Title:
Between 2
Name:
Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
Rating: PG
A/N:
This series is dedicated to Rachel who this story was written for. She has
kindly given permission for me to post it for you to enjoy.
A/N2:
I appreciate suggestions, but this story is already finished. I am just
releasing it in segments.
"Who are you?" Max asked.
"I am Shane and this is
Casey," the elder man said as the younger woman nodded.
"They have returned quickly.
Something must have changed or time must be drawing near," Casey spoke.
"The book has not
changed," Nicholas said to her.
Casey's face contorted looking at
the words, "No, that changed." She said pointing in the book.
"Yes, but it is not
enough," Mia said.
"Patience in all things. You
taught me that, grandfather," Casey said winking at Shane. Max and Logan
looked at one another nervously for a moment then looked away. "You cannot
even look at one another. Why?"
Both became fixated on the woman and
her features trying to place why she looked so familiar. She had dark blond,
wavy hair that reached her mid-back. She had full, pouty lips that were
naturally a soft wine color. She was of slender stature and quiet graceful. Her
skin color was slightly tan as if an hour in direct sunlight would change her coloring
to an olive coloring. The most striking thing about her was her eyes. They were
the color of the Caribbean Sea. Bluer than imaginable, off set by the blue sash
over her robe. Looking into her eyes meant losing yourself and all coherent
thought. No matter if you were male or female they were that hypnotic.
Logan
spoke after a few minutes, "She ran away."
"I didn't run away. I just
needed time to think by myself. I didn't leave."
"You ran away!"
"Well, you waited to say 'I
love you' until I was in the other room. I bet you didn't even mean it!"
Max stated with a full pout.
"You do not believe that,"
Casey said cocking her head to one side to examine Max, "Otherwise you
would not have said 'I love you too' in return."
Max and Logan's gazes shot to Casey
in surprise, to one another, then downward. They sat silently for a long time.
"They will not come around.
They do not have it in them," said a child that sat between their chairs.
"They will… They just need
time," Casey said with confidence.
"We do not have time!"
another child spoke. For the first time Logan and Max realized the group of
people from their dream was composed of dozens of children all gathered around
them.
"We have time…" Casey said
trying to reassure the small ones that it would be all right.
"We are disappearing!"
"I know it is scary, but as
long as I exist, we all exist. As long as I exist, you can all return."
"And if they chose fear?"
Mia asked from Nicholas's side.
"Then we accept it. It is their
lives. We cannot force them. If they choose fear, they will find another
way," Casey responded.
Two small children crawled into
Logan's lap. They rested their heads on each of his shoulders. Children at her
feet surrounded Max. One little girl stood by her just staring until she
reached down and drew the child into her lap. The couple's faces found each
other. A moment of peace passed between them although they still had no clue
what was going on.
"Yes, for you. They will
find another way for you. Not us," an older boy said from the side of
Logan. He looked like a combination of his father and 1st cousin at
the same age.
"You are right… I am destiny…
You are the possibilities… We have no say!" Casey stated as clearly as she
could.
The little girl in Max's lap finally
said, "I want to be! I want to keep them."
Casey came to the child and said,
"That is not our choice. It is theirs… We are what we are. Nothing
more." The child began to cry, "Now, come to me before you get too
attached." The little girl climbed into Casey's arms and rested her head
on her shoulder. "You too," she said to the children in Logan's lap.
They climbed down of their own accord and followed her to Nicholas and Shane.
Casey kissed the cheek of the little girl and handed her to Mia.
"Are
the rest of you OK there? Or do you need to separate yourselves now?" Some
children moved away from the couple and sat at the feet of the elderly men.
Some stayed and glared at the couple with contempt.
"What are you talking about?
You're talking like we control your lives. That some how, by our actions, we
control whether you live or die," Logan said exasperated.
Casey chuckled. "Do not worry
about us. Spend time thinking about each other."
"No. Let them worry for us. We
are their responsibility. They chose!" a teenage boy stood indignantly
next to Logan.
"Silence Sean!" Casey
commanded. "You will leave until you can refrain from showing such
emotions."
"Don't speak to him that
way!" Max demanded.
"I am sorry to have upset
you," Casey said nodding to her bowing slightly. "You do not
understand… Sean, go. He will not be punished, if you are concerned. We just
have a limited time, and we cannot be distracted from the course at hand with
needless emotions."
Max felt like a dagger had been sunk
into her heart. She had been uttering those words to herself that very morning
in the shower. She knew emotions were never needless; they just needed to be
under control at moments. Apparently, this was one of those moments for Sean.
"Max, are you Ok?" Logan
whispered, seeing the pained look on her face.
"Yeah… I just… I have a habit
of calling emotions needless."
Logan reached over and caressed her
cheek. "Its OK. You're learning… so am I."
"No!" The little girl in Mia's arms yelled, then
vanished. Casey's eyes filled with
tears and she looked down.
"You see. It is not
helping," Mia said amid a cry as she collapsed into her grandfather's
arms.
Casey's eyes rose and let the tears
descend her cheeks. She gazed at Max and Logan, who still held Max's face.
"I must believe… How can we help them if we do not have trust, hope and
love for them?"