I've been here a while
Staring at this screen wondering what I'll write
Things I can't explain
But should've tried to say when I had the time

Andy growled as he scribbled out the words on the page for the fifth time and he realized that he should probably just get a new piece of paper. It was so hard writing out what was bouncing around in his head because his thoughts were so jumbled right now. He could hear the soft crying coming from the bedroom he shared with Odessa and he knew that her pain was something he could only partially understand. They had lost Moira, her little sister, and she had been everything to Odessa. Really she had been everything to Andy as well, which was why he had so many things he wanted to write down.

Moira Montgomery had only been sixteen when she had succumbed to cancer, the same cancer that had taken their father and Andy knew that it destroyed Dess to see her little sister fade away. Andy had been there-he had been there through it all and now that she had been gone for over two weeks, Andy knew that the hard part was coming. They had to leave and head back home to LA, get ready for a tour and then deal with their pain in their own ways. Andy always dealt with pain through writing, but he wasn’t sure what Dess was going to do. Now he was sitting at a small table in her father’s old office, but all Andy wanted to do was go to Odessa.

Silently he put down his pen, crunching the paper into a ball and throwing it towards the overflowing waste basket and soon enough Andy was walking across the room towards the door. His socked feet slid across the hardwood floor of Dess’ childhood home-the home she loved and the home her mother was planning on selling. It was so hard to be in this situation because Andy didn’t know what to do, but he knew he could comfort Dess and that was where he was going to start. He was now standing outside her bedroom door and as he pushed open the wood slightly, he could see the Odessa was on the bed, facing away from him and she was shaking. Andy went to her, reaching out to press a hand against her shoulder softly.


“Babe? Odessa? Ar-are you okay?” He asked into the room but received no response. She just kept crying and soon Andy found himself sitting on the edge of the bed, his arms wrapped around her shaking frame.

“I wish I knew what to say to take your pain away babe, but there really isn’t anything right now that’s going to make this better. I’m here for you…I will always be here for you.” He whispered into her ear as he pressed his lips to the side of her face lightly.


He had never realized how much of an inspiration Moira had been in his life, but now that she was gone, Andy felt the need to create anything and everything…just for her.



You were inspiration
When no one else believed
You showed me strength in my skin
That no one else could see

“Andy stop being such a baby!” Moira was laughing at him from the other side of the screen and Andy only smirked. He knew he looked terrible-his face all bruised and swollen from breaking his nose a few days ago.

“I look terrible Moirabear!” He laughed as he covered his nose with one hand and Moira only rolled her moss green eyes at him. Andy had called Dess on skype, but she had to take a work call and so Moira had jumped on to keep him company.

“No you don’t! Gorgeous as ever Andy. How’s the EP coming along-you know I’m excited about this.” Moira said as her black hair fell into her face. The guys had been working on a small EP-something between albums and Moira was all about it and one of the only people who knew it was happening.

“Eh I don’t know if I like where we’re going with it right now. Sometimes I think I’m not a very good song writer…” Andy said and Moira was taken aback. Andy was always Mr. Confident and could never be shaken, but he seemed that way right now.

“Look-you are one of the best songwriters out there. Think about how many lives you’ve changed-mine included and that’s just with the words you put on to the paper.” She said and Andy smiled as he ran a hand through his hair and looked at the girl sitting before him.


Moira, while a huge fan of Black Veil Brides, was also a really good friend to Andy. The two of them could sit for hours and talk about music and while he never saw her as anything more than a sister, Andy knew that Moira was special. She got up every day, went to school and fought against the people who were telling her she was nothing. She was the inspiration-not him. He knew that one day she would grow up to do great things, whether it was in music or just in life-she was meant for a lot more. Andy smiled at her and he could see a small blush creep across the bridge of her nose-just like Odessa.


“You know Moirabear-you’re a huge inspiration to a lot of people.” He said and he smirked as Moira just shook her head.

“No I’m not-I’m just a kid in a small town dealing with stupid shit every day.” She said and Andy only shook his head back and forth.

“You are an inspiration Moira…to me. You believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself and you’ve believed in our band through the years…it means a lot to me that you’re always there for us.” Andy said and in that moment he wished he could be there with her to give Moira Montgomery the biggest hug he could manage.


She was everything to him…she was his biggest fan and he would always be grateful to her for that.



