InsaneJournal

"Carl, what were the odds that this was a setup?" Rosie asked as she leaned back in the chair she'd occupied in Talia's office while they waited. She'd showed up early, mostly out of her own curiosity than any need to actually be punctual.

"Low. Our preliminary background check was fairly normal." Carl offered helpfully.

Popping a skittle into her mouth, Rosie looked over at Talia. "So. There's that at least."

“It’s kind of a weird request but I don’t think the intent was to threaten our bodily health,” Talia replied drily without looking up from the report she was filling out. She held out a hand for a skittle and made a face after the taste registered. “Where’d you get these? They’re sourer than usual.”

Cass took a deep breath. She could do this. She was a superhero. She could control fire. So why was telling two people--people she barely knew--that she was their half-sister so much more...Cass wasn’t sure what the word for the feeling she was. Not exactly, anyway.

Another deep breath, then she knocked on Talia’s office door before opening it just enough to poke her head in.

“Hi!” She smiled nervously as she glanced between the two women she was about to drop a knowledge bomb on. “Sorry if the email came off a bit...weird or cloak-and-dagger. I just really, really needed to see you both in person--and at the same time--for this.”

"I like cloak and dagger. It's exciting." Rosie offered cheerily. The other woman seemed nervous. That was what nerves looked like. Talia met her gaze. So she held out her hand with some candy in her palm. "Want a skittle?"

“All good,” Talia echoed and offered a warm smile as she gestured for Cassandra to join them. “Come in, have a seat.” She pushed her paperwork over to the side so her desk was clear and could give her full attention for the conversation Cassandra had requested.

Cass closed the door behind her and smiled as she took the offered skittle. “Thanks.” She took the offered seat and took the time to start eating the skittle to compose herself. Should probably cut to the point, like ripping off a band aid.

While Cassandra seemed to be composing herself Rosie popped the rest of the Skittles into her mouth. It kept her from talking, letting the other woman get through her thoughts.

“So I wanted to talk to you both because—and this might sound kind of familiar as a beginning—of something I learned recently.” She had the feeling her heart rate was way spiking at the moment, and she felt a little lightheaded. It did, and Talia felt her breath hitch slightly.

“When my mom wanted a child, she wasn’t at a place in life where she wanted a partner, so...she used a donor…” Cass bit her lip and glanced from Talia to Rosie. “And recently I did a DNA test, just out of curiosity, and I found out that I have two half-sisters who are older than me.”

When it did finally come out Rosie's grin curled up in absolute delight. She reached out to Talia's arm, shaking her playfully, whose fell open a little and quickly turned into an incredulous smile. "There are more of us!" Rosie practically squealed then looked back at Cassandra. "Carl was still running background information but this is wonderful!"

There are more of us. Talia had known it was a possibility that they had other siblings, but knowing it was theoretically possible was something entirely different than being confronted with the fact in front of her. “Uh -- welcome to the family, then!” She said with a laugh, deciding to register her shock later and privately.

Cass smiled a little. “I know this must be...a lot. Even though you already found each other. But you’re closer in age and found each other earlier, so that was probably easier than...this.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and sighed.

"Early is a bit of a misnomer, we've only known a couple years." Talia nodded in agreement with this, and snorted lightly.

“And I did not take it well at first, so this is an improvement.” Meeting Rosie had turned her world upside down; it hadn't been a given that they would become anywhere as close as they are now.

Rosie tapped on her chin thoughtfully. A whole lifetime it felt like sometimes, and at others not nearly enough time at all. But she got up, grin still in place. "Are you good with hugs?"

Talia eyed Rosie from her chair, internally debating if she should get up, too. Join in on this what was likely to be a group hug. Debating if she wanted to. They didn't know Cass, yet. She was willing to this time, get to know her sister, but Talia’s first instinct wasn't quite the same joy as Rosie’s. She needed a moment.

She got up from her chair and moved around her desk, perching on the edge in front of where Cass sat. “We’re happy you found us,” Talia told her warmly, extending her hand to her new sister.

Cass grinned at Rosie, then at Talia. She gave Talia’s hand a squeeze as she stood. Facing Rosie again, she said. “I’m good with hugs.”

She could tell that this seemed easier for Rosie than for Talia. Everybody reacted to things differently, she knew (Uncle Ajay had wanted a total “no playing with fire” policy at first; Uncle Lamar saw it as an opportunity to gain a grilling apprentice, so fire outside was okay).

“I’m glad I found you both, too,” Cass said.

"You'll have to tell us all about yourself." Rosie wrapped Cass into a hug and squeezed her. It was different from finding out about Talia. Her and Talia had known each other for years. This was a new person, new information, just so much new to sort in. And it was delightful.

“Definitely,” Talia nodded. “Anyone wanna get lunch and we can talk?”

Cass nodded, grinning. “Lunch would be great,” she said. “And I’ll be happy to talk about, well, anything and everything.”