Unknown L (Book 1)

~~ Explain Yourself ~~

Maybe she was thinking too much into it, but they could have taken a photo anytime and in any pose, yet they took it with the bump showing prominently. L smiled through one of her sobs and was brought back when Bryce placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He asked, and his voice was softer than she'd ever heard it.

L smiled wider and nodded, "I'm better than alright. I always thought I was alone in life and better off that way. Robbie and his parents were the closest thing I had to family, and they still are, but now I know that I had my parents too. They didn't just abandon me with all these secrets. They cared and sent copies of themselves to look after me. They could've sent anyone or made someone up, but they made sure it was themselves. It means more to me that they did and to know they were there the whole time."

Bryce smiled back at her, "I'm glad you have that, L, I truly am." His voice cracked a little, and she knew just how much he meant it.

She turned her head to see Folen smiling crookedly as he got up from his seat.

"It's good to see a smile back on your face. It is a very rare sight indeed. But, time I headed off now that you're alright. I have to report back to my superiors, tell them what happened if they don't know already."

He groaned loudly, and L smiled more. The tears were still falling, but they were happy tears now. She bid Folen goodbye and watched him leave.

As soon as the doors to the cottage closed, Vadim turned back to her.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have shown you that sooner, I really didn't know I had it until you asked for it. Now that things are settled, though, perhaps you should go get some rest. Your friend Robbie is being treated by Archie as we speak. His parents are doing well and also need their rest. You can all reunite tomorrow."

L wanted to stay with Robbie, but she knew she'd be no good to him in the state she was in. She stood up from the sofa, clutching the photo as tightly as she could without crumpling it. Bryce stood up too.

"I'll walk L back to her cottage, and then we need to talk."

There was a sternness in Bryce's voice that confused L, but she was too exhausted, emotionally and physically, to question why he would talk to Vadim like that.

Vadim must have agreed, though because in the next second, Bryce was guiding L out of the cottage; her eyes were bleary from the tears, and she almost tripped the minute they got outside. The night lights were lit throughout the forest, but it was still dark.

L could hear Gart and Lort somewhere nearby. They didn't come over, though and she and Bryce headed directly for her cottage. He didn't say a word, and he didn't seem angry, but it felt different. He was holding onto her arm to keep her steady, but keeping her at arm's length. She didn't bother to ask him what was wrong.

Instead, they walked in silence back to her cottage, and he walked her inside. Strangely, he went to check the other rooms before he helped her to the couch where he left her bag. L hadn't even noticed that she wasn't wearing it.

She leaned back and looked down at the photo of her parents. It was all she cared about at that point, Bryce could yell as much as he wanted. It wouldn't touch her in the mood she was in. But he didn't shout or lecture her. He stood watching her in silence for a few seconds, then walked towards the door.

"Get some rest and something to eat when you wake up. Watch out for Matilda too, she'll probably be highly strung if what Vadim said was anything to go by." He reached for the handle and opened the door, "You'll also be able to go straight to the Council cottage tomorrow to see the Worcesters whenever you're ready. Goodnight."