"So… does this mean you ain't gonna be adopted no more?"

July was the first to break the silence between the orphans after Annie had been told about Oliver's departure. For some inexplicable reason, Cecile had been the one to tell her—Grace was in the kitchen still, and apparently, whatever dish she was cooking up with Mrs. Pugh was too important to leave in the dust. Instead, Cecile had waited for all the girls to finish their breakfast, before taking Annie to the side and telling her the facts as she knew them. There had been some sort of incident between Grace and Oliver, and now, Oliver was gone, both his bodyguards with him alongside quite a few of his items.

Annie ran off as soon as Cecile finished, her heart dropping into her stomach and throat closing up so tight she was sure she'd suffocate. Mr. Warbucks… gone? But he'd been so happy yesterday. Him and Miss Farrell both. They looked so in love—they were so in love. What had happened between the shopping trip and morning to warrant such a rash decision?

What did that mean for her?

Was she unlovable to Oliver as she'd clearly been to all the other adults in her life up to now?

"What kind of question is that?" Pepper snapped a second later, whacking July's arm as she peered at Annie. "Of course, she's still going to get adopted. Adults are stupid, they do stuff like this all the time. She ain't going back to the orphanage, not after everything the past couple weeks."

Annie only peered out the window, wishing more than anything Punjab was standing in front of the front entrance right beneath her. She didn't realize how much she liked talking with him until just today. He didn't treat her like a little kid. Most of the rest of the staff didn't, either, but he especially didn't.

"It must've been something I did," she whispered, screwing her eyes shut as tears threatened to drip from them. Somehow, allowing that to happen was worse than facing the truth of the matter. She didn't cry, not in front of the other girls. Especially not July or Molly. "They were so happy. You saw how they were, at the ring shop," she turned to look over her shoulder, biting down hard on her lip. "I must'a scared him off, somehow. D'you remember me saying something that'd have scared him?"

"You made that dumb comment about going to Rumplemeyer's every week," Pepper deadpanned with a roll of her eyes. "I bet he wasn't thrilled to take hours out of every Sunday for that."

"He wouldn't just leave 'cause of that!" Molly protested, looking between the two girls with her eyebrows furrowed in concern. "What's Miss Farrell say? She probably knows where he went, she knows everything."

Annie shook her head. "She just told me to get dressed for my lessons with Mr. Budge," she drew her knees up to her chest, hugging on tight. "She ain't even crying or looking upset or anything. It's like she doesn't care. How can't she care?" she sniffled. "He took Punjab and the Asp—and he doesn't do that, not when he's traveling, usually. He was just getting back from a trip when Miss Farrell brought me here, but Punjab was still with her."

"Can't we go look for him?" Duffy sat up. "Maybe he just went to the park. To clear his head or somethin'."

"Not with everything he took with him," Annie sniffled again. "I thought it was really happening, you guys. They were getting married. She said she was going to be my mom. But… I don't think she'll want to do that if he's not here," a shuddery breath escaped her mouth, and before she could stop herself, the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Molly gasped, hardly ever having seen her friend break a brave face.

"Annie," she whispered, "you're crying!"

"'Cause I want Mr. Warbucks back," she whispered, swiping her arm against her nose. "I wish I could just talk to him. Tell him how much we all miss him. Miss Farrell has to, right?" she glanced at Pepper and Kate. "She loves him, she can't just not care he's not here."

"It's probably another dumb publicity stunt," Pepper scoffed, folding her arms. "This is the guy who brings orphans to his house like we're lost puppies or something, just to show off how nice he is. If he wants to make the engagement special or whatever, of course, he's gonna disappear on everyone and act like he don't care. That's probably why Miss Farrell ain't saying much—she knows she has to play a part, and it's better for the papers if she's angry instead of a bawling mess. That makes for a bunch of drama."

Annie sniffled again. "You think?"

"He called the FBI all 'cause you went missing," she gave Annie a pointed look. "He ain't just gonna go away that easily, he ain't Miss Hannigan."

She nodded a little, somewhat comforted by Pepper's sentiment—though, she more than wished she was more convinced. Sighing a bit, wiping away her stray tears, she stood, looking at her friends. "Come on," she said. "Let's go play tag or something. Maybe he'll show up while we are."

The girls all hopped to their feet, as well, Annie shoving to the front of the group so she could lead the way to the garden without anyone noticing she was still on the verge of crying. Molly picked up her pace so she could walk right beside her, and, gently, she slid her fingers between Annie's, looking up and smiling at her friend.

