When Amara awoke again, she was alone. She rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. Her body was stiff and sore, but nowhere near as awful as she felt in that pit. She winced. A horrible sense of dread started to gnaw in her stomach as she thought about how much trouble she was going to be in. She knew that she had worried her parents, but she really did do something stupid, and now she knew it.

Mara tilted her head as she heard the light sound of talking on the other side of the heavy doors, her heart leapt as she recognised the sound of her parents voices. At first she was happy, but when the voices grew closer she had to fight the urge to hide under the sheets and pretend that she was asleep.

"Okay. We get it Stein, she needs rest. Don't worry, we won't be letting her out of out sight," Amara heard her mother say. Her eyes fell down to her lap in guilt. There was more discussion that she couldn't make out when the doors began to creek open.

Amara dragged her eyes up to meet the weary gazes of her parents. They looked tired, like they hadn't slept. Mara has to swallow her guilt again.

"Baby," her Mama breathed as she made her way over to feel her head. "How're we feeling?" Amara had to fight tears at how nice they were being.

"M'okay," she croaked. "Tired. And a little sore." She saw Stein nod behind her father.

"You'll be sore for a couple more days," Stein said. "Your ankle is wrapped up nice, so is your finger. I'll remove them soon. How's your head?"

"…Fuzzy." Stein nodded again.

"But no pain?"

"No."

"Alright," he nodded to her parents and her and left without another word. Her Papa made her way over to her other side to brush some hair out of her face.

"Ready to go home?" he said in a the softest voice she'd ever heard him speak in. "You can stay on the couch while your Mum and I look after you." Amara nodded, finding it hard to meet their eyes.

"Where's Masen?" she asked tentatively.

"He's with Tsubaki and Blackstar, sweetie. They're at our place." Amara nodded.

"Good. I wanted… Voglio dirgli che mi dispiace. [I wanted to tell him I'm sorry.]" she whispered. Her parents smiled widely.

"I think that'd make him very happy." Her Dad rumbled with a smirk. "Very cool of you." Amara giggled.

"Okay," Mama rubbed her shoulder. "Let's get you home."


The journey home was horrible. It was raining still, but even seeing it from the car made her feel sick and scared. She thinks her parents could tell, even though she was trying to hide it. All she could think about was how cold and wet she was. She didn't want to see another storm again for as long as she lived.

By the time they pulled up to their apartment building the rain had let up. If Amara was being honest, that was the only reason she could bring herself to exit the car. Guess the whole experience got to her more than even she thought.

"It's okay, Mara," her Papa muttered she he picked her up. "Just close your eyes' a minute. We'll be inside soon."

After making their way into the building and getting cuddles of Aunt Tsubaki and Uncle Star, she was bundled on the couch with blankets and her teddies, the television playing quietly. Her Mama was putting Masen to bed, she said she can apologize to him tomorrow. That'd just have to do.

Eventually, when Masen was settled and everything was done, her parents made their way into the living room to sit on the couch with her. Wordlessly, her Dad wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"That was so uncool, Amara," he mumbled gruffly, but Mara could hear the pain in his voice. "You really, really scared us."

"I know. I- I didn't mean to," she squeaked, her eye's wide with remorse. "I was just getting used to it not being just me and you guys. I know Masen needed your attention more, he's a baby! But it was hard – I missed you."

Her parents eyes clouded with regret, she looked away and carried on.

"And then when that thing happened with my foot… I just felt so, so, so frightened. I don't want to have to hurt anything, or anyone! But I know I have to go to the DWMA but I didn't – it was no excuse to – " She had to fight sobs at her parents heart broken expressions. She buried her face in her hands.

"I'm so sorry."

Amara felt her parent's arms wrapping around her. They were cooing and muttering but she couldn't hear anything they were saying over her own sobs. How could she be so stupid? They love her so much. Why would she ever want to leave?

"Amara," eventually her father pulled her hands from her face and met her crimson eyes with his own. "We know you're sorry and we're sorry we ever had any part in driving you away – No, shush." He said when she tried to interrupt. "We did. We shouldn't have just expected you to just automatically be able to handle so many changes."

"And I never should have yelled at you," Her mother murmured, her green eyes glistening with regret. "You were frightened and I should have seen that. I'm so sorry, hunnie." Amara shook her head.

"No, I yelled at Masen. That was awful of me. He's a baby." She squealed, fighting tears again. Her mother just shook her head again.

"You're a baby, sweetie." Her mother laughed lightly. "And your father and I need to remember that. Even if you act like an adult!"

Amara giggled. She closed her eyes and smiled.

"Sono così felice. Pensavo che saresti stato arrabbiato con me per sempre. [I'm so happy. I thought you'd be upset with me forever]" she told them, her father rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Non essere stupido. [Don't be stupid]" he flicked her forehead gently and she giggled again. "We will never be mad at you forever. That's not cool, is it?" Amara laughed.

"No," she agreed.

"Not cool," Mama laughed. Her father gave a lovely grumbly laugh and hugged them both.

"Now, I don't want to start anything here," he said as she released them slowly. "But we do need to talk about this whole weapon thing."

Mama hummed and Amara looked down.

"Okay," she muttered. Her mother stroked her hair and continued.

"Now, we know you're not happy about this. But you have to understand baby, it's your responsibility now to make sure you can control this part of you."

"But – " her father cut in. "You're not the only person we know who ever had reservations about being a weapon." Amara looked up at that and frowned.

"I'm not?" she asked and her parents shook their heads.

"Nope," her father popped his lips on the 'p'. "You're Aunt Tsubaki is a weapon."

Amara's eyes had never gone so wide. "Aunt Tsubaki?" Mama laughed.

"Yeah," she told her. "And we thought, maybe you can start all of your training with her. Before even finding a partner." Amara's face fell again.

"You mean boyfriend," she grumbled. Her parent's frowned.

"What?"

"Don't you have to marry your partner?" she asked, her face sullen. Her mother and father exchanged bewildered looks.

"Hunnie, why on earth would you think that?" Her mother asked. Amara huffed.

"You and Papa are together," she exclaimed. "Tsubaki and Star are, and even Uncle Kid and Aunt Lizzie are! I thought you had –"

"No, no, no, no," Her father stood from the couch, shaking his head over and over. "That's just all a coincidence! You don't need to get with your partner! You don't even need a boy partner – which you won't! Because – No!" Her mother laughed an nudged her shoulder with Amara's.

"But you never know," she said and winked.

"Oi!"

Amara laughed, feeling a massive weight lift from her chest.

"So, I can train with Aunt Tsubaki till I need to find a partner?" she confirmed. Her parents nodded.

"Yah – You won't even start at the DWMA till you're eleven anyway, since it's between the ages of nine to thirteen when kids usually awaken. It's very rare for someone your age to awaken. It usually means you'll be very powerful." Her father told her, his eye's sparkling with pride.

"Which is very good," Her mother cut in. "It might also mean you'll have much more control. Having a blade this early is rare too. You'll be amazing."

Amara nodded slowly, still feeling uneasy at the thought of turning into a weapon, but she definitely felt better.

"Okay," she nodded and smiled at her parent's. "I'll be okay."

And she will.