𝗘𝗫𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗘. ❪ 𝚔𝚊𝚖 ❫

four

☾ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 ☾

"She's gone, guys." Elwin said. "I'm so sorry."

Sophie was the first of their shell-shocked group to react.

"What? No! She can't just be gone." She stood up suddenly, knocking a blanket off her lap.

"I did everything I could. I promise." Elwin told her.

"Let me check her mind. She has to be alive!"

Sophie barged into the room and knelt by Biana's bedside. She put her fingertips on either side of Biana's head. Her eyes closed and she wore a look of concentration. After a minute she took her fingers off Biana's temples, slumped to the floor and began to cry.

Linh walked over and sat on the floor, putting her arm around Sophie and whispering things into her ear that no one else could hear.

Keefe was numb. Only hours ago he and Tam were about to eat Mallowmelt with Biana, and now she had died in childbirth. He wondered if he could take any more loss. First Fitz, and now Biana? He realized that all of the Vacker children had passed on, and a lump formed in his throat. He remembered all of the hours the three of them had played Base Quest and Bramble when the were younger. It was hard to believe that Biana Vacker, a girl so full of life and enthusiasm, was gone.

Tam reached for Keefe's hand, and they were both grateful for a reminder that the other one was still there.

"Keefe?" Tam said. His voice felt raw and shaky.

"Yeah?" Keefe said.

"What happens now?"

-- ☾

Tam, Keefe, Linh and Sophie were all curled up on beanbag chairs at Linh and Sophie's house. Keefe and Sophie has shed most of the tears, although Linh had allowed herself a few moments of grief earlier. Tam hadn't cried at all, but his eyes were glassy. The feeling of sadness saturated the air and made Keefe's lungs feel empty.

"What are we going to do, guys?" Linh said into the silence.

"About what?" Sophie asked.

"Well, isn't the baby still alive?" Linh said.

"I think so." Keefe said.

"We're the closest she had to family at this point." Linh said. "Shouldn't one of us adopt the baby? It's the least we can do for Biana."

"You're right." Sophie said.

"We'll do it." Tam said suddenly.

"We will?" Keefe said, a bit surprised at Tam's sudden offer.

"I mean, if you... want a kid, that is." Tam amended.

"Of course I do! I was just surprised." Keefe said, giving Tam an apologetic smile.

"So, you're going to send an adoption request to the Council now?" Linh asked.

"Yeah. I guess we should do that now." Tam said. He was excited and scared at the same time. He and Keefe were going to be parents.