Sunset's Melody (Drake)

[Drake Sevnik]

She was so silent. In a way it worried him. Was she really a mute? Was that why she made no noise when crying so hard? Or was she just one who couldn't speak words. The glint of glass and metal caught Drake's eye and he turned his attention but, swallowed hard when he saw her holding THAT frame. That picture frame of him and Celeste togeather. It was their first date and they had built the snow-castle togeather after the movie. Laughing Drake had gotten somehow to take the picture for them. It was a good time Drake remembered falling to sleep nestled into Celeste's soft and peaceful presence. He chewed his lower lip for a moment as he saw her lay a picture of her with someone else. He didn't miss the happiness and smile. Was this the man that he lost? This saintly looking guy? Drake didn't measure up to a guy like this.

Still Madelyn wasn't explaining her tale she was asking for his own and who the girl was in the photo. Had he lost her? Yes it was a total lost Drake giving up Celeste to Hadrian since he had lost his chance with her. That was the cost of dying. The cost of coming back had been pure hell. Giving her up had been the hardest choice in his life. It had taken Dark to pull them out of their. Not himself. DARK. He chewed his lower lip but, he saw that determined look from Madelyn and sighed softly. He set his mug down and he lightly ran his fingers over the picture tears filling his eyes but, he wiped them away for a moment. She wanted to know? Fair enough but, he was going to give a catch to it. He was going to expect her to tell him things and he finally settled down a bit as he closed his eyes. Fine fine he'd tell her it was only fair.

"Her name is Celeste," Drake said softly as he opened his eyes.

"When I first came here I didn't have wings. Dark did but, I didn't so it was wierd. Celeste was an innocent young girl who had escaped from a horrible life of being a lab experiment. Yet, she was so innocent and happy. I guess half of the specialness to the relationship was that I got to watch her learn things as she became accustomed to the world. Watching her eyes light up over her first burger and fries," Drake said in that soft tone as he ran his fingers over the frame and gently set it on the shelf. He held the picture of Madelyn and Johnathon in his hands and continued.

"During the event which you and Johnathon were a part of I was one of the scouts that died. Yes I was the one that died on the airship while figuring out the trouble..." Drake said quietly as he carefully opened his shirt showing her the scar that covered his chest area over his heart before fixing his shirt.

"But...I had asked Celeste to live life to the fullest and not let my death hold her back if I did die. And I did...that mad man Donar killed me in a cruel way...and forced her to watch. True to her promise she moved on a bit after I died. Still Angra was an abusive and manipulative bastard..." he shook his head softly.

"Someone ressurcted me...or something...the first thing I heard was her calling my name in tears...but...she had indeed changed in the month or so I had been dead. It was hard seeing her...seeing her change like that...to see how much I had missed...I was proud yet sad...yet somehow I knew I wasn't meant for her. Seeing the way Hadrian took care of her I..." he looked away.

"Seeing their happiness I purposely let go. I stepped away for her as much as my heart screamed against it. My first promise to her was that I'd always take care of her...that was the hardest thing I ever had to do..." he closed his eyes.

"Am I happy? No probably not but, I think I did the right thing...and so I have been drifting on and off for the past week or so and your music called. It just compelled to me to at least let my pain loose in some expression..." he said softly for a moment and he opened his eyes to look at her.

"What of your tale? What causes you to play a song that can tear at my very soul?"

[madelyn]

Madelyn settled in to hear his story. Sipping her hot chocolate and trying to keep her eyes away from the picture of her and Jonathan together she listened. The tears in his eyes called to her soul like a wind in the winter. Bringing fresh snow to cover the old so that the world cannot see the scars that that had once been on the surface of the snow but instead were wiped clean.. to start again.. a smoothe surface pure and ready for new experiences and new life. A life where maybe there is not so much pain.

