F l a s h l i g h t

by Stark Raving Lolly

Nathan Blake. Robin Lawrence. Charles Austin. Bart Ford. Four boys, all dead. A violently haunted exboarding school. A fire in 1969. A man named Cole to run from. A mystery to be solved...and a love to be determined. Busy, aren't we Suze? [FINISHED]

32. Lucky

OF COURSE IT'S NOT OVER YET!

PFFT!

Love Layley.

---

I pulled away from Paul's arms after several moments of intense silence. Swallowing down a world of pain for the last time, I looked up at him and smiled.

It felt like it was over.

It wasn't . . . but at least it felt like it.

'We'd . . . um - we'd better get back,' I mumbled, brushing a long lock of hair off of my face.

Paul trailed a finger down my cheek, but then nodded in agreement. He stood up I went to do so as well, but . . . oh my God, suddenly everything just got HEAVY. One second, I'd been fine, but then I was just . . . TIRED.

It was alarming for me. It was like the adrenaline had COMPLETELY worn off, and there I was, feeling exhausted, sore and immobilised. With a groan, I thumped back on the ground.

'Whoa,' I said breathily, 'I . . . I can't - '

'Hmm,' Paul went grimly. 'Had to happen.'

With that, he kneeled down and picked me up. The hairy-legged feminist within protested to the most RUDE assault on my independence, but I was intelligible enough to realise that I was not going to move ANYWHERE without some assistance. Or, uh, a lot of assistance.

My arms went wearily around his neck. 'Sorry - ' I apologised awkwardly, 'This is really embarrassing - '

Paul just chuckled into my hair. 'Suze,' he reasoned, as we started relocating - namely to the front of the school, since our current position was near the foreboding Lake Fortunaschwein - 'You died. You resurrected three ghosts. You caused a very large fire, very fast. I think you have more than a good excuse to be feeling drained.'

I blinked slowly, and just rested my head against his shoulder. My eyes wanted to close, and remain closed until such a time when I was able to wake up and feel my legs again.

However, about five seconds passed before I started giggling.

'I died . . . haha . . . '

Paul didn't exactly laugh. 'You're lucky. Shit, I'm lucky.'

'Yeah,' I said, 'Jesse totally saved your ass.'

'Huh?' Paul stopped. 'He - huh?'

'Jesse . . . ' I stopped, took a deep breath and battled not to fall asleep from sheer exhaustion, ' . . . Jesse saved your life. He pushed you out of the way of a falling chandelier - one big enough to kill you several times over.'

Paul blinked several times, trying to absorb the thought in his mind. He looked a little confused, torn between thankful and astonished.

'Oh,' he said slowly. I could have sworn I saw a small trace of a smile. It went away rather quickly, though. ' . . . Anyway, that wasn't what I meant about being lucky.'

Okay, I'm stumped. I always thought Paul was the one walking around with horseshoes up his butt. I mean, just how many things have gone right for Paul. Especially in comparison to me.

'I was talking about you,' he informed me. 'You see, Simon, I was not ready to lose you.'

For a second . . . even I had been so ready to lose me . . .

But I wasn't now. I wasn't ready to go. I wanted to stay, and I wanted to do the hardest thing in this precious life.

Namely . . . live.

I could have stayed in that place, wherever it was. But my father told me that wasn't how it was supposed to be, and now I see why he'd said that. This felt right, just like being in that place. Only now I was sharing it with Paul.

A soft smile came to my face. 'I like it when you call me Simon,' I thought out loud. It was like when Jesse used to call me querida. But, you know . . . not. You'd think calling someone by their last name would hardly constitute as endearing, but it somehow grasped me personally.

'Really?' Paul asked. 'Damn it. I'd better think up a name that actually annoys you then.'

I giggled a little. I forgot how interesting our conversations always were.

However, all conversation was halted when a shrill scream rang out through the air.

'SUZE! Oh God, Paul, is she okay?'

Fast footsteps crushed the crackling leaves on the ground. Paul was quick to assure CeeCee McTavish, however, that I was all right. From the look of stark horror on Cee's face as she saw me, I knew I probably looked bad. I feared passing a mirror.

'Holy crap,' Adam's voice sounded astounded. 'You took ages in there! We thought you died or something.'

I'm sorry, but that just had me giggling to no end.

Boy, if only he knew what'd gone on in there. First the fear, and then the mighty triumph.

I opened my eyes finally, and lifted my head up from Paul's neck, where it had been rested so warmly. God, I felt so tired . . .

'What's wrong?' CeeCee asked slowly. 'Why are you so - '

'Stoned,' Adam finished.

Yeah, Adam, I was high. Higher than you could ever know. Only, not on drugs. I tossed Adam a lazy smile.

I heard a slight crackle of leaves off in the distance. The sun was catching on something, making it shine out of the corner of my eye. I twisted my head around a little more, and my eyes widened.

Because there, sitting in a wheelchair in between a rueful looking Mr Richard Head and an alert looking Jesse, was -

'Father Dom,' I gasped.

He was too far away to have heard me. But he'd seen my look. And that made his old face break out into a warm smile. He immediately wheeled right over to me, as fast as his priestly arms could carry him.

'Susannah,' he smiled. He looked pretty good for a guy with a big glob of cells tumor-izing in his head.

'Oh,' Adam grinned, 'Him. Paul and I picked him up from the hospital. It was an emergency, after all. Well, Paul said it was. Otherwise, we busted him out of the White Coats for nothing - '

'I do have a feeling it was an emergency,' Father Dom's eyes twinkled a little.

Paul walked closer to him, with me still holding onto his neck. Father Dom was pretty mobile in his wheelchair, but I guess Paul didn't want to tire the poor dude too much.

Who needs a stinkin' wheelchair when you've got a Paul?

'Hey,' I smiled down at him. I would have liked to give the guy a big squishy hug, but I was kind of using my arms at the moment to hold on to Paul.

CeeCee and Adam fell silent. Observant, if you will.

I looked strangely at Father Dom. I . . . I don't know. There was something about the look in his bright blue eyes that made me suspect that . . . he knew.

I mean, he couldn't have.

Unless, I dunno, JESSE blabbed or something.

But . . . no.

I just got the feeling that he had himself had an inkling of what had gone down in Fortunaschwein's ballroom. It was like . . . he KNEW what had happened. He KNEW that I'd seen things that were meant for me and me alone.

Maybe he and his God buddy WEREN'T that out of touch.

I mean, God's a twisted fellow.

But here was my Father D, right in front of me . . . here when he thought I needed him.

And I guess that's all someone can really ask for from a higher power.

Loved ones, I mean.

Maybe God really didn't have it out for me. He was just looking after me the entire time. Just, you know, in a completely backwards way.

God works in mysterious ways . . . for me it was in more of a paranormal sense.

I smiled a little more broadly, just so he knew that I knew. That he knew, I mean. You know?

Haha.

I reached down and squeezed Father Dom's hand. It was so, so good just to see him here. It almost made me wonder how he got to leave the hospital. I mean, if that hospital was as strict as it was clean and pure white, then he would have never gotten out without a clean bill of health.

