The Dark Hour

--------Layla--------

I was in the garden by myself, Riker had to do something or he would probably be here with me. I sighed and picked up the apples that were ready.

"I thought that I would find you here." Someone yelled. I froze and turned. I let out sigh when I saw that it was just my brother. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I just thought that you were someone else." He nodded.

"How are you doing? Ryan told me what happened. How are your arms."

"I'm fine Aio, I have burn cream that I'm putting on. I'll be fine. I thought that you were going back to the demon world."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm going back to the demon world it's the only world that I know. But I just got you back and I was wondering if you wanted to come back with me." I looked at Aio. I shrugged.

"I don't know I mean I have a new life here Aio. I'm not quite sure if I want to leave. I mean I have Riker and Valerie here. I just can't leave them!" Aio nodded.

"I understand, but please just think about it." I nodded and he handed me a small brown bag. "It's so you can come live with me when you make up your mind." He left and I sighed. I feel like something's off about him. I just shrugged it off. I mean it's Aio.

~~~~

I was sitting on my couch thinking about what I was going to do. I don't want to leave Valerie and Riker, but I got my brother back and I want to spend more time with him. I shook my head I don't want to choose. I've known this place for months now. I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my door open. I looked up and it was Valerie and Riker.

"Hey you guys." I mumbled looked back down at the bag.

"Hey, are you doing ok?" Valerie asked softly.

"Yeah just thinking. My brother came and saw me an hour ago."

"What are you thinking about?" Riker asked curiously.

"If I should stay here or go live with him in the demon world. He just asked me out of the blue. I'm not sure what to do."

"Do you really want to stay in the demon world?" Riker asked sitting down. "I mean where would you two live? And how's he going to support the both of you? What would you even do down there?"

"I would probably do house work or get a job at the cafe that I was working at. We still have my parents old house, but I want to stay here cause I have you guys. Plus something is off about Aio, it might just be me though." I sighed. "That's why I'm just thinking, I don't want to leave here cause I've known this please for three months now. I made friends here. I just don't know what to do." I said putting head head on Riker's chest.

"Well do you what you thinks best," Valerie sighed. "If you want to left that's fine but if you don't I'm sure he would understand. It's not like you could visit him or us if you wanted to." I nodded. I just don't know what to do.

"Have you seen Ridge lately?" I asked looking at Val.

"No," She muttered. "I stopped by the med bay but I didn't go in."

"Okay. Why didn't you go in?" She shrugged and looked down. I nodded.

"So did you guys just stop by to see how I was doing or was there a reason?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing," Riker looked at Valerie. "I found her sulking by the river."

"I was not," Valerie snapped.

"Are you okay? I mean you never pout."

"I wasn't-"

"Yes you were," Riker interrupted. She glared at him the walked out of the room. I sighed and got up.

"I'll go get her." I said leaving. I chased her down the hall and grabbed her wrist. "Valerie what's going on? You've been acting weird."

"I'm fine," She said pulling away.

"Val stop!" I yelled. "What's going on? And don't tell me that nothing is wrong or that you're fine. Cause I know you're not." She sighed frustrated.

"Maybe it's because I couldn't control myself and I killed a bunch of people. Almost including my own brother," She said angrily.

"You killed bad people Valerie, you didn't know that Ridge was still in there."

"Everyone was in there. They were all looking for Cas or for you, and I set the whole building on fire with everyone in it. I didn't know who was still in the building but I still caused it to burn down and collapse on anyone still there. Just because they were doing the wrong thing doesn't make them bad, they didn't think they were bad and some of the people didn't have a choice." Her eyes were watering but she still managed to keep her voice steady. "I killed anyone that didn't get out. It didn't matter if they were bad."

"Val.." I said softly. I bit my bottom lip and hugged her. "It's okay you don't always have to be strong all the time." She shook her head.

"I can't even look at him without seeing what I did," She said softly.

"Val I'm sure he doesn't blame you. I know I wouldn't if I was in his shoes. If you went to go see him I'm sure he will be happy to see you."

"He can barely talk," She muttered. I sighed.

"I know I went to see him yesterday but he still talked. Either way he will forgive you or he probably doesn't blame you for it."

"How? I was the one that couldn't control it, he could've easily died in there. How could he not blame me for anything?"

"Cause I don't and he's your brother Val please go see him. If you want me too I will go with you."

"I don't know," She sighed. I nodded and pulled away.

"It's going to be okay. Is there anything else bothering you?"

"No," She said quickly.

"Okay, I've made up my mind on everything. So I'm going to go talk to my brother. Are you going to be okay?" She nodded.

"I'll be fine, be careful. Ok?" I nodded. I went back to my room and Riker was sitting on the couch. I leaned over the back and grabbed the piece of candy.

"Hey I'm going to the demon world to talk to my brother okay."

"Ok, um I'll get out of your room," He said with a slight smile.

"I don't think that it will take long but if you want to you can." I said kissing his cheek. I put the piece of candy in my mouth.

~~~~

I looked at the building that I grew up in, I shivered and sneezed. I walked up to the door, I slowly opened it and a smell of chocolate cookies filled my nose. It's like mom was in the kitchen cooking. I looked around but didn't see Aio.

"Aio-" I was cut off with something hitting the back of my head and knocking me out.