If I have a kid, I'm naming him Ebineezer

[Rebecca Valentine]

"I can't do that!" Becca protested. "You think I don't know how much it costs to fly to Ireland and back? Not to mention I can't just go barging in on someone else's Christmas!"

[Samantha McManus]

"Then I can bloody well invite you!"

[Rebecca Valentine]

"I can't do that!" Becca protested, now sounding defensive. "Christmas is when you're with your family, not some pathetic no one you feel sorry for," she shot back, more snappishly than she ever would have intended.

[Samantha McManus]

"You're not no-one! You're the best friend I've got here!"

[Rebecca Valentine]

"And to your family I'm a no-one! See, this is why I didn't tell you!" She was trying to control herself, but there was an obvious undertone of humiliation along with all the other feelings going through her.

[Nailah]

"Hey, shh... No one's saying you have to do anything. Sam just doesn't want to see you sad and alone..."

[Rebecca Valentine]

"It's nothing new," Becca sniffed, leaning against her knees as she wiped at her eyes. "If I can make it through the bloody summer, I can get through a week of break."

[Nailah]

"You... you were here all summer? Alone?" Nailah asks, which is kind of a silly thing to ask, but she just realized this and it only makes her squeeze Becca harder.

[Rebecca Valentine]

"Wasn't that bad," she lied. "Gave me time to do work for maintenence and stuff... save up some money for this year."

[Samantha McManus]

"You're... you're not going to spend another break alone."

It didn't look like there was any persuading Samantha otherwise.

[Rebecca Valentine]

Becca leaned forward, burying her face in her arms against her knees. "I don't need pity." Don't deserve it, either...

[Samantha McManus]

"How well do you know me, Becca? Do you really think I don't mean it?"

[Nailah]

"No one's pitying you, Becca. We just don't want you to be alone and miserable. Because we're your friends and because you deserve better!"

[Rebecca Valentine]

"Why," she said miserably. "I'm fucked up enough that my own parents don't want me, why should I deserve better anything?" she asked, her voice cracking again.

[Nailah]

"Cause your parents don't get to decide what you deserve anymore."

[Rebecca Valentine]

Becca swallowed. "I just don't want you guys to get sick of me any faster than you have to," she admitted in a hoarse whisper.

[Samantha McManus]

"Becca, I don't think I ever will."

[Nailah]

"Get sick of you? Becca don't be crazy..."

[Rebecca Valentine]

"Of course you will. All my old friends did, even my parents did, you will sooner or later..."

[Samantha McManus]

"Becca, whenever I go away, I miss you. I brought you presents across a flipping ocean because I was thinking of you, and I don't want you to ever think that I'm going to forget you."

[Nailah]

"Becca those were humans. We're not gonna abandon you because of what you are."

[Rebecca Valentine]

Becca gave an involuntary sob as they said this. "I missed you guys..."

[Nailah]

"We missed you too." she smiles a bit wistfully and kisses Becca's cheek.

[Samantha McManus]

"We're not going away, Becca. Promise."

[Rebecca Valentine]

"I'm sorry... I'm acting stupid. Just give me a minute to get myself together," she said, swallowing and trying to get herself composed.

[Samantha McManus]

"You shouldn't have to apologize for your feelings."

[Nailah]

"Take as long as you need, it's okay..."

"And then we'll help you clean up, okay?" she smiles.

[Rebecca Valentine]

"Oh god," Becca groaned. "Any chance I can convince you to go unpack slowly without looking around here any more than you already have? I... really wanted to have this all cleaned up before you came home... I'm not usually a slob like this..."

[Samantha McManus]

"Oh, like we're going to start judging you now?" She laughed faintly.

[Nailah]

"Don't worry about it, Becca."