Workbooks, every subject found itself laid out on the table. Lily sat before them torn between picking one up or ignoring them all together. "Are you going to start?" Penn hummed, gently moving the child's hair behind her ears. "Okay" Lily mumbles. Her mother lingers for a moment before she sighs again. The child finds herself scooped up off the ground quickly. "Well no, you must be stressed and worried. Or maybe it's just me. Either way we should get used to everything first, right?" Lily smiles, letting her head hide in the crook of her mother's neck. "We can't drive anywhere… but we have a whole forest back here. I'm sure you've wanted to get a peek, right?" Lily nods quickly. "Alright, get some shoes," Penn laughs. She barely has time to put the child closer to the floor before she's hoping out of her arms. In all honesty this trip was mainly for Penn's sanity. She was sure she packed small things before being dragged off on this little journey like her phone and laptop but they weren't here. She was assured before getting out of bed everything was here.

Penn only agreed to come on such short notice because she could just explain it later. She could just call her parents and talk it over. She had nothing now…. Nothing but a child.

"I'm done… the shoes are stiff" Lily grumbles. Penn smiles out of conditioning as she kneels down. Dress shoes, the black things obviously fresh out the box and polished. "We'll have to make do for now. I'll carry you most of the way." Lily takes this moment to look over her mother's clothing. She'd never seen her mother in a low cut dress but more shocking was the heels she adorned. "It's fine," Penn mumbles quickly. Her voice was lost in the child's hair. "Don't high shoes hurt? Grandma never liked them" Lily asks, voice so painfully unsure. Penn can feel a part of her cringe at her own child's concern. It was just shoes she could take that much. "You worry too much. When did that start?" Penn laughs gently. Lily doesn't say anything; she simply stands waiting.

Penn doesn't say anything else, she just holds out hand. Lily immediately finds it, greedily grabbing hold, and with a small smile the Mother wanders into the forest.

"It smells so fresh and moist here" Penn comments. Her heels get stuck a few times, teaching her to step lightly. Lily found it easier to ignore her discomfort. The way the dress fluttered made up for the fact that her shoes nipped at her heels. Besides, green was the only thing invading her senses. The trees stretched higher than she ever could, mockingly dancing with the wind letting their leaves flutter freely. The grass stained her heels and his mud that threatened to yank off her shoes. Even still Lily ran ahead drinking up every ounce of this world. If she didn't drink now she'd drown. So with wide eyes she took note of everything. "Lily, slow down" Penn called out trying to keep pace. However, she'd never even navigated anything more than a city park. The child could see the paths winding further in but her mother blindly stood trying to tell her apart from the green.

Lily heard her calls when the green already swallowed her. She turned back only to be mocked by the fact that she is a child. One that went too far. When was the last time she was truly lost? She couldn't remember but the sinking feeling that left twisting into her chest, taking root, felt familiar. "Mom" Lily gasps, the sound barely leaving her. She stumbles back a bit and realizes why the paths seem to wind down when they seem to want to go straight. Her footing slips and the green bushes move aside as she falls. In a twisted way it feels nearly welcoming especially when she realizes the fall isn't dangerous she's just bounced about before she's laid out on her face. The pastels on her dress are now muddied. She can feel the grime cling to her skin and a part of her wonders if she should wipe it off. It doesn't hurt but it's dirt all the same.

She leaves her shoes in the mud instead. Path or not she's made one herself and she's determined to follow it until she decides otherwise. It's just like those stories she'd read every now and then about destiny and fate. The moment where the main character can feel themselves being pulled in one direction. Off the beaten path, she was wandering with little sticks in her hair. Searching for whatever was pulling her.

"Lily! Lily, please!" Penn called her voice echoing. Even if Lily wanted to she couldn't turn back and find her so she kept going.

"Wow" the word left her before she could truly take in the environment before her. The trees moved practically bowing before her to reveal a haven. A clearing where the sun must've gently raised up the ground here, while it scorched everything else. The grass was so rich and bright Lily hesitated to walk over to it. She could see it. Rainbows catching in her eyesight as the rays bathed the ground. Yes, it was exactly like a story. What did that make her, she quickly thought. At the center of the masterpiece was a pond with water as clear as the sky. She could see straight to the bottom and the small creatures inside stared back at her.

It all felt so unreal it blinded her as she drank up every moment. But the center piece had to be the ruby droplets scattered around the pond. She touched them, rubbed the substance in between her fingers, and quickly wiped it away on her dress. Oh, she recoiled at the grime once more.

"Lily!" Penn screamed, her voice clawing its way out of her throat. Sounding like a wounded animal. It's enough to drag the child away from her little impulsive curiosity.

