Laurel pulled away from Nic slowly. Then, without any warning, she moved to slap him.

Nic didn't stop her.

There were tears in Laurel's eyes, "You... 'thought you'd let me know'?" she repeated, "How considerate. How considerate of you to let me know that if the circumstances are not in your favor, that you'll be giving up. How kind of you to let know that when the time comes, you'll end up back in that gang you've been running from. Thank you, thank you so much for warning me that you'll vanish from my side as quickly as you entered," she hissed, barely able to find enough breath to whisper.

Nic was silent for awhile. Then he replied quietly, expression unchanging, "I won't give up," he promised, eyes distant. "I thought I'd let you know that it might get hard on us for awhile. Yeah, I might have to go back for awhile. But I'll never stop fighting to get back to you."

Laurel stared at Nic for a long moment. Then she suddenly kissed him and leaned in, wrapping her arms around his head to trap him. It was clear from the sadness and loneness expressed in her touch that part of her doubted things would work out in their favor.

Nic tried to reassure her, but he also doubted. He could fight all he wanted, but it was inevitable. His curse would catch up with him.

It was only when Laurel felt Nic's own doubt that she began to cry. She squeezed his neck tightly, "I-I... wanna put y-you in a g-glass b-box..." she whispered, sobbing, "W-Where you'd... b-be hidden... safe and..." she couldn't finish as she buried her face into his neck.

--

Frei sat in her corner, away from the world and hidden. If she remained here... she wouldn't be in the way and... wouldn't bump into Raven.

Nic closed his eyes so Laurel couldn't see the pain in them. He hated it when she cried.

--

After his shower, Raven stayed up awhile. He spent a lot of time thinking, and then called up an old friend before going to bed. In the morning he started passively searching for Frei as he looked for someone in charge to let them know a juttle was coming in later that day.

"I'm sorry..." Laurel whispered helplessly into his neck, "... I promised I'd be h-happy... during w-whatever time we had left. Make... each m-moment count." She paused, hugging him tighter, "B-But it's so hard! I'm so selfish, Nic! I want m-more! I want more time! It's not fair!" she exclaimed passionately. She gripped him as tightly as she could, as if at any moment... he might slip from her grasp.

--

It would take some active searching to find Frei's hiding spot.

Nic held Laurel a little tighter too. "... I'll know a head of time if I'll have to go," he told her, somewhat confidently. "And it won't be anytime soon."

--

So Raven talked to someone first and grabbed a quick breakfast before putting more effort into it.

Nic could feel Laurel nod slowly, "I'll never regret it..." she barely whispered, "Meeting you. No matter how painful loving you is, you're worth it. You're worth all... the pain."

--

Raven eventually found Frei in the little movie theatre. She was squished in between one of the couches and a shelf holding movies. When he spotted her, she was already staring at him. Large eyes peering at him with no expression, almost dead eyes. She'd completely withdrawn into her mind.

Nic kissed Laurel's neck softly because he couldn't think of anything to say.

--

Some how Raven managed to wedge himself between the couch and shelf. It wasn't too comfortable and graceful, but it worked. He was quiet for a long time before asking, "What do you see?"

Laurel hugged Nic silently for a little longer before slowly pulling away and wiping off her tears. "Okay..." she mumbled as she finished wiping off her face, "We're strong... especially you. I'm not going to count us out yet," she decided, giving him a small, tired smile. "We're not giving up yet," she nodded as she reached out and smoothed some of his hair back.

--

Frei was silent for a while, it wasn't clear if she'd even heard him. But after a long moment she reached over and grabbed a movie off the shelf before handing it to Raven. It was Alice in Wonderland.

Nic's eyes still seemed a little distant, but he was mostly here.

--

Raven looked it over for a long time before putting it down, reaching out, and messing up Frei's hair a little. "... I'm sorry for running away," he told her gently. "I got really confused."

Laurel gently touched his cheek, "Sorry for hitting you," she murmured.

--

When Raven touched her head, she felt a bit feverish though you couldn't tell from her face, she wasn't sweating. Frei didn't seem to like him doing that either. She immediately began to brush her hair back into place.

Nic blinked like he had forgotten.

--

"... You want to watch something?" he asked her.

Laurel smiled a little, "You want anything before I got to bed?" she asked, straightening out his hair again.

--

Frei blinked slowly.

Nic shook his head. Now probably wasn't the time to practice his humor.

--

Raven waited to see if she'd say anything.

"Any special requests for breakfast?" she inquired before lightly kissing his forehead.

--

Frei blinked again before slowly looking over at the movies.

Nic shook his head again before sneaking in one more kiss.

--

Raven glanced over, waiting to see if she'd point anything out.

Laurel's smile grew a little as she teased him with an almost kiss before chuckling and actually kissing him. Then she started to stand.

--

She didn't point and her eyes did not stay in one place for too long.

Nic let Laurel go.

--

Raven kept watching for a few more minutes to see if she really was just too out of it or if it was something else.

If Raven watched her closer, she seemed to be tracking things across the book shelf. Her eyes would go across one shelf and then jump down, track a little further than jump back up. Finally she glanced back at Raven and held up a movie. It was Babe. She pointed to the small mice in the corner and looked at Raven with questioning eyes. Were they real? Could he see them too?

Raven blinked, confused at first. But after awhile he got it. He slowly shook his head. Maybe he should call Wolfe.

Frei let out a little sigh and nodded slightly. She looked back at the movies and grabbed one. She held it out to Raven and gestured towards the screen.

Raven took it and slowly wormed his way out of the crevice before going to put the movie in.

When Raven sat down on the couch, Frei took a seat beside him. After a moment she snuggled up into the crook of his arm, watching the screen blankly.

Raven put his arm around Frei, not really watching the movie either. Every now and then he messed up her hair to see if her fever was getting worse.

The fever didn't seem to be going up but Frei looked upset. The corners of her mouth were frowning and her eyes showed some frustration. It seemed like she wanted to say something but... couldn't.

So Raven gave her some more time to see if that was the problem.

Eventually, about halfway through the movie, she managed a single word. "... Sorry."

Raven hugged Frei a little tighter for a moment, but he didn't feel the need to say anything.

Frei gripped Raven's shirt tightly, "Stay..." she whispered after a moment.

"... Well... if you insist," Raven replied before messing up Frei's hair once more.

There was a smile. Well, sort of. A slight jerk of the corners of her mouth. But it was a start. She leaned over and hid her face into his side, "Ryuji?"

"Hmm?" Raven asked.

Raven could hear her draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was a long pause, "Do... you hate him?" It was very difficult for her to get those words out.

"... No," Raven replied softly.

Frei removed her face from Raven's side. She slowly peered up at him, face still emotionless but after a moment she moved up and lightly kissed his cheek before settling back at his side.

Raven smiled a little at her, but didn't say anything as he turned back to the movie.