Severa had left her parents behind her. They were about to give birth to her past self...What reason was there for her to stick around?

'The little me will probably be a better daughter than I ever could anyway.' She thought, somewhat bitterly. She really hated herself sometimes...Her jealousy was overwhelming her...But she couldn't help it. Everyone held such high standards for her, due to her mother being Little Miss Perfect all the time, and it drove her crazy!

But that wasn't good reason to be as needlessly cruel to her mother as she had been...

She let out a groan and shook her head, riding her horse through a field.

'I have GOT to stop thinking about that...' She thought, rolling her eyes. 'What's done is done...'

She was taken out of her thoughts as her horse had stopped moving. She looked up with confused and annoyed eyes wondering why they have stopped; she was not expecting to see a canyon in front of her.

Her eyes had grown slightly wide at the wide hills and drops 'How long was I thinking?' She let out an annoyed sigh and made the horse continue its walk, that was until a sound on the wind made her pause. She narrowed her eyes and made the horse stop and her to look around, the same sound passed by her again a bit clearer.

She jumped down from her companion and giving him a pat to let him know she was okay. She walked a bit ahead to the edge and looked down and her eyes grew wide in shock at what she saw. A tiny figure was on the edge of the canyon holding on weakly and about to fall from the edge. She couldn't make out much but from the size it looked like a toddler. It was then she heard the sound

again, this time crystal clear to her ears.

It was the whimpers of a hurt child

Severa didn't think, she just acted. She jumped off the edge of the canyon and landed on a ledge nearby, in a crouching position. She then turned, and without missing a beat, snatched the boy off of the edge.

Harry felt himself get picked up, and he began to struggle and thrash uselessly. Severa's eyes narrowed. "Hey! Calm down! Kid! Seriously, what gives?! I just saved you, quit freaking out!" She let out a groan as her words failed to stop him. "Seriously, cut it out! Why are you...so...up...set..."

And then her eyes caught a glimpse of the many injuries that marked his tiny body.

Her eyes grew wide and she gazed back up at his whimper as she noticed his green eyes staring up at her with terror. She felt a pain inside herself at that look but shook that off. She held him tight and looked back up.

She blinked when she saw a rope being lowered. She looked up and saw her companion looking down at her and she smirked up at him. She grabbed the rope and tied it around herself and gave it a tug.

The horse pulled back and started to walk back. Severa held on to the rope tightly with one hand, and held the child closely and tightly with her other hand and arm.

Harry had stopped struggling as he had noticed she was not hurting him and that she felt warm he closed his eyes and finally fell into a slumber, the last thing he saw was an image of red hair that made him feel safe.

Severa patted her horse on the head. "Wow. You're a really smart horse, you know that?" The animal neighed in response. Smirking, Severa hopped on its back. "C'mon...We have to get him medical attention..." The horse whinnied before taking off, trotting into the setting sun...

And so...

Severa looked around in irritation. "Seriously, WHERE ARE THE INNS?!" She snapped angrily before feeling the child stir. She stroked his hair and he went back to sleep. She looked down at him with a frown. "He needs help..."

She looked around with narrowed eyes trying to find an inn or someplace to get him heeled. Finally, after what felt forever she found a healers and let out an annoyed sigh of relief. "Finally, what? No one gets hurt in this town or something?" she asked irritated.

She dismounted her horse and patted him and walked into the healer's hut with the child in her arms. She looked around and grimaced at all the strange things hanging on wire and the many bottles filled with so many disgusting items. Her father had talked about a witch that was obsessed with him, she had never believed him…now she was wishing she did.

"Hello! Hey I need some help!" she shouted, yet got no response.

She walked down the room instinctively holding the child to herself protectively. She nearly pulled her sword out when a loud clang was heard somewhere behind a tower of books and bottles.

Her eyes narrowed and she walked over and she quirked a brow at the dizzy man lying in a pile of books star glasses on his nose and a white beard. "Oh…my head…spinning…so many spinning…"

The warrior sighed deeply. 'Why do I always get stuck with the idiot's?'

"Hey!" She exclaimed, nudging the man with her boot. "Wake up! Get your butt off the floor and come help this kid!" She demanded.

"What's the magic word?" The man asked with a cheeky grin.

"Get up or I'll kick you in the face?" Severa said, a threatening undertone in her voice.

"Eh. Close enough." The man shrugged before sitting up. "What seems to be the problem, miss?"

"Uh...Seems PRETTY obvious to me." Severa said with a raised brow, gesturing to the child in her arms.

The man gazed down at the child and his eyes widened slightly before going back to their jolly way. "I see. Well let's see what we can get for the little one then." He said walking into the back.

Servera rolled her eyes and tapped her foot impatiently. The boy stirred a tiny bit but with her hand running through his hair instinctively he was out like a light once again. She scowled softly. 'What the heck is wrong with me? Why am I caring if he wakes up? Its so I don't have to hear him wining about being hurt that's it.' She thought then scowled as for some reason that did not feel exactly right.

