Chapter VI – Relatives By Heart
Tomoyo Daidouji had returned to Tomoeda a month ago. The departure was so sad, filled with crystal innocent tears. Annette cried her heart out that Sunday afternoon for she didn't want to be separated from her recently found mother figure. Eriol had promised to spend Christmas in Tomoeda and that seemed to be enough and calm her sobs. Whoever thought that his decision was made on sorely fatherly concern was mistaken because his own personal reasons where also behind it.
Those days were hard for the amethyst eyed woman. She had an insane amount of work to do and no time enough, but she tried to spare some time to continue with her baking therapy and prevent herself from loosing her mind.
Weekly letters had transformed into daily e-mails that Tomoyo happily read and answered every night before going to bed. Annette had told her that she was now in top of class and that she kept practicing the violin. The British girl said in every mail that she missed her very much and couldn't stop thinking of the day they'll get together again. Eriol's letter were always funny and comforting to read, he always found a way to make her laugh or smile at his comments not mattering if she had had the worst day of her life. Nakuru some days logged in with Annette's laptop and wrote to Tomoyo as well, telling her how much both guardians missed her and how was everything going on in the Hiiragizawa manor. In resume, the lovely black-purplish haired woman knew exactly what was going on as though she was there.
The phone rang loudly and a maid rushed to get it. It was Saturday morning and Tomoyo was resting from a long and extremely tiring week. Tsubame didn't want her dear mistress to be awakened by the ring of a phone.
"Moshi, moshi... Daidouji residence," greeted the shoulder-length haired woman in a soft voice.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, is Tomoyo-chan at home?" inquired a cheerful female voice over the phone.
Too late, Tomoyo had been awakened by the phone and had picked it up, listening to the short conversation, realizing who the caller was.
"Ohayo Sakura-chan! It has been a while," greeted the sleepy young woman over her silver-plated cordless phone. Tsubame, hearing her mistress voice, had hung up carefully.
"It sure has! A genki desu ka?... watashi-tashi daijoubu desu wa," said the Li Clan Leader's wife giggling.
"I'm fine... a little bit tired but fine," answered Tomoyo yawning cutely. "This week was terrible, I though it wasn't going to end." She said stretching her body, breathing deeply and seating herself comfortably in the bed.
"I'm glad for you," a transparent voice through the phone. "Hey, I wanted to ask you... what are you going to do this holiday?" she said playing with the phone cord between her fingers.
"I'm having Eriol-kun, Annette-chan, Nakuru-san and Spinel-san over for Christmas... why?" answered the dark-haired girl not realizing what she had done, but when it struck her it was too late.
"Wait a sec... am I wrong? Or you had just called him 'Eriol-kun'?" Sakura teased, forgetting her little game with the phone cord.
"I guess I did..." was Tomoyo's nervous answer, looking outside to her garden as if something extremely interesting was out there.
"Is there something you have not told me?" asked the light-brown haired girl with a wide grin in her beautiful face.
Tomoyo froze. "I beg your pardon?" pretending she hadn't heard her best friend's question.
"I asked if there's something you're hiding from me!" asked again the other girl emphasizing the word "hiding".
"Mmmm... there's nothing really important Sakura-chan, we both agreed that since we've known each other for quite a long time we should change into first names basis" explained Tomoyo calmly while she looked at her perfect manicured left hand.
"Oh... I see... but if that's so, why you didn't answer me the first time I asked you?" inquired Sakura teasingly.
"Because I wasn't paying much attention... there was someone knocking at the door you know..." she lied, hoping her dear best friend won't find out.
"Yeah Tomoyo-chan... whatever you say" replied the girl in China feeling that there was something more.
"So, why do you want to know my plans for Christmas anyway?" the raven girl felt an urge to change the topic.
"Oh, yes... I just wanted you to come over this Christmas," said Sakura with a sad sigh. "But it seems that you're taken"
"And why don't Li-kun and you come to my house instead?" invited Tomoyo getting up from bed, walking towards her balcony.
