My Morphine:

Ch eleven: Forgive Me …

Meara awoke feeling hot and groggy. The air was thick with incense and lit only by candles. She lay on the floor amongst a bundle of comforters and blankets, a cool rag on her forehead. She looked to Raven who knelt beside her, placing numerous bowls and other belongings on a tray. Meara spoke his name weakly and he only shifted his cold lilac-coloured eyes to her.

"I…I…I didn't know she could…she could get me…" She whispered as he stayed silent and brushed her hair from her damp forehead, placing a kiss where his hand lay idle, and got up. "R-raven…I'm sorry!" She said sitting up feebly. "I'm so sorry…"

"Get some rest." He said finally, leaving on that.

The brunette trembled slightly, drawing her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly.

"Raven…I really am…" she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

————

(A few days later)

Thomas sat on the ledge of the sink, talking with Raven who was in the shower. He listened to the water shut off and his lover step out.

"Raven?" He said softly, playing with the fringed edge of a hand towel. "I think you're being too hard on Meara…"

The other said nothing and used the side of his fist to wipe off the fogged up mirror. He pulled his fingers through his wet and tangled hair, then worked some gel in his hands.

"Raven?"

"Thomas, you know how I feel about Meara--"

"Yeah, that she's like your little sister. I know you're close, but--"

"And what if Mizuno hadn't been there, huh? Thomas, we could have had to kill her. Do you know how much it hurts to think of that?"

The blonde wrinkled his nose cantankerously. "Yeah, in fact I do. Reese took control of my brother, I had to fight him, I had to find a way around killing him when he was trying to kill me. So yeah, Raven I do know what you're talking about."

He fell silent for a few minutes, distributing the gel in his hair. Thomas frowned sadly and brushed his hand across his cheek.

"Raven, I know how you feel, but you have to give her a second chance--"

"I don't think you quite understand. She could have gotten us all killed, meaning Elise Lynette would gain control of either us, or Zi. Meara deliberately went against my orders and we're set back, again. I can't tolerate taking such risks with all of you."

Thomas sighed. "She knows she messed up, and I doubt she'll go against your word again." Raven started to refute but his partner frowned. "Please, Raven, you're hurting her so much." The blonde tried to wrap his arms around him but he pulled away.

He hesitated and followed him to the bedroom. The black haired teen sat on the side of the bed, half dressed.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or not? It's not just Meara you're upset about, is it?"

He looked to him helplessly. "Thomas, I have no idea what I'm, what we're going to do. We can't let Fiona succeed, but…I can't think of how to get to her…"

"Raven…" the other said softly, placing a kiss on his lips. "You are not alone, so stop taking so much responsibility. We're here for you, especially me."

"I-I know…" he replied, resting his cheek on his shoulder.

———

Raven knelt before Prozen in his lair.

"So, Raven, report to me what has happened."

"Much, My lord. I do not know where to begin."

"You are troubled, my little bird…" He gestured for him to come and he did, unabashedly crawling into the older man's lap, snuggling into the warmth of his robes. "Now, tell me what has happened to worry you so."

"Meara left in the middle of the night to kill Elise Lynette herself but ended up underestimating her, She took control of her mind and set Meara against us. I managed to rid her of Elise Lynette's presence but…I'm having trouble allowing myself to trust her again. She deliberately defied me, I told her, we had to wait…" He nestled his face into Prozen's long ashen tresses.

"My poor Raven…but you must see things from her view. Elise Lynette has caused her so much pain--"

"She's caused a great deal of pain to many people--"

"But she knows it, she is ever-mindful of it. Her father's face and brutality haunts her and she is unable to escape that since she looks just like him. Meara Sorcha Holden is not one to forget her suffering."

"Nevertheless, she must have found some joy since we have found her brother!"

"You have?" Raven nodded, "Hm, I am glad to hear Mizuno is well."

"But what of Meara?"

"I think finding him, for her, must have been bittersweet; it would relieve her of her constant worries for his safety, but then bring back the horrible memories they both share."

The dark haired one sighed and nuzzled against Prozen more.

"That's not all that's happened…"

"Continue then, my little one…"

"Forgive me, My Lord, do not be angry at I or Meara who delivered the fatal strike, but, Hiltz is dead. We killed him…" He looked into the elder's crimson eyes. "Forgive us, My Lord, he killed Shadow…he wanted me to shed Thomas' blood, to take his life with my own hands…" His scarlet orbs held subdued fire.

"I was wondering where he'd gone." He flattened Raven's unruly hair, "Do you really love Thomas that much?"
"Yes, My lord…" he blushed softly as the older man continued playing with his hair. "I'm sorry for Hiltz now, I know how you fancied him…"

He said nothing.

"Prozen…?"

"Yes?"

"Do we have any chance at all to defeat Elise Lynette?"
"If you believe in your associates, Thomas, Meara, Reese and Mizuno, you will find a way."

"But--"

"But nothing, Raven, it's simple." He placed a finger to the younger's lips to prevent him from replying negatively with a dark smile. "Before you leave, I want you to take this…" From one of the many pockets in his robes, he pulled out a black velvet drawstring-pouch.

