Stefan POV-

That god was a genius.

Though Stefan was still somewhat awestruck at actually meeting a god, the only thing he felt at the moment was gratitude.

That purple haired man had given him a key element to get Claire back.

Sand.

Or the closest molecular relative to it.

Sand with special properties somehow linked to the energy of the end.

Thankfully, Claire's sister had come up with a plausible explanation for the substance. On the second day of pondering what that sand could be, the young girl had stopped by with food for Stefan and her brother, who was still hanging around the lab to Stefan's eternal discontent.

"That looks like sand from the end you know. If Lord Ianite gave it to you thats where it must be from" she had said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Sure thing, after some research, the qualities matched, and the purpose for receiving the sand made sense.

The sand had the same properties as the end energy because of its origins, but the most important thing was that Stefan could create a link between this strong energy with the remaining end energy on earth.

In other words, he could open a portal to the end where the sand originated from.

Problem was, he needed Claire to get there...and he had watched the streams.

Whatever joke the universe was playing wasn't funny. By going to the end, Claire would be going exactly where the Jordan of the streams had gone.

Would she have to suffer through all that happened just to get there and go home?

Also, how would he tell her?

If that wasn't enough problematic variables to deal with, the warning from the god remained swirling in Stefan's head.

It's a trap. Get her out. Stop her from following her current path.

How could he though?

At least he wasn't he only one pondering on the events of that day. The lab cameras caught all the events that transpired with the god and the government had released the tapes to the public to see what they could make out of the odd riddle the god had put out.

Thats when the continuing reinforcements of the younger Johansen's statement came in.

End sand in was.

But there was still no way to let Claire know everything, not that he wanted to burden the champion further.

All the events of the past few days threatened to make his head explode.

For the past few days, Stefan had been hoping to get a visit from the god of the end to provide further instructions. Alas the god never came, maybe he was too weak?

Still, Claire's brother held on to that possibility of the portal opening up, that meant his presence was a constant bother.

As Stefan worked, minding his own business, the older Johansen's stare burned wholes through Stefan's back 24/7.

Though Mason's mother had so kindly reprimanded her son on his presence, the guy remained. Though they didn't talk much, or at all, Stefan still couldn't help but despise the guy.

He knew there was some history between him and Claire that had caused the girl pain. Enough so that she had been completely shaken up by his double in Mianite.

At least he wasn't the only one with an evil Miante twin anymore.

Suddenly that exclusive club was expanding, he might have to start handing out official club shirts and memberships.

But out of all times to strike conversation, he had to do so as Stefan began calibrating a very delicate compartment of wires that required most of his attention.

"Why haven't you gone back with your father. He mentioned you would all return home" Mason said

After letting out a huge huff of air, Stefan placed his tools down and crawled out of the compartment of the machine.

"I don't agree with his motives, besides, don't you want your sister back? Going back home and playing most eligible batchelor would heavily delay that reunion" Stefan said, not bothering to hide the disgust from his tone.

The man looked startled momentarily before turning back to the desk he had claimed as his own since a week ago.

"I'm sure they want what's best for you, this arrangement you speak of may be with your best interests in mind" he said, equally as unhappy

Stefan laughed, making his way to the monitors on the other side of the lab to check up on Claire.

"For someone who works for my father, you know very little about him and how he is. Imagine if someone told you to marry someone who wasn't your dear husband William all for a pretty penny, how would you feel?" Stefan asked.

Perhaps it was because Stefan was somewhat angry at his Miante double, but he didn't regret the jab he sent Mason's way.

"What makes you think my sister will be with you when she returns? That's who you are holding on to isn't it?"

Stefan had considered that, and he realized early on that it would be ok. As long as she returned safe, it didn't matter if she felt the same way. He would never get in the way of her happiness.

He would be there as a friend, a shoulder to cry on, anything. Hell, he was prepared to leave her alone entirely if thats what she wanted.

