Luda had been watching from the kitchen window. Her heart bled for you. She watched as Hoyt had just left as you sat there watching him die. She watched as Thomas tried to console you. She turned to Hoyt as he walked through the door.

"What did you just do?!"

"I took care of our problem."

"By shooting him?!"

"I did what I had to."

"Did what you had to? Look out there!"

She pulled him to the window and pointed out to where you sat balled up in Thomas's arms.

"Look at her!"

"She'll get over it."

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Charlie."

"She'll live."

"Charlie Hewitt, that was her own blood! You killed him! How exactly do you expect her to just 'be fine' after that?!"

Hoyt remained silent. Luda stared at him with anger.

"You've already taken one thing she cares about, you gonna kill Tommy now too?"

"Mama, that's ridiculous."

"So was shooting that boy out there."

Hoyt fell silent again and walked away. Luda shook her head and watched Tommy gently scoop her up in his arms and stand up. He walked, with her in his arms, to the back door. Luda opened it for him and stepped to the side, letting him pass.

She gently shut the door and turned back to Thomas. She gently brushed the hair out of your face.

"Poor dear..."

Thomas gave a whine to Luda. She looked up to him and rested her arm on his forearm.

"It's okay Thomas, you did good."

He tilted his head in response and grunted. Luda raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just take her to her room, dear. Let her get some rest."

Thomas nodded and turned, heading out through the kitchen door. He trudged up the creaky wooden stairs and into her room. He went to the bed and pulled back the covers with one hand as he also tried to balance your and his weight.

When he did it, he laid you down carefully and pulled the covers up to your chest. Thomas looked down at you. Your face was still red from crying your heart out to him. He gently ran his hand over the side of your face and brushed a piece of hair away.

Thomas sighed and backed away from you. He looked up from you and out the window. The sun was setting and it cast out an fiery orange out over the field behind the house. Thomas stared at it for a moment.

He never thought much about things like this. Usually it was just day after day. Get up, work, eat, and then the day ended. It had been like this almost all of Thomas's life. It wasn't like that anymore. He had you around to watch and it was nicer that way. That and you had deffidently brought more attention to the house lately.

Thomas looked at you with a half smile and left, shutting the door behind him. As he went downstairs he could hear Luda and Hoyt talking in the kitchen. Uncle Monty's tv was on in the other room and he was snoring away.

Thomas paused a moment before he went outside. He stopped on the front porch and sat down on the steps, looking out over the feild. He watched as the birds flew about, starting their late afternoon chirping. Thomas gave a sigh and pulled his muzzle off, sticking his face into the light breeze.

*

*

*

*

You stirred and lazily brought a hand to your face, rubbing your eyes awake. You turned slightly, expecting to see Thomas's figure laying behind you. Your eyes widened when you found him missing. You turned back over and propped yourself up on your elbow.

You looked around. You were in your own room this time. You fully sat up now and looked out the window. The sun was low against the ground and it was almost dark out. You threw back the covers and swung your legs over the edge.

Your eyes were still tired. You slowly stood up and stretched your arms over your head. You stumbled to the door and carefully opened it. The smell of food drifted up the stairs. It smelled good and you became hungry.

You slowly made your way down the stairs. You could hear Luda humming in the kitchen. The tv was on in the living room. Monty sat on the couch reading a paper. You figured that Hoyt was in the kitchen as well so you went into the living room.

Monty looked up at you with a crooked smile.

"Well, hello, dear."

"Hi, uncle Monty."

"What are you doing up?"

"I've been up for a little while now...have you seen Thomas anywhere?"

Monty raised an eyebrow at you.

"What do you want with him?"

"I just wanted to talk to him."

"Mm. He's out on the porch. Crazy boy has been sittin' out there for an hour or so now."

You looked back at the front door.

"Thanks uncle Monty."

"Mhm. Don't stay out there too long, suppers almost ready and I don't want to wait on you two forever."

"I won't."

He nodded and put his paper back up. You paused a moment before you turned and walked back out into the hallway. You carefully opened the door before pushing screen door open.

Sure enough there sat Thomas. Although his mask wasn't on. He turned just enough to see someone standing there. He fumbled to quickly put it back on.

"No no no, Tommy, it's just me."

Thomas let his gaurd down and let his mask sit back in his lap.

You walked over and sat down besides him. You looked at him momentarily before you also started looking out across the feild. You watched the sun lower over the horizon and looked down.

"I'm sorry about earlier."

Thomas looked at you, confused.

"Yelling at you and all..."

Thomas shrugged. It wasn't the first time he'd been yelled at. He knew you were hurt.

You looked at him again, this time studying his face. He looked at you and tilted his head.

"Ya know somethin', Thomas?"

"Mm."

You smiled at his noice.

"I think you look good without that mask."

Thomas paused and looked at you. He tilted his head and pointed at himself.

"Yes, you. Who else?"

Thomas shrugged but smiled. He had never been told that he actually looked good before. Thomas made a strange laughing noise and pointed at a bird. You looked out at it and laughed a bit.

"I don't think birds wear masks, Tommy."

He shrugged and made the sound again. You laughed as well. You heard the screen door being pushed open. You both turned around to see Luda. How long had she been standing there? She looked down at Thomas, who still had his mask off.

"I think your right, y/n. He does look good without the mask."

You both sat silent and looked at each other. Luda gave a small chuckle.

"C'mon. Dinners done."

She walked away and you stood up. Thomas stood as well, fixing his mask back onto his face. When he was done you both followed Luda into the dining room.