Ignore the title of this; it is not a happy story. Character death, but luckily a one-shot. I'm churning out the depressing ones recently, and I have no idea why. Anyway, moving on. The lyrics relevant are at the top, and the whole quote gives the reason for this piece. I hope it makes sense, if not, let me know? I own nothing.

Well something's gotta go wrong
Coz I'm feelin' way too damn good
(Feelin' Way Too Damn Good, Nickelback)

She knows the exact second that she realised it. She can pinpoint it with alarming accuracy; it was the second her world tilted sideways. She can recall it clearly, almost relive each second. She can feel her heart thumping in her chest; too hard in her panic, too fast. She can feel the burn in her lungs, not from exertion, but from fear. Please no, please no, please... The mantra overtook her mind, leaving no room for anything else. So she had run into danger without hesitation, because her only thought was for his safety; her own never crossed her mind. And that, she thinks, is what made her realise, when she looks back months later. Her reckless disregard for everything but him. There was only one thing that could have caused it.

She'd known in abstract, of course. She'd even said it to him, but without truly knowing what her words meant. It was just the sort of thing that sounded good, and she thought it might make him feel better after a long day. That's not to say she didn't mean it; of course she did. She just never considered the consequences of it; the dangers to herself, and to him. She grimaces now, and once again comes to the conclusion that of all the things that have happened to her over her life, this is both her greatest gift and her greatest curse.

She looks down at the paper in her hand. On it is a picture of the two of them together, both grinning madly, with their arms around each other's waists. It was taken days before the incident that turned her world on its head, days before she truly understood what her feelings for him meant. And she had grown stronger for that knowledge, even if it worried him. She knew he'd do the same for her; and she frequently reminded him of that when he brought up her rashness on that day.

Is it rash, to risk your life for the one you love? How about to give it for them?

She lowers her hand and the image drops to the ground, to lie among the ashes scattered liberally over the remains of her home. There is screaming in the background, and she knows that somewhere nearby there is an entire LEP squadron fighting their way through the panicked masses, coming to her aid, and his. She also knows that they will be too late.

She glares once more at the beings in front of her. Two people; one standing like royalty among the ruins, the other slumped on their side, gasping for breath. Opal hisses once more through her teeth and demands again that Holly comes to her.

"Now, elf, or your lover dies!"

She looks at the man sprawled on the ground, and a tear falls from her eyes. There is blood on his face, though it is mostly hidden by the ash. They were inside when the outer walls of her house imploded, leaving them to scramble for cover and hold each other tightly. They had ridden out the original explosion, but only because Opal had grander plans. The pixie wants to see Holly Short's death, to deliver the killing blow herself. To stand over the elf's body and watch as the last flickers of life leave her eyes. Holly knows it, and so does the man slumped at Opal's feet. He gathers his strength and raises his head, his eyes beseeching her not to do it. He cannot talk, he does not have enough strength for that, but his gaze speaks volumes. He is fully prepared to die for her. She shakes her head sadly, and another tear falls. It will do no good, even if she is so selfish as to permit him to give his life for her. He is not the one Opal wants.

Holly takes a step forwards, and he finds his voice. It is weak, barely loud enough to cover the ground between them, but somehow it drowns out the cries and screams of the onlookers and the footsteps of those running away. She sees only his face, hears only his voice. He tells her to run, to save herself. He asks of her the one thing she cannot give; she opens her mouth to tell him, but the lump in her throat stops her from making a sound. Opal laughs and nudges him in the temple with the end of her gun. The message is clear.

Holly closes her eyes, her mind rewinding six months. The time she had realised how much she loved this man, how much she was willing to give for him. Pure panic had frozen her insides. This is nothing like that; now, she feels her heartbeat and it is regular. Her breathing hitches, but that is from shock and the ash in the air, not fear. She realises that she is calm, in spite of the situation. And she knows what she will do. She opens her eyes and, ignoring her lover, meets the pixie's gaze.

"Swear on the Book that you will let him go."

His cry of 'no' is lost in Opal's answer.

"I swear."

Holly takes a deep breath and walks forwards until she is standing three feet from Opal. Her lover has crawled to her, and she kneels and rests her hand on his cheek. He had run from the house first after the tremors had stopped, straight into Opal's arms. That's why he can barely move, and that's why Holly is crying. Not for her own loss, but for his. She leans close and kisses him passionately, feeling his reluctance at first. He knows that this is not a 'I'll-see-you-at-my-place-later-but-here's-something-to-get-by-on-until-then' kiss. Holly pours her heart and soul into it, telling him without words how much she loves him. Telling him that she wouldn't have this any other way. Telling him goodbye.

He grabs at her, pulling her close to him until their hearts beat in unison and she cannot tell where she ends and he begins. She forces herself to move, to break the embrace. She pulls back so that she is not touching him, and lets her eyes roam his face, memorising it. Even bloody and streaked with ash and dirt, he is still beautiful to her. She speaks in a whisper, but knows he hears her. His eyes tear up, and she stands before he can speak or touch her. She looks to Opal, and nods once. The pixie has sworn on the Book, and that creates a magical bind. Opal is held to her promise; she cannot touch him. And that makes Holly happy.

Holly closes her eyes and focuses on that last kiss. On his lips on hers, his tongue in her mouth; his love racing through her, making her strong enough to do this. She doesn't register the click of the handgun in Opal's hands, the sound of the trigger being pulled. She is lost in those moments with him, and her last words reverberate in her mind.

"I love you, Trouble."

There is a pain in her chest, and the world vanishes.