It's a funny feeling when you can sense a presence before you even realise you're conscious. Meggie woke to her father sitting at the edge of her bed. She jumped, startled, and looked beside her.

Dustfinger was not there.

"I sent him out." Mo explained, voice soft. Meggie looked up at him, he met her eyes, locking the gaze.

She blushed and sat up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes and pushing her hair out of her face.

"You've grown up so fast." Her father said sadly.

Meggie's heart ached at his raw pain.

"I've had to."

Mo shook his head.

"My Meggie, no. I know how horrible things have been, I know Resa's gone..." he choked, and Meggie's heart started to painfully make itself known, beating hard against her chest.

"But she would want us to continue this and live our lives." He then smiled, and Meggie cocked her head, confused at the sudden change.

"I also meant with Dustfinger." He said, trying to sound stern, though she could hear the teasing. Meggie blushed again, and finally managed to advert her eyes.

"I'm glad he makes you feel safe." She glanced back up at her father.

"But please, no sex."

This time Meggie didn't blush prettily-she blushed a deep, vibrant red.

"Mo," she hissed.

"Don't worry, he already had this chat with me." Dustfinger appeared, holding a gurgling Brandon. Meggie looked at her hands.

"I hate you." She said, refusing to look at any of them. Dustfinger laughed quietly.

"Oh darling, imagine how I felt." Meggie still didn't look at him.

"I'm going to have to do it." Mo said, sounding out a sigh. Meggie looked at him, confused before she leaped back in shock as Mo jumped at her. When she realised what he was doing, she started to screech, but with laughter.

"Stop tickling me!" She slapped at his hands, her body jerking desperately away.

Dustfinger watched, his heart warmed at the family moments that seemed so rare now.

"Um...guys..." A voice broke through, removing the happiness to fill it with tension. They all looked as Farid stood there, wringing his hands. Another figure appeared, hiding behind Farid. Dustfinger blinked at his daughter, whom he hadn't seen for what seemed like forever. Brianna looked across the room until her eyes settled on Dustfinger. She then stepped out, and Brandon almost shot through Dustfinger's hands.

"I'm pregnant."

"Obviously." Dustfinger said, his mouth dry. Brianna stared at him, her eyes hard as if daring him to say something bad. Dustfinger moved over to her cautiously.

"Congratulations sweetheart.' He said quietly,

"How far along?"

"Five months." She said curtly. Meggie looked at Farid, who's eyes were downcast.

"You seemed to move on."

Dustfinger's eyes narrowed, and he looked back at Brianna.

"Your mother would be ashamed of you." His tone was cold, not one a father should use to a child.

Brianna flinched.

"She raised me on my own."

"That wasn't my fault!" he spat through clenched teeth.

Meggie focused her glare on Farid, who bowed into himself. Mo wrapped an arm around her shoulder, channelling her pain, and lending her the little strength he himself had.

Brianna lifted her chin.

"I don't care, I'm glad to have this baby and I'm not sorry." While saying this, she turned her eyes on Meggie.

Farid now looked uneasy.

Mo shot her a dirty look but did not say anything.

Dustfinger spoke instead.

"Don't say that." He said in a low voice, referring to who she looked at more than what she said.

"No she's younger than me and could be my step mum." Meggie flinched.

"Brianna what is wrong with you? I'm not my age either and age does not matter nor does time, which obviously none of you cared about." Dustfinger shot.

"What is wrong with me?" a cold laugh flew out of Brianna's pursed lips, and Dustfinger winced. It was a sound that should not come from such an angelic person.

"I grew up with no dad, my mother's dead and so is my little sister!" Brianna screeched.

Understanding dwelled in Meggie, even though she didn't want it. There was a lot of things she didn't want but got anyway.

Dustfinger however felt the cruel emotion of angst.

"How I wish I could have been there, Brianna. I spent nine years trying to come back home."

"He did." Meggie and Mo said in unison.

"But I would not have meet my Meggie if I hadn't have gone." Dustfinger said slowly. Brianna looked at Meggie accusingly. Dustfinger took a step, planting himself in front of Meggie and protecting her from the force of Brianna's glare, baring it himself.

"Don't blame her. Don't you dare. If you want to blame someone, blame me."

"I do."

Dustfinger's expression faltered, but remained strong, and he shook his head, before turning it on Farid.

"I have no words for you whatsoever. I am ashamed of you, and you better take good care of Brianna and your child."

Farid nodded, before finally looking at Meggie.

Mo tightened his hold on his daughter, wishing he could protect her from a broken heart.

"Meggie, I..."

"I don't care." Meggie cut him off harshly.

Brianna took Farid's hand.

"Let's go. All is said." She cast a look at her father, and Meggie could see the longing in her eyes.

"But Meggie-" Farid tried again.

"Just go." She said loudly.

