(A.N. Power-writing to Panic! At The Disco really works. Seriously, get Vices & Virtues right now. It is literally sex for the ears. Trust me.)

Missle Kid and Show Pony sat by the bed, cans of Power Pup in their laps. Missle was glad she could finally talk to Diamond again. It had occurred to her that it Diamond hadn't talked to her or Pony in over a month. They had some catching-up to do.

Pony was more than happy to oblige, talking enough for everyone as he told Diamond everything that she'd missed while unconscious. He was just going over how Party had helped Ghoul and Kobra reconcile with each other, seeing how they'd fought so much during their nights at the safe-houses.

"And he just snapped?" Diamond asked, shocked.

"Yep," Pony nodded, smiling, "Just got between 'em and let 'em have it."

"What did he say?"

"Mostly that he was sick of their bickering-"

"We all were." Missle cut in, "He was just the first one to say it."

Pony continued, "And that weren't they supposed to be friends and why couldn't they let the past be the past and stuff like that."

"Kobra really took it to heart, too." Missle said.

"Oh, definitely," Pony nodded, "He's been really-I guess the best word to use here is protective-of Party since you guys got back. Kind of like how Ghoul is about you." He smiled.

Diamond rolled her eyes, though she too was smiling.

"Oh, you think he's kidding?" Missle laughed, "I don't think he's left this room in two weeks. It's a miracle we got him out tonight."

"Seriously?"

"Totally." All three Killjoys were now somber, "He was really scared. We all were."

"He's a self-destructive person." Missle explained, "When something bad happens, he blames himself. He takes all the punishment, all the pain. If you hadn't woken up, I don't want to even think about what he would have done."

Sometimes it amazed Diamond how intuitive the little girl was. She felt a pang of pity in her stomach for Ghoul. She realized how much it would have killed him; to lose a daughter just as he'd found one.

"But enough about that." Pony said, wanting a subject change. He smiled wide, "What are we going to do about your hair?"

Party faced Ghoul from across the table anxiously.

"You'll have to face her eventually." Kobra said gently from his seat next to Party in the booth.

"Dr. D is nearly done." Jet said from the corner, opening himself a can of Power Pup, "He'll assess her condition. From what I've seen, she'll probably be up and about in a few days."

Party fidgeted, "I just feel…so shitty. About what I made her go through…"

"It's called guilt," Ghoul snapped.

Party felt Kobra tense up next to him in irritation. He silently willed his brother to keep a cool head. After being kicked out of Diamond's room, he'd been on-edge, anxious to get back to her.

Kobra didn't think that was a very good excuse. Ghoul knew how Party felt about what he'd done, that even though his guilt was irrational and he hadn't willingly done anyone harm, it was still guilt and needed to be resolved.

"W-Well I know that I just-" Party tried to speak, his eyes fixed on the table.

"Just what?" Ghoul spat, "Just felt bad about what you put an innocent fifteen-year-old girl through?"

"W-Well yeah…" Party stammered. His head shot up and there was a spark in his eyes, "I do! I shouldn't have let them use me like that! And now I've gone and hurt my friends and family and put people I don't even know in danger! And you expect me to be okay with that? Because I'm not!" Party slid out of the booth in one movement and stood, "I know what I did was wrong and I'm fucking sorry!"

Ghoul stared at Party for a second, his face expressionless. Then he smiled smugly and sat back. "Good. Now tell her everything you just told me. She can't possibly hate you after that."

Ghoul scooted out of the booth and stood up, making his way out of the diner. On his way he grabbed a pack of cigarettes lying out on a table. With one hand in his pocket and the other clutching a cancer stick he pushed open the door, stepping out into the now dark night.

Party shakily returned to his spot in the booth. He turned to Kobra.

"What just happened?"

Ghoul lit up, taking a long drag before exhaling through his nose. The smoke scattered in the breeze. He looked up, studying the stars.

"Those things are gonna kill you eventually."

He turned. Jet was standing in the doorway.

"Old habits die hard," he said lazily, cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Doesn't seem to me like you're trying too hard to quit." Jet stepped out, the door shutting behind him.

Ghoul shrugged and turned around again, "What's one more threat to my life? It hasn't done me in yet, I think I can last."

"How will Diamond feel about that? You know she hates those things."

Ghoul just stared into the night, his back still to Jet.

"Why did you come out here?" he asked. Jet couldn't pick through the emotions in Ghoul's voice.

"Party's going to talk to her. And Dr. Death is going to assess her condition. I assume you want to be there for that?"

Ghoul finished his cigarette and flicked it into the sand before turning, "Damn right," he said before following Jet inside.

