Title: Even In Death

Author: Casandra

Email: Well unfortunately I don't own them. That honor goes to ABC, Agnes Nixon, and other people that certainly aren't me.

Rating: PG-13, nothing the kiddies need to be in bed before you can read it.

Warning: If the thought of two consenting woman being in a relationship bothers you, this isn't your cup of tea.

Distribution: You can find my work at Realm Of The Shadow( and my own archive, No Other Way (http: as well as Anybody else who wants it, feel free, just drop me a line to let me know where you're taking it.

Feedback: I'll give you a cookie. Ok, well maybe not, but I'd love to know if you liked it. Or not so much. So drop me a note.

Summary: Maggie and Bianca's time together is cut short by an act born of vicious jealousy. But sometimes death is just the beginning. Alt-Universe

Author's Note: I've been having a bad habit of adapting movies into BAMmy goodness. This is just another example of that. I grew up loving a movie called 'The Wraith'. Primarily for the fact that it facilitated my crush on Charlie Sheen. And now looking back on it, one on Sherilynn Fenn as well. This fic is based on that movie.

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"Come on Maggie, I promise you, this cabin has been abandoned for years. You wanted us to spend a quiet romantic evening together. Trust me, no one will bother us out here." Bianca tugged Maggie along behind her as she opened the creaky wooden door to one of the old hunting cottages out in the middle of Pine Valley Forest.

"When I said romance I was thinking more along the lines of strawberries and champagne and flowers -" Maggie stopped mid sentence as she followed her girlfriend into the candlelit interior of the cabin. White rose petals carpeted the wooden floor, forming a trail to one of the few pieces of furniture in the otherwise spartan cabin, a king size bed covered in purple silk sheets and even more rose petals. Candles were placed all over the rest of the room, their flame dancing from the breeze coming in from the still open door. "Bianca, how in the world did you do all this?" Maggie turned wonderous eyes from the incredibly romantic setting in front of her to Bianca who was more than relieved to see she had managed to pull off surprising her blonde girlfriend.

"Never mind how I did it." Bianca took Maggie's cheek in the palm of her hand, mentally thanking her friend Anita for being such a sport and helping her drag out the boxes of candles and staying to light them all while Bianca had gone back into town to collect Maggie. "I just wanted to do something nice for you, do you like it?"

Maggie leaned into Bianca's touch, gazing into her chocolate eyes adoringly, taking notice of how the glow from the candlelight in the room created a brilliant sparkle to them. "Like it? I love it." She paused, contemplating whether or not now was the right time, but realizing only seconds later that there could never be a more perfect moment, continued on. "And I love you."

Bianca blinked, startled, not having expected Maggie's declaration. "That's the first time you've ever said that to me."

Maggie reached up, trailing her finger across Bianca's cheek to wipe away the few drops of moisture that had escaped from her eyes. "I know. I should have said it earlier, I just….."

Bianca placed a gentle finger to Maggie's lips, quieting her apology. "Shhh, it's ok Maggie, I understand. I've always understood why you couldn't say it. You didn't have to, I know how much you care, I can feel it in everything you do." Removing her finger from Maggie's lips, she reached down and intertwined their hands together, bringing them up to rest against her chest.

Maggie smiled, reveling in the feel of Bianca's heart beating strong against their clasped hands. "I did have to, you needed to hear me say it. When Frankie died I vowed to myself that the word would never pass my lips ever again. I never thought I would even want to say it to someone. But then you came along and totally swept me off my feet. You broke all the rules that I had known, saw me at my complete worst, and yet you stayed by my side. How could I not love you? And how could I not tell you?"

"Maggie, I get it, I really do." To prove it, Bianca leaned in and gently captured her lips in a soft and loving kiss. "I love you too."

A brilliant smile lit up Maggie's face, before dimming a bit, realizing she needed to tell Bianca the entire truth behind her reluctance. "Baby, you don't know everything, about why I made that promise to myself after Frankie."

"I don't need to, I know you had your reasons, and I know how painful losing her was for you. I just wish I could have spared you some of it, helped ease it for you at least." Bianca stroked a few errant strands of blond hair behind Maggie's ear, trying to soothe her even now, years after her sister's death.

