Author's Note:
This novel, in it's entirety, is available on my Patreon. Patreon Free Members can read my new complete book by chapters, Things We Do for Love. This novel will be posted by chapters on Fridays, until the novel is complete on BCTS.
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the grand entrance of Hotel Colorado when the dimensional disturbance hit with the force of a controlled explosion. The air itself seemed to tear open, revealing a swirling vortex of energy that made the hotel's protective wards flare to life with brilliant intensity. From within this interdimensional gateway stepped a figure that commanded immediate attention—a warrior woman whose very presence radiated power, determination, and the kind of battle-hardened strength that came from protecting others at great personal cost.
Hope Archer stood just over six feet tall, her muscular frame moving with the fluid grace of someone who had spent years perfecting the art of combat. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical braid that had seen recent action, and her clothing—a mix of tactical gear and dimensional fabric that seemed to shift between realities—bore the marks of intense battle. Most striking were her eyes, which held depths of compassion beneath the warrior's steel, and the way she carried herself: protective, alert, but searching for something she had traveled dimensions to find.
The tesseract within Felicity's core blazed with sudden recognition as the warrior's dimensional signature registered. This wasn't just another lost soul seeking sanctuary—this was family.
"Sanctuary," Hope said simply, her voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to command but tempered by genuine need. "I seek sanctuary and..." She paused, her warrior's instincts taking in the hotel's impossible architecture, the staff members who had appeared with supernatural efficiency, and the three women who had emerged from the depths of the building as if summoned by her arrival. "And family. I've traveled far to find my family."
Miss Devereux materialized beside the reception desk with her characteristic efficiency, her clipboard already displaying information that shouldn't have been possible to obtain so quickly. Her perfectly pressed suit seemed to shimmer with protective energy, and her professional smile carried the warmth of someone who had been expecting this arrival.
"Welcome to Hotel Colorado, Miss Archer," she said, consulting notes that updated themselves as she watched. "We've been prepared for your arrival, though we weren't certain when you would find your way to us."
Lyra Boring appeared from the direction of the library, her unremarkable features sharp with the kind of recognition that transcended normal perception. She carried a book that seemed to be writing itself, its pages filling with observations about the warrior's dimensional signature and the energy patterns that had brought her to their sanctuary.
"The interdimensional coordinates were complex," Lyra observed, her forgettable appearance somehow conveying profound understanding. "You've traveled further than most to reach us, and the battle you fought to get here was significant."
Mr. Medici emerged from the basement workshops, his weathered hands glowing with diagnostic energy as he assessed the dimensional disturbance Hope's arrival had created. His instruments revealed readings that spoke of vast distances traveled and enormous energies expended in the service of protection.
"The hotel's infrastructure adapted beautifully to your arrival," he reported with evident satisfaction. "The dimensional anchors held steady, and the protective systems recognized your authentication immediately."
But it was the approach of Lynn, Hanna, and Felicity that created the truly profound moment. The three women moved together with the unconscious coordination of family, their different but complementary energies creating a welcome that transcended words.
Lynn stepped forward first, her maternal instincts immediately recognizing the warrior's need for acceptance and belonging. The confidence she had gained since her transformation radiated from her like warmth from a hearth fire, and her eyes held the kind of unconditional love that had made her "Mother Lynn" to so many of the hotel's residents.
"You're home," Lynn said simply, her voice carrying the authority of someone who had found her own authentic self and could recognize that authenticity in others. "You've been fighting for so long, dear one. You don't have to fight anymore."
Hope's warrior composure cracked slightly at the maternal warmth in Lynn's voice, revealing glimpses of the vulnerability that lay beneath her protective exterior. "I've been searching for so long. The battles, the dimensional shifts, the constant movement—I was beginning to think I'd never find what I was looking for."
Hanna approached with the fluid grace of someone who had spent centuries learning the importance of sanctuary. Her connection to the hotel's living systems allowed her to perceive the warrior's deep need for grounding, for connection to something stable and nurturing after what must have been years of constant conflict.
