Memories

LXVI

ISLAND IN THE SUN

'When you're on a holiday
You can't find the words to say
All the things that come to you
And I want to feel it too'

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"It'd be really uncomfortable for anyone to sit on the floor of a car for hours on end," Thalia said, holding Kevin's hands. "I'll be fine with Matt, okay? It's just a few hours. I'm not running off again." Kevin had begun to be clingy since Thalia returned the other day. She didn't blame him, but it was slightly annoying. It didn't help that he was in a bad mood from his conversation with Wymack. Kevin hadn't offered up any information, and Thalia was content to wait for him to be comfortable enough to share how it had gone down. 

"Okay. Okay fine. I'll see you soon." Kevin said. Thalia smiled and nodded, leaning up to kiss his cheek before heading over to Matt's truck, where Allison was leaning against it, waiting for Thalia to get in the middle of her and Renee.

"Are you sure you don't want to sit next to Renee?" Thalia asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. "I missed a few things while I was away, didn't I."

"You missed the fact that your brother was banging the most disturbed member of our dysfunctional team?" Allison said with no heat. Thalia rolled her eyes.

"No, I saw that coming from a mile away," she said and smiled when Allison's eyebrows furrowed and then raised. "I meant you and Renee."

"I know what you meant." Allison said. She didn't make any further comment about switching places in the truck with Thalia, so Thalia shrugged and climbed into the back seat.

"Hello Thalia," Renee said kindly with a smile on her face. Thalia nodded to Renee and buckled herself in. It was hard to get comfortable, especially in the middle seat and with all her injuries, but she did eventually.

"We all set?" Matt called back, looking in the rearview mirror. Thalia nodded, and Renee voiced her yes, but Allison stayed quiet. Thalia wanted to figure out what was going on, but stayed quiet when Matt put on the radio.

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When they arrived, Kevin immediately walked over and hugged Thalia. Loosely, so that he didn't hurt her anymore than she was, but he seemed so tired, as if he hadn't slept all night. Thalia would make sure he did tonight. That was the only thing she was going to make him do - sleep. She was going to help him work through other things as well, after the vacation and after the stress of the championships and final exams. But for now, they had some time to relax, and Thalia was going to make the most of it.

The cabin was what you'd expect from a cabin in the mountains. Five bedrooms - one downstairs, four upstairs at each corner of the cabin - and a big living room and kitchen area. There was a patio out the back, and a spa pool overlooking the mountainside. Thalia followed Kevin upstairs where he put their bags in one of the bedrooms. Thalia followed him inside. There were two doubles, and Thalia pushed one up against the wall, living her old habits. She knew she was safe here with the Foxes, but this was something she couldn't let go easily, especially after just leaving the nest.

"Thalia," Kevin said slowly. Thalia looked up to see him looking at her cautiously. She looked down at herself; she was curled up in a ball in the corner of the bed, back pressed against the corners of the wall. Thalia peeled herself away from the wall and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her feet. "Are you alright?"

"I was just thinking of the nest," Thalia said truthfully. She stood and rummaged around in her bag. "I need a cigarette." she murmured before going out onto the balcony and leaning against the edge of the railing with her stomach pressed against it. Thalia lit her cigarette and blew smoke out of her mouth. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, but it only reminded her of Lola's knife against her neck in the car on the way to Baltimore. 

When Thalia opened her eyes again, Kevin was standing next to her, looking out at the mountains. "He was confused," Kevin said. Thalia looked over at him silently, knowing he needed to speak up about the conversation he'd had hours before with Wymack. "But I told him about the letter, and he said that he assumed, for a while at least, even though she told him he wasn't my father." Thalia put her free hand gently over Kevin's and he looked down at it. 

"Kevin, you know you don't have to tell me this if you don't want to," Thalia said in encouragement, though she knew he wouldn't be telling her if he didn't want to. He hummed and then looked at the mountains again, going to continue.

"He said he always expected my mother to put me in his care if she died, even if he wasn't my father." Kevin said. "But then I guess she got closer with the Master, and then he was the number one caregiver." He looked down again, and Thalia could see the tears in his eyes. She turned Kevin and reached up to wipe them away. Kevin sniffed and looked into Thalia's eyes. 

"I know what it's like to lose someone you care about," Thalia said. "I may not remember much, but I remember you. I remember you caring for me all those years ago. When Riko beat us down, we'd help each other back up." She smiled and Kevin did too, ever so slightly. "But we found each other again. And you found your father. And that's something to hold onto, Kevin. Because Wymack cares about you so damn much, even if he doesn't show it. That's where you get it from." Kevin huffed. "Hold onto every good person who cares about you. Wymack. The Foxes. Me. There are people who care about you and who love you, Kevin. So fucking much."

"I love you too, Thalia." Kevin whispered. Thalia jerked her head in the direction of the bedroom and Kevin nodded. "Yeah, we should better get back downstairs." Thalia stubbed out her cigarette and the two went back inside and headed downstairs to join the rest of the team.