A/N: Hi guys! Here's the next chapter! I know it took way too long to do, but I can't help it. These chapters will finish when they finish. I've also been working on a lot of ideas with Tari J. Dieter for our collaboration. We're so excited with some of the things we've come up with! We hope you'll share our excitement when the time comes! On another note, this chapter marks the end of Arc I. Yay! Now on to more exciting things! Next chapter will begin with kind of a shock, so stay tuned! And thanks to those of you who helped me through this chapter!
Picking Up the Broken Glass
Kawaii Stella
Chapter Fourteen
A Brand New Beginning
"Are you going to move or just sit there and stare at me like I'm an idiot?"
Echo was thoroughly in shock. "A-adopted? I'm getting adopted?" she stuttered.
"Did I speak in French? Yes you're getting adopted! You have twenty minutes to get ready. You hear me? Twenty. Then you and I are going to have a little talk. Now hurry!"
Echo scrambled into the bathroom where she rapidly washed off and brushed her teeth.
Adopted! She was getting adopted! Echo was so excited that her heart pounded in her chest. It was physically painful for her heart to thrash about like this, but Echo was so thrilled she didn't mind. Echo wanted to look nice for her new family, so she dug up her nicest clothes which happened to be a dark pair of skinny jeans and a dark teal sweater which unfortunately showed a small part of the still bruised and nasty looking scar from her heart surgery. She paired this outfit with a pair of black flats she'd forgotten she'd stashed at the bottom of her trunk.
Who were the people adopting her? Echo wondered. What were they like? Were they nice? Caring? Was it her real family come back to reclaim her and admit their mistake? Echo figured not, but she knew who she hoped wouldn't be the one waiting for her outside and she knew who she really wished would be there. Just as she was brushing her hair, Abigail returned.
"Alright, child, listen up." Abigail snapped at Echo. "Something has happened."
Echo's spirits fell. "I'm not getting adopted?"
"Oh, you're getting adopted all right, but a rather unique situation has arisen. Two different families have come to adopt you. This has never happened before in the history of this esteemed orphanage. It was decided by Judge Trudy that the final decision will fall into your little hands. Now, let me bestow upon you a few pearls of wisdom.
One of these families here is highly esteemed. They are capable of giving you everything you could ever need. I urge you to pick the family that will, without a shadow of a doubt, give you the best and most care. Am I understood?"
Echo nodded.
"Then summarize what I just told you."
"Yes ma'am. There are two families that are here to adopt me. I must pick one of them. I am to choose the family that can give me the best care possible."
"Very good! Now, before we go . . ." Abigail whacked Echo on the head. "Always remember just how worthless you really are. Drop the 'miss independent' act. You're fooling no one! Let's go. There are people waiting."
Abigail led Echo through the hall and into the lobby. There the caretaker took to steering Echo by the shoulders, keeping the girl on a very certain path. Abigail was acting like blinders on a horse, Echo, of course, being the horse. The way Abigail kept hold on Echo kept her from looking anywhere but straight ahead. The first think Echo saw upon exiting the building was the very last thing she wanted to see. Her worst nightmare, or one of them, at least, stood right before her.
They stood there, the image of imitated perfection. They were the Quinns, Solomon and his wife April. Both were dressed impeccably in designer clothes. Solomon wore a two piece suit and lavender tie. His tie perfectly matched his wife's blouse which showed off her ample cleavage. April's tennis skirt and heels boosted the appearance of her derriere.
"Echo, this is the family that's come to adopt you!" Abigail said cheerfully.
Echo stood cold in her tracks. The blood rushed in her ears. The worst case scenario was happening live right before her! Echo couldn't do it. She couldn't live with these people! Especially not with him. He'd destroy her. The panic started to set in. Echo felt like she was going to faint. But wait . . . weren't there supposed to be two families here to adopt her?"
"Ahem!"
Echo's heart sped up when she heard that familiar sound of that familiar voice. She wheeled out of Abigail's grasp and moved so she could peer around the woman. Moving away from Abigail, Echo discovered who the other family was.
"And this is the other couple who wishes to adopt you." Abigail said less than pleasantly. "Choose wisely."
