Hey guys! School's ticking ever closer... I hate school.

Thanks to:

Mika Ikasu Neko

Snickers0

Marcy Bayd

Cookies and chocolate Freddies for all you guys!!!

Hopelesslydevoted12: I think Freddy might have a bit of a crush too-I'm trying to drag it out a bit since the story's only eight chapters long (Not including this one) If you have any ideas for sub-plots then I would gladly consider them. Cookies for you!

Kiyone-Neutron642: Thanks for the compliment. I was toying with the idea of having Laurie's dad find her, you know. Do you think that would be a bit appropriate though? Please feel free to review with any more ideas you may have. Cookies for you!

Chapter nine

Wednesday, 21st December

Laurie was stood in the midst of falling snow. The beauty of it, the crispness and the almost pre-ordained precision of it made her smile. She held her hand out to catch some. It fell straight into her palm and Laurie revelled in the feeling of ice cold daggers on her hand. But then, even as it fell it did not feel cold. There was warmth in all of them. It almost felt like there was another hand holding hers.

"You're Strong Laurie." Freddy's voice whispered to her, from somewhere on the wind. Laurie's head snapped up, looking for the blonde haired rebel of a drummer.

THWACK!

A snowball hit Laurie square in the back and she jerked around din a robotic fashion. As soon as her mind registered who had thrown it, she screamed and flew toward them.

"Olly!"

Jumping into his arms, she hugged the figure tightly. Olly 'Oophed' as Laurie's growing form impacted his. He wrapped his arms securely around Laurie and hugged her back.

"What are you doing here?" Laurie's question was muffled as her face was pressed into Olly's thick scarf.

"I'm here to talk to you, Pet."

Laurie drew back, her lags still wrapped around Olly's waist and looked him straight in the eye "What about?" She cocked her head to one side like Snow White listening to the animals.

"Things."

Laurie smiled slightly, "I miss talking about things."

"So do I pet."

"Why did you have to leave me?"

Olly sighed "I don't know Pet. Believe me, there was nothing I wanted less."

"Dad didn't cry when you went."

"I didn't expect him to."

A long silence passed. Laurie found the curly hair at the back of Olly's neck and began to play with it between her thumb and index finger, as was a custom of hers. When she was small and couldn't sleep, Olly, who was seven years her senior would pick her up and rock her and her tiny hand would always find the same curl at the back of his neck.At least, that was before the accident. After, Laurie would sit on his lap while he was in the wheelchair and fling her arms around his neck.

"I'm sad that you didn't get to go places with us. You should have seen Disneyland. Mum thinks you would have liked it."

"Do you talk about me a lot then?"

"Whenever it rains. Or whenever that old music video's on TV."

Olly frowned "What music video?"

"Little drummer boy."

At this Olly threw his head back and laughed out loud "Really?" He gasped between breaths. Laurie nodded, slipping out of her big brother's embrace and setting herself down in the snow again. Standing there she drank in her brother's form with her eyes. He had the same dark hair as her, but he was blessed with great big brown eyes-from their mother. Laurie was short and slender, whereas her brother was tall and well built.

"Why aren't you in your wheelchair?" she asked, slipping her hand into Olly's and they walked through the snow.

Olly shrugged "Don't need it anymore. In death we become beings of perfection, but perfection is only as we ourselves see it."

Laurie nodded and they walked in silence for a little longer. After a while Laurie's ears perked up to the sounds of 'Come, they told me Pa rum pa pum pum, a new born king to see Pa rum pa pum-"

Laurie screamed with laughter. Olly looked at her with innocent eyes "What?"

"You were singing it!"

Olly looked aghast "Oh I wasn't was I?"

Laurie nodded and started singing "Peace on earth, can it be? Years from now, perhaps we'll see..."

Olly covered his ears in mock pain "Laurie, sweetheart, you should see a Doctor about that voice of yours... perhaps get it taken out."

Laurie gave a squeal of indignance and began to chase her brother through the snow, both laughing like crazy as they went. Finally they both settled on a snow bank, breathing heavily.

"You know, I started playing the drums because of you." Olly smiled at his baby sister.

"I know you did. And by the way-who's this blonde kid I keep seeing you with?"

Laurie waved her hand in a dismissing form "That's just Freddy."

Olly raised an eyebrow "He didn't look like 'Just Freddy' when he practically carried you home that day."

Laurie gasped "You saw that?"

"Yeah. And even as we speak he's got his arms wrapped around you, listening to you breathe and watching you sleep because he's worried about you."

The reality of why Freddy had been worried about her hit Laurie hard in the face "So you know then?" She asked Olly, her heart deflating.

Olly nodded "Yeah. I know."

"I miss you Olly. I need you here with me." The tears began to trail down Laurie's cheeks but she wiped them away angrily. Olly scooted closer to his sister and pulled her into his warm embrace.

