A Second Chance (Part 3)
This one's a REALLY long entry. I wrote ALOT in one go.
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The sun was long gone, it had hidden itself among the hills long ago, and now the moon was hanging bright in the sky. It was a full moon, A most typical sign of magical mischief. It was quite a difference to be able to walk in the sunlight with Lucy... Her whole life he had watched her from the shadows, And she had become almost nocturnal just for him. He never really realized what she was giving up just to be with him. But he had grown over time, Living for so long gives you a chance to face up such things. He adjusted himself to the sun like a man would ingest poison in small doses over time to develop an immunity to it. And now for the first and most likely only time in his life, he could feel what it was like walking with her in the light. But it was night time now, His time. Even with his ability to walk in the sun, it dulled his senses. They were sharper at night, his sense of smell and eyesight, even his hearing was heightened at night. And as he sat on the corner of the bed in the bedroom, soft silk sheets upon the mattress, Dante wondered over the sights and sounds as Lucy prepared for bed. He swore that she was purposely sending those scents in his direction... That gorgeous smell of hers... even as she stood at her mirror, brushing her hair, her waved locks spilling over her bare shoulders... It was too much to resist.
Dante stood, and before he knew what he was doing he was behind her, with his arms around her. He kissed her neck, taking in the smell of her heavily conditioned hair.
Lucy laughed, a low teasing giggle. She spun around to face him, dropping her hairbrush to the floor. He kissed her, not giving her a moment to speak. He could feel that he had surprised her, but she didn't resist. She almost instantly melted in his arms, returning his kiss with as much passion as he gave. Her skin was just as soft as he remembered the last time he had touched her, all those years ago. She even had the same kiss. She threw her arms around his shoulders and clasped her hands behind his head, begging for a deeper kiss. Whatever voice of reason that was in his head before was gone now. There was nothing that could have ruined it. Nothing else mattered. Dante's hands were on her hips, feeling her skin under her shirt. She had goosebumps on her back, And he could tell that she was starting to get excited. Her heart was beating at a faster pace now. They both knew what would happen next. Neither one needed to say it.
Dante lifted the baby blue tank top she wore and pulled it over her head. She lifted her arms up to assist, and the shirt was quickly discarded, Thrown over his shoulder to land on the floor elsewhere. His breath almost caught in his throat, seeing her there, topless. Her perfect breasts where just as tender, just as beautiful as he remembered as well. Dante chuckled.
"A belly button ring..." He mumbled. 'That's new.' He thought with a smile.
Oh how long it had been, How long since he felt that way. As they made love that night, It seemed as if there was never any tragedy in their lives. There was nothing to worry about now. Nothing but the two of them. And as their bodies melted together like they had so many times so long ago, Dante Thought, If only he could stay like this forever. If only this Lucy really was his Lucy, and He was really her Dante. If only this would never end.
As he lay naked, Lucy asleep in his arms, he wondered if he should sleep that night. Of course he was tired, after such vigorous actions... But he was afraid that if he closed his eyes, Lucy would be gone when he opened them again.
It didn't take long though, for him to fall asleep.
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"DANTE!!!" She screamed.
"Dante!! The baby! I've put him in the training room!"
"Lucrezia, What happened?"
There was blood everywhere.
"They came for the baby..."
"Lucy, You're going to be okay! Corentin! Go get the kid! Leave her with me."
"But--"
"GO!"
The wailing of the child carried throughout the house.
"Lucy, Hold on!"
"Dante.."
"Lucy! Don't you dare!"
"I....Dante.. I.."
"I'll give it to you! Lucy, You can be like me! I won't let you die!"
"...."
"LUCY??"
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"LUCY??"
"I'm here, Dante."
"Oh, there you are. I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm okay, Dante. I'll be alright."
"I'm glad. It feels like you were gone forever."
"Does it?"
"Yes, but it's alright, Because you're back now. I can put my mind at ease."
"Dante... I Love you."
"I Love you too, Sweetheart. Will you stay with me tonight?"
"....You know I can't..."
"Why not?"
"...Because you and I both know, that this is just a dream..."
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Dante Awoke with a start. He was wrapped loosely in silk sheets, still naked.
Still Naked?
Dante reached an arm out beside him.
Nothing.
But there was warmth, as if something had been there moments ago.
"Lucy??" He called, feeling dread in his heart.
"Yes?" A head of brown hair poked into the doorway. Dante sighed.
"Come back to bed." He said, more of a plead than anything.
"Alright, I only went to the bathroom."
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He was still there. Lucy was still alive... Nothing had changed from last night.
