((this is backlogged to January 22nd))

Graceangel
That first day that Cerise had come to visit Lily. At Xander’s insistence that Lily needed all the love and support she could get at the time. Cerise had responded with a promise that she would come everyday. She would make Lily a high priority in her life. She would come and spend time with her. Cherry had meant it every bit at the time of saying so. However, when she looked into Lily’s eyes and found forgiveness for the way she had dealt with Xander months before. She then felt even more so that this was where she needed to be. She wondered if it was weird to feel such a need to indulge herself in a bond or closeness with her boyfriend’s sisters. For Cerise, she had never had the experience of siblings. Of getting along, fighting, and making up with people you lived with every day of your life. The only experience of people there for her always were her parents, and even as an adult so far, that felt like it was different.

This afternoon, she slipped into the room. It seemed like Lily was asleep. She recalled being told that though she woke up a little at times. That Lily slept for a lot of the time. She also remembered way back to a time when Xander had mentioned to her about Lily being a cuddle bug. Cherry kicked her shoes off her feet on the floor next to one of the night stands. She lifted up the blanket and laid down next to Lily. She cuddled close to her, snuggling up. She felt a little worried hospital staff would find her doing this. They would probably put a stop to it at once. She was willing to take the chance anyways.


Kaori Luv
Lily shifted in her sleep slightly as a warm settled beside her. Unconsciously she moved a little closer to the heat. She was freezing down to her very core right now. The warmth, she was drawn to like a moth to a flame. She was in a lot of pain and completely aware of what felt like her demise. She didn’t think she was going to live through this. She sighed in her sleep being pulled further into sleep by the warmth, even if it didn’t really warm her. It was comforting.


Xander walked into the room to find Cherry lying on the bed with Lily. He smiled because his sister was one to constantly climb into someone else bed. She had come to sleep with him and Rose many time throughout their lives. He knew she was still climb into bed with there brother Alex even still, so to see Cherry cuddled up with her was a sweet sight. It was something he knew Lily would greatly appreciately.

He closed the door and moved over to the bed, looking down at the pair for a moment before sitting in the armchair he found himself spending a great deal of his free time in.



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Somewhere in the space of time since she arrived that day, she had completely lost track of time. Was she asleep? Not entirely, but she had partially spaced out. She still knew where she was. She knew who she was with. She was sure to stay close and snuggled up. It surprised her that noone had intruded or interfered. She counted it lucky with lidded eyes.

When she felt Lily pull closer to her, she responded in kind with more snuggling and nurturing touches. In that little serene bubble, she didn’t hear him enter the room nor the sound of the door closing. With no words, she continued laying there tranquil.

After a little while though, she started to look around. She was thinking about getting up to go and eat something. Maybe see if she could wake Lily up to eat something. Sure, it seemed like the hospital had something going into her to provide substance. Cerise thought she would probably do much better to have something that was warm. As she sat up and started to move out of the bed, she squeezed Lily’s hand.

As she stood up, she gazed quietly. A hand went up slowly making a wave of hello. A few steps forward, and she stood to the side of that chair. She looked down. “You been here a long time?”


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Xander nodded and opened his arms to Cerise inviting her to sit in his lap. “Just a little while. I didn’t want to disturb you. She would like that you cuddled with her. She was never one to stay in her own bed, her entire life. So now that she doesn’t really have a choice, she would be very happy for what you did there.”

He sighed and looked at his sister. “I wish I knew. I wish I knew what was wrong with her. She just looks like she won’t make it. I’m so scared for her and for my family. My parent’s called her their miracle baby. She was completely unexpected. My mother did not think she could have any more kids and then Lily was born. A gift, with the voice of an angel.”

He lay his head on Cerise’s shoulder and hugged her. “Have you ever heard her sing? It’s amazing.”


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Those open arms; she couldn’t refuse their invitation. Still barefoot from having taken off her shoes before; she pulled her legs up as she sat gently down curling against his shoulders. She hugged him gently listening to him relate his praise and concern.