"Here we are!" The voice of the man snapped her out of her little inner debate and she gave the man an annoyed glare. He walked out with a few bottles. He placed them on the counter. "What we have here are a few potions for pain," he lifted the blue bottle, "wounds," the red bottle, "Nightmares," purple, "and finally lasting bones and ligaments." He held out a white bottle.

The girl's eyes had gone wide. "What do you think he did!?" she asked surprised at him.

The man let out a sigh and removed his glasses and wiped them. "Dear, from a glance I can tell he is hurt bad. Really bad. He might need more latter but for now this should do." He explained.

Severa felt uncomfortable. "This better work." She said sternly. "Here..." She handed the child over to the man.

"There's a good girl-Hmm?" The second the boy left Severa's arms, he began to squirm and whimper in his sleep. "Well that's weird..."

"Yeah...He was sleeping so calmly before." Severa agreed. The man grinned.

"Seems the boy's taken a shine to you."

"What?! He saw me for like, a second before he went to sleep!"

"Well, you'd better hold him then."

Serena let out a groan but took him back in her arms almost instantly the boy relaxed. She gave the child a blank look while the man just chuckled. He handed her the blue bottle. "Start with this." He said.

She snapped it from the man and looked down at the child with narrowed eyes. "You best be grateful kid. The things I'm doing for you." She mumbled. "Open up." She placed the bottle to his lips and tipped it so he can drink it.

He drank it without problems which confused the older man. "That's…"

"What?" she asked annoyed and embarrassed.

"Children at that age would be throwing a fit over the drink. Yet…he's as calm as ever."

"He's asleep."

"No…its more than that." He said gravely. "It would seem almost…like he is used to being forced to drink something." He said softly.

Severa quirked a brow. "You're grasping at straws here." She said flatly. "What did they force him to drink? Water?"

"No. Possibly some kind of poison..."

"He'd be dead."

"Anyway, give him the rest of the medicine."

"Whatever..."

Severa gave him the rest of the medicine. He was like a little baby drinking his bottle...

She shook her head trying to get those thoughts out of her head. Her eyes narrowed down at him, 'Just who are you?'

When all the blue potion was gone she removed the bottle from his lips she placed it on the table, "What next?"

"Take him to an Inn, and give him the rest when he wakes up. If he starts having a nightmare give him that one, it will calm him instantly." He said to her.

The girl stared at him with confusion. "Why can't he just stay here?"

The man gave her a look that she had seen her father give her many times before and it made her both annoyed and ashamed.

"Because, he won't calm down unless you are with him. And tell me what will happen when he wakes up and you're not here?"

She shrugged. "Nothing, since he won't know who I am."

The man shook his head with a sigh, "Just take him for a night, if you still feel that way then bring him back here." He said sternly.

Severa scowled. "Fine, whatever, DAD!" She snapped sarcastically. The man grinned.

"Aw, you consider me a father figure? How nice!" He said cheerfully.

"I WASN'T BEING-Ah forget it." Severa muttered before leaving.

"Come back any time!" The man said with a wave. Severa just gave him a glare.

"Stupid healer...Forcing me out with the kid...What does he think I am, some...some MOM?!"

The boy stirred slightly and snuggled more into her arms with a quiet whimper. The woman gave him a glare and a sigh. "Whatever…" she mumbled and walked down the road with the child and her horse.

She thankfully found an Inn and walked in with a scowl. She needed a drink badly. The inn keeper an older woman looked up and smiled warmly at her. "Well hello dearie. What can I do for you?"

"I need a room." She said plainly.

The woman nodded her head and went to the back and grabbed a key, "Second floor, room twenty-four." She said sweetly.

The warrior snapped the key from her hands and started to walk to her room.

"Enjoy your stay ma'am, I hope you and your son's stay will be to your liking." She said warmly.

"HE'S NOT MY SON!" Severa exclaimed, whipping her head around and blushing fiercely. "I'm just...babysitting." The woman frowned.

"I-I'm sorry..." She replied. Severa sighed.

"Thanks for the room..." She muttered as a form of apology before heading upstairs.

She entered the room before taking a seat on the bed. She sighed deeply. "Great...Now what?" She groaned. She scowled at the little boy. "Why do you make things so difficult without even trying?"

He did not answer he just nuzzled into her. She sighed and stood up and placed him down on the bed. She gave him an annoyed look and moved to take her armor off for the night. When that was done she sat down in a chair and gazed outside.

"Please…"

She blinked and looked over at the bed to see the child was squirming in bed. She let out an annoyed sigh and looked away.

"Unccy please…"

She opened her eyes and looked back at him. She felt a tug in her heartstrings before groaning out loud. "Ugh...Fine..." She muttered, standing up.

She walked to the nightstand and picked up the nightmare medicine. She made her way to the bed at a brisk pace, then gently made the kid open his mouth.

He swallowed the potion subconsciously, then immediately settled down.

Severa sighed. 'There...Maybe I can get some sleep now..."

