bHeaven's Hesitant Touch

Heaven's Hesitant Touch

Okay, so the idea of the Angel of Death intrigued me.  I wasn't particularly thrilled by how he was presented in Death Takes A Halliwell, so this my little interpretation, with the usual LP focus *g*

Part ½

Leo and Piper sat quietly by the window, curled into each other's arms; content to listen to each other's heartbeats.  Soft music played in the background, perfectly complimenting the calmness of their breathing.  For hours they sat with each other, occasionally engaging in small bursts of conversation, although it was more often that their silence was broken by tender kisses and the consequent smiles.

Are you sure?"

"Yes.  The time has come."

"Which one do I have to take?"

"Not 'take'…think of it as 'accompanying a soul to heaven'."

"They're so happy, so much in love.  Which one?"

"When the time comes, you'll know."

Piper was just drifting between the conscious and subconscious, basking in the comfort of love when Leo gently waved a flower under her nose.  "What else are you hiding behind there?"  Piper opened her eyes and grinned, taking the single red rose in her fingers.

"Nothing."  Leo whispered; pressing slow kisses to her shoulder and neck.

Closing her eyes briefly, Piper opened them and ran her fingers over the petals.  "One."  She said quietly and seductively, removing the single petal and allowing it to fall to the ground.  Leo watched it fall and pressed a solo kiss to her forehead.  "Two."  Another petal, another kiss, this time to her temple.  "Three."  Piper threw the next petal into the air and they watched it float slowly and freely to the floor.  Leo pressed his lips to the corner of her closed eye, lingering momentarily while his fingers danced along her exposed stomach.  "Four."  Leo tilted his head down to kiss her shoulder, rubbing his thumb over her abdomen.

He watched silently from above, an invisible representation of what was awaiting them.  They were so intent on each other, completely oblivious to the world around them and so much in love.  He hated taking young people, drawing them away from their family and future.  It wasn't right.  It wasn't in the correct order.  He once believed, not so long ago, that only the elderly died.  People who had had a chance to live their lives, to chase dreams and to experience a lifetime of love; they were the only ones that left this earth.  But he was young and invincible, until death came to him.  He remembered the pain of leaving behind the people he loved, a future and innocence. 

Now, he had to take people like him away from earth every day.  And this was no exception.  This beautiful couple was going to be separated, it didn't matter which one he was going to have to escort to heaven.  It was just going to be one.  He turned away then, disappearing into the night and leaving them to one more night of pure exhilaration.

Twenty petals had fallen to the floor and surrounded their recliner in a ceremonial symbol of their union.  Breathlessly holding a single green stem with a small red bud, Piper held her palm out and let it fall.  Wrapping her arms around Leo's neck, she relaxed in his embrace as he lifted her and carefully placed her on their bed.  Reaching up, she drew him to her; their cries of ecstasy prevailing over the gentle music that played until dawn.