Sunday, January 4th.

I get out of bed. It's winter, and the sun isn't up yet. The air is pleasantly warm, but only just. The heat crystals that are embedded in the walls have run out some time ago. I have to imbue them one at a time. They could have made a system where all of them are powered at once, but that increases the risk of them blowing up, so no one uses a system like that. I should really have them exchanged with ones that I made, so I can power them all at once at a fraction of the risk I'm already taking. Well I say risk, but it's kinda like having a pressurized water heater in your basement. Could go through your roof, but who in their right minds would crank up the heat that much? That's going to be quite a bit of work though, so that's a project for down the road.

After I power up all the crystals, I go for a run. Mom would have wanted me to stay in shape, and I feel like I'm going to need to be.

I also take a few hours to practice the moves she showed me.

It makes me feel closer to her. Makes me remember her..

Dad would sometimes watch. He wouldn't say anything. He'd just.. Just watch, with a pleasant look on his face..

Shit.. Come on Nathan.

I stop for a second, holding back the tears before they inch their way out of my eyes. I have to be strong.

The workout resumes. By the time I'm done, I'm drenched. A quick shower later, and I start working on breakfast.

When I set the table, the sun has risen.

I knock on Sarah's door.

``Sarah, breakfast is ready.'' [Nathan]

I can hear her from the other side of the door. Never a morning person, but at least she wasn't as bad as Emelia.

...

Strong Nathan.. Strong...

``Come on Sarah, the food is getting cold.'' [Nathan]

Silence.

``If you don't come out now, I'll eat your pancakes.'' [Nathan]

I hear a rustle, and the door opens.

``.. With jam?'' [Sarah]

``With jam. So come on, eat them while they're hot.'' [Nathan]

She sits down and takes a bite of the pancakes. A happy smile spreading across her face, she starts stuffing it with more pancake.

Oh god, this was so worth it.

I haven't seen her smile since the attack.

``So tell me about those friends you made.'' [Nathan]

``They're really fun. Ariana is a catkin, like me, and Rosie is a wolfkin. They know each other from before school, and we're hanging out in the dorm every day. Rosie can already channel, and she said she'd show me how.'' [Sarah]

She rattles on for a while, eating her pancakes hungrily.

When she's done, she pauses for a second, looking at mine.

``Heh..'' [Nathan]

I snicker as I push my plate over to her.

``Help yourself. I'll make more.'' [Nathan]

I get up and walk over to the stove.

``Nathan, why did you take me with you?'' [Sarah]

She pauses to ask.

``Hmm?'' [Nathan]

``After the attack.. Why did you take me with you?'' [Sarah]

``Because we're family.'' [Nathan]

I say casually, a knot gathering in my stomach.

``No we're not Nathan, we-'' [Sarah]

``I don't care! We're family now!'' [Nathan]

I yell, louder than I wanted to.

``... They were going to put you in an orphanage.. I- I couldn't... I didn't want that to happen to the closest thing I have to a family.'' [Nathan]

``But Sam and Elena, they-'' [Sarah]

``They are not my family! They never were... They were my parent's family, not mine. Your brother, your sister, your father, they were family to me. And so are you.'' [Nathan]

I take the pan off the hotplate, take a step back and put my hands on the edge of the counter.

``.. You're family to me Sarah, even if you don't think that I'm family to you. You can stay here as long as you want, your father paid for your tuition for the next six years, but he didn't have enough money to pay for the dorms up front. Half of this house is yours, so when you want to move we'll figure something out. I'll save up some money so I can buy the other half, but until then, please just stay here. Please be my family until then.'' [Nathan]

I ask her, my voice almost failing me.

``Are you gonna make me pancakes?'' [Sarah]

I turn around in surprise. She's eating pancakes again.

Heh.. Now that's Sarah for you..

Don't know what I was so worried about..

``Sure, I'll make you pancakes.'' [Nathan]

``With jam?'' [Sarah]

She asks, looking at me longingly.

``Yes, with jam.'' [Nathan]

I chuckle to her.

I put the pan back on the hotplate.

``So what were you saying about Ariana?'' [Nathan]

``Oh right, so she was like-'' [Sarah]