Lavi had no idea where he was. He had stepped out of the ark, and into a cold wind. It wasn't winter, as it was evident by the none existent snow. The temperature could say otherwise however.

"We have to find a place to take cover." Lavi being the level headed bookman-in-training, he went with his gut instinct; choices that had been ingrained in his memory.

"Turn left here. Down this street." Lavi listened to his friends directions, not yet questioning how he could possibly know where to go. There would be a time for questions later.

"Alright Galileo. Where now?" Lavi joked. He had read somewhere in the hundreds of books he had had his nose in about a man in the seventeenth century who studied the stars. Stars could be used the same as a compass if you knew how to. It seemed fitting somewhat.

"Turn right at the end of this sidewalk." Allen was awake, but he couldn't disguise the exhaustion in his voice or face. Lavi did as told, and with another right turn, he came upon a large building. Or at least it could possibly pass as one. It almost looked looked like a church of sorts.

"Were on the outer skirts of a small town. London actually," the boy explained. The red head did not have to ask. Lavi hadn't seen too many buildings, even before they began their trek. People were even more scarce. The few around didn't even spare the new comers a glance. They kept to themselves.

"You'll like her. Mother. At least that's what she told me to call her. It really has been a long time," Allen seemed to pause in thought.

"Tell me more about Mother. How long has she lived in a church?" Lavi was trying to make conversation for the most part, but he had other reasons. Himself and the others: Kanda, Lenalee, even the chief knew practically nothing regarding their 'cursed' friend. They knew the minimal. Mana, Allen's make-shift guardian had taken him in when he was very young.

From there, only tragedy would follow. Mana passed on and Allen committed taboo after an unwanted visitor, the Millennium Earl, showed his face.

Mana became an akuma, somehow cursing Allen with his all demon seeing eye. He had been fortunate, if this was the appropriate word, in killing his adoptive father. Saving himself.

Years of Cross Marian had changed the boy most likely. Probably becoming the person his friends knew today. Lavi looked over his shoulder. He had fallen asleep. No. that wasn't it.

'His breathing is too shallow,' Lavi decided. He had begun to get his old color back, but it was fading again. It wasn't natural for skin to be that ashen colored. Lavi was losing Allen.

"I need help." He spoke this, but not intentionally. It came out more or less. If Lavi was good at anything it was his ability to remain as humanly calm as possible, given the situation he found himself in.

He hurried to the church door. Using one hand to slam it against the huge, wooden door, he carefully readjusted his other so he did not drop his friend.

"I'm coming already. I can only move so fast!" Came an irritated yell from the other side. Lavi began to pace in place, growing more worried about Allen's condition. The door opened slowly, creaking as most old doors seemed to do.

The elderly woman said nothing. Her eyes grew. Realization.

"Come in. Now." It wasn't an invite, Lavi followed an order. He followed after the woman once the door was closed. They passed a kitchen area with a small hearth, table and two chairs, and a sink. A man in overalls sat asleep in a chair, snoring.

The woman kept on moving, so Lavi did the same. He trusted this person, because Allen did. He had to believe she would help them.

Now they stood in a bedroom. It was almost bare with the exception of a medium, well-sized bed, a small window and a chair.

"Lay him on the bed." Lavi carefully released his hold on Allen, lying him on the bed, on his side. Allen faced the two. Lavi figured he wouldn't be of use, unless she asked something of him. But for now, he made to sit in the lone wood chair against the wall.

"Tim. Come here," the woman called, softer this time. The golden golem flew into the room, through the open door.

'How did Timcanpy get free? Only the CROW who places the seals can-'Lavi than realized how it was possible. 'Link freed you. He had to have freed Allen's golem. It's the only answer.'

The golem landed on the bed near his master's head. It's tail fell over the side of the bed, flipping like an antsy cat. Worry and excitement. Allen had become the master some time ago. Exactly when, was unknown.

"Were you able to play back the golems feedback?" Lavi offered, hoping it might be of help.

"Of course I tried. Whatever happened, damaged Timcanpy's feed somewhat. It isn't of much use," she relied.

"Mother-can I call you that?" She nodded her answer. Yes.

"Mother, what can you do for him?" Lavi's voice cracked. He hadn't been aware of what he had been feeling. He was afraid.

"After seeing the present seal on Allen's left arm, I think I can use this seal." The golem opened its mouth wide, revealing a slip of perfectly cut paper. It was a CROW's seal. It was different somehow. Unlike the current paper sealing Allen's innocence, this one was a reverse image of the first.

Mother grabbed it, and hesitantly held it near Allen's arm in comparison. She seemed worried to place it too close. Lavi came to stand by Mother who now was kneeling by the bed side, eye level with the patient. Timcanpy chose this time to fly and hover near Lavi's face.

He brought another paper, much larger than the first, from his mouth. Lavi grabbed it slowly. He wasn't altogether sure it was for him to take, but Tim did not move away. With paper in hand, Lavi read the short note to himself,

Walker. Stay safe, if you do nothing else useful. The seal in the golems mouth will reverse the current binding holding your arm. Simply place it over the other and it will dissolve. I trust your golem to find you. Don't die.

-Howard Link

Link was not who Lavi had perceived him to be.

'Maybe I've misjudged his character. No," Lavi berated himself. 'We have to help Allen right now.'

"Place that paper in your hand, on top of the other. It will remove it," Lavi explained. Mother seemed to hesitate at first, but did this. As he had said, the seal dissolved in small sparks of fire and heat.

Mother brushed the ashes of burned paper away, working quickly to unwrap the boys arm. The bandage was now on the floor and his arm was unharmed. Thank god. One less thing to worry about.

Allen opened his eyes the smallest amount. Just enough to see, and probably as much as he could.

"Mother?" The name was said softly, tired. His breathing had improved some since arriving.

"Timcanpy? How did you get here?" Allen's eyes quickly found the golems form hovering in mid-air. Mother smiled.

"He found his way here. I don't know how, but he's always been smarter than I gave him credit for," the woman smiled. She had not seen Allen since he was a small boy. He still was a boy, but it was evident that Allen Walker had had to grow up fast.

"Rest now. We'll talk in the morning." She stroked his head in a soothing manner. The way a mother would her child.

"Where's Lavi?" He tried to look around the darkening room as the night progressed. The window offered very little light, though little was present.

"Is that your friend here?" she asked.

"Tall, sarcastic, eyepatch, a wise ass? Yeah, that's him," Allen laughed a little at his own joke.

"I'm here. And for the record, I am not a pain in the ass," Lavi defended, but gave in with a smile his own.

"I'll leave you to sleep. Good night, Allen." Mother bid her goodbyes for the night and left, closing the door behind her. Lavi now sat on the edge of the bed.

"I'm only purposely a pain in Kanda's Ass," Lavi added for fun. "You look better. More color."

"You don't have to make small talk," Allen said. "Lay down. You must be tired too." He closed his eyes. Lavi moved to do the same, a part of him telling him to just sleep sitting up in the uncomfortable chair. The other said to follow orders. A bookman always followed orders.

Lying beside his friend now, the exorcist became aware of the fatigue he felt. He was soon lulled into a dreamless sleep by the familiar, yet he had never felt it before now, interlaced hands of his own and Allen Walker's.