A/N Thank you so much for 380 reads! I can't believe how my story is growing! Grady will finally be in this chapter, Keefe- um, watch out. 

Tam's Pov

There is no way she just said that. Yep, I'm imagining her saying it. It's not real. I know that it's no illusion. I just can't bring myself to believe that she knew what she was saying, I mean, she was passed out half an hour ago. I don't want her regretting it.

As much as I want to pretend it doesn't matter I'm a Shade, or used to be a Wayward, it doesn't matter I was part of the Neverseen and it doesn't matter how much she lived through, but it does. I know it does and I know she knows it does, we can't ignore our history, or how different our lives are and will always be.

But, I can still hope.

Biana's POV 

So, that didn't go exactly as I had hoped. But, he did say he liked me, so I guess that's a win? 

I quickly check in with Elwin making sure I can leave. 

"Just be careful, and come back in a few days so I can check you over."

"Stop being so dramatic I fainted at the sight of my own blood."

"Something that's never made you faint before. I think Vespera might have more to do with this than I thought." His smile fades.

"Yeah yeah, thanks Elwin."

He smiles at me, giving me the tiny bit of reassurance 

I light leap to Havenfield. 

"FOSTER OPEN UP!" I shout while knocking. 

"Hello Biana!" Says Edaline, laughing. 

"Hi Edaline!" I reply, ever so slightly embarrassed.

"Go on upstairs! Just avoid Grady's office especially. Keefe and Grady are having a little chat-." She says. 

I actually facepalm. Edaline laughs. This is so not going to end well for the Keefster.

"I know. Let's hope he makes it out alive." I walk carefully upstairs. 

Keefe's POV

"You were alone with Sophie in her bedroom? Without my knowledge?" Grady asks. 

He's been threatening me and bombarding me with questions for the last half hour. All because he didn't know I was with Sophie. For the record, Edaline knew, just didn't bother to tell him because again IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL.

"Yes sir." I say. 

This is never ending.

"And you think I'm going to let that slide?" He asks. 

"No sir." 

"Then why did you do it? Did Sandor know?" He asks. 

"Of course he did, we were working on an assignment." 

"And you think that's an excuse to sit right next to her?" 

I don't know why it's such a big deal, honestly.

"No sir." 

"You know what, just go, I understand the stakes and tension in our world. But if I see you acting too flirty with Sophie, I will personally oversee that Ro gives you the most.. creative of her punishments." He says this with a serious face, but I can see he's on the verge of breaking out into laughter.

I nod and walk out up towards Sophie's room. I can literally feel his eyes burning into the back of my head, but also the faint wheezing of him trying to silently laugh.

I NEVER DID ANYTHING. We sat next to each other. I swear Grady freaks out every time Sophie and I breathe the same air. 

Grady's POV

NO WAY IS THAT BOY GOING TO DATE MY DAUGHTER! 

I know Sophie likes him, and her likes her. But he has way too many girls chasing after him at Foxfire, even with all the drama! My little girl's heart won't break, not on my watch, and not after my mistakes with Jolie... 

I know, he would be smart dealing with the Unmatchable stuff, and he would always care for her. I can't necessarily say the same for Fitz based on his recent actions... But the thought of That Boy breaking Sophie's heart pains me.

 Biana's POV

"Hey Soph, coming in!" I say. 

I walk into her bedroom to see her sitting on her bed, with her memory log out in front of her. "Hey B." 

"Whatcha doing?" 

"Just looking over memories, you know trying to be useful, when I couldn't be less." 

"You look at me right now. You are useful, you are an amazing moonlark, but you also are a young girl dealing with a whole bunch of stuff no one our age should have to deal with! You're doing an amazing job at balancing it all. You can totally feel awful and sad, but you're not going to let it consume you, because everyone has their weaknesses. You're doing your best, and that's what matters, you might be struggling a little bit with getting everything done, but you have so many people to help you manage it all. You don't have to worry Sophie. I'm always here for you, always." 

I've learned that the best way to comfort someone isn't to compliment them pointlessly, it's to acknowledge their strengths and understand why they feel weak. Do not however, tell them the way they're feeling is untrue, because negative thoughts always have a root of truth, you just have to support them, and assure them their flaw isn't as big as they think. 

With Sophie, the immense pressure of being perfect and living up to everyone's expectations are starting to get the best of her.

"Thanks, I guess you're sort of right. Maybe I am putting too much on myself, but I feel like it's still not enough." 

"It feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, and like it has to be you to bear it," I pause, "but you have to know that sometimes what people want from you is unrealistic, and you just have to tell them that. You can't be perfect all the time."

Sometimes, you have to pull from your own experience and empathize with how they feel. I always thought I would never live up to the Vacker name, and I guess it makes our situations sort of similar.

"I guess you're right, just like you always are." She smiles at me.

"Promise me you'll try to go easy on yourself."

"I'll try."

I lean in to hug her, Sophie is one of my closest friends. While sometimes she can make some mistakes, she's still an amazing person and friend.

