Chapter 14: Lost in Practice
Love Heart yawned, stretched then shivered and pulled his covers up over himself, then covered his ears as the snooze alarm went off again. He grumbled and hit the off button on his alarm clock. He finally dragged himself out of bed then tripped over Keroberos.
"Urrrrfrrgletrgle," Love Heart mumbled incoherently as he pulled himself forwards and back to his feet. He heard Keroberos yawn as he dragged himself, still shivering, to the bathroom to take a shower.
Having fur was a mixed blessing in winter: on the one hand it helped keep you warm without excess layers of clothing but on the other hand it took forever to dry and no one wanted ice on their fur as the temperature dropped, especially not if it was snowing. Love Heart had to spend far too long drying off after his shower before he made it back to his bedroom. Keroberos was just waking up and yawning as Love Heart stepped over him to get to his closet.
"Good morning, Love Heart," Keroberos stood up as Love Heart was getting dressed, he had retracted his wings (which made them vanish) so he could easily fit through doors.
"Good morning," Love Heart grabbed the Clow Key and book and glared at Keroberos, "You need to start sleeping in the living room, I'm sick of tripping over you every morning."
"Oh alright, but first I need something to eat," Keroberos opened the mostly empty pillowcase that contained the last of his Halloween candy and began gleefully munching away, somehow managing to unwrap everything.
Love Heart watched Keroberos munching away and sighed, "Why did I think you turning into this would make you act more seriously?" He headed down for breakfast then to school.
Even wrapped in a coat, thick gloves and at least two scarves, Confidence Heart was shivering when Love Heart met her at the portal. "I hate winter," she mumbled, muffled through the scarves. "Why does the Kingdom of Caring have to have this season now?"
"To avoid weather troubles in Readington," Love Heart wasn't nearly as wrapped up as Confidence but he still felt the cold as he put an arm around her, which made her smile despite the cold.
Even in class with a kangaroo jacket, Confidence had her arms folded and forcefully sat as far from the window and close to the heater as she could, "Soon as I'm done rehearsal I'm going home to wrap myself in blankets."
"May I join in?" Love Heart whispered, which made Confidence smile.
"I'd love that," she answered before the teacher started class.
Before the Care Bear students could go home for the weekend it was off to the auditorium for rehearsal. Even those who were just on the stage crew like Confidence Heart were there as they had to get everything ready for the play next month and she was both working on the costumes and had to make sure they would work on stage.
Tenderheart had been chosen to be director, he was a brown bear boy with a single three-layered heart for his tummy symbol, and everyone agreed was best as not only was he organized but everyone knew that he would be offering ideas to the point of back-seat directing if he wasn't in the big chair himself. Technically Noble Heart was in charge but he let Tenderheart run things while offering advice.
"Alright," Tenderheart clapped his hands together, "Brave Heart Lion, Lotsa Heart Elephant and Love Heart Bear on stage, time for the 'Marley in the Doorhandle' scene."
"Just a minute, Tenderheart, almost done!" Cheer Bear, a pink bear girl with a rainbow for a tummy symbol was working on Lotsa Heart, a male pink elephant with a triangular weight for his tummy symbol who was playing Marley. His face had a thin layer of white cream on it, including his trunk, and he had a bandage tied around his head under his chin, though not too tightly to stop him from talking.
"Aaaaand done! What do you think?" Cheer turned to Tenderheart.
"Good, very deathly," Tenderheart nodded, "Love Heart you ready?"
Love Heart already had the Clow Staff out and had summoned The Illusion Card, "Let's see. Illusion please turn into Lotsa Heart's face as it is now." The swirling kaleidoscope condensed until it was just a floating head that looked exactly like Lotsa Hearts. "Ok, now mimic Lotsa's movements as he talks please."
"This is weird even for me, and that's the truth," Lotsa Heart said, blinking as The Illusion's copy of his head mimicked him, albeit with about a second of delay and no sound.
"Looks good so far, Bright Heart, Grumpy, how's the setup going?" Tenderheart turned to where the two were working with Brave Heart Lion, who was playing Scrooge.
Grumpy had attached a small wireless camera to Brave Heart's right wrist hand which was positioned under his hand while Bright Heart was hooking up a TV screen.
"Looking good, let's test it," Grumpy let go of Brave Heart's arm as Bright Heart turned on the TV and set the wireless input.
