Chapter 1.6: Without Words

Blue, Twinbrook

I woke up the next day feeling refreshed and excited. I dressed myself in one of Goodwin's mother's old outfits, and I was too happy to even mind how tight the suit was (and, I suspected, how out of fashion I looked). Yes, I was still homeless, and I didn't think Justin was coming back anytime soon to apologize, but something had changed. All the obstacles standing between me and the future I wanted suddenly seemed much less daunting.

I had made a new life for myself once, and I knew that I could do it again.



You're not alone, my Guardian whispered in my head. Goodwin will help you put your life together.

"And you?" I asked jokingly, trying to mask my actual concern. As if I could! The Guardian knew everything I felt as clearly as if it was written in the air. "Will you be here to help me?"

I will be here for as long as you need me, the voice replied, but someday I will be needed by another. By your heir.



"My heir..." I couldn't finish the thought. It was too strange. I was suddenly anxious and scared. I wasn't ready for children, not when I wasn't even able to take care of myself. What kind of mother would I be for a child of mine?

You will not always feel this way, the Guardian said. And the time when we must part is far away. Now, you must focus on repairing your life.



The Guardian was right, of course. So I devoted my day to fixing all of the problems I'd created for myself.

First, I went into work and apologized for my lousy behavior over the past few weeks. To my absolute shock, my boss accepted the apology easily and gave me a promotion! "We've been waiting for you to get through whatever problem you were having," she said as we left the work building at the end of the day. "And I'm so glad to hear that your heart is back with us again. You'll find it's easiest to forget a bad time, or a bad person, by focusing on helping others. And if you need anything at all in the meantime, please let me know."

She gave me a knowing look, and I suddenly understood that she thought Justin had been a cruel boyfriend, maybe even an abusive one. Well, her belief wasn't so far from the truth. And what else could I say? That he had tricked me, tried to kill me? I didn't even know the full story of what had happened, except that my magic could have killed me and that Justin knew it even as he urged me to use it.



That night, I went home and sat for a long time with Goodwin, talking about anything and everything. I learned about the changes in his life, we joked a lot, and slowly I began to feel as though our friendship had never taken a break at all.



Suddenly, I pictured what it would be like to kiss him, right then and there. I willed the image to leave my mind, but the harder I tried the more intense the vision became.





The Guardian's snickering drove the image away. Goodwin, who had finally noticed that I wasn't contributing to the conversation at all, asked if I was okay. I shrugged my shoulders, sure that I was completely red, and muttered nonsense under my breath till Goodwin decided to leave it alone.



'He's not for you,' I told myself sternly. 'He has a girlfriend, remember? Are you even over Justin yet, to be thinking of someone else this way?'

But as soon as I asked myself that question I knew the answer. I was completely and utterly over a man who would use me so despicably. A small part of me still missed him, but I knew that it was not actually him I missed. It was my fantasy of him, the idea of a noble man trying to save his friend from illness. My fantasy of a man who had loved me more than anything else. Justin was not that man, and I deserved someone more substantial than a fantasy.

But not Goodwin. He deserved to be happy with someone else, if that was what he wanted. He deserved a beautiful, kind woman like Jenni Jones-Brown, who did not trail magic and chaos wherever she went. I shifted myself away from him on the couch and tried to coach my face back into a smile.



I went shopping the next day, and was overjoyed when I found a dress just like the one I always used to wear. I had been sure I'd never find one like it again, and it was one of the possessions I had mourned the most after the loss of my house. But there it was, right on the rack. When I was wearing the dress again, I felt complete. It was yet another sign that I was ready to start fresh.

My days quickly fell into a routine: wake up, eat breakfast with Goodwin, work, dinner with Goodwin, chess practice or watching TV with Goodwin, bedtime.

I especially loved dinnertime because it gave us a chance to catch up on everything that happened during the day. Goodwin didn't miss dinner even once, not even the day when he came down with the flu badly and could barely get out of bed. It was the time together that we could always count on.



After I'd been at Goodwin's house for a little over a month, I started to notice myself feeling sick sometimes. I would rush to the nearest toilet to vomit, and then the nausea would pass. Goodwin worried about me, but I was sure I had just caught something from one of my patients.



Work dominated my life in the best possible way. I loved the sensation of helping, knowing that in a small way I had contributed to saving a life. At first I was reluctant to use my powers, but I soon realized that I could use small amounts without any danger to myself or others. Even my presence seemed to have a positive effect on patients, as if power oozed out of me unconsciously.