His hand was warm in comparison to mine. Warm just like his fatherly smile.

'Yeah,' Paul broke the silence when he deemed it appropriate, 'We went to grab Father Dominic. He thought he could maybe bless the school or something, just in case. Of course though, SOMEONE here decided to be an ass, and they went on in to Fortunaschwein WITHOUT waiting for me to get back.' Paul looked down at me pointedly. 'No names, Suze.'

I sniffed. 'Shut up.'

'Hmm,' Father Dominic said chidingly. Looked like our little "moment" of wordless wisdom had passed, and he was back to being his disapproving self. 'It is true, Susannah, that you should not have gone in by yourself.'

'I went with CeeCee and Mr Head,' I protested. I didn't exactly intend to be on my lonesome. And even if I did, it was only because I thought the Misforts were done.

'Yeah, great help I was,' Cee sighed. She looked down at the ground. Blaming this all on herself. I felt a pang of guilt for dragging CeeCee into this.

'You were VERY great help-y, Cee - '

'Susannah,' Father D interrupted softly, 'You have unfinished business.'

I paused, tiredly but curiously. Paul repositioned his arms a little and jolted me in accident.

'What do you mean?' I asked.

Jesse, who was standing beside the oblivious Mr Head, coughed a little. 'Er,' he muttered, 'Behind you.'

I turned my head over Paul's shoulder at the same time Paul did. My nose brushed against his chin. However . . . behind him, I saw Bartholomew Ford standing there.

He was the perfect demeanour of guilt, in every way possible.

'Uh,' he said.

I felt even more drained, just looking at him. I didn't really want to deal with him now. I just wanted to curl up, and sleep.

But I had to do it now. Like Father Dominic said, I had unfinished business to attend to.

Sighing, I squeezed Paul's upper arms a little, signaling for him to let me stand.

Wasn't particularly UP to it, but since when did the Grand Scheme of Things care about that? My knees were a little wobbly, so I had to hold onto Paul's arm for a little added support.

'Bart,' I said, not really knowing what else to say. I mean, now that the truth about what really happened to the four of them was out, I had no idea whether I could still look at Bart the same. He seemed innocent enough. But I guess when you're affiliated with those other three, you had to have lost your purity somewhere.

Bart's gaze lowered from mine immediately, as if a single word had meant a condemnation.

'I'm sorry,' Bart said in a small voice. 'I'm sorry that I didn't stay, Suze. I should have, I - I just - I was scared and . . . I'm a coward, I know, I should have stayed, especially since I care about you - '

'Bart,' I repeated his name again.

' - Although I have a lousy way of showing it, seeing as I keep dematerialising whenever the going gets tough - like, when you were gonna exorcise the other three - '

'What?' Father Dominic asked a little sharply.

Uh, oops.

' - And then I just disappeared on you. I shouldn't have. I know that I shouldn't leave you, because there's no point in watching over you if I just decide to leave when something dangerous DOES come, I just . . . can't help it, and I know that - '

'Bart,' I said for the final time, 'Shut up.'

He broke his intense staring competition with the grass, and looked up.

I blinked, holding onto Paul's arm heavily. My legs didn't want to hold me. I wanted to fall, and sleep . . .

'Look,' I said, 'It's okay. But . . . it's over now. Charles, Nathan and Robbie weren't monsters when they died. They just turned INTO them. You're not a monster. You're just a wuss.'

Adam sniggered a little. 'Suze Simon, ever tactful,' he grinned, before getting elbowed by CeeCee.

'But,' I went on, 'You can't help that. You killed them because a certain anus in our presence MADE you, but ya know, you still did it.'

'Uh, are you getting to a point?' Bart mumbled, 'This isn't making me feel much better . . . '

'I have no intention of making you feel better,' I informed him. 'However, I am getting to a point. Eventually. You killed three of your fellow students when you were seventeen. You can't change that. But, the most important thing is . . . you regret what you did.'

Bart looked directly at my eyes. He had nice eyes. Emotive eyes. Not piercing like Paul's or dangerous like Robin's. Just . . . nice.

'You're human,' I said from what I gathered from his eyes. 'The other three weren't. You're not like them. You FEEL the remorse. That's the thing that truly sets you apart from Robin, Nate and Charlie.'

He fidgeted with his blazer nervously. I noticed his was a lot more worn out than the others were. His, apparently, was a used one.

And he was a used kid. He was a pawn in Mr. Head's elaborate scheme to keep his small fortune. All Mr. Head had to touch was his cowardice, and he could have gotten whatever he wanted from Bart.

'I don't care about hearing your apology,' I went on, feeling weaker by the second. My voice was kind of dying out. 'I know you're sorry. I know that you would have had good intentions. You just screwed up, because you were a wuss. But like I said . . . it's okay.'

Adam snorted again.

'Tell that to Michael Meducci,' he breathed.

'Adam,' Father Dominic hissed, 'Please be quiet.'

'Sorry Padre.'

'So yeah,' I said. 'It's over now . . . almost.'

'Almost?' Bart questioned.

I rotated my head slightly. God, please let me collapse . . . collapse and sleep . . . ? 'Mr Head,' I addressed. 'If you ever wanted to make an apology, now would be the time to do it. There's an ex-student of yours who's standing here and is dying to hear what you have to say.'

See? I can pun even WHEN I'm dead-beat.

Mr Head looked startled. 'Bartholomew?' he raised his eyebrow, looking at thin air.

Bart bent down and snatched up a tuft of grass in response, to prove his presence.

Mr H. took a deep breath in. 'I'm . . . I'm sorry,' he said.

Bart smiled both wryly and shyly. 'He's not. He's just apologising because you told him to, Suze. He doesn't mean it.'

'I know,' I shrugged. 'But isn't it good to know that someone who bullied you when you were alive is now at your mercy?'

Bart stared at me.

Then he smirked.

'Oh,' was all he said. 'You're good, Suze. You're really good.'

'As I've been told many times,' I sighed, my eyes drooping.

'Susannah,' Father Dominic said smoothly, 'Finish it.'

Reopening my eyes begrudgingly, I fixed my gaze on the ex-principal of Fortunaschwein.

This guy didn't deserve to get away easily. I wasn't through with him. I'd leave that bit to the cops.

A guy can't do something like that and expect to get away with it.

'You're going to jail,' I informed him. 'You've done wrong, and you're going to pay for it. You're going to the police station with CeeCee, and you're turning yourself in. You're going to tell your wife about Mrs La Rosa. God knows what that poor lady's been through ever since she married you. And,' I said, 'you're going to pay the SIA everything you owe us. That "you're fired" thing before was bullshit. Am I right?'

Mr Head's mouth opened several times in outrage. His eyes were bulged, and his crisp grey-white hair looked unruly from his encounter.

'I believe that she asked you a question,' Paul snapped at Mr Head. 'Suze saved your life before, Richard. You owe it to her.'

Forgetting the fact that I LED him into certain death . . .

'Y-yes,' Mr Head babbled. 'Yes, you're . . . you're r-right, Ms Simon. I - I'll . . . do what you s-said.'

I nodded, and looked back at Bart tiredly. 'Is that enough?' I asked him.

