Daniel nervously sat next to the two beds that held Milly and Isaac as they slept through the last of their fever. Mary sat not far away next to another bed with Teresa and next to them sat Sara who was holding Dylan's hand as she watched him.
All of them were hooked up to a few different machines that monitored their vitals. As for the location, Daniel called 'Ezekiel' and he brought them to his medical facility. Theo planned to do it even if she didn't ask because he was concerned about his siblings, but his mom saved him the trouble of making up an excuse.
During the last couple days Ezekiel's team worked with Richard and Mary as Milly, Isaac, Teresa and Dylan were going through a genetic change. Once it was determined they were going through the same change Peter and MJ went through. Everyone relaxed a little bit, but Mary, Daniel and Sara insisted on staying with their kids.
Richard, to keep his mind off of things, was more interested in the facility and equipment they used. So he spent the last day working with Tobirama and the others as they checked out all the kid's DNA and compared it with each other. While Jacob and Jon threw themselves into work at the shop to take their mind off of things too.
It took three full days for everyone's fever to break and Milly was the first to wake up only to find Daniel's relieved, yet anger filled face staring at her. Milly smiled at her as she said in her cutest voice, "Hi mommy!"
Daniel narrowed her eyes as she said, "Don't you dare try to mommy me little lady."
Milly started to tremble her lower lip and the corners of her eyes misted up before Daniel chopped her over the head as she said, "Don't you even start with that act missy! Your father might fall for it, but I won't!"
"Sorry!"
"No you're not, but you will be… You and Isaac are banned from eating sweets for the rest of the year."
Milly couldn't even respond, she was so shocked. But she didn't need to, because Isaac, who also woke up, let out a horrified cry of despair. Then they both cried out, "That's not fair!"
Daniel glared at both of them and her voice cracked slightly as she said, "Not fair? Do you have any idea what you two did!"
Daniel's eyes filled with tears as she said through a sob, "I… We... We thought you were going to die!"
Milly and Isaac shared a look as Daniel buried her face in her hands before they quickly got out of bed and hugged her as they said in regret filled voices, "We're sorry."
Mary and Sara knew exactly what Daniel was going through and stayed quiet because they would probably be doing the same thing when their own kids woke up. Mary with her scientific mind worked differently than Daniel's and Sara's and she knew from the data the kids would be fine…
Changed for life but fine.
But the mother in her though… It still worried like crazy about her daughter. While she was lost in thought as she watched Daniel with her kids, Teresa hugged her and said in a quiet voice, "I'm sorry I made you worry momma."
As that happened Dylan also woke up and started crying as he said, "I'm sorry mom, I'll never do something like this again."
About half an hour later, once the mothers calmed down and collected themselves. They informed the rest of the family and they were quickly brought over. After a clean bill of health, well besides now being part spider, the kids were released. It was Saturday morning when 'Ezekiel' portaled them all home and then the family gathered together at May's house since that tended to be the default location whenever they did something as a group.
Milly, Isaac, Teresa and Dylan still looked properly chastised when the family gathered together and Theo was happy to see it. Sure if they were going to die, Theo would have transferred them to temporary bodies while he cloned them new bodies. But to put their parents through all of that…
And the worst part was he could have prevented it if he was just paying attention and wasn't worried about his secrets being revealed. Over the last few days as his parents, especially his mom, worried about Milly and Isaac. Theo thought long and hard about whether he should just come clean about his identity to his family. It was something he planned to do sooner or later. But it was always planned for later and not when he was getting ready to enter high school. Like after he moved out, had his own place and maybe saved the world once or twice…
As he sat in the living room crammed with everyone he considered family he finally came to his decision. The moms were grouped together on one side still holding their kids close. While Jacob and the other dads were quietly talking together as they shared a beer. Since Peter wasn't part of the idiot group and neither was Theo, they were sitting off to the side drinking soda.
For a while Theo just enjoyed the quiet atmosphere until he stood up and nervously said, "Since the whole family is here, I'd like to say something…"
As everyone turned to look at Theo he took a deep calming breath before he said, "I'm also a meta human."
"I knew it, you liar!" Milly yelled as she pointed at Theo.
Daniel pulled Milly's hand down as she said, "Don't yell and don't call your brother a liar."
"But he said he didn't have powers when I told him to show me!"
Daniel nodded before she said, "I'm sure he had his reasons… But he's telling us now, so that's all that matters."
Everyone focused on Theo as he tried to figure out what to tell everyone. Sure the powers part, but what about Ezekiel? Vibe? Genosha? What about the secret organization he was running? Or the ninjas living in his head or even his old life…
Theo froze as he realized he wasn't sure how much of the truth he wanted to tell. The simple thing would be to just tell them everything, but then he would need to lock down their minds with protection so other people couldn't find out. But would they agree to something like that? He wouldn't be able to do something like that himself though, so he would need to bring in Tao to help with it…
As Theo was lost in his thoughts Daniel approached and pulled him into a hug as she said, "If you don't want to tell us now, it's okay. Just do it whenever you're ready."
Theo hugged Daniel back as he said, "Thanks mom…"
After they separated Theo took a breath and made a shadow clone. Everyone stared at both Theo's for a few moments before Milly excitedly asked, "Why are there two of you? Is that your power?"
"It's one of my powers… This is a clone I use whenever I need to do something and don't want you to realize I'm missing."
