Khaat's House in Hogsmeade--(open)

"I love you too, Gar," she said, hugging him close and kissing his forehead, "I havent told anyone, but since you're family, I'll tell you. My father tells me that my baby is a little girl. And my mother is a seer. She's seen her and says she's gorgeous. You're going to have a little sister to help me raise. I don't know of Rob is coming back, but I'm glad she's going to have you to look up to."

Gar beamed.
"I'm gonna take real good care of her, don't worry!" he said excitedly. He couldn't believe it. A baby sister. And that was what she was. The baby wouldn't be blood, but she would be his sister nonetheless.

"My mother has seen her. She has a pensieve and she showed me a picture of her. Gar, she is absolutely gorgeous. She has long blond hair and violet eyes, and she looks like a princess. She is so beautiful. Can I tell you something? I have no idea if Rob is coming back or where he went or why he hasn't sent so much as a word, but when he left I felt so scared and alone that I debated on...well, not keeping this baby. But then my mother showed her to me, and I fell in love with her at first sight. I could never giver her up now. Rob or no Rob, I know I have you and Mis and Emily here with me to help, and you are going to be a fabulous big brother. I know I can count on your for helping me if I need it. And I have my parents too. With you all as my family, I can do this without Rob if I have to, and she will know how very much she is loved. She'll know that from all of you. She is going to be a very lucky, very blessed little girl. The next time we get to the farm, I'll show her to you in my mother's pensieve, unless your seer's abilities are good enough that I can send her picture to your mind from mine. Gar, can I ask you something? You've been alone for a long time. But, would you be offended if I offered to get legal guardianship of you so that you did, legally have a family? I know you are choosing not to be adopted because of your feelings for Miseria, but I could take guardianship and then you would have a legal family at least. One who loves you sooo very much. You wouldn't be alone anymore. I could call you Son and you would know how very much I mean it. "

Garulia sighed.
"I would like to see her very much. And about legal guardianship...I've always preferred being alone. I'm safer alone, always have been, always will. I'm sorry...it's just how I am. When I'm alone, I have peace, quiet, complete control over my own life...But when I live with others, I don't feel like I'm in the driver's seat, you know?"

"Gar," Khaat said softly, stroking his cheek lovingly, "you have so many places in your heart that have been hurt. That's why you feel more secure being in control of your own life. I hope the day comes when you let me in enough to help you heal some of that stuff you hold inside that broke your heart. But either way, I want you to know I will always think of you as my son--and I'm probably always going to treat you that way."

Garulia nodded.
"You'll always be my mother," he said quietly. "I'm just...better alone. I like stuff better when I'm on my own...it's just...better for my mind. I can't over think things about people...I can't get rejected...don't have any obligations... Wait, did I say rejected? Um...yeah that was about um Mis and um...."
He was close to a breakdown now.

"I am so very sorry that didnt work out between you. I was really hoping that would work out. I want you to think about something. Part of having a mom who you love and who loves you means you don't have to hold it together all the time. It means you have someone who already sees the tears and doesn't judge you because of them. It means you have a very safe place to dump that pain and let those tears out so she can help. So you know, I know that heartbreak sort of feels like falling in slow motion. But I want you to know I'm here. I will always catch you if you fall."

Garulia broke when Khaat said that. No one had ever been there for him like that. The tears gushed out into Khaat's shoulder, and Gar sobbed like he never ever did around others.

Khaat held him close in her arms, letting his head hide in her shoulder, letting him cry. She wanted Gar to know that she was there for him--always. She understood hurt. She understood deep emotional pain, the kind of pain that felt like it could not be survived. And she knew that sort of pain was frightening. She knew that he held some sort of old pain deep down inside that she hoped he would let her help him get free from. She knew he would be happier if he did and she also knew that it would bring back so much energy and excitement for life that he so deserved to have. She wanted him happy. Right now, his heartbreak was about being rejected by Miseria and everything that represented to him about how much he felt rejected by others that he cared desperately about. She knew that his tears were the first step on the journey to healing.

Garulia cried until he felt like his tear ducts were dried out and with a deep, shuddering breath he released Khaat and plopped into a chair feeling a stress headache comin on.
"I...I...dunno what to say...It's just...Mis was my crush after um...I lost my first girlfriend..." he murmured, still missing Vinny a lot.