Kendle yawned as she slowly sat up from the forest floor. She gently lifted Gloria's arm from her side as she went, careful not to wake her. It was the middle of the night, and Kendle had to go.

She stumbled to her feet and yawned again as she staggered into the trees and found a big bush that she could squeeze into to do her business. She finished and yawned once more as she stepped out of the bush, looking around for the way back to their camp.

Crap.

She was lost.

She sighed. I don't want to wake anyone up, but I need help. She thought, taking a deep breath to shout. The trees rustled behind her and her call caught in her throat.

The trees rustled again. She head a faint sound and turned slowly, letting out her breath in a sigh when she saw a small bird hopping onto a branch.

She took a deep breath again and shouted for Gloria and Michael. "Hey! Uh... Guys?" Kendle's voice was still rather quiet, so she tried again, only louder. "Gloria? Michael?" There was a rustling and two groans to her left she turned that way and started walking. "Couod someone light the fire? I'm uh... I'm kinda lost," Kendle winced and wished that she wasn't blushing.

She heard Gloria laugh and Michael sigh, and then footsteps and the sound of a lighter flicking before there was a sudden flicker of light between the trees that was their fire. Kendle breathed a sigh of relief and headed toward it.

She emerged from the trees and sighed again, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly and looking down to hide her blush.

"What were you doing out there?" Gloria asked, a laugh in the lilt of her voice.

"I uh... I had to use the bathroom."

Gloria burst out in giggles and Kendle's blush deepened.

Michael rolled his eyes with a small smile. "Well, if that's all, I'm going back to bed." He gave a breathy laugh and laid back down, rolling onto his side and draping his arm back over Henry's side, the little boy still fast asleep.

Gloria and Kendle looked at each other and both smiled. Gloria laid back down as well and patted the ground beside her, indicating that Kendle should come lay back down as well.

Kendle walked over and settled down beside Gloria, rolling to face the taller girl and resting her head in the crook of her neck. Gloria wrapped her arms around Kendle and curled around her a little.

Kendle sighed and closed her eyes, enjoying the closeness with her friend, snuggling in. Gloria fell asleep first, Kendle could tell by her slowed breathing and the soft snores. She smiled softly.

She had really missed Gloria.

Soon, she too, slipped into the realm of dreams.

~~~

Gloria yawned blinked open her eyes to the bright sunlight filtering in through the leaves above them. She smiled softly when she looked down and saw Kendle's head rested on her chest and the other girl's arm was draped over her stomach. Kendle's mouth was open slightly and the soft sound of her huffed breaths comforted Gloria.

In the year she had been away at the Rebellion, Gloria awoke every morning with a pounding heart and worry knotting her stomach. It made her fight all the harder.

Knowing that in that time, Kendle hadn't been hurt too much, and having her here with her now, it eased the ache in Gloria's heart that had been there ever since she had run and left Kendle behind.

Gloria reached out a hand and gently stroked Kendle's hair out of her face and smiled when Kendle moaned softly, yawning and reaching a hand up to rub at her eyes.

"Morning, sleepy," Gloria whispered, continuing to play with Kendle's short black hair. Kendle huffed and blinked open her eyes, sitting up slowly.

"M'rnin'," she slurred, yawning again. Gloria sat up and yawned as well.

She got to her feet and walking over to the remnants of their fire, grabbing a few sticks from the pile of branches they had made the night before to toss in so she could start it up again. She looked back at Kendle as she flicked the lighter to ignite the wood. Kendle was stretching and rubbing her eyes again, moaning as joints popped and muscles stretched.

Gloria turned back to the fire that was now beginning to eat away at the branches, finding her hands shaking. I just need to drink something. I'm dehydrated, that's all. She thought, but she had a feeling that her hands were shaking for another reason.

Gloria shook her head and went over to wake Michael and Henry.

She shook Michael's shoulder gently, waiting until he yawned and opened his eyes before walking back to the fire to set up the spit. She heard Michael waking up Henry and Kendle's nearly silent footsteps coming up behind her.

Kendle buried her head just below Gloria's shoulder and wrapped her arms around her middle. Gloria smiled and put her hands on top of Kendle's. Kendle sighed and Gloria chuckled.

"I've never been a morning person. I'll never get used to it, no matter how many times I wake up at the crack of dawn." Kendle groaned, pulling her head from Gloria's back with another sigh. Gloria laughed again.

"Well, I think I should go get us some breakfast," Gloria said, gently taking Kendle's hands off her stomach to turns around and face her, smiling.

Kendle sighed and dropped her head onto Gloria's chest, just below her collar bone and wrapped her arms around Gloria's waist. "Okay," she sighed. Gloria chuckled again and pressed a kiss to the top of Kendle's head.

"Come on now, let me go," Gloria laughed, patting Kendle's arms. Kendle released Gloria's waist and walked over to sit with Michael and Henry. Gloria grabbed the knife she had set aside a few days ago when she had first camped here and walked into the trees toward the stream a little ways out.

~~~

Kendle sat with Michael and Henry, entertaining the little boy with stories and games like I Spy and Charades while they waited for Gloria to get back.

When the red headed girl did get back, she was carrying two rabbits and three small fish. Henry screwed up his nose, as did Michael, and Kendle laughed. "Why don't you two play another game while I help Gloria make breakfast?" Michael and Henry both nodded quickly and turned away.

Kendle walked over to Gloria and giggled, shaking her head. Gloria smiled widely and laughed as well, passing Kendle a knife and a fish to skin and debone.

