A/N: Alright, I'm the second chapter for today and well… I really should be doing my homework but what else is the day before it's due for? Besides, I have statistics tomorrow, plenty of time to do homework in class ^^; Either way, it'll get done, so why not get some fanfiction done too? Fair warning, I have had a Mike's before beginning this chapter, only one… and the very end of Adam's as he has rediscovered that he doesn't like them (and he's gone to bed like a lame person), so if something seems off, that's why

Disclaimer: Because real writers obviously enjoy an alcoholic beverage while writing.

SereneCrosstamer: Hahahahaha, there's always more feels, always. And I do feel bad, I try to be fairly consistent on my upload schedule, thanks so much for the review!

Confessions

Ernest was just plain confused, what was going on here? One minute he'd been dreaming that he was the best motorcyclist in the world and now all of a sudden, he was woken up by Anthony screaming bloody murder. Madeline had come bolting in a moment later which reminded Ernest very much of his younger cousin around Easter, poor girl had had a nightmare and nearly woken the whole house, though she had been two and not twelve… the taller boy rubbed the sleep from his eyes, trying to focus better. Madeline was now sitting on the bed, trying to comfort Anthony who looked barely awake himself.

"I… I just couldn't do anything…" the white haired boy managed and Madeline held him tighter, unable to do much else.

"It's alright," she whispered, for once wishing that she knew Anthony's true name, she felt that that would help pull him out of this, hearing his birth name every once and a while. She understood his reasoning behind not telling her but all the same, she wondered. She was surprised when Ernest stood up and came over, setting a gentle hand on his friends shoulder to join her own.

"Anthony, you're at home, it was just a dream." He said, seeming only on the cusp of being awake. Madeline tried to desperately remember if this boy had siblings but her tired brain came up short. Anthony turned and looked at his friend, seeming to come back to consciousness just a tad.

"Ernest." He said, then he blinked, awareness of his surroundings coming back more than a little. "I'm… I'm sorry." He managed and sat up on his own, looking at Madeline and then once around the room, orienting himself once again with the real waking world.

"It's okay." Ernest said around a big yawn, "My cousin used to do that too. Get scared by nightmares all the time. She got better though, I'm sure you will too." With that he laid back down in his sleeping bag and Madeline was sure that he was out before his head even reached the pillow. Anthony looked at her and she sighed

"Yeah, I'm not tired anymore either, how bout we go downstairs and I make us each a cup of hot cocoa?"

"Can I have mint in mine?" the young half devil asked, perking up a little at the mention of the soothing drink

"Of course." She said

-The Boy in Blue-

Once downstairs and both situated with their respective mugs Madeline turned to the young boy and said

"So what was it about?" Anthony looked at the mug in his hands, stirring it absently to break up the chunks of powder

"My mom, I can never make it in time, not even in my dreams, I always get caught, always get impaled…" his hand ghosted over the spot where he had been struck. It still amazed the older woman that this boy had survived being impaled by a spike, that he had more or less just shrugged it off, being up and moving again within twenty four hours. Madeline reached forward and grabbed the boy's hand

"It will get better, you will stop having nightmares, you will be able to handle the idea of your mom again, I promise." Anthony looked at her solemnly

"Pinky promise?" he said and Madeline nearly had to laugh at that request, she hadn't heard that one in forever, but she simply smiled and acquiesced the boy her finger seemed enormous in comparison to his… they sat in silence for a bit before she asked him

"Why didn't you correct Ernest when he said that I was your mom?" she asked curiously. Anthony just gave the tiniest of shrugs.

"I didn't want to make things harder you." He said and Madeline sighed, nudging him gently as to not spill the hot cocoa.

"Always the one to look after others before yourself." She said and Anthony just shrugged again "I also didn't want to upset you, or Ernest. You are not my real mom but you have helped to fill that hole." He said quietly, touching the spot on his chest again.

Madeline took a deep breath as she felt her throat swell up with tears. She wanted to blame it on her allergies but she knew that it was from the last statement that Anthony had made, the young boy had come to accept her as part of his family, just as she had accepted him as one of her own. She knew it wasn't normally this easy for kids who were orphaned out of the blue. They normally were thrown into the system and never got out. Became trouble makers, hoodlums, petty thieves. But Anthony, he'd gotten lucky to show up on her doorstep those coule of months ago, and she supposed, she had gotten lucky too, to have such a nice young boy become a part of her family, even if it was only through vague connection in reality.

A/N: Alright, I've gotta quit while I'm ahead, I'm falling asleep over my keyboard right now and I've got to get up early for work…

Till next time,

-Winged Element