Chapter Thirty-three
The North Pole
Cole arrived at the small group to see every one clustered around one person laying on the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was not Lorne. He saw that the one on the ground was Crys. Walking up to stand beside Lorne, he asked, "Will she be okay, and where is he?"
Lorne looked up but could not answer. "You have arrived after the battle, my friend," Angel told Cole, "but I believe Crys will be okay. We got here just in time. I pray that we have killed You Know Who for he shrank away into nothingness."
"He's not a teleporter," Cole spoke out loud. "You may be right. I need to bring the others here, and then we'll check it out." Cole was very relieved that none of their people were dead. "It will not take me long," he told them and shimmered back to the Halliwells and Eddie. He had a huge smile on his face when Prue looked up to see him. "They are all alive!" Cole told them, and his smile grew even huger. "And I believe they have defeated the Elemental!"
Eddie squealed with delight and jumped up and down. "My Elvira's okay?"
"Oh, yes!" Cole told him. "I'm going to take you first, but you must be very still and close your eyes." He reached out, grasping Eddie firmly, and shimmered. The moment they appeared, Eddie saw Elvira and ran as though his very life depended on it, coming to a skidding halt before his beloved. He cavorted like a young burrito, twirling around his lady love and calling her name.
"Eddie?!" Elvira yipped in surprise. Her head snapped up, and her eyes shot wide as she saw that it was, indeed, Eddie who had arrived. "What are you doing here?!" By Gods, he was as stupid, and as brave, as Lorne!
Giving her a huge grin that made him look like he'd been eating briars, Eddie twirled around Elvira again. "Thank the Goddess you're okay!" he sang. "I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!" He was so overcome with joy that he thought his heart would burst with love of his Elvira!
Elvira stared at Eddie in shock. She couldn't believe the way he was acting any more than she dared believe he was truly saying what she thought she was hearing! She looked down at Crystal for a moment, then felt Eddie still.
Eddie felt heart-broken! Elvira had not greeted him with the same joy he was showing her! Alas, he had misread his lady love! Her intentions were not to be his, after all. He slowed down. His tail tucked between his legs, and his head hung low. He felt his heart breaking in a million pieces.
Elvira looked back up at him and realized that her hesitation had been completely misunderstood. She leaned forward and licked him. "I'm glad you're here," she yipped to him, "but you know how dangerous it was!"
Her lick shot lightning through Eddie's body, and he kissed her. He kept kissing her until he knocked her over on her back. He had to pause to catch his breath, and his words came forth. "I would climb any mountain, swim any ocean, brave any danger to be near you, my love! I can not live without you for you are the very breath that I breathe!" He trembled all over as he kissed her again. His Elvira was his, and he was the King of the world!
Elvira was overpowered by Donkey's eager excitement and was on her back before she even knew what had happened. She laid there, looking up at him in astonishment and thrilling at his words, and then she heard her siblings. Cindy gave a half-snort, half-growl that muttered a question of how long Eddie had been practicing those lines in hopes of getting Elvira in the sack and a comment of how Elvira was, yet again, showing the stupidity of her race. At the same time, Blue farted. The dragon looked around innocently and then cooed, "Oops."
Eddie ignored the both of them and continued to kiss his beloved.
Heaven
Monica's eyes wandered over both the human males. They were nice to look at but not worth the trouble to touch. Humans never were. "Do you need anything?" she asked, looking at Trina, even while sniffing disdainfully at the males.
Trina glared back at Monica. "No," she snapped. "The only thing we need is a moment with Andrew. Not," she continued, rising to her feet, "that he seems in any hurry to talk to me." She shrugged and raised her voice a couple of notches as she continued talking. "It would appear he finally got what he wanted and decided he was bored enough to leave."
A shuddering shock of breaths escaped from the room. "Oh my God! He did that with you?!" Monica declared.
Trina ignored her for the time being. "If I'd known that, I would have never bothered coming, but looking at this situation -- "
"Trina, I'm -- "
"Not now, Trent," Trina demanded and then continued. "Really, Andrew, if you were bored, had had enough, or whatever," she said with a shrug, "you could have simply said so instead of putting on such an act." She drew out the word and rolled her eyes. "You know what I'm talking about. The little, sad Angel who didn't really want to leave but had to. I can definitely see how much you didn't want to go. It was my mistake for coming. I thought you cared. I was actually stupid enough to believe that you did." There were tears in her eyes now, but she continued, shrugging off Trent's hand and not daring to look at he, Carlos, or any other being that she could see or feel.