Sophie's POV

Biana is right, I need to take some time for myself. But I feel so guilty about it, especially after Biana has nearly been killed.

And because of Fitz, and maybe a little bit because I can't figure out how I feel about Keefe. 

"Have you read the letter yet?" Biana asks. 

I realize I completely forgot, I've been so focused on Fitz, and then Biana got injured and I've completely forgotten. I need to sort out my priorities, I can't keep focusing on some dumb guy.

What I need to focus on is stopping the Neverseen, learning more about the dwarves and trolls, and being the leader of Team Valiant. My regular life is distracting me, I can focus on that later, right now important stuff. 

"Sophie, I know you're sitting there thinking how you're a failure and how you need to prioritize. But you're doing the best you can. You have me to keep you on track. And I will keep you on track. So listen to me, You Are Not A Failure." Biana tells me. 

My chest lightens, she always knows exactly what to say. She's lightening the load, we can do this together. I have to let myself trust someone else to help me, even just a little.

"Okay," I say, "let's wait for Keefe, then read the letter. Hail Tam and get him to come over here." 

Tam's POV 

Biana just hailed me, so I now I have to get my butt to Havenfield apparently. But also to be careful and not sit too close to Sophie when I arrive. I think it has to do with Grady but I'm not sure. 

"Havenfield." I say to the LeapMaster and step into the light. 

I knock on the door when I get to Havenfield. 

"Finally!" Sophie says and literally grabs me by my tunic and hauls me upstairs. 

But then... Grady sees us on the way up, turns red and grabs me by the arm. 

"Tam, anything I should know of?"He asks. 

Oh no, he interpreted it all wrong. He thinks there's romance going on?

"DAD!!! NO! I was grabbing him because he took forever to get here and we have to discuss our assignment. Please don't make Biana keep waiting." Sophie says. 

Grady sighs and lets go of my arm. I mean, what? He seriously thinks I like Sophie? Not that there's anything wrong with her, I just am not a member of what Keefe likes to call the Foster Fan Club.

"Don't make me regret this decision." He says. 

Sophie leads me to her room. By the time she's explained the reason we took so long to Keefe and Biana, I'm so red I would probably make a firetruck look pink. Keefe and Biana are rolling on the floor laughing and Sophie is holding back a fit of giggles. 

"OKAY! Enough of that! The letter." I say. 

Biana nods and grabs the letter, reading it out loud.

Biana's POV

"Councillor Oralie, today, I felt your truest emotions. Your heart emotions. You should understand that those emotions are stronger and purer than head emotions, considering you are an Empath. I know you miss Councillor Kenric dearly, because you loved him, you still do, to the day when you might be rereading this. I believe the heart emotions can only be felt when truly extreme, the grief you must be feeling is immense, and for that burden placed on your shoulder I sympathize with you.

 "This is an amazing discovery, and one that could make life much easier for elves. Yes I can confirm I will write a book regarding this topic. So, Councillor Oralie, thank you, for providing me with this abundance of information. Your insight has made it click, showing me how indeed heart emotions impact oneself. Consider it, the heart of the matter." I read. 

"Okay so wow, who knew Daddy Of The Year was also Mr. Cocky Stuck Up?" Keefe asks, "oh wait, I did." 

"Well. That was definitely, something." I say. 

"But the good news is, we found his information source!" Sophie says. 

"Yeah! We'll probably have a larger assignment based off this one later, but for now let's tell Forkle what we found." 

"Show me Magnate Leto." I say into the Imparter. 

"Hello Miss Vacker," he says, "do you have any updates?" 

"Yep!" I say, "Lord Cassius used Councillor Oralie as a source, she sent us some letters. And Tam's theory is that you want to use it to track down Lady Gisela, we don't know if he's right, but if he is we've found that Gisela annotated his copy of the book, there's some interesting stuff in there we can send you."

"Now I'm not quite sure how Mr. Tam formulated his theory, but that would be incredibly useful, thank you Miss Vacker, if you could send over all of your documents as soon as possible they would be greatly appreciated."

"We'll send you everything right away, we want to find Gisela more than anything, she's been roaming freely for far too long." Sophie says. 

"I understand your concerns Miss Foster, but please do not concern yourself with these matters as of now. Now you guys deserve a rest. Relax, we have a big lead regarding the Neverseen and it's not to concern you. Except, remember your promise, you cannot be involved in this part of the work. You need to work on the not so dangerous stuff and be there for yourselves and your futures." He says. 

"Yes Mr. Forkle." We all grumble simultaneously.  

He clicks away. 

"I know what we can do!" I exclaim, "Sleepover at Everglen!" 

+++

So now, Marella, Maruca, Linh, Sophie, Tam, Keefe, Dex, Wylie, and I are piled in Everglen's sitting room. It's not the same as it would have been before the Neverseen ruined our lives, but I guess in a way this is our way of showing them, we won't give up.

"What are we going to do?" Maruca asks. 

"I know!" Says Marella, an evil grin on her face. 

"Truth or Dare!"

a/n sorry this edit took so long! it was a lot of writing and being overwhelmed with school but for real this time I should be more active soon :)