A/N: Yeah I was going through a rough week. I was about to post a new tagteam fic and I didn't want it to seem like I could write that but not this. Anyway, I'm sure you all know by now that I'd rather start a new fic than finish an old one :D.
Ah, well, here we go. This was originally supposed to be one long, final chapter but I wanted to get something up. Kay? I know, evil cliffie at the end, too.
Thank you soooo much to everyone that has reviewed so far cause your reviews have really, really cheered me up (I love you Dancerdude! lol).
Well, I know this is a short chapter but I hope you enjoy.
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JESSE'S POV--
I watched as my servant and good friend, Gloria, packed a few chests full of clothes for me. Every handful or so, she would put the clothing into the chest, look up at me for a moment, and then heave a big sigh and go back to packing. She kept saying how she had a feeling that Maria was 'just not the right girl for me, I deserve better.'
But really, Maria was the kind of woman that every man in all of Salinas County dreamed of marrying. She was healthy, beautiful, graceful and could bear you many sons to a good name. And here I was, engaged to this woman of irrisistible beauty and elegance, and all I could think about was the other woman. The one who had broken my heart so many times.
When I thought about it, I could really grow to love Maria after a while and vice-versa. There was no reason to be so hesitant, really. I should have been happy that I had the chance to marry such an honorable woman.
Gloria held up a picture frame. "Si?" She asked. I nodded and she set it on top of the rest of the things, closing down the lid and clicking it shut.
Okay, to be honest, I wasn't sure whether my father was planning on sending us back home or not. He just might have found a home for Maria and I in San Fransisco and was to surprise us with it as a wedding gift... or he could have just wanted me to come home and help him with the ranch. I didn't know.
It was late that night that Gloria and I had finally finished packing. She had left for her quarters, complaining of a sore back, and I, too, was worn out, and went straight to bed.
I didn't fall asleep immediately, though. I remained there for probably about half an hour, tossing and turning in my bed. Although I knew that it was totally possible that I was making the biggest mistake of my life, I had this annoying little feeling of excitement in my stomach. This wasn't supposed to happen. I was not supposed to be excited.
But then slowly, it turned into a deep feeling of worry. Or it could have been worry all along. Only it wasn't over the wedding, but over Susannah. She wasn't looking her best when I had last seen her. I only wondered if she was okay. There was an unmistakeable sadness in her eyes that night. I couldn't let that go ignored.
Then, after what seemed like hours of lying in the stillness, a faint knock on the door caused me to throw the blankets off my body and scramble to my feet. As I walked to the door and let my fingertips fall upon the cool brass of the doorknob, a chill ran up my spine.
Something big was going to happen tonight. I could feel it.
The door swung open slowly and with a long, impatient creak. The first thing she did was run into my arms when she saw me. Oh, it was the greatest feeling in the world. Just holding Susannah in my arms like that.
I didn't realize how much I loved her. How much I missed her. I never wanted to let go, only ran my hands over her back and kissed her forehead, running my fingers through her hair. Susannah hugged me right back for the longest time. I didn't want to let go for fear that I would never hold her close to me again. I couldn't lose her.
(a/n: haha before I had written "...and kissed her forehead madly" lol pictures jesse slobbering all over suze's forehead.)
I put each of my palms on her cheeks and smiled at her. She sighed as I leaned in, kissing the tears from her cheeks. My lips grazed her chin and the area around her lips before finally doing what I'd secretly been yearning to do all day. She sighed and leaned into me as we kissed. Her arms circled my neck and she played with my hair.
Before either of us realized it we were kissing rather... erm, passionately on my bed. I know, it was VERY wrong for me to be doing this. If anybody found out that I had a woman in my bedroom at night, I would be a dead man.
But none of that seemed to matter to me. All I cared about was Susannah. Susannah and her skin upon my own, her silky brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders. The way she smiled at me between kisses. That sparkle in her eyes made everything we were doing seem alright. Maybe I was just letting my emotions get the best of me, but that was the happiest moment of my life: Just being there with Susannah.
She lay with her head resting in my arms. "Jesse," she whispered softly. "I don't want you to leave me. Promise me that you'll always be with me no matter who you marry and no matter where we go, just tell me that you'll always love me."
I know now just quite how
my life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
"Yes, querida," I whispered into her ear, "of course. I'll always love you. More than anyone or anything I have ever known. Don't forget that."
Nothing happened between us. There were only kisses. Kisses that would have to last me an entire lifetime. I would never forget her.