"Here goes," Brave Heart pushed the small button on the camera with one of his claws and it flicked on, showing a picture of Grumpy's face on the screen.
"So far so good, alright try to put Lotsa's face on the door handle," Tenderheart pointed at the double door prop set up on the stage.
"OK, Illusion, put yourself on the door handle in that form please," Love Heart walked with the floating head over to the door, which settled itself over the handle with the trunk almost looking like the grasping part.
"Hmm, a bit too big," Love Heart scratched his chin, "Can you please start shrinking a bit?"
The head shrunk and grew a few times until everyone was satisfied with it size on the door handle then Brave Heart pointed his camera arm at it and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it showed up on the television screen.
"Now we just have to work with making it look like the handle morphs into Lotsa's head," Tenderheart said. "Alright now let's try the scene where Scrooge sees Marley's head in the door handle. Love Heart you can take five, I think someone in the audience wants to talk to you." Tenderheart pointed to the boy who had shown up to watch them rehearse.
"Li?" Love Heart was surprised as he recalled The Illusion and re-sealed the staff into a key before heading into the audience. "Why are you here?"
"I was following your homeroom teacher. I saw her heading backstage then she disappeared." Syaoran said as Love Heart sat next to him, "Do you find anything suspicious about her?"
"Yeah, Confidence figured it out pretty quick. I mean she showed up this year after the Clow Cards were released just like you," Love Heart smirked.
"So you know she's involved? Are you going to do something about it?"
"Only if she gives me a reason to," Love Heart replied.
Syaoran turned to watch the current scene being played out on stage, "So A Christmas Carol?"
"You know this story?" Love Heart turned to watch as well.
"A little, never saw the whole story," Syaoran turned to Love Heart, "Why are you using The Illusion Card to help make this play?"
"Because it lets us do some things you normally can't do in stage play and The Illusion enjoys it," Love Heart looked down at the card he still held in his hand, "It can't talk but I can just sort of sense that it's enjoying working on us with this, even if it's just as frustrated with having to practise as the rest of us." He smiled, "But this is what we Care Bears do, we help people share their feelings and feel like they belong or just help them find a place they can be loved in whatever way works."
Syaoran wasn't sure how to respond to that so he changed the subject, "So how is Keroberos? Has he changed more than just assuming his true form?"
Love Heart averted his gaze, "Well..."
OoOoO
"HA! I win again, guardian!" The Jump, now wearing its ribbons again, jumped for joy in front of its controller.
Keroberos scowled at The Jump, still holding his controlling in his now much larger front paws, "No fair, I'm not used to playing with my full sized paws!"
"Excuses, excuses," The Jump waved him off.
Keroberos growled, "Rematch! Now!"
The Jump grinned and readied itself over its controller, "If you wanna get your butt kicked again!"
They were about to begin when Keroberos froze and turned towards the window where it was starting to snow.
OoOoO
"... let's just say he's the same Keroberos I've known all year but bigger..." he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
"Love Heart, you're needed back stage!" Tenderheart called.
"Right, back to rehearsal," Love Heart got up and headed back to the stage, "Enjoy the practise, Li."
On stage, Tenderheart stood with Bright Heart Raccoon and Share Bear, a lavender Care Bear girl with crossed lollipops for her tummy symbol, as they were playing Bob Cratchet (in addition to his other stage crew tasks) and Bob's wife along with Teacher Bear and her seven adopted children who playing the Crachet children. Foremost among them was Grateful Heart Hedgehog who had landed the part of Tiny Tim after his audition.
"I still don't think he needs to use a crutch, it would be too hard," Share Bear looked at the green hedgehog.
"But it's an iconic part of Tiny Tim's appearance," Tenderheart argued back.
"So is having two full arms but he still got the audition," Bright Heart sided with Share Bear.
Teacher Bear put her hands on Grateful Heart's shoulders, "Tenderheart, I think they have a point, we all agreed that Grateful Heart gave the best audition and there are many interpretations of this story that make changes to Tiny Tim's character."
"Yeah, like the one where Tiny Tim's a horse jockey," Grumpy Bear added from where he was building part of the set nearby which got several giggles from the younger cubs.
(A/N, yes that is a real thing: animated A Christmas Carol 1991 anime from Saban, look it up on youtube)
Teacher bear coughed slightly, "Yes, like that, but we can work this into our version by saying Tim's disease forced him to get his arm amputated and that it was a miracle he survived for the time period."