So I acted subtly. I pushed a little power into the most despondent patients, hoping to give them just a bit of hope. I found that using my magic to motivate patients to strive for health was the best way to alleviate pain and help them heal.

Sometimes I had to let my patients go. I cried for a whole day after one woman I had been caring for passed away at the hospital. Goodwin came with me to the graveyard to mourn for her after the official funeral had ended. He stood there silently, supporting me as I cried.



"You brought comfort to her final moments," Goodwin said suddenly. "You couldn't have done anything else for her."

"How do you know?" I asked.



I remembered vividly my last moments with her. I had contemplated expending more magic than usual to directly attack the cancer that was ravaging her body, even if I had to put myself at risk. But then she had stared directly into my eyes and said, "I think my time here is ending. Please, whenever you touch me I feel well again. Hold my hand and give me the courage to face what must come next."



So I held her hand until it went limp. Then I received permission to leave work early, drove home, and sobbed my eyes out.

"I know you, Blue," Goodwin said. "I know that you would have stayed by her side for as long as you could, bringing her peace."



"But I don't bring peace," I whispered. "I create problems for everyone around me. Your life would be so much simpler if I left right now!"

I motioned with my arms, showing how I could easily walk away. Except it wouldn't be easy. I didn't know what life would be like without Goodwin.



Goodwin gazed at me with an unreadable expression on his face. I wanted more than anything to know what he was thinking. "Maybe my life would be simpler without you," he finally said, and I wanted to cry. "But not for the reasons you think. If you left you'd find me much more sad than relieved."

"Why?" I said, hope returning as I spoke. "What have I done except made your life miserable? I abandoned you, then I suddenly came back to impose on your generosity for who knows how long! I even dragged you to this graveyard to make me feel better! When have I ever helped you, the way you've helped me?"



"Blue," Goodwin said softly, pulling me into his arms. "You're the one who's been through a hard time. You're the one who needs a friend right now. I know that when I'm experiencing a hard time, you'll be there for me, but now it's my turn to be there for you."

I was trying not to show how happy I was to be close to him, but I knew it was written all over my face. His kindness only made him more attractive.

He looked at me, a serious expression on his face. "You asked me why I bother. That's an easy enough question to answer."



He pulled me even closer, wrapping his hands around my face, then he whispered, "I love you. I've loved you practically since I met you. I love how brave you are, how smart you are, how much you want to help others. I love that you are strong enough to fight against your mother even when it would be easier to give in. I love that you care enough about a person you barely knew to come to her grave and cry for her."



I broke away from Goodwin, completely in shock. "How can you say that," I began, even as my spirits soared. "You don't know-"

And then his mouth covered mine, and I forget what I was going to say. I forgot everything except for him, and how his lips felt, and the warmth of his hand on my back.



"What about Jenni!" I cried when we broke apart. I was dazed by Goodwin's kiss, but not enough to forget about his girlfriend. "I don't want you to break up with her on my account, if you're happy together."

Goodwin shocked me by laughing. "I broke up with Jenni the day after you came to my house!" he said, as if I should have known. "I couldn't stay with her when I knew I had a chance to be with you again. I'm surprised you even knew about her, I certainly never told you I had a girlfriend."

"I saw you kissing her," I said, looking down. "One night on the street." The image was still imprinted in my mind.



Goodwin must have sensed my sadness because he said softly, "I dated her because we were both lonely. I missed you so badly it hurt. Her high school boyfriend had just broken up with her. She asked if I wanted to give dating a try, and I agreed. But I think she knew it wouldn't last. She wasn't surprised when I broke up with her. In fact, I believe she recently got a job in Barnacle Bay, and last I talked to her she was happy to be starting somewhere fresh."

A strange lightness filled my mind. Relief mixed with happiness that there was nothing standing between me and Goodwin. Then, without thinking, I asked, "Did you two ever-?" I couldn't complete the thought, I was too embarrassed.



"A few times," he said softly, looking down as though ashamed. I was amazed that he knew what I was going to ask. "I don't cherish the memories though, and it was unfair to her, when I only wanted you. Jenni could sense I wasn't into it, so we stopped."

We stood there for a minute, silent. I didn't know what to do or say, and I had no clue what would happen next. Speak the truth, the Guardian said. Tell him what is in your heart.

"I understand," I said cautiously. "It was my fault for abandoning you so viciously, with no explanation."

I stepped closer, grabbing his hand. Taking strength from him so that I could find the courage to say what I had to.



