Page 41 of Celestia, Year Four

I should have asked before walking in, hmm.

"Sure. I'll wait in the hall, okay?"

He simply nodded, and Momo climbed onto the bed and began to jump up and down.

"BiBo!" She sounded upset, staring at Odion whose eyes darkened.

"I never asked you," he mumbled.

Momo paused in her jumping and I knew just from her trembling nature she was on the verge of crying.

"Momo?"

She turned her head toward me and I smiled.

"Why don't I braid your hair while Odion's getting ready?" I suggested. Odion was just wearing black pants, his top half still shirtless.

It was the perfect excuse to keep her from crying.

She blinked a few times and her eyes lit up.

"BIBOOO!" She looked back at Odion who was still holding the doll in his hand. Momo stuck her tongue out at him."Bo!"

She turned around and waddled to the other side of the bed, climbing down to the floor and waddling over to me.

"Bibibibibi," she sang and lifted her hands up.

I picked her up and noticed Odion's stare. I gave him a small smile and nodded my head.

"We'll be waiting outside down the hall, alright? Take your time and sorry for intruding," I apologized.

Turning around, I walked out of the room and walked down the hall until we were near the stairs.

Sitting down on the top step, I placed Momo on my lap and began to work on her hair, gathering the string strands to make one nice braid.

"Boooooo." Momo began to sob quietly, and I paused in braiding her hair to look to the side to see her tears.

"It's okay, Momo. I'm sure Odion didn't mean it," I consoled, lifting her up to turn her to the side and placing her on my lap again.

"BiBo!" She pouted her lips and looked at me. "Boooo."

"His room is important to him?" I asked.

"Bi." She nodded.

"Maybe he was worried I'd take his doll away. It's very important to him, just like how you're important to him. He wouldn't make you in the image of that doll otherwise," I explained, putting together what I thought was going on.

"Odion dealt with physical and sexual abuse..."

Orion's words echoed in my head, making me realize I must have stepped into what Odion considered safe territory.

He did look tired too. I don't know if he slept last night...

"BiBo." Momo began to lift her legs up and down playfully, clearly moving on from her previous worries.

"Momo?"

"Bi?"

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