Katelyn's POV

*Play Song*

"No red balloons!" I exclaim, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.

"Why not?" Zane questions, his hair being attacked by many red balloons sticking to his hair strands.

"Ummm.....red......blood....." I try to hint, my tone solemn, remembering that day.

"Oh....yeah..uh OKAY BLACK IT IS!" Then he rushes off, trying to escape the awkwardness and the solemn tone of my voice.

Today is the day Aaron, Aphmau, and Angel come back to the hospital from their year long trip to Falcon Claw.........

It's been almost a year since.....Lilith.....

Even I start tearing up about it from time to time about it.....

Poor Lilith.....

Poor Aaron......

Poor.......Aphmau.......

They all lost so much, and they don't deserve such pain......

There must be someone behind all this pain.....

Someone who is completely heartless and is worthless.....that they would do something to poor Lilith.

Not Gene....but.....

Life.....god?

Anyway.....

Just remembering that day sends me into a fragile state.....

And Lilith wasn't even my child......

I can't even imagine what Aaron and Aphmau are going through.....

Hopefully, their year-long vacation was enough for them to recover at least a bit.

My deep thoughts were interrupted by an arm snaking around my waist, and warm breath spreading against my skin.

"Katelyn......what is it?" Travis asks with concern laced in his voice, hugging me tighter.

"I'm worried Travis.....what if they haven't healed enough......"

"Its Aphmau and Aaron....they are strong people........they can make due..." Travis reassures, turning me towards him enough so I could kiss him.

"C'mon, they'll be here any minute now......." Travis laces his hand with mine and guides me towards the main entrance.

************

Aphmau's POV

I lean my elbow against the windowsill of the car, staring at the moving world passing by me.

I sigh, closing my eyes as I try to prepare myself to be back.....

To be back at this horrific place.....

Where I lost everything.....

Twice.....

"Mama?" I hear a squeaky voice call.

I smile, turning from the window to the seat next to me, which was occupied by a baby seat and a cute little 1 year old.

Aaron was in the front seat, driving silently, probably trying to prepare himself as well.

I unbuckle Angel's seat belt, lifting her slowly out of her car seat, resting her on my lap, still smiling.

She always makes me smiles.

"Hey sweetie, what is it?" I ask, my voice instinctively turning extremely high-pitched, the cute factor being engaged in my mind.

She babbles, placing her chubby hand on my nose, somewhat grabbing it.

Even though she cannot speak, I knew exactly what she was saying.

I smile wider, raising her up so our noses nuzzle against each other, making Angel giggle.

Oh, what would I do without her?

......What would I do if I lost her....too...

Aaron and I.......we've recovered a good amount.....

But I believe it not to be enough.

Like I said earlier....

No parent should ever have to bury their child......

No parent.....should ever have to be crying over their dead child's body.........

No parent....should have to move on.......from their greatest loves.......

The pain.......is unbearable....

At times it seems like I'm never going to get out of this deep hole I've created.

That I'll always be buried deep within, forever crying over my dead daughter.

If it weren't for Angel and Aaron, I would have actually done so these things.......

This shows to me, in some sort of way, deep inside me, I understood why Gene did it.......

Why he sought to avenge his late daughter......

He had lost his wife to childbirth when Michelle was born and raised her on his own.

Then when Michelle died, in Aaron's operating room.....

He went berserk.......

Grief consumed his rational state of mind.....

Aaron and he were actually good friends.....

Until.....

Though thankfully, Aaron was different.

He also luckily had Angel and me there for him.

Healing is a contributive thing.....

All of us must help and be there for one another to get past it......

Or....at least try to.....

"We're here....." Aaron announces, hesitantly, parking the car in our usual reserved parking spot.

He gets out of the car, then he opens the door for me.

I get out as well, while still carrying Angel protectively in my arms.

Aaron wraps his arm around me, him meeting my gaze.

We simultaneously exhale, leaning our foreheads against each other, both of us knowing, no matter how much we prepared ourselves for this moment.......

It could never....be enough......

We walk towards the main entrance, each step we took sending chills up our spines.

I close my eyes, looking at the ground, burying my face in Angel's soft black hair, letting Aaron guide me to the entrance.

I then stop abruptly, shaking my head slightly.

"Aph...." He starts, but I interrupt him.

"No...no I can't do this.....we have to go back to the house...I can't...." I stutter as I start back towards the car.

"Aph wait...look...." He gestures me to glance towards the entrance, his face showing a small smile.

I haven't seen that smile all day.

I look back towards the entrance, seeing from afar, in the distance, was balloons, streamers, and a large banner saying.......

Welcome back!......

Then in smaller letters......

Where's Angel?! I want to squeeze her!

I guess Katelyn or Cadenza wrote that.

The whole gang, Katelyn, Kawaii~chan, Zane, Garroth, Travis, Lucinda, Cadenza, Dante, and Nicole, all start jumping up and down, all of them so happy and excited.

Oh, how I missed them......

Angel giggles again, wacking her closed fist against my chest, pointing her tiny minuscule finger towards the welcome wagon.

I finally give in, smiling a large, and genuine smile.

I hand Angel to Aaron, running towards the crowd.

The first person I hug is Katelyn, it feeling so good to be here with them again.

"Oh my Irene Aph, I missed you so much!" She exclaims, wrapping her arms around me tighter.

"I missed you too Katelyn......" I start, but I'm interrupted by numerous shrieks.

"Oh my Irene.....is that Angel!?" Cadenza cries, her mouth emitting a quiet, but never-ending screech.

Everyone then clamors around Aaron and Angel, all of them showing their own type of fangirling.

"Awww c'mon guys let's head inside and get you guys settled." Zane gestures, his expression a rare awed smile.

We all enter the hospital doors, my heart now feeling a different feeling....

Because I completely forgot that I had not only a family.......but a village.

HAPPY BDAY DANNIE OMG! 

Have a nice day my crystals!!