Friends and family of the victims who died Saturday in an apartment complex fire in Lemoore told of a young couple in love with each other and with life.

Derik Andrew Sancineto Faubion and his fiancee, Michell Mattison, both 19, and their 2-month-old daughter, Hayden Allison Faubion, died in the fire, along with Mattison's two step-siblings.

Lexus May Bisnar, 4, and her brother, Ariel Nel Bisnar, 2, were reportedly spending the night with Faubion and Mattison.

"It was always Michell and Derik. They were never apart," said Brooke Beard, Mattison's friend and Hayden's godmother. "It's rare to see such young kids so happy in love."

The couple met as freshmen at Lemoore High School, said friend Candace Cotta. Mattison had a crush on Faubion, and told his older sister.

The rest, they say, is history. Love blossomed for the couple who prepared for life's journeys together before their lives were tragically cut short.

On Saturday around 1:30 a.m. the blaze broke out in the Northgate Apartments on Hazelwood Drive in Lemoore.

The flames destroyed nine units, displacing the families and causing more than $1 million in damages.

Lemoore Fire Chief John Gibson said investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, and the location from which it originated.

The Kings County coroner performed autopsies on the bodies Monday, officials said. Results are expected Aug. 7.

While investigators focus on getting to the bottom of Saturday's incident, the victims' loved ones focused on the memories.

Tie Anderson moved across the street from the Lemoore home of Michell's family the summer before the two started attending Liberty Middle School.

"We had a hard time once school started," recalled Anderson. "I'd go across the street and ask 'Is Michell home?'"

Michell would be home, but couldn't play because she was busy with homework.

"We'd be all sad," laughed Anderson.

What she misses most about Mattison, Beard said, is her bubbly personality.

"She was always so excited," Beard said, with a fond look. "She was always so happy."

She and Mattison spent most of their time in a physical education class talking, said Beard. "We had many talks. It was like our counseling session."

Both Beard and Anderson said from the beginning, Mattison would declare she was going to marry Faubion.

In high school both Mattison and Faubion -- who first arrived in Lemoore from Arizona his freshman year -- were a strong presence on campus, friends said.

A popular athlete, Faubion played baseball for the high school team.

"(Faubion) was the life of the party," said friend Cotta. "He was the guy who could make you laugh and cry at the same time."

After graduation, the couple headed out to Arizona, but soon discovered they were expecting a baby and returned to Lemoore.

When Hayden was born in May, the couple moved into their first apartment. Mattison worked at a Lemoore flower shop, the Ramblin' Rose, while Faubion was employed at Best Buy, a local grocery store.

"He was somebody who knew right from wrong," said Faubion's father, Andy Sancineto.

Faubion chose to become independent, said Sancineto, because he felt it was the honorable thing to do.

Their daughter was at the center of the couple's life.

Sometimes, Anderson said, Mattison would gently prod a sleeping Hayden, hoping the baby would wake so she could hold her.

Mattison was also devoted to her step-siblings, Ariel and Lexus, and frequently baby-sat them.

"She loved those kids," said Beard. "Oh, she loved those kids."

Beard said she is struggling with regrets that she never had a chance to meet her baby god-daughter.

"I kept putting it off," she said. "If anybody has friends, don't put it off. Make time for them."

Beard, who is engaged and in the throes of planning a 2008 wedding, said she was considering putting Michell in her bridal party.

"Now, I'm not going to be able to have her there," said Beard.

At the scene Monday afternoon, the faint smell of charred wood could still be detected in the scorching late afternoon heat. Debris from the fire littered the ground.

A steady stream of vehicles paused to drive by a makeshift shrine to the fire's five young victims.

Flowers in a plastic bottle for a vase stood next to various stuffed animals and a collection of candles burning in glass holders depicting religious symbols.

Handwritten on blue construction paper was a lengthy poem "dedicated to the Hazelwood victims' family and friends with love" from the Shears family.

"Fly angels, fly. It is not the final hour to say good-bye," the poem read. "This day will never be forgotten or ever tucked away 'cause this was the Lord our God's final say."

Adrian Griffith, who works nearby at Save Mart but did not know the fire victims, said he simply came to pay his respects to those who died.

"It's sad," he said, following several minutes of quiet reflection. "It's really sad."

Later that evening, the couple's friends held the second of a series of vigils they will hold every night until Friday's funeral services.

Being together, they said, is a coping mechanism.

Sancineto came down to the scene to take part in the vigil.

"He was an amazing kid," he said of his son. "Just look at his friends."

Though she is still trying to wrap her mind around the tragedy, Beard said her comfort is that Mattison and Faubion will never know what it's like to be without each other.

"It's tough and it's hard, but they're all together," she said.

If interested in helping Mattison's and Faubion's family, an account is set up at the Education Credit Union under Mattison's name. The account number is 11550728.

The money will go to help cover funeral expenses -- which officials say are expected to cost at least $20,000 -- for each of the five victims.

Beard's father, Gordon, a correctional officer, has challenged his fellow guards to each donate $100 to the fund.

Those who wish to donate to all of the fire victims, including families who have been displaced, can donate to the Lemoore Fire Relief account at Stockmen's Bank.

Donations of items such as canned food and furniture can be dropped off at the Salvation Army at 380 E. Ivy St..

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062.

(July 31, 2007)