Valkyrie wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. She closed her eyes, trying to hide the shame and guilt and embarrassment that she felt. She took a small breath and before she could think herself out of it, she knocked.
She heard a ruckus, then fumbling. Then her father opened the door. Her living, breathing father, in all his dishevelled glory.
"Dad, I-" She started, but he pulled her into a hug as he called for his wife. Melissa poked her head through the living room door and saw her husband cradling girl, the top of her head poking out from behind his shoulder. "Oh." She gasped and ran through. "Oh, my baby." Valkyrie fumbled with her arm until she had wedged it out and wrapped it around her frail mother. She was crying. She didn't remember when she started, but tears were making warm, salty trails down her cheeks. Her parents lead her through he small, familiar home. Her home. Her mother busied herself with the kettle while her father sat and they talked. Her mother joined them with three steaming cups of tea. They spoke for hours, about everything.
The Sanctuary hadn't left them. Skulduggery had kept his promise, he had looked after them. He got everyone he could to help as well; China helped get her father a new job when he lost it. Ezra and Dexter were Alice's favourite baby-sitters because Alice climbed all over Dexter whether he liked it or not, and Ezra's hair had become Alice's passion, her favourite crayon being yellow ochre because it was closest. Skulduggery kept watch. He was her parent's number 1 speed dial and he dropped everything. Her parents had been attacked 8 times in the past five years.
Valkyrie's blood boiled when she heard this. Her parents quickly assured her that it was minor, amateurs, Skulduggery had called them. But Valkyrie didn't care. But her anger dissipated when the door opened again. "Mummy! Daddy!" Came a high-pitched voice. Then in came a little girl, with hair as black as ravens, eyes the brown of dark chocolate, skin pale but with that glow that all toddlers seemed to have.
Alice.
Her little hand was being held by Ezra's, a wide smile on her hair. Dexter was in the door way. "We'll be off then." Ezra said with a grin as Alice looked confused at Valkyrie, this strange, dark-haired woman she didn't know, with puffy red eyes, sitting in her kitchen. "Noooooooo!" Alice cried, tugging on Ezra's hand. Ezra crouched down and wrapped her arms around the small child. "Buh-Bye, Aunty Ezzy!" She cried. Then she let go and ran for Dexter, who knelt and lifted her up, Alice shrieking with giggles as he spun her around. "Buh-Bye, Uncle Dexy!" She said between her hysterical laughter once he sat her down. Valkyrie had tears in her eyes. They had looked after them when Valkyrie had given up. She would never be able to thank them. "Bye Ally." Dexter replied. Desmond pulled out a note from his wallet and offered it to Dexter. "This time?" He asked.
"Most certainly not." Ezra said smiling.
"We should get going." Dexter said, and Ezra waved to everyone, took Dexter's hand and left.
"Alice, dear, come and see Mummy." Alice woddled over to Melissa, who scooped her up and sat the child on her lap. "We have someone very important we'd like you to meet." She said.
Desmond placed his hand on Valkyrie's shoulder. "This... This is your older sister, Stephanie, but she likes to be called Valkyrie."
"Vally." Alice said nodding in that determined way that only six year olds could manage.
"Hiya," Valkyrie said tentatively. She was scared. She didn't know if she would let her in or not.
Alice stuck her hand out. "Come and look at my crayons with me. I like crayons." Valkyrie smiled as unconditional love sprouted from within her chest. The hole that was there was filled. She took her little sister's hand. "Yes... Yes, I love crayons."
Thank you so much for reading! Please review! 3
