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Bell had gotten her Birthday-Christmas check in the mail that morning. Actually it had probably come yesterday, but she hadn't thought to check the mail. It came with the same card her father's receptionist, secretary, mistress, whatever usually sent - always with the age wrong. Bell had promptly stashed the check in her pocketbook and trashed the card. She'd have burned it but her place didn't have a fireplace.

She wished it did. The house was drafty and cold, which was why she had with her on the couch a quilt, and a little space heater on the coffee table in front of the couch. Last night the temperature had dropped unbearably cold. Bell had cut her patrol short - even with the leggings under her fuku and the jacket. She hated having to cut her patrol short. She had been making progress with the whole 'stepping outside her comfort zone/boundaries' thing, too! Still, she tried to have faith that there were heartier senshi out there that could take up the slack.
It was so cold she doubted even the Negaverse really wanted to get out in the bitterness of it.

In all her time here in Destiny City, Bell had never known it to get so cold so soon. It wasn't even officially winter yet! Still, mulling over the weather was a good enough distraction from the fact that it was, indeed, that time of the year. She resented it - resented her father for letting her grow up as practically a rich orphan. He had let the proverbial village raise her, and yet he still expected her to take over for him some day. Ha! She would sell the company and not even bat an eyelash, just to spite him.
Somewhere between then and there, Bell had been mulling over becoming a theatre arts teacher. She hadn't the mind for business, but theatre she very much had. A teacher's salary wasn't near what she was used to getting, but Bell was a A+ saver, and a D- spender. She could make it on that. She just wasn't sure about the dealing with kids part. High school wouldn't be too bad though, right? Maybe have the course be just Juniors and Seniors, specifically? And didn't most theatre arts classes put on a play at least once a school year? Bell didn't have directing experience, but she had been in enough plays to know what to do. And she supposed there'd be some college courses for that sort of stuff...

But....could she balance being a teacher and being a senshi?

Bell had given up everything to help protect not only Destiny City, but the world. Wasn't that her job? Wasn't that more important? Some part of her deep inside spoke to her and told her that she shouldn't let war consume her life. That there was a lot she would regret missing if she did. That voice was warm, yet sad, and full of regrets. Regrets for what she had missed... That voice was a lot like the Bellatrix in her dreams. What had Bellatrix ignored in favor of war, in favor of protecting the galaxy?

That made her think once again about her 'home' out in space... What had it been like? She was curious, but still ever so afraid... Home was here where she was needed, where her friends were, where love is. There was nothing on Bellatrix for her. And as far as memories go, Bell wasn't sure she wanted those either! She was afraid what she would find there in her past... Especially if the voice of Bellatrix in her head was any indicator.
So much regret... Regret for what could have been?
The Bell of this time and age was not the same war-hardened girl of old. This Bell was a sentimental, emotionally controlled, wreak. If she went at all...she wouldn't go alone.

Bell pulled the quilt tighter around her as she sat there, staring off in to space with a blank, empty expression. And to think, it was only 11AM. It was going to be a loooooooong, boring, day-before-her-birthday.

Somehow Bell made it through Christmas, though anyone with eyes could see she had fallen under the weather. If nothing else, her constant shiver was a dead give away. For Ainsley's sake though, she had endured. It helped that it wasn't just the two sisters. In retrospect though she felt pretty bad that she had been the equivalent to a sick bump on a log most of the time.

The day after Christmas Bell had slept most of the day. Well...what she could. She had forced herself awake to make Ainsley breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bell didn't eat. She hadn't been able to keep much of anything down. Of course, it was a miracle that Bell had been able to think straight enough to do so much as make a PB&J - oh dear, she HAD used peanut butter, right!? - let alone operate the stove.

She may or may have not made a random fever-induced call to Tallulah about sexy panties.

The day after that Bell had asked Xavier to look after Ainsley. Bell wasn't sure she could manage - the sickness she had come down with had royally knocked her on her a**. He had agreed, thankfully, and so Bell spent the day sleeping. Sleep was the best way to get better, right? Later that evening she had tried to eat a little something, but only a little. She really didn't feel like eating, but knew she had to at least try. She was pretty sure she'd be berated and have to suffer through a talking to if she didn't.

So all in all the end to her year was spent miserably.
At least by the time New Years Eve rolled around she was up and walking around, less delirious, and actually eating light meals. She was still cold, but maybe that was just the natural chill of the house. She was sluggish too. So, not 100% yet. Maybe 50-65%.
She felt horrible about having to decline any New Years festivities, Not that she'd have been able to really go anywhere. She had a sister to look after. She also didn't want anyone to give up their New Years fun because she had to go and be a party pooper.

Still...it kinda sucked to welcome in the new year alone.
Sigh.

hospital RP