Candle in the wind

"--Bri," she speaks softly as she interrupts him. "It'salright. I'm not going to make you do anything that you don't want to do? Oranything that makes you uncomfortable? So you can relax. Okay?" She humsthe last word as she reaches out to lightly place a hand against his arm. There'sno response, at least not a verbal one and not immediately. It's only a moment'spause however before he's moving, quick as ever. His hand comes around behindher head and cupping the back of her skull and his lips are pressing againsthers ever so softly in the next moment.

She can't help but gasp slightly, shock running through herthat he actually did it. Her hand is still against his arm before slowlycurling into the fabric  of his sleeve asshe presses against him to return the kiss. It's short and she wishes that itcould last longer before Brian's pulling away.

"I -- That was --- I hope that was alright?" He'sstumbling over his words and she can't help the way her lips curl into a smile.

"That was perfect, don't worry." She mumbles back,stumbling over her own words as she leans up to kiss him again. She doesn't getthe chance to as the door to the closet swings open and Lizzie is there, withthat ever smug expression.

"Time's up."

ii.

Her laugh spills through the air like music as she throwsherself to the ground, tumbling a bit across the grass. The air is crisp andthe sky is beautiful as she stares up at the stars above. It's perfect. It'shonestly perfect. She can hear Bri's laughter coming closer and she tilts herhead back with a smile to look at him.

"You're upside down," she muses warmly as he stopsa step away from her. "You look like you're frowning. It's quite ridiculous."There's a tease to her tone and she beams at the chuckle she draws from him.

"I'm the ridiculous one?" There's amusement to histone as he speaks.

"Absolutely."

"Well. I suppose that I'll just have to join you downthere, now won't I? Can't have me being ridiculous now can we?" Shewatches, turning her head to keep her gaze on him as he walks over and gentlylowers himself to the ground. He had shown up outside her window earlier,asking her to join him. He'd been away for about a week, missions and all that.She rolls over so she can crawl on top of him once he's laying beside her. Shedoesn't care for the stains that might be on his uniform.

"I missed you," she mumbles as she reaches up tothread a hand through his mussed up hair. She can see his smile in themoonlight and her own expression softens even more. She loves that smile, shereally does.

"I missed you too. I could hardly wait to seeyou," his words are soft and warm.

"Oh I know that. It's obvious. You didn't evenchange." She teases as she shifts up a bit to look down at him. "Notthat I mind, you should count yourself lucky that I don't BrianFalsworth."

"Oh, I am the luckiest man to walk the Earths surface,I am well aware of that fact."

"Good," she smiles before leaning down to pressthe softest of kisses to his lips. "I'm glad you do."

iii.

"What exactly do you have planned for me?" Sheasks, excitement clear in her voice as she looks at the flowers in his hands.

"Planned? For you? Who says that I have somethingplanned for you?" There's a tease to her tone and she can't help but swathis arm lightly.

"Liar. I know you have something planned. You'vebrought me flowers every day this week. Bigger bouquets. If I knew you weregoing to be this sweet leading up to our one year anniversary I'd have plannedsomething better for you too!" She lets a scandalous tone enter her voiceas she reaches out for the flowers. He pulls back, pressing his lips togetheras he tries to suppress a smile.

"Who says these are for you?" his voice is brightwith amusement.  "--And it's ouranniversary tomorrow? Why didn't you tell me! I had completely forgotten!"He's no longer able to hide the teasing smile. Beth gasps loudly, a hand comingto her chest as she pulls back with mock offense.

"You forgot? How dare you! I ought to break up with youright now." The moment the words leave her mouth his eyes widen before hisface crumbles into that ever adorable puppy dog look. He steps forward and shesteps back, trying hard to keep that giggle at bay.

"You wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?" She steps back until her back hitsthe wall and he's right before her. "Why shouldn't I?"

"Well... Many reasons. But I suppose that I'll just have to remind you." And it takes nomore time after that. He's gone from before her and back within the blink of aneye, the flowers gone from his grasp. She doesn't have a chance to react beforehe's pulling her to a kiss. Her hands come up around his  neck, fingers locking together to hold himthere.

She doesn't expect the hands to cup her ass and the suddenweightless feeling as he lifts her up. A squealing laugh escapes her againsthis mouth and she presses another kiss against his lips.

"Suppose you'll have to remind me," she mumbles ashe starts carrying her towards her room.

iv.

There was once a story that his mother had told him, abouthis uncle. It was many stories in actuality but they all lead back to the samething. Magical kisses, no. That wasn't quite it. Healing kisses. That's what it was. The healing kisses that ran inthe family, even if they had skipped over her. His lips are pressed into a grimline as he stares at the wall.

