Chapter 8

Dan's POV:

Hearing her sobs broke something within me, and now with Avery gone nothing was going to be same for anyone with that smile or the sound of her cheeky laughter. She had only just gained her transformation too! But why kill her when it was supposed to be Blaire? Who would in their sick mind want to kill such an innocent mind? Even now I know my own boundaries. Harming a child is no right to get back at someone, no matter what the parent has done. I knew I shouldn't have left her with him, she might've still been alive if I chosen to intervene.

"It appears that the heartless beast does have a heart after all. And just watching you whimper like this is truly pathetic really. I bet your mother would be soooo proud of you, but who cares. I did what I came here to do, so enjoy whatever time you have left. I give you my condolences, you freak of nature" his goodbye only made things far worse than they had to be, but I couldn't help than feel like I was the one to blame. I should've let her deal with them, she had everything under control before I jumped in and distracted her. He got to Avery because of me.

"This isn't the way I expected this year to start" Danny said badly bruised and battered walking over, while rubbing the back of his head not exactly the bang he was expecting to have this year. Jasmine tried to comfort Blaire, but nothing could fix the damage that has been done. The only thing that kept her going in life was gone. I clench my fists and gritted my teeth before suddenly taking off to let off some steam in silence, or more hell will let loose if I didn't distant myself for while.

No one's POV:

Blaire waisted no time and found a distance place on a far hill outside the town to secretly bury Avery, along with a hand wooden cross and freshly plucked flowers making it a beautiful resting place for such a adventurous, promising and loving child. Since then no one has heard from Blaire for days, as everyday and night she would spend hours sitting there by Avery's grave. Grieving. Praying that she would return, but she didn't. Blaire was alone once again with that spark of joy to keep her going.

"It has been days and we still can't find her! What if something bad has happened to her? What if they came back and killed her as well?!" Jasmine started to panic landing around the living room knowing it won't be long until night time were to set in. While both Dan and Danny silent sat on different sofas, silently contemplating to themselves in thought of where Blaire could've possibly ran off to. "Are you guys even listening to me?" She asked with hands firmly held on both hips glancing her eyes between the two, instantly getting Danny's attention, while Dan on the other hand stared out of the window as if not hearing anything, just lost while the rain began to pour down the window watching the drops race down the glass streaming down to see who will get to the bottom first. "Dan?" Jasmine could tell that something was on his mind, as he exhaled not sure of what to do anymore.

"He's been like this ever since Blaire ran off, but if we don't find her soon she will surely get sick" Danny stated glancing over at the guy as the staring eventually got him to snap back to reality, after finally noticing them staring.

"What do you want?" He grumpily asked turning his head away from the window and folded his arms, as he lead his back against the back of the sofa.

"You were spacing out for the third time this week. Were you possibly thinking about Blaire again, hmm?" Jasmine asked with a slight tease to lighten up the mood, spotting a light pink blush creep onto his face before suddenly glancing away from them. "You don't have to lie to us, Dan. We already know. And it hasn't been easy for all of us, and I think it's only right that we keep on searching. As for all we know she might actually need someone there during such dark times. You treated that child like she was one of your own, not every man would do that" she added worrying about the worst that could possibly happen if Blaire hasn't been found yet. Dan sighed standing up from the sofa not expecting himself to do this, but what other choice has he got?

"Just leave it to me. It's far too late for you idiots to leave anyway, and I doubt Dex would come back after the stunt he did" Dan replied before transforming not wanting any of them to leave during this thunderstorm, as a crashing of light came struck down nearby, followed by a loud rumbling growl keeping them glued inside where it was safe. This allowed him to leave take off into the rain, feeling it aggressively hit his skin as he flew over the town in search of Blaire, but he suddenly stopped for a moment. "Why am I searching the city? It's obvious she won't be hiding here. I need to start searching more outside of the place than inside of it" he thought going around through forests and valleys struggling to search due to the rain getting into his eyes, but it soon came to an end just as he was starting to lose hope. Blaire could be spotted down below, and appeared to be sat alone on a nearby massive rock slouching over with her chin resting on her hands, allowing the rain to hit and run down her body like she had nothing else better to do.

He gulped before slowly making his way down until standing there in front of her, but Blaire didn't seem to notice his presence yet just deeply lost in thought, just like he once was back at home.

"Where have you been? You've had everyone worried sick!" Dan said as she lifted her head and looked at him with those cold empty and yet still beautiful eyes, causing him to choke up on his own air unable to find the words to speak. But when she turned her head Dan followed Blaire's eye of direction until spotting a small grave. "Oh.. I got you at a bad time, huh" he added turning his head back at Blaire who sighed not caring on how wet her clothes, hair or body has become until flinching at the loud echoing thunder, that followed just a few seconds after the light had struck. "Can I sit with you at least?" Dan asked as she shuffled a little giving a bit more space for him to sit down, giving the answer instead of answering his question vocally.

He made his way over and say directly beside her, as they both stared in the distance at Avery's grave as some of the flowers she put down became damaged, and lost most of their petals due to the rain and wind that was starting to pick up.

"I know you tried your best to keep her safe, but there is no need for you to feel guilty. Dex murdered my daughter, not you" Blaire finally spoke taking him quite off guard, by the fact he hadn't told anyone about how he felt ever since the incident occurred.

"H-how did you know about that? I told no one how I felt! Do you have some mind reading abilities or something?" He asked hoping not or everything he's been thinking or dreaming would've been exposed, but she just shook her head denying such allegations.

