When Elkis brought the kids home the first thing she did was scold them for being near that mine and forbade them from ever going near it again. After that she immediately insisted that Nasha and Nakku take a bath and wash off all the dirt they were covered in. Nasha took her bath first and then Nakku took his, while they were getting cleaned up Elkis got started on dinner. She had just finished setting the table when she heard a familiar voice humming a tune. She followed it to Nakku's closet and found Greige sitting inside, clutching his book and humming. It was just like that night when he and Nasha had gotten into an argument about Greige's mother.

"Now why are you upset?" She asked as she moved to sit next to him. "Both Nasha and Nakku got out the mine alright. They're not hurt or have black lung or anything."

"I know but they could have died."

"But they didn't."

"But they could have and...And it would have been all my fault."

"What are you talking about? It's not your fault they fell down that shaft. They fell because the entrance collapsed. It's not like you pushed them."

"I did push them. I didn't touch them when I did it and I didn't mean to but somehow I pushed them. And I made the entrance collapse."

"Greige that doesn't make any sense. For one thing you couldn't possibly have the strength to push two grown adults down like that and second how on earth could you push something without touching it?"

"I don't know but I know I did it because I was very mad and bad things always happen when I get mad. Someone always gets hurt."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't explain it but ever since I was little, if I ever got really angry bad stuff would happen and sometimes people would get hurt. I'm not a normal kid and I think there's something really bad inside of me."

"Greige is this some kind of joke? Because it's not really fun. You're scaring me a little."

"It's not a joke." He said. "Do you know why I was transferred?"

"Yes because your former foster father was discovered to be ill equipped to the job."

"He wasn't ill equipped but they thought he was so they locked him away."

"Locked him away? You mean they sent him to jail?"

"Not jail. A place for crazy people. He didn't hurt me but he knew what was wrong with me and when he told people they thought he was crazy. That's why they took him away. I ruined his life, I didn't mean to but that doesn't change the fact that it happened because of me."

Elkis was unsettled about these news. In fact it bothered her so much that the next day after work, she looked through Greige's file and read that his foster father had been sent to a mental institution. However no matter how many times she re read the file she couldn't find anything explaining the reasons why he was sent there. Eventually she found the phone number for the institution and requested a phone visit with the man. She hoped to figure out what this was all about.

"Hello?" The voice on the other line sounded raspy. 

"Hello, is this Mark Desange?" 

"Who's askin?"

"My name is Elkis Scarlet. I apologize for disturbing you but I want to know why it was you were institutionalized?"

"Hold on is this some kind of test? Are you my therapist trying to figure out if I'm deemed sane or not?"

"No it's not. I live in Edolas and I've been charged with taking care of your former foster child Greige. I just wanted to know what happened when he was in your care. What it was that led to this outcome for you."

She couldn't see his face but she could tell by how he had gone quiet that he was filled with horror.

"You have custody of that boy?" He finally asked after a moment of silence.

"Yes."

"May God have mercy on your soul lady."

"Why do you say that?"

Again Mr. Desange didn't answer for a long time and when he spoke again his voice was real quiet like.

"I'm not supposed to talk about it especially since they're finally gonna let me out of here at the end of the month but to prevent history from repeating itself I'll tell you. They put me in here because they think I'm crazy but I'm not. I know what I saw was real."

"What exactly did you see?"

"That boy...He's not like other kids. Oh sure he's sweet and smart and he doesn't mean any real harm but his emotions are dangerous. When he was happy the most incredible and wonderful things would happen. Flowers growing in the dead of Winter, sunshine on a cloudy day, birds and butterflies suddenly unafraid of humans. They would just fly in and hover over him, as if they were trying to be his friend. But then when he would get angry that's when the horror started."

"What horror?"

"I'll never forget it. The way his eyes became as cold as ice and how those scars just started appearing on his body. Next thing I know he's choking me but it's not with his hands. It's with some unseen force that takes hold of my throat, squeezing it tightly, I can't breathe. No matter how hard I try I just can't and when the boy finally realizes what it is he's doing I drop to the floor. The scars go away, the ice in his eyes melt into tears, and he just starts crying. Crying and  saying over and over again 'I didn't mean to'."

It took Elkis a moment to comprehend what the man was saying.

"I know what you're thinking but I'm not crazy. I'm not I tell you. That boy is dangerous. He tries to keep his temper under control but trying is not enough. He has one moment of rage and Heaven help us all."

"I...I see." She said. "By any chance do you know anything about his parents?"

"No but I guarantee you something from hell must have fathered or birthed him and if I were you I'd get him out of your life while you're still in one piece and have your sanity. I know it sounds cruel but there's just no living with a child like that."

 "Thank you for telling me this." Elkis said. "I hope things work out for you."

She hung up. She wasn't sure if what the man had told her was true but her heart was racing. He wholeheartedly believed that Greige was some kind of supernatural terror. He had to be crazy right? After all, none of what he said made any sense and no one in their right mind would believe him. But for some reason Eliks did believe him and that made her question her sanity. Worried, she made an appointment with Dr. Fernandes.

