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Most of the rest of the night was fairly uneventful. The moment her body felt a comfortable mattress under her; she was dead to the world. A bomb could go off under the bed, and she would have never known. She might have dreamed a little, but nothing that took root or could be remembered.

Until around mid morning. She began to stir and move her head. She went to crack her eyes open, and BAM!!!! Not to mention, her mouth felt parched. She slowly started to animate her mouth unsticking her tongue from the roof of her mouth. Then, she mushed her lips as her mouth just still felt gross. She needed a toothbrush, maybe a shower. She then moved her elbows to prop herself up, so she could sit up better. The motion of doing that made her feel it even worse. "eeeerrrrrrr" She could only elicit a groan for the throbbing. Behind her eyes and all through her head. She was quite sure she could feel better if she had been clobbered with a vase.

Then, she rubbed her eyes and felt her forehead. Was she running a fever? It was hard to tell. Maybe she'd ask her mom; since her mom was one of those people who were super good at telling if you had a fever just by feeling your forehead. Then, she stopped. Oh wait. She... wasn't in her room. She looked around. It wasn't a room she recognized. Did some guy take her home? Then, her eyes looked to the side of the bed to see a sleeping man with long curls cascading all over. She sat there trying to recall what had happened that night. Whatever it was, he must have came and took her somewhere. Was this a hotel?

She then decided maybe if it was; she should shower and get coffee to kick this hangover quick. She crept out of the blankets, and she slipped her feet to the floor. She had to stretch her legs a few times. They didn't feel especially great either. She sat there staring at him sleeping for a moment. She felt two things. The first was gratitude. Regardless of her inability to recall the events that led to him being the one to come get her; she felt endlessly thankful that he had in any case. The other was a severe foreboding for whatever state he found her in.

Cherry was nothing if not proud. Her self love knew no bounds, and the last thing she ever ever wanted was to be shamed in front of someone. She had only just started having a really decent friendship. Xander was decent on several levels. Many of which she lacked in almost all her other friendships or relationships. She frowned as her toes felt their way through the rug until they touched a hardwood floor. Her eyes peering around. She walked to the door into the hallway. She looked down a long hallway. How was she gonna find the bathroom??? And, what about the kitchen. Plain to see.... this was not a hotel. Was this his house?

Xander slept peacefully even though he was sitting up in a chair. At some point in his sleep his hair had come free and his curls hung loosely around him. He had been so tired that although he was intended to watch over Cerise he fell asleep. He remained asleep as Cherry woke, even as she discoverered him and watched him. It wasn't until a draft drifted over his face that he woke with a start and looked to see his door open. At first he assumed it was Lily checking in on him, but the events of the night came back to him slowly when he gazed at his now empty bed and look realized he was sitting up in a chair.

Xander hopped up, tiredness forgotten and looked twisted around looking as if maybe he missed Cerise in his room. "Cerise," he called out wondering where the girl had gone, before heading to the door needing to find her before she got lost of accidentally woke Lily whom he was sure was out just as last, if not later than he was.

She had only gotten down a few doors. She opened and peeked in quiet as a mouse. Most were empty. Then, she found a bathroom in one. She looked around. She then found one that had some towels in it, and so she just helped herself to taking a shower in there. She then started to wonder about the coffee. Was there coffee here? She really needed it. The hangover in her head was just thumping away like someone banging on a big marching band drum right next to her ear. Though once she was in under the hot water; she was quickly feeling relief. She just let the water saturate her hair for a while.

She was relieved to find a bottle of shampoo that had a pleasant smell. The soap was rather nice too. When she had been nice and clean, she felt much better. She got out and toweled down. Looking at that t shirt and her thong. She really didn't want to put them back on. It was pretty gross to go on rewearing them like that, especially since lord knows what happened to her last night. Did... something... happen? Her gut instinct said no. Xander just didn't seem a sort who either did it often or at all. Still, she was standing there slipping the shirt over her head. She felt like she should probably do something to make it up to him. Otherwise, she might grow into a feeling of owing him. She had almost never owed anyone in her life. She wasn't sure it was something she wanted to start doing.

