#therunawayapprentice

Holly looked over to Simeon with a small smile, shifting over on the rock face to give him room to climb up. They had gone on a trip with Jeremiah and Celia, and Celia decided that they should get to know each other, so she sent Simeon to rock-climb with Holly while Jeremiah took her on a boat ride. So far, it had gone well. They talked amiably as they climbed, keeping a respectable amount of space whilst still being close enough to help each other up the steep cliffs. Suddenly Simeon stopped, and Holly looked down at the other. "Simeon? Are you okay?""I--I'm stuck.""Stuck--?""My gear's stuck."Holly carefully crawled back down to check it out - and then there was a rumble from above them and the two looked up."...What was that?""...Not good?"Simeon looked at the questioning tone and Holly looked back with a little grimace, shifting nearly behind him to try to get him unstuck - then the rumble happened again, and she pulled him close to her and pushed them against the cliff face to narrowly avoid a giant boulder that fell past them, the two wide-eyed and Holly took a deep breath, looking beneath her."...This is gonna hurt. Okay--"She pulled the boy to her, unhooking him from his gear, and pushed off, belaying down until her rope ended and then cutting it. They fell the rest of the way and Holly landed on her feet, hugging Simeon tight to her, the boy's legs around her waist and his arms around her neck with his eyes shut tight as the tell-tale rumble happened once more and she carried him into a cave to wait out the cascade."...So. Um. ...Adventures, huh?"Simeon looked startled as Holly grinned weakly at him, and then he laughed, and she laughed, the two talking amiably in the cave until the rocks stopped and they walked out of the cave and rejoined the others.(Later, Simeon ran up to Holly with a tight hug and a muttered thank you in her ear, and she hugged back and ruffled his hair and sent him on his way).

Holly couldn't really look at him - didn't know why, didn't know why she was embarrassed, but she smiled nonetheless and squeezed his hands gently."Thank you, Simeon."It was easy to tell, however, just how much she relaxed to know.

10. A Blind Date"Where am I going?""This way."The twins walked on either side of the boy, making him distinctly uncomfortable - coupled with the fact that he couldn't see at all and they were leading him where he could only assume was through the streets of London, he was already embarrassed."C'mon guys--""Almost.""This is ridiculous-""Oh hush-""Can I-""No."Their voices were in sync and it threw him off further and then he was sat down at a table with a gentle, "m'lady," and the blindfold was taken off him, causing the boy's eyes to widen as he saw his girlfriend sitting across from him, a slinky blue gown shimmering in the light and her hair down in doll-like curls smiling at him.He turned then to the twins, who winked and waved."Enjoy the blind date!"And Simeon groaned, turning back to his girlfriend as the twins laughed and walked off.

"Sweetheart..."Lorena's eyes softened at his outburst, hugging him tightly and kissing his forehead."Celia doesn't seem to think that - and so many things have gone right that you've done. Try not to focus on the negative, as hard as it is, because you've done so much good, Simeon, and you need to see it because everyone else does, love."

Lorena knew something wasn't right - she knew somewhat that she'd been unconscious, that it had been a while, could hear Freddy's voice when he talked to her, her sister, her children. Now though, she heard nothing, even as she opened her eyes and looked around. Her answer came in the form of Anna sleeping in a chair, head on the bed and hand in Lorena's, and Simeon dozing off, in a similar position, trying hard to stay awake."Simeon, sleep."His eyes went wide at the voice and he looked to her and choked up, tearing up as he immediately crawled into the bed and laid there, snuggling up with her."Mom...welcome back."Lorena smiled and kissed his forehead quietly; she could call her husband in the morning. For now she would comfort her children."I'm home."

"Simeon, right?"

"I'm pretty sure we should talk now." 

"Well, hello handsome. Are you looking for anything in particular?"