Disclaimer You already know what I'm going to say. I don't own anyone except Tori. Thanks to the Reviewers. Have fun!

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Heavenly Confessions

The little improvised group performed a few more song and soon enough it was early morning. The group filed out to their rooms for some much needed sleep except for one dark haired girl. Tori was too hyped up to sleep, so she wandered the Inns grounds looking for something to do before she went to bed.

She was taking her third round around the main building when she noticed an out of place staircase on the side of the building. Odd, yet she felt it should be there. She climbed the winding stairs and found herself with an oasis. It held ferns, begonias, alfalfas, lilies and a few rose bushes. But beyond all that one flower overpowered the rest.

Soothing lavender seemed to be everywhere and Tori was thrilled. She wandered around for a bit, smelling the flowers and delicately caressing its buds and among all of it was the lonesome blonde. The quiet rebel who had disappeared some time ago, was simply standing here. 'In the middle of a haven will your missing half be revealed.' Tori couldn't quite place those words in her memory but she heard it, clear as day. Weird. Back to the blonde though. Reid Garwin. He hadn't noticed her yet so she took her time to really look at him.

His features were much clearer in the dark. His hair, a golden shade, it seemed to be made of silk. Tori's fingers were itching for a feel. It didn't have to be a long one, just one log enough to tell her if it was as soft as it looked. Reid's eyes were centered and yet he didn't seem to be looking at anything.

His eyes. Tori remembered those eyes. She remembered how they changed color with his mood. When he was amused, they were clear as the sky, but when he was angry they were stunning. They took on a darker hue when he felt passionate about something. His eyes were the key to Mr. Garwin. His soul was bare through his eyes.

And now in this dark, beautiful place sadness hung around him like a steal cloak made to protect. Tori approached him slowly and she knew the moment he realized he wasn't alone. His stiff body told her so, but when he realized it was her he relaxed.

Tori closed in on him. She thought about making a joke … it might make him chuckle or he'd get more upset. She went with a safe route. "Hey."

Luckily the boy wasn't too far gone to forget his manners. He at least shifted his stance and answered her. "Hey". Tori was relieved beyond any doubt. She gave a little laugh and kept probing the poor guy who clearly wanted to be alone. "You disappeared on us".

"Yeah. I got tired of standing around".

She couldn't believe he was being this vague. "Right. Did you at least stay for my thingy?" Tori waited for him to answer but he didn't seem to be warming up to it. She was about to ask him what was wrong when he answered her.

It was exactly what she wanted to hear but it was completely the wrong way for him to say it. "I did - I heard you. You were great."

"Could you at least look at me while you boost my confidence?" He went back to not answering her. Tori was thrilled … not really. He was being an ass and she didn't even know why. "Reid?"

"What?"

Tori couldn't take anymore of the moodiness. She crossed over to where he was standing and stood directly in front of him. Apparently this was new for him … who would have thought a girl would stand up to him? The girls around him usually only wanted two things: to be all 'cute' and ask him for things or to go home with him. This girl had a fire in her that was unchallengeable. He definitely liked that. Even at his height, her flares of confidence hit him like a brick.

The moment Tori smooth hands touched his face something awoke deep inside of Reid. And as Tori eased Reid's face downward, his eyes shuttered closed. Tori could see his pain - it was crystal clear by the scowl on his face. Tori smoothed his face into relaxing and as he did, his eyes opened. His emotions seemed to be swirling around in those eyes. While he decided what to do, anger seemed to be the emotion he chose to show Tori. She wouldn't let him hide this, not this time. She wasn't going to buy it.

"Hey".

"What do you want, Tori?"

"To talk. To walk. Anything."

Reid couldn't believe she was this bold. She was just too much for him to understand. "You need to find somebody else to talk to. I'm not the one you need to talk to. So just go."

"Stop with the hostility, ok? I don't need it and you don't feel it, so cool it." Tori shook him a little to get some sense into him. He was so not having that.

Reid moved away form her and immediately regretted the loss of her hands. Tori's hands fell to her sides and the feeling of failure that overwhelmed her was almost too strong for her to take. She turned to leave him and was stopped by his whispered word.

"Wait".

"What Reid? It's obvious you don't want me around, so I'll just go". Tori was clearly annoyed. She only wanted to help and he was pushing her away. It didn't matter who it was, whenever she tried to help she was pushed away.

