Chapter 53

I'll give Blanc's family props for one thing. The couch I'm sleeping on is by far the most comfortable couch I've ever slept on. It's so good that I just might have to make it a napping ground of mine.

Then again, I have a perfectly good bed at home that I can take afternoon snoozes on. But there's a risk factor that comes with that. As of late my brother and his girlfriend have been fighting about lord knows what.

It's one of the reasons I came here for the weekend actually. The past few nights I haven't gotten much sleep because they stay up so late arguing.

So you can understand my eagerness to leave for a couple days. I'm scared of them breaking up actually. Without her around, my brother might finally snap.

The first stage of his grief is him denying that anything is wrong with him. After a hangover or two he gets incredibly violent with people and objects alike.

Sadly Maurice skips the depression and acceptance phase of the Kübler Ross Model of Grief. He kind of goes insane to those close to him while remaining normal to the public.

It's also worth mentioning that he grows out his facial hair into mutton chops. A few of the neighbors gave him many nicknames for it. Patty O'Brien, the Irish Car Bomber, ect.

After that phase he just goes back to being a textbook definition of insane. I would relocate during his transition days however that isn't a luxury that I have. Maurice is the only family member I have left that I know of.

My father left us at an early age, my mother as I've said before was taken away from us due to her alcoholism. Currently she's in prison for armed robbery.

Everyone else is either dead or very, very distant. The main point of this filler though is to explain that I'm extremely worried about my brother. As much as I hate to admit it… I love him.

And if his girlfriend leaves him it's only going to mean hell for me. During his violent phase I get hit in the crossfire a lot. It's one of the reasons that I do what he says a good majority of the time.

I did find a method that helps bring him back to reality. But I'll explain it on another day when I actually have to use it. For now, all I'm concerned about is actually falling asleep.

"…*hic*…" Hm? I thought I heard something faint. It's probably just the wind so I blow it off.

"Waaaah…" There it is again. Waking myself up more I realize that the noise might not be the wind after all. It just might be something worse.

Since I haven't gotten a wink of sleep so far tonight, I get up to investigate the mystery noise. Being tired and not being familiar with the layout of this place is a bad combination though.

As soon as I get up I trip over something and stumble for a small distance. I regain my balance and continue my search.

Already I have an idea in mind on what is could be. It's still too early to rule out a poltergeist though. They can affect every house.

Luckily it's not one and I find myself at Rom's bedroom door after a great deal of stumbling and stubbing my toe. I place an ear to the door to listen in.

"*Hic*… *Sob*…" My worst fears just became a reality. Why… why did it have to be this of all things? I can't stand it when my friends cry… I feel pain whenever I see it or hear it.

Especially when it's one of those friends that I really care about. As I mentioned before, Rom is like a little sister to me. She also gets top priority because Blanc will kill me otherwise.

I can't take it anymore, my body moves without me telling it to and opens her door softly. The nightlight is still on, so the room has a dim illumination to it.

My eyes take a minute to fully adjust to the new scenery. Once they do I get a clear view of Rom. My heart sinks even further… Her tear stained face is painful to look at.

Without a second thought, I slowly walk over to her bed and sit down next to her. Rom must've not heard me come in because she was startled when I sat down. I look into her puffy red eyes for a second before holding out my arms.

"Come here…" I almost cry when I say that.

"*Sniff*… Waaaaah!..."

Even though her scream is quiet like her usual voice, I can still feel every amount of sadness and emptiness in her right now. I'm not sure how I know that… I can feel it somehow.

She wraps her arms around me and plants her face in my side. Already I can feel my side dampen from her tears. But from the length of this sulking, I'd say she's been crying quietly for a while now.

"It's ok Rom, what's wrong?" I say with the most pleasing voice I can think of. It seems to work, as she starts to try to form words.

"… *Sniff*… I-I… I'm scared… I've never been… all alone before…" So that's what this is all stemming from. I should've expected this to happen.

"You're not alone though… I'm here with you." She looks up from my side with her puffy red eyes. I smile at her and pet her head to reassure her that she's not alone.

As long as I'm here, she won't feel alone from this point onward. I'll make sure of that. After all I've been where she is before.

"…Jack…" Rom stares at me with awe and her mouth slightly open.

