Good evening my beloved sickos!

I do sincerely thank you for all of the words laced with gentle care and healing that you all have given me over the past couple of months. You've all helped me very much and I appreciate each comment or message.

I also appreciate your patience over the past couple of months while I went inactive.

But now I must say that Tawny has made a shockingly unexpected and triumphant return!

Today, March 4th is my 19th birthday. It's my first birthday without my mom, and I still miss her very much. But slowly, I'm stitching myself back together!

Oh dear goddess, haha, my birthday was wonderful! There was a cake with candles and singing and a small party and everything! I haven't done that since I was like 15! And it was right after I got home from the gym! I was all sweaty and stanky and I was like "WHOAH WHAT UP WITH THE PEEPS IN MY HOUSE?!" My gifts were cards with gift cards and a twenty, but I didn't care at all. Just them being there was great! And besides, the girly pink-flowered cake was the most hiliariously ironic thing I'd ever seen in my life!

My father was like "I COULDN'T FIND A GOTHIC CAKE IN THE NORMAL PEOPLE STORE!" XDDD

Now no favorites out of my gifts, but the best was a giant pineapple with a green bow on it given to me by my Aunt Kristie! I was like "YOU GOT ME A PINEAPPLE?!" She like "YES, I DID!" Then I was like "IT'S SO HUGE I COULD DIE!" To which she replied "I KNOW RIGHT?!" And then I responded "I'M GONNA NEED A SWORD TO SLICE UP THIS BAD BOY!"

Yes, much fun indeed...Psych also came back in time for my birthday! Recorded the premiere and watched it today ^_^

Let's see, I've also adopted two small English female rats. A black and white one named Thisby, and a white one named Imogene. SHAKESPEARE REFERENCES! Those who can name the two plays those names originate from earn my favor and may be my lap dog sicko for the week.

And just now I ordered a bonsai tree as a birthday present to myself...pretty nifty.

And since it's my birthday, I'm making use my usual habit of giving gifts to my guests as well! This update is your gift. Granted, it is short...and slightly solemn, but still! A gift is a gift!

Go forth my darling sicko imps. The game has resumed.

~Will's POV~

I licked my lips and swallowed when he didn't turn entirely to face me. But he didn't walk away either. In truth, his body probably wasn't willing to move. He looked exhausted. His dark eyes were weary. It didn't look like he'd shaved since the last time I'd seen him. But it seemed that there was no longer a bruise covering the side of his jaw, or a cut to be seen on his face. His hand was unwrapped and aside from the tired slouch, he seemed okay.

His shoulders rose a little bit and he seemed to quietly sigh through his nostrils. He looked away, toward the floor, "What is it, Stronghold?"

"I…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push you," I swallowed again, gently speaking but trying to put some more conviction under my words. "I was just worried about you…because you were hurt,"

"You're apologizing for stupid reasons." He said gruffly, then added a low mumble that sounded like, "You're stupid for apologizing…"

"Th-then…Warren please tell me what to," I started.

He shook his head, "You have to stop."

"Warren, please, I,"

"Stronghold!" He barked, silencing me with his firm tone. He stepped toward me, "Don't ever apologize to me. Just forget everything, okay? Forget whatever the hell this is," He stopped directly in front of me, gesturing between us. "whatever it was! I don't want this, and I don't want you." He growled. "If you keep coming after me, you're gonna get hurt, and not in the way you like."

"Warren,"

"Stop. I don't want you. Quit disillusioning yourself." His tired eyes glared half-heartedly down at me. Trying too hard, like he was lying to me for some secret reason. Protecting me from something…and that kept me going. We both spoke at the same time.

"Warren, whatever is wrong, just please,"

"Stronghold, I swear to god, if you don't,"

He grabbed my collar and threw back a fist, high enough to be aimed at my face and I winced, shutting my eyes. But no blow came. After a short moment of listening to his breathing, I opened my eyes cautiously.

