Warning: Attempted suicide and sexual content.

It was after dusk when Alastor and his mother arrived at the Parris household with jambalaya and apple beignets. He knocked on the door but no one came to answer.

"Charlie it's me." Isabelle called. "I thought you might like a home cooked meal since your parents are out of town."

No answer.

"I also brought a very special dessert. Apple beignets."

Still nothing.

"Come on Charlie we won't talk about what happened today." Alastor said. "We just want to make sure you're alright."

When there was still no answer, Alastor gave the door another knock but this time it caused the door to open. It had been left unlocked.

"That's weird." He said. "The door is never left unlocked."

Feeling concerned they went inside the house and began to look for Charlie.

"Charlie? Are you here?" They called.

They checked every room in the house but she was no where to be found. Something was wrong. Alastor could tell. Charlie would never leave the house this late. At least not by herself.

Looking in her bedroom he finally noticed the envelope that had been left on her bed. It was addressed to her parents. He opened that envelope and read the note inside. What he read made his blood run cold.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I want you to know I love you both. You have always loved me and cared for me despite how difficult I have made things for you.

I know it couldn't have been easy having me for a daughter. I'm so different. So strange. I've heard the gossip and I know what people think of you. I know what they think of me.

I try so hard to stay happy and sometimes I can but it just keeps getting harder. I don't think I can stand it any longer. I've never fit in here. I don't think I'll fit in anywhere. People just can't accept me no matter what I do.

I have decided that things would be much easier and better if I was no longer here. I have chosen to leave this world so I can finally end the pain and the burden. But please do not blame yourselves. You didn't do anything. I just don't belong in this world.

I understand that my choice is a mortal sin but maybe God will show mercy if he understands that I'm only trying to do what is best for everyone.

My love is always with you in life or death.

Your daughter,

Charlotte.

Alastor's hands were shaking like death, his breathing was rapid, he thought that he was going to collapse.

"No." He thought. "She couldn't. She wouldn't."

But the note all but clarified it for him.

"Mother!" He bolted downstairs in frenzy. "Mother call the police!"

"Why? What's wrong?" She asked.

"Just call the police and tell them to start looking for Charlie!"

Before she could question him further he handed her the note and was out in a flash. Confused, she grabbed the phone and dialed 911. She read the note while waiting for them to respond.

"Oh lord Jesus." She gasped in horror.

Meanwhile Alastor was frantically searching for Charlie. Calling her name desperately and asking anyone who came by if they had seen her. He checked every spot she might have gone to only to discover her absence in each place. Soon it started to pour down rain followed by wind, thunder, and lighting yet still he continued his search. The longer he didn't see her the more frightened he became.

"She can't leave me." He told himself. "She can't leave me! She can't leave me!"

Logic and common sense couldn't reach him now. All he could think about what had happened if he didn't find her in time. If he failed than he would die. He was certain of that.

At long last he went up to the local church and he saw her figure standing at the top of the bell tower. Her white dress contrasted with the darkness of night, the rain had her drenched just like him, the wind bucked against her, her long hair was down and blowing wildly.

"Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!"

But his cries were lost in the wind. He burst through the church doors and ran up the stairs to the bell tower as fast as he could. By the time he had made it to the top she was standing right on the edge of the church roof and looking toward the ground below. Her first foot just barely hovered downward when he shouted,

"Charlie stop!"

She froze for a moment and looked as if she wasn't entirely sure that she had heard his voice. But luckily she turned around to check.

"Charlie stay right there." He said cautiously. "Don't move. I'll get you down."

Tears were in her eyes.

"Why are you with me Alastor?" She asked in a broken sob.

"Excuse me?"

Her body was trembling and she was clutching her head.

"I'm a freak!" She screamed.

"Don't say that!" He argued.

"I am! I'm not normal! I'm not normal! I'm not normal! You need to forget about me Alastor!"

"Charlie let's just talk about this."

She clutched her head even tighter and let out another scream.

"Oh God! Why won't you be quiet?!"

At first he couldn't tell if she was talking to him or someone else.

"They won't be quiet! They won't stop!"

"They're back aren't they?" He deduced. "The voices?"

"They say I'm ruing their lives!"

"Who's lives?"

"Everyone's! My own! My parents's! Yours!"

"That's not true!"

"Yes it is! You're always trying to help me and that gets you into trouble! I should just...Just...Just die!"