He didn't have to reply verbally. Already, his aura was fading. I could see through him. The lurking trees beyond him were stark through his form.

He grinned. 'Thank you, Suze. I'm sorry - '

'Don't expect to go anywhere nice,' I warned him. 'I don't know where you'll end up . . . '

'I know,' he said quickly. The setting sun shone rays right through his spectral form. 'I get it. I get what I deserve, I know - '

'Uh huh,' I said. 'You're a good kid, Bart. It's a pity Dick-Face got a hold of you.'

Best thing? Mr Head was now too scared of me to SCOLD me for teasing his name. Oh, this is the life . . .

Bart Ford grinned at me, sadly. He was barely there. 'I'll miss you, S - '

He was gone.

We all waited in silence, for a moment. CeeCee, Adam, and Mr Head because they didn't know what else to do . . . the rest of us lucky enough to have a certain sixth sense did as a sort of sign of respect.

It's always that way when someone moves on. You can never tell if the are really gone, even if you just watched them disappear. There's a moment or two of hesitation . . . wondering if they're going to come back or not. Are they really at rest?

It was clear that Bart was. There was absolutely no other sign of him left on this plane. Well, except for memory.

If there's one thing I've learned in my existence . . . the past always comes back to haunt you. My job is to fix it, to detach the spirits from the material world. But that doesn't keep them from our thoughts.

I began blinking lazily. My eyelids were drooping majorly, so much that I could hardly keep my eyelids open. Paul scooped me up in his arms again. I rested my limp arms around his neck.

'Someone needs a little sleep,' Paul said as he started walking in the direction of the school.

'I could sleep forever,' I yawned tiredly.

'You could have,' Paul corrected me, 'but you chose not to. You chose to come back and fight.'

I smiled wearily at him and he continued inside the school. He opened up one of the bedrooms on the first floor (stairs were too complicated to bother with) and gently lay me down on the bed.

He was smiling at me, for some reason. It was one of his big toothy smiles . . . the one that not even a million dollars could buy.

'What?' I asked, looking at him sleepily.

'Nothing, I'm just . . . I'm glad you came back,' he said. He brushed a strand of hair from my face aside with his finger and continued, 'I don't know what would have happened if you didn't.'

Neither did I, but it was a thought I didn't want to ponder over too much.

'I'm glad you came back,' he repeated, this time in a whisper. 'For me . . . '

With that, he planted a gentle kiss on my tired lips and left the room. It was kind of warm when he was there . . . it left when he did. I wanted to call back to him to get the warmth back, but I neglected the action when I realized how comfortable the pillow was under my head. I found myself drifting off into a comfortable sleep.

A short little nap . . . I'd have plenty of time to be with Paul later.

- 8 -

What was a short power nap, however, turned out to be a hibernation. I didn't really know how long I was out for, but the light was definitely different than it had been when I first slept. I woke up when I realized that I wasn't alone in the bed.

'And on the third day, she rose from the bed . . . '

I felt someone's warm lips kissing the bit of my shoulder exposed above the covers. I turned around, almost colliding noses with the intruder, who happened to be Paul.

'I just woke up. There's no need for that Biblical stuff,' I said, wiping the sleep from my eyes.

'It took some divine intervention to get you to wake up,' Paul joked. He kissed me gently on the lips, pulling me into him as he did so.

The whole world seemed to pause itself every time Paul and I were together.

Speaking of pause, I realized I had just woken up and that even though I was asleep, the world didn't stop.

I disentangled my lips from Paul's and asked, 'What time is it?'

It was confusing . . . the sun was brighter than it had been when I'd fallen asleep.

Paul sighed, expelling the passion from inside of him. Even though he wasn't kissing me anymore, I could still feel the electricity of his kisses linger on my lips. He just held me. I didn't want to leave this place that I was in at that moment.

'Uh,' he said slowly, 'Well . . . it's about three in the afternoon.'

'But – ' I frowned, 'I went to bed at like, six.'

'That was two days ago, Suze.'

I gagged. 'WHAT?' My eyes flew wide open in horror. 'Two days ago! But – '

'Shhhh,' he trailed a soothing finger down my arm.

I looked at him questioningly. 'What I miss?'

'Well,' he muttered, rolling on his back and lazing tracing patterns on my back, 'You missed Mr Head's arrest, for one. He's confessed everything. CeeCee and I went with him to the local police station. He's just cracked a cold case, so the cops were happy.'

I laughed a little.

'Also, I never really got to tell you about Dani's autopsy report,' Paul went on. 'Well . . . want to guess?'

'ODed on codiene?' I drawled.

'Uh huh.'

'Courtesy of the thirty four pills that Robin jammed down her throat,' I added bitterly. Paul grew suddenly still beside me.

Paul had made a lot of progress when it came to getting past Dani's death, but it still had a bit of a hold on him. I'll even admit the whole thing still terrified me. It was her cold, limp body . . . and her eyes . . .

'Oh well . . . they're gone now,' I said, trying to make better of the situation.

'Mmm,' Paul murmured in agreement. Then, I felt him roll back on his side and wrap his arms around me. 'God,' he said, 'I just keep thinking, what would have happened if you hadn't woken up . . . I would have died, I know that. I was completely out of control. I never knew that my powers went to shit when I was . . . '

'Devastated?' I suggested.

'Suze,' Paul reproached, 'Give it a more masculine word, wouldn't you?'

I smirked. 'Never.'

I pulled away from him, and twisted so I was facing the other way. He still threw an arm over me in case I was thinking of hightailing it or something. That may have been the case five years ago, but now I wouldn't dream of it.

'You looked into Cole,' I said suddenly. 'I mean . . . that day when he came, you said you knew about him and stuff he's done before. Was that true? Was I really not . . . '

'The first girl he was obsessed with?' Paul finished. 'No. There were two before you. He didn't get caught for them. Not enough evidence, and the girls were not willing to testify. The first one was only fifteen, so . . . go figure.'

The thought, though not that surprising, shocked me. ''Whoa, creepy,' I said with a small shiver making its way down my spine.

And to think I actually DATED that creep. But there were others . . . girls probably like me. And like me, they didn't want to tell anyone about him. Maybe they thought they deserved it, too.

Now I know that they didn't. I didn't either.

'You're going to testify against him,' I felt Paul kiss my neck leisurely. 'So you're finally going to put him where he belongs. He's sick, Suze. He needs psychiatric help. He becomes dependant on a woman who he's set his sights on, and from there he's obsessed. And remember . . . those two girls are only ones we know about. We have no way of knowing that there weren't others who pressed charges, but then didn't follow through with them.'

The thought chilled me to the bone. There was no telling what happened to those girls . . . the ones we didn't know about. What was even worse was imagining what he could have done if there hadn't been any intervention. I blinked silently, and wriggled back a little so I was closer to Paul. 'Jeez . . . '

'Well,' Paul said after a moment, 'CeeCee suggested that we go and talk to Mrs Head.'

'Yeah,' I agreed quickly, 'See how she's . . . doing.'

'She's divorcing him,' Paul snorted. 'I think she's doing something she's wanted to do for a while now.'