Farid looked around the room, dejected before slinking out, leading a round Brianna after him. When Dustfinger turned to Meggie, his eyes pierced into hers, seeing right through her soul. Meggie just simply looked back.

"Well at least there is happiness for someone." She said, smiling. Dustfinger shrugged.

"You can look at it like that, yes."

Mo gave Meggie another squeeze before sliding off the bed and taking Brandon out of Dustfinger's arms.

"I'm going to go take care of this little champ." And then he disappeared, leaving the two lovers in his wake.

Dustfinger moved to Meggie, and she went to move over, her dress slipping up her thigh.

Dustfinger paused, eyes popping wide. Meggie looked at him, confused before following his eyesight. Cursing to herself, she pulled the dress over the offensive cut, but the damage was already done.

"Dustfinger I..."

"No! When did you do that?" Dustfinger tried to keep his anger at bay but damn it they had enough problems without him having to now worry over self harm. Hadn't there been enough harm? Why did she have to do the inflicting? Was it for the control?

"Yesterday...I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking-"

"Damn straight you weren't! What if you had gone too far? Meggie this is not the way, it never is and it never will be and I'm surprised that someone as smart as you would even succumb to doing this!"

Meggie bowed away, curling into herself.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't going to remove the cut is it?"

Meggie said nothing. Dustfinger swallowed before settling down beside her, taking the small girl into his strong arms.

"Meggie I love you and we need to talk about this. You can't do this anymore-I won't let you and so help me if I ever catch you doing it again or found out that you have-and believe me I will-I will kill you myself. Do you understand me?"

She looked up at him, and Dustfinger stared straight back.

"I understand."

"Damn it," he said, running a hand through his hair.

"I have to tell Mo about this."

Meggie's heart raced with panic and alarm.

"Wait-no! You can't."

"I can and sure as hell will." Dustfinger said, standing up and separating them.

"Dustfinger please-"

"Tell me what?" Mo said, coming back into the room. Meggie brought her head to her hands.

Meanwhile in a room down the stairs, Orpheus was pacing about; keeping his mutterings low, for the two men that were stationed outside his room had trained hearing. They thought they still had the upper hand, but they should know that you don't need sight to believe, you need faith to make it possible. He smiled, and picked up a pen and pencil. It was good to have friends on the other side, and he began to write.

"Tell me what?" Mo repeated. Meggie looked at Dustfinger, who was looking at Mo simply.

"Your daughter cut herself."

Meggie closed her eyes, afraid of her father's reaction.

Mo, once he got over his shock, strode over and knelt in front of his daughter. He took her hands away from her face and held them softly in his own.

"Meggie that is never the way. Sweetheart if I have to tie you down to get you to refrain yourself than I'll do it because I will not have you hurting yourself."

Meggie rolled her eyes.

"It was one time, I promise."

"That's how it starts." Dustfinger said, and Meggie just ignored him. Mo looked up at his daughter, and then nodded.

"We'll talk about this more later, okay? Right now we just need a day to ourselves to relax strategize and-"

"Sorry but I'm going to ruin those plans." Dustfinger, Meggie and Mo's head shot to the door, and Dustfinger's eyes popped open once more, eyebrows receding to his hairline, his mouth slightly suspended. Meggie's eyes frantically glued themselves on Dustfinger, and Mo just closed his eyes.

Son of a bitch.

"Roxanne..." Dustfinger breathed.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dustfinger: Hah, I would have loved to have seen 'the chat' between me and Mo.

Me: I could always make a chapter of it if you want.

Dustfinger: Uh no thanks. Been there done that.

Me: But maybe the readers want a detailed version.

Meggie: I don't.

Me: Or maybe him talking to the both of you?

Dustfinger: Oh now that's just cruel.

Me: I know.

Dustfinger: You know what else is cruel? Bringing Roxanne back in!

Meggie: Are you going to leave me Dustfinger?

Me: Uh, uh! No spoiling the story my dears.

Dustfinger: I am not your 'dear'

Me: Are you a bull?

Dustfinger: What?

Me: Nothing.

Dustfinger: And Meggie you cutting yourself-!

Meggie: (points to me) Look to her not me.

Dustfinger: (looking at me) It all leads back to you.

Me: What can I say? I'm unbelievable.

Dustfinger: Bring Resa back in!

Meggie: Hear, hear to that.

Me: Don't worry, her part is not over.

Meggie: What is that meant to mean?

Me: You'll have to wait and see like everyone else!

Meggie: This sucks we are the characters we should at least-

Me: Quit your whining and smile pretty and just be good.

Meggie: I hate you.

Me: Aw...you sure?

Meggie: Actually I love you.

Me: Review, readers =D And Meggie that's what they all say.

Dustfinger: Only from blackmail!

Me: Why you-!

Dustfinger runs away laughing.