AN: Nothing too major… well it depends if you read between the lines or not. :) Hope you enjoy this mini transitioning(?) chapter.

P.S. Sorry for any mistakes I may have missed.


Chapter 9: All My Love


Steam escaped the bathroom hastily when the raven-haired man exited with a towel wrapped around his waist and the other in hand drying off the little droplets in his silky locks. Upon reaching his room then to the dresser, Lelouch unwrapped his towel so that he could dress in his sleeping attire that consisted of his boxers and a plain t-shirt. He then left his room in idle steps to the kitchen table and sat in front of his laptop, waiting for his beautiful girlfriend to call him on video chat like she said she would.

"It's been a long day." He yawned out, stretching his arms across the table lazily.

Lelouch struggled fighting off the sleep monster along with the constant exhaustion that's been following him over the past few months. Laying his head down waiting patiently, he was forced to think about all the built up stress that's been weighing him down lately. Naturally as he worked harder with much longer hours, it was inevitable for him to feel worn out; but it's not just work that's irking him, it's C.C.'s entire situation.

Like always...

Slowly giving into sleep, Lelouch's lids weighed heavily the longer he waited for her. He's already exhausted so succumbing to sleep won't be hard if she takes any longer. Though as soon as he was about to doze off his body jerked when a small jingle sounded in the quiet apartment, rousing him awake. He looked to the screen of his laptop and sees that he's receiving and incoming call from C.C.

With a small groan he pressed the answer button.

"Hi Lelouch!" A false hoarse 'male' voice greeted him. Bringing out a tired smile on his features.

"Hello Cheese-Kun." Lelouch chuckled, staring at the Cheese-Kun plush that 'occupied' C.C.'s camera space. "Do you mind calling my girlfriend over?"

"Okay, but she doesn't want you to be mad at her for calling you late."

Lelouch smiled at her childish behavior. "I promise I won't get mad."

His smile turned into a smirk when C.C. unveiled herself from behind the plush with a pink blush prettily dusting her cheeks. Immediately the raven-haired man hid his exhaustion behind a mask so she wouldn't have to see him at a low state. He doesn't want to worry her any further.

"Hi Lelouch." She greeted almost bashfully.

His heart raced faster, "God, how does she look so beautiful?"

Lelouch accepted long ago that he'll be asking that question for the rest of his life. So enchanting and innocent, yet very mischievous and cunning. Everything about her is as close as perfection can get in his eyes. "You look beautiful… as always of course." Lelouch smiled at her adoringly as her blush deepened.

"You don't have to lie to make me feel good you know." C.C.'s lithe fingers fidgeted with the clear, plastic, nasal cannula. Either adjusting it on her face comfortably or throwing another small fit from the annoying breathing tube.

"C.C., stop messing with it before you damage it or something." Lelouch lightly scolded.

"It's annoying, I don't like the feeling of it." A small pout formed on her lips, still tugging on the plastic.

Lelouch focused on the nasal oxygen tube briefly. Out of the many problems that her body has inconsistently put her through, her lungs were currently the biggest problem. Especially for the past couple or so years. The spontaneous filling of the lungs has stopped for now, but things went downhill after that. Not long after he returned home a few months back, she collapsed and lost the ability to breathe on her own. He's grateful for Anya because if she it hadn't been there when it happened and acted quick, she might not be here right now.

That idea alone scared him senseless.

"I know how much you hate it, but you have to stay positive and be patient until you have a donor. So don't get too worked up about it, okay?"

"That's a lot easier said than done Lelouch, you're not the one who has to wear it or is dying." The beauty spoke bitterly. Lately she's been feeling stressed and under a lot of pressure to keep hope with the belief that everything is going to be okay in the end, but she doesn't believe that anymore.

Her faith in everything is shaking uncomfortably.

Lelouch is such a loving boyfriend and has always been a great supporter, but sometimes his optimism can be smothering. Making her feel weak and useless.

The exhausted man watched her on the screen carefully with only one thought in mind… What's happening to us? Ever since he returned home their relationship hasn't exactly been on cloud nine like it used to be. They bickered, lashed at each other, everything positive turned into crap. Doesn't she know he's working extra hard just for her? Working endlessly so he can bring them together? Since they were children he was always here to support her, so why all of the sudden is she against him?

Such nuisance.

He's doing all that he can to prevent getting on her bad side, but in reality she's the one getting on his bad side. Hopefully this is just a rough patch their running over and won't be traveling over for too long.

"C.C.-" He whispered lowly, not in the mood to deal with her. "I'm just trying to help." Pinching the bridge of his nose releasing a low groan, he closed his eyes momentarily before opening them again when he heard C.C.'s voice.

"I know." She released a sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to give you an attitude." She smiled sadly brushing back her long green hair. "I-I uh, there's something I want to ask you… Lelouch?" C.C. squinted looking at the sleeping man on the other side of the screen. "Lelouch? Come on, you're really not sleeping on me now are you?"

