I know! I know I'm the worst sort of person to go MIA once again. But I swear this would be the last time. I've just been busy sorting out my life and solving some puzzles that make up my life. I'm deeply sorry for leaving you all hanging like that. I understand if you've somehow forgotten the whole story altogether because of how long it's been since it was last updated. So I've put on a small recap of what went on P&P in the last chapter.

Oh, and before I forget, I'd like to thank my dear friend (well more like an annoying  human)  @Aarya2103 for this beautiful cover and many more that I'll be flaunting over the coming days. 

Here you go!

Recall (Chap 45):

The elevator stopped at my floor and we stepped out, only to be welcomed by a delicious smell of freshly baked cake and cookies. I shared a confused frown with Adrian as I punched in my passcode. The door to our living room opened to reveal soft lights glowing all around and a stronger aroma waiting to attack my senses again.

Stepping inside, I could hear a soft voice humming a song and soon enough, footsteps came closer, revealing my sister in a colorfully stained apron holding a big tray of chocolate chip cookies in her hand. She stopped as she saw us.

"Oh, you're home!" She exclaimed. Then her gaze fell to the human beside me and her smile widened. "Oh, Ruby! You're here as well!"

I watched warily as she carefully put the tray on the coffee table and walked towards us- or rather, towards Adrian- and hugged him. Ignoring the smirk sent my way by the devil, I let my eyes wander around the living room noting the clean state and little decorations.

It was then that I put two and two together. While my sister had the ability of making a good friendship with the kitchen as opposed to me, it wasn't everyday you'd find her cooking something. She somehow had a strong belief that a professional like her has no need to 'practice' her skills. So to find Eva willingly in the kitchen, baking my favorite chocolate chip cookies and decorating the room with little white roses- also my favorite- would only mean one thing.

My little sister was up to something.

Chapter 46

Eva was up to something. I had my doubts but it wasn't confirmed until she made us wait in the living room while she went inside the kitchen once again to retrieve another tray. It was filled with blueberry muffins. I quickly assessed her gait as she walked around and breathed in relief when I didn't observe any signs of discomfort in her. She seemed to be recovering pretty well and although she wasn't allowed to run around for long and overexert her legs, the fact that she no longer had to depend on the crutches was a blessing.

"Is there some special occasion tonight that I wasn't aware of?" I inquired as she served her cookies to the both of us after we settled on the couch. I had to hold back a moan and a pout because my little sister had the hands of a professional baker- something I couldn't understand considering she was my sister.

"Oh. Of-of course not! I just wanted to... do something for you. And try baking again, y'know? It's been years since I last baked and I was feeling rather bored once Allie left a couple of hours ago. She has her date with Jake tonight so yeah... I decided to bake you your favorites. I know how much you like these." She shrugged nonchalantly as she seated herself on the adjacent couch. However, her nervous laugh and weird twisting of her fingers didn't escape my notice.

"I see."

"Mhmm. Damn, Bubbles, you're a pro at baking! Is there anything you can't do? I think you might just be my most favorite person in the whole world." Adrian moaned beside me.

"Oh, thank you, Ruby!" Eva blushed prettily at his words, making me roll my eyes at them.

Catching my eye roll, the devil incarnate smirked. "I speak only the truth, my dearest Bubbles. Although, judging by your sister's look, she doesn't seem to agree. Now, I'm not one to speak badly of anyone, but I think," he leaned across the table, motioning Eva to do the same. Then he whispered to her in a voice which was a few octaves higher to be just a whisper, "that she's just jealous." The both of them giggled again, making me level them with a dry look.

"How about you, Evie? Do you like them?" She asked me tentatively. It was as if she wanted to say something to me. It made me wonder what was going on in her head. I had a small inkling but decided to give her some time to gather her courage- for whatever reason she might need it.

I smiled at her. "Of course. You know very well how much I love your baking. And to top it all, you've made me my favorites. I love these!"

Eva returned my smile with a small one of her own but the uneasiness still remained in her eyes. She served herself a couple of cookies and started munching on them. But soon enough, she gave up eating, saying she had already tasted a whole batch earlier.

"Eva, is there something you'd like to tell me?" I asked her carefully, watching her play with the crumbs on her plate.

"Uhm... no! Why?" She chuckled uneasily.