"I like it!" Grateful Heart grinned up at his adopted mother.
Tenderheart sighed, "Alright not going to make him use a crutch, ah Love Heart," he turned as Love Heart arrived back on stage, "Cheer needs you and The Illusion backstage to test out some makeup effects."
"Right, back to work," Love Heart pulled the Clow Key out again.
"Key of Clow
Power of Magic
Power of Light
Surrender the Wand
The Force Ignite
Release!"
Love Heart grabbed the staff and was heading backstage when he almost bumped right into Loyal Heart.
"Love Heart, can I talk to you about something?" Loyal Heart was averting his gaze.
Love Heart paused and motioned to Cheer to wait a moment, "Can it wait until after rehearsal, Cheer needs my help."
"Alrig..." Loyal Heart suddenly stumbled and clutched his head.
"Loyal Heart!" Love Heart caught him and helped the dog to stand, not noticing Loyal Heart blush as he did so.
A loud bell sound rang out from nearby.
"LOVE HEART!" The shout came from two different sources as the auditorium doors burst open and Keroberos and The Jump Spirit stormed in and Syaoran jumped up and summoned his sword.
Love Heart suddenly sensed the Clow Card as the world began to collapse in on itself and spiraled down amidst the cries of everyone on stage.
Love Heart found himself standing in a hallway with tall green walls and a few paths branching off. Staff still in hand he searched around, "Hello?" he called out, "Where am I?"
"Love Heart!" The Jump came bounding towards Love Heart and landed in his arms, "I'm sorry we didn't get here fast enough."
"What?" Love Heart looked up to see Keroberos walking towards him, his wings now out.
"I sensed the Clow Card too late, and now we're trapped inside of it," Keroberos sounded serious.
"It's fine," Love Heart looked around at the walls, "So what is this card, The Prison Card? The Lost Card?"
"The Maze Card," Syaoran rounded a corner with his sword in one hand. "It's hard to detect until it's about to trap you inside."
"So this is a maze?" Love Heart let The Jump up on to his shoulder, "How do we get out? Wait if you're here is anyone else here too?"
"YES!" The loud shout was from Confidence Heart Fennec.
"Confidence Heart?" Love Heart spun around.
"I CAN HEAR YOU," Confidence shouted, "AND I HEAR EVERYONE ELSE TOO! THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE!"
"OK!" Love Heart shouted back, "Just stay there I'll come for you!" Love Heart took a deep breath, "Alright I'll be back in a moment, Jump." He turned to the rabbit creature.
"Right," The Jump dove into Love Heart which created the wings on his feet. Love Heart jumped up at the wall only for the wall to suddenly grow as Love Heart passed the top and he smacked into the wall, which just stopped growing as he hit and fell back to the ground. "Ow..."
"Guess The Maze doesn't like cheaters," Syaoran said as Love Heart got back to his feet.
"Yeah," Love Heart recalled The Jump into its card, "Sorry, Jump, but I'm going to need focus on this. Confidence! Keep talking and I'll find you!"
"OK! JUST HURRY!"
Love Heart wished he had spent more time with mazes but he never thought he'd be stuck in a place like this. He followed Confidence's shouts and was repeatedly aggravated when he ran into a corner that forced him to either turn around or go farther away from her voice.
Love Heart was genuinely surprised when he ran into Sweet Heart, who had collapsed to the floor with her wings sagging when he approached, "Sweet Heart?"
Her brother's voice caused Sweet Heart to look up, "Love Heart!" she gratefully flew into his arms, "I was so scared!" She buried her face in his chest as he stroked her head to help keep her calm.
"Don't worry, we'll get out of here," Love Heart set her down carefully then shouted, "Confidence! Are you close?"
"Yeah," Confidence Heart didn't shout this time, in fact she sounded like she was right next to him.
Love Heart touched a nearby wall, "Are you right there?" he asked.
"Yeah, right here, so close but every corner turns away from you," Confidence leaned up against the wall, then punched it out of frustration which only made her hand hurt, "If this ffff- stupid wall wasn't here or if we could jump over it."
"Or if I can cut through it," Love Heart pulled out a card, "Get ready to run through, Confidence!" He shouted as he threw the card forwards, "Sword Card! Release!" the Clow Staff was wreathed in fire and it changed into the sword.
