Adora talked to a social worker, named Ms Ra going through as many of the details about life with Shadow Weaver as she could. The first few minutes had been hard but then it was like her emotions went dead. She was forced to relay things she hadn't even thought of for so long and answered questions she had tried to not think about. Adora described shadow weavers manipulation, derision, control and insults. The visuals of fists and hospitals and blood flowed across her eyes, her eas rang with Catra's screams, she could smell alcohol and feel hunger.

"Okay, Adora we're done for now." The social worker said with a nod looking at her notes.

"Oh Alright," Adora mumbled.

"Do you know of any way we can get Lily out before we send in CPS to talk to Ms Weaver?"

"Oh um she'll be coming home from the community centre. She goes there a lot on weekends"

"Okay well, we can get her then."

"Wait. She won't go with you. She's young but she lives in Horde country you think she'll get in some random women's van?"

"Do you want to meet her?"

"Yeah... She'll come with me."

"All right. It will probably be best, you can help explain things to her."

"Right" Adora nodded.

Adora stood a block away from her home, or her old home. It was home, even after everything, and that was kind of disturbing, to say the least. It was the only thing close to home she ever had. Finally, she saw Lilly and Adora took a long breath and walked over.

"Hey, Lily," Adora called.

"Adora! Shadow Weaver is mad." Lily said in a low voice, "Catra ran away and she's just been yelling a lot and drinking."

"Yeah I know" Adora kneeled down, "But we aren't going back there today."

"Huh?

"We're going to talk to Ms Ra for a bit, and then we're going to stay with my friend Glimmer."

"We are?"

"Mhmm. Ms Ra and Ms Moon know that Shadow Weaver has been hurting us. They want to try and help us not have to be hurt anymore."

"Catra too?"

"Yeah hopefully," Adora said, a lie probably but a kind one.

"Okay." Lilly took Adora's had and they climbed into the car.

"Hey Lily, I'm Ms Ra. I'm going to try and help you to be safe okay?" Ms Ra said with a sweet voice just this side of grating.

Lily nodded and climbed into Adora's lap. Adora stiffened for a second then wrapped her arms around the younger girl. Adora realised that Lily was a lot like she had been. Adora had been shipped around so much as a little kid and this was just more of that for Lily right now. Hopefully, if this all worked, they wouldn't have to be shipped around ever again.

Ms Ra talked to them again with a police officer it was rough to hear Lily go through all the suffering she had seen and had been done to her when Adora didn't see. Adora vowed then she wouldn't let her down again, she wouldn't let her be like Catra, some she messed up with, someone who chooses the violence.

"Hey, so the two of you are going to go stay with Ms Moon. I and some of my colleagues are doing to go see Ms Weaver and the police will talk to her too. I'm going to get some of your stuff too. Anything you want to me make sure I get for you?"

" Robby. My stuffed puppy dog." Lily whispered into Adora's ear.

" What about fluffington?" Adora asked.

"He's in my backpack,"

"She wants her stuffed dog," Adora said to Ms Ra who smiled and nodded.

Ms Moon was waiting outside guiding the two girls to her car. Lily fell asleep half on half off Adora on the drive to the house. Adora laid her head on the cool windows. She wanted to sleep but the anxious lump in her throat kept her from sleep. But Lily's warm body kept her from going to full freak out. It was something grounding, and it gave her a mission, protect Lily. When they got to the house Adora shifted Lily to her back the girls breathing softly even in her ear. When they got inside they saw Bow and Glimmer asleep on the couch clearly waiting for them to get home. The TV was droning some inane sitcom. Somehow the house seemed radically different now. It wasn't this magic place that belongs to Glimmer. It became the place she had to run to because she didn't have anywhere else to run to. It was this or the street.

Glimmer and Bow woke up with the sounds of the main doors closing.

"You're here!' Glimmer shouted walking over to them.

Lily stirred on Adora's back.

"Where am I?' Lily asked blearily.

"This is Ms Moon's house. Remember? She picked us from the police station.

"She's our new guardian," Lily muttered.

"Exactly," Adora confirmed.

They went to the guest room to see a second bed had been moved there clearly meant for Lily.

"After you're a bit more settled, we should redecorate." Bow said.

"Mhm." Adora hummed in response. She placed Lily on the bed pulling the bedraggled rabbit from her backpack and placed in her hands.

"I need some sleep," Adora said.

"Right. See you tomorrow" Glimmer said apprehensively.

Adora did not sleep until Lily climbed in bed with her.

"Nightmares?" Adora whispered.

"Yeah. and this place is scary." Lily said.

Adora hugged her tight. So much like any night with Catra or Lily had always been. But everything else was monumentally different.

The next Morning Ms Ra was talking quietly to Ms Moon. Adora felt sick at the sights of two large brown paper bags with her and Lily's names scrawled across the front. Those deep memories of her first almost six years flooding back. Lily herself leaned against Aora's thigh.

