyly at him, almost flirtatiously.

He had to admit, he loved it when she bullied her way under his arm to snuggle him sidelong. The woman was always good for a nice cuddle. Danny planted a small kiss upon the top of her head, his arm holding her tight and close to him. Those green eyes swept over the cityscape below. The sun would be descending soon and light would fill every window for kilometers. That was when he saw it. Off in the distance. It was called The Millennium Wheel or The London Eye. At one point, it was the world's largest ferris wheel. The views from its apex were breathtaking...but more than that, it was the last place Danny and his mother had been together on the night she died.

Something deep inside ached just seeing it, but another, more insistent urge wanted to go back one last time. "Hey, love?"

Alexia had long since followed his gaze and when he saw it, she saw it, too. Her intense brown eyes reflected the city lights and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes?" She said, barely above a whisper.

"How do you feel about cotton candy?"

A warm, brilliant smile easily spread as she looked up at him, crinkling the corners of her eyes.

"I would l-love some cotton candy." She said with a gentle but firm squeeze around his waist.

The lights and happy sounds of Jubilee Gardens filled the night air. Vendors, games and rides lined the winding paths, the smells of food mingling over the crowd. Danny ambled along with the little fae on his arm and a big, stuffed dragon he'd won her at one of the booths. So many memories came flooding back, a bittersweet rush of experiences that he usually kept far at the back of his mind. There was no stopping them now.

Although she was having an amazing time, that didn't stop her from picking up on the strong feelings building and growing in the man beside her. As much as she could, Alexia gently pulled and guided them away from the thicker parts of the crowd. She waited until an excited mother/daughter duo walked past them before she sought out his gaze.

"How are you h-holding up, mo chroí?" She asked tenderly, adjusting her grip on the novelty sized cotton candy that nearly covered half her petite frame.

It wasn't...unpleasant being back there. It was just a lot of conflicting emotions at once. Danny turned his gaze down to her and nodded slowly. "I'm okay. It's just a lot of memories at once. Kind of a lot to process."

The vibe was certainly different from that night, at least. There was a hint of desperation back then. Almost like he knew what was coming and he just needed to make the moment perfect. If he'd only known that, to his mother, every moment she got to spend with her child was perfection. If he had known, he might have taken more time to appreciate the evening. There was also the annoyance at his father, who spent the majority of that night on his phone, talking about god knew what with a client. Tonight, though, he was with the woman he loved and the spectre of death was no longer looming overhead.

"She looked forward to this so much." He reminisced. "There was so much publicity about the wheel and she so desperately wanted to go. It opened just a bit before...well...before."

She nodded as he spoke, her doe eyes never leaving his. She could feel the ache just behind his words but didn't dare interrupt. It was only after the subtle but unmistakable pause that she spoke.

"I'm sure she t-treasured every moment with you." She smiled wistfully up at him.

He looked up at the tall wheel. At night, its construction almost didn't seem to make sense. It looked like it was suspended by nothing. It really was an impressive piece of architecture. Danny's smile held a twinge of sadness as he watched it rotate slowly, remembering everything about that night. Melody hardly looked like herself by that point. Most of her dirty blonde hair had fallen out after several rounds of chemo and a blue bandana that she used to wear around the house, now covered her mostly bald head. Her eyes were dark and cheeks sunken in, making her appear gaunt and almost skeletal. He remembered her thin arms wrapped around his, holding herself up with his help. Her hands trembled every now and again, her head resting upon his shoulder. Her body had diminished, but even then, her hum was still the most pleasant sound to him.

"I hope she did." He said. "Because I treasured every second with her. I was lucky to have her. I just wish you'd gotten to meet her. She would have loved you."

"I'm sure I w-would have, too. She sounds like an a-m-mazing person." She gazed up at the impressive structure as well, allowing herself to wonder, just a little bit, how different things would be if she had gotten to know his parents. Or her own.

"It's b-beautiful." She murmured, half lost in thought as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

Danny led her through the crowd, stepping into the large, enclosed car of the wheel. They'd lucked out and there weren't any others on-board. Windows offered a 360 degree view of the entire city at the top. Danny was largely quiet as they started to slowly raise, his mind still racing. Finally, he looked down at her. "I ran into Jo. The morning after we got here." He said. "She thinks I should talk to my dad."