"Sadly no, but I was able to read your body language quite well. It's how I know to approach you sometimes, so I don't accidentally end up getting yelled or growled at whenever you're in a bad mood" She continued to explain slightly making him rather embarrassed and surprised, as it all made sense ever since she was stuck in their care. Only during his neutral and positive hours did she only pester him, but rarely when he's mad.

"Now I see where the girl gets her brains from. You really are something else" Dan replied with a small grin having some memory of when he would get out witted by Avery, but only a mother knows how to deal with such a little menace. Blaire slowly turned her head away slightly a little touched by his words lightly blushing, but she knew he wasn't wrong even if she was hardly there. Blaire just wished for at least a few more months or possibly years to spend with her, and make some cherishing memories before losing her first and only child.

"It isn't like she didn't learn anything from you either. Even if you aren't exactly her father, but she never really cared about her biological father at all and pretty much hates him for abandoning us, but I'm glad he did or she wouldn't have gained a liking to you. A complete stranger who willingly saved her from probably a worser fate than this" she willingly gave Dan a more understanding of the situation they had before she got imprisoned by Dex, but knowing that Avery's father abandoned them only made his blood boil.

"He sounds like a fucking jerk! If I ever had a chance to meet him I'll punch the bastard in the face myself. He doesn't deserve to be a father to such a wonderful child" Dan responded allowing his emotions to come through as Blaire turned back to look at him having more life within then, glad to have someone there to listen and talk or even vent to without any interruptions.

However, a cold shiver quickly took over her body finally feeling the cold and wet rain get to her. Dan when noticing this saw how she tried to hide it, not wanting him to worry, but he was and wrapped her with his cape. Pulling her way closer than they had ever been together.

"You seemed cold, so I thought you needed to be warmed up before we head back home, and maybe finish our chat there if you want?" Dan asked with a nervous gulp feeling the side of her body touch his own, while keeping her wrapped up within his cape sharing his warmth.

"I guess that'll be nice" Blaire answered gently leaning her head against his arm as she was only being 5"8, but the height difference didn't seem to bother them. Dan was surprised and stayed still lightly blushing as he peered down at her for a moment, before directing back at Avery's grave leaving them to sit there in silence once more, hearing nothing more than the rain pouring it down around them.

Thunder had a change in plans giving Blaire quite a scare as her body jolted, along with a fast heart rate startled or possibly scared which made Dan chuckle when feeling her jump.

"Aw, is the fearless Blaire scared of some thunder?" He teased as she glanced away with a scoff and crossed arms not exactly finding his little joke funny, but she knew it wasn't anything personal other than a friendly way to ease the mood. The rain started to hit even harder forcing her to hide herself fully underneath Dan's cloak, it also tugged against his back by how quickly this heavy rain was starting to bother them. It was no longer gentle enough for them to sit in silence anymore. "Why don't we head back? It's starting to really pour it down, and I typically don't want you falling ill either" Dan asked as she peeked through peering up at him with that serious look, damp hair and drenched clothes. "I'll take that as a yes" he said answering in her behalf and there Blaire onto his back, feeling her hand clutch tightly like this was the first time she had ever had a piggy back ride.

"You better not drop me, Dan. 'Cause I will throw hands with you!" She responded sounding very scared and serious, as Dan chuckled at her little threat before taking off with a gentle approach. They flew over the city making their way towards Fenton's house, while Blaire had the opportunity to admire the view she had so desperately wanted for so long, but never got ever since she first arrived here.

"See. It isn't so bad, but I got to ask. Are you really from another realm just like the others who came here?" Dan asked giving a quick curious glance of his shoulder before turning his head back, not exactly wanting to crash and embarrass himself in front of her.

"Yeah.. I don't exactly want to think about it, but that place is no longer home to me anymore. Everyone there has been manipulated and have turned against me, thanks to my new evil stepmother and father who rule over the place, but not everything which is a relief" Blaire answered ending it with a tired sigh as bad memories of her past came rushing through, allowing a sneaky tear to appear as she quickly wiped it away.

"Luckily you get to stay here as both of our worlds are connected in a way, but you don't have to worry about seeing them anymore. Clockwork managed to find a way to stop them from entering the human realm for awhile, so we might finally get to have some peace and quiet for a bit"  Dan added before approaching the house and started to defend down until eventually touching solid ground, and returning to his human form after she jumped off.

"I just can't wait to change out of these damp clothes and have a shower" Blaire randomly said while looking down at her damp black shirt as she pulled the bottom out a little, not liking how it felt against her skin when hearing him chuckle again.

"Yeah, you smell like pond water" he jokingly added as she playfully punched his side, before they entered through the front door one after the other like what had happened just happened, but no matter how much they wanted to deny it they both shared some sort of feelings for one another.

"Anyways imma head upstairs and clean myself up, so do you want me to let you know when I'm done or not?" She asked as he locked the door behind him before making his way over to Blaire still finding her drenched state hilarious.

"Nah, I'll be downstairs waiting anyway, so feel free to join me. We can watch some movies or something while the storm passes" Dan replied with a rather interesting suggestion pinching at her interest.

"I guess that sounds good. I'll come down once I'm done so don't laugh at what I chose to wear as pyjamas. That is all I am asking from you" Blaire said agreeing with him as she made her way towards the bottom step, but stopped as she glanced over her shoulder. He gave her a shrug as it depended on what she chose to put on. She sighed before going upstairs and started to freshen up in the shower to rid of the rain, and apply some good smelling body wash and strawberry scented shampoo to the mix. What kind of pyjamas is she planning to use? A onesie? Or just a simple shirt and trousers?