Authors Note- I should have the next chapter, one with her past in it, coming up, so please, Read and review.

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Hot Chocolate. It was her favorite.

When it was even slightly chilly outside, she would shiver so much that people told her to go to the doctors, go home, or take some time off work.

But she couldn't. Because work to her, was like everyone else's distraction. It distracted her from what she used to be. The way things used to be.

But still, she was cold.

So she drank hot chocolate. Full of sugar, caffeine, and something else, it helped her wake up in the mornings, or go to bed at night.

Sometimes with other things, like cookies, or toast if she was late for work, and hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Sometimes just alone, staring out the window of her apartment, wishing someone would come help her.

But no on ever did. Even when she took some "time off work", nobody noticed, except for the fact that they had to do more work.

Then one evening, while sipping a cup of hot chocolate, she heard something ringing.

Ring, ring

Just a figment of my imagination, she thought sadly, since I'm feeling bad.

Then she heard it again.

Ring, ring

Huh?

Her curiosity got the better of her, and she walked over to her telephone.

Looking at her telephone, she smiled.

"Hello?" she said gracefully, upon picking up the phone.

Inside, she had butterflies in her stomach.

"You want to go out? Tonight?" She looked at the clock. It read 4:01. "Sure, let's say around 5pm. Ok, I'll be there."

And as she went to hang up the phone, she whispered into the receiver.

"Thanks."

Replacing the receiver in its holder, she happily bounced up and down, then raced into her bedroom to find something nice to wear.

Blue tanktop? "Nope."

Black pants, comfortable? "Yes."

Deep red shirt, with collar? "Yes."

Denim jacket? "Nope."

Simple link necklace, with a sun? "Yes."

Putting on the clothing, she returned to the kitchen.

She remembered a case they had worked on a little while ago. The victim had had a lifestyle way too close to Sara's for comfort. So, upon getting home, she proceeded to get rid of quite a few things.

Things including all her magazines, her take-out food, all the stuff she used when she didn't want to go out.

She threw out the magazines because, although she didn't like to admit it, browsing through the malls weren't that bad, if you knew some out of the way stores, with nice, sharp, becoming clothing. Clothing like; some button up shirts with collars, when ironed, looked very neat and presentable, but when just gently ironed, without outlining the creases, made her look relaxed, dressed…not really down, but more comfortable.

She kept most of her minimal food, like the milk, juice, water…. The cider, and hot chocolate powder….

She picked up the can, and turned the kettle on. Sitting down to read the newspaper, she only stirred when the kettle just began to whistle, believing the sound to be annoying.

She poured the cup of chocolate, and then sat down to wait for him to arrive. As she sat there, she though about one drink that had calmed, soothed, and warmed Sara.

Some things never change, she thought.

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