To The Place I Belong [Alyss]

[Westley Roberts]

((Country Roads, Take Me Home pt. II)) 


Westley counted the apartment numbers silently to himself as he passed them, making steady time in his search for 11B. The counting was probably the least-necessary thing he'd ever done—he hadn't hit his head recently—but it had been a long walk from the library, and an even longer transportation from home. He had to keep his mind occupied with something. (Otherwise it would slip in the direction of Della's predicament, and he wasn't about to cloud a happy moment with that, not when the three of them had fought so hard for their happy moments in the first place.)

He hiked the bag of his most essential belongings higher on his shoulder, turning sideways to allow an old woman to pass him by. He could have sworn he caught her muttering under her breath; something about the rent being lower in her shoe. Turning to watch her go over his shoulder, he spotted movers in front of another apartment, attempting to wedge the first of what looked to be a dozen mattresses through a doorway.

Westley exhaled a soft laugh to himself. Just as I left it.

Finally. 11B, just ahead. He felt his pace quicken, not only in relief, but a swell of anticipation. As important as it had been to find Della first, Alyss had been second on his list, and now there was a solid third in her little girl. The child of his old friend and former savior was a child he needed to meet before another thing happened on this campus. He only hoped the two of them were home.

Stopping at his destination, raising himself up tall and failing to resist a small, sly smile, he lifted his hand and knocked three times on the door.

[Alyss Heart]

Indeed, the Heart women were at home, and well...it was wise to remember that while the relationship between mother and daughter was strangely idyllic, there were definitely challenges for a PTSD ridden queen raising a demigoddess that was well on her way to trickster tendencies. Especially when said queen was also a teacher, and often had to juggling lesson planning with having diplomatic discussions...and said trickster daughter sometimes made that very difficult.

Fortunately, Alyss was not only rather clever, but had Imagination powers that had served her well in transporting her friend to a fictional place, and she quickly realized that about the only way Alyss could ever hope to get any proper work done at home was by letting Tori play in the environments of some of the books she was teaching...although she was careful to keep it as appropriate for a seven year old as possible, of course.

Today's was The Hispaniola (which she was soon going to discover was an oddly predictive choice), which suited the little girl fine as Alyss jotted down notes (Della kept hinting at getting her a tablet but she insisted she'd be just fine)...and when there was a knock on the door. She frowned a little, setting down her pen as she headed towards the door...just in time to notice that Tori was eyeing some of the canons with curiosity.

"Don't even think about it," she noted without even turning properly.

"Mum, they're fake."

"Don't care." She turned her head as she turned the knob. "Don't you dare go poking your head in there, the whole point of Imagining an empty ship was to keep you from getting hurt by imaginary pirates!"

Again, a rather predictive statement, even though it was hard to imagine a pirate Tori would be safer with.

With a sigh only a mother could muster, she said, "Sorry about that, kids, right?" before she faced her visitor properly, and nearly let out the world's happiest scream. Fortunately she was a queen and therefore a bit more refined, but that didn't stop a broad and surprised grin from coming.

"Well hi there Westley...I was starting to think I was going to have to march over to Florin and revive you again," she teased as she motioned him inside. "Come on in, erm...you know usually I'd put the illusions away but...wow, what perfect timing there."

Tori peeked up from behind one of the canons and tilted her head at the newcomer, clearly studying him. "Hello sir!" she greeted. "I'm Tori. You know my mum?"

[Westley Roberts]

The instant the door opened, Westley's grin grew to match the one worn by the woman behind it. She looked exactly the same, exactly, albeit no longer global in the middle, and her double-take pulled a laugh from him that felt all too good to let out. Kids, indeed, he almost found himself agreeing, but decided in the nick of time to hold back: he didn't often get the chance to surprise his dearest friends with news of his daughter, and he intended to milk it a bit more than that. Besides, there were other first orders of business.

"Hello, old friend," he said warmly. Unlike with Della, Alyss gave him no skepticism to refute, and therefore no reason to delay greeting her with a hug. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until he'd seen her face again. Now that he had, it was one more reason he was glad he'd returned, and high on the list, at that. "I'd never give you cause, I promise."