"This is real, isn't it?" He asked, staring down at cold stone.
ALDERIC FOQUET
Friend and Loving Husband,
You will be with us always.
Dante knelt before the grave of his long-time friend, in this life and the last.
"I wish I could have some of that good 'ol annoying old man advice now." He laughed.
"It seems I was just a little bit too late in getting to this world, I missed you by a few months. Couldn't you have waited for me? Just a little while?"
But the only response Dante got was the wind rustling in the trees.
"Got you a present." He said, laying a bouquet of lilies at the base of the Grave stone.
"Lilies, Lillienne's favorite. I thought you'd like them since you gave them to her all the time." Dante sighed.
"What do I do?"
But again, the wind blew, a bird chirped in the distance and the sun shone bright. But no response.
"I know, I know. I'm on my own. No crappy old man advice from you." Dante leaned in close to the Grave marker.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Silence.
"Of course I can. you can't stop me. I just thought you should know...." He smiled.
"...Your son is a cat..."
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That night, There was no escape. He tried to avoid it. Offered to help with dinner, Offered to clean the house, Even to Groom the Brat. Er, the Cat.
And when those couldn't convince her, he even tried to distract her with... Other things they could do that would be So much more fun...
But she would have none of it.
"March!" She'd said.
"You have a deadline! And you promised." She'd kindly reminded him.
"Dammit."
So there he was, Sitting at 'Author Dante's' desk, staring at a book he did not write. Or at least, remember writing.
'Might as well give it a try' He heard Alderic say in his mind.
"You shut up, I didn't ask you" Dante grumbled. He flipped open the book, and started reading.
Dante had always read a lot. He always had his nose in a book, And though he didn't look the type, Books were a passion of his. SO needless to say it didn't take him long to read the book until it's most current chapter. And just as he had expected, it was indeed an exact, almost word-for-word account of his life with Lucrezia.
'You know the story" He said to himself.
"You know what happens next. You lived it. Just write it down."
Dante cracked his knuckles and stared at the laptop computer in front of him.
"Here goes nothing."
"Baby, this is amazing." Lucy said, glancing at him over the computer screen.
"The best chapter you've written so far. Now I can finally start on the illustration." Dante had looked at some of the other paintings and drawings Lucy had done for the book, and They were what was truly amazing. Lucrezia had always been talented, but she liked so sew more than she was able to draw back then. Her work was brilliant when she did it, but there really wasn't very much time to relax like that.
"Do you need me to explain anything to help you get an image?" He asked. Lucy shook her head.
"I already know exactly what I'll draw. It popped into my head as soon as I started reading. It's as if it were there the whole time."
Dante frowned.
"Maybe it was..."
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"Never mind." Dante said, waving his hand. Then he looked at her with a great smile.
"What?"
"......"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because.... Because no."
Dante displayed his big blue puppy-dog-eyes look.
"I said no..."
Dante whimpered pathetically. Lucy laughed and pushed him away.
"Damn you! You know I hate it when you do that!" She giggled.
"I know..." Dante said with a grin.
Then he took her hand and lead her to the bedroom.
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Each night Dante feared the dream would end, But each morning assured him that this was real.
He lived and he loved, and he felt the way he'd felt before, and he let this world sink in. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get too attached, but he was due to make a big mistake sometime anyway. He didn't mind so much if this was it. He helped his wife make dinner every night, and he wrote a new chapter once or twice a week. Even Corentin was warming up to him. He lived in the moment, and that was good enough for him. They went shopping, went on walks, and enjoyed life. He even met people who were apparently friends, neighbors, even family members.
He had been there for nearly a month already. Time flew fast, Much faster than it had when he was alone. Lillienne had sent a postcard from Ireland to tell them she was coming home to visit. In all honesty, he couldn't wait to see her again. Even in these happy days he couldn't erase the memory of Lucrezia's pain-stricken expression when her mother had died with her daughter in her arms.
Dante shook the memory from his mind.
They would see her soon.
And they did. Not even a week after they had received her postcard, she was at their door with her bags trailing behind her to the taxi.
"Be a dear..." she started.
"Of course." Dante smiled. He helped her with her luggage, and hugged her after Lucy had.
"My, you two look great, as always." She said, standing back to admire them.
"You look healthier then I've ever seen you." And he wasn't lying. She had always been sick, but even on a really good day, He had never Seen Lillienne look so... Happy.
"Thank you. You're so sweet." She said.
"Heaven knows Alderic would have loved to see you right now." She said. She didn't look upset when she mentioned him, like she used to. She was still smiling. It was certainly an amazing sight.
