I laughed my head off and exclaimed, "You know what Ben? I still remember the time when you got yourself attacked by a squirrel about two years ago, I think." I giggled when I looked at him, "That squirrel literally jumped on your head and literally kicked your ass."

Emma's face went wide and looked at Ben incredulously, "Wait, a squirrel attacked you?"

Ben groaned and rolled his eyes, "Yes it did. That squirrel came out of nowhere and attacked me!" Then he put a paw to his chest, "Me, a grphon of all things to attack, it just attacked ME. I remember up to that day and ask myself, what the hell was that for?"

All of us laughed at that. It has been about two hours later and the night on the beach is still going on. Basically all of us have been swimming, chatting, making jokes. Even all of us started sharing what we liked and all that.

Me, Ben, April, and Emma are all sitting around on the beach now in a circle. Just enjoying the quiet rush of the waves.

Ben went on after we were done laughing, "And that little bitch had it coming! When it was attacking me on my back, I just reached back with my beak and snatched it off my back and killed the little fucker. That little bastard was a menace."

I crossed my arms and said to him, "Ben, the only reason why the squirrel attacked you, is because you've knocked over a bunch of nuts that thing was gathering on a tree." I raised an eyebrow, "I told you THAT before."

Ben shot back, "I didn't know about the nuts! I was trying to get an apple for you Jason and my beak knocked over the nuts by accident." Then he shrugged his wings and shoulders, "Not my damn fault, the damn squirrel can't take an apology."

I laughed and said, "Well next time....Don't piss off another squirrel."

He nodded, "Oh trust me, I won't. If I see another squirrel in the woods, I'M staying the hell away from it." Ben waved  a paw, "It can do whatever its heart desires. I don't care."

April giggled and said, "Aw....I'm sorry you got yourself attacked by a cute little creature."

Ben looked at her and narrowed his eyes, "April trust me when I say this to you, that squirrel was not a CUTE LITTLE CREATURE. So if I were you, I wouldn't be deceived by their cuteness ever again." Then he shot up his head, "I know I won't."

April nodded, "I'll keep that in mind, big guy."

Ben nodded in agreement, "Might as well. I'm only looking out for you. And if one squirrel does attack you, don't say I didn't warn you."

Emma then looked up at Ben and asked, "What about raccoons?"

I giggled, "Yeah and what about deer? I believe they're not cute creatures in the woods as well." Then me, April, and Emma laughed except for Ben. Who glared at all three of us.

Ben sighed and shook his head, "Fine guys, but if one creature from the woods attacks you, like I said...Don't say I didn't warn you."

I pointed at him, "And you better not come crying to us when you're attacked by another squirrel, deal?"

He nodded, "Deal!" Then he rolled his eyes in embarrassment, "Damn little bastard. I outa punch it."

Emma shot at him, "Now, don't be a baby."

He glared at her, "I'm not a baby."

April let out a laugh and exclaimed, "Yes you are! You're complaining about squirrels and you're whining like one."

He muttered under his breath, "I'm not a damn baby."

April put her hands to her hips, and asked, "Oh really? Ok, then what are you then?"

Ben formed a grin across his beak and answered, "A handsome devil, that's what I am."

April rolled her eyes and joked, "Whatever. I don't think that's what you are." Then her eyes went wide like she knew what he was, "I know what you are! How about....Show off?"

Ben shrugged, "Well I'll admit, I do always show off."

I grinned at him, "I know what you are. I think....Bird brain."

Emma exclaimed, "Knuckle head."

April giggled and said, "Feather head."

"Dumbass getting attacked by a squirrel."

"Feather brain!"

"Dork."

"Dork ass."

"Wing nut!"

"Goofball!"

"Molting crow!"

"Beak face!"

"No wait, I got it, feline breath!"

"Ego maniac."

Ben groaned by all the name calling, "Well that didn't take you guys long to call me all THAT!"

Emma raised a finger, "Ha! Doctor bird brain!"

