AN: here's chapter 2. Tell me if its getting bad please. I like to add songs into my fanfics. Bilow Baby is from MASH, and Bloom Bloom is from Joseph King of Dreams. I don't own those or Brotherband Chronicles.

"Hal! Do know where...*gasp*" Charlie had just gone into the kitchen to ask her stepbrother Hal where all the buckets had gone. When she entered the kitchen, it was flooded with water, wood, and more water. Apparently Hal had tried out another of his inventions.

Charlie had been living with Karina and Hal for 2 years. They had taken to her at once and 1 year ago she had been adopted by them and accepted into their life as one of the family. She had had a hard time fitting in because she was Araluen, not Skandian. But she ignored the comments and jokes and held her head high, proud to be Araluen.

But there were the days that she came home crying. Her mother comforted her and encouraged her to sing more often, as it would calm her down. One song in particular that Karina had taught her was called Bilow Baby. It helped remind Charlie that she had a family here.

Bilow baby, bilow baby, bilow baby, bilow baby bi.

Daddy still loves you, daddy still loves you. Daddy still loves you. Though he's gone to war.

Now Hal, his friend Stig and the crippled sea wolf, Thorn, were trying to make life easier for their mother. But Hal had overlooked one small detail again and it had fallen apart.

And Karina chose that moment to come home from the market.

*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#

Hal had been cleaning up for hours and was near exhaustion. Charlie thought that she would help him finish so that they could go work more on his boat.

Hal had been building a boat for the longest time and Charlie had been helping. She loved ships and sailing and loved to learn more from her brother.

Hal enjoyed teaching his year younger sister, and cherished the fact that she shared some of his blood. Hal being half Araluen and all.

Stig felt like he was falling in love with Charlie. He was the only person, except her mother, that she permitted to call her Charlotte. Stig was always trying to impress Charlie and Charlie was always taking notice and hiding her wonderment. She didn't want to encourage him any further.

The two siblings and Stig made it to the boat yard and waited for Ulf, Wulf and Ingvar to show up. The other three showed up and they finished the boat.

"We will sail her tomorrow." Hal said

"Am I permitted to join you?" Charlie asked sweetly.

"Of course little sister." Hal said teasing her with her least favourite nickname. She responded with giving him a swift punch in the arm. "Ow. Well I guess I deserved that." He said with a smile.

"Darn right peewee." Charlie responded teasing him back playfully, despite the fact that he was a whole head taller than she was.

"Charlotte, will you please sing something?" Stig asked.

"Sure. What would you like to hear?" Charlie responded loving the sound of her full name coming from Stig's mouth.

"That one that you hum the tune to all the time." Stig said referring to the tune that she hummed all the time.

"Alright.

How long must there be anger here,

Before we can rejoice,

Embracing love instead of fear,

Is but a simple choice,

It's hard for me to see you fall,

So bitter and so blind,

When the truest nature of us all,

Invites us to be kind,

Bloom, bloom, may you know,

The wisdom only time breeds,

There's room, bloom and you'll grow,

To follow where your heart leads,

Bloom and may you live,

The way your life was meant to be,

There's room, bloom and forgive...

May sweet compassion set you free"

"Wow. That's a good one to remember when my temper rises past boiling point." Stig said not even bothering to hide his admiration.

"Yeah, my mother used to sing it to me when I was angry or frustrated." She said referring to her Araluen mother.

Then Stig reached up to her face and brushed away a tear that she didn't realize had fallen. Charlie put her hand over his and leaned into his touch. They embraced as Charlie cried. Soon Hal joined in the hug knowing how much she missed her real family.

Charlie's mom had died a few days before she was captured. Her dad had died when she was 4. Her life had been one misery after another until she was set free and met Hal and her stepmother.

The three pulled away and walked back to the city in companionable silence.