"Dorothea?"

Both were walking towards the car together. It was dark now and the rusting flicking lights that lined the small parking-lot of the dinner softly buzzed with electric sound. Dorothea glanced up at him before he cleared his throat.

"I wanted to ask you…if you wanted me to find someplace you could stay?"

"Like where?"

Swann shrugged.

"I don't know, maybe another foster home, a school that might take you in." "Someplace nice, someplace where you might get a family, live a normal life…"

"I don't think that's ever gonna happen…"

"Huh?"

"A normal life, not after what I saw…"

Both stopped in front of the car. Swann took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit up. Glancing at the dinner's front windows, he saw mostly truckers sitting in the booths. Having an early dinner, or another cup of coffee for the road.

"Well I really don't know what I'm gonna do…maybe head to the city."

"Los Angeles?"

"Yeah."

"Ever been?"

"A long time ago."

"What do you plan on doing there?"

"I don't know, maybe get a job…try to pretend that I can't remember."

"Let me come with you then."

Swann flicked the ash of his cigarette for a second before shaking his head.

"Dorothea, your just a little girl…you don't wanna come with me." "I city is a big place, I'll probably be struggling, barley able to take care of myself."

"We'll take care of each other then."

"What?"

"Like we did before, make sure nothing happens to each other."

"Dorothea…it's not that easy, I mean even though Nix's people won't follow us, their still dangerous…"

"And I'm a crack shot."

Dorothea playfully held up her hand as a gun before smiling at Swann. Trying his best to smile back, he shook his head.

"I just don't think I can do it."

"Are you freaked out that I'll be a pain, someone you always have to watch out for?"

"Of course not…"

"Well I'm sorry I got my period okay, I was scared and freaked out…I can't help it I'm becoming a woman."

Dorothea crossed her arms, shooting Swann a look. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he looked down.

"Dorothea, it's not that…I just want you to be happy."

"I'll be happy if I'm with you, your different…I can tell."

Swann shook his head.

"Everyone tells me that, but the truth I'm just a messed up kid…I'm nothing."

"You saved me, that's all I need."

"You don't understand, Nix showed me things, gave me power that I don't fully know how to use…"

"Then we'll master it together, help you learn it…use it for good."

"Dorothea it isn't that easy, do you have any idea what would happen if somebody, the world found out?"

"We'll use it in a different way."

"Like how?"

"Be a magician."

Swann turned away laughing, Dorothea reached forward pulling his shoulder.

"What?" "You have the power, why not use it."

Swann turned back, trying his best to withhold himself.

"Dorothea, do you have any idea how dangerous that is…I'll be in the spot light, anything could happen…"

"Not as long as Nix is dead."

Swann sighed.

"But if anyone found out…"

"Nobody will ever have to know, learn how to control your power…make it all seem like an act, blow people away."

Swann threw down his smoke before slowly pacing back and forth.

"This is crazy…"

Dorothea watched him.

"What's so crazy about it, I mean look at us…I'm twelve and your nineteen." "We haven't been to high school or college, we have little to no money in our pockets, and nowhere to go."

Swann then stopped, he felt his heart beating fast again.

"Dorothea…you don't understand how powerful this is…"

"But we'll use it for good…this will just be our way of staying alive."

"To make money?"

"No, that's not it…but to be able to live, feel normal…feel as though your using your power for good." "Finally, after you prove yourself, you can find other ways to use your power for good…to help people."

"This would never work…"

"It might take years to get started, but you're the best…your probably the only one who really can do magic."

Swann stopped for a second, looking out at the dark parking-lot and desert, he felt as though he was having a panic attack. Shaking his head he turned towards her.

"I can't…"

Dorothea then reached forward, slipping her tiny hand into his before meeting his eyes.

"I'll be at your side, we'll do it together."

"Is this what you want?"

"What I want is to be with you…"

"Dorothea your twelve, in a few years you'll forget about me."

Dorothea shook her head.

"I've never loved anyone in my entire life, I feel as through it was faith that we met each other…I mean age is a state of mind, I don't act like I'm twelve."

Swann looked at her.

"You don't."

"I know…I'm ready to face life with you, move on and start something."

"You don't know what your saying…"

Dorothea then leaned forward, standing on her tip toes she barley met his chin before kissing it, her eyes closed.

"I do…"

Swann reached out, putting his arms around her thin body. Both held each other for a few moments in the dark before he looked down at her.

"This is crazy…"

Dorothea smiled.

"I know…that's why it's gonna work."

A few hours later, Swann checked them into a small motel across from the highway. Parking the car in the back, he noticed the man behind the desk eye him as Dorothea walked up to his side, reaching out and taking his hand as he sighed them in.

Philip and Dorothea Swann.

Looking down for a second, Swann smiled before the clerk handed him his change.

"You and your daughter have a good night."

It took a second to hear what the clerk meant before turning around and walking to the room. Dorothea stayed silent, holding his hand and looking around with those big brown eyes.

Inside the room, which was simple and dull enough. Swann threw down his jacket and bag before Dorothea went into the bathroom. Throwing himself on the large bed, he looked up at the ceiling.

Was this wrong of him?

"She's twelve…"

He softly said to himself, laying there…trying his hardest to space out.

About ten minutes later Dorothea came out, just one of the motel's towels around her as she went to the bed. Her blond hair slicked back from a nice cool shower. Swann eyed her before she slightly smiled and sat down.

