Raelyn's world is black and white. Shades of gray and dark shadows lurking in her dreams. She only ever sees the color blue. Blue in the eyes of her sick little brother. Blue in her own eyes staring back at her from the mirror. Blue in the sadness o...
TW: Unintentional self harm and a bit of blood in this chapter, but I swear it ends nicely
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It's quite early in the morning, judging by the digital time on the DVD player, a soft dim light casting through the windows. Louis rubs his eyes, wondering when he fell asleep on the couch, with an elbow digging into his spine. Niall is sleeping in an uncomfortable position half on top of Louis; explains the elbow. He hears a clutter coming from the kitchen, which he now realizes is what woke him in the first place.
Carefully slipping off the couch so Niall doesn't fall off, he pads his way to the kitchen, stepping over a sleeping Liam on the floor in the process, Zyan and Harry no where to be seen. MaryAnn is shuffling around the kitchen, taking a mug from the drying rack and setting the kettle on the stove. She turns around and spots Louis, pausing for a moment.
"I can do that for you." Louis offers politely.
MaryAnn smiles gratefully but waves him off. "No need, dear. Jasper just left. Sorry if I woke you. Would you like a cup?"
Nodding, Louis takes a seat at the island counter on one of the stools. He watches as Rae's mother moves around, notices when she rubs at her swollen, bloodshot eyes. Her light blonde hair is twisted up into a bun, and it looks so much like Rae's when her hair is falling out after she's slept with it. She's wearing a fluffy blue robe that makes the colour of her eyes pop against it, and again, Louis is struck with how much Rae looks like her mother. How much Ronan looked like both of them; same blue eyes, same smile, the soft roundness of his cheeks whenever he smiled; exactly like Rae. He wonders how much worse it is to lose a child, if the level Rae is on is a thousand times worse for MaryAnn. Sadly, he knows it is.
"Are you hungry?" Louis asks, hoping that she'll actually eat something. "Rae made cupcakes, but we can call them muffins so they sound healthier."
MaryAnn sets a mug of tea in front of Louis, staring at him for a moment. Then, she laughs. "It does sound better, doesn't it." She pats his hand fondly. "Milk, love?"
"No thanks, just sugar please." Louis smiles. He's elated that he made her laugh, something he has to tell Rae when she wakes up. MaryAnn places a bowl of sugar and spoon on the counter. "Rae's been worried about you. Doesn't think you're eating enough."
Sighing, the older woman considers this. She eyes one of the cupcakes in a container. Then, she turns, pops the lid open, pulls the paper wrapper down and takes a big bite. It's nothing close to a proper meal, but it'll do for now. She finishes the treat while Louis stirs sugar into his tea, taking cautious sips.
"You are so good for her, Louis." MaryAnn tells him, smile growing soft as the dawning light begins to turn into a gentle gold. "I've never seen someone care for her like she deserves. You do, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. For all of you lovely boys."
"I love your daughter, Ms. White." Louis confesses, eyes dropping to his steaming cup of tea. She deserves to know, and figures Rae hasn't really had time to sit down with her mother and tell her.
