Rose woke up and immediately shot out of bed. It had been about seven days since she cut herself and the Piper promised her a surprise if he didn't see any new marks on her anywhere in a certain amount of time. Every day he would go in and check her arms and legs and stomach and chest, and he wouldn't let her have any knives when she was alone. She wasn't as sad as she was and she even smiled a little more. Of course, she missed her mother and hoped she would be okay, hoped her father was dead in a ditch somewhere or better now, hoped her brother was at least thinking of her or thinking of coming back. Rose smiled as she dressed for the day, in a soft blue dress the Piper had gotten her, and hummed as she walked into the kitchen, greeting Molly, "Good morning ma'am."
Molly waved her hand, "Don't you go calling me ma'am Rose! Call me granny! I always wanted grand children. Wasn't able to have any kids myself though."
Rose frowned, "I'm sorry, granny."
Molly smiled, "No need to be sorry dear. Now, you get to help me with breakfast."
Rose smiled and busied herself helping Molly cook, singing softly as she went along, "Waking up I see that everything is okay
The first time in my life and now it's so great
Slowing down I look around and I am so amazed
I think about the little things that make life great
I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
I found a place so safe, not a single tear
The first time in my life and now it's so clear
Feel calm, I belong, I'm so happy here
It's so strong and now I let myself be sincere
I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
It's a state of bliss, you think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry
It's a state of bliss, you think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry
It's so beautiful it makes you wanna cry
This innocence is brilliant
Makes you wanna cry
This innocence is brilliance
Please don't go away
Cause I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by."
Molly was entranced and when she was finished, let out a soft sigh, "That was wonderful. I feel like I'm healed of all ills."
Someone coughed making Rose jump a little, then turn to blush a little as the Piper smiled slightly at her. They ate breakfast and Rose helped Molly clean up before the Piper stood. He motioned for her to follow him and, after saying goodbye to Molly, she did. The Piper led her out of the house, surprising her as she stepped outside for the first time in a week and a half, and into a small carriage. It was a long and silent, but comfortable, ride, that lasted until the afternoon. They stopped at a small tavern, one Rose was familiar with, and she smiled at some memories from before her dad started drinking. Like the time her brother took her here and she had her first slice of mixed berry pie for her thirteenth birthday. The Piper put a hand on her shoulder and led her into the almost empty room. They walked to a table near the fireplace and sat down opposite each other. A pretty barmaid came and took their orders, Rose ordering for the Piper, and before the barmaid left, she looked at the Piper, "Can I have a piece of mixed berry pie as well?" The Piper nodded, before paying the barmaid and sending her on her way. He looked at Rose, just watching her as she stared into the fire. "I have so many memories in this place. Happy memories of the days before everything spun out of control." He grabbed her hand from across the table, giving a gentle squeeze, and she interpreted it as a 'Let it out.' gesture. So she did. She told him stories of when she was a kid and her big brother and her mother and father. Then when she started on how her father started abusing her, the door to the saloon burst open and a man was franticly yelling something about a house on fire. Rose jumped up, pulling the Piper with her, and ran after the few men who ran out. She sprinted as fast as she could and sped up when she heard a horrible shriek coming from the burning building, "No! No no no! Mother!" She got to the door, managing to slip past the men trying to catch her and she ran into the burning building. Rose darted around the collapsing wood and the small fires and heard a voice groan from under a large piece. She quickly moved it and cried out, "Nathaniel!" Her brother lay there, knocked out and covered in ash. She pulled as hard as she could, shouting, "I've got him!" As quickly as she could, she managed to tug him to the door.
He opened his eyes a crack, "You're here..."
Rose thrashed violently as someone picked her up and the others dragged Nathaniel away from her, "Let me go! Mother is still in there!"
The Piper just gripped her tighter, knowing her mother was already gone as the house crumbled down.