Apt. #632A- The Spenser Residence

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"You're not..." her mother started, already working herself up with anxiety that she didn't--or couldn't-- finish the worried observation. The observation that had been hovering at the back of both of their minds since Erin left, and that neither had wanted to mention for fear of making it true.

It hadn't worked.

"She's not," Yukito murmured.

"I'm staying with Yukito." The words came out quick, frank, and sure. She wouldn't let go of Yukito's hand any time soon. Erin recognized the motion of her mother moving closer to her father, her hands had one on his shoulder and the other on his arm, the way she did when she found out bad news. But I didn't want to bring you bad news... A new fear was creeping into Erin that she had never feared before-- what if they were so hurt by her that they quit loving her? Or at least they quit liking her... It happened. Where parents disowned their children and stuff. Hers wouldn't do that, would they? Her grip on Yukito's hand tightened a little more.

"We have an apartment. It's small, it's cheap, it's ours. And she's happy there. We came to get the rest of her things." She felt the reassuring pressure from his hand holding hers, and she tried to breathe a little easier despite the crazy thudding of her heart. It felt like it was trying to break down the wall of her chest.

Why do I feel like this?!

"You're... you're serious..." came her father's stunned mutter, a tone she so rarely heard from him Erin could count the times he'd used it. But Yukito was already moving down the hall, and she found herself falling into step behind him. But-- but I'm not done explaining, Yukito... They don't get it, I haven't finished...

Nonchalantly, and as if her parents' feelings and all didn't matter a bit, Yukito began preparing the boxes. Erin just stood, barely inside her room, watching him and feeling more conflicted than she could remember feeling in quite some time. It wasn't that she was having second thoughts about living with Yukito-- no, but she was more worried than anything about her parents misunderstanding and being hurt by her leaving if they thought she was doing it to spite them. Or if they thought they pushed her away. They loved her, she knew that, and she loved them back, but... she also loved Yukito. She had to explain it right... Her hands were twisting themselves into knots with how she was wringing them. "Yukito, wait..."

Behind her, both Mandi and Jacob were not far away. In fact, just now they'd both come behind her, stopping at the door. In an attempt to explain herself clearer, Erin tried, "Daddy--"

Her father's hands held her by her shoulders so he could capture her eyes. "Erin, you know this isn't a good idea. A week from now you'll have to bring everything back here. You're seventeen, there is plenty of time to grow up and move out. And--"

"Baby, whatever we did to make you feel like you have to leave," her mother started in, briefly brushing away some loose strands of Erin's hair. "Tell us and we can-- we can fix it.. but please-- don't leave us again..."

She sounded like she really was trying hard not to break down into tears right there. Oh god, how guilty and torn Erin was feeling now. Because the tears were genuine. The pleading was real. No games here. There were never games. Erin shook her head and pulled away again, back into her room more. "No, that's not it. Really," she added sternly, with a look towards her dad. "Look, I want to stay with Yukito because I want to. Not because of you. Really! I love him, and I want to be with him, and I'm happy there."

Despite her lack of a connection with most body language, Erin knew her family well enough to recognize the mixture of anxious emotions in their stance. They definitely didn't understand, and were probably thinking the worst. "It's not that I'm not happy with you, either!" she tried to amend. "It's just..." After a sigh, again Erin sought the solace in Yukito's hand touching hers. "It's different with him--with us, and I don't want that to be over. I love it, I really do, and--"

"Just like you loved taekwondo, right?" her father began, and she knew she'd pressed the wrong button. "Just liked you loved collecting comic books, or your favorite shirt, or the other boys you've dated--"

"No! Not true!" Her eyes narrowed and she felt the tenseness in her muscles. "I-- love-- him. Why can't you jut get that?! You were my age when you met each other, so why is it so hard to believe me?!"

"We knew each other existed, Erin, but it was six years before we did anything about it, it was entirely different!" came the fervent response. Her mother had fallen silent for the moment, standing at the door with arms tightly crossed. Little traces of water slipped from her eyes.

Her father gave a sigh. "No, I know, Erin... I know it's different, and I'm sorry... but I don't think you are ready for all this. Either of you," he specified, with a pointed look at Yukito.

