Scarlett began to panic and crawl around the enclosure, trying to get an idea of how much room she had, sweeping her arms around trying to find Jacob. "Father!" She shouted desperately. Her voice did not echo, confirming her fears that there wasn't much room in the rubble mountain around her. The rocks scraped her knees and hands as she climbed over them. "Father!" She paused and listened intently, holding her breath. Even breathing sounded loud. She coughed from the dust, and sat down, brushing away the tears that formed. "Father!"

A firm hand grasped her shoulder in the darkness. "I - am - here, child," Father spoke, his voice halting from having the wind knocked out of him when they fell. She couldnt see him in the darkness, but reached out and found his hand.

"Oh, Father!" she grasped it tightly. "I was so afraid you were unconscious or buried in the rocks."

Father chuckled, "No, my dear - takes a lot more - than a rock slide to kill old Jacob." He pulled her close, their backs against the rocky wall. "Vincent will find us I'm sure,child." He felt her thin figure shaking and wrapped a strong arm around her. "Come, child, stop your shaking. We will be okay."

Scarlett cowered against him, silent, as thoughts of her entrapment in the lower tunnels with Parascealcus began to nudge their way into her mind. She shook her head, trying to get rid of them. The pain reminded her that she had hit her head and she gritted her teeth. Father heard it, and with one hand, held her head against his chest. His experienced fingers felt the swelling knot where she had fallen and sighed. "You may have a concussion, child. Try to stay still, and rest, Okay?"

Hot silent tears fell down her face. She had tried Catherine's advice. She tried to befriend Father, tried to woo Mouse. But here she sat in the darkness, with a terrible headache, an increasing fear and claustrophobia, and she was now covered in rock dust and unfit to be seen. Father felt sadness tug at his heart, and he kissed the top of her head.

"All will be well, Nancy. Trust me."

She shivered, and whispered, "I don't like the dark, Father."

Father sighed again, sadly, and held her tighter. "No, I suppose not."

Scarlett clenched her fists. She had shoved everyone away since her time in the dark tunnels. It was her own fault. The bond between her and Vincent had been broken for a long time. She had felt him try to connect sometimes, but she had shut him out. Now in the darkness, she searched her heart. She only hoped he would hear her.

-o-o-o-o-o

Vincent set up a few more candles near the main entrance. "There," Catherine said to him. "It looks absolutely lovely. Everyone has done such a good job. Father is going to be so pleased."

Vincent stepped back and put an arm around her. "Yes, Catherine. It does. Everyone has worked so hard. You look lovely too, by the way."

Catherine laughed and hugged him. "Thank you Vincent. Wonder what is keeping Scarlett?" At that moment, a loud rumble shook the tunnels above them. Vincent frowned. "That doesn't sound good."

Catherine frowned. "Probably not. Vincent, do you think we should check it out?"

Vincent nodded. He handed her his last candle and smiled. "You find a lovely place for this while I take a look." He winked at her, and she blushed and smacked his arm.

He laughed and began to climb up to the higher tunnels, searching for the source of the noise. He was almost to the crystal cave when he felt a gentle nudge in his heart. "Scarlett?" He whispered softly. He felt her sorrow and also a slight urgency. He began to follow her heart like a beacon and it led him to a tunnel. Well, what should have been a tunnel. A pile of rocks taller than a man met him. With a lion like growl he began to toss rocks behind him. He had quickly made an opening and looked in to find Father and Scarlett both. Father looked up at him calmly. "Hi Vincent."

-o-o-o-o-o

"Vincent, if you hadn't come along when you did, we would have been in a rough place," Father spoke with conviction as he bandaged up Scarlett's head. Vincent looked deep into her eyes as he replied. "Well, in just glad you are well, Father. It could have been so much worse." He knew Scarlett had renewed the bond between them, and he also knew it hadn't been easy. For inside her, he felt all of the sadness that she had kept buried away. He could feel it eating at her, gnawing like a rat. But she wasn't ready to let it go. She looked at him, and that silent communication told him to step back. He nodded, almost imperceptibly and turned back to Father.

At that moment, Mouse came charging into the infirmary, his eyes wide. "Scarlett, Father!" He frantically spoke each name, while ducking between the various members of the community standing in the room. Vincent held up his paw.

"Now there Mouse. She's okay and Father is too. See?"

A look of relief crossed the young mans face. "Good, ok fine. Mouse worried when he hear on pipes." In the awkward silence, Scarlett summoned her courage.

"Hi Mouse."

He finally looked at her. Her face was covered in grime. But her dress was beautiful. She looked like an angel. The dress wasn't too dusty, and its effect was not lost. He smiled crookedly. "Hi Scarlett. Mouse glad your not-well, much hurt."

Scarlett smiled. "Thank you Mouse."

Vincent smiled. "Well, Father, there's something I need to show you."

Father nodded. "Seems like everyone does. Miss Nancy, what were you going to show me?" Scarlett smiled.

"Vincent will show you."

Father shook his head. I will go. But Miss Nancy must stay here and rest. She has a concussion and that needs some quiet time." He didn't notice the sadness cross her face or Vincent's. Mouse spoke up quickly.

"Mouse stay with Scarlett."

Vincent and Scarlett looked at him and smiled. Vincent clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks Mouse."

Mouse grinned awkwardly. "Ok, good, ok fine."

Father shook his head. "Okay, you two lovebirds, stay here till I get back. No horse playing. I want you to rest." He glared playfully but firmly at Scarlett and she smiled. "Yes, Father."

After the men had gone, Mouse turned to Scarlett. "Father say you rest. Come to chamber." He picked her up off of the infirmary table and carried her to the couch in the back of the room made from tapestries and blankets. He laid her on it, and tucked a pillow under her head. Shyly, he sat down next to her.

Scarlett smiled up at him, the awkward grin on his face. "I've missed you Mouse."

Mouse reached over and tapped her chin. "Missed you too. Wait here while Mouse make hot water for face."

Scarlett laughed propped her head on her chin and watched him work at the fireplace. "Mouse, are you saying you don't like my face?"

Mouse looked up at her from where he knelt by the fireplace, and Scarlett felt her breath catch in her throat. The fire was flickering on his calm face turned toward her, and he looked so mature. Gone was the little boy Mouse. There was something so grown up about him. The way his jaw angled like a man, his confidence creeping into his voice, with less stammering. Something had changed about him. She couldn't place it. Unless... She swallowed hard and her heart fluttered. It was the way he was looking at her. Mouse was no longer a boy. And she was no longer a girl.