"C.C." Lelouch moaned out sleepily, opening his eyes to meet her golden hues.

"Did you hear a word I said?"

Lelouch shrugged his shoulders slowly shaking his hand in a motion to show that he heard her a little. He didn't even realize he dozed off there for a moment. "Sorry, I had a long day. Can you repeat what you said?"

The ill woman's brows furrowed in a frown. "Are you tired?"

"No." Lelouch lied easily even when his head bobbled slightly about to fall asleep once more.

"Liar." She smiled at the tired man. "Lelouch, you didn't have to force yourself to stay up for me. You could've just told me that you're tired silly."

"But I wanted to talk to you." He closed his eyes. "I miss you a lot and I really wanted to see you again."

"I miss you too… how about we talk tomorrow when we're both in our right minds and not about to break into another meaningless argument." She finished. Lelouch's husky chuckles that followed after had her heart soaring into the sky like it'd always done. "I'll talk to you later… Goodnight, I love you Lelouch."

"Sweet dreams C.C., I love you too."

Lelouch gave her one last smile before ending the call. Staring at his home screen for another lingering minute, he lifted his seemingly heavy body that's under the spell of sleep and dragged himself to his room. Flopping onto then covering himself under the sheets, his body bubbled in bliss of being able to rest properly without any straining.

"Oh, I have a long day tomorrow."

#

"Hello Mr. Lamperouge, you look really nice today." The sophisticated brunette smiled bashfully with tint blush appearing on her cheeks.

Lelouch approached the reception desk of the hospital with a grin on his face. Resting an elbow on the counter he leaned towards the very pretty receptionist that's been greeting him for years now. "As do you Ms. Niwa, or should I call you by your newly found married name?" He gave her a wink, using his charms to make the woman blush.

"Oh stop it Lelouch, you can call me Ms. Niwa. I'm still going by that name here." The receptionist stacked a few papers neatly before turning her attention to the very handsome man before her. "So it's been a couple of months since I last saw you. How are things with you and Miss Corabelle?"

"Eh- we've been hitting a few rough patches lately, but other than that we're good and will make six years in a few more weeks."

"Hope you two work things out soon, but that's great! You two are so adorable. Did I ever tell you that a few staff members and I made bets on whether or not you two were going to get together?"

"Really?" Lelouch's cheeks turned crimson in embarrassment whilst scratching the back of his head. "Are there any more bets about us that I don't know yet?"

"Yup!" She older woman popped the 'p'. "We're betting on if and when you're going to marry Miss Corabelle." Placing her elbows on the table with clasped hands, the pretty woman wore a sly smirk that deepened Lelouch's blush. "So… are you ever going to propose to Miss Corabelle?"

"That's a secret, plus it would be cheating on your part." He winked fighting off the heating blush. "Anyways I'll see you when I leave." Lelouch chuckled when the woman pushed up her glasses playfully signaling that she has her eyes on him.

"Don't keep her waiting." She waved him a 'see you later' before returning to her work.

As Lelouch walked away in a different direction that lead towards his mother's office. He's been so consumed in his work he hardly made the time to visit his mother and sister. Honestly he needs to get out more often that's not work or home. Perhaps that's another reason why his stress built up immensely. Approaching his mother's office door the raven-haired man gave a few firm knocks then waited for her reply. When he received the go ahead the lanky man waltzed in happily.

His mother's office is about as simple as it can get. A desk that had a few necessity materials alongside with a picture of him and Nunnally, her degree and other decorations on the wall, and a large book shelf that encases many medical books and personal favorites for her spare time. There were a couple of chairs in front of her desk and a couch against one of the walls of the room.

"Hi Lelouch, I thought you weren't coming till later?" The Doctor raised from her seat behind the wooden desk to meet him at the door so she could give him a warm bear hug.

"I got off from work early." His cool lips pressed a kiss to his mother's cheek before pulling away to sit on the blue couch in which she followed him to sit also. "How have you been Mom?"

"Busy as always, the house has been pretty quiet without you and Nunnally. I can't tell if I like the silence or miss the noise." They both laughed in unison. "What about you? You look a lot more tied than usual… are you still saving to buy a bigger place?"

"Yeah-" Lelouch hunched over to rest his arms on his knees. "Initially I wanted to have just enough to go looking for a house before C.C. moved back here, but I don't know if I can do that in two weeks." He spoke oddly calm.

"Sweetie?" Marianne focused on how discreet he'd become as she rubbed his back soothingly. "What's wrong? Why do I have the feeling that looking for a new place isn't what's bothering you the most?" Her hands reached the nape of his neck before moving to the shoulder closest to her to give it a massage in hopes that it'll ease everything he's balling tightly inside.

"Mom, you know how C.C. and I have been arguing more than usual right?"

