Kurt's POV:

I quickly got out of my car, locking it and chasing after Rosa who was already half-way to the door from the parking-garage into the hospital.  Luckily my long legs and stride compensated for her head start and I caught up to her before she reached the doors.  Her bun had come undone at some point and her ponytail was streaming down her back.

When did her hair get that long?  I asked myself.  Have I really been gone that long?

When I left home two or three years ago, Mom had just moved into a new house with Rosa and her then-boyfriend, Joshua.  Rosa had been quiet then, but she at least smiled every so often.  Now the only smile I had seen from her had been when she first saw me in the airport, and when she was talking about her new friends.  She used to be sarcastic, witty, always ready with a comeback or a comment.  Now she was more careful with her words than I had ever seen her, without a drop of sarcasm.

What happened while I was gone that changed her from the fun-loving, though quiet and sad, girl that I knew into this silent shell of a human being?

Rosanna's POV:

I could feel Kurt's eyes boring into my back as I walked, head held high, stride purposeful.  I could practically hear him thinking, trying to puzzle out what I had meant by my statement.  I ignored him, ripping open the hospital doors and striding into the building.  The chemical, too-clean smell hit me like a ton of bricks, the memories that came with it just as potent.  I froze, unable to move as Kurt kept walking for another five steps before he realized I wasn't with him and turned around.  His blue eyes instantly filled with concern as he made his way back to me.

"Rosa?  Are you okay?"

I was far from okay, forcing back years' worth of memories, but I knew that if I didn't want him to find out about a few things that I had to pretend that I was fine.  I mustered up every last ounce of courage I had left and forced a smile.

"Fine."  I bit out, glaring at my feet for a moment before making them move towards him.  He eyed me skeptically but didn't question me, instead he kept walking, taking me to my mom's room.  He stopped in front of Room 218.

Why did it have to be that number?  Of all numbers, it had to be that one. 

My musing's were interrupted when Kurt opened the door, gesturing for me to enter.  I took a deep breath and walked inside.

My mother lay in the hospital bed, much like I remembered her, though a little gaunter than before.  Her blonde hair pushed back with a headband, ice blue eyes bordering on grey that were piercing and cold and seemed to peer into your soul with judgement.  They weren't always like that, when I was a child they were warm and kind, welcoming, they always reminded me of the sky.  But now they reminded me of ice or crystal, beautiful, but unfeeling and cold.

"Well, I see you've finally come back to your poor mother."

Her voice was also like I remembered, rather strident with a underlay of wounded feelings that had you constantly wondering what you had done to displease her.

"I was only gone for eight days Mom, and you were the one who encouraged me to go."

"It was my duty as a mother to tell you to move on with your life, but you must realize, my dear, that you shouldn't have gone, nor did I want you to."

I gritted my teeth for a moment while I tried to come up with a civil answer.

"You shouldn't have told me to go, then.  I thought that you would have wanted to get rid of me after Joshua and I broke up and we had to help him move out."

"Nonsense!  I never understood why you broke up with him, he was quite a catch.  I guarantee you'll never be able to snag another boy like him again, that was a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone like you."

What?

"Someone like me?"

"Yes, someone who is quiet, spends her time obsessing over books and fantasizing about writing her own book.  Decent women don't write, darling, especially young naive ones like you who can't write, nor should they."

"Well, thankfully you can't tell me what I can and cannot do anymore, Mother, since I'm twenty-one I don't have to listen to you and your down-putting crap.  I will stay here as long as you need my help, but as soon as you are healthy again, I'm going back to London, permanently I hope."

That shocked her speechless, and I took the opportunity to turn to Kurt.

"Now do you see what I have put up with for two and a half years?  Stay here with her, I need a break."

I stalked out of the room, promptly collapsing on one of the chairs in the hallway outside.  My head was swirling with images, faces, dates, dreams, and nightmares all fighting each other for dominance.  One scene seemed to gain dominance over the rest and began to play behind my eyes, overwhelming my thoughts and inward vision.

"What are you doing silly?"  I giggled, swatting at Joshua, who currently had his face buried in my shoulder and his arms around my waist.

"I wanted a hug and your arms were full."  He mumbled cutely, pulling me closer.  I smiled, inwardly awwing at his cuteness.

"Well, my hands are empty now, so give me a proper hug mister."

Tears were falling slowly down my face, though I didn't realize it.  I was too wrapped up in my head full of some of what used to be my happiest memories.

"Daddy, will you play tea party with me?"  I tugged at my father's sleeve as he sat on the couch.  We were home alone, Mom and Kurt having gone out grocery shopping.  He looked down at me, eyes crinkling and mustache wiggling slightly as he smiled.

"Of course Rosa, I would be honored."  I giggled at his use of the big word.  I led him to the deck of our small house in Italy, where I had set up the table with all of the necessary accouterments for a tea party.  We played all afternoon, and when Mom and Kurt got back we 'borrowed' some of the cookies they had bought and had lemonade and cookies, ruining my appetite for dinner.  Mom yelled at him later, but he just looked at me and winked, giving me a lopsided smile as I eavesdropped from behind the couch.

My shoulders were shaking from silent sobs, tears pouring down my face.  I held my head in my hands, attempting to hide my tears from passers-by. 

"Rosa?"  Kurt's voice brought my head up and I looked at his blurred figure through my tears.

"What's wrong?"  He sat next to me, drawing my head down to rest on his shoulder and wrapping a long arm around my shoulder.

"Memories.  Of Dad, of Joshua, of the happy times.  Where did they go, Kurt?  It feels like one minute I was happy, with all I ever wanted in this world, and the next everything is crumbling around me, falling apart before my eyes."

He sighed, rubbing my arm.

"I know, sis, I know.  I felt the same way for a while, and then I moved to L.A.  Everything sort of fell into place after that, and now I'm as happy as I can be at this point in my life.  I think moving permanently to London will do the same thing for you, after hearing about how happy you were after only a week there.  You will be happy again, Rosa, I promise."

He kissed the top of my head and then stood, extending a hand to me.

"Let's go home, yeah?"

I wiped my eyes and nose and then grabbed his hand, using the leverage to stand up.

"Let's go home."

A/N:  Hey everyone, I'm so so sorry that I didn't update this on time, but trust me I have a good explanation.  I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and after that I went to a 24-hour viewing of the Extended Editions of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies with my brother and some friends of mine, and that didn't end until six pm on Saturday, and since I got just barely an hour of sleep Friday night I was in no shape to write anything on Saturday, plus we had to go to a graduation party on Saturday, so I was just really busy.  Sunday was spent in recuperation, and now I am back to normal and writing again, and you have just read the fruits of my labor.  Let me know what you guys think, vote if you liked it.  Love you guys!