She must have been... {Nipping her lip, she glanced worriedly John Connor, suddenly wondering what word in the English language could possibly encapsulate Sarah Connor.} {ruefully} There's no way to finish that sentence, is there. {Pushing her hair away from her --

-- face, fingertips that had danced over the charred remains of her mother's ballet barre leaving a smear of soot over her skin, she huffed a soft laugh and smiled.} Incredible. Strong. Smart. Beautiful... None of those are enough. Not when it comes to mothers. --

-- At least for mine. I wish you'd known her. {Stretching out in her sleeping bag, lazily pointing and flexing her feet, she smiled John Connor, eyes bright.} People always assume dancers are frail. Delicate daisies, you know? Mom... She had more than a few --

-- guys try and take her classes who bowed out, wheezing, less than halfway through. {arching a brow} "Bad asses" with no balance whatsoever make for some really entertaining viewing. {Laughing quietly, she rested her head against her arms, leaning closer to John Connor.} --

-- But she was kind. She had such a big heart, John. She was /strong/ and so brave... And she really would have liked you. John Connor

-- complicated than "Put the blue thingy by the other blue thingy," I can muddle through! John Connor

You know what's weird? {Sinking to a seat beside John Connor, she dropped back on the sleeping bag, lacing her fingers over her --

-- stomach, dark hair fanning out across the bright blue sleeping bag like a shadow.} Before is starting to get... blurry. Some things --

-- don't fade. The sound of the ice cream truck. The smell of Missus Thornton's roses... {quietly} My mother's face when she danced. --

-- But if you asked me to tell you about my neighborhood, the houses, the cars, it's always burning. {Arching a brow, she looked --

-- up John Connor, offering #John a sad smile.} I'm sorry. I couldn't get upset in front of the rest of them. Those kids... --

-- I don't want them to know I'm scared. Hell, I don't want me to know I'm scared. You think denial works as a permanent strategy? --

-- {Jolting at a rumble overhead, pegging it instantly as one of Skynet's boats, she held her breath, exhaling as the ship --

-- passed by.} Your mother... How'd she stay so strong? John Connor

Reese... {furrowing her brow} Is he related to Kyle? John Connor's Dad? x.com/BPRP_Minion/st…

Oh... That's too bad. {Brow furrowed at the man's hostility, she gave a hopeful smile, ducking her head.} John's a great guy. -- x.com/TheyNeverRest/…

-- It would have been good. You know. To meet his family. Stay safe, okay? x.com/TheyNeverRest/…

Holy sh... {coughing} crap! {grinning} Thanks guys! Does the award come with chocolate? x.com/FandomFicAward…

Hell yeah! {grinning} That's more valuable than gold these days. Metal has no respect for the finer things. x.com/FandomFicAward…