Mystic Forest, Briarwood, California, August 25th, 1981:

Niella was holding her newborn son, who had just been swaddled and cleaned, by her older sister, Udonna. "You know his father had great evil within him, right?" Udonna asked Niella softly, as she held the tiny baby to her chest. "I know, Udonna. But my darling Rhondon also has the capacity for great goodness. I really am sorry." Niella gave her older sister an imploring look. "But Viktor, he was so lonely, and he was injured, and I healed him." Niella closed her eyes tightly, feeling like a fool. Of course, all the Mystics had sensed the potential evil swelling within Doctor Viktor Adler, but he had been so charming.

Udonna squeezed her sister's shoulder, giving her tiny nephew a small smile. "I have a feeling it'll all work out, Niella. Now, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep him?" Udonna asked Niella softly. It wasn't unheard of to foster someone else's child in the Mystic Forest. Niella gazed down at Rhondon as he opened his brown eyes. He cooed at her, waving his tiny, chubby fists. Her heart broke as she considered her options. "I have to give him up." Niella whispered, causing Udonna to do a double take. Well, the redhead certainly hadn't been expecting that. "But Niella!" She gasped, staring at Niella in surprise.

Niella waved her hand over Rhondon's body, her right hand glowing purple with her Moon Magic. "He'll have the element of time to protect him, but he won't know how to use it." Niella's voice was not her own. Udonna sighed, recognizing the sign of her sister's prophetic visions. Niella shuddered, returning to normal. She slipped off her crescent moon pendant, and began chanting in the Mystic Language. It glowed, causing Rhondon to squirm, and whine in discomfort as Udonna covered her own eyes.

Once the magic died down, Niella had imbued the pendant with three powers. Teleportation, the ability to stop time briefly to protect Rhondon from trouble, and powerful healing magic. Tyrion, a handsome man with red hair and green eyes, and the current Scarlet Mystic of Time, as well as Niella and Udonna's brother (he was the middle child, it was Udonna, Tyrion, and Niella in that order), studied his nephew with a sad smile. "Rhondon will be okay." He kissed his nephew's head, waving his ruby gemstone tipped wand, the emblem of which featured a pair of hawk wings. He conjured a toy, a beautiful silver hawk with pink eyes, and placed it in Rhondon's hands. "Something to remember us by." He explained, at his sisters' looks.

Niella nodded, whining sadly. "Could you get me a quill and parchment?" Niella asked Udonna, who nodded, and soon came back with the requested implements. Niella unfolded the parchment, and dipped the quill in the pot, placing the parchment on the night stand so she could actually write.

My dear Rhondon,

I hope with all my heart that a good family takes you in, raises you, loves you. You'll meet me one day, my darling Rhondon. Be brave, be strong, and never give up. Your name, Rhondon, comes from our God of Time, in the language of the Mystics. My name is Niella, and your aunt is Udonna, and your uncle is Tyrion. We all love you so, so SO very much, my sweet, precious Rhondon. We'll meet again, I promise.

Love, your mother Niella.

Niella's body shook as she held Rhondon close, sobbing softly. "My boy, my son, I'm so sorry." She continued sobbing. Rhondon stared up at his mother as she folded the parchment, tucking it neatly into the pendant itself, which opened. She folded it in the shape of the moon, and the pendant clicked close. Tyrion glanced sadly at Niella, rubbing her shoulder gently. "Where would you like me to send him, Sister?" He asked softly. Of the 6 Mystics, Tyrion had teleportation magic as his secondary specialty after his Time Magic.

Niella looked up at Tyrion, her eyes puffy and bloodshot. "Angel Grove, California. I researched it, and that's his best option." She said firmly. Tyrion blinked in surprise, but he nodded, and gently picked Rhondon up, who had fallen back asleep again, snoring softly. Udonna sighed, kissing Niella's head gently. "We will see him again. I vow it." She told Niella firmly, who sniffed, and nodded. Niella was certain she WOULDN'T see her son ever again, but she decided not to voice that particular concern right now. Tyrion raised his Mystic Wand, and began chanting as his eyes glowed scarlet. Rhondon was covered in scarlet light, and with a pop, he vanished to Angel Grove, SEVEN hours away from Briarwood. Niella broke down into hysterical sobs, and Udonna and Tyrion hugged their sister, holding her close. 

Angel Grove, California, Later That Day:

Brandon had just finished cooking for his wife, Lacey, and he smiled, turning around as she walked into the massive kitchen, holding their eldest daughter, Leana. "Hi, darling, you look so gorgeous." He praised softly, tapping the spatula against the sink to get rid of the gunk. He had just finished making Mexican lasagna, Lacey's favorite. "Thank you, love." Lacey chuckled, rocking Leana as the little baby babbled softly, clearly smelling the delicious dinner.

