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“So… Why’d you come here?” The blonde girl asks the brunette sitting in front of her.
“To watch over my mom. You?” The latter responds softly.
“Same here. She's going on her first date since…” She paused for a bit, letting out a sigh.
“Since..?” The girl across from Lillie waited for her to continue.
“Since Dad went missing.” Lillie begrudgingly forced herself to say.
“O-oh.” The brown-haired girl whispered, unsure of what to say next.
Silence erupted at the table as the two glanced over at their mothers, making sure they were 100% okay.
“So, uhm… Is Lusamine your mom?” She asked Lillie.
“Mhm. She's been doing better ever since she met Cynthia. Or maybe the Ultra Wormhole messed her up…”
“Hey, hey, quit overthinking! Cynthia's a great gal, I'm sure she helped Lusamine change her ways.” The girl said.
“Hey, I never asked for your name… What is it?” Lillie asked sheepishly.
“I’m Jade! Already know your name from a friend of a friend…”
“Lana? Or was it Mallow?”
“...Lana-”
“Kinda figured.”
The two joked around for a bit, checking if their moms were alright, before going back to giggling over stupid stuff and jokes.
Jade's Eevee and Lillie's Vulpix seemed to be getting along, with the shiny Eevee bouncing around with Vulpix and making happy squeaks.
(Timeskip, a year later [Jade is now 14, Lillie is 13, and Gladion is 15])
It was the dead of night, Lusamine and Cynthia asleep in their shared bed.
Jade was asleep, snoozing away, unaware of the impending dream she was about to have.
(Insert nightmare part here, I'm half asleep rn and don't wanna write this scene)
She awoke with a sob. She put her head in her hands as she wiped her tears.
By then, Gladion and Lillie were her siblings, but to Jade, Lillie was the one she could trust the most as she stood up from her bed, legs shaky with anxiety.
She opened her door to begin walking to Lillie's room to ask if she could sleep there for the night, but her little sister was already there, looking exhausted and drained.
“Can I sleep here tonight..? I had a nightmare…” Lillie murmured softly, rubbing one of her eyes as she held Vulpix in her other hand.
“Of course, c’mon in.” Jade said quietly, inviting Lillie inside as she left the door open just a crack.
“Wanna talk about it?” She asked Lillie, making sure she was comfy before climbing into bed with her with a yawn.
Lillie shook her head, wrapping her arms around her big sis.
They were all snuggled up on this cold night, sleepy as they drifted off.
The next morning, Jade woke up, groggily opening her eyes, seeing Lillie crouched next to her Eevee’s big bed. Eevee and Vulpix were sprawled out across it, all curled up together and napping.
“Mornin’.” Jade yawned, sitting up and getting out of bed.
…odd. Her pillow was tear-stained. She wiped her eyes, seeing that she had been crying again.
She felt upset that she had been crying again, but she looked back on it, and everything that had happened, and realized that it was understandable. She had gotten healthier since Cynthia picked her up after seeing her with her Eevee just wandering around the streets of Sinnoh.
“G’morning, big sis!” Lillie said with a smile on her face.
“... shouldn't we be getting ready for school-” Jade said.
“Also, why are you up so early?? Usually I'm the one who has to wake you up.” Jade mentioned as she opened the curtains and opened the door.
“It's Christmas! Remember? We have to wake up Mom and Ma with big bro!” Lillie said with the brightest grin on her face.
“Oh yeah! Let's go!” Jade said, sprinting down the hall, Lillie, Eevee, and Vulpix following her quickly.
“WAKE UP!!!” Everyone shouted into loudspeakers that Gladion had bought them for this occasion.
“WHAT THE FUCK-” Lusamine shot up, nearly toppling out of bed.
Gladion, Jade, and Lillie snickered loudly, seeing as Cynthia sat up a bit less fast, putting one hand on Lusamine's shoulder and the other on her chest, where her heart was.
“I…” Cynthia said, looking a bit stunned with fear.
“It's Christmas!! Come on! Let's see what presents Santa got us!” Lillie shouted, running out of the room. Jade and Gladion didn't comment on how Santa wasn't real, just a fib made up by everyone. Jade chuckled, before following her little sister into the spacious living room.
The Christmas tree was adorned with bright red baubles all over the tree, shiny, silver garland being strung up. There was a glowing star on the top of the tree, just below it was a picture of the entire family, Pokémon partners included. The picture looked like chaos, but it just showed how much everyone cared for one another.
“Wow… I know we put up this tree at the beginning of December, but still… It's majestic.” Jade mumbled, seeing the bright wrapping paper under the tree, along with some pine needles from said tree.
Gladion knelt down and wiped the pine needles off of the gifts, a small smile on his face.
“I'm glad that you're a part of our family this year, little sis.” He said calmly.
Jade grinned widely. That was the first time he referred to her as his little sister before, and it made her so happy to know that she was truly a part of the family now.
They were now all opening their presents, Jade literally about to cry from how generous these gifts even were. Right now, everyone was bundled up in a themed Christmas blanket, all sewed up by Jade, because she wanted to do something for Christmas gifts.
Gladion had got a HUGE pack of Pokéballs (including Great Balls, Ultra Balls, etc.), and so had Jade and Lillie.
It was time for the last few presents to be opened, and Cynthia took one from under the tree. It was small, but she held it like it could break even by blowing on it.
“To you, my dear.” Cynthia murmured to Lusamine as she sat back down next to her.
Lusamine took it, confusion flashing on her face for a tad bit as she unwrapped it gently. She lifted the lip of the box, only to find wrapping paper. Lots of it. Lusamine seemed confused, but continued to unwrap the paper, bewildered on what it could be. And then she opened it. A wedding ring. Lusamine nearly dropped it, gasping. “I-Is this-?” She didn't finish her sentence, beginning to tear up. All three of the kids watched as Cynthia and Lusamine hugged each other. And then Jade knew. She was gonna be part of this family until the day she died.
And she was more than fine with it.