Footprints [Raven Marie]

[Jesse Fforde]

It was the sound of movement that first got Jesse's attention. Ten seconds later the girl came limping out from behind a tree and Jesse could only stare incredulously. How long had she been there? He remained where he was, seated on the ground and waited for her to get close enough before questioning her.

"How long have you been waiting?" he asked, glancing down at the foot. "...my wife thinks I should take you to a homeless shelter and leave you to your own devices..." he said. Which was not untrue. Clover had disagreed with Jesse's decision, she had thrown all kinds of reasons why not at him. He had listened. He had understood. Many of the reasons were ones he had thought of himself. Namely Kaelyn. But this could be different. This would be different.

[Raven Marie (DELETED 9137)]

"I fell asleep. Also I've been there and I am definitely never going back. It sucked." She sat down next to him. She looked at him while she warmed by the fire glad that he had started it again.

[Jesse Fforde]

"...you slept? For twenty-four hours? Out here? How are you not dead due to hypothermia?" he asked. Surely she can't have slept there all day. Surely someone would have come along to move her along. And if not... well.

"If that's the kind of thing you do often I'm going to have to advise you to stop. How do you even sleep for twenty-four hours? Are you sick?" he asked. These were not the questions he had planned to ask, but he was far too curious not too. Far too incredulous. And besides which, the fire was nice, the heat licking his skin, reminding him why he was addicted to it.

[Raven Marie (DELETED 9137)]

She smiled "It's something I have learned to do without getting sick. The first few times didn't work out so well but, soon when was 7 I learned how to do it." She said calmly and looked down messing with her fingers by the fire. "If you don't mind me asking. I never got your name."

[Jesse Fforde]

Jesse just stared. Was that something a person could do? Teach themselves how to resist the cold? If she'd been homeless like this since she was seven years old, then she'd be able to survive a few more years. The pros and cons still bounced around in his head, and the topic changed before he had a chance to catch up. He smirked and shook his head.

"First, you let me know what you have decided. Then, depending, I have a few more questions. If you answer those in ways I deem reasonable, I might then tell you my name," he said. Too many things had gone wrong in the past year. His name wasn't something he should give out lightly. Hell, even siring a sixteen year old, if the wrong people found out, could land the 'family' in hot water. Again.

**** them, really.

"So what have you decided?"

[Raven Marie (DELETED 9137)]

She smiled and rolled her eyes "Yeah." She nodded that was her decision she would go through with this. "Yeah I'll do it." She wanted to know his name but, he made it clear that he wouldn't be telling her. Names were not givin' to her very often so she was basically used to it. She never gave her name to anyone unless she really trusted them. Him. She felt like she could trust him now. Her life was basically in his hands. She wanted to laugh at that thought but, stopped herself and looked back up at him.

[Jesse Fforde]

"Alright. If I do this, I'm going to give you a place to live. I'm going to give you better weapons than that knife you have, and I'm going to show you how to use them properly so you're not constantly accidentally gouging yourself. I'll give you money. I am not in any way, shape or form a father, or a father figure, or a replacement. I will treat you with respect. I will treat you like an adult. I will expect you to act like an adult. I do not coddle, but my door is always open if you need someone to talk to, or if you need help," he explained, slowly, staring at the girl to make sure she understood, that she was listening.

"I will help you find your feet and I will offer you safety. I do not text you every ten minutes, I might barely call you. If you expect me to read your mind or just magically know when something is wrong, I will not be happy. I expect a certain amount of loyalty. I expect the same respect I give to you to be returned. Is this understood? If you do not agree to these terms, if you are looking for someone to curl up next to and call 'Papi', then you can go find someone else," he said, his voice cracking near the end. Jesse did not often make speeches. His voice was not often up to the task.

[Raven Marie (DELETED 9137)]

She nodded understanding exactly what he was saying. She usually acted like an adult. Well when she wanted to anyway. His lecture was a little funny but strict. She understood what he wanted from her and she knew that she would do exactly what he wanted. She obeyed most people or people she could trust. Some people in her past that she chose to trust and obey had failed her and made her got jump off some building. She had gotten her payback on those people. It hadn't been pretty but, yet nothing ever stayed beautiful did it?

[Jesse Fforde]

The girl nodded. That was all. One single nod. No voiced affirmation, no questions, just a nod. Jesse stared for a good five seconds before he cleared his throat.

"That's it? No questions? This is a huge decision. You are going to be stuck like this for eternity. You're not going to grow any older. You'll have people constantly undermining you, thinking you're too young. Are you ready for that?" he asked. The questions may sound repetitive, the demands might be funny or over the top. But they were important. He had experience. He knew what he was doing. This was not a decision to make lightly. Not for him, or for her. And he wouldn't let anything stop him from asking all the right questions, this time. This time, it would be done right.

[Raven Marie (DELETED 9137)]

"Yes." Was all she could say. She understood all of this and didn't really have any questions as far as she knew. She was curious about what it was like but, it would be weird to ask yet she would find out soon enough anyway. She was nervous yes but, she had made her decision so it had been decided. She had come this far there was no reason to turn back now. Her foot still hurt like hell but, she did her best at the moment to control her pain. She had to. What would it be like?