"The grove has been preparing for your arrival," Hanna said, her ancient wisdom evident in every word. "The trees have been whispering about a protector who would need healing, someone who had spent so much time caring for others that she had forgotten how to care for herself."
The dryad's words struck something deep in Hope's core, and the warrior's eyes filled with tears that spoke of battles fought not for glory but for the protection of those who couldn't protect themselves. "I've been fighting to protect outcasts, people who exist between dimensions, beings who don't fit into normal categories. But I've been alone in that fight for so long."
Felicity stepped forward, feeling the tesseract within her core respond to Hope's presence with unprecedented intensity. The energy patterns of the warrior's dimensional signature created harmonics with her own abilities that suggested not just compatibility but completion. This was the final piece of their family puzzle, the element that had been missing from their chosen bonds.
"You're not alone anymore," Felicity said, her voice carrying the certainty of someone who had found her own place in the world and could offer that same belonging to others. "We're family—chosen family, bound by love and commitment rather than blood."
The moment their eyes met, Hope's warrior training fell away entirely, revealing the person beneath the protective exterior. She was beautiful in the way that came from living authentically, strong in the way that came from using power to protect rather than dominate, and vulnerably human in the way that came from having carried responsibility for others' safety for far too long.
"Family," Hope repeated, the word carrying the weight of someone who had dreamed of belonging for longer than she cared to remember. "I've protected so many families, helped so many people find their way home, but I never thought I would find my own."
The tesseract blazed with recognition as the four women stood together in the hotel's grand lobby, their different but complementary energies creating a harmony that had been building since Felicity's first arrival. This was what the Goddess had envisioned—not just individual transformation, but the formation of a family unit that could support and strengthen each other through whatever challenges lay ahead.
"Tell us about your battles," Lynn said, her maternal instincts engaging fully as she guided the group toward the comfortable seating area near the lobby's grand fireplace. "Tell us about the people you've protected, the victories you've won, the losses you've endured."
Hope's story unfolded like a epic spanning multiple dimensions and countless conflicts. She spoke of parallel universes where beings like themselves were hunted for their differences, of interdimensional sanctuaries that had been destroyed by those who feared change, of battles fought in the spaces between realities where outcasts gathered for protection and mutual support.
"I've been a warrior for over a decade," Hope explained, her voice carrying the weight of someone who had seen too much conflict. "Moving between dimensions, protecting communities of supernatural beings, fighting against those who would eliminate anyone who doesn't fit their narrow definitions of normal."
Hanna's ancient wisdom allowed her to perceive the deeper patterns in Hope's story. "You've been a guardian, a protector of the vulnerable. But the weight of that responsibility has been crushing you."
Hope nodded, her warrior's composure cracking further as she found herself in the presence of people who truly understood her struggle. "I've saved so many others, but I've been losing myself in the process. I kept fighting because I didn't know how to stop, didn't know where else to go."
"You came here," Felicity said, feeling the tesseract respond to the warrior's pain with healing energy. "You found your way to us, and we're going to help you discover what it means to be part of a family that protects each other."
The staff members who had been watching from a respectful distance began to approach, their faces bright with the kind of welcome that had made Hotel Colorado a sanctuary for supernatural beings across multiple dimensions.
"The hotel has been preparing for your arrival," Miss Devereux said, consulting her clipboard with evident satisfaction. "We have a suite prepared adjacent to your family's rooms, and the infrastructure has been modified to accommodate your specific needs."
"The dimensional stabilizers can handle the energy signatures from your traveling," Mr. Medici added, his instruments showing readings that spoke of successful integration. "And the protective systems recognize your authentication as family."
"The theoretical frameworks for interdimensional warrior rehabilitation are fascinating," Lyra observed, her book continuing to write itself as she documented Hope's integration. "The mathematical models suggest that your abilities will synergize beautifully with the existing family dynamic."
