Hello, hello. This is my first fic. I wrote it coz I was trying to find a short little fic 'bout just after the end of Abhorsen. But I was having trouble, so I wrote one! Hope it's not to bad, but I'd love some constructive criticism. So here it is:

Disclaimer: Yes, I'm Australian. Yes, I write. But no, I am not Garth Nix. Therefore, I do not own anything except the plot. I mean, come on, would Mr. Nix really go around posting fics about his own story under a name such as Princesse Aurora? That's just ridiculous…

The Day Is Bright

By PrincesseAurora

"Nick!" Sam yelled happily, hardly believing what he saw. And with good reason. For Nick was dead, both he and Lirael had felt him slip away. But there he was, standing and waving, a Charter Mark shining brightly on his forehead.

Lirael turned slowly, in shock. She had only just begun to grieve his death, having had no time to do so before then.

"Nick?" she whispered, unable to identify the feelings coursing through her. Sabriel, upon whom she was leaning, heard her whisper, heard the feelings, heard what that one word meant, heard and understood. She had heard that in her own voice, heard that in the voice of the one she loved. She saw the expression on her sister's face as she tried to understand. Tried to understand how Nick lived, then tried to understand why she didn't care, so long as he did. Sabriel watched as Lirael stopped trying to understand and simply ran to where Sam and Nick were smiling, laughing, hugging. Lirael hesitated, unsure again. Sam looked at her and Nick turned to her. She bowed her head, not knowing what to say, not knowing what to do. Nick came to stand in front of her, suddenly no longer weak, no longer in pain. He could see the hurt the Dog had told him of. The physical, mental, and emotional pain was evident in her body language. He wondered if he had caused any of that pain, then saw a single tear fall from her face and splash onto the ground. The new-born sun played on the thousands of particles the one droplet split into, casting little rainbows around. His question was answered. He took another step towards her, so they were only centimetres apart. Sam was completely bewildered and went to speak, but his mother beckoned to him and they rest of the party continued walking. Now they were alone.

"Lirael," Nick said quietly. She brought her head up slowly to look in his eyes. He then put his arms around her and she collapsed into him, pressing herself against his thin body.

"Oh, Nick," she sobbed and buried her face into his chest. She wept for losing him, she wept for finding him. He stroked her hair as she cried for him. Eventually she calmed and relaxed against him, feeling strangely comfortable.

"I thought I'd lost you," Lirael whispered hoarsely. She bowed her head again.

"But now I've found you again," said Nick, and kissed the top of her head. "And I will never let you go."

"I love you, Nicholas Sayre." she said into his chest. He took his hand and cupped her chin. He titled her face upwards.

"I love you, Lirael." he whispered and bought his lips to hers.

The day was bright, and Life was good.