It didn't matter how much it would pain him, Stefan would just be content to have her near in whatever form that took.

"You wouldn't know since you don't know her at all" said a familiar voice, entering the lab. Adelina, Claire's younger sister, right on time with take out for him.

She scowled at her brother, which was a rare sight, and walked over to Stefan.

"What does that mean?" Mason asked, staring up form his desk and walking over to them on the other side of the room, straightening his tux as he walked.

The teen set the steaming food down, gave Stefan a brief hug, and plopped down on the revolving chair beside him.

"That you haven't talked to her in years. You know nothing about what she likes and what she would do" the girl said and Stefan just wanted to hide somewhere while the two siblings carried on their fight. But unfortunately he was trapped between the monitors and the wall.

Mason stopped his pursuit and stared at the girl, wide eyed.

Adelina turned the chair and faced Stefan.

"I think she likes you. Mom and I hear how she talks to you at night and know for a fact she cares. My brother is just being a jealous brat" she stated, grabbing some rice out of the bag and picking at it with chopsticks.

Unlike Claire, the young girl dressed in a rainbow of colors. Light green/blue shirt with white jeans and dark purple shoes. Her hair was very much like Claire's and if you were to look at them from a far, it would be easy to mistake them for one another.

But while Claire had a more accentuated face fit for a young woman, Adelina was still young, her face was calm, carefree, and as the girl put it "still getting rid of her baby fat".

Their eyes were also the same, and when looking at them, Stefan wondered if they had been equally tempered before he cast her out to a land of killing and betrayal.

He wondered if Claire had been as bubbly as her younger sister, if she had loved wild clothes and loved all things. There were certainly traces of that left, but now she had changed, all because of him.

Stefan remembered the young girl that became his first friend, the girl who wore a different colored dress each day to class with a matching bow. A little girl who smiled at the sun and laid under the shade of the trees.

Adelina was much like that.

It was had to look at the siblings when he though of that, how much his failed experiment might affect the family dynamic they used to have.

With a sigh, Stefan turned back to the monitors and faced Claire as she began placing flour on the dough before her, massaging it all together in a way she had seen the girl's mother do at her bakery.

Still, Claire was a messy cook, she got a bit of flour on the bridge of her nose and forehead somehow but managed to prepare the mix successfully enough that she washed her hands and left the dough to rise on its own on the counter.

Rolling her white sleeves back down, Claire began to hum an unknown melody as she got a clay mug and drank what Stefan assumed to be her last remaining coffee.

He was so transfixed with the girl in the screen before him that he failed to notice Adelina had moved to stand beside him.

Once she noticed he had snapped out of it, the girl broke out laughing.

"Dang you're so smitten for her. Now my sister will have you to love her unconditionally, my brother and Will are equally perfect for each other, and I'll still be alone staring at my flaming hot Cheetos the way you stare at her" the girl said

Somewhere behind them, Mason began chocking on his tea at the comment and Stefan tried to hide the blush that crept up his cheeks at the girls comments about his feelings.

Instead he turned back to the screen and watched as Claire tugged her sword back into a more comfortable position around her waist.

Stefan wasn't afraid of that, her skills. In fact, he was eternally thankful that she knew how fight, how to protect herself and survive. Most of the world didn't seem to share his opinion as of late, but he knew that the girl wasn't a monster in the least.

Monsters wouldn't feel regret and remorse, she did. If only he could tell her so she wouldn't call herself that every night before bed when she spoke to him, well, the hallway.

Stefan turned towards the table and grabbed his share of food before thanking the girl.

Then, against his better judgement, he took the last remaining food and placed it on Mason's desk.

They all ate in silence, watching as Thomas stopped by Claire's house and argued who would look best in Waglington's robes.

They were smiling and laughing at Tom's ridiculous claims until the back door opened and in came Claire's father.

Great.

But also concerning, he never stopped by, it was always Claire's mom who visited. She must be busy at the bakery.