"I think we have an opportunity for adoption, like you were talking about before." Brandon started, and Lacey perked up. After the birth of the twins, Brandon had gotten a vasectomy, and Lacey had gotten her tubes tied. They both felt it was the responsible thing to do. Lacey tilted her head, looking both baffled and curious. "Already? I only mentioned it two weeks ago." She pointed out. Brandon laughed softly as he walked over to their dining table, which could easily seat 15 people. He placed Lacey's plate down at her spot, and they both sat down.

"You know I have contacts everywhere." Brandon reminded his wife gently. Lacey nodded, looking sheepish. "Anyways, my contact over at Angel's Adoption said that a new baby showed up, a boy. They don't know where he came from exactly, but he's perfectly healthy." Brandon explained. Lacey tilted her head curiously as she ate with her free hand, expertly balancing her eldest daughter.

"Well, I think it's a great chance. It makes me sad though, that his parents abandoned him." Lacey sighed, ever so compassionate. Brandon nodded in agreement as he finished his plate, clearing his throat. "Yeah, it is." Brandon agreed. "We can drive over whenever you want, they don't close till around 9 PM." He offered with a small smile. Lacey nodded as she finished her own meal. "I just need to get changed." She smirked playfully. "I doubt they'll want me there in my pajamas." She laughed, standing up.

"Oh I don't know, I think it's quite the sight." Brandon teased playfully, looking his wife up and down happily. Lacey laughed loudly, shaking her head as she cradled Leana. "You perv." She teased with a smirk, heading off to their room to get changed. "Takes one to know one!" Brandon laughed as he stood up, putting the empty dishes in the sink.

An hour later, Remington, Brandon and Lacey's personal chauffeur and bodyguard, among several other duties, pulled up to Angel's Adoption, a large stone building. Remington got out of the car first, and held the door open for Lacey, then Brandon, as he usually did. "Thanks, Remi." Lacey smiled. "Course, Ma'am." He nodded politely, closing the doors and turning the sleek black limo off. Lacey smiled, taking Brandon's hand as they walked inside. With military, or rather, Air Force precision, Remington was glancing around, taking mental notes of anything that could be a threat. 

The trio then walked into the agency, all looking around curiously. "Looks like the main office is this way." Remington commented, spotting the directions on the wall as he led his boss/friend to the main office of Angel's Adoptions. Brandon rested his hand possessively on Lacey's ass, holding her close. Lacey smirked in amusement, and they turned a corner, to where one of Brandon's contacts, a young redheaded man of 24 or so, was managing the main office with 4 of his coworkers, 2 of which were on calls. "Ah, Mister and Missus Carpenter, welcome!" The redhead smiled, his green eyes sparkling. "Hey, Jackson, it's good to see you." Brandon greeted with a small smile. 

Lacey waved, giving Jackson a curious look. "So, straight to the point." Brandon, as usual, never beat around the bush. "Remi, you have the files?" Brandon glanced at Remington, who nodded, and smiled, producing a manilla folder with several files, insurance, Brandon and Lacey's health reports, all the necessary information for adoption. Jackson blinked, then laughed. "I should have guessed. Come on, he's through here." Jackson explained, heading towards a nursery room with a scarlet colored door. He opened it, and the trio peered inside curiously to see the newborn infant in the crib. 

Brandon hesitated, and headed over to the crib. The baby Rhondon was wearing a scarlet tunic that covered his body, and he was holding on tightly to the stuffed owl. Lacey noticed Rhondon's moon pendant, tilting her head. "That's the most gorgeous necklace I've ever seen." She murmured. Remington stayed near the door, as always. "He just appeared on our doorstop a few hours ago." Jackson explained softly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was magic." He crinkled his brows in confusion. 

"Well, that's impossible." Brandon noted, and Jackson just shrugged, still in disbelief. "He's so tiny." Lacey frowned in concern, peering into the crib where baby Rhondon was snoring away. "Any clues as to his parentage?" Brandon gave Jackson an intimidating stare, causing him to flounder a bit. "Well, no. We did a blood test, though. He's RH null, and completely clean of any type of sickness or anything, so he's perfectly healthy." Jackson replied. Lacey stroked Rhondon's head gently, already feeling an attachment. "Golden blood, that's really rare." Lacey commented softly, and Brandon nodded in agreement. "Does he have a name?" Brandon asked Jackson with a raised brow. 

The redhead shook his head, sighing. "No, we didn't find a note or anything." He admitted. "We'd like to adopt him." Brandon's tone of voice left no room for argument, and Lacey gave Rhondon a sad smile, pulling her hand back from his head. Jackson nodded. "Come with me, and we can get the process started." He replied, heading out of the nursery and shutting the door behind him. 

Everyone knew not to fuck with Brandon when he used that voice. Lacey chuckled softly as they headed back to the main office. An hour and a half later, all the necessary paperwork was completed. Lacey was cradling Rhondon, or rather, Bastian, as she had decided, as the trio made their way to the limo. Soon enough, the newly formed quartet was back at their large, beautiful stone home. "You're home, Bastian." Lacey whispered, kissing Bastian's head as he babbled softly. Brandon smiled at his wife, and shut the door behind them.