It's so hard to believe there is only seven more chapter left until I'm finished! I also want you guys to know that I worked very very hard on this chapter, and it was delicate for me to write. I loved writing the chapter, I even shed a few tears. So, let me know if you guys enjoyed it. :)

Love Never Dies,

Bella

Chapter 15

x

Hanging in the Balance

Daniel found himself sitting in the sand with Luce, her head resting on his shoulder as she dozed off. He didn't move, except for sneaking his arm around Luce's waist to bring her to his lap so she could sleep more soundly. Daniel sighs, staring down at he resting face – She looked peaceful, as if all of the madness over the past few days had disappeared. Daniel couldn't help but feel all that slip away as he stares down at her pale face.

"Something must have happened, something must have changed," Daniel found himself repeating over and over, his gray eyes with the most cautious and fretful look. He knew it was unfair to stay here and have her sleep in his arms, he almost couldn't help himself from keeping them both here overnight, but he knew he had to return her and he had to inform Gabbe of what had happened. That he had kissed her, and she was still here. Of course, it wasn't too shocking, it had happened before – But it was rare, and the ones that Daniel found himself at ease. . . and completely distraught after.

Daniel rose to his feet and cradles her in his arms, carrying her back to the car. He continues his soft murmurs of something had changed, trying to understand what exactly had changed- Or if anything at all had changed. Daniel's eyes shift back to her gaze as she looked up at him, making him realize that she had only fallen half asleep. He watches her, in hopes that perhaps, just perhaps, she could give him the answers. But, instead she snuggled her face into the crook of his elbow and fell asleep. The eventide sky was overridden with darkness, the speckles of stars in the night sky, and the moonlight being their guide.

Daniel gently places her in the car, stroking her hair from her face and staring,a tiny smile slipping over his face. She was still here, and Daniel didn't know for how much longer. He then got into the driver's seat, settling in before pulling out into the dark dimly lighted street.

When they finally got back at Sword and Cross, the gates were already wide open and no one was in sight. He took Luce back into his arms and then into the school, starting up the stairs when Luce began to shift in his arms. The walls around them began to bathe themselves in their illuminating glow - Their soul's glow. It was a soft violet, perhaps a pure white. But, Daniel knew it only ever happened whenever they were close to each other, whenever they needed or yearned for one another more than usual.

"We're so busted," Luce murmurs into his bicep, a wary tone in her tired voice.

"I'm not worried about the reds," Daniel whispers, glancing up at the blinking cameras. He didn't care for them, he knew Cole or Sophia would have them removed before any of the Mortals would notice.

Once they got to her room, Daniel wiggles open the door and slips into her room, laying her down on the stiff and crinkly mattress. Daniel couldn't help but place a small kiss upon her forehead, sighing softly as his lips retreated from her skin.

"Don't disappear on me," Daniel whispers, still fearful to leave her alone, still fearing that she'll leave him before he gets one last look into her eyes.

"Not a chance on that." Luce hazily whispers but Daniel shakes his head, closing his eyes. "I'm serious." Daniel croaks, not moving and allowing himself to relax. He didn't want to startle her, he didn't start something that could end badly tonight. There was only one chance Daniel could take to make sure it never happens again - To have one last moment with her, knowing her tried. He'd have to tell her.

"Get some rest now-but find me in the morning before class. I want to talk to you. Promise?" Daniel's voice was calm and gentle, but his dull eyes were the opposite. Daniel began to stand, but not before Luce tugged on his hand and bought his face to her's, their lips colliding once more.

Another surprise, Daniel thought. Daniel's eyes droop but never close, loving her reaction, loving her face, loving when she opened her eyes to see him that they were filled with love and yearning. His hand places itself along her hip and his other hand lightly cradling her cheek, their kiss tender and sweet. When they pull away, Daniel found himself standing and heading straight for the door, but not before casting one last gaze upon her.

Emotions flood through Daniel, a mixture of worry that this could be the last time he'd ever see her, but also the warm bubbling excitement that he'd see her again tomorrow. There was only one way to find out, and he'd have to wait till tomorrow.

