Warning: This chapter will have sexual assult. It is not overly explicit, but there will be a heavy mention of it towards the end of the chapter, if you cannot handle it, you can skip it.

16, end of June

The first evening they spent was quiet, unpacking, and tuckered out from being cramped in the train majority of the day. Tabitha had noticed a small television in the room that she decided to watch until she had fallen asleep. She put on her sleep shirt and pants. It was baggy, loose-fitting, and comfy. She was glad for the choice she made, even if she had her room.

She focused on the telly as she heard movements from the bathroom. She felt the butterflies in her stomach as her countdown was starting to come to a close; it would be less than a day left until her wish would come true, seeing her favorite girl band.

On her bed, there were a couple of things arrayed in no particular order, her sketchbook, a tourist book of London of sites to visit, and her stuffed animal. For her sketchbook, she always tried to draw something every night. It was a productive way to calm her down from the events of the day, and she was usually happy with her work. For the sightseeing, she wanted to look at more than just the concert. For all she knew, this would be the only time she would be in London in her lifetime; she hoped not, but there wasn't any way for her to know. There would be a high probability that Father Foley, oh wait- Stephen now, would want to join her since he wouldn't want a repeat of the train ride earlier. She rolled her eyes at the thought. It wasn't fair that she had to spend time with a man she didn't even like.

The things Tabitha did to have fun.

Tabitha hugged her stuffed bear that she had a bad habit of sleeping with every night. It was either that or hugging a pillow; she was the hugging type, like her father. The difference was that she wouldn't just hug anyone or anything. Her parents taught her about boundaries.

It was something she practiced in her everyday life, particularly with strangers. She remembered meeting a 'friend' of her father once. He was some businessman her father would talk to while he would tend to the company plants of where the guy would work. He was pleasant and all, but when it came time for it, and he tried to hug her, she dodged it and gave him a handshake instead. She didn't suspect anything terrible of him, but still, hugging a grown man who wasn't her father, or anyone she was remotely familiar with, was not an option.

She heard the bathroom door open, watching with wary eyes as he got out, fully clothed and a towel around his neck, probably to dry off his hair. There was a weird feeling in her stomach, and it wasn't the butterflies from before.

Internally, she shook her head. Tabitha, stop worrying for once! He won't do anything to you, your grandmother trusts him. Surely someone who she trusts is good, right?

She stayed on her stomach, legs up in the air, and ankles crossed together. The news brought about a report of a recall of some food product. Maybe she should listen and know what she should look out for.

~~~

Stephen stayed in the bathroom for as long as he could. The longer he was in there, the clearer the realization that maybe it wasn't a good idea to stay in the room with the young girl. Not only would people suspect something, but if anything were to happen, which he prayed didn't, who would he blame?

Well, he could always say that she did something, which wouldn't be a lie. For some reason, she had the habit of doing something that brought out the worse in him. Whether it was a snarky comment or a simple movement Tabitha made his blood boil, and not only with anger. But why was he angry? Yes, there were things she would say, but nothing too volatile, except for the comment on the train earlier.

Stephen looked at himself in the mirror. His dark eyes clouded with emotion. He was counting down the time till he was going to be on his own again. Hopefully, then he would not worry about anything happening that shouldn't. He saw the clothes she changed into after her time in the bathroom. It was a reminder of the events from last summer.

Did she not realize how she looked in that? Even as a teen, when watching movies, Stephen thought that women in a man's shirt were one of the sexiest sights.

Woman.

Was that what Tabitha was now?

She was not yet sixteen, but he knew in one form or another, she was a woman. If they were living a hundred years before, she would have been married off to someone by now forced to have children. That would've been a mundane life, he supposed. She was budding into womanhood. Well, she did more than just bud.

Stephen noticed the softness of her movements, the way her body moved. No sixteen year old should move in that manner.

He met a lot of girls, even as a priest. None would go about that way in front of him.

Maybe it was because he was a priest, and they revered him. Most girls understood the boundaries that were made. He couldn't blame Tabitha for the lack of boundaries, though. They both were in an unusual predicament since they first met.

He wasn't her priest. She wasn't his pupil.

He thought about that very hard, how different they were. Tabitha had no actual reason to respect him as the people of his town other than as a friend of her grandmother. She didn't have to answer to him unless in his care, like now.

He knew that Sonya left her in his care. Stephen can't mess that up. He valued Sonya too much to allow that to happen. After some time, he finally decided to go back to the reality he was in.

He knew how dangerous he made things for himself. He walked out, wearing a white t-shirt and pajama pants, his towel around his neck. He watched the young girl on her designated bed. He watched as her pink, oversized shirt fell off her shoulder. She looked at a book before paying attention to the telly in front of her.

His eyes drifted to her belongings; his breathing stopped a little seeing her arms around the stuffed animal. He would never expect someone so old to have one, but he couldn't judge her for it. The image just reminded him of just how much of a child she still is, not the growing adult like his mind and body wanted to believe.

"Can we go out tomorrow?" Stephen blinked a little before registering what she was asking him. "What?"

The young girl sat up, adjusting her shirt, picking up a thick tourist book. "Well, we'll have all day before the concert. Maybe we could go around and take pictures and visit? I know my grandmother would want to see some stuff."

Hearing about Sonya made him feel more guilty, but none the less he nodded. "I suppose going out tomorrow wouldn't hurt. Just don't run all over the place. We're strangers here. Nobody knows us or our story. If either of us gets lost, no one can help."

A chill went down Tabitha's spine, hearing his words. Not because it wasn't true but because it reminded her that if something were to happen, no one would save her.

She nodded, looking back at the screen in front of her. The weather report was saying it would be a good day tomorrow, perfect.

Tomorrow will be perfect for her.

