The Seven Revels

A Fire Rekindled

(Just warning all of you now, this chapter is a little meh.)

Indigo's vision swam in front of her as she came back to her senses. She blinked rapidly a few times and the room slowly came into focus. There were photographs hanging on the walls. Photographs of the Burgess family. Of Mary and Nigel on their wedding day, of Andrew and Daniel, arms around each other, smiling. Of Tetso and Pepper and... Milo... Milo was everywhere. Indigo closed her eyes. She didn't want to feel bad anymore. And yet, every time she closed her eyes, she could see the fear that had resided in his, the way he had screamed for her to let someone else kill him.

She groaned, trying to drown out her thoughts. The pain in her shoulder had faded considerably, but she was still keenly aware of it.

"You're lucky," Nana's voice said from beside her. She opened her eyes and looked over. Nana sat beside the bed she was laying on, her silver hair pulled away from her face, the wrinkles lining her skin more prominent than Indigo remembered. Her eyes had the same sadness in them that they had always had, but still, she smiled.

"You're lucky you found a boy like that," Nana continued, nodding toward the door. "It's clear to me he cares about you quite a bit."

"Nana," Indigo whispered. She felt as though she were dreaming. She moved to pull herself up and Nana's hands were quickly there, supporting her as she sat forward.

"You have to be careful, Indigo. A wound like this isn't just going to go away. You have to stop using your arm so much or it's going to get really bad."

Indigo's eyes filled with sudden tears and she wrapped one arm around her Nana.

"I missed you," she said, trying hard not to cry.

"I love you," was her Nana's reply. "Now, you have to tell me everything that's happened."

"It's a long story," Indigo said.

"We've got some time. You and your friend will be safe here."

"My friend... Oh!" Indigo had completely forgotten about Quill. "What's happened to him? Is he okay?"

"It sounds to me like he's fine. Mary and Nigel are helping him put together supplies right now. Once they're done with that and you're ready to move, we'll drive you back to your ship."

"Nana, I wish you could come with us."

"I do too, darling. But even the year of travel to get me here was nearly too much for me. I'm old and tired. I had my days of flying out there in the never-ending darkness. But those days are over now."

"Nana, how come you never talk about my grandfather?"

Nana looked a little surprised. Then a smile took over her face. "Well, you never asked."

"I read your journal," Indigo confessed, hanging her head. Her grandmother was silent for a moment.

"You brought my journal with you?"

"I brought your box you never wanted me to touch... With your photographs and your letters, your journal and your old pilot's manual... It saved our lives. I also brought your favorite cookbook. And Charlie... But I've nearly run out of food for him... Will you... take him for me?"

"I should have known you'd bring that ratty cat with you," Nana said with a laugh. "So like my little Indigo. You'll have to tell me what you thought of my journal."

"How come you never told me all those stories?" Indigo asked immediately. "About my grandpa and my parents and you in the military and Michael? There's so much I didn't know about you."