He can't help but wonder if perhaps, he has inherited thatability as well. The murmur of the room is hushed, he isn't paying anyattention to it. There's no real need for him, the words aren't really meant forhim. His steps are heavy when they're normally light, slow when they'renormally quick as can be. It's odd. There's a sensation in his chest, atightening and pulling that he doesn't want to think about.

There's a shake to his hand as he reaches out, placing itagainst the cool mahogany. It helps to steady him, as he steps closer to whereit opens. His eyes shut and he slowly sucks in a breath to hold into his chest.This was the first time he was coming over since he'd arrived.

Exhaling slowly, he opens his eyes to gaze into the casketand his heart nearly stops in his chest. She's beautiful, as she always is. Noteven death could steal that from her. He can almost convince himself that shewere just asleep, that she would open her eyes and smile with that adorable andsleepy mumble of his name. That he could greet her to the waking world. Shelooks so peaceful. She also looked at peace when she slept after all but ...there was something wrong. Just in the way her makeup was done, in the waythere are no creases across her features. It's almost as if she were a doll,perfectly made up to immortalize her beauty.

His Beth would never change again.

His shaking hand extends from the casket to brush hisknuckles along her cheeks and --oh.She's cool to the touch, no warmth to be found and it's wrong. A soft sound worksits way out of his throat, broken and desperate as he steps closer. His handturns, resting his palm against her cheek. He sweeps his thumb over hercheekbone before leaning in close.

"You're as beautiful as the day I first really saw you,"his words shake as he barely manages a whisper. "Did I ever tell you... Mymum she... She used to tell me stories about when and my uncle were kids. Abouthow he has this, healing kiss. She told me that story as a kid. I've never beenable to forget them. It's quite ridiculous of course." There's a stingingto his eyes but no tears to cloud his vision yet. It has to be the exhaustion.He hasn't been able to sleep since it happened.

"I've never quite believed those, they're tall talesafter all. What's really piqued my interest, what's always held me captive isfairy tales. The one where the prince is able to rouse the princess from hernever ending sleeping with true loves kiss. I've always wondered... With allthe magic that's in this world, with everything that exists... I can't help butwonder, pray, that the strongest magic of all is just that."

He can't help the way that he's leaning down, as ifinspecting her looks. His hand brushes her cheekbone once more.

"You truly are a princess in every possible way, and Ionly pray that I am enough of a prince for you." His words are soft beforehe presses a chaste kiss against her still lips. The sensation is... wrong.She's stiff and cold beneath him. He stays there only for a moment before he'spulling back, gaze searching her expression desperately.

"Please wake up love, I need you to come back tome." The words are barely there, catching in his throat.

There is, of course, no response.

v.

The sky reflects off the salts on the ground and she can'thelp but beam at the sight. She loves it here, God does she ever love it here.Ever since the first time he brought her here, since she felt the wind whippingthrough her hair as he carried her. She'd fallen in love with it instantly.That was probably the time that she fell in love with him as well, even ifshe'd  been completely clueless about it.

"I've missed this place," there's warmth in hervoice as she turns to face Bri. His expression is soft and loving as he gazesat her.

"I've missed it too," he says as he steps over toher, wrapping his arms around her. "I haven't visited since ... Well sinceeverything. It holds too many memories, meant too much to you for me to be herewithout you." He presses his forehead against hers gently.

"You should visit here more often. I loved it so muchand I know that you did too. Bri, you know that I'd never want to you to misssomething that you love."

"Well I have you now so of course I'll visit muchmore." His smile widens as he pulls a hand back from around her. "Ido have, something that I need to ask you though." He really doesn't giveher much of a chance to respond, before he's pulling the small black box of hispocket and he's down on a knee.

"--Bri..." she gasps, a hand coming to cover hermouth as he shushes her.

"Beth... Marybeth Raymond. You have won my heart, longago and I have always been yours. Please give me the honor of always being yours going forward; becauseI love you and nothing, not even death, will stop that love." She can'thelp the tears in her eyes as he opens the box.

"Brian -- I..." His smile is hopeful as he looksup at her. She drops her hands to his shoulders and moves quickly. She leansdown and presses her mouth to his, lips moving in a loving kiss that hepromptly returns. It's only a moment, only a taste, before she's breaking it.Shifting, she leans forward more so her mouth rests next to his ear.

"...You need to wake up." It's a whisper, barelythere, but it does the trick. The salts and the sky, and the gorgeous sceneryfades into the darkness. Beth's smiling face is there but a lingering moment asshe pulls back to give him the saddest smile.