Is this destiny?

Oni and Michael were woken up in order to take their medications.

Both of them stiffened at the sight of Sarah and Aiden who entered the room.

"How are you two doing?", Sarah asked.

"I am sorry, Sarah…", Oni said after a second of catching her breath. She had so many things she wanted to say, but it all could be summarized with that apology, yet it was not enough.

Sarah exhaled softly. She knew that this is coming. "What are you sorry for?"

Oni was not sure from where to start. After a few seconds, she decided to address how her carelessness inconvenienced everyone. "I\'m sorry for making you come here, and leave the base in Romania. If I was more careful, it would be different."

Sarah walked to the bed and sat next to Oni. "If you keep your current knowledge and go back. Would you do anything differently?"

Oni opened her mouth and closed it without saying anything. She wondered, would she do anything differently? Maybe one thing. "I was supposed to let you know that I\'ve lost contact with Michael."

Sarah had to agree on how that would be the responsible thing to do. But she does not think that would change the outcome. "Would you be able to sit and wait for two hours until we arrive? Don\'t worry about what could have happened. What matters is that both of you are back."

"I am sorry…", Michael said.

Sarah turned to look at him. "What are you sorry for?"

"It\'s my fault. I saw Jesse and the only thing on my mind was that I need to get my answers and I messed up.", Michael admitted.

Sarah glanced at Aiden and he understood.

Aiden gestured toward the door. "Michael, let\'s go for a walk…"

"Are you angry?", Oni asked Sarah when the door closed after Aiden and Michael.

"I am upset that you got hurt. But I am not angry at you because if that were Aiden and me, I would do exactly the same thing you did."

"I saw him enter that building and I was never so nervous before. I had a feeling that with every second he is drifting further away, and I got up and went after him without thinking that I\'m getting myself into danger. And when I woke up in that chair and I realized that they captured me in order to make him talk… They didn\'t see me as a person... They saw me as a tool to be used to get to Michael... I was never so scared in my life…", Oni ended through sobs.

Sarah hugged her and patted her back. "It\'s OK. Let it out…"

Oni didn\'t want to cry. She wondered, where are these tears coming from? The danger is gone, and they are safe, and due to the medications she does not feel any pain at all. Why is she crying? But with Sarah holding her, she felt like a little girl who was scared of monsters and her mother is comforting her, and somehow, she knew that it\'s OK to cry and let it out, just how Sarah told her.

Oni cried for a long time and when she finished, her eyes were red and puffy, and Sarah gave her a tissue to wipe her nose.

"I am sorry…", Oni said while looking at Sarah\'s shoulder wet from her tears and snot. "I was brave to go after him recklessly and now I\'m crying like a baby. And I messed up your t-shirt."

Sarah took a tissue and wiped herself. "You need to stop apologizing. You were brave when it counted. Now you are with your family. You can let your guard down and that is normal."

"Are you going to punish me?"

"Punish you?", Sarah was surprised that Oni asked her such a question. "Sure. Your punishment is to rest and take care of yourself. And then work hard on the rehabilitation so that you can get back to work. I need my assistant."

Oni smiled. "Thank you."

Sarah patted Oni\'s head gently and spoke softly. "Don\'t rush. Take your time and focus on getting better. The school and everything else can wait. Health comes first. I\'ve got you a set of clothes. Let me help you dress up." Sarah saw that Oni looked at her in surprise and Sarah explained: "You can go home."

"What about Michael?"

"He will come also."

…

Outside the room…

Aiden and Michael walked back and forth the hallway a few times and Aiden peeked in the room whenever they passed by it. He saw that Oni is crying and that it will take a while, so he suggested to Michael to go to the lounging room.

"Are you not going to say anything?", Michael asked Aiden when they sat at the table. Other than random chat about the weather and if any of them wants a beverage, they didn\'t speak.

"What do you want me to say?"

Michael was not sure how to answer this. He expected some scolding because he was reckless and probably some punishment because Oni got hurt. And maybe some words of wisdom as well.

"Is there something I can say that you don\'t know already?", Aiden\'s question pulled Michael out of his thoughts.

Michael shrugged, indicating that he is not sure.

"You were careless, you messed up, and both of you got hurt.", Aiden said without mincing his words. "I only hope that you remember that whatever you do, Oni will follow after you, disregarding her safety because she puts you first. But you know that already, so I wasted my breath."

Michael wanted to say that he also puts Oni first. But then he remembered that on that terrace, when he saw Jesse, Oni was not first on his mind. He lowered his head.

Aiden saw that Michael\'s mood dropped and he reminded himself that he is not here to scold him. Both Michael and Oni suffered enough. "I\'m not trying to rub you with guilt. My hope is that you learned something from this incident and that nothing like this happens again because next time the rescue might come too late."

"I am grateful that you came to rescue us.", Michael said with sincerity in his voice.

Aiden nodded reassuringly. "That is what our family does. Don\'t think about thanking me with words. Thank me by getting better quickly so that when I get into trouble you can come and rescue me. That is the only repayment I will accept."

Michael smiled. When Aiden said that they are a family, a warm and fuzzy feeling filled Michael\'s chest and he remembered Oni\'s words how he is surrounded by people who care about him, but so far he didn\'t realize it.

…

Sarah and Aiden went with Michael and Oni to the Cliffside villa and helped them settle in.

The other generals returned from their respective missions related to the Shadow Ravens and they all came to see Michael and Oni. Other kids joined as well and everyone was there, filling up the living room in their apartment, other than Nala and Haru who are in Romania (babysitting Kitty).

Nala was sorry that she didn\'t come in person, but Kitty could not be left there without them, and flying Kitty back and forth might be too much. Nala had a video-chat with Oni and promised to bring her some European treats when she returns.

Imani proclaimed herself as the chief medic in the house and she assured Sarah that she will ensure that Michael and Oni take their medications. And Jamari said that he will help out whenever Michael needs help with changing or anything else that is not girl-appropriate.

Other kids also said that they will help out, and they swiftly came up with a schedule related to taking care of Michael and Oni.

"I can go back to Europe without a worry because I have such capable children.", Sarah smiled.

Oni and Michael observed this commotion with mixed emotions. They are happy that so many people are enthusiastic about helping them out. But at this rate, it does not look like they will have any time for privacy.

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