Chapter 5

Life had grown almost back to normal for her.  She had learned her lesson and her guard was always up.  Still she had one question circulating within her mind.  Why wasn't the man that had saved her contacting her?  Though she knew the answer, she wouldn't let herself believe it. 

He had tried to stay away from her when she had finally found him again.  Okay so she hadn't found him, he did.  It didn't matter because he had tried to keep his distance, and she had always tried to get closer.  Somehow though, he managed to drive a wedge between them and she was heartbroken when he told her it was best that he didn't see her again.  When she had found out who he really was she was shaken at first but then, it made her realize just how much more she loved him.  It made her see the strength in him, an explanation of his childish antics, and why he hadn't felt love before.  That especially made her love him more than she had already, the fact that he chose her to love. 

She sighed as she sat upon a balcony chair, and rested her head on her arms as she looked out into the morning sky.  Her chestnut brown tresses of hair blew gently with the wind, her ochre eyes twinkled as the suns rays hit at a certain angle.  The sky shown a brilliant blue and the birds chirped happily, until a couple of dark crows sat among the branches and covered the beauty over with their evil song.

 "Rachel," A voice behind her said. "There you are."  She turned shaken from her reverie; she hadn't even heard her father walk in.  "Hi daddy."  The elderly man only smiled as he took a seat beside her.  He took in a deep breath of fresh air, "It's a beautiful morning huh?"  "Yeah it is."  Robert sighed, "I know Simon saved you."  Rachel glanced at her father surprised, she hadn't told a soul about Alec rescuing her.  "I didn't tell you that."  "The camera's picked him up on our premises, then you turn up within hours of him being here, I only assumed."  "Oh."  She only whispered her reply.  "I know he loves you Rachel, but you must understand why I feel the way I do… I hope that you won't see him again."  Rachel looked at her father, her eyes wide, and surprise shown in every aspect of her face. "But daddy!"  "Please Rachel I just," He sighed.  "I just don't want you seeing him anymore, he could put you in terrible danger again… I just don't want to lose you."  Then he got up, unable to hold his composure and left not saying another word.

Rachel sat, and stared out at the world before her; the world that wasn't locked away within the Berrisford Gates, but the real outside where people roamed free.  She knew exactly why her father tried to forbid her to see Alec again; she knew what Alec had done to her, and what could happen if she continued her chasing.  But she was like a young schoolgirl, and all she wanted was to be with him… She loved him.  It wasn't wrong that he wanted to stay away, yet his attempts to keep distance between them only made her more determined to be with him.  If he was going to stay away he wouldn't have saved her, and wouldn't have approached her those many times, and her heart jumped with joy as she finally realized that he didn't really want to stay away.  That he really did love her and all he was doing was trying to protect her, and that he did very well.  Her mind however kept wondering what had happened when that thundering sound erupted into the afternoon sky, she wanted to know what had happened… wanted to know what had come of Alec. 

The horrible thoughts that she had tried to drive away only tore her apart.  If Alec were the one that had gotten hit by the bullet, would he be gone now?  Had he been captured?  If White had treated Rachel the way he did, than what would come of Alec if he were under Whites supervision?  Questions circulated within her mind and all she wanted was an answer, a sign that he was actually okay.

 She could feel her blazing hatred for the man that called himself White, and from what she heard of the conversation between Alec and him they weren't fond of each other.  She knew without a doubt that Alec hated White, and she didn't understand exactly why he knew White before now.  She recalled the moment months ago when Alec had had a confrontation with White and his men, where Max had come by to help out.  She remembered clearly the feeling that had overcome her when she had thought Alec or Simon at the time had fallen victim to the gun.  Rachel remembered the feeling of dread coming over her as she closed her eyes, and tried to suppress the tears that were threatening to fall. 

***

Years ago she wouldn't have known that she was to meet this incredible man that would lead her through this whirlwind of an adventure.  When she had first met Simon she hadn't thought of a possibility that Simon wasn't Simon, that she would fall asleep and not wake up until years later, that she would be kidnapped and find out that there were others among her that weren't technically human.  Rachel wouldn't have guessed, yet she wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  This was an adventure of a lifetime, and if she'd given it up she wouldn't have learned the things of the world around her.  Through all this she also learned more about herself, that she was less independent then she had thought, that she was stronger than she thought she ever was.  Although the journey had ended, she still felt that somehow it was just the beginning, and that there was more in store.

She remembered when she first met Alec; he was Simon at the time.  He tried to act so professional wearing those glasses and always wearing suits.  Rachel smiled at the thought of him.  He was so different from all the boys she had met, not just because of his maturity but every aspect of him.  There was something different, like he was uncomfortable in his own skin… now she understood why.  She giggled at the memory that had resurfaced.  It was when she had asked him to go swimming with her.  Thinking back now it was pretty funny how he stood there so awkward and childish, he was just so adorable. 

Rachel shivered as the breeze whipped through her hair.  Little traces of autumn were starting to show as the leaves had begun to turn their beautiful golden color.  The air had begun to become crisp and your breath would rise into the air like steam.  Frost was settling upon the surfaces that were uncovered by the sky, and she could almost picture the snowfall that would come within the winter months.

She closed her eyes, trying to saver this moment where everything was still and nothing could disturb the serenity this image produced.  When had things become so complicated?  If only things could be the way they used to be when she was a child, carefree.  The only pain children really felt under normal circumstances was that of cuts, scraps and bruises, nothing too emotionally bruising.  If only things could be the same, but as adulthood nears a new outlook in life begins to rear it's ugly head.  Though not always ugly most tend to focus on those of misfortune.  All this pain begins to transcend and all you're left with is a broken heart.  She remembered the way she felt when her mother 'left', and blamed herself that her mother was gone.  Now she realized that she needed someone to blame and it was stupid to have felt that way, but either way it didn't erase the pain that was within her heart.  Now she only wished that Alec was okay, and she wouldn't have to go through that again.

Rachel slumped over on her balcony chair, tears started to form in her ochre eyes.  They wouldn't fall; she wasn't going to cry about something she cried for, fo so many nights in the past.  She was determined to think optimistically, and the bright part was that she was safe, she had her father, and in someway she had Alec too.  That was all that mattered.

TBC…

Authors Note:  Sorry this took so long.  I really wanted to make a longer chapter but it failed.  I guess I just have to write shorter ones.  Anyway I hope you like this chapter.  Please give me some feedback!!

~ Inevitable