Once long ago.. at least several months ago Madelyn's heart had been shrouded in ice of its' own. A hard shell to protect her and her heart from the pains of life. Kevlar for the soul some might call it but it was what kept her alive through all the pain she was feeling and had felt in her life. For her story was a long and truly heart breaking one but she didn't dote on it. Slowly she was learning to trust men though like in the snow below earlier with Drake her past haunted her and since Jonathan's death her nightmares had resumed but two fold. She knew that her uncle was dead, she and Jonathan had been forced to kill him in that class they had been in together but that didn't mean that her dreams couldn't wreak havoc on her mind.

But as she listened to Drake's story her own tears fell. They really did know and understand each other's pain. Perhaps that is why thier song, Sunset's Melody, had truly made everything fit. It had harmonized together in a way that nothing had before and she was now only beginning to understand. It was that they had lost the loves of their lives and with devestated hearts had met each other. He of course the talkative one out of the pair of them. His love was still alive and she knew that having to give her up to another because it was better for her would have been hard. While Jonathan had died, Drake was reminded daily that he couldn't have the one he wanted so badly. She looked up at him letting her tears run down her face not even bothering to wipe them away at all. She didn't care if he saw them that wasn't something she tried to hide any longer.

She now remembered him from the event. After he said he was the one that had died she had gasped. Opening his shirt she leaned forward and ran her hand down his scar gently for a moment before blushing and pulling back. Thing with Madelyn was she was a very touch oriented girl. Without her words and her voice she tended to communicate with her eyes and by touch more than anything. She could speak volumes with those alone if you knew how to listen properly and that was all that mattered. She had adapted to her silence. Before Jonathan she hadn't spoken in eleven years and even then she still rarely spoke and many times her sentences would be broken. But then she was broken always had been. She was an impure girl. Scars over her body from her past that no one could see because her uncle had at least been that smart. He had always beaten and whipped her where no one would see unless she took off her shirt.

When his story was done he asked her, her own and she snorted softly. Her story was much longer than his own and probably equally if not more heartbreaking. She looked out the window as she thought about where to start. She didn't think the beginning of her life was fitting that was too long and too much information. So she would just tell him about Jonathan because that was what he was really asking. He was asking why she played such a song that could call to the heart. That could make even the strong hearted cry and weep for someone that was lost. Even if they didn't have anyone the thought of losing someone eventually would be just the same. And so she opened her notebook and began to write in beautiful script.

-My life, was never pleasant, I will not lie for the sake of a happy smile on someone's face. it was filled with much pain and fear. But when I came to the academy on my very first day everything seemed to change for me. I no longer seemed to need the shell around my heart protecting me from others. Because someone I met on that first day had come to me and we fell in love.

That first day it was we fell in love. We never parted for long and were only truly happy in the others presence. Love that was strong and we didn't need words to express it. Silent like I was he and I found a bond and a way to communicate that was better than any words. What we felt for each other was beyond what words could describe. And so we were engaged and married shortly after we met and concieved our twins. Though on the day we were engaged he gave me the worst news of my life. He was to die, in three months time.

I .. I was devestated but knew that I still loved him and if three months was all God would give me then I would take it. Because I loved him and he loved me. He always told me I was his wings, and well he .. he was my angel. He said he was only an angel because I was his wings and together we flew. Well it has been several weeks now.. and three months past. He has died now going to heaven without me. Leaving me here with our children to raise and a broken heart. Because he was the first I opened to and now.. no one will want me again. for though you may not see, I am broken, impure, and defective. I am not a girl so easily loved and I am not a girl that has what love wants. The love of my life is dead and now.. as young as I am, I am destined to be alone. Yes, I will have my son and daughter with me forever and love them, as I already do but I fear I will never again feel the love of another.

But I will move forward because I have to be strong. Strong for him. The man that warmed my heart and helped me find myself. The man that made me happy and the man that showed me what I had.. and gave me something to live for even after his death. But I miss him daily and it's hard to live a life without him beside me now. HIs silent presence will never again be felt and I cannot know if I will live up to his expectations in the end.-

She tore off all the papers that it took to write all that to him and handed it over. She picked up her cup again and finished it before taking both thier cups back to the kitchen and set them in the sink and washed them while he read her story. She sighed softly as she came back and sat down once more taking her picture from him and putting it back in her notebook to keep it safe.

