Lena shrugged, taking a step back, putting a painfully noticeable distance between herself and Webby. She could read in those big innocent eyes how much it hurt the smaller girl, but at that moment Lena couldn't figure another way to process or even react.

Webby took a step closer, reaching for her hand to stop the breach between them from becoming too massive.

"Lena, please" she begged, her voice cracking "whatever it is that is troubling you, I can help"

Lena knew she meant well, she always did, but she kept her beak shut and shrugged even further, trying to take as little space as possible. Being a shadow had conditioned her to feel that little, and right now, she just wanted to cease existing. Everything around her was too much at once. Too big, too loud, to colorful too…real.

"What is it?" Webby insisted and at that time Lena wished she could submerge into the shadows on command, but her emotions were too scattered to even try. So she shoved enough air into her lungs.

"I-I don't want to talk" Lena spitted the words forcefully, each and every one of them burning through her ears as painful memories of six months trapped in nothingness enveloped her.

"You can talk to me!" Webby pleaded as she feared her best friend was slipping away "you can tell me anything, everything!" she promised, but Lena shook her head unable to explain herself, which only confused and pained Webby further "please"

Lena swallowed the knot in her throat, but it only closed it further. Her breathing was picking up fast, her heartbeat doubling its speed; the corners of the hallway beginning to close in. She tried, but words were needles rolling on her tongue. Everything around her was suffocating.

"Please, talk to me" Webby was about to lay a hand on her shoulder when another one gently stopped her, reestablishing the distance Lena had been trying to keep.

The younger duckling gazed back to find Della cautiously standing there, probably having found them from all the commotion, but she didn't seemed to be there to put an end to the argument as Scrooge would, instead, her eyes showed concern "It's not you she can't talk to" she tried to explain softly, knowing fully well what emotions swirled inside Lena's being.

"Wha?-"Webby frowned, slowly realizing how much she had heard.

"When you are alone, all you have is the sound of your own voice to keep you sane, sometimes it can keep you in balance and others… it drives you to the edge"

Webby's eyes went wide, realizing as Lena averted her gaze ashamed, that Della was right. The teen recoiled hugging herself tight, rubbing her arms up and down, trying to ground back into the present as she slid down to the ground, hiding in the corner.

"I'm…I'm sorry, I didn't think… I should've known-" Webby tried to approach her and give a signature hug, but hesitated, looking up at Della for any sign. Sadly, the older woman shook no, offering an apologetic smile.

"Can you give us a minute?" Della asked quietly and Webby came to the conclusion that if there was one thing she hated more than Lena being in pain, was not being able to comfort her.

"O-okay" she answered in little voice, backing away "you-you'll tell me if there's anything I can help with?"

"You'll be the first to know" she promised flashing a reassuring smile, watching the younger duckling leave while gazing over her shoulder to steal a last glance. Now it was just them.

Lena was still in the corner, wrapped into her own arms, head between knees as her breathing finally stabilized little by little. It had been short of becoming a full panic attack, but not today. Small victories.

"Hey" Della called softly "Can you hear me?"

A nod, followed by the sound of a loud gulp.

"It's okay" she assured "some days are harder than others" she sat across from her, staying at arm's length "When I feel too overwhelmed I fill the tub and sink my head to scream my lungs out underwater" she chuckled dryly at her own admission "I'm not saying it's the healthiest copping mechanism but… it keeps me from losing it and worrying the kids or Uncle Scrooge. I think Donald does it too, sometimes"

Lena inhaled unevenly, gathering enough courage to look up, but the brightness forced her to recoil again.

Della caught on the micro expression and gazed around. She stood up closing the curtains, managing to dime down the hallway.

Lena felt the change, but wasn't kin to explore the outside until she felt a fabric brushing against her head. She peeked up slightly, finding that Della had built a small tent between them with her jacket. The very idea of something so childish and yet comforting made her laugh. It was a short-lived laughter, but one that didn't ring painfully in her own ears.

Della smiled kindly at her reaction, still holding up the fort.

"Are you feeling better?"

