Lee nodded when Josh said that he’d warn the boys. That was good. At least she couldn’t be blamed for one of them getting hurt now that Josh had heard about both the incident at school and been separately warned.

”There is,” Lee replied, rolling her eyes slightly when she heard Josh chuckling. ”After years of no one being willing to give me a challenge in that gym because I’m a woman, suddenly my sparring is viral video level stuff.”

As Josh went on to talk about what the school hadn’t been doing, Lee nodded as she set her plate down on the table in front of them. ”I wish I could say I’m surprised,” Lee said softly. ”But honestly, the only part of the whole thing that actually surprised me is just how horrible what the kid Kevin punched said was.

“I had already been planning on sending him to the mansion in the fall anyway. But it does seem like we were lucky that his powers didn’t emerge earlier.”

If Lee was rolling her eyes, chances were the video was absolutely worth seeing. If Lee was telling the truth, and she usually was, Kevin would take care of that soon enough. ”I think it’s likely just as much that you’re so darn small.” he commented. ”If I didn’t know better, I’d probably make the same mistake.”

The tone of voice Lee used when she talked about what had happened at Kevin’s school made Josh clench his teeth a bit, ”Do I want to know?” he said, ”Or is it just going to make me more angry at a situation I can’t do anything about? “

As for his powers, Josh looked thoughtfully down the hall where Kevin had disappeared, ”He seems to be handling things well though…I’m glad it’s easier for him than it was for his Dad. It sounds like you all have been helping him through it all.”

Lee sighed. It sucked, but Josh was probably right. ”Maybe,” conceded. ”But they’d have to actually land hits for my size to mean anything in terms of whether I can take one.”

But then Josh was wanting to know if what she’d been referring to was just going to make him more angry about what had happened to Kevin. ”Oh, it’s nothing specific,” she told him. ”Just life in general. It doesn’t seem to matter how much progress is made, there’s always bigots.”

Lee frowned. Even all these years later, she still couldn’t imagine how horrible that night would have been for Kevin’s father. When he was younger than Kevin was now. ”It does help that his powers aren’t as inherently traumatic,” Lee replied softly. ”And that he’s been wanting to find out what his powers were going to be for most of his life.”

Noticing that Josh was looking toward the bedrooms, Lee glanced over half expecting to see Kevin. ”He does like to sneak up on me now, though,”

Josh didn’t know for sure just how fast or strong Lee was, but for her to talk the way she was talking, she definitely knew what she was about.

The comment had been bigoted. That was somehow worse than simple kid nonsense. Kids absolutely took the shit out of each other all the time and sometimes it was uncalled for. Sometimes it resulted in the kind of tussle that Kevin had experienced. True bigotry was a bigger problem. Those were beliefs that colored a person’s entire outlook on life.

As for Kevin’s powers, Josh looked back solemnly at Lee as she spoke. Kevin’s powers were less inherently traumatic, and he had people around him who believed that what he was saying was true.

It would always be one of Josh’s greatest regrets that everything had fallen out the way it had those first few years. Those reactions and the consequences of those reactions had laid the groundwork for everything that had followed. ”Well, I’m glad. he said, ”So this….other Tarin has the same powers?” Josh asked, unable to avoid his curiosity on the topic.

It was quiet for a minute, the only noise coming from the TV which was still on.

Until Josh asked if Tarin had the same powers that his brother did. ”Basically, yes,” Lee said with a nod as she pulled her feet up and curled them beside her on the couch as she turned to face Josh a little more directly.

”There do seem to be a few differences, but as far as I’ve been able to tell, everything about their powers and how they work with spirits is the same.”

Josh found himself nodding again when Lee confirmed that the powers of this other Tarin were the same as his brother’s had been in most of the ways that mattered.

Josh’s expression turned thoughtful at the confirmation as he mulled the information over in his head.

”Even the scary parts?” he asked.

”Even the scary parts?”

Lee didn’t say anything right away. Instead, she both focused on her siphoning and looked toward the bedrooms. She couldn’t see her son, so the energy she was feeling coming from the direction of the bedrooms had to be his.

Lee nodded before she even turned her eyes back to Josh. ”With spirits, yes,” she replied quietly. ”He’s never merged with another person, though. When I tried to explain, as best I could, what it would feel like before that happens, he didn’t even know what I was explaining. So I think that’s the big difference between their powers. Because if Tarin’s never even felt that, I don’t think it’ll ever happen to him.”

That…had always been the wildcard.

When Josh’s brother had explained that particular aspect of his power, it had been hard to believe. The explanation, the evidence, it had all seemed completely uncanny and wildly dangerous.

Not seemed. It had been wildly dangerous, always lurking as a possibility.

Lee said that the first type, the one that was a little easier to understand was a thing that was on the table…she didn’t think the second one was though.

Josh shook his head slowly, he wasn’t going to overstep again ”Just…be careful.” he said. ”I’m not trying to upset you, but don’t forget all the reasons it didn’t work the first time. I don’t want Kevin…or you hurt. I trust you though…you know what’s right.”

That was probably the last he’d get to say about it. ”I’ll figure out how to fill Mom in before we get there so there’s no surprises. Kevin likes to talk.”

Josh didn't want her or Kevin to get hurt because of a merge. And was trying to remind her about why things hadn't worked out with his brother.

Except that Josh was wrong about why things had fallen apart.

