Authors Note: I'm really sorry it took me so long to update, but here it finally is: chapter number 7. I absolutely enjoyed writing it. I hope you will enjoy reading it, too. And because you had to wait so long; I have written a very special scene. Come on, you didn't really think I would write this story without them kissing, now did you? ;)

Open up, Boy, Open up

Angel's loud cry had woke me up. On the other side of the room I saw her little figure, sitting straight up in her bed. She gazed at something in her hand, but it was to dark to see what it was. Still kinda stagger from sleeping, I walked over to her. When I turned on the light, Angel made no movement whatsoever. She just sat there with her eyes wide open, like she was in some kind of a shock. My attention, however, was drawn to the small heart-shaped artefact she held in the palm of her hand. It was deep red, not silver like it was supposed to be.
I took it gently from her fingers and placed it on the nightstand. Then I laid Angel back on her pillow, with the blanket over her body. I don't think she has ever noticed, because she seemed so far away. She only turned once; her face towards me. Her arms were wrapped tightly around the blanket and she looked so peaceful asleep. I had never actually seen a person sleep before, but Angel was beautiful. So innocent.
I couldn't keep my eyes of off her. All kinds of thoughts went through my mind. Why was I even feeling affection for this girl?
At least; that's what I think it was. I constantly had to remind myself not to let anybody in, not to feel love. People always get hurt when they start with that crap. Nobody, besides my mother, had stayed with me. After my father had left, I felt so much pain that I promised myself never to feel love again. Angel sure made it hard for me, with that sweet smile on her lips. For the first time I knew why she had been given that name. That night she really did looked like an Angel.

Very early in the morning, I quickly dressed myself to go downstairs. When I picked up my boots I saw Angel again, still lost in her dreams. A warm glow touched my heart, just like it had done that night. It was a strange feeling and I desperately wanted it to go away.
"I...I can't love you", I whispered and ran out the room with tears in my eyes. Not that I cry much - I haven't cried in years - but I just couldn't stop the tears from coming, like they were forcing their way out.
The bench standing near the Benbow, the one were we met for the first time, was still covered with dew. I leaned against a tree and stared at the sky. Endless thoughts floated through my mind. I felt so lost. I was so afraid to let Angel find her way into my heart, that I forcefully tried to block my emotions and feelings for her.
"What are you doing?"
I turned my head towards the door. I could have recognised that voice anywhere; it was Angel. She sure had taken me by surprise, but there she was; standing in the doorstep, wearing her blue pants and deep red shirt. I was speechless. How did she knew I was here? Although, the Benbow wasn't very big. She could have easily found her way through here.
"You were pondering again, weren't you?", she asked, walking slowly towards me. I smiled. Angel always seemed to know my thoughts.
"I was just thinking…"
She laughed. "You are always thinking!"
I stared into her eyes. It's hard to deny what you feel, especially when the girl is standing right in front of you. I remembered how I had always felt so alone, but with Angel around that feeling was completely gone.
I sighed. "Everybody in my life seems to leave me", I said, with a sad undertone in my voice. I saw the expression on Angel's face change. It turned into serious. She opened my hands and laid her own in them. Her feet moved one step closer to me.
"I will never leave you again", she replied, "I promise you that, here and now."
My fears slowly faded away. My heart, that so strongly had rejected every kind word, every loving gesture, regained its will to open up. Still with lots of doubt and hesitation, but at least I finally dared to feel some love for her. Those words had been exactly what I needed.
"We are both alone in this world…"
Angel placed her finger gently on my lips. "No, we are not", she whispered, "We have each other." She put her hands on my shoulders so her face was even more near to mine. Our lips were so close that they could almost touch. My heart jumped over from excitement. I had never felt so much for anyone in my whole life. As if it was naturally, I let my arms go around her waist. We both looked into the others eyes, before we brought our lips together and kissed. I wished it could last forever. It was like the whole world disappeared and we were the only ones left. All my previous doubts were forgotten. It was just her and me, at this moment. Nobody could hurt us, because we were safe together, immortal. Both our hearts filled with warmth to feel so wanted and loved.
When my lips were finally leaving hers and I was releasing her just one tiny bit, Angel immediately hugged me stronger, like she wanted to hold on to this moment forever.
"Don't let go Jim, please don't let go."
A smile came across my face. "I won't."
Softly my arms embraced her again. I gently stroke with my hand over her hair. Together we watched the sun come out to start a new day.

My mother was so busy with breakfast that she didn't even noticed something about us when we walked in together. She only ordered us to make the tables ready for guests and so we did. Running around we held things like jam and biscuits high up in the air, while the other tried to grab it. People who came down to eat laughed at the sight of our little game. My mother wasn't so pleased with it, though. Eventually she send us away to my room and the guests took place at the breakfast table.
I first ran to the kitchen to grab my book, before I followed Angel upstairs. She was sitting on her bed, with her legs crossed and her eyes buried in her notebook. I saw by the expression on her face that she was completely happy. I knew that expression all too well; it was the same as mine when I had my feet on my solar-surfer and made one trick after another. It was nice to see her like this, especially after all the difficult times she had been going through. I could tell that she missed her parents very much, even though me and my mother had been able to cheer her up.
Angel put the notebook away and moved over, so I could sit next to her. She let her head rest against my chest and read the book to me I had taken from the kitchen. We could just spend hours on talking and looking at the pictures. Time flew by without us even realising it. Suddenly, we heard a noise coming from downstairs. It couldn't have been the guests; it was too late for that.
I was surprised when all at once I felt Angel holding me tightly. I looked down to her face, which showed me horror. She had pure horror in her eyes. Boy, was she scared!
"They're coming!", Angel cried, "They're coming for the artefact!"
I immediately turned my head to the nightstand. It was still there, but it had recovered to its normal state: silver colour, non-glowing and cold. I feared Angel was right. And if she was, those creatures would do anything to get it.