Sorry for not updating for ages! There isn't any romance I'm afraid, since this takes place a few weeks after the art gallery with real aged Ib and Garry. Family/Hurt/Comfort.

To Talk & To Teach

Ib leaned her head against the rough bark of the chestnut tree with the branches shading her and the cold grass calming her body.

The young girl was hoping to relax after what felt like a long day. She thought about how not many days ago, she truly was confined in her worst nightmare. The events taking place in the art gallery were mysteries that were impossible to solve. Ib was only nine years old, but even she could see that whatever had happened had occurred for a reason. Perhaps things were destined to be taken from her, like leaves swooped away in the wind.

Ib stared at the distant and dying sunset and wrapped her arms across each other as warmth from the cool breeze. Immediately after she came home from school, she had walked to this very spot under the largest tree in the field like park. She loved how everything was bright and open.

Just as Ib was about to close her eyes for a moment of rest, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ib waited for a moment and then looked up to see the familiar face of a young artist. "Garry..." She said softly, almost as if she were in another dream, "It's you."

"It's nice to see you again Ib. What are you waiting out here for?" He said kindly, sitting down beside her. Of all the people Ib had met, she found this rather unique young man named Garry to be the most trust worthy. Since Ib had saved him in the art gallery, he had never left her side and protected her, even though he was just as vulnerable to the dangers they'd face himself.

Ib noticed a black book in Garry's hand and became curious about it. "Is this your drawing book?"

Garry gave a soft laugh and said, "It's a sketch book. It's full of drawings I've done. You can have a look inside if you want."

It wasn't long before Ib's eyes were wide from amazement. She gently flipped through page after page of beautiful scenery, detailed images of people, animals, places that all seemed to be a part of its own perfect world. Ib wanted to be inside that perfect world.

"Garry." she said, looking up at him, "What made you go to the art gallery, that very day?" Something made Ib feel like she already knew the answer.

"To be honest, I'm not sure myself. I felt like I would be inspired to do something if I had. Even though creating my own work of art is one thing, being able to appreciate another's' is just as important. So what about you? Were you parents taking you for a day out then?"

Ib went silent for a moment, thinking about what she should tell Garry. Her decision became clearly when she thought about how honest Garry was. "My parents didn't have the idea to go. I did."

"Quite interesting for such a young girl to want to visit a gallery."

"I didn't mind where we went, but my parents did like art. I just wanted somewhere where my parents could spend time together. Where we could all be together. Mother and father...I think...they don't like me, any more."

"Ib...What would make you think that?" Garry asked. He thought about why this was making her said, why Ib would think of this idea in the first place.

"Every day, mother and father shout loudly, and yell and break things and tell me to stay in my room all day. The art gallery was the first time we've been together for months. I had to beg them so much, and it barely worked. But at the art gallery, I felt trapped and taken from my parents. I'm not sure...if what happened was a dream or not, but I know that my plan didn't work. They still wouldn't talk to each other, or talk to me. If I had tried more to keep us together, they wouldn't be so separate from each other and from me. It's all my fault, isn't it?"

Garry had such a worried yet sympathetic look on his face. "Ib, things like this are never going to be anyone's fault, especially not yours. If you're feeling so bad about it all, why don't we do something to show them?"

"...Maybe... I could... draw a nice picture? I have one in my bag. I always keep it with me now, even though its not good like your pictures." Ib said, averting her gaze and the sketch book to bring out a scrunched piece of paper from her little bag. She unfolded it carefully, and held up the drawing to Garry.

The picture consisted of wild pen lines and messy pencil colouring to fill the page. In the middle of a plainly drawn blue sky and field was a little brown haired girl in a red and white dress with her hands held by a man and woman on either side, with a small heart above them all. Garry gave a sincere smile, but then noticed the large tear down the middle, leaving parcel sides of the paper clinging to each other with the join they had.

"Ib, why did you rip it?"

"Because its not going to help now. I wanted to give it to them at the art gallery when mother and father looked happiest."

"I'm sure your parents will love this picture, Ib. They'll love it because its from you."

"But I want it to be good, just like yours. Teach me to draw it well like you do! Otherwise mother and father won't like it as much."

"As much as I'd love to teach you, I probably won't be here after a few days."

"Why not?"

"I'm travelling, Ib. Going around to see the world I live in. Besides, art takes years to master even when its just what you make that counts. But since your persistent on making this perfect, how about this. If you let me take your drawing, I'll make a really 'professional looking' one of it like you wanted. It'll be your design, just in my hands. Okay?"

"You'll do that for me..? Here's the picture then. We can come back here tomorrow. Thank you for helping me Garry. You're... a true friend."

