Food, drinks, music, games and socializing swarmed the foyer and dining hall as evening came around. Many friends have gathered for the little celebration. The dress code was casual, so many came in as they are. There were even plentiful dance routines and prizes lined up to maximize the fun.

About an hour in, after some minor searching, the pink friend noticed that her sister had been missing in action. She couldn't really guess where she might've gone, but their bedroom was going to be her first stop. She hurried there after letting her friends know.

Berry shouldn't even have a need to feel the way she does, and yet it's been pretty persistent. Her heart had just been empty since her sister's memories returned. She was eager to help her back before, but why would she be feeling like this? Shouldn't she be happy for her? She sighed as she gazed intently at their first portrait together before placing the frame face down on her nightstand.

"...Hope they'll have fun for me." She said quietly.

"What do you mean?"

The familiar voice nearly spooked her.

"Cherry…?"

"You're missing the games downstairs!" She began opening the door. "You helped out, so at least partake in-...!"

The picture frame on the nightstand was the only thing that made her side practically vacant. Two small suitcases rested atop of her bed.

"...Sis? What's going on?" The pink friend asked as she entered. "Why are all of your things packed?"

"...Think it's best for me to take off," she answered, avoiding eye contact. "I honestly didn't expect you to find me so soon."

"Of course I had to look for you. You disappeared after the start of the party! Please tell me...Why are you leaving us? ...Why are you leaving me?"

"...You have everything you could ever want here, Cherry," she looked at her. "You've said it yourself before your past memories returned. You felt that it was destiny to be here. Outside of home, I've never seen you shine so much. I've never seen you so happy in this element, and...I can't help but always be jealous of that."

Cherry continued to listen in silence.

"You've been remembered for so many things: resourceful, kind, dependable, and super talented. But me? Remembered for being obsessed, getting whatever I wanted, and casting others aside for my own personal gain." She looked down. "It had always been about me...and there's nothing good about that. I mean...what redeeming qualities could I possibly have?"

"...Respect."

The magenta friend glanced at her.

"You are respectful, intuitive, ambitious and fearless. The fact that you allowed Bloo to choose me after my return was respect. The fact that you've been looking out for me on my road to remembering who I was meant to be was intuition. The fact that you went great lengths to bring me back shows ambition. The fact that you fought through the consequences of your past actions in an attempt to redeem yourself proves that you're fearless. All of those things prove that you really care a lot about me."

Berry sighed.

"...But why do I find that a problem?" She asked. "When I had lost my memories before, I had believed this was the chance for me to redeem myself. This was the chance that I could actually start over and hope others would think I'm deserving of being the "Sweetest Girl in the World." But Mac and Madame Foster had to remember...and then everyone else followed."

"If that was your goal, why did you go out of your way to bring me back?"

"Because…" she paused. "...Because I hated seeing Bloo in pain! I always wanted to protect his smile! I always wanted to protect his oblivious nature! I didn't want anyone else to have him but me!"

Cherry didn't expect her sister to suddenly escalate, let alone notice tears slide down her face as she slowly approached her.

"I've worked so hard to please him...I've worked so hard to make him notice me enough that something would finally spark! But he's an idiot! He was too dense to see that in me!" She sobbed, resting her hands on Cherry's shoulders to lightly shake her. "But...why do I still love him!? It's not fair…!"

"...Love happens in unexpected ways," the pink friend replied. "It's always been fate that plays a part."

"Why can't I just be happy for you…? I'm such a terrible sister...It only hurts more seeing you with him, let alone how others view me now because of the past..."

"And how do you think I'd feel if you left?"

Berry dropped her arms.

"What about my feelings, Berry? You don't think I have a say in this? You don't think I care about you or your feelings? You don't think it's destiny for us to stay together?"

"O-Of course I do! It's just…!"

"It's just?"

"...Why would anyone care about me after what I did!? Don't I just get in the way!?"

The magenta friend was embraced in a hug.

"...The only one that's in your way is you."

The sister couldn't believe what she just heard.

"Of all the years I've known you, you never knew what it meant to give up. Since my return, no one has thought about your past. They've only looked into who you are now."

"...So what does that make me? What can I do to be genuine…?"

"Who you are now...is genuine. And you know who has recognized you the most?"

"Who…?"

"Bloo."

Berry was taken aback.

"He...He really noticed?"

"...I have."

The magenta friend nearly appeared in shock as Bloo entered the room.

"So this is where you both have been."

"How much did you hear?" Cherry asked.

"I hope I heard enough." He walked closer to Berry. "Want to know something? Back when I believed Cherry was you, she taught me to respect both of you. I had first acknowledged you when you went great lengths to bring Cherry back. You've taken care of her, kept her company, and treated her what it meant to be a part of the Foster family. From then on I never once compared you to what you were before, because I discovered that this is the happiest you've ever been."

He had a point. Before, the relationship between both sisters had always been strained. It wasn't their fault that they were separated, and that disconnection alone might have caused Berry to change. Without her twin for comfort, she turned to Bloo for attention. When others circled him, she worked to get him all to herself. She couldn't care less about others...all because she was separated from her sister. Without her, she was alone. Behind her mask of confidence was a face that feared detachment.

"You do belong here, sis," Cherry answered, smiling. "And with me here, we'll never be separated again."

To know to have their words behind her, more tears slipped down her face. The pink friend continued to hold her tightly.

"...I'm such an idiot," Berry said quietly. "I always thought I was the one looking out for you, but it turns out to be the opposite."

"I learned from the best."

"Would things be different if I hadn't taught you through tough love?"

"Perhaps. Then I still would've had my favorite book!"

Bloo smiled as the sisters partook in laughter. The magenta friend wiped her eyes and parted from the embrace.

"Thank you both...for everything," she said. "I'm sorry for all the trouble."

"It's all right," the blue friend replied. "So are you gonna return to the party, or what?"

"Yeah, but on one condition."

He was in for quite a surprise when she had suddenly rushed in to plant a peck on his cheek.

"...Make sure you don't break her heart, okay?" She whispered with a happy, but demeaning tone.

Too bad it wasn't quiet enough to prevent Cherry from bopping a fist on her head.

"There's no need to play bodyguard." She smiled.

"I know, I know...I'm just messing with him."

Surely Bloo has nothing to worry about, being as oblivious as he is in some cases. But that was beside the point. They had a party to get back to.

The pink friend was right. Living here had always been destiny.

THE END