Hi! So:

1) Guest, I do remember that scene from iCarly- I actually thought of it when I typed chapter 23 out. Good eye there!

2)Dallas, I in fact do LOTS of research for this story. First, I research from the series itself; I keep them on my shelf right above my head so when I need to make a reference, I know it's correct. Also, I have to do outside research, so that the things I type are historically accurate. No cell phones in the 1800s!

3)I know this is slightly random, but I tend to look around for features on people or in pictures that I attribute to Patch and Nora. I think I found the perfect Nora! It's a fan drawing of "Lady" from Disney's Lady and the Tramp as a human, but I think it's pretty awesome! Just fill her in with red hair and grey eyes. I'm still looking for a Patch. I can't seem to find his eyes; I have an image in my head but his eyes are hard to find on real people (I tend to imagine in half human/half cartoon). Anyway, check it out; the whole thing's pretty cool!

/disney/heres-what-classic-disney-creatures-would-look-like-as-humans/?subpage=31

Chapter Twenty-Five

Present

Nora's POV

It was quiet. I wasn't seeing the nightmares that I normally did; instead I was lying on my hospital bed. The off-color of the room let me know that I was dreaming. Shaking my head, I sat up and placed my hand on my chest. No pain, but I wasn't sure if it was because I was healed or unconscious.

"Are you better, Nora Grey?" I jumped at the unfamiliar voice. Turning, I saw a man, sitting cross-legged on one of the chairs. He had a soft voice, and beautiful light brown eyes, eyes that stared with an odd mixture of concern, yet disdain. I was ready to leave. He held his hand out to stop me.

"I mean you no harm. Relax." He sighed.

I lay back down onto the bed, eyeing him speculatively. "Who are you?"

"My name is Nehemiah. I knew Patch before he fell to Earth."

My heart jumped at Patch's name. "Really?"

He nodded. "I have come, as well as our friend Ezra, to speak to you about him."

"Why?"

He rolled his eyes, as if to suggest why else? I growled. Was I so annoying? At my growl, he chuckled.

"You seem very confused. It is a simple matter, really. I'm here for two reasons. First and foremost I'm here to defend my friend. You seem to be having issues with one another. Second, I'm here to clear your mind of nightmares. You would do well to listen to me."

He spoke with such a proper cadence that I couldn't help but feel that I was being spoken down to. Still, I nodded warily for him to go on.

"The main reason Patch fell was because he wanted a human body. He didn't do his research, and thought that when he found the woman he loved, he could simply join her. You witnessed what happened to Katharine Lowry. That event happened soon after Patch fell. You must understand- she is the one that he fell for. Her beauty bewitched him."

I wanted to kick myself when all I could think was 'Did my beauty bewitch him?'

"Katharine was a murderess. Patch was unaware of her fatal flaws until he witnessed her kill a human in front of his own eyes. He tried to get away, but she begged him for help saving her. In his youth and confusion, he went along. Upon his return to Heaven, he was placed on a rigged trial and immediately de-winged by one of his best friends. Ezra. All he wanted was to come home and never disobey again. Instead, he was humiliated, he lost his wings, his home, and his friends in one fell swoop. Understandably, he was distraught."

Poor Patch. I knew what it was like to lose a parent; I couldn't imagine losing everything. I wasn't sure what I could do to my mom to make her disown me so harshly.

"The Patch that you know now, he is very controlled down to the inch. Still, he will kill if he feels you are threatened. Jev was a confused, impulsive, sad and angry child. Of course he would react differently! He attributed all of the losses to Katharine. The night that he killed her, he wanted to purge not only the world of her presence, but of the stain on his own soul. He was reacting out of pride and pain, Nora. You saw his eyes. What did you see in them?"

I shuddered as I pictured his eyes. I could now see the dejection, pain, and anger clearly.

"He told me she died of old age…" I murmured in defense. Nehemiah laughed.

"He certainly couldn't tell the love of his life what happened; he feared that you would react the way that you have been."

"Is anything else a lie?"

"No. You assume everything he's done is bad. Your lack of trust is stifling." My face must have registered insult, because he continued. "Most of his history is dark, yes. He's perfected the role of the predator. Intelligent. Strong. Cunning. Determined. Quick. But are those not the traits that you fell in love with?"

My jaw dropped. "I…"

"They are not bad traits. He used them towards evil, granted, encouraged by his friend Rixon and the other fallen. He fell into the role that was expected of a fallen angel. But he's done good things. If you would talk to him, ask; he could tell you. Instead, you search for his secrets. You know he's stubborn. Forcing him to admit anything will only make him close up even more."

Intelligent. Strong. Cunning. Determined. Quick. But are those not the traits that you fell in love with?

