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Honestly, Terry had spent more time than she'd intended trying to decide on whether to buy a birthday cake or cupcake for Raven. Everything else had been simple enough, since she wasn't going for anything huge; a couple of party hats, a small lettered sign, and Raven's gift. She hadn't had time to do much else, as Sean had been along for the entire ride, doing his best to eat just about everything he could get his little hands on.

In the end, she chooses a massive cupcake from a specialty bakery in town, mostly because she's not even sure how old Raven's supposed to be. It's easier to stick one candle in a single cupcake than to try to figure it out for a full cake.

Terry had grabbed Sean and was out of the mansion by sunrise, and she makes sure Raven's not in by the time she returns home. Her text asking Raven about her plans for the day include an emoji-filled happy birthday! just to keep her off the scent. It leaves Terry with enough time to set up in the kitchen; the birthday sign is hanging low in the doorway; the cupcake is in the fridge, candle ready on the counter alongside a couple of paper hats and a bag containing Raven's present. It's not much at all -- certainly nothing like what Magnus had done for Terry -- but it's something, and she would hate to pass the day without any proper recognition.

With Sean and herself changed into a cleaner set of clothes, Terry sets up in the kitchen as she waits for Raven, soft mats set on the floor for him to roll around on.
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Perhaps she's hiding away, but Terry thinks she has every bloody right to.

It had been days locked up in that facility, she finds out, days powerless, days spent poked and prodded and having her power tested like she's some sort of bloody lab rat. Whatever they'd done, they'd been good at it; good enough to kidnap her and others, good enough to get around their defenses, good enough to keep them locked up.

They'd been so good that after the rage burns through her, after she'd done her part and took off for the countryside to prevent herself from doing something she'd regret, all she'd felt was raw. Exposed. Careless.

She'd promised herself that would never happen again, but she can't even keep promises to herself anymore.

The school had come to mind first, the only place she could think of that was safe. Even if someone knew she was there, they wouldn't be able to get past the wards.

She's safe.

She's safe.

Once she showers, once she scrubs away a week of sweat and blood, constantly humming or singing to herself, filling the silence with her own voice as she changes into a fresh set of clothes, once she has no reason to move anymore--

It builds up in her chest first, a mounting pressure that rises, burning the back of her throat and clouding her vision with tears as she stumbles downstairs, makes it into the huge basement and trusts, trusts that she can let go of the scream she's been holding in for days and the world won't crumble around her.

[Let's say she left the basement door open a touch to be heard. Takes place the morning after GAPS plot wraps up.]

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Theresa Cassidy

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