AN: Let me tell you, it is SO good to be back. Your reviews have warmed my heart and made it exciting to write again. Thank you so much for that, you guys mean lots to me.


It was a boring Saturday afternoon. Cosima stayed in her room since she came home from Delphine's. She lay with both her arms behind her head and just stared at her ceiling. All she could think about was the night before and how much Delphine's night sky meant to Cosima. As she did this, a subtle pink warmth spread to her cheeks. It was as if she was reliving the night all over again.

Her daydream was interrupted. "Cosima!" A soprano voice came from behind the door. Impatiently, she knocked again. "Cosima, it's Alison! Can I come in?"

Cosima sat up, giving herself a head rush. "Yeah, Ali, come on in." Cosima felt her gut drop. Alison knew she hadn't taken her pills. Shit, I'm screwed, Cosima thought to herself. Her breath hitched when Alison entered.

The two sisters locked eyes for a moment and much to Cosima's surprise, Alison was in a positively great mood. Her eyebrows were raised rather than narrowed with concern. Her smile, which Cosima rarely sees, was radiant and made the tension ease.

"Are you okay, Ali?" Cosima asked, a grin escaping her lips.

Alison strode on elegantly to Cosima's bed and made herself comfortable. "Why, of course I am!" Why wouldn't I be?"

"No, I mean it, are you okay? This is unlike you..." Cosima stretched her arm and felt Alison's forehead. "You're, like, happy and it freaks me out a lot. What's happening?"

Her sister's posture straightened and her smile suppressed into a firm thin line. "Are you saying I'm never any fun?" Her hand found its signature place, tracing her collarbone. "Cosima," She gave her sister a challenging stare. "I have so much fun, you wouldn't even know."

"I don't think papier-mâché counts, sis."

Alison scoffed and shook her head. "Oh, trust me, I do more than that."

Cosima's lifted a brow. "Oh, really?"

Her uptight sister gave a hum in agreement.

"Couponing doesn't count either, Ali."

She smacked her sister in response, making Cosima burst into laughter. "Shut up, Cosima! This isn't why I have come to you today."

"Then why did you give me honor of your presence today?"

Alison pursed her lips and looked down at her free hand, picking at her nails. "What do you know of...you know that girl at our school..."

Cosima shook her head and lay back down on to her bed. "That really narrows it down, Ali." She said with dry sarcasm.

"Elizabeth Childs." Alison murmured quietly, avoiding eye contact with her other sister.

Cosima adjusted her glasses with the back of her hand and thought for a second. Elizabeth Childs was a famous athlete from their school. Track star, swimmer, debate team, her letterman jacket was filled with activities. Childs was also known for being quite the charmer towards the ladies.

Cosima's eyes widened. "What for?" She asked, curious to why her uptight sister would need anything to do with track star Childs.

Alison waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, you know, stuff." She paused for a second and finally looked at Cosima in the eyes. "I have to interview her for video journalism and I don't know how to...approach her. Like, what does she like? Why does she like it? What's her favorite...sport team?" Alison looked up at the ceiling and huffed towards her bangs.

"Well, if you're going to 'interview' her, you'll find out these things, right?"

Alison gave a polite shrug and smacked her lips. "Do you know her well enough?"

Cosima was lost. "I don't really have friends besides Delphine."

Alison cracked a subtle smile. "Oh, still friends?"

It was Cosima's turn to smack her arm. "At least I'm friends with the girl I have a crush on."

Alison's head jerked toward Cosima's. Her eyes bold and furious, her jawline firm and sharp. "Excuse me?" Her soprano voice was short and tightened.

Cosima bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from bursting into laughter. "Oh, nothing, Ali." She grinned when she saw dark scarlet rise to her sister's neck and cheeks. "Oh, gosh, Ali! You're blushing!"

Alison smacked her sister again and again until Cosima burst out into laughter, holding her stomach. "Don't say that!" She repeated in between jabs towards Cosima.