They were. I loved those exact things. When I needed something, or was upset, he always knew. He could outsmart anyone in any situation, keeping the both of us safe. I relied on his strength since the day that we met. He was always there. I loved those things…even the casual innuendo to keep me on my toes, feeling loved.

"He has changed since he met you. The impulsive, bitter boy that I knew is seeking to be better. He knows he's done wrong. With you, he seeks his second chance at redemption. He deserves it! We saw all of the things he's done for you; if he deserves redemption from anyone, it is from you, Nora Grey! This is a man that has given up so much of himself, all for your happiness. If you cannot respect that, then maybe you aren't worthy of the truth, or even him."

Nehemiah seemed to need to catch his breath. All of his words struck me to my core, and I was silent.

"You are prone to overreaction, I can tell, but through all that Patch loves you. He'd do anything for you, and would never hurt you. Even now, he's waiting for you. That's all I have to say. He is here, and he wants to see you. More than anything, he wants to see you. Are you ready?"

I thought about it.

I was a terrible girlfriend…I'd rushed to every assumption that I could think of in my anger. I didn't think for a moment of how it must have pained Patch to keep all of that inside, including how he felt about my outbursts. The last time I did that, I was 17 and I'd almost lost him to Marcie Millar. I was older; I should have outgrown this behavior!

I knew that he had a past. He'd told me so.

"I'm also a thief, a gambler, a cheat, and a murderer. But this happens to be one of those rare times when I'm telling the truth."

"Keep in mind that people change, but the past doesn't."

People had always hired him for "jobs", and I never thought twice about it before. The only reason it mattered was because of some argument that we had. I didn't even remember what it was! It wasn't even worth thinking about!

I still loved him. I'd always love him. He'd done so much for me. He'd sacrificed his human body, the one that he'd fallen and searched for for centuries. He'd given up his vassal, and the ability to feel, in order to let me live. He'd sent his best friend to Hell, all for trying to kill me. He didn't kill Hank when I'd asked him not to, regardless of the amount of money. He'd been faithful, looking out for me even when I was at my worst. He'd sworn under Heaven to love me forever, and not one day passed where I saw him go back on it. There was always a soft smile, or flowers, or dinner, or something that let me know he was thinking about me. Even when I yelled over something, he'd just smile later and I'd know I was still okay.

I began to bawl. I was so ashamed.

"I'm such a terrible person…I can't face him…not with how I've behaved…"

Nehemiah rolled his eyes again and smiled, pulling out a handkerchief.

"Yes, silly girl, you can." He approached me and kneeled, placing a hand on my knee. "I can count on two hands the amount of people Patch has cared for in his existence. Appreciate his love; it's hard won and not easily lost."

"How can he forgive me?"

"He asks the same of you."

Wiping my face, I nodded. "I want to see him in person." A dream reunion wouldn't do. I needed to see him for real, so that I could hold him and explain how sorry I was and beg forgiveness. "I'll make sure Vee leaves him alone."

Nehemiah laughed at the mention of Vee. He told me how she found Patch's house and searched for my medicine. I couldn't help but choke out a laugh.

"I've got a good friend. Forgive her, she's protective when it comes to me." I turned to Nehemiah. "I'm so glad that Patch has two good friends. He's been so lonely ever since Rixon…well, I've always been afraid that he was bitter about it. I hope you stick around; you're very smart."

Blushing slightly, he smiled. "Oh, well…" He cleared his throat. "So you will speak to him in person?" I nodded.

"Okay. You will have peaceful dreams. Be careful; I'm not sure what is ailing you, but you will feel it again when you wake up." Sitting back into his lotus position, he vanished.

I lay down on the bed, smiling.

Gasping, I sat up. I heard a heart monitor beeping slowly to my sluggish heart. True to word, the pain in my chest was full force, almost suffocating me. It seemed fitting, that my real heart would be suffering. Vee rushed toward me, medicine in hand.

"Take them." Nodding, I did as I was told. Before she could speak again, I laid back down on the bed.

"Vee…" My voice was raspy, and I could hardly speak.

"Don't worry, I won't let that psycho woman killer get to you. I'll stand outside the door all night if I have to."

"Vee!"

"Yes? Do you need some more pain medicine? Should I call the doctors? A donut? Are you hungry?"

I pinned her with the sternest glare I could, considering the pain I was in. She went silent.

"Vee…get…get the diaries…bring them to me…"

Her eyes popped open. "But if Patch sees them on you—"

I shook my head. "Please, Vee." She began nodding.

"Right, I'll go get them, and then we can have the evidence! Even sick, you're so smart!"

Before I could correct her, she'd sped out of the hospital.

I love you, but dammit Vee…

I passed back out, hearing the heart monitor fade.

Vee come back! Read and review!