K*H*W* (go to my profile :)
Chapter Fifty Five Nathan's Point of View
As soon as her lips made contact with his, Azalea pulled away and her scream made his vision blur.
"Aza-" Rosemary was on her feet but Azalea's scream was cut short as she tried to breathe.
"Why. . .Do. . .My hands. . . Hurt?" Azalea cried, and Nathan saw that there was blood on her hands. Did the sores and blisters pop?
"Let me see them." Michael was by Rosemary's left side, and Azalea took a step back. "Let me see them." He said again.
Azalea took a few more steps back, and sensing she was about to run for it, Rosemary hopped behind Azalea, grabbed her shoulders, and forced her immobile. Azalea cried. "Rose, stop!"
Rosemary closed her eyes as if she could block out Azalea in front of her, Nathan imagined that she would cover her ears if she could, and held tight.
"Rose!" Azalea cried. "Let me go!"
Michael grabbed Azalea's right wrist, and Azalea lost it.
"Rosemary! Let me go!"
Rosemary kept hold of her.
Michael held out Azalea's palm, and ran his finger along her palm, leaving a trail.
"Stop!" Azalea screamed, and Liam and Sage flinched. She struggled to pull away, and knowing that Azalea and not Avalyn was screaming made Nathan's hands itch. He wanted to grab her and run. "Rosemary, please!"
Rosemary sucked in a breath and spoke, her voice heavy with emotion.
"Aza."
Azalea went still.
"Aza, you're strong."
Azalea started trembling.
"You're stronger than this."
Azalea blinked, tears fell on her cheeks, and she seemed to struggle to breathe as Michael examined her hands.
"Come on, Aza." Rosemary cooed. "It's fine."
"It hurts." Azalea moaned painfully. "He's burning me."
"No," Rosemary said immediately. "No, he isn't."
"Why is there fire in my hands?" Azalea asked quietly.
"Your hands are healing," Rosemary said.
"Why do my hands hurt?" Azalea asked firmly, and she tried to pull away from Michael again.
"You don't remember?" Rosemary asked.
"Not everything." Azalea answered shakily.
Michael looked at the two of them, and then at Nathan and Rapunzel.
"I can do it now, right?" Rapunzel asked from Caroline's side. Adam, Fernidia, Liam, and Sage were by the wall still, and looked thoroughly confused.
"I can take her powers away?" Rapunzel asked, walking to them.
Michael shook his head. "They're gone, temporarily. You'll have to wait until they come back."
Her powers are gone? "How did that happen?"
"Avalyn bringing Azalea back caused an overload." Michael explained.
"Your hair is back, Rose." Caroline made her way to them, followed by Riley. "And your eyes."
Nathan looked at the five of them standing there.
"The trio and their anclas." Rapunzel seemed to take a look around too. "We're all here."
Caroline looked at the ballroom entrance while Azalea looked lost as ever. "Eugene's not."
Michael looked at Caroline, and then at her belly. Nathan's eyes wandered there as well, and when he looked at Michael again, he was gazing at Rapunzel; Nathan saw the pain in his eyes.
"Anclas?" Azalea kept her hands by her sides now that Michael was done; Nathan had no idea if Michael saw what others did when they looked at her hands. If he saw patterns and stories instead of sores and blisters.
"We'll explain. . ." Michael's voice trailed off. "Later." Michael's dark brown eyes flashed with pain again. He looked at Azalea, and sighed.
"I have to wait?" Rapunzel frowned, following Michael's train of thought. "I can't wait. Now is perfect. It was overwhelming last time."
"I know. Trying to take her powers away when you weren't ready caused an overload on you and her." Michael said.
"Not ready?" Rapunzel's eyes dimmed. "Not ready?"
"You're Mother Flower, but you're not." Michael said.
Riley now looked as lost as Azalea did.
"What do I have to do?" Rapunzel asked frantically. "We won't get this chance again."
"I know."
"What do I do?" Rapunzel exclaimed.
"I can't get into that now." Michael said, and Nathan wondered why.
"Why?" He asked before Rosemary could, though she opened her mouth to speak.
Michael looked at Azalea, and Azalea seemed to understand.
"I have to go back, don't I?"
Nathan's hand went to his hair and he groaned a terrible sound. No.
"You can't." Nathan's lips made the moan form words.
"She has to. When her powers come back, she'll be forced back."
"She can't leave." Nathan felt dizzy.
"Nathan," Caroline placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Y-You died." Nathan's staring at Azalea and then at Michael. "You and I went to her funeral! She was dead! I thought she was dead! I couldn't sleep or eat or anything, and she's back and you want me to let her go? She'll be dead all over again."
"Nathan-"
"I can't lose her." He turned to Azalea, and felt the tears fall on his cheeks. "I can't lose you. I'll die before you leave me again! You can't die again! You can't."
"Nathan-"
Nathan turned away, frantic and filled with grief. "I just got you back. I just held you in my arms again. You're safe again. I can't let you go."
"Nathan-" Azalea was sobbing.
"You can't leave me. You can't leave me." Nathan moaned. "My Mother, just like Mother. Father. . ."
Nathan! Azalea wailed.
You can't leave me. You can't. You can't! You CAN'T.
Nathan sank onto the floor, putting his head in his hands.
"Nathan," Michael sounded far away.
"She can't go." The words haggardly dropped from Nathan's mouth.
"She has to." He sounded just like Adam that day. . .
"Why?"
"Rapunzel can't take her powers away just yet. Avalyn will take Azalea someplace safe, but you and Sage have to find her."
"You're not bringing my son into this mess!" Liam shouted. Nathan glanced up to see a blurry Liam stalk toward Michael.
Michael ignored him.
"I know parting hurts."
"It does." Nathan couldn't stop panting. "It hurts so much."
"You have to go with Azalea, and take her back to Avalyn. You have to keep her someplace safe." Michael said firmly.
"You don't understand-"
"No, you don't understand!" Michael suddenly shouted. "You and Azalea will be able to do this anyway: Rescue each other from places like purgatory. Only for now, Sage has to take you there."
"Michael, what if I forget where we put her when I have to find her again?" Nathan wiped at his eyes and looked up at Michael.
Michael's eyes tried to smile at him.
"You won't forget. Don't you keep up with your dolls?"
Typical Michael. Telling a joke at such a serious moment.
But it made Nathan smile a tiny smile, and get up.
Azalea stared at him, and he saw bloodstains on the gray dress Anna-Beth had torn apart for her. She had wiped her hands on the dress.
Azalea closed the distance between them, and wrapped him in a hug.
"You know I don't want to go." Azalea murmured sadly. "I hurt like hell right now, but I'd go through hell for you."
Hell has nothing on what I'm about to go through.
Nathan kissed her forehead, staring at the window though he saw nothing.
I'd do the last four months all over again in a heartbeat as long as I get to keep you forever.
He thought to her wedding ring.
Whether that day comes or not.
Azalea's hands went to his cheeks as she pulled away, and they stood there, staring into each other's eyes.
I love you, Nathan. Azalea thought to him.
Silver faded into their eyes, and Nathan leaned down so she and he could touch foreheads. They were connected this way.
I love you, Doll. Forever.
