"Bye, mom," Andrew said as he slammed the door of the blue Saturn. He walked onto the school campus, instantly greeted by several of his best friends. His mother stayed long enough to hear them call Andrew, but she watched him worriedly even as she drove away.

Tomorrow was his sixteenth birthday, and the thought scared her. No, it wasn't because he would want to get his driver's license. It was because he would find out who he really was. Who his biological parents were.

She brushed her blue hair away from her face. She sighed, remembering, but not quite believing her adventure into the past about sixteen years ago. The reality was reinforced every year when Sasaki, or Kheris as Takmet was fond of calling her now, visited her and her husband Vince.

Ami, now about twenty-nine and in the intelligence business also came to their get-togethers when she wasn't working. The power she developed sixteen years ago in Egypt quickly made her the star of her first company, and soon to a top position in a very professional intelligence group. She rarely had time to spend with her friends, but when she did have free time she would rather be nowhere else. She also kept tabs on Mandi, who no longer remembered what happened those years ago.

It was a Thursday in April, sunny and still cool. No one would even dare think the world was in danger. Sasaki was due to come back today, along with her two eldest children, twins. She and Takmet had six children, the youngest being four. Chloe, who had just dropped off her only son, wouldn't be surprised if they were expecting another.

She made her way to Washington Park, the designated meeting and pick-up place, as it had been for years. Chloe wound her way through the twisted roads and parked near a gigantic oak tree. Pocketing her keys and pulling her sweatshirt off, she walked to the eastern side of the tree where there was a bench facing the water. The sun was rising beautifully, but the red and orange reflecting off the lake was ominous. Chloe stood next to the bench where a familiar couple sat, watching the sunrise.

The blue-haired mother spoke after some moments of silence. "Thank you for coming," she said, diligently watching the red seep out of the sky.

"Our pleasure," Sasaki replied.

Chloe glanced around her. "Where are Nezra and Sorus?"

"A little further down, feeding the ducks," Takmet replied.

Silence again. Chloe was pulled into the memory of calling Sasaki to her, merely a couple of months after she and Ami had left the past. Her panic had been unbearable.

Chloe was pregnant then, but even for all her flirting she had still been a virgin. Her parents were furious, blaming Vince, whom they had only just met, for her situation. They shut her out, not being able to believe the truth. Her brother had been the first to defend Vince even though he had been infuriated at this happening to his sister so young. He believed his sister later, even when their parents didn't. Chloe was immediately taken in and comforted by Vince in his apartment, yet still she fell into a deep depression. Her brother tried to help, but to no avail, and left her in Vince's hands, checking up on her once in a while.

Chloe had dreamed of Sasaki, wishing for her support. The next week Sasaki and Takmet showed up at Vince's front door. It was early and Vince answered the door in his boxers and T-shirt.

"Holy Mother of God," Vince exclaimed as Sasaki pushed her way past him and to where Chloe was sleeping. Sasaki had woken her up and hugged away all her tears...

Chloe snapped out of her flashback.

"How are you other children?" Chloe asked.

"Growing too fast for my liking," Sasaki replied, smiling. "The youngest is quite the little magic-worker."

"Tanis?" Chloe asked.

"Yes. A handsome little boy he is, too."

"I'll bet," Chloe smiled. "He's going to look like his father no doubt."

Takmet smiled and stood up, plaid button-down shirt flapping in the wind. He held Sasaki's hand as she stood.

"Shall we go then?" Chloe asked.

"Nezra! Sorus! Time to go," Sasaki called.

The twins turned around and smiled. Identical twins. The spitting image of each other. Nezra looked much like Sasaki's mother, who had passed away not long after her fourth child. The twins were inseparable even at their age. They had turned sixteen a couple of weeks earlier.

"Hi, Aunt Chloe," Nezra smiled.

"Hi, Chloe," Sorus greeted her. Sorus had never addressed Chloe as "aunt" even though his sister constantly did so, as a term of endearment.

Chloe walked to her car and opened the door for them, smiling. "Nice to see you again."

"What happened to the convertible?" Sorus asked.

Chloe smiled. "Vince has it today."

"Oh," Sorus replied, a bit downtrodden. They only had gotten to ride in cars once every year since they were ten. Only then had they been allowed to make the visits with their parents to the future.

The drive to Chloe's was uneventful. The windows were left open for the Egyptians' enjoyment and Takmet especially appreciated the cool wind as they cruised at 50 mph.

They arrived at her spacious, three-room house, being careful to wipe their feet at the entrance. It was a very nice house for the small family. A fully loaded kitchen with an island, a beautifully tiled dining room, and high ceilings graced the home, much of it the result of Vince's handyman syndrome. Though neither or them made much money, Ami was known to give large sums of it as holiday gifts, to which she would hear no refusal. It was these gifts that usually funded Vince's projects. After getting her visitors something to eat out of the rather large refrigerator, she sat down with Sasaki at the table in the dining room adjacent to the kitchen.

"It's Andrew," Chloe said. "I'm worried."

Sorus and Nezra overheard. "What's wrong with Andrew?" Sorus asked.

Sasaki glanced at Takmet. He took her cue without skipping a beat. "Come on. Let's go see what new games Andrew has acquired so you can beat me silly."

Nezra looked back, a little worried, but followed her father down the short hall.