"Alright then." I shrugged and pretended to let go of that matter for now. I knew my sister enough to let her initiate the topic by herself without pressing her further. Sure enough, she spoke after a couple of minutes.

"Actually, Evie... there was this thing...," Eva started. I stopped eating and look at her in concern.

"What is it, Eva? Is everything okay? Do you need something?" She glanced uneasily between me and Adrian. I'd almost forgotten he was there beside me, so absorbed I was in her.

Sensing the tension, Adrian cleared his throat. "Oh, it's getting pretty late. I think I should take my leave." He stood up from his seat and made a move to retrieve his car keys from the table but Eva shook head.

"It's okay, Adrian. You don't need to leave on my behalf. I actually want the both of you to be present, since you are going to be a permanent part of our lives. Besides, I'd love to have a brotherly figure in my life. Having a sister isn't cool all the time."

Adrian suddenly froze and I watched in amazement how his eyes misted a little hearing those words from my sister. He walked around and hugged her, his eyes filled with so much affection that warmed my heart beyond measure. I normally wouldn't let anyone invade the privacy of my family, but seeing him here felt nice. I was slowly learning to bring down my walls around him. It only felt right that Eva had entrusted him with whatever it was she wanted to say. It was beginning to feel like our family was finally complete with Adrian filling the gap like a perfect missing piece of a puzzle.

I smiled at the both of them despite my sister's blatant disregard of my coolness as he came back to sit beside me. Adrian must've sensed my thoughts, for he softly kissed my cheek and gently patted my arm. Our gazes locked and silently, we shared our emotions through them, understanding what the other was feeling.

"So...I got this mail from FIT earlier today." Eva spoke up, pulling us away from our little bubble. I sighed. So this was the reason behind all these preparations. My hunch was correct.

"You got accepted, didn't you?"

She seemed surprised at my response. "Wha- How did you know?"

I gave her a dry look in response. "Seriously, Eva? Look, I know you're my little sister. But do you think I'd have employed you as a designer in my company if you didn't deserve the position?" I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. "You, my sister, are one of the best designers of Eva's. I feel proud showcasing your designs to the world. And when I hear the reviews and positive feedbacks about the designs, you have no idea how proud you make me. There wasn't a trace of doubt in my mind that you'd get accepted." I said sincerely.

Eva had tears in her eyes. I was afraid mine would be the same if I didn't control them now. But strange as it may seem, I didn't want to control them anymore. I was with the people I loved the most in the world, and I didn't want to hide myself from them.

"Then... can I go?"

"What about LCF? You'd applied there as well, hadn't you?"

She deflated a little. "Yeah, but I didn't make it. They asked for my medical reports and considering my recent surgery, they didn't believe it wise for me to travel so far so soon."

I shared her disappointment but selfish as it was, I couldn't help but feel relieved. I didn't want her to go there either, especially when she was just beginning to walk around freely without the weight of crutches bearing her down. Like they said, it was too soon, too far.

"Hey, it's alright. It is for the best that you go to FIT for now. It's here in New York where I can check on you as well. You'll learn to adapt with college life and if you still want, you can transfer to London for the next semester. I'm sure Brandon will also deem it fit for you to travel by then. What do you think?"

Eva seemed flabbergasted at my response but then a wide grin took over her features. I didn't have sufficient time to react when she flung herself into my arms with such a force that the both of us would have toppled over if Adrian hadn't stabilized me in time, his hands firmly supporting my shoulders.

"Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!! Evie, you're the bestest sister in this whole world! I love you so much!!!"

I returned her hug with a bittersweet smile. I didn't like the thought of her away from me, but I was beginning to understand that this was what she needed to do. She was born to be the best fashion designer out there and I wasn't about to stand in her way.

She pulled away, still squealing and moved to hug Adrian, who ruffled her hair affectionately. "What do you think, Ruby? Do you also agree with Evie?" She looked at him with her puppy dog eyes which were responsible for a lot of mischiefs over the years.

The charming devil simply bestowed her with a wide grin showcasing a hint of dimple on his left cheek. "I think, that my Bubbles is going to be the best designer the world has ever seen. But you must promise to keep me in the highest priority when you get offers from all over the world."

Eva blushed again but smiled adorably at him. "Sure, but you'll have to suffice for the second. Evie always comes first." She grinned cheekily and I felt a bubble of warmth travelling up to my heart at her words.

