(no subject)

[awesome_lilly]

Mel is out somewhere, probably training or with Mike, and so Lilly's taking this time to start decorating her room. There's music playing, and she's sorting through the pictures she's gotten since she arrived at the bar. The ones of her and Susan in silly hats make her laugh every time, as do the ones of her and Mal in grass skirts. She's trying to decide which photos will go in which frames when there's a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Lilly calls.

Comments

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"Alain."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly's surprised, but happily so. She flings open the door, beaming.

"What up, sai? Want to see pictures? I have these awesome ones of me and Susan in hats and everything."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He grins a little, despite himself.

"Not right now, thankee."

[awesome_lilly]

"Aw, okay," Lilly says, laughing. "But don't think you can avoid them forever. Hey, you haven't seen my suite yet. Want to come in? I'll give you the grand tour."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He really, really doesn't want to say what he's come to say. Not when she's in such a good mood.

Training from an early age on how to be a bastard does not particularly help. Except that it means he will say it, and not let himself set it aside.

He steps in, with a smile that fades quickly.

"Sure. But maybe not right now." Sober, now, and compassion in his eyes. A little apologetically, "I've a message for you."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly smiles crookedly, catching his mood.

"I don't think you're here to tell me the Prize Patrol's coming up the steps behind you, Alain. So whatever this message is, I'm guessing it's not good. What's up?"

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

Quietly, gently, "Your mother's here again."

He hates this.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly freezes, her eyes wide. She's not smiling anymore and it's a second before she speaks.

"She's back? I thought, after last time..." she trails off.

After last time, Lilly thought she was done. Celeste was gone. She'd never have to see her mother again, never have to stand there and wonder again how it is you walk away from your dying daughter and don't care.

She straightens her shoulders, takes a deep breath, and attempts to keep her voice level.

"Well. What's her message, then?"

It works.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

Compassion, and apology, in his eyes.

He's trying not to think of another time he bore a message like this, and not entirely succeeding.

Gently, "She says she wants to talk to you. You've no need to, if you wouldn't --" A fractional shrug. "-- but I thought you should be warned, either way."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly frowns.

"Why would she want to talk to me? She never even wanted to do that when I was alive. Why now?"

She looks at Alain, her face as calm as she can make it.

"Do you know?"

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"About your brother, she said."

Even gentler.

[awesome_lilly]

She hears brother, and for a second Lilly can't breathe. Oh, God. Donut better be okay.

"If she's here, it's for Duncan, it's got to be..."

Lilly's face is dead pale, but she lifts her chin to look up at Alain, and her eyes are determined.

"Let's go."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He's proud of her.

A single, small nod.

"Okay."

He lets her lead the way.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly heads down the stairs and into the bar, where she catches sight of the group surrounding her mother.