[Drake Sevnik]

Her tears were little gems that could only show the sadness that she felt and that tore at the both of them. They understood each other's pain all too well to the point that it was nearly frightening as he watched her. When she gasped and touched the scar he gave a sligh shiver for a moment. He still repaired that deadly blow and the insurmountable pain that tore through him. Yes he would be forever more tolerant to pain then anyone else for he understood the ultimate pain both physical and emotional yet the cost? The cost was more then he could bare sometimes. Only Dark's constant vigil had kept him from doing something stupid. Still he could not believe that he found another like him that had experianced so much pain. Someone who understood him and didn't share his mind and body like a timeshare. Someone else.

Still again she came at him with nothing more then silence and it left him curious as she wrote. He watched her though as she wrote in the beautiful script not leaning over her shoulder to read as she wrote for that would be rude. There was something about her that seemed enduring as if a part of her had went through so much more then she let on. It was true that he didn't know this girl's story or for that matter what she had been through. The only thing they knew about each other was they both had a deep pain and shattered hearts. Shattered hearts that would not be would love would strike so easily with a cupid's arrow. He shifted a bit more as he watched her not sure what to do expect to wait. Soon the tearing sound came as she tore out the pages she had just written in.

She handed them to him and his eyes went to read over what she had written starting with the first page as he felt her move away. He read and his own tears reformed as he read it. Her first day as well? It would hurt oh it would hurt but, to know that your lover was going to die in a few months time? That was just as painful as losing them by dying. With slightly trembling fingers he read her sad tale as he heard the sound of running water and clinking dishes. He finished reading by the time she came back and folded the papers gently setting them on the night-table as she took her picture back. Lightly he slipped an arm around her and shook his head gently. His touch light and caring as he tried to show her in another way that he wasn't going to see her left lonely and without companionship. He looked into her eyes and gave a small smile but, it left quickly as he bit his lip.

"Madelyn...for your loss I'm terribly sorry to lose someone that you love...it's just not fair to people like you and me. Because we're the ones left with the pieces. But...with each piece something new I believe can be made...given time...and dedication. I'm not saying Johnathon will be replaced...he never will. Like my love for Celeste is a part of me that won't fade away so is your love for Johnathon. However, destiny in a world full of magic never stays in solid stone," Drake said softly as he reached up and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"I died and in nearly every single case a death is permenant but, my destiny was rewritten. I believe the same may happen to you as long as you have the hope inside you," he said lightly.

"And even then....you..." he paused.

"You have me as a friend right now."

[madelyn]

His arm came around her and she looked up into his eyes. He spoke with sincerity and she nodded softly in affirmation. She knew that slowly she would begin to move on she would begin to be herself and being to move on with her life. She had twins to raise and already had moved to a new dorm so they had a room to share after they were born. It was like an apartment room and she liked it but it was so large and empty without him there. Without him there to share the small and big memories. To know there would never be a daddy to see them walk or run to hear their first words or to see them begin to learn and grow. It would be mommy and daddy would only be a picture and some stories but she would do her best to pass on his legacy to their children. She wanted Jonathan to look down from heaven and be proud of her and what she had become not to mention how she had raised their children. Jonathan and Melody were their names picked out before Jonathan died so he could take them to his grave with him. To know in heaven their names to find them no matter where they were. It was important to her. The locke of hair was around her neck in a locket she had bought soon after he passed. It was so that she could touch it at any time and remember the man she had loved and subsequently lost.

