Hours passed and Leon and Cecilia were back at his home.

"Are you ready to go, Leon?" Nana asked. Leon was sitting on the stool in the kitchen. He had changed into black slacks and a button up blue shirt. He had asked Cecilia to comb his hair so he could look more presentable. When Cecilia asked him why he was dressing up, he looked away with a sad look on his face.

"Yes, Nana," he said.

He slid off the stool and reached for Nana's left hand. She was dressed in a sky blue dress and was holding a basket full of lilies in her right hand.

They started heading towards the door. Leon outstretched his open hand for her. Cecilia reached for it and started walking with them.

Together they started walking down the street. After ten minutes of walking in silence, she saw a sign that said "White Rose Cemetery".

Then it all clicked. Today had some kind of significance to his mother. Why did Elijah not tell her? Why did Leon not tell her?

Cecilia mentally scolded herself for not figuring it out sooner.

She felt a swirled line on her upper arm move from it's place.

"My tiger, prowl the area for any sins. Make sure to keep a low profile," she thought. The line then moved down her arm and to the sidewalk.

The three of them walked into the cemetery.

"Your father wishes he could be here. You know that, right?" Nana asked. They walked past headstones.

"Yes, Nana," Leon said.

"He's going to come after his shift," she said.

"Yes, Nana," Leon said.

"I can't believe it's been a year since the accident," Nana said quietly but Cecilia was sure Leon still heard her.

She heard Leon sniffle. She tightened her hold on his hand.

"I am sorry, Leon," Cecilia said. She did not expect Leon to answer her.

She saw him move his head slowly up and down to acknowledge her words.

Nana stopped walking in front of a tombstone in the shape of a box with an angel standing on top of it. On the front of the box was inscribed with the words "Here lays Brandy Boston. Beloved wife, mother, and friend. September 10, 2977 -December 20th, 3003." She was 26 when she passed away.

Nana let go of Leon's hand, bent down and laid the basket of lilies in front of the angel. She put her hands together in prayer. Leon kept a firm hold on Cecilia's hand. She bent down in front of Leon and saw that he had been crying silent tears. She wiped them away with the pad of her thumb.

"Your mother is an angel now," Cecilia said, "she still watches over you from above."

"But I want her here with me," Leon looked down.

"Look at me Leon," Cecilia said.

He slowly raised his head. Cecilia pulled him in for a hug. He held onto her tightly and his silent tears became more violent and shook his little body.

"Oh no, Leon," Nana turned to face him and pulled him into a hug. Cecilia became translucent as Nana was hugging him but Leon would be feeling both hugs.

He soon calmed down and let go of the hug.

"Thank you," he was brushing stray tears away with the sleeve of his shirt. Cecilia stayed kneeling to the side of him and rubbed his back gently.

"Blue was her favorite color," Leon said, "that is what Papa says all the time when the sky is nice."

"Blue is a very nice color," Cecilia told him.

She felt a tugging on the back of her brain and when she closed her eyes, she saw a peacock sitting next to an open gravesite. There was a casket laying inside the open hole with a pile of dirt next to it.

The peacock noticed the tiger's presence and stood up and flashed it's feathers behind it. It was a medium level sin but would not be too difficult to overcome.

The tiger was low to the ground, reading to pounce. The peacock stayed where it was, watching the tiger with steady eyes.

Cecilia thought, "make the first move."

The tiger then launched itself at the bird. The bird swung around, trying to dodge, but the tiger was able to get a good scratch on the bird's front. The peacock slammed into the tombstone and the tiger took advantage of the bird's position and pinned the bird down with his massive paws. He then bit down on the peacock's neck.

The peacock started disappearing.

Cecilia opened her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Leon asked her, "were you praying?"

"I was watching our surroundings to make sure we are safe. I will pray right now," she said.

She knelled in front of the angel and put her palms together.

