Guardian Angel
It was an hour since Alex told Stella of his plans to ask Heather on a date. As Alex approached Heather to ask her on a date, he suddenly became aware of the fact that she was still pretty torn up about her father.
"Oh hey there Heather, you OK?" Alex asks sympathetically.
"I don't know. I am still pretty angry at my dad, but I still love him. He's always been there for me. I mean I still love you, but **sigh**...There just has to be some way for me to be with you, and my dad still be in the family." Heather explains.
"Well I already told the adults that I would forgive your dad, even though he put me down pretty hard."
"I just want to keep clear of the situation right now."
"Well I don't know if you are in the mood, but...well...would you like to do something this evening?"
"Like what?" Heather asks with a hidden smile.
"Something like a...uh...date"
"Really, I would love to spend the evening with you." Heather says giving Alex a soft hug.
"Perfect I am going to go explore the forest right now but..." Alex holds Heather's hands in his hands and looks in her eyes. "If you ever need anything I am here for you." With that said, Alex walks off to explore the forest being extremely careful not to run into Ozzie. Every minute or so Alex held his breath and listened for any sign of impending danger.
Back at the log, Stella finds RJ.
"Hey there you are, I need your help." Stella says.
"With what?"
"Well Alex wants to ask Heather on a date, but I don't want anything to go wrong. Especially like last time."
"Ok let me finish playing Left 4 Dead 2, then I will help you." RJ says
"No, you can kill rabid undead humans later. We only have about 4 hours and I want to make this perfect."
"Fine, fine I'm coming!"
After walking around the forest for about an hour, Jessica returns to check up on Ozzie.
"Ok it's been an hour, are you ready to talk?" Jessica says checking up on Ozzie.
"I don't know." Ozzie responds
"Well you can't just sit here for the rest of your life, lying to yourself about your daughter. While I was exploring I thought of one solution. To me it seems that you and Heather are always on two different levels. While you think one way she always thinks the other. In about an hour I am going to head back to talk to your family and see what we can do about this situation."
"Ok." Ozzie says with a low-weak voice.
"Are you about to cry again?"
"I think so. It's just that I don't want to lose her. She means too much to me. I feel like she is all I have left in this unforgiving world. All I want is for her to be happy and safe." Ozzie explains.
"Listen Ozzie, that can be done. There is a way for you to both be satisfied. You just need to realize that as she grows older, you have got to give her more freedom."
"But **sigh**...I just wish she were a kid again. That has been the only joy I get out of life, at least since my wife died."
"OZZIE. I am truly sorry that your wife died, but it is time for you to move on. It's been 16 years since your wives passing. You say you want Heather to be happy, but how can she when you are always miserable? You need to find something that makes you want to wake up every day and enjoy life. I cannot...I will not let you continue to destroy you and your daughter's life. You clearly are not seeing how much damage you are doing right now. I am off to talk to your family right now because I don't think you should wait any longer."
Ozzie stands perfectly still, hardly able to believe that some stranger would go so far to help fix his problem.
"Oh and Ozzie. I promise if we work together this will be over in a few days." With that said, Jessica heads off to try to deal with the problem.
As Jessica searches for the area where she believed the family might be, she began to think. "How could anyone be so lonely and depressed for 16 years? If this issue is this old, do I even stand a chance of correcting it? Is it already too late?" After about five minutes Jessica finds Stella, RJ, and Penny setting up Heather and Alex's special evening.
"Um excuse me." Jessica says politely.
"Yes...oh it's you again, how is Ozzie?" RJ jumps out
"Well that's why I came back."
"Let us finish setting up and we can talk, it should not take too long. In the mean time you can just hang. Are you hungry?" Stella asks
"I guess I could eat something."
"RJ get her something to eat. Stella ordered
"What the..."
"Do it!"
"Fine."
"So what would you like?"
"Oh anything small."
"Ok here you go, it's a cookie."
"Thanks."
"So how is Ozzie?" RJ asks in concer
"Not good. I came back to...I don't know, come up with some type of plan. I hate to see someone so sweet suffer."
"I wish it did not have to come to this. We were just setting up a sort of date for Heather and Alex. We are trying to make it perfect, but this is something that her father should really be a part of."
