*I don't own Jane and the Dragon or its characters
This was written for SkyeElf as a request story using the prompt "Burn with you"
I listened to the song, it was really sad, so I thought an equally sad fic was in order. Hope you'll enjoy.
"Rake! Help me please"
"Pepper! Come here!"
"I can't reach! Help me! I'll die, I'll die"
"I'll save you"
"Rake!"
Jumping into the fire, I hold onto her "I won't let you go!"
"I'm burning! I'm burning! Ahhhhhh!"
Waking up in a cold sweat, I look through the kitchen window, nothing but an empty place now. My skin tingled in pain from the burns from years past. My body shivers no matter how many blankets I wrap around myself. Nothing can erase those screams, the screams of my loved one. It will be several hours till the rest of the castle wakes, but I get up and start my work under the moonlight. The night-blooming jasmine scent is so overpowering, but if covers the screen scent of smoke that I can't forget.
"It's so hard to breathe! I can't breath!"
"Calm down Pepper"
"Help me please, please don't let me die"
In the darkness, my tears are hidden as they water the roses, her flowers of choice. Her voice still echo's in my head
"I brought you my best beets and beans"
Revealing a rose in my hand, I give it to her "For you Pepper"
"For me? You're the most thoughtful boy ever Rake"
Picking the pears from the trees, they are as curvy as ever just like her
"Pepper you're as pretty as a pear"
"Haha! How sweet of you to say"
Looking at the chrysanthemums, all the blooms have died. Like those blooms, she died as well. There was nothing I could do but burn, burn until I didn't feel it anymore.
"Don't let me go please"
"Never Pepper"
Cutting away the dead blooms, I prune the plant so that it can have another chance.
"I'm sorry Rake"
"No, she's only sleeping"
"You have to let go, she's gone"
"I promised to never let go"
"If you don't let go you'll die as well"
"No!"
Pulling my body away from hers, I broke my promise
Scooping up the cuttings, it's thrown in the compost pile, to break down into nothing.
After the fire, there was nothing left but ashes
When the compost is complete I'll use it on my plants to help them grow, but for now I wait
"The new cook will be here soon"
"New cook?"
"We all have to eat"
"I'll wait for her"
"She's not coming back"
"She will!"
Holding a container of ashes, I place a rose seed in it and bury it.
I water a grand rush bush with my tears, and it grows me lovely blooms
Looking at the seedling, she grows nicely, perhaps since it's part of Pepper
"Someday it will be a grand bush, but for now I'm have to wait."
Cutting a bloom from that bush for myself, I place it near the kitchen window
"Someday she'll come back to this kitchen, I swear it"
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I can go back to sleep. Before closing my eyes, I once more glance at that window and whisper "You've come back to me"