Sorry for the wait between updates! I've been, as my friend Jess would say "hella busy." But anyway, here's the next chapter. I'm taking a different track on some of Vega's backstory than I have in other fics. Hope you guys like this! (It is so weird writing this version of Wega after spending so much time in my other timeline, haha)

Wylie was glad that he and Vega were given rooms next to each other at the hotel. He'd been worried that the short notice would put them on opposite ends of the building, and given her quietness and the reason for their journey to Miami, he didn't want to leave her too alone.

"I want to be on our way by ten tomorrow," Vega said. "That work for you?"

"Sure, sure," Wylie said. "Let me carry your bag up the stairs."

"I got it," she said slinging it over her shoulder. "I think."

"Alright." Wylie was silent until they reached Vega's room. She opened the door and dropped her bag just inside. "Well, we'll see if I get any sleep tonight."

"Look," he said, "I don't want to pressure you into talking about anything you don't want to talk about."

"I appreciate that," she said, her tone diplomatic.

"I-I'm just saying," he said, "sometimes it's good to talk about things, and you said you trusted me so I was thinking that it might make you feel better if...I'm sorry," he said, flustered, turning to go. "I'll leave you alone."

"It's just that I'm not used to letting people in," she said, folding her arms. "Not about things like this."

Wylie turned back to look at her. "I know it's gotta be hard."

"I don't share stuff about my family," she told him. "And if this was a normal year, I'd have disappeared for the weekend and then been back on Monday and people probably wouldn't have even known I'd come here. But this year, it isn't just my thing. This year I had to include you or I didn't go."

"And that makes you feel helpless?"

She nodded. "And I do trust you. It's just hard because it didn't get to be my decision."

Wylie nodded. "I understand."

She leaned against the door frame, letting her head rest to the left. "I do really appreciate you bringing me."

"Of course," Wylie said. "I know how important this is to you."

"You wanna come in?"

It took Wylie a moment to answer; Vega's position and body language hadn't changed when her tone did, and he needed a minute to process the new train of thought. "Actually, I had plans, so..."

She grinned and rolled her eyes, turning into her room and leaving the door open for Wylie to follow. She climbed onto the bed and sat cross legged in the middle; Wylie eased into the chair near the window. "So..." he said hesitantly, "any other family members visiting tomorrow?" She dropped her eyes. "Or some other, less personal topic," he added quickly.

"No, it's fine," she said. "I just don't have any family, really. My grandparents are all gone, and I don't have any siblings. And my mother..." she stopped, clearing her throat. "She's gone too, but she lost her rights to call herself my mother before that."

That startled Wylie. "O...oh?" he managed. She brought it up...does that mean she wants to talk about it?

Vega sighed. "You can't tell anyone," she said, cutting off Wylie's "I won't" as she jumped into the story. She didn't support my father's military career. She'd pack up and move with him every time, but she hated it. She loved him, but in the end she stayed only because her family strongly disapproved of divorce. Then when he got sick..." Vega's voice cracked. "She left him."

"I..." in reality, Wylie had no idea how to respond to that. "I'm...I'm sorry."

She shrugged. "It was several years ago now. Long story short, no, there won't be anyone at the cemetery tomorrow. I have an Aunt...but it's too painful for her to go on the actual anniversary."

Wylie was nodding. He wasn't sure why. He saw Vega put a hand over her eyes, tipping her head down to hide herself. His instincts were to jump up and go to her...he wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. She was feeling helpless, reliant on others, and he knew he had to understand that. He cleared his throat, thinking of another angle that might possibly work. "You just impress me so much."

She lifted her head. "I do?"

"Yeah," Wylie said. "I could never have survived through everything you have. I have both my parents, I've never been shot...they say you don't know what you're capable of until you have to be, but I know...I know I could never be as strong as you. Really, Michelle, it's almost..." he smirked. "It sounds so stupid, but it's really an honor to be your friend. You're incredible."

She blinked rapidly, smiling through her tearful state. "Thanks, Wylie."