Huxley

I watch with concern as Wren does her best to get dressed by herself. I can tell she's getting tired of being catered to, but it's been more out of necessity than simply because I enjoy taking care of her.

Even though I do.

It's been a few weeks since the explosion and her leg is getting stronger every day. She rarely has pain anymore, but she still can't put all of her weight on it.

"Hux, can you help me please?" She asks, holding up her shoes.

"I'm not sure I am required to help you when I don't agree with what you're planning on doing." I say and she scowls at me before her bottom lip begins to quiver.

"You think I like asking for help?" She asks and her voice catches at the end. I suck in a deep breath, not expecting her emotional reaction. I practically spring over to her, leaning down in front of her and grabbing her shoes.

"Of course not, little bird. That's not what I meant." I say much more gently as I slip her shoes on her feet.

"That's what I thought." She says with a playful grin and my jaw drops at her.

She totally played me.

"That's not fair. You know I'm a sucker for your tears." I say and she shrugs.

"A girl has to use what's available to her." She says, holding her arms out for me to help her up off the couch.

"Are you sure you want to do this, baby? It's okay if you wait awhile. You're still having nightmares." I say carefully, not wanting to upset her. I cup her face with my hands, her eyes nervous when they meet mine. But she gives me one decisive nod before leaning forward and kissing me sweetly.

"I'm sure. I need to see Brenda. I just... I need to. I can't explain it." She says quietly and I sigh heavily, nodding as I grab my car keys.

"Whatever you need, baby girl. I'm here." I say, tucking her under my arm as we walk towards the door.

"Thank you, Hux." She says quietly. I peck a kiss to her forehead as I help her towards the car.

The drive to Brenda's house is quiet. Wren fidgets in the car next to me, wringing her hands nervously as her brow furrows in concern. We pull up outside the small blue house. I've seen Jim mow that lawn countless times over the years, even helped him clean out the gutters a few times. The fact that he's not inside with a cup of coffee and a few cookies waiting to greet us feels like an acid weight burning a hole in my stomach. I look over at Wren, her eyes already glistening with tears.

"You sure, baby?" I ask and she nods again.

I round the car and open her door, holding her hand to help her out as she eyes the front door like a caged cat desperate to escape. I don't bother asking if she's sure again. I know once she's decided something she's dead set on it. We walk slowly towards the door and I knock once we get there. Wren leans into me and I hold her close, wishing I could carry the weight of her guilt for her too. We hear footsteps from inside the house before Brenda swings the door open, a surprised look on her face.

"Why are you knocking, sweetheart? Come on in." She says, pushing the screen door open. I hear a small sob from Wren as she walks in to the hallway.

"I'm so sorry." She says and Brenda's face falls as she watches Wren come apart at the seams. I start rethinking this whole excursion and consider swinging Wren into my arms and stuffing her back in the car.

Until Brenda steps towards her and wraps her in a fierce hug.

"You listen to me you sweet, precious girl. What happened to my Jim was not your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. He loved you and he loved working in that diner with you. And I loved it too. Lord knows I probably would have killed him myself years ago if I had to spend all that time with him." She says, tears falling down her face as she holds Wren close.

"I tried to get him out. I just want you to know. I didn't leave him there." Wren says, choking on her sobs. I figured that was why I found her in the kitchen, but I had never asked.

"I know, sweetie. I saw Huxley carry you out. I'm so happy that you're okay. And Jim would be too. So don't you feel guilty for one second. You hear me? I won't have it." She says firmly and Wren nods, sniffing back her tears.

"I miss him." Wren says and Brenda sighs, nodding as she hugs Wren again.

"Me too, sweetie. Me too." Brenda murmurs as she runs her hands through Wren's hair as she begins to calm. "Come in here and sit down your leg must be bothering you." She adds, tugging on Wren's hand.

I wrap my arm around her and help her into the living room. She sits on the couch and I sit next to her, wrapping my arm around her as her little body trembles next to me.

"You alright?" I ask and she nods.

"Just chilly." She says and Brenda goes to the kitchen. I wrap my coat around her as Brenda hands her a cup of tea, steam wafting off of it before she sits in the chair across from us.

"What's going to happen to it? The diner?" She asks and Wren shrugs, taking a sip of her drink.

"I don't honestly know. It's too cold to build anything right now. I'm not even sure I want to build again. Or make it a diner. Maybe I'll build something else like a bowling alley." She says sadly and Brenda huffs, shaking her head.

"Absolutely not. You loved that diner and you were amazing at running it. It was the perfect place for our small town. Everyone could come together, have amazing food and catch up on things. It was like a second home for most people. I can't force you to do anything, but it'd be a shame for us to lose that." She says sadly and another tear slips down Wren's face. I swipe it away and she looks up at me before giving me a sad smile.

"I did love that place." She says and I smile down at her. "But I don't know if I can do it without Jim." She says, her voice quaking.

"We'll figure it out, baby. Don't worry." I say, kissing her hair. She leans into me and I soak up her touch.

"Jim and I always knew you two would end up together." She says warmly and I chuckle as a blush splashes across Wren's face.

"Jim told me the same. I wondered why he was pushing me so hard towards Hux." Wren says and Brenda laughs a little.

"We both saw the same thing in you two."

"What's that?" I ask.

"Us. When we were young. Jim used to look at me just the way you do Wren. Like she's the only thing in the universe that matters." She says and my heart aches for her, for what she's lost.

It's so unfair.

"It's true. She's the only thing that matters."