DISC: I DO NOT own any of the characters from Sofia the First. They belong to their respective creators. I'm just borrowing them. I do however own anyone you don't recognize. I also don't own any characters from Frozen or Aladdin. Same deal.
Enjoy!

"True Sisters"

Chapter 8

Amber sighed and glanced at the clock. She had been sitting next to Sofia's bed for the past hour, waiting for her to wake up. Just as she was about to go find Dr. Hartfield, sure there was something wrong, Sofia started to stirr.

"Thank goodness," Amber murmured. She smiled as her younger sister's eyes started to open. "Hey, sis. You're awake. How do you feel?"

Sofia's azure eyes opened slowly. As she fully awoke, a whimper of pain escaped her lips. She squeezed Amber's hand tightly, not realizing she had squeezed too hard.

"Amber?" she muttered.

"I'm here, Sof. How do you feel?" Amber repeated.

"Really sleepy. It still hurts!"

"Dr. Hartfield said it would hurt for a few days," her older sister informed her. You did it."

"Uh-huh," Sofia mumbled. She went to adjust herself and felt Amber put a hand on her shoulder.

"Sofia, you can't move around much."

Sofia nodded. Glancing around, she noticed two people were missing.

"Where are Mom and Dad?"

"Out in the waiting room," her sister replied. "They'll be back in a little bit. Emily said after you can drink something and not throw up, they can come see you."

"Okay," Sofia softly said.

A few minutes of silence passed before Amber broke it.

"There's something I want to ask you, but I'll wait until you're more awake."

Sofia shook her head.

"Ask," she turned to face her sister.

"Are you sure?" Amber hesitated.

"I'm sure," Sofia replied.

"Did you hear what I said before you fell asleep?" Amber asked before she lost her nerve. She prayed Sofia said no.

"I think so," Sofia replied. She thought back and gasped softly as the memory replayed in her mind.

"Are you okay?" Amber anxiously asked.

Sofia nodded. Locking eyes with her older sister she asked, "Did you really mean it?"

Amber gulped. She knew the truth, so why was it so hard to admit it aloud. As she battled with herself, she heard Anna's words in her head.

"Open the door and see where it leads you…Don't be afraid."

"Ye-yes. Yes, I did. I really did," Amber said.

Sofia smiled. Feeling tears come to her eyes, she let them fall.

"I love you too," she revealed. As more tears came, she turned away, "I was afraid you would never say it. I thought you hated me."

"Sofia!" It was Amber's turn to gasp. "I don't hate you. I…I should have said it a long time ago. I was scared."

"Of what?" Sofia asked. She was becoming more alert by the minute, most of the fuzziness was gone.

Amber shook her head.

"I was scared to let you in. I was scared to trust again after…"

Sofia held her breath. Amber had never opened up like this to her in the whole year and a half they had known one another.

"…after she left," Amber finished.

Sofia couldn't help herself.

"Who?"

Amber swallowed hard as tears came. Blinking fast, she managed to fight them back for the time being.

"My first Mom," she whispered. "She tucked me in for the night and the next day she was gone! The last thing I said to her was…I love you…" her voice trailed off as the tears fell down her cheeks. She tried to stop them, but it was no use. She soon felt Sofia's free arm pull her in for a hug.

"Amber, I'm sorry. I know I didn't know her, but I know she didn't leave because of you. I can promise you that," she winced in pain just then.

"Ha-how do you know?" Amber sniffed as more tears came. "I know I wasn't nice to you when you first joined our family," she glanced down at the ground, "okay. I was horrible. I-I'm so sorry! Maybe I did something to make my-"

"No!" Sofia sternly stated. She winced again. Taking a deep breath, she continued to speak. "Believe me when I say she didn't leave because of you. I'm sure of it. And I forgive you for how you treated me when I first came here," she assured her.

