Marco moved his lit cigarette lighter close to her left eye and then her right. He put it away and then moved his hand down to her left foot and tickled her sole. He watched as her toes scrunched. "The good news is I don't see any brain damage" he said. "Then she's in a deep sleep?" Lucy asked. "More like a medically induced coma" he replied. Alicia began pulling clothes out of the closet. "Let me get her dressed and we can take her to the doctor" she said softly. "We can't" Marco said in a whisper. "Why the hell not?!" Alicia yelled. "You forgetting she isn't human? Even if we shrank her and passed her off as a borrower...there aren't any doctors skilled in borrower medicine in Italy. Probably not in all of Europe. Borrowers are a North American thing" he said. "Then we portal to New York or something" Alicia said. "It's not a sickness" Cordelia said sitting down on the bed. Her hand caressed Faith's cheek and lips. "There is a power at work here" she said. "But the barrier..."

"She was probably attacked before she crossed it" she replied. "By whom?" Lucy asked. "Don't know. Whoever it was has divine power. Leave me" Cordelia said as she transformed into her natural state. Marco let them out of the room to the living room. "What is she doing?" Alicia asked nervous. "Trying to determine what we're dealing with. She's more experienced with old magics than I am" he replied. "Doesn't your symbology work by breaking magics" Theo asked. "If I can learn the basic structure but I've never heard of a sleeping spell this powerful. I don't know if I can" Marco replied. Alicia sat on the sofa and wept. Marco sat next to her and began praying softly. 

After stripping Faith of all clothing, Cordelia broke off a piece of a vine from the potted plant in the room and placed it on Faith's stomach. She then took off her own clothing, shrank down, and stood on her stomach. Touching the vine, she willed it to grow. Minutes passed as its tendrils touched her giant soles, her hands, her nipples, her rectum, and then slipped into her mouth and up her nose. The shrunken goddess got down on her knees and felt the main vine. It had been literally ages since she tried controlling a mortal this way. Using her vines like strings for a puppet. She quickly found out that when she tried to rouse Faith with force, it caused physical harm to her. Cordelia backed off. Cordelia took her time to study the physical state of the giantess. He tiny feet felt the heart beating under her soles. Her giant finger twitched when poked with thorns. Cordelia moved to her large soles and using gentle fire magic to heat the air, coaxed them to sweat. She stimulated the folds of her pussy with her hands and watched as Faith grew wet. She however, did not even so much as groan. She didn't even gasp as Cordelia squeezed her nipples for milk. It has confirmed her worst fear...and then some as her connection to the giantess wavered ever so slightly. She extracted the vines from Faith, grew back to human size and sat quietly on the bed.

She mustered the strength to go out to them and tell them what she had found out. All eyes were on her as she entered the living room. "It's a curse" she muttered passing them. Cordelia poured a cup of tea and sipped it. Alicia wanted to scream at her, but Marco held her back. "How can we break it" he asked. "I don't know if it can be broken. If not either death or kill the one that cast it" she replied. She looked at all of them. She's also dying. The longer she's under the curse, the more it will sap her life force. It's already began to ebb" she said softly. "Cordelia. Who did this?" Marco asked. "I don't know. It's a slumber deity that much is for sure. Probably an elder" she said. Alicia saw Cordelia's hand shaking as she held her cup. "I need to learn more about it. It's sounds familiar but..." she said shaking her head. "We can use the library. There might be a record of this somewhere" Marco said. "I'll help" Alicia said. "We'll all help" Dru said to them. All six of them began pulling books off the shelves in the library looking for a clue on how to wake Faith. 

"Grandpa grandpa!" the twins shouted running to him. "Grace! Matty! Come here you cute critters!" Keith chucked hold his arms out. The twins hugged him tightly. "Have pity on an old man!" he chuckled as the kids eased up. "You're looking good dad" Faith said to him. "All three of your mothers make sure I don't lounge about the house too long" he said winking. "Dirty old man" she chuckled. "Alicia. I made sure to buy a 100 copies of your new album" he said to her. "Much appreciated. It's been 15 years since I came out and got married to a woman, but you'd think it happened yesterday looking at my Twitter*" she said. "You'll always have shitheads. I would say it's human nature, but borrowers aren't exactly exempt either" he said. "Speaking of borrowers..." she mumbled. She looked at the twins so we're staring at the colony. "Why don't you two go explore the city. Just make sure you're barefoot. Just fixed Main Street" he said. "You sure dad?" Faith asked. "Aww they'll be fine. Not like they're gonna eat somebody. They don't eat people right?" he asked. He laughed. He watched the teenage giant and giantess tip toe into the city as the festival was underway. Faith placed their sandals aside for the moment.