“Well, any time I come to see her; if she’s not awake, I plan to lay with her like that. I think it’s important that things that bring her comfort on a normal basis. That she has them. I’ve heard stories where people with cancer find healing through laughter. Or, people with severe conditions are made better with company from dogs and such. I can’t help but think if little things she likes.”

Then, when he sighed, she wrapped her arms lower around his shoulders and arms. Her head laid on top of his. “No. Well, not yet. Her and I were talking a while back about putting together a big karaoke party.”

Though him talking about music inspired her to bring music with her in the future. If Lily enjoyed singing, then she probably would just enjoy music over all. She also discerned the worry. She could hear how concerned he was. She thought back to having told him the other day that he needed love and support too.

Her arms snugged him just a little tighter. “Well, since she’s not completely comatose, that has to be a good sign. We keep faith that she’ll pull out of it at some point.”


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Xander sighed slightly looking from his sister to Cerise. He touched her cheek and soaked up the comfort she offered him. He nodded and tried to keep the sadness from his eyes, “She’s a fighter and I’m sure like every other time our family’s little miracle has been here she will come out just fine.”

He tried to believe it, he really did. It was hard when she looked as pale and sickly as she did. When she was cold to the touch or burning up. Her temperature was unstable and Xander wasn’t sure entirely even with her being what she was that her body could hold out. He pressed a kiss to Cerise’s cheek and gave a smile, “thank you for spending time with her.”

He petted her hair light before looking to the door, “I have to go. I’m still on shift. I’m sure my coworkers are looking for me, then my parents want our family to do something together, but I’m not so sure it will go over too well.”


“Stay a little while longer with her, will you? Rose will probably come by a little later…” he said looking at Cerise before a cough at the door made him jump.

“I was going to come later, but I’m kind of glad I came now,” she said pulling out her phone and snapping a pic. “Now I can send mom pictures as proof, that Mr. Perfect Prude has a girlfriend.” She winked a Cerise.

“How’d ya do it? How’d you get my brother to actually see you,” she said sitting down on Lily’s bed and patting her hand. “Let me tell you. My brother is a heart breaker. So many girl have had a million and one crushes on him and he never noticed any of them. I thought he was gay for a while, but he never noticed any guys looking either.”

Xander frowned at his sister, “that’s not the most polite conversation Rose.”



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That touch on her cheek. Furthest opposite from Xander’s prudishness Cerise had not really dated persay; but she had more than ample experience with men of varying personalities and demeanors. She had been kissed and more by more than she might ever reveal to anyone. There were just some secrets a girl keeps to herself. However, not a single one of them ever had a touch that so singularly trapped her heart and stole her mind away. No one could make her put herself on pause to look to someone else first. That touch on her cheek was just more drawing in. Enthralled and hanging on a moment.

She started to half gaze in his eyes like a lovesick fool. Her ears hearing everything in that echoing tunnel sort of way. When he mentioned thanking her, she smiled sheepishly. “You don’t have to thank me for that. I said I’d come and see her everyday. I will do that. I’ll be here everyday.” Part of her wanted to be so bold as to even say that it was like as if Lily were her sister now too. Though Cherry didn’t really know what it was really like to have sisters or brothers. She thought maybe it was something like this. That was good enough for her.

Hearing him talk about going back to work, she nodded. Of course. When he mentioned their family getting together, she could feel a tug on the inside. It was a little like the feeling she had when he had first broke it to her that he was going on that vacation to Europe this past summer with his family. She couldn’t come. She had hated that she couldn’t go with him. Deep down under the selfishness of it, she found herself overcome with the desire to be with him everywhere. She extremely disliked that he was someplace while not at work, and she couldn’t be there too. It might have bordered on obsessive almost. She just needed to be with him.

This was only all just coming back together. She didn’t think she should push it with insinuating herself into their family situation. She just smiled meekly at him and dangled a leg down off the chair; preparing to get up since he had to go.

