Warning: US/UK

Chapter Four

Treasure

He knelt down in front of the flower bed of multi colored roses and raised the watering can high above the blossoms of rose petals, while gently titling the can and allowing a slow gush of water to descend down upon the petals. A smile curled into his lips, as he sat the watering can down onto the neatly tripped grass and cupped the rose softly within his grasp, while shutting his eyes closed and sniffing the beautiful fragrance of the rose. He felt so much at peace among the flower beds, which he had taken the time to plant and grow, because his Alfie was not the type to do gardening or even give it a single thought. However, the young American did have plenty of gardening tools packed away in the shed, which he used to plant the roses and brighten the manor, while his Alfie wondered how the roses even came to be in his yard. "Oh my, your garden is absolutely gorgeous!" an elderly woman said, while breaking him away from his trance. "It is always so endearing to see people care for their flowers. You know, these days' people do not even have the time to water their lawns."

He smiled and stood up, while clutching the watering can with both hands, as he looked at his Alfie's neighbor and granddaughter, who lived in the manor couple of streets down. "Thank you and I'm Arthur," he said, while lowering his eyes down at the vintage antique doll in little girl's arms, as he spoke. "Care to introduce yourselves?"

The elderly woman laughed, as she put her bony slender skeletal fingers over her chest, while leaning in forward to speak. "Oh, I am Annamarie and this here is my little Elizabeth," she said, as she looked down at her granddaughter, while he focused his emerald eyes on a figure standing behind the woman's granddaughter, which appeared to look exactly like the little girl's antique doll. "Goodness me, you look deathly ill! Oh my, is he forgetting you?"

His smile instantly fell off his lips, as the elderly woman pinned him with a stern stare, while he chose to remain silent, but nevertheless the woman still questioned him. "Arthur, dear, I know you are a doll. I've known for quite some time now. You see, people who have dolls and still remember them know a doll when they see one, so that is how I know you are a doll," she said, as he lowered his gaze, while the ache in his heart returned. "Oh no, does he remember you at all? Are you in the midst of fading?"

He nodded and sniffled, as the elderly woman and her granddaughter both gave him a hug, while saying their goodbyes and wishing him well in the future. However, he was becoming weaker and weaker each day. Not only that, but it was also becoming harder for him to disappear whenever the young American would stumble into the bedroom or the living room or wherever he was, so it was obvious for him that he would not do well in the near future.

XOXO

He heard the American's convertible pull up in the driveway, as he sat up from the piano bench and looked through the window, while his Alfie ran his fingers through his sunny locks and fished out his house keys. Although, their tranquility was short-lived, as sapphire hues pierced emerald ones through the window, while the sound of a briefcase dropping onto the cement with a loud thud became the only noise heard in their moment of extreme shock. However, the young American broke away from his state of surprise and ran towards the front door, while he took off towards the stairs, because he could no longer use his powers anymore. "I know you're in here," his Alfie said, as he ran into the master bedroom and clutched the doll version of himself to his chest, while he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Surrender and I won't shoot."

The door to the master bedroom burst open, as he clenched his eyes shut, while he heard something clatter onto the carpet. "Arthur!" his Alfie exclaimed, as he opened his eyes and look at the nearing American, while the gun lay forgotten on the floor. "Arthur…"

He felt tears flow down his cheeks, but he could not tell if they were happy or sad tears, because he did not know if this meeting was their last or not. "You only remember me now?" he asked, while the American bit his lips. "It's too late. I've already began to fade, so I won't be here much longer. I'm sorry…"

His Alfie reached out and pulled him into a hug, as he let out a scream of pain, while multiple cracks appeared on the doll version of him. "What...what happened?" the American asked, as he backed away from him and observed pieces of glass falling onto the carpet from his vintage doll. "I can't…I can't touch you?"

He nodded, while placing his hands over his agony ridden heart, as he saw a look of determination in the young American's eyes. "No way, that's ridiculous! You're my doll and I'm not letting you go anywhere!" his Alfie cried out, while he saw tears escaping from sapphire orbs and rolling down red puffed up cheeks. "It's my fault! I should not have ignored you, but I grew up and …no. I should stop with the excuses just please don't leave me… This time I promise you, I'll treat you right."

A smile appeared on his lips, as he knelt down in front of his crying Alfie and looked into his blue orbs, which he saw determination sparkling in. Just what was his love going to do? "I'm not losing you!" the young American said, while he saw the tiny little cracks in the doll version of himself being repaired, but the pain in his heart was still there. "Not now, not ever."

Why do we only treasure something after we lose it or begin to lose it? Is the true significance of something only then remembered after being lost? *Lightbulb* That will be the theme of this story, even though it was supposed to be my Halloween fic. Hope you all liked it anyway.