After several long moments of me trying to figure out where to even start, Opal sniffed and looked up at me with confusion covering every inch of her beautiful face.

"Why are you back, Auntie? Are you okay?"

I nearly started crying right then and there. Why are you concerned about me at a time like this! I wanted to shout, but I just shook my head and reached out, gathering her in my arms.

"I got a very disturbing phone call from your father and when I couldn't get through to your phone I panicked," I explained honestly, gripping her thin shoulders tightly as I tried to stay strong and calm. Because I was holding her so tightly though I felt when Opal stiffened intensely at the mention of her father.

Has she always reacted like this? I thought, despair beginning to cloud my mind. How many signs have I missed over the years? Could it possibly be true that...

"I'm sorry I scared you, Auntie," Opal said, her words tinged with remorse so intense that it seemed to resonate straight to my heart and make me tremble.

"Why didn't you answer your phone? Are you sick?" I asked, pulling back slightly and resting the back of my hand against her forehead. 

Opal shook her head though and I was shocked when she met my eyes. Her deep green eyes that were normally sparkling with life and happiness looked almost dead as if she had become numb to everything around her.

"Auntie, I need to talk to you," she said, glancing around at the mess of papers strewn around the floor.

"What is it, Opal?" I asked, trying desperately to remain calm. 

Something inside me was pinging crazily, warning me that if I pushed Opal too far then I may just lose her forever, so I had to keep calm and hear her out.

"I... I thought I would have more time to organize," Opal stuttered, glancing blankly around the living room. "Could... Could you give me a second?" she asked, looking up at me with just the barest hint of guilt in her deadened expression.

"Can I help you?" I asked while reaching for a piece of paper, but her hand whipped forward and held it down against the carpet. 

Blinking in shock, I looked down to see Opal shaking her head and looking up at me with a silent plea. Taking a deep breath, I slowly stood and backed up until I was in the hallway.

"I'll make us some tea," I announced, trying my best to sound natural.

Opal nodded silently and I watched her from the kitchen, feeling more and more anxious as she crawled around the living room floor. She picked up the papers here and there and seemed to read through them before putting them in two different piles. Her movements seemed slow and lethargic, and I noticed her rubbing her head and eyes several times.

I want to ask her about Aaron... but I should let her say what she wanted to say. Maybe I'll understand more then... I thought to myself pensively. 

Once the tea was ready I walked into the living room with our two tea mugs and set them down on coasters on the coffee table. Opal was reading through one of the last papers and didn't even seem to notice me, so I sat down gingerly on the couch next to the discarded laptop.

Once she was finished, Opal flipped the larger pile upside down on the carpet and took the smaller pile before turning to face me. Her face was an expressionless mask, so unlike my normally sweet and cheerful niece that it made a lump of emotion form in my throat. I gripped my hands together to keep myself from trembling as Opal regarded me from her spot kneeling on the ground in front of me.

"Please listen until I'm finished, Auntie," she requested quietly, clenching the papers in her hands tightly. 

I slowly nodded my head, not knowing what to expect. Opal rifled through her papers, looking slightly nervous before her expression reverted back to her emotionless mask and she looked up at me.

"I've decided that it's time I move out and stop being a burden to you," Opal announced firmly. I gasped, choking on my own saliva and had to cough for several minutes to calm myself down.

"Why on earth..." I managed to choke out. 

Opal scooted forward two steps on her knees and held out a piece of paper for me. Clamping my mouth shut as I remembered her request to listen until she finished, I slowly took the paper and glanced down at it. My eyes widened as I read the title, "My Plan for Independent Living."

"There are not a lot of jobs that pay enough to support yourself without at least a high school education, so I plan to take the GED test by no later than Wednesday, although now that you are back I suppose I could take it Monday," Opal muttered, looking to the side and trailing off as she flipped through her papers until she had a schedule in front of her and studied it for a moment.

"GED?" I repeated, my head spinning at this completely unexpected declaration.

Opal nodded seriously and then handed me another piece of paper, which I shakily took. This one had a list of potential apartments and I whimpered when I saw that almost all of them weren't even in this state, let alone in Sweet Amoris.

