Guardians

Cedric-34

**I'm doing some from Cedric and Tabitha's points of view as well. Just to give you more insight on the situation at hand. Enjoy!**

I watched Brady cradle the little girl he called Piper. I was guessing he was related to her because she kept mumbling how she wanted to go home and stay with him.

Tabitha looked at me with a sad expression. Neither of us had known there were kids. We knew that they were going to use our DNA. But we figured it would be for the Desmonda...

"Cedric," Penelope asked gently.

I gazed into her violet eyes and did my best to smile for her sake. She was doing her best to care for everyone but I could tell it was taking a toll on her.

"Yes Penelope?"

"You can call me Nel like the others," she smiled warmly. "Mind if Brady and I go find some food and have some privacy? I need to break down without my brother and sister seeing it," she admitted ashamed.

"I understand Nel. Honestly I don't know how you do it but I admire you for it."

She thanked me and retreated with Brady while the rest of us went around tending to the children's wounds. We had contacted Jeremiah but he was still a few hours away so we had moved the kids to a safer area, away from all the chemicals and smoke.

I stared at the plumes of smoke still radiating from the place. To say it had been a home was a complete lie. The only thing I had been greatful for was the windows so I could keep track of the days.

Footsteps padded over to where I was sitting. I knew it was Marie by the sound of her breathing. It was light and soothing like a lullaby.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better," she said and plopped down next to me, her wings brushing up against mine.

I held back a shiver, she was so young but old compared to me. Although me and Tabitha were mature enough to be adults, so it balanced out. There was just something about her that made her appealing...

"Will they be okay?" she whispered and scooted closer to me.

I gently held her and waited for her to pull away like earlier. She only moved her head to lay on my shoulder and I kissed her hair gently. Marie knew I liked her... the question was did she like me?

"Once Jeremiah gets here they'll be back to their normal selves. Until then we have to make the best of the situation and hope they haven't been changed too much."

She sighed, "do you ever regret being like this?"

I winced at the question because I had no life before this one. She must've realized this as well and pulled back to look at me, "I... I'm sorry Cedric I didn't mean,"

"I know... but I guess I would've wished to have been brought up differently. As long as I still met you though it wouldnt matter."

She blushed and laid her head on my shoulder again, "me too."