"I want to be here wit you pet, but I can't. I'm in your heart though. You know that right?" Laurie nodded a little. Olly continued.

"Besides you've got so many people who love you here. I need to let them take care of you. You've got your new friend and you've got Dewey and Uncle Ned. You've got Mom. He's not going to find you. This... Freddy will take care of that."

Laurie looked up at Olly in surprise "Freddy? But... we fight all the time and he hates me."

"Laurie... Look." Laurie looked around her and her mouth dropped open. Olly and herself were inside the apartment. Olly took her hand and led her towards her room.

Inside Laurie lay sleeping on the bed. Next to her Freddy watched her sleep. Gently he reached up to stroke her hair and un-entwined his fingers from hers. Standing up he took the baby blue blanket from the end of the bed and draped it over her. Quietly Freddy slipped out of the apartment.

"Are those the actions of someone who hates you?" Olly stared at his sister.

"I... but... he..."Laurie spluttered.

"I know he said some things Laurie, but you have to forgive that... He didn't know."

"He knew the second time!"

"Ignorance takes a place in most people's lives. Maybe he was just trying to get a rise out of you."

Laurie sniffed "When did you get wise?"

Olly laughed a little "Since he got to sit around all day and think."

They were silent for a long while. Finally, Olly laid a hand on Laurie's shoulder "if I could have changed things, I would have. I'm sorry Pet."

Laurie smiled sadly "Hey, Shit happens, fate, winding paths and all that."

"It's almost time for you to wake up."

Laurie threw her arms around Olly's waist "Don't leave me?"

"Never have and never will."

"Sing it for me?"

Olly sighed "You always liked embarrassing me huh?"

Laurie giggled a little "You know it. I'll miss you, little drummer boy."

"I'll miss you too, Angel."

Olly rocked Laurie gently as he sang:

'Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Peace on earth, can it be

Years from now, perhaps we'll see

See the day of glory

See the day when men of good will

Live in peace, live in peace again'

Olly's soft voice rang in Laurie's ears as she drifted off into the sluggish world between asleep and awake.

The front door opened and the band filtered complaining about the weather. This woke Laurie up properly. She smiled as she remembered her dream, 'Little drummer boy' still playing softly in her head.

Getting out of bed Laurie realized she had slept in her clothes and felt horrible. Quickly changing into Khaki combats and a cream Bardot style cotton top. Smoothing her hair down she realized how greasy it was. Had it been like that yesterday?

Grabbing a clip from her dresser Laurie swept her greasy mane out of her face and quickly wiped the remnants of yesterday's mascara from under her eyes.

Walking out into the Living room Laurie saw a happy sight. Katie was settled in Zack's lap, who looked like he was king of the world. Tomika and Marta were chatting happily away to Ned, who was resting Julia on his lap. There was a kid Laurie had never met before rushing around in a hassled way with a notebook and tape measure. He reminded Laurie a lot of her grandmother. Sitting at the coffee table were two blonde girls Laurie had never met before, hard at work with drawings and such. It appeared that Freddy hadn't arrived yet. Laurie had already made a mental note to thank him for helping her the day before.

Waving a little at Katie, who beamed back at her, Laurie made her way into the kitchen where Dewey was stood in his dressing gown flipping pancakes. Not a pretty sight. Laurie wrinkled her nose but sat down anyway.

"How ya doin' Chickie?" Dewey shot her a smile and expertly flipped another pancake.

"I'm OK. I had a dream about Olly last night." Dewey froze Mid-flip.

"Really? Little drummer boy?"

Laurie nodded "Yeah. He's OK now. He can walk again. He said I should try being nicer to Freddy."

"I coulda told you that." Dewey slung his arm around Laurie "It's easy to see that you like each other-"

"Whoa!" Laurie ducked out of Dewey's sweaty middle aged man embrace and gave him a quizzical look "How could you think that? I don't like Freddy... THAT way!"

"Sure you do princess. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt you know."

"I'm not in denial!"

"Are too."

"Am not! And I don't want to play this game!"

"Fine. We'll do it the hard way...." Dewey reached out to tickle Laurie, who jerked away. And so ensued the chase through the apartment, Dewey forever on Laurie's tail.

Laurie screamed to a halt five minutes later so she wouldn't crash into Freddy, who had just hobbled through the door. Dewey grabbed hold of her from behind and lifted her up and away in his strong grasp.

"Help me!" Laurie gasped, her eyes wide, pretending to run out of breath. Dewey began to tickle her and she began to cackle manically.

"Freddy, dude, help me out here man!" Dewey pleaded for help. Freddy, who was watching with a smile, shook his head, the grin suddenly disappearing. He shuffled into the kitchen.

Dewey stopped tickling Laurie and gave her a meaningful look. Laurie began to plead with her eyes, mouthing 'No, please... no...'

Dewey stood Laurie on her feet and gave her a gentle shove in the direction of the kitchen.

End of Chapter! Please review!