"You might have been able to get by just on your own, but living with another person-- anyone, no matter who-- but another person that has no income means you'll be paying twice as much for utilities, car, groceries, medicine, and other things that will come up that you cannot plan for. When you decide to go back to school, you'll have to find funds for that, too, and as good as you may be with numbers, no amount of number manipulation can grow you extra money. Are you really prepared for that kind of burden? Besides that, if you are sure you love Erin like you say you do, then wouldn't it mean something to you that couples that live together usually don't make it? They don't last. Doing something like this is like a death wish. If you really love her, don't you want to see it last? Why do you want to risk throwing it away like this?"

And then came the last ditch effort, spoken softer and more pleadingly than all the others: "Yukito, she's our baby... she's our only girl, and it's too soon for her to leave us..."

"I'm not leaving you." Oh, god, they were going to make her join in the stupid cry-fest, weren't they? "Not leaving, not like that..." She didn't know how to explain it. I'm still your daughter, and I will keep being your daughter... I just want to be your daughter living with the person I love like no other...

He shook his head. "Yes, you are, Erin. You are, because living with each other and everything that entails means--" Jacob cut himself off with a glance towards his wife.

Erin shifted awkwardly, somewhat offended as she gathered another one of her parents' concerns. "We haven't done anything," she told them frankly, shoving her hands into her jean pockets. "And we won't, okay? I can promise you that. Really." Especially because he still gets too freaked out if I accidentally touch his stomach... I don't even want to think about that right now, okay?

If he were honest with his daughter, Jacob would have told her that that kind of promise couldn't last with two people together 24/7 that claimed to be so in love. It was one of the main reasons the cohabitation theory failed in so many cases. He wanted to believe her, and Mandi would be more likely to trust that the promise would remain true, but he didn't want to add more fuel to this already mature fire. He tried again, a slightly different pleading. "Erin, all these choices... the school, the moving, everything... They're a lot bigger than you think. This is the kind of thing that can affect the rest of your life... It will affect the rest of your life. Things will happen, you will make mistakes, and things will hurt you... you aren't ready. Neither of you."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

He felt her behind him as he started making the boxes. She didn't come to his side, having released his hand at the doorway. She's having second thoughts. They won't just let her go. A deep frown consumed his face, and he stared down into his work, not looking up though every nerve was begging him to turn around and see if she was even still there. "Yukito, wait..." came Erin's voice, gentle and unsure. He paused, but didn't turn around. "Daddy--"

Her father's voice broke through, too prepared and too logical. "Erin, you know this isn't a good idea. A week from now you'll have to bring everything back here. You're seventeen, there is plenty of time to grow up and move out. And--"

Then her mother, "Baby, whatever we did to make you feel like you have to leave, tell us and we can-- we can fix it.. but please-- don't leave us again..."

"No, that's not it. Really," Erin responded. "Look, I want to stay with Yukito because I want to. Not because of you. Really! I love him, and I want to be with him, and I'm happy there." A beat. Yukito slowly turned around, stepping up to come to her side, raising his eyes to watch the torn faces of her parents. "It's not that I'm not happy with you, either! It's just..." After a sigh, again Erin took Yukito's hand. "It's different with him--with us, and I don't want that to be over. I love it, I really do, and--"

"Just like you loved taekwondo, right?" her father began. Yukito frowned, ticked that he would compare their relationship to a something like that. "Just liked you loved collecting comic books, or your favorite shirt, or the other boys you've dated--"

"It's not like that!" he shouted, at the same moment Erin said, "No! Not true!"

"I-- love-- him. Why can't you jut get that?! You were my age when you met each other, so why is it so hard to believe me?!"

"We knew each other existed, Erin, but it was six years before we did anything about it, it was entirely different!" Mrs. Spenser was standing looking torn, her arms crossed on her chest.

"So it's wrong because we didn't wait around for something better to come along?!" Yukito snarled defensively.

Her father gave a sigh. "No, I know, Erin... I know it's different, and I'm sorry... but I don't think you are ready for all this. Either of you," he specified, with a pointed look at Yukito. Even just a look from him made Yukito's gut hit the floor with a splat unheard by anyone else.

"You might have been able to get by just on your own, but living with another person-- anyone, no matter who-- but another person that has no income means you'll be paying twice as much for utilities, car, groceries, medicine, and other things that will come up that you cannot plan for. When you decide to go back to school, you'll have to find funds for that, too, and as good as you may be with numbers, no amount of number manipulation can grow you extra money. Are you really prepared for that kind of burden?"