Daniel frowned as she asked, "Why would you need to go missing and what do you do during that time?"
"Quite a lot actually… But let me explain my clone for a moment." Theo said as he patted it on the back and said, "Whenever I make a clone, it's a copy of me and my memories. When it disappears, I receive whatever new memories it makes."
"So as long as your clone was there, it was just like you were there?" Richard asked as he studied Theo's shadow clone.
Theo nodded before a puff of smoke appeared and a moment later he was now Ezekiel. He glanced around the room before he settled on his mom and said, "This is why I use my clone as a replacement."
The entire room went completely quiet as everyone stared at Theo with wide eyes. Daniel was the first to recover as she asked, "So that familiar feeling I always had around you was because you're Theo?"
Ezekiel nodded as he said, "It's part of the reason I go by Ezekiel. A mistake on my part using my real middle name for a fake identity… But everyone already knows me by it, so it's too late to change it now."
Theo canceled the henge and his clone as he said, "I have a lot more to tell you and show you…"
"But we should probably do it somewhere else and with some food. I'm sure everyone is hungry and this will take a while..."
May glanced around the house as she asked, "What's wrong with doing it here?"
Theo pulled out his real phone as he said, "I'd rather do it someplace more secure."
Theo sent a quick text before he put it away and opened a portal as he said, "I'm gonna take you to meet some friends of mine."
"I always thought those portals looked familiar… You studied magic?" Jonathan asked as he stood up before he quickly added, "Wait, are your eyes red?"
Theo nodded as he removed the genjutsu that blocked his eyes and his three tomoe sharingan slowly spun as he glanced over everyone for a moment before Daniel asked, "What happened to your eyes?"
Theo gestured towards the portal as he said, "I'll explain everything soon, but first let's go meet some friends of mine."
They stepped through the portal and ended up in a really nice lobby area with a single elevator and three doors placed an even distance from it. As they headed towards one of the doors, Jon moved closer to Theo as he said, "To think I found you so quickly and never even knew… It really is a small world."
Theo didn't answer as another voice said, "It's a small world indeed Mr. Pangborn."
Jon looked towards the voice and instantly bowed as he said, "Ancient One."
Tao stood in the doorway in front of them with a smile on her face as she said, "None of that now Mr. Pangborn. But it's good to see you again."
Jon smiled as he pulled Sara and Dylan close as he said, "You too mast… Ancient One, I'd like you to meet my wife Sara and my son Dylan."
Tao nodded to both as she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan is a lucky man to have you both… But I believe you are here because Theo has a story to tell you all. We can catch up later since I am sure your wife now has many questions to ask you."
Jon rubbed the back of his head slightly as Sara elbowed him in the ribs as she studied the teenage looking Tao with her vibrant red hair tied up in a bun. As everyone else was studying Tao, she smiled at them as she said, "Please come inside, a friend just left to go get us food."
The inside of Tao's home was a mix of modern and ancient, with a lot of art and relics tastefully displayed throughout. But she also had a massive TV, stereo, an L shaped couch and more modern luxuries spread around the room. She led everyone towards the dining room and to a massive table that easily fit everyone with room to spare. Tao didn't normally have the table this size, but used magic to make it bigger for the occasion. As they were sitting around the table Theo said, "Once everyone is here I'll explain everything."
Daniel, who was the closest to Theo, held his hand and gave it a squeeze as she said, "We're in no rush sweetie, just take your time."
Tao took a seat near Jon and his wife and quietly talked with them as everyone else either talked with each other or glanced around the room. About ten minutes later the door opened and in walked Agatha followed by Hela who quickly moved towards Theo before she took up the empty seat beside him and scooted it a little closer to him. As she did that Daniel studied the woman who was clearly a lot older than her thirteen year old son before she asked, "Theo, who exactly is this… Lady?"
Theo glanced towards his mom and saw the look on her face before he swallowed and said, "Mom this is a close friend of mine, her name is Hela…"
Theo glanced towards Hela who was looking at him with concern in her eyes before he said, "Hela, this is my mom, Daniel Mercer."
Hela turned towards Daniel and put on a beaming smile as she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Mercer, Theo has told me a lot about you."
As Agatha was busy setting out pizza and drinks for everyone, Daniel stayed focused on Hela as she said, "Strange, he's never mentioned you before… Then again I didn't know he had a secret identity either."
"I'm sure Theo will explain more about me soon enough… But for now, I'll give you my full name and title as it's only proper." Hela said before she sat up straighter and took on a more regal air in her gundam t-shirt and pajama pants and said, "I am Hela, Odinsdottir the former commander of the legions of Asgard, the rightful heir to the throne of Asgard by birthright, and the Goddess of Death."
As she finished speaking everyone in the room was now staring at her besides Tao, Agatha and Theo who just shook his head slightly. Daniel quickly recovered as she asked, "I'm not sure what all that means, but it sure sounds impressive… But what do you mean by goddess of death?"
Theo quickly replied as he said, "She is a God but only with the G capitalized. Not like a GOD with all the letters capitalized."
"And the difference is?" Jacob asked as he studied Hela.
"That would take a really long time to explain properly, but I guess we could get into it too since I'll be talking about GOD a bit."
Theo glanced around the room for a few moments before he said, "Well no time like the present I guess…"