f o u r t e e n

"Will we ever see Grace again?" Susie asks.

Their arms swing back and forth as they walked along the footpath, in the evening chill.

"Yes," he replies, many thoughts still floating in his mind, refusing to settle down. "Probably."

"She's so pwetty isnt she." Susie sighs dreamingly, adding an extra bounce to her step as she hopes over a crack in the pavement.

He doesn't so anything in reply and the pair continue walking.

All of a sudden, his sister stops in her tracks.

"Ewiot, why did she have all those machines plugged into her? Is she a machine or robot? She looks like a human to me..." Susie say thoughtfully with her brows scrunched in confusion.

He looks down at his sister. There are some days where he is still so astounded by her innocence and lightness and he hopes Susie will always maintain this.

But realistically he knows that he can't keep her this way forever, even if she keeps her abundant hope and light, she will grow up. Maybe even outgrow and mature beyond him.

"Ewiot."

He looks down when he feels a persistent tugging on his sleeve.

"You didn't answer my question." Susie says this with a pout.

"No she's not a robot," Elliot pauses, "At least I don't think she is..."

He sees Susie's startled reaction and laughs, "No I'm joking with you. Grace is most defintely human just like you and me."

"Ohhh, but why does she have all those wires then?

"Well, because sometimes she goes to sleep and no one can wake her up, so they have those machines to help her stay alive."

Susie gasps. "So she really is Sleeping Beauty!"

"I guess she is," he says.

They continue to walk hand in hand without another word exchanged.

"Want a piggyback ride?" He offers.

She eagerly nods in excitement and Elliot bends down to her level to allow her to jump on.

"Woah, you're growing bigger aren't you, little angel," he says, heaving the little girl up higher on his back.

She giggles happily.

"Oooo look Ewiot! All the snowflakes!"

Susie points up to the dark sky as it starts to litter down with drifting white crystals.

Snow.

Grace.

"Come on, we better get home before we freeze over and turn into snowmen..." He says.

"OH NO HURRY EWIOT! I DON'T WANT TO BE A SNOWMAN!"

Laughing at the panicking state of his sister, they speedily walk down the street, all the while Elliot humming songs from Frozen and Susie thumping him on the back with her fist in annoyance.

"Do you want to build a snowman..."

"EWIOT STOP IT."

When they finally reach the front yard of their house, Susie swiftly lands on the ground on both feet and runs to the front door.

"Come on let's go and play..."

Elliot takes out the front door key out of his coat pocket, luckily remembering it this time, and unlocks the door.

She rushes in and once indoors, Susie lets out a relieved sigh.

"Phew, we're safe for now," the little girl exclaims as she takes off her beanie. "We almost became snowmen Ewiot! That wouldn't have been good but luckily we made it out alive."

Shaking his head in amusement, he helps her to remove her boots.

"Now let's prepare dinner. Spag-Bol or Noodle Soup?"

"Noodles please!"

"Noodles it is."

He sets to work in the kitchen and hears the sound of the television turning on in the other room before the soft thud collapsing onto the couch just as the opening theme of Adventure Time is coming to an end.

Elliot grumbles to himself, almost fed up with the show and its back to back episodes running every single weeknight for the past month and Susie failing to miss even a single episode.

He is attempting to rip open a noodle packet, pulling it with his teeth as he can't be bothered scavengering for the scissors before he notices that Susie is standing by the doorway with a thoughtful look on her face, staring absentmindedly at the floor.

The television is still playing, lively sounds and bangs muffled in the background.

"Ewiott?"

"Yes Susie what's up?"

He puts the packet out of his mouth and down on the table to face her.

"Do you think..." Susie hesitates for a moment, her sock covered feet shuffling together.

Socks with Elsa's face on them of course.

"Do I think what?" He prompts her gently.

Susie pauses for a moment before shaking her head and jolting her head up.

"Never mind big brother."

Before he can say anything, Susie swiftly skips back to the television.

He sighs and carries on.

[a/n: this chapter has been revised as of 27/01/17]