"So you talked to Greige's ex foster parent?" He said to her after she explained the situation to him.

"Yes. I wanted to know why he had been sent to a mental institution."

"Why did you want to know that?"

"Because of what Greige told me the night before. He said that it was his fault Mr. Desange was sent there and that he was also at fault for the mine incident."

"Do you believe that?"

"Of course not but I wanted to know why he believed it. He's completely convinced that whenever he gets angry bad things are going to happen."

"He told you that?"

"Yes."

"He told me the same thing during one of our sessions."

"Did he tell you about Mr. Desange?"

"No but he told about an incident with one of the foster kids he used to live with. He said that it was an older kid who tried to tear the pages out of his book, Greige got mad, and a ceiling fan fell on the kid. Greige told me his anger caused that."

"Was the kid alright?"

"Apparently so but Greige told me that when he cried tears on the kid it healed all his wounds. Has he ever mentioned anything like that you?"

"No but Nakku told me that he once saw Greige bring dead flowers back to life and Mr. Desange said that when Greige was happy incredible and beautiful things would happen. It's like he's being described as some kind of...of...of..."

"Combination of light and dark? That he's some magical child who can fill the world with both beauty and horror?"

"Yes exactly. But obviously that's not true. It's not and yet for some reason I believe it. Does that mean I'm going crazy?"

"No. I don't think you really believe it, I think you just want to because you really want to be a good mother figure to him. You don't want him to be feel like he's delusional or mentally un-well."

"He's not delusional or mentally un-well."

"I don't believe that. Not for a second. But I do think in a way this is all in his head."

"I don't understand."

"Greige has been constantly been moved from various families. From his biological one to his foster ones, he desperately wants a family but he can't seem to stay with one for long. I hypothesize that he's looking for a reason for why that is and that he's convinced that it's his fault. That there's something wrong with him, something he did that drove all those potential families to give him up."

"That makes more sense than what I've been told."

"It's very common in orphans. Now some orphans like Nasha, blame the parents for why they were given up and because of that they often become distrustful of parental figures. Afraid to get close to them because they're convinced that sooner or later that parental figure will just give up as well. But other orphans like Greige, think that they themselves are responsible for being orphaned. That they had done something that spurred their parents's love and affection. That's why he's so convinced that his birth mother did love him and was forced to give him up. You said that when Greige first arrived he was open to you but also hesitant, correct?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. Children like him are desperate for any kind of family love but at the same time they're afraid that once they have they'll only ruin it."

"But what about Mr. Desange?"

"He blames himself for what happened to that man as well. His former foster parent's delusions were directed toward him so Greige thinks he caused it. He has a lot of self blame for himself and he tries to make up for it by being sweet, friendly, like he's somehow trying to make up for something."

"He shouldn't feel that way. He has no reason to. Is there anything I can do to help him not feel like that anymore?"

"I believe that what he needs most to help him get over those feelings is a stable home. One where he won't be removed and...And something else might help but I don't know for sure because it could also hurt him."

"What? What did you have in mind?"

"It may help if he knew why he was given up. But again that could either help or hurt him. Are you certain that you know nothing about his parents? The agency didn't give you any information?"

"Nothing. I've asked the agency about that, I don't how many times and they always give me the same answer. He just appeared out of nowhere. Same with Nasha. There are no records of when and where either one of them were born or who the biological parents are. It's so bizarre. It wouldn't be so puzzling to me if it had just been one of them but both of them?"

"Could be a coincidence."

"That's what I thought but now I'm not so sure. Did I tell you where they found Greige?"

"No. Where did they find him?"

"Just outside of Edolas ten years ago."

"No kidding?"

"Yeah and recently I've been thinking that maybe...Maybe Greige's biological parents are from here. Maybe someone in this town secretly had a baby boy and decided to give him up."

"If that's true then why just leave him outside of town? Why not drop him off at the hospital or social services?"

"Small towns talk and I guess his parents or parent feared the scandal. Thought the secret would be better kept if he was adopted in another town."

"Still who would leave a baby out in the cold like that? I mean he was estimated to have been born around Winter right?"

"Yes. His medical file said he was around two to three months old when they found him."

"How old was Nasha when she was found?"

"She was a newborn. When they found her they put it in the paper. They sent me some clippings from that paper which had a picture of her.  It was like she had come fresh out of the womb." Elkis said. "I don't why there isn't any information about the parents of these children or how and when they were born but part of me feels like if I find out it'll explain some things."

"You want to find their birth parents?"

"Not exactly. I want to find out who they are."

"That won't be easy. Especially since there are no records of any of their births."

"That's true but I'm certain that Greige's mother is someone in this town. I don't expect to find who both their parents are but maybe I can at least find one of them. But then again I wouldn't know where to start."

"Maybe I can help with that."

"Really? How?"

"Well I have another patient coming in very soon so I can't explain it to you right now but perhaps we could discuss it some other time? Maybe over dinner?"

"Dinner?" She blushed a little.  "You mean like a date?"