Standing there was Dr. Marbles with his arm around Ada's shoulders. Echo's heart swelled with joy as her features lit up with excitement. One last time she turned to look behind her at her other option. She then turned on her heel to look once more at Marbles and Ada. A grin exploded on Echo's face as she began to run right into Marbles' arms. Marbles kept one arm around Echo while the other one went back around Ada's shoulders. Ada put a hand on Echo's shoulder.
"This is my choice." Echo declared proudly. "This is my family."
Abigail and Solomon had to work hard to keep their faces composed. April stood there clueless as usual. Abigail could barely control her disgust. After a moment or three she finally spoke.
"Are you sure about this?" Abigail asked.
"I'm absolutely positive." Echo assured the woman.
"Very well. Go to the courthouse and sign the papers. Then you can come and get your stuff."
With that, Abigail sashayed back into the orphanage.
"Come on, let's go get those papers signed!" Marbles told Echo with a smile. He was just as excited as she was.
Echo let Marbles and Ada lead her down the street to the courthouse. But before they could take ten steps, someone grabbed Echo by the collar.
"Echo, now, I think you should rethink this! Wouldn't you rather come with me?"
It was Solomon Quinn who had hold of Echo's shirt collar. Spooked, Echo jolted away from him.
"Please don't touch me!" Echo begged. "Please just leave me alone."
Clinging to Ada, Echo trembled in fear of this man. Ada held Echo to her, unsure of why Echo was so afraid.
"Come on, be smart about this! Come home with me and April. You've fooled around quite enough. Let's go."
Solomon reached to pull Echo off of Ada. However, before Solomon could pull Echo away, Marbles had him by the wrist.
"Back off." Marbles warned. "Or did you not hear her say 'don't touch me'?"
"You, sir," Solomon growled through clenched teeth, "need to mind your business and let me take the girl."
"Echo's wellbeing is my business and from the way she's acting, she doesn't want you anywhere near her. So I'll reiterate. Stay. Away. From. My. Daughter."
"She's not your daughter yet, so she's still up for grabs." Solomon tried to pull his wrist free but Marbles held tight. "Give me the girl."
"No!" Marbles said before give Solomon's wrist a harsh jerk, breaking the bone in two or three places with an audible crack. "Leave Echo alone."
Solomon hunched over, almost falling to his knees. He made a sound comparable to a pre-teen girl's squeal over her pop idol as he clutched his arm in pain.
Marbles gently pried Echo off of Ada and with a hand on her back, got her back on the path to the courthouse.
"You broke his hand. I heard the bone snap!" Echo looked up at Marbles, her eyes wide.
"Well . . . I . . . Uhm . . ." Marbles stuttered at an obvious lack of words.
Echo grinned. "That was awesome!"
Marbles smiled back. Echo gave a light but excited tug to his arm, silently telling him to pick of the pace. All three hurried into the courthouse. Judge Trudy waited there with the final stack of adoption papers.
"Ya'll just sign these papers and yer home free." Trudy told them. "Before I can give you these papers, though, I have a question."
"What is it?" Ada's head tilted to the side in questioning.
"Since you two aren't married yet, I need to know which one of you will be Echo's primary guardian."
Marbles and Ada looked at each other. Echo looked at each of them, waiting to hear the answer.
"I'll be her primary guardian." Marbles answered.
"Alright then, fill these out and ya'll can be on your way."
Echo sat between Marbles and Ada at a table and watched Marbles as he started going through the papers. He produced and ink pen, signing where required. Sometimes he'd pass a page or two to Ada for her to sign. Then, as the paper stack dwindled, Marbles placed a page in front of Echo.
"Okay, Echo, this is it." Marbles said excitedly, placing his pen in her hand. "It's your turn."
Echo looked down at the paper before her and began to study it. At the bottom were x's and lines for signatures and dates. Marbles had already printed and signed his name. There were identical spots for her to do the same.
Echo returned her gaze to the top of the page so to read what she was signing for. Boy, there was a lot of tiny print! Echo had to squint to see it clearly. Marbles quickly noticed the difficulty Echo was having with the size of the print.