"You told me something earlier," I began. "And I didn't know what to say back. I'm not always amazing with words. I said this once to someone else, but I realize now that what I felt for him pales in comparison to what I feel right now. I love you, Goodwin."

Goodwin smiled, and opened his mouth, no doubt to say something much more eloquent than my little speech had been. But I'd had enough of words for today. I covered his lips with mine, sure that I would never be this happy again.



After that night, life was infinitely more happy for both me and Goodwin. We went on dates together all over Twinbrook, and soon it was common knowledge that we were dating.

People I didn't know came up on the street to congratulate us, couples introduced themselves and invited us to parties. For the first time I felt like part of the community. I enjoyed getting to know new people. I even began to feel like I had made some other friends. It was a shock to realize that people besides Goodwin might actually want to spend time with me.

Some of my new acquaintances and friends dressed a little... strangely. Who was I to judge though? Maybe it was high fashion to wear masks and black and white stripes.



Goodwin and I spent plenty of time together though. We each took turns picking locations for dates, leaving it as a surprise until the very last moment. Whether we went to see a movie, or danced the night away at a bar, or simply sat on a bench at the park, we always had a good time. My feelings for him grew each day until I was sure that I could be with him forever and never feel differently.



Sometimes our dates were interrupted when I had to deal with a medical emergency. I had grown quite adept at diagnosing an illness, and always went around prepared with certain pills.

Goodwin understand and even praised me, saying that he loved my single-minded desire to help others. He never complained when we missed a movie or lost a dinner reservation because I had to help someone.





We also started to look for a new house. Goodwin's was nice, but I wanted to live somewhere fresh. Though we never said it out loud, it was understood that Goodwin would move in with me when we found the right home.

One Saturday afternoon, I decided to go pick some fresh vegetables at the community garden. I had woken up feeling a little strange and decided that I probably just needed to get out of the house.



But as soon as I bent down, I felt my stomach against my legs. A stomach that was larger than usual and incredibly swollen. I stood up abruptly, looking down and gasping. When had I gained all of this weight? I'd been noticing that my clothes seemed tighter than usual in the stomach, but I'd written it off. Now I was scared.



I rushed to the hospital and begged my boss to check me out, even though I was off of work that day. "What's wrong?" I asked her, gasping with fear. Because I thought I knew what it was, of course, I just wanted to hear her say something different.

"Nothing is wrong," she said, her voice filled with joy. "You're pregnant, Blue! Oh, you and Goodwin will be so happy! But don't worry," she continued, misinterpreting the devastated look on my face, "I'll give you plenty of maternity leave!" She winked and I pretended to be grateful.

After I left, I stared at the hospital building for a little while. It had always been one of my favorite places in Twinbrook, the place where all were helped, regardless of social standing or economic means. It wouldn't be long, I realized, before I was back there to give birth.



I couldn't go home after hearing that. I was afraid to even see Goodwin. I knew I couldn't tell him. My boss had assumed Goodwin was the father, as would nearly everyone else, but I knew the truth. I had never slept with Goodwin.

I decided to go to the park and practice chess. In fact, that's what I did every day for the rest of the week. I knew that if I spent an extended period of time with Goodwin then I'd have to say something to him. It was dumb, I know, but I couldn't say it. I was too afraid that everything would change. Would Goodwin want to be part of Justin's child's life?

I found a miraculous pink dress that seemed to eliminate all signs of my pregnancy. I wore that each day, but even then people at the park congratulated me. My boss had told a few people, and in Twinbrook gossip spread lightning quick. I hoped no one told Goodwin before I did.

As I practiced chess, I worried. I wasn't ready to raise a child. If Goodwin abandoned me, how would I take care of a baby by myself? Each day I went back to Goodwin's house more and more nervous.



Soon, I knew that it would be abundantly obvious, mostly due to my evasive behavior. Surely Goodwin had noticed?

So I told him that night. We were at the bistro. I had purposely chosen a public location because I knew that even if he was angry he wouldn't want to make a scene. I couldn't stand a loud rejection again, not like Justin's. Goodwin had decided on a fancy lobster dish, but all I had been craving was a hot dog. I stuffed the food in my mouth, trying to act nonchalant, though Goodwin no doubt saw right through my act.



"Goodwin," I said quietly over dinner. "I have something to tell you."

"I know," he said.

"You do?" I asked incredulously, choking on my food. "You know that I'm, I'm, you know."

I stumbled, still not wanting to say it out loud.



