AN: Enjoy!

With trembling hands, Riza picked up the envelope Pinako had left next to her head on the bed. Riza was now sitting in the centre of the bed, legs folded underneath her, and filled with uncertainty. The witch had said this letter would explain everything. Riza had already discovered everything she thought about her father was wrong. She was already overwhelmed. Riza wasn't sure how much more she could take.

Just… Get it over with!

Grabbing the envelope, Riza carefully opened the top. The paper had once been white, but now had a yellow tinge to it. The corners were smoothed from age and the paper slightly crumpled with time. Pulling out the piece of paper, she smoothed it on her lap. After taking a deep, and fearful breath, she began to read.

Dear Riza,

I know that if you are reading this it means you have come into contact with Pinako once more, therefore you have discovered the truth. Despite trying to remove you from this life, I am glad. She is a good woman who I know will take care of you.

I have instructed her to pass this letter on to you should you both meet. I plan on leaving the settlement once the spell has been cast. Pinako is the only one who knows about this. I don't like leaving Walter out of it, but he will only talk me out of it. You need away from here, so you can get better. I only hope everything goes well enough that we can return soon.

Firstly, I want to explain my actions regarding our departure. After finding your mother you have become very ill. You won't eat or drink anything. You refuse to sleep because you are so scared. When you eventually do, I am awoken in the night by your screams. We have tried everything, but nothing works. It hurts me more than you could ever know.

So, this is our last resort. I have decided to shoulder that pain and suffering for you. I don't know how it will affect me. Pinako has given me a rough idea, and it doesn't look good. But, if it means you are living once more, then so be it. I would do anything for you.

I hope it all goes well, because that's all I can do right now. I can only hope that you return to me.

All my love,

Dad

Riza's eyes filled with tears upon reading his words, but they never fell. There were old watermarks on the paper, indicating Berthold must have done the same while writing this. She thought about him hunched over a desk, writing this for her as he cried. He didn't know how it was going to go. He didn't know he would turn out the way he did. He simply wanted to give her her life back.

And he did.

Wiping away her own tears, Riza spotted another piece of paper behind the one she had been reading. More from Berthold. This one was dated May last year, a month before she left for university.

Dear Riza,

To begin with, I know I have been an awful parent to you. That was never my intention. I would say there are no excuses for my actions, but you remind me so much of your mother that it terrifies me to look at you. Because, if I do, I will be transported back to the day she was taken from us. I see so much of her in you that it like seeing a ghost.

I am a coward, pure and simple. I have hid in this damn study for years, too afraid to speak to my own daughter because I am not strong enough to face the memories.

I am so terribly sorry for the way I have acted. I don't expect forgiveness, just a chance to explain myself.

I'm sure that if you have this letter, you will know what I am referring to, and you will also know the truth about your past. I didn't want to keep it hidden from you. I didn't want to tear you away from the last remaining connection to your mother, believe me. But it was the only way to get you to live again. It's been fifteen years since we left now. For me, the memories I took from you are starting to fade and it is becoming easier to live day to day. The only driving factor in my life is pushing through so I can speak to you once more. Not in half sentences and awkward silences. Properly. However, if that day never comes, I completely understand. You are well within your rights to stay away from me. While I wanted to protect you, I brought you nothing but misery. I realise that now. I was an awful father and I regret it whole heartedly.

If there is some small chance you wish to speak with me once more, I am more than happy to. You are going off to university in a few weeks and I couldn't be prouder. Your mother would be proud too.

I will work hard when you are gone. I will overcome this terror I feel in my mind every time I think of your mother, and see your face, so that when you return, I am better. I might even contact Pinako. Hopefully she won't be too mad at me.

I hope we see each other soon.

All my love

Dad

Riza felt herself falling backwards onto the bed. She held the pieces of paper to her chest as she lay there, absorbing her father's words. Everything was right there in front of her. Every explanation she had ever wanted had been delivered to her thanks to Pinako.

Now, she didn't know what to make of it all.