"You are supposed to be wearing glasses, aren't you?" he asked gently.
"Just for driving in bad weather . . . and ridiculously tiny legal print." Echo said. "How'd you know about my glasses?"
"I've read some of your medical file."
"Oh."
Marbles pulled the glasses off of his face and slipped them on to Echo's face. "There, try my glasses."
The red framed glasses were a tad too big on Echo's face. They slipped down her nose and Ada giggled at the cuteness besides her. Echo pushed the glasses back up her nose, holding them up with one hand.
"Whoa!" Echo breathed. "These are like my brother's glasses. They're much too strong for me." She blinked a few times before giving them back to Marbles. "Thanks, but I can manage without."
"You have a brother?" Ada asked as Marbles put his glasses back on.
Echo nodded. "Three of them, actually."
"Oh, yes, I remember you mentioning them, but I don't think you ever mentioned their names." Marbles jumped in.
"Angus, Seamus, and Liam." Echo answered. Her tone of voice said she didn't wants to talk about her brothers any more than that.
To Echo's great relief, Marbles and Ada both picked up on her signals and said not another word of the subject. Echo returned her focus to deciphering the miniscule legal print. As the little words came into focus, Echo's brow furrowed as her fingers clenched around the warm silver barrel of the ink pen.
"I'm changing my name?" Echo asked confusedly.
Marbles realized that this slightly upset Echo.
"It's mostly just a formality, saying that you're part of this family now." He assured her. "The only reason you actually have to sign is because you're over fifteen."
"I guess I should have known this was coming." Echo admitted.
Ada looked at Marbles wondering how he would calm Echo down.
Marbles put a comforting arm around Echo. "Hyphenate your last name. That way you'll still be able to go by Glasgow."
Echo looked up at him, the twinkle back in her eyes. "Really?"
Marbles nodded and smiled. Echo started to write and sign her name, only to stop when she got to Marbles' last name.
". . .Shovat. You don't go by your last name." Echo realized.
"I just prefer to go by Marbles." He explained.
"I get it. I'm no stranger to stage names." Echo assured him. She then printed her new name and signed the last dotted line, "Echo Sidney Glasgow-Shovat."
"And that, my dear, is that." Marbles said, giving Echo a squeeze before gathering up the papers. Judge Trudy told him to take the paper work with them to the orphanage for Abigail to sign as they gathered Echo's things.
Echo's excitement continued as Marbles led the way back to the orphanage. This was it. Her last trip to the orphanage, the end of the abuse! Marbles gave the papers to Abigail who forlornly slipped behind the front desk to retreat into her office. Inside Echo's cell, Echo was bubbling full of excitement.
With them Marbles and Ada had brought a small suitcase and a duffle bag to store Echo's few belongings. Echo was almost jittery she was so happy. She could hardly focus enough to help her new parents pack her things.
"I can't believe it!" Echo breathed excitedly. "I can't believe I'm getting out of here!"
Marbles and Ada chuckled and exchanged large smiles. Marbles pulled Echo in for another hug, kissing her on top of her head.
"Believe it. It's true. We're a family now." He reminded her.
Echo's felt her cheeks lift up in a smile as she continued to help Ada sort her things. Ada had already stripped the bed of the blankets Echo had brought with her, and was refolding her clothes to stack in the suitcase. Echo handed her other, non-clothing things to Marbles who stored them in the dufflebag.
"There's one thing I don't get." Echo admitted.
"What's that, sweetie?" Ada asked.
"How come neither of you told me that you were going to adopt me?"
"Marbles, I thought you told her!"
"I left a letter for you, Echo, explaining everything." Marbles said.
"When did you leave it?" Echo asked him.
"The day I took you to see Dr. Kasal."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I never found a letter."
"It's alright, Echo. It's not your fault. I have a feeling I know what happened to it."
"At least it wasn't that you couldn't tell me because of one of those silly secret rules."
"Secret rules?" Marbles questioned. "What are these secret rules?"
"Um, well, I was never supposed to talk about you to other visitors and I wasn't supposed to tell you about other visitors."
"What a strange rule!" Ada said.
