They pulled into Ruby's neighborhood. She'd decided, since they were already near Tacoma, she might as well take a look at his house. Ruby wanted to see it to decide if she could really go through with it. With her help, Cinza managed a spell to lose all the news crews tailing them, creating a brief illusion to throw them off track while the invisible carriage left the highway and headed out into Ruby's old world.

Hannah's world. Not mine. Well… it is mine. I've never really separated the two like Cinza. If Cinza even has two. She always seems like there's so many more than that.

They drove through the streets she'd grown up on, one by one. Ruby tensed a little, but so far, it wasn't too bad. Her fingers never broke their interlocking grip with Cinza's, but she could handle it. If anything, returning to her home was surreal, rather than scary.

"It looks exactly the same," she murmured.

"The suburbs always do," said Cinza with a faint smile.

"No, I mean… everything. It's all right where I left it." She turned left and right, looking out their carriage. Nothing had changed at all. The whole place was quiet and still, a static painting broken only by birds and the occasional car, or children hanging out in a front yard.

As her house came into view, Ruby froze up. It was exactly as she'd left it. Hadn't changed an inch. There wasn't a single person outside, either. She'd expected the press, or even just someone from the neighborhood… but it was empty. The house didn't look dead—the lights were on inside—but the whole idea seemed more foreboding.

If the outside hadn't changed…

"He's home," she whispered, pointing at his car in the driveway.

Cinza nodded. "And no one is here. We may not get another opportunity such as this, if they're all looking for us elsewhere."

Ruby nodded, though her skin crawled with anxiety and pent-up emotions she could barely describe. She needed this, but at the same time, she was terrified to go inside. They stepped out into the street. Makoto stayed with the vehicle again, as before—she had decided it was better he make sure they were covered.

As long as I have Cin with me in there, I'll be okay.

They approached the door, and every step felt longer than the last. She rounded the fence, passed the tree she used to climb, spotted the creepy garden gnome statue she'd hidden under a bush and her father had never found. Memories flooded in, one after another, some good… most not.

Through that door was everything she'd faced, everything she'd fled.

"Cin, I…"

Cinza took her hand and kissed it gently. "We can leave. It's up to you."

"No." Hearing her voice was enough to steel Ruby's resolve. She brushed her crimson hair out of her face and stood up straight. "I need to do this."

Except… she couldn't bring herself to knock, or ring the bell. She stared at it for minutes, the clock in her head ticking away every passing second. A car rumbled by far in the distance, and a fire engine siren kicked on. The world kept turning while Ruby stood, totally still on her front porch, desperate to knock on her father's front door.

"Can you…" she whispered.

Cinza nodded. She reached up and gently pressed the doorbell. It echoed through the house, in a way vaguely reminiscent of Cinza's voice. The idea strengthened Ruby again—that somehow Cinza might have influence even in this place, though of course the connection was absurd.

She heard the sound of movement inside. Every muscle tensed up. Ruby stared straight forward, eyes tracing the woodgrains in the door. It had recently been painted. She wondered if their neighbor did it. He was a painter.

The door swung open.

"...Hannah?"

Ashley Newman, known to most of the world as Ash, stood before them. To Ruby's shock, as her eyes finally broke away from their dead-eyed forward lock, he did look different. The beer gut was gone, his shirt looked clean, his jeans didn't have holes in them. He hadn't shaved, but it still looked better than the unkempt stubble he used to wear.

He'd changed.

So have I, Ruby reminded herself, taking Cinza's hand firmly in her own. She couldn't yet muster up a word in response, and Cinza took her grip as a cue to speak.

"Ruby came to speak with you," said Cinza, without a hint of hostility on Ruby's name. "As requested."

"...Yeah," said Ash finally, blinking as if he'd just woken up. He glanced around. "Just the two of you?"

"Yes and no."