Yukito narrowed his eyes, "I realize money doesn't grow on trees. Those things are a part of life. We could struggle anywhere, at any age, no matter what we do, things happen. How old we are doesn't change that! Are you saying that waiting six years made it any easier for you two financially?" We can make it together. I don't want to have to make it alone.

"Besides that, if you are sure you love Erin like you say you do, then wouldn't it mean something to you that couples that live together usually don't make it? They don't last. Doing something like this is like a death wish. If you really love her, don't you want to see it last? Why do you want to risk throwing it away like this?"

Yukito inhaled sharply at the man's words. "Because it's the ultimate test," he seethed, challenging, "Maybe after this you'll take us more seriously. You'll take her more seriously." I don't want to wait. I've waited before, and never had a chance to fix anything. I only have regret from waiting.

Then Mandi's voice came, softer and more defensive than anything. "Yukito, she's our baby... she's our only girl, and it's too soon for her to leave us..."

Yukito halted, his hand tightly holding Erin's. His face was conflicted by the sight of Mandi's oncoming tears. Each tear tore at his inside much more powerfully than he expected, nearly knocking the wind out of him, as well as his willpower. He even felt his own eyes starting to sting, and he inhaled suddenly enough that it made his throat throb with pain.

"I'm not leaving you. Not leaving, not like that..." Erin attempted to explain again. Yukito retreated again, knowing he had probably made this harder. Like always. Why did her parents get under his skin like this?

"Yes, you are, Erin. You are, because living with each other and everything that entails means--" Jacob cut himself off with a glance towards his wife. It took Yukito a long, idiotic moment to realize the insinuation, and his face then went bright crimson from shame and embarrassment.

"I can't... I couldn't..." The stupid almost-tears were aching to be released now, and his voice revealed it. He felt like a complete idiot. A ridiculous wuss that couldn't even hold his own, much less take care of Erin from her own parents. They'd thrown him with the suggested accusation.

"We haven't done anything," Erin told them frankly, shoving her hands into her jean pockets. "And we won't, okay? I can promise you that. Really." She knew as well as he did that - at least for most of the foreseeable future - that wasn't even an option. As odd and awkward as the moment felt, Yukito believed this to be the moment he felt most unworthy of Erin. With all the cards on the table, he couldn't even logically be accused of something like that. He hated how she knew why, and was trying to cover for it. He wouldn't promise them they wouldn't do that. Because he wanted to someday, and with Erin.

Jacob Spenser was relentless. "Erin, all these choices... the school, the moving, everything... They're a lot bigger than you think. This is the kind of thing that can affect the rest of your life... It will affect the rest of your life. Things will happen, you will make mistakes, and things will hurt you... you aren't ready. Neither of you."

"Then when will we be? The day after she turns eighteen?" Yukito snarled bitterly, his face still burning, facing her father. "If you were us, would you just take no for an answer? Would you just sit back and wait if Mandi's parents said to?" It was the first time he'd referenced either of the parents by their first name, and it tasted weird on the tongue. "I know, it's not that simple. But it's never gonna be. But it gets easier when you have someone who's got your back. It's so much easier to take when there's one person to come home to... who won't just sit back and wait to make things better."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"Yes, you are, Erin," objected Jacob when she tried to insist that she wasn't really leaving them. It wasn't like they were going to stop being her family. Right? "You are, because living with each other and everything that entails means--" He stopped, and Erin looked over at Yukito only to see him practically burning at the insinuation.

"I can't... I couldn't..."

Erin looked back up toward her parents, halfway-regretfully telling what she knew was absolutely true. It shouldn't be because he's hurt, though.... it shouldn't be because of that, he didn't deserve that on his life!! "We haven't done anything. And we won't, okay? I can promise you that. Really." She could practically feel the disbelief from her parents. How often did people live together and not do anything? What logically made them the anomaly? That's probably what they were thinking about her right now. About them. She didn't like it. In a way, she wanted to be an exception and prove them wrong.

"Erin, all these choices... the school, the moving, everything... They're a lot bigger than you think. This is the kind of thing that can affect the rest of your life... It will affect the rest of your life. Things will happen, you will make mistakes, and things will hurt you... you aren't ready. Neither of you."