"Now what's going on?" he asked. "I want the kids to learn how to forage in the wild like traditional borrowers. Alicia on the it her hand..." Faith said. "It's not necessary. They're raised in a mansion for god's sake. Not to mention they both inherited some impressive magics" Alicia argued. "True but it is a good skill set to have. There have been plenty of times that knowing what plants I can eat, listening and feeling for predators, navigating and whatnot saved my life even after I learned arcane" Keith said. "You were a soldier!" Alicia yelled. "After I was drafted into a war to save the world. Being a Mage puts a target on our heads. You think the mogwai are fine knowing someone like Faith is allied with THORN and she has very powerful offspring following in her footsteps?" he asked. "You heard anything?" Faith asked worried. "Some rumors about them expanding their influence in North Korea. Nothing other than that. They haven't done anything since...you know" he replied. "Okay a few days" Alicia said. "Sweetie. This stuff takes longer than an extended weekend. Daddy had me do it for three weeks and I still kept making bad mistakes" she said. "The poison oak toilet paper" he chuckled. "Oh god that. My pussy and ass were itchy for two days" she groaned. "Yeah until I took you home and sucked on you for a few hours. Then your real mom stumbled on us and gave me that look" he chuckled. "I'd imagine so. Hanging out of your mouth moaning as I came" Faith laughed. Alicia coughed.

"Nothing bad will happen. I do this all the time for the kids in the colony. I even sweep the area for snakes and spiders and other creepy crawlers just in case before we go out" Keith said smiling and patting Alicia's hand. "I'll go with him if you feel better" Faith said. "Two days as a test run and we'll be right back" Keith said. Alicia quietly nodded. "You going to her grave?" he quietly asked? "I should but every time it feels weird. That's essentially me under there" Faith replied. "Hard to believe it's been ten years. I'll never forget that day those mogwai assassinated her" he said. "A first strike but they didn't know about me and my peacekeepers. Our retaliatory strike killed so many. Obliterated their homeland" Faith muttered. "And what was left fled into North Korea. I remember that day. Christ I helped" Alicia said. "I remember that day too. Beautiful sunny day and it led to...well" he said. "At least they had the sense to evacuate the children. Does mom talk about it?" Faith asked. "No, but doesn't have to. Part of her died the day Hope did. She didn't say a word when I came home drenched in blood, feet sore from crushing. My mouth and lips stained with blood. It was like I just turned over the keys to my dark side. Even Oberon kept quiet" he said. "Where is mom?" Faith asked. "With Clare at the school" he replied. "Mind if I say hi?" she asked. "By all means" he replied smiling.

Faith left them and took off her flats before entering the city. Her kids were busy playing in the grassy meadow area along with other older kids their age that didn't have to attend school that day.  The way it had it be set up, with more borrowers now living in the city, school days depending on age were staggered to accommodate them all. Faith smiled seeing her kids having safe fun as she walked down the Main Street. The little borrowers happily smiling up at the supermodel looking giantess walking through their town. Her giant feet softly as possible stepping on their street. They knew who she was really but honored her request of being seen as a different person. Still, some couldn't help but perceive her as Hope. Even the scent from her feet was the same. No exaggeration to say some were astonished to learn who she was 10 years prior that fateful day.

Faith reached the large school and sat patiently awaiting school to end. In the decade that came, Aspen had chosen to become a teacher in a way to soothe the pain of losing Hope. Not to leave her side, Claire gave up the career of a supermodel to teach as well. School eventually let out and the young tiny kids poured out of the school to find the kindly giantess sitting there. They squealed and rushed her as Faith was seen by and large as a war hero. A savior to the colony that was under siege. People joked that her, Susan, Claire, and Keith were a kind of Justice League of borrowers. Faith didn't find it all that funny. The cost of that nickname came too high. "That tickles!" Faith giggled as they climbed up her feet. She had fun literally juggling them in her hands watching them jump from palm to palm. But all too son their fun came to an end as their parents came to take them home. About 15 minutes later, Claire and Aspen emerged from the school. "Hi moms" she said to them. "Faith!" Claire yelled running up to her. Faith grabbed her up and nuzzled her to her cheek. "You look well honey" Aspen said up to her. Faith fidgeted with her hand until Aspen gestured for her to pick her up. "Why so bashful?" Aspen asked. "...nothing" she replied.