"The water works real good, if you wanna take a shower or something…"

"I think I will in the morning, I'm exausted."

Dorothea tiny fingers reached over and brushed some of his hair away.

"You look as though you haven't slept in awhile…"

Swann looked over at her as he laid there, her smooth fingers gently rubbing the side of his stubby face.

"You have beautiful eyes…"

Swann smiled.

"So don't you."

Dorothea blushed before shaking her head.

"No I don't…you have the beautiful ones, their so striking."

"That's what a lot of people said…"

"Your very handsome…"

Swann raised an eyebrow before Dorothea turned away. Smiling to himself he slid off the bed.

"You need something to wear tonight?"

Dorothea turned back, her cheeks red.

"Yeah…I kind of do."

Swann turned around and grabbed his bag off the chair. After a few seconds he pulled out an old button up shirt of his, big enough for her to sleep in.

"How about this?"

Swann walked over to Dorothea's side before she took it, softly smiling. Swann winked at her before reaching for a pillow.

"What are you doing?"

Swann looked at her.

"I'm gonna sleep on the floor, you can have the bed tonight."

Dorothea stared at him, a long enough silence to be awkward. Slowly she stood up, only a few inches away from each other. Looking up at him, her eyes serious…she dropped her robe.

Swann took a second, watching as the towel fell to her feet. Her eyes still fixed on his. Looking her up and down he saw she was pretty undeveloped. Her body smooth, young, and perfect. Right away an awful erection began to press against he leg of his jeans.

Dorothea looked down and saw it.

"Did I do that?"

Swann wanted to kill himself, shutting his eyes for a second he hoped she was meaning something else. After a few seconds he opened them again and she was still looking.

"I heard about that happens to guys when…well…"

It was her time to look embarrassed. Looking away for a second she brought her arms up and crossed them, covering her flat chest.

"Philip?"

Swann looked down at her.

"Make love to me."

"What?"

Swann backed up a little bit, he didn't hear right. Dorothea meanwhile kept looking at him.

"I love you Philip, I really do…"

"Whoa…"

Swann shook his head.

"Your moving too fast, I mean we just agreed that I would take you with me, I mean we're gonna be struggling in the city as it is…"

"So?"

"So what?"

"So…I mean, is it because you don't think I'm pretty?"

"No, of course not…it's just, honey your twelve…and I'm nineteen, that's still really young and…"

Before he could finish another word, she walked over and pressed her smooth naked body up against him. Taking a deep breath, he looked down at her.

"I love you Philip, don't you love me?"

"Of course I do…"

"Then make love to me, please."

A few minutes later, Swann flicked off the light and slowly undressed.

He really didn't know if he was an awful person for doing this. He thought of a million reasons why it was wrong. But her beautiful stunning brown eyes kept looking at him. Through everything that had happened, she was here with him. She was right, even though she was twelve, she had seen and done things no child would ever be able to do. They maybe were being stupid and not thinking right, but he couldn't help feeling this way about her. He thought this empty feeling in his heart was about something else. But now here with her, he felt safe.

She was different like him, and both stood in front of a very unknown future. But she was right, if they were going to face it, they would face it together.

Laying on top of her, in the darkness of their small motel room. Ever few minutes their window that faced the parking-lot, would light up a little bit through the cheap curtains. Trucks and cars passing from the highway across.

She laid there, perfectly still. Letting him do what was needed. He laid there, naked and somehow more scared then she was. Holding himself up, he stared down at her wide eyes.

"Are you sure?"

Slowly she nodded.

Lowering himself, Swann used his hand to guide himself in. For a brief second he thought it wasn't going to happen. But pushing forward, gritting his teeth, he entered her.

"Hissss!"

Dorothea snapped her eyes shut, before Swann lowered himself and laid there for a second. His first thought was to pull out, that she was too young and couldn't handle this. He didn't want to hurt her.

"Are you okay?"

After a few seconds she opened her eyes.

"Am I a virgin anymore?"

Swann faintly smiled in the darkness.

"No, not anymore."

Dorothea shut her eyes for a second before opening them again.

"Kiss me Philip…"

Leaning over, he softly kissed her on her lips.

"Do you want to stop?"

She shook her head.

"If I hurt you, just tell me and we'll stop okay?"

Dorothea nodded before Swann positioned himself again. Taking a deep breath he began to move, slowly thrusting himself in and out of her thin frame. Dorothea was silent the entire time. Her eyes fixed on him, as he tried to control himself by the tightness and warmth inside her. Locking eyes with her, as he pushed her deeper into the bed, he then knew in his heart he loved her. All of this was for her, and no matter what, he wouldn't ever let harm touch her again.

Before he could think, he climaxed. Lowering his head and muffling, he came before taking a deep breath. Pulling himself out and rolling over, he felt warmth up and down her legs. It was either from her, or she was bleeding. Laying there, under the covers. He caught his breath before looking over.

"You okay?"

His arms slipped around her thin shoulders, before bringing her closer. There he saw she was crying.

"Dorothea did I hurt you?"

Dorothea reached up and wiped her eyes before looking at him.

"It hurt, but it was beautiful…I can't even explain it."

Swann kissed her bare shoulder before holding her against him.

"I know…"

Laying her head on his bare chest, she held him.

"I love you…I know now that for sure, I love you."

"I love you too…"

"Never leave me, not even for a second okay?"

Swann kissed the top of her head before laying there.

"I never will…"

And there they laid together, safe in each other's arms in the darkness.