How Soon Is Now

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Two: Explanations

The room around Nicola was dark and a light fog filled the room, there was nothing for as far as the eye could see; she didn’t have to guess to know that she was back in limbo after everything that had happened.

Nicola looked around wondering why she hadn’t passed right into the afterlife, she prayed that whatever was holding her to the living world wouldn’t last since she wanted to pass over and be with Fernando.

“Seriously, another freaking limbo?” Nicola hissed through gritted teeth, this wasn’t what she wanted, she wanted to die and be reunited with Fernando and she didn’t know what could be stopping her since she had been stabbed.

Nicola felt her throat constrict, she couldn’t believe this and she wanted to cry at the idea of being kept from Fernando again; she didn’t want to live anymore not without him.

“Is that any way to greet your mother?” said Alexandria approaching her daughter with a sad smile on her face, Nicola turned to face her wondering why Fernando wasn’t here to greet her to help her pass over into the afterlife.

Nicola feared that she might have upset him with her decision to end her life, she knew he wouldn’t be too upset though since he had done the same thing when they had died in their past lives.

“Mum?” Nicola asked quietly as Alexandria pulled her into a warm embrace in an attempt to comfort her in some way after everything that had happened.

Alexandria hated seeing her daughter suffer the way she had, she could understand why the blonde had decided to end it, the same reason that Alexandria had suffered when she lost Nicola’s father.

“I’m sorry sweetheart, I couldn’t tell you,” Alexandria whispered knowing that Nicola had seen him before she died even if she was convinced herself that he wasn’t real.

Nicola looked at her confused as Alexandria smiled at her daughter softly; she knew that she had to tell her before the blonde gave in and he couldn’t save her.

“It was always going to be Fernando’s destiny to die that day Nicola, no matter what you did he had to die saving you,” Alexandria murmured slowly starting to explain to Nicola why everything had to happen like that; just like she had been told by the Angel of Destiny and the Tribunal.

Nicola stared at her mother, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing but Alexandria shook her head and smiled at her; she wanted everything to be okay again after what had happened.

“They meant what they said Nicola, this is a gift after all they put you both through, after all you have done for the greater good… this is your reward,” Alexandria explained but she knew that she wasn’t doing a good job, she knew that her daughter was hurting and she wished to take that away.

Nicola stared at her mother as tears filled her eyes, she didn’t want to hear this not when she was so close to seeing Fernando again; the last five weeks had been hard enough and she wanted to hold him again, not hear why he had to die.

“So this is what I get a broken heart and losing Fernando,” Nicola whispered her voice breaking as she spoke, she closed her eyes unwilling to cry over this again; she would be with him soon and nothing would stop her.

Alexandria shook her head, she knew that the Tribunal had gone about this the wrong way but there wasn’t another option that could keep them together especially without Nicola dying.

“This was the only way… you were going to die and the only way for them to save you was for Fernando to willingly take your place,” Alexandria whispered back making Nicola blink back tears, she didn’t see how this had helped they had still been separated.

Alexandria smiled at her softly and brushed Nicola’s hair from her face as she tried to comfort her daughter in such a small way knowing it would be okay.

“When Fernando willingly sacrificed himself for you… he earned his wings,” Alexandria explained gently making Nicola stare at her, she didn’t want to believe what her mother was saying; it was forbidden for white-lighters and witches to have a relationship.

“You have both sacrificed so much for the Greater Good… this will never be, not now or ever, a forbidden love,” Alexandria reassured having checked herself, her daughter deserved to be happy and she wasn’t going to watch Nicola fall apart again.

Nicola looked at her hands before staring back at her mother, she didn’t know what to believe right now but it scared her that she was being lied to just so they could send her back to the world of the living.

“I love him… I love Fernando so much,” Nicola whimpered frightened that this was all some cruel joke; she swallowed closing her blue eyes for a moment while Alexandria smiled at her reassuringly.

Nicola jumped as a golden glow covered her stomach and started to spread, she stared confused feeling oddly warm wondering what was going on.

“What?” Nicola asked frightened while she continued to glow, she had no idea what was causing it only that she had never see anything like it before; she looked at her mother wondering what was going on.

Alexandria smiled at her daughter as she started to glow, it was all too clear what had happened and she was pleased that someone had discovered their healing powers just in time.

“It looks like Fernando has had that realisation as well,” Alexandria mused smiling, she was so happy that things were working out and her daughter slowly started to fade away returning to the world of the living where she belonged.

***

Fernando noticed Nicola’s breathing against his lips, the first gasp all life threatening healed victims gasp before he felt her lips move against his; he closed his eyes relieved that it had worked.

Nicola’s arm snaked up to the back of his neck, toying with the small hairs that lay there, the other gripped his arm that was holding her waist; she didn’t want to open her blue eyes just yet.

Fernando’s other hand cupped her face gently, like a snowdrop, almost like she wasn't there at all; he didn’t want to hurt her after what had just happened.

Fernando pulled back for much needed air, he was barely a fingers width from Nicola’s lips, when he heard the words uttered that he had been waiting to say to her for months without having the chance.

“I love you too,” Nicola murmured back to Fernando, she opened her eyes a little surprised to find his once dyed hair gone replaced with his natural colour which she doubted would last.

Fernando stared at her, taking in it all, the honesty ringing through her, the love pouring from her fingertips to his soul, the completion of his heart after being apart for so long.

The couple stared at each other for a moment before Nicola pulled Fernando back into a kiss, she didn’t know if she was dreaming or not but she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Fernando pulled back and rested his head against hers, this was all that mattered that he had been able to save her, that she was here now with him and that they were both alive.

“I love you so much,” Fernando whispered before he kissed her again as if she would disappear, he couldn’t believe that he was finally able to hold her after weeks apart.