AN: The song Skyla is playing here is called 'the Promise' which I took off of 'The Piano' 's Movie Soundtract. Unfortunately, I can not give you the composer for i negelected to write it down. If you know it, great taste!

Chapter 12: The Piano.

When the song faded into the empty room and she became aware of where she was, the girl was behind her. Skyla turned around and blinked at the silent child.

Joanie was standing very still, her eyes closed.

The woman frowned and cleared her throat, breaking the silent spell.

Joanie blinked. She met Dame Skyla's eyes before she dropped her gaze and looked at the floor.

"My… Ah grand mother." She began hesitantly. "She, she could also play the piano."

Skyla raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Joanie sniffed and rubbed her nose on her sleeve. She took a small step closer.

"She, ah, use to sit at the piano every morning, round tea time? Play for an hour straight, she had very fit fingers."

In her mind's eye Skyla suddenly remembered a drawn picture of a woman hunched over a grand piano.

The girl sniffed again and took a step back. "She… She had told me that she would still teach me one day." Her voice was soft and heavy with emotion. "But I was… Well." She shrugged. "We never got round to it."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Joanie swayed from one foot to the other, clasping and unclasping her hands.

Whirl and Twirl, who Skyla hadn't even noticed coming back, got up and licked the girl's hands. The child smiled tensely and briefly allowed her hands to trail down their faces. Their presence seemed to give her a little bit more courage.

She took another step forward, but kept her gaze on the floor.

"I ah…" She visibly bit her lip. "I don't really…" Her sentence faded away as her voice became softer. The last bit was an incomprehensible whisper.

With out wanting to sound harsh Dame Skyla shook her head.

"I didn't hear the last part Joanie." She said softly. "What did you want to say?"

The girl looked up and gave her a pained expression. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth again but didn't speak. Her courage was draining fast as she took another step back. Skyla sighed and gave her a patient look.

"You can come sit here if you wish." She invited her quietly.

Joanie's eyes clearly shouted that she didn't want to, but with a determined look on her face she nodded and hesitantly made her way to the piano bench.

She perched on the end and spent a full five minutes studying her nails.

Skyla realized that the girl needed some help, even though she rightfully didn't earn it. The woman folded her hands in her lap.

"Did you want to say something Joanie?" She coached.

The girl bit her tongue and nodded. "I ah… Yeah. Yes. I did."

Dame Skyla raised an encouraging eyebrow. "And?" She queried softly.

Joanie swallowed. "I ah… Would like to… Say that I'm sorry." She said piece by piece.

"I ah, yeah. Have reason to say that. Sorry."

Skyla saw her move back as if to get away further but the end of the piano bench cut off her escape route. She half expected her to jump up and bolt but Joanie staid where she was. Her dark eyes were bright as she met Skyla's gaze.

The woman was careful not to smile immediately as she studied the girl's somber eyes.

"Thank you." She said finally. "That's a very nice thing to say Joanie."

The girl dropped her gaze immediately and stared at her hands.

"Yeah." She said softly. "I guess." There was something else on her heart.

She turned towards the piano without warning and ran her fingers over the keys without pressing them.

"See, I… I don't like people." She proclaimed without warning. "I never have. And, I don't like being touched, okay? Can you… Can you understand that?"

Skyla nodded without showing too much emotion. "I can." She said genuinely. "Can I ask why?"

When Joanie hesitated a very dark image began to form in Skyla's mind. She must've sensed it because Joanie shook her head very quickly.

"It's not because this or that." She said hastily. "I just…" She grimaced. "Touch has never, in my mind, been a good thing. If I weren't being strapped because I had done something wrong, I was being picked on by other kids because I was… Smaller than they were. Hugs weren't exactly distributed freely in my family."

Her eyes were strangely older when she looked at Skyla again.

"I'm not going to talk about this again." She stated clearly. "I'm sorry for the way I act. I realize it's wrong; I can't always help myself. Don't pity me, please."

Dame Skyla sat very still as she regarded the person sitting next to her. She clenched and unclenched her jaw before she smiled and turned back to the piano.

"I won't bring this up again." She said dismissively. "But, I do expect you to control your temper around here Joanie, if for nobody's sake than your own. You have my word that nobody here will hurt you. And, we mean everything we say and do. Can you understand that?"

The girl shifted and nodded. "Yes ma'am." She said softly. "I can."

A more comfortable silence reigned.

Joanie sniffed at some point and gave Skyla a sideways glance.

"So, you're a Dame right?" She queried. "You like… Married to a king or something?"

The woman winched despite herself but quickly recovered and shook her head with a smile. "No, then I would've been Queen Skyla." She said. "My husband's a Lord, there fore I retain his title."

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Cool." She stated. "Where's he?"

Again, Skyla had to pause. "Away on business." She replied. "Now, aren't you tired? It's fairly late."

Joanie got the feeling that she had done something wrong and got up swiftly with a sheepish expression on her face.

"Yeah." She said. "Sorry for interrupting. Sleep well."

Skyla nodded and watched Joanie as she scuttled for the exit. Just before the girl left the woman called her back.

"Joanie."

The girl hesitated and looked back.

Dame Skyla smiled. "I'm here most nights after seven." She stated. "If you still want to, in the time that you're here, I can teach you to play piano."

Joanie experienced a moment's incomprehension before she grinned for the first time. She took a quick breath to accept the offer but hesitated.

"That would be great." She said sincerely before sobering up. "I'll see though, I… Wouldn't want to be a bother. Thank you for the offer."

Skyla smiled.

"It's my pleasure." Her tone was heart felt.

"I won't mind at all."
AN: Okay, first things first. Yes, the chapter does water off towards the end conversation. I beg for mercy, I had a glass of red wine behind me at this stage and I don't have the time or the enthusiasm to make it a bit more interesting at this moment (Also the red wine's fault ;-P). Sorry my friends, I never get sloshed, but last night i underestimated the power of a well matured bottle of 1969 Dark Red. The funny thing is, i don't even like red wine that's why I only had one glass!

If you don't know this song or movie, i would highly recommend it. The song's amazing, it's the most powerful instrumental that i've ever heard. The movie isn't bad either, it's a bit strange but i would also still recomend it. The story is... Well. Watch the movie and find out. Oh, on that same tract, watch Chocolat of Johnny Depp as well, now that is an AMAZING movie!!! Art movie, but that's what I like.

Take care now, and watch out for 1969. Aparently, it was a very good year.

Alys.

Oh, P.S. I'll see about the glove thing, maybe, maybe not you'll have to see how the story progresses.