After she had wrapped her hair up in a towel, she wandered down the hall and to some stairs.She followed the stairs down, and her eyes peering around. Everything looked just so nice. It was definitely the nicest house she had ever set foot in. It all took her breath away. She continued to wander till she found a kitchen. then, she started to peek around into cabinets and the fridge. She found the coffee, and she set to starting a pot. She wanted that first. While she waited for it, she took stock of various ingredients she had seen. The ghost of an idea started to take shape in her mind. Was it rude to cook in someone else's kitchen uninvited? This kitchen was pretty amazing though. It was much more modern and spacious compared to her own.

Xander had woken a bit after Cerise had already gotten out of the shower, so as he walked down the hall she was no where in site. He, however, noted the open bathroom door when she walked past. The bathroom smelled of shampoo and soap, and while he knew it could have been his sister who showered, her tightly closed door made his think otherwise. He frowned wondering what Cerise had put because he hadn't brought her clothes in last night, he was sure they were still sitting wet in the backseat of his car. He moved past the bathroom and went into Rose's old room, the room his sister still used when she came to visit with their parents from England. He knew her closet had clothes in it, whether Cerise could fit them, he really had no idea, but he grabbed a few things out of the closet and laid them on the bed, happy Rose tended to hand up whole outfits as oppose to separate thing because he had no idea when it came to womens clothes.

He didn't notice some of the clothes still had tags on it, nor did he really look at what he picked. Rose was a little more risque than Xander and Lily, but she still kept it lady-like and tasteful so he wasn't worried. After just really grabbing a few outfits at random he headed down stairs, looking for her, hoping to find her and better spirits than last night. He smelled coffee as he reached the bottom of the steps.

"Cerise," he called out softly, "are you in the kitchen?"

She had started in on a cup already. When he walked in and called her name, her head turned to peer at him over the rim of the mug. Her expression quickly flickered back and forth between embarrassment and endless gratitude. "Hi...Um... Thanks for... coming and getting me. I hope I ... wasn't a lot of trouble." She blinked off to the side dejectedly. She hated not remembering yet. She disliked being troublesome in the sense that people would have go through tons of effort on her behalf. For all her faults, she was rather independent and liked it that way.

She started to ask her next question a few times. A few blinks as she put it together. "Would.... it be ok if I like.. Used your kitchen? Um, you know. To like ... make breakfast? I'll clean it up when I'm done." She finished her cup and poured a second. She was pretty serious about clearing up her hangover. As she stood there pouring the coffee, she had a brief flash of laying on the grass and throwing up. Her eyes grew huge. She paused frozen with mortification. She looked back at Xander a moment before putting the coffee pot back on its burner. She stared at her mug hard enough to burn a hole right through. How soon after that did he find her? She hoped she hadn't been covered in vomit. She didn't seem to have it on her when she woke up, but who knew. Probably him. She was too afraid to ask. If he said she was, she'd be eternally embarrassed. That was worse than anything. She hated being embarrassed.

Then, she had a few quiet moments of frequent glances at him as though she wanted to ask several questions. Each time, she'd just clam up and sip at the black coffee instead. "And.. um.. good morning... sorry you had to sleep in a chair."

Xander walked into the kitchen and spotted Cerise standing behind the counter and what he assumed was his t-shirt from the night prior. He was glad he laid out a few things for her to try and choose from. He walked in still in yesterdays clothes as well and gave a small smile and a wave, "Good morning," he said before Cerise thanked him. He thought on the night and didn't know how truthfully he should answer the question, but decided the truth was really the best.

"I work in emergency situation, so it was definitely not anything worse than that, but you did say some things that I'm not sure I want to repeat, but that maybe we should talk about when I am feeling a little more awake." He yawned and stretched a little feeling like he didn't quite get enough rest.

When she asked to use the kitchen, he didn't mind at all, "that's fine if you like to." He moved around the counter and pulled open a cabinet, after cabinet and draw after draw showing where everything was. "Don't be surprised if you find yourself with company. My sister might wake from smelling food. I'm going to go to the pool and swim for a bit to wake myself up a bit more before I take a shower. There is an intercom to the pool house, if you need anything, just push the button for the pool house and speak, then let go, so I can answer you back, okay?"