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SUZE'S POV--
Lucero lied to me. I was supposed to be her friend, and she lied. I was going to get her back for that. She had no idea what kind of emotional pain she caused me during those excruciating five minutes when I thought that Jesse hated me. She had NO IDEA.
I mean, there I come, expecting Jesse to wrap me up in his arms and Lucero stops me at the door, telling me that he likes Maria better and never wanted to see me again. What a bitch! Grr...
At least, that's what I was thinking as I knocked on Jesse's bedroom door. But seeing Jesse there made every thought I was having completely leave my brain. The next thing I knew, I was wrapped in his arms as he kissed me affectionately.
The whole time in his bedroom was way romantic. We didn't really do anything but kiss. Still, those kisses were the best things I had ever experienced.
I was lying in his arms, just playing with the little ruffles on his t-shirt and ocassionally running a finger over that fabulous six-pack when something occured to me:
This would be the last night that Jesse and I would have together. Ever. After this he'd still be here, in the 19th century. And, to add insult to injury, he'd be marrying Maria! The one person I couldn't hate any more than I already do!
Anyway, the whole idea that Jesse and I were never going to see eachother again was rather depressing, if you know what I mean. What worried me more was whether Jesse would still love me. I mean, I really doubted that he would still be in love with me after so much time.
I knew I would, though. Still love him, that is. Not only did I know because I love Jesse more than anyone would ever know, but because I had suddenly remembered what Madam Zara told me when I was just 12 years old:
I would have a love that would last for all of time.
It was Jesse, of course. I only wondered if he felt the same way.
"Yes, querida," he whispered as he ran his fingers through my hair, "of course. I'll always love you. More than anyone or anything I have ever known. Don't forget that."
I smiled into his chest and kissed him again softly. I pulled my lips away aprubtly though when I remembered that Paul was still waiting for me. God, what if he had left already? I would be stranded here for good, alone and without a family or friends.
"Sorry, Jesse," I breathed, putting my sweatshirt on over my tank top and blowing him a quick kiss as I held open the door to the room, ready to leave. Jesse barely had a chance to sit up. The look on his face was horrible, though. He looked like someone had just told him that his entire family had been murdered (really).
"I have to go now. I love you so much Jesse, please don't forget that."
I let the door swing shut behind me and stepped outside, wiping a single tear from my eye. I guess it was better to do this quickly before I could register the pain. Like ripping off a bandaid: The faster you do it, the easier it is to get it over with.
I'd ran back to where I had last seen Paul, and I totally expected to see him waiting there, eager to take me back home. Only he wasn't. There, I mean. Then again, he probably wasn't very eager to take me home either, since he just ran off and left me.
"Aw, shit," I hissed.
Then I heard it. The very sounds that would change my life forever.
Deep in the forest I heard the faint rustle of branches and twigs breaking. It sounded like a struggle. A man and woman's shouts. I was intrigued now, but not enough to interrupt any... er, late night meetings that were going on in those woods.
I totally kicked myself for it later, but I decided to just go back and look for Paul at Jesse's house because, at that moment, it seemed like the only other logical place for him to be. Only he wasn't there when I got there.
Instead, I found Jesse's bedroom door wide open. I wasn't even very worried then, until my gaze drifted to the floor, where small drops of blood were scattered everywhere. How could I have not noticed this before?
My head was reeling, trying to put it all together. The shouts became clearer now. The woman was shrieking and the man's voice was loud and commanding. They both sounded so vaguely familiar. I ran now, faster into the woods with only the moon to light my way. I followed the shouts deeper into the woods...
It was then that I found myself face-to-face with my worst nightmare.
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JESSE'S POV--
Susannah had left and once again, I felt empty. Abandoned.
That is until a few seconds later when I heard the doorknob outside of my room rattling. Maybe Susannah was back. Maybe she changed her mind about leaving and was coming back to be with me. Maybe.
The rattling soon changed into banging and I grew curious, getting out of bed and opening the door. My eyes widened in horror when I saw this man standing there. I barely had a chance to get a word out, asking him who he was and what the hell he was doing in my home, when he pulled out a gun. The moonlight reflected off of the dull silver metal as he slowly pulled it up to my chest...
and pulled the trigger.
In an instant, I was sent flying backwards, my whole world spiraling above me until everything was cast in a dark shadow and I lost conciousness.
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A/N: Alright. That was an evil cliffie, I know. But it seemed the only place to stop. The next chapter is definitely the last, then. It's been great.
Thanks a million, billion, trillion for reading, please review :)
333 Peace.
P.S. Oh yeah. Jesse ISN'T dead. Don't freak out (I know I've probably killed him off like 15 times already, huh?) :D
