IV.V: So Young

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Juanita Virtue checked Tatiana's vitals just once more. Her heart rate was still fast, as was her breathing, but at least her heart and lungs were still operational. She hummed and brushed Tatiana's fluffy, curly hairs from her forehead, bending down to kiss her lightly.

Juanita straightened and looked down at her adopted daughter. She seemed so small. Smaller, even, than when she'd first come into the Virtue's family.  Juanita glanced at Steven sleeping in the armchair. He was exactly as Tatiana had described, so many years ago. Respectful, considerate. But Juanita could see the recklessness also.

His curiousity about Tatiana had not gone unnoticed by Juanita, neither had the way his hours spent by her side. She had observed Oriana's chilliness toward him, and she disapproved of it. This man seemed like one Tatiana could build a good life with, who would be a good father to her children, unlike Jason Todd. Juanita just hoped Tatiana could see it.

Tatiana had come so far from that sobbing seventeen-year old holding a gun to her own skull. She'd built a family. She had friends. Money. She had found a place. Yet she still seemed to run away from it. Sure, she had a few more gray hairs, and many more scars, but isn't that what makes life worth living? Experience, wisdom, love?

"We are going to be late, Juanita," Tomas spoke, gruffly, from the door.

Juanita sighed, "Should we really leave her alone... she's so young..."

Tomas hugged her from behind, "We both know she doesn't need us anymore."

"She's only twenty-three," Juanita protested, "she's young."

"She doesn't think that," Tomas breathed into her hair, his strong arms wrapped around her middle.

Juanita frowned, "That's the problem. She's going to get herself killed, Tomas."

"She hasn't yet," Tomas countered.

"She almost did."

"But she didn't."

"I don't want her to get hurt, Tomas. I don't think I could take it."

"She won't. I promise."

Juanita sighed sadly, "Don't make promises you can't keep, mi amor. We both know this won't last. She'll wake up and go run into the next gunfight."

Tomas matched her tone, but more strongly, "Then we'll be here, waiting for her when she comes home."

Juanita clasped her hands over his, "I love you."

"I love you, too. We really do need to go, though. We are going to be late," Juanita could feel his smile on the back of her neck.

"Fine," she grumbled.

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