Xander felt slightly bad as he walked into the kitchen spotting Alex and knowing he had to leave to help him mom prepare for thanksgiving day dinner. They were having it even though they still had yet to find his sister. He was doing as Alex had suggested, in the day anyway, and waiting for his sister to turn up on her own, but his patience was wearing thin and his worry was only increasing.

“Morning Alex,” he said walking over and ruffling the boys hair before turning to give Cadha a good morning pet as the small dog wouldn't be let of the morning greeting.

"Morning Xander, have a good sleep,” Alex asked.

Xander walked over to the refrigerator pulling it open with a laugh, “as good as it can be on a couch,” and grabbing some apple juice and an orange for his breakfast. He made sure to eat some sort of breakfast every morning knowing it helped kick start his metabolism, which was something he would definitely being need if he was to keep fit running about as Shangri-la every night. Xander had been eating so much, probably noticeably so not that it really matter.

He peeled his orange leaning on the counter watching Alex for a few moment before speaking up. “You know mom's cooking today, even though she doesn't really want to. She really misses Lily and I think she hopes she will show up for Thanksgiving dinner, though I have a feeling she won't.”

"I doubt she will either. She did run back here for a reason. I doubt she's up for a tense holiday meal. She might not even know your parents and Rose are back yet. I can't blame your mom though, I wouldn't want to either. The missing child would be felt more,” Alex said sounding wise beyond his years, as he often did.

He took a slice of orange and ate it before continuing on, “so I've got to go help mom cook and get the house ready for Thanksgiving. Oh course I want to. Mom is complaining she doesnt see enough of me. She is feeling slightly paranoid even though she knows where I will be. You know you're welcome to come Alex. The offer is still open. Mom will be happy to have you.”

"I wouldn't dare keep you from your parents for the holiday, especially since you've been living here away from them for a while now. With your sister missing and all I'm not surprised your mother is worried and wants you home even more than usual. Thank your parents again for the offer. But I'd feel odd going - considering my role in helping your sister. I don't want to add some tension to the air,” Alex stated.

He continued eating while Alex talked nodding at his reasoning for not coming. Xander of course understood, despite it being thanksgiving he would probably spend the day looking for Lily if he could, but he knew his mom need him and he pretty much promised Alex he wouldn't.

“In that case Alex, me and you and even Johnathan if you like can have a thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. We'll call it a brother's day dinner for brother's who missed out of having thanksgiving together,” he said laughing lightly as this ridiculous joke, that wasn't a joke at all.

"A brothers day dinner...that sounds good - so long as you let me do the cooking. Or rather me and Johnathan, I doubt I could keep him form helping in the kitchen, and he really is good in a kitchen,” Alex said.

Xander nodding ruffling Alex's hair again, “alright. I will be back tommorrow morning. I doubt mom will let me go tonight and I think I need a little time in my own bed.”

Xander headed out of the kitchen with a smile on his face at the thought of a less awful dinner tomorrow knowing this one wouldn't be as they usually were, full of happiness and laughter. Neither Lily nor Alex, not Alex's family would be there and even their grandmother wouldn't be there this year, their mother preferring not to involve her in Lily's disappearance for now.

He changed his clothes and headed out of the house, getting into his car and driving home to his family home. A place he hadn't been to in several days, still making sure to call his mom everyday, so she wouldn't worry to much. He listened to radio for a few minutes, it reminded him of Lily singing her heart out in the car which made him smile. She was alright he said to himself humming along to the songs on the radio. He wasn't about to sing, he knew he couldn't.

Pulling into the driveway drove around the circular path parking in front of the fountain. Lily's car was parked out front and Xander had parked behind it. Rose's car was in England, as was his parent's car. Xander and Lily's hadn't been sent to England and currently it was a good thing because they were all back in Destiny looking for Lily.

He walked into the house, “Mom, Dad, Rose I'm home.”

Xander found himself with half a face full a blonde hair, being squeezed for dear life, “My baby,” cried Alyssa as she squeezed her son. Xander felt his cheek warm with embarrassment as Rose turned the corner and grinned. Xander frowned at her, but hugged their mother close.

“I'm fine, mom. I've just been staying with Alex, you know in case Lily shows up. Besides he's making sure I eat and sleep and don't wear myself thin,” he said softly pulling his mom back from him, “I'm not going to run off, okay. I promise. It's just best if I stay with Alex, beside he needs a friend right now and we are practically brothers.”

Alyssa nodded and motioned for Xander to follow her into the kitchen, Rose following the pair and punching her brother in greet which only earned her a glare from him.

