Delbert's pov_

I walked into the Arrow home upon hearing the bawls of what I assumed was the now widowed Mrs. Arrow...I wondered if I should try to help but...she didn't know me...What good would I be...Then something bumped into me and looked down , A little craigorian girl with messy hair looked up at me in awe.

"What are you 'ppose ta be?"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "I my dear am I candid." Her little eyes seem to widen.

"So you're one of those doggie people?" I laughed this time, "Aye I am."

She motioned for me to come down to her level which I did . She poked my ears and squealed loudly as if it was the grandest thing in the etherium. Before I knew it she had untied my hair and was messing around with my hair. I didn't object though, how could I? She was just too damn adorable.

Before I knew anything she had me all dressed up in frilly bow and an apron sipping tea from a plastic tea set.

"Do you know why my grandma is sad?" She asked after a bit.

"Well child that...is something for your parents to discuss with you."

"It's my grandpa isn't it." She said sounding suddenly wise beyond her years, the look in her little brown eyes told me she knew as well as I what had taken place.

She looked down large tears dripping down, I quickly abandon my seat and went to hug her. "It's going to be alright little one, you'll see."

"How? My Grandma will be really , really sad all the time so will my daddy.." she buried her face into my shirt, then it hit me, this child I literally just met was trusting me enough to comfort her and open up to me so innocently.

"Eliza are you bothering this man?" A young voice asked with a slight humor to it as if trying to make the little girl happy once more.

She looked up from my shirt, "Onyx!" she ran over and grabbed his legs, Onyx this must've been the boy Arrow spoke of on ship. I stood seeing the lad was a good three inches taller than I already.

"Doctor Doppler?" He asked extending his hand to me.

"Aye I am...You're Onyx I see?"

"Aye. That's me." He said his black hair hanging down in his eyes. I was going to say more to the lad when another angry voice came, "Face it Lex if he'd just retired like we asked then he wouldn't be dead!"

"Oh? and how else would he and mama have lived Alex? By hand and mouth? On your support? Right. Think with that pea sized brain of yours and quit blaming everyone!"

"It's Amelia's damned fault!"

"Now you hush with that talk before the others hear you Alex!"

Too late..I thought as I was sure Amelia and the Missus could hear as well as us. Loss always turned into resentment , resentment turned into anger. It wa all part of the healing process.

"It's bloody true! He lived for that bloody ship and etherium It's like he didn't love us at'll!"

I blinked and admittedly yipped slightly when I looked over and seen Mrs. Arrow along with a rather irate Amelia...the look on her face would have scare even Flint himself.

Amelia's POV

That damn Alexander never was fond of me. He always thought I insisted Samuel to come on the Legacy, that I forced him. No matter how many times we both insisted it was a load of bull. Arrow came on the ship because he loved space and he needed the money, even with the children supporting themselves. Since he'd gone with me independently, there was no set income for him until he'd turned 65, when he could have drawn veterans pay. I marched right over to Alexander and slapped him across the face in my rage. He just stared at me in utter shock, a hand on his cheek. He never saw that coming.

"You bloody gnat minded, sour hearted git! The only damn reason your father came with me on the bloody ship was so that you and the rest of the family could live well, so that he could collect the veterans pay and not have to worry about you all here starving or losing your homes or anything else you might bloody well need. Get your head out of your ass or I swear upon my mother's grave I will grab your britches and hitch them so high they'll be stuck up your ass for the next decade, do I make myself clear?!"

All he did was slowly nod and back away a bit before running off in the opposite direction. Alexandra stared at me for a good minute before going after him, and Madeleine went after them, glancing over her shoulder to give me a look that I took as a mix between disapproval and thanks. The boy really needed to get his head out of his ass, we were all grieving. I looked to the side and saw Delbert, Eliza, and Onyx. Damn, he'd gotten taller. And handsomer, just from a woman's point of view. He was the apple of some young maiden's eye, that was for sure. Eliza, the cute little wild child that often grabbed at my legs, was now staring at me in partial surprise and also...horror. I felt guilt well up inside me, like a rotten brew in my stomach.

"Ellie…" I walked towards her, and she backed away, grabbing onto Onyx's leg. I sighed. "Ellie dear I didn't...I…"

"You hit Papa!" She near screamed. Damn it. I got closer to her as she gripped harder to Onyx. "Please, Ellie, I didn't mean t-"

"No!" And then she ran off, hair whipping around in the wind like reins in the hand of a frantic driver. I stood up despite my heart weighing me down, welcoming the hug that came from Onyx.

"Hi Aunt Amelia…" He whispered. I smiled a bit and hugged him a little tigher.

"You've gotten taller." I said quietly, looking up at him. He blushed. "Heh. Yeah."

"You got a beau, yet?"

"No, Amelia."

"Well work on it." I pulled back, punching his arm slightly. "I think it'd give us all something to smile at."

He shrugged slightly and then looked to the side and back to me. "I think I'm gonna go find Eliza."

I nodded. "You do that. She needn't...get hurt."

And he left. I turned to Delbert, who just came over and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, feeling my body relax despite my inner turmoil. He slowly rubbed my back, coaxing a purr that I didn't want to release. We stood like this for only God knows how long. And only God knows how much I loved it.