Lightning walked into the room, with Sally still against his shoulder. They sat down on the couch, and Lightning just sort of held her, gazing at her sincerely.

She looked up, and wiped away the last of her tears.

"I knew that something along the lines of that was bothering you…" Lightning said quietly.

Sally gazed at him questioningly. "How did you…?"

Lightning just hugged her tighter, resting his head on top of hers. "Well, you know how I told you that I grew up in an orphanage?"

She nodded, squeezing his hand in a comforting way.

"Well, I saw a lot of kids come and go, most of them abused. They had this look about them, and I sort of… saw it in you, earlier." He said, squeezing her hand back.

She just sighed, wiping away the fresh tears that had started to fall. She pulled away from Lightning just a little, so she could look him in the face.

"H-He hurt my brother." She said quietly. "He hurt him, trying to get to me. My brother protected me, but it didn't work…"

"What do you mean?" Lightning asked, confused.

Sally tried to hold back the rest of her tears, but was defeated as they silently trickled down her cheeks.

"H-He found an a-article in a magazine a-about me—a-and you." She said, choking on her words. "A-And now, he knows where I-I am."

Lightning wiped away her tears with his hand, and gently hugged her. "I'm so sorry." He said, kissing her tenderly on the cheek. "This is my fault…"

They were silent for a little while, Lightning still comforting Sally. She got up, and yawned. "I'm really tired."

"Yea… me too." Lightning said, yawning himself. He hadn't realized how late it had gotten.

Sally had started to put on some pajamas in the room, which was a little awkward for Lightning. "Uh… do you want me to leave?" He asked, blushing a bit.

"Naw, I've seen you in your underwear… What can it hurt for you to see me?" She replied, smiling sheepishly at him.

Lightning laughed. "You still remember that? That was like, a month and a half ago…"

"Yea, well I don't think I'll forget that…" She replied, blushing a little.

Lightning looked at her, smiling slyly. "What was that supposed to mean?"

She glanced over at him, her face turning a little redder. "Well, I mean… You just looked so cute, and… You're just so adorable when you act all shy like that!" She exclaimed, laughing a little.

He laughed, too. "Well, I don't think I'm THAT shy…"

Sally gave him a funny look. "What do you mean? You were too shy to even kiss me!"

"Well, I'm not anymore…" He said, getting up off the couch, going over behind Sally, and putting his arms around her shoulders. He leaned down, and kissed her lightly on the lips.

She returned the kiss, and then smiled at him. She sighed, as she remembered what he was doing over here in the first place, and shivered slightly. He seemed to have noticed, and kissed her cheek.

"Don't worry." He said, hugging her. "I won't let him hurt you. I'll stay up all night if I have to."

She smiled, and hugged him back.

"Goodnight." He said, going over to the door, locking it, and silently making his way over to his cone.

"Night Stickers." She called after him. Shivering in the night air, as she watched him leave.


Ok, I know, I know, I still have to finish Cars 3, but I'm getting' to it, k? Calm down, geez! Don't have a stroke… Lol. I have an idea for the next chapter, I just have to write it… Review Please!!!