Then that gut drop feeling as her big sister's reflection appears in the mirror behind her, sporting the biggest fake-genuine smile she's ever seen. She's so happy for her. Really, truly, she is. So happy she just can't keep her hands off her.

"I've never seen you look so beautiful."

It's just a loving cuddle, an affectionate caress of the cheek. Just wants to hold her close. But they both know it's more than that.

"Sis... We promised we wouldn't anymore. We can't anymore."

Big sis tries to seem reassuring, like it's nothing major. Just some gentle affectionate cuddling, a well-wishing. But they both know it's more than that.

She's so happy for her. Really, truly, she is. So, so, so happy.

Fingers tighten. Arms tremble.

Truly she is.

Their thoughts are both racing, memories cast back to a simpler time. Simpler? Maybe not the right word exactly. A time when their world was smaller, at least. Fewer people in it. When it felt like it was just the two of them. A time when they were alone, but they were together, and the world was cruel and frightening, but they were together. A time when little sister was always scared, and big sister knew just how to comfort her. She can feel big sister's breath hot on her neck.

"Sis... Why? Why do you have to do this now?!"

She turns and looks big sis in the eye indignantly, trying to steady her breathing so her cheeks won't look as red as they are. But she can't hold eye contact for long before her gaze falls to the floor in embarrassment. The both of them have had years to move on from this; little sister really thought she had.

Her steadied breathing catches in her throat when a finger catches her chin, tilting her face upwards again.

She expects to see the kind of face to which she'd grown so accustomed back then: A stern, cold, almost emotionless gaze that she could sense the faintest hint of real love behind if she squinted hard enough. She's grown good at recognising it. It's so faint, so distant, but it's there. It's warm enough, it's protective, it's damn near obsessive, and it's genuine. More genuine than most anything she's felt from another person in her lifetime.

She's certainly not expecting to see that love laid bare, plain on big sister's face, through flowing tears and reddened cheeks. In all the years the two have been committing to their sordid dalliance, this is the most real, genuine love she's ever allowed to let show. And it's all for her precious, darling, ever-so-cherished little sister.

"I miss you so much," big sister blurts out through sobs, "so fucking much. And now I'm gonna miss you even more."

And little sister can't hold herself back any longer either. Their lips meet at last. At long last. It's been years.

She loves her. She's happy for her. Really, truly, she is.