Ultimately, she felt sorry for her father. He had gone through so much by himself and Riza had no idea. He had done this for her. While Riza was grateful for that, she didn't forget her tough childhood. She couldn't. Yes, he had taken away her pain, but at what cost? She grew up feeling unloved and alone. All the anger and hate she had focussed at her father for so many years simmered, but hadn't disappeared, because of that thought. Although he took on the burden of her finding her mother's body, it didn't excuse the neglect, loneliness, and anguish she had felt. Berthold had thought he was protecting her, which he was to begin with, but there was no reason for him to stay away from Pinako who would have helped them both. There were other, and better, ways he could have dealt with the situation. She still resented him for that fact.

As for going to see him? Her opinion of her father had been swayed after reading those letters, but she was still on the fence. What would he be like now? Would she want to face him once more?

A small, childlike part of her, wanted to see him. If he truly was getting better, then she wanted to see him as the man she vaguely remembered growing up with before her mother passed. It clung onto that thought desperately, no matter how hard Riza had tried in the past few years to shake it off.

As the thoughts slowly dissipated and Riza was satisfied, she stood from the bed. Her limbs felt heavy and an exhaustion overcame her as she begun to walk to the bathroom. Splashing cold water on her face, she stared at herself in the mirror. She noted the unkempt hair, the dark circles under her eyes, and the weary look which seemed ever present on her face. Her features set, into determination. One of her hands that was spread out on the countertop clenched into a fist. She would beat this. She would beat the Hunters.

Upon realising she was the only one in the room, Riza finally noticed the unease she had felt before has dissipated. For the first time in what felt like a long time, Riza felt comfortable with her own thoughts.

After her work with Pinako, she felt ready to cast her mind back to that day outside Roy's house. Instead of focussing on the painful details, she focussed on the finer details. There had been three Hunters who had begun shooting. Two females and a male. One was called Mary. That was the one who had shot her. She didn't know the name of the other two. Behind the trio, there had been a handful of others who had simply watched on. They had been equally surprised to see Mary shoot her.

Looking at the situation objectively, Riza and Pinako had summarised a few things. The pair had returned to her memories once more after Riza's initial trip. The witch had guided her through it, pointing out little details that Riza had missed. Like how there definitely was one Hunter there who was focussed solely on killing Roy. She had been on Mary's left. Riza made a note of her red hair and the freckles that graced her cheeks and nose. She committed her face and features to memory, resigning herself to finding out more about this woman.

Pinako had also taken her back to the cave. At first Riza was uneasy, but she pushed through it with Pinako's encouragement. Watching herself being tortured was extremely unnerving.

"Do you want to stop?" Pinako asked, concern etched on her face.

"No," Riza shook her head, her eyes already closed to the scene in front of her. It was when she had been at her lowest. Her body was broken and reduced to nothing. The vampire had released the restraints on her arms for a day, but Riza had been too weak and in too much pain to move. So, she had remained on the cold stone floor, her face pressed into the dirt. Her breaths came out as a wheeze as her body fought against the cocktail of toxins in her blood stream. Even Pinako's face grimaced at the sight. But, Riza finally opened her eyes and looked at herself. Her eyes bored into her battered body. She would remember this state she had been in. She would remember this feeling.

Riza would remember it when they eventually sought out the Hunters. She would find that vampire and tear her throat out with her teeth.

The pair had scanned the room Riza was held in for any kind of clue. But there was nothing. When Riza had ventured to the entrance of the cave the memory vanished. Apparently she could only venture to placed she had consciously seen. Where she had been situated in the cave, she had a good view of the room and the start of the short hallway that led outside. But, she had never seen outside.

It frustrated her, but nothing could be done.

Retreating back to the bed, she moved her father's letters and placed them on the bedside table. Laying down, Riza closed her eyes and willed her brain to shut off. Too much information had been gathered in the last few hours. It was the middle of the night and she hadn't rested since they arrived at the hotel. As Riza felt herself drifting off, she was thankful for the distinct lack of fear that had accompanied her since the shooting. A calm had washed over her. Riza wasn't sure how long it would last, but she wasn't about to complain.

