(Untitled)

[mckenna_lin]

Can I ask you a question?

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[heartof_thezone]

Of course, Sweetheart. [holds out an apple] What's on your mind?

[mckenna_lin]

[takes the apple and sits] I got invited to a party. [makes a face as she watches Dree pass a small knife]

[heartof_thezone]

[smiles, as she knows which invitation Kenna's referring to; pulls out another knife and starts slicing an apple of her own] Is that a bad thing?

[mckenna_lin]

[shrugs] I don't know. I don't know her very well. [she's not sure why Tally invited her to the party, but she doesn't know how to ask without seeming rude]

[heartof_thezone]

[smiles warmly] Maybe that's why she invited you. [smiles again when Kenna looks up] She asked me to deliver it. [winks]

[mckenna_lin]

[looks up for a moment, then back to the apple]

[heartof_thezone]

[sets her apple down and moves to Kenna's side; puts an arm around her] Tal knows how hard it is to make new friends. Not just because of her hearing. [makes a face] Her dad's a king. Her mother is a queen. Her brother [pauses and smiles] is going to be king, one day. She doesn't fit in with other kids very well. And, having someone her age, who also has trouble fitting in... [shrugs] seems like they might have a lot in common.

[presses a kiss to Kenna's head and returns to her apple] Besides, she knows how important you are.

[mckenna_lin]

[makes a face and shakes her head] I'm not important.

[heartof_thezone]

[forces a smile and tilts her head] Oh, Sweetheart. [smiles again, warmly; reaches over and covers Kenna's hand with her] You're one of the most important people in the universe.

[mckenna_lin]

[looks up] Me? [shakes her head] Why?

[heartof_thezone]

[smiles] Because I said so. [nods for her to pick up the apple] Come with me.

[leads Kenna out to the porch and sits] Ken... you are the reason your mom is here. The reason I'm here.

[mckenna_lin]

[shakes her head] I don't understand. Mom is here because of... [winces] that other stuff.

[she knows about her mother and 'aunt' being the same person, and about what happened before Diz was born]

[heartof_thezone]

[leans back slightly] You know.. about the.... other stuff? You mean what we [motions between the two of them] talked about? Before?

[mckenna_lin]

[glances down and shakes her head] I mean the other parts... like... when my mom died.

[heartof_thezone]

[gives Kenna a look of concern] Ken.. [reaches for her arm] What-

[mckenna_lin]

[looks out toward the water] I used to have really bad dreams. And Jeb would always tell me they were just bad dreams. But... one time.. I told him about my dream... [glances at her lap] and it took him way too long to tell me it was a bad dream. [looks at Dree as her face starts to screw up] He made me promise never to tell.