"How can you? I…I can't even forgive myself. You've been so nice to me and given me chance after chance and I nearly messed all of them up," Amber let a few more tears fall. Pulling away, she pulled the amulet off her neck and gently placed it back around Sofia's. "I don't deserve to wear this. Take it back."

Sofia gasped again, but this time pain wasn't the reason. She reached out her free arm and pulled Amber back for a hug.

"You kept it safe. You kept your promise. Amber, thank you," she kissed her sister's cheek before resting her head on her right shoulder. Closing her eyes, she tried to rest.

"Ya-you're welcome. It's the least I could do. Ba-but I have to tell you something," Amber took a deep breath. Steeling herself, she began. "I…I was crying in the bathroom a half an hour ago. I was scared for you and mad at myself-really mad. I asked for help and…the amulet brought…it brought a princess to help me. A real princess this time. Her name was Anna. Sofia, I'm…I…I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do anything again. I was just so scared and angry…I didn't know it would work…" she went to get up, but her sister's grip kept her there.

"Wow! Amber, you must have been in trouble. The amulet knew you were sincere this time. That's why it brought Ana to help you," Sofia explained.

"I ran at first," Amber admitted, tears subsiding a little. "I was afraid I had done something wrong again. I hid in a supply closet, but Anna followed me. She finally got me to listen and I understand now. I truly do. I understand what Rapunzel was trying to tell me and what Anna said."

Sofia nodded.

"Were you scared of Anna? I read about her. She's supposed to be really nice," her younger sister explained.

Amber shook her head. She absently combed a hand through her sister's hair.

"I…I was scared that…" she gulped. She could hear Anna's advice in her head, along with the song she had sung with her. "…I was scared you would hate me if you found out. I was afraid I would lose your trust again. And this time I wouldn't be able to earn it back."

"Amber…listen to me. I could NEVER hate you. Yes, I was mad when you took the amulet without permission, but I didn't hate you. You're my sister. I love you. That's something that will never change."

Amber gasped in surprise.

"Ya-you really mean it? You love me? After everything I did?"

Sofia nodded. She hugged her as best she could.

"I forgave you a long time ago. Now it's time for you to forgive yourself," her sister gently advised.

"It's hard," Amber admitted.

"I know, but you can do it. I'll help you."

"Thanks," Amber softly said.

"You also need to talk to Dad," her sister advised. "It'll help you feel better about your first Mom. I'll go with you if you want me to."

Amber nodded.

"Okay," she agreed. "You should get some more rest. Are you thirsty?"

"No," Sofia replied. She let Amber help her lie back down. The minute she was comfortable, she asked, "Will you nap with me?"

Amber hesitated.

"I don't wanna hurt you."

"If you lie on my left side, you'll be fine," her sister assured her.

"Are you sure?"

Sofia nodded.

Amber carefully climbed into bed on the left side. Once she was comfortable, she wrapped her arm around Sofia and gently pulled her close.

"Amber?" Sofia tiredly murmured.

"Yeah, sis?" Amber smiled gently down at her.

"Sing? Please?" she requested.

"Okay. What do you want to hear?" the older girl asked.

"Anything but Bigger is better," Sofia joked.

Amber laughed. It was good to hear her sister cracking jokes again.

Getting an idea, Amber started to sing a song she remembered from a long time ago. She wasn't surprised when Sofia fell asleep shortly afterwards.

"I love you, Sof," she whispered, "sweet dreams." With that, Amber closed her own eyes and joined Sofia in dreamland.

******

Amber's eyes opened an hour later. Stretching as best she could, she glanced down to find Sofia still asleep. Glancing at the amulet, she gently touched the pendant with her forefinger.

"Thank you, Anna," she whispered. She had just settled down again, when Sofia started to stirr.

"Am…Amber?" the nine-year-old sleepily said as her eyes opened.

"Shh, I'm right here," Amber assured her. She rested a hand on her shoulder. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Uh-huh. Did Mom and Dad come in yet?" Sofia asked as pain shot through her stomach.