Ben frowned at her, "You know I can understand being called a dumbass by Jason here, what kind of name calling is that? Calling me doctor bird brain. I'm not a doctor! I'm just a bird with a brain!"

Emma giggled, "Thought I try to be funny."

Ben exclaimed, "Yeah well, you're failing." Then he grinned at her, "You little tramp."

She shot a glare at him, "What did I do to you?"

"You called me a knuckle head a second ago. Also feather brain, dork ass, beak face, and wing nut!"

Emma laughed and patted his leg, "We were only kidding, big guy."

He nodded, "I know. But now it's my turn." He said to Emma, "You're a tramp." He looked at me, "Jason, you're gay." Then he looked at April, "And as for you April, you're a dirty farm girl."

April's eyes went wide at that, "WHAT?! I'm not a dirty farm girl!"

Ben said, "Well you live on a farm outside of town, so why do you think I'm calling you that?"

April glared at him, "Because you're being a jerk."

"No, it's to get back at YOU for calling me names."

April then showed a grin, "I'll admit, calling me a dirty farm girl was a good comeback."

I giggled, "Yeah and I called you a molting crow. I guess I deserved to be called gay." Then I raised a finger, "Just for the record, I'm not gay."

Emma and April both stared at me, April said, "I don't know, you look like it."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, "April!" Then the girls laughed and so did Ben. I exclaimed to them, "Not freakin cool!"

Ben shook his head, "Oh relax kiddo. April was just kidding."

I glared at April and Ben, "You two made me lost all my respect for you."

Ben shook his head again, "Don't care." Then he grinned at me.

I sighed and grinned back at him and all of us sat down on the beach in silence.

*****

I sat down on a rock near the beach. Since I took a walk on it, thought I spend some time alone away from the group.

My thoughts went to mom and dad, as I stared up at the sky. Me and Ben are having a fun time together with the girls. God you should have seen the look on Ben's face when we started playfully name calling him! It was hilarious!

I sighed to myself. I wish you guys were here to see us. Just this one time. So that way you could join in all the fun. See how grown up I am.

That I...I look like you dad.

I heard a voice interrupt my thoughts, "Jason, there you are!"

I looked and saw Emma coming toward me. I giggled and said, "Yeah sorry about that Emma. I was just taking a break from everyone here. So I found this rock and sat on it for....Five minutes, I think."

Emma got closer to me and giggled as well, "Well you were gone for a long time! Me and the others were worried that you went swimming and the ocean carried you off."

I shrugged, "Well if that happened, since Ben has wings he would fly over the ocean to find me. After all, he can be a fast flyer."

Emma had a concerned look and said, "Well I wouldn't want to find out what happens if that did happen. I don't want you to drown."

I waved her off, "Oh please, I'm not going to swim all by myself. I'm not that stupid."

She nodded, "Good, because if you were, I wouldn't speak to you again." Then she elaborated, "You know...For being an idiot."

I laughed and shook my head, "Oh I'm hardly ever an idiot." Then she laughed as well and sat down on the big rock beside me. Just the two of us sitting alone together.

Emma sighed and looked at me, "Hey Jason?"

I looked at her and she said, "I'm glad you and Ben came along to hang with all of us on the beach. I haven't had this much fun since I was a little girl."

I replied, "Well sometimes being an adult can be a tough thing to go through." I chuckled, "Sometimes, I wish I was a kid again."

Emma grinned at me, "Why? So you could watch your favorite TV show that doesn't air anymore?"

I had a glum look on my face and she knew what I was thinking, "Oh....I'm sorry."

I shook my head, "No, it's okay." I sighed, "I'm still trying to move past what happened to me. And so is Ben, I would imagine. He misses my parents as well."

Emma had a glum look as well, "Well I'm still sorry for your loss. I hate it when something like that happens to some people." She sighed, "I wish we had some way of bringing people back to life. Just to spend some time with the person, one last time before he or she goes away forever."

