"Mother. What are we thinking, Brother?" The blue-clad demon grumbled, pinching the bridge of his nose. A red one just shrugged, running toward the presence he felt. "I know she's here." There was a hesitancy in his voice.

He wasn't quite sure he wanted to see her again.

"You're nervous." Benjamin observed. Zace jumped a bit, startled by the accuracy.

"I swear, sometimes I wonder if you have telepathy." The older one laughed, looking down at his shoes.

"No magic needed to read a person. Just an alert mind." The other said, patting his brother's shoulder. Zace gave another weak laugh.

"I just don't know how she'll react to seeing us. Like, Mother has thought we've been dead for seven-" Ben quietly cut him off, saying, "Million."

Zace paused, looking down at him. "A year here is a million years at home." Ben sighed, rubbing his hands together, cursing the cold of midnight.

"Seven million years... We've been dead for seven million years, then..." Zace whispered, looking up at the bright stars. "How about we just say it in 'home years'?" Ben suggested. Zace nodded. "I like home..."

There was a bit of silence as the two continued walking to the presence. "I miss home, too, man." Ben mumbled, looking up at the red-clad one.

They decided to no longer say more about the subject.

Ben stopped, grabbing his brother's jacket sleeve. Zace stopped, glancing over to the younger. "Look up..." Zace did as his brother told him.

The two looked up breathlessly at the bright white Moon. It was new and beautiful. The brothers felt it so close to them. They felt as if they could touch it. It was pure.

It seemed to illuminate a path for them.

Zace's fists clenched. "That's her calling card! The Moon! She's the Moon! Father is the Sun and stars!" He realized, his voice rising. Ben gaped in shock, and the two bolted off down the path. They tumbled through bushes and tall grass as they neared a clearing. The Moon was as bright as the Sun as it shone down on the clearing. There was a small cabin that looked like it housed a lonesome person. There was a woman with long black hair cascading down her back standing in front of it and tending to a fire.

"That's her." Ben whispered, his voice quiet and breathy.

The two boys practically fell out of the path into the clearing. The woman stood, her pale skin a reflection of the moonlight. She was wearing a plain white dress and black boots. The woman's raven tresses were pierced by streaks of white in the bangs. An eyepatch covered where her right eye would be, and the visible one was black with a white cat-like pupil. A burn scar ran across her face, spreading red across it.

She saw the boys and her worried expression fell into one of shock.

"My sons..." The woman whispered, her voice wavering. "How- I- Oh my-my sons!" She stammered, completely lost for words. Tears brimmed in her eye as she rushed forward to the boys. She embraced them, resting her head on the two shoulders that were between them. She shook with sobs, and Zace winced worriedly. They were not sobs of despair, however. They were cries of joy to finally see her children's faces.

Ben immediately melted into the hug, wrapping her hands around the woman. Zace just stood there, stiffly.

After the woman calmed down, she wiped her eye and managed to calm down. "How wonderful it is to see you in front of me. I never thought this day would come." She whispered, standing up and clearing her throat. Ben smiled, tears welling in his eyes. "Mother... I-I really can't believe it's you!" He whispered. She waved her hand, absentmindedly. "No need for such formality, my child. I'm your mom. Anything you want to call me. I'm just so happy to see you." She assured him. "Mom, then." Ben responded. "I think I'll just stick to 'Mother'." Zace said quietly. The woman's expression softened at the sight of her oldest, who looked down at his feet.

"How about we go inside? I'm sure you're starving." She said, clasping her hands together. Ben nodded, as the fish they'd eaten no longer satisfied them, since it was hours ago. Zace had to admit he was hungry, and nodded as well. She smiled and led them inside her cabin.

The inside was as dainty and welcoming as the outside. A light bulb offered illumination for one of the three rooms. The room they stepped into had a couch near the fire, a rocking chair next to that, and a table strewn aside. "Sit, sit, make yourselves comfortable. This is home, after all." She said. Zace and Ben did as the woman said and took off their shoes and sat down on the couch. The woman snapped her fingers, using some magic to manifest two plates of grilled chicken and carrots.

Ben slightly stared at his mother, feeling a bit off at seeing her in the plain, white dress. She seemed to notice. "Oh, yes, I'm terribly improper in this old thing," the woman said, nodding. "Give me one moment, my children. I will be right back." She smiled and walked off.

Zace ate his food wordlessly. Ben reached over and wrapped a hand around his brother's wrist. "Didn't get that much to eat these past years?" He whispered, noting how he could fit his whole hand around it.

Zace glanced down. "No, I'm just kinda like this." He whispered back. The older one seemed embarrassed. Ben recoiled nervously.

"Sorry, did I make you upset?" Zace just shook his head. He seemed to say he was used to comments like that. He was noticeably thin, but it was by no unnatural means. His body just worked that way. He hated it. Ben looked down in shame, but Zace gave him an assuring glance.