"Oh, I'm sure he can still see me. The fart wouldn't keep his eyes off me for a second. I'm a trouble maker, remember?" Lillienne laughed at this.
"I did miss you too an awful lot. It's so lonely there sometimes, felt like I was dead to the world"
Oh the irony.
Lillienne would stay with them for two weeks, and then it was off to New Orleans, Where she apparently had business. He couldn't quite put a finger on what she did exactly, but he did know that she made a lot of money doing it. It was certainly different having her there, and it gave Dante a chance to understand what Lucy had mentioned about her... not-so-subtle 'Hints.'
"So, Where are my grandchildren? I'm getting old, I need some grandchildren to spoil senseless." She had said one evening.
Lucy had avoided her when these conversations came up, and Dante was usually left to answer them with a swift
"You'll see them when we're ready."
That same evening, as Dante sat in the office, writing the latest chapter, He heard Lucy coming up the hall. Sure enough, there was a knock at the door and Lucy came in bearing a snack and a drink.
"Working hard in here?" She asked, eying the computer screen.
"Of course." He answered.
"Wanna see? I'm right at the steamy love scene..." He chuckled. Lucy smiled, but looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" Dante knew immediately that there was something on her mind.
'You don't belong here, Dante.'
"Sorry? Say that again?" Lucy looked nervous.
"I said that I need to ask you something." Dante's heart sank.. That had happened once before, on the first night he'd woken up here. Hearing a voice, No, Lucy's voice. But she hadn't actually said what he had heard.
"What's up?" He asked, imploring her to tell him what was on her mind. Lucy's face grew pale and her hands were shaking.
"Remember when you said you were sure that when we have a child it would be a boy?"
Dante stared at her in silence.
Lucy smiled at him weakly.
"Guess what?"
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"Ahhhh!!!!!!" Lillienne screamed, Jumping out of her seat.
"Truly? You're not just playing with my old heart?"
"Mom, you're not That old." Lucy sighed. But Lillienne puffed her lip out and waited for a response.
"Yes, It's really true. I'm pregnant!" She said, not too sure if it was really true herself.
Lillienne looked ecstatic.
"I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl?" Lucy put a hand on her mother's shoulder.
"He's a boy, Mom." She said, without hesitation. Lillienne looked confused.
"How do you know?" Lucy smiled.
"Dante says so."
Dante had only felt this specific feeling once in his life, And since then he'd long forgotten just how fantastic a feeling it was. Was this the chance with his son he'd been longing for?
Sleep wasn't going to come easily for him tonight, Dante knew. This was all too good to be true, and he had a feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong. Something had to, right? He was cursed. Good things weren't allowed to last in his life. He was doomed to be alone for hundreds of years, so this was breaking the rules, wasn't it?
"Why can't you just be happy?"
"I'm not allowed to be happy"
"Why not?"
"It's against the rules."
"Whose rules? Who put them there?"
"..."
"You did, Dante. There are no rules."
"But--"
She was right. The rule only existed because he put them there. He chose to always be alone, by not even trying to get involved with his ever-growing family. He had told himself all these years that he would only be happy with Lucy, And therefore shut himself off from the world when he couldn't have her. So why, now that he had her back, couldn't he believe that it would last?
"You think too much."
"I'm just cautious"
"You're just stubborn."
Dante laughed.
"Yes, I am."
"I've tried so hard to give you the happiness you so longed for."
"You've always made me happy"
"But you can't accept the happiness I've given you... You won't believe it's real"
"Is it real?"
"..."
"Is it?"
Dante opened his eyes. He rolled over, and felt Lucy in the bed beside him. She was sleeping.
Who had he been talking to?
Dante kissed his wife, then settled back down beside her.
"Is it real?" He asked himself.
"You know the answer to that, Boy." Alderic's voice would say.
"We just can't pull the wool over your eyes, can we?"
But Dante Didn't hear this, He was already asleep.
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The next morning, Dante was given a list of chores he had to do alone, as Lillienne had insisted that Lucy go to the doctor that very morning. She wanted a healthy grandchild, who could blame her? So off they went that chilly morning, and as the taxi pulled out of the driveway, Dante Blew a kiss to the open window where Lucy sat. Looking down at the list, Dante frowned. He had to buy Litter for that damn Cat. Great.
Dante did his shopping quickly, hopefully he would be home before Lucy was. He walked through the parking lot of the busy grocery store, juggling bags of groceries and a very heavy bag of cat litter. He thought about taking a taxi home, but the house was just around the corner. He wasn't carrying That much.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"I am"
"Do you like your new life?"
