"... no" he replied quietly, "I can't. ... I can't protect you anymore. Anyone." There was fear in his eyes and his voice trembled slightly, "I can't..."

Victoria looked around to make sure no one was around before cupping his face, "Listen to me. If the person who appeared before you and took Celeste is who I think it is than you have nothing to fear. He would never dream of causing harm to her... Why he took her I can't say right now but if you hadn't guided us, we would surely be in a great deal more trouble or possibly dead. I know you're scared but we've always come out on top before and we will continue to do so... You just have to be brave, can you do that for me?" She asked, putting her head against his.

Horatio's stomach was in knots but he nodded slowly. "Still... I can't risk trying to change anything right now. I can't do anything with someone else altering the time lines. "

"Welcome to the real world." She said sighing. "I'll speak with Celeste... Try and figure out what he was trying to change by taking her. We'll get through this." She said taking his hand and pulling him out of his seat. "Come on, let's go see our little sister. She may not remember yet but I can tell she enjoys having you around." She smiled.

He pulled his hands away, "real world? I am the only one who has lived in the real world. ALL of it. Do you have any idea the kinds of things I'm responsible for in your world? Things that you take for granted day to day. Humans being the top of the food chain. The fact you can still get organic food and clean water still exists on earth. Do you know how many alternate time lines are desolate waste lands?"

Horatio had struck a nerve, "That is not what I meant and yes... Yes I do know because I've had to live in EVERY SINGLE ONE. Every time you visited a world, you may have only stayed for a min perhaps two and then moved on but we end up having entire LIVES. We have been raped, murdered, stabbed, shot, tortured, gutted, burnt to the stake, buried alive, decapitated all in hopes that one day we finally get to be reunited with you, our brother. The man, we sacrificed everything to save.

And Yes, I do remember... ALL of them. And I am greatful you've altered the timelines as you have. But don't you dare come in here and try to guilt train me on how awful the world is because WE don't have a choice on what timeline we live in. Our Soul gems are linked to you. We don't have the option of jumping to a better timeline or altering it. We're stuck!

So when you decide to get drunk and head off to an Apocalypse like time where you end up getting captured and experimented on, WE have to live in that hell hole! And you're welcome by the way!" She was so angry, heat was coming off of her body and a few tears down her cheeks, she started to turn to leave.

Horatio reached out for her but she had already moved, "Vesta..." he called in a strained voice then paused. His stomach was churning in knots, "I'm sorry... I'm just... I'm afraid" he swallowed anxiously, "so many people are going to die... and I won't know how to stop it"

Arms wrapped around him, a hand behind his head, "I'm scared too." She said softly. "All we can do is try..." She whispered.

Horatio clung to her, burying his face into her shoulder.

"... you guys alright?" Scott asked from the door.

Victoria held him tightly and looked up at Scott. She nodded, putting her hand up to indicate they needed a min. She realized now that perhaps her raised voice had reached outside the ship.

"We'll be out in a min, Scott. Thank you." She looked back at Horatio, "How about we go have some tea and then some rest? We can talk this out later when we've both had some shut eye."

Scott nodded slowly, eyeing the situation a moment longer before leaving them alone. Horatio took a deep breath before nodding in agreement with Victoria, though he still paused, "... she hasn't met me yet" he spoke quietly.

Victoria held him at arm's length and started to fix him up. She brushed off his coat, pushed his hair back, wiped a bit of something off his cheek. "Then we best make a good impression," She smiled warmly, taking his hand.

He still didn't move from his spot, there was just so much fear that grew inside, "... I don't know if I'm ready..."

"I'll be right here." She kissed his forehead, "And if you get overwhelmed we can retreat to my room." She said giving his hand a gently squeeze.

After a moment he nodded and let her lead him out of the jet.

Victoria lead Horatio out to the small gathering, "Where has Ciara gone?"
"Right here." She called, running back, huffing and puffing.

"Ciara, I'd like you to meet Horatio." She smiled warmly.
"It's nice to meet you, Horatio. I'm Ciara McCoy." She shook his hand. " June mentioned you can't see unless you use your powers... I guess it's a bit short for you but here." She guided his hand to a oak cane, a smile on her face.

"Ciara McCoy" Horatio spoke her name softly, before giving a smile. This was usually his favourite part, meeting her for the first time where there is so much potential, so many possibilities. Even with a heavy heart, she could always bring a smile to his lips. "It's very good to meet you." he accepted the cane, running his hands along it before letting the end tap against the ground, "Thank you. This is exactly what I need right now"

Ciara smiled back, "You're welcome, I'm glad I could help."

"Ciara, Horatio and I were going to have some tea before retiring, would you care to join us? I'm sure you'd love to hear stories about all his adventures through time." Victoria invited.

"Ooooooh, like Doctor who?" She said getting excited. "I would love too."
"I wanna hear more stories!" Celeste piped in, having woken up more.
"I'll get the biscuits"
"I'll get the tea."
"TEEEEEEAAAAAAMMMM CC AWAY!" They both said at once running off hand in hand with their hands up like they were flying.

June burst out laughing, "Glad to see nothing has changed here.... I should probably head back over to the brotherhood. I'm sure if the little blue fuzz monster finds out I'm here there will be a brawl for sure." She turned to Scott, "Thank you." She bowed her head, "Logan, mind showing me the way out... I don't quite remember this section."

"It was added after you left." Polly said, giving her sister a hug, "Let's have lunch ok?"

June smiled, "For sure."

Logan nodded and lead June away while Scott went to watch her leave via cameras.

Horatio stood with Victoria, hearing ciara's voice had certainly helped.

"Those two have been close ever since we got here." Victoria explained as they headed out of the hanger, "Feel a little better, Big Brother?"

Horatio sighed, relaxing a little, "yes, I am. Thank you. I apologize for the outburst. It was uncalled for."

Logan escorted June to the edge of the property before stopping and looking at her, "hey... I got a question for ya." He was still trying to work out something for in his head. "Yer sister... celeste. She's older than she seems, aint she?" He searched June's eyes for the answer, "ye all are"

"No, I should have worded that sentence better." She said sighing, "Seems we're both a bit grumpy."
~

June turned, her hands behind her head when he spoke. She shrugged, "It's a bit more complicated than a yes or a no, Logan. You remember something don't you?" She said calmly.

"Yeah. .. but it makes no sense" logan replied, "it must've been hundreds of years ago. But I remember celeste being there... or at least someone who looked like her."

June rubbed her neck, she probably shouldn't say anything. "I'd say talk to Victoria but sometimes she tends to want to keep things hush hush... Walk with me." She said nudging her head toward the sidewalk.

"Although we aren't from the same family, we were once blood siblings from beyond this realm... We had different names but the same faces... We came to this realm as gems, our souls held inside them. We were all raised by one of the four families of magic. Each family's bloodline is tied to a Soul gem and when the time is right, we are reborn into the bloodline." She explained, tapping the spot on her chest.

The person you remember is most likely Ceres- I mean Celeste from long ago. We're born without our memories of our past lives but once we hit a certain point in our growth we can access those memories. It would be best not to try and ask her about it till she remembers, you'll only confuse her."

"Ceres" logan spoke the name, "I might have called her that by accident. " he admitted as he walked with her. "That actually explains alot." He added. "I saw her grow old. I even watched her die more than once." He paused. "I fought for her. As Some kind of soldier"