Alexia had been looking out, drinking in all she could see and committing it to memory, when his words made her whip around. Her eyes wide with surprise, dark pretty brows raised high, she was a bit surprised.

"You did? I... d-didn't know that." Her eyebrows knit as she spoke. She quickly shook her head free of the next thought.

"Wh-What do you think?" She pressed gently.

Danny took in a sharp breath before letting it out in a sigh. "I don't know, to be honest. Part of me has absolutely no interest in what he'll have to say. Like I'd be wasting my time even entertaining the notion of speaking with him." His expression softened though. "But...I think about mum...and what she would want if she were here. Maybe...maybe I owe it to her to hear him out." Danny's head hung low. "I don't know...what do you think I should do?"

She wasted no time slipping her arm behind his back and pulling him into a warm side embrace. Her free hand rested lightly on his chest.

"I th-think... if you do agree to s-speak to him, you can't do it for a-anyone else. Not for me, c-certainly not for your father or b-brother and... n-not even for your mother. I d-don't think she would want you to f-f-force yourself to do anything for her sake." She knew it would be difficult for him to hear. She knew because it was difficult to say. But it was the truth and she owed him nothing less.

Danny wished everything could be simpler. That he could just instinctively know the right answer when it came to his father. But life wasn't so neat and tidy. There would be no easy answers for him. All of those thoughts were wiped away, though, the second they began nearing the top of the wheel. For everything that had changed since that day 21 years ago, the view remained largely the same. In an instant, he was there again, listening to his mother hum the tune of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." He swallowed hard as his eyes began to water.

Danny held her a little tighter then, as if he needed her to ground him to that spot.

"It's beautiful." She'd said, her voice weak. "All so beautiful..."

Danny blinked himself back to reality and looked down at the brunette beauty at his side. He was so grateful to have her at his side. Not just now, but for the duration of their relationship. "It's unbelievable." He said softly. "You've come so far from that nervous girl I met in the Dragon."

A small voiceless chuckle brought a tiny smile to her lips. Her tiny frame radiated calm and comfort as the scent of lavender and chamomile began to fill the air.

"Y-You've changed too, my love. Don't think it's gone un-n-noticed." She looked up at him with sincere affection and adoration.

"You've matured. In s-subtle ways, really. You s-seek out peace when you can. Which is p-probably why it's been a d-difficult choice to make."

Danny smiled warmly, his right arm joining his left to hold her close. He rested his cheek against the top of her head, looking out at the lights and buildings spreading out into the distance. With a soft sigh, he whispered. "It's beautiful. Isn't it?"

"It r-really is." She sighed her words. "Made th-that much better seeing it with someone you l-love." She snuggled into every nook and cranny at his side, fitting perfectly in every space.

[Vernon Dubek]

September, 1983

Eleven years had passed and brought new joy into the lives of Vernon and Melody. The year following their wedding, their first son, Wallace was born. Melody had stepped away from her education when she learned the good news, deciding to focus her energies on being a doting mother. Though newborn Wally had his mother’s strong head, she’d poured every ounce of herself into him.

But, as happy as she was with Wallace, she had her heart set on giving him a brother or a sister. It took a year of trying, but Melody soon found herself pregnant once again. She was utterly ecstatic, making plans for the new addition to their small family. But fate had other, less joyous plans.

Two months into her pregnancy, she received the devastating news that she had miscarried. Both parents were completely devastated. While Vernon buried himself in his work, Melody was forced to soldier on, consumed in grief at the loss of a life that would never be. Try as he might, Vernon could do little to alleviate her pain.

The house that had once been so alive with music and life was now silent and dreary. Melody tried to pour her feelings into songs, but words eluded her. In their place, there were only tears. The grieving mother did her best to hide it from Wallace, but it was impossible to miss the change in his mom. Melody’s world had changed and where there had once been so much potential and heart, there was only loss.

Years passed. Wallace was growing up strong and loved, but Melody was never the same. It was Vernon who finally made the suggestion that they try again. Melody wasn’t entirely certain at first, but with his support, they began working towards a second child. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done. Months of trying had yielded no results as of yet. It was time to seek help.