"They don't know?" Chloe asked Sasaki once she heard the music from Final Fantasy XXI in the background.

Sasaki shook her head.

Chloe paused. "I'm scared, Sasaki. Will it really happen?"

"I don't know. That's what we're here for," Sasaki replied.

"How can I love him so much when he's not mine?" Chloe asked, rubbing her temples. "Yakumi's blood flows in him but I love him so much."

"As far as he knows, he IS your son. We have to hope he believes in that more than his mixed origins."

"But he'll know the truth before long..."

Another memory flashed. Sasaki had comforted Chloe, told her that everything was fine. She discovered Chloe's child was a product of Yakumi's conquest of Takmet's reincarnated self. A merging of past and present. She knew it would be a boy, and Sasaki sensed that the latent power Yakumi contributed to Andrew's make up would emerge around his 16th birthday. The wisps of blonde-white hair in his forelocks were the only hopeful sign that such power would possibly never be awakened.

Chloe closed her eyes.

"I know, Chloe. He may be a threat to my time as well, you know that."

"Yeah, I do," Chloe whispered. She smiled. "Thanks again. Why don't you see what your kids are up to?"

"All right," Sasaki said. "I miss Playstation sometimes, too, you know. But there have been... other things to pass the time in Egypt." She smiled foxily. "I hope you have been so lucky."

"I have indeed," Chloe smiled. "Expecting another are you?"

"Yes, actually. A girl." "Wonderful," Chloe said, broad smile creeping over her face. "Go tend to your kids, and your husband." Chloe winked. "You can have the guest room as usual. The kids can share Andrew's or sleep on the couch."

Sasaki got up. "Thanks. See you for lunch then. Fast food? Italian?" "Nothing but the best for you," Chloe laughed.

Sasaki left the table to crash the father-child bonding.

Chloe sighed. She was glad she had her friends to help her with what would come. She couldn't do it alone.

1:50 rolled around that Thursday in April and the blue Saturn pulled up to the school to pick up Andrew.

He was already waiting for his mother. When he got in the car Chloe smiled.

"Have a good day?"

"As good as it can get for a school day," he replied. He paused as they exited the campus. "Hey, Mom. Can I maybe go with my friends to go laser tagging or something tomorrow, since it's my birthday."

"Why don't you just have a party at home like you've been doing?" Chloe hoped her son would take her suggestion. It would be much more helpful if she could watch him as much as possible during the next day.

"Aww, Mom. I don't want to have one at home. I'm turning sixteen. I want to go somewhere different for once."

Chloe thought a moment. "I guess it would be alright. But only if I can come with you."

Andrew stared at her. "You? Laser tagging?" He raised one eyebrow, looking doubtful. "Mom--"

"Nezra and Sorus are here," Chloe interrupted him.

"Sh-- I mean, they are?" Andrew blinked.

"I went to pick them up after I dropped you off at school this morning."

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to get them today?" he asked, looking down at his clothes, thinking he would have worn something better if he had known.

"So I'm going with you, right? Tell your friends it's my treat."

Andrew thought about that a moment. "Only if Nezra and Sorus can come, too. Takmet and Sasaki are here, right? Them, too. Wouldn't want you to be the only "old" person there." He grinned.

"Hey!" Chloe smiled, looking over at her son. The only son she would ever have. "Deal."

They got home at two o'clock.

"Hey, guys," Andrew waved to Sasaki and Takmet as he made his way to his room.

They hadn't changed at all since he had seen them last year. Ever since he could remember Sasaki and Takmet had come every year on his mother's birthday, once in a while for his. He wondered why his mother hadn't told him they were coming. Sorus and Nezra were sitting on his floor, playing Final Fantasy. "Hey, Sorus. Nezra," Andrew said as he threw his backpack on his bed.

"Hello, Andrew," Nezra greeted him, pausing the game as she got up and gave him a quick hug.

Andrew blushed. "Haven't I told you enough times to call me Andy?" he asked, still red-faced. He noticed that Nezra had changed little, but oh so much for the better. She had an amazing figure.

"I much prefer Andrew," she replied, smiling, catching the implication his gaze seldom gave away. She smiled inwardly, a little bit of warmth surfacing gently.

Andrew sighed. Always so proper, he thought. Out loud he said, "Don't let me stop you guys from playing," Andrew said, leaving the room.

"It would be rude to ignore our host," Sorus smiled.

Andrew returned the smile. Such manners, even at this age. "Well, I'm sure Mom and your parents are planning something for a late lunch. Come on."

It turned out that they had planned to go out for Italian, since Sasaki and Takmet rarely were able to eat food not native to Egypt. Vince even took a long lunch hour and met them at the restaurant. They didn't know if the rest of their visit would stay as carefree as this first day.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed lunch and they talked to Andrew about his birthday the next day. For some reason Andrew thought he sensed a forced gaiety from both his parents and from Sasaki and Takmet. However, it was soon forgotten as lunch continued and they relaxed more easily with full stomachs.

They went back to Chloe's house, Vince returning to work. They played some more video games, watched a movie or two and then Chloe cooked them a good dinner. Takmet loved Rice-a-Roni.

They all went to bed content. The day had been blissfully uneventful in comparison to what would happen tomorrow. The day that would decide if Andrew would threaten their world, or simply stay a normal child.