The door to their room suddenly opens and Sophie burst in, quickly stepping out of her day clothes and dressing her silk pyjama. She leans on the bed to give him a quick peck on the lips and to inform him she won't be staying the night. "Eleanor... - she says and there's some dark in his voice. - She asked me to stay with her in case she has nightmares". He nods and follows her into her daughter's pink room, she's already tugged in bed with Bunny Parker reluctantly gave her when she was born and her favourite story book. The girl moves aside and Sophie enters the bed, happily big enough for both of them: The girl nests in her mother's body and starts flipping the pages. Nathan winks at her and kisses her "nighty-night" on the cheek.

-Could you check the roof before you go to sleep? Parker went upstairs a while ago and I haven't noticed if she left or not. - He nods and shuts the door room behind him.

Parker is on the roof indeed, without a coat or even blacked the girl is shivering with cold while lying in fetal position.

-Go way! - She's crying, he knows it by the tone on her voice and he hates it, so, instead of doing what she says he crouches down by her side. He tries to say something comforting to her yet nothing comes out. He's pretty sure she was molested when she was a child yet he doesn't know the details and he's not going to ask.

-You can talk to me, if you want to... - She shifts uncomfortably on the floor, she still doesn't want him to look at her. - I want to thank you for what you did today with Eleanor... - She shrugs.

-It was nothing... I just which I could have prevented that...

-I wish that too and Parker, I also which I could have protected you too... - She suddenly rolls around, her face flushed pink from crying, eyes red and swollen.

-How would you... You didn't even know me! - It's his turn to shrug.

-I wish I had. Come on, let's go downstairs.

Before she can speak he places his arms underneath her and lifts her, carrying her down the stairs to his apartment. She locks her arms around his neck, surprisingly she feels safe enough around him not to kick him the moment he reached for her, no, not surprisingly. She has known she's safe around him for a long time, what really surprises her is the fact he's so strong; physically. She never thought he could carry her like this; she likes it and nuzzles her nose in his neck, he has always loved the way the mastermind smells…

He tugs her inside his own bed, pushing the blankets up to her neck.

-Warm enough? I'm staying on the couch if you need something.

-What about Sophie?

-She's sleeping with Eleanor tonight.

-Why don't stay with me? There's room for two. - He heart speed raises, he didn't know she trusted him enough... He's so proud of her!

He enters the bed and lies tensely by her side, he doesn't know what lines he can cross or not, everything vanishes the moment she breaks the silence.

-Can you hug me? - Her voice is shy, almost as if she's afraid to ask; he simply smiles and embraces her by the waist, her head lands softly on his neck, straps of her blond ponytail tickling his neck. - Can I tell you something without you judging me?

-I will never judge you, Parker. - There's a moment of silence, with his hands he strokes her side, making sure the contact it's not too intimate for her, just to make her feel safe and comfortable with him. She seems to understand the gesture and starts speaking.

-I was younger than Eleanor is. - He closes his eyes, huger filling his brain. Eleanor is eight, what kind of monster?! - And he did things to me, he made me feel sad. - She lifts her head, blue meeting blue, to make sure he's following her line of thought. - I tried to kill myself. Always at school; because he couldn't stop me there. First I cut myself with a pair of scissors; they sent me to the Hospital and home. He punished me. - She's shivering slightly again.

-Honey, you don't have to talk if you don't want to...

-I want to!

-I am all ears!

-On the second time I threw myself of the school's roof, the last thing I remember is how blue the sky was and how free I felt... I woke on some weird institution; they said I wasn't going home again; that I was safe. I wasn't. I run away a few months after that. - They stand in silence for a while because once again he doesn't know what to say. - I... I actually killed one of them! - Her voice is shying again, ashamed and he kisses her on the top of her head to let her know he doesn't think less of her for what she told him.

-One is down! - He says coldly. - How many to go? - She pushes herself from him in surprise.

-So, you're not mad at me? - He chuckles.

-No, why would I be?

-Would you kill the others too? For me? - He nods, he will do it if she wants him to, it's not like he's a killer because he's not exactly proud for what they did today, but well, lost for one, lost for a hundred... - But I am not your daughter!

-Yeah, you are! You are no less important than Eleanor and I'd do everything to protect you!

She lies against him again, on the same exact position as before. Her hand is flat on his chest and when he lifts his head to watch her he can see her biting her lip, her eyes curious and he knows she wants to ask him something.

-Parker, you can ask me or say to me everything you want to!

-Promise, you won't get mad?

-I promise!

-How's sex like? - He did not see that coming!

Every time I write a chapter I think I am done with this story, apparently I am not…

I have more chapters coming so, if you want me to update, just let me know :)