Melody’s knee bounced nervously as she and Vernon sat in the doctor’s office, waiting for news. She’d tried her best to remain hopeful that it was positive, but the odds thus far were not in their favor.

Vernon placed a comforting hand on her knee, trying his best to soothe those nerves. He could see the fear in her eyes and it broke his heart.

“It’s going to be alright.” He assured her softly.

Melody tried to put on a brave face, forcing a smile for him. The facade dropped the second the doctor stepped through the door. He was a thin, middle-aged man with salt and pepper colored hair, his well groomed appearance giving him an approachable yet professional air.

“Mister and Mrs. Dubek?” He said, setting a folder upon his desk.

“Doctor.” Melody responded, the nervousness in her voice immediately apparent.

“How are we doing today?” The doctor asked, slipping into his seat.

“I suppose we’re about to find that out.” She said, looking at the file expectantly.

The doctor saw no point in drawing things out further. The woman was already on a knife’s edge.

“Right. Well, let’s get to the nitty gritty, then.” He opened the file, slipping on a pair of reading glasses. “Let’s see. We got the tests back from the lab…and I’m afraid the results are less than ideal.”

“Oh, god…”. Melody’s heart sank. Vernon took her hand, clasping tightly.

“Mr. Dubek, what we’re dealing with, on your part, is an issue with low motility.” The doctor explained. “Basically, your swimmers aren’t swimming.”

A wave of guilt washed over him, but the doctor must have seen it. “The important thing to know is that it’s no one’s fault. This is a relatively common occurrence, even in someone your age.”

“I don’t understand.” Vernon said, confused. “We have a son and we had no issues conceiving with him.”

“Well, there are many possible factors that can contribute to this. It’s not always something a person is born with. Infections, hormonal imbalances, diet and physical fitness…hell, even stress can contribute to it. Now, we can do further tests to deduce what’s causing this, but…”

What sliver of hope was given to Melody was wiped away by that one word.

“But what?” Her voice trembled.

The doctor knew the weight of what he was about to tell her. He wanted to be as delicate, but blunt as he could.

“Do you know the term PCOS?” He asked. Off her blank stare, he continued. “It stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. Basically, your ovaries have several of these small cysts, affecting your ovulation cycle. You might have noticed irregularities or unpredictability in your periods lately. This is why.”

He could see in her eyes that she was barely keeping it together and words weren’t coming. Vernon was the next to speak. “How did this happen?”

“That’s the thing,” the doctor said, “We don’t really understand why it happens. Hormone imbalances present and it’s just sort of there. One of those lingering mysteries of the human body.”

When Melody’s voice broke through, but it was weak. “What can we do?”

The doctor sighed. “Well…I’d suggest you kick that smoking habit, no matter what. It might help. There are treatments we could look into, but…I need to be honest, Mrs. Dubek, it doesn’t look good.”

She was on the verge of breaking, her entire body trembling. “How bad?”

“It’s difficult to say until we’ve had a chance to check the severity of your case. At present, given your age, Mr. Dubek’s motility issues and lifestyle factors…I’d say maybe a twenty percent chance.” Even that seemed doubtful in the man’s tone.

Melody looked as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her, the tears now falling as she covered her face.

“It’s important to remember that with treatment and proper care, we may be able to raise that number. It’s not definite, but it’s possible.” He said as gently as he could. “I’m sorry, I wish I had better news.”

Vernon rubbed Melody’s back gently. “But it’s not impossible.”

The doctor didn’t want to give them any false hope. They needed to understand the situation in front of them.

“Not…impossible, no.” He said. “Unlikely, though…”

“But not impossible.” Vernon said firmly.

The doctor had to admire his tenacity. He wasn’t willing to give up on this.

“No.” He said, the hint of a smile appearing. “Let’s run some tests and we’ll see where we’re at. Sound good?”

Melody looked up at Vernon, almost as if she were pleading. He simply smiled. Finally, Melody’s smile broke through. She turned to the doctor and nodded. A long, difficult road lay ahead, and the only certainty was that they had no idea what might come.

Months of testing and effort lead to no results, but neither of them would give up, no matter the cost. Things seemed bleak, after such a long time, but then one day it happened.

Melody was pregnant.