A/N:

Hey FanFictioners and welcome guests, this is a sequel to my other story, A Match Into Water. I suggest you read A Match Into Water before reading this. After I had written and posted the last line of that, I immediately wanted to do more, and a guest's review made up my mind. Thank you to that guest who enjoyed my story so much.

I was toying between two possibilities for this story title; one was Taking Off The Colours, inspired by You Me At Six's album Take Off Your Colours. The other was Never Letting Go, inspired by Florence and The Machine's song Never Let Me Go. (As you can see, I'm highly influenced by music, what can I say? ^_^). I finally went with both and the title Never Letting Go and Taking Off The Colours was formed. I'll be alternating between Mary-Lynnette's POV and Ash's with each chapter.

Well, you've all read my ramblings now so, on with the story…

DISCLAIMER: L J Smith owns The Night World, its dialogues, plot-lines and character names. All other plotlines, characterizations, and details belong to the author: xForbiddenLoveBitesx.

(Extract from the last chapter of A Match Into Water in italics)

I glared a reply on my tongue, when, suddenly James made a strange choked sound in the back of his throat. We both turned to stare at him, momentarily distracted from our glaring match. I tried to work out why he had made the sound by penetrating his thoughts, but something prevented me from doing that. He was blocking his thoughts. I cocked my head to the side, asking a silent question.

He gave me a smile before saying, "Why don't we ask Mary-Lynnette?"

I span my head back around to where he was indicating with his head. I stared at her for a few seconds, the relief turning into anger as nothing was happening. But, sure enough, James was right.

In the next second, Mary-Lynnette twitched her hand. I reached for it, bringing to my face as I had done a thousand times this week. After another few moments that seemed to span forever, she blinked her eyelids, once, twice, adjusting to the darkness. Her eyes opened widely then, searching in the dim light for something, anything. They rested on me. I gave her a brilliant smile, one full of emotion. Her eyes widened and she whispered, her voice hoarse with sleep "Ash?"

Mary-Lynnette

Her face was the first thing I saw in my mind. My mind felt heavy, clouded and ached like someone had hit me with a brick; it wouldn't have hurt any less. As soon as my thoughts were coherent, the events came flooding back. Maya. I didn't even know her before the other day, Rowan had told me stories, sure, but I thought she was dead. Thinking more about her made my head hurt.

I felt my hand spasm as I emerged from my slumber. How long had I been asleep? A muttering too low for me to hear, or maybe my ears hadn't caught up with my thought process yet, startled me. I just caught the end, my name. It was not a voice I recognised, I was certain it was male though, the pitch too low and full of bass for it to be a girl. I strained to hear more, but they had stopped talking. Where was Ash? Was he even here? I remembered seeing him just before I collapsed but what if he left, had to go somewhere? What if he didn't want to see me? It was a question I had been mulling over before I decided to come here; it looks as if my doubts were right. No the stubborn voice inside my voice insisted, he could be in the room, you just can't see him. I considered that for a second.

As I was pondering where Ash might be, my hand twitched again and I felt slight pressure on it. The pressure grew as my hand, with my arm, was lifted off the bed and up to someone's face. Their warm breath tickled my hand, sending comforting warmth all up my arm and to my chest. It stayed there, warming my heart.

I had to see who it was.

I blinked once. My eyes felt like they had been glued or sewn together, trying to ease them open and adjust to the dim light. What time was it, to be so dark? I blinked again, my eyes adjusting to the low light. I opened them wider, eager to take in my surroundings. The ceiling above was a pale beige colour, a large chandelier hung from the centre. It looked beautiful, hanging suspended in the vast room, the light glancing off the numerous amounts of diamonds that hung from the centre. They curved with the structure, starting inwards and billowing out to form a delicate arc.

Deciding now was the time to find out who was holding my hand, I turned in that direction. My breathing caught in my throat as my eyes rested on just the person I wanted to see, the person I would always want to see. It was not his ash-blonde hair, or the gloriously radiant colour of his eyes that stopped my heart, it was his smile. He had never smiled like that before, or that I had seen anyway. It was brilliant, and seemed to light up the whole faintly lit room. "Ash?" I asked, still not able to believe my eyes, maybe I was hallucinating. If I was, it would explain his expression. There is no way the Ash that came to drag his sisters away last summer would ever smile like that, especially to a human. Maybe he's changed a small voice inside me said. It's what you wanted him to do, he said he would, he's your Soulmate. The thought of Ash changing his ways for me, filled me with an unknown feeling. It warmed me to the core.