"Oh, Ali," Cosima said, grabbing her sister's hands. "Don't worry," She tried her best to keep a serious face. "I remember when I first had my girl crush."

Her uptight sister had just about enough. She tackled Cosima and smacked her wherever she wasn't blocking. "I don't have a crush on her!"

Cosima was too busy giggling and defending herself to protest against her sister.

After awhile Alison just sat on her sister with her arms crossed and glared down at her. "Now, that we cleared things up, I would like an apology."

Her sister sputtered and nearly spat on Alison. "I'm sorry that you can't ask for relationship advice properly."

Alison smacked her arm. "I don't have a crush on her!" She hissed, her eyes were wide and her whole face was a dark shade of red.

"Alison?"

"What?!" She asked impatiently.

"If you don't have a crush on her, why're you still blushing?"

Alison took a moment to breathe and she closed her eyes. "Why, God, why me?"

The dreadlocked girl rolled her eyes and gave her sister the spotlight.

"I was in the hallways, precisely three minutes before the bell rang, getting my keys out of my locker." Alison scratched behind her head and left her hand there. "I hear someone approach but I made nothing out of it. I thought it was maybe, I don't know, Helena, asking for Jell-O...or something." Her hand moved to her collar bone and she stroke it gently. "But it was Elizabeth. And I was startled because I've never been this close to her, and I've heard so much about her and she's never talked to me before...I didn't even think she'd know who I am." Alison gave a crooked grin, a grin all the sister seemed to have. "She said hello. I said...words. God, I was so thrown off."

She cleared her throat and continued. "She said she recognized me from the musical last year. She said I was wonderful and she tried finding a time to tell me but didn't know how to approach me about it. I felt like the celebrity. And she just went on and on about how she usually doesn't like musicals but loved the performance I was in..."

Cosima grinned when Alison looked back at her. "Then what?" Cosima asked patiently. Moments like these were what Cosima treasured the most. She loved when Alison would tell stories or when she would just sit down and not freak out about every little thing.

"Then, we kept talking, the bell rang, her buddies called for her, she said 'see-ya around' and she was gone." She both hands to her face. "God, I didn't know what to do!" She murmured into her hands causing the words to barely be audible. "I mean, I just stood there and thanked her! She was talking to me!"

Cosima laughed. "Yeah, I'm so surprised that she'd talk to you! Out of everyone, she talked to you! Maybe there's something wrong with her!" She was able to block her sister's slap towards her head. "Watch the dreads, man!"

The door knocked. "Hey, Cos, I need-a...why is Alison sittin' on you?" Sarah asked, leaning against the door frame.

"Sarah, can you not see Cosima and I are having a discussion!?" Alison hissed towards Sarah who was overly relaxed compared to Alison.

"I'm supposed ta' care, yeah?" Sarah swaggered over to Alison and nudged her with a small grin. "Ge' off of Cos, I need a moment with 'er."

Alison didn't budge. "Well, we're all sisters here! You can share the news with all of us."

Cosima rolled her eyes. "Alison, respect someone's privacy. If she shares, then you have to share."

The uptight sister glared at Sarah who just gave a wink as a responsive and she hopped off of Cosima and left the room. "Thought she'd neva leave." Sarah plopped on Cosima's bed , lay back, and closed her eyes.

Cosima nudged Sarah. "What did you need, you lazy punk?"

Sarah sniffed and shook her head. "Nothin', just wanted some space from everyone else." She opened one eye. "Ain't that wha' you wanted?"

She shrugged. "I did until you and Alison waltzed in here."

Her punk sister closed her eyes again and put her hands behind her head. "Wha' did the stiffy need?"

Cosima lay down next to her, mimicking her position. "Nothing really," She lied. "She just wanted a behavior check. Just seeing if the meds were working right."

"Gotta stick with pills, whack-o. No matter how crazy Alison may seem, she's righ', yeah?"

