The next morning when Sara headed out to the bridge she found that Avalon was already awake, sitting up in the seating room up the steps from the bridge.

"Avi, what are you doing up?"

"Uh...I've always been an early riser."

Again that was a lie. It was more like she couldn't sleep because of her nightmares and her nausea. It kind of sucked, but there was nothing she could do.

"Well how did you sleep?" Sara asked

Avalon shrugged, "Good."

"Okay. The rest of my team will be up soon. Think you are ready to meet them?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Avalon replied

Avalon was nervous. She didn't know what to expect. What if they didn't like her? Or what if they were mean to her? What if they hurt her?

"Don't be nervous. Everyone on my team is really nice. If anything, once they get to know you, they will be protective of you."

Avalon nodded, even though she felt doubtful about Sara's declaration. As she was about to respond, Zari stumbled out into the bridge, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Morning early bird." Sara greeted

"Couldn't sleep. I was hot last night." Zari fibbed

The truth was that every time she closed her eyes, she saw her brother die. She saw herself running away, leaving him behind to fight alone. He did tell her to run, but she never should have left him.

Sara gave a nod as she thought, 'Why is everyone lying to me? Do I look stupid to them?'

"Okay. Zari, this is Avi." Sara introduced, "Avi, this is Zari."

"It's nice to meet you, Avi."

Avalon forced a smile, "You too, Zari."

Zari looked at Sara, "I'm going to go to the library and see if Nate is up yet."

"Alright." Sara agreed, "If he is, tell him to come see me."

"Of course, Captain."

Avalon thought, 'That wasn't so bad.', but she was still shifting her weight nervously in anticipation of meeting Nate. 'What if he does something? What if he hurts me?'

She didn't have time to ponder that for long, because Nate was seen walking into the bridge. She could tell from the size of his muscles that he was stronger. He could easily overpower her if he wanted too.

"You wanted to see me, Sara?" Nate questioned, "I swear I didn't stay up all night again."

Sara nodded, "Yes, and that's not what this is about. There's someone I'd like you to meet." She gestured to Avalon, "Nate, this is Avi. Avi meet Nate."

Nate gave the girl a friendly smile, "It's nice to meet you, Avi."

"Yeah. You too, Nate." Avalon uttered as she shuffled her feet backwards away from him, almost tripping over her heels, but Sara caught her.

"You okay?" Sara asked

Avalon turned around embarrassed, her face flushed and her cheeks red. She just nodded, before running off. Mostly she felt embarrassed, but a small part of her was filled with fear.

"Did I do something?" Nate wondered

Sara shook her head, "I don't think it was you. I'm gonna go talk to her." She patted Nate's shoulder and then took off after Avalon.

Sara found Avalon in the hallway, her back against the wall with her knees pulled into her chest. Sara sat down beside Avalon. She didn't say anything. Just sat beside the girl in silence.

"I'm sorry." Avalon apologised, finally speaking after about a minute of silence.

"What are you sorry for?"

"For almost tripping. For you having to catch me. For the way I reacted to Nate."

Sara looked at Avalon, "Avi, the way you reacted to Nate was a fear reaction. I've had that same reaction before. So, tell me, why are you afraid of Nate?"

Avalon shook her head, "It's not him I'm afraid of."

"Then what is it that you are afraid of?" Sara questioned, "Is it men?"

Avalon just stared off into the distance, her mind going off on a memory trip, flashing back to two years ago.

- Flashback: 2 years ago -

Twelve year old Avalon Toscana is in her room playing, completely unaware of the conversation that her parents are having downstairs.

She hears footsteps coming up the stairs and then her father walks into her room.

She looks up with a smile on her face, "Hi Daddy." She's a daddy's girl.

"Hey Ace." Rowan greets his daughter. He's smiling, but there is a sadness in his eyes.

"What's wrong, Daddy?"

Rowan sits down, "We need to talk about something. A very grown up something."

Avalon blinks her eyes, "What is it?"

"So, you know how you have been wanting a younger sibling? Well mommy and I have been trying and today we found out that mommy can't have any more kids, but we have a solution for that. A solution that will make you feel so, so special." Rowan explains, "How would you like to be Mommy and Daddy's little helper?"

Avalon is intrigued, nodding. She loves feeling special and helping her mom and dad.

"What do I have to do, Daddy?"

"Well in a couple years you could carry the baby for Mommy. It would be mine and mommy's baby, and your sibling. You would just be a carrier. Do you think you can do that?"

Avalon nods, "Yes, I can."

She doesn't know that she will have to have sex with her father in order for the baby to get inside her. She's just a little girl who wants to help her mommy and daddy, and get a baby brother or sister.

- End of flashback -

"Avi." Avalon heard Sara's voice. She blinked her eyes and shook her head as she turned to look at Sara.

"Are you okay? You seemed like you were a million miles away?"

Avalon considered saying that she was fine, because she didn't want to have to tell the horrible truth. She didn't want to deal with what she was running from. She just wanted to leave it in the past, but at the same time she just couldn't do it anymore.

Avalon shook her head, "No. I'm not okay."

"Tell me what's wrong?"

"I lied. I wasn't living on the streets. I've been living with my boyfriend. He gave me the bruises. I just got tired of the abuse, so I left."

Sara hummed, "Mhm...and that's why you left in the middle of the night?"

"I was afraid of him. Afraid of what he would do to me if I tried to leave. I had to leave when he was asleep."

Avalon was telling the truth partially. She didn't have a boyfriend, but she was afraid of her parents. Although that wasn't why she left. At least it wasn't the whole reason that she left, so she had lied about that too, but it was more like a lie of omission. She just left something out rather than lying outright.

"If there is anything else that you want to tell me or would like to talk about, I'm available to talk or just listen anytime." Sara informed, "You could also talk to Zari or Charlie, one of the other members of my team. We're all here for you, and whatever you choose to tell one of us, we won't tell the others."

Avalon nodded, "Thank you, Sara."

"It's no problem."

"Uh...Captain?" A voice was heard

Sara looked up to see Charlie standing in front of her, "What's up, Charlie?"

"We have a problem. Agent Sharpe couriered into the bridge."

Sara nodded, "Thanks for telling me. I'll go talk to her. And Charlie, this is Avi. Can you show her around please?"

"Sure thing, Captain."

Sara and Avalon stood up. Charlie led Avalon one way and Sara walked off in the other direction.

"So, Charlie…" Avalon spoke, trailing off.

"That's my name. Don't wear it out."

Avalon smiled, but then her face relaxed back to her resting poker face.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Avalon took a breath, "Have you ever had to bear a burden that's heavier than you can bear?"

"Yes." Charlie admitted, "Have you?"

"I'm bearing mine right now."

Charlie turned around and looked at Avalon, "Would you like to tell me what it is?"

"Can you look away please?"

Charlie nodded and then turned her back towards Avalon, "Whenever you are ready."

Avalon breathed in, "I...I'm pregnant."

"Okay."

"Don't tell Sara."

The fate shook her head, "No, I won't. This can stay between us for now, but you'll have to tell Sara eventually. Especially if you plan on keeping the baby. Because she'll notice when you start getting bigger."

Avalon gave a nod, "I know. Thank you, Charlie."

"Of course, Avi. Everyone deserves a friend."

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.

What would you like to see happen next?