CJ was feeling a little better as the minutes progressed. She stretched to sit upright, and smiled when she saw Brenda head her way.

"Sweetie, are you feeling better?" She said and touched her forehead.

"A little. It....comes and goes." CJ and smiled weakly. "How was the rest of the wedding?"

"Magical!" She touched her head again. "A fever on today of all days, what are the chances?" She said with a head shake. "I got some bad news, your dad and I are leaving for our honeymoon today."

"Okay, have fun."

"I know I'll probably worry about you too much, so I'm sendin' a friend over to check up on you 'till we get back."

"Kay, I'll be here." She hugged her tightly.

Brenda looked at her one last time and closed her window. She headed downstairs to get her luggage. CJ saw that her Simu-mages were still exposed. She sighed and went to close them. When she heard her father's voice, she jumped into bed and nestled into her blankets. Malcolm lingered in her doorway.

"Cicely? Are you awake?" He asked and crept inside.

He looked at the Net and saw the images of Patrice throughtout their marriage, he shuddered. He sat on the side of her bed, and touched his daughter's head.

"If you really are awake--I want to apologize for how I've been. I don't know if you'll forgive me, but just know that you are still my little girl." He kissed her head and went back downstairs.

CJ opened her eyes, she heard the door close and started to cry into her pillow.

She sat up when she heard a noise from her HC, It was a message from Doug.

It was a responsive text: MS. CICELY DIXON, WILL YOU BE MY DATE TO THE JUNIOR GALA? YES OR NO?....DOUGLAS YORK.

   CJ smiled through tears, and typed YES. She laughed when he sent back what looked like digital fireworks. He replied: SEE YOU THERE, HONEY. She laughed and decided to try on her new gold dress. She fixed her hair the best way she could, and put on some jewelry. When she heard the doorbell, she headed downstairs to answer it. She twirled in her dress and smiled.

"I've got a date!" She said to herself and opened the door. Although CJ knew that she was dying, one night out with her friends couldn't hurt her. When she opened the door, she could've screamed from who she saw.

"Hi. Wow! You look great in that dress." Peter said, She swallowed hard. He was still wearing his tuxedo, but he loosened his tie. She pulled him inside by his collar, she was frantic.

"W-What are you doin' here!? Did anybody see you? You can't just show up at my place!"

"Okay, next time I'll be a burglar and break in. OR I could creep into your bedroom." He joked, she lunged her fist at him, but he grabbed it and held it behind her back.

"Okay sorry, please let go."She asked, he released her.

"Gold looks good on you. You goin' somewhere?"

"No, it's my dress for the Gala."

"Oh!" He looked away. "Is it right for me to see you in that?"

"It's a dance--not a wedding, Pretty Boy. You didn't answer my question." She said

"I'm here to see you--haven't seen you in awhile. I missed you." He touched her chin. "You made a good flower girl."

"Yeah? It was my first try. I am glad you're here though."

Peter leaned in to kiss her. "I'm glad too."

CJ nudged him again. "W-We need to talk."

Peter sighed and sat on the couch. "Okay, what's wrong?"

CJ sat in a chair across from him. "The timing, it's ALL wrong." She touched his hands. "What you wrote at TAPS, did you mean it?"

"Absolutely." He stated

"I was afraid of that." She sat next to him, and locked her fingers with his. "I'm dyin', you know."

"I know, but you can't. People need you here." CJ was speechless by his words.

She knew what he really meant, but why couldn't he say it to her?

She sighed and touched his face.

"Why couldn't I have met you before?"

"Maybe you did, it IS a small world."

"True, but I think I still would've hit you with my auto." She laughed, and so did he. Peter sighed and pulled her closer to him. They layed quietly on the couch, and she rested her head on his chest.

"This feels nice. Thanks." She closed her eyes slowly.

"Welcome. You goin' to sleep on me, Girlie?"

"No, just rejuvenating from my fever."

"I THOUGHT you were overly warm." He sighed. "D-Do me a favor, CJ?"

"Anything." She sighed with content as she nestled his torso

"Don't die on me." CJ hesitated and sat up. She looked up at him, he stared at her. "I-I'll try, Pete." She said

"Are you scared?"

"Yes." She placed her legs on the floor and he did the same. "I'm scared of what I'll leave behind. My family, my friends--you."

He touched her hand. "I can't imagine how hard this has to be for you. Your family doesn't even know."

"I CAN'T tell them, 'cause that would mean exposure for you guys! My friends don't even know about this."

"Um, actually your friend Noelle? She knows."

"W-What?"

"Yeah, she was under our Sanctuary too."

"Ooookay." She said confused, she got up and went to the kitchen, Peter followed.

"What will you do, when I'm gone?" She pulled out some vegetables, a pot, and cheese.

"Well, I won't be anywhere near here--so I'll probably be on the road." He watched her. "Uh, that's Gazpacho, as in COLD soup."

CJ hesitated "Oh, well never mind then." She leaned over to him "Will you at least come to my funeral?"

"Absolutely. I'd like to see how other people see you. I might even write a little somethin' myself."

"R-Really?"

"Yeah, so THEY can see you through my eyes." He smiled, they leaned in for a kiss, but he stopped and pulled away. Peter listened closely.

"What's wrong?" She inquired

"Rangers. They're out there." He whispered

"What? How do you know?"

"The tire treads on the ground--they're tank-sized."

She thought for a second. "Well, Brenda DID say somethin' about someone checkin' up on me." Peter stood against the wall. CJ opened the door, and saw Sgt. Gainor walking her way.

"Who is it?" Peter asked

"It's just one Ranger--Sgt. Bonehead."

"Who?"

"T-Timothy Gainor, he's a family friend or somethin'." She explained

   The Sergeant was now in ear-shot of her. "Hello, Ms. Dixon. You seem to be feeling much better. Your parents asked me to look in on you while they're away." He stepped forward, CJ gripped the door.

"Now's not a good time, Sir. I'm still sick you know."

Gainor looked at her skeptically. "Not too sick to change into a dress." He pushed past her and looked around. She panicked when he closed the door, but Peter wasn't there.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"S-Sure--yes, Sir."

"Why are you wearing a dress?"

"I was just tryin' it on for the Gala." She explained, she watched him go through the refrigerator.

"Well, it seems you have everything you need here." He closed the fridge, and walked over to her.

"Feel better, Ms. Dixon." She nodded, He left to enter his vehicle.

She closed the door, and peered around.

"Pete? Are you still here?" She flinched when she heard a thump upstairs.

She was relieved when she saw him walking down the stairs.

"Sorry. Picked the wrong room."

"Where'd you go?"

He replied by touching her head. "I gotta go."

"Okay, be careful."

"No worries, Girlie--I'll see you soon." He turned toward the door.

"Hey! Why didn't you try to heal me? It's just a fever."

"It's a fever, from a virus. Ar-bours can only heal the NATURAL stuff, not man-made." He explained

"Oh okay. Save you a dance?"

"Lookin' forward to it." Peter took off his tie.

   Once outside, he jumped into the ground. CJ watched him disappear, and closed the door. She touched her heart, and laughed to herself.