Thanks to peeps that sent me feedback: Jo, Emma, Michelle. It means a lot 2 me!
Note: It's about to get even sadder.
I'd apreciate feedback @ LuVnAnGeLNBuFfY@aol.com
Disclaimer in part 1
Time and Time Again Part 6
By *~Rachel*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel walked into Elizabeth's room, solemn-faced. He couldn't meet eyes with her...there was just no way that he could say what had to be said. When he finally looked up at her, she was sitting up on her bed, holding a new cloth to her mouth. On the table next to her were blooded handkerchiefs, towels, and other red fabrics there. Angel could smell the blood in the room- it overpowered him.
"So..." Elizabeth began. "He told you." Angel only nodded, unable to speak. Elizabeth sighed, before coughing into her handkerchief again.
Angel walked over to Elizabeth's bed and sat down next to her. He instantly took her hand, holding onto it tightly. "I...I don't know what to say to you."
Elizabeth only sat there. "He...he said I have maybe two months left...the doctor said it was fairly serious." She fought the urge to cry. Never in her life had she thought that this would happen. My life...my life with Angel is being ripped away from me.
"I...I don't accept that." Angel began. "I'll find a way to save you. There's got to be a cure for you somewhere out there. I...I have to try something. I will save you...I-"
"Angel..." she began. Just saying his name instantly silenced him. "That's a hopeless crusade. You know that as well as I do." She said, looking down at the bed. "You heard what the doctor said. There is no cure." Angel looked up at her. It amazed him how strong she could be in a time like this. "This is it. This is what's going to happen to me...what is meant to happen to me."
"To die?" Angel asked. Tears were welling in his eyes at what she was saying. His love looked so frail, so weak...
"I suppose so." Elizabeth replied softly. They sat there for a few seconds, simply holding hands. Suddenly, Elizabeth broke the silence with a sob. "Angel..." She looked across at him with tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm so scared. I don't want to die."
Immediately, Angel was at her side, hugging her tightly. "Shh, shh, my love." He rocked her slowly as she cried on his shoulder.
"It's not fair...I finally find my place in the world, I have two parents that love me dearly...I have you..." she whispered. "And it's all being taken from me." She tightened her grip on Angel, never wanting to let go.
"I know, I know...I'm so sorry." Angel whispered, running his hand down her back. "If I could do anything...."
Elizabeth sniffed back more tears. "God, Angel...I'm so frightened." She took a few shallow breaths, calming down the best she could. "Is it going to hurt, you think?" she asked softly.
Angel didn't answer for a second. Her voice sounded full of fear. God, she's going to die and I can't do anything about it. "No..." he began. "It won't hurt a bit."
Elizabeth managed a small smile. "You're such a liar." She said softly.
Angel sat back, staring into Elizabeth's eyes. "Elizabeth, I want you to know...I'll be here for you. Every night. As long as you are on this planet, I will be here for you with whatever you need."
"Thank you." She whispered before breaking down in tears once again. Angel wrapped his arms around her, holding her and silently crying as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nights passed, and Angel, true to his word, visited her every night. Elizabeth had lost the strength to walk outside now. Each night, Angel would enter through her window and sit next to her, simply being there for her or occasionally talking. Her body had become even frailer than before. She was so weak...it broke Angel's heart to be around her.
By now her parents knew what was going on. They were with her every minute of the day. And of course, Angel was with her every night. Elizabeth was surrounded by her loved ones...that was all she needed for now. Occasionally, Angel would come with news, talking about new things happening. This would distract Elizabeth just enough to get her to smile for an instant, which, in turn, kept Angel going.
A month and several weeks eventually passed. Each night that Angel visited, he knew that it could be his last. Elizabeth was growing weaker and paler by the day. Her room smelled of blood from her constant coughing. She was so frail, Angel noticed each night. So much of her spirit in her eyes had faded. Everything about her had become dull and faded. The only time the true Elizabeth came out was when she talked to Angel.
The night that would end up being stamped in Angel's memory started out like any other night.
Angel opened the window and climbed into Elizabeth's room. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. Elizabeth's eyes were closed and her chest faintly moved up and down. However, when he reached out to hold her hand, Elizabeth instantly opened her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Angel apologized.
