Darkside 26 

Tina and Bette laid in the bed. Addy and Alistair between them finally asleep. 

“Do you think she’s okay?” Tina asked quietly. 

“I don’t know. Phyically she fine she can protect herself, but emotionally she needs to be here with her family.” Bette rubbed Alistairs back.

“I’m afraid.” Tina said. Bette reached over and took her hand. 

“We’ll find her. We’ll put our family together. I promise.” Bette said. 

“Our Family, that sounds so right. Is that weird?” She asked. 

“No. It’s the way its supposed to be.  .  .  .  I love you Tina Kennard. I have since the first time I saw you.” Bette opened herself up. 

“Oh Bette I love you too. I was confused by it at first but I feel so safe, so happy when I’m with you.” Tina glowed with happiness. 

“Can you believe we have these two beautiful children?” Bette said. 

“Three. We have three amazing children.” Tina corrected her. 

“We have to find her T. I can’t stand not knowing.” Bette let down her tough exterior. 

“We will.” Tina said. 

Avery sat on a tree limb outside of Bette’s room watching the scene unfold. A cotton white cat sitting on the limb next to her meowed. 

“Don’t give me that. Everything is as it should be.” Avery wiped the tears from her eyes. “They were right I do owe them an explaniation. But the sacrifice has to be mine. If not Ali and Addy will never have the normal life they deserve.” The cat meowed again. 

“But if I don’t do it then who will? There is no one else.” Avery pulled an envelope out of her messenger bag. “Are you staying or going?” She asked the cat who morphed into a mouse and climbed up her arm and into the quiver of arrows hanging on her back.

Avery dropped out of the tree and walked into the house leaving the Letter on the mantle next to a picture of the circle.

“You know you don’t have to go. You can stay and let us help you.” Lil said from the dark. Avery turned and looked at her. 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.” Avery said. Lil took her into her arms. 

“Shh. I always knew but I love you just the same.” Lil held her tightly. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Avery sobbed. 

“You have it all wrong. You’re gonna need us to defeat what is coming.” Lil said. 

“I know that, but I can’t risk you or anyone else getting hurt.” Avery looked up at her. 

“Will you do one thing for me?” Lil asked. 

“Anything.” Avery answered. 

“Stay, tell us everything let us try and help, and then if it doesn’t work, then leave and do it on your own. If you do that I promise I won’t stand in your way if it doesn’t work.” Lil said. Avery was quiet. 

“I guess that couldn’t hurt.” Avery said. Lil breathed a sigh of relief. 

“Let’s get some sleep. I’ll make Helena fix pancakes in the morning.” Lil said. 

“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.” Avery headed up to her room. 

“How did you get her to stay?” Helena asked. 

“She may not have my blood coursing through her veins, but she’s still my little girl. The one thing that she desperately wants more than anything is to normal. She doesn’t want all the responsibility that she has to take on. She just wants to be a 13 almost 14 year old kid. She’ll stay as long as we can treat her as a normal kid, hopefully after everything is over she’ll be able to be as normal as possible.” Lil said 

“She can be normal if she wants.” Helena wrapped her arms around Lil. 

“I hope so. Let’s go get some sleep. It’s been a long day.” Lil said.