"Not yet," Amber replied. "Are you thirsty?"

"No," Sofia answered.

Amber frowned.

"Will you try to drink something in a little while?" she bargained.

"Yeah," her sister replied. She reached out and squeezed Amber's hand. "It still hurts," she hissed.

"Dr. Hartfield said it would hurt for a few days," Amber reminded her.

Sofia rested her head against her older sister's chest while trying to ignore the pain.

"I liked the song you sung," Sofia commented.

"I'm glad," Amber smiled at her.

Sofia was about to say something else when she burst into tears from pain instead.

"Shh, Sofia, it's okay. You'll feel better soon," Amber comforted. She was about to say more when Dr. Hartfield joined them.

"How's my favorite patient?" she smiled gently down at Sofia. The smile faded when she saw the state she was in.

"She's still hurting," Amber informed Emily.

Emily frowned.

"It'll hurt for a few days still," she informed her. "I'll give you some medicine that hopefully will help it feel better," she did so, checked a few other things before going to check on another patient.

"Dr. Hartfield?" Amber called her back.

"Yeah, Amber?" the woman turned around to face her.

"It's okay that I'm this close to her, right?"

"It's fine. Just stay on her left side," she advised.

"Okay," Amber turned her attention back to her sister. She was about to start singing again when Sofia suddenly pulled out of her embrace.

"What's wrong?" Amber asked, her eyes full of concern.

Sofia swallowed hard before she was able to answer.

"Amber, I…I'm…" she clapped her free hand over her mouth.

Springing into action, Amber grabbed an empty bucket off a nearby table. She had almost secured it under her sister's chin when Sofia threw up without warning. As she repeated the action, Amber managed to get the bucket in place. Feeling somethign wet hit her shirt, she tried to ignore it.

"It's okay, that's it. Just get it up," she encouraged.

As her stomach calmed down, Sofia concentrated on getting her breathing under control. She gasped when she saw the mess she had made. Her eyes widened in panic when she saw the wet spot on Amber's new shirt.

"Amber, I'm sorry! Your shirt's completely ruined!"

Amber shook her head.

"It's okay. I'm more worried about you. Are you okay?"

Sofia nodded as she tried to will her stomach to relax.

"But you just got that shirt a few days ago," she protested.

Amber shrugged.

"Are you sure you're not mad?" Sofia asked.

"Yes," her sister assured her.

Just then, Dr. Hartfield returned. She frowned when she saw the scene in front of her.

"Let's get you cleaned up, Amber," she took the half-full bucket and rinsed it out. Setting it on the table, she left and returned with a new shirt. It was donated, but clean.

"Thanks," Amber replied. "Is there somewhere I can change?"

Emily directed her to a bathroom at the end of the hall. Once that was done, she turned her attention to Sofia.

"I'm really sorry," the young girl apologized.

Emily shook her head.

"Sofia, you have no reason to apologize. You're sick, you can't help it. It's just a quick clean up," she assured her.

"Emily's right," Amber chimed in. She sat down on a nearby chair until Dr. Hartfield had given Sofia a new set of blankets. "See? Good as new. And the color even matches my hair clip."

Sofia managed a small smile for her sister. The shirt was a nice shade of blue and pink. She figured Amber had gotten another hair clip from their Mom. She always had an extra one in her purse.

"There you go," Dr. Hartfield said after a few minutes. "Why don't you try to get some more rest. Then when you wake up, you can try drinking something and your parents will be in to see you."

"Okay," Sofia agreed. She got comfortable and closed her eyes.

Amber resumed her spot after Emily gave her the okay.

"Amber, I'm sorry. I tried to tell you."

"I know. It's okay. Sleep," she playfully ordered.

Sofia obeyed without question. She was exhausted. The last thing she remembered before sleep found her was Amber starting to softly sing again. After that, she was back in dreamland.