Let's just keep driving on
All the stars jumping in through the windows
Let's go where we belong
Headed fast as we can for the unknown

The wind whipped through his hair as Andy drove the car through the open countryside. After seeing Dess on the bed, crying so hard that she was shaking, Andy decided that they needed to get out of the house. They only had a few more days in Virginia and he knew that Dess would never forgive herself if she didn’t get out and see the mountains that she loved so much. So here they were-driving around in their rental with all of the windows down and the wind blowing everything around. It was nice-they felt free in that moment. Free from the sadness, from the pain and free from anything that could break them.

Odessa had her feet sticking out of the window, the spring air tickling the bottom of her feet and she had her moss green eyes trained on the sky above them. The stars were bright tonight, glowing like small diamonds and she wondered to herself if Moira was now one of those stars. Was she up there right now-looking down on them and smiling? Or was she still in pain? Dess tried to keep her tears from rolling down her cheeks, but it was impossible. Here they were, driving to the middle of nowhere, and all she could think about was her little sister. She would never see Moira grow up-never see what kind of person she would become. Moira Montgomery would forever be sixteen years old and it sucked.


“Let’s just keep driving…” Andy said quietly and Dess looked over at him, confusion lacing her features. Was he being serious right now?

“You know we can’t do that.” She said, reaching out a hand to place on top of his own. His skin was cold, probably from the wind and Dess only smiled as he moved his hand from the wheel and gripped hers tightly. He was a comfort to her and Odessa knew she would never forget this moment.

“Sure we can-we can just keep going. If we follow this road where would it take us?” He asked, looking over at her and Dess only smiled. His light blue eyes were shining in the moonlight brightly and he looked like a little kid in that moment.

“I dunno-Tennessee maybe?” She laughed, for the first time in over two weeks Odessa Montgomery was laughing about something. Andy only smiled as he brought their hands up to his lips and placed a small kiss against her skin.

“We can go to Nashville-we can go anywhere you want to Dess…” He said, smiling against her skin as he just kept on driving.


Odessa didn’t answer him as she just trained her eyes back on the stars and wondered if Moira was looking down on her in that moment. Only the stars would know for sure…



I remember how
Like a telescope you could always find
You could always find
Something worth a wish
You said every day's a gift and we'll be alright
We'll be alright

Odessa felt her heart stop as she sat at the kitchen table and looked back and forth between her mother and her little sister. Cancer-Moira had cancer and not just any cancer…the same one that had taken their father from them. This couldn’t be happening-not now…not ever. Odessa couldn’t help but cry in that moment and she noticed that her mother was crying as well, but not Moira. No, the sixteen year old who had just been given her death sentence was just sitting there, running her fingers over the smooth surface of the table in front of her. How could she be so calm right now?

Nothing was okay right now-Moira was going to have to go through so much and it wasn’t fair. She was only sixteen-she should be worrying about finals and what she was going to do this coming summer-not chemo or radiation therapy. Odessa wondered if she should go get Andy-he was still asleep since they had a late night last night, but no…no she didn’t want to get him just yet. They had just decided to finally become a couple and she would most likely be moving out to LA, but could she still do that? Could she leave her little sister here all by herself to deal with this?


“You’re still going to LA Dess…” Moira said suddenly and Odessa almost jumped out of her skin. Did she say something out loud and not even realize it?

“I-I don’t know if I can Moira…I can’t leave you.” Dess said as she reached out and placed a hand on top of Moira’s. The two girls caught eyes and they smiled softly at one another-this was all so terrible and yet it seemed to have brought them closer together.

“It’s going to be alright Dess…we’ll be alright.” She said softly and Dess just shook her head. How was any of this alright? It was terrible and unfair!

“No, no Moira this isn’t okay. D-do you understand what’s happening right now? Do you know what this means?” Dess asked and Moira only smiled at her softly, her moss green eyes shining in the rising morning sun.

“I know exactly what this means Dess. It means that I have to live every day like it’s a gift. I need to do things, say things and live life like I’ve never lived it before. I can’t miss out on anything…and neither can you. You’ve been given something special-precious-and I’ll be damned if I’m the reason that you give up on it.” Her voice was steady and her eyes serious and Odessa knew that Moira wasn’t kidding around.


No, Moira was right-they all needed to make the best of the time they had left with her, but could they really say goodbye to another person in their lives? Could they just sit back and watch her fade?