"Do you really mean it? I'd love to go to Tomoeda... it's been a long time since I left" answered Sakura joyfully. "But I must ask Syao-kun first".
"Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'm sure he'll agree," assured the violet princess opening one of the glass doors of her balcony, steeping outside and breathing the soft morning scent.
"So desu ne!... hoooeee! I got to go now... I'll call you later ok?" said the Card Mistress hurriedly when her eyes glanced at the clock.
"It's alright, please send my regards to Li-kun and a bear hug to that precious child of yours!" was Tomoyo's reply, smiling fondly.
"Thanks!... Ja ne!" and the phone line went dead.
The still sleepy young woman pressed the "off" button in her cordless phone and placed it on a little table that was located in the rather big balcony with two summer chairs at its side. In the center of the table was a vase with fresh flowers of the season. The girl rubbed her clear amethyst eyes and then leaned against the handrail, taking a glance at the beauty in front of her. It was the end of autumn. The orange, brown and golden leaves were in the ground making a wonderful kind of rug. Tomoyo decided to go inside and take a long and relaxing bubble bath, to recover from all the tension of the past week. Maybe she will go to the park and take a walk later on.
In London, an extremely handsome young man was playing a melancholic but beautiful tune on the black grand piano. A door opened with soft cracking and a petite figure stepped in. The childish figure walked towards the man and had seat beside him.
"Why are you playing such a sad song daddy?" a curious voice was heard in the room. The girl facing her father's serene face.
"I don't think this song is sad," he replied with a smile that means something else is hidden. "Someway the beginning of winter season inspires me to play tunes like this... I think it's in the air. Thoughtful sapphire orbs meeting gray-blue curious ones.
"You must be right dad... it does feel kind of melancholic... isn't it beautiful?" was the girl's response at his comment.
"Do you think melancholy is beautiful honey?" asked the young man surprised at the response he got from his young daughter.
"Yes, but it isn't common beauty... it's something beyond that... I have no words to describe it," said the girl assuming the thoughtful look that held her father.
Eriol smiled fondly at his little girl. She was such a complex thing. He could sense strong magic in her but that wasn't the point. The girl was wise beyond her years and had a way to think that was uncommon for children her age but elder people. Nevertheless she had the enthusiasm, innocence, curiousness and carefree spirit of a seven year old. She was like a tiny work of art; his very own work of art.
Annette stood up and walked to the big doors, opening them soundlessly, exiting the room and leaving her father alone facing the trees trough the transparent walls.
The young reincarnation of Reed Clow was missing Tomoyo's company as badly as Annette but in a whole different way. He could still remember the night he came home late and found her lying on his leather sofa in front of the fireplace. How she had woken up and smiled to him so brightly. How she had greeted and offered him a cup of tea. Tomoyo would be such an enchanting wife. She had changed a lot, from a cute little girl to an astonishing young woman but still the lovely soul she was in her childhood days.
Eriol knew better than anything that his dear guardians, Spinel Sun and Ruby Moon, loved him and would gladly sacrifice their lives for him. He also knew his daughter adored him. It took Tomoyo only a week and some handwritten letters to make him realize that he longed to be loved in a different way. Not as a friend or a father but as a man.
Her smiles and gestures were recorded in his memory. Eriol couldn't help himself but blush whenever he was thinking of her or talking about her. Too bad for him that Nakuru, Spinel and Annette were aware of that.
October and November went on smoothly. Things in Daidouji Enterprises returned back to normal, "Plum Blossoms" was doing incredibly well and the same applies to "Fruits & Candy". The Londoner's business was doing likewise and all he awaited for was Annette's winter break so they could travel to Japan as he had promised two months ago.
In the early December, the beautiful businesswoman was wondering what to do to celebrate Christmas. She hadn't thrown a party for so long; always too busy with the many things she had to do. When it was necessary to hold a party or a celebration she asked someone else to do that for her, mainly Public Relations or Human Resources where in charge of that.
Sakura had called her informing that Syaoran had agreed and they were coming over for Christmas. She also told her that they were arriving on December, 23 and would stay at a hotel, turning deaf at Tomoyo's protests, telling her that there were plenty of available bedrooms in the mansion for them.