"More than anything."
"would you like to stay here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Open your eyes"
Dante opened his eyes, But all he could see was white.
"What's going on?"
"There's been an accident."
"What do you mean? Lucy? Is she alright?"
"Lucy is fine."
"Then.."
"You were in an accident."
"Oh. Well why didn't you say so? I'll be fine. I get hit by cars all the time."
"Dante..."
"No biggie! I'll be fine in a few minutes."
"Dante... How much blood have you had since you came here?"
"....."
"You've had none."
"So?"
"Dante, you've been so busy worrying about whether or not what was happening was real, you failed to notice that you had become mortal."
"I'm not..."
"Dante, wake up."
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Again Dante opened his eyes, but this time, he saw a ceiling. But it wasn't his ceiling.
"He's waking up!" Someone nearby whispered.
Dante felt pain all over his body.
"Dante, can you hear me?"
He tried to sit up, but he couldn't move. Just trying to move sent his mind reeling into a fit of pain.
'Right. Moving not smart.'
And at that, he was unconscious again.
"Do you see?"
"You suck."
"Is that any way to talk to your best friend?"
"It is when he sucks."
"Alright then. I won't help you."
"Fine by me. Like I said, I get hit by cars all the time. No biggie."
"Fine"
"Fine"
"..."
"....."
"........"
"Alright, this sucks. Help me out you old fool."
"I thought so."
"Shaddup."
---------------------------------
Dante wasn't about to die. He's lived for a few hundred years to long to let a car take him out. If he was going to die, it was bloody well going to be in some kind of amazing explosion. Or in some really hilarious yet unfortunate way. Death by car was just so.... Overdone.
"So I got hit by a car?" He asked.
"On your way home from the grocery store." The voice in his head responded.
"Alderic?"
"Yes?"
Dante took a sharp intake of breath.
"Do you know what's going on?" He asked, hoping at least He could shed some light on the situation.
"Yes, I do." His old friend replied.
"Will you tell me?" Dante looked around him as if looking for a body for the floating voice.
"No" The voice responded. Dante sighed.
"I figured as much." Dante cast his eyes downward, to discover he could now see his own body.
"Oh, man. That sucks." Blood flowed from a large wound in his stomach, seeping into his clothes, all over his hands.
"That was an awesome shirt."
"Dante, You need to wake up soon."
"Lucy bought me that shirt. It was an awesome shirt!"
"Dante"
"You ruined my shirt!"
"ME?"
"Yes. I'm blaming it on you." Dante snickered as he heard Alderic's voice grumble.
"Dante, this is serious."
"I know, That's why you're going to buy me a new one."
"Wha-??" Dante laughed whole-heartedly.
"Boy, do I ever miss you, old man."
"Why do you always call me old man? You're technically older than me."
"Cause I know it bothers you. Wasn't there something important you needed to say?"
Alderic's voice went silent for a moment. Dante knew that the time to joke around was over. It was back to business now. Honestly, how long can you joke like that with a hole in your chest?
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"Someone's holding my hand." He said suddenly. He heard Alderic take a breath.
"That would be Little Lucrezia." He explained.
"She got the call from the doctor's office." Alderic continued. Dante thought for a moment.
"So Am I gonna die or something?" He asked.
"No. You said yourself that a car can't take you down."
"Then why am I here?" Silence again. Alderic was hiding something from him. Of course he was, look at where he was now! But Dante wasn't dumb.
"Something's wrong with Lucy, Isn't there?" Dante felt like there was a hole in his chest. Oh wait, there was. That explains it.
"You have to figure it out on your own, Dante, I'm Only here as your guide... But I can say... This world is not all you think it is..." Alderic said Solemnly.
"Think.. what where you doing before you woke up here?" He asked. Dante thought on it.
"I... I don't remember." He said finally.
"It won't last much longer."
"What won't?"
"Lucy and I are Praying for you."
"Then this Lucy isn't her?" Alderic sighed.
"She is. The woman holding your hand is Lucy. Body, and Soul. But she's not the same Lucy as who died 200 years ago. You know that you can't bring back the dead. Think of her as... a Rebirth."
"Rebirth?" Dante echoed.
"Yes. One that won't last long. Because, in the end... it's not quite real."
"What 's that supposed to mean?" Dante asked. But there was no answer.
"DID YOU HIT ME WITH A CAR SO YOU COULD TALK TO ME???"
Still no answer.
"You still suck."
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Dante Awoke with the incredible pain he felt the first time he opened his eyes.