"Wait!" Keroberos' warning didn't stop Love Heart from slicing a diagonal hole through the wall which revealed Confidence Heart on the other side. She wasted no time in dashing through, even pulling her tail after her just in time as the wall suddenly snapped shut behind her.
Confidence Heart was panting as the wall rippled slightly as they regenerated, "That was too close."
"Yeah," Love Heart looked at The Sword, "Don't think I can try that again." He saw the walls settle down and sealed The Sword back into its card form, "So we're going to have to do this the hard way."
Confidence nodded then put her hands up to her ears, "I can hear them all over the place. Some of them are moving around form the sounds of it."
"You can hear all that?" Syaoran tried to listen but couldn't hear anything more than distant indistinct voices.
Confidence smirked, "It's a fennec thing, these big ears aren't just for show they're also for finding prey underground."
"Then let's see if you can listen us towards them, if any of them are staying put," Love Heart said as he motioned for Confidence to lead the way and took Sweet Heart's hand as she was still trembling.
Sweet Heart couldn't go more than a few steps before she collapsed to her knees shaking, "I'm sorry, I can't move... we're going to be stuck here forever aren't we?"
Love Heart crouched in front of his sister, "We'll get out of here, I promise. Want me to carry you?"
Sweet Heart tried to stand on shaky legs but shook her head, "No, I mean I don't want to be a burden..."
"I can carry you," Kero crouched down next to her, "I promise it won't be a burden."
Sweet Heart smiled at the guardian beast and, with Love Heart's help, climbed onto his back.
"Can we get going?" Syaoran was standing impatiently nearby, "We won't get out of here or find anyone just standing here."
Love Heart glared at him, "Why don't you just use your compass to find our way out of here?"
Syaoran pulled out his compass and held it up, "I can try."
"King of gods gods command god,
Appear from all directions,
Gold, Wood, Fire, Earth, Thunder.
The new command:
Soft Thunder
Spinning Thunder."
The energy gathered on the board into a small blue dome that suddenly dissipated. Syaoran shook his head, "The compass only tracks magical energy and we're literally inside a Clow Card so the magic field everywhere is the same."
"Guess we're doing this the hard way, follow me!" Confidence led the group, listening for anyone nearby.
It was about 10 minutes before they found anyone, Love-a-Lot Bear, a darker pink bear with a pair of linked hearts for her tummy symbol. She was pacing when Confidence approached her.
"Confidence?" she turned to see them approach, "Thank the stars, I didn't think anyone would find me."
"Thank the ears, for now," Confidence held a hand up, "I think someone else is coming."
"There!" Sweet Heart called form Keros back as Bright Heart, Gentle Heart and Tenderheart rounded a bend.
Love-a-Lot immediately ran over to and hugged Tenderheart, "Tenderheart!" She suddenly gave him a kiss which made the brown bear blush, "Thank goodness you found me!"
"I found you first," Confidence rolled her eyes.
"And I found you, I think," Bright Heart had his right hand on the wall, "In theory if you just turn right at every intersection you're bound to find your way out of any maze, but we ended up going in circles for five minutes until I made two left turns."
"Sounds like The Maze Card doesn't like logical solutions either," Syaoran folded his arms.
"So what? We're just supposed to wander around until we happen to stumble across the exit?" Love Heart sounded both worried and angry, "if only I could see the whole layout."
"I don't think that will work," everyone turned to Gentle Heart which made her recoil slightly but still spoke, "I looked behind us when Bright Heart was leading and... I saw a wall where we walked through a minute ago."
"So it changes when we aren't looking, that's just perfect," Love Heart groaned.
"The only thing we can do now," Tenderheart carefully extracted himself from Love-a-Lot's embrace but still held her hand, "Is stay together and find everyone, then hope we can find our way out."
"Just hope?" Sweet Heart asked, looking down at Keroberos.
"It seems to be the best solution at the moment. You can't leave anyone trapped in The Maze before you seal it or it won't work," Keroberos drew their attention, "If any living beings are inside The Maze then they will prevent it from being sealed by their mere presence."
"Right, then Confidence, Bright Heart, see if you two can lead us to anyone else trapped in here," Tenderheart said.
"On it," Confidence listened again, "Sounds like they're this way," she pointed down one corridor.
"Tell me where is sounds like it's coming from and I'll guide us," Bright Heart said.
"Aren't you going to do something?" Syaoran asked as they followed the fennec and raccoon.
"Not much I can do right now," Love Heart looked down at the Clow Book, "If I think of something I'll let everyone know."
