A/N Okay, the last chapter got a lot of hits. I checked. Yet only one review? I'm pissed, I'm going to be quite Frank about that (pun intended). I post for the satisfaction that I know I've got readers who appreciate my writing. But when I get *tons* of readers and no reviews, that's where I get annoyed. I like getting reviews not for the attention, but to check in with you guys and your opinions, see if I'm doing things right or wrong. Without that, I feel less motivation to write. So please, review. I'm throwing you a bone by posting this short chapter so soon in response to the cliffy. I know how bitchy I sound, but please try to see things through my POV. I'm frustrated.

Disclaimer: none of the My Chem members are mine to keep. What a pity.

He blinked.

"Orphanage?" he asked. I nodded.

"Yup, St. Helena's Orphanage. We were forced to make an attempt to move somewhere safe when the bomb went off. Fortunately, a majority of us were underground when the bomb went off: most of the orphanage was built to be underground because it was built as a military base, so it was meant to be able to survive an event like the one that went off. It later became St. Helena's. But after the bomb, children were made priority, so we went down here," I explained quietly. He nodded patiently, obviously at a loss for words. He was taking this rather well.

"Okay…" he murmured "so where are they now?" he asked.

I closed my eyes.

"Not long after me and Bea got here Better Living Industries schemes were kicking into gear. They were putting out propaganda advertising their Miracle Pills and as it got worse we wanted to leave: we felt trapped. Most of the other orphans were younger than us, and from what I can recall, Bea was in fact the oldest. Nearly 17, actually. As things got worse, we had to hide. None of us wanted to give into the BL/ind. But Bea and I got more rebellious with every day that it got more dangerous. So we upped and left. We supplied them with food from the BL/ind pantry, but we left them behind to fight the Dracs. The last I checked, they are still in the same place. We did check on them every so often. I think we gave them enough food over time to last them a lifetime…but I want to go out and find them again."

Poison didn't say anything, and if I hadn't known any better this might have unnerved me. But knowing him better than that, I knew if it wasn't an awkward, stunned silence. No, it was silent contemplation. And I was aware all too well all I could do now was wait.

"Alright… so what's the plan?" he asked.

I hated myself for being as scared as I was: you'd think after all this time I'd be looser around him. I mean, for God's sake, I was in his arms balling like a baby. You'd think I'd be able to spit a simple sentence or so, but my nerves had gotten the best of me for the moment.

"I wanted to know if we - I - could go out there and find them, see how they're doing," I managed.

He closed his eyes, and I felt like pulling a face-palm moment. I just had to open my big mouth. I couldn't just be happy with what I had? I heaved a sigh, my hair out of my face. He was too busy thinking to notice I as dying in his arms, wanting to know what he had to say, wilting like a flower because of my own impatience.

"With or without us?"

A/N And with that, I am to write the rest of the most recent chapter that comes after this. Please review. I'm tired of asking. I don't want to be a nag. This is my longest continuous fic that I've written, and one of the reasons it keeps going is because I have readers for it that keep me inspired. Please don't let that die.