"I was stupid enough to believe what you told me. Didn't know Angels could lie. Guess that's sort of like the whole killing thing, huh? You're supposed to be all good, but you can still do it. Yet you made a lousy Pirate. Didn't seem able to kill a flea. Strange. Part of the act, I take it?"
Monica almost fainted. She slumped to the floor. "He did it with you?!" Big tears wailed up in her eyes. "I've been trying to get him for centuries, and he did it with you, a human?! Euuw!"
"You want me to shut up, Andrew? Am I boring you enough yet?" That certainly wasn't the effect she was going for, but he didn't need to know that. "It's easy enough," she stated with a shrug. "Get your winged rear in here so that we can get this over with and let us go home. I've evidently got no reason to be here any way, and you and I both know why the boys got drug into this."
"They were following me. They always follow me. Thought you were like that at one time. Obviously not. Just got bored up here, thought you'd try out Earth long enough, and I guess I wasn't good enough in the bedroom." Trent's and Carlos' mouths both dropped open at that.
"Trina -- " Trent tried to warn.
"No, Trent." She held out a hand to stop him but still did not face him. "I'm not cussing, and I'm only stating facts. Surely they can't hold that against us too?" She heard another buzzing of wings. "Yes, that's right. Facts. Come on. Surely Angels gossip? Surely you guys and gals knew that Andrew had been playing an Earth man to get his jollies on? I guess you could say I was kind of his Jolly Roger."
"Just like Markus. I don't know why I keep ending up with guys who claim to want me, claim to love me, and then mess me over. What's taking so long any way, Andrew? Scared of the facts? Don't want to admit the truth? I can live with the truth. Just come on and let's get this over with. And then I'll be out of your hair forever." She shoved a hand through her own hair, trying unsuccessfully to calm her nerves and shaking hands and stop the tears that were now beginning to trickle down her face.
"Trina . . . " This time it was both Trent and Carlos who tried to reach her.
"NO!" she yelled at them, whipping away from their touches. "NO! I don't want to be comforted! I just want this to be over with! I was a fool! It's not like it's the first time I was tricked by a lying, deceitful ba -- male!"
Somewhere
Seeing that Wolverine was not being careful and that the liquidy substance might well run into the ocean, Elizabeth dared to jump in front of him. She stood there with her hands on her hips and a stern, disapproving glare on her face when he turned to get some more water. "You've got to get him away from the edge a bit! I know you're worried about him, Wolverine! We all are, but think for a moment! The ocean is connected to everything on the earth! Do you want the disease to circle back around, get you, get Ororo?"
"NO! But I wanna get it off of Jack! I ain't got nothing to carry the water in! Don't care if the whole damned ocean dies as long as my son lives!"
"Jack would care! You know he would! And what good will it do if he lives only to not have an ocean to be a Pirate on? You know Pirating is his life!" She remained standing where she was, moving only to block Wolverine from the water, and raised her voice to a shout. "WILL, GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE! WE MIGHT YET BE ABLE TO SAVE JACK!"
Her words brought both Will and Didymus running. "It's not too late?!" Will cried.
"Maybe not. Give me your scabbard."
"What?"
"JUST DO IT!"
Will removed his sword, tossed it to the ground, whipped off his belt, and threw the whole thing to Elizabeth. She grabbed the scabbard and lowered it into the ocean's water.
Wolverine moved Jack away from the ocean. He could not argue with Elizabeth. He knew that both Jack and 'Ro would kick his ass if he destroyed the ocean. "Jack, please respond!" he moaned, begging his son to come back to him. He never realized how much love for his family meant to him until he found that he was about to lose it. He couldn't bare the thought of never having Jack by his side again. "You've got to live, son," he told Jack even as he took the scabbard from Elizabeth and poured the water over him, washing the last of the ick away. He turned Jack on his side and pumped him on the back again. This time, ocean water came up, and Jack moved a little.