"This is difficult. We've just got to get him to be able to trust Alex. Maybe then we can get somewhere."
"That is a good Idea, but I don't think they should be anywhere near each other for a while."
"Well Ozzie and Heather should talk to each other..."
"Listen, I know you want to help, but we can only fix this one step at a time. Right now we are just focused on Heather and Alex. Come on we should get back to Stella and Penny."
"Ok."
Before heading back RJ thinks of a quick question. "Hey can I ask you something real quick?"
"Sure."
"You have only been around for a day, but you seem so focused on helping us. I am just curious, do you love Ozzie?"
"No, I mean I just met him." Jessica replies nervously.
"Does that matter?" RJ asks
"Can we talk about something else right now?" Jessica snaps back, quickly trying to change the subject. "What about that date you guys were talking about?"
"Well it's pretty straightforward, we are just going to prepare some nice food and create a nice atmosphere for the two."
"How long until it happens?"
"Well the sun is going to be setting in about two hours so I guess an hour and a half."
"Hmm..."
"Would you like to talk to Heather?"
"Yes, but I'll just wait until probably tomorrow." RJ and Jessica arriving back at where Stella and Penny were.
"Oh hey you two are back. We are just about done setting up."
Jessica notices the hedge and sees the massive human homes. "I am curious, how can you all live so closed to humans? I mean you live right on the boundary."
"Oh they are actually very afraid of us. They never come back here and if they do, I learned that all you need is aerosol and some sort of flame and you could probably take Vincent down."
"Vincent?"
"Well if there is anyone person to fear, its Vincent. He is this huge bear that harasses us every once in a while. Next time he shows up I'm gonna shove my new weapon right up his ass."
"Ok then. I'm going to head back and make sure Ozzie is OK."
"Wait before you go, could you bring some food for Ozzie?" Stella asks
"Sure."
"RJ get some food for Ozzie." Stella ordered RJ
"Fine, it's not like you do any work around here."
"Whatever."
"Hey Stella do you think I could talk to Heather, I just want to tell her that her father is OK." Jessica asks.
"Sure she is right over there."
Stella and Jessica find Heather sitting at the base of a tree alone.
Heather notices the two coming. "Hey, it's that lady I saw with my dad." Heather thought.
"Hi there, you are Heather right?" Jessica asks with a smile.
"Yeah." Heather answers, wondering how she knew her name. "Aren't you that lady I saw with my...my dad?"
"Yes. I was just heading back to see him, but I just wanted you to know that he misses you, and loves you very much."
Heather just sat still with her arms folded, glaring in the opposite direction.
Jessica walked up to her and put her hand on Heathers shoulder. "Before I go, is there anything you would like for me to tell him?"
Still Heather just glared in silence.
"Ok I'll leave you alone, but he wanted me to tell you that he would hug you if he could."
At that moment Heather glanced at Jessica with tears in her eyes. "Can you tell him that I still love him too?"
"I will." Jessica says with a smile
Jessica headed back to get the food and find her way back to Ozzie. When Jessica arrived at the place she last saw Ozzie, she is surprised to find that he is not there and begins to worry. Still unknown to the family, Vincent is lurking in the forests.
About two hours have passed and it was going to be getting dark soon. By now Jessica has decided to head back to the family and stay with them for the night.
"Hey there."
"Oh it's you again. How is Ozzie?"
"That's why I came back, I can't find him anywhere." Jessica says in a worried voice.
"Hmm...He probably went wandering around again. One time he just walked off and we didn't see him for about a month. Heather was about seven at the time and she cried almost every day until he came back. Don't worry he will show up sooner or later. You are welcome to stay with us for the time being." Stella suggests.
"Uh sure, what's going on now?"
"Well everybody is headed off to sleep except me and RJ. We are going to make sure nothing goes wrong while Heather and Alex are together on this special night. Right now they are just sitting together." Stella says pointing at the two sitting together talking.
"I guess I'll just stay up with you two."
"Yeah, no day would be complete without hanging out with me." RJ says arrogantly.
"You are so full of it." Stella retorts
"What, style...grace..."