I nodded, "Yeah...And sometimes I dream about them. That they came back to me and Ben, and we all never left each other ever again. It...Always seems to good to be true."

Emma put a comforting hand on my shoulder, "It's okay Jason."

I sighed and I decided to change the subject, "So what about you, Emma? I know that your dad is a busy sheriff who doesn't pay any attention to you hardly, but what about your mom? I haven't talked to her yet."

Emma smiled, "My mom is just like me. She's a nurse at a hospital." She looked out at the ocean, "She was always supportive of me, but of course she's not always there for me. Too many shifts to fill in, it's no wonder I hang around with April all the time."

I grinned at her, "I wonder how you two met each other? Through school?"

She nodded, "April was always my best friend from day one. That's how we knew each other."

I asked her another question, "So...I have to ask....Why are you living in town still? I think you've graduated from school, since you work at a grocery store. So...How come you never went to college?"

She sighed, "Because of Jared."

I frowned at her, "Jared? The guy who hit you the other day?"

She nodded once more, "Yep, that guy."

My fury the other day was getting to me. I hated that guy for hurting her and she's a girl! Not cool at all in my opinion and me and Ben saved several women from being beat up by their boyfriends before.

"I'll be perfectly honest Jason. He was the reason why I never went to college to begin with. You see he didn't want this long distance relationship between us and so I stayed here for him. But...What I didn't know about, was that he was cheating on me with some girl who's my rival named Dana. And she's basically a slut."

I giggled and she glared at me, "That's not funny you jerk."

I waved her off and gave her an apologetic look, "Sorry, I was laughing about the slut part."

She playfully grinned at me, "I take it that you and Ben see girls like that through all your travels?"

I laughed and playfully said back, "No. Ben never saw girls like that, but I did when I walk around in towns during the night. Believe me, I know what prostitution is." Then I raised my hands in defense, "But I never went into that. I never paid a girl to do...THAT with me."

She nodded, "I know. You're not that kind of person."

I nodded as well, "Thank you."

Emma sighed and went on in her tale, "I never knew that Jared cheated on me behind my back and he thinks it's okay that he did it. He never had any responsibility for anything. He really was an bastard. A narcissistic bastard." She closed her eyes, "I regret staying here in this town, I probably should have went to college, instead of staying here for him. To the guy who never cared about what I want."

I nodded, "I don't blame you for thinking that way." I put a hand to my chest, "I would have beat his ass, knowing that he has hurt you. You don't deserve that kind of treatment."

She smiled at me, "Thanks Jason. I knew you would. You would protect me, just like you've protected me from those rapists. And that's why I trust you."

I exclaimed, "Don't forget about big bird. He helped out as well. After all he's Superman."

Emma laughed, "Superman? I would imagine you guys being Batman and Robin." I laughed at that.

I asked her when I was done laughing, "Which one am I? Batman or Robin?"

Emma put in some thought and she actually said, "Robin."

I frowned at her, "Why Robin? Why couldn't I be the dark knight?"

"Because you look like a Robin type of guy."

My eyes went wide and I giggled a bit, "I see your point, I guess. Ben looked like the dark knight type of guy anyways."

Emma asked after that, "So why did you call Ben, Superman?"

I grinned at her, "My mother told me before she died that Ben was like Superman to her. Plus, Ben told me that he read the Superman comics when he was little, when he actually could live in a house." Emma giggled and I went on, "When...Mom died, she made him promise to be Superman and do good for the world. And so would I, we both did great things together for six years."

She nodded, "But even you're tired of it?"

I sighed and answered, "To be honest, I was tired of travelling from place to place. I feel like I wanted to have a home." Then I shrugged, "So far, I have one here. And I like it."

She put a hand to her mouth, "So you did crime fighting, for your mother?"

I nodded, "That's one way of putting it, yes."