"Then when will we be? The day after she turns eighteen?" Yukito started, tone vehement and for some reason catching Erin by surprise.

"Maybe, after the year wait she would be-- a year takes a lot of changes with it, Yukito, and she's too--"

"I'm still in the room so talk to me like I am!" Erin cut in, taking hold of Yukito's arm for comfort. "I am tired of you always thinking I can't do anything and that I'm always too young for everything! We can do this, and you won't even give us a chance!!"

"Is it really so hard to imagine why we don't jump for joy when you waltz in and announce you're leaving us to move in with your boyfriend, Erin?" Jacob responded, tone a stone's throw from breaking down in frustration and pain.

"If you were us, would you just take no for an answer? Would you just sit back and wait if Mandi's parents said to?"

"I would, and I did," came the certain response, his eyes meeting Yukito's evenly, hoping that the moment might lead to some sense being reached here. "I had to ask twice to marry her-- the first time her parents asked me to wait until she was finished with her school, and I waited two years, because she was worth it." He let the question ask itself in the silence-- if Erin was worth it too, why couldn't they wait?

"I know, it's not that simple. But it's never gonna be. But it gets easier when you have someone who's got your back. It's so much easier to take when there's one person to come home to... who won't just sit back and wait to make things better."

Jacob watched Yukito's face for a moment, mentally working on a reply that wouldn't shut them both down completely, just as Mandi called his name quietly from her spot-- tone betraying the tears that hadn't exactly stopped. He turned from Yukito and Erin, holding his wife's shoulders in his hands. "She will leave if we try to keep her," Mandi told him quietly. "Maybe physically-- probably, but definitely emotionally and mentally, too... worse than last year at this time. And I don't want to see that again, Jake," she continued, shaking her head as if to wipe away the image. "I can't see her going through something like that again."

Erin just held tighter to Yukito's arm, watching his face with pleading eyes. She wasn't really sure what she was pleading, or if she was really pleading to him, but... there it was.

"Like sand," her father finally responded, even quieter than her mother that Erin was only guessing that was what she heard. It didn't make sense, though... Jacob turned back to look at his daughter, still clutching Yukito almost urgently. "So no matter what we say or how we feel, you really want to do this either way, don't you?" Mixed words-- she couldn't tell what he was trying to get from her saying that. He rephrased. "If we said no, you'd do this anyway. Right? There is no alternative?"

Erin nodded. "Right."

A long, tense pause between Erin and her parents. The anxiety on her mother's face deepened. Despite her fear of seeing Erin so torn up and sunken again, she clearly wished it hadn't come this far. A weary exhale escaped her father's throat. "Do you think you can fit everything into your car, Yukito, or do you want to put things in mine, too?"

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

"Erin, all these choices... the school, the moving, everything... They're a lot bigger than you think. This is the kind of thing that can affect the rest of your life... It will affect the rest of your life. Things will happen, you will make mistakes, and things will hurt you... you aren't ready. Neither of you."

"Then when will we be? The day after she turns eighteen?" Yukito challenged bitterly.

"Maybe, after the year wait she would be-- a year takes a lot of changes with it, Yukito, and she's too--"

"I'm still in the room so talk to me like I am!" Erin cut in, taking hold of Yukito's arm. "I am tired of you always thinking I can't do anything and that I'm always too young for everything! We can do this, and you won't even give us a chance!!"

"Is it really so hard to imagine why we don't jump for joy when you waltz in and announce you're leaving us to move in with your boyfriend, Erin?" Jacob responded.

"If you were us, would you just take no for an answer? Would you just sit back and wait if Mandi's parents said to?"

"I would, and I did," came the certain response, his eyes meeting Yukito's evenly. Yukito turned his eyes down to the floor, his brow furrowed in frustration. Crap, he's even got me on that one. "I had to ask twice to marry her-- the first time her parents asked me to wait until she was finished with her school, and I waited two years, because she was worth it."

I'm not saying Erin's not worth. I wouldn't even think that. But don't you see? I need her!

Yukito clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides, his eyes flickered back up to Jacob's face, his own expression smoldering and furious. "I know, it's not that simple. But it's never gonna be. But it gets easier when you have someone who's got your back. It's so much easier to take when there's one person to come home to... who won't just sit back and wait to make things better."