"You're pregnant," he said, looking...happy? But that made no sense! "You're going to have a beautiful baby; a boy or a girl or maybe even two-"



I cut him off, shocked. "With Justin's child," I said, keeping my voice steady. "Who may look just like him. Or he or she might have my hair and my powers and Justin's awfulness. Are you ready for that?"



Goodwin looked at me, then he stood up.

"What are you doing?" I asked. 'Are you leaving me?' I added silently.



That's when he went down on one knee, right there at the restaurant. I got out of my seat in shock.

"I don't care," he said quietly, so none of the curious audience could hear. "I wouldn't care if you were giving birth to a purple alien baby. Why should this change anything! I already knew what happened with Justin, and I have been prepared for a while now to raise children with you. This child will be one of ours, and he or she will never know a father other than me. Blue, will you marry me and make me the happiest father-to-be in the world?"



I stared at him for a second, unable to believe it, and then I responded so enthusiastically that the words stumbled excitedly over each other as they left my mouth. "Yes, oh, yes, please!!"



Everyone at the restaurant applauded as he placed the ring on my finger. He hugged me and our bodies reverberated with joy.





The days went by quickly after that. Goodwin worked hard, claiming he needed to bring in more money for our child. I was thankful that he seemed to spend more time maintaining the fire truck than he did actually putting out fires. Twinbrook was a safe neighborhood and didn't have many emergencies.



My boss had forbidden me to go back to work till the child was born, so I spent my days searching for a house. My belly was bigger every day. At fist it was unnerving, but then I grew excited. I had always wanted my own family. I missed Petunia more than ever, and I hoped that somehow my child would be able to meet her.

It was a shock when I finally discovered the perfect house. It was an elegant home, with a unique combination of colors. It was at the top of our price range and hardly furnished, but it felt right to me.

The next day, I brought Goodwin to see it. I stood behind him, hoping he loved it as much as I did.

"This is it," he said.



We purchased it then and there, both of use grinning excitedly. We explored, noting where we needed to redecorate, where we needed more furniture. We knew we didn't have enough money to finish every room, but we were too happy to care. I even saw an area in the back that would be perfect for a garden someday. It really was the house I'd always wanted.



We spent the rest of the day shopping, still caught up in our excitement. Then we walked around the neighborhood. I was so lost in Goodwin that I forgot the hour. I was completely absorbed in him when we found a marsh-type area. I found the reeds lovely, and told Goodwin to stop for a second.

We were both silent for a few minutes. Then he turned to me, smiling. "You're going to give birth soon," he said. "Let's marry now, before he or she is born, so that there will never be a point when I am not his or her father."



I smiled and nodded. I was ready to promise myself to Goodwin forever. We exchanged the rings we had bought ceremoniously, even though no one else was there.



We kissed for the first time as husband and wife, and I could swear that everything disappeared except for us.



"Let's take your last name," Goodwin whispered, still holding me. "I want all of our descendants to know that they are as free as birds. You made your own happiness, and they will too."

It did seem fitting that we kept the name that was not given to either of us, but rather chosen, so I agreed to Goodwin's request. I smiled at the thought that my future was opening in front of me like the wings of a bird. Goodwin and I were flying toward a complete life together, days that had not yet been decided but were sure to be full of happiness. I pulled Goodwin to me, both of us laughing even as we hugged and kissed, sharing dreams and promises without words.



I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get out! I promise it would have been sooner but my computer crashed on me :(

I hope you guys are all happy that Blue finally has the life she's always wanted! :)

As always, all comments and criticism are greatly appreciated!

Excellent News!

My computer is finally all fixed!! Which means there should definitely be an update in the next few days!

Thanks to everyone for voting in the polls and sticking with me through the whole computer mess. I couldn't ask for better readers :)

Yet another poll, because I'm bored (what's new)

Hey everyone!! Thanks for waiting patiently with me. I've been working on the next chapter, but I can't do anything else now until I can take more pictures, so that means waiting till I can get my computer fixed.

In the meantime, yet another poll!!

How many kids should Blue have?

More Polls, Please Vote!! :)

I'm getting antsy to write more, so I've decided to create more polls!

Do you want Blue to have a boy or a girl?

The next two will actually contribute to what I name Blue's children in this generation, though chances are most of these names will show up throughout the legacy anyway:

What should Blue name her daughter?

What should Blue name her son?

Can't wait to see what you guys think, and feel free to comment below!

The Naming Poll- This One Should Work!!

Some of you may have heard, but my computer crashed (again! GRRRR!), which means it may be awhile till I can update. So to make the time go by a little faster, I'm putting a poll on here. I may add additional polls in the future if I'm feeling really bored.

