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Five year old Sophia looked down from the highest part of the monkey bars.

On the ground level was a group of kids her age and a smaller group of seven year olds. The seven year olds ruled the playground with a tight fist. Any one who tried to be cooler than them got spiders in their hair or their juice boxes stolen. They did what they wanted and no adults ever caught them being mean. If any one told on them, they'd be labeled as a tattle tail for the rest of their life.

Sophia was no rat.

And she most certainly wasn't going to have a tattle tail - whatever that looked like.

Right now, though, as she tried to balance on the thin metal bar, she kind of wished she hadn't made that deal with the seven year old Alisha.

"You jump down all three levels without falling and you and your mutant friends will have immutany from us."

"Soph," Grace cried as her friend bent her knees, preparing to jump,"you don't need to do this!"

Sophia took a glance down at her twin friends Grace and Diana. They've been pals since they could remember. For whatever reason, Alisha and her group liked to pick on the twins, calling them aliens or little beasts. Maybe they had never seen twins before and that's why they thought they were strange, but that gave them no reason to be meanies.

Sophia bent her knees more and then jumped.

Little screams filled the air, half in awe as Sophia made the first jump, but she rushed the second jump, making her foot slip off the metal bar and mess up her landing.

"Soph!"

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On stage, the final run through for the show, Thumbelina, was in practice.

Sora, dressed in a tutu like short gown and flowers in her hair, twirled in the air, gossamer wings on her back. Leon, the fairy prince, twirled close behind her, hands on her hips like a ballerina. May, the swallow that had brought these two together, swung above with feathered wings.

Sora arched herself backwards, her arms going around Leon's neck and her legs around one side of his waist. She loved performing with him, especially at the level they were at. He was never far from her, reassuring her that he would be there should she somehow slip.

For he always caught her, securing her to him.

She sneaked in a kiss on the cheek. He tilted his head at the addition, but did not break character. Instead, he rested his forehead against her shoulder as they swung from the same bar. Her fingers dug into his hair and he was almost loathed to lift his head away for the next move.

Suddenly, though, the doors of the main stage flew open.

"Sora! Leon!" Ken panted as he ran down the many steps leading to the front stage. "You're needed on the phone!"

The music was cut off with Sarah's signal.

"This better be an emergency," Kalos warned as Ken stopped nearby.

"It," huff, "is."

The duo dropped down from the trapeze onto the net. Leon rolled off first and then had his arms out for Sora to jump. "Did Layla's water break already?"

"No," Ken took a long breath in as he held the phone out, "it's nothing to do with Layla and Yuri."

Leon took the phone from Ken. "This is Leon Oswald speaking."

Sora watched his face curiously as he listened. Then, she felt fear as his face paled, his lips parting ever so faintly in shock.

"We're leaving," he tersely informed Kalos.

Sora followed Leon when he gestured impatiently for her to come.

"When did this happen? How?"

She winced upon hearing the chilling tone of voice. She wanted to ask what was wrong, but she knew he'd tell her soon enough. She trusted her partner. She'll follow his lead.

For now, anyways.

Leon got in the car with the phone still to his ear. Sora bit her lip as she buckled in. It's been a while since she saw him so angry.

"I want whoever was supposed to be monitoring fired," he spat out harshly. "I assumed we put her there because your school was the best. I fail to see any reason to keep her there."

"School?" Sora stiffened for a couple of seconds, cold, frightening terror freezing her up. "Leon, is it Soph?" hastily, she gripped his arm, "anata, please tell me!"

She'd normally be ok with waiting, but not when Sophia was involved.

"...Soph's had an accident."

Her eyes welled up. "Accident? Is it serious?"

His mouth thinned into a tight line. She whimpered, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. Once Leon finally got the address for the hospital Sophia was in after waiting for the incompetent simpleton to find the note the principal had given him, he hung up the phone and put the car in reverse.

Soon, they were speeding out of the parking lot, Sora crying a little in the passenger seat.

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The scene felt so familiar yet bizarre.

His little daughter was nearly engulfed by the big hospital bed, her small head of silver hair draped on the pillow. Her little arm and leg were elevated in the air, seeing as they were in casts.

For a moment, a bit of humor entered his thoughts.

"Like father, like daughter," Sora muttered under her breath.

"My thoughts exactly."

Sora shook her head. "Is it an Oswald thing to have casts?" Without waiting for his response, she plopped herself down on the chair near the bed. "If so, I'm doomed to eternal worry." She lifted her daughter's uncasted hand and kissed it. "What were you doing Soph?"

"Jumping off the monkey bars," Leon dryly informed her.

"What?"

Leon shrugged. "I was not told why. But Grace and Diana were there."

"So maybe Sarah could ask." Pause. "Did her girls do anything crazy?"

"No."

She sighed. "So we're the lucky ones."

Leon placed his hand on her shoulder. She reached up and placed hers on his.

"...This is similar to how I found you," she murmured, "back when you fell on the stage. Well, except you also had a head injury, which could have put you in a coma," she wiry added, "but otherwise, the same."

They were silent for a moment.

