ON THE WINGS OF AN ANGEL
Hello, people! I've got a new chapter for you, one that's decent-sized. It's incredibly sweet, but also sad, especially in the latter half. I try to maintain a balance between sweetness and sadness. Don't forget to review!
Characters (with exceptions) © Disney
Story © unicorn-skydancer08
All rights reserved.
Chapter 15: Hope and Despair
"Is he all right?" Rhiella asked when Pinocchio was out of sight. She could tell as easily as Terence could that something was bothering the boy.
Terence shook his head. "I don't know," he said softly, looking and sounding troubled. "He's certainly acting very strange." At length, he added, "I suppose we should just leave him alone for a while."
Turning to Jiminy, Rhiella asked, "And may I ask who you are?"
Jiminy, who was still awestruck at the sight of her, was momentarily tongue-tied, so Terence answered for him. "This is Jiminy; Jiminy Cricket, to be precise. He's Pinocchio's conscience."
"What?" Rhiella's brows knit in an expression of complete incredulity.
"Well…in a manner of speaking," Terence said with a chuckle. "He's as much of a part of the household as Pinocchio and the animals."
Rhiella wasn't sure of whether to believe that part of a cricket acting as a child's voice of right and wrong, but she said politely, "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Jiminy."
Jiminy's small face flushed a notorious shade of red. "Oh, gee…the miss is all mine, pleasure," he managed to say, blundering his words.
"Jiminy, are you feeling all right?" Terence asked.
"Oh, sure, Terence. Never been life in my whole better." Turning to the food, Jiminy went on distractedly, "Boy, this is a sensational cook; my gosh, but you're a good breakfast."
Terence shook his head again, unable to repress a slight smile. He sensed someone had a bit of a crush.
At length, Rhiella said, somewhat hesitantly, "Terence?"
"What?"
"I…I'm sorry."
"What for?" he asked, surprised at the statement.
Bowing her head, she answered humbly, "For all that went wrong between us."
"Oh, no, Rhiella…"
"It's true," she cut him off. "I nearly spoiled everything for us both."
"Oh, no," Terence interjected, reaching across the table and taking both her hands in his. "You've no need to feel sorry, dearest. The fault is entirely mine. I should never have done what I'd done."
"It was just as much my fault." Rhiella's voice caught. "If I'd lost you forever…" Here, she faltered for a long time before she could finish. "I could never have borne it."
"Oh, Rhiella," said Terence solicitously, now rising to his feet and moving around to her side. He sank to his knees on the floor before her, as one imploring for mercy.
Just when Rhiella had thought she was all cried out, new tears limned her eyes and her voice broke as she besought him, "Forgive me, Terence."
Terence folded her hands into his own once more, and when she found the courage to look into his eyes, they were so tender and so profound she thought she might drown in them. Neither spoke for some time. When at last Terence did speak, he whispered gently, "I'll tell you what, love; let's make a pact. I will forgive you, if you will forgive me."
Rhiella smiled, despite the tears that had begun to roll down her cheeks. "Very well," she agreed. "That sounds fair enough."
"Fair enough," Terence echoed. Although his voice was calm, his eyes also overflowed with moisture.
He lifted her hands to his face and covered them with tears as well as innumerable kisses. Then, edging in just a little closer, he lowered his head into the woman's lap, facedown. Rhiella sat very still and let him do this. Idly, she threaded her fingers through his gleaming hair and caressed the back of his neck. Terence shivered at her touch, but he never looked up, or shifted from that spot.
The two of them stayed like that for a long time, both remaining silent that entire time; this was one of those cases in which words were unnecessary.
For now, it satisfied their hearts just to be together, to feel one another's presence.
It was enough.
Meantime, in his room, Pinocchio sat on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands, his emotions in a confused jumble. He found himself keenly envious of Rhiella, which surprised him as well as shamed him.
He didn't know why he should feel this way, but there was no denying it. He had seen Terence and Rhiella for himself; it didn't take a genius to know they were crazy about each other. What would happen now? Now that Terence had someone else in his life, now that he was engaged in another relationship, would that diminish the relationship he and Pinocchio shared?
It used to be just the two of them for the longest time, but things had changed, and Pinocchio had a sinking feeling they would never be as they were before.
The boy sighed deeply into his palms. No sooner had he begun to adjust to his new life than something came along to radically alter it again.
He wished Geppetto were there to comfort him, to give him advice. Looking up, Pinocchio softly asked the empty air, "Father…what can I do? What am I supposed to do? Why does it have to be this way? Why can't things just stay as they are? Please tell me." He waited for a long time, hoping against hope that his father would somehow come to him.
But nothing happened.
There was only silence, silence penetrated by the quiet sounds of the rain against his window.
With a dejected sigh, Pinocchio flopped back on his bed, so that he faced the ceiling. At length, he reached for Terry and pulled the little bear closer. Gazing into the doll's big black button eyes, he whispered, "You have it easy, Terry. You never have to worry about anything." He hugged the bear, taking comfort in the feel of the light, squishy body and fluffy fur.
There was no way of knowing how long he lay there like that, but presently, the child's mind began to float away, and he found himself slipping unavoidably into sleep.
Before he was quite out of it, a familiar dream had already begun to reawaken…