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The sun was long gone, it had hidden itself among the hills long ago, and now the moon was hanging bright in the sky. It was a full moon, A most typical sign of magical mischief. It was quite a difference to be able to walk in the sunlight with Lucy... Her whole life he had watched her from the shadows, And she had become almost nocturnal just for him. He never really realized what she was giving up just to be with him. But he had grown over time, Living for so long gives you a chance to face up such things. He adjusted himself to the sun like a man would ingest poison in small doses over time to develop an immunity to it. And now for the first and most likely only time in his life, he could feel what it was like walking with her in the light. But it was night time now, His time. Even with his ability to walk in the sun, it dulled his senses. They were sharper at night, his sense of smell and eyesight, even his hearing was heightened at night. And as he sat on the corner of the bed in the bedroom, soft silk sheets upon the mattress, Dante wondered over the sights and sounds as Lucy prepared for bed. He swore that she was purposely sending those scents in his direction... That gorgeous smell of hers... even as she stood at her mirror, brushing her hair, her waved locks spilling over her bare shoulders... It was too much to resist.
Dante stood, and before he knew what he was doing he was behind her, with his arms around her. He kissed her neck, taking in the smell of her heavily conditioned hair.
Lucy laughed, a low teasing giggle. She spun around to face him, dropping her hairbrush to the floor. He kissed her, not giving her a moment to speak. He could feel that he had surprised her, but she didn't resist. She almost instantly melted in his arms, returning his kiss with as much passion as he gave. Her skin was just as soft as he remembered the last time he had touched her, all those years ago. She even had the same kiss. She threw her arms around his shoulders and clasped her hands behind his head, begging for a deeper kiss. Whatever voice of reason that was in his head before was gone now. There was nothing that could have ruined it. Nothing else mattered. Dante's hands were on her hips, feeling her skin under her shirt. She had goosebumps on her back, And he could tell that she was starting to get excited. Her heart was beating at a faster pace now. They both knew what would happen next. Neither one needed to say it.
Dante lifted the baby blue tank top she wore and pulled it over her head. She lifted her arms up to assist, and the shirt was quickly discarded, Thrown over his shoulder to land on the floor elsewhere. His breath almost caught in his throat, seeing her there, topless. Her perfect breasts where just as tender, just as beautiful as he remembered as well. Dante chuckled.
"A belly button ring..." He mumbled. 'That's new.' He thought with a smile.
Oh how long it had been, How long since he felt that way. As they made love that night, It seemed as if there was never any tragedy in their lives. There was nothing to worry about now. Nothing but the two of them. And as their bodies melted together like they had so many times so long ago, Dante Thought, If only he could stay like this forever. If only this Lucy really was his Lucy, and He was really her Dante. If only this would never end.
As he lay naked, Lucy asleep in his arms, he wondered if he should sleep that night. Of course he was tired, after such vigorous actions... But he was afraid that if he closed his eyes, Lucy would be gone when he opened them again.
It didn't take long though, for him to fall asleep.
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"DANTE!!!" She screamed.
"Dante!! The baby! I've put him in the training room!"
"Lucrezia, What happened?"
There was blood everywhere.
"They came for the baby..."
"Lucy, You're going to be okay! Corentin! Go get the kid! Leave her with me."
"But--"
"GO!"
The wailing of the child carried throughout the house.
"Lucy, Hold on!"
"Dante.."
"Lucy! Don't you dare!"
"I....Dante.. I.."
"I'll give it to you! Lucy, You can be like me! I won't let you die!"
"...."
"LUCY??"
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"LUCY??"
"I'm here, Dante."
"Oh, there you are. I thought I'd lost you."
"I'm okay, Dante. I'll be alright."
"I'm glad. It feels like you were gone forever."
"Does it?"
"Yes, but it's alright, Because you're back now. I can put my mind at ease."
"Dante... I Love you."
"I Love you too, Sweetheart. Will you stay with me tonight?"
"....You know I can't..."
"Why not?"
"...Because you and I both know, that this is just a dream..."
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Dante Awoke with a start. He was wrapped loosely in silk sheets, still naked.
Still Naked?
Dante reached an arm out beside him.
Nothing.
But there was warmth, as if something had been there moments ago.
"Lucy??" He called, feeling dread in his heart.
"Yes?" A head of brown hair poked into the doorway. Dante sighed.
"Come back to bed." He said, more of a plead than anything.
"Alright, I only went to the bathroom."
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He was still there. Lucy was still alive... Nothing had changed from last night.
"This is real, isn't it?" He asked, staring down at cold stone.
ALDERIC FOQUET
Friend and Loving Husband,
You will be with us always.