One chilly Saturday afternoon, Tomoyo was reviewing some documents in her study room when a maid knocked at the door. The young businesswoman let her in, putting the papers aside, closing her aching eyes for a second to rest them from the dull work.
"Yes, what is it?" asked the younger woman tiredly.
"You have a phone call from London," said the other woman holding a phone in her hands. Tomoyo wondered why the phone that was located in the study room just some inches away from her didn't sound and then she remembered that she had disconnected it to not get disturbed. "The woman who wants to talk to you said it's very important when I told her that you were very busy Daidouji-sama," explained the middle aged woman coming closer to her desk.
"From London?" was Tomoyo's absent-minded question interrupting her train of thoughts.
"Yes mistress... the caller identified herself as Akizuki Nakuru," answered the maid.
"Nakuru?" a little voice inside the amethyst eyed woman's mind told her that something bad happened; it was like a bad presentiment. "Arigato, please give it to me." She said pointing to the black cordless phone the maid was holding. "Hello Nakuru-san! How are you?" trying to mask her anxiety and concern.
"Hi Tomoyo-chan, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you but I have something very important to tell you," began to explain an extremely worried voice over the mechanic device.
"It's ok, did something bad happen?" the Japanese woman's voice sounded worried. She got that feeling that something wasn't right.
"It's horrible! We're now in the Hospital, poor little Ann was coughing a lot last night and ran a high fever," she paused to catch her breath. "We thought that it was the flu but this morning she wasn't feeling any better, her fever was even higher and she looked so pale. She almost fainted!" Nakuru was really worried about her master's daughter and that could be sensed by the woman at the other end of the phone line.
Tomoyo's heart skipped a beat. Her amethyst eyes turned dark with worry and a slight frown appeared in her smooth forehead. "How's she?" she asked trying to sound calm and collected while she wasn't that at all.
"Ann is hospitalized right now. The doctors believe for her to have pneumonia," informed Nakuru over her red cell phone.
"How's that?" inquired Tomoyo wanting to get all the details.
"They said that maybe she got the flu and then got wet in some cold winter rain," explained the Moon Guardian looking down at Spinel who was seated on her lap, concerned eyes meeting one another.
"Oh my God!" was all the girl in Japan could say at the moment, she was overwhelmed by the news.
"But there's something else. Our dear Annette was calling you over and over again in her delirium so we believe she needs you to be with her," said Nakuru at the verge of tears.
"Don't worry, I'll be there as soon as possible," said Tomoyo looking down at the pile of papers and then glancing at her wristwatch. "Please tell me which hospital you are in, I'm leaving right now." She required taking note of everything Nakuru said. "I'm on my way," comfort mixed with concern were heard in her melodious voice.
"Thank you so much, I'll be waiting for you." and the conversation ended.
Slender fingers dialed graciously but quickly a phone number and Tomoyo got ready the private jet. She rushed to her room and took out a black wheeled medium sized suitcase and filled it with all kind of clothes and everything she could need.
"Tsubame-san!" Tomoyo called out coming down the carpeted stairs.
"Yes mistress?" answered a middle aged woman appearing from a corner.
"I'm leaving to London right now and probably will spend Christmas there, so I'm going to give all of you these three weeks off. Please inform the others," announced Tomoyo in her custom good nature for she saw no point in having half a dozen maids serving an empty house and being away from their families.
"Are you sure Daidouji-sama?" asked Tsubame surprised "Aren't you going to need us the rest of the month?"
"I don't think so, anyway I can manage. Don't worry, go visit your family and friends, but most of all, have rest and a good time, enjoy yourself!" said the young woman with a smile on her lips.
"Domo arigato gozaimashita Daidouji-sama!" beamed the maid.
"It's alright, I wish you a merry Christmas," hugging one of her closest and loyal maids tightly.
"I wish you a merry Christmas as well. Might all of your dreams come true." Hugging Tomoyo back.