Will had followed Elizabeth when she had ran the water-filled scabbard to Wolverine. They stood side by side, watching in grave concern, as Wolverine worked on Jack. There was more on his back, Elizabeth noted, but just as she bent to retrieve Will's scabbard, she found another, small scabbard thrust out. Elizabeth's fingers brushed the fur on the dog man's outstretched hand as she took the scabbard. Kneeling beside Wolverine, she ran the water over Jack and helped in removing the ick. Will, too, dropped to his knees and helped.
The trio could feel Jack beginning to respond under their touches. Small tremblings passed through his body. "Turn him back over," Elizabeth commanded, never realizing that she had taken control of the situation. "Wolverine, go back to working on his stomach. Will, you provide the mouth to mouth."
Wolverine did as he was instructed, pressing Jack's stomach gently. Will took in a large gasp of air and held it until he had fastened his mouth over Jack's. He continued the procedure as Elizabeth and Didymus looked on. All four prayed to whatever deity might care to listen.
Somewhere
Hansel knelt again on Faith's other side. His eyes had followed Chong's, and he had admired his rear longingly before hearing the other men talking again about the trial. He looked at Dawson and reached out a hand to stroke Faith's hair. "What are these trials?" he asked him. "I . . . " He frowned. "I don't really remember much since last night before coming to on the beach."
Dawson looked at the hand that was stroking Faith's hair. He didn't know rather to be angry or just relieved that some one else cared about Faith. He followed the arm up with his eyes until he met the man's face. "What is Faith to you?" Dawson asked instead of answering his question. Could this man be one of Faith's ex-lovers?
Hansel heard the edge in the kid's voice and smiled wistfully at him. "You have nothing to fear. Faith and I go way back, but I'm not interested in her that way any more."
"Any more?" Dawson interrupted him.
"I haven't been for years. I love Chong."
Dawson's eyes went wide as he glanced at the Chinese man. He didn't say anything else, but he nodded in acceptance. "Faith is my all," he told Hansel. "I love her more than life itself, but she's only recently stopped trying to drive me away from her. I think she loves me. I pray that she does, but only Faith knows for sure. Have you ever heard of Salem Saberhagen?"
Hansel shook his head as he pulled a strand of hair away from Faith's face. "I'll find out the truth if we ever manage to get out of here, but if she hasn't drove you off by now, she probably does. Who's this Salem?"
Chong returned to their side, his eyes intent upon Hansel's face. "Salem would have made a great world leader. He tried. He failed, and he was turned into a cat." He waited for those words to sink into Hansel.
Hansel cocked his head up and looked at Chong from an angle. A smile played over his lips as he couldn't help thinking how handsome his lover looked bathed in the light of the full moon. "Who turned him into a cat, and what does he have to do with all this?"
"The Council," Dawson told him, taking over where Chong had left off. "This is all about retrying Salem and his men."
Hansel smiled wryly as he looked back down at Faith. "She always did have a soft spot for animals, but she'd never admitted it before."
Chong squatted down beside them. "My Grandfather was one of Salem's men, but he passed on ten years ago. My Uncle also was, but he, too, is gone."
Hansel reached over and placed a comforting hand on Chong's wrist. His eyes met his, but he didn't speak. He knew he still missed his family.
"Knowing the Council has done this to Faith already, you can imagine what kind of traps they have set," Chong told the others. "We must be very careful." He looked around and wondered where Sam had gone.
The North Pole
Cole had missed most of the excitement as he had shimmered back to get the Halliwells and arrived back only in time to get the benefit of Blue's explosion. Prue pinched her nose closed with her fingers. "Euuw!" Phoebe declared. The trio all cast eyes straight upon Blue, who seemed to be so innocent yet so deadly.
Crystal was slowly coming around. She raised a hand and stroked Blue. "It's okay," she told him, her weakened voice barely a whisper. "It's a wonder you managed to contain it this long." She scratched his head, then moved her hand to Cindy's head and petted her. "And let your sister have her fun. One of these days, you're going to fall in love." Cindy was so thrilled to be being petted again by her mother that she actually kept her comment to herself.
At last, Crystal squeezed one of Lorne's hands with her other hand. "Lorne?" she croaked as her eyes finally fluttered open.
Lorne reached out a hand and stroked Crystal's face lovingly. He wished he could talk but knew that his voice might never return to him. He tried to convey his love with his eyes, and from Crystal's smile, he knew he succeeded. "I love you," she told him softly, hoping he could forgive her for running off on them again. She had had no other choice, though, and it was a miracle they had all survived. A miracle, she couldn't help thinking, that was too good to be true.
