AS CLOSE AS IT IS

Waking up from his sleep, Lemy immediately noticed two things; the darkness of his room indicated that it was nighttime and that his sister was soundly asleep right next to him. Laying to his left, Lyra latched on to his body with her head adjusted to the open area between his shoulder and neck, preferring him over any pillow in the world. Still sleeping, she looked deeply in peace. All of her previous troubles having vanished as she laid next to him, felt safe next to him. Her left arm sprawled over his chest and one leg interlocking with his own, she was fully attached to him and the only way to remove himself from her would be to wake her up and he wasn't planning on doing that for now.

After that big confrontation that soon turned into a confession both acknowledged their errors and promised to never commit the same acts ever again.

Exhausted from the drama both had crawled to bed and laid together in silence as they enjoyed each other's company before peacefully falling asleep in each other's arms. Lemy looked down at her and smiled. His very own sleeping beauty. Would a true love's kiss wake this amazingly beautiful princess up?

"...No. Not fair." He thought to himself. It's cheating if the person of your affections isn't aware of it. Plus, it wouldn't even feel all that special. Better for them both to share their first kiss together as a proper couple. Then again, that was still an issue that needed to be addressed. What exactly were they at the moment? Yes, they confessed their feelings for one another, but was that more of a familial love or romantic to be exact? They were happy no questions asked, but he still wasn't sure what to make of this new development. Did she still feel the same? Was she just expressing her sisterly love for him? He hadn't a clue, yet he refused to worry over it. This small step was already a huge accomplishment on its own and to have her this close again was worth troubled path.

Lemy shifted his body as the numbness was starting to creep over and inadvertently stirred up Lyra from her sleep.

"Mmm... Don't." Lyra mumbled as her hand reached over to his shoulder and locked him tighter, "Stay here."

Not gonna lie, he was blushing as his heartbeats increased. How was it possible for her to be so cute like this? She was just being her true self and he was given the opportunity to witness it first hand after so many years apart. Wrapping his arm around her waist, Lemy pulled her even closer to his body. Her curves, her legs her chest, he could feel it all pressing into him. He was trying so hard, desperately trying to tame the erection that was slowly pressing against his jeans as his hormones were going wild yet again.

"I'm here." He told her. She returned a smile and snuggled her head to the nook of his neck in approval.

"You're so warm." She replied.

"I guess so." Lemy said back.

"I missed moments like this. Having you in my arms, me in yours, basking in the peaceful silence of our room. Our own haven from the outside world." Lyra confessed as she fondly remembered old memories.

"Me too." Lemy shifted his body to face her directly.

Still attached to each other, neither refused to pull away or look away as they admired each other's faces with nothing but love. Seeing the situation Lemy struck out his first move of the day. With both arms he roped her to his body and stroked her hair with such gentle care. Lyra didn't seem to mind at all as she wrapped her arms around his neck and burrowed her face down his neck once more. He couldn't see it, but he was certain that she was smiling from ear to ear. They remained in place for some more time. Enjoying each other's company.

Eventually what stirred them up was a knock on the door.

Getting up against his will, Lemy freaked out just a bit, as if getting caught in bed with his sister was a felony, which technically was, but nothing sexual was occuring. Lyra herself also shot up from bed and quickly let go of him, probably thinking the exact as he was.

"Lemy? Lyra? You guys in there?" Lincoln's voice spoke up.

Both didn't say anything at first. Terrified to be caught, despite not doing anything wrong or perhaps too embarrassed to be seen cuddling together.

"Y-yeah?" Lemy squeaked out.

"Is Lyra there son?" Lincoln asked.

"I'm here!" Lyra blurted out, already standing a few feet away from Lemy who remained sitting in bed.

"...okay then." Their father responded, "Dinner is ready, don't take too long."

After some time passed both looked at each other, wondering what to say or do next.

Lyra took the initiative and approached him again. With both hands she played with his hair, giving him her full attention as he enjoyed himself. Lemy without thinking leaned onto her chest and relaxed as her soft mounds hidden behind layers of fabric proved excellent pillows. She didn't seem to mind this behavior as she herself was lost in the bliss of their solitary union. How she had missed these moments together. She loved him and wanted to demonstrate her entire love to him. If only she dared however…

"Lemy?" Her voice as sweet as it can be much to his pleasure, "We should head downstairs."

"Do we have to?" He questioned with a smile, too focused on their embrace.

"Yeah silly. Got to eat your proteins." Lyra chuckled.

"I really want to see you big and strong after all." He swore it sounded like a tease coming from her, but enough for him to comply.

Heading out both tried to let the other pass without success. Both sniggered at each other with blushing faces. Being a gentleman, Lemy allowed Lyra to exit first. Standing at the doorway he watched her descend the stairs and with a satisfied smile, so this was how it was now? No more drama or strained relations, just two young adults being shy and awkward around each other in a good way, a very good way as he thought.

Now to the other subject in mind, what exactly were they now? Lemy wasn't going to bother getting frustrated about it, they were more open now and a bit more teasing to add. Maybe both just need a little push, one more push to break the already weekend wall keeping them separated. No need to rush. Things will naturally flow down the right path for them. He was sure of it.

"Lemy?" Lyra called out to him.

"Right behind you!" He followed as he felt good about everything happening to him.

It felt great and lovely, Lupa and Lacy aren't the gossip types, but they will be asking for dirt. Not anytime soon, he wants Lyra more than just a daily hook-up, he belongs to her in every way.

The following days…

Lacy didn't like to clean dishes, no one did, in fact it's the one chore that every kid and grown up dreads the most in life. It was such a drag and Lacy Loud was anything, but a grumpy little dishwasher. At least her father was around to help out, only after mom forced him to take over the kitchen duties which she herself detested to do as well. Guess they are from the same blood, rather be outdoors and partaking in physical activities than being common housewives, that was Lincoln's job when he's not on his actual job.

