Chapter 3

Fingers slid up the old wrought iron railing as Moira slowly made her way up the old steps to the door of her new home. Ava walked at her side with one arm around her, carefully guiding her cousin's shaky steps. Moira felt almost as if her body did not belong to her. She felt as if she had to really concentrate to get her legs to move beneath her. Ava had wanted to carry her, or find someone to carry her in but Moira would have none of it. She was determined to do something on her own. Especially, after she had been forced to as for help getting dressed in a simple pair of jeans and sweater.

"Alright sweetie we're almost there." She said as they stumbled up the last step.

They finally made it to the door and made their way into the house. Waves of memories flooded into Moira's mind as the door was opened and smells of her past flew into her nostrils. Once again she heard her grandmother's warm laughter, and the smell of fresh cut flowers and cookies. Ava led her over to the comfortable chair that had been her grandmother's favorite. She remembered how she loved sitting in that chair and staring out the window into the garden hoping to see...Moira suddenly shook her head. She had to get over these hallucinations. Her parents had spent hundreds of pounds and forced her to spend hours upon hours with the best psychologists in London to help her to stop imagining these ridiculous dreams of stone angels being alive...that he was created from her loneliness as a child...that he was only in her head.

"Alright now, you stay here," Ava said as she helped Moira sit down in the chair which almost swallowed her. "I'm just going to run out to the car and grab your bags. When I come back in we'll get your medicine and check your bandages and then it'll be time for a nap."

Moira rolled her eyes. As much as she loved her cousin, she had to admit she was beginning to get on her nerves a bit. Ever since she had shown up at the hospital she had become a mother hen on steroids, fussing over everything. Granted she had been a godsend when it came to sneaking Moira out of the hospital to avoid paparazzi. This continuing to treat her as if she were a babe was becoming a bit to much.

"Yes mom," She mumbled under her breath.

"Hey now I heard that." Ava said as she stood back up. "I'm just trying to look after you."

Moira gave a sigh. "I know...but Ava...I am an adult...I'm wearing my big girl knickers and everything." She said with a smile.

Ava laughed. "Yes, you're right. I'm just worried for you. I want to see you well again..you are...out of sorts...not yourself." She said gently as she leaned forward to gently place a hand on Moira's shoulder. "That's why I brought you here. I know how much you loved this place..." Ava stood up from leaning over her cousin. "It feels so strange being back here...nothing has changed..."

"That's not true." Moira said almost sadly letting her head slightly drop.

"I know you miss her..." Ava said quietly. "I miss her too..."

Ava turned to look around the house. It held so many memories for the both of them. She remembered the very first time she had come over to play with Moira. That was the very first time they had ever fought. They had already been close friends even after only a few weeks of knowing one another.

~Flashback~

"Do you want to meet my special friend?" Little Ava had asked as she grabbed Ava's hand and led her into the garden.

The little girls ran over to the tall statue, laughing as they went. Moira let go of Ava's hand and spread her arms dramatically.

"Ava, this is my guardian angel, Michael," She said holding an arm up to Michael. Then she turned to look up at Michael. "Michael, this is my cousin Ava."

Ava stared up at Michael for a moment. Something about the statue made her uncomfortable. She scrunched her little nose and turned back towards her cousin.

"He's a bit creepy..." She said cocking an eyebrow.

"He is not." Ava said looking hurt as she turned to look up at the statue. "He's just lonely."

Ava rolled her eyes. "He can't be lonely, he's just a piece of stone..."

Moira began to get angry. "He is NOT. He saved my life when I fell from the branch." She said pointing up to the branch from which she had fallen from.

Ava's anger rose as well. "Don't be stupid. He's not alive."

"I'M NOT STUPID YOU'RE STUPID!" cried Moira as she suddenly lunged forward and pushed the other little girl.

Ava was in shock and enraged as she stumbled back a few steps. Then she surged forward and pushed Moira hard enough to send her flying backwards onto the ground.

"YOU'RE BLOODY MENTAL," She roared at her cousin. "IF YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT STONE ANGELS BEING ALIVE I WON'T PLAY WITH YOU ANYMORE!"

Moira's eyes filled with tears as she stood and ran from the garden inside the house sobbing. Ava stood there watching as her cousin left still fuming. The next moment she found herself face down on the ground with a loud THUD as she was pushed hard from behind by an unseen hand. Ava quickly turned over in shock and looked behind her gasping in fear. There was nothing there. She looked all around but saw no one. Then her eyes came back to Michael...But no...that wasn't possible. She quickly flew to her feet and rushed inside after her cousin. Later, that night she would apologize to Moira, who would in turn apologize as well. They never mentioned the fight to Grandmother. Ava also never went into the garden alone ever again either.

