After the Fire: Part 1:
December 31, 2020 12:59 am
North East Of Sealevel, North Carolina
Bray and Hailey sat on the couch with the baby as Richie and Daniel hurried in from the kitchen. Richie carried four wine glasses while Daniel struggled frantically with the cork to a cheap bottle of champagne. "Thirteen...twelve...." Bray counted along with the crowd in Time Square.
Hailey waved to the two men, "Hurry, up. It's almost time."
"Ten... nine...." Bray continued as the glasses were passed out.
Hailey joined in, "Eight... seven...."
Richie stood beside Bray and began counting, "Six... five...."
"Four... three..." Daniel said preparing to pop the cork.
"Two... one...Happy New Year!" the four voices joined as one in the celebration. There was a loud pop as the champagne trailed down the side of the bottle and spilled over into the waiting glasses. Richie placed his hand behind Brays' head and kissed her. Not just a tame, social kiss but one that shone with the passion they'd held deep inside them for almost thirty-five years. Bray was caught so off guard, that she blushed. The flash of a camera ended the kiss and captured forever that single moment.
"Got it!" Daniel proclaimed triumphantly, "I knew you two had it bad for each other. Now, there's a permanent record of it." Richie balled up a napkin and threw it at Daniel, who ducked, but not before it hit him in the head.
Hailey rolled her eyes, "OK, boys. It's time for a toast."
The four friends raised their glasses, "To the new year." Hailey began.
Richie was next, "To new beginnings."
"To friends." Bray continued.
Daniel ended it, "To the war...." Every face suddenly turned serious with the thought of it. Then he ended his sentence, "May it end soon." With the clink of the glasses, their smiles returned. Bray put a party hat on the little girls' head as Daniel set the cameras' timer and knelt next to his wife.
Hailey pointed to the camera, "Look, Lane. Look at the camera." The child smiled just as the flash went, off stopping time.
Six Months Later
A Small Cemetery In Eastern North Carolina
Haileys' words echoed through Brays' head as the two coffins were lowered into the ground. A tear rolled down her cheek showing the sorrow beneath her tough exterior. Bray closed her eyes against the flood welling up and turned to leave. Richie put his arm around her shoulders and walked her to the Jeep. She handed him the keys as she headed for the passenger door. He started the engine and pulled away from the curb.
Neither one said a word on the trip back. There was nothing really to say. There had been many deaths since the wars' beginning, and it wasn't easy to cope. Not even for Bray and Richie, who lived by the deaths of other Immortals. It never got easy, but Daniel and Hailey Adler were their friends. The young watchers had sheltered them in their home, shared their food and their family with two Immortals, who they knew only by reputation and observation. The war had brought Watchers and Immortals together creating a network of Safe Houses and Havens all over the world. But, Richie and Bray had just lost theirs.
Bray walked into the familiar home. The sound of laughter haunted her every step as she took in every site for the last time. The baby-sitter appeared at the end of the hall with Lane and Bray tried her best to smile away the tears that had settled in her lashes. "Are you ready to go, sweetheart?" she asked half expecting the baby to answer. She took the little girl in her arms and walked upstairs to get the carseat.
Richie paid the sitter and picked up the phone. He dialed the familiar number and waited.
"Hello?" Joes' voice was music to his ears.
"Joe! It's Richie. Where are you?" he asked.
"Richie, hey. I'm here in Paris with Cat, Mary and Methos. Look, I'm sorry about Daniel and Hailey. They were good people. If they hadn't been watching you two lovebirds, they never would have met."
"Thanks Joe. Anyway, how long are you guys staying in Paris?"
"For another couple of months. Why?"
"Bray and I are coming to visit. The house in Kellalie needs to be renovated, we could visit you guys until it's finished."
"Come on. Cat will be glad to see both of you and we've got some news."
"Great. We'll be there in a few days. Are you at the Barge?"
"Yes we are, we'll see you then."
"Bye." Richie said and waited for Joe to hang up. Then he turned and yelled upstairs, "Meggy, we're going to Paris to see the gang."
Bray put the baby in her carseat and answered him, "Be down in a sec." She picked up the diaper bag and walked downstairs. Richie took the bag and headed out the door. She took one last look at the house and turned to leave. A photo on the hall table caught her eye. It was the photo from New Year's Eve. She picked it up and ran her fingers over the glass.
"Let's go." Richie said entering the doorway.
Bray smiled and walked out of the house as Richie closed and locked the door for the last time.