//=daemons thoughts // +=people's thoughts

Will walked along the street, annoyed after having missed the last bus after school. He had a three-mile walk ahead of him now, and it looked like it would rain any minute. It was a cold day, and he pulled his fleece around him for comfort. He ran his hand through his jet-black hair, his dark eyes stormy to match the weather, and he thought back as he walked. Things were very different now from the way they had been three years ago. His life had been in bits and pieces, and he had, it still chilled him to think of it, murdered a man. He had had to run from the law, and would have been in serious trouble. Bt somehow, he had managed to get it sorted out, with the help of Mary, of course. He didn't know how him and mum would have managed without her.

*flashback* (A/N: there will be quite a few chapters of flashback, as you need it for the main plot)

he walked quietly with Mary to her flat, too afraid to speak lest the tears would return. But somehow, she understood, and they walked in a comfortable silence. Upon reaching her flat, she set up a sleeping bag for him in the living room, and began to make them both cups of tea.

As he sat there, comfortable and warm, a thought suddenly struck his mind. +How COULD I have been so stupid and forgotten about her?+ //Will, what is it, Will?//

Mary watched in astonishment as he suddenly jumped up, spilling half of his tea and ousting Kirjava from his lap in the process.

'What's the matter, Will?' she asked, puzzled.

' I. I don't know how I could have been so selfish and stupid, Mary' he answered.

'Slow down, Will. Tell me what you mean.'

'My mother, I left her. She's still at Mrs. Cooper's, by herself. And I forgot' he said, tears choking back his last sentence.

'Oh, Will. You've just had a very hard time, and it's understandable that you would forget. Don't blame yourself, we can go and get her now.'

' It IS my fault. I'm supposed to look after her. You see, she can't do it herself, and what if something's happened to her?' he asked, looking up at Mary.

+Look at him. He's so young, and he has far too much responsibility on his shoulders. He looks lost, and all alone. + // Get your act together, Mary Malone, he needs you now.//

Mary did a half-jump in surprise at the thought from her daemon, and then smiled shyly at him when she realised he was right.

'Come on, Will, we'll go and get her right away. She can come and stay here with us.'

'Really?' Will looked at her questioningly, with relief showing in his eyes.

'Yes' she answered firmly twenty minutes later, they were at Mrs. Cooper's doorstep. Mary knocked at the door. A little while later, Mrs. Cooper opened the door, obviously annoyed at being woken up in the middle of the night.

'Will?' she exclaimed, surprise written on her face.

'Yes, Mrs. Cooper.' He answered politely. 'I've come for my mother. She can go home with me now.'

The old lady smiled genuinely at the lost-looking young boy, and then looked enquiringly at his companion.

'Of course, I'll take you up to her bedroom. And may I ask who the lady accompanying you is?'

'let me introduce myself.' said Mary. 'My name is.' //No, you mustn't use the real one,don't you think you might have been mentioned in the papers at least?// Mary thanked her daemon gratefully for his timely intervention. 'My name is Paula, Paula Pullman (A/N: Yes, yes, I know. no, it isn't a badly written "coincidence")

'Hello Paula. Nice to see that there's been someone to take care of Will. Now, let's find your mum, shall we?

Will followed her up the stairs, grateful that the tiresome introductions were over, and that he would see his mother for the first time in what seemed like months.

'Now, this is her room. The guest bedroom, you see.' She opened the door, and called out 'Will's here, dear. Your little boy has finally come back. Alice?' (A/N: no idea what her actual name is)

Will noted the worry in her voice, and quickly pushed past her into the bedroom. 'Mum?' he called. 'Mum? Where are you?'

After will's futile search, the room was proved empty, and his gaze finally fell to the back of it. The window overlooking the garden was open, and a faint warm breeze came through it, moving the curtains slightly.

His stomach dropped, and he felt like it was filled with lead.

They were on the second floor.

+No!+ // No!// they thought in unison.

**end of chapter**

A/N: first fanfic I've ever done, please read and review.

Please?