When they parted, he returned a hand to the strap of his bag and followed her inside....and his step slowed, blinking as he took in the sight all around him. He'd been about to ask what illusions she'd referred to; all inquiry died on the deck on which he now stood.

He turned in a circle, taking in the elaborate depth of the world she'd created. It was absolutely incredible. Had he not known better, it could have been the Revenge. Better than the Revenge, for that matter. The Imaginary lumber looked sturdier, with a finer Imaginary varnish, and he could have only hoped for cannons like the ones he saw now. The only things missing were the crash of waves and the stinging spray of saltwater. "I had expected somewhat different decor," he noted in fascinated amusement. "I have to say, I'm fond of your choice of theme."

But it didn't hold his attention for long. His gaze was pulled down to the source of the small voice that had sprung out to join them, immediately feeling a paternal swell. She looked exactly like the photos Della had shown him, but what's more, sounded so much like Waverly, it could have tied his heartstrings into knots. His smile softened, and he set down his bag, taking a knee in front of the child. She deserved the respect of a greeting at her own level. 

"She and I go quite a long way back. In fact, your mum once saved my life," he confirmed, and he held out his hand. "My name is Westley. It's an absolute pleasure to meet you, Tori. Your godmum's just told me all about you." 

[Alyss Heart]

Alyss was more than happy to return Westley's embrace...funny, really, how their friendship so rarely had such happy moments. It had basically been marked by numerous near death experiences, having started with his and had been solidified with hers...and now they were going to have to try to prevent the death of their mutual friend...if he was here, he had to have spoken to Della...

Well...no matter for the moment. Especially when he was clearly so impressed with her powers, perhaps just as much as Milo had been. She could truly get used to getting that sort of feedback. She grinned, and was about to explain...oh but then Tori came along, and he was clearly eager to speak with her, and who was she to say no to that?

Tori's curious smile became a full on grin. "Oh I know you! You picked such a great time to come!" She turned around, motioning at her Imagined surroundings. "Mum, did you know? Did you make it for him??"

Alyss chuckled. "Oh I'm just as surprised as you are Tori."

Tori squinted, and then nodded. "Well that's still good!" She grabbed Westley's hand, jumping around now. "She makes book places real, she's gonna use it to teach people, isn't that cool??"

[Westley Roberts]

The child's enthusiasm was nothing short of an absolute privilege to witness, but it wasn't the thing that cemented the fond smile on his face. The thing that did that was the fact that she knew him by name. Westley turned a touched glance up toward Alyss while her little girl posed her suspicions, hoping it would convey the honor he felt, and the gratitude. Not that it was a surprise to have featured in Alyss's stories; after all, he'd told Waverly nearly every tale imaginable that had included Alyss and Della. It certainly went both ways, and he'd have to tell Alyss that at the first opportunity...but all the same. Never before had he been on the receiving end. So this is what it feels like to be a bedtime story come to life. I could get used to this.

Tori's handshake pulled him back into the moment, and pulled a warm laugh from him as well, mainly due to the fact that most of the shaking came from her impersonation of a jumping bean. I'll say one thing; the girl's energy certainly must keep Alyss on her toes. "I think it's brilliant," he replied, both to the child and to her mother. It really was. "There always were far too few magic-users utilizing their skills for good around this place. It's hardly too late to start now. That's just the kind of thinking that's going to have us all on top again in no time." 

With a half-bow to the young princess, accompanied by a playful smirk, Westley stood again, and he looked to Alyss, regaining a momentary bit of seriousness. "I found Della at the library on my way." This time, his pointed gaze conveyed things heavier than flattery. Yes. I know what you know. It was nothing he wanted Tori to know or fear, assuming she didn't already, so he kept the hint unspoken, moving casually along. "She told me where I'd find you...and mentioned the option of my staying a while. Possibly longer than a while. Provided it's no bother to either of you, of course. I'd hate to impose."

The hedging was performative, for the most part. He meant it, of course, but they were family by now, and he knew better to assume she'd really send him away. Not to mention the flat was currently a pirate ship. The universe might as well have spelled out 'make yourself comfortable' in multicolored alphabet blocks on the coffee table.