Jacob watched Yukito's face for a moment, then Mandi called his name quietly from her spot-- tone betraying the tears that hadn't exactly stopped. He turned from Yukito and Erin, holding his wife's shoulders in his hands. "She will leave if we try to keep her, maybe physically-- probably, but definitely emotionally and mentally, too... worse than last year at this time. And I don't want to see that again, Jake," she continued, shaking her head as if to wipe away the image. "I can't see her going through something like that again."

Erin just held tighter to Yukito's arm. He didn't say anything. There was a long moment, and Jacob murmured something under his breath, with almost an air of calm incredulity. It was Jacob who broke the silence.

"So no matter what we say or how we feel, you really want to do this either way, don't you?" Yukito's jaw set. A beat. "If we said no, you'd do this anyway. Right? There is no alternative?"

Erin nodded. "Right."

A long, tense pause. A weary exhale escaped Jacob. "Do you think you can fit everything into your car, Yukito, or do you want to put things in mine, too?"

Yukito hesitated before answering. A deep part of him was insistent to turn down the offer, bitterness in every choice of words. He glanced over at Erin, then. And he knew this was his part of the whole thing that mattered. He may not have been able to pull Erin away without a lot of trouble and arguing, and it may not be the end here. But here was his chance to be better, for the sake of Erin and her relationship with the family she still had. He didn't have that concern. He had to worry over hers as if it was his own. It mattered. Yukito let out a quiet sigh. "...We'd appreciate that."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

"So no matter what we say or how we feel, you really want to do this either way, don't you?" Erin wasn't sure what that question was asking.... The rephrase came next. "If we said no, you'd do this anyway. Right? There is no alternative?"

Erin nodded. "Right." Her heart was still beating up the inside of her chest. It was probably all black and blue in there now. She wanted their approval... or at least to know they wouldn't hate her forever...

A long, tense pause. A weary exhale escaped her father. "Do you think you can fit everything into your car, Yukito, or do you want to put things in mine, too?"

Compulsively, Erin gawked. Is that a yes? Is that a really weird, roundabout way of saying yes? Really? Seriously?!

Her eyes moved immediately to Yukito when he spoke. "...We'd appreciate that."

Now Erin felt herself in some sort of stunned state. She just looked from her parents, back to Yukito, floored that it was actually happening. And not quite sure what to do next. She looked at Yukito, hoping he would direct her, especially since all of the sudden she felt like she had no idea what she was doing. At least, until her dad moved into the room again and started to get her keyboard ready for transport. "I'll put your instruments and music things in my car, Erin."

Suddenly that seemed to revive her. She interrupted his work with a sudden hug, causing him to stumble a little to keep her things from crashing to the floor... or into the wall. "Thank you! I love you!" she squealed, giving her father's cheek a kiss before running back over to her mother, hugging her now, too.

"Erin," her father called again, somehow keeping out of his voice how torn he was about it all. She turned around at the call. "Hm?"

"How about you two get your things together in here and Yukito and I will take the instruments down to the car?"

"Okay!" Erin agreed, and she immediately began to pull clothes out of the closet and drop them into the nearest box. Mandi came over wordlessly next to her and took out the disheveled pile and began to fold them as tight as possible.To fit more, Erin recognized, as it was the same thing she'd told her when they were packing for trips. Erin reached over and stuffed a couple of her framed pictures in the side of the box. "...Mama? Are you mad at me?"

By response, her mother just gave a sullen shake of her head. She stuffed a few more things into the box before it was full as it could be, and before her mother spoke again. "No, baby... I'm sad, but I'm supposed to be sad." She smiled a little. "I'd still be sad if you'd decided this in a year, or two years, or ten years. It's my job." She paused, pulling her daughter close to her in a long hug. Did every girl feel this.... mixed up inside when they moved out? Yeah, she was younger than most, and no, they weren't married, but... she wanted it, and she knew that Yukito would take care of her, so... But she hated the idea of making her parents sad on her account... again.. for who knows how many times?

"I wish I didn't make you so sad," she mumbled into the hug.