"I didn't know if you'd wake up or not," she half whispered.

"...Why did that worry you?"

She turned towards him. "Why?"

"We weren't on the best of terms yet."

She considered him now, and the Leon she knew then. "I'd seen a glimpse of your heart during Romeo and Juliet." She looked down at their daughter, her fingers caressing the back of his hand. "Then you fell when I left you."

"My injuries were not your fault," he quietly murmured.

She bit her lip. "It felt like it was." she exhaled slowly. "You were deserving of a second chance. If in a coma, you couldn't have that opportunity."

He leaned down and embraced her from behind the chair, his chin on top of her head.

"That was a slim chance."

"A chance, just the same."

He kissed the top of her head. She closed her eyes, reveling in his embrace.

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Sophia awoke to an annoying beeping sound.

Her body felt really weird and her right leg and arm super stiff and itchy.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

Sora stirred from her uncomfortable position on the chair. "Sophia sweetie!" She took her hand and kissed it repeatedly. "Kami, I didn't know if you hurt your head too!"

Sophia tried to talk again, but her throat felt dry.

"W-a-ter, mommy."

"Yes. Right." Sora poured the pitcher of water into a clear cup, her hand shaking a little. Then, she struggled ripping the straw free from the paper, finally getting it out and putting it in the cup. "Here baby. Drink it slowly."

"Where's daddy?"

"Daddy went to get food, baby. He'll be back soon." Sora put the cup down and then sat up straighter. "Soph, you're not to jump off of monkey bars again. If you want to learn gymnastics, Kaleido Stage has kid classes that are safer."

Soph blearily nodded. She really didn't feel like going through this again.

Sora's stern face eased. Then, she leaned over and kissed her daughter's forehead.

"I love you my little moonflower."

"Love you too mommy."

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Late at night when the parents were asleep, Sophia saw her friend.

"Poor little Sophia." Fool shook his head as he eyed the casts. "I told you doing that stunt wasn't a good idea."

"...How come I can see you better now?"

"Eh? Oh you can, can you? Very interesting." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Today's performance must have cemented some idea in your head that will benefit the stage." He hovered closer to her. "What were you thinking about before jumping?"

Sophia shrugged and then winced. "I just wanted to protect my friends. Alisha said she'd leave them alone if I did that trick."

"Hmm. Perhaps 'Protector of the Stage' is your role..."

"What? You're talking too quietly."

"It was nothing," he waved off "just thinking out loud."

He didn't repeat what he said, neither did he tell her the reading he got when Alisha and her faced each other earlier that day on the playground.

They were meant to be the other's catalyst.

But if they were both destroyed or both successful would be up to them.

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Leon pushed Sophia's wheelchair to the hall of the Kaleido Stage.

Balloons and treats were around, as well as all of their friends.

"Welcome Back" was the banner hanging from the rafters and colorful streamers all around. Sophia smiled big and wide, especially when Grace and Diana came over. The twins had side ponytails opposite of the other, differentiating them, but who was who was only known to those who knew them well.

Soph looked up at her dad. He got the hint.

"I'll go get some punch." He put the stopper on the wheels and left.

"Hi Soph!" The twins chimed in at the same time, offering daisies.

Soph took them happily.

"Are you feeling better?" Grace quietly asked, her pointer fingers pushing against each other nervously. "We didn't mean for you to get hurt."

"'s not your fault! We're friends! We gotta protect each other!"

Grace smiled. Then, they went on either side and kissed Soph's cheeks.

Sora watched the girls from the punch table and nearly melted inside. She leaned over to Leon's ear as he finished pouring the juice.

"I think we need another kid."

He looked at her, amused. "Do we now?"

She nudged his cheek. "A silver haired prince."

"What if the baby turns out to be another girl?"

She smiled coyly. "Then we try again, anata. Besides, can't have too many princesses," she teased.

"Whatever you wish," he murmured, putting the cups down to pull her to him, "it shall be so."

They started kissing.

"For the love of all things holy,"May loudly exclaimed when the couple blocked the punch table, "get a room!"

Sora broke the kiss and looked at May. "You'll change your tune once Ken and you tie the knot."

May's face broke out in red. "Who said we're ready to get married?!"

Sora gave her a look. "May. Please. I have eyes."

"You didn't used to!"

"Hey, Leon had weird dating methods!"

"I beg your pardon?" Leon tilted his head.

"There's no need to beg, dear," Sora patted his hand, "you were absolutely charming and a trickster wrapped into one. I found it attractive, once I understood it."

Leon quirked a brow. He wasn't certain he should respond to that.

"You guys are embarrassing!" May shouted and then stomped away.

Sora leaned her head on his shoulder. "I love my life."

He looked around in the hall, seeing their friends, co-workers, and his daughter- safe, happy, and very much alive.

He loved it too.

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The End.

AN: Alright, it ends at a clean 90 chapters! I didn't want to wrap everything up so perfectly, so sorry if you don't like it when things are left open ended. XD It used to annoy me, but then I came to appreciate it.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing! :D It's been a long journey!