Memories
To Cling Together
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If you want to use Tora, or any of my other characters, PM me.
Laura got up quickly when she saw Marie come in.
"Are you okay? Marie?"
The use of her first name was the only concession that Laura Kinney was not Marie's daughter. Sarah had been a previous girlfriend of James' and there had been something with a boyfriend following him and suddenly James was dumped with a child, two months into their marriage. For a young couple who weren't even certain they wanted kids, suddenly having petulant, grumpy Laura to look after came as a shock. It took a while –in fact they waited quite a few years. Jamie more than twelve years younger than his half-sister and Laura enjoyed babying her siblings. The fact that she'd come home deliberately to look after them with Marie being checked up was a testament to the closeness they felt.
"I'm just tired. Thanks for waiting up…"
Laura looked over.
"You look exhausted."
"I'll be fine. How's the studies going?"
Laura shrugged.
"It's going fine. I've been put on the University Karate team, so I must be doing something right."
Marie laughed and then collapsed into the chair.
"I… Laura, I admit I was scared. There… There wasn't any major problems, were there?"
Laura shook her head.
"The police are patrolling, just in case. I set all the alarms up and everything."
Marie nodded weakly.
"I… I don't know… I… I think maybe we should go stay with my family for a while…get out of the house…"
With startling comprehension, Laura sat down and wrapped an arm around Marie's shoulders.
"Look. We've had the police in. They say it's safe. But seriously, if you want, I can go ring up Mac and Heather and ask them to put us up for the night."
Marie laughed softly.
"Laura, you don't have to baby me."
They looked at each other and with that flash of familiarity, suddenly both started giggling. James entered, carrying his small hold-all.
"Whoa… I miss something?"
"Nothing at all, Dad…"
They both continued sniggering and then –by whatever cosmic laws that stated that laughter must be contagious- James started laughing too. The soft sound of their laughter –James' low chuckle, Laura's sniggering giggles and Marie's almost-silent shaking- filled the room and then they were all sitting on the sofa together, curled up. Radio humming quietly in the background and then a familiar tune came on. James leapt up and pulled Marie up with him.
"Come on! Remember this one?"
She laughed breathlessly.
"How could I forget when you keep reminding me!?"
He swirled her under his arm as she tried to remember the steps from the dance at the student union when the older boy had come over and asked if she wanted to dance. The tune was flowing and gentle. So many memories…
When I'm gone
No need to wonder if I ever think of you
The same moon shines
The same wind blows
For both of us, and time is but a paper moon...
Be not gone
Swirling under his arm once more, suddenly breathtakingly aware of everything about him. Seeing the boy in the man's eyes.
Though I'm gone
It's just as though I hold the flower that touches you
A new life grows
The blossom knows
There's no one else could warm my heart as much as you...
Be not gone
Laura was staring at them, suddenly aware that there had been a life before her mother had died and she'd ended up with Dad and Marie.
Let us cling together as the years go by
Oh my love, my love
In the quiet of the night
Let our candle always burn
Let us never lose the lessons we have learned
Marie felt his arms wrap tighter around her and she rested her head on his chest, inhaling deeply.
Teo torriatte konomama iko
Aisuruhito yo
Shizukana yoi ni
Hikario tomoshi
Itoshiki oshieo idaki
He knew the meaning of the words. He had sung them softly to her that first dance, trying to appear knowledgeable and cultured, speaking Japanese. He had just sounded like a little boy.
Hear my song
Still think of me the way you've come to think of me
The nights grow long
But dreams live on
Just close your pretty eyes and you can be with me...
Dream on
She closed her eyes and let the music wash over her.
Teo torriatte konomama iko
Aisuruhito yo
Shizukana yoi ni
Hikario tomoshi
Itoshiki oshieo idaki
He was muttering the translation now. Low and soft, so only she could hear it.
When I'm gone
They'll say we're all fools and we don't understand
Oh be strong
Don't turn your heart
We're all
You're all
For all
For always
She felt his hands in the small of her back, the protective way he was trying to wrap himself around her. He hadn't changed a bit.
Let us cling together as the years go by
Oh my love, my love
In the quiet of the night
Let our candle always burn
Let us never lose the lessons we have learned
She span out, under his arm and they stood there, staring into each other's eyes, not quite prepared to drop hands.
And then the glass in the window shattered…
"They just had to mess it up, didn't they?"
"Dear…"
"No, they had to, didn't they! For pity's sake, they'd already decided to stay, so why burden all that guilt on her?"
"Jean… What have we said about righteous anger?"
"It's not conducive to my image."
"And…?"
"I need to stop in case of Dark Phoenix incidents."
"Good."
A.N. The song is Queen's Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together). It's not one of their better known ones but I love it –apparently though, the Japanese doesn't sound quite right.