Valerie huffed as she was finally forced out of her bedroom by the maids. Her mother had finally grown tired of her sulking in her room for over two weeks. The oppressive formality of the evening grated on her even more because she had to dress up for some stupid guests who were coming to stay. All she knew was that they were from the Dark Order or whatever it was called. She heaved another sigh as she walked out to the gardens, seeking solace in the one place that always seemed to bring her peace.

The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden hue over the meticulously maintained garden. Valerie's eyes softened as she took in the familiar sights and scents of the flowers she and Darryl had painstakingly cultivated. This garden was more than just a retreat; it was a living memory of happier times, a testament to the bond she shared with her brother.

A slight smile tugged at her lips when she saw Darryl tending to a bed of roses. He turned and smiled back, walking over to her and ruffling her hair slightly.

"I see that you're finally out of your room," he said with a teasing grin, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of relief and affection.

Valerie huffed, fixing her hair and giving him a light glare. "Don't mess with my hair... Mother finally made the maids drag me out after they dressed me in this for tonight's dinner. Why do I even have to dress like this? It's stupid!"

Darryl chuckled at her, pretending not to notice the other glare she shot his way. "You know how mother is with these formal events. She wants everything to be perfect, and that includes you."

Before he could answer, their youngest sister Evangelina and youngest brother Adam came running outside, their laughter filling the air.

"Our guests are here!" Evangelina shouted happily, her eyes wide with excitement.

Valerie and Darryl couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. Valerie noticed that Adam was pouting and bent down to his level.

"Did you want to tell us that, Adam?" she asked gently. He nodded, his thumb in his mouth. Valerie gently pulled his hand away.

"Good boys don't suck their thumbs. Are you a good boy?"

"Y-yes..." he mumbled. Valerie smiled and patted his head before picking him up.

"Let's go greet our guests then." She smiled as Evangelina giggled and ran off ahead of them into the house. Darryl smiled as he walked behind them. When they walked into the den, she set Adam down and slowly looked up. She felt her heart skip a beat when her eyes instantly fell upon the redhead standing near her father. Darryl noticed and chuckled.

"Someone's been struck by Cupid," he teased.

Valerie growled slightly and hit him in the stomach. "Shut up!"

Everyone turned to look as she walked further into the room, Darryl holding his stomach. "I shouldn't have taught you to fight..." he muttered as he had to sit down. Their oldest sister, Ashlee, just patted his shoulder.

"Strike!" she said, grinning. Valerie looked back at the redhead, who was clearly staring at her.

"Excuse me?" Valerie said, her voice sharp.

The redhead, Lavi, opened his mouth to say something but was quickly silenced by Allen, who smiled politely at her. "Ignore him. He says that to every woman he sees," Allen explained, moving away from Lavi and over to Valerie. He held his hand out for hers and kissed the top of it after she hesitantly gave it to him. She blushed slightly at the gesture.

"My name is Allen Walker. These are my friends Lavi and Kanda." Valerie looked at the one named Kanda and noted that he couldn't care less about any of them. He honestly looked like he would rather be anywhere else than here, and she could agree with that sentiment.

"I'm Valerie Kirk," she replied after a moment.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Allen said with a smile. She returned the smile and looked at her mother as she walked over to her. Her mother gave her a short hug. Valerie returned it.

"I'm glad to see you finally out of your room."

"You forced me out..."

"I had no choice. You'd been in there for almost two weeks since your friend's funeral." Valerie huffed, relieved when a maid came in and announced that dinner was ready. She quickly turned and walked into the dining room after the maid. She wanted the night to be over with. She could already feel the stares from Allen, Lavi, and Kanda. Though with Kanda's, it was more of a glare.

After dinner, when the focus had turned to her, she excused herself and walked to the garden. She hated being the center of attention, though she didn't mind it on occasion. But she would never tell anyone that. She sighed as she walked towards the roses in the back corner farthest from the house and sat on a bench.

"God...I hate that mother had to bring that up in front of them. I know what can happen if I mourn for too long. I know all of that just because they support the stupid order," she muttered, looking up at the sky. Even though she was the fourth-born, she still felt like she was the most protected out of her siblings. She didn't understand why and probably never would. There was a rustling sound behind her, and she got up and spun around, ready to defend herself when she saw the red hair and frowned. Lavi grinned as he came around the bushes.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare ya," he said. Valerie huffed and looked away. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to him. She knew Darryl would tease her and say that she just didn't want to be alone with her crush. She shook her head to get that thought out of it.

"Did you come out here to tell me I don't need to mourn over my friend's death? I already know what could happen if I keep mourning over her. I know all about the Order and what you and your friends in there do. So don't tell me what to do," Valerie snapped, her voice tinged with anger. Lavi slowly stepped towards her.