As Phoebe had turned toward Blue, she had caught sight of something black on the ground but had not looked closer at it. Now that Crys was coming around, she allowed curiosity to get the better of her and looked back toward it. "Delvira!" she screeched and rushed over to the fallen Vampiress.
Angel walked over to stand beside Delvira. "Is she okay?" he asked Phoebe. "She's one Hell of a fighter. Wish I had half her power."
Prue came over and knelt down beside Delvira. "She just needs to rest. She almost burned herself out that time." She recognized Delvira's weakness, because she had seen similar traits in Ororo before.
"It's time to go home," Angel told the group.
Cole nodded. "Home's the best place for us right now. It's safe, and she'll have a chance to recover. Phillip?" Cole called, hoping that the mirror would answer. If need be, he and Clark could take every one home, but it would be so much faster if Phillip answered.
Lorne reached out and pulled Crys close to him. He wished he could talk and tell her how he felt. He wanted to thank Jack for all of his help. The only thing he could think to do was to reach his hand out toward the boy and smile. He hoped his voice would come back, but if it didn't, it was well worth the cost. They seemed to have defeated their enemy. It was time to go home. It was time to start the rest of their lives together! He squeezed Crys gently, thankful that he could hold her in his arms again.
Jack returned Lorne's smile. He felt as grateful to the Demon as Lorne did to him, but he would not thank him for being there for Crys in front of his cousin as he knew she would not take well to it, at least not yet. He kept his gaze, gripped his hand, and shook it.
As the others talked around them, Cole and Clark calling out to some being called Phillip, Crystal pulled gently and only slightly out of Lorne's arms. She raised her hands to her necklace, slipped it off, and put it around Lorne's neck. Her eyes never left his. "I had to try," she told him. "What happened to cost so many lives was my own fault, Lorne. I couldn't have bared it if I had been the death of you or my babies or Angel. You know that, I hope, I had to try. But I love you." Her hands cupped and caressed his handsome face. "Did he . . . Did he try to feed you any lies?" She hoped her uncle had not told them what she had said.
Jack released Lorne's hand. He stepped back, put a finger to his nose, and winked at the green Demon. He gestured to Crystal and reached out, laying hands on both Blue and Cindy and petting both simultaneously.
Angel told Crys, "He was spouting all kinds of things, but we didn't believe it for one second. We know better, Crys. We know you don't hate us. You love us as much as we love you. Thanks, Jack; you were the smartest one of the bunch. You knew you couldn't stop her, and you equipped her well and came to get us. The weapons didn't work, but they delayed him well."
"It takes all of us to take care of our family, and I'm thankful for each of us. I think that's what Lorne would say if he could talk." Angel smiled. "I know it's what I want to say. You're in our hearts, Crys, and we're in yours. We're family, but even our love is not as great for you as Lorne's is. You are his soul." Angel looked over at Cordy and smiled. "I know how he feels." He held his hand out to Cordy.
Cordelia got to her feet, dusted the back of her clothes off, and rushed to join Angel. She took his hand with a smile and squeezed it gently.
"Would you like to have a few moments alone with your cousin?" Angel asked. "This Phillip that Cole and Clark is calling for seems to be slow in answering us. It's going to be a long trip back, and we don't mind giving you a little privacy."
Lorne would not let go of Crys' hand; he was holding on to it tightly. He still feared that she would disappear right before his eyes. It was an amazing thing that they had accomplished all together; the Elemental had totally melted into the sky. Family was the key. Captain Jack had always said it, and Lorne firmly believed it. He squeezed Crys and got slowly to his feet. He knew she probably had some very special words to share with her cousin, and Angel had told him quite eloquently what he wanted to say, as well. Lorne wondered who Phillip was and why he was taking so long to answer.
Jack grinned. "You're Crystal's family," he spoke to them all, "and that makes you my family, which means there's no need for secret talks or what have you. It's past time she had a home to go to, a family of more than four to love her so, and I'm glad she's found you and the rest of your crew." Secretly, he wished he could some day be so lucky as to find love and family and settle down, but he knew that that would never happen.
