True Justice

"Not much, actually. I spend time with my family mostly. My mother complains that she never sees me anymore..." Terence chuckled. "I've been doing some remodeling to my own home, too. It's slow-going, but I am making progress."

He looked up as his named was called down below. He walked toward the stairs, saying, "That sounds like Adrian..."

Looking out the door, he said, "Up here, Adrian."

True Justice

Jinna finally managed to stop crying. Looking up at Elle, she wiped her hand across her eyes, which by now were red and had dark circles under them. She could not speak for another moment, then she said, gasping "I am so-rry, Elle. I kn-ow I ha-have a lot to be grateful for, but..." She put a hand on her stomach and a slight smile fluttered over her face for a moment before falling off again. A sob caught in her throat and she forced herself to stand up, to try to keep going. "I am going to have a baby." she told Elle, her face radiant with joy. "I think that is why I am acting so strangely. Besides the hormones, it is hard to know that you are losing one child as you are gaining another." Jinna picked up the dropped picnic basket and peeked inside to tidy things up a bit that had gotten rolled around in the fall. "No one but Mark was born when Grace went missing, and I have had to go through three pregnancies without her; I always feel this way, to some extent. But this time, since I am nearer to finding her, it almost makes it hurt more; for now my hopes are up, and they may be dashed, and this will be the hardest time of all." Jinna sighed and began walking again. "I hope that I find my Gracie before the babe comes. I have five months left, I think. It is hard to tell. I saw no doctor, and I am unsure about these matters." Jinna chuckled and wiped the last tears from her eyes. "You would think I would know by now, with this being my fifth baby!" She walked along, slightly cheered by being able to tell someone of her troubles.

True Justice

Elle listened, but she showed no expression or reaction. When Jinna was ready to walk again, Elle stood and continued to lead the way.

Finally, they reached the river. It was shallow and the water wasn't very fast. She knelt by the river and said, "Here is the place..."

True Justice

Jinna watched the river flow with little expression, and no words. She just sat with her skirts bunched up around her, the long grass nearly in her face, the basket set down beside her. After a minute or two, she unlaced her boots and slipped them off of her feet, set them neatly beside the basket, and waded in the river, pulling her skirt up until it was up to the bottom of her knees. She turned back to Elle, locks of hair slipping from the bun under her kerchief and framing her face. She smiled and called "Come in, the water is warm!"

True Justice

"If you spend time with your family in your spare time, but your mother complains she never sees you, you must not have much spare time." Shay shrugged. "That's all right. I don't either."

She looked up at Terence while she swept. "Why do you think he's here?" she asked about Adrian.

True Justice

"You would be right to assume that." Terence chuckled, turning to look at her. "I don't, especially during this time of year. It's usually the busiest..."

"You didn't hear him call my name? I guess it's pretty hard to hear, but I'm used to having my name called." He waited for Adrian to come up before saying anything more.

~~~

Elle shook her head. "No, I will not. I haven't been here since Walter was with me..."

True Justice

Jinna stopped where she stood, skirt clenched in her fists, hair in her eyes, and stared at Elle, her face expressionless. Since she had told Elle everything, she was a confidante. Jinna felt perfectly relaxed around her, and felt that she understood her better. It was almost like a balance; first she was weak, and Elle had been strong. Now Elle was weak, and maybe Jinna could be strong for her. And since Jinna had gotten everything off of her chest, she felt in a perfect position to do so. Suddenly, she had faith that God knew where Gracie was, and if He willed, she would find her. But if He didn't will, she would be alright, too. Jinna splashed back onto the shore, let her skirt down around her wet ankles, and looked Elle straight in the eye.

"Tell me about Walter." she said in a voice, soft but firm.

True Justice

Aeryn nodded. "You are very good with your blades..." she said, agreeing with him. "Where ever did you learn to do it so well?" she tossed some of her hair away from her face, sighing.

True Justice

Jean's heart gave a mild flutter when Aeryn tossed her hair and then he firmly told it to shut up. As a prisoner, it was a bad idea to begin fancying her, and he had helped her first because she reminded him of his sister. If he fancied her, it would be like...fancying his sister. That would be strange.

"My Da taught me when I was a kid. He was part of a pirate gang for a while before he met my Mam. What are your parent's like?"

------

Adrian jogged up the stairs, taking them two at a time, and reached the top floor. He looked around and saw Terence and Shay. Seeing Shay was a surprise; he hadn't expected to see the girl talking with Terence again. Nonetheless, he turned to talk to Terence. "It was Aeryn. She was the traitor. I'm going to find a ship to take me to the capital-- are you with me?"

True Justice

Terence rolled his eyes a little. "Are you mad?" He pushed Adrian, gently of course, onto the crate by the door and glanced at Shay, motioning for her to sit down. His eyes fell back to his friend. "Adrian, you cannot just up and leave. You need to plan these things..."

"You may have a ship, but do you have a willing crew? You just came from sea; I don't think they'll want to leave the land and return to sea within a day."

"Tell me what you know of Aeryn." Terence ran a hand through his dark hair.

~~~

Elle looked away, her frown deepening. "No. You did not know him and you will not know him now."

True Justice

"I did hear him call you - I'm just wondering why he's here." Shay shook her head when she saw Terence wasn't listening. "Never mind."

She turned back to her sweeping, then looked up when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Adrian stood at the top of the staircase, and he looked surprised to see her. She wasn't altogether surprised to see him, although she could imagine his confusion at her presence in Terence's workplace. He had left before Terence had offered Shay the job and sent her world on a different course she had thought it would go.

"Hello, Adrian." She nodded in his direction. Then she swept up the last of the wood shavings, set aside her broom, and sat down in her chair.

True Justice

"I'm not mad. I'm determined." said Adrian. "I won't take my ship. I'll take any merchant ship or trader ship leaving for a capital. There's got to be one leaving today; we're a port." He looked at Terence. "I'm leaving on my own if you're not coming."

True Justice

Disappointment bit at Jinna. Why won't she open up? She would enjoy life so much more if she would only love and be loved by other people. She sighed and maneuvered so that she was looking into Elle's eyes again, though she was almost certain the girl would turn away.

"Elle, I know that I did not get a chance to know Walter. I just think that, if you opened up, you would feel better. Maybe if you tell me about Walter, just a little bit..."

Jinna was silent for a moment, then suddenly said. "His eyes. Tell me the color of his eyes. Where they as blue as the sky, or always lighting up in laughter? Were the sensitive, caring, sweet, mischievous...?" Jinna trailed off, only hoping that her words had sparked some memory of Walter in Elle, and that the girl would speak to her of him. Jinna so loved caring for children; she had had five little sisters and she now had children of her own. Why wouldn't Elle let Jinna care for her like she had them? So she waited.

True Justice

"And if you leave?" Shay glared at Terence. "If you leave, what happens to my job?" She crossed her arms. "I highly doubt you want me managing your shipyard while you're gallivanting around the world."

True Justice

Terence shook his head. He knew it wasn't smart to leave his work right now, but his friend was more important to him and he felt like it was his duty to be beside him during this situation. Besides, his men could handle things while he was gone. Maybe.

"How long do I have before it sets sail?" Terence asked, rolling up his sleeves to his elbows. In his head, he started going over things that needed to be done before he could leave.

He turned to look at Shay. "No, no. You will not be managing my shipyard...if I decide to go. You're welcome to keep your job here, though."

~~~

Elle was silent for a long while, one single tear slipping from her green eyes. "They were brown. Like his brother's."