Mr Aurelius, on exposure to the sunlight had turned back human.
While this was awkward at first, he was actually a lot happier. He had lived a long time a female dragon-fairy, and saw many of his own family live and die... he really wanted nothing more, then to get back to a normal mortal life.
Getting back to his wife, was the harder part. The events of centuries were only hours to her. He tried to explain he was not the same person any more... but that also meant, they would have to get to know each other all over again.
Sad as it was, they did decide to separate for now... but not before Mr Aurelius, got to see his son.
"Hello," he said to her calmly as they stood outside the holiday house.
"So.. you're leaving?" Asked Jeff, sitting down. She had her hands over her knees.
"I'm afraid so. But I do intend to visit you," he said calmly. "I have a lot of things I need to work out..."
"I thought if you're you again though, we could be a family again? I was really hoping that!" The giant little girl looked with quiet distress.
Mr Aurelius sighed. "I'm still your father, no matter what... listen, your mother is not the problem, it was me. I can see that now. I... assumed certain things- things that made your life hell, as well as hers... I was not much of a father," he said grimly. "It took me four life time to realise that... hell, I didn't really make a good woman either because... I was just not a good person" he said wincing inside.
"So... what are you gonna do?" Asked the giant doll.
"First of all... I've made an account for you. It has almost all the money I have ever made"
Jeff blinked. "Y-you are giving me all the money?"
"Well, you and your mother. It belongs to you, but she'll take care of it for you until you grow up. The house as well, its all yours. Everything. Though if I were you, I would keep this holiday house. Its... quite nice."
Jeff stared as the words sunk in. "But... what if I don't ever grow up?" she looked down at herself sadly. She might be stuck like this forever! The sunlight didn't change her back because she hated being Jeff so much! She knew that... she didn't want to change back, deep down.
"We'll... cross that bridge when we come to it. I've also retired and sold off my companies. I don't really want to start all that again. Not sure quite what I'll do. Maybe I'll find something new. The companies will be put in charge of protecting a forest nearby... encouraging biodiversity that sort of thing. God I sound like a hippy," he said shaking his head.
Jeff wondered how much money her father made. She couldn't remember nor did she have a proper understanding of money any more. "What will you do?"
"Something. I... I don't know. Just something. Explore, look around... I don't have any family besides you and your mother. And well-" Mr Aurelius looked a little sadly in thought. He didn't really know how to raise a daughter, much less a son... now that he knew just how seriously bad he was. Was it better for him to be absent? For all of them? Even as bad as he was... he couldn't be sure. Was it selfish for him to want a relationship? Or was he just demanding as he always did? Being human again, he felt had had been given a second chance... but it would take a lot of work... "...I'll see you around son, okay? Just remember my lessons about money. Not all of it was bad... just make sure, you spend it on the right things. I'm sorry... I just have to go."
He turned away from the giant doll, looking over the great road... and the possibilities of his new life as a human once more. He turned back to his son. "I'll be a better father from you... I promise. You need anything... just call me."
"Uh- okay dad," said Jeff.
Julia tried her best to growl. Her antlers had come off again. She painstakingly tried to glue them back on. the proud horns that symbolised everything masculine in her new form... much like the fangs of a wolf, or the mane of a lion.... this was all she had left.
Was... she being stupid? Sentimental? It just made her look stranger to people, and drew attention. Why would she do such a thing, when all she wanted was to be left alone? Most people by now, would think she was just crazy and left her be.
The doe spent most of her days alone, except in school. There she would listen but not really... hear anything. She was lost in her own world. She was failing most of her classes, and while sometimes she would try- it all seemed so... small.
...she was so small.
She wanted to rage... she wanted to hit something. Throw... something... Do something! But she couldn't. Her only battle was no longer out there, but within. Her mind was a battleground of some of the most disturbing imagery she could have fathomed. None was worse though then the future... wherein lay a pregnant doe.
She explained to her parents what had happened to her... and just as promised, they believed her. there was no drama, they fully accepted her story. Julia almost wanted the drama. To have some reason to hate... to be angry. But there was nothing but support for whatever she decided to do. Why was this her choice!
She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable at the slight bulge in her abdomen. It wasn't really that noticeable yet.. at some point she had to ask herself, why not just end the pregnancy? Hell, the Goddess said she would send the baby to someone more deserving...
... because she couldn't. Not even for a selfless reason...a selfish reason. The baby, was the last... the very last reminder, of when she was a god. When... she was a wolf. A true hunter... this is all she had left.
...how could Julia possibly give up, anything that linked to her masculinity? Then she looked at her horns... glued on, and she could hear the laughter of an angel... she clenched her hands together, knowing she could never give it up. But... to give birth? She didn't want to do that! But if... but if...
"I'm a man," she said to herself in the mirror. "I'm a man a man a man!" She shouted- though the mantra just died in her head. What could she do? She didn't want the baby, but she couldn't give it up either. She was stuck...
"Please... I can't give it up but I don't want to do... do... that!" she said. "Can't there be some 'magic' way of just... getting it out of me?"
There was no answer.
Julia limped back to her bed, lying back on it. She wiped her eyes. It wasn't really just the situation...
...just being alone...
all exactly, what she wanted.