After a while of working in companionable silence and listening to the sounds of Henry and Michael playing, Gloria asked Kendle a question. "How are you holding up?" Neither of them looked away from what they were doing.

Kendle didn't respond for a minute, thinking. Her emotions swirled around in a confusing knot in her stomach. Her head filled with thoughts that she didn't know what to do with.

She paused and stared at her hands, feeling Gloria glance over at her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I think I'm holding up okay. I mean, it's not the first time that woman's tried to kill me, and it wouldn't be the first time someone's hurt me," Kendle sighed and opened her eyes, resuming her previous task of skinning a rabbit. "It was good to see dad again, I'm so happy to be able to stay with Michael, and knowing that Rachel is safe and fighting with the rebels makes me happier than I think I've ever been. I think it's good that I got Henry out of that house as well, Mrs. Emma and Mr. Jake weren't the best people, that's for sure, and they weren't the best parents, either." Kendle looked over at Gloria with a small, shakey smile. "Sure, I'm horrified that my mother tired to kill me again, that definitely shook me, and yes, I'm nervous about taking Henry with us, he's so young. But all in all, I think I'm doing rather okay."

Gloria gave her a small smile back. "Good."

They both went back to making breakfast, though they continued talking and joking.

~~~

Michael glanced over his shoulder at the two girls, smiling at the sound of their laughter. He turned back around and continued playing with Henry.

He was happy that his little sister was laughing, he was happy that she had a friend.

And he was ever so greatful that she was still alive after all these years.

~~~

Henry, to his credit, was very good. He didn't complain nor did he whine. He was very complacent, and seemed to be having fun. Kendle thought it was wonderful to see him so happy and energetic for once, since he rarely ever acted like this at home.

He only showed his enthusiasm around Kendle because his parents got rather annoyed with him if he was too loud, despite loving him so much. His mother would demand he calm down and his father would give him a stern look until he quieted.

Kendle smiled at him as they walked, he had run ahead and was staring with wide eyes up at a tree, pointing to some thing he saw. "What is it, buddy?" Kendle called as they neared him.

"A bird nest! There's a bird nest up there!" Henry called excitedly, pointing aggressively up onto the branches and jumping up and down, looking excitedly between them and the nest he saw up in the tree.

"Really?" Kendle said, crouching down next to him. Henry nodded rapidly. "Where?" Henry pointed with one hand again and Kendle tried to follow his finger.

"Right there! Right there!" He exclaimed. Kendle kept searching until she found it.

"Oh! I see it! That's so cool, Henry!" She laughed, standing up. "Now come on, we still have a lot of walking to do before we reach the first rebel camp!" She grabbed his hand he followed her to where the Michael and Gloria waited for them, giggling as they went.

"What'd you see?" Gloria asked, grinning at the little bit as they began walking again.

"We saw a bird nest!" Henry said, bouncing around, a large smile on his face.

"Really? That's so cool!" Gloria said, laughing. Henry bounced around some more.

"I know right!" Everyone laughed, Henry's happiness and excitement contagious.

~~~

Not long before dark, Gloria noticed what seemed to be the claw marks of an animal on the trees and asked everyone to stop. "We're nearly there. The camp should be on the other side of these trees." Kendle beamed and Michael looked relieved, obviously exhausted. Henry began to bounce up and down while clapping his hands excitedly.

"Let me go first, okay? They know me, and I need to use a secret phrase." Gloria said, walking forward slowly. Kendle, Michael, and Henry followed close behind.

Gloria could sense the people hiding in the trees around them, and she could sense the weapons they had trained on her and her small group. "My, my! What a wonderful night! Don't the blue-jays sound beautiful?" She called, smiling at her friends. Looks of confusion passed over each of their faces before realization dawned on them that that must be the secret phrase.

Gloria turned as someone stepped out of the trees. "Gloria! Good to have you back! Who are they?"

"New recruits!" Gloria laughed, walking forward and hugging the boy. "You know, Jacob, I was only gone two days! Why're you acting like I've been on a month long mission?" She ruffled his hair and he blushed, pale face turning scarlet even in the moonlight.

"Come on, Gloria! You know we all get anxious when you leave! Especially since this wasn't an actual mission and you didn't let anyone go with you!" Jacob huffed, crossing his arms. Gloria laughed.

"I guess you're right," she turned to where Kendle, Michael, and Henry stood off to the side and beckoned them forward. "Jacob, this is Kendle and Michael Brooks, and this is Henry Cecchini. Kendle is the girl I used to work with, the one who helped me escape. And Henry is the kid of the family we worked for. Don't worry, he's sweet and he agreed to come with us, we didn't kidnap him." Gloria smiled again. "Michael here is Kendle's brother. He's cool."

Jacob eyed Michael, then Kendle, and then little Henry. He gave a slight nod before turning and motioning for them to follow him into the camp.

Gloria smiled brightly at her friends before turning as well and walking after Jacob.

~~~

In an empty house miles and miles away from Kendle and her friends, a woman sat in bed, hugging herself and sobbing.

She had her face buried in her husband's chest, his arms wrapped securely around her as she cursed herself and all that she had became.

Wishing that she was what she once was. Wishing that she had never let that maniac get to her. Wishing that she could go back and change everything. Wishing she had been a better mother.

She had let her fear turn her into something she was not, and now the guilt was eating her alive.

She had made herself grow heartless and ruthless, in an attempt to protect her family.

But all she ended up doing was destroy it.

Word Count: 2244