AN: Okay. So, there aren't many chapters left before this story ends like 10-20 chs left. I'll take some time off to make sure the final few chs are good and I might do a mass release. In the meantime, enjoy my Modern Family x TBBT story. I'll release it tonight.
--
[New York] [Titan Realms]
The gates of Titan Realms stood nearly forty feet high, built from dark stone, brushed metal, and enormous illuminated letters that stretched across the entrance.
Beyond them waited something Alex had been watching take shape since 2007.
Titan's first major theme park.
Construction was still underway across several sections of the property, which covered hundreds of acres outside New York. Cranes remained visible above distant buildings, temporary walls blocked unfinished pathways, and construction vehicles moved quietly through restricted service roads.
Even unfinished, the place already looked enormous.
Trixie stood directly in front of the gates with both hands pressed against the railing, practically vibrating with excitement while Alex carried Asher against his chest.
"This is officially the coolest place you own," Trixie announced as she stared through the entrance.
Alex adjusted Asher higher in his arms and smiled. "You said that about the movie studio."
"That was before you built a theme park."
"You also said it about the mansion."
"The mansion doesn't have roller coasters."
Chloe stood beside them wearing jeans, sneakers, and sunglasses, already looking amused by the argument. "She's got you there."
Alex looked at his son. "You hearing this, buddy? Apparently everything I've accomplished is meaningless because none of it goes upside down at sixty miles an hour."
Asher responded by grabbing Alex's collar and trying to pull it toward his mouth.
Trixie pointed at him. "He agrees with me."
"He's one year old."
"He still agrees."
Security opened the enormous gates, and Trixie immediately stepped forward before remembering she was supposed to stay with them.
She stopped herself and looked back.
Alex noticed and smiled. "Good recovery."
"I was testing your reflexes."
"Of course you were."
They entered through the main entrance together.
The central boulevard had already been completed, with trees lining the wide path and large fountains positioned between themed entrances leading toward different areas of the park. Music played softly from hidden speakers as a tech guy checked the system wiring on the side.
Today belonged to engineers, safety inspectors, operators, maintenance crews, and a very small number of Titan executives.
And one extremely excited ten-year-old.
Trixie spun around slowly as she walked backward. "Where are we going first?"
Alex pointed toward the massive red-and-gold structure rising ahead of them.
"Marvel."
Her head snapped around.
The Marvel section was the only major land completely finished.
A huge Avengers-style entrance opened into streets inspired by several fictional cities and locations from Titan's comic universe. Stark technology displays filled one plaza, Spider-Man banners hung between buildings, and a towering Avengers symbol stood above the central attraction.
Trixie stared around with wide eyes. "Can people actually buy stuff here?" She asked.
Alex nodded. "Eventually."
"Can I buy stuff here?"
"You live with the man who owns the place."
"That wasn't my question."
Chloe laughed as Alex shook his head.
"You can pick something before we leave."
Trixie immediately looked satisfied. "I knew bringing you was a good idea."
Alex glanced toward Chloe. "Huh, I'm the guest."
"That's what happens when you travel with a ten-year-old," Chloe said with a chuckle.
They reached the first completed attraction shortly afterward.
SPIDER-MAN: WEB RUSH.
The ride combined practical sets, moving vehicles, screens, physical effects, and suspended track sections designed to make riders feel like they were swinging through New York alongside Spider-Man.
Trixie stared at the entrance.
"We're riding this."
Alex looked toward Asher.
Chloe followed his gaze and smiled. "I'll stay with him while you take her."
Trixie looked immediately offended. "Why can't lil' bro come?"
"Because he's tiny," Chloe replied. "Tiny people aren't allowed on high-speed rides."
Trixie considered that explanation and nodded. She looked at Asher. "I'll bring you here when you grow up."
Alex handed Asher carefully to Chloe. His son settled against her shoulder almost immediately, one small hand catching in her hair.
Chloe kissed the top of his head. "Go have fun. We'll watch from the control room."
Trixie grabbed Alex's hand before he could answer. "Come on."