"Hey," a quiet voice greeted Riza as she opened her eyes slowly. Looking towards the sound, Riza saw Roy walking past the bed towards the desk which ran the length of the far wall. The room door clicked shut quietly behind him. Nudging the arm chair out of his way with his leg, Roy made room to deposit the bags his arms were laden with.

"Hey," she greeted him softly. Looking around the room it was exactly as she had left it. The curtains hadn't been drawn and Riza could see it was dark outside still. How long have I been asleep for?

"How are you doing?"

"All right," she answered truthfully. Riza wasn't entirely sure, and didn't want to get her hopes up, but the lack of panic she currently felt spelled good news. Before, when she had woken up disorientated or had been alone, it had been a constant feeling. Riza was sure she wasn't back to one hundred per cent, and probably never will be. One doesn't overcome trauma like that so quickly.

"Hungry?" Roy asked, holding up a box of take out. "I know take away food isn't exactly healthy for your first meal of the day, but I think we can allow it for this one time."

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled loudly, drawing a chuckle from them both. Roy continued to unpack the bags, placing the food on trays which were in a drawer on the long desk. A television was situated on the wall above it. To the right, down a short hallway, was the door to the hotel room. Down that hallway was the bathroom. Riza had been too distracted and exhausted yesterday (was it yesterday they had arrived?) to take in any details.

Handing Riza her own tray, Roy climbed into the bed with her and switched on the television. They ate in silence as they watched. Riza thought about how nice it was simply to have him there. They didn't speak. They didn't need to. They could eat in peace and enjoy each other's company. Once she had finished she scooted over to Roy's side and placed her head on his shoulder. Within a few minutes, she was asleep once more.

Rebecca bit the nail on her thumb nervously. She anxiously scanned the main road into the settlement from Jean's front porch, as if willing Riza and Roy to be driving up in right that instant.

"Would you relax?" Jean asked, exasperated, throwing his cutlery down onto his plate. He used more force than necessary and almost shattered the plate. "You are making me nervous with the way you are twitching. You need to eat." Rebecca glared at him. "What's that for?" he asked with a frown.

Rebecca sighed in frustration. "Nothing," she muttered. He didn't get it. No one here did. She was worried about Riza. Roy had phoned a week ago telling Hughes they wouldn't be coming back that night. There had been no word since and Rebecca had taken to spending most of her time watching that road, wishing them to come home. She had tried reaching out to the pair, but all the wolf told her was that they were miles away. Rebecca also didn't like the way her chest ached every time she reached out to them both.

"She will be fine. They both will," Jean tried to reassure her.

"And how do you know that?" Rebecca rounded on him, finally turning away from the road. She pointed a finger at him. "You have no idea how she is. You don't get it. No one here does!"

"Hey, Becca, what's –"

But she interrupted him before he could continue. It was as if she hadn't even heard him. "You don't know what it's like to be able to feel all this pain and anguish inside of you, and it is coming from your friend. But, you can't do a damn thing about it!"

"Actually, I do." Jean's voice turned sombre, and it caused Rebecca to finally pause in her tirade.

"What?"

"I do know what it feels like. I grew up here with Riza, remember?" Rebecca took a second to think, then her eyes widened in realisation. Jean nodded. "I felt her feelings when she found out her Mom had passed."

"I'm sorry, I didn't –"

Jean waved her apology off, with a small smile. "Don't worry about it. It's just… I know exactly how you are feeling, okay? And I know she is okay."

"How?"

"Because she is driving right towards us," he grinned.

Rebecca whirled around and, sure enough, a car had pulled up in front of Grumman's house in the main square. Her heart leapt into her throat as she spotted her old friend leaving the car. Dinner forgotten, Rebecca raced off Jean's porch towards them both.

Riza looked up at the sound of her approach. Her eyes widening, she sidestepped before Rebecca could crash into her. Instead, the brunette put a bracing hand on the car, causing it to shift from the force. The pair's eyes met. Rebecca grasped her friend's arms and pulled her into a crushing hug. She sniffed as she hugged Riza, her eyes filling with tears.