My original plan was to name all of the future kids in the Bird family after different types of birds- Sparrow, Hawk, Oriole, etc. Do you like this idea? Do you think that bird names are just too out there?

Give your input and let me know what you think! Just vote in the poll below :)

EDIT: This poll has been closed!! No one has voted in a few days, so I'm guessing everyone who wanted to has!

The results:
Bird names- 8 votes
Regular names- 3 votes
Other- 2 votes

Therefore, bird names are the winner (plus that's kinda what I wanted to do anyway!).

Chapter 1.5: Peace

Blue, Twinbrook

No one answered the door.

I stared blankly for what felt like an eternity, waiting for it to magically open, until the Guardian remarked gently that it appeared no one was home.

I was about to walk away and figure out my next move. It's not as if I had a viable plan, or any other friends. The bench I'd slept on my first night in town was looking like the best (and only) option for a place to hang out at till work started again.

I turned around, and suddenly Goodwin was standing in front of me. He looked surprised to see me, but all I could do was stare.

Say something! the Guardian hissed oh-so-helpfully. Yeah, like I wasn't trying to do exactly that.

"Hey," I said quietly.



Goodwin stared at me for a long minute, then a terrible expression appeared on his face: a combination of anger, annoyance, and mistrust. And I knew I deserved it for everything I'd put him through when he was only trying to help.

"What are you doing here?" he asked in a voice more hostile than I would have believed him capable of.



I was tired, sad, angry on so many levels that I couldn't take Goodwin hating me. It was the final straw. I fell into his arms, sobbing.

I was amazed when he didn't push me away. Goodwin held me in a tight embrace until I felt calm enough to stop crying.



After the moment had passed, I was incredibly disgusted with myself. I go to make amends with Goodwin, and instead I cry on his shoulder? How pathetic. Why would he want to be friends with me anyway, when I never considered his feelings but made him deal with mine? The thought made me want to cry again.



"I'm sorry," I said, still choked up and confused, exhausted from my attempt to draw on my power. I had too much to say and I didn't know how to express all of it, so the words flew out in a strange mash of emotion. "You were right about everything, and I didn't listen. I was so stupid, Goodwin, forgive me! And I don't have a house anymore, and Justin's gone, and I was wrong about everything. And I'm so, so sorry for coming here such a mess, but I don't know what to do anymore."

I could feel the tears welling up as I waited for him to tell me to go away and never come back again.



"Please," I kept saying. "Please let me make it up to you, please!"

"Stop," Goodwin said. "You don't have to apologize anymore, I understand. Everyone makes mistakes. You're obviously sorry! Come inside, please, and rest. You can take your time and tell me the whole story."

I gaped at him incredulously. Was he serious? I opened my mouth to say sorry again, but then closed it. He'd told me to stop. I walked in with Goodwin and had a strange certainty that everything would be okay.



Petunia, Brendale

When Mother sent a servant to inform me that my presence was required in the first floor sitting room, I knew that something was about to happen. I had been waiting anxiously all day to hear news of Blue: I hoped desperately that I wasn't about to learn about her death.

I walked in to find my Mother dressed in her most formal and intimidating gown and looking absolutely furious. She was yelling at the mysterious visitor that I had met recently. The one that was helping Mother kill Blue. I decided that if she was angry at him it might mean Blue was okay.

"You," Mother screamed, pointing at him as though his very presence offended her deeply. "You tried to run away! Did you think you'd get far? I knew the second Bluvia evaded the curse. I should never have trusted an idiot like you with such an important task! You know what has to happen now, don't you?"



"Please," the man begged. "Forgive me! I'll do anything for you, anything! You can have all of my powers, all of my money, anything you want! Please!"



Mother stared at him incredulously. "You think I'd pardon you that easily? I funded your move to Twinbrook. I expended my precious energy finding you a roommate and then causing him to fall ill. I entrusted you with an important task, and you failed miserably. I was perfectly clear when I hired you that the punishment for failure was death." She sighed as though he was utterly idiotic. "I thought it would inspire you to do your best, but I guess not."



Suddenly, Mother looked straight at me. "Sit down, Petunia."

She gestured at the nearest couch. I crept over and sat down cautiously, unsure why I was there at all. Usually Mother wasn't so public with her business. Mother continued to stare at the man with an increasingly dangerous look on her face.



Mother spoke to me, never taking her eyes off of the man.

