Authors Note: As promised, Chapter 9… I did a lot of redoing with this chapter, still not happy but it needs to go. Chapter 10 will be coming very soon, so watch this space… A few people stated they would like to know more about Callie and Addison so I hope this fills in the blanks a little, there will be more Caddison flashbacks as the story progresses. I hope this is okay.

Thank you to all you amazing people who still read this, and leave your wonderful reviews. I enjoy reading them and they really help with making me want to write this…

Xx Peace, Love and Frowny Brownies XX

Chapter Nine

The world keeps on turning, despite our sorrows. The sun still rises and brings forth new days, and time still passes. No matter how deep you crawl under the sheets, or how tight you close your eyes you will come back to reality and it will seem like it didn't realise you were gone.

Because it didn't.

Time waits for no man, or woman, and no matter how slow it seems under the dark safety of your covers each second that ticks away is one you won't ever get back, Then there will come a day when you step back into the sunlight and you'll grasp each second you have left with both hands, and wish for more.

Callie ran, taking steps steadily but hurrying as much as she could. She could feel her heart racing; pounding blast beats against her chest that propelled her forward in her dizzying pace. She felt hot tears rolling down her cheeks, and made no attempt to wipe them away. Her vision blurred and her breathing falling in soft whimpers, she found herself stalling at the end of the hallway. A momentary lapse in her better judgement, as she turned on her heels and made one last wish that the blonde would follow her. A deafening creak made her breath hitch as from the opposite side of the hall a door opened and young man stepped out.

He walked towards the stairwell, amber eyes slipping over the soft features of the Latina, offering her a sympathetic smile as he noted her tears outlined in waterproof mascara, defeated by heartache. She hung her head and began to move towards the stairs. Each step she took she whispered utterances to herself, questioning her motives and her expectations, and reminding herself that as much as she was a stranger to these people, they were the same to her. She couldn't expect to be chosen over a sibling, she couldn't expect to be protected from the truth, and she couldn't expect to feel how she did for the blonde, and not know her.

As she reached the final step and made her way out of the building she felt the gentle breeze remind her to breathe. The simplest of reminders, on the softest of winds. She crossed the pavement to her car, slipped her key into the door and opened it wide, and as she slipped inside, hands resting on the wheel, fingers drumming a rhythm and feet subconsciously working the pedals, a simple song change gave her the push she needed. Pulling away from the building, Callie found herself slipping comfortably towards the back roads, her humiliation slipping away with each rotation of her wheels. She clicked a button and felt the air sneak in through the now opened window to her side, smiling as it whispered reassurances in her ears, promises of better days.

She hummed along to the music that spun in her CD changer, smiling softly as the lyrics untangled on her tongue and made sense for the first time in a long while. She had been lost so long that even the oldest of words felt fresh and she found her heart warm as she began to sing along. Freedom is the soft lilt of a song unsung, the gentle strum of a newly tuned guitar, the soft dance along piano keys, and the cumulative sound it creates. In that moment, with the wind in her hair and her worries leaving on the passing breeze, Callie had never felt so free.

She turned up the slip road that led to her house, sitting atop the hill, fields stretched before it filled with a blanket of amber leaves fallen from trees now bare and uninviting. She made a mental note to rake them into piles later, her eyes widening as she noted a lack of logs stacked beside the house. She felt a small smile sitting in the corner of her mouth, as she noted that despite the obvious beauty of the house it looked, lonely. The winter approaching only causing it to be more noticeable.

She pulled up in her driveway and got out of the car, taking a deep breath she headed straight for the door afraid that if she paused momentarily she would completely mess up the stride she had fallen into. Opening the door she expected a warmth to hit her, and felt a small sadness at the coldness of the place. She decided against shutting the door, a small part of her still uncertain of why exactly it was she was here, but walking straight into the living room she headed for the fire, and without scanning the memory plagued room she did something she hadn't done in over a year.

She lit a fire.

Once the flames danced before her eyes, she got to her feet and moving towards the coffee table and began to push the masses of prints into a box on the floor. Smiles disappearing with the wave of a hand and with each monochrome memory that slipped away, Callie felt her shoulders raise, her head lift and a sense of normality slipped in the still open doorway.