His fist wavered in the air. His jaw was set firmly. The turmoil and anger in his eyes made the back of my throat feel cold and prickly. My voice cracked when I whispered, trying to hold the water welling in my eyes at bay. "Warren…please…" I watched the anger soften, and the turmoil strengthened as his jaw slackened. He let out a harsh breath from between his lips.

I reached up gently, to touch his hand that held me by my collar. But he pulled away before I could. "For god's sake, Stronghold…pain is just a message. And anyone can write you those letters." Shaking his head, he turned to walk away.

"Warren…I only want them to be from you."

He stopped, his head rising by the slightest. Then his shoulders hunched and I heard him pull in a craggy breath. I moved forward, and reached out, hands trembling. From behind I softly wrapped my arms around his torso. I turned my head and rested my cheek against the shoulder unblocked by his bag. I breathed in. He was so warm. He smelled so good.

That warm scent of worn leather, and smoldering, spicy fire made me breath even deeper and slower.

I felt a heat approaching my hands where they clasped against his stomach. And then a hot palm rested over my fingers. I ducked my head closer to his shoulder, closing my eyes. "Warren…"

A moment of silence followed. I felt a muscle in his shoulder tighten slightly as he lowered his head. "You're making this so much harder…" he murmured. I felt him reach up with his unoccupied hand and rub at his face.

Somewhere behind me, a door opened and Warren shoved my hands away. And he walked down the hallway to the left, disappearing from sight in a matter of seconds, readjusting the strap of his bag.

The conversation behind me slowed down.

"Okay, I've added it to the list."

"And I was thinking we could have some fake snow on…the…"

The soft footsteps paused as my face grew hot, water blurring my vision as I looked down to the floor.

"Will?" It was Gwen calling to me. To the side I heard her ask, "Who just walked away from him?"

Two pairs of footfalls approached me from behind.

"I think it was Warren Peace." That was most definitely Penny.

"Will?" Gwen called again, closer this time. I felt a soft hand settle on my shoulder as she came around me, "Will, are you okay?"

In my peripheral vision I saw her lightly glossed lips frown. "Ohhh, Will. What happened? Penny, do you have some tissues?"

"Yeah, hang on." The cheerleader said, digging into her purse, coming to stand on my other side.

Gwen came around in front of me and took my hands, "Come on, Will. It's okay." Then she was wiping under my eyes with a tissue that Penny gave her. "Did you and Warren get in a fight?"

"He doesn't look banged up," Penny said, gently touching my arm. "You okay?"

Gwen shook her head at Penny. She finally caught my gaze in her soft, dark brown eyes. Her hair was hanging loosely today, touching the shoulders of her powder pink blouse. She asked, "Do you want to go somewhere and talk?"

A hoarse murmur tumbled from my lips.

"What?" Penny asked.

Gwen shot her a look and Penny's eyebrows rose. She moved her black hair from her shoulder in shock.

"I think…he's breaking up with me…" I reached up and rubbed at my wet eyes. "If there was even anything to break up."

"Come here," Gwen crooned comfortingly, pulling me to her. She hugged me tightly as I wiped at my eyes. I forgot about that time Penny had dismissed my friends, and let her rub gentle circles into my back. The technopath's perfume was familiar from all of our close study sessions. She smelled like gardenias. But then there was kind of a slight electric metallic smell…probably from all the devices that she handled.

She gave my shoulders a comforting squeeze, and said, "Come on, let's go somewhere to talk."

~Warren's POV~

Oh good god, I didn't think it was even possible for me to feel embarrassment…

Getting off the bus and seeing Mom parked where she was when I'd gotten on in the morning made me wonder if she'd sat there waiting for me all day. Rolling my eyes, I walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the eyes I could feel on me as well as the whispers. As I got further away, I heard Mom throw the car in drive. And of course, she pulled up beside me, rolling steadily as I walked.

The window whirred as it went down on the passenger side. "This would be so much less painful if you just got in, Warren." I heard her say, but I didn't look at her.

"You make me want to die."

"I'm sure. There's a TV show like this you know, it's called Intervention."