"You still remember that day how I acted?" she asked. "You had every right" Faith said. "No I didn't sweetie. Give mommy kisses" she said. Faith kissed her face. "Did you bring the twins?" Claire asked. "You mean the giant monsters terrorizing the meadows?" she asked turning to show them. "Aspen do you see it?" Claire asked pointing to Grace. "Looking like my grandma when she was young? Yeah" Aspen said. "Well they were looking forward to seeing their grandmothers" Faith said standing up and walking. "I'm glad you came. Your father comes off like he doesn't care about his birthday but after Hope died..." Aspen said. "Family functions aren't trivial anymore" Faith said. "You going to visit her grave right?" Claire asked. Faith nodded. "Me and dad were talking about what happened afterwards. I know you don't like to talk about those three days, but do you think what we did was overkill?" Faith asked. Claire looked at them both wondering what the answer would be. "I asked that myself afterwards. I even asked Lawan what her thoughts were. Horrible means to a necessary end she said" 

"What are your thoughts Faith?" Claire asked as they left the edge of the city. "I remember how good it felt to crush them under my feet. My heart quicken as they fought to the death. Watching a father fall to his knees as I ate his son alive. Daddy said one thing the entire time we were alone in that cave. "Shock and awe". The mogwai were evil to the core but killing them reminded me how good it felt to extinguish the lives of people no bigger than bugs. A legacy left over from Markus" Faith replied. "Markus? Who's Markus?" Aspen asked. "How could you...AHHGH!" Faith yelled as she felt a sharp migraine. 

In the real world...

"She's shaking!" Alicia yelled as she held Faith down. "Something is wrong! Her pulse is spiking...wait...it's slowing" Cordelia said with her fingers on Faith's wrist. "What was that?!" Lucy asked. "Something is happening in her mind. Some kind of resistance" Cordelia replied. "All day...all goddamn day and nothing! Not even a clue!" Alicia yelled. "Marco is still searching. Until then we can only look after her body. Alicia, please get me some bottled water while I change her diaper" Cordelia said. She shooed them out. "Mistress" she said softly as she took the soiled diaper off Faith. She had been asleep for nearly a full day and when she pissed the bed by late afternoon, it was clear other measures were needed. With a wet cloth, Cordelia cleaned the piss and shit off her mistress like a mother would her babe and put on a fresh diaper. "Good. Put some in your mouth and give it to her that way" Cordelia said as Alicia returned. Cordelia left the room. Silently, Alicia did and happily found Faith swallowing. At least she wouldn't die from dehydration. Over and over she kept doing it until the bottle was empty and sat down "Did she take it?" Cordelia asked returning. 

"Thankfully yes" she replied. "Help me stand her up a little. Her breasts need to be drained" Cordelia said holding a small bowl. They stood her up and pulled her shirt off. Alicia watched as the goddess took ahold of her right breast and coaxed the breastmilk from it into the bowl. "Same" she said. "It's like you have experience in this" Alicia said. "I do but that very long ago" Cordelia muttered. "How bad it is...really?" Alicia asked. "She's weakening by the moment. In a few hours she won't be able to hold her growth spell and shrink down. At this rate...four days" she replied. Alicia looked at her. "He won't stop until he finds the answer. None of us will" Cordelia told her. After they were done, Cordelia left the room and came back with a potted rose. "I must rest. I suggest you do the same" Cordelia said shrinking down and climbing into the flower. "But don't we need to feed her?" Alicia asked. "We do it now she could choke to death. Her body needs to get...well desperate for food. Then we can spoon feed with little risk of choking as her throat will expand slightly" Cordelia replied. Alicia watched the tiny goddess use flower petals as a blanket. She held Faith's hand and closed her eyes.

Back in the dream world...

"Wha...what happened?" Faith asked. "You said something and then held you head. You okay?" Claire asked. "I am now. Can't remember what I was saying" she said shaking her head. Faith couldn't see but a mysterious figure with an outstretched hand was watching her from a good distance. "Is the cake ready?" Lawan asked. The figure turned around. "Just finished the icing" she replied. The strange young woman watched as Lawan carried the cake out of the kitchen. "The rumors were true. She is powerful. It has been centuries since anyone threatened to break my hold" she muttered.