The shiny limo was already waiting for her in the driveway. The lady had changed her clothes into a woolen knee-length white skirt, white turtle neck and long-sleeved sweater, long and thick fashionable black coat and a pair of leather knee-length black boots. Her only jewelry was her watch, silver long earrings and a pendant. A woolen long white scarf was placed elegantly around her creamy neck and black leather gloves covered her slender hands. She stepped out her house and got into the car. The chauffer placed the suitcase inside the trunk and drove off towards the private section of the airport. Tomoyo took her sliver-purplish cell phone out of the coat pocket and pressed the first "one-touch dialing" button.
"Good afternoon, this is the Li residence. How may I help you?" asked a kind male voice over the phone.
"Hello Wei-san, is Sakura-chan at home?" replied Tomoyo recognizing the male voice as Syaoran's butler.
"Oh yes Daidouji-san, please hold on a second," asked the old man.
"Ohayo Tomoyo-chan! How are you?" greeted a cheerful voice.
"Ohayo Sakura-chan, I'm fine. How are things there?" was the dark haired woman's reply. She couldn't help herself but smile.
"Everything here is wonderful! But you sound worried, what happened?" concern in the bright-green eyed woman's voice.
"Nakuru called me about an hour ago to tell me Annette-chan is sick, probably with pneumonia," she explained worriedly.
"That's too bad! Poor child, you want to go there, don't you?" asked Sakura knowing already the answer.
"Yes, I do and right now I'm on my way to the airport, that's why I called you," answered Tomoyo with relief.
"Don't worry Tomoyo-chan, we'll meet again one of these days, besides Syaoran's mother wants us to spend some days with her," said the girl feeling relieved as well.
"Thank you for understanding. You're the best friend anyone could dream of having in the whole world!" cried out the raven girl.
"Stop it Tomoyo, that's not true!" replied Sakura with a small sweat drop in the back of her head.
"I got to go, Merry Christmas!" wished Tomoyo, smiling brightly.
"Merry Christmas to you too Tomoyo-chan, and please send my regards to Eriol-kun and everyone there!" She said merrily. "I'll pray for Annette to get well soon."
"Thank you, Eriol-kun will appreciate that very much... Ja ne!" replied Tomoyo.
"Ja ne!" was heard and the young woman in the black leather seat of the limo pressed a tiny button with a red phone painted on it.
A female figure walked hurriedly but gracefully through the hospital corridors headed to a certain room number 405. The figure stopped in front of a white door that had the number she was looking for, craved in black digits. She stretched a hand ready to hold the doorknob but suddenly the white wooden object was opened and she came face to face with a tired and worried young man.
"Tomoyo-san!" he said with unexpected relief, wasting no time in embracing her tightly.
"Oh, Eriol-kun, I'm so sorry," the Asian girl cried out drawing circular patterns on his muscled back.
"Nakuru told you, didn't she?" he asked with a tired voice after the embrace was broken.
"Thank God she did so, otherwise I could have never forgive you." A serious expression in her feminine face.
"I must have told you, but I didn't want to bother you. Besides I was so worried myself that I barely could think about anything else," he said ashamed.
"Bother me? For heaven's sake! I care about this girl as much as you do!" A little bit of anger could be heard in her voice, but then realizing the puzzled look in the man in front of her she calmed down. "I'm sorry for my sudden outburst, I've been very nervous since Nakuru called me."
"It's ok Tomoyo-san, don't worry," and he smiled warmly.
"How's she?" passing him by and walking to the white hospital bed where Annette was lying.
"The doctors said that her condition hasn't changed and could be dangerous if the fever keeps on getting higher because she could convulsion at any moment," he explained running a hand through his unusually messy hair tiredly.
"Go home Eriol-kun, I will spend the night with her," looking directly at his dark blue eyes, reading his mind. "No 'buts' are allowed." She added firmly but smiling softly at him.
The door was opened and a woman with brown-reddish long hair came in with a cat-like creature hiding inside one of the woman's coat pockets. Her expression immediately lightened up when she saw the dark haired lady in the cold hospital room beside Annette's bed, caressing the girl's hot pink cheeks.