He slips into the hallway and shut the door behind him, and before he could turn, he was thrown back across the hallway. Daniel grunts, sitting up and glaring upon the figure who started to approach him.

"You really screwed up this time." Cam snarls and took Daniel by the collar, but Daniel was quicker and his motive was stronger than ever. His hands push full force against Cam's chest, sending him flying against the wall before Daniel pins him down, glaring down at him.

"You made a promise to me."

"Did you actually believe me?" Cam chortles darkly, shaking his head. "I'm calling an end to the truce tonight, you made your own fate buddy. Expect the worst. Because you know damn well this isn't a fight, this is petty rivalry - Now, this is where the real battle begins."

XoXoX

As classes ended, Daniel's heart was in his mouth, blood pounding in his ears. He hadn't seen Lucinda the entire day, nor had anyone else. He didn't know where Cam was either, and in the pit of Daniel's stomach, he was fearing that she could be in his arms – Or even worst, not even alive at all. As soon as the annoying clanging bell shrilled, Daniel jetted out the door and out into the sweltering humid air of Georgia.

Daniel bust through the doors of the main building and scrambles up the steps until he finally reaches Luce's room and very slowly peeks in. She was sleeping. She must have been sleeping the entire day. He then shut the door and into his own dorm, only just down the hall, and scrawled 'Meet me at the lake' on a simple piece of paper before leaving his dorm and slipping the note under her door. Now he waited.

Daniel was sitting at the high rock, twiddling his thumbs as he waited. At least an hour had gone by since he had left the note in her dorm. Had she decided she didn't want to see him? But, then a gust of wind behind him and a tap on his shoulders. Daniel quips his head around and a frown settling over his hopeful face. Gabbe.

"I thought Luce was heading over here," She whispers, looking wildly around. "Daniel, she might have gone to Cam."

Daniel had never felt himself take off so fast.

His wings practically burst behind him, his emotions boiling under his skin, breaking in a cold sweat. Daniel rocketed above the treeline before seeing Luce, walking towards the cemetery. What was she doing? Daniel then flew north, his pearly white wings pushing hard behind him before he finally settles with Gabbe at his side and began to race into the cemetery.

Then he stops, staring at the scene unfolding before him.

"Humor me? Pretend I'm a soldier and you're granting my dying wish. I promise – Just one kiss." Cam's deep voice whispers to Luce, leaning in, brushing her hair from her face. She looks away from his eyes, leaning away slightly before finally whispering something that Daniel could make out. And then their lips were together. Daniel couldn't see her reaction, only Cam's as his arms slip around her waist, bringing her closer. His lips move slowly against her's, and after a moment, Luce began to return his kiss. Daniel stepped back, darting his eyes away from the embrace in front of him. He didn't know why she was doing this, had the curse been broken? Was there no longer a bound contract between them?

Then a groan of pain from Cam and a thump to the ground. But, Daniel never bothered to look back the couple, biting his knuckles and closing his eyes and trying to envision Luce in his own arms – but he couldn't, only the burning image of Cam and Luce. He thought it had happened before, when he had waved her off and acted as if she were nothing but a mere acquaintance – No, a stalker, an annoyance – in his life. But she hadn't, they hadn't – Until now. Why had she come here instead of meeting with him?

"How many times must you ruin this girl?" Daniel heard Gabbe lecture, but never bothering to look back and listen to the rest of the conversation until Cam challenged, "All right, which one of you is it gonna be this time?"

Daniel almost considered getting into a fight with Cam again, but decided it wasn't fair to Luce – It wasn't something she see. His eyes wander to her as Gabbe helps her to her feet and stood at the side as Cam and Gabbe l went at it. There was no beating Gabbe – Or 'Queen Badass herself', as Roland called her. Daniel then walks over, he had to get her away from here.

His hand rest on Luce's neck, hearing her sigh and relax against him. She slowly looks up at him, guilt written in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. Cam, he-" But Daniel shakes his head and cuts her off.

"Why would you come here to meet him?" He asks, his voice broken and pulling her chin up gently so she'd look at him. It was obvious Daniel was hurt – Why wouldn't he be? Not only had she risked her life, but she had come here instead of meeting with him. She had come here and he had found her wrapped in Cam's embrace, in an intense and slow moving lip-lock that made Daniel's heart twist in his chest painfully.