"Look who I brought!" Faith yelled to her kids. The twins sprinted to her after having the foresight of walking away from the other children playing to their mother. "I want grandma Aspen!" Matty yelled. "I get Claire!" Gracie yelled grabbing them from Faith. "Careful! They're not toys!" Faith yelled as they ran off. Faith shook her head and followed. She sat comfortably on the grass watching her kids kiss and nuzzle her grandmothers. Aspen couldn't get enough of kissing his giant cheeks while Claire delighted in making Grace giggle and squirm as she tickled her grass stained giant soles. As she watched them, she felt something. Something odd. The more she thought of it though, the pain began to return. She shook her head dismissing the thought and just looked on as her kids rambled on to their grandmothers about school, boys, and girls they liked, and life in general. "Let's go see her" Faith said to them standing up. The kids carried Claire and Aspen as they all went to Hope's grave.

Situated at the crest of Memorial Field was an 8 ft. tall statue of an angelic child overlooking the thousands of headstones the size of bricks dotting the land. Ground had been broken decades prior to house the final resting place of borrowers here and over time it steadily grew. Hundreds on the day Hope was born and hundreds more the day she died. By this time there were no less than 4,000 graves; one third of them empty as no body could be recovered because of being crushed, burnt, or eaten. The giant known as Keith would sometimes just sit at the foot of the grave of his daughter. Only Aspen could rose him to return to the mansion. They pitied the giant as they knew his hopes and dreams rested under the dirt. Some wondered how he had not gone mad. Those that knew him best would answer that his madness walked side by side with him the day he entered the Mogwai homelands and only tamed by spending day and night creating the glorious memorial that stood before them now. None, not Claire, Aspen, or even his wife Lawan knew he had such artistic talent. People would sometimes just stare from their windows at the sculpture not out of respect of remembrance but out of awe.

Faith had placed them on the ground and sat at the foot of the statue. "You won't come in?" Claire asked. Faith shook her head. "I understand. This is probably the hardest for you" she said. The kids looked at her concerned. "I'm okay. Shrink down and pay your respects" she said softly. The kids shrunk down and followed Aspen and Claire into the small room that lie inside the foot of the statue. Faith stared at it. Beautifully polished marble so fine the mineral lines appeared like blood vessels. The eyes had pupils and even eyelashes. The feathers of the wings unique and none the same as the other. The toga flowing as if time had frozen it in place. As detailed it was, it didn't compare to her hands and feet. Line and wrinkles in the soles and strikingly fingerprints in the fingers and toes. This was half the reason why Faith didn't like coming here. Her father loved her so much he memorized her fingerprints and Faith felt as if she was an impostor. The other half was more obvious. It was her body interred here. Separated by a timeline but it was her.

Claire and the kids emerged helping the crying Aspen. Faith felt guilty just looking down on her. "Faith. Please see to your mother. Come along kids" Claire said sensing discomfort in Faith. With a slightly shaking hand, held her mother in it. She still did not look at her, but a mother knows when something is wrong with their child. "Tell mommy what's on your mind" she said rubbing her eyes. "Where did dad get the idea to do it this way?" Faith asked. "Our biggest regret was not seeing you grow up normally. He said he had a dream and in it you were about 7 or 8 years old playing on his workbench. You jumped off for some reason and he said you started flying and laughing. He said you looked like an angel. Now tell me what you're really thinking about" she said. 

"I can't help but feel like I'm an impostor. That I'm not really your daughter and I just took her place. I come from a different world. No parents or anything. Being here, calling you mom is a fucking lie" Faith said shaking as tears fell from her eyes. Aspen had heard this before 10 years ago but figured her fears had gone by now. "When I found out who you were I was angry and upset. I thought the why you're thinking now until I learned something. There are parents in the world that had identical twins born to them and some of those parents had the bad fortune of losing one of them. What of the other child? Did they take the place of the dead sibling? No, they were loved because they were their own person. Faith, you are my child regardless the circumstances. You are not her and that is okay" Aspen said. Faith gave her shrunken mother a good kiss. "Thanks mom" she whispered. She sighed and breathed in her scent. "It's feels good to be back" she smiled.

Outside in the real world...

"Cordelia!" Alicia yelled as Faith glowed for a moment before shrinking in bed. The small goddess bolted up to see what had happened. Cordelia floated down and pulled Faith out of the tent like shirt covering her. Thankfully, she had not shrunken into her own diaper. "We expected this remember?" she said. "I'll do it" Alicia said grabbing a paper towel, getting it wet, and cleaning her. "Fuck it!" Alicia yelled placing Faith in the warm water bowl to bathe her. Cordelia didn't interfere and went to check on Marco. She found him where she left him in the library with books scattered around him. Asleep with an old tome as his pillow. She landed on the desk and began to pull the pen still in his hand out from his grasp. Marco bolted awake breathing hard. "Easy" she said. "Cordelia?" he asked rubbing his eyes. "Yeah it's me" she said. He looked at the door. "Faith?" he asked. "Getting weaker. Her growth spell crapped out which is a good thing really. It will help to conserve her energy" she replied. "I looked through a dozen books to find any similarity to what's happening. Just old stories with impractical endings" he said. "Anything could help" she said patting his finger.