Adelina stumbled up from her chair and rushed to hug her dad, Mason just nodded his way.

After debating running away or hiding deep into the mess of cables next to him far enough that killing Stefan would be impossible, he settled on taking the risky approach.

"Hello Mr. Johansen. Would you like some coffee?" Stefan said, trying his best to put his childhood manners to use.

The man stared at Stefan long enough that it became uncomfortable.

"Why not" he said, his deep voice sending shivers up Stefan's spine.

Wisely, Stefan rushed out into the small adjacent room and gathered some hot liquid from the coffee machine, grabbed a plate, spoon, and a few packs of sugar. Though he doubted the man outside ate anything sweet despite his wife's business.

When he retuned, the three Jonahnsen's were sitting down watching the stream on the largest screen in the lab, volume loud enough to echo across the room.

"Come on Jordan! Let's do it! Where is your sense of adventure? " Tom said

"Probably off on a beach somewhere with my sanity" Claire's sweet voice replied, clearly annoyed with whatever Tom was suggested.

Stefan handed over the coffee to Mr. Johansen, thanking the universe that his hands didn't tremble as he did so, and dragged a chair next to Adelina who sat next to her dad, Mason on his father's other side.

The man didn't finch at the taste of the coffee, and after Stefan realized he wasn't going to throw it away or yell at him, he turned his attention back to the screen where Sonja and Tucker were now settled down with Claire in her living room.

They all placed down their swords in the small coffee table in the middle of the room in a circle. The fire place was fueled with wood, and the champions piled on nearby blankets and animal skins.

Though their swords were down, Stefan could still see the various weapons strapped to their chests and legs on leather straps crossing over their bodies. Tucker was even playing with a dagger like it was nothing dangerous.

None seemed to be alarmed by it anyways.

The Dianitee laid on the right side of the couch were Claire was and threw up his hands in exasperation after piling up blankets on himself.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Tom asked and all four of them sat there in silence for a second considering it, because there were so many options.

Claire straightened up a bit, her red cape flowing behind her and stretched lazily.

"No way, I'm already on bad terms with the guy" she said

What?

"Fine, then what should we do. All this quiet is making me bored" Tom said, settling back on the couch and pulling Jordan to him, setting her down against his chest, their feet casually resting on the other side of the couch.

For some reason, Mason and Adelina turned to Stefan and he tried his best to keep his poker face intact.

"Well, we could go piss off the priest. Or we could go fight that pigman thats terrorizing the southwest village, I heard he was a small army with him. Could be fun" Sonja added, settling next to her boyfriend, cocooned in his arm.

"What's your plan?" Said boyfriend added, clearly intrigued

"Go get him" Tom interrupted

Claire laughed and lightly punched him on the chest "That is not a plan. That's an objective."

The four laughed, and that was a sight to behold. Four young adults covered in weapons, relaxing by a fireplace, planning destruction yet looking so innocent and relaxed.

He wasn't the only one who though so apparently.

"Now that could be a renaissance painting don't you think" Adelina added from her seat.

Mason rolled his eyes and turned back to the screen, that might have been the most childish thing he had ever done.

Stefan internal laughed at the though.

"I'm...I'm actually planning on sneaking into the nether. There is something I need from there" Claire said, cautiously.

"She must be insane!" Adelina added, the faces of the others in the lab and those on the screen displayed the same sentiments.

"What on Mianite's name could be so important that you would risk going to the pits of hell?" Tucker asked, stiffening a bit.

Tom's face turned serious as he faced the girl before him more clearly

"If you were planning on stealing the armor back, I still have it. It's not there" Tom said, not mad, but...worried, just as Stefan was.

"Look guys, there is something I need to help Ianite and I've been putting off going for a while. I have a feeling that if don't go get it, bad things will happen" she said

The others look at one another, having a silent talk Stefan couldn't decipher.