I smiled a little. 'Yay for Abigail.'

There was something right with the world after all. A woman as sweet as her didn't deserve to spend the rest of her life bound to a bastard like him.

Paul moved around a little so his head was now resting on my chest. I sighed, and ran my fingers through his hair. He made a noise of approval, and I felt his hand against my thigh.

We kind of . . . didn't really move for a while. It really got me thinking about us a little more . . . about what we were or were not. My hopes fell on the "were" part, but I wasn't sure. I wanted it to be set in stone before I carved into it anymore, you know?

He said he loved me. I said I loved him. It seemed like a no-brainer.

'Paul?' I asked softly.

He grunted.

'Can you . . . uh . . . '

He lifted his head, and stared me down. 'Can I what, Suze?'

I blushed. 'Um . . . ask me out.'

One of his eyebrows flew sky high. 'Huh? Ask you . . . why?'

Getting embarrassed, I said at high speeds, 'Well, you know, I just . . . we never really made it official, and I guess I want to because I haven't really - I mean, I've had boyfriends before, but none that I actually - and besides, the only thing we've really got to go on that we're now dating was the fact that this relationship started with - '

'A big bang,' Paul smirked.

My eyes bugged. That's one way to put it, I guess. 'Oh, great. Please welcome to the stage, Paul Slater, tact-man of the century.'

'Right,' he said, grinning wryly, 'Well, Suze. Wanna grab a coffee sometime?'

'You don't grab a coffee AFTER you've slept with the girl,' I scowled. 'And plus, I used to work at Starbucks, a COFFEE shop. Please try to make it a little more persuasive.'

Paul laughed, and dipped his head down so it was against my chin. When he brought it back up, his face was deadpan. Then, it molded into one of the corniest expressions I'd EVER seen.

I realised too late that he was trying, and failing, to do a satire impression of Jesse.

'Susannah,' he said, laying on a very bad Spanish accent thickly, 'My querida. Will you court me? Te amo. Adios amigos. You're my . . . uh . . . burrito baby. Wait . . . are burritos Mexican?'

I giggled, and thumped his back. 'You sound Italian.'

'Oh,' he said. 'Right. Well, I don't exactly spend much time practicing to be Jesse de Silva.'

'No Jesse-bashing, please,' I sniffed. 'Come on, try again. I'm sure you'll score some time.'

'I already scored you,' he pointed out.

I thumped him again.

But he was so completely right. I just hate it when he's right. That's just something I'd have to deal with, considering I was in love with him and all.

'Suze,' Paul maintained his look or mockery again, 'I believe you just came out of an abusive relationship. If you're going to be . . . hitting me, I think I'll just have to up and leave you. I've been hurt before, you see - ow.'

What? He DESERVED that one.

'Okay,' he sighed. 'Suze. Care to go out with me?'

I simpered coyly. 'Hmm . . . nah.'

He dropped his honest look, and narrowed his eyes. 'Was that . . . a rejection, Simon?'

I was about to tell him that indeed it was, when he suddenly sat up over me, so he was pretty much sitting on my . . . uh . . . that thing . . . and he jammed both of his hands by my head. My breath snagged in my throat, and my heart jolted. He smirked down at me, seeing that he'd managed to shock me again.

'That was the wrong answer,' he informed, 'so I'll ask again. Will you be my girlfriend, for lack of better words?'

I pondered, and then painstakingly, I replied, 'I'll think about it.'

'Wrong again,' he hissed, and then he moved again so he was still in pretty much the same position, but his knee was now in between my thighs. I gasped.

'No fair,' I protested. 'That's - uhhhh . . . '

My eyes rolled back and I groaned. He pressed his knee . . . up, and certain things within me went completely crazy. This was SO cheating.

'All's fair in love and war,' Paul said proverbially.

I glared up at him, but then he lowered himself over me, and began kissing my neck. I shuddered in pleasure, and said his name as a warning for him to stop. Yeah, a warning which completely lacked conviction.

His knee pressed higher, and I gasped very sharply. I seized his shoulders, and pulled him down so he was against me, kissing him hard. One of his hands slid smoothly behind my back, pushing me into him. The other hand had worked its way up my top with admirable expertise, and was teasing my stomach seductively.

He moved his mouth down so it was now misbehaving against my throat. One of my legs lifted, and I felt the hand that had been behind my back run up my thigh, till it reached my hip. His fingers pressed into the skin there, and I uttered another plea for him to stop.

He knew I didn't mean it.

I laughed, hating how good he was at this and wishing I could make him feel like that. Too bad I wasn't exactly in touch with what he liked.

Oh well. I'd learn sooner or later.

However, once again he pushed his knee against my . . . okay, I REALLY don't like naming that part of me - and I moaned loudly. It was driving me insane. I sucked in air, as his kisses went further down till he was tugging down the neck of my shirt to get to more area for kissing. My hands slid to either side of his face, and I felt hot.

'Figured out the right answer yet?' he asked, his voice muffled in his kisses.

'Uh huh,' I said. 'Yes, yes . . . okay, stop now - hahaha - Paul . . . '

And as instantly as he'd started, he pulled away, smirking.

'No,' I said quickly and grumpily, 'No wait, I didn't mean - I still haven't figured out the right answer, why did you - you can't just STOP like - '

Paul found this completely funny. 'If at first you don't succeed,' he said idly, 'Seduce the girl, and try again.'

I sat up, and felt my forehead. It was completely hot. 'Good one,' I said, 'You gave me a freakin' temperature.'

Paul snickered even more. But did I hear an apology? NO I DID NOT.

'Shut up,' I snapped. 'That was mean. I didn't actually MEAN it when I said stop - '

Paul sat up too, and pulled me back into him. 'Ah, Suze,' he grinned, 'We've got all the time in the world to . . . get hot. Right now, I really think we should let everyone know that ding, dong the witch isn't dead.'

'That was uncalled for, Slater,' I sniffed. 'I am no more a witch than you are a gentleman.'

'Hey,' Paul replied defensively, 'I can be a gentleman if I tried.'

'No you can't,' I said. 'You're a complete - '

But he shut me up effectively by kissing me, so I didn't get the opportunity to plug in a descriptive adjective. About two minutes later when he was finally done, I'd completely forgotten what we'd been arguing about.

Who needs adjectives, when you're being supplied with a great deal of pleasurable verbs.

He pushed back the covers, and coaxed me to get up finally. I relented, and crawled out of bed, still feeling groggy.

'I'm gonna go up to my room to get changed,' I said with a yawn.

'Here, I can materialise us up th - '

'No,' I said, 'I . . . I can do it.'

'No you can't. You don't know how to.'

I raised my eyebrows. 'Just because you were UNCONSCIOUS when I displayed my superior materialise-y skills, does NOT mean that I am still unable. I completely saved your life right after Jesse did. You were almost a crispy Slater. I mean . . . I couldn't stop the fire, so I had to get you out of - '

'Okay,' Paul said, grinning. 'Prove it. Materialise us to your room.'

I blinked, and then wrapped my arms around his waist, visualising the room on the fourth floor . . .

