The Song of Charity
Sanctuary
~by Khary~


The cool breeze from the ocean brought a fine mist to their skin and the laughter from the child danced in the air. Under the shade of a large umbrella, Charity and Amy sat and watched as Lily danced in the sand around a large castle that she built just moments before.

Watching Lily's clumsy ballet brought smiles to the women who watched. Sipping from the tart lemonade, Amy tucked a wayward wisp of hair behind her ears and turned to her sister. "You look peaceful. It's good to see."

"It's good to feel." Taking a deep breath, Charity leaned her head back to watch the clouds. "They worry still. But that's only to be expected. What about you? How are you managing?"

"We're doing ok. Once we heal fully, Pilar is taking us to Zion. She's given us the choice to stay with her after we meet with the politicians." Looking down at her hands, Amy sighed. "But I think we'll stay in Zion, if we can. Wouldn't know how to help on the Hectate."

"Going to look for a teaching job again?" Charity asked.

"It's what I'm good at." she smiled. "and Lily needs kids her own age with the same experiences." They fell into silence, with only the sound of the waves in the distance. "What about you? Are you going to join the fight inside?"

"No." Charity sighed. Never that, she thought. "I can never go back there. Too dangerous. They can sense me too easily there. But there are plenty of ways I can fight with them here."

Watching from afar, Lily pondered them. They look so lost, she thought. It's a good thing they had to her watch over them. Dusting off her shorts as she stood, she ran to her mother's side. Snuggling against her, Lily smiled. Yes, she thought, they defiantly needed her.

The ringing of the phone broke the silence. Amy answered swiftly. "Ok." she said then hung up and placed the phone in her purse. "Have to go." she spoke softly as she smoothed Lily's hair back. "But we'll be in touch. We can always met here."

The sisters embraced quickly then Lily jumped onto Charity's lap. "I miss you. Don't stay away too long, ok?"

As tears stung her eyes, Charity kissed her niece's cheek. "Not a chance, squirt." Then she watched as they left, hand in hand, and strolled down the beach. Soon, they faded into the background. Closing her eyes, Charity rested in the quiet of her sanctuary.

* * * * *

Morpheus sat at the console, wondering if he should intrude on her. In front of him, on the small black computer monitor, the cursor blinked awaiting his command. Making up his mind, he entered the code.

The beep woke her from a sound sleep. Looking down, the laptop to her left blinked with the incoming message.

May I come in? was scrawled across the middle of the screen. Smiling softly, she typed in her acceptance.

Morpheus rose as he received the access to her program. Yes.

Soon Tank had him hooked up and jacked in. He found himself on a lone beach, with the sun high and warm and the breeze off the ocean just cool enough to keep the sweat from the skin. Looking down, he had to sigh as he saw that he was wearing a white T-shirt and loose jeans. Charity's small hint that he wore too much black leather, he presumed.

Gazing down the beach, he saw her stretched out on the sand, hair pinned atop her head, and a cigarette swinging from her fingers.

"This outfit is...interesting"

Looking up at him, Charity grinned. "Just keeping you on your toes. One of life's small pleasures."

Morpheus sat beside her and watched the ocean, and for the first time in a long while, he realized that he was relaxed. They both watched the ocean in silence.

Charity, feeling the need to make the first move, reached over and linked her fingers with his. It felt right. Just being with him. Whether it was in her own little world or aboard the Neb, as long as she could fight by him and create for him, then that was enough.

"So...what now?" she asked.

Looking down at their joined hands, Morpheus rubbed his thumb over her wrist. "We fight. And we plan."

"And us?"

"We love."

"Sounds like a good start."

Looking up at her, he grinned. "But Charity, about these clothes..."

Yes, she thought as her laughter floated in the breeze, this was defiantly a good start.

FIN

send all praise, flames, questions or comments to: khary@softhome.net