"I've narrowed down my options so far for living in these places. They don't have a credit score requirement for renting an apartment and allow payments every month until you have proved your dependability before they offer a full contract. I also have found several job options which will determine what location I will end up choosing," Opal said, handing me the next sheet which had potential job options listed out neatly.

"But why..." I breathed out, not comprehending why this was happening. 

Opal just handed me the next page though, a sheet that listed five different plans and budgets needed for each plan. I looked up from the meticulously laid-out chart and saw that Opal looked absolutely miserable.

"Since I don't have any money of my own I would need to borrow that amount for all of these expenses that I've listed depending on where I got a job. But I have laid out my repayment plan for you and I'll make sure to pay it back within 8 months. Less if I pick up a second job," Opal said firmly and I shook my head.

"Opal you can't..."

"Please, Auntie," Opal suddenly said, her voice sounding desperate. 

She slowly brought her head up from where she had been looking at the last two pages on her lap and her emotionless mask began to crack. I could see misery and pain that was causing her beautiful eyes to seem murky and she gripped the papers in her lap so hard they crinkled.

"This is what's for the best, Auntie," Opal said in a pinched voice and I gaped in shock as tears began to spill slowly, one after another, from both of her eyes. "I can't stay here. Father is treating you poorly because of me. And Nathaniel is in trouble because of me too. I..." 

Hot tears were spilling from my own eyes as I watched Opal shakily raise the last papers in her hands and press the heel of her palms against her cheeks to hide her face with them. 

"I have to leave before you start to hate me too, Auntie... I couldn't bear it if you... if you..."

Aaron, you will pay for this, I thought briefly before tossing the papers in my hands up into the air, and falling to my knees while gathering Opal into my arms. Opal squirmed as if she didn't want to be touched, but I held her firmly.

"You think I'd actually let you go? Just like that?" I asked as my tears spilled onto the top of her head. "I could never EVER hate you, Opal."

"But you will!" Opal cried out, pushing against my hold. I forced myself to release her but sat right in front of her and wiped at my eyes so I could try to see better.

"Why? Why would I ever come to hate you, Opal?" I asked, dreading the answer but knowing that I NEEDED to hear this. If I couldn't figure out what had made Opal come up with such a meticulous plan then I might just lose her for good.

Opal cried and shook her head. "I lied to you, Auntie. I've been lying to you all along. But if I tell the truth it will just make Father even angrier." Opal moaned with such heartwrenching despair that I felt like my soul was being torn in two.

"Don't..." I had to clear my throat in order for my own voice to work as I battled tears before I reached out and gently held onto Opal's shoulders. "Don't worry about my brother right now. Just tell me the truth."

Opal's expression twisted into a mask of grief and despair and I desperately wished I could do something to take away that pain. But I HAD to understand. In order to undo whatever terrible thing her father had done to make her think like this, I had to know what she had been suffering through silently all this time.

"Auntie... I'm a mistake." Her voice was barely louder than a whisper and if my sad excuse of a brother hadn't called her a mistake in his phone call to me I wouldn't have understood what she said.

My heart cracked as I inwardly cursed him for causing his daughter so much pain. He had broken my parents' hearts when he ran away when I was just a toddler, and now it seemed that he had broken his daughter. I shook my head vehemently, yelling at myself to get a grip and be strong for Opal since it seemed that she was a step away from falling apart.

"Opal. You are NOT a mistake," I argued firmly. 

Tears dripped even faster down Opal's cheeks, splashing onto her sheets of paper that she was clenching like they were a lifeline.

"I am, Auntie," she squeaked out. "Father wanted a boy to take over his karate school. He... he begged Mother to try again to have a baby. But Mother lost her contract as a swimsuit model because of me. I ruined Father's life by being born a girl. I ruined Mother's life by being a hard pregnancy for her. All because of me." 

My throat clenched from the raw emotion flooding through me as Opal's shuddering voice expelled what she must have bottled up inside of her for her entire life.

How could anyone blame an innocent child for ruining their lives? What kind of people are they? I could hardly believe that Aaron and his beautiful wife, who had always been so gracious and kind when I came to visit, could have hidden such monstrous acts in their home. Why didn't I see it? I thought as guilt and shame threatened to overwhelm me.