"Erin..." Her mother kissed her head, brushed away some of the hair from her face. "You aren't making me sad... I told you, it would happen at any time this time came for you.. just because I'm sad doesn't mean I'm mad at you.. I want the best for you, though... even if it means not having what I want happen for you." Another kiss on her head. "We're always gonna be here for you, Erin. You said you're not leaving us, and we're not leaving you, either. I promise..."

Erin nodded, mussing up her hair that was wedged between her and her mother.

Mandi released on hand to wipe off her tears. "We should get some more of these boxes ready... our boys will be back up soon for more." The inclusion word was meant as a type of peace offering, and her mother smiled just a bit as Erin nodded.

Meanwhile, Jacob Spenser filled the back seat with Erin's packed up keyboard. With it just him and Yukito, he felt freer to speak of Erin without causing her to blush, whether outwardly or inwardly. He stood with one hand still holding the top of the car door, looking pensively at Yukito. "You can understand why I'm so leery of this, right? I know that you mean the world to her... and I think it's safe to say the feeling is mutual." Another small smile. "But I also saw how empty she became last year. She never really told me what happened, but we knew it was some... difficulties... you and her had... And.. she's more fragile than she likes to let on, Erin is. She has always been an all-or-nothing person, and gets her hopes up so high that when something falls through, the hopes crash hard against the floor. Sometimes they crack. Last year they broke her. What I mean to say is... I am afraid she won't fit together right again if she breaks like that another time."

He paused, swallowed hard, sighing. He knew nothing he said was winning him any more points with Yukito. Why would he listen to someone who only seemed to have no hope in what they had? "I don't mean... what I mean is that... she's my only girl, and I don't want to lose her. But I know that if I tried to keep her physically here, I would lose her entirely. It's one of the hardest things...." His voice quivered a little. "I'm putting my trust in you for her now, Yukito. Help her. Hold her when she's hurting, keep her tethered to the earth when her head's too far in the clouds, remind her what's really important. She needs those things... And she'll want them from you more than anyone else. She trusts you more than you know, I can promise you that. She sees you as infallible more often than a person should, and you'll have to remind her that you are human, despite how you care for her. And please... please don't let us lose her."

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

A long, tense pause. A weary exhale escaped her father. "Do you think you can fit everything into your car, Yukito, or do you want to put things in mine, too?"

A long moment before he answered. Then a sigh, "...We'd appreciate that."

None of them knew what to do until Jacob moved into the room and came out with Erin's keyboard. "I'll put your instruments and music things in my car, Erin."

Something about hearing her name kicked Erin into gear suddenly, and she leaped forward to hug her father, making him almost jam her keyboard into the wall. "Thank you! I love you!" she squealed, giving her father's cheek a kiss before running back over to her mother, hugging her now, too. A tiny smile appeared on Yukito's lips as he watched them.

"Erin," her father called again, his voice back to his level calm. The prepared, in-control sound. She turned around at the call. "Hm?"

"How about you two get your things together in here and Yukito and I will take the instruments down to the car?" Yukito glanced over at Jacob. He knew immediately what was behind the suggestion, or at least had a good guess toward it. There was something to say that wouldn't be said in front of either Erin or her mother. Yukito tried to keep his face nonchalant until Erin agreed and vanished, her mother going with her to help. Yukito took what he could carry safely and the two of them started downstairs.

It was a curiously silent journey. Yukito waited patiently for it. While Yukito tentatively arranged the chords and piano books in the car, Jacob stood with one hand still holding the top of the car door, looking pensively at him. At the sound of his voice, Yukito halted, done setting things in the car, listening hard. "You can understand why I'm so leery of this, right? I know that you mean the world to her... and I think it's safe to say the feeling is mutual." Yukito moved out of the car, standing upright and looking up to meet Jacob's eyes. He was smiling. Erin's the only one I've got right now. She's the only one I can trust. I know if I tell her things that she'll freak, but it won't change what she is to me. I know I'm important, and so I want her with me. I want to be important to someone. She means everything to me.

"But I also saw how empty she became last year. She never really told me what happened, but we knew it was some... difficulties... you and her had... And.. she's more fragile than she likes to let on, Erin is." Yukito nodded solemnly. "She has always been an all-or-nothing person, and gets her hopes up so high that when something falls through, the hopes crash hard against the floor. Sometimes they crack. Last year they broke her. What I mean to say is... I am afraid she won't fit together right again if she breaks like that another time."

