Hey guys, so this is my first fanfiction! I'm extremely excited and nervous to share this story with y'all; I really hope y'all like it! This story was one I had actually posted before on my YouTube channel, but then I took it down because I wasn't really certain I wanted to continue on with it. Anyway, I hope to update relatively often, but honestly, I don't know at this point. Anyway, enough blabbering from me. Enjoy!

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Lillia sighed, arising concern from both Rick and Popuri "Is everything alright mom?" Popuri asked. Lillia turned away from the window.

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I'm just thinking about how glad I am that winter is over." Both Popuri and Rick relaxed slightly at her explanation, though neither sibling believed her in the slightest.

"It will be especially nice when summer comes," Popuri exclaimed excitedly, prompting a look of confusion from Rick.

"I thought that you hated summer. You always complain about how hot it is," Rick said. Popuri blushed, "I-I think th-the flowers are the p-prettiest in the summer," she stuttered. Rick quickly realized she was lying. If someone else had been listening, they wouldn't have noticed, but siblings always have a way of telling that something isn't quite right...

"Don't tell me-" Rick began.

"Rick, it's not what you think…" she said, quickly turning away from her brother and silently praying that he wouldn't push the subject any further.

"It's Kai isn't it?!" Rick cried in an infuriated tone. "Popuri, we've been over this!" Popuri lost her patience.

"Yes, we have Rick! I don't care what you think, Kai is a wonderful guy, but you wouldn't know that because you couldn't be bothered to get to know him!" Popuri shouted back.

"Rick, Popuri…" Lillia began in a warning tone, but neither of the siblings heard her, too engrossed in their argument to notice.

"I know enough about Kai to know he's a bad influence and a terrible person! Popuri, all he's going to do is toss you away when you don't please him anymore!" Rick cried.

"YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS THAT I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH KAI MORE THAN I DO WITH YOU!" Popuri screamed.

"ENOUGH!" Lillia yelled, causing the siblings to look at her in absolute shock. Lillia stumbled backward, and Rick flew to her side, carefully helping her to a rocking chair nearby.

"M-Mom?" Popuri asked. Lillia sighed. "I'm tired of hearing you two fight about this. It hurts me too much to see you both so angry at one another. It reminds me too much of…" her voice faded away. Rick and Popuri turned away in shame, remembering the vicious fights that their mother and father got into about him leaving to find a plant to cure Lillia's illness.

"We're sorry mom," Rick apologized.

"We really are," Popuri chimed in.

"Please, just promise me you'll both try your best to not fight about this anymore?" Lillia pleaded. The siblings looked at each other, before reluctantly nodding. Rick left the house to go and tend to the chickens, while Popuri shuffled around the kitchen to prepare breakfast with Lillia.

The bell on the door chimed. Popuri whirled around. "Hello!" She greeted kindly.

"Hello," the visitor replied. The woman was dressed in blue overalls with a plaid shirt. Her blond hair bounced wildly when she walked, greatly exaggerating her movements. "I apologize if I'm intruding-" she began.

"You're not intruding at all," Lillia interrupted. The girl smiled appreciatively.

"I just wanted to introduce myself. My name's Claire, and I recently bought the rundown farm near here." Lillia and Popuri blinked.

"Really? That's amazing!" Popuri exclaimed.

Claire blushed slightly, "It's nothing really." Popuri shook her head.

"It is a very tough job taking care of a farm all on your own." Lilllia nodded in agreement.

"Oh, where are my manners, my name's Popuri." Popuri reached out her hand, shaking Claire's. "This is my mother Lillia." The two of them shook hands. "Sorry, my brother is out taking care of the chickens. I'm sure you'll see him around, though."

Claire shook her head. "That's alright, I need to get going anyway. It was very nice meeting you!" After a quick wave, Claire began walking out of the house when she bumped into someone at the door.

"I'm so sor-" Claire's voice faded as she looked at Rick. Both of them looked at each other in awe as recognition flickered in both of their eyes. Claire gulped. "H-Have we met before?"