"I thought I could take care of it. Be up-front with Cam so that you and I could just be together and not have to worry about anything else." Her lip quivers and hazel eyes were staring into Daniel's, but that didn't stop him for snorting a bit in disbelief. There was no way anyone could actually be up-front with Cam and remove his issues, as well as to the fact that there would always be the dreading curse hanging over their head. But, Daniel was now slightly relieved by the fact she didn't come here just to see Cam.

"That kiss. . . .It was such a huge mistake." She whispers, her fingers twisting together and looking down, but Daniel closes his eyes and turns away before she looked back up. Daniel wanted to yell at her, then he wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault. He wanted to tell her how ignorant her choice her – then he wanted to kiss her. Both of his hands gripped his hair and he let out a breath, the knot in his chest unraveling as he slowly opens his eyes and quickly pulls her into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head. Luce huddles her face into his chest, a relived sigh escaping her lips.

"Are you mad at me?"

"I'm just glad we got here in time." Daniel whispers, mostly to himself. Cam's groans and whimpers made the two look over at him, finding Gabbe had put Cam into a hard headlock. Daniel then began to tug her away, trying to get her away from here before anything major happened.

"What's going on, Daniel?" Luce whispers, "How can Gabbe kick the crap out of Cam? Why is he letting her?" Daniel sighs but chuckles, shaking his head and continues tugging her along, throwing her a quick glance. "He's not letting her. What you're seeing is only a sample of what that girl can do." Daniel said, an awed tone in his voice as he looks over Luce's shoulder to see the fight unfolding in their tracks. He could see Cam starting to fight back – But he was no match for Gabbe, no one ever was.

"I don't understand. How-" Luce began but then Daniel stops quickly and sighs, stroking her cheek as his deep gray-violet eyes buries into her hazel ones.

"Will you take a walk with me?" Daniel asks, his fingers tracing her collar bone and then down her arm. "I'm going to try to explain things, but I think you should probably sit down." Daniel swallows – There was no time to delay now. He had to tell her now, he had to take the chance.

Daniel then began to lead her away from the cemetery until they found themselves in a small open field with two peach trees had grown together, their branches intertwined and trunks bowed – Forming an awkward heart shape. Daniel then led her under the tree and slowly sat down on the opened peek of one of the tree trunks. It had been a spot Daniel had come to before, rarely since he had started taking Luce to the lake – But often enough that he had grew up wild white peonies just at the roots of the peach tree. There was only one that had survived, and it glowed beautifully.

The sun rains down on the pair, their fingers intertwined but Daniel's eyes staring away at the grass. It was all still new to Daniel, they had never gotten this far before. No, that was somewhat a lie – He had told her before, that she'd come back to him, he always tried to at least. But, that was the last seconds of her life. This was something else entirely. He had never been able to sit her down, hold her hands, kiss her. . . at least not before they had seconds left.

"I don't know where to start," Daniel admits in a hushed voice, staring down at her hands now and gently rubbing her knuckles. "There's so much to tell you, and I have to get it right." Or you'll leave me without an answer.

"Maybe do one of those I-have-good-news-and-bad-news kind of things?" Luce suggests, making Daniel look up at her and nods.

"Good idea. Which do you want first?"

"Most people want the good news first."

"Maybe so," Daniel whispers and stares into her bright eyes, wanting to kiss her then, but shakes his head. "But you are world away from most people."

"Okay, I'll take the bad news first."

Daniel looks away, biting his lip and wiggling it between his teeth. "Then promise me you won't leave before I get to the good news?" Daniel asks, his eyes finally meeting back with her's. It was obvious in her hazel eyes that she had no plans to leave Daniel, not today at least. Daniel then took her soft hands and brought them to her chest, staring deeply into her eyes. He had no time for screw up now, he had to be careful as well with what he said - Though he wanted to rush it, This time had to be different, it would explain all of her behavior, all of their behavior. He had to make her rid of her own curse, he had to make her tell her all of the cons. There was no longer time for pros anymore, this was Daniel's last stop, he didn't know where to go if he fails now.