"Well…" Ash glanced back at Ruby. She nearly winced under his gaze, but managed to stay firm, her eyes locked on a spot near—but not quite at—his head. "It's good to see you again. I…" He trailed off, clearly trying to come up with something to say. Eventually, he turned back to Cinza. "Can I talk to my girl alone?"

Ruby tensed up again, and her love noticed. Cinza squeezed Ruby's hand briefly before she replied.

"I will be blunt with you, Mr. Newman, because I don't yet respect you enough to be polite. I don't trust you. Ruby has told me about her entire life, from beginning to end, in every painful and heartbreaking detail. If we had not been visited by the police today, I doubt we would ever have come within many miles of this house. Ruby has elected to give you a second chance, because she is a person full of love and compassion, but I am too protective of her to allow even the slightest chance of her coming to harm."

Ashley's eyes screwed up as Cinza talked. He's never been that smart, really… and he isn't used to how Cinza speaks. Finally, after a full minute or so, he finally responded. "Okay. Do you both want to come inside?"

"That would be best, I think." Cinza stepped in as Ash cleared the way, leading Ruby gently by the hand.

They walked into the living room, where Ruby sat down in her favorite chair. A memory flashed through her brain as she did—the first time she'd brought home another girl, making out in that chair… and her dad coming home without them noticing, shouting, punching Ruby while the other girl ran away, hurting her.

Cinza's with me. I'll be okay. In fact, Cinza was sitting in the same chair as her now—they were both small enough to share it easily, and Ruby absolutely did not want her anywhere further than that.

"Wendy isn't home," Ash said abruptly, referring to Ruby's step-mother. "Do you want anything to drink?" he added, clearly uncomfortable with the radiant Cinza sharing a chair with his daughter. Her hair had returned to its bright silvery-grey before they came in, while her tattoos and jewelry seemed to shine even though they weren't anywhere near a direct light.

"Water would be nice, thank you," said Cinza politely.

Once he'd returned with three glasses of water, ice and everything, Ruby had finally built up enough confidence to say something. "Hi Dad."

"...Hi Hannah," said Ashley.

No. "That's not my name," said Ruby firmly, shaking her head. "Not anymore."

"Your…" Ashley nodded. "Sorry. I just… you know why we named you that, right?"

"No," said Ruby, surprised. She'd never heard him talk about the past, except for drunk ramblings about her mother, the one she'd never known. "Why?"

"That was your mom's sister's name. She… got the same thing your mom did," said Ashley. He took a sip of water before continuing. "Your mother wanted to name someone after her sister, and you happened to be born a day after she… after she passed."

"Oh." Ruby faltered. She felt genuinely touched. Cinza squeezed her hand again, giving her the strength to speak. "Okay… that's… yeah. But it's still…"

"It's not your name," said Ashley, nodding slightly. "If you wanna be called Ruby, then you can be called Ruby. It'll be a bit before I get there though, okay kiddo?"

"Okay," said Ruby, in a very small voice.

He's being so… so understanding. Even with me and Cinza practically in each other's laps here, forcing him to learn a new name, all of this… I don't understand what's happening.

Did I misjudge him?

Thankfully—or perhaps not, in retrospect—her father gave her a reason to doubt again. "I see you're still…" Ash trailed off again, glancing awkwardly at Cinza.

"Yes," said Ruby firmly, centering herself on her father's shortcomings. "I'm still gay."

"That's…" Ashley trailed off. The whole conversation seemed to be awkward pauses and painful communication between them, with only Cinza able to speak in full sentences.

"Your daughter and I are in love," said Cinza gently, obviously trying to be diplomatic. "She saved my life, and I have never felt closer to another human being in all the world."

"And she's really been all over the world," added Ruby, seizing on something she really could handle.

"Not true," said Cinza with a sigh. "Parts, but I've yet to experience so many cultures and places I would love to visit. But my life has taken me to very interesting places, no doubt."

"Where would you go if you could, right now?"