Echo shrugged. "I guess it doesn't matter now." She smiled to herself. "I've been adopted and that's that."
Ada patted her back. "That's right."
Marbles went into the bathroom to get the other dufflebag and Echo's toiletries. Coming out he said,
"Well, I do believe that's it. Is there anything else left to get, Echo?"
"No, I think we got everything. Except for the stuff stored at the courthouse." Echo said.
"Then let's go."
Exiting her cell for the absolute last time Echo let out a sigh of contentment.
"I'm not going to miss this place at all." Echo declared.
Abigail handed over the papers with an obviously fake smile on her face. She held the papers so tightly that Marbles had to jerk them from her hand.
"You didn't listen to me." Abigail said to Echo between clenched teeth.
"Huh? But you told me to pick the family that would give me the best care, and that's what I did. I picked the family that would give the most love, without a shadow of a doubt." Echo answered.
Marbles beamed proudly. Ada looked like she wanted to yell, "IN YOUR FACE!" at Abigail. They all turned to walk away from Abigail and out the door. But before crossing the threshold, Echo stopped and went into the sitting area where she dropped to her knees and held open her arms as a little blonde girl leapt into them, wrapping her arms around Echo's neck. Ada pulled Marbles on out through the door, so to give the two some privacy.
"Bye-bye, Echo." Molly said into the teen's shoulder.
Echo gave Molly a tight hug. "'Bye, Molly. You'll go to a good home one day. I know it."
"You deserve this more than any of us." Molly said. "You deserve that good family out there."
"Please. It's all just an act." Ledge said from behind.
Echo and Molly turned around. Echo glared up at Ledge. "Now that's not true! They do love me!"
Ledge shrugged. "Maybe for some strange reason they do. But it's not like you'll fit in. You are a human. They are cyborgs. Well, at least he is."
"I don't care about that! All that matters is that they love me."
Ledge laughed. "You're so stupid." He said before stalking off.
Molly and Echo said goodbye one more time and hugged before Echo went to rejoin Marbles and Ada. The three of them returned to the courthouse where they turned in the paperwork. Judge Trudy stamped the papers, finalizing the adoption and making it official. She gave Marbles his copies before going to the vault and returning Echo's last bag to her.
Judge Trudy pulled Echo to her for a quick hug. As much as Echo didn't want to be touched, she tolerated this because she respected the Judge after all she had done to help her out.
"Congratulations Echo. If anyone deserves this second chance, it's you." Trudy told her assistant.
"Thanks Judge." Echo said quietly. With a little wave she left with her new parents, into a new chapter of her life.
Marbles led his two favorite ladies back to his cybercoupe where they loaded in Echo's belongings. He opened the passenger's side door like a true gentleman, letting Echo slide in to the middle first, Ada sliding in next to her. Getting into the driver's seat, Marbles started the ignition and the craft lifted off of the ground. Echo jumped a bit. She hadn't known what to expect this craft to do, and was a bit startled at take off. Ada immediately noticed Echo's uneasiness and took one of the girl's hands to hold.
Echo seemed to immediately relax after Ada took her hand. This was something Marbles noticed right off the bat and was extremely pleased to see. Not only was Echo bearing physical contact, she was letting herself grow attached to who he hoped she would come to accept as her mother. Marbles loved watching Echo's wide green eyes take in everything around her. This was Echo's maiden voyage across Cyberspace, her first conscious time off of Sensible Flats. Everything was new and fascinating for her.
"Is that a Mobius Strip?" Echo asked, looking out the passenger's side window.
"That's correct. That is Cybersite Mobius." Marbles informed her. "Would you like to check it out?"
"Can we?" Echo's eyes seemed to grow bigger with excitement.
"Of course."
Marbles touched down on Cybersite Mobius and let Echo wonder around the deserted site. Echo took in everything around her. She looked up in the sky, seeing other Cybersites far in the distance. She studied the ground beneath her feet, taking in every little detail. Ambling around, she came to the edge of the strip where she got down on her knees to look down below and under the strip. Marbles, who this whole time had been holding hands with Ada, released his beloved to go to the edge opposite Echo and mimic her actions.
