Shrieks erupted high above the city.

Splash!

Sahara didn't dodge – the water missed her anyway.

Two carbon copies of the same face and body splashed around excitedly in the water while a little girl jumped from a hovering board into the pool over and over again.

Alegra lounged in a hovering sunchair to the side. She wore sunglasses and a sunhat despite the fact that the sun had long gone down. She lounged in a red bikini that highlighted every curve and her gorgeous long legs. Were there any other guys around, they would have sat drooling. Fortunately, the twins were kept busy by Naomi and Orion sat at an angle where he didn't see her, keeping his gaze on the entertainment ahead.

Mo retreated to the safety of indoors the moment the cat had figured out water was involved. Not even the remnant smell of barbeque drifting through the air could make the feline come out.

An impromptu pool party had been announced the moment Sahara stepped through the door. According to the twins, it was time for 'bonding' as Orion planned to return to the café the next day.

Hair wet, Sahara sat on a hovering sunchair. She'd opted for shorts and a shirt, something about Alegra wearing what she was making her unable to feel comfortable wearing anything similar. It was unfair just how beautiful some people were born.

The thought made her sigh, but she couldn't hate anyone. Beauty was in the eye of the beholder, after all, was it not?

Hearing her sigh, Orion shot her a questioning glance.

Feeling the eyes on her Sahara gave him a smile. It dropped when she saw the drink he held. A single carton of strawberry milk. Orion was drinking it with a straw and had even stuck a little paper umbrella in the side to fit the atmosphere. The poor soul seemed to not be aware of the danger his life would be in if a certain someone decided to turn up.

"He has to turn up first," Orion spoke as though reading her thoughts. "Besides, we have so much in stock."

"Brave soul," Arden commented as he walked up to them, each step leaving a trail of water. He tilted his head, shaking water from an ear, before taking a seat at the edge of Orion's hovering sunchair. It dipped slightly.

Three familiar jagged scars ran across his toned chest. Unlike Terrell's, they were always visible. Sahara had heard bits and pieces of the story behind it, and she could only imagine the pain inflicted on the older of the twins. A brother's love was admirable, and for a moment it made Sahara jealous that she had never had any siblings.

"Charge!" Naomi ordered.

Sitting atop of Reagan's shoulders she had him wading around the pool while letting out battle cries.

Alegra dropped the shades on her nose to gaze at the two. "Naomi, dear, what did I say about yelling at people?"

"Do it confidently or not at all," Naomi recited. "Charge!" she roared louder.

Satisfied, the shades returned to cover royal eyes.

"If that girl ever grew up, she'd be scarier than anyone I know," Arden commented.

"When," Sahara corrected. Rayne and Alegra had been looking into the possibility of reversing the virus' effect. After all, they had no idea what being stuck in the mind and body of a child long-term would do.

"Can you imagine that though?" Arden asked. "She's got the Keepers and Phantoms wrapped around her finger. Rayne would have to move over; he wouldn't be able to challenge her at all."

Sahara grinned at the image of a grown Naomi bossing around the city.

"I wonder if even Terrell would stand a chance," Arden continued. He paused, eyes shifting to Sahara. "He's not joining?"

Orion turned to her too.

"Not answering," Sahara replied. She folder her legs and rested her chin on a palm. "I honestly don't know what's keeping him so busy."

"Did you ask?" Orion spoke.

"Not yet..." Sahara paused. "I guess I don't always want to have to ask."

"Communication is key," Arden told her. He leaned back.

"You're the second person to tell me that," Sahara informed him.

"Because it's true." Arden's eyebrows wiggled.

"Relationship advice from a single dog," Orion spoke.

"What does that make you?" Arden shot back with a grin.

Orion promptly kicked the boy from his sunchair.

"Vicious," Arden complained. Not missing a beat, he simply switched to sitting at the end of Sahara's seat. "Ah...the life of the singles. Give me a girlfriend!" Arden shook a fist at the skies.

Alegra turned her head to give the two a condescending look.

"You're in the singles club too," Arden told her before she could comment.

