"Oh, nothing" he said with another long sigh.

I nodded and tossed little Dash's diaper into the little trash can I had in my room.

"Right" I said as if I believed him.

We stayed in silence for a while until I got bored and held Little Dash in my hands. "Well, if you're not going to tell me what's really bugging you, I guess I'll just-" I started but was interrupted by Seft saying,

"Have you ever wondered who Dashiell's parents might be? Maybe their looking for him? Maybe he already has a family and cozy home waiting for him? Somewhere."

"Are we still talking about Dashiell?" I asked looking straight at him with furrowed eyebrows.

He just sat up in his bed and looked down at the ground, but didn't say anything.

But I decided to answer anyways.

"Well, if he had caring parents, he wouldn't be found in a dark alley with trash infesting the place. Think that they would have at least given him to the orphanage instead of the streets."

"What If someone stole him from them. Or maybe they lost the baby. Or... There are many things that could have happened. But I just wish that I could've known them for just a little bit. Seen them and remembered them at least." Seft said, ending in a whisper.

Before I knew it I had put Dashiell on my bed and ran to Seft to give him a hug. I knew when people needed hugs and this was one of those times. I guess it was one of my girly powers.

"Hey, has anyone seen… my apple?" John started, but faltered when he saw me hugging Seft.

"Am I interrupting anything?" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows at us.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes and turned back to Seft.

He was older than me by two years, but he was the closest to me, like the brother I never had. After Geoffry of course, but they weren't that far from each other.

I looked up at him and kissed him softly on the cheek and pulled away.

"You don't need them. You have us. And I'm sure wherever they are right now, they must be the stupidest people ever for letting the best thing that's ever happened to them go." I said, and then got up, grabbed little Dash, and walked to John.

"Pig." I spat out at him after giving him a strong punch to the stomach with the hand that wasn't holding Dashielle.

"Oof!" John let out as he doubled over.

"Cow!" He spat back at me from behind me as I walked out the door, with little Dash in my hands.

"Donkey." I replied quickly as I walked out of hearing range and out into the field.

Our banters were always playful and fun.

So that's what happened with Little Dash.

A few years later, Geoffry finally agreed to let me take Little Dash with me on one of my jobs.

By this time, I was 13, going onto 14, and Little Dash was 7 going on to 8.

It wasn't the first time Dash was let out, but it was the first time that he was let out with me and Sebastian, and we were all going to go in separate directions and meet up after an hour.

And let me tell you why. His nickname suits him, because every chance he gets, he dash's off after something he was attracted to.

To say I was worried would be an understatement. But I had faith in him.

I had to.

So we separated after I gave Dash strict instructions. Sebastian was snickering at me the whole time, but he ended up with a kick to his butt.

We spread out and I quickly crawled through the window that was left opened just as we anticipated. I got inside and quietly landed on the ground in a defensive crouch. I got up and silently walked with my body against the wall.

I entered through a door and found it to be the kitchen.

"Jackpot." I whispered under my breath as I started looking through the cabinets and mini cooler. I grabbed some apples and then found bread. I grabbed that too along with some turkey and fish I found in the mini cooler.

I put it in my bag and immediately made my way to the window. I jumped out and made my way to the meeting place near the abandoned ship dock.

On my way, I stopped at the stands, sniffed the roses, speculated the vegetables, and felt the fabric. I was acting like a normal girl.

I checked my stolen pocket watch and saw that I still had thirty minutes left.

I finally made it to the dock, and was still the first one, even after all the stops and wondering around.

I sat down with my legs dangling from the dock. I took my shoes off and let my feet skim the water.

After twenty minutes, I heard a board creek behind me, and lifted my hand, signaling to Sebastian that he was caught.

"Ugghh! Nothing gets past you, does it?" He asks, but I don't bother answering.

"Have you seen Dash?" I asked, getting up and putting my shoes on.

"No, but relax. The kid still has ten minutes." Sebastian replied, taking my spot on the dock and letting his feet skim the water too. I nodded and sat down next to him with my legs crossed.

My right leg was bouncing up and down in nervousness and impatience.

I heard Sebastian sigh, and slowly turn his head to look at me.

"Distract me." I said, my eyes wide, looking around the dock, hoping against all hope that he would appear at that precise moment.

I turned my head back to Sebastian and found him way closer than before.

"How do you suggest I do that?" He asked. His thigh touching my crossed legs.

"I don't know. Tell me a story. Punch me. Just distract me." I said looking around again. Five minutes left before I went out to hunt that little boy down.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by a hand holding my legs down. I thought I stopped bouncing my leg.

I snapped my eyes to Sebastian and found him even closer than before.

I felt his breath fan across my face and smelled cinnamon with a hint of mint.

"Stop. Thinking." He said, with his face a breath away.

"He's going to be all right. He's going to show up right on time and then we'll all make our way back to the house and wait for everyone else to return. And then when night falls, we'll all be sitting around a fire outside, laughing at how you were nervous and almost had a panic attack for nothing." He muttered, his breath again fanning across my face.

The only thing I muttered was, "Times up." And immediately slipped away from Sebastian and started running into the city.