Remembrance

From TCWiki

Will's fingers swept softly over the keys, making not one sound. He looked up at his audience, a bemused smile on his face and eyebrows half raised, then began to play, focusing his attention on the piano. A light piece, at first. Airy, even, then descending into something more meaty as his thoughts wandered. As he slowed, he thought of a time, years past now. Oh God, how does the time pass...

Seattle, early Spring, not even five blocks out from Pike Place. Rebecca laughed. There stood her man, her William, caught in the rain this city was famous for. And what did he have to defend himself with? Nothing but a newspaper and a smile, and a laugh of his own.

"Come on," she said, "Let's get out of the rain."

"I like the rain!" Will said, joy addling his brain. "I grew up with rain, I moved here to the rain, and now, my love, we are united, in rain."

They stared at each other for a moment, then. Passersby walking around, with their own shields. An umbrella, the hood of a rain coat, the occasional wide brimmed hat or simply massive hair. A single laugh, at their own absurdity, came to them both; a voluptuous ripple in Rebecca, and with a hand through Will's hair while the newspaper disintegrated at his side.

"Too much?" Will asked, walking forward.

"No, just perfect." Rebecca said, patting Will's arm as it rested on her shoulders. "But we're still wet."

Will came down, planting a kiss on Rebecca's lips, making it last. When they parted, faces still only inches apart, she said "You had a reason for that, somewhere up there." She tapped his temple.

"Did you care about the rain?" Will said, an almost cocky grin on his face. He saw Rebecca's eyes leave his, focusing on something over his shoulder, just before she slid out of his grasp.

"Follow!" Rebecca called back, walking swiftly up the sidewalk. After pausing to stare at his empty arms in confusion, Will turned and obeyed. When he found her, she motioned him into a store. Small, almost cramped, filled with merchandise. "You need a hat." Rebecca said firmly.

Seeing how many he had to choose from, laughter came to Will again, pure, simple, and without fault. An attendant had come to help them, going through nearly a third of their formidable inventory before the two were satisfied. A good night, a wonderful night, and most certainly a reliable hat.

As his hands had picked up speed, so his thoughts did again drift. Another day, to be the happiest of them all. Walking down the street, thanking fortune and instinct. The jeweler had finished early, Will had dropped in merely to talk, and had walked away with the rings. So convenient, taking business trips to Italy. He fingered the box, a content smile on his lips. Then a furrowed brow. Then fast moving eyes, glancing here to there and back again. And then--

Will slammed the piano shut. The noise reverberated through its strings as Will glared, stared daggers...

"Stay out of my mind!" Will said, leaving the room quickly, rudely.