SIZZY (Save Me From The Darkness I Venture Within My Own Mind)

Drifting

It was a nice day in New York City. Eighty degrees and slightly windy. The tree branches in the park slightly drifting back and forth. He lay there. Relaxing in the sun. Simon.

Isabelle had never seen him so relaxed. Now there was no enemy, no war. Just her, and Simon. Slowly finding their way back to each other.

They lay across a blanket on the ground, picnic baskets laying to the side half eaten. Simon had gladly eaten most of the pizza.

Just at that moment, a grin grew upon Simon's face. Isabelle wondered if he could sense that she was watching him. Now that his curse has started to weaken, it was hard to tell what he could and couldn't do, and what he remembered, or didn't.

And as if on instinct, Isabelle leaned over, and connected her soft lips with his grin. It was not a kiss of loss, or intensity. But of pure happiness.

What had become minutes had started to feel like hours, but of course, almost nothing could interrupt them when they were together these days.

When Simon finally opened his eyes, he took Isabelle in. All of Isabelle. Her long, dark hair. Her gold tinted brown eyes. Simon lifted his hand to her cheek, and had slowly slid it up into her hair, where he removed a fallen flower from the tree they lay under.

Isabelle lay on top of Simon, and he realized. That throughout everything, that the odds could be in their favor. Isabelle was like a dandelion in the meadow. A beauty to look at, but not what you would expect. Simon will always love Clary as family, but there comes that time when you just know. When you just know that you're in love. This, was that time.

When they finally parted, they gazed into each other's eyes, and intertwined their hands.

"I love you." Isabelle said.

Tears welling up in her eyes. Simon gently lifted his free hand, and brushed the falling tear off her cheek.

"I love you too Isabelle." Simon said.

Isabelle looked a bit confused. They had finally said the words. Simon continued talking, after minutes of gazing, with Isabelle still laying on top of him.

"Will you marry me?" Simon asked.

He knew that there was no going back from this question, but Simon didn't care. He knew what he felt.

Isabelle looked shocked. Was this a bad idea? Am I moving way too fast? Simon thought.

"Are you sure? You would want to marry me?" Isabelle asked.

"I would rather live a thousand life times than not be with you. I want to be with you in every way possible."

Suddenly, Simon leaned forward, now sitting up, with Isabelle remaining on his lap, her legs straddling his hips, and kissed her. Full on the mouth.

It was one of those kisses that in most cases, probably would've progressed had they been in the institute, or at Simon's house. Not in the middle of the park.

"Simon. Do you remember the first time we met?". Isabelle said nervously.

Simon looked a bit puzzled.

Isabelle looked into his eyes, and knew what she saw. She would never truly have HER Simon back. Then she started to feel it.

Every time she felt as if he were gone, and unretrievable, something told her that he was still there. That the Simon she fell in love with, and loved herself for who she was, was still there. The one who would never leave her side. Who would rather die than be without her.

She started to get up, but Simon suddenly stopped her, and grabbed at her wrist.

"No. Don't go." Simon pleaded, then continued. "I can't do this on my own Iz. Please. Don't give up on me. I know what you see when you look at me. The ghost of someone you once knew. Don't do that. I'm not lying when I say I love you. I mean it, with all my heart. I remember a bit more everyday. Little bits and pieces, but I can't remember on my own. Every time I'm near you, I remember a bit more. Please, don't go. Please." Tears started to fall down Simon's cheeks. Isabelle seemed to gaze at him.

"Simon. Tell me how we first met. Tell me. Please Simon. I just need to hear YOU say it. I NEED you to remember." She struggled to say, in a whisper, as tear after tear ran down her cheeks.

Simon closed his eyes then. Partly because doing so helps him remember, but mostly, because he couldn't stand watching Isabelle cry, and knowing that he could do nothing about it.

Simon struggled to remember. I NEED to remember, he thought.

Suddenly, what seemed as a slide show of images crossed his mind.

A cave. Blood. A blazing fire. Kissing Isabelle. A red jewel, burning bright. Isabelle wearing it around her neck, then Simon himself wearing the jewel. Simon. A tiara of bone. A werewolf. Isabelle offering her blood. Their first night together. Isabelle yelling. A girl with dark, curly hair. The sound of Clary's voice. The mark of cane. Sebastian. Max Lightwood. Hodge. Jace saving him on Valentine's ship. Having his throat slit open. Being kidnapped. Becoming a vampire. Laying beside Clary. Telling Clary he'd loved her. Isabelle showing him around the institute. Staying with Isabelle while she cooked food so bad it could ruin your taste buds. Then it hit him. That was it. The first time they'd met!

Then, Isabelle's words seemed to have lulled him out of his endless sea of thoughts.

"You don't remember, do you?" Isabelle asked sadly. Tears still falling.

"That's just it. I DO remember." Isabelle braced herself for his next words.

Then Simon continued to speak.

"It was my first time at the institute. After Clary introduced me to Jace. We were following a cat? Anyway. We smelled the most god awful smell from the kitchen, but the cat seemed to like the fish smell. It was your cooking? And Jace and Clary left, and me and you got to know each other. Is that about right?" Simon asked curiously.

Isabelle only took a deep breath, and leaned in for another kiss. This time, just a quick brush of the lips.

"What was that for?" Simon asked.

"For remembering. I'll make you a promise Simon. I promise you, that no matter what, I won't let you go through this on your own. I'm yours. I won't leave you. I owe you my life, and soul, and I swear on the angel Raziel, that I will never let you go. I will help you remember. I swear on it."

This time, they kissed with passion, and didn't care where they were, or who was around. It was them, and that's all that matters.

Then she pulled away, and ducked her head until it laid on his shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. Her lips tickling his cheek as she spoke.

"Yes." They both looked up at each other, both shedding tears.

"Yes. Yes. Yes. A hundred times yes. I'll marry you."

Then, they continued kissing in their passionate embrace, until sunset.

To be continued...

Thanx 4 reading!