She placed the bottle on the nightstand and turned around to see him asleep and let out an annoyed sound at him.

'Those people! They think this little brat is my son? They are daft, sure I saved his life but who wouldn't! Bet mother would have done it faster…" she shook her head at that and let out a groan. 'This is stupid, why am I even letting him stay? Why did I not force him to stay at the healer? Why?'

Her thoughts were halted as the boy moved his hand up in his sleep and started to suck his thumb cutely.

She blushed and looked away with a pout. 'He's not even cute...At all...He isn't...' She thought bitterly, glaring forward.

Then she heard him stir. Blinking, she turned around and groaned when she saw he was waking up. 'Great, now he's gonna be up all night.'

His eyes opened slowly and he blinked twice. "Hmm...?" He mumbled softly. Then he looked at the woman in the room...The first thing he saw was red hair...

"M-Mama...?" He asked softly, eyes wide.

Her eyes grew wide in shock, "MAMA!?" she shouted making the boy flinch back and curl into himself.

"You listen here you little-what's wrong?" she asked first angry now concerned when she saw he was shaking.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry please don't…please don't hit me…. please…" he mumbled terrified now.

Severa's eyes widened. She approached slowly and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. He flinched at her touch and whimpered softly. "I'm sorry..."

Severa sighed deeply. "All right, all right, fine, I overreacted." She replied. "Sorry for yelling at you...You just sorta...caught me off guard."

"S-So you're not my m-m-m-mama...?"

"Fraid not, kid." The little boy sniffled, then buried his face into his hands and let out a strangled sob. Severa frowned. "Now what?"

"I...I want my mama..."

Severa let out a sigh and placed her hand on her head. "She's not here kid." She said bluntly

He sniffed slightly "She…never is…doesn't want me…"

Severa felt a strong sense of guilt and shame. She would have been no different. She sighed and slowly approached the child and with great hesitation pulled him into a hug.

Harry opened his eyes his sobs quieting. "What…I thought…"

"Shh. Just shhh and calm down." She said in a surprisingly soothing voice as she held him to herself.

He sniffled and pressed himself closer to her. He tried to stop, but the tears just kept coming. "I...I...I can't stop crying!" He exclaimed, clutching at her clothes. Severa closed her eyes and sighed softly.

"Then don't." She replied.

"H-Huh...?"

"Do what you have to do to feel better. Just...get it out..."

Harry closes his eyes and just sobbed. Severa tightened her hold on him and rubbed his back soothingly as he cried all the while giving his soft "shhs" here and there. She did not know what had come over her but she did not want to let him go.

She leaned her head down and laid it gently on his, "Let it out. Let it all out." She whispered as flashbacks to when she was young and had gotten hurt, her own mother had done this to her. It was oddly not a bitter memory but…happier.

The sobbing started to quiet down and she leaned her head up and gave the boy a good look over. His emerald green eyes sparkled with tears as he gazed up at her. She moved her hands over to his cheeks and using her thumbs wiped away his tears from his cheeks.

"Feel better?" she asked softly.

Harry sniffled and nodded slowly. "Th-Thank you..." He mumbled softly, looking down. She smiled gently.

"No problem..." She replied. He yawned. "Tired?" He nodded. "Then go back to sleep." She placed him down on the bed. "I'm not going anywhere." Harry smiled.

"M-Miss...?"

"Yeah?"

"I-I know you're not really my...my mama...But...y-you...remind me so much of her..."

"How so?" she asked now honestly curious.

"She had pretty red hair…and would hold me when I cried…you are just as nice as her too." He said with a tired smile.

She blushed red and looked away yet she could not stop the small smile from appearing on her face. "She…left me…not her fault though…" he mumbled making her turn back to him with a surprised frown. "She left to the sky…so I could be happy…" he mumbled to her, his eyes closing.

"I miss her…" he mumbled as a lone tear fell, and his eyes finally closed.

Severa's eyes widened at that last part. She slowly rose to her feet and approached the boy's bedside. She gently put her hands on his side. She found herself...tearing up...? Why? Why was she tearing up?

She was in denial...She knew why... She...didn't like seeing this boy sad... It was a truly heartbreaking sight to her...

She also thought about what he said. "She left to the sky..." She mumbled. "Oh God...His mom's dead..."

Suddenly, she began to feel sick. The boy had lost his mother...at such a young age...

She crawled into the bed with him and held him to herself. He nuzzled into her in his sleep and let out a soft coo. She held him tightly, protectively. Her eyes closing as she tried to take back everything she thought about him. She opened her eyes and smiled softly at his sleeping face.

She traced his face and over a lighting shaped scar on his head that made tugged at her heart even more. She took a deep breath and held him tightly. She would not be returning to the potion shop tomorrow or ever again.

Soon the two were fast asleep. The woman holding a little boy tightly and the boy snuggled into her. If anyone would have guest. They would have thought they were a mother and son…and to her…deep down… did not mind that.