| Time and a Word By Aya story is printable |
| �Welcome home, Goliath.� Elisa knew the words she said didn�t matter. The stone skin had already crawled over his lavender body. She sighed outwardly, and kicked herself mentally. The best she had come up to say was �You know how I feel about you, right?�. Elisa lightly kicked the stone edges surrounding the tower. She looked up to Goliath�s face, amused at the surprised smile that had replaced his usual glower when he turned to stone. Why did this happen everytime? It was closer then before, sure, but not nearly as close as Elisa wanted it. Time after time a chance to explain their feelings arose, but Elisa always quashed it. Even after all that occurred. Even after the most recent time when Elisa almost lost Goliath. She turned her face away from the rising sun, using Goliath�s frozen stature as shade. Sadness crossed over her face. Painfully she remembered the experience at the dam. The loss of security still broke her to the core. Always Goliath had caught her. Always had he saved her. But not that time. She could only barely recall her thoughts as she fell over the edge. She didn�t think about her, what seemed like upcoming, death. Only that he missed his mark. He didn�t catch her. She had reached out with hope, remembering all the times he had caught her before. Her hand had escaped from the rushing cascades of the water, reaching out for her guardian. But there was nothing, only empty air. She knew without a doubt that he had tried to save her again, after the initial failure, even though she had already vanished into the depths of the waters. Elisa sat down on the hard ground next to Goliath�s stone feet. She rested her head against his leg. She was exhausted, even though she had spent many hours earlier unconscious and resting. So much had happened since then to give her more reasons to be exhausted. �Elisa, you�re alive!� Goliath�s words suddenly slammed into Elisa. She had barely had the time to even consider those words. He thought she was dead. He was sure she was dead. Elisa pulled her head away from him, looking up towards his stone face. A small pigeon had landed on his still statue. �Elisa, you�re alive!� She couldn�t remember hearing his tone of voice as happy as it was when those words were spoken. Elisa let a small smile slip across her lips. She rested her head back against Goliath�s leg. Sleep was starting to overcome her. But not before a decision was made. Yes, Elisa would no longer avoid their feelings. She would not wait until sunset when the dying rays of light gave her only seconds to tell him the words he wanted to hear. That tactic would not work anymore. She had to face her feelings. -~- Loud ripping sounds filled Elisa�s dream. She looked before her and saw Cagney shredding a blanket with her sharp claws. Elisa was about to scold Cagney when she heard her name being spoken from Cagney�s cat lips. Elisa shook her head and watched as the dream disappeared into nothing. Her eyes blinked several times before a purple shape began to take form. �Ooh�I must have dozed off.� Elisa rubbed her eyes slightly. Goliath held out his hand. �Did you stay here all day?� Elisa nodded as she took his hand gratefully. Goliath gently pulled her from the harsh ground. �Yes. I sat down and fell asleep, I guess.� Elisa absently rubbed her back with her free hand. The other still rested in Goliath�s much larger hand. �Boy, I won�t do that again. Not comfortable at all.� Elisa felt almost as tired as she had been when she fell asleep. �Perhaps we could go somewhere else for awhile? Maybe some fresh air would help.� Elisa smiled, remembering the decision she had reached before falling asleep. �Yes, please.� Goliath carefully swung her into his large arms. He jumped onto the edge of the tower and took off in one single fluid motion. The clan looked on as the two headed off into the clear night sky. -~- Minutes later, Goliath landed at a small park, just beside a pond. A calm breeze passed over the pond, creating tiny waves. His eyes carefully scanned the tree filled park, looking for any sign of trouble or people. Deciding they were alone, he let Elisa down, though she immediately missed the warmth she felt in his chest as he glided through the air. She walked a couple of steps on the soft ground, away from Goliath and wrapped her arms around herself. She breathed in the sweet smell of fresh flowers that poked out from beneath the ground under her feet. Goliath looked at the back of her head, opening his mouth to speak. �You kissed me.� The words were said carefully and evenly, but hopeful. Elisa turned to face his gentle eyes. �Yeah. Goliath, I don�t think I made myself clear on the tower yesterday. I have feelings for you, but I don�t think you understand exactly what they are.� Goliath stepped closer to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Their eyes connected into one stream of vision. Elisa took a deep breath, summoning the words that lay deep within the expanse of her heart. It was only a matter of forming the words within her mouth. She knew she could do it. �Goliath, I know it�s impossible. I know we don�t quite fit in each other�s worlds. But it doesn�t matter to me anymore. You are my world.� A pause. Goliath continued to gaze into Elisa�s deep eyes. �I can�t mince words anymore. I can�t try to ignore the feelings I have.� Another pause. Elisa took another deep breath. �Goliath�.I love you. Not just as a friend. I am in love with you. I don�t care what you are. I just want you. I want to be with you forever, no matter what fate I may be sentencing myself to. I love you.� The gaze still stood, unbroken. Instead of the calm look that had filled Goliath�s countenance a moment prior, one of pure joy and elation stood brightly in its place, beaming a reflection of Elisa�s feelings back to her. �Elisa, your feelings are as clear to me as your beautiful eyes. I too do not want to �mince words� as you say. I love you more then I thought it was possible to love anyone. My love for you transcends any emotion I�ve ever experienced before. You are what breaks me free out of my stone sleep every night, not the sun going down. You make me so happy.