Cosima swallowed hard and couldn't tell if she was hearing right or not. Did her sister, who despises Alison the most, just agree with her? Did she know that Cosima wasn't taking the pills? Were they just testing her? What was going on?!

"Cos? I can hear ya' thinkin' and it hurts."

Cosima shook her head. "Sarah, we're aren't that attached." Or are we, Cosima thought to herself. No, Cosima, that's impossible. She can't read your mind-what if she's listening right now? Just breathe, Cosima, you're fine. You're just overreacting is all.

"How are you and Frenchy?"

Cosima grinned and relaxed a bit more. This was a subject she could talk about for sure. "Great, couldn't be better. Thanks for asking."

Sarah smiled. "You two are still friends, ain't ya?"

The other girl rolled her eyes. "You know, you sound just like Alison!"

Sarah gagged and made a sour face. "Don't eva say tha' again."

The dreadlocked girl shook her head and tried changing the subject of 'being friends with Delphine'. "How's Helena?"

The punk girl just shrugged and opened her eyes. "She's concernin' me. I'm away from 'er for, like, five minutes, 'nd she has a meltdown. She talks 'bout how no loves 'er and it makes me feel...bad, y'know?" She ran her hand through her hair and huffed. "I'm just worried 'bout 'er. Alison is giving 'er a hard time and she sometimes says that she's afraid of upsettin' me."

"Yeah, it get bad. She starts hitting herself when you give her space."

"And I don't mean to!" She raised her arms up in frustration and smacked them back down. "I wish there was somethin' else that could make her happy... I'm glad I can be there for her but I'm also the one who can ruin her day if I don't do somethin' right!"

"Sarah, don't worry about it. It isn't your fault. We also have Jell-O..."

Her rebellious sibling didn't even regard Cosima's attempt of a joke. "I jus' don't know what to do when I'm not in the mood ta' take care of 'er. It's like I'm the only doin' it." Sarah massaged her temples and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "It's like everyone gave up on 'er." She wiped her nose with the back of her nose. "Wha' am I sayin'? Everyone has given up. She knows it too." Sarah huffed. "Yesterday we were talkin', 'nd she was movin' 'er hands around...'er sleeve rolled up." She sniffled, causing Cosima to turn her head towards her. She's not used to seeing Sarah, the rebellious punk, cry. "There were so many cuts. Old ones, new ones...She must'a started it years ago. Maybe even when Mum and dad sent 'er away." She covered her eyes, turning her head away from Cosima. "And I'm not talkin' 'bout a few cat scratches, Cos, they were deep and wide. I don't know wha' she's usin'!" Her breathing was ragged and her hands remained to cover her face.

Cosima was unsure of what to do. She felt guilty beyond belief. She had nothing but sympathy, she just didn't know how to display what she was feeling besides patting Sarah on the back and remaining close by her side. " Sarah," Cosima said hesitantly. "There isn't much you can do but to be Helena's support..." She rubbed Sarah's back gently. "I know it's hard to constantly be there for her especially if you get in a mood sometimes. But Sarah, you have to work on that. She's..." She looked around and put her voice in a low whisper, just in case Helena, wherever she was, couldn't hear. "She's like a child...and you have to be open to her. That means faking your mood, that's what needs to happen. Especially since she's...you know, like, harming herself."

"Will I have ta spend every wakin' moment with 'er?"

"Whatever will keep her from harming herself, Sarah."

Sarah inhaled deeply and sighed. "You're doin' it again,"

"Doing what?"

"Playin' therapist, like you don't 'ave your own problems."

Cosima rolled her eyes. "I have problems, Sarah."

Sarah dropped her hands and wiped her tears with her sleeve, smearing a bit of her eye shadow in the process. "Yeah? I bet Frenchy makes it better." She glanced at Cosima, giving a wink.

