Lin had long since left to the Tony rehearsals when I woke up he next morning. I only had a couple of days until I was back at the library, so I took pleasure in sleeping in. For once, I didn't have a nightmare last night, so I was extra chipper when Sebastian waddled into my room.

"Ark! Choo Choo," the almost nineteen month old cried.

I swept my messy hair up in a ponytail as I got out of the blue sheets, "Okay, but I call Wilson."

The little boy giggled, "No, Koko."

"What about Percy from Thomas, or Lady? Ladys my favorite," I teased the boy.

Sebastian gave a shocked expression, "Ady?"

"Yeah man, do you wanna watch my favorite Thomas movie?"

"Yeah!"

And that's how we ended up watching Thomas and the Magic Railroad. Sebastian was enthralled when the stop-motion engines (none of that animated crap) were on screen, but not so much at the live-action people parts. For me, I was hella nostalgic. With my parents and grandparents doing model railroading as I grew up, I remember trains quite well. Helping my Dad and and Grandpa Darrol downstairs in the layout every Tuesday, going to conventions with pink engineer hat, Layton refusing to go to bed without his Annie and Clarabelle toys. I remember looking for spikes by actual rails and having to pee in a cornfield. Don't get me started on North Platte's railyard.

"Ark! It's Ady!"

I was pulled from my thoughts and looked at the screen where Lady resided at the moment.

"Yeah man, she's my favorite. She was one of the only girl trains on the show while I was growing up," I explained excitedly. Sebastian nodded, enthralled with my favorite Thomas movie. I smiled, thinking back to the old times. Before all this shit happened.

“How's my favorite engineers?” Vanessa asked while walking into the room. Her hair was up in a cute bun and was rocking a gray t-shirt and Lin’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pajama pants. I smiled.

“Whooo! Whooo!” Sebastian yelled enthusiastically. Vanessa laughed and swept up the train entrepreneur in her arms.

“Yeah, this little engineer needs food and a new diaper,” Vanessa said while heading to the box of diapers.

“I’ll get breakfast, apples and cinnamon?” I respond, and start for the kitchen.

“Sounds good, thank you.” Vanessa called from the living room. I smiled. Yesterday sucked, but that didn't mean today would.

☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆☆.。.:*・°☆.。.:*・°☆

“I’m home!” Lin called from the hallway. I heard shuffling as he took off his shoes. I stood from my position of the couch and smiled as Tobi ran to lick Lin to death. Sebastian screamed and wobbled carelessly after the pupper. Lin came into view with a Sebastian on one hip and a Tobi on the other. “I have all the small children!”

I laughed as Vanessa came into view with a questioning expression. Lin stopped and smiled wickedly. Suddenly, he came running after me. My eyes widened with my grin and I jumped over the back of the couch. Lin dropped Sebastian and Tobi like care packages on the couch. He stepped on the cushions and leaped over the back. Vanessa and Sebastian were laughing my as Lin chased me around the apartment. Tobi followed on Lin’s tracks until I was cornered in their office. I pressed myself by the wall and keyboard as I was attacked with tickles and Tobi kisses. I was laughing so hard that I was crying and Sebastian was standing with Vanessa.

“Okay, okay, but settle down. My case papers are scattered on my desk.” Vanessa interpreted while leaning on the doorframe. Sebastian, who couldn't take it anymore, ran forward and jumped on his dad's back. With Lin occupied, I took the opportunity to push Lin away and hide behind Vanessa. Lin, who was in the middle of tickling Sebastian, suddenly stopped and perked up.

“Oh yeah. We got Lark’s files today!”

I stared at him in confusion, “Files?”

“Your medical and foster papers. Everything we need to know about you. Probably has stuff you didn't know about yourself,” Vanessa explained and headed with me to the kitchen while Lin carried up the rear with Sebastian.

On the table was a large yellow envelope. I stared at curiously? What could it have that I don't already know?

“Wait for me!” Lin proclaimed and slid into a wooden chair. I smiled and reached for the envelope. Nervously, I opened it and glimpsed at the medical files.

“Holy crap. That's a lot of medical reports,” Lin commented.

Vanessa reached forward and read through bits and pieces, “Let's see...You're allergic to mold, pollen, hay, grass?”

“How the fuck did you survive Nebraska?”

I shrugged, “Allergy meds, sleep, no going outside.”

“Explains you're albinism.”

Vanessa glared at Lin for his comments, “Anyways, here's the medical records from your birth. Lark Evans born at 2:00 pm weighing 2 lbs 9 oz.-”

“Jesus”

“-6 inches long to Sarah and Matthew Evans via c section.  Um..wait? At 2:02 am Lark suffered a collapse of her right lung. Took three failed attempts at placing in tubing before trying one last time to correct lung. Lark survived and was placed on? I'm guessing that's an intense pain reliever.

I huffed, “Yeah, but I got addicted to it and the doctor cut me cold turkey.”

“Wait,” Lin started, “Your were addicted to drugs?”

“Yeah, I have to be careful with my medications, because I have a higher percentage of getting addicted, because of my families alcoholism and I've been addicted to drugs before,” I explained.

The Miranda's looked at each other people, digesting this weird information.

“Okay,” Vanessa continued,”We need to take you to the eye doctor yearly to treat your exotropia. You grew up with intense migraines, but no cause was found. You have insomnia and bouts of sleep paralysis.” She flipped through the files and suddenly stopped.

“Christmas of 2012, Lark’s lungs became so full of fluid she couldn't breathe. Her father, Matthew, died of pneumonia. Lark survived.”

The room fell into silence. I clung to the wooden seat beneath me. In two words, that sucked. You don't relish the every breath of air, until you almost suffocate. My dad did suffocate. He died in panic, not being able to fight death.

“I think that's enough. Why don't you grab the ice cream from the freezer, Lark? Let's cheat our supper,” Lin suggested.

I nodded and walked heavily into the kitchen, ignoring the Miranda's whispers. I opened the freezer door and felt the cold air nuzzle my face. Blindly, I reached in and grabbed what looked like an ice cream bar. I glanced at the flashy wrapping and read the name. Instantly, panic raced across my heart like a horse and I feel onto memories.

“Here you go, Larks,” my dad said, handing me an ice cream Twix bar. I looked at him curiously. “Now if you don't tell your mother about what you found, more treats can find your way.”

Oh. This is what this was about. Disinterested, I placed the ice cream back in his hands.

“No thank you, Daddy.”

Suddenly, I was pushed and fell against the wall. Six year old me instantly started crying at the sudden harm.

“You will not tell your mom, got it!” Daddy screamed. I nodded miserably while tears fell from my eyes.

“Okay, Daddy.”

Suddenly, I was back. My vision showed a worried Lin yelling, yelling something. I couldn't hear. I couldn't feel anything

Word Count: 1257
Finished: 10:43

How are all of you? I have a week and a half of school, but after that expect updates. Since Valentines day I've done two shows. I lettered again in theatre. Um. I'm now crew chief for costumes, because I reported my old crew chief for showing up to closing night high on acid. She got OSS for 15 days. And I got the crew chief award, so she is no longer talking to me out of jealousy. Sucks to be her. I also got a commitment award in theatre. I also got two superiors in my choir groups for district music competition.  So yay!

Anyway, how was this chapter? Its short, but hey. Thanks for reading.

Ever yours,

hlwing