Insomnia

It's gonna get better

3 Months Earlier

The end of summer was drawing near and Maya and I decided to spend what little freedom we had left being rebels.

"I'm going to stay up past 9:30," I beamed enthusiastically. She stared at me dumbfounded as I got into my 'bad girl stance' arms folded and eyes dangerously squinted. I lowered my voice a little perfecting my new rebellious facade "I'm bad Maya and ain't nothing you or anybody else can do about it,"

A smirk played on her lips as her head tilted, she looked past me, "Oh hi Mrs. Mathews,"

Eyes widening I yelped and quickly spun around to see the empty door way to my room. Maya cackled behind me as I tried to subdue the mini heart attack she brought upon me. "Your parents are all the way in Jamaica right now and you still fell for it," she continued laughing and I pouted at her. Okay fine I was gullible, but she was kind of missing the big picture at that moment. Mom and dad had been on vocation for most of the summer and what did I have to show for it? I had spent long days with my little brother watching Mr. Googily and I swear I could see that hideous creature's blue fur every time I blinked.

"Maya please I'm 16 now and I need to get through this phase in my life," I huffed walking dramatically to my bay window. She followed suit and plopped down next to me, her grin still bright as day.

"Alright what's going on?"

I gave her the side eye still faking my annoyance, and she looked at me expectantly. I sighed feeling a bit foolish about my dilemma - if I could call it that. "Maya, I think I'm boring,"

She raised an eyebrow and indicated for me to go on when I stopped talking. A blush crept up on my cheeks as I continued. "I feel lame, I mean we'll be seniors soon and what have I done?"

Good grades, modest clothing, never disobeying my parents in ANYTHING. I was the poster child for future midlife crisis. No I needed to experience my teenage foolishness as a young and plucky high school student soon.

"Riley you're definitely far from boring,"

Shaking my head, I looked at her desperately, "Maya I'm serious, I know you see 'Riley Town' every time- and don't get me wrong I love 'Riley Town', but it's just so-"

"Boring?" She finished. I didn't reply, my foolishness seemingly bringing out my shyness. "I thought we went through this already," she mumbled. I looked at her quizzically and she explained. "When you dressed up as Morticia Addams, Wasn't that rebel enough?"

She just wasn't getting it, then again how could she. She was Maya Hart, I wouldn't be surprised if she had a dead body under her bed. "Maya it's like everyone else has tasted some kind of forbidden apple which allowed them to grow up along the way. Everyone I've known has done something so outrageous that they look back at that experience and become wiser. While I'm here in Riley Town being protected by all you guys,"

"That ridiculous-"

The glare I gave her silenced whatever comforting words she was trying to conjure up and she scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Alright fine- what rebellious thing you got in mind?"

Smiling at how easily she caved I thought about it for a minute, "I could start of by watching something PG 13,"

I watched her gawk for a second before shaking her head, "I really can't tell if you're joking or not,"

I huffed at her reply before sifting through my mind for something truly scandalous. "Maybe-"

"You hear that?" Maya gasped pulling me from my thoughts.

The creaking of the front door interrupted our conversation prompting us to give each other nervous glances. I slowly got up from the window and Maya did so as well. Taking our time we crept out of my room silently to see what was going on. Wide eyes met ours as Maya and I stepped into the living room to find a shocked Auggie trying his best to hide some one behind his back. I saw a tuff of blonde hair peek out from behind his shoulder and rolled my eyes at the prospect of Auggie not being able to stay away

"I can explain!" he yelled before anyone said anything. I looked at him in disbelief before glancing at the clock in the kitchen.

10 pm, yup he should have been in bed. God I was a terrible baby sitter. Sighing I rubbed my temple trying to figure out when he even snuck pass my bed room and out of the apartment. I then snapped my head to Maya in gross realization after it hit me, "Maya even Auggie is more rebellious than I am, I never once snuck out in my sixteen years of living. He's only ten,"

She rolled her eyes at my saying this before gesturing back to my brother who wore a confused look on his face. "I just went across the hall,"

Shaking my head I got back to the matter at hand. Focus Riley, I had to lay down the law. It was too late for a play date and Ava's parents were probably worried.