"I wasn't going to come out here to say anything about that." Valerie turned around and looked at him, slightly shocked by that. "I was coming out here to see if you were alright after you quickly left dinner."

Valerie blushed and quickly looked away, hoping he didn't see the blush. But she knew he had.

"Well, I'm fine. Thank you." She heard him chuckle. She looked up at the moon and sighed before turning to him.

"Have a good night," she said softly, turning away and walking into the house and to her room. Lavi watched her walk away, feeling inexplicably drawn to her. He didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. He shrugged it off and headed inside himself for bed.

Valerie stared at her reflection in the mirror, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The evening had been draining, and the encounter with Lavi had left her feeling more conflicted than ever. She missed her friend dearly, and the pain of their loss was still a raw wound in her heart. The thought of letting someone new into her life was terrifying. She didn't want to go through the pain of losing another person she cared about.

She changed out of the formal dress, opting for her favorite sleeveless shirt and shorts. As she slipped on her knee-high boots, she felt a small measure of comfort in the familiar clothes. The garden called to her once more, and she found herself drawn to its peaceful embrace. She needed to clear her mind, to sort through the tangled mess of her emotions.

The night air was cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the warmth of the house. The garden was bathed in the soft light of the moon, casting shadows that danced among the flowers. Valerie walked slowly, her fingers trailing along the petals of the roses. She had always found solace here, surrounded by the beauty she and Darryl had created. It was a place where she could be herself, away from the expectations and pressures of her family.

Her thoughts drifted to Darryl, the one person who had always been there for her. He had helped her through the darkest times, teaching her how to fight and how to find strength in herself. She owed him so much, and the thought of disappointing him was unbearable. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she was losing herself, that the weight of her responsibilities was crushing her spirit.

As she sat down on the bench, her mind wandered back to the dinner. She could still feel the stares of the guests, their curiosity and judgment palpable. She hated being the center of attention, feeling like she was constantly under a microscope. Her mother's words echoed in her mind, a reminder of the expectations placed upon her.

"You'd been in there for almost two weeks since your friend's funeral."

The memory of her friend's funeral was still fresh in her mind, a painful reminder of the fragility of life. She had lost someone she cared about deeply, and the grief was overwhelming. She had retreated into herself, seeking solace in isolation. But her mother had forced her back into the world, dragging her out of her self-imposed exile.

Valerie sighed, leaning back and closing her eyes. She needed to find a way to move forward, to balance her grief with her responsibilities. She couldn't afford to fall apart, not when so many people depended on her. But the path ahead seemed daunting, and she didn't know if she had the strength to walk it.

A soft rustling sound brought her back to the present. She opened her eyes to see Lavi standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable. He approached slowly, his hands in his pockets.

"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Valerie shook her head. "No. Just needed some fresh air."

Lavi nodded, sitting down on the bench beside her. "I get that. Sometimes it's hard to turn off your thoughts."

Valerie glanced at him, studying his face. There was something about him that intrigued her, a depth to his eye that spoke of his own struggles. She wondered what had brought him here, what burdens he carried.

"Why are you really here, Lavi?" she asked softly.

Lavi sighed, leaning back and looking up at the sky. "I'm here because I wanted to make sure you're okay. You seemed really upset earlier when I tried checking after dinner."

Valerie looked away, her heart aching. "It's just...everything. The funeral, the guests, the expectations. It's all too much."

Lavi nodded, his gaze still fixed on the stars. "I understand. Life can be overwhelming sometimes. But you don't have to face it alone."

Valerie felt a lump in her throat, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She had always prided herself on her strength, on her ability to handle anything that came her way. But in that moment, she felt fragile, like a glass figurine teetering on the edge of a shelf.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what I would do without my family."

Lavi turned to her, his eye filled with warmth and understanding. "You're stronger than you think, Valerie. And you've got a lot of people who care about you."

Valerie smiled through her tears, feeling a glimmer of hope. She wasn't alone. She had her family. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to move forward.

They sat in silence for a while, the night wrapping around them like a comforting blanket. Valerie felt a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time. The garden, with its beauty and serenity, had always been her sanctuary. And now, with Lavi by her side for now, it felt even more so.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Valerie knew that the road ahead would be difficult. But she also knew that she wasn't alone. She had the strength of her family, the support of her friends, and the promise of new beginnings.

She stood up, taking one last look at the garden. "I should get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day, and I need to be ready for whatever comes."

Lavi stood up as well, offering her a reassuring smile. "I'll be here if you need me."

Valerie nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. She walked back to the house, her heart lighter than it had been in weeks. She knew that the journey ahead would be challenging, but she also knew that she had the strength to face it.

As she lay in bed, her thoughts drifted to the future. There would be more challenges, more heartaches, but there would also be moments of joy and love. She was ready to embrace it all, to live her life to the fullest.

And with that thought, she closed her eyes, finally finding the peace she had been searching for.