“I know. I miss you too. Yeah, I’m sorry I haven’t called; its been really hard to get any alone time. No I haven’t told them about you yet; I don’t think I will be. Yeah, they asked about it this morning; told them some story about working for the secret service. Of course I had to tell them something about leaving Aquitar; I couldn’t very well tell the truth, now could I? What would they think? You’re right. I really should have told them the truth, but how can I; they’d all hate me. Well, even if they wouldn’t have, they’re going to hate me now for lying. God, I felt so guilty telling them that sob story. Oh, told them you and the kids had died and I had to leave. Hey, don’t give me that; what’d you want me to say. The truth! They can’t handle the truth. If they knew Jason, Zack and Trini would be in morph in seconds, and Tommy, Rocky, and Adam would be hunting for their zeonizers. I can’t handle it if anything happened to them, Cestria. I can’t tell them that Aquitar was destroyed and that we fled for our lives. I can’t tell them that its partially my fault. No, it was my fault. I should have seen it coming. You know I don’t think Earth’s in danger, but even still, if they knew about Aurico and the others. Yeah, you’re right. Love you too. Tell the kids I’ll be home in about a week and a half. I promise, I will. Ok. Love you. Bye.” Moments after he hung up the phone, he spun around to find himself face to face with one very stunned teenager. “Trent! Hi!”“Why is that bad?” Conner asked, looking thoughtful.

“Read a tabloid sometime,” Tommy said darkly.

“Besides, it wouldn’t be fair if I got to tell my father and no one else did,” Billy said.

“Yeah, Trent,” Conner said loudly. “It wouldn’t be fair, Mr. Never-had-to-explain-why-I’m-sneaking-in-at-two-in-the-morning-to-angry-parents-who-were-really-worried-when-they-discovered-I-was-gone-because-there-was-a-monster-attack. Do you have any idea how many times I had to give my brother hush money?”She was surprised how ambivalent she felt about the whole thing. She’d spent more than five years of her life sleeping next to the man, but she could care less who he was with now or what he was doing. She thought that she would have a few regrets when the time came, but she felt nothing except relief. She would be free to raise her baby in peace and to be with Billy.

She pulled her knees to her chest and closed her eyes tightly as another wave of nausea assaulted her. Billy had a surprise for her tonight. They were going somewhere special. It wasn’t really a date. They didn’t really go out on dates the way Carri and Rocky did. They spent quiet time together, just enjoying each other’s company.