After a block or two of walking in silence, a resigned groan flowed from between my teeth and I yanked open the door. After ducking inside and closing it behind me, she drove away.

"See? Was that so hard?"

I finally looked at her. She was wearing different jeans and a green tank top. She had stitches near her hairline on the right side of her forehead, a bruised lip, some scraped up elbows and a white patch on her arm.

"What the hell happened to you?" I asked, growling at the thought of some guy beating up on her. And for a moment, I wondered where that protectiveness came from. I knew that as a Negotiator she'd been in some intense situations, but I never really actually thought about her being in danger. And I saw a flicker of something warm in her tawny eyes.

"Hostage situation. Trigger happy and a mean left hook." She said, looking back to the road. She smiled a little bit, "I'm touched that you care."

"Oh please…" I growled, looking out the window.

For a moment there was silence.

Then I just had to fucking mutter, "You okay?" As if I hadn't lost my dignity enough…How the hell could I be angry with the woman if she had a gash on her arm from a stray bullet and a fat lip?

Quietly she answered, "Yeah, I'm okay."

More silence.

Then I asked, "Am I allowed to take my bike when we get back or am I on house arrest too?"

"Be back in time for dinner."

I groaned.

She chuckled, "Unless you have work."

"As a matter of fact I do, you can even call Shu and confirm it."

"I believe you. I'll even come in for dinner and you can serve me."

Oh for fuck's sake…

~Will's POV~

I licked my lips and set down the empty glass. Then I reached up and rubbed at my sore eyes.

"Still thirsty?" Gwen asked, picking up my glass.

With a shake of my head I answered hoarsely, "No, but thanks Gwen." I rubbed my tongue at the roof of my mouth. I'd never ever considered that pineapple and avocado could possibly taste okay together. But after a couple of glasses of the odd green liquid, there was this weird taste on the back of my tongue. I didn't want to complain about it to Gwen. After all, she'd been listening patiently to me for the past three hours unload, cry, unload, cry, unload and then cry some more.

I owed this girl so much.

She nodded, smiling gently and then left her living room to go into the kitchen down the hallway. Distantly, I heard running water as she rinsed out our glasses. I let out a long sigh, feeling weary. I fell back against the plushy royal red sectional and closed my eyes.

The sound of her returning wasn't quite enough to make me open my eyes.

She sat down beside me and stroked a hand through my hair, "Will, I'm sorry but it's almost dinner time, and my father just gave me the stink eye. Want me to take you home?"

I opened my eyes and sat up, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you in trouble with your dad." As I stood she did too.

"C'mon, I'll give you a ride."

"No, it's okay," I started, following her toward the dining room to the front door.

She turned and looked at me seriously, "Will, I don't want you walking home by yourself tonight."

I frowned and looked toward the floor, feeling reprimanded. One of her soft hands came up and touched my cheek, "Hey, it'll be alright." I looked back up at her. She smiled apologetically, "Okay? C'mon, I'll take you home."

She slipped her hand to my shoulder and I let her guide me outside to the garage. Once inside I looked at a big black van sitting over in the corner. I raised my eyebrows at the front of it. It was scraped up and a light was broken.

Gwen saw me looking as she went over to a red Versa. "Had a little fender bender." She frowned and shook her head. "The guy was a bit of a hothead, cruising at about seventy miles an hour."

I nodded to show that I was listening, trying to ignore that she'd said 'hothead'. She seemed to realize what she'd said and sighed. "Sorry."

I shook my head, "It's okay, really, Gwen."

She ducked into the car and leaned over, opening the door for me. I got in and shut the door behind me as she hit a button on a remote to open the garage door. She threw it in reverse as I buckled my seatbelt and backed neatly out of the garage and to the street.

"New car?" I asked as she shifted into drive and went down the street through the street lamp lit darkness.