The adults didn't notice of them, too immersed in their own conversation. They were able to Arrest Ms Weaver, it could all go to trial. They discussed the likelihood of charged for child neglect, abuse, endangerment. Sealed records could be opened, they could get medical records too if need be. They also were looking for Catra, hoping she would testify, the likelihood of trying to get Lily to talk on the stand. They didn't notice the girls till Glimmer came up behind them and said aloud good morning. All of the four original occupants of the dining room jumped.

"Geeze, uh sorry." Glimmer mumbled.

"It's alright." Ms Ra said."I have some of your things over here" She nodded to the bags.

Adora took hers it was mostly just clothes and the cracked photo of her and Catra that used to sit on their bedside table. She choked back anger and sadness stuffing in under the was able to pull out her toy, content for a moment.

"Adora we need you to ask you something."

"Yeah, I'll testify, speak more the police whatever you need," Adora answered. The adults glanced at each other then turned to stare at Adora. Adora crossed her arms across her chest feeling, awkward and deeply vulnerable.

"If your willing to do so it will go a long way." Ms Ra nodded.

"You said you think if we talk we have a good chance of getting somewhere right? So we never have to go back and she can't hurt more kids?"Adora asked

"I do think so yes. Your stories along with the fact the place was not nearly in a state that's safe for someone Lily's age. School records, previous complaints that will be helpful too. We'll probably talk to your school counsellor too. I know that's a lot but I do think we have a good chance. The charges I think will stick, and your sympathetic victims' juries will like you."

Lily turned to Adora looking a bit confused, "Charges, police, they're putting her in jail?"

"Yes, that's what we want. Then she can't hurt more people" Ms Ra said.

She slid on the ground next to Lily. Adora bet she was trying to not to intimidated "I know that sounds scary but we want to do our best to keep everyone safe."

"Bad guys go to court and then go to jail" Like wondered still looking at Adora.

"Right. It's a little more complicated. We have to talk to lots of people and fill out forms. The trail won't be for a little while getting through paperwork and waiting for an open time so we can use a room might take a long time."

"What happens to me?" Lily said pulling Adora by her pants so she was sitting on the ground.

"Well, for right now you're staying here. It's pretty safe and they are nice people. I've told you how nice Glimmer and Bow are remember?" Adora said.

All Lily did was nod.

"You are both welcome to stay here as long as your desire. I'm not going to make you leave." Ms Moon said.

"It' be great. Like being roomies." Glimmer said smiling.

"Do I have to talk to be safe?" Lily asked again directing the comment only to Adora. Looking back at Ms Ra Adora faltered, unsure what to say.

Ms a shook her head.

"You don't have to but it helps them do it," Adora explained running her hand throw the youngers girls head.

"I can if it means she can't hurt you and catra anymore." Lilly leaned into Adora.

The next days were blurry Adora didn't know how to piece together the extreme circumstances they were in, to the mundane business of getting herself and then Lily ready for school, school itself, soccer practice, Glimmer and Bow bickering about random things, getting lily a snack, homework, getting ready for bed, try and get through the night without nightmares, repeat. But of course, nothing was normal. They talked to Ms Ra quite a bit getting details when she needed them, getting reassurances and updates on the case. It was these small moments that reinforced that this was something different from all they had done before.

The bright moon people's reactions to her and Lily when they fell back into what they knew reminded her she was nothing like them. Lily wouldn't talk to anyone but Adora and sometimes Ms Ra after direct questions, everyone found that odd. When Lily did want attention she would run into things and break them, take shoes and stuff like that. Adora knew Lily had never gotten attention from most people with her words, but acting out did get that attention. Catra had been a lot like that growing up, a perfect foil to her own behaviour Adora thought grimly. But it was nothing to be helped, she would just have to protect her and help her anyway.

Adora's over self-reliance seemed to genuinely annoy the cooks. And she would say things she thought were normal and get these weird looks. But she was trying to do everything right, she was, it just never seemed to work.

One such day Adora and Lily were in their room. Lily was sobbing and waving her arms around. She had gotten her backpack stolen at school, then got thrown in the dirt for freaking out, then she'd had to go into time out. She was almost six but had no idea how to verbalize or control her emotions, more so then the others her age. So when they'd taken her backpack she couldn't say it's the only one we have, and it used to be Adora's. She couldn't explain her bunny, her one possession that was really hers, would get ruined if it was too wet. So instead had a panic attack and shut down till she got home, where she fell apar all over again.

"Hey lily please calm down you're getting really loud. See the bunny is fine." Adora calmed gesturing the bunny they had laid under the fan. He hadn't been really wet or muddy, but she understood it was the principle of the thing. The hysterical noises had subsided and Lily switched to violently rocking back and forth. Thankfully having followed Adora's instinct to calm down.

"I know the papers are wet but I can write you a letter, so you don't get in trouble. And the backpack was old anyway it was already pretty brown, it will still work."

