Sleeping on my brother's couch was not ideal, but I took what I had. My comic book stash piled around the sofa, almost creating a barrier, and I was free to wear my uniform whenever Derek and James weren't home, so that's what I did.

Matthew set up security cameras in every room of the house except for his office because he wanted me to watch him work for a maximum of a few minutes. He threw my suit together after discovering my superpowers and superhero alter-ego, Golden Goliath. Sasha had found James had powers, too, and she snapped at me after we all watched him float in the backyard as he'd always been able to fly. She forgave me because nothing else worked after giving me three days to train him. It only took two days before James could stand without falling over.

James came home with a backpack full of books about science every day. James read books about chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, engineering... Anything that wouldn't help get me off the bench of high school athletics and into the science laboratory. Besides, having superpowers at sixteen helped with that.

Matthew set up secret security cameras everywhere, not so he could watch me, but so he could make sure James was safe from Alexander. Matthew mostly slept during the day and stayed awake at night when Alexander's group watched and waited for me to take my daily superhero shift.

I knew it was only a matter of time before Alexander showed up, and I had to be ready. That's why Sasha and Matthew had trained me for the past few weeks, perfecting my combat skills and teaching me how to use my powers to their fullest potential. I was getting good at it.

While flipping burgers on the back porch one evening, I heard a voice behind me. I immediately tensed up and got into a fighting stance, ready to take on whoever was there. "You're jumpy nowadays," Sasha said, chuckling softly. I turned around to see her leaning against the railing, arms crossed. "Can't blame you, but still."

"It's not funny," I grumbled, flipping my burgers again. "I just don't want to be surprised. I'm expecting Alexander to show up any day now."

Sasha nodded, understanding. "I know, and you're doing everything you can to prepare for it. But you can't let it consume you. You need to live your life, too."

The sun had set, and the long summer twilight stretched across the sky. I watched the clouds pass overhead, scuttling across the heavens like ants across the backyard.

I finished cooking my burgers and ate at the picnic table with Sasha. James came out, sitting across from me, as I picked up my book. "What're you reading?" he asked.

"Organic chemistry," I said.

"Interesting choice."James shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"It's something that appeals to me, I guess." I nodded. Chemistry had always been my favorite subject in school. It was strange seeing James interested in it now. He had shown no inclination towards science before this.

We talked for a few more minutes before he returned to the house. I watched him go with a heavy heart. He had been so hard on him the last few weeks—on all of us. He wanted to help me find his purpose in life again, though I wasn't sure how to do that yet.

As I sat at the picnic table, lost in thought, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Sasha, a small smile on her lips. "Hey," I said, returning her smile.

"How are you feeling, Superman," she said, sitting beside me. "You seemed a little lost in thought."

"I'm just worried about James," I said, sighing heavily.

Sasha reached over and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey, he's Matthew and my kid. We'll figure it out together," she said softly.

I looked at her, gratitude flooding through me. "Thank you," I said, feeling a little emotional. "For everything."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of course," she said. "We're a team, remember?"

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. "Yeah, a team," I said, feeling pride. We were a team, and we were going to take on Alexander together. I thought back to Danielle and my kids. They were still stuck in that hellhole.

Sasha and I sat silently for a few minutes, watching the stars emerge in the sky. It was a clear night, and the constellations were visible in all their glory.

"I love looking at the stars," I said suddenly, breaking the silence. "It reminds me of how small we are in the grand scheme of things."

I looked at her, a smile spreading across my face. "You're not small," she said, taking my hand. "You're a superhero."

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "So are you, Officer Knight," I said, squeezing her hand.

She chuckled, a warmth spreading through her cheeks. "I'm just a regular cop, remember?" she said, looking down at her uniform.

"No, you're more than that," I said. "You're the most amazing sister-in-law I've ever met."

She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "Is that so?" she said, her voice husky.

I nodded, leaning in closer to her. "Yeah," I said softly, our breath meeting. "You're smart, brave, and beautiful—"

Sasha's face softened, and she leaned in closer to me. "I'm grateful for you, too." Her lips almost brushed against mine. "You're kind, super strong, and have a gold heart. And Matt and I are lucky to have you in our life."

I closed the gap between us, pressing my lips softly against hers. It was a gentle kiss, full of emotion, and I felt my heart flutter. She responded eagerly, her lips parting as our tongues kissed passionately.

We pulled back, breathless, and looked at each other with awe. "Wow," I spoke, my voice low. "That was... an accident. I swear. I don't know what got over me. I mean—."

Sasha nodded, a smile playing on the corners of her lips. "You can't tell Matt about this," she said.

I shook my head. "You kidding? Matthew would find a way to kill me," I said, still panicked, but she squeezed my hand again and I relaxed for a moment.

We sat there under the stars longer, lost in our thoughts. For a moment, everything was perfect—the world was quiet, and we were together. But that moment was fleeting, and soon, the reality of our situation set in again.

Did I just kiss my brother's wife? Was I starving for love again? Did I miss Danielle that much?

As we stood up to head back inside, I made a silent promise to myself to protect my family, no matter the cost, and to never cross boundaries again.

Alexander was a threat, but I had the power to stop him and get my girlfriend and kids back. I promised myself I would do whatever it took to get them back, too.