"You're back," she whispered.

"I'm back, Becca," Riza reassured her with a smile. The brunette pulled away and the pair laughed quietly. Suddenly, the relief on Rebecca's face dropped and she turned to Mustang. She pointed an accusing finger at the man, a glare on her face.

"Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again Mustang, do you hear me?"

"Becca?" Riza interjected quietly. "I think the whole town can hear you."

"I don't care. Do you understand?" she asked Roy once more. He must have realised she was being deadly serious and whatever smart remark Rebecca knew he had lined up died no his lips. Instead, he nodded.

"I do. Sorry to keep you in the dark. We…" he met Riza's gaze, silently asking her what to say.

"We had a lot to deal with," Riza finished for him.

"As long as you are okay now?" Rebecca eyed Riza, looking her up and down then finally searching her face.

Riza nodded and smiled. "I'm good."

Rebecca let out a breath in a rush. "Good." Once more, she drew the blonde into a bear hug.

"Becca? You are crushing me."

"Good." Rebecca finally let her go. She noticed Riza's gaze had moved over her shoulder. Turning around, she spotted Grumman walking towards them. He looked both happy and relieved to see them both.

When an old woman exited the car, Grumman paused. His eyes widened in surprise as he froze in place. Rebecca hadn't even noticed her sitting in the back seat.

"Hello Walter," she greeted.

She was short, only coming up to about Rebecca's waist. Her grey hair was tied up in a ponytail, but what Rebecca noticed was slightly peculiar was its ability to stand upright. She must have been someone important, or a very old friend, to cause this response from Grumman.

"Pinako," he greeted with a nod. His recovery was smooth, but there was an edge to his voice. "I didn't expect to see you back here." Rebecca frowned at the underlying tone in his voice. The words were spoken casually enough, but something about it told her Grumman had never wanted to see her again. Whatever had happened between them, must have been big.

"We have much to discuss."

"Yes. We do."

Rebecca's confusion deepened at their cryptic words.

"I'll explain everything later," Riza told her quietly, giving her hand a squeeze. She followed behind the pair, along with Roy. They disappeared into Grumman's house, leaving Rebecca beside the car.

Jean placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on. Let's finish dinner."

Rebecca nodded, but couldn't shake the feeling of sadness that resided within her chest. Once again, she was left alone. Sure, Riza had told her she would explain everything. Later.

They were supposed to be a pack. So why did Rebecca feel so left out? Forgotten?

"Right." She pushed those feelings aside, chalking it up to her unease and the uncertainty that had plagued her these past few days. She would talk to Riza later. Her insecurity would be wiped away after that.

She was sure of it, she told herself.

"That went well," Roy commented, surprised, as they entered the cabin.

"It did. I am as surprised as you. I thought they would be at each other's throats."

"Did we not witness the same conversation?" Roy asked, amused.

Both Pinako and Grumman had not physically been at each other's throats, but the digs and snide comments were present throughout their conversation. Riza filled her grandfather on all that had transpired, both with herself and about what she had discovered about the Hunters. He clearly hadn't approved of the method used. Riza finally realised it was because this woman had helped her father leave here, causing Grumman to lose his only granddaughter shortly after losing his daughter.

"You know what I mean. Besides, I can understand his resentment towards her."

Roy hummed in agreement as he pulled down the sheets to the bed. They were both exhausted and wanted to do nothing more but sleep. "She did assist in your vanishing act. I can't blame him. I would feel the same way."

Riza paused in her process of removing her trainers. "Shit."

"What?"

"I told Rebecca I'd explain everything to her." Riza checked her watch. It was almost midnight. The conversation with her grandfather had taken longer than expected.

"You can do it in the morning," Roy offered with a yawn. He was already in bed, arm draped across his eyes.

"She already feels left out as it is. It can't wait until then."

Roy moved his arm, looking at her. "She does?"

"Yes," Riza replied, as if it was obvious. "Can't you feel it?"