She leapt up, fear clouding her mind, as she searched for a way back. A part of her tried to keep from getting dirtier as if that mattered. Clawing through some bush that clawed back, ripping the dress's hem. Ruined, Lily thinks, I've ruined everything. Tears escape her before she even catches sight of her Mother again. "Lily! Oh, I was beyond worried. I-you-never again… don't do that again you don't know what could be back here" Penn pauses in her checking and noting for injuries. "I'm sorry" Lily sighs, eyes still moist. "God… you look like a little mud child. At least the bath isn't far, right?" "Right" Lily echoes, smiling. They begin the walk back quickly. Penn is still obviously shaken by everything. Although Lily can't understand why at all. There was nothing in the woods, she recalled Edward saying. Was he wrong? Did he lie?

"Are you sure you didn't cut yourself?" Penn prods once more. "No, I didn't. Promise." This only seems to leave her Mother even more concerned. "Then… that… stain on your dress. Was something sleeping?" Dead, Lily wants to correct but decides against it. "No, the grass had a little on it" "looks fresh" her mother mumbles mainly to herself. Lily still hears her.

"Is this all we have?" Penn asks, and Lily doesn't answer knowing she isn't truly meant to. "Dresses, skirts, stupid shoes-we aren't even going anywhere why do we have so many… nevermind" she mumbles picking the simplest thing she can. A plain white dress. "Keep this clean. No going outside in this, or in any white things. Okay?" Lily nods. The bath isn't ready when the child is shoved into the room.

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It's hardly even started to run and only bubbles build. When her mother leaves she grabs the bubble bath bottle, pours, and waits. She can still feel the grime sticking to her face and arms. But Lily knows scratching at nothing won't help anything. So, instead she lets her mind linger back on the pond. The water seemed clearer than the bath, she thought moving bubbles aside. Of course, that was only so true. The place looked so unreal because it seemed untouched and hidden despite the bloodied grass saying otherwise. Yes, she was sure it was blood now. It could only be an animal but if it was an animal she Now, as an Wright, had an obligation to help it in some way. It wouldn't be hard… once she found it.

Penn, the woman of the house, stands still realizing they lack a washer and dryer. The dress is ruined but she still wants to wash it. Honestly, she just needs something to do… anything. The house is so quiet and the woods aren't an option anymore. She must've lost her mind, she thinks, to even assume wandering about was a good idea. It's only been a day and she already feels trapped. It's ridiculous. "What would Mother say if she saw you like this?" She asks herself. Her mind was torn between checking up on her little budding baby, and starting dinner. She quickly realizes what her mother would say. Something like 'Why did you leave? Love can only take you so far' and other things. Even more than knowing what she'd say she knows if things keep going like this she'll be right. She panics in some way shoving the dress in the trash. It's been one day, she highlights before noticing even that isn't right. It's been less than a day and she's just being generous.

Too generous, she realizes turning on a dime. The basement. David hadn't mentioned it at all to her. Hadn't mentioned his work at all either. Love can only take you so far, she reiterates to herself. She could quickly look inside and ask about it later when he got home.

"Penn?" Before the woman can react she finds arms snaked around her. Her heart is racing, beating, and her husband mistakes that it's for him and him alone. "You must've seen me coming? Heard? I'm not worried about dinner if that's what's got you so nervous" David sighs, as if his every word is just honey and sugar. "Dinner? Right, I wasn't sure what to make… Lily is still in the bath. Um, how was everything today?" It's a clumsy way of casting a line. Now she just had to wait for information and a reason to drop her panic right here and now. She just wanted to know if she was scared of change-if that was all there was to it that's what she needed to know.

"I'm leading a genetic testing experiment. Based on my notes I've collected I've been put at the head of everything. Of course, it's thanks to the both of you" David smiles. He almost looks like he's expecting his wife to say something. Waiting for his cue but it doesn't come. "No, it's your work. We hardly… either way, I am glad things are better for you. I'll have to tell my parents they'll be so happy you finally got your break" and when she notices David simply nodding, Penn realizes her missing methods of communication isn't an accident. She hesitates to say anything and at this moment she loses the chance.

"Well, any issues with the house?" Edward asks, literally injecting himself into the conversation. Physically breaking the little married couple apart. Of course, the man was so playful it went ignored. "Have you seen the little alcohol stash I left? Pop open some wine, I'll help cook. Fish alright?" Edward asks both but when neither answers he keeps going. "Fine, I'll decide. Where's the kid? Go get the kid, Davey" the man sighs heavily. However, he doesn't seem as annoyed. Edward takes note and focuses on his wife. The very idea of focusing on someone else's wife feels shameful but his missus doesn't seem to mind. No one minds. "Is fish fine? Anyone have allergies?" Penn sighs just as heavily as her husband's. Her head hardly peeks up from the counter. "Lily doesn't like fish. The bones are too small she says-paranoid she'll accidentally eat one and choke." Edward laughs a bit at this.

"I was the same. Of course, it was because I actually DID eat a bone but I understand" he turns back for a moment, smirking playfully. "You can never be too careful."