"Almost done?" He asked her.

"Yeah…" Lacy lacked any enthusiasm, "I hate washing dishes."

"Don't we all." Lincoln chuckled and patted her on the head.

Putting away some utensils on their designated drawers, Lincoln grabbed his coffee which was now hot and ready and poured it on a mug to drink. He would have asked Lyra to help out, but she and Lemy took off together, again. Not wrong with that, let them have all the time in the world, no one knew for how long Lyra would actually stay after all. Also he didn't mind that his two kids were skipping on their house chores, for them being on speaking terms and rebuilding their strained and lost relationship was more important than anything else in his eyes.

At the park…

"Lectures were always so boring to sit through! The professor was such a snoozefest it was such a challenge to not fall asleep and headbutt your desk." Lyra laughed.

Both siblings had walked around the town park admiring the old place and reminiscing the fun times they had in their much earlier youth. After exploring the whole area both found a lonely bench far from the rest of all the sites of routine activities and took a sit to talk more about themselves.

"You know, I might have done just that if I was in that situation." Lemy agreed with her.

"Except that thick skull of yours would have cracked the desk in half for sure!" Lyra chuckled.

They were once again on a great start. These past few days have been a real blessing to them both. It was perfect. It all felt like a dream, a blissfully hallucination from which neither wanted to recover from. Being close once again felt so right and it has shown in the last few days.

No revealing words were ever spoken and no direct approaches were also used. It was all subtle from both parties involved. He could tell, it was noticeable from her to him and from him to her. Yet, they never went past that. That final barricade still stood. In fact it wasn't much of a barricade, but a door that has already been unlocked. One of them just needed to open it. If only it weren't that complicated despite both understanding their feelings.

"Hey." Lemy looked at her as she seemed hesitant to continue.

"Do you...did you ever, uh." Lyra felt unease with her own question as Lemy patiently waited for her.

"Gosh this is weird to say, but...any girls while I was gone?" She looked away from him and covered her face with the pretext of massaging her temple.

Now it was Lemy's turn to feel out of place with such a question.

"Fuck...fuck!" He thought. How to answer such a straightforward question to the girl you like, who may also be feeling the same butterflies as you did? He hated trick questions, it wouldn't be that hard if his crush wasn't his sister and the only other girls he's been with were also his other sisters.

"...Yes." Lyra's head perked up with a small hint of shock in her facial expression.

"Oh…" he could hear the disappointment in her voice. Disappointment mixed with sadness.

"A couple of girls, but…" Lemy worded his answer carefully for her, "It was never anything serious between them and I. They were more like friends than...actual girlfriends if I need to specify."

"Oh no no no!" Lyra raised her hands up to him in an act of surrender, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to privy myself with your private relationships. It's just...well…"

Both got quiet after that, unwillingly to continue or speak anything else in regards. The atmosphere wasn't suffocating to say, just plain awkward, the embarrassing type. While Lyra looked around avoiding eye contact, Lemy only looked straight ahead. If she wasn't going to do it then he would.

"They weren't my type after all." He added.

That got Lyra's attention as she glanced at him with curiosity, "That's so?"

"What is your type then?"

"Brunettes." He smiled, putting one leg over the other.

"Really? Do tell." Lyra returned a smile, a glint of excitement in her eyes.

"I also don't mind an older woman too." He scooted closer to her, adding a quick smirk.

"Lemy! I didn't take you for that kind of guy." Lyra replied in amusement.

Both got closer to each other and if the looks on their faces could tell the whole story they were enjoying the moment. Unable to deny the mutual attraction, yet only play it off with subtle hints and gestures on behalf of them both.

"Well...it is what it is." Lemy said.

He tried an old movie theater trick and extended his arm across her back, hoping it wouldn't backfire on him hard. Lyra paid it no mind as she felt his arm snake around her, in fact her blush re-emerged due to said action.

"So...what kind of guys do you like?" It was now his turn to ask.

Lyra took her time giving him a cutesy smile as she looked up in faux wonder and thought. Making him wait she eventually looked at him with a unique look in her eyes. Leaning forward, she placed one hand on his thighs and reached so close to his face, so close that if Lemy had leaned forward they would be bumping noses or lips for that matter. Her eyes showed something he only got to see from Lupa or Lacy after they were done with their happy hour intercourses. Lyra had such an intimate and passionate expression on her and she was showing it to him and only him.

"I love me, a boy with such beautiful blue eyes as yours." She seductively told him.

She got him. He was hypnotized with just those words alone. It took every molecular cell in his body for him to physically restrain himself from jumping her at that moment and indulge himself with her kissable lips. To simply hold her tight and kiss not just her lips but taste every inch of her exposed skin and feel every part of her body with his hands as well. Fucking hell he really wanted Lyra, he wanted her emotionally and physically. Lemy really was in love with her.

"Co...c...cool." Lemy stammered as he felt the heat in his face light up.

Lyra giggled at his reaction and did an unexpected thing. She leaned even closer to him and gave him a quick peck on the side of his mouth, just at the very corner where both his lips connected. That was as close as her lips and his would "kiss" on an intimate level. Backing away she covered her mouth with her hand and looked down, yet he could see the outlines of a smile on her, accompanied by a heavy blush.

Lemy despite feeling his body and brain short-circuit after such electrifying touch, he too felt his heart flutter up with joy and love, something he highly suspected she was feeling as well.

Grabbing her hand and lowering it down, Lyra looked back at him with curiosity. Lemy grinned back and stood up from the bench while still holding on to her.

"Let's go home sis." She nodded and happily followed him out of the park, never once letting go of his hand.