FAGEtastic Four

Title: October

Written For: Aurelle Angelus

Written By: BeMyHeroSeverrus

Rating: K+

Summery/Prompt Used: A forest to end it all will also begin it all for Zinnia. The Dark Stranger has come and took the breath out of Zinnia. He has his secrets and she has hers. will their secrets bring them together or tear them apart.

Chapter Five: The Stranger's Day

Zinnia rose early the next morning to find Tobias still asleep on the couch. A peek outside the kitchen window showed the day to be cloudy with bits of blue sky. Not too cold for a nature walk.

She moved around the kitchen as quietly as she could, making breakfast. She set a tea pot on the table and went to wake Tobias up. She was met with cool black eyes.

"Hi. I see you're awake. Would you like some breakfast?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Tobias sat up and watched Zinnia. He had heard her the second she came down the stairs. Silently he listened to her move around the kitchen. Somewhere deep down, he knew he made a mistake and should just leave. There was something familiar about this woman. Something in him wanted to stay here with her, forever.

Was that even possible? After all the things he's said and done in this life, did he even deserve happiness? He certainly didn't want to be miserable. He had spent a lot of time doing that. He also spent a lot of time following someone else's orders. When did he get his own life? Did he even deserve one after all the ones he's taken? All those years he followed orders. Even as a child, were his thoughts his? No. He didn't believe that, not after her. Not after she was gone. So why did he go along? For acceptance. He wanted a place to belong; but he never found it. Could it be here, in Bexhill? With Zinnia? Some small part of him desperately wished so.

He watched her silently, while they ate. She was very pretty. He liked her hair, it was shiny and soft; he was tempted to reach out and touch it. He caught himself in time. How stupid of him to even think that she would let him touch her. She was good and he was...somewhere in between. Not wholly evil yet not even close to good. Not after everything he did. He pulled himself out of his thoughts at Zinnia's voice.

"It's a good day for a nature walk. How about it, before everything starts hiding?"

A nature walk with her? Alone? Did he even dare to say yes? A day alone with her. No customers or talk of tea. Just them being themselves. Could he find out what she thought of him? Obviously she didn't dislike him. But if she knew the truth; his dark secret, what would she think then? Would she run the other way? Tell the whole town? Was it worth the risk?

"Yes."

He almost regretted his answer at once. But her smile was worth it. It had a way of lighting up a room. If he could wake up to that smile in the mornings' light, perhaps his awful past would have been worth it; because it brought him to her.

"Great! I'll meet you out back in an hour. Sound good?"

He nodded and stood up. "I shall see you in an hour." He gathered his coat and walked out.

In an hour's time, he will be alone with Zinnia. They have been alone a lot these past months, but now it would just be them. He never imagined that he would find a possible future in this small town. Would he dare let himself have it? Was it not in his character to take advantages of things? Did Zinnia even want him? He certainly wanted her. She was not only pretty but, kind, gentle, smart, and logical. Today, he would make a move on her—he would risk it. How an uncommonly brave action on his part. Perhaps he was really losing his mind. Thinking like a lion, he snorted, "Bloody wonderful."

He quickly changed and showered, trying to look good. As good as he could anyway. He's nose was still slightly too large, but his physique had slightly changed. His hair was softer and his skin wasn't as pale. Over a year away from his previous home had done wonders for his appearance.

As he reached the edge of the forest, his face blank, he found himself growing anxious inside. Zinnia already stood there in a long dark green coat with a hat on top of her head. "Hello!" she said brightly.

He nodded in response, too nervous to actually say anything. He never really had been on a date before. This felt like one; he was sure of it. His stomach lurched as Zinnia attached herself to his arm. "Stay close. You can get lost in here. They have signs, most people around here, though, know their way."

He could easily find his way out, but he nodded anyway.

The forest seemed like another world. Birds chirped loudly and half dead leaves and flowers covered the forest floor. His mind went in a whirl naming plants and it's uses in his head. But Zinnia's voice cut through his thoughts like a knife.

"I sometimes come in here to collect different leaves for my tea. Mostly everything in here is harmless."

"Mostly?"

"There are some poisonous plants. The least causes itching and worst dangerous hallucinations."

"I see."

She smiled at him. "Don't worry. I won't let you get poisoned. Pinky promise."

She stuck out her little pinky finger and he found himself taking it. "Thank you." He was quite sure he could identify any dangerous plants himself. Yet the mere offer was astounding to him. She seemed to care for him. He wanted to accept it, but couldn't. His lies hung too heavy around them; creating some sort of barrier. He could tell her sooner so the prospect of rejection wouldn't hurt so much, but he wanted to believe in this innocent little world. She had shown him kindness—something that he had been denied for a very long time. It would have to end sometime. Perhaps later though. Yes, later would be better. He would not get caught up. No, it would keep himself emotionally unattached. A voice rang inside his head, 'don't be foolish. You will fall for this girl. This mortal with bright smiles and kind words. Leave now before you hurt her.'He pushed his thoughts away. Now was not the time to think of such things.

"—Tobias?"

"Yes?" He turned to Zinnia, who held out a jar for him.

"Would you like to collect some leaves with me?"

