Eridan again tilted his head against her hand. It was very comforting to feel her hand on his cheek and it calmed his nerved. "Evven if it wwas because of our parents' stupidity, I am vvery glad that you came here." Feferi ran her thumb long his chin.

"I guess I can't be too mad at my mother now that I've met you, huh?" she joked. Eridan actual laughed at that, then offered a small shrug.

"You can still be mad." He pointed out. "At least about her sending you here. But I hope you're not mad about meeting me in the process."

"Oh no! I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't met you –Eridan." She exclaimed, sitting and taking his face in her hands. She pressed her forehead against his. "I was never this happy in my own castle. I can only hope I can sea you smile as much as you sea me smile."

That caught Eridan, and he gave her a bit of a confused look as he thought for a moment. He… didn't really smile all that much, did he? The thought made him chuckle softly. "I smile more wwith you than I havve wwith anyone else, Fef."

"Is that so?" she giggled. "I'm glad." She looked around and noticed that the day had slipped past them and it was already starting to get dark. "Oh my! Well, time seartainty swam by didn't it?" Feferi looked over at the full basket. "I don't know aboat you, but I'm starving." She said with another giggle.

Eridan followed her gaze, then reached over to pull the basket closer. "Wwith howw much fun you wwere having swwimming, I wwould imagine it wwould." He replied. "I hope I they packed something you like." He said, pulling out a couple of apples, a loaf of bread, and sliced cheese among other things.

"Oooh~ This looks so fresh!" she took an apple and bit into it. Crisp flavor burst into her mouth. "My cod! This is delicious!" she exclaimed, wasting no more time to continue eating the apple. Eridan picked up one as well, biting into it.

"Gam is the one wwho runs the garden. He brings in fresh fruits and vvegetables almost every day." He said, continuing to eat the apple.

"Reely? By himself? That's a huge garden." Feferi observed, reaching over for the break to break it into bits. "-Eridan~ Say ahh~" She giggled, holding up a piece of bread to his lips.

The faint maroon tinted his cheeks and he leaned forward, taking the piece of bread between his teeth before he pulled back, chewing it. "People offer to help him, but he nevver agrees. Most people learn to stay awway from there now."

"Stay away, huh? He's that possessive?" She pondered, nibbling on the break as well. It was so fresh and full of flavor.

"About the garden he is." Eridan replied. "None of the maids wwould be caught dead in there." He added. "I wwould advvise you to nevver go in there, unless he takes you wwith him."

"Oh my…" She trailed off. She supposed she could relate. She was very possessive over her viola. She wouldn't even et Nepeta touch it. Her teacher had been a very nice human who even at the age of fifty wore a black headband. This woman had a very grim sense of humor but knew how to lighten up a situation. It was her who gave Feferi her viola, and it was all she had left of her teacher. Feferi couldn't help but wonder if Gamzee was the same way with his garden. Breaking off some more pieces, she fed Eridan bit by bit of the bread.

Eridan allowed her to feed him, only to find it slightly odd. He was easily able to push it from his mind. "Promise me you wwill keep awway form there?" he requested. "You're free to wwander about anywwhere else in the castle…Just not the garden.

Fef blinked a couple of times, Eridan was serious about this. She nodded, "I-I promise." She sure didn't want to find out what happened if she enter that place. "I'll pass that onto to Nepeta as well..." With that, she brushed the crumbs off her hands and stood up. "Time to go back in before we lose all the light. As much as she didn't want the day to end, it had to. "Can we come back out again tomorrow?" she asked.

Eridan stood as well once he had packed the picnic back up and offered a soft smile. "If that is wwhat you wwould like, then yes. Wwe can come here as often as you like." He added.

Fef bounced on her toes in excitement, maybe she could get him into the water with her tomorrow. "Here, let me kelp." she said, grabbing the basket but made no move to pull it from him. It was if they were holding hands, with the basket as the middle man. "I sea you like drawing. What else do you like to do?"

Eridan started the walk back up to the castle. "Drawwing and playing the piano are really all I do in my spare time these days. I used to go off on advventures with my father but…that changed when he married The Grand Highblood." He explained.

"Orhpaner Dualscar! That must have been quite the experience, going on all those trips with him. Did the Grand High blood ban you from those?" She asked, swinging the basket a bit.