The cough made her purse her lips and perk her ears up. Her eyes slid to the side to see. A picture! Cherry quickly leaned in to kiss his cheek quickly; hoping to get it in there. Then, Cherry stared at Rose and listened to this bold series of questions.

“Well, I don’t think I made him do anything. I just … kept finding him everywhere… I guess.” That feeling that always without a thought or unction of being drawn to wherever it was he was. Would that sound dumb to say it out loud? Her vain instincts kicking in and not wanting to sound like a complete idiot here. Had Rose been in the doorway long enough to see her lovesick expression when he was touching her face?

Her eyes glanced down when Xander didn’t appreciate that talk. She caught the sight of that frown. Cherry fought hard to not smile outright at it. She sucked her bottom lip and looked at the curtains over the window.


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Rose found herself laughing, “I can’t a perfect lady all the time, besides I’m all me all the time. Even if we have company. Either your lovely girlfriend likes more or she doesn’t. Take me how I am, Xander. You love me, right, even when you think i'm being an a**.”

Rose grinned at Cerise, “I’m really not that bad. I just like teasing my brother. Though I do feel people should take me how I am. Im a little different from those too though, my parents could make three perfect children, right?” She gave a playful laugh.

Xander sighed and shook his head at his sister before giving Cerise a little squeeze, “don’t let her harass you okay? I got to head back to work. “ He smiled and gave her a quick kiss on the lips before shifting so he could get up and still allow Cerise to sit in the chair, gently slipping her out of his lap.

He moved over to the bed brushed Lily’s hair away from her forehead petting the once again long curls for a moment before turning to leave. “Behave Rose,” he said on his way out of the room.

Rose however was looking at her little sister with sadness and her eyes and was quiet now.


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Cherry watched and listened to Rose with observing and perceptive eyes. She listened to her. She wanted to comment on her teasing him, but she didn't’ want to talk about adoring his frowns in front of him. She just smiled to herself before giving Rose an appreciative grin.

“You certainly can’t help being who you are. Might as well be yourself. Seems to me being anyone but your true self would not only be boring. It deprives others of indulging themselves in your awesomeness. Wouldn’t you say?”

It was easy for her to say that. She often thought that way herself. Deep down, Cherry knew she herself were no angel. She had been growing and starting to evolve out of those bad behaviors since spending more and more time with Xander. His inner light and goodness rubbing off on her. Still, she had an ego to give anyone else a run for their money. She fully appreciated Rose’s wanting acceptance and love not just despite who she was but because of who she was.

Her eyes looked down at Xander again. She smiled with her cheekbones high. She yielded herself to him to resettled her in the chair by herself. “Don’t worry Xander. I can handle myself just fine.” Her eyes following him till he left.

The moment he was gone out of line of hearing, Cherry’s face erupted with a squishy adoring smile. “I love when he makes that frowning face. It’s so cute.” Was she looking like an idiot? She wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Are you going to this family get together also?”


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Rose grinned and had to admit, she liked this girl. She certainly didn't believe in depriving other of all that was her. It confused her how Xander was with this woman, because even with just the two encounters she had with the woman, she seemed totally different from him.

“I would say it would be boring,” she said with a light laugh.

When her brother told her to behave it took a lot not for her to roll her eyes, she was looking at Lily when Cerise spoke, but turned with a grin at her words. “It’s so easy right, and kinda hilarious. Lily and I could tell you all kinds of stories about him and his frowny faces.”

Rose nodded, “yes, mom just wants us to spend some time together outside of the hospital, but she is likely going to cry because Lily isn’t there and then we will all cry and it will be depressing.” She sighed looking to her baby sister again. “Things will get better though, they always do.” She patted her sisters thigh and hopped up motioning for Cerise to budge over a bit before plopping down in the arm chair with her and crossing her legs so they would have more space.

“Now tell me Cerise darling … how did you meet my brother …”