Stone Circle Sweet Sunrise

She'd expected several things from this conversation. She'd expected to cry, to forget at least one thing and make herself panic, and to make Gunnar hate her forever. Only one of those things ended up happening, and that was so strange that she could only feel confused through most of what he said to her.
But when he hugged her, and she hugged him back, she understood perfectly. She realized that he understood. Scout, she thought, was a title she could learn to wear. Maybe there was a solution that wouldn't hurt anyone, and all she'd had to do was reach out. It was a lesson she was trying to learn quickly, though it still felt awkward.
It didn't feel like everything was fixed, but it felt like maybe it could be. Oh, thank you, Gunnar. Maybe - She was a little breathless, not crying anymore but practically buzzing with emotion. I can try being a scout. Maybe that will help. But even if it didn't, he'd given his blessing for her to leave; for her to return one day, if she ever wanted to. I was so certain you'd hate me! She exclaimed, and this time she hugged him. He didn't hate her; he understood; it would all be okay, in time.