The princess didn't give an answer.

"Wait..." Arden's eyes narrowed. "Come to think of it, how is it that the only two together are..." He eyed Sahara. "You don't have any hot friends, do you?"

Three pairs of eyes automatically moved to Alegra.

"Not a chance." The princess shifted.

Arden clucked his tongue. "Whaaaaaat? It's not like I'm not good looking." He puffed out his chest. "I'll let you know I've had my fair share of admirers..." he trailed off. "Unfortunately, I have two things working against me." He lifted a finger. "One..." his eyes moved to where Reagan had decided to behave like a crocodile and chase a squealing Naomi around, "I have an idiot with the same face hanging around, and I promised to take care of him. And two," A second finger popped up, "I'm unfortunate enough to have other people around who diminish my visibility." His accusing eyes flew from Orion to Sahara to Alegra. As his real target wasn't present, he needed others to fill the spot.

"Don't blame others for your shortcomings," Orion told him without mercy.

"Shortcomings?" Arden spluttered. He jumped to his feet. "I'm tall, handsome, have a great sense of humor," he began to list his good points as though at an auction, "don't even mention my blocking skills in races..." he paused, face falling as his lips turned into a pout. "Why doesn't anyone love me?"

"Aaaaaaaaah!" Reagan was tackled by Naomi who'd decided to jump from a hoverboard and perform something that looked suspiciously like a wrestling move. The boy disappeared underwater.

"Yup, never mind." Arden sat down. His eyes turned to Orion. "I have an excuse, what's yours?"

The other boy raised his eyebrows. His fingers pushed his glasses up. "Dunno. Reagonans don't exactly like me for very valid reasons."

Arden froze and Sahara bit her lip as the mood dampened.

"Beside's, I'm married to the café," Realizing he had caused the dip, Orion made an attempt to lighten the mood. When it did nothing, his eyes quickly turned to Alegra. "What's your excuse?" he passed on the ball.

"Excuse?" Alegra didn't turn. "Why do you need an excuse to be single?"

"Wanna give dating a try?" Arden asked. He raised a hand. "I'm available."

"I've got a daughter," Alegra replied very quickly. "Besides, I like someone else," she added.

"I see," Arden nodded. He turned to Sahara. "Tell your man he should re-direct some of his admires this way...wait. WHAT?"

He joined Sahara and Orion who were staring at Alegra with dropped jaws.

"Hm?" Alegra remained calm.

"W-what did you say?" Arden asked.

Orion furrowed his brow. "You like someone?"

"What? Can't a girl like someone?" Alegra replied.

Sahara blinked a couple of times. "Since when?" she couldn't help but ask.

"Who?" Arden shot at the same time.

Naomi and Reagan continued to miss out on the gossip going on as their game turned into a version of Marco Polo where Naomi couldn't lose.

Alegra didn't reply.

"Glen?" Arden tried to guess.

"Gross."

"Orion?" Arden tried again.

"Huh?" Orion pointed a finger at himself.

"Family," Alegra debunked the theory.

"Me?" Arden wasn't about to give up.

"We'd both be miserable."

"Then –"

"If I want to share, I'll share," Alegra cut him off. With that, she turned her head away.

"Suspicious," Arden murmured.

Orion tapped his chin, looking to be in thought.

Sahara cleared her throat. "So..." she tried to find something to change the topic to.

"No more!" Reagan pulled himself from the pool. The twin bounded to where his brother sat, dripping water all over and splashing those on the chairs as he shook his head.

Orion withdrew, Sahara flinched, and Alegra let out a sigh as each received their share. Arden simply looked resigned to his fate.

"Whatcha talking about?" the boy asked looking a lot like a wet golden retriever. He was just missing the wagging tail.

"Single life," Orion was gracious enough to fill him in.

"Ah." Reagan's eyes darkened. "I can tell you one thing." He raised a finger. "And that is that most likely Sam is to blame as well as Ter–" he froze before completing the name and cleared his throat. "As well as some others."

"Sam? Orion leaned forward.