He wasn't mad at him. He'd never resent him. Not again.

They ate in silence, still waiting for their mother.

Zace looked at the rocking chair near the couch. Draped on it was a flowing black cloak, very much like the boys' own. He reached over and took it, running his hands along the soft fabric. His hands reached the bottom of it and he lifted it as he looked at the stitching along the hem. In gentle cursive with white thread, there was the name "Elizabetta Cipher." Directly above it was the nickname "Lizzy." That was his mother. Elizabetta Cipher. His father's Lizzy.

He sighed shakily, his hands tightening around it. "And I'm back, boys."

The woman arrived then, her head brushed and neat, some of it down in gentle waves and the rest tied up with a white ribbon. A white and black top hat rested on her head, a black star clipped to the black ribbon around it. She was wearing a black blouse with white buttons, a fluffy black skirt, a white jacket with black buttons and white off-the-shoulder sleeves and short, black sleeves over that. A black ribbon was around her neck. She had black socks with two, white, vertical straps and small white bows. White boots with black bows covered her feet.

She saw the cloak in Zace's hands and reached out wordlessly. Zace carefully handed the handmade craft to his mother.

"You still have your cloaks..." She observed.

Zace tugged at his cloak, looking down at his name stitched at the hem. "Yea, it's really nice." He mumbled. Ben smiled and nodded. "They're beautiful." He hummed. Elizabetta sat down in the rocking chair, putting her cloak on and clasping it around her neck.

For a few minutes, they just sat in silence. They had to take in the fact that they were together again. For so long, they believe that each one was dead. It was wonderful to be together again. Like a family...

That was what made it so horrible.

Zace hugged himself and looked out the window. "I wish Father and William were here..."

That was what they all were thinking.

Ben silently reacted, recoiling back and holding his knees to his chest. Elizabetta made an odd, strangling-like noise as her hand tightened around the arm of the chair. They listened to the rain that was starting outside, a light rumbling of thunder in the air.

That was when there was a knock.

Elizabetta carefully stood and walked to the door. She was perfectly justified in being nervous. She and her sons were not human, and it seemed that humans were not always kind when it came to beings they didn't understand. And she certainly didn't want to harm anyone unless she had to.

With an anxious sigh, she opened the door. Then froze.

There was a boy, only ten, with messy purple hair, which faded to silvery white, that had grown to his shoulders. He had pale skin and his face could not be seen, as his head was bowed. He was in a purple suit, white shoes, a light gray tie, and a white belt. On his head was a small purple top hat with a white ribbon around it, and a faux violet placed gently on the ribbon. He had a black cloak around his neck that was much larger than him, swishing down to the floor.

He looked up quickly when the door opened. His face was grimy, had a few bruises under his light purple eye, and a busted lip. A purple and white eyepatch covered where a right eye would've been. His cat-like pupil was dilated in an innocent, doe-eyed appearance.

"H-hello, my na-" He stopped, looking at the woman's shocked face.

"Mama..." He whispered weakly.

Zace heard that and stood immediately. Ben perked up. The boy said nothing else and tackle-hugged his mother. Elizabetta wrapped her arms around her youngest, tears starting to run down her face. "Mama!" He repeated, his voice choking. The older boys ran over and joined the hug. They knew who this child was. This was the baby of their family.

William Jr.

~~~Once In the Dream Dimension~~~

"Lizzy! Lizzy! Where are we going?" He called, stumbling to keep up with her. "Someplace special, William." She responded, humming sweetly. "Special?" He asked, gripping her hand. "Special."

Within moments, the two were in the woods near her house. They stepped over branches and rocks. She swatted bugs away from them, looking down at him - he was an inch shorter than her. "We're here." She said, pointing up to one of the trees. He looked up and his eye widened.

Among the trees was a rickety treehouse, floating with sparkling black and white magic. "I was able to put the pieces back together with my magic." She said, lifting her hand as a branch snaked down like stairs. He awed, smiling excitedly. "You really did this? That's so cool!" He laughed as they stepped onto the branch. She laughed a bit as well, turning to hide the blush on her face. They stepped up on the branch and were lifted to the treehouse.

They clamored into the old structure, but the magic held up strongly. He lifted his hand, making a teal flame appear in it. They needed some light, as the sky was darkened. He let out an amazed gasp in response to what he saw.

There was a small cake in the treehouse and a small banner behind it that said, "Happy Birthday!"

"Y-you did this for me?" He whispered, looking at her. She smiled and sat down next to him. "Of course! You're my best friend, William!" She said, hugging him. Tears pricked to his eye and he hugged her back tightly. "Thank you, Lizzy! You're so amazing!"

"Happy eleventh birthday!"