Readying myself I got into strict parent mode. "August," I started in as stern of a tone I could manage, "Ava can't be here now,"

Maya silently clapped behind me as support for my disciplinary responsibilities. She knew how much I hated reprimanding Auggie- much less telling him what to do, but mom and dad trusted me and I couldn't let the kid run wild, even if he was the cutest kid brother in New York.

"Riley-"

"Nope, no excuses August you have a bed time. And I'm sure Ava's parents are looking for her."

He eyed me warily before looking back at the girl standing behind him. One glance at her and he took a deep breath before looking me in the eye, "Riley I can't-"

"It's okay Auggie," her soft voice rang out interrupting him. I looked at her for the first time since she came and noticed her usually confident grin was replaced will a solemn frown. "I think I should go home, they probably stopped by now,"

Furrowing my brows I looked toward Maya who simply shrugged, she was just a clueless as I was.

Auggie then turned to her, embracing her. "No you should spend the night," he mumbled. I scratched the back of my head in confusion as I watched him hold her. Okay so there was obviously more to the story, maybe parental Riley wasn't the best approach. I turned back around to Maya who had leaned closer to me so she could whisper.

"I know they're like fake married and all, but this seems to go beyond playing,"

Nodding I walked closer to the two and knelt down in front of them. When Auggie released Ava his tear filled eyes met mine and I immediately felt like a jerk. God I knew the kid wasn't a trouble maker, he always had his reasons.

"Riley I know I was wrong, but Ava she called and-"

Her small hand found his shoulder and he turned to her stopping his explanation. With a knowing look he nodded and let out a heavy sigh. What in the world could have caused a ten your old to sigh like that? I definitely needed to find out what had happened at that moment.

"Auggie," his eyes flicked to me and I gave him a gentle smile, "you know that you can tell me anything." He nodded slowly, albeit hesitant and continued.

"Ava called to stay over and I told her she could- so we could play," he rushed out all at once. He usually did that when lying, and it didn't take an expert to tell that his story was fake. His eyes pleaded with me, and I understood well enough that Ava couldn't go home at that moment, whatever the reason maybe.

I looked toward Ava, who had her head lowered, Auggie held her hand tightly and she did the same to him. "Ava, did you eat dinner," She looked up and nodded weakly and for the first time ever I saw a timid Ava Morgenstern up close. It was... Just sad. " Alright then, its past both of your bed times so Ava you're with me and Maya, Auggie go to your room and sleep this time," I instructed.

He beamed up at me and looked toward a slightly relieved Ava. She then blinked from him to me, "Can't I stay with Auggie?" she asked voice sounding a little more confident. I blinked back at her before looking up at Maya who gave me the same look I was presumably wearing on my face. I shot her another look asking for advice and she simply shrugged. Rolling my eyes at her uselessness I looked back to Ava.

"Sure?" I squeaked out not fully confident with my answer.

Auggie grinned even more and pretty soon they were out of the living room heading to Auggie's room.

_______________#_____________

"They're ten," Maya mumbled as I looked nervously toward Auggie's bed room door for what had to be the tenth time that minute.

"What?" I snapped looking at her confused.

"Get your mind out the gutter Mathews, Auggie still plays with stuffed animals,"

What was she talking- sudden realization dawning on me I scrunched my nose up in disgust. "Gross Maya, no I was just thinking about Ava. Auggie seemed legitimately worried about her,"

"I know, you have any clue as to why she doesn't want to stay home?"

I shook my head dejectedly saddened by the strange situation. I didn't know what to do about this. Mom and dad wasn't due to return in another week, and I couldn't just hide Ava in the house like some kind of doll- she belonged with her parents.

"Well I guess we'll have to worry about this tomorrow, but in the meantime- you ready to talk about your teen life crisis?"

I raised my eyebrows thinking about the question and nodded. Auggie and Ava would have to tell me what was going on tomorrow. At that moment I would allow them to sleep.

"I don't even know anymore Maya, I mean when my dad was our age you want to know one of the craziest things he ever did?"

"Eat burnt toast," Maya mumbled sarcastically. I laughed at the joke and continued.

"No he got drunk with Sean and broke the window of some cop's car,"

Her eyes immediately widened after hearing this and a look of pure amusement replaced the bored one she had earlier in the conversation.

"Mr. Mathews, as in still wears fuzzy slippers Mr. Mathews did underage drinking, and damage to government property,"

Nodding, I all but laughed as her face morphed from one of utter amusement, to shock, and finally to complete disbelief.

