(AN: Thank you to everyone who has been following and enjoying this fan fic. It really, honestly means a lot. Now, I mentioned in my first chapter that I was singing. Well, this is what actually popped into my head. The song is from Les Misreables, and it's called Bring Him Home. I recommend listening to the quartet version by danwright32, since I think his lead perfectly captures what I envision Thomas' singing sounding like. Thank you guys, and again, please favorite and review if you enjoyed it, it lets me know what I should be doing more of. Thank you and enjoy!)

Spring 12

Thomas had been working almost tirelessly to start making money to afford a horse. He felt that it'd help him travel faster, but once he found all his crops watered and nothing to do, he breathed a heavy sigh and decided to take a break. He went to the beach, meeting Sam and his younger brother Vincent.

Sam and Thomas stood beside each other, silently enjoying the sun, waves and-

"Sam... Is dad ever gonna come back?" Thomas' eyes widened. He didn't know their dad was-"I heard some adults saying that.. that our soldiers were getting shot to bits!"

"H-Hey! There's no way that's true! You remember, dad's really strong! He's not gonna let some Gretixian goon get him! Don't you worry!" Sam smiled, almost as if he was trying to convince himself of what he was saying. Vincent smiled and went back to playing, out of earshot of Thomas and Sam. "Thomas...I feel bad about getting his hopes up like that..."

"Sometimes, it's good to be honest, sometimes you need to keep their hope strong. This is one of those hope moments." Thomas mused with his eyes closed.

"Yeah... Kids need to worry about their childhood. Enjoying life and playing, not wars or taxes or politics."

"You said it." Thomas smiled. He went home after dark, but couldn't get to sleep no matter how hard he tried. He got up and went outside. Thomas didn't think of himself as a very religous guy, but he felt like if anyone needed divine help, it was...

Thomas knelt down in the dirt, clasping his hands together, ignoring the movement of a dark-clothed figure behind one of the trees closer to the bus stop side of the farm.

"God on high...

Hear my prayer...

In my need...

You have always been there..."

Someone inched closer from a tree closer to the Marnie Ranch exit, but scooted back as he stood up and looked toward the moon that happened to be overhead.

"He is young...

He's afraid...

Let him rest...

Hea'vn blessed..."

Sam's father crossed him mind.

"Bring him home...

Bring him home...

Bring him home..."

The two figures shifted.

"He's like the son I might've known.."

Sam crossed his mind.

"If God had granted me a son.

The summers die, one by one, how soon they fly, on and on!"

Thomas dropped down and sat on one of the steps in front of his house.

"And I am old...

And will be gone..."

Now Thomas thought of his age. He wasn't that old, but he wasn't young either, by any standards.

Vincent crossed his mind this time.

"Bring him peace...

Bring him joy...

He is young...

He is only a boy..."

Both of the younger males lodged in his words.

"You can take...

You can give...

Let him be...

Let him live..."

Thomas stood up and threw his fists in the air while he sang loudly.

"IF I DIE...

LET ME DIE!"

Thomas sat back down slowly.

"Let him live...

Bring him home...

Bring him home..."

Thomas took a deep breath.

"Bring him... home..."

Thomas held the last note for a short while before closing his eyes, clasping his hands together, and saying, "Amen."

Marnie clapped out from the shadows of the tree in front of him. "Thomas, I didn't know you could sing!"

"I... I don't really think I can. I was just praying aloud, ma'am, that's really all."

"Well, that was beautiful, regardless. I think your other visitor liked it too." Marnie smiled and winked. "He was standing over there." Thomas looked over.

"There's noone there.. Did you see who it was?"

"I saw a black top, but that could be anyone, honestly." Marnie admitted. "Well, I'm going to head home, now. You have a nice night, Thomas."

"You too, ma'am. Thank you for the kind words." He smiled, half-blushing.

"Thank you for the performance." She winked. Thomas watched her leave the farm, and then turned his head to the bus stop side, where he saw a black hoodied figure rushing away only lightly illuminated by the moonlight, before he turned around and headed inside, where he could finally rest easy, knowing at least his prayers were with Sam's father.