He paused, swallowed hard, sighing. Yukito looked down at the ground. He'd never really know how bad it got for Erin when they'd broken up. He did know the results of it, though. The way she'd stop going out and doing things, the fact that she'd gone so far as to slam her own head against a wall, as if that would relieve the pain... He'd always regret that time. "I don't mean... what I mean is that... she's my only girl, and I don't want to lose her. But I know that if I tried to keep her physically here, I would lose her entirely. It's one of the hardest things...." Jacob voice seemed to quiver a little, not as stable as it normally was, making Yukito looking up curiously. "I'm putting my trust in you for her now, Yukito. Help her. Hold her when she's hurting, keep her tethered to the earth when her head's too far in the clouds, remind her what's really important. She needs those things... And she'll want them from you more than anyone else. She trusts you more than you know, I can promise you that. She sees you as infallible more often than a person should, and you'll have to remind her that you are human, despite how you care for her. And please... please don't let us lose her."

He didn't answer quickly, staring at Jacob evenly and considering what he'd just said. It made a little more sense now... knowing Erin and hearing her father say that. 'Help her'...'keep her tethered to the earth'... That annoying know-it-all, in-control voice Jacob used in excess, especially around his flamboyant, rules-were-meant-to-bend daughter, made a little more sense. Yukito wondered how often Jacob worried about keeping his daughter stable and sensible, how often he'd had to be the fun-sucker or the serious one, the responsible one. He acted like that to keep Erin on her feet. Kind of like how Yukito's reaction never seemed to outshine Erin's. How he was the one to remind her of the realities she liked to overlook.

Slowly, Yukito nodded, "I don't intend on stealing your daughter, Mr. Spenser. I just want to make her happy, and to be happy with her." Despite his better instincts he added, "She's the only I've got now."

A little smile played on the edge of his lips, "And if taking care of her and keeping her tethered to the ground is what keeps her safe, I'm pretty happy to accept that position. I don't plan on letting her fly off anytime soon."

[GGJ5]

Erin Spenser

Jacob waited quietly for a response, silently steadying himself as much as possible. And slowly, Yukito nodded. "I don't intend on stealing your daughter, Mr. Spenser. I just want to make her happy, and to be happy with her."

Jacob only smiled at that-- one, because he hadn't meant that Yukito was stealing her. Only that he didn't want Erin to forget she was their family, too. And two, it pushed away the need to cry just far enough away.

Yukito paused, then came again: "She's the only I've got now."

Jacob Spenser said nothing to that.

"And if taking care of her and keeping her tethered to the ground is what keeps her safe, I'm pretty happy to accept that position. I don't plan on letting her fly off anytime soon."

Now it was Jacob's turn to remain silent for a moment before responding. It was one of the biggest losses in his life and all he could do was help make it happen... He swallowed hard before shifting his eyes to glance into the car. "There's still more to bring down." And with that, he headed back upstairs and into his daughter's room where several more boxes had been sufficiently packaged and waited to be carried downstairs.

Erin's mood had lightened again, enough that she could smile freely now without such a strong feeling of guilt. They were helping her, after all. So it would be okay. In one box she was filling the last bit of empty space with a zipped bag she had filled with her jewelry. Her eyes found Yukito's once he came in, too, and she smiled at him. "You're back! Look, these are all done already!"

"If your music is going in our car, then the boxes can fit in Yukito's," came the quiet recommendation from her mother. Erin nodded, picking up her guitar off its stand and offering it to Yukito. "You forgot this!"

After several trips to both cars, all of the important things from Erin's room were packed away into boxes nestled into the back seats and trunks. The only things staying in her room here were the bare bed and dark oak dresser. "We can borrow a truck and bring the dresser over later," her dad had told her, setting the last box snugly in its spot. He was being methodical about it all, the way he did when he was upset and trying not to be. Erin didn't object-- in fact, she was grateful for the promise. They'd need a dresser, anyway.

Erin opened the passenger door of Yukito's car, but was halted by her mother's hand on her shoulder. She turned. "Baby, any time you need or want anything, you tell us. We'll keep taking care of your phone and medicine and things like that, and even if you need something like extra groceries or anything, or just a ride somewhere, you don't even have to ask. I mean..." She didn't finish, only pulled Erin into another hug. This time Erin didn't pull back.