"No!"

She turned to jump but in one swift move he latched on to her arm and pulled her into his embrace. She fought him but he kept a tight hold on her.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" She hit him and even scratched him a few times but he refused to let up.

"I'm begging you Charlie! Don't do this!" He pleaded. "You promised me you'd never do this! Remember?!"

"I don't care! Stop being so nice to me! I'm nothing! Do you hear me? Nothing! Just let me die please!"

"You want to jump? Fine! But if you jump then I'll jump too!"

"What?!"

"You heard me! If you throw yourself over this church then I'll come right after you!"

"Don't be an idiot! You'll die!"

"Exactly! If you die! I die! Do you understand that?! My life has no meaning if you're not in it! If I lose you then I might as well be dead!"

"You're crazy!" She cried hysterically. "You're crazy! You're out of your damn mind! Why would you even think of doing that?! Why would you kill yourself just because I did?! Why must you always try to rescue me?!"

"I can't help it! I love you!" His words caught her off guard which allowed him to embrace her close to his heart. "I've always loved you! Ever since we were kids! I love you more than life itself! More than I've ever loved anyone or anything! Please, please, don't leave me!"

Now he was in tears. He was crying because he was scared to death of losing the woman he loved forever.

She looked up from his chest, her face now looking touched and regretful. Her eyes became hazy and she kissed him softly on the lips. She brought her hand to his face and touched his cheek, brushing it softly with her fingers. He leaned in slowly and responded to her kiss her again in a very soft and tender way.

"I'm sorry." She whispered between desperate kisses that they shared in the rain. "I'm so sorry. I was just so upset about the pictures and the voices I...I...I'll never leave you!"

"I'll never let you go!" He swore. "Oh my dear! My darling! My sweetheart!"

"I love you! I love you! I love you so much!"

When they stopped to breathe she buried her face into his shoulder and clung to his neck.

"Alastor?"

"Yes?"

"Make love to me."

"What?"

"I want to show you how much I love you."

"Charlie you're upset! You don't know what you're saying!"

"But I do! I do! You've loved me for so long! I've loved you for so long! I want us to finally feel what our love is like!"

He protested a little more out of respect and consideration for her but eventually she convinced him that she was ready. He hoisted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, their lips passionately moving together as he ran back inside the bell tower. He kissed her neck, her cheek, her eyelids, and she felt the moisture of his mouth linger wherever his lips had touched which caused her to moan.

Through out their kisses they each took turns removing an article of clothing from one another. First she ran her fingers underneath his shirt and up his chest, pulling it off of him and then dropping it to the floor. Next he unbuttoned her dress and slowly pushed it down while running his fingers up and down her arms. Then she quickly unbuckled his belt and pulled down his pants leaving him in his boxers. He undid her bra and her first response was to press her breasts against his chest in instinctive shyness.

He shuddered at the touch of her bosom on his chest and when she felt brave enough to finally let him see them he marveled at the sight. He was struck by her beauty. Her shimmering hair. Her glowing skin. She was perfect.

"You're so beautiful." He ran his tongue along her neck while his hands moved over the soft skin of her breasts and down her belly. "So beautiful."

"You are too." She whispered as she kissed and grasped his smooth chest and his broad shoulders.

He felt her hands on his back, beckoning him. He slowly moved her toward the floor and with one arm he yanked down old curtains that he would use to cushion his beloved. Soon his boxers were gone and so were her panties.

Her back was slightly arched as he rolled atop her with his knees astride her hips. She lifted her head and kissed his chin and neck, breathing hard, licking his shoulders, and tasting the sweat that lingered on his body. She ran her hands through his hair as he held himself above her. At long last he lowered himself and their naked bodies joined together as one for the first time.

She cried aloud and pressed her fingers hard into his back. She buried her face in his neck and felt his strength and gentleness inside of her. She was afraid and she was excited. She gasped and she moaned. She felt pain and she felt pleasure.

"So this is what pure love is." She thought.

All too soon their bodies parted and exhaustion gave way. They wrapped themselves up in the curtains and in each other's arms. Sleep called to them and they would soon succumb but before they did Alastor moved his hand to join with hers and softly cooed against her lips,

"Charlie will you marry me?"

Their fingers interlaced.

"Yes." She sighed before giving him one last kiss.

Then they slept. They slept a long and peaceful sleep.