"We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”

- Bob Ross

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CHAPTER SIX

>>> Trillium's P.O.V. <<<

When I get to the Central City police precinct, my stomach starts doing little somersaults. I lower my headphones from my ears and turn off my "80s Classic Rock" station on Pandora, regretting to do so because "Immigrant Song" just started to play. I see Julian's car parallel parked outside the building, and take a deep breath in.

"You can do this, Trillium," I tell myself. "He's the one that wanted to talk to you."

Before I can convince myself that this is a bad idea and that I should just go home, I see a familiar figure walk out of the building. A man a few inches taller than me with sun-kissed skin, wavy blond hair, and worried blue eyes spots me standing at the bottom of the concrete stairs that lead to the front door. There's a briefcase in one hand, and a box of files in the other. He hesitates, almost not believing the sight he sees before him. I give a little, awkward wave, half-smiling. "Hi. It's--It's me. Yay."

As Julian starts to speak, he nearly drops the box under his arm that carries at least a dozen case files. With wide eyes, I rush up the stairs and catch it before he completely drops it. "Sorry about that," he says, thanking me. "I knew I should've taken two trips."

"No harm done," I reply, placing them in his car as he opens the door for me.

After the files are in the back seat, Julian turns towards me, but doesn't look me in the eye. "I've been texting and calling you for the past two days."

I nod, "I know. I had an emergency at work and couldn't reply."

"Which work was that again? Working on art or Metas?"

With that sarcastic remark, my open attitude towards this meeting instantly vanishes. I turn on my heel and trot down the stairs, pulling my headphones up and onto my head again. Julian runs after me, coming to stand in my path with hands up. "Wait! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that, Tril."

"Sure as hell sounded like it," I spit. I pull my headphones from my ears and let them hang around my neck, crossing my arms over my paint-covered Bon Jovi t-shirt. "What do you want, Julian? I came here because you've been nagging for days. If all you're gonna do is fire shots at me, then I'm outta here."

Julian groans, covering his face with his hands. "God, I know. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. You know how I don't always think things through before I say them. I really am trying."

My voice softens and I sigh, "It's fine. You said you wanted to talk. So...talk, I guess."

He takes a deep breath in, dropping his hands from his face. "I know I've tried to apologize before, and I know it never came out right, but I never meant to shut you out, Tril. I was just hurt that you kept that a secret from me, your powers, especially after all you helped me through with my...problem."

"Alchemy," I recall. "Yeah, that was a rough patch."

"But we got through that," Julian exclaims, almost smiling. "How did we let a little bickering about secrets break apart what we had?"

I give him a small, side-smile, looking up at him with hesitant hope. "Don't know. Seems like forever ago." My phone starts blaring the ring tone I set for Aspen, and I sigh, fishing the phone from my pocket.

"You need to answer that?" he asks.

I shake my head, hitting the decline button and placing the phone back into the pocket of my boyfriend-style jeans. "She can wait." I return my attention towards our conversation with a pause in between my thoughts. "Julian, you called me your mother. That...That hurt."

He nods, looking downcast. "I know, I know. That was wrong of me. You're nothing like her. She kept secrets for her own gain. You...Why did you keep your powers a secret?"

I shrug. "I don't know. I guess...at first I didn't know what you would think. You were pretty against Metas in the beginning. Barry hated you for that. And then, once you opened up about your alter-ego Alchemy, I just thought that you had enough on your plate when it came to Metas. After we fixed you...I don't know. I guess I just thought that you would freak out and think I was purposefully lying to you throughout our relationship by keeping my abilities from you."

"And I did it anyways," Julian mumbles. "That was a mistake."

I reach forward and take one of his hands in my own. "I think we both made mistakes, Julian. I'm sorry for mine, and I forgive you for yours."

"Thank you," he mutters, smiling slightly. "So where are we now?"

I shrug. "I don't really know. I miss you, though."

Julian pulls me in for a tight hug, resting his chin on my shoulder as I wrap my arms tightly around his torso. "I miss you, too, love."

I pull back, putting a foot or so between Julian and I. "I really, really wanna pick up where we left off a few months ago, but...I can't. I think we should take it slow."

Julian tries to hide his smile as he nods. "I agree, that's smartest."

I grin widely and grab both of his hands. "But that doesn't mean you can't spend the holidays with us, just like last year! We can go ice skating, and go caroling, and watch the CC Christmas Parade! Aspen, Seph, and I were planning on going, if you wanna come."

Before Julian can respond, my phone announces that my sister is calling once again. This time, however, I pull it from my pocket, sliding the answer key. I raise one finger to Julian and walk a few feet away. "Aspen, totally not cool! I was making progress--"

"--Trillium, Persephone is missing!"

My annoyance immediately falls off my face. "What? What do you mean 'missing?'"

"She's missing! Barry and I are at her school because she had drama club on her winter break that she just had to be at. They said they took a lunch break and she never came back! I'm freaking out! My baby is missing. Oh, goddess. Damn it. It's happening again." I hear Barry's voice in the background telling Aspen to break and calm down, that he'll run all over Central City to find Persephone if he has to. Aspen gets control again and says, "Please, get here as soon as you can. We have to find my daughter."

I agree, hang up, and turn around to Julian. His smile fades when he sees the terror in my eyes. "What happened?" he asks, walking closer.

"It's Persephone," I reply, my voice dead. "She's missing."

Julian ushers me to the car. "Get in. Tell me where to go."

I nod, tears welling up in my eyes, and get into the passenger's seat.

Julian starts the car. "Where to?"

"Central City Elementary," I mutter, eyes glued to the dash in front of me. "On the corner of West Shenandoah and Electric Road."

Julian nods. "We're not far."

I manage a small, "Thank you."

He revs the engine and pulls out into the street in a hurry. "We'll find her, love." He takes my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. "I promise."

END CHAPTER EIGHT