DISCLAIMER: I own nothing in this story.

A/N: Please review and read! Oh well other way round but you get the point. :D Thanks xx

SUMMARY: Set before the Darren Shan books. He said everything was okay because he wanted it to be. He closed his eyes to the world but she knew him better than that. She wished he would confide in her. She knew that if he loved her, he would. LartenxArra

TITLE: Always

Chapter 7- Raindrops

The rain fell from the subterranean clouds. Each droplet rippling into pools of clear liquid. When a drop fell, another ran off the mountain then another would trickle back into the lakes, then it would start again. It was like a life cycle or a vampire's life anyways. There was no certain end. We all end up somewhere when we finally do die. We start a journey, we end a journey only to start a new one again. Rain starts in the clouds, falls and then flows back to the sea to start its journey again. Funny, comparing life and death to a single raindrop in the sky. That single raindrop could be amazing, could be the one thing holding the world from rapid adversity and no one can prevent it from showing its true colours. It was unpredictable, where that raindrop would end up, where that single, glazed over drop of water would finally land in the entire world. So much happens, so many deaths due to one natural disaster, so many hearts shattered from one funeral and yet that raindrop can make it all better. To cut a long story short it was raining on the bland suburbs of Vampire Mountain. Larten Crepsley poised himself on the hammock and peeled back the pages of his book. He liked to read when nothing else was happening. Sometimes vampire life was exciting, amazing, utterly awe inspiring. Other times it got pretty boring. He could hear the rain lash the ridges of the mountain from the clouds.

Arra appeared at the doorframe, a depressed expression plastering her face. She had noticed some things, about Crepsley I mean. He had been thinking a lot lately, more than usual and it was never good when he over thought about things. "Hey, what are you doing?" She asked, ambling over and wrapping her arms around his shoulders from behind to rest her head on his.

"Oh, I was just reading." She nodded and looked down at the pages, closing the book in his hands.

"Larten, I have been wondering and lately I have noticed some things…some changes. What is going on? Why are you always so depressed?" She asked her eyes bolted to him.

"I just… it is just that…Arra, the thing you must understand is that when you are a general; there are seldom things to be vivacious about." His voice was low, heavy in an almost whisper. "I wish I could be happy but there is nothing to be happy about." She nodded and stood up, taking his hand and guiding him through the tunnels. "Where are we going?" He asked in a breathy voice.

"Just be quiet and follow me." He nodded obediently and did as she asked. When they were at the opening to the mountain she pointed at the sky, at the rain falling. "Larten, think of yourself as a raindrop, yes?"

"Yes." She turned to face him, holding tightly onto his hands.

"Well then, you can be amazing and you can do things others can only dream of. I know it is hard and I know that you do not understand but I do and I can tell that you can be so much more but you have to open your eyes to the world. You cannot keep wishing your life away because it is precious. Many a vampire would die for a job like yours and I know that you would die to give it all away but that is the thing. When it is gone, it is gone. A raindrop never gives up, it keeps flowing back into the sea and it keeps starting over. What I am saying is look out there and tell me what you see." She pointed over the mountain edge. You could see everything from up there. The twinkling lights from the city in the distance, the clusters of green trees from the forest, the reflective lakes formed by tin droplets of clear blue liquid.

"I see everything." He whispered, pulling Arra closer to him.

"There you go then, you see everything. The rolling hills, the mountains, the cities, everything you ever wanted to see. You have everything right here. Listen Larten, just listen carefully." The rain was falling in what seemed like a sweet melody. A melody that made Larten smile, maybe a melody that Arra had once played for him on his chest when they lay in the hammock together one rainy evening. "Remember?" She smiled, pulling closer to him in a tight hug.

"Yes, I suppose you are correct. Raindrops really are more than what they seem." He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist, never wishing to let go. The raindrops landed on their faces, making them jump back and giggle. He had everything he wanted now, he didn't need to see the world, he didn't need to be more than he was, he needed Arra. Arra was the one who had been with him through everything. When his world tumbled she brought it back, when raindrops fell in his heart she brought an umbrella, when he needed her more than anything she never failed to appear. She was his everything, his bright yellow sun on a rainy day.

A/N: Okay so its a little shorter than usual but here you go. Please enjoy and review. :D