"Thank goodness you're finally here Tomoyo!" cried out Nakuru coming closer to Tomoyo embracing her in a tight bear hug.
Tomoyo smiled fondly at her and returned the hug. Spinel flew out of the pocket in which he was hiding before he could get cushioned between the women's body. Tomoyo noticed him and smiled warmly, rubbing his dark ear making him purr in contentment.
"Please Nakuru, take Eriol-kun home and make him sleep," she asked as if he wasn't really there. "He looks so tired and needs to rest." Concern in her soft voice.
"You're right Tomoyo. Please master come with us," Nakuru said looking at him concerned as well.
"I won't go anywhere, I prefer to stay here," he said stubbornly with determination showing in his eyes.
"You can come back early in the morning if you want, but that would be tomorrow, I'll stay here and keep you updated." She said facing him determinately. She had made up her mind and there was nothing that could change it.
"But," he was interrupted by Tomoyo who walked towards him and held his face with her soft and warm hands, meeting his azure eyes with her soft amethyst ones. His heart melted and his cheeks turned a cute shade of pink.
Tomoyo saw the effect she produced on him and smiled victoriously inwardly. Nevertheless she also noticed the extremely worried glow that his eyes held and felt his strong determination of not leaving his dear child whatever it takes. She understood his position, the one of a loving and worried father. Tomoyo smiled softly at him and letting him go she said, "I understand".
The chestnut woman saw it all and couldn't help but smile at the scene that was going on right in front of her eyes. The black-purplish haired woman was treating her master as a child and he was disarmed by her warmness.
Eriol returned her smile. He felt the support her warm and kind aura was giving him and he accepted it openly. He was disarmed and had no will to fight her back.
"Nakuru, please go home along with Spinel and take a decent rest. I know both of you must be tired," commanded the handsome young man calmly.
"Are you sure master?" inquired Spinel speaking for the first time. Eriol only nodded. "As you wish."
Nakuru took a glance at the girl in bed and after saying her good byes she exited the room with the black winged cat hiding again inside her pretty purse.
Tomoyo sighed tiredly and took off her thick coat placing it on a nearby sofa that was against the wall, her scarf along with it. She dragged carefully a chair and had seat beside the white bed. Annette was breathing with difficulty and her body temperature was still the same. Slender hands took away some locks of hair that were hanging over the girl's forehead while concerned eyes observed the pained expression she held in her childish face. It hurt Tomoyo badly to see little Annette suffering but it was a matter of time and she could do nothing to change that. Not even magic can cure illness.
"Daddy?" a faltering soft voice made its way through the cold air that smelled like antiseptic.
A strong hand wrapped Annette's small one that was resting at her right side. The girl calmed down a little but then the painful look returned to her face and a hot teardrop rolled down her burning cheek. "Mommy...?" she asked, knowing that no one would answer her call.
The woman in the room felt her eyes water and looked at Eriol. His azure eyes were also shining with unshed tears but smiled at her, silently expressing his approval. Tomoyo held the child's pale hand that was resting on her chest, moving up and down with her breath rhythm. She squeezed it softly as if to let her know that although she wasn't her mother, she was there if that could comfort her in some sort of way.
In her unconsciousness Annette felt a cold hand against her burning one. By the softness of that affectionate hand she realized who it belonged to and a soft smile appeared on her slightly open lips. Tomoyo noticed it and did likewise. Annette in an unexpected movement placed her right hand on top of her left hand so her small left hand was first, then Tomoyo's and right after it was Annette's again and at the top of them Eriol's protective hand.
Tomoyo felt something warm taking place deep inside of her heart. She started to sing soft lullabies to the restless child hopping that would help her to get some rest. Eriol could only stare at them like if there wasn't something more beautiful in the entire world. In his mind, a fleeting thought of the three of them being a real family made him blush. Tomoyo however didn't notice it, so caught up singing with all her heart and squeezing Annette's hot hand trying to give her some kind of comfort. As the minutes ticked by Eriol could feel his eyes getting heavier and heavier until he couldn't help himself but close them and resting his head on the edge of the bed, he let himself to be carried away to dreamland by the beautiful song of a fallen angel. The long and dark-haired lady felt herself extremely tired. She took a glance at the young man in the room and smiled at the sight of his sleeping face. The lovely girl gave Annette a soft kiss in her forehead and closed her eyes as well.
