El(even)

Gia and Elle had been friends since the moment they met, Gia outspoken and vibrant and Elle cautious and quiet. But it was a kid her age, and even with as wild as Gia could be, she was still patient with Ellie. So that helped.

She'd started considering Gia's parents her own, and they looked at her like a daughter, considering her part of their pack along with Rocky's, and this helped Ellie out greatly. She spoke more, was less reserved with her actions. Over the past few years, this really helped her hit a point of normalcy that she didn't think she'd ever reach.

She finally felt like a real child, with genuine people who really did care.

And care for them in return she did, as much as she could. So when Gia's parents died, Elle was heartbroken, not just for herself but for her friend.

Ellie was sure Gia felt alone and Eleven knew that feeling all too well.

So, the night before the funeral, Elle is sitting with her dad in the living-room, watching The Hobbit and Elle is clearly not paying attention to her favorite movie at all.

When Rocky elbows her gently to get her attention, the words fall out of her mouth rapidly, before she can even stop herself.

"Gia should stay with us," she says, pausing a moment to gauge her dads reaction before she continues on. "She's my sister. She needs us. We have the space, and she'd be happy and safe with people that already knew her."

Ikea had been borderline insane. It had been noisy and kinda crowded and almost overwhelming but Rock held her hand and helped her pick stuff out for her room at their new house and that had been okay. Even the food at the small restaurant had been good and Rock managed to get a laugh out of her, telling her a silly story.

It was later on as they were looking at shelving when Ellie'd started to feel like she'd had enough. A woman had been talking to Rocky and had been commenting on his single dad skills, probably flirting but Ellie has no clue, and when the woman asked her if Ellie was sick and that's why her hair was short, she didn't realize Ellie was in earshot.

Now, Ellie wasn't really one to say much to strangers, but that had irked her enough to get her to speak up a a little more than the quiet voice she used, and it was enough to startle the woman and get Rock's attention.

"No. What's wrong with you? That was rude." And off she went to look at shelving again, muttering a loud 'mouthbreather' as she walked past the woman again.

A moment later, she felt Rock's hand on her shoulder and when she looked up, expecting to get in trouble, Rock was just grinning at her.


Ellie managed a half-smile back, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the woman left.

It was now a few hours later and Ellie was holding a bird cage, watching the young African Grey inside as it paces around a bit impatiently. She probably pouted her way into bird ownership and with the help of the saleswoman who said African Grey's are kind, sensitive and quiet and perfect for shy little girls, Rock bought him. She's following Rock into a cafe, not willing to leave her pet alone in the car.

"Benny doesn't like it in there." Oh, look. She decided on a name and recognizes the behavior of a caged animal.