"I don't believe you,"

"Hey he doesn't tell the class all of his stories,"

"So you mean, there was a time when you dad was even more of a delinquent than I am?" She was perplexed. Rolling the words she had just said around her head. I watched as she seemed to short circuit in the very chair she sat in. After some time of silent meditation a look of determination washed her over. "I need to burn a building down,"

"You are not going to do that,"

She pouted at me and threw a silent tantrum as I glared at her un-phased. "Riley I can't have my own teacher being cooler than me, it's just sad."

"You're not burning down a building Maya,"

Her pout remained, but she had opted to silently fume in her seat rather than continue the conversation. Rolling my eyes I got up to check on Auggie and Ava one last time before getting ready for bed. I walked pass Maya to his room door and gently creaked it open. After what happened earlier I at least wanted to know the two of them were-

"Maya!" I yelled, it didn't take one second for the blonde to run to my side.

"What- oh," was all she could manage when she saw Auggie's empty bed and opened window. His blue race car curtains flew in the air as the night air filled his room.

"I think I'm going to throw up,"

_______________#_____________

We walked briskly toward the park, the third location in our search for my brother. We had looked everywhere we thought Auggie might go, but were coming up empty. When we were met with a relatively empty park save for a few stragglers I heard a frustrated groan come from behind me.

"When I get my hands on those rugrats their dead,"

"Maya I think we should call the cops," I gushed, my panic growing worse by the second. This was bad, we had been searching for thirty minutes and we couldn't find them. Why would they have ran, Was it me- did I miss something I should have noticed?

"Hey!" A worried Maya yelled while shaking me. I blinked at her and she smiled a little when I came back to. "Calm down, I can't afford to have you fainting on me,"

Nodding I took a deep breath to compose myself. "Let's give it another thirty minutes before we involve the cops, they're kids they couldn't have gotten far, heck the only place Auggie can go to by himself is your apartment and Topanga- we're idiots,"

My eyes widened at Maya's observation and immediately I was running in the other direction toward Topanga's. It didn't take us ten minutes, when we arrived at the closed cafe. I looked through the glass door and noticed that a light was on, in the back office behind the counter. Releasing a shaky breath I tried the door, it was left open. I looked back at Maya and she pushed the door in further and blazed pass me fuming. "Squirt," she bellowed as she made her way behind the counter. I followed behind her quickly and we both stopped at the entrance of the office to see a sleeping Auggie and Ava cuddled up on the ground. Maya let out another frustrated sigh before walking over to the two. She stooped down next to him and slowly raised her hand only to smack him on the head hard afterwards.

"Ow!" Auggie jumped up quickly rubbing the back of his head as he pouted at his assailant. "Maya?"

"Tell us what's going on now or I'm going to eat you,"

I grimaced at her before walking over to the two shooing Maya out of the way as I sat in front of Auggie on the ground. "Alright little man, it's time to talk,"

His eyes shifted from me and then down to Ava, he stared at her for a while as she continued sleeping. When he continued his silence I grabbed him by the sides of his face and forced him to look at me. "I said talk,"

"Fine,"

Inhaling deeply he took one last look at Ava before locking eye with me. "Ava called me not too long ago because she was scared. I don't know of what exactly but she kept saying her parents were acting weird. I told her to come over but she was too afraid to sneak out by herself, so I went over to get her,"

"Okay, then why run away," Maya interjected. I hushed her, urging Auggie to continue.

"When I went to get her, I could hear her parents screaming at each other. It was scary, her mom kept saying that she was going to take Ava away. I snuck pass them and got Ava from her room. Before we left I heard glass shattering."

I looked down at the sleeping girl saddened that she had to go through that. She seemed exhausted.

"She didn't want me telling anyone about how bad her parents arguing was getting. It looks like tonight went out of hand,"

"Yah no kidding," Maya scoffed. I glared at her and she raised her hands up in mock defense.

"But why run?" I repeated the question determined to get as much of the story I could get out in the open.

"Ava said that she was afraid that the bad man would still find her in our apartment. She started to cry so I took her here to make her feel better."

He mumbled the last part and turned away from Maya and me, "I'm really sorry you guys, but I didn't know what else to do,"

This was just too much, the sneaking around and running away-

"Let's just go home," I breathed too emotionally exhausted to continue the conversation. He nodded and Maya moved over to Ava carefully putting her on her back as to not wake her.