Placing a lid on the box she breathed a sigh of relief, and heading out into the hall she moved to close the door. Floating mindlessly around the house she passed through the kitchen and then dining room until she reached the small room at the back of the house she used for storage. Without so much as stepping into the room she swung the door open and slid the box into the darkness.

Relief.

She felt the warmth she had been expecting, she felt it wrap its arms around her in a hug she hadn't realised she had missed and with a smile she headed back towards the living room. She picked up the glasses and empty bottles that sat expectantly on the table, and resigned them to their inevitable fate, as she whisked them to the kitchen and placed them into the trash. Still humming softly to herself she flittered around the house, opening curtains that hadn't been moved in so long they had gathered stories in abundance of dust. She watched as daylight crept in through each large window she had once noted as her favourite fixture on the house. She had specifically picked these windows when the designer had approached her, and as she pulled the final curtain aside, she remembered why. The daylight crept across the room, kissing every once hidden surface and turning a fear, a real cause of anxiety into a wonderful place she had long forgotten.

She allowed herself a moment, her autopilot on rest and she walked towards the fire. The light crackling of the burning logs soothing her soul and warming her caramel skin. Looking above the fireplace at the faces staring back at her, wide with smiles that never faded, she knew what she had to do. Reaching up and with her fingertips pushing at the underneath of the frame, she removed the picture from the wall. Slowly lowering it from its place until it sat in her grasp, heavy and expectant and then it happened, her hands began to shake slowly. Her breathing becoming rapid and uncontrollable. She came face to face with a gaze she had only dreamt of in recent years.

She lowered the frame to the floor and felt herself bend at the knee. As she sat, she removed a hand from steadying the picture and lifted it to allow her fingers the gentle dance along the outline of the face staring back at her. Sadness rolling over the contours of her cheeks as a soft laugh ghosted her ears and she remembered a time before she had gotten like this, before she had been afraid to acknowledge her memories.

Lowering her head, her raven locks falling over her face clinging to her tears she let her shoulders submit to shaking as she remembered how she had once hung off every word those smiling lips spoke. As she remembered what it felt like to be with someone.

'Smile for me…' the Latina spoke softly, camera obscuring her smile as she pressed her eye to the viewfinder and found it filled the obvious beauty of the redhead lounging on the bright blue sofa, before her. She stepped closer, angling her head to the right, finger clicking as the sun crept through the broken window of the tiny apartment, casting a halo of light around the girl before her.

'Callie…' she pleaded, her lips forming a faux pout as she lowered her head slowly and looked up with tired eyes.

'Come on, please. All I want is one more picture…' Callie begged, lowering the camera so that now her own pout was visible. It quickly gave way to a wide smile that showed off all of her teeth as she realised she had played the one card in her deck that the redhead couldn't resist.

'You have so many pictures Callie. Can't you just use one of them…' she sat back further, swinging her legs up beside her and then turning to pull them into her chest. Shaking her head the Latina kept pressing the capture button, stepping backwards and forwards in a slow dance, the eternal search for the ideal conditions.

'I haven t gotten the right shot yet' she sighed, stepping closer and taking a knee, adjusting herself she angled the camera upwards so that the bright sunlight didn't obscure her view. Blowing an exasperated breath of air between her lips the redhead raised a hand and tucked her poker straight hair back behind her ears.

She was no stranger to this situation; she knew that Callie loved to take pictures, ever since the Latina had gotten her first camera at the age of seven she had been snapping pictures of everything. But her favourite subject had always been Addison, and as much as it drove her crazy, each time the Latina looked through the viewfinder and pressed the button, Addison felt her stomach perform acrobatics and her smile refused to hide.. She couldn't deny the Callie the simple pleasures she took from making memories.

'How do you know that? You've not let go of that camera all day, that's the third roll of film' she teased, trying desperately to maintain the pout on her face. It had been a long day, and as her eyes took in the room around them, piled wall to wall with boxes, open and closed, she knew it would be an even longer night.

