Note: A wee bit cheesy? Perhaps.

"Jump, Deryn, jump!"

Startled, she looked down. The ropes were still blazing, but they hadn't broken yet. Alek was standing, shouting at her.

This isn't how it's supposed to go, the part of her that was still lost in memories protested. But her common sense responded, This isn't my father's life. It's mine.

Deryn Sharp gathered her courage, and jumped.

As she fell, the ropes snapped, a string of fire whipping past her face. Then she hit the ground with a crack.

"That'd be the arm," she muttered, feeling pain scream up her side. She sat up slowly, to make sure nothing else was broken. Her body ached where she'd hit the hard packed dirt, but she was considerably better than expected. She'd thought she'd be on fire right about now.

Alek helped her stand, not putting any pressure on her broken arm. "Let's get you home."

Even years after the war, Ma still hadn't warmed up to the Clanker who spent time with her daughter. When Alek half walked, half carried Deryn into her house, she pointed a finger at him and said, "Get out."

"Ma, it was an accident," Deryn protested. Why did she always have to think the worst of everything? "It was my fault."

"Then I will have words with you alone. Shoo."

Alek left after he'd made sure Deryn could make it to the couch and sit unaided. She was sorry to see him go. Now she had no quick escape if Ma decided to unleash her full hellish fury.

"What happened?" she asked, eyes narrowed.

"The balloon caught fire. I had to jump." She didn't add that she'd pushed Alek out first. It was already too much like what had happened to Da for comfort. She could tell that Ma knew it too. There was pain in her eyes.

"This is why I didn't want you flying," she said quietly. "It killed your father. It almost killed you." She considered her daughter sadly. "You sent the boy out first, didn't you?"

Deryn nodded.

"You daft lassie," she sighed. "You're too much like your father. He loved the air more than he loved me too." She held up her hand before her daughter could protest. "Don't argue. I'm sure your friend wants to make sure you're alright, and that I haven't shouted at you. That arm will need looking at as well. Not the first bone you've broken, I daresay."

Deryn limped over to her mother and kissed her on the cheek. She was taller than her now, she realized. "I do love you, Ma," she whispered, and walked outside.

"Was she too hard on you?"

"Not really." Deryn ran fingers up and down her broken arm. It wasn't too bad – probably just a crack somewhere. A few weeks in a cast would sort it out.

"You saved my life," Alek commented. "Again."

"You saved mine," she answered, not meeting his eyes.

"You would have jumped."

"No. Actually, I wouldn't have."

Alarm sparked in his green eyes. "Why not?"

She shrugged. "It was so like what happened to Da… I almost wondered if the world was punishing me somehow, because his death really was my fault."

"That's mad."

"If you haven't learned by now that I'm the daftest girl in Scotland, Aleksander Ferdinand, I'm afraid there's no hope left for you."

"Fair point." He frowned at her arm. "You need to have a medic see to that. But once it's fixed… are you going to fly again? There're only so many times you can nearly get killed."

"Of course I'll fly again," she shot back, surprised he'd even ask. "It's quite daft of course, but if you'd been listening, you'd know that."

"I thought so." He grinned, and Deryn could almost hear her father's voice. That's my girl.