Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, which is beyond terrible.

A/N: Thanks so much to my beta, Miles333.

And special thanks to: Miss UnBrillievable and ListenAndBelieve for the great, super, awesome prompts and for being two of my co-conspirers for this. :) And to You're Amyzing and bookwormofmassiveproportions for being my other two. :D

This is written for misswhiteblack's The Next Generation Challenge Competition on the HPFC forum.

I felt like this couldn't be told from just one POV so that's why I have both.

xxx

Dedicated to limegreenrocks or the amyzing Mad, who with some amyzing stories got me too fall in love with Mollysander, and who is a great friend (and writer) and is just plain brilliant. Love you, m'dear. :D

Summary: When a backpacking adventure turns deadly, it's up to Molly to save Lysander and keep both of them alive. Mollysander


Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is."

- St. Augustine

Lysander's POV

I stumble through the dark, barely catching myself as my feet collide with a root. My head is throbbing and my vision is blurry, and it takes all I have to stay conscious.

It hurts. Merlin. It hurts so badly. Everything hurts.

"Please, please, Ly," she begs, her big blue eyes wide.

Merlin. I am so screwed. Her eyes always do me in. "Sure, sure. I guess. What's the worst that can happen?"

Rain streams down my face from my hair. Nausea sweeps over me and I find it hard not to puke. My chest heaves with each breath, lungs struggling to get air.

"Let me get a quick picture and then we can head back, okay? I'll be back a in a minute."She's gone, and I'm left standing there in the middle of the forest, wishing Lorcan hadn't made my wand need to be fixed.

A minute turns in two, and two turns to three, and she's not back yet.

I'm feeling lightheaded and I wonder if it's rain or blood that's soaking my pants. I'm hoping the former.

Hurts. Oh, Merlin. Everything hurts.

I can't find her. It's grown darker. I'm not sure where I am.

"M-Molly?" I choke out, and something warm trails down my chin. I'm afraid to find out what it is.

Nothing answers me back.

The only thing I can hear is the thudding of my heart and the pouring of rain.

Rain pours down from the skies. It's grown so dark I can barely see anything. I know I'm lost. I keep calling for her. I'm scared.

My stomach is in agony. I feel blood running down my shirt. Or is it rain? I can't tell. Everything's just so confusing. My head's killing me, and it's hard to concentrate.

Something growls behind me. I don't move. I barely breathe. I'm not sure what it is.

I don't know how I move, but I do. Darkness tugs me closer. But I resist. I have to find Molly.

xxx

Molly's POV

My clothes cling to my skin, wet, heavy and uncomfortable. Droplets of rain run down my face, mixing with the tears that fall from my eyes.

The wind howls and the trees blow and I'm so scared. I hold Lysander tighter.

My heart pounds. Where is he? I'm scared. I should never have left him. I stumble through the dark, being careful not to slip in the mud.

Lysander makes the smallest of sounds and I stoke his hair, which is damp.

Trees scratch my arms, my face. I barely notice.

"Lysander?" I yell, even deep down I know it's hopeless. He won't be able to hear me through the rain and wind. I can barely hear myself.

I shiver, and I see my breath puff out in front of me. It's dropping, the temperature, with the rain and the night and the fact that there's a cold spell coming in and Merlin, Lysander has to make it.

I'm not sure how long I walk. I'm exhausted. But I have to find him.

"Lysander!" I called out again, and suddenly, something catches my eye. I turn to my left. Blonde. Blonde hair. Lysander.

Lysander's head lolls to one side and I move him back. I wrap my arms around him tighter and rest my hands on his heart.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It's only then that I allow the tears to fall.

Xxx

Six Months Later…

"Love, wake up." I blink open my eyes tiredly and see my husband's concerned face staring at me.

"M wake," I murmur groggily, yawning. Lysander doesn't move from my view and it takes me a second to realize he's crouched beside the bed and that I am lying on my side.

"You were having a nightmare." He strokes my hair fondly and I love the feel of his hand. Just seeing his silver eyes bring back the memory of my nightmare.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Merlin. I had been so close to losing him.

He gives a grim smile. "It's okay. I'm here. We're both fine." Somehow he knows what I'm thinking.

It takes me a moment to get my voice back. "Ly, I-"

"You saved me, Sunshine. You took me to that cave and kept me alive until help came. And without you, I wouldn't be here." I keep silent because there's nothing to say. If I hadn't gone off to take that stupid picture, if I had remembered to take my wand, if…Merlin, there was so many ifs.

"Don't go blaming yourself, love. It wasn't your fault. It could have happened to anyone."

I sigh. I know it was going to take some time to get past my guilt but I know Lysander will support me.

He smiles and Merlin, and there I go… fallingfallingfallling.

And then he was kissing me and everything leaves my mind; the guilt and the nightmare vanish and the only thing I know his lips.

"Again," I murmur when we break apart. Then we're kissing again and I'm gone, lost in him.

Not my best one, I admit, so sorry Mad. I'll make it up to you. :)

Next one up is Fred. Pairing requests are welcome.

Thanks to all my outstanding readers and reviewers. Thank you so much!