~End Flashback~

Ava turned towards the window that Moira's chair faced and looked out over the garden to the empty place where Michael once stood. She had been so happy upon hearing that Michael was gone. Grandmother had told the girls after the big falling out between her and Moira's parents that he had been stolen. But she really thought that either Grandmother or Moira's father had gotten rid of him. After all...he was the reason for Moira never being allowed to return to her grandmother's again.

"Well..." She said turning away from the window. "Let me go get the things from the car and then we'll get you settled."

Moira nodded and then listened as Ava's footsteps faded away. She wondered if everything were in its same place. Though she had not been here in years, she remembered where everything had been before. She had always prided herself on her nearly photographic memory. It aided her in memorizing scripts and spots upon sets. She began to struggle to her feet. She knew Ava would protest. But she wanted to see if she could still remember.

Holding onto the chair she began to work her way through the living room grabbing onto the furniture as she went. First she hit the end table that was beside the chair and had to grab her long blonde hair and pull it over one shoulder to keep it from getting tangled in the crystal lamp that still sat there.

After that she was easily able to make her way through the living-room and into the kitchen. Everything still seemed to be the same. She found the table and held onto the edge as she made her way around the side headed towards her goal the door that lead to the garden. Finally she made it. She turned the knob and pulled open the door allowing a gentle breeze to find its way into the house.

She then became a bit unsure. There was nothing to hold onto after that point. She knew there was a small step that lead to the garden path. Maybe it was not as high as she remembered. Slowly she took one step forward and then another. Then with the third step her foot came down halfway onto the step and slid the rest of the way off. She gave a small cry as she fell forward towards the ground.

Suddenly, a pair of strong muscular arms came around her tightly. Her body fell into a broad muscular bare chest instead of the ground. Moira released a surprised "ugh" as she froze against the body that caught her. Whomever had caught her was obviously a strong man by the hardness of his chest and abs... She lifted her head from his chest, her eyes staring off to one side.

"I-I'm so sorry..." She stammered.

She attempted to pull away but the man held her tightly. She could feel his warm breath upon her face. She did not need to see his face to know he was staring at her. She could feel the rise and fall of his large chest pressing against hers, and for some reason it gave her butterflies.

"U-um...T-thank you." She whispered as she moved her face to look up at him.
Then she fell silent. She stood in the strangers arms for a moment not sure what to do. His touch was gentle and feather light, yet his grip was strong. His skin felt smooth and cool...and somehow...familiar. She knew this was inappropriate. But she could not bring herself to move. Suddenly she was pulled from her trance by Ava's voice.

"You never told me why the police wanted to talk-..." She knew her cousin had just walked into the living room to find her missing. "Moira?" She asked as she suddenly put down the bags. "Moira?...MOIRA?"
Ava rushed into the kitchen and saw the door to the garden was open. She quickly made her way to the open door where she saw Moira standing out in the garden alone.

"Oh MY GOD MOIRA!" She cried as she flew to her cousin's side. "Are you alright? What are you doing out here?"

"Yes," Moira said with a smile. "I'm fine...I stumbled ...But this gentleman saved me" She said with a smile motioning in the direction where the man was.

Ava paused and looked at her.

After a moment Moira's smile disappeared."What?" She asked.

"Um...Moira...are you alright?" She asked with a look of concern.

"Yes, ...why wouldn't I be?"asked Moira.

Ava stayed quiet for another long moment.

"..Well...Moira, there is no one here..."

Moira was silent as she turned her head back to where she had been facing the man who had caught her. Slowly she reached up with her hands to find only air in front of her.

"B-But he was right here." She said turning back to her cousin. "He was here...he caught me..."

Ava shook her head and reached to pull her arms around Moira. "Its ok sweetie...your just tired ...your pain medicines must be wearing off...Let's get you inside." She said as she carefully led a distraught Moira back in the door.

The breeze slightly caught up as she moved to go into the door causing her to wind quietly whispered causing her to turn around as she thought she heard someone speak.

"Moira..."

She looked around but saw no one. Her eyes instantly fell to the place where the stone angel had once stood. She quickly turned and went in the door after Moira and locked and bolted the door behind them. In the shadows of the trees beyond the garden a lone figure stood silently watching, a glare of jealousy across his angelic stone features as he watched the woman lock his Moira away...

Authors notes:

So I finished this early in the morning and then came back to find I didn't like the ending of it. So...this is the new ending hope you enjoy. :D