"Not exactly." he said, wincing at the flash of his father's face when he found out his son's secret. "Wwhat about you? Beside your vviola?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

Nepeta hadn't moved form where she had been left, the only change being that she had pulled her knees to her chest and rested her forehead atop of them. Her hands were still secure in her hair, and a faint "mew" escaped form her lips occasionally.

The look on his face did not go unnoticed from Fef, but she decided to go along with the subject change. "Well, I have a knack for sewing and I love animals. Epshelly Cuttlefish. She put her hands on her face and swayed this way and that. "They're so adorabubble! With their tentacles and how they change color an-" she froze. Listening. They were near the garden now.

Eridan frowned when she stopped talking and was about to ask what was wrong when he heard the soft sound. He glanced around himself, his eyes widening at the sight of Nepeta of all people curled up in the garden.

"Nepeta." was all Fef said as she sprinted to her friend. Or rather, attempted to when she was held back.

Gamzee was spacing out, leaning against the tree eating an apple when he heard the "mews" as they got louder. A meow beast, did one get into his garden? He got up and threw the core over the castle wall. "Kitty? Where you be? Here kitty?" He cooed, crawling around on his stomach, the roses forgotten.

Nepeta felt her entire body tense at the term, her breath catching in her throat. No. This wasn't real. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be…right?

The mews were getting a lot louder now. He was checking the bushes at this point. "Kitty kitty~ I won't hurt you. Just come out now."

A whimper passed her lips and instincts took over. Her hands left her hair and she moved on all fours, struggling a little because of her dress. She managed to tuck herself in between the roses and one of the bushes, her pupils expanding out of fear.

"Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur." he began to sing, practically sliding around on his stomach. "Happy kitty, sleepy kitty. Purr purr purr." he actually did purr at the end of his song.

Eridan held onto her wrist as tightly as he dared, trying to keep her back. "Feferi, I just told you not to go in there!" He hissed, his voice laced with panic. "Gam likes her, I'm pretty wwell convinced that she's safe. You, I'm not so sure about."

"I DON'T CARE." She pulled her hand form his and started into the garden, with Eridan in tow. "She's done this all her life. Not even her mother knows why she does this. But I know how to clam her down, so just le-" She tensed up again. "Is that…Gamzee?" oh shell no.

Dropping the basket, he hurried after her, grabbing her wrist tighter this time, rooting himself once he saw Gamzee. "He wwon't hurt her." he said firmly. I hope, he added mentally in his head.

She pushed Eridan into a nearby bush of blackberries and joined him. They were completely hidden and yet they could see everything. They were too deep in the garden now, but there was no way Fef was going to leave Nepeta. The second Gamzee did something she didn't like, she would take over.

The blackberries made him cringe a little, trying to keep his attention on Fef and what was going on with Gamzee and Nepeta, but keep clear of the thorns of the bush.

Fef was shaking at this point, she did not have a good feeling about this at all. What if he hurt her? She reached over and clung to Eridan's hand, digging her fingernails into his skin.

She wanted to throw something. Yell, scream, tell him to leave her alone but that would tell him where she was. If he found her…she shook her head, scooting back further. However, when her hand pressed hard on a massively thorned vine that lay on the ground. She cried out in pain.

Gamzee snapped his head in the direction of the sound, and a smile of accomplishment flashed on his face. He walked over to the bush and parted them. With the shadows cast over the creature, it was hard for Gamzee to see their face. Kind of a misshapen meow-beast. It was shaking and mewing though, so he didn't think much past that. "There you are, been looking for ya kitty." crouched down and reached a hand out. "Come on out, it's okay.

Eridan cringed at her grip, fighting with himself not to bite his lower lip. "Fef, wwe really shouldn't be here." He said, still trying to get her to leave. "She'll be alright, see?" He added as Nepeta looked up at Gamzee, her bleeding hand moving hesitantly to his.

"I'm not leaving until I know she's okay. I'm stubborn Eridan!" She snapped. She didn't mean to be cruel, but she was very protective over Nepeta. Especially when she was this vulnerable.

