What is Needed But Unexpected

half truths

After a few weeks passed everything seemed to fall into a pattern and Katherine found herself slowly fitting into the mix. It had surprised her at first that Anne drug her along on outings with Maggie and Lizzie, insisting that they were family and should act like one.

It was like Anne had noticed that she had tried to distance herself and had forced her right into the middle of the family dynamic and for once, Katherine finally started to hope that there was a place still there for her. A place which wasn't just a member of Six or one of Henry's exes.

Even if that place was currently trying to ignore a practically bouncing Elizabeth in her doorway.

"Come on Kitty! Please? I know you and Mary doesn't get along but Mum and I want you to come."

Katherine sighed as she glanced up from her book at the pleading gaze of her younger cousin. How could she say no to that? 

"Mary and I get along fine, Liz. But I have to ask, How ever did you convince her to come with you? Didn't she want to go to that thing at school?" Katherine questioned.

"In my defense, I didn't want to go skating...But after the argument we had this morning my Mum is forcing me to spend the day with her." Mary's voice called from the hallway, earning a sour look from Lizzie.

"Oh shut up, you love me!" 

"Only when you're asleep!"

the familiar bickering causing Katherine to laugh.

"Okay, okay, I'll come but only if I don't have to listen to this all afternoon." 

Mary moved to lean against the doorway behind Elizabeth, smirking a bit as she rested her arm on the younger teen's head.

"I make no promises, depends if shrimp gets on my nerves." 

Katherine couldn't help but laugh softly at their exchange as she got on her feet.

"If you make a scene I will personally abandon your asses and let Anne deal with it." 

________★________

"You okay Kit-Kat?" 

Everyone had noticed that within the last few weeks that Kat had been distant, locking herself in her room for hours at a time and only really interacting with the others for the show or when she was practically forced. However, what was worse was the fact that she had heard Katherine yell out in her sleep and even muffled sobs come from the youngest Queen's room.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

Katherine's response was defensive, nearly angry although Anne just rolled her eyes and put an arm around her cousins shoulders.

"Because you've been acting weird and frankly everyone is worried. You know you can tell us anything right?" 

Anne noticed the hesitation when her cousin nodded.

"Kat, I know we've been busy with getting the paperwork and everything else to get the kids in school and Parr is either writing or taking care of Mae in her free time but if you need us, we'll listen. You know that right?" 

Anne asked, pulling the teenager into a sideways hug as they walked towards the table where the other two teens had sat to put on their skates.

"What if….What if I'm just being really fucking selfish?" Katherine asked, earning a chuckle from Anne.

"Kat, you worried about your servants and family when you were facing death. I don't think selfish is a word I would ever use to describe you. Now tell me what's going on or I will pressure you about it all day."

Anne watched the conflicting emotions on her younger cousin's face before she said.

"Please don't take this the wrong way... I love that the kids are back and that everyone is so happy now but...I just wish...I didn't feel like I was missing something, you know? I….I never really had what any of them do and seeing you all... it just hurts a bit is all." 

It all made sense to Anne then and she tightened her hold on the slightly taller girl.

"I know it's not quite the same but we are a family ...All of us and we want to be there Kat, but you can't push us away like you have been because then we don't know when something is wrong."