A/N: This story will now be written in third person. Tip to remember: Ib saw the Forgotten Portrait whereas Garry saw the Hanged Man, relevant to where it depends on who sees what (ex: the doll room).

"Don't you think you were a bit hard on Ib dear?" Ib's father asked his wife.

The tall woman put her feet together and frowned, "I don't think so. That stranger brought our daughter here and I have never seen him, also because he is so low-class."

"Dear, you're being too old fashioned."

"Me? Old fashioned?"

"Yes," Ib's father sighed, "There isn't a problem with our daughter making friends with someone from a different class as us. But I do agree that that man was a complete stranger and I do fear for Ib's well-being."

The woman sighed and went back up to Ib's room. Seeing her daughter just lying down as if she were almost lifeless on her bed concerned the older woman.

"Ib dear?"

Ib looked up at her mother without much expression.

"I'm sorry about earlier, I was too hard on you, but you know how your father and I always told you not to talk to strangers? Well that rule applies to that man, we don't know him and he could be dangerous."

Ib looked quietly at the piece of candy Garry had given her. "He's my friend…just like Maria…."

"Ib…"

Her mother didn't know what else to say. Trying to convince her daughter to not go near Garry would be a good idea, but she couldn't constantly supervise her.

"Please, Ib, just promise me you won't talk to anymore strangers."

Ib nodded and gave her mother a hug, her mother returned it and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Dinner will be ready in half an hour," she said before leaving Ib to her thoughts.

The brunette sat at her desk, reading about Guertena's works again. She searched page after page on the painting known as 'The Forgotten Portrait'. Nothing came up and Ib took a break when she heard tapping at her window. Looking outside was Maria with a small pebble in her hands.

"Ib!"

Ib looked down at her new found friend.

"Let's hang out again tomorrow!" Maria smiled and ran home.

The young girl smiled to herself and went downstairs once she was called to dinner.

At the dinner table, it was quiet as usual. Ib's father glanced at her mother and cleared his throat.

"O-oh! Ib dear, your father and I don't have work this weekend, is there something you'd like us to do?"

The first thought that came to Ib's mind was, "The gallery."

"You want to go again?" Her father questioned.

Ib simply nodded and took a sip of water.

"What about the park? Or the new boat tours down by the docks?"

Ib sat quietly and looked up to her parents. "May we please go back? I think I forgot my handkerchief there…"

"Alright then."

"Can we also go to the café Maria took me? Maybe you can meet Garry," Ib said his name with a small smile.

"T-That man that brought you here?" Her mother's voice stiffened.

"Yes, mother. He's very kind."

Ib's mother looked to her father, "We'll see."

Ib fell asleep that night peacefully, realizing that the man that was in her dreams was none other than Garry, but what still annoyed her was that she felt like she was missing something critical.

The young brunette's morning was just like all the others, mother's breakfast and father's hand-made lunch ready for her. Ib saw Maria walking that morning to school and ran up to the girl.

"Good morning, Ib," Maria greeted her friend cheerfully, "It's finally Friday! Do you want to play after school today?"

"Where?"

"At my house of course! We could play with my dolls and draw pictures since I have a lot of crayons."

Ib accepted and held her friends hand as they went to school.

During art class, it was at that time during the semester that each of the students would pick an artist and attempt to re-create one of their works. Ib had quickly written down Guertena and looked through her book. She began painting 'The Coughing Man'.

The same boy came by and looked at her easel. "You picked that dead old dude again? He's so lame!" He then swiped a dirty paintbrush over Ib's work. The teacher came by later to punish the young boy.

Ib stared at the messy painting and decided she would start again. A new canvas and new paint gave Ib a small spark of inspiration, she would paint her new friend Maria. She started with the basics, peach-colored skin and then the green dress, blue eyes, and golden hair. A smile was put on her lips as Ib stepped back and admired her work.

Somehow, Ib had the idea that a border would fit, just so it looked like a real portrait. She started with green lines like the dress and she wanted to do something with yellow, because the color suited Mary so much. Ib decided on a few roses, it was her first time painting them.

"That looks wonderful Ib! Let it dry for now and you can take it home at the end of the day," her teacher said. Ib nodded and simply admired the painting quietly.

"What do you call it?" Her teacher asks.

Ib thought for a moment, she thought of using Maria's name, but she feared she might get in trouble, "Mary…"

"What a beautiful title, she looks just like a Mary!"

"Ib!" Maria yelled from across the field during recess once more.

"Hello…."

Maria sat down beside Ib on the green grass, smoothing out her dress. "What did you do today?"

"I painted in class today, in fact, I'll show you after school…."

"Okay then."

The two girls sat quietly as Ib read her usual book. "Maria, you look a lot like Mary…."

"M-Mary…?"

Ib nodded, "Mary from Guertena's works. It's like you two could be twins."

Maria chuckled uneasily. "Y-You're so silly, Ib! W-Well I must go to class…," Maria left Ib under the tree.

After school, the two friends walked home once again. "Is that what you were going to show me Ib?" Maria pointed to the canvas.

Ib nodded and held it up for her to see. "It's Mary…," she smiled to herself.

Maria froze, "I-Ib…that's very…nice…." Maria cleared her throat and began walking again. Ib wondered why Maria got tense as she looked at the painting.

"Hey, Ib, do you want to go back down to the stores again?"

Ib remembered her promise to her mother, she wouldn't talk to strangers, but Garry wasn't a stranger. "Okay, one more time wouldn't hurt…."

"Yay!" Maria held Ib's hand and they went back.

"These flowers are so pretty!" Maria said as she looked at the flowers outside of a florist boutique. Maria went inside for a moment as Ib stood outside, simply admiring the different flowers.

"Ib?"

Ib turned and saw Garry with a bag full of more painting supplies. She smiled as she greeted him.

"Hi there, Ib, what are you doing here today? Shouldn't you be home?" Garry wondered.

Ib nodded but pointed inside, "Maria is in there…."

"Hm? Your friend from yesterday?"

Ib nodded and showed him the painting she did.

Garry looked surprised, "Wow, Ib! That's very good for a girl you're age."

Ib smiled and gave Garry a hug, for some reason, it felt comfortable to hug him as his long coat almost draped over her small frame. "How is your new song...?" The little girl asked.

"It's coming along well, in fact, I'll be done with it by tonight. Here," Garry handed her a slip of paper, "Whenever you're in trouble, just call and I'll come running." He smiled and she did too.

"Ib?" Maria said as she came out with a handful of flowers. "The creepy guy from the café! H-How do you know him?"

"I-I…um…." Garry's eyes shifted to the side.

"My brother…he's my big brother…."

Both Maria and Garry looked at Ib, shocked by what she said. "W-What did you say Ib…?"

Ib nodded at Maria and hugged Garry again, "He's my big brother…."

"R-Right," Garry stuttered out.

Maria shrugged what Ib said away and handed her a flower that was wrapped in paper before going on her way home.

Ib looked in the paper and inside was a red rose.

A/N: Not sure when the next chapter will be up, I have a special visitor coming tomorrow and will be staying with me for the whole week. I also apologize if any of the characters are ooc, please send me a PM or review if you think there is something I could improve on.