"Not counting the Greywood?" asked Cinza with a twinkle in her eye. "I've always wanted to visit Korea, actually. I've a friend there whom I've never truly met, and I would love to finally connect with them."

Them… must be Tezofarl then. I've never heard her mention any other non-binary friends. I didn't know they were in South Korea.

"That sounds fun. Let's make it an adventure someday." Ruby smiled, gesturing upward. "Perhaps we'll have learned to fly by then, and we can soar across the oceans like the new goddess, wings asplendor."

Cinza raised an eyebrow. "Have we elevated Hailey to such a state?"

"Would you come home?" asked Ash, interrupting them. Ruby's brief feelings of comfort faded, lost in the painful weight of her father's question. She took a long time to answer, working up the courage once again under the weight of a threat she still felt under his gaze.

"This isn't home," she whispered.

Her father's eyes narrowed. "Can I…" Ash hesitated, setting aside his water and leaning forward. "Can I speak with Ruby alone, please?"

Ruby tensed up again. She shook her head, too nervous to speak as the fears came flooding back inside.

Cinza sighed. "Again, to be forward with you, that will not happen. Under no circumstances can I allow you to be alone with her today. Nor tomorrow. Maybe someday in the future, if we choose to trust you again, but it will be Ruby's choice. Until we feel safe with you, Ruby will always have me by her side."

"Who are you, anyway?" asked Ash, rounding on Cinza, the first time he'd really shown emotions in their whole conversation. "Why should I listen to you? Who are you to speak for my daughter?"

"I am just another wayward girl in a terrifying world," said Cinza. "Ruby found me, brought me back to life, and together we built a home for all who shared our hopes and dreams. I have spoken to kings and presidents, and dined with the richest and poorest alike. I have seen cities crumble and castles raised, and I have fought against the gods themselves and won. I am that which you cannot bend to your will, and my heart belongs only to the girl who sits next to me, she whom you claim as your daughter, whose voice is bridled by no one except herself.

"So tell me, Mr. Newman," finished Cinza, "who are you to speak for my beloved?"

Ashley stood up suddenly, all pretense of politeness gone. "What the fuck is this?"

Ruby leapt to her feet too. Cinza's speech had moved her more than her love could possibly know. She had someone forever on her side, more powerful than anything they could ever face. Her dad was nothing compared to their bond.

"This is me, Dad," said Ruby, with all the confidence and conviction she could muster, just like Yusuf taught her. "She's my girlfriend, my love, my whole world. What more do you want?"

"I want you to come home," he snapped. "Live with me like we used to. Like your mom would've wanted. Stop all of this and just come back."

"Come back to what?" said Ruby, her voice rising in unison with his own. "Come back to you beating me every night you come home drunk? Come back to being called a dyke and a bitch? You scaring away my girlfriend in the middle of the night in the pouring rain? Telling me you were glad Mom never saw me turn out like that?"

"I was trying to protect you," said Ash. "Yeah, I screwed up. I shouldn't have hit you. But you need to stop acting like a child."

"Who's acting like a child?" said Ruby, tears in her eyes. "What's wrong with you? Can't you see I'm happy? Tell the cops to leave me alone!"

"You think I like dealing with cops?" His voice increased in fury. "I had to. You're in danger. I did it for you, Hannah."

"My name is Ruby!" she cried out, and a gout of flame erupted in front of her. She hadn't meant for it, but when she got emotional, she frequently dove into her spellcasting without meaning to. It burst forth, a wave of heat through the whole room.

Ash stumbled backward, eyes wide. "I love you," he whispered. "I just want you to be home and safe."

"I'm not safe here," said Ruby. "This isn't home. This is hell."

Without letting him respond, without another word, Ruby turned. She burst out of the house, tears streaming down her cheeks. One of the neighbor kids was outside, playing in his front yard. He stared at her, dressed in her immaculate cloak, makeup smeared and ruined, hair scattered across her face. The kid lifted a hand, pointing at her, mouth open.

"What do you want?" she shouted.

