Authors Notes: OMG the popularity of this fic has gotten pretty awesome. Next chapter will be next Monday. I've gone up to chapter 10 right now but I'm holding out to keep up with the others working on this fic. Loves of love to you, don't be afraid to ask questions, and please read and review!

Inky POV!

Of Coal and Steam

Fragmented Code

Chapter 2

Heart to Heart

The morning air felt so good to me. The morning suns colors were so brilliant. I could hardly tell just where it started or ended from how bright the colors reflected off the calm ocean surface. I honestly wished at that point in time that I could paint. I wasn't good with it. Just drawing.

As I got older I've noticed that my ink was getting darker and spreading. My hair was far more darker, and even my skin tone was a lot darker. Even in the winter it looked like I had a tan. Cryptor says it might have something to do with the ink staining my skin. Kind of like when you hold a flashlight to the underside of your hand and you can see the brightness. Only its when ink.

I took a deep breath and looked around the beach. I was on vacation and my family tends to sleep past dawn. Gives me a bit of me time. So I sat down running my feet over the cold sand. For some reason this has a calming effect that seeps into my very soul. I almost fell asleep. That is until I hear the all to familiar voice in my head.

'And you like this sissy crap?' My shoulders slumped and I lean forward putting my head on my knees.

"If your going to be in there...at least learn to relax."

"Pardon?" I jumped and looked around seeing a man standing just behind me with an ezil in front of him.

"Oh I uh...was trying to convince myself to relax a bit." I said and looked up at him nervously, when did he even get there. I went to stand up but the man gasped as I did.

"Oh please stay there...I'm not done." He said. I stopped and looked around once again. I had no problem staying in one spot. But Cryptor might. He stood on the back porch of our little cabin looking on sipping warm oil.

As I sat their thinking about him the man had strawberry blond hair and grey eyes. But it was his arm that caught my attention. It was a copper color. I could hear when it move. The grinding, and whirring the other mechanics.

I didn't see who sat behind me, but I could smell him. He always had that same smell. It smelled like a mix of aftershave, and a winter breeze. The suitcase sat next to him. Never leaving his side. But his arms were placed around me. His cheek resting against my head.

"Hey babe. How've you been?" His voice sounded a bit deeper then dads, and lighter then Uncle Zanes. Always a perfect mix of the two...but two toned like two people were talking at the same time.

"I'm alright Uncla Zareth. I've missed you though."

"Whoa...you've been growing. Even got a bit of meat on your bones too. I can actually hug you instead of just your bones."

It was true the last time he saw me I was skin and bones huh. Then again we had to scrounge up whatever we could find for food. I was a little tired of oatmeal, beans, and potatoes. I couldn't eat any of it for months afterward. Oatmeal is something I still can't eat. The smell alone makes me want to throw up.

"Yeah they've been taking good care of me." I said watching the rest of the sunrise. The soft yellows disappearing giving way to the blue sky above us now.

"Hows your mother been?" Zareth asked me. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end when I felt the coldness in his words. I turned and smiled at him.

"I've been changing her cloths, and brushing her hair. She's just fine Uncle Zareth." I told him. He softly smiled down at me. He could see the pain on my face as I spoke about her. I'm sure he could.

"So no responses huh?"

"No...none." I whispered standing up suddenly feeling a little like I needed a walk. I turned to see the man painting again. He looked up and smiled at me.

"Names Kade by the way. I own the inn you all are staying at."

"Oh your Kade Grimsby." Zareth said. "You're the one that does the figures in the garden?" This surprised me.

"Oh I love those!" Kade smiled at my outburst. He lightly laughed going back to painting.

"It was my late wife's passion. She loved the sculpt. When she passed in a car accident I took it on for her. It took a lot of practice mind you. But as time went on I would sculpt the people that fell in love here. I believe Dareth and Danny are in there too. I believe they were the last." He held out the piece of paper. Zareth looked over it with a smile. Within the picture were all the colors I saw plus myself and Zareth sitting there. I gasped and looked at Zareth.

"We haven't had any pictures done just the two of us." I said this displeases me greatly. Zareth was the person who had found me. He was my reason for being adopted. I suppose he realized that I wasn't happy with this information.

"Come on small fry. If you want a picture with me just say so." He said and picked me up plucking my cell phone from my belt and held it up. I couldn't help but laugh. I loved the feeling. I haven't laughed in a very long time. Didn't have much reason. Actually now that I thought of it. Moms absence had me feeling a little blue.

"Alright theirs my good girl." He clicked the icon and handed the phone back to me. I looked at the picture and giggled bouncing a bit with excitement.

"Come on Uncle Zareth come swimming with me!" I pulled off my shirt and ran toward the water.

"Oh how can I argue with that face?" He threw off his sandals and followed me into the water.

I could see Uncle Cryptor and Mindroid not to far from the shore putting out a grill. They always made sure my health was a main priority. It was between Uncle Zane and Uncle Mindroid who cooked. Looked like a barbeque was on the menu today. The way Mindroid did it though it would take a good six hours for it to cook. But it always tasted great.

Running into the water proved to be a bad idea. Once my feet hit the water I regretted at least the last three years of my life for a few moments for giving me the idea that I wanted to swim in the ocean. But their was no turning back now. I ran off into the surf and disappeared into the waters depths. That definitely woke me up. I felt someones hand grab my arm and pull me up again. I looked up laughing so hard.

"I hope you know what your doing kiddo." Zareth said picking me up into his arms. "Oh guh…!" He exclaimed realizing I was pretty heavy now. I was just as tall as my mother. Being 13 years old now.

"Hey do you know how to surf?" I asked him. He smiled at me and nodded.

"Yeah...your mom taught me." Now that surprised me. I never knew my mom could surf. Their was still so much about my mom that I didn't know. So much I wanted to know, I never had the time to ask her about anything. One day maybe...just once I'd love to know something about her that didn't involve being a soldier she was designed to be.

"Teach me?" I asked him. Zareth smiled and nodded his head moving the toothpick around in his mouth. I always wondered if that toothpick materialized when he appeared or if he just knows where to find them. All those eternal questions I'll have to find out one day.