Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 493: The confrotation.....4

But before they could find out what it was, Amber loudly interfered. "I don’t agree. I specifically want accommodation somewhere where I can be close to my sons. As for visitation, it can be supervised if you don’t trust me around them." Her voice cracked, but she pressed on. "I made a bad choice back them because I was addicted to alcohol. I thought that I would be better off without them...without my family. I was wrong. But you have to admit Hades that I made the right decision because I left them with you. I knew they would be safe, healthy and happy with you and your family."

Sunshine stepped closer, frost coming from her nostrils. "Exactly. You left them where they would be safe, healthy and happy. And now you think you can just return and disrupt their lives. Have you considered how that will affect them? They don’t even remember you, especially Castiel."

In support of her friend, Nimo voiced her own opinion. "You could have returned when you were on step eight and nine of your program. Making amends. I am sure you were told to make a list of the people you harmed and make amends. If you are such a loving mother, the children and the husband you cuckolded should have been at the top of the list."

Amber winced.

Hades sneered. "I did not get the call or apology. Neither did my children. And now, it is too late. We don’t need it. We have all moved on to greener pastures as you can see." He put and arm around Sunshine’s waist and smiled gently at her.

Nimo rolled her eyes.

Hadrian chuckled.

Major Elio snorted from the side.

Zulu repeated the words ’greener pastures’ to Father Nicodemus, asking the priest to take notes and remind her of that statement later.

"That’s right." Warren approached Sunshine and put his hand on her shoulder. "The entire Quinn clan is enjoying the benefits of those greener pastures. We are enjoying sunshine, warm and..."

Hades slapped Warren’s hand. "Get your own greener pasture."

Amber flared up even more. They were saying the babysitter was better than her! How ridiculous! Words tumbled out of her mouth in a rush. "She is a thief that stole what was mine. My children are mine. You want to poison them against me. You were doing it long before I left, acting like you cared about them more than me. I guess I should not be surprised that Hades married you. God knows you had his mother eating out of your palms.

You married up. Good for you. But you are not my kid’s mother. You may think so, but you are not. You are just the woman that filled the void after I left."

Some superhumans were uncomfortable with the raw drama spilling into the open. Others were entertained. A couple of women started wondering if Sunshine was actually the other woman before she became the wife.

Amber’s animosity was palpable, her bitterness cutting through every word. She was losing ground, her emotions clouding the negotiation.

Elijah placed his hand on her arm and whispered, "You need to listen to me Amber. Enough." Then, louder, he said to Hades and Sunshine. "Clearly we have some differences of opinion and some misguided assumptions about each other. I do agree with you all, Amber was not in the best mind back then and she did not make the best decisions. But she is trying to change. She has longed to see the boys for so long, that is why she is saying so much nonsense. We’re not here to fight over the past. We are here for supplies and to secure our future.

As for accommodation, the reason why I mentioned Silverdale is because my family owns a private hospital there. If it is still standing, we will move in there. The Harrington Heritage clinic."

Hades leaned towards Sunshine and whispered. "It was enclosed in the farm. We can’t let them move there."

"I don’t want them in my territory." She whispered back.

He whispered, "But if we don’t honor the bounty, word will spread and nobody will be on the lookout for Moon. We have the upper hand here anyway. And I think letting them stay and keeping an eye on them might be better than throwing them out and having them run to Vicente or Emily."

Sunshine weighed his words. He was a man that understood leverage. And, much as she did not want them in her territory, Hunter had notified her that Elijah Harrington was not so ordinary. They needed to get a thermal band around his wrist and monitor him. She nodded.

Hades turned to Amber and Elijah. "The bounty was for Fifi alive. But she is dead. Still, we will honor part of it. The price was thirty million for two women."

Amber scowled.

Hades smiled. "One woman is fifteen million. Her death brings the price down by half. It should be even less, but we will be generous and give you five million because we are kind."

"That is far less than half." Amber cried out.

Hades shrugged. "It is what you will get. We will give you supplies; the quality of course depends on how we feel. And right now, we don’t feel so good about you two. Shelter....you will stay right here in Westbrook town. Silverdale is a special town; you need a special pass to live there now. Your family is not qualified to do so. As for visitation..." He glanced at Sunshine.

Sunshine’s eyes were cold. "Not happening, unless the children want it. They don’t need her. They don’t even know her anymore. Why reopen old wounds?"

Ariel was probably cleaning everything in the house right now. Earl was likely to be in the hospital, the one place where he could be calm and rational. And Castiel, he was likely to be in tears or sulking, waiting for her to return and reassure him that she was still his mommy.

Elijah stepped closer.

Major Elio’s gun made a clicking sound and he cleared his throat.

Elijah stepped back. "Why reopen old wounds?" he asked, voice calm. "Because it is the right thing to do. Because resentment will continue to grow from both sides. Let her see them. One hour a week, supervised if you must. Just give her something small. You two can even be there the whole time, watching and listening."

Sunshine replied coldly. "Like I said the decision is up to the boys, not me. Ariel will decide for his brothers. Their father and I will not force our choices down their throats. You will stay here, where you are assigned. You will follow all of the rules. One misstep, and I will throw you to the shardlings." She turned and walked away.

Hades followed her, leaving Hadrian to handle what was left.

Amber’s breath caught. Relief and bitterness warred within her. She had won somewhat, but only barely. As she watched Sunshine’s back, she wondered just how much power the woman who had replaced her wielded.

What had she done to become the most loved woman in the Quinn family?

Why did Hades defer to her for opinions? What had happened to the man who trusted only himself?

"Let’s go, future shardling food." Hadrian gestured to the couple. He did not know about Elijah, but he was sure Amber would feed those little fish someday.