I opened my eyes. Wow . . . this was so not the fourth floor. Unless someone redecorated the room to look exactly like the one we were on in the first floor.

It could SO happen. The people on Trading Spaces get two days . . . it wouldn't take that long.

But, alas, it was the same room.

'Fine,' I snapped, 'So I'm obviously a little RUSTY.'

Paul looked around at the room that we were still in with amusement, and smirked down at me. 'This is how the professionals do it, Suze.'

I was able to seriously relate the split second of non-existence to that of when I'd JUST died, and I was just a floating entity that was barely there. When I felt the trickling coldness of the materialisation's light vanish, I looked around and saw my room was just how I'd left it - a mess. I grabbed a skirt and a tank top and some underwear, and then told Paul to turn around.

He grumbled, saying he wasn't reaching his daily perv quota and it was all my fault, and I threw a Jimmy Choo at his head.

That made him hastily look away.

I'd slid off my pants and had zipped up my skirt, but when I pulled my shirt off, I couldn't undo the stupid bra hooks.

However, Paul had OBVIOUSLY thrown me a glance, because he then came to my aid.

I kind of froze when he did. I mean . . . okay, so sue me for STILL getting wiggy when I had half-naked in front of a guy. I shouldn't have, seeing as I'd a) showered with him and b) almost broken a bed because of him, (AHEM) but still.

It was something I'd get used to. I was still adjusting to this all. You know . . . the fact that everything was starting to finally fall in place, like puzzle pieces.

It was a strangely nice feeling, though.

'Let me,' he said in my ear, 'I've been told I'm particularly good at the bra thing.'

'Not exactly words to woo a girl,' I mentioned with a "hmph" of objection. When he pushed the straps of said lingerie off of my shoulders, I felt his arms slide around my stomach, and he kissed my neck from behind me.

'God, let me finish getting dressed, why don't you?' I grinned.

'Turn around,' he said.

'No.'

'Suze.'

'No.'

'Why not? I won't bite . . . hard.'

'Okay, eww,' I whined, and I dug my fingernails into the back of his hands so he let go fast.

'Thank God that you let go,' I said to him, 'or the ladies would have had to call you One-Ball Paul.'

I then slid a fresh bra on, and he consented to do it up. That was followed by my top, which had "I SEE DEAD PEOPLE" on the front of it.

What? I saw it in a store and I could NOT resist . . . hehe.

Paul laughed when I finally turned around. 'Well,' he said, 'No one can accuse you of lying about what you are if you wear THAT.'

I smiled serenely. 'Okay, let me try the materialising thing again.'

Paul rolled his eyes. 'It's much faster if I just - '

'Shut up, Sparky. Come here . . . ' I held onto him again, and imagined the kitchen in perfect detail. I thought of the smells, and the sounds, and then with a daunting sensation, we were there.

I shoved him away, and cheered. 'HAHA. I RULE. BOW DOWN TO THE SUZE-MEISTER. IN YOUR FACE, SLATER!'

Paul grinned. 'Okay, okay, I believe you. Very good, Suze. First time for everything.'

'Yeah,' I said, 'I've officially lost my materialisation-virginity.'

He snorted at that –

BANG.

A pan was knocked to the floor. I jumped, startled. 'Ah! Where did you two come from?' someone suddenly asked in panic.

Paul and I turned around. CeeCee and Adam were hastily zipping and buttoning and readjusting items of clothing and were smoothing hair. CeeCee jumped off the kitchen bench, and coughed loudly.

I was appalled. 'Oh God, you're not serious.'

'I see you're, uh, awake,' Cee was very red.

'You just deflowered the kitchen,' I said blankly.

'No we – '

'We did that a long time ago,' Adam said.

Paul wrinkled his nose. 'And you . . . cook on that bench?' he asked delicately.

Wow. We can tell Jack's gone.

CeeCee started going a very pale colour. 'We didn't know you were up,' she squeaked. 'And - and besides, you shouldn't just APPEAR like that! Who KNOWS what we could have - '

'Oh, I assure you, we will NOT be doing that again,' I promised solemnly.

Adam had this huge grin slapped across his face. 'We're married,' he said. 'We have an excuse.'

CeeCee, who'd successfully buttoned her blouse up, suddenly shot Adam a wince. 'Oh my God,' she muttered after a second, before looking at me. 'Did Paul tell you about - '

'Oh yeah,' Paul smirked very suddenly. 'That. No, I didn't. Funny story, though, Suze.'

'It was NOT funny,' CeeCee retorted. 'God, I thought he was going to have a heart attack - '

'Huh?' I was confuzzled. 'What are you talking about?'

'Well,' Paul sounded sly, 'Father Dominic found out that these two got married outside the church, and he . . . uh . . . was not happy.'

'Understatement,' remarked Adam ruefully, losing his smile. 'Took AGES to tell him that we were still having another wedding so we could be holy and stuff. I didn't know priests could TURN those colours.'

I sniggered.

'I do not believe I turned colours.'

I spun around. There, at the door of the kitchen, Father Dominic was standing, looking dull.

'Oh,' I beamed, 'I didn't know you were here – I mean, I thought you were still at the hospital.'

I ran over to him and game him a hug.

'No,' he said, patting my head awkwardly. 'I'm fit to be home, for the moment. I have to check in often, apparently, but . . . I will be okay, Susannah. Gilroy Family Hospital is transferring me and my records to Carmel Valley this afternoon.'

I pulled away, and saw that he was shooting Adam a dirty look.

'Well,' Adam's voice was pained, 'CeeCee and I are just gonna go . . . nap or something, so – '

'No you will not,' Father Dominic said, 'Not until you are wed in the eyes of God, Mr McTavish. Miss Webb, you said you were going to go and visit Mrs Head as soon as Susannah woke up, and I believe – '

'Father Dom,' I said, 'She's not Miss Webb anymore. Like it or not, she IS married. Just because it wasn't in a church, doesn't mean it didn't happen.'

'And yeah,' Adam shrugged, 'Who cares about celibacy these days? Just because YOU took a vow of chastity, Father D, doesn't mean we all did. Come on . . . I haven't neutered my libido like you did. Stop giving me death glares already.'

Father Dom grumbled, looking very uncomfortable. 'Spare me,' he muttered under his breath.

I smiled, and moved back to Paul.

'So,' I said, 'When are we leaving Fortunaschwein?'

'Why, today, Susannah,' Father Dominic said matter-of-factly.

Oh. Right.

'So,' CeeCee said, 'We'd all better pack. Adam . . . you can come with me . . . '

They both shot sneaky looks at Father Dominic, before disappearing down the halls. I distinctly heard Cee giggle.

Father D cast a tired gaze on Paul and me, before rolling his eyes. 'What can you do?' he asked. 'Oh well . . . I tried . . . '

With a grin, I replied, 'You never know . . . maybe they'll JUST be packing.'

Paul snorted. 'Whatever, Suze.'

'Have some faith,' I advised him. 'I have faith.'

. . . Again.

Father Dominic sent me a happy looking smile. 'I'll go pack my very limited lot of things . . . ' and he too bustled down the hall.

Paul and I were about to go as well, when suddenly there was a cascade of materialisation right in front of us.

