The sun rose, bright and cheerful, the next morning, and was almost enough to completely shatter the peaceful silence that had fallen over the living room late the previous night.
Chelsey blinked awake, eyes watering as the harsh light bled through the partially opened curtains and assaulted her unadjusted eyes.
With a soft grunt of effort, Chelsey stood and carefully made her way to the window, taking care not to step on any of her sleeping relatives.
When the blind was closed and the room once again bathed in darkness, Chelsey took a moment to survey the living area.
After their game of truth or dare had taken a swift nose-dive, they'd all curled up to watch James Bond. Most everyone had fallen asleep fairly quickly after that, but she'd found herself unable.
Chelsey had felt absolutely awful as soon as she'd realized what she'd asked, but no one had been expecting a tear-filled confession of murder.
On that topic, Chelsey glanced about the room and noticed they were down one blind kid, the blankets where he'd been curled up the previous night folded back.
'Maybe he's just in the bathroom?' Chelsey reasoned, but still felt the need to go check.
As she walked towards the bathroom, she just happened to glance out the window, into the backyard, where she saw Matt sitting on the wooden swing.
Chelsey quickly diverted from her current path but hesitated at the door, she was the one who had dragged Matt's bad memories to the surface, anyone in their right mind would be upset about that. But she needed to apologize.
Decision made, Chelsey took a determined step outside, immediately shivering at the slight chill in the air. It may have been officially spring, but the nights' still got pretty cold.
"Matt?" Chelsey called, wanting to announce herself before she got too close and startled him by accident.
Matt's head immediately tilted in her direction and Chelsey couldn't help the putter of worry her heart gave when she noted his red nose and cheeks. "Jeeze Matt, how long have you been out here?"
Matt chuckled softly, "Too long probably." With a heavy sigh Matt let his head fall back, unseeing eyes gazing up at the slowly brightening sky. "Or maybe not long enough."
Chelsey paused a moment, biting her lip in uncertainty. "Mind if I sit?"
"Please."
Chelsey took the seat next to Matt, her leg almost instantly beginning to bounce with pent-up anticipation.
"Something on your mind?" Matt question after the silence had stretched on a beat too long.
"Yeah, listen Matt, about last night, I'm sorry. I spoke without thinking and it was stupid, and if you're mad at me, I get it, okay? You have-"
"Chelsey, I'm not mad at you." Matt interrupted quietly.
"Oh."
"I was actually thinking that I should thank you."
"Excuse me?"
Matt couldn't help but laugh at Chelsey's disbelieving tone, but quickly sobered. "I haven't every really- talked about what happened. I've just been living with it, trying to figure it all out on my own. But now that I've shared it, I don't know, it's an easier burden to carry. So thank you."
Chelsey sighed heavily as she desperately blinked back tears. "Matt, you freaking never cease to amaze me." She whispered, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around Matt's shoulders.
It was later in the afternoon when Foggy sought Matt out. Everyone had dispersed and were doing their own thing, waiting for the sun to set so they could start their campfire.
"Hey." Foggy called before sitting next to Matt on the front step.
"Hey."
"How's it goin?" Foggy questioned, attempting to be inconspicuous; he failed miserably.
A small grin capture Matt's lips as he shook his head in fond exasperation. "Foggy, I am fine, honestly."
"Yeah well, of course you are. You're like freaking Superman, always fine."
"I'm not-"
"Yes you are. At least, you always say you are, even when it's fairly obvious you're actually not."
Matt sighed heavily, shifting under the intense gaze he could feel Foggy directing at him. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my dad."
"No, that's not what this is about." Foggy was quick to cut off that line of thinking, he and Matt were quickly becoming best friends, but everyone was entitled to their own personal demons, he couldn't be mad at Matt for not sharing his. "I totally understand why you didn't tell me. I mean, we did just meet not that long ago."
"Oh." Matt paused, momentarily confused. "Then, what?"
"I just want you to know there's someone here for you. I understand that you've been pretty much depending on yourself for a while now, and you're probably not used to having anyone. But you do now. So if you're ever not fine, you know."
The steps lapsed into a slightly awkward silence before Foggy broke it with a very forced cough, "Anyway." He began, standing, but Matt's soft voice drew him back.
"You're right."
"Pardon?"
"About me depending on myself, you're right. I've been basically alone since my dad died, I haven't ever really had anyone to lean on."
"Well you do now buddy." Foggy said, smacking Matt's shoulder lightly.
"Thanks Foggy."
"Anytime mon am-igo."
"That is so wrong!" Matt replied with a chuckle, shaking his head in amusement.
"Hey, we can't all be Spanish geniuses, my apologies."
"I'm hardly a genius."
"Modest and always fine, you need to make that your slogan or something. Hi, my name's Matt Murdock, I am modest and always fine." Foggy paused a moment, completely serious, before he sputtered into laughter, dragging Matt down with him.
"Thank you Foggy." Matt stated sincerely once the two of them could breathe normally.
"Anytime. Now let's get goin', I'm pretty sure my mom started the bonfire!"
A/N: Yay, everything's happy again! I hope you've all enjoyed this last installment. I'm not sure what I'll be posting next, probably some more fluff because that makes up like, 90% of this fic. Let me know if you have any requests, otherwise, until next time!
~Spring