Chapter 12 ~

"Cane? We need to talk…Now."
What does she want to talk about?
Could she want to talk about what I said last night?
No, she wasn't awake. She didn't hear me.

There's a stop sign.

She couldn't hear me, right?

Stop sign.

What if she decided I was right the first time, and she had some…revelation? What if she only wants to be my friend?

STOP SIGN!

Cane slammed on his brakes as he saw the traffic sign a moment too late and then skidded through the intersection of the snow packed street.

Will you pay attention? Are you trying to get us killed?

Sorry. Just wondering what Lily wants to talk about. It's making me nervous.

Yeah. I see that. Mini-me Cane straightened his clothes and brushed at non-existent wrinkles in his shirt. What are you worried about? You know she's done being mad at you.

I hope so. But what if she's not? What if she only wants to be friends?

She doesn't.

How do you know though?

Because that's how this kind of thing works. If she was having doubts, this might confirm it because she realizes that life is too short to be with the wrong person. If she wasn't having doubts and was just being mad at your for being so hardheaded, this will make her realize life is too short to be mad at you and she'll be over it.

That's my point. What if she was having doubts?

She wasn't.

How do you know?

Mini-me Cane gave Cane a withering look. Was I the only one paying attention last week? She was upset with you for leading her on and has been angry every since.

Yes! Maybe that's when she started to doubt.

OK. Listen to me. If she was having doubts I think she would've stopped being angry with you and just said "maybe you're right." She didn't do that, so I doubt she wants only friendship right now.

Cane appeared to be taking his short companion's words to heart then suddenly asked, But what if she does?

Does what?

Only want friendship?

Why do I even bother? Mini-me Cane muttered to himself.

In the time it took for this conversation to take place, Cane had reached the hospital and was walking into the building. On the outside he appeared calm, but inside his heart racing, the beat pounding in his ears. He found it hard to breathe, and his mouth was so dry, he couldn't even swallow.

Any thoughts from before had fled the minute he stepped into the corridor leading to Lily's room. Cane felt his feet must have been moving on their own, because he didn't think he was actually moving them by his own power. He reached her room, knocked briefly then peaked around the door jam.

Lily's head turned on the pillow toward him and she smiled. "Hi."

"Hey!" Cane smiled and stepped up to the bed. "How are you?" he asked, then immediately chuckled in self-deprecation. "I can't believe I asked you that. When I was in the hospital once I hated it when people asked me that. I always wanted to ask them how they thought I was."

Lily laughed. "I know I look like death warmed over, and I've definitely felt better. But I'm alive, so I guess I won't complain too much."

"You're still beautiful." Cane smiled at her again, then a slightly awkward silence hung between them. He pointed to the lilies that were front and center on the bedside table. "I'm glad they got here OK. It wasn't until after I sent them that I worried you wouldn't know who they were from."

Lily looked at him sweetly. "I knew right away. You are they only one that would sign the card 'Love, Me'." She watched him fidget uncomfortably, obvious unsure what to say, and decided to rescue him.

"I want to thank you for saving my life."

Hearing that, Cane felt some relief as well as disappointment. That was the reason she wanted to see him, to thank him for finding her and brining her to the hospital.

"Your dad told you, huh?"

Lily shook her head. "No. You did." Cane's eyes lit with some recognition and she felt compassion for him. He looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "I heard everything you said last night."

"I thought you were asleep," he replied simply.

"No. I was really sleepy but not so much that I didn't know that you were there and to understand everything you were saying."

Cane regarded her steadily. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you answer me?"

"Because I was afraid that if I did, you'd stop talking. You'd stop sitting by me, and you'd go get my dad and the moment would be gone." Lily swallowed hard and fought the urge to look away. "And maybe because I was a little afraid now that I knew. I wasn't sure if I was as ready for a relationship with you as I thought I was."

She watched his face. He was trying not to push her or make her feel pressured, but she could tell he was dying to ask. She decided to let him.

"Do…do you…know how you feel now?" Cane held his breath.

"I want to see what we have too."

Cane's eyes slid closed, and his knees grew weak. It was a good thing the chair was near by. He wasn't at all sure he wouldn't have hit the floor. "Thank you, God!" he whispered.

"Were you worried?" Lily asked in an amused tone.

"Yes!" Cane exclaimed. "I was worried that I'd never get the chance to fix things. That I couldn't take back the lie I told you that day. I was afraid you'd have time to think it over and decide that I was right."

"Then you weren't paying very close attention." Lily teased.

Told you! Mini-me Cane couldn't resist a chance to gloat.

"I wasn't even that mad at you. Not enough to never forgive you anyway." Lily added. She smiled when Cane picked up her hand and held it too his lips for long moments, then moved her hand away from his lips to rest her palm against his cheek.

He leaned into it, his eyes never leaving hers. As close as they were, Lily wanted him closer and apparently Cane felt the same way. He suddenly moved to lower the bed railing, being careful of the tube coming out of her chest and then sat on the edge of the bed.

Resting the palm of one hand beside her on the mattress, he draped one of her arms across his lap as he stroked the inside of it with his other hand. "What about your dad? If you heard everything I said you must know he'll be against us." Cane didn't want to think about Neil, but he didn't have a choice.

"I know. We already argued about you this morning," Lily said. "But it doesn't matter. Dad can deal or not, I'd love it if he was supportive of us, but if he's not that's his problem. I can't worry about that."

Cane's eyes grew warm and he leaned forward slowly, his intent clear to Lily, stopping only to ask one last question. "Are you sure? I'm pretty sure I'm going to end up loving you." He repeated his words from the night before. "So I have to warn you. If you're even a little bit unsure that you can love me, you better get out now."

Lily smiled back, here eyes just as warm. "Oh no! You're not getting rid of me that easily!" She wrapped her hand in the front of his sweater and pulled him the rest of the way till their lips finally met in the kiss they had both longed for, no hesitancy between them, both feeling that it was the one thing that was right with today.

Mini-me Cane nodded in satisfaction. I told you that she loved you, didn't I? Aren't you glad I made you talk to her?

Cane didn't answer.

I mean, if it wasn't for me, you'd both still be miserable pining away to nothing for no reason…hello! I'm talking to you! Aahhhhh!

Mini-me Cane flew backward as his owner flicked him to the side and continued kissing Lily, but he still smiled.

Fine! I'm going! He picked himself up and headed for the shadows. I think I'll take a nap. You wear me out! You hear me? I said, I'm going to take… ah! He ain't listening." The little sub-conscience chuckled.

And indeed Cane wasn't. With Lily in his arms nothing else mattered.

The End