It was 2 a.m. on a Wednesday that Rose & Dale took their stuff & snuck back home after a long night of swimming. They slowly unlocked the door so it wouldn't creak too much & wake up anybody. When it opened, the kitchen light was already on & an unhappy Fennec was sitting on the table.

"And where have you two been?" He looked them up & down & raised an eyebrow.

"At the lake—which is none of your concern. Why do you care anyways?" Dale retorted.

"We were only at the lake Fennec. Don't worry so much, we didn't leave the property. Besides, we're practically adults now, I don't need you hovering over me all the time," Rose insisted.

"Even if we did get ambushed, I could totally take them on," Dale boasted.

"I'm just looking out for you Rose. You know very well Killslinger has spies around the world looking for us. I-I care about you too," Fennec sighed, putting his hand on her shoulder, completely ignoring Dale. Rose smiled.

"I'll be fine."

"Then you should get to bed. We've got an early morning tomorrow," Fennec smiled.

"Technically it's later today," Dale corrected as Rose & Fennec facepalmed.

...

Rose tossed & turned in her blue bed, unable to sleep. She stared at the glow in the dark star stickers on the ceiling & wall. Dale's old room reminded her of her own bedroom. She had to laugh to herself when she found 3 stickers in the shape of the Tri-Star.

"Razexon, the first star. Hypoque, the second star. & finally Virdar, the third star." Rose recited to herself the names of the stars that made up the constellation of the Tri-Star. Rose's father, Vernon, taught her the names & the history of the constellation when she was just a little kid. A ginormous explosion of the star Quirnon sent the stars hurtling across space. The three stars stayed together & will for all eternity. Rose remembered her fathers story word for word after hearing it so many times. She sighed suddenly with a sad tone. "I miss my family."

At that moment Dale walked in, with messy blonde hair & tired but loving eyes.

"Were you eavesdropping on me, Sleeping Beauty?" Rose questioned.

"Not at all. I just came to check on you." Dale said.

"Have you come to read me a bedtime story too, mom?" Rose smirked & Dale laughed.

"I hadn't planned on it but I do have some Comet-man comics laying around somewhere." He smirked. He kissed her freckled cheek. "I love you Rose."

"I love you too Dale."

...

Ding ding ding ding

The sound of the triangle instrument woke up Rose from her deep slumbers. It had only been four hours since the last time she had been awake. She knew that if she did not answer the call, they would try to wake her up & that would not be pretty. She stepped out of bed, walking to the door with groggy eyes & shaky legs. When she got to the kitchen, a silvery voice met her first.

"Oh goodness gracious Rose! You look exhausted!" Rose turned to see Dale's mother, Calla. The woman staring back at her was beautiful, with straight honey blonde hair touching her shoulders, & dazzling green eyes. She had a few wrinkles around her mouth when she smiled, and they were pleasant.

"See this is why I told you to go to bed. Four hours is not enough Rose," Fennec seemed to be taking pleasure in her exhaustion, & she rolled her eyes. When Rose sat down, a man with sky blue eyes & mousy brown hair looks up from his phone.

"I'm Reed, Dale's father. There are pancakes," is all he says in a deep, clear voice.

"You can help yourself to some, they're on the counter. Dale's not awake yet though." His mother said. As if summoned, Dale waltzed into the kitchen. Through one night he became unkempt, with scraggly hair, red eyes, & still in his pajamas.

"Did you sleep at all?" Rose asked, looking him up and down.

"Hardly. I have been up all night & I got the greatest idea!" Dale smiled. Rose & Fennec each raised an eyebrow, unsure if Dale should even be out of bed like this.

"We're gonna go to Killslinger's lair!" Dale exclaimed.