...August 2010...

9. “Mother, why are we wearing suits again…?” 

“Because Victor, this is Jinn’s event, we must all look nice, oh! Here come the girls, oh my, look how gorgeous you girls look, James please get this picture.” 

“Sure thing, say cheese everyone, and get more in the picture Arrow.” 

“Like this?” Arrow leans in more with his siblings, with them all posing proudly for the picture. 

“Yes, just like that.” James says this then snaps the photo.

“Oh, very beautiful.” Melissa adds in while looking at the picture James took. 

“Don’t you guys think mom and dad are acting nicer than usual, like weird,” Valencia says to Astrid. 

Then Astrid replies quietly, “yeah, I think so too.” Then Celsius adds in while fixing his bow tie saying, "I think they are just trying to prep their good look for Jinn." 

“That seems most likely.” Arrow adds.

James claps his hands together, saying, “alright, our limo is here.” 

Then Melissa starts saying, “everyone we are leaving, please take care of this home while we are gone.” Once she says this, she and James, along with the kids, make their way to Jinn’s house.

On their way there, they arrive at a big beautiful blue and white mansion with people everywhere, looking elegant and fancy with a butler greeting everyone at the door.

Before they get out of the car, James turns to them all, saying, “now before we go in, you guys better not use your powers at all, be normal and steady, all of you, if you guys embarrass us on our journey with Jinn, you will all have consequences, got it.” 

“What consequences? We are the ones with the power?” 

“Celsius…”Melissa says strictly. “Okay, okay, I don't feel like losing more brain cells, so ima be good.”

Their chauffeur opens the door for them and they all get out, making their way up to Jinn’s house.

Now walking over to the door, Jinn greets them all himself, standing there proudly to see them all.

“Ugh…Classical music.” Celsius ponders, hearing it from out the door.

“My favorite,” Maximus adds in, listening to the music.

“Well, welcome to my home, lovely isn’t it.” 

“Yes, indeed.” James replies, amazed by Jinn's house. 

“Bought this one just last week, just kidding it was six months ago.” They start laughing together, then Jinn starts saying, “and of course the children look wonderful enough.” 

Seeing Xavier walk up behind him, Jinn turns around saying, "Xavier, come," he turns back to them, "here’s my son Xavier, he is thirteen and he is watching all the kids upstairs, say hi Xavier, about time you meet him right?"

“I have a question", Melodie steps up to him, shouting, "why is your son so cute! He looks like Sasuke!"

“Oh, good grief, Melodie, he can hear you.” Melissa says. 

“I know,” she waves at him, but Xavier ignores her saying, “mom is sleeping downstairs, why are we doing this today?” With a monotone like voice. 

“Because she doesn't mind, Xavier.” Jinn replies back, then he turns back towards the family.

“Yes, how is Maylin?" James questions. 

“She is doing fine, it's just that she has a cold right now and I don't want her affecting you guys here, but I'm just trying my best to take care of her.” 

“Oh, well I hope she feels better.”

The kids all scatter upstairs, while Maximus decides to look at the window from upstairs, with this Arrow and Astrid study the place, “this place is even bigger than James and Melissa’s.” Arrow says, studying the place deeply, not even paying attention to the people around them. 

“Yeah, I mean look at their lounge room.” Astrid says, replying back.

Suddenly they hear a bunch of children laughing and then sound surprised.

“Do you hear that, Astrid?” Arrow says suddenly. 

“Yeah, it’s coming from that room across from us, why? You want to check it out or something?”

“I hear Celsius and Melodie in there.” He walks on and Astrid follows him.

They walk in what looks like the lounge room and see Melodie and Celsius playing with their powers in front of the children they’re with. Tables, books, and the kids themselves are all in the air.

Arrow comes in saying, “put yourselves down, right now!” 

“Yeah, did you not hear what mom and dad said, you idiots!” Astrid yells.

Arrow and Astrid put them down and the kids, along with all the objects that were in the air. “Be careful about stopping so rapidly.” Arrow says. 

“I’m sorry that you guys scared the crap out of us!” 

“Melodie…” Astrid pats Arrow saying, “ It’s okay, we got them now.” 

“Be careful, next time.” Astrid adds in. 

“We’re trying,” Celsius says, "I can help that I'm always seeing things."

"Just try Celsius.” Astrid says back to him.

“Actually, wearing gloves is a stable way of showing control over your powers.”

They turn around and see Xavier staring all of them down as he enters the room saying sarcastically, “yes, these kids sure know how to make a mess with their powers, how is my father going to feel when he sees this.” 

“I thought you were supposed to be taking care of your mother?” Astrid questions. 

“Yes, she wants to read a book, so…I’m getting one for her.” 

“And why is your mother in the basement?” Astrid questions. 

“Well, Astrid, she loves the basement, blocks out all the noise, you know, plus, it's very nice down there.” 

"How do you know my name...?" 

"My father, of course, he talks about you guys, a lot..."

Melodie runs up to him saying, “you’re so handsome! So I just want to say hi again.” 

“Melodie!” Arrow shouts at her. 

Xavier keeps staring at Melodie, a stare that's not easy to read on his expressionless face, “yeah…I’m going to take this to her now…” Xavier backs away, then he leaves as if he disappeared.

Arrow then replies, “how you gonna freak out the creepy kid.”

Leaving the room, Arrow and Astrid walk down the hallway, but as they pass, they see Maximus looking overwhelmed and bothered by something. 

“What’s wrong, Max?” 

“Oh, um…Just getting a little homesick, that’s all.” 

“Oh, well, I’m sure we’ll go home soon.” Arrow assures him. 

“Yeah, I hope so.” 

Melodie then comes out of the lounge room, running downstairs to get a drink from the Jinn's kitchen. Celsius follows her saying, "what are you doing?" 

"Oh gosh Cel, I didn't realize you were behind me? Look, I'm trying to get some juice, but there is a guy standing right there, and I can't control him like I want to because of mom and dad?" 

"Really? You're actually going to listen to them? It's your power, your ability, do what you have to do." 

"So...I should tell him to move anyways?" 

"Yes, what I just said, now go!" He pushes her from behind the stairs, forcing her to walk down and into the kitchen.

She walks by the guy, saying, "excuse me sir, I'm trying to reach for the lemonade." 

"Oh, well you could just go around me." He says bluntly. 

"But...You're against the counter aren't you?" 

"Listen, I'm trying to talk with someone...And why are you here?" 

"Because I'm a child of the Bardersons, we are important here."

"Really?" He looks at her saying, "doesn't look like it."

Melodie focuses on the guy, her pinkish colored eyes become brighter, almost scaring the guy as he finally notices her not moving, she reaches to control him.

"I said..." As she's about to speak, Xavier walks up to them, looking only at the guy saying, "she's an Arkemia kid, leave her alone."

"Oh, I will." He says, walking off in a rushing way, hearing his footsteps walk away quickly.

Xavier turns to her, before getting her a cup of lemonade, saying, "here you go, next time, just make him move in another way." Then he walks off into the crowd of people.

Melodie turns to him, taking a sip of her lemonade before saying, "thank you," softly as a response.

And now just three hours later as the get together ended, they all drive home safely. Even though Maximus looked sick as ever, they still made it home safely, with surprisingly no troubles that night.