Adrian, the ever so dramatic fool that he was, put his hand over his heart and pretended to fall on to the floor. "Your words have hurt me severely, Bubbles. Is there any way I can step up above your sister?"

Eva giggled at his antics and shook her head, which earned her another dramatic and extremely fake fainting episode from the idiot beside me- much to my sister's enjoyment and my disdain.

"Would the two of you stop so I can resume eating now?" I asked aloud, seeing as they weren't about to stop giggling anytime soon. Adrian smirked and leaned towards Eva again to whisper-yell, "Like I said, she's jealous." That earned him another giggle from her and one less cookie on his plate from me. The devil had no right to eat these sweet delicacies after offending me.

Ignoring his muttered protests, I refocused my attention back to the deliciousness before me and resumed my earlier task of devouring the cookies and muffins. I could feel my stomach protesting, but couldn't deprive my taste buds of the sweet treats.

We continued our dessert in a comfortable silence which was broken by Eva who cast me a somber gaze. "Are you sure you have no objections about this, Evie?" She asked hesitantly.

I raised my eyebrows at her. "Why? You want me to change my mind?" The way her eyes widened and she shook her head immediately was rather comical.

I chuckled at the pleading look in her eyes and shook my head with a smile. "I'm kidding, Eva. I know how much this means to you. I won't ever stop you from chasing your dreams. The only thing I want is that you don't fall down and hurt yourself while running after them. I know you can fly much higher and I want you to do so without the confines of my protectiveness caging you in."

Tears were glistening in her eyes, which soon turned her into a sobbing mess. I scrunched my nose in mock disgust. "I do hope you don't ruin those sleeves with your tears and snot. After all, you're taking these same clothes to your college."

She let out a disgruntled whine that sounded more like a chicken's wail to me. I thought I heard a slight choking sound coming from beside me but I paid it no mind and started feasting on my blueberry muffins.

I'd thought my little sister had finished displaying her waterworks for tonight but apparently not. She sniffed a little and bobbed her head. "I know you don't believe my words but you are the best elder sister anyone would wish to have and I am the luckiest person in the world."

Her words touched a soft string of my heart but I wasn't about to let them get into my head. Lord knows I was already beginning to have a big head- thanks to the humongous headed devil sitting beside me- and unlike someone, I didn't want to increase the size of my skull yet again, especially for the wrong reasons. I knew very well about how many times I'd failed my sister. Her words- although sincere from her point of view- weren't about to change my mind.

Not wanting the dark thoughts to linger on my mind, I reached out and squeezed her hand – the one which wasn't used to wipe her tears, fortunately.

"Thank you, Angel. But it is what I sho-" I stopped speaking when Eva went still before me. She looked at me with wide eyes, making me frown in concern.

"Eva? Are you okay? What's wrong?" She didn't respond and continued staring at me as if I had suddenly grown fangs and red eyes. I shared a look with Adrian who had the same concern lining his brows as he gently shook her shoulder, calling her name softly.

Just when I thought of calling an emergency helpline, Eva blinked twice and shook her head. Her mouth was gaping open as she looked at me, making me worry about the mental state of my sister.

I sighed. "Evangeline, would you please stop looking at me like a deranged seal and say what the matter is?"

When she still didn't make a move to come back to life, Adrian nudged her slightly, sharing an amused glance at me, which I returned with a not-so-amused one of my own.

"Uh... Bubbles?"

Thankfully, my overdramatic sister finally managed to pull herself together. I raised my eyebrows at her when she continued to look at me strangely. "You..." she pointed a finger at me, "Evie, you called me Angel."

Okay.

I supposed I did. I, however, didn't see how it brought that reaction on her. Granted, I couldn't recall ever calling her that but surely accidentally calling your sister Angel wasn't reason enough to make her go into a stupor? I hadn't even realized I'd called her that.

"Okay, perhaps I did. So? Oh, for God's sake, Eva, don't tell me you're going to cry over this too!" I exclaimed when I noticed tears gathering in her eyes. Ignoring my warnings, she let them roll freely down her cheeks, until she was into a full on hiccupping mode.

After a few minutes that actually felt like hours, her cries finally subsided and she wiped her eyes with her sleeves again. "Bubbles? What is it?" Adrian pressed when she didn't speak for a long time.