"No...it's okay..." she replied softly. These days, Elizabeth could rarely speak above a whisper. It hurt her chest too much, she said. "I...wanted to see you so...so badly. I...I think this is it..."
Angel kissed her hand softly. "I'm right here..." he reminded her.
"I know..." she sighed. Elizabeth stared out the window longingly. "You know what? I miss our walks that we always used to take."
Angel looked at her. God, she is still so beautiful. Although Angel knew the real truth...his beloved was going to die soon...too soon for him. "Don't worry, love. As soon as spring comes, we'll be taking our nightly walks again."
Elizabeth stared at him, managing to show a small smile. "You're such a liar." She whispered to him. "Angel...kiss me?" She asked several minutes later.
"Of course..." he replied, before leaning forward and meeting lips with hers. He was so gentle...treating her with great care from her weakness. The two knew that there was something different about tonight...they both knew that it was their last time together. Angel ran his fingers down her cheek, feeling her satiny skin against his. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting to have this be her last memory. The two savored their kiss...it would undoubtedly be their last.
Several minutes later, Angel sat back, going back to his original position of sitting next to her. "Angel..." Elizabeth began. "I...I love you."
"Elizabeth..." Angel sighed in awe. Never in his lonely, tortured life, had anyone ever spoke to him so gently. Hearing the words from Elizabeth's mouth for the first time only brought more tears to his eyes. "Elizabeth...I love you too."
"I always have loved you...for months now. I just...haven't had the courage to say anything." Elizabeth said to him, lightly squeezing his hand. "I...want...need you to know now. I love you...so much."
"So do I." Angel said. It dawned on him that this was their 'good bye.' The only good bye they would ever have. "I have loved you ever since I first saw you...with your hair flowing down your back and your eyes full of life..."
Elizabeth smiled at him once more, tears in her eyes. "Angel..." she began several minutes later.
"Yes, my love?" he asked, immediately bending down to be right by her side.
"I'm so sleepy..." she said softly, beginning to close her eyes.
"Sleep my love." Angel said, holding back his tears. "I'll...I'll wake you before I leave."
"You're...such a liar." Elizabeth whispered to him, closing her eyes. In his ears, Angel could hear her heartbeat.
He felt Elizabeth lightly squeeze his hand as he heard the beating of her heart get softer and lesser.
Angel kissed her forehead.
Her heartbeat continued to lessen and lessen. And eventually, Angel heard nothing. And that night, within the arms of her beloved, Elizabeth Anne Summers died.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Several days later, Elizabeth's funeral was held. It was at daytime, of course, so Angel could not attend. The first two nights after her death, Angel had been in denial. He kept thinking She's still there, in her home...waiting for me. But of course, she never was.
That night, many hours after Elizabeth's funeral, Angel slipped out of his shoddy home and went to the graveyard. He walked up to her headstone with tears in his eyes. In his hand was a white lily, her favorite flower. He placed it in front of her headstone before standing back up. Angel silently read the engraving on the cold slab of stone as tears ran down his cheeks.
*Elizabeth Anne Summers*
*1900-1917*
*May Your Soul Find the Peace You Deserve*
"Elizabeth..." Angel whispered. "God, I can't believe you're gone. My love. You understood me...accepted me. I never deserved love and yet, you gave it to me so freely." Angel paused, looking down at the ground. "Whenever we kissed or merely touched...I felt alive. You always had that power to make me feel...human. You gave me this and so much more. I love you." He leaned forward and speechlessly kissed her headstone, wishing he could be only kissing her.
He stood back, still as one of the many statues in the graveyard around him. "I'm leaving the country." He began. "Somehow...everything here reminds me of you."
As Angel stood there, a strong wing picked up. The winds tossed Angel's duster around here and there and leaves began flying here and there. Angel looked around, listening to the wind shaking the leaves of the trees.
Don't grieve...the wind seemed to be whispering to him. We'll be together again...someday. Angel looked around the graveyard, wondering who was whispering to him. Suddenly, he swore he heard faint laughter in the wind...laughter that sounded exactly like Elizabeth's.
"I'll love you forever." Angel swore into the night. And with that, Angel disappeared into the night, unable to stand the sight of her tombstone any longer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End of Part 6...epilogue to come really soon....almost done.
