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Candace kept a protective grip around Molly's shoulders, Atropos long unsummoned as they made their way across the compound to get to the underground's entrance. Only one creature. She'd only managed one and she'd done poorly against it at that. Candace was disgusted with herself for her performance today both as a fill in for a Moon and actually trying to fight off the stupid thing. She hadn't done very well when she'd gone out with Harrison, too.

She was just failing all over the place.

Molly interrupted the silence between them with a question asking if she could ask a question. Candace smiled. "You've already asked two just with that, but you can go ahead and ask another~." She teased affectionately, giving the girl's shoulder a squeeze. "What's up?"

So adorable. Molly was almost too cute for this life, but Candace loved having her around ad especially in the same division. She waited patiently for Molly to ask whatever was on her mind, keeping a watchful eye on the fog around them. Nothing was coming their way. Things were okay.

“…A…are you happy, Miss Candace?”

Eh?

Candace blinked, looking down at the girl beside her. That was an odd question to ask. She wasn't bothered by it, so the apology was unnecessary, but it had her curious why Molly was asking. Candace was quiet at first, her lips pouting. Was she happy? Well, yes..right? She had told H that herself. She was happy being a hunter. She was happy being here. This...this was home to her. This place was more home to her than any home had actually been. She was happy here, she was happy having a higher purpose, especially one she was good at. She had friends, colleagues...lovers. It wasn't perfect but..it was good for her.

But lately things had been more difficult than she liked. She was failing at everything she did. She couldn't even defend..she could barely fight right now. Candace sighed. "Recent events aside...yes." She smiled. "It's..something I'm good at. It's difficult, especially after all the reality checks I've gotten during that last mission, but I think..it just gives me more drive. More drive to protect my friends, those I love. Even those I don't know. With what I've gone through before being a hunter, and even being one now..some of it I wouldn't wish on even an enemy. I don't want some little girl to have nightmares even into adulthood like I did." She shrugged. "I miss my dad every now and then, but I don't miss my mother or..my father. Just my dad. I wasn't particularly close to anyone. I had lots of friends but for the most part I've always been very independent. Being in Mist allows me to continue that as well, while reminding me it's not a bad thing to ask for help." She looked down at Molly.

"Are you happy?"

An odd answer to follow an odd question. Candace frowned. "You of all people? Why not?" Was something wrong? Molly was the sweetest little thing she had ever met! Why would she of all people feel she shouldn't be happy?

Candace wasn't sure what to expect. Reasons Molly could possibly not deserve happiness? Were there any? Did she upset someone? Break someone's heart? Perhaps she broke a promise. Maybe she left someone behind that she missed. It could be any number of things. What she didn't even consider to be a possible option for 'not deserving happiness'?

It's all my fault she's dead.

She stopped to just stare at Molly, eyes wide and jaw dropped. Her fault? What? Dead? Who? What? The ******** was she..what!? Candace moved to hold her and stopped, bringing her arms back. She wanted to hold her, but the girl was still getting out her story. She had to concentrate, to figure out what she was saying through the attempts not to sob. Candace wasn't sure what to do. No one had ever given her this kind of confession before. Molly's life before this was...it was so..stressful. Seventeen?! Seventeen she was doing this!? No. No, no. That was terrible! She'd grown up too fast. She clearly hadn't been ready for it. Oh god, her poor Molly. Not her Molly. But there were things she was hearing her say she'd done that Candace didn't think the girl capable of. Angry? Bitter? Molly was any of these things?

Oh god. Molly. You poor thing. Suddenly your own issues feel like highschool drama, huh? Candace frowned down at her rings and shook her head. No, there was no comparing her situations to Molly's. Candace had lived a decent life growing up, with a few details it was ordinary. An adulteress mother, shameless in her actions, a heartbroken husband who did his best to raise his daughter right..she could only imagine how he had reacted to learning his little Candy was dead. She almost wished she could tell him she wasn't, that she was alive and well and literally saving the world, but she knew that would never be an option.

Her poor sister..

Candace was asked a question, a question she didn't know how to answer. She had just had a bomb dropped on her. She didn't...know what to say. Her mouth opened to reply but then closed again. Open, close, open..close. What does one say to a girl who felt she was responsible for the death of her own little sister? Who had to watch her die? Who held her in her final moments? What did one say? Do? How did she..this wasn't something Candace had any experience or knowledge in. "Molly.." She said softly, finally stepping forward and reaching for her. "Put your weapon away..come here..." Candace waited for Molly to do as she said before pulling her into a hug. It was tight, warm. Candace held her against her body and buried her face into her hair. It was a invitation to have the cry she wanted, the one she was holding in.