And something took you from me
I can't understand why
But wherever you're resting
I'm carrying
I'm carrying your line

The room had grown cold and Odessa shivered as she looked around-there weren’t any windows open and yet she couldn’t help but shake. She knew this was it-this was the end. Moira had held on for as long as she could, but she was fading quickly and Odessa only wished that her mother could be there with them. Moira was still looking in to the corner of the room and Odessa wondered to herself if her father was really there with them in that moment. He had always been there for them-had always wanted to be there, but something had taken him from them and now it was back for her little sister.

Moira had been strong throughout all of this, but she could only be so strong before something was going to happen and that something seemed to be happening now. Andy was holding Dess’ hand and as they both looked down at Moira, they noticed that there was a small smile on her pale lips. This was it, they both knew it, but neither one wanted to admit it.


“Dess?” Moira finally looked back over at her sister and Odessa nodded silently.

“I love you…remember how much I love you.” The younger girl said softly as Odessa cried out.

“I love you too Monkey…always. I will always love you.” She reached down, her lips touching their clasped hands softly.

“Andy…I don’t love you in the same way, but thank you for everything…”Moira looked over at Andy and he felt his heart stop. Her eyes were not sad anymore, they held a bravery in them that he had never seen before.

“No problem kid. You know I love you too…you’ll always be the little sister that I always wanted…” He smiled and she laughed at him softly.

“Just what every girl wants to hear on her death bed-that the incredibly hot guy in the room loves her like a little sister…” She sighed, her mouth forming into a soft smile.

They were all silent for a moment until finally Dess felt Moira squeeze her hand lightly.

“Dess…the light…Dad says it’s time to go…I-I love you Dragonfly…be safe…” Moira’s voice was weak as she looked over at her sister.


The small girl took in a deep breath and a smile formed on her face as Moira Elizabeth Montgomery faded into the night.



Let's just keep driving on
All the stars jumping in through the windows
Let's go where we belong
Headed fast as we can for the unknown

They were through the mountains at this point and Dess finally had stopped crying-for now. It was just so hard to imagine her life without her little sister-near impossible. They had not been close for the past few years, but they were also five years apart in age and at sixteen Moira had been a large pill to swallow. Now she was gone and Dess could only think of what could have been. She probably would have taken Moira, Trish and Brady to Warped again this summer, but then again Odessa would also be with Andy this summer, so even that hadn’t been a sure thing.

They could have had so much fun together if they had just sucked it up and put aside their differences-if Odessa had just let Moira in. Ever since her father had passed, Odessa had a bad habit of pushing people away from her. It was easier then letting them in, losing them and then having to deal with that pain all over again. She knew that sooner or later they all died, but why did it have to be Moira? If she had the choice, Odessa would have chosen to take her sister’s place-to have done anything to give Moira a little more time on this Earth. She deserved to grow up-she wasn’t a bad kid and she had never really been a bad sister.

It was Odessa who had been the bad sister-always fighting with Moira and never wanting to share with her the things that they had in common. Moira had begun to like similar music-thank god the Justin phase had ended-and yet Odessa still scoffed at her. The bands that Moira liked were nothing compared to bands like the Used or AFI, but deep down Odessa knew that they were still decent musicians. It was the elitist in her and now, sitting here beside one of the most talented musicians in the world, Odessa felt stupid. If she had just stopped being so stubborn, maybe she and Moira could have had a little bit more fun together.


“What are you thinking about over there Dess?” Andy asked as they began to slow down and Dess noticed that they were at the Virginia Tennessee boarder. Were they really going to Nashville?

“Moira…when we were kids she and I used to love going outside on nights like this.” Dess smiled as she leaned her head up against the headrest and turned to face Andy. The car had come to a stop on the side of the road and Andy just sat there, smiling at her softly in the starlight.

“What would you do when you were outside? Catch fireflies?” He laughed softly and Odessa bit down on her lip and her body began to shake. He reached for her, his arms wrapping around her shoulders as Dess just dug her chin in to his shoulder and started to sob.


They had done so much when they were younger and catching fireflies had probably been their most favorite thing ever. Even now the stars kind of looked like fireflies and Dess knew she would never see them the same way ever again…



You can stay there
And it's not fair
Those were the days when we laughed all the while
When the fireflies
Lit up our skies
Those were the nights when the world made us smile

“Watch me Dessy!” The small girl called out and Odessa only laughed as her five year old sister Moira ran around their yard.


