(You're about to meet innocent Maria, people.)

NO ONE'S POV

Moving on now, to a grand apartment- much like that of John Laurens, but it's owned by a young woman. Her name is Elizabeth, and she is a very charitable person. She volunteers at food banks, orphanages, clinics among other organisations and charities. She's lesbian, single and she's pretty damn ready to mingle. 

Her close friend, John Laurens, recently came across an injured hybrid- but you know all of that so let's skip along the story and get to what you actually want to read.

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ELIZA'S POV

I walk with Maria into my apartment, and she shuffles much closer to me than I'd though she would of. She slowly lifts my arm and wraps it around her shoulder. I open the door and we both step inside.

"Hey, Maria, do you want something to eat?" I offer and she nods whilst a small smile forms on his delicate lips.

"What would you like? I'm sure there's something in the fridge." I guide us both to the fridge and pull out some chicken, rice and leftover Chinese that i had from the night before.

"Do you like chicken? I'm sure I can find you something if not, I might have some-"

"I like chicken" she smiles innocently and attempts to get closer to me, I turn to hug her fully.

"Well, you're a little cuddle bug! But so am I" whispering the last bit.

"Can we have chicken? Like cooked chicken?" She asks giddily and I nod whilst laughing quietly. I pull out the meat and start cooking it, placing it in a pan and adding some herbs.

"Do you like spaghetti? I've got some spare." I turn and her head tilts slightly.

"Spag-hetti?" She mumbles quizzically. Does she not know what spaghetti is?

"You know, long, thin pasta?"

"That's called spaghetti? I've always called it basgetti." Her eyebrows crease and I can't help but let out an amused chuckle.

"Well we can call it basgetti if you'd like, would you like some?" I laugh and she nods eagerly. I boil the pasta and plate them both up, getting us both a glass of water as well. We sit at the table and she gingerly picks up the cutlery lay out for her.

"Are you okay? Do you need help-"

"No, no I'm good, Miss Eliza. Just been a long time since I've used these." She says whilst gesturing to the knife and fork in her hands.

We continue to eat in mostly silence, some small talk shared whilst eating the spaghetti.

"What would you like me to call you?" I smile, to which she smiles wider in return.

"Oh anything, Maria, Ria, Mari, anything really." She smiles giddily whilst eating the spaghetti comically off of her fork. I chuckle too, her happiness seeming to be infectious.

"I'll call you whatever you'd like. You can call me Eliza, Liz or sometimes Betsey. But only my best friends can call me the last two!" I whisper and she laughs innocently at the remark. She's so precious.

"Would you like a bath tonight, Maria? I can add some nice oils to it." I offer and her head tilts slightly in confusion.

"So I can add lavender or maybe eucalyptus or... Well I have a lot." I explain and her eyes widen in wonder.

"Wow... that's so cool! Can we try them?" She bounced in her seat and I laugh at her innocence, nodding in approval whilst we both stand and place our plates in the sink. I turn on the tap to the right temperature whilst adding the small bottle oils I have on the side and move to sit back on to the sofa.

"Miss Eliza?" Maria asks quietly and I turn to look at her, only to see her curious gaze staring back at me.

"Yes, Maria?"

"Do you think 'Xander will be okay? He's always been a bit scared of people." She mumbles, a downcast expression taking the place of the innocent one previously.

"I'm sure he'll be juuuust fine." I smile and gently poke the end of her nose, to which she giggles in surprise.

"I heard he's staying with the Washington's, they're lovely people, they'll treat Alexander perfectly." I assure and a slightly flicker of relief flashes in her eyes.

"He's very protective of us. Says he lost all of his family when he was younger, but he won't tell us when or how. He sometimes screams when he's sleeping, shaking and sweating too. He's really scared of storms, like, he can't function when one passes over. And he's always provided for us, but we could never really do anything in return, which made me feel crappy. He deserves so much better than to be living like a street rat, he's so nice. He helps me a lot, well actually he helps everyone. He's-" she stops and looks down, as though she's been shouted at.

"Go on, you don't have to stop." I smile and nod slightly, to which she smiles sheepishly and continues talking.

Once she'd bathed and changed into some of my clothes she settles into the bed next to me.

"Do you want me to sleep on the sofa? I can give you some space-" I offer but she'd already curled up next to me and shuffled as close as possible. I close my eyes and listen to the slow breaths emitted by Maria, and eventually drift to sleep.