'I just want to get the perfect shot. You really don't want to document this?' her voice was a mixture of surprise and anxiousness. She had been waiting for this moment for a long time, four years in fact and now that it was here she was worried the redhead was beginning to regret their decision. Two weeks ago Addison had graduated from high school and made good on the promise they had made to each other the day they started. She had moved to New York, to finally get away from the small minds that had grounded her, and to be closer to the arms of the one person who had always helped her fly. They both knew it wasn't going to be easy, both students and both following different career paths into uncertainty, but of one thing they were certain and that was each other. Their presence in the others life, was a given… and now it was a reality they no longer had to wish or wait for.

'… You don't want to make this a memory we never forget? This is a big day Addie. We did it, you did it... You're here. Finally! And this, this is our place.' Callie allowed the camera to fall from her face, turning at the waist, her hands gesturing around the rundown apartment that was in clear need of repairs. It had been hard to find an off campus apartment that was actually cheap enough for them to afford on Callie's salary and Addison's savings from her part time job back home, but they had come across this one and in true Callie fashion she had overlooked the obvious flaws and decided it was nothing she couldn't fix, or at least learn to live with.

Addison's smiled softly, and nodded at the girl in front of her before turning her head towards a mewing sound coming from over by the window.

'I think you might want to tell that to the damn cat… Are you listening there Creeper Steve, she said it's OUR place, now get' clapping her hands together, the redhead giggled as the ginger tabby jumped slightly before turning its head in her direction passively before moving away from the window and heading down the fire escape.

Callie stepped over to the sofa and lowered herself next to the redhead, slipping the camera from around her neck and shaking her dark raven shoulder length curls away from her face. Slipping down into the comfort of the sofa, she closed her eyes as she sighed.

'No more listening to drunken arguments about money, no more sneaking out onto the roof just to get some sleep. No more having to pretend it's okay that we don't see each other, we don't even have to hide anymore' a soft smile graced her face at this truth, it had been hard sneaking about the past few years and eighteen hadn't come quick enough, but now that it was here she couldn't help but enjoy it '… this is it. We did it, we're free. Don't you feel amazing?' she asked, not daring to open her eyes, her fists clenched at her sides as she waited for a reply.

There was nothing but the silence of disbelief, the warm hum of love and then a soft giggle crossed the threshold of the redheads lips and her hands reached for the Latina.

'You're crazy you know that…Come here' her voice was soft and reassuring as she pulled Callie across the sofa and into her side, arm wrapping languidly around the Latinas shoulders, she turned and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

'Aren't you glad you're here?' Callie asked, her words laced with an uncertainty that her face showed as the corners of her mouth dipped low and her breathing stifled in her chest. She slipped her arm from around the Latina, sitting forward slightly and moving to sit cross legged, Addison bent her head. Reaching for Callies hand with her own she shook her head softly and watched as tears threatened to spill from the Latinas eyes.

'I've never wanted to be anywhere else but with you Callie you know that,' she spoke softly, her words a secret she had kept to herself for so long, that the moment they hit her ears she felt the need to give them wings '… You know that, right?'.

'Yeah…' Callie smiled softly, uncertainty still lingering on the tip of her tongue. Addison shifted herself closer, urging Callie to mirror her position and when she complied she bent her head forward. Foreheads touching, she bit down on her lip tasting the soft hint of lavender that clung to Callies dark tresses and the sweet taste of cherry that coated her gloss covered lips.

'I missed you…really missed you' Addison breathed, her nose brushing softly against the Latinas who gifted her with a soft smile.

'I missed you too…' she whispered, her voice wavering with the weight of the truth she spoke. It had been hard spending the past six months alone. She had been working extra hard in her classes, spending her nights either in the studio, helping out other students, auditioning for small, off Broadway shows, or in the gym to help her keep her mind from working overtime and now that Addison was here she couldn't help but feel a huge weight lifted but her anxiety hit. She had missed her, but she wasn't entirely sure that the red head reciprocated her feelings, six months, half a year was a long time for anyone, it was more than enough time for things to change. Callie was deathly afraid of what change would mean for her.

Noticing the Latina slipping into her own mind, Addison moved closer, her hands reaching behind Callies back.