"That goes for both of you," her dad put in. "If either of you ever need anything..." He trailed off too, and just nodded for punctuation instead, turning to get into the driver's seat of his car. Finally, her mother released her. "We'll just follow you there," she said, stating the obvious. Erin nodded with a little smile. "Okay." The parted, each slipping into their seats, her parents waiting to pull out behind Yukito.

It's really happening, she thought, still half in awe from the whole thing. It's real now. And it's okay. She looked over at Yukito and smiled. "We can go home now." Okay... that sounds nice.

[Elda Forever]

Yukito Maki

There was one of those long silent moments between them. For once Yukito didn't feel like he was being studied or scrutinized. Jacob was again the one to break the silence, fading back into the take-charge attitude he had to possess to keep his family going. "There's still more to bring down." Yukito nodded, trailing behind him up the stairs.

Erin was busy at work, back to her smiling self. It amazed him how quickly she could bounce back from some things. Perhaps that was part of her charm. Once she saw him standing nearby, she smiled at him, making him involuntarily smile, too. "You're back! Look, these are all done already!"

"If your music is going in our car, then the boxes can fit in Yukito's," came the quiet recommendation from her mother. Erin nodded, picking up her guitar off its stand and offering it to Yukito. "You forgot this!"

It didn't take them long to package and tape away the majority of Erin's belongings. Yukito sensed that they'd be collecting random piles of her things for weeks to come, but that wasn't any of the things she would really miss. He was surprised by how much stuff she had - in a way, he was glad for it. Then Jacob added a comment that seriously relieved Yukito of one more worry. "We can borrow a truck and bring the dresser over later," he said as he fitted the last box in.

"That would be great," he added lamely, himself busy with arranging the boxes in the back of the Volvo so they wouldn't shift during the trip. As if he ever went fast enough for that, anyways. Yukito then opened up the driver door and, turning to Erin, he asked, "You ready to go?"

She moved to get in the car but was halted by her mother's hand on her shoulder. She turned. "Baby, any time you need or want anything, you tell us. We'll keep taking care of your phone and medicine and things like that, and even if you need something like extra groceries or anything, or just a ride somewhere, you don't even have to ask. I mean..." She didn't finish, only pulled Erin into another hug. Yukito held onto the car door, waiting.

"That goes for both of you," her dad put in, making Yukito turn towards him. For some reason it felt really good to be included in a statement like that for once. "If either of you ever need anything..." He trailed off too, and just nodded for punctuation instead, turning to get into the driver's seat of his car. Yukito believed they were both having a hard time not crying. But that was just a theory.

"Thanks," he muttered, as though the phrase was new but deeply felt. He slipped into the car, buckling and turning as Erin crawled in next to him. She looked over at Yukito and smiled. "We can go home now."

Yukito sighed with relief, both hands on the wheel. "God, that sounds really good to hear you say..." He laughed a little, then pointed to the seat and automatically told her to, "Buckle up, or I'm not leaving this parking spot." Moments later, Yukito was carefully pulling out of the apartment parking lot. It felt like they were leaving with a lot more things like Erin's stuff. And like they were leaving a lot more than her parents' house.

Yukito is finished here.

[GGJ5]

OOC: short post is short... :/ BIC:

Erin Spenser

"We can go home now," Erin said, looking over at Yukito in the driver's seat, smiling at him from relief. It's really happening...!

Yukito let out a sigh before he answered. "God, that sounds really good to hear you say..." He laughed a little, and her smile broadened. I know.

A gesture from Yukito directed Erin's attention to her seatbelt, making her laugh. It was like a game now, she thought. "Buckle up, or I'm not leaving this parking spot."

"Wouldn't want that," she replied, rolling her eyes to imitate frustration, though the smile on her face ruined the illusion as the belt clicked into place.

True to his word, Yukito pulled out and onto the road, her parents following behind them. The entire thing was almost surreal... she wondered when it would actually hit her that she'd really moved out and really had moved into another apartment. An apartment she was sharing now with Yukito. It wouldn't seem real at all if she wasn't positive she was awake. Erin looked over at Yukito and gently rested her hand on his shoulder.

She was definitely awake.

Erin is done here.... Yay cheesy closing posts! XD