� Elisa smiled the largest smile she could muster. Never had it felt so good to air out her true feelings. The inspiration to once again kiss Goliath pushed Elisa to want to jump up and surrounded Goliath�s neck with her arms. He, however, beat her to it by grabbing her and holding her mere centimeters away from his face. They moved their heads only a bit, closing the space between them as their lips met. It was no chaste kiss like the one before. They both met with equal pressure and passion. The soft feel of Goliath�s lips delighted Elisa as she wrapped her arms around his neck with her fingers intertwining through his hair. Her legs came up around his waist, holding onto him tightly. As the kiss grew deeper and more sincere, both Elisa and Goliath felt like they would explode at any moment. Every nerve in every corner of their bodies roared itself to life. Memories of past kisses with other men were washed away into a black hole in Elisa�s mind, never to be remembered again. This kiss was nothing any of them could even begin to compare with. Their lips parted for a moment as their eyes met. Only one small moment passed by them as their lips came together again, this time in shorter, but constant kisses. Elisa reveled in the feeling of Goliath�s relaxed hands touching her back gently. Their lips parted again. �Goliath�.� Elisa�s hands roamed over Goliath�s neck. Each individual fingertip felt as if it were emitting its own small blast of fire. Elisa dropped her head to the space between his chin and his chest. Goliath moved a hand from her back and stroked her hair softly, still feeling the heat from her kisses on his lips. Elisa moved her head and looked up at him. She unlocked her legs from around him and slid to the ground. Their eyes held a tight glance and the smiles on their face filled their souls with complete hope for the future. Elisa grabbed Goliath�s hand and softly pulled him to a clearing of lush green grass. She motioned for him to sit, to which he obeyed. He sat himself down on the grass, up against a sturdy tree. His wings dropped down around his shoulders, the ends resting on the grass. Elisa dropped herself onto his lap, both laughing as she did. Goliath carefully wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to him. Convinced she was comfortable, he began to speak. �Elisa�.I cannot even begin to tell you how pained I was to lose you.� �You mean when I fell into the water?� Goliath glanced at the stars, choosing his words carefully. �Yes, and before that, when I saw you kiss him.� Elisa thought for a second, not entirely sure what he meant. �Jason?� �Yes. I saw it through your window.� Elisa sighed slightly, moving her hands up to grip Goliath�s arms which lay around her shoulders. �At the time, I thought I could repress what I felt for you. I thought that normalcy was what I needed. Oh Goliath, I�m sorry you saw that. I won�t say that kiss meant nothing, because it did mean something. But not the something one might expect. It meant that I was doing the wrong thing. It meant that I could never ever in a million years let go my feelings for you.� �I know Elisa. It hurt, but if this was the end result of it, then I am glad.� Goliath dropped a light kiss on her hair. Several moments passed by as the two sat in perfect harmony. Elisa moved her head a bit, looking up to Goliath�s face. Muted moonlight glowed appreciatively over his facial features. His eyes were fixed on some distant point, and his face was clouded with what looked like pain. �Goliath, what�s wrong?� �I�ve been thinking about events at the dam. I can�t ever forgive myself for my failure. I didn�t save you. I didn�t catch you. I promised you I would always catch you, but I didn�t that time. I thought I had lost you forever Elisa.� Elisa cupped Goliath�s chin with her hand, turning his head to look at her. �Goliath, look at me. I know you tried. I know you did. It wasn�t your fault. Don�t blame yourself. I�m here, aren�t I?� Goliath did not respond. He only stared into her eyes. �Goliath, I forgive you. Even Spider-man messes up sometimes.� "Er....Spider....man?" �Nevermind. The point is, we�re here together, enjoying this wonderful evening. We�re happy, that�s all that matters.� �You�re right, of course.� Goliath ran his talons through her hair. Elisa allowed the silence for a moment as she thought back to her musings earlier. The insecurity she had felt earlier was gone now. She could forgive him, no doubt about it. �Goliath. I trust you. I forgive you. I know you will always be there to catch me, regardless of whatever has happened in the past.� Elisa raised her head and kissed Goliath lightly. �Elisa, thank you. I swear, I will always protect you.� �Easy there, big guy. I can take care of myself.� Elisa flashed an amused smile. �I know. But I will be there anyway.� With Elisa's forgiveness warming his heart, Goliath let go of his guilt. The worry lines that had crossed his face a moment ago vanished as a smile spread across his face. Gripping her shoulders once more, Goliath pulled Elisa to him, lightly kissing her on the lips once more. When the kiss ended, Elisa turned away from his face, burrowing further into his safe arms. Moments of unforgettable serenity passed by them before Goliath once again opened his mouth to speak. �Elisa?� �Hmm?� Her response was a bit slow and full of weary. �I�ve wanted this for so long. And now that we�re here, together like this�. it�s better than I ever imagined it would be.� �Much�.better�.� Goliath frowned, and looked down at his love. She was obviously trying to keep her eyes open, but was losing the battle. Goliath smiled, knowing how tired she must be, even if she had slept the whole day away. �Go to sleep, Elisa. I�ll watch over you.� �Thanks�. love you.� �I love you too. Sleep well.� Goliath dropped his head onto Elisa�s, and just reveled in the feeling of holding his love. He couldn�t remember the last time he had felt such contentment. Maybe this was the first time in his entire life he had. Things were definitely looking good. the end |