TUp One Shots

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Yet another long one,

Taz held her breath as she stepped out of the drop pod. Her face showing no emotion. Up walked out behind her and slipped his hand into hers gently, she didn't hold his back, neither did she pull away. He knew how hard this was for her. He didn't speak or move, wanting her to be the first.

After a while of just standing and looking towards the ruins of the once family home, Taz took a small step towards it, Up following her. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, reassuring her that she made the right decision, it had taken her years to come back here. Their boots clicked in the gravel as they walked up the straight driveway. The rest of the town was silent. Nothing happening to it in 10 years, nobody rebuilt, nobody came back. They couldn't.

Taz stopped at the door of her childhood house and looked at the door. It was once bright red with the number 12 in gold on the door, now it was all black from where the fire burnt it. Luckily, the fire only really affected the bottom floor. Up let her hand go and allowed her to walk up to the door. She placed her hand on it and stared at it. She couldn't believe this was her home and after 10 long years, she was back. Slowly, she reached for the door and pushed it open. Inside was just as dark, not the home she knew to be bright, loving and filled with happiness.

Up watched as Taz walked over to the kitchen and closed one of the cupboards. Her mother had always told Taz off for leaving the cupboard doors open. She would make her come downstairs and close them before allowing her to go back up to her room. Up stayed in the doorway, not wanting to intrude into Taz's old home. She walked around the downstairs floor not saying anything until she got to the stairs, she turned back to Up and spoke quietly,

"Do you think the stairs will be ok to walk up?" Up nodded, "Come with me?" He responded by walking over to her slowly and holding her hand again, this time, Taz held it back. They then slowly made their way up the blackened and ruined stairs.

The first door they came to was a door painted bright pink, with the name "Isabella" painted in cursive writing in the middle of the door. Taz's little sister. She had only been 5 when she died at Taz's 15th birthday. Taz had told Up stories about Isabella before. Taz had always described her as a bubbly, energetic, exitable little girl. Taz rested her hand on the knob of the door and after a few seconds, she opened it.  It was exactly how Taz remembered it; Bed against the wall under the window, a small bookshelf with fairytales Taz used to read Isabella before she slept and finally, in the corner of the room was filled with stiffed toys. Most of them were Taz's old toys she passed down to Isabella when she grew up and stopped wanting them.

Up watched Taz with sad eyes, he felt bad for her. He could see she was close to tears, Taz loved her little sister, she died too young and in unfair circumstances. Taz always blames herself for the death of everyone at her party. Up tried so many times to convince her otherwise but he couldn't change her stubborn mind. Taz walked over to Isabella's bed and sat down on it like she used to when she would read to Isabella. Taz picked up a book that was sitting on Isabella's bedside table, it was Cinderella, Isabella's favourite. She would ask Taz to read it to her all the time and Taz could never say no. She opened the book and read it out load in Spanish.

Up stayed by the door and listened to Taz speak in her native tongue. He loved it when she spoke in Spanish. He loved hearing the words roll off her tongue so fluently, it was beautiful to listen to.

(In Spanish) "Goodnight, my little sister. I love you so much." Taz said calmly. She placed the book beside Isabella's bed and got off the bed to see Up watching her. He held out his arms to her but she ignored it and walked out of the room.

She walked to the next room and stopped at the door. She couldn't go in. She might loose if she does. Up appeared behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"It's ok Taz, you're allowed to cry." He whispered.

She took a deep breath and opened the door. She grabbed Up's arm and walked into her old room. Taz had never moved houses in her life. So this was her room. Her room for 15 years of her life and she had so many memories there. Her tears threatened to come out of her eyes but she held back. She walked over to her desk to see abandoned calculus homework she had never finished, then over to her bed and she sat down. Up stayed near the door. Taz took off her shoes they lied down on her bed. There was a crumpling sound under her pillow, she sat back up and picked up her pillow and found an envelope with "Tazmine" written is her fathers handwriting on the front. She hadn't seen her real name in so long. She opened the envelope and red the letter inside.

Our dearest Tazmine,

Happy birthday sweetie! We are so proud of everything you have achieved over the years and we can't believe you are 15 now, it's crazy. We remember when we first brought you home from the hospital and you were our little bundle of joy. You were so beautiful and you have grown into a very beautiful young lady. We both know you didn't really want this party but we know something good was going to come out of it. We just had to have it. We love you so so so so so much! Have a fantastic sleep and we'll see you in the morning.

Love,
Mama and Papa xoxo

Taz finished reading it and burst into tears. She never got to see them again. She never got to thank them for the party. She never got to tell them how much she loved them. She lied down and just cried into her pillow. Up, who had been silently watching decided he couldn't stand back anymore. He approached the bed and sat down on the bed. He pulled Taz into his arms and just held her. He said nothing, he just held her. She clung onto him and cried into his chest, remembering everything that happened the night, everyone she loved and care about die in front of her and she was powerless to stop it. Up rubbed her bad in soothing motions.

"It's ok Taz, I have you." It was all she needed to calm down. She stopped crying and looked up at him. He rested his hands on her cheeks and wiped her tears away.

"Thank you for being here," She whispered, looking into his eyes.

"Anytime, Tazmine." He leant forward and kissed her lips softly, Taz kissed back then hugged him when they pulled away. "Te amo, Tazmine"