Ash chuckled, a low throaty sound that was full of relief. He looked at me again and the warm feeling increased, reaching my frantically beating heart. "Yes?" He asked, a small smile playing on his lips.

Before a response had formulated on my tongue, my body responded for me. I took in a sharp intake of breath and then the tears began to spill over. I was soon sobbing, my breath coming out in short gasped pants, my whole being shaking as another wave of sobs raked my body. Ash did exactly what he had done last summer. Moving me slightly on the bed, so I was sitting near the edge, he climbed on next to me. With a sigh, he pulled my body towards his and held me close.

"What did she do to you?" Ash asked rhetorically, his voice dripping with menace. I could hear another emotion there though, becoming more known, concern. He held me closer then, whispering in my ear. "It's going to be all right, I won't let anybody hurt you. Not again."

My sobs finally subsided, my breathing returned to normal, the uncontrollable shaking long gone. "Thank you." I whispered to him, glad to be in the comfort of his arms.

"Well, I'd say anytime but I don't want to see you in so much pain again." he replied. I felt the corners of my mouth turn up slightly of their own accord. There was some of the old Ash, with an added bonus. His voice was full of concern again; I had no trouble believing his words.

Still in the circle of Ash's arms, I used the moment of silence to fully take in the room. It was a large, square room, a fireplace dominating the wall in front. A lone chair was placed next to it, its intricate pattern marginally faded with wear. The walls were covered in tawny lacy wallpaper, like the ones you used to see in an old Victorian bedroom. The hospital bed we were sitting on looked oddly out of place in this warm, comforting room.

"How long have I been here?" I asked Ash. I turned to look at him, he had been watching me intently, his eyes boring into my face. He frowned and winced slightly when I asked the question but answered clearly.

"About four days," He answered. "I was sure you weren't going to wake up and I would have to avenge your death," He watched me then, hesitant on uttering his next sentence. "Or kill myself." He added on the end.

I gasped. "Don't you dare think like that, okay? Your life is worth more than that; you shouldn't just throw it all away for me. I'm nothing special."

"Mary-Lynnette" The sound came out as almost a groan. I was momentarily distracted by the sound of my name on his lips. He said it fervently, like the way you would hear someone talk about someone they loved, or someone they respected. "I would always, in a heartbeat, do anything for you," he whispered, hesitating before lowering his head to kiss my neck. I shuddered lightly. "Besides, I've already kind of given up my life to be with you." He finished. I could hear the laughter in his tone.

I sighed quietly. "I know," I said. A thought occurred to me then as I dwelled on what Ash had given up. "Have you fed at all in that time?" I asked.

Ash's lips stopped their exploration of my neck and lifted his head up. "No" He answered, a confused look crossing his face.

"Ash" I scolded. "You know that's not good for you."

"Well I'm sorry," He replied, half joking half repentant. "I had other things on my mind."

Maybe he could…

"No, Mary-Lynnette, you're too weak." Ash whispered again.

Was he reading my mind or are my facial expressions just obvious?

He chuckled. "Mind."

It's rude to read someone's thoughts when you're not invited. I scolded.

Laughing fully now, he slid off the bed and stood at the foot. He stopped there looking back at me again, his eyes that glorious colour again. "I don't want to leave you." He admitted.

"I'll be fine," I assured. "Go, you need to feed."

Sighing again, he reached the large wooden double doors. I watched as he paused for a second before turning the knob, swinging it open. With the door ajar, it cast a shaft of light to the foot of the bed. Slipping into the narrow crack, he shut the door behind him.

A/N:

So, there you have it. The first chapter to Never Letting Go and Taking Off The Colours. I hope you enjoyed that :) I know one guest will!

Please give me a review, they're much appreciated. To the guest that asked for the sequel and is so happy I'm making one (I assume you're the same person?) can you please put it in your review, if you make one? That would make me so happy to know, after all this is all because of your persuasion :)

xForbiddenLoveBitesx