Lillyann

Lilly walked alongside Jace, her hand in his. She stopped at the flagpole, standing beside it. She looked around. "Jace, look. There's a small stable to." she said. She looked back at him, they might actually use that for either horses or some tools. Her phone rang and she answers it.

"Hello?"
"Is this Lillyann Sanchez?" the voice on the other line asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"We are calling about your sister Veronica. She-" they were cut off by Lilly.
"Shes not my sister, we've been friends since we were two. What's wrong with her?" Lilly's voice sounded worried.
"When she got paralized we didn't realize how bad it was, now we know, shes been in the hospital for a week.. Lillyann, we are so sorry, Veronica passed away, it got to bad where she couldn't eat at all. We are so sorry." the voice said. Lilly froze, and when she hung up she looked at Jace, tears glaze her eyes and she shook her head.
"Veronica died. If only I hadn't let her push me away, she could of lived longer." Was she blaming herself? Yes. Lillyann wrapped her arms around Jace instinctively, feeling safe with him. Waiting for some words she knew he would say.

Jace

He was polite enough not to listen, but gave her an almost crushing hug. Tears rolled down his cheeks, even though he didn't know Veronica.

"Don't blame yourself, Lilly. It wasn't your fault."

He said softly.

Lillyann

Lilly nodded. Her head on his shoulder.

"What if I could of helped her though?"

She said, tears streaming down her face, she had her face facing his shoulder when she cried.

Jace

He wrapped around her protectively, guiding her into the house. An old, but sturdy couch awaited them, and he sat on it.

"Just relax, Lilly. It will be all right."

Lillyann

She sat by him. Sniffling and wiping the tears away. She nodded.

"Yeah."

Jace

He kissed her softly, hugging her protectively.

Lillyann

Lilly kissed him back with just as much softness or more. She felt safe and protected in his arms. She let him hold her like he did as she stayed in his arms.

Jace

He cradled her like a child, murmuring to her.

"Do you want to see something?"

Lillyann

Lilly looked at him, nodding a bit. Then asked softly,

"Sure, what is it?"

Jace

"Well..I hope you like it.."

He trailed off, and opened a box in the corner. It had airholes, and a small kitten rolled out. Its eyes sparkled.

Lillyann

Lilly gasped and slid off the couch onto the floor. "She's so cute!" She looked at the kitten and then looked at Jace, getting to her feet and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you." she said.

Esme rode Storm to the abandoned house, she'd passed by it but was now wanting to check it out. She saw the door open a bit and trotted towards the pole. Wrapping the reins around it and knocking on the door. She opened it, seeing Lillyann. "Lillyann, I didn't know you and Jace were getting a place.... she half whispered. Lillyann looked at her. "Esme..... I'm too hurt for me to be around anyone Veronica was family with..... I really don't think its a good idea for you to be here." she responded
"What? Why not? What happened to Veronica?"
"She died." Flat response.
Esme looked at her eyes shocked. Lillyann walked over to her, giving her a hug as Esme started crying. Lillyann kept the tears back, knowing Esme would just cry more.

Jace

He smiled softly, letting the kitten purr and rub against her.

"She's for you. For us."

He said faintly, embracing Lilly. He looked over, seeing Esme, and the tears stained his own face. Jace didn't know what to do, but the kitten seemed like magic. She mewled at the girl and licked her face softly, in a comforting way.

Lillyann

Esme looked at the kitten and smiled. "Who's this little girl?" she asked. Lilly smiled. "Jace got her for me and him. We haven't named her yet." she said. Holding the little kitten in her hands. She looked at Jace then at Esme watching her sit on the covered up dusty couch. Lilly let her hold the kitten , standing by Jace. Her hand holding his. "What names do y'all have in mind?" Esme asked. Lilly shrugged.

Jace

He looked away, then down. He murmured softly,

"Do you think..Veronica suits her?"

The kitten mewled softly, the Siamese almost smiling at the sound.

Lillyann

Lilly smiled. "It seems like she likes the name. I think it suits her." Lilly said. She watched the kitten. "Veronica..." she trailed off just to see what the kitten would do. Then she watched Esme set the kitten beside her and then get up. "Well I best be going. Storm will be training for the rodeo soon. Be there?" she asked.
"Possibly." she said.
After that, Esme left on Storm. Lilly looked at the kitten then at Jace.

Jace

He embraced her as the kitten purred in delight. Veronica mewled and rubbed her head against Lilly.

Lillyann

Lilly smiled, still petting Veronica. She smiled, rubbing the kitten on her neck.

Jace

He tenderly kissed her, holding her softly. He rubbed Veronica as well, letting his hand meet Lilly's.

"I love you.."

He murmured softly, looking at her beautiful eyes.

Lillyann

Lilly smiled. Looking at him.

''I love you too..''

she responded quietly. Looking at him and smiling a bit, letting her fingers intertwine with his.

Jace

He kissed her again and cupped her face in his hands, smiling softly.

Lillyann

She smiled, her arms resting on his shoulders and her hand connecting behind his neck.

Jace

"Lilly, there was something else I wanted to say for a very long time."

He said, looking nervously at her.

"Look at the envelope in Veronica's collar."

Contained in it was a gemstone--not a diamond, for he wasn't comfortable with the fact that most of them were blood diamonds. It was an elegant, polished turquoise, because it reminded him of her eyes. When she opened the envelope, he went down on a knee and asked,

"Lilly, will you marry me?"

Lillyann

Lilly listened, doing what he said. Looking at the gemstone and looking at him. Nodding a few times and answering.

''Yes.''

She said, her voice filled with excitement and joy. While a smile spread across her face.

Jace

He hugged her tightly.

"I'm so happy, Lilly."

Lillyann

Lilly hugged him back not wanting to let go.

''I am too. I love you.''

Jace

He kissed her passionately and wrapped his arms around her.

Lillyann

Lilly kissed him back, in the same manner and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Jace

He caressed her face and pulled away for a moment, falling on the couch when Veronica playfully pounced on him.

"No, no, Veronica! I'm taken."

He said as he ruffled her ears. She purred softly and lay down on his lap, wanting Lilly to pet her too. She batted at her and mewled softly.

Lillyann

Lilly plopped down next to him, laughing at his comment when Veronica playfully pounced on him. She petted her along her sides and on her neck behind her ears. She layed her head on Jace's shoulder.

''Jealous much Verinica?"