"I'm going to tell you the truth," Daniel began, looking her deeply in the eyes, his violet eyes baring themselves under his dark lashes. "You won't believe me, but you deserve to know." Daniel then swallows, squeezing her hands lightly. "Even if it kills you."

"Okay," Luce whispers, hearing her take in a sharp breath. Daniel sighs, releasing her hands, and then standing to his face, pacing back and forth, tearing his fingers through his tousled golden hair. How could you even start something like this? To tell your lover, who was cursed to die if she learned, that they had loved each other longer than what she knew? Daniel paces for a long time before he finally took a deep breath and looks at her. Start simple.

"In the Bible. . ." But before Daniel could start back up again, Luce groans. Daniel shot her a look, as if to say 'Be quiet'. "Just listen," Daniel then settles back beside her and then starts back on the all-too-sensitive subject.

"In the Bible, you know how God makes a big deal about how everyone should love him with all their soul? How it has to be unconditional, and unrivaled?" Daniel stares at her, his violet eyes set with a loathing look, the feeling a knot twisting in his heart as he awaits for her reaction. Luce shrugs, "I guess so." She mumbles, obviously not seeing how this connected.

"Well-" Daniel pauses, wanting to say right off the bat that he hadn't done those things, but deciding that wasn't a good idea. "That request doesn't only apply to people."

"What do you mean? Who else? Animals?" Luce's words only once more stated how far apart they were. Daniel sighs.

"Sometimes, sure. Like the serpent. He was damned after he tempted Eve. Cursed to slither on the ground forever." Daniel said and watches her shiver, as it had bought back some chilling thought, rubbing her neck. Daniel couldn't resist but to gently graze his fingers lightly down her short hair, over her jawline, and then to her neck where her fingers had been only ago.

"I'm trying to say. . . .I guess you could say I'm damned too, Luce. I've been damned for a long, long time." Daniel curls his lips. He shouldn't had been, they shouldn't have been - To have to choose between Good or Evil! The thought almost made Daniel scoff. "I made a choice once, a choice that I believe in - That I still believe in, even though-" Daniel was cut off by Luce, who furrows her brows and shook her head.

"I don't understand."

Daniel sighs and slides down onto the ground. "Of course you don't," He whispers. "And I don't have the best track record at explaining it to you." Daniel scratches his chin and then whispers mostly to himself, "But all I can do is try. Here goes nothing."

He heard Luce mumble something in reply but didn't bother to ask what she said, settling beside her and taking her hands and holding them tightly, his violet eyes burning and his heart thrumming hard against his chest.

"I fall in love," Daniel began, his stomach twisting but continuing anyways. He had to tell her, and there was no turning back now. "Over and over again. And each time, it ends catastrophically." Daniel watched as Luce close her eyes and a sick look spreading over her face. Daniel then squeezs her fingers, "Look at me," Daniel pleads softly, fighting back the urge to cry, to scream, to kiss her, to just let their words flow through their love. It didn't work like that – Even though it seemed like it did often. "Here's where it gets hard." Luce then opens her eyes, staring into his eyes and waiting for him to continue.

"The person I fall in love with each time is you."

Daniel leans in, swallowing down his heart and staring into her eyes. Then she laughed, a look of disbelief as she nodded and continued sarcastically, "Right Daniel," She continues her fake laughter and begins to stand. "Wow, you're really damned. That sounds horrible."

No, no, no.

"Listen," Daniel then grabs her shoulders quickly back down, looking deeply into her eyes. He couldn't let her walk away now, he couldn't let her go without answers, without the truth. Daniel could see the anger growing in her eyes, but Daniel's fear grew – Though it could had easily been mistaken for anger. Daniel quickly glanced up at the sky, seeing black shadows begin to flourish above them now.

"I'm begging you, let me explain." Daniel trembles, his voice shaky, careful. "The problem isn't loving you." It never was, it never is, it never will be.

"What is it?" Luce breathes in, a stronger look viable on her features. Daniel didn't move for a moment, his eyes squinting and a demeanor of a true defeat spreading over him until he finally spoke, his violet eyes burning into her's and his words rolling uneasily out of his mouth.