Swallowing, she looked at me. At the moment, her eyes held so much pain and longing that I wanted to crush her in my arms and chase all her demons away. Little did I know, that I was the demon lurking in those eyes until she spoke.

"Did you know, Evie, that you used to call me Angel when we were children? Before the accident."

I sucked in a breath at her words, finally realizing how easily the endearment came to me. My brain suddenly took me to a faraway place where I was in a room, painting a portrait of a little boy while a little girl nagged me from behind.

"You always thought Evangeline was too long of a name for your liking and since everyone already called me Eva, you thought it as your own unique nickname for you. You said I was your little angel." Eva prattled on, unaware that I wasn't there anymore, and instead had travelled back to a place from so long ago.

"Angel, watch out ther- oh damnit!" I cursed softly as I watched Eva trip on the easel and topple it over, causing the wet colors to splatter all over the face of the boy I was painting.

I sighed. I was almost done with the painting but it was completely ruined now. I cringed at the once smiling face now hardly recognizable under the splotches of uneven green and yellow.

"Eva, I told you to wait, didn't I? Look what you've done now!" I reprimanded the little girl who was looking at me with guilt-ridden, puppy dog eyes. She chin wobbled as she fought back the tears threatening to fall from her eyes, making me the bearer of guilt now.

I softened my expression and crouched down at her. "Hey, I'm sorry, baby sis. Don't cry. It's just a painting, I can make another one again. Here, I'll even make one of you with your princess dress, okay? We can ask dad to hang it up on our room later."

She sniffed in response and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief she fished out from behind her hand- which suspiciously looked like the pocket of my favorite apron. Well, my favorite apron which had been burnt after my last visit to the kitchen, but still my favorite apron nonetheless.

"Evwie, are you mad at me?" She quizzed, still sporting those puppy-dog eyes. I frowned at her, shaking my head.

"Of course not, sweetie. I can never be mad at you. I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier. I was just upset for a teeny tiny bit of time, okay?"

She lowered her brows in reply. "But you called me Eva!," she whined, "you always call me angel. Am I not your angel anymore?"

The pout I heard in her voice made me chuckle at her and I pulled my little sister into my arms, lifting her up as I stood. "Aw, I'm sorry, my Angel. I forgot! But I promise, I'll always call you Angel. Because you are my angel, and will always be my angel. Happy?"

She beamed at my words. "Very happy!"

"Good. Now run along and pester mom in the kitchen. Or better yet, take dad with you. I doubt the kitchen is safe to enter since mom has been there for nearly two hours now. We might probably need to alert the firemen as well."

She gasped and giggled, covering her mouth with her tiny hands, just as fire alarm went off from the kitchen, followed by dad's reverberating boom from the living room.

"Lily! That's the fourth time this week and it's only Tuesday yet. I told you not to try new recipes unless I'm there with you! Eve, call the firemen! It's on the speed dial, number 2! And keep your eyes on your sister, will you?"

"Eve!"

I jolted awake from my thoughts when I felt a gentle shaking on my shoulder. And just like that, my mind was blank again. However, this time around, I could clearly recall everything I'd recently seen in my mind, the images so vivid. I looked around to see Adrian and Eva frowning at me in concern.

"I... I remember that..," I whispered softly, not believing that I was finally getting something to fill in that huge gap in my head. Seeing the astonished looks on both of their faces, it was clear that I wasn't the only shocked one. Eva had her mouth wide open with a hand pressing against her chest. If it were under normal circumstances, I would've teased her for being so dramatic. But considering this wasn't some normal circumstance, it was all I could do to prevent myself from mimicking her actions.

Adrian, on the other hand, had a mixture of worry and hope lining his features. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Eva intervened but running to the other side of the table and wrapping her arms around me tightly.

"Evie... I can't believe this... you... you actually remember everything!" She looked so happy, bringing in a painful twinge of guilt within me. I tried racking my brain for more memories, more events but couldn't come up with anything else.

I sadly shook my head at her. "Eva, I... I still don't remember everything. It is the only event that..."

The light in her eyes dimmed a little but soon it was replace by a brighter one, this time of hope. She smiled at me. "Oh, but this is definitely a good sign, isn't it? You just wait now. I'm sure you'll be remembering everything soon enough. I can feel it in my heart!"

