Harrison was rummaging around in the refrigerator when Chip shuffled in, dragging his socks against the tile. He grumbled sleepily and without looking away from the fridge Harrison said, "Can't sleep?"
"Oh, no," Chip said, "I can sleep. I'm thirsty."
"Ah, well, there is always plenty here. Have your fill." Harrison said, leaving the door ajar as Chip shuffled past him and he sat on a stool at the island in the middle of the kitchen. Chip looked through the amenities as Harrison opened a cup of yogurt and began to spoon some into his mouth. Chip chuckled and said, "Prune juice?"
"I had...issues...before I got my abilities, Chip. I have bad experiences..."
"Fair enough. Speak no more," he chuckled as he withdrew a glass jar of orange juice. "Glasses...?"
"Top cabinet, two to the left of the fridge," Harrison said without looking away from the yogurt cup. Chip went straight for the glasses as Harrison said, "You didn't ask me how I knew it was you coming into the kitchen..."
"Strange to you?" Chip asked as he fetched a glass and poured some juice. "Well," he said, going to the fridge with the jar, "I figured you would know because I don't have powers. It would be easy to tell me apart from the others."
"You're right about that. You're very perceptive."
"Well, it was part of my job as a detective. I'm actually relieved I am not stuck in New York looking at dead bodies to tell you the truth. I didn't realize I hated my job until I was helping my niece flee to Paris to save the world." Chip said, mocking emphasis added at the end of his statement.
Harrison laughed as voices filled the hall beyond and Chip turned, leaving his glass on the counter as he said, "Connie... Did someone go get Connie and Charles..."
"Rollo and Delilah. And someone else is with them too..." Harrison said as Delilah stepped into the kitchen and walked straight to the island as Rollo, Connie, Charles and August walked into the room. Chip went straight to Connie and took her in his arms. She planted a kiss on his lips and he said, "I missed you..."
Rollo said, "That's sickening... It's been a few hours... A few hours apart and you two are romantically involved?"
"We have been since Jersey," Connie said softly.
"That's fucking nasty," August said and shook her head as Charles walked around the island and Harrison got up from the island and he said, "Charles..." giving the teenager a hug. August cut suspicious eyes as Charles sighed and said, "Harry..."
"Will things like this ever stop happening?" August asked and Rollo, Delilah and Harrison all told her no at once. August smiled as she shook her head and Harrison patted Charles on the shoulder as he separated from the boy, looking toward August. She asked what he wanted and he simply smiled before saying, "I have never felt energy like yours... I have had a grasp of your power for a long time now. I'm certain I knew of you when you released in New York but I have felt you for nearly ten years now... I still don't know what it means."
"Have you ever felt someone that wasn't released?" Rollo asked.
"Felt someone sealed? No, no way. I'd have thought it impossible if not for August. With her as an exception, it is still pretty unlikely. I would have to feel this again in order to change my idea on it. It still seems rather unlikely to ever happen again. I don't know what she is..."
August smiled slightly and Chip said, "Oh, so now you're okay with being the odd-man-out? You're done running...?"
"I'm coming to terms with it..." August said. "After the garden I just needed to be with Charles. When I entered the hotel room he was just waiting for me. It was almost as if he knew I was coming. He was standing no more than a foot away from the spot I moved to. I knew someone would come for Charles and Connie."
"Made sense to me," Delilah said. "Now get out of here. All of you need some rest."
"You're right," August said and took Charles hand. "I'm going to shower and I'll have Charles in the room with me. I'll see all of you later. Goodnight..."
The others said their greetings and began to leave the kitchen as Rollo said, "Chip and Connie-don't shake the house."
August said, "That's disgusting, Rollo..."
"The house is just big enough where we won't," Chip added.
"See," Rollo added, "I should keep my fucking mouth shut..."
As the commotion moved down the hall Delilah giggled and Harrison said, "You're much happier..."
Delilah held on to a smile as she slapped Harrison on the shoulder and said, "Because I have hope."