For the rest of her time in the tunnels, Song just listened, allowing her mind to absorb every detail. She knew it would hurt too much to do anything else. Questions hurt and answers hurt even more, but that was the nature of the truth. When 1:00 AM came she was quite ready to go. Free and Kai were walking towards her and Creed. They seemed to be in deep conversation.

"It seems like they got to know each other better," Creed he said under his breath, in a joking manner. He turned to look at Song closely, besides observing how beautiful her features were, he could tell several things were on her mind, although her face never showed it. Something seemed to be bothering her, Creed could just feel her energy. He let his mind trace back through their conversations. He noticed that she was acting different after she saw the picture of that woman...

Creed's eyes got wide and he felt like an idiot. But what could he say? How much damage had he already done? This silence was killing him, "Hey, Song, thanks for coming, you really helped me out a lot. And I appreciate you, it seems like I've known you forever." He began to ramble.

Song was beginning to feel a little irritated, "I'm glad that I've given you an edge on your assignment." She looked away from him.

"I am too, because I got more out of it than what I expected." Creed replied thinking, what can I say now?

"Song, you ready to leave?" Kai asked smiling.

Song smiled back at Kai, but didn't look at Creed, "Yeah, let's go."

The doors of the tunnels opened again and Song and Kai left.

Free noticed Song and Creed's lack of friendly interaction. As Kai left with Song, she noticed Creed just staring in her wake, "Did something go wrong?"

Creed rolled his eyes, "Isn't that a bit obvious."

"What happened?"

"I had an oversight and I don't know how to fix it, but don't worry I'll find a way to fix it. I have to and I gotta do it soon or she might not ever talk to me again."

"What happened?" Free asked again. Creed ignored the question and walked away deep in thought.

"So did you get a chance to talk to Free?" Song asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't ask her. We started talking about other things, but I do want to thank you."

"For what?"

"For being so nice to Free and making her feel apart of the team. And for giving me that pep talk. I was really feeling angry with myself for not communicating and everything. When I asked myself why I did it, I realized that I did it out of fear, then I felt like a coward. But talking to you and Free about it really made me look at things differently and for that, I'm grateful. I'm blessed to have such good friends. That's why it's so wild that Onyx walked away. I mean, okay, I get destiny, can't argue with that, but I mean at least tell us where we can help man."

"Well, when he needs us, we'll be here," Song replied.

"And if we need him?"

"I believe that he'll be there for us too."

"If you believe it, I believe it!" Kai exclaimed.

The walk home was like a quiet breeze. The whole town seemed empty with the exception of some Shadowhunters out and about. "See you tomorrow." Kai called Song as they reached her house. He began heading in a different direction to go home himself.

Song unlocked her door and let her father know that she was home. Since he was sleeping he groaned an answer. Which, as usual, brought a smile to her face. He must have had a long day, but at least this trip was only one night and not several. Song went to her room and opened the box that had been left for her. She stifled a gasp when she saw the stone of her mother's bright red amulet in a steel cuff bracelet and in the corner of the box lay gold necklace with a golden arrow pendant. In the bottom of the box laid a note.

To my beautiful daughter:

If you're reading this, then I must not be with you today. Words cannot express my sorrow for this, but I do not regret the direction that my life has taken. My only regret is that I didn't live long enough for us to have memories together and that you and your father have to feel pain. But, I love you both dearly. The direction of life is liken to an arrow, your goal is liken to the target. A man is lost when he doesn't know where he is going; you can't find anything going in circles; and an old path won't lead you to new skies. But you must choose your target before deciding the direction to release the arrow. So ready your bow with patience and wisdom, so you can make the target every time. It's not easy, but it has to be done. I will always love my amber-eyed babies. I love you now, though my body is cold and lifeless, but my spirit has never lost it's fire. I will always live through you, because through me came you.

Your mother,

Cadence Valor

Song felt tears fall from her face, her heart hurt so much. She closed her eyes, praying feel her mother's touch, to hear her call her name again, to hear her laugh with her father again. But outside of her muffled sobs, there was no sound. Song didn't know much about her mother, she didn't really get a chance to know her. It wasn't something that her father really talked about other than the fact she was a strong minded woman, brave and beautiful. But she could not blame him for not really talking about it, a single parent is a hard job. She couldn't imagine what her father felt inside, he never showed her anything other than strength, but Song figured that sadness touched him too when he was alone. Song pulled herself together because she knew she had to. She closed the box gently and jumped in her bed.