She rubbed her hand on my shoulder, "Well I'm sure she's proud of you for doing that. I would be as well." Then she placed a kiss on my cheek. My eyes going wide with that.

I looked at her and asked, "What was that for?"

"A kiss for my hero. For standing up for me, when no one else had the chance. For helping me feel better about the whole Jared thing. No one doesn't stand up for me like you did." Then she added, "Well April would, but she's not you."

I grinned at her and joked, "Well if she did stand up for someone and fought crime like me and Ben do, she would be Batgirl."

Emma laughed and asked, "So what super heroine would I be?"

I answered, "Wonder Woman."

Emma smiled, "That's a good one."

I nodded, "Yeah and plus she's hot."

I could see some red in her cheeks. Oh boy, I must have got to her.

She noticed me looking at her cheeks and asked, "Let me guess, you saw my cheeks have turned red, didn't you?"

I giggled, "You kinda look cute when you're blushing."

She muttered, "Don't make me kick your ass." Then we both laughed.

Emma sighed and got up from the rock standing in front of me, "Look Jason, I need to get going. My dad would probably kill me for staying out of the house all night."

I got up from the rock and said to her, "You know, one day I know you will be out from under his roof. Someday. That way he wouldn't treat you like a little girl ever again."

She let out an annoyed huff and crossed her arms, "Yeah, and doesn't treat you like a criminal as well. I hate him for that."

I shrugged, "Well maybe I should talk to him about that."

She shook her head, "Not the best idea. He's always judgmental, no matter what you say to him."

I let out a long sigh, "Well at least I gave it a whirl."

She laughed and nodded, "Yeah at least you tried."

I nodded and started to walk past her, before I could go any further, she said, "Jason?"

I whirled around and looked at her, "Yes?"

She looked nervous and asked slowly, "Do you...Do you want to go out with me?"

I just stared at her, wide eyed, "What?"

She narrowed her eyes at me, "You heard me, fish boy. Do you want to go out with me?"

I put a hand to my chest, staring at her incredulously. Holy crap! A girl asked me out!

For the very first time in my life, a girl actually asked me out! And it's Emma of all people! I'm shocked.

I was still staring at her and she was worried that I was nervous about the whole thing. She said, "Look Jason, I'm nervous myself. But...I've been having this thought lately and well...Since you've been alone for a long time, I thought maybe I should give this a try with you. Just to...Make you feel not alone anymore."

I still stared at her and she asked, "Would you give this a try? You know...With me?"

Finally after another moment of staring I smiled at her and with a trembling voice I said, "I...I...I love to."

She beamed at me, "Great! How about tomorrow night?"

I nodded, "Ye....Yeah...." Then I rubbed the back of my neck.

Emma laughed, "Wow...I've never seen a guy so nervous before."

I sighed and let my hand fall to my side, "I've never done this before."

She nodded, "I know. But still, don't be so nervous about it. Give it a chance and we'll se if it'll work out." She made a devious grin at me, "Besides, I want to go out with the hero who saved me. Not every girl gets to do that."

I laughed and said, "Alright...I'll give it a shot tomorrow night."

She walked toward me and said, "Good, meet me at the diner in town tomorrow night, okay?"

"Ok."

She nodded, "Good and don't worry about my overprotective sheriff father. I'll handle him." Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek and walked past me, "See you later, Jason."

After she walked past me, I was still standing there after she kissed me. Pretty shocked by the whole thing.

Man, would mom and dad be proud. I...I would have my VERY first girlfriend.

I never knew this would have happened, I thought Emma would think of me as her friend. But she trusts me more than any guy she has probably been with. That's why she would ask me out.

Well okay, I like her that way as well. And even I was hesitant to ask her out.

I had a grin on my face. I'm glad, I didn't have to try to ask her out first. I would pass out for being so damn nervous!

Emma....

I hope I'm the guy you want. I hope I don't disappoint you.

You deserve better than what happened to you before.

You do.

*****

I walked back to where I was on the beach. Wondering if April and Ben are still there. I haven't said goodnight to them yet.