"I get to live forever."

Luce's attention wanders, but more in a way that she was so taken aback, she didn't know what to say or do. After a couple moments, Luce's hazel eyes returned back to Daniel's and her words stumbled out, "I'm sorry, could you, um, say that again?"

Daniel started to feel that chill, that cold feeling that came around. . .

No. Not now. Daniel then wasted no time with hesitation, repeating his words quickly and continuing on quickly. "I get to live forever. I get to live, and to watch babies being born, and grow up, and fall in love. I watch them have babies of their and grow old. I watch them die. I am condemned, Luce, to watch it all over again and again. Everyone but you." Daniel pauses, tears beginning to gloss over his eyes. His body began to tremble again, his voice hushing and continuing on, "You don't get to fall in love-"

"But. . . ," Luce's voice also drops to a whisper and their eyes locked. "I've. . . fallen in love."

Of course you have, Daniel thought, blinking away the on coming tears. Of course you have. He had to tell her, he had to try and get it through her head – The bad things, try to rid of the pleasant idea of their love. She's never be able to get all the things she deserves with this curse. No marriage, no sex, no children, no growing old, just a spontaneous combustion every time they kissed. Well, at least most of the time.

"You don't get to have babies and grow old, Luce." Daniel's voice was more stern now, not broken and defeated as it was only seconds ago.

"Why not?"

"You come along every seventeen years."

"Please-" Luce tries to cut him off, but Daniel continues, his fingers tightening into fist. "We meet. We always meet, somehow we're always thrown together, no where I go, no matter how I try to distance myself from you. It never matters. You always find me." Daniel could no longer look into her eyes, darting them away and looking down at his fist as they shook with anger, fear, and grief. "And every time we meet, you fall for me-"

"Daniel-"

"I can resist you or flee from you or try my hardest not to respond to you, but it makes no difference. You fall in love with me, and I with you."

"Is that so terrible?" Luce whispers, almost sounding somewhat ashamed. Daniel's fingers clenches, his nails scraping his palms as he resists the urge to pull her into his arm then and embrace her. It was the things that you didn't know, that kill you.

"And it kills you." Daniel's voice drops low and dark and his fist release, his fingers stretching.

"Stop it! What are you trying to do? Scare me away?" She cries out, shaking her head. It was obvious that she wasn't believing him. Daniel snorts, a defeated laughter and shook his head. "No, it wouldn't anyway." Daniel's eyes look out into the trees then finally back at her face, that now held a sadden look.

"If you don't want to be with me. . . there's probably a more believable story to tell." Daniel sighs at her comment and shook his head.

"I know you can't believe me. This is why I couldn't tell you until now, when I have to tell you. Because I thought I understood the rules and. . .we kissed, and now I don't understand anything." Daniel's head hung, his heart twisting painfully in his chest. He felt another cold shudder breeze past and he knew her death was close – it had to be. Daniel blinks away the oncoming tears once again and then looked back up at her.

"Because you kissed me."

Daniel nods slowly.

"You kissed me and when we were done, you were surprised."

A weak smile spread over Daniel's pink lips and nods once again, not speaking.

"You kissed me," Luce stares and her eyes grew with shock and confusion. ",and you thought I wasn't going to survive it?"

Daniel purses his lips and nods once again but finally spoke. "Based on previous experience, yes." He croaks.

"That's just crazy," But true.

"It's not about the kiss this time, it's about what it means. In some lives we can kiss, but in most we can't." Daniel's arm reaches up and his soft finger tips gently grazes over her cheek, sighing as he was almost tempted to kiss her then. "I must say, I prefer the lives where we can kiss." Daniel whispers and looking back down, his hand falling. "Though it does make losing you that much harder."

There was a long pause, neither of them moving nor speaking, but Luce's eyes bustles with emotion as if her mind was a busy city. Daniel could understand that. At this point, with her life on the line, Daniel had this gut feeling that either she wouldn't die – Or, something worst was bound to happen. Thing was, what could be worst?

"When you lose me," Luce finally spoke, but in such a way as if the words felt abnormal. "How does it happen? Why?"