"Rip Van Winkle was asleep for decades but that was due to a witch that's been dead for centuries. The Campioné of that time exorcised her. And then the real account of Sleeping Beauty" he said. "So maybe a kiss from a prince?" Cordelia asked smiling. "That's the Disney version. The real version involved rape, necrophilia, and childbirth*" he said coldly. "It's almost 5 in the morning. Go to bed and start again in the morning" she said. He looked at his books. "Alicia must think I'm a cold bastard. I haven't even checked on Faith since this morning. And then how calm I was" he muttered. "She knows you're desperately looking for answers and that cool exterior comes from years of training" she said. "Would I still be that calm if it was you instead of her?" he asked. He cradled her in his hands. "If you were slowly dying in your bed, could I stay calm? If not then what does that say about me now?" he asked. Marco played with her hair before his fingers went down her body. He looked at her tiny rosy bare soles for a moment. "That doesn't mean you don't love her" she said. "Then why do I feel guilty?" he asked. "Love is a very complicated emotion. Aphrodite...or was she calling herself Venus back then told me...wait. That's why it felt familiar. Marco, there's a story about a man put into eternal sleep by a Greek deity. It's not so well known but..." she said before growing to human size. She left the room and returned with his laptop.

(Authors note: Yeah, it's true. The original Sleeping Beauty story contained that)

She searched online for a few minutes. "There it is. The story of Endymion. The goddess Selene fell in love with him and asked Zeus to give him eternal life. However, she loved him most as he slept and asked...hmm...the story gets murky. * Either Hypnos or Morpheus grants her request and puts him into eternal sleep. Eventually he dies though" she said. "You said this felt like a deity's power. We might just found our culprit" Marco said. "But which one? Hypnos, Sommnus, or Morpheus?" she asked. "Right, two pantheons" he muttered. "It's a start...after you sleep" she said. Marco reluctantly went to his bedroom. Cordelia went back to check on Alicia and Faith.

(Authors note: There are multiple versions to the story of Endymion. Some where Selene was the main one and another where he pissed off Apollo and or Zeus and was put to sleep as punishment)

"We made some progress which Marco will follow up on in the morning" Cordelia said to Alicia. She silently nodded as she dried the still sleeping Faith in her hands. "She looks pale" Alicia said. "With her life force diminishing, it's effecting her circulation. If you stimulate her body it will help" Cordelia said. Alicia sat on the bed as she rubbed Faith's little legs and feet. "She feels so fragile" she muttered. "...yes" Cordelia whispered. Alicia fingers wandered over her body rubbing and poking various places. "Jesus what's wrong with me. I'm getting wet" Alicia hissed. "Calm yourself. In times of great stress, humans naturally think of sex more. Stimulate her more" she said. Alicia gave her a look. "It's not taking advantage of her. She's a borrower. They're hard wired for this. Look, I'm not saying fuck her. Just be affectionate. Kisses and nibbles" Cordelia said patting her head. Cordelia left the room to give her a bit a privacy.

Alicia smelled her. The smell of hand soap still clung to her skin. She whimpered softly as she cuddled her unconscious body to her cheek. Alicia spent the next few minutes just touching her lips to her face. Small little pecks as she tried not to shake. Her lips kissed her bare belly and then her breasts. Alicia slipped them past her lips for a quick gentle suck and was rewarded with a few squirts of her milk. She had to admit that her completion did look better now. She placed her tiny pussy on her lips and barely grazed it with the tip of her tongue. Tiny licks over and over until she could taste her juices. Faith's cheeks seemed rosier. Then Alicia got to her feet. They smelled of hand soap as she felt them touch her nostrils. She held her ankles between her fingers admiring her teeny little toes. Toes she had worshiped many times by now. Faith looked much better as Alicia put her back on the bed. She lay next to her biting her lip to the point of bleeding as how terrified she was of being a widow.

Back in the dream world...