Jesse bore down on me a second later, smiling. His smile lessened slightly when he saw my accompaniment, and he took a step back before locking his eyes back on me.

'You're awake,' he stated softly.

'Uh huh,' I smiled affectionately at him. 'Er . . . very observatory of you.'

He shot another look at Paul, before looking away. Then, once AGAIN he guiltily aimed his gaze at me. His look said a lot. To sum up, he looked happy that I was alive. And, you know, that felt good.

I elbowed Paul.

'What?' Paul hissed at me.

I shot him a meaningful glare, and he was all, ' . . .Oh. Right. Yeah . . . '

Paul coughed, before going, 'de Silva. I . . . uh . . . thanks for kind of . . . knocking me unconscious.'

'Saving his life,' I restated for him.

Jesse looked a little pained. He looked as if the words "You're welcome" were too strong for his liking. 'It's all right,' he said awkwardly. 'I did what you would have done for me.'

Uh . . . huh?

I looked at Paul. To my surprise though, he stared at Jesse, before nodding slowly. 'Yeah,' he said. 'Yeah. If your life WAS in danger, anyway.'

Jesse laughed. 'Yes, that is my advantage and burden,' he bowed his head. 'I could not let a life pass on. Especially not the one who seems to make miquerida happy.'

I eyed Jesse oddly. Since when did HE think like that?

Jesse's smile seemed gloomy.

Paul got uncomfortable. 'Jesse,' he said, NOT using Jesse's first name in mockery this time.

Jesse shook his head urgently to silence Paul. 'Make her happy,' he said to him. 'That is all I ask . . . '

I gave Paul a look. 'I'll go do my stuff, you go pack yours,' I said. He lowered his head and kissed me lightly before dematerialising obediently.

The ghost before me looked on sadly. 'I don't need to come with you to protect you anymore, querida,' he said. 'You have made this school safe.'

'Come with me anyway,' I shrugged. 'I lasted two years with you hanging around . . . I think I can stand another twenty minutes.'

Smiling, Jesse took my hand.

'Thanks. For what you did for him. I would have blamed myself if . . . you know.'

He thumbed the top of my hand gently. I looked back up at him. 'Thank you for loving me like you do,' I whispered to him, my voice barely a breath.

'Querida . . . '

I brought my other hand to his, and held onto in. Then, closing my eyes, I imagined the room on the fourth floor . . . the mess, the smell of dust, the sound of echoing silence . . .

And we were both there.

'Well,' I said happily, 'That's the third time that I've managed to - '

But before I could finish, Jesse pulled me into his arms, and was holding me urgently.

Astonished, I just blinked. Uh . . . okay.

I hugged him back. His embrace was so firm and loving. One of his hands cradled the back of my head.

'I almost lost you,' he breathed, his voice no longer even and collected. It sounded . . . ragged. 'I cannot believe I let that happen to you. After swearing to protect you, I allowed such an atrocity to - '

'Whoa, back up there,' I said. He was still holding me possessively. 'Jesse, you didn't let anything happen. It wasn't your fault. It was . . . I know this is weird, but it was MEANT to happen, okay?'

Jesse's arms loosened, and I stepped back a little. His hands went directly to either side of my face, and his fingers grazed the skin of my cheeks tenderly.

I touched his arm, trying to be soothing. The look in his eyes almost broke my heart. The guilt seemed well on the way to manifesting as something else. I felt the hurt that he did.

'You didn't need to save me,' I said. 'Because this time . . . I was able to save myself. And that's the best thing that you could have hoped for me, Jesse. I think that it's about time that I was capable of looking after myself. I beat death, Jesse. I did that on my own. I NEEDED to do that, in order to keep living now. I'm not as scared as I used to be of life anymore. I can face it now.'

Jesse's hand slid so it was behind my neck. It felt cool against my skin. I smiled up at him. He looked . . . kind of moved by my words.

'It's all well and good to have a knight in shining armour,' I said. 'But sometimes the damsel in distress needs to kick a little ass by herself.'

Jesse's eyes were weighed down even heavier with emotion.

'I love you,' he whispered, leaning down to kiss my forehead. 'I love everything that you are . . . and I'm finally seeing that he does too. He was broken without you, querida. I don't know if he could really last long if you were not with him. He's not as strong as you think he is.'

'Paul?' I asked.

Jesse nodded silently.

'God, he'll be so pissed at you if he heard you say that,' I said somberly.

Jesse laughed, and pulled me into him again. He just held onto me like that. It felt really nice. You know . . . that someone really loved me like that.

I hugged him back.

'I love you too,' I spoke softly. 'Not the way you want me to . . . but I do.'

Jesse sighed, and brushed my hair behind my ear ardently, staring into my eyes. He was smiling. 'You're a remarkable woman, Susannah.'

I giggled. 'Uh, thanks.'

I turned my head a little, and saw the mess of my room. 'God, this is a pigsty,' I muttered, breaking away from the moment that Jesse and I had shared.

Jesse too looked around. 'You are not wrong,' he agreed. 'Would you like help? I can easily put it back in your suitcase by - '

I suddenly remembered something. 'Hey,' I grinned, 'I can too.'

'What do you mean?'

'I can do that now as well,' I said cheerfully. 'Watch.'

I moved my hand to the side triumphantly, waiting for uproar of clothes and shoes to levitate in the air, all ready to be thrown into the open suitcase . . .

But, uh, all that lifted up was a couple of bras, one of my flip flops, and a denim jeanskirt.

Dropping them immediately, I blushed. 'Okay, I obviously need a little work on THAT too . . . '

He laughed at me, and repeated my hand action. ALL of my stuff flew into the air, before Jesse carefully redirected it to my suitcase. He even zipped the suitcase in question shut.

'Show off,' I sniffed. 'Oh well. I'll be a telekinesis champ one day as well, so ner.'

'Took me a hundred and fifty years to master it,' Jesse mentioned. 'I sincerely hope it does not take you as long.'

'It won't,' I declared. 'You obviously lacked my talent.'

I then added, 'Vaquero.'

He chuckled. 'If you insist . . . '

I turned to the suitcase, made one last attempt to lift it, failed, and twisted back to Jesse. 'I'll control my powers sooner or later. But till then, could you . . . ?'

'But of course,' he said genially, and lifted it up with ease.

'I'm gonna see how Paul's going,' I informed him. 'I'll see you a little later . . . '

'Si. A little later, then.'

I materialised to the first floor, happy that it had been the FOURTH successful materialisation, and then journeyed right of the entrance to the hallway where Paul's room was.

I found that his door was closed.

'Knock knock,' I said, as I entered.

When I walked in, I was kind of alarmed to see that the room was still pretty much untouched as far as the packing-up department went.

Paul was sitting on the bed, holding his head.

'Paul,' I gushed, quickly sitting beside him. 'What's wrong?'

He sighed. 'I don't know . . . I haven't been in here since before she . . . I mean, I still had one of my suitcases in my car and I was pretty much living out of - I guess I didn't want to come back in here and see all her things. God, how much of a pussy did I sound then exactly?' he growled, angry at himself. 'Sorry, Suze, I . . . I don't know what's up with me.'