It was summer time-their favorite time of the year-and Odessa had taken Moira out to play in the yard. The fireflies, lighting the sky up like tiny little sparkles, were blinking at them and begging to be caught. Moira was running after them, giggling with a mason jar in her hands and her blonde hair flowing out around her shoulders and behind her like a cape. Odessa was just standing there, but soon enough she would be running around with her sister, laughing and smiling just like Moira. They felt free in that moment-it was just them and the fireflies and that was the most special thing in the world.


“I caught one! Dessy I caught it!” Moira cried out and Odessa stopped running around and was soon standing over her younger sister. Moira had her hands cupped together gently and as she opened them slightly, Odessa smiled. There, sitting on her skin, was a tiny firefly, it’s butt blinking softly and causing Moira’s skin to have a faint yellow glow.

“It’s so pretty.” Dess sighed, her long blonde hair hanging down her shoulders and she smiled as Moira looked up at her, opening her hands so that the firefly to fly away. They never kept them because both girls knew that fireflies were meant to be free.

“Why do fireflies blink Dessy?” Moira asked as the two girls stood in the middle of the yard, the darkness hugging them like a blanket. The trees were swaying in the wind softly and Dess knew that soon it would be time for them to head inside.

“So they can talk to one another. You know if you catch a firefly and it blinks for you then you have to make a wish. Did you make a wish Moira?” Dess asked and Moira only shook her head no.

“Well then make one and I’ll make one too. But don’t tell! Or else your wish won’t come true. Ready? One. Two. Three!” She laughed as Moira snapped her eyes shut and Dess did the same. She wished for more summer nights like this-just her and Moira running around and chasing the fireflies.

“Girls! Time to come inside!” Their mother called out from the back deck and Dess only smiled as she took Moira’s hand and they ran to the house.


Their night with the fireflies was over, but there would be more to come because there would always be fireflies…just like there would always be stars in the sky.



My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope
You're my telescope

“How are you motherfuckers doing tonight?!” Andy screamed into the mic and the large crowd screamed back at him. It was such a rush being up here, doing what he loved.

“Good! Now we’re here to play you guys some music, but before I get to that I want to bring a very special girl out on stage.” Andy looked out into the crowd and then faced the left side of the stage where Moira and Odessa were standing. He motioned his hand and smiled as Odessa pushed Moira forward.

“This is probably our number one fan! I want you guys to scream for her!” Andy shouted as he held the mic out towards the audience as he felt Moira relax under his touch. He reached down and hugged her, whispering a soft ‘Love you Moirabear’ into her ear before she walked back to the side of the stage to join Odessa.


The band started off with Coffin, which was the new single off of their EP, they also played some of their older songs, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. Jake and Jinxx played a few chords of some of the songs that they were currently working on for the new album and finally Andy slowed things down. Pulling out a stool from the side of the stage he motioned for Moira to come back out. He sat her down, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders as Jake came out with an acoustic guitar and stood off towards the back.

As Andy watched her walk towards her sister, he could feel it in his soul that this small girl was never going to see past the age of sixteen. She was everything to them-their biggest fan and supporter and it wouldn’t be the same without her. As he began to sing Andy could see the tears glistening in her moss green eyes. Savior meant a lot to different people, but Andy knew that Moira had already begun to inspire him to write a new song. A song for people who had lost someone, a song that could make them feel strength-a song that would change everything.

Andy finished the song-they rarely sang this live since it was a slower song, but the audience’s reaction to it was near to perfection. Tears, lighters and cell phones were all he could see and Andy knew that this moment would forever be burned in his brain. They moved into Rebel Love Song and he smirked over at Dess, who was currently dancing around with Moira. Those two were so close and Andy knew that when the time came he was going to have to really be there for Odessa because she may not survive the loss of the only hope in her life.



Let's just keep driving on
All the stars jumping in through the windows
Let's go where we belong
Headed fast as we can for the unknown

The car was parked on the side of the road and as she sat on the hood of it and looked up towards the stars, Odessa felt a sort of peace fall on to her shoulders. It was so quiet out here-she could almost hear the Earth moving slowly, but she knew this was short lived. Soon enough they would have to get back into the car, drive home to Virginia, pack up and head out to LA. Then it was touring, touring and more touring. Dess was actually kind of looking forward to touring because it would mean that she could distract herself from certain things.

