Always With You- SOKEEFE(unlocked)

Chapter Seven, Part One

A/N:  First off, thank you so, so much for 400 reads!! This took me a loooooooong time to write up and figure out, and yes, I did mean for it to say 'Part One' up there. There will be a second part to this chapter. I just wanted to split up the chapter to... well, you'll find out why. *insert Nessie's evil smirk face* Also, just a heads up, the big chunk in italics are memories.

Sophie stared out into a sea of lights welcoming her. The first time she had been to the Point of Purity, she didn't get to enjoy it as much as she should have. Now that she had gotten used to all of the chaos going on she was able to relax just sitting there, staring down at the earth and the stars around.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?" Oralie said to Sophie.

"Yeah, it really is."

Oralie paused and took a breath, "I came up here before I made the decision to donate to the Black Swan, you know."

"Why did you?" Sophie asked.

"The decision to have a child is one of the hardest decisions in a person's life and to be completely honest, it's terrifying. Not because we're scared to have a child, but mostly because of the responsibility you have to take on so suddenly. One minute it's just you and the next, you're a mother with another life you're responsible for."

Sophie stood up and walked slowly towards the edge of the room keeping her eyes on the Cygnus constellation.

Sophie took a small breath. "I'm really sorry for how I've been acting lately."

"You shouldn't be sorry, I should. I've been selfish keeping this secret from you."

"No, you're not, I understand now that it was the best for both of us considering the whole situation. I just wish..."

"That you didn't have to be the Moonlark." Oralie finished for her.

"It's not that I don't appreciate everything good that has come with it, but... I could die tomorrow for all I know, yet I'm more scared of the fact that if my friends die, it would be because I wouldn't have been there to protect them."

"You're not going to die and neither are your friends."

"Do you not realize that we, a group of teenagers and a man covered in ruckleberries, are up against a team of highly trained murders, and Gisela and Vespera?"

"Yes, but you're forgetting that the fact that you are teenagers has saved your butts numerous times. And I know that as long as you stick with Keefe and those friends of yours, you all will keep each other safe."

"Um, why wouldn't Keefe be my friend?"

"Have you seen the way that boy looks at you?!" Oralie paused to smile at her now blushing daughter, "We should get back to Eternalia. I'm sure Grady and Edaline would want you home before dinner."

Sophie nodded her agreement and took Oralie's hand as they walked together into the beam of light.

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"You know, we can always do this another time if you're not ready." Oralie suggested.

"What do mean?"

"Well... you're nervous, and scared, and anxious." she started listing off.

"Okay, okay, I get it. I'm a hot mess."

"You're not a hot mess, alright. Just try to calm down. It's going to be as hard as it is for you without all that anxiety on top."

"I can't help it. Besides I'm sure I'd feel the same way even if we were to do this a hundred years from now."