"I didn't want to tell you because I thought you would hate me. Please don't hate me, Auntie. I know I deserve it but... but please don't hate me." 

I felt like a sledgehammer was striking me right in the chest as the sweet niece that I adored more than anything in the world cried tears of pure anguish in front of me. Not being able to hold back any longer, I reached out and wrapped her securely in my arms once again.

"I don't hate you! I could never hate you!" I gasped into her hair as she cried into my shoulder. Her hands gripped my coat that I still hadn't taken off but she didn't return my hug as she cried.

"I tried to be helpful. I cooked and I cleaned and I got good grades... But I wasn't good enough in karate. And I ruined my mother's career. They both hated me. So I thought... I thought you would too, so I never told you about being a mistake. I lied to you over and over again. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Opal's breath was coming out in uneven gasps and I rocked her back and forth as she let it all out.

Tears streamed down my face as I held her fiercely to me and wondered how she could have lived in a home so filled with hate and yet she had nothing bad to say about her parents. She completely took the blame on her own shoulders and as I held onto them I could feel them shaking as if she were supporting an entire mountain by herself.

"It's not your fault, Opal," I gasped as my throat tightened from emotion. "You have nothing to apologize for. I..."

"You're wrong!" Opal pushed me away and I looked down at her, startled by the sudden strength in her voice. "If it wasn't for me Father would never have ignored you," she said, guilt and shame gleaming in her eyes. My mouth dropped open and I placed my hands on her cheeks, shocked at how pale they were.

"Sweetheart, you feel bad about lying to me, right?" I asked with a shaky voice. Opal nodded quickly and I could feel her tears splash onto my fingers. "Then tell me the truth now. Did your father... did that man hurt you?"

Opal's eyes widened and the fear that took over her expression just about broke my heart. Slowly she lowered her eyes away from my probing gaze and that was all I needed to know. My tears flowed even harder and I let out a shuddering breath that caused me physical pain as the memories of all the times I glimpsed a bruise on Opal's body but allowed myself to believe the reasons she gave me bombarded my thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Opal. This is all my fault. I should have known. I should have seen..." Opal shook her head and sadness shone in her eyes as she leaned her hands against my knees.

"Why are you apologizing? He wouldn't have done it if I had just been better at karate. It was my fault, Auntie..."

"Stop saying that!" I yelped and Opal jerked back. 

Instantly I felt terrible and I reached out to gently stroke her cheeks as I tried to get my emotions under control.

"Opal. There is absolutely no reason that any parent should ever hurt their child," I said, my fury bubbling up through me. I was surprised when I saw what looked like a defiant agreement flash through her eyes, but then she looked over her shoulder at the closed door before turning back and bowing her head.

"In normal situations, I agree with you," Opal said with a terrible look of guilt clouding her green eyes before she looked up at me. "But my situation..."

"Just listen to me. Please," I whispered. 

I didn't understand what her reaction had been about, but thankfully she fell silent. Taking a steadying breath I continued to stroke Opal's cheeks as I tried to find the words that she needed to hear.

"Opal. I want you to forget about whatever your mother or your father told you and listen to me now." Opal blinked silently and I met her tear-filled gaze head-on. "Just because you were born a girl does not make you a mistake," I said fiercely. 

Opal opened her mouth to retort and I shook my head stiffly.

"Let me finish," I said, looking at the papers in her hands. "You had your turn, right?" I pointed out, trying to go for a lighthearted tone. Opal's expression didn't change but she nodded and I plowed on. "It was your parent's decision to have a baby, and it was also their decision to abuse you."

"But I deserved it..."

"NO!" I yelled and Opal flinched in shock. 

In my mind's eye, I pictured all of the things I would like to do to that scoundrel that I used to call my brother but I shook my head, trying to remain focused. Once again I tried to be gentle.

"No one deserves to go through what you went through. Sweetheart, I... I'm so sorry." I had reached my limit. I had reached my limit and there was nothing I could do to reign in my emotions as tears streamed from my eyes and I looked into Opal's anguished face. "All the signs were there but I couldn't see them and because of that... because of that you lived in fear with people who neglected and hurt you... I'm so sorry!"