Losing Moira-losing her baby sister-had been the hardest thing for Dess and even now she wasn’t sure if she could handle what was to come. They still needed to get in the garage, look through boxes and begin to pack up Moira’s things. Her mother was insistent on selling the house which of course made Dess furious but there was little she could do. That house was everything to her now-even sitting on the side of the road in Tennessee Dess could hear Moira’s laughter as she ran down the hardwood floored halls. She could imagine banging on her bedroom door, screaming for Moira to turn her music down and Dess had always thought that that house would be in her family forever. No, no it wouldn’t be because her mother couldn’t handle being in a place where they had lost their family.


“You okay babe?” Dess jumped slightly as she felt a hand clamp down on to her shoulder. Looking to her left, she could barely see Andy because it was so dark out, but he was there, smiling softly at her.

“Yeah…not really, but I’m good at pretending.” She smirked at him, but he could see in her eyes that Odessa was holding everything inside right now. Andy knew she needed to let that pain go-she needed to let it out or else she was going to explode.

“Who says you have to pretend? I’m pretty sure we’re in the middle of nowhere and if you want to scream and let it out then go ahead.” Andy smirked at her and Odessa only shook her head. She couldn’t do that…she couldn’t let go like that right now.

“Come on Dess…scream!” Andy yelled the last part, his tone guttural and Dess only laughed and shook her head. He was good at a lot of things, but one thing Andy Biersack was near perfect at was making her laugh.

“I can’t Andy…not yet.” She sounded so scared and Andy only smiled as he tossed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.


Odessa would have to explode at some point but Andy knew he would be there for her to help her put herself back together.



You can stay there
And it's not fair
Those were the days when we laughed all the while
When the fireflies
Lit up our skies
Those were the nights when the world made us smile

Odessa sat on the front porch, the white rocker she was seated in was squeaking slightly and it was the only sound in the entire yard, except for the frogs. It was the night before she and Andy were to leave and head back home, but of course Odessa couldn’t sleep. This could very well be the last night for her in this house-she may never see it again and that was what had been keeping her up. So she had crept down the stairs, grabbing a hoodie on her way and after making a cup of tea, she was now seated on the porch with the fireflies dancing before her in the yard.

They were so beautiful out there-weaving in and out of one another like dancers under the moonlight and Dess wondered if fireflies knew how magical they looked. She and Moira had loved catching them and holding them in their palms to watch them blink slowly. When they had been kids the two girls thought that the small bugs were fairies and that you could wish on them. Of course growing up one learns that wishes are only made through hard work and determination, but sometimes it was fun to just wish on silly little things like stars and fireflies.

Quietly Odessa moved from her spot, her cup of tea being left behind to steam in the cool air but it didn’t matter. She hissed softly as her bare feet met the cold grass, the dew droplets tickling her skin and yet it felt refreshing. Slowly Odessa walked towards the middle of the yard where all of the sparkling bugs were buzzing around and as gently as she could she reached out and caught one. Holding it in her palm, Dess could feel it’s small feet tickling her hands and she smiled. Moira had always liked catching these things and one time they had tried to keep them in a jar, but that had resulted in a jar full of dead bugs and lots of tears.

Odessa looked up at the sky and as she noticed that the stars were blinking at her just like the fireflies, she couldn’t help but smile. She closed her eyes softly and let the firefly go as she made her wish.


“I wish that everything could be okay again. I know that’s selfish of me, but I really want my family back. I don’t want my mother to sell this house because to me this house is everything-it’s where I grew up and it’s where I watched my little sister grow up. I would wish that Moira could come back-even if it’s just for a little while. I-I just need her back…” She was crying, her tears falling slowly down her cheeks and as Dess looked down at her palm she couldn’t help but smile.


Usually fireflies flew off as soon as they sensed freedom, but the one she had caught was just sitting there in her hand, blinking it’s tail softly and Dess wondered if it was a sign from Moira.



My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope
You're my telescope
My only hope

My only hope
You're my telescope

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.


Odessa knew, deep down that her sister was watching over them-she always would be and she would be their telescope in life…leading them down the path they were always meant to have.

Notes

Another one for you guys-this time not using a BVB song. Hope you liked it and if this story line intrigues you-it's actually from my Burn Series, so feel free to check it out<3