"It was the last thing I ever said to her." Maggie choked out, trying desperately to not break down into sobs against Bianca's chest. As much as she was able to get on with her life and move past it, the pain of losing her sister was still raw.

"What?"

"We had been fighting earlier that day, and she was getting ready to go out with Jon and his gang for the big race up at Fritztown Point. We'd actually been fighting about him, but she just wouldn't see how much of a creep he is. As she was walking out the door I grabbed her arm and pleaded with her one more time not to go with him. Of course she didn't listen to me, but as she was walking down the front walk I called after her to be careful, and that no matter what, I loved her." Maggie's gaze refocused on Bianca, coming out of her flashback to the past. "Why she ever got in that car with Ryan I'll never know. She never raced, not even with Jon."

"Oh Maggie."

"You see Bianca, I couldn't tell you. The last time I told someone I loved them, they were taken away from me. And I can't lose you. I just can't. It would honestly kill me." Maggie leaned up, touching her forehead to Bianca's. "I need you." Kiss. "I just couldn't hold it in anymore, it felt like the words were literally jumping out of my chest." Kiss. "I love you Bianca, so much." Kiss. "Please, don't ever leave me."

"Never. I love you Maggie."

Together they fell to the bed, the softness of the rose petals creating a gentle pillow. Piece by piece the layers of fabric separating them became lost to the wooden panels of the floor. Lips colliding together in sweet surrender, hands tenderly exploring familiar flesh, whispers of affection tenderly spoken gently into the candlelit night. Perfect love making.

So lost in one another, neither of them heard the door bang open, nor did Bianca realize she was being yanked away from Maggie's embrace until she saw the sheer look of panic and fear in her lover's eyes.

Give me a reason to believe that you're gone
I see your shadow so I know they're all wrong
Moonlight on the soft brown earth
It leads me to where you lay
They took you away from me but now I'm taking you home

Maggie tried to reach for Bianca, but the arms holding her back were too strong. She struggled harder with each whimper that she could hear Bianca make, somehow strangely thankful for the canvas bag placed over her head. It was tearing her apart to hear Bianca's painful moans, she knew that if she could see what they were doing to her she'd never be able to take it. She yelled repeatedly for her captor to let her go, knowing it was useless.

I will stay forever here with you
My love
The softly spoken words you gave me
Even in death our love goes on

The screams Bianca could hear ripping from Maggie's throat were almost more painful than the feeling of the knife slashing through her tender flesh. She struggled to stay conscious despite the blood loss, fearing for Maggie's safety far more than her own. Over and over again the crispness of the blade tore through her body, her mind forgetting the pain and concentrating solely on Maggie.

Some say I'm crazy for my love, oh my love
But no bonds can hold me from your side, oh my love
They don't know you can't leave me
They don't hear you singing to me

Maggie felt herself being slung over someone's shoulder and then there was nothing but the sound of feet crunching against fallen leaves and the heavy breathing of her tormentor. She desperately strained to listen for any sign that would give her a clue about Bianca. As the steps carried her farther away from what was only minutes before the most perfect night of her life, her fear only grew stronger, along with her mournful cries.

I will stay forever here with you
My love
The softly spoken words you gave me
Even in death our love goes on
And I can't love you anymore than I do

She felt herself placed down on something relatively soft, but the bag still covered her head, preventing any chance of recognition. Before Maggie even had a chance to try and gain her footing she felt the hard club of a fist slam down on her head. Fighting for consciousness as long as she could, her last moments of clarity were filled with only one thing……Bianca.

And I can't love you, anymore than I do

Bianca lay bleeding on the bed that only a short time before had been her own small slice of heaven. She knew that death was only moments away, so in those last few seconds between earth and the afterlife she tried to settle her soul for the inevitable. But it was impossible, there was no way she could ever be content with never seeing Maggie again. In that moment she realized she'd never again get to hold her, to kiss her, to make love to her. Never again. They were destined to be together, she knew that with every fiber of her being. As the last breath of life slipped away from her body, she vowed to never give up, she would be with Maggie someday again, somehow.

I will die, but real love is forever.