The smile faded from his face as realization hit him. It was Nepeta….How? She was fine when he left her. What had changed? What had made her hide? Brought this look of…terror to her face? He wanted run a hand over her eyes, to rid her of that fear. He settled for continuing to put his hand forward, until their fingertips were touching. "Hey Nepsis, it's me." He said softly. "What's got you all fearified?"

Her body relaxed a little when he finally stopped calling her kitty, though she shook her head at the question before she hung her head. Her fingers wrapped one of his, and the shaking eased a little. "Not… Not a kitty…"

It was kind of cute, how she latched onto his finger. But even he could sense something….behind those eyes. Memory flashes? He would black out though, sometimes during those flashes, with close to no knowledge as to what happened when he was memory lane walking. None the less, he shook his head. "No, you ain't no kitty. You is a troll." He shifted their hands so hers was interlaced with her, gave their hands a squeeze. "A cute mother fucker at that." he added with a laugh.

She nodded at the not being a kitty comment but flinched at cute. Not as bad as she would have with the word pretty, but still enough for her to become tense. "No…no more blood…please." she whimpered, tightening her grip on his hand as she lowered her head.

"You're bleeding again. Let me see. I'll make with the disappearing of it." he said, making little circles on her hand with his thumb. She was practically cutting of his circulation but he didn't give two flying shits. She needed help, and he'll do whatever it took to get her to smile.

Eridan was learning how stubborn she was and he couldn't help but wish she wasn't. "She looks fine to me." He said.

Fef shook her head, "No, she's not." She's seen it all before. Her curling up and mewing was the common form. It drove her nuts not knowing what happened to where Nepeta did this. "I've known her since she was three sweeps old, she's not okay." She loosened her grip on his hand now. Gamzee was handling this quite well, but she still had doubts.

"So she does this often?" He asked. "You should take her to someone wwho can help her then." He knew how bad Gamzee could get, and hoped that Nepeta wasn't prone to violence when like this.

Nepeta eased her grip on his hand, pulling it back so she could turn it palm up to show the ripped ribbon and the thorns imbedded into her skin.

Gamzee felt a little tug in chest at seeing her hand. With great gentleness, he turned her hand this way and that. She had at least four thorns in her palm, possibly more. It was really hard to see, the sun was down and the moon was dim at this point. He would need to move her to where there was better light. Sides, she might have more in her arms, she hid herself tight in the bush. "Nepsis, I'll make with the blood ridding, but I can't here. Do you trust me?" he asked, taking both her hands lightly in his.

She didn't want to, but the pain won and was slowly pulling her back into the present. Her pupils shifted back to normal and she slowly looked up at him. "I…I think so…" she said, her voice just above a whisper.

Fef shook her head, a frown setting on her face. "We've tried. She just won't open up to anyone…" She hung her head. "Not even me." She added.

Eridan frowned, holding her hand tightly. "Howw long…has she been like this? Howw often does…she get like this?" he asked.

"Well, her mother, Disciple, showed up on her doorstep aboat….six sweeps ago, begging for work. Disciple's husband had been culled in the war, a battle very close to their home, and Disciple couldn't support her and Nepeta was two sweeps then. All we know is some fin happened her father was culled. She went missing and was found curled up against the corpse, mewing and shaking. When I first met her, she only mewed. I didn't hear her talk until a quarter sweep later. She wore cat ears and a tail up till she was 6 sweeps old.."

Eridan's eyes widened and he looked to Gamzee and Nepeta, who were barely more than shadows at this point. "She could havve seen her father die." That could have been traumatic enough, couldn't it have been? "So she's been this wway the entire time you havve knowwn her?" He added softly.

"That is a possibility." Fef replied. "Her mother did tell me once that her father always called Nepeta his little CatNep or his little kitty." She sighed. "But… I can't help but feel that there's more to it." she added, looking back over at the pair. She couldn't see anything now, which worried her.

Gamzee had to lean in to catch what she said. At least her eyes were shifting back to normal. He nodded and reached out to her, to pull her out of the bush. "I'll take that much.." he murmured.

She didn't struggle, allowing herself to be pulled form the thorny hide-out she had crawled into with minimal tensing. Once she was out, Gamzee carefully and slowly lifted her up bridal style. He would put her down the millisecond she struggled against him.

