Echo's of A Dream
By: Amy "AnnieO" Hanna

****Warning****
This fic does contain character death. Do not read if you are offended by this.

  He found the quiet to be almost unbearable, it gave him time to think, and his thoughts kept returning to one thing, her. How her smile lit up a room. How she felt in his arms, her hair as he ran his fingers throw it. He felt his heart constrict at the thoughts, he would no longer be able to wake up with her in his arms, to feel her lips, to hear her laugh. To not have her in his life, could he survive?

  Did he want to survive without her?

  His thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of cries. He slowly made his way to the room at the end of the hall and pulled the door open. Inside was one of the reasons he had to keep going, his daughter. He gently lifted the small bundle from the crib and walked over to the window, allowing the starlight to blanket him and Arhya in its tender glow.

  As he stood there his mind turned to the four other wonders in his life. Nicholas, so strong yet so fragile, Joseph and Caleb, always together taking strength in each other yet at a loss in there grief, Zach, quiet…sensitive, seeming so lost yet his resolve never faltered, and Arhya, so small…so alone, how could he tell her that her mother died giving life to her, and would she understand? Would they understand? Would they know how much Niko loved them? That she would have done anything for them? How could he explain it when he did not understand it himself?

  All these questions and a million more ran through his mind in that one moment of reflection. He gripped the bundle tighter to him.

  “Come on my little Cricket, let’s go see your brothers” He paused as he left the room glancing at the small tape player that Niko had kept there for the children when they were restless.

  He walked over to it a turned it on, his eyes momentarily filling with tears as he recognized the song that softly echoed in the small room.

*******

*Once you had gold
Once you had silver…

  He slowly walked to Nick’s room and silently pulled the door open. Nick lay in his bed, the starlight’s soft glow alighting his face.

  Shane could see the signs of grief upon the peaceful face and felt his heart break at the thought of what his children must be going through. He glanced down at his daughter, her green eyes regarding him. He allowed a small smile to grace his face.

  “Your Mom wanted so much for him. She used to tell me how much he reminded her of me. But now I look at him and all I see is the pieces of Niko that are in him.” He glanced down at Arhya as a small sound escaped her. “He has her spirit and courage. He is only eight years old, and he already stands up for what he thinks is right. Niko’s gift to him.” He gently closed the door.

Then came the rains
Out of the blue
Ever and always
Always and ever
Time gives both
darkness and dreams to you…

  He moved once again down the hall to the next door and silently opened it.

********

Now you can see
Spring become autumn
Leaves become gold
Falling from view…

  Arhya glanced up at her father and waved her tiny hand in the air. “Joseph and Caleb, your Mom called them her Jeckle and Hyde. Caleb is always getting into trouble while Joseph always tries to get Caleb out of trouble. She gave them her strength and her humor."

 " The two of them can always find a way to cheer everyone up. The two of them seemed so alone today. So lost without Niko here.” He winced slightly as he hears Joseph whimper softly in his sleep, Shane blinked back unshed tears and pulled the door shut.

Time gives both
darkness and dream to you…

  He moved to the last door in the hall and silently opened it.

********

What is the dark
Shadows around you…

  Arhya gurgled to herself and Goose placed his thumb in her hand smiling as she curled her fingers around it. “Zach, he’s the quiet one, like his Mom was before I really knew her. He has his Mom’s heart, always willing to help no matter what.” Shane watched as Zach settled further into the covers.

  “He never thinks of himself, only about the people around him. You’re Mom was like that, she always gave a piece of herself to help people, I think that was one of the first things I loved about her. She never questioned why I was the way I was. She just accepted it and loved me for who I was.” He allowed another glance at his youngest son and silently pulled the door shut.

Why not take heart
In the new day…

********

  Shane slowly made his way back to Arhya’s room and sat in the rocking chair. “Then theirs you my Cricket.” She looked up at her father, her green eyes sparkling in the starlight. “Niko gave you everything. You have so much of your Mom in you that...” He paused glancing into her crystal green eyes’, “I blamed you, at first. Then I held you for the first time, and I knew that I hadn’t lost Niko completely.”

  He softly caressed Arhya’s cheek as she yawned, “There is a piece of your Mom in each of you, a touch of her dreams in yours. You and your brothers are my heart and soul.” He smiled as Arhya slowly closed her eyes’. “Sleep my little Cricket.” He rose and gently placed her back into her crib. “Dream of all you can do.” He silently pulled the door shut.

********

  A silent shadow slowly approached the crib Arhya opened her eyes and stared at the figure above her. A gentle hand touched her cheek and a soft voice came from the darkness.

  “You are all my promises, you are all my hope. You are the light in the darkness you are my finial gift to him.“ A single tear escaped as the figure watched Arhya close her eyes. “You are all my dreams for each of them, and all my love is you.” Upon her pillow a single tear fell.

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