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It was just a little after five when a silver Dodge Dart pulled up in front of the White residence. "Call me when you're ready to come home and either your dad and I will come get you!"

"I will, thank you mom."

"Any time, go have fun." you deserve it she gave her daughters hand a squeeze. With a smile she added "I love you."

Smiling at her mom, Hannah reached over giving her mother a hug "Thank you, and I love you too!" She needed this. After all the time spent in the hospital over the last nearly two years, she needed to see a friend. To be able to reconnect with someone that knows her inside and out like an open book, has shared childhood memories with.

With an added skip to her step, Hannah made haste up the driveway to the front door. It was cold outside as her breath lingered in the air when she exhaled. Rocking back on her heels, a smile spread from ear to ear, she reached forward and eagerly pushed the doorbell once. Unfortunately she had forgot to bring a camera to capture her friends reaction. But that's okay, she'd rather throw her arms around the dark haired girl anyway.

Standing outside, bundled in her warm white winter jacket, Hannah could hear foot steps from inside and the distinct voice of Mrs. White yelling that she was coming. With a smile spread across her face, she stood there anticipating the look on her second mom's face when she opened the door. Would she be surprised, shocked, or speechless even? Whatever the case may be, Hannah was all but eager and ready to throw her arms in the air and yell 'surprise'.

There was a soft clicking of the deadbolt being turned, followed by the jiggling of the handle that caused Hannah's heart to hum and her stomach to take flight with the million of butterflies that just took off inside, a sensation much akin to the nervousness felt before giving a presentation at school. Light from inside spilled outside as the door cracked open revealing Elizabeth, Delilah's mom. Before she was able to find her voice, Hannah found herself wrapped in a warm, loving embrace. The term of endearment, darling, coupled with the warmth of the hug tore down what little resolve she brought with her.

This, this was something she desperately needed. This, this is what made Destiny City home, having friends and family, people that care, near. Burying her face in Mrs. White's shoulder, Hannah found herself incapable of holding back her tears. For once they were not tears of sadness or of discomfort or pain. No. These were tears of pure joy, happiness and relief. "It was a surprise" she managed to say through broken sobs. "We got in yesterday."

Hannah, unwrapped her arms from around Elizabeth's shoulders when she called for Delilah to come down stairs. It wasn't but a moment when the familiar sight of her childhood friend came in full view. With pink puffy eyes and a awkward smile, the blue eyed periwinkle haired girl bound over the threshold wrapping her arms around the red eyed black haired girls neck in a tight embrace. Tears once again fell from her eyes "I missed you so much," she whispered her voice broken between cries and sniffles, "I'm sorry it's been so long, please forgive me."

“I started to write a letter,” she sniffled; crying always gave her a runny nose “but it got lost so I figured I’d surprise you instead.”

When Delilah asked how long she was going to stay an all knowing smile spread across Hannah’s face. “We’re here to stay. My parents and I went to the hospital to meet my new doctor; made sure they got all my files and paperwork, and got all the records up to date.” There was no need to go out of state anymore now that Destiny City Memorial Hospital had the facilities to accommodate her needs should she ever relapse.

Reaching up, she whipped the tears from her eyes with her coat sleeve “My parents weren't able to get a house in our last neighborhood but they did find one the next neighborhood over so we’re not too far away!” Still within biking distance, but instead of it taking 10 minutes it would take closer to 20 to 25.

Hannah’s expression softened, she knew what Delilah was asking, ‘was she cured’ “I’m as close to me as I’m going to be.” She replied with a reassuring smile as her gaze shifted between her friend and her surrogate mother, “Though it might be best if we sit down, if that’s okay.”

With a hooked finger, she reached forward and wiped the tear that hung precariously off her friends chin. “I promise you, I’m not a ghost or a figment of your imagination,” with a shake of her head she added "I'm not going anywhere!" while linking her arm through Delilah’s to guide her to the living room.

"We're the two amiga's" No she couldn't speak Spanish fluently, her vocabulary was in actuality quite limited to about 20 words. Still, it seemed appropriate to say. oh how I wish I could have had you there with me she thought longingly

Hannah took a seat on the creme colored couch. Looking around she couldn't help but smile, even after being gone for a while everything looked the same. It was the same couch, same table, same chair, and yes the same TV that they shot Nerf darts at as kids, the ones with the suction cup tips. The only difference really was the wall color, what use to be a sage green is now a beautiful blue color.

"I did," she replied "every time I had to go in for a check up or tests to make sure the treatments were working, he was right there with me. A reminder of home and what's important to me" She leaned her head to the side resting her head on Delilah's shoulder. "Thank you, for all the letters you sent me, they're one of the main reasons I kept fighting. I keep them in a box in my nightstand." Hannah lifted her hands to show the approximate size of the wooden letter treasure chest.

Hannah closed her eyes when Delilah began stroking her hair, allowing herself to relax a bit and enjoy the comfort her friend offered. The thought of getting a play-by-play of Delilah's High School experience elicited a laugh from Hannah "You know I think I would have preferred that to the alternative. Speaking of which," she lifted her head and faced her friend "I'm kinda going to be going to Meadowview this year. We got back late enough in the school year that Crystal Academy wouldn't accept me." Best to be upfront with her friend and let her know that at least for this year they would not be attending the same school.

The sound of Mrs. White's laugher as she entered the room pulled her attention away from Delilah for a brief moment. With a smile Hannah nodded her head in response "I do! Thank you." Leaning forward she reached out and picked her cup up to take a sip.

"So tell me! How are things?" Raising an eyebrow Hannah lowered her voice a bit "have you found a guy maybe?" She wanted gossip, details, anything to fill the two year gap. They had exchanged letters but something about chit chatting the night away seemed undeniably fun.

Hannah's eyebrows furrowed in concern as she turned her attention from Elizabeth to Delilah. Her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach she leaned over and set her cup back down on the coaster. How'd I not know about this? I mean I didn't think that... She stopped her train of thought right there, this is Delilah she's talking about, had the shoe been on the other foot there was no doubt in her mind she would have been worried senseless and withdrawn a bit.

Reaching out with both hands Hannah placed each hand on either side of her friends face while simultaneously leaning forward so the tips of their noses almost touched.For a moment she stared into Delilahs ruby colored eyes almost as if she was searching for something. Slowly the look of concern she had melted and was replaced by a look of relief. "She's still there, she never left."

Wrapping her arms around Delilah in a tight embrace, Hannah started humming the tune to a familiar song though the lyrics she use to sing were never the original.

♪♫ You are my sun shine
My only sun shine.
You make me happy,
When skies are gray.

You never know dear,
How much I miss you.
Please don't take
My sun shine away ♪♫

"I know, and I'm so sorry for leaving, I wish... I wish I could have been here for you the same way you've been there for me." She gave her friend a weak but sincere smile. Had she been feeling better she would have wrote more frequently or at the very least called. But as it was adjusting to different treatments was a bit of trial and error and brought with it a lot of down days.

"Just because we'll be going to different schools this year doesn't mean we won't be able to still meet up when it lets out and work on homework together. If anything it means there's just that much more to gossip about." No matter what life threw her way she'd do her best to always make time for Delilah, to see her friend all smiley and full of life again, that was her current goal. She had already in a way failed her when they moved but now that she was back there was no way she would let her down again.