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"Thirty push-ups. And when you're done that, a lap around the park."

"Thirty? But I just did twenty-five." John Jr picked himself up off the grass with the grace of an athlete- albeit one who had yet to figure out exactly how to work his arms and legs. He was so tall now Vanessa could hardly believe there was anymore growing left for him to do. At only sixteen, John Jr had come to tower over his big sister at a height of 6'1. He ate so much food that Mr. Rae joked about needing a second fridge.

"Come on, Van. I wanna fight some bad guys." Both of John Jr's hands curled into fists. He widened his stance. Grinned at his big sister. Rumbled out, "let's power up!"

Vanessa's lips twitched at the corners. She shook her head, wiped the sweat off her brow with the sleeve of her t-shirt. It was oversized and positively ancient, having belonged to Mr. Rae once upon a time, faded and worn from years of hard use. "Not here. It's too crowded."

She gestured at the park full of people around them. "Ophelia will have my nuts if I let too many people see you transform."

John Jr's face fell.

"You don't even have nuts."

"You don't know that for sure," Vanessa twinkled, stooping to retrieve a skipping rope from the gym bag at her feet. She screwed her face up into the best Schwarzenegger impression she could muster and said, "I've had enough of your sass, soldier! Now drop and give me thirty."

"Alright, alright," John Jr heaved a sigh so great you'd think Vanessa had just asked him to push Mount Everest down the street. He got to his hands and knees. Vanessa started to skip. "But after this can we please go punch something?"

So much had happened since the last time that she'd seen Ricky, but it was not in Vanessa to forget the voice or the face of a friend. And Ricky had been more than that. In a manner of speaking. If only for a moment. She remembered him well, but was so astonished at seeing him again, after so long, that it was all she could do stare.

"Van- do you know that guy?" John Jr abandoned his orders and rolled onto his side at the sound of Ricky's shout, bright eyes flickering from his big sister to the tornado of blonde hair and southern charm barelling towards them. He was more curious than concerned, resting with his chin in his hands, and seemed fully prepared to let Ricky get away with whatever he pleased.

The smile spreading across her face told him everything he needed to know about the sort of person that Ricky was. John Jr had followed Vanessa his whole life, and had learned to make friends from watching her. It was difficult for him to imagine her in danger.

"RICKY!" Vanessa squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. The skipping rope slipped out of her hand and landed in the grass with a soft thud. She was invigorated by his enthusiasm -touched that he could be so excited to see her, after so long- and braced herself for the impact of his embrace, arms spreading wide. She started laughing, sure that he would knock the wind out of her, and also not caring. She wanted him to hit her with all of his joy, and she wanted to share all of hers with him. "It's so nice to see you! How've you been?"

Age and experience had taught Vanessa what it meant when a man looked at her like that. She could not help the way that she flushed-- it was soft, so subtle it might be easily mistaken as a consequent of her workout. While her feelings for Ricky were mostly friendly, she remembered the feel of his hands on her body and was flattered. By his attention, and his easy kindness.

"You look great too!" She exclaimed, in part because it was right to repay a compliment with a compliment, but primarily because it was tue. Ricky looked as strong as he ever had. She appreciated his build with the heart of a warrior and the eyes of a woman.

'What have y'all been up to?'

How long had it been since she'd seen him last? Vanessa wasn't sure. There was so much to tell that she short-circuited a little trying to settle on a place to start. Instead, she beamed at him, and then waved John Jr over to join them with an excited gesture of her arm. Grinning, John Jr stood and stepped up to shake Ricky's hand.

"This is my little brother, John Jr-

"You can just call me JR," John Jr said. He was taller than Vanessa by several inches and broader in the shoulders. Too skinny to be intimidating, more bone and string than muscle, but everything about the way he was built implied that he would be large one day.

Somewhere in the distance a man shouted for help. All around them the park stirred. Alarmed, murmuring, men and women turned North -in the direction of the disturbance. Several were prepared with cellphones. Vanessa narrowed her eyes, cheeks darkening with anticipation of battle. The twinkle in her eye was mirrored in John Jr's. He looked like an excited dog on a leash, while she was calm- inhaling deeply, chest rising and falling underneath her father's shirt at a snail's pace.

The man shouted again.

Vanessa started reaching for her henshin pen, tucked in the back pocket of her shorts.