"Mr. Warbucks is gonna come back soon," she promised. "Then, you can hug him and make sure he never goes away again!"

Annie grinned a little, despite just how much she wanted to breakdown, and wrapped an arm tight around Molly. "Thanks, Molly," she whispered. "You always know the right thing to say."

Molly beamed, squeezing her hand tight as they continued towards the garden. Taking in another breath, Annie shook her head, biting down hard on her lip, trying as hard as she could to find her bravery again. Pepper was right. This was just a publicity stunt. By evening, Mr. Warbucks would be back, and he and Grace would read all of them bedtime stories. He'd kiss her goodnight, and then, in the morning, he'd be the first person she saw when she came downstairs. He was coming back. He had to be.

He was supposed to be her dad now. He was the only person she wanted to be her dad.

She needed him back.

/

Grace found herself slipping deeper and deeper into denial the longer the day progressed. At breakfast, she'd been sure he would return by lunch. When lunch came and went without so much as a telegram, she resorted to holding out hope for dinner. Then, dinner arrived, and Oliver's favorite pot roast was on the table, but there was no Oliver to enjoy it. She wasn't quite sure which checkpoint to wait for once that happened. Bedtime, maybe? Perhaps she could let the girls stay up late so he could see them all as soon as he got in.

Then, nine-thirty came and went, and he still wasn't home. Worse, all the girls were tucked in, which meant she no longer had a distraction to prevent her from focusing on all her thoughts. Sleep was out of the question—she was too nervous to even think about returning to her quarters, because all she'd be able to focus on if she stepped foot in there was all the things she should've said and done. She should've given him an ultimatum. It wasn't like her, but she should've made him know just how far she'd go to keep him with her. She should've said she'd never speak to him again if he left. She should've begged him. She should've done something more, anything more.

What if he truly did return to England? What if he realized he liked the privacy that came without a staff, without a secretary that'd been pining for him for years?

She'd been the one person who could've stopped him before he left, and she hadn't. All she'd said, they were weak, useless attempts at keeping him in the mansion. Why hadn't she fallen to her knees? Why hadn't she suggested they elope that night, just so he knew how much she wanted to be in their relationship? Why hadn't she screamed?

There was one thought haunting her more than the rest. It wasn't in the forefront of her mind, because she couldn't allow it to live there, but it was lingering in the back, looming over her, making itself known and making sure she knew she was the one to blame for all of this.

Why hadn't she just followed him to his quarters? Why hadn't she crawled into bed with him, like a fiancée was supposed to do? If she'd been there, if he'd woken up sober to realize she'd stuck with him throughout the worst of his anxieties, perhaps he wouldn't have felt the need to flee still. He'd have realized she was there—constant, loving him despite whatever flaws he thought he had. Instead, she'd been selfish, sleeping alone, not doing what she'd have wanted if she were the one to have such a breakdown. It was no wonder he felt inadequate. If she'd been hurting like that, if he hadn't followed, she'd have left, too.

It was a sobering thought. She was the reason he was gone—meaning, she was the reason Annie was hurting so much. He was the one who deserved better; now, she had no idea how to get in touch with him, and it killed her.

This was supposed to be their new chapter. The chapter where they figured everything out.

What if, instead, it was the one where everything broke apart, worse than it ever would've otherwise?

For a long while, she resigned herself to siting in his office, arm propped up against the back of his usual chair. It felt so strange to be in this place without him—even stranger, not to be rushing towards a deadline. What would become of this room if he really didn't return? Would she school the girls here? Would she lock the doors, because it was all too painful?

"Oh, Oliver," she whispered, glancing out the window, biting down on her thumbnail. "What'd I do?"

A creak sounded in the door leading into the office just as soon as she said this, a notion that caused her both to jump and become far too hopeful. Was he back? Had he come to his senses?

The sight of Annie's hair brought her back down to earth, in the worst of ways.

She should've known.

"I'm not botherin' you," Annie started, slowly creeping further into the room. "Am I, Miss Farrell?"

"Certainly not, dear," Grace sat up, holding her arms out for the girl. Without hesitation, she ran over, hopping onto Grace's lap and wrapping her arms around her neck.

"I can't sleep," she whispered. "I keep thinking about Mr. Warbucks."

"Seems as though you and I are in the same boat," Grace gave her a sad smile. "I have to apologize, Annie. I should've been the one to tell you, I was just so caught up in missing him that I couldn't bear it."

