Chapter 2
Christmas music was the first thing Hine comprehended as she laid wrapped in wonderful warmth. She didn't want to move from this comforting safety. It was so nice and peaceful. How did she get here?
Memories flooded her mind. Her eyes snapped opened as she remembered leaving her office with a splitting headache caused by her precognition. She had been walking home in the wintry weather when… Images of blood soaked snow, a child's face, and the unusual cold of the winter, the wanting to escape the excruciating pain, the sharp pains of her nails digging into her skin… too many things had overwhelmed her at once. She remembered hitting the ground. She had blacked out. But who had found her?
A firm hand landed on her shoulder and kept her from rising. "Nice to see you awake finally," Gaara's rough voice didn't sound too cheery.
"G-Gaara?" she stuttered. Why was he here?
Hine looked up at him in shock. He was the last person she would expect to be hovering over her in the hospital. He looked tired and a spark of worry was in his eyes.
"You should have said something," he said lowly. Guilt flashed across his features. He knew how much her own abilities hurt her, "You shouldn't deal with it alone."
"Gaara I…" she started to say but he shook his head effectively shutting her up.
"Don't ever do that again," he stated quietly.
"Gaara I didn't—" Hine started to protest. She was cut off as his lips captured hers in a sweet kiss.
They broke apart after what seemed like an eternity. Hine forgot how to breathe as Gaara smiled down at her. Was this really happening? None of her visions had ever shown her this. She had always adored Gaara from the first moment she had taken the job as his paperwork buddy, but she had never dreamed that he might return the same feelings. She smiled back at him with tears in her eyes. She pulled him into a tight hug never wanting to let go. She had been alone for so long like him, it felt like a dream knowing someone wanted her in his life.
"Thank you Gaara," she whispered holding back her tears, "Thank you."
A silent figure watched through the window. Haniel sat on a frozen tree branch with amusement in his small eyes, "My work here is done." He turned away; wings spread from his back. With light grace that no human could muster he took off into the snowy sky.
Haniel~ Angel of Harmonious Love who will assist us in creating loving relationships, disappears into the quiet snowfall.