"Crystal." Crystal turned to face him. She stood close to Lorne, her hand still wrapped in his. Jack looked at her sternly. "I don't know all the details yet, but I will and I know they won't be good. Whatever they said, whatever they did, cuz, you look past them. They're not your family. They're not even our family any more. Family's much more than blood and links on a family tree. Family," he stepped forward and touched a hand to her heart, not at all bothered that she was naked for he was well used to seeing naked people, "is in here. True family loves unconditionally and stands beside one another regardless of the consequences. These people, your babies, and I are your family. The rest . . . " He shook his head. "They're just blood."
"I know," she told him, "but . . . "
He nodded understandingly. "I know it hurts, but you need to leave what's here here. If I could go with you, I would, but as you know, I can't. I live for one reason, and it takes practically all my time to fulfill that purpose." He sighed heavily. "But you know me. I'll be around and I'll be in contact every chance I get."
She nodded. "I know." She raised his necklace over her head and dropped it around his own neck. "But you'll need this, whether or not he's still alive." Her eyes searched his meaningfully.
He nodded. "I need to get back and find out what's going on. I'll be in touch soon." He hugged her tightly, Crystal's hand only then leaving Lorne's, so that she could return the hug just as tightly. They kissed each other on the cheek, and as they pulled away, Jack was already becoming transparent once more. He looked at Lorne and Angel and grinned. "I know I don't need to tell you," his eyes dropped to Blue, Cindy, and Elvira, who had pushed Donkey reluctantly off of her so that she could see him off, "to take care of her. Thank you." He vanished.
Heaven
A roar sounded in the room. "TRINA, FOR GOD'S SAKES, SHUT UP FOR ONCE! I CAN'T COME THERE NOW!" His words echoed around the room, and the other Angels looked anywhere but at the woman who had angered Andrew. "You can come to me! But you have to be quiet! Please!"
One second, she was with the boys, and the next, she was with Andrew. "I have to deal with this, and then you and I can have some time together to talk." He was looking through a glass and not at her. "I have to convince her. She has to go forward."
Trina whirled on Andrew. For a moment, her heart stopped in her throat. Gods, he was so handsome! He had always been a very handsome human, but as an Angel, he was even more so. His golden, winged form was so breath-taking that she could not have even dreamed him to look any better. But where had he brought her? Where were the boys? Were they all right, or were they even now being descended upon by hordes of Angels? "They'd better be all right," she growled at him.
"Of course they're all right, Trina," Andrew said in a quiet, low voice. "And what you're mouthing, I hope you don't really believe. I never once lied to you. I love you, and I always will!"
He still had not looked at her. "But I can't have you. I didn't go to Earth to play around, and you are the only woman I ever dreamed of mating with. I would never choose another. But I can not choose what I do and what I don't do."
"I have to deal with this. She has to go forward. She can't stay here, and she can't go back. If He comes because she doesn't go forward, then all Hell will break lose. I don't know why she won't listen to reason. Why are you humans so hard to deal with?"
He now turned to look at her and wiped her tears gently from her face. "The only thing I ever truly wanted was to be yours, but it wasn't meant to be. I couldn't tell you, because He wouldn't allow it. It's not the way it works. It took me forever to convince Him to let me go down there. I wanted to be there as a simple Earth man that could win your love, but yet when He finally granted it to me, I had not the foggiest idea how to do it."
"I'm as lost as Trent! I never had any female before you, and there will never be another behind you." He stood, gazing down into her face, wanting to kiss her but not daring. What would He do to her if he did touch her in Angel form? It was strictly forbidden after the last time the Angels had gotten out and the Giants had been created!
His touch sent a shudder racing through her. She didn't know how he had reached her so quickly. She hadn't meant to allow it to happen. She had meant to keep distance between them. But he had reached her before she could think, and once he was there, she couldn't tear herself away from him.
She had finally seen who he was looking at, too, and though she had been surprised, she was not surprised that he was having such trouble getting the being to go forward. She wanted to believe him, but yet why had he not tried to tell her? As long as they had been together, why had he not found a way? "You should have tried to tell me," she told him. "I couldn't just say yes willy nilly. I wanted to. But I was scared. I was scared I'd end up hurting you. I never thought you'd be the one . . . " To hurt me.
"I never wanted to hurt you, Trina." He was reading her thoughts. He wished that he could reach in, touch her heart, and take all thought of him away from her, but he didn't have that strength. He wanted some part of himself to hold memory in her, but he didn't want her heart filled with nothing but pain of his memory. He began to think about erasing her memories of him. He couldn't go back, and he didn't want her to spend her life longing passionately for him. He knew he'd do the same for her.