"What is it, Prozen?" His senior chuckled as he pulled the bag away, showing a glowing blue crystal,

"It is Zoid Magnite, you may be able to revive Shadow with it."

"Do you mean it?" His cold lavender eyes turned warm and sparkled with hope.

"I promise nothing, but there is a chance."

"Thank you, My Lord!" He snuggled against him again.

——

"Anyone home?" He called, seeing Meara on the couch and the other Zoids gone. He smiled and stood in front of her, but her eyes stayed downward. "Peregrine, do you have any idea what this is?" he exposed the sapphire stone and held it to her. Her large green eyes drifted from the stone to him, in question. "It's Zoid Magnite! With this, Prozen says we may be able to revive Shadow, isn't that great?" He asked as she nodded softly. The others soon walked in the door, dumping countless bags in the kitchen. 'Thomas!" He called, scooping the blonde into his arms and giving him a big kiss. "We've found a way to possibly revive Shadow!"

"What?"

"Prozen gave me some Zoid Magnite after I made my report!" He set him down gently and danced around Reese and Mizuno.

"Raven…not to burst your bubble, but how sure are you that it's going to work?" The flaxen haired young man asked, biting down on an apple.

The maverick's joy decreased a little but was still grinning like a kid. "Prozen said that he promises nothing, but there is a chance."

"I think there's a middling probability that we shall succeed, What do you think Specular?" Reese asked the blue organoid who purred in response.

"See?" Raven laughed.

The four crowded around Shadow who's stony form that lounged on the grass like a morbid lawn ornament, Meara standing about 15 feet away. Raven knelt and placed the glowing rock into the Organoid's mouth as Reese instructed. He stepped back and let Thomas' arms encircle his chest, his cheek resting on his shoulder blade. The glimmering intensified and covered the black metallic creature that let out a soft growl. The organoid growled louder, then let out a thunderous roar.

"Shadow!" Raven cried out, Thomas releasing him as the black creature, turned it's head and seemingly wagged its tail. He started to run to it but found himself pressed to the ground by its weight soon on top of him. Shadow purred and nuzzled him with its pointed snout, wiggling its stubby arms. The organoid made its way around, nuzzling, purring, tackling, everyone who stood to greet it.

Raven lay on his back with his arms folded behind his head, Thomas curled up on his side next to him. He looked from the bare ceiling to Shadow who sat at the end of the bed. He sat up and slid from bed, pulling a shirt on, receiving a mumble from the other.

"Where are you going..?" he asked, muffled by the pillow.

"Can't sleep."

"How surprising…" He teased , burying his face deeper in.

The black haired teen smiled and placed a kiss on his bare shoulder blade.

Shadow followed him down the stairs, tiptoeing as to not wake anyone. He noticed Meara sitting on the couch again, her eyes cast down and her cheeks flushed dark crimson.

"Meara?" He said quietly as she looked up, barely, her eyes lacking luster. His hand pressed to her forehead as she tried to speak. "Meara, you're burning up! Shh…stay right here, I'm going to get the thermometer and some medicine." She didn't answer, just looked at him miserably.

He returned quickly with a box of pills, a cup of water and the thermometer. He stuck it under her tongue and scanned the back of the package, flipping on the table lamp. He took back the device and read it. "104.6?! Meara, why didn't you say anything to us?" She didn't answer since he popped two pills into her mouth, handing her the cup of water. "Drink this. The whole thing." He ran back to the kitchen and filled a small bowl with cool water and grabbed a dishtowel. "Did you get them down?" she nodded slowly and he sat down and held her close, dabbing at her forehead with the wet rag. "Shh…" he cooed , patting her back softly, "Why didn't you say anything to us?"

"Be…because…I didn't want to…to worry you…" She replied softly as he sighed and rocked her back and forth gently.

Thomas rolled over on the empty bed.

"Raven?" He said looking around, seeing only Shadow at the foot of the bed, staring at him. "Hey…where's Raven?" He asked the organoid who looked to the door. The blonde yawned and stretched, then made his way downstairs. The black haired teen sat cradling Meara in his arms on the couch and looked to him with a slight, tired smile.

"Hey…" He said softly as Thomas sat beside him.

"What happened?" He asked, looking at the medicine, thermometer and bowls and cups of water,

"After I left I came downstairs and found Peregrine. She was burning up…105 almost, I think…but it broke around an hour or two ago…"

"Poor Mea…" He said as Raven gently slid the sleeping girl from his arms down to the pillow, covering her with a blanket. "She's gonna be okay, right?"
He nodded softly, resting his head on Thomas' shoulder. "Yeah…I think so…I don't think she had quite recovered from her little cold a few days ago." He watched her fingers clench in her slumber.

"Ra…ven…I'm sorry…."

[ To be Continued …]

Poor Meara, *gives her a lollipop* About Raven and Prozen, I decided to take a father-son bond idea. ^^;

Okay, people! I would like you all to check out Zoids XTreme Chaotic Century revised by VertigoMesmerizer. I am VM's beta reader and It really is a good AU story. So check it out! Please? Pretty Please?

Yare, mata!

-Naomi Hun†er

Disc: I own Meara, The Plotline, and whatever else I own. Mizuno is owned by AQUA RHAPSODY, not me!!! I do not own Zoids etc or the Time staff.