'It's okay,' I said softly. I looked around at all of Dani's stuff. It was neat as a pin. The wardrobe was open and I could see things in plastic covers, hanging lifelessly. Her shoes were everywhere.

'No, it's not okay,' he snapped. He stood up, and turned away from me. He flung a hand angrily, and instead of Dani's things going tidily into the opened suitcase, they just crashed against the opposite wall, making a huge ruckus.

'Paul,' I said gently, touching his shoulder. 'It really is okay . . . '

Paul stared up at the roof accusingly. 'I guess I'm not over what they did to her,' he muttered, as if to himself. He lowered his gaze so it was finally on me. He looked scared to be looking at me.

Wow . . . even Paul Slater had vulnerability . . .

That was both comforting and discombobulating at the same time.

'Hey,' my tone was gentle and consoling as I hugged him. He held me back, resting his chin on the top of my head.

Yes, I am just that short. Shut up.

'She didn't deserve it,' he snarled. 'She didn't deserve what they - '

'I know,' I said, rubbing his back. 'I know. Of course she didn't. Anyone who thinks ANYONE deserved that is fucked up.'

Paul sat back down on the bed, and pulled me on after him. His arms wrapped around my torso, and he didn't let go. He just stared into space.

'Thank God for you,' his voice was an undertone. His cheek was against my hair.

It was really cold . . .

'I saw her,' I said flatly.

Paul stiffened. 'What?'

Swallowing awkwardly, I repeated, 'I . . . uh . . . saw her.'

'You couldn't have,' Paul said. 'She's gone.'

'Well, I did.' I shuffled a little so I was facing him. He regarded me probingly. 'I didn't break through the mega-strong astral block,' I admitted. ' . . . She did.'

'What do you mean?' he was confused.

I shrugged. 'I don't know . . . all I know is, I saw her. And where she is now . . . she's okay.'

'You . . . believe that?' Paul asked a little skeptically.

'I know that,' I replied. 'I was there. Just for a second . . . but I knew that she was okay there. I don't know if that's comforting. You don't even have to believe me. But I know that.'

Paul was quiet for a second. Then he held me that little bit tighter. 'I believe you.'

'Good,' I mumbled.

'I've got to clean this stuff up . . . ' Paul muttered, sounding preoccupied again. He went to flick his wrist again, but I grabbed his hand. 'We'll both do it. You're a little messed up at the moment. You're not focusing properly.'

'I thought I was supposedly teaching you,' he laughed tiredly.

'Too bad.'

I held onto his hand, and together, with his control and my power, all the stuff landed neatly in the suitcases. I zipped them up by hand as Paul sat on the bed, staring at me.

'What?' I prompted, after a second.

'Nothing,' he said, with a little smile. 'I'm just lucky, I guess.'

'Er,' I murmured, 'Righteo then. Can you grab that one? I'd carry them both, but that one's kind of heavy - '

He stood up and picked up one in each hand, and walked out the room.

'Show off!' I shouted at his butt.

God, what IS it with guys and their astral powers/annoying strength? They just HAVE to outdo me, DON'T they?

Standing as well, I took one last look at Dani's and Paul's now empty room, and then ran to catch up with Paul.

- 8 -

'Well,' Adam yawned, 'Say goodbye to Fortunaschwein, ex-Boarding School for Boys, Suze.'

I looked over at the destroyed graveyard in the distance. I looked the school up and down. I looked at everything that had once scared me about this school.

That's all it was. A school. It had nothing to do with what had happened inside, or indeed, who'd dwelt in there.

I wasn't scared of it anymore. It didn't give me the chills. It was just a building . . .

Not a place of death.

'Goodbye,' I obliged.

I let go of the dark bricks and the dead trees and the brown grass and the dusty windows and the consuming fog. I let it fall into the past. Then I turned around, walked with Paul to his car, and the remainder of the SIA drove away from Fortunaschwein forever.

Well . . . we still had to make a stop somewhere before we COMPLETELY departed Gilroy . . . but don't rush me.

After a couple minutes of driving, Paul pulled into the driveway of the Headquarters. He was more composed now.

'Oh,' he said conversationally, 'We forgot to say . . . Reunion's been rescheduled to the day after tomorrow. Father Dom organised it with Sister Ernie when you were asleep.'

'Shit,' I muttered. 'I have to write a speech still . . .'

Paul grinned. 'Ha. Mission's still giving you homework?'

I scowled. 'SO not funny.'

We both exited the car. Cee's car had pulled up behind us. Father Dom had gone ahead on the long drive back to Carmel. He had business at the Mission and needed to get back as soon as possible, apparently. And plus, he was excited that they were having a GET WELL SOON, FATHER DOMINIC celebratory mass in honour of him.

Hey. He's like, sixty something. He has to get his kicks SOMEHOW.

The four of us went through the ritzy gate, and right up to the door.

Paul knocked loudly.

There was a flurry of footsteps from beyond the door, and then it opened suddenly. A rosy-faced Mrs Head looked out at us with wide eyes, but upon recognizing us, smiled warmly.

'Ah,' she said, 'It's you. Come in, dears, come in . . .'

We all traipsed in. Adam looked a little awkward - he hadn't been here before, but CeeCee was holding his hand.

'Come sit,' Mrs Head was being the perfect hostess, 'I'll get you tea - '

'No,' I said to her. 'Mrs Head, YOU sit. I'LL get the tea.'

She looked startled. 'But - '

'One sugar?' I asked her.

'Uh . . . ' she blinked, obviously not used to not being bossed around, 'All right.'

I went to the kitchen, and saw pretty much everything straight away. The teabags were in a box by the silver hi-tech fridge, and there was a tall jar of rich, dark coffee beside it. The sugar was in cubes in a sealed off bowl. I grabbed a carton of milk from the fridge, and heated up the kettle.

After finding cups, I did my expertly pouring thang that I unfortunately learned at Starbucks, and brought out coffees for CeeCee and Paul, and tea for Mrs Head and Adam.

I just had water.

They were still in the gold and brown living room, chatting. Mrs Head looked a little disconcerted, but was pretty cheerful anyway. She accepted her mug graciously, and sipped with etiquette and dignity.

I sat next to Paul.

'How are you doing?' I asked her, concerned.

She gave me a benevolent smile, and shrugged a little. 'Shocked still,' she said quietly. 'But . . . strangely enough . . . dreadfully relieved. I always knew,' her volume dropped even further. 'I always suspected that there were other things happening at that school for Richard besides just teaching . . .'

'I'm sorry,' CeeCee said.

'Don't be,' Abigail blinked. 'Richard did those horrid things. It's only right that he . . . pays for what he did.'

'No, I meant, I'm sorry for you,' CeeCee explained.

'Heavens, why?'

'Well . . . this must have shaken you up,' Paul said, after draining his coffee.

Abigail smiled shyly. 'A little . . . but I will be fine. Do not worry about me, dear. Besides, as awful as it is for me to even be thinking about such a thing already . . . I would dearly love to move back to England.'

'You're English?' I said in surprise. 'I would have never guessed. Your accent's gone.'