Finally, she understood why Onyx departed. He bore a strong resemblance to the man in the picture. The dark brown hair and black eyes, but Onyx had the nose of the woman. His parents were the guardian outlaws. For some reason they wanted all the patients of Capital Q released. The SSS didn't approve and they tried to do so by force. About one hundred and fifty patients escaped in the chaos. Why they did it, no one knows.Which also, explained why he never really seemed interested in meeting Creed and tried to keep a distance between himself and Free.

Song saw a file with the numbers 0142 on it with Onyx's picture and recognized those same numbers on one of Onyx's fingers. When she had asked about it, a long time ago, he said it was the code to his house. She knew better now.

Submerged in her own thoughts, Song heard a light tapping on her window and saw Creed peering into her window. She was tempted to ignore him and close the curtains, but the better part of herself decided not to. After cracking it open she calmly said, "What do you want? I thought you finished your homework."

"I wanted to explain myself." He replied pushing the window up further to let himself in.

Song sighed and stepped away from the window, giving him space to get in. She kept her back turned to him.

"I didn't put everything together earlier. I'm sorry for my oversight, I didn't realize what had happened until you were walking away. I didn't mean to hurt you." Creed started.

"I guess I got my hopes up. I thought that who I am as a Shadowhunter was why you were interested, but..." she trailed off keeping her back turned to him.

"I admit that my original intent was my assignment, but as time went on, I really started to enjoy your company, not for information, but for that one-on-one time. In the SSS, at my age we don't really have time to develop one-on-one relationships, because we're so busy. I had a mission, but I got so much more out of it. I got a chance to know you. And while I thought that I was teaching you, you were teaching me about faith and people. And for the first time, I learned to love someone more than myself." Creed explained as he slowly approached her. Still walking towards her Creed gently grabbed her hand, "Please look at me." Creed begged. Just turn around, look me in the eyes, even if it's just one more time.

Song slowly turned to face him. Her previous upset steadily leaving as she realized that he truly cared for her. She reached out for his free hand, her amber eyes met his gray ones before looking down.

"I'm sorry about your mother, I know it must be hard not having the chance to get to know her. I can relate, my mother died a few minutes after I was born. There's an emptiness of not knowing," Creed explained.

"It's like wanting something so much, but knowing that you will never have it. I just wished that I could go back in time and relive those memories and hold onto them forever. But I also know that I'm blessed to have memories, because there are those like yourself, who don't have memories. So, even now, I must see how I've been blessed." Song look him in the eyes again, never letting go of his hands. She could feel the hurt that he masked so well.

Creed pulled Song into him and hugged her, feeling as if he looked in her eyes too long he would cry. "I've been blessed too. I learned not to worry about that which I have no control over. For that shows little trust in God, the Best Knower, the Best Planner, The Greatest Avenger, and the Only Judge."

She hugged him back, her head on his chest, listening to the sound of his heart beat, "Yes, that's right. He doesn't put on us burdens that we can't bear. Do good, work hard, and be patient. Count all of our blessings, for all good comes from Him. I just try to seek the light, look for the good and accept it, and fight for what's right and just."

They sighed and pulled away from each other, "I have to go, but I'm glad that we talked, and that nothing has changed between us."

Song nodded and smiled at him, "Try and get some sleep, it will be morning soon."

Creed smiled back, "You do the same." He sat on the window sill before jumping down. As usual, he made a perfect landing, and waved at her before running off in the darkness. Song watched until she could no longer make out the shape of him. A strange wave of peace overtook her. She closed her eyes, and thought of her mother. She could see her warm brown eyes, I'm still here, mom, and I still remember you. Some things have gotten a little foggy, but as long as I can remember your face, I can make it. I'm still strong and most importantly, dad and I love you in your absence, like we loved your presence.

She got in her bed and peacefully closed her eyes as sleep welcomed her.