Drake told her that he was going to be her friend and her lips twitched. That was as close as you would get to a smile out of the girl right now. Christmas was coming and she had already done an early Christmas with Jonathan so long ago, back in September so he could experience a Christmas with her trying to do her best to make everything happy. She wanted to do as much with him as shie could before he went. She looked at Drake and nodded but she was tired and she leaned against him in her weariness. She wanted, so badly to sleep and with someone she knew that would happen but she was worried about betraying the man that she loved. She pulled back gently and yawned her yawn barely making a sound no matter how big it was and she stretched slightly. She was still wet from the snow and she looked up at Drake and tugged on his shirt gently. She pointed to the wet clothing she wore with that questioning look in her eyes hoping that he would either let her go home to her empty dorm or perhaps let her borrow something until she fell asleep. But as often as she was yawning it wouldn't be long before she did fall asleep.

She pointed towards his closet and then back to her in one last attempt to get the message across. Her violet blue eyes implored him to let her stay. She wanted to sleep right here on the window seat he could keep the bed. She couldn't sleep in someone else's bed anyway it was too awkward for her. So she closed her eyes and closed her hands together palm flat tilting her head against them like she was sleeping. When she opened her eyes she pointed to the cushions they were sitting on and nodded firmly twice her pony tail shaking. Then she pointed to him and to the bed and nodded again. Her and to the bed and shook her head. Getting a firm point across that if he wanted her to spend the night she was sleeping on the cushions not the bed. That was his bed and she was not going to sleep in it. So now she waited for him to answer her question.

[Drake Sevnik]

Silence that endless silence was starting to worry him but, at the same time he didn't want to push things so she would think that he was rude or anything like that. He didn't want her to think that about him he wanted her to view him as a friend not as a pest to lose as soon as possible. Still just a part of him gnawed over that silence and he wanted to comment on it though he wasn't sure HOW to comment on that. Oh sure that would be a great way to talk to someone 'hey you're like all silent and stuff what's up with that' yeah real great topic. Oh sure that would bring in lots of brownie points if fucking up and sounded like an asshole counted for getting them. Yep he was screwed he wanted to say something yet he knew he shouldn't yet he wanted to and just....GAH!

Just leave it be for now Drake you can ask her later when things are smoother between you two. She's using alot of her will to trust us so openly.

Sure sure leave it to Mr. Psychic! ><

One would think that your sarcasm and bite would be drained in your current mood.

Dark commented acidicly and Drake only tch'ed mentally as the two went in that surly little mode. Hey just because you shared a body and soul with someone didn't mean you had to like them completely. Because there were times that Drake just wanted to drag Dark in the real world and shove his boot up that egoist's ass. Yeah that was a rather nice image to which Dark just kindly popped leaving Drake to fume.

He didn't miss the twitch though.

The little twitch of her lips that showed a faint hint of a smile. It wasn't a real smile not even a hint of it but, it was a REACTION! By God he was going to take that as a sign that he was starting to get through to her. That she was trusting him! He felt her lean against him and then he saw her face strech out in a yawn taht was rather cute for her and he hid a small smile as he looked down at her. She was still a tad damp from the snow but, it was much better then what she was like earlier and he was thankful for that. He felt her tug on him and then look up at him with eyes that almost begged him to let her stay. She didn't want to leave and he was able to pick up on that much as he saw she was tired. She wanted to stay here but, she also began making motions. Yeah yeah she needed something to sleep in. He saw her slowly communicating out that she wouldn't sleep in the bed that was where he was sleeping she wanted the window seat.

A frown crossed his lips at that as he folded his arms he was going to let her stay.

"Every inch of my fiber is disagreeing with having you sleep on the window seat when you should be comfortable, but, I have no problem with letting you stay over. You can do it anytime you want," Drake said lightly as he stood and walked to the dresser getting out a t-shirt and a pair of shorts that would no doubt be big on her thankful for drawstrings on the shorts so she could tighten them so they would fit her. When she was in the bathroom he spruced up the cushions and unrolled a sleeping bag on it to act as a matress for her. He added another cover and a couple more cushions and pillows to make it more comfy for her to rest on. Yeah that's the ticket! When she came out he took the wet clothes that she handed him and dissapeared into a small room putting them in the dryer and getting it going with a fabric softener. When she was laying down he covered her up and tucked her in looking at her with a light smile.