When Echo first spotted him, her lips formed an "O" as she made a noise of the same sound. Then the "O" turned into a grin as she burst into a tiny fit of giggles. Returning herself to an upright position, Marbles came over and helped her to her feet.
"Ready to go now?" he asked.
Echo nodded, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, her cheeks a rosy pink. They took off again, continuing their journey across only a section of the massive expanses of Cyberspace. They passed a handful more Cybersites, but one, quite a distance away, caught Echo's eyes more than the rest.
She couldn't quite explain it. It was if it was calling out her name, beaconing to her to come to it. Deep down Echo felt like something was waiting for her there. Something . . . important.
"What Cybersite is that?" she asked at last.
"That one? That's Shangri-La, dear." Ada told her.
Shangri-La. . . Echo thought, unable to shake those inexplicable feelings.
Then, before she knew it, she was facing a very unique structure, like none other she had seen before. It was huge and had an air of importance around it.
"Echo," Marbles spoke gently, though the excitement was detectable in his voice, "this is Control Central. Your new home."
"Home. . ." Echo said quietly. Ada squeezed her hand as Marbles opened the door to the hangar and landed the coupe without a hitch.
Marbles removed Echo's bags from the trunk and carried them to the door where he set them down.
"Let's start the tour and then we'll pick up your bags on our way back to the housing sector, okay?"
"O-okay." Echo said a bit nervously. She felt better once Marbles had wrapped an arm around her shoulders and once Ada started holding her hand.
They led her up some stairs and down different hallways, showing her what each room was. There were all kinds of rooms, utility rooms, storage rooms, access rooms, there was even a garden. Marbles showed Echo one of his workshops, which was huge. More rooms later they came to the main control room, where the leader of Cyberspace resided. The big sliding doors opened with a hiss. Marbles and Ada ushered Echo inside.
"Welcome back, Dr. Marbles, Lady Ada." Motherboard said with a warm smile. "Who is this?"
Echo shrank into Marbles side.
"Motherboard, this is Echo." Marbles said proudly. "My," he looked at Ada. "Our daughter."
"Hello, Echo." Motherboard addressed the girl warmly.
"H-hi." Spoke Echo shyly. Her heart pounded in her chest. I know he said he was a technician, but he certainly failed to mention he was the technician for the leader of Cyberspace!
Despite Echo's shyness, Marbles was beaming.
"Is Digit not here?" Marbles asked, looking around the room.
"He's currently with the Cybersquad." Motherboard told him.
"Ah, well, I guess you'll have to meet him later, Echo."
Echo nodded. Marbles could tell she wanted to get out of there, and promptly excused the three of them to show Echo the rest of the complex. At last they made it to the housing sector. They had retrieved Echo's bags and entered the house from the hangar entrance. By the time they crossed the threshold into the house, Echo was about dead on her feet. She just didn't have enough stamina.
"Oh, Echo, you're exhausted, aren't you?" Marbles noticed.
Echo put on a brave face. "It's okay, I'm fine, I can handle it."
"Honey, there's no need to push yourself this hard. It'll just mess with your recovery."
"I'll be okay. I can handle it." Echo insisted, but the firm tone she tried to produce was undermined by weariness.
"No need to." Marbles passed Echo's computer bag to Ada, who had been pulling along the suitcase with both dufflebags stacked on top. Slipping one arm around her back and the other under her knees, Marbles scooped up his daughter into his arms bridal style.
Though a bit surprised, Echo settled with wrapping her arms around Marbles' neck and resting her head on his shoulder. He carried her around the house, showing her each room, from the kitchen to the living room. In the living room Ada had Marbles momentarily sit Echo down.
"What are you up to, Ada?" Marbles asked.
"I haven't taken a picture yet!"
"Of what?"
"Of you and Echo, of course! This is her first day home. First day with you as her father! This needs to be captured!"
"Alright, alright." Marbles conceded. He wrapped his arms around Echo, holding her so her back was pressed to his chest. Both smiled as Ada took the picture.
