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Nic shrugged. "I guess that everything will work itself out," he replied. "That Yue will believe me. That I can settle things with Sheng. That we can stop whoever wants to hurt us. That we can start rebuilding our lives."

--

Without a sound, Yue slowly tipped over, mind too overwhelmed to stay conscious anymore. So she laid on the ground, covered in sweat, body shivering. Like she had thought, the trip into the past had proved too difficult for her. And now she was alone, somewhere between the past and present. Lost somewhere in her mind like James was lost in his.

--

"What do you think we should name him?" Sheng asked. Then after a moment he called, "Long." Long blinked. "Ling and I have shared our opinions," Sheng explained. "So what do you think?"

Long blushed a little, feeling very out of place. "I couldn't," he replied quickly.

"Why not?" Sheng asked. Ling giggled a little.

It took a little more persuading from Sheng and his sister, but Long eventually timidly replied, "... Xing?"

Sheng nodded a little. "Perhaps Xing would be a fitting name," he mused. Ling nodded in agreement. "... That would be the name you would give your own son, wouldn't it?" Sheng asked, resting his chin on his hand.

Long's eyes widened a little, and Ling found her voice caught in her throat. After a long moment, Sheng mused, "... Then perhaps it wouldn't be..." Then he started talking about other things, and the topic was dropped. But Long couldn't get Sheng's question out of his head.

Laurel nodded, kissing his jaw again, "Well, considering we both believe in magic now, there's a good chance the wishes will come true. What's more powerful than a star, right?" she smiled.

--

A doctor eventually found Yue and attempted to pick her up and place her in her bed.

Nic didn't reply, but he pulled Laurel a little closer and rested his chin on her head.

--

Yue didn't respond. Nothing seemed to be wrong with her physically; it seemed to be all mental. Based on how they found her, it looked like she had been meditating and it had gone awry.

So Laurel snuggled up to him and was silent for awhile, "When we get through all of this." Laurel said quietly, "Is there someone you'd like to live? You've been on the run for so long... there must have been someplace you wished you could have settled down." she figured.

--

The doctor sighed a little and went to get Kalma. Kalma came in a little later and glared at Yue for a long while before leaving again. When she came back, she had pepper.

Nic shrugged. It didn't look like he had put any thought into it. "What about you?" he asked.

--

It was difficult to get Yue to breathe in the pepper. And when she did, it didn't have too much of an effect unlike last time. Instead of wanting to get out, some part of her seemed to want to stay.

Laurel seemed a bit embarrassed and didn't reply as she squirmed sightly.

--

Kalma sighed a little, "Sadist." she told her. She left and came back in with a airhorn which she proceeded to blow directly into Yue's ear.

Nic let her squirm and not reply. He didn't seem to be in a pestering mood.

--

It didn't work.

"I don't think you'd like it." Laurel finally sighed.

--

Kalma left again, returning after a while with a glass of water. She slowly poured it over Yue's face. Eyes focused.

Nic shrugged.

--

Yue seemed determined to remain where she was; to take care of some unfinished business. She started shaking again a little as the water seeped into her clothes.

So Laurel watched the stars for a long while before starting to get drowsy.

--

Once Kalma was sure Yue wouldn't wake for anything, she got to work. In no time at all, Yue had a face mask on, hair wrapped in foil and drying and nails primped.

Nic let Laurel doze a bit, but before she could fall asleep he started to stand up.

Laurel blinked her eyes open and immediately started complaining at Nic's movement.

--

By the time Kalma was done, Yue was silky, vibrant skin with no trace of dark circles, slightly highlighted and shining hair and perfect nails. Bored again, Kalma stared at her for awhile before James acted up and she left Yue alone.

"You should sleep in your own bed where its warm," he told her, still standing.

"I can't sleep alone." Laurel protested, "Can't we just stay out here?" she was whining a little in her tiredness.

"... I can find Rosemary for you," Nic offered, trying to get her up.

Laurel stayed on the ground and suddenly there were tears in her eyes. She didn't seem to notice right away because when she did she tried to scrub them away.