Dreams Dissolved
By Simply Shelby

The stars glittered brightly against the dark canvas sky. The last tendrils of sunset had long since faded and the windows of houses had gone dark, the occupants tucked into their beds. It was a soft, summer night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A young couple walked the cobblestone streets, bathed in the moonlight, timidly holding hands.

They were silent, both of them basking in each other's simple presence. The past three weeks had been rather strenuous on their relationship. They'd both been on assignments, states away from each other, unable to communicate at all, except through letters, which rarely reached the other party in time.

James had stopped in Ohio, on his way back home, to make an inquiry with Sarah's father; a very important inquiry. He still hadn't told her how their meeting had gone. So, in a bout of uncharacteristic impulsiveness, she decided to ask, "How did it go? With my father, I mean."

James inwardly cringed. Honestly, it had gone terribly wrong in the beginning; the man had touched on some particularly raw points. He closed his eyes as he remembered the subject of his parents.

"You don't have any family to speak of, do you James?"

A long, sharp pause, then, "No, sir."

And then the subject of how on earth a boy like him, with absolutely no living blood kin was going to take care of Major Samuel Phillip's little Sarah.

"With all due respect, sir, she's not a little girl any longer."

"I suppose you would be one to notice, seeing as you think you want to marry her. But how are you going to take care of her; and what of future children?" The Major's voice was disapproving at the thoght of his daughter marrying such a pauper.

Disgust was not something James appreciated and his temper did always speak before his mind. "I wasn't the one who sent her to live with complete strangers while traversing across the country. I've been taking care of her the entire time she's been in the Colonies! And I intend to continue doing it, with or without your approval, sir. The only reason I'm here is because I think she deserves something akin to approval from the man who imposes to call himself her father. But, I'll not have your disgust for me get in the way of her happiness. I would do anything; sacrifice anything for the sake of her happiness."

The man had humbled after James's words, much to the young man's amazement. He had closed his eyes, acknowledging the admonishment.

"You have sacrificed for her happiness, already. I know of the locket. Made from you mother's ring, correct?"

James nodded, silently.

"And you are quite correct in the fact that I have no right to judge you for not having any family. You have my permission and approval of the marriage. You love her that is enough for me."

"Thank you, sir."

"James?" Sarah's soft voice nudged him out of his reverie.

"He gave his approval." James responded stiffly.

"It didn't go well?"

"Sarah…" his voice was warning her.

She sighed, "He insulted you?"

The blonde man ran a hand through his hair, "He touched on some raw subjects, Sarah, that's all."

"That's all? Did he talk about your family? Did he talk about you?"

He was silent for a long moment before ducking his head and whispering a simple, "Yes."

"James…" she breathed, gripping his hand tighter. "I- oh- dear God… He had no right to say anything against you."

James laughed, almost cynically, "Sarah… that's one of the rights we're fighting for: the freedom to say what we want."

"You know what I mean!" she countered, indignantly, relieved he was arguing with her. She hated seeing him sad. It was the opposite of all she loved him for; his fiery spirit, so like her own. Another moment passed. Sarah gazed up at the twinkling stars and told her soon-to-be-fiancée, "I love you, James… for being you. Don't doubt that, hmmm?"

He chuckled and flashed her a brilliant smile, musing, "I've never been one for pessimism. Doesn't suit me all too well, does it?"

She couldn't help but smile back. "No, it doesn't."

He leaned in to kiss her cheek, "Well, then, I'll just have to-" He froze in mid-sentence, his whole body tensing.

"James?" she began, but he clamped a hand over her mouth and gave her a hard glare that told her she needed to "shut up."

He closed his eyes and seemed to be listening to something she couldn't hear- no, wait. She could hear it: two men talking. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but the tones were anything but gracious. James had pulled his hand away from her mouth and was now shrugging off his frock coat and throwing it over her shaking shoulders, "Do you know Mr. Ludwick's bakery shop?" he said, his voice nary a whisper. She nodded, not daring to talk. "I want you to take this way there," he pointed in the opposite direction of the speakers, "and tell him what just happened, understand?" No, she didn't understand what was going on, but she nodded anyway. "Good." He put his hands on her shoulder and gave her a chaste, rushed kiss.

And the next moment he was gone, his figure dissolving into the now eerie, inky darkness of the night, leaving Sarah alone in the streets, clutching his frock coat close in hopes that it would comfort her from the fear that seemed to be choking her. As she watched his figure dissolve, she couldn't help but feel as though all her dreams had followed him.


AN: This chapter is hereby dedicated to Mercedes... and she better be grateful :)