Sundew hadn't realized how much her parents would do to try and find her. They talked occasionally over text, just enough to assure them that she was safe. She saw a poster outside school one day, HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL? It had a picture of her and Hemlock's phone number. It wasn't much, but she hadn't expected them to do anything.

Sundew had pulled the poster down and put it in her backpack. It was lucky that no one untrustworthy knew where she was staying. Blue, Cricket and Willow's family had been sworn to secrecy.

But the longer she was away, the more she realized that she missed her parents. Living with Willow and Hazel, she had felt security for the first time in forever, but she also felt sorry for her parents.

I can't feel sorry for them! They don't deserve it! I've been hanging out with Blue too long.

She sat on her bed that evening and took out the poster. The "wanted" poster. She spread it out on her lap and looked at herself. She ran her hand along the phone number at the bottom. Maybe they don't deserve it?

Sundew tried hard to see their side of the situation. If I found out my only child was sneaking out to be who knows where, I'd probably freak out too. And if she then disappeared completely, only texting occasionally to let me know she's safe, that wouldn't be enough for me.

A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and Willow opened the door. "Hey, just came by to say goodnight, oh, what's that?" She walked over and sat down next to Sundew. She touched to paper like it was precious. "Oh, Sundew, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." Sundew brushed the poster off her lap and hugged her knees as it fluttered to the ground.

"Are you ok?" Willow asked, her voice full of soft kindness.

"I'm fine. Doesn't matter anyway."

"Are you thinking about going back?" Willow asked after a short pause.

Sundew said nothing for a minute, just sat in her thoughts. "Yeah, a bit."

Willow hugged her and leaned her head on Sundew's shoulder. "Whatever you want to do, Sundew, I'll support you. Just do what you know is right."

"That sounds like something from a book." Sundew pointed out.

"It might be. But it's still true." Willow smiled.

Sundew sighed. She knew what was right wasn't always easy. And she knew what she should do, even though she wished she didn't. But a part of her longed for her real family again.

"Thank you, Willow." Sundew said quietly. "I know what I need to do."

____________________________________________________________________________

Sundew walked home from school the next day. When she was staying with Willow, she would get a ride from Hazel to avoid being seen, but that didn't matter now.

She stepped up the walkway that led to her front door. She opened the door and hesitantly stepped inside. Almost immediately she heard her mother's voice from upstairs.

"Hello? Who's there?" She came down the stairs and froze as she made eye contact with her daughter. Sundew dropped her backpack on a kitchen chair and closed the door. Belladonna came and stood next to her, still silent.

"Hey, mom," Sundew said, "I'm home."

Belladonna hugged Sundew before Sundew could do anything. She hugged back. "I've been so worried." Belladonna whispered. "I was so scared."

Sundew couldn't remember any time when her mother had been either worried or scared, but maybe she just didn't let it show.

Sundew saw Hemlock come down the stairs next. "Bell? Who's at the door?" Then she saw Sundew and instantly was there hugging her as well. "Sundew! Where were you? You scared us so much. How-"

"I'm fine, dad." Sundew said. "I'm fine. And I can explain everything."