"Date?!" He said blushing as well. "Oh no, no, no. Not a date. You see I...I sometimes get really hungry when I do a lot of thinking and this subject will definitely require a lot of thinking so um...I thought dinner would be...More helpful?"

"Oh." Elkis said. "Good idea and you know, Nakku always says you can't really make any progress on an empty stomach. Discussing something like this over dinner would work very well in this matter."

"But it would be strictly professional. I assure you."

"Of course." She looked down at her shoes nervously. "So where would we be dining?"

"Oh just at that casual restaurant next to the bank."

"A quaint little place. Perfect."

"Tomorrow at seven? I'll pick you up?"

"It's a date- I mean dinner! It's a dinner."

"Right! A dinner! Heh, heh."

They both looked so flustered it seemed like hours before Elkis could bring herself to leave Siegrain's office. As soon as she was gone Siegrain started hitting his forehead lightly with his fist while muttering: "Stupid, stupid, stupid."

"Hey doc! You in there?" It was his next patient, Gazeel. Coming for another one of his anger management talks. 

"Hello Mr. Redfox, come right in." He called before composing himself and letting the gruff man inside. "So how are things?"

"Getting better but I almost lost it today."

"What happened this time?"

"My car was defaced by vandals. They painted a picture of me as a stick of dynamite with a fuse in my head."

"Don't take it personally Gazeel. Children will be children. They'll pull juvenile pranks all the time."

"It was done by Rick Walker the pharmacist."

"Oh...I see. Well my advice to you is this. Ignore him and maybe give him my card."

...

Erza had not been feeling well for the season. Ever since she got back from that incident regarding Natsu and the deal he made with Gray which resulted in her discovering that Jellal the palace guard she met and befriended was really the Prince of Northern Fiore. She had never been so embarrassed as when she discovered that information in that moment. How could he lie and deceive her like that? What was it with people doing that to her? Why can't people just be truthful? At least when they're trying to be friends with her. It made her so angry with him and she never wanted to see him again yet since not seeing him she had found it hard to eat and sleep and do just about anything. She just couldn't figure out what was wrong with her.

One morning she thought a walk in the forest would make her feel a little better. It started out fairly chill due to it now being the season of fall but as she went further in it suddenly became very cold. Cold enough to be mistaken for Winter. She found it strange but not enough to bother her at the moment. All she cared about was finding some means to clear her head and get these uncomfortable feelings out of her system. After walking for an hour she stopped to rest by sitting on a tree stump but stood back in an instant when she heard the sound of branch breaking. 

Due to being a wanted woman, Erza had to always be prepared for an attack or attempt to capture so as soon as she heard that noise she pulled out her bow and arrow, made aim, and proceeded toward the source. At last she made eye contact with it and there was a scream but it wasn't from Erza. It was from her target and it wasn't a guard or soldier. It was a maiden. 

"Don't shoot!" The maiden said holding up her hands in defense. "I don't have anything of value on me except for my clothes! You would gain nothing by robbing me!"

"Oops! Sorry about that." Erza said lowering her weapon in embarrassment. "I thought you were someone else."

She took note of the maiden's appearance. She was definitely a beauty, one with fair skin that matched Winter snow and rosy cheeks that resembled Summer roses. Her hands were covered by white gloves and she wore a blue Winter cloak made from warm material and embroidered with flowery designs, a very expensive looking piece of clothing. Made Erza wonder if she was rich. Not that she would rob her if she was. She only robbed Lucy and technically that wasn't robbing, that was stealing back what rightfully belonged to the people.

"I'm kind of in trouble with some people and I have to be my guard twenty-four seven. You understand?" Erza asked.

"Oh I understand." She said. "I'm just glad you didn't shoot me."

"I've never seen you in the forest before. Are you new?"

"Sort of. I've lived here for quite a while but this is my first time going outside. At least outside the estate where I live."

"I see. Let me guess, wealthy and overprotective father who thinks his little girl is too naive to experience the world?"

"No. Actually powerful and suspicious employer who doesn't want his secrets blabbed."

"Employer? You're a servant?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Huh...Would have never guessed with you wearing a cloak like that."

"Oh this? He gave it to me."

"He did?"

"Yes."

"Your employer sounds generous."

"He is...In certain ways that is. He's very paranoid and convinced that everyone is either out to hurt him or get something from him so you can imagine how hard it was for me to persuade him to let me leave his estate once in awhile."

"He doesn't keep you prisoner does he?"

"No. I kind of offered myself up to him and actually had to convince him to take me in as the help. He has a lot of conditions though. Some of them just down right impossible."

"Well what man doesn't have conditions like that?"

"That's true." She giggled.

"So what are you doing out here if I may ask?"

"Just taking a walk and getting some fresh air. You?"

"Same but I think I'm going to take a break from the cold and maybe have a cup of tea. Would like to come?"

"I don't see why not as long as I'm back before dark. That's one of his conditions."

"Great. Oh I'm Erza by the way."

"My name is Juvia. It's very nice to meet you."