Mia

“Whoa! No! No! No!” Mary cried and raised her hands up, there was no way she was going through with this. “I can’t wear those costumes, my sensitive skin doesn`t agree with them!”

“Mar-y,” Mia whined softly, extending the ‘Y’ sound, “it’s for charity and you wouldn’t want to disappoint little kids, would you?” She pulled out the big guns: her puppy dog eyes. “Besides, it’s only one night, Mar. I think your skin can handle that.”

Running a hand though her hair the teen nodded. “I’d love that! A summer away from here and being able to spend it with my best friend, and cousin what could be better.” Plus she’d be working so it would be money she could save up so they could do something fun in the next school year. “Think I could come over to your place for a bit or is this too short notice?”

After a moment, a sob ripped through her as she clung to her cousin like figure. “It’s scary, Mia. They’re all so tall. If they get mad they could just. Squish me like a bug and it’s like. No one would be the wiser. You’re the only person still on earth who seems to recognize me anymore. The Wayne’s don’t care, the team doesn’t care, uncle Ollie and aunt Laurel and Thea…. all the others they barely even look at me anymore. I look too much like mom with none of her strength. I’m too much like dad for uncle Mick to deal with…. I just. Don’t know what to do anymore!”

Mia held tight to her cousin-by-friendship and ran a hand over her hair. She wanted to say something, anything to ease the burden of sorrow and stress that was clearly weighing upon Harper’s shoulders. But nothing she said could give Harper what she needed most: her parents back. No platitude was going to make up for the ignorance of her family. With nothing to say, Mia just held the young woman until she calmed.

Once the sorrow ebbed slightly, Mia finally objected, “But you are wrong, Harper. You do have your mother’s strength. Look at what you’ve withstood in your life... you are as strong as Aunt Sara, maybe even stronger.” She pulled away slightly so that she could meet the other girl’s eyes dead on, so that her seriousness could be seen, “And being that your Dad...you’re assuming it’s a bad thing and it’s not. Your Dad was street-smart, cunning, and charming; you are all of those things and more.”

A shiver of a breath left her before tears pricked into her eyes “I’m sorry Mia I’m just. I’m not myself anymore. Everything feels so different now that mom and dad are both gone. And living with the mechs it’s just. God it’s confusing and I just.” A whimper bubbled our of her before she wildly wiped at her eyes, trying to remain strong in front of the only family she had left.

Mia worried the inside of her cheek as the other young woman began to apologize. When she began to explain, the youngest Queen immediately felt guilty for pushing the issue. She scooted closer to Harper and slipped an arm around her shoulders swiftly, pulling the other girl into her side, “There’s no need to apologize, Harper. You can cry or whatever to me if you want. It’s good to cry.”

Harper gave a slow nod, her entire being was different emotionally. She wasn’t quite so happy go lucky anymore. Her excitement gone although a plasterer smile was on her face “yes Mia. I’m fine. Don’t worry”

Mia didn’t know whether Harper thought that she was just that good an actress or she thought that Mia was just unobservant, but neither was correct. The young blonde could clearly see the brittle nature of the other woman’s smile from a mile away.

She sat down next to her friendship-cousin with a small exhale, “Want to try that again, Harp? It wasn’t very convincing.”

"Remind me again as to why we thought this would be a good idea?"

Mia laughed, “Because it’s the holidays, Mar-Mar. Charity’s always a good idea. Besides, it’s just one night of playing Christmas elves, you can handle it.”

“We?” Jax laughs and shakes his head “Who is we?” He asked then sighs “ok fine I didn’t try to save my father and Ronnie but that couldn’t have changed much right?”

Aww, you are too kind. I truly appreciate the sentiment behind this message as I am always nervous about Mia and her value to my RP partners, so thank you sincerely.