She shrugged, "Well, kind of. I built it. A lot of different parts. But it's works great. My dad helped me buy parts." She smiled a knowing smile, gently rubbing the steering wheel with her thumbs. I'm pretty sure that I'd probably had a similar face when I'd first gotten my guitar years ago after doing every bit of yard work for whatever neighbor required it. Something that you worked for, something that was purely yours gave you a sense of pride.

After a few minutes, my head lolled sleepily. I was so tired, and there was this odd ache in the pit of my stomach. It had to be the emotionally draining day I'd just had. I jumped awake when I heard the wipers turn on. After I looked through the windshield I saw that it had started raining.

I glanced toward Gwen. She turned briefly to look at me and smirked softly, "Sorry. But I guess it's good you're awake. We're almost at your house. You okay?"

With a sigh, I reached up and rubbed tenderly at my eyes. "I guess…not really."

"I'm sorry, Will. I really am. It won't feel okay for a while. But it doesn't have to hurt forever, you know."

I looked over at her as she slowed to a stop in front of my house and unbuckled my seatbelt. "How do you mean?"

"Don't worry, you'll find the answer."

She leaned over and gave me a gentle hug. I wrapped my arms around her with an unconscious delicacy, making sure not to hurt her. She was very soft, and she smelled pretty. It made me smile lightly against her shoulder as her strawberry-smelling hair brushed my cheek. "I'll text you, okay?"

I nodded, "Okay. Thanks...for being a...good listener."

"Don't worry, Will."

Then she let me go, and I opened the car door, quickly shutting it behind me. Gwen gave me a wave and did a three-point turn. I watched her go down the street until her taillights disappeared around the corner. A shiver traveled down my spine as the chilly rain soaked my shoulders and down my back. So I turned quickly and went up the walk to the porch. I twisted the doorknob carefully and went inside, taking off my wet shoes at the mat.

Dad came out from the kitchen as I was taking off my wet jacket. He'd taken off his tie and his sleeves were rolled up. "Whoah! Hey Buddy! How was the study session?"

"It was okay." I answered, hanging up my jacket and brushing back my wet hair.

"Hey Will!" Mom called from the kitchen. "Steve, get back in here and mash the potatoes!"

Dad rolled his eyes, "But I just washed the lettuce!"

"Now!"

"I'm gonna go shower and change." I said, taking Dad's attention for a brief moment.

"Okay." He said, smiling. As I walked past him toward the stairs he spoke again. "Hey, Will?"

I paused, "Yeah?"

"You okay, Buddy?"

His eyes observed me with quiet concern behind his glasses. I hadn't seen him look at me like that for a long time. I hadn't done or said anything out of the ordinary, so what made him notice something?

He let the silence pass between us, patiently studying me, but seeming to tense a bit more as the seconds went by. And for a brief moment, I almost unleashed all I'd unleashed on Gwen this afternoon.

"I…Yeah, I'm okay, Dad."

Slowly, a corner of his mouth turned up slightly, giving me a nod. At that, I moved up the stairs, trying to hold back the tears that leapt to my eyes.

~Warren's POV~

I let out an angry yell, and burned the piece of paper up in my hands. Ashes floated gracefully to the ground and I kicked one of the recaps littering the street.

"I'm not stupid, Mr. Peace. I can see your love for the son of your father's incarcerator is too strong for you to betray him. Even if I had believed your cute little Shakespearian dramas, you are no longer needed. Points for effort though. RP"

I ran a hand roughly back through my hair. What was I supposed to do now? 'No longer needed'…

Biting down on my lip, I glared at the ground. He had a plan to get that weapon. It was already in effect. If he succeeded, his shocking and unexpected return to torment society was imminent and bound to cause disaster.

And what if Stronghold gets caught up in the crossfire? I thought, sinking down to a crouch and clutching at my hair. What the hell am I gonna do?

I rubbed at my eyes, tired from the lack of sleep. I was entirely lost in the raging storm in my head, panicking, trying to figure out what to do. What was wrong. What was right. What was best for me. And what was best for him…

Shoving myself up to stand, I threw a leg over my bike and yanked on my helmet.

Watch over him.