"Molly, no. Don't do that. You have every right to be happy." She told her, her own voice shaking. Not her Molly. "You did what you thought you had to do. You did your best, okay? You worked hard, you worked really hard. You had her best interests in mind. You did your best. That's all anyone could ever ask of you, okay? You did your best, sweetheart. It's okay. I'm sure she wouldn't be angry. You loved your sister, just from what you told me I can see that. You loved her. And there's no way to tell if she'd still be alive, honey. It's not your fault...when..when it's someone time it's...it's their time. Don't blame yourself, there's no way a sister who was so loved would wish you eternal unhappiness." Candace's voice shook, trying not to cry herself. Stay strong for her. Stay strong for Molly. Be strong. Her body trembled, a hand rubbing Molly's back.

The whispers were back. Atropos did her best to hiss them away, but all it did was make Candace cling to Molly more desperately. Stay strong. Stay strong. Stay strong.

That's a good girl, Molly. Cry it out. Candace was not letting her go, though she did whisper soft words of encouragement, that it'd be okay ad to cry as much as she needed to. She still wasn't sure how one should..handle a confession like this. She was doing the best she could but she was out of her element, she didn't know what to do for Molly.

"Yes, you can." She told her gently, petting Molly's hair as she sobbed. "You're not the worst person ever. You made a mistake, it happens. It happens, sweetie, and there's nothing you can do to go back and fix it. All you can do is learn from it and continue on. Oh, Molly, sweetheart. It's okay." Candace kissed her temple, nuzzling her face against the girl's cheek. She'd been harboring this much guilt and responsibility for this long? No wonder she was a mess about this. "Molly, you're human. It's sadly natural to have feelings like that when you have what you feel is a positive change. It's okay. You are the sweetest, kindest, most loving and thoughtful woman I have ever met, Molly. You're the girl who comes over-prepared for missions, who makes sure we all eat breakfast, who just wants us all safe and happy and to get along." Candace leaned back enough to press her forehead against Molly's eyes closed and a gentle smile on her lips. "You're strong, okay? Don't let anyone, including yourself, feel like doing something for yourself is something to feel bad about. Not wanting a child to experience what your sister did is a very good reason for fighting, but don't forget about you okay?"

Candace opened her eyes, smiling a little more. "Think about the sisters of those children. You don't want them to go through what you went through either, right?"

As Molly showed her gratitude Candace chuckled and reached a hand up to wipe away her tears, pressing a little kiss to the girl's cheek and keeping her lips there while she continued to go on about how she felt. She smiled. That's a good girl. Much better, Molly. Much better. "Yes, Molly. It's okay to be sad. It's okay to cry, to be angry. It's even okay to have selfish thoughts and want things for yourself. You've more than earned some Molly Time." She kissed her cheek again and lifted her head away, using both hands to wipe away the tear stains on her cheeks. She played with her hair, straightening it out from the mess she herself had made of it. "Just remember you don't need to be sad alone, got that? You have many friends here. And worst comes to worst, I'm a simple text summon away. I'll always come see you if I'm able to, Molly darling."

Candace closed her eyes and hugged the girl again, more gently this time than the tight hold she'd had on her as she sobbed. "The past is the past. Learn from it, but try not to dwell on it. Trust me, it's really hard to do that sometimes." Then again Candace wasn't prone to following her own advice most of the time. Or keeping her own promises to herself, apparently. "But I know you can do it. I trust you."

At Molly's whisper Candace grinned and kissed her forehead. "That's my girl." She told her proudly, swaying gently from side to side with the girl as she gave her that new hug. This was better, helping someone who needed it more than she did. "You're welcome, Molly. It breaks my heart to see you sad, a frown doesn't suit you." She let her go as Molly raised a hand and began to apologize. Oh, Molly. You silly thing.

Candace shook her head, brushing hair back out of Molly's face and tucking it behind her ears. The curls refused to do entirely what she wanted but with a bit of fuss she was able to claim victory over the pesky curls, smiling down at the younger woman. She felt genuinely flattered for the reasons Molly was saying she had gone to Candace instead of anyone else. She was quite honest sometimes, huh? She was glad Molly was able to trust her despite her...history of rampant lying. She kissed her forehead again and leaned back to just hold Molly's hands. "Don't be sorry. You needed someone who would listen, and I'm willing to be that person anytime. I'll protect you when you need protecting. I'll always be honest with you, okay? And don't worry about thanking me. Your smile is enough." It may have sounded cheesy but it was true. She wanted Molly to be happy, she wanted everyone she cared about to be happy and smile all the time. And for it to be genuine.