AN - I wrote alternate endings for this chapter. PM me if ya want to see 'em!
Starlit forever, Pt 2
Lila stretched, blinking. She wondered briefly where she was. She snuggled closer to Nikola. Did I die and go to heaven? Lila wondered, puzzled. After a moment, she realized why every was white and the light was pleasantly diffused. They were both completely under the blankets. Lila laughed, suddenly giddy. Nikola hugged her. She stayed just where she was, warmth flooding through her. Her head rested on his chest, his arms came around her. Eventually, she pushed the blankets off so she could breathe better. Nikola grinned. "Lila, I don't think you've ever looked better."
Lila cocked her head. "How's that?"
"You're smiling," he smirked. "And you're completely naked in bed with me. And your hair is tangled in that adorable way."
Lila raised her eyebrows. "You're crazy, you really are."
Nikola laughed. "Mainly it was that you're smiling."
Lila smiled, and flopped onto his chest. "Mm..." 11 o'clock in the morning, they finally got up. Nikola insisted on making breakfast, and Lila took the oppurtunity to brush her hair, and get dressed, without him making any appropriate comments. She smiled to herself. She rather liked him making those comments. Just on queue, he asked, "Can I turn around?"
"No." She smiled, straightening the cream dress she'd just put on. She turned around. He was pouting in that loveable way.
"But you look sexy when you're only wearing your bra," he complained.
"Too bad." Lila rolled her eyes. Typical.
Nikola turned around. Lila crossed her arms. "I told you not to turn around."
He shrugged. "You're dressed anyway."
She scowled playfully. He grinned, setting a plate of food down.
"Nikola!" Lila frowned at him. "How am I possibly going to eat all of that?"
"You're not," he answered, taking a piece of bacon. Lila laughed. "After all, what's the fun in having two plates?" he asked.
Lila smiled. "None at all."
After they finished breakfast, they got up. "Do I have to tell you you look gorgeous?" Nikola asked.
"Yes," Lila took his arm.
"You look gorgeous," Nikola kissed her. "Show me the town?"
Lila nodded, and they walked out the door. It was sunny, but not particularly warm or cold. Nikola was dressed casually, which was unusal for him. Lila had only seen him not wearing a suit or lab coat three or four times.
They walked around town until 3 o'clock. Nikola looked around. "Hungry?"
"A little," Lila said. Nikola took her hand and they crossed the street. "Stay here," Nikola instructed. Lila shrugged. "Okay." After a few moments, he came back with two tubs of frozen yoghurt. Lila grinned, and they sat down on a bench next to a fountain. "Nikola, I don't believe we've ever had frozen yoghurt together before."
"There are too many things we've never done together," he decided. "Like next Christmas, I'm taking you iceskating. And for your birthday, I'm going to take you to Paris. Sometime, we're going to go to Oxford and go to the gardens."
Lila grinned. He was staying. He was really staying. "I'd like that."
"And these," he said giving her a bunch of roses, "are for you."
Lila squealed in a very girlish way. She grinned. "Thank you."
"Lila," he whispered in her ear. "Not now... Someday... Will you marry me?"
Lila went still, and then spun around and kissed him until the need for air overcame her. "Yes," she whispered.
Nikola grinned, and tucked a rose into her hair. "Lila, I believe his may be the best day of my life."
"Me too, but then again I've thought that before." Lila grinned.
"I guess you never know," he laughed.
It was 6 o'clock by the time they were walking back. Lila ran ahead of him. "Catch me!" She laughed, dashing along the sidewalk. Nikola laughed and began to run after her. But in a moment, the game turned to a horrifying, terrifying image burned in his mind forever. Lila dashed across a side street. A car desperately tried to stop in time, but it was going too fast. Lila stood frozen in shock in her cream dress as the screeched toward her.
Nikola was racing toward her, but he was too far away. Someone on the other side of the street pulled Lila away. The car's owner jumped out. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, are you okay?" Asked the woman who had saved Lila. Lila stuttered slightly, lying on the ground. "I-I'm fine."
Nikola raced to her side. Slowly, the other people left them alone, leaving them completely on their own on the darkening street. "Lila... I couldn't save you," Nikola's eyes were full of pain.
"Nikola, no. Please, no." Lila knew what was coming.
"I hate to, Lila. I swear I will find you again."
"No!" She sobbed. "I need you! I can't live without you." But he was gone. Lila walked home alone, crying, and stared up out the window from her bed. All she had was the hope that he would come back someday.
Someday.
She watched the first star appear in the sky. Someday. That was what Nikola had said. Someday he would come back. Someday he would marry her. The hope was all she had. She didn't know what would come. But Nikola would keep the promise, someday.
THE END
I had so much fun writing this fic. I had so much fun with Nikola and Lila. Thanks for everything, reviewers and readers. And please tell me what you thought of the whole thing. Thanks!
~Soaring on Black Skies