'Here give me this…' she said, picking up the camera and fumbling with it. She turned it upside down and back and forth comically as the Latinas eyes widened in curiosity and uncertainty.

'What?'

'Now how do you work this thing… ?' she teased, turning it so that the viewfinder was level with her grey blue eyes and squinting over dramatically.

'Addie…' Callie smiled, tilting her head to the side as the red head moved the camera from her face and threw her a serious look. Silently admitting defeat, Callie reached over and popped the lens cover off before nodding for Addison to continue. Smiling her thanks Addison began to shuffle closer to Latina who took this as a sign for her to move and so she placed both hands on the sofa and began to stand only to feel herself being tugged back down.

'Nope, don't move,' Addison smiled, watching as Callies brows furrowed curiously '… if we are making a memory, we're making a real one. Not some premeditated freeze frame our parents have made us pose for. This is going to be the first in a long line of truths to be told…' she stated, moving closer to the Latina and lifting a hand to cup her chin softly.

'What are you doing?' Callie whispered, her eyes fluttering between open and closed as a breath caught in her throat and the redhead moved closer.

'Kissing you…' she smiled, her voice barely audible as she leant closer to the Latina, her lips brushing softly again Callies, as a small sigh escaped into the air between them. Callies hands crept over the redheads lap, stilling as one found purchase on her hip, the other dancing slowly up her back and tangling in Addison's fiery red locks.

The softest of kisses are secrets exchanged in the closest of whispers. Kisses that contain enough power to erase any pain… celebrate any amount of joy and portray a love that words can't even describe.

Callie knew better than anyone of the power of kisses, the softest of kisses had turned a rainy November night into the start of something amazing, the softest of kisses had turned her best friend into her girlfriend. They had sealed their goodbyes six months ago in soft kisses, and whispered promises of more to come, and now they had Callie finally allowed herself to believe.

Lips parting, forehead still resting on one another's and noses brushing lovingly Addison smiled as her eyes fluttered open and she was greeted with a smiling, giggling Latina.

'I'm really glad you're here' Callie said, moving both hands to cup Addison's face and keep her close, leaning in and peppering her lips with a series of quick soft kisses. Addison smiled and brought her own hand to tangle in Callie's dark curls, the other retaining a firm grip on the camera. A sigh of contentment leaving her as she sought to reassure the girl before her of earlier statement.

'I never wanted to be anywhere else' she repeated, feeling the Latina nod into her hand and kiss her softly again. Complying Addison dipped her head and allowed herself a moment to get lost in the girl before her, before she pulled away and brought the camera up in front of them '…now, look right into the lens and say 'we're free!''

They each turned their heads, hair tangling in a mixture of fire and charcoal, eyes widened with possibility of fresh start, of a new beginning, of a real chance at whatever kind of love this was. Callies smile equally as wide as the redheads as she found her voice and spoke into the air a phrase a wish she once dared not speak, and was now a truth she had longed to hear.

'We're Free'.

The soft click of button, and their newfound freedom was captured forever.

Callie, sniffed softly as tears continued to roll down her face, hitting the glass shield that protected their innocence, a sarcastic chuckle catching in her throat as she wished it could have been that easy. One thing she was certain of was that innocence, although brilliant and exciting and inevitable would be short lived, in her case, extremely short lived. She knew the price you pay for innocence, and how hard it was to try and keep it alive.

Standing up, frame still clutched in her shaking hands, eyes still caught on that grey blue gaze, she walked hypnotised towards the back of the house, one hand reaching for the doorway, stepping inside she took a deep breath and closed her eyes as she lowered the frame to the floor and rushed out back into the daylight.

It was done. She waited outside the door, head tilted to the side, hands reaching to wipe her face, create a fresh pallet to paint with the newness of her situation. She expected to feel different, expected to feel something, else… now that she had finally given up, and finally took a step towards moving on. But she still felt the same, a heavy heart, a bitterness and a disappointing blame she knew she would always carry, but the fading sun fell through the windows, resting her back on the door, she slipped slowly to the floor. She felt fresh tears rush forward and with blurry eyes she whispered an apologetic goodbye that was long overdue.