Daniel shrugs, throwing his hands up before the clapped back down on his lap. "It depends on you, on how much you can see about out past, on how well you've come to know me, who I am." Daniel ran his fingers through his hair, "I know this sounds incredibly-"

"Crazy?" Luce finishes his sentence, making Daniel smile slightly. She was understanding some of it. "I was going to say vague. But I'm trying not to hide anything from you. It's just a very, very delicate subject. Sometimes, in the past, just talking like this has. . ." Daniel trails off, his mouth open but never speaking. He could only think back to the many times before Luce's death when he'd tell her that she would come to him, to be his once again – and how it had shatters him when she took his so beautifully, and came back with no recollection. He'd never been able to tell her that she'd never remember.

"Killed me?" Luce asks, tilting her head slightly. Daniel sadly smiles and shrugs. "I was going to say 'broken my heart.'" Daniel whispers, staring deeply into her eyes. Her hazel eyes had soften, all traces of their anger had disappeared and instead filled with empathy now. It was obvious that the both of them wanted to comfort each other, but it was as if they now both knew how dangerous it could be.

"What are you? Some kind of-" Luce's question Daniel off guard, but he cut her off before she could make an assumptions, before she could set off the trigger-wire beneath their feet.

"I wander the Earth always knowing at the back of my mind that you're coming. I used to look for you. But then, when I started hiding from you - From the heartbreak I knew inevitable – You started seeking me out. It didn't take long to realize that you came around every seventeen years." Daniel pauses, his fingers playing with each other. "It's not long enough for me to ever have gotten over the last time, just long enough that I would let my guard down."

"So you knew I was coming?" She asks, but Daniel shook his head. Had he not stated it clearly just now?

"Not the day you showed up. It's not like that. Don't you remember my reaction when I saw you?" The all-so-cocky-bastard I was that day who flipped you off. "For the first few seconds every time, I'm always so elated. I forget myself. Then I remember."

"Yes," Luce spoke slowly, nodding slowly as she thought back. "You smiled and then. . . Is that why you flipped me off?" Daniel immediately frowns at her assumption. Had she not gathered one hint from this entire conversation? Hadn't he just pointed it out?

"But if this happens every seventeen years like you say, you still knew I was coming. In some sense, you knew."

Daniel sighs and shakes his head. "It's complicated, Luce." Daniel spoke slowly, hoping she'd just understand.

"I saw you that day, before you saw me. You were laughing with Roland outside Augustine.; You were so hard I was jealous. If you know all this, Daniel, if you're so smart that you can predict when I'm going to come, and when I'm going to di, and ow hard of that is going to be for you, how could you laugh like that? I don't believe you," Luce's voice shook and Daniel's eyes soften, sighing softly and wiped away the slipping tear, shaking his head.

"It's such a beautiful question, Luce. I adore you for asking it, and I wish I could explain it better. All I can tell you is this: The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment. That's all I was doing."

"Eternity," Luce repeats, looking away as Daniel drops his hand and laid it on her's. Daniel's eyes never left her, curious for her ever emotion, every word. "Yet another thing I wouldn't understand."

"It doesn't matter." Daniel sighs, his voice husky as he continues, "I can't like that anymore. As soon as you shop up, I'm overtaken."

"You're not making any sense," She shakes her head, her eyes never meeting Daniel's again. Daniel sighs and runs his fingers over her hair and down her jawline. "There's no manual for how to explain this. . . thing to the girl you love," Daniel whispered sadly, his tone nearly beseeching. "I'm doing the best I can. I want you to be able to believe me, Luce. What I need to do?" Daniel croaks, his violet eyes crying out to her, watching her deeply.

"Tell a different story," She chokes out. "Make up a saner excuse."

Oh, if only it were that simple love. "You said yourself you felt as if you knew me. I tried to deny it as long as I could because I knew this would happen." Daniel utters, his voice urgent and still pleading – Begging for her to remember, begging for her to understand.

"I felt I knew you from somewhere, sure. Like the mall or summer camp or something – Not some. . . former life." Luce claps her hands over her ears and shook her head crazily. Daniel stares at her for only a couple second before his hands slowly peeled her hands away from her ears and stares deeply into her hazel eyes that were glossing with tears. He had to tell her now, there was no other chance.