After two hours of careful searching they had managed to find only a few members of the Care Bear Family: Noble Heart, Grams Bear, Hugs, Tugs, Cheer, Brave Heart, Harmony, Loyal Heart, Good Luck Bear and Lotsa Heart, the last of them still in his Marley makeup.
Confidence strained to hear and sighed, "I can barely hear anyone anymore."
Bright Heart shook his head, "I can't figure this out," he turned to Good Luck, a green bear boy with a four leafed clover for a tummy symbol, "Think you can try something."
Good luck shrugged and shook his head sadly, "Sorry, if my luck was working I'd have found the exit by now."
"Cheating won't work, logic won't work, mapping won't work, luck doesn't work and now we can't even try to hear our way out," Love Heart growled, "Forget not liking cheaters, The Maze doesn't even try to be fair."
Sweet Heart sat on Keroberos' back and stared down. She was worried they would be trapped forever but couldn't voice it, not wanting to lend a voice to everyone's worries.
"We just had to keep trying, and that's the truth," Lotsa Heart said.
"But trying what?" Syaoran was feeling awkward as the only human in the group.
Before anyone could answer, they all heard the loud clanging of a bell. They all turned in the direction the sound came from and Confidence was the first to notice something, "That's the same sound we heard before we were all trapped."
*CLANG* as the bell rung out again the wall next to them shattered them crumbled revealing Ms. Mackenzie standing there with the remaining members of the Care Bear Family standing behind her, in front of a series of shattered walls.
There were joyous cries as friends, family and couples were re-united and Ms. Mackenzie smiled at Love Heart's group, "Well now, I think that's everyone found then."
Confidence Heart grinned and pointed at her home room teacher, "HA! I knew you were involved!"
"Oh, whatever do you mean?" Ms. Mackenzie asked sounding innocent.
Love Heart's gaze was fixed on the instrument in Ms. Mackenzie's hand: a bell shaped like a D with a long series of tassels about half as long as she was tall trailing off it. "Don't be coy, Ms. Mackenzie," he looked up at her, "Confidence and I suspected you were part of this since you arrived, especially since Li arrived at the same time." Love Heart turned his attention to the shattered wall behind her which hadn't even started to recover, feeling the ambient magic coming from his teacher's bell and the broken wall.
"Really?" Ms. Mackenzie turned to Confidence who had folded her arms in triumph.
"Yup, I can't sense magic like these guys," she waved her arm towards Love Heart, Kero, Syaoran and Sweet Heart, "But I know how these things work. New teacher and new transfer student right after a magical force is unleashed on the city? Too suspicious to be a coincidence," she waggled a finger at her teacher.
"What are you doing with all of this?" Syaoran asked, not demanding as he could feel her magical energy as could the others.
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you yet," Ms. Mackenzie turned to a nearby wall, "But I think we should get out of here before it gets too late." She was about to smash her bell against the wall when Love Heart spoke up.
"Wait, let me try." Love Heart stepped over to Ms. Mackenzie and reached into the Clow Book, "Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful you were able to help us get everyone back together, but I need to try and overcome The Maze Card with my own magic." He pulled out two cards: The Sword and The Firey.
"You have a solution?" Keroberos stepped over.
"Yes, the problem is that I didn't have enough power to overcome The Maze's power, but maybe I can stop the regeneration by combining two complimentary cards," Love Heart held up the two cards, "I can feel a powerful link between The Sword and The Firey, and maybe like Hercules and the hydra I can burn the walls so they don't regenerate."
"His proper name is Heracles, but that does sound like a good solution, very well." Ms. Mackenzie stepped aside.
"Son, are you sure you want to do this?" Sage Heart asked, now that he was certain everyone was gathered and alright.
"Yes!" Love Heart threw the two cards forwards, "Sword! Firey! Combine your powers into a flaming sword to slice and burn down The Maze's walls! Release!" Love Heart struck both cards with his staff and a massive wreath of fire enveloped the staff, at first orange and red and then turning a brilliant sapphire blue as The Sword appeared still on fire. Love Heart held the sword in both hands then raised it and sliced at the wall. There was a flash as the sword split and melted into a large V shaped opening.
Love Heart stood with The Firey Sword at the ready, watching the breech in the wall, then grinned when it didn't regrow, "Alright, everyone, follow me!" he charged at the next wall and sliced and burned it away then kept going making a beeline straight for the edge of the map.
