This was written for the July 2013 DMHG Challenge on Livejournal. The prompt was Innocence. It won Mod's Choice! Thanks to all the writers and mods for making it another great round.
She'd thought it was gone forever, fled from him just as quick as he tried to flee from it.
But he finds it again, or it finds him, or it was never lost.
It's the two twin tracks that clean their way down his brown face.
It's the tired closing of his eyes as his mother sweeps a hand through his hair, pulls him to her shoulder.
Innocence is his voice in the dark, his heartbeat fast and warm against hers.
"I don't know what to do."
Love is her reply, soft and sure in his ear.
"Take my hand."
