She'd always been a daddy's girl, just as much as Liam was a total mama's boy. She could faintly remember them as children, Liam only content with their mother's get-better-kisses-and-hugs when he cried (which he did a lot), and herself refusing to sleep at night unless her dad tucked her in and told her a swashbuckling story from his and her mom's past. Liam sat opposite their mother at the dining table, and Hope their father. Everyone she knew was aware of this ordeal in their family. She was a daddy's girl.
Yet, when she stood face to face with her mother in the diner, her blouse drenched in hot coffee, she could for everything she held dear not remember why. Before her she didn't see the woman she could fight teeth and nail with, because as her dad liked to say you are just too much alike, but instead she saw the woman who had taught her about self-worth, self-respect and how she always had the right to be who she wanted to be.
The young version of her mother before her reminded her of nightmares wrenching her awake in the middle of the might as a child and her mother coming sooting her and carrying her to spend the remaining night in between her and her father, it reminded her of the pride on her mother's face when she'd finished first place in her middle school's annual track race, and the mother who always stayed up until Hope and Liam was home after a party, and slept by her side to make sure she didn't choke on her vomit on those nights her brother had to drag her home when she'd had one too many shots.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked and snapped Hope from her thoughts. She'd been staring, but hoped her mother only took it as shock to the burning hot coffee. Hope nodded her response.
She has the familiar crease in between her eyes; she's concerned.
"You sure? That was all fresh coffee, you could have got a nasty burn."
"I'm fine." Lie. "Barley felt it" At least that part was true. There was only a slight buzz on her skin, and she could honestly not say if it was because of the coffee or the situation. Emma seemed reluctant to let her go just like that, but otherwise accepted her answer.
"What's your name, kid? I'm Emma."
Hope fumbled with her words longer than she should, given she was only supposed to give her name. But she couldn't give her real name, that much was certain.
"Um, my name is, ehm… Leia."
Lie. She knows. Of course she knows. Even without her superpower she'd known; Leia aint very original, especially in her case.
Without further notice Hope bolted; through the door and just as far away as possible. She found herself stopping by the green bench by the pond, taking a seat and burying her face in her hands.
She'd had everything figured out. She'd calculated everything in smallest detail. Now she didn't know what to do.
"You sure she'll be okay taking care of them alone tonight? She seems tense." Her brother's muffled voice sounded from the hallway.
"She'll be fine. She loves the girls, you know that. Its us she's upset with." Emma's voice joined Henry's.
"She wants to join us. Haven't you had this discussion before?"
"Too many times. It's been the same rule for all of you; at twenty we won't stop you anymore even if we don't agree on you being involved. We're not going to change our minds now."
"Let me talk to her." She quickly grabbed the book from her nightstand and opened it at random, pretending to be deeply focused on it. She ignored her brother when he sat her on her bed, didn't move a muscle as he placed his arm around her shoulders and tucked her under his arm. She kept reading, despite Henry's gaze on her.
"Funny how your bookmark is at least a hundred pages before where you're reading now. You always read without order?"
She sighed, closing her book and folding her arms over her chest.
"What do you want, Henry? Are you here to tell me about the rule? Or how it's too dangerous for me? Or how I'm just too young, which makes me an easy target? Save your breath, I've already heard it." Her big brother chuckled warmly, squeezing her shoulder tenderly.
"No, I already know you've heard it all. I'm just really here to make you feel a bit better before this whole thing starts."
"Why? It won't change anything"
"Of course it will. Anything could happen, and no matter how angry you pretend to be, I know you're also scared. And worried." Hope knew he was right. Her family had faced countless villains and really had the fighting and winning thing down, but every time it closed up for battle, they all knew anything could happen.
"I could help you know. I'm no child anymore," she whispered to her brother. "I want to be helpful."
"Oh, but Hope, you are helping. For me you have the most important job of us all. You are keeping my daughters safe."
Hope sighed, she couldn't argue with Henry when he used those cards. He was a father, worried to leave his children not fully knowing when he'd see them again, and she knew he really meant what he told her. She was keeping what he treasured most safe.
"It's not only Julia and Ruthie. When you are here, with them, I also know my baby sister is safe. Then I have one sibling less to worry about out there."
"Nice for you. I have to worry about you all," she almost growled. They were closing in on some sensitive things. Even though she really hated feeling useless, there was other reasons she wanted to be there with her family. She hated feeling out of control, and if she was there, she told herself she'd have more control on the outcome of the fight. And maybe, she even could prevent something happening. Maybe she could prevent losing one of them.
Henry was quiet. He knew his sister, and she was ridiculously alike their mother, so he knew she would have to be the one to speak. He couldn't force her. He didn't have to wait long, thought.
"I really don't want to lose you," she almost sniffled (although she'd never admit it) as she turned in her brother's arms and buried her face in his shoulder.
"I can't promise you won't. I can't promise anything about the outcome of this. But I can tell you about the odds, or remind you rather. We are really skilled. We are really good. We have never lost before. Good always wins, you know that."
"You're right, good does always win. But it doesn't have to win without loss. We haven't lost anyone in so many years, maybe its time again soon."
Henry didn't answer her in a long time. After several minutes she felt his chest heave as he took a breath to answer her.
"How about this; we make a deal. I'll keep an extra eye on everyone tonight, making sure nothing happens to them. And in turn, you take care of my girls, yourself included. Watch an extra movie with them, keep them away from sugar, and put them to bed before ten. Then you take care of yourself. Eat that can of Ben&Jerry's that's in the freezer, cuddle up in the sofa or take a bath. Do what you have to do to not worry too much until we're back. I don't know how long it will take this time, but I'll take care of everything out there. I can even make sure to send you a 'all good' text by ten. Ok?"
She didn't really have a choice in the matter, but her brother's deal made her feel slightly better. So she nodded into his shoulder.
"But you have to promise me one more thing, though. You have to make sure to make sure nothing happens to you as well. I wouldn't survive without my big brother." Henry laughed, making her insides warm a little at the vibration of it.
"I promise, sweetheart. I'll be fine. I have too much to fight for here for anything to get to me." With that he kissed her head and squeezed her once more before letting her go and moving towards her door. He stopped by the doorframe and looked back at her once more.
"Mom had already put on 'Peter Pan' despite Killian's protests when we arrived, so the girls are watching that for now. Then, Julia has specifically ordered to see 'Swan Princess', so you know what you're in for tonight. I'll text you at ten, don't worry. Everything will be fine. I'll see you later."
Right at that moment, she didn't worry. It wasn't until 10.30 that night that she started thinking that maybe she should have. Henry hadn't texted her.
"So Granny tells me you came in alone this morning. And something about your mother."
Hope tensed as she heard Emma's voice beside her. She hadn't even hard anyone approaching, even less sitting beside her on the bench. She didn't answer; she had no answer. With her head still buried in her hands, she could only hope her mother would get the hint and leave her alone to figure out her next step.
Emma sighed deeply when she didn't get any response.
"Okay, here's the deal. I don't know you, kid, but I'm not stupid. I get your name isn't Leia. I realize that even without bolting out of Granny's without reason it's not a great cover name. But, since you obviously go by a fake name, and whatever Granny said about your mom, I take it you're in trouble, or trying to solve some trouble. I can help you. But to do that I need to know what we are solving, and most importantly who I am helping. You're just a kid, you don't have to do anything alone. There are a lot of people in this town who can help, of you let us."
Hope was quiet for a long while, contemplating. Could she help? Maybe this was what she needed. It took har at least five minutes to decide. She finally looked up and met her mother's gaze, seeing her mother gasp when she really took in the girl before her.
"I'm Hope and I'm your daughter."
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