As Syaoran, Keroberos and the Care Bear Family hurried to follow after Love Heart, Ms. Mackenzie just smiled and followed at a brisk pace behind them, "You've learned more than I thought you had, well done."
Slice and burn. Slice and burn. Love Heart carved a way through the maze until they ran into a sky blue wall with no top. He looked left then right and pointed to a dark door in the wall, "There! That's the exit!" He motioned for everyone to move past him, "Hurry! Let's get out!"
They needed no second bidding as they all rushed to get out of the maze where they had been trapped for the last couple hours. Noble Heart and True Heart were first in line and they stood at the sides of the entrance, taking attendance of each of them to make sure no one was left behind.
"Hugs, Tugs, Grams, Sweet Heart and Keroberos," True Heart turned as Keroberos dove out still with Sweet Heart on his back to see that Love Heart Bear, Confidence Heart Fennec and Ms. Mackenzie were the only ones left, "That's everyone! Hurry!" She motioned to the exit before she and Noble Heart dove out. Ms. Mackenzie exited next and Love Heart held back until Confidence was out before he re-sealed the Firey and Sword then exited the maze.
Love Heart stepped on a furry pile of Care Bears and jumped over them rather than getting stuck, "We made it!" he shouted.
"Alright!" Confidence had jumped over the pile, as had Ms. Mackenzie, and she jumped for joy, only to notice a swirling green image of a maze floating in the air over the Care Bear Family as they tried to extract themselves from the pile they had landed in. "Look!"
"The Maze is creating a new one!" Keroberos shouted, "Hurry, Love Heart!"
"Right," Love Heart swung his staff at the swirling void, "Maze Card! I command you to return to your power confined! Maze!" the void wobbled but then was pulled into streams of dirt and dust that condensed into a card in front of the staff. Love Heart caught the card and looked at The Maze Card, which was an overhead view of what looked like a green hedge maze.
Love Heart signed his name to it just in time for a loud voice to shout at everyone, even the Care Bears still being pulled to their feet. "WHAT ARE YOU ALL STILL DOING HERE?!"
Everyone gulped, except for Ms. Mackenzie and the adult Care Bears as Principal Norman stood at the entrance to the auditorium, his eyes blazing red. Behind him was Beastly, a small pig like creature in a janitor's uniform.
Norman advanced on the group, "You were supposed to be finished half-an-hour ago so Beastly can clean the place and there's a blizzard brewing. You all need to vacate the building before you're all frozen in for the night." Everyone just stared at him until he shouted, "MOVE!" and they all bolted for coat rooms.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Love Heart asked Loyal Heart as they were pulling on their coats.
"Oh well..." Loyal Heart zipped up his coat, "I figured out why things didn't work out for me with Proud Heart or Gentle Heart: I'm gay."
Love Heart paused halfway through wrapping his scarf around his face, "You like guys?"
Loyal Heart nodded, "Yeah."
Love Heart finished wrapping his scarf around his face before he asked, "Do you like me like that?"
"Kind of yeah, is that awkward?" Loyal Heart turned to head for the door.
"A little, but I love Confidence Heart," Love Heart averted his gaze as he headed for the door.
Confidence Heart was standing just inside the front door wrapped up tightly and staring out at the wind and snow.
Love Heart stopped by Confidence as Loyal Heart headed out, "You alright?" Love Heart asked.
"No, the blizzard's getting pretty bad at home, not sure I can make it," Confidence shivered at just the thought.
"I'll walk you home," Love Heart volunteered, "It's too cold to fly."
"Really? Thank you," Confidence Heart smiled.
Love Heart quickly texted his family to let them know he'd be late getting home then pushed into the storm.
The storm on the Readington side was severe to the point that both of them had to cover their eyes or walk backwards into the wind at various points. Finally they reached Confidence's house and she practically tore the door off its hinges to get it, gasping as she escaped the wind.
Love Heart was about to leave when she grabbed his arm and pulled him in, "Don't go back out in that," she shut and locked the door behind her then pulled her scarves off, "Stay and warm up a bit."
"Thanks," Love Heart pulled his own scarf off and breathed now that he was no longer muffled.
"We were starting to get worried about you, Cassandra," Tori was making supper, "Dad was about to go out looking for you."
"Yeah well I made it home," she sniffed then licked her lips, "Smells great, Tori."