"I do want you around … it's just weird talking to a girl. Hell, it's weird wanting to talk at all".

"Then talk to me. Com'on Blondie … tell me what you're doing here."

"I made this place. I come here whenever I need to think. It's my place to reflect, I guess. It's quiet. I like that sometimes."

Tori's face was filled with dismay. Reid Garwin had a haven. Better yet, Reid Garwin had made this place. This place that was filled with beauty and nature - he had made it somehow. Mr. Bad Ass had actually created a beautiful place and even better than that, he had let her in. Reid had given Tori his thoughts and now it was up to her to keep him going.

"See that wasn't so hard. I really can't wrap my mind around the fact that you built all this. It's beautiful."

Reid's face lightened for a single second before he covered it up. He was amused at what she had said, she just didn't understand what was amusing.

'Our Powers can create anything… anywhere. Why wouldn't I have what I want, when I wanted it?'

Tori turned to leave. She didn't want to intrude on his time and she was pretty much crashing as they spoke. "I'll leave you to it then." She thought that would suffice for Mr. Garwin. It didn't … surprise - surprise.

"You don't have to go."

Tori smiled shyly but nodded all the same. She could sleep another time. "Ok."

Dammit, was he that cute all the time or was that just to get her to stay? She really couldn't think. The lack of sleep was getting to her and she needed help quick. Now she couldn't really leave without insulting him and she be right out cruel to insult one of the guys now. They had helped her and she owed them … a lot.

"Funny how you answer real fast when you're excited."

She couldn't believe it. He was making fun of her, now? She wasn't excited she was sleepy. Yeah, that was believable, unless you saw her. Crap! "Oh Shut it." Tori needed a subject change quick, fast and in a hurry. She got one when she looked over the edge of the building. "It's beautiful up here. I hadn't seen the staircase before but I'm glad I did."

"Yeah. Umm, most people don't know all this is up here, so the staircase usually passes unseen to most." He couldn't really figure that part out either. He had bound the staircase with his magic an no normal person should have been able to see it. None of them sensed any magic in her so that was truly confusing him. " It's odd you saw it at all."

"Well I'm still glad I did."

Reid grew silent again. He didn't want her to go, but he did need some quiet. His head was filled with too many problems … too many possibilities had opened up with a new member in the family. He could sense her uneasiness - it was crashing into him like waves of pure anxiety. 'Being an empath kinda sucks, when you don't want to know.' The minute she spoke, he knew why.

"You know … this is the first time I have ever performed without being afraid of the 'after'. It was the first time I could sing what I wanted."

"You were great, you obviously know that, but I wanted to tell you." Reid couldn't believe the things that were coming out of his mouth. He had never congratulated a girl and not take credit somehow. With Tori, it was different, he was different. She had been nice enough to give him space so he figured he'd give her something back.

"Thank You. Everybody said I did ok but it's nice to hear it."

He couldn't take it. Tori seemed like a nice enough girl and he was, well he was Reid Garwin, but he wanted to know. Know about her and all that she did before. "Tori listen. I know you told us not to ask you anything but I have to know."

Tori couldn't help but smile. He wanted to know. Reid had no clue who she was, but he'd have her in his family without even thinking it twice. She'd truthfully answer anything he'd ask her right about now. Not that she would tell him that it scared the crap out of her to let them know anything about her. She had too many secrets to keep, she didn't need them keeping them too. "I'm feeling rather calm right now, so go ahead and ask."

Tory moved to sit on the edge of the building and from where Reid was standing he could see her fidgeting. He knew she would be nervous, but he needed to know. He moved to stand closer and as he approached he could feel the subtle waves of apprehension roll off of her. Reid could sometimes tell what people felt. With Tori, the waves were stronger. He stopped a little further away than he would have liked, but she needed her space.

"When was the last time you were happy? The last time you didn't hide who you are?"

"Two days ago."

Now that was not what he was expecting. He wanted to reach her past somehow but she wasn't going for it. Two days? Tori had been here two days ago. "Two days?"

"Yeah. This annoying group of guys invited me over for a movie night and some beer was involved. I didn't hide that night."

Reid smirked. He remembered that night. She had been wild and stubborn, carefree and funny. She was cool and a lot of fun. He remembered her … all of her. "How about the morning after? When you woke up in my arms? Did you hide then?"