"No. No, Auntie, don't apologize. Please, this isn't your fault. You are the only thing that kept me going. Please don't cry," Opal begged, reaching out and holding onto my wrists as I held her cheeks in my hands.

I felt my eyes widen and wondered how I couldn't have seen the pain that she had been going through this whole time. And I am adding to that pain right now, so buck up and be the strength that she needs, Yuki! I ordered myself in a mental pep talk. Slowly I let out a shaky breath and blinked rapidly to try and stem my tears.

"How about we make a deal?" I asked through a watery smile. Opal, with equally watery eyes, gave me a puzzled look. "I'll stop apologizing if you promise to stop saying you're a mistake. Because Opal, when you're with me, you aren't a mistake." 

My words caught on a half-formed sob as I spoke from my heart and Opal's eyes widened. She stared at me and it looked like she had just caught a glimpse of light at the end of a tunnel she had been walking through her whole life.

"When I'm with you... I'm not a mistake..." Opal repeated, her voice sounding slightly dubious. The urge to cry hit me with so much force I had to blink like crazy to keep them at bay.

How much pain has this sweet child gone through? How could her parents have warped her brain so completely that she has never accepted anything but their word as the truth? 

Opal still was looking at me like she couldn't even comprehend that what I had said could be true, so I took another steadying breath and pushed away those thoughts for another day.

"It's true. When you're with me you are my beautiful, resourceful, talented, kind niece that I love dearly," I said gently. 

Opal's eyes darted to the side and back to look at me several times as if she were waiting for something to appear to prove this was a dream. After another moment she slowly slid her eyes back to mine and some of the pain in them began to be replaced with a twinkling of desperate hope.

"Really?" she asked with disbelief and I nodded firmly.

"Really." 

Opal's lips lifted at the corners as if she were about to smile, but then she blinked and sadness crept into her eyes again.

"But what about Father? Won't he be angry with you?" Opal asked with fear in her voice and I let out an affronted snort.

"The man is no brother of mine," I snarled angrily. 

Opal's eyes widened, but when unhappiness flooded her expression I realized I probably shouldn't vent out my frustrations about that piece of scum while she was still coming to terms with everything. 

"He called me to say that he wanted nothing more to do with you. And that if I insisted on staying in contact with you then we would have no more relationship."

Opal's face turned into a mask of horror but I had no trouble giving her a genuine smile.

"The thing is, Opal, Aaron left me behind long ago. But now I have you in my life, and I couldn't be happier. You are the most important thing to me in the world. So don't worry about me and my brother, okay?"

Opal did not look completely convinced, but she eventually nodded. She bit her lip though and I frowned as she looked up at me with obvious trepidation.

"But what if I cause trouble for other people?" she asked in a shaky voice. I furrowed my brow in confusion and stroked her cheek.

"You won't. I promise. In fact, I'm pretty sure you'll make other people's lives better. You've made mine better," I said with a sincere smile. The sadness in Opal's face didn't fade though, and she tucked her lips in between her teeth briefly as she shook her head gently.

"I caused trouble for Nathaniel," Opal said with that horrible guilty expression once again. 

My eyes widened and I wondered once again what happened between those two. They were both obviously suffering, but even though I was concerned for Nathaniel, my first priority was to make sure that Opal didn't end up running away from me.

"If you really caused trouble for him then why was he here when I got home?" I asked gently and Opal winced.

"Because he's too stubborn," Opal answered with a whimper. I reached out and tenderly cupped her cheeks in my hands so she would look at me before giving her my best encouraging smile.

"Opal, you have nothing to be scared of. You won't cause trouble for anyone here because you are not a mistake. And even if something did happen with Nathaniel it's obvious he doesn't blame you, so it would just be hurting him for you to keep blaming yourself. "

Opal flinched violently at that but then blinked as understanding and less panic-filled guilt crossed her expression.

"I don't want to hurt him," Opal whispered sadly and I dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Then just trust me on this, Opal. I love you more than anything in the world and I would be completely heartbroken if you left me. So please. Say you'll stay," I whispered gently to her.

