“ I still can’t believe you…every time you surprise me they get more and more elaborate.” Odessa smiled, the golden and red leaves flashing behind her head as Andy took his eyes off of the road to smile at her.

“Only the best for you babe…” He brought their clasped hands up, kissing her skin softly as he focused his eyes back on the road.


It was now the end of October and the album was finished and had been sent off to begin the printing process. The band had shot the movie, spending four hot days and five very cold nights out in the desert while Dess got to sit in a comfy trailer and watch from the windows. Now they were off for the holidays and then in January they would embark on their headlining tour The Church of the Wild Ones. Dess seemed to be looking forward to everything, but also just seemed to be happy to be back in Virginia.


“I still can’t believe I’m here…I didn’t miss the leaves after all.” She sighed, her voice soft as Dess glanced out the window at the passing scenery and smiled. It was beautiful, all of the leaves still swaying with the gentle breeze, lighting up the sky with their brazen colors and Dess was happy to be home again.

“I knew I would have to bring you out here…plus I missed this place too.” Andy smiled over at her as they continued down the highway and he felt his stomach twist. This was a huge surprise and he only hoped that he had gotten it right.

“I never knew you liked Virginia so much…” She turned back towards him, her wide smile infectious and Andy realized that he hadn’t seen her smile like that in ages.

“Well I am from Ohio…we have some pretty spectacular falls there as well.” He smirked over at her and Dess just pushed against his shoulder with her hand gently.

“Nothing compares to Virginia falls though…you have to admit that.” She watched as he smirked and she knew-Andy seemed to have missed Virginia almost as much as Dess had.

“You’ve got me there.” He said, as Andy turned the car off on the next exit and Dess looked at him, questions lacing her face as she looked out the window and then turned back to him quickly.

“I thought you said we were going to Shenandoah? You just got off six exits early…” Her eyes were slits as he just smiled and kept driving.

“Detour…” He tried to hide the nervousness in his voice and he winced when Dess made a low growl as she realized where they were.

“Why are you bringing me here?” She asked, her voice low and dangerous and Andy finally looked over at her once they were stopped at a stop light.

“Because…” His kept his voice calm and even. Dess just huffed at him, crossing her arms over her chest as Andy drove on.


They drove for another thirty minutes and Andy took in the landscape that broke out in front of him. Virginia was beautiful this time of year, the leaves in differing shades of red, yellow and orange and the hills were dotted with fall blooming flowers which made everything look like a quilt. Finally Andy reached his destination and he noticed that Odessa had stiffened in her seat as he pulled up the gravel driveway and slowed the car to a crawl as they passed the trees that lined the driveway slowly. Dess reached out for his hand and as Andy finally reached the top of the driveway he looked to her and saw that Dess had her eyes closed and he was losing the feeling in his fingers from her death grip on them.


“I’m not getting out of the car.” Dess had removed her hand from his and now her arms were crossed over her chest, a deep scowl lacing her features.

“Please…”Andy begged, turning the car off he turned to face her, a pout coming to grace his face as his lip ring stuck out adorably.

“I don’t belong here anymore Andy…” Her voice cracked and as Dess looked over at him Andy could tell that she was fighting back tears.

“I don’t think anyone’s home right now…so who’s to say you don’t belong here?” Andy reasoned, his hands coming out to rest on her arms as he pulled at her gently.

“Dammit…fine. But two minutes and we are leaving.” She relented finally and Andy held up a fist in triumph as he moved to get out of the rental car.


Dess got out of the car, wincing as she took in everything that surrounded her. The old tire swing still hung from that old oak tree, the rope swinging in the wind softly. The trees were the same, their leaves almost gone and Dess remembered the last time she had raked-Thanksgiving of last year with Andy. The garage, old and in need of new paint, stood there faithfully and Dess thought back on all of the treasures that used to lie within its thin walls. Finally her eyes came to rest upon the house that she used to call her own. Tears pricked her eyes as Dess moved forward, the leaves crunching beneath her boots as she stopped herself and turned away from the house.

Andy came up from behind her, his arms wrapping around her body as he spun her around so that they were both facing her childhood home. They stood there, Dess keeping her eyes closed as Andy hummed in her ear softly. She was just waiting for the new owners to catch them there and then what would she say? Sorry for being a stalker but I have attachment issues and my boyfriend is a little too over indulgent? Pfft, right. Dess opened her eyes, looking up at the old white house and she couldn’t help but smile as memories flooded back to her.

Her father climbing on the roof to hang Christmas lights. Pumpkins that had been carved in to Jack-O-Lanterns that would guard their front porch until November 1st. Easter egg hunts around the front yard. Seeing relatives walking up those steps for Thanksgiving and birthdays. Camp fires in the side yard with her best friends on cool fall evenings. Sipping iced tea on the porch as she sketched. Suddenly the tears fell from her eyes, but Dess didn’t dare wipe them away-she wanted them there and deep down she was happy that Andy had brought her here.


“Time to go before the new owners come home…” Dess finally turned from the house and began to walk back towards the car, but was stopped as Andy reached out for her, his hot breath tickling her cheek as he whispered into her ear.

“…but they’re already here…” Dess stopped in her tracks. That made no sense and silently she looked around to see if another car had pulled up. Nope, it was just the two of them and as Dess turned to face Andy she took in the impish grin that laced his lips.

“What?” She asked, not sure if he had meant to say that or if Andy misspoke. The smile on his face was huge, one of the biggest she had ever seen grace his lips and suddenly he was right in front of her and Dess felt breathless as she looked up at him.

