Money

"Five hot chocolates and meringue pies," Layla said placing the cups in front of the children while taking away the other mountain of plates there. "You all eat a lot."

"We may have eaten a bit too much," Max said, as Carlotta stood up and took the hot chocolates, helping Layla by distributing them to the others.

Layla took some of the plates and took them to the kitchen to be washed and cleaned.

"I am yet to be full." Ran declared, taking the hot chocolate from Shia and placing it in front of him.

"Still?" Shia asked, placing her own cup in front of her. "You ate the most."

"I am a growing boy." He said, "And I don't like being hungry. Hate that feeling."

"Wanna talk about it?" Carlotta asked, looking at him with concern while she helped gather some of the plates, waiting for Layla to come back.

"About what?" He asked back, bringing the cup to his mouth and pausing.

"Nothing," Carlotta said with a smile. "But if you do wish to talk, I wouldn't mind it. Just call me."

"Sure." He said, taking a sip of the drink. "Oh?"

"What?" Shia asked, still reluctant to taste the drink though she was very satisfied with the food.

"It's good." He said, taking another sip. "Cati, you need to try it."

"I will. I will." She said, taking the stack of plates and walking to the kitchen.

Kaia watched her go and was about to follow but Max stopped her, "Where are you going?"

"Caitlyn."

He shook his head, "Let her be for now."

"You noticed?" She asked, sitting back down.

"Noticed? Anyone with eyes would have seen it already." He said, lowering his voice. "Leave her be for now."

"Ok." She signed but still looked with concern at the direction she disappeared to.

I am just overreacting. It's all in my head.

___________

"Hello," Carlotta called as she entered the kitchen again, holding the stack of plates.

"Oh, here. Let me take that." The woman rushed to her and took the plates from her.

"Thank you so much." The man said carrying a large empty pot, "We were a little busy here."

"The food was delicious." She said seeing the ring on his finger.

They must be husband and wife. Why does Kaia like them so much? Just because they are nice to her?

She looks like that now, so they will obviously treat her nicely. It must have all been pretend before as well. She always interprets people's courtesy to the maximum because she hardly gets it.

If they are here to try and take advantage of my family, I will not let them be.

But for now, they are fine. I'll just have to keep an eye out.

"Thank you so much for that, dear." The woman said, smiling at her broadly.

"It's no problem." She said, smiling brightly. "I am glad to be able to help even a little bit."

"The cookies are done." The man declared and Carlotta's expression became stiff.

"Wonderful." She said taking a plate from the cabinet and placing it on the table.

Carlotta watched with keen eyes as he took out the tray from the oven and the smell of freshly baked cookies filled the air.

"May I try one?" She asked just as he placed the cookie tray on the table, beside the plate.

"Of course." The woman said a little too enthusiastically. She took one cookie from the tray and blew to cool it down. "There you go, dear."

"Thank you." She said, taking a big bite from the cookie. Her body lost it's tension when she tasted that its gingerbread.

"How is it?" The man asked.

"It's delicious." She said, smiling pleasantly at him.

It's not poisoned or anything either so they will be fine. Carlotta thought as she ate the remainder of the cookie.

"I am glad." He said, mirroring her smile but his is genuine happiness while hers is just a product of being constantly surrounded by her parent's acting careers.

They took the cookies out and started arranging them on the plates just as Carlotta was about to leave. She realized that they could do something else to the cookies before they delivered them.

And … she doesn't like how excited the woman looked as she talked of them. Especially the 'mute' girl.

"I can take it back to them for you." She instantly volunteered.

"You don't have to do that, dear." The woman said, smiling at her.

"I would be happy to." She said, taking the plate from the table. "We bothered you a lot with our orders so allow me to do this for you. If just to ease my conscience."

They couldn't say anything to that argument so they agreed, though the woman looked a little sad. But it just might be Carlotta's imagination.

"Thank you." She said again and walked out the door to their table, a solemn look on her face.

____________

"How are your dreams these days?" He asked in an attempt to distract Kaia from her continuous gaze to the kitchen door.

��Did you hear me last night?"

"Loud and clear." He said, playing with the marshmallows in the hot cocoa. "Still not getting any better, huh?"

She shook her head.

Ever since the night before, her dreams have been strange, to say the least. A woman always stood by the window and she could never get to her, no matter what she tried.

Then everything will disappear and all the memories of her past life will come back to her. Like she is reliving those days all over again every time her eyes close.

"We should get you help," Max mumbled loud enough for the others to hear.

"Who should get help?" Shia asked turning to him, though her eyes tell that she knows exactly what they were talking about.

"Kaia," Max answered bluntly. "Don't you think so?"

"I do," Shia said, eyes shining a little bit. "But what should we do?"

"What should we do about what?" Carlotta asked, placing the plate of cookies on the table.

"Why are you bringing that, Cati?" Dor asked, "They should be doing it. It's their job, not yours."

"I asked them if I could. After all, the kitchen was pretty full of things to be washed." She said taking her seat.

"You're too nice, Cati." He said, "But you shouldn't feel guilty about that. We'll just pay them more."

"Not everything can be solved through money," Max said, raising his eyebrows at Dorran.

"I know. I just like saying it." Ran said, popping a marshmallow into his mouth. "What cookies are these?"

"Gingerbread." She said taking one and giving it to Kaia. "There you go."

"Thank you." Kaia signed and bit into it, her face contorted with that one bite but she swallowed it anyway.

"What happened?" Carlotta asked, concern evident in her face. "Is something wrong with the cookie?"

Kaia shook her head, a small smile on her face. "It was too hot."

"Oh." She relaxed instantly, "Ok."

"You need to calm down, Caitly- Cara," Shia said, frowning at the girl's reaction.

"I'm just a little bit concerned." She said, taking a bit of her own cookie. "Oh, you all were talking about something before I came."

"Right, we were discussing that Kaia needs help." Max said, "With all then nightmares she had been having. It's not good for her."

"Shia and I were talking about it as well." Carlotta said, "What do you suggest we do?"

"We thought that it would be best to get her to see a therapist," Shia said, giving a brief glance to Carlotta.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Dor said biting into the cookie. They had to wait until he swallowed for him to continue. "Do we have another one?"

"Why not?" Shia asked, "We can't do anything to help her at the moment."

"Right but you need to remember that her case is not like others." He said twirling the drink in his cup as though he is drinking wine.

"I agree with Dorran." Max said, "After what happened yesterday, the best plan of action is to not just throw her into a room with an adult for an hour or two."

"Right," Carlotta said, taking a sip of her hot coco. "This is delicious."

"Then what do we do? We can't just leave her like that. I am concerned about her health and Cara's too." Shia said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Huh? Why mine?" She asked, pointing to herself while the others, even Kaia, gave her a concerned look. "What?"

"Sleep deprivation is not healthy." Was all Shia could say and the others nodded in unison.

"I do get a lot of sleep. More than Kaia at least." She defended herself.

"Well, Kaia isn't the best person to compare to at the moment," Dor said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "No offence, Kaia."

"I agree with you." She signed, turning to Carlotta, "You need rest."

"I don't want to hear that from you." She said a little sharply but no one took that burst too seriously.

"Ok. Ok." She signed, taking another cookie and giving it to her. "Sorry?"

She glared at her but still ate the cookie from Kaia's hands which brought a smile on her face. This was enough to cause her slight irritation to dissipate.

They didn't bring this topic up again as they finished the remainder of their meal and prepared to go.