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My ainst mine and drew me into her arms "It is not your fault either," she croaked, but there was conviction in her voice "Cronus would have never saved her, even if you’d been by his side and fulfilled your pro to him He is defined by the power he has, and all you did was bruise his ego You did not change who he is or who he chooses to be"

I hiccupped "I hated her so , and all she was trying to do was help me or--look after Milo or--or save Nicholas’s life And Walter--"

"Walter did what he had to do in order to win the war" My mother tucked a lock of hair behind my ear "He has his own demons to face now"

My chin tre I should’ve listened or--or fought for her or forgiven her or--anything"

"You did," said Jaht It isn’t your fault, it isn’t her fault, it isn’t--it isn’t Ava’s fault It’s Calliope’s And she’s gone now There’s nothingher"

I nodded tightly I could give her that, and I would We all would

In the cradle, Milo let out a soft cry "It seeain," said ed a smile as she scooped hi in the world As I reached for him, however, I hesitated A few more inches, and I would feel him He was really there An invisible barrier full of questions and doubts held me back, and I lowered my hands into my lap "What if I can’t do this? What if I can’t be his mother?"

"You already are," she said, and I shookas you are"

She rested her head against ain, and her hair tickled er than I’ve ever been Sadness doesn’t equal weakness, sweetheart If anything, it shows the love you have inside you, and nothing stronger in this world exists Ava knew that better than all of us"

A shadow ht, you know," said Henry "The best e can honor Ava is by loving the people in our lives ason the ave my mother a smile "I see you’ve met my son"

"He’s beautiful," said my mother, and Milo let out another soft wail "He wants you, Kate"