"Some made-up person who gave him an inferiority complex," Arden waved it off.

"He's not made up! He's the reason we missed out on some fine chicks!" Reagan protested.

"Tag time!" Naomi yelled from the pool as she gazed after Reagan expectantly.

Reagan's face paled. "I cannot entertain the monster alone anymore," he complained. "Too much energy!"

"You don't say?" Orion wiped a drop from his glasses with his shirt. He placed them back on his face. "I wonder what that's like."

"Help me," Reagan begged his brother.

"Tag!" Naomi called happily from where she floated around in the water.

"If it's just me, that means I'm it the entire time," Reagan complained.

"Man up and stop whining!" Naomi called as she floated to the far end with a giggle. She spat up a spurt of water much like a whale.

Alegra sat up. "I'll play."

Reagan's eyes looked suspiciously as though they filled with tears of thanks. He didn't get confirmation from his brother but grabbed him and forcefully dragged him to the pool.

"I have brought victims...I mean players!" he announced to Naomi who stopped floating and began treading water instead. Her swimming skills were proving to be just as good as her boarding.

Arden didn't resist and jumped into the pool before his brother, casually swimming away. Alegra paused beside Reagan. She tapped his shoulder.

"You're it." With a graceful dive, she left the younger twin behind.

"Ah!" Reagan realized he'd been bamboozled.

Sahara grinned.

"Sahara." Orion's soft voice drew her attention.

She found him watching her.

"Hm?"

"How likely will Terrell share everything with you if you ask?" his question caught her off guard.

Naomi's laughter echoed in the background as Alegra helped launch her over Arden too high for him to tag.

"If I ask, he'll share," Sahara spoke. Her eyes dimmed. "Why? What do you want me to ask?" she caught on quick.

Orion shifted. "It just feels off."

"What?"

"Everything." He tapped the rim of his glasses, deep in thought. "Not only is Terrell awfully busy...but Noctorious' agenda seems off." He lifted his eyes to meet hers. "How exactly did Terrell find your board so quickly when you said Noctorious took it?"

Sahara sat up straight. "Are you implying he's linked to them?" she asked.

"Possibly."

The Falcon omega scowled.

"You're it!" Reagan announced as he tagged Alegra.

"I have royal immunity," came her calm reply.

"That's not a thing!" was the protest.

"It is. Look it up."

Sahara chewed her bottom lip.

"It could be nothing. Even if he's not directly involved..." Orion's eyes clouded. "Something just doesn't sit right," he muttered.

"Noctorious appeared while Terrell and I were gone," Sahara spoke. Don't forget, no touching her, the scene from the moonlight gathering flashed through her mind. Her eyes narrowed and she quickly shook the rising thought from her mind.

"Iiiit!" Reagan sang as he tagged his brother successfully.

"Reagan tagged himself!" Naomi yelled.

Arden nodded. "Guess you get to stay it a little longer."

"Wait...what?" Reagan tapped his twin again. "Ah-ha!"

"Reagan's still it!" Naomi announced.

"I tagged Arden!"

"Who's Arden?" his brother deadpanned.

"You!"

"No. I'm you."

"No, you're not!"

"Yes, I am." With that, Arden calmly swam away.

"Fine. Reagan's it!" Reagan yelled.

"You said it." Alegra nodded.

Reagan slowly turned with eyes narrowed. "Why do I feel like this game is stacked against me?"

Naomi giggled.

Whirling, the younger twin pouted in Sahara and Orion's direction. "Come put me out of my misery," he begged.

"Join us!" Alegra agreed while Arden beckoned.

Sahara and Orion exchanged a glance.

"Ask him about it," Orion said softly before getting to his feet. He peeled his shirt, revealing the athletic body below. "Who's it?" he asked as he walked to the pool.

Three fingers pointed at Reagan.

Getting to her feet, Sahara moved to join the group. Yes, she needed to ask Terrell some questions because there were several things that weren't adding up. But for now, she wanted to take her mind off of Noctorious or anything else that put a damper on life.

Laughter drifted through the air as a crew entertained themselves with a simple game.