He moved towards the french door in the kitchen, "I didn't mind sleeping in a chair. I didn't have too, their are guest room, but I wanted to watch over you and make sure you were okay. Oh and I pulled some things of my sister's from her closet for you to choose from. I'm sure you would like to get dressed. I'm sorry your clothes are probably still wet, I accidentally left them in the car, last night."

He paused a blush rising to his cheeks as he realized she might not remember he'd changed her clothes or why, "I found you all wet up from the sprinklers on the lawn. I didn't want to to really cold or to get sick so I put you in my t-shirt, but I didn't ogle you or touch you inappropriately. I swear." He gave a nervous smile, hoping she would understand and headed out the door onto the patio and walking the path that would lead to the pool.

She had observed this before in previous meetings of how genuinely nice he always seemed to be. At first, she found it hard to believe. Maybe he was shy at first with new people. Or, maybe he was one of those guys who buttered you up; then he'd release the inner jerk later on after he slept with you. However, she was quickly seeing that was probably something that wasn't going to happen. Call it instinct or something, but Cherry had plenty of experience in dealing with all sorts of men. She had rarely if almost never met a guy who was her own age who was like this all the time. The more she met with him and talked with him; the more she was seeing this was just who he was. Someone who was by nature; authentic, genuine, and a totally nice guy.

Her resulting feeling was a deep, deep humbling. That was a sensation that was rare for her. She was anything but humble most fo the time. She was selfish and always out for number one - her. While it was a mystery of how he came to be the one to save her, she had no doubt whatever it was. He probably had no hesitation. The more he said; the more a part of her felt like she just wanted to cry. It had been years since she had felt like that. This person was such an amazingly good person. He came and found her. He brought her home, and he made sure she was all right. He sat by her bedside all night. She felt suddenly this was some kind of debt. She wasn't sure if she could repay this. Now, she was twice as spurned to making breakfast. Only now she wasn't going to just fry herself some eggs and toast. Oh no. Now...well, he was in for something.

She took a moment to speed back upstairs. She wandered down the hall till she passed an open door with a pile of clothes on the bed. She smirked to herself. She could his taste in what he felt she should be wearing as opposed to what she was wearing when he found her. She went for the green skirt that was longer in the back. She then went to look in the drawers. "Score!!!" She was pretty happy to find clean panties. Seeing a tag, she realized they were brand new. "Hope no one minds." She took the tag off and slipped into them. That was much better. She preferred to either always have clean panties or no panties. She'd had happily gone with no panties, but she didn't want to be bad. Not for someone who had been so unbelievably kind to her. She then stood figuring out if she should bother with a bra. She really didn't want to wear one. She wore them out of necessity. That and lots of halter tops. Those were handy. She opted for a tank top and the white see through sweater.

When she was more put together but still barefoot, she went back down. She set about gathering things out of the drawers and cabinets. She set to mixing pancake batter, scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. She drank more coffee just to be sure she was flushing the alcohol out of her system. She thought about his mentioning his sister. A sister. Seemed everyone she met these days had a brother or sister. Except her. She had alternated between wanting to cry and wanting to laugh. She found it adorable that he was so adamant about not doing anything inappropriate. She felt she didn't mind if that had happened, but she shrugged. Maybe it was better. It'd be a travesty if it did, and she couldn't remember. She wanted to cry because the thought she was afraid to think about was that she had to be found in a terrible state since she couldn't recall it just yet.

Her pride was deeply important. The fact she felt utterly embarrassed about being found that way and requiring that assistance burned her. It struck her right to the core. He was so nice about it. Not once condescending or judgmental. Though he seem to think they needed to talk about something she said. Crap. Was it terrible? The dread of what might have come out of her mouth. It started to tip her scales, and she found herself struggling to not cry. She furrowed her brows and poured herself into the food she was making. Then, she had nearly finished, but a part of her felt unsettled and upset. She owed him. Ugh. She needed to also thank him. She set about doing the one thing she was sure only she could do. Make him one of her absolute best pies. She'd make him one of her special cherry pies. Maybe that'd be a thank you. Well, maybe she'd make one now, and later she'd make another at home. Here, she was using stuff that was provided by them. It cost her nothing to make this here. She sipped at her coffee trying to shake off that despondent feeling she had. She tried to inwardly redirect herself back to the feeling of gratitude. That at least was positive. If she were going to show anything in front of him, it was going to be that and nothing else.

