Part 6 ~ Opening Up

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Authors Note: I'm only just realizing how fucked up the timeline is in this story, let's ignore that shall we?

The next morning was here sooner than Alec thought. He woke up to see Fiore still asleep. He smiled gently before remembering what he had read last night. He tried not to think about it, getting up and going to the bathroom. Upon leaving the bathroom, he saw Fiore. She was just getting up.
"Good morning, Fiore." Alec said, smiling softly.
"Good morning..." Fiore yawned. She looked so tired. What was going on?
"You look tired." Alec admitted. Fiore looked at him with a certain look on her face.
"Oh, really? Not like we're getting up at nine in the morning after going to bed at one." She teased. Alec rolled his eyes, but he did smile. After all that was going on, he liked hearing Fiore's snarky remarks yet again. "Hey, Alec?" Fiore muttered. Alec looked down at her.
"Yes?" He replied.
"Can we go to breakfast together?" She asked. Alec smiled.
"Of course, go get ready." Fiore smiled lightly before getting up and going to the bathroom. Alec liked seeing Fiore smile. It made him feel like a good dad- oh shit. There he is again, thinking about the whole dad thing. Why couldn't he just get it out of his head? Alec flinched when the bathroom door opened again.
"Hey Alec, I'm ready- Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah, sorry, you just startled me." Alec laughed. "Let's go." He said. The two of them went out to get breakfast. Fiore grabbed cereal again, Alec got eggs and bacon. The two sat down and began eating. Alec wanted to start a conversation but he couldn't think of anything.
"Sorry." Fiore muttered, quietly. Alec was confused.
"Fiore, you don't need to apologize. I've already forgiven you for last season." He replied. Fiore looked up at him.
"It's not about last season. It's about now." She stated. Alec was even more confused. "I'm sorry I've been blowing up in your face recently and yelling at you." She said. Alec was surprised. Was she really trying to change? This was all so different to him, he forgot to reply.
"Oh, uh, sorry. Got lost in thought. I forgive you, Fiore." He replied. Fiore just nodded slightly, continuing to eat her food. Alec kept trying to think of something, anything to keep the conversation going. But he couldn't. Eventually, an idea struck him. "Fiore, would you like to do something with me today?" Fiore looked up, interested.
"Do what?" She asked. Alec thought for a moment.
"How about we go for a walk? There's a nice trail outside the motel." Alec suggested.
"Is that allowed?" Fiore asked.
"I don't see why not." Alec said. Fiore nodded, beginning to finish up her food. Alec felt good about being able to spend genuine time with Fiore. The two finished up their food and walked outside. The two began walking down the trail and talking. "So...how've you been at the motel? Before I got here, of course." Alec asked.
"Terrible, to be honest." Fiore replied. Alec felt bad, he knew things would be rough, but terrible? He knew she had been evil in both seasons but she's still eight.
"I'm sorry." Alec muttered. Fiore looked up and him.
"It's not your fault. It's mine. I've been terrible to most people in both seasons." She explained.
"But you're only eight. They shouldn't be acting like this with a child." Alec replied.
"Does that really change anything?" She asked.
"It should." Alec stated. Fiore sighed.
"It doesn't. At least not to these people." She admitted. Alec felt worse.
"I'm sorry." Alec said, again.
"Why?" Fiore asked. Alec stopped. Not physically, but mentally. He tried to think why he was sorry, when he really shouldn't be. But he thought back to her journal. He thought back to things she's told him. The puzzle was slowly coming together about her past. Alec sighed.
"Because you've gone through a lot, Fiore." Alec stated. Fiore rolled her eyes.
"Boohoo. Who cares? Not me." Fiore replied.
"You clearly do, and so do I." Alec replied. Fiore looked down, hiding her face. Alec noticed this. Fiore kept walking, trying to hide her face. "Fiore..." Alec muttered. He kneeled down to see Fiore crying. Alec opened his arms, signaling Fiore to hug him. She slowly walked into his arms and hugged him. She cried into his shoulder. Alec lifted her up and slowly started walking back to the motel as she cried. He rubbed her back gently, trying to comfort her. She wasn't crying hard, but you could clearly tell she was bothered. Alec wished he could help, but he didn't know how. As they approached the motel, Fiore stopped crying.
"Alec, put me down please." She said. Alec looked at her.
"Are you sure?" Alec asked. Fiore nodded, Alec slowly lowered her to the ground. They both walked into the motel. Upon walking in, Connor walked up to them.
"Hey Alec, hey Fiore." He said. Alec smiled lightly.
"Hello, Connor." Alec said. Connor looked down at Fiore, and seemed to notice her eyes were red. He looked back up at Alec, than at Fiore again.
"What? What are you looking at?" Fiore asked.
"Sorry Fiore, I need to talk to Alec about something. Alone. Could you go, please?" Connor asked. Alec looked confused.
"Whatever." Fiore replied, walking back to her room. Connor looked back up at Alec.
"What do you want to talk about?" Alec asked.
"Fiore." Connor replied. Alec sighed. "Is she okay?" Connor asked.
"What?" Alec replied.
"Well her eyes seemed red." Connor explained. Alec sighed.
"Connor, can I be honest?" Alec said. Connor nodded.
"She's not okay, Connor. I don't think this show is healthy for her, but her home life doesn't seem any better, maybe worse if I'm being honest." Alec admitted. Connor was surprised.
"Are you serious?..." Connor asked. Alec nodded.
"I read her journal...I know I shouldn't but...I read something. Something I can't believe." Alec admitted. Connor was intrigued. "Her parents...aren't good. From what I've read and what she's told me in the past, they aren't good parents." Alec explained. Connor appeared surprised.
"Poor kid..." Connor said. Alec nodded.
"I want to help her, but I don't know how." Alec admitted. Connor looked at Alec.
"You'll think of something, Alec. I know you will." Connor replied. Alec sighed.
"I've been a horrible father before...I don't want to be one again." Alec admitted. Connor gently grabbed Alec's shoulder.
"Alec. You're better than before, I know you are." Connor replied. Alec smiled slightly.
"Thank you, Connor." Alec said. The two hugged. Alec looked at Connor. "I should probably go check on her, she was crying earlier." Connor nodded. Alec walked back to his room. Upon entry, he saw Fiore crying. She was writing in her notebook yet again. Alec slowly walked up to her. Fiore looked up at him, he was expecting her to tell him to "go away" or to "leave her alone" but she didn't. She just looked up at him, crying. Alec felt horrible. He truly couldn't believe she had such a horrible family. He opened his arms again, and she hugged him again, crying into his shoulder. Alec felt terrible. "I'm sorry, Fiore. You don't deserve any of this." Alec said. Fiore looked at him.
"I do." She replied. Alec looked shocked.
"No you don't! You may be an asshole most of the time, but nobody deserves this." Fiore sighed.
"Everyone I know has told me I deserve this. What makes you different? I've been awful to you, just...tell me you wish I were dead already." She muttered, tears still streaming down her face. Alec was shocked.
"What? Who told you this?" He asked. Fiore didn't reply. Alec sighed and hugged her tighter. "I don't wish you were dead." Fiore cried harder. This was this first time a parent figure in her life had loved her. Alec took notice of this. He felt horrible.

.     .     .

An hour had passed. Fiore had fallen asleep in Alecs arms. Her face red, bags under her eyes. Alec had never seen her cry before, let alone this much. He felt so awful. He just wished he could help. And with the finale coming up, he didn't have much time. He had to think of something, and fast.

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