AN" Report of an old fic as requested by some. I will do others if people would like as I have them all.

Enjoy.

When Autumn Comes

Autumn; The season where everything falls to the ground spectacularly, the vulnerability of the bare branches visible to all, and yet somehow it is one of the most beautiful scenes to the observant eye. There is beauty in the fall; autumn if anything shows us just how magnificent it can be to let things go.

Chapter One

Omnium Rerum Principia Parva Sunt - 'The beginnings of all things are small.'

October 1st 1988

10.08am

A typical autumnal day; the rain thrashing down causing a damp and musky air, colours of red, yellow, brown and orange carpet the ground as the wind whips around allowing some of the fallen leaves to dance. Elizabeth Adams hated this time of year; it was always so damp and cold. She glanced at her watch and groaned as she realised she was running late for class, throwing her bag over her shoulder, wrapping a scarf around her neck she rushed out of her front door. As she took a step outside she immediately stepped into a puddle. The cold water splashed up her leg and left brown blotches down her jeans and over her white trainers. She inwardly sighed and adjusted her grip on the books in her arms as she set off towards UVA.

Elizabeth continued to walk in the rain, her hair now dripping wet, her jumper soaked and sticking to her as she tried to duck for cover at each passing shelter or tree. She kept her glance down trying to shelter her face from the wind and the rain, silently cursing herself for not taking an extra three minutes to grab a coat or umbrella. She picked up her pace a little as she entered through the grounds of UVA, the gravel path disappearing under her footsteps as she approached the steps. Her shoulder barged into someone else's, sending her backwards down a step and her books scattering over the floor. She felt a strong arm grab hers, stopping her falling to the ground.

'I am so sorry I didn't see you there' the apologetic reply rolled from his tongue.

'No, no it's fine, It was my fault' she bent to the floor to pick up her books and paperwork, most of it now soaked.

'Is it ruined?' he asked as she stood up and looked at him for the first time, his eyes glancing down at the books in her hand as they were now laced with water and splashes of gravel or mud.

'No...Urm, well maybe' she giggled. Henry's head snapped up. That was the most beautiful laugh. His eyes fixated on hers. A moment of silence waved over them as they remained stood in the rain. He cleared his throat realising he hadn't spoken.

'Is there anything I can do?' Why did I ask that? Of course this isn't its wet paper

'No Thank you, thanks for catching me' She smiled, his eyes; captivating, honey brown in colour, sweet and endearing.

'Well, we best get out of the rain' he shifted awkwardly. Elizabeth had forgotten all about the rain since her eyes clapped over this gentleman before her

'Thanks again' she hurried her reply as it dawned on her she would be a soaking wet mess in front of a handsome man. She quickly rushed up the stairs and headed towards her class. She stopped for a second once she was inside and glanced over her shoulder, she watched him walk away in the distance, she didn't stare for long there was just something about him, she shook her head and turned back around she was determined to get to class before it finished today.

The gentleman popped up his umbrella and glanced behind him before he walked any further; he watched the young girl walk off into the building, he watched as her hair although wet still bounced, her hips swaying a little as she walked; that laugh playing on repeat in his head. There was just something about her.

Elizabeth finally reached her class and expressed her profound apologies for being late. She tied her wet hair up on her head and took her jumper off, she sat in class shivering, her concentration gone, in fact it was never there, and her mind was plagued with the guy who just literally knocked her off her feet. His image burned deep in her memory, his presence captivating her, the sound of his voice sincere and caring, allowing her to reach tranquillity despite all her coursework being ruined and needed to be re-done. Who is this man?

She twirled her pen between her finger and her thumb, placing the end in her mouth every now and then biting down on it. The numbers on the board in front of her were not making sense, she had never struggled with math, there was not an equation or arithmetic that fazed her, and she sighed inwardly to herself and glanced at the clock. She watched the tiny red hand waver as it reached the final few seconds signalling the end of her class. Once the clock ticked forward and struck on the hour Elizabeth jumped up, packing all her things away and throwing her still wet jumper one. She shivered as the coldness sent tingles down her spine. She rushed out of class and headed to the next, she wanted to get their early and find a spot by the radiator.

She weaved in and out of the crowd, clutching her books close to her body as students filled the halls and rushed by. She kept her head down and made a B line for the side entrance to her next class; in one swift movement she darted to the left and collided into another student.

'Shit, I am so sorry' she cured herself, today was not her day. She wanted to head back to bed and start all over again.

'Now this is becoming a habit' the same voice from earlier chuckled. She looked up and melted, those honey eyes beaming down into her soul once again.

'H...Hi' she stuttered.

One of the rarest moments in life and quite possibly one of the most beautiful moments in the world is when you meet someone who excites you, ignites your soul, and has the ability to intoxicate you. When you look at someone and you know every moment might just be exhilarating, there might just be beauty in falling.