When one arrives home from a long day at school, relaxation is typically high on the priority list. Even more so when the time between school and said arrival is passed in the company of friends perfectly willing to pass a few hours in town doing whatever. And given that the weekend was on the horizon, a thoroughly relieved Will Vandom was only partially surprised when she was met at home not by her mother, but by a note.

"Will - Gone with Dean to see that new zombie movie, should be back around ten. Dinner in the fridge. -Mom"

Good, there would be peace. Deep down Will cared a lot for her mom, but the woman just never seemed able to strike a peaceful balance between neglecting Will and trying far too hard to be close. So most of the time Will used her tried-and-true coping method and just ignored both situations. What with everything going on in her other life, home just had to take a back seat.

The Heart sparkled.

...which is probably exactly how she feels about work sometimes, her own voice said in her mind.

"Woah... hey again", Will said to the empty room. "Have you been in there all day?"

Nope, just since you got home. C'mon, let's take a nap.

"Why?"

Just trust me.

"Well, why not?" Will headed for her room, discarded her backpack and jacket, and flopped herself onto the bed, ignoring the hails from various appliances. "Okay, here we are. Now what?"

Now you've got to relax. I'll do the rest from in here.

So Will took a deep breath, held it a moment, and let it go, using the same methods she'd learned for calming her pulse after swimming. After a moment she kicked off her shoes, pulled the covers over herself, and closed her eyes.

The Heart sparkled again, and next she knew, Will was sitting on the edge of her bed beside a perfect copy of herself.

Scratch that, a perfect copy of herself wearing a pair of plaid pajamas.

"Hey", the astral double said, "we're in a dream. I could be in underwear if I wanted to."

"Yeah, that you could." Will smirked. "So what's up?"

"Wanted to ask you that. You've got a lot floating around in your mind, y'know?"

"In our mind, right?"

"Well, right." The astral Will shrugged. "Y'know, we really need to figure out some way to keep us both straight. Because I'm you and you're me..."

"...but we're really not the exact same person", the original Will concluded. "Because after Nerissa gave you your... well... life, you had thoughts and feelings and stuff that I never did."

"Right."

Will held her chin thoughtfully. "Okay, I've got it. My... our full name is Wilhelmina, right? And I'm already Will, so how about if you take the other half?"

"Mina..." The double pondered it briefly. Then she smiled, and gave Will a hug. "I like it. Good thinking."

"Thanks."

"Y'know, I was thinking. About us, you and me."

"You're wondering if, when this 'Guardian' thing is all over, you'll lose me."

"Exactly." Will held out her hands. "I mean, you're part of me, but also part of the Heart. And as long as we don't get squashed by Random T. Bad-Guy some time like the ones before us..."

"...then one day you're going to have to give up the Heart to the Oracle or the next generation", the newly-dubbed Mina concluded.

"Right. I mean, would you just disappear into nothing? Because that would be awful, especially when you're a person now..."

Mina shivered slightly just then. "I know... it was scary as anything when I thought that was what you were going to do to me."

Will's look softened, and she reached out to hug her twin. "I'd never do that. Not knowing what I do now. And after all, you didn't disappear. You're still here with me. And I'm really glad you are. It's nice having someone to talk to who really understands what I'm thinking."

Mina smiled and returned the hug in full measure. "Me too, for sure. And I'll make you a promise too." She leaned closer, slowly closing her eyes. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens."

"Same goes for me." Will sighed happily as, for the second time that day, she and her astral twin shared a soft kiss.

Only this one lasted a bit longer then the first.