Chapter 4: Hanging Onto Hope

24 hours later...

Everything seemed so perfect as if in a fairy tale. Everything seemed perfect as if no one could tear them apart. Everything seemed perfect from August 10, 1943 till now. Life just seemed wonderful at least for a short while. That was until fate tore them apart.

Resting his long leg on the lovely stone fountain within the elegant rose garden of Notley Abby, the smell of roses small and large sat on the breeze, while children's laughter filled Larry's ears. Why did all of this sound and feel so familiar? Thinking back to not even a week ago Vivien and himself were sitting under the big oak tree. He was getting ready to ask her to be his wife. Oh how nerves he was. His heart beat rapidly while his knees began knocking. He didn't know why he was so nervous. He knew she would say yes. For you see she was the love of his life and Larry knew that he was the love of her life. Feeling tears on the edges of his dark eyelashes he did his best to hold them back. Larry knew that tears wouldn't bring her back.

How could all of this have happened? Larry asked himself as the question rolled around in his head. He promised Vivien that nothing would ever happen to her as long as he was by her side. He told her he would be by her side forever and always. But why wasn't he by her side the moment she disappeared? He could have done something to save her. Oh if only he had went out to the balcony with her.

Taking a deep breath Larry began thinking back on that night. He could only imagine what she must have and must be going through…

She could be sitting somewhere all alone scared and not knowing what to do. She could be dead and he had no idea. She could be fighting for her life right now and there was nothing he could do. An old nasty man could have his hands all over her and she couldn't protect herself in anyway. He could just hear her screaming and begging for help, but there was nothing he could do. Whenever he laid his head down to sleep he saw her scared, afraid and all alone with no one there to calm her cries.

Coming out of his thoughts Larry found himself holding a blood red rose. Looking down at the perfect rose he thought of Vivien more. She was the perfect English Rose. She was the most beautiful one in all of London, along with being one of the nicest people he had ever known.

How could this have happened? He questioned himself for the second time now, believing that if he asked this question enough he would get an answer. Feeling the tears rise yet again he just let them fall onto the perfect peddles. Watering it with his tears he prayed it would bring her back.

He prayed that her voice would come and drawl him out of his despair. Holding it within his hands he sighed as he let the rose drop into the stone fountain. As the water riffled he could see Vivien's face within it. She smiled back at him with happiness within her dark sapphire eyes. Soon however the smile faded and worry filled those sparkling eyes.

"Larry, help me," she called out as she looked back at him with such pity. "Help me," it echoed into Larry's ears as he pulled back from the fountain. Breathing heavily his dark eyes got wide with fear just as Vivien's had been. Shaking his head side to side things began to get the better of him. "Get a hold of yourself Lar," he told himself as he put a hand through his black hair. Looking back he saw nothing just the reflection of the nice spring day above him.

Seeing the worry and fear within her eyes made it much worse for Larry. He wished there was something he could do, but not until he found out what was going to happen he could only sit back and worry for his love. While deep in thought another face appears in the fountain. Callie's orange and white face appeared and it looked as grim and sad as Larry's was.

"I know Callie, you miss your owner." Larry said as he petted the now full grown cat. "I miss her to." The sadness was taken from his lips and blew in the wind. Things just wouldn't be the same without her.

"Don't worry son we will find her." A voice came from behind Larry. Turning around Larry saw Richard coming towards him.

"How can you stay positive in a time such as this?" Larry asks as he knew he couldn't be positive even if he wanted to he just couldn't.

"It got me and the rest of us through the hard times during the war. As I know getting those letters from Vivien got you through the war. Yes, I'm worried and scared for my little girl, but our fear won't find her." Richard said as he reassured his soon to be son-in-law. "I've contacted the arm forces along with the police and they have sent out troops to find her."

Larry knew he had to stay positive for Vivien's sake. If he didn't he was sure going to drive himself mad, mad like a mad man. Even though Richard was staying positive through this ordeal Larry could see sadness within those old green eyes.

"Let me know when there is something I can do. I can't sit around and do nothing while Vivien is still out there alone and scared."

"Will do my son," Richard said giving him a slight smile. Excusing himself Richard turned to go back inside. With the help of a nurse he was in the elevator. Getting off he went to his wife's room. Opening the door Richard could still smell the fresh sent of her crisp perfume. Going over to her nightstand he saw a picture in a gold frame. Picking it up he looked at it with hurtful eyes.

"Natalie, I know it's been a while and all, but- I don't know what to do. Our little girl is somewhere alone, cold and frightened. I just pray that whatever has shaken this family will soon be as it was. I pray that our little girl comes home safe and sound. Wherever she is I know you are with her my dear,"

A/N: I know it's another short chapter, but I wanted to post this before I left for my trip. I'm leaving for Atlanta here thin a few hours. What do you think? Will they ever find her? Or is she somewhere where no can find her? That my readers is in the next chapter.