We exited the cafe, the night time air engulfing us as we walked back to the apartment. Auggie shivered next to me, but kept quiet. Our building soon came into view and we climbed stairs leading to our warm home.

When we arrived in front of my apartment door I looked across the hall to where the Morgenstern's lived. "Riley?" Maya called softly as I stared at their door blankly.

"It's quiet,"

Auggie looked up at me quizzically then at Ava's door when I said this. "What's wrong?"

"Take them inside," I looked at Maya who simply nodded and obliged. Once they were in I slowly advanced toward the door and gently knocked on it. When I didn't get an answer I careful tried the knob and blinked in surprise when the door wouldn't budge. I took a step back, nerves getting the better of me. Auggie said they were fighting. Something then dawned on me and I quickly bolted to my apartment. Maya was sitting in between a sleeping Ava and a noticeable tired Auggie on the couch. I locked the door behind me and stood in front of the three.

"Okay," I started the edge in my voice apparent, "I'll ask one more time. Auggie if you lie again I'm sending Ava back to her parents,"

Auggie visibly tensed in his seat and Maya glanced over at him, "she sounds serious dude,"

Auggie looked at me with wide eyes "how-"

"Ava's parents always argue, the walls here are thin. Maya and I would have definitely heard something if that story of yours were true,"

His eyes found mine, the look of defeat etched on his face. I was starting to tire of this routine, why did I have to pry the truth from the boy?

"Her mom told her to hide,"

I quirked an eyebrow at the vague response and looked to Maya who was also listening intently. "They really were arguing, it was just different this time around. She said they weren't arguing about thing like bills or work like they usually do. Instead they talking all hushed about some guy and how he wanted to take Ava away."

"Some guy?" Maya asked her interest starting to peak.

"I don't know who, all I know is after some time her mom told Ava to hide somewhere and she ended up calling me."

I glared at him after sometime before giving Maya a look. She nodded and turned to Auggie grasping his shoulders firmly. "Is that the truth squirt?"

He nodded quickly and I rubbed my tired eyes, "Then why lie about this at the cafe,"

"Ava begged me not tell, she said it was dangerous or something,"

Knitting my eyebrows together I tried my hardest to understand the situation, I needed to know what to do next. Ava's apartment was locked from the inside so I suspected her parent were probably long gone if what Auggie told me was true. If that was the case why not take Ava with them if they didn't want some bad guy taking her?

"I'm going to bed," I mumbled slowly lifting Ava from the couch and carrying her bridal style into my room. "Maya you stay with Auggie for now,"

"Sure,"

The next morning came slowly, or rather it felt that way. I couldn't sleep. I stared at the blonde in my bed snuggled closely to one of the many pillows on my bed. After some time her blue eyes creaked open. It took some time for her to come to, but eventually she shot up from my bed, her head whipped toward me in surprise as I stared blankly at her from the bay window. "Morning,"

"H-hey," she stuttered her head lowered. Sensing her discomfort I softened my demeanor a little. Yeah I was pissed she convinced Auggie to do something completely dangerous yesterday, but she was just scared. Who wouldn't be?

"Where are your parents?"

Her eyes stayed glued to the sheets refusing to meet mine. Her hair covered her face as she remained silent. Tiring of the secrets my patience began to wear thin. Just yesterday I was goofing off with my best friend, worried about being too much of a 'good girl' and now I had to figure out why my sweet kid neighbor was potentially abandoned by her parents.

Where were my parent's advice about life now? This was obviously way too much for a teen who still lives in her own imaginary town and a blonde who wanted to set a building on fire.

"Ava," I said sternly, I needed to know what to do next and her silence wasn't helping me with that. She flinched a little before slowly peaking up at me.

"They left me behind," she mumbled.

"Why?"

"Cause of Kira," her voice broke a little at saying the name and I walked over to the shaking child. Running my hand through her hair and I smiled at her.

"It's alright," I cooed hugging her from the side.

"Did you say Kira?" I looked toward the door to see Maya standing there. Her wavy hair a mess and her eyes fixed on the girl that was in my embrace.

"What's wrong?"

