Edinburgh
2013
Her hand fell loosely into his, the silver ring on her index finger icy against his skin. The bench they were sitting on creaked as he shifted his weight. Despite the cold he insisted on sitting outside with her. Her cheeks had taken on a pinkish hue, the biting wind pinching at her skin. Dark jeans encased her legs; an old shirt of Tom's and several jumpers completed her outfit. It was an eclectic mix; such were the peculiarities of being brought back from the dead.
Her father and brothers were inside, they had needed time and space. Hal had pulled Alex from the room; Tom made his excuses and left for the shops – something about milk.
"They don't seem to..." Alex began, her words lost, swallowed back up as she fought for composure. "They don't seem very happy. But then they don't seem very sad either. I thought there would be crying, or tea, or cake. Something! I didn't think…"
"They've only just come to terms with your death, their entire world was upended when you died. Your appearance has righted it again, only it's upside down to them." Hal interjected, his voice almost harsh, unwilling to see her drown in a wave of emotions.
"What if they don't want me? What if they were happier without me?" Alex whispered, her voice feverish, her grip suddenly tightening around Hal's and something twisted in the man's stomach.
"Alex," his voice was firm as he pulled the girl to face him. "They couldn't possibly be happier without you. Not when I know that I would be directionless without you."
"Directionless?" Alex questioned, her voice brightening slightly, a small barely allowed smile pulling at her mouth.
"Directionless, rudderless, lost… there is a plethora of words that I could use to describe the emptiness I would feel if I didn't have you. And I am sure they feel just the same, if not more." Hal's voice was full of sincerity, the weight of his feelings bearing down on Alex.
Both hearts beat faster, their collective breath held back as they dared not to breathe.
"You're just saying that…" Alex began, her eyes suddenly downcast as she looked towards the moss covered patio.
"I know I haven't always been forthcoming about my feelings for you Alex, but it doesn't make what I do feel any less valid or genuine. You and Tom are rooted in my heart…"
"Yeah, we're mates." Alex nodded, her eyes still refusing to meet Hal's.
"Yes friends, undoubtedly. But I…" Hal let out a strangled laugh. His voice shook as he tried to pull on every century he had lived to express himself. "I can't deny that I have wanted you…" Hal shook his head, wishing he could snatch back the words. "Court you, as Tom would say, woo you, sit opposite you at a table over coffee and talk about whatever came up. I would have spent an eternity with you but now I will have to settle for one lifetime full of everything we didn't have the first time round." Hal paused, his hazel coloured eyes uncertain yet full of unwavering sincerity. "If you'll have me…"
"Hal, I might as well say you had me at hello. Because you did, every bit of me wanted to see what might happen between us but it was put on hold because of the whole dying thing, but now it doesn't have to be like that."
Breathing in sharply Hal leant forward impulsively, the need for her blood was no longer driving him to distraction, instead it was every other detail of her being.
Lips brushed against each other, innocent and exploratory. Pulling Alex closer to him Hal gripped her waist firmly, their joint body heat intermingling as they shared their newfound humanity in a kiss.
A/N: Argh! The END of an amazing show. So had to write a little bit more to help with my need for closure. Obviously, there is the possibility that this might be an alternate universe but in the style of Inception, it doesn't matter so long as they're happy.
Anyway! Please let me know what you think!