Author's Note: Sorry I did not update for so long, time sure flies when you're studying… Anyway, please review!
Verity clenched into Ash's white, blood-stained jacket. She felt his arms hugging her tightly. They both barely moved for what seemed like an eternity until Verity felt his arms loosing their grip around her.
Shocked she opened her eyes and looked at her husband. He was even paler than he had been ever before. His shirt as well as his vest and jacket were dark and wet from his blood which shimmered in a deep crimson tone in the moonlight.
Suddenly she forgot about her pain, her fear. Ash had noticed her movement and slowly opened his eyes. Tiredly he smiled at her. "Hello, my fair lady. How can I serve?", he whispered.
Verity felt tears streaming down her face as she gripped her husbands gloved hand. "Ash", she whispered, "Don't die, please, don't die, don't you leave me alone a second time, please", she cried.
"Verity, I'm sorry", he took a deep breath, "for what I've done. I should have protected you better."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not. You don't need to fool me. I should have protected you, I should have been with you. You nearly died, and it was all my fault."
"It was my stupid idea to drink more than five pints. I should have known better. I shouldn't have argued with you in the first place, it was all because of my own stupid jealousy.", she spoke faster and faster between sobs and tears.
"Maybe your jealousy was not so wrong. I really should have spend more time with you and less with Angela. Now I see that this plan was awfully wrong, maybe even mad. You made me see what matters in the end. Thanks", he whispered, fading into unconsciousness.
As Verity saw that she collapsed at his side. She called out his name, but he wouldn't wake up again. Then she stood up and went to the edge of the bridge. She felt the wind on her face, making her hair fly in thin strains and her dress moving like it was alive. The tears still streamed down her face while she looked down at the burning town beneath her and the cool, calmly flowing Thames.
Verity took a medallion out and opened it. In it was a picture from her and Ash's wedding.
Back then I thought of giving it to our first daughter or granddaughter when she would be old enough, but now everything is senseless. Nothing matters anymore. Now that you're gone I only need to stop this pain.
She gripped the medallion tightly and took a last look on her husbands body.
Just as she wanted to step forward a hand gripped her wrist. She turned around to see the young Earl. He looked exhausted and somehow worn out. Behind him she saw the Undertaker heaving Ash on a bier. She shot the Earl a death glare, "You entitled bastard! Why are you keeping me from following my husband to a better place?", she half cried, half shouted at the boy.
He only tightened his grip and pulled her off the edge. Leading her back to the Undertaker he told her firmly, "I'll ignore your disrespect this time, but only because I owe you my life."