~~~

The next day started bright, at least when Stephen opened the curtains to let the light through. He looked outside to see the tall buildings blocking the sunlight from coming through his window.

Even in his childhood home, he became used to waking up to something more than what was seen today. It was seven in the morning. The streets below him were starting to slowly but surely get packed. He turned to the room, watching the soft movement of the breathing of Tabitha. He would wake her up, but he was sure that his face was not what she wanted to see as the first thing on her birthday.

He took a moment to reminisce about his sixteenth birthday. His parents threw him a big party with family and school friends he could've cared less about. Father wanted him to get a foot into the business, so he bought him a pair of gold cufflinks to wear, which he sometimes does for Easter Sunday and Midnight Mass for Christmas.

Stephen's mother, on the opposite end, wanted him to go on a date with one of her friend's daughter. Sure, she was pretty, but he wasn't interested, at least not in the way his mother wanted him to be. It made his mind drift off into another realm, wondering things about the young girl sleeping before him.

His body ended up closer to hers, a massive shadow covering her from the light. Her lips were slightly ajar, lips starting to chap a bit. He allowed his fingers to lightly ghost above the shape of her lips, remembering his first kiss. It was to that girl his mother pushed on him.

That was all he wanted to know; how a kiss would feel like.

It was alright, but not what he expected. The kiss was short but not sweet. The girl's lips were on the thin side, unlike Tabitha's. Just like him, the girl was inexperienced.

He wondered if Tabitha was experienced in kissing boys.

With that thought in mind, he cursed himself in his head. Why would you think that? She is just a child.

No, she isn't.

His eyes were wide, hearing another part of himself speak. It was a scary part because he never knew what his mind was capable of, especially a thought like that. He was a good person. Stephen showed that to himself over the years being a priest. He wasn't that person, the despicable man who wanted a beautiful girl all to himself.

At least he convinced himself that from a young age, he wasn't like his father.

His father, although loyal to his mother for all the years they've been together, had some questioning views about women.

There was an age difference between the two, and when Stephen was old enough to rationalize in his brain, he realized his mother was young when his father married her. Now his mother was not a weak woman, although she did ultimately listen to his father's last day. He would take notice of her stressed face if certain tasks were left undone before his father had gotten home. He took notice of the raised voices behind closed doors or the sounds of deafening silence until his mother cried. Did he hit her? Stephen didn't suspect so, but he knew deep down how it affected his view of women.

That was why he probably kept away from most of them. Sonya reminded him of the strong woman he wishes he had in his childhood. Maybe he wouldn't be scared of himself. He wouldn't have to confine himself this way, to the point of cornering himself away from all women to the brink of constant temptation from one girl.

He clenched his fists roughly a few times. He could feel it coming out, that part of him he kept hidden all of his life. It wasn't something he wanted to come through. It would ruin everything. All the power and reverence that he could get from all being a priest, a bishop, even a cardinal. It was worth so much more than anything one person could give him. Why have one person all to yourself when the world could fall at your feet?

Well, he isn't Jesus, not that Stephen would ever claim to be, but he knew the power of the Catholic church on their congregation, how they love their priests, and would listen to their words.

Maybe that's all he wanted, something that would give him that power his father has, just not in the same heinous way.

He looked down from his tortured debate in his mind.

