A/N

Thank you to you all. Feel free to PM me if anything gets confusing, I'm exploring the idea of jumping back and forth between the past and present.

-Louise

Present day

Three days.

That's how long it would take them to reach the next town. Assuming, of course, that they didn't stop to rest or to admire the scenery. Nana was fine with that, so long as it minimised their chances of having to stay the third night.

Even after all these years, she still hated the darkness. It crept over her like an icy blanket, bringing up all those awful, hidden memories. Usually, she clung to Husky for comfort, but she hated feeling like she bothered him when he was trying to sleep.

That night was no different. Nana shivered, partly from the cold and partly because her heart was pounding so hard it was a wonder the others didn't wake up. She whimpered despite herself, shutting her eyes against the onslaught of horrible, horrible images.

Daddy! No! Don't hurt Momma!

Na-na!

"Nana." A gentle voice woke her from her nightmare. Nana looked up, diving into Husky's open arms.

"Will they ever stop?" she asked shakily.

"Mine haven't," Husky whispered back, the same response as always, "now go to bed, you stupid girl." It didn't sound soothing, but somehow it was. The two took a certain comfort in knowing that in that respect, they weren't alone. They lay back, entangled in each other, finally finding warmth.

Husky had changed so much. Although he'd kept his pretty, feminine face, he'd grown into his body. He was taller and not so slim. Cooro had grown as well, vertically and emotionally. Husky always said he'd one day grown out of his stupidity, but Nana disagreed. Cooro was never stupid – he'd just lost a bit of his cheerful optimism in the past few years. He was nearly as tall as Senri was, stronger and better with a hatchet than he was before.

Senri had changed too. He was still as quiet as ever, but his mind wasn't quiet as broken. The stable years he'd had with Nana, Cooro and Husky had – as Nana wanted to believe – healed him a little. And she... Nana had grown up. She still loved pretty things, but started dressing a little more practically when she turned fifteen. She didn't mind quite so much if her clothes were ripped and dirty, because there were worse things that could happen to them.

She stopped worrying about what everyone thought of her, because she knew what her boys thought of her. They said she was smart, determined and – God, this one made her blush – beautiful. Nana sighed, resting her head against Husky's rhythmically rising and falling chest.

Nana Alba, you are beautiful.

I... I thought you hated girls, Husky!

Not you. Never you.

Across the smouldering camp fire, Senri muttered something in his sleep. Nana shivered. Senri was always calmer when Rose was around. Having looked after Pinion her whole life, Rose was used to both childlike forgetfulness and looking after someone who just needed someone to tell them everything would be okay. No matter how many times Senri had protected them, kept them safe from danger; he was still as much a child as they were.

She was away with Pinion, making arrangements for him to stay with a close friend of hers. As much as Rose couldn't bear to part with her little brother, it was worse for him to be travelling with them. Things had simply become too dangerous for +Anima. If anyone were to find out who they were... what they were... Well, Rose didn't want Pinion involved in any of that.

They were supposed to be meeting in the next town, but who knows whether Rose would get there when they did? Nana thought it was best for them to wait there for her if she wasn't, but Husky was insisting that it was dangerous for to stay in one place for too long. Surely, he reasoned, Rose would have some common sense and meet them in the next town?

Secretly, Nana thought Husky had grown so used to travelling, to having a plan and being organised that it terrified him to let go of that. But it was crazy to expect Rose to chase them all over Astaria. She'd have to talk to him when they finally reached Lilla.

"You still awake?" Husky whispered, scaring away the quiet.

"Yeah." Nana replied, equally as softly, "You?"

"No, I'm fast asleep."

"Oh. I guess that was a stupid question."

"You think?" He held her tighter, "Stupid girl." But there was a smile in his voice so she smiled too.

"It's Cooro's eighteenth birthday next week. We really should do something." Nana told him.

"I'll buy him a bag of apples and the idiot should be happy with that." Husky replied in a nonchalant way. Nana playfully whacked his arm.

"Husky! It's his birthday."

"Nana, Cooro loves apples. What else are we supposed to get him?"

"Something... nice. Maybe a new pair of shoes, his old ones are worn out. Something that won't run out within five seconds."

"I know he's an eating machine, but I think it might take him a little longer than five seconds to eat a whole bag of apples."

"You know what I mean!"

"Fine, we'll get him some new shoes. Ugh, girls."

"You know he'll love them, Husky. And oh, you know... I bet he'd love some new decorative feathers, oh wouldn't that be nice?"

"Go to sleep, Nana. It'll be morning before you shut your mouth at this rate."

"You're the one who talked to me!"

"Sleep. Now." He brushed a kiss against her forehead and Nana closed her eyes.

"Only if you sleep too," she said, her voice muffled by a yawn. Neither of them believed Husky would actually fall asleep that easily, but Nana knew she'd tried. Even though Husky wasn't physically the strongest, he was definitely the smartest and that kept him awake at night. Nana could only imagine the type of thoughts that ran through his mind. What will we do if we get caught? What can I do to make sure that doesn't happen?

She wondered if he thought of her, and then decided he probably did. It wouldn't be fair for her to think of him so much and he not to think of her, after all. They weren't... well they weren't in a relationship; it was hardly the time for that. But sometimes Nana wished they were in a real, proper relationship, where he would buy her gifts and dote on her and she would love him with all her heart.

But for now she'd settle for the feeling of security and warmth he gave her, and for moments like this.