"Sleep well, I'm right here if you need me," Drake said lightly as he hesitated and then kissed her forehead figuring that was safe and headed to his own bed slipping under the cover and rolling on his side so he was facing her. He set his glasses on the bedside table and slowly began to fall asleep soon drifting peacefully.

[madelyn]

He seemed to understand her communication. It was needed when you didn't or couldn't speak. To find someone that could understand you though she was seriously making it as easy as possible on him without writing it all out. Only Lucian and Jonathan had ever been able to read her without needing the guestures that she was using with Drake. Jonathan had known immediatly and Lucian was getting better and better every day so that she was beginning to be able to communicate so many things to him that she hadn't been able to before. He learned to read her body language and learned to read her smiled but more importantly her eyes.

He rose and her violet blue eyes followed him. He told her she could stay over any time she wanted and she almost smiled. Inwardly she did but outwardly not one thing changed on her small face. It was nice that he offered that but she would be much much too afriad of being a burden she would assume just stay in her own apartments and wait out til dawn or when her body couldn't take it anymore and she just fell asleep. He came back with clothing and she nodded softly as she went into the bathroom her long pony tail swaying with her steps. In the bathroom she peeled off her wet clothing and slid on his. It smelled just like him. Everyone had a scent and his smell of snow for some reason. It as probably just that she was nuts but it was what his scent to her seemed to be.

Coming out he took her clothes from her and she opened her mouth to protest but he was off into another room. Her eyes shifted back to the window seat and she blinked. He had.. made her a soft bed there. She smiled but he didn't get to see it because he was in the other room. It dropped quickly when she heard the dryer door close and she headed to the bed. She climbed up in it and covered herself up lying on her stomach with one arm underneath her pillow and her eyes began to droop her pony tailed hair was all over the little bed behind her. Drake came over and tucked her in gently her mouth twitched softly again as she settled in for the night.

Then came the kiss. Her heart leapt. Her eyes shot open. And her face turned bright red. She giggled. Yes she giggled as she hid her face in the pillow and then closed her eyes again. NOISE had been heard from the silent little girl as she nuzzled back in her bed and clutched some of the blankets to her chest making a something to hold on to as she fell fast asleep in the bed under the moon in the warm room of her new friend. Her breathing was deep and fully relaxed the moonlight shown down on her beautiful face that was perfect. She slept peacefully... for now.

[Drake Sevnik]

Wait...

Noise...

GIGGLE?!

Drake blinked his eyes open for a moment as he looked at were Madelyn lay. HOLY HELL SHE GIGGLED?! She can make noises?! Then...then why was she silent? What the hell had happened? Come on now this wasn't exactly fair she suddenly made a noise and now he was going to up all night brooding over it. Not fair not fair not fair no sir that was not fair. Someone upstairs was playing the humor card again yes sir the big man up there had a sense of humor and Drake knew it! Damn it all there was just some things that you did not do and leave the poor young man's curiosity drives going was one of them. Especially when Drake was about to go to sleep! Jeez...there she was sleeping clutching the blankets so adorably....yeah...adorably...NO WAIT SHE WAS BEING UNFAIR! But...the face...the sweet adorable little smile that she had...

The way she slept so peacefully like nothing was wrong with the world. Like everything was just perfect and she was here to prove it. Drake found himself unable to speak as he chewed his lower lip for a moment and thought about it. Oh hell now he was thinking damn it all! He was watching Madelyn's adorable little smile as he lightly trailed his fingers along the top of his blanket. Drake stirred for a moment and with a small little white flame he sent it to an incense burner. The soothing scent of some dream stuff or whatever ensuring no bad dreams would come. Nightmare Bane this lavender-haired kid had called it. Nice kid but, damn was he a hyper kind of guy. Drake began to drift and then was in a heavy sleep as his arm rested out like something belonged there. Something did belong there but, she was gone. And Drake had to find someone else.