"Guess I should get going then," Love Heart started wrapping his scarf up again when Confidnce's father spoke.
"Actually looks like the blizzard's getting worse. You should probably stay the night just in case."
"Really?" Love Heart stopped wrapping up. "Where can I sleep?"
"On the-"
"With me!" Confidence cut her brother off with a glare, "Not gonna force you to sleep on the couch when it's this cold."
Aiden and Tori exchanged looks then tuned to look at Confidence, "if you're sure. Until then warm up over here. It's going to be a long night," her father, Aiden, said.
"Just let me call my parents," Love Heart pulled out his Heartphone.
"You sure about this, Cassandra?" Tori asked as Confidence walked past him to her room.
"I can make my own decisions, Tori," she brushed past him.
"My parents are fine with it," Love Heart hung up, "Where'd Confidence go?"
"Here," She came back wearing a red and green Christmas sweater with a reindeer on the front and tossed a white and red sweater to Love Heart, which he quickly pulled on, "Gotta warm up."
After supper, Love Heart found himself curled up on the couch under an afghan blanket with Confidence Heart and a mug of hot chocolate.
"A bit early for Christmas stuff but so's this storm," Confidence took a long drink and snuggled up close to him.
Love Heart took a drink, "I thought you hated this time of year."
"Just the cold weather, not Christmas stuff," Confidence sighed happily, "Reminds me that I'm part of a family even with mom gone. And with you here this is the best Christmas I'll have had in years." She smiled warmly and sank against her boyfriend's side. Love Heart kissed her on the cheek, neither of them paying attention to whatever was on the TV.
It wasn't long before both Love Heart and Confidence were tired enough to go to bed. Love Heart waited outside Confidence's room as she changed into her pyjamas.
"Everything alright, Love Heart?" Aiden asked as he passed by Love Heart on his way to his bedroom.
"Yes, just I don't have anything to wear to bed." Love Heart looked up at the older man, surprised to see him so calm despite everything.
"Don't worry, we trust you," Aiden put a reassuring hand on Love Heart's shoulder, "And I trust Cassandra to only take things as far as she wants to go."
"Thank you, sir," Love Heart smiled.
"You can call me Aiden, and don't mind Tori. Ever since you found her we've just been worried she'd leave us to join her real family," Aiden sighed sadly.
"You are her real family." Love Heart's expression turned serious, "She said she loves this time of year to remind her she's part of your family." Love Heart touched his tummy symbol, "She's part of the Care Bear Family but she'll always be your daughter, never forget that."
"Thank you, Love Heart, we will," Aiden smiled again, "And I hope someday you'll be part of this family too."
Love Heart blushed as Aiden walked past and knocked on his daughter's door, "Good night, Cassandra."
"Night dad," Confidence called through the door.
After Aiden left, Confidence opened the door, "You know, you could have come in sooner."
Love Heart saw Confidence was now wearing white long legged and sleeved flannel pyjamas with stars of multiple colors scattered all over.
"Yeah well..." Love Heart blushed as he entered, "I've never seen you naked before."
Confidence snorted and rolled her eyes, "You can't see anything, I've seen you guys barely clothed over there."
"It's different with you, because you're hot... I mean... you're hot..." Love Heart averted his eyes.
"Oh, and this isn't sexy?" Confidence leaned forwards and gave Love Heart a sultry expression. She thought his head might pop off from the blood rushing to his head so she backed off and giggled, "Don't need to answer, here," she pulled out another pair of pyjama pants and tossed them to Love Heart.
"YES!" Love Heart squeaked, "I mean thank you." Love Heart didn't bother telling Confidence to turn around as he undressed even though his face remained red. The pyjama pants weren't perfect fit but it wasn't needed.
Confidence climbed under the Duvet and sheet of her bed and motioned for Love Heart to join her, which he did.
"Nice and warm," Confidence sank into the mattress.
"Yeah, no chance of getting cold in here," Love Heart sighed happily as he felt the warmth start to soak in. "Huh, what are you doing?"
Confidence had pulled her shirt off but left it under the covers as she shuffled close to Love Heart and put her arms around him. "I want to feel your fur against mine," she whispered.
Love Heart smiled and hugged her back, pulling her close. "I love you."
"I love you too," they kissed and Confidence snuggled up close to him, "I won't be cold tonight."
"Me either," Love Heart nuzzled her, "Since there's no place to go."
Confidence nuzzled back, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."
