Diamond in the Sky

Guardian Angel

Back in the hotel room, Silver wakes up in the middle of the night. He sits up weakly and holds his head, confused. The first thing he notices is snow peacefully falling outside the window to his right. He hears the sound of a woman stretch sweetly in her partial sleep. Then he notices Rouge half awake, in a white bathrobe, reclined with her eyes closed, on the couch across from the bed. She sighs and lays her arm over her forehead. Everything about her sure is beautiful and incredibly familiar. He tries to get up but ouch, his whole body hurts like a mo-fo!

"How messed up am I right now?" he wonders.

He notices the bathroom to his left and drags himself inside. He turns on the light and is surprised to see, he doesn't look as screwed up as he feels. He takes advantage of the fancy toiletries and freshens up. Then he ponders in front of the mirror.

"What the heck happened?"

"You're awake," he hears Rouge lovingly say from the door way. With the light on, he can see how pretty she is up close. He guesses things can't be that bad with her around.

"Do I know you?" he asks.

"No Silver, but I know you," she tells him, with a twinkling smile.

Silver remembers...

...being a toddler, accidentally levitating himself out of his crib and falling out a window. Then being caught by Rouge.

...being a kid, miscalculating his psychokinesis and causing a metal crate to fly right towards him. Then Rouge grabbing him out of the way in the knick of time.

...being a teenager, fighting his first battle and getting cornered by a mech. Then Rouge yelling at him to "concentrate Silver, and yell, chaos control!"

...even a memory of being detoured in the rain and someone swooping down and handing him an umbrella.

"I remember you now. You're my guardian angel. Oh no, I did die, didn't I?"

"No no no, you're alive," she replies, "and I've definitely been guarding you all your life. I'm Rouge the Bat."

"What are we doing here, Rouge the Bat?"

She gently takes his arm.

"You, darling, are here to rest."

She carefully walks him back to the bed.

"You are my guardian angel, right? Cause I've said for years that there's this woman who comes and saves me when I'm in a jam. No one's ever believed me, but I know it was you!"

She assures him.

"I'm no angel. Silver, we both know that once you're determined to find answers, you won't let up 'til they're found. Let's wait 'til you've recovered before we go down that road. Okay, love?"

"Okay but shouldn't you be sleeping in the bed while I sleep on the couch? You don't even have a blanket."

Rouge insists.

"No sweetie pie, the bed is all yours. I'm more than comfortable on the couch. And this bathrobe is the bees knees. It even has wing holes. See?"

She twirls around and shows him her bat wings. He finds her so very lovely. Surely she must be an angel!

"Alright," he smiles, charmed, "but before I go back to bed, can you at least tell me where we are?"

"We're in another dimension, twenty years in the past."

"What in the world? How is that possible?"

She sits him on the bed and comfortingly rubs his shoulder.

"I'll explain in the morning, I promise, but please, if you sleep then I'll sleep and I know we're both tired." She helps him lie back down in the bed. "Here, baby boy, this pillow is soft. Close those perfect, golden eyes of yours and don't worry about a thing. Have sweet dreams and be well, okay?"

He complies and rests his head on the pillow. She strokes his face as if he is still a child. It's so soothing, he can already feel his eyelids becoming heavy. Now very close to one another, he's able to look into her pupils and see sparkling jewels. With the warmest smile on her doting face, she slowly bats her long, alluring lashes at him. Then she hums something bossa nova and pets his chest fluff, the way she once did when he was a baby, causing him to completely relax.

He feels like he's being powdered by the sandman and thinks...

"Wow, angels are so sweet! Man, it's like I'm a little kid again."

Blissfully, she hovers over him, floating in the air via her gently flapping wings. She begins to sprinkle his face with some very pleasant, sugary kisses. There is something protective about her and for once, he actually feels safe. So, after a few moments, he turns on his side and drifts off, faintly glowing, but out like a light. She lands softly on her knees beside the bed, holds him, and whispers in his ear...

"So many nights I've wanted to lull you to sleep. You may be all grown up, but mommy's still got the magic, sleeping pill of love... just for you. Goodnight."