Disclaimer: I don't own The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Chapter 4 (Kate's POV)

Family photos...

What was it about them that could make some people cringe, and other people wax sentiment? I frowned thoughtfully as I flicked pass another page in the album. I guess it all came down to who was in them with you, and how awkward you looked. Or better yet, how awkward you all looked. And I admit I did have a few shots I wouldn't have minded suddenly going "missing."

And with all the long lost baby pictures Milligan had managed to dig up over the years, that list was growing all the time. I mean I wasn't exactly someone you'd consider being too worried about making a fashion statement, but I was struggling to see the sense it made to record a time in your life when you were bald and toothless.

Sighing slightly I cracked a small grin. I could have taken this opportunity to clear out some of Milligan's blackmail stash, maybe even make it look like an accident. But funny as it seemed..I was caught somewhere between the two extremes. Sure a part of me would just as soon not have the world see "The Great Kate Weather Machine" covered in finger-paint or spaghetti sauce, but surprisingly...another part of me was waxing sentimental.

I admit I was still getting used to this new sappier state of mind, but I decided to give myself a break. After all I had a lot to feel sentimental about lately. Flipping ahead through the years I stopped once I found a blank space. Then sliding open a little drawer in my desk I pulled out a few snapshots. My grin got a little bigger when I looked at them.

When had Reynie gotten taller than me anyway? How did I not notice? Holding my place I turned back a few pages in the album. I scanned over our old pictures as a funny feeling came over me. It was funny, but not really bad. It was like I could hardly believe we'd grown up side by side without me realizing how I felt about him. Like I couldn't see the forest for the trees.

Turning back to the beginning of the album I looked at the first picture that was glued in place. (Now with a little tape for extra measure.) It was the first shot taken with all of us together back from when we made it back from our first mission.

Connie's frown seemed even more grumpy than I remembered, (which made me grin all the harder) poor Sticky was as skinny as a rail, and was looking out at the camera like a deer caught in headlights. I was still banged up from head to toe, and looked more like a grinning mummy than anything else. And Reynie...

I couldn't help but give into a slight sigh when I looked at him. It was a sigh that felt as sad as it did happy. Reynie looked like a kid learning to ride a bike for the very first time. His face was a mix of hesitation and amazement. The thing that got to me was that now I finally knew why. He wasn't used to friends or pictures was he? He was eleven then, but I guessed he'd never even had his picture taken before.

I felt a frown wrap around my face suddenly. Who was there to take Reynie's baby pictures? I slumped in my chair as my head started to fill up with thoughts about Stonetown Orphanage, and all the things I didn't really know about someone I thought I knew so well. But I did know Reynie, I knew him enough to love him. And that counted for a lot obviously!

But all the same I wanted to know him even better. That way he wouldn't have to be afraid to let me see his bad sides, or all those little painful spots he kept hidden most of the time. I didn't just want to share the good times, I wanted to be there with him through the rough times too... I was pretty new at being honest with my own feelings, but if I'd learned anything, it was that loving someone means you're always there for them.

I turned back to the blank page in the album before I looked at the snapshots we'd taken only about a week ago.

He looked so happy...

Honestly to know I had something to do with that...well to be frank it made me happy too. And really, just the word happy didn't really cut it at describing how I felt. I might not able to change what happened to him before we met, but from now on he was just gonna have to get used to being loved to death.

I cracked a smile. I was gonna be there for him so much that he might just get sick of me always hanging around. But at least that way he'd have to get it through his head that I care about him. And little by little it's bound to start making up for whatever happened before we met. Satisfied with that plan of action, I reached into my bucket and pulled out a fresh tube of glue. Then after smearing a little on the backs of the snapshots, I carefully pressed them down onto the blank page. Then taking a final look to make sure they were straight I closed the album and pushed it back on the shelf.

For a second or two I just kept standing there staring at the book spine. Grinning a little wider I pushed my hands down into my jean pockets as I whistled my way toward the door.

Reynie may be taller now, but hey, it was only by an inch, exactly one inch...

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