Short, sweet, to the point disclaimer: I don't own CCS, so don't sue me.

.o0o.

The next day, Syaoran and Sakura left for their honeymoon. Only their dearest friends knew where they were going, and his mother. They didn't want to be followed. They just wanted a wonderful week to themselves – a well deserved one, at that. The next day was also the day that everything began to go wrong in my life. The whole mess started with a mere phone call that very morning. I will remember the words spoken for the rest of my life.

Tomoyo woke from a state of deep thought after breakfast to a dreadful ringing in her ears.

Sighing, Tomoyo picked up the phone and answered, "Hello, Daidouji speaking."

She listened, and her eyes widened.

This is what was said. "Daidouji-sama, I'm terribly sorry. We couldn't reach you yesterday, or today for that matter, until just now."

"No," she whispered. Her face was drained of any color. The phone fell numbly from her hands.

"I'm afraid a terrible accident has happened. The reason is still under investigation, but last night something at the main building exploded on the upper floors. So far, they believe the cause was related to an electrical problem."

She didn't know what to do. She didn't know where to go. But she had to go somewhere. The room was suddenly making her very claustrophobic. The colorful walls turned bleak in her eyes.

"Many important documents were lost. It was centered on the areas where the most important documents were kept."

She ran.

She had no idea where her feet were taking her. They just took her. She refused to let tears fall from her eyes.

Eventually, they stopped. Surprised, Tomoyo looked down at her feet, and then up to where she had stopped.

She did not recognize the house. She did, however, recognize the address of the house.

Instincts yelled at her. No, Tomoyo, you mustn't do this. You can't, you shouldn't, it'll only hurt…

Something in her flared at those instincts. I'll take a risk, she thought furiously at them. I have to.

Tomoyo closed her eyes, and when they were open again, Tomoyo looked as calm and serene as ever, though certainly not happy. The smile on her face was small and weak. Still, she was back in control for now, and that was the important thing.

With careful and precise steps Tomoyo walked up to the door of the house and knocked sharply twice.

It opened.

"Good morning, Daidouji-san," he greeted her. "It's nice to see you. What brings you here?"

She smiled. He saw right through it, of course, but she appreciated the fact that he chose to ignore the smile's false nature. "Good morning to you as well, Hiiragizawa-kun. I was wondering if you would please give me some pointers on making my cinnamon cookies, and perhaps help me to bake some. I can understand if you're too busy."

Eriol's eyebrows rose slightly. "I am never too busy to bake cookies. Please, come in."

"So far, we have counted forty-three injured, and twenty dead. I'm sorry, Daidouji-sama. Your mother… is dead as well."

Not too long after, Tomoyo lightly shoved the cookies into the oven, closed it, and smiled with satisfaction as she set the timer.

"They're in," she said happily.

She turned around to see Eriol childishly licking his finger. In the bowl that had once held the cookie dough, a clear path along the side, the width of a finger, had been scraped away.

"I can't help it. I have to taste some, every time," Eriol said in response to her amused look. His grin was rather sheepish. As Tomoyo shook her head in amazement, he scraped some more off the side of the bowl and ate that as well.

Tomoyo closed her eyes, sitting down and thinking.

Sometimes, when she was upset, she would go to Sakura. Sakura would talk to her, eventually get what was wrong out of her, and then console her with kind words. Other times, she would bake her cookies, and then she would sit alone in her room, eating them in a comfortable silence.

Baking the cookies with somebody else was something very different. She couldn't complain though. Ever since she'd entered, Eriol had not asked about what was wrong once. Instead, he had simply baked the cookies with her, giving her a few little tips along the way that he'd picked up. He had admitted that her recipe for the cookies was very good, and remarked that she must have made them quite a few times to refine it so much. Tomoyo hadn't actually made them that much, but still, the praise was nice to hear.

Of course, just because Eriol was simply being kind and pretending nothing was wrong without asking Tomoyo, that didn't mean he didn't want to know. It was clear to her that he was simply waiting until she was ready. It was something she was very unused to, with Sakura's way of wheedling it out. Sakura's way helped, yes, but Eriol's way seemed to be exactly what she needed. She liked it better for whatever reason.

Tomoyo opened her eyes again. Eriol was sitting, watching her with a grin that reminded her of the Cheshire cat from that movie she'd watched as a child.

"Were you just watching me the whole time?" Her voice was polite, as though she discussed the weather.

"It was very amusing to see your expression change while the rest of you kept perfectly still," Eriol explained.

Tomoyo sighed. "Fine, fine."

The oven with the cookies beeped. Eriol rose, with Tomoyo behind him, and opened the oven to reveal perfect cookies.

So the news came, and I broke down. Then I remembered his offer, and took it because I had nobody else. I'm glad I did. Those cookies were good.

Tomoyo bit into one of them, and grinned. "These are the best cinnamon cookies I've ever tasted," she admitted, closing her eyes to savor the taste.

"I agree," Eriol muttered, entranced in a very delectable cookie as well. "These are amazing."

"We make good cookies."

"That we do."

There was silence as they ate a few more cookies together.

Eriol had a question. "Daidouji-san, why cinnamon cookies?"

She froze, and then quickly finished what was left of the cookie currently in her mouth. Tomoyo looked down, clenching her fists as she closed her eyes.

"They were my mother's favorite kind of cookie," she whispered.

Tomoyo fought the tears that tried to appear in her eyes. Eriol hadn't said anything yet.

Then a friendly arm wrapped around her shoulders. "I understand," he murmured.

It was the final breaking point for Tomoyo. The tears fell unstoppably, quiet sobs shook her. Before she could help herself she leaned into Eriol's hold, resting her head on him as she cried herself out silently. Eriol didn't say anything, but continued to hold her warmly, telling her without words that he was there for her.

But the fact that he was there for me at my worst, the fact that he could tell I just needed silent support, the fact that he completely understood it all…was better.

.o0o.

A/N I hate how attached I get to my characters. I'm feeling really emotional right now… Meh, I want my own Eriol to cry on. ;) Review please!