"How do you know I will choose the correct leaves?

"Easy," she smiled teasingly, "You never seem surprised when I talk about different leaves." She laughed. "Actually, sometimes you even give me a 'duh' kind of look."

"I wasn't aware that you watched me so closely. Some might call it stalking."

"Er..."

He gave her a small smile to show her he was teasing. She turned her head the other way, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Yes, well, I didn't know you had a sense of humor."

"There are lots of thing you do not know about me. For example, my favorite color is green."

"Really? I would think it would be black considering all your clothes are black."

"What makes you think all my clothes are black? You haven't seen them all."

Another blush appeared on Zinnia's cheeks. "Yes well, then a good amount."

He found himself smiling at her, and not a small smile. It felt good to banter. She noticed his smile and gave him one too. Soon they were laughing lightly while collecting some leaves.

Dusk was upon them. They emerged from the forest as the sun set their arms full of jars.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"Yes," he answered without a second thought. He wanted to drag this day on forever. It shouldn't have to end. But it will and he will have to visit it again in his dreams. 'It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.' That thought crossed his mind before he could help it.

A soft meow jumped Tobias out if his thoughts. He looked down to see a long haired black and white cat with startlingly blue eyes. Not just any blue eyes; they had a small twinkle behind them.

"That's Isis, my cat."

"Isis?" He repeated the name. It sounded like it didn't fit the cat at all. This one seemed different; smarter. It was not a normal cat, maybe not even a full cat.

The cat was rubbing herself on his leg.

"Aww," Zinnia cooed. "I think she likes you."

"Indeed." He gave the cat a calculating look before walking further into the house.

"Just make yourself at home. I'll get moving on dinner."

He nodded and walked out into the living room. He listened to Zinnia move around in the kitchen. What would happen after tonight? He had no idea. He would try and if the worst happened, well he would just forget and move on. Not the best laid plan but the only one he had.

Zinnia laid the table out and beckoned Tobias over. They sat across a small table; a meal between them. Dinner was a subdued affair. They just enjoyed each other's company. Once the dishes were in the sink Zinnia spoke.

"Want to try out some tea leaves?"

His eyes soften for a second at her excited smile. "Yes."

Zinnia pulled out her utensils, jars, herbs, honey and sugar. "We can experiment a little bit. I enjoy coming up with new flavors. Just write everything down so we don't forget. I've been trying to come up with a herbal tea that relaxes you without making you drowsy."

Together Tobias and Zinnia worked on making the perfect calming tea without side effects. She had put a drop of honey to try and dilute the power of the chamomile and tilia, when a crash caused both of them to turn around.

"Echo? You know better."

A jar of leaves had broken and glass lay upon the floor. Echo stood next to it sniffing the leaves with his tail wagging.

"Sorry, he likes to smell the leaves."

Zinnia got the broom out and swept it all away. "Okay, that should be everything. Still, be careful."

Tobias nodded and turned his attention back to the tea. He was met with twinkling blue eyes. Isis meowed and jumped off the counter, her busy tail twitching as if she was trying to hold a laugh in.

Just what it that cat up to?

Zinnia returned to finish the tea. "Okay, that's everything. I think it's done. I'll try it first."

Carefully, she sniffed the cup. It smelled sweet and floral. She blew on it before taking
tentative sips. Once it was gone, she placed the cup back down. "Okay, last time, I was bouncing off the walls in ten minutes. So I guess we should just wait.

After two minutes of silence Tobias spoke, "How do you feel?"

"Fine. I feel calm and relaxed. I think we got..."

Zinnia stopped. She stood still for a full minute.

"Zinnia? Are you alright."

"You might wanna...I feel drowsy."

She was swaying on her feet slightly.

"You should sit down."

She mumbled her eyes half close, "Not gonna...make it. Catch..."

She slumped forward into Tobias's arms in a deep slumber. Carefully, he placed her on the couch and hurried back into the kitchen to see where they went wrong. It seemed impossible that he, of all people, made a mistake. He was good at this. Possibly the best.

He lifted the cup up and sniffed it. Most people would have missed the mistake but he was not most people. There was clearly too much of the Tilia leaves in here. But why? He had made sure the right amount was put in. He looked around for the jar. It was three fourths full—which wasn't right at all. They had added less than that. So where had the extra come from?

It clicked like a light. The dog had dropped a jar but the cat was by the tea when his back was turned. She added the leaves. But why? A quick search showed that she wasn't in the house. That proved that the cat was not normal. But what was the purpose of putting Zinnia to sleep?

Tobias racked his brain to no avail. Frustrated, he picked up Zinnia and took her to her room. Unaware of any side effects that might take place, he settled himself next to her bed and kept watch over her all night.

Okay I just realized, but I hope you guys don't think Zinnia is Mary-Sue its possible to be a nice person. In-fact she is far from perfect. She has a lot of self-hate and guilt in her for something that we find out later. Yes, she is pretty but not super-model perfect. Like she said before, "I'm just trying to be the best person I can be." word to live by.

Also I would like to have a shout out to CORRUPT SUBDUCTION, my beta for the chapters you see before you. So a long chapter for you to try and bribe you to review. I'll try to get some more chapters up