With the gossip still in her mind, Lila left the school alone. She looked down and stared at the pavement under her shoes before she sprinted back to her home. When she could see her house, she felt tears run down her cheeks and hurriedly wiped them away. She pulled open the door and dropped her things. Her tears continued to flow and she ran up the stairs and locked herself in her room as she ignored the calls from her parents.

She rushed to wipe her tears away and huffed at its insistence to drip down her face. She made a frustrated sound as she continued to wipe away the tears. It was annoying and not needed. She didn't want it. She heaved as she covered her eyes with her arm.

Harriet, she didn't know how lucky she was. She had no idea how much luck she had and how she ruined it all. Lila let out another sound of frustration as she thought about it longer. She had always looked up to Leo, in spite of his temper. She looked up and loved all three of her brothers. She was so protective of them it killed her inside.

She breathed out and thought to the many times she wanted to hang out with them only to have it shot down. It was always the same excuse, over and over again.

"I have to go, Lila... The city is in danger."

"Maybe next time? The city needs me."

"I'm sorry, Lila, but something came up and I have to go."

She glared at the ceiling and threw her hands up and let them fall. It was not fair. It was not only that. She couldn't hang out with them even more because of school, not only their duties as heroes.

"Sorry, Lila but the coach needs me to practice an hour longer than last time. Another big game is coming up."

"Shoot, sorry Lila but the principal doesn't allow the club presidents to leave their club alone. I can't let the Chess team down."

"Ah, Lila... I forgot to tell you but I'm going to walk Harriet home after her cheer dance practice."

She pulled her knees close and shoved her head into her arms as she mumbled empty promises and curses. She hated this. She wanted it to stop. She wanted to hang out with her brothers. She had enough. She tolerated their excuses to the breaking point.

She jumped from her spot by the door when a knock sounded and Catherine's voice called out to her, "Delilah? Is everything alright in there?"

"Mom, yeah-" Lila hurriedly wiped away her tears and stood up, "I- just- wait-"

She stumbled to her vanity and noted her tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes. She groaned and made her way to the bathroom to wash her face. She ignored the knocking on her door and her mother as she stared into the bathroom mirror.

"Delilah?"

She shook her head and walked out to open the door. She smiled up to Catherine, "It's okay- I was just washing my face and-"

She stopped when Catherine hugged her out of the blue. She blinked and opened her mouth to say something before she was interrupted, "Why were you crying?"

"I just-" Lila sighed and hugged Catherine back, "Is it selfish to want my brothers to not save the world just to hang out with me?"

Catherine laughed and combed a comforting hand through her hair, "If you put it that way, yes, but I'm sure you just want them to drop their extracurriculars."

Lila flushed in embarrassment, "Yes."

"It's okay to be selfish sometimes. I never really had any siblings but I understand why you want them back... You four were really close when you were children."

"But they're constantly busy with everything and their hero duties make things worse. Sure, it's fun to see them struggle sometimes or even their reactions to missing something because they went off but I want to hang out sometimes." Lila ranted.

"In all honesty," Catherine let out a small giggle, "I feel like the criminals have more time with your brothers than you do."

Lila was about to laugh at her mother's joke when she paused. She squinted as she thought more about the phrase.

Catherine noticed the silence and broke the hug, "Delilah?"

"Mom, do my brothers have a rival? Like the one you and dad had?"

"You mean their version of Apophis?" Catherine raised an eyebrow, "A stalker-ish type of villain who thinks we owe him something?"

"I guess?" Lila shrugged, "I meant something like, you know. How the superheroes in comics and stuff have a villain they have to defeat. Kinda like conflict outside of petty criminals."

"No, not that I know of."

"Huh, so they just leave whenever there's a small crime?"

"Not small per se, I believe Apophis is still out there in his intergalactic prison... We never really finished him off completely. What the people know is that your brothers are fighting petty criminals but in fact these 'criminals' are the underdogs of Apophis who are trying to set him free by stealing things."

"That's- I never knew that."

"Neither do your brothers, it's better this way." Catherine shook her head, "Less pressure on them. They are still teenagers, you four are."

"So what if there will be a new villain in town?"

"They might be a bit unprepared..." Catherine conceded.

Lila smiled at her mother, "then maybe they should have a bit of ground to practice on."

"Oh?"

"A villain that doesn't want them dead. Kinda like a practice dummy."

"What are you getting at, Delilah."

"Listen, mom. I just had this brilliant idea-"

"That you will be that villain?" Catherine deadpanned.

Lila flinched, "Yes?"

"Delilah..." Catherine sighed and turned away, "I don't think I can allow you."

"They don't know my powers, they don't have to know it's me!"

"Yes, but you're in a family of heroes, not villains."

"But-"

"No, that's final."

Lila stared after her mom in disappointment. She turned around and entered her room without another word. It was a good plan, no one needed to know. It could be just another girl secret, just like their powers. She groaned into her hands and fished for her phone. When she got a hold of it, she turned it on and squinted at the bright screen.

As she typed in a number, she muttered to herself, "It's a good plan, I don't get what mom sees bad in it..."

"Lila?"

"Hey, yeah... I just want to talk. Are you busy?"

"I can always take a break from the team if you want."

"Please?"

"Alright, just a moment." The other line was silent before Piper got back on, "What's up?"

"I had this pretty genius plan and stuff but mom won't let me do anything about it."

"What's this about?"

"My brothers... they practically spend more time with criminals or saving the world than with me. When she mentioned this, I kinda... thought up this plan."

"Oh? What, you'll fight alongside with them and leave me to deal with the excuses?" Piper joked.

"No, I thought that maybe being a villain would give me time to hang out with them. Maybe even help them train in case a real villain does appear."

"...I think your mom is right..."

"Are you really on her side?"

"No, I'm on no one's side but I feel like I understand why she doesn't want you to be part of that."

"But why?"

"Your brothers have these pretty flashy powers over the elements and even if you do have a small amount of control over them too, I guess it's kinda dangerous. Especially since they won't know it's you."

"I know but-"

"Lila, please... try to think about it tonight and don't go rushing into things. I don't want to see you hurt..."

"I- alright."

"Though, if it helps... I think it's a great plan. Just dangerous."

"Thanks, Piper."

"Any time."

Lila hung up and let her hand fall. She stared up at the ceiling before she rolled over on her bed. Her plans were foiled. She sighed and closed her eyes as she tried to forget about the whole day.