She was awake.

~~~

By nine, they were both out the door, Tabitha with her backpack and camera at hand, Stephen with hands in his pockets.

The young girl made sure she had everything, not coming back to the hotel until the concert would be over later that day. Everything was in her bag, the tickets, water, her wallet. There was even a change of shoes.

She turned to the tall man beside her, not used to the attire he wore, a plain grey shirt and fitted jeans over some boots. Tabitha never thought there would be a day that he would wear something normal, although it wasn't as if she saw him all the time.

She, on the other hand, looked as if she was heading to some club if she was old enough. Following her favorite spice, she wore her version of a little black dress. It wasn't tight but form-fitting. She wore a green short-sleeved shirt underneath, giving some sense of modesty. It zipped in the middle and ended right below her knees.

Maybe it wasn't the best outfit for a sixteen-year-old, but she didn't care. She was celebrating. Although she didn't want to, she thought about what others would think of the pair walking together. Stephen wore sunglasses covering his eyes. Tabitha looked down at her heels, making sure she didn't twist her ankle. She wasn't used to being so tall. Her parents hated her to wear heels, saying that she was too young for them.

Tabitha was so focused on watching the floor she nearly walked into the busy street of cars until she felt an arm grab for her. The same arm that would usually forcibly grab her when she caused trouble.

Without any time to think, she gasped when her back hit a firm chest, and she knew who it was.

"Watch where you're walking, not the floor." She gave a mere nod, not wanting to talk to him. She knew that she couldn't leave him, but her verbal communication would be minimal if she could control it.

He didn't let go of her arm. Instead, he held onto her as they walked through the busy streets.

"You know you don't have to do that." He wasn't looking at her, but he answered, "Yes, I do. I don't need you to get lost." She sighed, knowing it would be a losing battle.

They looked for a bus. The first stop was Buckingham Palace.

~~~

Surprisingly, Tabitha found the majority of the day with Stephen enjoyable. That may be due to not having to talk with him.

Each place they went to, she took pictures. It wasn't just for her or Grandma Sonya, but her parents. Knowing their situation, she knew they would be living through her. At least, until their green cards were finalized. She only wanted them to see that she was happy since they sacrificed so much already.

After taking several pictures of the place, she was able to get Stephen to take some of her. It was awkward at first, seeing that she would pose herself and he would have to take it, but then she remembered she was doing this for her, not him.

She allowed her quirky side to show, posing with the soldiers in a stoic pose then with some funny faces. Likewise, when they passed Big Ben, she made her hand as if she was holding it. Did it matter if Stephen judged? Nah, since that was all he did anyway.

It turned awkward again, though, when by Kensington Palace, a worker offered to take a pic of both of them.

"Your boyfriend's mighty nice for taking all these memories for you, but you should include him too." She wasn't sure of how the priest took it, but they nonetheless posed together, standing near one another.

"Oh! Come on, don't be shy. You'll look back on this and wonder why you both look so awkward."

She wondered why Stephen had yet to interject that they weren't a couple.

Stephen was happy for his sunglasses, unsure how it would be if Tabitha could see the look in his eyes. He wasn't too sure what to do. They weren't a couple, but he felt at that moment, what if? What if, beyond everything they were. His subconscious was kicking him harshly for not doing the right thing. He thought of all the pros though, Sonya would believe that they both were on good terms, he would show a more humane side to Tabitha, and this could be a memory, a way to remember the one.

With the stranger's second comment, he pulled Tabitha in closer. He was now behind her as his arm held her shoulders. It looked as though they were a couple.

He never touched a female like that before, but it wasn't odd to him.

Tabitha was perplexed about what to do. She never expected Stephen to touch her that way, not after last time. He seemed mostly disdained with her, with his touch usually being a reminder of negative reinforcement. Her hands reached up to his arm that surrounded her, wanting to pull it away. This was crossing the boundaries now, way too far.

It was too late though, the man counted, and all she could do was smile. It was barely a second, but it felt like forever.

She couldn't have moved out of his grip fast enough. Grabbing the camera from the stranger, she thanked him with clenched teeth before quickly moving forward to venture around the palace.

Stephen moved to follow her, but the man stopped him once again.

"She's a beaut, don't lose her." He wasn't sure of how to respond to that statement. It was degrading to her, saying that she could be owned just by her looks, but for him, it was gold. It was almost confirmation of what he wanted to hear since he first saw her that day in her grandmother's shop.

Tabitha was something he had to have.

~~~

Before parting ways by the concert venue, they had lunch. Tabitha was quite tired walking about all day, and the heels didn't help. She looked down at her feet, groaning, knowing the blisters that were forming. For the moment, she changed into the flats that she brought in her bag.

It felt nice to be small again.

They ate at a small cafe, watching another tourist come and go. Stephen decided to discuss with her the details of the concert. What would happen for the duration, and what time she needed to reach back to the hotel.

"I'll be waiting in the lobby if you don't come in time, and I will be questioning you as to why you were late."

She rolled her eyes. Maybe it was for her safety, but, damn, it was controlling. She expected this from her parents, not a friend of her grandmother's.

"Sure, and I'll give you details of what happened at the concert. You know, I still have that extra ticket if you want to come and make sure I 'behave myself' " A small laugh escaped Tabitha's lips, making physical quotations with the behave myself part.