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Aurora nodded. “I told her a dress she wore was ugly.” She sounded as if it were the end of the world.

“When Everly was upset over that, how did you feel?” Ten asked.

“Horrible. Like I was gonna throw up. But I felt better after I apologized and I learned an important lesson.”

“What lesson, honey?”

“To keep my big mouth shut when Everly wears something ugly!” Aurora burst out laughing.

“I don’t wear ugly clothes.” Everly crossed her arms over her chest.

“Girrrrrrl.” Aurora stared into Everly’s eyes. “Why do you think I always ask to go shopping with you?”

Everly gasped. “So I don’t buy ugly clothes?”

“Bingo!” Aurora giggled again. “I understand what you’re trying to say Uncle Ten, that the person who hurts someone else can be just as upset as the injured person. Uncle Jude forgives Daddy. He’s said so a million times. Why can’t Daddy accept that?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Is he afraid of hurting me? Is that why he wants me to stay here?” Aurora’s bottom lip trembled.

“No, Aurora. That’s not it at all. Fitz is sad and upset and doesn’t want you to see him like that.” Ten had no idea why Fitz wanted Aurora to stay with him and Ronan, but he figured this was the best answer to give her. “I promise I’ll go see him tomorrow and see if we can work this stuff out. Sometimes the best way to get Uncle Ronan to stop being a dumbass is to call him out on it.”

“Works every time!” Everly laughed. “Your Daddy is a lot like mine, so I’m sure it will work with Uncle Fitz too, but on the chance it doesn’t, I’ll step in and handle it.”

Aurora sighed. “We have to step in a lot, huh?”

“Yup!” Everly agreed. “So, let’s go into the living room and have a snack. Hopefully our Dads won’t have another crisis in the next twenty minutes and we can have some peace and quiet.” Everly grabbed the juice pouches and the can of Pringles. She winked at Ten as she walked past him.

“Peace and quiet?” Ten asked the empty room. He supposed Everly was the one cleaning up a lot of messes. She was the perfect go-between when Ronan was being a dumbass, which felt like all the time lately. Ten supposed he couldn’t blame Ronan for being upset over what happened with Jonas Crawford. All three detectives were on edge. He was afraid what would happen if things continued on as they were.

Ten hated the thought of Everly having to work her metaphorical magic on Fitz, but if he didn’t get his head out of his ass, and soon, Everly might have to use actual magic.

Come to think of it, Ten would buy a ticket to watch Everly kick Fitz’s ass.

A loud bark of laughter came from Everly in the living room.

Ten grinned and got up to grab the Greek Life menu. The last few minutes had taught him a valuable lesson: Everly’s gift was always on.

3

Ronan

It wasn’t a surprise to Ronan when he came home from work to find Aurora would be staying with them for the rest of the week. He also wasn’t surprised when Jude’s family came over for dinner. What had surprised him was how solemn both girls looked. Their quiet moods lasted all the way to bedtime.

“What the hell are we gonna do about Fitz?” Ronan asked, climbing into bed with Tennyson. “I can’t take another day of Aurora’s bottom lip quivering. All I want to do is punch Fitz in the face.”

“Cope and I are going to go see him tomorrow. I don’t know if or how that will help, but we’ve got to do something. Everly thinks we need to get to the root of what’s bothering Fitz so much. Jude has forgiven him. Cisco reinstated him after the investigation into the shooting. Jude’s shoulder has healed. There wasn’t even any permanent damage. All the two of you want is for Fitz to come back to work and the poor man can’t get himself out of bed to put his child on the school bus.”

Ronan nodded. “You’re not saying anything I haven’t said a hundred times to Jude. Neither one of us can figure out how to help him either. He’s going to therapy, but from what I’ve seen, it doesn’t seem to be helping.”

“You know, there are so many people who think therapy is a cure all. That spilling all your troubles to a total stranger will somehow make you feel better and provide clarity, but it doesn’t work like that,” Ten said. “The therapist might be able to figure out what’s the root problem, but it’s up to you to do the work and find your way back to the light.”

“Are you thinking the shrink has told Fitz what’s happening and how to fix it and he just, what? Doesn’t want to believe her? Doesn’t want to do the work?” Ronan had known Fitz for nearly twenty years. In all that time, he’d never seen his friend hide under the bed at the sign of trouble. If anything, Fitz always put himself at the front, ready to take on all comers and protect the people he loved.

“He might be punishing himself. Yes, Jude has forgiven him, but I’m guessing Fitz hasn’t forgiven himself and is afraid he might be susceptible to that kind of thought control again.”

“To be honest, I’m afraid of the same thing.” Ronan shivered. “Fitz wasn’t the only one pointing a gun at Jude. I think about how powerful Everly is and wonder if she’ll work her magic on me when I won’t buy her a car or won’t let her go to the prom with a dirtbag.”