Lux just had to get away from Cate and Baze. She was doing everything she could to hold it together. She couldn't break down in front of them. But she also couldn't hold it together much longer, she knew.

Lux's pace quickened as she climbed the stairs to Baze's loft. She fought back tears, collapsing on Baze's couch.

Lux knew it would hurt her parents if they saw how much she was hurting.

Lux remembered when Cate overheard Bug yelling at her. Cate had been more upset than Lux.

It wasn't surprising. Cate wasn't used to people treating her like crap. She couldn't know that Lux was. She'd been treated like crap every day of her life until her sixteenth birthday.

Lux didn't think there was anything anyone could do to her that would surprise her. She'd been hit, shouted at, sworn at, called names and worse.

And then the judge had granted her emancipation and for awhile things had been good.

For the first time in a long time, Lux didn't have foster parents making her life a living hell. She'd even had her birth parents trying to make her life a little better. And it had been.

Lux couldn't believe she'd messed everything up. She only had herself to blame. How stupid could she be?

If only she hadn't tried to steal that car stereo, none of this would be happening. Lux squeezed her eyes shut and wished she could go back in time. She would do anything if she could just have one more chance.

The lawyer had been so certain that the judge wouldn't give her a second chance. He'd told her that her emancipation would be revoked as though it was no big deal. It was a big deal to Lux.

It meant she would hate her life for two years. Until her eighteenth birthday, Lux would be absolutely miserable and there wasn't a damned thing she could do about it. She had no control over what happened to her.

The tears Lux had been fighting since they'd left the lawyer's office streamed down her face. Once she started crying, she couldn't stop. After several minutes of sobbing, her head started to hurt, a dull ache.

Baze walked Cate out and then went upstairs. He found Lux sobbing uncontrollably on the couch. Baze's heart literally hurt for his daughter when he saw how much pain she was in.

Lux looked up in surprise. She'd hoped Baze would stay downstairs. She hadn't wanted him to see her like this.

She took in his pained expression and hated herself for hurting him. He didn't deserve it. Neither did Cate.

They'd been nothing but nice to her and all she'd done was cause them grief. She didn't deserve them.

Baze sat down beside Lux on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder. Her face felt hot.

Lux tried to stop crying, but it was no use. Her tears soaked through Baze's T-shirt as he held her.

Gradually Lux's sobs died down. She shifted away from Baze and swiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

"You don't have to apologize," Baze said.

That was so like Baze, Lux thought. She'd gotten arrested. He should be shouting at her. Or hitting her. Most of the dads Lux had known in her sixteen years would have. But not Baze. No, he looked like all he wanted to do was make her pain go away.

Lux forced herself to smile for Baze's sake. "Your shirt's all wet," she pointed out.

Baze smiled slightly. "It'll dry." He pulled away and looked at Lux, his expression serious. "It's not my shirt I'm worried about. It's you."

Lux shook her head. "You don't have to worry."

"Yeah, I do. I'm your dad. It's part of the job description," Baze said lightly.

"I'm OK," Lux lied.

Baze looked unconvinced.

"I am," Lux said. "I was in foster care for fifteen years. Two more won't kill me."

Baze raked a hand through his hair. "You don't know that you'll end up back in foster care."

"Yeah, I do," Lux muttered. "I messed everything up. I don't know what I was thinking."

"What were you thinking?" Baze asked. His tone didn't hold any anger or disappointment. He just sounded worried, which was worse as far as Lux was concerned.

"I wasn't," Lux said.

"Did Grand Theft Auto get too boring for you?" Baze asked, referencing the Play Station game.

Lux smiled slightly. "I needed money."

"I need money. That doesn't mean you steal car stereos," Baze said.

Lux nodded.

"Hey."

They both looked up when they heard Cate's voice.

Cate breathed a sigh of relief when Lux turned to face her. It looked like Lux had been crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face tear-streaked.

Cate hated that Lux was so upset, but she was relieved that Lux was feeling something. She'd been scared when Lux was acting as though nothing had happened. Anything was better than that. Even a break down.

She joined Baze and Lux on the couch, sitting on the other side of Lux. "I want to talk to you."

Lux nodded.

"I know you don't want to go back to foster care," Cate began.

Lux knew Cate would be able to tell she'd been crying. This was exactly what she'd been trying to avoid. Hurting Cate. Again. It felt like all Lux had done since she'd met Cate was hurt her.

Lux looked down. "It's OK," she lied, hoping desperately that Cate would believe her but somehow knowing she wouldn't.

"Lux," Cate said softly, waiting for Lux to meet her gaze.

Lux took a deep breath, trying to calm down so she could get through this conversation without falling apart again. When she finally looked up, she could tell Cate was unconvinced.

"It's OK," Lux said again. "I only have myself to blame. Whatever happens on Monday, I can handle it."

Cate smiled sadly. Lux was so independent, so mature for her age. Most teens would make excuses instead of taking responsibility and expect their parents to clean up their mess.

Not Lux. No, Lux was used to taking responsibility for everything. Whether it was actually her responsibility or not. Cate wondered if Lux had ever had anyone who was there for her.

"You don't have to go at it alone," Cate said, touching Lux's shoulder gently.

Lux shook her head. "You've already done too much. Bailing me out in the middle of the night. Paying for an expensive lawyer." Lux forced herself to smile for Cate's sake. "I won't have to go to jail. That's something."

"You won't have to go back to foster care either," Cate said.

"We'll see," Lux said, though she held little hope that things would work out. They never had before.

"I know you won't have to go back to foster care," Cate said firmly. "Jack, he said there was a possibility of you living with me. I just talked to your social worker."

Lux stared at Cate open-mouthed. She hadn't been expecting this. She didn't know what to say.

Part of her was happy. Happier than she'd ever been before. She could have the family she'd always dreamed of but never dared to hope for. She wouldn't have to go back to foster care.

But the other part of Lux knew Cate didn't want this. Not really.

Cate hadn't wanted Lux to begin with. Why would she want Lux now?

Cate was just trying to be nice, Lux knew. She felt bad about everything Lux had been through. That much was obvious.

Allowing Cate to take her in because Cate felt guilty about giving Lux up wouldn't be fair to Cate. Cate had already done so much for Lux. Lux couldn't let her do this, too.

"Thank you, Cate, but you don't have to do that," Lux said.

Cate's face fell. Lux hated foster care. She'd made that perfectly clear. Would Lux really prefer going back to foster care to living with Cate? "I want to. We can make it work."

"You don't want this," Lux said doubtfully. "You just feel bad because I'm upset."

Cate grabbed Lux's shoulders and met her gaze. "I want this."

Lux broke free. She stood up and crossed her arms in front of her chest protectively. "Why now?"

Cate stared at Lux blankly.

"Why now, Cate? You didn't want me when you had me!" Lux cried out angrily.

Tears stung Cate's eyes. "I want you now, Lux. I've wanted to be a part of your life since the day you walked back into my life."

Lux looked unconvinced.

Cate handed Lux the paperwork she'd filled out at Social Services. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here for you now."

Lux looked at the paperwork. Her eyes widened. Cate had not only applied to be Lux's temporary guardian, but she'd also applied to legally adopt Lux.

"I have temporary custody of you. If you want to make it official, you can sign the adoption form," Cate said hopefully.

Lux hugged Cate. Cate smiled slightly, holding Lux tightly and rubbing her back gently.