"Doll?" A soft knock on the door makes the little girl stiffen. When she tries to sink further into the tub she realizes the bubbles are gone. "Coming in, okay?" David asks, gently. Lily wants to say something but remembers earlier today and is too ashamed to even open her mouth. She ran off in a new place, got lost, and more than that got her new clothes dirty. It was enough to bite her nails over. "Sweet pea?" Ah, the old nickname. Lily shuts her eyes and huffed "fine" letting her cheeks puff back up and she hides in the clear water. It creaks open so slowly she worries that maybe just maybe she heard wrong. Maybe he hadn't asked to come in at all. "Dad?" He jumps in suddenly smiling for once. "Doll, what took so long? Are you at that age? Shy now?" He takes a seat quickly leaving way for an answer but not really expecting one. "No, I thought mom might come get me" she mumbles mainly to herself. David's smile softens. "You both are two peas in a pod… What does that make me? A farmer?" Lily didn't understand and she wasn't meant to. "Earlier I messed up my clothes and bit… I'm sorry" it usually works. Coming clean before she's asked to address things. She was sure that's why her father was here anyways so avoiding it wouldn't help. "Clothes?" David echoes dumbfounded. Lily hesitates while explaining, only meeting her father's eyes for a moment. He stares in a dull sort of way. The kind of way that says he'd rather listen to anything else and his daughter notices. She notices. "Sorry" Lily mumbles. David nods, stands, and leaves.

Lily listens, her head barely peeking over the water. She can hear every step, another door, and then the steps stop. She can only assume they've stopped in front of her drawers. If he's rustling through them she can't hear that much. If she gets out now she'll bump into him.

Her eyes close at some point and her forehead falls onto her knees. This felt a bit worse than hoping nothing was in the dark. "Are you coming out, Doll?" He asks through the wall. She can feel his hands pressed against the wall. "Yes… can you bring my clothes?" There's no answer until she gets out of the water.

"Here. God, you really are perfect. Absolute peach" David laughs, eying her clothes for a moment before readjusting everything. Acting like a human iron. "It's not going to be perfect, Dad" Lily frets, trying to move but she's quickly held in place. "If the idea of perfection exists it can be recreated. You, my bab, are perfect. You are because I know you are. I've made you." Lily smiles. She always does when he says small things like this. It feels right, she feels right.

"Did you get the job?" Overjoyed Lily naturally prods at her father. Overrun with interest. "Of course, this is your father you're talking about. It'll be fun. One of these days I'll have to let you see some of my work… depending on my schedule it may be sooner rather than later." David talks like he's speaking to someone who'd understand him. His hands naturally gravitate to his child's hair and he combs through it so briskly it hurts. Lily makes sure she barely jerks at the slight tugs. "What do you work on?" Maybe it was an accident but she could feel her father tense at the question. His loose hold turns into a vise grip on her hair. He doesn't say anything. Lily remains still eyes glued to her feet. White socks, she'd dirty them if she walked about for too long in them. "Right… it's a surprise. If I tell you now-you wouldn't get it. It's better to see" his grip is still stern. He's waiting, demanding, for her to agree so she does. "Yes, I get it. I get it."

"You took your time, shrimp" Edward declares, back turned but he still noticed the Father and Daughters entry. "Shrimp? I'm not-" she pauses to get a small jump start to climb onto a chair. Edward's point is proven. "You said animals weren't in the forest" Lily announces. Both her parents stare as Edward just smiles. "Earlier I found… or I think there's a wounded animal there" she finishes, unsure of how to explain. "Well… at your father's job things happen. I'll tell you a secret even if he doesn't know, okay?" "Okay!" She replies eagerly leaning over. "Edward" David tries to interject but it doesn't do anything but turn the other man's smile into a grin. "Come closer. It's not a big secret but still" Edward insists and it's enough to calm David. Lily notices it's enough to soothe her father's worries.

"A little thing ran away from the lab the other day. It's probably hiding in the forest. If you can find it, tell me about it, then I'll give you a bunch of favors"

Lily glances up at the man, he stops smiling. "Don't believe me?" "I do" she admits, but still stares. "You mean it right… owing me favors. No matter what you'll-" "I am a lot of things, shrimp. But before all of that I'm a man of my word" Edward declares in a ridiculously serious fashion. David laughs and he's meant to. That little show was for him. "You understand, shrimp?" And Lily, the shrimp, nods.

"As long as you're sure it's fine for her. Safe, you know?" Edward nods more to Lily. "I mean, she came back fine today didn't she" Edward says, remembering his wine. "But still-" "I'm sure he'll make sure nothing strange happens. It'll be good for her regardless" David interjects, placing a hand on his wife's leg. "Right," Penn sighs into her glass. "Your always right aren't you, dear" "I am" David quickly agrees trying to brush off the small tiff by peppering the woman in kisses. Edward stares on at the small display and takes another sip. "Wait till tomorrow morning, okay?" He says suddenly only loud enough for the child to hear. She nods sure of it now. This is her little adventure and whatever happens she's there for the ride.