Chapter 5- Remembrance

I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger, God smiles on my little brother, inside and out he's better than I am. I grew up in a pretty house and I had space to run, and I had the best days with you.

Jez walked down the stairs from her room smiling. Her and Morgead were going to pick up her bike today, for her fifteenth birthday.

"What's got you so happy?" Jez heard Bracken's voice and turned to see him smiling and watching her descent.

"Morgead's taking me to pick up my bike from the shop today." Bracken just laughed and Jez smiled, glad to hear her uncle laughing again.

"You remind me so much of your father," Bracken sighed wistfully.

"How?" Jez asked, wanting to know everything. Discussion about her parents wasn't usually welcome as it was a sore subject for her uncle.

"You both have a thirst for danger, and your strength can pull you through anything and everything. Your father was an amazing man, I can't wait to see what you'll be like when you grow up. Your parents loved you more than anything in the world," Bracken smiled wistfully in remembrance, but when he raised his head Jez could see the tears threatening to leak out of his eyes.

"The last thing your dad ever said to me before he died was 'goddess bless you little brother, for taking care of my little girl. You're doing something that I can't no matter how much I might wish it. I don't expect her to remember me, so be the father to her that I should've been. Thank you little brother, I'll watch over you both. Take good care of her.' And then he died with you sitting there beside him, clinging to his side." Then Bracken did let a tear escape, and it rolled down his face.

"Wow," Jez whispered, "I wish I could remember him..." Bracken smiled weakly and nodded. Just then though the doorbell rang, and Jez ran to answer it, uncomfortable with the atmosphere in the room. She had never seen her Uncle so emotional.

"Hey" Morgead smiled.

"Hey," she replied "I'll be back by 11" she called to her Uncle

"Alright kiddo," he replied wistfully

"What was that about?" Morgead asked, and so she told him, shrugging nonchalantly, as if it didn't bug her, but Morgead knew the truth, she was torn.

"I mean, Bracken was always there for me... I've always kind of thought of him as my father, because I never knew my dad but... to hear Bracken talk about him that way... it makes me feel so guilty that I CAN'T remember my dad. I mean Bracken gave my everything. I grew up in that beautiful house, with the forest close by for easy hunting, and he loved my like his own daughter... but my dad died and for some reason I feel like it's my fault... and I feel horrible that I can't remember..."

"Oh... Jez, no one can blame you for not remembering you were only what, two?

"Yeah but... I can't help feeling guilty."

"Jez... you can't help it if you don't remember him," Morgead took her by the arms and made her face him, "He wouldn't blame you, he'd be glad you didn't spend your life constantly thinking about him, honestly. You were 2. It's okay" Jez looked up at him and her eyes had turned completely blue, and for once she looked completely innocent and vulnerable. He hated seeing her that way, so unsure of herself.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive" he whispered releasing her. Jez beamed and it lit up her entire face, reaching her eyes. Morgead's heart soared just from that smile. They climbed on his bike and rode towards the town. When they got there Jez's new, sleek bike was sitting in front of the store. Jez went in, paid, grabbed the keys for her bike, and a helmet. She was grateful for her ability to control human minds so she could get her bike without questions over her age. She turned and smiled at Morgy.

"Guess what?" she giggled

"What?" he smiled

"This day is going on my list."

"List?"

"Of best memories." Morgead laughed, and Jez looked mad, "Well don't you have a list?"

"No."

"Why?"

"It would be too long." Jez looked at him confused. "Every moment I spend with you is the best, and since we grew up together it would be too long." Jez blushed and looked away.

"Am I not worth writing down?" she joked, turning to face him, blush still tinting her cheeks as she smiled at him.

"You're worth everything," he whispered, "But I'd rather spend more time with you than waste time writing it all down." Jez's entire face flushed, and Morgead's cheeks gained a pinkish tinge.

"Thanks, you mean a lot to me too," Jez whispered. Morgead smiled and pulled her into a hug. They stayed there for what felt like hours just taking each other in, before Jez pulled away. But in that time Morgead realized just how hard he'd fallen for her, and Jez well, she was starting to realize how she felt.

"Come on, I'll race you back," Jez grinned, not wanting to address the feelings stirring inside her that could change everything about their relationship.

Morgead laughed and they hopped on their bikes. As they raced back, Morgead thought about the look in her eyes, the look that he could almost mistake as being passion and love. Morgead wished, not for the first time, and with every fiber of his being that he hadn't been imagining it.