A.N - Um, hi guys. Remember me? I'm sorry. I moved on with the whole schooling system thing. I'm hating the a levels. They give me no time for anything else. Not to mention homework, driving lessons and my job. Ugh.

So, yeah. I hope you'll forgive me. And are still with me. :)

Chapter Fifteen

"Maybe Father Dominic's right"

"Remind me what we're doing here again?" I hissed the words through my teeth. I don't think the nun behind the desk would react well if I started talking to myself. The last thing I need right now is people believing I'm crazy.

"I told you, querida." It's all well and good for him. No one can see what he's doing. Or hear what he's saying. "We should talk to Father Dominic, let him know what's happened."

I closed my eyes and rested my head on the wall behind me. "I have the crazy feeling he's not going to like this."

I spoke a bit too loudly. The nun's attention was focused on me now, meaning that I absolutely could not respond when Jesse pressed his lips to my forehead, cheeks and lips. Especially not the lips. Considering, you know, my natural reaction is to jump on him and hit him with some twenty-first century girl kissing moves. Frenching the air isn't going to help.

"It'll be fine, Susannah." Damn his silky voice. Damn his kisses. All that time he spent hiding from me as a ghost was wasted. One kiss would have been all it took. I can't resist his sexy, Hispanic vibes. "We're together again, that's all that really matters." His lips lingered on mine.

Do. Not. Move. A. Muscle.

I drummed the thought through my head.

Don't focus on him.

"Querida," he drawled and I could practically hear his eyes twinkling with something that I can only describe as mischief. "Don't I get a kiss back?"

My eyes flickered open and narrowed in his direction. His face was looming in mine; a close up of Jesse De Silva's gorgeous face was better then any Hollywood Heartthrob you could ever name.

Luckily, I was saved the humiliation of showing Jesse just how much I wanted to kiss him back by Father Dominic clearing his voice.

"Yes, um, Susannah." He mumbled. "I can see you now."

I stood up, mortified. The receptionist thought I was crazy and a priest of all people caught me about to kiss the hell out of my one-hundred-and-fifty-years-dead boyfriend. With my cheeks burning, and Jesse's tingle-inducing, rich baritone of a laugh following in behind me, I walked into Father Dominic's office and sat down, staring determinedly at the floor.

"So, Susannah." Was that disapproval in his tone? I think it was. "What can I do for you?"

"Don't look at me," I blurted out, jerking my thumb toward the ghost behind me – who looked like he was enjoying himself way too much. "This is all him."

The second, however, Father Dominic's attention focused on him, Jesse sobered and became as serious as serious can be. It had a chilling effect on me. It's amazing what happens when you remember it's a matter of life and death, quite literally.

His fingers wrapped in mine as he took my hand. Looking up at him, I saw his brilliant white teeth as he smiled at me, warmly.

"I love you," I mouthed and his grin widened as he returned the sentiment with a squeeze of my hand.

"Jesse," Father Dominic sighed, noting our closeness. "What can I do for you then?"

"We need help." Woah, Jesse. Plunge right into it. I think I would have tried to soften him up a bit first. But that's just me. "Please. Make me human again."

The silence in the room pounded. It was practically suffocating. My heartbeat was racing in the interim, hoping against hope that he could help. That Jesse and I can have our happily ever after. We're fated - we have to be together.

I can feel it.

"I'm sorry, Jesse."

Just three words and Jesse had closed himself off. His face wiped of all emotion and he began shaking his head desperately, whispering 'no' under his breath.

"I can't, you know that." He smiled kindly. "You fulfilled your purpose with the ritual – you should move on."

"No!" Jesse shouted, turning his fury-filled face to Father Dominic's and gripping my hand tightly in a death grip. "I can't move on, Padre. Not whilst Susannah is still here."

Both men turned their attention to me. And, can I just say, I've looked better. My face was pale and my eyes wide and haunted-looking, I'm sure. I could even feel tears prickling at the corner of them. And I don't cry.

Everything was just so unfair. Paul wasn't speaking to me because I wanted to be with Jesse, and now Jesse and I can't even be together because this priest wouldn't help us. I suffered through the pain of his death for nothing.