Note: It's about to get even sadder.
I'd apreciate feedback @ LuVnAnGeLNBuFfY@aol.com
Disclaimer in part 1
Time and Time Again Part 6
By *~Rachel*~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Angel walked into Elizabeth's room, solemn-faced. He couldn't meet eyes with her...there was just no way that he could say what had to be said. When he finally looked up at her, she was sitting up on her bed, holding a new cloth to her mouth. On the table next to her were blooded handkerchiefs, towels, and other red fabrics there. Angel could smell the blood in the room- it overpowered him.
"So..." Elizabeth began. "He told you." Angel only nodded, unable to speak. Elizabeth sighed, before coughing into her handkerchief again.
Angel walked over to Elizabeth's bed and sat down next to her. He instantly took her hand, holding onto it tightly. "I...I don't know what to say to you."
Elizabeth only sat there. "He...he said I have maybe two months left...the doctor said it was fairly serious." She fought the urge to cry. Never in her life had she thought that this would happen. My life...my life with Angel is being ripped away from me.
"I...I don't accept that." Angel began. "I'll find a way to save you. There's got to be a cure for you somewhere out there. I...I have to try something. I will save you...I-"
"Angel..." she began. Just saying his name instantly silenced him. "That's a hopeless crusade. You know that as well as I do." She said, looking down at the bed. "You heard what the doctor said. There is no cure." Angel looked up at her. It amazed him how strong she could be in a time like this. "This is it. This is what's going to happen to me...what is meant to happen to me."
"To die?" Angel asked. Tears were welling in his eyes at what she was saying. His love looked so frail, so weak...
"I suppose so." Elizabeth replied softly. They sat there for a few seconds, simply holding hands. Suddenly, Elizabeth broke the silence with a sob. "Angel..." She looked across at him with tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm so scared. I don't want to die."
Immediately, Angel was at her side, hugging her tightly. "Shh, shh, my love." He rocked her slowly as she cried on his shoulder.
"It's not fair...I finally find my place in the world, I have two parents that love me dearly...I have you..." she whispered. "And it's all being taken from me." She tightened her grip on Angel, never wanting to let go.
"I know, I know...I'm so sorry." Angel whispered, running his hand down her back. "If I could do anything...."
Elizabeth sniffed back more tears. "God, Angel...I'm so frightened." She took a few shallow breaths, calming down the best she could. "Is it going to hurt, you think?" she asked softly.
Angel didn't answer for a second. Her voice sounded full of fear. God, she's going to die and I can't do anything about it. "No..." he began. "It won't hurt a bit."
Elizabeth managed a small smile. "You're such a liar." She said softly.
Angel sat back, staring into Elizabeth's eyes. "Elizabeth, I want you to know...I'll be here for you. Every night. As long as you are on this planet, I will be here for you with whatever you need."
"Thank you." She whispered before breaking down in tears once again. Angel wrapped his arms around her, holding her and silently crying as well.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Nights passed, and Angel, true to his word, visited her every night. Elizabeth had lost the strength to walk outside now. Each night, Angel would enter through her window and sit next to her, simply being there for her or occasionally talking. Her body had become even frailer than before. She was so weak...it broke Angel's heart to be around her.
By now her parents knew what was going on. They were with her every minute of the day. And of course, Angel was with her every night. Elizabeth was surrounded by her loved ones...that was all she needed for now. Occasionally, Angel would come with news, talking about new things happening. This would distract Elizabeth just enough to get her to smile for an instant, which, in turn, kept Angel going.
A month and several weeks eventually passed. Each night that Angel visited, he knew that it could be his last. Elizabeth was growing weaker and paler by the day. Her room smelled of blood from her constant coughing. She was so frail, Angel noticed each night. So much of her spirit in her eyes had faded. Everything about her had become dull and faded. The only time the true Elizabeth came out was when she talked to Angel.
The night that would end up being stamped in Angel's memory started out like any other night.
Angel opened the window and climbed into Elizabeth's room. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. Elizabeth's eyes were closed and her chest faintly moved up and down. However, when he reached out to hold her hand, Elizabeth instantly opened her eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Angel apologized.
