Heyy everyone who's still with me! :D Here's Chapter 8! I've actually had this written out for a couple weeks now, but I just got around to finish typing it up (like, ten minutes ago). Hope you like!
I disclaim here. Night World is Miz L. J. Smith property (TT_TT). Enjoy
Ash was lounging on the couch downstairs the next morning when he heard Mary-Lynnette cry out in shock and pain – more from shock – from the kitchen.
He was next to her in a flash,
"What happened? Where are you hurt?" he asked as he searched her over frantically.
"Nothing, I'm fine. Just hit my funny bone," she grumbled. "Now please go away! I'm still mad at you."
Ash was shocked. "Wha –? But, Mary-Lynnette, I've already apologized for taking so long to get back to you. Why are you still mad?"
There was no reply.
Ash sighed. "Fine, I'll say it again. Mary-Lynnette, I'm sorry. I really am." When she still didn't reply, he begged, "Please! Say something."
"Fine!" she snapped. "You wanna know why I'm still mad at you? I'll tell you! You said you'd be back in a year! One year! But two have passed. But I could easily forgive you for that, because, after all, I was the one who sent you away to atone for your mistakes. No, what really gets me is that you didn't even think to send a sign that you were still alive after a year! If you didn't want to visit, then at least call or something! Do you know how worried I was about you? Sometimes, I almost deluded myself into thinking that it would be good if I went out to find you. But then I thought, no, what if you came back while I was gone? So I stayed. Half the time, I thought you had found someone else." The last sentence was spoken so quietly that human ears probably wouldn't have heard it. But Ash's sensitive vampire ears picked it up and heard the anguish and pain in his soulmate's words.
And it nearly killed him.
Before she could react, Mary-Lynnette was in Ash's arms. His voice was muffled by her hair as he apologized again and again. "Oh Goddess. Oh Mary-Lynnette, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry, I'm sorry, I love you, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
They stood like that for several long moments as Ash's voice tapered away until they were just two young lovers, cocooned in each other's arms, in their own little world where time stood still.
The doorbell rang loudly, but Mary-Lynnette and Ash didn't move a muscle. It was as if they hadn't heard anything; they were still suspended in time.
After a few seconds, Mary-Lynnette stepped reluctantly away from Ash, saying, "I should get that."
Ash deflated but nodded miserably. Unthinkingly, he whispered to himself, "There was never anyone else. And there never will be."
Overhearing this, Mary-Lynnette's heart ached. Biting her lip as she stared at Ash's drooping figure, she called softly, "Ash."
He looked up and answered, "Yes?"
Hesitating for only a nanosecond, Mary-Lynnette darted forward and gave him a peck on the lips. She whispered, "I forgive you, you know."
Brightening, Ash touched his lips and grinned.
Mary-Lynnette giggled and thought as she walked to the door, But I think, deep down, I'd forgiven you before you ever left me.
. . .
Ash was in a craptastic mood.
Mary-Lynnette had opened the door and gasped, "Adam!"
Hearing a male name that wasn't "Ash" or "Mark," Ash had immediately flitted to Mary-Lynnette's side to find himself staring straight into "Adam's" sea-blue eyes. And Ash had been depressed ever since.
Naturally, he'd been suspicious about this Adam at first but after two hours of being in the same room as Adam, Ash had to admit that Adam was definitely no danger to Mary-Lynnette.
After introductions and the story of Adam and Mary-Lynnette's first meeting, Ash was thinking, Damn. I'm gone for two years and she decides to pick the day I come back to make a new friend.
Mary-Lynnette and Adam were deep in conversation about the universe or some such thing, causing Ash to think dryly, Well, how convenient. He just happened to be into this stuff too, huh?
Ash glared at Adam until he felt the heat of someone's stare on the back of his head. He turned and found Jade holding Mark's hand and staring intently at him.
You're…jealous. Jade's mind-voice was calmly amused. I never thought I'd see a day that you would be jealous! Ha!
Ash's head snapped up to glare at his youngest sister. Are you kidding? Yeah, right. Who's jealous?
Uh, you, Jade thought back smugly. No need to get so defensive; it just makes your jealousy more obvious.
I'm not jealous! Ash retorted. Or defensive! I don't care who Mary-Lynnette hangs out with. She can have a billion Adams, for all I care!
