Love Quotes

ok, so as i promised, here's the new fic. i probably should explain it. the part in itallics is present tense. the part written normally is the past, but i figured since most of the story takes place in the past, it'd be crazy to do it all in italics, so. also, thanks to willriley for telling me how to do the italics and whatnot. if y'all have any questions let me know. if not, enjoy.

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She looked in the mirror over the dresser in her room, delicately pinning a stray curl back out of her face. She bent down, carefully slipping on her heels, reaching out for the dresser for balance. The warm late spring breeze she felt drifting in through the open window permitted the simple dress that fell just below her knees to sway gently.

A soft knock on the door and she turned to find her sister walking in, "Hey."

"Hey," she nodded in response before turning back to the vanity to check her make-up one last time. She wanted to make sure she looked beautiful.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good," she nodded, turning to her sister with a soft smile. "I wanted to say thanks."

"For what?"

"I know this hasn't being easy for you. I understand that you don't understand what we have. I mean, she's the love of my life," she smiled, thinking of her fondly. "More importantly, she's my best friend. I just don't know how else to explain it to you."

Her sister nodded.

"So, I guess I just wanted to say thanks for being here. It means so much to me--to both of us," she explained, wiping a way a gentle tear.

Her sister pulled her into a hug, "I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

"So, are you ready to go?" her sister asked, pulling away after a moment.

"Um, can you give me a couple more minutes?"

"Sure, but the limo's waiting."

She nodded, watching as her sister exited the room. She looked back in the mirror once more, her stomach churning. Honestly, she never thought she'd live to see this day. She could still remember the first time she saw her. Well, technically it wasn't the first time she looked at her. It wasn't even the first time she talked to her, but it was the first time she saw her. She actually reminded her of an angel.

She couldn't help but smile, a quote she heard once running through her mind. She had always been a fan of lyrical quotes.

"Sparkling angel I believe
You are my savior in my time of need.
Blinded by faith I couldn't hear
All the whispers, the warnings so clear."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Kelly! Kelly!"

Kelly laughed, she hadn't even had time to take off her heels as she entered recreation area before a small child was tugging on her sundress. She smiled gently as she knelt down before the girl. She looked absolutely adorable in her overalls with her big green eyes and green bandana covering her bare head. She was barely six years old. And she wouldn't make it till her seventh birthday, Kelly thought to herself sadly.

She had been looking for a new charity and after Jason had bought a house in Tennessee, St. Jude's seemed like a logical choice. She would come here often on her days off. It had been hard at first, being in a place that should have been so full of sadness. She soon learned however, that that wasn't the case. The children there had to have been some of the most amazing examples of human beings she had ever come into contact with. They were always smiling and full of hope. The joy that would spread through their eyes when she'd come visit was unbelievable. Didn't matter whether she was there just to say hi, or to play a few games, or to sing, they made her feel as if she were the luckiest person in the world just to be able to know them.

"What do you need sweetie?" she asked with a soft smile.

"You're late," she replied, her eyebrows furrowing together in an attempt to look stern, but only making her more adorable.

"I'm sorry, Alex," Kelly apologized. "But I had to go to a lunch banquet."

The little girl beamed in excitement at the fact that Kelly remembered her name, "How long are you here today?"

"I'm gonna be here all afternoon," she assured her.

"Are you gonna sing?"

"Have you eaten your lunch today?"

The tiny girl looked down at the floor, "I have a tummy ache."

"Well, how about you ask your nurse just to fix you a little snack, ok? If you at least try to eat something, I'll sing for you."

"Really?"

"Yes ma'am," Kelly smiled.

"Where are you going?"

"I was just gonna go in the game room, see who's all in there. How about you come meet me after you've eaten."

"Cool beans," Alex beamed.

"Cool beans," Kelly nodded with a laugh, watching the small girl hurry off to her room.

She began to make her way across the room to the door that led to the game room when she felt something run into her side with an "oomph".

Kelly immediately helped the boy to his feet. He was about ten with his blonde hair falling in his eyes, and was nearly the same height as her. She silently reminded herself to leave her heels on the next time, no matter how much they hurt.

"Hey," he smiled apologetically.

"Hey Luke, where's the fire?"

"I heard you were here," he replied, trying to catch his breath.

"Yep," she laughed. "Right here. Why? Do you need something?"

