Daria appeared to find the room in good shape. Mike was a clean person. The bed was made and she took a shower and collapsed into the fluffy sheets.

Maybe we should get a tv... she thought to herself. She also pondered on where her cellphone was so she could call Mike.

"Please, dear, like you need a cell phone when it involves me," she heard the teasing voice in her mind a minute or so the door opened to reveal Mike, smiling warmly, as he entered to join her.

Daria grinned.

"Right, how could I forget?" Daria grinned teleporting to give him a hug. This time there was throbbing but no pain from the fight.

"I got my bandages off!" she exclaimed.

Mike grinned, folding her into his arms. "Mmm... good, more huggable is always better, my dear," he teased, squeezing her gently, still unsure of if she was tender from the fight.

Daria smiled sensing his caution.

It doesn't hurt when I teleport anymore." she said ignoring the throbbing. "So I think the aftershock from my beating is officially healed."

She smiled. "Hope Desiree is alright. I haven't seen her lately."

"Well, if you're all right, she's got to be almost there," Mike reasoned, stroking her back as he held her. "The doc knows what he's doing. If I can be better from getting shot a couple days after, a few broken bones shouldn't be anything to worry about."

Daria laughed.

"Well, you're of a tougher stock than we." Daria joked returning to the bed. She'd been up and about all day and the scare with Fusionist had her a bit tired.

"You know everyone seems to bring their past to the mansion with them. And I end up being someone's mother everytime." she laughed.

"Oh? Who is it this time?" he asked, smiling as he flopped down next to her.

"Emerald Lupin. She's the new wolf on the block. Fell out of a tree the day I after my fight with Desiree. She escaped from a lab run by Whitmore and some evil scientist came to get her but we kicked his ass and rescued one of Emmy's sisters; this cute little fox-girl named Ruby. She's about 13. So anyways they're in the infirmary right now."

Daria sighed. "Emerald is kinda attached and she's calling me her big sister now." then she smiled. "Its sweet you know, but Hairpin, Sarah and now Emmy and her sister. I think I might just go ahead and help Tricity with the smaller kids."

He smirked. "If I wasn't too busy getting attacked by soldiers, I was thinking of doing the same. Well, helping you do it, I guess, they all seem to like you more than me. Can't say I blame them."

Daria laughed. "They just find the tail and ears amusing." she said tickling his nose with her tail. "We make a good team. We should talk to Tricity." she advised.

"She told me to take some computer courses so I can get a degree to teach a technology course. I'm thinking about doing it."

"Probably a good idea. I'm still not sure what to do myself... hopefully I'll think of something. 'Beating up bad guys' isn't exactly a career with a lot of advancement possibilities."

Daria was silent ofr a minute and then laughed at him. "You say the funniest things, but you're right. Superheroes probably don't have a good social security plan."

Her ears twitched as her cell phone rang and she realized she still did not knowwhere she ahd put it. She followedd the sound and tracked it to a pile of clothes. (she and Mike still had not figured out the laundry schedule and both had enough clothes to last a year without washing.) She found the cell checked the number and answered it.

"Gramma! How are you!" she exclaimed and thought to Mike

My gramma is the best, sweetest old lady you will ever meet. She and I haven't spoken since I came to the mansion.
"I'm good...No I'm in New york now...Yeah you know me, can't stay in one place too long....I'm staying with...friends....Yes I'm keeping busy and being helpful."

She doesn't know about the mutation. I thought she would get scared so I never confirmed the reports.
"Yeah. I don't know, but I'll visit soon. Hows Grampa and everyone else?...What? Is he alright....oh..."

My grampa had a stroke, paralyzed left side.

"Yeah. Are you alright Gramma?...Good, I'm sure you'll take good care of him. Yeah I know the restaurant must be a lot of work right now....Huh? Me? Why me?....IT IS?"

THE RESTAURANT IS IN MY NAME! I OWN IT!

"Yeah, thats great....well I mean I can't just leave right now....I can't stay in D.C, Gramma...Why? because I can't be in that neighborhood anymore, I'm above it...No I'm not being arrogant but no little kid says 'I want to be in the ghetto when I grow up.' its a self respect thing....Yes Gramma. I will do right by the restarant, I know mY mother would want it...mmhmm.."

Guilt trip.

"I'll get back to you, Gramma. I will call you a bit later after I think things out....I promise..love you too. bye bye." Daria hung up staring atthe phone for a minute.

"Gramma, I had no clue...No I can't just up and leave.

"We'll go there in a few days, once the clear and present danger is over," Mike promised her. He could feel how much she wanted to go. "Have they seen you after your mutation?" he asked, unable to avoid the question in his mind.

Daria's ears twitched.

"No. I just ran. Initally, my grandparents were really upset and they did the whole missing person file, but the police wouldn't listen since they were so convinced I had killed my parents. They put out a fugitive alert instead of a missing child alert so I couldn't come back."

"Besides.." she began wavin her tail "My gramma and grampa would've freaked. I've just avoided the issue. I got back in touch with them when I turned 18 so they couldn't say anything. My gramma and I talk alot and I let her know what state I'm in after I leave and I never tell her what I'm doing when I'm there. I feel bad but I have no choice. I couldn't tell her about the mansion because then she'll know that I'm..yeah.."