"Tess," he spoke to the glass window, "get Monica off the floor please! Do something with her! The part about Angels killing is true, but it's not all Angels. I've never killed any one, but I do have to take them after they die. It's my job."
"There are many classes of Angels. One of the small but more elite groups is Archangels. There's four of them. They are the major warriors. They are known by many names and have caused many deaths over the centuries. They have been known also as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, but that's not truly who they are. They are God's warriors, and they have many under them."
"Once there was a great war in Heaven, and they had to cast out Lucifer and his minions. They are the killers of our people. The rest of us Angels, we just do our jobs. I knew as much about killing as Trent did. I became a Pirate, because you were a Pirate. I could have just as easily been a fisherman or any other being that you so desired."
"I would have done anything for you." He gazed down into her eyes. "But I will not continue to cause you pain. You deserve a wonderful life, Trina, richly blessed. I only regret that I can not be part of it."
"You remember Willow was killed in the battle? I brought her here. Our time is not the same. When was the battle?"
"Last night. But it feels like a lifetime since I saw you last. Andrew, there's . . . there's got to be a way. Some way. Any way. What if -- Is there a sacrifice that can be made that will allow an Angel to become mortal?" She did not have to ask to know that a mortal and an Angel could never be together. "Some sacrifice that can be given to award a second chance?"
Her words went straight to his heart, but he knew of no second chance. "Zeus doesn't give second chances," he told her. "It's hard enough to get the first chance, and he's never been known to give a second, not even to His own children."
"It's been three days and nights since the battle. Our time here is not like your time. During that time, I have done my best to argue Willow into Heaven, but she has to go willingly and she has to be happy to be there. She's not ever going to be without Kennedy. But it's not within my power to send her back. Her body was destroyed! Even if I could get permission to let her go back, she'd be a ghost, doomed to wander the earth forever or not."
"That's been done on a few occasions. Some have been simply doomed to the ocean's depths. You've heard of Davy Jones. He's condemned forever to the ocean's depths, seeking Pirate souls, but can never be free himself. He can't be killed, yet he's not alive. One of Zeus' more creative moments: a punishment too great to behold, but no choice or way out for him. He belongs more to the Devil than Zeus. He even tried to bargain what was left of his soul to the Devil for his freedom, but it didn't work."
"I have sent for higher help on Willow, but she is in my charge until they come. I want to turn her aloose, but until I receive word, she won't be and then she may never be free again."
He jerked himself away from the window and returned to look at Trina. "And you want me to ask for a second chance from a being who shows no mercy, not even to His own son? He had His own son crucified! I still find that hard to believe, but I do not question Him."
"I would question Him if I could. The Bible claims that He is a loving God, that He cares about His children, that redemption is always possible, that it's never too late . . . If it should never be too late for a . . . for a being who has raped and murdered endlessly to repent of their sins and be allowed entrance to Heaven, then why should it be too late for a second chance? Perhaps I've not always been that great a person. I've killed. I've fought. I've cussed. I've stole. I know my sins, but I'd give it all up. I . . . "
She'd even give up Carlos and Trent, she thought in this moment with Andrew gazing at her and her heart longing so desperately for him. "I know a mortal can not be with an Angel, but what of other beings, Andrew? Ghosts? Spirits?"
"He laughs at the Bible. It is full of myths and other misconceptions as perceived by mankind. Do you think a loving Father would have let His son be crucified and never lifted a single finger to help, or allowed the Angels to help, simply because He wanted to save a creation that He had made, that He could crumble in His bare hands, destroy and make a second time? Humans are creatures that entertain Him, and when He is bored, He allows one of His other sons to create wars so that He can be further entertained. Angels are only supposed to be with Angels."
He was trying desperately to keep two steps ahead of Trina but was failing miserably. His heart was too involved. He knew if he slipped up on a single answer, she'd have him, but truthfully he knew of no way that they could be together. "I am not afraid to ask him, Trina. I just don't want you to get your hopes up. He's not good on second chances. In fact, I've only known Him to give one second chance, and then it wasn't a complete second chance." He did not further elaborate as he did not like to reflect upon Hercules.
