Time

After quickly scarfing down a basic breakfast, Ava took the lead and took a few steps forward, and a moment after, the three other girls followed in a small group. To the side, various other girls were prepping for the morning or talking about random things in the courtyards and would wave and greet the group as they passed by, which Ava greeted in turn with a small smile and a nod.

Having lived here for over three years, although Ava couldn't say she got along with everyone in the Foxes Respite, at the very least, it wasn't too hard to be cordial with everyone. Behind her, Haley also greeted back a few people she was particularly familiar with while Ahri gave a gentle smile to everyone. Being the resident doctor, although it couldn't be said that everyone liked Ahri, at the very least, everyone treated her with an appropriate amount of respect.

As for Lily… She wandered around with an absentminded look, sometimes even falling a few steps behind the group before realizing and quickly catching up. Knowing Lily's somewhat ditsy personality, everyone simply hid a small smile and gave Lily a small hello as she passed by. If she happened to miss them… well, nobody would hold it against her.

Exiting the courtyard, Ava turned a corner and quickly arrived in front of the Madam's office and lightly knocked twice. After hearing a soft, "Come in." Ava opened the door and entered, while the three girls behind her all showed varying degrees of anxiety, even the steadiest Ahri couldn't help but hide a small twitch of her lips, but after letting out a greeting and noticing that they were entering, the three girls quickly followed Ava in, with Lily trailing in last.

Seeing that Lily had forgotten to close the door, Haley could only pat her head and quickly go back and close the door before taking a seat at the side. Watching this, Ava let out a small smile but, in the end, didn't say anything. Although she had grown to respect and love the Madam over the years, she couldn't say she really ever feared the Madam or treated her with the same reverence the other girls did.

Of course, the Madam also put on a lot less air around her and didn't seem to mind that Ava was so casual, so in the end, under a few quiet whispers that Ava might secretly be the Madam's long-lost child, Ava had somehow ended up as the person that everyone would go and speak to when they had a minor request or message they wanted passed along, and in turn became the person who talked to the Madam the most, second to only Bella, who often worked as the Madam's assistant, and Ahri, who came in contact with the Madam a lot because of her work as a doctor.

Taking a seat, Ava smiled and looked at the Madam with a relaxed smile. The Madam let out a helpless smile and could only ask with a somewhat helpless tone, "You've really decided?"

Letting out a nod, Ava smiled and turned to look at the three girls behind her before turning back, "I'm sure."

Shaking her head, the Madam let out a sigh and said, "Alright, I won't hold you back. Just know that your rooms are always here if you need them. Do you need any help moving?"

Ava shook her head, "Nah, we should be fine." Flexing an arm, she let out a small smile, "I'm pretty strong, know."

Letting out a chuckle, the Madam cheered up, "I don't know… with that little stature of yours…"

Her face darkening, Ava could only grumble, "I'll grow taller soon…"

Smiling, the Madam let out a nod, "Alright, is there anything else you need?"

Ava shook her head, "Nah, just wanted to give you a heads up and say goodbye."

"Alright then, goodbye, Ava." Looking past Ava, the Madam continued, "Lily, behave yourself and keep yourself safe, alright? I won't be there watching out for you anymore. Haley, you've always been a smart kid. I'm happy to see that you're branching yourself out and trying more things." Turning to Ahri, the Madam simply raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't do anything too crazy, alright?"

In the back, Haley and Lily let out small nods while Ahri simply let out a small smirk. Internally, Lily couldn't help but feel a little wrong. Why was she the only one who got treated like she was a hindrance?

"Alright, you can go now."

Sitting down, the Madam picked up a cup of coffee and a pen and got back to work while the four girls looked at each other for a moment. Raising an eyebrow, Ava nodded her head in the Madam's direction, and after sharing a few furious blinks, the girls reluctantly nodded. Smiling, Ava grinned before quickly rushing over and hugging the Madam and giving her a small peck on the cheek, "Wha?" Startled, the Madam looked up to see Ava's cheeky grin before three more sets of arms wrapped around her back as the three other girls dog-piled on her.

A moment later, the three other arms quickly released, and the Madam watched with a somewhat exasperated smile as Lily and Haley ran out, and Ahri followed with somewhat hurried steps, although she had the courtesy to turn back and smile before quietly closing the door behind her.

Chuckling, Ava gave the Madam another nod and said, "Alright, see you around." Before quickly exiting the scene as well.

In an empty office, the Madam let out a small smile and lightly rubbed her cheek before picking up her cup of coffee and taking another sip, and placing it to the side before picking up her pen to get back to work. But after sitting around for a couple of minutes, she couldn't help but feel a little restless, and nothing got done.

Looking up and letting her eyes wander across the office, she found her eyes resting upon a large painting entombed in a beautiful redwood frame that depicted the Madam standing in front of a very worn down looking Foxes Respite, carrying a baby in her arms, with a young girl nearby holding another kid in her arms. Letting out a sigh, the Madam took another sip of coffee before getting up and exiting her office.

The paperwork could wait.

Right now, she really wanted to see her girls.