Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 610: Fun for everyone.

Sunshine did not let the summons shake her. Of what use was it worrying about it? She had left the Glacian princess with a way to communicate with her. If she was in trouble because of what happened in the sea, it was likely that she would have heard something by now.

The princess had just bought a few things from her shop yesterday. That had to be a good sign!

She put the summons in the back of her mind as they reached home. The doors of the house hadn’t even fully hissed shut before the welcoming committee descended.

Hades was the first one to appear, his brow furrowed in that specific overprotective guardian way that usually preceded a lecture or a hug.

"You guys are back already?" He asked, his eyes darting between Sunshine’s calm face and Ariel’s suspiciously slumped shoulders. "What happened? We were not expecting you back for at least another two hours."

Sunshine didn’t miss a beat. She looked at Ariel, who was currently doing a masterful job of looking like a human with a terminal illness. "Ariel is not feeling his best self" she said, waving a hand toward the cream smear on his shoulder. "He threw up a little, so we had to come back."

Hades winced, leaning in to inspect the stain. "Good grief. It looks... like..."

"Cream," Ariel muttered, which was technically the truth.

"I told you not to eat too many those cream cakes yesterday. You also had more today at lunch, in addition to grandma’s cheesecake." Earl piped up, strolling in from the kitchen with a half-eaten apple. "It’s like you were planting landmines in your stomach. Oh, and the chocolates from the snack supply store. You ate like six of them after training."

Ariel almost smiled. The lie had an excuse to back it up. The questioning would end here.

Hades wasn’t satisfied. He looked at Sunshine, genuine worry gnawing at his features. "Should we take him to the medical bay? What if it’s a virus? Or a stress-induced gastric episode?"

Before Sunshine could answer, a metallic whirring sound filled the room. Tank rolled forward, a small sensory arm extended, hovering an inch from Ariel’s forehead.

"Scanning," Tank chirped in his upbeat, synthesized voice. "Temperature: 36.6°C. Pulse: slightly elevated, likely due to embarrassment. Internal organs: functioning at 98% efficiency. Conclusion: Foreman Ariel is not dying. Please do not panic. My sensors detect no pathogens, only high traces of wheat and artificial flavoring on the exterior garment."

Earl let out a booming laugh, clapping Ariel on his clean shoulder. "See? I told you! It’s a classic case of the store master falling victim to his own inventory."

Everyone giggled but Ariel didn’t find the accusation funny at all, he took his reputation as a good store manager seriously. He glared at Earl, his face turning a shade of pink that matched the strawberry jam in the pantry. "I bought those chocolates with my money." Ariel grumbled. As embarrassed as he was, he was glad that everyone was more interested in that than the truth.

The evening was still young, and the tension from the earlier confrontation with Elijah and Amber began to melt away under the warm lights of the house.

Hades looked around the two, his hands in his pockets.

"Well, since we’re all back and accounted for_ and Ariel isn’t actually sick_ what now? A game? I think I can beat Earl at chess if I actually try this time."

"Actually," Sunshine said, stepping into the center of the circle, "I’d like to take you all somewhere. We can call this a family date in a private park. It will be fun for everyone."

Castiel and White immediately started bouncing. "The park? The one near the zoo in Silverdale? " Castiel shouted, his innocent eyes wide with hope.

But Ariel’s face fell. He took a step back, shaking his head vigorously. "No. No way. I am not going back out. Not tonight."

Sunshine raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eyes. "Who said anything about going outside?"

Ariel paused. "Then where_"

"Go change your shirt, Ariel," she commanded gently. "Get into something clean. Everyone else, get comfortable. You don’t need heat suits where we are going. Meet me back here in five minutes."

Ariel hesitated, dragging his feet like a prisoner walking toward very comfortable gallows. When he eventually returned wearing a fresh black vest, the group was waiting.

Sunshine’s expression turned serious. She looked at each of them_ Hades, Earl, the kids, and finally Ariel. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Listen to me," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Where I am about to take you is a secret. It is the biggest secret I have. If I show you, you have to swear_ on your lives, your snacks, and your favorite toys_ that you will never, ever breathe a word of it to anyone outside this room."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The joking stopped.

"I swear," Castiel said first, stepping forward with a look of intense solemnity. He held out his little hand, palm down.

White growled next, placing his big paw below Castiel’s hand.

Earl shrugged, but his eyes were sharp with curiosity. "I’m the best secret keeper; you know that mom. Doctor’s eat confidentiality for breakfast." He placed his hand on the stack.

"You..." Ariel started and then she sighed. He had that look which said, ’Why do I even bother?’

Hades looked at her for a long moment, then placed his hand down. "Always."

Finally, all eyes turned to Ariel. He looked at the stack of hands_ a deck of cards made of skin and promises. Slowly, he reached out and topped the pile. "Fine," he muttered. "I swear."

Sunshine smiled, placing her own hand firmly on top of theirs. "Good."

"I also swear." Tank chirped in.

Hunter said nothing.

Sunshine waved her hand and, in an instant, they all vanished. The air was transformed. The smell of floor wax and old books was replaced by the scent of blooming jasmine, metal, and something that smelled remarkably like fresh rain on warm stones.

One moment they were standing on expensive hardwood, the next, they were in a place that seemed to be nowhere. They were on the line that separate the living space from the repair space.

"What the..." Earl started, but the words died in his throat.

"Welcome," Sunshine said, spreading her arms wide as the children gasped in unison. "To my secret place."

Castiel took off running immediately, he threw himself on the grass, his laughter echoing through the silent, air. White went after him; eyes suspiciously focused on the fishpond.

Ariel sat down right where he stood, his hands gripping the packet of tissues as if to make sure it was real.

"Oh my God!" He whispered, "It’s quiet here," Ariel whispered.

Hades stood behind them, his hand resting on Sunshine’s shoulder, looking out at the paradise she was revealing to the children. "Hopefully, they will not go yapping about this."

"Who would believe them?" she winked and raised her voice. "Now, who wants to see me make a real-life snow man?"