Xander had spent about an hour in the pool, the man was like a fish, in that he hit the water and it was just him and the water most times. He very much loved to swim and with the much warmer weather would be at the pool more and more often. It really helped him unwind and when he was done he felt invigorated and far more awake than he had been an hour prior. He toweled off and headed back into the house, this time using the front door, which he hadn't locked the night before and he thanked his lucky stars their was a iron gate around the property. He would need to endeavor not to do that anymore, he thought as he headed up the stair. Once he got to the hallway he heard his sister shuffling around in her room, he knocked and called through that they had company before heading into his room to shower.

When he came out of his room Lily was in the shower and he wondered briefly if she went to greet Cerise before hand, but doubted it. Xander headed back down and walked into the kitchen, which smelled heavenly. When she said she wanted to use the kitchen, he had not at all been expecting a full breakfast to appear on the counters. "Wow," he said looking it over, "this all looks great and smells really good. I ... wow."

He looked to Cherry and smiled, "thank you," he said before noticing she changed. "Oh I'm really glad Rose's things fit. I thought maybe, but I wasn't sure. Glad you like something. I'm no expert on women's clothes, I just sort of grabbed some thing. You look nice though. You can keep them, I'm sure my sister Rose wont notice or care, she live in England, those were from when she was here and January and went shopping , things she left for her next visit. Though I know she will go shopping again."

The moment he had returned, she had just popped the pie in the oven, so that was still a hidden surprise waiting to happen also. Seeing him walk back into the room, he looked a lot less effected by taking care of her. She felt relieved. The last thing she ever wanted was to be a burden on anyone. His wows soothed the emotional part in her that had been feeling more than a little hard to control.

"You're thanking ME? Please...don't thank me. If anyone is thanking anyone; that's definitely me thanking you. You've done an incredibly nice thing for me. I completely appreciate your hospitality." At his acknowledgement of what she was wearing, she felt even more assuaded. She found it hard to read just how it was that he paid attention to what she was wearing. Then again, he could maybe just pay attention to what all girls are wearing? He is a grown man. "Oh. Is that right? Well, the skirt is a little loose, and the shirts a little tight, but that's ok. Is it really ok for me to just keep your sister's clothes? You sure she won't know they're missing?"

Hearing about shopping. Cherry herself only went shopping once every three to six months. That was usually for delicates only. She often felt bad for splurging too much on attire for herself. Not that she didn't want to. Nor was it that she didn't have the same love affair with nice threads as most women did. She did have an incredible shoe obsession though. While her actual wardrobe was minimal at best, she had quite a lot of shoes.

The fact he was complimenting her so sincerely. He was thanking her and telling her she looked nice. She was trying to not let her go full on into her element. Her element when her pride was waxing at its full strength was also a little on the slutty side. At her full maximum, she turned into a sort of wildcat in spirit. She'd go hunting for someone. She didn't want to do that to Xander. She also wondered that he would even respond positively. Not to mention, she was still questing to become his most favorite friend and liked more than anyone else. Wouldn't do to seduce him and eat him up and make him hate her later. Nope. That wasn't on her list of things to do, but she substituted with allowing her charms to bubble up all the same. She flashed him one of her mega watt Cherry smiles.

"Oh. If you want, you can tell me what you want. I'll bring it over for you."

Xander gave a laugh and shook his head, "well you made breakfast, so yes I should thank you, but I will also say you are most welcome. I always willing to help a friend in need. You needed me, so I came. It's really that simple." He sort of just shrugged a little at it. He didn't even though some part, well most part of last nights rescue bothered him.From the fact that she was really drunk and wandering around downtown to the some of the things she had said, thought mainly offering to take her panties off for him and the sneaking people in and out thing. He was frowning, thinking on those things, but he question about the clothes brought his mind back to the hear and now. "Huh, oh no she won't mind if you keep them. I honestly do not think that she will even notice."

