Unwanted

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"It's going to take her a long time to forgive herself and not see you as Humpty Dumpty." She said softly and Ian frowned.

He got up from his spot and moved two seats away from her instead of flavored the waiting room.

"Nicole, Avery did not put me in danger. Nor did she put Timothy in danger." Ian said softly. "A bad situation occurred and we were affected."

"I know," Nicole nodded before blinking rapidly.

"I know Avery had absolutely nothing to do with this. And I know that she thinks I hate her. But I really don't. Quite frankly, that girl may as well be daughter to me. There's no part of me that could hate her." She said and Ian nodded.

"But I can't comfort her right now." She shook her head. "I have my actual daughter and myself to comfort." She said softly before bending down to place a kiss on her sleeping daughter's head.

"I understand." Ian nodded. "But would you accept our comfort?" He asked.

"We're not leaving here until after Tim opens his eyes." Ian told her and her mouth shaped into a fine line.

"I was going to order food and have my younger brother drop it off. Get something to eat for you and Gianna.  It'll be from Pina Vista so it costs nothing." Ian tries and Nicole began shaking her head.

"Timothy would kick my ass if he found out I wasn't taking care of you." Ian have the last push.

"It might be enough to wake him up if he though we weren't cared for." She attempted at a smile and Ian grinned in satisfaction.

"You can order whatever, but Gigi doesn't eat anything Tim doesn't make besides chicken tenders and fries so order those for her please." She informed and Ian's smile widened.

"My daughter is the exact same way," Ian nodded before reaching for his phone to call Eli.

[•]

Nami searched three floors before she found Avery again.

She was on the fourth floor hospital chapel. There was no one else in the room so Nami quickly spited her blonde curls int the middle of the pews.

Nami looked up at the mosaic cross in the center of the front of the room and frown before making her way to Avery.

Avery isn't really a believer.

Nami quietly sat down next to her friend without questioning.

They sat in silence for a long time. Almost to the point of discomfort before Avery opened her mouth.

"I don't get how people devote their lives to Him." Avery muttered. Nami turned her head with a frown but Avery's head remained forward.

Staring at the mosaic cross.

"Although I fucking hate clay and ceramics in general. I typically like the things I create." Avery blinked. Eyes still forward.

Nami frowned in confusion, trying to make a connection to Avery's previous statement.

"Remember when I made the fat mermaid in my ceramics class?" Avery asked, finally looking at Nami and Nami nodded.