She looked so giddy that I couldn't bring myself to disappoint her. Besides, her expression was contagious. I couldn't deny that a small seedling of hope was slowly beginning to grow within the recess of my heart. Perhaps, someday, I might be able to get my memories back- all the memories that involved my parents, my sister, my Mickey.

Someday. Perhaps.

I felt another squeeze on my hand and found Adrian smiling at me tenderly, his eyes mirroring the hope in mine. I knew he longed for me to regain my memory as much as I did- if not more. He wanted me to remember all the moments we shared as children but at the same time did not want to risk pushing me too hard.

His eyes, which had earned the title of the cold CEO, now held a myriad of emotions in them- love, hope and remorse being the most prominent trio. I could tell from his eyes that he felt guilty because I passed out earlier, blaming himself for showing those photos to me. I squeezed his hand back in return, silently telling him with my eyes that he'd done nothing wrong.

I barely registered Eva excusing herself saying she needed to make all preparations for the college. As soon as she was out of sight, Adrian turned to me and took both of my hands in his. He opened his mouth to say something but I shook my head before he could.

"No, Adrian. I will not have you feeling guilty over anything now. You only told me of my past because you thought it would help me remember. And it has! Adrian, can't you see that I remembered something just now? I actually remember me painting and calling Eva my angel. I remember it clearly, Adrian!"

He opened his mouth once again, no doubt to further argue about how he put me under stress or something along those lines. But by this time, I'd learned to shut the devil up completely. I leaned forward and kissed his stubborn lips, effectively catching the beginning of the muffled words before he pulled me closer, deepening what I'd started.

"You, my love, are dangerous to my soul." He breathed huskily as we pulled away for air, our bodies still close to each other- well, as close as they could with my hand still holding a cookie for dear life. Not my fault that Eva bakes so well.

"Thank you, I try." I responded cheekily, earning a little flick on the tip of my nose.

"So... how are you feeling about Eva?" He asked tenderly, enveloping me in his arms with my head resting peacefully on his chest.

I sighed and snuggled closer to him and silently lamenting about the cookie I'd just finished. The plates were empty now. "I don't know. I mean, I get it that she a life of her own and she can do very well for herself. But it's just... hard letting go. I don't want to hold her down with my fears. But then when I think of all things that could go wrong, I get scared. She's practically lived in hospitals for all these years and I've just got her in our home. I won't be able to bear it if anything were to happen to her." I absently played with the buttons of his jacket as I revealed my deepest fears to him.

"It's okay to feel scared, love. It only shows how much you love her. But have good hope. Nothing will go wrong, Eve. And even if something happens, Eva is a strong girl. She can withstand every difficulty you put in her way. See how she did the impossible. She walks so well now. Anyone else would have given up. And besides, FIT is here in New York. We can visit her anytime and vice versa. Don't worry about it." He murmured into my hair.

"I know. That's what I've been convincing myself with. I guess I'll never stop worrying over her until she's old and wrinkly. It would've been easier if only she'd agreed to stay here instead of those college dorms. But no, she want to experience everything in college. I just... I don't want to fail her- fail my parents – once again. I've already done that job too many times."

I was suddenly pulled away from the warm arms and I whined at the loss of contact. I felt a hand under my chin and looked up to Adrian looking at me sternly, like a teacher about to scold his student for their mischief. "You have not failed anyone, Evelyn White. You're the most amazing sister one could ever wish to have. Hell, even I feel envious of the way you treat your sister. I don't think I care for Aaron as much as you do for Eva. You've made her this strong, confident and already successful woman that she is today. She is so full of life and it's all because of you. I know for sure that your parents- wherever they are- are very proud of you."

I pondered over his words and I snuggled back against his chest and resumed playing with his buttons once again. "She's always had this dream to go and attend a college, y'know? When she had to take online classes throughout her high school, I know she hated it and her condition and I hated myself for not being able to do anything. But now that she is finally able to walk, I can see new hope in her eyes and new excitement about attending a real college. I don't want to keep that from her."

"Of course, which is another reason as to why you're so amazing. Now, do you want me to make a list of all the other reasons?"

I rolled my eyes. "Sure, if you think your ego can handle it."

He chuckled. "Not usually. But for you, I can make an exception. I love you, after all."

I smiled when he pulled me closer and concluded his statement with a sweet kiss on my head.

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