"Whew! Jesus I'm stuffed. You always were a good cook Lawan" Keith said patting his stomach. "The thanks lies with the maid. Not with me" she said gesturing to the maid collecting dishes. "A pleasure" she said before a dish slipped out of her hand. Faith grabbed it before it could shatter on the floor. "Thank you" the maid said as Faith handed her it. Their skin touched and Faith felt an eerie sensation that gave her goosebumps. She narrowed her eyes. "Is something the matter?" the maid asked. "What's your name?" Faith asked. "...Mary" she replied. Faith felt a migraine coming. "Nice to meet you" Faith said walking back to the table. Her eyes stayed in the maid until she left the room. "Is something wrong Faith?" Lawan asked. "No mama Lawan" Faith replied shaking her head. "If anyone is up for movies, I got an entire Netflix playlist ready" Rose said. The family adjourned into the main living room.

A few hours passed as Faith sat with her family watching a few movies. Aspen went to bed first still emotionally drained from the day, then Claire followed. Lawan had shrunk down to rest on his stomach. Keith just quietly watched whatever as he rubbed his finger on her belly now and then until she had fallen asleep. "You ever wonder what happened to the other Marty McFly when the first Marty came back to that altered good 1985?" Keith asked suddenly. "Never gave it thought dad. I haven't seen Kannika and Justin" she asked. "On their first assignment. Surprised you just now asked" he said. "Thought it might be a touchy subject" Faith said. "They wanted to follow in their mother's footsteps. They're 16 years old now and adults in our culture" he shrugged. Faith looked down in her hands at her sleeping children. "But it still scares you right?" she asked. "Every goddamn day" he sighed. Alicia let out a loud snore. "Guess that means we should go to bed too" he chuckled. He stood up and then paused. "If you want, we can do that camping slash training thing tomorrow morning" he said. Faith nodded and smiled. He walked over, kissed her cheek, and went to bed with Lawan in his hand.

The next morning...

"Okay kids. As your mom Alicia agreed to this, there's to be some ground rules. First no magic. Defeats the purpose. Second, you do NOT wander off. I'll be human size for most of this to make sure you're all safe. Third, don't eat anything without my approval. Do as me and you mom Faith say, and this will be a fun weekend. Questions?" he asked. "Will there be predators?" Grace asked worried. "No, the area and creek we'll be at won't have any snakes or rats or still like that. However, there can be birds and maybe a spider so stick close" he replied. "Stop being a baby" Matty said to her. "I'm not being a baby!" she yelled. "Matty we aren't doing that" Faith said. The teen boy huffed. Keith picked up his grandkids and his daughter and began walking. "This here is the starting point. Normally the walk to the creek your size should take six hours. There is a tiny path you will be following for safety reasons" he said putting them down at the edge of the meadow outside the dome. Alicia bent down.  "Be careful and do EVERYTHING they say!" she yelled at her tiny family. "Yes mom" the kids said in unison. "We did this all the time" Faith reassured her. Alicia nodded and stood there as they began walking. "I'm trusting you Keith" she said. "I know" he said quietly.

Keith stood unmoving as his own pace for just a few seconds would outpace them by what seemed a mile. His borrower eyes locked on them the whole time as his bare feet felt for any strange vibration. "Is grandpa still watching us?" Grace asked looking around. "Yes. Are you concentrating feeling the vibrations through your bare feet?" Faith asked. She nodded. "And Matty you sniffing the air?" Faith asked. "Yes mom" he said annoyed. "Watch your tone. A scent carried by the wind will alert you to danger before you see or hear it" Faith said looking up. She was using her clairvoyance just in case but true to her father's words, not one predator could be seen. They walked silently for an hour before Grace jumped and yelped. "The ground shook!" she said scared. "Your grandpa took a few steps is all" Faith said. Matty laughed at her. "This might be fun for you but not for me!" she yelled at her brother. "Honey. You're perfectly safe. Just enjoy it. You won't this much diversity back home" Faith said touching a dandelion stalk. She bent down and picked up a seed and tossed it at her. It floated for a few moments before falling to Grace's feet.

Matty looked at her. He went over, picked it up and tore off the fluff. "Hey!" Grace yelled. Matty gently put the fluff behind her ear. He gave her a soft look before walking again. "His way of saying sorry" Faith whispered. Two more hours passed before they reached the halfway point. Keith sat down and guarded them as they ate lunch. "My feet hurt" Grace said. "Put your shoes on. By now you should have gotten a feel for sensing things barefoot" Faith said. "So, you and grandpa did this a lot?" Matty asked. "Oh yes. Daddy daughter time" she chuckled. "We're you ever scared?" Grace asked. "No. I was curious of everything" she replied. Grace looked down at her shoes. "Honey, I was a totally different person back then. Nothing scared me because I had Etherion. You have every right to be afraid" she said. "You don't talk about Etherion much mom" Matty said. "I was...irresponsible with it" she said. "You mean how you helped dad try to take over the world?" he asked. "Yes, but much more. I may come down hard on you guys but it's because I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. I killed people kiddo. Killed them to make me feel good" Faith said. Keith could hear everything she was saying. 