"Do these fits happen for a reason? Or are they random?" Gamzee had triggers of his own, which dulled due to the slime. He just hoped he wouldn't try to get Nepeta on that horrid substance to "fix" her.

"I'm…I'm not shore. It's hard to say. There are triggers, but I haven't seen a pattern-" She stopped mid sentence, seeing Gamzee lift Nepeta up. She was about to shoot up form their hiding spot and rip her out of his grasp. But, she wasn't supposed to be here, there's no telling what would happen if they got caught. "Nepeta." she whispered.

It didn't make sense, as far as Eridan could understand. These things had patterns, didn't they? Didn't they always? When Gamzee passed by them, he pulled Feferi a bit further back, trying to diminish all chance of him seeing the two of them.

The coolness of his skin was felt through his shirt and she pressed the side of her face to chest. He was cold. His skin didn't feel like a heater to the touch and it was calming. Her eyes slid close as she went all but limp in arms, breathing carefully.

Gamzee let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. She didn't struggle. She felt like one of his baked pies, in his arms. Loose, but still keeping form. He couldn't help but ever so gently tightened his grip on her and bring her even closer to him. Going so far as to press a feather light kiss in her hair. If her hands were warm, then the rest of her small frame was like a fire in a grid. It was a nice change from the ice water running through his veins. He began walking back, his plan was to take her to his room, but that changed once he reached the hall and a certain troll ran up behind him.

Nepeta…she…clamed down completely once Gamzee held her. Fef…in all her times of calming her down, had never been able to achieve that as fast as he did. A little green envy stirred up in her chest. This would surely be a one time deal right? Who's to say he would be this successful again? She waited one, two, three seconds before sprinting off after the pair, leaving poor Eridan behind in the bush.

She looked behind them when she heard the footsteps and may have flinched it if had been anyone but Feferi. "Purrincess…I'm sorry...I didn't stay away from him like you wanted…" she said, turning her gaze away from princess and back to her bleeding hand.

Fef just shook her head. She couldn't say that she saw everything, not with Gamzee standing there. Judging from how he only had eyes for Nepeta and how he stepped back when she stepped forward, he was not letting go of her anytime soon. So she walked around pushed him, not too hard, in the direction of her room. "I'll get the first aid kit." she knew having a stranger, even a nurse, near her would overwhelm Nep. She turned and walked off.

Gamzee was a bit confused but eventually got the hint to go to Fef's room. Once in, he set Nep on the bed and sat next to her. "Can I see?" he asked, holding his hand out.

Wait…Feferi was letting him stay around her? She didn't understand but at the moment didn't care. When he asked to see her hand, she slowly allowed it move from pressed against her stomach to his hand.

She had quite the collection of thorns in her hand. Definitely more than four, and every single one drew blood that had dried and crusted by now. "Nepsis…"He whispered, concern in his voice.

Fef had returned, with a vial of disinfectant and some cotton along with some wraps. She set them on the nightstand, took in a deep breath and looked at Gamzee. "I'll…come by to check on her in a bit." she said, the envy weighing her heart down. "She...needs you right now I'll be across the hall. She turned to Nepeta and planted a kiss on her forehead. " We'll talk later okay? Scream if he does somefin you don't like." She murmured. With that, she walked out of the room and down the hall. She wrapped her arms around herself. "Eridan." she quietly called out.

Eridan was a little ways down the hall when he saw her and moved quickly moved to her side when he heard his name. "Is she alright?" he asked, taking her hand. "More importantly, are you alright?"

Fef swallowed and threw her arms around his neck. She felt like she wasn't need, that she was useless now. That Gamzee could do a much better job than she ever did and that maybe…Gamzee would be the one she told the reasoning behind these episodes.

When she latched onto him, he knew the answer to his question, and sighed softly. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close.

Nepeta opened her mouth to call after Fef, but her voice caught in her throat. Feferi had always been there for her…and now she wasn't? And she was upset. It would have been hard not notice that. Nepeta dropped her gaze to her lap, swallowing hard.

Gamzee did see she was upset. He didn't think it was wise of Fef to leave. "Hey, do you want me to go bring her back? Just nod or do a headshake." he said. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable.

Nepeta nodded once. "But…not if she doesn't want to come back. I would understand." She hadn't gone out to find Feferi when she had gotten upset…She had just wanted to hide.

