The Universe's Mixer

His little girl was growing up so quickly. So very quickly. And while she needed the age and experience, Edward couldnt help but feel ancient. Effie had been born on April 1st. April Fool's Day. The ultimate jest but also the best gift Eddie had ever received. And though Effie would never truly know who her mother was, the girl had grown into a spitting image of her. Eddie could see that image blossom more and more with each passing year. He hoped she lived a full life, one better than he had lived. She was worth it.

Eddie snuck into the Warehouse to leave a few things for his daughter while she was out. He wanted the gifts to be a surprise, something she would discover when she came back from...well, wherever it was that she went. Being her father, he knew her quite well and he had not ignored her wants when she expressed them to him. He hoped she liked everything he had chosen for her. Including the smallest of the gifts, though this request was a strange one. He had gotten it for her anyway at her request.

The first package was long and flat, tucked into a green box with a bow to match.

Atop that one, sat another smaller, flat box. It, too, was wrapped to match the other.

Edward hadn't bothered to wrap the next one, leaving it only with a large green bow tied around it.

The last gift was the smallest, and it sat on its own next to the pile. The box it was in was green velvet and was wrapped in a bow to match the rest.

When Eddie was done, he left with a giggle and hoped Effie was happy with her birthday surprises. She had earned all of them.

The castle was somehow peaceful despite the fact that there were so many people living in it, and Eric did not for once believe that it was due to the structure being so big, or that they all liked one another. Vampire nests were notoriously hostile at the start as creatures vied for their positions in the hierarchy.

Not even he and the other Eric had butted heads on anything.

Of course, they were sleeping together regularly, so that likely helped.

He knew that his pseudo twin had not touched Baba Yaga, despite there having been contact in the past. And he knew that it had been done out of respect. But they'd had a conversation and it had been mildly disturbing. Not because of the content, it was fully something he expected her to do, but because he hadn't before considered that he might not be the one left behind once everything was righted. He knew as well as the other that this arrangement was temporary, but he'd assumed as his other had done that everything would be returned to how it should be.

Eric, though, knew once it was said aloud and her emotions reached through the bond to him, that there were more possibilities. He knew the City too well to expect it to be clean in any way. As Baba was aware, and had said, it might not be him left behind, which was something of a problem.

He wished to continue the talk his wife had begun with the other.

The fire in the sitting room off of their bedroom was lit for no particular reason, and Eric was stretched out on the couch.

My wife. he called to her through their link, through their feelings. There was no true telepathy there, but she would sense that she was wanted.

Lost S.O.s Support Group

The warrior woman stood before the sign, looking very confused. Confused and a little resigned.

----

"Madam."

"Alfred," Zoe's voice held a warning tone. She would break him of calling her that one day. Or perhaps never. She believed that the butler still called Bruce 'Master Bruce.' Master was a name for a young one, not for a grown man, and Bruce was certainly a grown man.

"Ms. Zoe."

"Better."

"You are troubled; you don't seem to be your normally aggressive and warrior like self."

"Alfred, you are dangerously close to things you do not know."

"Ms. Zoe, I have always been dangerously close to many things, but I will always support the one who wears the Bat mantle."

"Fine." She turned to look at the butler who had been assisting her in a new fitting. She had found that there were a few pieces that needed replacement or retooling. "What way are you thinking of supporting me now?"

"It is not I who will support you, miss. There is a group who may understand what you have experienced in your years here; perhaps it is time you receive their support and they yours. We have newcomers who may benefit from your understanding of the loss and this place." Alfred began helping her out of the suit.

"This shouldn't be a two person getup. Think we can work in some of tech we had before? Just..different?" She didn't answer or address the issue Alfred had put to her. The suit was more important, not that she felt like saving the City as much as she used to. Her purpose was muddled and mury somehow.

"Miss--"

"I don't wanna go share my feelings with some strangers. I got you and Jesse and..."

"Yes, and?"

"I don't need anyone else, Alfred. I'm just fine."

"As you say, Ms. Zoe." Alfred continued to assist her out of the suit, before leaving her to look after those within the Manor. He took a moment to leave the address where the group met.

---

"Gorram meddler. Can't even tell what kind of support group to send me to. How the hell does anyone lose an s.o.s.? Shoddy work, and not much use if you ask me." While she might not like being one of those sharing types, giving her emotions free rein for any and all present, she did feel like she wasn't herself lately. She didn't think this group would help, yet Alfred had been there during many a troubled time since she'd started wearing the cowl. The least she could do was give this thing a try.

She walked into the room to be confronted by a few women and men who all looked as if they were ready for a good weep fest. There was the smell of burnt coffee and stale sweets. She sent a blessing and a curse to haunt the butler for even thinking something like this would benefit her, and seeing as she'd been spotted, even she knew she couldn't simply leave. Instead, she walked to one of the chairs, sat down, and started counting minutes until she would be free.