He jumped, terrified, and ran inside his house.

Ruby cursed herself. Now she was shouting at kids, just like her dad. Prone to violence, summoning fire when she got upset. She stumbled forward to the carriage and fell inside, crawling up to the wide rear seat and curling up into a ball.

She cried, so thick she felt like she might choke, sobbing as she hadn't done since she met Cinza. Everything hurt, everything felt awful. She'd faced him, and it had brought everything back. Worse, in some ways. She just wanted to shut out the whole world, go back to her cabin, hide, be with her family and far away from the man who called himself that.

A hand fell on her shoulder. Ruby grasped at it, only to find it wasn't the small fingers she expected, but someone larger and more solid.

"...'koto?" she mumbled, glancing up slightly.

"Let it out," he said quietly.

She didn't bother to question him. Makoto wasn't exactly someone to be questioned anyway, especially since he spoke so little. She kept crying, holding onto his hand, safe in the carriage she'd helped to build, with a guy who was practically a brother to her.

...And I treated him so badly this morning…

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, forcing it through the slowly diminishing sobs.

"For what?"

"Running away." It felt like lifetimes ago now, after what she'd just gone through. "I should've… should've told you something. Not just done that."

"It's fine."

"It's not though," said Ruby. She didn't move, except to adjust her head slightly on the cushions to something more comfortable, but she kept a firm grip on his hand. "You're really important to me. You're like family. I just… blew you off."

"I understand," he said, his voice gentle and calm as always.

"But—"

"I know you don't like guys," he went on, to her surprise. "I didn't think it would go anywhere."

"Then… why did you tell me?"

"Our life is full of people who lie," said Makoto. "We all trust each other. I didn't want you to be in the dark anymore."

"...Oh," said Ruby. "I mean… I did kinda know already. I just… wasn't sure you would ever ask."

"I wasn't either," said Makoto. She could practically hear the smile in his tone. "Cinza told me to while we were in the helicopter chasing Lily, and I still didn't."

"So… what now?" she asked. "Are we gonna be… okay?"

"Of course." Makoto squeezed her hand gently, and though it gave her nothing like what she felt with Cinza, it was still a sort of comfort—something like Yusuf, or Matthew or Rufus or Aaron. "We'll both be with Cinza until the day we die. That makes us family."

"Yeah," said Ruby. She looked up at him, a smile finally crossing her face. "Family, for sure." She frowned. "Why are you with Cinza though? I mean… the rest of the Greycloaks aren't anything like me and you. I know why I am, but…" She winced. "If it's not too personal."

He shook his head. "Cinza saved my life too."

Footsteps approaching made them both fall silent. Makoto glanced outside, making sure they were safe—and they were, as it was only Cinza finally returning. She took a seat on the other side of Ruby, and immediately began to brush her hair as she did earlier. "I'm so sorry, Ruby."

"It's okay."

"I see Makoto was here in my absence," she added, smiling at their companion.

"Yeah. We worked some stuff out, too." Ruby sat up, wrapping her arms around Cinza. "Thank you."

"I am always here for you," said Cinza gently, hugging her back.

Ruby planted a kiss on her lips. "Not just that. It's all gone. I'm not confused anymore."

"Hmm?"

"It doesn't matter now," she went on. She took Makoto's hand as well, holding on to them both. "We'll face whatever comes. No matter what happens, us three, we're together. He's not worth thinking about anymore. I got to say what I needed to."

"I don't think it will be so easy," said Cinza. She glanced toward the house with a sigh. "He seems determined to cause us problems, and we may have only exacerbated that today."

"And we'll deal with it," said Ruby. She kissed Cinza again. "You showed me a world to believe in, one worth living in. You gave me my life, and the most perfect person in the world to share it with. I couldn't imagine anything better."

"There's so much more left to do."

"And we have all the time in the world to do it." Ruby smiled. "Don't forget. It's a new year, and we're together, from now until the end of eternity."