"Crap is more like it. Anyways, we need to get back to watching Alex and Heather."
The three set up in a tree overlooking the spot where Alex and Heather were sitting together. The young couple sat together talking and watching the sunset. Little did Jessica, Stella, and RJ know they were not the only ones watching the young couple.
At the same time Vincent was getting dangerously close.
Vincent comes within range of the family and sniffs the air. "Hmm...RJ is close. I can smell him, along with that stupid family he is hiding in. I'd better find him soon, I am really hungry. Now where is..." Vincent walks just a few feet forward and stops as he notices the young couple sitting together. "Who is that? I remember that girl, but not that boy she is sitting with. No matter I will just eat them both, hahaha RJ is going to be so pissed." Vincent begins to creeps forward as quietly as possible.
Just 40 yards away Ozzie is sitting in a bush watching his daughter. As he watched the two sitting so close to each other talking and laughing, Ozzie couldn't help but feel some happiness. Ozzie begins to smile as he starts to realize that all he really wanted, was for Heather to be happy. His instant moment of happiness was suddenly shattered when he notices Vincent moving stealthy towards the two. Back in the tree RJ, Jessica, and Stella's conversation was stopped dead when they also noticed Vincent closing in.
"What the hell is that?" Jessica points out
"Damn, what the hell is he doing here?" RJ says, surprised to see Vincent
"Oh my god, we have to do something, I'm going down!" Stella says
"No, we need to get my secret weapon ready. Quickly!"
"What about them, we have to hurry!"
"Come on then!" The three rush back to the log.
Heather and Alex were just staring into each others eyes when they noticed Vincent towering over them. Alex jumps in front of Heather. "Heather run now," but Heather was paralyzed with fear. Before Alex could try to pick her up and run, Vincent picked them up by their necks. Ozzie watched in horror, not knowing what do.
"Now listen hear you two, you better go back to where ever you are storing your food and bring it back to me." Vincent demanded.
"Or what?" Alex says defiantly.
Vincent tightened his grip around their necks. "Or I will eat both of you. Either way I win, so I suggest you start heading back." Vincent sets the two down and pushes them on to get started gathering food. "Oh and if you even think about telling RJ or the others I will kill you, kill them, and steal your food!"
At that moment Ozzie knew he could not just stand by and watch his daughter be harassed. Ozzie yelled at Vincent. "Hey, how about you stop messing with them and come over here and mess with me!" When Vincent snapped his eyes directly at Ozzie he suddenly felt his heart sink.
"Dad!" Heather shouted with excitement and confusion.
"Shut up! What did you just say...hahaha I could rip you apart, actually that gives me an Idea." Vincent gives Heather an evil smile. "You have just thirty minutes to get me all of your food, or I will rip your father apart right in front of you!" Vincent threatens.
"If you're going to act tough then come over here and harass me." Ozzie continues to stand his ground.
Vincent begins to stomp over towards Ozzie. As soon as Vincent is just twenty-five feet from Ozzie, a sudden burst of flames shoots out from a nearby bush. "Take that you bastard". RJ had arrived just in time to save Ozzie. Vincent was suddenly blinded by searing hot aerosol-spray. Vincent started roaring loudly, waking up the rest of the family. He began to swing his fist wildly in random directions, trying to hit Ozzie or RJ. As Ozzie prepares to make his escape, one of Vincent's sharp claws strikes Ozzie directly at full force sending him flying through the air. Heather watches in horror as her father slams into a tree and falls to the ground like a rag doll. Vincent runs off into the forest, blindly tearing through trees. The whole family begins to cheer, but quickly goes silent as they noticed Ozzie's body lying motionlessly on the ground. Heather walks over to him to make sure he is OK.
"Hey dad thanks for trying to save me, you can stop playing dead now." Heather noticed the blood pouring from his mouth.
"Dad you can get up now." Heather shook Ozzie's shoulder, but no response.
"Daddy please get up." Heather starts to shake Ozzie harder. The rest of the family watches in silence and in sadness.
"Dad please say something." Tears were forming in Heather's pure blue eyes as she shook her father's motionless body.
"Dad, dad, DAAAAAD!" Heather yells into the sky.