Lily uncurled and flung herself into Adora smearing snot and tears across Adora's shirt. Adora ran circles on her back till she caught her breath.

"You really help gonna me not get in trouble." She asked with a hiccup.

"Course I will, don't tell anyone but I am decent at signature forging." Adora half-joked.

Lily smiled her face red from emotions eyes purple and puffy.

"I'm on your side okay? I know I've been gone a lot, but I won't do that anymore."

"Really?"

"Yup. I'm going to be here, even when it sucks."

Lily nodded stronger.

"You want some ice cream?'

"Yes yes yes!"

Adora swung the younger girl on her back. Knowing how exhausted crying like that made you. They got to the kitchen and saw Bow and Glimmer getting a snack.

"Where you been?" Glimmer asked, "you shot off right after school?"

Lily hide her face.

"Ahh, I knew Lily wouldn't want to ride the bus alone."

"The bus?"

"Well yeah." Adora shrugged.

"Who lets a kindergartner pay for a bus ticket."

"Don't ask questions, a fee is a fee"

Glimmer and Bow shared a confused look. A moment of awkward silence permeated through the room.

"Ice cream?" Lily said softly.

"Oh yeah, I promised her ice cream. Can we have some?" Adora said shifting Lily's weight on her back.

"Course you can!" Bow said.

"What's your favourite flavour, Lily." Glimmer asked with a smile.

Lily just stared at them.

"Strawberry" Adora answered.

The next day Adora walked in to see Ms Moon waiting for her.

"Adora we need to discuss some things."

"What things," Adora said cautiously.

"Yeah what?" Glimmer said, backing Adora up in a way that made Adora be momentarily distracted by Glimmer's cute determined face.

"It's about Lily" Ms Moon explained.

"Oh," Adora said, a hundred horrible scenarios flashed through her mind as she followed Ms Moon to the living room.

"Did you forge my signature?" She said.

Right to the point, Adora thought. "Yes."

"Why?"

"The kids already treated her like shit, getting the teacher rag on her too didn't seem fair."

"Why would either of you just tell me you needed help."

"I didn't need help." Adora countered.

"Clearly you did. I got a phone call asking me to come this Friday to address bullying. And thanking me for already being involved on a personal level with a difficult case."

Adora snorted, "Because labelling a kid at kindergarten is great for their self-esteem."

"I'm inclined to agree, but what is more upsetting is that neither of you told me what was wrong. You chose to lie."

"What was I supposed to do. I did what I needed too, I need to try and be better at keeping people safe. I have to do this, and I am. I know I haven't gotten her to be more verbal but I'm handling it. I patched her up, I take care of her best I can. Like I should have been. You don't have to worry about her, she won't bother you and if you don't go to the appointment they will eventually let off. Lily won't be a problem for you. "

"Adora." Ms Moon said cutting off her ramblings

She glanced up biting her lip.

"Lily is adjusting fine you don't have to in charge of her, she isn't your responsibility. "

"I'll do better, I can do better," Adora insisted, "Don't get mad at her.

"Listen, you don't have to lie or do it on your own. I know Bow and Glimmer want to help you if things like bullying happen, or either of you is injured you can come to me. That's what I'm here for."

"But I know how," Adora replied she stared at ms Moon. It was baffling he was saying this, of course, she had to do it. It was her job, she had to protect people, she couldn't fail them, she had to keep an eye on Lilly. Keep her out of trouble, that's how things went.

"You might know how. Like you might know how to get both of you ready for school fifteen minutes before had, I know you can do first aid, I mean you know concussion protocol. I know you can be self-sufficient, I know you will move hell and high water to do everything right, but you don't have too. The cooks can make breakfast, you don't have to get up at four am, you don't have to keep injuries secret. You don't need to hide food and weapons in your room. If Lily has a nightmare you can come to me, whenever you need. I want to go to the appointments and worry about you."

Adora just felt stunned. And confused, what was she even talking about.

"You're a kid Adora. You have plenty of time to have to learn responsibility, and you can always ask for help. I can tell your struggling, everyone can. Bow and Glimmer might come off a bit obvious but they can tell too."

"I can be more discrete. I told Lily to cry quieter, I don't mean to disrupt you guys." Adora said. She was annoying everyone, she couldn't handle it. She never did it right, Catra said so and Shadow Weaver always found something wrong, it wasn't good Adora wanted her to love her.

"That's not the point Adora. What I need from you, tell me when she is crying. All three of us can work out a plan."

"She won't talk to you," Adora replied with a sigh.

"We'll work up to that. But just practice asking for help okay? I swear to you everyone here will do their best. And no more forging of signatures. You don't have to be alone, or perfect."

Adora's mouth opened and then closed. So she just nodded mutely. Bow and Glimmer swooped her up right after that and she lost herself in the world of bad sitcoms and math homework.