Wind Beneath My Wings

Wind Beneath My Wings

That night I went to Rachel's room. She was asleep. She was ticked off when I woke her up. But she rolled out of bed and put on a robe and told me she'd never get any sleep with some idiot bird coming in and out at all hours.

Then she showed me the cake. She lit a candle and I blew it out by flapping my wing. Neither of us sang "Happy Birthday." But she said it.

"Happy birthday, Tobias."

< Yeah. Oh, Rachel. That meeting.. >

"It must have been rough," she said sympathetically.

< Yeah, > and you don't know the half of it, I thought.

"So, what exactly did you learn?" she wanted to know.

< Well.. the name of my real father, for one thing, > I replied evasively.

"Which was.." Rachel prodded.

It was so.. so close. Rachel was insisting to know, and I couldn't say.. just couldn't say the name somehow. Couldn't tell her that I was never quite all human. Couldn't tell her..

< I.. I.. > I what? I had an alien for a father? I was a half-breed?

I flew away. Out the window. My heart ripping in two at Rachel's cries of "Tobias! Tobias, wait!" Back to my meadow, on wings that seemed to tear.

Why hadn't I told her?

Because she might think you're a freak, and you know you can't stand her to think less of you.

Oh, God. Trapped. Not even human. Never to mean anything more to Rachel than her pet bird..

< No! >

I landed in my tree. Watched the owl who lives in my meadow do his work. Not able to sleep. The memories..

"We all have family," Rachel had said.

"Not me," I'd said with my still-human mouth. "It's true. No one gives a rat's rear about me."

"I do."

< Rachel.. > I said to the trout inside the Yeerk truck ship, < I never told you.. >

< Now follow me, Rachel, and I'll give you a little tour of the Yeerk pool entrances. >

< On a day like this, I'd follow you anywhere. >

I looked at the stars. No longer depressed. Because I did mean more to Rachel than a pet.

She loves me. Shelovesmeshelovesmeshelovesme.

< God, Rachel, I love you. You're the entire world to me. You're my sun and my sky and the stars my father came from. And, Rachel, you are the wind beneath my wings. >


[Author's note:Actually, Tobias was proud of Elfangor being his father, he just didn't want Rachel to think he was some kind of freak, but at the end he realized she wouldn't care. I don't intend to show him as being dependent on Rachel, but he really does need her, to help him stay human and vice versa. Frankly, I'm proud of this. But you're entitled to your opinions, too. *sighs*]