"Technically, I didn't wake up in your arms. I was placed there after a while". She tried keeping her smile in place but it was too funny to look at. He had the goofiest face on. Tori couldn't refuse a goofy face. "I tried, but you are persuasive Blondie. With all that touching".

Reid laughed. He actually laughed at her response. Yeah, he had taken Pogue's spot but in the end she woke up in his arms. He lowered his gaze to the floor. No need in showing her how amused he really was. "I guess I was a little too close, huh?"

"You think? I'm pretty sure that was me being fondled." She looked over and he seemed better but not fully there yet. He wasn't silly ass Reid with the ready made jokes and the sour comebacks. But he was getting there. "Com'on I know you have more questions".

What he said next wasn't exactly what she expected to hear. No one had ever asked her so personal a question before. And the acid and hatred she heard in his voice sent chills racing up her spine. He knew he had to ask hard questions or he'd never get anywhere with her. "Did she ever hurt you? Did she ever touch you?" 'I guess Blondie is feeling better.'

Tory hesitated but answered him, "She slapped me once. I don't even remember why, but I remember it was over something stupid. Mandi stood at the door crying and asking her to stop screaming, but ma' wouldn't stop - she never stops. She screamed at Mandi to go to her room and that night was the first time I ever went against her."

"What did you do?"

"I left my house at 1 am - went to a local bar and got this really hot guy to buy me a drink. He had these beautiful eyes - the color of warm honey. Lords, this guy was gorgeous. Ugh! I remember his bike. It was a 1976 Harley with adjusted suspension and extra fuel injectors. Now that was nice."

Reid couldn't help but taunt her. She was off into her own little world and he wanted her back from there nice and embarrassed. "Hmm … gorgeous huh?"

"Black, stylish, deliciously sinful. Oh and it went so fast."

"Ok Stop! Way too much information about you and some guy. If you're gonna be telling me about your rendezvous, it would go a lot better if I had some part in them."

Now she was confused. Her brow knitted together and her eyes squinted almost closed. She looked real cute for a silly girl, or so thought Reid. Then it dawned on her. "Oh Geez! I was talking about the bike not the guy. Ewww, he was a jerk."

Tori could see him relax instantly. Reid seemed a laid back guy, but he obviously had an issue with talking about other guys, unless it was him. Then he was all for it, horny guys. He snapped her out of her thoughts when he spoke. "Alright then. Come here. I wanna show you something".

"Does that line work on your Ipswich girls? Because it sounds a little sketchy to me".

"Just shut up and get over here".

"Fine, but just so you know you're really pushy".

"Whatever - just stand right here".

Reid pulled her to him. The stunned look on her face was too funny - Reid decided it looked too cute to be funny. He turned her around in his arms and her small gasp made all the talking worth it to Reid.

Tori couldn't believe what she was seeing. The sky was tinted a light gold. You could still see the moon but the sun was clearly coming out now. She could see for miles. What she saw was the grandest combination of nature and a celestial sense of belonging. She could see a sea of white oak trees that stretched for miles. And beyond that Tori could see where the sky melded with the trees. It was truly breath taking.

Reid and Tori stood there in silence until the moon was hidden by the sun's brightness and now the sun ruled over the sky. Tori couldn't stand there any longer. Beyond the fact that she was freezing, she was beginning to slip in and out of consciousness.

"Thanks for showing me this Reid". Tori moved away for him and turned to look at him. He really was a nice guy, he just needed to act like it more.

"Anytime". He thought that over and decided to correct himself. "I'm lying. Don't tell anyone I was decent. I have a reputation to uphold."

"I won't tell, but maybe you should take another look at your reputation. It doesn't suit you."

"Whatever".

"Goodnight Blondie. I'm way too tired to stay awake and tell you my reasons for telling you that." She began walking away when Reid's voice stopped her.

"One more question".

"Quick please."

"Your mom. Will you forgive her? Could you over look all that, just because she's your mom?"

Tori stiffened a little before she exhaled. She turned around to face him before she answered. Although her answer was barely a whisper.

"I don't know. I really don't know".

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There is one more chapter. Some Reid & Tori bonding. SO, Reid has some residual Empathic abilities. It'll come up later. Still writing the rest so, I'm off.

R&R If you like it.

Later ……..