Opal's shoulders began to shake and suddenly she flung herself forward, holding onto me in a tight hug. I returned her hug fiercely and a sob escaped me as I held her to me.

No matter what happened I would never let anything else hurt this girl. From this day on, she was no longer my niece. She was my daughter.

"Oof," Opal let out an odd groan and I leaned back to see that she was blinking and her face looked completely exhausted.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly and Opal slowly shook her head slowly.

"I haven't slept since you left. But I need to talk to Nathaniel," Opal mumbled as she attempted to stand but then pitched forward.

"Opal!" I cried out, catching her as she fell. She let out another groan as she rubbed her head.

"Dizzy," she whispered as she slowly wilted until her head was laying in my lap. I stroked her hair gently and she let out a long sigh. "I love you, Auntie. I'm sorry..."

"You have NOTHING to apologize for," I assured her as I continued to lovingly stroke her hair and face. "You go to sleep now. We'll talk about Nathaniel later, alright?"

"Nathaniel..." Opal whispered as her eyes seemed to be fighting to stay open. "I hope he'll forgive me too."

As soon as the last words slipped out of her mouth her eyes closed and her breathing changed into the deep rhythm of sleep. Not wanting to leave Opal on the floor all night, I checked to make sure she really was asleep before calling Shin Woo.

"Yuki-chan, what happened?" 

I nearly cried when Shin Woo answered on the first ring, but I held myself together as I let out a heavy sigh.

"Too much, Shin Woo. Are you still here?"

"Of course, I still have your bags. Nathaniel and I were talking for a while but I convinced him to go home. The kid looked like he hasn't slept for a week," Shin Woo said and I heard the sound of a car door opening in the background as he talked. I frowned deeply at this and once again wondered what he and Opal had discussed to make them both react so strongly.

"Opal fell asleep on my lap. Would you be able to carry her to her room?" I asked, putting thoughts of Nathaniel aside for now since there was nothing I could do until Opal woke up and explained it to me.

"Of course, I'll be right up."

The call suddenly disconnected and not a minute later a small knock sounded on the door before Shin Woo opened it. He set down the suitcase he had brought by the coat closet and immediately closed the door and walked over to me. I helped him straighten out Opal so it was easier for him to lift her into his arms and I followed after him as he gently carried her into her room. I pulled the blanket down before Shin Woo cautiously laid her on her bed and then I tucked the blanket around her tightly, resting my hand on her forehead to make sure she didn't have a fever.

Once I was satisfied, I sighed and gestured for Shin Woo to follow me. We walked out of Opal's room silently and I partially closed her door. Once I was in the hall though all of the emotions of the day suddenly caught up to me and I buried my head in my hands, trying desperately to keep it together. Warm arms surrounded me and I leaned against Shin Woo's chest, desperately seeking comfort.

"Are you okay?" Shin Woo asked from somewhere above me. Without my heels on he towered over me and I was shocked at how vulnerable I felt.

"Honestly? I don't know..." I admitted with a small shudder, realizing for the first time that I was cold.

"Why don't you get changed? I'll make some tea to warm you up," Shin Woo offered. I pulled back from his embrace and glanced towards the living room.

"I made some earlier... but it's probably cold by now," I said with a frown and Shin Woo chuckled.

"I'll make a fresh cup. Go on," he prodded, gently pushing my shoulders towards my room. 

I did as he suggested and changed into the flannel pajamas that I only used in winter before coming back out. Shin Woo was waiting by the stove for the water to heat up and I walked over and boosted myself up so I could sit on the counter next to him.

"I see you haven't fixed that bad habit of yours," Shin Woo commented with an easy grin.

I couldn't help but chuckle, remembering back to the days I spent in his studio working on costume designs and hanging out with him in the break room. He always scolded me for sitting on the countertops, but I hadn't cared and it had become something of a running joke between us.

"I owe you big time, Shin-kun," I said quietly, looking over to Opal's slightly ajar bedroom door.

"You owe me nothing. Opal-chan is important to me too," Shin Woo said seriously and I looked up at him with a sad smile. "Is it true? Did Opal's father really hit her?"

