Emerald's POV

I didn't believe my eyes. The children I had left behind for my own selfishness where standing before me — fresh, young, beautiful and strong,just like I had wanted them to be.

This night had been the most weird and I was still unable to grasp the full intensity.

What would be the future now?

Garnet was all locked away securely, awaiting her trial.

All these while Sapphire had been keeping Aaron in her room, betraying me in one way. But then she had saved the life of my only son.

How could I blame her?

Aaron on the other hand was clueless about everything.

He wondered we all were behaving ourselves well and not killing him outright.

He was sitting in one corner, trying to still grasp the fact that he was in a magical world and he almost got killed.

I think the 'long lost father' thing and the family reunion can wait till his shock wears off.

Poppy seemed to be bothered about all these too. All the revelation about our blood relation and the deception of Garnet, followed by her brother's sudden arrival and an attack on him, was all beyond her imagination. She had fallen silent, brooding too.

'So now what!' Sapphire was the one to break the silence. 'I mean, what do we do about him.'

Her voice trembled as she uttered these. The connection between those two were still a mystery to me.

Sapphire had already struck me as someone cold and unfeeling, someone who's been scarred beyond repair by her past experiences.

But she had changed. I could see the transformation in her eyes... in her entire being.

'What about him?' interrupted Ruby or for that matter my daughter Poppy whom I left as an infant.

'He poses a threat to us. Violet Hollow knows that we're hiding a human. We can't just let him be here. He needs to go to his own land. He isn't a part of us.' said Sapphire.

'I think he needs to stay here just because we need evidence against Garnet in the tribunal of magic...' Ruby commented.

'Can you explain to them why you guys got so concerned for him suddenly? Garnet has killed many men but no one brought her to court. I thought we'd take up the attack on us as a valid evidence but then she'd defend herself saying she was attacking a intruder into our land and it is actually a solid point against us. We're at a disadvantage. We'll trap ourselves more in all this deep shit!' Sapphire exclaimed, getting up from her place and pacing around the room, a crease on her forehead.

'I'll tell the truth to them about Aaron, leaving out all the hiding part I guess,' I gave her a stern look.

'B... But, 'she faltered,' Are you going to tell them that he's your son and he's a human and that...'

'Wait, what?' Aaron had sprung up from his recliner and was looking straight at Sapphire,' Claramay, what did you just say? He...'

'He is your father — our father, get over it, Aaron,' Ruby piped in, 'You can't change the truth.'

Aaron's eyes changed from calm to disdain in a second. 'You,' he hissed, pointing at me, 'You are my father? The man that abandoned us when we were no more than kids and left my mom to fend for herself. I am ashamed to call you a father. How could you? I....'

The emotions on his face were betraying all the harsh words.

'You don't know any single thing. Don't comment before you know the situation,' retorted Sapphire.

'You don't interfere in family matters for heaven's sake,' he shouted. 'This man is vile, unfeeling and incapable of being called a father.'

'Wrong!' Ruby was beside me in an instant, wrapping her arms around me.

'Wrong! She said again, 'Circumstances forced him. You can't deny the relation of your blood to him just like that. I know he did some things he shouldn't have done but he loved mum more than ever.'

'What's wrong with you wizards and witches. Have you all lost your mind? On this hand is the person I love, who can't admit that she loves me back and on the other there's the person I've hated all my life and I can't utter a word against him. Is it fair?'

Sapphire stiffened and I immediately got the clue.

My son was in love and Sapphire had the subtle feelings in her, but was afraid of making the same mistake that I did. She was afraid to respond to the call of her heart — the call of true love.

'Look Aaron,' I said, holding out my hands in a gesture of surrender. 'I know I did wrong. The repentance eats me from inside, everyday. It's completely okay if you don't like me. I won't come back in your life and ruin it again, but just for once think... think deeply and you'll realize why I did all that what I did.'

He stood stiff as I reached out and patted his back, 'You, my boy have grown up to be very brave and caring. You came alone to find your sister. You never thought twice before jumping into the fray in an unknown world.'

'She's everything to me,' his voice was breaking. 'And now that she's one of you, she won't return with me anyway. I have no one.'

'You don't need to go back! You can stay with us, your real family,' I soothed.

'But Dad, the tribunal...'

'Love defeats the law and sways justice sometimes. Aaron will stay with us, in this very land,' I turned to him, 'Only if you want.'

He nodded without uttering a word.

'And Sapphire, you dear are very brave. I got you wrong. You're very pure, very dedicated and your feelings are ample,' she looked up at the mention of her name, the endless blue eyes of a child gazing back at me.

I sometimes forget how young she is.

'I, don't...'

'Sapphire, it's time to listen to your heart,' I interrupted. 'Yes, I loved a human and I never regretted loving her, no matter what. You won't regret your love too. Give it a chance. Give it the light to blossom. Don't nip it in the bud.'

'But, I...'

'You're just like Poppy or Aaron to me, Claramay. You're free to be who you are in my land and if the tribunal denies, we'll fight, fight for our love and fight for the rights. But never give up.'

She sighed, looking at Aaron.

He was gazing at her, transfixed. No words passed between them as their eyes did all the talking. And then he was kissing her — hot and breathless — as if his life depended on it.

I felt like an intruder in that moment which was personal. It was too intimate a thing for onlookers to gawk at.

Poppy squeezed my hand, making me turn away and look at her in awe again. The little girl had grown so much and I had missed the childhood of my kids.

I dropped to my knees before her hugging her to my chest.

She kissed my cheeks and brushed her lips against my forehead. The touch of a daughter I had never known.

Finally I had all the happiness in the world and it was mine to preserve.

I didn't know what the future had in store, but what I did know was, everything just got more complicated.

The tribunal was not known for their mercy and I needed to chalk out a plan before it would be too late to set things right.

But I was determined to solve it all, no matter what the consequences.

♦️♦️♦️♦️THE END ♦️♦️♦️♦️

A/N There will be a sequel soon, guys. And I'm entering this for TheWattys