He pulled Trina close and smelled the perfume of her hair. "I will have to send you from here soon before He comes, but if He allows me to speak to you again, I will let you know. If He will not let me talk to you, I will find a way to send you a sign, but you must be patient. You can never demand anything of the Gods and expect to get it. Don't do anything foolish to harm yourself, my love."
There. He'd finally allowed himself to say what was in his heart. "All I can promise is that I will try." And, in his mind, he thought, To take your memories as quickly as I possibly can. You can not go the rest of your life, thinking of me, when I know how impossible it is. Carlos is a good man, and he will take good care of you. But he could not say that to Trina nor could he bring himself to take her memories at this time. If he failed in his request, he would ask Him to take her memories before receiving his punishment for daring to ask.
"Now I must send you and your family back. You can not be here."
She did not know when she had slipped her arms around him, but she realized as he told her that she must leave, that she was hugging him. Her face was already pressed into the side of his head, her eyes closed and wet from the tears that she had not even been aware of crying. She breathed in his scent and kissed his cheek. She had hope. She wasn't sure yet what she was going to do with it, but she had hope. Angels could be with Angels. Perhaps there was a way yet. She didn't know, nor would she until she had time to fully investigate the matter.
She pulled far enough away from him that she could bring her head around to gaze into his handsome face one last time. "I love you, Andrew, and I'm sorry I've hurt you. I know you probably thought I was thinking everything I was spouting off before you brought me here. Some of it, I was, but not all of it. I know you're better than that. But I had to get your attention. I would've done whatever it took to get it."
"And I'm sorry I didn't say yes when you asked me, but I wasn't sure that I deserved you. I still don't know if I deserve you. But I want you and I love you." She smiled sadly at him, then leaned in and kissed him before he could pull away or send her away.
"You can not kill yourself, Trina, and become an Angel. Angels are created by the Supreme Being. Remember that. Promise me that you will not harm yourself and that you will try to be patient until you hear from me. Your love thrills my soul, and I would be with you forever if I could." He gave her one last chance to give the promise he needed to hear. She had to be all right. "Keep yourself safe for me," he pleaded.
"You know a Pirate's life is never entirely safe, love," she teased gently, "but I'll do what I can and I promise I won't kill myself. Though the thought had occurred. It would end up doing Trent in, though; he'd blame himself for my suicide. You know how he is." She paused, her eyes searching his. "I need you to promise me something, too, if you will. It may be crazy. I don't know if you can do it or not, but being an Angel, well . . . It's just a guess, but are you able to alter people's memories?"
He chose to ignore the question and placed his lips gently on hers. He kissed her tenderly at first, and then as tears streamed down his face, he sent her back to Phillip along with the rest of her family. He stood with his eyes closed, relishing the taste of her upon his tongue, the taste that he thought he'd spend the rest of his life never having tasted again. He bowed his head and waited for Zeus' coming.
Trina had known that she had best pull away from Andrew's kiss, at least long enough to make him promise her that he would not mess with her memories and cause her to forget him, but she had been unable to resist the sweet nectar of her beloved's lips. Now she suddenly found herself back in Will's bedroom. "No . . . " she whispered as she looked around Will's bedroom. She took no notice of the faces of the men looking at her, nor did she know when Trent and Carlos were dropped alongside her. "No . . . Andrew, don't you dare take my memories! If I think you're trying to do it, all promises are off!"
"Promises?" Carlos asked in concern. What could Trina have promised Andrew?
"Trina?" Trent called her name, but Trina's tears had increased even more now. He reached out and pulled his sister close. When Trent did not seem able to soothe Trina's sobs, Carlos moved over and joined in the hug. Trent held Trina from the front, and Carlos held her from behind. Each man's heart grieved for her sadness, and both would have done anything to make her happy again.
It was in that moment that Carlos made a decision. It was clear to him that Trina loved Andrew, even if Angel Boy didn't deserve her any more than he did. But she loved him, and if she found a way to be with him again, Carlos would not stand in their way. He would keep the words he longed to speak to her to himself. He would keep the touches he longed to give her, the happiness, the sensuality, the pleasure he would have once begged God Himself to give him a chance to grant her, all to his dreams. He turned his sad face into her long, blonde hair and swore to keep himself to himself. Even Trent would think he had moved on. He just didn't know how yet, but no matter the way he acted, the lies he spoke, he'd never stop loving her.
To Be Continued . . .