Forever, My Love

Title- Forever, My Love
Pairings- Ike/OFC
Ratings- T
Warnings- None.
Word Count- 1,149

I pulled up to the Hilton Hotel Skirvin, relieved that I was finally able to get out of the damn car. My legs had gotten stiff from being in the car for over two and a half hours, not such a great thing with my blood clotting disorder. Normally the trip from Tulsa to Oklahoma City took about an hour and a half but it had started to snow early in the day and by the time I was on the road, it was a full on blizzard.

I would have gladly skipped out of the Haunted Halloween Charity Ball since rubbing elbows with Oklahoma's elite was not my thing, but this year my parents were Co- chairs for the event. I thought by driving myself, I would maintain some semblance of control over my evening, but the raging snowstorm had me contemplating getting a room for the night. Damn that book my mom's writer friend wrote about haunted hotels in Oklahoma.

I entered the opulent lobby with it's rich mahogany woodwork and deep red walls, the wet slush from my shoes making a trail behind me on the gleaming marble tiles. I looked for a sign to direct me to the ballroom, but a quick scan around showed me I would have no trouble finding the party.

I looked for members of my family in the clusters of party goers that lined the hallway leading to the large ballroom, but the elaborate costumes and fancy masks many of the guests had chosen to wear made it hard for me to pick out any one I might know.

There were scary bloody zombies, Frankenstein's Monsters, and of course, sexy Vampiresses. That was a given. I also saw amazing costumes that obviously had much thought and effort put into them. That pleased me because I knew it would tickle my mom, and make her feel good about this event. I continued on my way searching for a face I knew.

Entering the ballroom I noticed the volume of voices increased ten fold. I hurried over to the bar feeling overstimulated by the noise and explosion of colors that surrounded me. I ordered a scotch neat and took a gulp before turning back around to find my family.

I saw my sister Avery coming towards me a large wooden frame around her.

“Ikey! You made it. Doesn't everyone look great? Mom is soo happy. Did you see her yet? She's been worried sick about you.” She chastised me even though she was bubbling with excitement.

“It's a blizzard out there Avi. You're the only Hanson I've found. Where is everyone?” I looked her over, “What are you supposed to be anyway?”

She smiled brightly, “A work of art. Duh.” I chuckled along with her. She pointed out a large cluster of Star Wars characters, “There's Zac.”

I nodded, I should have known the nerd would choose a Star Wars character. We looked for everyone else but couldn't find anyone. Avery took off with her friend leaving me with my drink at the bar.

Being in a car longer than an hour or on an airplane always mad me nervous, so I wandered the room admiring the costumes that deserved it and scoffing at the ones I deemed ridiculous.

That's when I saw her.

A woman in an old fashioned maid costume, floated into my line of vision and I felt a desperate need to introduce myself to her. Her large dark eyes met mine and held me breathless, unable to make my legs carry me to her as quickly as I desired. I weaved in and around the crowded ballroom to get to her. I lost sight of her and I felt unreasonably terrified, almost as if I would never see her again. But it was more than that. I had no name for what I was feeling. My eyes darted around the room, my chest tightening realizing I had completely lost sight of her.

My brother Taylor stepped in front of me out of nowhere it seemed and shouted, “Ike, are you okay?”

I couldn't focus on him, I had to find her. Not looking at him, I pushed past him as panic seized me. Was I going crazy? All I really knew was that I had to find the beautiful dark haired woman.

I spotted her leaving the ballroom and I brushed by my brother who was dressed as Bacon. I vaguely recalled how funny he had said it would be if he and his wife went as Bacon and Eggs. I'd thought it sounded stupid, and taking a look back at him I realized I was right.

I saw her ascending the grand staircase that led to the guest's rooms. I wasn't sure the heaviness that had settled in my chest would allow me to follow her but I had to try. It made no sense to me this desperation. This wasn't me. I was always logical, anal, and very much in control of myself. I looked down at the party and smiled at my family that had collected at the base of the staircase. My mother called to me but I couldn't hear her over the sounds of the music and conversation. I waved to her and followed the dark haired beauty, unconcerned about the look of fear on my mother's usually serene face.

As I followed her a feeling of familiarity came over me. I knew this woman. I couldn't place her. I was sure I hadn't been intimate with her, not with the way I was feeling by just looking at her across the room. I would have never let her go if I had.

I found her at the end of the hallway. She stood with her back to me and it took forever for me to drag my heavy legs to get to her. Breathlessly, I reached out and gently touched her thin shoulder. She slowly turned a smile on her face. A face I had loved so long ago. She held an infant in her arms as she touched my cheek. My baby girl.

I knew now. I had left them so long ago, thinking it had been best for them. But they had wandered and waited for me to return.

“You came for us.” She breathed into my ear. I closed my eyes and all of the building pressure in my chest released.

I looked back at my family who were racing towards us, screaming. I couldn't hear them, I could just see their horrified faces and mouths stretched wide open. All I could hear was her sweet voice as she took my hand, “Say good bye to them, Darling. You belong with us now.”

Peace settled over me as I turned with her and my daughter leaving them behind.