Askel held on tight to Teylie and Levi’s pup. She was a beautiful russet red color with a snow white chest. Her feet had four white socks and, strangely, her face was half white and half red. She had one blue eye and one amber. Because of her color and her mischevious personality, Askel had taken to calling her Vix. It seemed to fit. She did remind him of a fox at times.

When they arrived back at the museum, Askel found his sister speaking to their father. In his surprise, he nearly dropped Vix.

“Now you see why I wanted you to hurry?” Ehren asked from beside him.

Askel nodded numbly.

“Go, your little sister was asking about you,” Ehren told him.

“Nell’s here?” he croaked.

“As well as Adan and your mother,” Ehren answered with a nod.

Askel carefully set Vix by Teylie and trippingly ran to his family. He barrelled into his mother and very nearly knocked her off her feet.

“There you are Askel,” she murmured into his hair.

“Mum,” he sobbed.

“Kelly, why are you crying?” Nell asked.

Askel turned to her. He lifted her up and settled her on his hip like he used to.

“Nellie, I’m so happy to see you,” he whispered holding her close.

Nell wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I’m happy to see you too, Kelly,” she said into his neck.

Adan harumphed from somewhere beside him. Askel turned to his little brother.

“Adan, I hope you’re behaving yourself,” he said gently.

“When has Adan ever behaved, Kelly?” Nell asked with a laugh.

“Hey!” Adan protested. “I can be good!”

“When the mood strikes you,” Akira muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

This caused the whole family to break into peals of laughter while Adan pouted. Akira stilled her laughter and scooped Adan into her arms.

“Gods, I’ve missed you little mischevious one,” she told him with the biggest smile Askel had seen on her face in a long time.

“I’ve missed you too big sis,” Adan said winding his arms around her neck.

They stayed like that until Freyja made her way to their group. She didn’t say a word but she didn’t have to. They all knew that this moment would end, though they had hoped it wouldn’t be quite so soon.

“We must return to my hall now,” she said quietly.

At her words, both Adan and Nell locked their arms around his and Akira’s necks. Tears coursed down their cheeks, when they finally managed to pry the youngsters off. Freyja took the children’s hands in hers.

“This will not be the last time you see your siblings,” she told them. “So do not think of this as goodbye forever. Think of it as a see you around.”

It broke his heart to see his siblings cry. Yet, he couldn’t find the words to assuage their sadness as well as his own.

“Hey, don’t cry,” he heard Akira tell them. “If Freyja says it’s not the last time we’ll see each other, then I’m inclined to believe her. Be good. Adan, don’t cause too much mischief, yeah? Nell, take care of him and try to keep him out of trouble as much as you can. Now, no more tears. This isn’t a forever goodbye, yeah? It’s just an until next time. And before you know it, we’ll all be together in Freyja’s hall.”

Askel watched her turn to their mother. She murmured words too low for him to hear before turning to their father, the man she had idolized for so long.

“Little Ylva, I am so very proud of the woman you have become. I know losing us wasn’t easy but it brought you something I only dreamed you would find.” He motioned Prince Ehren over. “Ehren, Thank you for taking care of her in my stead.”

“Sir, in truth, she was the one who saved me,” Ehren replied.

Askel furrowed his brows in confusion. His father gave Ehren a knowing look. The meaning behind that look was not lost on him. His father then looked to Levi, who was standing between Akira and Ehren.

“Thank you for keeping an old man company,” he told Levi, going to him and giving him a scratch behind the ears. “Keep that one in line when it comes to my little Ylva, eh?”

Levi, to his surprise, gave a short nod before pressing his head to his chest. His eyes drifted over Akira one last time.

“Little Ylva remember, don’t work too hard and miss out on life,” his hand gently caressed her cheek. “But go and make more discoveries and never stop learning.”

They were gone in the blink of an eye.