The early rays of light seeped through the transparent fabric of the curtains hitting the closed eyelids of the sleeping figure of a young man, but he seemed not to care.
The door was opened from the outside and a female figure stepped in. She closed carefully the simple wooden door to not wake up the three people that were sleeping inside. One, the younger one, was sleeping peacefully with a content smile on her soft pink lips. Her skin tone was back to normal and her breathing rhythm seemed healthier. The other one had her head on the lap of the child, her black-purplish hair acquired a clear-violet tone from the sunlight and was covering her shoulders and down the edge of the mattress. Her face was serene, pale hands still holding that of the girl. The other figure, a man, was sleeping soundly at the edge of the bed, a peaceful look on his handsomely pale face.
"Awwww, aren't they kawaii together?" asked the woman in a whisper to no one at sight.
"You're right Ruby," replied a tiny creature.
She smiled and walked towards them. A warm hand placed on the right shoulder of the young man, pressing softly. Sleepy azure eyes opened to life slowly to then narrow them until his pupils were accustomed to the bright light. A hand covered his mouth to hide a small yawn and a single tear appeared in his right eye which he quickly wiped away. Then he stretched his body and turned around to face the one who had awakened him. The smiling face of Akizuki Nakuru came to view in front of his bright eyes.
"Good morning Eriol, how are you?" asked the woman still smiling openly at him.
"I'm fine Nakuru, how are both of you?" he said greeting his dear creations.
"We're doing great," answered the brown-reddish haired lady softly to not wake up the other sleeping figures in the room. "I talked to a doctor and he told me that her fever had ceased and everything seemed to be normal, but she needs to be here three more days under observation." She said to Eriol who had turned his attention to the sleeping beauties.
"I know, I sensed Annette's aura getting stronger," he said, smiling.
Tomoyo began to hear sounds in the environment and her eyes opened slowly, placing a hand in front of her amethyst orbs to cover them from the bright sunlight. She breathed deeply filling her lungs with cold air.
"Good morning everyone!" the still sleepy young woman greeted, trying to stop a yawn, pouting cutely in the process.
"Hello Tomoyo!" Nakuru smiled brightly at her, and Tomoyo smiled back.
"Good morning Tomoyo-san, did you had a nice rest?" he asked politely, a smile playing on his lips.
"Yes I did," she lied combing her hair with her fingers. Her neck was hurting badly. "I see Annette is feeling a lot better now... I'm so glad," caressing the girl's cheek with her soft fingertips.
The child began to move with her touch. The girl with messy dark-blue hair opened her gray-blue eyes, narrowing them while her pupils were used to the light in the room and could focus something that doesn't seem faded. She wasn't sure why she was there but figured out that maybe she had got worse with her "flu" and her father, being the overprotective person he is, took her right away to the nearest hospital.
"Oh I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to wake you up," apologized Tomoyo feeling guilty.
"Daddy! Tomoyo, it was really you!" beamed the girl, azure eyes full of happiness.
"Oh my, you're finally awake!" cried out a female voice with happiness. She walked to the girl's side, standing across the handsome young man. Nakuru had a huge teddy bear with balloons tied at its cute paws and a "get well soon" letter on its chest.
"Hello Nakuru, I'm glad to see you again," greeted Annette with an amused smile.
"I've missed you so much chibi-Ann!" putting the fluffy toy aside, giving her a bear hug.
"Me too... and thank you very much for the bear, it's so cute!" exclaimed the girl at the sight of the smiling teddy bear.
"You had worried us to death dearest, you know that?" said Eriol smiling fondly at his daughter.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... I thought I had caught just a cold," replied Annette looking down, her smile vanished.
"But you are better now and must thank God for that," he said placing a caressing hand on her forehead, giving her a comforting smile and she smiled in understanding.