Daniel then bought he hands down to her knees and held them, his violet eyes wide but stern and began to lean in. "And yet you know in you know in your heart it's true."

There was no turning back now.

"You knew it when I followed you to the top of Corcovado in Rio, when you wanted to see the statue up close. You knew it when I carried you two sweaty miles to the River Jordan after you got sick outside Jerusalem. I told you not to eat all those dates. You knew it when you were my nurse in that Italian hospital during the first World War, and before that when I hid in your cellar during the tsar's purge of St. Petersburg. When I scaled the turret of your castle in Scotland during the Reformation, and danced you around and around the king's coronation ball at Versailles. You were the only woman dressed in black. There was that artists' colony in Quintana Roo, and that protest march in Cape Town where we both spent the night in the pen. The opening of the Globe Theatre in London. We had the best seats in the hoouse. And when my ship wrecked in Tahiti, you were there, as you were when I was a convict in Melbourne, and a pickpocket in eighteenth century Nimes, and a monk in Tibet. You turn up everywhere, always, and sooner or later you sense all the things I've just told you. But you won't let yourself accept what you feel might be the truth."

Then, silence. Daniel sucks in a breath and eases against the tree, rubbing his face – the weight that had been tormenting him for the past millennium had suddenly been lifted - Somewhat. Daniel stares at Luce as her eyes close, taking in every feature of her semi-distressed face. Daniel glances around the yard before noticing the wild white peony that he had saw earlier. He then plucks it from the ground and waits for her to open her eyes, his fingertips tracing over the petals.

It was almost every life had flashes before his eyes and it was almost bittersweet by the time he stares down at the peony in hand. Helston, England. Lucinda Biscoe, the girl who'd meet him at the gazebo daily and picked the beautiful wild peonies with him while they chatted away. Daniel didn't glance up to see if her eyes had open, and began to speak again.

"You knew it when you picked white peonies every day for a month that summer in Helston. Remember that?" Daniel peeks from beneath his lashes before fully looking at her and staring – Hoping some part of her would remember.

Of course she wouldn't.

Daniel sighed, "No, of course you don't.. I envy you for that." Daniel looks back at her, staring for what seemed hours before slowly leaning in, their foreheads pressing against each other. Their lips were so close, they were so close.

"I do all of these things, because you're my love, Lucinda. For me, you're all there is." He could feel her lower lip trembling against his as their lips began to near, but never meeting fully. Daniel trying to grab her hand, but she retreated, moving away from Daniel's advances, the peony falling on the ground.

"Then why do you look so sad?" Luce whimpers and moved completely away from Daniel, who had began to go in for a kiss but turning his head quickly and furrowing his eyebrows, frowning..

"Luce." Daniel whispers, his voice pleading for her to come back – But she waves him off and quickly said, "I think I need to go somewhere, by myself, to lie down." Luce stirs and leans on the tree, as if all the blood from her head had rushes. Daniel then stood up and taking her hand.

"You're not okay," Daniel croaks.

"No."

"I'm so sorry." Daniel sighs, shaking his head and cursing silently to himself. "I don't know what I expected to happen, telling you. . . I shouldn't have. . ." Daniel shook his head and looks up at the sky, cursing in his mind again. But he looks back down when she shakes his hand loose and left Daniel alone in the clearing. He didn't move, only listening to her footsteps until they stop only a couple strides away. Daniel glances up, staring at her.

"What is it?"

Luce made no advances to move closer, keeping her distance. Daniel hated it, the space between them, the eerie silence that had suddenly filled the void until she spoke. "I promised you I'd stick around long enough to hear the good news."

Daniel's face twitches and an awkward smile over his lips. "The news is-" Daniel pauses, thinking for a moment before continuing on. "I kissed you, and you're still here." Daniel's voice was but a whisper. Luce only nodded before giving Daniel a tight smile and disappearing into the cemetery.

Daniel didn't move, e wanted to stay there, he wanted her to come back, he wanted badly to suddenly take back everything – But, then again, he wanted her to know. No, she had to know. And now she did – And she was still here, still alive and well. She was still here, as Lucinda Price.