Dante knelt before the grave of his long-time friend, in this life and the last.
"I wish I could have some of that good 'ol annoying old man advice now." He laughed.
"It seems I was just a little bit too late in getting to this world, I missed you by a few months. Couldn't you have waited for me? Just a little while?"
But the only response Dante got was the wind rustling in the trees.
"Got you a present." He said, laying a bouquet of lilies at the base of the Grave stone.
"Lilies, Lillienne's favorite. I thought you'd like them since you gave them to her all the time." Dante sighed.
"What do I do?"
But again, the wind blew, a bird chirped in the distance and the sun shone bright. But no response.
"I know, I know. I'm on my own. No crappy old man advice from you." Dante leaned in close to the Grave marker.
"Can I tell you a secret?"
Silence.
"Of course I can. you can't stop me. I just thought you should know...." He smiled.
"...Your son is a cat..."
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That night, There was no escape. He tried to avoid it. Offered to help with dinner, Offered to clean the house, Even to Groom the Brat. Er, the Cat.
And when those couldn't convince her, he even tried to distract her with... Other things they could do that would be So much more fun...
But she would have none of it.
"March!" She'd said.
"You have a deadline! And you promised." She'd kindly reminded him.
"Dammit."
So there he was, Sitting at 'Author Dante's' desk, staring at a book he did not write. Or at least, remember writing.
'Might as well give it a try' He heard Alderic say in his mind.
"You shut up, I didn't ask you" Dante grumbled. He flipped open the book, and started reading.
Dante had always read a lot. He always had his nose in a book, And though he didn't look the type, Books were a passion of his. SO needless to say it didn't take him long to read the book until it's most current chapter. And just as he had expected, it was indeed an exact, almost word-for-word account of his life with Lucrezia.
'You know the story" He said to himself.
"You know what happens next. You lived it. Just write it down."
Dante cracked his knuckles and stared at the laptop computer in front of him.
"Here goes nothing."
"Baby, this is amazing." Lucy said, glancing at him over the computer screen.
"The best chapter you've written so far. Now I can finally start on the illustration." Dante had looked at some of the other paintings and drawings Lucy had done for the book, and They were what was truly amazing. Lucrezia had always been talented, but she liked so sew more than she was able to draw back then. Her work was brilliant when she did it, but there really wasn't very much time to relax like that.
"Do you need me to explain anything to help you get an image?" He asked. Lucy shook her head.
"I already know exactly what I'll draw. It popped into my head as soon as I started reading. It's as if it were there the whole time."
Dante frowned.
"Maybe it was..."
Lucy raised an eyebrow.
"Never mind." Dante said, waving his hand. Then he looked at her with a great smile.
"What?"
"......"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because.... Because no."
Dante displayed his big blue puppy-dog-eyes look.
"I said no..."
Dante whimpered pathetically. Lucy laughed and pushed him away.
"Damn you! You know I hate it when you do that!" She giggled.
"I know..." Dante said with a grin.
Then he took her hand and lead her to the bedroom.
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Each night Dante feared the dream would end, But each morning assured him that this was real.
He lived and he loved, and he felt the way he'd felt before, and he let this world sink in. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to get too attached, but he was due to make a big mistake sometime anyway. He didn't mind so much if this was it. He helped his wife make dinner every night, and he wrote a new chapter once or twice a week. Even Corentin was warming up to him. He lived in the moment, and that was good enough for him. They went shopping, went on walks, and enjoyed life. He even met people who were apparently friends, neighbors, even family members.
He had been there for nearly a month already. Time flew fast, Much faster than it had when he was alone. Lillienne had sent a postcard from Ireland to tell them she was coming home to visit. In all honesty, he couldn't wait to see her again. Even in these happy days he couldn't erase the memory of Lucrezia's pain-stricken expression when her mother had died with her daughter in her arms.
Dante shook the memory from his mind.
They would see her soon.
And they did. Not even a week after they had received her postcard, she was at their door with her bags trailing behind her to the taxi.
"Be a dear..." she started.
"Of course." Dante smiled. He helped her with her luggage, and hugged her after Lucy had.
"My, you two look great, as always." She said, standing back to admire them.
"You look healthier then I've ever seen you." And he wasn't lying. She had always been sick, but even on a really good day, He had never Seen Lillienne look so... Happy.
"Thank you. You're so sweet." She said.
"Heaven knows Alderic would have loved to see you right now." She said. She didn't look upset when she mentioned him, like she used to. She was still smiling. It was certainly an amazing sight.