I'm sure this is the part where I'm told 'life isn't fair' and to, basically get over it. So what? Life isn't fair. Love should be – All's fair in love and war.

And I love Jesse.

"Susannah," Jesse groaned when he saw me. "Querida, it's ok, don't get upset." He kissed me then. I returned it all too happily, enjoying the feel of his strong arms wrapping around my waist as he pulled me closer to him. Gah, he still smelled so amazing. And his kisses will always be able to make my knees weak.

I love him, so much.

"Please, Padre." Jesse broke away from my lips and spoke to him again, hands remaining locked on the small of my back as he rested his forehead on mine and shut his eyes. "I can't move on knowing Susannah is still here, and will be upset. Don't tell me she won't be – I saw how she was after I died." He drew in a shaky breath before directing his next words at me. "I can't do that to you, querida. Not again."

Smiling weakly up at him, I swallowed through a knot of sadness in my throat. He's going to hate me for this. Really, truly, hate me.

"Jesse," I whispered, ignoring that Father Dominic was standing not two metres away and could probably hear every word I said. It was just Jesse and me here now. "Maybe … maybe Father Dominic's right. Maybe you should move on."

He opened his mouth to object and I kissed him to silence his words. I had to finish this.

"You were ready to." I reminded him. "When you were asked to come and help me, you knew that you'd move on when your work was done. You accepted that. You shouldn't hang around here just for me. I'll be fine. It'll take some time, yeah." I shut my eyes and fought the urge to cringe as a tear escaped me. Pesky little things they are. "And I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye yet, but I can be strong." My eyes opened and locked with his brown, disbelieving ones. "For you."

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I love you.

His calloused thumb rubbed a circle over my cheek, brushing away the stray tear as he smiled at me. "I love you," he told me. "I want to be good enough for you. You can smile that sweet smile of yours and blink your tears at me all you want, but I'm not moving on. Not without you. Sorry, querida. But you're stuck with me."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me with a sigh of relief. I was willing to be the stronger person, and give him the get out of jail free card. But I'm so, so happy he didn't take it.

Fated, just like I said.

He turned away from me, fixing his gaze on Father Dominic who stood watching us with a grave expression on his face. "Padre, I'm cashing in that favour you owe me."

"Jesse, I don't think that –"

"No." The word rang with a sense of finality. Jesse was putting his foot down. And it was hot. "You promised me, padre: 'No matter how big'. And this is what I want."

I could see Father D's eyes harden with determination. He was going to try to convince Jesse out of it.

I'd like to see him try.

"And the pain, Jesse? Do you remember that?" His tone was icy. I know he was trying to not disturb the balance of the universe and follow God's will and all that but at this moment, I kind of really don't like this man. I don't hate him. Not in a church, anyway. "The agony of reattaching your soul to your body? Is it worth it?"

"Yes." Jesse stood behind me, standing his ground, as he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Claro."

Then something weird happened; Father D's face broke out into a huge grin, softening his eyes and causing wrinkles to etch along his face, happily. "I'll help you then. I'm sorry for the hard time, you just have to understand…"

"Understand what?" I said. I'd been a bystander long enough.

He turned his attention to me. "For this to work, Jesse's soul has to be tied to something. Previously, it was to New York, which is why he died when returned to California." I nodded. I knew this; Jesse had told me. "I had to make sure that you really loved each other."

I looked confused. I knew that. Hell – er, I mean, heck, I am confused.

"I do. Love him, I mean."

Well, it's true. Besides, what else could I say?

"I know." Father D's expression turned serious again. I don't like it when this man turns serious. "And in order for this to work, Jesse needs to be tied to you, Susannah. Should you ever break up, or fall out of love for him, Jesse would –"

"Die." It was Jesse's voice that said it. "I'd die. Again. Wouldn't I?"

All Father Dominic could do was nod and I focused on him before my vision was blocked by the deliciousness that is Jesse's face.

"Well?" He asked. "What do you think? Do you think that you could love me forever? Until the day you die?"

Um, wow. I don't know. I haven't actually chosen a major yet.

"Because if you die, I die too. If I'm tied to you, then without you here I have no reason to be here either."

I was speechless. Dumbfounded. Susannah Simon had no idea what to say. Except …

"Did you just ask me to marry you?"