Later that evening, I spend a little time with the younger boys. I give them all a decent brush through their mangy hair. Do they ever brush? Apparently not. Now, I am sitting cross-legged with my back to the fire, Twins in my lap, a book about pirates in his, Tootles in Nibs' lap, Nibs next to me, and Slightly sitting across from us. I read to the three younger boys, with Nibs' help. He reads the voices in a male voice because I cant make mine go low. After about an hour of reading, Jimmy comes down and watches us. Peter, Curly, and Fox were all arguing about something. I dont know what. And honestly, I dont care. Jimmy laughed along with us and even looked down while I comforted Twins, who was a bit upset at one part. We stopped reading the story when it was time for supper and Jimmy left. Fox and I had a hilarious battle for who was making dinner.

"Anne, I'm making dinner." Fox said as he pointed to me with a spoon. I pointed to him with a wooden spoon and put my hand on my hip.

"How do I know you'll make it right and wont poison us?" I asked.

"True point, but I think I am responsible enough on how not to poison us."

"I'm cooking." I say as I go over to the stove.

"No way! I always cook." He says as he bumps his hip on me. Because I am short next to him, his hip bumped my shoulder.

"Oh, stop it. Dont be rediculous. I'm cooking tonight. Think of it as my way of saying thanks for letting me stay."

"No need to fret about dinner now. We have a mission to go on." Peter says quietly as he comes down the stairs.

"What do you mean, Peter?" Fox asks.

"I mean, we are going to Harbottles and we will eat upon our return." Peter said. I giggle.

"When did you become so poetic?" I ask as I begin to put things away.

"Since... I dont know, really," he says. "Alright, everyone. Come here around the fire." everyone follows him over to the fireplace. Well, everyone except me. I hear Peter explaining how they are getting into Harbottles. I was shocked. Peter was going against Jimmy! I spun around, away from the stove.

"You are not, Peter! You can't go against Jimmy!" I screech. The other boys looked at me confused but Peter just come over.

"Shut up! I want to prove something to him. We're ready, Anne."

"No, you're not! You're being senseless! Stay, Peter, please." I'm practically begging him.

"I'm not promising anything." And with that he left. The boys all stared at me.

"You're crying, Anne." Curly says.

"What- Oh!" I quickly wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. "Sorry. I just... I dont know what I'd do if any of you got hurt. You're all like brothers to me. I just..." I began sobbing into my hands and curled into a ball on the floor. I cry for a moment then I feel hands grip underneath my elbows.

The strong but gentle hands pull me up and into their chest. I sob into their chest as they shush me and stroke my hair.

"We'll be fine. Truly. We'll come back. You'll see. I promise." the smooth irish voice flows into my ear. Fox always knew just the right things to say, didn't he? I pull away and wipe my eyes. I look up into Fox's cool blue ones and we just stare. He smiles and leans in. He pecks my forehead. But that doesn't stop me from blushing.

"Fox..." I say quietly.

"Its alright. You need sleep. Come on. Curly offered his bed." his grip still on my elbows, he guides my shaking body over to the bed in the corner between the stairs and wall, beneath a window. That was Curly's bed.

He laid me down and pulled the blanket up to my shaking shoulders. My body continued to rack, but suddenly began to slow down when he kissed me on the forehead and promised me again that they'd come back.

Little did I know that that might've been the last time I got to see him. And I didnt get to tell him what I wanted to the most-

That I loved him.

I feel like a horrible person for not updating! :(

How'd you like my awful cliffy?

Did you know that cliff-hangers originated from Charles Dickens, when in the third chapter of his first novel he had a character hanging from a cliff on his finger nails? *FUN FACT!*

If you want/need/hope/ARE DYING for something certain to happen, review!

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