"Yes." The older woman didn't like hearing about her son and C.C. fighting, but it normal in relationships. But... they've been going through a lot more hardships lately.

About a month ago Lelouch came to her crying out of fear. He told her that C.C. once again had collapsed, but this time it was more drastic. Her health had reached a point where she mustn't live alone since her collapses are happening more frequently. Thus is her reason for moving back to Japan almost willingly.

"D-Do you think she and I can make it through… happily I mean?" His mellow amethyst clashed with his mother's.

"Alright." Marianne removed her white coat tossing it aimlessly on the arm of the couch. "Are you or are you not happy that she's moving back here?"

"Of course I am, but her reason for moving back isn't a good one."

"It doesn't matter honey, be grateful that she's coming back to you." She scooted closer to her hurting son. "Do you love her?"

"With all my love Mom. There's no one else but her." His eyes started to water.

It's exhausting to put on a happy face in front of everyone, especially for her. True he might not be the one who's struggling health wise, but that doesn't mean he not scared out of his wits over her. He's always concerned as he watched helplessly on the sideline as she struggled fighting for her life. Yes, he loves her, but will they happily have a healthy relationship with all the burden of her illness? Is he that scared that he might leave her after deciding he wants to spend the rest of his life with her?

"Lelouch, love can be scary and you just have to face it head on when it challenges you at your weakest. I know you knew from the start that being with C.C. was never ever going to be easy, but you decided to be with her anyways. Don't run away from her Lelouch, help her push through. She's going to need you." Marianne spoke sternly yet softly at the same time.

Tears flowed freely down his cheeks, bringing a pang to the mother's chest. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders she pulled her delicate son for an embrace. "It's going to be okay honey. Stop looking at the negatives, they'll only feed you lies and stray you away from happiness."

Allowing his mother's words to sink in his lost conscious, he reciprocated his mother's warm embrace. "I knew I can come to you for help...OUCH!" Lelouch pulled away after being pinched, instantly adding some space between he and his mother. "What was that for?"

"That's for second guessing in getting help from me. I'm your mother and unless you want someone else see you cry like a little baby, then you should know that I'm here for you." The older woman opened her arms invitingly. "Now come here my little boy."

"I'm 24 years old, I'm not a little boy anymore." A smile formed gracing his handsome features as he momentarily gave his strong-willed mother another hug.

"I love you Lelouch, please don't doubt your love for her anymore." She pulled away giving him a kiss on the cheek. "After all, don't you have something big planned for her?" Her smiled widened showing off her perfect white teeth.

"Yeah…" Lelouch nodded smiling distantly, then- "YEAH! Dammit I forgot!" Lelouch stood then opened the door of her office swiftly before facing his mother with long raven hair once more. "Sorry I gotta go, but I'll call you later. Love you!"

He left her office with hurried steps leaving her door wide open.

Marianne smiled to herself.

"Oh, my poor son still has a lot to learn." She raised from her seat to sit back in her own chair behind the desk. Looking at the picture frame atop her desk with Lelouch and Nunnally, her heart fluttered at the realization of how much her children has grown.

"You still have a lot to learn Lelouch…"

#

"Are you sure this is her size?" A man in a cleaned up suit and brown hair asked the nervous man questionably.

Lelouch eyed the object in his hand carefully.

"...Yes."

"Oh, you hesitated." A woman from behind the counter commented. "That's definitely not confidence."

"Madison, can't you see that the man is already nervous enough?" The same man lightly scolded his coworker who probably unintentionally brought down Lelouch's self-esteem.

"My apologies sir," The said woman turned to the raven-haired man who stood on the other side of the counter uncomfortably. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"No, no I know it's her size. I checked her jewelry, I guess I'm just second guessing myself." Lelouch carefully with great caution put the item back in it's box before closing it. His heart pounded hard against his chest as his palms were starting to sweat. Imagine what it would be like when it actually happens? These senses will probably heighten to the extreme.

Handing the box over to man, the jeweler took the item away so he can add finishing touches so Lelouch would be able to take it home today.

In a wall of silence that wedge itself between the customer or employer, Lelouch stood in his spot tense which made the female jeweler, Madison, smile at him happily. "It's very beautiful, she must be extremely special to be crafted and designed from scratch. I wish you two the best in the near future." She held his violet gaze.

A faint blush filled his cheeks, bringing an honest smile out of him.

"She is extremely special...I love her with my all."


AN: That's it for now! I find it funny how, I think it was this story (Ch.8), how I do one late update and like a domino effect the rest of my stories went through a late update also. I did my best to write this on time. Well I hope you enjoyed this 'transition' chapter. Feel free to let me know what you think, comment, ask questions, review, etc. Until next chapter!

P.S.S. Next Update will be on 3/24/17

Thank you for the new Followers and Favorites! You are all really amazing!

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! meow, LLCC Reader, and Guest.

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