Ib had gone home that day, anticipated the moment she'd be able to see Garry again. She thought she'd try to be as good as Garry at drawing soon, but she had to start somewhere. Ib spent most of the day and night, drawing and drawing away.

After a long, tiring day of school, Ib went to the park immediately, and waited for Garry. It wasn't too long before the early sunset came again, and a voice called for her. "Ib, your here." Ib turned around and saw Garry holding a large brown envelope.

"As promised." Ib smiled, "I can't thank you enough Garry. I've been feeling better since yesterday."

"That's really good to hear. Well, this is the drawing." Garry said, holding out the paper brown envelope. "But don't open it. It's for your parents only. I', certain they'll love it because its from you."

"Well, it was drawn by you. I thought I'd get you something, as a thank you present." Ib said, turning to her back once again to bring out a set of new brand new pencils with animal shaped rubbers on the top, all wrapped neatly with a red bow. "For you, since your an artist."

Garry gave a kind laugh and took the pencils as Ib exchanged them for the envelope. "Your very thoughtful, aren't you. Thanks. Just promise me you won't look in the envelope, okay?"

"I promise Garry. I have to go now though. I want to give it to mother and father as soon as possible."

Ib's parents weren't home from work, so Ib left it on the living room coffee table along with a framed photo of her family and a note saying 'To Mother & Father - Don't open unless your both here together!'

Ib went off to bed and fell asleep before either of her parents came home.

*An Hour Later*

A key rumbled through the lock and creaked open into the house. The woman entered the house and took of her heels to replace them with flat shoes. The suited man already in the house was waiting in the living room on a sofa, looking out of the window at the night sky. "Welcome back." He said half heartedly.

"I didn't think you'd be here early." The woman said, entering the room. She looked down at the coffee table and removed the note after reading it. "So, Ib left this here for us?"

"It seemed like it. Since she wanted me to open it with you, I waited."

Ib's mother sat beside the man and the two parents opened the packet together. The woman shed a tear and Ib's father covered his mouth when they saw a messily coloured, scribbled drawing depicting a brown haired girl with her two parents by her side, and a little heart above them all. A clear strip of tape held together the two sides of the family that was torn;

through the little girl, right down the middle.

Ib hadn't seen Garry again since then. The young artist was right.

He wouldn't be there for her anymore.

But Ib would remain strong.

Even when her heart would tear into two.

Every year... On the same day she last saw Garry.

Ib would spend her day until sunset.

By the chestnut tree.

At the field like park.

Waiting.

It had been six years since then.

Ib sat by the tree with her knees up and her very own sketch book in her hands. She had a soft yet sad smile on her face when she thought about what her life would be like if it was truly whole.

Just as Ib was about to close her eyes for a moment of rest, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ib waited for a moment and then looked up to see the familiar face of a much admired artist. "Garry..." She said softly, "It's you."

"Long time no see. You've grown."

"How did you know I was not a random stranger then?"

"Because this is sort of our spot. And you still have the same chocolate brown hair and hazel eyes. I could have spot you from a mile away, theoretically. I still remember, you know." Garry said proudly, taking his reserved seat beside her.

Ib laughed. "You haven't changed much at all. So now you'd be..."

"Twenty five. Yes. I am old now. I see you have a sketch book with you."

"Yeah. Ever since we last met, I've been perfecting my drawing and painting skills."

"Can I have a look at your drawings?" Ib then passed her book to Garry, and watched him flip through the pages after examining each peice. "Your pretty good now. Very good, actually. As you grow older, you'll be able to do all kinds of art."

"I will. Because you've inspired me to pursue my dream to become an artist. I want to do it always and forever, because you were able to help me so much."

"Oh yes, so your family is back together properly now."

Ib hesitated for a moment. "They divorced a month after you left."

She didn't want to make his efforts seem in vain. Garry was quite surprised. "I'm really sorry Ib. I guess my effort made no difference to help."

"You may not have made a difference to my parents, but you have to me. You don't have to worry about my parents though Garry." Ib said, turning her head to smile at him, looking more happy then Garry had ever seen her. "I've been okay with my mother. I'm...happy. I wonder what would have happened if you weren't there for me? I really do owe you six years of happiness."

"And how do you plan to repay me?"

"Hm..." He said, holding a long pause whilst she thought. "How about deposits?"

"Of what?"

Ib leaned closer to the fellow artist and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "One down," She said, "Many more to go."

Hope you liked it! I had to put some romance in there somewhere. Ib and Garry are meant for each other. I wish you all the best if you were able to relate to Ib at all. Happiness is out there for anyone in the worst of times. I wrote this story after being able to find it.

Have a great week everyone!