Yujo saw her face reflected in the ink black pool of her cup of coffee. She looked at Rosemary who made no attempt to hide the pride at her coffee making talents. The cry of the seagulls pulled her attention to the balcony that she had found herself sitting at.

This was Rosemary’s private balcony. Sat on the third floor of St Aldran’s, it was the one place she could retreat to when the world got to be too much.

Yujo picked the cup of coffee and looked at it, clenched her eyes and took a sip. She instantly felt her tongue being dragged into the event horizon of the drink. Her spine tingled as her body took over. She uttered a childish ‘bleh’ and stuck her tongue out.

Stifling a laugh, Rosemary took a sip. Her smile dimmed and she slowly laid the cup down. With a sigh she took the milk jug and poured some milk into the cup.

In response, Yujo put a couple of sugar cubes into her coffee and watched them sink into the black abyss.

They took another sip of their improved drinks. In unison, they let a satisfied ‘ah’ slip out in satisfaction.

“Rose.”

It was the first time Yujo had called Rosemary by her pet name since the spat. Taken aback, Rosemary took a moment to consider her options. Deciding to not make a big deal of it, she reverted to the default.

“Yes, Yujo?”

A wave of hesitation took over Yujo before she took another swig of coffee to drown her insecurities and spit her question out.

“What do you think I should do about the offer?”

Rosemary carefully picked up her coffee with both hands and took another sip.

“Whatever your decision is I trust you to make the best decision for you, Yu.”

Yujo tilted her head in confusion at the statement. It wasn't much of an answer.

“I have so many hopes for you, Yujo. I mean, how can I not with how long we’ve known each other? I see your photography and believe me, I know you will shine.”

Rosemary nodded.

“I know whatever you chose, whether you fight the bogus charges or go through with that nonsense plan, that you will come out on top, Yujo.”

The fact that Rosemary was so open about her feelings for the plan gave Yujo pause.

Yujo shook her head, "But, Rose, you know how I feel. If I decided to go for the ambassador role, what makes you think I wouldn't lose it?”

Rosemary smiled, “I know you won't because you're far too stubborn to let anything, including me telling you not to do something, from stopping you.”

“Gee, Thanks.” Yujo muttered, trying to escape Rosmary’s beaming smile by staring into what was left of her coffee.

“Really didn’t need the reminder of what got me here.”

Rosemary took another sip. “Whatever you do is beside the point. You are growing up into a beautiful young woman, Yujo. I hope and pray that you will be able to live the sort of life that my generation never had the chance to.”

Another sip of coffee passed Rosemary's lips. “One day, I might even have the courage to tell you about my days during the war.”

Yujo didn’t say anything and stared off into the orange sky. She knew Rosemary was the one who saved her, that she was the one that shot the selk who would have killed her. What she didn't know, and what Rosemary was hesitant to go into, was why she was there.

“Hey, come back to me, young lady.”

Yujo blinked as Rosemay's call derailed her thoughts. “Oh, I’m sorry Rose. I was just thinking about things.” She said hiding her feelings.

“Look, it doesn’t matter what you are. Human or selk, I will be in your corner, OK? I will turn this whole planet upside down to help you if I have to.”

Rosemary took a moment to drink the rest of her coffee before she continued.

“You will always have a home here, alright? That is all that’s important. If everything went to hell tomorrow everyone, especially me, would be there for you.”

A mess of stray thoughts and emotions started to flow in Yujo’s mind. Her throat began to tighten as she could feel the tears coming on.

“I…” she said trying hard to fight it all back.

“Oh, Yu. Come here…” Rosemary said as she offered her hands out to her. Yujo stood up from her chair, her hands already trying to wipe away the tears, and walked over to Rosemary’s embrace.

“Just remember, no matter what, you are still a child of the stars. We will be watching over you and making sure that you’re safe.”

“Uh-bauh…” Yujo blurted out holding onto Rosemary and covering her dress in snot and tears.

The moment that the two shared came to an end when Rose noticed a head peeking out of the balcony door.

It was Nathan, now sporting a fresh cut on his forehead. “Brother Hogan said you were here.” He said pointing at the fresh bruise on his forehead with a grin, “I headed the ball really good!”

Yujo turned around, her face dirty from crying.

Even someone as painfully naive as Nathan could tell that she had been crying. A look of concern crossed his young face.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Wiping her hand across her face to clean herself up, Yujo stood up.

“No. No I’m fine, Nathanial.” She lied and went through her pockets for a spare plaster she had on her. “Sister Rosemary and I were just talking about my national service.”

The only factor that allowed her to get away with such a blatant lie was the fact that she was talking to Nathan. He smiled as he took Yujo’s seat and turned it around, waiting for the plaster to be put on his forehead.

Yujo peeled the backing of the plaster off and applied it to the injury on Nathan’s forehead. With a gentle "there", she patted it flat. She could barely see the smile he flashed before he stood up. With a quick "thanks" he ran off, tripped and landed face first on the ground. Before Yujo could do anything, he got up again and ran off.

A moment past before Yujo turned to face Rosemary. She then closed her eyes.

“I’m going to accept the offer.”

The small eternity that followed was only punctuated by the gulls calling to each other.

“I… see…”

Rosemary reaching out to pour herself another cup of coffee.

“I can’t let you go through all of that with the courts and I want to do anything to help St. Aldrin’s. If that means being a selk for three years, then that’s nothing.”

Rosemary took a sip of the coffee and then took a moment to collect her thoughts.

After a moment, she sighed.

“OK then. Go after him, Yu.” Rosemary said as she stood up.

“Rose?”

“The children of this orphanage are as much your family as I ever will be, Yujo. It's going to be a while before you're back so go and spend the rest of the day with them.”

With a nod and a wordless ‘thank you’ in her smile, Yujo turned around and left.

Alone, Rosemary looked up to the clear orange sky and clenched her teeth as she felt the rain run down her face.

“Goddamnit…”