Then Marbles returned to carrying Echo and the tour continued, to his room to random closets. They showed Echo the room they thought she'd like for a studio, and Echo liked the idea a lot. There were many guest bedrooms, the Remote Access Control Room, and even a private library. The library had so many books Echo could only look around in amazement. At last they had one room to see. In front of this room, Marbles sat Echo back down on her feet. The door swished open, and all stepped inside.
"This is your room, Echo." Marbles told her.
Echo stepped further into her room, looking around in awe. The room was so nice. Spacious and light with a nice window with a cushioned seat, the room already had a couple pieces of furniture aside from the bed. A surprise was the small walk in closet. The biggest surprise for Echo was the private bath with shower, tub, and vanity sink. In the towel cabinet, Marbles revealed another surprise: a secret passageway leading into the closet.
Back in the bedroom Marbles said,
"I know it isn't much yet-the ivory is just a base coat-but we wanted you to be able to decorate the room how you like."
Words couldn't express Echo's gratitude. Ada saw Echo's lack of words.
"We'll let you get settled, sweetheart." Ada said. Echo nodded and went to her suitcase. Unzipping it, she couldn't find the first thing she wanted to unpack.
"Um…"
"What is it?" Marbles asked, about to leave the room.
"Where's my quilt?"
Marbles looked at Ada.
"There wasn't a quilt on your bed when I packed up your other blanket." Ada said.
Echo looked devastated. She looked down at her hands which sat on her knees. "My grandma made that quilt."
Marbles and Ada quickly swarmed around Echo to soothe her.
"We'll get it back." Marbles assured her. "I've got to go to Symmetria tomorrow. On my way back I'll stop at the orphanage and get your quilt. I have a feeling I know where it is."
Echo looked up at him. "She took it, didn't she?"
Knowing exactly who Echo spoke of, Marbles nodded. "Most likely, yes." Echo frowned. "I'll get your quilt back, baby. Don't worry."
"Okay." Echo agreed.
"In the mean time, why don't you get some of your stuff unpacked while I start dinner?"
"Alright." Echo returned to pulling things out of her suitcase and Marbles left the room with Ada right behind him.
Echo pulled out her clothes and took them into the closet where she hung them on hangers or put them into drawers. She put her shoes in a spot where she'd know where they were. Then she sat some of her things out on the desk and on the little bookshelf, leaving the rest jumbled in the remaining dufflebag at the end of her bed. She took her old laptop out of the old red messenger bag, setting it on the little desk, plugging it in for a charge, not really caring if it needed one or not. Then she sat down on the bed and looked around at her new room.
In the kitchen, Marbles brought out the ingredients he had prepared the night before. He had made good use of the little information sheet that the orphanage had made Echo fill out. Because he had that sheet, he knew Echo's favorite dishes, and was preparing one of them for her first dinner home. Tonight he was making three cheese ravioli with a tangy marinara sauce. As he brought the sauce to a simmer Ada slipped the garlic bread into the oven and tossed the salad.
"At least stay for dinner, love." Marbles begged his beloved.
"I really should be getting home. I've got a lot of projects to work on that I've let slip to the wayside." Ada protested.
"Come on. This is her first dinner in her new home. She deserves to spend it with her family. Her whole family. That includes you."
"Oh, alright; you're right, of course." Ada conceded. "Echo needs us to be there for her."
"That's right. Well, everything's about done…"
"You go get Echo. I'll set the table."
Marbles kissed Ada on the forehead and left to get Echo. As she was sitting, Echo had leaned back all the way until she was lying down, her legs from the knee down hanging off the side.
"This isn't another solitary confinement cell. You don't have to spend every waking moment in here."
Echo quickly sat up upon hearing Marbles' voice. Blood rushed to her cheeks, coloring them a dainty pink. Marbles strode over and sat himself on the bed next to his daughter. Echo brushed her hair behind her ear.
"That'll take some getting used to." Echo said softly.
Marbles gently patted Echo on the back. "I'm sure you'll get used to it quicker than you think. Come on, dinner's ready."
Echo followed Marbles to the door. As soon as they had stepped into the hallway, Echo threw her arms around Marbles' torso, squeezing him tightly and burying her face in his chest.
"Thank you . . . for everything."