Cosima shook her head giggled the stress away from the discussion they just had. Easing back down to her pillows she looked up at the ceiling with Sarah. "I told you once and I'll say it again: Delphine and I are just-"

A knock interrupted their conversation. Sarah sat up and barked towards the door. "Alison, I'll kick yer' arse! It's called a private discussion!"

The door cracked open, and immediately Cosima sat up. Delphine peeked her head in. "Is it a bad time? Alison, let me in and...well, I can come back later." She said timidly, getting ready to close the door.

"No, no, no, no, no." Cosima slipped out of bed, nearly falling to the floor. "Don't leave, Delphine." Cosima waved her hands, reaching for the door before the French angel could shut it. She was able to pull it open and she rested against the door frame, a few inches from Delphine. "There's no such thing as a bad time when you're around."

Delphine blushed and was about to reply before Sarah cleared her throat. "Well, excuse me while I throw up. I'm checkin' on Helena." She squeezed in between Delphine and Cosima. "See-ya, Frenchy!"

"It was good to see you again, Sarah." Delphine called back before turning to see Cosima again. "I am incredibly sorry for just coming out here without telling you." Delphine stuttered, looking down at her own hands guiltily. "I should have called, or texted, or alerted you in some way. Merde, I'm breaking an entering aren't I?"

Cosima couldn't help but giggle at how adorable Delphine was when she thought she was in trouble. She just wanted to reach for her and kiss her, tell her it's alright. Instead, she reached for Delphine's hand and patted it reassuringly. "Babe, it's okay. I find it really cute, actually." She took her hand and led her to her room and shut the door behind them. "I'm really glad you're here. My siblings were drowning me with problems." Cosima patted the area next to her for Delphine to sit.

Delphine sat down and bit her lip, staring at the wooden floor. Her mind seemed elsewhere but she looked up at Cosima and managed to smile.

"Is everything alright, Delphine?"

She nodded and reached for Cosima's hand. "Oui, why would I not be?"

"You just seem...a bit out of place. Did something happen?"

Delphine shook her head and lay down into Cosima's pillows holding her arms open. "I just missed you, cheeky girl. I feel like I'm here more often than my own home."

Cosima was quick to quickly snuggle into Delphine's embrace. She wrapped her arms around her waist while Delphine wrapped hers around Cosima's neck. They lay like that for a good minute before giving them room to talk. "Maybe," Cosima said with a grin. "I should go to your house more."

The French girl smiled and put played with Cosima's dreads. "Non, I like it here better. I can relax here." She said, closing her eyes while still stroking the twisted hairs.

"I like you here too." Cosima said, snuggling under Delphine's chin. "You can stay the night if you want."

Delphine kissed the top of Cosima's head and relaxed into their embrace.

No one said a word, that was the beauty of it. It all happened so naturally and Cosima closed her eyes. She could get used to this. Delphine over at her house everyday just to cuddle. It was perfect.

Cosima hummed. "Delphine? You still haven't met my parents." She said lazily, not wanting to move a muscle.

"Well, if they raised a cheeky girl such as yourself they are guaranteed to be better than my parents."

Cosima grinned. "Your parents were nice to me...at least I think they were. Did they say anything about me?" Cosima looked up at Delphine who still had her eyes closed.

"They said you had excellent manners. That you were very intelligent and special, mon amie."

Cosima felt the warm fuzzy feeling pool in her stomach. "Special?"

Delphine have a lazy 'mmhmm' and the conversation soon ended.

The dreadlocked girl took her glasses off and set them gently on her nightstand so she could snuggle into Delphine more comfortably without any interference. "My parents will be home soon for dinner. Alison will probably wake us up." Cosima whispered, closing her eyes again.

Cosima had never been so anxious to take a nap.


A/N: I'm quite surprised that I updated this quickly. I guess I'm just excited to get to what I have planned for this story.

R/R, please! They make things SO much easier.

Much love,

Ophelia XXXX