She slowly walked toward us and then sat in front of Ava and me. Swiping at the girls crying face Maya met the girl's eyes for the first time. "Do you have any one you can stay with?" She shook her head as more tears slid down her cheeks. Sighing I contemplated on whether we should call the police or not. As if reading my mind Maya rolled her eyes at me, "She can stay with me,"

I blinked at the rash decision and stared down at the girl in my arms. This was all going too fast. "You need to talk to your mom first,"

She shot me a confused look before quirking an eye brow. "Riley it's been months,"

"But still-"

"She can stay," she groaned tiring of the conversation. She smiled at a confused Ava, and I hugged her tighter feeling her unease about the situation. After some time I released her allowing her to run out to Auggie. I heard him rustling around in the kitchen earlier in the conversation. He was probably got up to make something to eat for breakfast.

"We need to call the police," I stated as soon as Ava left the room.

"We can't do that,"

"Why-"

"Because it sounds like Ava's parents are mixed up with something even the police can't - no won't handle,"

"What?"

She let out a heavy breath before getting up and walking to door only to lock it and sit back down on the bed next to me. I eyed her warily preparing myself for her explanation. "Remember how I use to be in a gang in middle school?"

Nodding slowly I tried to make the connection between petty child hood delinquency and our current problem with Ava.

_______________#_____________

"Riley!"

I blinked up at Farkle, he stared down at me in worry as I finished placing my books in my locker. "What," I replied dryly shaking past thoughts out of my head.

"I was calling you, but it looks like whatever was on your mind turned you deaf."

Smiling at him I shut my locker and gestured for him to follow me to our next class. "You need not worry friend," I chuckled.

"You sure?"

I nodded flashing off any other prying questions he could think of and walked into our class room once we arrived. Immediately I noticed the empty chair next to mine. I could feel Farkle's questioning eyes pierce through the back of my head as he sat behind me.

He wasn't going to accept his ignorance for too long, I could feel it. "Where's Maya," a hushed voice lathered with concern asked from behind me. It was directed at Farkle, but I knew her game. I spun around in my seat and eyed the girl. She smiled a toothy grin at me her hands playing at the hem of her white sweater.

"She texted earlier, she's not feeling well," I lied staring her down. It was mostly to put Farkle's mind at ease, but I also wanted Smackle to shut up. She shrugged her shoulders looking off to the side, a playful smirk on her lips. I turned around in my seat looking at my math teacher practically seething. All Isadora needed to do was stay quiet during her time here, what was so hard in that?

"Alright class-"

The teacher was interrupted by a panting Maya bursting through the door. "Sorry," she wheezed. My eyebrows furrowed a little when she walked to her seat and practically collapsed in it. I gave her one look and saw her messy hair pulled back in a lazy ponytail, her clothes were crimpled as if she had rushed out to get here. Simply put she looked a frazzled mess.

"That's quite alright Ms. Hart," the teacher sighed before continuing.

Sliding my phone from out of my pocket I shot Maya a quick text.

What happened?

Ava happened

Giving her a confused look from where I was sitting, I went back to texting.

What did she do?

You mean besides being a pain in the ass?

Maya...

She refuses to eat, I practically had to stuff mac and cheese down her throat last night. So that's been going on for two weeks now- she was almost a skeleton once I found out

Meet me outside.

I raised my hand and stood up abruptly, the teacher barely had time to comprehend what I was doing. "Mr. Fitz can I go to the nurse?" I mumbled playing my part well.

"I'll help her," Maya added quickly catching on, she got up and wrapped her arm around me. He nodded stunned at the sudden intrusion and Maya and I briskly walked out of class. Soon we were headed to the roof of the school. It was a spot we'd go to when we needed to talk at school, sort off like a second bay window.

We walked out on to the roof finding a shady place to sit, deciding on a spot beside the wall we sat down on the ground. Maya immediately released a groan of frustration when we were properly situated, far away from listening ears. "It was f*****g scary,"

I listened intently knowing full well she had a lot on her chest. "You should have seen her, she looked like those kids you see in the commercials, I thou- I thought she was going to die," I heard her voice crack and I grasped her hand gently stroking it with my thumb as she continued.

"Why would she- I really thought she was eating I didn't know,"

"Hey she's okay," I hushed her. I watched her force herself not to cry, blinking rapidly as she brought her knees to her chest. She released her hand from mine favouring to wrap it around her legs, her head resting on her knee.

"I don't know what to do," she groaned clearly frustrated.

"How did you find out?"