Gamzee nodded. "Be right back." with that, he got up and walked out. He knew she would stay nearby, and she did. She had latched onto Eridan, he could see her shoulder were held tense. Eridan was holding her, rubbing circles in her back. Gamzee walked over to the pair. "Fefsis, she needs you too." he simply said.

Fef pulled her face out of Eridan's shoulder and nodded. Gamzee turned around and walked back in. Fef tugged on Eridan's hand. "Stay with m-us?" she asked, not wanting to come off as needy but already failed.

Eridan nodded, taking her hand, holding it tightly. "Of course." he said before he led her back to the room. Nepeta hadn't moved a muscle, keeping her gaze away form her injured hand.

Fef trailed in after Gamzee. She didn't say anything as she climbed onto the bed and pulled Nep into her lap. "You got yourself pretty good on those thorns. She murmured.

Gamzee just watched for a bit, not sure of what to do. Should he leave? Let Fef take care of her? He didn't want to leave though, so he just shifted form foot to foot.

Eridan looked to Gamzee. "I wwould advvise you to help her or leavve.." he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Nepeta gave a small nod, wincing as she became aware of the stinging again. "I don't think I like rose bushes anymore…"She said softly.

Gamzee snapped out of it when Nepeta started talking. "How bout those de-thorned Roses?" he suggested, pulling some tweezers out of the nightstand drawer. "This might hurt some." he said, taking her hand, pulling the ribbon off and plucking one thorn out.

Nepeta opened her mouth to respond, but then covered her mouth with her good hand to stifle the squeak of pain. "M…Maybe.." she said, her hand moving to grip Feferi's hand tightly.

Fef tucked Nepeta's head under her chin and tightened her grip on her. "It's okay." she shooshed.

Gamzee recoiled when she cried out, but had to keep going. He was not even close to being done. He wasted no more time plucking the rest out. "It's consumes time, dethornin' but it don't take none away from their mother fucking beauty." he commented, trying to get her to focus on anything but the pain.

She swallowed hard, pressing back against Feferi and trying as best she could with keeping her hand still. "I don't want to put you through the trouble unless you want them not to have thorns." she said.

Eridan watched form where he was, surprised by her blood color. "Olivve green?" he commented, more so to himself than anyone else in the room

Fef heard him though, but decided not to talk about it now. "You're doing great, he's almost done." she said, smoothing out Nepeta's hair.

"Would be no trouble at all." he grinned. And with the last pluck, he was done, with that part. He pulled out the cork for the vial and got some cotton wet. "Sorry sis, this be stinging elixir." he warned, dabbing lightly on the cuts.

Nepeta was glad that she could tell apart the different kinds of pain, otherwise she may have panicked at the stinging. Her breath hitched and her tightened on Feferi's hand as she forced herself to remain still.

"There. No more thorns." Gamzee said, picking a clean bit of cotton and swiped it over the cuts. "No more blood." Before Fef could say anything, he brought her hands to his lips, kissing two cuts at a time..

Fef blinked a couple of times at this, then turned to Eridan with the most confused look on her face. Eridan shifted a little, then shrugged. "Wwe wwere taught wwhen wwe wwere little that salt heals wwounds." He said as Nepeta stared at Gamzee, confused as well.

Gamzee just grinned and grabbed some bandages to wrap around the cuts.

Fef…honestly didn't know what to think at this time of night. She rubbed her eye under her glasses, a tiny headache forming.

Nepeta looked down at her lap, picking up the stained, ripped ribbon. "This'll be completely green by the time my hand is healed." She said. She had cut it on the rose bush, then got thorns stuck on it. Not a lucky hand, she guessed.

"It's all good. Better a ribbon ruined than a hand ruined." he commented, collecting all of the supplies and sticking them in the drawer, throwing away the ruined cotton. "Imagine you be worn out now. Getting late." He turned and walked back over to Nepeta, he took the ribbon and tied it around her hand, on top of the bandages. "You gonna be okay?"

She looked down at her hand, holding it to her chest as she nodded. "Yes…I'll be okay." she agreed as she became aware of how tired she was. When had that happened?

Eridan looked to Feferi, then Gamzee. "Wwe should and allow them to rest." he said, getting up form his place on the bed and over to the door.