They entered the empty queue while ride engineers watched from nearby.
Alex had seen the technical plans dozens of times, although walking through the completed attraction felt completely different.
The station resembled a Daily Bugle technology exhibition that had supposedly been attacked by villains. Screens flashed emergency reports while J. Jonah Jameson complained loudly about Spider-Man causing property damage.
Trixie laughed before they had even boarded.
Their ride vehicle locked into place, and an engineer leaned over the side.
"Everything passed the morning inspection. We're running the standard guest program."
Alex nodded. "Treat us exactly like normal riders."
Trixie pulled down her restraint and looked at him. "Normal riders who own the park."
Alex pointed at her. "What she said."
The ride launched.
Within seconds, Trixie was screaming with laughter.
The ride accelerated through a physical city set before Spider-Man appeared across a nearby building. Their vehicle tilted, climbed, and suddenly dropped as projected webs stretched over the street.
Wind hit their faces.
A burst of harmless water mist followed an explosion effect.
Trixie threw both hands upward.
"This is amazing!"
Alex laughed beside her. "Keep your arms inside the ride."
"Sorry!"
The ride twisted through another section before swinging into a dark tunnel where Doctor Octavius attacked using enormous practical mechanical arms.
Trixie ducked instinctively.
One arm swept several feet above the vehicle.
She immediately looked toward Alex. "That looked real."
"It mostly was."
Her grin became even wider.
When they eventually returned to the station, Trixie stepped out with messy hair and enough energy to power the park herself.
Chloe waited near the exit while Asher sat comfortably against her hip.
"Well?" Chloe asked.
Trixie pointed toward the entrance. "Again."
Alex laughed. "We've got an entire park to inspect."
"Fine, but we're coming back."
"Alright. You're going in with your mom next time."
They spent the next several hours moving through the completed Marvel section.
They rode a slower Fantastic Four attraction together while Chloe carried Asher through the interactive sections. They watched a test performance where costumed heroes moved across rooftops using hidden rigging systems. Trixie tried an Avengers training simulator and became far too competitive when the program ranked her accuracy.
"You got seventy-four percent," Alex said while looking at the result screen.
Trixie crossed her arms. "The machine is busted."
"I'm pretty sure it's working perfectly fine."
"Kick it a few times. That should do the job."
Chloe leaned toward Alex. "You've created another Max."
Alex looked mildly concerned. "I'm starting to realize that."
Near noon, they left the louder attractions and walked toward one of the landscaped areas between Marvel and the unfinished DC section.
A large oak tree stood near a small artificial lake, surrounded by freshly planted grass.
Alex had asked the staff to prepare a simple picnic there.
A blanket waited beneath the tree along with sandwiches, fruit, cold drinks, cookies, and several containers of food Chloe had specifically requested because she didn't trust Alex's definition of a simple picnic.
Trixie dropped onto the blanket and immediately grabbed a sandwich.
Alex sat nearby with Asher between his legs.
For the first time all morning, everything became quiet.
Asher reached toward the grass, touching it carefully before looking up at Alex with obvious confusion.
"Yeah, buddy. Go on," Alex asked.
Asher grabbed a handful.
Alex smiled. "You don't need to remove it."
Asher looked at the grass in his fist, then immediately tried to put it in his mouth.
Alex gently intercepted his hand. "Oh no, that's not lunch."
Trixie laughed around her sandwich. "He almost ate dirt yesterday."
Chloe sat beside her. "He's exploring."
"He explores everything with his mouth."
"He's one."
Trixie looked toward Alex. "When I was one, I don't think I tried to eat grass."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "You tried eating a crayon many times and swallowed a coin."
Trixie stared at her mother. "Not funny."
Alex laughed while helping Asher stand between his knees. The little boy balanced awkwardly, holding both of Alex's fingers.
"Come on, buddy."
Asher took one uncertain step.
Then another.
His knees wobbled.
Alex kept his hands ready without pulling him forward.
"That's it."
Asher took one more step before dropping onto Alex's lap.
Trixie clapped enthusiastically. "He did it!"