Lee glanced toward the bedrooms again even though the energy she was feeling hadn't moved. ”That had nothing to do with why it ended,” Lee told him quietly. While the idea of a merge happening had, and all did, scare Lee, it wasn't anything inside the apartment that had made her feel like she'd needed to get Kevin out of the city.

”But of course I'm being careful, and will be.”

Josh went on to tell her that he'd figure out a way to tell Adele about Tarin. That wasn't really the reason she'd already been planning to tell Josh tonight but hadn't told Adele. ”Thank you, Josh,” Lee said with a smile. ”I can call and help, it's just…this feels like something that's better to say in person, which is hard being so far away.”

”Huh” Josh said, when Lee pointed out that things with Josh’s brother hadn’t ended because of what could happen with his brother. In the years that had passed between them splitting up and his brother disappearing, Tarin had shared some things with Josh. Despite what Lee had said, Josh’s brother had firmly believed that his unpredictability with his powers had been at least partially responsible for what had ultimately happened. That Lee was saying otherwise so firmly now suggested the problems had run much deeper. ”I know you’re careful. You always have been…and that’s a compliment.”

As for telling his Mom. Josh knew that Lee hadn’t meant to spring the the news on him, and that Kevin had messed up any plans she’d had, but the info had been jarring. If Josh knew his Mother, she’d take everything in as much stride as possible.

”I just don’t want her to find out from Kevin…I suppose I shouldn't be, but I’m a little surprised he hasn’t already said something to her on the phone.”

Josh paused for a moment and frowned thoughtfully, ”Kevin said as much, but you really are happy?” he said, promising himself that this was the last time he would pry.

The way that Josh ‘huh’ was weird. Like he hadn’t realized that that wasn’t the reason her marriage had ended. Which was strange because not once over the years had she mentioned that as being the reason. Actually, Lee didn’t think she’d even mentioned merging to Josh since she’d moved to Canada.

”Thanks Josh,” Lee replied. Even though some people thought she frequently took too many risks, it felt good that Josh knew she’d always been careful.

Lee then nodded when Josh pointed out that he didn’t want Kevin to be the one to break the Tarin news to Adele. That was a very good idea; Kevin was rather blunt when he spoke a lot of times, and especially with Adele, Lee thought it should be far more gentle.

When Josh told her that Kevin said she was happy, Lee smiled. ”Yes, I am happy, Josh,” Lee told him. ”He’s a good man. And I’m pretty sure Rachel saw there was something there between us well before we did. But yes, I’m happy.”

Josh waved off Lee’s thanks. It wasn’t necessary, and it wasn’t like he’d done anything other than tell the truth. Kevin was great and proof positive of how well Lee had done in circumstances that nobody would have called ideal.

Josh smiled when Lee said that she was happy and shook his head just a little bit when Lee brought up her sister, ”That one always had good instincts.” he said, wondering a bit at how fast the years seemed to have gone by.

”I’m glad you’re happy Lee. Lord knows you deserve it.” Josh said, just as Kevin’s door opened and he emerged dragging his suitcase and backpack and leaving them by the closet in the entryway of the apartment.

”There isn’t a single other thing I could bring.” he said, dropping back down onto the couch.

Checking his watch, Josh glanced at Lee, ”We probably shouldn’t hang around too much longer. Flight is pretty early tomorrow.” .

”Thanks,” Lee said again as Kevin made his way out of his room. Especially after she’d recently gone over so many of the things that had happened in her life with Tarin, it really did feel like she deserved it at this point.

Then Kevin flipped down onto the couch as though he had just had the most exhausting day. And then Josh was saying that they should probably be going soon. ”Makes sense. Travelling is normally tiring, too,” she said, then turned to look at Kevin. ”Listen and behave while you’re down there,” she told her son. ”And remember to actually call me once in a while.”

”Yes mum, I know.”

Lee had already begun the process of saying goodbye, so Josh stood and gathered the plates to take them to the kitchen. It would have been rude to impose on someone’s hospitality otherwise.

Apparently that hospitality only extended to putting the plates in the sink though…people had their ways of doing things and Josh wasn’t about to do it wrong so he made his way back out to the living room in time to hear Lee tell Kevin to behave himself.

”He knows better than to bring that city boy attitude with him.” Josh teased, ”He’ll be all ‘yes ma’am’ and ‘no sir’ by the time we step off the plane.”

To his credit, Kevin knew better than to roll his eyes or say a word.

”Now hug your Mom and get your stuff. Thanks again for dinner Lee.”

It had been a couple years since she had seen it, but the last time that she’d been in Texas with Kevin, he had acted like that. It had taken longer than just stepping off the plane, but it had happened.

For how sweet she was, Adele could definitely be strict.

As Josh got up and took the plates to the kitchen, Lee turned on the couch and gave Kevin a hug.

”Really mum?” he complained as he half hartedly fought off the hug.

”What, Kev?” she asked before planting a quick kiss on her son’s cheek before releasing him.

He very quickly got up and made his way toward the door where he grabbed his backpack.

”Of course Josh. Any time,” Lee said as she stood much more slowly and followed her son. ”You know that.”

Then Lee turned to look at Kevin, and she couldn’t help but think that he was growing up too fast because once he came home they were going to move him to the mansion. ”I’ll miss you,” she said as Kevin shrugged on his backpack. ”And remember what I said about behaving. I’d be scared of your grandmother if I didn’t do as I was told.”

”I know, I know,” Kevin said, trying to brush it all off. But then he quickly closed the space between them and gave Lee a tight hug. ”I love you, mum,” he whispered.

”I love you too, Kevin.”