"I thought you'd want to see," he said, his eyes lighting up.

"See what?"

"I mean, you're friends right? You're both Idols, and you're both famous. Of course you're friends. So, I thought it'd be a good surprise. I mean, who doesn't like to see their friends? I know I do. I love it when my friends come visit. Or when I get to leave here and go hang out with them. I swear, that's like the most awesome feeling ever."

"Luke?" Kelly smiled.

"Yea?"

"Breath."

"Okay," he nodded.

"Now, who are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on," he said, tugging on her arm and dragging her to the game room. As soon as they entered, several other of the what she called "regulars" ran up to her excitedly. It had been about a month since her last visit, having to do some promotion over seas. As she was handing out hugs and catching up with everybody, Kelly felt a slight chill run down her spine as if someone were watching her.

Luke tugged on her arm again, and she turned to him. He pointed towards the sofas across the giant room that were facing the television on the opposite wall. She caught a somewhat familiar pair of eyes looking at her curiously from over the back of the couch. The way the sunlight was shining through the window onto her, almost made it seem as if she were glowing. Kelly couldn't help but let out a slight laugh as two adorable little girls climbed all over the country singer.

"Carrie," Luke smiled proudly. "She's your friend, right?"

"Um, yea, I know her," Kelly nodded as some of the kids pulled her along to the television area.

"Hey," Carrie smiled, eyeing her curiously. She reached out her hand and Kelly took it softly. Carrie couldn't help but laugh as her eyes went from Kelly's dress to her bare feet. "What are you doing here?"

"Hanging out with my cool friends," Kelly replied, making the children along with Carrie laugh. "You?"

"The same," she nodded as one of the girls that was with her started to blow a really big bubble with her gum. She tugged on Carrie's sleeve frantically, making her look. "I don't know," Carrie shook her head. "I think you might need more gum."

Kelly raised an eyebrow.

"Claire's trying to blow the world's biggest bubble," Carrie explained.

"Kelly! Kelly! Kelly!"

The two singers' eyes searched the room for the source of the tiny voice. Kelly smiled as she saw Alex rushing to her.

"Slow down girlie," Kelly smiled. "You're gonna wear yourself out," she said, looking at her worriedly. The small girl looked considerably pale. "Here," Kelly said, picking her up and bringing her onto her lap. "Take a breather."

Alex sat there, trying to catch her breath.

"Did you eat something?" Kelly asked worriedly.

"I had half a PB&J sandwich," she said proudly.

"Wow," Kelly smiled. "How's your tummy?"

"It's ok," she nodded, looking around her for the first time, realizing that there were quite a few other children surrounding them. That's when she turned to the lady sitting next to her. Her already big eyes grew wide as her jaw dropped.

"Alex," Kelly smiled. "Would you like to meet Carrie Underwood?"

Alex just nodded, her mouth still hanging open.

"Well, Alex this is former American Idol and country superstar, Carrie Underwood. Carrie, this is probably the coolest chic you'll ever meet, Alexandra Defrank."

The small girl scrunched up her nose.

"But everyone calls her Alex," Kelly finished.

"Hey Alex," Carrie smiled.

"Kelly's gonna sing for me," Alex beamed.

"Is she?" Carrie laughed, turning to Kelly.

"A promise is a promise," Kelly nodded.

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"So how long have you been volunteering here?" Kelly asked as she and Carrie exited the hospital together.

"This would be my second time," Carrie replied. "I didn't think it'd be this hard."

"It gets better," Kelly assured her.

"I don't know. I mean, it's not exactly fair is it? Kids that young and innocent. They haven't even had enough time to do anything wrong. How do they deserve this?"

"They don't," Kelly agreed. "But you'll soon realize that those kids are probably some of the strongest people you know. And maybe their purpose is too big for us to even realize."

Carrie nodded, lost in her own thoughts.

"You seemed to be really good with kids. It looked like they really liked you," Kelly commented.

"Kids are easy," she shrugged. "They're untouched by society, so they're just so open and so nonjudgmental. It's refreshing."

"Yea," Kelly nodded, studying her out the corner of her eye.

"So," Carrie stopped as they reached her car. "It was nice seeing you again."

"Yea, you too."

"See you around?"

"I guess so," Kelly replied with a slight wave as she made her way to find her own vehicle.