"Oh, I'm sure he can still see me. The fart wouldn't keep his eyes off me for a second. I'm a trouble maker, remember?" Lillienne laughed at this.
"I did miss you too an awful lot. It's so lonely there sometimes, felt like I was dead to the world"
Oh the irony.
Lillienne would stay with them for two weeks, and then it was off to New Orleans, Where she apparently had business. He couldn't quite put a finger on what she did exactly, but he did know that she made a lot of money doing it. It was certainly different having her there, and it gave Dante a chance to understand what Lucy had mentioned about her... not-so-subtle 'Hints.'
"So, Where are my grandchildren? I'm getting old, I need some grandchildren to spoil senseless." She had said one evening.
Lucy had avoided her when these conversations came up, and Dante was usually left to answer them with a swift
"You'll see them when we're ready."
That same evening, as Dante sat in the office, writing the latest chapter, He heard Lucy coming up the hall. Sure enough, there was a knock at the door and Lucy came in bearing a snack and a drink.
"Working hard in here?" She asked, eying the computer screen.
"Of course." He answered.
"Wanna see? I'm right at the steamy love scene..." He chuckled. Lucy smiled, but looked troubled.
"What's wrong?" Dante knew immediately that there was something on her mind.
'You don't belong here, Dante.'
"Sorry? Say that again?" Lucy looked nervous.
"I said that I need to ask you something." Dante's heart sank.. That had happened once before, on the first night he'd woken up here. Hearing a voice, No, Lucy's voice. But she hadn't actually said what he had heard.
"What's up?" He asked, imploring her to tell him what was on her mind. Lucy's face grew pale and her hands were shaking.
"Remember when you said you were sure that when we have a child it would be a boy?"
Dante stared at her in silence.
Lucy smiled at him weakly.
"Guess what?"
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"Ahhhh!!!!!!" Lillienne screamed, Jumping out of her seat.
"Truly? You're not just playing with my old heart?"
"Mom, you're not That old." Lucy sighed. But Lillienne puffed her lip out and waited for a response.
"Yes, It's really true. I'm pregnant!" She said, not too sure if it was really true herself.
Lillienne looked ecstatic.
"I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl?" Lucy put a hand on her mother's shoulder.
"He's a boy, Mom." She said, without hesitation. Lillienne looked confused.
"How do you know?" Lucy smiled.
"Dante says so."
Dante had only felt this specific feeling once in his life, And since then he'd long forgotten just how fantastic a feeling it was. Was this the chance with his son he'd been longing for?
Sleep wasn't going to come easily for him tonight, Dante knew. This was all too good to be true, and he had a feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong. Something had to, right? He was cursed. Good things weren't allowed to last in his life. He was doomed to be alone for hundreds of years, so this was breaking the rules, wasn't it?
"Why can't you just be happy?"
"I'm not allowed to be happy"
"Why not?"
"It's against the rules."
"Whose rules? Who put them there?"
"..."
"You did, Dante. There are no rules."
"But--"
She was right. The rule only existed because he put them there. He chose to always be alone, by not even trying to get involved with his ever-growing family. He had told himself all these years that he would only be happy with Lucy, And therefore shut himself off from the world when he couldn't have her. So why, now that he had her back, couldn't he believe that it would last?
"You think too much."
"I'm just cautious"
"You're just stubborn."
Dante laughed.
"Yes, I am."
"I've tried so hard to give you the happiness you so longed for."
"You've always made me happy"
"But you can't accept the happiness I've given you... You won't believe it's real"
"Is it real?"
"..."
"Is it?"
Dante opened his eyes. He rolled over, and felt Lucy in the bed beside him. She was sleeping.
Who had he been talking to?
Dante kissed his wife, then settled back down beside her.
"Is it real?" He asked himself.
"You know the answer to that, Boy." Alderic's voice would say.
"We just can't pull the wool over your eyes, can we?"
But Dante Didn't hear this, He was already asleep.
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The next morning, Dante was given a list of chores he had to do alone, as Lillienne had insisted that Lucy go to the doctor that very morning. She wanted a healthy grandchild, who could blame her? So off they went that chilly morning, and as the taxi pulled out of the driveway, Dante Blew a kiss to the open window where Lucy sat. Looking down at the list, Dante frowned. He had to buy Litter for that damn Cat. Great.
Dante did his shopping quickly, hopefully he would be home before Lucy was. He walked through the parking lot of the busy grocery store, juggling bags of groceries and a very heavy bag of cat litter. He thought about taking a taxi home, but the house was just around the corner. He wasn't carrying That much.