I heard her sigh, "I don't know, I guess I noticed that some of her clothes looked bigger on her- then I caught her changing yesterday and she looked... When I confronted her she wouldn't even speak to me,"

She went silent after that and I allowed it. I knew she was tired, hell even I was tired.

_______________#________________

Auggie walked in front of me briskly as we headed to Maya's. He looked like a mix between a concerned father and an enraged pitbull. I would usually smile at how much he cared about his friends, but in a situation like this-

I watched defeated as we walked in on Maya glaring at Ava. The two were seated at the kitchen table. Maya sitting in a chair adjacent to Ava. The ten year old was staring at the plate in front of her stubbornly. A look of determination on her face. The tension in the room was thick and Auggie squeezed my hand tightly when the two blondes remained silent even after acknowledging we were there.

"Eat," Maya finally said her voice obviously tired. I pitied her.

"No,"

I looked at Ava, her little hand curled into a fist. It took some time from that day, but she got her attitude back. She wasn't bellowing her name proudly like back in the old days but she seemed to have been getting better. So why was she doing this?

"You want me to force it down your throat again?" Maya's voice had an edge this time. I couldn't tell if it was from the frustration or her worry for the child.

"Leave me alone," she mumbled weakly.

A growl escaped Mayas lips and she suddenly stood up, "you think I'm going to allow you to die on me?"

"Maya," I sighed from the doorway. She spun her head to me frazzled by the situation and when she saw Auggie next to me she calmed down a little.

"Ava," Auggie called out from beside me, the younger blonde's eyes widened as if she just noticed him. He slowly walked toward her and she flew out of her seat running into the next room, which was Maya's. Auggie looked back at me, obviously scared at how his friend was acting before making his way into Maya's room.

I looked at the table and frowned at the untouched plate of spaghetti on it. It was times like this I wondered if I made right decision in allowing Maya to take Ava.

_______________#_________________

"I want my mom," Ava whimpered from her bed as we gathered the clothes from her closet. It had taken some time, but Maya somehow convinced me to allow Ava to stay with her. The conversation we had was a long one, and there were definitely some parts that didn't sit well with me. Like the fact that Maya's gang days involved more than petty vandalism, but if Maya was half right about the people Ava's parents might be involved with then-

"I need to find my parents,"

I looked back the crying child not knowing how to comfort her. What was I supposed to do at a time like this? I wasn't even sure if sending her off with Maya was that great a plan.

"Relax," she mumbled next to me and if reading my mind, "it's the best we can do for now,"

_______________#_____________

"Hey," Maya waved her hand in front of my face and I looked at her startled.

"What?"

"You zoned out," she sighed, her face wore an exhausted expression and for the first time in a long time I saw some tears peaking at the corner of her eyes. I sucked in a breath to calm down and then looked toward her bed room door. We had to fix this somehow.

"I- don't know what to do," I stuttered after some time, I looked toward Maya helplessly similar to that time that got us in this mess. She gave me a soft smile in an effort of comfort, but I couldn't accept it. After all this time I was still a burden to her. After months of shouldering this much on her own she finally comes to me and I couldn't do anything. Shaking my head stubbornly I walked to the bed room door and opened it slowly.

"Ava please," Auggie tried desperation evident in his voice. His hands were firmly clasped on her shoulders and he was facing her probably trying to shake some sense into her. She shook her head frantically refusing to face him as she allowed her tears to rundown her face. I walked toward the two and bent down on one knee next to her. Maya stood at the door way observing us, probably praying that maybe I could be of some use for once. I gently removed Auggie's hands from her shoulders and looked her over- she looked emaciated. Hollowed cheeks, tired eyes- I pulled open the cardigan she was wearing and she quickly backed away. Her eyes were terrified as it shifted from mine to Auggie's.

"If you didn't want him seeing you like this, why do this to yourself," I asked voice steady. She gulped turning away from us. "Ava-"

"I want to die," she sobbed, shocked by the sudden outburst my hands shook at the prospect of the child that stood so weakly before me dying.

"Stop that," her head shot up to Auggie who glared at her. He walked to closer to her and she backed up into a wall trying to get away from him. He stopped half way noticing her shaking hands clutching her sweater tightly. Steeling his nerves he closed the distance between them and gently grasped her hands. He smiled at her and slid the sweater from her palms. "We're gonna fix this, okay?"