Lena provided another nod, unfolding her arms and holding into the other end of the coat to help keep it upright.

"Good" Della mumbled, allowing a long pause to slip by so the teen could gather her thoughts, knowing that silence could also be a double-edge-sword. Too much of it could trigger bad memories too, at least on her end of the spectrum.

When Lena seemed to relax her shoulders and unconsciously let go of her stiff posture, Della took the sign to try talking to her.

"Has it happened before?" she asked gently, expecting the teen to close up and build walls around the topic. She could very easily just keep quiet, but instead a hesitant gesture was given.

"It's okay" Della quickly assured "I get triggered too, about a million little different things, actually" Lena's brow arched, mutedly questioning that. She would never dare actually ask, but Della still shared, maybe trying to even the ground. If she was there witnessing something that personal, then she would also share a personal experience.

"Last week I…punched the mirror in my bathroom. I don't even remember half of it. I just had showered and the steam was covering it, so I didn't mind it until my eyes landed on my reflection and for a moment I was trapped up there and… even though I probably just stared for a couple of seconds, time got mushy and I panicked! And next thing I know, I'm holding my hand under the faucet trying to stop the bleeding" she exhaled rubbing her knuckles "I told everyone it was just a little mishap fixing my plane but…" she gazed down "I lost it. I lost my grip on reality and it was…really scary" she admitted, her tone honest… vulnerable.

Lena gazed down, gently rubbing a palm against her throat, thinking how it had felt to be disgusted by her own voice, how it felt sickening and disturbing. As a shadow she hadn't had a reflection to look at, but maybe if she had, she would have been just as tormented by it as Della. Perhaps not at that degree, since she endured only six months. But…being strictly voice? Soon her identity became that, and having no one to reply or even listen to her…it stripped her from sanity. She had been a ghost at best. A passing memory of the past and now…now she was just…trying to figure out what was real about her.

"I-" she managed to choke out, willing herself to string enough words together "I feel li-like I'm…negative s-space"

Della crooked her head to a side, gazing at her compassionately "I feel like the shadow of who I used to be"

Lena caught on the word play and chuckled, her throat raspy "What a-a duo"

"Indeed, kid" she smirked noticing by now their fort was already falling and the light didn't seem to bother her as much. So she gently nudged towards the jacket, Lena sheepishly let go of it as Della retrieved it.

"Than-" Lena tried to talk, but struggled as she took a deep breath ready to try again.

"It's okay. I know" Della reassured gently, putting her jacket back on. Once her sight readjusted, she took notice of Lena's worn-out expression "How about you try to sleep for a bit?" Della knew from her own experience that she was more susceptible to have moments of crisis when she was too tired.

Lena wanted to refute, but couldn't find enough coherency to formulate the words. She needed to go back home or at least text Violet and let her know that she was staying a bit longer and…maybe tell her about her little episode.

As if Della had read her thoughts, she added "I'll call your dads, let them know you are staying here the afternoon, or overnight if it gets too late"

Lena smirked amused by her good instincts. It seemed like she could read her like a book, or at the very least, read a few paragraphs. So she nodded, accepting the hand that was stretched before her, standing up in her trembling legs. It took her a moment to regain balance, leaning slightly into Della, as the older duck waited by her side, holding her close.

They walked back into one of the many guestrooms Scrooge had and made sure to block all light, leaving them in a comfortable darkness.

Lena presented no resistance and landed on the bed with a thud sound, curling into herself and absently playing with the bracelet on her wrist.

Della sat at the edge, placing a hand on her side "Do you want me to call her?" she offered gently.

Lena sighed, shaking no, burying her face into the pillow. She wasn't ready to explain to Webby all that happened, to admit that things were still messy in her head, that sometimes she didn't feel like all of her had come back from the Shadow Realm.

Della dropped her shoulders squeezing the teen's arm lightly "Okay, get some rest then" she moved the covers, tucking her in. Lena gazed awkwardly at the gesture; no one had ever done that. It was foreign but not unwelcomed. And without another thought, her mind drifted to sleep.