He shook his head. After a pause, he asked, "Should I?"

Riza rolled her eyes. He just didn't get it. "I'll see you in the morning." She kissed him before she left, her eyes twinkling with amusement at the shocked look on his face.

Riza crossed the way in a few steps and knocked on Rebecca's door. There was no answer. Frowning, Riza reached out to her friend's wolf. She wasn't in the cabin, she was on hundred yards away. To the west. Riza turned and made her way to the location. The cabin she stood on front of was three doors down from her grandfather's. The lights were on in the main room but the curtains were drawn. That was understandable. With its location everyone in the main square would be able to see inside the house. In order to get some privacy, the curtains would need to be drawn.

What Riza did not expect, however, was a shirtless Jean Havoc to open the door.

"Hey," he greeted with a cheery grin. "I'm glad to see you are back."

"Hey," she replied, a knowing smile on her face. Ah, so that's why Rebecca is here. "Is Becca home?"

A slight blush rose in his cheeks. He coughed. "Yeah. I'll go get her. Come in," he motioned. Riza stepped inside.

The layout was the same as the cabin she shared with Roy, and Riza assumed the same as every cabin. However, the decoration was vastly different. While theirs was sparse, Jean's was well decorated. Artwork covered the walls. Some were painting, others were hand drawn. Was he an artist? There were three bookshelves in the main room, each crammed full of books. Even books lay stacked on the floor beside them, there not being enough room to place them on a shelf. A large television sat at the far side of the room which was currently paused on a menu screen for a video game. His Xbox hummed quietly in the corner, awaiting his return.

Jean returned to his living room with Rebecca. She looked tired, as if she had been trying to get to sleep. Riza felt bad for waking her, but her friend obviously wanted to know what was going on with her if she had given up sleep for it.

"I'll give you two some peace." He kissed Rebecca on the crown of her head and was out the door in a flash.

"So," Riza began casually, raising an eyebrow, her knowing smile reappearing on her face. "You moved in huh?"

Rebecca stared at her for a moment. Riza's smile almost faltered, afraid she had misjudged her friend's feelings. Is she angry with me? Then, she cracked her own shy smile which shocked Riza. She had never seen that look on Rebecca before.

"Yeah. I did. It just made sense, you know?"

Riza grinned. "I get you. I'm happy for you Becca. I really am."

"Thanks. So, what is going on with you Riz? Where did you go?"

"No beating around the bush then?" Riza smiled, offering the seat on the couch Rebecca gestured to.

"Not at all. You know me better than that."

So Riza told her oldest friend all about her recent experience in Kansas City. Rebecca listened wide eyed as Riza described her trip back into her dreams with Pinako. To Riza, it still seemed unbelievable, even though she had lived it. She shared what she had learned about her father, causing Rebecca's eyes to widen even further.

"I can't believe he did that," she whispered, shaking her head. "That's so sad."

"I know." Riza's voice was sombre as she agreed with the brunette.

Rebecca squeezed Riza's hand as a comfort. "Has this changed your mind about going to see him?"

Before their return to the Mustang Estate, Riza had shared her fears with Rebecca about Grumman's request to see Berthold again. Considering her question properly, Riza thought about it.

"I don't know, honestly. I still feel conflicted. I'm still angry at him for the way he treated me, but I understand why he did now. There was a legitimate reason, rather than him simply being a terrible person. There's a small part of me that desperately still wants to have a connection with him. It was the same feeling I had as a kid when I was feeling particularly lonely." Riza laughed bitterly to herself. "Stupid, huh?"

"Not at all."

Riza smiled, appreciating Rebecca's support. She told her as much too. "I think I want to see him. Just to see with my own eyes if it is really true."

"Would the witch be likely to lie?"

"No, I don't think so. She said she couldn't make things up, but I don't know enough about witches to know for sure."

"I can ask Jean if you like? He will know."

"I'd appreciate that."

"Consider it done."

Tasia: I am glad you liked the chapter! I know, I didn't want to make him out to be too terrible. I wanted to try something different :D