"Hello, Brandy Boston," she thought. A golden shimmer came from the angel statue and then a golden copy of the angel peeled away from the statue and stood in front of Cecilia.

"Who are you?" the angel asked. She stood at approximately three feet.

"My name is Cecilia Purple," she said.

"Will he be able to see me?" Brandy asked.

"I am sorry. No. He might be able to feel your presence but he is not sensitive enough to see you and hear you," she thought back.

She looked at her son with saddened eyes, "I see. How is he?"

"He is a good boy and he has a kind heart," she said, "you must be proud."

"I will be proud no matter what he does," she said, "he is my son."

Cecilia smiled. She wondered if her own mother thought the same thing about her.

"I feel guilty, Cecilia," she said.

"Why?"

"I like being in the Above World. I feel as if I shouldn't since I should want to be down here with my husband and son but it is so comfortable up here. There are no worries. There is no pain," she said.

"Those feelings are natural and to be expected," Cecilia said.

"That is what the other angels told me," she said, "at the very least, I can still watch him from above."

Cecilia let the angel talk.

"I hope he grows up strong, but still kind," Brandy said. 

The angel walked to her son, growing until she was her original size and knelled in front of him, pulling him in a hug. Leon looked around him but did not move his arms to hug her back.

"Do angels cry?" she heard Brandy say.

"No," Cecilia said after a moment of pause.

"Ah. That explains it," she said as she continued hugging her son.

She then stood up and walked back to the headstone, shrinking in size. Her golden body merged with the stone and the shimmering died down until she was completely gone.

*

"Isn't it a good morning," James said as he was standing near the window. The light was shining off his face, illuminating his hair and eyes.

"It is," Cecilia said from the desk.

"Why don't you stand next to me?" James turned and gave her a warm smile.

Cecilia sighed and walked over to him.

"Thank you," he said.

Cecilia looked down at the street of people walking about their everyday lives. It was like looking at a distorted rainbow. Multiple colors full of multiple shades placed at random.

"It's a beautiful view, right," he said.

"Yes," she simply said.

"Is there a reason for today's visit?" He asked, "we were not scheduled to meet until next week."

"Evangeline Green just informed me that she is being sent to the Shadow World tomorrow. I wish to accompany her," Cecilia said.

"Do what you see fit," James said, still looking out the window.

"Yes, sir," she said.

"Any plans for Christmas?" he asked.

"Leon is going to be celebrating with his friend," Cecilia said.

"I remember my first Christmas," he said. He turned and faced her, "you are going to have a great time."

The smile that was on his face seemed genuine enough.

She gave him a small smile, "I hope so."

"Do you know what kind of present you're going to get him?" He asked.

"I have not decided yet," Cecilia said.

"You're smart, you'll figure it out," he said.

"I don't think you need to be smart to pick a Christmas present," Cecilia said, "it's mostly based off of emotions."

James laughed, "You're right. You're right."

"Well, that was all I wanted to discuss with you. I will see you next week," Cecilia bowed her head and turned to walk out of the room.

"What's the haste!" James chased after her and reached for her wrist.

"Let me take you out to eat," James smiled.

Cecilia slowly took her hand out of his, "I had planned to find a present for Leon since I was here. I am sorry, but no."

"I can go with you?" he said this like a question. He was asking for permission.

"Really?" she asked.

"Wait a second," he mumbled. If she had to guess, he was receiving a message.

"Carmen just reminded me that I have a meeting with the other Leaders. Can we have a rain check for the dinner?" he asked.

"Maybe..." she started backing away, "I will think about it." She turned around and quickly walked out of the room.

Text Victor.

I think Leader James asked me out.

Send.

She pressed the 1st floor button on the elevator and leaned against the wall. It did not take long for her to get a reply.

From Victor.

What?!

The elevator landed and she stepped out.

"Have a good day, Cecilia Purple," Carmen said from behind her desk.

"Same to you, Carmen," Cecilia gave her a polite smile before walking out of the building.

