Not too much time had passed since Fakir and Drosselmeyer's heart-to-heart. It was actually really relieving for Drosselmeyer to know he had his grandson for the first time in his life. And it felt even better to have reunited his daughter with her child.

As for Fakir, he couldn't keep from clutching his mother's spirit jar so tight. She was back, for the most part. And she even closer to his heart than ever before. There was just this surrounding peaceful feeling with him now. He still had a family now. Granted it was his criminal grandfather who would have to face a public trial for his crimes, which may lead to them not seeing each other for a while, but that didn't matter.

Drosselmeyer was his grandfather! And no one could change that simple fact!

While still stirring through his thoughts, Ahiru approached him. She did her best to stay quiet and examine him a bit. He had a smile on his face with a glow in his eyes. He was holding something that had his focus, but she couldn't tell what it was.

"Um… I take it your time with Drosselmeyer went well?" She asked.
Fakir fell out of his daze upon hearing her voice. "What? Oh, yes. It went really well actually." He said holding his hidden object more tightly.
"It must have. I haven't seen you smile that big in quite some time. It's nice to see." She giggled.

Fakir's cheeks began to color a soft pink as he ran a hand through his hair, "Oh really?"
Ahiru looked away and tries to hide her smile, "Yeah…"

He watched her for a moment. He noticed her small smile change to a frown. Her eyes seemed to have changed from cheerful to sorrowful.
"Hey," he said putting a hand on her shoulder, "is everything okay?"

He noticed her swallow. "Do… do you know what will happen to me? I-I mean, no one else will tell me anything."

Fakir felt like leaving that question alone. He hated remembering that day. When she had pushed him away. When she lost control. When he felt his heart stop on hearing her fate…
He could see why no one else would tell her.
But why did he have to be the one to look her in the eye and tell her she would die?

"I'm sorry, Ahiru… Mytho said that if we don't get you to his lab in less than two days you will sercome to madness and possibly die."

He watched her even more intently now. It seemed like she was still processing this whole thing.
Tears were staring to swell in her eyes.
"Hey, hey, hey," Fakir said calmly, "Look at me. What's wrong?" he took hold of her chin and lifted up her face.
"I'm scared." She began wiping away a few tears, "It's hard… dealing with this other presence… but I had no idea it would be this bad…"

She couldn't hold back anymore. Her vision blurred from her hot tears. But amongst all her confusion and fear, she felt a pair of arms around her.
"Ahiru, I promise you are going to get through this. Don't let your fear or anything else tell you otherwise."

Fakir always seemed to find a way to make everything seem okay. Even if it was just for a moment.
She soon found herself holding him. And she held on tight, as if holding him closer would take away the pain, or prevent the upcoming danger.

The next day went by all too soon. This was the last window of opportunity to save Ahiru's life. Could it be done in time?
The morning turned into some kind of fast moving blur, Fakir was too desperate to keep up with where Ahiru was being taken until he couldn't follow them anymore. Although he had to keep hope that she would make it, he couldn't help but feel fearful of what might happen should something go wrong.

Fakir was still on edge over this whole thing. What if she didn't make it? What would happen then?
He was so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed he grandfather taking a seat next to him.
"You know, fretting over something you have no control over can't be helped. You need to be hopeful for her."

Fakir turned his head towards him as he listened to this advice.
"She's a strong girl, but the least you can do is hope she will be alright."

As everyone waited anxiously for Ahiru to emerge from the lab, no one noticed the growing shadow in the corner that seemed to be taking up a comfortable spot close to Jaden...

A/N: I can't tell you guys how strange it is to have Drosselmeyer as a good guy. But it's happening.
Also, surprise early chapter! Let's see if I can do this again (but don't get your hopes up)
Anyway, I give my sincerest thanks to:

Mayuralover (for reviewing)
Guest (for reviewing)
And you for coming so far with me.