Morningside Cuesta how long have I been your fool?

Day watched her as she spoke, a tender look in his eyes. He wasn't sure he could claim his father - or anyone but Adeline, really - as his best friend, but the man had certainly been important to him. To this day, Mud was the model of a Good Man that Grayday strived to measure up to. To this day, when faced by a dilemna, he always wondered - what would my father have done?

And he thought about his son and daughter, whose hearts had been twisted up just the same as his own. If Amber had stayed, would they still be thick as thieves? The question never stopped plaguing him.

"I want that, too," he admitted, his voice cracking.

He swore to himself that he'd sing to these kids, and while he'd still teach them how to be as fiery as Dawn, he'd teach them when to be soft, too. He'd teach them that broken bridges could be mended, instead of burnt. He'd tell them early, and often, to never let the sun go down on their anger - to love more, love deeper, and love anyway.

He thought of a red girl with green eyes, disappering into the sunrise.

"I want it so bad it hurts."