He moved over to the counter and sat down one of the bar stools looking at the food before looking to Cherry. "It's okay, you don't have to. Come sit down and eat with me," he said motioning to the bar stool next to him, before turning hearing feet coming down the stairs. "Morning Songbird," he called to which a sing songy voice responded in kind, "Morning Xander. What's this about company now?"

Lily came down the hall and walked into the kitchen hoping to grab a banana only to find breakfast all cook and to see Cerise standing in the kitchen. "Oh hello, I'm Lily, Xander's younger sister," she said introducing herself before she gave Cerise a confused look. "I remember those clothes, aren't they Rose's things ... I guess it was you how took a shower in my bathroom then." She gave her brother a curious look before grabbing a banana.

Xander flushed and frowned at his sister before shaking his head and trying not to give her an incredulous look.Lily laughed, "I had to give you that look and you know it. You do it to me," she said before looking back to Cerise and smiling. "It's nice to meet you. I have to go to work now, but maybe next time you stop by we can chat."

Xander shook his head watching his sister leave before looking back to Cerise, "Sorry about that. She was getting back at me for all the looks I gave her every time she decides she didn't want to sleep in her own bed when her ex-boyfriend lived here for a while. She'd too much of a cuddle bug for her own good and I'm the overprotective brother. I just don't want her to get hurt, or do something she's going to really regret you know."

He patted the chair next to him, "speaking of that. What you did last night was really dangerous. You could have really been hurt and what if I hadn't been able to call you after you texted me. So many things could have gone wrong. I mean you didn't want to go home, you wanted me to stay with you and you even offered to take your panties off me. A lesser man might have ..." He frowned slightly, maybe now was not the time for this, when such a lovely breakfast was waiting to be eaten, but he was worried.

All this insisting on her coming and eating with him. Maybe she would have wanted to anyways, but it just struck her the way he was asking. It was basically telling her. She almost had noone in her life who ever just told her what to do. Or, dictated to her anything. His sister popping up in the room caught her eyes right away. Cherry hesitated on moving to that stool just that moment. Her own eyes measuring and observing this sister.

Songbird? Then, she listened to the girl's voice. It was rather pretty. At the remark about the sister's clothes, Cherry decided to just sip coffee. The raised mug allowed her a futile attempt to hide her face. Ugh. Embarrassinngggg. So embarrassing. "Oh, that's your bathroom? Sorry. I just kind of found one at random and used it." She started blush profusely feeling all kinds of awkward.

Then, she watched the exchange. She never had exchanges like that with anyone. Ever. The closest she got was when her parents would corner guys to ask if they were boyfriends or if they were marrying her. Cherry then flashed a charming smile. "Yeah. I look forward to that." Then, Lily was gone. Cherry thought about her own self. The closest she came to having someone to cuddle like that was one or two of her 'buddies'. While most were just for taking care of needs, some had become good friends. They were people she felt like it was ok to stay a whole night with and be cuddly.

She came and sat next to him on the stool with a plate with eggs and toast. She listened to this light chastising. "Well, first of all, I just want to say that I almost never get drunk to that kind of point. I'm rarely completely off my bearings. Maybe someone put something in one of my drinks. Especially since the whole thing seems a blur." Then, she just debated with whether she should just be honest. "So... would you think it a terrible thing that I would want to go home with you.... and/or take my panties off for you?" She felt it was better to test that. She felt really iffy to come out and say that part was probably true. If the air in the room they were in had a different charge to it, and he was the kind of guy who'd slide her skirt up and slip the panties she had on then off. She wouldn't have resisted or fought it. She was growing to see that he wasn't that type. She wasn't sure it was safe to admit that kind of stuff or not.

She defected into defense mode. Or, the rarely employed damage control mode. She stood up and hugged him tight. "You shouldn't frown so much. You'll get permanent wrinkles. Thank you for worrying about me, for getting me, for everything. You're a total lifesaver. I thoroughly appreciate you." Then, she let go and sat back down to eat her food.