**

Morning came but, Drake was still asleep being one of the later sleepers and Dark had taken over. The neat thing about the transformation was that the clothes were fitted to Dark so they fit him perfectly where they were loose on Drake. Dark giving a yawn and a strech having a body that women would KILL for. There was no doubt about that as he padded out and saw the little songbird asleep. Ah a perfect comparison for Madelyn was indeed like a songbird. Treated wrongly and she would forever be silent. Treated just right however, and she would bring forth a song that would touch your very soul. Dark gave a small smirk at that as he sort of strutted and walked over to where Madelyn lay. He covered her up again with a smooth little touch that she would probably not even feel.

Another beautiful day. He shook out his long purple hair that was indeed quite a good length as he walked along the living room and put tea on to brew slowly starting the morning routine of fixing breakfast. Dark and Drake both were big fans of keeping in good shape and so Dark started cooking a fried rice dish throwing in thing sthat were breakfasty he working with a natural flare about the kitchen. Drake still asleep in his corner of the mind meaning so far the morning would belong to Dark. There were some similairities to Drake and Dark as he began to sing in a rich voice. His voice deeper then Drake's, Madelyn having heard his voice mentally but, he could sing. Oh God the man could sing as he slowly began to cook letting their friend sleep in as long as she liked.

[madelyn]

There are times when you dream and the dream is so real that you feel as though you are living it. As though the dream world were indeed tangible and you could in fact nearly live two lives. One in the surreal world of the dreams and one in the life that made little more sense to one's mind. It was in the dream world that Madelyn walked. Her small little shoes trampled on the snow. She had been walking for some time now her footprints being covered up by the snow fall. But she knew something rewarding was just ahead and she longed to know what it was. For she had walked all night, just to see this one thing, this one image, one gift, anything at all. In her vision she was not pregnate but the small thin girl she had always been. It was more as if she was walking through someone's memory, a winter memory.

Cresting a hill that was covered in the white snow there stood a small chuch in the valley. So close yet so far away as Madelyn trecked down the little hill and towards the white steps of the white building. Piano music played from within. It was so familiar yet she couldn't quite place her finger on it as she entered the warm church. Lit candles created a glow and only lit as she walked. And she stepped ever toward the piano music that echoed out in the room and she smiled softly. She reached the end there .. there he was. Long white hair, pale skin, blue grey eyes like the clouds before a storm. Madelyn sank to her knees weak from seeing Jonathan again and he ran to her stopping the music and caught her gently.

Seeing her two sapphire rings on her hand he smiled softly he was happy she had not forgotten. She shook her head no, she could never forget him. Thus began the silent conversation neither had ever had to speak to the other to know what was being said. He stroked her blonde hair like he always did his eyes so curiously watching her as she cried for him. A finger lay on her lips and his thumbs wiped away her tears as he kissed her gently wrapping her in warm white wings and whispering unstutteringly into her ear how much he loved her. Telling her to live her life, as young as she was, to live her life and they would reunite in heaven, and there they would be together again where no one could ever break them apart.

"Live, Madelyn. Live for me, for them, for you." he told her and kissed her again before everything went white and she woke up to singing.

Her violet blue eyes opened and her hands unclenched the blankets that she was holding to her chest. She yawned silently like a little cat almost as she stretched out. She sat up and immediatly she felt bad and sighed. It was normal. Getting up she headed to the bathroom glimpsing in the kitchen as she saw some other man in there.

"Ah!" she said startled so completely she made yet another noise and backed up into a corner trying to get away from him. This stranger was wearing Drake's clothes but it wasn't Drake. No one had natural purple hair and .. his eyes were even purple. She cringed as she was afraid. Very afraid. Coming here with one man and waking with other. No matter how bad she felt right now she had to get out but she couldn't she had to go past him to get to the door. She had a look of pure horror on her face as she just squished herself into the corner.