Asher looked toward her and smiled, clearly more interested in the applause than the achievement.
Alex kissed his forehead. "You're getting there."
For another half hour, they simply stayed beneath the tree. Alex fed Asher, changed his diaper, and they talked and just enjoyed the little moment of peace without any schedule interrupting them.
Trixie lay on her stomach reading a park map and circling rides she wanted to try once construction finished. Chloe ate fruit while watching her daughter build an increasingly unrealistic schedule.
Alex sat against the tree with Asher climbing across his lap.
Eventually, Asher became fascinated with Alex's watch.
He poked the face several times.
"You like that?"
Asher grabbed at it. "Ayy!"
Alex removed the watch and held it in front of him.
Asher immediately smiled. "Hee!"
"You're already interested in expensive things. Your mothers are going to blame me."
Alex held the watch above Asher's head and moved it slowly from side to side.
Asher reached for it with both hands, giggling each time Alex moved it away.
After several attempts, Alex finally let him catch it.
Asher looked unbelievably proud.
Trixie lifted her head from the map. "You let him win."
"He's one."
"You never let me win."
"You're ten."
"That's unfair."
Chloe laughed and shifted closer.
Asher eventually rubbed his eyes and leaned against Alex's chest. Alex kissed the side of his head. "Someone's running out of battery."
Chloe reached toward him. "Give him here." Alex carefully passed Asher over. She settled the little boy against her chest and gently rubbed his back.
Within minutes, his eyes closed.
Trixie watched them for a moment before speaking more quietly.
"He looks really comfy."
Chloe smiled. "He's had a busy day."
They stayed there until Asher was completely asleep.
After the picnic, they toured the unfinished sections more slowly.
The DC land already had completed streets, several finished building exteriors, and one Superman attraction undergoing final testing. A Gotham section remained partly hidden behind construction walls, although Trixie managed to spot the top of Wayne Tower.
She immediately pointed toward it. "Wow! Batmobile!"
The TMNT section looked completely different.
It was designed around New York streets with hidden entrances leading underground into sewer environments, arcade spaces, pizza shops, and planned stunt attractions.
Trixie stared at a half-finished sewer entrance. "I want the turtle ride."
"It's still being tested," Alex replied.
"I can test it."
"You're very generous."
"I'm serious."
"I know."
The Alien section sat farthest away from the family areas and remained heavily unfinished.
Even from outside, the atmosphere changed.
Industrial structures surrounded a massive Weyland-style complex while warning lights flashed along unfinished corridors. Alex had moved the first Alien movie spaceship here. It's in parts right now. Once the area is completed, they'll put it together. Then there were those egg displays and facehuggers on the side wall with a closed door.
Trixie looked toward it.
"That one looks creepy."
"That's the idea."
"Can kids go there?"
"Some parts will have age limits."
She nodded seriously. "Good, because I'm brave, but I'm not stupid."
Chloe smiled. "That might be the smartest thing you've said all day."
By early evening, they returned toward the entrance.
Trixie was wearing a Spider-Man hoodie, a Mikey Orange turtle bag on her back, and a ridiculous oversized Iron Man helmet she had somehow convinced Alex to approve.
Chloe still carried a sleeping Asher.
Alex looked back across the park as construction continued in the distance.
Two years of work had brought Titan Realms this far. There were still months of testing, landscaping, staff training, finishing work, emergency drills, inspections, and construction ahead.
Still, for the first time, the place felt real.
Trixie stopped beside him and looked back too. "When it opens, can we come before everyone else?"
Alex nodded. "You're already here before everyone else."
"I mean when everything works."
"We'll come back."
She held out her pinky.
"Promise?"
Alex hooked his finger around hers.
"I promise."
Trixie smiled and grabbed his right hand while Chloe stood on his right with Asher sleeping peacefully against her shoulder. Alex put his right arm around Chloe's waist as they walked toward their car.
--
--[POWERSTONES & REVIEWS]--
Support link: www.patr eon.com/UnknownMaster
[7 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers] + [Streamer in Modern Family> 40 chs> All chs available for all tiers]