"When do we leave?" Tucker asked

"Oh no you don't. I just told you because Declan said we might need your help with a plan in and I'm not asking Tom to choose between me or his god" Claire said, nervously wrapping her cape on herself and settling back against Tom's chest.

Sonja launched herself from her couch and dropped down in front of the couch before her, facing Claire.

"There is no way we are letting you go to the nether by yourself" Sonja said

Stefan sure hoped they wouldn't, he didn't even want to think what it would be like to have Claire go there alone.

"This is an Ianite matter. If you go with me to steal this thing, he could take it as an act of war" Claire said

Adelina seems afraid now, the concept of war had always seemed to scare the girl despite the movies and video games they played and watched. He realized that her fear came from the fact that her sister would have to fight it....

She tucked herself against Stefan "Please tell me she isn't going there" she whispered

He wanted to reassure the young girl, but Stefan knew how stubborn Claire could be, so he just her the girl, conforming her as best he could.

"Then so be it! This is our best chance at helping you restore balance" Sonja said, standing up, her fox ears swishing back and forth as she did so " Even if it's risky we have to try. Even if we die trying"

Die. He hated that word. It kept him up at night sometimes.

Seeing Claire die was by far the only thing that could stop the air from going into his lungs, to stop his blood flow entirely, and to stop his heart all at once.

Stefan saw the others in attendance hesitate.

Then Tucker said "Me and Tom will go scout the nether for possible entry points. You girls stay here" he said, grabbing his cloak and giving Tom a questioning look

Tom just shrugged and began assembling his armor, not even voicing a single complaint about betraying his god.

Sonja stopped her foot angrily before facing Claire.

"Doesn't he know how sexist and utterly unfair that is" she said before placing a hand at her hip like an angry diva "I swear, men.."

Tucker stopped putting on his armor and faced the fox girl

"Would you really want to go there first?" He asked

"No, but I'd appreciate the chance to refuse to go first" she said

Tucker looked confused but nudged Tom over and both men gave each other a look of annoyance

Claire tried to cover up her laugher as she made her way to the boys.

"Please be careful out there. Dianite is unstable and his armies are ready to tare everything apart" she said "It's best if I don't go with you but you better swear you'll be ok"

Tom pulled her in for a big hug and kissed her head.

"It will be a walk in the park. Though I wouldn't mind a goodbye kiss for good luck" the green man dared to tease

Claire pulled him down and kissed his head the way Tom had kissed hers and Adelina let out a laugh.

"Thats a point for team Stefan" the girl whispered, thankfully not loud enough for her father to hear.

After Claire said her goodbyes to Tucker and Tom, Sonja pulled Tom for a crushing hug before turning to her boyfriend.

"You better come back in one peace, and I don't mean appearing back here by the world communicators mercy" Sonja said to Tucker

Tucker stared at the girl, long enough as if he was memorizing how her face looked for the last time.

"Thats how you look at my sis" Adelina whispered in Stefan's ear before getting her bag of flaming hot Cheetos to enjoy the scene before her.

Did he really stare at Claire like that?

"I promise. I...love you" Tucker said before giving her a quick kiss and leaving out the front door

Sonja was paralyzed, enough so that Claire had to shake her back to consciousness

"Did he just say...?" Sonja whispered.

Claire smiled wide "Yes, he did."

"Whoa. I suppose I should stay alive too, then." Sonja said before both girls began screaming and laughing, spinning in circles like they had just won the lottery.

All three men in the lab were confused, Adelina shook her head in disappointment at them before getting up and screaming in joy like her sister.

Tom laughed at them before turning towards the door, which was hard to see considering Adelina was still jumping in front of the screen.

"Oh Tom!" Claire said, running over to him as she pulled strands of her hair back into place.

For a moment Stefan's heart froze, would she make the same claim Tucker had?

It would make sense, they had a lot in common and spent nearly all day together. Tom was a fighter, strong, carefree, and bold...all the things Stefan wasn't.