//------------------------------// // Memories // Story: Before the Friendship Games: Sunny Flare // by CapNTilfy //------------------------------// Sunny was discharged from the hospital within a couple of hours. She stumbled a little as she got out of the wheelchair, the sedatives slowly leaving her system. As she waited for the family car to pull up, she found herself looking back to the first time she and Rutherford had met. --------------------------- It was a nice and sunny spring day. The birds were chirping and people were walking their dogs. Sunny was sitting on a park bench, enjoying the weather. She blinked as a tall, muscular man looked over her. "Is this seat taken?" The stranger asked. Impressed by his physique, she giggled in spite of herself. "No." She said. "If you want to sit here, then by all means." Sunny said with a smile. She could have sworn she saw the young man blush as he sat down next to her, causing her to blush as well. "Name's Rutherford." he said, extending his hand. Sunny simply stared into his eyes and got lost in them until he said "and you are...?" Sunny laughed awkwardly and took his hand. "I'm Sunny Flare." she said. She couldn't help herself as she felt heat quickly rise to her face, feeling the gentle touch of his hand. Rutherford seemed to have noticed this, and blushed in spite of himself. The two looked away from each other, embarrassed. After they had gotten past the initial awkwardness, they struck up a conversation and hit it off. After about an hour, they had to part ways. "Hold on." Said Rutherford. "Why don't we keep in touch?" He said with a smile. Sunny felt herself blush again and nodded. The two exchanged phone numbers and left. ----------------------------- Sunny's father pulled the car up, with her mother in the back seat. Sunny smiled, understanding that her mother had decided to comfort her in the likely event she would need it on the way home. She got into the car, buckled her seatbelt, then leaned on her mother's shoulder as she recollected her first date. -------------------------------- It was a cool Autumn afternoon. Sunny's mother had dropped her off in front of the coffee shop, and Rutherford didn't keep her waiting. He was there within a minute. The two spent their time talking, laughing, and eventually staring into each other's eyes. They scheduled another date for later that week. ------------------------- Sunny sighed, closing her eyes as she remembered the very moment they fell in love with each other. ------------------------------- A few months had passed since their first date, and they had many more after. This date, however, was unlike any they had before. The atmosphere was far more romantic. It was night, and they were taking a walk in the very same park that they had met. They reached the very same bench they first met in, and stared into each other's eyes, getting lost in each other. Rutherford had slowly taken Sunny by the hand and stroked her hair gently. "Sunny Flare..." He said, snapping his girlfriend to attention. Sunny blinked, getting herself reoriented. "Yes?" She said softly. Rutherford hesitated for moment, then took a deep breath and exhaled. He looked her straight into her eyes, his own half-lidded. "Sunny Flare...I love you." He said, smiling. Sunny gasped, heat rising in her face as she put her hands to her mouth. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined someone would fall in love with her. She slowly felt a lump in her throat as her heart pounded like it never had before. She sniffled, slowly being overcome with emotions. "Oh, Rutherford..." Sunny said, her voice quavering. "I love you too...with all of my heart." She said, tears streaming down her cheeks. The two drew close to one another, then embraced in their first deeply passionate kiss. Sunny felt her heart burst into song, feeling sheer joy at Rutherford's touch. ---------------------------- Sunny felt a lump in her throat as these memories flooded through her, and she hugged her mother. ---------------------------------- They night they first made love would remain in Sunny Flare's memories for as long as she would live. They slowly walked into Rutherford's room as his parents were out of town. They kissed deeply and passionately on the bed. They broke the kiss and stared each other in the eyes, affirming their love for each other. Rutherford gently stroked Sunny's hair and gently kissed her neck as she moaned softly. Everything else that happened after that was pure love, as Sunny recalled her heart racing even faster and harder than the night they told each other they were in love. ----------------------------- In the car, Sunny's grip on her mother tightened as she remembered the day she broke the news to her boyfriend. ----------------------------- Sunny Flare had knocked on Rutherford's door, sweating from anxiety. He opened the door and smiled. "Hey, Sunflare." Said Rutherford. Sunny looked inside the house. "Is it just you here?" She asked. Rutherford blinked, then nodded. Sunny slowly walked in, closed the door and led him to the sofa in the living room. "Sunny..." said Rutherford, showing concern in his voice. "Is everything okay?" Sunny started to tear up, then took a deep breath and shuddered. "Rutherford...I'm pregnant." Rutherford's eyes widened in shock. "Sunny...are you absolutely sure?" He said, almost at a whisper. Sunny nodded. "I took a test a couple of days ago. I have no doubt in my mind." Rutherford took a few minutes to process this. "Do you want to keep it?" He asked, his voice filled with concern. Sunny had made her decision the minute she found out, even if her lover was against it. "Yes." She said. "Yes I do." Rutherford smiled and gently stroked her hair. "Then I do too." He hugged her. "You and I will be excellent parents." ------------------------------------ Sunny could barely hold back the tears that she knew were coming when one last memory went through her head. ------------------------------------- Moments after the loss of her child, Sunny was hugging herself tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Rutherford slowly walked over to her, tears of his own flowing. He took Sunny by the hand and held it tightly. She shot towards him and held him as tightly as she possibly could and bawled into his shoulder. Rutherford gently stroked her hair and gave her a soft peck on the cheek. "It's going to be okay, Sunny." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I love you so very much, and we will get through this together." Rutherford's voice cracked. "I will always be here for you. Always." ---------------------------------------- The last word from her memory echoed in her mind as she lost herself in her emotions again, sobbing deeply into her mother's shoulder.