My entire body stiffened at his question and I turned away, clenching my teeth together so tightly my jaw nearly popped. A gentle hand rested on my knee and I blinked up at Shin Woo.

"It's not your fault, Yuki-chan," he said quietly.

The floodgates opened and there was nothing I could do to hold back the torrential wave of tears that were bursting from my eyes. Shin Woo stayed by my side, guiding me calmly to the couch as I told him about Aaron's phone call earlier and then how Opal had nearly walked out on me but how she had finally told me what she had gone through. Shin Woo listened to me without interrupting, offering just his calming presence as I unburdened myself. Once I had finally come to the end I sniffed and wiped my eyes with a tissue that he offered me.

"I'm sorry, Shin Woo. I shouldn't have unloaded like that," I mumbled, feeling oddly embarrassed knowing that my makeup was probably dripping down my cheeks by now. To my surprise, a large hand patted my head and I looked up to see Shin Woo smiling at me.

"That's a lot to carry by yourself. I'm glad you told me about it," he responded sincerely. 

An odd warmth entered my cheeks that I had not experienced in many years and I slowly looked to the side, scolding myself for getting embarrassed like a teenager over something so simple.

"I really do appreciate your help though. Now I just need to figure out how to make my brother pay for what he has done," I growled, pushing down the odd feeling and focusing on my anger that was close to boiling over now that I had a good cry.

"Do you really think that's what's best for Opal?" Shin Woo asked gently. I frowned, looking back over at Shin Woo.

"What do you mean?" I asked reluctantly.

"Opal has already suffered enough from that man's hand, and she's finally in a safe place where she can heal with you. It seems like your brother has essentially given up his rights to be involved in Opal's life... so maybe it would be best to just focus on her happiness instead of dragging your brother through a legal battle that will dredge up bad memories for her."

Shin Woo's rational argument completely knocked the wind out of my sails and I folded my arms, pouting grumpily up at him.

"You realize there is no way I can argue against that," I said with a sarcastic huff and Shin Woo chuckled, once again patting my head.

"I'm sure you'll come up with one after some sleep," he said with a teasing glint in his eyes. I stuck my tongue out at him. He laughed quietly and I felt myself relax into a smile.

"Thank you, Shin Woo," I said sincerely with deep affection for this man who had been my friend for so many years and still hadn't gotten sick of me. Shin Woo blinked at me for a minute and then shrugged with a smile.

"I'll always be there for you, Yuki-chan," he said with a cocky grin and then turned to face me again. "How about you let me take you to breakfast tomorrow as your 'thank you'?" he asked with a sly wink and I laughed.

"Shouldn't I be taking YOU out to eat as a thank you?" I asked with a giggle and Shin Woo shrugged.

"Either way, I guess," he replied with a grin and I nodded.

"That sounds great. But how about lunch instead of breakfast?" I asked, glancing over at the clock which showed it was past 2 am.

"Good idea," Shin Woo agreed with a chuckle before standing up and stretching his arms. "I guess I should probably head home for now. Unless you need my help with anything...?"

He left his offer floating in the air between us with a somewhat hopeful expression but I shook my head.

"No, I'm just going to go to sleep. Come Monday I'm going to have a lot of explaining to do with my boss," I said with a wince and Shin Woo chuckled.

"He'd be an idiot to fire you," he said sincerely and I laughed.

"You've always had too much faith in me, Shin Woo," I said with a smile, but he frowned.

"Hey, what happened to my nickname?" he asked with a pout and I smirked up at him.

"It's reserved for when I am volatilely emotional," I replied with just a touch of embarrassment but surprisingly Shin Woo grinned.

"We'll see," he said with an odd half-smile and I frowned at him. 

He didn't say anything more though as he turned and waved. I waved to him as he closed the door and then I sighed, standing up and locking the door behind him.

Feeling completely exhausted, both physically and emotionally, I walked into Opal's room and gazed down at her. She was still sleeping deeply. Feeling a little silly, I lifted her covers and squeezed into the little bed next to her. She immediately cuddled up next to me in her sleep and I thought I heard her give a content sigh. Smiling gently, I pecked her forehead and closed my eyes, letting myself sleep with the knowledge that nothing would part me from my precious daughter again.