Somehow everyone had found a way to cram into Ghoul's tiny bedroom. Pony and Missle sat on the desk in the corner, Jet, Kobra, and a very apprehensive Party stood against the wall facing the bed. Ghoul sat in his chair, next to Dr. Death Defying, who was checking the now nearly-healed injuries on Diamond's leg and side.

"Everything looks okay." He said, mostly to Diamond, "It's all healing like it should, though that leg has taken some time."

"So we can keep the bandages off now?" Diamond asked hopefully. The wounds had scabbed and healed; now only patches of raw, shiny, pink skin remained. The scars would begin to form in a few days. When Dr. D had initially removed the bandages she'd heard an audible gasp from Party. She had chosen to ignore it and keep her face calm, so as not to make him think she blamed him.

Dr. Death considered the question, "I don't see why not."

"And when can she get out of bed?" Missle asked from the corner.

"I'd say in a few days," the DJ answered, "Maybe in two we can see how she feels."

"Two whole days?" Diamond wasn't sure she'd last that long stuck in a bed.

"Compared to a month, that's nothing." Kobra smirked. "What?" he whined when Party shot him a look.

"Well I'm tired," Pony yawned pointedly. He stood up and walked over, giving Diamond a small hug, "See you tomorrow!" He walked out, Missle following him with a rushed "G'night, Diamond!"

Jet and Kobra each stepped out. Party looked at Kobra's back almost desperately. "You're not gonna stay?"

Kobra sighed. He turned in the doorway.

"You can handle this, I promise," he stepped out.

Party resembled a deer-in-headlights.

"Well I think I'm gonna go." Dr. Death said, "Ghoul, turn me would you? This damn thing's always making it so hard to move." Ghoul nodded and helped wheel Dr. Death out. He stepped back in.

"Where are you going to sleep?" Diamond asked. She had taken his bed, after all.

"The same place I've slept for the past month, besides that chair."

"And where would that be?"

"A booth. They're actually quite comfy, if you lay on them right."

"Wait, you can't sleep in a booth!" Diamond was about to suggest they share the bed, but it was only a twin, not big enough for two.

"Of course I can," Ghoul placed a light kiss on her forehead as she scowled. He laughed, "Goodnight."

"Night." She replied as he closed the door behind him.

She knew Party was watching her every move. She casually yawned and looked over at him.

"Why don't you sit down?" she smiled, "Make yourself comfortable. I don't bite."

He slowly nodded and moved cautiously towards the chair, sitting down.

They sat in silence for awhile.

"I'm not mad at you, you know." She began.

"Why not? You have every right to be."

"I definitely do not. You didn't know what you were doing or who you were. Besides," she turned her head, her brown eyes meeting his hazel, "You didn't do this. Draculoids and a fucking psychotic woman did this to me."

She knew he was looking at the scars on her bare arms, tiny dots flecking pale skin.

"I did those," he whispered.

She remembered the torture. Blood running down her arms in little trails from the deep, tiny cuts on her skin. She shuddered.

"No." her voice was hard, "It wasn't you. Not willingly. It was the medicine, the pills-"

"I let them take me away from myself."

"But these are nothing." She looked at her arms, "Most of these will be gone within a month."

"That doesn't mean they never happened."

"Of course not. But it's one less reminder of them."

Party looked at her. "I just-I barely know you-and I feel like you should hate me-"

"You want to know about me?" she smiled, "I'm Diamond Dahlia. I have no real name. I'm fifteen years old. A month ago, I escaped Battery City with the help of three out of the four Fabulous Killjoys. I helped said Fabulous Killjoys on their mission to find the fourth, which was successful. I currently live with them in an old diner just off Route Guano. My favorite color is purple." Her smile widened, "Your turn."

For the first time, Party actually smiled at her. "I'm Party Poison. My real name is Gerard Way. I have a strong addiction to coffee. In 2012 I escaped the wreckage of Battery City with my brother, Kobra Kid, and my other two friends Jet Star and Fun Ghoul. Up until then I was in a band with those same people." He smiled wider, "And we were pretty damn good. I now live in the same diner with those friends. My favorite color is red, like my hair. I love to draw and sing." He stuck out his hand, "It's a pleasure to mee you, Diamond Dahlia."

"The pleasure is all mine, Party Poison," she shook his hand.

Silence again, but a comfortable one.

"Well," Party stood up, "I guess I'd better go."

"If you want to."

"I'm tired. You should sleep, too."

She smiled, "You're right."

He went to leave, an oddly troubled look in his eyes.

"Party?" she said, making him pause in the doorway and look over at her.

"What is it?"

"I forgive you."

She knew there was nothing to forgive, but the absolution would calm him nonetheless. He smiled.

"Goodnight."

(A.N. Yeah I lied. NOW it's the last chapter of the day. Originally this was two chapters. But the I smushed them together and liked that a lot better. So yeah. Review!)