Della shut the door behind her once sure Lena was settled. She closed her eyes exhaling loudly. Once she opened them again, she found a pink bow in her sightline making her jolt back, barely missing the ancient base that stood there as decoration.

"Webby!" she whisper-shouted, hoping the commotion hadn't waked the teen up.

"Is she there? Is she okay?"

Della gazed over her shoulder and then back at the girl "Come on, let's talk somewhere else" she gently ushered her away from the door. Once at the couch, Webby was bouncing up and down, barely containing her anxiousness.

"Lena-" Della began.

"Is she hurt? Is she mad? Did I cause it? Did she say something?"

Della held both hands up trying to ease her up "She's fine. Exhausted but stable. I don't think she's mad, not at you anyways. I'm not sure what caused it and she's a bit restrained on the talking department so I did most of the chat" she finished before looking Webby up and down. Her hair was slightly messy, as if she had ran her fingers through it too many times "how are you holding up?"

Webby chuckled nervously "Me? I'm fine! I'm not the one that was trapped inside the shadows for six months because I sacrificed myself for my best friend. And I'm definitely not the one that wakes up gasping and covered in sweat every sleepover after a nightmare and pretend nothing is wrong! Noup! That's not me" she brushed her hair back still laughing dryly.

Della winced, cautiously laying a hand on her shoulder, hoping to settle her down a bit "Hey, it's okay" she cooed.

"Of course it's fine!" she yelped up "I'm-"

"You are the one that spent six months trying to bring her back" Della interjected gently "you are the one that didn't gave up and kept on fighting with all odds against you" she combed her hair "you are still worried and that's fine"

Little by little Webby's posture came crumbling down as she held her head between hands "I just…I don't know what to do…how to help" she admitted "she doesn't talk about it and…today when she said she didn't want to talk it scared me that she was shutting me out, when in reality she was trying to protect herself and I pushed her to the edge"

"That's not your fault"

"Isn't it?!" she threw her hands up exasperated "she told me exactly what she needed and I still pushed"

"That's true" she agreed "but you didn't know the context, you couldn't have predicted what she meant"

"You did" she grumbled looking away bitterly.

Della flinched removing her hand "Yeah, but…for the worst reasons possible"

Webby grimaced "Sorry" she whispered. She was mad, but not at Della. She was mad that she couldn't be the one to help Lena, because she couldn't understand her, because she couldn't talk to her and address all the things that were clearly wrong. And somehow Lena seemed to be able to say it all to the older duck "I just…I thought she trusted me…"

Della was momentarily speechless before refuting "She trusts you. More than anyone, I dare say"

"Then why can't she tell me stuff?"

"For that very same reason" Della said softly "you are probably the most important person in her life, she doesn't want to worry or overwhelm you"

"But I don't mind!" she assured heartedly.

"But she does" Della tried to explain before ruffling her own hair "it's…it's difficult, you know? When you've hurt the people you love the most, the last thing you want is to add on the tab more struggles and problems. They don't deserve to still have to worry or keep checking on you. You don't want to be a burden, you just…want normal back and sometimes it's easier to pretend everything is fine because it…it's make belief that the past doesn't hurt anymore" her voice almost broke at the end, her fists tightly clenched as the image of her sons took over her thoughts.

Webby reached to take Della's hand, reading in her face how much torment was swirling through her thoughts, the real reason why Lena could relate so easily to her. It made her feel awful to even have wished to be on her shoes moments ago. If she could understand Lena, it was solely because both had shared so much suffering and loneliness.

"Maybe…if we started by the little things…it wouldn't be so overwhelming for either side" Webby offered "it doesn't have to be all at once. But…saying things like, 'today I'm feeling kind of low' or 'I need a hug' can go a long way. It would definitely help me understand instead of trying to guess what's wrong"

Della sniffed discreetly "Maybe…that could help" she admitted.

"We should try it" Webby said "it would be good practice for me" she sat up straight looking at Della "Hi, how are you feeling today?"

Della huffed whipping her eyes with the sleeve "I…I think I could use a hug"

Webby immediately wrapped her arms around her, leaning into her shoulder "Good thing I've been told I'm a great hugger"

Della chuckled, resting her head over Webby's "It's true"

They stood in silence as the sun began falling through the horizon.