Tomoyo basked in the wonderful feeling of relief and contentment at the perfect portrait they made. However, her eyes were clouded with a film of tears and she wondered the reasons of her recently found vulnerability in less than twenty-four hours. Usually she was strong and always acting calm and collected; even distant some times, but now she was so emotional.
"Please don't cry Tomoyo, I'm feeling a lot better now." Small hands holding slender pale white ones. She had noticed the sudden change in her aura.
"It's just that I was so worried about you sweetie," wiping carefully the tear with her free hand, giving her a fond smile.
"I want to thank you Tomoyo, because you were here for me when I needed it," Annette made a pause to swallow and moist her dry throat. "I know you're a very busy person but managed to come here although I'm not related to you in anyway," she said the last sentence in a regretful whisper.
"Don't say that, perhaps we are not linked by blood line, but I'm sure we're relatives... by heart," said Tomoyo with a fresh set of tears, placing a hand atop the child's chest where her heart was.
Annette broke into tears and raised her small hands to hug the lady in front of her. Tomoyo understood and bent towards the girl until they were locked in a tight hug. The convalescent girl buried her small head in the lady's neck, her face hidden by silky and wavy locks of hair, like a thick curtain.
Eriol stood there all the time, watching them with adoring eyes, a goofy smile playing on his usually smirking lips. Nakuru was wringing a hanky in her hands, fighting with the tears that menaced to burst out at any moment. A moved expression was shown in Spinel's cute dark face, trying to comfort the chestnut haired woman who happened to be his partner whether he liked it or not. They were like that for a couple of minutes and then Tomoyo and Annette broke the embrace, drying her tears very lady-like and smiling brightly at each other.
A Doctor came in to check on little Ann. He informed that her condition had improved greatly but she still needed to rest and be kept under observation. Behind him was a nurse carrying a food tray ready to feed up the starving girl.
"Why don't both of you go home and take a shower and relax? You surely need to rest," said Nakuru concerned.
"I'll do that later," was Eriol's reply looking at his daughter.
"Go ahead, I'm fine daddy. Besides Nakuru will stay with me, right?" said the girl encouraging him for she knew that he had gone through quite a lot, judging from his disheveled appearance.
"Of course!" answered the pink-reddish eyed woman. "You too as well Tomoyo, you look ghostly pale and I'm sure that we don't want another person falling ill." Eyeing the young woman.
"Nakuru's right, please try to rest Tomoyo," said Annette squeezing the lady's hand.
"As you wish dear," she kissed the girl's forehead. "Thanks Nakuru," taking her coat and scarf placed carelessly on the sofa.
"Your words are orders milady, but I want you to eat all the food in that tray and then rest," said Eriol with a smiling face but serious eyes.
"Don't worry milord, now go." Annette played along with him, receiving the tender kiss her father gave her on the cheek.
"Do you need me to drive you somewhere?" he offered, a true British gentleman.
"I'll take your offer," she smiled softly at him.
And with a last good bye they exited the room, leaving Annette and Nakuru alone with the food tray the nurse had placed in a small table. The small girl had a radiant smile on her lips although her throat and tiny nose were still troubling her. She was daydreaming and couldn't hide her infinite happiness, not even tried to. Nakuru noticed it and a beautiful smile appeared on her cherry colored lips. She was so happy that her young mistress was smiling like that. Mostly because that could only mean one thing: the child was truly happy. Although they both, Nakuru and Spinel, knew the reason, the Moon Guardian couldn't help but ask.
"Why are you so happy chibi-Ann?" the unusually soft voice of Nakuru broke the comfortable silence that was in the now warm hospital room.
Annette blinked graciously as if awakening from a peaceful dream. She had only one answer and hurried herself to deliver it to the awaiting Nakuru, not caring if she knew it already. "I'm happy because I have finally found what I was looking for. I'm not motherless anymore." Tears of happiness were rolling down her ivory cheeks freely. She felt so relieved inside. The empty room that her heart held so dearly had been filled. She was complete. It didn't matter to her if Tomoyo wasn't her biological mother because they share an equally or far more important bond, the one of the heart.