#scarsdale

Zara quietly sinks to sit on the bed, shoulders rounded in.

He crosses and kneels before Zara. "It doesn't matter. It's ok. And I won't leave you to ... whatever. I can't."

She shakes her head, eyes tightly shut.

"Ok." He takes this for acceptance, and stands. "I'll find a way to work out of the Hollows. You stay here, if you can. I'll be in touch soon."

"No. No, August..." pleading. "Please stay away."

"Better off where you are now, nu? Hold that appreciates you, a trueheart, everything..."

He looks away for a moment, it's true, then back, grey eyes intent. "I wouldn't have any of that, if not for you. How do I leave you now?"

"I can't."

"Because... because they'd make you a weapon against me. They would hurt you, when they realized it would hurt me."

He considers this, seriously, then shakes his head.

"I can't leave you."

An inarticulate noise, and a vague gesture of her hands.

"I can't, and I won't." Firmly. "So."

"You have to stay safe."

"No."

"I keep trying to make the Uncles understand, but they... they won't listen..."

"I have to fight the battles worth fighting."

He nods. "They are... nockers." With some dry humor.

"You have to stay safe. She can't know. I was too... I was careless, about Earl."

"Thought if I protected myself, it would be fine, but all that did was get him hurt."

"Earl.. she... he was hurt?" Putting it together.

"She took him."

"She couldn't find me, so she took him."

"Zara...." He takes her hands. "Is he ok?"

"God, I called him... he never said..."

"She hurt him." Swallows.

"Hit his head. Hurt his hands."

"...because of me."

"His... " A pause "Is he ok? Is Earl ok?" Intent.

"Clem says his hands will be fine. There's... his horn... it scarred..."

"I'm sorry." sincerely.

"I was able to find him."

"You saved him." A sure guess.

She nods.

"Was lucky."

"But... but you see? That was her, not him. If you go after Him, I c-c-couldn't..."

"I don't think I could save you."

Earl approaches the Scwhartz household

August nods, soberly. "You know ... that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter to me."

"I won't let him hurt you any more."

A hiss. "It matters to me."

"You, Earl, Hehe, Mama and Papa, Ratchet... it matters..."

A knock on the Scwhartz front door. Earl is dressed respectfully, and..well, for the cold. It's chillier up here

He nods. "They do, yes. They will be safe."

"And you..."

"I'll be fine." Calm and sure.

Hannah (of course) answers the door. "Oh, Earl! Zara and August are upstairs..."

Zara shakes her head, gaze not having lifted once.

"Shouldn't have told."

"August is here? I ..." A pause, "Thank you, Mrs. Schwartz. I'll head on up if you think they won't mind?"