Hope looked around at the staff members who had welcomed her without question, at the three women who had embraced her as family without reservation, at the hotel that had opened its doors to provide sanctuary for someone who had spent so long protecting others that she had forgotten how to accept protection herself.
"I don't know how to not be a warrior," she admitted, her vulnerability evident in every word. "I've been fighting for so long that I'm not sure who I am when I'm not in battle."
Lynn's maternal wisdom engaged immediately, her voice carrying the kind of unconditional love that had made her a cornerstone of the hotel's community. "You're Hope Archer, daughter of our hearts, member of our family. You don't have to stop being a warrior, dear one. You just have to learn how to be a warrior who has a home to return to."
The tesseract pulsed with deep satisfaction as Hope's warrior training shifted into a new configuration. Not abandoning her protective instincts, but channeling them into the service of family rather than endless, solitary conflict.
"The four of us together," Hanna said, her ancient wisdom providing the perspective that completed their understanding. "Mother Lynn with her nurturing strength, Felicity with her healing power, Hope with her protective abilities, and me with my connection to the living world. We're more than just family—we're a force for transformation."
As the afternoon progressed, the four women explored the dynamics of their completed family unit. Hope's warrior training provided insights into defensive strategies that complemented Hanna's protective grove, while her interdimensional experience offered new perspectives on Felicity's expanding abilities. Lynn's maternal instincts found new expression in caring for someone who had spent so long caring for others.
"The power resonance is extraordinary," Dr. Merideth Zvezda observed, approaching their group with her characteristic academic fascination. "The mathematical models show energy patterns that suggest not just compatibility but active amplification. Your abilities don't just complement each other—they enhance each other."
The tesseract hummed with recognition at the professor's words, its infinite energy responding to the completed family dynamic with unprecedented stability and strength. This was what the Goddess had envisioned—not just individual transformation, but the formation of a support system that could face any challenge through the power of love and mutual protection.
"The hotel's response has been remarkable," Miss Devereux reported, her clipboard showing readings that spoke of successful integration. "The infrastructure is adapting to support four distinct but harmonious energy signatures, and the protective systems are operating at optimal efficiency."
As evening approached, the four women sat together in the hotel's dining room, surrounded by other residents who had come to welcome their newest family member. The shadow-man's form was more solid and defined in their presence, the ocean-woman's luminescence had brightened to unprecedented levels, and even the most mundane interactions carried the warmth of community celebration.
"Tomorrow we begin your real integration," Lynn said, her maternal instincts already planning the support systems that would help Hope transition from solitary warrior to family member. "The grove has healing spaces prepared, Felicity's abilities can help with the emotional adjustments, and I'll be here to provide whatever nurturing you need."
Hope's smile was radiant with the kind of joy that came from finally finding home after a lifetime of searching. "I've protected so many families, but I never thought I would have one of my own."
"You do now," Felicity said firmly, feeling the tesseract pulse with infinite contentment. "We all do. And together, we're going to help others find their own paths to belonging."
The tesseract blazed with recognition as the four women joined hands around the dinner table, their different but complementary energies creating a harmony that had been building since the moment Felicity first arrived at Hotel Colorado. This was what the Goddess had meant about discovering what it meant to become yourself—not just individual transformation, but the formation of bonds that made everyone stronger.
Outside, the Colorado mountains stood guard over their sanctuary, while inside, the hotel's protective systems hummed with satisfaction at the completion of their work. The mysterious disturbances that had been probing their defenses seemed to have retreated, as if recognizing that the sanctuary had achieved its full strength.
The fun and games of discovering family dynamics in the face of building power was complete. Four women had found each other across the vastness of multiple dimensions, creating a bond that would face whatever challenges lay ahead with courage, love, and the unshakeable strength of chosen family.
The tesseract hummed with infinite contentment, its power now serving not just individual needs but the greater purpose of protecting and nurturing all who found their way to this sanctuary. The approaching storm could come—they would meet it together, as family, with everything they had learned about love, transformation, and the courage to become authentically themselves.