“This house…it’s all ours…I’m the one who bought your house Dess.” At his admission Odessa felt her jaw drop and then she launched herself forward, her arms coming to wrap around his neck as her legs wrapped around his waist tightly.

“I can’t believe you!” She kissed him all over, his cheeks, his eyes, his nose, his ears and finally his lips. They embraced softly before Andy pulled away from her and Dess felt her eyes grow wide as he rooted around in a pocket, pulling out a tiny black box.

“Odessa…” His voice was shaking as Andy looked at Dess as he sank down to one knee and flipped the lid of the box open. She gasped as the diamond and emerald encrusted ring shined in the light and Dess could only look from the ring down to Andy as he stared up at her.

“…I bought this house to make you happy, but I also did it for a very selfish reason-I want to grow old with you in this house. That porch-I want to rock on that porch with you every night until we are old and grey. I want to raise our little blonde haired blue eyed children here-I want to push them on that tire swing every day when I get home from wherever I’ve been. I want you-forever. I want to wake up next to you and to know that you’re mine and I want to watch you raise our family because I know you’ll be the greatest mom ever. More than anything I want to be with you for the rest of my days-good and bad-and I can’t imagine sharing them with anyone else…” He stopped, biting down on his lip ring as Odessa felt like her heart was going to explode.

“Odessa Annemarie Montgomery will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?” He held the ring box up towards her and Dess reached out a shaking finger to touch the small ring that sat between two cushions.


It was so small, the diamond delicate as it sat there framed by two emeralds, all of it sitting in a platinum setting and Dess sucked in a breath as she looked around. She hadn’t lost everything after all-this house, this place…it would be with her forever. Her eyes grew misty as she smiled and then she knew-Andy would also be with her forever.


“…Yes. Yes!” She shouted as Andy jumped up and took the ring from her fingers as he slipped it on to her left ring finger slowly. It fit perfectly and Dess couldn’t keep the smile off of her face as Andy picked her up and spun her around. He let her down gently, cupping her cheeks in his large hands as he leaned down and kissed her. The kiss was passionate and loving and Dess smiled against his lips as she thought over everything that had just happened.

“Oh God Dess…I was so scared you were going to say no…” He said softly, his forehead coming to rest against hers and all Odessa could do was smile up at him gently.

“Well third times a charm right?” She laughed and Andy felt his lips form into a grin as they stood there, their arms wrapped around one another.


Dess stood there in his arms and any doubt that she had felt about their relationship melted away. He was everything to her and the fact that he had stuck through everything made Dess love Andy even more. Still, she knew she had to do something…she needed to go see someone. With a quick and quiet conversation the couple were back in the car and driving a few miles down the road. Dess looked out the window, the trees passing by quickly as she glanced down and caught another glimpse of her ring. Andy loved surprising her and Dess hoped that that never changed.



Dess kneeled down, her knees resting in the soft grass as she felt the wind whip around her, her hair floating behind her head and she sucked in a breath. Andy had given her space, standing off in the distance as Dess just looked at the grey stone that sat before her. They had done a good job and Dess placed a finger against the soft stone as she silently traced the letters that rested beneath her fingertips. She felt the tears come to her eyes and with one hand she moved to wipe them away, but Dess never removed her finger from the stone as she continued to trace over the letters silently.


Moira Elizabeth Montgomery
“The Innocent”
Taken from this world too soon.
She will always be remembered.
Beloved Daughter, Sister, Friend and
BVB Army Commander


Andy hadn’t seen the stone yet, but Dess knew that he would approve. She stared at the words, smiling at the small BVB symbol that they had engraved at the very bottom and glancing further down Dess noticed that people had been leaving small tokens.

Withered roses, a teddy bear and the first two BVB CDs were clearly visible and Dess could only smile as she reached around the back of her neck and unclasped her necklace. The bat symbol shown back up at her as she kissed the metal softly before she placed it down on the bottom of the headstone with all of the other mementos.


“Well Moira…he finally did it. God I can’t believe all of this is happening and you aren’t here to see it.” She spoke softly, her eyes looking around to see if there was any trace of Moira’s presence.

“I said yes of course, but God I wish you could be there to see me walk down that aisle. I spent a long time being angry about your death, way too long. I blamed Andy for a while and that was wrong of me-I know that now, but honey I just miss you so much…” Her voice cracked and Dess tried to sniff away her tears but they continued to flow down her cheeks.

“I’ve come to accept that you’re gone Moira, but I will never-ever-forget you. I love you Lil’ Misfit…always.” She leaned in and as Dess placed her lips against the cold stone she felt Andy’s hand come to rest on her shoulder.


She stood, her eyes looking down at the stone as Andy held her from behind and Dess felt herself lean against him. She knew then, she had probably always known, that she could always lean against Andy. Through good times and bad he had stuck with her and she loved him for it. She felt his chest rise and fall gently as they stood there, tears streaming down their faces and softly Dess could feel his heart beating and she knew.

His heart beat for her and only her and it would remain that way. Always.


End

Notes

Whelp kids-that's that. I got a lot of really great reviews and so I thought I would update early. Please give me some last reviews for this lovely piece before we dive right in to the third installment: What It Is To Burn.

Watch out for it Wednesday evening!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed this-even if it was only once, it still meant the world to me and sometimes when I'm having bad days I look back on those reviews and they make me smile. Thanks to everyone who has stuck it out with Andy, Dess and I-I know this story has been a rough one, but it was worth it in the end.
What It Is To Burn
We Caught Fire Tumblr