After everyone finished dinner, Aurora helped Mrs. Heelshire clean the table, following her into the kitchen as she went over a few more things.

"We don't waste any food in this household..." Mrs. Heelshire stated, quickly packaging up any leftovers from the meal into tupperware. "Anything that doesn't get eaten, goes in here." The woman explained, gesturing towards a huge chest-like freezer before opening it. "Malcolm, the grocery boy, will clean everything out when he comes by. You'll met him tomorrow when he makes his delivery." She finished, closing the lid securely.

"I'll make sure to do everything just as you've asked." Aurora said, hoping the woman could relax the tiniest bit before her trip. "I promise."

Just like Mr. Heelshire, the look in his wife's eyes was so hard to read. The exhaustedly heartbroken expression locked within her gaze ellicting even more sympathy for a couple who'd clearly already been through so much.

"Thank you Dear..." Mrs. Heelshire replied finally, grabbing one of Aurora's hands and actually startling the other woman a bit with her grip. "Now then, if you don't mind... Daddy and I would like to take a moment alone with Brahms. To tuck him in and tell him goodnight before our cab arrives." She finished, forcing a clearly fake smile onto her face.

"O-oh, of course..." Aurora stuttered, taken aback slightly by the woman's new demeanor.

"It will only take a minute, then we'll leave you our keys and... Be on our way." Mrs. Heelshire added, glancing over as Mr. Heelshire arrived just on time with Brahms.

"Time to go Mummy." The man stated, passing her the doll as she held him close. Aurora nodded her head respectfully before heading towards the entryway again, planning to see them off properly before their departure. As the elderly couple disappeared up the stairs with the doll, she breathed a sigh of relief, finally alone with just her thoughts after a very strange and tiring day...

She took a seat on a nearby bench while waiting, thinking back on all the things she'd observed throughout her time here. Can I really do this? Aurora asked herself, feeling guilty once more while thinking about how weird all of this was. I mean, I know I CAN do it... But, should I? I definitely can't back out now... These people obviously need a vacation... She realized, wondering if that was part of the reason for all this odd behavior. And... I did make a promise... It would be so rude to leave now without even trying...

Aurora sighed, knowing that she was staying despite all the reasons her mind was giving her not to. In truth, she felt bad for this couple. Clearly robbed of their child by some twist of fate... Using a doll in place of their son to cope with that fact... It was heartbreaking. She wished she could know what actually happened, to the Brahms in the portrait she'd seen...

That grocery boy is coming by tomorrow... Aurora remembered, making a mental note to ask him a few things when she had the chance. Maybe he knows something about the real Brahms...

She was distracted from those thoughts as the Heelshire's descended the stairs again, grabbing their coats and nearby luggage before heading her way. Aurora stood to greet them for the last time, sending them both the most reassuring smile she could manage as they stared back wordlessly.

"I... I'm so sorry Dear," Mrs. Heelshire spoke, her voice cracking slightly as she pulled the other woman in for a small hug. "I wish we'd had more time... B-But there's just not-"

"Come now Mummy," Mr. Heelshire interrupted, grabbing onto his wife's shoulder while pulling her back. "It looks like our cab is here and we don't want to keep them waiting."

"Yes Dear..."

"Be good to Brahms, Miss Baker," Mr. Heelshire said lowly, the serious tone in his voice sending a chill down said woman's spine as he spoke. "Be good to him and he'll be good to you..."

"Oh, she'll be wonderful... Won't you Aurora?" The woman asked, pleading with her eyes as she stared her way.

"Of course." Aurora promised, resolving herself to keep that vow now more than ever. "I'll treat him like he's my own."

Mrs. Heelshire seemed immensely satisfied with that answer as she gripped the the girl's shoulder, giving it one last squeeze before turning to leave. With that, the elderly couple shuffled out the door and into the night, their cab pulling away eventually as the sound of the tires on gravel became fainter and fainter...

The darkness of the English countryside seemed much more frightening than it had before, causing Aurora to double check the locks on the door before breathing a sigh of relief. She knew she was safe in the house, but in reality... She was completely alone. Alone in an unfamiliar place, so far out in the woods that her cell phone was useless and her only form of human contact seemed to be a weekly grocery delivery.

I mean, I'm not totally alone... The woman realized, her inner voice turning sarcastic while heading towards the kitchen. I've got Brahms...

Aurora sighed at her own joke, starting to make herself a cup of tea and hoping the warm drink would calm her nerves before she attempted to get some sleep.

She drizzled a bit of honey into the cup before giving it a good stir, heading upstairs finally before entering the room she'd be staying in.

It was very cozy, filled with all the typical things someone would need. A bed, a dresser, a mirror... A small desk she could probably use as a good work space. The familiarity made Aurora feel more at ease as she set her cup down, unpacking a few of her things and placing them into drawers.

Though she'd told Mrs. Heelshire that she'd only brought what was necessary, the truth was... This was everything the woman had. She was so desperate for this job... So desperate for a new start and a new life... She didn't want the Heelshires to form their own bias before even meeting her. It wasn't really a huge lie, but more of an inconvenient truth...

She pulled a favorite sweater out of her luggage, holding onto the soft material for a moment before sitting down. Staring into the fabric, she couldn't help but think about the last time she'd worn it... Just a few weeks prior. That was the day I left... Aurora remembered, feeling herself becoming emotional as she frowned. She tossed the garment aside for now, unpacking the last of her clothing before moving the other bag onto the bed.

A few basic necessities, some books, some pictures... An extremely small percentage of her art supplies. It was all she had managed to gather and get away with in such a short amount of time. When Aurora thought about it, it was a blessing she was left with anything. A miracle in fact that any of what she owned survived the chaos of her previous living environment.

I'm just glad to be done... She sighed, taking a sip of tea before she could dwell on the past too much. I never have to see him again....... It's over...

She grabbed a pair of sweatpants and one of her favorite t-shirts, heading to the room's bathroom as she went to change. It was freezing in this house, making Aurora move quickly, returning a second later before practically diving under the blankets. A few more sips from her tea and she was back to normal again, her shivers easing while she attempted to get comfortable in this new bed.

To her surprise, sleep came easier than she thought it would. Her eyelids drifting shut slowly as the gentle ticks from the clock on the wall provided a nice white noise effect. Aurora snuggled under the covers instinctively, falling into dreamland while an unknown presence watched from nearby...

...

A/N: Alright! Hope you guys are ready for some Brahms in the next chapter :O Maybe a little peek at what he's doing/some reactions from behind the walls :O :O :O