#scarsdale

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*Evening on Wednesday.... Zara returns home from... wherever she was*

The library - returning some books Miriam and she had finished already, new ones in tow.

*As she enters the living room, she finds both parents... and both uncles.... seated in their 'usual' spots, as if it were Sabbos.*

She stops, and fades back a half step. Dark eyes flick to Hannah and Ratchet, full of questions.

*Ratchet motions her in to a seat. Hannah gets up and heads to the kitchen. Aaron and Hirim put down the books.*

"What's wrong? Who's watching her?" Zara does NOT sit.

"Relax." Ratchet. "Called in an apprentice. She's asleep for now, anyway."

She hesitates, but starts for her chair. "So... what's wrong?"

"We should talk about what we're going to do." Hirim rasps. "All of us."

Hannah emerges with the tea tray. "Zara, honey, you go get your stuff? I put it on a tray but.... hands are full."

Zara sucks in her lower lip, worrying at it. A nod, and she darts for the kitchen.

Hannah starts pouring... Hirim can't suppress an eyeroll but at a glare from Ratchet doesn't vent a snort.

Zara returns with "her stuff," unpalatable to most, and handled with as much discretion as possible.

Hannah pours for Zara, lets her fix it. As Hannah moves around handing out tea, Ratchet continues with another sharp look at Hirim. "Ok, so. We all know where we are, nu? So what now? Where?"

"She... you saw what happened the last time. Ice thinks it might be PTSD."

Hannah is finishing her serving but speaks steadily. "Just a moment, Zara. When Miriam vanished, it was a tragedy. We all almost lost Zara, and our lives would have been the less for it no matter who had the care of her growing up. I will always feel...." She has to stop and take a moment. "... I will always feel grateful to Miriam. I want to see her well. And I would love for her to be able to know Zara, if that's something Zara wants." She drops into her seat, and Zara can see her lip tremble.

"Mama..." dark eyes sweep to Hannah, and tea is set aside so Zara can join her.

Hannah enfolds her skinny frame in her plump arms. "Shh... Zara, I've always known. I'm glad Miriam is back. I really am. I know you'll always love me. That won't change. Shhhhhh....."

Zara squeezes back, resting her head on Hannah's shoulder.

Hirim clears his throat. "Nice. So. When the time is right, Ratchet will help me get her to ... " a delicate pause "Somewhere we can help her remember who she is. What she is. And then, we'll have to see what she knows."

"Should I be there? She's gotten used to me." A squeeze of Hannah's hand.

Hirim and Ratchet exchange a look.

"Zara, we want you to be near. And we won't surprise you, we'll tell you when it's going to happen but... let me ask you. If we were to Enchant you, feed you a good-sized chunk of... a good-sized chunk and then after you recovered from that let you meet your 15-year-old daughter... how would you fell? If you thought you were only 18 yourself?"

Ratchet speaks up. "Bubalah, we won't know till we talk to her afterwards, verschtay? She could come back remembering everything up to the moment she disappeared or.... there could be gaps."

"But if she remembers... she'll know she's not eighteen. And... " her whisper catches, losing what little support it has. "And she doesn't need to know I'm anything but Zara."

"Zara." Hannah, still holding her. "Do you want her to?"

A soft little noise that is really not an answer.

Everyone she loves, the folks that have loved her longest, wait patiently.

"It just... " a look at Hannah, struggling to find words.

Hannah smiles, a little wet-eyed, and nods, encouraging.

"P-part of me does. Part of me doesn't. I don't... I don't want to lose.... I -have- a family."

She rakes back her hair with both hands, her expression betraying her distress. "I'm sorry."

Hannah takes her thin face in both hands, warm, and turns her to look at her mother. "There's no losing. Verschtay? You don't lose us. Ever."

Aaron speaks quietly from his chair. "Never. You're our daughter."

A tiny nod - distress to guilt, emotions as summer storms - rapid, intense, ever-shifting.

"So." Hirim. "You want her to? Know who you are?"

"Do you think it would be b-better, otherwise?"

She wraps her arms around her torso, protectively. "Don't want to hurt her."

"Zara...." Hannah, patiently. "What do you -want-?"

"I... " she falters. "She..."

"..... sluagh..."

Hirim coughs. "You think if she knows you are her daughter, she's disappointed you're sluagh?"

A fluid little shrug, studying her knees. "Or... l-lots of things."

Hirim shuffles, frustrated, opens his mouth, and is sidelined by Ratchet. "Zara, she loved you. To distraction. I would have to guess she loves you still.

"Both for the infant you were, and the young woman you are."

"Easy to love a baby. All they do is sleep and cry and eat."

A glance at her parents. "Teenagers are probably harder," she adds, with a wry, apologetic smile.

"Nonsense." This time, perhaps surprisingly, it's Aaron.