A/N: I AM SO SORRY. I AM SO SORRY. Life has been very very busy for the past... few months, so Between kind of fell through the cracks. Good news, I plan on working on it again. Bad news, it's not going to be very often. A chapter here and there, not really continuing the story for a while. The Christmas Arc will return for July, I hope, since it's actually important to the overall plot. For now, it'll be random events in November. I hope you aren't too made with the long wait, but I hope you'll enjoy what I do have!

Disclaimer: FusionFall is not mine.

Tal glanced behind him as Kestrel caught up. Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over her shoulder at Edd's house and crossed her arms. "What's up?" he asked, raising one eyebrow.

She glared at him. "Whaddaya think's up?" she growled.

"Um, I don't know. That's why I asked."

She stopped, fingers curling into claws around her elbows. "He's a traitor, Tal! And you all just accepted him back like nothing had happened! Did Kina even tell you any of what happened to her down there? That fusion tortured her, Tal, and Kael just stood there and watched!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks, even though her face was rigid with anger. "And you let him come back!"

Tal lifted one hand and, hesitating, placed it on her shoulder. She stared up at him, rage clear in her eyes, but he didn't move away.

"Kes," he said, looking away. "Kina's the one who didn't want him killed. Did you think about that?"

She couldn't stop herself. She shoved him away, turned, and ran. Her feet pounded against the asphalt, leading her away, towards the circle of the Cul-de-Sac. Her breath fogged the air in front of her, but her skin was on fire, fighting back against the cold that threatened to engulf her.

She didn't notice the pair as she bolted by them. Kina blinked and paused, hand raised in greeting as the warm words died on her tongue. Socks turned and stared after her, brows creased in concern. He glanced back at Kina as Tal appeared, running after Kestrel.

"Tal, wait," Kina said, getting his attention. He stopped, eyes locked on Kes's retreating figure.

"I think I really ticked her off this time..." he whispered. "She's angry because we didn't want Kael killed."

"I see." She closed her eyes and put a hand on Tal's shoulder. "Then there's not really anything we can do right now."

"What?"

"We probably aren't the people she wants to see right now, since she's mad at us."

Neither of them noticed that Socks had floated after the girl, hands closely grasping his elbows.

Kestrel sat against the cardboard wall, arms wrapped around her legs, hugging them close to her chest. She buried her face in her knees, trying in vain to stop the shattering tears that still streamed down her cheeks.

"Dang it. Dang it! I'm not this weak," she whispered, but the tears still didn't stop.

A tiny touch on her shoulder made her look up in alarm, spotting Socks hovering over her shoulder in a second.

"The heck are you doing here? Kina coming?" she asked, voice thick.

The nano shook his head.

"Then what do we do?" Tal asked, glancing at Kina, who shook her head.

"Nothing we can do. Just hope she'll be better in a little while."

"And you're okay with that?"

She turned and gave him a long look. His heart fluttered a little and he turned away, a look of sorrow flitting across his features.

"Sometimes, words won't help, Tal."

Socks floated a little closer and wiped a tear from her cheek. She gently pushed him away and wiped her tears herself, roughly.

He tilted his head to the side, moved closer again, and wrapped his arms around her arm.

"Sometimes, you just need someone who understands. Who'll hold you without having to know why."

Kes raised her eyebrows in surprise, but slowly relaxed and put her other hand on Socks's back.

"Thanks," she whispered.

Socks moved a little and her Nanocom flashed. In an instant, Nano Buttercup, Four-arms, and Numbuh Four appeared. Buttercup and Four-arms immediately joined Socks in hugging Kes, but Numbuh Four stayed back. Four-arms reached out and dragged him closer, pressing him against Kes until he hugged her, too.

Kestrel, although still a little shocked, lowered her head until her cheek touched the tops of her nanos' heads. She smiled slightly through her tears, enjoying how warm they felt against her, and closed her eyes.

After a few minutes, there was another flash of light. Her three nanos disappeared and Socks let go of her arm, moved back, and stared up at her.

Kes sniffed and wiped a hand under her eyes. "Thanks, she whispered again, standing.

Movement by one of the nearby houses caught their attention. Kina emerged from the shadows, hands raised. "Just me," she said before blinking. "Socks? Is that where you got to?"

"Yeah, he's been with me." Kestrel shoved her hands in her pockets and looked down to the side.

"Are you okay?" Kina asked, hand already positioned to comfort the girl.

Kes glanced up. "Hey, Kina, have you...? I mean, has anyone really thanked you yet, for everything you do?"

The older girl paused, eyes widening. "What?"

"It's just... You do a lot, for everybody, and sometimes it seems like...well, I..." Kes grimaced, tore her beanie off, and ran a hand through her hair. "Thanks, I mean. For everything. And... You've been comforting everyone, right? Like, with hugs and crud like that. But has anyone done that for you yet?"

Kina opened her mouth, stopped, blinked again. Socks tilted his head to the side, a faint smile on his face, as Kes stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the elder girl.

Kina took a short breath as Kes grasped her tighter. She lifted her hands and hugged the girl back, tears springing into her eyes.

"I don't do this very often. My hugs're rare, so don't go thinkin' I'll be throwin' these around from now on, 'kay?" Kes's voice was muffled, but she sounded sincere. "But if anyone deserves it, it's you, Kina, 'cause no one's really given you one for a while and I think you needed one."

"Thank you, Kestrel," Kina whispered. Kes gave her another squeeze before letting go, stepping back, and looking up. She grinned a little, held onto her bare arms, and shivered.

"Lookit that, it's starting to snow," she observed before sticking out her tongue to try to catch one of the gently drifting flakes.

Kina glanced upwards, staring at the dark expanse of sky and small white dots, and smiled. Socks floated over to her and sat on her shoulder, nearly falling off as he tried to catch a flake on his finger. Kina smiled faintly.

"So it is," she murmured. "So it is."

A/N: This chapter came from two drawings I did this week. One was a legit "where do I go from here" drawing, one was a vent. Together, you get this. Happy un-birthday!