"Are you enjoying yourself?"
"I am"
"Do you like your new life?"
"More than anything."
"would you like to stay here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Open your eyes"
Dante opened his eyes, But all he could see was white.
"What's going on?"
"There's been an accident."
"What do you mean? Lucy? Is she alright?"
"Lucy is fine."
"Then.."
"You were in an accident."
"Oh. Well why didn't you say so? I'll be fine. I get hit by cars all the time."
"Dante..."
"No biggie! I'll be fine in a few minutes."
"Dante... How much blood have you had since you came here?"
"....."
"You've had none."
"So?"
"Dante, you've been so busy worrying about whether or not what was happening was real, you failed to notice that you had become mortal."
"I'm not..."
"Dante, wake up."
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Again Dante opened his eyes, but this time, he saw a ceiling. But it wasn't his ceiling.
"He's waking up!" Someone nearby whispered.
Dante felt pain all over his body.
"Dante, can you hear me?"
He tried to sit up, but he couldn't move. Just trying to move sent his mind reeling into a fit of pain.
'Right. Moving not smart.'
And at that, he was unconscious again.
"Do you see?"
"You suck."
"Is that any way to talk to your best friend?"
"It is when he sucks."
"Alright then. I won't help you."
"Fine by me. Like I said, I get hit by cars all the time. No biggie."
"Fine"
"Fine"
"..."
"....."
"........"
"Alright, this sucks. Help me out you old fool."
"I thought so."
"Shaddup."
---------------------------------
Dante wasn't about to die. He's lived for a few hundred years to long to let a car take him out. If he was going to die, it was bloody well going to be in some kind of amazing explosion. Or in some really hilarious yet unfortunate way. Death by car was just so.... Overdone.
"So I got hit by a car?" He asked.
"On your way home from the grocery store." The voice in his head responded.
"Alderic?"
"Yes?"
Dante took a sharp intake of breath.
"Do you know what's going on?" He asked, hoping at least He could shed some light on the situation.
"Yes, I do." His old friend replied.
"Will you tell me?" Dante looked around him as if looking for a body for the floating voice.
"No" The voice responded. Dante sighed.
"I figured as much." Dante cast his eyes downward, to discover he could now see his own body.
"Oh, man. That sucks." Blood flowed from a large wound in his stomach, seeping into his clothes, all over his hands.
"That was an awesome shirt."
"Dante, You need to wake up soon."
"Lucy bought me that shirt. It was an awesome shirt!"
"Dante"
"You ruined my shirt!"
"ME?"
"Yes. I'm blaming it on you." Dante snickered as he heard Alderic's voice grumble.
"Dante, this is serious."
"I know, That's why you're going to buy me a new one."
"Wha-??" Dante laughed whole-heartedly.
"Boy, do I ever miss you, old man."
"Why do you always call me old man? You're technically older than me."
"Cause I know it bothers you. Wasn't there something important you needed to say?"
Alderic's voice went silent for a moment. Dante knew that the time to joke around was over. It was back to business now. Honestly, how long can you joke like that with a hole in your chest?
------------------------------------------
"Someone's holding my hand." He said suddenly. He heard Alderic take a breath.
"That would be Little Lucrezia." He explained.
"She got the call from the doctor's office." Alderic continued. Dante thought for a moment.
"So Am I gonna die or something?" He asked.
"No. You said yourself that a car can't take you down."
"Then why am I here?" Silence again. Alderic was hiding something from him. Of course he was, look at where he was now! But Dante wasn't dumb.
"Something's wrong with Lucy, Isn't there?" Dante felt like there was a hole in his chest. Oh wait, there was. That explains it.
"You have to figure it out on your own, Dante, I'm Only here as your guide... But I can say... This world is not all you think it is..." Alderic said Solemnly.
"Think.. what where you doing before you woke up here?" He asked. Dante thought on it.
"I... I don't remember." He said finally.
"It won't last much longer."
"What won't?"
"Lucy and I are Praying for you."
"Then this Lucy isn't her?" Alderic sighed.
"She is. The woman holding your hand is Lucy. Body, and Soul. But she's not the same Lucy as who died 200 years ago. You know that you can't bring back the dead. Think of her as... a Rebirth."
"Rebirth?" Dante echoed.
"Yes. One that won't last long. Because, in the end... it's not quite real."
"What 's that supposed to mean?" Dante asked. But there was no answer.
"DID YOU HIT ME WITH A CAR SO YOU COULD TALK TO ME???"
Still no answer.
"You still suck."
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Dante Awoke with the incredible pain he felt the first time he opened his eyes.