"Oh honey. . ." Marbles bent down to envelop her in his arms. He was a bit surprised, and happy. This was the first time she had hugged him on her own. He kissed the top of her head. "I only wish I had adopted you sooner."
In the kitchen Ada had already set the table, plates full with salads to the side. Echo's mouth began to water and her stomach rumbled when she saw the contents of everyone's plates. On each plate was a generous helping of ravioli toasted to a perfect golden brown blanketed in a velvety red marinara that promised to be as good as it looked. Paired with the ravioli were a couple pieces of buttery garlic bread. The bowls situated next to the plates were full of fresh green lettuce, croutons, sunflower seeds, and parmesan cheese. Bottles of dressing sat in the middle of the table with the rest of the un-plated food.
Marbles sat at the head of the small rectangular table with Ada to his left and Echo to his right. Most of the dinner time conversation was conducted by either Marbles or Ada, asking Echo questions she had to answer with a nod or a shake of the head when her mouth was too full to answer verbally.
One particular question came from Ada.
"Do you play any instruments, dear?"
Echo had just bitten into a ravioli and cheese was stringing from her face. She quickly broke off the string of cheese and nodded.
"You do?" Ada's voice held a certain level of excitement.
Swallowing, Echo nodded again. "Yeah."
"What do you play?"
"I play several instruments."
"I take it you started learning early?" Marbles asked.
Another nod. "I took my first music lesson at three and a half."
"Impressive! What was your first instrument?" asked Ada.
"The piano."
Ada grinned. "Just like Marbles!"
Echo turned to Marbles. "You play too?"
Marbles smiled. "I do."
"So the baby grand wasn't just for show."
"Nope." Marbles chuckled.
Marbles continually made sure she had plenty to eat, and Echo was more than happy to eat whatever he ladled onto her plate. By the time everyone had cleaned their plates no one had room for dessert. Echo helped load the dishwasher and soon after it was time for Ada to go home. She gave Echo several hugs and kisses then gave Marbles a long kiss before portalling out.
"What's wrong?" Marbles asked, seeing that Echo was still watching the spot where Ada's portal had just vanished. "Oh. Was that your first time seeing a portal?"
"Yeah, it was. But I . . ." Echo trailed off.
"But what, sweetheart? It's okay, you can talk to me about anything."
"I just thought that you two lived together." She said sheepishly.
"Ah." Marbles wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Not quite yet. But one day. . . Now, how about we just relax and watch some TV for a while?"
"'Kay."
Quietly Echo followed Marbles' lead. She sat after he did, keeping very much to herself. This slightly worried Marbles. He had hoped that she wouldn't be as shy about physical touch now that she was home with him. Yet she still kept to herself. As much as he didn't like it, Marbles knew that the best thing would be to just let her be for now. He showed Echo the little binder he had constructed for her, listing all of the channels for the television and how to operate the different entertainment systems in the room all in an organized bundle.
After a while he noticed something. Echo had scooted closer to him. Then she got a little closer and even closer after that. A short time later, Echo was pressed up against Marbles'. He lifted his arm and let her curl up in his side. Tucking her feet up under her, Echo got completely comfy, and Marbles felt her let out a little happy sigh. Rubbing his hand up and down her arm proved to be quite relaxing, and soon Echo was nodding off to dreamland. Marbles gave her a soft shake.
"Sweetie," he said gently, "Go get ready for bed. I'll be in to say goodnight in a bit."
"'Kay." Echo said sleepily. She rose from the couch and padded to her room. She dug through her closet and found that they had bought her some new clothes, including pajamas. She pulled out a pair of polka dot lounge pants and found a tank top and sweat shirt to go with it. Clad in pajamas and with nightly routines done, she climbed into bed and waited for Marbles.
Marbles came in and sat on the side of her bed. He pulled Echo into his arms. Her eyelids were heavy; she wouldn't be able to stay awake much longer. Marbles knew he should make his good night message quick.
"Echo Sidney Glasgow-Shovat, you are my pride and joy. You are the center of my universe. I love you with all my heart and being. You have no idea how thrilled and honored I am to have this chance to have you as a daughter. I love you more than anything in the world. Sleep well, my little angel."