Text Victor.

I. Know. He asked if I wanted to get something to eat. Then I said I had to get a present for Leon. He said he would go with me but then he remembered he had an important meeting to go to and asked for a rain check.

Send.

She was walking down the street but realized she had no idea where she was going.

From Victor.

What are you going to do?

.

Text Victor.

I don't know yet. It's still processing in my head. Why would he ask me out?

Send.

.

From Victor.

I guess he finds you attractive. That usually has to do with it.

.

Text Victor.

You think he finds me attractive?

Send.

.

From Victor.

That's what I just said. Wow, Cecilia. You're really off your game right now.

.

Text Victor.

Ugh... I know. I don't know what to do.

Send.

.

From Victor.

Really? I never thought I would hear...or should I say read those words coming from you. Just do what your heart says you should do. Sometimes you only listen to your head. Take some advise from you heart every now and then.

Cecilia stopped walking and read this over again. Listen to her heart? She raised her hand to her chest, over her heart.

What was her heart saying?

Text Victor.

That was really good advise, Victor. Thank you.

Send.

.

From Victor.

You are welcome. I will see you soon. Love you.

.

Text Victor.

I love you, too.

Send.

She looked at her surroundings and realized that she had been walking towards her family home. She sighed figured it would not hurt to go back home. No one was probably home and she could see if there was anything there worth giving Leon.

The walk was not very far and before she knew it, she was inside her old house. There were not many memories tied with this house, not fond ones, at least. She walked into her bedroom and was instantly dissatisfied with what she saw. She had become so used to Leon's colorful bedroom that her own white one just left a bad taste in her mouth. How had she lived in that room for so long?

However, there was something new in the room, something that was not there when she left. A small white picture frame was resting next to her alarm clock on the night stand beside her bed. She walked closer to examine this. The picture was of her with her mother on one side and Victor on the other. This picture was taken a year ago at the Annual Friendly Games where members of each section were chosen to compete against one another. Only students at the Academy could participate and she was chosen to represent Purple. Her mother had taken the day off to support her. This picture was taken after she had been crowned the champion.

Cecilia turned the frame over and saw that there was a small note engraved "Love, Mom". She touched this with her finger.

She decided she was going to leave the picture where it was and then visit her mom.

When she was younger, she loved hearing the story how her mother and father met. He was on a mission and ran into a high level wrath. He was able to defeat it but was severely damaged. Cecilia's mother was the one who healed him. After that day, her father went to the hospital to see her mother every time he was a little bit injured. A sprain ankle, a sore back, anything. Her mother was the one who ended up asking him out since she knew he was not going to ask her first.

The walk was short and before she knew it, she was walking into the hospital. The majority of the healers in white lab coats were Blue. The Blue section had a natural gift when it came to healing but they could be any profession they wanted.

Cecilia walked to the front desk and asked the receptionist where her mother's office was located.

"800," The blue woman smiled.

"Thank you," Cecilia turned and walked to the elevator. There was a red mother and daughter waiting for the elevator as well.

"Is Daddy going to be okay?" the little girl looked up at her mother.

"Daddy is going to be fine," the woman said, "he just needs to rest."

The elevator opened and Cecilia waited for the family to go inside before going in herself.

"What floor?" the mother asked.

"Eight. Please," Cecilia gave her a polite smile. The little girl looked up at her in awe. Cecilia gave the little girl a polite smile, as well.

"Are you strong?" the little girl asked her.

"Excuse me?" Cecilia said.

"You have a lot of black lines on your clothes. Daddy says only strong Friends get black lines," she said.

"I guess I am strong. Are you going to be strong?" Cecilia asked the little girl.

The little girl nodded her head with determination, "yes!"

The doors to the elevator then opened.

"Goodbye, little girl. I hope your father heals fast," Cecilia said.

"Thank you," the woman bowed her head.

Cecilia bowed her head and placed her hand over her heart.