Now you're just being too uncaring, Jade observed. In fact, you seem so indifferent that I would go so far as to question if you really love her. Do you really love her, Ash?
Of course I do! How can you even ask that? Ash was fuming.
Jade's eyes drilled into his solemnly but she was silent.
She is my soulmate, after all, Ash added.
Jade's eyes darkened dangerously. You might not want to say that. I'm afraid I'll have to kick your ass if I find out you only love her 'cause your soulmates. Mary-Lynnette's so pure; she doesn't deserve that.
I…Aw, forget it. Ash shook his head. Sorry. I really do love her, though.
Cutting himself off before he started to trip over his thoughts trying to explain, he stood and quietly left the room. He would've easily slipped away if Mary-Lynnette hadn't called him back. "Ash? Where are you going? You haven't even talked to Adam yet!"
Ash cursed. Yeah, and I don't want to talk to Adam. But instead, he gave up his plan to sneak outside and ambled back, taking as long as he could.
Mary-Lynnette jumped up when she saw him, smiling so happily that Ash could only smile back.
She grabbed Ash's hand comfortably and Adam noticed. He asked her hesitantly, "Uh…not to seem rude or anything, but what is Ash to you? Are you guys cousins or…?" Adam gestured vaguely.
Mary-Lynnette laughed incredulously at Adam's question. "What? Cousins? No way!" She looked at Adam and asked meekly, "Did I…did I forget to tell you?"
Ash muttered under his breath, "Obviously."
Mary-Lynnette heard, shooting him a glare before turning back to Adam. "Well, you see, Ash is my…um…boyfriend." She looked hastily to Ash for confirmation. Ash's answer was a blissful smile and he beamed at her like a moron.
She called me her boyfriend! I've never been a boyfriend before. Ash's mind was hysterically giddy.
Mary-Lynnette smiled shyly back and leaned comfortably against her "boyfriend" when he pulled her to him.
Adam stared disbelievingly for a second before shaking it off and a smiling a little painfully.
"Oh…that's great for you guys." Adam glanced at his watch and exclaimed, "Look at the time! I should go. I have work." He turned to go.
"Wait!" Mary-Lynnette pulled away from Ash – who let her go very reluctantly – and declared, "That's great! You have a job? Hey, if you don't mind, do you think you could help me find a job one day? I'm not really experienced with finding work and all." She gazed at Adam pleadingly. "Please?"
"Uh, sure!" Adam quickly wrote something on a random piece of paper he found with a pen he spotted on a nearby table. He shoved it at her. "Here. Call me." Then, waving, he dashed off. "Gotta go, bye!"
Ash twirled Mary-Lynnette back to him and growled," Hey! Why'd you ask him for help? I could help you find a job!"
She slapped his arm playfully. "You would try to influence everyone into wanting to hire me by wowing all the girls. No, I'd like to use my own – as in human – abilities to get a job."
Ash rolled his eyes and sighed. "Just my luck. Here I am, in all my awesome vampire glory amidst a world of women, and the one I'm bound to forever is the one who refuses my supernatural help." He heaved another dramatically woeful sigh. "I suppose I'll just go wallow in my uselessness now."
Mary-Lynnette smacked him again and rolled her eyes too. "Oh, please. Look, you can come with us, but you can't use your 'awesome vampire glory' " – she used finger quotes – "to help me, okay?"
When he didn't look at her, she gave up using words and instead she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head against his chest.
"Oh, come on. Stop pouting. Please? Even if I don't want your help, I still love you more than anything. Or anyone."
Finally, Ash came alive. His arms wound around her body tightly and he gently laid his chin on the top of her head. "Oh, I know. You just can't help but love me, after all."
Mary-Lynnette would have said something witty here to stamp down his enormous ego, but anticipating this, Ash pulled her face into his hands and kissed her, effectively cutting her off and causing her to lose her train of thought.
She smiled into his lips and closed her eyes, thinking dreamily, Well, whatever we were talking about can wait.
Hello readers and writers! Hope you liked this installment of "Forever Soulmates"! :D It's a bit of a filler, I admit, but come on, I'm a little brain dead. =_= I'm so glad it's break! :P
Well, then. I'm off to create a random Chapter 9 to satisfy your cravings. So long! I salute you.
Write on. Read on. That's my motto. :D
© Copyright 2010 by The Siege :D