Lena tossed and whimpered, heavy drops of sweat running down her brow until she finally snapped her eyes open, gasping for air. She tapped into her own body. There was a body, it was hers, she was really there. She buried her face between her palms.

"Lena" she heard a voice too close.

She jumped back against the head of the bed.

"It's okay" Della approached, moving through the darkness with the same ease Lena could.

Lena sighed "I thought you were…" she cut herself short, part of her because the idea of saying that out loud still made her skin crawl, the other because her throat still felt off.

"I'm going to turn on the lamp, okay?" Della said waiting a moment before turning the lowest setting possible, just enough light for their faces to be seen "How are you feeling?"

"B-better" she tapped her ears, her voice wasn't repulsing her, so she exhaled more relaxed "Yeah, better, thank-s" she noticed the figure standing behind Della as Webby waved shyly. Lena shot a glare at Della; a warning would have been nice. But the woman just shrugged patting her shoulder.

"I'll give you a minute"

Lena's eyes went wide, but she couldn't stop her from leaving as now Webby walked up to take her place, sitting on the edge of the bed, keeping her distance. Lena awkwardly fumbled with the fabric of the sheets, unable to figure out what to say, how to apologize.

"I-"

"I'm sorry" Webby beat her to it "I shouldn't have been so pushy. I know how hard is for you to go about through some stuff and I still insisted"

Lena swallowed "Thanks…for…for still reaching out, though" she hadn't met her eyes yet "I…am sorry I…reacted like that, Pink"

"You don't have to apologize" Webby scooted closer, playing with her own bracelet as the silence extended "…Was I…was I what triggered it?" she asked after a beat.

"What?"

"The sound of my voice?" she said softly, hesitantly…brokenly "For a long time it's all you ever heard, I mean, other that your own voice… you were stuck with me so…" she averted her eyes, tears dreading at the edge.

"No!" Lena rapidly reached for her hands, closing the gap between them "No, no, Webby, I-" she took a moment, the desperation in her tone was something that could actually trigger another episode, so she exhaled holding even tighter into Webby's hands, keeping her sight there "The first weeks, darkness was all that I had around me, it was…like being into deep sea. Just waves washing over me, pulling me under, throwing me mercilessly, making me loose a sense of direction and time, it was very disorientating and scary and then…I would catch a glimpse of your voice and it would take me to shore. Little by little I began anchoring into that and when I regained enough strength I was finally able to stay by your side and actually see you" she caressed the back of her hands with her thumbs "Hearing your voice was like a lifesaver in that ocean, it kept me afloat. It was the very last bit of familiarity I had" she admitted, revealing the scaring secrets she had kept quiet "You became my home"

Suddenly a teardrop landed on Lena's hand and then another on Webby's. When she looked up she found the smaller girl crying silently, holding it in with the very last of her strength.

"Pink?"

And then she came crashing into her arms, hugging her tight "I'll always be your home, Lena" she said heartedly "No matter what" she cuddled against her chest "You'll have me by your side too, you don't have to be alone, left with only the sound of your voice" she gazed up through teary eyes "you can talk and I will listen, whatever you need, you don't have to be tormented by your own words and…if words are too hard, then be sure that I can hold your hand as you walk through those memories"

Lena gazed at her, tongue tied as her own vision became blurry before she chuckled to herself, whipping away the tears before hugging back "You are too sappy sometimes, Pink"

Webby chuckled too, releasing her grip around Lena, but the teen tensed, hugging her tighter.

"Can we stay like this for a bit longer?" her voice quivered and she hated to admit just how vulnerable she felt. But for so long all she wanted was to be able to hug her again and now there she was, enveloped in her arms, so she wanted to relish the feeling for a moment longer.

Webby smiled sweetly, holding her again, cuddling against her chest "Sure" she closed her eyes "for as long as you need"

"Thanks, Pink" her eyelids went down and for the first time in too long, the night terrors didn't filled her dreams.