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"A wife and three kids,"

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I LISTENED TO the sound of my mother's heartbeat, as I cuddled in next to her, her arms wrapped around me with a small grunt, a smile wedged onto the side of her face,

"Rough day?" she asked, rubbing my back.

Everything rushed into my mind about what had happened.

From being caught by Mr. Ogustus to being shown the splendor of the Amory tower and the statues, not to mention Lucas and Talos, the owl.

After lunch, it was colors class with Miss Almulese, and let's just say, that didn't go too well as we practiced with our wands, and now most of us could teleport.

Most.

After Colors class and the supper that followed,  I slipped into the King's Crown to see my mom, with Gravis' permission of course.

I had left the group before Claire left for her 'personal training lessons.'

I just didn't want to risk meeting Harvest.

I simply did not want to see him anytime soon.

The feelings that I was battling within me because of him were way too mind-boggling for me to even desire to face them.

I shrugged, humming instead as I curled deeper into my arms to which she chuckled, leaning her head against me.

"This reminds me of the time when you were three, and you sneaked into our room," she began with a low chuckle, "you were so quiet, we didn't even hear you come in, and you bribed Gravis, who was on duty to let you in with candy from your little candy bank so he wouldn't as I quote 'say nothing,' she grinned.

I laughed at this, even if I couldn't remember the exact incident as I was much too young to remember.

"I bribed him?" I echoed at this, sitting up, humor in my eyes at this.

"Ah yes," Mom replied, "you were much too short and skinny to open those heavy doors, and let's face it Gravis is a hard man to get around," she chuckled, "he let you in, for two pieces of licorice and your guaranteed word on your desert for a week."

My eyebrows arched at this.

"Really?" I echoed.

I simply couldn't imagine how I could have negotiated so badly, or even negotiated at all to that extent as Gravis has always been one-worded.

"You don't remember this, but you two used to be so close," she grinned, 'You had a way with each other. He used to take you up on his shoulders and race around your little room," she chuckled, "I always worried that you would fall because of how tall he was, but there had never been a man more protective than Gravis, second to your father,  of course," she added kissing the top of my head whilst I stared at the space in front of her hospital bed trying to remember those moments but coming up blank.

I sat up straighter, sitting cross-legged on her bed, pushing my bushy hair back for a second.

"So what happened to us, if we were so close?"

Mom sighed softly, "well, he was here," she shrugged, "for about six years, he spent more time taking care of this place, visiting only in moments," her eyebrows drawing together, "And you kept growing, and I guess you two grew apart. By the time he was around more, well, to you, he was your father's guard. I don't know if you've noticed but Gravis is a man of a few words," she chuckled, "He probably just didn't know how to be close again," she finished, brushing some specs of invisible dirt off the beddings.

I stared at her, my heart beating slowly within me.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" I signed.

Her expression changed to that of pity,

"Tala, you two had already grown apart, and I think he was comfortable watching you from the sidelines," she huffed.

My eyes trailed down to the covers still feeling some type of away at this information.

Mom sighed, opening her arms beckoning me in, and letting go of a stubborn breath, snuggling next to her.

"Think of it this way," she huffed, rubbing my arm as she leaned against me and I snuggled even closer, "You've been given a second shot with him, use it," she advised.

I nodded at this, thinking back to how receptive he had been, even going as far as wishing me goodnight.

I smiled at this, taking out a deep breath before something crossed my mind, and I signed the question to my mother, "Does he have a family?"

"We're his family darling," was all she said with a chuckle as if I had made a joke, not seemingly giving it a second thought.

I looked up at her knowing she was avoiding telling me something like she always did.

Hiding something from me yet again it seemed.

"He never had his own family?" I asked, "a wife? a mother? A father? a kid?" I asked and dare I sign it, "A girlfriend?" I mean Gravis was a man who looked in his early forties but could his whole life be around keeping us safe?

I mean I wasn't complaining about the very adequate protection he provided, but I also couldn't help but feel guilty if it was the reason why he didn't desire to find happiness in other places.

I kept my eyes on my other, as she studied me, her eyes narrowing on me before a look of pride crossed her face for some reason.

"You're changing, becoming bolder," she stated plainly and I could feel my heart swell at her compliment,

"He did, once a long time ago. A long time ago..."

My eyebrows arched at this.

"A wife and three kids," she added, before shaking her head, "They were killed. He doesn't like to speak of it, and I don't think you should ever bring it up," she warned eyes on me.

"But despite his loss, he still has a family with us," she added, pushing a strand of my wild hair behind me for a second before smiling, her eyes shining as she looked at me.

"I know your father is dying to get home," she suddenly stated, " he could never stay away from you for too long."

I smiled at this, leaning back into her arms, "Well he should move fast. I miss him," I signed.

"He will be here soon enough," she replied with a chuckle.

I nodded my eyes moving past her in the dimly lit room, staring blankly at the vase of withered dry white roses.

I was frankly surprised they were still kept in that vase, and yet I stared at them with hope as I remembered something.

Dad was coming soon.

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The light streamed across my face and I grumbled throwing the covers over my face.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a heavenly voice sang.

My eyebrows furrowed underneath the sheets, peaking out, allowing my gaze to adjust to the sunlight, making out the figure of my mother standing by the half-opened window. 

I immediately sat up at this sight, surprised to see her out of bed.

She looked healthy and far from a woman that fell out of the sky, as she stood in her garment, her hair down and bushy to her shoulders.

"Good morning Tala," she eased with a wide smile turning to me.

I couldn't mask my surprise when I saw her, knowing that last night she couldn't get out of bed.

My eyes trailed down to her bare feet on the cold tiles and she smiled, warmly moving toward me with a blooming white rose in her hand.

"It's a beautiful day, and I believe you're late," she began handing me the flower.

My eyes trailed to the full blooming bouquet of white roses by the window sill, my eyebrows weeding together at the sight before something settled in me-

late?

My eyes widened moving to her as she gave me a knowing look.

Classes.

I jumped out of bed and she chuckled, bidding me to the bathroom where I freshened up, water to the face, a quick mouth rinse, and straightened up my uniform as best as I could before bouncing back into the room kissing her on the cheek, goodbye.

"Don't forget your bag," she called and I turned back, sighing in relief as she handed me a bag, before clasping her hands together,

"Come visit soon," she added and I smiled before walking out of the room.

A skip in my step trying to reach classes as quickly as I could, I moved with urgency. I didn't even have a watch on my wrist to check the time, but I knew I was going to be late.

Having now mastered my way down this half of the crown I crossed the last hallway before I went on more familiar grounds the hallways were empty to my concern.

My eyebrows arched as I looked around, turning the corner, almost bumping into someone.

Hands steadied me right before I could lose balance, losing a breath when  came into contact with his-

Those stupid blue prisons.

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Hi Harvest. Missed ya 🙃

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