Van Eck stood before him, papers in hand. Papers he needed to read.

"How did I end up with a worthless moronic child?" The man growled, pacing the floor. He tossed the sheaf of papers in front of his son. "Read, you fool."

Wylan's body shook with a sob. "I can't, Father, I'm sorry."

Van Eck lashed out, the palm of his hand connecting with Wylan's already bruised cheek. "Read it!"

Wylan brushed his fingers over the text, wishing it were a math problem, a drawing, music, anything. But it wasn't. He bit his lip and shook his head.

Van Eck gripped him by the hair, tugging him to his feet. "Do you not understand, boy? Do you not get what danger you put me in?"

Wylan wiped miserably at his aching cheek, willing the pain to stop, willing his father to leave him alone-

He awoke, drenched in his own sweat. The sheets were on the floor, presumably from his flailing.

Wylan rolled over, intending to curl into Jesper's arms, kiss his cheeks.

The bed was empty. Jesper wasn't there.

Wylan sat up, reaching for his nightclothes and quickly pulling them on. Perhaps he had just gone to the bathroom?

But the house was silent.

Wylan rushed down to the door, not bothering with a coat as he made his way outside.

The crisp air coated his arms, but Wylan hurried onward, not stopping until he reached the Crow Club.

Surprisingly, Kaz was sitting outside the door, counting kruge.

"Wylan?" He stood. "What are you doing here? It's the middle of the night."

"You know why I'm here," Wylan snapped, stalking up the steps. "Let me in."

Kaz blocked the door. "You need to go back home, Wy. Jes... he's unhappy right now. He's gambling and... and you should just go home and get a good night's sleep."

"Getting a good night of sleep isn't a possibility for me. So move out of the way and let me in."

Kaz didn't move out of the way. "Why aren't you able to get a night of sleep?"

"You think I'm okay with sleeping in the same house, the same room as my father did? I wake up from nightmares every single night. Jesper's always there for me and I wake up without him. Where else would he go? I'm not stupid, Kaz. Get out of my way."

The boy's eyes narrowed, but he opened the door, stepping inside and holding the door open for Wylan.

He found Jesper immediately. A boy with tan skin and brown hair was practically in his lap as he played cards with three other men.

Wylan didn't care that he was making a scene as he stalked across the club. "How dare you-"

"Wylan?" Jesper shoved the boy away, standing. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here, gambling behind my back, making out with random people you don't even know?"

Jesper reached towards Wylan, but he backed away, bumping into Kaz. "Wy, I'm sorry. I just... I didn't feel well. I needed a distraction."

"So you'd rather mess around behind my back than try to talk to me about your problems? I thought that you trusted me more than this."

Wylan was vaguely aware of Kaz ushering everyone out of the club, leaving the three of them alone.

Jesper ran a hand through his hair, his cheeks flushed. "Wylan, I am so sorry. I would have talked to you, but... I can't weigh you down with my problems. I can't force you to deal with my issues as well as yours."

"If you knew anything at all, you would know that I love you enough to try to work through your problems together. This... this addiction isn't helping you or me or anyone."

Jesper shook his head. "I'm so sorry."

Wylan turned, brushing past Kaz as he headed for the door. "Come home when you're done wasting your time and money."

Kaz gripped his shoulder. "Wylan, wait. Jesper left you alone and, yes, it was wrong. He shouldn't have left, he should have told you he was upset. But you can't be angry at him when he was dealing with stress in the only way he knew how."

"I gave everything to him and he leaves in the middle of the night. I was terrified, Kaz."

"I know that you're upset, but perhaps you should leave that house if it's so terrible. Maybe you could find a nice house where there are no reminders of your father. You could start over, both of you."

"That doesn't justify what he did."

Jesper walked closer. "Wylan, trust me, I'm so sorry. But Kaz is right. We should leave."

Wylan frowned up at Kaz. "I can't just leave you and Inej and the Dregs."

"Why not? Move to the country, Wylan."

"Come with me," he whispered. "Come with us, start your own family. You could leave behind this dumb legacy. What do you even have in Ketterdam? You got your revenge, now go and be free."

"I'll think on it."

Jesper placed a hand on Wylan's arm. "Forgive me, please."

Wylan covered Jesper's hand with his own. "I'll always forgive you. I love you."

Kaz took a deep breath, his eyes hollow. "I should like to go with you. And... there's a house that we could buy and fix up. There's another house nearby and... I think we should start a home for kids like me. Kids who moved to Ketterdam with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I think... I think I want to start a family."

Wylan blinked away tears and smiled. "It seems like we have planning to do once Inej gets home."

****

Planning indeed. Wylan bought the Rietveld farm for a large amount of money as well as a smaller neighboring house. Once Inej returned home, they packed up their things and loaded up carriages.

Kaz walked beside him. It was their last night in Ketterdam and Wylan wanted to say goodbye.

Every single orphan kid they came across, Kaz would give them the address to the farm and a bag with enough kruge to get them there.

They sat on the front stoop of the Slat and Kaz let out a sad sigh. "I'm gonna miss this place."

Wylan laughed quietly, not bothering to brush away his tears. "I will, too."

Kaz looped an arm over his shoulders. "We're going to go home and be happy. All of us."

Wylan nodded. "Inej, Jesper, you, me. A little ragtag group of lost kids."

Kaz dusted off a step. "It's time to go, Wy."

Wylan stood, offering Kaz a hand. "I guess we should head to the boat, then."

Kaz wiped away a tear with an ungloved hand. "This was once my city."

Wylan didn't respond, simply squeezed Kaz's hand and led him off towards the canal.

They arrived a moment early, stepping on deck and finding their rooms.

Jesper was lying on his and Wylan's bed, staring up at a drawing. "Wylan," he sat up.

Wylan sat on his lap, resting his head back on the other boy's shoulder. "We're going home, Jes."

"Home."

****

The Rietveld home was alight for the holidays, wreaths and flowers and lights decorating the outside. On the inside, garland wound around the doorframes and a large tree was situated in their living room.

Five years earlier, one might have thought the farm was old, abandoned. But after Kaz and Inej Rietveld and Jesper and Wylan Fahey moved in, the house became a beautiful home, one that was cherished and wonderful.

Not too far from the large estate was another big building, but it was looked after by Nina Zenik. It was a home for children, and every day she was reminded of Matthias by them.

Wylan's heart was filled with joy and love every day. He spent more time with his family than he did anything else, relishing every moment.

As for Jesper, he loved the open fields, the area where he could shoot and run and play with the two dogs they had.

Inej lived her life to the fullest, setting up tightropes or acrobat equipment. When she wasn't taking care of her four beautiful children, she was high above the ground or spending time with her husband.

And Kaz enjoyed every second of every day. He was home with his brothers and wife and now his four talented and amazing children.

They were all so happy. Each and every one of them enjoyed their time on the farm and they spent years there, spent years laughing and loving and crying and celebrating.

And when they were still young, only twenty-five, they set up lights all throughout the field with the help of the servants and they had the time of their lives.

Everything was perfect. And everyone in all of Kerch knew that the Rietveld home was safe and friendly. Whenever they were in need, they would go there and join the Rietvelds and Faheys for dinner or a party.

Their lives were perfect.