"I brought you here to see what happens to those who disappoint me," she said. "I offered Mr. Kayes here eternal life if he could do one thing for me: trick your sister into killing herself. But he failed, and now he must suffer the penalty."



My mouth fell open in shock as I realized what I was about to witness.

"Why?" I asked. "Why show me? This isn't my business. I don't need to be here."

I saw a perceptive glint in Mother's eyes. "You would run away if you could," she said. "Do not think I have not seen it. You hate me, and I could care less. But you will stay here. Blue may be beyond my reach now, but you are not. You are entirely mine. There will come the day when I will need you to serve my purposes, and when that day comes you will remember what you see now and you will not let me down. Not unless you want to share in Mr. Kayes' fate, that is."



To my shock, the man that had been identified as Mr. Kayes spoke, his eyes wide with madness and fear.

"You lost," he said, almost gleeful. "Blue is pregnant with my child. Her line will continue. I tried to tell you last time we met, but you didn't care to hear. So I told your daughter instead."

He gazed straight at me. I sat uneasily under his stare, meeting his stare.

"Petunia cares about her sister," he continued. "She won't betray her, when the time comes. You put too much stake in using fear to control others. You don't understand that you can't purchase a soul through threat and intimidation."



Mother went even more ballistic.

"PREGNANT?" she shrieked. "With your child?"

I saw her take a few deep breaths, as though getting the anger under control. The maniacal expression never left her face. It was a humorous scene, but I certainly wasn't about to laugh.

"Then I guess you'll die knowing your child is under a curse. Perhaps he or she will be the one to die. I hope so. Any offspring of yours deserves nothing less."

The sudden slap shocked me. Mother's hand hit Mr. Kayes' cheek so hard that he fell over. Surely her strength had to be fueled by magic? She didn't exercise her arm muscles enough to be so powerful otherwise.



I wanted to turn away when the next slap came, and the next, and the next, but I couldn't. It was like a nightmare. I watched the stranger that must have meant something to my sister die in front of me and hoped that wherever Blue was she had no clue what was happening in Mother's sitting room.



Blue, Twinbrook

Goodwin's house was so comforting. I hadn't been inside in way too long, but everything was familiar, from the worn yet cushy furniture to the faint smell of laundry permeating the air.

"Thank you," I said softly. "You don't know what it means to me, that you would even listen to me after everything."



"Blue, you're practically falling over," Goodwin said. "Sit down and we can talk."

After we sat down he didn't say anything, but looked at me quizzically. I resolved to tell him the full story.



I began, and once I started talking I had to keep going. I didn't leave anything out. I told him about Mother and needing to leave the kingdom. I talked about the Guardian and learning about the curse placed on me and my descendants. I described my first time meeting Justin, going to his house and seeing Wei's condition, studying magic and crushing all doubts I might've had. I told him about the moment when I realized that I couldn't draw on that much of my power without losing sight of myself. I described the awfulness of Justin's abandonment, followed by the realization that I was homeless.

I even faithfully recounted just how close I had gotten to Justin, though it was awkward to say some of it out loud. I figured Goodwin deserved to know everything.



Once I finished, I stared ahead sadly. Telling the whole story had just made me seem even more stupid. How could I have fallen for Justin like that? Where did all of my common sense go?

It's not your fault, the Guardian whispered. You want to help others. It's valiant of you to care. Justin played to your personality.

It was nice of the Guardian to defend me, but I had to know what Goodwin was going to say. I looked up at him, scared that he would kick me out.



"Blue," he began, his blue eyes wide with grief. "I am so, so sorry all of this happened to you. I never could've guessed how hard you had it. But I want you to know, I'm here for you no matter what. You have a place to stay for as long as you need one, and that won't change."



"Wait," I said. "Really? You mean that? You don't hate me for being such an idiot?"

"Why would I hate you?" Goodwin said. "For being taken advantage of by a man you thought you could trust? Never!"

Goodwin's eyes grew dark with an emotion that I thought might be hatred.

"You're staying here until you want to leave, and that's the end of it. I won't let your mother or any other slimy jerks get at you, not in my house. Now get up!" he said suddenly. "You're exhausted, and you need to sleep. Here, I'll show you where to sleep."





I got in bed immediately, reveling in the warmth of the covers. I decided then that the hard part was over. Looking into Goodwin's compassionate face as I succumbed to sleep, I knew that I had at last found peace.




I'm sorry this took so long to get out, but I hope it's worth the wait! I cut this update a little short to get it out, but another one will be here soon, I promise :)