"No...it's okay..." she replied softly. These days, Elizabeth could rarely speak above a whisper. It hurt her chest too much, she said. "I...wanted to see you so...so badly. I...I think this is it..."
Angel kissed her hand softly. "I'm right here..." he reminded her.
"I know..." she sighed. Elizabeth stared out the window longingly. "You know what? I miss our walks that we always used to take."
Angel looked at her. God, she is still so beautiful. Although Angel knew the real truth...his beloved was going to die soon...too soon for him. "Don't worry, love. As soon as spring comes, we'll be taking our nightly walks again."
Elizabeth stared at him, managing to show a small smile. "You're such a liar." She whispered to him. "Angel...kiss me?" She asked several minutes later.
"Of course..." he replied, before leaning forward and meeting lips with hers. He was so gentle...treating her with great care from her weakness. The two knew that there was something different about tonight...they both knew that it was their last time together. Angel ran his fingers down her cheek, feeling her satiny skin against his. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his waist, wanting to have this be her last memory. The two savored their kiss...it would undoubtedly be their last.
Several minutes later, Angel sat back, going back to his original position of sitting next to her. "Angel..." Elizabeth began. "I...I love you."
"Elizabeth..." Angel sighed in awe. Never in his lonely, tortured life, had anyone ever spoke to him so gently. Hearing the words from Elizabeth's mouth for the first time only brought more tears to his eyes. "Elizabeth...I love you too."
"I always have loved you...for months now. I just...haven't had the courage to say anything." Elizabeth said to him, lightly squeezing his hand. "I...want...need you to know now. I love you...so much."
"So do I." Angel said. It dawned on him that this was their 'good bye.' The only good bye they would ever have. "I have loved you ever since I first saw you...with your hair flowing down your back and your eyes full of life..."
Elizabeth smiled at him once more, tears in her eyes. "Angel..." she began several minutes later.
"Yes, my love?" he asked, immediately bending down to be right by her side.
"I'm so sleepy..." she said softly, beginning to close her eyes.
"Sleep my love." Angel said, holding back his tears. "I'll...I'll wake you before I leave."
"You're...such a liar." Elizabeth whispered to him, closing her eyes. In his ears, Angel could hear her heartbeat.
He felt Elizabeth lightly squeeze his hand as he heard the beating of her heart get softer and lesser.
Angel kissed her forehead.
Her heartbeat continued to lessen and lessen. And eventually, Angel heard nothing. And that night, within the arms of her beloved, Elizabeth Anne Summers died.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Several days later, Elizabeth's funeral was held. It was at daytime, of course, so Angel could not attend. The first two nights after her death, Angel had been in denial. He kept thinking She's still there, in her home...waiting for me. But of course, she never was.
That night, many hours after Elizabeth's funeral, Angel slipped out of his shoddy home and went to the graveyard. He walked up to her headstone with tears in his eyes. In his hand was a white lily, her favorite flower. He placed it in front of her headstone before standing back up. Angel silently read the engraving on the cold slab of stone as tears ran down his cheeks.
*Elizabeth Anne Summers*
*1900-1917*
*May Your Soul Find the Peace You Deserve*
"Elizabeth..." Angel whispered. "God, I can't believe you're gone. My love. You understood me...accepted me. I never deserved love and yet, you gave it to me so freely." Angel paused, looking down at the ground. "Whenever we kissed or merely touched...I felt alive. You always had that power to make me feel...human. You gave me this and so much more. I love you." He leaned forward and speechlessly kissed her headstone, wishing he could be only kissing her.
He stood back, still as one of the many statues in the graveyard around him. "I'm leaving the country." He began. "Somehow...everything here reminds me of you."
As Angel stood there, a strong wing picked up. The winds tossed Angel's duster around here and there and leaves began flying here and there. Angel looked around, listening to the wind shaking the leaves of the trees.
Don't grieve...the wind seemed to be whispering to him. We'll be together again...someday. Angel looked around the graveyard, wondering who was whispering to him. Suddenly, he swore he heard faint laughter in the wind...laughter that sounded exactly like Elizabeth's.
"I'll love you forever." Angel swore into the night. And with that, Angel disappeared into the night, unable to stand the sight of her tombstone any longer.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End of Part 6...epilogue to come really soon....almost done.