AN/: *walks in several months late with starbucks* howve you nerds been

A quill was laid heavy on the book's thick parchment. The ink in the bottle was near spent, what with the numerous words now sprawling over pages and pages. The mount ruffled her feathers and honked as softly as she could. The woman riding it closed the book on top of her quill, leaning over to her nightstand to stopper her ink bottle. She swirled it once before stowing it in her heavy winter jacket.

"And those are all the stories you have to share?" she asked kindly.

The man she spoke to, one bedridden, smiled, made the air ring with a warm croak of laughter.

"Hardly," spoke he, "Those are just the ones I can tell off the top of my head. Remembering the rest would take some effort on my part."

"I see." she closed her eyes. Nightlight, who had perched on a bedpost, awoke from his slumber, sensing a story's end. Opening his eyes cast the room under the faintest icy glow. "What wonderful stories you've told."

"I hope he doesn't forget them," the old man paused to give a shaky cough. "And I hope my sister doesn't forget as well."

The Moonbeam began to fill the room with ethereal blue light, enough to swamp the dim orange glow of the lamp placed upon the nightstand. Eerie it was, and unforgettable.

"I agree." spoke the storyteller. "Though the both of you had lost your sight, everything you went through back then was a memory that will stay forever." She then turned to him with a mischievous eye and winked. "I know at least a few Guardians who can make sure of that."

The lines on the haggard face lit up in an even brighter smile to the woman at his bedside. "Give them my regards, would you?"

Adjusting her coat, she stood, ruffling the feathers of her snow white mount. "Of course. Nightlight," she addressed the boy perched on the bedpost. "Would you mind keeping him company until... he falls asleep?"

Nightlight nodded and the Moonbeam let off a dazzling beam that made the room turn navy. The author nodded and proceeded to begin her clamber out the window.

"One more question, Katherine, if I may."

The boy had spoken to her. She turned to face him, one foot out the window, most of her hidden by the giant bird she called company. Katherine pulled the book tightly to her chest, breathed deeply, and resumed smiling gently his way. "Go right ahead."

He reclined slightly and slowly, voice ever more feeble with the passing seconds. "Why do you suppose it is that, after so many years, I can see and hear the Guardians and other such entities again? I haven't seen a trace of any one of them until tonight, when I saw the two of you."

"You were relatively unsurprised when we came to visit you."

"Regardless, I am curious."

Katherine shifted her feet, swaying slightly with her uneven footing. "Sometimes people may believe in anything while they stand right before death's gate. And while you never stopped believing in us, this was probably just... a final push."

He sighed. "'Believe in anything... you make it sound as if I am desperate to stay alive."

"I did not mean it in that context." she whispered.

"I know you didn't," be paused to take a long, sweeping breath. "I apologize. I just feel so calm about all of it. And," the boy reclined fully onto his pillow, smiling as brightly as he did so many years ago. "I am glad you listened to my stories."

Katherine's foot came down from the sill. She strode silently over to the bedside lamp, shutting it off with a quiet click, the room now an icy blue. The storyteller had begun to slowly shut his eyes, his breath raspy and withering. A light kiss was presses to his forehead. Katherine turned to her ethereal companion and gave a sad smile. He nodded back, and curled in on himself, knees to his chest.

The massive bird successfully managed to not destroy the window on her way out. Katherine followed suit, leaping gracefully onto her back, and, in a matter of minutes, becoming naught but a white speck in the cold black sky.

The moon was not out that night, hidden by thick cloud cover. It was snowing. Gently, so gently, white flakes fluttered to the ground and in through the window. One managed to make its way to the boys face, landing on his nose. Wrinkles appeared as he smiled.

Nightlight curled further in on himself. His light dimmed down to the barest spark. His head retreated down into the mess of limbs to form a ball.

Nightlight whispered. "Have the sweetest dreams, Jamie."

AN/: IM FINALLY FREE

lame of me to end it with a death scene? maybe. fight me about it.

In all seriousness, I'd like to thank all you lovelies who decided to, firstly read my writing, and second judge that it was worth reading more of while I sat there barfing out 500 words in a panic like a complete tool. Now that this done, all my efforts are being devoted to writing an original webcomic, so I may be scarce, but who knows? I may very well decide to make my glorious return at some point when I feel like writing something.

In other news, it is currently midnight and I can no longer see straight.

Once again, thank you very much to all who stuck with my series of little self indulgences. You guys rock!

-Sam