I lightly chuckle at her for a brief moment. My smile seems to comfort her, her mouth closes up. I'm not going to lie, she looks extremely adorable right now. The worst part is she's not even trying to be.

Using my hand, I wipe the remaining tears off her face. Rom's eyes are still red and puffy though. At least her face is dry at last.

"Thank you…" Rom goes back into the nuzzling position she was in a moment ago. Not in the same spot though, slightly above the damp part of my night shirt.

Once again I feel warm inside from this sight. Then again, anything that Rom does is cute in its own little way. And the longer she holds onto me the more I feel like a big brother.

"You're so warm…" Well, she has been holding onto me long enough for a substantial heat transfer. It only makes sense for her to say that.

Rom continues to nuzzle herself on my side. Not letting her grip lessen for even a millisecond. It's very heartwarming when you think about it.

She's lets out a long sigh while still attached to me with a grip of steel. I can't even begin to fathom what's going on in her little mind right now, but I can rest assured that I did something good.

"Hey Rom… don't you think it's about time you let go?"

"Not yet… without Ram here… I feel lonely… and this makes me feel good…"

"Eventually you'll be without her. And one day you'll face your mountains alone. But not today, or tomorrow even. For now I guess I can understand." This has been Jack's life advice for the day.

It's only a little after midnight, but it still counts as the day's advice. She seems content with what I said, as if she already knows that.

Rom lowers her head again, but doesn't begin to cry again. Instead she lets out another sigh.

"I know… but for now… I need my sister." Just like I need my brother sometimes. Unlike her though, my brother got stuck being a father to me.

Rom picks her head back up and takes her arms off of me. All in all that bonding moment of ours took only thirteen minutes. A new record if memory serves me right.

"Alright Rom, I think it's about time we each get back to bed." I get off of Rom's bed and walk towards the door.

Unexpectedly, Rom pulls on the back of my shirt. I already have a good idea on what's going to come next.

"Um… Jack… could you stay here… for the night?" The look in her eyes… it's too adorable to resist.

"Sure, I'll stay." Normally I'd be extremely nervous in a situation like this. But ever since I shared a bed with Nepgear, I've been getting more immune to these sorts of things.

Rom gets back under the covers and gets comfortable. Soon after I lay down near her but don't cover myself with the blanket.

I wouldn't want to impose after all, it's just not in my nature. Rom has a different idea in mind. She takes the rest of the blanket and throws it over me.

If that's what she wants then I won't argue with it. After all, her overall cuteness can sway me any which way to Sunday she wants.

I'll say one thing about her and Ram's bed, it's even more comfortable than the couch in the living room. It's so comfortable that I find myself falling asleep slowly but surely.

Rom differs from my plan and lightly shakes me.

"W-wait… wait until I fall asleep."

I nod and remain in the same position as I was in a minute ago. Listening to Rom's breathing as the minutes go by so I know when she's finally sound asleep.

She's already had a hard enough night, some rest will do her a lot of good. And in the morning, she'll be her usual self.

After another half an hour or so she falls asleep for the final time tonight. Already I can hear her relaxed breaths, showing comfort as she rests.

"Goodnight Rom." I softly say before I try to fall asleep again. I'm not having as much luck as I would like to have.

For some reason I can't shake the feeling that she'll wake up prematurely in the same state as before. As I mentioned, it pained me to see her like that.

Maybe I'm just over thinking things like I always do. It's a bad habit of mine, and has caused numerous ups and downs in the time of my life so far.

"zzz… zzz…"

Rom rolls over and unconsciously cuddles me. Her body getting as close to mine as it can. Her head resting on my chest, listening to my heartbeat in the dream world.

Seeing this puts my mind at ease and allows me to drift off into the nocturnal haven that I've wanted to go to for so long already.

The last thing I remember before drifting off for good was the sound of Rom's light breaths and adorable snores.

A/N: A little shorter of a chapter than I usually write but my creation none the less. Another cute little chapter that I thought up of originally when I drafted the idea of this story.

Trust me, in the next two or three chapters, things will really pick up. But for those of you who like character development, these are your chapters.

For now I want to end this little note by saying thank you to the readers one more time for your support. It's because of you that I write to the best of my abilities each time.

Until then, see you in the next update.