It was still early so no much was going on in the kitchen, usually Lily would have been up early to help their mother back breakfast. The cook would have been off for the holiday and the family would have spent the day preparing for Thanksgiving themselves. It would be the same expect Lily's singing was missing and there was no music in the kitchen. His mother went back to work cleaning up the mess from the turkey.

“Mom started the turkey already, but there won't be much to do for a while since its still early,” said Rose before lowering a voice. “She's already cried today this morning while making breakfast. We ended up with fruit salad, there still some left over if you want some.”

Xander shook his head at his sister motioning for her to follow him and leading her to the music room. Going inside, he went over to the raised platform where the piano had stood before the room was cleaned out. Not much was still in the house, aside from their old beds because they'd gotten new ones. He sat on the platform motioning for Rose to sit down.

“I haven't found out much about Lily, but I did find out she is fine. Alex saw her and spent the day with her when she came back, but he hasn't seen her since. She has another friend Zee who has seen her since then and says she fine. They both think she needs time and I think they are right. I'm still looking for her. Seeing is believing. I'm not going to tell mom what I found out.”

Rose mouth dropped open, “Xander how can you not tell her,” she practically shouted. “She is seriously worried,” she hissed looking rather livid.

Xander put is hand up to shush Rose shaking his head, “it's not something I can really tell you, but I will tell you at the end of all this neither Lily or I will be going back to England. I promise I will tell you everything when Lily comes back.”

Rose gave her brother an angry glare, “Xander you will tell me what going on now, or I will tell mom. She deserves to know what is going on Xander.”

Xander frowned, “if you tell her then I'll just leave and she'll be looking for both of us.”

Rose looked shocked, “you wouldn't. That's not like you!”

Xander, “I'm doing it because I feel it's best for everyone involved. I still don't know where Lily is and Mom will be even more hurt to know Alex is part of the reason Lily is not home with us on thanksgiving. Not only that Lily needed me in England to be there for her and I wasn't. I'm determined to make up for that.”

Rose just shook her head, not really knowing what to say, “I hope you know what you're doing Xander. I'll keep your secret for now, but if she isn't home by december than I'm telling mom.”

Xander nodded hugging his sister, “trust me, she's fine and she'll be back before you know it.”

Rose nodded against Xanders shoulder, “I … she tricked me and I never thought she could do something like that and that same night I found a post from her on my youtube page apologizing and thanking me for believing in her. I've checked everyday hoping she might post something more, but nothing. I feel somewhat like I caused all this.”

Xander hugged his sister tight, “Come on Rose, you're suppose to be the upbeat one. Lily's an adult now and I'm sure she knew what she was doing. She'll come around we just have to wait.” With that statement Xander rose pulled Rose to her feet, smiling at her and deciding for fully to allow his sister to come to them. He wasn't going to keep looking for her, she was an adult and she knew what she was doing.

Rose and Xander went to help their mother in the kitchen, their father joining them when he returned with a few deserts from a bakery in town. The meal was prepared in relative silence and when it was finished it was also eaten mostly in silence the small family trying hard not to poke at their food and just stare at the very empty chairs that should have been occupied by their grandmother, Lily, Alex, his mom, and his dad.

As the meal came to an end Xander cleared his throat gaining the attention of his family. “I can't keep looking. Alex is right, I'm running myself ragged with worry and I know that sounds selfish, but I really do trust Lily and I know she can take care of herself. She'll come around when she is ready. She's an adult and I think she knows what she is doing.”

Xander's mother rose from the table not saying anything and left causing his father to glare at him, following after his wife and Xander to shake his head. Rose put a hand on his arm and smiled softly, “you'd better be right big bro or else I'm going to knock those red locks right off your head.”

Xander rolled his eyes, but nodded to his sister none the less. He felt a bit lighter and really hoped for his family's sake he, Alex and Zia were right.

Rose rose picking her plate up and looking to Xander, “I want to show you something. I didn't really tell anyone even Lily that I was doing this, but she found it. I doubt you've seen them as you are the most social network savvy.”

Xander frowned at Rose, but followed her anyway, dropping his plate in sink and heading upstairs, his sister telling him to wait in the library and coming back with her laptop. He watched he curiously as she pulled up her youtube page and started playing a video a Lily singing in what appeared to be pajamas without any idea Rose was recording her.

“They are really popular,” said Rose softly, “she is an amazing singer and quite the growing beauty.”

Xander nodded smiling as they watched their sister sing and dance and be happy. At some point their parents joined them and they all found themselves just watching and enjoying Lily singing as if she was standing right in front of them.

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