"Sure." Gamzee gave Nepeta's knee a pat then turned to walk out.

"GAMZEE WAIT!" Fef called out once Gamzee was out the door. He turned around, almost falling over form turning to far. Fef shifted Nep off her lap and jumped off the bed, running over to Gamzee. She inhaled before saying, "Thank you, for looking after her." she said with a weighted heart.

Gamzee looked a bit confused but hey, wasn't yelling at her for being within breathing distance of Nep. Though, he was confused by her behavior earlier…Oh she was still standing there. "No motherfucking problem sis." He grinned "You two be sleeping good tonight." With that, he turned and head for his room, only bumping into one pillar. That was pretty good considering the short distance.

Nepeta was as shocked by Feferi as Gamzee was, if not more so. She watched Gamzee leave, then looked to Feferi. Maybe Feferi would let her be around him now? It would be nice not to have to sneak behind best friend's back. Eridan looked to Feferi, surprise and discomfort filtering his eyes. "I hope you rest wwell Fef." He said, a hand to moving to mess with his scarf.

Fef turned to Eridan and nodded. "You too. Sink you can meet me at the beach a little after sunrise tomorrow?" she asked.

"Of course. With another picnic?" he offered, hoping she had enjoyed that earlier.

"Yes please." She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her head in his shoulder. "Thank you." she murmured.

His arms encircled hers and he held her for a moment. "You're wwelcome Fef." he replied softly.

She pulled back and gave him a smile before closing the door. Fef turned to see Nep staring at her in utter confusion. "Sink it's time to tell you…I…kinda spied on you in the garden during…yeah." she explained, walking over to the closet to pull out their night clothes.

Nepeta blinked, giving her an odd look. "You…huh?" She straightened up and turned so she could keep an eye on Feferi. "Why did you….?" she frowned, dropping her gaze. Feferi knew she was with Gamzee then, didn't she?

"Eridan and I were down at the beach and we were walking up when we saw you and heard Gamzee looking for you. "She explained. "Eridan wanted to leave but I insisted we stay. So I could be shore that you were okay and that he wasn't going to do any fin. I had a lot of doubts and un-seartainty but, he clammed you down reely fast. Betta than I ever did…"She trailed off. "Nepeta." she turned to face her, the bedclothes in her arms. She inhaled deeply, than exhaled. "I….still have doubts but…he cares aboat you so much. I could sea it in his eyes. You're almost nine full sweeps, almost an adult, I know you have good common sense. I can't…look after you forever, so…promise me…if you want to be near him…that you will be REELY CAREFUL. Can you promise me that?"

Nepeta wanted to protest about the rate Gamzee had calmed her down, but Feferi hadn't given her the chance before she asked for the promise. "You're….really worried about him aren't you?"

"I'm worried that he will hurt you, Worried aboat you in general." She admitted, helping Nepeta out of her torn, dirty dress.

Nepeta was silent until they were both in sleep ware. She sat back on the bed, running her hand over the ribbon. "I'm careful with evfurryone . Why would Gamzee be any different." she asked, keeping her gaze on the ribbon.

This was true, she was even careful with Fef. "Promise me at least?"

Nepeta looked up at her slowly, then nodded. "I purromise." She replied. "But you have to purromise me that you won't spy on me when I'm with him. I know you're trying to look out for me, but it's creepy!" she exclaimed, sticking her tongue out before she giggled.

Fef threw herself on the bed. "UGHHHHHH THE TORTURE YOU PUT ME THROUGH." She spazzed out then went limp, her tongue sticking out, acting like she was dead.

"You're are a queen of drama." Nepeta teased, patting Feferi's hair before crawling under the covers. "Besides, you don't see me spying on you when you went to purrince Eridan's room."

Fef shot up, her face full flushed Tyrian. She coughed to cover up her blush, but fail miserably. "Touché Nepeta, touché." She grumbled, climbing under the covers and pulling her friend into her arms. She wasn't leaving tonight, that was for sure.

Nepeta grinned at Feferi's blush and welcomed the cold skin her friend had. It was what calmed her fit's the most, knowing she was in the arms of someone with blood colder than her own. Blood colder than- Shaking her head, she buried her face into Feferi's neck and closed her eyes.