'Yes. Richard met me when I was a dear young thing, and we moved out here. He never wanted to go back . . . but now, I . . . I can go if I please. I'm ever so homesick. My father's still alive, and my brothers, so it would be wonderful to see them again. Goodness knows I can afford it now,' she said quietly, as if she dared not utter the words.

'Good for you,' Paul grinned.

'Pray tell,' Mrs Head squinted, 'Who's this handsome one, CeeCee?'

Cee's face lit up. 'Oh, it's is Adam,' she said. 'My husband.'

Adam choked on his tea in a rush to put down the mug and shake Mrs Head's hand.

'I guessed,' Abigail said warmly. Her voice was really like a nice cup of hot chocolate. It was like a heater on a freezing day. She extended a frail hand to Adam, who took it happily.

After sitting back down, she sighed a little. 'I'm so terribly sorry for what Richard said to you about your friend last time,' she said to me. 'Temper like a madman, he has sometimes . . . '

'Mmm,' I murmured, and then yawned. Whoa, okay, I was tired again. wearily, I frowned.

'You okay?' Paul asked in my ear.

I nodded. 'Yeah . . . just got sleepy again, sorry . . . maybe I should have made myself a coffee after all.'

Paul moved his arm so it was around my shoulders, and he pulled me into him.

Mrs Head was still talking to Adam and CeeCee about their marriage, when she stopped.

'My memory's dreadful,' she said quickly, 'I simply can't remember, did you two say you were together when you first visited? I asked you if you were married, I think, and . . . I can't remember.'

I grinned toothily. Oh, it's all DIFFERENT now, Mrs Head.

We've boinked now.

'You're remembering fine,' I guaranteed her. 'We're - '

'Yeah, we're together now,' Paul said.

She looked REALLY chuffed when he said that. 'Well, that's lovely,' she tittered. 'You look wonderful together. So do you,' she added at CeeCee and Adam genuinely. 'It's splendid that you're in love. You're all very lucky.'

'Yeah,' Adam kissed CeeCee's face quickly. 'We are.'

Abigail looked a little woeful for a minute. 'I wish I'd been as lucky,' she sighed.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Mrs Head bustled up to get it, but once again, I told her to sit down. She did, thanking me and telling me I was "too kind to an old fuzzy like her."

When I got to the door, I was stunned to see Father Dominic standing there, looking a little edgy.

'Whoa,' I said, 'Random priest. What are you doing here?'

Apparently though, he was equally as shocked to see me. 'What are YOU doing here, Susannah? I saw your cars, and . . . am I at the right address?'

Okay, this was weird.

'Who are you looking for?' I asked.

'Abigail,' he responded.

'Abigail Head?' I checked.

His mouth fell open. 'She's . . . she's Mr Head's wife? Oh, good Lord . . . you are serious?'

I raised my eyebrows. 'What are you TALKING about, Father D? Of course she is. Why are YOU here?'

Then, I suddenly saw the tips of his ears go completely pink.

'Erm . . . ' he trailed off, 'Abigail did charity working at the hospital, and I was . . . stopping by to thank her for always bringing in flowers for me - '

I suddenly smirked evilly.

Ooooooooooh . . .

'What?' Father Dominic demanded. 'Is she here?'

With a cocky look, I let him in. 'Right in here.'

He, I noticed to my amusement, had flowers in HIS hand.

Oh. So THAT'S why he said he needed to leave earlier. Why, that SNEAKY little priest . . .

We walked into the lounge room together. Abigail's face looked elated. 'Dominic!' she sang. 'Oh, how wonderful it is to see you! This is Susannah and Paul, and that's CeeCee and Adam - '

'Uh,' I muttered, 'We all know each other. We're good.'

'But how?' she was confused.

'I'm a part of the SIA,' Father Dominic explained, 'I did not realise you were Mrs Head. I am completely sorry . . .'

'I thought you had to be back at the Mission - ' Adam began, but CeeCee, ever quick, elbowed him.

Yeah. Everyone was TOTALLY noticing the looks the two oldies were giving each other.

'I hoped I'd see you before you left,' Abigail cooed gleefully.

'These, er, are for you,' Father Dominic looked TOTALLY embarrassed as he handed her the flowers. They were daisies. He kept shooting me rueful looks.

'Don't worry,' I smiled, 'I won't tell Monsignor.'

'Susannah,' he scowled, 'I don't know what you're talking about - '

I gave him a sassy grin, and chuckled.

'I love daisies,' Mrs Head breathed their scent in deeply.

'I remember. You told me when you brought me the - ' he broke off, once again remembering we were here, and were ALL smirking widely at him.

'You know what?' I said, grabbing Paul's hand and yanking him up, 'We're all gone. You two can chat.'

'I've transferred your pay into the bank account you all gave me,' she said suddenly. 'Oh, and I . . . gave you all a little extra than I realised, but you all deserve it, so it's fine. And - ' she got up and hurried into the kitchen, before returning with an envelope, 'This if for . . . Jack, I believe? I assumed that cash would be best for him.'

She handed it to Paul.

He grinned. 'I hope you're going to be okay,' he said.

'If you ever want to talk, just call,' I said. 'You have my cell number, right? On our employee sheet thingo?'

'Yes,' she nodded. Whoa, even SHE looked a little eager to get some alone-time with Father Dom.

I hissed in Father D's ear, 'Don't do anything Adam McTavish on Viagra wouldn't do.'

Before he could even BEGIN to look scandalised, the four of us all hightailed it out of the house.

When we were outside, we all completely cracked up.

'Did you SEE those two?' Adam exploded. 'I can't believe that Father Dom was BLUSHING. He told US off . . . WHAT a hypocrite.'

CeeCee was giggling. 'They were so cute.'

'Yeah,' I grinned. 'Father D needs someone like Mrs Head. I mean . . . so what if he's a priest and all? They'll work it out.'

'We thought that crazy little guy'd never find a hottie mama,' Adam gasped. 'BEG TO DIFFER.'

Paul chuckled. 'She's really genuine,' he said. 'I like her.'

'I maintain she needs to say "fuck",' I stated.

We all got back into our respective cars, and managed to squeeze out from where Father Dom had parked his banged up wheels in the wide driveway. When we were all on the road again, I waved to CeeCee and Adam as Paul sped past them. CeeCee was too prudish to race Paul as he revved his Jaguar, but I could see Adam was trying to egg her on and was getting yelled at.

I laughed as they ate our dust, and we'd streaked right ahead of them.

'Okay, Speed Racer, slow down now,' I said.

He did so, so he was within the limit again.

'So long, Gilroy,' Paul wound down his window, and let the wind pound on his face. His curls were whipped by the wind, and he closed his eyes for a second and breathed in the air longingly. 'Gotta say . . . the air here sure smells great,' he said. 'Fresh, you know?'

'Yeah,' I agreed, 'A little garlicky, but it's all good.'

I wound down my window too, seeing as my hair was in plaits and therefore wouldn't suffer too horribly from the breeze.

Goodbye, Gilroy . . .

- 8 -

STILL NOT THE END . . . there's a little more to go . . .

Love Lolly and Hayley.