When I go around the corner, I saw Ben laying around on his stomach alone without April.

I frowned as I walked toward him. That's odd, where did April go? Guess she went on home without him and Ben wanted to spend more time with me. I am his nephew after all. Well more like a son to him, than nephew.

I walked until I was totally in front of him and said, "Hey big buy. What are you still doing here?"

Ben grinned at me and said, "I was waiting for you. I don't spend time with you all day like I've used to. You now live in a town."

I sighed and nodded, "Yeah, I know big guy. But I make a living there now and plus you have April as your company."

Ben shrugged his wings, "Well she's a girl, there's a difference. I want us guys together again, like before." Then he playfully said, "Just us boys, out on the road. Picking up chicks."

I laughed and exclaimed, "What? What chicks? What chick would go out with the vainest gryphon on earth?"

Ben laughed as well and said, "A hot chick who's crazy about me, I guess."

I rolled my eyes and said to him, "Well do yourself a favor, don't show off too much in front of the girl. Trust me, not every girl likes a show off. Keep that in mind."

He nodded, "No problem kiddo, no problem."

I giggled a bit and said, "Well just to tell you something." Then I shyly said, "I think I have a potential girlfriend now."

He grinned at me, "Well I was wondering what took you so long. Because Emma came back here alone without you, and she had a big happy smile on her face. She left with April not very long ago."

Then he asked, "Let me guess, you're pretty shocked about a girl asking you out?"

I giggled nervously, "Yeah kind of. This has never happened to me before."

Ben nodded, "Well just remember one thing from me, Jason." He raised one claw from his paw, "Always treat the girl with respect, and don't rush into having sex with her. It would be a big turn off for her."

I playfully rolled my eyes. Great, now I'm taking advice from the vainest gryphon in the world.

I shrugged, "I'll try to remember that." Then I giggled.

Ben then looked like he was nervous, judging by the look in his eyes and turned his gaze away from mine. I had a concerned look and asked, "What's wrong, Ben?"

Ben looked at me and he took a deep breath and said, "Jason, the reason why April left me alone is...I need to talk to you."

For some reason, I didn't like the look of this conversation. Because...He also had a guilty look in his eyes as well.

I wonder what's wrong with him? What does he want to tell me?

I shrugged and asked, "What is it?"

He raised a paw and asked, "Now Jason before I tell you, I want to ask you something first." He took a deep breath and asked with a pleading look, "Do you trust me? That no matter what I say to you, you wouldn't judge me no matter what?"

I frowned, "Huh?"

"Jason...For six years...I've felt guilty about something and I wanted to tell you all this time and time again. But I won't hold back the truth from you anymore. You...You deserve the truth."

I asked, "What truth? Tell me what?"

He said, "Something I should have told you a long time ago."

I said to Ben, "Ben, what is it? You're kinda making me nervous and you've never acted this way."

Ben sighed and closed his eyes, "Okay Jason." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then he opened his eyes, "Do you trust me or not?"

I nodded and Ben took another deep breath and finally said it, "It's about your mother."

Now that became a big question mark on top of my head, "What about her?"

Ben nervously said, "For years Jason, before she died, before you were born. I have lived with a secret and I gave your mother that secret years ago. And even I feel guilty about it, and even when she died, the guilt became worse than before."

I just stared at him, waiting to hear what he has to say next. He said, "I...I loved her, Jason. I loved your mother."

My eyes went wide. I knew what he meant when he said those words. The way he had that look in his eyes, the way he said it.

It looked like the look and tone that my dad would say to her.

Ben was...In love with her. In love with my mom.

Ben saw my look and said with a guilty tone in his voice, "I'm sorry Jason. I know what it looks like. That I look like a freak for thinking that way about her. But...But it's true. I did love her back then. Your mother was the kindest soul, I've ever known. I...I really did love her."