"So, this isn't a publicity stunt," Annie looked down. "Pepper said it might be. That he just left to make people care about you guys getting engaged."

"I'm afraid that's not the case," Grace let out a sigh, tucking some of Annie's hair behind her ear. "The thing about Mr. Warbucks is, he has a lot of ghosts in his past. You're aware about all that went on with his brother, yes?"

Annie nodded.

"I think it scares him, the thought of loving again. Losing Jimmy, it made him shut off his heart for a good, long while. You were the only reason he allowed himself to open back up, and, well… it's left him in a very vulnerable state. He wants you to have the best life possible, with the best parents possible. He's afraid he's not up to par."

The girl's forehead scrunched together. "Why? He's been nicer to me than anyone else ever has. Well, besides you, but you guys go together."

Grace smiled a little wider. "I think he's just psyching himself out. He's never thought about children, and I… well, I made a mistake, suggesting that we take on more than he initially bargained for."

"What's that mean?" Annie sat up. "Take on what?"

Grace sighed, then glanced around to make sure there were no other ears listening in. Putting a finger to her lips, as though to tell Annie to keep it quiet, she replied, "I told him I wanted to adopt your friends, too," she whispered. "It only seems right, after seeing you all playing together yesterday. I think that's what got him so nervous. One child is one thing—seven, quite another."

"Leaping lizards," Annie's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Molly and Duffy and all them—they'd be my sisters? Like, for real?"

"That's what I was hoping for," Grace smiled again, even more sadly. "About an hour after I said that, though, was when Mr. Warbucks came and told me he needed to leave, that I should raise all of you on my own."

"Do you know where he went?"

"He mentioned England. I think his heart longs for home," she sighed. "I'd go after him, leave you girls here, but I wouldn't want to do that to you."

"What, are you crazy?" Annie shook her head, vehemently. "Do you know where in England he'd go?"

"He has a home there," she nodded. "He also has some close friends."

"You need to go, Miss Farrell," Annie gave her as pointed a look a child could. "You need to follow him. Me and the girls, we've got Mrs. Pugh and Mrs. Greer and Cecile. Mr. Warbucks, all he's got is a bunch of sadness. You have to go. Like, right now, you have to."

Grace chuckled. "Right now? This very second?"

"Yes!" Annie hopped off her lap. "It's like a fairytale—but better. Instead of you being the damsel in distress, he's the one who needs rescuing. Go after him! You won't live happily ever after if you don't fight for it!"

Grace thought about this for a second, not sure why she hadn't just come to this conclusion on her own already. Annie was right; this was her marriage she was talking about. They were yet to be husband and wife, but she loved him as though she was already betrothed, nonetheless. She had to follow after him. If he wouldn't come to his senses on his own, she'd force him to.

She wanted this. He clearly did, too, because that was why he was so insistent on running.

She was the one who had to take over here, because he'd never return otherwise.

"Alright," she said, firmly, after debating the move for a second. "Alright, I'll do it. I'll follow after him as soon as morning comes 'round. Odds are, he hasn't left the state yet. If I'm remembering correctly, the ships to London only depart on Wednesdays. He must be in a hotel or something, so I'll find where he's gone. Then, I'll grab him, and I'll tell him I'm not leaving, and I'll bring him home."

"And you'll tell him to stop being so stubborn!"

"Oh, of course—absolutely."

"And that he's made us all worried for no reason!"

"That'll be the first thing out of my mouth," she chuckled. "What other messages should I pass on?"

The girl thought for a moment, then settled back onto Grace's lap, wrapping her arms around her neck again. "He's the best daddy I could ever wish for," she said firmly. "And all the other girls'd be lucky to have him, too. He doesn't have to be scared about doing it wrong—everyone makes mistakes. We just want him here."

Grace swallowed hard, tears swimming to her eyes. Nodding a little, she kissed Annie on the cheek. "But it's our little secret, alright?" she held a pinky out. "You're not to tell the others we want to adopt them. Mr. Warbucks and I will do it together once he's home. It'll be a surprise. Okay?"

"Leaping lizards," Annie linked her finger with Grace's, a wide smile on her lips. "My sisters, for real. They're never going to believe it!"

Grace smiled, wrapping her arms even tighter around the girl. Annie returned the gesture, squeezing tight, and while the two embraced, Grace sighed, shaking her head.

Somehow, this was not how she imagined her first day of being Oliver Warbucks' fiancée to go.

The rest of their days together had better not be quite this eventful.