Xander frown only deepened she said maybe someone put something in her drinks, that was truly frightening, in his opinion. He did know, however, that his world was not particularly filled with good people. He gave her a somewhat sad look before tucking into a pancake which he nearly chocked on at the question that came out her mouth in the next moment. His face became flushed once more and he looked at her a little wide eyed. That was probably answer enough. He made to answer, but before he got the chance he was being hugged and thanked once more. He returned the hug gently with a pat on Cerise's back before she let go and sat back down.

After a moment he reached out putting a hand under her chin to lightly turn her face to his, "Women deserved to be treated like ladies. I believe you should do that sort of thing when you are happy and in love, not in the moment. When your willing to wait for that its so much more special. I will try to smile, okay. I'm just glad you are okay." He was completely sincere and had a sort of innocence and honor about his, many people his age likely didn't have. He meant what he said, he honestly thought you should wait for the right moment, with the right person.

Xander turned back to his food and ate a bit egg before giving Cerise a smile. The famous Jacobs smile, he and his sported. An honest sort of happy smile, that really meant they cared

And, this confirmed most of her initial instincts and suspicions. Maybe... he was just a virgin. Or... religious even. She sometimes forgot there were people out there who had serious code of ethics and morals. The expressions on his face. She could only resign herself to a sigh. Well, she needed to know these things. Despite what at least felt like a setback, she was determined to be his most favorite person. Though now she realized, this was a quest that might be more difficult and require more of her than she thought. She embarked on this mission treating it like anyone else. This little conversation made it quite clear. She wasn't dealing with just anyone else. While it was bewildering a tad, she also found something in it appealing just the same. It was like hearing a new sort of music for the first time, and you realize that while it's totally different. You also really enjoy it the more you hear it.

She still found herself finding it hard to find something to say. She filled that silence with a mouth full of food. She obviously couldn't just tell him she wholeheartedly agree. Her innocence had been long thrown away many years ago. To think of having sex or even indecent flirting with anyone as special, it was enough to make her laugh. Though she wouldn't dare show that on her face or say it. That idea showed her just how far away she was as a person. Sex was a vice. It was for her what smoking or drinking was to other people. She knew a lot of girls got all squishy and feely about it. Even if she didn't agree, she could admire that was rather romantic.

"Xander, allow me to tell you something about me. Even when I'm not ok, I really am still ok. Takes more than a rough night to do me in. I'm 28 years old, and I've had probably too many rough nights. This is the first time someone's ever swooped in to save me though." Then, she heard the ding. "oohh..." She hopped up and skittered over grabbing some hot mitts to pull the pie out of the oven. She brought that pie and set it on a cooling towel on the counter not far from where they were. "If I ever thought there was something truly good about me. This is it here. No one you know will ever make you a cherry pie the way I make it. If you ever like someone else's more; please don't tell me." She let it sit there to cool as she took the mitts off. She returned to her food. Now that she had done what she could to repay his kindness. She started to hurry her eating. She liked talking to him and stuff, but she was feeling eager to go cry somewhere.

Xander was an amazing person, and she felt deep down. She was totally unworthy of a friend of this magnitude. She was selfish and a big slut. She hoped he would never find out those things about her. That thought was almost a laugh. They were some of the most common known things about her.

Xander looked to Cerise and nodded. It was a good thing to hear that she was okay. She sounded like a tough young woman and that was good to hear because Xander felt despite her words she would find herself in more trouble down the road. He looked up at the ding, realizing in that moment that he smelled something delicious. He watched as she made her way over to the oven then pulled out a pie. Xander looked surprised and he started to laugh lightly, before giving her a bright smile.

"Wow, you made a pie. I think this is the perfect breakfast. I never get fresh baked pie for breakfast." He loved pie and was really eager to have some because it was pie and pie was his favorite in almost every capacity. "I promise If I find a pie I like better I won't tell you. Though what could be better than homemade pie, made just for me. I can't think of anything."

He returned to his breakfast knowing he sadly couldn't eat piping hot pie, if he wanted not to burn up his mouth. After a moment he looked to Cerise wondering what she was thinking before standing up and putting his breakfast dishes in the sink. He walked back over to her and held out a hand, "how about I take you for a tour while the pie cool?"

~Fin