I softened my look and he went on, "When you were eleven, one night your mother came outside to talk to me. She couldn't sleep that night. She wanted to let out some energy and she thought she would do that by talking to me." He shook his head, "I never mind her company."

He sighed, "Before you were born, I fell in love with her and even after you were born, I wanted to tell her and show her how I've felt towards her." He closed his eyes and muttered softly, "I...She was about to leave, but I had to tell her sooner or later. Whether she had a husband or not, I had to tell your mother this. And...I even showed her."

Then he bluntly said, "I...I kissed her."

That really got to me. He kissed her?! He kissed my mom?!

Ben said in a apologetic tone, "I'm sorry, Jason. I really am sorry. But I did love her and I regretted it. I regretted kissing her and she never wanted it. I stopped myself before things went to far. And after all that happened, I made my promise that I wouldn't do that to her again."

He looked down at his paws, "Your mother never hated me for it. Despite how scared she was about that, she never left my side." He sighed, "I wanted to tell you this for years, but I was afraid what you would think of me. I..I didn't want to lose you, just like I've lost your mom and dad. I...I didn't want to be alone. You're like a son to me. More than a nephew. I..I love you, Jason."

I was in a loss for words by the whole revelation. Ben...Loved my mother.

I had a feeling about them more than once, why they were so close compared to my father. That mom and Ben talked to each other a lot. Why Ben kept asking about her a lot.

Ben really did love mom and he never told anyone this. He didn't want to lose me.

Ben pleaded, while his eyes started to water, "Please say something. Please forgive me."

A part of me is so shocked about it, I wanted to punch his beak for that.

But...I won't do that. Ben is...Like a dad to me. I could never hate him. I never did hate him in my life. He always protected me when mom and dad died. He was always there for me. He may have been overprotective of me, but he's still family.

I will never hate him. Never.

I finally said a few words, "Ben...." I smiled at him for the first time since his confession, "I forgive you."

Ben smiled at me and I went on, "I can understand why you would love my mother. She really is a kind and caring person. There was no on else quite like her."

I walked more closer to him and laid my hand on his chest, I could feel his heart beating against the palm of my hand, "I don't hate you, Ben. I will never turn my back on you."

Ben lowered his head to my level and looked at my eyes. He muttered, "I can see why you're like your mother, that you're Cassandra's son. That you're kind and you would do anything to make anyone happy."

I grinned at him and Ben said, "You...You do have your mother's eyes." Finally he broke down in tears and started sobbing, "I'm sorry, Jason." Then he buried his face into my chest.

I wrapped my arms around his head and hugged him tight, "I'm sorry too, Ben. I'm sorry about mother and I'm sorry for you." I started to cry along with him. Both of us sobbing. While I was holding him, I went down to my knees, still holding him in my embrace.

I would never turn my back on you Ben. You are my family.

I know you've loved my mother for years, but it's all in the past now. You're not the bad guy, you had the courage to tell her how you've felt.

You thought I would think of you as a freak for thinking that way about her, but you're not a freak. You never were. And I'm sure that both dad and mom wouldn't think of you as a freak as well. We all care about you, no matter what you have done.

I love you...Dad.

*****

On the helipad on top of the Brewer Technologies building in New York City. Several people, including the owner of the corporation are heading to a helicopter to go for a ride.

The owner said to one of the guys who worked for him, "You're sure, that the gryphon and the boy are in North Carolina?"

The guy who worked for him said, "Judging by the newspaper article I've showed you, they probably are. We'll just have to check out the area and figure out where they went afterwards."

The owner said as he and his men got on the helicopter and took their seats, "We'll find them. They may have escaped us years ago, but they won't escape this time." Then the owner shut the helicopter door and said to the pilot, "Lets go."

The pilot said as he turned on the helicopter, "We'll be in North Carolina in two days sir!"

The owner said, "That'll be fine! Lets get out of here!"

The helicopter took off from the helipad and flew away from the building. On it's way to North Carolina.