Warrior Song

00

As the Richards family drove, Libbie caught sight of a sign.

Beacon Hills 33 Miles

"Dad? Why the hell are we going to Beacon Hills?" Libbie asked.

Mollie smiled. "That's a nickel to the swear jar."

Libbie rolled her eyes and handed her sister a nickel. "Dad. Answer me."

Joseph let out a sigh. "I told you, Libs. They offered me a job at the hospital, and I decided to take it. Besides. I think it's time we came home."

"You weren't there! You don't remember what it was like."

"I know I lost my wife, Liberty!" He closed his eyes a moment, then opened them. "I know you're hurting, and I know you don't want to be  in Beacon Hills. But maybe things are different."

"Like how?"

Cole shrugged. "We've been gone for six years. Everyone's grown up. And besides. Don't you think Mollie should live where she was born?"

"She's lived there," Libbie said flatly.

"For three months. Not long enough to remember."

Libbie huffed and looked out the window, soon closing her eyes.

Mollie glanced at her sister, then her brother. "Is Libbie gonna be like this forever?"

Cole shook his head. "No, she won't. Libbie just remembers something really bad and it's hurting her to come back. But in time I think it'll get better."

Mollie nodded and yawned. "Okay." She cuddled closer to her brother and closed her eyes, soon falling asleep.

Cole smiled and reached down, grabbing her blanket, and put it over her legs. He glanced at his twin sister who wiped an eye and, making sure to be careful of Mollie, reached over and give Libbie's shoulder a light squeeze.

Libbie turned to him and the twins shared a small smile.

"You can do this," Cole said softly.

Libbie sniffled. "I don't know if I can."

"Libs, me, Dad and Mollie are gonna be with you every step of the way. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Get some rest. You look like you're about to crash."

Libbie rested her head against the window again and closed her eyes. While she wasn't asleep, resting her eyes did feel nice.

She didn't open them again until her father said, "Libbie, we're here."

Cole smiled. "Welcome home, Libs. Welcome home, Mollie. Beacon Hills, whaddya got for us now?"

Little any of them knew that they would soon discover the town to be much further from normal than any of them realized.