"...how?" Matty asked. "I stepped on them. I ate them. I used some for sex" Faith replied softly. "Is that why you watch me and Grace so hard when we play with the tinies?" he asked. "Both of you are at the age where your passions are running deepest. The allure to...satisfy urges is strong" she said. "You and mama Alicia taught us to be good. Don't worry so much" Matty said hugging her. "He's right. I promise not to eat anybody" Grace said crossing her fingers. Faith chuckled at her. "You guys are silly" she laughed hugging them. Keith watched over them lovingly as he ate his sandwich. His thoughts wandered to Hope wondering if she had lived, would she had been just as good a parent. He had heard the old argument of nature versus nurture when it came to how good or bad a person was. Looking back on the people Faith had in her life and measuring those that had been in Hope's, he figured the answer was both. 

They continued their hike for another few hours. Faith pointing out plants safe to eat, others not, how to stay off paths marked with certain scents, how to find water in plant stalks, and more stories of her as a kid. "So wait. You got high?" Matty asked. "Tripping fucking balls. Your grandma was so pissed I got into his stash of weed" Faith asked. "And grandpa?" Grace asked. "Chuckled. Dad did give a stern talking to later on about responsibility and getting high alone. You shouldn't get fucked up for the first time alone. You could get a bad trip" she replied. "So, it's cool if I smoke a joint?" Matty asked. "Buddy system. Borrowers are more sensitive to drugs, so you have to find the right dose. If any of you wants to get high, the other needs to look after the other" she said. Both kids look annoyed. Faith stopped in her tracks. "You two get on each other's nerves but how would you feel if the other one died. No more birthdays shared, Christmas, jokes, smiles, not even the arguing and apologies later. Gone" she said snapping her fingers. Matty and Grace looked at one another again but this time remorseful. Faith put their hands in the other's. "Each one is the other half of the other" she said. The kids nodded understanding. Matty suddenly kissed Grace. "Sorry for being such a dick sometimes" he said. "Sorry for being a bitch Matty" she said returning the kids. "Much better" Faith said. The giant chuckled more pleased than before. 

Eventually they arrived at the campsite, a shallow creek running between two clipped and maintained hedges. It was obviously artificially maintained by Keith, but it served its purpose. Okay kids. Matty find me a rock the size of your head and Grace there should be a creeping vine on the base of that hedge there. Bring them to us" Faith said. Tired, they groaned about it but obeyed. They came back to find Faith rubbing the waxy surface of a very thick sturdy leaf. "What are you doing mom?" Matty asked. "Showing you two how to build a fishing boat. Now tie the vine around the rock for an anchor" she said. It took some doing but they did. "Now see how I rubbed it so it's not shiny? You have to do that so you won't slip off" she said. "Fishing? But at our size the fish will eat US!" Grace said. "Not these fish. Only algae eating minnows are in this creek. At this time of year, they're about half the size of you. Oh, and they're your dinner. Good luck" Keith said as he bent down to hand them toothpicks. "Take off all your clothes in case you fall in" Faith said. Sighing, the shrunken teen twins did as told. "Now carry it into the water, climb on it and paddle to the center. Drop the rock and you won't float away" she said. Keith waited until he was certain they would be fine before shrinking. 

"Impressive. It took you three tries to get out there without falling off" he said. "I was an eager beaver" Faith shrugged. "Speaking of beavers, Grace has developed well. She looks like a carbon copy of Aspen when she was a teen. I'm surprised she doesn't have kids" he said. "Blame Alicia. She's old school. On that we agree though. It's not like it was 15 years ago and borrowers pumping out babies to keep the family line going" she said. "But she's still a borrower. She's has to be going through the phases" he said. "I know. She handles it on her own. But still though..." she said. "And Matty looks a lot like Theo" he said. "He damn sure's got his cock. Not sure about the libido" she said. "So none of you..." he asked. 

