River was again pacing the foyer when her father returned, clearly agitated from his run-in with Simon. Her eyes blazing with anger at his actions, River accused, “You just couldn’t leave it alone, could you?”

Taking a step back, Gabriel studied his daughter for a moment, wondering how he could have missed such a drastic change in her. She was so painfully not the fourteen year old he and Regan had packed off to school, and yet, when she’d first come back to them, that was the only girl he could see. But this young woman, with fiery eyes and lithe muscles, was made of much firmer stock than he had ever estimated. What else had he missed?

Raising a hand to block her next tirade, Gabriel strode towards the parlor, knowing that’s where he’d find his wife. “River, your mother and I need to discuss some things and then we’ll-“

“No!”

The loud shout was punctuated by the sharp bang of the parlor door closing as River slammed it shut behind her. Whirling, both parents eyed her with wide-eyed expressions, stunned into silence by her abrupt action.

Seething, River stood her ground. She could feel their confusion, mixed with a bit of fear, and she didn’t care. Simon was suffering, more than he ever had before and she would no longer sit by and let it happen. She was done trying to play the good daughter, done trying to be diplomatic and understanding; this ended now.

Using every ounce of her self-control, River forced her voice to even out and told them, “Simon didn’t do anything wrong. I know that’s hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth.” Her eyes darting between them, River watched as neither parent moved and then continued. “What Simon told you about what happened to me in that place, it’s all true.”

Swallowing thickly, she admitted, “I wish it was a lie. I wish I hadn’t lived through it, I wish I’d never gone to that place.” With wide eyes full of sadness she added quietly, “I wish I was still