"Nope. It freaked out Alicia when I brought it up when they were around 13 going on 14" she replied. "I see" he said snapping off a vine and tying it to a pebble. She watched him choose a leaf. "What? You need practice too so get to stripping" he laughed. Faith giggled as she stripped naked. Soon, they were out fishing like her kids. "You're so pretty" he smiled at her. He looked down at their feet in the water. "I see you kept the area tidy even though...do you come here alone?" she asked. "Yeah now and then" he replied. "Because of her?" Faith asked. Keith didn't answer. "They look really happy dad" Faith said pointing to the kids. "I'm glad. That's what this place should be about" he said. "Did you ever bring your other kids here?" she asked confused. "Of course I did but It wasn't the same" he replied. "Did they like it?" she asked. "Loved it. Especially Luke" he replied. "Then maybe instead of trying to replace the memories you should build new ones" she said. He held her hand. "You're totally right. Damn, when did you get so smart?" he asked. "Had good teachers. You guys here, Alicia, Marco and Cordelia" she said. "Marco? Cordelia? Who are they?" he asked. Faith winced. "I... I don't know. Why did I say that?" she asked. "Maybe you should go to the shore and rest. Daddy will get a fish" he said rowing the leaf back.

Faith wondered why she said those names. Each time she even tried to think about them her head pounded, and she felt slightly dizzy. She figured it was exhaustion and laid on her back to rest. Faith rested until the day ended. She laughed like a kid again as her father sang songs from the 50's and 60's as he taught his grandkids how to cook their little minnows over a small flame. As it was now nighttime and the kids totally exhausted, they chose to sleep in a little tent made of sticks and leaves leaving Keith and his daughter alone. "I'm going to check the perimeter" he said standing up. He had been gone for a few minutes and she caught the smell of pee in the air. Faith stood up and walked to find her father pissing in places near their camp. "Marking territory" he chuckled. He finished his business and looked at the stars. "Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars" he pointed out. "And Sirius in case I get lost right?" she asked. "That's right" he said hugging her. He walked her back holding her hand and they sat down. 

"Do you hear something?" he asked. Faith strained her hearing. "Yeah, it's...heavy breathing" she said looking around. Worried something was approaching, she used her clairvoyance for the source of the sounds. "Oh. Oh, I see" she muttered. "A rat? Vole?" he asked tensing. She shook her head and scooted to her far left a foot away from the tent with her kids. The heavy breathing stopped. "Matty, Grace. Come on out" Faith said. No movement. "I know what you were doing. I'm not mad. Come on out" she said. Reluctantly they did and looked up at their giantess mother before looking back down. "So how long have you two been fucking?" she asked. "...6 months" Matty whispered. "I'm surprised as you two always argue" Faith said. "You're not mad?" Matty asked. "No. Borrowers tend to very intimate with family members. Even fucking on occasion. However, it's usually done in times of extreme stress or lack of other mates" she said. "I thought you guys are surrounded by boys and girls" Keith said. "We are but..."

"But what?" Faith asked. "They throw themselves at us because of who we are. I just want to be loved for what's inside" Matty said upset. "Me too" Grace said holding his hand. Faith plucked him away from his sister and placed him on her right knee and then put Grace on her left. "I know how you feel. Before, before Markus, there were hundreds of boys...and a few girls that wanted to fuck me because of who I was. What was worse was I could read their minds and see I was like a trophy to them" she said. "Didn't that make you mad?" Matty asked. "More upset than mad and at the time sexually frustrated. Your grandfather helped me through it" she replied. the twins looked at one another. "Really?" Grace asked. "Yes really" Keith said picking her up. He looked at Faith and she nodded. "You won't be needing those tonight" Keith grinned as he pulled off her simple clothing. Grace blushed lying naked in his hand. "As for you" Faith said plucking him from her knee. She pulled off his shorts. "I'm sorry I'm not..."

"You're so cute" Faith grinned as she petted the underside of his scrotum. He shivered as his cock grew. Her free hand roamed his small body gently. His athletic legs, tiny little feet, and cute butt which Faith giggled pinching it. The pad of her finger rested on his chest and could feel his heart racing. "You're too hard on yourself Matty. Half of your problems is you lack the confidence to look for someone. You're a sexy teen boy" she said kissing him. "But...but it's different with you and Grace" his muttered as her lips kissed his chest. "No, you're different. See how open and trusting you are right now? That's how to snag a girl" she said. Matty moaned as his giantess mother sucked his cock between her giant lips. Grace squealed as her grandfather sucked her tiny feet and petted her little head. He let go of them for a moment. "Boys can be horny little guys but you'll find some that really care about your feelings...if you look" he said to her. His finger rubbed her little tits and traveled down her body where she opened her legs. Keith sniffed her smelling the scent of a blood relative ripe for sex.